◈ Episode 296. If It Is for My Sake (2)
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Call of the Wild: Awakens true wildness, greatly increasing Wildness.
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A unique skill acquired immediately after the class quest began.
Nam Taemin had, at some point, reached max mastery in [Call of the Wild].
It was an incredible achievement.
Of course, there was a proper reason behind that achievement.
‘I really thought I was going to die.’
Hoyeol’s immense burden.
To share in carrying it, he needed the strength to endure its immense weight.
To gain that ability, he had challenged life-and-death battles every time. It wasn’t just empty words. Wasn’t the proof of that revealed here, in his sword aura?
He recalled the words of his teacher, Harkon.
—“Remember this, gentlemen. Sword aura deepens in life-and-death battles.”
A level not even reaching 600.
And yet he had managed to push through an immense cave with a recommended level of 800, all the way to just before the boss.
The influence of sword aura had been significant.
‘If it weren’t for sword aura, would my damage have even gone through?’
Of course, there was another method.
“Call of the Wild……”
The Barbarian’s unique skill.
It was [Call of the Wild], which amplified the unique stat [Wildness] and greatly increased physical abilities. But losing reason upon activation was far too great a penalty.
Because he literally became a beast.
‘To the point where I can’t even emit sword aura.’
If only he could use [Call of the Wild] and 『Sword Aura』 at the same time…… Imagining himself reaching such a realm, Nam Taemin couldn’t help but clench his fist.
‘If that were possible, I wouldn’t have to trouble Hoyeol-ssi over something like this.’
For some time now, he had felt as though he had hit a wall.
No new [Class Quest] had appeared, either. Even the mastery of [Call of the Wild], which could be called his only goal, had reached its limit. It was only natural that he felt as if he had lost his objective.
‘But as for refining my sword aura……’
That would mean walking once more down a path completely opposite to the Barbarian path he had built up until now. Because of that, even in moments like this, Nam Taemin would occasionally fall into anguish.
Shake, shake—
“This isn’t the time, Nam Taemin.”
Hadn’t Hoyeol-ssi set aside his precious time for him?
“He really seems to think twice as much as everyone else, doesn’t he?”
He found himself admiring him all over again.
As if eliminating a great evil in that short time hadn’t been enough.
He had even stopped by the Blue House and cleaned out those corrupt politicians who were like old foxes.
‘Really, just how far ahead is he seeing?’
Thinking that, his head grew complicated as he was reminded of his own inadequacy, but he forced the thoughts away.
Kudududuk!
With a thunderous sound, the cave’s boss monster revealed itself.
[Root of the Twisted Ancient Tree: Lv.900]
If one were to ask why a level 900 boss monster appeared in a dungeon with a recommended level of 800, it was because the creature had a somewhat unusual pattern.
He heard the briefing from his older brother, Nam Cheolmin.
—“Its vitality and defense are abnormally high even for its level. Because of its tremendous size, it can’t really move; all it can do is swing its roots. But its attack radius is enormous.”
Nam Taemin bit his lip.
‘With my sword aura……’
All he could do was inflict small scratches.
Even if he gave up on sword aura and activated [Call of the Wild], there wasn’t much difference. He did manage to cut off a few branches, but to a creature larger than most buildings, that likely wasn’t meaningful damage.
—“Taemin, what are you thinking so hard about that you won’t even answer?”
“Huh? No, nothing.”
—“As if.”
They weren’t brothers for nothing, and he wasn’t his older brother for nothing.
He could tell just from his dejected voice.
Nam Cheolmin comforted his discouraged younger brother.
—“Everything takes time, doesn’t it? Let’s not rush, Taemin.”
Of course he knew that.
He was simply worried.
Even if there was enough time.
‘If I don’t have a clear goal……’
Would I be able to continue chasing after Hoyeol?
That concern lingered.
“……!”
However, at this moment, inside the cave.
There was a presence that made a dark future shine brilliantly.
One that turned concern into needless worry.
There was the Dawn.
Nam Taemin’s eyes followed that dawn, Hoyeol’s movements.
