014. Ordeal of competition (3)
As soon as I came up with the phrase that the ordeal begins, other messages appeared.
「All team members have been assigned.」
「The main gate of the fort will be opened in 10 minutes.」
「Until then, please complete the ordeal.」
Uuuuuuu…!
And at the same time, the two portals that were not working gave off a strange tone.
They said it was
three people .
Two challengers I had never seen before came out of the portal.
“…Competition, is this really the 4th floor ordeal?”
The giant, clad in armor all over his body, stared into the sky and muttered that while squinting his eyes.
It seemed that he had just seen the message announced by the tower.
In addition, it seemed that the real 4th floor ordeal was a competition.
On the other hand, the female challenger who appeared next to him was not so embarrassed.
“Everyone, don’t panic, and since you’ve been assigned to a team, why don’t you start with your voice?”
Rather, he calmly looked around and suggested Tongseongmyeong.
It was overly calm, but I didn’t think there was a need to talk about it.
I started the introduction before Geohan, who was less aware of the situation.
“I am the challenger Han Seong-yoon. I wish you well.”
When she finished speaking, the female contestant passed her long, straight hair with one hand and said.
“I’m Lee Ha-yeon. I wish you well as well.”
The neat and haughty beauty caught my eye, but that was it.
After taking a look at Lee Ha-yeon, he immediately averted his eyes.
‘Now there is only one person left.’
Looking at the last remaining giant, its mouth opened reluctantly as if to answer.
“…Lee Seong-hoon. As long as you don’t interfere, there won’t be any trouble.”
As long as you don’t interfere, there won’t be any trouble.
It was an unusual introduction from the beginning, but the topic soon changed before I even paid attention to it.
“Has anyone come here looking for trial information?”
Lee Ha-yeon responded calmly to Lee Seong-hoon, who was looking for information on the ordeal.
“Yes, I came here after looking for information using the questionnaire.”
“That’s good. Do you know how to conduct trials or other information?”
“…I’ve spent quite a bit of questioning, so I’m sure you know most of the basic information.”
“Hmm, but the assigned team doesn’t seem to have gone bad.”
I also agreed with that statement.
Well, the challenger Lee Seong-hoon seemed a little self-conscious, but it wasn’t bad.
Usually, those who are overly self-conscious like that are just as strong.
Of course, it would be a headache to think of that as
a member of the team that will continue all the way…
It’s just a fate that will end there if you cooperate well in this ordeal and break through the 4th floor.
So I didn’t care too much about being overly self-conscious.
“Before the trial proceeds, let’s quickly reveal our abilities and move on.”
Lee Seong-hoon insisted that we put aside the rubbish and disclose each other’s abilities.
It is important to know the ability of team members for smooth team play, so it is a natural factor.
Lee Ha-yeon seemed to ponder over such a claim for a while, and then opened up her abilities.
“It has the unique characteristics of a search type and can use magic. Close combat is far from my main specialty.”
When the word magician came out, Lee Seong-hun’s eyes lit up.
He doesn’t seem to have a quick head turn, but he seems to know that wizards are precious.
“Oh wizard. What magic can you use?”
“It’s not offensive magic, but it’s specialized in assisting the team.”
He is a magician who specializes in assisting, unable to use offensive magic…
I, who had been silently listening to those words, opened my mouth.
“But it doesn’t mean that you can’t use offensive magic at all.”
Even though he was a magician who assisted the team, it wasn’t like he couldn’t use offensive magic.
Seeing that he isn’t equipped with a weapon, it’s true that he can’t engage in melee combat, but…
but he wouldn’t have been able to climb the tower if he didn’t have any means of attack.
‘Even if I don’t know the details because each person’s trials are different, it’s hard to think of an ordeal that can be raised only with auxiliary magic.’
Of course, I can’t say anything if all ordeals are not battle-oriented or that there are means of attack other than magic
.
That means it is possible to use offensive magic itself.
Lee Ha-yeon also slightly widened her eyes at my words, then calmly admitted it.
