The Best Defense is Offense
Terraforming team training continued. The trainees found this session even tougher than physical conditioning. At least with stamina training, they didn't end up with bruises.
But not me.
Compared to my training with Brack... this really is heaven...
Those two weeks were something I never wanted to remember. If I had to die in this novel and turn back time, I'd pick the day the hellish training ended, no matter what. Or better yet, change the past so I never had to do it at all.
- Kreeeek!Kreek!
Weren't goblins supposed to strain their vocal cords or lose their voice? How could it scream like that all day? I'd probably give up after an hour from sheer exhaustion.
Goblin Gerard's eyes still blazed with fury, fixed on Chris Bennett—Gwangnyeon-i—who was carrying him tied to a tree trunk.
But there was real payoff to her lugging the goblin around. The trainees had all gotten used to it. A few brave ones had even touched it.
"Whoa... you're really touching that thing?"
"How is it? How?"
"Ugh... it smells on my hands. And the skin's rougher than I thought."
"Kinda cool, though. Should I try?"
- Kreeeek!!
"Don't get your fingers bitten off. Its bite force is way stronger than it looks."
As if to demonstrate, Chris stopped and picked up a tree branch about as thick as a tumbler—tough enough that most people couldn't snap it.
She shoved it into the goblin's mouth.
- Kreeeak!Crunch!Snap! Crackle!
The branch shattered completely in the goblin's razor-sharp teeth. It looked like it could pulverize not just fingers, but a whole arm if the bones were thin enough—in seconds.
"Gulp..."
No more reckless trainees tried touching near the goblin's face. But the instructor did.
Chris, that is.
"Thing is, that's what makes it thrilling and fun, right, Gerard? Uwuuu~"
Standing behind the goblin, Chris jammed her fingers into its mouth. Not just blindly—she hooked her index and middle fingers from both hands into its cheeks, yanking them upward like she was forcing a smile.
"Smile, Gerard! They say a smile brings good fortune!"
Streeetch!
It wasn't "like"—she actually pulled the goblin's mouth into a forced grin.
Who would've thought I'd live to see a goblin smiling...
But "a smile brings good fortune" was a Korean proverb. How did she know that?
- Kriiik!!Smack!Snap!Clack clack!Smack!
Of course, the goblin went berserk, chomping desperately at the fingers inside its cheeks. It jerked its head forward to crush them, but every attempt failed. With its hands bound, it couldn't bite down properly.
Maybe from the massive stress, it started foaming at the mouth, screeching wildly.
- Kriiiik!!Rawr!!Krik!!Kriiiik!!
Foam actually bubbled out from inside its mouth. Ignoring the spit soaking her fingers, Chris grinned brightly, forcing the goblin to "smile" just as brightly.
"Crazy... bitch..."
"She's at it again... damn."
"Every time, it's something new..."
Aha... so this is part of the act too?
Chris definitely had a talent for it. Even I didn't suspect it was fake watching her.
She knew exactly how to make people sick of her.
"Hey! Adachi Kenji! Get out here!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
Slap slap!
After a few minutes of toying with the goblin, Chris decided she'd shown enough and pulled her hand out of its mouth.
Then she summoned our team's Adachi Kenji.
Swipe... swipe...
The guy who'd stepped forward became her handkerchief. Chris wiped her goblin-saliva-drenched hand all over his clothes.
Having his own sins to atone for, Adachi Kenji stayed silent.
"...There. Done! You can go."
"...Y-yes, ma'am..."
She played the psycho bitch to the very end...
Knowing the truth, I wanted to comfort Adachi Kenji, but the goblin spit stench was too foul, so I kept my distance. No way I wanted that stink clinging to me.
*
On the seventh day of team training, some trainees started awakening to mana.
It wasn't obvious yet, but the Status Window confirmed it—their mana stat had unlocked.
With mana gradually building up, they'd naturally figure out how to infuse it into their bodies soon enough. Just like I had.
Thanks to that, phase 1 graduates started emerging from teams besides ours. But only against Kaya.
"Kaya! Do it with us!"
"No way! You promised our team this time!"
"Ugh... somehow being summoned like this isn't exactly thrilling... Sure, I'm no match for Instructor Bennett or Brack, but... my pride... my self-esteem... ugh..."
Kaya made a complicated face as she braced for the trainees' attacks.
Watching her, Chris spat out curtly,
"No mana."
"I won't! I know that much..."
No matter how superhuman she was, Kaya had only been here a bit over a year—her skills had limits. Five trainees coordinating decently weren't impossible odds.
