"Since this isn't entirely unrelated to you all, I shall explain briefly."
Gwon Boram withdrew the probing gaze she had directed at us and began to speak.
She relayed the situation in a calm tone.
The situation was no different from what I had known through the game.
A few hours ago, the villain Dust Worm had attempted a bombing in the city but was discovered by Hunters and fled.
The Hunters had collaborated with the Shield personnel present at the scene, including Gwon Boram, to pursue and apprehend Dust Worm, and in that process, Dust Worm had ended up hiding in Heartland, which lay along his escape route.
"The rift that just occurred was artificially caused by Dust Worm to shake off our pursuit. His intention was to flee the scene while we were dealing with the rift. Still, he likely hasn't escaped Heartland yet."
No matter how fast Dust Worm was, escaping the vast Heartland in a short time was nearly impossible.
He wouldn't be able to manifest mana recklessly to break through the dragnet, so he had no choice but to avoid drawing attention as much as possible.
In the end, he was probably biding his time right now, hiding his identity and waiting for a chance to secretly escape Heartland.
That was Gwon Boram's assessment.
"But that won't be easy either. The moment he set foot in Heartland, a decision was made to dispatch additional forces. Soon, Hunters from Shield, Sword, and nearby clans will join in to surround Heartland."
"So he'll have nowhere to run."
"Yes, exactly."
Dust Worm was a rat in a trap.
Gwon Boram nodded in acknowledgment.
But the problem was that the trap containing him was enormous.
So much so that it was burdensome for her and the others to handle.
She seemed to be well aware of that.
"Dust Worm won't hesitate to cause another rift like the one earlier to avoid pursuit and create chaos. We will inevitably be even more short-handed. So if all of you would help… we would be grateful to receive it, though it shames us to ask. As it happens, since you are wearing school uniforms, you will draw less suspicion from Dust Worm. We earnestly request your cooperation."
"…."
Regardless of whether we found it burdensome and wanted to decline.
Gwon Boram bowed her head politely and requested.
Then she added.
"Ah. Of course, we will also prepare compensation. We will hire you as temporary Shield operatives and pay a daily wage."
It wasn't a bad offer for us.
* * *
"Then we will split up into parties and search for Dust Worm. If you obtain any meaningful information, please inform us by phone or radio."
Gwon Boram, who had not shown herself to Dust Worm, decided to form a party with us and move together.
The parties, divided by considering each other's aptitudes, chose different routes for efficient searching.
"Then I wish you good fortune."
"Guys! If anything happens, make sure to contact us! We're heading out!"
Following the flow of the game, Gang Hanbyeol, who had formed a party with Gwon Boram, waved at us and left.
I watched him running off into the distance and smiled bitterly.
Because I could clearly foresee what he would go through later.
'Hanbyeol, hang in there.'
In the game, Gang Hanbyeol encountered rifts multiple times while chasing after Dust Worm.
This meant countless battles awaited him and his companions.
I silently prayed for the well-being of Gang Hanbyeol, Gwon Boram, and Min Arin.
I felt especially sorry for Min Arin.
'It couldn't be helped for Haneul's sake. Arin, please try to understand.'
Originally, Gwon Boram had wanted to take Yeon Haneul, whom she had worked with once before.
But knowing the path of suffering that awaited, I couldn't send her to Gang Hanbyeol's party.
I was worried about her physical condition, and I also had separate matters to attend to with her.
So I grabbed her arm, pulled her to my side, and wrapped my arm around her.
"I work best with Haneul, so I'll search with her. Instead of a mage, how about Arin?"
"...Understood. Then I shall include Min Arin in the party."
And so Min Arin ended up joining the party in Yeon Haneul's place, but….
Whether from dissatisfaction or not, she was pouting.
"Why is she like that? Ah… right."
It seemed her pride was hurt at being regarded as someone's replacement.
That someone happened to be Yeon Haneul, whom she considered a rival, so it was understandable.
Rather, it was almost strange how she wasn't throwing a fit on the spot and was trying to suppress her emotions.
It seemed she had grown mentally a lot after the incident at the Thornvine Spire.
Be that as it may, since I was the cause of her foul mood, I had to take responsibility and soothe her.
"Arin, are you sulking?"
"...Hmph, who's sulking? As you said, people with good compatibility should form a party, shouldn't they? Someone must be delighted to have a childhood friend of five years. What's so great about five years, really…"
"If we're talking about compatibility, you and I aren't bad either."
"...Really?"
"You're the class president and I'm the vice president; how could our compatibility be bad? We even take classes together."
"*Ahem!* T-that is true. It's also because I'm broad-minded that I accommodate you. Be grateful. You probably couldn't find someone like me anywhere else? Definitely better than that Yeon Haneul…."
"I know, I know that you accommodate me."
"But why…"
"Haneul is still hurting."
"How long are you going to keep saying that? That she's hurting? Her? Her? Heeeer? She doesn't look like that at all in my eyes. She's totally faking it…."
"And because you're the only one I have, Arin."
"..."
