One of the three skills I acquired as a special perk from the reincarnation quest was [Amplification].
It had the effect of raising the rank of a designated skill for the duration it was active.
For instance, my current F-rank [Amplification] could raise a skills rank by two levels for one minute.
An E-rank would beco a C-rank, and a C-rank would turn into an A-rank.
The skill was powerful enough to warrant its one-hour cooldown ti, despite being active for only a minute.
Swoosh!!
Contrary to monts before when Go Hyeon-woo was relentlessly pushed back each ti their weapons clashed, he now stood his ground steadfastly, like a steel tower.
The sword sheath he gripped was swathed in a swirling blue energy.
This was only possible because the rank of his [Core] had risen from E to C.
Rather than just defend he now launched into an aggressive offense.
Han So-mi looked to be montarily flustered by the sudden surge in Go Hyeon-woos montum. However, she quickly regained her composure and dodged each of the incoming attacks before striking back.
The exchange between the two beca much faster and more intense.
So much so that you couldnt even see their movents if you didnt concentrate.
Impressive.
Although one might expect Go Hyeon-woo to struggle with the sudden surge in mana, he adeptly managed it as if it had always been his own.
Like a fish that had found water.
I wish I could see his swordsmanship a bit more too.
[Duration 00:00:16]
That was probably asking for too much.
No matter what I wanted to see, there were limits with just one minute.
And it seed likely that the outco would be decided even before the duration ended.
Crack
Damn!
Go Hyeon-woo, in the midst of fighting, looked down abruptly.
His sword sheath had developed web-like cracks.
The very small crack that appeared while blocking Han So-mis blow continued to grow and eventually beca like this.
Soon, the iron sword, along with a final cracking sound, broke in two along with its sheath.
If the material had been just a bit better, it might have withstood the attacks without cracking.
This was the limit of a cheap iron sword.
Ive seen enough for now.
It had been quite an insightful ti.
I uncapped the [Dark Ice Crystal] and poured its contents into my mouth in one go.
Wha-!!
Han So-mi was shocked at this scene.
She closed the distance in a flash and grabbed my hand, but the dark blue crystals had already vanished into my stomach.
Her face turned deathly pale.
You, you ate that If you eat it
What happens if you eat it?
At first, it feels as refreshing as gulping down a glass of ice.
But gradually, that coolness turns into a bone-chilling cold.
A sensation of everything inside, starting with the inner organs, freezing.
[Freezing status ailnt is applied.]
For beginners first starting , this Dark Ice Crystal is extrely deadly.
Even a piece as small as a fingernail can turn soone into an ice statue in an instant.
Of course, Im an exception.
I possessed the S-rank [Elental Resistance] after all.
[Freezing status ailnt is removed.]
[Freezing status ailnt is applied.]
[Freezing status ailnt is removed.]
.
The dark ice crystals continued to emit cold air, but it was imdiately neutralized as if it were nothing.
While the chilling effect that harms players faded away, the imnse energy contained in the crystal remained undiminished.
This energy accumulated steadily within my body.
The difference between poison and elixir is just a thin line.
If one could control the side effects of the poison, wouldnt it beco an elixir?
If the [Purgatory Lava] had appeared instead of the [Dark Ice Crystal], my body would have similarly tad the flas and made them my own.
From the start, my confidence in [Elental Resistance] led to seek out this hidden piece.
Han So-mis face remained deathly pale.
She must have had so idea about the true nature of this dark ice crystal.
At the very least, she knew it was a dangerous item that students should neither possess nor consu.
So she must have expected to freeze or collapse.
But as I just stood there, her complexion slowly returned to normal.
She asked while carefully examining my face.
Are you okay?
Cough!
The mont Han So-mi asked if I was okay, I clutched my throat with both hands and contorted my face in agony.
Then I began to tremble violently, bending my body more and more.
Kim-hyung!
Uh, Uh, Ill go call the others right away!
Just as Han So-mi was about to kick off from her spot to leave,
I returned to a relaxed expression and a normal posture as if nothing had happened.
that was just an act.
Ah!!
Hahaha. Kim-hyung, thats too much of a prank.
Han So-mi who realized that she had been fooled pointed her finger at angrily, while Go Hyeon-woo burst into laughter.
I showed Han So-mi the empty bottle, shaking it.
I dont know what you thought it was, but this isnt it, right? Didnt you see it wrong?
Is that so?
[Freezing status ailnt is removed.]
[Freezing status abnormality is applied.]
Even now at this very mont, a battle was still raging inside my body, but there was no need to divulge that fact to the others.
Han So-mi took the empty bottle from and examined it closely.
However, since every last crumb of its contents had already entered my stomach, her effort was in vain.
It cant be; it was definitely that item.
Im telling you, you saw it wrong.
There seed to be no clear evidence so I maintained my stance to the end.
