NOVEL WEB Chapter 5
Chapter 5. Tutorial (3)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
The conquest ground of the tutorial.
This arena, known as the fiercest battlefield of territorial conquest, was now in utter peace.
It couldn’t be helped.
“Doesn’t look like anyone else is coming, huh?”
A woman chewing gum loudly.
Lee Seyoon scanned the surroundings of the conquest ground with her light blue eyes, arms crossed.
Beside her, a man clad in heavy armor holding a shield snickered.
“Did your energy drain so much that even your eyesight is weakening?”
“Hey, Kim Jaewon. My clairvoyance works on magic, not energy, you know?”
“Ha! Must be nice. Just sponging up kills with all that spare energy.”
As Kim Jaewon burst into laughter, Lee Seyoon frowned and retorted.
“Why the hell are you taking your kill count frustration out on me?”
“What can I do if it annoys me? You all have more than 5 kills!”
“Funny. Who told you to be a tank?”
“This jerk! What can I do when my traits turned out this way!”
“What, should I just be pleased about my traits, then?”
“Bitch!”
At Lee Seyoon’s mocking, Kim Jaewon’s eyes flared with anger.
But.
“Enough.”
The man holding a sword.
At Kang Hoyoung’s intervention, both of them cooled down.
“Now that we’ve got over 60% of the occupation points, from now on, I’ll take care of your kills, Kim Jaewon.”
“Really? I can always count on you, oppa!”
At Kang Hoyoung’s words, Kim Jaewon’s face brightened.
Glancing at him, Lee Seyoon approached Kang Hoyoung with her arms still crossed.
“Oppa, now that we’ve got over 60% of the conquest grounds, can’t we move outside the conquest ground?”
“Outside?”
“Yeah. The number of participants has dropped significantly. It’s suffocating to stay stuck only in the conquest ground.”
Lee Seyoon twisted her body, expressing her boredom.
To that, Kang Hoyoung blankly stared into the void.
He might have been expected to get annoyed by such an ignoring gesture.
However, Lee Seyoon just stayed quiet.
She knew.
Kang Hoyoung’s action was not ignoring her words.
“Hyung, are you worried about that Kim Shimun guy?”
Indeed, he was looking at the arena board.
“Don’t worry. I have a good grasp on the newbies from various guilds, but there was no mention of a Kim Shimun anywhere.”
“That’s what makes it more troubling. Someone we don’t know has racked up 11 kills.”
“Indeed.”
Lee Seyoon also expanded the arena board, eying the information of Kim Shimun, who ranked fifth.
But that was it.
“Still, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. You know the guys we’re matched with this time are all trash.”
Lee Seyoon smirked, looking at the bodies scattered around.
“Kim Shimun or whatever probably just fed on kills like a hyena. If he was so great, he would have come to the conquest ground a long time ago.”
“Hmm.”
Kang Hoyoung stroked his chin, and Lee Seyoon continued, urging.
“If you’re really worried, let’s patrol the area while keeping our formation. Okay? We’ve trained hard for this.”
After all, wasn’t there vigorous training after all four of them had been eliminated in the last tutorial?
The Scorpio Guild, to which they belonged, even supported them by providing equipment.
The result was their current achievement.
20 kills combined for the four people and over 60% of the conquest grounds.
Though teaming up was a major factor, the 20 bodies strewn around the conquest ground sufficiently proved their skills.
“Brother, have confidence. After teaming up to this extent, there’s no way we can’t handle some unknown punk…”
Lee Seyoon’s persuading words halted.
Her eyes shimmered with a blue hue.
“There!”
Swish.
A neatly spun arrow left Lee Seyoon’s hand.
However.
Snap.
A popping sound of fingers preceded a wall of dirt that suddenly rose, blocking the arrow.
“Magic?”
“A magician?!”
Kim Jaewon hurriedly raised his shield and ran forward.
Behind him, another teammate, Park Hochul, had already drawn his sword.
“Hiding well, aren’t you? B-class trait Clairvoyance, is it?”
