Chapter 92

EP.92 Stained Rock Pile (4)

In the battle, the roles within the party are clear.

Warrior classes are tanks, mage classes are damage dealers.

The remaining classes either take on support roles or can also become damage dealers.

The important thing is that the warrior classes are responsible for being tanks.

While there are pure tanks who use shields and bruisers who can tank and deal damage simultaneously, both ultimately serve as the party's tank.

'I was a bruiser-type tank as well.'

All the roles I've taken on in battles so far have been as a tank.

Whether it was forming a five-person party in the academy's underground dungeon, hunting the Swell Leviathan, or tackling the forest covered in snakes...

Even when I formed a two-person party with Kim Chae-eun, it was the same.

We sometimes switched roles, with the damage dealer position changing, but the tank role was always mine.

'...It was too exciting.'

However, in the recent battle, I showed too much.

I demonstrated the feel of a special class, the cavalry, through a charge combo, the power of a lightning mage through [Penetrating Thunder], and the appearance of a hybrid warrior through the use of various weapons...

Furthermore, I showed the form of a paladin by using [Divine Slash].

'...Chae-eun just stood there, and it was over.'

In contrast, the only skill Kim Chae-eun used was [Frozen Fog].

While its power had increased compared to before, it was still a support skill to control the movements of the monsters.

She didn't use any of her core attack skills like [Icicle Shot] or [Cold Crush], and the battle ended quickly.

To Kim Chae-eun, it probably looked like her C-rank holder friend, who was a tank holder, suddenly wiped out ten C-rank monsters on her own.

...Of course, that's exactly what happened.

"What was that lightning? And what was that holy power thing?"

Kim Chae-eun asked again, her face full of surprise.

I had a troubled look as I tried to dodge the question.

"Ah, that was... "

"Jae-hyun, you can use magic too?"

"Um... not exactly..."

Several excuses came to mind.

I used a special item, I got a rune by chance as a dungeon reward, I did it with skills embedded in high-tier equipment...

There were many things I could say, but for some reason, the words wouldn't come out.

'Do I really need to hide everything?'

I kept thinking I didn't want to make excuses.

Some friends like Park Jin-woo and Kang Joo-yeon already knew the general idea, and it felt awkward to hide it from my closest friend, Kim Chae-eun.

Of course, I couldn't tell her everything about being a [Rune Hunter].

A little lie would be necessary.

However, I didn't want to hide the runes I have or will have in the future.

Whoosh—

I made a flame appear at my fingertips.

This is the use of [Flickering Flame].

I showed it to Kim Chae-eun and said,

"I don't know how to use magic skills. I never learned how to control or manifest mana. But I can use simple elemental mana attacks like this. I have runes related to them."

Kim Chae-eun looked at it with wide eyes.

"Wow— That's amazing. What is it? A fire rune?"

"Something like that."

Crackle— Crackle—

This time, I showed her [Penetrating Thunder].

The small flame disappeared, and a crackling electricity danced around my fingers.

"This is what I used to kill the wolves. A lightning elemental mana rune."

"Wow... Impressive. I've never seen a multi-elemental holder before."

Kim Chae-eun looked at my hand with amazement.

Mage holders usually specialize in one element.

A holder who awakens with [Flame] focuses on fire elemental attributes, while one who awakens with [Thunder] focuses on lightning.

Occasionally, there are multi-elemental holders who can handle more than one element, known as 'multi-elemental holders'...

A prime example is Jeong Yun-chan, the clan master of <Sunset Flower>.

Water and lightning magic.

He is a famous A-rank holder who can handle both simultaneously.

'And there's Seong Na-yeon in Royal.'

Seong Na-yeon, who handles both sword (weapon) and wind (mana).

Jeong Yun-chan, who handles both water (mana) and lightning (mana).

They are among the most outstanding multi-elemental holders, known for their exceptional skills and high-tier status.

But in my case, I handle various weapons and multiple elemental mana...

This could be considered a hybrid among hybrids.

"Hehe. When I become a knight, everyone will be in an uproar. A multi-elemental holder combining Seong Na-yeon and Jeong Yun-chan, Joon Jae-hyun! It'll be like that."

"Ugh. Don't compare me to them. I can't even come close."

"Why— You've grown incredibly fast, haven't you?"

Kim Chae-eun laughed and teased me, finding it amusing.

Seeing her bright smile, I couldn't help but laugh too.

My worried expression from earlier felt silly.

"Chae-eun."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you curious about how I have so many runes? It's a case that's never been seen in the holder world, as you said."

"Yes! I'm not curious."

Kim Chae-eun continued without hesitation.

"If Jae-hyun didn't want to say, there must have been a reason. After all, holders are supposed to keep their runes secret, even from their mentors. Mentors probably know everything anyway, hehe."

It's a reasonable point.

But human emotions aren't that straightforward.

When you see something you've never seen before, you naturally become curious. And if you're close to the person, you naturally want to ask more about it.

Yet, Kim Chae-eun was holding back that curiosity.

'Do you think the closer you are, the more you need to protect?'

Well, it's...

A typical consideration from Chae-eun.

* * *

'Impressive...'

Kim Chae-eun watched.

Her friend, Joon Jae-hyun.

His battle, where he displayed his strength, was relentless.

He freely used various runes and weapons, fighting in his own unique way.

His diverse weapons were tools to add unpredictability to his attacks, and his multiple mana runes were catalysts to enhance their power.

'He can't use magic, but... he handles mana attacks well.'

In Kim Chae-eun's opinion, Joon Jae-hyun had a talent for mana runes.

He knew exactly which runes to use at the right moments.

Using [Garden of Split Earth] to manipulate the ground, he changed the battle dynamics to his advantage, and with [Flickering Flame], he set trees on fire to hunt monsters.

Especially when using various body enhancement support runes and [Stealth], he often finished hunts with ambushes.

Kim Chae-eun didn't know much about the content of those runes.

But she could tell...

That Joon Jae-hyun's talent was outstanding and he was strong.

'Having many runes is a good thing...!'

In fact, regarding Joon Jae-hyun's diverse runes,

She didn't have much doubt.

After all, it's a world where holders and monsters don't make sense to begin with.

In a world where their existence itself is hard to believe...

It's not strange to have more special runes or more unique rune holders.

Rather, she was happy that Joon Jae-hyun could become stronger through them and be a bit safer because of it.

'I don't want him to get hurt...'

She still remembers.

The day Joon Jae-hyun protected her from An Do-kyun.

-Stop thinking weird thoughts. Hold my hand.

She was incredibly grateful, and he was so reliable that day...

But the moment he almost got hurt by the 'berserk' An Do-kyun.

Kim Chae-eun felt her heart stop.

Worried that Joon Jae-hyun might get hurt because of her.

Worried that he might get injured while protecting her.

Her attempts to learn from Jeong Seon-young were also to help him in some way.

Auuu...

Auu, auuu—

The many wolves lay dead on the ground again.

This time, he used an earth elemental mana rune in addition, but it was still an overwhelming battle where he only attacked without defending.

Quite exhausted, Joon Jae-hyun was breathing heavily.

"Good job, Jae-hyun!"

Kim Chae-eun approached him with a bright smile.

But Joon Jae-hyun's expression wasn't good.

He frowned slightly, and his eyes widened.

His gaze was directed behind Kim Chae-eun.

"Chae-eun, behind...!!"

Joon Jae-hyun shouted at the top of his lungs.

Rrrr...!!

Thinking the battle was over, there was a monster hiding in the bushes.

A B-rank monster, the Hyde Wolf.

It's a unique wolf-type monster that doesn't initiate attacks, possessing the common assassin class rune [Stealth].

It doesn't reveal itself even during battles between holders and monsters.

It quietly waits, looking for the optimal attack moment.

Due to this characteristic, it's a hard monster to find without an archer class's detection runes.

'Mana shield...!!'

Kim Chae-eun quickly gathered her mana.

Considering the Hyde Wolf's speed and strength, even if she created a [Mana Shield] now, it probably wouldn't be very effective...

But she had to do something in this situation.

Rrr, rrrr—!!

The howl and momentum were right behind her.

And the incomplete [Mana Shield].

Just before the Hyde Wolf's sharp claws could slash her.

"Huh?"

Kim Chae-eun felt a hand wrap around her shoulder.

Clang—

Clang, clang—!!

Joon Jae-hyun, who had a shield in his hand,

Used a movement rune to arrive first.

He wrapped his arms around her and used [Iron Defense].

The timing was perfect.

Fortunately, the Hyde Wolf's attack missed.

Another save by Joon Jae-hyun.

'Ah, he hugged me...!!'

But Kim Chae-eun didn't have time to think about the process.

Joon Jae-hyun hugged her!

That one sentence flashed in her mind.

Nothing else came to mind.

Only that fact was etched in her brain.

There had been skin contact before, like bumping shoulders while cooking, touching hands while picking ingredients, or wiping sauce from her lips when she got lucky...

But being hugged protectively...

It was something not even in her imagination!

She forgot to gather her mana.

She had to struggle to keep her heart from pounding out of her chest.

"Explode!"

As if to calm her racing heart.

Joon Jae-hyun's angry shout echoed.

He had already plunged his sword into the Hyde Wolf's body, uttering a command.

The condensed mana burst out.

[Wave-Cleaving Heaven Sword].

It was the first time Kim Chae-eun saw Joon Jae-hyun's ultimate skill.

"Damn wolf. Explode, explode."

Joon Jae-hyun seemed quite angry that Kim Chae-eun might have been in danger, repeatedly stabbing the already mangled Hyde Wolf.

Even using profanity, which he rarely did.

But for Kim Chae-eun, who was already in a daze.

It wasn't very important.

No, it was even better.

'Hehe. Even cursing is cool...'

Kim Chae-eun was certain.

This Seoraksan field hunt was definitely,

A mountain date, just as she had hoped.