Chapter 16

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 16

Chapter Title: The Progress is Too Fast!

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The progress is too fast!

I approached the fallen Park Ha-yeon.

A serious wound.

Her abdominal skin was torn open wide enough to expose her internal organs.

This is bad.

If something happened to Park Ha-yeon, who would stop the Demon King?

I hurriedly pulled out a potion and sprinkled it over her.

New flesh sprouted, sealing the torn abdominal skin.

"Get a grip, Park Ha-yeon!"

I kept shaking her to prevent her from losing consciousness.

'Why did this happen?'

A raid event by the C-rank monster 'Luna Bear'.

It was a rescue mission so easy that even first-time players of 'Hero Name: ZEUS' could clear it without much trouble.

Come to think of it, there was one thing that stood out.

At this point in the story, the protagonist originally has the 'Shadowless Phantom Martial Arts' skill.

But since I took it, the only skills I have are 'Guardian of the Species' and 'Electrokinesis' for manipulating electricity.

'Is it because of me?'

I could take down a Luna Bear with control alone even without Shadowless Phantom Martial Arts, but it might be tough for a regular user.

At this point, I was certain.

'It is because of me.'

I suddenly felt really sorry.

I needed to get her a good opportunity soon.

As a hardcore 'Hero Name: ZEUS' player, I knew the locations of all the hidden skills scattered around the academy.

Park Ha-yeon slowly opened her eyes.

She looked at me and gave a small smile.

"You came to save me...."

"Don't rush into dangerous places. I get worried if you get hurt."

The teachers finally arrived.

They were fully geared up.

Seeing this horrific scene, they clutched their heads.

"Is everyone okay!"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Our team and Park Ha-yeon are fine, but the first group that got attacked...."

A student whose spine was bent in the wrong direction after slamming into a tree.

A student whose face had been torn off.

A student mangled by claws and covered in blood.

Everyone except one was wiped out.

I knew from the story that they died.

Even so, seeing this gruesome sight made something hot rise in my chest.

I couldn't just let it slide without questioning the teacher.

"Why did a 'Luna Bear' show up? You said only horned rabbits or slimes would appear!"

The teachers all turned their heads away as if they'd rehearsed it.

Dodging responsibility.

Only the Class A homeroom teacher bowed his head and spoke.

He was a young handsome man with horn-rimmed glasses.

"I'm sorry. This isn't normally Luna Bear territory, but it seems some kind of anomaly occurred."

"That's...."

'Safety negligence has its limits!'

I was furious, but there was nothing I could do.

The apologizing teacher spotted Yang Min-seo standing next to me and acknowledged her.

"Ah, Yang Min-seo. Did your team take down the Luna Bear?"

Even the Class A homeroom teacher knew her—she really was famous.

Yang Min-seo glanced at me, her conscience pricking her at the thought of claiming full credit.

I gave a slight nod.

She spoke confidently.

"Yes. We heard screams and rushed over to help. Shin Noda here was the MVP."

"Ah, this student? Thank you."

We collected the bodies and returned to base camp.

The mood was somber.

It was understandable, with casualties on the first day of enrollment.

The teachers looked burdened by the liability issues ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too.

They gathered us in the clearing and announced the situation.

Me, Park Ha-yeon, and the Yang Min-seo group stood at the front with the teachers.

An older teacher with a stern face stepped forward.

"Unfortunately, due to casualties during the hunt, we're ending all activities early today. A powerful monster appeared that doesn't normally come out around here. The cause is unknown, and we'll dispatch an investigation team soon to get to the bottom of it."

Murmurs spread.

Hearing about casualties, everyone looked serious.

"The academy has decided to close the Gigantic Ancient Forest dungeon until the investigation is complete. Students who want to train can use the temporary training ground on sublevel 2 of the main building."

The teacher pointed at us and added,

"These students noticed another group's danger and went to help. That's the attitude a hero should have. Everyone, take note. Yang Min-seo's group. And Park Ha-yeon... which group are you from?"

"Uh, I'm from Kim Shin-hoo's group."

"Where are the rest of your group members?"

"Well...."

Park Ha-yeon mumbled, unable to answer straight.

The teacher pressed her.

"The rest of your group didn't agree, did they? You acted alone. Right? Kim Shin-hoo group, raise your hands."

Three students in the listening crowd raised their hands.

The teacher looked at one male student's name tag and asked,

"Are you the leader?"

"Yes. I'm Kim Shin-hoo."

"Did Park Ha-yeon act alone?"

"Yes, that's right."

Park Ha-yeon's expression darkened.

In contrast, Kim Shin-hoo was bold.

"Why didn't you go to save them?"

Kim Shin-hoo's face paled.

He answered in a smaller voice than before.

"We judged it too dangerous. Since it's inside a dungeon...."

"If a villain stronger than you shows up after you become a hero, will you ignore them ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like today? Letting citizens die?"

"Uh... well...."

He bowed his head deeply and couldn't respond properly.

The teacher clicked his tongue and scolded him.

"Well, your answer isn't wrong. But think about getting chewed out like this. Real combat is full of unfair situations like that. That's what this lesson is for."

"Yes, I understand."

It seemed to end on a positive note, but the teacher added one more thing.

"Oh, and that's that. Your group gets a deduction for teamwork."

"Yes...."

The male student clamped his mouth shut and glared at Park Ha-yeon.

That's how we exited the dungeon.

Field-type dungeons let you come and go without clearing them.

Yang Min-seo, who passed through the gate late, came running up holding something in both hands.

She looked up at me and spread her hands.

Shiny orbs appeared.

"What're these?"

"Orbs of Growth. The teacher said they dropped from the Luna Bear and gave them to me. He told the leader—me—to distribute them, but I think Shin Noda contributed the most, so I'll give them all to you."

Orbs of Growth.

Like 'level ups' in normal games, this game had 'Orbs of Growth.'

I considered yielding a few.

'No. No.'

On second thought, no.

Yang Min-seo, Ji So-yeon, Oh Ha-na.

Sorry, but they have low growth potential.

It's better for ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the world if I take them all.

"Thanks. I'll ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠put them to good use."

I took the orbs and consumed them right there.

--------[Orb of Growth (Strength)]--------