RE: Player again

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[Chapter 100] [To Those Who Live Treading on Death (4)]

Sometimes walking as if becoming a wolf

Wolf Step

Baek Seojin's space-shrinking technique was divided into three types.

Based on the walking method taught at the High Academy, the space-shrinking technique was classified into Wolf Step, Thousand Step, and Ox Step.

The Wolf Step that Eunhyeok was recently learning was the lowest grade magic among them.

Eunhyeok dodged obstacles with quick footwork and swung his sword at the monster charging from the front.

The creature holding an iron club blocked the sword falling from above.

While the sound of metal scraping against metal spread—

—Grooowl!!

Jin Parang, now relatively accustomed to his Gift, twisted his body and flew in.

Without transforming into a Blade Wolf, he ran along the wall leaving only his wild nature, then quickly leaped over the monster's head and swung his Blue Claw.

Crunch!

The goblin whose shoulder was cut by the claw-like blade stepped back.

Meanwhile, Eunhyeok infused mana into his device for a new spell.

Kyaaaa—!!

Dangerous.

Sensing this, the creature adjusted its posture and rushed at Eunhyeok who was preparing to deploy Mana Crusher.

In fact, that was just a feint.

—Spider Leg

A long blade flew in from behind.

The blade, bent in the middle like a spider's leg, pierced the creature's chest.

It was a spell cast by Bae Subin in the rear, protected by the Queen of Hearts' Declaration.

Mana Crusher

Mana Crusher

And while Jin Parang was drawing attention, Mok Minho, who had been hiding among obstacles, seized the opportunity and sprang out.

Eunhyeok also leaped from his position, and the two almost simultaneously swung blades imbued with mana at the goblin.

The creature's body was split diagonally.

"How was that?"

"...Not bad."

Red Dungeon Player Academy.

Eunha and Shin Seoyoung were exchanging words from a distance.

At first treating the children as if they were cute, she was now watching with her lips curled up.

Even though she had thought they were just middle school academy students.

Already, there were no half-baked thoughts in Shin Seoyoung's mind.

"They shouldn't be used to party play, but they were able to avoid overlapping movements thanks to Parang and Seona, right?"

"The kids put in effort too."

It could be said that Seona and Hayang's accurate situation assessment shone.

Seona, who had fallen to the rear, constantly sent accurate telepathy without letting her guard down.

And the one who gave those instructions was Jung Hayang.

She who deployed the Queen of Hearts' Declaration helped make accurate judgments while capturing information about the surroundings.

Meanwhile, Parang at the front occasionally informed Seona of information that the rear couldn't grasp.

"The role distribution in the party isn't bad either. Especially since Parang is both a telepathist and hunter, feedback can be given quickly, which is good."

Eunha agreed with Shin Seoyoung's assessment.

It was what he had been aiming for.

Generally, although Ain have excellent physical abilities, most aspire to be telepathists.

As a result, it was difficult to find players who could fully demonstrate Ain's characteristics.

But what about Jin Parang?

While almost all Ain choose telepathist as their main, he chose hunter as his main and telepathist as his sub.

To relay instructions, a telepathist needed to be nearby, but since Parang was always at the front, the twins had quite a hard time.

In his previous life, Jin Parang was a talent that would be coveted anywhere.

It meant that a telepathist active at the front could instantly exchange information with the navigator and telepathist giving instructions from the rear.

Especially in areas where electronic equipment communication was impossible, their role increased even more.

But Parang's personality was the problem.

However, there wasn't a single clan or party trying to recruit him, who was called the "Lone Wolf".

In the end, the Fog Flower Party was able to retain a capable talent for life, but conversely, they couldn't find a reliable telepathist to handle the rear, so real-time feedback wasn't smooth.

But what about this life?

By having Jin Seona, who had used telepathy since childhood, as a friend, he was able to use tactics that were impossible before.

For now, it was just tactics deployed against a single monster, but someday the time will come when the two's coordination can be used more effectively.

