Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: End of the Tutorial (3)
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Seo Yu-ju zipped to the monster's side in an instant and thrust her spear at it. The creature desperately blocked the spear with its halberd, but her figure vanished once more in a flash.
- Puk
"Kehek! You damn pest! Keruk!"
Having briefly lost track of Seo Yu-ju's presence, the spear pierced the monster's arm. It let out a agonized wail and swung its halberd wildly to shake off the regressor.
"... Hup!"
Bam!
Seo Yu-ju blocked the monster's sweeping attack with her spear, only to be sent flying back. If it had been anyone else blocking the monster's strike head-on, they wouldn't have come out unscathed.
Cha Hyun-jin immediately swung his sword from behind the creature, but it leaped high into the air, dodging the blade's path.
"How dare a puny human! Keruk!"
The moment it landed, the monster charged straight at Hyun-jin and slammed into him. Hyun-jin couldn't evade in time and was flung away by the impact.
"Kuhk!"
His internals must have been shaken by the shock, as Hyun-jin vomited blood while sprawled on the ground.
"Cough... Ngh..."
"Hyun-jin! You fucking monster bastard!"
Kang I-seo seemed intent on rushing to Hyun-jin's side. As she moved toward where he lay, she loosed a few arrows at the monster, but only one or two lodged in its body.
"Keruk...! You, human woman. I'll chew you up from head to toe. Keruk!"
The monster lunged at Kang I-seo with terrifying speed.
Seo Yu-ju had lost sight of it for a moment and wore a look of stunned disbelief.
'No, this is...!'
The monster's speed was too much. There was no way to intercept it. Her mind kept flashing with images of Kang I-seo being cleaved by the halberd.
As the monster closed in right before Kang I-seo's face, she sensed her death and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Die, human bitch! Keruk!"
Everyone thought Kang I-seo couldn't escape death.
"Guardian Shield!"
Bam!
A dome-shaped barrier appeared around Kang I-seo just in time, blocking the monster's strike.
Shatter!
But the shield broke immediately after absorbing the blow. The monster's power had exceeded its capacity.
The creature swung its halberd again.
"Futile tricks...! Keruk!"
Thanks to the shield buying a precious moment, Seo Yu-ju closed in and blocked the monster with her spear. Despite the pain from my earlier magic hitting its foot, I rushed to Kang I-seo's side and yelled.
"You crazy bitch! Snap out of it! Wanna die?!"
"Uh... Huh?"
Still dazed from nearly dying, she sat there blankly.
I bit my lip, hauled her to her feet, grabbed her arm, and dragged her away hastily.
"Huff... huff... Whoosh..!"
My body began to tremble at the realization that a comrade could have died.
"... Thanks. You saved my life..."
"If you get it... that's enough. Huff... Fuck... When Yu-hyeon used that shield to block the attack, shouldn't you have bolted right away? Sitting there frozen... What were you thinking?! You trying to get yourself killed?!"
I unintentionally raised my voice at her.
"S-Sorry."
Her face flushed slightly as she bowed her head in apology.
"......"
For now, she was alive—that was what mattered. I turned my gaze to Seo Yu-ju and the monster.
"You keep getting in my way, human bitch! Keruk!"
As the creature and the regressor traded blows repeatedly, An Tae-woo succeeded in stabbing its back with his spear from behind.
Stab—
"Keeek! You...!"
Thud!
"Guhk....!"
The monster immediately kicked backward while impaled, sending An Tae-woo flying with the spear slipping from his grasp.
Thankfully, I spotted Ho-won Uncle catching the flying Tae-woo.
Hitting the wall directly would have been far worse.
"You okay? Take a breather."
"Ngh... Cough..."
Even with Ho-won Uncle catching him, the impact seemed severe. Probably because he'd taken the monster's kick bare-bodied.
Seo Yu-ju had inflicted multiple wounds, I'd hit it with magic, and Song Ha-eun's attacks had worn it down—the monster's fatigue was obvious.
"Kehk... Kehk... To think... this noble body would fall to vermin like you humans?"
Realizing it was at a disadvantage, the monster's pupils began to tremble. Seeing its fearful expression, Seo Yu-ju spoke to us.
"Hoo... It looks in bad shape. We're almost there, but no slacking. Yu-hyeon, Yun-seong, any mana left?"
"I... I'm out of mana. That last shield was everything."
"... I think I can cast one more spell."
Seo Yu-ju nodded at our responses.
"Good. Then Yu-rim and I, plus Ho-won, will hold the front. Ha-eun, keep picking your shots like before. Yun-seong, get ready to cast."
"Yes."
Tae-woo and Hyun-jin were effectively out.
They couldn't keep fighting.
I-seo was out of arrows.
Yu-hyeon had no mana left.
