Chapter 112 : Chapter 112
Chapter 112: Final Exams (4)
Jin-ho and the children, who were in Zone A, turned their steps toward another area to gather colleagues to fight together, putting the pork belly conquest aside for a moment.
The Supreme King, who remained in Zone A, put the last piece of pork belly into his mouth and spoke while looking at a tree.
“Big Brother! It seems the kids have gone somewhere else.”
[Confirmed. The students who were in Zone A are crossing over to Zone C.]
Yoo Jin's voice flowed out from the camera and small speaker attached to the tree.
“I didn’t know they would give up this quickly. One guy was quite interesting.”
[It seems they moved to Zone C under that child’s lead.]
“He’s smart. Judging that a fight isn’t feasible anyway. Is he trying to find another route immediately?”
[I don’t think so?]
“Yes?”
[If it’s him, he will come back. The guy you said was interesting. He is the kid I am training.]
At Yoo Jin's voice, a smile spread across the Samurai’s lips.
“No wonder.”
Running away?
Feeling the wall and bypassing it?
Knowing they can’t win and giving up?
No.
He will come back.
Finding a way to conquer him.
The Supreme King.
“Then I should grill the remaining pork belly a little later. Since they will definitely come back.”
The finals he was forced to participate in to repay the grace of Yoo jin who saved him.
Even if it was a prestigious school.
He had thought of it as a game for snot-nosed brats.
However.
The intuition to save his friends from his slash unleashed without warning.
Reaction speed.
Even after that, that child dodged all the slashes and commanded the children so that no one was injured.
Although they hadn’t fought properly yet…….
Just intriguing a Returnee was undoubtedly something amazing.
Especially.
“But Big Brother. That guy isn’t even a Returnee, so how does he possess Demonic Energy?”
[I don’t know. He had it from the moment we met?]
“Is that so?”
He had never heard of or seen such a case, but.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
Just.
“I thought I was just joining in on kids’ play. But it seems something more interesting than I thought will happen.”
An interesting smile spread across the Samurai’s lips for the first time in a long while.
***
Zone D.
The waterfall area where originally only Chan-yeong’s group was.
However, now, it had become a battle stage for Kang Tae-wook’s group from Zone B, and the barbarians who were deeply immersed in method acting, Seong-hyeon and the twins.
Bang!
The ice barrier shattered at Seong-hyeon’s fist.
Kang Tae-wook, who was behind the barrier, jumped back to widen the distance without a single change in his expression.
However, as soon as his feet landed, a giant sword flew in.
It was the twins’ Unique Skill.
A sword like a guided missile that moved freely.
On top of that, the power of the sword, made a hundred times heavier by Im Jong-sin’s skill, was a strength that could be dangerous even for Kang Tae-wook if he underestimated it.
Swoosh!
Boom!!!!
Kang Tae-wook dodged again as soon as his feet touched the ground.
Despite the tremendous barrage of attacks, not even a small crack was visible in Kang Tae-wook’s expression.
A calm expression.
He seemed to be saying with his face that this level was all within the expected range.
Unlike him, deep anger appeared on the faces of Seong-hyeon and the twins, who were continuously pouring out attacks.
“You jerk! Fight properly!”
“Don’t just dodge lightly like a loach!”
“How long are you going to just run away! Are you ignoring us warriors!”
“This is Sparta!”
“Oh!!!!”
Seong-hyeon and the twins continued to mention the warrior’s pride, even though they had already thrown away attacks that a savage barbarian would do to the dogs.
There was no method acting like this method acting.
Claiming it was a warrior’s pride, they took off all their shirts.
“Don’t run away and fight properly!”
“It’s a warrior’s shame!”
“Risk your life and fight!”
“This is Sparta!”
Seong-hyeon and the twins raised two fists high into the sky while shirtless.
Kang Tae-wook, who captured that appearance in his eyes, shook his head.
“Geez, you aren’t even elementary schoolers. Why are you getting so worked up?”
Snap!
Seong-hyeon and the twins’ expressions crumpled violently.
How many times had they heard those words already?
Not just today, but during the school trip before, and before that, and before that too…….
That guy Kang Tae-wook attacked them, calling them childish elementary schoolers while wearing a lofty expression.
Pent-up anger that had accumulated to the limit.