"There's a saying about placing the right person in the right place. I thought someone like you, who accommodates me so well, would also work well with Hanbyeol and make wise judgments in battle. 'Better than Haneul.'"
"...Better than Haneul?"
Fortunately, it wasn't difficult to stroke Min Arin's ego.
Because I only needed to stimulate her competitive spirit toward Yeon Haneul.
"T-that's right! Since you're pleading like this, it's not like I can't go along with it. Someone who accommodates better and is wiser than 'her' will understand and let it slide."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Ah, if you know, then treat me well…."
"Am I not treating you well right now? I'll try to treat you even better."
"No, that's not what I…"
"Huh?"
"More than her… Aaack! No! Anyway! I said treat me better!"
"Uh… okay…."
Though Min Arin had a sudden mental breakdown in the middle of the conversation, I had succeeded in persuading her.
'Since Arin is in the party, I should be able to clear the story safely.'
In the game, this was the point where Min Arin had not yet joined Gang Hanbyeol's party.
Originally, Gang Hanbyeol would have suffered considerably against Dust Worm, who excelled at long-range attacks as a mage; but unlike the game, since Min Arin had joined his party, they should be able to defeat it smoothly.
'At this point in time, Hanbyeol's growth rate is quite fast. He shouldn't lose to Dust Worm, so there's no need to worry.'
So I could leave the role of defeating Dust Worm to Gang Hanbyeol's party.
Yeon Haneul and I had to take on a different role.
After seeing the other parties off, I spoke to her.
"Haneul, let's go too."
"Yeah. ...But where are you going? That's not the direction we were assigned."
Yeon Haneul expressed doubt at me heading down a different path from what had been agreed upon in advance.
Feeling awkward, I averted my gaze and vaguely mumbled.
"Uh... well... my gut is telling me Dust Worm is over there."
"…."
And you call that an explanation?
Yeon Haneul looked at me with an expression that said exactly that.
Soon, she placed her hand on her hip and let out a resigned sigh.
"Fine, your gut feelings have been strangely accurate at times like this, so let's do that. Goodness, if I were anyone else, how would you have explained this?"
"I probably would have beaten around the bush. That's why I'm glad it's you. Thanks for believing me."
"Tch. Guess I'm the only one you've got. Let's hurry. Lead the way."
"Yeah, yeah."
Even though she could have pressed me endlessly for lacking logical basis, Yeon Haneul didn't bother arguing and simply accepted it as it was.
This was exactly why I had decided to form a party with her and act together.
Because she understood me and trusted me.
I felt grateful to her.
Then, she drove the nail in.
"I'll listen to anything you say. So don't lie to me. Don't deceive me either. Got it?"
From beside me, Yeon Haneul glared at me with deliberately stern eyes.
Had someone said that there must be trust between people?
For her, who had decided to trust me, the only thing I could do in return was to give her the same trust.
To her, who was making a fuss while waiting for an answer as if seeking confirmation, I said,
"Haneul, I will always be truthful to you. So you be truthful to me too. If you lie…."
"If I lie?"
"I'll spank you."
"What? You're asking for it. Then I'll spank you too. Prepare yourself."
"Sure, hit me. It's not like I'll get hit anyway."
"I remember everything. Is that a promise? If you really deceive me, I'll definitely beat you with an iron hammer. Got it, Do Gyeonu?"
"...Hey, isn't that going overboard? Who hits someone with an iron hammer?"
"Then you punish me with a scabbard."
"How could I do that to you... I know it'll hurt you. Maybe if I held back my strength."
"Ah... I was really going to do it though... Sorry. But still, I... wouldn't mind getting hit like that if it's just a little... It, it feels like being scolded or something... And I'm curious what your face would look like then...."
"…."
"Of course it's a lie. I was going to hold back too. Fooled you, huh?"
"You think I don't know you're making excuses right now? And did you just lie to me?"
"Ah."
"Come here. Present your bottom. I need to scold you with my scabbard."
"Kyah! Don't!"
Yeon Haneul giggled and ran away.
Her running speed wasn't fast.
It was a speed I could easily catch if I put my mind to it.
Nevertheless, having drawn the scabbard from my waist, I didn't try too hard to catch her and chased after her at a moderate pace.
And if she went the wrong way in the meantime....
"Haneul! Not that way! To the right!"
"Right? Okay!"
I gave such directions to Yeon Haneul, who was running ahead.
Meanwhile, we occasionally encountered monsters as we moved toward our destination.
We combined our strength to deal with them and finally reached our target location.
"...Here?"
"Yeah, this is the place."
"You think Dust Worm is here?"
"Not Dust Worm exactly. Hmm... I just have a feeling it's related somehow."
Spinning round and round in dizzying chaos....
We took in the sight of the Ferris wheel known as the largest in the world.
Yeon Haneul looked up at the Ferris wheel, tilting her head so far back that her rabbit ears flopped behind her head, and found it hard to believe.
"Please tell me you didn't come here because you wanted to ride the Ferris wheel?"
"No. You said you believed me earlier."
"Still, this is a bit..."
"We're not here to play, so drop the suspicion. Let's hurry up and ride."
