Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Acceleration (2)
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The horned boar hunt was going very smoothly.
They were C-rank monsters, but since they didn't travel in packs, there was no real danger.
The annual death rate in this Gangwon-do field is less than 0.1%.
That's why the instructors let us experience it freely, without any direct supervision.
This is super easy.
How many have we caught so far?
Seventeen with this one.
Well, at least we won't fail.
The team members, who had been somewhat tense at first, were now completely relaxed, even yawning.
Seoyul. You're really good with a bow.
Ha Siyeon said, striding beside me.
It's my only strength.
Come on. Your dagger skills and movements weren't ordinary either. Are you being modest?
Hmm. She has a strange way of overestimating me too.
By the way, Seoyul, what's your goal?
......Huh?
Ha Siyeon had brought up a random topic.
Honestly, it can't be easy to hope to become a superhuman at twenty with an F-rank.
Then she suddenly widened her eyes and waved her hands dismissively.
Ah. Don't get me wrong. I'm not being sarcastic. It's more like... I find it admirable. That...
She seemed to think she'd misspoken. I chuckled and replied.
Is there any other reason to enter a superhuman military academy? My goal is to become a superhuman.
My goal is to become a superhuman.
And to survive in this world.
......That's amazing.
What is?
No, I just wondered if I could be that confident in your situation, Seoyul. And I just thought it was amazing.
Ha Siyeon looked up at the sky with a curious expression.
I've seen you training recently, Seoyul. You're so dedicated, it's astonishing.
......I'm still just an F-rank, though.
That's what makes it even more amazing.
Ha Siyeon looked at me with serious eyes.
I know a little of what it feels like to work hard and not be rewarded.
Ha Siyeon is a promising talent, ranked 4th among the first-years.
But she can't wield mana. She reached her promising position using only her physical abilities.
Personally, I'm rooting for you. I really hope you become a superhuman.
Ha Siyeon said with a bright smile.
Her sincere encouragement made me feel a little awkward.
Ha Siyeon.
She joins the protagonist's party in the middle of the novel.
Her role started to grow significantly after she learned how to handle mana with the protagonist's help.
The scene where she, having awakened her mana, wiped out an army of several thousand monsters in a single blow was a masterpiece.
Come to think of it, you don't use mana either, Seoyul?
Because I don't have any.
Ah...... Sorry.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
What if Ha Siyeon could awaken her mana from the beginning?
She is good to the bone.
If I could help her grow faster, she would undoubtedly become a great asset.
I weighed the benefits and risks of sharing my future knowledge with her.
Siyeon, you do have mana, right?
Huh? Well, yes, I do......
The hesitation was fleeting.
After considering various factors, I decided it would be best to teach Ha Siyeon how to use her mana now.
When you try to move your mana, does it feel like your blood vessels are hardening? Kind of like a heart attack.
......Huh? How did you know?
I had an acquaintance who suffered from the exact same symptoms as you.
Really!?
Ha Siyeon pushed her face close to mine. So close our noses were almost touching.
So? What happened? Did they solve it?
Without a hint of concern, she moved even closer. She must have been sweating, but she smelled unnecessarily good.
Well, it was resolved successfully.
Really!? How? Howww?
Her eyes sparkling like an excited child's, she leaned even closer.
Wow. Even from this close, I can't see a single pore.
Hurry! Huh? Don't drag it out~ Tell me. Please? I'll buy you something delicious.
As I stood there blankly, an impatient Ha Siyeon grabbed my shoulders and acted cute. Honestly, it was pretty charming.
......What are they doing?
I heard Choi Jihoon growling from up ahead.
A glance around showed everyone watching us with intrigued eyes.
First, back up a bit. Everyone's giving us weird looks.
That glare from Choi Jihoon, like a murderer's, is especially bothering me.
Ah, sorry.
As if finally snapping out of it, Ha Siyeon pulled away from me and scratched the back of her head.
Ahem. Anyway, my acquaintance told me before. They said the nature of your mana is so different that it requires a different method of use.
Nature?
Yeah. Unlike others, whose mana is formless and odorless, yours is inherently tangible.
......Tangible mana. Like the Witch of Flames or the Knight of Ice?
They are superhumans ranked 5th and 8th in the world, respectively.
Something like that.
Woooow......
Ha Siyeon's eyes sparkled brightly. But then her expression quickly turned glum.
Ah, but I had that kind of test done at home. It didn't work. I guess mine is a little different......
Really? Still, you never know. Try doing it the way I tell you.
Okay.
Ha Siyeon nodded with a complicated expression. It seemed like she was half-hopeful, half-disappointed.
