Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 35: Temporary Employees (2)
A dimly lit room.
In the empty, silent classroom, the assistant instructor heard an announcement echoing in his ears.
[Student 'Lee Eunho' has entered.]
[Beginner Swordsmanship student: 1 person.]
He’s back.
That arrogant candidate.
Flash!
Simultaneously, the assistant instructor lit up the room and revealed himself.
A crisp white shirt, neat pants, and a glimmering black blade.
He looked exactly like the lone student before him.
[You’ve finally come.]
Finally.
A wry smile curled on the assistant instructor’s lips.
[I was prepared to wait years.]
It had been two months since the candidate had left.
One hour in the training center equaled one minute for him, so from Lee Eunho’s perspective, it had only been a full day since his departure.
[So fearless.]
He had stolen a precious honey stone and fled, forcing the assistant instructor to endure angry swarms of bees chasing him relentlessly.
The stings on his forearm still throbbed.
After coaxing the bees and sending them back, he had to fix the collapsed stone wall, which was another ordeal.
[Granting the candidate 'Lee Eunho' a 'Beginner Swordsmanship' course ticket.]
He had, as if possessed, handed him the ticket.
He had expected Eunho to return eventually—but not this quickly.
[At least my preparations weren’t in vain.]
To prepare for his arrogant return, the instructor had taken measures.
Huge vines dangled from the ceiling of the cave, bait for the nearby super millworms that couldn’t resist such a delicacy.
Attracted by the scent, they had likely swarmed into the cave, starving as they stared at their unattainable feast.
[He might catch one or two if he’s lucky, but…]
The rest would descend on him like demons.
The instructor suddenly grew curious.
The moment the ‘door’ opened, what expression would the candidate Lee Eunho make?
Imagine stepping into what seemed to be a safe cave, only to see dozens of giant creatures baring their fangs.
[He won’t escape so easily this time.]
Starving super millworms were savage enough to devour one another.
Their hard shells were nearly impenetrable, even by other giant creatures.
Only the Drosera, a predator with corrosive digestive fluids, could threaten them.
Such creatures now infested the cave.
[Perhaps…]
Maybe the sight would terrify Eunho so much he wouldn’t even dare set foot inside.
Or worse, he might be torn apart by the ravenous monsters, never to rise again.
Or perhaps.
He might never return to the training center.
…Was this going too far?
Step.
The usually immobile assistant instructor began walking.
Not because he was anxious or worried.
Rather…
[He might deeply reflect and beg for forgiveness.]
He didn’t want the precious course ticket to go to waste.
Yes, that was the reason.
A satisfied smile appeared as he walked lightly toward the cave.
And then—
Click!
Inside the cave, where the candidate should have been struggling against the giant creatures...
...and perhaps deeply repenting or begging for his life on his knees…
The instructor imagined this as he entered, only for familiar sensations to flood his senses.
Flash! Buzz—!
The muggy air.
The drone of bees’ wings as if part of a background melody.
The foul stench wafting from the corpses of super millworms.
[So he pulled a clever stunt…]
…Wait.
The corpses of super millworms?
[?!]
The cave was littered with the bodies of dead super millworms.
Green ooze seeped from their ruptured bodies, forming pools on the ground.
“You’re here?”
Sitting casually in a corner, avoiding the ooze, was Lee Eunho, who lazily waved at him.
[No way… Did he kill all of these?!]
“What do you think?”
[Impossible!]
The assistant instructor’s hands trembled.
The monsters, which should have been tearing Eunho apart, were now the ones with their insides exposed.
And yet, Eunho, having accomplished the impossible, sat there as if it was nothing, even waving.
Somehow, the instructor felt like his insides were flipping as well.
[It should’ve been beyond your skills.]
“Really? Well, it might’ve been hard if I fought them head-on.”
[…What did I miss?]
Come to think of it, the corpses were peculiar.
Two bore clear cuts and slashes.
The rest had their stomachs split open, green foam spilling from their mouths.
[Two killed with slashes. Excellent swordsmanship.]
His movements surpassed what he had been taught.
Eunho had skillfully aimed for the soft joints between their tough shells, slicing them cleanly.
A chillingly precise control.
He likely slowed time to attack with precision.
