Instant Kill, Time-Stop Spellcaster

Mar visiting Ahn Seong-min in the hospital.

Mar grinned while cupping her face with both hands.

“You know, you look good. Right?”

“Shut up!”

“Heh heh.”

Ahn Seong-min snapped angrily.

But when he saw Mar laughing, his anger melted away.

He forcefully turned his flushed face away.

“By the way, what kind of injury requires a week-long hospitalization? If you get focused healing, even a serious injury can heal in two days.”

Internal injuries are not easy to treat.

However, the concept of internal injuries was unfamiliar to modern awakened ones.

“Why are you asking me?”

Is she teasing?

“Hey, what do you think of my Assistant? Isn’t he amazing?”

“What do you mean? Do you think that kind of shortcut would work in real combat?”

“Hmm, if it were real combat, do you think you wouldn’t break?”

“Of course not!”

My stats are C+, his are E-.

“His actions are exactly like a parachute. Relying on shortcuts.”

“Really? You still think it’s a parachute? He proved it yesterday. Do you think Chae Young couldn’t handle it?”

“She couldn’t handle it, and that’s why that result happened!”

“Heh~. You’re totally set in your opinion, huh?”

A vein popped up on Ahn Seong-min’s forehead.

Crunch.

But insisting on it would be ugly.

“…Fine, I’ll admit his theoretical skills.”

But the unchanging truth.

An awakened one’s value is proven by their stats.

“The important thing isn’t theory or techniques.”

“Then what about Perfect Clearer?”

“What?”

“The reason why Perfect Clearer is amazing is that he’s strong even with low stats, right? Is Perfect Clearing just a technique?”

“…What? What are you even talking about?”

He was at a loss for words.

He was trying to find something to latch onto.

“Perfect Clearing Awakend is different. He’s a completely different kind of person. One of humanity’s best talents.”

“Come on, you know your words don’t make sense, right?”

“Hey, what are you trying to say?”

Ahn Seong-min was on the verge of snapping.

“Nothing~”

But the sweet tone, like a bird’s chirping, made his anger disappear completely.

Ahn Seong-min was being toyed with by Mar.

“By the way.”

“…What now?”

“You’re not trying to spread any bad rumors, are you?”

Ahn Seong-min was speechless.

“You know, spreading rumors like that after losing is really ugly.”

“I haven’t done anything yet!”

“You won’t, right?”

“I won’t, I won’t!”

“Heh heh.”

With that, there was no longer any need for the Mentee to worry.

Unlike a naive colleague like Ahn Seong-min, Mar had a much deeper thought process.

###

Mar finished her visit and headed toward Kang Hyun.

When he opened the door, an unusual sight appeared.

“Three more!”

“Graahhh!”

Aden was doing push-ups with Kang Hyun on top of her.

Aden’s arms shook like a newborn deer.

“More, more, more. You saw how that guy looked yesterday. Do you want to end up like him?”

The words fueled Aden.

“Nooooo!”

But the force came from something other than her intent.

It was pure anger.

“Those bastards!”

The image of being surrounded and intimidated by those cowards was still fresh in her mind.

Of course, her master handled it well.

“Next time, I won’t let it slide.”

Now she was an A-rank rookie.

Everyone was dazzled by her potential.

But still, she had no actual achievements or influence.

Once she proved herself, her impact would increase.

Just like how Mar had rushed to protect her master yesterday.

“I remember every face.”

Not a single one would be left out.

She would never forget them.

Kang Hyun didn’t know this yet.

Aden had a long memory.

“Haaahhh!”

“Yes, that’s it! You’re doing great! See, I told you you can do it!”

Mar watched from the side.

“…What are you doing?”

“Oh, you’re here.”

Kang Hyun, sitting cross-legged, moved up and down with Aden following his lead.

In the midst of it, he unwrapped a throat lozenge and chewed it.

Crunch.

“Why are you chewing a throat lozenge?”

“Candy is meant to be chewed.”

There are people like that, right?

‘But why a throat lozenge?’

It was a peculiar preference for her Mentee.

“So why did you come?”

“…I’m the Mister’s Master. Obviously, I came to teach my Mentee”

“Oh, right.”

Right?

‘Where does that calm confidence come from, being a newbie?’

All new recruits are typically nervous.

But Mar, her Mentee, was truly fascinating.

