The most urgent problem to solve right now. I need to change the pattern where Hyeon Sujin attacks and I only focus on defense.

No matter how abnormal that woman's body is. No matter how skill only comes out to the limit of one's physical stamina. I must fully consider the possibility that I might get tired first.

'A strong among the strong who's been active much longer than me.'

Just as that woman doesn't know much about me, I don't know much about her either. If pushed to the absolute limit, the current stalemate could become a cause of defeat.

So before that, I change the flow so she can't adapt. I need to add the greater hardship of defense to her already exhausted state from attacking.

The areas Hyeon Sujin currently dominates overwhelmingly are space utilization and long-range attacks. I need to snatch away at least one of those to deal meaningful damage.

Kwajik!—

I deliberately swung my sword as wide as possible to cut down the shadow. At the same time, I brought down part of the wall that was blocking the side. Thanks to that, noise and dust momentarily blocked sight and hearing.

'Now.'

I quickly pulled my sword back inside. At the same time, I rotated the magic power I'd been saving as much as possible.

I can't beat Hyeon Sujin in space utilization no matter what I do. What I can use is my two arms and one shadow I've saved until the end. In contrast, what Hyeon Sujin can utilize is at least dozens of shadows. A fight to occupy space would just be suicide.

But in distance fighting, I also have advantages. Techniques that others possess at almost ultimate skill level. Kang Minseong wielded those easily under the name 'wind.' And that wind, I too can now wield without much difficulty.

I don't need to bring it out perfectly. Just touching is enough. I just need to give a warning to someone who thinks they have the upper hand in distance. That way, Hyeon Sujin would reflexively feel threatened about creating distance.

"You, again!"

Yes. Just remembering and being surprised like that achieves the first goal. She took a proper hit from this wind last time, so she can't help but be nervous. And unlike Kang Minseong who couldn't control it perfectly, I can control it too!

Kuguugugugu!—

As if refusing to let me summon the wind, shadows rush in. No tricks like before. Purely, overwhelmingly, they completely occupy the front. So I have no choice but to block or dodge unconditionally.

This is an all-out attack from one called a past S-rank, now an 'Elder.' I should stop what I'm doing, grit my teeth and block, or run away without looking back. All other S-ranks except Irina would have acted exactly the same.

Ah, now it's not just Irina. There's also a guy like me.

Woong—

This is exactly what I was waiting for. I wanted Hyeon Sujin to be surprised and respond with full power.

Hyeon Sujin, who was properly hit by the suicide technique that Kang Minseong taught me before. No, the killing technique. Naturally, if I show signs of that again this time, I expected her to come out like this. And what I was preparing wasn't the previous 'storm' but a 'light breeze.'

Kugugugu!—

I reverse the flow of magic power that was disguised as a storm in an instant. Then as a reaction, excruciating pain is transmitted from within my body.

Momentarily, a dizzying pain so severe I unconsciously cried out "Keuk!" I almost lost concentration and completely failed because of it.

'Endure it. Damn it, endure.'

I didn't go through all that suffering just to collapse from this little pain. Reversing magic power like this, it's nothing. I can do it.

Others would call me crazy for hearing this, and they'd be right. I am crazy. I never thought I was normal in the first place.

"Ah!"

Too late, Hyeon Sujin realizes what I intended and lets out a sigh. Then she tries to hastily withdraw her shadows, but how could that be easy?

No matter how much Hyeon Sujin can handle shadows like her own body. It's difficult to retrieve something already shot out with maximum-level magic power. I've been waiting for exactly this moment with my fishing rod cast.

'And you completely bit that bait!'

I create a stream of wind toward the shadows that were rushing in to crush me.

It's not a movement to cut down or smash like before. It's to get swept up in that current and return in the direction they came from.

If Hyeon Sujin had noticed just a little earlier, it would have been troublesome. But she only realized after that moment passed, and the turn came to me. Now was the moment when the defender's position changed from me to that woman.

Kwaaaaang!— Kuguugugugu!—

...Uh, damn? Wait. This is unexpected. I didn't know this entire area would collapse.

'I thought even a light breeze would work since Hyeon Sujin made all that chaos and it held up well.'

Damn. I've dug my own grave again.

Kwaaaaang!—

*

"...Puheok!"

Huff huff. Wow. I almost died. I never thought I'd get buried by my own attack. This is so embarrassing I can't tell anyone. Self-burial.

After struggling out of the debris, I see movement ahead. Soon after, a woman's face pops up with a "Suk!" She's as tough as I am. I thought she'd play dead and not come out.

Should I finish this? I looked for my sword but couldn't see it anywhere. Even if I had found it, whether because I reversed my magic power. Or because of the shock to my body, my body wouldn't move properly.

"Cough, cough!"

I glanced at Hyeon Sujin coughing and she looked absolutely terrible. Covered in blood and dust, even beggars would be embarrassed.

