Ch.385380 – Fun

“The path splits into two here. If we send 10 mana through the single circuit and 8 through the double circuit, what should the value be at the end?”

“26!”

During third period “Magic Circles and Circuit Formulas” class.

I quietly watched Han Yong-cheol’s boss raid stream with my phone tucked between my pencil cases.

‘He’s casting magic without even chanting. And how does the magic maintain even outside the effective field? I guess they emphasized gameplay over realism.’

He chants a spell, magic activates, and there’s this mana sniper with a range of hundreds of meters.

In some ways, it was even more fantastical than World of Arsheria, which actually claims to be fantasy genre.

Seo Yu-na, diligently taking notes in the seat next to me, glanced over and gasped.

“Hey NoName…! What if the teacher catches you…!”

Yu-na cautioned me in a hushed whisper.

“I won’t get caught anyway. Don’t worry. Oh, by the way, the answer isn’t 26, it’s 20. Watch out for the trap at the end.”

“Huh? Oh right, there was another circuit on the opposite side! Thanks!”

“It’s 20, not 22.”

Easy-Normal-Hard-Veteran-Hardcore.

Han Yong-cheol was currently attempting Veteran difficulty.

His skills weren’t bad, honestly.

I could tell he’d done his research by how he timed his dodges perfectly.

-This is so frustrating…!

-It looked easy when I watched someone else do it, but when I try myself it gets tough againㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-NoName when are you coming!

-Isn’t there like 20 minutes left?

-NoName! I know you’re on your phone during class!

“…!”

I startled and looked around.

Students were busy manipulating model magic circles.

‘Damn, that scared me…’

Han Yong-cheol died again in the meantime.

I never thought watching would be this frustrating.

I put my phone in my pocket and slumped my cheek on the desk.

Professor Shim Hyo-chan, who was checking students’ magic circles one by one, walked toward me.

“Name, are you feeling sick?”

“Ah. Yes, my chest feels tight.”

“If it’s bad, do you want to go to the infirmary? Should I take you there?”

“It’s okay, I can go by myself. Thank you.”

*Screech*

I pushed my chair back and stood up.

“Oh no, is Name sick?”

“Seems like her heart hurts.”

“Lovesickness?”

“What lovesickness would Name have?”

My friends commented with concerned tones.

And only Seo Yu-na, who knew the whole truth, stared at me with an expression of disbelief.

“Wow…”

I gave Yu-na a thumbs up and scurried out of the classroom.

I turned at the 3rd year Class A corridor, leaned against the wall, and called Han Yong-cheol again.

“Hello. It’s me, Yong-cheol.”

[Whoa! Wait, Name! Aren’t you in class right now?]

“Well… I stepped out for a bit.”

[Haha, I must have misheard, right?]

“My pronunciation isn’t great, please understand.”

[Oh I get it! There’s loyalty between us. I, Han Yong-cheol, will keep your secret!]

-There are 20,000 viewers in this room and he’s talking about secrets?

-Why would anyone skip Academy classes for this?

-Look how confident she isㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Was Name always this cute character? lol

-The delinquent personality never changesㅋㅋㅋ

-The boss has returned.

“You handled Phase 1 pretty well.”

[Ah yes. Now I can get through it one out of two tries, but Phase 2… I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.]

“From watching you, I think you’re treating the boss too much like a game. You keep wondering when it’ll end and just lose your own health in the process.”

[Yeah, that sounds right! But how do I…?]

-OMG she’s even showing her phone!

-Officer, she’s right here!!!

-Don’t you get penalty points for skipping class at the Academy?

-Han Yong-cheol! Ruining a child’s life for a game…!

-The Academy is just for fun anywayㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Who am I? A 7-year subscriber to Han Yong-cheol’s stream that even NoName watches during class.

-Isn’t the boss a game? What else would it be?

-For Name, games are life. (nods)

-Wait! Suddenly bringing up Name’s memories here?

-…??? NO NO NO!!! That wasn’t my intention at all! You misunderstood!

*Rustle*

Suddenly, I heard someone approaching from around the corner.

From the sound of the footsteps, it was a student.

Probably someone heading to the bathroom during class.

[Cast: Cancellation Interference]

I placed a magic circle at my feet and gracefully descended the stairs before encountering the student.

“Hello?”

[Huff… huff! I made it to Phase 2. What do I do now?]

“First, lower your sword. Relax your shoulders, and widen the gap between your left and right hands on the handle.”

[Like this?]

“Yes. Stay in that position for now.”

The sword should start from the closest point to your body.

Only beginners hold their swords straight out in front while waiting.

Around waist level is just right.

“I’ll teach you how to create damage timing for each movement, so remember everything I tell you from now on.”

[Create damage timing? Wait, aren’t you asking too much of me?]

“We have no choice. That’s how this boss is designed.”

[Aaaaargh! *&#&@#!!! It’s starting!]

At least up to Veteran difficulty, there were many repeated patterns, and Gale’s movements were sluggish.

But whether he’d follow instructions well was uncertain.

“The follow-up patterns can change depending on your actions. You need to follow my instructions exactly. Upper left defense, keep watching the right side, and when he raises his sword, charge in with your body first. Always be careful of off-beat attacks.”

[Left upper block and keep watching right…]

“There are many tells. The timing is when Gale steps back with a tap, so focus… Right side, keep blocking the right side like you’re doing.”

While Yong-cheol focused on Gale, I was catching every small movement Han Yong-cheol made.

I needed to know what decisions he would make and how he would defend in order to predict Gale’s follow-up attacks.

It was like solving an incredibly complex puzzle.

Plus, why are there so many people wandering around during class hours in this Academy?

The discipline is seriously lacking here.

