Foraging Squad 5
"Whoa!"
The rapier I handed to U Jeong was a women's model— a rare item with the perfect length and weight.
"It has Swiftness magic, infinite durability, and even a Strength Boost enchantment."
U Jeong gripped the rapier I'd given her and gave it a light swing. She looked pretty damn good thrusting and fencing with it, mimicking the moves.
"Wow... it's so light. And... watch my movements!"
Her movements sped up. Thanks to the Swiftness magic on the rapier. With three enchantments, it was a solid rare item.
Her disheveled black hair clung to her sweat-dampened face. Flushed cheeks, wet lips. Fuck, she's gorgeous.
"I... I've always wanted to try using a real rapier."
But her movements weren't ordinary. They had a refined elegance that couldn't be explained by just the Swiftness magic alone. Her quick thrust as she bent her right knee made me wonder if she actually knew rapier swordsmanship.
"Huh? How do I even know this?"
She was surprised at herself even as she swung the sword. Had she learned rapier techniques before losing her memories to Gyo-ju? She furrowed her brow, trying to recall something, but shook her head when nothing came.
Through Life Detection, I could read her confused emotions.
"You're good, U Jeong. Come here."
Her memories returning too quickly could be a problem. I pulled her into a light hug, patted her back, and gave her a soft kiss.
"Haaang~ Chu-reup. Churu-reup. Haaang~"
U Jeong murmured with flushed cheeks.
"If I can... make love with Master again..."
Her body trembled slightly—not from fear, but anticipation.
"You're mine. You know that, right?"
She looked up at me, her ears turning red.
"...Yes. I'm Master's."
I laid her down on the altar. She flinched at the cold stone but soon surrendered her body. I stripped off her maid outfit completely, leaving only the torn stockings. Her pale skin glowed under the red firelight.
We spent another night lost in ecstasy.
# # #
The dwarf's treasure vault was sealed shut again. I'd repurpose it as the "Dwarf's Forge" later.
U Jeong passed out from pleasure a few times in the middle but woke up refreshed after I blew mana into her with Incubus's Kiss.
"U Jeong, you're joining our workouts starting today."
"Really??"
As soon as Harina opened her eyes at dawn, she came straight to me. The men's workout clothes suited her pretty well now.
"Hyungnim, you're up too? Let's hit the gym!"
She'd come for our dawn routine—the one she and I did every day.
Harina looked every bit the pretty boy. Soon U Jeong emerged from the room in workout clothes too. Her pink dolphin pants hugged her sleek thighs.
"Huh? U Jeong? You're working out too? Where'd you get the clothes?"
"Yep! A battle maid can't be weak! Starting dawn workouts today!"
Harina beamed at her, welcoming her with open arms.
"Good call!"
Thankfully, no resistance from Harina. The three of us ran laps from the fifth underground floor up to the surface and back. There was an outdoor course, but I didn't want to expose Harina or U Jeong.
After the light workout, we showered in the separate shower room I'd made with the Ancient Druid Wood Ring. It drew up groundwater using the massive tree canopy—a natural shower setup. Depending on how you used the Ancient Druid Wood Ring, inventions like this were possible.
I'd even made a wooden sparring training ground. A space for U Jeong to train while Harina and I were in class.
The catacomb-like foraging squad dorms had turned into a lush paradise under my touch. No wonder the squad students' eyes bulged when they woke up.
"What... a shower room?"
"The toilets are flush now too. This is a miracle?"
"Am I dreaming?"
"Do-jin's magic."
"That freshman?"
"Insane..."
"Mana measurement: immeasurable, as expected."
The communal showers and filthy toilets were now flush models, built overnight. Squad leader Park Do-hyun approached me.
"Do-jin, you do all this?"
"Yeah. I spruced it up without asking. Hated the mold smell."
Park Do-hyun was about to thank me when—
"Cocky little shit. Who said you could remodel however you want?"
A cold voice. A guy glaring from the corner started walking over slowly. Skinny and withered, but the aura pouring off him was no joke.
"In-pyo..."
Park Do-hyun's uneasy voice.
"This is Hadojin, the freshman who came out 'immeasurable' in mana testing."
In-pyo? Na In-pyo? Finally face-to-face with the human trash from the first clash in the foraging squad.
Among magic and sorcery, sorcery magic was the trickiest. It activated through talismans, letters, patterns, or drawings. The human bomb spell I'd seen before was sorcery magic too.
