Chapter 105
Chapter 105
Episode 105
EP25 - Assassination of the Professor: Why Professor Dante?(2)
There is a character that you will encounter at least once while running through Zone 0.
"Professor!"It was Elise.
I was in personal training. I was running for cardiovascular endurance when Eliza, dressed in workout clothes, came next to me and started running together.
"Where are you going?""I'm not going anywhere." Because I'm in the middle of strength training."Let's go together."It was a welcome news.
Running alone is boring.
"The wind is chilly, professor.""I see.""On the other hand, I felt like I already knew the ending of this race, even before I had started running."
I have invested a lot of star fragments to significantly increase my stats, but my health and agility will still fall short compared to Elise.
Moreover, Elize is receiving all sorts of buffs from the dog beastman Kshikos family, so her running level is bound to be different.
We crossed the cold winds of winter.
However, it was not that cold because my body was warm.
Running.
It's a strange exercise.
Breathing is rapid and the body is really struggling.
Sometimes, it strangely feels good to do it.
When I was working hard in the lab, I never had to run like this, but now that I'm in the game, I often find myself running. Over the big hill. Cross the downhill. It crosses through the fields that are spread out wide.
I am free.
Right now, I can run 100 meters in about 7 seconds if I run as fast as I can. When converted to speed, it is around 50 km/h. It's almost the speed of a car.
As you run like this, the surrounding scenery changes rapidly and the ground seems to disappear into the distance.
"Hmm...!" I feel good...!"I see.""Elise was right." I felt good. We are currently running along the edge of the ridge near the lakeside road, and it was quiet because there were no cars. Simply running down that street brings a sense of fulfillment.
Why?
Why does running create a sense of fulfillment?
What suddenly came to mind was the racetrack. I once followed along because it was my professor's hobby. On the way, I wanted to hit the professor on the back of the head with a monkey wrench, but when I actually went, it turned out to be more enjoyable than I expected.
Instead of gambling, it's about riding horses.
When the horses grit their teeth and run. Until the very end, when there is no certainty about who is in the lead, something suddenly accelerates from behind and narrowly overtakes. I felt an intense thrill even though my money was not at stake.
Perhaps at some point in the past, only my father's grandfather's grandfather's... 'Super-Grandfather,' who enjoyed running, had an advantage for survival, and part of that DNA may have been passed down to me.
"Since the scenery is nice, shall we take a short break?""Shall we?"Near the landscaped lakeside. Elise stopped and caught her breath.
"Ah, I feel good." How is the professor?"That's good.""Are you not tired?""It's okay.""The truth is, I was on the verge of dying."
I only breathe through my nose to avoid looking weak.
Elise: 'As expected, it's the professor.'That's right. That's it.
Oh, wait a moment. My head is spinning...
I tried not to show it as much as possible.
"Hmm." I am happy."Elise, even in the midst of this, seems to have plenty of energy as she jumps up and down and runs back from afar."
Watching that, I thought that even the recent run had adjusted to my pace.
It was really incredibly fast right now.
"Elise Kshikos.""Yes.""Shall we measure 100 meters together once?""Huh?" Good.Among the pre-made models, there was also a 'ruler'. I measured 1 meter a hundred times to get 100 meters.
Then, he turned on the stopwatch of the "Crystal Ball."
"Ready.""Ugh!""Departure!""Elise lifted her foot, tilted her body almost horizontally to the ground, and in the next moment, raised her hand from the other side."
2.81 seconds.
I tried to calculate in my head.
Speed... approximately 130 km/h.
Chaitanya?
"How is it?""That's quite fast." 2.81 seconds."The truth is, it was surprisingly fast."
At the level of a typical senior professor or higher.
Is there another assassin as fast as this among the peers of the current era? Even this one is not even the main focus of the [defense technique].
"Oh, really."However, Elize seemed indifferent.
Numbers are something that adults like.
So what does Elize like?
From the way you've been glancing around, it seems like something is up.
Elise: 'Hmm.'There doesn't seem to be anyone watching here...And at the end of that glance, it seems you are observing me.
It seemed like they were trying to play the assassination game again.
