Chapter 736: Week 9–10 Midterms (15)

Soon, the group opposite us seemed to recognize who we were as well. They lowered their guard, increased their speed, and approached.

The first one to arrive was, of course, Song Cheonhye.

And the party members following behind her were, as always, Geum Johan, Lee Seulbi, and Jo Byeok.

Han Somi ran over to them in a hurry and expressed her joy with her entire body.

“Cheon! Hye! Ya!”

“Why are you making such a fuss? We saw each other just the day before yesterday.”

“Hehe.”

Song Cheonhye shook her head as if she could not win against her.

But the next moment, when her eyes met mine, her face brightened even more than Han Somi’s.

“......!”

Perhaps she realized that herself, because she immediately managed her expression and spoke in a prim tone.

“......You’re here.”

“I’m here.”

“I thought it might be you, from the sound of gunfire.”

“We were pretty much the only ones.”

Across all second-years, there were not that many gunners.

And among them, the only one skilled enough to enter a B-rank zone at this point was effectively Seo Ye-in.

And if Seo Ye-in was here, then that meant I, who had gone on the outside request with her, was here too.

She had gone through that line of reasoning and run here in one breath.

Song Cheonhye threw out another question.

“When did you enter?”

“It’s barely been a day.”

“But you already made it this far?”

Go, Han, and Hong had fallen behind because of constant pressure, and in our case, we had entered late to begin with.

Yet in just one day, we had not only regrouped with them, but also caught up to the top ranks.

The Discipline Committee members could not hide their surprise either.

Among them, Geum Johan stepped forward as their representative and asked a question.

“Was there no pressure on the way? I doubt Sagong Uk or Cha Hyeonju would have left you alone.”

“There was plenty of pressure.”

“Still, it seems you somehow managed to break through it.”

“We broke through it, and we went to find them and gave them each a flick on the forehead too.”

As I said that, I took out the spoils and showed them.

The crystals were gone because we had fed them all into the altar, but we had dozens of cards.

Han Somi added an explanation with a bright smile.

“We wiped them all out, every last one!”

“How is that possible....... is what I want to say, but I can’t exactly refuse to believe it.”

Geum Johan grinned, saying it felt satisfying just hearing that.

I smiled back and said,

“Since we’re on the topic, I heard you came to help when the kids were in danger. Thanks.”

“I’m not sure I deserve your gratitude. To be honest, I was against it. Song Cheonhye insisted so strongly that we were practically dragged there.”

When everyone’s gaze focused on her, Song Cheonhye cleared her throat and pretended not to know anything.

“I didn’t insist....... that strongly.”

“You said we would not be the Discipline Committee if we saw it and pretended not to, and that if we abandoned the greater cause, how could we—”

“Your memory!! seems distorted.”

Song Cheonhye hurriedly cut him off midway.

Her face seemed to be heating up, because she kept fanning herself with her hand.

I said to her,

“Whatever the reason, it’s true we received help. Thanks.”

“......As long as you know.”

“Of course, I’m not planning to end it with words. I’ll show some sincerity to a certain extent.”

In truth, Geum Johan and Mo Yongjun’s judgment had been perfectly sensible.

When fighting Sagong Uk and Cha Hyeonju’s groups, the benefits amounted to a few cards at most, while the loss from becoming unable to fight was beyond description.

There was the risk of losing items, the long wait time before reentry, and in the meantime, the whole party’s fighting power would drop.......

Song Cheonhye and the Discipline Committee members should know that better than anyone, yet they had deliberately come to help.

And I was the type to repay debts, whether good or bad, clearly.

With plenty of interest added on.

At that, Song Cheonhye raised an eyebrow as if interested.

“......Sincerity? What is it?”

“You tell me. If there’s something you want.”

“Is it like ‘that’?”

“That” meant, of course, a wish coupon.

There were many eyes watching, and it was not exactly something to be proud of as a Discipline Committee member that she had made a bet with me, so she was vaguely glossing over it.

In any case, I lightly dipped my chin.

“Similar.”

“Then....... erase one.”

“No can do.”

No matter how grateful I was, canceling out a wish coupon felt excessive.

Something accumulated through a bet should be removed through a bet.

On top of that, I decided to attach one more condition.

“Since it’s for help received during midterms, let’s make the valid period limited to midterms too.”

“Who does that?”

“I think that’s not bad. There’s still plenty of time, and unless it’s something outrageous, I’ll grant it.”

“That’s....... true.”

“Nothing you want?”

At that, Song Cheonhye sank into serious contemplation.

It seemed she had belatedly realized that an enormous opportunity had arrived.

“I’ll...... think about it a little more.”

“Do that. I’ll say it again, but only until midterms end.”

“Understood.”

Then I turned my gaze to the Discipline Committee members.

“With Song Cheonhye, that’s strictly personal, and I also intend to show sincerity to you guys.”

According to Geum Johan, it seemed they had been half-forced to follow along, but help was still help.

It was only right to settle accounts separately.

Then Lee Seulbi asked me,

“Do we say what we want too?”

“It’s already decided, isn’t it? Especially during midterms.”

“......Items?”

“Let’s share them nicely.”

Several hidden pieces existed in the B zone where we were.

Originally, I had planned to take the “monopolize everything in the Great Forest” route, but sharing was not a bad choice either.

After all, there was a high chance we would be helping each other going forward.

I soon unfolded the map and began explaining.

Dividing the section in half,

“You take this half, and we’ll take the other half.”

“We’re fine with that.”

Lee Seulbi nodded readily.

They probably had not expected any repayment in the first place, but now they were receiving half of B-rank hidden pieces. There was no way they would refuse.

At that moment, Geum Johan suddenly seemed to think of a question and looked at me.

“Is there no possibility of interference along the way? For example, another party entering.”

