Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: E-Rank Gate (5)
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Whoosh-! Boom-!
The gargoyle completely ignored me, firing fireballs while solely focusing on dodging Park A-young and Lee Ji-hyun's spells.
Fortunately, it hadn't even noticed what I was doing.
One of Baek Hwa's swords, hovering in the sky and waiting for the gargoyle to lower its altitude, had vanished without a trace.
-Now's the time.
Reaching the far wall of the boss room, I sent a telepathic signal to Baek Hwa. One of the ten swords floating to draw the gargoyle's attention without getting hit slipped over to me quietly.
Swish-!
I grabbed the sword and rode it up to the highest point it could reach. Clutching Baek Hwa's sword, I began scaling the wall.
With the overwhelming physical abilities I'd gained since becoming a hunter, climbing the wall was a breeze. The problem was the ceiling…
Stab-!! Stab-!!
By jamming Baek Hwa's sword—freshly retrieved—and my own into the ceiling to anchor them, I could now skitter across it like a spider.
Slowly… slowly… I moved across the ceiling, using the swords like pitons in rock climbing.
"Kieek-!! Keeeek-!!"
Oblivious to the fact that I was now directly above its head, the gargoyle let out eerie shrieks while relentlessly spewing fireballs.
Time was running out. And it wouldn't fall for the same trick twice—it wasn't that stupid.
This was pretty much our last shot.
I carefully positioned myself over the optimal spot on its body to drop from the ceiling.
From the ground, my teammates looking up would spot me.
"Flame Flower-!!"
"Dark Spear!"
Confirming my position, they unleashed spells to restrict the gargoyle's movements.
Its magic resistance was high, but the spells weren't completely ineffective, forcing it to dodge this way and that.
'Now!'
The moment it maneuvered directly beneath me, I yanked both swords free from the ceiling.
My body began free-falling under gravity.
Crunch-!!
"Kieek-? Keeeek-!!!"
My sword missed and clattered to the floor, but thankfully, Baek Hwa's buried itself in the gargoyle's shoulder.
Panicking, it thrashed wildly, trying to shake off the intruder clinging to its back.
Gripping the sword tight with one hand, I used the other to secure Cha Yu-rin's bag and my own to the gargoyle.
"Time to come down, I guess?"
After firmly strapping Cha Yu-rin's bag and mine to its body, I yanked out the batteries attached to both!
The magic that lightened the bags' weight naturally required mana stone-powered batteries.
Without them now, the bags' weight was no joke.
Each could hold up to 1,000kg max.
Cha Yu-rin's was stuffed full of bread, and mine brimmed with mana stones and items from the monsters we'd slain so far.
Together, they easily exceeded a ton.
"Kieek-!! Keeeek-!!"
Made of tough stone though it was, the gargoyle was still a monster.
It tired like any other creature. Flying with over a ton weighing it down was impossible.
Flap flap-!!
It flapped desperately to stay aloft, but its altitude dropped steadily.
"Wait, this thing won't come loose-!!"
In the meantime, I'd tried pulling Baek Hwa's sword free to deal some damage, but it was lodged too firmly.
"Come down now-!!!"
Lee Ji-hyun's voice rang out as we descended to a safer height.
Still over 10 meters up, but a hunter wouldn't get hurt from that.
No—even if injured, it'd heal in a flash.
Finishing my task atop the gargoyle, I leaped off right away. The moment I did, Baek Hwa's swords pierced its body.
Slash slash-!!
Skewered like a kebab by the ten blades, the gargoyle began crumbling into dust.
Thud-!
By the time I hit the ground, it was long gone, leaving only mana stones and items behind.
"Whoa~ You finally pulled your weight?"
"Yeah! Our A-jun finally did something!"
"What, you slacked all day and now you do something?"
They tossed quips at the gargoyle's dust cloud, then congratulated me one by one.
Park A-young poked at my sore spot, of course.
With a hum-!, a massive portal appeared in one corner of the boss room.
Inside lay the gate's core and another portal.
Destroying the core collapses the gate gradually.
This one was for academy training, so no need to smash it.
We left the core untouched and exited through the other portal.
Click click-!!
"Freshmen! You cleared an E-Rank Gate right after turning eighteen—how does it feel?!"
"Smile for the camera here!!"
Reporters swarmed us with flashing cameras and mics the moment we emerged.
"Thank you all."
Lee Ji-hyun waved effortlessly, as expected of the Star Cloud Guild master's daughter. She handled the press like a pro.
"We heard Sex Master, but you swung a sword, so you're skilled in close combat? Or just a porter? Or aiming for monster tamer?"
A reporter grilled me.
My only real contribution was the boss room finale, so I couldn't argue if they called me a porter.
"Park A-jun is our team's powerhouse frontline. Job title aside. Got it?"
As I pondered my answer, Lee Ji-hyun stepped in smoothly.