Han So-mi had a very suspicious expression but theres only so much one can do with suspicion alone.
She eventually had no choice but to pout her lips and to let us go.
Both of you return to your cabin. Dont ever use this again. Dont even co near it!
Alright. Sorry for the trouble we caused. Here, drink this on your way.
I casually offered her a [Vitamin Drink (E)] that ca from the slot machine.
As per the description, it was good for skin care.
Han So-mi quickly snatched the vitamin drink from my hand.
I dont care; Ill tell Cheon Hye about all of this.
Lets go.
Miss Han, it was a good match. Until next ti, then.
Even as we left, Go Hyeon-woo courteously showed his respect.
As I was walking, I felt a stinging sensation in the back of my head and looked back to see Han So-mi still glaring at us.
When our eyes t, she tried hard to muster a scary expression while narrowing her eyes but it didnt quite work out.
She just looked cute.
* * *
Do you think Miss Han was convinced?
No way. It was blatant deception; if she was convinced, shed be a fool.
Then she will probably confront us again soon.
Absolutely. Even if Han So-mi lets it slide, the disciplinary committee wont stay quiet.
Was it worth it, though?
He ant whether the risk of friction with the disciplinary committee and the possibility of receiving derit points at the start of the sester was worth it.
Well, even if you call it friction, nobody got hurt, and its not like this will turn them completely against us. Compared to what we gained, its a minor issue.
Hmm Theres so logic to that. Miss Han didnt seem too upset either. So, what was the real nature of that glass bottle?
Its a long story, but to put it simply, its like an elixir. Eating it builds up mana.
I opened my palm to show him.
A handful of mana swirled and then vanished above my hand.
Go Hyeon-woo nodded in agreent.
Indeed, if the only cost of this Elixir is minor friction, then its a profitable deal. I feel satisfaction in having helped Kim-hyung.
Normally, we wouldnt even cross paths with the disciplinary committee, let alone have a conflict. But this ti, we were just unlucky. Still, thanks to you holding her down, we managed well.
Haha For , it was like killing two birds with one stone. I got to help Kim-hyung and also got a glimpse of the swordsmanship of the Sword Marquis. Plus, thanks to Kim-hyungs help, I could fight evenly with Miss Han until the end.
Thanks to the [Amplification] that enhanced his core rank, he managed to exchange blows for nearly a minute with an opponent who would have defeated him quickly otherwise.
There was a lot to be gained just by reliving that battle.
Go Hyeon-woo clenched and unclenched his fists as if he had a lingering feeling of that overflowing power, and then asked cautiously.
If its not too much to ask could I witness Kim-hyungs technique again?
Not now. Its a skill with limitations, so I cant use it that frequently.
There was also a one-hour cooldown in effect, and even if there wasnt, I had no intention of revealing my full capabilities so carelessly.
Offering more serious support is sothing Ill consider after weve built up more trust.
Go Hyeon-woo looked to be disappointed but he nodded his head in understanding.
It cant be helped then. I expected that since it was such a powerful technique, there would definitely be so limitations.
Its not just for today. There will be other opportunities to use it in the future. Also,
I handed over the [Mana 2%(D)] that had luckily dropped from the slot machine.
This also ca out. Its your share.
!
As Go Hyeon-woo examined the item description, his eyes widened in surprise.
[Mana 2% (D)]
Contains condensed mana.
Slightly increases maximum mana when consud.
Im not sure if I should accept such a valuable item.
Ive received a lot of help from you, and you lent 1 silver coin earlier. Its only fair to give you this in return.
Still Compared to 1 silver coin, this seems too generous.
If Go Hyeon-woo hadnt lent his strength, the plan with the slot machine would have fallen apart as soon as we ran into Han So-mi.
Since I was able to drink the [Dark Ice Crystal] giving him such item was not at all regrettable.
However, Go Hyeon-woo seed hesitant to accept it.
I playfully tapped his shoulder.
Just take it. If it bothers you that much, buy a al soti.
That seems fair to my conscience. I think I saw a snack corner on the way here. How about I buy so snacks from there?
Sounds good to .
With light steps, we headed towards the snack corner.
***
When we returned, Seo Ye-in was still lying face down on the table, wandering in dreamland.
As we started to open the snacks we picked up from the snack corner, she finally began to stir from her sleep.
Her eyes were half-open, but she was still half-asleep.
Youre awake.
Would you like so, Miss Seo?
Yeah.
Her slender, pale hand briefly fumbled among the snacks before picking up a stick-shaped one.
Seo Ye-in brought it to her mouth and started nibbling at it, starting from the tip.
As I watched her eat more and more, I realized that she preferred light over just sweet.
It wasnt a mistake that her homade cookies lacked sugar; it was purely her taste preference.
Ooh, what are these sweets made of? They have a truly unique flavor.
