RE: Player again

362

[Chapter 107]

[Hell is Always Near (6)]

Kim Geunwoong searched for the whereabouts of flags first after arriving on Deokjeok Island. Since he couldn't recruit Hoshimiya as a ranger as originally planned, he had no choice but to find flags to get good grades in the final evaluation.

Although no one said it directly, there was an implicit understanding among students, including him, that they couldn't beat Eunha and Minho.

But a problem arose.

"I barely found a flag yesterday, but it happened to be stuck in a group of Little Bees."

Second day of the final evaluation.

Kim Geunwoong finally found a flag near Bijobong.

But the flag was among a group of 8th tier monsters called Little Bees.

A number that couldn't be handled by one party.

So Kim Geunwoong tried to rally nearby parties to subjugate the Little Bee group.

Thus, eight parties including Mok Minho's party united.

"As I said earlier, the strategy is simple. Each party attacks Little Bees while helping each other not get hurt. Whoever gets the flag first keeps it. Instead, the party that gets the flag won't receive mana stones from Little Bees later. Whether you get the flag or not, neither side will lose out."

Parties agreed to prioritize subjugating Little Bees following alliance leader Kim Geunwoong's words and ownership of the flag would go to the party that obtained it first.

Parties that promised to engage in fair competition agreed to annihilate Little Bees even if someone obtained the flag.

"Yeah! I've been waiting for this! I've been so itchy not being able to properly use my body!"

"Jin Parang, don't try to rush out recklessly. And don't forget you need to get the flag while just killing monsters."

"Ah, right. There was that too."

Somewhere on the slope towards Bijobong. Bees with tiger stripes were swarming in a clearing made by monsters knocking down trees.

Bees with bodies the size of 5-6 year old children were showing wariness towards students approaching from all directions.

In that situation, Jin Parang leisurely adjusted his grip on Blue Claw.

"Parang oppa, please signal now."

"Okay."

Hayang spread a detection net around and peeked at Little Bees' movements.

When they were about to take battle stances, Hayang who became overall navigator signaled to Parang.

And Parang sent telepathy to those gathered in the forest signaling the start of the operation.

[─3, 2, 1. Go~ Shoot─!]

"─Run!!"

"What kind of slogan is that..."

Those waiting in the forest rushed out as soon as they received the telepathy.

The first person to rush out was Jin Parang. He who ended up shouting out loud while doing telepathy vigorously launched sword attacks towards Little Bees.

Meanwhile, Mok Minho who became Jin Parang's assistant this time according to Hayang's instructions followed behind with a sour face.

"Come on! Come on! Jin Parang is coming through!"

"I told you not to go too far forward. We need to match with other parties first to face that group."

"Hey, hey! What are you doing!"

"Block that side."

Mok Minho grabbed Parang's nape as he was about to s***h a Little Bee's side and jump into the group.

At the same time, he threw Parang at one rushing from the side and swung his sword to kill one rushing at himself.

Meanwhile, other parties jumped in and started attacking the Little Bee group from the front.

"Path! Quickly open a path!"

"Flag! It's over there! Hurry and run!"

It was a melee.

Parties that gained some teamwork after 3 days of the final evaluation opened paths while protecting each other.

The Little Bee group was clearly being pushed back by alliance members.

Movement Speed Increase

Defense Increase

Supporters in the rear applied basic buffs learned in class.

But in the chaotic situation, supporters were indiscriminately applying buffs unable to distinguish friend from foe.

Of course, buffs used by those learning basics only gave minimal effects.

In that situation, Cha Eunwoo was boldly demonstrating her skills.

Gentle Wind's Touch

A protective magic Cha Eunwoo independently created recently with Hayang's power.

Although still at a weak level, the gentle wind wrapped around Parang and Minho's bodies like clothing.

The protective magic was weak but blocked Little Bees' physical attacks.

I need to help too...!

Minji was also doing her best. She was focusing on distracting Little Bees students were facing from the rear.

She who quickly changed magazines shot a Little Bee trying to target a student's back.

The one that changed targets due to her attack tried to fly to the rear, but its movements were blocked by rangers in another direction.

She was steadily reducing monster numbers by matching with rangers like that.

When Parang and Minho ran towards the flag─

"─Everyone be careful!! More monsters are coming from 10 o'clock direction!"

""""What!?""""

Hayang filled her voice with mana and shouted loudly towards those continuing the melee.

Students were dumbfounded for a moment.

Another group of Little Bees was swarming from the direction she mentioned.

Those making irritating sounds while moving their wings at invisible speeds flashed their eyes.

"Jin Parang! First fall back then regroup and re-enter!"

"Tsk! I know that!"

Minho's judgment was immediate.

He who roughly grasped the approaching group decisively chose to fall back even though the flag was close.

