Chapter 13 - Chapter 13

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: Challenge Task

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"Huh? What's going on here?"

The Saintess let out a startled cry of confusion.

I leaned my back against the wall of the restaurant hall, keeping my eyes fixed straight ahead.

Beyond the flickering faint light, countless monsters were staring right at us.

"Ha-na, keep a close eye on your side. Don't look away no matter what. The moment you let them out of your sight, they'll charge at you with insane speed and plunge a knife into your gut."

"Pardon?"

"Those things can only move when they're out of our sight. As long as we keep watching them, they can't take a single step."

"W-what the heck are those things?"

Shadow Monsters.

Special monsters that only appear in [Challenge Tasks], boasting tremendous specs.

They possessed the monstrous strength and speed to turn a person into mincemeat in an instant.

To face them head-on, you'd need at least 200 Agility.

With our current specs, that's absolutely impossible.

The one saving grace was that they couldn't move while we stared them down.

This is a headache.

This was originally a task meant for four or more people.

I'd messed up thinking this was the first rest area.

The locals had showered us with favors, so I'd naively accepted with a 'how tough could it be?' attitude. That was my mistake.

"Is this a Trial too?"

"No."

It was different from Trials. This was a rest area, a place to prepare for future Trials.

Thus, [Challenge Tasks] were a sort of 'training system' where players trained and claimed rewards to gear up for Trials.

But if you die, that's it.

In polite terms, it was realistic training. Bluntly put, it was a trap.

A gruesome snare luring in the greedy with enticing rewards and devouring them.

The Selection Process was full of such traps.

Of course, to top-tier S-Ranks, they were thrilling reward hunts—but that didn't apply to me right now.

A task spawning Shadow Monsters is at least C-Rank difficulty.

Even worse, [Challenge Tasks] didn't tell you the objective. You had to figure out how to clear it yourself.

Luckily, I already knew about this one...

Kikigik.

Suddenly, with a eerie sound, the black shadows leaped forward in an instant, closing right up to us.

"Eek!"

"Song Ha-na, don't take your eyes off them for a second! Not even a blink!"

Song Ha-na must have blinked once, because in that brief moment, the monsters on her side all narrowed the gap to five meters.

We'd nearly gotten diced into meat chunks.

"H-how long do we have to keep our eyes open like this?"

"Just hold on a bit longer."

Damn it. If we could move to a corner of the building, it'd be easier.

We'd somehow made it to the central hall wall with our backs against it, but now we had to watch left, right, and front—a real pain.

In short, the moment any one of us blinked, a gruesome end would come.

But the real headache was how to end this Challenge Task.

One of these Shadow Monsters is the real deal.

Kill it, and the task ends.

Normally, four people back-to-back, watching for incoming enemies from all sides and picking them off one by one—that's how you clear it.

A task you bulldoze with sheer numbers.

But with just two of us, we can't even approach.

Step away from the wall, and blind spots multiply.

Throwing axes one by one? We'd blink and get murdered before finding the real one.

Sure enough, my eyes were already starting to itch.

Song Ha-na shouted too.

"I-I can't hold out much longer..."

Absolute crisis.

Then, a sudden idea flashed through my mind.

"Ha-na, there's one monster farthest away in your field of view, right?"

"Y-yes."

"Try hitting it with Heal."

"H-heal? On a monster?"

"Yes."

Our dutiful Saintess didn't question my request and immediately used her ability.

In that instant, a burst of pure white light exploded from outside our vision, flooding the dark restaurant with brilliance.

The Shadow Monsters, previously hidden in the gloom and barely visible, all came into sharp focus.

"Keep going until I say stop. And don't close your eyes."

"O-okay."

Flash. Flash. Our vision brightened then darkened repeatedly. The monsters appeared and vanished in rhythm.

Where is it.

I scanned the monsters in the hall. The real one was definitely hiding among them.

Flash.

Where the hell is it.

My eyes rapidly swept over their forms, then froze on one.

Found it.

I drew the axe from my thigh and hurled it with all my might. It flew true, embedding perfectly in the forehead of one shadow.

Srrrrk.

"Huh? The shadows are disappearing."

The Shadow Monsters began sinking into the floor like they were being sucked away, vanishing en masse.

The dim restaurant lights brightened, the eerie atmosphere fading as the hall regained its luxurious, warm ambiance.

"Phew."

"Is it over?"

"Yeah, luckily."

"How?"

Simple. I activated [Full Appraisal], and the fakes and real one stood out clearly.

Info Window

Name: Gloomy Specter (True Body)

Having the Saintess use Recovery to light up the darkness let me pinpoint exactly whose info window this was.

Even thinking back, it's ridiculous. Who knew we'd clear this Challenge Task so easily?

No, I couldn't call it easy.

Tension released, I collapsed next to the Saintess, who had slumped to the floor.

Smart as ever, she was casting Recovery on herself to loosen her stiffened muscles since her legs wouldn't move.

Scaredy-cat, but clever Saintess.

"Huh?"

She turned to me and her eyes widened in shock.

"M-Min-jun, blood on your waist! Your thigh too!"

"Yeah, looks like it."

It was a split-second thing.

When I swung my arm back to throw the axe, my vision was briefly blocked—and in that gap, it rushed in and stabbed knives into my waist and thigh.

A truly instantaneous opening.

...Feels like a dull ache in my gut now that the Selection Process is really sinking in.

