Chapter 22 - Wave
Wave
Translator : Elizabeth
Chapter 22: Wave
[You have defeated a monster.] [Experience for Innate Ability: Universal (EX) Lv.5 increases by 0.02%.] [Experience increases by an additional 0.01% due to the effect of Link (A).] [You have successfully defended against the 1st Wave.] [(Mission) Defend against the Monster Wave! (2/10)] [Time until Wave... 59:59]
‘Wait time is 1 hour? That’s quite generous.’
There was a crisis where the Energy Coating applied to Yu Eun-ha wore off in the middle, but we somehow managed to endure the first wave. However...
“Ugh....” “Are you okay?” “F-for now, there’s no bleeding, but it hurts immensely....”
When the Energy Coating wore off, Yu Eun-ha’s shield, unable to withstand the monster's attack, shattered. Fortunately, she reacted just in time to avoid a fatal wound, but she couldn't escape suffering a broken arm.
‘A broken arm... can’t be helped.’
I took out the recovery potion I had intended to return unused from my subspace wallet.
“Show me the injured area.” “Ah! Come to think of it, we received potions, right?” “…Yes. So drink it quickly.” “Thank you!”
When Yu Eun-ha drank the potion, her arm healed instantly, returning to a normal state. But she lowered her head with a gloomy expression.
“…I’m sorry. I said I wouldn't be a burden....” “I don't consider Junior Eun-ha a burden.” “But....” “I just overestimated the Energy Coating.”
I thought she could sufficiently endure if I applied Energy Coating at 200%. But conclusively, since the coating wore off before the wave ended, my calculation was wrong.
“How many monsters did you face before the Energy Coating wore off?” “…I’m not sure, but I think it was 12.” “Then you can come to me after facing 5.” “What? Still, 10 is....” “No. Let’s make it 5.”
As Yu Eun-ha said, facing 10 would be fine, but I intend to prepare for unexpected situations. Thanks to the Ring of Condensation, I don't think I'll run out of Origin Power.
“Won't Senior’s mana be insufficient?” “Junior Eun-ha saw it too, right? The wait time is 1 hour. In that time, my mana recovers by over 400.” “Uh... So...?” “Using Energy Coating at 200% efficiency consumes 80 mana.” “Then, you can apply it 5 times?” “Correct.”
But Yu Eun-ha faces slightly more than 10 monsters at most. In other words, I only need to apply Energy Coating 3 times at most, so the remaining Origin Power can be used to dispose of monsters.
“Ah. Junior Eun-ha. How much did your experience rise just now?” “Ah! I can tell how many I faced by looking at the experience! Just a moment!”
Since we came to a B-Rank Gate, higher than her level, she would have gained 1.6% total experience as before.
“Wow... Senior. I think I’ll reach Lv.3 during this wave?” “…What percentage are you at now?” “92%! It was 4% before entering the Gate!” “Then... it means you faced about 11 monsters.” “Is, is that so?”
Yu Eun-ha started counting on her fingers, and I checked the remaining time of the rented skills.
‘...If I apply Energy Coating once, there’s no need to apply it additionally.’
If Yu Eun-ha becomes Lv.3, she will be able to tank B-Rank monsters without trouble. Fortunately, I won't waste Origin Power, but for now, I have to rent the Energy Coating skill once more.
‘As long as no unexpected situations occur, Origin Power won't be insufficient.’
Naturally, mid-bosses and boss monsters won't be killed in one shot with Magic Missile. So I’ll just rent Energy Coating once more and make Yu Eun-ha tank.
**
As expected, thanks to Yu Eun-ha reaching Lv.3 in the second wave, I didn't have to rent the Energy Coating skill anymore. Yu Eun-ha became able to summon armor upon reaching Lv.3, and she even obtained a Taunt skill as a second growth bonus.
[You have successfully defended against the 4th Wave.] [(Mission) Defend against the Monster Wave! (5/10)] [Time until Wave... 59:59]
“Heheh! Senior! How am I?” “…You are cool?” “Why is it a question?!” “Well, isn't it because I’ve already answered several times?” “Hmph....”
Having leisurely defended up to the fourth wave, Yu Eun-ha’s pride was piercing the sky.
“Also, we have to be careful from now on.” “Ah, right. It’s the 5th wave now, isn't it?” “Yes. Because a mid-boss will appear in this wave or the next.” “…Senior. Why do mid-bosses appear randomly in Wave Missions?”
Even prominent scholars haven't figured out the reason, so how could I know? Still, one thing is certain: a mid-boss that appeared once didn't appear in other waves.
“That’s information I didn't know.” “Unless you take a separate interest and investigate, it’s natural not to know.” “Eh? Then why do you know, Senior?” “…Because I was preparing for the civil service exam.” “Ah....”