According to the guide booklet received at the entrance, it takes an hour to complete one rotation — the Blind Heart.
Yeon Haneul and I passed by the line of people waiting to ride the Ferris wheel.
For us, who had purchased a premium pass, waiting in line to board was meaningless.
"Who are they? Why are they cutting in line?"
"Ah, dammit... It's a premium pass."
"So jealous. How much money do they have?"
"Everyone's wearing uniforms, so I can't tell if they're students or not...."
"They look young, like students? Are they from a prestigious family?"
"The kids are having a luxurious date."
"Maybe they saved up hard to buy a premium pass. Look at the girl lowering her head. So innocent."
As we walked through the premium pass entrance, we heard people grumbling.
Paying no heed to those voices, I grabbed the hand of Yeon Haneul, who had stopped out of timidity.
She couldn't raise her face easily and muttered in a small voice, "Ugh, so embarrassing... I'm sorry. We'll go through first," but it seemed no one other than me could hear her.
"Haneul, come in."
"U-ung...."
I entered the opened gondola and reached my hand out again so Yeon Haneul could enter safely.
She carefully took my hand and sat in the seat across from me, and the attendant closed the door.
The gondola rose upward.
"Wow... Gyeonu, look over there. The night view is really beautiful."
“Yeah. We were supposed to watch it together, so now I feel bad for the others.”
“You’re saying that now?”
Night was beginning to fall.
The sky had not gone completely dark yet, but beneath the moderately dim night sky, the night view of Academy City spread out before us.
Clusters of lights in every color illuminated the world.
After gazing at the scenery with Yeon Haneul, I soon shifted my thoughts.
‘It should definitely be somewhere around here.’
According to the game’s story.
Even after Kang Hanbyeol finds Dust Bug, he can’t rashly attack him.
Because the bastard, worried that he might be surrounded, had taken measures in advance.
Those measures were…
‘There’s supposed to be magic cast on the Ferris wheel that’ll explode the moment he gives the order….’
In other words, taking the people riding the Ferris wheel hostage.
Because of that, Kang Hanbyeol’s party had no choice but to keep chasing the bastard until the Hunters resolved the problem.
In the game, that process was reflected through several battles.
As for me, I simply wanted to cut down on unnecessary wasted time and stamina.
That was also why I had brought Yeon Haneul, who knew a thing or two about magic.
It was then that an announcement came on.
[We have entered the first blind altitude. It is a time overflowing with love and friendship. During this time, what happens inside will not be visible from the outside. Set your dreams and hopes free!]
‘Damn it, blind time?’
Apparently, the windows of the Ferris wheel, Blind Heart, turned into magic mirrors in three sections, making it impossible to look inside from the outside.
Since I was trying to find the explosive magic that had to be installed somewhere on the Ferris wheel, this was bound to be troublesome.
‘I can’t see inside….’
The gondolas below us had not entered the blind altitude yet, so I could see their interiors.
But I couldn’t check the gondolas above us.
Just then, one of the gondolas up there shook violently.
‘What was that? Was it because of the wind?’
Suspicious.
And it wasn’t just that one. Several other gondolas were shaking as well.
Meanwhile, as blind time began, the music flowing from the speakers interfered with my concentration.
The kind of EDM you’d commonly hear at a club made my head feel scattered.
Frowning, I spoke to Yeon Haneul, who had gone quiet at some point.
“Haneul, the area up there looks suspicious, so scan it with magic—Haneul?”
“…Huh? Uh, uh?”
“…”
Why is she so startled?
Yeon Haneul, her rabbit ears standing straight up, suddenly pressed herself tightly into the corner.
The eyes looking at me seemed to be trembling faintly.
“A-are we going to do it…?”
“Huh? Even at a time like this, we should, shouldn’t we? Why are you asking something so obvious?”
“S-so we’re doing it…. Um, Gyeonwoo, I’m not mentally prepared yet….”
“It’s something you need to mentally prepare for? Fine. I’ll wait until you are, so tell me when you’re ready.”
“Ah… okay…. Actually, I am already mentally prepared…. Um, you’ll treat me gently, right?”
“When have I ever not? You’re precious to me, a lot.”
“…Yeah, I know. Thank you…. You’re the most precious to me too. But, umm… you obviously know this, but this is my first time doing something like this… Of course, it’s your first time too….”
“…”
“I-I’ve only seen it in dramas, you know? Well, I mean… I’ve seen it in other things too… Eunbi showed me a few times too…. Anyway, since it’s my first time, I’d like you to be gentle….”
“I’m counting on you, Haneul. We don’t have time. Hurry up and do it.”
“…”
“Haneul?”
“S-so you want me to lead…. I didn’t think of that….”
“Lead?”
“U-um…. So you’re into that kind of thing. Got it. I don’t know if I’ll do well, but I’ll try my best. Then stay still there. And… you’re not going to get turned off if I seem too eager or anything, right? Don’t… okay?”
…What’s with her?
Out of nowhere, Yeon Haneul came over to my seat and looked down at me.
