00005 [Part 1] [Return] ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
"Let's be careful, because you might get hurt if you let your guard down. And Mint, when you use Flash, give a signal beforehand that you're going to use it."
"I'm sorry, oppa. I'll be careful from now on."
"It's okay. Just be careful next time."
Eogeulimaen comforted the intimidated Chokominteu.
When using Flash during combat, the user gives a signal beforehand to prevent problems like this from occurring. Having learned Flash, she couldn't have been ignorant of such basic common sense, but it was entirely natural for anyone to fall into confusion when something irregular occurred in the middle of battle. Because they knew that, no one blamed Chokominteu any further.
"Oppa, from now on I'll come up to the front and fight too. I think that would be more comfortable."
"Really? Still, your level is low, so don't step too far forward. Let's leave the rear entirely to that guy."
As if level is the be-all and end-all of strength.
Karon nodded roughly and ignored the conversation. Once again, absolute strength in this world cannot be measured by level. Raising your level and increasing your stats might make you stronger than before, but it isn't the same as improving your skill. What's important is experience and resourcefulness. The fact that stamina and mana are determined by 100% rather than differences based on level is proof that level isn't everything.
"But hyung, are there any among the Geurumeon that use magic?"
"Yeah. The ones wearing fox or raccoon skins mostly do. Since all the magic-users carry staves, you can recognize them right away."
"They don't move alone, right?"
"They don't act alone. They're probably the biggest headache in this dungeon. Let's be careful when that happens."
"Yes, oppa."
"If a mage Geurumeon comes out, I'll do my best!"
Monsters that use magic rarely wander around alone. Because they are mages, they aren't physically strong, but they move in groups and craftily torment their opponents from a distance where they can't be attacked. That's why there's even a saying: when monsters form a group, kill the magic-user before the leader.
"Then shall we get going now?"
At first, they had gone to great lengths to catch even one Geurumeon, but as they grew accustomed to the formation, they could take down two without difficulty. It was a pattern where Eogeulimaen would launch a surprise attack and Nieoritik would finish the target off. Geulinwendeu dealt with those that charged at the party before he could kill them, while Chokominteu and Aran provided covering fire so the three wouldn't be attacked.
"Why don't you do something properly for once?"
After finishing the consecutive hunt and shaking the blood off his sword, Nieoritik rebuked him. The others also seemed to know that he had been standing at the very back without attacking and just watching, so not a single person came to his defense.
"Uh, sorry."
"Tch."
Since he was at the very back, there was no way monsters would approach him. Nieoritik's behavior was merely flaunting his contribution to the others. Karon, who had known that from the start and hadn't particularly wanted to interfere, apologized without a word.
"Hyung, four of them are coming this way. One in fox skin and three in wolf skin."
"Wouldn't it be better to run, oppa?"
Everyone was flustered by Eogeulimaen's report after scouting the front. Even when they had taken down three, there had been many gaps; four meant a considerable group accompanying them. Because she knew that, Aran offered her opinion.
"...No."
"Huh?"
"Eogeulimaen and Geulinwendeu, each take one. You don't have to kill them. Just buy time while I take one down. Chokominteu, support those two, and Aran, protect Chokominteu while targeting the fox-skin Geurumeon."
"Oppa, but that leaves one."
"That's for you to handle, Karon. The Geurumeon's level is high, but you should be fine just blocking it, right?"
"...Okay."
A mistake in orders. A level 51 swordsman was insufficient to take down a Geurumeon alone. It was a choice that could have led the party to ruin had he not been level 100. Whether he was an adventurer who loved danger or simply a fool was all too obvious.
"But oppa..."
Aran had also known that and offered her opinion. However, because the Geurumeon were drawing closer, her opinion was ignored.
"It's fine. Oppa will take care of everything!"
Nieoritik stroked her head and put on a confident expression. Unlike in movies, the surroundings didn't sparkle with dazzling lights, nor did sweet, melodious songs flow forth. Instead, what filled the surroundings was the sound of metal clashing against metal, signaling the start of battle.
"Back Attack!"
"Hah! Overhead!"
Eogeulimaen quickly dashed out and threw the Geurumeon into confusion. Squeezing through the gap, Geulinwendeu attacked one. The Geurumeon soon regained their composure, and one with its hands free lunged toward the party.
"Not a chance! Strike!"
Nieoritik imbued his sword with mana and swung down powerfully. The charging Geurumeon blocked his attack with its sword.
[Saa suu ra...]
A fox-skin-clad Geurumeon stood some distance from the group, murmuring something.
"Boom Arrow! Nieoritik oppa! We need to take out the mage first!"
"I know! Karon, you handle this one!"
When Aran fired an arrow, the fox-skin Geurumeon stopped its chant and dodged. Nieoritik flowed past the wolf-skin Geurumeon's sword and dashed toward the defenseless fox-skin Geurumeon to kill it.
"Really now..."
Turning his back in the middle of combat—what incredible nerve. Karon was so dumbfounded he couldn't even get the words out properly. Blocking the Geurumeon's attack that had targeted Nieoritik's back, he checked whether the others were doing well.
What a mess.
Eogeulimaen was pressuring the Geurumeon but couldn't manage to land a direct attack. Geulinwendeu seemed to be at his limit, merely locked in a standoff while clashing swords with the Geurumeon. Chokominteu tried to support the two, but she seemed unable to readily use her magic, afraid of hitting her allies.
"Horizontally!"
Nieoritik cut at the fox-skin Geurumeon's flank. The Geurumeon, split in two in an instant, scattered nothing as its body turned transparent and disappeared. It had been an illusion spell.
"Ugh...!"
Because Nieoritik realized that as well, he quickly took a stance. He was focused on chasing the Geurumeon that had to be hiding its form somewhere. Soon, the Geurumeon revealed itself behind him, trying to plunge a dagger into his nape.
"Shine Arrow!"
Aran, having noticed that, created a light arrow and aimed at the space between the fox-skin Geurumeon's eyebrows. The Geurumeon struck in its vitals collapsed to the floor and died. He offered an awkward greeting and rushed at the Geurumeon that had been crossing swords with Geulinwendeu. As the situation became two-against-one, the Geurumeon retreated. With the mage dead, the other Geurumeon's morale also plummeted.
[Krrrrr]
What should I do.
Taking it down is simple. However, it's important not to stand out. After thinking it through, he began moving toward the wall while pretending to be pushed back by the Geurumeon. The Geurumeon, thinking it had seized the advantage, let out a bizarre sound and began swinging its sword wildly.
"Idiot."
With his back against the wall, when the Geurumeon tried to bring its sword down, he quickly dodged to the side. The Geurumeon, whose center of gravity had shifted, didn't stop and crashed straight into the wall. Without missing that opening, he tripped its foot, making it smash its face into the wall.
"...Hard-headed."
If there was something unexpected, it was that the Geurumeon's head was hard. Looking down at the fallen one, he plunged his sword into its nape without a fraction of error.
Presenting it as though he had killed the Geurumeon by coincidence, he checked the others' conditions. Fortunately, it seemed they had taken down all the Geurumeon. He felt relieved that he hadn't drawn the others' suspicion.
---------------------------= Afterword ---------------------------=
Dotyoring // This work is on an irregular schedule ㅠㅠ Because I'm so busy...
Elkwiren // I will try to meet your expectations ㅎㅎ
Gappachonjang // Thank you~
DaysofDoom // Would you say it's a story about the protagonist Karon changing his class to a mage?