Chapter 47 - Burning Dungeon (2)

“Choi Ho-joong, Shin Ah-yeon. If you’re ready, start right away.”

“Just the two of us?”

Choi Ho-joong blinked his eyes and asked me back.

The number of skeleton soldiers that appeared before us was about thirty.

He was flustered by the completely different troop deployment from the first engagement.

“If you’re scared to go out with just the two of you, say so now.”

“Hey! Of course not!”

“Naturally, two will come out from Myeongundan as well. Then each person will get about seven or eight boneheads.”

“Understood!”

“What do you understand? Are you really going to catch only seven or eight? Didn’t you just see Baek Ji-ah catch two all by herself a moment ago?”

“I saw.”

“Then do well on your own. It won’t be fun if you lose to Myeongundan.”

While Choi Ho-joong hesitated to answer, Shin Ah-yeon immediately nodded her head.

“I will complete the mission, Unit Leader.”

“I-I will complete it too!”

As expected, Shin Ah-yeon was the sharp one.

Choi Ho-joong still didn’t fully trust his own skills.

“Then go.”

The two immediately jumped into the enemy lines.

The way they stood back-to-back, covering each other’s rear, was plausible.

A well-matched pair.

Of course, if I were to say such a thing, Choi Ho-joong would turn beet red and get serious.

“You confidently said to send only two, but in the end, it was Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon?”

Seo Ji-won’s reaction was one of surprise.

“Why? What’s wrong with those two?”

“I was wondering if there were some amazing guys among the Chamryongdan newcomers that I didn’t know about. Though I guess there’s no way such a guy would exist.”

“So you were curious, huh?”

“I’ve been backstabbed too many times. Thanks to someone, my imagination has become unnecessarily rich.”

“Then use that imagination and make a prediction. How this engagement will turn out.”

“I’ll tell you the reality, not an imagination. Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon will have almost no opportunity to shine.”

The two that Seo Ji-won dispatched this time were truly the top two aces of the expedition.

They were cases that clearly stood out even to my ‘Mana Eyes’.

Right now, Seo Ji-won’s expression was one of confidence.

That this time, Myeongundan would overwhelm our Chamryongdan.

“I’ve heard a bit about those two. They’re the promising prospects that Myeongundan cherishes, right?”

“Because they’re the guys we spent a lot of money to recruit.”

I had heard that Seo Ji-won was renovating the atmosphere of the sword unit by recruiting a large number of young blood into Myeongundan.

The fifteen members from Myeongundan participating in this Burning Dungeon were also all promising prospects, and it was rumored that some of them had considerable price tags.

Anyway, the bold move of excluding all veterans from this expedition clearly showed Seo Ji-won’s will.

“There’s one thing you don’t know, brother. Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon are also guys I’m raising by feeding them expensive meals.”

“You’re raising someone?”

Seo Ji-won just scoffed as if it were absurd.

But if he just watched, it would soon be revealed.

I don't know about the veterans of Myeongundan, but there was no reason for Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon to be pushed back by mere prospects.

Craaaack!

Craaaaaack!

Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon were starting by breaking the skeleton soldiers’ shields first.

A difference in class was felt from Baek Ji-ah, who had gone out earlier; a single thrust shattered the wooden shield at once.

Both of them had improved a lot recently.

As the middle managers of Chamryongdan, I was taking special time to personally instruct them, so it would be more abnormal if their skills remained the same.

Craaaack!

Craaaaaack!

The sound of shields breaking echoed in succession.

At their level, it didn’t matter if they didn’t attack the shields first, but it wasn’t a particularly bad choice either.

When dealing with multiple enemies, it was safer to eliminate as many variables as possible from the start.

“The same strategy as before.”

“If you want to copy it, you can. I’m not petty about things like that.”

“I’ll pass. I sent out two trustworthy guys who don’t need to use such cumbersome methods.”

As Seo Ji-won said, the two aces of Myeongundan were engaging in battle with ease against a large number of skeleton soldiers.

Craaaaaack!!

In the end, it was Myeongundan that registered the first kill.

One of them had cut off a skeleton soldier’s head with a powerful horizontal slash.

Upon succeeding in the first kill, Seo Ji-won’s expression brightened considerably.

“They’re starting to get some momentum now. It’ll be over soon.”

“I agree.”

“What’s with you? You’re admitting it so blandly?”

“You have to admit what you have to admit.”

Of course, the trick was that our side would gain momentum faster.

Craaaack!

Craaaaaack!

Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon were still focused on breaking the skeleton soldiers’ shields.

Because of that, they hadn't been able to show off their proper swordsmanship yet.

But having watched this much, there was one thing I could be sure of.

That although the two were behind the Myeongundan aces in mana, they would not be behind in swordsmanship.

The newly improved Muyoung Sword Style, thanks to me, was a sword style that was more than a notch higher than the Muyoung Sword Style of other sword units.

“Ho-joong, Ah-yeon. Shall we pick up the pace a little now?”

Since I had said a word, they would have understood.

I was confident the reaction would come soon.

Crunch!!

As expected, it was Shin Ah-yeon.

She had attacked a skeleton soldier that had lost its shield and balance, splitting its skull open.

Craaaack!

Choi Ho-joong, not to be outdone, also pierced a skeleton soldier’s head.

