Chapter 16: All-out Showdown (2)

Back in his hunter days, Shin Han-tae possessed a muscular, enormous physique.

Although he’d lost most of his muscle since retiring, the skill seemed to fill the void, causing his muscles to surge back.

“Don’t you dare!”

Iblis, realizing what I was up to, charged at me.

But Seo Han-soo intercepted him before his dagger could reach me.

“You’re going to play with me.”

He slammed his clenched fist into Iblis’s abdomen.

He was an S-class hunter whose stats had been greatly enhanced through investment.

No matter how skilled Iblis was, he couldn’t ignore the slight gap between S-classes.

Iblis was sent flying, crashing through the concrete wall.

Seo Han-soo began pursuing Iblis, who had been blasted through the wall.

“Headmaster! I’m counting on you to handle the rest!”

“Understood!”

There were no S-class hunters among his subordinates.

They couldn’t possibly defeat the headmaster, who had regained a bit of his original power.

Iblis was for Seo Han-soo, and the remaining subordinates were for the headmaster.

Now, it was just Blunt and me left.

…I didn’t pick the final boss, did I?

“So, what are your thoughts?”

“It’s different than I expected, but I don’t mind. Fighting you is what I desire.”

Blunt drew his greatsword.

The pressure emanating from Blunt as he began to release mana was beyond imagination.

I couldn’t even begin to think I could win.

If I used the artifact, I could fight him adequately for a short time.

‘Now is not the time to use the artifact and fight.’

“Come on!”

Blunt charged forward, unleashing a roar that sounded like a lion’s bellow.

The speed of the sword, swung in a manner that didn’t suit his size, was swift.

I barely managed to twist my body to dodge, and the spot where I had been just moments ago was cleaved apart by the intense attack.

‘If I get hit, my body won’t be left in one piece.’

It felt like a wild beast was charging at me.

I could tell from that one strike.

I wouldn’t last long against this guy.

At best, I’d barely be able to evade his attacks while my stamina held out.

“What are you doing? Fight with all your might.”

“Of course. I’ll show you my full power.”

Blunt raised his greatsword high, preparing for my attack.

But I wore a bitter smile as I turned and fled through the hole Iblis had made.

Why would I fight when I had no chance of winning?

I was the only one who could see Shin Ahyeon’s mana.

I would follow the remnants of her mana and rescue Shin Ahyeon.

If I could escape and signal the headmaster and Seo Han-soo, it would be a success.

‘Of course, I have to shake that guy off first.’

Blunt was chasing after me with terrifying momentum.

His face was filled with rage because I had run away.

If he were to unleash mana like he did at school, I wouldn’t have many options.

But he wouldn’t be able to use mana here.

If he used mana in this old building, it would all collapse.

Blunt knew that, so he didn’t use mana.

“Why are you running away! Aren’t you ashamed!”

“Why would I care about that?”

I darted between the building’s pillars.

Blunt, with his massive size, couldn’t follow easily.

He would have caught up quickly in a straight line.

Unlike the bulky Blunt, I was faster as I easily passed through the narrow passages.

I constantly swiveled my head, searching for the remnants of mana.

‘There!’

I could detect Shin Ahyeon’s untainted mana.

The continuous remnants of Shin Ahyeon’s mana were guiding me to where I needed to go.

Over there, a person wearing a skull mask was running with Shin Ahyeon in their arms.

“Teacher!”

Shin Ahyeon’s eyes welled up as she met my gaze.

“What the hell! Why is that bastard here!”

The man exclaimed in shock.

I took a deep breath.

[S-Class Skill ‘Investment Prodigy’ is activated.]

[Shin Han-tae defeats an enemy.]

[Strength +6]

[Agility +4]

[Mana +7]

[Stamina +27

[Sense +5]

Thanks to the headmaster defeating the enemies, my stats began to increase dramatically.

If I gather my students later and have them do raids, I’ll definitely get stronger too, right?

Gathering mana and strength, I sprinted with all my might and managed to catch up to the man. Without slowing down, I swung Jormungandr’s Fang.

Shick-!

With a clean motion, I severed the man’s arms and legs.

Shin Ahyeon’s body, still in the man’s arms, floated in the air.

