Chapter 18 – Eating Tasty Food, It’s Always Time to Fight

When it came to the students’ current abilities, they averaged between 5 and 6. For the students who were more on the talented side, they hovered around 6 or 7.

Basing them off those in active duty, their stat figures were similar to C-Rank and D-Rank heroes.

However, stats like these were not the determining criteria for their ranking.

The gap in power between innate abilities.

In some cases with S-Ranks, despite their stats averaging 7, they had the power to confidently compete against other S-Ranks.

That wasn’t all. 

Natural talent, continuous endeavors, sense of skill.

Weapon proficiency, the brain capacity to grasp the situation, the will to never give up under any circumstances.

Even if they have similar stats, the power of influence they had in battle played a significant role.

I wanted to say this to my group who were in combat with the Horned Wolves.

What a mess.

If you’re going to use your stats like that, why don’t you just give them to me?

What’s the point of forming positions–Forward, Middle, and Rear–when you can’t put it into combat?

The reason why I didn’t use Jiho, who had decent abilities at the start of the game, was because he didn’t have the tactical capabilities to match his leadership skills.

It was a scene where 10 people were off playing by themselves.

I couldn’t help but be in awe.

“G-Give…me some help!! It’s hard by myself!!”

“Kyaa!! What are the Tankers doing?! Don’t you see the wolf is trying to attack me…?!”

“What a sight. What a sight…”

An inefficient battle method.

At this rate, we’ll be late.

Other groups were having the mob bosses stolen from them.

Hayeon and Yoona could easily wipe the floor with the five Horned Wolves.

We had to speed up our attack.

Shouting the loudest I could, I yelled to my group members, “Everyone, stick to the right wall!”

The cave was connected in a straight line, but the sides extended out wide.

If you position yourself in a line like a train, you’ll get surrounded by the agile Horned Wolves. This meant that the rear was vulnerable as they were in close range to the enemy’s attacks.

We have to shut down the course where the Horned Wolves are attacking from.

By having the rear stick close to the wall, this allowed the monsters to get surrounded by our formation line.

Moving the rear away was one method to deal with agile monsters.

It seemed they haven’t even mastered the basics down.

Realizing the meaning of my cry, Jiho shouted out loud.

“Everyone, stick to the wall…!! We’re going to protect the rear!”

A distinctive leadership.

The students were full of doubt when I said it, but were immediately on the move when Ahn Jiho had said it.

Gr…rrr?

A wall with six students wielding close-range weapons.

The Horned Wolves, which tried to attack the weakest link in the rear, froze. The incoming random attacks made them panic.

If you were lacking in fighting power, then pull it off by strategizing.

That was the fundamentals of combat in V. AGE.

The long-range attackers in the rear rained down attacks on the Horned Wolves through the opening.

“…Die!!”

Arrows and daggers that were imbued with mana had pierced through the monsters’ bodies.

Sensing the danger, the wolves raised and stuck out their horns, but the students in formation repeatedly struck down the charging monsters.

A strategy that ensured victory..

I also pulled my trigger diligently with the rear that was dishing out long-range attacks.

Bang! Bang!

…Grrr?

When the bullet made contact with the wolf’s body, it lost its speed and crumpled to the ground.

Since there was no magic in it, it couldn’t penetrate through the hide of the Horned Wolf.

Seriously, I’m disgustingly weak.

Meanwhile, the students who were swept up by the momentum cheered out loud in joy.     

“Nice, two ahead! Stay strong, guys!”

The group members combined their forces to drive back the Horned Wolf.

After defense, attack.

Repeating that action over and over, the five Horned Wolves vanished without a trace, leaving only their mana stone.

The tiger left behind its skin, whereas the monster left behind the mana stone1.

The students in Group 4 relished in their first victory.

 ***

After our ambush on the Horned Wolves, we fought two more battles.

The enemies were all monsters from the C-Rank gates, and they clearly had their own strengths and weaknesses.

A bipedal bear that walked like a person.

