The Support Ate it All-Chapter 566: Finals Week 17–18 (21)

Group A’s main base.

Moyong Jun was receiving reports from their team members.

A moment later, their expression stiffened slightly.

“...You’re saying there’s no resistance at all?”

“Yeah. At first it looked like they were running around and using cards, but now they’re not showing up at all.”

“Strange.”

At a glance, it looked like Group B had given up—but if Moyong Jun’s understanding of Kim Ho was correct, that would never happen.

‘He would’ve predicted a situation like this and then some.’

And beyond that, he would’ve prepared a countermeasure.

Which meant there was another reason everything had gone quiet.

‘But I can’t even guess what it is....’

With an unease they couldn’t name, Moyong Jun fidgeted with an item card.

Thinking it was about time to try either [Recon] or [Observe].

And then—

—PAAH—!

Blue energy gathered in midair and formed the shape of a huge eye.

Meaning someone was watching them with [Observe].

Since Moyong Jun was effectively Group A’s leader, that was the sort of thing that could happen at any time.

It had happened many times already.

But Moyong Jun exchanged a look with Iseulbi nearby.

Because the words she’d said yesterday flashed through their mind.

—Kim Ho said to pass this along: when you use [Observe] next time, that’s when you decide.

‘...But it’s not certain yet.’

They could’ve used it simply to track my movements.

But if this really was a signal from Kim Ho—

‘At the very least, it’s right to confirm.’

So Moyong Jun warned the team members nearby, then used [Recon].

A card vanished in a bright flash—

—PAH—!

And the moment the image of Group C’s base appeared, everyone froze in shock.

Even Moyong Jun.

‘How did it end up like this?’

Everything had collapsed and burned into ruins.

Here and there, you could spot Group C members, but their will looked completely broken—they were just standing there blankly.

Watching that, questions piled up one after another.

‘Then what about Jeong Jin-myeong?’

Moyong Jun immediately used [Observe], but the card only glimmered for an instant before dying out again.

If activation was canceled, it meant the target wasn’t in this dungeon.

In other words, they were outside, waiting to re-enter.

Putting it all together: Group C’s base had taken damage beyond recovery, and even its leader was combat-incapable.

‘If that’s the case, then it really is meaningless.’

Maintaining nonaggression would only drag us down.

Just like Kim Ho said, it was time to decide.

After a long pause, Moyong Jun gave orders.

“Hurry to the field and spread this news. Most of them still won’t know yet. And....”

They held for a beat, then continued.

“We’ll withdraw from here.”

“Just going to hold the status quo?”

Iseulbi asked, catching the intent, and Moyong Jun nodded slowly.

“Group C doesn’t have the capacity to keep competing anymore. Sooner or later, their withdrawal is a foregone conclusion.”

“Then it becomes a one-on-one against Group B.”

“Exactly.”

And in a straight one-on-one, chances were this side would get pushed back.

Because the biggest difference was in the number of prospects—disciplinary committee club-tier fighters.

Iseulbi and the rest of the advisors didn’t object strongly.

“We can gather crystals in our own territory anyway.”

“In the worst case, we can abandon everything and focus solely on defending the base.”

With just the Crystal Towers they’d already built, second place was guaranteed.

The odds of Group C overtaking them were infinitely close to zero.

Not only did Group C have to rebuild its tower from scratch, most of the members who could supply crystals had been neutralized. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Even if they re-entered and scrambled, it would be too late.

Moyong Jun spoke in a firm tone.

“Our linkage with Group C ends here.”

*****

‘That should’ve gotten through by now.’

The message I sent.

Moyong Jun was the cautious type, always pursuing stability—so they wouldn’t want to shoulder risk anymore.

Ninety-nine out of a hundred, they’d pull out of our territory.

And Group C went without saying.

So I told Song Cheon-hye,

“Now we can move again.”

“Understood.”

As if she’d been thinking the same, Song Cheon-hye nodded readily and sent out the team members who’d been waiting.

Then she asked me,

“Anything else you need to do?”

“No. We’re going to gather crystals too.”

From our perspective, the biggest risk factors were Group A and Group C’s nonaggression—and the dragon-tail soldier.

But nonaggression was now completely broken, and the dragon-tail soldier would’ve spent a huge amount of power too.

It would take days to stabilize and come attack again—and by then, finals would be over and the dungeon would have reset.

Meaning even doing just the basics, first place was practically guaranteed.

Even so, I left Song Cheon-hye with one more request.

“As crystals come in, skim a little off and stash them for me.”

“Because of cards again?”

“That part’s done now. I’ll tell you later.”

“......”

She stared at me with an extremely suspicious look.

Like she was thinking, What the hell is inside that guy’s head?

But she didn’t really have a reason to refuse, so Song Cheon-hye let out a small sigh and said,

“Fine. °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Be careful out there.”

“Yeah. Good work.”

I took my party members and headed down the hill.

Just like I’d guessed, Group A and Group C had mostly withdrawn.

Our team members were openly charging crystals all over the place, and no one attacked.

If I had to name one other change—

Monsters that were rarely seen on Days 1 and 2 were now appearing.

When I “borrowed” the dragon-tail soldier and “lent” it to Group C’s base, the volcano had erupted hard once—this was probably the aftermath.

—PPIIIII—!

Chaemi, flying overhead as recon, let out a long cry like it had found something.

