Chapter 115
Chapter 115
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Proper Education
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The world isn't simple, nor is it straightforward.
It would be nice if everything fell into place like the answer to a test question, but it never does.
Of course, that's obvious in a way.
With countless people coexisting, tangled up like underbrush, how could it be simple?
And right now was no different.
"What? Getting beaten up?"
Who could've guessed that the teammate I randomly picked would be someone like Olivia Rodrigo?
People can be flighty.
They can have personality.
But there's a limit.
She's way too much.
"Wow, scary. So the team leader's resorting to violence after all? Didn't you hear what I said earlier? I admitted you're the team leader. Ha, fine, fine. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Fuck, I'm the worst bitch here."
I'd picked nine others besides myself.
Eight were fine, and only one was a problem. Whose fault is that?
Actually, not eight.
Olivia's lackey was there too.
Talk about no pride.
Who'd want to follow a woman like that?
"It's a bit absurd. A team where you can't even speak your mind..."
"......?"
"A bunch of disgusting teammates ganging up. What, minority opinions don't count?"
Mumbling on and on.
Olivia muttering like she wanted everyone to hear.
"Hoo."
I let out a soft sigh.
Then shook my head.
"I tried to hold back, but it looks like I can't."
"Ha?"
Olivia twisted her lips and glared at me.
"Cut it out. Even if you were number one in the previous theme, there are lines you don't cross."
"Lines?"
"Take it as me graciously treating you like a team leader while I still do."
Pfft.
A laugh escaped me.
Did she know I'd briefly overpowered a two-digit ranker just moments ago?
"Huh? Laughing?"
"Yeah, I'm laughing."
I'd made up my mind.
From now on, no more respect for her.
"You have no idea how crazy I am, do you?"
Whoosh!
Her whip lashed out flexibly.
The sharp edge was palpable even from here—back then, it might've scared me.
But now? It just looked cute.
I casually slipped my hand into my pocket.
"Sorry, but I doubt anyone here is unaware of that fact."
Yeah, you're one crazy bitch.
"Oh really?"
Olivia raised an eyebrow.
"You don't get how serious this is. This is a team game. A cooperative team game. What if I decide not to cooperate? What if I sabotage things on purpose in Giant Castle?"
"Hmm."
I slowly drew up the energy from my staff.
"Maybe you and that idiot next to you would be better off gone."
"What, you really wanna go?"
"Who's been whining for a fight this whole time? You."
Yeah.
Just beat her.
We'll deal with the aftermath later.
If the game requires teammates, I can just drag her around knocked out, right?
It might even help the team more.
"My lord."
"Master."
Swoosh!
My two loyal subordinates appeared at my side.
"Oh?"
She furrowed her brow and glanced at the young man beside her.
Her boyfriend-looking guy drew his sword.
Tension crackled in an instant standoff.
"Hoon, should I help?"
"I'll help too! Honestly, I've wanted to fight since earlier!"
The other teammates circled, ready to back me up.
"No."
I shook my head.
No need for the whole team just to discipline these punks.
"Wow, this is so unfair. Bullying, that's what this is."
This woman.
She really had no clue who was bullying whom.
"Fine, fuck it. Bring it onnnn!"
No more words.
Taeyang charged first in a blitz.
Screeech!
So fast it tore the air.
"Hup!"
Olivia's eyes widened as she twisted her waist in a hurry.
But before she could, her left cheek stung.
Drip.
Blood trickled down.
"Wh-what?"
Eldrin's arrow had just grazed her by a hair.
And then.
Thwack!
Taeyang closed in and slammed his spear haft into her left side.
"Gah!"
Her whip?
No time to use it.
Reflecting my mood, Taeyang and Eldrin were going all out now.
"Huh, those are skeletons?"
"Skeletons at that level? The team leader must handle a ton of them."
"Hoon, you're one hell of a hunter."
The overwhelming display loosened the frozen team's tension.
Some even squatted down, watching with smirks.
"Wh-what the hell."
Any leisure vanished from Olivia's face.
She could only back away in disbelief.
"Trying to take me down with mere skeletons?"
Refusing to accept it, she kicked off the ground.
She barely created distance with a backstep.
Boom!
But something hit her back, startling her.
Creak?
A bone soldier with a massive shield.
It shoved her like, "Where do you think you're going?"
"Wh-what."
Thwack!
In that moment, Taeyang struck her thigh from behind again.
What was impressive about Taeyang?
He never stabbed or slashed with the spear tip.
Just the haft, delivering bone-rattling pain.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Taeyang kept beating her.
Until her pale skin bruised purple.
Until her nose mashed and eyes swelled.
"W-wait?"
Olivia coughed and scanned around wildly.
Looking for the guy who'd fight with her, probably.
