Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Doomed, But It's Okay Because I'm a Genius
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It was strange. Extremely so...
To the point where I even suspected Joo Ah-rin might have mistaken it.
I was about to ask again, but it must have already shown on my face.
"You really know how to wear people out in every way."
Joo Ah-rin let out a shallow sigh and directly showed me the ticket she'd drawn.
"It's real."
Once I saw it, I couldn't help but believe.
It was truly a 9. Not an upside-down 6, but a real 9. A chuckle escaped me without realizing it.
The plot had changed...
In the territory conquest where difficulty varied by draw, Joo Ah-rin's team was supposed to encounter a suitably challenging Demonic Beast, the Private Ghoul, conquer it early, and secure 4th place as the predetermined flow.
But an upset had occurred.
Could it be because of me, the variable?
"Tch, how am I supposed to fight dragging around two deadweights?"
Kang Cheol-min smirked, oblivious to the situation, but I brushed it off lightly.
"Any more questions? If not, let's head to the waiting area."
Joo Ah-rin turned coldly and walked ahead with quick steps.
I followed behind her first.
Worrying wouldn't solve anything.
Though the team members' conditions were far from ideal, Joo Ah-rin outclassed Lee Dae-ho, and I had powerful one-shots.
So it should work out somehow.
"Well, it's not 1st place anyway, just around 3rd."
It'd be a lie to say I wasn't anxious, but I wasn't scared.
The basics of battle were momentum, after all.
No matter the worst case, my resolve was to smash through anything in my way...
That much will meant you'd win half the fight already.
At least by the common sense I knew.
* * *
The location of G-17 nest that Class A would conquer was somewhere around Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi Province.
It'd take at least an hour by car, but this was a world where circles were commonplace.
Physical distance was negligible with their convenient transport devices.
Chijijik, chijik.
We stood before the portal labeled 'G-17-9' prepared behind the plaza.
Passing through that ripple of light would take us straight to Sector 9 of the G-17 nest, skipping tedious travel.
It was a long-range teleportation spell Taehak had set up in advance.
"Team 4, all members ready."
After Joo Ah-rin reported, Lee Taek-jin's voice came through the earpiece in her ear shortly after.
-Reception clear. Evaluation starts upon entry. Team 4's goal today is conquering Sector 9. Time taken, team safety, and difficulty will be evaluated. Good luck.
Entry was approved.
"Everyone ready?"
"Yeah. Ah-rin, I'm counting on you!"
"...Yes, ready."
"Alright, let's go!"
"Prioritize safety over speed until we grasp the intel. Stick to your positions."
Joo Ah-rin raised her white, slender finger in a signal.
The team members jumped into the portal at set intervals accordingly.
Leading was Kang Cheol-min of the Superhuman class, capable of both offense and defense.
Behind him, Min Young-ji of the Support class, acting as guide.
Then ranged support: summoner Joo Ah-rin for immediate response, followed by mage Lee Min-ha.
Last was the slowest but with devastating destructive power: the Spellcraft class.
Me.
That was the position order we'd set while heading to the entrance.
I boldly leaped in after the team members ahead.
"Hup."
The instant I did, it felt like stepping into a manhole unaware—my body spun wildly.
Vision went black, darkness all around.
...Oh, shit.
For hurling myself in so boldly, it was a rather unsightly fall.
Fwooooooooosh───────!
Like riding a rollercoaster with eyes closed standing up?
My sense of direction blurred too, making my stomach churn.
Kuuuung.
Fortunately, it ended faster than expected.
Ah...
Luckily not stone pavement, but something soft...
"Gaaah! My back's broken!"
"Uwaaaaa! You crazy bastard!"
...No, not this.
No wonder it smelled kinda sour.
"Ah, fuck. Move it, you retard. First time on a portal or what?!"
Yeah, first time. Asshole.
Through my clearing vision, I saw a somewhat narrow back under my butt.
Probably Justice Incarnate.
Heaven must have sent him as a stepping stone.
"Hup."
"Uwaaak, you son of a..."
Honoring that sacred intent, I stood by stomping on his stubby hand.
"Fuck. You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
At least he had decent instincts.
"Can't take it anymore. You little shit, I haven't liked you since the scholarship selection."
Scholarship? Why bring that up?
Riled up, Kang Cheol-min glared as he approached, looking ready to throw one—no, several punches.
"You okay?"
Before that, Joo Ah-rin hurried over and lightly touched his shoulder.
Kang Cheol-min flushed red for a different reason, flustered.
"Nah, what. I instinctively did a landing roll, but..."
"Whew."
Only then did Joo Ah-rin's expression relax as she sighed in relief.
"Y-You were worried...? About me getting hurt?"
"Of course. What if we lost safety points right at the start? The guy below should've dodged."
Ah, not him, the score?
"And as team leader, I'm warning you: cut the pointless bickering. Keep it up, and I'll report it to the professor separately."
"...Uh."
Kang Cheol-min seemed pretty expectant, and I felt secondhand embarrassment.
Turning back to her icy demeanor, Joo Ah-rin snapped at me too.
"You better pull yourself together too. This isn't a diagnostic eval where luck works."
I felt a bit sheepish, but not as much as that guy.
Feeling a twinge of sympathy, I apologized.
"Sorry about that."
