“This matches the records from this world. It’s exactly how the land looked when Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong fought here.”

The records of Chuang Cheonmyeonggung’s legendary battle remained vivid in this world.

Although there was no footage of the attack itself, the press swarmed immediately afterward and documented everything, letting everyone know just how desperate that fight had been.

The shattered fan-type snowplow, torn safety nets no longer functioning, the many pits and collapsed snow piles that deformed the original slope—

The harrowing scene from the videos and photos was now recreated right before their eyes.

“The business trip report I received didn’t mention anything like this. He must have gone solo on the attack, entered the boss room alone, and hid the report.”

“You do know that high schoolers normally don’t get to see business trip reports, right? Is Ji-ho of our class planning to stop pretending to be a student while looking like that?”

As soon as the chairman showed off, Yong Jae-geon started to sass him.

Meanwhile, Hwang Ji-ho and Yong Jae-geon kept bickering.

Despite the unexpected rise in rarity, it seemed they were still not threatened by those two and remained carefree.

On the other hand, Maeng Hyo-don didn’t care that the classmate in front of him was clearly showing signs of aging.

Perhaps because Ji-ho had already been granted permission to speak informally regardless of his condition, Hyo-don showed no interest.

He only revealed hostility toward whatever was targeting Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong by dragging memories from 20 years ago.

“Teacher has been enduring this cold place nonstop...”

Teacher Ham Geun-hyeong silently and steadily looked toward me.

Given that a much stronger boss than any enemy they’d met so far was waiting ahead, he could have stepped forward, but he still held back.

Despite the dire situation, he intended to respect my will to try using his power in this raid.

Kugugugu...

The ruined ski resort’s ground trembled lowly.

Though the boss enemy’s form was not yet visible, it approached through the blizzard.

The reason why the boss enemy staged this performance was obvious.

“It must be recreating the situation that Teacher Ham feared the most.”

Back then, Teacher Ham had poured all his strength into defeating the boss enemy.

The dimensional rift closed, allowing exit, but the situation remained grim.

The ski resort was such a mess that an avalanche could have started at any moment, and no support players had arrived.

If a low-rarity otherworldly event had occurred there, nobody could predict the outcome.

That was why Teacher Ham couldn’t even fall down but endured in the shooting stance until the very end.

This boss enemy was trying to appear only after staging the background of the most painful moment Teacher Ham endured.

“This land is recreating the moment Teacher Ham was most worried about, isn’t it?”

“...Every time I come to Hongcheon, I recall that time.”

When asked for confirmation, he did not deny it.

Hearing that, I roughly grasped how this land’s mechanics worked.

Hwang Ji-ho, who had been exchanging nonsense with Yong Jae-geon, spoke up.

“If we break the barrier, the boss enemy will recognize not only Jo Yi-shin but also us. If it realizes more than one of us came, it might react differently.”

“...Once before, during a boss fight, reinforcements arrived. Then the boss room transformed into one fitting a low-rarity dungeon-type otherworldly event, and the enemy’s power dropped, allowing for a swift extermination.”

Teacher Ham answered Ji-ho’s remarks as if addressing a student, despite Ji-ho’s chairman airs.

His tone was so calm that Yong Jae-geon watching nearby seemed bored.

But what came next caught Yong Jae-geon’s interest, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

“And as if warning us, the next otherworldly event appeared in a different form. It showed up away from where player satellites predicted, with higher rarity, nearly causing damage to civilian houses.”

It seemed the boss enemy desired only a one-on-one duel with Teacher Ham.

After losing continuously for 20 years, it might have given up, but instead, it raged threateningly and kept growing stronger to continue the fight.

Though Maeng Hyo-don frowned at the unsettling words, thinking a bit more showed it was troublesome but not truly worrying.

Teacher Ham had been absent for countless business trips but had never returned injured.

If he had used high-rarity recovery items or his psychic waves had faltered greatly, someone at Eunkwang High, myself included, would have noticed by now.

“But despite such persistence, Teacher Ham is still intact. Seems that boss enemy isn’t that great.”

“Yes, not that great.”

I said bluntly.

My voice brimmed with confidence based on solid grounds.

“I just held back my words to ease unnecessary worries. We never went all-out against that boss enemy. There was no need. But...”

“But?”

“I’m at fault for not finding a way to eradicate this land’s obsession. Every time I go on business, I explore and study this land in my spare time, but I haven’t found an answer.”

My resolute voice carried a hint of shame.

Both Yong Jae-geon and Hwang Ji-ho seemed a little surprised by my words and attitude.

Teacher Ham hadn’t just hidden this problem to avoid worrying others.

He wanted to wipe it away purely by his own strength.

Hwang Ji-ho, who had seemed eager to intervene this time, looked shaken hearing that.

If he wanted to do it alone like that, it would be tempting to entrust it to him.

But not this time.

“This otherworldly event or the boss enemy itself isn’t a big deal, but because the land is involved, the solution won’t be simple.”

Whiiiish...!

