Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: It's Fine Because I'm a Genius, Even on a Time Limit
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Ten paths from ten entrances converged into a single finale.
The race to that end had just begun.
Each team had claimed their waiting spot near the core of the entrance stage they had occupied.
Thud. Thud.
Joo Ah-rin's Team 4 was also heading there after passing through Entrance 9.
With the real battle looming, the atmosphere was tense and rigid.
"No new info yet?"
"Nope. They're managing it pretty tightly."
The only sounds were occasional murmurs from Kang Cheol-min and Lee Min-ha.
Joo Ah-rin didn't mind the silence.
A proper level of tension reduced mistakes and sharpened focus on the situation.
She too was steadily honing herself, determined to hold their ranking from the entrance stage occupation battle.
"Yawn~"
She endured even the occasional grating reactions that caught her eye...
"Yaaaawn~."
Endured again...
"Ah, I'm so tired I could die."
This guy, seriously...
His constant needling finally pushed her to glare at him.
"Sorry. Went to bed late last night."
Park Ha-yul raised his hand sheepishly.
Was he proud of that? Proud?
Was this guy laid-back or just oblivious?
She wanted to snap at him, but her tone stayed soft compared to her true feelings.
Their relationship had soured after the entrance stage incident.
"At least try to tense up. The real thing's about to start."
"You want me to tense up more here? My hands and feet are already shaking? Look."
"...Put that away."
Joo Ah-rin swatted away the hand Park Ha-yul extended.
And once more, she pondered.
How had someone like him unleashed sorcery strong enough to rival freezing spells.
It was a mystery.
After some discreet inquiries, she suspected it might be a shaman-specific attribute combination...
"How's a 700th-rank gonna use attribute combos? That make sense? Nah, I think it's gear boost. That wooden bracelet looks super suspicious."
Kang Cheol-min's theory, chattered out when he'd rushed over that morning, held water.
Was it really the armament?
Sure, if he held a grudge against her, maybe.
But it lacked the precision for intentional harm.
"Bracelet-type armament..."
Joo Ah-rin couldn't help glancing at Park Ha-yul's bracelet.
No special patterns, worn out like it might snap any second.
But perspective shifted things?
Calling it an embedded-sorcery armament made it look refined and antique.
...And it seemed like one more had appeared.
"Ah-rin!"
"..."
"Joo Ah-rin!"
In that moment, Lee Min-ha poked her side sharply.
"Ah."
"What're you thinking? We're here!"
"Huh? ...Oh."
Joo Ah-rin's face flushed red as she forced an awkward smile.
She'd nagged everyone else to stay focused, yet here she was slacking.
"...Strategizing. Tough without intel."
But she quickly played it cool, feigning nonchalance.
At least it was Lee Min-ha who'd noticed.
"Whoa, the team leader's on another level."
"Gotta give it my all. Who knows what'll happen."
"You're amazing. So glad we're on the same team!"
No suspicion, just admiring glances instead.
Whew—
Joo Ah-rin let out a sigh mixed with guilt and relief.
Team 4 waited in place for a while.
After about an hour, Lee Taek-jin's voice came through the earpiece.
-Team 4. Ready?
It was their turn, following Seol Yun-gi's and Baek Sa-young's teams.
-Standing by.
-Got it. Cameras?
-All clear.
-The finale has heavy mana interference and signal jamming, so real-time monitoring might be spotty. Keep that in mind.
-Yes, sir.
-Proceed then. Good luck.
With approval granted, it was the team leader's job to open the door.
Joo Ah-rin stepped forward and reached toward the pulsing core of the entrance stage.
Tzzzzzt, zzzt.
The core reacted to her mana, churning.
It trembled finely before erupting in blinding light.
Craaaaaack.
When the light faded, a pitch-black rift remained.
The door to the finale had opened.
"Now we really focus. Keep formation tight and follow right behind."
Joo Ah-rin steeled herself and stepped toward the rift.
Her tense teammates followed one by one.
* * *
The rift to the finale was quite different from a portal.
It looked like a black hole sucking everything in.
Thud—
But one step, and the view opened up as the surroundings magically transformed.
Suddenly, chirping insects buzzed irritably.
Inhaled air brought fresh forest scent instead of stale dampness.
She thought the dim light meant time had passed, but no.
Towering trees, dense as a city skyline, blocked the sun.
"Jungle. Unfavorable terrain for us, like the caves."
Joo Ah-rin quickly crouched and muttered softly.
Her teammates followed suit, hunching with sharp eyes.
......
I just stood there.
"What're you doing, idiot? Crouch."
Kang Cheol-min glared and scolded.
"Why?"
"Why? You know entry's the most dangerous phase, right?"
"Yeah. But why crouch."
"Duh, hide your body first. Ugh, this moron."
"I'm already hidden?"
I gestured around demonstratively.
Unknown foliage at least two meters tall packed densely—we were perfectly camouflaged.
