Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss

Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 22

EP.22 This Time, It’s My Turn

This time, as Jeong-hyeon approached the rippling spot and slashed at it with his sword, an array of indistinct entities poured out, reminiscent of cutting open a bag full of animals.

‘Is it accurate to say they are pouring out?’

Since he couldn’t see it clearly, he wasn’t sure if that was the correct description. However, the rippling, shifting mass continued to pour out, making the term seem appropriate. Watching that, he thrust his sword into the mass.

Thud.

It felt like stabbing into wood. The sensation was similar to when he had cut down the wooden soldiers, and his eyes gleamed with excitement. He didn’t know what this thing was, but the fact that it provided tangible feedback meant it was perfect for levelling up his swordsmanship and sword aura skills.

‘Perfect. I was considering summoning more wooden soldiers by dying, but now I don’t have to.’

So, he decided to use this opportunity to level up his skills as much as possible. While he was stabbing away, he heard a distorted sound from above, followed by a torrent of wooden dolls falling down.

‘Wooden dolls?’

Could it be that stabbing this thing causes these wooden dolls to spill out?

Seeing this, he felt a sense of satisfaction and loosened his shoulders. Honestly, cutting down moving targets was far more engaging than stabbing at static ones.

‘And more importantly, my swordsmanship improves when I’m under attacks.’

Thinking that he hadn’t found a better place than this, he channelled his divine power into his sword aura and swung at the approaching wooden dolls.

***

After summoning about 300 wooden dolls, nothing more seemed to come out, as if there was nothing left to expel.

‘It’s a shame, but my stats and skills have nearly maxed out.’

It was time to leave this place. So he decided to conclude his long training session and check his newly acquired stats and skills.

*-*

Lee Jeong-hyeon [Level: 1]

[Stats]

Strength: 49 Agility: 47 Stamina: 56 Magic: 6 Holy Power: ???

*-*

[Traits]

(Unrealistic Genius)

(Unrealistic Luck)

[Skills]

Intermediate Swordsmanship Lv: 9

Intermediate Sword Aura Lv: 8

Advanced Tough Skin Lv: 3

*-*

All stats, except for magic, had more than doubled. Among them, the most notable was stamina. Enduring countless deaths and injuries seemed to have significantly boosted his stamina to an abnormal level compared to the other stats.

‘This alone is satisfying enough.’

But this wasn’t all he gained from this place. He looked at his skills and couldn’t help but smile.

‘Unfortunately, I didn’t acquire any new skills after getting Tough Skin.’

However, he had significantly leveled up his existing skills. Especially with Tough Skin, he had reached a level where he wouldn’t die from falling into traps. In most battles, he would likely only suffer minor injuries.

‘I might be turning more into a troll than a warrior.’

But what could he do? To make the most of what he had, this was inevitable.

Accepting this, Jeong-hyeon shook off his distracting thoughts and pondered for a moment. Although he had become significantly stronger, he had no way of knowing his exact level of strength.

After a brief contemplation, he reached a simple conclusion. Strength was relative, so if he couldn’t gauge it, he should find someone to compare it to.

‘Was it Regina? Anyway, I’ll go after that bastard.’

Regina’s accomplices had attacked them before, so it was only fair to return the favor. With that decision, Jeong-hyeon ended his long training and stepped outside the door.

***

[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]

[Based on your performance in the Trial Chamber, a new trait has manifested!]

[Bloodstained Berserker]

Since no further explanation was provided, it seemed he had to figure out what the trait entailed on his own. However, the name alone gave him a good idea.

‘Probably a trait that makes me stronger in combat but increasingly lose my sanity.’

Jeong-hyeon sighed, unable to predict what he would become at the end of this journey.

‘Still, the reward is underwhelming.’

Although a rare trait wasn’t necessarily a bad reward, it didn’t seem to elevate him to a significantly higher level. Wait, would his rank really change just because he passed a ridiculously difficult test?

Maybe it will. He was realizing that it might just be a wordplay when suddenly, a danger struck.

‘… Damn.’

After a long time without food or drink, accumulated hunger and thirst overwhelmed his body. It seemed the system inside the trial chamber had prevented extreme hunger and thirst, but out here, the backlash hit him hard.

‘Damn it… seriously.’

Jeong-hyeon thought to himself how everything in this world seemed to be hellish as he gradually started losing consciousness. Just then, someone knocked on the door and called out.

“Jeong-hyeon, are you in there?”

It was Lucia’s voice, one he hadn’t heard in a long time. He mustered all his strength to respond with a dying voice.

