Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: 13. Needle in the Bag (3)
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Whoosh—
His vision spun wildly.
When Kang San opened his eyes, just like Min Young-gi had experienced, pitch-black darkness greeted him.
"Han-byeol."
"Traveler's Lantern."
Flicker.
Bright light flared up.
Without any explanation from Kang San, Jo Han-byeol instinctively grasped his role and activated his skill right away.
Traveler's Lantern was a 1-star skill.
It was classified as a fringe skill, but Jo Han-byeol had bought a skill stone and learned it specifically for situations like this. It was part of their party's internal structure. Kang San and Yeon Woo-bin focused solely on defense and offense, while Jeong Chan-woo and Jo Han-byeol handled support in those respective areas. Yeon Woo-bin could use light magic too, but Jo Han-byeol deployed Traveler's Lantern to conserve even a bit of her mana and push back the darkness.
An infinite light fueled by mana.
As the lantern floated up and illuminated the surroundings, Kang San quickly assessed the situation.
"Tight cave terrain. Monsters can attack from all sides, so let's form up in a stable formation."
"Got it."
They formed their formation.
It was a defensive positioning they'd drilled countless times, keeping distances reasonable without spreading too thin.
They advanced.
It wasn't long before Kang San raised his shield and shouted.
"Incoming."
Ssssssk—
Sounds echoed from the distance.
Soon, within the lantern's glow, black spiders covered in sleek fur emerged.
Kyaaak—!
Six in total.
Kang San didn't use Shield of Trials.
The terrain wasn't wide enough for them to slip past him easily, and Black Spiders weren't clever enough to deliberately target his rear. No need to burn the skill cooldown unnecessarily. As Kang San clashed with the Black Spiders and blocked an attack wave, Yeon Woo-bin unleashed her magic on cue.
"Fire Ball."
Boom!
Roooar.
A short-cast, powerful spell.
Fire magic's strength against insect monsters had already been proven in the ant cave.
As blazing heat engulfed the Black Spiders, Jo Han-byeol precisely sniped the ones exposing openings. Jeong Chan-woo didn't even need to step in. Even with nothing to do, he scanned above, below, and behind, ready for any variables.
The fight wrapped up quickly.
The party pressed on, but the Black Spiders kept coming relentlessly, as if this was just the beginning.
It was enough to overwhelm most.
But Kang San's group felt at ease.
They'd once handled over a hundred ants, including D-Rank soldier ants, all at once. This number didn't faze them. The terrain was similar too. If anything, a single-passage cave was easier than the ant-infested tunnels riddled with holes everywhere.
They pushed forward swiftly.
In fact, every party that took the test was the same.
Fighting Black Spiders wasn't hard, but every group hit the same crisis point.
Right now.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground suddenly collapsed.
The unpredictable variable struck Kang San's party without fail.
After every raid.
Kang San's party always reviewed the run.
What was lacking, what needed fixing—they discussed it like a debate. That was Kang San's way.
Right after the ant cave clear.
Yeon Woo-bin asked.
"We formed up first this time and handled it smoothly, but what if the ground collapses like last time? Or since it's tunnels, the ceiling could drop too."
A valid question.
The first time in the ant cave.
Yeon Woo-bin had been combat-ineffective for a moment.
Mental issues played a big part then, but without Kang San's help, it could've gone south.
Kang San replied.
"Simple. Prepare ahead."
"...Isn't that kind of variable too hard to predict?"
"It is. But preparing means keeping in mind that it could happen. Back then, we didn't even consider the ground collapsing. One slip-up could've doomed us. But if we learn from that and brace for falls or similar surprises? Even a subtle mindset shift lets us respond differently in the same spot."
"That's your way, right? Diving in to grab me when no one else reacted."
"Exactly."
Everyone nodded.
Mental prep was key.
If he'd been zoned out, Kang San wouldn't have leaped when the ground gave way.
In that split second.
Mindset made the difference.
"That's why we review after every raid or training. Discussing reveals the gaps and fixes. Woo-bin, we cleared the ant cave, but what do you think you lacked?"
"Well..."
She pondered.
She'd improved vastly.
Judgment, casting speed, destructive power.
But perfect? No, she knew her flaws.
"Mana management. In a hunting ground like the ant cave, I should've known I'd spam spells nonstop. But I overdid it and hit exhaustion. If you guys hadn't bought me time to meditate, my mistake would've tanked the clear."
