Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: 18. Attribute Tutoring (4)
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Min Young-gi spoke up.
"Kang San-ssi’s skills? I acknowledge them. It was proven in the promotion test, and while receiving instruction from that person, I came to understand that Kang San-ssi possesses abilities that can't simply be measured by rank. And if the party members accompanying such a Kang San-ssi are naturally going to be highly skilled as well. The problem is, even granting that, the difference in numbers is unavoidable. It's 6 against 4—6 against 4. If we press our numerical advantage and unleash a barrage of attacks, Kang San-ssi’s party won't have the bandwidth to balance offense and defense; they'll be scrambling just to hold us off."
It was a perfectly reasonable assessment.
Far from seeing things through colored lenses, Min Young-gi sincerely believed Jeong Hye-mi's remarks were misguided.
"If Kang San-ssi’s party were overwhelmingly superior to ours, I'd accept it. But just half a year ago, they took the same 'C-rank test' as we did. Unlike us, where all six received C-rank certification from that test, they didn't. Above all, the purpose of this training is to prepare against Project A Team. They're also six strong, so I don't see the need to train under a numerical disadvantage."
"I agree. That's why I relayed the exact same opinion to Kang San-ssi just now."
"And yet he still made that proposal? Why not just have Heavenly Firmament assign two more people to even the numbers?"
Jeong Hye-mi smiled.
It wasn't a mocking grin.
This situation...
Even she found it absurd.
When Kang San had suddenly contacted her with the 6-vs-4 proposal, Jeong Hye-mi had objected even more vehemently. It made no sense. Especially as counter-training for Project A Team, it didn't fit. But Kang San had shut down her argument with a single statement.
"If you trust me, accept these terms."
Phew. She let out a sigh.
On a rational level, she couldn't convince Min Young-gi.
So, she had no choice but to appeal to the realm of Kang San's irrationality.
"This is what Kang San-ssi said. 'If you trust me, accept these terms.' Team Leader Min Young-gi, what do you think? Do you believe we can fully trust the judgment Kang San-ssi demonstrated, even if only briefly?"
If he refused...
Jeong Hye-mi planned to back off.
She had no desire to force a judgment she herself found dubious.
Min Young-gi fell into contemplation.
To the politely posed question, he agonized for a long moment before speaking with eyes that had resigned to reality.
"...I think we can trust him. We'll accept. After all, we're backed into a corner anyway, aren't we?"
Two days later.
Kang San brought his group to Heavenly Firmament's training grounds.
With only Project B Team inside for the session, he met Min Young-gi and the others and explained the training format.
"Starting today, we'll conduct four rounds per day, split between morning and afternoon sessions. The method is simple: clash head-on, take down opponents, or force a surrender. If no victor emerges after 20 minutes, that round ends in a draw. Any questions on this format?"
"...You're down a member at four. You sure that's okay?"
"It's fine. Of course, if we decide four isn't enough to handle Project B Team, we'll bolster our numbers or switch methods then. But for now, I think it's sufficient."
Sufficient.
Those words needled Min Young-gi.
No matter that they were here to learn, no one could let a statement like that slide.
"You'll have 30 minutes to prepare."
Both sides turned away.
Min Young-gi gathered his team.
"Team Leader, does this even make sense as training? Already 6 against 4, and the opponents... most are D-rank, right?"
It was Lee Soo-chan speaking.
Even he, who acknowledged Kang San, glanced warily at the group and voiced concerns.
And rightly so.
Kang San aside, Jo Han-byeol and Jeong Chan-woo were unremarkable D-rank hunters on paper. Yeon Woo-bin was top-tier firepower among C-ranks, but relying on one mage to overturn a numbers disadvantage was tough. Plus, Project B Team had three mages, giving them overwhelming firepower.
Min Young-gi replied.
"Kang San-ssi must have some special intent. But that doesn't mean I'm just going to roll over. The goal of this training is to gain the strength to take down Project A Team. If we can't even handle four people, we'd lose to A Team without a fight. So, we must overwhelm Kang San-ssi’s party in this session. Show them that four can't withstand our firepower—then they'll admit reality and even the numbers."
"I agree."
"Absolutely. No way four of them can endure our barrage, let alone counter."
Everyone nodded.
It was a matter of pride.
Min Young-gi eyed Kang San as he spoke.
"Our strategy: go all-out from the start. Remember—this training proves us through victory alone."
Atop the training field.
Both parties took positions.
A fair distance apart, the scoreboard began its startup countdown.
[3]
[2]
[1]
Ding-!
Whoosh.
Project B Team struck first.
Leaving only the main tanker behind, Min Young-gi and the sub-tanker closed in on the enemy.
And simultaneously...
"Fire Wave."
"Wind Fist."
"Lightning Spear."
The three mages unleashed their spells.
Roar.
