Supporter's Space Magic
"Supporter's space magic!"
"Gah!"
"My eyes!!!"
"You crazy bitch!!"
"Support spell: Sleep!"
Crack—! The charging thug took a slap to the face and collapsed on the spot. Seeing that, his comrade's eyes rolled back as he rushed in.
"Uwaaah!!"
—Smack! Thud! When I flicked the forehead of the last one charging at me, the area fell silent. I tossed aside the guy I'd been holding by the scruff of his neck and approached the soldiers. They stared at me with faces filled with fear. Just from their expressions, I could tell how much weight hunters carried in this world—and how far down the military's authority ranked. It made me wonder if a democratic rule of law was even possible in a place like this.
"Hello. Can I go in?"
"Pardon?"
"Can I go in?"
"Ah, yes. Of course. Please show your ID."
When I held out my resident registration card at the soldier's request, he tilted his head.
"Um... I'd like your hunter license instead of your resident card."
"Hunter license? I don't have one."
"What?"
The soldier's gaze shifted behind me. The look on his face said it all—how could there be no hunter license when there were hunters face-planted on the ground back there? I raised my wrist toward him, and he gave a small nod.
"Wisdom Academy student, then."
"Neng. I'm a freshman."
The soldier nodded again.
"In that case, you might not know. Dungeons like this are called persistent dungeons or open dungeons."
Behind the soldier, a gate shimmered with kaleidoscopic colors.
"Even after defeating the boss monster and clearing it, the dungeon doesn't close and remains active."
"That's interesting."
"We see it every time, but it's still fascinating each time."
"So it never closes?"
"If we prevent a dungeon break where monsters pile up and spill out indiscriminately, it will close. Of course, we have to periodically clear the monsters that keep spawning before that happens. There are reports that it closes if certain conditions are met, but nothing's confirmed."
The soldier's explanation hinted at far more complicated interests at play. People in this world used monster byproducts as fuel for various fields, so they tended to avoid clearing dungeons. On top of that, human rights activists were staging protests. Just hearing about it gave me a headache.
"This dungeon is a persistent dungeon under national control. It's always open until a break occurs, but first-year students from Wisdom Academy, which has a contract with the state, are prohibited from entering per the terms."
Bottom line: no entry.
"So if I belonged to another guild, it would be okay?"
"It depends on the situation, but guild-managed dungeons should be accessible."
As expected, Wisdom Academy had slapped on some slapdash restrictions. As long as it didn't damage the academy's image, that was all that mattered.
"Thank you for the information."
"Not at all."
We'd only exchanged a few words, but goodwill had appeared in the eyes of the soldiers on guard duty. This alone made it obvious what hunters were usually like.
"Should I break their arms and legs so they don't pick a fight for no reason?"
"Haha, it's fine. We're national military personnel in uniform, after all. Hunters won't mess with us lightly. The Hunter Act is strict, you know."
It was a world where even the most insignificant people strutted around like superhumans with puffed-up shoulders. Whether it was military might or political power, strength always ended up concentrated in one place. That was why most countries separated powers into judiciary, executive, and legislative branches to keep each other in check. If the Hunter Act were even slightly less strict, this place would probably turn into a one-party dictatorship people's republic.
"Well then, good work."
"Yes, go ahead."
I hadn't done much, but getting robbed of over two and a half hours by the enchantment meant the sun was already starting to set.
"Baek Seol, let's go home."
"Eung!"
"Want to go wash up nice and clean?"
"Excited!"
Lick.
"Ugh..."
Lick lick.
"Time to wake up."
I felt groggy. I wanted to sleep for just thirty more minutes.
"Hungry? Want food?"
"School."
"Yeah."
By now, I could clearly feel that my morning sleepiness had increased. Thanks to that, I was even getting nagged by Baek Seol.
"Baek Seol, you know about school too?"
"Eung!"
"Thanks for waking me up."
"Eung!"
Baek Seol, curled up beside my face, rubbed her head against me. Her soft fur carried a sweet peach scent. Maybe because we spent every day together, she smelled just like me now.
"Ugh! Haa... Let's go!"
"Excited!"
After a quick prep, I stepped outside. A gentle spring breeze brought life to the academy.
—Click, click.
"Whew— Ah, the air is disgustingly nice."