“Sword aura…… no, sword force……!”
Sword force, the stage above sword aura.
Harkon had taught him that such a realm existed.
He also knew well that Hoyeol had reached the realm of sword force.
Yes, the reason Nam Taemin was surprised lay elsewhere.
‘That isn’t pure sword force.’
One saw only as much as one knew.
In the past, Nam Taemin hadn’t even known of the existence of sword aura, let alone sword force. But after witnessing sword aura and reaching the realm of emitting sword aura himself, he had become able to properly observe Hoyeol’s sword force.
‘……Something is mixed into it.’
Again, one saw only as much as one knew.
Whether it was magic, a skill, or something else entirely.
With his insight, he could not tell.
However, what mattered was that “something” had combined with the sword force.
Squeeze—
Nam Taemin looked down at his own greatsword.
His once-complicated mind cleared.
Because the answer was right before his eyes.
‘So it isn’t impossible!’
The combination of [Call of the Wild] and 『Sword Aura』.
For him, who had lost direction and been drifting.
The moment Hoyeol presented him with a new goal.
Nam Taemin had no choice but to look up to Hoyeol once more.
‘Don’t tell me the reason he deliberately took up the sword instead of using magic was……?’
The Chief of the Magic Tower.
For Hoyeol, who could manifest countless spells.
He could have simply burned away a mere ancient tree like that.
Yet why had he faced it personally with a sword?
Without even being told, he must have noticed his struggles. He must have intended to teach him through action rather than words. The overwhelming emotion could not help but spill from his lips.
“Just how far ahead are you seeing, Hoyeol-ssi……!”
*
Whoa.
I’d expected as much from its size.
But this thing’s tough.
‘Of course, tough or not, it won’t matter.’
Was it because I’d just fought the Seven Deadly Sin, Envy?
Even though this was a level 900 boss monster, I didn’t feel the slightest pressure. Even without [Natural Enemy Relationship] activating, the difference in raid difficulty was absurd.
‘Even its patterns are simple.’
Its attack radius is wide?
That’s no problem for me, leisurely levitating in the air.
Go ahead and swing those roots all day.
As long as those roots are covered in dirt.
“How noisy.”
For the sake of maintaining lofty dignity.
And for the sake of not letting dust and dirt stain the Dawn set.
I would never allow an attack to land on me.
Flutter—
The Dawn jacket flapped this way and that.
If you ask why I’d draped it over my shoulders again…… I thought it would be better for it to flutter than for me to become a self-luminous firefly.
‘It’s not like this is a situation where I need to use the set effect.’
In truth, whether it fluttered or sparkled probably made no real difference.
I desperately held on to my mental state and focused on the battle.
Just because it was an enemy inferior to the Seven Deadly Sin, Envy, didn’t mean I could let my guard down. It was a level 900 boss monster, after all. Its distinctive traits were its tenacious vitality and defense, enough that even Nam Taemin couldn’t inflict damage on it.
‘Practice like it’s real combat. Real combat like it’s practice.’
I didn’t forget.
The trinity of magic, sword force, and tenacity.
In order to grow accustomed to that sensation flowing like water.
I did not draw Gwicheol.
Instead, I interfered with the minerals scattered nearby, manifested a suitable sword, and gripped it.
Then I manifested [『Anomaly』].
Was there even a need to explain the power of Anomaly?
To those who had not entered the realm of Anomaly, Anomaly displayed effects that were absurdly unreasonable. Like, for instance, a massive ancient tree being sliced apart as if it were tofu.
“You are as noisy as your size suggests.”
Kugugugung!
I had to stand by the words I uttered, of course.
With mana, I blew away the rising dust.
And I could not leave out the brazen remark.
“However, you lack the dignity to be gathered into my garden.”
After that.
Was there any need to explain how the battle went?
It was my one-sided victory, that’s all.
[Your level has risen.]
…….
Let’s see, the level increase was 5 levels.
