When I first saw the cyclops, I thought this: Since that guy's body is really big, there are that many more places to hit! It's S-rank, but I managed against Elders, so this guy would be similar too.

But that was my mistake. An extremely serious misjudgment. Why Hyeon Sujin told me 'it'll be different from fighting herself or Kwak Hyuk.' I could finally understand the reason she spoke of humans and monsters.

First problem. This crazy monster bastard seems to have no sensation. More precisely, pain sensation. The sensor that feels pain. This is definitely broken. Otherwise, there's no way it wouldn't budge despite me frantically cutting with my sword.

Peook!— Peseok!—

I definitely cut the hide, blood splattered, and felt the cutting sensation. There's a sensation transmitted to my hands. Ah, this went in properly.

But somehow, this damn one-eyed bastard doesn't move at all. Even when I frantically cut its limbs, it didn't budge and kept charging to catch me.

"Hey, Baek Seojin! Give up and get out! If you keep showing off like that..."

He seemed to be trying to say you might get kicked. Why am I certain? Because right after, I got kicked by its foot. fuck.

"Keueok!"

Suddenly my vision turned pitch black, then white again. My whole body seemed to spin around, then tingling pain filled me. I reflexively rolled to avoid follow-up attacks, but... damn it.

'Even with one eye and that huge body, how is such speed really possible?'

Second problem. Speed that's absolutely inexplicable.

How does that body produce such speed? It's scientifically completely impossible. This isn't right. No, is that really possible realistically? In movies with giant monsters or robots, they were all slow - isn't that normal?

While barely pulling together my mind hazy from pain, I hear an angry shout from above.

"You idiot! I told you! Everyone who thought they were slow died!"

This is a bit unfair. No, I never let my guard down. I never thought it would be slow! It's just faster than imagination, such movement absolutely couldn't come out!

Additionally, my body being tired from fighting Hyeon Sujin is also a problem.

Who says she's not an Elder? Who says she's not a global disaster? We really fought desperately. As a result, my stamina and magic power were also tremendously consumed.

Fighting an S-rank monster again in such a situation really crosses the line. Originally, we would have decided the match with each other's last move, but the situation became this mess.

Kugugugu!—

I dodged that pillar-like shin flying from the front once more. As soon as I threw my body, a huge wind sound goes "woong!" from behind. If I had been properly kicked by that, wouldn't my whole body have been crushed to death?

"Hey! One-eye! One-eyed cripple! Here, here!"

Thinking its attacks were too concentrated on me, Hyeon Sujin draws its attention. The tired condition should be the same as mine, but Hyeon Sujin was enduring better than me.

The cyclops guy seems to have fallen for it. It turns interest to Hyeon Sujin. If its attacks had continued again, I really didn't have confidence to endure, so it's quite fortunate. To receive help from an Elder like this. If it keeps being like this, positive thoughts...

...Ah, fuck. Cancel. That thing is also a crazy woman! This fuck!

Kwakwakwakwakwang!—

Gritting my teeth and doing my utmost to dodge the shadows falling like rain from the sky. Glancing back, shadows are stuck countless in the spot where I was just before. After almost becoming mashed potato earlier, this time I almost became a porcupine.

Damn Elder! To backstab like this! Positive thoughts my ass! You targeted me, right? That damn Elder really crosses the line hard!

"Hyeon Sujin, you—"

"Sorry! This really isn't intentional! I don't have magic power left to control range!"

While struggling to avoid the cyclops's two hands, Hyeon Sujin offers an apology. Seeing her do that again in such urgency, it doesn't seem like she really intended to backstab.

But why do those words sound like provocation rather than apology to my ears? I almost cursed for a moment but decided to endure for now.

Anyway, thanks to Hyeon Sujin, I escaped from its attacks. Because I gained a little time to catch my breath and calm my magic power.

"...Now! Get out!"

"Hey! That's! Not! Up to me! You bastard!"

"Ah, I don't know either! Whether you get swept up or not!"

It's unstable but there's no choice. If I drag out time more, the path I carefully drew will blur. I draw in the storm that almost became a suicide technique again with my sword.

Kugugugu— Kwaaaaaa!—

The cyclops, which was chasing Hyeon Sujin, also seems to feel an unusual energy. It gives up chasing her and starts charging this way again.

"Where are you going, bastard!"

Hyeon Sujin's shadows rush from all directions like waves, like tsunamis. Half of them couldn't even pierce the hide due to lack of magic power, but it doesn't matter. Anyway, her job is to buy time, and that was sufficient for me.

The cyclops's speed noticeably decreased. Visibly so. It seems to barely feel pain, but can't help being annoyed? It was natural as it roared and swatted away the flying shadows.

"Heup!"

If I get swept up again, I might really die, but if I can't stop that guy, dying is the same. In that case, it's better to bet on something with possibility of survival. Thinking that, I let the finely trembling wind flow toward it.

Kwaaaaaaa!!—

Of course, the wind that flew toward it was absolutely not just 'wind.'

