Seo Ye-in generally didnt talk too much and Song Cheon-hye seed slightly uncomfortable and awkward around her.
And so, the two mostly ate their bagel sandwiches in silence while Han So-mi and I who were unconcerned with such matters led the conversation.
A trivial question erged.
Are you enjoying the sweets?
Yes, theyre delicious! Really! Where did you buy them?
I risked my life by entering a very dangerous place to get these. A lot of people were sacrificed because of it.
No way!
Han So-mi feigned shock and then giggled imdiately.
She seed to take my comnt as a joke.
After all, how could she guess I had gone into the Black Death dungeon to get them?
Theyre not only tasty but also plentiful, right?
Yeah, I havent even eaten half of them yet!
Thats actually on purpose. Its a bribe. Maybe itll earn a pass if I break the school rules later?
That wont work.
No luck there. Too bad.
Ill spar with Go Hyun-woo occasionally!
Thatll do.
I was only half joking about the bribe, and since I had already achieved my goal of getting Han So-mi to spar with Go Hyun-woo, I was satisfied with that.
Trivial question number two.
I gestured towards Song Cheon-hye and asked.
Im curious about sothing else. Between you and Song Cheon-hye, who ate more sweets?
!
Just then, Song Cheon-hye who was taking a big bite of her bagel sandwich looked up and her pupils darted around dramatically after hearing my question.
She hurriedly started chewing to clear her mouth but Han So-mi did not wait for her to finish.
Cheon-hye ate more.
Really? By how much?
I dont know, just a lot!
I nodded as if convinced.
I knew it from the mont she said, Just give it to instead. There was always an ulterior motive.
Cheon-hye really likes sweet things!
!
Overwheld by the combined pressure from Han So-mi and , Song Cheon-hye struggled to regain her composure.
She had just managed to swallow what was in her mouth and was about to argue her point but the conversation had long since moved on to another topic.
Making excuses now would just make her sound more guilty.
She sighed softly, visibly frustrated and with a sense of defeat.
Anyway, I felt it was ti to discuss strategy so I turned to Song Cheon-hye.
Did you review yesterdays strategy battle?
Yes, I did.
Since we failed with just a minute to spare, it seems we might stick with the sa broad approach.
I think so too.
Given that we had nearly completed the full 10 minutes, there was no imdiate need to change our strategy.
Repeating the sa setup and improving our proficiency seed like a better choice.
After only two attempts, there was still considerable room for improvent.
Maybe focusing on just the Beheader Goblin would do?
At the ntion of the Beheader Goblin Song Cheon-hyes body flinched.
It seed that the scene from yesterday had flashed before her eyes for a mont.
The cleaver filled with mana spun through the air and cleaved the statues waist with a loud crack.
After it was over, I asked Senior Dang Gyu-young, and she said it wasnt intentional.
It was too elaborate to have been intentional.
Song Cheon-hye spoke in a calm tone as if she had already guessed as much.
However, her expression relaxed to the point where it was visible that she was relieved by my words.
But similar incidents could happen anyti in the future.
Song Cheon-hyes expression that began to relax tensed up again.
From what I understood last week, Dang Gyu-young is rciless only when it cos to ntoring.
If a weakness is exposed, she ruthlessly drills into it until its improved.
In other words, she believes in tough training.
So, if a similar situation popped up again, she would undoubtedly give the sa order.
That ant the Beheader Goblin would definitely throw the cleaver again.
It doesnt seem like you brought up the Beheader Goblin just casually, it sounds like you have an alternative plan.
Of course, there is one.
Song Cheon-hye waited for the next words with serious eyes.
I spoke as if revealing a major secret with a gravely serious tone.
Just watch it carefully and block it.
Huh?
Just watch it and block it, thats all.
Is that the alternative plan?
Its a very traditional solution, but its effective, right?
When I sought agreent from Han So-mi, she imdiately chid in.
She moved her hands quickly and said,
Right! Just watch it like thiis, and then, block like this!
Song Cheon-hyes face soured.
It was clear she was thinking, I shouldnt have expected much from this bunch
But then she shifted her gaze between Han So-mi and before she seed to realize that our words were not just a joke and returned to a serious expression to ask,
Can you explain in more detail instead of just watch and block?
Do you rember? What the Beheader Goblin did before throwing the cleaver.
Song Cheon-hye paused to recall as she stared down at her bagel sandwich.
She might have replayed the scene of the statue breaking dozens of tis, but she hadnt deeply considered what had happened before that.
Her furrowed brows slowly began to rise as she thought.
Now that I think about it
Aaaaaaahhh!
In her mory, the Beheader Goblin roared.
And then after gathering all the remaining mana into the cleaver in its hand, it threw it with all its might at the statue.
This ant the advice to watch and block had this implication.
There was a preparatory action.
Thats right.
There was a significant movent just before the cleaver was thrown.
Recognizing and responding to that could prevent mishaps like yesterdays one.
Alright. Lets try that approach in our next attempt.
Song Cheon-hye checked the ti and exchanged glances with Han So-mi.
And they simultaneously rose from their seats.
We have a disciplinary committees duty, so well head out first. See you in class.
Bye! See you later!
Han So-mi waved cheerfully as she left just as she did when she first ca.
.
Seo Ye-in had been silently focusing on her breakfast all this while.
The bagel sandwich wasnt stacked as plumply as usual, and despite eating quietly and steadily, it seed like she wasnt making much progress.
Watching the two figures drift further away, she turned towards and asked,
Who do you think will win?
