Chapter 39 (1)
For the joint class (which would last for two weeks,) academic studies based on the practical class followed each course of training. Professor Baek Dong-seok ran the review process. He used Kang Min-hyuk’s video as a textbook example of dungeon hunting.
“Ahead of this class, some students asked me what role a wizard should play in a dungeon attack. Usually, everybody is mistaken. The ideal set-up is for a warrior to defend the front while a wizard attacks from behind. However, for a wizard with no practical experience, this is not advisable. The narrow passages of the dungeon made accurate attacks much harder, and the risk of injuring an ally is just as high as hitting an enemy; alongside this, casting time and space are limited. In this case, it’s suggested that a wizard takes an appropriate auxiliary position. Of course, if you have the skills to transcend circumstantial limitations, a mage’s position can be vastly different.”
Beep.
The recording appeared on the screen.
Kang Min-hyuk’s performance perfectly mirrored Baek Dong-seok’s explanation.
“Fireball!”
Thump!
The battle against the lizard-men was an educational experience. Knowing the weak-spot of the lizard-men emphasized the importance of knowledge. The meticulous use of magic in a narrow space was indicative of Kang Min-hyuk’s exceptional control. This approach prevented many dangers that often occur in violent combat situations, and thanks to this, Lee Jang-hoo and his team were able to defend effectively. Perfect teamwork.
Every time Kang Min-hyuk’s magic was revealed, a heartfelt smile filled Baek Dong-seok’s face.
“This is the perfect representation of a wizard’s role. Burning the slime with flame magic and creating time and space for the swordsmen to move freely in a secondary position. If any of you didn’t understand my explanation fully, just look at Kang Min-hyuk’s performance as a textbook example of practical magic.”
Baek Dong-seok praised Kang Min-hyuk to the point of embarrassment. He played the video every day of the three-day review process. A few days ago, the magic students wouldn’t have taken this praise of Min-hyuk well…however, with the emergence of a common enemy – the department of swordsmanship – their attitude was quite different.
“Professor! I have a question.”
“Can we receive the video separately?”
Their desire to learn was activated, and they showed great enthusiasm in class. Like frogs in a well, an unsettling reality revealed itself to them through their experience with the department of swordsmanship. They learned that you could accomplish nothing without a hint of desperation.
Students who had previously ignored Kang Min-hyuk now approached him with questions.
“Min-hyuk, how did you know that the lizard-men’s slime was the weak-spot? Is there an encyclopedia you use?”
“You were amazing in the dungeon!”
“Is this the first time we’ve spoken? I hope we can become friends!”
Attitudes were altered in an instant. Kang Min-hyuk understood why they couldn’t accept him previously; there had been a wall between himself and his peers due to his background. Even now, he had to take a step back from them. He remembered something his father had said, “We all need relationships with others, but we have to keep them simple.”
Min-hyuk drew a line. The only person he wanted to help actively was Jeong Sang-hoon. Occasionally, Kim Chang-soo was included in their sessions, but that was all. Then, people began to realize…if you treat Kang Min-hyuk kindly, you could be included in the ‘fence.’ Although he didn’t realize it, Min-hyuk was instinctively manifesting his power.
* * *
A few days later, in Zone Z, which is the largest site on the Hunter Academy, the second course – Suseongjeon – took place.
All of the students gathered together, and Kim Moo-jin stepped forward, “As you may know, dungeons and gates are different. In a dungeon, we attack and collect information; they are static, whereas gates are created suddenly. Seseongjeon training is an essential subject. We don’t know when, where, or what form a gate will take. If a gate forms in the middle of a city, the hunters in the vicinity must convene and prepare for Mercury War.”
Zone Z consists of several types of urban training grounds. A photo of the training ground, which was modeled like a real city, was shown to the classes, and Kim Moo-jin added an explanation.
“The duration of the gate is an hour. Usually, when a gate is created, the first blocking forces surround a 1km radius around the gate. By stopping the monsters which spread from every direction, damage to civilians is prevented. This is the initial action. Afterward, the local hunters are dispatched to clean up the monsters, and we will train for the Mercury Mission.”
Mercury was an especially important word. It referred to keeping a seat and blocking it.
The potential damage varies greatly depending on the success of the initial action. Success means that the civilians will suffer little damage, but the number of fatalities would be unpredictable if it is unsuccessful.