Inheewoong(人希熊).

Hoping to become human, it was a scary bear that ate humans instead of garlic and mugwort2.

Its forepaws were powerful enough to rip a person apart.

A single blow was fatal.

I put my prior knowledge into use here as well.

“Inheewoong’s ear twitches before it attacks. Focus on that.”

“Huh, you’re right?”

The group members saw Inheewoong’s ears, then struck it repeatedly.

With my advice, they didn’t have to put in much effort and could easily attack.

After that was a white lizard man who walked on land.

Baeksa(白蛇).

Sunlight was its natural enemy, so it kept a low posture as it walked. Those things were wired like that. 

Similarly, they were easy to deal with using the attack method I had in mind. 

“When it makes a slither sound, go for its leg. When it hisses, you’ll attack its torso. Do not make any noise, everyone.”

The attack method for the White Snake was sound.

Since the group members had experienced the Horned Wolf and Inheewoong, they easily listened to me, which made crossing the next section more of a breeze than before.

I never imagined playing V. AGE for so long would help me.

After going through a series of battles, the group members started to talk about me in a good way.

“…That punk might be a decent guy.”

“Right? He seems to know a lot. He’s not that kind, but I don’t think he’s a bad person…”

I was still engulfed in rumors, so their suspicions weren’t immediately dispelled, but it seemed like it was only a matter of time. Once the misunderstanding began to clear up, the rumors would die down too.

Then they will defend me from bad rumors about me later on in the future.

“Now that you say that, he looks like a kind kid.”

I can see it. 

I’ll return to being a model student, and have a future which defies fate.

An opportunity to escape the Fate of a Playboy.

Holding such delusions, I walked smoothly along, following the torches in front of me.

Step. Step.

We could see a large area outside of the very long cave.

We were finally able to reach the Boss Floor where the ultimate goal was.

Bang. Boom. 

There was a loud noise of a bloody battle.

Other groups were already there fighting.

A vast expanse of a cave.

There was an open ceiling with the sun shining above.

“Seems like we’re a little late.”

It looked like only Groups 1 and 2, which Hayeon and Yoona were in, had arrived.

How late are we?

Judging from the appearance of the boss, the Magic Golem, it looked like they didn’t manage to injure it yet.

That fact meant I still had a chance.

Hidden piece.

With the right timing, I can obtain a support device by completing certain conditions.

It was near me.

I was in a situation where I had to at least obtain the hidden piece rather than a good score.

In my heart, I offered my condolences to Group 4.

Sorry, but we can’t get first place in the group evaluation.

If I were to be honest, there were no damage dealers in our group with explosive power.

The other students might assume I’m that kind of damage dealer, but that was if I shaved off six months of my lifespan again. 

I didn’t want to do that ever again.

Still, if I tell them the outcome in advance, it won’t be fun.

For the students who would be helpful in the future, I had to give them hope.

“Make sure to check it well, the light color of the Golem’s mana stone.”

The Magic Golem had a different color depending on the attack.

They should at least be able to understand what I was getting at after having been with me this long.

You’re a student at the elite Hero Academy, yet you’re confused despite knowing how it attacked?

That’s a student qualified for expulsion.

After hearing what I said, the determined Group 4 joined the other groups’ battle.

“Everyone, charge!”

Without wasting what they have learned, Group 4 charged into battle in proper formation.

There were students gathered in one place, pounding on the body of the Magic Golem.

The Magic Golem was a monster of a B-Rank gate.

It was seven times larger than an average person, a gigantic 10 meter monster. 

It was a special fella that could restore back to normal even after it was destroyed. Although its movement seemed dull, contrary to its appearance, it had various attack patterns.

The gigantic Golem began to roar at the frontline.

Gwooh!!

With that sound, its color turned red.

I’ll leave the fighting to you guys.

I’ll help you from behind.

“Everyone, fall back three steps!”

A mana stone shining red, symbolizing its power.

That indicated the Magic Golem was using max power.