How many times had they held back.
Seong-hyeon and the twins thought they had to flatten his nose this time.
“I guess this is what an unavoidable fight is.”
“We will risk our lives. So you, too, don’t run away and risk your life!”
“Taewoon High’s top prospect! How long will you rely only on that name? You’ve never even fought us properly!”
It was true.
Kang Tae-wook.
Top prospect.
However, the twins were also A-Rank Awakened.
On top of that, Seong-hyeon was also a potential-filled A-Rank who took 2nd place in the entrance exam.
They had never fought properly.
“Don’t tell me you… are running away because you’re afraid you’ll lose if you fight the three of us?”
A provocation ringing low.
However, Kang Tae-wook was properly provoked by that small voice.
“These guys…… I dealt with you roughly so….”
Crackle!
Crackle!
Orange Demonic Energy began to ignite around Kang Tae-wook’s body.
“Since you were playing bandits, I was just trying to help you come to your senses. You guys are hopeless.”
A cold expression that changed in an instant.
It had been a long time.
That expression.
Jin-ho and Yoo jin.
The expression that wasn't seen often after becoming close with them.
The expression of the strong looking down at something infinitely low was formed on Kang Tae-wook.
“You think only you guys haven’t fought properly until now?”
Seong-hyeon, whose power was taken away.
And the twins’ Unique Skill used with all their might.
They thought Kang Tae-wook didn’t know their strength used with all their might at all.
However.
There was one big miscalculation.
Kang Tae-wook recalled the gourd training with Yoo jin after school.
“The one who didn’t use real strength. It wasn’t you guys… it was me.”
As soon as Kang Tae-wook’s words ended.
Crack!
Cr-cr-crack!!!!!!
Seong-hyeon and the twins froze just like that.
Not just them, but everything…….
The sound of the waterfall that was ringing in Zone D could no longer be heard.
***
5 minutes later.
The barbarians trapped in ice were shivering on the ground.
“Ah… Cold…….”
“I think my heart isn’t beating…….”
“If your heart doesn’t beat, you die, you idiot…….”
Even while shivering, they found the shirts they had thrown off and covered themselves like blankets.
“Wa…… Warriors don’t die.”
“This is Spar……ta…….”
“U…oh…….”
Chan-yeong and the children who were watching that scene shook their heads.
Chan-yeong, who was looking at the fallen bandits, shifted his gaze to Kang Tae-wook.
“Thanks. Tae-wook.”
“It’s not enough to hear thanks. I just helped those idiots who were dancing to Teacher Yoo Jin's words come to their senses.”
“…….”
It didn’t seem like that.
That was true at first.
Later, it seemed like he got provoked and froze the kids overwhelmingly…….
But he couldn’t say those words.
Chan-yeong turned his head.
The giant waterfall had hardened and frozen.
“…….”
He kept his mouth shut because it was obvious what would happen if he said he got provoked.
‘Still, he’s amazing. To defeat three A-Ranks in an instant…… Didn’t he become stronger?’
Even if they used the power of anger, Kang Tae-wook’s skill in subduing three A-Ranks in an instant was truly overwhelming.
Seong-hyeon and the twins are also quite strong Awakened among A-Ranks…….
Is the difference between A-Ranks this big?
Originally?
Chan-yeong looked at Kang Tae-wook with eyes of awe.
Regardless of that, Kang Tae-wook spoke with a refreshed expression after teaching Seong-hyeon and the twins a true lesson.
“Then was all your food stolen?”
“Huh? Oh… The kids ate it all.”
Kang Tae-wook looked at the bandit bastards shivering on the ground and sighed deeply.
“Hah… I think Teacher Yoo jin really did this on purpose. Knowing these idiots would definitely steal and eat the food…….”
Kang Tae-wook, who crumpled his brow, said to Chan-yeong and his team members.
“First, you guys travel with us.”
“Really? Is that okay? Aren’t we just getting in the way?”
“What do you mean in the way.”
“Teacher said so, from now on if we see other teams, recognize them as barbarians or other races. If other kids attack…… And rather than that, we don’t have food either, so I feel like only you guys will suffer damage…….”
“Don’t mind it. Do you think I’ll get beaten by other teams?”
