Chapter 98: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (5)
Did I go too far?
Senior-nim, why did you do that? She was almost about to cry.
No, its not like I did it on purpose, you know? I didnt expect that guy to throw the cleaver at that moment.
Dang Gyu-young scratched her cheek and looked somewhat embarrassed.
She didnt intend for the Beheader Goblin to throw the cleaver in the final moment.
The commands that can be issued through the [Commander] rule were only simple ones.
For example, things like move to a certain place and target something for attack.
Instructions like keep a distance and only attack from afar or ignore everything and just focus on the statue of the goddess were about the limit.
What happened beyond that was up to the monsters instincts which led to all sorts of unpredictable outcomes.
Similarly, Dang Gyu-young didnt have the authority to control every minor movement of the Beheader Goblin.
The last command given was probably something along the lines of somehow inflict damage on the statue of the goddess before dying.
But the situation was, kind of, funny, pfft, hehehe.
Dang Gyu-youngs burst out laughing once again.
Little did anyone anticipate that the Beheader Goblin would actually pick up and hurl the cleaver,
Nor that the cleaver would land squarely in the waist of the goddess statue,
And least of all that it would obliterate about 40% of its health in one blow.
Even I who had tirelessly participated in dungeon defense time and again, and Dang Gyu-young who was in command, felt a sense of dismay. So one could only imagine the sheer shock that must have gripped Song Cheon-hye who had been locked in a desperate struggle with the Beheader Goblin till the very end.
Her bewildered expression was a far cry from her usual stern, dignified, and serious demeanor, which might have been why Dang Gyu-young couldnt help but burst out laughing.
Recalling the moment seemed to tickle her funny bone all over again, as Dang Gyu-young giggled and slapped my shoulder repeatedly for a good while.
It took her some time before she finally managed to compose herself and catch her breath.
Ah, my stomach hurts. Anyway, I didnt do it on purpose, you know. What are we doing today?
Todays strategy session had concluded after two attempts, and like the previous week, Dang Gyu-young had decided to offer one-on-one sparring session for me.
Of course, unlike the other three team members, I was excluded from the close combat training.
After all, I had already removed all three stickers.
But that didnt mean I intended to waste my time.
[Event: 1st Mentoring] (In progress)
[Remaining Duration: 20 Days]
Accelerate your growth with the help of a mentor.
Increased probability of acquiring skills/traits.
Increased skill/trait growth speed
Enhancement bonus (Large) currently applied.
The mentoring event continued throughout the month with the bonus received from last weeks side quest reward still in effect.
It would be a loss not to engage in training during such a time.
I plan to work on my skills for the time being.
Skills? Are you planning to upgrade their ranks?
Yes.
My main skill, Wind Force, had reached a ceiling at C-rank.
Advancing to rank B would take significantly longer than previous ranks, making it all the more important to focus on training consistently.
But it wasnt just about upgrading ranks.
I also plan to learn a new skill in the process.
[Skills]
Wind Force (C+)
Inferno Fist (C)
Amplification (D)
Copy-Skill [2/2]
1. Thiefs Step (B+)
2. Overheat (D)
Having a variety of useful skills is always beneficial.
And since [Inferno Fist] was a forbidden skill, it couldnt be used in official settings.
The [Overheat] and [Thiefs Step] registered in my copy slot provided exceptional physical abilities and agility, making them too valuable to replace with another skill just yet.
I had been staving off the need for new skills by using Wind Force in various ways but the time had come to learn something new.
I recalled and categorized wind-type magic from my memory.
I focused on spells that could be mastered through training alone without the aid of skill books or relics.
Moreover, I sought a skill that would perform beyond my current standards.
[Spiral Explosion] would be a good choice.
Spiral Explosion was one of my main skills before I entered the world of the game.
More precisely, it was the main skill of the wind mage I had under my command.
To put it a bit more simply, I kept him around mostly for that skill alone.
