Chapter 282: Chapter 282

“Hyung, is this really right?”

Standing alone at the starting point, Lee Taemin asked in disbelief through his earpiece.

[Gidan: Taemin-ah, this is right!]

Serhi’s curt reply was followed by Gidan’s teasing voice.

When Taemin glanced sideways, he saw Guru popping a snack into her mouth like a hamster, then gulping down a Pororo drink.

[On Guru: Oppaw, whyyy?]

Guru had set up a camping chair and table at the base, munching snacks and sipping drinks while fiddling with her tablet. She blinked up at Taemin with wide, vacant eyes.

...Why does nobody else notice this?

Holding back the frustration rising inside him, Taemin spoke carefully.

“So we’re splitting up to stack team buffs, right?”

[Serhi: Yeah. So move fast. You wanna lose?]

At Serhi’s retort, Taemin let out a heavy sigh and stepped into the forest.

The chick drone, Mephisto Series mk.3, fluttered behind him, flying deeper into the woods.

Glancing at it, Taemin muttered under his breath,

“The German team is moving together, though.”

[Gidan: That’s why we can’t move together! Right, Jurim-hyung?]

[On Jurim: You said you’d handle it yourselves.]

[Serhi: Gidan and I will finish the boss first and come to you. Just keep farming.]

[Gidan: We’ll come help, Taeminie, wait for us~]

Their words carried certainty—they were really going straight for a Phase 1 boss without stacking buffs.

Yeah, those two could do it. They were amazing S-Ranks. But I’m not!

He had thought since practice that their strategy seemed lacking.

'...Turns out there wasn’t one at all!'

That meant this was practically a test of individual skill.

A mud ghoul rose from beneath the ground. Taemin drew his twin blades.

With two swift swings, he cut the ghoul cleanly into three pieces.

[‘Korea’ Accuracy +1]

Buffs kept streaming in as Gidan and Serhi took down monsters.

The pace was technically fast, but—

By the end of Phase 1, even Gidan and Serhi would realize just how far behind Germany they were.

And Taemin knew—without the output of his SSS-Class mana stone earring keeping him afloat as an A-Rank rookie, he wouldn’t even be standing here.

The crushing weight of being such a weakling compared to Gidan and Serhi pressed on his chest.

'If only Jeong Chaerin came in somehow...'

That would make four dealers, but it would still be better than this drone.

The drone couldn’t even receive team buffs. That meant the longer it went on, the more Korea would fall behind.

If he and the drone kept dragging the team down, Guru would inevitably be swapped out for Chaerin.

[‘Germany’ has defeated Phase 1 Boss ‘Priest Riela (Left).’]

Checking his digital watch, which displayed the minimap and enemy movements, Taemin groaned in dismay.

[Gidan: Wow, Germany really came sharpened.]

[Serhi: They’ve got four together.]

[Gidan: So you think we’ll lose?]

Taemin asked incredulously, but at that moment—

[‘Germany’ has defeated Phase 1 Boss ‘Sad Crown (Left).’]

His heart sank, and he clenched his teeth.

Meanwhile, Gidan chuckled.

[Gidan: Don’t worry, Taemin-ah. Dani-hyung has no intention of losing.]

'Do they even realize we’re falling behind?'

As his impatience grew, Taemin’s blades moved faster.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of hooves. His head snapped up.

The chick drone, Mephisto mk.3, flapped into view in front of him.

Right behind it, an arrow of light was aimed at him.

Ether seeped like vapor from the armor of a mounted knight wielding a bow, its presence overwhelming.

It was the final boss of Phase 1.

Normally, you defeated Priest Riela and Sad Crown to collect all the buffs before tackling it. It was the strongest boss of the phase.

This wasn’t even where Aether Knights spawned.

The drone had lured it here!

It must’ve drawn aggro, and the Aether Knight had chased it down.

Ether gathered at the arrow’s tip.

As Taemin grasped the situation, the drone suddenly shot upward—abandoning him.

A dumbfounded sound escaped. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on nοvelfire.net

'It just dropped aggro onto me and left?'

The arrow finished charging.

Taemin crossed his twin blades to defend.

The Aether Knight’s arrow shot toward him.

He shut his eyes tight—

But in that instant, the chick drone’s eyes flashed. Translucent feathers drifted gently onto Taemin’s head.

Countless buffs activated at once.

The ether-imbued arrow struck his blades—then fizzled out like a balloon losing air.

The drone’s buffs had nullified the Aether Knight’s attack.

Mouth agape, Taemin couldn’t help but shout,

“What the f**k is this?!”

[On Jurim: Watch your language.]

[Gidan: Bad words not allowed!]

“Ah! Sorry! Guru, I’m sorry!”

Not understanding why he was apologizing, Guru tilted her head. Jurim explained,

[On Jurim: Taemin used a word you shouldn’t learn. Got it?]

Meanwhile, Taemin swallowed hard.

A powerful energy was surging through his whole body.

[‘Korea’ has defeated Phase 1 Boss ‘Priest Riela (Right).’]

[Serhi: Told you we’re not losing.]

Serhi’s soft laugh echoed in the comms.

Then Gidan, his voice suddenly serious, spoke with stubborn determination.

[‘Korea’ has defeated Phase 1 Boss ‘Sad Crown (Right).’]

Having dispatched two bosses with ease, the pair turned toward him.

On the minimap, the two markers that had been split now began moving toward Taemin in the center.

[Gidan: Taemin-ah, we’ll be there soon. Hold on.]

At their words, Taemin tightened his grip on his blades. His body trembled.

“No. You don’t need to come.”