“…Yes, it’s a little, but I can use elemental magic.”
He seemed to be thinking about hiding it, but Lee Ha-yeon gave up on hiding it.
It must have been because they thought that if I hid it, it would be exposed sooner than I said it.
Of course, I understand why he tried to hide the fact.
‘In the worst case, he must have judged that he might have to use a hidden number.’
The failure condition of the ordeal is ‘the annihilation of the challenger team’.
In other words, as long as there are survivors, it doesn’t matter if your teammates die.
Even if that’s not the case, it might not matter how you treat your teammates as long as they’re alive.
‘If you try to exploit it, you must have thought it would be a condition with many holes in many ways.’
So, he might have tried to hide the offensive magic just in case.
No matter what happens in this Tower of Trials, which is completely cut off from the outside world, it’s not strange.
However, since I have no intention of abusing it, I just stated that it would be inefficient to hide the fact.
“Even though you say you’re a wizard, you must be suitable for a support role.”
…Of course, Seonghun Lee doesn’t seem to be interested in such things.
After thinking about it for a while, I spoke briefly about my ability.
“It specializes in close combat and has unique characteristics related to body strengthening.”
The information was disclosed in moderation so as not to be discovered.
It’s true that he has the ability to strengthen his body, so he’s not lying.
Looking at it from the outside, it was a trait that suited me well, so I was able to avoid suspicion.
“It’s a coincidence, I’m also a melee-specialized hunter. Its unique characteristic is a skill related to exorcism.”
“Exorcism… you have pretty good abilities.”
“At least it’s on a different level from the gossips.”
Lee Seong-hoon replied and smiled.
Now I think I know where that self-consciousness came from.
‘It must be because it has characteristics such as exorcism.’
It’s a characteristic that increases resistance to magic or other techniques that contain magic.
For those who specialize in melee combat, synergy is a very good ability.
That’s why he was able to maintain such a confident attitude.
“While this has happened, we will also disclose the Hunter rank outside. It will make it easier for you to know your skills.”
Lee Seong-hoon opened his mouth, slightly raising the corner of his mouth.
“For reference, I was in D-class outside.”
“Oh, that would be nice too. I was E-class.”
“It’s high for something that specializes in secondary. Were your supporting skills pretty good?”
“Yeah, what did you do?”
Lee Seong-hoon’s eyes turned to me while Lee Ha-yeon looked around.
His eyes urged him to answer as if he knew his skills and told him to speak quickly.
But I didn’t have anything to say that it was a Hunter class.
Because I was an aspiring figure who rotted in a player-only gym for 7 years.
So there was no such thing as a good grade, and I soon revealed the truth.
Even if you cheat anyway, if it’s going to be exposed soon, it would be right to just reveal it obediently.
“On the outside, I wasn’t a hunter, I was a player. I prepared a Hunter.”
Of course, I swallowed the words that the preparation period was 7 years.
“You’re not lying, you’re a real hunter wannabe?”
However, soon, as expected, Lee Seong-hoon’s expression became violently distorted.
“Yes, but I have the confidence to fight well to some extent.”
It was to some extent because they fought like crazy from the 1st floor to the 4th floor.
But Lee Seong-hoon didn’t even pretend to believe me.
“To fight well, it would be fortunate if I didn’t hold on to anything.”
He spat out harsh words as if he had been beaten openly and sent a cold glance.
It’s a familiar look.
“…”
The reaction he had experienced countless times before entering the Tower of Trials.
Those who had been treated with all sorts of contempt for not having talent and not even being hunters were like that.
“Looking at it, I can see the level. Well, if you strengthen your body, it will serve as a shield.”
It sounded like he wasn’t expecting anything.
But I didn’t answer that word and looked at him silently.
He seemed to think that his silence was an agreement, and he continued talking with a smug smile.
“Don’t worry, I will take the lead and protect Hunter Lee Ha-yeon, and if you follow my instructions, I will send you upstairs.”
As soon as the words came out, Lee Ha-yeon cautiously opened her mouth.