No need.
He was already...
"S-sorry! Please spare me!"
Kneeling, skin shredded by Eldrin's arrows.
Damn...
Hiccups from sheer terror.
"W-wait! Stop!"
Thwack! Thwack!
Taeyang beat her like he was keeping rhythm.
Slow, steady intervals.
"Stop! It hurts! Fuck! Arghhh!"
Strike the thigh to topple her, then the upper body to stand her up.
Stand her up? Hit thigh and calf to drop her again.
"Kyaa! Kyaaa!"
Try to yell? Mouth gets special attention.
Truth is.
It was over already.
No fight—just one-sided beating.
"Guh! Guh! Gack!"
Of course, I had no intention of stopping.
Hurt or not.
'Honestly.'
Compared to the massages I get from the old man, this was nothing.
"Fuck! Kyaaak? Kyaaaa!"
Olivia tried cursing again but screamed differently.
I'd stabbed her upper palate with the spear, silencing her mouth.
"Kyaa! Kyaaa!"
She clutched her mouth, rolling on the ground.
Blood poured between her fingers.
Writhing in agony.
"What was that about everyone being too nice to raise their value?"
I watched her blankly.
"So, is this your value?"
Thwack!
"And did I steal your share? When? Tell me."
Thwack! Thwack!
"Calling the vice leader's hard work dictatorship?"
Thwaaack!
"What? Dictatorship? Freeloading?"
Freeloaders are the likes of Olivia, picked in theme 1 without doing shit.
"If I picked you, work hard and help the team. Where'd that desperation from begging to join go? What, you a politician?"
"P-pleash. Shpare me."
Taeyang had battered her mouth so bad.
Even speech slurred.
Normally, I'd pity her, but why no emotion?
"Pleash, pleashhh."
"Pleash?"
"It hursh! Pleash! I'll lishen...!"
Olivia nodded frantically.
Why.
Why only come to her senses after a beating?
"You'll listen now? Why? Weren't you gonna be uncooperative?"
"Nooo!"
"Should've listened when I said it nicely."
"......"
Tears streamed from Olivia's eyes.
Wow, bawling from this much pain?
She'd never survive the old man.
Some beasts only learn through pain, as the elders said.
Not a word wrong.
Yeah.
I didn't beat Olivia.
I cured her.
Fixed her to function in society.
Educated her.
Proper education.
"Hoo."
At my glance.
Taeyang stopped.
With this power gap, even victory felt sour.
Beating Floa might've felt better.
Though I'd probably be toast before landing a hit.
Thud!
Olivia slumped unconscious.
I turned to the team, leaving her.
"......"
Silence fell.
Various expressions.
Some relieved.
Some shocked at the gap.
"Hmm, wasted too much time on this nonsense."
In a situation where just walking kept us on edge.
Too much delay.
"If anything else bothers you, tell me."
Meaning, speak up if Olivia pulls shit when I'm gone.
Pfft! Someone exhaled held breath.
James.
"Good job, Hoon!"
Led by him.
"Watching felt so refreshing."
"You were awesome."
"Now we just charge ahead?"
Back to normal vibe.
No, more energized than before.
Ah, knocking out one Olivia changed this much?
Should've drawn my blade sooner?
Grinning, I eyed the kneeling guy.
"What's your name?"
Always glued to Olivia, no chat.
Not that I cared much.
"I-I'm Cain!"
"Got it, Cain. Mind carrying that for me?"
I pointed at Olivia.
Cain hopped up with yes sirs and hoisted her.
"Hoo."
All settled.
Felt refreshed, unburdened.
Yeah, no more holding back.
Cross my line, and show it with actions.
That's why I endured that pain, building strength.
"Alright."
I looked around.
"Gather up, everyone."
Then pulled out the six scrolls from the shop.
Three Distance-Extending Scrolls and three Distance-Shortening Scrolls.
No time.
[Item: S-Grade Distance-Shortening Scroll]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Scroll]
[Description: A scroll that shortens distances.]
[Effect 1: Activates across the team leader's 1km radius.]
[Effect 2: Shortens distance to Giant Castle by 50% of total.]
[Item: S-Grade Distance-Extending Scroll]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Scroll]
[Description: A scroll that extends distances.]
[Effect 1: Activates across enemy team leader's 1km radius.]
[Effect 2: Extends distance to Giant Castle by 30% of total.]
[Effect 3: Applies to both enemy teams.]
Distance-Shortening: 50%, 25%, 12.5%.
Total distance shortened by 87.5%.
Distance-Extending: 30%, 15%, 7.5%.
Total distance extended by 52.5%.
"Explanations later. We're heading out now."
Leaving the puzzled team.
Riiip!
I tore all six scrolls at once.