Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Academy's Summer Vacation (7)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I ended up running into Roina Naen, who I was supposed to meet in front of the warp gate that morning.
Seeing her face brought it all rushing back clearly.
A female knight with long red hair and a slender, uncurvy figure.
She was fully geared up for the dungeon in bright blue armor, shield in one hand and sword in the other.
After coming to Global Academy, I'd heard from Seo Yeon that she was a new friend she'd gotten closer to while being a bit more proactive in hanging out.
But as I struggled to fit into Q Class and drifted away from my old friends, Seo Yeon started talking less about her friends, so I hadn't heard much since then.
If she's really her best friend, she'd know we broke up too.
"Hello, Roina Naen."
"Yes. Hello, Yoo Sian."
There wasn't really anything to talk about.
"Counselor Da-young mentioned one request when she matched us up, right?"
"Yes. That if there's just one Hop Goblin, you'd handle it."
"Then let's get going."
Honestly, I just wanted to bail and head back to the dorm, but it'd probably be awkward with anyone else too.
I tapped my watch on the pass and opened the warp gate.
Riding the now-familiar perk of spatial transfer, we arrived at the mid-level Goblin Dungeon.
"Do you need my help finding the Hop Goblin too?"
As we crossed the cracked space and entered the dungeon, Roina Naen asked me.
Should I accept her help?
Truth be told, since she has skills, she's way stronger than me.
It wouldn't hurt to gauge just how strong a regular Global Academy student from the same year really is.
"Yeah. I'm eager to see the thing. Help me out."
"Got it. I'll take the lead."
With her knightly gear and shield, Roina Naen positioned herself in front of me.
Her long red hair swaying slightly in the air looked pretty cool.
It wasn't long before three goblins appeared.
"Mind handling the lone one on the left?"
Roina Naen charged toward the pair that were together.
I dashed at my assigned target on the left, grabbed the staff it wielded with my left hand, and stabbed my sword into its heart.
Normally, I'd toy with it a bit and control my strength, but today I just wanted to end it quick...
Serack serack
Every time Roina Naen's sword flashed, a goblin's head came flying off.
Is that the kind of power you get with a skill tied to your main weapon?
I couldn't pull off slashes like that, so I'd been sticking to targeting vitals to kill goblins.
The gap was so wide she didn't even need to bother with that.
After slicing through the two goblins in an instant, Roina Naen looked at me, her eyes widening a bit before she shook her head slightly.
She seemed like she had something to say but swallowed it back.
Yeah, let's not chat and just hunt down that Hop Goblin.
"Let's go. Goblins aren't even a match for you, Roina Naen."
"You're different from the rumors too, Yoo Sian."
So teaming up brings side benefits like this.
If I ever had to fight someone while pretending to be the weakest, I could probably bait them into letting their guard down.
"Keep it a secret, okay?"
"Pardon...? Sure."
We headed deeper into the dungeon without another word.
I'd gone to the Dungeon Management Office to hit a dungeon for a mood boost and was waiting my turn.
It was finally my go, but some Q Class guy cut in line out of nowhere.
I knew Q Class had privileges like getting dedicated counselors to assign dungeons, but this was the first time I'd been screwed over like this.
And of all people, by Yoo Sian, who you could call Seo Yeon's ex.
I was staring blankly as he got his consultation when a friend came over and told me.
"The other Q Class kids used their perks during term, but this guy's doing it on break. Kinda pathetic, right?"
I knew why Yoo Sian had suddenly changed, so I couldn't really say anything and just nodded vaguely.
The other students started piling on the trash talk, but luckily the counter had soundproofing for privacy.
Yoo Sian came out after a short consultation looking kinda unsatisfied and left the office, then it was my turn.
"Hello."
"Ah, Naen. Hey. Heading to a dungeon?"
"Yeah. Got any good ones? Something easy for a change-of-pace run."
"Hand over your smartphone?"
"Sure."
I pulled my smartphone from my pocket and gave it to big sis Da-young. She checked my dungeon records and said.
"You know that Yoo Sian kid I was just consulting with?"
