Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Being a Party Leader is Damn Hard
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Deep in a fog-shrouded canyon.
A chilling wind carried eerie hallucinations like a woman's wail drilling into their eardrums.
-Kieeeek!
As the fog parted, a pale ghost floated in midair.
A hideous Banshee Queen clad in a tattered wedding dress.
The moment it opened its mouth, the surrounding air vibrated as if being torn apart.
It was an instant-death grade AoE pattern: [Death's Wail].
"O-Oppa! My ears! My ears feel like they're gonna split open!"
Park Yumin clutched her ears and screamed.
Lee Seo-ah hid behind her shield, grimacing in agony as well.
What a joke.
The real pain was hitting me and Yuriel.
Thanks to my boosted Sense stat, my hypersensitive hearing was amplifying the agony beyond imagination.
But I didn't panic.
I already had the strategy in hand.
Ting-a-ling.
I pulled out the [Soul-Pacifying Bell] from my inventory and gave it a light shake.
A clear, resonant chime rang out.
That tiny ripple swallowed the Banshee Queen's horrific shriek like a lie.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Banshee Queen's wail nullified!
Entity forcibly materialized!
-Kyaaak?!
With the noise blocked, its ethereal body was forced to materialize and slammed into the ground.
Crash!
"Now! Pour on the DPS!"
At my shout, Yuriel's arrows and Park Yumin's flames surged toward it in perfect sync.
Bam-bam-bam! Boom!
The boss writhed in pain and swung its elongated claws in retaliation.
Thud!
"Ngh…!"
Lee Seo-ah staggered but blocked the claw with her shield.
A plain shield with no skills.
But she held firm like a stubborn bull.
I slipped to the boss's flank.
Its claw trajectory, muscle twitches, even the faint whistle through the air—all crystal clear.
-Shhiiik!
A razor-sharp claw lunged for my throat.
I could dodge.
But I didn't. Or rather, I waited until the last possible second.
1 centimeter.
The instant the claw nearly grazed my skin.
Now.
Twist.
I twisted my upper body just a hair.
Its claw barely snagged my clothes and sliced empty air.
At the same moment, a red flash blazed in my vision.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Retaliatory Blade
Next strike is a guaranteed critical hit.
A thrilling shiver raced through my body.
Time seemed to slow as the boss's exposed side came into view, defenseless.
I put my full weight into the Wraithblade and slashed.
-Slash!
150% damage bonus. Plus a guaranteed crit.
A heavy impact traveled up my arm.
The Banshee Queen's waist was sliced halfway through.
-Kieeeek!
"Shut it."
I didn't even give it time to scream.
I kicked its chest to disrupt its balance, then lined up another retaliation window.
The boss flailed wildly, claws slashing everywhere.
But to my eyes, it was just a clumsy dance.
Dodge, slash. Dodge, stab.
It wasn't a fight—it was a one-sided massacre.
Every move carved deep wounds, black blood spurting.
"Finish it!"
As it finally lowered its head, I leaped and drove my sword into its crown.
Squelch!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Stage 1-2 Boss, 'Banshee Queen' defeated.
Stage clear!
A massive shriek echoed as its body dissolved into black smoke.
A perfect victory.
'Compared to the hidden boss, this one's a pushover.'
"Wooo! We won! Oppa forever!"
The moment the boss fell, Park Yumin cheered and rushed over.
Her robe fluttered, her ample curves bouncing freely.
With battle tension gone, her flushed face and sweat-soaked clothes clung tightly, accentuating every curve.
"Oppa! Did you see? My flame went boom!"
"Yeah."
I gave a half-hearted reply while checking the loot.
Items glowed where the boss had fallen.
[Banshee's Wail Staff (Rare)]
Greatly increases magic attack power.
On magic skill use, infuses 'Banshee's Wail' effect, temporarily reducing target's magic resistance.
"Hooh."
Magic penetration, huh.
Honey for a mage.
I picked up the staff and tossed it to Park Yumin.
"Yumin. Use this."
"Huh? R-Really?! You're giving me this? But I already have a staff?"
"Tch."
"I-I'll use it. Thanks. As expected, the only one who looks out for Yumin is Oppa, right?"
She hugged the staff excitedly like it was plushie and bounced in place.
"Kyahaha! Oppa's the best! Oppa's the best!"
Her bouncing chest kept drawing my eyes, but with onlookers, I schooled my expression and checked the next item.
A red skill card.
