Chapter 15: An M-Leaning HP Tank Never Loses
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 15: An M-Leaning HP Tank Never Loses
Yukina went out of her way to avoid getting involved with Yeon-woo.
However, the more she did, the more Mary and Jade teased her, and the more she found herself constantly conscious of his presence.
Whenever they were in the same space, she couldn't help but track him with her eyes. Her friends, oblivious to the real situation, would tease her with devious smiles.
The more her friends teased and the angrier she got, the larger Yeon-woo’s presence grew in her heart.
It wasn't love, but he was a constant, nagging presence.
No, he was an annoying human being.
“Hey, you’re not supposed to do it like that.”
“Eek—!”
“So you can make cute noises.”
“You—! Did you put a tracker on me?! How do you always know where I am?!”
It wasn't just once or twice that Yeon-woo had scared the daylights out of her.
Every time she snooped around restricted areas to track the Source, he would suddenly appear behind her to offer unsolicited advice, driving her to the brink of a nervous breakdown.
Even when she threatened him violently or told him she’d kill him, Yeon-woo approached her as if it were nothing.
What frustrated Yukina even more was that his pointers were never wrong.
In a way, he was even her savior, as his advice had prevented her identity from being discovered on several occasions.
She grabbed him by the collar—having lost count of how many times she’d done this—and slammed him hard against a wall.
“I told you not to interfere if you don't want to die, didn't I?”
“But I…”
“Shut up. Don't say a word. Don't worry about me. Just look out for your own life.”
Cutting him off with a sharp retort, Yukina brushed back her messy bangs and walked away.
She finally realized why she got so angry whenever she saw Yeon-woo.
He was a human being too different from herself.
He fundamentally tried to help others and wouldn't yield even if it was dangerous.
A man with a kind heart and unbreakable convictions.
Yeon-woo embodied the "Mage of Justice" she had dreamed would save her when she was a child.
Compared to herself—raised by the Organization since childhood, killing people and doing all sorts of terrible things just as they ordered—he was so dazzlingly bright that it made her furious.
She knew these feelings were irrational, but the more she compared herself to him, the more pathetic and filthy she felt. She couldn't stand it.
Of course, if Yukina knew what Yeon-woo was actually thinking, she would have kicked her blankets away in embarrassment and smacked him upside the head, but she purely misunderstood his actions as genuine kindness.
Thinking it was childish and ugly to project her self-loathing onto Yeon-woo, Yukina hurried away as if fleeing.
After classes ended, Yukina made an excuse to send her friends ahead and stayed in the classroom alone to clear her head.
Slide—
Thinking it was Yeon-woo again, Yukina looked up irritably, only to be startled when she saw her homeroom teacher.
The good-natured teacher told her it was fine and asked her to sit, inquiring what was wrong.
“What’s the matter? Did something bad happen?”
“No. I have an appointment, so I was just killing some time.”
“It seems Yeon-woo has been bothering you a lot, Yukina.”
“…Ah, it’s fine.”
Had the rumors spread past the students to the teachers?
Yeon-woo was a conspicuous presence in school, for better or worse, and it wasn't good for Yukina—who needed to hide her identity—to be mentioned alongside him.
Thinking he was just trying to offer some interpersonal counseling, Yukina tried to brush it off and stood up, pretending to check the time.
“I really have to go now—”
“The Boss has a message.”
“… …”
The moment the word "Boss" left his lips, Yukina’s body froze.
She had no idea he was part of the Organization. She felt a surge of terror at the Organization’s reach and a chill down her spine at the realization that she had been watched this whole time.
As if enjoying her shocked expression, the teacher grinned.
It wasn't the gentle smile he usually wore, but a wicked one.
“Yeon-woo will be taken care of today. You just focus on the task you were given.”
“…You can’t. If you kill a student now, Yggdrasil will be on high alert.”
“Shouldn't you be worried about yourself rather than the Organization?”
If Yggdrasil became wary, Yukina’s safety—as the one searching for the Source on the ground—would also be compromised.
Since she was raised to be used as a tool, the Organization would force her to keep searching for the Source regardless of Yggdrasil’s vigilance.
Even if she were caught, as long as Haruna was with them, there was no way Yukina would betray the Organization.
However, right now, Yukina thought of Yeon-woo before her own safety.
The teacher returned to his gentle smile, patted Yukina on the shoulder, told her to do a good job, and left.
Left in a daze, Yukina picked up her phone with trembling hands.
The text message where she had angrily told him not to contact her.
She began typing a message to the unsaved number, but her hands shook so much she dropped the phone.