The civil service exam I intended to take was, naturally, for a position within the Hunter Association. Thanks to looking up past exam questions, I learned miscellaneous knowledge.
“So, even if we try to prepare for something from now on....” “Yes. It has no special meaning.” “Just being careful is the best, right?” “Yes.”
Still, since I didn't intend to do absolutely nothing, I rented the Energy Coating skill, which I hadn't rented since the second wave.
“Junior Eun-ha. If less than 5 minutes remain until the next wave, come to me and receive Energy Coating.” “Eh? Why suddenly?” “Because there is a high possibility Junior Eun-ha will be attacked first.” “…Still, isn't it B-Rank?” “It’s a B-Rank mid-boss. You must not let your guard down.”
Yu Eun-ha nodded with a slightly chastised expression, and when 5 minutes remained until the fifth wave began, I applied Energy Coating to her.
“Generate your armor too.” “Ah right! It was possible on armor too, right?” “Yes.” “…Then wouldn't it be better for Senior to rent at least one defensive skill too?”
Certainly, her words have merit, but I intend to save the rental slot for emergencies. Chanting-less casting used to defend against the wave. Energy Coating used for Yu Eun-ha.
‘If I make the last skill a defensive skill, survival ability will definitely increase, but... the problem is that it’s a Wave Mission.’
In Wave Missions, mid-bosses appear together with monsters. Even if Yu Eun-ha can tank up to B-Rank, what if I step back to deal with the mid-boss?
‘Yu Eun-ha’s life could be in danger.’
If the mid-boss appears when most monsters are dead, I can just deal with it leisurely. But if it appears in the beginning or middle... I need to dispose of the monsters as quickly as possible.
‘Experience is important, but survival is more important than that.’
“Senior?” “Ah. Yes.” “Senior should also take a defensive skill....” “No. Let’s save mana for emergencies.”
Yu Eun-ha made an apologetic expression, but I pretended not to notice and stared ahead.
[Time until Wave... 00:12]
“Get ready. 10 seconds left.” “Yes! Senior!”
Raising tension and staring ahead, monsters revealed themselves along with the message that the wave had started.
“Se, Senior!” “Damn it...!”
Of all things, the monsters that appeared in the fifth wave were Machine-type monsters. Machine-type monsters boast defense practically immune to impact-type attacks. It means Magic Missile, an impact-type skill, won't work.
“Wh, what do we do?!” “Wait just a moment!” “Yes! Understood!”
Hearing Yu Eun-ha’s answer, I entered Skill Rental. And I rented S-Rank Psychokinesis, which I thought I wouldn't have to rent for a while.
“If only it weren't Machine-types...!” “Senior! They’ve come really close right now?!” “Coming now!”
First, using Psychokinesis at 200% output, I pushed back the monsters that had almost reached Yu Eun-ha once.
‘Too many to find the energy source!’
Machine-type monsters have the characteristic of never stopping unless their energy source is destroyed. So, using Psychokinesis at 200% output in overlap...
—Crunch! Kwajik! “Uwah?!” “Back off! They’ll explode!” “Yes! Senior!”
...I dealt with them by compressing from both sides.
—Crunch...! Kkwa-a-a-ang! “Ukyat!” “Ugh...!”
[You have defeated a monster.] [You have defeated a monster.] ...
I dealt with over 100 Machine-type monsters by dividing them several times in the same way. The regrettable part is that since all Machine-type monsters explode upon death, mana stones cannot be recovered, and experience cannot be gained using rented skills.
“Uwah....” “Are you hurt anywhere?” “No. Fortunately....”
Survival is more important than mana stones, and even experience.
“But... is this Senior’s full power?” “....” “Senior?” “Monsters still remain.” “Pardon...?”
Yu Eun-ha closed her mouth with a puzzled expression, and I slowly pushed the Psychokinesis imbued with physical force in the direction the monsters were running from. Although the message that monsters were defeated appeared, the message that the wave was defended against did not appear.
‘Why isn't it getting caught?’
Psychokinesis used at 200% output can place a range wide enough to reach the point where monsters appear under control. Yet the fact that nothing is caught means...
—Pu-shuk! “Keuh...?!” “Se, Seniooooor!”
Suddenly, something sharp pierced my back, and Yu Eun-ha’s scream rang out.
—Chijijik! “You... son of... a bitch!” —Kwajik!
Immediately using additional Psychokinesis, I crushed the monster attached to me and threw it away.
—Kkwa-a-ang!
[You have defeated a monster.] [You have successfully defended against the 5th Wave.] [(Mission) Defend against the Monster Wave! (5/10)] [Time until Wave... 59:59]
“Sub... space... wallet...!” “Yes! Yes, yes! You mean the potion?!”
To think the damn mid-boss was an entity possessing invisibility.