Chapter 9
‘Humans are creatures of adaptation, aren’t they?’
I nodded in agreement with that statement as I raised my head.
At the end of my gaze, I saw Baek Doha accurately shooting an arrow at a deer-like monster prowling near the cave.
‘It’s not even disgusting anymore…’
Since reclaiming our dwelling from the monsters, things have been relatively peaceful.
We fended off the occasional monsters, rested in the cave, and ate the animals living in the dungeon.
Humans are creatures of adaptation, and after doing this for over a week, we had no choice but to get used to it.
We also searched for exits or boss monsters in our spare time, but the fact that we’re still living in the cave shows the obvious result.
Except for waiting for a boss monster instead of a ship, it feels like one of those common movies where people are stranded on a deserted island trying to survive.
‘Whether it’s a dungeon or a deserted island, the feeling of being stranded is the same.’
Anyway, after a few days in this isolated situation, I’m starting to get used to it.
The slightly dry but perfectly cooked venison, the system that’s been quiet since the third quest…
“I wonder if we can eat the monsters.”
“Let’s try eating one without poison, just in case.”
“Well, it was annoying to keep hunting them every time.”
Even these strangely not-quite-sane men.
‘I feel like I’m going crazy day by day.’
I stretched out after looking at the three S-rank hunters with cold eyes.
If I had to point out a problem even in this peaceful situation…
[SYSTEM] Checking inventory.
▸C-rank Skill Selection Ticket (1)
It was that I couldn’t find the right timing to use this selection ticket received as a quest reward.
‘Even if I want to use it, I need to be alone…’
Since I’m constantly in the cave, not being able to help much outside anyway, I naturally don’t have time to be alone.
But to look at the system in front of the S-rank hunters…
‘I’d look like a crazy person.’
I couldn’t keep staring at empty space while pondering.
It would be even more unfair to be treated as a crazy person by already crazy people.
‘No, they might try to kill me for being suspicious even before that.’
I shuddered involuntarily at the not-impossible possibility.
But I couldn’t not use it, so I got up from my seat.
‘Since I thought of it now and have time, why not use it now.’
If I don’t use it now, I won’t be able to use it at all.
[C-rank Skill Selection Ticket (1)]
▸Expiration date: 03:10:42
‘This isn’t even funny.’
But what can I do? Those who don’t take it lose out.
I dusted off my hands that were touching the cave floor and moved to a place where I could comfortably view the system window.
“Where are you going?”
And I was immediately caught by Cha Si-hyeon.
Looking at the rough hand that grabbed my arm, I calmly said.
“I’m going to wash up.”
“What? Alone?”
“Why? Do you want to come along?”
“W-why would I go there!”
If it’s a no, just say no. Why are you yelling?
“Can I go?”
When I asked again with a bright smile, Cha Si-hyeon, who was moving his lips, finally sighed silently.
…Did he just make a face like I was giving him a headache?
“Go ahead…”
“Thank you~.”
Ignoring his drained voice, I quickly moved my feet.
“Just try not coming back within 30 minutes!”
“I’ll be back within 40 minutes.”
“Hey!”
I chuckled at Cha Si-hyeon’s shout coming from outside the cave.
I’m sorry to Cha Si-hyeon, but his reaction was funny.
‘He’d be shocked if he knew I was F-rank.’
I won’t tell him, but I was curious about his reaction.
Well, that’s not important right now, so I’ll put it off…
“I want to use the reward.”
[SYSTEM] Do you want to use the selection ticket? (Y/N)
The system popped up as if answering.
I pressed Y while walking towards the lake near the cave. Soon, the blue window flickered for a moment and then…
[C-rank Skill Selection Ticket (1)]
[Transformation – You can transform into any desired form for 3 minutes.
Intimidation – Has a 50% chance to inflict a stun effect.
.
.
.]
A list of available C-rank skills began to appear.
“Empathy, Punishment, Domination…”
They were all unfamiliar terms.
“Domination looks good.”
Domination – 10% chance to subjugate the target on attack. It was appealing, but the probability was low.
‘Pass. This one too, pass.’
Thinking there must be something better, I scrolled down the system window. When I reached the last section, one skill caught my eye.
“It’s not an attack skill?”
It wasn’t a support skill either, but a defensive one.
[SYSTEM] Do you want to acquire this skill?
