Episode 24: Regular Exam (2)
Episode 24: Regular Exam (2)
"Kyaaaah!"
A scream.
"Kwoong! Rumble!"
The sound of a building collapsing.
"Keehahahaha!"
The villain's chilling laughter.
The three cadets, standing in a simulation that perfectly recreated Chuncheon from four years ago, gripped their respective weapons, tense to the core.
"It's suffocating."
Baek Han-beom muttered, as if trying to ease the tension, but it had the opposite effect.
"..."
"..."
Neither Yoo A-ra nor Lee Hye-ri had the mental capacity to even respond.
Aside from Yoo A-ra, the other two—Lee Hye-ri and Baek Han-beom—were trembling, despite having experience clearing dungeons.
The villain's killing intent was bound to be different from that of a dungeon monster.
Even if it was just a simulation.
"Let's go in. First, let's focus on rescuing the hostages and civilians."
Having confirmed their goal once more, they moved forward.
"Help me!"
The sight of the screaming civilians was so realistic.
They couldn't help but wonder if they were real people, even while saving them.
Even though they knew it was a simulation.
Yoo A-ra used her Psychokinesis to save the citizens who were desperately crying out while buried under the collapsed building.
Because she used the minimum amount of mana to avoid being detected by the villains, it took quite a while.
Creak.
Had it been about five minutes?
Only after lifting the building's debris could the civilians trapped inside come out.
"Thank you. Thank you."
Baek Han-beom escorted those who came out trembling.
"Come this way. You must move as quietly as possible."
"Please follow us."
There were five people buried in the debris.
Fortunately, there were no major injuries.
There was some bleeding, but it was at a level that could be treated sufficiently with the items they had.
"Now we just need to take them to the designated base."
Kwoong!
A loud, clamorous sound was heard not far away.
Had the villain already appeared?
Everyone moved forward, keeping their senses sharp.
In this situation, finding a good route was also a sign of a good party's competence.
Baek Han-beom took the lead in escorting the civilians, and Lee Hye-ri stood at the rear.
Yoo A-ra stood in the same line as the civilians, guarding against any potential long-range attacks.
"The start is good."
On their way, they rescued four more civilians trapped in a building and one more who was in a state of panic next to a gas station filled with piles of corpses.
"Ughhh..."
"This is terrible."
"It's tragic, but if we're going to work as hunters, we need to get used to it, as it's a sight we'll have to see constantly."
Yoo A-ra suppressed the urge to squeeze her eyes shut.
It was because she remembered what Kim Si-woo had said during their villain-preparedness training.
-Never close your eyes and look away. This exam isn't just a simple simulation. Think of it as a microcosm of the reality you will experience.
-If you're thinking of looking away because the scene there is terrible, then quit. People with weak hearts should never work as hunters.
It probably wasn't just her imagination that Kim Si-woo's eyes looked sad when he said that.
'Is Ssam also a hunter who participated in this?'
She wanted to ask if she ever got the chance.
It was strange that she thought of Kim Si-woo in this situation, but thinking of him actually made her feel a bit more at ease.
-The guy holding two daggers with a long scar on his mouth is a guy named Griven...
-The most annoying guy is named Harold; this guy isn't just strong, he's fast, so he was a difficult opponent. He does have a weakness, though...
-To beat the villains, you have to be tougher than them. I don't mean be evil. I mean be tough enough to deceive them.
-Never let your guard down against villains.
As she recalled his advice and repeated what she had learned in a low voice, her heart settled down more.
"Phew."
"Your expression has improved."
"Has it?"
"Yes, you looked like you were dying until just a moment ago, but you seem better now."
"...I guess I've adapted."
"I wonder how the other teams are doing."
"I'm not sure."
That was when it happened.
Kwaaang!
"Argh!"
The sound of battle was heard not far away, followed by a desperate scream.
It wasn't a sound made by the simulation's citizens.
"It's the sound of battle."
"Have they already reached nearby?"
"I'm not sure about that, but..."
"I think they fell for the villain's trap."
Lee Hye-ri said.
"You heard it earlier, right? Those loud noises. It's like they advertised their location to the villains."
"Ah."
"That's bad news for us."
"Let's hurry."
The smell of blood was getting closer.
"Everyone, get ready."
