Chapter 43: The Presence or Absence of Just One Person （6）

Transcendence of rank.

Powerful black magic.

There was no time allowed to accurately assess the situation.

The moment Kang San received the trial, the explosive magical power already surged like a wave to engulf the party.

KwaKwaKwaKwaK!

Space distorted.

The target was Yeon Woo-bin.

His body reacted first.

Kang San quickly kicked off the ground and threw himself in the direction the Dark Spear was flying.

‘Iron Man.’

Kwaang━!

Kwajijijijik.

“Ugh.”

His eyes widened.

Even Kang San felt like he would lose consciousness from the tremendous shock, but he instantly activated ‘Healing Aura’ at the same time, immediately recovering the lost damage. Even so, his body staggered. As he barely managed to keep from collapsing and raised his head, he saw a horde of monsters rushing towards him. This was just the beginning. With Kang San at the forefront and Yeon Woo-bin guarding the rear, the Hobgoblin knew how to take advantage of the situation.

ChalrangChalrang━

Kieek.

Kyakyakyakyak!

He gritted his teeth.

It was a situation where it was difficult to handle even the monsters swarming in front of him, let alone deal with the Hobgoblin first.

“Plan C. Retreat for now!”

“D*mn it.”

There are three strategies.

Plan A, the standard strategy.

Plan B, a bold breakthrough.

He had intended to conclude the situation with the first two strategies, but if Plan B didn’t work out as planned, he needed a new path instead of giving up. Kang San had checked the terrain with a c*iff behind it on his way here, and retreating there was Plan C.

A siege with their backs against the wall.

There was no other way but to directly counter the war of attrition.

Kang San quickly retreated, but he thrust his sword into the faces of the monsters that popped out from all directions.

Puk.

Kueek!

He was suffocating.

Even if he took down one or two, it didn’t make a difference. And when he glanced up at the sound of Tuung━Tuung━, he saw rocks flying through the sky. The situation in the rear would be no better than the front. Still, there was nothing he could do. Kang San had to exert all his strength just to block the monsters rushing at him.

And then.

『Dark Spear』

Kwaang━!

Pajijijik.

Kang San was thrown back with a Tung━.

He barely dodged the attack, but just the magical wave made him want to vomit everything inside him.

Monsters constantly pouring in.

The Hobgoblin, constantly watching for an opening.

He was cornered.

He was completely overwhelmed.

Come to think of it, there was no reason to risk his life for a mere test.

But then.

『Burning Time is applied.』

He heard an unfamiliar voice, different from before.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Burning Time.

There was no explanation about it.

But it was enough.

In a situation where he had no time to breathe, Kang San soon realized the meaning of Burning Time.

Puck━!

An arrow struck.

He failed to protect his blind spot while retreating, and Kang San, with the arrow piercing his forearm, shoved his sword under the goblin’s chin without even pulling it out. He felt dizzy. It was a fight that had already lasted for over an hour, and the numbers that didn’t decrease no matter how many he killed were eating away at his hope. There was still some distance to the c*iff. Knowing that everything would be over if he fell, he raised his shield upon seeing the troll’s club attack.

Kung.

Kwadang!

He rolled on the ground.

The moment he got up and checked the enemies’ positions, the miracle of Burning Time manifested.

『Due to the Burning Time effect, your Mental Strength stat has increased by 1.』

『Due to the Burning Time effect, your Toughness stat has increased by 1.』

‘What?’

Stat increase.

He was so surprised that he almost cried out.

People put in tremendous effort to increase their stats by 1, but he had just gained the effect of increasing his stats by 2. In other words, Burning Time could be interpreted as ‘a time when stats increase’. Since the Hobgoblin’s Transcendence was a difficult trial for him at the moment, this d*mn g*d had also thrown him a sweet carrot so he wouldn’t give up.

Kyaak!

The troll rushed in.

Why?

His mind felt at ease.

Gripping his sword tightly, Kang San’s eyes gleamed fiercely.

‘If there’s a reward, I have no choice but to take it like a dog.’

His whole life.

He lived a life without rewards.

The existence of a reward gave him enough reason to risk his life for this mere test.

Hwak━

Kwajik.

He blocked the attack.

After blocking the troll’s club attack once again, Kang San quickly dug into the space and severed the troll’s Achilles tendon. The troll staggered. If he pushed himself, he could k*ll the troll right there, but Kang San knew what was most important right now.

Pat.

Tatat.

He created distance.

First.

He had to reach the planned location.

Kang San focused on blocking the enemies as much as possible, and thanks to that, he was able to achieve his desired goal.

“Over there! If you can hear me, remember this. As long as I don’t collapse, we will never give up. So no matter how dangerous it seems, never intervene. Unless you intend to break the promise you made with your son.”

The situation has changed.

He couldn’t ruin the godsend opportunity of Burning Time with unnecessary intervention.

Until he collapses.

Even if it means dying.

Kang San seized the opportunity.

The enemies, perhaps judging that this was their chance now that they were cornered, surged in with even greater force than before.

Kwak.

KungKungKung!

Weapons flew in from all directions.

Kang San blocked them with his shield and at the same time, stepped back and deflected the attacks coming from his blind spot. And then he immediately dug back into the space. He knew that if he kept retreating to block each attack, he would eventually be pushed back to where the rear members were.

‘Blood Demon Sword Technique, First Style: Blade K*ll’

Beonteuk.

Puck!

He cut off the goblin’s head.

His magical power surged due to the Blood Demon Art, and Kang San swung his sword towards another goblin.

He cut.

He cut.

He cut again.

No matter how many he cut down, their numbers didn’t decrease, and there was no sign of victory in this situation.

But.

