Living every day in such a tense and rigid space. For Nari, it was something unimaginable.

“Here’s the terminal.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Rood received the war god-specific terminal handed by Kang Ihyun. A few seconds passed as his hand briefly touched it.

Rood’s black mana infiltrated Kang Ihyun’s sleeve like a small snake. Just in case someone noticed, Kang Ihyun quickly pulled down his sleeve to cover the mana.

Trying to act as familiar as possible, Kang Ihyun took the assigned dormitory quickly while holding the provided terminal.

“I’m in the auxiliary building. Is Rood staying in the main building?”

“Yeah. By the way, I asked for a private room, but…”

“There’s no way. Looks like they do each task separately. Well, maybe leaving them scattered is more advantageous…”

Click, Rood clicked his tongue as if his nerves were irritated. Kang Ihyun smiled awkwardly and advised Rood. He shook hands a few times and then turned away.

“Well then, Rood, see you later.”

“…Yeah. See you at dinner.”
Kang Ihyun headed to the auxiliary building, while Rood headed to the main building.

He had wondered, and as expected, it was quite annoying that Kang Ihyun would be separated from the dormitory or working space, even if he came along.

“Anyway, those fox guys…”

Rood, who was muttering the nickname Kang Ihyun mentioned, sighed deeply. Still, he couldn’t just let things go on like this.

If the situation doesn’t allow for communication, then you make it possible. Rood specialized in distorting perceptions as a ‘Sorcerer’ class.

[Sorcerer Exclusive Basic Skill :: ‘Sensory Transfer’ is activated! (Ver. Communication)]

Like watching two TVs at the same time, his field of view was split in half.

The remaining half belonged to Kang Ihyun.

‘Can you hear me?’

‘Yes, I can. Oh, but it’s a bit… confusing because Rood’s field of view is also coming in.’

Kang Ihyun’s consciousness shot into Rood’s mind. When Rood seemed momentarily dizzy, Kang Ihyun touched on his mental diversion, redirecting his thoughts.

‘It was originally modified for communication, so there’s nothing I can do. If you focus on your daily life as much as possible, my vision will naturally blur. Only think about it when it’s urgent.’

‘Yes, I understand. You too, Rood. Be careful.’

Rood closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again. Like the screen blurring next to a focused one, Kang Ihyun’s vision became hazy.

Anyway, he had no intention of going easy.

[Starting Mock Battle #12089.] Thunk! A monster with the head of a cow and the body of a person swung an axe down to the ground.

A silver-haired man quickly rolled his body to the side, evading the attack. The friction sound, kkiik!, echoed on the ground.

In a single spin, he simultaneously pulled out a gun from his cloak along with a cloud. Blue magical power danced in his eyes and around the gun.

[Sniper Exclusive Basic Skill :: ‘Bullet Crafting’ is activated!]

“Kuaaaack!!!”

Bang! As he fired the gun, a small hole appeared in the monster’s palm.

The man’s eyebrows twitched significantly as he watched the monster screaming as if the world was collapsing due to the small bullet hole.

He pulled out another gun from his cloak. Unrefined anger flickered in his eyes.

Gathering magic power in his legs, he lightly leaped forward, aiming both guns.

[Abnormal Condition :: ‘Overconcentration’ is activated!] [Sniper Exclusive Basic Skill :: ‘Bullet Crafting’ is activated!] [Sniper Exclusive Basic Skill :: ‘Bullet Crafting’ is activated!] [Sniper Exclusive Basic Skill :: ‘Bullet Crafting’ is activated!] [Sniper Exclusive Basic Skill :: ‘Bullet Crafting’ ]

Tap, tap, tap! With notifications indicating the abnormal condition, a series of quick-activated basic skills followed by a short dash were rapidly initiated.

Bullets were continuously fired from his guns without a break.

“Kuo-ohhh!!!”
A vivid blue smoke obscured the view. Gunshots continuously echoed, and the monsters, now turned into beehive-like creatures, screamed while shaking their bodies.

Thud! With a massive vibration, a monster fell to the ground. The man, whose magic power was nearly depleted, panted heavily as he sat on the floor. Only then did the abnormal condition cease.

Wiping the sweat on his forehead, the man knelt and struggled to stand. As he was breathing a sigh of relief, suddenly, an alert window popped up in front of him.

[Failed in stage conquest. The boss monster is resurrecting.]

“……!!!”

Wriggle, the monster’s body moved again. The man’s face was filled with a deep sense of defeat. Just as he was taking out the gun from his cloak again to assess the remaining magic power, an announcement occurred.

[Simulated battle automatically terminates due to external interference.]

“Suhoya~ That’s enough, that’s enough.”

With a snap, the illusion disappeared, and the lights came on in the simulated battle room.

His long-time partner, Lee Jiseong, entered the simulated battle room. Seeing the bullet holes all over the wall, Lee Jiseong smirked.

“Couldn’t control it again, huh?”

“…….,”

Silver hair, sharp blue eyes, S-class from the War God. And the partner of Lee Jiseong. Jung Sooho, upon hearing his words, irritably threw off his cloak.

Smack! The cloak hit the floor of the simulation room, and he lifted the sweat-soaked sleeveless shirt to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

Looking quite overheated, he grimaced and straightened himself, while Lee Jiseong, observing him, handed over a bottle of vodka.
“Have a drink and cool down a bit. The 2nd rank brought it today. How did you know you like this?”

“…….,”

With a clink, Lee Jiseong refilled the glass, looking at Jung Sooho who gulped down the drink. Lee Jiseong adjusted his sunglasses again.

“The 1st and 2nd ranks came. You know that, right?”

Jung Sooho, not bothering to look as if he knew, gestured dismissively. Leaning against the wall, Lee Jiseong spoke in a serious tone.

“Suhoya, don’t you want to be on the top? Don’t you want to come down slowly too?”

“…….,”

He put down the bottle and turned his gaze away. Seeing the nearly half-empty bottle, Lee Jiseong smirked, snatched it from his hand, and started pouring into his flask.

“Feeling a bit calmer?”

Nodding, Jung Sooho relaxed his fierce expression. His face seemed to mellow again, as if asking when had he exploded with irritation. Lee Jiseong handed him back the cloak that had been smacked onto the floor.

“It’s unavoidable. You want to come down. What’s the point of lingering here and doing futile things? You’ve done more than twelve thousand simulated battles, and there’s been no effect.”

“…….,”

Watching Jung Sooho with a slightly hesitant expression, Lee Jiseong gestured as if to take the cloak away. When Jung Sooho hesitated for a moment, Lee Jiseong grinned.

“You know you can’t do anything in that state, right? But why cling to futile things… I can’t understand your thoughts.”

“…….,”
Jung Sooho slowly reached out his hand, grabbing the cloak. Blinking, the lights in the simulated battle room automatically turned off after a long period of inactivity.

Lee Jiseong’s eyes glinted coldly.

“I talked to the guild leader and persuaded him. So, accept help as it comes. Whether it’s the 1st or 2nd rank, use them all… Let’s go back to the way it was originally.”

Jung Sooho’s blue eyes gleamed. After a moment of contemplation, he eventually flipped the cloak back on and left the simulated battle room.