Hearing that, Lee Seyoon’s eyes widened.
“How did you know!”
How could someone she never met before see right through her trait?
Sssss.
The top of the dirt wall crumbled away.
Behind it was a man wearing a gray hood.
“Ah, I’ve done quite a bit of studying on traits due to some personal issues.”
“Is that so? Shall we see if your head is as open as your studies suggest?!”
Lee Seyoon’s bowstring stretched tight once again.
Just as she was about to release the arrow.
“Wait.”
The leader, Kang Hoyoung, raised his hand to stop her.
He stepped forward past tank Kim Jaewon, sword in hand.
“Are you Kim Shimun?”
“And you are?”
“Kang Hoyoung.”
“Ah, I see you’re the leader, ranked first.”
“That’s right.”
Kang Hoyoung nodded and extended his unoccupied hand.
“I won’t beat around the bush. Kim Shimun. Join us.”
“Hyung?”
“Hey, hyung! Have you lost your mind? How do we know he won’t stab us in the back?”
Despite the team’s fierce objection from behind.
Kang Hoyoung simply continued to gaze at Kim Shimun.
No.
“11 kills without any special equipment. You must possess a magic-related trait of S-class or higher.”
He appraised Shimun’s entire body like a valuable treasure.
“I can guarantee your spot in the ranking. If you wish, we can even funnel the kills to make you number one.”
“Wait a moment, Hoyoung-hyung. Are you in your right mind?”
Lee Seyoon, who had approached unnoticed, gripped Kang Hoyoung’s shoulder tightly.
Kang Hoyoung then turned to look at Lee Seyoon. “Seyoon.”
“Oppa. That guy is from the magic system. If he backstabs us, we’re all done for!”
“Teaming up with a magician of that caliber has more benefits than risks.”
“What?”
“Think about it.”
Kang Hoyoung gestured with his eyes to Kim Jaewon and Park Hochul to listen in.
“The magic system is more valuable than the auxiliary system. Our Scorpio Guild is no exception.”
Unless it’s the lowest profession like an alchemist.
No, even if it’s an alchemist, it’s not a loss.
Just producing potions is definitely beneficial.
Moreover.
“That’s 11 kills. No matter how good one is at hyena tactics, that kill count is unbelievable.”
“Oppa, but…”
“Look at the big picture, Lee Seyoon. If we have ties with such a mage, our status within the guild will rise.”
“So, should we take care of him just enough and take the credit?”
“From the moment he appeared, he’s within our shooting range. If he harbors any other intentions…”
As Kang Hoyoung whispered quietly, Lee Seyoon nodded his head with a satisfied smile.
“If that’s the case, I’m all for it.”
“What… We agree too. We’ve never been at a loss following hyung’s lead.”
As Kim Jaewon and Park Hochul nodded their heads,
Kang Hoyoung immediately turned to face Kim Shimun.
“You’ve heard, haven’t you? As I said earlier, the rankings and kills are definitely…”
“Ah, really. What a funny bunch.”
Kim Shimun, chuckling sarcastically, scratched his head.
“Was it Kang Hoyoung? Why do you think I would accept your proposal?”
“What?”
“You see. From the way you speak, you assume that I will definitely join.”
At that, Kang Hoyoung shook his head in disbelief.
“Always these magicians. Didn’t like that part, huh? Fine. I apologize for…”
“It’s not that. I know well the arrogance of magicians, but I’m not like them.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Teaming.”
At Kim Shimun’s short reply, Kang Hoyoung’s eyebrows slightly raised.
“Teaming? What’s wrong with that?”
“Don’t know? Teaming is a clear violation of the rules. If the tutorial was broadcastable, you’d be getting an earful right now.”
“Doesn’t matter. Why should we care about the public eye when there are no sanctions?”
“Wow! Truly an impressive mindset.”
Kim Shimun couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Look here, Kang Hoyoung-ssi. You’re from quite a renowned guild by the looks of it. How do you plan to handle the fallout? Confident?”
