Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Part 17. Great Demon War Simulation (2)
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“Ah, sorry...”
The Japanese cadet, Sojiro, apologized with an awkward smile.
“......”
The Korean cadet, Kim Ji-in, averted her gaze. She was biting her lip, clearly offended.
Then, Kim Ji-in quietly spoke up.
“You don’t have to say it like that.”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“You guys. I’m warning you ahead of time. Don’t drag me down for no reason. My grades are already fucked because of all these assignments and shit.”
“......”
“Got a problem with that?”
“No. Let’s just not talk...”
Kim Ji-in shut her mouth right after that.
Things were already off to a rocky start.
Yoo Ji-tae didn’t scold Yeoreum or anything.
He didn’t care what this foul-mouthed dragon thought or what relationships she formed with others.
The same went in reverse. If Yeoreum suffered some backlash for her attitude, as long as it didn’t cross a line, he wouldn’t interfere.
He was just their guardian, protecting the kids. Not some mentor or educator shaping them into proper people.
He had no time for that kind of sentimentality.
“...No time to waste, so I’ll explain right away. Normally, the three guardians would take turns as operators, but I’ll be your sole operator for this. The schedule for the next three days and two nights is...”
Yoo Ji-tae explained the rules they’d been given.
Yeoreum half-listened, while the other two nodded earnestly.
“Um, I’ll do my best not to be a burden... Please take care of me.”
“Sure.”
“Excuse me...”
Then Kim Ji-in hesitantly chimed in, glancing at him.
“...What should we call you, Guardian?”
“Just call me Guardian for the next three days.”
“Ah, okay.”
Prep was done, brief as it was.
Yoo Ji-tae led the cadets to the lecture hall.
*
“Roll call complete. Please gather by your pre-assigned teams.”
The air in the lecture hall was heavy.
This was their first large-scale practical training. Guardians offering advice to their cadets, everyone tense ahead of the major exercise.
Over 150 cadets alone, plus guardians making three hundred in total.
The massive hall felt cramped.
“Now, we’ll distribute gear for the Great Demon War Simulation.”
Armor Cores, communication bracelets, sparring weapons, operator equipment, and more. All the essentials for combat.
In the meantime, some cadets glanced at Yeoreum.
Her nametag had a blue sticker with the Roman numeral ‘IV’.
That was a ‘club badge’.
Clubs were organizations cadets could form on their own, without interference from professors or guardians, if they got enough members. The number on the sticker was the level assigned by the Lair.
Clubs earned levels based on their activities.
Level 4 was the second-highest, top 5% of all clubs.
“Hey, Yeoreum.”
“Yeah.”
A few cadets from level 4 clubs approached and greeted her.
“...Teaming up with them?”
One female cadet nodded toward Sojiro and Kim Ji-in.
“That’s how it ended up.”
“Kinda hurts. You turned us down when we asked you to join.”
“You guys are all in cahoots anyway.”
“Hey. Keep it down. ‘Cahoots’? We just help each other out when needed.”
“Wipe each other’s asses too?”
“What the hell... Anyway, why not team up with us? Gotta get good grades.”
“I’m good. Scram.”
Yeoreum’s rough mouth was already infamous among cadets. At first, lots hated it, even leading to near-fights. But now, they just shrugged it off.
“Everyone does it. Even the martial arts club kids.”
The ‘martial arts club’ was level 5—the highest—and only three existed among first-years.
Their members were all from top dorms recognized by the Lair, and from world-renowned families or organizations.
“So? Gonna jump off a cliff if they do?”
“Hey...”
“...Let’s just go.”
The cadet clicked her tongue and backed off.
“H-hope it goes well with the good kids.”
“Already regretting it, so buzz off, unnis.”
As the cadets left, Yeoreum muttered slyly to Yoo Ji-tae.
“Annoying bitches. Trying to score good grades by sticking together. Drawing lines. Sucking up. Fucking ridiculous.”
Is that so? He nodded nonchalantly.
Sojiro, who’d overheard since they were right there, gave an awkward smile.
“Um, I felt uncomfortable too.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. They act nice to your face but subtly show they dislike you behind your back...”
Yeoreum snapped irritably.
“Didn’t ask.”
“Ah, sorry...”
Sojiro deflated instantly.
He pondered for a moment.
Is this team gonna be okay?
“All cadets, move to your positions!”
The dice were rolled, anyway.
Their team was number 50.
Last one assigned, probably.
As the professor’s explanation continued, Yoo Ji-tae moved with nearby teams to the starting spot.
The virtual dungeon was an ‘underground cave-type’.
Named ‘Ant Nest’.
Modeled after an ant monster’s underground lair: rooms connected by passages branching every which way.
The caves weren’t pitch black—rooms had light sources—but passages were dimmer, with fewer and weaker lights.
“Hoo...”
At the starting point, Sojiro let out a tense sigh.
“G-Guardian.”
“Yeah.”
“D-Do you think we can do well?”
“Why?”
“This class is super important for grades... Mine are already bad. If I flunk here, I might have to repeat the year...”