The boss pulled its hands up then slammed it down on the ground.

Boom!!

A huge crater formed where the Golem’s fist struck, and the student, who was unable to dodge it, vanished with their magic barrier.

It was a system where the student was expelled simultaneously upon their barrier appearing.

Such was the Hero Academy’s insurance, which valued safety concerns.

I thought about that as I looked around the battlefield. That was when I started to see someone whose color I recognized.

Huh, it’s Yoona.

I was pretending to pull the trigger from the back, so I was easily able to spot her.

Her yellow hair, resembling a tiger butterfly, and her combat style. 

There was no way she wouldn’t stand out.

I tried to read what her moving lips said.

“Anno…ying?”

There was sweat on her cheeks.

She was expressionless, but she was in an angry mood.

Yoona, who was trying to go for a piercing attack, appeared to be struggling.

Innate ability as well as her illusions.

There was no way she would get devoured by the inanimate Golem.

But Yoona’s attack damage was probably not that high.

Above Yoona, who was struggling, there was Hayeon floating in the air.

It seemed she activated her innate ability, the All-Inclusive.

Seeing as how there wasn’t a sword in her hand, she must’ve picked up that sharp weapons weren’t effective.

Hayeon had the ability to put all things and phenomena under her rule.

She was drawing rocks to her from the ground.

”Clump together. Make it sturdy. Form to one. Into a large weapon.”

Following her voice, the rocks amassed into one place and began to form a huge shape.

It was a giant hammer.

Hayeon gave a last command.

”Hit it.”

The large clumped hammer struck Magic Golem’s body.

Kwooo!!

It was impervious to pain, but it let out a loud noise.

Its body swayed for an instant, before it regained its balance.

Although it looked like there was less damage to its robust body, seeing as how her attack had dented its body, she did deal a fair amount of impact.

That’s a relief, it doesn’t look like the impact reached its core.

A small spherical orb, the heart of the Magic Golem.

Whoever broke it was recognized as the one who defeated it.

As I was thinking about the core, the red mana stone on the Golem’s back turned green.

They’re gonna get obliterated if I don’t tell them.

For my group’s sake, I shouted, “Everyone, stay still!”

My yelling filled up the vast space.

Unexpectedly, the students in the other groups listened to me, thereby causing everyone to halt in place.

The green mana stone indicated speed.

The Magic Golem stopped moving and closed its eyes, relying on its senses.

“Why did it suddenly stop moving, why’s it like that?”

A student from Group 2 spoke up to question it.

”D-Did we finish it?”

Just because it’s not moving doesn’t mean it’s finished.

Along with the sound of something crawling on the ground, it struck them.

“Gahhhh!”

Those students left their cry in death throes as they were expelled from the gate.

The deaf golem detected sound waves.

It could track the sound just from uttering a word.

It wasn’t the boss of a B-Rank dungeon for nothing.

It was a situation where everyone was staying still.

No one spoke, and there was only silence.

That was when the tardy Group 3 appeared in the cave.

“Huh? Why are they staying still?”

“What’s up, did they all collapse already?”

Perplexed, Group 3 looked at each other, tilting their heads.

Dumbasses. You came at such a timing.

I heard the sound of a mana stone crawling through the ground.

It made a loud noise as it approached Group 3.  

“Uaghhh!!”

Without even lifting a finger, they were wiped out.

It truly was a fruitless ending.

As they vanished with their barrier, the Golem began to open its eyes.

The sound was an indication that it was moving onto its next phase, and that was my cue to play.

Hidden piece. I’m coming for you!

I put the bulletless pistol that I was shooting in my pocket, and started running towards the front of the Golem.

Seeing that made Jiho ask in confusion, “W-What the? Sijoon? Why are you here…”

“Very soon, its eyes will turn blue. You trust me, right?”

I’m sure Jiho had full confidence in me after all the impressive feats I showed up till now.

As expected, he nodded.

With a serious expression, I said to him, “Hurl me into that Golem’s mouth.”

