The Support Ate it All-Chapter 560: Finals Week 17–18 (15)

—Piiiiii—!

Up ahead, Chaemi found something and let out a long cry.

We kicked our speed up even more, and soon we spotted familiar red hair.

Go Hyeon-woo said,

“It’s Hong Yeon-hwa. But it seems we’re a bit late.”

“A little.”

Hong Yeon-hwa was facing off against Geum Johan and Lee Seul-bi.

The one who used [Observe] earlier was, as expected, Moyong Jun.

In terms of distance, they were a step ahead of us—but we arrived right before the fight began.

“......”

“......”

Geum Johan and Lee Seul-bi noticed us too, and seemed to be weighing what to do.

Take Hong Yeon-hwa down quickly?

Even two-on-one, it wouldn’t be easy.

If they stalled even a little, they’d get hit by a pincer instead.

But running away like this would also sting their pride.

This was a situation where someone was about to steal one of their members.

While the two disciplinary committee members were stuck, unable to commit either way, we reached the spot.

Han So-mi waved cheerfully.

“Hi, Geum Johan! Hi, Seul-bi!”

“...You switched too.”

Geum Johan frowned after spotting the ‘B’ on Han So-mi’s chest.

Then Han So-mi cleared their throat—AHEM—set the tone, and answered in Go Hyeon-woo’s speaking style.

“I did not switch! I was on Kim hyung’s side from the beginning!”

“...Mm. You certainly did say that, but hearing it from Han So-mi’s own mouth is... somewhat embarrassing.”

“Kim hyung is my everything! Han So-mi is nothing more than a stepping-stone for martial arts!”

“That is an excessive leap. I will explain.”

Go Hyeon-woo dragged Han So-mi off to one side and started calming them down.

No doubt they’d been running their usual Kim-hyung-obsessed mouth again and triggered jealousy.

I decided to let them sort it out themselves.

Hong Yeon-hwa had already switched to our group.

They trotted over and took a spot beside me, so I said a word.

“Looks like [Defection] dropped. You worked hard.”

“Yeah...!”

Since they were being unusually soft and docile, Geum Johan and Lee Seul-bi’s expressions turned bewildered.

It simply didn’t match the snarling attitude from a moment ago.

Either way, I asked the two of them.

“So what are you going to do?”

“You talk as if we have a choice. Even if we asked you to return her, you wouldn’t.”

“Of course Hong Yeon-hwa’s done. I’m talking about you two.”

As I said that and pulled out [Defection], Geum Johan’s face stiffened.

“You still had spares.”

“Of course.”

If I used [Duplication], it could be two spares, but there was no need to mention that.

“When Jeong Jin-myeong offered a hand, I thought he was making a fuss over nothing. But now I see it had reason.”

“I’ll take that as praise. So—who’s switching?”

If possible, I wanted to recruit Lee Seul-bi.

A water/ice mage would be great in volcanic terrain.

And it seemed like thanks to that, they’d held off the monster wave well too.

But the two of them shook their heads at the same time.

“I refuse.”

“Thanks, but no.”

It was more or less what I expected, but just in case, I tried once more.

“You sure? If you want first place, you’d be better off betting on us.”

With three promising-prospect / disciplinary committee-tier people switching over, the balance of the Three-Way Battle was already completely broken.

And Group B’s base level was the highest, so our odds of taking first were also the highest.

Geum Johan seemed to acknowledge that too, but the answer stayed firm.

“The disciplinary committee club does not yield to such petty pressure. We cannot abandon the group we belong to for the sake of scores.”

“Hey, if you say it like that, what does that make them?”

I tipped my gaze toward Han So-mi, and Geum Johan shut their mouth, looking a bit awkward.

“......”

“So Han So-mi is a traitor who yielded to petty pressure for the sake of scores?”

“......That’s not what I meant. The situation is different, isn’t it?”

“Because you’re leaving the disciplinary committee club next year? So you’re saying you’re strangers.”

At that, Han So-mi planted both hands on their hips and puffed out their cheeks.

“Geum Johan! That’s what you’ve been thinking this whole time?”

“Absolutely not. Not even a sliver. I would appreciate it if you stopped slandering me.”

That was enough teasing.

I said to the Group A disciplinary committee members.

“Fine. Got it. [Defection] isn’t something I can force.”

“Then we’ll be going now.”

“Wait.”

I stopped the two as they turned to leave.

“Shouldn’t you leave your cards and crystals behind?”

“You’re saying something ridiculous.”

Geum Johan pulled one corner of their mouth upward.

Together with Lee Seul-bi, they each pulled out a [Return].

▷Returns you to your affiliated base.

“—Once we use this, there’s no way for you to stop it.”

“Is there really no way?”

“I admit your skill, but how about keeping your bluster moderate. There’s also the saying ‘too much is as bad as too little.’”

—FWASH.

The cards in their hands began to shine more and more.

Still glowing, Geum Johan continued.

“The finals are not over yet, so we shall see. I will do my utmost to reclaim first place.”

“[Caw?]”

As I thrust out the crow tree and spoke the ignition word, the light in both [Return] cards went out in an instant.

The activation itself was canceled.

“......”

“......”

Geum Johan and Lee Seul-bi blinked for several seconds, looked at each other, and then looked down at their item cards at the same time.

Like they thought there was some error, they tried using them again.

But it still didn’t work.

Item cards aren’t some almighty thing.

They’re just one of the artificial dungeon’s devices, and what forms their foundation is magic.

And of course, the dimensional crow’s spatial magic is a level above.

While the two disciplinary committee members stood there stiff and awkward, Hong Yeon-hwa stepped forward, flames rising in one hand.

—FWOOSH!