That left five of us to carry on.
But we'd paid a price, and the monster was battered and exhausted. Not the worst situation.
The moment I answered, Seo Yu-ju charged the monster.
"You persistent bastard! Keruk!"
The monster, eager to crush the regressor leeching wounds bit by bit, swung its halberd wildly.
But she was the regressor. Her vast experience from the first round let her block without getting hit.
As the monster dodged Seo Yu-ju's spear thrust, a spirit's wind sliced its arm.
"Kee-eeek!"
It was clearly tiring. Attacks it had easily evaded before now landed.
Noticing Ho-won Uncle closing in annoyed it, so it swung its halberd—but he blocked with his shield.
Kwang!
Crack—
"...!"
Having taken so many hits already, cracks spread across the shield.
Kwang—!
The monster slammed down again, but Ho-won Uncle rolled aside in time. Impressive reaction despite his shield shattering suddenly.
I always thought it whenever I saw him—average job and traits, but his combat sense was unreal. Maybe the best after Seo Yu-ju.
Seizing the opening as the monster attacked Ho-won Uncle, Yu-rim stabbed its thigh with her dagger.
"Kee-eeek—!"
Seo Yu-ju didn't miss the pained opening and thrust her spear into its other leg, then shouted.
"Yun-seong! Magic—now!"
I poured my remaining mana into the prepared spell.
"Ignite, flames."
Realizing its legs were pinned by dagger and spear, unable to dodge, the monster shrieked in impending doom.
"Kek! No! This can't be...!"
Just before the magic hit, Seo Yu-ju and Yu-rim pulled back. The spell struck true.
Whoosh—
"Kieee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-eeek—"
The monster burned, screaming. Unlike before, its wounds kept the flames raging.
Soon, the blazing creature stopped moving and collapsed.
Tension drained at the sight. Everyone slumped or lay flat. Me too.
Thud.
"Hoo.... Fuck. That was brutally tough. How is this a tutorial?"
No kidding. The difficulty was unbelievable for a tutorial. Without Seo Yu-ju, some of us would've died clearing it.
'It's probably designed assuming half the participants die.'
"... Still, no one died, right? I really thought we'd lose someone."
"Fuck, yeah. Cleared it, that's what counts. Hoo...! Anyway, how you holding up?"
"Ngh... Feeling better after resting. Still hurts, but not dying."
"Good. Oh! Yu-hyeon, thanks. You saved my ass. Good kid!"
Kang I-seo ruffled Yu-hyeon's hair gratefully. Of course she felt grateful—Yu-hyeon had literally saved her.
"No biggie, Noona! Glad you're safe. Hehe."
An Tae-woo, resting a bit, spoke up.
"... But why no clear alert?"
The regressor answered wearily, fatigued from battle.
"... Probably... something in here if we search."
"Hoo... Fuck, cleared or not, lemme rest! I'm beat!"
Remembering earlier, I teased Kang I-seo with a smirk.
"Pfft... Yeah. Bet you nearly pissed yourself. Wouldn't blame ya. Pfhehe..."
"... Ha, wanna check if I did?"
"......."
"What, quiet again? C'mon ~ Check if you want ~ ?"
'Fuck...'
"Who was it that came rushing to save the piss-scared girl, looking like she might cry? Huh?"
"... I didn't make that face."
"Yelling curses in a panic! What was it? 'Crazy bitch, snap out of it! Wanna die?!' or something?"
"... Ahem, forget what I said. Heat of the moment."
"Psh, what's wrong with a little cursing? I kinda liked it."
"What..."
"Curse more from now on. Got it, Yun-seong?"
"C-Crazy..."
"Ooh, 'crazy bitch' works too. Fine by me!"
Conversations with Kang I-seo always ended up like this. Best to avoid the lunatic.
Seo Yu-ju, overhearing, clapped lightly.
Clap!
"... Enough chit-chat, let's search the room. Everyone, check around."
'... Feels like she cut us off on purpose. Nah.'
Anyway, we all started searching as instructed. Seo Yu-ju wasn't joining in, pretending not to look again.
After a while, Yu-hyeon called out, having found something.
"Here! Over here!"
We gathered around. Yu-hyeon grunted, pushing the jade throne aside.
Creeeak—
Beneath lay a treasure chest.
"... I'll open it."
The regressor revealed a necklace and two rings inside.
Yu-rim asked everyone.
"What are these...?"
Everyone looked puzzled. Expecting weapons like swords or spears, jewelry was unexpected and baffling.
"For now... we'll take 'em. Probably useful."
Seo Yu-ju pocketed them, and an alert appeared for all.
Congratulations. You have cleared the Tutorial.
Those who cleared the dungeon will all move to Eras.
Those surviving outside the dungeon will move in about 30 minutes.