Ignoring the fallen device, she covered her face with both hands, looking as if she were about to burst into tears.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
In the end, unable to warn him of the danger, Yukina repeated her apologies in a voice full of sorrow—apologies that would never reach Yeon-woo.
* * *
I couldn't be satisfied with just stealing one technique like Insight from the seniors.
Besides, Insight wasn't even working for some reason, so I couldn't actually use it.
I remained the admirable junior, diligently going around to learn from my seniors.
“Oh, I can feel it.”
It was a strange sensation to feel the movement of blood circulating through my body—something I could never perceive normally.
“You’ve got it already? You learn pretty fast. You’re only the second person to pick it up this quickly.”
“Who was the first?”
“Daihara Akito. Congratulations, it means you’re on par with a genius.”
Perhaps because they looked favorably on me—a winner of the tutorial who still sought out seniors to learn—they praised me as a genius.
By the way, that deceptive bastard Akito… of all things, he chose this?
The magic the senior taught me was Blood Flow Acceleration.
It’s a reinforcement magic that speeds up the blood flow to increase stamina and basic physical abilities.
A family like Akito’s would surely know plenty of much better reinforcement spells, but this sly guy showed a move perfectly befitting a deceptive bastard who gets everyone pregnant.
Why is this good, you ask?
Gentlemen. A dick is not a bone. It becomes erect when blood flows into the corpus cavernosum.
Why are you acting like amateurs? When I say "blood," you should understand immediately.
That’s right. The greatest advantage of Blood Flow Acceleration magic is that it buffs your cock stats.
It’s a magic no man should ever miss out on.
The senior who created and taught it is a woman, so she doesn't seem to know its true efficacy, but it’s a magic that can truly be called legendary.
With further refinement, it goes beyond making a small fry into a giant; it performs miracles.
My proficiency is still low, so I don't feel anything in my "mini-me" yet, but I’m going to train like hell from now on.
“Thank you for performing a miracle for me (my dick).”
“Eh? A miracle…? It’s not that great of a magic. You’re overpraising it.”
It’s only because you’re a woman that you don't know, Senior. Forget Akito; you’re the mage responsible for the future of humanity.
I swallowed those last words and finished the private lesson.
As soon as I stepped outside, I habitually pulled out my phone to check Yukina’s location.
She’s so diligent that I never know when she’ll go snooping in a restricted area, so I have to keep an eye on her.
Good, she’s being quiet today. Time to go to my part-time job.
I didn't intend to meddle with Yukina this much, but come to think of it, if she keeps causing trouble, that original busybody Akito will probably get involved.
If Akito butts in, things will get messy, so I have no choice but to stop her before things explode or intervene so she doesn't get caught.
At least I won't get scolded by Frey today.
“Phew—another productive day.”
Unfortunately, the pervert woman didn't come to the convenience store today, and Frey was as prickly as ever and worked me to the bone, but I felt a sense of accomplishment I never experienced in my previous life.
Pros really are different.
I can feel my body getting steadily stronger, so even though it’s hard, my mind is satisfied.
Man~ this is better than sex. Is this why gym rats can't stop working out?
But why the hell isn't Insight working? Blood Flow Acceleration worked right away.
I should have asked about that during training too.
If I go home now, I’ll only get two hours of sleep before I have to go back to school. I’m really living life to the full—
As I was heading home, a hulking brute who looked suspicious at a glance stepped out from an alley.
What? A pervert?
I watched the brute raise his palm as if telling me not to come this way, then I felt something behind me and turned around.
Vroooooom—!
Oh, shit.
Are these bastards trying to isekai me here, too? A truck was speeding toward me at full throttle.
Did they cast a sound-muffling spell? How did I not notice a truck that size until it was right on top of me?
But hey, I’m elite enough to get into Yggdrasil.
I might not know many spells, but the stats the Pig built up remain perfectly intact in my body, putting me on a different level from ordinary mages.
And since I focused most of my growth on my Mana Barrier, something like that will never break through.
Wait, they should know that too, right? Feeling something was off as I was sent flying, I looked back to see the brute circling his hand.
A line of flame followed his hand as he drew a circle.
“Doctor Stran—!”
Before I could finish my sentence, I was sucked into the circle the brute created and tumbled onto the ground in a different location.
Seeing my body react immediately, jumping up and taking a stance, it seems Frey’s training wasn't in vain.
Regaining my senses and looking around, I saw about a dozen people sneering at me in a wide, windowless space enclosed on all sides.
Ah, this is Kidnapping Magic.
