Is There Trouble with the Newbie? (9)
Sunlight streamed through the window, while reddish sunset light spread across the sky. The sun had already sunk halfway behind the mountain ridge, and on the opposite side a flock of night ravens rushed in sharply.
After the two teams snatched away the flags, the situation stalled without any further progress. The teams that had entered the first floor and those waiting on the third and fourth floors stood completely still, constructing structures without a single movement.
The fourth team kept their mouths shut and quietly observed the outer situation. The Japanese woman had grown slightly more proactive since earlier. Probably because she felt a bit guilty for only complaining instead of fighting alone.
I’m thinking they’ll finally move properly tonight.
Teams lurking outside, waiting for the right moment, were bound to slip into the Training Center during the night. Of course they’d have to keep the ambush on the first floor and the third floor in mind too. Because to win, they needed the enemy flags.
We have three in hand. The start is good.
Even though we only got them half-fishermen style, the symbols on the flags don’t shrink by half… No matter the method, as long as we grab the flags, right!
Of course the teams’ levels are all roughly the same, but among those nuts, we should pick the tallest one. The one from Team Nine, who awakened mana during the first week last time. They were talented and had decent stats, standing out noticeably this round. The instructors often said they were promising material for the next generation… and apparently had some leadership too. In last week’s survival training, even though one got seriously injured, everyone survived and made it back. So many people were already calling Team Nine the sure winner this tournament.
Unlike the other teams that planned to seize the Training Center’s key points first, Nine seemed to be waiting until everything was cleared and then launching the final invasion. They were waiting in the forest near the Training Center. Especially their captain, the arrogant guy, had way more mana packed than the other trainees. That was how Kang-jun could easily spot him.
There are almost six teams here in total.
The four teams waiting inside the Training Center plus the two outside. Of course there might be another team somewhere deep in the forest, but Kang-jun figured the odds were low. The two unknown teams had probably already been taken down by the ones waiting outside.
While thinking all that, the surroundings had already gone pitch black. Kang-jun switched guards with his team, letting the others get a short nap on the beds. One guarded the hallway, the other the window. Kang-jun pressed himself tight against the door of the dormitory and kept watch, sleeping and waking in turns.
A long time passed. The guards were relieved. The bright moonlight poured through the window into the room. Aside from the occasional sigh slipping from the teammates’ lips, nothing changed.
Kang-jun drifted into dozing, then woke up. The slimy blood on his palm spread mana once more, loosening it up.
When he periodically released mana to check the situation, secret movement finally registered. One of the two teams waiting outside. Not Team Nine. Another team. The greed to snatch one of the Training Center’s spots during this dim hour was clear.
Kang-jun stayed silent and motionless. He needed to find out which floors they were targeting first. Since it was an ambush, climbing the outer wall and sneaking through the windows was obvious.
Second floor… third floor… fourth floor!
They reached the fourth floor. It seemed they had decided it was best to seize the topmost first. Soon noisy sounds erupted. The sleeping teammates startled awake. The two on guard perked their ears in surprise too. Everyone knew the noise came from above.
Oppa, something’s happening, right?
It’s a fight right now. …It’s the fourth floor.
Bone-chilling screams and shattering objects followed. Everyone held their breath, listening to the noise. It stopped after a while. The fight was over.
Now five teams.
Kang-jun knew the attacking team had succeeded. Though their numbers were similar, the sudden ambush had worked.
This also reduced one annoying task for him. After all, he had planned to wrap everything up last. The fewer the enemy teams, the better.
That night passed with the owner of the fourth floor changed.
The teammates’ faces looked drained from insomnia. They gulped down the food they had stolen from others and discussed how to navigate this mess.
Three flags aren’t enough for first place, are they?
Probably. …We need at least two more.
We’ve already tasted blood. Everyone was already eyeing first place. Whether it was possible or not, Kang-jun didn’t see the change as bad. Survival came first. Human nature actually hurt survival more. What good would tearful human nature do!
The teammates seemed a bit restless, but Kang-jun had no intention of moving yet. He wanted the other teams to keep fighting. Especially to wait for Team Nine to jump into this chaos.
What are you going to do, oppa?
The Japanese woman asked the team leader’s thoughts. The answer had already been decided, but he acted like he was thinking a moment longer before dropping a line.
Fighting once and eating one flag is child’s play. We still need to let them fight each other more.
That’s right…
The teammates agreed with his words. If they had to fight anyway, fighting fewer enemies was obviously better. They squeezed their wriggling butts and waited for the right moment.
The fourth team ate breakfast and took up guard again. The Training Center was silent like an empty house. But everyone knew it was the calm before the storm. The final blow would fall before sunrise tomorrow.
While sitting still like that, their mouths started to itch, so they began chatting softly. The teammates recalled their ages, where they were born, what they had done, and how they had lived.
