Episode 71
Episode 71
Professor Thunderstep, who had previously asked the returning students, "Was there no bull? Why not?" with a puzzled expression.
For some reason, that image suddenly flashed through his mind again, though he couldn't understand why.
'Focus.'
Lee Han turned his gaze forward.
The Spirit Bull before them was emitting a distinctly unique aura.
First, two types of mana.
The energies of Enhancement Magic and potions were unmistakable.
While theoretically difficult to explain, the aura of externally cast Enhancement Magic and internally activated magic potions differed in nature.
And then, an energy similar to mana but following a different trajectory.
'Is that the spirit's power?'
Though Lee Han wasn't particularly knowledgeable about spirits, he could at least tell that the bull before them was fused with one.
After all, a normal bull wouldn't have half its body shimmering as a block of ice.
Each time it scraped its hooves against the ground while glaring their way, a thin layer of frost formed.
"Lee Han. It's glaring right at us—do you think it'll charge? What's your take?"
"I wasn't thinking much of it before, but maybe it's angry because we lit a fire."
"......"
Durgyu and Giselle turned their heads to stare at Lee Han.
Hey!
"What? It's dark—we need light. Anyone who gets mad over lighting a fire is the weird one here."
"I don't think the important question right now is whether the Spirit Bull is weird or not..."
"Ask if there's a way to deal damage to it, Choi."
'Is this still going on?'
When Giselle relayed her words for Lee Han through Durgyu, Durgyu let out a deep sigh.
"Physical attacks probably won't work on the spirit part. Enchanting our weapons is still too much for us..."
Among monsters, there were quite a few that were immune to ordinary attacks.
To deal with such creatures, adventurers either carried magically enhanced weapons or learned methods to channel mana into their weapons.
"Does anyone here know how to channel even a bit of mana into their weapon?"
At Lee Han's question, Durgyu raised his hand. Giselle also raised hers. Even Lee Han, who had asked, raised his hand.
...Giselle stared at the two of them as if they were insane.
Durgyu was one thing, but why would someone not even from a knightly family know how to channel mana?
"That question was meant for Durgyu, but you answered too. Anyway, isn't it good that all three of us can attack? Let's spread out and strike."
Honestly, the fact that these three were grouped together was incredibly fortunate.
Both Lee Han and Durgyu were among the top swordsmanship students in their current class, and while Giselle was slightly weaker compared to them, she still possessed formidable swordsmanship skills.
Of course, their relationship was still absolute garbage.
"Ask who's taking the center, Choi."
In a situation like this, if they initiated their approach, the Spirit Bull was highly likely to target whoever was directly in front of it.
Lee Han asked with the utmost respect for their leader.
"Wouldn't it be obvious that our great leader should take the center? Right, Durgyu?"
Giselle responded with a middle finger. Durgyu sighed.
"Rock-paper-scissors?"
"Rock-paper-scissors."
Lee Han got the center. Giselle took the right, Durgyu the left.
Durgyu was pretty sure this was the first time he'd ever seen Giselle smile so brightly.
Fortunately, the Spirit Bull didn't immediately charge even after they lit the fire.
The three students' strategy was simple.
Spread out in three directions and approach until the Spirit Bull reacted.
Once it began targeting one of them, that student would focus entirely on evasion while the other two dealt damage.
'The problem is dodging.'
In hunts like these, the one who baited and dodged had the hardest job, while those who struck had it relatively easier.
Lee Han lamented his own misfortune for failing to avoid the center position.
-■!
The Spirit Bull, which had only been stomping its hooves until now, suddenly exhaled a chilling breath and let out a menacing growl.
Anyone could tell it was a clear warning—'Back off quietly.'
Lee Han stopped approaching and instead used magic.
"Spring forth, move!"
A Water Orb sprang into the air and flew straight toward the Spirit Bull. The previously motionless Spirit Bull startled and moved its body. The Water Orb exploded violently against the ground.
Thud, thud!
"Amazing... wait."
Durgyu, who had been marveling at the impressive magical skill, suddenly sensed something odd.
The direction Lee Han was firing the Water Orbs seemed strangely deliberate.
He was slashing downward as if shooting from above, and the result seemed to be herding the Spirit Bull to the right...?
'That damn bastard is really—'
Giselle drew her twin swords.
If Durgyu had noticed, there was no way Giselle wouldn't have.
From the start, Giselle had also planned to drive the Spirit Bull toward Lee Han if it came her way.
Pat!
Giselle leaped diagonally backward to the left.
She needed to redirect the Spirit Bull's attention, now fixed on her, back toward Lee Han.
Though momentarily cornered, it was obvious who posed the greater threat to the Spirit Bull.
She had devised a plan, but this was ultimately digging her own grave.
-■■!
Provoked, the Spirit Bull sharply turned and began charging toward Lee Han and Giselle.
"I hide in the night!"
"...?!"
Lee Han's figure vanished. Giselle didn't even have time to curse. She had to draw her twin swords and unleash the Purple Cloud Sword technique to face the Spirit Bull.
She waved the sword in her right hand to lure the Spirit Bull's gaze and precisely aimed at its jaw with the sword in her left. Like a seasoned bullfighter, Giselle brushed past the Spirit Bull's side, dealing damage.
'Tch.'
Giselle clicked her tongue at the sensation in her fingertips. Whether she had struck the spirit part or not, the bull showed no sign of damage.