Kang Tae-wook and Chan-yeong’s gazes touched the twins and Seong-hyeon who had fallen on the ground.
Three A-Ranks.
Although they are idiots, they are kids whose strength is certain.
Chan-yeong nodded his head.
“And don’t worry about food. There is no way Teacher Yoo Jin, who likes these kinds of events, wouldn’t have placed food. Well… there will be traps, though.”
“That could be…… But why are you helping?”
At Chan-yeong’s innocent question, Kang Tae-wook’s head turned toward Chan-yeong.
“Just.”
“Huh……?”
“Just…… I got that feeling. He divided the teams, but actually, despite that, everyone gathering together and surviving…… I wondered if that isn’t the only correct answer.”
“…….”
“No, well. I, I didn’t think that, but. Just looking at Teacher Yoo Jin until now, I thought it, it would be like that…….”
Kang Tae-wook stuttering as if embarrassed.
Chan-yeong standing dumbfounded.
And just in time, Kang Tae-wook’s team members who were above arrived at where they were.
“First, I’ll tell the kids we’re going together and come back. Make those idiots come to their senses a bit.”
Thud.
Thud.
Chan-yeong watching Kang Tae-wook’s back as he walked away.
A faint smile spread across his mouth, which had only been making a dumbfounded expression.
“He also…… has changed a lot.”
***
Zone C.
The rainy season area where rain falls without ceasing.
Ye-na was there.
“Found it.”
A smile formed on her face, which had been dark for a while.
Only then did expressions of relief form on the faces of the children following her.
Cave.
A cave was visible before their eyes.
Hope that would block the rain falling without ceasing.
With Ye-na in the lead, the children went inside the cave.
The inside wasn’t an environment that could be called very pleasant.
However.
“Phew… This is practically a hotel.”
“I’m thankful just for blocking the rain. When we were under the tree earlier, it didn’t even feel like we were avoiding the rain.”
“The floor is decent too. It’s flat.”
Whether it was because only positive children were gathered.
Or because the leader Ye-na was positive.
If not that, perhaps it was because they had been hit by rain without ceasing since falling into Zone C.
The children were quite satisfied with this cave.
“First, let’s dry our wet clothes.”
As soon as Ye-na’s voice fell, one team member slowly moved toward the center of the cave.
And then put his two hands together and closed his eyes.
Then, a small tree growing from his hands.
The student placed the tree on the ground as it was and cut it into a suitable size.
“The wood is done.”
“Oh, amazing ability.”
“What’s the use, in combat… it’s not much help.”
“No, it’s a totally, totally good skill.”
The children and Ye-na gave a thumbs up.
Following that, Ye-na went to where the wood was piled up and took out two daggers from her pocket.
And then.
Clang!
Clang!
She was trying to create sparks by striking the daggers together.
After quite some time passed like that.
Whoosh!
The wood caught fire.
“Phew…….”
Ye-na, checking that appearance, wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“It’s not easy since there’s no fire user.”
“No, it’s totally amazing, Ye-na.”
“With this, the place to stay is complete?”
“Our team really matches so well.”
Hehehe.
Laughter bloomed on the children’s faces.
“First, let’s hurry and sit together. Let’s dry our clothes first.”
“Ah, warm.”
Expressions of relief formed on the faces of Ye-na and the children sitting gathered around the burning embers.
“I think it would be okay to endure a day here?”
“We don’t have to fight either.”
“As for food, I originally eat small portions. I think I could endure a day with just one rice roll too…….”
The children’s gazes turned to Ye-na.
First of all, the leader of this team was Ye-na.
Ye-na’s choice would be important.
“Well, I also think it’s not a bad choice. I hate fighting with friends too. And since we have fire like this, I think one day will be okay.”
“Really? Then it’s decided.”
“I think we’ll survive the most comfortably?”
“Yeah. Hahahaha.”
Laughter bloomed on the students’ faces.
Peace.
Safety.
It felt like they had found a choice safer and more comfortable than any other group.
Yes.
It turned out well.
Everything turned out well.
Because the test was to survive.
Without fighting.
Without discord among team members.
Yes.
This is decent.
“…….”
Ye-na wore a smile while hiding her emotions like that.
Thud!
At that moment.
A presence was felt.
Someone entered the entrance of the cave.