Memorize

The swaying tail, which had been biding its time, suddenly snapped forward, straightening and stretching out in a sharp thrust. Watching it shoot upward in a perfect line from below to above, it was clear its target was Yun-Jung's upper body—specifically, her neck, aiming for an instant kill. I instinctively moved to intervene, but what happened next left me utterly stunned.

"Huh!"

With an oddly suggestive grunt, Yun-Jung lowered her body and pushed off the ground, sliding forward so low that she was practically touching it. The tail, aimed to pierce her neck, sliced through empty air in vain. At the same moment, Yun-Jung planted one hand on the ground and pivoted sharply, her trajectory curving into a crescent moon-like arc. In one swift movement, she had maneuvered behind Renga.

Caught off guard, Renga's tail dropped limply for a moment, his face dumbfounded. But then, as he realized what had happened, his expression shifted to shock, and he whirled around. However, by that point, it was already too late—Yun-Jung's dagger had ruthlessly slashed through his neck. As Renga reflexively clutched his neck, his body collapsed to the ground. Confirming his fall, Yun-Jung immediately turned and sprinted toward me.

For a moment, I could only stare at Yun-Jung with a dazed expression as she approached me, her face lit with a radiant, cheerful smile. Even An-Hyun, who had been rushing forward alongside me, stopped in his tracks and let out a loud exclamation, clearly astonished by what had just happened.

Until now, Yun-Jung had never fully utilized her strengths. Of course, I had always acknowledged the potential of her agility and magical abilities. However, her combat style had been drastically different from An-Hyun's. An-Hyun relied on his strength, resistance, and vitality, sticking to the basics and executing standard techniques that were consistently above average.

On the other hand, Yun-Jung, with her agility and magical prowess, needed an unorthodox, adaptive combat style—a kind of "sense play" that capitalized on her unique strengths. Holding two short daggers, she wasn't suited for straightforward battles; her weapons lacked the reach and power for that. In chaotic skirmishes, perhaps, but in conventional combat, her tools seemed underwhelming.

For this reason, I had always ranked An-Hyun higher than Yun-Jung in terms of pure combat ability. However, it seems I may need to revise that assessment. Clean, simple, and yet highly efficient movements—what Yun-Jung had just demonstrated left a lasting impression on me. If she could consistently replicate the kind of maneuver she just displayed in every battle…

"Siiiii!"

The furious cries of the Rengas echoed in my ears. As I watched Yun-Jung re enter formation and steady herself, I gave a slight nod. Noticing my expression, her flushed face lit up even more, a constant smile tugging at her lips. The atmosphere in this battle felt promising—something I hadn't experienced since entering the Forest Of Midnight. For the first time, I felt a sense of satisfaction.

And then, it happened.

Paang!

Several Rengas nearby let out guttural roars and leaped into the air simultaneously. This wasn't an ordinary jump—they vaulted over three meters high. The sight left all of us momentarily stunned.

Even though all three of us—An-Hyun, Yun-Jung, and I—had taken down a Renga, it was Yun-Jung who had undoubtedly made the most impressive contribution. Predictably, the Rengas, enraged by the slaughter of their kin, now focused all their fury on her.

This was my first time seeing them jump this high, but I quickly grasped their intention: to perform a devastating aerial attack. The force from such a dive could be catastrophic, and there was no way Yun-Jung's physical abilities alone could block or evade it unscathed.

However, our group wasn't about to sit idly by. Just then, Sol stepped forward, gripping her staff tightly. Perhaps unwilling to be outshone by her older siblings, she began chanting a spell at high speed, her voice sharp and unwavering. As the airborne Rengas descended toward Yun-Jung, Sol extended her staff, her eyes flashing with resolve.

"Shackles!"

With Sol's clear incantation, the descending Rengas suddenly froze mid-air, their bodies stiffening unnaturally before plummeting helplessly to the ground. The impact was anything but graceful, leaving them sprawled out in heaps. The rest of us quickly finished off the immobilized enemies, each of us silently impressed.

All eyes turned to Sol, her triumphant stance earning her admiring looks. For the first time, she had successfully used a spell targeting multiple enemies instead of just one. Though multi-target spells often lacked the raw power of single-target ones, her magic had been more than sufficient to bind the airborne Rengas and neutralize their threat.

Sol, who had been glaring at the Rengas with a sharp expression that didn't quite match her innocent face, seemed to notice our gazes. Her expression softened almost immediately. We had already taken care of seven Rengas in the opening attack—a result far beyond expectations.

However, there were still over ten left. Their blood-red eyes glowed with anger, and they exuded a palpable killing intent as they began closing in on us, claws raised menacingly. I slowly stepped back toward the path we had entered from, raising my sword into a high guard position to secure a retreat if needed.

"Kraaah!"

Several Rengas leaped at us with a roar. Yet, this time, I felt a little worried. These Rengas were slightly different from the ones we'd encountered before, but something about our group's rhythm felt unstoppable. An-Hyun and Yun-Jung had adopted bolder stances, leaning into the momentum of our earlier success.

When one of their claws, aiming to split my head, clashed violently against my sword, it marked the start of the next skirmish. As I engaged them up close, their differences became clearer. They were faster, displayed a surprising level of coordination, and adapted their tactics as they fought. When they sensed danger, they'd feint a retreat before rejoining with their allies to mount a cyclical assault.

Initially, we had the upper hand and allowed ourselves a moment of confidence, but it didn't take long for me to refocus and recalibrate the battlefield dynamics. If this were our first fight in the forest, we might have crumbled already. However, thanks to my support and battlefield management, combined with An-Hyun's flawless spearwork, we weren't just holding our ground; we were beginning to overwhelm them.

