episode_0055

055.

After some time had passed.

“…Phew. Exhausting.”

I wiped the sweat trickling down my neck and glanced around me.

There, I could see the faces of the kids lying on the ground, turned into scarecrows. They all looked like they had been through a rough time, to say the least.

One had triggered a mine and exploded(?), another was hanging limp after stepping on a trap, and then…

“Ugh, ugh, Ji, Jinhyuk, you, hey…”

Kim Yuseong.

A little further away, Kim Yuseong was gasping for breath like a trapped animal, shooting me a fierce look.

But he seemed unable to move. His body seemed unresponsive, unable to stand up or make any movements.

Understandable. A green, slimy substance was sticking to Kim Yuseong’s body, restricting his movements.

“Anyway, he’s hot-headed too. Scratch him a few times, and he charges like a wild boar.”

Excited, Kim Yuseong was trying to recklessly break through the minefield.

Of course, with Yuseong’s sturdy body and psychic abilities, he could have probably endured it.

But Yuseong, you shouldn’t think there are only explosive mines planted. There are trap mines set up for someone like you too.

“Aren’t you being too reckless? You’re not a hero. It was foolish to charge in blindly like that.”

“J-Jinhyuk, you!”

“That’s why you end up being treated like a target.”

It wasn’t difficult to knock down the immobilized Kim Yuseong.

Just shoot an arrow at his vulnerable spot from a distance.

Even for someone like Kim Yuseong, enduring magical arrows for a long time was a tough task.

Especially since he had already triggered explosive mines multiple times, accumulating damage.

If it were someone as powerful as Senari, they might endure it, but at Yuseong’s level, it was impossible to withstand for long.

“Well then, sleep well, Yuseong.”

“Hey, w-wait! Just a moment! J-Jin… huh?!”

“What?”

I raised the training sword high and struck Kim Yuseong’s head with the blade.

Clang! With a beautiful sound of metal, Kim Yuseong let out a short groan, twisted his head for a moment, then rolled his eyes back and slumped his head down.

Seems like he passed out.

“Kim Yuseong and the other two… managed to knock them down somehow.”

If it were a fair fight, I would never have won.

But with various traps and items, it was possible to take them down. Active heroes might not fall for these tricks, but these kids were just hero trainees.

“Alright, let’s see if I can snatch some points now.”

I approached the unconscious kids and used my smartwatch to transfer their points to me.

I managed to get 300 points.

Since all trainees started with 100 points each, I now had a total of 400 points.

“Should I press the elimination button and retire them completely? Or should I hold off?”

I pondered for a moment but then shook my head.

Security officers or instructors might come looking for them and question the traps that had been triggered.

I had no choice but to put these guys on hold for elimination.

Good for you, Yuseong. It’s the first day, so if you work hard from now on, you might be able to avoid elimination, right?

I let out a dry laugh after clearing my mind of useless thoughts, straightened my back, and made up my mind to leave this place quickly.

Hmm… I’ve been causing a ruckus in one place for too long.

Loud explosions echoed through the forest one after another. It must have reached the ears of some children. They might already be on their way.

“If I get caught by other kids, it’ll be troublesome, so let’s get out of here for now.”

I had finished my business here and decided to escape in a hurry.

The traps I had set up around this area were almost all used up, so it would be very dangerous to come face to face with the kids.

Of course, I was confident that I could escape to the next location where traps were set up.

“I hope I meet Soyeon quickly.”

Although this forest is very vast, the position assigned through the first spatial teleportation depends on the order of entry.

In other words, if I know the order of entry of the main characters, I can roughly guess where they might be located.

Based on the entry order I found out, there is a high possibility that major characters like Jin Soyeon, Lee Siwoon, and Locksan are around this B-1 area.

Considering the speed of movement and action range according to the passage of time, I could have made a more accurate guess of their location.

If I use the pocket dimension to illegally import a satellite map and a portable radar, it would be even easier to find out their location.

“If I meet Soyeon, I can request cooperation.”

Soyeon is very good as an ally.

She is talented and wouldn’t betray me.

And if I meet Siwoon while being allied with Soyeon, I might be able to recruit him as an ally too?

Although the atmosphere between Soyeon and Siwoon has been a bit subtle lately, Soyeon wouldn’t attack Siwoon recklessly.

If Soyeon persuades him well, I could definitely form an alliance with Siwoon.

