I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy
Chapter 62: Pillager (5)

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

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After moving to the auditorium,

We activated the Tower of Trials and entered.

"Wow..."

Inside the Tower of Trials,

It was truly like stepping into a whole new world. A clear blue sky stretched above, and vast fields sprawled out before me.

'I guess it's just me, Seohyun, Yuhwa, and her subordinate A here.'

I surveyed our surroundings.

The scenery was different from what I remembered in the game.

"So, what's our first move?"

Hong Yuhwa approached and asked me.

"We should find a base first."

"A base?"

"Yeah. We need to find a place near water and with terrain where we can hide easily."

I rummaged through my memories.

There's a decent base spot around here.

I activated my divine sight and scanned the area. I spotted a suitable location where mana was concentrated.

Having a base is essential.

It offers benefits like increased recovery when resting, especially during a five-day survival stint.

'Do I need to keep watch...?'

I don’t mind doing it,

But I really dislike the act of staying vigilant.

Suppressing a sigh, I led the group forward.

After about 30 minutes of walking, we found a suitable spot.

"But how are we going to build...?"

"Oh, I’ve got that covered."

Hong Yuhwa's subordinate A pulled out a black ball from her bag.

It was roughly the size of a soccer ball. Upon pressing a button in its center, the ball inflated and transformed into a tent.

"I specialize in artifacts from the blacksmith's side."

"Impressive."

"Hehe..."

Subordinate A beamed as Yuhwa praised her. I felt relieved. I thought we'd have to build a hut.

"So, how do we proceed?"

"We should divide into teams: one to gather food and one to hunt monsters."

"Can we manage with just one team?"

"We have a base, so yes. But if we were to consider not having one and having to sleep outdoors..."

"It'd be a nightmare."

Hong Yuhwa said while gazing at the tent. Although it might not look as protective as a fortress, it was definitely better than sleeping out in the open.

"So, what about the tent?"

"I'll handle it."

'Heavenly Spirit.'

[Yes! Master Seoha, I'm ready!]

I summoned Heavenly Spirit.

Following the pattern Heavenly Spirit provided, I infused my magic.

With a swishing sound, a black curtain enveloped the tent.

[It turned out neater than I expected.]

[It’s because of the master's excellent control over magic. With this, we can probably ward off most spells.]

Heavenly Spirit and Heavenly Demon admired the protective spell around the tent.

"Was spellcasting your major?"

"Well, I do have a basic understanding."

Subordinate A stared in astonishment at the barrier surrounding the tent. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"I didn't sense any magic power."

"The subtlety and precision are off the charts."

Both Hong Yuhwa and her subordinate looked at me.

"I guess I'll handle the food then?"

"And I'll hunt the monsters?"

"Yeah. Mages usually excel at tasks like this."

I quickly glanced at the stats of subordinate A.

It’s the same battle mage style as in the game. More inclined towards the warrior side, a fighter that mainly uses supportive magic.

With two mages and one warrior, we can handle just about any situation.

“Wouldn’t it be better if I go instead of Seoha?”

“I also want to gather some food and scout a bit.”

I need to check out the boss placed halfway up the Tower of Trials.

It’s somewhat random, so seeing it in advance will help us strategize.

“Then, let’s meet back here by 5 to share information.”

“Alright.”

And with that, we parted ways.

I swiftly moved using the Black Breeze.

Black Wings would allow even faster travel, but they drain energy too quickly, so I need to conserve them.

I sprinted towards the direction of the boss room, hunting a wild boar and two rabbits along the way. After butchering them, I stored them in my spatial pocket.

‘This should be enough, right?’

I foraged nearby, gathering flavorful mushrooms and herbs.

‘There are even things like tomatoes and melons here.’

Such an absurd environment.

But, it's this very environment that makes sudden survival challenges bearable.

After stashing various items in my spatial pocket, I continued my journey.

Soon enough, the boss came into view.

“Hmm…”

It had a blazing aura of flames.

Taking a humanoid shape, its head resembled that of a bull.

‘A Minotaur. An elite boss, at that... This is something from the second-year exam.’

The boss was tougher than anticipated.

The flaming Minotaur had high resistance to fire and was massive.

It stood around 5 meters tall, almost as if a small villa was on the move.

‘Its size is one thing, but…’

What makes the flaming Minotaur tricky is that when its flames split, the boss itself also divides.

If one were to rank it, it’s just a step below an upper-tier monster.

It shouldn't naturally exist in this field.

‘Not bad at all.’

Choosing Hong Yuhwa might seem fruitless, but the crimson magic she possesses has quite a unique property.

And currently, the Pillager talent is somewhat awakened.

‘Time to head back.’

I turned around and transported using the Black Breeze.

“It's so hot.”

At Hong Yuhwa's comment, both Yu Eunchae and Seo Gayeon nodded in agreement.

Even though they had already used auxiliary magic to maintain a comfortable temperature, something about the swamp negated it. The humidity seemed to pierce through their spells, wearing down their condition.

“This isn’t an ideal environment for battle.”

“But we managed to earn a decent amount of points.”

Seo Gayeon responded to Yu Eunchae's statement.

Hong Yuhwa gave a nod.

The Swamp Crocodile was a tricky beast to deal with, and perhaps due to the swamp's characteristics, the points gained from it were considerably high.

“Should we head back?”

“Let’s.”

Checking her wristwatch, it was already 4 in the afternoon.

