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When Jeong Gyeoul went to hand over the Glock to the guard team leader, it wasn’t just the Glock she handed over.

As she handed the Glock to the team leader, Jeong Gyeoul pulled out a dagger from her pocket.

The hilt of the shining silver dagger was engraved with a geometric design of twisted and coiled shapes.

The grip was wrapped in soft, flexible leather, dyed a deep, rich brown that perfectly complemented the silver.

The leather tightly wrapped around the hilt, providing a comfortable and secure grip.

The scabbard covering the blade was made of glossy wood, stained in a dark, rich brown that perfectly matched the leather of the hilt.

The scabbard was also intricately engraved.

Lines, dots, and surfaces danced endlessly, intertwining with delicacy, splendor, beauty, and elegance.

The dagger and scabbard were a beauty in themselves, a work of art.

Just as the guard team leader, as if entranced, reached out to grab the hilt of the dagger Jeong Gyeoul offered—

Whoosh—

“Hehe, when did I say I was giving you the dagger?”

“…?”

Jeong Gyeoul, who had swiftly pulled the dagger back, drew the dagger from the scabbard and handed over the scabbard.

“Take this.”

“The scabbard?”

“It’s got a lot of unnecessary designs, but it still looks good.”

“It doesn’t just look good, it clearly looks good… but what exactly am I supposed to use the scabbard for?”

The confused guard team leader asked, clearly puzzled.

If she had given him the dagger, he could have used it anywhere, but handing over just the scabbard made him think it was strange.

“That’s an artifact.”

“An artifact?”

“Seolhwa unni appraised it. If you infuse it with magic power, it can retrieve the dagger.”

“So, it’s not like teleportation, but more like the dagger flying back to the scabbard, right?”

“Yes! How did you know?”

Conversations with someone who understands are always enjoyable.

Jeong Gyeoul couldn’t help but find the conversation with the guard team leader, who understood her intentions without needing explanations, amusing.

“Since you’re giving me something that retrieves, it seems like you’re trying to pinpoint a location. If it were teleportation, that wouldn’t work. It’s like Ariadne’s thread to bring Jeong Gyeoul to me.”

“Exactly! In an emergency, infuse it with magic power. Then I’ll come find you.”

Other artifacts were all feminine accessories, so she didn’t carry them around.

Since they only had functions like detoxification, magic recovery, and suit functions, Jeong Gyeoul didn’t really need them.

There were unbreakable swords and flaming swords, but…

‘They’re too big.’

Just carrying the short sword her master gave her on her waist was already a lot.

Imagining carrying a sword on her back made her shudder at how annoying it would be.

Using telekinesis to float it around all day wasn’t an option either.

‘If it were carrying a tray in a restaurant, maybe, but floating a sword around all day with telekinesis… that’s just overworking my brain.’

Super Ability Category consumes a lot of mental energy compared to other categories.

She didn’t want to keep infusing telekinesis into a sword she probably wouldn’t use.

But this dagger was different.

A compact size that fits perfectly in her pocket.

A convenient tool that can be used anytime, anywhere.

The best artifact for those who value portability and accessibility!

Just 39,900…

“It’s reassuring and nice that the Hero is supporting us, but… wouldn’t it be enough to just mark the path we’re taking? Is there really a need to use an artifact?”

“…It’s embarrassing to say, but I have a terrible sense of direction. Even if you mark the path, I’ll probably still get lost.”

“Ah… if a person were perfect, they wouldn’t be human.”

The guard team leader awkwardly smiled and offered an awkward consolation.

“Anyway, thank you. I hope we won’t need to use it, but things don’t always go as planned.”

“Even a stone bridge should be tapped before crossing, and everything should be done with caution. Make sure to take it.”

“You really don’t seem like a 14-year-old. You’re not on your second life, are you?”

“…Huh?”

Jeong Gyeoul was taken aback by the team leader’s joke.

***

The giant moth, as if waiting for a cooldown after its psychic attack, just stared at the guard team members without moving.

“If you’ve got something, use it quickly! It’s an artifact, right? How do you use it?”

“If you infuse the scabbard with magic power, the dagger will be retrieved. She said she’d follow it.”

“…We’re doomed.”

“Totally messed up.”

The faces of the team members, filled with anticipation, turned gloomy again.

“What are you talking about?”

“Aren’t we all non-awakened? Infusing magic power… it’s just a pretty, expensive piece of trash.”

“I can’t say it was good, but it was an interesting life. Let’s not be on the same team in the afterlife.”

“If we go to the afterlife, we’ll have to sort out the hierarchy again. It won’t be based on seniority or rank.”

“Then of course I’ll be the team leader, right?”

Mincheol, the largest in size, stepped forward proudly.

Everyone was trying to ease their fear of death with jokes.