“Not today.”

Cha Hyeonju’s group and Sagong Uk’s group must have been wiped out and forced into reentry wait time.

On top of that, they would need time to recover the items they had lost.

Since they had fallen behind in several ways, entering a B-rank zone within today would be impossible.

Mo Yongjun or Jeong Jinmyeong’s groups were likely growing fairly smoothly, but they had so many people that their growth speed would be comparatively slow.

They were likely to remain in C-rank for a while.

Explaining that, I grinned.

“At least for today, we should consider this place rented out by us.”

“I see. In that case, may I ask one more thing?”

“Anything.”

Then Geum Johan pointed at the two crowns floating on the map.

“What will you do about the field bosses?”

“We take them down together and split the rewards half-and-half. How about it?”

“.......”

The Discipline Committee members exchanged glances.

Of course, their answer had already been decided.

“That is not a bad proposal. A B-rank boss is no easy opponent for us either.”

“Then let’s plan the route.”

Soon, we discussed how each group would move, recover crystals and items, and collect hidden pieces.

And when we would gather at the crowns to beat the bosses down together.

After that, I said to Song Cheonhye,

“If something happens, send a signal or something. Let’s gather and set up [Campsite] together.”

“Let’s do that.”

“See you later, then.”

*****

After briefly splitting from the Discipline Committee, we roamed the B-rank zone as originally planned.

Just like the stealth mantis we had faced when we first entered, monsters we had grown familiar with appeared from time to time.

The golems in front of us were among them.

One was a little bigger than a person, and one was nearly several times larger.

Baby golem and mommy golem.

Of course, back then, we had been E-rank, and now we were equal B-rank.

So the result was decided from the start.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Unable to withstand the nonstop flame explosions, the two golems collapsed in a heap and turned into piles of dirt and stone.

Dropping a translucent crystal.

[Empty Crystal(B+)]

On top of that, we encountered armadillos and rhinoceros beetles, and we took down several stealth mantises too.

After steadily increasing our cards and combining them like that,

[Map(B+→A)]

▷Displays current location and the ranks of nearby [Fixed Zones].

▷Displays the location of nearby allies.

▷Displays the location of nearby sanctuaries and altars.

▷Displays the location of nearby field bosses. (Up to 3)

▷(New!) Displays the location of hostile participants.

At last, the map’s rank had effectively reached the maximum.

S was theoretically possible, but even at this level, it would provide more than enough information.

When I unfolded the map, several new icons had been added.

They looked like something you would see on a pirate ship, with two blades crossed beneath a skull.

The relatively close ones were the remnants of Sagong Uk’s group, and the ones barely flickering within the map’s radius were probably Cha Hyeonju’s group.

Seeing that, I felt deep regret.

Too far.

If they were just a little closer, I would have gone to beat them up again tonight.

Of course, simply being able to grasp their positions was an enormous achievement.

Next is processing surplus cards.

As we beat monsters down, a bunch of [Campsite] and [Exit] cards had dropped again.

We could trade them with the Discipline Committee, but now, we had a separate use for them.

[Offering ‘Campsite(1 Person)’ as a sacrifice.]

[Offering ‘Campsite(1 Person)’ as a sacrifice.]

[Offering ‘Exit’ as a sacrifice.......]

[Offering ‘Exit’.......]

.......

Using them as offerings to raise ranks.

After burning over a dozen cards like that,

[Shackles(C+→B+)]

▷Lowers the target’s [Rank] by one stage.

▷Duration: 1 minute→1 minute 30 seconds

[Payback(A)]*2

▷Every time a certain number of cards are used, acquire one random card.

▷(New!) Low chance to acquire two cards.

▷(New!) Increased chance for rare cards to appear.

[Shackles] rose from C+ to B+.

Both [Payback] cards rose to A.

And the added effects were powerful too.

It did not even end there.

[‘Payback(A)’ activates.]

[You have acquired a random card.]

[Random.......]

.......

Because offering cards with [Sacrifice] was also judged as “card consumption,” I received cards back.

Seo Ye-in stared at the sight and made one comment.

“Perpetual motion.”

“Not quite infinite, but close.”

“Creative economy.”

After that, we recovered the hidden piece in the B-rank zone as well.

[Overreach]

▷Breaks free from the restrictions of [Fixed Zone] and [Rank Up].

▷Duration: 20 seconds

▷After the effect ends, the user’s rank falls by 3 stages.

A card that allowed one to use their usual ability as it was.

Whether inside a B-rank [Fixed Zone] or an A-rank zone, it meant one could use skills, traits, and equipment at S-rank.

Of course, the duration was extremely short, and the 3-stage drop penalty was enormous.

For example, my current rank was C+, so as soon as it ended, I would drop to F+.

Still, there’s no joker card better than this.

So I carefully enshrined [Overreach] with satisfaction.

*****

After that, we continued roaming all over the B-rank zone until we regrouped with the Discipline Committee around sunset.

Then we spread out [Campsite] according to our numbers.

After finishing dinner, we had some free time, so everyone began exchanging conversations here and there.

Lee Seulbi and Hong Yeonhwa talked about magic formulas, while Go Hyeonwoo and Geum Johan held a sword-discussion.

Meanwhile, Song Cheonhye asked me the same question my party members had asked me yesterday.

“How did you spend your time in Hyeseong?”

“.......”

Seo Ye-in’s eyes sparkled as if she had seized her chance.

It seemed she wanted to brag about “that,” just like yesterday.

But before her mouth could open, I beat her to it.

“I think excessive bragging isn’t good.”

“......Reflection.”

Perhaps Seo Ye-in thought I had a point, because she shut her mouth again.

But that instead seemed to stimulate Song Cheonhye’s curiosity.

“......Why? What did you do?”