Ch.382-1+

# 38. 2-1+

There was no set time limit. While I was concerned about the reward rank, safety came first. I wanted to be certain that our success with gimmick 2 wasn’t just a fluke.

So I wanted to get at least two more successful samples.

“You absolutely can’t do it three times alone! Not even twice! I’ll do it!”

“The number of successes is important, but so is having different test subjects, right? If Yuri and I each try once and both succeed, wouldn’t that give you more confidence, leader? Please?”

This time, I had no choice but to give in. I had already led by example, and as Saex said, it would be absurd to think that they couldn’t accomplish what even I, supposedly the weakest, had managed to do.

The two played rock-paper-scissors for a while (they tied an impressive 12 times in a row) until Saex won and got to go first. Yuri, is it normal to be this excited about something like this…?

‘She has the best physical abilities, but she also gets excited the most easily, which is concerning.’

If someone could read my thoughts, they’d tell me not to be a hypocrite, but what can I do? Just as they worried about me, I worry about them.

Still, I’d already made my decision, and I trusted her more than I worried about her, so all I could do was watch.

Saex approached much more boldly than I had, true to her character.

Without exaggeration, she repeatedly dodged with less than a fingertip’s margin, and after approaching the pufferfish at a speed that made observers nervous, she raised her middle finger at the pufferfish and returned triumphantly.

“See that?”

“Yeah. Impressive.”

“Heh.”

Next, Cutjukyeora immediately set off. She approached at a pace similar to mine. True to her reputation as the epitome of stability, the “soup tank,” her cautious movements left no room for variables.

She also returned safely.

‘We’ve figured out two gimmicks. There might be others, but I can’t think of any more right now.’

Gimmick 1: Pufferfish are weak to holy power.

Gimmick 2: If you somehow avoid the front of the monster eyes, you won’t draw aggro.

Just to be sure, I asked the other raid members. They said they couldn’t think of anything else and apologized.

“Thanks to you, leader, we know there are such gimmicks. But how do we use them to lure them?”

“Here’s what I’m thinking. We have Pufferfish 1 and Pufferfish 2. One person quietly goes to the midpoint between them without being detected. Then, they deliberately make eye contact or emit holy power to draw aggro. Both Pufferfish 1 and 2 will charge like mad. After waiting a moment, the person escapes at a right angle. Then Pufferfish 1 and 2 go boom!”

“Leader, have you… perhaps done bungee jumping like it’s nothing, or skydived with complete calm… were you always this fearless?”

“How do you come up with these ideas so easily?”

Are you insane?

That’s what they seemed to want to say.

“I welcome opinions. If you have better ideas, I’ll switch to them immediately.”

“No… First of all, isn’t avoiding getting caught by two of them at once already a problem?”

“We’ll just have to do our best. Assuming we go with my plan.”

This place could be considered a kind of safe zone. However, there was no guarantee it would remain safe, and given that gimmicks not present in the original game had appeared, there was also no guarantee that the pufferfish wouldn’t “respawn.”

“Then I’ll go.”

“As the one who can endure the best in emergencies, I should go.”

“It’s better not to get hit at all than to endure! You rest here, sis. You used quite a bit of mana setting up that temporary fortification.”

“Don’t rush. Let’s have Yuri try first, and if she gets tired, Seyeon can take over.”

They both agreed to my mediation. Before Saex stepped up, we spent considerable time searching for Pufferfish 1 and Pufferfish 2 that we could make destroy each other.

First, Pufferfish 1 and 2 needed to be similar in size so they would mutually destroy each other rather than one devouring the other.

Second, Pufferfish 1 and 2 needed to be somewhat distant from other pufferfish, as a sudden appearance of Pufferfish 3 would be very troublesome.

Third, the escape route needed to be set up so that the end led to a safe zone.

Fourth, in case of a mistake, the operator must return to the safe zone without delay (don’t try to handle it alone), and those on standby must go out to meet and protect the returning operator.

Additionally, we put our heads together and established these four rules. Only then did Saex depart.

Cutjukyeora and I watched Saex’s back with anxious hearts from the edge of the safe zone.

**

‘I absolutely, absolutely cannot fail. Absolutely…’

I’m scared. It’s creepy. It’s terrible. It’s disgusting. I’m trembling. I’m tense. I’m excited. And raid leader oppa is amazing.

Why did I think it was nonsensical, that he was crazy?

It makes sense for me, just a college girl with some muscles, to swing around a huge double axe, but it doesn’t make sense for raid leader oppa to come up with this idea?

I’m the youngest, but I’m the one trapped in stereotypes.

I’m sorry for just shouting excitedly. To oppa and unni.

So I want to do well. Fortunately, I’m good at using my body.