“Hey. Why are you whining to him? He’s not even your guardian.”
At Kim Ji-in’s jab, Sojiro bowed his head.
“S-Sorry...”
“Just... don’t mind her...”
A voice went, Hmm? It was Yeoreum, lounging in the cave corner.
“You better do well, you idiots. My grades are on the line.”
“Who said I don’t want to...? I’ll do great too.”
“What? The hell? You wanna do great but didn’t even unlock your weapon’s safety?”
“Huh? Oh...”
“Get over here, bitch.”
Kim Ji-in’s weapon was a mana gun, musket-style. Yeoreum approached, unlocked the safety, inspected it smoothly, then handed it back.
Next target: Sojiro.
“You, moron!”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Gotta tighten your armor straps properly.”
His loose straps had the plastic chest plate wobbling. Yeoreum grimaced and adjusted them herself for balance.
“No wonder nobody wants you.”
By then, the two were looking at Yeoreum with slight surprise.
- Begin Great Demon War Simulation -
The professor’s voice came through the earpiece radio.
Yoo Ji-tae looked at the kids and spoke.
“You guys have a target number in mind?”
“Pardon?”
“How many teams should I deliver to your backs?”
Sojiro didn’t get it, and Kim Ji-in smiled awkwardly.
“It’s not like we can just decide that... Everyone has an operator guardian. They won’t give up their backs easily.”
He replied casually.
“So, how many?”
“What do you mean how many? Crush everything in sight.”
“Got it.”
Yoo Ji-tae turned away at Yeoreum’s conclusion.
Guardians couldn’t use mana here. The necklace artifact would detect it immediately.
They had to rely on operator gear for enemy positions, sounds, smells, visual traces, or experience from their rings. Same for Yoo Ji-tae.
But his senses, transcending norms repeatedly, couldn’t be blocked by some artifact.
Closing his eyes now, he could picture everything moving in the complex ant nest, hazy forms in his mind.
Following a sensation, he pinpointed the nearest foes and opened his eyes.
“Let’s move.”
He stepped forward.
*
Following the guardian, the cadets felt something off.
The ant nest consisted of ‘rooms’ and ‘passages’. A wide room linked to three or four narrow passages. Hard to tell which passage a sound or smell came from.
Thus, stealth and tactics were key.
How stealthily you moved.
How tactically you judged.
But the guardian ahead strode boldly, ignoring it all.
Is it okay to just charge like this?
The thought crossed both cadets’ minds.
Wait, but... I don’t hear footsteps...
Sojiro closed his eyes, listening.
Thud. Thump.
Only two sounds: his and Kim Ji-in’s.
So the guardian and Yeoreum made no noise? He’d heard it was possible, but...
As the cadets followed like they were entranced—
Yoo Ji-tae stopped.
They halted too.
He turned to them, pointing down the passage.
Then flashed hand signals: 5 5 5, 4, 2.
Strategy signs: 15m away, 4 enemies, vulnerable to ambush.
One team.
Hot damn? For real...?
How’d he know? Sojiro wanted to ask.
Moments later, voices murmured from ahead, as he’d said.
They had no clue we were here.
Ambush advantage.
But he couldn’t fight alone. Not a real life-or-death; Armor Core HP mattered.
If Yeoreum’s core HP hit zero, she’d get a death penalty.
To win this class, the two had to pull their weight.
Yet they just stood there, dumbfounded.
These idiots. Why aren’t you moving?
Yeoreum scowled and gestured at them.
But the tensed-up pair froze, clueless.
Come on, get hidden and ready to snipe so I can flank or whatever. You’re both sharpshooters!
So much to say, but no prior coordination because lazy.
Her frantic gestures ignored, Yeoreum sighed deeply and flipped them the bird with both middles.
She drew her training sword and crept silently toward the passage end.
Only then did the two tense up and follow her.
Distance closing bit by bit.
Passing the dimmer passage, nearing where room light leaked in—
Yeoreum, tensed like a blade, charged.
“Hyah!”
The enemy guardian hadn’t noticed her approach.
‘Ambush!’ The guardian yelled late.
Too late. Training sword thrust powerfully. The spear cadet chewing gum up front took it in the back.
[HP: 100 → 17]
Backstab Damage + Tension Deficit + Charge Damage + Critical
The struck cadet freaked, spinning around.
“Ack! Get her!”
“Shit!”
The startled pair drew bow and sword. But Yeoreum was faster. She smacked the bowman’s bow aside and hammered his Armor Core.
“Hyaak!”
Meanwhile, Sojiro and Kim Ji-in weren’t idle. They rushed in, shaky but precise, shooting the swordsman’s head as practiced. The core’s barrier blocked, but that meant HP loss.
[HP: 0]
Failed to counter ambush
The three enemies’ HP plummeted from poor ambush response.
The enemy guardian sighed, hand to forehead.
“D-Done!”
Shocked by the unexpected first win, Sojiro pumped his fist. Kim Ji-in clapped over her mouth in joy.
Whew. Yeoreum exhaled sharply and sheathed her sword.
The trio’s HP: 100.
First fight: perfect victory.