"...Shut up."
Then Lee Min-ha scurried over and murmured to Kang Cheol-min.
"Cheol-min, thanks."
Huh? Really?
* * *
The situation settled quickly.
Joo Ah-rin hurried the delayed report.
-Team 4. Entry complete.
-Transmitting intel. Confirm.
Soon, with Lee Taek-jin's voice, the phone in her pocket vibrated.
Joo Ah-rin pulled out her phone and broadcast the received info to the team.
It was about the Demonic Beast lurking in Sector 9, which we had to conquer today.
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[Entity: Flesh Eaters]
[Threat Level: Rank 10 - Rank 7]
[Attribute: Dark (55%)]
[Traits: Demonic Beasts that live in packs. Possess fluidization ability to pass through terrain and objects. Primitive but intelligent. Leader is on the strong side.]
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"Ah, shit."
"Flesh Eaters? Super tricky Demonic Beasts, right?"
The team's faces darkened upon checking.
It was the Flesh Eaters as in the original.
About the size of a three-year-old child, but ferocious temperament, entire body black Demonic Beasts.
Even at just 55% ratio, their Dark attribute was a tough matchup.
They moved in packs, dozens in number.
Plus, the leader was Rank 7.
Mid-to-low in the hierarchy from Rank 10 to 1, but not easy for second-years.
The Demonic Beast I'd caught before was Rank 9, so this was the strongest I'd faced yet.
...But.
Wait... Hunt Demonic Beasts?
My original mission, forgotten for a moment, flashed through my mind.
"You idiot. There's stuff you forget separately."
After all that ordeal, to completely blank on it.
Hunting Demonic Beasts was another way to gain time, wasn't it?
Quest or not, I was heading to hunt Demonic Beasts right now.
And it was a nest.
Nest!
The kind where once entered, Demonic Beasts swarm in on their own.
"Heh heh, how many hours will I gain if I catch them all."
I barely suppressed the leaking grin.
Conversely, Joo Ah-rin looked quite grave.
"Looks like we drew the worst. But the stronger they are, the higher the difficulty score, so think positive. Us."
This much, I agreed.
The stronger the opponent, the more time they'd yield—pure profit.
"Since opponent's Dark attribute, let's state ours. I can use Water and Freeze."
"I'm Superhuman, simple. Just Earth."
"Main is Fire spells, bit of Metal too."
"Um, me Wind. Won't help much in combat, but..."
Joo Ah-rin asked, and Kang Cheol-min, Lee Min-ha, Min Young-ji answered in order.
Then my turn.
"I can do all..."
I barely swallowed saying I could do it.
Close call.
Truth is, attributes, along with mana and traits, were core to this world.
Basic ones: six total—Fire, Water, Metal, Earth, Wood, Wind.
Higher ones like Lightning, Freeze, Light, Dark handled like traits by the Ten Great Families.
Everyone had affinities, grew based on them.
Average two; three-plus treated as multi-attribute users.
Four-plus rare; later like Baek Sa-young handling all was heavenly genius.
But if I said I was the same?
Even explaining via manifestation ability, it'd just breed suspicion—or get me labeled crazy.
"Um?"
Anyway, when Joo Ah-rin asked again, I bullshitted moderately.
"Fire, Water, Wind—three or so?"
"...You handle all those?"
"Bullshit. A 700th place handling three?"
Maybe overshot.
Still, not implausible.
"He's a Brewer."
"Ah. Brewer..."
"Still, kinda..."
Multi-attributes were a Brewer trait.
No prime higher attribute; instead, combined basics—that was Brewers.
"Can I use 'em properly? Dunno."
"...Got it for now. Then, rough plan."
Fortunately, they let it slide without probing.
Didn't seem fully believed...
Joo Ah-rin paused thoughtfully before issuing orders.
"To shorten conquest time, you handle the leader, Kang Cheol-min. Can you?"
"Piece of cake. Feeling rusty anyway, perfect."
"...Don't overdo it, just hold it. We'll clear regulars fast, then I'll finish."
Still uneasy, she assigned Lee Min-ha support, Min Young-ji quick precise guiding, and finally fixed on me.
Deeply considering gaze...
"You..."
"Can you handle regulars solo? I'll support."
I jumped in first.
Exactly what I wanted.
"Dunno. Might be easier alone."
...Oh, really?
Didn't see that coming.
As awkwardness threatened again, Joo Ah-rin reluctantly spoke.
"Fine. Support me first."
"First?"
"Meaning... it might change."
Look at that?
If it felt off, she'd rather I go solo?
"Sure."
Guess Park Ha-yul's image was that bad.
Hadn't shown much, after all.
Became special scholarship, but not enough to flip image overnight.
But hey, when does life go exactly to plan?
Things tangle and scatter as you go, so ride the chaotic currents and grab what you want.
Use Joo Ah-rin's power to wipe regulars, then snipe the exhausted leader at the end.
"Alright, moving out."
Joo Ah-rin took a small orb from her pocket and tossed it into the air.
Whiiiiiing.
A sort of CCTV.
Demonic engineering device streaming and recording conquest live.
All prep done.
"Th-Then, I'll guide."
We advanced with Min Young-ji leading.
Sector 9, top difficulty. Now turned treasure trove of time. Toward that place.