I want to be the best evidence, belief, and means to realize the brainy raid leader’s plan, and I want the raid’s shield and insurance, unni, to worry less.

It’s nonsensical. It’s crazy.

I want to succeed at the plan I thought was so outlandish.

It’s also a matter of pride.

I want to show that I’m not being stubborn because I’m young.

‘Focus. I need to focus. A hundred times more focus than when lifting barbells!’

Half a step to the right.

Face 7 o’clock direction, 10 degrees.

Two steps forward again.

Half a step to the left.

Face 7 o’clock direction, 15 degrees.

Two steps forward… no, one step to the right.

Face 5 o’clock direction, 20 degrees.

Two steps forward again.

This was what my physical training was for, and this was when my barbarian sense shone.

‘It’s nothing. It’s like playing Red Light, Green Light. That pufferfish is “it” and I’m not getting caught. That’s all it is.’

I thought I’d brag to raid leader oppa and unni after safely blowing up the “it” and returning.

**

‘You’re crazy. You’re the real iron heart, Ayuri.’

Watching Saex’s acrobatics made my stomach churn in a different way. Cold sweat drenched my hands and back.

“Yuri… Yuri…”

Cutjukyeora was also watching with an expression that looked like she might cry.

Saex’s advance was much slower than before. It was clearly because she had to pay attention to two creatures at once, not just one.

“She did it!”

“Yuri!”

It looked really dangerous, but ultimately, she succeeded in reaching the midpoint between the two pufferfish without being detected once.

Cutjukyeora whispered excitedly and gripped my hand tightly. I squeezed back, desperately hoping for Saex’s success.

‘Yuri, you can do it. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Just like that.’

Standing at the center between Pufferfish 1 and Pufferfish 2, Saex took a deep breath and made eye contact with both of them.

As I expected, Pufferfish 1 and Pufferfish 2 began charging fiercely toward each other.

3 seconds? 4 seconds?

No, about 3.5 seconds.

After about 3.5 seconds, Saex fled from that spot at full speed.

And after about 1.5 seconds…

– ■■■■■!!!

– ■■■■!!!

Unable to slow down or change direction to chase Saex, who had suddenly changed course, the two pufferfish collided head-on and shattered into pieces that scattered through the air.

“Huff, huff, haah. How was that?”

“You did great!!!”

“You did so, so well, Yuri!!!”

We embraced the panting Saex from both sides. She wiped her sweat and grinned.

“Now that I’ve done it myself, it’s not that big a deal!”

“Not a big deal? Your face was pale white just a moment ago.”

“Pfft!”

I don’t know how many pufferfish there are. But roughly estimating, there probably aren’t 100 of them.

“Raid leader. I can go one more time.”

“What? In succession?”

“Yeah. I’ve got the feel for it now, so I think I can do it a bit more easily next time.”

“Yuri. You already did amazingly well, so don’t push yourself. This time, let me…”

“I’m really fine, so unni, save your strength!”

Saex looked at me silently. It seemed like a wordless question asking if I trusted her.

I nodded silently in response. Then I designated the second mutual destruction target and spot.

Beaming with a bright smile, Saex gave both me and Cutjukyeora a quick, tight hug before beginning her acrobatics for the second mutual destruction operation.

**

[YeBeobNoJeong: Since the raid leader has been absent for a long time]

[YeBeobNoJeong: As deputy leader, I’m making decisions and speaking in his place]

[YeBeobNoJeong: As of now, the activities of raid ‘Veritas’ are suspended]

[YeBeobNoJeong: We’re not disbanding the raid]

[YeBeobNoJeong: But you’re free to leave if you want]

[UJikHanDwitMun: Not leaving]

[UJikHanDwitMun: It’ll be months anyway]

[UJikHanDwitMun: Before a new boss appears]

[UJikHanDwitMun: And we can do dailies separately]

[PhysicalTherapist: Sigh..]

[PhysicalTherapist: I like it here too]

[PhysicalTherapist: Don’t particularly want to move elsewhere]

[PhysicalTherapist: But if those three continue to be absent]

[PhysicalTherapist: Then I don’t know]

[PhysicalTherapist: Anyway, I’m not leaving for now]

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: Me too!!!]

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: There’s no raid like this oneㅠㅠ There’s no substitute!ㅠ]

[YeBeobNoJeong: Raid leader is a son of a b**]

[WaterKnowsTheAnswer: Yebeob?!]

[YeBeobNoJeong: The raid leader who abandoned us is]

[YeBeobNoJeong: A]

[YeBeobNoJeong: Bas]

[YeBeobNoJeong: tard]

[UJikHanDwitMun: Gasp..]

[PhysicalTherapist: Wow]

[YeBeobNoJeong: Anyway, I’m logging off]

[YeBeobNoJeong: Good work everyone]