“Suseongjeon has three points to it. First: quickly form a defensive line in the terrain. Occupying a seat in advance is an important part of Mercury, and if the terrain remains misunderstood, a fire boss will pass the monsters. Second: distribution of appropriate personnel. Monsters from the gate spread in all directions, so if the personnel aren’t properly placed, one direction runs the risk of penetration, even if the other three have been blocked. If that occurs, the Suseongjeon has failed. Finally: the civilian’s safety is the top priority. The hunter exists only to ensure civilian protection. We have to hold on, stop the monsters from spreading, evacuate the civilians, and then we can begin the sweeping operation.”
A century after the initial disaster struck and monsters first appeared, humans formed a system for dealing with them. Suseongjeon was part of this solution. Battle wasn’t the most demanding aspect of the gate – there would be many challenges to face. Because of this, a whopping week’s worth of time was allocated to the mission to ensure sufficient training could be completed before the experience.
Kim Moo-jin began to announce the structure of the groups for the Suseongjeon.
* * *
[GROUP 3]
Jeong Sang-hoon and Kang Min-hyuk had chosen to belong to each other’s team. The groups were large, consisting of forty warriors and five wizards to each. This was the minimum number of participants in a normal Mercury battle.
As the students in Group three gathered, the officer in command of Zone Z-3 gave insight into the situation.
“The monster that passed through the gate is a D-class Orc. C-grade Orc warriors are also present, and the gate formation time is approximately one hour. If you defeat all the Orcs and keep the monsters within a 1km radius, you will succeed in Mercury. There will be more than twice as many monsters in the North than in any other direction: consider this when placing personnel.”
It was a thorough, enough explanation. Of course, it wouldn’t be enough preparation for the actual battle, but it was an appropriate provision to ensure the students’ safety.
One of the swordsmen took the lead.
“I think we should focus our forces on the North. The other directions will be a breeze, even if they’re penetrated. We should put sixteen reinforced warriors and two wizards in the North, then form a line of defense with one wizard and eight warriors in the other three directions.”
“It’s an okay plan.”
“So, who will take the North?”
The North could be burdensome. Regardless of the amount of training, the likelihood of injury would be increased. They didn’t have long to choose their locations. Kang Min-hyuk stepped forward,
“Sang-hoon and I will go North.”
It was as though the warriors had been waiting to see where Kang Min-hyuk would be placed before they raised their hands to join him.
“I’ll go North!”
“Me too!”
Among them were the familiar faces of Lee Jang-hoo’s party. They volunteered to join as soon as Min-hyuk stated his preference for the North. Their perception of him had altered significantly because of the last class. Jang-hoo wouldn’t have received good grades without Min-hyuk’s help; even Kim Moo-jin had confirmed it. The only reason Jang-hoo and his team had volunteered themselves for group three was because of Min-hyuk, so they were bound to follow his lead. In fact, most of the members of group three were there because of Kang Min-hyuk. Those who had no esteem for him had checked the list sent by the department of magic and chosen an alternative group.
With their strategy mapped out, the students got into their positions. Those who moved North saw the city. It looked like an ordinary urban landscape. Kang Min-hyuk assessed his surroundings.
“Not bad. The building’s layout will make a line of defense easy to form. If the gate’s monster is an Orc, there’ll be no risk of injury from the building’s collapse. If we stick to open spaces, we’ll succeed.”
Kang Min-hyuk was familiar with this situation. Subjugation and Mercury were a part of daily life at the Suhomun Gate.
Lee Jang-hoo stepped forward,
“Kang Min-hyuk…”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you take the lead?”
It was a surprising statement. Leader may be a small word, but a proud swordsman handing the baton to a wizard was a big deal. They had great confidence in him after his performance in the dungeon. It was a selfish decision at heart – they would benefit from good grades by following Min-hyuk, but it didn’t matter too much. The division between the mainstream and obscure was very slowly eroding, which could only be a good thing.
“I felt it when we worked together in the last training. Your skills are incomparable to those of other students. As our leader, you have my promise that I will obey your orders to the letter. We’re not stupid enough to deliberately sabotage our education.”
Lee Jang-hoo stated his intentions honestly, while Kang Min-hyuk looked around at the rest of the group.
“Do you share these sentiments?”
“…Yes.”
“Uh-huh.”
“We agree that you’re the best fit.”
The plate was laid. Kang Min-hyuk wasn’t one to turn away from the opportunity of playing the protagonist.
“Then let me lead.”
Ten minutes later, upon the completion of preparations, the Suseongjeon training began.
The crack in the atmosphere that inferred the gate’s existence expanded like a great and dreadful yawn, and infinite orcs clambered through.