On the other hand, Go Hyeon-woo would put any snack in his mouth regardless of whether it was light, sweet, spicy, or salty.
He popped them into his mouth without hesitation, savoring each one and exclaiming in delight.
Is it that good?
Since my sect is deep in the mountains, we rarely get a chance to try such things. Now and then, gifts from my masters close friends were all we got.
Yeah, it cant be helped for a sect deep in the mountains.
I pushed the snack bag toward him.
Go Hyeon-woo, who was savoring a chicken leg-shaped snack, suddenly looked out the window and asked,
How much longer until we arrive?
Almost there, I think?
The reason I answered that way was because everything outside the window was blue.
A lake so vast it reminded one of the sea.
The train had been crossing the middle of this enormous lake for so ti.
Looking out the window, it almost seed as though the train was running on water, but in reality, it was traveling on tracks laid shallowly on the waters surface.
I pointed toward an island with only a vague outline visible in front of us.
We just need to get there, so it wont be long.
Indeed, we should arrive in no more than a quarter of an hour.
The huge lake and the island at its center.
A strange island made up of countless dungeons, called Dungeon Island, was the final stop of this train.
In the past, Dungeon Island was a lawless zone swarming with all sorts of criminals.
From the perspective of soone fleeing, they just need to select and hide in a dungeon with a moderate level of danger.
On the other hand, those in pursuit had to first figure out which dungeon the escaping fugitive was hiding in, and even if they were lucky to find it, a complicated chase awaited them inside the dungeon.
Therefore, it was a place that was abandoned as a lawless area for a long ti.
Then one day, the first hero and dragon slayer set foot on this Dungeon Island.
He swept away all the criminals without leaving any behind.
He conquered the dungeons completely.
He founded a city and established an academy.
This was the Dragon Slayer Academy.
The once blurry image of Dungeon Island gradually beca clearer.
As the land neared, the train slowed down, and by the ti the blue view outside the window transford into well-paved roads, the train finally ca to a complete stop.
Go Hyeon-woo had been reveling in his own snack festival among the bags of snacks until then.
When it was ti to leave, he gathered the bags together and crushed them into one bundle, even though he still had quite a bit of snacks left.
He tossed the combined mass lightly into a trash bin and declared,
Weve arrived. Lets get up.
Seo Ye-in, who had been dozing off and on, stretched herself in her seat.
Her clothes are all ssed up, likely because she slept against the table or wall.
I couldnt help myself and tugged at her clothes to straighten them out.
Upon disembarking from the train, we were surrounded by a bustling crowd of students.
A red-haired female students wand sparked with a small fla.
A palm-sized cat was perched on the shoulder of a timid-looking girl.
It was swiping at the continuously passing students with tiny ow punches.
Everyones individuality was so pronounced that finding soone ordinary seed like a more difficult task.
The presence of so many distinctly unique students in one place only added to the sense of chaos.
First years! First years, this way!
Dont co this way! Dont follow the upperclassn!
Hey, grab that one!
Senior students wearing disciplinary committee armbands were waving their batons and shouting at the top of their lungs.
Because the second-and third-year students and freshn had different destinations, the seniors stopped the freshn who were attempting to follow them and guided them in a specific direction.
Having been to the island more than once, I could navigate Dungeon Island with my eyes closed.
Following the disciplinary committee mbers directions led to a large auditorium where the entrance ceremony would be held.
The three of us were simply following the student ahead, focusing only on the back of their head.
However, along the way soone blocked our path.
Song Cheon-hye crossed her arms and glared at with an expression that scread, Ive caught you red-handed!
Sparks of faint electricity crackled from the glove she wore on one of her hands as if she was putting on a show of force.
Ninety-nine out of a hundred, she must have co to confront because of the incident that happened at the slot machine earlier.
Though there was no concrete evidence on her side,
It seed neat from my perspective to tie up loose ends here and now.
Please, follow for a mont.
Do I have to accompany you as well?
When Go Hyeon-woo asked, Song Cheon-hye shifted her gaze to him.
I heard you sparred with So-mi.
Upon hearing that she was the disciple of the sword marquis, I couldnt help but feel a sense of rivalry.
Next ti, I would appreciate it if you could discern the ti and place more appropriately. If a similar incident occurs again, I wont let it slide so easily.
Ill bear that in mind.
It seems this ti she chose not to make an issue out of the fact that he helped .
Thats good.
I waved lightly at Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in.
Dont worry, go ahead without .
I understand. Well save you a seat. Miss Seo.
Seo Ye-in, with her sleepy eyes that made it hard to guess her thoughts, alternated her gaze between and Song Cheon-hye.
When Go Hyeon-woo urged her, she nodded her head slightly and then headed towards the auditorium with him.
As I watched the two of them walk away, Song Cheon-hye also started to move.
This way.
Lets go.
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