"What do you mean..."
"Damn it."
The two reacted a little late.
Along with the smell of blood, a human presence was felt.
Yoo A-ra ripped a road sign from the roadside with her Psychokinesis.
Kwaaang!
A giant Tachi, no, a Japanese-style Tachi, was embedded in the sign.
If Yoo A-ra hadn't lifted the sign, one of the party members would definitely have been eliminated.
Because no one else except her had prepared for it.
"You've got sharp instincts, huh?"
The smell of blood stung her nose.
As the iron sign, having lost the Psychokinesis, fell, a ruffian holding a Tachi appeared.
'Harold.'
Of all people, it was the one Kim Si-woo had singled out as the most troublesome villain.
A villain who used a Tachi as his weapon.
He was famous for being crueler than ordinary villains and for devising vicious strategies by exploiting the camaraderie of parties.
According to the weakness Ssam told her.
'That bastard limps slightly on his left leg. He hides it with his physicality, but it's true. His timing is off more than you'd think. And one more thing! There's a crack on the side of his Tachi. It won't be easy, but if you succeed in aiming for it, you might be able to win.'
Biting her lip, Yoo A-ra said to Baek Han-beom and Lee Hye-ri.
"It's Harold of the Tachi. He's a dangerous villain, but I heard he limps a little on his left leg. So..."
"You mean we should aim for that?"
"Exactly."
"You know quite a lot."
"I learned it."
"As expected of a capable tutor."
Yoo A-ra tried to ignore Lee Hye-ri's persistent gaze.
"Alright. First, let's try to hold out somehow. If victory is difficult..."
Baek Han-beom glanced at the civilians standing behind them.
"We should also consider abandoning them."
"..."
Abandoning civilians.
She didn't want to do that, at least.
'I have to win, no matter what.'
"Are you done with your strategy meeting?"
Harold of the Tachi approached with a sneer.
"I guess you won't have any complaints if I kill you now, right?"
"I'll stand in front."
Lee Hye-ri took the lead.
Baek Han-beom nodded without hesitation.
"Understood."
She wasn't a tanker, but it meant he trusted her.
'Actually, against an opponent like this, Lee Hye-ri might be better.'
It might be better to counter with speed rather than just taking it with strength.
At that moment, Harold rushed in.
"Die!"
A strike aiming for the ankle.
Lee Hye-ri couldn't react in time to the sudden attack.
However.
Kwaaaaang!
"This bastard?"
The pile of stones gathered by the Psychokinesis Yoo A-ra raised blocked Harold's Tachi.
-That guy's first strike is always the ankle.
Kim Si-woo's words hit the mark.
"What are you doing! Move quickly!"
At Yoo A-ra's shout, Lee Hye-ri moved her body belatedly.
Lee Hye-ri aimed for Harold's left leg.
"Oh?"
Harold stepped back in panic.
Baek Han-beom followed him closely.
Yoo A-ra slammed a giant tree down behind Harold.
"Keuh-heuk!"
-If you quickly aim for his left leg, he will definitely step back. Why? Because he can't avoid it otherwise.
Everything was exactly as Kim Si-woo said.
Yoo A-ra felt her tension subside.
As she focused, she could see Harold's movements.
How he would move, where he would go.
-Use Lee Hye-ri as much as possible. Your attacks are unlikely to work on the villain. If you restrict the enemy's movements, Lee Hye-ri and the remaining team member will finish him off.
Our Ssam is truly amazing.
She had realized it many times, but this time she felt it even more strongly.
Perhaps it was because she was even more tense due to the chilling atmosphere.
"These brats are pulling off some fun tricks!"
Harold laughed and swung his Tachi.
It was an attack that didn't consider his own weakness.
She hadn't expected this.
"Keuh-heuk!"
Baek Han-beom raised his shield and barely blocked it.
The shield was distorted in an instant.
-Keep in mind. They don't just attack by the book.
From here on, it was up to her discretion.
She awakened the senses honed by the countless training sessions she had had so far.
Once again, she predicted Harold's movements and used her Psychokinesis.
Mana in the air gathered and created a wide wall.
And she slammed the mana wall into the spot where she expected him to move.
Harold, who was twisting his body to the side to avoid Lee Hye-ri's attack.
