“Here, the road splits into two. If you flow 100 mana into the single circuit and send 80 into the double circuit, what should meet at the end?”
“26!”
Third period, ‘Magic Circles and Circuit Techniques’.
I quietly watched Han Yong-cheol’s boss raid broadcast, my phone wedged between my pencil case.
‘Magic just goes off without casting? And it maintains even outside the effective range? Is this emphasizing game mechanics over realism?’
After chanting a spell, the magic triggered, revealing a mana sniper with a range of hundreds of meters.
It was more fantastical in some respects than the fantasy genre it’s set in, Wagal.
Seo Yu-na, sitting next to me, glanced over and took a deep breath.
“Hey, NoName…! What will you do if the teacher catches you…!”
Yuna whispered to warn me in a small voice.
“It won’t get caught anyway. It’s fine. Oh, that answer isn’t 26 but 20. Watch out for traps at the end.”
“Huh? Ah, there’s another circuit on the opposite side? Thanks!”
“No, I said 20, not 22.”
Easy, Normal, Hard, Veteran, Hardcore.
Han Yong-cheol was challenging the double Veteran difficulty.
His skills weren’t bad, to say the least.
Seeing him roll at the right timing showed that he had put in a lot of study on his own.
– Ah, what a pity…!
– It looked easy when I got help from the brain substitute, but it got tough once I stopped, lol.
– NoName, when are you coming back!
– Isn’t there still like 20 minutes left?
– NoName! I know you’re on your phone during class!
“…!”
I jerked my head around, startled.
Students were diligently manipulating a model magic circle.
‘Gosh, that scared me…’
Han Yong-cheol had died again in the meantime.
I didn’t expect it to be this frustrating to watch.
I decided to put my phone back in my pocket and let my chin droop on the desk.
Shim Hyo-chan, the teacher checking each student’s magic circle, walked over to me.
“Na-me-ya, are you feeling unwell?”
“Ah. Yes, I feel a tightness in my chest.”
“If it’s bad, do you want to go to the nurse’s office? Should I take you there?”
“I’m fine; I can go by myself. Thank you.”
Screech-
I pushed my chair back and stood up.
“Whoa, Na-me, are you hurting?”
“Looks like my heart might be in pain.”
“Is it lovesickness?”
“What love sickness does Na-me have?”
My friends chimed in with worried tones.
Only Seo Yu-na, who knew the whole truth, couldn’t tear her gaze away from me with a look of disbelief.
“Wow…”
I gave Yuna a thumbs-up and scurried out of the class.
I turned into the hallway of 3rd Grade A and leaned against a wall, redialing Han Yong-cheol.
“Hello. Yong-cheol, it’s me.”
[Whoa! No way, Na-me! Aren’t you in class right now?]
“Er… no, I just stepped out for a moment.”
[Ahaha, I must have misheard you, right?]
“Please excuse my poor pronunciation.”
[I know! We’ve got loyalty between us. Han Yong-cheol will keep your secret!]
– This room has 20,000 viewers, and what secret?
– Why are you skipping class anyway?
– Look at that confidence, lol.
– Was Na-me always such a character? So cute, lol.
– Seriously, that delinquent personality never changes!
“Welcome back, Boss.”
“You did well to clear Phase 1.”
[Yeah, now that I’ve done two rounds, I don’t have a clue about Phase 2.]
“Watching you, it feels like you think of the boss as a game. Wondering when it’ll end while just draining your health.”
[Yeah, that seems right! But how do you…?]
– Whoa, even phone verification!
– Police officer, I’m here!!!
– Doesn’t the academy give demerits for skipping class?
– How can Han Yong-cheol ruin one kid’s life for a game…?
– The academy is just for fun, haha!
– Who am I? A 7-year subscriber to Yong-cheol’s broadcasts watched secretly during class.
– So is the boss a game or what?
– For Na-me, games are life! (nods)
– Whoa! Is Na-me getting memory assaulted right now?
– …??? No way!!! I definitely didn’t write that with that intention! That’s a misunderstanding!
Rustle-
Suddenly, I heard someone’s presence from the turned hallway.
Listening to the rhythm of their footsteps, it was a student.
Probably someone was going to the restroom during class.
[Cast: Counter Interference]
I set the magic circle at my feet and tiptoed down the stairs before meeting the student.
“Hello?”
[Huff… Huh! I’ve made it to Phase 2. What do I do now?]
“First, lower the sword. Relax your shoulder. Keep your left and right hand a bit wider apart.”
“Like this?”
“Yes. Just wait like that.”
The sword must be started from a close distance to the body.
Waiting with the sword extended forward is something beginners do.
Around the waist is just about right.
“I’ll teach you how to create a damage timing for each action, so remember everything from now on.”
[Creating a damage timing? Wait, isn’t that a bit too much for me?]
“There’s no choice. That’s how the boss is designed.”
[Whoa! *#&@!!! It started! ]
Still, many patterns overlapped up to Veteran difficulty, and Gale’s movements were slow.
But would he follow my commands well?
“It can change depending on Yong-cheol’s actions. You must strictly follow what I say. Block left, be aware on the right, then dash in the moment you lift your sword. Always be cautious of the offbeat.”
[Block up left, keep going right…]
“There are plenty of hints. The moment Gale steps back is your cue, so focus… right, keep blocking right like that.”
While Yong-cheol focused on Gale, I instead caught every minor movement he made.
Only by knowing what judgement he would make and how he would defend could I predict Gale’s next attack.
It felt like solving an incredibly complicated puzzle.
Moreover, why were there so many people wandering during class in this academy?
Discipline was non-existent.
As another presence appeared, I silently fastened my steps, quickly crossing the Cloud Bridge into the next building.
