Chapter 64
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Bola
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‘Can’t beat it after all?’
Team Leader Kim Shin-woo gave a faint smile, as if he’d expected as much.
‘Still, for a fight without any prep time, they’re holding out pretty well. Gotta be at least level 25.’
Stronger than he’d anticipated, but not quite labyrinth material.
What they were looking for was a 4-star hunter. No, at minimum level 30. That was the bare requirement to survive the ‘labyrinth.’
‘With skills like that, we don’t really need to recruit him...’
On top of that, his main weapon was throwing-based, which suited solo fights over group battles. He just didn’t mesh with Black Bears all around.
‘Time to lend a hand.’
He couldn’t just let them die, so he moved to help—only for the masked fighter’s aura to shift suddenly.
‘Switching to offense now?’
Up until then, he’d focused purely on dodging Khan’s attacks. Now he was moving first.
And that weapon.
Whirr— whirr— whirr—
‘A sling at that range?’
The masked man was spinning the sling cord wildly. A string of incomprehensible moves.
But Song Hye-rin saw it differently.
‘That’s not a sling.’
Having wielded a sling for years, she’d bet her life savings it wasn’t one.
She could tell it wasn’t a sling, but even she had no clue what Cha In-hyeok was up to.
‘...Not a meteor hammer? What is it?’
Too short for a meteor hammer. And it wasn’t a sling either—the way he gripped and spun the cord was bizarre.
With a normal sling, you’d hold both ends and whirl it around. But Cha In-hyeok was gripping the middle and spinning it instead.
Whoosh— whoosh—
At each end of the cord dangled a shuriken, twirling madly. The sight sparked a memory.
‘Ah! Bola!’
A bola was a primitive capture weapon old cowboys used for hunting.
Thrown like that, it spun through the air and tangled around a target’s legs or body.
Truth be told, even Song Hye-rin had only mentioned its existence to him—she’d never taught him how to use one.
‘No way In-hyeok improvised a bola on the spot. Looks like he’s aiming to bind the centaur’s legs... Will it work?’
Incredible adaptability, but could he land it properly with a first-time weapon?
Plus, bolas were primitive for a reason—success rates were abysmally low. Even a perfect throw might not wrap right.
“Kyaaat!”
Right on cue, Khan charged. Cha In-hyeok hurled the shurikens at the same moment.
Khan swung his spear to knock them away. But just before impact, Cha In-hyeok yanked the cord, halting them.
Now it was clear—he still held the cord.
Whoosh—
Khan’s spear blade sliced through empty air.
Cha In-hyeok pulled the shurikens back while spinning his body. A technique he’d held in reserve amid constant defense: the tail whip.
Twirl—
The bola orbited his body like a propeller. The pulling force kept the spin blisteringly fast.
‘Now!’
The instant Song Hye-rin screamed it inwardly, Cha In-hyeok released the cord. The fully powered bola rocketed out.
“Grrk!”
Centaur Khan’s face twisted in agony. The counter came too fast on the heels of his own attack—no time to dodge.
Whirr whirr—
Spinning relentlessly, the bola struck his front legs and swiftly bound them together.
“Clever... tricks!”
Khan strained to snap the cord, but it didn’t budge.
Of course not. Orc leather didn’t yield to brute force alone—Khan needed a blade.
“Huh?”
Staggering in shock at his bound legs, Khan left himself wide open. Cha In-hyeok pounced.
“Gotcha!”
Whoooosh—
Mountain Breeze, starved for blood all day, hummed eagerly.
Khan raised his spear shaft to block, but the bindings threw off his stance.
Not that blocking was the right call to begin with.
“No one stops me!”
“Guh!”
Khan’s chest split wide. Blood gushed, muscles tore, arms went limp. The spear shattered in two.
Centaur kind poured everything into offense and mobility by nature.
Legs bound and a hit taken? Game over.
“You... damned... demon...”
Khan’s head flew before he finished. Three strikes total—even counting the bola bind.
‘So the rumors aren’t total BS, huh?’
Kim Shin-woo nodded, impressed by the masked fighter’s prowess.
‘Beating a Centaur Khan solo with crap gear. Gotta be at least level 30.’
Didn’t seem battle-hardened, but the improvisation was elite. Classic combat sense. Types like that only got stronger with experience.
‘The weird weapon’s a hang-up, but he clears the bar.’
Kim Shin-woo approached as the masked man looted. Time for the official scout offer.
‘No way he turns this down.’
Artifacts galore, private hunting grounds, fat paycheck, and in Hongcheon? Kingly perks.
Only an idiot would say no.
“I’m not joining.”
The man before him was an idiot.
“Oh, and that loot’s mine, right? You said it was. A man’s word is his bond.”
A spineless one, too.
* * *
“Why’d you bring up the loot right there? Could’ve landed a cool one-liner exit.”
