Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: 6. The Man Who Prepares for Misfortune (5)
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Over ten meters high.
Falling from that height would mean at least serious injuries.
Physical hunters might manage it with their strength and agility boosting their average stats, but mages were different. Yeon Woo-bin was especially frail, and in that instant of plummeting, she sensed her own death.
That was when.
Kang San, holding her tight, crashed into the ground below.
If his body hadn't cushioned the impact, she might be fighting for her life right now.
'Thanks to him, I made it out unscathed.'
The floor giving way—an abrupt twist no one saw coming.
In the chaos that left everyone reeling, Kang San hurled himself forward to keep his promise. How does someone make that call in a split second? Holding another person mid-fall only amps up your own impact, yet he showed zero hesitation in saving her.
What an incredible guy.
Suddenly, she recalled what Jo Han-byeol had said after returning from his promotion exam.
"I saw this insane guy at today's promotion exam. One of our teammates was about to get killed mid-test, and the tanker threw himself in the way to take the hit. Man, I couldn't believe it was real even as I watched. Let's be honest—there's no reason to risk your life for strangers you just met on a promotion exam. But this guy saves his teammate, then tells everyone it'll be fine as long as he holds the line, even comforting the others. Woo-bin, what do you think it'd be like raiding with someone like that someday? Maybe it'd help heal some of your trauma?"
She hadn't believed it at first.
How could someone like that even exist?
The world prioritized self over others, especially with strangers—there was no reason to show mercy.
Trauma's cruel flash.
Yeon Woo-bin had witnessed humanity's brutality.
So she hadn't held high hopes for Jo Han-byeol's story, but Kang San exceeded even that description.
He'd kept his promise.
Protected her for real, and now he was battling at the deadliest frontline to buy them time.
To think people like him existed.
Yeon Woo-bin's eyes wavered.
A man staking his life for her.
She couldn't bear to watch him die.
"Like you said, hyung, I don't want anyone dying because of me. I'll try using magic somehow."
"Woo-bin!"
Jo Han-byeol's face lit up.
Bound by shared pain.
He was genuinely thrilled at fragile Yeon Woo-bin's change.
She immediately began casting.
Creeping trauma sabotaged it, but she gritted her teeth and clung to the spell desperately.
One failed cast after another.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Each time, she pictured Kang San.
'Idiot.'
Not content with saving her—he'd gotten hurt himself yet used his recovery skill on Jeong Chan-woo first.
Foolish.
Why live like that?
Would anyone even appreciate it?
And if they did, what difference would it make?
Death ends it all anyway.
'That's why I have to save him. If someone like that dies, the world would be left with nothing but selfish trash.'
Whoosh.
Mana surged.
A blue glow flashed in Yeon Woo-bin's eyes.
Magic Eye.
Her other growth skill.
His innate genius unleashed, flames erupted with world-scorching fury.
'Salamander's Breath.'
Roooaaar.
Roaring inferno.
The special flame magic slammed straight ahead.
Boom!
Fwoosh, roooaaar!
It was overwhelming talent.
Magic Eye.
A skill that temporarily boosted mana, letting her cast spells beyond her normal capacity.
And Salamander's Breath.
Drawing on nature's power to manifest magic—pure destructive force rivaling C-Rank.
Together, they created a spectacle.
The ants Kang San had barely felled after desperate struggle took massive damage from one spell.
Kieeeek!
Kyaaak!
The ants screeched in agony.
The first soldier ant hit by the flames charred black and collapsed. The fire spread swiftly, threatening the others. It was devastating to insect monsters. The surging blaze didn't just swallow several at once—it radiated heat that scorched the rest.
"...What the."
Kang San's stunned gaze turned to Yeon Woo-bin.
He knew her abilities were extraordinary.
The magic she'd shown everyone earlier was impressive, but nothing like this.
On another level entirely.
Judging by raw power alone, it was C-Rank.
A rookie mage with barely any real combat experience unleashing C-Rank firepower.
'Just who the hell is she?'
As confusion gripped him.
Yeon Woo-bin unleashed her mana like a wild colt.
The flames dubbed Salamander's inferno swirled around her, striking the ants again.
Bang!
Boom boom!
Rooooaaar.
The area ignited.
With blue-glowing eyes, she manipulated the blaze, sealing off the ants' escape. Caught in a dilemma, the ants—bodies burning, screeching—charged her all at once. Pain's source. Monster or not, they knew the threat in that moment.
But.
'Shield of Trials.'
