Ch.132132. Always in Times of Crisis

As a sidekick and a member of a small guild, Seo Seong-han didn’t like the ‘minor’ standing before him.

‘Being famous doesn’t make you special—you just got famous for dating scandals. And you’re in the lower class? Is this a joke?’

Moreover, the blue exosuit was irritating to his eyes.

‘Seriously, bringing that low-level gear here?’

Like most Jaegers, he had prejudice against exosuits and couldn’t bring himself to like them.

As far as he knew, exosuits were nothing more than aids for amateurs or beginners who were still weak when going into actual combat.

Yet this kid was wearing one even here.

‘Well, he is a beginner, I guess.’

That’s why older or some Jaegers considered exosuits a symbol of weakness.

Considering Do Jong-hyun was a first-year high school student, he could let it slide. But what really mattered was what came next.

“What? No summoned spirit? What are you talking about?”

When they formed teams and exchanged information about their abilities, it turned out he didn’t even have a summoned spirit.

“This is ridiculous. We’re doomed. Completely doomed.”

“This exosuit is a new model, so it can handle C-rank.”

“…As far as I know, D-rank is the limit.”

“It’s still in final testing. It’ll be released soon.”

He thought this was a disaster during this important training session with the Cheonji Guild.

But this kid was no ordinary person. Just look at him now.

Everyone has their strategies, but how effectively you use the surrounding terrain is a matter of judgment.

‘That’s more efficient. He’s agile. Is that why?’

His judgment in using shields for defense while simultaneously capturing Evil Bats was impressive. This was it.

‘No. It’s not just agility, but application skills? His judgment is excellent.’

He understands how techniques work and moves his body accordingly.

He makes it happen.

Seong-han was surprised by this first-year rookie he had underestimated.

‘Tch. I’m a professional too. I can’t lose to some kid.’

Seong-han’s pride was wounded. There’s no need to be impressed just because some greenhorn shows skill. His flaws would soon be exposed.

But this boy’s judgment was beyond his expectations.

As soon as a lake appeared in the field, the boy sprinted.

“Mister! Give me electric attributes!”

“What?”

“For the shield too!”

They were barely keeping up with the boy’s demands.

He used himself as bait to deliver electrical damage in the water.

But what about the monsters that endured? The curly-haired man immediately moved in to intercept the monsters distracted by Jong-hyun.

Fast.

Swift.

‘I could think of that too. Using electricity in water against enemies is basic. The real issue is how quickly you assess the situation and fight.’

That’s right. Do Jong-hyun wasn’t some extraordinary genius.

Any veteran would have similar thoughts. The difference is how quickly one makes decisions in actual combat and finds efficient routes based on experience.

Jong-hyun was powerful in that regard.

‘He’s fast! He assessed and acted before any of us!’

His decision-making speed was simply above others.

With top-level academic knowledge and judgment honed from over ten years of risking his life in the trenches.

This was an ability ordinary people could never easily acquire.

That’s why his breakthrough speed was abnormal.

Even those watching through drones were amazed.

Seong-han, watching Jong-hyun run, finally abandoned his contempt.

‘This is abnormal even compared to my academy days. A first-year like this? He’s something else. How annoying.’

If only he had a summoned spirit, he would have been perfect, but unfortunately, he didn’t.

‘What a shame. But even without one, he could make a living anywhere with skills like these. Still, I’m envious. I’ve never received attention like this.’

Not only was he fast, but his method of handling monsters was precise.

Even Shin Do-seong, watching from the highlands through a drone, applauded.

“Pass. He’s remarkably fast despite not having a special summoned spirit?”

They were now heading toward the finish line. Seong-han was excited about receiving training from the Cheonji Guild along with the other three.

However, his feelings toward Jong-hyun were complicated.

‘He’s good. Yeah, he’s good. And that’s what annoys me.’

No wonder he charmed that upper-class island heiress.

He had the skills to back it up.

“I don’t like it. I was in the lower class during my academy days too.”

They were approaching the end. Everyone expected them to pass based on their performance.

Seong-han was clearly consumed by jealousy.

Though he didn’t show it because he wanted to pass, he found the boy irritating.

‘Hold it in. Just hold it in. Free training at the Cheonji Guild worth over 100 million!’

Now Jong-hyun turned to look at him.

“How about it, mister? Feeling better now?”

“…You’re good.”

“Your expression is ambiguous.”

“Yeah, I thought you’d fail, but you’re actually good. Got a problem with that?”

Jong-hyun just smirked. But suddenly, something unexpected happened.

A resonance phenomenon. Gates overlapping caused a resonance.

Without any warning, structures resembling old country mansions began appearing all around them.

Something fell before their eyes.

An armored monster wearing full plate armor and an Oriental helmet.

A fully armored samurai.

Jong-hyun was shocked. It couldn’t be 5 o’clock yet.

“Everyone run! That’s definitely not something we can handle!”

The boy made one big mistake. The 5 o’clock appearance was about monster breaks. But inside the gate?

Monster breaks could happen anytime without warning.

“Drone! Drone!”

As Jong-hyun called for rescue, Seong-han froze.

An armored samurai wearing a mask like a Hahoe mask was right beside him.

It had clearly been at a distance, but somehow appeared next to them.

His knees weakened, and his legs felt rooted to the ground.

Then a wind blew. This wind headed toward Shin Do-seong’s neck and caused a massive impact.

It was the moment when the samurai’s blade collided with Shin Do-seong’s magical power and was neutralized.

“Get out!”

Shin Do-seong was rushing toward them from a distance.