She placed one knee on the seat between my legs and grabbed the bar above my head to support her weight.
Then, gripping my shoulder with her other hand, she parted her lips with determination.
“Close your eyes, Gyeonwoo.”
Yeon Haneul wore an expression as if she had made up her mind.
I could hear her gulp.
Watching her gradually draw closer, I tilted my head.
“What does me closing my eyes have to do with anything?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking you to find the explosive magic that should be installed somewhere on the Ferris wheel.”
“Huh?”
“No, so…”
“Huh? Huh? Huuuh?”
“I’ll say it again…”
“Ah… so that’s what you meant….”
What on earth had she misunderstood?
Yeon Haneul, her face as red as a carrot, slowly withdrew.
Returning to the seat opposite me and turning her back, she began working.
“I’m crazy, I’m crazy, I’m seriously crazy…. Yeon Haneul, you’re crazy…. You idiot, you moron, you poop rabbit! How could your head be filled with only that kind of thing…. Ugh… this is embarrassing, so embarrassing….”
I want to hide in a rabbit hole….
As Yeon Haneul searched for the explosive magic, she kept mumbling incomprehensible things.
Watching the rabbit tail move this way and that as she wiggled her hips, I fell into thought.
‘…I nearly followed my instincts there. Why does she make people misunderstand like that?’
I had almost ended up hearing something strange.
Feeling as if ten years had been shaved off my life, I desperately gathered my emotions.
* * *
“That’s as far as you go.”
“…Well now, I’ve been caught.”
There had been all sorts of twists and turns.
But Kang Hanbyeol’s party, having tracked the flow where the distortion had occurred, finally discovered Dust Bug.
After successfully driving him into a dead end, they formed a semicircular encirclement around him.
“So many of you gathered just to catch one insignificant old man. From the looks of it… there seem to be quite a few students as well.”
“…”
An old man dressed in clothes reminiscent of a magician, exuding the air of a gentleman.
Beneath his black hat, white, curly hair peeked out, and even while cornered, the old man’s face did not lose its composure.
Kwon Boram and Kang Hanbyeol felt an inexplicable unease from that sight.
Just then, the old man struck the ground with his cane and opened his mouth.
“Don’t tell me you thought I wouldn’t have taken a situation like this into account?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“The older one gets, the more one wants to take out insurance, even if only one more policy. While you were chasing me, I installed explosive magic on that Ferris wheel. The moment I give the signal, it can explode at any time. It’ll probably be quite a sight. At least several dozen people will die without even knowing why.”
“…!”
“You understand why I’m telling you this, don’t you? If you want to save those people, back off.”
Dust Bug specialized in explosive magic.
At the bastard’s words, agitation spread through the people at the scene.
Was it a simple bluff, or the truth?
No one could make a reckless decision.
No one wanted to take responsibility for a possible worst-case scenario.
In the end, the best option was to at least pretend to let him go while quickly verifying the truth.
‘Damn it, and we finally found him….’
Kang Hanbyeol clenched his teeth, chewing over his frustration.
Kwon Boram and the others felt the same.
On the other hand, Dust Bug, who had seized control of the situation, drew an arc with his lips.
At that very moment.
‘Huh?’
Kang Hanbyeol received a phone call.
Feeling the vibration, he took out his smartphone, saw Do Gyeonwoo’s name, and answered.
“Yeah, Gyeonwoo.”
[If you’re talking about the magic installed on the Ferris wheel, Haneul just took care of it.]
“What?”
[She dispelled the explosive magic. Don’t get dragged around by some insignificant extra villain like Dust Bug. Do what you want to do.]
“…Are you sure?”
He didn’t know what was going on, but this was an opportunity.
After hanging up, Kang Hanbyeol raised the corners of his mouth.
He advanced toward Dust Bug.
“What is this? A brat like you, where do you think you’re—”
“Grandpa.”
Regardless of whether Dust Bug frowned or not.
Kang Hanbyeol, gripping the magic sword Lucid and taking his stance, opened his mouth.
“That cane looks pretty nice, doesn’t it? It seems wasted on you, Grandpa, so I’ll take it and make good use of it.”
There was no need to respect one’s elders when they were villains.
Kang Hanbyeol gave an evil smile.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss
(170) [Illustration]
In general, what determines superiority between spells is their tier.
The more heart rings mobilized in the process of casting a spell, the more its output inevitably increases.
Assuming the same circuits are used, 2nd-tier magic boasts twice the output of 1st-tier magic.
Similarly, the 3rd tier is three times, the 4th tier is four times, the 5th tier is five times….
While it could not be stated absolutely, output essentially doubles as the tier rises.
In the end, to overturn this law, one must put effort into other factors such as mana quantity or mana circuits.
Of course, it is naturally inefficient.
In the formula “heart rings × mana circuits = magic output,” the effect mana circuits have on output is relatively small.
In order for 1st-tier magic to produce output equivalent to 2nd-tier magic using 10 mana circuits, one must utilize 20 mana circuits.
It meant increasing the number of elements one had to pay attention to when casting magic.