[Elise: '......Finally, Eliza quietly approaches. Looking not at me with your eyes, but gazing into the distance. I clasped my hands behind my back, but I know that there is a pocket of emptiness and a sheath there.
It is pretending to stab me with a knife. But now I am used to it.
I quickly created a ball with [illusion] to catch Elize's attention and then threw it far away.
"Ask me.""Elise unknowingly turned her gaze to follow the ball, then looked back at me with a dazed expression."
Elise: 'Ask me...??In a moment, confusion gathers in those eyes.
Elise started to think a little more after taking turns looking at the ball far away with me.
He/She soon crossed his/her arms.
At the same time, lips that protrude as if something is unsatisfactory.
"Professor.""Huh?""Aren't you treating me like a dog right now?""...What?"
Suddenly became clever?
"Why is that?""You say to ask, but that's something you say to a dog." Why do I bite the ball with my mouth?"Bring it here." Then.”
“……."Elise began to think again."
Elise: 'Bring it here...?Elise: 'Is it something that people also do when they bring it...??'Hmm...Then, he ran over quickly, brought the ball, and handed it to me.
"Well done."”
“…….The guy nods his head.
Although I didn't pet or anything separately, wouldn't it be treating them too much like a dog from that point on?Even though it was just a compliment, Elize seemed to be in a very good mood.
"...Um, that's strange.""Why.""Why do I feel so good about this...?""However, it is only natural that it would be like that."
The hunting dog is a hunting dog.
Among them, the dog that retrieves birds shot down by humans is called a hunting dog.
The original word for the breed of the Kshikos family, retriever, means 'to retrieve'.
In other words, Elize is returning with the mission of life that has been passed down through her blood.
"Professor." Let's do it one more time."I don't want to.""Huh?" That's too much. No, just one more time."I don't want to.""...Then there's nothing we can do.""Then are you not thinking about the assassination game again?"
I had to throw it away and get it back, whether I liked it or not.
"Bring it here.""Yes!"About 20 times.
⋮
< [Stamina]+3 >
< Overall Combat Power: 183,113 → 183,203 (▲90) >
⋮
"Elise." If you go to the academy, slowly prepare the external schedule for the assassination group."Huh?" What schedule did the department ask about?"That's not yet, but I want to measure the records before scheduling." You need to know exactly what level your military power is at. Soon we will take an important test."Eliza nodded with a stern expression."
The first real operation of the Dante Assassins is just around the corner.
After sending Elise off. I decided to train alone next.
I have been doing physical training and illusion training every day, but starting today, I decided to begin a new training.
The harmony of illusion and combat techniques.To create a [illusion], one must use imagination. In other words, it is the realm of reason.
However, [combat skills] require movement of the body. In other words, it is the realm of instinct.
Of course, illusions cannot ignore instinctive mechanisms, and combat techniques must also be rational, as there is a term called 'combat intelligence'... This is it. Engaging in both combat and illusion simultaneously is as difficult as playing two different games with your left and right hands.
"That is the weakness of the illusionist assassin."The illusion magician is different. Originally, it stays still because the warrior protects it. However, the assassin is alone.
‘Um.To aid in a detailed understanding. Let me briefly explain the three main classes and combat in this game.
First of all, the center of the battle is the 'wizard'.
As an assassin, I don't want to admit it, but I can't deny that those order form vending machine guys are the key to everything.
When a battle breaks out, the warrior and the mage move together as a unit, with the warrior protecting the mage.
The warrior maintains the line on the battlefield, blocking the enemy's assault like a fortress wall. Among them, a strong warrior can smash the enemy lines like a bull and kill the mages.
The wizard can provide a stable firepower slowly and steadily from within. (That 'slow and steady' is the difference from an assassin.)Depending on the ability, it can show much greater firepower than an assassin.
For example, even if the current 'Number 1 Assassin in the World of Magic' comes, they wouldn't be able to implement even half the defensive magic of our shield support Ezekiel.
Then what about the assassin?
The assassin is a profession that invests everything in a short time.
In a situation where the warrior is being pushed back, it is the assassin's role to push the line forward for a short time.
Even if the wizard's fireball has spread and covered the enemies, if the enemy commander is still alive, then the assassin is the one who is deployed to kill the commander.
