Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Popcorn Spectator
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"......?"
Seeing Kwon Na-ye's reaction, Ji Su-jeong was baffled.
It was inevitable.
The monsters they'd seen earlier—Cockatrices, Basilisks, and Cyclopes—were all no pushovers.
Yet here was an archer-class like Kwon Na-ye claiming she could handle that many on her own?
As Ji Su-jeong inwardly wondered if that wasn't overreaching...
Kwon Na-ye suddenly drew three arrows.
She nocked all three at once and pulled back the bowstring.
With the string drawn taut, Kwon Na-ye activated a skill.
[Skill: 'Multi-Shot' has been used.]
Multi-Shot.
A skill used by archers, where the fired arrow splits into multiples to target numerous enemies.
Depending on proficiency, it started from three arrows and could multiply into dozens. Kwon Na-ye had fired three arrows simultaneously while using it.
No sooner had she activated Multi-Shot than Kwon Na-ye released the bowstring.
The three arrows shot from her bow immediately split into dozens due to the Multi-Shot effect.
Shwoosh-shwoosh-shwoosh-!
Thanks to Multi-Shot, the three arrows became dozens, raining down on the monsters like arrows from the sky.
Ji Su-jeong was floored by the sight.
Dozens of arrows from Kwon Na-ye.
Watching them, Ji Su-jeong thought:
A Cockatrice might die to a single punch from her, but there were Basilisks covered head to toe in scales and massive, muscled Cyclopes.
Compared to their size, these toothpick-thin arrows— even in a barrage—could they really do any damage?
But the moment Ji Su-jeong thought that...
Pabababak-!
"Kyeeeek!"
"Kyeeeeek!"
"Kraaaak!"
"Wow......"
Ji Su-jeong let out an exclamation amid the monsters' screams.
It was unavoidable.
Every single one of Kwon Na-ye's arrows had astonishingly struck the monsters' 'eyes.'
Sure, a few hit their necks too.
But most targeted the soft eyeballs with pinpoint accuracy.
Not only that—the arrows embedded in their necks caused fountains of blood to spray.
The monsters writhed in agony and collapsed.
Ji Su-jeong couldn't comprehend it.
In truth, this was all thanks to Kwon Na-ye's skills.
Her 'Bleeding Shot' had triggered, causing massive hemorrhaging.
Anyway, after seeing her fell them all with bleeding damage too, Ji Su-jeong was speechless.
"......"
She could only stay silent.
At first, Ji Su-jeong had doubted it was possible.
An archer-class Player like Kwon Na-ye taking on that many desert monsters solo seemed impossible.
But far from impossible, she'd dropped them all with just three arrows.
Having wiped out the monsters with Multi-Shot, Kwon Na-ye slung her bow.
She turned around, stowing the bow.
Kwon Na-ye smiled brightly and said,
"Seems like I've got them all?"
"Good work."
"Hee-hee."
Kwon Na-ye glanced slyly at Ji Su-jeong.
Before heading out to hunt the monsters...
She'd caught the look in Ji Su-jeong's eyes.
The kind of look that said, 'How's an archer gonna solo that? It's too much.'
That's why, after boldly sweeping them away...
Kwon Na-ye shot Ji Su-jeong a look.
As if to say, 'Do I still look ridiculous?' Seeing that expression, Ji Su-jeong felt miffed.
She, who could do close combat, had struggled just with two. Yet an archer like Kwon Na-ye had effortlessly dropped a horde. It felt unfair.
On top of that, Ji Su-jeong was feeling a bit competitive toward Kwon Na-ye.
Anyone could see Kwon Na-ye liked Hae-jin.
So Ji Su-jeong turned away from her gaze.
Seeing the odd tension between the two women, Hae-jin tilted his head.
With that thought, Hae-jin called to Ji Su-jeong.
"Su-jeong."
"Yes?"
"You saw enough?"
"......Yes. I'll train harder to get stronger."
"Hm, you can definitely get stronger. Anyway, now that we've roughly checked each other's combat styles, shall we speed up the dungeon clear from here?"
"Yes!"
After that, Hae-jin hunted nonstop in the dungeon they'd entered with his party members.
All the way to facing the Adult Behemoth.
Up to that point, Hae-jin hadn't stepped in personally, just hung back.
With Ji Su-jeong joining, the usual lineup had changed.
