I Became the Academy's Disabled Student-Chapter 248: The dependable senior Lee Ji-yeon

When most people hear the term "lush greenery," they typically imagine a green forest.

The trunks and branches of the trees are usually brown, while the leaves sprout in shades of green.

[Blue]

However, the forest before me was undoubtedly a "blue" forest.

The ground was overrun with wild grasses and bushes. The roots of trees were buried in the earth, with trunks rising straight upward. Branches sprawled out, and countless leaves bloomed.

Where the background should have been brown or green, everything was painted in various shades of blue, both deep and light.

“No monsters have appeared from the entrance,” Lee Ji-Yeon, who had kept her guard up, exhaled a sigh and spoke.

It seemed like she was anticipating an immediate monster attack the moment we entered the dungeon.

“The last hunt was three months ago, so I had considered a surprise attack, but it seems we’re in luck.”

I nodded as I drew my purification weapon. Unlike the common Level 4 dungeons that students frequently engage with for regular hunts, Level 2 dungeons didn’t have frequent monster hunts.

Moreover, this "Blue Mountain" dungeon was especially rare to be visited.

It was located on the outskirts, so students rarely ventured here, and there were many other Level 2 dungeons around.

“Junior.”

Thanks to this, the dungeon had accumulated many monsters.

Unlike the regularly cleared Level 4 dungeons, the Siyoram faction doesn’t clean out the depths unless it’s truly dangerous.

That’s why I had chosen this dungeon. The dungeon’s structure allowed for both elemental spirits and many monsters that could be used for necromancy.

Furthermore, it was perfect because it was rarely visited by others.

[Yes]

As I moved forward, Lee Ji-Yeon, who had been leading, briefly called out to me. She had stopped within reach and was scanning the surroundings.

It was a simple call, but I understood what it meant.

Rumble... A subtle vibration flowed through the soles of my feet.

I nodded as the feeling of an approaching presence grew closer.

I casually extended my observation, not seeking detailed information but focusing on any obvious groupings of monsters nearby.

[Northeast 1.2km, 37 entities approaching] [Green Disk Tiger] [6th-tier]

[South 5.5km, 32 entities approaching] [Wind Leopard] [Lead entity estimated at 5th-tier, others at 6th-tier]

[West 11km, 9 entities on alert] [Beast-like bird suspected] [2 at 5th-tier, others likely at 6th-tier]

“Thank you, huh?”

With her sharp gaze still scanning the surroundings, Lee Ji-Yeon muttered in surprise after hearing the continuous voice transmissions.

“Ah... yes, thanks for the information. Please share any anomalies from now on,” she replied, nodding, a little taken aback.

She had called out, but perhaps didn’t expect such detailed information.

Rumble...!

Before the monsters arrived, Lee Ji-Yeon and I began to prepare the area. I felled a tree trunk, and Lee Ji-Yeon buried it in the ground.

We cleared a suitable area, making sure to leave no unnecessary obstacles.

Growl...

The presence was getting closer.

The first to arrive were the monsters from the northeast.

Green Disk Tigers.

With tiger-like features, they were marked by light green fur and swirling, dark green patterns along their bodies.

Between the trees, these creatures with green fur appeared, watching us as they approached.

‘Maybe it’s because there are so many monsters piled up here? We’re encountering several groups just by walking a little. Let’s clear the immediate vicinity...’

“I’ll take care of this first.”

Just as I was about to act, Lee Ji-Yeon, with her fist clenched, stepped forward confidently.

I tilted my head, observing her bold actions. But I wasn’t bothered; in fact, her determined gaze overwhelmed me, and I subtly released my magic.

This was a two-day expedition, so we had plenty of time—there was no rush.

I decided to observe Lee Ji-Yeon’s combat record and accumulate information from this encounter.

Thud!

She didn’t put much force into her step, nor did it feel like she was using any special power.

It was just an ordinary step, yet Lee Ji-Yeon’s leg sunk into the ground.

Rumble! The ground split like a spider’s web, a dark crack opening beneath her.

Grrrr...!

A strange noise echoed from within the crack. It was a sound that would make anyone recoil in discomfort.

The Green Disk Tigers, which had been approaching, suddenly stopped in their tracks.

“Summon.”

Thud!

With Lee Ji-Yeon’s murmured words, the dark crack that had opened widened, and dozens of thick arms shot out.

The arms flailed around desperately before pushing the creature's body up from the ground.

Groan...

Iron-armored Great Apes.

A 6th-tier monster, resembling a gorilla, covered in a thick exoskeleton that served as armor.

Dozens of these iron-armored creatures emerged from the earth, positioning themselves between Lee Ji-Yeon and me, facing the Green Disk Tigers.

Roar!

After a brief standoff, the Green Disk Tigers made the first move.

With a short roar, they pounced, hitting the leading iron-armored creature with the force of the wind.

Boom!

The Green Disk Tiger accelerated using wind magic and collided with the first of the iron-armored creatures, signaling the start of the battle.

‘Hmm...’

The chaotic situation, where dozens of monsters clashed, became crystal clear in my mind.

The Green Disk Tigers were fast and had wind-based magic. They used their speed to surround their targets, attacking swiftly and retreating just as quickly.

It was a very useful strategy.

The iron-armored Great Apes, while durable due to their thick exoskeletons, were slower and couldn’t keep up with the speed of the Green Disk Tigers.

As a result, they were repeatedly struck by the Tigers.

Growl...!

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But they didn’t fall easily.

