Ch.155. First Business Trip of the Internship Program (4)

Then, I cursed inwardly.

‘Bastard. What welcome back…’

I briefly thought about that damn status window and system.

Five years ago. The reason I, who had possessed a second-year cadet at Ains, was able to monopolize so much mana. That reason wasn’t just the prior knowledge I had from the original story, but also the significant help from that system.

‘Since I possessed a minor character. Without the system…’

Lee Min-soo, whom I had possessed. Now I’m perfectly synchronized with him, I am Min-soo himself. But Min-soo was truly a minor character with absolutely nothing.

A war orphan with no parents or relatives. And just an awakening level E-class, the lowest-ranked cadet. It was surprising that he even got into Ains, such an inferior student.

But the system provided me, even someone like me, with shortcuts to grow quickly.

Quests and rewards provided by the system. Plus all kinds of convenient functions.

If I just followed those guidelines, definite growth would follow. That system combined with my prior knowledge was the perfect combination. I acquired mana very quickly.

So the system was an absolute belief for me.

Like any possessor in creative works. It was the only support that a possessor who suddenly fell into a completely unfamiliar place could rely on.

‘But at that graduation ceremony, the system…’

And the system’s goodwill was all a disguise.

In the tragedy of Ains, in the final confrontation with the Doubt Demon, the system took away all the mana I had accumulated in an instant.

I had already grown enough to be fine without using a significant amount of mana.

But the opponent was the S-class villain, the Doubt Demon. And the Doubt Demon had grown stronger under the special environment it had prepared in advance at Ains.

As a result. To save me as I was being pushed back by the Doubt Demon. Siwoo and Min-ah sacrificed their lives.

‘And only Hong-ok remained…’

With their sacrifice, and the release of Hong-ok, the S-class Ancient Gear that was my only remaining item, I was able to defeat the Doubt Demon.

But the result was too costly to call it a success.

And in the middle of that slaughter. The system continuously displayed notification windows, mocking me.

“Haa… Haa…”

In that moment, the system’s notification window and the words “welcome back” triggered my trauma. Cold sweat trickled down.

I took a moment to steady my breathing.

‘Calm down, Min-soo. This is what you prepared for when you decided to use mana again.’

Since the system is mana-linked, I expected the notification window to appear again. But I had absolutely no intention of relying on that system anymore. So there was nothing to fear.

And I still had Hong-ok.

Ancient Gear. A special ancient weapon that tests its owner and evolves, inspired by the owner’s will.

My senses, heightened by the dungeon’s magic, allowed me to look into Hong-ok as if projecting a mana heart.

‘Hong-ok is… as I thought. Sealed in five stages, huh.’

The reason I, with a broken mana heart, can use mana. It’s because Hong-ok has replaced my mana heart.

And the reason I shouldn’t use that mana.

If all the seals of Hong-ok, which had evolved to its final form, are released. The backlash would be too much for my body to handle, and I would die immediately. I haven’t even released the first stage yet.

The enormous mana possessed by the Ancient Gear. I’m just using the small amount that leaks out.

‘Well, at least I can use operating equipment. That’s enough for now.’

I decided to focus on my current operating mission. I breathed mana leaking from Hong-ok into the in-ear device.

The magical in-ear device resonated with that mana. And linked with the drones I had deployed earlier.

Displaying clearer images in my field of vision, I tracked the two people.

‘They’re doing well.’

Still at the entrance of the dungeon, the labyrinth. So Donghyuk and Arin can navigate the dungeon sufficiently with just their vision.

Arin is an honor student at Ains. And Donghyuk has enough experience to have been a security guard at Ains. Even if it’s a B-class dungeon, there’s no problem for now.

‘Only for now, though.’

They need to break through this labyrinth with just two people and defeat the boss. And the two don’t have a main dealer.

But they have an operator, my backup.

I shouted toward them as they began to face monsters.

***

Quite some time had passed since entering the dungeon.

“Uncle Donghyuk, Arin. Stay still for 3 more seconds right there.”

“Ha… but a self-destructing monster is approaching! We don’t know when it will explode…”

“Both of you stay still!! Trust my instructions!”

