Chapter 1129 – 1129. Savior Of The Academy
I arrived at a village in Pyeongan Province in a car driven by Seong Hari. The village was called Jingu Village, a small place with a population of fewer than 70 people.
Our destination wasn’t the village itself, but a place next to it.
It was a place controlled by a fence. The fence was marked with the logos of the Korean Hero Association and the police. Moreover, armed E-class heroes were guarding the fence, preventing anyone from entering.
We rented a house in the village. It was originally the home of an elderly couple, but we paid them to rent it for two days. After putting our luggage down, we gathered in the yard under Seong Hari’s lead.
“Okay, everyone. The place we’re going into is a B-class contaminated area. All of you can use mana, so you won’t be affected by the contamination… but you must never let your guard down.”
Seong Hari repeated herself.
Contaminated area.
It literally refers to a contaminated place. It’s a place contaminated for various reasons, such as dungeon destruction, curses, battle aftermath, or demons. The mana is altered, which has a negative impact on ordinary people and animals.
These contaminated areas exist all over South Korea, not just here.
C-class and below can purify the contamination with time. However, for B-class and above, the source of the contamination must be found and eliminated. The most serious problem is that if left unattended, the contaminated area will gradually expand. That’s why the Association tries to deal with B-class and higher contaminated areas as quickly as possible.
‘But this place, Jingu Village, is a bit different.’
The contaminated area in Jingu Village has remained the same size for several years. The contamination isn’t spreading.
‘The scale of the contamination is B-class, so the Association has tried to deal with it several times… but they’ve all failed.’
Dealing with contaminated areas is different from dungeons, so it’s been difficult. This contaminated area is B-class, but the contamination isn’t spreading, so the Association has half-abandoned it. There are plenty of contaminated areas that are more urgent than this one.
The atmosphere in the yard became heavy. Academy students are the elites among those aspiring to be heroes. There wasn’t a single person here who didn’t know about contaminated areas.
“Hmm. Everyone looks serious. It’s not good to be too tense. This B-class dungeon hasn’t been purified because the source is hidden. In terms of danger, it’s about a C-class or D-class dungeon? So there’s no need to be too nervous.”
Seong Hari smiled faintly, easing the heavy atmosphere.
“I’m here, you know. Don’t worry too much. Or should we rest a bit more before starting?”
Ryu Hana shook her head. She was already exuding a sharp aura, like a warrior ready for battle.
“No. I want to enter the contaminated area right now.”
Choi Dayeon stepped forward as if not to be outdone. She held an antique bow in her hand.
“I’ve participated in dungeon raids a few times, but this is my first time in a contaminated area. It’ll be a good experience.”
Kim Chunwoo swung his greatsword around. Unlike Ryu Hana and Choi Dayeon, who brought their personal equipment, he was carrying a weapon borrowed from the Academy. He puffed out his chest excessively and his eyes gleamed.
“Seong Hari-nim… Ah, no, Auntie. I’ll show you the power I’ve built up.”
Kim Chunwoo was overflowing with enthusiasm.
Ma Jinbae clenched his fists with a stern face. He seemed excited before the battle. Lee Kanghoo was only thinking about how to protect Choi Dayeon in case of an emergency. Lee Sieun didn’t try to leave my side.
I calmly packed my equipment. Hwaryeon Bido and the spear-shaped Stormbreaker.
“As expected of future heroes. Alright, let’s go.”
We followed Seong Hari towards the contaminated area.
Seong Hari approached the heroes guarding the contaminated area. The heroes, who had already been informed of our arrival and Seong Hari’s identity by their superiors, stood rigidly at attention.
“We’ve heard about it from the higher-ups, Seong Hari-nim. You may enter the B-class contaminated area in Jingu Village. If you need our support, we will do our best to help.”
“It’s okay. You guys do your jobs.”
With Seong Hari, it was a free pass.
That was why I asked Seong Hari for this favor. Although we were Academy students, we were only first-years. If the Association or the Academy faculty were in their right minds, they wouldn’t allow us to be dispatched.
‘But if Seong Hari is in charge, things are different.’
SS-class hero Seong Hari is entering a B-class contaminated area. It’s a place that Seong Hari alone is more than capable of handling. In front of her, the peculiarity of a contaminated area is nothing.
“Keueup?!”
Kim Chunwoo’s knees buckled slightly as he walked confidently. The contaminated mana was pressuring his body. The others also reacted, frowning, though not as much as Kim Chunwoo. The only ones who were fine were Seong Hari, me, and Lee Sieun. I wasn’t affected by the contaminated mana thanks to my experiences in another world, and Lee Sieun was fine because of her energy-related traits and skills.
“It’s because you’re not used to the contaminated mana. Activate your mana. Then you’ll be fine. And there’s no need to be too scared. Just because mana is contaminated doesn’t mean it’s completely altered.”
Spirits can be affected, but Mocha, who had become a high-level spirit, was unaffected by this level of contamination.
The contaminated area was bizarre.
The ground was greenish-blue, and the plants growing on it looked melted. The trees were the same. It felt like we were in a dungeon, even though we hadn’t entered one.
Rustle, rustle.
A rabbit hopped out from the bushes. It was a pure white rabbit that looked like a doll. But no one was captivated by the rabbit’s cuteness.