“… Help…”

Lucia, horrified, opened the door and looked at him. Seeing his bloodied, unwashed, and naked state, she was taken aback.

“… Oh my goddess.”

Lucia looked as if she might faint but quickly rushed to Jeong-hyeon’s side, speaking urgently.

“Are you okay? No, wait… Healing first!”

He shook his head as he felt the warm energy of healing entering his body. That wasn’t what he needed right now. With great effort, Jeong-hyeon managed to speak.

“… Hungry.”

At his words, Lucia looked at him as if he was insane, then closed her eyes tightly.

***

Jeong-hyeon’s long hair couldn’t be helped, but after washing thoroughly and putting on his uniform, he looked somewhat presentable again. As Lucia handed him some food, she exclaimed.

“What on earth were you doing for a week?”

Apparently, a week had passed in the real world. He was relieved that not too much time had passed and started stuffing food into his mouth. Suddenly, a chilling realization hit him, and he spoke with his mouth full.

“How about the attendance?”

Though his words were muffled and unclear, Lucia surprisingly understood him immediately and answered.

“It’s fine. After the dungeon rampage, many instructors were replaced, so there’s no attendance check, and classes aren’t being held properly.”

It seemed the aftermath was severe. It made sense; with the instructors and even the headmaster replaced, it would be strange if the academy functioned normally.

Nodding, Jeong-hyeon continued to stuff food into his mouth. Lucia placed drinks and soup beside him and started nagging.

“Don’t just swallow; chew your food properly, or you’ll choke.”

He nodded, acknowledging her advice.

“Anyways, you sure know how to answer…”

She said, letting out a long sigh.

Seeing the usual expression on Lucia’s face, he felt relieved and lost in thought.

‘Before entering the Trial Chamber, she was holed up in the dormitory, and I was really worried.’

Whether she’d conquered her struggle or just learned to live with it, he couldn’t be sure. But seeing her act normally reassured him.

‘A depressed look doesn’t suit Lucia.’

Jeong-hyeon hoped she would always remain as cheerful as she was now. While he was thinking that, Lucia looked at him intently and spoke in a somewhat serious tone.

“… Are you okay with what happened back then, Jeong-hyeon?”

She was referring to the time he killed Erie and her group.

‘As a human being, I can’t say it didn’t affect me at all.’

But if she asked whether it affected him significantly, well, given everything he had already been through, it didn’t bother him much. He nodded nonchalantly, and Lucia gave an awkward smile.

“You’re amazing, Jeong-hyeon. I keep thinking about it… Ah, never mind, don’t worry about it. I’m sorry.”

That’s the normal reaction, and his is the abnormal one. He looked at her silently to reassure her. Lucia closed her eyes tightly, clasped her hands as if in prayer, and spoke softly.

“It’s just… I felt like everything was falling apart, so I ended up whining.”

Jeong-hyeon swallowed the food in his mouth and replied.

“Whine all you want. For someone willing to share my burden, that much is the least I can do.”

“… Okay.”

“But by the way, didn’t we agree to drop the formalities last time? Why are you using honorifics?”

“Huh? Did I? When did I say that?”

Didn’t she speak informally when she stabbed Erie in the chest? But mentioning that might bring up bad memories, so he decided to keep quiet.

***

As Jeong-hyeon devoured an enormous amount of food, Lucia looked at him with a mix of amazement and exasperation.

“You’re eating so much… It’s good to see, though.”

Honestly, even he thought he was overeating, but what could he do?

No matter how much he ate, the hunger and thirst wouldn’t go away. So, he continued eating, and Lucia brought up a new topic.

“By the way, Jeong-hyeon, did you hear? Bishop Lea is rumored to be returning to the Order temporarily.”

“The bishop?”

“Yes. I don’t know the exact reason, but according to Miria, she seemed to be in a very good mood.”

Bishop Lea, that damned woman, being in a good mood irritated him. However, not having to worry about her at the academy was a relief.

‘Who knows what she’s plotting this time.’

He decided to crush whatever plans she had and put down his fork.

“Are you done eating?”

Jeong-hyeon patted his protruding belly and spoke to Lucia.

“Can you help me with something?”

“Huh? Are you going for that training again? Absolutely not. I’ve told you repeatedly that such training builds up fatigue, so you should…”

“No, not for me. I need to help some others.”

At the mention of helping others, Lucia blinked in surprise and responded.

“What?”

He chuckled softly at her bewildered expression and explained.

“I’m going after Regina. I need your help.”

At this, Lucia stared at him with her mouth agape.