Its utility was high and from an opponents perspective, it was a frustrating spell to contend with.
Of course, even with the mentoring event underway, it was impossible to master such a powerful skill overnight.
Ill have to learn it step by step.
The plan was to master several lower-tier skills and ultimately come together in Spiral Explosion.
Among those, a skill that could be practiced alongside Wind Force was,
Twister.
.
Seo Ye-in picked up a bagel and grabbed some cream cheese.
Then, she stood quietly and looked at me blankly.
Arent you going to pick up more?
.
She didnt answer right away and hesitated.
I figured as much.
It was breakfast, after all; her appetite might be lighter and perhaps she preferred her bagel just with cream cheese.
However, Im of the opinion that if youre going to eat, you might as well make it substantial.
I began to pile toppings on my bagel.
Cheese, scrambled eggs, a bit of vegetables, thinly sliced ham
Soon, a rather hefty bagel sandwich was ready. It was quite substantial for a breakfast.
.
Seo Ye-ins gaze slowly drifted down and fixed on my plate.
Based on past experiences, that look usually meant she wanted something.
Want me to make you one?
Nod.
Plate.
When Seo Ye-in handed me her plate with only a bagel and cream cheese on it, I took it and started skillfully piling on the toppings.
Soon, an identical bagel sandwich to mine was completed.
Just as I was about to sit down,
Hello, hello!
A cheerful greeting rang in my ears.
Turning towards the sound, I saw Han So-mi waving her hands energetically and Song Cheon-hye standing right beside her.
When I made eye contact with her, Song Cheon-hye offered a greeting in a formal tone.
Hello.
She maintained her usual haughty and cool demeanor.
However, upon closer inspection, her face seemed a half-tone darker than usual and there was a faint shadow under her eyes.
Her eyes appeared slightly swollen too.
It seems she had some troubles last night.
The shock of failing her second attempt must have been great.
She pretended not to care but she probably couldnt sleep well as scenes from yesterday kept replaying in her mind.
In that regard, Song Cheon-hye is lucky to have a friend like Han So-mi by her side.
The latter was like a beacon of positivity unmatched even by Go Hyeon-woo.
Her presence alone had the knack of lifting the spirits around her, and even now, it seemed to slightly improve Song Cheon-hyes mood.
Oh! Bagels!
Upon seeing the bagel towers on our plates, Han So-mis eyes lit up.
Cheon-hye, its bagel day, bagel sandwiches!
Why so surprised? Bagels can happen.
However, contrary to her disinterested tone, Song Cheon-hyes eyes quickly scanned my plate.
Her previously darkened face brightened a bit and she subtly licked her lips.
I asked her,
Shall we talk strategy over the meal?
Lets do that.
Han So-mi and Song Cheon-hye went to grab their share of the bagels.
As Seo Ye-in watched them walk away, she turned to look at me and slightly tilted her head.
Are you close?
If you include the unspoken part of her question, it might as well have been, When did you guys get so close?
Not really.
Though it might sound harsh, that was the reality.
Han So-mi was a cheerful and extremely friendly person and this meant she always approached people without hesitation but that was probably the same with everyone else too.
Its not that we were particularly close.
Song Cheon-hye and I were only temporarily tied through a mentoring relationship, and we did not harbor much interest in each other.
The investigation into Inferno Fist was probably still ongoing and there was no reason to believe she had dismissed any suspicions about me.
Cant we at least share a meal together? Its fine, right?
Mhmm.
Seo Ye-in nodded her head up and down as if she didnt really care.
After securing a table for four and starting on our bagels, Han So-mi and Song Cheon-hye came to sit opposite us.
The two were casually trying to start breakfast but I couldnt help but ask when I saw their plates.
How come they all look exactly the same, the bagels?
Hehe.
Han So-mi gave an awkward laugh while Song Cheon-hye discreetly avoided my gaze.
There sat perfect replicas of the bagel sandwiches I had made.
Two of them, in fact.