The system seemed to recognize my hesitation and displayed this message.
At this rate, are you really watching me from somewhere?
‘Hmm…’
As I was pondering for a while, stroking my chin, just as I was about to reach out towards the status window.
[SYSTEM] Emergency! ‘Main Quest-4’ has arrived!
What?
[SYSTEM] Main Quest-4 [Protect the Dawn (1)]
▸Monster activity increases at dawn. Let’s survive the [Rotten Tree Deer] that charges at you at dawn.
▸Time limit: 2 hours
▸Failure: Death
▸Reward: None
“Hold on—”
[SYSTEM] You have acquired the skill.
Did you know that earthquakes can occur in pupils?
‘I, I pressed it by mistake…’
That’s exactly the state I’m in right now.
Did the damn system feel satisfied having to show this right now?
Unable to even scream, I tried hard to grasp the situation unfolding before my eyes.
The suddenly appeared fourth quest, the monster that just silently sprang out from the bushes, and the skill I accidentally selected!
It was a series of worst-case scenarios.
I raised my head with an expression on the verge of tears.
Then I saw the monster. A mottled face as if burned, a body made of wooden vines, and antlers several times the size of its face.
‘Damn it.’
No matter how many times I saw them, I couldn’t get used to the monsters’ appearances.
As I took a step back, hesitating, the creature leaped up as if it had been waiting.
Knowing it was sensitive to every sound, I quickly started running.
The excited deer followed, making strange noises as it began to run.
Relying on the moonlight at dawn, I jumped over large logs and dodged between tall trees.
Bang! Crash! Bang!
Hearing tremendous sounds from behind, I glanced back slightly. And I was terrified.
The creature was recklessly ramming into trees and charging straight ahead.
‘Is it crazy?’
If I were that tree, I would have been shattered beyond repair.
Feeling the crisis of being caught up soon, I quickly rolled my eyes around.
What caught my eye was a large rock and a slanted tree.
Seeing the sturdy tree trunk on the slanted tree, I finally stopped.
“Found it.”
[Skill, ‘Boundary Line (C)’ is being used.]
Then, I used the skill I had semi-forcibly selected.
A line was drawn on the ground as if to block between the deer running towards me and myself, and a barrier rose above that line.
[SYSTEM] Skill ‘Boundary Line (C)’ is activated!
▸Beep beep! Do not cross. Draw a boundary line to defend against enemy threats. (However, the durability is not very good, so don’t let your guard down.)
💎
Crash!!
The antlers of the rapidly charging deer were blocked by the blue barrier.
As if angered by being blocked, it started ramming its antlers several times.
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (600/1000)]
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (442/1000)]
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (295/1000)]
Crash!
Perhaps because the antlers were strong enough to pierce through trees in one go, the barrier’s durability was wearing down rapidly in no time.
Despite this, Yoo Yi-joo stood in front, watching the scene.
Crash!
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (145/1000)]
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (37/1000)]
The deer stepped back once more and raised its antlers high.
The sound of the boundary line breaking echoed loudly.
Finally, as the creature struck down on the barrier.
[Skill ‘Boundary Line (C)’ has been deactivated!]
The boundary line disappeared.
When the barrier that was blocking it suddenly vanished, the antlers that were in mid-air hesitated. When the creature belatedly raised its head, there was nothing in front of it.
Only the wind whistled through the empty space.
And Yoo Yi-joo was watching the confused creature from atop a tree.
Stepping on a rock and clinging to the slanted tree trunk, she smiled slightly.
‘As expected.’
There was only one thing she realized while watching the creature that had been mostly charging straight ahead.
‘It seems unaware, distracted by the barrier…’
The creature had poor vision.
Especially when excited.
Despite being cautious beyond the barrier until just now, when a sudden variable occurred, it didn’t even know where Yoo Yi-joo had gone.
Stretching out one hand that wasn’t holding onto the tree, she gently closed one eye. As her vision focused to one side and the crosshair became clear, she used her skill at the same time.
[Unique Skill, ‘What’s Yours is Mine (-)’ is being used.]
[SYSTEM] Successfully stole the skill ‘Fierce Strike (B)’ from target ‘Baek Doha (S)’!
In the end, the attack skill she wanted was gone, but…
[Using skill, ‘Fierce Strike (B)’]
That didn’t mean there was no way to win.
💎
Thank you for reading! ♡