I spun around, caught Shin Ahyeon, and rolled across the floor, kicking up dust.

“Kuheuk!”

My entire body felt like it was about to break from the sudden muscle contractions.

“Kuaaak!”

The man, bleeding and collapsed, screamed.

I had no sympathy for him.

After all, it was the price for what they had done.

Crap! This isn’t a scene a child should see!

I hope she didn’t see the bleeding.

“Ahyeon, are you okay…”

“Hic…”

Shin Ahyeon buried her face in my arms and burst into tears.

Even adults would find kidnapping hard to endure.

It was clear that Shin Ahyeon, who was still young, was terrified.

As I stroked her head, her sobs grew louder.

“Let’s go back to school.”

“…Yes.”

Now, all that was left was to escape from here and send a signal.

That’s when it happened.

A massive, venomous, purple mana swept over my head.

“This is…”

Reflexively, I crouched down, and an intense shockwave washed over my entire body.

The air trembled, and my whole body felt crushed.

Startled, Shin Ahyeon let out a short scream as she trembled.

Kwaaaang-!

A string of curses welled up in my

That crazy bastard!

Blunt had finally used mana.

Was he trying to kill his own comrades too!

The pillars were collapsing.

The ceiling and floor, having lost their support, began to crumble.

“Teacher!”

“Hold on tight!”

I ran as fast as I could, holding Shin Ahyeon.

Damn it, I can’t outrun the speed at which the building is collapsing.

Even with my stats greatly increased, it was difficult to escape the collapsing building.

Could I do it if I gathered all the remaining mana?

No, it’s impossible.

The collapsed pillars began to block the entrance.

The only remaining option was to hope for a ‘return on investment’ that might exist.

Hoping that the headmaster or Seo Han-soo had defeated the enemies.

“Investment Prodigy!”

[Impossible]

[■■■ has stopped the skill from being used.]

What…?

My fingertips felt chillingly cold.

Someone had stopped the skill from being used.

“Teacher! Above!”

Along with Shin Ahyeon’s scream, a massive chunk of debris struck directly.

This is so fucked…!

Kwaang-!

[■■■ has sent a gift.]

[The S-Class Skill ‘Investment Prodigy’ trait is unlocked.]

★★★

I didn’t know how much time had passed.

Fortunately, the collapse stopped after the concrete debris fell.

Damn it, I can’t move because the concrete is firmly blocking the top.

I held the ground firmly with my arms, enduring the weight of the concrete as it was.

The balance would be broken if I moved my body even slightly.

I clenched my teeth and endured with all my might.

“Teacher…”

“Ahyeon, don’t move.”

In a situation where not a single ray of light entered, despair spread rapidly.

What happened to Seo Han-soo and the headmaster?

I couldn’t worry about others, so all I could do now was pray for their safety.

Drip-!

Warm blood trickled down my forehead and onto the floor.

Did I hit my head?

Come to think of it, my vision seems to be blurring…

“Investment Prodigy.”

[Stop]

[The Investment Prodigy skill cannot be used at this time.]

The system only repeated the same answer.

Damn it! Why only at important moments like this!

It was impossible to get out of here unless a miracle happened.

My breathing became ragged, and the muscles in my arms gradually loosened.

The heavily pressing concrete gradually lowered to the floor.

“Teacher will do something, so just hold on a little longer…”

All I could do was instill even false hope.

If I had S-class power, this wouldn’t have happened.

I wouldn’t have been in danger of being buried under this debris.

My fist clenched in helplessness.

Is there really no way left for me…?

I have to endure.

If I don’t endure now, who will?

[■■■ has sent a gift.]

[The S-Class Skill ‘Investment Prodigy’ trait is unlocked.]

What…?

The system window appeared before my eyes like a lifeline.

+++

[S-Class Skill Investment Prodigy]

Raise your stats by investing points in the stats of others.

Trait 1: You’ll be rich with profits! (Your stats increase depending on the performance of the invested person.)

Trait 2: Randomly summons one person with a high investment ratio.

Trait 3: (Locked)

+++

“Skill Investment Prodigy!”

I shouted, gathering the last of my strength.