“Senior!!”

And exactly 3 seconds later, I shouted to the two.

“Now! Quickly retreat backward!”

BOOM-CRASH!

And as I predicted, the round ball-like monster exploded. Simultaneously, the surrounding monsters were caught in the explosion.

Of course, Uncle Donghyuk and Arin were safe.

“It’s a trivial monster if you know the pattern. It explodes exactly 10 seconds after detection, so if you know that characteristic, you can use it to your advantage.”

Uncle Donghyuk fell silent. Looking at the battlefield scene confirmed by the drone, it was understandable. Uncle Donghyuk hadn’t swung his sword once, but the monsters had self-destructed.

Dozens of monsters were reduced to mush. Uncle Donghyuk soon expressed admiration, but there was no time to relax.

“Wait! Stop right there immediately. With this dungeon’s layout, there’s a trap there!”

Just as I said. As the two stopped, flames shot up from the floor in front of them. Uncle Donghyuk let out a sigh.

“D-damn labyrinth type!! This is why hunters don’t enter them no matter how high the grade or how good the rewards. Thanks to you, Min-soo, we’re alive.”

I spoke calmly through the in-ear device.

“Wait. And if you go down that side path, there’s a secret storage. Since it’s B-class, there should be useful items, so let’s farm before moving on.”

And Arin took the lead down that side path. As expected, useful items appeared. There was a magic stone that temporarily buffs attack power.

“That item. Uncle Donghyuk should equip it as is. After leaving the storage, we’ll enter the boss room in 1 minute.”

“Got it!”

“Yes!”

The two answered diligently. They had no choice. Thanks to my operating, they had reached the threshold of the boss room without a single crisis.

“Whew. This is why all the successful guilds these days use operators. It feels like we’re in the labyrinth with a shaman. It’s like predicting the future.”

“Not all operators are like that. It’s because Senior Min-soo is exceptional.”

“Ha… I guess so. Min-soo definitely aced the operator practical interview. I can trust and rely on him.”

Despite their praise. I maintained my composure. Through the in-ear device and surveillance drones. It feels like I’m in the same place as those two through augmented reality.

But I’m in a safe place with stealth equipment. And those two are on the most dangerous frontline of the labyrinth.

An operator must give party members reassurance and trust. But must never let go of the tension themselves.

Dangers that party members cannot notice. Sights they cannot see. An operator must constantly check.

‘Since there’s still time. Let me check their MCI once more…’

Several hours had already passed since entering the labyrinth. And the two people directly confronting monsters naturally experience continuous mental contamination.

I checked the display on the in-ear device.

========================

Party Member(Role) / MCI / Limit Line

* Sung Arin(H) : 52 / 80

* Jang Donghyuk(G) : 45 / 85

* Lee Min-soo(O) : 30 / 50

========================

Fortunately, both are stable. Both Arin and Uncle Donghyuk have high limit lines. Clearly, that’s part of why they were selected as interns for Flame.

And the roles. If we were to compare it to a game, it would be like classes. The abbreviations in parentheses next to the names indicate those roles.

Arin is a healer. And Uncle Donghyuk is a guard, a tank. I was, of course, an operator.

‘My MCI is also displayed appropriately.’

I unconsciously touched the necklace around my neck. The low-purity magic stone that Yuri gave me. Because of that stone’s magic, my MCI, which should be 0, is reflected at an appropriate value.

‘This way the Hunter Association won’t find it strange.’

When I saw that moon-shaped necklace. At that time, I thought it was Yuri’s gift, but. I think the cold-hearted Yuri probably just gave the most necessary item to a guild member.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

My feelings for Yuri. I decided to let them go when I regained consciousness. What’s important is revenge. No, for now, it’s dungeon conquest.

‘Uncle Donghyuk is a guard but can also deal damage as a damage-tank. And Arin is a healer but knows combat spells as she’s from the White Cross Society.’

The full minute had passed. I instructed the two.

“This is a boss that gets stronger with time. Turn off all tanking, buffs, and healing. Focus only on attacking. I’ll immediately identify the boss’s patterns and weaknesses.”