First, with that kind of special mana, you're not supposed to move it from your heart to your blood vessels.
Then how?
Um, first, it starts from the spine......
I tried to recall the passage I'd read in the novel as closely as possible and spoke the words.
Finally, they said it feels like moving the mana not from the heart, but from the brain to the skin all over your body.
......From the brain to the skin.
Even I had no idea what kind of nonsense I was spouting.
But that's what was written in the novel. So, it must be right.
Mm. I'll try.
Ha Siyeon closed her eyes with a serious expression.
She took a deep breath and began to concentrate.
Hmph. As if some F-rank could solve Siyeon's problem.
Choi Jihoon, who had been quietly watching the conversation from behind, sneered.
Be quiet. Siyeon is concentrating.
Kim Cheoljin chided him.
Tsk. False hope only leads to disappointment.
I told you to shut up.
Just the kind of blunt remark you'd expect from the guy who handles Choi Jihoon. This is why I like Kim Cheoljin.
It was then.
Shaaa......
Suddenly, goosebumps erupted all over my body.
Oof. It's cold.
What's with the sudden chill?
It wasn't just me; the other students felt it too.
......Frost?
Kim Cheoljin muttered.
Look over there.
I said, pointing at Ha Siyeon.
......Ice?
Yeah. She did it.
A cold aura was shimmering around Ha Siyeon.
Holy crap. It's an ice attribute!
Oh my god!
Everyone gasped in astonishment.
Among them, only I was smiling.
* * *
The practical training continued.
Seoyul. Aren't you thirsty? Want some water?
......No. I just had some five minutes ago, so I'm fine.
What about being tired or anything?
I'm fine with that too.
Ah! Then should I carry your equipment for you?
That's a bit much.
I was being pestered by Ha Siyeon.
After realizing how to use her mana, and on top of that, discovering she possessed 'ice mana,' Ha Siyeon was stuck to me like glue.
What about your stomach? It's been a while since lunch, you must be hungry......
I'm not hungry.
Seriously, every five minutes, she'd ask if I wanted water or if I wanted to rest.
Her consideration was overflowing.
So much so that I couldn't tell if she was my friend or my mother.
Siyeon. Water.
Having just finished his own water, Choi Jihoon approached Ha Siyeon.
No way. Drink Cheoljin's. I have to save mine for Seoyul.
......
At those words, lasers shot out of Choi Jihoon's eyes.
The target, of course, was me.
Hey! Why are you trying to intimidate Seoyul!
Ugh.
Please, stop.
Stop pouring oil on the fire!
Grit, grind.
I could hear the sound of Choi Jihoon grinding his teeth.
This is seriously scary.
Not Choi Jihoon himself, but the Soosung Group behind him is what's scary!
We have about an hour left. Should we just rest for the remainder of the time?
As if to break the tense atmosphere, Kim Cheoljin stepped in.
We've caught thirty, that's more than enough. Let's rest.
Agreed~
Everyone seemed to be in agreement.
Okay~ Then let's take a break.
With that, Kim Cheoljin plopped down on the ground.
I also sat down, forcing myself to ignore Choi Jihoon's murderous gaze.
Truthfully, even though I'd said I was fine, I had hit my physical limit a while ago.
This party. Their base specs were so high that, honestly, it was hard to keep up.
Seoyul, Seoyul. There's still something awkward about how I handle my mana. Can I ask if you know anything about it?
Ha Siyeon asked, sitting down next to me.
It's not that she has any special feelings for me.
That's just how Ha Siyeon's character is. Once she opens up to someone, she becomes endlessly informal with them.
What is it?
Yeah. I've more or less gotten the hang of radiating mana......
Ah. That's......
Fortunately, Ha Siyeon's questions were about things I knew.
Tsk. I'm going to go swing my sword a little ways off.
Choi Jihoon clicked his tongue and averted his gaze from us.
He dragged a huge carrier case behind him as he walked away, making me wonder what on earth was inside it.
Yeah~ Don't go too far. It could be dangerous~
Kim Cheoljin waved a hand dismissively.
Well, someone at Choi Jihoon's level can handle a horned boar on his own, so there's nothing to worry about.
Why'd you stop talking?
Ah, sorry. So, for ice mana......
Uh-huh.
For about thirty minutes.
I was stuck explaining the magical theories that existed in my head to Ha Siyeon.
Wow. So it can work like that.
......You have really good comprehension.
She understands things even I don't, translating them in her head.
Her comprehension is like a sponge.
Let's start gathering to leave the field. I'll go get Jihoon.
Kim Cheoljin checked the time and shot up from his seat.