『Due to the Burning Time effect, your Strength stat has increased by 1.』

『Due to the Burning Time effect, your Agility stat has increased by 1.』

『Due to the Burning Time effect, your Mental Strength stat has increased by 1.』

『Due to the Burning Time effect, your Toughness stat has increased by 1.』

He was happy.

His sacrifice.

This situation where it was being returned as a reward.

His hair was completely disheveled, and there was no part of Kang San’s body that wasn’t stained with blood.

Covered in his and the enemies’ blood from being cut and torn, Kang San blocked the monsters’ attacks as if he was truly going to d*e here. It was a reasonable choice for Kang San. In a situation where Yeon Gyu-seong would intervene if his life was truly in danger, there was no reason not to risk his life for a tremendous opportunity like Burning Time.

The problem was.

That the scene was reflected in a completely different meaning to Kang San’s party members.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The series of events.

Jeong Chan-woo was genuinely impressed.

‘……How can he do that?’

He’s an elite.

Born as the son of a high-ranking executive of the admired Cheonsang Management, he received all the teachings necessary to grow as a Hunter from a young age. That’s why he knew the hardships of a Tanker well. The Tanker position was absolutely necessary, but unlike in the game, there was no way to revive a Tanker who died while holding out.

That’s why everyone avoided it.

Even if they were treated a little better, and even if they were taken care of a little more, there weren’t many fools in the world who would risk their lives.

Jeong Chan-woo was the same.

Even though he chose the path of a Tanker because of the favorable treatment, he lacked confidence as a Main Tanker and stepped back. His current position as a Sub-Tanker was decided that way. To him, who was steadily building his career while being recognized in his own way, the sight of Kang San enduring as if he was going to d*e every time was shocking.

‘Is there a Tanker as great as him among the people I know?’

There were many in terms of skill.

The people called Rankers showed a truly overwhelming appearance, incomparable to Kang San.

But all of them.

If asked whether they would truly risk their lives in extreme situations, he couldn’t guarantee that they were as great as Kang San. Tankers were very cautious. They meticulously calculated whether a hunting ground was within the party’s capabilities, and if they felt even slightly disadvantaged, they would urge a retreat. That was the norm. It was natural to cherish one’s only life, so there was no one anywhere who criticized the Tankers’ culture.

Perhaps that’s why.

Jeong Chan-woo was completely captivated.

The sight of him straining his neck, refusing to back down even while covered in blood, was more impressive than any other Tanker.

‘That’s it. That’s the ideal I should pursue.’

One day.

His father asked him.

Why did he insist on working as a Hunter when he could learn administrative work from him?

Jeong Chan-woo said.

“……It’s cool.”

Now, at this moment.

Jeong Chan-woo thought.

The ideal of coolness he pursued was Kang San, who was right in front of him.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The situation was bleak.

Unlike Jeong Chan-woo, who saw a new future, Yeon Woo-bin staggered and vomited everything in his stomach.

“Ugh.”

He felt sick.

It was mana exhaustion.

After using magic for over an hour, the mana in his circle was starting to run out.

He raised his head.

There were still many enemies to deal with.

‘It’s over now.’

Even with infinite mana, victory couldn’t be guaranteed.

But now, when his mana seemed to run out before Kang San collapsed, even Yeon Woo-bin, who had been clinging to hope, had no choice but to consider giving up. Further sacrifice was meaningless. It seemed he had to accept this grim reality rather than let his party face an irreversible situation because of him.

Weren’t they grateful people?

He couldn’t force them to make a sacrifice with no hope left.

That’s when it happened.

“Are you running out of mana?”

“……Yes?”

It was Jeong Chan-woo.

As Yeon Woo-bin looked at him with a surprised face, Jeong Chan-woo stepped in front of Yeon Woo-bin and said,

“Our leader hasn’t given up yet. If you’re running out of mana, take a mana potion and meditate. We absolutely need Yeon Woo-bin-nim’s magic to overcome this absurd situation.”

“But that’s too dangerous.”

“I know.”

Their eyes met.

Jeong Chan-woo’s eyes changed.

Beyond his playful gaze, something new and indescribable settled in.

“You see, before I met this party, I hunted very comfortably with skilled people in my rank as my teammates. Since the management took care of everything, there were no difficulties in anything. But comparing then and now, I like this party much more. Kang San-nim, Han-byeol-nim, and Woo-bin-nim too. So let’s see it through to the end. He’s fighting so tenaciously at the front, what have we done to deserve giving up?”

He adjusted his shield.

No matter how hard Kang San struggled, monsters kept slipping through.

But strangely, he wasn’t anxious.

Thinking that Kang San was still standing, he felt that the danger he had to face was nothing.

“I promise. Until I collapse, I won’t let those monsters touch a hair on Woo-bin-nim’s head.”

“……!”

Yeon Woo-bin was speechless.

Meditation.

It was a dangerous act.

If he received an external shock during meditation, the resulting internal injuries could be life-threatening. But Yeon Woo-bin wasn’t worried about his own safety. He would need about 3 minutes of meditation for sufficient recovery, and his concern for his party members who would have to handle the monsters until then came first.

“Woo-bin. Let’s do it until we can’t anymore. No one has given up yet, right?”

Jo Han-byeol also stepped forward.

He felt a surge of emotion.

They were good people.

Because of people like them, he had gathered his courage, and it seemed he could continue with them in the future.

They were right.

This was his problem.

It didn’t make sense for him, the person involved, to give up first when no one else had.

Yeon Woo-bin gritted his teeth.

“Okay. I’ll try.”

He took out a mana potion.

And then he drank it in one gulp, sat down, and closed his eyes.

Darkness.

For a moment.

He severed his connection with reality.