“By the way, how about we go to a café and talk?”

“Sure. One more! One more!”

“Haaahhh!”

They went down to the café on the first floor.

Aden slurped down a chocolate shake.

“Ahhh! The luxury of a 7,100-won drink after exercise! I feel alive!”

“Eat a lot. If it’s not enough, I’ll order more for you.”

“Thank you!”

She was such an easily touched junior.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“How did you do it?”

It was about yesterday.

The incident where she easily took down Ahn Seong-min.

“I did well.”

“Hmm… are you not going to tell me?”

“I don’t have anything to tell you. Even without being a magician, you already figured it out, didn’t you?”

Typically, even non-magic specialists are somewhat familiar with magic.

She had seen it in action with her teammates.

, .

The basic first-circle spells that all awakened ones know.

It was exactly what she saw.

He broke the magic circle with his own mana.

It was just a slightly violent method.

“Hmm. I get it, but how did you know that was even possible?”

“Tsk.”

How did he know?

The concept itself was simple.

If you research, anyone can think of it. It’s a simple, practical trick.

However, no one paid attention to it in modern times.

With skill levels and stats improving, magic got stronger by default.

Real combat was only about standing in a safe position in a dungeon and casting spells.

‘If it were a hundred years ago.’

Even a street-level mercenary mage wouldn’t have fallen for such a simple trick.

“With research and experience, it all comes naturally.”

“By the way, you know that sounds like an old man.”

“Our master is an old man.”

“This is all for your benefit.”

Mar tilted his head like a little bird.

‘Is he older than he looks?’

His mindset and abilities were completely different from those of awakened ones his age.

“Ah, right! By the way, starting from now, I’ll also be responsible for Aden.”

“Oh! Is that so?”

“Since Seong-min is bedridden. Guess who’s responsible?”

Then, Mar stared at Kang Hyun.

Kang Hyun, indifferent, didn’t care either way.

‘Definitely, the Harpy’s eyes are nice.’

He didn’t react, just staring blankly.

Mar flinched and turned her head away.

“But you look like you’re actually okay with it?”

“Actually, I didn’t get along with that person.”

He was the one who had pressured Kang Hyun.

He was now on Aden’s revenge list.

“Aren’t you curious about what happened to the senior who got knocked out by our Mentee?”

“If he rest for about a week, he’ll get better.”

“Huh?”

That’s exactly the opinion of the doctor.

‘Is it just a coincidence? Or did you adjust your strength?’

He was an amazing Mentee to watch.

“See? I told you, Chaeyoung’s eyes are never wrong.”

I heard he was really good with theory.

But I didn’t expect it to be to this extent.

“I’ll have to see if those grappling techniques will be useful in real combat!”

“You always throw in random comments.”

Yesterday’s incident quickly spread as gossip.

The assessment was as follows:

Ahn Seong min was an idiot.

The ‘parachute’ had some impressive skills.

And he was extremely knowledgeable about theory.

“But at least the ‘parachute’ nickname is gone!”

An E-rank defeated a C+ rank using only theory?

It was a truly shocking result.

The gossip spread in a single day.

Of course, stats were important.

But because they mattered, it was even more surprising.

“He’s terrible in combat, but his theoretical skills are incredible. That’s the current evaluation of Kang Hyun.”

“What’s with the extra words?”

“Are you confident?”

“Of course.”

“What if I had been there yesterday?”

I was at a loss for words.

If it were a straightforward fight, I’d definitely win.

But what if Mar had been there yesterday?

‘Because of the people watching, I couldn’t use my abilities freely.’

The thin C-rank.’

With a rapier strapped to her waist, she looked like a swift swordsman.

If she had been a mage, it would’ve been a blessing.

But what if she had been a warrior?

‘Could I, with my current specs, beat a C-rank in a pure close combat fight?’

I couldn’t say for sure.

I’d have to try to find out.

“I Could use some stat boosts.”

“Heh heh.”

I wonder if an average F-rank body could stand living like this.

I have to go dungeon crawling today.

I hope I get some healing potions.

“By the way, don’t you hate coffee? You didn’t even touch it. Should I have ordered something else?”

“Caffeine isn’t good for my throat.”

“Throat? Are you sick? Is that why you’re wearing a mask? You look good in black!”

“Ask one question at a time.”