Shield of Trials
Aggro fully redirected
Snap!
Their intent was thwarted.
With an elite tanker like Kang San holding the front, there was no way through to Yeon Woo-bin.
Shield of Trials' effect.
All aggro locked onto Kang San.
Flame-wreathed ants lunged in fury, but Kang San stood firm, blocking without flinching. He skipped counterattacks with his sword. With the DPS Yeon Woo-bin dishing out this firepower, he had no need to expose defensive gaps by swinging.
The tide had turned.
Kang San was certain.
Yeon Woo-bin was the key to this trial.
Now that she'd awakened her true power, Azmun's sixth trial was no longer an issue.
Finally.
A path to survival opened.
It was a brutal fight.
From death's doorstep, Kang San's party felled every last ant.
Joy was fleeting.
The battle's aftershocks hit late—Jeong Chan-woo collapsed before he could savor it.
Thud.
"...Ugh."
Jeong Chan-woo's condition was far from normal.
He'd pushed with Kang San's help, but that didn't mean he could handle soldier ants flawlessly. Still just E-Rank, facing two D-Rank soldier ants left him battered. Especially his side—a chunk of flesh torn away. Poison from their sprays turned his blood-soaked face pallid blue.
Kang San wasn't much better.
Tanking dozens solo—his body couldn't be fine.
'Damn it.'
Kang San swallowed a curse.
He wanted to use Aura of Recovery on himself, but Jeong Chan-woo's near-death state burned in his eyes.
Guilt?
Pity?
Justice?
No, nothing like that.
The trial's mission demanded.
Party members like Jeong Chan-woo had to survive and return—he couldn't let him die.
'Aura of Recovery.'
Aura of Recovery
Special effect: Sacrifice own HP for extra healing
Whoosh.
He cast recovery on Jeong Chan-woo. Not just that—Aura of Recovery's special effect traded his own stamina for bonus healing. A sharp pain stabbed his heart. The slowing thud of his racing pulse felt like his life force draining—pure hell.
But he had to.
Jeong Chan-woo's color returned.
Treatment done, Kang San slumped beside him.
"...Why use recovery on me?"
Jeong Chan-woo came to.
He grasped the situation.
Kang San, a tanker with heals, had skipped himself for him.
Why?
Why choose that in his wretched state?
Jeong Chan-woo's voice cracked.
"We're practically strangers. Why ignore your wounds to heal me? Are you insane? There's a limit to foolishness—then what am I supposed to do?!"
He lashed out needlessly.
Young and clueless on gratitude.
Kang San chuckled.
Pain wracking his body made focus hard, but the absurdity drew a wry laugh.
'Foolish? It's all for rewards.'
No lengthy explanation.
Jeong Chan-woo's eyes shone with感動 at his "sacrifice," but without rewards, he'd have healed himself first.
Self first.
Others second.
Others? Irrelevant.
That's survival in this harsh world.
"Just felt like it."
No details.
When excuses fail, skip them—best policy.
Jeong Chan-woo's face twisted briefly, but Kang San lacked energy for more talk.
Consciousness faded.
He let go.
How much time passed?
Awakening, Kang San felt somewhat recovered.
"You okay?"
"...Yeah, sorta."
"I thought you were a goner, Kang San. Dumped every potion on you and still no dice."
Jo Han-byeol.
Potion effects.
They helped, but Aura of Recovery's regen meant he was never truly dying. Kang San cast it anyway. Recovery's relief cleared his mind.
"Why are we still here?"
Ant nest unchanged.
Ant corpses burned for smoky deterrence, but temporary.
Jo Han-byeol explained.
"No way up. At least ten meters, walls too sheer—even climbing's out. Judged it impossible, so we held position till you woke. Got any ideas?"
Desperate eyes.
Kang San always had answers.
He hoped for one now.
"Prepared jump scrolls for emergencies. Needed time gap for all four before, but no issue now."
"...What?!"
Eyes bulged.
Jump scrolls?
Carrying niche teleport magic as scrolls? Unheard of.
Jeong Chan-woo gaped.
"Why carry that? You said golden honey for 'just in case' before—now jumps? Safety obsession?"
Had to think that.
Situations deviated from reports.
Ultra-rare probabilities—no one plans for them.
Kang San was different.
He prepped even slim odds, saving them.
Kang San smiled bitterly.
"Living always bracing for disaster turns you this way. How about jumping out? Confirmed ant nest—not our league."
Simply cursed luck.
His maximal explanation.
Party's gazes held newfound trust absent before.