[But the others…]
Dozens of creatures had their stomachs split open.
Perhaps the first two blocked the path, and the rest were killed as they tried to climb over.
“Oh.”
Glancing at the shocked instructor, Eunho shrugged as if it were nothing.
Still seated, he lowered his head slightly and spoke.
“They were poisoned spear tips.”
[What?]
“I had some left over, so I used them well.”
Now that the instructor looked closer, strange stakes were embedded in the creatures' bodies.
They were suspicious at first glance.
“I built a wall with the first two corpses and stuck the poisoned tips between the gaps in their shells.”
Any approaching monster would have to climb over the corpses, impaling themselves on the stakes.
[…….]
Anticipating the enemy’s movements and preparing accordingly.
Some might say it was the basic principle of combat.
But most fail at this basic principle, which is why strategy books exist and why battles always have losers.
Furthermore…
[You set a trap? In this short amount of time?]
From the moment the "door" appeared, Eunho entered, and the instructor arrived—
Only about ten minutes had passed here.
And yet, everything was already resolved.
Even with a "Acceleration" skill...
"I was just lucky."
That can't be true.
‘Both I know it, he knows it, and likely even the "Company" knows it.’
[What are you, really?]
‘I felt it during the last lesson, but this guy is different.’
The confidence that comes from cold, precise judgment.
Not just skill in one-on-one combat, but the ability to change the entire game.
If it's this guy...
Maybe...
Fwoosh!
In the pitch-black darkness, a faint light appeared.
The instructor stared at him with sunken eyes, as though trying to determine whether the light was real or imagined.
Then—
Wave.
The light beckoned.
To the nameless instructor...
"If you’ve got nothing to do, lend me a hand."
...offering him a task.
[Hmm?]
A bundle of dark green was suddenly handed to him.
[What... Giant vines? Why do I need this?]
It was the special bait he'd personally set on the cave ceiling to lure the Super Millworms.
Now, it had been cut into neat strips, stacked beside Eunho.
"Just hold this for a second."
[What?]
—Ssssk!
Eunho's hands moved swiftly, tying two of the severed strands together.
Skilled hands, like those of a seasoned worker—delicate yet fast.
—Ssssk, ssssk, ssssk, ssssk, ssssk...
[What... are you doing?]
"Making a rope."
[A rope?]
"A symbol of salvation descending from the heavens. You know it?"
A warrior who could take down dozens of giant creatures, now quietly performing such handiwork.
For some reason, the instructor's grip slackened, as if he wanted to drop the vines.
"You’ve got nothing better to do anyway. I mean, there aren’t any other students, right?"
[Well, that’s tru—...]
He stopped.
That strangely confident tone bothered him.
[Why are you so sure?]
This guy was just a preliminary candidate.
He shouldn’t know anything about the training center or the enrollment policies.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!w
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Suddenly uneasy, the instructor probed further.
"Because self-development training is only available to candidates who pass the recruitment test, right?"
The vague unease crystallized into outright anxiety.
[How do you know that...?]
This was confidential information during the current restructuring phase.
Had there been a leak?
From where?
"Huh—so it’s true."
When the instructor asked with an unintentionally hardened expression, Eunho smiled in satisfaction.
Clap, clap!
Then, as though his work were finished, he dusted off his hands and stood up.
[How did you know that?]
"Just... read it somewhere."
[Where exactly?]
Step.
Instead of answering, Eunho only let out a faint laugh as he gathered up the long bundle of vines he'd tied together.
He climbed onto the nearby corpse of a Super Millworm and—
Ssssk! Sssk!
—started tying the long vines securely around it.
Once, twice, three times.
"Good thing these things are heavy."
[?!]
"Wouldn’t want it falling off..."
After testing the rope's tension for a moment, he tied the other end securely around his waist.
[What are you doing?]
"Lower me down, slowly. Got it?"
[What do you mean by—?]
Before he could grasp what was happening, the events unfolded rapidly.
When the instructor finally came to his senses, Eunho had tied the green vines around his waist and was—
Click! —opening the door.
Then, as if remembering something, he spoke up.
"Oh, right. Thanks for the gift."
[A gift? What are you even—]
"I’ll put it to good use."
Tap! Tap!