“Our Scorpio Guild only looks at practical gains. If the result is good, we don’t care about anything else.”
“Scorpio? You are the Scorpio Guild?”
Kim Shimun now understood why they were teaming.
Idiots who only looked out for their own interest under the guise of practicality and utilitarianism.
The Scorpio Guild, which expanded its growth trend even after the regular arena began, did not stop.
And after the regular arena continued,
What was the result?
Branded as a troll guild, it was completely dismantled by the mega guilds.
‘Well, to put it nicely, dismantled.’
It was practically a purge.
Whether they knew of such a future or not.
Kang Hoyoung confidently shrugged his shoulders.
“You seem to know a lot about the Scorpio Guild. Then you must know that you have no choice.”
“Maybe. Not sure?”
“Ha. Getting cocky just because you’ve caught a few rats.”
As Kang Hoyoung raised his hand,
Screech.
Swoosh.
The three party members behind him immediately took up their weapons.
“We’re a well-coordinated team of four. The rabble you’ve caught is qualitatively different.”
Wow! Calling fellow tutorial participants rabble? That’s some confidence.
But before they could mock,
‘It’s clear they’re not lacking in skill.’
The 20 bodies sprawled around proved Kang Hoyoung’s confidence.
“Just join us nicely, Kim Shimun. You’ll only lose if you’re eliminated now. Aren’t you going to regret losing those 11 kills?”
Kang Hoyoung’s mouth slowly turned up.
He had to.
‘He can’t refuse.’
With 11 kills, he must have real skill.
And being a rare magician, he definitely couldn’t accept being eliminated.
Considering the typical pride of magicians,
Such a threat was not exactly a nice approach.
‘Even for a magician, too arrogant. Need to knock him down a peg.’
There was no need to accommodate the typical arrogance of magicians.
After all, we held the upper hand.
Or so he thought.
‘Typical of the Scorpio Guild. No point in talking further.’
Kim Shimun thought.
“Hey, Kang Hoyoung-ssi. Worry about yourself instead.”
Snap.
That was before Kim Shimun snapped his fingers.
“Do worry about yourself.”
Crash.
The sky roared.
A thunder fitting for the jungle map.
Zap!
But the lightning that struck next to Kim Shimun was not.
“What the…?!”
“Block… the weather?”
At the sudden thunderbolt, Kim Jaewon and Park Hochul blinked.
Where the lightning struck, a rod of white and blue light sparking endlessly.
And it, defying gravity slowly,
“I’m going to win first place anyway. Why would I stoop to teaming?”
Moved into Kim Shimun’s grasp.
Then.
Swooosh.
“Looks like negotiations are off.”
Kang Hoyoung, his gaze shifting in an instant, charged forward.
Without looking back, he shouted.
“Lee Seyoon!”
“I got it!”
With a sharp shout, a Thunk! sound was heard.
It was the sound of an arrow leaving Lee Seyoon’s bow.
However, Kim Shimun simply held out the white rod in his hand silently.
Then.
“Cry.”
I recited the words I heard in Alexander’s broadcast in my past life.
“Astrape.”
Crackle!
Like scraggly dried branches.
Bundles of bright white lightning stretched forth, tearing through the air.
Just as most people know lightning to be.
Bolts crash into the formation of the Kang Hoyoung party in the blink of an eye.
“Cr-crack!”
It forcefully tore through the armor of Kim Jaewon, the tank at the forefront.
“Gah!”
“Screaaam!”
Subsequently engulfing Park Hochul beside him and Lee Seyoon behind them.
Just 1 second.
In that brief moment, players who were at the top of the tutorial were swept away.
Kim Shimun looked at the Astrape in his hand with slightly widened eyes.
‘So this is merely 10% of its power.’
Though it was a mere 10% efficiency replica.
That mere 10% was more than enough to reign supreme in the tutorial.
However, Kim Shimun didn’t let his guard down, intoxicated by the immense power.
The reason was simple.
“Bas-tard!!”
Because there was still one person left.
“Managed to dodge, huh.”