As a supervisor, he was inside this gate. That’s why he came like lightning when the anomaly occurred.

Just in time.

But Seong-han still couldn’t move.

This massive cyborg was making strange noises as it moved.

Even though this was his chance while the armored samurai was looking at Shin Do-seong.

“Mister!”

It was Jong-hyun who saved him. He bravely threw himself at Seong-han, causing them both to roll on the ground.

Only then did his legs finally move.

Seong-han barely managed to open his mouth to Jong-hyun.

“Th-thank you.”

“Let’s go!”

They started running.

Meanwhile, Shin Do-seong and the armored samurai were engaged in combat.

The scene was difficult to follow with the naked eye.

Shin Do-seong’s magically created wind repeatedly collided with the sword, blurring their vision.

Conversely, this provided them with an opportunity to escape.

But as they fled, other monsters blocked their path.

S-rank monster Raiki. A monster with lightning-like speed, the worst possible encounter in their current situation.

“Jong-hyun, do you have any countermeasures for this?”

“…Even if I did, we couldn’t handle it. We need to increase our defense…”

But at that moment, Raiki howled and the curly-haired man was taken down.

As soon as he saw him fall, Seong-han forcibly pulled Jong-hyun.

“Run!”

“What?”

“At least you should survive!”

A Jaeger must save people and become one.

Seong-han’s jealousy disappeared when Jong-hyun saved him earlier.

‘Now it’s my turn. It’s common for adults to help talented children. This is what adults do!’

That’s right. He was trying to help at least Jong-hyun escape. Meanwhile, Raiki attacked the others.

“Mister!”

Having come deep into the gate, the way back was long.

While sending Jong-hyun ahead, he heard something chasing from behind.

He waited alone for Raiki. And before him appeared a beast emitting electricity.

‘A Jaeger should at least do something!’

His trembling legs couldn’t do anything in front of Raiki.

“Aaaah!”

He charged at Raiki with a scream born of fear. Raiki was already moving, threatening him.

“Uwaaa!”

Just as he was rushing in at the risk of death, a wind swept through again.

Raiki’s electricity collided with the wind right before his eyes.

‘What’s this?’

Another gust of wind passed by.

And Raiki’s scream was heard.

Suddenly, a winged humanoid monster was standing in front of the fallen Raiki.

“Wh-who are you?”

This monster looked at him with eagle eyes before departing.

“I-I’m alive.”

He collapsed in relief.

*

If someone saves me, I save them in return.

I wasn’t planning to go this far, but still.

To think that person would try to save me at the risk of his own life.

Honestly, I was touched.

So saving him was only natural. I flew straight toward the interior.

I could see it.

Finally, the scene of the armored samurai fighting with Shin Do-seong.

But the samurai was beginning to approach and deflecting all attacks.

Of course. He had read the patterns. That’s the advantage of the armored samurai. Having read effective patterns against the opponent’s attacks.

Soon the samurai’s sword, now more relaxed, moved with fierce magical power.

One strike that grazed Shin Do-seong’s cheek caused significant damage to his shoulder.

“Gack!”

Seeing the armored samurai leap forward, I approached too. And my speed was superior. I pushed Shin Do-seong away with one leg as my leg collided with the enemy’s weapon.

The sensation in my leg was definitely stinging, and I even felt pain.

The armored samurai’s arm moved again. I quickly pulled back, and magical flames erupted in the air.

As expected of a strong entity.

The armored samurai leaped. His blades fiercely aimed for my neck and abdomen simultaneously.

Following that, magical flames moved toward my wings.

I could certainly block this with my speed.

But the next “move” was the problem.

What would the armored samurai do if he knew I showed an opening while protecting my wings?

The target was my head.

I predicted it.

As we both anticipated each other’s moves, blood splattered.

Something was flowing from my head. The armored samurai was looking at me ferociously.

[Perseverance]

-Energy level rises to maximum.

[Skill]

-Echo

That’s when I activated Echo. Creating echoes that resound here to confuse the enemy.

I was trying to create an opening, but the armored samurai was an armored type. He might have predicted it.

[Vital Point Detection]

But simultaneously, I captured his movements with my trait.

Now I move first.

[Sub Card]

-Martial Arts Manual

-Instinct

I detect the armored samurai’s next movement.

But his response was faster than I thought.

He’s definitely fast. But “slow.”

It’s certainly not the slow motion from before. But my body was smoothly avoiding his movements and pounding his entire body.

In this world of speed, only I am free.

When I finished all my attacks and passed by, the sound of the armored samurai’s armor breaking was heard.

The armored samurai turned around, but he was just a pile of metal on the verge of becoming scrap.

The armored samurai, squeezing out his last strength, rushed at me one final time.

[Wind Magic]

I finished him off with magic right before my eyes.

[Monster Stride Mission Complete!]

-4 Monster Points acquired!

Mission complete. I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly fled from Shin Do-seong.

Hurriedly escaping toward the entrance, I met up with other Cheonji Guild members.

Fortunately, our team members didn’t die. When the mister and I met again, we naturally smiled.

“You survived.”

“Of course. I’m glad you didn’t die either.”

Mr. Seo Seong-han gave me a thumbs up. I was relieved too. Somehow I managed to complete the Monster Stride mission.

The eventful test ended here.

How did we do? We passed, of course. We just couldn’t complete it properly because of the emergency.

“Starting January 2nd, we will officially begin this week’s special classes! Successful candidates will be notified of the location. Remember that!”

I headed to Gyeonggi Province with a light heart.