Chapter 23

Chapter 23

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 23: Mine (3)

I led my party toward Kim Seo-hyun’s location.

We quickly found Kim Seo-hyun.

He was already locked in battle with a Mine.

Whooosh!

A flame dragon growled around Kim Seo-hyun.

The Mine, who faced him, was also in sight.

It seemed familiar.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a high-ranking one.

‘It’s not the worst case scenario.’

This wasn’t the worst situation we could be in.

But that didn’t mean the enemy was easy to defeat.

It stood three meters tall, twice the size of an average human.

It appeared to have a well-developed physique. I wasn’t sure about its resistance to magic. Mines like this were strong in melee combat.

‘Should I assign Hong Yu-hwa to assist Kim Seo-hyun?’

We had avoided the worst, yet the situation remained dire.

Although this Mine was unranked, its unique strength and regenerative powers meant it usually required two heroes of equal level to defeat a standard Mine.

With Kim Seo-hyun, Kim Ara, and Ershil, all of whom had unleashed their powers, and Hong Yu-hwa, we could handle most issues.

The problem was that there was more than one Mine here.

“Should I lend a hand, big guy?”

“Get lost! I don’t need your help!”

Elsewhere, I noticed Mines herding civilians as hostages.

Hmm.

After a day of rest, I was fully rejuvenated and at my peak.

But even if I intervened, I could only use the Black Energy three times.

‘It would be helpful to know how many Mines there are.’

I could see two at the moment.

The Black Magic Alliance was known for its strong individualism, so it was likely that these two were the only ones.

The Association was based in Seoul, so they should have dispatched heroes by now.

I had finished my calculations.

I decided to eliminate these two Mines immediately.

I retrieved all the Spirit Elixirs from my spatial bracelet.

The potions shimmered in hues of red, yellow, and pink.

They were commonly known as stat-boosting potions.

Gulp gulp.

The flavors matched their colors.

Strawberry, lemon, watermelon, and so on. I had made them flavorful because I detested tasteless things, but now they were nauseating.

“Whew.”

After downing the potions, I turned my attention back to the fight between Mine and Kim Seo-hyun.

Clang!

Fists and sword collided with a loud crash.

Kim Seo-hyun stepped back.

“You parasitic bastard. I’ll tear you to shreds.”

“It’ll be you who ends up dead.”

Behind Kim Seo-hyun, a dragon rose.

Kwoooo!

A wind dragon.

Nostalgia hit me.

Because it was a sword technique I had only seen in the game.

Kim Seo-hyun had continued the thousand-year martial arts lineage.

The Thousand-Year Martial Lineage literally meant what it said.

A martial art was created by all who existed in the martial world to stand against external threats.

The Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, the Four Evil Sects, and the Demon Sect had all collaborated.

Even those unfamiliar with the martial world knew of the martial art created.

A martial art that encompassed the Thousand-Year Lineage was born.

Nine Heavens Nine Dragons Divine Secret.

Behind Kim Seo-hyun, two dragons roared.

The Flame Dragon and the Wind Dragon.

The two dragons collided with the Mine.

Kwooooo!

When they combined, they formed a Blazing Dragon, its head alone ten meters in size.

‘I guess he still hasn’t mastered Nine Heavens Nine Dragons Divine Secret.’

Kim Seo-hyun had learned nine martial arts.

His growth, from this world’s perspective, was extraordinary, but from my view, it was somewhat lacking.

“You damn pig.”

The Mine growled.

Becoming a Mine had a downside. Their speech became simplistic, and their combat monotonous.

But perhaps that was the price to pay.

Becoming a Mine allowed one to have regenerative power comparable to their strength.

The Mine, scorched by the Blazing Dragon, had already regenerated half of its wounds.

“Yuhwa and Ara, help Kim Seo-hyun.”

“You, really?”

Hong Yu-hwa looked in one direction, where a Mine was leisurely gathering civilians.

“I’ll handle that one.”

“Oh, really? That one looks quite strong too.”

Ershil stood next to me and spoke.

“It’s okay. I want to say ‘leave it all to me,’ but please help just this once.”

“Of course.”

Ershil grinned.

“Then, can you do me a favor? Can you cast a strong illusion on that one?”

“Sure, that’s easy.”

“And help Kim Seo-hyun too.”

“Hmm, the other side does seem stronger.”

Ershil looked at the Mine confronting Kim Seo-hyun.

Koogooogoo!

A building was crushed by something.

Kim Ara wielded a sword too large to be called a sword, over 2 meters in length.

The Mine, with its chest slashed diagonally and burns all over, looked horrific. It growled and soon healed half its wounds.

Bizarre.

But in this world, that’s what a Mine was.

Beings who offered things from this world to greedy entities for their desires.

That’s why Seo Ga-yeon, who easily killed Mines, was essential.

‘Next week, I’ll definitely awaken the real Seo Ga-yeon.’

I wanted to awaken her slowly, but the difficulty was chaotic.

The first proper battle scene was usually easy to handle.

Ershil, Kim Ara, Hong Yu-hwa.

Even with these three, I had to risk my life.

Swoosh.

I grasped the Black Heavenly Demon Sword and walked toward a Mine.

“Hey, kid. I’m a kind-hearted Mine, you see. Don’t play hero and just scram,”

The Mine sneered and said this to me.

“Ah, no. You guys just be hostages.”

Its temperament changed rapidly.

It acted on a whim, more like a beast than a human.

“Ershil, please.”

Clap.

There was the sound of applause.