Following it, we walked until a river of lava cut across our path.

Along the bank, gigantic turtles were crawling around, and on the shells of some individuals, huge crystals had sprouted in thick clusters.

Go Hyeon-woo let out an exclamation.

“That’s a considerable amount. If we secure all of it, we can lock in our advantage even further.”

“On the flip side, if we hand it over, we could get overtaken.”

As I flicked a look to one side, my party members’ gazes followed.

Cha Hyeon-ju’s party was watching us from a cautious distance.

I greeted them like I’d run into an old friend.

“Hi, Hyeon-ju.”

—GRIT...

“Ghtsr... (Shut up...).”

“Why are you prickly every time we meet? We played minesweeper together, and I even gave you a flight.”

“Zntz dznd... (You’re seriously dead...).”

She looked like she was about to start spraying arrows.

The Group A party members beside her desperately tried to hold her back.

—Hey, hey. Hold it, hold it.

—If we fight, we lose no matter what.

—How many prospects do they have over there?

I decided to back them up.

“Hyeon-ju, you should listen to your friends. Didn’t Moyong Jun tell you to come back too?”

“......”

Cha Hyeon-ju’s face twitched hard.

But neither her party members nor I were wrong, so even trembling with rage, she swallowed it down.

—GRIT...

“You... you just wait. Whether it’s second year or third year, someday—”

“God, you talk a lot.”

Hong Yeon-hwa cut in, unable to stand it.

“If you’re going to fight, fight. If you’re going to leave, leave. Why make it complicated?”

“...Hong Yeon-hwa.”

A cold light settled in Cha Hyeon-ju’s eyes.

Then she let out a scoffing laugh and a sneer at the same time.

“You got a big head after sticking to Kim Ho.”

“I’ve never been cowed. Especially not in front of you.”

“You too—next year, just wait.”

“That’s what I want to say.”

Their skill and PvP scores were similar, so it was inevitable they’d clash someday.

In the end, Cha Hyeon-ju left with her party.

Watching them shrink into tiny dots, I said to my party members,

“Since the nuisance is gone, let’s start.”

“Let’s start!”

Han So-mi shouted boldly and started charging at the lava turtles.

Go Hyeon-woo and Beomi too.

The turtles gaped their mouths open and spewed fire like flamethrowers.

—FWOOSH!

Han So-mi stepped through her footwork, slipping her body into the gaps between flame and flame.

Then she sprang up and slashed.

—SSWE-SSWE-SSWE-SSWE—!

A vicious sword aura painted the field.

*****

After practically monopolizing the turtles—

By the time evening approached, we were able to [Return] to the main base with armfuls of crystals.

Other team members had been scraping crystals back like worker ants too, so the tower became grander and more dazzling than ever.

[Crystal Tower (B+)]

And just like I’d asked, there was a separate pile of crystals set aside.

Song Cheon-hye glanced at it out of the corner of her eye and tossed out a casual comment.

“If you add those too, it feels like it’d hit A-rank....”

“If there’s a day we don’t need them, sure. But chances are we will.”

“Seriously, what is it?”

“Curious?”

Song Cheon-hye’s brow tightened.

“You’re going to pull the ‘not telling you’ thing again, aren’t you.”

“If you don’t want to hear it, then don’t.”

I turned away coldly—and Song Cheon-hye grabbed my arm.

“...Who said I didn’t want to hear it?”

“Then come somewhere with me.”

“...Where? Outside?”

“Yeah.”

“What about defending the main base....”

“Leave it to Bukgung Hansol for a bit.”

We were past the stage where a leader was needed.

Day 3 was almost over, most members had already returned, and even if anyone brought in more crystals, they’d just pour them straight into the tower.

Song Cheon-hye seemed to reach the same conclusion and nodded.

“A little while is fine.”

“Good. You guys want to come too?”

When I asked the party, not a single one opted out.

Everyone was curious what the crystals were for.

So after each of us grabbed a few, we started down the hill.

As soon as I turned our direction toward Group C, unease rose on Song Cheon-hye’s face.

“...Don’t tell me. No way, right?”

“That ‘no way’ is exactly right.”

“What are you going to do when we get there?”

“Follow me and you’ll find out.”

Song Cheon-hye tilted her head like, This feels wrong...? but followed in silence anyway.

Looks like she couldn’t resist curiosity.

The other party members looked the same.

After walking for a long time, we entered Group C territory.

I stopped near the hill and flicked my eyes upward.

“Call those guys down.”

“How?”

“With something flashy and loud.”

“Hey—don’t use people like signal flares.”

Song Cheon-hye replied like she couldn’t believe it.

Then Hong Yeon-hwa stepped forward.

“If you don’t want to, move. I’ll do it.”

Planning to double as a portable lighter and fireworks, apparently.

All she had to do was fire off a flame explosion spell.

But Song Cheon-hye, competitive as ever, stepped forward again.

“Who said I didn’t want to? I’ll do it.”

She quickly pulled on her gloves and began chanting.

Crackling current gathered around the topaz, then formed into a thick bolt of lightning.

And she hurled it high into the sky like a spear.

—KWA-RRRRNG, KWA-KWANG—!!

The sky flashed, and a thunderous boom rolled out.

“......”

“......”

Not long after, frantic movement stirred at the top of the hill.

Then Group C members started pouring down the slope in a swarm.