Roooar.
Flames surged forward.
The fierce blaze engulfed Kang San outright, while gusts of wind fists and crackling electric spears sought to swallow those behind him. Unfortunately, the attacks landed on nothing. Kang San at the front activated Iron Body, blocking most, and any spillover damage didn't reach past Jeong Chan-woo.
Boom-!
Roooar.
It was their opening.
They hadn't expected to drop anyone with the first strike anyway.
As Min Young-gi pushed into the gap to strike Kang San, an arrow pierced the rising dust cloud.
'Left.'
Twist.
He didn't slow down.
Kicking off the ground to leap forward, he spotted their crude four-man formation.
"Hup."
Whoosh.
Boom!
He slammed down.
Kang San calmly parried, but Min Young-gi's lips curled in a smirk. Cracks were already forming. The reason Kang San claimed four could handle six must stem from confidence in his own defense. But if he pressed aggressively while magic hammered down? Could Kang San really cover for the other three?
Impossible.
That's when their plan would shine.
The sub-tanker overtook Min Young-gi and lunged at Jeong Chan-woo.
"Power Strike."
Whoosh.
Boom-!
The blow connected.
Sub-tanker on sub-tanker.
Man-to-man matchup.
If Project B's sub-tanker tied up Jeong Chan-woo's feet, the enemy would be left with just two backline dealers. Jo Han-byeol and Yeon Woo-bin's attacks wouldn't touch the mages. With the main tanker holding the rear, their strikes would fizzle at his line. Kang San vs. Min Young-gi and one mage; Jeong Chan-woo vs. sub-tanker; two dealers vs. one main tanker. Locked at 4-vs-4, while Project B had two free agents.
One of them.
Lee Soo-chan gathered mana.
"Lightning Spear, Amplify."
Crackle.
Craaaackle.
Magic enhancement combo.
A massive surge of electricity erupted.
In the chaotic tangle, his target was precisely the rear.
Craaaackle.
Boom-!
Blocked again.
Kang San retreated swiftly to intercept, and as Min Young-gi followed to attack, Jeong Chan-woo filled the gap and blocked him. Min Young-gi grimaced. He'd assumed he could bulldoze past anyone but Kang San, yet Jeong Chan-woo proved tougher than expected.
And moreover.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Jo Han-byeol's arrows kept flying.
It was annoying.
Yeon Woo-bin's magic hammered the sub-tanker, preventing any moves on Jeong Chan-woo.
Then Kang San swapped back with Jeong Chan-woo, exploiting the opening Min Young-gi had revealed.
"Blood Demon Sword Art, First Form: Blade Kill."
Flash.
Boom-!
He was pushed back.
Min Young-gi looked up.
"...Not easy."
Things weren't going as planned.
Numerical superiority.
The situation was comfortable, for sure.
The main tanker spectated idly from the rear, while the three backline mages spewed spells like mad.
"Lightning Spear."
"Lightning Spear."
"Lightning Spear."
Crackle.
Craaaackle.
Triple cast.
Dazzling bolts threatened to blind as they fired in unison to crumble the vanguard Kang San—but even with Min Young-gi herding them into blind spots, hits kept missing by hairsbreadths. Dodged at the last second. Or blocked with shield. It was like Kang San had eyes in the back of his head.
Solid.
An iron fortress.
Kang San refused to yield ground, and the other three showed seamless coordination.
'This is their level?'
C-rank test.
He'd known from the footage they had skill.
But sub-tanker Jeong Chan-woo displayed unexpected tanking prowess, Jo Han-byeol's arrows struck at perfect moments—nearly making him gasp more than once. And Yeon Woo-bin's spells. When that boiling magic detonated, Min Young-gi had to drop everything and dive for cover.
Perfect teamwork.
Even with three mages providing rear firepower, the enemy showed no signs of breaking.
That was when...
[Team Leader. Something's off.]
Main tanker Han Eun-seong's voice.
From the backline, he reported via earpiece.
[It's been 10 minutes since the match started, and our rear hasn't taken a single attack. Looks like they're just planning to stall for 20 minutes?]
"What?"
In that instant.
His heart plummeted.
No rear attacks meant they'd let the three mages output max firepower unchecked.
He looked at Kang San.
Meeting those calm, overlooking eyes, Min Young-gi realized.
"...So the 'draw after 20 minutes' thing. That was a challenge to break through within it."
Kang San smirked.
No answer needed.
That was enough.
With his pride scraped raw, Min Young-gi radioed Han Eun-seong.
"Eun-seong. Join the front."
Whoosh.
Boom-!
They attacked Kang San.
As he held firm without budging, Min Young-gi didn't hide his heated expression.
"From now on, ignore defense. Force a surrender within 20 minutes, no matter what."
A draw?
Setting aside training, that outcome was utterly unacceptable.