Aftermath Of The Swamp (1)

About ten minutes before Yu Seha threw everything into an all-or-nothing gamble.

“…Something seems strange.”

A woman was pacing around the gate, seemingly uneasy.

Height in the early 170s.
A fine ponytail with a beige hue.
A woman whose upright features and distinct facial features would make anyone call her a beauty.

Lastly, a chest pocket so generous that the button seemed pitiful… no, not that.
A badge symbolizing a professor at [Gonis Hunter Academy].

Peng Jin-ah.
She was on standby as the supervisor for the final test of the fourth week, her arms crossed as if she were anxious.

‘…There should be news by now.’

It hadn’t even been four hours since the team of Ju Na-young and Yu Seha had entered.

But Peng Jin-ah clearly found it strange.

With their skills, they should have defeated the boss long ago, and the process should be underway.

‘…I’m anxious.’

Anxious.

Peng Jin-ah was afraid of her sense, which, although usually inaccurate, always hit the mark in situations like this.

And this…

Crackle!

“Cough…”
“Pr-Professor…!”

“…Ryu Da-rae, Hwang… Ki-beum?”

The sight of the two severely injured people turned her anxiety into certainty.

“……”

Peng Jin-ah ran.
Like releasing a tightly drawn bowstring.
Her movements, running without hesitation, was art in itself.

As if she did not touch the ground.
She easily leaped over any obstacle.

If Yu Seha saw this scene, he would be shocked and make a big fuss.

Currently, there were three abilities resonating in Peng Jin-ah’s legs.

[Unstoppable Sprint], [Powerful Agility].
A personalized arrangement of the ‘martial arts skill’ passed down from her family, [Peng Furious Wolf Steps].

She possessed three movement speed correction skills, which even a mid-level B-grade hunter would find hard to have.

It looked simple, but it was a combination of three techniques.

‘…Damn it.’

However, Peng Jin-ah thought her legs were particularly slow today.

She knew it logically.

That it was impossible to increase her speed any further than what she was at.

That the poison of impatience was simply eating away at her.

Despite knowing all this, Peng Jin-ah found it especially hard to remain calm and composed today.

‘Please.’

Please, I beg you.
Ju Na-young.
A presence like a younger sister who had followed her since childhood.

And…

‘…Yu Seha.’

A talent who would finally surpass the wall she had discovered, a gem.

And personally, a man to whom she owed a debt of the heart.

‘…Both of you, just stay alive, no matter what.’

If you do that, I will find a way to restore you to your original state.

It was then.
Not far away.
Seeing two figures running at a considerable speed, Peng Jin-ah’s face brightened.

Ju Na-young.

The one she was worried about until just now was being supported and brought over.

But then, she realized another fact and froze.

The fact that the strongest cadet, , was here…

‘…No way?’

“…! Professor Peng Jin-ah.”
“Pr-Professor…”

Peng Jin-ah landed in front of the two.
She raised her hand to stop them from saying anything.

“Cadet Moon Bora. I’m sorry, but tell me only what is necessary within ten seconds. I’ll get a detailed report later.”

Prioritizing the most essential information, Moon Bora’s eyes also changed.

“The final boss of this place. The Stone Troll has gone berserk. has been achieved.”
“…Damn it.”

Peng Jin-ah cursed, but neither of the two paid any attention to it.
It was that dangerous of a situation.

.
There were various exceptional cases, but simply put, it referred to an event where the existing ‘boss’ meets conditions and achieves mutation and evolution.

It was often considered one of the most dangerous dungeon crises, along with .

‘Did the boss wander around inside the dungeon?’

Usually, monsters within the same dungeon do not attack each other.

But occasionally, the mid-boss.

Or the final boss in the [Boss Room] would roam around inside.

This was commonly referred to as the phenomenon.

A boss that enters the state ignores the dungeon’s rules.
Catching or killing the monsters inside.
In this case, the boss strengthens itself by gaining experience.

usually occurs in such cases.

“No…”

Then, as if reading her mind, Ju Na-young denied it.

As her words continued, Peng Jin-ah’s face hardened gradually.

‘…From the closed artifact… a [Demon Stone]?’

Her eyes began to tremble slightly.

Various thoughts whirled in her mind.
Doubts arose about past mysteries.

However, she brushed everything off with a firm blink.
Right now, worrying about such things was a luxury.

“Got it. Both of you did well. Leave the rest to me.”
“I will… go too!”
“Na-young, it’s dangerous… Oh, what’s this wound on your waist?”
“I have dragon’s blood flowing in my body… and the ring I’m wearing has a healing effect, so I can recover my full strength given enough time.”

Peng Jin-ah, who was listening to the two people’s conversation, nodded.

“Ju Na-young. You are free to follow, but if you fall behind, I will leave you.”
“Yes!”

The two people ran hastily.

Each of them fully exerted their movement speed skills and headed towards the [Boss Room].

After running non-stop for about five minutes.

“…!”

Peng Jin-ah frowned at the thick, demonic energy lingering in the air.

It was the residual aura of a highly pure Demon Stone.

Soon, from the scent of blood that followed, they instinctively knew a fierce battle was taking place.

Click!

They grabbed the sword at their waists.
They prepared to decapitate the boss as soon as they entered.

As they stepped inside.
Peng Jin-ah unknowingly came to a halt on the spot.

“…What?”

A brilliant light.

Standing as if entranced by the light source filling the [Boss Room].

Ju Na-young, who arrived a step late, was no different.