No teams had graduated from Chris or Brack yet except ours. Those two were just too strong.
"...Isn't the phase 2 clear condition too harsh?"
"You thought it'd be just 5 or 10 minutes? Even calling for backup fast, you gotta hold minimum an hour. You saw it yourself last time with Gerard's raid."
Phase 2 required surviving 30 minutes against an instructor. An hour was too grueling stamina-wise, and a month seemed too short, so they halved it.
Even so, our team struggled hard.
"Ready!"
Our challenge began again, and Chris shot toward us like an arrow.
- Clang!Claaang!Thwack!
"Guh!"
Progress over the last few days let us hold for 15 minutes. But beyond that was impossible.
We couldn't help exposing gaps to Chris's bizarre, invasive moves.
In the end, we all collapsed like yesterday.
"...Anyone got a good idea?"
"You think? We'd have done it already..."
"..."
"Scattering everywhere doesn't work, clumping up doesn't either... ugh... isn't this just hopeless?"
We couldn't boost skills short-term, so for quick change, tactics were it.
We'd tried most things. Even Lee Kangin and I sniping mana-charged stones from behind—always blocked.
One untried option left.
A few days ago, it'd be suicide. But after a week, we were far more synced. Worth a shot.
Better than praying for luck.
"What if we charge her?"
"Huh? Us at the instructor? Aren't we supposed to endure?"
"There's a Korean saying: the best defense is a good offense."
"...Strike first and control the enemy. China has something similar."
Li Shaolin backed me up. Lee Kangin grinned brightly, nodding in agreement. He seemed genuinely pleased for some reason.
Anyway... if the chain broke, we'd last less than 15 minutes. But success meant 30 easy.
We agreed to try once. Worst case, scrap it. No limit on attempts—relax and go.
"Instructor! We're ready!"
Snap to attention!
*
"Arrrgh! So close! Five more minutes..."
"That's on you screwing up."
"Ugh... yeah, but..."
Blanc hung his head at Li Shaolin's jab.
His mistake broke our flow, dooming us.
Surprisingly, the plan worked great. Seamless blade chains forced Chris to defend.
But... maintaining focus for 30 minutes? Tough for five at once.
Way harder than group jump rope for 30 minutes at a sports day...
Even with friends I'd known over a year, we rarely passed 10 jumps. Holding 25 minutes was near-miraculous.
We'd only known each other a month-plus.
"Still, this is solid. Real progress."
"Few more practices, and we'll pass."
"...I'll do better next time, no mistakes."
I comforted deflated Blanc and headed out.
Destination: Chris's room.
Three days since last Prum...
I could eat them nonstop now, but I kept visiting steadily. To save 50 karma.
Confirming no eyes, I climbed to the second floor. Didn't want misunderstandings.
Knock knock knock!
"Come in."
Creeak... thud!
She'd guessed it was me from footsteps alone and gave permission.
Having done this before, I entered without hesitation.
Quilt... mended. Even embroidered.
The night Chris and I shared a bed. Lost in pleasure, she'd ripped it misjudging strength.
The tear was hidden under an embroidered grass leaf. She'd really sewn it, as promised.
Back then, unaware of her act, I'd doubted her sewing claim. It didn't fit her "personality."
"Here for Prum?"
"Yes."
Slide...
"Here."
Meekly handing it over. No matter how often, tame Chris felt alien.
Seizing the private moment, I asked my question.
"About phase 2... is attacking first the right answer?"
The gap was huge: enduring passively vs. striking first. 15 to 25 minutes—nearly double.
Were instructors guiding us that way on purpose?
- Snicker.
"...Not answering that is the point, dummy."
Chris confirmed it. Exactly as I thought.
So reaching this conclusion ourselves through discussion was the goal...
She was masterful.
So instead of letting her loose to attack, bind her movements first. Like today.
Combat's more complex than I thought...
Analysis was my strength, but scant experience limited angles.
Still, feeling growth made it fine.
Lee Kangin knew. The real "answer."
But even reading the original, I hadn't realized. Original Lee Kangin used the other four as time-wasters, solo-tanking to pass in three days.
Not this time. He dragged phase 2 to five days, solving "properly."
Reason was simple.
...He's trying to build me up?
Today, when I voiced the "answer," he smiled brightly, agreeing.
I'd wondered why drag it out when he knew the three-day clear.
Not bad. Means he plans to use me long-term.
Being "raised" meant expectations. A welcome burden.
I thrived under moderate pressure.