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Memorize - Episode 60
00060 Mage and Alchemist(Rare)
The tail that had been swaying gently, looking for an opening, soon bent flexibly and stretched straight forward. Seeing it going up in a straight line from below, it seemed to be aiming for Yoo-jung's upper body, specifically her neck for an instant kill. As I was about to urgently step forward, I was startled by Yoo-jung's next movement.
"Hmmph!"
Letting out a strange battle cry, Yoo-jung immediately lowered her body, kicked off the ground, and slid in almost touching the ground. The tail that had been aiming to pierce her neck harmlessly sliced through the air. At the same time, as Yoo-jung changed direction by planting one hand on the ground, her path curved in a crescent shape, and with the change in her rush direction, she instantly got behind the Renga.
The Renga, whose rear had been occupied, turned around with a dumbfounded face after dropping its tail, then quickly spun its body with a startled expression. However, by then, Yoo-jung's dagger had already mercilessly sliced through the Renga's neck. After confirming the Renga clutching its neck reflexively and collapsing, Yoo-jung immediately ran towards me.
I stared blankly for a moment at Yoo-jung, who was smiling brightly. Ahn Hyun, who had just been about to run forward following me, also let out a loud exclamation, seeming quite surprised.
Until now, Yoo-jung hadn't been fully utilizing her strengths. Of course, I acknowledge the potential of Yoo-jung's agility and mana ability scores. But their combat styles are completely different. Ahn Hyun, who leads with strength, endurance, and vitality, can perform above average by sticking to the basics and going orthodox.
However, Yoo-jung, who leads with agility and mana, needs to employ a kind of sense play that applies variations when fighting. Moreover, since she wields two short-reach daggers, it could be said that she would struggle to shine in regular combat, though she might fare better in close quarters.
Until now, I had been placing Ahn Hyun above Yoo-jung when comparing pure combat ability. But now it seemed I needed to revise that thinking. Clean and simple movements. But the most efficient movements. Although it was just once, the scene Yoo-jung just showed left such a deep impression on me. If she could show movements like that every time in combat...
"Siiiiiii!"
The sound of the Renga's anger reaches my ears. As Yoo-jung came back into formation and took her stance again, I nodded slightly. Seeming to read my expression, Yoo-jung's face was also flushed as she kept smiling. This battle seemed like it would flow well somehow. For the first time since entering the Pitch-black Forest, I felt a sense of satisfaction.
That's when it happened.
Bang!
Several of the nearby Renga let out fierce cries and then all leapt into the air at once. It wasn't a simple jump, but a leap exceeding 3 meters high, leaving all the kids momentarily dumbfounded.
Although I, Ahn Hyun, and Lee Yoo-jung had all killed Renga, the user who showed the most impressive performance was Lee Yoo-jung. Since Renga harbor great anger at the killing of their kind, they were all targeting Yoo-jung.
It was my first time seeing Renga jump that high too. However, since I knew what they were aiming for, I needed to protect Yoo-jung. Because a leap attack from above adds terrifying destructive power, it would be impossible for Yoo-jung to block it without damage given her physical abilities.
However, our group, riding high on momentum, didn't stay still this time either. As if unwilling to lose to her unnie and oppa, this time Sol stepped forward holding her staff. After rapidly chanting a spell, she pointed her staff at the descending Renga in the air as if she had been waiting for this moment.
"Shackles!"
As soon as Sol's clear voice rang out, the bodies of the Renga descending from the air stiffened, then helplessly crashed to the ground. We who had each neatly dealt with one looked at Sol with admiring faces. Any spell can be expanded from targeting 1 person to 2 or 3 people depending on the user's capability, and this time Sol had succeeded for the first time. Of course, while the power was weaker than a spell cast on a single target, it was enough to bind the movements of the Renga floating in the air.
Sol, who had been looking at the Renga with a sharp expression that didn't suit her pure face, soon relaxed her expression, seeming to have felt our gazes. We had started by dealing with 7 Renga from the beginning. We had achieved results beyond imagination in the surprise attack.
But there were still over a dozen left. All their eyes had turned red, seeming quite enraged. They were all approaching us slowly, exuding killing intent with their claws raised. I raised my sword upwards while gradually retreating towards the passage we had entered through, aiming to secure an escape route.
"Graaah!"
The Renga howled at us as several of them leapt high. But this time I wasn't particularly worried. Although they were a bit different from the Renga I originally knew, our group now all seemed to be riding some kind of flow. As if trying to ride this momentum, Ahn Hyun and Yoo-jung were taking somewhat bolder stances than usual.
My sword met the claws swinging fiercely as if to split my head, and that moment was the signal for the battle to resume. Engaging in direct offense, I could clearly see the detailed differences from regular Renga. Swift movements and tactical approach of targeting the kids together after realizing I was the strongest. And even feinting retreat when things seemed a bit dangerous, then coming back in with comrades for rotational attacks.