However, after fulfilling that role, the assassin can only suck their fingers. Because I've used up all my mana.
In simple terms, the assassin is a premature ejaculator.
I am a professor of premature ejaculation.
The assassination group is the premature ejaculation group.
Warrior vs Assassin = If ambushed, the assassin wins. If you can't do it, victory goes to the warrior. If you stall for time, the warrior wins; if you don't, the assassin wins.
Wizard vs Assassin = In terms of matchups, the assassin wins decisively.
Assassin vs Assassin = They are really wary of each other. First, the one who relaxes will definitely die.
This is a common composition. I am a bit different.Usually, assassins either throw or engage in combat, and whether they die or survive after a "bombardment" is irrelevant.
Isn't it true that the assassin from the illusion realm doesn't really have any bombings?
The explosion was loud, but nothing actually exploded!!
Ah, it's so scary...
However, if one can easily use [illusion techniques] even during battle, the situation changes.
I can adopt methods such as controlling the opponent's senses while thrusting with a sword.
"No one can do that yet."I think I will try it once.
First, basic combat.I try shadow boxing. The synchronized body of Dante moves naturally, as if he has mastered the art of combat.
I felt it when I suppressed the footwork in the discipline department. My fighting skills were better than those of most warriors.
Sense of balance based on the center of gravity. The elasticity and flexibility of muscles and bones. The explosive power that bursts out in an instant.
Crunch-!
With one punch, the dry tree was shattered. The stat [Strength] increases the basic defense of the body, which means it strengthens even the skin and bones. Currently, the strength of my fist was similar to granite.
'But if it continues like this, there won't be anything to see.I'll try again. The moment you throw a punch, if you focus on something in your mind...
‘...It won't work.It was hard to concentrate.
To put it metaphorically, you have to imagine fighting while handling a computer graphics program. It seems that it's not something that can be done overnight.
Rather, when fighting against toxins or in situations like the Zinc Shite War, I was able to focus on [illusion] even if I was moving. At that time, it was simply because I was running.
Even when I was suppressing the foot monster, I cast an illusion during the 'interval time' when it and I were both standing still. I used it because it felt like a waste of time to just play mind games.
The full-scale battle required a level of concentration that was on a different dimension than simply walking or running.
Well, thinking about it, that's true. It's perfectly fine to think about other things while on the treadmill. Is there really a crazy person who thinks about something else during sparring? If that happens, the jawbone will be shattered immediately.
"Even this is something I can attempt because it's me..."Having mastered the most woven illusion on the continent, "World Forgery," my proficiency is monstrous.
A typical illusion assassin, even if they are a [Grandmaster], does not use illusions while moving. Use [illusion] and then move, or stop moving and use [illusion].
This path can only be paved by me.With this mindset, I kept moving and repeating the use of my illusion magic.
As time passed, I gradually started to get a sense of it.
There was one problem.
"Doing it alone is too lacking in tension."When the mind is at peace, things will work out.
But reality is a continuous state of tension.
So in the end, to put it into practice, you have to confront unpredictable others. Who would I ask for help with this?
It's disappointing even when I request a reunion.
Because I already know that it cannot kill me.
So, I have to face an opponent who can actually kill me... But the Elize is too dangerous.
I wish someone would help.
At that time when I was thinking.
[Joaquin: '...I found it.']An unwelcome guest has appeared.
"What?" Did you go for a run with Professor Dante?"Yes." It was so good.”
“……."The jaw began to tremble with suppressed anger."
Why is it Elise and not myself?
I also went jogging this morning...!!
"Ah, and I also threw the ball and brought it back."”
“……?However, the words that followed were a bit strange.
What? Throw the ball and bring it back?
Professor Dante throws the ball and it comes back?
Isn't that a bit strange no matter how you think about it?
"Why did you do that...?""Eliza's eyes widened in surprise."
Because it was a question for himself as well.
"Hmm." I see...? Isn't it a bit strange for a person to pick up the ball...? Originally, it was supposed to be something like a mini gathering..."No, why did you do that all by yourself?""Huh?""Balmuni made a serious face."
I am.”