Chapter 11

EP.11 Academy Monster Hunt (3)

At the East Building of Seoul Holder Academy.

A B-class monster appeared in one of the lecture rooms.

This fact was quickly spread by the students who fled the room.

The monster emerged through a rift in the present world, not a dungeon.

This is quite a common occurrence, but for a monster of this high rank...

The appearance of a B-class monster is extremely rare.

Especially in an academy with a [Magic Barrier], the occurrence of a monster is even rarer.

Moreover, the East Building is the main lecture hall for intermediate students.

A B-class monster requires five C-class Holders to hunt together.

In the intermediate class, where the highest rank is only D-class...

It was impossible to defeat such a powerful monster.

Kang Juyeon hurried to the lecture room in the East Building.

She received the news faster than the professors and other high-ranking Holders in the academy.

The next class she had to attend was a common lecture for the intermediate class.

[History and Information of Monsters]...

She was already on her way to the East Building.

- Kieeee!!

The monster, announcing its presence, let out a chilling scream.

Hearing this, Mun Ga-eun, who was walking with her, grabbed Kang Juyeon's collar.

"Juyeon, it seems to be this way?"

The sound came from a lecture room that was just a short distance away.

The lecture room was in chaos, with desks and teaching tools scattered everywhere, and the bodies of several students lying in various positions.

A scene of carnage.

The lecture room where a high-rank B-class monster appeared had already turned into a scene of carnage without anyone having a chance to intervene.

And within it...

A man caught Kang Juyeon's attention as he entered.

'Do... Jae-hyun?'

The practical combat test for the academy entrance exam.

On that boring day, the most noticeable person.

A person who was extremely ordinary but particularly stood out.

Holder Do Jae-hyun was fighting against the B-class monster.

Moreover...

He was dealing significant damage, even cutting off the monster's tail.

'A B-class monster in the intermediate class?'

Sizzling Salamander.

A lizard with high physical strength and the difficult ability to handle fire.

Do Jae-hyun, an intermediate student, was fighting against a B-class monster, which is known among Holders as a challenging monster.

The skills of intermediate students are mostly E to D-class.

It was normal for them to be unable to even scratch a B-class monster.

Moreover, Do Jae-hyun had just been promoted to the intermediate class.

Since his promotion was not due to superior abilities, he was at a greater disadvantage when facing the Sizzling Salamander.

'But...'

The battle between Do Jae-hyun and the Sizzling Salamander was intense.

Although he was overwhelmingly outmatched in physical strength, he was using his sword skills effectively to dodge attacks.

Especially, the few ice fragments stuck to the monster's body like ticks.

The Sizzling Salamander seemed to be struggling more in the battle due to the disadvantageous magic.

- Kieeee!!

"Ugh...!!"

The Sizzling Salamander, which had crouched slightly, swiftly struck Do Jae-hyun's body.

Do Jae-hyun, unable to withstand the sudden physical strength, flew and crashed into the lecture room wall.

In fact, Do Jae-hyun's condition was already dire.

His body was scorched and burned by the Sizzling Salamander's flames, and he had bruises all over from the attacks he had allowed due to the significant difference in physical strength.

This strike was the result of his last stand.

"Jae-hyun...!!"

At that moment, a woman in the lecture room shouted.

Kim Chae-eun.

A woman who always stuck with Do Jae-hyun.

Kang Juyeon then realized that these two were fighting the B-class monster alone, taking the place of other students.

The [Freezing] rune magic that had effectively hit the Sizzling Salamander came from her.

And seeing this, Kang Juyeon...

Immediately prepared her magic.

It was time to lend a hand.

Since her classmates had bought so much time, she couldn't just stand by.

"Ga-eun, provide support."

"Ah, okay!"

Mun Ga-eun, who had been watching their battle in a daze, also took out her bow.

Her specialty and the derivative skill of the rare rune [Wind Archer].

The preparation stance for [Extreme Shot].

Kang Juyeon also prepared to cast her main magic.

The derivative skill of [Unextinguishable Flame], [Flare].

It was the most powerful combat magic she could use.

Perhaps the fire magic would have a minimal effect on the Sizzling Salamander, which handles fire.

But a powerful attack sometimes ignores elemental advantages.

Kang Juyeon poured all her magic power into the skill to blow the monster away.

Two Holders, one B-class and the other C-class, who ranked high in the advanced class...

Their near-fatal attacks were...

Being poured onto the Sizzling Salamander.

* * *

- Kie, kiee...

It was hard to believe that this small, weak sound came from the monster that had been screaming so fiercely.

It was the result of being hit directly by Kang Juyeon's magic and Mun Ga-eun's arrows.

"Wow..."

Despite my battered body, I managed to stand.

I marveled at the spectacular scene.

Is this the power of high-rank Holders?

The monster that Kim Chae-eun and I had struggled against for so long was defeated with just two attacks...

It felt a bit anticlimactic, but I was still in awe.

To have that level of ability at just twenty years old...

They must be exceptionally talented Holders.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Suddenly, Mun Ga-eun approached me to check my condition.

She wasn't there during the original event.

Moreover, Park Jin-woo, who was supposed to be there, was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps the slight changes in the choices made by the main characters at the start of the new semester had altered the flow of this event.

Still, it was fortunate that Kang Juyeon arrived in time.

If she hadn't, I might have really died...

"Yeah, thanks. You're Mun Ga-eun, right?"

"Huh? You know me?"

"Of course. You're the top archer in this batch. You're almost the vice-top overall, right?"

"Hehe... Not quite the vice-top. I fluctuate between third and fourth."

Mun Ga-eun had the lively personality I expected.

As the daughter of Moon Jung-hyuk, a core officer of the <Royal> clan, and ranking third or fourth among the new Holders, she was an elite far beyond my level.

Seeing her talk so freely, I could tell how unbiased her thinking was.

In the world of Holders, especially in the academy, it's common to ignore those of lower rank.

"More importantly, are you okay? You hit the wall pretty hard earlier."

"Ah, yeah. It hurts a lot, but I'll recover quickly with healing from the Holy class."

"You're really impressive. A B-class monster, the Sizzling Salamander, and you took it on with intermediate-level skills...?"

"To be honest, it was a bit reckless."

Thinking I could defeat the Sizzling Salamander was a mistake.

After cutting off its tail initially...

I was dragged around by the monster without dealing any significant damage.

I was scorched by fire and hit repeatedly.

In the end, I crashed into the lecture room wall.

It was an unavoidable difference in rank and abilities.

At that moment, Kang Juyeon, who had been watching, turned to leave.

An expression of her intention to leave now that the monster was dealt with.

It was a typical, stiff action of hers.

Seeing this, Mun Ga-eun quickly prepared to leave as well.

She had come here with Kang Juyeon, so it was natural.

"I'm going to leave now. See you, Do Jae-hyun!"

...Did I ever tell her my name?

I had a moment of doubt, but other topics quickly took over.

The lecture room was flooded with countless students and faculty members.

Even the headmaster, whom I saw at the opening ceremony, was there.

The core members of the academy had all entered the small lecture room.

"Is everyone okay? Holy class, heal them quickly!"

"Heal the injured students first!"

"Hyun-woo! No, don't die...!! Please...!"

"Collect the monster's body! We need it for research!"

They come so early, damn it...

The people who arrive late but make the most noise are the worst.

I understand, but...

After getting injured, I feel unnecessarily annoyed.

I turned my head to look at Kim Chae-eun.

She seemed to have used