It’s an Academic Fact That Rankers Are Model Students – Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Fight Only the Battles You Can Win (3)

Ceram’s shocking announcement caused all the wolves who did not participate in the mock battle to cry out in alarm.

” A strong one of us already got done in, growl? “

” That can’t be, Awooo! “

” Those skinny b@stards were all the weakest ones in our pack, growl! “

” Growl…… Is that true? “

” It’s true. And soon…… Another one of them will fall to Kyung-joon-nim’s wolves. “

” Growl?! “

It was an obvious fact.

And the progress will probably get faster and faster.

The moment it became 5 vs. 4 from 5 vs. 5 just now, the tide had already turned in favor of Kyung-joon’s wolves.

” It’s simple after this. “

Just like he did at the beginning, he just had to repeat running away and scattering, and create opportunities to win for sure.

The only thing to be careful of is not to let his guard down and not to rush.

Things that you scoffed at because you’ve seen them once but get wrong in real life happen all the time, everywhere.

” Awooo~! Awooo~! “

With that thought and mana in his heart, Kyung-joon started howling again, “Awooo~!”

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

[Your Rare Skill 『Voice Modulation』 has increased to level 2.]

[Your Rare Skill 『Transform Magic』 has increased to level 5.]

[Unique skill…….]

．

．

．

The mock battle ended, as expected, in a clean victory for Kyung-joon’s wolves.

The strategy of picking off opponents one by one, rather than fighting 5 on 5, is a well-known tactic.

It’s a universally acknowledged rule of victory in League of Legends to pick off opponents before engaging in a team fight.

In any case, Kyung-joon’s wolves managed to defeat all of the opponent’s strong wolves without a single loss.

“Grrr…… I admit it. Wisdom is indeed a powerful weapon, Grrr.”

“So powerful, Grrr!”

The Whale Forest wolf Deputy Leader and his pack couldn’t help but acknowledge the power of wisdom that Kyung-joon spoke of.

After all, they had just witnessed a weaker team defeat a stronger one right before their very eyes.

Kyung-joon, greatly satisfied with having steered the situation in his favor, spoke of what to do next.

“I’m glad you all agree. From now on, the leader of the pack will not be the wolf who is the best fighter, but the wolf who is the smartest. Understood?”

“Understood, Grrr! But how do we determine that, Grrr?”

“Well, just like we choose the strongest, we need a contest to determine the smartest. Don’t worry, I’ve already thought of something.”

“As expected, Grrr! It seems we made the right decision to consult you about our pack’s problems, Awooo!”

“Awooo!”

[Your relationship with the Whale Forest wolves has greatly improved.]

[From now on, the Whale Forest wolves who know you will treat you favorably.]

The Whale Forest wolves thanked Kyung-joon by stretching their necks out towards him.

As Kyung-joon watched with a mixture of embarrassment and pride, a quest window popped up before his eyes.

[Unique Quest 『Become the King of the Whale Forest Wolves』 has begun.]

▶The Whale Forest wolves have acknowledged your methods. Now, select the true King of the Whale Forest Wolves through the method everyone has agreed upon. (0/1)

‘Once I finish this, the wolf quest will be complete.’

Then, he would be able to build a good relationship with the wolves, just like he had with the other Whale Forest monsters.

From non-aggressive monsters like forest horned rabbits, spotted deer, and Triple Horn Wild Boars to aggressive monsters like wolves.

If he could win them all over to his side, the tail end of the Whale Forest would essentially be in Kyung-joon’s hands.

‘Making friends and allies. Receiving gifts as a token of friendship. Even learning their language for Dimensional Study Room. It’s killing three birds with one stone.’

Kyung-joon, feeling even more proud, wanted to finish the quest quickly.

As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot.

“Then, let’s start the contest to choose the smartest wolf, the leader……”

Just as Kyung-joon was about to continue,

Rustle, Thud!

A new Whale Forest wolf emerged from the bushes and collapsed.

He struggled to speak, his body covered in wounds.

“Grrr……the Black Leopard…… invaded our territory…… Grrr…… Mutant…”

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

“Growl?! That wound is……! “

The Whale Forest wolf Deputy Leader was startled to see his comrade return covered in wounds.

“Where is the other one? Why are you alone, growl!”

The collapsed wolf was a scout wolf who had been patrolling the perimeter of the territory in shifts.

He had clearly sent out two wolves to scout, but only one returned.

And the fact that it came back on the verge of death meant something big must have happened.

“Grrr! What happened!”

At the urgent cry of the Whale Forest wolf Deputy Leader, the wounded scout wolf began to open his mouth…….

“Run away…… Growl…… That thing is now…… We can’t handle it…….”

In the end, he couldn’t finish his sentence and was just breathing heavily.

“That thing…… Strange…….”

Drip. Drip.

He tries to speak again, forcing himself to speak, but the wounds all over his body widen even more.

He had something he had to tell the pack, no matter what happened to him.

Kyung-joon, who realized this, immediately took action.

“Eat this.”

“Growl……?”

A human suddenly handing bread to a werewolf.

Come to think of it, not only humans but also the strange merchant, Ceram, are in the pack.

The scout wolf wondered what was going on, but he felt a strange energy coming from the bread.

And the sight of Kyung-joon next to him, wondering, 『Are you too weak to eat? Should I force-feed you?』, made the wary scout wolf swallow the bread immediately.

Munch munch, gulp!

[The injuries are too severe.]

[The effect is greatly reduced.]

Due to the severe injuries, the effect of the unique bread was not fully applied.

[The effect ends with the bleeding stopping and barely saving his life.]

Still, it was successful in saving his life.

“Growl……!”