Out of the gate, Hye-rin noona shot me a disappointed glare. But I stood tall.
“Psh, style doesn’t pay bills. And what if he changes his mind? Gotta nail it down firm. No backsies then.”
“Black Bears’ rep says otherwise... but yeah. Good call. Better safe.”
Honestly, I hadn’t planned to push that hard at first. But the drop? Irresistible.
[Centaur Khan's Magic Crystal (D)]
[Agility +3. Durability 40. Weight 0.1]
[Special: 'Rush' unlocked.]
[Rush (D-rank): +30% speed during sprints. Turning’s tougher but doable. Lower stamina drain—run long without tiring fast.]
A 3-star monster core. Rare as hell.
Kim Shin-woo nearly died of regret when he realized it later.
‘Gonna slap this on my spare boot.’
Plenty of running in the other world. Perfect fit.
But the Khan kill had more perks. My level, stuck since 24, finally ticked up.
[Cha In-hyeok. Lv 25. (1.6%)] [Mana 3/45]
[Strength 75, Agility 75, Vitality 75, Intelligence 67]
‘Same-grade monsters give solid EXP. Time to hunt a 3-star spot.’
This outing taught me how to handle centaurs: spear walls, ranged attacks, magic.
Spear walls? Easy.
“Noona, think you could ask Mr. Go to make some long spears like those guys used?”
“Long spears? Why the sudden ask?”
“For the orcs. Orc pikemen project, baby.”
“Orcs as pikemen?”
Armor too if time allowed, but weapons first.
I’d commission spears and orc-sized plate from Mr. Go, then train the orcs in the meantime.
Orc smarts worried me a bit, but I’d taught goblins slings. We’d manage.
‘Just have ’em hold position with spears. Cake.’
Ranged? Goblin riders. Magic? Me and Moemoe with illusions. Covered.
‘Gotta reach the labyrinth ASAP. Wave odds low, but prep anyway.’
Even rushing, forging and training’d eat time.
Might not finish till after graduation exams.
“Oh... graduation exams soon, huh.”
“Right! Any grad gift in mind?”
“Haha. Dunno. Don’t really need anything...”
A life-size Magical Girl Lilia figure nearly escaped my lips. I clenched my teeth.
“Alright, I’ll surprise you. Just ace the test.”
“Test’s one-on-one with a monster, right?”
“Yeah. Pass/fail based on how you handle a 1.5-star.”
Hobgoblins, giant orb weavers, scavenger ghouls—that tier.
Trainees lagged levels, but gear was top-tier. Proper training? Most pass.
“Bet tons flunk anyway.”
“Nah.”
“You’re the outlier. Most lack experience vs peers. Low-rankers? Underleveled too.”
“...Harsh. All that brutal training, just to fail.”
“Can’t be helped. Pass the weak, and a raid wipes.”
Bitterness soured my mood. I sighed.
Hit me: nearly everyone risked life daily.
* * *
Winter’s bustle faded. New life sprouted. Academy graduation exam day arrived.
“Ughhh. Should’ve popped a calming pill.”
Jin-hyuk hyung paced the lounge like a madman. I paused checking my meteor hammer and sighed.
“Hyung, cut it out? You’re stressing everyone.”
“Sorry, sorry. Can’t calm down. Ugh. Scavenger ghoul? Can I win?”
“Duh. Watch its charge path, time a shield bash. Done.”
“Easier said. I pumped strength/vitality—fast ones like ghouls are nightmares.”
“Fair. Bad matchup hurts. But show you can overcome? That’s passing.”
“Ugh. I know...”
Hyung groaned like a dog desperate to poop. Then the attendant entered.
“Trainee Lee Jin-hyuk?”
“Y-Yes!”
“Enter.”
“Ugh. Got it.”
“Hyung, fighting!”
Jin-hyuk hyung followed to the arena. I yelled support, then eyed the lounge TV.
Screen showed him entering: axe, shield, heavy plate. Textbook close-tank.
‘What monster?’
“Grrr! Gr!”
“Ah!”
Hyung panicked onscreen. Worst draw: scavenger ghoul.
‘Rough ride.’
Fight went textbook bad.
The ghoul circled like a pro hunter, probing gaps. Hyung trailed half a beat slow, eating hits.
Full-face helm narrowed vision. Ghoul ducked out easy.
‘No rush.’
Ghoul fast, damage meh. Hyung’s vitals could tank a couple.
‘I’d trade flesh for bone, but...’
Hyung turtle-shelled, waiting it out. Drain the ghoul’s steam.
Solid tank play.
Time passed. Ghoul panted, spent. Hyung struck.
Bam!
Short, vicious shield bash to the head. Ghoul reeled.
Axe shadow loomed.
“Yelp!”
Final screech. Exam over. Hyung returned, wistful.
I wanted to congratulate him, but the attendant trailed.
“Trainee Cha In-hyeok. Enter.”
My turn.