Lee Sang, Kwon Na-ye, and Manager Kim were now syncing up with newcomers Park Bo-young and Ji Su-jeong—letting them build teamwork and combat experience while Hae-jin spectated.
Soon, they reached the boss monster, the Adult Behemoth's area. He said,
"I'll tell you its patterns, so try taking it down without me. Note that it's on a whole different level from the earlier mobs."
The Adult Behemoth—one Hae-jin could've beheaded in one stroke if he'd joined.
That's why he shared its patterns—to minimize party damage.
He explained every pattern for beating the Adult Behemoth.
As soon as he finished, he asked the party,
"Everyone got it memorized?"
"Yes."
"Yep."
"Memorized."
"Me too!"
They'd all memorized the Adult Behemoth patterns Hae-jin described.
Hae-jin pointed at it.
"Good. Everyone, take it down."
The five excluding Hae-jin took positions against the Adult Behemoth.
Naturally, mage Lee Sang, Park Bo-young, and archer Kwon Na-ye supported from the rear, while Manager Kim and Ji Su-jeong handled the front.
Main tank role went to Ji Su-jeong.
She was a high school girl, but her Player stats made her tankier than Manager Kim.
Anyway, as main tank, Ji Su-jeong charged to pull aggro.
The Adult Behemoth locked onto her as she approached first.
[Kraaaaaah!]
Roooar-.
The Adult Behemoth spotted Ji Su-jeong and unleashed a deafening roar.
It shook the entire boss room.
The roar carried a debuff.
But it did nothing to Hae-jin.
Even debuffs slashing all stats, attack, defense, resistance—Hae-jin nullified them via what he'd inherited from Joo-hyuk.
The party was the same.
Normally, the roar would've left them weakened and helpless, but Hae-jin's buffs wiped the debuff, so combat proceeded smoothly.
Hae-jin, who'd quietly handled buffs and debuffs, thought inwardly,
With that, Hae-jin opened his inventory.
"Guess I'll munch popcorn and watch."
Popcorn.
A snack for movies.
Normally, non-itemized stuff couldn't go in inventory.
But Hae-jin and Raffaello could.
Both had crafting skills, so they could itemize their own cooked goods for storage.
Not just any crafting, though.
Everything from cookware to ingredients had to be itemized.
Cookware was no issue.
Raffaello had long since made anvil and furnace sets for Hae-jin. Ingredients? He hadn't secured a farm yet, but he'd bought some with gold from the Trials' Arena.
Gold for gear or mats, sure—but daily goods and food worked too.
So Hae-jin had bought corn with gold and prepped popcorn.
From now on, as the party grew, he'd spectate with snacks more often.
Hae-jin munched popcorn, watching the others battle the Adult Behemoth.
Up through the previous Trials' Arena, he'd been the active one.
But now, for the first time, he lounged, watching the party while snacking.
Just like Joo-hyuk used to.
Central Plains.
The term for the martial world setting.
Soon the Trials' Arena would shift from fantasy to martial arts world. Around then, Leader Joo-hyuk would grind the party for experience, spectating with popcorn.
Just like Hae-jin now.
Except Hae-jin, inheriting Joo-hyuk's stuff, reached spectator status sooner.
With inherited buffs applied and debuff cleared, they could handle it without him.
He'd even shared every pattern counter.
So Hae-jin watched, popcorn in hand, as they fought the Adult Behemoth.
They were doing better than expected.
Beyond well—they were toying with it; the Behemoth couldn't land a thing.
Nerfed it.
By buffing them and clearing its debuff.
Maybe he should've done just one.
But too late—the fight was underway, and the Behemoth teetered on collapse.
Then it hit him.
An Adult Behemoth gave solid combat XP.
Yet it was folding without a fight. Such a shame.
Anna and Raffaello were grinding elsewhere without his help.
With that thought, Hae-jin decided.
Resolved, Hae-jin stopped mid-popcorn and extended his hand toward the nearly defeated Adult Behemoth.
He stretched toward it and used a skill.
Fwaaah-!
Chaotic energy rippled from Hae-jin's hand, then enveloped the Adult Behemoth identically.
Seeing it, Ji Su-jeong panicked and yelled,
"Wha... what?! Another phase?! You didn't mention this!"
To her shout, Hae-jin thought inwardly,