Hmm.

If I welcome Soyeon and Siwoon as comrades, this test could be a piece of cake.

“Well, things might not go that smoothly… but you never know, right?”

I took a sip of cold water and started walking slowly.

And then.

“Lee Jinhyuk.”

With the sound of rustling bushes in the distance, a man’s voice grabbed my ankle tightly.

Oh, who’s already here?

I slowly turned my head towards the source of the voice, coldly licking my lips in my mind. I don’t know who it is, but it doesn’t matter. I had escape items, so I was confident I could escape to the next trap location.

…Unless it’s a monster like Siwoon.

Siwoon.

He’s likely to be around here.

But why did I have to run into Siwoon of all people?

Isn’t that just my luck?

“Is this all your doing?”

In the distance.

A man treading lightly on the grass, expressing doubt.

“Kim Yuseong… He wouldn’t be an opponent you’d take down easily.”

With sharp eyes reminiscent of the cold northern air and beautiful blue hair, the man slowly pursed his lips and looked at me.

“Not just Kim Yuseong, but the other kids too…”

The male student who scanned the fallen kids finally spoke to me in a low voice.

“…It seems like you used traps or something. I shouldn’t let my guard down.”

Siwoon, with a training sword drawn, looked at me with a calm gaze and a cold expression.

No, why Siwoon?

Why him of all people?

I just felt screwed.

Because there were only one or two traps left in this place, and there was no chance of winning if I fought him directly.

Moreover, it was difficult to escape.

If someone as skilled as Siwoon showed his back, he would definitely strike me with a sword.

***

Siwoon.

The male protagonist representing the Romance Hero Academy.

Self-proclaimed as one of the best geniuses and a growth-type character who becomes stronger the more challenges he faces.

With a good background, outstanding looks, exceptional talent, and powerful supernatural abilities…

He was someone who had received all kinds of benefits and played the role of a supporter for Jin Soyeon, facing numerous trials and tribulations together.

As such, Lee Siwoon could be considered as another protagonist of the Romance Hero Academy.

Different from me.

“Of all times to encounter Lee Siwoon when most of the traps have been used up. This is quite dangerous…”

Talent, ability, looks, background – there was nothing that could be compared to Lee Siwoon.

I, on the other hand, was a character created as a sacrificial lamb to be tormented by NPCs and exit the stage in loneliness.

There was not even a hill to climb.

“I’ve been curious about your skills since the evaluation.”

Lee Siwoon tilted the training sword towards me without a blade.

“Your movements slowed noticeably after being hit by the arrow, so I was curious.”

If Lee Siwoon were to swing that sword, it would become sharper than any other sword.

“Other kids might have overlooked it, but Yoo Seolhyun was watching you closely.”

“Really?”

“Yoo Seolhyun once said that you might get a big nosebleed if you underestimate someone.”

“Yoo Seolhyun?”

Wait, what on earth was Yoo Seolhyun talking about?

“I found it strange that Yoo Seolhyun took you to the Yeongdeung Mountain Dungeon. Even if you’re good at tactics and strategies, you’re just a trainee.”

Uh, true.

“That can’t be explained by your tactical skills alone.”

That’s right.

Even I would have found it strange if I were Lee Siwoon.

Taking a mere trainee like me to a dungeon where even pro heroes failed.

“You must be hiding something. And Yoo Seolhyun noticed it, so she took you there.”

No, Yoo Seolhyun just mistakenly thought I had precognitive abilities and took me there…

“Yoo Seolhyun fundamentally dislikes incompetent people. But seeing her getting close to you, I can guess to some extent.”

“No, that’s…”

“Your tactical skills in the test were excellent, but that alone doesn’t explain how you dealt a fatal blow to the Black-Handed Long-Armed Ape.”

Even if you say you knew the weakness of the Black-Handed Long-Armed Ape, they won’t believe it. Even if they do, they might think, ‘Is this guy messing with me?’ Especially if you say the weakness is something like an apple allergy…

“So I was curious if you’re hiding something else or not.”

“Lee Siwoon.”

He looks at me with a gaze filled with animosity, as if he had already made up his mind.

“And whether you’re the kind of man who should be by Soyeon’s side.”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly saying that?”

“Well, it’s just my personal opinion, Lee Jinhyuk. So…”

He declares in a commanding voice.

“Get your bow, Lee Jinhyuk. Let’s spar.”