It definitely seemed like a good time to head back.
It was then.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-!
Whoa! What was that!
The ground suddenly shook.
Everyone, on your guard!
Kim Cheoljin shouted coolly, and everyone quickly grabbed their weapons.
I also gripped my bow and took a position in the rear.
What in the world is happening?
Let's regroup with Jihoon first. Something feels wrong.
Everyone nodded with grim faces. Just as we were about to slowly move in the direction Choi Jihoon had gone...
Fwooooosh-!
A massive pillar of darkness shot up from the direction Choi Jihoon had headed.
Wh-what is that!
D-darkness?
Everyone was stunned by the sight.
I was no different.
......This can't be happening.
I know what that phenomenon is.
That effect, in this place.
The seal on the demon imprisoned in this field has been broken.
But why......
How can the one who's supposed to appear in the middle of the story show up now!
I bit my lip and ran toward the direction the darkness had erupted from.
I had to find out why this was happening.
Seoyul!
Hey! Ah, damn it. Let's go! We can't just abandon Jihoon!
The other team members followed behind me.
A moment later.
We could see the ground from which the darkness was spewing forth.
Wh-what is this. What in the world......
There stood a bewildered Choi Jihoon. And for some reason, a black iron greatsword was buried deep in the ground.
The darkness was pouring out furiously, centered on that black iron greatsword.
So that's what was in that huge carrier? A black iron greatsword?
......That idiot!
The property of black iron is the complete nullification of mana.
In other words, just by sticking a sword into a sensitive circuit like a seal, you can cause a problem with the seal itself.
I quickly ran and gripped the black iron greatsword. It wasn't too late.
If I pull this out right now, the seal might not break!
Hnngh!
I pulled with all my might on the black iron greatsword, which was buried so deep only the hilt remained.
Shwwwk-! Clang!
Fortunately, the black iron greatsword came right out.
Shwaaaaaa-!
......Shit.
But the darkness didn't stop.
It was too late.
The black demon's appearance was now inevitable.
Khh, khuhuhuhu!
Just then, a creepy voice echoed ominously.
Freed! I'm free! Uhaha!
Wh-what! What's that sound!
It was the maniacal laughter of the black demon sealed in this land ten thousand years ago.
I bit my lip, my expression grim.
This demon appears in the middle of the story. That is, when the original protagonist has grown strong enough to rival S-rank superhumans.
To defeat this thing, you need at least ten S-rank superhumans.
There's no way we can win on our own.
Rumble-rumble-!
With a violent tremor.
The air itself split open.
And from within the rift, a giant demon revealed itself.
The white chains binding it slowly began to lose their light.
......Wait a minute. White chains?
Damn those angels! Ten thousand years! For ten thousand long years! They kept me!
As the beast roared, the chains began to come undone.
But now there are no angels left to seal me again! Uhahahaha!
Soon, the demon, having freed both its hands, broke the chain on its left leg and threw it to the ground.
Now, only the seal on its right leg remained.
This chain is now useless. There is no one left in this world to stop me! Kuhaha!
His laughter shook the very earth.
Looking around, I saw despair on everyone's faces.
A-a demon.
It's a being from legends...... How are we supposed to fight something like that......
Amidst the chaos, I kept staring intently at one spot.
The white chain the beast had thrown away.
It hadn't completely lost its light yet.
If my memory serves me right, that's definitely......
A strange light glinted in my eyes.
Everyone, run. I'll buy some time here.
What? Seoyul, you......
Hurry! We can't all die here!
A method had come to mind.
But it wasn't something I could do in front of everyone.
But......
I have a trump card! If you guys run first, I can escape soon after! Go! If you're late, we'll all die! If you care about me, go now!
O-okay!
Only then did everyone start to flee.
Ha Siyeon hesitated until the very end, but my last words spurred her to desperately run.
Good, they're gone.
Listening to their fading footsteps, I took a step forward.
Have you been abandoned, you insignificant creature?
The beast spoke.
It said these chains were now useless.
What was the reason?
The answer is that the Angel race, who could use these chains, no longer exists.
That's why it said the chains were useless.
Don't you know? Bonus stages are always best enjoyed alone.
But the beast wouldn't know.
That a being who could use those chains was standing right before it.
What are you talking about?
What do you mean? I mean this!
I ran quickly to the white chain sprawled before me.
I grasped the ancient artifact, the Scribe's Shackles, in my hand.
You, you! That! How!
Fwooooosh-!
The [Scribe's Shackles], which had been losing its light, shone brightly once more.
Well, you had a tough minute sightseeing the world. See you again later.