The Crooked Path is Faster - 1
"Excellent work. Elizabeth, Satsuki, and Colombo all did great. Colombo blocked my attack perfectly. Did it hurt?"
"No. Not really..."
"And..."
Kim Yeonha's gaze landed on me.
"...Whatever. That's enough."
She seemed like she had something to say but just scratched her head and shook it off.
"Phew... So, is that really the end?"
"Yes. You can go down now. Next team, come up."
Her face was a little flushed, probably embarrassed about showing her full power earlier. She was trying to play it cool, but it was obvious she was mortified.
The next test was Jin Siyeon's group. Was it because of us? She looked pretty tense.
"Everyone, stay sharp and follow my orders."
She spoke firmly, like she was psyching herself up, and the others nodded slightly.
The battle began. Just like in the game, the eldest daughter of the sacred Jin family wielded her sword skillfully, trying to shatter Kim Haryeon's wind barrier. But it wasn't going to break that easily.
"That's far enough."
Apparently, she was giving them three chances after our group. Kim Yeonha waited until Jin Siyeon used three skills. But in the end, she couldn't break the wind barrier, and the storm of wind blades and shockwaves knocked all three down.
"I can do more!"
"Of course you can. But with your teammates down, you're just trying to survive alone?"
"Urk..."
"You weren't bad. Your commands were solid."
But knowing Jin Siyeon, compliments like that wouldn't satisfy her. Especially since her rival Elizabeth had pulled it off.
Letting out a big sigh, Jin Siyeon nodded and glanced over here, but Elizabeth just grinned innocently.
"...I won't lose next time."
She clenched her fist tight and left the training ground with her team.
Two groups left. Kim Yeonha spoke to them gently.
"You guys won't have it as tough as the others."
Clap, clap. Along with light applause, green wind minions appeared. The classic tutorial monsters—wind wolves.
"Shall we start?"
The next group up was Gu Jina's. I wondered how they'd do. Arms crossed, I watched.
The result was a draw. After the training ended, the decent reward was a necklace just like the one from my past life's game memories.
It boosted all stats by 0.01. For a scrub healer like me, it was a real jackpot.
"It's a necklace given to promising talents by the Association."
A passing-the-test necklace for passers. Nice.
"Honestly, I didn't think anyone would get this one. Anyway, good job. Keep it up, and I'll hook you up with better rewards next time."
Sweet. These little things would stack up, paving the way to the true ending.
"What's with that look?"
Am I the only one pleased? Everyone else looked kinda meh.
As we headed out with their awkward expressions, Elizabeth stared at me like she had something to say.
"Could we talk after class ends?"
I could guess what about. My buffs, probably. Considering buffs weren't highly rated in the original game, her curiosity made sense. Especially since the Taylor family ran a hero guild.
"Sure."
I nodded, and she headed to class looking satisfied. Class wasn't starting yet, so I figured I'd hit the bathroom. Leaving the others behind, I headed that way.
"...You."
"What."
Jin Siyeon grabbed me. Direct descendant of 'Jinseong,' Korea's famous powerhouse company. The elite of elites, and her father was Korea's S-rank hero Jin Chaseong—a fact even my past-life self knew without the game.
I'd never thought I'd cross paths with her in real life... But recalling my past-life memories, all I could think was I had to make her my dedicated DPS somehow. She was just that OP.
So. You! Become my slave... er, comrade!
"How did you do it?"
Her deep black hair fell to her waist, her navy-and-white cadet uniform suiting her navy eyes perfectly. She had a sharp, sword-like aura and stared right through me.
Up until now, Jin Siyeon had trained under her father Jin Chaseong, so she'd probably assumed she could beat Elizabeth Taylor easily. In the game, their skills were evenly matched too.
Her question was totally valid. And the fact that she'd come to me instead of Elizabeth, Satsuki, or Colombo? Worthy of praise.
"How did Elizabeth pull that off? I know her skills better than anyone. For her to go that far... Do you know something?"
"I do, and I could teach you. But not for free."
Right now, meeting Azazel was key, and for that, I needed power to survive this brutal world. Meaning, I needed to snag more buffer skills.
And for that, I needed something—which this perfect helper was standing right in front of me. Even if she was elite of elites, passing this up would be stupid.
"...What? You trying to make a deal?"
"Nah~. Nothing so cold. Just fellow classmates helping each other out..."
Plus, for a buffer like me, raising a top-tier DPS like Jin Siyeon was a win-win.
So, maybe not just that.
"Bonus: I'll teach you how to fight wind wolves too."