Though they were being beaten relentlessly, the iron-armored creatures sustained minimal damage.

Necromancy’s fundamental weakness was that summoned beings functioned at a lower level than when they were alive.

Due to the loss of both body and soul, the performance of the summoned creatures was inevitably diminished.

This was well known by necromancers, who had developed many techniques to overcome this flaw.

The iron-armored Great Apes were monsters with exoskeletons resembling armor.

But the ones fighting now were not just the standard creatures. These had been modified by Lee Ji-Yeon, who had added materials to make them thicker and sturdier.

They were not mutated naturally but had been enhanced through her prior modifications.

To make up for the loss in function due to their resurrection, Lee Ji-Yeon had forcibly boosted their capabilities with additional materials.

Her approach didn’t stop there.

Roar!

One of the Green Disk Tigers, after a swift attack, yelped in pain.

The tiger’s front paw had been severely wounded, and dark, poisoned blood dripped from the wound.

The poisoned Green Disk Tiger foamed at the mouth in pain.

Sizzle

A disgusting sound rang in my ears.

I furrowed my brow, instinctively trying to track the source of the noise.

The body of an iron-armored Great Ape, previously alone, was now being wrapped in the form of a giant centipede.

The poisonous centipede, Jingduo, a 6th-tier monster, had wrapped itself around the body, using its sharp legs to scrape at the exoskeleton.

Creeeak...

The centipede’s sharp legs scraped the iron shell, but it couldn’t pierce through.

Meanwhile, the iron-armored creature continued to move, its heavy steps shaking the ground.

Growl...

It now had an additional defensive method. Like a hedgehog bristling its spines, the centipede’s poisonous spikes were dripping with venom.

Even monsters driven by pure killing instincts could still act with a sense of strategy.

Initially, there were just dozens of summoned creatures, but now, hundreds had risen from the ground.

They surrounded the Green Disk Tigers, slowly reversing the tide of the battle.

The Tigers, which had been confidently charging before, were now forced to retreat.

Thud!

Roar!

Simultaneously, the vicious spikes that had emerged from the ground pierced through the Green Disk Tigers.

The strikes were aimed directly at vital spots, and those struck in the heart were instantly killed.

A few of the Green Disk Tigers barely avoided the fatal strike, but were impaled and cried out in pain as they died.

Whooo... Thud!

They were impaled again, and the battle continued until the iron-armored creatures finished them off with a crushing blow.

Growl...

In the midst of it all, one Green Disk Tiger, incredibly lucky, managed to survive.

It didn’t attempt to escape but charged with ferocity, having seen its kin die.

It was coming straight for me, to Lee Ji-Yeon’s side.

Naturally, I couldn’t let that happen.

I quickly gripped my purification weapon and prepared to counterattack.

“Ugh!”

But just as I was about to release the magic, Lee Ji-Yeon intervened.

She grabbed my waist, pulling me back with strength, as if she had been ready for this all along.

Without hesitation, she slammed her fist into the charging Green Disk Tiger.

Boom!

The explosion-like sound rang through the air. The Green Disk Tiger’s skull was shattered with Lee Ji-Yeon’s punch.

The remains scattered across the ground with a sickening sound.

“Junior, are you okay?”

Lee Ji-Yeon, retrieving her fist, quickly scanned the area before looking down at me, her concern evident.

[Are you okay?]

I should have been covered in blood after having the monster’s skull smashed in front of me.

However, the blood and bone fragments had been blown away by the shockwave and scattered far off.

‘...What is this?’

Meanwhile, as Lee Ji-Yeon looked at me with worried eyes, I was left speechless.

‘She’s... really strong.’

I already knew that Lee Ji-Yeon was powerful, but right now, she was much stronger than I had thought.

Of course, the monsters we faced were just 6th-tier creatures.

If they had attacked an unprepared city, it would have been a massacre, but for Lee Ji-Yeon, they weren’t threatening.

Even considering that, she dealt with them so easily.

The summoned creatures she had raised were far more precise than the ones I had seen before, fully replicating their original functions.

Her skill in handling her abilities had also improved significantly.

Not just in raw output.

She manipulated the earth with no warning, quickly controlling the terrain with incredible speed and precision.

It was clear that her capabilities were far beyond what I had seen before.

‘...’

Despite all that, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

The monsters’ attacks were nothing I couldn’t handle. With my defensive magic, they wouldn’t have even scratched me.

It was nothing dangerous.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

Despite everything, Lee Ji-Yeon continued to search for any injuries, her worried eyes focused on me.

She was so concerned for me, and I couldn’t help but feel something strange.

[Hmm... Yeah.]

[Thanks.]

In the middle of the sudden situation, I awkwardly nodded, slightly lowering my head.

Then, after confirming I was unharmed, Lee Ji-Yeon let out a sigh of relief and shook her head.

“This is the least I could do. For the next two days... or even three or four, we’ll stay safe and conquer the dungeon.”

[Yes, thank you.]

I nodded quietly as Lee Ji-Yeon spoke with clear determination, just like a gentle but firm warning to an inexperienced child.

It was strange, but having someone worried about and protecting me felt so comforting.

[Player Affinity System: Affection] Lee Ha-Yul → Lee Ji-Yeon ●●●●●●○○○○(61/100) "Successor of Taesan" "Good Person" "Rock" "Reliability?"

▽Change▽

●●●●●●○○○○(61→66/100) "Affection" "Rock" "Reliability" "Stability"