"I-I'll heal you right away!"

As the Saintess healed me, footsteps approached and stopped right in front of us.

"Impressive."

A middle-aged waiter with a stylish mustache looked down at us, his face showing genuine surprise.

"First time anyone's cleared my test this fast. And with just two people—a perfect clear with no mistakes."

The waiter bowed and handed us something.

"Here's your reward."

It was an envelope that looked like a banquet invitation.

To think we'd get this here.

An incredibly valuable item.

Not something you could buy for any price.

Its Transcendent grade alone confirmed it as top-tier.

And there were two. I handed one to Song Ha-na.

"What's this?"

"Use it to summon someone—anyone—to your location the moment you activate it."

It even crossed dimensions.

From another place, another Trial, another rest area—a cheat item that could pull anyone to you.

No wonder its grade was Transcendent.

"W-whoa, why give something this precious to me?"

"If you get separated or in danger during a Trial, use it. Call me in a crisis, and I'll come running anytime."

"Oh."

The Saintess clutched the letter tightly, her cheeks flushing pink.

"Th-thank you."

"No problem."

Insurance for the unexpected. Better she hold one herself than me keeping both.

You never knew what might happen.

"S-so, wanna try clearing it again?"

"Huh?"

"I see gamers clearing stuff over and over..."

She fiddled with her Snowfield Accessory, implying if I wanted to grind this too.

"Nah, you can only do each one once here. That's why I gave you that one. I'd love to give you both, but..."

"Oh..."

Her face reddened even more.

"Th-thanks for looking out for me."

Squirming with thighs pressed together, gazing at me dreamily—looked like she'd need some serious pampering back at the inn.

"Shall we head back then?"

"Yeah."

Just as we stepped out after a good meal.

"Hey, you there."

Thirty-some burly men approached from across the street, like they'd been waiting.

Seeing their faces, I clicked my tongue softly.

Every one of them looked like a thug—hulking builds or menacing glares.

One even flaunted his tattooed upper body.

...Thought they'd given up, but they were just waiting nearby.

What a bunch of idle losers. Lurking day and night just to rob two of us.

Wait, most other players already moved to the next area.

Tutorial's gone, and we're the only newbies in the rest area. Their move made sense, maybe.

The apparent leader sneered.

"Smart guy, huh? Dodging to the fanciest restaurant to guard your big-titted girlfriend."

"..."

"Thought pretending to eat while killing time would make us give up and leave?"

The leader cackled, and his goons laughed along.

They eyed us like juicy prey.

"Don't freak out too much, though. We're not total bad guys. Just hand over 10 points per person, and we'll let you go."

Exactly as expected—no surprise there.

"Don't wanna pay? Lend us your girl for a bit. We'll use her up good and return her when we're done."

"Boss, you forgot to mention—we'll split the points she earns fair."

"Kekeke, slipped my mind."

I laughed along at their vulgar banter.

No matter where you go, there are always morons who can't read the room.

I pushed the Saintess behind me and stepped forward.

"Pass."

"Aww, putting on a show in front of your girl? Time to face reality then."

He jerked his chin, and one thug stepped up.

The Saintess screamed at the knife in his hand.

"D-dangerous!"

"It's not."

"Pfft, not dangerous? Let's see if you say that with a hole in your gut!"

As he charged, I warned him.

"Hey, watch your jaw."

"Huh?"

Thwack.

"?!"

The axe shot up from below, slamming into the man's jaw.

"Grahk."

With a weird yelp, he flopped backward, twitching.

"Wh-what?"

"What just happened?"

"That speed..."

The group panicked.

They would.

My Agility was over double an average man's now. These rookies were no match.

Tsk, back in the day, I'd have split his skull first thing.

But building rapport with the Saintess, I was playing nice.

Holding back to avoid killing and souring her view—hit him with the flat side, full restraint.

Hoping they'd back off, but...

"You little shit! You hit one of ours?!"

Life never goes your way.

"Boys! Beat him down!"

"Revenge!"

"Daring to mess with Seocho Crew?!"

The thirty-some thugs advanced with fierce eyes. Onlookers murmured.

"Trouble. Messing with them of all people."

"Toughest gang in the area."

Toughest gang? Big deal.

Players without even Level 1 and bonus stats were just newborn chicks chirping helplessly.

"Cocky bastard, die!"

I swung the axe. Thwack. The charging thug crumpled.

"What're you waiting for?! Swarm him!"

"Next wave, charge!"

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

They dropped like flies as they rushed.

This was tricky—controlling my strength.

Swing too hard, they die. Swing light, they swarm competitively.

Thwack. Thwack-thwack-thwack.

Did they know I was struggling to hold back?

"You bastard! I'll tear you apart!"

Still, they didn't quit. Gaps opened, they slashed with blades.

Tsk, should've crushed a head early.

Instills fear, makes 'em run.

Going easy like this just pisses them off. Sure enough, their attacks intensified, like I'd botched the opener.

Send the Saintess inside and wipe them now? Nah, they can watch through windows anyway.

Rest areas nailed pointless details like that, even across dimensions.

Can't move to next area yet—still need to buy stuff.

Hmm, what to do.

As I pondered, swinging the bloody axe half-heartedly.

A familiar voice rang out.

"Dickhead!"

"Huh?"

"You fucking prick! Finally showed up!"

I turned. A very familiar face was charging toward me.

The future S-Rank Crimson Flame Witch.

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