If Song Cheon-hye and you face off again?
Mhmm.
Hmm
I couldnt definitively say who would win this ti.
In terms of skills and traits, Song Cheon-hye was far ahead.
Seo Ye-in was rapidly growing stronger but Song Cheon-hyes talent was also of a level that could definitely be considered genius.
Thus, the gap between the two wouldnt close overnight.
Thats why you wont know until you try.
Mhmm
One thing is certain, though. If you keep training hard, youll eventually win.
Even if it wasnt possible overnight, as long as she didnt stop and kept moving forward, she would surely surpass Song Cheon-hye soday.
Seo Ye-in t my gaze and then nodded her head slightly.
Ill work hard, I understand.
Although there was no sign of Ahn Jeong-mi nearby, it seed as if soone was wiping away tears in a touching mont sowhere.
***
Song Cheon-hye was deep in thought even as she moved.
She repeated the words she had just heard to herself like a mantra.
Watch it and block it?
Its waatch, it, and blooock, it!
Han So-mi corrected it as if sothing was slightly off.
That didnt seem very helpful.
Song Cheon-hye recalled Kim Hos advice.
Watch the preparatory action and block it.
It was an unexpected blind spot that the Beheader Goblins movents grew larger right before throwing the cleaver.
It was such simple information that it was surprising how she had missed it, and if Kim Ho hadnt ntioned it, it would have taken much longer for her to realize.
However, seeing the preparatory action and blocking it was only theoretical, and how it would pan out in actual combat was uncertain.
Watch, it, and block
The concept sounded simple, but could it really be done?
To be honest, Song Cheon-hyes mind had not been fully present throughout this entire battle.
There were just too many things to worry about.
She had to continuously inject mana into the magic circle, cast one spell after another, ensure those spells accurately hit their targets, prevent any goblins from getting through, and exchange blows with the executioner
Trying to manage all these tasks at once was overwhelming.
And now, she had to add read and respond to the Beheader Goblins patterns to her list of objectives.
The movents might be large, but catching that brief mont during a frantic battle was not going to be easy.
Its tough, but I have to try. No, I have to do it.
Song Cheon-hye made up her mind.
Do your best in any situation.
That was the way of the Thunder Lord and it was also the way of Song Cheon-hye who had inherited his will.
Her nurous experiences so far have proven that the thod wasnt wrong, and it will be the sa this ti as well.
That aside
Song Cheon-hye shifted her gaze to the right.
What is she so excited about? Han So-mi humd a tune and walked with light steps as if she was flying.
Song Cheon-hyes gaze turned sharply colder as she looked at her.
This was because she rembered being suddenly attacked by Kim Ho and Han So-mi in a combined assault just as she had taken a big bite of her bagel sandwich.
Between you and Song Cheon-hye, who ate more sweets?
Cheon-hye ate more.
I thought so, there was always an ulterior motive.
Cheon-hye really likes sweet things!
Song Cheon-hye herself knew better than anyone else that Han So-mi was an untainted and pure soul.
But even so, arent there things you should and shouldnt say in front of soone youre not even close with?
Are you trying to make look like Im obsessed with sweets?
There may have been no malice behind her words but it was certainly an issue that needed to be addressed at least once.
Just now, you
Just as Song Cheon-hye was about to start nagging,
Han So-mi rummaged through her inventory and pulled out a snack she had received from Kim Ho.
A dried fruit gift set.
Cheon-hye, want so dried peach?
Ill have so.
Upon reflection, it seed that the nagging could wait.
Song Cheon-hye was infinitely generous when it ca to sweets.
***
After school.
Just like the day before, we gathered at the dungeon building.
Today, the pair of Kwak Ji-cheol and Hong Yeon-hwa had entered the temple first and were currently attempting the challenge, while Song Cheon-hye and I were in a waiting position.
Since we had already sowhat decided on our course of action in the morning, there was no need to discuss further, and it wasnt as if we were on terms to engage in friendly everyday conversation.
So, while waiting aimlessly and casting glances here and there,
Waatch
Song Cheon-hye who was lost in deep thought muttered to herself.
It seed that what had been rely in her head had inadvertently slipped out.
When I subtly turned my head to look at her, she pressed her lips tightly together and maintained a poker face.
As I continued to stare, she seed puzzled and asked,
Why are you looking at like that?
and block it. Thats exactly it.
.
Song Cheon-hye continued to keep a poker face as if she didnt understand what I just said.
However, her face gradually turned redder as if she couldnt help it.
Fortunately, the embarrassing mont quickly passed.
The portal opened, and Kwak Ji-cheol and Hong Yeon-hwa erged.
They seed much happier than usual which ant their strategy battle went well.
The typically tense atmosphere between them had also beco much more friendly.
I threw a short question to Kwak Ji-cheol to confirm,
Success?
Thats right.
This guy who didnt talk much last week answered confidently.
It seed he had gained so confidence, perhaps certain they were ahead of us.
Hong Yeon-hwa, though she said nothing, clearly carried an air of heightened pride.
When our eyes t, she montarily turned humble, then looked at Song Cheon-hye with a triumphant expression.
.
Song Cheon-hyes reaction remained indifferent as ever.
Yet, to my eyes, it seed she was straining not to let her poker face slip.
Shall we go in too? Its about ti we succeeded, isnt it?
I casually asked,
Yes. Lets ensure success this ti.
Song Cheon-hye seed to want to get out of this place as quickly as possible and she dragged along before entering the dungeon together.
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