I had no strength left, so I coughed up dry coughs containing dust.

The debris felt behind my back began to sink even more strongly.

[Investment Prodigy’s second trait is activated.]

[Randomly selecting a person.]

Soon I knew who had been selected.

The moment I saw the name, my blurred mind snapped into focus, and a hollow laugh escaped my lips.

He was the most reliable person I knew.

Thud-!

The weight of the concrete that was pressing down decreased.

The darkness that had covered my entire body receded, and bright light obscured my vision.

“I was suddenly teleported and thought it was an enemy attack, but it was you, Kim Onyu.”

“…Guild Leader.”

At the end of my gaze stood Yoon Kang-hyun, wearing a gentle smile.

[‘S-Class Hunter Yoon Kang-hyun’ has been summoned.]

Come to think of it, Yoon Kang-hyun was also one of the people who received a lot of investment from me.

Yoon Kang-hyun moved his head up and down as if scanning my body.

Soon he clicked his tongue and sighed.

“They say you suffer when you leave home, but what’s with that appearance?”

You’re the one who sent me here!

I was about to get angry at the injustice.

Yoon Kang-hyun, pushing up his glasses, handed me a small potion.

A scarlet potion, a healing potion.

I was so surprised when I received it that I almost dropped it.

That’s because one of these is worth a house!

“Why are you carrying potions around?”

“Think of it as a personal secret.”

Still, I should eat it since I received it, right?

No, I had to eat it.

If I didn’t eat this, my mind would be clouded soon.

Pop!

After opening the cork, I poured it into my mouth.

Honestly, it didn’t taste very good.

It was sticky and disgustingly wrapped around my mouth.

But regardless of the taste, the performance was insanely good.

New flesh sprouted on the stinging wounds, returning to clean skin.

“So why is someone with mana deficiency here? Can you explain?”

Yoon Kang-hyun was smiling, but I felt like he was angry.

It was only natural that an employee who retired due to mana deficiency was doing dangerous things.

I tried to avoid answering by turning my head.

How can I say that I lied about having mana deficiency because I actually wanted to retire!

If Yoon Kang-hyun knew, he would definitely drag me back to the Hongryeom Guild.

That’s absolutely not going to happen.

“You bastard!”

A roar was heard in the distance.

Blunt, covered in bruises all over his body, appeared.

I didn’t think an S-class would be buried alive in the rubble.

If I hadn’t taken the potion, it would have been a fatal wound, but Blunt was unharmed.

I was going to face such a monster.

“Is that him? The one who harassed our precious employee?”

Blunt charged, pushing off the ground.

The greatsword, wielding his arm flexibly like a whip, was truly threatening.

However, Yoon Kang-hyun didn’t even blink.

The smile he always wore disappeared, and he wore a cold, calm look.

Thud-!

Sparks flew with a sonic boom that shook the surroundings.

Before the greatsword blade could even touch, a transparent barrier blocked the two.

+++

Name: Nemea’s Bracelet

Grade: B

Description: Can create a shield that deflects any attack once a day. Can be used by designating another person.

+++

“Kim Onyu, you’ve acquired something interesting while you were away from home.”

“Haha…”

Honestly, I don’t think my help was needed.

Yoon Kang-hyun showed his palm to Blunt.

Blunt frowned, not knowing what he was up to.

But I knew what Yoon Kang-hyun was going to do.

I swallowed hard and covered the eyes of Shin Ahyeon, whom I held in my arms.

“You have already crossed a river you cannot turn back from.”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Blunt clenched his right fist and threw a punch.

It was a menacing fist packed with high-density magic.

Fwoosh-!

That is, until his arm was blown away like dust.

His right hand, wreathed in magic, turned to dust and scattered into the air.

Blunt’s eyes flashed as he tried to feel the sensation of his vanished right hand.

All that remained was the cross-section where his right hand had disappeared.

The heavy arm’s disappearance caused Blunt to lose his balance and stagger.

“What have you done!”

“You have illegally invaded the Republic of Korea, caused harm to its residents, and nearly killed a subordinate I cherish. As an S-Class Hunter and the Guild Master of the Hongyeom Guild, I cannot condone your actions.”