“Well, since you’ve come this far, your skills should be similar.”
It seemed like he was trying to mediate when I was angry and wanted to say something.
However, I had no intention of saying anything to Lee Sung-hoon’s words.
Because the Tower of Trials is where skill is everything.
If Lee Sung-hoon has the right to say that to me, I will have to bear it.
To be despised is a cheap price for owing one’s life.
If you are confident in your skills, it would be better to ignore them and just cooperate properly
.
Because there is no need to put up with it unless there is a legitimate reason.
and.
‘Even if you don’t want to know whether it’s worth putting up with, you’ll find out soon.’
「After 3 minutes, the main gate of the citadel will be opened.」
Soon the ordeal will begin in earnest.
also.
“Now, let’s listen to the information we got through the questioning ticket.”
It’s called an eye for an eye.
It was pointless to protest right away if you wanted to give back what you received.
At the very least, I didn’t want to give Lee Seong-hoon a chance to escape when he seemed unhelpful or in the way.
Even if you’re a Hunter, if you grew up with all skills and abilities reset
…
The unique characteristics and the rewards obtained should be slightly different.
My guess was that taking those things into account wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Even more so now that I know that my unique trait is fraudulent when it comes to growth.
That’s why I listened to Lee Ha-yeon’s story without protesting to Lee Seong-hoon.
“From now on, I will tell you what will happen after the citadel is opened.”
There was nothing special about what would happen after the citadel was opened.
As always, we will have a fierce battle with the monsters.
In that situation, he said his goal was to get through the battlefield and kill the Goblin King faster than anyone else.
“In total, this fortress city has five bosses and only 15 people can pass through it.”
In other words, only half of the 30 people can get through and survive.
“Two teams are aiming for one boss, so our competitor will be the other team.”
At least there are few competitors, so it might be okay, but…
‘Six people are aiming for one boss.’
It was an ordeal that could only be described as vicious.
Having only one of the two teams survive is tantamount to murder.
No, it’s the same as telling me to kill myself.
If you want to survive, you’ll need to quickly eliminate your rivals before you catch the boss.
However, Seonghun Lee smiled as if he liked it.
“I like how simple it is. You just need to catch the boss faster than your competitors.”
“You will have to complete the exploration and defeat the boss within the remaining time as much as possible.”
“Come to think of it, did I say that it also has search-type characteristics?”
“Yes, I will guide you, so you two can protect me.”
“Did you hear that, Hunter wannabe? Just take the lead and keep it well.”
I nodded my head as I looked at Lee Seong-hoon, who spoke as if he was arguing.
It would be even weirder if you treat people favorably when it is obvious that you are ignoring people at a glance.
It looked like he didn’t like that he didn’t say more, but Lee Seong-hoon didn’t make any more complaints.
Exactly, I couldn’t.
“Time is up.”
“The main gate of the citadel is open and monsters are flocking in.”
“Find and kill the ordeal target as quickly as possible.”
The system messages that popped up one after another commanded me to take action.
“Lead ahead.”
Seonghun Lee also took out a large greatsword from his back without being sarcastic anymore.
With the battle situation coming up, nothing more could be said.
I just nodded my head this time, and stood in front of Lee Ha-yeon and spoke briefly.
“You just need to tell me which way to go.”
“Ah yes. I’d like to ask you a favor.”
Lee Ha-yeon sneaked behind her and Lee Seong-hoon stood at the rear, forming a formation.
And the moment I left the open gate, I heard a strange sound.
Kieeck!
It’s only one step away from the citadel, but it’s already like this.
I wanted to deny the reality, but that didn’t change anything.
Monsters emerge from among the buildings of the fortified city and swarm.
Seeing the fully armed goblins approaching in droves sent chills down my spine.
Yes, the Tower of Trials will make it easy to pass through.
Only then could I recall what I had forgotten.
“…Please give directions later and start preparing for a fight.”
The difficulty I chose wasn’t something like easy…
it was the worst level of difficulty among the three difficulty levels.