[I think I got it! Creating a damage timing, ohh, so this is how it feels!]
“Don’t lose focus till the end.”
[Oh no, it’s coming! It’s coming! ]
“Dodge, then strike the ankle.”
“Huh?”
“Roll forward! No, swing the sword forward!”
[Whoa!]
Both internally and externally, there were many crises.
I managed to avoid the academy students and teachers skillfully.
I got pushed from the 3rd Grade classroom through the 2nd Grade, music room, and clubroom all the way to the 4th Grade classroom.
Had I known this, I should have gone to hide in the gym storage from the start.
The nurse office area had too many students passing through, so I couldn’t even get near it.
Still, progress was being made.
– Wait, is he finally clearing? Is it finally happening?
– Yong-cheol, let’s go~!
– Slayer of Slayers! Slayer of Slayers!
– Just one block remaining.
– Please, this time definitely clear it… I want to sleep. T.T
[Huff, huff… Keep focusing, Yong-cheol! You got this! Na-me, please give your final command!]
Han Yong-cheol nimbly dodged the dragon’s breath emitted by Gale.
That pattern must have existed even before the remaster.
I racked my brain for every piece possible.
I was analyzing the smallest screen to capture the boss’s gaze, grip, and steps.
Where is he looking? Closing in slowly or coming fast?
Suddenly, I envisioned a familiar scene from Gale.
“NanaTsuno Tachi…! No wait, Emika put this in!”
[Yes, what is this Nana?]
Showing a noble image was nice, but it seemed they had actually stuck one of the Katsuhata Sect’s sword techniques onto it.
“Yong-cheol, you trust me, right?”
[After nearly dying to get here, of course! ]
“First strike must go through. No matter what, don’t react to the first attack! Absolutely!”
The Dragon Slayer Gale, awakened by the power of the dragon, spread its wings and charged forth.
[Just tell me where the attack comes! Front? Left? Right?]
“He will hit the opposite side of where his center of gravity leans. Let the first strike pass without reacting; for the second, you parry. Got it?”
With items that apply extra damage during parries all over Yong-cheol,
Even just one successful hit would mean the boss battle marathon ends after 11 hours.
I was hoping for the salvation of the poor beings.
Screech-
The 4th Grade classroom’s back door swung open, and a male student darted out.
He was trying to run away quickly with a staggering gait just as two teachers appeared walking around the corner in the distance.
If I receive even 5 more demerits here, that will total 10, and the parents’ summoning procedure awaits.
I must prevent that at all costs.
‘Where to run…? Ah, here!’
[Science Room II]
Before they turned their heads, I seamlessly slipped into the empty science room to hide.
I couldn’t even see the results of Han Yong-cheol’s boss raid, crawling under the desk and holding my breath.
[Cast: Counter Interference]
I rechecked the soundproofing magic circle.
I saw the shadows of the two people pass the door gap.
“Phew…”
Just as I was releasing a sigh of relief, calming my heart…
Screech…
The door creaked open slowly.
‘Did they see me…?’
Getting caught now would be an utter disgrace.
I couldn’t accept the future approaching right away and bit my lips tightly.
“NoName?”
A boy’s voice.
“Huh? Yoon Si-hoo?”
“What are you doing here?”
When he flipped the light switch, the dark science room lit up in an instant.
Thud!
“Ouch!”
I suddenly bumped my head hard trying to get out from under the desk.
Rubbing my sore head, I frowned.
‘Oh man, I think I might have a concussion… I need to visit the nurse’s office later.’
The boy was 4th grader Yoon Si-hoo, who had skipped a grade.
“Hey. You surprised me.”
“Why are you here?”
“Can’t you see? I’m skipping.”
“Again? Didn’t you get caught by the homeroom teacher last time you went up to the rooftop?”
“Did Yuna tell you that? So, I’m hiding here to avoid getting caught.”
Yoon Si-hoo raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
Both of them had this identical expression of shock.
“Well, since there’s little time left until the break, I might as well hide here and chill for a bit.”
I turned on Han Yong-cheol’s broadcast again.
While a 30-second ad played, Yoon Si-hoo came and sat next to me.
“Internet broadcasting?”
“Yeah. I was helping a friend with a boss raid over the phone.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t you want to try gaming? You might have a talent for it.”
Yoon Si-hoo shook his head, brainwashed by the belief that games were evil.
“Wow, looks like he cleared it!”
I smiled brightly.
Han Yong-cheol was sprawled next to the corpse of the Dragon Slayer.
The donation stream was pouring down like rain.
Both the viewers who had been cheering him on and those who had once hurled harsh words were now congratulating him with one heart.
In this moment, they all became the heroes who defeated the Dragon Slayer.
Ta-da!
“Aren’t you answering your phone?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“This is cooler.”
Even now, the chat was bombarded with messages looking for me, dozens every second.
“People need to be given a bit of hope. Wow, that person cleared it too? That means I can do it too, just like that.”
Han Yong-cheol’s resonance ranking was in the upper 5%.
That’s high among regular folks, but slightly ambiguous by gamer standards.
“And now they’ll realize: it didn’t seem this hard before? Of course not. I handed off all the dangerous moments from start to finish.”
Determining the difference between the pros and the amateurs isn’t about the performance throughout the battle.
It’s about how accurately one can find the answer at critical moments.
“People reminisce about good times. So, in recurring failures, who do they look for first?”
“Is that you, Na-me?”
“Yep.”
“Why do you do this?”
“There’s no particular reason.”
“Huh?”
“I just find it fun. I do it because it’s entertaining: games, broadcasts, swordsmanship, magic—it’s all fun.”
I subtly hint at solutions and then disappear.
That’s my plan.