Who would have known we’d end up dropped in a place like this. …There are more than a few regrets about how we lived.
Seeing the gloomy stories repeat, the cheerful Japanese woman forced a laugh and lightly clapped.
Come on, let’s think positive. After all, we can’t go back. If we have to live, positive thinking is better, right?
Yeah, everyone cheer up.
They each took turns cheering each other on.
The long stories gradually ended, and the sun had already risen high in the sky. Not even a person’s shadow appeared on the sun-baked training ground.
Kang-jun walked to the window and glanced toward Team Nine’s direction. They were also checking the Training Center’s status in turns. They probably didn’t know about last night’s events.
Anyone outside?
…Just in case.
When Kang-jun stepped away from the window and released mana again, he sensed a change in the third-floor team’s position. They had left the training room and were wandering the hallway. They seemed to be moving properly now too.
He couldn’t tell if they were going up or down. Any choice was possible.
Kang-jun’s expression suddenly changed. The Japanese woman called him quietly.
Oppa?
Shh. Just a moment.
He showed his palm silently, and the Japanese woman rolled her large eyes anxiously before pressing her lips tight.
The third-floor team moved stealthily down the hallway and reached the stairs. There was a brief hesitation, then they slowly climbed to the fourth floor. Again the fourth team had been lucky.
The third-floor team was spotted by the person guarding the stairs when they ascended. Another noisy fight broke out. Screams pierced the air and objects shattered. The fourth team perked their ears and focused hard on the sounds.
The fight didn’t last long. Probably because the third-floor team had stockpiled strength. They mopped up the fourth team and seized the area. The owner of the fourth floor changed again. This time the third-floor team had secured at least three flags.
They fought, right?
We should start moving too, shouldn’t we?
The teammates’ faces twisted with frustration at losing the victory right away. But Kang-jun told them to hold on just a little longer.
We’ll move at night. Don’t waste strength now. We’re already barely hanging on.
I know it’s the right answer in my head, but I couldn’t help feeling anxious. If we had just one more person, I would have suggested we force it, but we only had five. Besides, the Japanese woman didn’t seem very helpful either. …This was a life-or-death matter. We couldn’t move rashly.
The moon that had been high was beginning to set. The sunset flickered. The hellish night was approaching fast.
The teammates devoured the food to fill their stomachs and grabbed their weapons. Their eyes burned with resolve. Kang-jun waited for the darkness to deepen. The sun had completely sunk behind the distant mountain ridge. Only faint reddish traces remained, and soon they would vanish.
They slipped through the space between the barricades. The hallway echoed with the stench of blood. The bodies of the dead still lay scattered. The Japanese woman saw them and clamped her hand over her mouth.
Up or down? Kang-jun thought for a moment. But up had far more food.
Kang-jun swept his gaze over his teammates and pointed upward with his finger. They all nodded twice. They slowly climbed the stairs.
The darkness, which had been slightly tinged red, had turned pitch black. The faint footsteps in this restricted view created even creepier imaginings.
They passed the third floor and reached the fourth. With the moon now scarce, the area was so dark that even the ground beneath their feet was invisible. That was why the Japanese woman tripped on the stair edge by mistake.
Ah.
The sound was thunderous in the silence. Right away, movement was detected from that side.
There’s something on the stairs!
The enemy team quickly set up combat stance. The fourth team gripped their bat tightly. It was now or never.
Hold tight!
Kang-jun shouted. The teammates moved. The Japanese woman clenched her teeth and chased after them. Team leader Kang-jun spotted one hiding in the hallway behind them. He seemed to be preparing to sneak up on the back during the fight, just like a ghost. Even if it was a tactic, he was trying to do something after all.
Kang-jun had no intention of half-assing it. Not for anything else, but he would not let go of the tournament victory. One hundred coupons were no joke.
Thud, thud. In just two leaps, Kang-jun suddenly appeared in front of the hidden man. He blinked once, and a person appeared out of thin air.
…Huh.
The guy let out an incomprehensible word. Kang-jun punched the back of his head without hesitation and crushed it. Blood, brain matter, and bone fragments sprayed out.
He had no time to admire his own handiwork and immediately turned to join the fight. Crack, crack, crack. A head burst with each punch. In the blink of an eye, all six were suppressed.
The teammates stared at the scene in bewilderment. Kang-jun was certainly stronger than normal trainees, but this was beyond imagination. The Japanese woman seemed half-lost in the horrific scene. Her trembling limbs were pitiful.
No one spoke. They simply watched in a daze as Kang-jun took the flags from the fallen enemy team leader’s bag.
He looked back at his dazed teammates. Kang-jun smirked crookedly. They had already shed some humanity, but the road was still long.
Everyone standing around stupidly, what are you doing? We have to win, don’t we.
…The teammates saw Kang-jun laughing like he was covered in blood and fear rose in their hearts.