And the two entered the boss room.

***

The interns’ first dungeon conquest ended successfully.

And Team Leader Seo Doo-ho, who had followed behind to supervise them, was genuinely surprised.

“Amazing. This is more like a seasoned raid party than interns, isn’t it?”

Yeon So-so, who was listening to his words, agreed.

“That’s right. Conquering a B-class dungeon with just two people is definitely not an easy task. Especially when those two are a healer and a guard.”

No, it wasn’t just two people. The raid party had Lee Min-soo, the operator.

And that half-party without a dealer. Min-soo’s operating turned it into a perfect party.

‘It’s like Min-soo was playing a game by himself.’

It was perfect operating. He doesn’t give unnecessary instructions.

To prevent party members in combat from becoming confused. Short but clear instructions. And he gives those definite instructions to party members at the most appropriate timing.

Perfect pre-analysis of the dungeon. And error correction performed while personally grasping and judging the actual interior of the dungeon.

And that error correction is done simultaneously while giving tactical instructions to party members.

‘Really… is that even possible? At that speed?’

Understanding of the dungeon and field assessment. And even instantaneous tactical choices. It was skilled operating that couldn’t possibly be attributed to a new operator.

Like the intuition of a veteran hunter who has rolled through countless dungeons. It would have been impossible for a mere operator.

‘Come to think of it, Min-soo. He was one of Ains’s most promising talents before his major injury.’

Although he can’t return as a hunter. It seems that fundamental talent hasn’t gone anywhere.

Operator. Min-soo was non-combat personnel, but in the recent conquest, he exuded a stronger presence than any combat personnel.

‘A guard and a healer. Normally, they would have attempted a sustainability-focused conquest with tanking or support spells. But instead, he had those two quickly deal damage to the boss.’

And that was the correct answer. The labyrinth boss, Old Tree. That monster tree becomes harder the more time you give it, so conquering it in the shortest time is the right answer.

A change in perspective. And the confidence that the strategy would definitely work. It was just one short dungeon conquest, but it was enough for Team Leader Seo, a veteran information analyst, to understand Min-soo.

‘An amazing newcomer has joined us.’

As if sensing Team Leader Seo’s heart, Team Leader Yeon nodded beside him.

“Min-soo was always like that. He was the only cadet who could beat our guild leader in theoretical exams.”

“Indeed. I also took a peek at his Ains academic record. Although his first-year grades were a mess, he never lost the top spot in theory during his second and third years.”

“Yes. He was known for his intelligence. Of course, not just his intelligence… his skill as a flame mage was even more outstanding.”

After saying that, Team Leader Yeon fell silent.

Team Leader Seo already knew to some extent about the tragedy of Ains and the relationship between Min-soo, the guild leader, and Team Leader Yeon. So he didn’t bring up the matter.

‘But as a flame mage. If he still had that skill. He might have become a talent standing alongside the guild leader.’

Snow Woman, Yuri Tarkovskaya, who achieved the title of youngest S-class hunter. At the time of graduation from Ains, Min-soo was said to be comparable to her in combat ability.

And next to Team Leader Seo stands another Ains graduate dealer. Yeon So-so. As Flame’s main dealer, she was definitely not inferior to the guild leader in skill.

Seo Doo-ho checked Team Leader Yeon’s MCI through his in-ear device.

‘That’s a relief. Her limit line has risen to 50.’

It’s still lower than the normal value for hunters. But it’s definitely better than the dangerous state she was in recently.

The new variable factor of MCI that Director Maria mentioned, ‘relationships’. Min-soo’s employment, and this situation of entering the dungeon with Min-soo, had clearly influenced Team Leader Yeon.

‘Good news for Flame. He really came in when we needed him most.’

But the interns’ mission wasn’t over yet.

The Association’s guild evaluation. For Flame to maintain its S-class guild status in the next quarter. They needed to maintain the highest evaluation in intern programs like this. In future missions as well.

After completing the remaining two days of the business trip. The Flame Guild members returned to their original office.

And when the evaluation results for this intern program were revealed. A commotion broke out among the hunters gathered at the office.