"Those who are injured, gather in front of Eunwoo! No cutting in line!"

"Minji, wait a moment. Is there anyone who needs to be treated first? If so, I'll treat that person first."

The battle was over.

The friends who had defeated the 7th tier monster without panic entered the Queen of Hearts' Declaration.

Minji had those with severe injuries stand in front of Eunwoo first while checking the condition of the injured friends.

Eunwoo's Gift was related to healing ability.

Although she hadn't realized it yet, her internal mana was having the effect of enhancing others' healing abilities.

Even the general healing magic learned in class became a slightly different healing magic when it passed through her hands.

"I knew about Hayang's talent from before, and Eunwoo was it? That child has quite a talent too?"

Shin Seoyoung said with narrowed eyes.

She was quick-witted.

"If it weren't for Euna..., Hyerim would have coveted her quite a bit."

"How is it? Does it seem worth teaching?"

"No, not at all."

Eunha asked subtly.

Shin Seoyoung expressed her negative opinion without hesitation.

"She has talent, but that's all. She could probably be called a Named without issue, but it's a bit ambiguous for her to become one of the Twelve Seats."

"But isn't that level good enough?"

"What I've felt while being a high school academy instructor is..."

Eunha inwardly thought the same, but didn't know Shin Seoyoung would think the same.

Rather, her stance was even more skeptical.

"Not everyone with talent is the same promising rookie. Even among those with talent, there are different levels."

"..."

"For example, Yeonhwa, Changjin, and Euna showed what it means to be on a different level. They're really... just monsters. Especially Ryu Yeonhwa. In 10 years, no, maybe even 5 years, she'll grow into a player comparable to the current Hyeonchul."

Shin Seoyoung gently stroked her arm.

Eunha agreed with this part.

Ryu Yeonhwa, called the "Sword Saint", could be said to be truly on a different level even among those with talent.

Before the regression, the fact that she became a player comparable to Baek Seojin and Yoo Dojun in her late 20s showed her potential.

Compared to her, Eunwoo would inevitably seem insignificant.

"Maybe because I've seen so many kids like that... in my eyes, Eunwoo is somewhat interesting, but I don't really feel like I want to raise her myself. I haven't looked at her ability closely so I don't know... But Hyerim probably wouldn't either. Euna is quite skilled too."

"Our sister is amazing, isn't she?"

"...Why are you more pleased when it's not even about you?"

Eunha puffed out his chest as he replied. Shin Seoyoung frowned with a disgusted look.

Regardless, Eunha turned his gaze to Eunwoo.

Eunwoo is... not enough.

Cha Eunwoo is by no means a talentless individual.

However, for Eunha who knew of more excellent supporters, she was somewhat unsatisfactory.

Because Lee Yujung was that amazing.

She who had the talent to revive even those on the brink of death, as exaggerated rumors went, easily surpassed Cha Eunwoo's abilities despite not being a "Named".

Park Hyerim in healing and buffs.

Priscis Memory in auxiliary magic.

Iriya showed unrivaled ability in healing.

Above all, Lee Yujung was, in Eunha's personal opinion, someone with abilities comparable to the three people mentioned as examples.

So Cha Eunwoo couldn't be completely satisfactory.

She was indeed an excellent supporter, but she was someone who couldn't shake off Park Hyerim's shadow.

"But that one is good. The name is..."

"Bae Subin."

"Right, Bae Subin."

Eunha, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon awoke from his reverie upon hearing Shin Seoyoung's voice.

She pointed at Bae Subin, who was glancing this way while talking with Hayang.

"I can't tell in detail without looking closely at that child either... But I can feel that she's well-versed in theory. If Hayang's magic is based on imagination, Subin's is based on experience and theory. She's the same type as me."

"Is that something you should say when you could freely control wind without knowing any theory from birth?"

"Why are you like this. I studied a lot too. Maybe that's why... I can feel a desire for improvement in that child's eyes."

Eunha stared at Bae Subin with a blank expression.

She met his gaze and mouthed "Why are you staring?" as if picking a fight.

