Week 15 Conquest Battle?
Since there was still more to discuss about the subjugation force, I fell into step behind Lee Su-dok and Seo Cheong-yong.
“...”
“...”
Nobody opened their mouth on the way—not with the risk of someone overhearing. But their lips were clearly itching to talk, because both teachers' eyes stayed fixed on me the entire time. Lee Su-dok's gaze had grown so intense it was nearly scorching, while Seo Cheong-yong's expression, gentle as ever, carried a subtle shift that would have been easy to miss.
At last, we stepped into an empty meeting room. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop, and with powerful soundproofing magic woven into the walls, there was no chance of our conversation leaking out.
The moment we took our seats across from one another, Lee Su-dok and Seo Cheong-yong each spoke.
“So you did have a hidden card up your sleeve after all.”
“I'll admit, you surprised me. It's far too high a level for a first-year.”
No wonder you were surprised.
They likely had countermeasures of their own against poison, but those would be B-rank at best—Thousand Poisons Immunity level. The wall to Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity was just that high. If not for the trick of combining Copy, Poison Resistance, and a Fixing Pin, I wouldn't have obtained it until I was nearly a third-year, if ever.
And Bestow is on another level entirely.
Was there anyone else in this game-like world who had ever mastered it? The acquisition requirements were so absurd that even the faculty—perhaps even the Principal himself—had likely never laid eyes on the skill. I still remembered when I first obtained [Bestow] in Dragon Slayer Academy, back after I'd established myself somewhat; even marching around with a pack of S-rank heroes in tow, I'd struggled for a long time. The same went for [Copy], [Amplification], and the rest.
There was only one reason I already had a whole arsenal of these cheat skills in hand.
Because they were mine to begin with.
They weren't abilities I had 'newly learned'—they were ones I was 'getting back' as I worked through the reincarnation quests. Naturally, I had no intention of breathing a word of that backstory, so I simply answered the two teachers with practiced ease.
“Honestly, I wanted to keep it hidden a while longer, but given the circumstances, I deliberated on it and decided to reveal it.”
“That was a hard call to make. From here on, keep things under wraps as much as you can.”
Seo Cheong-yong said with a nod.
Bestowing Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity would undoubtedly play a pivotal role in this subjugation, and my name recognition would soar to the heavens accordingly. But by the same token, it would make me that much easier a target for our enemies.
They'll try to stamp out the sprout before it can grow.
Before I grew beyond anyone's control, that is. For that reason, Seo Cheong-yong's opinion was that a first-year was better off keeping a low profile for now, and I agreed wholeheartedly. Come to think of it, even the faculty couldn't be trusted one hundred percent—the only reason I'd revealed part of my strength at all was that they were bound by all manner of magical restrictions.
Seo Cheong-yong turned to Lee Su-dok.
“We'll need to prepare a concealment item. Something even the other teachers won't be able to identify.”
“See to it.”
On this point, Lee Su-dok seemed to share the sentiment and gave his ready assent. Then, as if the moment had arrived, he faced me squarely and got down to business.
“Your identity can stay hidden, but we need to share more about that skill.”
“Yes, understood.”
Before any raid, taking stock of what each member could do and how well they could do it was the most basic of basics—and the more critical the role, the finer the detail required. I had anticipated as much, so I answered Lee Su-dok's questions without resistance.
“How long does it last?”
“Fifteen minutes.”
“Fifteen, hmm. Not bad. Cost? Penalties?”
“There's a cooldown.”
“How long?”
“Long. Think of it as one use, period.”
The cooldown on C-rank Bestow was thirty-five minutes. That alone was substantial, and with Octopus Legs casting it on every member of the party, there was no telling how much longer it would balloon. Still, just in case, I tossed out one more line.
“If there were a way to manage the cooldown, I might be able to use it again.”
“No such thing exists. A shame.”
Lee Su-dok shook his head decisively. Cooldown-management items and skills were almost invariably time-attribute, starting at A-rank at the very minimum, with S-rank ones far from rare. Their scarcity was on another order entirely—you'd probably need to be the Principal himself to even consider owning one. Which was exactly why I'd thrown the question out with no real expectation.
Before long, the two teachers exchanged a look.
“If we only get one use, we'd best hoard it until the very end.”
“Agreed.”
The conclusion: the Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity bestowal would be saved as a trump card for the decisive battle against the Witch of Decay, and until then, we would make do with detox magic and potions.
This time it was my turn to ask.
“When do you plan to enter?”
“The day after tomorrow. We can't afford to give her time.”
The Witch of Decay had erected a fortress of her own design within the Transfer Labyrinth. For the side doing the storming, every extra hour granted was a disadvantage. On top of that, there was no telling when the Witch's whims might strike and she would move on to some other dungeon. Then we'd have to burn another precious offering on the Wisdom Wall—and even Dragon Slayer Academy didn't have an infinite supply of A-rank items. For all these reasons, we were entering the dungeon with a preparation window far shorter than any standard raid.
Seo Cheong-yong smiled easily.
“That's not to say we're going in unprepared. To be precise, we've been laying the groundwork step by step since long before this.”
It was only recently that the Witch of Decay's location had been pinpointed, but the recruitment had been wrapped up in advance and our forces stockpiled, ready to raid whichever dungeon she turned out to be hiding in.