In an instant, the Mine’s focus became blurry.

Ershil was the strongest in mass combat.

Her illusions were indistinguishable from reality. Especially against humanoid enemies like this, their effectiveness was beyond imagination.

I steadied my breath.

Seo Ga-yeon wasn’t here, but I could somewhat take on her role.

The nature of the Energy of Defying Heaven and the magic that Seo Ga-yeon possessed were different, but they produced the same results.

“This is…”

The Mine’s focus started to return.

There was no time for distractions. It would soon fully recover.

A slight opening created by Ershil was all I could exploit now.

All I could do now was inflict some serious injuries on the Mine.

I poured Nyeom into my legs.

I then leaped.

I retrieved a kitchen knife from my spatial bracelet and threw it.

The aim was reasonably accurate.

With my dexterity, I managed to hurl it directly at the intended spot.

The target was Mine’s right eye.

I channeled Nyeom into the kitchen knife.

Thunk.

The knife embedded itself into the Mine’s eye.

“Arghhh! You damn pig──!”

The Mine shrieked as the illusion afflicting it shattered.

It glared at me with murderous intent.

Chilling.

Well, I had achieved my goal. Now, it wouldn’t care about the civilians.

Black Flash Sword Technique.

I executed a swift slash with my sword.

But the Mine countered it precisely, its arm intercepting the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

Clang!

“To think you’d confront me with a mere swift sword lacking depth! You’re 10 years too early!”

‘Tch.’

I clicked my tongue silently.

I was vastly outmatched in strength.

-A power struggle is futile. It’s unfeasible. And you lack speed too.

The Black Heavenly Demon Sword commented.

Correct.

I was also outmatched in speed.

Techniques?

How could I have learned any techniques, having only been here for a brief time?

‘This is a really crappy game.’

Yet, I still managed to smile.

Swearing under my breath, I moved.

I had hunted this Mine in front of me a few times.

Not as persistently as the shadow snake, but still.

Had I captured it over 300 times?

That’s what I recalled.

I knew in my mind the abilities the Mine used and the attacks it launched.

-Master, open your eyes wide. Observe everything about your opponent. That’s the start of combat.

I heeded the Black Heavenly Demon Sword’s advice.

The Mine moved. Its actions were simple yet difficult to counter.

The overwhelming disparity in abilities.

Its shoulder shifted. I followed the movement, dodging, and thrust the Black Heavenly Demon Sword inward.

“Annoying!”

The Mine advanced with minimal motion. I halted my thrust and sidestepped.

At the moment the Mine responded.

I suffused the Black Heavenly Demon Sword with the Energy of Defying Heaven.

Soulbreaker.

“Gasp!?”

The Mine flinched for a moment.

Soulbreaker was powerful, but when infused with the Energy of Defying Heaven, it could bind the opponent even more.

And then there was the Illusion of Truth.

Mine’s arm muscles swelled, his confident eyes piercing precisely into my torso.

“Deception!”

A mix of confidence and horror filled his eyes.

Mine twisted his muscles and moved.

It was a risky move.

Whatever it was, the illusion created by the Imprint of Dreams was that threatening to Mine.

“You rotten bastard──! I will tear you to shreds and kill you──!”

I focused my Nyeom, gathering all the Energy of Defying Heaven.

While focusing energy at my fingertips, I threw the Black Heavenly Demon Sword at the Mine’s head.

“Ha, such petty tricks….”

The Mine swatted the Black Heavenly Demon Sword away, dodging my attack.

Nyeom.

I released it intensely. The Black Heavenly Demon Sword stopped mid-air and shot straight at the Mine.

“This is for real!”

The Mine grabbed the Black Heavenly Demon Sword in a very short moment.

The time I needed to reach the monster.

“Such trivial trickery!”

An arm burst out near the Mine’s stomach.

Black Scale.

The Energy of Defying Heaven enveloped my hand.

Crunch.

My hand pierced through the Mine.

The Energy of Defying Heaven rejected the approach of other abilities.

Filled with abnormal powers, the Mine faced an absolute attack.

It pierced his arm and reached his abdomen.

“Insane…”

“I’ve been wanting to say this. You talk too much.”

And then Black Energy.

The ripple from inside tore everything that made up the Mine apart.

Creak.

The Mine’s body swelled and then shrank.

The Energy of Defying Heaven wreaked havoc inside the Mine’s body.

There was no way for it to beat me from here on.

Unless I was crazy enough to withdraw the Energy of Defying Heaven.

“You, you’re the one from that prophecy…!”

Mine’s eyes turned fierce, his body swelling and then halting.

He seemed to want to explode his body and die with me, but the Energy of Defying Heaven wasn’t so easily overcome.

‘Hmm.’

I recalled the Mine’s earlier words:

Prophecy.

There was something mystical in this world.

A power that allowed one to wield forces contrary to the world’s laws in the form of a spirit.

There was one prophet for the force supporting heroes and another for the force supporting evil.

The existence of the prophecy was well-known enough in this industry to pose a threat to a Mine.

It was said to have the potential to annihilate all Mines.

I turned my gaze toward Kim Seo-hyun.

He, too, was dispatching a Mine.

Bursting the head, bursting the chest.

Because Mines could sometimes survive even that, Hong Yu-hwa burned it with flames, and only then did he seem relieved, his smile faint.

I looked up at the sky.

[Main Quest Chapter 2: Stop the rampage of the Black Magic Association (黑魔會) in the city. Completed.]

Now it was time to receive the reward.