He patted his chest.
[...Wait.]
The sound wasn't flesh—it was something solid.
A faint yellow gleam could be seen through the white shirt.
[What’s that under your shirt?]
An all-too-familiar scenario.
The memory of last time flashed through his mind, sending a chill down his spine.
[Don’t tell me you smuggled honey-stone in here again...!]
The instructor asked with a distorted expression, but Eunho just waved dismissively.
"Of course not. Can’t you see I’m totally drained from fighting these things?"
[Then what is it...?]
"Anyway, next time, bring something stronger."
[What?]
"Preferably ones that drop good items. Got it?"
Before the instructor could respond—
—Thud!
Eunho stepped—no, jumped—through the doorway.
Like he was bungee jumping.
"Lower me down slowly!"
[What do you—!]
[Student 'Eunho' has exited.]
[Beginner Swordsmanship Students: 0]
* * *
—Whoooosh!
The sudden gust of wind nearly knocked me off balance.
The reversal of gravity was startling but brief.
The vines unfurled like thread from a spool, finally pulling taut.
"Haaah...!"
Hanging onto a single vine, the ground suddenly rushed up toward me in an instant.
Even though I'd prepared himself for it countless times, my heart still dropped like a stone.
Still—
"I survived…"
The height had to be at least 200 meters.
Just thinking about falling from a height so dizzying that it was hard to even look up left me light-headed.
'That was a bit short.'
Any longer, and I would’ve smashed my head on the ground.
The thought sent a chill through me, and I shook my head to clear it.
About 3 meters to the ground now, maybe?
That height would strain my ankles, but it was manageable enough to jump.
"Petrification."
Swish!
With my left hand gripping the upper part of the vine, I used my strengthened right hand to cut through the section just below.
The massive vine severed easily.
Then, I let go with my left hand.
—Thud!
I landed heavily, almost falling to the ground, but at that moment, a notification rang out.
['Shell Breastplate' absorbs all impact damage!]
Hmm?
The Shell Breastplate...
[You have defeated "Super Millworm," the reversed jungle predator!]
[You have received a First Kill Reward.]
[Obtained Super Millworm's Shell Breastplate!]
Right, the reward he’d gotten from taking down that massive bug earlier.
▣ Super Millworm's Shell Breastplate
A breastplate woven from the tough shell of the massive Super Millworm.
Increases defense by 10 when equipped.
Non-tradable item
I’d been frustrated not knowing exactly what "+10 Defense" meant earlier, but apparently, it was enough to absorb the impact of a 3-meter fall.
'Worth the trouble of catching it.'
Simply equipping it was enough to block some unexpected attacks.
That was far better than fighting bare-handed.
And now—
[Hey, look!!!]
[He's not dead!]
[That door. What is it?!]
[Could it be… an entry ticket?]
If I was going to face off against those ghostly twins who headbutted like cannonballs, this level of preparation was essential.
Whoosh!
The twins, their faces twisted with shock and rage, dove toward me like birds of prey.
In that brief moment, I hurriedly—
'One more thing to prepare.'
"Summon!"
Spreading both hands wide, I conjured up two items.
One was the familiar Blade-Tipped Sword.
The other was…
Something I’d purchased for the first time at the upgraded intermediate shop.
Slick!
Something small, cold, and slippery began to take shape above my palm slowly.
And then—
Pop!
As soon as the "thing" fully materialized, I shoved it into my mouth.
[You have consumed an Ice Shard!]
[Temporary Skill Ice Resistance (Lv.1) has been unlocked.]
[Duration: 3 minutes]
From my tongue to the insides of my mouth, the cold spread in a chilling wave that circled my head before flowing down my throat and gradually spreading throughout my body.
Whoosh!
A refreshing, icy sensation flooded every inch of me.
And just in time, the twins reached me.
[Got him!]
[You little…!]
Did they think they’d finally caught me after all my running?
With smug expressions, they lifted their feet in perfect sync.
If they stomped now, two trails of ice would spread toward me, just like before.
But this time…
'I came prepared.'
[The report! Hand it over!]
[We’ll kill you!]
Yeah, yeah.
"I get it."
"Come at me, brats."
Let’s finish this in 3 minutes.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!w
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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