Kwoong!
"Fucking hell!"
He was blocked by the wall once again.
"You bitch! I should deal with you first!"
Harold, with bloodshot eyes, rushed at Yoo A-ra.
Now, Lee Hye-ri, who had finished her attack, and Baek Han-beom, who had barely stood up, were in a situation where they couldn't help.
Yoo A-ra felt her vision go dark.
-It's Harold from the start.
-Honestly, Team B-22 did something retarded. If you draw aggro like that in the 2nd exam, you're fucked.
-Isn't that the standard route? Drawing aggro to catch one weak villain and get passing points.
-The standard is a gamble.
-Whoever calls that standard is already out of their mind.
-But what about that Team D-33?
-Still, if it's Baek Han-beom and Lee Hye-ri, they'll manage somehow.
-Is the guy above retarded? Don't you know Harold takes out one colleague and uses that to start a psychological war?
-Surely they won't die at the beginning?
-They're going to die. Why would 'repeater' be 'repeater'?
-Team D-33 is finished.
I frowned while looking at the internet comments.
It was pathetic to see guys who didn't know anything talking.
But I also knew that leaving a comment here wasn't wise.
These comments wouldn't reach her anyway.
Because.
'Because public opinion changes in an instant once you show your skills.'
And the video was showing Team D-33 encountering Harold.
Bang!
The iron sign ripped off by Yoo A-ra's Psychokinesis blocked the Tachi aiming for Lee Hye-ri's ankle.
Only she reacted.
However, the chat room seemed not to have noticed.
-Reaction is fast.
-Lee Hye-ri must have told her that, right?
-Seems like it?
-Didn't the repeater notice it?
-GTFO.
-She's not an agility-class hunter, how would she know?
Even those who were skeptical shut their mouths at Yoo A-ra's subsequent performance.
Unless they were blind, they had no choice but to see Yoo A-ra's Psychokinesis blocking Harold's movements one after another.
-Are you crazy?
-No, what's with that combat sense?
-That's a support-class psychokinetic? The psychokinetic I know doesn't fight like that?
-How is that a support class? Anyone can see she's an agility dealer.
-There's a reason she got 2nd place.
Public opinion had shifted.
Internet opinion changed at the sight of Yoo A-ra shining even among Class A honor students and promising prospects.
-Holy shit, that's crazy! Did you see that wall block? Harold can't do anything! At this level, it's not really academy-grade, is it?
-Are you retarded? It's a simulation. It's adjusted to the kids' level.
-Even taking that into account, it's amazing. Are your eyes just for show? Is your brain just a decoration?
A fight started in the comment section.
Now, Harold must be starting to pay attention to Yoo A-ra.
If it was the pattern of a guy set as a simulation, it must have reached the critical point.
'Show them, A-ra. Your true worth.'
As expected, Harold rushed at Yoo A-ra.
The moment his Tachi aimed for Yoo A-ra's neck.
Yoo A-ra's body disappeared for a moment.
To be exact, it looked like it had disappeared.
Her body sank down and rolled on the floor.
While dodging his attack with all her might, the pieces of iron she moved struck the side of Harold's sword.
Paga-gak!
One of them got stuck in Harold's Tachi.
It was a speed so fast that even Yoo A-ra, who had cast it, didn't know how she did it.
-Hyaah!
Baek Han-beom aimed for the opening created by that, and as soon as Harold's Tachi hit his shield, it broke just like that.
Clang!
There was no way for the villain who lost his weapon to win against Yoo A-ra's group.
The three cadets succeeded in eliminating the most troublesome villain, Harold.
"As expected."
I was proud.
The tutoring was worth it.
The fact that she remembered everything I taught her pleased me even more.
"I should praise her."
[Heartfelt Support]
[Strength, Mana, Intelligence, Stamina, and Agility temporarily increase by 2 stages.]
[Duration: 1 hour 22 minutes]
I saw the additional buff attached to Yoo A-ra and was certain of her 1st place.
"How should I praise her?"
There was no need to tell her to promote herself.
She had already proven it with her existence.
Even if I didn't say that I was the one who taught her, it would naturally spread.
'Lee Hye-ri.'
The female student who was on the same team as her, while secretly watching Yoo A-ra's class process.
Through her, that is.