There was no need to even mention the amount of mana within the body, which had a strong tendency to be innate.
Efforts to increase one’s mana quantity after birth had poor expected returns.
Therefore, in a pure battle of output, the lower the tier, the greater the disadvantage.
Though that did not apply to Min Arin.
“Hmph, serves you right for looking down on me.”
The Gift, Sage’s Eye, interpreted most magical phenomena the moment it observed them.
Being able to understand in advance what magic one’s opponent would activate meant being able to prepare a counter ahead of time.
In a battle where one had to exchange moves, it was an extraordinary advantage.
It was especially advantageous in fights between mages, where concealing one’s hand was fundamental.
Moreover, Min Arin, who had received the education of the magical Min family, was not someone who could be evaluated by ordinary standards.
It was not at all strange that she, who had reached the edge of the 3rd tier, was not pushed back against Dust Bug, who was one tier higher than her, and instead surpassed him.
The magic the bastard deployed was prevented by her from causing any damage to the surroundings, and in that opening, he ended up allowing Kang Hanbyeol to attack him.
“As expected, my skills never go anywhere.”
With a hmph, she snorted.
Min Arin looked down at Dust Bug, who had collapsed unconscious, then swept her red hair back.
Having secretly felt bothered by being overshadowed by her friends’ achievements until now, she finally felt fulfilled after accomplishing something she could boast about.
Her pride rose on its own.
Based on today’s experience…
‘I can beat Yeon Haneul too.’
Min Arin, her confidence piercing the heavens, giggled as she imagined making Yeon Haneul kneel again and again.
And by her side would be Do Gyeonwoo…
—Min, A, rin?
‘…Wh-what is this?’
Min Arin, lost in her imagination, flinched.
Yeon Haneul, whom she should have clearly defeated, was somehow standing perfectly fine, looking at her and smiling gloomily.
Having come right up in front of her, she raised the sledgehammer in her hand.
—I… told you last time, didn’t I? Not to make moves on him. Why… are you touching him? Do you want to die?
“…Shit.”
Why couldn’t she even imagine things freely?
Had the trauma of being hit by Yeon Haneul’s sledgehammer remained this deeply?
After being struck in the head by the sledgehammer in her imagination, Min Arin snapped back to her senses.
She frowned.
‘Her physical strength is the problem, seriously.’
If they competed purely with magic, Min Arin, who possessed Sage’s Eye, had a chance of winning.
But it was different in a battle where they used everything they had.
Yeon Haneul, who was skilled in martial arts in addition to magic and, above all else, used a sledgehammer as her weapon, was far ahead.
Even Sage’s Eye could not show its true value in the face of physical force.
In the end, in order to defeat Yeon Haneul, she had no choice but to either become strong enough to overwhelm that physical force or cultivate physical force herself.
She examined her own arm.
‘Should I build some muscle too….’
The foundation of everything was stamina, and magic was no exception.
Having recently realized the importance of stamina, Min Arin seriously pondered the matter.
Meanwhile, Kang Hanbyeol was in the middle of looting the spoils from Dust Bug.
His eyes sparkled with excitement, like someone searching for treasure.
“I think we’ve made back our investment.”
Still, it had been worth all the trouble.
After sorting through Dust Bug’s belongings, Kang Hanbyeol grinned happily.
Then he reached for the cane.
“…Got it. So this is how you use it.”
There was no need to get a detailed appraisal to check its performance.
The moment he grasped the staff in his right hand, information about the staff naturally surfaced in his mind.
The Gift, Resonance Hands, which guided any tool held in the hand to the realm of a master, had activated.
Soon, Gang Hanbyeol, who had infused mana into the staff, found a safe place and pointed at it.
The tip of the staff emitted a red light.
A device that designated coordinates within a certain distance and installed explosive magic.
Gang Hanbyeol, having confirmed the staff’s performance, wore a satisfied smile.
“This can be used quite usefully.”
Although the explosion’s power wasn’t strong, like when Meonjibeolle used it, it was sufficient to assist in battle.
Gang Hanbyeol converted the staff, made of ebony, back into a metal plate and turned his attention to the other belongings.
A hat that looked like something magicians would wear, a white cloak, and finally, a monocle.
“What are these used for?”
He had expected as much, but unfortunately, the Gift didn’t react.
Since they weren’t tools handled by hand, it couldn’t be helped.
Gang Hanbyeol put on the hat and smacked his lips in disappointment.
It seemed he would have no choice but to get the remaining items appraised separately.
Or he could ask Meonjibeolle directly, who was being put in restraints by the Hunters.
It was then, as he infused mana into the monocle and looked about, that—
“Huh?”
The world seen through the monocle was wondrous.
Even without conscious effort, he could see the flow of mana dissolved in the atmosphere.
When he shifted his focus to the belongings, the principles imbued within them were easily deciphered.
Gang Hanbyeol realized.
‘So this was an artifact with built-in appraisal magic.’
Detailed appraisal seemed impossible, but being able to grasp things simply made it quite useful.
However, for himself, who didn’t wear glasses, it wasn’t very preferable.