Although we started advantageously and got a bit relaxed at first, I soon came to my senses and began coordinating the battlefield again. If these were the kids who had fought their first battle at the entrance of the Pitch-black Forest, they probably would have collapsed long ago. But with my appropriate support in battlefield coordination and Ahn Hyun's inspired spear work holding firm, I could see them not just enduring but gradually overwhelming the enemies.
Yoo-jung too was actively swinging her daggers rather than just defending and looking for counter opportunities. Although she seemed to be taking some minor wounds, she was steadily reducing the Renga one by one. It was a moment when the dual daggers that excel in melee combat were shining.
And the tide of battle turned again when Ahn Sol's voice rang out across the open space once more.
"Shackles!"
"Hell yeah! This is it! Ahn Sol! Nice!"
Sol's staff was pointed at the Renga Yoo-jung was facing. Yoo-jung, who had been frantically slashing with her daggers, easily plunged her daggers into the Renga and screamed with joy as she rampaged even more. Watching Yoo-jung spray her daggers like a windmill, Ahn Hyun and I attempted to charge at the remaining Renga in front.
I wasn't using even a bit of mana in dealing with the Renga. When I swung my sword straight at one rushing in with sharp claws at the forefront, this time instead of shattering, I felt it cleanly cut as if slicing tofu. The power of the Sword Specialist seemed more and more appealing the more I saw it.
Receiving positive additional corrections for all sword-related actions. The benefits of this power were truly amazing. Not only that, but Unity of Sword and Body which had reached EX rank was also lending its strength equally. Even swinging roughly now produced terrifying power, so I was quite curious how much power a sincere strike would produce later.
As I pushed forward with my sword emitting fierce sounds of cutting air, the Renga group collapsed like autumn leaves in the wind. Whether feeling our superiority or just enjoying his spear moving as he wished for the first time in a while, Ahn Hyun was also dancing excitedly. Eventually, after completely breaking through the center, Hyun stood facing me and then began coming in again, happily striking the backs of the Renga's heads.
"Light!"
Sol's voice was heard once more. This time it was the Light spell instead of Shackles. Soon, a white sphere rose in front of the remaining Renga's eyes and then burst, scattering dazzling light. She had exactly copied the tactic used by the mage in the battle with the vagrants. And this time, Sol's spell was extremely effective.
In the midst of the Renga stumbling around temporarily blinded, Hyun, Yoo-jung and I thoroughly beat them in a triangular formation of encirclement. After quickly dealing with three or four more in an instant, suddenly only two Renga remained around us. With their ears drooping, they seemed to already sense their impending death.
Ignoring that, Hyun's eyes sparkled as he immediately opened his mouth.
"I call dibs on the left one."
"Then the right one's mine."
"..."
A little while later, after dealing with all the Renga in the open space, we took some time to regroup. Although Hyun and Yoo-jung's bodies had many minor wounds, their faces were brighter than ever as they drank potions and received Sol's healing. The Renga's abnormal abilities flashed through my mind, but I decided to keep my mouth shut for now. I thought it wasn't bad to let them ride the momentum once, rather than scolding them harshly no matter what.
Honestly, it was hard to say the kids did well in this battle too. Rather than doing "well" by surpassing their limits and showing more, it could be seen that they properly utilized the skills they originally possessed. Still, as they gradually accumulated experience like this, they could learn combat methods suited to themselves and harmony within the caravan, so I felt a sense of pride for the first time since leaving the city.
"I must have caught more than you."
"You have a spear and it's longer too. That much easier to attack with. Considering that, I did better."
"Talk about a mental victory, seriously."
"It's true though? Should we ask oppa?"
These days, the two seemed to fight whenever they had time. However, seeing their eyes sparkling as they looked at me, I didn't have much to say. Honestly, in terms of overall score, Hyun was still higher. He showed a more stable performance after all. But Yoo-jung also seemed to have found her path this time, so I felt a bit reluctant to nitpick.
"Hmm."
As I hardened my expression and showed signs of careful consideration, the kids' faces also became tense. They seemed to be quite expectant about who I would pick. No. Seeing those concentrated faces made me feel embarrassed to bring it up. In the end, I decided to subtly change the subject.
"You both did well. Anyway, let's recover first..."
"But still, one of us must have done even a little bit better, right? Hm?"
Looking at Yoo-jung persistently clinging to the issue, I felt at a loss. Intending to buy some time, I turned my gaze to Sol who was just sucking her thumb.
"Haha. What do you think, Sol?"
"W-well. I was so focused on just chanting spells..."
However, seeing Sol subtly turning her head to avoid eye contact, I was greatly shocked. When I tried to pass the buck under the guise of seeking help, Sol had preemptively withdrawn, having sensed it in advance. Not expecting her to do this, I looked at her with hurt eyes, and Sol fidgeted uncomfortably, shuffling her feet.
"Well. I can pretty much tell from hyung's answer. It's me, right? I did better."
"Nonsense?"
"He can't answer because he feels sorry seeing you expect so much. Tsk tsk."
"What? This is really..."
I wonder when they'll ever grow up, acting like this. Watching Hyun and Yoo-jung arguing again, I let out a deep sigh. They had talked to their hearts' content for a while, so it was time to return to the original atmosphere.
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