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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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‘Nice team composition.’
That was Pepi’s first thought upon seeing the team roster.
High DPS, tank, warrior, and healer.
They had a balanced selection of the most preferred roles for party composition, plus the class president who seemed capable in every field.
The lineup even sparked dreams of achieving first place in dungeon clearing.
‘We’ve got a real shot at this.’
This thought only grew stronger after Seok-hyun’s sobering words.
If he hadn’t doused them with cold water, the class would’ve clearly stayed lost in their happy fantasies about the future.
Moreover, without his warning, they might have gotten seriously injured, blinded by Class S pride rather than learning about each other’s capabilities.
‘He’s completely reliable.’
Seok-hyun quickly analyzed everyone’s characteristics and assigned rational positions, then immediately devised tailored strategies when he learned we’d face golems.
He didn’t stop there—he reviewed not just our team but every other team as preparation for contingencies. His approach to friendly competition felt refreshing.
This was ideal competition: helping each other improve rather than hiding information and shunning others for the sake of grades.
“When facing golems, positioning is everything. Second and third most important things? Also positioning.”
His true value showed during strategic planning.
“As you can see from our composition, we have a well-rounded hexagonal formation. The downside is that we can’t substitute for each other’s roles.”
Team 6, known as the leader’s team, had balanced stats across six points, but most members specialized heavily in one area.
Akuaku had everything invested in damage, Tatakum in defense. While Hyun-su could somewhat handle both damage and tanking…
Being first-years meant he was really more of an off-tank.
“We must protect Akuaku no matter what. That’s why, except in absolute emergencies, healing priority goes to Akuaku.”
Pepi nodded at the leader’s instruction.
The implication was clear—save heals even if the tank takes damage.
While this pushed things to a dangerous edge, there was no alternative.
If they used heals recklessly and ran out of mana when Akuaku needed healing…
Without their main source of damage, a team wipe would be inevitable.
That’s why…
“AAARGHH!”
Pepi didn’t use healing when Tatakum took a direct hit from the golem’s fist and went flying.
‘He said Tatakum could handle the first hit. Third hit is when it gets dangerous, so we’re still okay.’
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
About five minutes after Seok-hyun left to scout…
Like a bad joke, two golems erupted from the ground.
The golems blocked both the front and the back, as if knowing who the core damage dealer was, and swung their arms at Akuaku.
That’s when Tatakum reacted, following Seok-hyun’s instructions by protecting Akuaku and taking the golem’s strike instead.
“Tatakum!”
“Don’t waver! He’ll recover soon! Maintain formation!”
Words they’d heard dozens of times.
Pepi recognized them and held the situation together.
-Your comrades might get hurt right in front of you. Of course they will—it wouldn’t make sense to enter a dungeon without taking any damage. Pepi, you need to stay focused.
Because you have to watch the situation from the back.
Seok-hyun’s face appeared in their minds, telling them to observe with cold eyes.
They’d heard it so many times, his voice now played automatically in their head.
‘Hyun-su’s luring one golem, but he won’t last long.’
This was one of the worst-case scenarios Seok-hyun had mentioned—multiple golems.
As planned, Hyun-su was drawing one golem away, trying to get as far from the group as possible.
That left one golem to deal with right now.
“Akuaku! Prepare your strongest spell! Something that can take down a golem in one hit!”
“But then I can’t move!”
“Tatakum will protect you!”
“Tatakum!”
Tatakum, first son of the great Bainar tribal chief famous for his berserker warriors.
Trusting him while having Akuaku prepare their strongest attack to take down the golem in one shot.
That was the best decision they could make right now.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The golem moved to kill without sound or expression.
Its murderous advance like a tank sent chills down their spines, but there was no time for such cheap sentiments.
Whirrr.
Being an inanimate mass powered by a core, it showed no signs before attacking.
You just had to dodge when it raised its hand, and jump when it tried to level the ground.
Screech!
“Tatakum!”
“Hngh!”
Crash!
Sparks flew as Tatakum’s shield met the golem’s arm.
Just before Tatakum went flying, Pepi cast heal and immediately checked on Akuaku.
She held up three fingers to signal how long her spell would take.
Even this detail had been taught by Seok-hyun.
‘Three minutes.’
The golems were only considered slow compared to experienced parties.
For first-years facing golems for the first time, their speed was anything but slow.
To novices, stone masses the size of large elm trees striking with momentum appeared like lightning.
Having to endure such attacks for three minutes…
‘Don’t despair.’
We can do this.
Pepi kept repeating these words while assessing Hyun-su’s situation in the distance.
Tatakum could still hold on, and Hyun-su had already received healing—they had five instant heals left.
After that, forcing more heals would risk mana exhaustion or even fainting in severe cases.
Even as stone fragments flew everywhere and dust clouded their vision, Pepi kept moving.
They held back healing when Tatakum’s arm dangled loosely, and took a hit from a flying rock meant for Akuaku’s thigh.
Pushing themselves to the limit.
Ironically, in this desperate situation, everyone saw an even brighter future.
Despite the unexpected appearance of two golems, they believed they could pull through by following Seok-hyun’s plan.
That faith bore fruit through Akuaku’s hands.
“Ready! Tatakum, get clear!”
“Tatakum!”
“Fire Ball!”
Unlike an ordinary fire ball…
The flames bloomed like a rose as they flew toward the golem’s core.
Even at a safe distance, the heat made their faces burn.
Whoosh.
The rising smoke was so thick it completely obscured the golem.
“Did we get it…?”
Akuaku barely managed to speak, utterly exhausted.
She must have put everything into that spell—she collapsed immediately after casting it, catching her breath.
Tatakum too, having taken the golem’s attack directly to ensure the Fire Ball hit its mark.
Even with healing, the repeated impacts had drained his stamina severely—he needed rest just like Akuaku.
‘We did it.’
The one relief was that the golem stopped moving the moment it was hit by the Fire Ball.
‘Now I just need to run to Hyun-su and heal while everyone recovers.’
Just as they embraced that hope and started moving toward Hyun-su…
Boom!
Pepi witnessed an unbelievable sight.
Boom!
“…That’s impossible.”
As the smoke cleared, they saw the golem still moving, its core cracked but not broken, and…
“No, you did well. Thank you.”
Crash!
Seok-hyun appeared, carrying Hyun-su under his arm, as he shattered the core.
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‘At least they’re following my plan well.’
It was only proper, given how many times I’d repeated it until their ears must have been numb.
Upon reaching the prairie, my first priority was rescuing Hyun-su.
Aspiring to become a knight, Hyun-su had well-balanced agility and stamina stats, and was doing an excellent job luring the golem.
Though he made some mistakes in the process of maintaining aggro by approaching to strike…
Thanks to Pepi’s well-timed heals, Hyun-su managed to keep going.
But crisis strikes eventually.
When he went in to attack and regain aggro, the timing overlapped with the golem’s high jump, nearly crushing him.
Swish.
I shot out spider web to instantly pull Hyun-su toward me.
With the spider title and higher willpower stat, I could now control the web with just a thought.
Then, seeing the Fire Ball cast, I rushed the golem and finished it off when I confirmed through the smoke that the core wasn’t completely broken.
“Akuaku, I know you have one more shot in you. Get ready when you’ve recovered. Tatakum and Hyun-su, rest up while Pepi gives you each one more heal.”
Having given thanks, I immediately reorganized our formation and made the best decision possible.
Only one golem was approaching now.
That meant we had plenty of room to work with.
‘Won’t even need the escape scroll.’
Time to start hunting golems in earnest.
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He really does seem like a good leader