"Won't crouching make reacting harder?"
"..."
Kang Cheol-min and the others finally stood sheepishly.
This is why talking to civilians doesn't work.
What's with unsuitable vigilance in this environment?
Joo Ah-rin was probably the most embarrassed, but I didn't point it out.
She'd take it seriously, face over life...
"Ah-rin, why'd you crouch then?"
"..."
"Saw something as team leader, right? Yeah?"
"...Wanna fight?"
"Huh?"
Bwoooong.
Perfect timing—info transmitted.
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[Name: Flesh-Eater Spiders]
[Danger Level: Rank 9 - Rank 6]
[Attributes: Earth (41%), Metal (44%)]
[Features: Spider-type demonic beasts that feast on human flesh. Their primary weapon is potent venom that paralyzes nerves. Spider silk is extremely tough, requiring mana reinforcement to sever. Some males are Rank 7. The queen is Rank 6, with a massive body and considerable power.]
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"We're screwed. Can second-years even handle this?"
Reactions mirrored the entrance stage.
Kang Cheol-min exploded upon checking the info, complaining bitterly.
The others looked grim too.
I was unfazed since I knew already, but they were tricky foes, no denying.
Fusion attributes of earth and metal.
Wood beats earth, but loses to metal. Fire beats metal, but feeds earth. Complicated counters.
Few advantages.
Pondering, Joo Ah-rin stepped forward.
"The queen stays in her lair anyway. On the way, watch for male Flesh-Eater Spiders? Keep formation like before—I'll take the males. Min-ha—"
Now she looked like Joo Ah-rin.
Despite just learning the enemy, she proposed a solid strategy.
Unlike before, she named each teammate, asking opinions...
"...Last one. What do you think?"
Even treating me like I existed, despite the awkwardness.
Commendable.
So, I shared a bit of my foreknowledge.
"Strategy's good. But add a few things."
"...Like what?"
Joo Ah-rin perked her ears despite the frown.
I continued.
"First, Min-young's guidance matters, but listen for sounds."
"Sounds?"
"No insect chirps when they're near."
"...Got it. Makes sense."
Joo Ah-rin looked genuinely surprised.
"Whoa, sharp."
"Tch, show-off..."
Lee Min-ha was always positive; Kang Cheol-min always negative—so whatever.
"More?"
"Yeah. Second—"
The vibe seemed receptive, so time for my real angle.
"My position needs separating."
"What?"
"Can't do rear support well. Won't use offensive sorcery for a bit."
"...Hmm."
Joo Ah-rin narrowed her eyes, puzzled.
I pointed to the dense trees around.
"Unlike magic, sorcery hits hard per shot. Wide range too. Imagine casting here."
"That would..."
"Backfire? Noise draws more."
Kang Cheol-min interrupted mid-point.
"Damn. So we three—no, four fight? What're you doing?"
Sharp when it suits him.
I shook my head casually, pointing up.
"I'll claim up there instead."
"Where? The trees?"
"Yeah. Block their mobility. They ambush via silk from above and below. Cut it?"
"Then...?"
"Way easier. Just big venomous ants."
Did it land?
Quest secured or not, I'd play passive.
Save mana, take last hits like before.
Response came quicker than expected.
"Good idea. If control's shaky, better... Anyway, someone's gotta do it."
Joo Ah-rin glanced at my wrist, nodding first.
"Big talk for your skill..."
Kang Cheol-min grudgingly stepped back.
But you can't stay like that.
I quickly stopped him.
"Kang Cheol-min."
"What?"
"Lend that dagger. For cutting silk."
I pointed to the ornamental dagger at his waist.
Not targeted, just caught my eye.
Can't waste my One Sword on silk.
Special-grade armament or not...
"You know what this is?"
Not ordinary, apparently.
Kang Cheol-min scowled, swiftly covering it.
Armament then?
Can't pass that up.
"You use fists anyway. Won't wear out from a few uses. Stingy bastard."
"What? Sti—stingy? You little..."
"If not, lend it. For the 'team.'"
"Team" made him pause.
With Lee Min-ha, Joo Ah-rin, and Min-young watching, he couldn't hold out.
"...T-Take it."
He handed the dagger, pretending nonchalance.
Does Kang Cheol-min know?
Once in my hands, it's all mine.
"Thanks. Giving freebies like this."
"It's a loan, not a gift!"
"Same diff to me."
"Crazy bastard. Whatever. Lose it and you're dead."
Kang Cheol-min growled, genuinely pissed, glaring.
"...Huh?"
I just blinked, speechless.
Scared?
Nah.
The awaited message popped at that exact timing.
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[Main Quest #3]
[Objective: Defeat the finale boss, Flesh-Eater Spider Queen (Contribution 50%+)]
[Reward: 15 days, 20 SP]
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Success means over two weeks' time, plus a step toward 100 SP.
Causality reward acquisition...
Suddenly within reach.