Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: 9. Whether One Person Exists (4)
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Yeon Gyu-seong collapsed in front of the screen like he was crumbling.
His chest felt so tight it was suffocating, but he pressed his temples with a cold expression.
"The data?"
"Right here."
The power Yeon Gyu-seong wielded allowed him to uncover every detail about Yeon Woo-bin's party in just five minutes.
Flip.
[Kang San]
[Jeong Chan-woo]
These were profiles on the two men.
As he calmly turned the pages, his secretary added explanations from the side.
"Nothing special about either of them. Jeong Chan-woo is the son of a high-ranking executive at Heavenly Firmament Management, but his actual ability is stuck at E-Rank level. Same with this Kang San guy. He spent years bouncing around F-Rank after his first awakening, showing zero talent, and only recently got promoted to E-Rank. And as you know, Young Master survived the ant cave with the queen ant alongside his current party, but they barely made it out alive—they didn't clear the hunting ground. They don't seem like anything to worry about."
"...I see."
Yeon Gyu-seong narrowed his eyes.
His son Yeon Woo-bin might have a soft heart, but he wasn't stupid.
So there had to be a reason he'd insisted on bringing this party along, even if it meant throwing a tantrum. But nothing stood out in the documents. The most notable thing was that Kang San had aced his E-Rank test. Even so, it wasn't enough to pass the trial he had prepared.
"Is the setup complete?"
"Perfectly. We even confirmed the hobgoblin will move exactly as intended."
"Good. At this point, it's unavoidable."
He let out a sigh.
Wiping his face as if washing away dryness, Yeon Gyu-seong gazed at the screen with complicated eyes.
His son's party had entered the Backside World.
They'd soon face the monsters, and to prove themselves, they'd undoubtedly take risks.
It left him conflicted.
Not just because his son was in danger, but preparing a trap that could harm a doctor gnawed at him. Still, there was no choice. The reason he clung to life so desperately was his one and only son. No amount of wealth or fame meant anything without family.
Even if it hurt someone else.
As long as his son was safe, that was enough.
Yeon Gyu-seong spoke coldly.
"...This time, you can go all the way. As long as you don't kill them, I'll save them and make it right somehow."
It was the same hunting ground.
Stepping into the space littered with remnants of failure, Yeon Woo-bin swallowed hard with a tense face.
Gulp.
Soon.
The goblins would come charging.
He'd already briefed the party fully, and right on cue, noisy sounds erupted from beyond the bushes.
Swish swish swish.
"Everyone, get ready!"
The bushes rustled violently.
Kang San stepped forward.
No further explanation was needed.
They took their pre-assigned positions, with Kang San blocking the path at the front where the enemies would swarm.
Kieek!
Kyakyakya!
Goblins burst through the bushes.
Too many to count poured out from every direction, their red eyes gleaming as they rushed in like mad. It was familiar territory for Kang San. He'd faced them often as an arrow sponge, and hadn't his E-Rank exam been against a hobgoblin? Plus, his Guardian's Will shone against monsters using sheer numbers.
'Shield of Trials.'
Flash!
He drew their attention.
Activating the superior skill to Guardian Shield pulled every monster's gaze in his field of view instantly.
Kyaak!
Kakakaka!
Attacks poured in from all sides.
Kang San calmly raised his shield to block. The stat gap ensured no damage broke through his defense. The shield rattled non-stop. It was impossible to count how many were attacking, and some slipped in targeting blind spots.
But then.
'Lower left!'
Flicker.
Splurt!
He deflected the attack and cleaved the goblin's head.
Blind spots invisible to the eye, but Kang San's senses accounted for them in his calculations.
The predicted strike.
The planned counter.
He fell back a step to absorb the assault, then surged forward to reclaim his space.
Meanwhile.
Thwack.
Thwack thwack thwack!
Jo Han-byeol's arrows flew indiscriminately.
Yeon Woo-bin was already mid-cast, and Jo Han-byeol focused on monsters far from Kang San, per his assignment. It stemmed from trust that Kang San wouldn't break. The battle ignited fiercely from the start. Jeong Chan-woo, watching from a step back, hesitated seeing not a single enemy slip through.
'...Should I help?'
He remembered the plan.
But real combat was different.
Thinking Kang San was struggling alone, he subtly moved to cover his rear.
"Stick to the plan!"
Kang San shouted.
Jeong Chan-woo flinched.
Eyes in the back of his head? Kang San instantly spotted him breaking position.
He stepped back.
No role? He followed orders anyway.
Kang San demanded that blind trust from his party.
Kraaak!
Kreeeek!
Trolls appeared next.
D-Rank monsters were tough even for Kang San, but he couldn't alter the plan. Variables were inevitable—whether from Yeon Gyu-seong or Azmun's trials. With unknowns ahead, he couldn't expend full party strength from the outset.
"Don't get cocky. It's not over till it's over."
He gritted his teeth.
Then.
