Chapter 68

Chapter 68

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 68“I would first place only the archer and fighter on the front line, and keep everyone else in the rear where Golem Master can't see them.”

Ji Su-hyeon's eyes narrow with interest at my words.

“Wouldn't just an archer and fighter be insufficient to defend against the approaching golems?”

“The hint was in what you said, Instructor. No matter how you look at it, they're golems made of asphalt and concrete. As you said, they're golems that Awakened can destroy without much difficulty, so two people should be able to buy some time.”

That's right. I had placed the archer and fighter on the front line not to break through, but to endure.

“Even so, according to what you're saying, they won't be able to hold out for long, will they?”

“Isn't the archer an Awakened too? If things get really dangerous, tell them to use a spare dagger or something. They don't need to hold out for that long. The rest of the party waiting behind them needs to do their part.”

Saying that, I pointed toward the spatial mage in the simulation window.

“Instructor, you said this simulation was based on something you personally experienced. That means the spatial mage over there has the same specs you did at the time. In that case, I would move the remaining paladin, warrior, and yourself to a position above Golem Master where he can't see them.”

And just as I said, the pieces moved above the golem mage.

“Hmm, not bad. But it'll be difficult to break through his defenses with only that, won't it?”

“Then we simply drop them from higher up. From a height where, even if he defends, it will inevitably break through.”

Saying that, I operated the controller and changed the starting position.

The pieces slowly began rising into the air.

They continued going higher until they reached a height no different from the roof of a fifty-story building.

“At this height, no matter what terrain or objects he uses around him, wouldn't they break through?”

When I smiled and pointed at the pieces, Ji Su-hyeon and the other kids around us looked dumbfounded.

“So. You're saying that if we drop them from here, according to the simulation, we can win without any losses?”

When I nodded, Ji Su-hyeon moved her fingers and changed the situation board.

“Fine, since you're the last one, let me first show you how we dealt with him back then.”

The formation Ji Su-hyeon showed was a wedge formation with the spatial mage at its head.

The moment she snapped her fingers, the pieces began moving and charged toward where Golem Master was.

And at the same time, something strange began happening.

The golems were disappearing as though being deleted according to the direction the spatial mage piece moved.

When everyone reacted with confusion at the phenomenon, Ji Su-hyeon began explaining.

“Golems can't really be called living creatures. They're basically stone dolls that move according to commands without any will of their own. That's why we were able to move the golems to the outskirts and create a path like that.”

They erased the surrounding golems and reached Golem Master.

A little while later, Golem Master's body began growing, swelling until it was as large as a building.

“But he wasn't a fool either. Once he judged it impossible to stop us with golems, he stopped making more and switched to strengthening his own armament instead. And that's how we began a one-versus-five battle against him.”

Even without being able to use golems, ‘Golem Master’ was still a named villain who had made his name widely known.

Despite it being a one-versus-five fight, the battle remained evenly matched.

The warrior and fighter began breaking apart the golem shell, while the archer and mage attacked through the openings, and the paladin spread a sacred shield to protect the party members from his attacks.

During the process, the warrior and fighter were struck by his attacks and sent flying far away, but the paladin's ability raised them back up, and they continued fighting ‘Golem Master’ to the very end.

As a result.

Golem Master's body eventually began to collapse.

“The final result was serious injuries for the warrior and fighter. Fortunately, all of the injuries were treatable, and we were able to subdue him without a single casualty.”

For heroes, it was truly an ideal victory.

A battle against a powerful enemy in which no one died.

And in a way, it was only natural for Ji Su-hyeon to be proud that she had been part of such a battle.

“Alright, now it's your turn, Han Eugene. This was your formation, right?”

As though time were being rewound, the pieces in the simulation moved back and began changing into the formation I had originally set up.

The paladin, warrior, and spatial mage floated high in the air.

Before starting, I looked at Ji Su-hyeon and the other kids and spoke.

“The biggest flaw in the strategy you showed us, Instructor, was that everything took place within Golem Master's field of vision. That's why the moment he realized the golems wouldn't work, he immediately began strengthening himself. That's why I came up with this formation.”

A battle that began from a location he would never be able to find.

It was a formation no normal person would even imagine.

“I am curious too. Then, shall we start?”

“Please.”

Smiling, she snapped her fingers, and at the same time, golems began surging like a flood toward the fighter and archer, who were the only two left behind.

The archer and fighter began fighting desperately.

Arrows fired into the sky fell like rain, while aura bursting from the fighter's fists shattered the golems.

But the golems, like zombies that had discovered humans, silently continued surrounding them and gradually closed the distance even as arrows pierced them and fists struck them.

