I'm going to kill you.
I'm going to kill you.
Friday.
The day of the decisive battle.
Entrance to the southern forest.
Students were gathered by group.
Only I had walked here alone from the dormitory.
Wearing my bag.
I didn't put the Toolbox in.
Instead, there were two chocolate bars in the side pocket of my bag.
'Just in case, since it's a forest.'
'I might get stranded.'
Emergency rations.
Only when I really can't stand it.
The forest entrance came into view.
Then.
"Ian!!!!!"
'............?'
I heard a sound.
Loudly.
Fucking loudly.
I lifted my head.
Three people were standing in front of the forest entrance.
Thor-sunbae.
Sera-sunbae.
Hana-sunbae.
Thor-sunbae was holding something in both hands.
A placard made of parchment.
Words were written in big letters.
[Ian!! You can do it!!]
"Ian-hubae!! Fighting!!"
Hana-sunbae was standing with her arms crossed.
"Show them the dignity of a graduating class."
'You're the ones in the graduating class, sunbae.'
The Teaching Assistant was waving from behind.
Four leaves on his head.
One more than yesterday.
"Student Ian!! Become one with nature today!!"
Surrounding students stared.
The gazes came.
The gazes came, fucking hard.
"What is that?"
"Who are they cheering for?"
"Ian? Who's Ian?"
"They say he's from the Druid department."
"There were people there?"
"I heard he's the first applicant in two years."
"Is that why they're making such a fuss?"
'The gazes.'
'There are too many gazes.'
My heart was beating like crazy.
It was scarier than morning roll call.
Roll call is 30 people, but the whole grade is here.
Thor-sunbae held the placard higher.
"Ian!! The pride of our department!!"
'Please put it down.'
'Please, please put it down.'
I lowered my head and walked quickly.
I passed in front of Thor-sunbae.
"Sunbae."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
I just said that and walked past.
I wanted to run.
But if I run, I'll stand out more.
From behind, Sera-sunbae shouted.
"Hubae!! Relax your strength!! Let it flow!!"
Group 7 meeting place.
Under a tree.
Three people were standing.
Camilla.
Derek.
Marion.
Derek was wiping his blade with a cloth.
Marion was spinning her staff, checking her mana.
Camilla was taking something out of her bag.
Three small pouches.
"Sunbaes, please take these."
To Derek.
"It's a Protection Charm. Since you're on the front line, you'll be getting hit a lot."
Brightly.
To Marion.
"It's a Mana Potion. Since you use a lot of area-of-effect spells, it drains quickly."
Brightly.
Derek received it.
"Oh, thanks."
Marion received it.
"You didn't have to worry about us."
Camilla smiled.
"It's nothing~ We're in the same group, so it's only natural."
She looked at me.
'.............'
She didn't look.
Our gazes brushed, but she didn't stop.
She just passed by.
Like looking at a pebble behind a tree.
No.
At least you can trip over a pebble, so it gets noticed.
I was just air.
Three pouches.
Three people.
It's a 4-person group, but three pouches.
'Good.'
'Not being cared for is the most comfortable.'
The Professor stood in front.
In charge of Combat Studies.
Scar on his chin.
"Groups will enter their designated areas. 3-hour limit. Return when the signal flare goes up. Don't overdo it."
Over there, Zeke was walking.
Wearing a sword.
Without expression.
Beside him, Leon was walking.
Dark blue hair.
Buttoned to the very top.
'Those two are in the same group.'
'If 923 and 891 are in the same group, that's a cheat code.'
Group 7's turn.
"Group 7. Area 7. Enter."
We entered the forest.
Dense trees were blocking the sky.
It took 3 seconds for my eyes to adjust.
Derek walked in front.
No, actually, it wasn't even walking.
His feet didn't step on roots.
Legs enhanced with mana don't even look at tree roots before stepping over them.
Marion behind him.
Followed lightly while holding her staff.
She wasn't out of breath.
A body with 412 seems to find this level of mountain path a walk in the park.
Camilla was third.
She didn't slow down even while checking her surroundings.
With 487, this much is a breeze.
In this world, even walking is mana.
Physical enhancement.
If mana is high, legs are fast, you don't get out of breath, and you don't step on roots.
I was at the very back.
'Huff.'
My 63-stat legs were raw.
Unenhanced, raw legs.
Just like the legs that came in last in long-distance running during gym class in my past life.
A tree branch grazed my face.
I dodged.
I almost tripped on a root.
I dodged.
No footsteps.
The sense from walking for 15 years in the territory caught that.
