Chapter 62

Chapter 62

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 62: Usurper (5)

After moving to the auditorium…

We activated the Tower of Trials and entered inside.

“Wow…”

Inside the Tower of Trials,

it was literally a world of its own. A bright blue sky was overhead, and a vast plain stretched out before us.

‘Around me are only Seo Ga-yeon, Hong Yu-hwa, and Follower A,’

I thought, looking around.

The scenery differed from what I had seen in the game, but

“What should we do first?”

Hong Yu-hwa approached me and inquired.

“Let’s find a base first.”

“A base?”

“Yes. We need to find a place near water where we can hide easily.”

I searched my memory.

There was a good base nearby.

Click.

I activated Divine Sight and surveyed the area. I identified a spot suitable for a base where mana was concentrated.

A base was crucial.

For the five-day survival, it provided various benefits, like improved recovery when resting there.

‘…Do I need to keep watch?’

I had no problem doing it.

It was just that I really disliked the act.

I sighed inwardly and led the group.

After walking for about 30 minutes, we found a suitable base.

“But how about a house…?”

“Oh, I have that with me.”

Follower A of Hong Yu-hwa took out a black ball from a bag.

It was about the size of a soccer ball. He pressed a button in the middle, and the soccer ball inflated and transformed into a tent.

“I specialize in artifacts on the blacksmith side.”

“Excellent.”

“Hehe…”

Hong Yu-hwa commended him and Follower A smiled broadly. I was relieved, having thought we might have to build a cabin.

“So, how shall we proceed?”

“We need to divide into groups for gathering food and hunting monsters.”

“…Is it possible to do this with one group?”

“With a base, yes. If we hadn’t found a base and had to sleep outdoors…”

“That would be terrible.”

Hong Yu-hwa remarked, glancing at the tent. It seemed less satisfying compared to a cabin, but still better than sleeping outside.

“But what about the tent?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

‘Eternal Heaven.’

-Yes! Mr. Seo-ha, I’m ready!

Eternal Heaven conjured a magical formula.

I summoned the Energy of Defying Heaven. Following the pattern set by Eternal Heaven, I channeled the Energy of Defying Heaven into the formula.

Sssss!

A black curtain shrouded the tent.

-It turned out cleaner than I expected.

-It’s thanks to the master’s mastery over the Energy of Defying Heaven. This should suffice to block most spells.

Eternal Heaven and Black Heaven admired their work on the formula.

“…Was sorcery your specialty?”

“Well, I’m naturally adept at it.”

Follower A, taken aback, stared at the curtain encasing the tent.

“There’s no magical disturbance.”

“The stealth and precision are astounding.”

Hong Yu-hwa and Follower A turned their gaze to me.

“Shall I then handle the food?”

“And should I go monster hunting?”

“Yes. Such tasks are usually best left to a mage.”

I slyly peeked at Follower A’s status window.

He was exactly like a magic swordsman from a game, leaning more toward the warrior side, using supportive magic as a warrior would.

With two mages and a warrior, we were well-equipped for most challenges.

“Wouldn’t it be more sensible for me to go instead of Seo-ha?”

“To gather food and scout other areas.”

I needed to scout the boss set by the Tower of Trials at the center.

The situation was somewhat unpredictable, so I had to observe it in advance to determine the right strategy.

“Let’s reconvene here by 5 o’clock to exchange information.”

“Agreed.”

We split up.

I advanced rapidly using the Black Flash Step.

Traveling with Black Wings would be swifter, but it consumed the Energy of Defying Heaven too rapidly, necessitating conservation.

While heading toward the boss, I hunted down a wild boar and two rabbits, butchered them, and placed them in my spatial bag.

‘This should suffice, shouldn’t it?’

I collected delectable mushrooms and herbs in the vicinity.

‘There are even tomatoes and melons here.’

What a preposterous landscape.

Yet, it was this very setting that made impromptu survival feasible.

After filling the spatial bag with various items, I resumed my journey.

Running inside, I saw the boss.

“Hmm…”

It was engulfed in blazing flames.

With a human form and a bull’s head.

‘A Minotaur. And an elite boss at that… It appeared in the second-year exam.’

The boss was stronger than expected.

The flame-wrapped Minotaur was resistant to fire. And it was big.

At least 5 meters tall. It was like a moving villa.

‘Not just its size.’

The tricky part of the flame-wrapped Minotaur was that when the flames split, the boss also splits.

A monster almost crossing into the higher level.

It’s not a monster that should be in this field, but…

‘Not bad.’

Choosing Hong Yu-hwa might seem pointless, but the red magic power Hong Yu-hwa possesses was quite unique.

And the Usurper was somewhat awakened now.

‘Maybe it’s time to head back.’

I turned around and moved using the Black Flash Step.

“It’s hot.”

Agreeing with Hong Yu-hwa’s remark, Yu Eun-chae and Seo Ga-yeon nodded.

They already used auxiliary magic for temperature control, but perhaps due to the swamp, the humidity was penetrating the magic and deteriorating their condition.

“Fighting in this environment is not ideal.”

“But we still managed to earn some points.”

Seo Ga-yeon responded to Yu Eun-chae’s comment.

Hong Yu-hwa nodded.

