Skillbook My Way - Episode 68
Episode 68
I quickly gave the medicine to the two of them.
But it had only worked on Ms. Hyeri.
The vice guild leader, whose neck had turned to metal, couldn’t swallow the medicine, and eventually his entire body turned to metal.
“Kek! Kehek!”
The dokkaebi surrounding the mana barrier threw bombs but couldn’t break through, so they went elsewhere.
Hyeri and I stood inside the barrier, looking down at our comrades who had turned to metal.
“Huk… Heuheuk!”
Ms. Hyeri shed tears. The moment I heard her crying, the fear of having lost my comrades flooded over me like a tidal wave.
It was an utterly sudden and futile defeat.
E’s words, that surviving would only get harder, came back to me.
‘No. This can’t be happening.’
Unable to accept this situation, I created three bookmarks, inserted them into the bodies of the three who had turned to metal, and summoned the book.
“……Thank goodness.”
The three still had HP remaining in their Status.
“Ms. Hyeri. Everyone is still alive. They’re just afflicted with a status abnormality.”
“R-really?”
Upon hearing my words, Ms. Hyeri stopped crying.
I went through the skills I had made until now.
I had skills that could dispel petrification or poison, but none that could cure a person who had turned to metal.
I tried using [Complete Dispel], which removes all effects caused by mana, as a test. But it had no effect whatsoever.
I tried creating new skills using
‘Crooks’ panacea is useless if they can’t swallow it. Now that we’ve entered the World, we can’t go outside to ask for help either.’
After worrying for a long while, I dismissed the book and looked at Ms. Hyeri.
“Please stay here, Ms. Hyeri. The barrier will hold for another 30 minutes.”
“What about you, Ms. Hwajin……?”
“I’m going after those bastards from earlier. If I take them down, I should be able to obtain Words related to metallization.”
I had to approach them to insert bookmarks, but if I managed to catch even a few, something related to metallization would definitely come out.
“I’ll be back before the barrier disappears.”
“I’ll go too!”
Ms. Hyeri stood up, and I shook my head.
“It’s dangerous.”
“It’s just as dangerous for you, Ms. Hwajin! I’m coming!”
Ms. Hyeri shouted angrily, then seemed startled by her own outburst, standing there with her mouth agape.
“Ms. Hyeri?”
“……I really am just a hindrance, aren’t I.”
It would be a lie to say that thought had never crossed my mind.
I could hide my appearance with [Selflessness], so I’d be fine. But I wanted to avoid fighting while protecting Ms. Hyeri from the dokkaebis’ metallization bomb barrage.
“I don’t want to be a useless person.”
“I’ve never once thought of you as such a person.”
“If I were removed from this party right now, would our combat power really change much?”
“That’s…….”
The thought that I should have answered ‘no’ came too late.
“Even you, Ms. Hwajin, will be in danger if you inhale the metallization smoke, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then please use me as bait.”
“What?”
“While the dokkaebi are focused on me, you obtain the Words. Even if I turn to metal, if you get the Words, it’ll be solved.”
Those were not words I expected to hear from the Hyeri I knew.
The Hyeri I knew was kind, but very timid.
I never knew she had the resolve to ask me to use her as bait even though she would obviously turn to metal.
‘She said she didn’t want to be useless.’
I raised my spear and dispelled the barrier.
“Very well. Let’s go together.”
Ms. Hyeri nodded.
After creating several new layers of mana barriers around the three who had turned to metal, I set out with Ms. Hyeri.
Activating [Monster Detection], I focused on finding those dokkaebi.
Ms. Hyeri followed behind me, leaving markers so we wouldn’t get lost on the way back.
There was nowhere to hide in the grassland, so I cast [Perfect Invisibility] on both of us.
‘Those dogs earlier had a Sense stat of 26. If the dokkaebi’s Sense stat is above 18, this won’t work……. But it’s better than sending Ms. Hyeri out completely defenseless.’
Had we walked for about five minutes? I stopped.
“Ms. Hwajin?”
I placed a finger to my lips. Seeing that, Ms. Hyeri closed her mouth.
‘I feel them.’
Though still quite far, I sensed the presences of many monsters up ahead.
“Ms. Hyeri. Please listen carefully.”
I spoke into Ms. Hyeri’s ear.
“Approach the dokkaebi first while keeping your invisibility active. If the dokkaebi don’t react, you won’t need to act as bait. If they do react, please become the bait. I’ll circle around to the back and target them.”
Ms. Hyeri nodded and began walking forward with a nervous expression.
I used [Selflessness] and [Ground Shrink] to circle far around to the rear of the dokkaebi.
“Kieek!”
They grew increasingly rowdy and charged toward where Ms. Hyeri was.