The other party members slowly formed a surrounding net as well.

In response, Geum Johan and Lee Seul-bi showed the item cards they’d pulled out.

“...We didn’t bring crystals. We were on our way from the base.”

“Sure you were. You’re not hiding anything else, right? If you become combat-incapable, you’ll cough it all up anyway.”

“On the name of the disciplinary committee club—there is nothing more.”

A second ago they were saying they wouldn’t yield to petty pressure.

Now they were selling out the disciplinary committee name pretty lightly.

Anyway, I took most of the item cards, and separated out only [Protection] and handed those back.

“Take these.”

“...Why?”

Looks like they found it strange—since it wasn’t something that dropped often, why give it up?

So, casually, I handed over two more [Discharge] cards as well.

“Instead, use these for me.”

The effect is returning three random targets in front to their base.

Our party is six people (Beomi and Chaemi are bundled with Park Nari and counted as one person), so with two cards, we can send everyone back.

If you have [Protection], [Discharge] bounces off—so that’s why I returned it.

A vein stood out on Geum Johan’s forehead.

“After watching you, now you’re using people as transportation.”

“Why are you reacting so strongly? It’s not like I’m riding on your back. I’m just asking you to fling us.”

“......”

“If you really hate it, fine. We’ll walk.”

Of course, before that, I’d take the cards back again.

And since I was already annoyed, I’d vent a little too.

Maybe they caught that, because Lee Seul-bi snatched the two [Discharge] cards out of Geum Johan’s hand.

“I’ll do it.”

“Now we’re talking.”

I positioned myself “in front” of the two, called the party members close, then looked at Lee Seul-bi and said.

“Pass a message to Moyong Jun.”

“What message?”

“When I use [Observe], that’s when he needs to make his decision.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just tell him that.”

“.......”

Even while giving me a suspicious look, Lee Seul-bi nodded like they understood.

Then they held out the two cards toward us.

—FWAAASH!

[Discharge] activated twice in succession, and our six bodies were wrapped in bright light and launched high into the sky.

In the blink of an eye we crossed an enormous distance, then slammed down into the very center of Group B’s base.

—PAPAPAPAT!

Everyone looked around with fascinated eyes.

Even Seo Ye-in, eyes sparkling, said one thing.

“...Very convenient.”

The distance from the border to here was substantial, so we saved the time and effort of sprinting.

And the other party members didn’t show it, but it looked like the Hidden Piece work had piled fatigue on them too—so we chose fast return at the cost of giving up a few [Protection] cards.

Meanwhile, the moment we appeared, the main base erupted into chaos.

—H-hey, hey! What was that just now?!

—Was that an attack?

—What about the barrier?

Since essentially nobody had ever “flown in” via item card before, they were startled.

Members poured in from all directions.

Then they got twice as startled when they saw us, and started whispering.

—Aren’t they our group?

—But isn’t that Go Hyeon-woo?

—Han So-mi and Hong Yeon-hwa are here too.

—Weren’t they C?

—Yeah, why are they our group?

Song Cheon-hye came running in a fluster too.

Han So-mi waved again, bright as ever.

“Cheon-hye! I’m heeere!”

“H-huh? How...?”

“I flew! Whoosh—!”

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

Soon, Song Cheon-hye realized they were asking the wrong person and looked at me.

“What happened?”

“I flew! Whoosh—!”

“Stop messing around.”

“Fine.”

I laid out everything that had happened up to now.

That we charged the crystals we borrowed and used them for the Hidden Piece, and got [Freeze] and [Defection].

That the three of them, having heard the method during the prep period, likewise secured the Hidden Piece and then joined up.

Song Cheon-hye let out a quiet exclamation.

“Ah...! So ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) that’s what happened. Then when you said not to worry...?”

“That included this too.”

“You worked hard. You must be tired—please rest, and eat too.”

“That’s the plan.”

We all walked to the cafeteria together.

As Han So-mi looked around here and there, an exclamation mark popped over their head.

“Nice house! Nice food!”

“Seems we can rest comfortably today.”

Go Hyeon-woo added with a gentle smile.

Since the topic had shifted to “house,” I asked Song Cheon-hye.

“How far did you raise the facilities?”

“Almost all the crystals that came in today went into defense. We’ve started raising the tower little by little too.”

They pointed off to one side, so I turned my head, and sure enough, a structure that looked carved from crystal was reflecting multicolored light.

Even from afar, I could feel it holding strong power, and its height was about chest level.

[Crystal Tower(D+)]

Looking at the tower with proud eyes, like it was a well-grown plant, Song Cheon-hye said.

“Everything that comes in from now on will go into that.”

“You’re doing well.”

There wasn’t much I needed to touch, so I nodded slowly.

Even after filling our stomachs in the cafeteria, we rested at leisure for a while.

Then, during that, Go Hyeon-woo approached and asked.

“Kim hyung, do you plan to go out again?”

“No. Today, we defend the main base.”

“Then it seems something like this morning will happen again.”

“Something like this morning” meant the monster wave.

I gave a light chin-tilt and watched the volcano.

“It’s about time it erupts again.”

And sure enough, after we killed time and waited a while, the vibrations coming up through the ground steadily grew.

—KRRRRRUMBLE....

But in the far distance, the volcano looked clearly different from yesterday, and from this morning too.

Originally, it would’ve been exploding nonstop, spewing fireballs and lava—but now, everything was gathering around the mountain peak.

“......”

“......”

Even as everyone watched with uneasy eyes, flames continued to gather at the top of the volcano.

Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in tilted their head like a thought had occurred.

“...Rechargeable?”

—PUUUUUNG!

Three gigantic fireballs shot up in three directions.