The scout wolf was greatly surprised at his much better condition than before, and at the same time, he began to speak again what he had not been able to convey earlier.

“A much stronger the Black Leopard is wreaking havoc in this area right now, growl! In the end, we lost another comrade, howl……!”

“Growl?! A comrade……!”

Originally, it was not uncommon for the Black Leopard and the Whale Forest wolves to compete for territory.

But it was just a competition, not a life-or-death struggle.

The Whale Forest wolves, each not particularly strong, but hunting in packs.

And the Black Leopard, a solitary creature that can handle mana to some extent.

Through their long-standing territorial competition, they knew each other’s capabilities well and when to engage and disengage.

But this the Black Leopard was different.

“It was even stronger than when the boss was defeated in the last fight, growl! A dark energy was overflowing from its entire body and none of the attacks worked, growl! It dodged or blocked all the attacks before they could land, growl……!”

“Huh?”

Kyung-joon felt a strange sense of déjà vu as he listened to the scout wolf’s words.

Black Leopard, the one he saw when he first climbed Sky Cliff with Ceram.

It didn’t look that strong then.

Its fur and fangs were dark brown, but it wasn’t overflowing with dark energy.

But somehow a familiar feeling. A familiar situation.

Soon Kyung-joon was able to realize why he felt that way.

‘It dodged or blocked all the attacks before they could land…… Overflowing black energy…… It wasn’t strong originally, but it suddenly became incredibly strong…… This is exactly like the Mutated Minto Morco I saw at Fairy-Elven Magic Academy?’

And that wasn’t the only time.

The various mutated monsters they faced during the defense of Luxemb were all covered in an unidentified black energy and were much stronger than they were before.

“Then this time too, as expected…….”

The moment Kyung-joon’s thought reached that point.

The incident had already happened.

“Every, everyone! Something is coming this way at an incredible speed! Could it be! The Black Leopard?! No! A creature that fast can’t be it!!”

Ceram shouted incoherently.

At the same time, Teemo also delivered similar news.

<Warning!!>

<Master. An immense amount of mana is concentrating in real-time in the direction I am looking. At this rate, 30 seconds, no, 25 seconds, 20 seconds…… It keeps shortening. We need to get out of here right now.>

No, I can’t.

There’s an injured wolf here.

‘It’s nothing to escape alone, but I can’t just leave these guys I’ve gotten close to……!’

“It’s too late to run away!”

Kyung-joon concentrated his mana on his throat.

[Rare skill 『Voice Modulation (Lv.2)』 ]

[Rare skill 『Transform Magic (Lv.5)』 ]

[Amplifies the voice greatly.]

Kyung-joon amplified his voice with mana to give clear instructions in an urgent situation.

However, it wasn’t just the volume of his voice that was amplified.

[Unconsciously applied the characteristics of fairy language, which imbues words with will through mana.]

[The strong will contained in the voice is also amplified.]

The habits he had learned while learning the languages of various monsters and receiving direct instruction in fairy language from Ceram were naturally embedded in his voice.

[Unique skill 『Will Conveyance』 has been self-realized.]

“Wolves! Gather behind me right now! Ceram! Build a shield in front of you with earth magic, using rocks or anything! Use all your mana!”

Kyung-joon’s will-filled shout made his bones and muscles throb.

“Y, Yes……!”

“Growl……!”

It made everyone here move immediately without a word.

Tatata!

The wolves gathered tightly behind Kyung-joon, leaving no gaps.

Wooong!

Ceram put his hands on the ground and began to pour out all his mana.

Kugugung!

The ground rippled as if it were water, and a huge wall of rock, gravel, and soil rose up right in front of them.

At the same time, Kyung-joon also gathered his mana and handed it over.

To the earth spirit, Mod.

[Rare skill 『Summon Earth Spirit (Lv.6)』 ]

[Summons the lower earth spirit Gnome ( Mod) in front of you.]

” Mod! Ground reinforcement! In front! Now!”

━H, Huue?!

[ Mod is startled by the sudden situation but immediately uses the ground reinforcement skill.]

[The wall is reinforced.]

“Keep going! Don’t stop!”

━Huue!

[The wall is reinforced.]

[The wall is reinforced.]

[The wall is reinforced.]

The earth spirit wasn’t the only one he summoned.

[Rare skill 『Summon Water Spirit (Lv.5)』 ]

[Summons the lower water spirit Undine ( Bangwool) in front of you.]

“Water Shield on everyone here!”

━Mumul~!

[ Bangwool casts Water Shield on everyone.]

The very moment the translucent water barrier enveloped Kyung-joon, Ceram, and the wolves behind them……!

[Unique skill 『Black Lightning Bolt』 ]

[The awakened Black Leopard’s powerful black lightning bolt, charged dozens and hundreds of times.]

Crackle!

The jet-black lightning bolt struck the front.

Kkwakwakwang!

The reinforced earthen wall instantly shattered, and black-stained dirt and dust erupted like a smoke grenade.

Fwooosh.

The fierce wind pressure quickly pushed the dust and dirt behind them, and…….

“Ugh…….”

Ceram opened his eyes with difficulty, lying on the ground, and looked ahead.

Only a clear, gray path was visible.

Just as the principle that fire does not burn without fuel,

There was not a single spark on the path where the black lightning bolt had passed.

As if volcanic ash were falling from the sky, the gently settling ash on the ground brought to mind a gray Christmas.

“…… Kyung-joon-nim. Are you alright?”

Ceram looked around, his eyes searching through the gray snowfall.

“K, Kyung-joon-nim…… ?”

But Kyung-joon was nowhere to be found.

Instead.

“This is…….”

In the spot where Kyung-joon had been standing, only a pile of items and a note remained.

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