He raised his shield once more against the trolls charging with the goblins.
Krunch!
The same situation.
A different party.
In the intensifying battle, Yeon Woo-bin felt himself growing astonishingly calm.
'Psychological issue?'
No.
It wasn't just mental.
The previous party had a main tanker, sub-tanker, and warrior, yet panicked against the goblin and troll horde. But Kang San was different. Despite the E-Rank impossible odds, he didn't yield an inch, enduring the onslaught. And the fine details shone: as enemy numbers swelled, he'd subtly shift to expose them to AoE.
Opportunity.
With Kang San setting the table, Yeon Woo-bin unleashed his magic in response.
"Fire Lance."
Boom!
Roooar of flames.
A massive blaze swept the monsters.
As they screamed toward Yeon Woo-bin, Kang San blocked the path again, shield up.
'Shield of Trials.'
Kyaak!
Kyakyakya!
Stable.
Aggro scattered post-attack, with precise control to let none through. Bizarre. By rank, the prior party's D-Rank tanker should outclass him. Yet the scene and the feel proved Kang San superior. Like the ant cave wasn't a fluke, it radiated security.
The man who'd beaten his trauma.
This was why.
Why he wanted to party with Kang San.
Trusting him, Yeon Woo-bin took his time and steadily poured out firepower as planned.
"Fire Lance."
"Fire Lance."
Boom!
Roooar of flames.
Pure bombardment.
Kang San held, Jo Han-byeol supported, Jeong Chan-woo blocked variables, and Yeon Woo-bin focused solely on offense, asserting his presence. Flames erupted wildly everywhere. But he didn't think it'd end so easily. The black magic-wielding hobgoblin hadn't shown, and more than that, his father warned this trial would top the last.
Goblins and trolls.
It wouldn't end there.
And sure enough.
"Watch out—!"
Jeong Chan-woo's shout.
He whipped his head around.
Boom!
Rumble rumble rumble.
The massive impact spun Yeon Woo-bin's vision.
"Ngh."
He swallowed a groan.
Grimacing as he scanned around, he saw Jeong Chan-woo guarding the front, blood trickling from his forehead.
"From now on, stay behind me no matter what."
"What the..."
The situation dawned on him late.
Beyond the clear sky.
Thoom!
Thoom, thoom!
Giant rocks flew through the air.
Eyes wide.
The monsters were catapulting boulders at the backline dealers.
Boom!
"Ngh."
Jeong Chan-woo blocked a rock.
Even with Iron Body boosting defense momentarily, the impact shoved him back. Kang San's warning echoed: never leave the backliners, no matter what. He'd foreseen this. If hobgoblins intelligently cornered foes, they might prep non-direct attacks too.
"Trust me. If we stop magic for catapults, we're done!"
"Y-yeah, got it."
Yeon Woo-bin snapped to.
He had to trust Jeong Chan-woo.
Not Kang San level, but the guy who'd thrown himself at incoming rocks.
That wasn't the only issue.
Jo Han-byeol paled.
"...Can't you ease up a bit?"
Far off.
Monsters visible.
Goblins and trolls like before, but the trolls now wore human-like gear. Steel armor on their torsos. Helmets protecting heads. From catapult rocks to defenses. Clearly Yeon Gyu-seong's hand.
Grind.
Jo Han-byeol gritted his teeth.
Nocked an arrow.
No matter how strong, he couldn't just spectate once the test started.
'Concentrated Shot.'
Kreeeek.
The bowstring groaned eerily.
Then.
Twang!
Krunch.
It slammed into the troll.
The troll roared, flailing arms, but didn't fall to the heavy hit.
"...This is bad."
Trolls, no less.
Regeneration incarnate.
Hard to drop even with vitals hit, and their armor blocked one-shots. Dizzying. Yeon Gyu-seong's intent clear: backline strikes plus frontline buffs. No D-Rank party could break it. Without quick troll kills, even Kang San's endurance meant attrition favored them.
Human wave strength.
Push and push, the side running out of numbers crumbles eventually.
Boom!
"Tch."
Kang San blocked a troll club.
Body shaking from the force, his eyes quickly swept the field.
'Not good.'
He knew what Jo Han-byeol felt.
His near-D-Rank stats, top gear overhaul, and Guardian's Will let him hold. But not win. Jeong Chan-woo's catapult blocks had limits. Armored vitals neutered Jo Han-byeol's shots; they'd need pure Yeon Woo-bin magic.
Disadvantageous.
Holding position wasn't ideal anymore.
His mind raced.
Hundreds of experiences tangled, seeking solutions.
Whoosh.
Slash!
Even amid, he beheaded a goblin.
Blood spraying his face, Kang San didn't dodge, veins bulging on his neck.
"Listen up from now on!"
Without breaking their lines.
No chance anyway.
Then, a welcome chime.
Throb throb.
The sword pulsed.
Kang San gripped it tight.
"Plan B. I'll clear the path."