“Kiiiiek!”
“Kigik!”
The monsters shrieked and threw bombs at Ms. Hyeri.
Kwaaang! Kwaaang!
Smoke billowed up.
“Urg!”
Ms. Hyeri turned and began running.
The monsters threw bombs without rest, and the area behind Ms. Hyeri became filled with smoke. It was a sight as if the smoke itself was chasing her.
‘Damn, so [Perfect Invisibility] really doesn’t work on them.’
The distance between Ms. Hyeri and the monsters closed in an instant.
As a supporter, Ms. Hyeri’s Strength stat was on the lower side.
‘Have to finish this before it’s too late.’
My impatience grew. I decided to finish things as fast as possible.
Thanks to Ms. Hyeri, most of the dokkaebi had gone that way, leaving only a few small dokkaebi in the rear.
I approached them and inserted bookmarks.
“Kieek?!”
The dokkaebi who felt my touch looked around but couldn’t find me. It was thanks to [Selflessness].
I examined the book.
--------------------
-Status-
Bomb Dokkaebi
(Immune to poison and metal attributes)
HP: 260/260 MP: 120/120
Vitality: 13 Strength: 15 Mana: 12 Spirit: 15 Sense: 19
Unique Skill: [Metallization Bomb]
--------------------
Their name really was Bomb Dokkaebi. After checking their skill and immunity attributes, I immediately cut them down with my spear.
[You have defeated an opponent with a bookmark inserted.]
[Analyzing the opponent’s skill.]
[Analysis complete. You have newly obtained the Attribute Word
[You have newly obtained the Action Word,
Just as the voice rang out in succession, the monsters chasing Ms. Hyeri suddenly began turning back this way.
‘Did they see through the diversion?!’
It seemed they had heard the small monsters’ screams.
They charged this way with their arms raised as if to throw bombs.
“Uwaaaaah!”
It was then.
Ms. Hyeri, who had been running in the opposite direction, charged at the monsters with a shout.
I saw the tip of Ms. Hyeri’s staff pierce a monster’s back.
Over a dozen bombs exploded, generating smoke, and Ms. Hyeri’s figure vanished.
“No!”
Forgetting how thick the smoke was, I used [Charge] and dashed forward. I didn’t forget to imbue my magic spear with [Flame Spear] and [Lightning Spear].
“Haat!”
As I swung my spear several times, flames and lightning surged forward.
The dokkaebis’ screams rang out without cease.
[You have acquired 5,900 RP.]
Having annihilated the dokkaebi, I dispelled [Selflessness] and rushed to Ms. Hyeri.
“Ms. Hwajin…….”
Ms. Hyeri had collapsed, turned to metal up to her waist.
“Ms. Hyeri!”
“Ms. Hwajin… I’m sorry. I wanted to be even a little helpful… Keuheok!”
The metallization was rising to her chest. Finding it hard to breathe, Ms. Hyeri coughed.
‘Urk!’
I felt pain in my feet. It seemed I too had begun to metallize from inhaling the smoke while running over.
“Ms. Hyeri, hold onto this and drink it immediately if the skill doesn’t work.”
I handed Ms. Hyeri Crooks’ elixir and then summoned the book.
‘
The six Words mixed together to become a single skill.
I pressed the orb of my magic spear against Ms. Hyeri and shouted.
“Metallization Dispel!”
A warm light enveloped Ms. Hyeri. Her body, which had turned gray, returned to normal.
‘It’s a success.’
Casting the same skill on myself, my legs returned to normal.
“Haa.”
The thought that we had overcome the crisis made my strength drain away, and I collapsed onto the ground.
Grab!
In that instant, Ms. Hyeri hugged me tightly.
“Ms. Hyeri?”
The sound of Ms. Hyeri’s crying reached my ears.
“Sob, I was scared. I was scared it might fail, that I would end up hardening like this too.”
Ms. Hyeri spoke like that and sobbed loudly. Having been so tense, her mind seemed to relax in an instant.
“It’s alright now. We can save the others too. You really did well. Thank you.”
“Yes. Sob……. I’m so relieved.”
Ms. Hyeri couldn’t stop crying easily, and I quietly waited for her to calm down.
“Huh?”
Then, something entered my field of vision.
“Ms. Hyeri. Look over there…….”
I raised my finger. Ms. Hyeri released her arms from around my neck and turned her head back.
“Ah!”
Ms. Hyeri screamed.
A faint red light was visible in the distance.
Going to where the red light emanated from, there was a circle leading to the next floor, just as expected.
Ms. Hyeri and I left markers and hurriedly returned to the three people.
“Metallization Dispel.”
I used the skill on the three who were still hardened.