Rather than keeping it, it seemed better to give it to someone else and receive help when needed.
“I should give this to Sagun.”
After all, the monocle was merely a vessel that held magic.
The foundation lay in the lens engraved with the principle of magic.
Park Sagun should know as well, so he would probably swap out the lenses and use it himself.
Having reached a conclusion, Gang Hanbyeol decided to appraise the other belongings with the monocle.
‘The hat clears the mind, and the cloak makes the body lighter. They must be artifacts.’
The performance wasn’t particularly appealing, but it wasn’t bad either.
The other friends had suffered together too, so if anyone wanted them, he should give them away.
Having finished his business, Gang Hanbyeol tried to put the spoils into his Pocket.
However, the cloak and hat were blocked at the entrance and wouldn’t go in.
‘Ah, damn….’
The Pocket was connected to a subspace.
If that Pocket refused to accept them, it meant only one thing.
He had exceeded the capacity that the Pocket could hold.
“I’ll have to organize it soon.”
Gang Hanbyeol, who had been admitted as a special case, had many enemies to begin with.
Also, owing to his status as the disciple of the Tugwi Seo Jeongjin, there were quite a few people indirectly placed in hostile relationships with him.
Because of that, Gang Hanbyeol had frequently clashed with them, and his Pocket had no choice but to fill up quickly.
Moreover, he had been keeping the spoils obtained from monsters as they were, so it was no wonder space was insufficient.
In the end, he had no choice but to carry them directly.
He sighed.
On the other hand, he felt greedy.
“Isn’t my Pocket a bit small? At this rate, I can’t steal much….”
Gang Hanbyeol, who wanted to surpass his master, muttered.
[Black Ash Staff]
◆ Equipment Category
—Staff (Wand)
◆ Detailed Description
—The staff representing Villain Meonjibeolle.
—Made of black ash wood imbued with a principle related to explosions.
—Looted from Villain Meonjibeolle by the young Tugwi Gang Hanbyeol.
◆ Detailed Effects
—Skill 「Night Switch」
—Limited to those with magic power 80 or below: Magic Power +1
[Magical Silk Hat]
◆ Equipment Category
—Hat
◆ Detailed Description
—A magician’s hat imbued with the power of the 4-Star Demon Kaspa.
—Special preservation magic has been cast on it so that it does not wear down over a long time.
—Looted from Villain Meonjibeolle by the young Tugwi Gang Hanbyeol.
◆ Detailed Effects
—Skill 「Clear Mind」
—When forming a black magic contract with the 4-Star Demon Kaspa, it substitutes the acquisition condition once.
[White Dove Cloak]
◆ Equipment Category
—Cloak
◆ Detailed Description
—A cloak made from the curtain of a Dove Wraith.
—It stains easily.
—Looted from Villain Meonjibeolle by the young Tugwi Gang Hanbyeol.
◆ Detailed Effects
—Skill 「Hiding」
—Movement Speed +3%
[Smart Monocle]
◆ Equipment Category
—Accessory (Glasses)
◆ Detailed Description
—A monocle made from the eyeglass lens of the Sage Oliver. Because of this, its original power has been halved.
—Because it reflects light well, the eyes are not visible externally.
—Looted from Villain Meonjibeolle by the young Tugwi Gang Hanbyeol.
◆ Detailed Effects
—Skill 「Walking Encyclopedia」
—Magic Power +2
* * *
The place where Meonjibeolle had installed the explosion magic was near the central mechanism involved in the Ferris wheel’s power.
We, who had been searching with our eyes wide open, immediately exited the gondola we were riding and headed there.
It was an exceedingly dangerous act, even for us who aspired to become Hunters.
“Haneul, be careful not to lose your balance in the wind.”
“Yeah… You too. You might fall if you make a mistake, so watch your step.”
We had to pay especially close attention.
Having approached with caution for our safety, we dispelled the explosion magic and returned to our original gondola.
I called Gang Hanbyeol and relayed the news.
Only then did our role come to an end.
The rest was up to Gang Hanbyeol’s party, who would engage in battle with Meonjibeolle.
Relieved of tension, we leaned against the backrests, letting the strength drain from our bodies.
“I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve come up to this height…. Really… I thought I was going to die of fear because it’s so high….”
“Me too….”
I don’t know how many times my Gift activated while I was outside.
I never wanted to feel again the sensation that the soles of my feet might plunge into the depths below, where nothing but lights could be seen.
Yeon Haneul and I, half-reclining, let out continuous groans.
As time passed from then on, we grew less talkative.
“….”
Normally, we would have brought up trivial topics and chatted.
Strangely, nothing came to mind to say.
It seemed the same for Yeon Haneul.
She straightened her posture and leaned against the window, keeping her mouth shut.
Meanwhile, her gaze glanced at me sideways.
“Haha….”
Every time my eyes met Yeon Haneul’s, I smiled awkwardly.
She smiled back at me and then hurriedly turned her head away.
‘This is awkward…. Embarrassing for no reason….’
Was it because we were alone in an enclosed space?
I didn’t really know.
One side of my chest felt restless and ticklish.