The archer and fighter continued resisting to the end even as the distance between them and the golems shrank, but the encirclement was steadily tightening.

“At this rate, the archer and fighter will be wiped out, won't they?”

Ji Su-hyeon looked at me with the corner of her mouth raised as she watched the pieces in what was practically a hopeless situation.

“That would happen if the others falling from above failed to do their part.”───────!!

At the same time, a sound like the air being torn apart rang out, and from one corner of the simulation field, a massive roar exploded along with a flash of light, followed by a mushroom cloud.

It was caused by the three bodies that had been falling from high above colliding with ‘Golem Master.’

“This is the highlight. No matter who he is, he wouldn't expect an attack falling from the height of a building. You don't even give him time to defend above his head. And if the warrior uses a skill against him while carrying all that gravitational energy? Even if it weren't Golem Master but Golem Doctor, he'd die instantly.”

For reference, Golem Doctor really was the villain who had been Golem Master's teacher.

The golems surrounding the archer and fighter began crumbling and disappearing one after another.

It meant ‘Golem Master’ had definitely died, just as I predicted.

“Ha, fine, let's say everything up to here works. But with that much impact, wouldn't the spatial mage and the other two die too?”

“Of course not. Then it wouldn't be a strategy, it'd be a suicide attack.”

At that moment, something was seen crawling out through the mushroom cloud.

The warrior, paladin, and spatial mage.

“...

They're alive?”

“Does that even make sense?”

“Wouldn't even an Awakened die falling from that height?”

The classroom instantly began buzzing at the sight of the three walking out without any visibly serious injuries.

Ji Su-hyeon, who had been staring with her mouth open in disbelief, looked at me and asked.

“How is that possible?”

“While the warrior was attacking, the paladin and spatial mage weren't just doing nothing.”

I continued explaining.

“The paladin's ‘Sacred Shield’ skill reduces impact. It can also reduce the impact from falling to the ground. While activating that, the instant they first touch the ground, the spatial mage uses mana to create countless panels underground to absorb the impact as they descend.”

It was a method inspired by how falling onto trees from a high place greatly reduces impact.

“In that case, the paladin reduces the impact once when they touch the ground, then reduces it several more times as they break through the ground and continue falling. The actual damage they take should be minimal.”

At that moment, one of the students in front raised his hand high.

Was his name Noh Yoo-woon?

“Wait! What do you mean there's an underground area?”

“Instructor clearly said the location was ‘Gangnam-daero near Gangnam Station,’ didn't she? At the position shown in the simulation, anyone who thinks for even a moment should know there's empty space underground because of the underground shopping area and subway.”

It was a method that could only be devised by fully understanding the traits and skills of the paladin and spatial mage, as well as the combat environment, so I could confidently say its effectiveness was certain.

I'd simulated it several times in the game too.

Now then...

“I wonder if that answers your question, Instructor Ji Su-hyeon?”

After hearing my answer, she lowered her head deeply.

At the sight, the students began looking at one another.

They were probably thinking something like this.

If they'd done it like that back then, they really could've ended it without anyone getting seriously injured, and Han Eugene was embarrassing the instructor.

But.

“Puh... Puhahahahaha... Khahahahahahaha! Of course that answers it! I never imagined you'd come up with such an insane method.”

The Ji Su-hyeon I knew wasn't someone who would become weak over something like this.

“This class isn't a competition meant to make us regret the past. Rather, it was designed so that by using past incidents as a base, you can share and learn tactics that might help you if similar situations happen again.”

After explaining the purpose of the class, Ji Su-hyeon walked toward me and suddenly placed her hand on top of my head.

“And Han Eugene has shown exactly that in a very satisfying way. Good job.”...

I was being semi-forcibly patted on the head.

But given the atmosphere, it wasn't as though I could slap her hand away.

“Like this, there is no single correct answer when it comes to tactics. Everything changes and gets tangled depending on your comrades' abilities, the surrounding environment, and the enemy's personality or abilities. But──”

Ji Su-hyeon looked at the students and spoke in a more serious voice than ever before.

“If you don't give up, keep thinking until the end, and truly try to protect your comrades, then no matter the situation, you can become heroes who win.”

At the same time, a cheerful song began playing through the classroom speakers, announcing the end of class.

The simulation battlefield vanished with a pop.

Everyone's desks and chairs returned to their original positions.

“Class dismissed. Good work today, everyone. Han Eugene, come collect your bonus points later.”

“...

Thank you.”

After saying everything she wanted to say, Instructor Ji Su-hyeon waved her hand and left the classroom.

The last thing I saw was her still wearing a bright smile.