I'd hoped, and sure enough.
Fitting for a magic-type boss, another magic skill card.
'Always got magic cards in the game too. Fixed drop, huh.'
[Soul-Burning Mirage (Rare)]
Creates a wide-area cursed crimson-black flame zone ahead.
Enemies in range take continuous fire damage; on hit, chance to inflict 'Terror' status.
'Tch.'
Of all things, this card for me.
Could've been a normal AoE.
Game gave Fire Wall or Fire Field, but reality drops the most ominous one.
Still, performance-wise, it's solid AoE.
Not for me anyway.
"Yumin. Take this too."
"Yesss? Again? What's this one?"
"AoE. Mob cleanup's yours from now on."
I handed her the card.
She took it reverently, gazing like it was a jewel.
"Wow… the dark red color is so pretty. Feels kinda… warm?"
'Warm?'
My brow furrowed.
That ominous card feels warm to her?
Unique tastes, or aptitude?
"Register it now."
"Yep! Got it!"
Crimson-black haze rose around her, then sank in.
Her eyes flashed red briefly, then back to her usual bright smile.
"Hehe, power's surging! Oppa, am I really strong now?"
Park Yumin rubbed against my arm, acting cute.
Like a puppy begging for pets.
As long as she doesn't pull this crap, a compliant DPS is fine.
'AoE DPS sorted…'
For efficient farming, need a mob-puller anchor.
My gaze naturally shifted.
Lee Seo-ah stood there.
"……."
Head bowed, silent.
Veins bulged on her shield-grip hand; lips bitten bloody.
Party celebrating rare items and unique skills—everyone but her.
Exclusion hitting hard.
'Funeral vibe.'
She's at her limit.
Ignore more, and she'll break, becoming dead weight.
Plus, AoE farming needs a sturdy meat shield.
'Time to toss her one…'
One card buried in my bag.
Souvenir from smashing Hailons in 1-1.
Forgot amid my spec-up grind.
[Ironclad Defense (Normal)]
Reduces all incoming physical damage from the front by 80% for 3 seconds.
Forgot initially; later, her whining killed the urge.
Needed fodder for Karma Crystal random draws.
But now's different.
Time to manage her.
'Trash card anyway; next stage'll drop more. Wanna up fodder rarity this time.'
I rummaged and pulled out the crumpled card.
Tossed it casually at Lee Seo-ah's feet, who looked world-weary.
"Take it."
Plop.
"……Pardon?"
She blinked in shock, staring blankly.
I nodded at the floor.
"Gonna block with that tin shield forever? Learn it. Lousy tank means no free DPS."
"This is…?"
She bent puzzled, picked it up.
Then saw the details.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
A basic normal skill, but a godsend survival tool for a barehanded tank.
No—more than that.
"This… for me…?"
Her voice trembled.
I shrugged.
"Found it cleaning inventory. Forgot I had it. Not for me."
"Ah…."
Her eyes reddened instantly.
My casual "forgot" sounded like consideration to her.
Relief at not being discarded.
Gratitude for finally being cared for.
All plain on her face.
"Th-Thank you… No, really… thank you…."
She clutched the card to her chest and bowed.
The unease and venom from before? Gone.
'What the hell, that much?'
I scratched my head.
Just inventory tidy-up and meat shield upgrade.
Her overreaction embarrassed me.
"Register and move. Portal's open."
I turned casually.
But the stares on my back burned.
Park Yumin's horny-puppy gaze, Yuriel's fear-worship mix.
And now Lee Seo-ah's too.
'……Tiring.'
Being a party leader is damn hard.
Anyway, 1-2 cleared clean.
All alive, loot stacked.
Plus mysterious [Ether Core].
One thing left.
'Cash it in outside.'
3/4.
Number top-left of system window.
I ordered Lee Seo-ah and Park Yumin through first.
2/4… 1/4.
'Confirmed.'
Only me and Yuriel left.
Yet matching shows 1/4.
Meaning.
"Yuriel."
"Yes! Master!"
"Never been to tutorial map, right?"
"T-Tutorial…?"
"Or that red guy dragged you forcibly from start?"
"……?"
"Nah. Whatever."
Definite.
Yuriel's not summoned like me or Park Yumin.
Poor soul yanked by the vicious Blood Oath Stone.
'Tough fate.'
I stared at her awhile.
"Master…?"
"Nothing. Let's head back."
"Yes!"
Think later.
Uses for uncounted member.
Not urgent now.