"Ga-eul!"
While I was smoking at the smoking area between the dorms, a familiar face waved and approached.
"Good morning, Noah."
"Good morning."
When Noah came closer, Baek Seol, who had been eating in the hoodie pocket, poked her face out.
"It was Baek Seol, right? Good morning."
When Noah held out a finger instead of a fist for a greeting, Baek Seol perked up her ears, ignored Noah, and buried her face back in the pocket.
"Huh? She usually doesn't mind people. Maybe she's still shy since it's only been a short time here."
"Haha, I'm fine. How was the room?"
"It was tiny? Still, it's not bad for the two of us."
"Your room will get better once your ranking goes up. Hang in there!"
Being next to someone this energetic first thing in the morning actually drained my strength.
"Whew— Right."
I stubbed out the cigarette and started walking. Noah followed.
"Ga-eul, we need to go to the outdoor training ground, not there. Didn't you see the half-announcement on the device?"
"Didn't see it."
"Haha, I know the way. I'll guide you."
Following Noah, we arrived at the outdoor training ground shortly after. Despite the grand "Outdoor Training Ground" sign at the entrance, it just looked like a mountain behind the academy. The notable feature was the countless caves carved into the cliff face—enough to give anyone claustrophobia.
"Professor, good morning."
Professor Hwang and several students were already gathered. I must have been the last one because I'd stopped to smoke.
"It's the professor."
"Yes, Professor."
Professor Hwang glanced at me, then tapped the papers she'd been organizing into a neat stack.
"If you're all here, turn off the local broadcasts."
The students who'd been chattering in groups fell silent at once.
"You all remember what I've emphasized multiple times, right?"
"Teamwork!"
"That's right. Teamwork, just like Han Ga-eul said."
"Give me shop points!"
"...Han Ga-eul, one demerit point."
Thanks to that, I recovered the points I'd lost asking about the black market location.
"Yay!"
Laughter erupted from the students sitting casually on the ground.
"Quiet."
They quieted down again at once. Maybe they were all too old for this.
"You see the cave behind me. Today, we're going in there."
I'd wondered why an outdoor training ground only had rocks and an empty lot, but apparently the actual training area was inside the cave.
"From now on, we'll form temporary parties. Group up with the students I call. Jang Min-gi, Oh Ki-hyeon, Selly, Joo Byeong-jin."
The called students stood up and clustered together. After some time, my name came up too.
"Shin Yong, Kim Chan-yong, Noah, Han Ga-eul."
At Professor Hwang's call, the students stood and gathered around me. Thanks to my conspicuous pink hair, I'd naturally become the meeting point. The approaching students were all carrying cold weapons.
"Ah, Professor!"
"What."
At my call, Professor Hwang turned a flat gaze my way as if asking what the problem was.
"No, our team has three sword users."
The disastrous party composition made my head spin.
"And whose fault is that?"
"Whose fault?"
Professor Hwang's face creased slightly in disbelief.
"At this rate, wrinkles..."
"Han Ga-eul, one demerit point."
"Ah, Professor!"
"Whew..."
I heard Professor Hwang's deep sigh.
"First-year top student Shin Yong. Second place Kim Chan-yong. Eighth in the year ranking, Noah Taylor."
"Oh."
"And last place overall in the academy, Han Ga-eul."
"Oh?"
This absurd power balance was probably because of me. I couldn't understand how much I'd dragged down the average to cause this.
"Wow."
"Thanks to you, we've gathered both the top and second-place students in one group."
Schools varied, but usually they paired the top student with the bottom one, and the second with the second-to-last to balance the class. But this wasn't a regular school—it was Wisdom Academy, where combat balance mattered.
"My power is enough to gather both the top and second-place students."
"Don't hold us back."
The owner of the quietly muttered voice was Shin Yong, the top student.
"Hey, shut up before I break your neck, loan shark."
"...How childish."
"Now now, let's not fight among teammates."
Second-place Kim Chan-yong stepped in with a friendly smile to stop us. If the three of them had anything in common despite their different personalities, it was that they were all handsome. The kind of looks that would make anyone turn around on the street. However, top student Shin Yong had a cold impression, while second-place Kim Chan-yong looked sharp. Both gave off a carnivorous vibe, but only Noah had a round, herbivorous look.
