episode_0008

Someone is flying.

Not metaphorically, but literally.

-Boom!

“Uh…uh?? Uhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!”

“When blocking the opponent’s attack with a sword, bend your upper body and spread your lower body as much as possible to maintain balance!”

-Bam!!

“Ugh…Kiyaaaaahhh!!!!!!”

“If you’re not a tank, don’t pour all your strength into defense! Think of ways to disperse the opponent’s strength, to break their posture!”

-Zap!!

“Noooohhhhh!!!!!!!”

“What are you doing becoming an honorable tank class! Instead of just standing there waiting for an attack, move forward and try to distract the opponent’s attention even a little!”

Whack!! Thud!

“The archer at the back!!! Your movements are too linear and noticeable!! Move more discreetly!”

“Hehe, it’s a monster.”

One hit per person, one floating experience per hit, isn’t this service too generous, Professor?

The place swept away by Professor Pang Dayoon was incredibly clean.

All the students who were in that spot were blown away to the corners…

“What, aren’t you fitting in there?”

“Huh?”

As I turned my head to the voice coming from behind, Kang Jinhyuk was looking at me with a spear slung over his shoulder.

“Why aren’t you going in? You know why you shouldn’t ask. If I go in, I’ll get swept up too.”

“Heh! Right. I just tried to start a conversation. I’m Kang Jinhyuk. You’re Hwaryeong and Hangyeol, right?”

“Oh, yeah. Thanks for remembering our names.”

“To be honest, I remembered because of the girl next to you.”

“N-no…”

Although they’re not dating…

They always hold hands, touch each other’s faces playfully, and are close, but Hwaryeong has never crossed that line.

It’s like she has some kind of trauma about going beyond that.

Does she dislike me?

Sometimes she seems really happy when I reach out to hold her hand first, but that’s about it.

She’s definitely hiding something… something I can’t figure out.

It’s not dangerous for me, and Hwaryeong is always sincere in trying to help me. If I doubt her, she might think I’m a bad guy.

I don’t… dislike Hwaryeong either.

Time will sort it out.

“I came for a simple reason. I was about to rush in alone thinking I was being arrogant, but since you guys were here, I came.”

“You mean to cooperate in attacking together?”

“Correct. Will you join me? Let’s give that monster at least one blow.”

Can we even manage a grazing hit, let alone a direct hit?

Hmm… alright. I remember.

Shall we give it a try? It should be fun.

“I am Hwanyeong. Nice to meet you.”

“Sure. Nice to meet you. You too…”

“Oh, wait. Except Hwaryeong.”

“What? If I have the power to help, why exclude me?”

Perhaps because of Hwaryeong’s skills shown during the evaluation test, Kang Jinhyuk questions excluding her.

“I’m the strongest here, so that’s why I’m excluding her. Let’s see how far my skills impress the professor.”

“I’ll follow your decision. If she’s out, she’s out.”

“If that’s your decision… Alright, let’s go now. They’re coming this way.”

Clang! Kang Jinhyuk grips his spear tightly. I also loosen up my body while holding the sword.

“I’ll make the first move, timing?”

“We don’t decide that. Those guys behind us will do it.”

At Kang Jinhyuk’s words, I turn my head only to see Yujin preparing magic. Despite his lazy nature, he’s acting now.

He said “those guys,” so if one is Yujin, the other must be Sinserin. Where is she?

“There’s an archer behind the sharp-haired guy on the left.”

Thanks for the heads-up.

-Kwaaang!!!

Ughhhh-!!!!!

Oh, what’s with the sound of breaking rocks from a punch…

“As it draws nearer, is it still far away?”

“If you charge in now, I guarantee that within a second, you’ll want to gaze at the sky just like those ahead. So, feel free to go now if you want.”

-Whoa!!!

Just as Kang Jinhyuk finished speaking, a large fireball flew above his head right on cue. It’s happening now.

“Run!!” “Let’s go!!!”

·····

Around 500 students. Divided into a total of five classes by grade, each class consists of about 100 students.

Professor Pang Dayoon, who approaches around a hundred students like they’re warming up and gives them the experience of gazing at the sky one by one.

Battle Mage. A combination of magic and martial artist handling various combat styles by incorporating appropriate magic into close combat, derived from Professor Pang Dayoon’s unique profession.

Professor Pang Dayoon wasn’t always a Battle Mage. Originally, she was more inclined towards being a wizard.

How did she become a Battle Mage? The reason was simple.

-‘I run because I feel stifled.’-

A concise yet weighty statement.

Continuously observing the dynamics of battles from afar led to a persistent thought.

That thought evolved into research, resulting in Professor Pang Dayoon currently active as a Battle Mage.

Her multitasking ability surpasses the majority of heroes, reaching a high level for future endeavors.

She is now teaching students at the academy.

‘Hmm? Is that fireball… the student’s innate magic received from the Magic Department? Interesting.’