"Uaaa! fuck! I have to get hit by that again!"

Shut up, Elder. You have sins committed, so quietly take it!

---

"Hey, Baek Seojin. Tell me honestly."

"It's hectic, can't you say it later?"

"No. Say it now."

Geez. What are you trying to ask again?

"Last time when you got me, it was really damn strong and hurt, but this one is a bit lacking?"

"Of course. Back then my physical condition was better than now. Stamina and magic power were better too."

"Somehow it sounds like you're saying it's because of me."

You heard right if it sounded like that. I answered while leaping away.

Right after, the cyclops's giant fist struck down where Hyeon Sujin and I were.

Kuwor!—

To state the result first, the 'storm' did hit properly. Damage definitely went in, making the cyclops's body become rags.

Yes, it hit, but the power was less than before, so it didn't become a fatal blow. Thanks to that, it only thoroughly aroused the cyclops's real madness.

"I'll do containment again. If I do it once more, at least I've peeled off all the hide..."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Hyeon Sujin cuts off my words and suddenly calls it nonsense. When I ask what she means, she glares at me and continues.

"You're at rock bottom magic power right now. That earlier was barely squeezed out too."

At those words, I unconsciously flinched and trembled. When did she figure that out? No, how did she figure it out in the first place?

"It's obvious. The storm you used to fire well before, now you're shooting crookedly? If you were that sloppy, I and Kwak Hyuk wouldn't have struggled so much. Ah, constantly mentioning that dead guy feels like taunting. Anyway, let's switch roles. You lure, I catch."

I responded to the proposed opinion by looking at Hyeon Sujin. My magic power being at rock bottom is true, but do you have enough? Rather, you're at rock bottom in both magic power and stamina, what are you thinking of doing?

Did she notice such inner thoughts? Hyeon Sujin smiles.

"Hey. Don't tell me you're worried about me? Stop it. I don't deserve worry, and I'm quite more senior than you. If you can't do it, you think I can't either? Do you think S-rank qualifications and Elder tags were obtained for free?"

Of course, I'm not ignoring Hyeon Sujin. What she said about being more senior, that's true. Movement, magic power operation ability, presence detection and techniques to deceive it. There's 'experience' from already being active as S-rank before, then as an Elder.

But that's only possible when circumstances support it. Hyeon Sujin's current situation is worse than mine if anything, not good.

Magic power? It's in a similarly consumed state as mine. Body? Look at that. Blood flowing down. In that state you'll take the attack role? That's harder work. Much harder than luring.

To give effective hits beyond that to that crazy monster, there's one answer. You must grit your teeth and pour out everything you have and don't have. But if Hyeon Sujin does that, her body won't endure and eventually...

'...No, fuck? Wait a minute.'

Kwang!—

After avoiding what tried to catch us like mosquitoes with both palms. I ran to Hyeon Sujin, who was subtly gathering magic power, and grabbed her collar.

"Crazy?! What are you doing!"

"Shut up. What are you trying to do? Don't tell me you're trying to die?"

You're not, right? With eyes focused on revenge, suddenly self-sacrifice?

"What? Got caught."

"...Are you serious?"

"Anyway, my body's at its limit, and this way leads nowhere, so I was just going to self-destruct and finish it."

"What about revenge?"

"Originally your type of character is like that. If you sacrifice yourself, you take on that burden?"

I almost hit her for a moment because it was so absurd.

How exactly did you interpret my character? And I have no intention of taking over your revenge baton.

"It's a joke, bastard. Don't make that expression."

Hyeon Sujin clicked her tongue and poured shadows onto the cyclops's face as it pushed forward. Thanks to that briefly subduing its movement, she caught her breath and said.

"I won't die. I have no intention of dying. I just presented a rational method for revenge in the current situation. Anyway, you can't deal any more significant critical hits now. But I can."

"There's no need for that if we just endure a little more for support..."

"Are you crazy? Telling me to get caught? And if we drag out time more like this, this underground facility will be completely destroyed. Look at this. Besides what we already smashed, almost everything is gone."

Certainly, looking around the area, it was the worst situation. If we continue fighting like this, I guarantee everything to present as evidence will disappear.

"And you know."

Roughly wiping off blood, Hyeon Sujin scratches her head as if reluctant.

"...Ah, fuck! So, it's embarrassing! A guy who's not even S-rank is causing such trouble."

"It sounds weird when someone who quit being an ability user to become a villain says that."

So you're not completely trash like Kwak Hyuk?

"So will you switch roles or not? If you can finish it, keep going."

I no longer understand what this woman's true intention is.

However, one thing certain is that as Hyeon Sujin said, I find it hard to deal more critical hits. Rather, 'blocking' against that monster might be better.

Anyway, what's supporting me now is the gatekeeper trait.

"How long should I buy time?"

After making up my mind and asking that, Hyeon Sujin grins.

"5 minutes."

5 minutes. 5 minutes. Damn. It'll probably be the longest 5 minutes of my life.