He who retreated to the rear with Jin Parang regrouped in consultation with Kim Geunwoong.

The melee started again.

Dealers and hunters standing in a line swung weapons at those seemingly rushing in like an avalanche.

Rangers kept firing bullets behind them, and casters and supporters cast magic.

Snipers abandoned sniper rifles as the flow became chaotic and joined rangers' ranks.

...I'm out of bullets.

Dust clouds rose.

Monsters and students mixed together.

When rangers could no longer check them, most ran out of bullets.

Eventually rangers took out daggers at their waists and went to the battlefield.

Those who could move among casters and supporters who fell back after consuming internal mana did the same.

Mana Crasher

Minji also ran out of bullets.

The briefcase obtained earlier contained food as well as magazines.

However, she considered the remaining period and current situation and jumped into the frontline holding a knife.

She was out of breath but her body didn't stop moving due to training so far.

She jumped on top of a flying Little Bee and stabbed the connecting part between its head and body, then rolled and fell to the ground.

She minimized damage by breaking her fall then killed the closest one.

"Kyaaaah─!! What is this! What is this!! What are you doing to me!"

Then she ended up neglecting caution towards the rear.

When she turned around hearing a shrill voice, Choi Gain was caught by a Little Bee that seemed to have popped out from behind.

"Gain!"

"Let go of this! Hurry up and let go!?"

The Little Bee pierced Choi Gain's clothes with its skewer-like hands.

She who floated up in the air along with it screamed in fright while struggling.

"If I hadn't taken my eyes off for a moment..."

Minji muttered her mistake.

She quickly ran towards Choi Gain while reaching for the automatic pistol in her holster.

Then she realized another mistake.

She didn't change magazines.

It would take time to change magazines while running, aim at the Little Bee carrying Choi Gain, and fire.

The bullet might not hit either.

But that was all she could do now.

Minji tried to take out her automatic pistol and magazine while getting angry at her carelessness.

Right at that moment─

"─Leave this to me."

"Stupid oppa!?"

Jin Parang who instantly overtook her stepped on a foothold Hayang created and flew into the air.

He who jumped higher than even the Little Bee that captured Choi Gain swung Blue Claw flipped over his shoulder with all his might.

"Kyaaaah─!!"

Little Bee's annihilation.

And Choi Gain and Jin Parang's fall.

But he grinned without even taking a falling posture.

Sure enough, Eunwoo blocked their fall with magic.

"That bastard Jin Parang... I told him to stick by my side..."

Meanwhile, Minho who chased after Parang clicked his tongue next to Minji.

Although Jin Parang was able to rush out and save Choi Gain as a result, they missed the chance to obtain the flag again.

No, it's not over yet.

"Kim Minji. You run."

"What?"

"It'll be faster for us to get that than waiting for Jin Parang to return from there."

Minho instructed Minji.

She hesitated for just a moment.

She soon nodded seeing Mok Minho giving instructions with a straight gaze.

"You can do it with your Gift."

"...Okay."

"I'll watch your back."

Minji's Gift was .

She should be able to get her hands on the flag.

He didn't doubt her strength, and she tried to live up to his expectations.

I'll do what I can do!

She decided to do what she could do.

Not doing what she couldn't do.

Not somehow making it work.

She decided to definitely do what she could do.

And finally.

She was able to dig into the center of the group while utilizing her quick mobility.

There was a Little Bee guarding the flag.

That one was especially big.

Nevertheless, she didn't fear and avoided its attack to snatch the flag like an arrow.

Then it tried to attack her back but─

─Blade Sound

Meanwhile, Mok Minho who chased after Minji slashed the one that revealed an opening.

The two who met eyes extended hands not holding weapons to each other.

""Nice play.""

Complementing each other.

Let's do what we can do.

Minji who bumped fists resolved.

☆

The day after Eunha's party arrived on Deokjeok Island.

Party members who ate sashimi and made noise last night woke up with swollen eyes.

They no longer showed any reaction even if others had messy appearances.

"Eunha. What are we doing today?"

"Wait a moment."

Eunha who finished roughly washing with boiled water was sitting on the sandy beach looking at the sea with waves.

He didn't properly answer Seona's question as she cleaned up traces of the party eating last night.

It should be about time.

Eunha looked out at the shore.

He never neglected caution for even a moment even when party members slept soundly last night.

Because supply food would be dropped on Deokjeok Island at regular intervals starting from the morning of the third day.

He was waiting for that.

I don't know what the supply food is, but they must have suffered because of me so far, so I should let them have some nourishment.

I'll feed them well and roll them that much.

He waited for supply food to come while looking at the sunlight with a stiff face.

And finally─

"─Don't you hear a sound just now?"

"...What sound? I don't hear anything?"

"Don't you hear a dududu sound?"

