TSOT#1 Chapter 17

Seo Joo-ah didn’t have time to check the message from the Special Awakener Association as she was busy dealing with the monsters.

 

However, Shin Jae-rim, with his extensive knowledge of monsters, didn’t need to see the message to identify the type of monster invading the banquet hall. He already knew where they originated from.

 

Facing Yoo Chan-hee and Choi Yeon-joo with a calm demeanor, Jae-rim spoke quietly.

 

“They probably called the elite unit.”

 

Joo-ah, who had been silently observing him, took out her phone and quickly checked the emergency alert message.

 

[Emergency Alert Message]

Date: XX Month XX Day, 10:58 AM

Gate Opened on the 726th floor of the sixth tower. Nearby residents are advised to evacuate immediately. If you encounter monsters, please wait in a safe place until Hunters arrive.

 

So far, all monsters emerging outside the tower were classified as A-rank. There was no sign of anything stronger.

 

This suggested that the boss might not be an excessively high-ranking monster either.

 

“Then I guess we wait until the elite unit kills the boss,” Jae-rim said.

 

Yeon-joo stomped on a monster that had leapt out from the back, impaling its head with an ice spear. Watching the creature collapse lifelessly to the floor, she sighed.

 

“How long are we supposed to keep killing these things?”

 

Breaking her silence, Joo-ah responded in an even tone.

 

“I don’t think we need to kill them all.”

 

Yeon-joo, Jae-rim, and Chan-hee all turned to look at her.

 

Joo-ah put on her most innocent expression and pointed toward the banquet hall doors.

 

“Can’t we just run away?”

 

It was a foolish question.

 

Chan-hee made a face as if he hadn’t expected anything else, turning his head away, while Yeon-joo chuckled softly.

 

“If we run, who’s going to handle all these monsters? Running is something civilians should do, not Hunters.”

 

“But during training, they taught us to protect ourselves first if we encounter monsters we can’t handle,” Joo-ah said, tilting her head as if she didn’t understand.

 

Chan-hee, exasperated, finally spoke.

 

“That’s advice for weak Hunters like you.”

 

Joo-ah fixed her bright eyes on him.

 

“Then the strongest Hunter in our training center, Yoo Chan-hee, can stay here alone while the rest of us escape.”

 

“What?”

 

Chan-hee looked at her, stunned, but Joo-ah just shrugged innocently. Ignoring Chan-hee’s incredulous expression, Joo-ah turned to Yeon-joo.

 

“Thanks to you, I was able to dodge the monsters’ attacks. Your ice barrier magic is amazing.”

 

Yeon-joo nodded awkwardly at the unexpected compliment.

 

Meanwhile, Jae-rim scanned the monsters in the banquet hall and muttered under his breath.

 

“We don’t necessarily have to deal with each monster individually…”

 

His words caught the attention of Chan-hee and Yeon-joo. Jae-rim met their questioning gazes and elaborated.

 

“What if we trap the monsters inside a barrier similar to Yeon-joo’s ice wall?”

 

Chan-hee frowned.

 

“Easier said than done. Do you think the monsters will just sit there and let themselves be trapped? They’re bursting out of the ground left and right.”

 

Jae-rim fell silent, deep in thought. Watching him quietly, Joo-ah asked,

 

“Why are the monsters only gathering here? It’s so quiet outside.”

 

Her expression turned serious as she placed a hand under her chin.

 

“It’s like they’re only targeting Hunters.”

 

What differentiated the Hunters, the monsters’ targets, from ordinary people?

 

Jae-rim was the first to figure it out.

 

“It’s mana.”

 

His gaze sharpened as he addressed the team.

 

“The monsters are drawn to mana. If that’s the case, we might be able to use mana to lure them into one place.”

 

Hunters were essentially walking reservoirs of mana, distinguishing them from ordinary people. Mana was what allowed them to wield their powers.

 

“This reckless fighting will only get weaker Hunters killed. We need a way to deal with the monsters without putting everyone at risk.”

 

“To do that, we just need to create a space that will draw all the monsters in, right?” Yeon-joo asked.

 

Jae-rim nodded. Yeon-joo raised her hand and conjured a massive ice barrier. Next to her, Chan-hee sighed but used his control ability to assist her.

 

“I’ll head to the podium and make an announcement,” Jae-rim said, pausing to look at Joo-ah.

 

“Seo Joo-ah, stay here where it’s safe.”

 

He ran toward the podium, dealing with monsters as they attacked.

 

Joo-ah’s expression soured. She was still confined within the original ice barrier Yeon-joo had created. How long was she supposed to stand idly by, doing nothing?

 

She had thought about casting reinforcement magic on Yeon-joo, but Chan-hee’s powers had already made her magic redundant.

 

By the time Jae-rim reached the podium, he grabbed the microphone and announced:

 

“We’re going to lure the monsters into the ice barrier. Everyone inside, please step out immediately.”

 

At his command, the Hunters carried their injured teammates out of the barrier.

 

“Hunters with abilities similar to Yeon-joo’s, please reinforce the barrier. Everyone else, pour as much mana as you can into the enclosed space.”

 

The Hunters moved in orderly fashion, following Jae-rim’s instructions.

 

Various spells fused into the ice barrier, creating a sturdy wall in the center of the banquet hall.

 

As the Hunters channeled their mana into the barrier, the number of monsters appearing outside it began to dwindle.

 

When over half their mana was depleted, all the monsters were contained within the barrier, unable to escape.

 

“Finally, some rest,” Chan-hee muttered, slumping into a nearby chair.

 

The Hunters who weren’t maintaining the barrier also took a moment to recover.

 

“It’s been a productive day,” Yeon-joo said, stashing several magic stones into her inventory.

 

Watching her, Chan-hee clicked his tongue.

 

“You’re still obsessed with magic stones? They’re not even S-rank.”

 

“Not all stones have to be S-rank. Most people would be grateful for A-rank stones.”

 

Joo-ah turned her attention to the barrier. The monsters continued to rise and fall inside, unable to escape.

 

“How much longer will this last?” she wondered, glancing at her wristwatch.

 

The screen no longer displayed “In Call” but now showed the current time and the words [In Combat] at the top right.

 

The moment this indicator disappeared, it would mean the tower monsters had been eradicated.

 

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air.

 

Joo-ah turned to see a conical monster hand split open and wrap itself around a woman.

 

She recognized the face—it was Boram, the woman who had picked a fight with her earlier.

 

“What the—how did a monster escape the barrier?” Yeon-joo shouted, conjuring ice as she jumped off the table.

 

The Hunters were stunned, glancing between the escaped monster and Boram.

 

Still seated, Chan-hee clicked his tongue.

 

“There’s always one person who doesn’t follow the rules.”

 

Joo-ah bit back a curse, pulling up Boram’s system window.

 

[Mana: 301 / 432]

 

The monsters targeted mana. That was why the Hunters poured their mana into the barrier—to lure the monsters away.

 

But Boram hadn’t participated, likely thinking her mana wouldn’t make a difference.

 

[The Anonymous Constellation advises you to leave fools like her to their fate as punishment.]

 

Joo-ah smirked.

 

“She might die before she learns her lesson.”