But breathing sounds can't be fixed with sense.
'Huff.'
I saw the backs of the three in front.
They were getting smaller.
Camilla looked back once.
She looked, but.
She just looked ahead and walked.
Without reaction.
A walk that said it didn't matter if I was there or not.
'.............'
'Fine. Go. I'm going at my own 63-stat pace.'
Then Derek gestured from the front.
"Four Goblins over there. Gathered. Going in immediately."
Derek ran out.
His sword shone.
Fast.
Fucking fast.
Deong-geong-
One Goblin's head and body were separated.
Without even being able to scream.
'Fuck. Fast.'
The remaining three rushed in, whining.
Marion spun her staff.
Something flew.
It was a fire arrow.
One Goblin got hit and rolled away.
Camilla reached out her hand.
Wind arose.
The last remaining Goblin was pushed back.
Derek ran over and finished it.
15 seconds.
'15 seconds?'
'It ended before I could even catch my breath.'
Derek shook his sword.
Blood dripped onto the grass.
Derek gripped his sword.
"Good. Let's move to the next one immediately."
'Wait. Let me breathe.'
The three were already walking.
They moved and went deeper.
'Huff.'
It got faster again.
Than before.
'Huff.'
'Fuck.'
Derek stopped.
He raised his hand.
"5 o'clock direction. Six Goblins."
Camilla shouted quickly.
"Derek-sunbae, please cut down three. Marion-sunbae, take the rest with area-of-effect."
15 seconds.
Done.
"Good. Next."
They walked again.
'Huff.'
Derek stopped again.
"Wolf-type. Two."
10 seconds.
Done.
"Next."
'Wait a second.'
'Please, just a second.'
I was behind, hands on my knees, gasping for air.
The three were already walking.
'.............'
1 hour later.
15 Goblins.
2 Wolf-type Magic Beasts.
Derek drew aggro, Marion whittled them down, and Camilla supported.
I didn't fight even once.
I watched the terrain from the rear.
"There's a slope on the left," I said once.
"There's one more behind the tree on the right," I said once.
That was all.
'Rear support.'
'The name is grand, but the content is just an announcement.'
Derek leaned against a tree to catch his breath.
Marion opened her water bottle.
Camilla sat down, tucking her hair behind her ear.
I opened my bag.
I took out two chocolate bars.
I split one in half.
"Please eat if you're hungry."
Derek's eyes sparkled.
"Oh. I was just hungry. Thanks."
He took it and took a bite.
Marion received it.
"You didn't have to worry about us."
"I brought it as emergency rations, but since we didn't get stranded."
I held it out to Camilla.
Camilla looked at the chocolate bar.
She looked at me.
0.3 seconds.
Derek was chewing loudly beside her.
"Thank you, sunbae."
She received it.
Brightly.
'.............'
The Professor came for a mid-point check.
"Group 7? 15 Goblins, 2 Wolf-types. Good. Any injuries?"
"None."
Derek answered with a smile.
Camilla cut in.
"Ian-sunbae is doing a great job too. I think he has a natural talent for rear support."
She smiled.
Brightly.
Radiantly.
'.............'
'Translated, that means "Thank you for staying still in the back because you're useless in combat."'
Break time ended.
Derek stood up.
"Let's go to the next area."
We went deeper.
The forest grew dense.
The trees grew larger.
The light decreased, so it was almost as dark as dusk.
'The terrain changes from here.'
I looked at my feet.
There was moss.
It was damp.
'If there's this much moss, there's water nearby.'
'It means an underground water vein is close.'
'The plant density will increase.'
Roots were tangled above the ground.
I avoided them so I wouldn't trip.
Then there was a sound.
From the front.
Kkang-kkang-kkang-
It wasn't just one.
Derek stopped.
He drew his sword.
They came out from between the trees.
They were similar to Goblins but different.
They were a span taller.
Their skin was dark.
Their eyes were red.
Hobgoblin.
Variant Goblin.
More came out from behind.
More.
'.............'
Ten.
"It's a Hobgoblin!!"
Marion's voice trembled.
The hand holding the staff shook.
"This is different from before!!"
'Fuck.'
'Ten?'
Derek shouted.
"Maintain formation! I'll block from the front!"
Camilla shouted quickly.
"Derek-sunbae, please cut down 3 in the front! Marion-sunbae, area-of-effect on the right! I'll take the left with wind!"
A first-year was directing two second-years.
But her voice didn't tremble.
'This woman is impressive, really.'
Derek charged.
He cut down two.
Blood splattered from the sword.
