Chapter 22 - Bait (2)

Han Ye-ji, who was next in line, succeeded in hunting the Kobold with ease.

After spectacularly butchering the charging Kobold, she drove her sword into the monster's head at the last moment.

Covered in blood, she pulled out her sword and smiled with satisfaction.

[Remaining Kobolds: 2]

“How was I? I was pretty calm for a first hunt, right?”

Choi Ho-joong nodded his head with an expression of agreement.

“I’d like to hear Ji-han oppa’s evaluation.”

“My evaluation? I wouldn’t really recommend it.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m a bit strict when it comes to swordsmanship.”

“That just makes me more curious. How was I? Hurry up and tell me.”

In fact, by general standards, it wasn't bad.

Her horizontal slash was so elegant it almost felt graceful.

However, she was the successor to a prestigious family that easily ranked among the top 10 great sword families of this country. As someone who would have been taught all of her family’s secret techniques since childhood, she should have been much more perfect than what she just showed.

“Is that swordsmanship you just displayed the Muwon Sword Style?”

“Yes. Though I’m still lacking in many ways.”

“It certainly did seem very lacking.”

“What did you say?”

“Why? Didn't you just admit it yourself?”

“Still. It’s not right to rebuke me so openly like that.”

“I told you. You won’t hear anything good from me.”

“Then tell me in detail. What part was so lacking?”

“It’s a total mess, but the worst part was your breathing.”

“My breathing?”

“The brief gap between your forms is too unnatural. I noticed it when you had a Bimu with Shin Ah-yeon, but the disharmony you create is all because of your breathing. It becomes unstable whenever your sword movements get bigger.”

Judging by her expression, her eyes showed no sign of acceptance.

“Aren’t you just nitpicking for no reason? Neither my dad nor my grandpa ever told me anything like that.”

“How you take my words is up to you.”

“Hmph.”

To kick away the precious advice I was giving her like this was something I could never have imagined in my Johan Raven days.

Everyone used to be desperate to hear even a single trivial word from me.

“What did you think, brother? Han Ye-ji’s Muwon Sword Style.”

This guy was just as sharp-tongued as I was.

He was someone who could be sufficiently harsh even if it was their first meeting.

But my expectation was completely off.

“It was excellent.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

It was just so absurd.

“My swordsmanship was ‘not bad’, but Han Ye-ji’s was ‘excellent’?”

“Yes. Considering it’s her first dungeon clear, it’s quite excellent. And what you just said was an extremely forced criticism. At least in my eyes, her breathing wasn't unstable.”

“You didn't look properly. Try to watch with your eyes wide open next time.”

“What?”

“Han Ye-ji. You take the next Kobold too.”

“Alright. But you should be the one to look properly, oppa. And don't make up nonsense.”

Nonsense, she says.

It was pointless to watch anyway.

The only one with the talent to fix a flaw immediately upon realizing it was me, Johan Raven.

“So you’re saying you won’t admit it.”

“Ji-won oppa said it was excellent. Wouldn't it be right to listen to someone who is much more skilled?”

In truth, even Seo Ji-won would have no choice but to understand the meaning of my words next time.

He was a talent who was close to a Sword Expert before the age of thirty. He might not have noticed if he wasn't consciously looking, but Seo Ji-won was definitely not that unobservant.

“The next Kobold is in that direction.”

My role as a guide continued.

Since I had already correctly pinpointed the Kobold’s location three times, the other three followed me without a word.

And this time, too, my words hit the mark without fail.

“Wow, how does Ji-han oppa know all this?”

“Focus and hold your sword properly. The Kobold will charge soon.”

Kraaaang!

The Kobold charged immediately, and the three men stepped back, leaving Han Ye-ji in front.

Her back as she readjusted her grip on the sword looked quite determined.

It was also true that, in terms of absolute skill, she was certainly a decent talent.

Well, she was still full of flaws in my eyes, though.

Shwaaaak!

Shwaaaaaaak!

Once again, her Muwon Sword Style unfolded, and a moment later, the Kobold’s life ended with its neck severed.

Perhaps because I had criticized her harshly, her attacks seemed even more ferocious.

“Did you see properly this time? How was it, Ji-han oppa?”

“How was it? The same as before.”

“Hmph! Are you just nitpicking again? This won’t do. Ji-won oppa, please clear this up neatly.”

In that instant, six pairs of eyes turned towards Seo Ji-won.

This time, he hesitated, unable to answer right away.

“Hoo...”

“It was excellent? That’s it, right?”

“Brother, just say what you saw.”

Seo Ji-won bit his lip firmly.

His expression as he looked at me was incredibly stiff.

Well, of course it would be.

Because what I said was true.

And because he hadn't noticed it himself until I pointed it out.

Seo Ji-won remained silent for a moment before finally opening his mouth again.

“It is against etiquette to comment on the swordsmanship of another family. I shall also retract what I said earlier.”

“What? So you’re not going to say anything?”

“Because it’s not polite.”

“It’s not polite.”

“You could just say it was excellent again.”

“No. I will not say anything.”

“Hmph. What’s with you brothers?”

“Still, you kept your conscience at the end, brother.”

I was almost disappointed.

I could overlook other things, but I detested lying about swordsmanship.

***

[Remaining Kobolds: 1]

“As planned, I’ll take care of the last one.”