Hearing footsteps again, I silently crossed the skybridge and entered the building on the other side.

[I think I’m getting the hang of it! Creating damage timing, ah, so this is what it feels like!]

“Stay focused until the end.”

[Oh oh, here he comes! He’s charging!]

“Side roll then ankle slash.”

[What?]

“Forward roll! No, swing your sword forward!”

[Aaaah!]

There were crises both internally and externally.

I skillfully avoided Academy students and teachers.

Starting from the 3rd year classroom, I passed through 2nd year, music room, club room, and ended up near the 4th year classrooms.

If I had known it would be like this, I should have hidden in the gym storage room from the beginning.

The infirmary area has too many students coming and going, so I couldn’t even go near there.

Still, there was progress.

-Wow, is he going to beat it? Is he finally going to beat it?

-Let’s go Han Yong-cheol~!

-Slayer of the Slayer! Slayer of the Slayer!

-Just one bar left.

-Please finally beat it this time… I want to sleepㅠㅠㅠ

[Huff huff… Stay focused until the end, Han Yong-cheol! You can do this! Name, give me your final orders!]

Han Yong-cheol easily dodges the dragon’s breath that Gale exhales.

This must have been a pattern that existed before the remaster.

I racked my brain.

I enlarged the already small screen and analyzed all the information I could – the boss’s gaze, grip, stride length, everything.

Where is he looking? Will he slowly close the distance or charge?

Suddenly, a very familiar pattern emerged from Gale.

“Nanatsu no Tachi…! No way, Emika actually put this in!”

[What’s nana-something?]

She said she wanted to show something noble, but it seems she incorporated an entire sword technique from the Katsuhata school.

“Do you trust me, Yong-cheol?”

[After going through hell to get here, of course I do!]

“The first move is a feint. No matter what happens, don’t react to the first move! Absolutely not!”

The Dragon Slayer Gale, who had awakened the power of the dragon, spread his wings and charged.

[Just tell me where the attack is coming from! Front? Left? Right?]

“He’ll strike opposite to where his center of gravity shifts. Let the first move flow with a stationary stance, then parry the second move. Got it?”

Han Yong-cheol had equipped items that deal additional damage when parrying.

By rough calculation, if he succeeds just once, the 11-hour boss battle marathon will end.

I was praying for this poor soul to be saved.

*Screech*

The back door of the 4th year classroom suddenly opened and a male student rushed out.

As I tried to escape with quick steps, unfortunately, two teachers were also walking from the opposite corner.

If I get 5 more penalty points here, I’ll reach a total of 10 points, which means my parents will be summoned.

I must prevent that at all costs.

‘Where should I run to…! Ah, here.’

[Science Lab II]

Before they turned their heads forward, I naturally slipped into the empty science lab and hid.

Without even seeing the result of Han Yong-cheol’s boss raid, I crawled under a desk and held my breath.

[Cast: Cancellation Interference]

I checked the noise-canceling magic circle again.

I could see the shadows of two people passing through the gap in the door.

“Phew…”

Just as I was sighing with relief.

*Creeeeak*

The door slowly opened with a squeak.

‘Did they see me…?’

If I get caught like this, it would be utterly humiliating.

I bit my lip tightly, unable to accept the imminent future.

“NoName?”

A boy’s voice.

“Huh? Yoon Si-hoo?”

“What? Where are you?”

The dark science lab brightened instantly as he flipped the light switch.

*Thud*!

“Ouch!”

I hit my head hard trying to get out from under the desk.

I frowned while rubbing my throbbing crown.

‘Damn, I think I got a bump… I should go to the infirmary later.’

The boy was Yoon Si-hoo, who had skipped a grade to the 4th year.

“Hey. You startled me.”

“Why are you here?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m skipping class.”

“Again? Weren’t you caught by your homeroom teacher last time when you went up to the roof?”

“Did Yu-na tell you that too? That’s why I’m hiding like this, so I don’t get caught.”

Yoon Si-hoo raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

These two have exactly the same expression.

“Ah, there’s not much time left until break, so I’ll just hang out here a bit longer.”

I turned Han Yong-cheol’s stream back on.

While a 30-second advertisement played, Yoon Si-hoo came and sat next to me.

“Internet broadcast?”

“Yeah. I was helping someone I know with a boss fight over the phone.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t you want to play games? I think you’d have talent for it.”

Yoon Si-hoo, brainwashed into believing games are evil, shook his head.

“Wow, looks like he cleared it!”

I smiled brightly.

Han Yong-cheol was sprawled out next to the Dragon Slayer’s corpse.

Donation messages were pouring in like rain.

Both viewers who had been cheering all along and those who had once said harsh words were all congratulating him with one heart.

In this moment, they were all warriors who had defeated the Dragon Slayer.

*Ring ring ring*

“Aren’t you going to answer the phone?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“This is cooler.”

Even now, dozens of chat messages looking for me were appearing every second on the broadcast.

“You need to mix in just the right amount of hope for people. Like, ‘Wow, that person cleared it? I could probably do it too.'”

Han Yong-cheol’s Resonance ranking was in the top 5%.

It’s high among ordinary people, but among gamers, it’s a somewhat ambiguous position.

“And now he’ll realize. ‘It didn’t seem this difficult before, did it?’ Of course not. I guided him through every dangerous moment from start to finish.”

What distinguishes experts from novices isn’t the overall performance in battle.

It’s how accurately you can find solutions at moments requiring split-second decisions.

“People reminisce about the good times. Then, amid repeated failures, who do you think they’ll look for first?”

“You mean that’s you, Name?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you do this?”

“No particular reason.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just fun. I do it because it’s fun. Games, broadcasts, swordsmanship, magic. All of it is fun.”

My plan is to give a little hint of the solution and then disappear.