Our side had also started to pile up a grave of boneheads.

“I told you. I’m raising them while feeding them expensive meals.”

“You’re putting on airs after catching just two.”

“That male-female combo has also started to gain momentum.”

Swishhh!

Swishhh!

The swords of Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon cut through the wind and began to properly showcase the revised version of the Muyoung Sword Style.

The overall framework was almost similar to the existing sword style, but it had definitely changed.

Even without looking closely, one could tell that it had a different feel.

Cruuunch!

Choi Ho-joong’s exhilarating sword once again split a skeleton soldier in half.

Craaaack!

And with Shin Ah-yeon joining in once more, the killing speed was getting faster and faster.

“How about it? Doesn’t it really feel like they’ve gained momentum?”

Seo Ji-won had no answer.

And his expression was hardening.

The situation was flowing similarly to before, like déjà vu.

“Ho-joong, Ah-yeon. Pick up the pace a bit more.”

“Yes!!”

At my one word, their momentum changed immediately.

If I used it continuously, the effect would wear off, but for now, it was definitely effective.

The skeletons were cut down by the two’s swords like leaves in an autumn wind.

Only then did Seo Ji-won open his mouth.

“What on earth are those two!”

“What do you mean, what? They’re the two you know well.”

“They changed so suddenly?”

I nodded my head.

People can change suddenly.

Depending on who and how they are handled.

“There’s no need to be surprised already. Those two will continue to do well in the future.”

The two from Myeongundan were not doing badly right now either, but Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon were just that outstanding.

As time passed, the gap became more and more pronounced.

The graves of skeletons were gradually piling up.

When twenty-two skeletons had fallen at the hands of the two, the song of the sword was no longer heard.

[Skeletons remaining: 165]

“Mission complete, Unit Leader.”

“Mission complete, Unit Leader.”

That Choi Ho-joong. Today’s concept was a copycat.

***

2 engagements had ended, but many skeletons still remained.

In terms of percentage, they had only dealt with less than 20 percent, so it could still be called the early stage.

Rattle!

Rattle!

Rattle!

Once again, skeleton soldiers appeared through the darkness.

I was getting sick of just hearing that rattling sound now.

“There are twice as many as before.”

The number of skeleton soldiers looked to be sixty or seventy.

From now on, quite a lot of forces would have to be mobilized.

The members who participated in the 1st and 2nd rounds, including Choi Ho-joong, were also tired.

“How should we engage?”

This time it was Seo Ji-won’s turn to decide.

Although only the early part had passed, I could feel a sense of impatience from Seo Ji-won.

If he were to be pushed back by our Chamryongdan again, it would be a great disgrace.

“In your Chamryongdan, are there six members who haven’t participated yet?”

“Excluding me, that’s the case.”

“Then we will also send out six to match that number.”

Seo Ji-won was still putting up his pride.

“There’s no need to be so considerate. Since more expedition members were assigned to Myeongundan anyway, I have nothing to say even if you utilize your forces fully.”

But these words only got on Seo Ji-won’s nerves more.

Though that was my intention.

“I will send out six people. You guys prepare for battle too.”

I nodded my head.

There was no reason to refuse.

In a competition, it was necessary to make full use of situations like this.

“All six of you, get ready. You all remember what I said yesterday, right?”

I reminded the members of one important thing.

That if they performed to my liking today, I would teach them a new sword style.

“We remember!”

The bait worked well.

Everyone’s motivation was blazing.

But this time, it was an undeniable fact that our side was at a disadvantage.

Baek Ji-ah, who was sent out in the first round, was the most outstanding among the Chamryongdan newcomers, and Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon from the second round were the practical two pillars of our sword unit.

It didn't mean the rest were small fry, but Myeongundan was a much richer sword unit than ours in terms of quantity, and it was self-evident that the six selected from them would be qualitatively superior.

Nevertheless, I had no intention of being pushed back meekly.

“Everyone, form up as I instruct!”

Sometimes, tactics overcome a disadvantage in strength.

Unlike ordinary monsters that charged blindly, the skeleton soldiers fought with something of a battle line, so compared to Seo Ji-won’s sword unit, which was fighting in a free-for-all, our side had a clear advantage.

I continuously adjusted, controlled, and reorganized the positions of the six members.

Since I was giving instructions considering both the battle situation and their capabilities, there was no reason for them to fumble.

Seo Ji-won expressed his bewilderment as he watched me commanding like this.

“There’s no way you could have prepared for this situation, right?”

But since he had been humiliated twice, he wasn't just sneering.

Normally, he would have lectured me, rambling on about the dangers of impromptu command, but this time, it was just this. He too was being cautious.

Of course, I didn't bother to answer either.

All my senses were on full alert, and all of this would be proven by the results.

[Skeletons remaining: 144]

With the joint efforts of the two sword units, a third of the skeleton soldiers had already been cleared.

So far, Myeongundan's performance was more prominent.

A result that reflected the clear difference in strength that existed.

The sound of Seo Ji-won's breathing, who was watching from the side, became noticeably more relaxed.

“There's no need to overdo it, Seo Ji-han. Chamryongdan has shown a good performance so far.”

Words mixed with sincerity and deception.

But there was no reason to react to this.

The tide of the battle was gradually changing.

The time for that to become visually apparent was approaching.