I Have to Learn That Skill No Matter What!
"Huh? It's Min-ho."
As if answering his question, a burly student called out his name and came running up.
That guy's...
With his massive build and innocent eyes, he was one of the team members who'd returned midway after spotting a mutant goblin. Despite being only D-rank, he'd reportedly handled one mutant goblin on his own.
"Min-ho! Over here, man!"
"Jae-wook!"
I waved happily at him but blew right past, heading straight for the professor in charge.
"Professor! A goblin horde's coming. We need to prepare right now!"
"What? A goblin horde?"
Kim Tae-min raised an eyebrow at my words. A horde out of nowhere? Did that mean they'd missed one after all? Park Chan-gyu had been with them—no way he'd make a rookie mistake like that.
"Where's Park Chan-gyu? Why'd you come alone?"
Kim Tae-min asked, puzzled.
"I'm faster, so I came ahead. We don't have time for this! The goblins—"
"I get it. Catch your breath first, then talk."
His words strangely calmed my frantic urgency.
Huh? What's this feeling?
It was the exact same vibe I'd gotten from a battle-hardened guild master who'd seen it all back in my past life. He demanded a step-by-step explanation from the start.
I glossed over what needed hiding and laid out the facts about the incoming horde. He nodded along at first, then immediately turned to the assistant nearby.
"Send the emergency recall signal to the team leaders out there."
"Yes, Professor."
Each team leader had a simple signaling device. Beep.
The emergency recall was a deep red. Park Chan-gyu, arriving late, saw his device light up crimson and grinned wide.
That kid's got some guts, huh?
The team leaders who got the signal rushed back with their groups. Those nearby made it quick; the others weren't far and would join soon.
In the meantime, Kim Tae-min called me over.
"When did you pick up High-Speed Movement?"
"Pardon?"
He threw a fastball right at me.
Shit, busted.
I'd deactivated the skill before getting close, so how the hell did he know? Best play: deny everything.
Despite my nerves, I stared blankly and played dumb.
"High-Speed Movement? What's that?"
"Hm? So you don't have it?"
"I'm F-rank, Professor. Isn't that a B-rank skill? No way I'd be F-rank if I had it."
"Hmmm, true."
Kim Tae-min stroked his chin, arms crossed. My logic was airtight—no holes to poke. His mana signature wavered ambiguously between F and D anyway.
Was it just my imagination?
He tilted his head, shaking off the doubt. It had been too long since he'd been on the front lines, he figured.
More importantly, now wasn't the time to grill a student—it was about handling that goblin horde.
"You must be beat from sprinting here. Rest up; battle's coming soon."
"Thank you, Professor."
"Mm."
Once the suspicion cleared from his eyes, I let out a silent sigh of relief.
Phew~ That was close.
Park Chan-gyu had seen me run, sure, but not the skill itself. If pressed later, I'd say I learned Warrior's Cry or something. Being an Irregular explained it all anyway. Plus, Jae-wook—the skill's owner—was glued to my side.
Close contact with a skill holder, plus Irregular odds of copying it. Nothing suspicious there.
Though Jae-wook might freak if he finds out later.
Nearly everyone was back, and Park Chan-gyu joined soon after. I nodded lightly at his approving glance.
After cross-verifying with Park Chan-gyu, Kim Tae-min faced the team leaders.
"You've heard: goblin horde incoming. Unconfirmed, but some—or all—could be mutants. We hold here till reinforcements arrive."
"Mutants?"
"How many goblins?"
"Terrain here's shit for defense."
"These rookies won't last."
"How many tanks we got?"
"Just dodge 'em, right?"
"Waves usually pass if you time it."
"Who takes the blame if we hold and wipe?"
"Like we'd sync with these newbies."
The twelve team leaders erupted in opinions the second he finished. Chaos in seconds.
And the vibe? Not great.
"Attention!"
"..."
Mana-charged shout silenced them. Kim Tae-min sighed as expected and eyed Park Chan-gyu.
"Park Chan-gyu Hunter. Care to explain?"
"Yes, Professor."
He stepped forward as called. The other eleven leaders and rookies watched.
Park Chan-gyu scanned them slowly before speaking.
"My team found a few goblin villages and lured some out for live training. One with Lure pulled three. Two fought 'em. As you see, it went south fast."
He pointed at his team's ragged rookies—the worst off here.
"Goblins? And they all got pushed?"
One leader scoffed. Park Chan-gyu gave a wry smile.
They weren't listening properly.
"Mutants. All three. Minimum D-rank or higher. Combat sense top-tier—mid-boss level. Honestly, noobs taking even one without losses? Impressive."
He eyed the scoffer on that last bit.
"Well, yeah..."
The guy mumbled under the pressure.
Park Chan-gyu eased off, gesturing dramatically toward one side.
"One got away mid-fight. That rookie over there tracked and killed it."
"Oho, a newbie?"
"Not bad."
"What's his rank?"
"Assassin skills?"
"Impressive."
Leaders nodded, mixed reactions.
Why drag me into this?
I scowled at Park Chan-gyu, grinning smugly with his arm extended my way. What the hell? No need to spotlight me—something smelled off.
"Think you can explain the rest?"
"..."
Eyes turned to me.
"Oh, and he spotted the horde first. We'd have been toast without him."
"Whoa!"
"For real?"
"Kid's got it."
"Scout him for my guild."
Their gazes warmed. I shot Park Chan-gyu a baffled look; he winked and stepped aside.
I shook my head and took center stage.
"Ahem. Kang Min-ho, new cadet at the Magic Officer Academy. Took down the goblin, but found a broken skull accessory on it."
"Life-death tracker item," Park Chan-gyu added helpfully.
Leaders nodded. Not rare, but not common.
"Felt like an important one. Looked different too."
"Different how?"
"Chief's son or something?"
"High odds."
"Then it'll charge blind with rage."
"Fuck, dodging won't cut it."
Now they got it, murmuring. They'd planned to just sidestep the wave before.
Plus, no way they'd risk it on a rival Kirin Guild hunter's word alone.
"Heard enough? No dodging this. Gear up proper."
Park Chan-gyu slung an arm over my shoulder, addressing them. I glanced back; another wink.
This guy's something else.
Now I saw why he'd given me the floor.
"Thanks, Park Chan-gyu Hunter."
"No problem, Professor."
Kim Tae-min thanked him, then bowed lightly to me.
"You've heard it all—should be clear now. Full effort to hold them off. Questions?"
"..."
Satisfied, Kim Tae-min smiled and launched into tactics.
Why thank Park Chan-gyu? Why the hassle through me?
To convince them.
These mid-tier hunters were guild-drafted under government "cooperation"—basically threats. No enthusiasm for a professor's orders, especially with guild politics. They'd bicker and half-ass it.
Just moments ago, dodging was the plan.
Smart play.
I watched Park Chan-gyu chat with Kim Tae-min on defense setup.
But why's an A-rank pretending C-rank in a mid guild?
I recalled what Information Viewing showed when he'd grabbed my shoulder.
That lineup? Top guilds would kill for it.
Best part: the A-rank Disguise. Lets you show whatever power level you want.
I have to learn that one no matter what!
It was crucial for me right now.