Unlike when the metallization had started from their feet, the three began returning to normal from their heads.
“Huh?”
The middle-aged man looked at his own hand with a puzzled expression. O Seyeon and the vice guild leader showed similar reactions.
“Is everyone alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Ms. Hyeri asked with a worried expression.
“Uh… I’m fine? Why? What is it?”
The middle-aged man muttered, tilting his head.
Seeing that, Hyeri and I burst into laughter. It was because we felt completely at ease.
“Then let’s go.”
I said, grinning.
“I found the circle leading to the next floor.”
The three released from metallization exclaimed in surprise. Seeing that, Ms. Hyeri smiled.
[You have entered a Safety Field.]
[The RP Shop is now available.]
At the voices ringing out repeatedly, we all cheered.
Lights of various colors flowed through the inorganic space.
We had finally arrived at the next Safety Field.
“The guild leader did say to do minimal reconnaissance and come back, so shall we return here for today?”
Everyone who heard my suggestion agreed. They all looked tired.
I took out the ticket.
“Exit.”
Then the surroundings brightened, and the scenery changed.
“Huk!?”
“We’re back!”
Judging by the hunters filling the surroundings, this seemed to be the first Safety Field.
[Yi Hwajin Party has updated the score!]
[As a reward, 5,000,000 RP will be given to all party members!]
[Record updated.]
At that voice, we all checked the scoreboard together.
--------------------
-Scoreboard-
Yi Hwajin (Party)
Highest Floor Reached: Safety Field 2
Total Survival Time: 2 Hours 56 Minutes
Returned from Safety Field
--------------------
The hunters’ gazes all turned toward us.
“Everyone.”
The vice guild leader spoke in a tense voice.
“Let’s bounce.”
No one objected to those words.
“Wait!”
“How did you get down there!? What’s down there!”
“Hey! Wait!”
Ignoring the hunters’ shouts, we held our tickets and shouted exit as a group.
***
After that, there was no need to run into other hunters to enter the World.
--------------------
[Ticket] (Bound: Yi Hwajin)
Progress 2.25%
Last Arrival SF 2
Time Remaining 7 Days
--------------------
Entering with the updated ticket allowed us to move directly to the second Safety Field.
Having earned 5,000,000 RP each from the score update reward, everyone except me re-entered the World to buy skills.
I followed out of curiosity as well. The middle-aged man obtained another attack skill, while the vice guild leader and O Seyeon said they would think it over more.
“Did you buy a skill, Ms. Hyeri?”
When I asked, Ms. Hyeri smiled.
“Want to see?”
Saying that, she moved her hand through the air. Then her Status window became visible to me as well.
“Then excuse me.”
I passed over Strength Enhancement, Mana Regeneration Enhancement, and Slow to examine the newly gained skill.
Ms. Hyeri’s new skill was [Ice Explosion].
“It’s an attack skill.”
When I said that, Ms. Hyeri gave a bitter smile.
“I’ve always wanted an attack skill. Without one, I could only go to dungeons by forming a party. So I wanted to become someone who could go to dungeons alone someday.”
I remembered Ms. Hyeri saying she didn’t want to be useless, or that the party’s strength wouldn’t change much even if she were absent.
When I said nothing, Ms. Hyeri made a flustered expression.
“Ah! That doesn’t mean I want to separate from everyone and go to the World alone. I just want to have that much strength. The fact that I bought an ice attribute skill with a slowing effect while keeping party play in mind is proof of that!”
Hyeri spoke as if making excuses. At that, I laughed.
“You don’t need to worry. I don’t think you’d ever abandon us.”
She was someone who had stepped forward on her own to become bait to save a comrade who had fallen to monsters. How could such a person abandon her comrades?
“I look forward to your continued support, Ms. Hyeri.”
“Yes!”
‘As expected, deliberately taking her with me to the dokkaebi was the right answer.’
Even if Ms. Hyeri hadn’t become bait, I would have managed somehow with [Selflessness] and [Ground Shrink].
But if I had refused, saying it was dangerous, then even if we had earned the same 5,000,000 RP, the current Hyeri would not exist.
To proceed through the World where anything could happen, my strength alone was insufficient.
Therefore, the growth of reliable comrades and the bonds between us were essential.
‘And being bright is much better than being depressed.’
Watching Hyeri laugh and converse with the others, I muttered to myself.
***
The next day, I headed to the second Safety Field alone to look around the RP Shop and was shocked when I saw the scoreboard.
--------------------
-Scoreboard-
Peter King (Party)
Highest Floor Reached: Safety Field 3
Total Survival Time: 10 Hours 14 Minutes
Returned from Safety Field
--------------------
In just one night, the highest reached floor had changed to the third Safety Field.