Yun-Jung, who had initially been defensive and counter attacking, shifted to an aggressive stance, striking with her dual daggers. Though she picked up a few minor injuries in the process, she steadily thinned the enemy's numbers. Her twin daggers, particularly effective in chaotic melees, shone in this moment.

The turning point came when Sol's voice echoed through the clearing once more.

"Shackles!"

"Hell yeah! That's it, Sol! Nice one!"

Sol's spell targeted the Rengas surrounding Yun-Jung. The creatures froze mid-motion, their bodies rigid as if bound by invisible chains. Taking full advantage of the moment, Yun-Jung let out an ecstatic cry as her daggers effortlessly found their marks. She whirled like a windmill, dispatching them with a ferocity that left the rest of us momentarily awestruck.

Encouraged by Sol's assist and Yun-Jung's unrelenting assault, An-Hyun and I surged forward, charging at the remaining Rengas ahead.

I hadn't used even a drop of magic against the Rengas. As one lunged at me with its razor-sharp claws, I swung my sword in a direct arc. This time, rather than a rough, jarring impact, the sensation was smooth—like slicing through tofu. The effect of the close combat mastery never ceased to amaze me.

Every action involving the sword was enhanced with positive bonuses. The benefits of this ability were truly extraordinary. On top of that, the power of Sword Heart, which had reached EX rank, amplified the effect further. Even casual swings carried devastating power, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of force a fully committed strike would unleash in the future.

As my sword cut through the air with a fierce sound, it mowed down the Rengas like falling autumn leaves. Whether it was the overwhelming advantage of our group or the rare sensation of his spear moving effortlessly, An-Hyun seemed equally exhilarated. He darted about in a frenzy, his movements almost resembling a dance, striking down foes left and right. Having broken through the center of their formation, An-Hyun turned to meet my gaze, grinning before rushing back in, striking the backs of the remaining Rengas with renewed enthusiasm.

"Light!"

Sol's voice rang out again, this time casting the Light spell instead of Shackles. A brilliant orb of white light materialized in front of the remaining Rengas, bursting into a dazzling flash. It was a tactic we'd seen a mage use in the past against vagrants, and Sol replicated it perfectly. This time, her spell proved exceptionally effective.

Momentarily blinded, the Rengas stumbled and flailed in confusion. Taking advantage of their disarray, An-Hyun, Yun-Jung, and I moved into a triangular formation, surrounding the creatures and relentlessly attacking them. Within moments, another five or six Rengas had fallen, leaving only two standing.

These last two Rengas, their ears drooping, seemed to sense their impending doom. Despite this, An-Hyun's eyes sparkled mischievously as he spoke up.

"Dibs on the one on the left."

"Then the one on the right is mine," Yun-Jung chimed in.

"...."

A short while later, after we had dealt with all the Rengas in the clearing, we took some time to rest and regroup. An-Hyun and Yun-Jung's bodies were riddled with minor wounds, but after drinking potions and receiving healing from Sol, their faces beamed brighter than ever. The unnatural abilities of the Rengas crossed my mind briefly, but I decided to stay silent for now. Instead of scolding them harshly, I figured it wouldn't hurt to let them ride this wave of confidence.

To be honest, it wasn't that they had done exceptionally well in this fight. They hadn't surpassed their limits or achieved anything groundbreaking; they had simply used the abilities they already possessed properly. Still, as they slowly accumulated experience, they would naturally refine their fighting styles and learn how to better synergize with the group. Watching this progress, I felt a rare sense of pride for the first time since leaving the city.

"Pretty sure I killed more than you," An-Hyun teased, wiping his spear.

"Well, you had a spear, and it's longer, so it's easier to attack. Considering that, I obviously did better." Yun-Jung shot back with a smirk.

"Wow, the mental gymnastics. Unbelievable."

"It's true, though. Want to ask oppa?" She turned toward me with a mischievous grin.

These days, the two seemed to argue any chance they got. As their bickering continued, they both eventually looked at me with expectant, almost sparkling eyes. I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Frankly, if I were to grade their performance, An-Hyun still edged out Yun-Jung. He had shown more stability overall. However, Yun-Jung had made noticeable progress this time, and it felt unfair to undermine that growth.

"Hm."

Feigning a thoughtful expression, I made it look like I was seriously weighing the matter. This instantly made them tense up, their playful energy replaced with anticipation. They were clearly eager to hear my verdict. But seeing their focused expressions made it harder to bring up the topic. In the end, I decided to subtly change the subject.

"Both of you did well. But for now, focus on recovering first—"

"Still, someone must have done just a little better, right? Hmm?"

Yun-Jung's persistence made me feel a twinge of discomfort. Hoping to buy some time, I shifted my gaze to Sol, who had been quietly observing the exchange while nibbling on her lip.

"Ha-ha, Sol, what do you think?"

"Um… Well, I was so focused on casting my spells that…"

To my dismay, Sol subtly averted her gaze, her head turning as if she had suddenly found the trees around us deeply fascinating. Realizing she had preemptively dodged my attempt to pass the baton, I couldn't help but feel betrayed. My eyes met hers, brimming with wounded disbelief, but she only shuffled nervously, unsure how to respond, her feet tapping anxiously on the ground.

"Well, judging by his non-answer," Yun-Jung declared with a victorious smirk, "it's obvious. I did better. Guess it's settled."

"What? That's nonsense."

"Come on, he couldn't say it because he didn't want to hurt your feelings. Pfft, it's so obvious. Tsk, tsk."

"Oh? Is that so? Really?"

Watching the two bicker yet again, I couldn't help but sigh deeply. When would these two ever grow up? They went at it for a while, exchanging verbal jabs and smug quips like siblings locked in eternal competition.

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