For a level 900 boss monster, wasn’t that too little experience? One might tilt one’s head at that…… but considering the wailing wall of required experience that existed every 100 levels, it was understandable. No, conversely, it made me marvel.
‘Just how much experience did that Seven Deadly Sin, Envy, give me?’
It had casually ignored the wall at level 700 and raised me by the limit of 50 levels.
My admiration lasted only a moment.
The loot that had been automatically acquired appeared as a message.
[Rotten Ancient Tree Stump]
[Grade: Unique]
[Restriction: None]
[Effect: None]
[Description: The stump of a giant tree. Though already rotten, it contains considerable energy. If something is built upon it, it will become an auspicious site; if crafted, it will be reborn as a masterpiece.]
A material item, huh.
‘Should I call this fortunate?’
If an item restricted to level 900, matching the boss’s level, had dropped.
Wouldn’t it have been a pie in the sky?
Now that I’d experienced the wall of the 700-level range, instead of feeling disappointed, let’s be glad.
‘Because I can entrust its forging to the dwarves.’
Items forged by dwarves had the “Craftsman’s Dexterity” effect attached.
Meaning, through dexterity, the equipment restriction could be crafted in a way favorable to me.
So.
‘What should I make for people to say I used it well……?’
Just as I was racking my brain.
Nam Taemin approached.
But somehow, his expression was not ordinary……?
“Thank you, Hoyeol-ssi!”
Bow—
Why the sudden thanks?
Is it because I defeated the boss monster?
‘I monopolized both the experience and the loot, though?’
Is there really any reason to be this grateful?
The moment I thought that.
Seeing Nam Taemin’s expression as he raised his head, I opened my mouth.
First, I brazenly acknowledged it.
“I am glad if it was of help.”
I do have some tact.
Nam Taemin was clearly moved, no matter who looked at him.
And I could tell the reason without asking.
“How am I supposed to repay such precious teaching……”
Teaching, huh.
I had thought it would be nice if it helped him.
But I had no intention of properly teaching him.
Indeed, a ranker was a ranker for a reason, wasn’t he? He must find something to learn from every action. As someone who never feigned humility, I quietly nodded.
But the surprising events did not end there.
……
Were they really brothers for a reason?
Nam Cheolmin-ssi, why are you doing this to me too?!
“The results of the education are appearing, Commander-in-Chief!”
After clearing the cave and returning to the Giant Alliance’s base camp, Nam Cheolmin rushed over and reported to me. What he held out was a tablet PC, and a video was playing on its screen.
After confirming its title, I could not hide my shock.
[The One Chosen by Excalibur, Lee Hoyeol]
E-Excalibur?
I was chosen by that?
When?!
‘More importantly, did they read my mind?’
A high-difficulty spell that manifested a sword from stone in real time and pulled it out. Setting aside the sword’s performance, I had thought that with Grandfell’s obsession with looking cool, it looked as if I were pulling out Excalibur……
‘But still, they actually took that and used it as the video title?!’
Beyond surprise, I wanted to ask exactly what sort of education required such a grandiose name.
However, as expected, this iron mask had no intention of staying silent.
“Excalibur, you say. That is an underestimation.”
It was an expression of absolute confidence.
It meant that the level of the magic he manifested was higher than Excalibur.
Of course, it was Grandfell-style speech, specialized in causing misunderstandings.
“……!!!”
Everyone was shocked.
Nam Taemin and Nam Cheolmin included, everyone’s eyes widened.
Nam Cheolmin barely managed to open his mouth.
“I apologize, Commander-in-Chief. My insight was lacking, and I ended up underestimating your full power. Still……! I think you can rest assured. The response to the education is definite.”
The tablet screen changed shortly after.
What appeared on the display were comments.
Only after skimming through those comments did I realize it.
—Excalibur lololololololol
—Ryu O Junchun must really be getting hit with one thing after another lol
—Damn lololol, this is what you call a difference in class
—Know your place, please lololol
‘No, by education, you meant this kind of education?!’
Overcoming one trial only to face another.
Why is the world so cruel to me?
I seriously can’t even walk around with my head held high……!