Yu Eunchae, whom Lee Seoha referred to as "Subordinate A", decided to disassemble one of the Swamp Crocodiles and store it in her backpack just in case, before heading back to their base.

“By the way, Yuhwa, are you dating Seoha?”

“...Me?”

Hong Yu-hwa’s eyes widened at Seo Ga-yeon’s question.

“Yeah. I heard a rumor that Seoha carried you bridal style once.”

“...You saw that?”

“Yep.”

Hong Yuhwa's face turned bright red.

In truth, she was embarrassed about that incident. To Hong Yuhwa, Lee Seoha was somewhat of a rival. While she had received his assistance, she always harbored the ambition to one day surpass him.

She hadn’t wanted to show her vulnerable side to him. For days after that incident, she had been restless, barely sleeping, and feeling mortified. At that time, she felt she had no choice.

“...It's not like that.”

“Really?”

Seo Gayeon tilted her head curiously.

Even Hong Yuhwa had to admit, Lee Seoha was handsome. Whenever he would occasionally smile, the girls in their class would squeal in delight.

Just seeing someone with such looks was refreshing for most girls. If viewed from a guy's perspective, there'd hardly be anyone as charismatic as him, especially given his exceptional abilities.

But for her, romance was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

“More than anything, I’m not thinking about dating right now.”

“Okay.”

Seo Gayeon shrugged and then walked ahead.

Although Hong Yuhwa found her behavior a tad strange, she quickly began walking too. The mountainous terrain made the weather slightly chilly.

Following the pre-established markers, they ventured further in, only to find the scenery change dramatically.

‘Fascinating.’

Hong Yuhwa was momentarily taken aback by the high-level magical alteration, but her attention was soon diverted.

A savory aroma filled the vicinity.

What kind of cooking could produce such an inviting scent?

Driven by primal instincts, Hong Yuhwa, Yu Eunchae, and Seo Gayeon were lured inside.

There, they found Lee Seoha cooking. He was grilling prepared meat, brewing a stew, and roasting mushrooms.

“Oh, you're back? You're early.”

Greeting them with a smile, Lee Seoha ladled some stew into wooden bowls.

“I had some extra time, so I carved out these bowls and spoons from wood. They look pretty decent, don’t they?”

“They do.”

Hong Yuhwa replied nonchalantly, her eyes fixated on the stew. It was packed with meat and vegetables. Where on earth did he get all these ingredients?

“Mmm.”

The moment it entered her mouth, Hong Yuhwa's eyes opened wide in surprise.

So tasty.

She couldn't pinpoint the exact ingredients, but the stew was brimming with a profound flavor. The meat seemed to melt effortlessly, and with just one bite, a comforting warmth spread throughout her body.

“It's delicious.”

Trying to maintain her composure, Hong Yuhwa praised the dish's flavor. Yu Eunchae and Seo Gayeon were already so focused that they were practically burying their heads into their bowls.

Quite unrefined.

Having that thought, she found herself irresistibly drawn to the dwindling amount of stew. Not much was left.

With a pretended elegance, Hong Yuhwa quickly scooped up more stew into her mouth.

Watching her, Lee Seoha couldn't help but wear a contented smile.

---

Raei Translations

---

The next day.

We swiftly began hunting monsters.

Having gathered a decent amount of vegetables and fruits the day before, and finding meat easier to obtain than expected, I decided to join the hunt.

"The advance party is quite robust; it’s making our hunt faster," Subordinate A remarked with a light laugh. I nodded, finding the sudden warmth in her behavior strange.

'What’s going on?'

Regardless, if Hong Yuhwa's subordinate was trying to get on my good side, it benefited me. So, I played along.

As we continued hunting and advancing, I felt a familiar presence.

"Hold on."

I stopped our party and sharpened my senses, looking ahead using my true sight. I saw Ersil Merhen and Kim Ara. Kim Seohyun and Park Woonhyuk were there too.

'...What’s this?'

Something didn’t feel right. Ominous, even.

Ever since acquiring the Body Against Heaven physique, my senses have been heightened. I trust them more now.

'Are they here to capture us?'

From their perspective, it would be tempting.

Though I might appear weaker than them, from their viewpoint, I seemed quite formidable. If we were to face off one by one, I would usually have the upper hand. Though dealing with the likes of Saint, Park Woonhyuk, and Kim Seohyun would be a bit tricky.

'Only if we exclude Kim Ara—'

I locked eyes with Kim Ara.

Her gaze was piercing. Suddenly, I recalled a moment before entering the Tower of Trials when she had shot me a challenging look.

"Should we retreat?"

"Is it an enemy?"

"Seems like they are."

During the final evaluation, fellow students are more dangerous than monsters. You never know when they might stab you in the back.

"Are they formidable opponents?"

"There's Ersil Merhen, Kim Ara, Park Woonhyuk, Kim Seohyun, and five others."

"...Best we avoid confrontation."

Hong Yuhwa, not wanting to admit retreat due to pride, hesitated.

I nodded in agreement. A confrontation with them might result in more loss than gain. Even if we were to win, the cost of the fight would outweigh the benefits.

[Master, over there is the bull-headed creature we saw before,] Heavenly Demon pointed out. I spotted a Minotaur engulfed in flames, quite a distance away.

'...Oh.'

A promising idea crossed my mind.

enjoy! :)

scary ass opposing team

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