NOVEL WEB Chapter 19: Simulation room [5]
Inside the simulation room:
"Oh dear, Sugil…"
Eve sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she watched the holographic display of Sugil running in fear from the [Goblin].
On the other screen, Sae-jin was engaged in combat. He struggled slightly, but he was holding his own against the [Axe-Wielding Skeleton].
"Apprentice Kim Arrieta Eve?"
A voice called from behind.
Eve turned around immediately.
It was a woman with short black hair that barely reached her ears. Her violet eyes were deep and enigmatic, and she wore round glasses.
A small birthmark sat just under her chin, adding to her mysterious charm.
Her figure was well-proportioned, exuding an air of natural allure.
She wore a white lab coat over form-fitting clothes that accentuated her curves.
"Oh! Master Lee Ah-reum! What brings you here?"
"I should be asking you that."
"Well, I'm just training the first-years for their practical exam!"
"Good. I see."
Lee Ah-reum stepped forward, glancing at the holograms. Her gaze first landed on Kim Sae-jin.
"Wait… isn't he the first-year who fought this morning?"
"Yes, that's him."
"Why is he fighting an [Axe-Wielding Skeleton]? That's a Stage 5 Rank-D monster!"
"Well, he insisted on it… Originally, he wanted to fight a [Dark Mage - Stage 4]."
"Is he insane?!"
Eve nodded, convinced that Sae-jin truly was.
Ah-reum refocused on Sae-jin's fight, carefully observing his movements.
"His… movements…"
Eve frowned, not understanding what Ah-reum meant. She leaned closer to get a better look.
"They resemble the 'Seijuro' style."
"What's that?"
Eve asked, puzzled.
"The Seijuro style is a sword technique that emerged 40 years after the Towers appeared, when the first humans with mana fully mastered their abilities."
"It's a unique style that relies on mana usage at 95% efficiency."
"The entire body must be enveloped in mana to enhance physical abilities. However, if the weapon isn't reinforced with mana as well, it won't be able to withstand the aura and will become as fragile as butter, shattering on impact with any solid surface."
"To counter this, humanity developed techniques to spread mana evenly throughout both the body and weapons. But one man, Keiju Seijuro—a powerful hunter from a hundred years ago—achieved something unprecedented."
"Instead of evenly distributing mana, he concentrated 95% of it around his body, leaving only 5% in his katana."
"That's absurd! Even if a small amount of mana coats the weapon, it won't be able to keep up with the sheer force the body generates!"
Eve exclaimed in disbelief.
"True. However, the weapon doesn't break because it's still infused with mana. Instead, it fails to synchronize with the body's speed, resulting in a delayed reaction. Think of a whip—when you swing it, there's a slight delay before it actually hits the target. The same principle applies to the katana."
Eve was stunned.
She couldn't help but applaud.
"This is the Seijuro style… the technique of one of the greatest hunters…"
"But how is this boy using it?"
"What's his name?"
"Hmm… Kim Sae-jin. He's in Class A20."
"Kim Sae-jin, huh…?"
'I need to keep an eye on him.'
Ah-reum thought to herself before shifting her attention to the second hologram.
A frail-looking boy was running for his life, desperately fleeing from a goblin.
"…What the hell is he doing?"
"Oh, that's my little brother, Kim Arrieta Sugil…"
Eve scratched the back of her head with an embarrassed smile.
"…"
—
"HELP ME!!!"
I screamed, running as fast as I could.
"EVE, GET ME OUT OF HERE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS!!"
I had absolutely no intention of dying to a goblin.
'Why, why, WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE ME?!'
'I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT!!!'
The goblin was fast. Too fast.
At this rate, it would catch up to me in less than five seconds.
It clutched a bloodstained dagger in its clawed hand, ready to strike me down.
I ran with everything I had, but the goblin was faster.
It lunged forward—aiming straight for my back.
"KRAH… KEUH!!"
"AHHH!"
[Quest: Reach Level 5 during the entrance exam
Rewards: New card abilities of 1 or 2 stars, gain points in STR and END.
Failure to complete the quest within the time limit will result in penalties for the next 10 days. Quest difficulty: RANK F.]