The swamp crocodile was a tricky monster to deal with, and because it was caught in the swamp, the points gained were quite substantial.

“Shall we head back now?”

“Let’s do that.”

She checked the time on her wristwatch, and it was already 4 PM.

Yu Eun-chae, who Lee Seo-ha referred to as Follower A, just to be safe, disassembled a swamp crocodile and put it in his backpack before heading to the base.

“But are you dating Seo-ha, Yu-hwa?”

“…Me?”

Hong Yu-hwa’s eyes widened at Seo Ga-yeon’s question.

“Yeah. I heard a rumor that Seo-ha carried Yu-hwa on his back and took her home.”

“…You saw that?”

“Yeah.”

Hong Yu-hwa’s face turned red.

In truth, she was embarrassed about it. To Hong Yu-hwa, Lee Seo-ha was like a rival.

She received his help, but she was determined to surpass him one day.

That’s why she refused to let him see her in a state of disgrace. She had been going without proper sleep for three days. It was unavoidable at that time.

“…That’s not it.”

“Really?”

Seo Ga-yeon tilted her head, puzzled.

Hong Yu-hwa admitted to herself that Lee Seo-ha was handsome. On the days he even slightly smiled, the girls in their class would go crazy.

As a woman, merely looking at such a level of attractiveness was refreshing.

From a man’s perspective, he must have been incredibly attractive. His skills and eloquence were also exceptionally outstanding.

However, romance was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

“More importantly, I’m not thinking about dating right now.”

“Is that so?”

Seo Ga-yeon tilted her head again and walked ahead.

Hong Yu-hwa was puzzled by her subtle behavior but quickly started to follow. It was a bit chilly, probably because of the mountains.

Following pre-made markings, she entered, and suddenly the scenery changed drastically.

‘Amazing.’

Hong Yu-hwa marveled at the high-level magic and stopped.

A fragrant smell filled the air.

What kind of cooking could produce such a scent?

Driven by their primal instincts, Hong Yu-hwa, Yu Eun-chae, and Seo Ga-yeon entered.

Inside, Lee Seo-ha was busy cooking. He grilled trimmed meat, made stew, and roasted mushrooms.

“Oh, you’re here? You arrived quickly.”

Lee Seo-ha smiled and ladled stew into a wooden bowl.

“I had some time, so I made bowls and spoons from wood. They turned out pretty good, don’t you think?”

“They do.”

Hong Yu-hwa replied, her attention fixed on the stew.

It was filled with meat and vegetables. Where on earth had he found all these ingredients?

“Yum.”

As soon as she tasted it, Hong Yu-hwa’s eyes widened.

Delicious.

She couldn’t identify all the ingredients, but the stew’s rich flavor was undeniable. The meat melted in her mouth, requiring little chewing, and each bite warmed her from within.

“It’s delicious.”

Hong Yu-hwa praised the taste of the dish while trying to remain composed. Yu Eun-chae and Seo Ga-yeon were already devouring it, their heads buried in their bowls.

“How cheeky.”

With that thought, her gaze fixed on the stew. There wasn’t much left.

Pretending to be aloof, Hong Yu-hwa quickly scooped the stew into her mouth.

Lee Seo-ha watched the scene with a pleased smile.

The next day.

We began hunting monsters quickly.

We had gathered enough vegetables and fruits the day before, and meat was easier to find than expected, so I joined the hunt as well.

“The vanguard is solid, so hunting is quick.”

Follower A said with a grin. I nodded, feeling a bit puzzled. His behavior had become noticeably friendlier.

‘What’s going on?’

If Hong Yu-hwa’s subordinate was being friendly to me, it’s to my advantage, so I played along.

As we hunted monsters and moved forward, I sensed something.

“Wait a moment.”

I stopped the group and heightened my senses. Looking ahead with Divine Sight, I saw Ershil and Kim Ara, as well as Kim Seo-hyun and Park Woon-hyuk.

‘…What’s this?’

I had a bad feeling. Ominous, maybe?

Ever since acquiring the Sword Demon (S-) skill, my senses have sharpened, and I’ve learned to trust them.

‘Are they planning to attack us?’

From their perspective, it would be tempting.

I may seem much weaker than I was, but to them, I appear very strong.

A hit-and-run tactic could win us the fight.

Saint, Park Woon-hyuk, and Kim Seo-hyun were quite troublesome, though.

‘Except for Kim Ara─’

I caught sight of Kim Ara’s eyes.

They were blazing. Suddenly, I remembered the look she had given me before entering the Tower of Trials.

“…Should we retreat?”

“Are they enemies?”

“It seems like it.”

In the final evaluation, other students were more dangerous than monsters.

You never knew when they might stab you in the back.

“Are they difficult opponents?”

“Besides Ershil, Kim Ara, Park Woon-hyuk, and Kim Seo-hyun, there are five others.”

“…It’s better not to encounter them.”

Hong Yu-hwa, too proud to admit defeat, suggested a retreat.

I nodded. Fighting them would bring more loss than gain. I wasn’t sure about losing, but it was a fight where even winning was a loss.

-Master, that bullhead we saw earlier is over there.

Black Heaven pointed in one direction. The flame-wrapped Minotaur was visible at a distance.

‘…Oh.’

A good idea flashed through my mind.