It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, but it was unfamiliar.
It was as if some unknown current was swirling between us.
The more I was conscious of it, the more my heart grew and swelled.
‘Do I have to keep exchanging glances with Haneul like this until we get off….’
It takes one hour for the Ferris wheel to make one full rotation.
I didn’t know how much time was left, but I would have to ride for several more tens of minutes.
It was long.
I didn’t want to spend that time merely sneaking glances at each other.
This won’t do. I have to say something.
Just as I thought that.
[Entering the third blind height. It is a time overflowing with love and friendship. During this time, the situation occurring inside will not be visible from the outside. Since this is the last one, liberate yourselves passionately!]
The Ferris wheel, having reached its peak, began to descend as the final Blind Time started.
A sweet song flowed from the speakers, and the lights glowed in various colors.
I flinched for no reason and straightened my back.
Yeon Haneul also started in surprise.
She drew her arms toward her chest and hunched her shoulders.
Her red eyes, looking at me cautiously, sparkled like jewels in the light.
‘…Pretty.’
It felt as if I would be pierced by that gaze.
I pulled myself together with effort and opened my mouth to say something.
“Haneul.”
“Eek!”
“….”
I only called her name.
Wasn’t that reaction too much?
I was dumbfounded to see Yeon Haneul pressing herself into the corner.
The way she trembled slightly looked exactly like a herbivore faced with a carnivore.
The thought that she seemed scared of me for some reason hurt my pride.
“Do you think I’m going to eat you? I’m not going to eat you. I just called your name. Isn’t that too much?”
“….”
I clicked my tongue and grumbled.
Then Yeon Haneul, who seemed to have calmed down somewhat, slowly pulled away from the corner.
She spoke in a tiny voice.
“I… wouldn’t mind being eaten….”
It was right at that moment.
Fireworks suddenly burst in the night sky.
Boom!
“….”
Boom! Boom! Boom-boom!
“….”
Boom! Boom-boom-boom! Boom-boom! Boom-boom-boom-boom! Boom-boom-boom…!
“….”
Namely, the Angel of Love and Friendship, one of Heartland’s representative sights.
The sound of whatever Yeon Haneul had muttered was completely buried by the fireworks.
“Wow….”
“They’re exploding so splendidly.”
The fireworks shot up endlessly.
The night sky flashed, and flames bloomed as if flower buds were bursting open.
Sparks of various colors were pulled by gravity and disappeared below the night sky.
We directed our gazes out the window and admired the baptism of fireworks.
“It’s so pretty. Right?”
“It really is….”
Before we knew it, we were conversing with our faces close together.
The awkward atmosphere I had felt just moments ago felt like a complete lie.
Meanwhile, I asked her as she chirped and laughed.
“What did you say earlier?”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t you say something to me earlier?”
Yeon Haneul opened her eyes wide like a rabbit.
She blinked her red eyes blankly and soon broke into a grin, answering.
“I don’t know, I’m not telling you.”
“You were cursing me, weren’t you?”
“It’s a se-cret!”
Really, making people curious….
Yeon Haneul giggled, looking as if she wouldn’t tell me until the very end.
Giving up on getting her to open her mouth, I decided to think whatever I wanted.
She was definitely praising me.
‘Yeah, well… If you like me, Haneul, that’s enough.’
The edge of my hand, resting against the window, bumped against the edge of Yeon Haneul’s hand.
Soft skin touched.
“….”
Carefully, as if handling something fragile.
I took Yeon Haneul’s hand.
“Ah….”
Yeon Haneul let out a small gasp.
She turned her head to me for a moment and soon quietly held my hand in return.
Like that, we watched the fireworks and the night scenery until we got off the Ferris wheel.
* * *
“Do Gyeon-u! Aren’t you going too far!?”
“Some of us went on monster subjugations, while some of us rode the Ferris wheel!?”
“The two of you had so much fun, so much fun!”
By the time we got off the Ferris wheel, the incident had been wrapped up.
Friends we met at the gathering place, including the triplets, glared at us as if displeased.
Unable to bear that gaze, Yeon Haneul shrank back and looked apologetic.
But I, who was confident in myself, opened my mouth boldly.
“What do you mean we had fun? Do you know what it feels like to defuse a bomb at a height where you’d die if you fell? If you don’t know, don’t talk.”
“Wow, Do Gyeon-u…. You’re really shameless.”
“You secretly got on because you wanted to ride the Ferris wheel with Haneul, and you just happened to end up there!”
“Haneul knows everything! Don’t lie! You’ll die and go to hell like that!”
“Tsk.”
“Actually, Gyeon-u is amazing. When you think about it, he defused a bomb with his life on the line with Haneul, right?”
“Hey, how did you really find that? Even the Hunters were all surprised!”
“If it weren’t for you, there would have been many casualties! They probably wouldn’t have caught Meonjibeolle either!”
“Glad you know.”
As a result, my and Yeon Haneul’s achievements were facts that no one could deny.
So there was no need to be intimidated.