“I’m going to watch properly this time, too. To see how well Ji-han oppa does.”

“Alright, watch carefully. How I decorate the finale.”

Of course, there would be a separate, true finale.

I was starting to feel it.

The presence of the assassin approaching from our rear.

“Young Master!”

Choi Ho-joong called me in a low voice.

“Be ready. We don’t know when he’ll aim for our backs.”

“Yes. I will always protect your back, Young Master.”

It seemed the assassin was aiming for the timing between the dungeon clear and the dungeon's disappearance.

In that case, I should play along.

“Everyone, follow me. The last one is over there.”

“But is the dungeon clear really ending this soon? It feels a bit bland.”

Han Ye-ji was making such idle remarks, but as if her words were a jinx, something happened that made this dungeon not bland at all.

It wasn't the expected attack from the assassin. An unexpected event of the dungeon itself had occurred.

[The dungeon is going on a rampage.]

[The monster's evolution will now begin.]

“Dungeon rampage?”

“Oppa! What is this?”

It was something I had read about in the theory books.

A phenomenon where the dungeon's difficulty suddenly went crazy, with an extremely low probability.

Seo Ji-won spoke up immediately.

“No one needs to panic. Even if an E-rank dungeon goes on a rampage, it’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s obviously the first time for you two rookies, and Choi Ho-joong, is this your first time too?”

“Yes. I’ve only heard about it, but this is my first time experiencing it.”

“For now, let’s move towards the Kobold’s location and wait for a message. To see what kind of evolution the Kobold undergoes.”

“It’s a relief that Ji-won oppa is with us at a time like this! Are you sure nothing bad will happen?”

She said she had to retake the license exam because of theory, and it seemed she really didn't know anything.

No matter how much the dungeon rampaged, our current strength was clearly overkill.

Depending on the extent of the rampage, I might even be able to handle it on my own.

The message came just as we were about to reach the last Kobold.

[The Kobold has evolved into a Kobold Shaman.]

[The type of shamanism is undisclosed.]

Although it had evolved, the type of monster had not changed.

It was still a Kobold, just like before.

The key depended on what kind of shamanism it would use.

“Seo Ji-han, what’s your plan?”

Seo Ji-won looked at me with a relaxed smile.

I was the one who had decided to hunt this monster. He was asking if I still felt the same way.

His inner wish for me to be scared was all too obvious.

“What do you mean, what’s my plan. Of course I have to hunt it.”

“Really?”

“Why? Were you expecting me to back down?”

“There’s no need to overdo it. The dungeon rampage was not in our calculations.”

“Even so, it’s just a Kobold.”

In fact, this point was important.

If it had evolved into a monster I couldn't handle at this point, I might have seriously considered it.

But the new ability the Kobold gained was shamanism.

I didn't know what kind of mental attack it would use, but there weren't many reasons to feel burdened.

Although my body was that of the wretched Seo Ji-han, my mind was that of Johan Raven.

“Think again. You could end up in a worse situation by being stubborn.”

“Isn’t that the picture you were hoping for, brother?”

When I hit the nail on the head, Seo Ji-won just smirked.

“I’ll promise one thing for sure. If you’re in danger, I’ll step in immediately.”

“I’m touched.”

“Alright. Then, as planned, you shall decorate the finale of this dungeon.”

After reconfirming the original plan, we started walking towards the last Kobold again.

Choi Ho-joong kept looking at me, giving me signs not to overdo it. I was grateful, but he was a worrier.

If I said I was fine, then I was truly fine.

Grrrrrrr!

And a moment later, the grotesque cry of the Kobold began to be heard.

The closer we got to it, the more I felt a sense of unease.

Grrrrrrr!

That sound was distinctly different from the cries of the other Kobolds.

Seo Ji-won shouted as if he had realized something.

“It’s a Roar-type shamanism.”

“Uh, I think so too.”

Roar. A destructive cry that higher-level monsters use to threaten their prey.

In some cases, it was said that just hearing it could induce extreme fear that paralyzed the limbs.

Grrrrrrr!

That sound could never be produced by a Kobold.

Han Ye-ji’s face had already turned slightly pale from the mysterious power contained in the shamanism.

“Han Ye-ji. Get a grip.”

“Huh? Yes!”

No matter how much of a rookie she was, her abilities already surpassed those of most experienced hunters.

The fact that she was this scared meant the intensity of that shamanism was considerable.

She probably wouldn't be able to exert even half of her power right now.

“Y-Young Master! Are you alright?”

“Ho-joong.”

“Yes!”

“You still have a long way to go. Seeing how nervous you are.”

Although not as much as Han Ye-ji, Choi Ho-joong was also being affected by the Roar.

“I am not nervous!”

“Getting so defensive makes you seem more suspicious, don't you think?”

“What about you, Seo Ji-han?”

Seo Ji-won asked me with a relaxed expression.

“Me?”

Pfft.

A laugh escaped me on its own.

To be honest, it was just too pathetic.

Not long ago, I was the one who had taken a Dragon's Roar head-on.

There was no way I would be affected by such a baseless Roar.

“Watch carefully from now on. Whether I’m alright or not.”

I raised the Reapersword.

To plunge my sword into the mouth of that ridiculously pathetic Kobold Shaman.