Kim Shimun’s Astrape now targeted Kang Hoyoung, who was diving in from the right.
However.
Swoosh.
As Kang Hoyoung shouted, his figure blurred.
More accurately, it was sucked into the shadows.
Kim Shimun’s eyes grew cold at the sight.
‘An A-grade characteristic, Shadow Movement. So he dodged Astrape’s lightning with that.’
An A-grade characteristic that allows movement from shadow to shadow.
‘Indeed, fitting for a leader to have an A-grade trait.’
Despite possessing this incredible movement ability.
There was a reason why Shadow Movement was undeniably A-grade.
“Die!”
A murderous shout came from behind Kim Shimun.
However, without even turning around.
Kim Shimun flicked his left hand, not holding the Astrape.
Snap.
“Gah!”
A spike of earth suddenly shot up.
Kang Hoyoung, attempting to emerge from Kim Shimun’s shadow, was pierced through his abdomen by the earth spike.
“H-how could this be…”
Incapacitated by the earth spike that pierced through his abdomen, Kang Hoyoung.
His eyes trembling, he desperately asked Kim Shimun.
“How can you still have magic power… after using such a powerful lightning magic…”
“Ah, this?”
Kim Shimun casually twirled the Astrape, now in the midst of rebounding.
“There’s something a bit different about it.”
“What do you mean…”
“Well, it has come to this already.”
Kim Shimun quickly extended the partially dismantled Astrape towards Kang Hoyoung.
“So, Kang Hoyoung-ssi? It’s a pity, but shall we go now?”
* * *
Tap. Tap.
“Not much left now.”
Viewing the timer on the arena board, Kim Shimun stopped drumming his fingers against his cheek.
Then.
[You have achieved 100% Conquest Points.]
[The master of the conquest ground has been determined. The tutorial ends.]
As if everything was a dream.
A series of messages appeared, and the oppressive humidity and heat tormenting his body vanished as if it were a lie.
The bodies lying around disappeared just the same.
“It’s over.”
The arena board he had opened closed automatically.
A larger arena board appeared in the sky.
1st place – Kim Shimun 15 kills. [Conquest Points 100%]
2nd place – Jung Seoyun 2 kills.
…
After sweeping through the gang of four, including Kang Hoyoung, who together had amassed 20 kills,
Kim Shimun alone achieved 15 kills.
As Kim Shimun yawned and stretched, looking at the arena board.
“It was pretty boring. Never thought that not a single one would come for the conquest ground.”
It wasn’t unusual, really.
From the moment Kang Hoyoung and his group’s conquest grounds surpassed 60%.
Noticing the teaming, most chose to abandon conquering.
After all, it was more advantageous to endure and aim for a survival rank rather than die by the hands of a monster who easily wiped out the top-ranked teamers.
Kim Shimun didn’t express much regret either.
Because.
[You have achieved 1st place in the tutorial.]
[You have acquired the title ‘Conqueror of the Tutorial’.]
[You have gained 100 Achievement Points.]
[You have completed the mission of the Constellation Zeus.]
[You have gained 1,000 Achievement Points.]
Not only completing Zeus’s mission.
He had also lined up unexpected titles as rewards.
‘Tsk. If I hadn’t used Astrape, I could’ve got all 1,000 achievement points.’
Even though the philosopher’s stone, our cash cow, refunded 50 points,
‘Still a shame.’
450 achievement points were no small amount at this point.
Kim Shimun scrolled through the messages with a click of his tongue.
Then.
[The Constellation Zeus, expresses immense satisfaction with your performance.]
[You gain an additional 100 Achievement Points.]
“Oh!”
Kim Shimun’s eyes sparkled at the series of messages that appeared.
Who would have thought Zeus would sprinkle more achievement points?
‘Does this mean I’ve collected a total of 750 achievement points now?’
Additionally, rewards awaited him back in the real world once he cleared the arena.
[Shortly, you will return to your original location.]
Viewing the message about his return, Kim Shimun smiled contentedly.