It flew near my face.
'Close.'
'Fuck. Close.'
Marion spun her staff.
Fire flew.
Three Hobgoblins rolled away on the right.
The heat reached here.
It was hot.
Camilla shot wind.
Two were pushed back on the left.
Leaves poured down.
'Good. They're blocking.'
'There's nothing for me to do.'
'Safely in the rear.'
Then.
A sound was heard from behind.
It was close.
I looked back.
Green skin.
Yellow teeth.
Club.
Red eyes.
Three Hobgoblins.
They were jumping towards me from behind.
"Ian, behind!!"
Camilla shouted.
'Fuck.'
I stepped back.
My foot caught on a root.
That root I'd been seeing since earlier.
I should have avoided it.
Stumble-
I fell.
My butt hit the ground first.
My hand touched the ground.
Damp soil.
Moss.
Root.
The root touched my palm.
I just fell and my hand touched it.
Something flowed from my palm.
Something warm.
From hand to soil.
From soil to root.
Something came up from the ground as if responding.
Grass was growing.
Next to my hand.
Stems pierced through the soil, leaves unfolded.
Something swelled at the tip.
It burst.
Green powder like poisonous plant spores spread.
Pishut-
It grazed the three Hobgoblins.
Kking?
One Hobgoblin stopped.
Its eyes went blank.
The arm holding the club went down.
Kking......
The second one stopped too.
It staggered.
The third one ran and then collapsed.
Poisoned.
All three.
'Fuck. What is this?'
I was sitting with my hand on the ground.
In the same position I fell.
My butt was covered in dirt.
"Now!!"
Camilla shouted.
Derek returned.
He cut down one poisoned Hobgoblin.
Marion spun her staff.
Fire flew.
The remaining two were finished.
Done.
The forest became quiet.
Derek looked back, gasping for air.
"............What was that?"
He looked at me.
The grass that grew next to my hand.
The stems were withering.
They were drying up after shooting all the spores.
"Ian, what did you just do?"
"............I fell."
"You fell and grass grew?"
"............Yes."
Marion looked, pushing up her glasses.
"Isn't it a coincidence? Since we're near an underground water vein, aren't the plants sensitive?"
"Is that so?"
Derek nodded.
It passed.
As a coincidence.
Camilla didn't say anything.
She was looking at the withered grass.
And she looked at my palm.
'.............'
"Let's pack up and return now."
Camilla's usual tone.
Not bright.
Not cold.
It passed.
Everyone moved on.
I stood up.
I brushed off my pants.
The practical training ended, and we came out of the forest.
The sunlight hit my eyes.
"Group 7 — 28 Goblins, 10 Hobgoblins, 3 Wolf-type Magic Beasts. Good work."
They scattered.
Derek left, saying "Good work."
Marion left, saying "See you tomorrow."
Camilla smiled and said, "Sunbaes, you worked hard today~".
She looked at me.
0.3 seconds.
Her mouth opened slightly.
It looked like she wanted to say something.
It closed.
Waste of energy.
A face that decided even one word was a waste after trying to say something.
She turned and left.
'.............'
As soon as I entered the dormitory.
I washed with hot water.
I changed clothes and sat on the bed.
"Whew. Comfortable."
Once I sat on the bed, I wanted to organize what happened today.
[Spore Shot] that I used for 5,000 hours in the game.
I ended up doing it in reality by accident.
'............'
But when I tried to organize it, it wouldn't organize, and my head was complicated.
In times like this.
Click-
I turned on the game console.
'Let's think while playing games.'
Main screen.
My eyes went there habitually.
[Weekly Ranking]
I opened it.
'.............'
'.............'
'Fuck.'
It had dropped.
By a whole 7 spots.
Because of group preparation.
Because of training.
Because I rolled around in the forest.
In the few days I was away.
It had gone down 7 spots.
I saw the nicknames of the guys who overtook me.
[xXBlackFlameDragonXx]
[ImANoobHehe]
[ParkingForAWhile]
'ParkingForAWhile?'
'Did they overtake me while parking?'
'They really robbed the empty house while I was gone.'
'These bastards.'
What happened today.
Falling.
Grass growing.
Warmth of my palm.
Everything was pushed to the back.
'Mana 63? It's fine.'
'Invisible man? Comfortable.'
'Rear standby? It's in my nature.'
'Treated like air by Camilla? I'm used to it.'
'But I can't stand this.'
'I can't fall behind here.'
'This is the only place where I am me.'
"TakingABreak"
'I'm going to kill you today.'