Naturally, the friends who couldn’t have been unaware of this fact showed some disappointment but didn’t make a big deal of it.
Moreover, Gang Hanbyeol also stood up for us.
“It would have been troublesome to deal with Meonjibeolle if it weren’t for you. Thanks for helping.”
In truth, the one who had worked the hardest this time was Gang Hanbyeol.
Thanks to him taking our side, he who had contributed to suppressing Meonjibeolle, the situation passed smoothly.
That aside….
‘Why is he wearing that?’
Whether it was loot plundered from the dust beetle or not, Gang Hanbyeol was wearing a hat on his head that looked like something a magician would use.
With a white cloak draped over him on top of that, he looked utterly ridiculous.
I could only find it absurd.
The others probably felt the same way.
Meanwhile, Bak Sagun was looking at a monocle with a moved expression, muttering something to himself.
“You gave this to me…. Thanks, Hanbyeol. I’ll treasure it.”
Judging by the circumstances, it seemed Gang Hanbyeol had shared some of the loot with Bak Sagun.
It had been the same in the game, but the two of them really did seem close.
Since I wanted harmonious relationships among the party members, I welcomed the sight.
Just then, Go Eunbi called for our attention.
“Guys, listen up! Originally, we were supposed to ride the Ferris wheel earlier, in time for the fireworks. After that, we were going to go eat a late dinner. But our schedule got messed up…. So how about we just eat dinner on the Ferris wheel!?”
“Can you eat food inside?”
“Yep. I’m for it. That sounds great.”
“Wow! Eating up high? That’s new! Sounds fun! Is this what they call gourmet dining? Anyway, I’m in too!”
“I heard from someone I know that with the premium pass, eating is allowed. So why don’t we buy some food, bring it with us, and enjoy the night view while we eat?”
Go Eunbi’s suggestion was quite appealing.
With no one objecting, we decided to go along with it.
For dinner, each of us chose whatever we wanted from the restaurants in the plaza.
Then we split into groups of boys and girls and boarded the gondolas.
‘I wanted to ride with Haneul…. It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. We did get to ride together alone earlier anyway.’
I couldn’t pay attention only to Yeon Haneul.
If I wanted to improve my relationships with my friends, I had to pay attention to them as well.
Otherwise, I would end up burying all my social ties in just one person, Yeon Haneul.
I wouldn’t be able to build healthy relationships.
The same was true for her.
If I built bonds with the boys, then she needed to build bonds and strengthen her relationships with the girls.
In that way, she and I would become the links that helped everyone get along.
So I ate dinner with the boys, chatting while looking out at the night view.
As an aside.
[You have entered the first blind altitude. It is a time overflowing with love and friendship. During this time, what happens inside cannot be seen from the outside. Set your dreams and hopes free!]
“…”
For some reason, every time blind time arrived, a solemn atmosphere settled over our gondola.
We silently chewed our food.
* * *
“Isn’t the true highlight at the end of an amusement park the carousel!?”
It was nearing 11 p.m.
Heartland would be closing soon.
Having played around like today was our last day on earth, we followed Go Eunbi’s recommendation and went to ride the carousel.
‘Even the carousel is incredible….’
Heartland’s carousel boasted an extremely massive and splendid appearance.
After busily taking pictures in front of it, we stepped inside.
Then each of us scattered to find the wooden horse we wanted.
“Haneul, what are you going to ride?”
“Me? Hmm…. I’ll go with this horse.”
“A unicorn?”
“Yeah, among the horses around here, I think this one is the prettiest.”
Yeon Haneul pointed to a white unicorn horse that looked as if it were alive.
I held her hand so she could get onto it.
“Thanks,” she whispered softly to me, then settled into a side-sitting position.
“What are you going to ride?”
“I’ll ride that one.”
“A pegasus?”
Near the unicorn horse Yeon Haneul was riding was a pegasus horse with white wings spread wide.
I climbed onto its back.
A moment later, the horses began to move.
Neigh!
The sound of a horse’s cry flowed out from the wooden horse.
When it took a pose as if raising its forelegs, I could hear people bursting into laughter here and there.
Yeon Haneul, holding on to the pole so she wouldn’t fall, was enjoying herself too.
‘Amazing….’
Moving forward and then retreating, rising upward and then descending.
The carousel, with each horse adjusting its own speed, made it feel as though they might truly be alive.
On top of that, the backgrounds and effects created by holograms were nothing short of impressive.
It was dreamlike.
It felt as if we were flying above the clouds.
More than anything….
‘She’s pretty.’
Under the lights scattering all kinds of colors, Yeon Haneul was shining brightly.
Standing out especially among all the people, she looked at me and mouthed, “This is fun.”
Then she smiled with all her heart.
Completely captivated by her, I ended up staring blankly.
[Round and round, it spins— just like a carousel—.]
The singing didn’t even reach my ears.
My ears were focused only on Yeon Haneul’s laughter, and my eyes only on Yeon Haneul.
As if I had fallen under some kind of spell, I was utterly taken by her.
‘Seriously….’
I guess I really do like her a lot.
Enough to wish this moment would continue forever.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss