Chapter 41

41. Ant Nest (1)

Under the instructor's guidance, the children began to get off the carriage one by one.

What we faced was the entrance to a massive cave.

The cave was so large that its entrance seemed to be over 3 meters high.

'It's similar to a game.'

I couldn't help but remember.

This is the first episode after entering the academy where a battle occurs.

'The monsters are the remnants created by demons. That was the setting.'

Demons create dungeons, and monsters are born within them, attacking people.

The empire raids these dungeons, destroys the core inside, and thus destroys the dungeon.

However, a few are preserved.

'They preserve these dungeons for practical training for students and knights, and to secure magic stones.'

As long as the core of the dungeon exists, monsters will continue to be born, requiring periodic management.

They check once a month, reduce the number of monsters, and deal with dangerous ones in advance.

Today is the first practical training for the freshmen, so they must have conducted a special inspection about a week ago.

'Even so, accidents still happen.'

That's the nature of dungeons, and the developers' mischief.

Whether it's a novel, manga, or game.

'There's no dungeon without an event.'

This dungeon is no different, but it's not a big deal.

Monsters attacking from all sides?

It's a straightforward (or not so straightforward) event that happens when you first play the game.

- Defeat the monsters!

Defeat 100 monsters.

Monsters defeated (0/100).

Reward: 10 gold, 1 skill level-up point

Penalty: All stats decrease by 3

The sudden appearance of the third main quest made me think.

'They're giving out a skill level-up point already...'

It's a point that can be used to level up skills.

A point that can upgrade an F-rank skill to E-rank, an E-rank skill to D-rank, and so on.

Of course, it can also upgrade an A-rank skill to S-rank.

Anyone who has played games would know that this reward is 'unfairly good.'

However, the system has a reason for giving such a quest.

'It takes a long time.'

We're in front of a dungeon filled with monsters, and an event where monsters attack from all sides is also planned.

But it's physically impossible for me to defeat 100 monsters alone.

'This is just training, so I won't be given that many opportunities.'

I might be able to kill about twenty at most.

In other words, it would take at least a month to complete this quest.

That's why the reward is good compared to the difficulty.

In fact, more than half of the players refused the 'monster slaying' quest.

Because no other main quests are given until this one is completed.

A month.

If I get good quests in a row, I could clear two or three of them.

So it wouldn't be strange for me to refuse this quest here.

After all, the opportunity to kill 100 monsters isn't that common.

Of course, that's only if I follow the normal method.

"What? What's with that smile?"

"Hehe, what do you mean? I always have a smile on my face, don't I?"

"It's suspicious... What are you up to?"

Just as Luna leaned in to pressure me, Caron shouted.

"Everyone knows that fighting monsters is no joke."

"Yes! We know that!"

"Your answer is bold. But every year, accidents happen to the top students. You know why, right?"

Because they believe in their own strength and become complacent.

They think they can easily handle low-level monsters.

That's why the injury rate among top students is higher.

'Well, I don't have to worry.'

I know I shouldn't be complacent, but I can't help it.

Even if a demon came instead of a low-level monster, it would be laughable.

Now, we're going to enter in groups.

That's the story in the game. But.

"Nothing beats a sparring match to warm up and raise the tension."

Caron looked at me and smiled.

Ah, something feels off.

"Zero, come forward."

"..."

"You always cause trouble. So I'll raise the tension for you. For your own good."

The children's gazes were on me.

I know it's Caron's scheme, but I can't do anything about it.

Because of the karma I accumulated in the last class.

'I avoided sparring because I was really weak, but from Caron's perspective, I must have seemed incredibly arrogant.'

What was my rushed excuse?

Hehe, I don't engage in meaningless fights?

It's impossible not to be angry.

So I quietly followed Caron's words.

"Since this is for your own good, you won't run away, right?"

"Hehe, to have you pay so much attention to me. I'm just grateful."

"Right, right. You should be grateful. Now, anyone who wants to spar with Zero, come forward. I'll give special shop points to the winner."

Murmurs.

"Caron's shop? That's valuable."

"But he was third in the entrance exam, right?"

"We've never seen him fight, though..."

The children made their judgments about me, each saying a word.

The Teron and Yuridia factions were the busiest.

They gathered in small groups to discuss whether to participate and who would do so.

"Should we avoid making him feel bad since he's a potential recruit..."

"Is he worth recruiting? He's clearly just a show-off."

"Still, we should see his skills..."

Snap!

As the situation became strange, Luna quickly raised her hand.

But Caron turned his head, pretending not to see.

'He knows Luna won't charge in full force.'

A few others raised their hands after Luna.

One from the Teron faction and one from the Yuridia faction.

The chosen one...

"Gordner, come forward."

It was Gordner.

One of Teron's subordinates and one of the children who clashed with Luna.

He's probably around sixth in the Teron faction's ranking.

It means he's quite skilled.

'But I don't have to worry.'

Most of what I've mimicked so far are family secret skills.

I can't use them here, but I have [Swordsmanship A] mimicked with [God's Imitation].

Since most first-year students are at [Swordsmanship F], I'm confident I can dominate with this.

'I'm not just being arrogant.'

My stance, my posture.

My body maintains a position ready to draw the sword at any moment.

It's like automatic correction in swordsmanship.

"I'll give you a practice wooden sword."

I faced Gordner with the wooden sword in hand.

The cold, heavy sensation when I held the sword.

The long period of humiliation and oppression is over.

Now is the time to...

Return as the Sword Saint Zero!

* * *

Unlike me, Gordner was extremely tense.

It's natural, given that his opponent is the Sword Saint Go Gil-dong... or rather, me.

He rattled the wooden sword and said,

"Hehe, come on. I'll give you the first move."

He said it to avoid the shame of losing to a Sword Saint, but it sounded different to Gordner.

Gordner, his eyebrows twitching, immediately charged.

"Haah!"

A straightforward downward strike from the left.

I casually blocked the wooden sword.

'I need to spin it around while blocking. Then Gordner will lose his grip on the wooden sword.'

Gordner's wooden sword will arc through the air and then plunge to the ground.

As it hits the ground, I'll turn my body and say,

'Hehe, you're quite good. But you still have a long way to go.'

A very cool scene, like a protagonist in a novel.

The girls might fall for me.

Ah, I'm too busy for romance. What should I do?

Crack!

While I was lost in my imagination, the wooden swords finally met.

Now, if I spin it around, the opponent will lose his grip.

My [Swordsmanship] skill is A-rank.

But.

'Huh?'

The wooden sword doesn't spin; it's being pushed back towards me.

Something's wrong. Did I rely too much on the skill?

I pushed the wooden sword with all my strength, using my full body weight.

Swoosh.

Gordner pulled back his wooden sword.

I was pushing it forward, so my body naturally leaned forward, losing balance.

Gordner didn't stop there.

He thrust his wooden sword into my left side.

I hastily moved my wooden sword to block.

Clack!

'Gah!'

The wooden swords crossed while I was off-balance.

My palm tingled, and soon the pain spread throughout.

The pain was intense, making me want to drop the wooden sword.

'What the...!'

If my hand hadn't moved on its own to change the angle, I would have lost my grip just now.

Just two exchanges of sword strikes.

But it was enough to realize something.

'My only strength is swordsmanship...!'

Strength, agility, experience, reflexes, even the calluses on my hands.

I had nothing that surpassed Gordner.

"Hey, snap out of it. Where did your coolness go?"

"Hehe... You're quite good."

"I don't need to go easy on you. Ah! Or maybe..."

Creak.

"Are you really that weak?"

Gordner moved the crossed wooden swords, aiming for my neck.

It felt like the wooden sword would touch my neck at any moment.

Fortunately, my [Swordsmanship] skill started to kick in.

Creak.

Gordner's wooden sword kept moving.

My hands moved on their own to defend, and even aimed for Gordner's neck.

I couldn't tell exactly, but it seemed like the situation was turning in my favor.

Gordner's expression hardened.

I realized something.

'My [Swordsmanship] skill only improves the proficiency of the technique...!'

It means I have to do the basic attacks and defenses myself.

The [Swordsmanship] skill supports me.

"Tch! Your technique is good!"

Gordner, realizing he couldn't continue, pushed the wooden sword hard.

Since our swords were crossed, we moved slightly apart.

I quickly increased the distance between us.

'I can't use secret techniques...'

But if I use secret techniques from other families, it will cause a commotion.

Secret techniques are called secret techniques for a reason.

'Besides, if I use an A-rank adjusted secret technique...'

Gordner would disappear without a trace.

"Hehe. What? Were all your actions just for show? You're a real pain."

"...Hehe, it's your freedom to misunderstand."

"To raise your value, you should have been more moderate! I never liked you from the start!"

Clack! Crack!

Gordner's attacks continued.

It wasn't as hard to block as before. Because...

'He's going through the motions.'

His movements became larger and more showy. The reason is obvious.

Teron and his subordinates, Caron and the top students.

He's showing off his skills to them.

'Subduing the third-ranked student in the entrance exam in a flashy way. It must be a very stimulating event for the students.'

Of course, from my perspective, it's a childish act that I can't bear to watch.

Well, at least it gives me time to think.

"Haah!!"

A flashy attack, spinning in the air and striking down.

I dodged the obvious attack and calmly organized my thoughts.