At that moment, the lobby on the first floor became noisy.

“Clear the way! We have an emergency patient!”

“Nurses, go ahead and prepare for surgery!”

Seven patients are rushed in.

The stretcher is covered in blood.

“With that many patients…”

“…I guess there was something wrong in the dungeon.”

I had seen the same scene in the emergency room yesterday.

Before that, I had experienced something similar myself.

Now, it felt eerie.

“Something’s wrong.”

“Yeah…”

It’s hard to stay still when you see something like that.

“Can I take a look at the gate list owned by the guild?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Just wanna take a look around.”

Now we’re part of the same family.

I need to make sure there’s less bloodshed in this guild.

‘I should sweep through the dungeon anomalies first.’

I’ll go around, then give the results to Chae young.

Then the guild can investigate or take precautions on their own.

‘I’ll grab a perfect Clear and gather some spoils while I’m at it.’

I immediately left for the task.

###

The phone call between Chae young and Chief Choi:

“It’s come to this….”

The large-scale dungeon anomaly situation was now officially recognized.

“Did you see the materials I sent you?”

“This is not a simple matter.”

The mortality rate for awakened individuals is rising.

This is, first and foremost, a loss to the national power.

But it doesn’t end there.

“There will be a significant impact on the economy.”

Magic stones are the backbone of the economy.

And dungeon exploration is intricately tied to it.

“First, the production of magic stones will decrease.”

But that’s not all.

Economic chaos is just the beginning of the disaster.

“Fear of dungeons, in itself, could lead to a structural collapse of the country.”

<…I’m not an expert on that, so I’ll need an explanation.>

Her tone showed that she understood this was serious.

“If gates are left unchecked, over time they will flood.”

“If fear of raids lowers dungeon exploration rates, dungeons will begin to pile up immediately.”

This, over time, will become a burden to the nation.

“If it’s not resolved soon, and the situation drags on?”

If accumulated dungeons spiral out of control?

Chain collapse.

There have already been several countries that have collapsed like this.

“And above all, there’s the immediate issue. Dungeon anomalies will cause more raid failures.”

Failed raids collapse and flood, causing civilian damage.

Failing a raid itself is a catastrophe.

Even in normal times, collapses happen.

Nationwide, maybe once or twice a month.

This is a low probability, almost like a traffic accident.

But that alone makes modern civilians live in fear.

This is why awakened individuals are so revered.

“Frequent collapses will also decrease motivation for raids, creating a vicious cycle.”

Chief Choi finally realized the severity of the situation.

“At times like this, encouraging and supporting raids is crucial.”

Of course, we need to identify the cause and remove it.

“……Of course.”

Chaeyoung pretended to smile, feeling embarrassed.

She couldn’t tell the truth.

It was too embarrassing.

‘I want to support him too!’

But the atmosphere is too harsh.

Too many people are watching.

Without some real merit, it’s hard to get support.

‘He said he was lacking mana…’

He’s a perfect-Clearer though.

I really want to feed him and help him grow.

‘If I could at least help him build up some achievements, I wouldn’t have to be so hesitant.’

I can’t send him to high-level dungeons with his low rank.

It’s such a shame.

“Ah, Kang Hyun is calling now.”

She ended the call.

And immediately connected with Kang Hyun.

“You must’ve heard about it from Chief Choi.”

“Isn’t that what You were talking about?”

It seemed like the conversation had gone off track.

A list of anomaly dungeons?

What’s that about?

He only said what he needed to and quickly hung up.

‘What list? Did he gather some cases or news reports? Why suddenly bring it up?’

I checked the email right away.

But as Chaeyoung looked at the materials, her eyes grew wide.

‘W-What is this?’

It was a real “list of anomaly dungeons.”

Filtered out from the guilds owned by Seonghwa near Seoul.

‘He identified dungeon anomalies? Is that even possible?’

I wouldn’t have believed it if it were anyone else.

But it’s Kang Hyun!

‘I-If this is true…!’

At least, it could reduce the guild’s losses.

No, even better.

If the method of identification becomes widely used, it might be the key to solving the situation.

Her heart raced as she immediately called him back.

But all she got was static.

The sound that comes when someone enters a dungeon.

Beep— Beep—

“Ugh, really!”

Of all times!

Why now, when I’m on the edge of my seat?!