My breath briefly fogged before dispersing due to the snowstorm.

Visibility was nearly blocked, but a sharpshooter’s eyes could clearly see the approaching enemy.

Though its appearance was different, it still recognized me as Teacher Ham.

Hwang Ji-ho had yet to break the barrier, so the boss enemy was targeting only me.

“This land isn’t on Eunkwang District’s level, but by Korean Peninsula standards, its intelligence overflows. The demons attempted to demonize it to swallow the land.”

〈Warning, enemy approaching.〉

Shiiik!

At the message, a wind-ripping sound was heard.

Judging by the system’s timing, although the boss enemy was still far, something sharp pierced through the storm toward me.

Almost simultaneously, I drew my bowstring.

The light arrow I shot seemed swallowed by the blizzard but hit the target precisely.

Kwadduk!

Amid the wind, debris scattered—it was another arrow.

The boss enemy knew it mustn’t reveal itself recklessly against Teacher Ham, so instead of direct approach, it chose another path.

It was a probing attack.

‘...No, it’s not a pointless act. This land’s power is growing due to its intelligence, but Teacher Ham’s lifespan has limits. It’s checking if his strength has weakened.’

So far, that act was meaningless.

Teacher Ham continued growing stronger as of now.

Though a player’s prime varies individually, Chuang Cheonmyeonggung’s arrows grew more accurate and powerful with time.

Anyway, that level of boss enemy couldn’t gain the advantage through ranged combat.

‘It must realize that winning from range is ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) impossible now. If it has intelligence or will, it’ll find a way to close the distance and approach.’

As expected, a low wail came through the foggy sight as the enemy advanced.

I fired several arrows toward the sound but missed.

It seemed to distort the space in the snow to confuse where the sound came from.

Meanwhile, the enemy’s presence drew closer, little by little.

‘It’s coming.’

Feeling a heavy psychic wave in the cold wind, I aimed and fired two arrows at once.

Sure enough, a thicker and sturdier weapon flew back.

Shards of a spear, weakened by the arrow, fell onto the snowy ground.

The enemy drew even closer.

“Jo Yi-shin, why are you holding back? Take down the enemy now.”

“It’s not holding back. Yi-shin might be overwhelmed.”

Ji-ho’s words left my mind empty, but Yong Jae-geon’s words irritated me slightly.

Instead of ignoring, I responded.

“It’s fine. That boss enemy’s throwing spear skill is nothing compared to Cardmos.”

“Yi-shin, are you joking? The one who shattered your back and shoulder—are you so casual mentioning that name?”

Yong Jae-geon reacted stronger than expected.

Was he so resentful toward Cardmos?

Hearing the back and shoulder bit, Ji-ho’s face instantly darkened, and Maeng Hyo-don asked in surprise,

“What? Vice-class president, what’s that about? When did your back and shoulder get shattered?”

“Hyo-don, if you’re curious, I can tell you all about it.”

“Ah... I’d rather not hear it from the vice-homeroom.”

Maeng Hyo-don grimaced and stepped back, but I regretted bringing up Cardmos.

Meanwhile, after throwing the spear, the boss enemy who burrowed under the snow approached close enough to be seen even without sharpshooter eyesight.

No need to wait anymore.

Kkik...

I tensed my fingertips, eyes, and bow, but didn’t add psychic power.

If it sensed overly strong psychic energy, it might wait for another chance or retreat.

As expected, a loud boom ‘Kwaaa!’ shook the ground a few steps away as snow spouted, and the boss enemy appeared.

Before adding psychic power, I spoke.

“Hwang Ji-ho, break the barrier.”

Pwaaah!

Immediately understanding my intention, Hwang Ji-ho snapped his fingers and released the barrier.

Teacher Ham, who knew well what would happen if more joined the boss raid, briefly showed a troubled expression but quickly looked at me with trusting, clear eyes.

The enemy rushing toward me trembled in confusion at the multiple presences but was too late to lose momentum.

It hurried to do something, but before it could, I instantly drew psychic power and shot.

Pook!

The enemy was pierced by consecutive arrows.

It narrowly avoided a fatal hit, so it didn’t vanish right away.

Before voluntarily disappearing, it said,

“Teacher Yong Jae-geon, please fix that with spatial magic.”

“Yeah, I was preparing.”

A cyan-colored space swallowed and froze the boss enemy entirely.

Then, the shape that was unclear due to blurred vision and the enemy’s skill became distinct.

Maeng Hyo-don frowned at the figure.

“...It looks human.”

“Only the shape does. Shouldn’t our homeroom teacher look like something that would even make him hesitate?”

The enemy was cunningly mimicking a human.

Though Teacher Ham wouldn’t be fooled by that.

The captured boss enemy desperately tried to retreat, but all eyes soon focused on one place.

Through the gaps of the shirt worn to mimic a human, strong psychic waves flowed along a certain mark.

I looked at the seal and said,

“It’s a demon’s seal. Seems the demons helped with this trick.”