"Everyone, pay attention! From now on, we'll test your response to combat and environment. Inside the cave are magic golems, traps, and environments that require teamwork to break through. This will be reflected in your grades, so give it your all."
The students' eyes changed after hearing Professor Hwang's explanation. Grades—something that would wake a student even from sleep.
"The team that clears it fastest will have it reflected differently in their grades. Now, begin."
At Professor Hwang's words, the formed teams began entering the cave.
"Let's go, my little Yongs."
"Me?"
"Noah, you too."
Clack.
Top student Shin Yong dashed forward, instantly smashed the magic golem's head, and sheathed his sword.
"Pathetic."
Shin Yong's face as he turned back while muttering was ice-cold.
"Did that guy get cursed with some chuunibyou darkness thing?"
"Pfft!"
Kim Chan-yong barely held back his laughter. Even so, Shin Yong's face remained haughty.
"But seriously, there's nothing here."
Even after quite some time since entering the cave, the only thing we'd seen was the one golem Shin Yong destroyed. Compared to the golems clanging around in our training yard at home, these were baby level.
—Click, click.
"Whew—"
"A student smoking? How pathetic."
Shin Yong kept scratching at my nerves even as he led the way.
"Loan shark, shut your mouth before I smash your head like a golem's."
"So your level is..."
—Smack!
When I struck the back of his head, Shin Yong's face planted straight into the ground.
"Huk..."
"Huk..."
"Whew—"
After waiting about a minute, Shin Yong, who'd been giving the ground a deep kiss, started twitching. He really was the top student for a reason.
"Ugh...! Everyone, be careful. It's the trap the professor mentioned!"
Shin Yong stood up, dusting himself off, and frantically looked around while rubbing the back of his head.
"Yong, I already disarmed the trap while you were knocked out."
"I see... I let my guard down. I didn't expect it to be this stealthy. Sorry."
At Noah's words, he nodded and scanned the surroundings again.
"Nothing unusual. Advance."
"Uh, uh..."
"Ha, ha... Let's go."
Unlike the cramped entrance, the cave grew larger as we went, as if under some spell. After advancing for several more minutes, a vertical cliff appeared before us. It was obvious we needed to reach the cliff on the other side.
"We'll have to go down."
Finishing his words, Shin Yong began pulling rope from his backpack. His preparedness was top-notch.
"Ga-eul, want a piggyback?"
"How pathetic."
He just had to add a comment.
"Was this guy always such a provocation magnet?"
"Endure it. Shin Yong's the leader right now."
Loan shark kept getting on my nerves.
"No, so what happens when we go down? Are we supposed to climb back up the opposite cliff?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"How long would that take?"
According to Shin Yong, it was obvious in a way. The drop below the cliff looked over twenty meters, and the distance to the opposite cliff was about seventy meters. We were awakened hunters. Falling from the height of a seven-story apartment wouldn't kill us, but jumping across wasn't feasible either.
"This is why you shouldn't team up with sword-swinging slowpokes who have no movement skills."
"Ga-eul, that hurts."
"Huh, why are my eyes tearing up..."
"So what do you suggest?"
Shin Yong met my eyes, radiating a cold aura.
"Did you forget I'm a support magic specialist, a Supporter? I use space magic."
"Space."
"Magic."
"Warp."
"Food!"
"Baek Seol, let's eat after we cross?"
"Eung!"
When I scratched under Baek Seol's chin in my pocket, she purred.
"Even if space magic is considered support magic, its nature is different from regular magic. Perhaps you don't understand how advanced space magic is..."
Grab!
"What? Why are you grabbing my collar? Let go..."
"Space magic. Warp— Hah!!"
"Raaah────────!!"
◎ Spinning Shooter: Grants rotational acceleration to projectiles
◎ Curved Projectile: Grants curved trajectory to projectiles
I grabbed Shin Yong by the collar and hurled him toward the opposite cliff. He flew straight to the target. Thanks to the additional effect of my throwing skill, he'd even gotten spin.
Boom—!
A loud noise and cloud of dust erupted from the entrance of the opposite cliff. The curveball had arrived nicely.
"As expected of space magic warp. Performance is solid."
"......"
"......"
"Next."
"Eek!"