Seo Cheong-yong went on.
“Which brings me to you, Kim Ho.”
“Yes.”
“You should sit out this week's conquest battle. You need to manage your condition.”
With an A-rank dungeon raid and a clash with the Witch of Decay looming, the meaning was clear: conserve every ounce of strength I could over the remaining two days. One might argue it was only an F-rank conquest battle—how much stamina could that possibly burn? But in a life-or-death situation, there was every chance that missing some trivial sliver of stamina would be exactly what cost me my head. So I nodded without hesitation.
“I'll rest.”
“I hear you spent the entire weekend under disciplinary punishment. That right?”
“It is.”
“And you took down quite a few Dark Oubleks while cleaning out the dungeons?”
“Yes.”
The smile playing on Seo Cheong-yong's lips deepened.
“As I hinted beforehand, the headline rule for this week's conquest battle is [Boss Battle]. And you've already felled bosses stronger than that.”
With that, he glanced sidelong at Lee Su-dok.
“You're fine with this, I trust?”
“Conquest battles fall under your purview, Teacher Seo.”
In other words, do as you please—Lee Su-dok replied with supreme indifference. Permission granted, Seo Cheong-yong declared:
“I'll mark this conquest battle as a perfect score for you.”
“Thank you.”
“As for the Transfer Labyrinth, let's discuss it tomorrow, once everyone's assembled. Go on home and rest for today.”
“Yes, understood.”
I poured the rest of the weekend into recovering my condition, exactly as Seo Cheong-yong had instructed.
Monday.
Seo Cheong-yong ran the conquest battle class as he always did. The distance he kept from me was unchanged—I didn't go out of my way to stand out, and he didn't once call on me.
“Now then, this week's conquest battle, as previously announced—”
Rules and environment materialized above the blackboard—the usual lineup, with a twist or two of its own.
[Hostile Environment]
[Formidable Foe] · [Two-Person Team]
At the same moment, a notification scrolled into being at the edge of my vision.
Week 15 Conquest Battle
▷ Objective: Clear the conquest battle dungeon
▷ Reward: Rank Up (E)
Now that's what I call a freebie.
Between having already beaten down the Oubleks and Seo Cheong-yong's perfect-score ruling, the sub-quest cleared itself the instant it appeared. Reinforcing my strength even a sliver couldn't hurt, so I put the Rank Up to use the moment it landed in my hands.
Using Rank Up (E).
The grade of Chillwind has risen. (E+ → D+)
Meanwhile, Seo Cheong-yong had one more announcement before wrapping up class.
“—Also, starting tomorrow, Teacher Lee Su-dok and I will be away for a few days. As before, Teacher Jo Oksoon will be covering for us.”
“Ah...”
Groans rose from every corner of the room. Madam Jo Oksoon was a walking sedative; whatever class she took over, she possessed a devilish gift for putting students to sleep. Monster Ecology alone was dull enough to die of, and now it was spreading to PvP and conquest battle classes besides—the lamentation wrote itself.
Seo Cheong-yong, apparently reading the mood rather differently, beamed.
“You'll miss us? Well, that puts a spring in my step. Feels like we've become popular teachers. Anyway, we'll wrap things up quickly and be back before you know it. And that's all for today's class!”
With a parting flick of his eyes in my direction, he left the classroom.
The room was steadily filling with chatter when I noticed a message waiting for me. From Hong Yeon-hwa, of all people.
For some reason, the image of a puppy trotting up with a ball in its mouth rose unbidden in my mind. Play with me! Fetch! Woof! She'd probably worked up a fair bit of courage just to send it.
Unfortunately for her, my conquest battle was already over and done with. So I sent back an honest reply.
Just when it seemed the conversation had died there, another message came flying in before long.
She must have meant training her Aqua Flame while raiding one of the ice-themed dungeons. Thanks to the thorough weekend sweep, the danger of an Oublek bursting out had been eliminated. But this time, most regrettably, our schedules collided.
Because I'll be inside the Transfer Labyrinth.
If I entered the Transfer Labyrinth on Tuesday, the raid would take a day at minimum, three or four at the outside. I couldn't say for certain when I'd emerge, much less what state I'd be in when I did, so making plans now was out of the question. And so, once again, I sent an honest reply.
It was like watching the ball the puppy had so proudly fetched roll limply away down the hill. A twinge of guilt pricked at me, but what couldn't be helped couldn't be helped.
The real problem is I'll have to have this exact conversation again.
With that thought, I closed the message window and turned my head to the side. On one side, Go Hyeon-woo was approaching with a bold, unhesitating stride.
“Brother Kim.”
And on the other, Seo Ye-in—her face still rumpled, as if she'd only just woken up, she tugged gently at my sleeve.
“...Come with.”
Both of them wanted exactly what Hong Yeon-hwa had wanted: to fight the conquest battle at my side. Nine times out of ten I'd have raised my lucky mascot's hand, but today the circumstances were a little different. The conquest battle was already over—what else could I do?
Still, I should at least explain the situation.
So I looked back and forth between Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in, then opened my mouth.
“You two will just have to do this conquest battle together.”
“Hm?”
“...?”
Seo Ye-in's head tilted quizzically to one side.