“Why are these crazy guys only talking about dying? Jeong Gyeoul isn’t a fool, she obviously made it usable.”

“I knew it! I believed in her!”

“Damn, I guess I’m not at the stage to dream of being team leader yet!”

“Hurry up and activate it! Who knows when that monster moth will attack again!”

“Do you think I’m a fool to waste time talking? I activated it as soon as I took it out! What do you take the team leader for…?”

Whoooosh—

The team leader was cut off by a sudden, tremendous gust of wind.

“What’s this now!”

“The moth! Is it the moth’s attack?”

If it were the giant moth’s wing flaps, it could certainly cause such a wind.

As everyone thought it was the moth’s doing and frantically looked for a place to hide—

A delicate woman’s voice came from behind.

“If you keep talking about the moth after I flew all the way here, I might get hurt.”

“…Hero Jeong Gyeoul?”

“Am I late? The dagger was slower than I thought…”

“No! It was faster than I imagined! Like a hypersonic missile!”

The faces of the team members, who were on the verge of death, lit up, but only for a moment.

“At least we can escape from the giant moth… but if we can’t leave the island, it’s all for nothing, right?”

“Who’s escaping? We’re going to catch it! But how come we didn’t see that big guy at the camp? Is there some kind of barrier? I didn’t feel anything like that…”

“It’s at least a calamity-class. How are you going to handle that alone… Just making eye contact caused a psychic attack. Don’t underestimate it!”

“It’s okay. I’ve transcended.”

“…?”

Jeong Gyeoul spoke the truth, but the team members couldn’t understand what she was saying.

Because nothing was known about human transcendence.

“…Whatever it is, if you say it’s possible, there must be a way. Let’s believe in you. If we fail, we’re all dead anyway.”

“The team leader is right. Even if we get out of here, will that giant moth just leave the island alone? If we can’t catch it, we’re all dead.”

The team members, having steeled their resolve, lightened their bodies to back up Jeong Gyeoul.

“…What are you doing?”

“Since the barrier armor will probably be breached soon, it’s better to lighten our bodies and try to dodge at least one attack…”

“Are you going to fight?”

“…?”

“Just stay quiet and hide. I’ll put up a magic barrier, so don’t move from here.”

After finishing her words and separating from the team members, Jeong Gyeoul gestured once and soared towards the giant moth.

“…Is the barrier up now?”

“Don’t ask me… I don’t know either…”

“But didn’t they say Hero Jeong Gyeoul is from the Super Ability Category? Why is she suddenly using magic…?”

“Is it like placebo or something? If you believe there’s a barrier, you’re protected?”

“What is this muscle-headed lunatic talking about…”

Jeong Gyeoul stood at eye level with the giant moth.

“…Its eye is bigger than my body.”

The pupil-like structure moved, staring directly at Jeong Gyeoul.

Screeeeech—!!!

The giant moth flapped its wings towards Jeong Gyeoul, creating a fierce wind.

Mixed in the wind was moth powder, and as it touched her skin, it turned red as if it were poisonous.

‘Should I have brought the detox necklace?’

She thought it was just a giant moth, but it was emitting powder that could penetrate magical protection and affect her body.

Jeong Gyeoul coated her body with a layer of magic power to block the powder.

Then, she stretched out her hand, focused her mind, and drew in magic power.

A white light began to gather at her fingertip.

Rumble—

Crackle—

A deafening roar seemed to shake the entire island.

As a tremendous amount of magic power gathered, the moth, sensing danger, flapped its wings even more fiercely, but it couldn’t harm Jeong Gyeoul, who was heavily protected by magic power.

As if realizing this wasn’t working, the giant moth moved its massive body to charge at Jeong Gyeoul.

“It’s too late now. You should’ve been quicker.”

Bang!

The magic power that had gathered with a tremendous roar shot out with a surprisingly light sound.

But the result was anything but light.

A hole was blown through the giant moth’s body.

A hole big enough for a plane to pass through.

And that wasn’t all.

A lightning bolt that had slashed down from above pierced through the moth’s body and landed at the edge of the island.

One-third of the island was completely obliterated.

“…We’re screwed.”

A British territory’s island was blown away like this.

Her mind went blank thinking about how to explain this to the Queen.

Deciding to call a meeting to resolve this issue as soon as she returned to camp, Jeong Gyeoul slowly descended towards where the guard team was.

Her cheeks turned slightly red at the sight of them waving and jumping, shouting.

“Ah, really, you don’t have to welcome me like that. It’s embarrassing.”

“The moth! The moth!”

“That’s right. I’m the one who caught that giant moth!”

“Look behind you! Look behind! Look behind, you fool!”

Hearing the team members’ urgent voices, she turned around.

The giant moth was flying towards them at an incredible speed.

With no sound or wind pressure, an odd phenomenon.

Even the hole in its body had already been filled.

“…What the hell?”

 

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