Chapter 3 – If Education Is Needed (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Avoiding the claws and teeth of the angry Gnolls.

And throwing a punch.

I am merely repeating that simple action.

But I could feel it.

That there was not the slightest superfluity in my actions.

What happens if I cannot avoid it?

If the attack misses, will I just be bitten off?

Will I die of excessive bleeding?

Thoughts that a person would naturally have.

Granfel’s mind and body completely ignored those worries.

『His pride is peerlessly heavy and unwavering. Even if he were to sink and drown beneath that weight.』

That ‘setting’ was expressing the stats of a trivial Demon Hunter to a hundred percent, no, even more. At this point, even I was surprised.

‘I really was a severe chuunibyou. Me.’

I really was a dangerous guy who prioritized coolness over my life.

But even if it was the influence of that setting.

In the end, my bare-handed fighting skills were terrible.

‘Because I haven’t acquired any skills related to fighting.’

Thwack

Even though it was a punch thrown with all my might.

“Ku, kurreung!”

I could not deal any meaningful damage to the Gnoll.

……Wouldn’t this be disadvantageous if it turns into a drawn-out fight?

‘It is a waste of durability, but do I have no choice but to use it.’

I made a truly rational judgment with my head, but.

There was no change in my actions.

How pitiful.

My situation was just like a swan on a lake.

To others, my appearance must really look like I am educating the Gnolls.

But I am serious.

Just as a swan paddles its webbed feet to stay afloat on the lake.

I am also doing my best to dodge and swing.

Regardless of my inner thoughts, carefree words popped out.

“Is the education still lacking?”

It was then.

Seo Jeong-yeon’s shout could be heard.

“Casting finished! Dodge!”

Flames soaring from her staff.

Click

I walked overflowing with dignity this time as well.

The magic flying in was Fire Arrow.

Although I do not know anything about mages.

I know that is a low-level magic.

Above all, the projectile speed was slow.

At that rate, it might even miss.

Thinking about the next action while guessing that…….

For some reason, the Gnolls did not move.

“Wh-whimper!”

Drooping tails.

The growling sound could no longer be heard either.

I looked at that sight and spoke.

“As expected, education is inefficient for wild dogs.”

……There must be a limit to being shameless!

Even as I spoke, I was truly dumbfounded.

But in the end, isn’t it like spitting on my own face?

Let’s restrain ourselves, Lee Ho-yeol.

It is all karma from the past.

“Yes, it hit!”

Clench

Seo Jeong-yeon clenches her fist and shows it.

If I kept watching, I didn’t know what kind of bullshit would pop out again.

I shifted my gaze towards the Gnolls.

Whoosh!

In the place where the Gnolls burned and disappeared, only items remained.

[Crude Arrow]

[Grade: Normal]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: None]

[Description: It is a crude arrow.]

[Crude Self-Defense Longsword]

[Grade: Normal]

[Restriction: Lv.30]

[Effect: When attacking, there is a low probability of causing the status effect ‘Rabies’.]

[Description: The blade is dulled, so its attack power is lowered.]

When you form a party, experience points are basically shared.

Items give priority of acquisition according to the contribution.

Of course, that system applies to items of Rare grade and above.

So this meant I could just take this without needing to read the room.

‘Thirty-two arrows, is it.’

I thought it would be enough for now.

As for arrows, I could just hunt other Gnoll Archers and supply them.

I took out my bow from the inventory.

It certainly felt like it fit perfectly in my hand.

───────

Shooting Mastery (21%): The accuracy of shooting increases.

───────

The proficiency was a mere 21 percent.

‘Because I was too busy carrying out quests rather than hunting.’

Compared to archer-type classes, it must be a terrible figure.

But just the fact that the skill existed was on a different level from fighting with fists.

Seo Jeong-yeon spoke to me.

“Wow, you can handle a bow too?”

Of course.

Because I only had a bow as my main weapon.

The other party members chimed in one by one.