The swords in her hands were coated with frost, but the spot where the Spirit Bull was hit instantly regenerated.
Screech—!
The Spirit Bull turned with an irritating sound. Despite its massive size, it was incredibly flexible and agile.
Giselle shook her head and waved her sword as if daring it to come again.
BAM!!!!
At that moment, the Spirit Bull was sent flying sideways as if struck by something.
Lee Han released his Invisibility Magic and reappeared. The sturdy wooden sword in his hand had been completely shattered.
"......"
"......"
Of course, it might sound like an excuse, but Lee Han had a reason for diverting the Spirit Bull's attention toward Giselle.
If Lee Han wanted to land a proper attack, someone needed to draw the Spirit Bull's focus.
There was no way Giselle would believe him if he told her...
Painful as it was, he had no choice but to prove it through results.
"Are you sure this is okay, Lee Han?!"
"It's fine! It's not like we'll ever be in the same group again after this class anyway!"
Lee Han replied cheerfully and chased after the bull in his invisible state.
"Feet, wrinkle the earth!"
His murmur transformed into a spell that enveloped his entire body.
His already sharpened vision from concentration grew even clearer, allowing him to track the Spirit Bull's movements with precision.
Whoooosh!
It hadn't been long since his sword was shattered, yet Lee Han mercilessly poured mana into his next move.
Thanks to the Spirit Bull's focus on Giselle, he had enough time to prepare.
Lee Han swung at the Spirit Bull before his sword could break again. Naturally, the sword shattered upon impact.
BAM!!!!
Still, the effect was undeniable. The Spirit Bull was sent flying sideways. Shaking his numb hand from the recoil, Lee Han shouted before the bull could recover.
"Now! Let's get out!"
"Y-yeah."
Durgyu couldn't bear to look at Giselle's expression. It was terrifying.
The goat beastman, Anglah, looked at the exit with a worried expression.
Having gone in and out earlier with Group 3, Anglah was deeply concerned about Group 4.
"Won't that Wardanaz bastard take advantage of Durgyu again?"
"Don't worry. Giselle's there. She'll handle it and keep him in check."
"Right? Since Giselle's there."
Everyone said so, but their expressions remained uneasy.
It felt like locking a wolf and a lamb in the same pen!
So when the three finally emerged, the students couldn't help but sigh in relief.
'Thank goodness!'
"You made it out, Durgyu!"
"Giselle, you did great!"
"......"
"......"
"???"
But those who came out soon noticed something off about Team 4's atmosphere.
Well, Wardanaz was always an expressionless cold fish, but even Durgyu looked terribly awkward, fidgeting like he didn't know where to put himself.
And Giselle...
For some reason, she radiated such murderous energy that approaching her seemed suicidal.
Angrago was too scared to even speak to her.
"Uh... Angrago."
"Durgyu! You dodged it alright?"
"Yeah. We managed. How did you guys handle it?"
Durgyu asked curiously.
No matter how he thought about it, he doubted the other teams had solved it the same way Lee Han's group did.
"We grabbed a torch hanging in the corner and threw it, then ran out while it was distracted."
"We summoned flames to hurl at it, then sprinted for our lives."
"Damn, you guys are smart. We didn't have that option, so we took turns baiting the bull while desperately searching for the exit."
Each team boasted about their methods.
Some had cleverly used their wits, while others had brute-forced their way through.
With every story, Durgyu's expression grew stiffer.
'Come to think of it, the professor only said to face it and find the exit—he never said we had to defeat it.'
Professor Ingoldel hadn't uttered a single word about defeating the spirit, but Lee Han and Giselle's talk of how to take it down had swept Durgyu along in their momentum.
The remaining teams emerged one after another. Some students stumbled out with their cloaks and clothes soaked in ice, looking utterly miserable.
"Excellent work, everyone. I only asked you to confront it and exit, yet some teams went as far as subduing it. That wasn't the original intent, but since you performed so admirably, I can only praise you."
At Professor Ingoldel's words, the students murmured among themselves.
A few tried to ask Giselle, "Giselle, was that you?" but her foul mood made them quickly back off.
"How did it feel facing a monster?"
"It was stronger than I expected. And faster too."
"I didn't realize our attacks would be completely ineffective."
The White Tiger Tower students shared their impressions one by one. The elf professor nodded in response.
"I'm sure everyone felt the same."
"......"
Listening to the professor, Durgyu wondered where exactly his team had gone wrong.
"Each of you may have perceived things differently, but while evading the monster, you must have realized one thing: there was no need to be so afraid."
"That's right!"
The White Tiger Tower students agreed.
Even though it was just about escaping, facing a monster firsthand had made it seem less terrifying than they'd imagined.
To conquer fear, one must ultimately confront it directly.
"Dealing with monsters is fundamentally no different from swordsmanship. Stay calm, assess your opponent, and if you can't win, think about how to escape. I'm pleased you've all gained a lesson today that can't be taught through words alone."
Durgyu agreed with the professor's words.
Though his team had just charged in swinging...
"Ah, yes. For this semester's classes, we'll proceed with the teams formed today. The balance is surprisingly good."
"......"
Durgyu nodded along until his entire body froze. Then he glanced at Lee Han and Giselle.
Their expressions had stiffened just like his. Lee Han whispered to Durgyu in a small voice,
"Um... do you think we should apologize for what happened earlier?"
"...I think it's best if you just keep me between you when talking..."