I barely held back a laugh. So we meet like this, huh.
"Ah... you're that Hadojin punk?"
At the same time, intense killing intent hit me. I summoned the Dragon Repelling Shield in front.
Pu-kang!!!
Na In-pyo's sorcery: flame spell. No casting, so stealthy—different from fireball. If I hadn't blocked, I'd be dead.
His flame spell scorched lightly against the shield and vanished.
"Oh? Unique item? Not bad..."
Before he finished, I was already moving. Before my brain could command, my past life's boxer body reacted first. Blocked with the shield and dove into his inner space.
His pupils shook in that instant. Once you're in close, it's over.
"The human bomb your doing too?"
As my fist headed for his jaw, Na In-pyo retreated, his fingertips quickly drawing in the air.
Fire (火)
Flame afterimage rose from his fingers. Surprise flame spell—at least 3-circle instant cast.
"Cocky bastard!"
Na In-pyo thrust both hands forward. Two flame spells merged into a massive flame storm crashing at me.
"Tch!"
I resummoned the Dragon Repelling Shield. Kept my charge's momentum.
The massive flame storm spun, scattering fire shards.
"Master!! Dodge!"
U Jeong's scream from afar brushed my ears, but I didn't dodge. I stepped forward instead.
Thrust out my left arm's Dragon Repelling Shield, crouched low. Tense my lats, brace my abs. Boxing's basic guard: peek-a-boo style. Constant upper-body weaving left and right. Disrupting aim, extreme infighting to exploit gaps.
Kwaaaaa-!
The flame storm swallowed me. Intense heat and explosion rocked the underground space. Skin-scorching heat hit, but I didn't blink.
The shield screamed. Fire shards clanged sharply on dragon scales—ta-ta-tatang! 30% deflected to thin air, 20% bounced back at Na In-pyo. The rest, I slipped with weaving and ducking.
When the smoke cleared, I stood unharmed. Just a singed uniform sleeve end—no wounds.
"......Impossible."
Na In-pyo's leisure vanished for the first time. Not just that his main magic was blocked, but that I stood unmoved at the blast's heart—pure shock.
"My turn now?"
My voice echoed through the smoke. Then I kicked off the ground and launched.
Na In-pyo panicked, prepping his next spell. But I was already in his face.
Perfect timing—smoke and flash blinding him. Low crouch to slip the blast wave, rebound like a spring. Calves exploded then contracted, propelling me. One step covered nearly five meters.
"......!"
Na In-pyo's pupils shrank in horror. No more soft freshman in his eyes. A beast's gaze, zero emotion, targeting vitals.
Meeting that stare, he realized: he wasn't the hunter. He was the prey.
Thwuk-!
Fist before sound. Mana-compressed right fist sank into his solar plexus. Softest vital under ribs. Dull rupture shock transmitted through my knuckles as it hit.
"Guh... heuk...!"
Breath cut off. Lungs emptied, vision flashed red. Gut-wrenching agony twisted him shrimp-like. No scream possible.
But I wasn't done. Retracted the solar plexus fist, spun on the recoil. Chain of power: waist, shoulder, elbow. Left uppercut followed.
Kwak-jik!
His jaw pierced from below. Jawbone shattered with gruesome crack; body floated up briefly. Eyes rolled back, consciousness sucked into darkness.
I snatched his collar mid-air. No mercy to hit the floor.
Then whispered icily in his ear:
"If you're gonna try killing someone... be prepared to die."
Right before blackout, Na In-pyo's pupils shrank in final terror. All just a foolish monkey's antics before a massive beast.
"Act up again, and you're dead next time."
I finished and slammed his face into the concrete.
Thud-!
Cracks spiderwebbed the floor. Na In-pyo slumped unconscious.
All in a blink. Silence blanketed the underground.
Foraging squad students stared dumbfounded at the scene. The terror Na In-pyo who'd ruled them, smashed by a freshman's two punches.
Only Harina and U Jeong watched like it was natural. My strength was common sense to them.
I glanced down at the fallen trash, brushed my hands like nothing happened, and turned to Park Do-hyun.
"Sunbae, mind cleaning up this garbage? Bad vibe first thing in the morning."
My voice back to its usual soft tone. Hard to believe it was the same guy as the ring beast moments ago. That gap bred deeper fear and awe.
Park Do-hyun gulped dryly, nodded mechanically.
In that moment, the foraging squad's true ruler etched clearly in everyone's minds.