"Everyone knows him, even if they pretend not to. Hard not to."
"He wants some combat experience against a Hop Goblin. So I found this dungeon for him?"
Da-young unnie showed me the dungeon info on her monitor.
"Mid-level Goblin Dungeon where the boss can spawn up to two Hop Goblins?"
"Sending him solo feels iffy, so wanna help out? You're going for a mood booster anyway, but teaming with Yoo Sian might be awkward...?"
Da-young unnie said with a wry smile.
Even if Yoo Sian had a bad rep inside the academy, I thought it was blown out of proportion.
Hanging with Seo Yeon meant I'd unintentionally monitored his every move too.
He'd come back from dungeons, register for the next at the management office, train in the stamina room at night—a tougher schedule than most academy students all break long. I figured he just grew weirdly slow.
"Sure. I'll go for the change of pace. Just help him get a one-on-one with the Hop Goblin, right?"
"Yep. I'll hook you up with extra points when you apply for dungeon guide later. Knight types are popular."
"Sounds good... Just don't make it obvious."
I got that Yoo Sian was the weakest in Q Class, but calling him the academy's weakest didn't make sense anymore.
Using a sword that efficiently?
Sure, I killed more goblins faster using my skill, but...
Yoo Sian didn't even use skills—just methodically slew them with pure swordplay.
No wasted movement. Straight to the heart, over and over.
Dodge the attack and stab the heart. Deflect and stab the heart.
Seo Yeon said after getting that Possession skill, he hadn't acquired any others. Did he really change after breaking up with her?
I'd planned to grab Seo Yeon by the collar and force a confrontation if he was still struggling unchanged, but now I couldn't tell.
Would getting them together be better for both, or would his growth stall again and wreck things? Even I didn't know anymore.
"I'll take these two this time."
"Ah."
Lost in thought, Yoo Sian charged first.
The goblin swinging its club wildly— he blocked with his armor and pierced its heart.
Then he leaped back, creating distance as he dodged a thrusting spear goblin and stabbed again.
Precise movements solely to kill, like an assassin.
I snapped to and activated my skill.
Blue mana cloaked my sword, cleaving the goblin in half with the skill's power. But watching Yoo Sian fight stirred some longing in me.
'Skills are straight-up broken. For real.'
Roina Naen, who'd been spacing out, activated her skill, and another goblin split in half.
I'm fussing over ribs and whatnot to hit the heart, but she just swings and schwick—goblin in pieces.
Mid-level dungeon goblins trigger Composure, but they're not worth the mental power for Insight.
Even if I could, today's target was set.
Off in the distance loomed a goblin way bigger than the rest—about as tall as a tall woman, but with a muscular build.
Unlike the green ones, its skin was rough and pockmarked, orange like a bear's.
That hide's gotta be way tougher than a regular goblin's.
It wielded a wooden club longer than its waist, tipped with a band of iron.
Clad in crudely cut beast pelts for armor, it ironically had the best gear of any foe I'd faced. Today's prey.
"I'll take the Hop Goblin. Goblins are yours."
"Got it. Be careful."
About ten goblins surrounded the Hop Goblin, but with the strength Roina Naen had shown getting here, she'd win without a scratch.
Focus on my foes.
"Kekekekekekeke!!!"
The Hop Goblin pointed its massive club at us and bellowed.
"Kekeke."
"Kyakyakyakya!!"
The surrounding goblins seemed hyped up by it, more aggressive than any I'd seen in the dungeon.
Still, no match for Roina Naen.
We charged straight in.
Roina Naen led.
She triggered her skill, blue mana swirling around her sword.
"Kyaaah!"
Serack
Her single slash killed the lead goblin rushing us.
I swung my sword past the halted Roina Naen and bolted for the Hop Goblin.
It raised its bludgeon high and swung with insane speed.
Big difference in reach from regular goblins. That swing could hit me.
I even used Insight to track the club's exact path, but stopping my momentum mid-charge was tough.
Can't dodge? Then block!
Kaaaaang!
The iron on the club clashed hard against my sword.