Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: 6. The Man Preparing for Misfortune (3)
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Magic is different from other skills.
Just the fact that they can use magic is enough to start them off at E-Rank, a testament to how their power receives special treatment in the world. And that's why. Unlike other skills, which can be used as long as the cooldown is over, magic requires a process called casting every single time.
The method of casting is simple yet difficult.
The first step is to concentrate your mind and visualize the desired form of magic. The second is to pinpoint the location where the magic will manifest and set the coordinates. Once the conditions are met, the magic unleashes its explosive power. Even the lowest-grade 1-circle magic can take down an F-Rank monster in one shot.
The average casting time is around two minutes.
One minute is considered fast, but anything over three minutes turns even the most powerful magic into dead weight. Combat is a race against time. In situations where a split-second difference can mean life or death, protecting a mage who's prepping a spell for over three minutes is like fighting in shackles.
"It's already been three minutes."
Kang San checked his watch.
Unlike her determined expression when she started casting, Yeon Woo-bin still hadn't manifested her magic after more than three minutes.
It was a disappointing situation.
Jo Han-byeol looked guilty as he tried to make excuses.
"Woo-bin's a bit slow with her casting. But her magic's power is reliable, so just give her a little more time."
Meaningless words.
Three minutes.
How could anyone wait for a mage whose casting exceeds that threshold?
Jeong Chan-woo, clearly dissatisfied with the situation, crossed his arms and openly showed his frustration on his face.
'Is it a mental issue?'
In truth, casting shouldn't take this long.
Acquiring a magic skill upon first awakening means they have the talent for it. Yet needing over three minutes even in a safe environment without monster threats? That's useless in real combat. Magic casting speeds up with training, and mastering higher-grade spells makes lower ones faster too. Seeing her like this suggested the trauma Jo Han-byeol mentioned was causing mental blocks.
"Nngh... nngh..."
Yeon Woo-bin was sweating bullets.
About four minutes had passed.
Finally, blue mana rose from Yeon Woo-bin.
Whoosh.
A small flame flickered to life.
The 1-circle fire magic had manifested.
Yeon Woo-bin opened her eyes and glared at the rock ahead. The Fire Bolt shot forward fiercely and slammed right into it.
Boom!
Fwoosh, roar!
"Heck."
"...?!"
The onlookers froze in an instant.
The rock exploded.
A powerful blast shattered it to pieces, and the roaring flames glowed crimson, radiating intense heat from afar. It was impossible to believe this was 1-circle magic power. Even Jeong Chan-woo, who had doubted Yeon Woo-bin's abilities moments ago, now stared at her with a stiffened expression.
"...What the hell?"
Now it made sense.
Why this mage, Yeon Woo-bin, who had only mastered 1-circle magic, had been rated D-Rank from the start.
Jo Han-byeol spoke up.
"Woo-bin got an attack magic and a growth skill called Elemental Bless upon her first awakening. Her grade evaluation was done in secret, so it didn't leak to the press, but thanks to this Elemental Bless, her elemental magic packs more than double the power of other mages'. You said you wanted to check if waiting for Woo-bin's casting was worth it, Kang San. There's no excuse for the casting speed, but in terms of firepower, she's more than capable of pulling her weight."
It wasn't wrong.
If it could turn a rock to ashes and still burn fiercely, its destructive power was undeniably top-notch.
Kang San checked Yeon Woo-bin's expression.
Despite creating such a spectacle, she showed no confidence—only clear tension.
'A secret grade evaluation? She must have some special background.'
Jo Han-byeol's words.
They felt off.
Regular people can't get secret evaluations, yet he spoke of it like it was normal.
Jo Han-byeol and Yeon Woo-bin.
They'd been friends from the start, and both seemed to have unusual backgrounds.
But that wasn't important right now.
Whatever their backgrounds, Kang San's priority was safely completing the hunt, judging Yeon Woo-bin by her current value.
"I'll be straightforward."
Jo Han-byeol swallowed dryly.
Even though it was his friend's issue, he seemed more nervous than her.
"I think this level of power is worth waiting for the casting time. Our party's a bit defense-heavy right now, so we absolutely need Woo-bin's firepower. But in real combat, she can't go over five minutes, no matter what. Four minutes is already too slow, and five makes her useless in the fight."
"Th-thank you!"
Yeon Woo-bin's face lit up.
The raid was already underway.
With her firepower verified, there was value in bearing her risks.
"And Woo-bin."
"Yes?"
"My job is to protect the backline dealers so they can attack without getting hurt. As long as I'm alive, nothing will touch you, no matter what. So shake off whatever trauma you've got and trust me. I promise."
"...Thank you."
Yeon Woo-bin looked stunned.
Kang San's words.
She had heard them through Jo Han-byeol before.
Kang San was a man of his word, and during the promotion exam, he'd thrown himself for his teammates.
Someone reliable.
Yeon Woo-bin's expression turned resolute.
Kang San chuckled, feeling like he was looking at a young kid brother in her earnestness.
"Then I'll trust you."
The hunt resumed.
The method was the same as before.