There was an event in Chapter 1 where Jin Siyeon had to 1v1 the mid-boss. Win or lose, it didn't change the ending, but winning made her stronger.
Time to teach her the counter.
"Hmph. Think I don't know how to take down wind wolves?"
Of course she did—she'd trained forever.
"Probably not as good as what I know. And don't you wanna rematch the instructor later? She'll summon wind wolves then... Wouldn't hurt to learn, right? You know the saying: stick to one path, and you're screwed."
"Urk. True... Fine, if you wanna teach, I'll listen. Oh, attack the summoner first. I know that much..."
As if I'd say something basic like that.
"This works on all wind-type monsters, not just wolves. Master Eagle's Eye perfectly, and you can spot their cores easily. That's the weak point."
"...Eagle's Eye? That trash skill has that kind of power?"
It had lasted from original to latest DLC, but trash? Harsh rating.
Its listed effect was just improved eyesight, so fair. Hardly anyone used it in-game. Archers mastered the superior Clairvoyance.
But Eagle's Eye's true value? At max proficiency, it reveals wind-type enemy cores.
Some archers knew, but they kept it secret to monopolize. Same in-game.
Good stuff ain't free. Though my past-life forums spilled everything for rep—secrets, tips, spoilers.
Some players even ran 'Wind Scar' cheese with greatswords, one-shotting wind bosses. I posted guides too. Felt great.
Wind mobs were common en route to endings, and wind-summoning villains dropped good loot. No hardcore training needed either—relics boosted proficiency big time.
With those, even elites like Jin Siyeon could master it quick.
"I taught you something good, right? Better owe me one."
"...How do I trust that? How do you even know?"
Why's trust so hard? I want a trusting world.
"Don't believe me? Look it up. Anyway, I shared a secret. Can you help me?"
"Nngh..."
She pondered if it was real, but that wasn't the point.
"Wait. You're dodging. ...Why did Elizabeth, Satsuki, and Colombo get stronger?"
"I'll explain after."
"Sigh. Fine. So? What do you need?"
"You're in the student council, right?"
Not just me got picked pre-enrollment. Protagonist too. Main/side characters like Jin Siyeon were in.
Rookies benefited big from joining—perks galore.
"Yeah."
"Can I use the training grounds there?"
"...You? As a healer?"
"Wanna practice my bow a bit."
One of those perks I needed.
"Sigh."
She sighed low, tapped her foot, then glanced down the hall. An instructor approached.
"Think it over and hit me up."
She's the one who'd regret passing.
......
The rest of class was basic. Hero history, monsters, villains, hero mindset theory.
More detailed than my game knowledge, so not a total waste.
And theory class was prime time for skill grinding!
Couldn't miss it.
Diamond Protection proficiency has increased.
Blessing of the Holy Spirit proficiency has increased.
A thousand miles begins with a single step. Maxing Diamond Protection and Blessing of the Holy Spirit was distant, but chipping away like this would get me there eventually.
Someday.
"Yohan?!"
"Whoa. What?"
"Class is over—why are you spacing out?! Come on, let's go!"
Oh yeah, talk with Elizabeth. Ignoring Jin Siyeon staring at me, I left with Elizabeth. The area buzzed instantly.
"Whoa... That's her?"
"The one who cleaved Instructor Kim Yeonha's wind barrier..."
"Why's she with him?"
"Noblesse oblige, they say. Tch."
"If that's it, let me..."
Ugly! Jealousy!
Ignoring the whispers, we reached the student cafeteria.
"I'll have the pork cutlet set. What about you, Kim Yohan?"
"Water, salt, sugar."
Free stuff. Stock up later.
Humans can survive on salt, sugar, and water for a bit.
"...I'll buy it, so just eat! I know you're broke!"
"Feels wrong mooching."
Night church volunteer work gave noodle ramen for calories. Got Blessing of the Holy Spirit, but still needed heals sometimes—volunteering racks up points for a holy relic too.
No need to beg Elizabeth now.
"Such fine self-reliance!"
"Wanna try? Blend right, and it's decent. Know sweet-salty?"
"No. I need meat."
Meat meat. Carnivore girl...
She got her pork cutlet set, sat, and eyed my artisanal salt-sugar water.
"How'd you do it?"
"Salt-sugar ratio's key. Tough day, so extra sugar for glucose. This golden ratio..."
"Not that!"
My secret recipe—not for everyone.
"Ah!"
Oh, that. I sipped my brew. Tingles all over.
"What else? Buffs."