“Huh? Weren’t you a martial artist class? The way you threw punches just now was exactly like martial arts. What was it. Right! Is it Tai Chi? The way you deflected and countered attacks was exactly like that!”

That wasn’t Tai Chi, it was a struggle.

“Anyway, it is a relief. I was concerned since Ms. Jeong-yeon is our only ranged damage dealer.”

Yes, I am finally relieved too.

I wanted to answer like that, but.

I did not open my mouth.

What did I say again?

That they have nothing to worry about since I am here?

‘There is a limit to striking a pose. Am I in a position to do that?’

Because I felt like that kind of bullshit would pop out again.

Fortunately, the topic shifted immediately.

The man who raised his greatsword, Choi Jeong-hun, muttered.

“By the way, what is wrong with him today? Hyung! Cheol-min hyung!!”

He was calling Nam Cheol-min.

Nam Cheol-min had crossed the ticket gate at some point.

He beckoned.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you guys hurrying over?”

Seo Jeong-yeon tilted her head.

“But is he usually like that? I don’t have a lot of experience with party hunting, but……. I haven’t really seen a case where the tanker goes ahead alone like that…….”

A warrior armed with a shield and mace.

Han Seong-wuk also nodded.

“It will be troublesome if our teamwork is like this from the start.”

“Hah, I am really sorry. I will apologize on his behalf. Cheol-min hyung is not normally that kind of person, you know? But why is he acting like that today? I will talk to him well later.”

The atmosphere turned cold.

It was understandable.

Because doing actions that would be problematic even in a game, inside a Rift where lives are on the line.

“Still, Cheol-min hyung caught the movement path well. It would only be a waste of time if we ran into another party.”

“……But, didn’t he go too far alone?”

“You’re right. I will try calling him. Hyung! Cheol-min hy……?!”

Swoosh

It was an ambush.

The Gnolls that had been lying in ambush revealed themselves.

One, two…….

There was a total of ten.

The arrows narrowly missed, but we were outnumbered.

Even if Nam Cheol-min joined, the difference was exactly double.

“Cheol-min hyung! No, hyung!!”

But Nam Cheol-min did not seem to have any intention of joining.

Choi Jeong-hun’s face began to flush red and distort.

“No, fuck. Why are you doing this!! Hey, Nam Cheol-min!!”

The stairs heading to the platform.

From there, Nam Cheol-min was merely watching us being surrounded by the Gnolls.

I looked at those eyes.

Pitch-black eyes with an unclear focus.

Why was it.

Those eyes felt welcoming.

‘……What is it? It is not even someone I know?’

Isn’t it the timing to resent him rather than feel welcoming?

However, regardless of such doubts, I was acting.

Swish

A standard posture without the slightest disarray.

As if an archer drawing a bowstring.

Without being agitated in the slightest, I aimed at the Gnolls.

Swoosh

Until the moment I released the bowstring.

There was not a slight tremor in my breathing.

“Whimper!”

Headshot.

Accurately hitting the head.

A Gnoll Warrior falling to a single shot.

And yet, not even a feeling of joy could be felt.

『The very first thing Granfel learned as the next head of the family was not to fluctuate in joy and sorrow over trivial things.

The position of the Head of the Claudi family was such a position where not even the slightest agitation was tolerated.』

To rejoice over merely defeating a Gnoll?

That must mean it was something impossible for Granfel.

I was also in the same position.

Swoosh

Another headshot.

‘There are eight remaining.’

I knocked an arrow on the bowstring once again.

The Gnolls did not just stand by and watch either.

“Grrrrrr!!”

The Gnoll Warriors charged.

Choi Jeong-hun and Han Seong-wuk blocked the Gnoll Warriors.

The two people each blocking two Gnoll Warriors.

But they could not overcome the numerical inferiority.

“Damn it……! Watch out!”

Two Gnoll Warriors charging towards us.

Two Gnoll Archers reloading their bowstrings left.