Clang.
Ryu Hana drew her sword from her waist. She held a sword in each hand and glared at the cute rabbit as if she would kill it. She was a merciless woman.
The rabbit tilted its head cutely and approached Ryu Hana.
“Mom. Is that okay?”
I asked Seong Hari, who was just watching.
“It’s okay. It’s not like Hana is letting her guard down. But she’s putting a lot of strength into her hands.”
Before the rabbit could get close, Ryu Hana moved first. The two swords crossed in an X and were swung. The afterimages were so intense that they remained in the air.
“Shiaaaaaaak!”
Suddenly, the rabbit let out a sharp cry and its body swelled up. It kicked off the ground and charged at Ryu Hana. Ryu Hana’s sword cut the rabbit’s skin, but not deeply. The rabbit’s form became wobbly. Its four legs disappeared, and its two long ears became as hard as blades. The rabbit’s cute face twisted into a demonic one.
Ryu Hana maintained a blank expression and swung her two swords.
The battle lasted longer than expected.
“Ryu Hana. Should I help?”
Kim Chunwoo asked.
“It’s okay. This is my fight.”
A cold voice came from Ryu Hana’s mouth. She was warning them not to interfere. Kim Chunwoo shook his head and stepped back at her fierce aura.
Seong Hari, who was watching, smiled wryly. She lightly threw the spear she was holding. The result was not light at all. The spear tore through the air, pierced the rabbit’s body, and fell to the ground. A small crater was created on the ground with a bang.
“……”
Ryu Hana’s mouth fell open. Surprised, she turned around and looked at Seong Hari.
“Hana. I understand how you feel. You want to fight, right? You want to prove your strength, right? I was like that too, so I know. But right now, your strength isn’t important. We’re not here to see your skills, but to raid the contaminated area. You mustn’t forget what the most important goal is right now.”
“…Yes. Auntie is right. Right now… we were raiding. I’ll focus on the raid.”
“Good that you understand.”
Seong Hari stretched her hand forward. Her hand sparked with electricity. The spear that had been stuck in the ground floated into the air and flew into Seong Hari’s hand. She had used magnetism to retrieve the spear.
The group started moving again.
This time, a rabbit appeared. Ryu Hana stepped forward. Kim Chunwoo and Ma Jinbae followed behind her.
“As Seong Hari Auntie said, this is a raid. We have to kill the monsters efficiently.”
“You’re not going to complain again, are you?”
“……Just don’t hold me back.”
When the three moved at the same time, it didn’t even take 10 seconds to deal with the rabbit monster.
Kim Chunwoo cut open the rabbit’s corpse. He was looking for the magic stone that monsters should have.
“Monsters in contaminated areas don’t have magic stones. They’re created from the resentment influenced by the contaminated mana.”
Kim Chunwoo, embarrassed by Ryu Hana’s words, scratched the back of his head.
Wobble, wobble, wobble.
The space wobbled. The ground, the sky, and the trees shook like undulating waves. It was more than just nausea; our senses were becoming strange. It seemed that I wasn’t the only one who felt it, as all the Academy students were staggering.
I reached out and grabbed Lee Sieun, who was about to fall next to me. The only one who was fine was Seong Hari.
The shaking of space soon disappeared.
We were no longer in a forest, but in a damp cave. The space had changed in an instant. Sighs could be heard from all over. Everyone looked unwell.
“This contaminated area is quite unique. The further you go inside, the more the space changes. That’s why the Association couldn’t purify this contaminated area.”
Seong Hari stretched her hand towards the ceiling. Her hand shone brightly, erasing the cave ceiling. It was one of Seong Hari’s skills, Purification (D+). It temporarily purified the contaminated space.
But as the light disappeared from her hand, the purified space wobbled and the cave ceiling reappeared.
“Our goal is to find the hidden source. Don’t forget that. This time, Hana and Chunwoo will fall back… Jinbae and Kanghoo will take the lead. Dayeon, don’t let your guard down. Now, let’s move forward.”
A rabbit appeared. Ma Jinbae and Lee Kanghoo simultaneously rushed at the rabbit and pulverized it.
“…Not bad.”
“You too.”
The two men exchanged glances. It was pathetic. I looked ahead and stroked Lee Sieun’s body, which I had somehow ended up holding in my arms. Lee Sieun didn’t resist. Her face flushed as she accepted my touch.
She had a good figure. You could tell she took care of herself.
“……”
When I was touching Lee Sieun’s chest, Choi Dayeon, who was walking next to me, looked this way. Choi Dayeon’s eyes widened. I hesitated for a moment, then squeezed Lee Sieun’s chest tightly.
“Ugh…”
Lee Sieun let out a small moan. Her voluptuous F-cup breasts clung to my hand. They were pressed lewdly every time my fingers moved. The sensation was so good that it was a shame I was touching her through her clothes.
Lee Sieun’s face flushed even more. She knew Choi Dayeon was watching, and that made her even more excited.
Choi Dayeon’s face turned red and she turned her head away, pretending not to see. I took my hand off Lee Sieun’s chest. There were too many eyes watching to keep touching her.
“Haa…”
Lee Sieun looked at me. There was a desperate look in her eyes. But I shook my head firmly. Lee Sieun became gloomy.
Regardless, the group continued to move forward.