The first person to notice the anomaly among party members was Seona with excellent physical senses.

Eunha who was listening to Eunhyeok and Seona's conversation quickly got up.

"Seona, where is it coming from?"

"Right over there. Ah, I see it. ...Helicopter? Eunha, could that be that?"

"What!? Could it be that!?"

"Huh? Am I the only one who doesn't understand now? Boss, what on earth are you talking about?"

Seona pointed towards the sea while perking her ears.

Yoo Dojun who was quick-witted ran over and followed the direction she pointed.

After a while, those gathered on the beach could see the existence of a helicopter flying from far away with the naked eye.

The party cheered.

Eunha also raised the corners of his mouth.

"Boss! Boss! The helicopter came!"

"I see it too."

The helicopter was already circling the outskirts near Deokjeok Island.

Monsters made ferocious sounds here and there due to the sound of propellers rotating.

Nevertheless, the helicopter moved over Deokjeok Island's airspace regardless and started dropping supply food in order.

That position would be difficult...

The first thing the helicopter dropped was quite far from their current position.

It would be hard to identify the location like that, and there was a high chance other parties would take it.

Eunha was about to give instructions to Seona but turned his gaze to the sky again.

Even if he didn't give instructions, Seona had been constantly checking the positions where supply food was dropping since the moment the helicopter came.

"...It's not dropping on the beach."

The fourth supply food dropped.

When this one also fell somewhere in the forest, Bae Subin spoke in a gloomy tone. Party members who sympathized with her words also nodded silently.

"Isn't that close enough?"

Then when the helicopter was about to drop the sixth supply food.

Yoo Dojun shouted seeing the helicopter hovering in a place they could reach with a little effort from their current position.

Other party members also confirmed that and swallowed saliva.

"...There are some competitors. Seona, how many parties are close to us?"

"I saw while looking around the beach yesterday, two parties were staying nearby. And... I see one party passing through that forest now."

Supply food likely to fall in a relatively close place.

The problem was there were other competitors, and they all seemed to be closer to the supply food than themselves.

Then party members' faces gradually became tinged with anxiety.

"Boss... We can't get it, can we?"

"Don't worry too much. More importantly, give me a knife."

"Knife? Why a knife? Here."

Soon the supply food dropped.

Eunha confirmed the party closest to the beach running out as soon as the supply food dropped.

But Eunha didn't try to urge the party.

Why run inefficiently?

People should live efficiently.

Eunha quickly threw the knife Choi Eunhyeok lent to Hoshimiya Kaede.

"─Ho!"

There was no need to give long instructions.

There was no need to call names long either.

The party came to roughly know what each other wanted after rolling and rolling harshly for 3 days.

Even Hoshimiya Kaede could now grasp what kind of instructions Eunha was trying to give even if she disliked it.

─Hoshitori (Star Catching)

The bow was already prepared.

Hoshimiya Kaede nocked Choi Eunhyeok's knife on her bowstring.

And pulled.

Towards the food falling from the helicopter.

"As expected, bows are the best."

While party members were dumbfounded.

Eunha nodded with a satisfied face while crossing his arms.

Hoshimiya Kaede perfectly accomplished what he wanted.

The knife she shot pierced the falling trunk while tracing an arc.

And her magic Hoshitori could directly grab the flying trajectory emitting mana.

When she pulled the blue trajectory, it came into her hand as if using the principle of elasticity.

The trunk pierced by the knife into her hand.

"You all saw, right? I really recruited one good party member."

"...Don't tell me the reason you wanted someone who shoots arrows was for this?"

While Hoshimiya Kaede who grasped the trunk trembled with shame.

Eunha boasted about her all over, and Yoo Dojun gave him sarcasm with a sour face.

Of course, Eunha ignored it.

If it's good, it's good, what's the problem.

Rangers who shoot arrows were useful in many ways.

It's not like he tried to recruit her just to snatch food though.

"But boss... What if Hoshimiya didn't hit properly? Wouldn't my knife have flown somewhere else if she messed up?"

Then, Eunhyeok suddenly expressed doubt as if he just thought of it.

Eunha answered as if it

was nothing.

"Then you can just ask Haesu hyung to make it for you again." "……."

This was the reason why he didn't give the black thorn tree to Kaede.

Eunhyuk's face soon hardened.

The galaxy giggled.

"Anyway, let's go into the island after lunch. If we can find the flag, we'll look for it. If we can't, we'll hunt until dinner."

Leader's instructions.

But the party members were too busy opening the trunk to listen to what he said.

After a while, they looked at the food and let out a new exclamation of admiration.

Meanwhile, Hoshimiya Kaede, who had been reduced to a harpoon in an instant, was trembling.

“Why am I talking to that guy….”

Before we knew it, the heavy rain had become tamed.