Seo Jeong-yeon, who was casting magic, was on the verge of tears.

“Uh, what should I do……?”

The Gnoll Warriors were aiming for me and Seo Jeong-yeon.

The Gnoll Archers were aiming for Choi Jeong-hun and Han Seong-wuk.

Whatever choice was made, damage would follow.

Seo Jeong-yeon seemed unable to easily make a judgment.

But ironically, I replied indifferently.

“I shall leave the Gnoll Archers to you.”

At the same time, an arrow left my fingertips.

Hit.

The Gnoll Warrior that was charging towards Seo Jeong-yeon fell.

Thanks to that, Seo Jeong-yeon successfully finished her casting.

“Please……. Hit!!”

Whoosh!

Fire Arrow stretched out towards the Gnoll Archers.

Choi Jeong-hun and Han Seong-wuk tangled with their kin.

The bastards focusing their minds to hit the two people did not notice the Fire Arrow flying in.

When they felt that heat, it was already too late.

Now, all that remained was the Gnoll Warrior charging towards me.

“Grrrrrr!!”

I did not have the ‘Rapid Fire’ skill.

I lacked the time to reload an arrow.

Still, I had the crude self-defense longsword acquired from a Gnoll.

If I swing it somehow and block, I could buy some time.

However,

“It’s a pity, but.”

What I lifted was not a sword but my right leg.

The nobly stretched leg struck the Gnoll Warrior’s head as it is.

Thwack!

Just like during the first battle.

The option of getting counterattacked was not in my head.

Therefore, the extreme reaction speed that could be expressed by my body.

“Wh-whimper!!”

Towards the Gnoll Warrior that was knocked away precisely by the kick of my shoe.

“I will not permit you to splatter blood on me.”

Thwip!

I drew the bowstring with an emotionless face.

.

.

.

The rest except for me let out ragged breaths.

“Haa. I thought I was really going to die.”

“I did not expect them to be lying in ambush.”

“……But why did you not tell us?”

No one was first or second.

Our gazes headed towards Nam Cheol-min, who was still watching us from the top of the stairs.

The one most furious must be Choi Jeong-hun.

“Fuck. Hyung, do you have some grudge against us?”

He approached Nam Cheol-min while panting with rage.

His voice grew louder and louder.

“Fuck. This is unmistakably you trapping us, hyung! Fine, let’s say it was a mistake. Let’s say you didn’t know they were ambushing. But why were you just blankly staring from there? Huh?! Say something! If you have a mouth attached!”

The two growing closer.

It was obvious a fight would break out if left alone.

Seo Jeong-yeon and Han Seong-wuk stopped Choi Jeong-hun from both sides.

“I understand, but calm down a little.”

“That’s right. There is nothing good about fighting here.”

“No, just wait. This is a problem between me and hyung. Hyung! Hey, Nam Cheol-min! Did you really think you became something just because I followed you around calling you hyung, hyung? Fuck, a bastard who’s nothing without his younger brother…….”

I took a step back and watched the scene.

“Hahaha! Kuhahahahaha!”

At that moment, Nam Cheol-min let out a laugh.

At the same time.

Bzzzt

The dimly lit lights began to flicker.

“Have you gone mad. Why are you suddenly laughing your ass off?”

“Hahahaha! Haa……. As expected, it is fun.”

“This is fun? Fuck, are you really done talking?!”

I stared at Nam Cheol-min amidst the flickering lights.

Incomprehensible eccentric behavior.

The surrounding atmosphere heading towards catastrophe.

Pitch-black eyes with no focus.

The welcoming feeling I felt looking at those eyes.

Decisively.

At this moment, even the text that appeared in my vision.

[The skill, ‘Natural Enemy’, is activated.]

───────

Natural Enemy: Combat power significantly increases when engaging in combat with the Demon race.

───────

Click

I looked at Nam Cheol-min and said.

“As expected, you truly are a demon.”