They slathered on Golden Honey to lure the monsters, and while Kang San held the front, they took them down one by one.
"Duck!"
Swoosh!
Thud!
At Jo Han-byeol's shout, Jeong Chan-woo instinctively ducked, and an arrow whizzed past where his head had been, embedding into the Black Ant's body. Cracks spiderwebbed across the Black Ant. Jeong Chan-woo didn't miss the opening, swinging his sword like lightning to finish it off.
Crack!
"Nice!"
The Black Ant split in two.
Their teamwork was solid.
With such strong fundamentals, they reliably handled even the monsters Kang San deliberately let slip through.
'With a perfect tanker, hunting's a breeze.'
At the vanguard.
Kang San was perfectly containing the monsters. He used Shield of Trials aptly to pull all aggro to himself, intentionally opening paths for numbers the rear could handle. Golden Honey brought more at once, but not enough to cause issues.
Everything was calculated from the start.
If Golden Honey made it too risky, Kang San wouldn't have chosen it.
Crunch!
Jeong Chan-woo stomped the last Black Ant's head. Greenish-white fluids oozed out, and amid them, he spotted a small stone-like object. A Stat Stone. Finding the reason they'd risked their lives brightened his face as he quickly pocketed it.
"One Stat Stone here."
Raid loot.
It goes to the leader first.
Then final settlement. Jeong Chan-woo handed it straight to Kang San.
Then, his eyes met Yeon Woo-bin's.
"Now that I think about it, you won't get the same share at final settlement, right, mage?"
Voice full of complaint.
Jo Han-byeol had explained Yeon Woo-bin's issues, seeming to resolve things, but her trauma wasn't solved by a chat with Kang San. Even in safety, she'd taken four minutes. Naturally, monsters would panic her more, and firing off magic only at the end irked Jeong Chan-woo greatly.
"...Sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it—don't take any raid rewards in good conscience. You've been dead weight the whole hunt. I overlooked it because your magic hits hard, but if you can't even pull your one share, why'd you even join a raid?"
"Enough."
Tensions rose.
As Jeong Chan-woo edged into personal attacks, Kang San finally intervened.
Amusingly, Jeong Chan-woo listened to him.
Even with his massive ego, he'd come to fully respect Kang San through this raid.
The hunt wrapped up.
The raid was nearly done.
Almost all monsters per the scouting report were cleared.
During a short break, Kang San noticed Yeon Woo-bin slumped in a corner, face downcast.
'Jeong Chan-woo's not entirely wrong.'
This was a battlefield.
The thin line between life and death.
Heading into a raid with such fragile mentality was her own doing, and she bore the responsibility.
If the party's level had been lower.
Yeon Woo-bin could've caused a collapse or deaths.
So he offered no more comfort.
Kang San had done his best as leader; now it was her turn to step up.
And.
'I'm no saint.'
He wouldn't embrace everyone.
This was his line.
Maybe that's why he'd survived countless raids—sticking to that line.
Munch munch.
Kang San casually chewed jerky. Raids left no time for proper meals, so jerky filled the gap. Not enough for full satisfaction for a grown man, but with water, hunger faded decently.
How long had they rested?
As he judged it enough and rose, a sudden anomaly hit.
Thud.
Rumble rumble rumble.
"Wh-what is it?"
"The ground shook."
Party members exchanged panicked looks.
Not an illusion.
If everyone felt it simultaneously, the ground had definitely shaken.
Kang San felt a chill.
'No way.'
Black Ant habitat.
Not typical here, but other habitats had a rare phenomenon.
If true.
'Damn.'
Fire at his feet.
A trial right when he thought it safe!
His unease was spot on.
Kang San bellowed.
"Everyone, scatter!"
"...?!"
Boom!
Rumble rumble rumble.
Too late to react.
The ground sank like a sinkhole.
No time to flee; as the earth collapsed, Kang San leaped, stepping on falling chunks.
'If we fall like this, mage Yeon Woo-bin’s in danger.'
Not heroism.
The trial's condition.
Everyone's survival.
The moment Kang San grabbed Yeon Woo-bin.
Roooar.
They all vanished into the hellish pit.
"...Urgh."
A groan escaped his lips.
He thought himself used to pain, but the fall height made his body feel shattered.
Plus, carrying an adult.
Kang San grimaced, looking up.
'At least 10 meters.'
Goosebumps rose.
A sinkhole in the Black Ant zone.
Its meaning was clear.
'We've fallen into the ant nest.'
Kang San gritted his teeth and stood.
Azmun.
Wondered why no intervention.
Thought it'd end in everyday misfortune, but at raid's close, Azmun dropped a bombshell.
Giant holes riddled the surroundings.
Ant tunnels.
Beyond them, strange noises echoed.
Grrrrumble.
Kang San hugged his shield tight.
The others, coming to their senses late, looked confused and asked him.
"Wh-what the hell happened?"
"We've fallen into the ant nest. Soldier Ants will attack soon. Get it together and prepare."
"What?!"
Their faces paled.
Ant nest.
An untouchable C-Rank zone, impossible for an E-Rank party, no matter how they struggled.