“…What?”

Ahn Jiho had the highest capability in Group 4.

With his strength and concentration, he could drop me right on the Golem’s mouth.

“Alright, hurry up and throw me. I’m light, so control your power a bit.”

“Y-You shouldn’t…do that…”

“C’mon! There’s no time!”

Jiho seemed to be very conflicted.

Throw the guy who only fired a gun from the rear into the Golem’s mouth?

Anyone would think that was crazy.

Kuoh…

Right then, the mana stone’s color began to turn blue.

Mana started to gather in the Golem’s open mouth.

Damn, I’ll be too late at this rate.

What’s a good way to persuade Jiho?

Come up with something.

If I can’t get that hidden piece, I have to live the rest of my life by paying with my lifespan.

The answer wouldn’t come to me no matter how much I brooded.

Finding no alternative, I changed tactics.

“You have a girlfriend, right? Kim Ahyoung, was it? From the class next door?”

“W-Why are you asking…?”

“Throw me. If you don’t, I’ll go looking for her.”

Jiho’s expression was turning cold.

I licked and smacked my lips again.

If persuasion didn’t work, then make a threat.

Such was the truth and law of life.

Remembering my rumors and thinking about his girlfriend, Jiho grabbed my body with a hardened face.

Yeah, this is what I should’ve done.

But did it really have to come to this point where your girlfriend’s name had to come out of my mouth?

I got support from Jiho, who had mixed emotions. 

I was then sent flying towards the Golem’s mouth, which was gathering mana.

“Sijoon, why’re you there…”

Hayeon stared at me with a baffled look, but my destination was already decided.

Libra, turn my stamina to 10 for 10 seconds.

–Pay the price.

A body which could withstand a mana storm.

The price I’d have to pay in return.

This time, it wasn’t my lifespan.

“I offer up my taste buds in return.”

Taste for food.

Some people lived for the sake of eating.

Giving up that kind of pleasure in life made Libra deem that I had overpaid.

–The price is too high. Value has been adjusted. Your taste buds will be taken from you for three years. Do you consent?

“Good with me. I consent.”

I’ll lose my taste in food, I won’t lose my lifespan.

I can eat whatever I want after three years.

The scale leveled off, and my body began to gain power.

I have 10 seconds left.

I shoved my body into the Golem’s mouth.

Hayeon had seen that, and I heard her voice from the back.

“Ah! Sijoon, where are you going?!”

I’m on my way to get the last hit on the Golem.

I didn’t even have time to respond.

Time kept on ticking away.

There were 8 seconds left.

Before the barrier appeared and I exploded, I had to get there.

7 seconds.

Due to the mana storm brooming on my skin, it was stinging a little.

6 seconds.

Having fallen into the Golem’s throat, I arrived at an empty space within its body.

The entire space was blue.

5 seconds.

There was a blue spherical orb smaller than a golf ball floating in the middle.

It contained immense mana.

4 seconds.

I put it on my hand.

An orb with a similar texture as the mana stone.

The item’s name was Magic Golem’s Hack.

A hidden piece intended for Tankers who invest stamina into characters, making them lack attack capabilities.

“Thank you for the food.”

I stuffed it inside my mouth without hesitation.

3 seconds.

I just have to swallow it. I don’t need to chew it, it just has to go down my throat.

2 seconds.

The mana from the orb kept bouncing in my throat.

But my 10 stamina was on par to A-Rank and S-Rank heroes.

The orb gradually went inside my body.

1 second.

The mana storm suddenly disappeared, and the shining blue orb was quiet.

The core moved around in my body and began to situate itself.

0 second.

There was only silence.

Footnotes

1This is alluding to a Korean proverb. The actual one goes like this, “A tiger leaves its skin behind while a man leaves his name behind.”

2This is alluding to a Korean myth about a bear wanting to become human. In order to do that it had to only eat garlic and mugwort. Except in this novel, this monster bear is doing the opposite by eating humans.