It really seemed like she would need education soon.

"All the children who saw me for the first time today showed curiosity at the fact that I'm a 'Named'. Just like seeing a celebrity. But not Subin. She was trying to gauge how strong I am."

"..."

"Viewed positively, it's high competitiveness, and negatively, it's looking down on me."

"That's not a desire for improvement, it's just spite, spite."

"Isn't that desire for improvement?"

"It's not just simple desire for improvement..."

The spite of not wanting to live being pushed around.

A desire for success driven by competitiveness.

Surely that would be the feelings Bae Subin has.

However, Eunha who knew this trailed off.

He didn't want to change Shin Seoyoung's mind that was viewing her positively.

"So are you going to teach or not? Just tell me that."

"...Look here, Noh Eunha student. I'm a busy person too, you know? Moreover, academy instructors can't accept 'requests' by regulation, you know?"

"It's not accepting a 'request', just teaching whenever you have time occasionally."

"This kid is trying to use a loophole, huh?"

Shin Seoyoung was dumbfounded.

But she seemed to be contemplating with her arms folded.

Eventually, she broke the long silence and opened her mouth.

"—Two. I'll only teach two."

"Who?"

"Subin and Eunwoo. I'll just teach Eunwoo the basics, and teach Subin as much as I can."

Somewhat satisfactory.

Eunha nodded with satisfaction.

Then he casually asked her.

"What about Hayang?"

"Hayang? Hmm..."

The two looked at Jung Hayang again, who was overlooking the battlefield.

Even as the battle flowed intensely, Hayang quickly noticed their gaze and turned her eyes to this distant place.

She smiled brightly as their eyes met, then focused on the battle again.

"Hayang is a child who will grow well on her own even if left alone. I don't think I need to teach her."

"Well, considering she created the Queen of Hearts' Declaration magic on her own, I suppose so."

Eunha thought the same.

Jung Hayang would do well on her own.

That's why he earnestly hoped that Shin Seoyoung would teach Bae Subin and correct her terrible personality.

"And that kid, hasn't she been listening to our conversation all this time?"

"What?"

Eunha blinked his eyes.

Although he had deployed a detection network, he hadn't felt any sensation of someone's magic touching him at all.

So it was really surprising that Hayang had been eavesdropping on their conversation without him noticing.

"If even you couldn't sense it, Eunha, you can tell how high Hayang's level is now, right? With that much mana, yet using concealment magic so skillfully, there's nothing for me to teach."

"A kid only 15 years old... How on earth..."

"Why are you like this. Euna could easily do this level of technique at that age too. I hear Yeonhwa was even more amazing."

"Our sister is pretty good, isn't she?"

"...You really, why are you so pleased about Euna's matters when it's not even about you?"

Shin Seoyoung clicked her tongue.

She shook her head while looking down at Eunha who was holding his head high.

"Anyway, the battle seems to be ending soon. Shall we go now?"

"Yes, let's."

By now, the battle was entering a lull.

Eunha followed Shin Seoyoung's steps.

"You know, Eunha."

"Yes. What is it?"

That's when it happened.

Shin Seoyoung spoke while looking into the distance.

As if the friends comforting each other up ahead weren't even in her mind.

As if looking into a distant future.

"I said Yeonhwa is a monster, right? But actually... there's one more monster even scarier than her."

"Really? Who is it?"

At Shin Seoyoung's sudden remark.

Eunha asked her with wide eyes.

Wondering if there was a promising rookie of similar age that he had missed.

As he listened to her words—

"—It's you. You."

"...What?"

Eunha frowned.

Is this sister joking right now?

He regretted listening for nothing.

He decided to pretend he hadn't heard what she said.

"You really... I can't even imagine how you'll turn out in the future, kid."

"Why are you saying obvious things so seriously? I got my hopes up for nothing."

"Wow, look at how shameless this kid is?"

He knows he's great.

Eunha passed by with a snort.

Shin Seoyoung followed, snickering.