"Right. So what'll you prep for next time?"
"Next time..."
Instinctive.
The moment the rumbling hit, all the reviewed variables flashed through Yeon Woo-bin's mind.
Thud!
The ground collapsed.
Kang San was too far.
No diving save this time—she judged and acted fast.
"Gravity."
Float.
Her shoes.
The enchanted magic activated.
Her plummeting body floated up, landing safely despite the 10-meter drop. Kang San's advice in action. Prepped for falls or overhead threats. Gravity control softened impacts on drops; it bought time against falling debris too.
Sudden.
But prepared, so she reacted.
Jeong Chan-woo's voice from above.
"You okay?"
"Fine!"
"Need a hand down?"
"No, I got this. Jump."
Whoosh.
She leaped up.
A self-taught skill this time.
Most mages ignored fringe skills like Jump, but experience taught Yeon Woo-bin she needed instant body buffs. Mages weren't greenhouse flowers. Variables hit anytime, so she invested time and money in them.
Thud.
She landed.
Calmer than expected, she asked Jo Han-byeol.
"Were there traps like this normally? Our C-Rank test data didn't mention any."
"Not that I know of."
"Right?"
Pre-test.
Kang San's party researched thoroughly.
Checking for precedents. Standard variables like darkness or stalactites, but no collapsing floors. Now it clicked why prior parties failed. They'd braced for vision blocks or drops, but a sinkhole? Rear DPS wiped instantly. Another threat targeting absent DPS? Disaster.
"Green Spiders this time."
Kang San shouted.
From the dark.
Green monsters swarmed in.
As expected.
Monsters exploiting DPS downtime explained why four of five parties failed.
The sequence.
Fwoosh.
Roooar.
Yeon Woo-bin calmly drew mana.
New monster type, but prep identified it instantly.
'Unlike tough-bodied, paralyzing Black Spiders, Green Spiders fire hundreds of spiderlings. Like the ant cave—overwhelm with numbers.'
She'd failed once.
Recognized her mistake.
Reviewed and studied to never repeat.
So now.
'No repeating errors.'
Why?
Twitch.
Facing monsters used to terrify her, but now Yeon Woo-bin's heart raced with excitement.
Meanwhile.
Jeong Hye-mi, waiting for the test to end, stepped out on her father's call.
[Heard the news. Total mess, huh?]
"...Sorry."
[I get it. Reports say Dae-yang sabotaged hard, but as Heavenly Firmament team lead, you should've accounted for that. Project B Team's a big name—you needed the skills to match. So confident, huh? Guaranteed success?]
"All my fault. Won't happen again."
[Damn right. I want my kids succeeding me, not shitting on my rep. Look at your brother. Project A Team's killing it, no scandals. Hye-mi, repeated mistakes are skill issues. This one's fine thanks to your past results, but folks are ready to bite. Get me?]
"...Yes."
[Good. Tough break.]
Click.
Call ended.
Jeong Hye-mi bit her lip.
Dad was always like this.
Proud of his success, he demanded perfection from his kids in the firm. His youngest was exempt—full support for other paths. But for her and the eldest in Heavenly Firmament? Strict standards.
Even now.
Mentioned bro to spark rivalry.
Exec spots limited. One day, only one inherits. He hammered it home.
'He's not wrong. Bro and I parachuted in via Dad's clout. Perks galore, results got us leads, but background matters. Our slips draw extra heat. Fail expectations? No case for me over bro.'
Family or not.
Competition was competition.
This flop put her behind.
To flip it: splashy recruit or faster B-Rank promo than A Team.
Head spun.
Fresh air break.
Stuffy times needed this.
"Haa—."
Sky clear.
How'd she end up in Dad's shoes?
Family biz seemed natural, and she valued it. Scouting and managing talent. Essential in this chaos. Few general roles mattered more.
Someday.
Build her own team.
Make meaningful impact.
'Time...'
Checked watch.
30 minutes since test start.
No rush back.
Project B took 55, so they'd probably wait anyway.
Now 50 minutes.
She stood.
Heading in, but staff dropped a bombshell.
"Sixth team? They passed and left 10 minutes ago."
"...What?"
50 minutes in.
Passed at 40.
Jeong Hye-mi's face twisted in shock.