Chuckling, she looks at the large fireball flying towards her.

‘Should I dodge? No, I’ll face it head-on.’

With a flick of her finger, she activates the embedded magic.

Wind attribute enchantment, compression.

Clutching her fist, she charges towards the fireball and extends her fist.

Release-

-Bang!!!!

Several people are about to be engulfed by the fireball, but it is immediately neutralized by Pang Dayoon’s outstretched fist.

As the fireball dissipates, two figures come into view, running towards her.

‘Kang Jinhyuk and Hangeol students… Are they planning to team up?’

“Next, it’s you two! Bring it on!”

“Ahhh!!”

The initiative seems to start with Hangeol student, a straightforward thrust attack, not a mere feint. It slides to the side.

-Swish! -Thud!

As Hangeol was about to drop his sword, an arrow flies from the side, causing him to retract his hand holding the sword and swiftly grab the arrow, dodging by leaning back.

Turning his head towards the direction where the arrow came from, he sees Shin Serin’s attack, who was hiding behind fallen students waiting for an opportunity.

“One more shot!!!”

Following, Kang Jinhyuk attacks by swinging a spear towards the direction he leaned back.

Placing his hand on the ground, lifting his leg, he stomps down on the path of the swinging spear, embedding it into the ground.

Using his remaining left leg, he kicks away Hangeol approaching him.

“Ugh…”

“It’s your first time teaming up, but not bad!”

Adjusting his posture, just as he moves towards Kang Jinhyuk, an arrow flies towards him, prompting him to step back.

Yujin summons numerous fireballs, possibly to support them or to control space by converting mass into quantity, with Shin Serin assisting.

Should he move as expected?

Hangeol blocks their path towards Kang Jinhyuk and Yujin, preventing them from reaching the duo who were launching long-range attacks.

During the evaluation test, the student who used mysterious swordsmanship.

Though it was just a simple display, the essence contained within was much superior to any swordsman I had seen.

Moreover, the three individuals from earlier are promising students for the future.

If these students grow, how strong will they become?

And… the most exceptional presence in this place.

Lee Hwayoung, a newly enrolled student, has an average ability score exceeding 35.

Perhaps that kid… could become a force greater than a department head.

“How interesting!”

Bang!!

Hangeol swiftly approaches and strikes with authority.

She narrowly turns her head to avoid it.

Don’t panic. Retrieve the fist as it is and raise your right leg to aim for the leg.

As if expecting it, Hankyeol aims for a counter with his sword.

He withdraws the foot that was about to attack and immediately steps back.

“What’s this feeling… Did he read me?”

Dodging the fireball and arrow aimed at him, he rushes back towards Hankyeol.

“Don’t forget about me!!”

A clean stabbing posture. Kang Jinhyuk thrusts his spear towards himself. Behind him is a fireball, beside him an arrow. Facing him are Hankyeol and Kang Jinhyuk.

The coordination is neat. Without hindering the path of the two warriors in front, they gradually carve out space.

“But we’re still far off.”

He casts a small barrier on the back of his hand towards the spear reaching for his face and swings his hand towards the spear blade.

Parry.

Kaaang!!!!

“Ugh?! This is insane…”

“First one down.”

Assessment-! -Kkaaang!!!

“What?”

Hankyeol appears in front of Kang Jinhyuk whose posture has been disrupted, blocking his own punch.

How is he accurately reading the direction of my attacks? Even though they are light strikes, most fighters couldn’t dodge them and were sent flying.

Can’t think of anything other than his incredibly sharp eyes.

Could he block this too?

…

Head, head, left arm, right leg, waist, right shoulder, solar plexus.

Aaargh!!!! Help me!! Kang Jinhyuk!! What are you doing!!!! Help!!!! Yujin!! Sinserin!!!

W-wait, why aren’t you attacking all of a sudden!!! I’m gonna die!! Hurry and help!!!!

Sending a glance to Kang Jinhyuk with that meaning, Kang Jinhyuk read his gaze and stepped back for a moment.

What, no, help me!!!!

The attack pattern in the game is different. This must be the effect of it becoming reality. Since it’s not attacking in that cycle like in the game, it’s reality.

However, even with the changed attacks, the movements don’t deviate significantly from the general framework.

…So if I’ve memorized all the motions of every enemy and character, I can dodge just by seeing the precursor motion!!!

“…Phew-!!”

“…Impressive…”

Still, moving directly rather than playing through a game consumes stamina too quickly.

If I make a sloppy attack, I’ll immediately face a counterattack…

In the end, I have no choice but to use it.

Uuung-

A faint heat emanates from the gloved left hand, flowing through the body.

In the blink of an eye—my vision begins to show my back as if a third eye has opened.

Looking at the world from a third-person perspective might work.

Body control. Time Attack 10 minutes begins.

Hankyeol’s demeanor has changed.