At the center of the light was Yu Seha, raising a sword with both hands.

The ‘White Flames’ on the [Turtle’s Longsword] shone more intensely than anything.

The White Flames filled the gap as if to mend the broken space.

As astonishing as that was, Peng Jin-ah was even more shocked by the technique being executed.

The blow of the flowed down the blade.

Not just deflecting, but absorbing all of the opponent’s force to unleash a full-power ‘counter.’

“[Peng Furious Wolf]!!!”

With Yu Seha’s resolute shout, the radiant form of a giant white tiger manifested.

It was the manifestation of the true form of the [Peng Furious Wolf] that Peng Jin-ah used with all her might.

The mana that took shape transformed into a single flash and exploded on the twin-headed body.

It evaporated the upper body entirely.

A perfect counter, literally.

Peng Jin-ah stared blankly at the scene, forgetting even the fact that she had to help Yu Seha.

“…Ah.”

She was once again certain.
A shiver ran through her entire body.

Yu Seha was.
Indeed…
A pure talent without any impurities.
An unwavering brilliance.

‘He will surely…’

Surpass her.

And Ju Na-young, who was watching, had a similar impression.

She saw the image of Professor Peng Jin-ah in him.

“……”

Ju Na-young clenched her fists unconsciously.
She instinctively knew.
No matter what anyone said, her defeat was certain.

The thoughts of the two people ended here.

Thud.

Yu Seha, having exhausted all his strength, collapsed helplessly amidst the shattered longsword.

Only then did Peng Jin-ah, regaining her senses, rushed forward.

Amazingly, despite taking this blow, the still-alive faced the [Overlord Sword Technique].

The completely crimson sword energy swept through the swamp with overwhelming force.
An onslaught incomparable to what Yu Seha had unleashed.
Only after being torn apart at the cellular level did the Twin Head Troll finally cease breathing.

After sheathing her sword, Peng Jin-ah looked at Ma Hana, who was clinging to Yu Seha and sobbing.

“Meow, meow, Seha. No, no, please…!”

She was crying so sorrowfully that anyone would think he was dead.
Fortunately, he was still breathing.

“Ma Hana! Calm down! He’s just unconscious!”
“Meow…”
“W-well, of course… His internal organs are severely damaged, and his bones and muscles are twisted, so it’s a life-threatening situation right now…”
“Meoww!!!”
“C-Calm down… If treated, there will be no aftereffects on his body.”
“Meow…”

Ju Na-young concluded calmly.
At her words, not only Ma Hana but also Peng Jin-ah let out a small sigh of relief.

‘…It’s really like a miracle.’

For such a strong boss to rampage, yet no casualties to occur.

This was possible because…

‘Yu Seha.’

It was all thanks to him.

About two days after the incident.
Inside the infirmary of [Gonis Hunter Academy].

“…Umm.”

I forcibly lifted my heavy eyelids open.

“A strange ceiling.”

No, actually, it wasn’t unfamiliar.
It was the same pattern as when I was hospitalized after the sparring match.

“Ahh…”

Forcing myself to sit up, I looked around and sighed in relief at the sight of my hospital gown.

‘…Phew.’

I see.
I’m alive.

“Thank goodness…”

If I had seen my father or comrades, it would have been a nightmare.

Just as I sighed in relief at being alive.

I felt something squirming beside me.

“…?”

When I looked down, I saw Ma Hana, her eyes puffy from crying, using my arm as a pillow.

She must have cried all night while taking care of me, now deeply asleep.

I felt so sorry to her.

I gently stroked her head out of pity.

Even though it couldn’t be helped, making my favorite character feel this much pain made me a failure as a ‘Supervisor.’

‘…By the way…’

No matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t recall the final scene.

In the memories flashing like a revolving lantern, I vaguely remembered talking with my dying father.

But beyond that, nothing came to mind.

I just focused on the fact that ‘if I die, Ma Hana will be sad,’ and swung my sword.

Ah…
When I thought of the sword, I remembered a bit more.

The absurd power of the sword aura that manifested from the breaking [Turtle’s Longsword] at the end.

“…It was definitely [Peng Furious Wolf]… wasn’t it?”

The high-level ‘counter’ performed by Professor Peng Jin-ah.
I vaguely remembered using that technique brought by the [Eyes of Reversed Heaven].

Thinking up to that point, the puzzle pieces started to fit together.

I probably succeeded in delivering a fatal blow to the Twin Head Troll with that strike.
In the meantime, Professor Peng Jin-ah must have come running.

I opened and closed my hand, feeling stuck.
A throbbing pain surged, but other than that, there was nothing unusual.

‘…Strange?’

Considering my condition at that time.
There was no way I should be this fine.

‘…Did they use some expensive medicine on me?’

Hmm…
Well, good things are good.

I thought of taking a short walk, and reached my hand towards the side where Ma Hana wasn’t.

And at that moment.

Squish!

“…?”

A soft, yet resilient, simultaneously alluring warm sensation flowed through my palm, causing my entire body to freeze like a stone.

Was it because I was too surprised?
Countless imaginations swirled in my mind.

No, right?
Damn it…
No, right?

‘It can’t be…’

I’m not the protagonist of some romantic comedy…
It can’t be such a situation.

I calmed myself down and turned my head.

And then…
Why on earth…?

I saw Ju Na-young. I had no idea why she was in the corner of my bed.

She was sleeping soundly right next to me, wrapped in bandages and wearing a patient’s gown.

As a bonus, my hand was resting on her large chest.

“Oh…”

Damn it.