"I see. Thank you."
After the reporter frenzy died down…
"Alright! Press, time's up—please head out."
With Professor Kim Se-yeon directing traffic, the reporters dispersed like the tide.
Only then did she praise us.
"Well done, everyone. Especially Park A-jun—riding the gargoyle and using the bags' weight to bring it down was brilliant improvisation. A model clip for the other cadets. But improv is just that. Knowing your team's weakness like you did, you should've thought of ways to shore it up too, right?"
"Yes, Professor."
As she said, our weakness was clear: poor countermeasures against monsters like the gargoyle—ranged attackers with high magic resistance.
Baek Hwa's Flying Swords were great, but as we'd felt in the gate, they fell just short of reaching.
'Maybe learn archery?'
I'd pretty much maxed out swordsmanship skills I could learn naturally. For more, I'd need skill books—relic-grade ones that ignored job restrictions.
But those were absurdly expensive; no way I could afford them.
So, branching into bows for ranged versatility made sense.
"Hmm. Anyway, that's enough talk. You all worked hard—professors will treat you tonight."
"Ooh… meat?"
As I mulled it over, she suggested dinner. Fair enough—academy freshmen clearing an E-Rank Gate was cause for celebration.
'Professors?'
Following Professor Kim Se-yeon with the team, a familiar barbecue spot came into view. The upscale pork belly joint Professor Kim Yun-ji had dragged me to before.
"Come on in."
"Congrats!!"
"Congratulations, A-jun!"
"A-jun…?"
Inside a reserved room, Professor Kim Yun-ji clapped enthusiastically as if it were obvious. And oddly, crafter Lee Hye-ryeong joined in too.
"Auntie, why are you here?"
"Because~ I'm your team's dedicated gear crafter! Gotta be at the celebration, right?"
Park A-young scowled and snapped at Lee Hye-ryeong on sight. Why the hate…? She made top-tier gear for free—a useful bitch.
"Hold on. Lee Hye-ryeong. You just called A-jun 'A-jun'—what's that about?"
"Oh~ We're that kind of close, you know?"
Even Professor Kim Yun-ji questioned her incredulously.
"Ahem. Still, age gap and all—calling him so casually."
"Professor, what age gap~?"
"There is an age gap. Get a grip, auntie."
"Quit calling me auntie! With this figure and looks~ A bit of exaggeration, and I could pass for your age! Hell, high schooler with some MSG!"
She's nuts… Not just MSG-seasoned—pure MSG.
Late thirties claiming high schooler? Lee Hye-ryeong wasn't right in the head either.
The rowdy dinner wrapped up that night.
Lee Ji-hyun figured she'd solidified her position in Star Cloud Guild, just like her sister—proving herself by clearing an E-Rank Gate.
Showing she wasn't the weak sibling successor but one who could stand toe-to-toe with the rest.
She'd even raked in massive cash.
But she wasn't just thrilled for those reasons, lying awake in bed late at night.
'So cool…'
Recalling Park A-jun dropping from the ceiling to nab the gargoyle, she smiled softly.
Why did throwing himself into danger under the tight timer to clear the gate make her heart race so…?
'If only he got along with Baek Hwa… No, no. Too risky…'
The one downside? He didn't get along with Baek Hwa.
Even that appealed to Lee Ji-hyun. At least no chance of those two getting together(?).
"Mmm…"
Squelch squelch-!
Lee Ji-hyun had low libido. Masturbation once every few months—she was numb to sex.
But living with Park A-jun, growing fond of him… Now it was monthly, weekly… more frequent.
"Haaahhh-!!!!"
A jolt of pleasure shot through her waist, climax hitting safely. Sage time followed; she got up.
"Gotta wash up."
Stepping quietly into the hall, she heard the voice of the man she'd just fantasized about.
"You arrogant bitch. Almost fucked us over because of you. Gonna punish you proper tonight."
"Yes♥♥ Yes♥… P-Punish me…!"
'Dark Eye!'
Disciplining Bianca?
She pressed against the opposite wall, hiding in the corner, and summoned a familiar to scout for her.
Dark Eye.
The ultimate recon, blending into shadows unseen.
'A collar…?'
The sight through its eyes was shocking.
Park A-jun gripping a leash, urging someone on.
'He gets this hardcore with Bianca…?!'
More intense than she'd imagined—Lee Ji-hyun clamped her mouth shut instinctively.
Succubi specialized in seducing men, sure—but this extreme…!
What expression was collared Bianca making?
Lee Ji-hyun lowered the Dark Eye's view slowly.
A woman with drooping blue hair, collared, smiling as she crawled.
"Hngh-!!!"
She bit her hand hard. It wasn't Bianca—it was Baek Hwa.
Collared by Park A-jun, crawling the dorm hall on all fours, dripping fluids, grinning like she loved it…!