I sat down to wait for my magic power to settle a bit. Suddenly I heard a sound completely inappropriate for this situation from beside me.

"Puhat!"

...What, suddenly? Why are you laughing? Did you hit your head? Or is this a trick to pretend to be crazy and escape?

"Wow. Your appearance would make even beggar bastards shake their heads."

Beggar bastard? Hey. Are you all dressed up or something? I couldn't just listen quietly to Hyeon Sujin's words.

"You're in a state where beggars would rush calling you their king."

"Ah. What? Am I in a mess too? Sorry. I don't really know my own condition."

Saying that, Hyeon Sujin who tried to get up from her spot collapses with a thud. The situation seems similar to mine. So we tacitly agreed to a brief ceasefire. Let's rest just a little while recovering magic power to fight again.

"It's a bit awkward to stay quiet, so let me ask you something."

I turned my gaze toward Hyeon Sujin at her question.

"Aren't you scared of dying? No, that's not it. Don't you feel regret? You seemed to just charge in recklessly."

"I'm scared. And I have many regrets too. I'm just now starting to get treated like a human being."

"For someone like that, you don't look scared or regretful at all."

At those words, I unconsciously recalled my own behavior. ...I don't think I particularly acted like someone who lost their fear?

"What about you? Don't you feel regret? About dying."

"No. I don't feel regret."

"You should feel regret. The person you loved, who loved you, wouldn't want that."

I hope she doesn't take this as taunting and charge to kill me. With that thought, I glanced at Hyeon Sujin, but fortunately it didn't seem to be that kind of reaction.

"...How do you know to say such things?"

It was just a question of how do you know.

"Tell me. How do you know to say such things about that person?"

She seemed to want to hear an answer. I briefly pondered what answer I should give.

"Because that's the minimum duty of those left behind, for those who have departed."

"Duty?"

"Living. Having attachment to life. So I'm telling you to feel regret."

I could see it. Hyeon Sujin flinching momentarily at my words. It seems she had such thoughts, even if vaguely.

Whether everything she's doing now is really for him. If he were crying underground, what should she do?

"...I told you."

After some silence, Hyeon Sujin finally spoke.

"I'll never stop. I won't give up or regret it."

"Is that so?"

Well, I expected that. Not bad. A villain without whitewashing. It would be a bit troublesome if she were having regrets now. I'd already made up my mind.

"More importantly, you were speaking informally earlier but suddenly formal now?"

"Huh. You're right. Hmm, I guess this became a habit and won't come off easily."

Damn civil service life. I didn't even see mountains change, but it's this severe. I realize anew how much stress I was under. Good thing I didn't go bald. If that happened, I would have half-killed that supervisor bastard.

"Let's stop the chatter here. Your magic power recovered, right? Let's finish this."

Hyeon Sujin stood up and raised her shadows again.

The number of shadows, incomparably fewer than when we first clashed. Even the magic power those shadows contain is obviously precarious. As she said, this will be the end. A few more clashes and that's it.

"Good. Let's finish quickly. Getting buried alive isn't my taste."

"I agree."

I was about to grip my sword again and squeeze out everything to draw a path once more. Suddenly I felt a strange vibration and stopped my actions.

Is the underground facility finally collapsing? No, that's not it. That's not that kind of vibration.

This is a phenomenon where the magic power in this area is vibrating. And what appears after such phenomena is only one thing.

Groooooo!—

Right, damn it! Why a gate at this timing of all times! If I get swept up in that, I'm really screwed. It's just banishment outside the world. I hurriedly stepped back while Hyeon Sujin on the other side spat "Damn it."

"Hey, Baek Seojin. I think we're screwed."

"I know that!"

"No, not that. Don't you feel anything?"

Just as I was about to ask what she meant by that. I felt an ominous energy from beyond the gaping maw of the abyss. This was at a level that reminded me of when I first encountered an Elder.

"This gate. Seems like S-rank?"

...Wow. We're really screwed.

*

"No, so where exactly did the examiner go, Suhyeon!"

No matter how much Lee Hyunwoo demanded an answer, Kim Suhyeon remained unmoved. Along with saying she didn't hear him asking where he was going.

Thanks to that, the team members learned that an Elder had attacked the branch. And additionally that Baek Seojin had chased after it. Naturally, they were filled with worry about Baek Seojin and thoughts of wanting to support him.

Though Kim Suhyeon, who seemed to know the information, kept shaking her head.

"The examiner said he'd return when his business is finished. There's nothing to worry about."

"Still..."

Lee Hyunwoo's words were cut off there. Suddenly, with tremendous noise, the magic power in the area began to shake. And ear-splitting alarm sounds echoed from all directions.

"Hana unnie. Don't tell me, this is..."

"It seems right, Dasom. Gate appearance."

Having said that far, the team members all rushed outside without anyone going first.