I forgot the actual name, but it’s a spell that pops up occasionally in games.
It’s a magic that temporarily moves someone to another location and returns them after some time; it’s usually used to separate the protagonist from their companions.
But the efficiency of this is garbage; according to the game description, even a 12 Zodiac-class mage can't maintain it for even an hour.
“Is this the Geukryu Society?”
They didn't answer, but I saw someone’s expression stiffen when I correctly named Yukina’s organization.
If it’s the Geukryu Society—a beginner hunting ground—they won't be able to maintain this spell for more than a few minutes.
So why are they so confident?
Well, I guess if they suddenly kidnap someone and gang up on them, someone at their level wouldn't be able to hold out.
This is something of a trump card for the Geukryu Society.
“Since you know who we are, you must be affiliated with Yggdrasil.”
“I’m a student, so yeah, I’m affiliated. Are you blind? Can't you see the uniform?”
“Arrogant brat.”
A man with an old scar near his eye scowled and cast a spell.
Simultaneously, the Geukryu Society members surrounding me began their assault, and I took the hits without any resistance.
Boom! Crash! Bang!
Numerous spells pierced my body at once, creating a massive din.
Since the place was enclosed, the sound echoed tremendously.
“What… are you…?”
Frowning at the noise, I brushed the dust off my uniform, and the Geukryu Society thugs’ faces turned stupid with shock.
“What do you think? I’m an elite. And handsome. A mage in a different league from scrubs like you. Do you think Yggdrasil is a joke?”
As I spoke, a woman approached from behind, transformed her staff into a sword, and swung at my neck.
Clang—
The woman stared blankly at her broken sword, which had failed to pierce my Mana Barrier. Sensing my gaze, she belatedly panicked and scrambled back.
Hey~ I’m not going to attack.
Well, it’s not that I won't, it’s more that I don't have any proper means of attack.
Hey! I might not have spells, but do you think I don't have stats?
On top of that, I dumped all those expensive elixirs and items into my Mana Barrier. Do you really think you can break through?
If you want to kill me, you should have brought someone at least level 60.
It’s common sense that magic requires mana.
If they can't break my Mana Barrier even after using all their mana, the people in front of me are just ordinary civilians.
This is the perversity of the M-leaning HP Tank build.
You attack, I’ll take it. But remember, the one who runs out of mana or barrier first is the one who dies.
“Keep attacking!”
Seeing me taking the hits leisurely without even trying to dodge, the tense Geukryu Society thugs began firing spells indiscriminately.
“This is bulletproof glass, you bastards! Ahahahaha!!”
Boom! Bam! Crash!
Fire, lightning, rocks, swords, spears, axes, guns… boy, there sure are a lot.
Debris and dust filled the air, and the spells piercing through them shaved away at my Mana Barrier.
However, their mana was running out faster than my barrier was being depleted, and many of them began to pant.
Frey told me that attack magic isn't very efficient because the magic formulas for creation, targeting, and homing are complex.
Why do you think mages cast reinforcement spells and then run in to beat people up? It’s all to save mana and fight efficiently.
They’d be better off bringing a machine gun and spraying me.
“Yawn—guys, the sun’s going to come up at this rate. Are you okay? Does the Geukryu Society pay decent overtime?”
“Shut up!”
You should have done that from the start.
The man who slammed an axe into my head, seeing that I had no intention of attacking, began hacking away at me as if he were chopping wood.
The others joined in to beat me, but while it looked bad, it didn't even hurt.
The Geukryu Society guys must be losing their minds right now.
Since it’s Kidnapping Magic, they only have a few minutes to attack, so they start by hitting me with their strongest moves. But that’s inefficient and drains their mana, and they have to finish the fight before the spell wears off, but this guy shows no sign of dying.
Whether there was some kind of jamming device or not, my smartphone was dead, so I checked the time on my wristwatch and spoke to the woman who was kicking my shins.
“Isn't time about up? It’s been fun, guys. There’s a gym near the red-light district. If you go there, there’s a brute who arrived before you, so tell him…”
Ah, damn, I didn't get to finish my line.
Time was up, and I was returned to where I originally was. The brute who had kidnapped me was shocked to see me perfectly fine.
“Shoo!”
When I barked at him like I was chasing away a dog, the brute fled in terror.
I don't know why Yukina is so scared of guys like that.
But I guess I understand.
She’s been gaslit like that since she was a kid, so how could she make normal judgments?
I was planning to wait a bit longer, but Geukryu Society, you guys touched me first.
Now then, shall I save Yukina and take care of the Geukryu Society?