Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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The [Fragmented Earth Garden] is an epic rune capable of handling earth-element magic attacks. It’s the earth magic that was used to deal with us by the Mountain Serpent. They all seemed to possess magic derived from this rune. With the acquisition of this rune, I now have my seventh epic rune. Especially among the four elements, it’s the earth element, following fire and water, including lightning, making it my fourth elemental magic rune when considering expanded attributes.

“It seems like I’m becoming more of a magician…” I thought to myself.

With runes of this grade, I must have a talent greater than most magician-type Holders. Perhaps, when I properly learn the arrangement and manifestation of magic, and even acquire the core runes of magician types like [Magic Amplification] and [Spell Enhancement]…

I could really replace the role of a magician in the party. But I shook my head with a bitter smile.

“Still, my main focus is using weapons.”

As a [Rune Hunter], I acquire a tremendous number of runes, but my main rune is still [Master of Martial Arts], which utilizes various weapons. Its proficiency and level is high, also, related derivative runes like swordsmanship, mostly influence direct combat in the physical domain. If I had to choose and focus, it seemed more efficient to develop physical runes.

Moreover, magic-element runes offer many ways to be useful even without learning magic. For example, using flames on a sword or manipulating water to create variables on the battlefield. With my current abilities, these runes were more than enough.

“Power Break is… a decent skill too.”

[Power Break] is the most fitting derivative skill for the rune ‘Fragmented Earth Garden’. It delivers a massive shock to the ground in contact with the user, shaking all the earth within a certain distance from that area. At first, the skill information seemed a bit vague, but as I read it, it appeared to have endless applications. It could be used for escape when surrounded by multiple monsters during a solo play, employed as an opening move in one-on-one situations, or even to create variables. It was a skill capable of both offense and defense, capable of changing the course of battle by demolishing formations. However, its range wasn’t as wide as expected, and its cooldown was as long as a day, similar to [New Wave]. It seemed like I needed to use it judiciously.

“…I’m going to bed now.”

I headed straight for the bed. The ultimate skills of [Sky-Shattering Heavenly Sword] and [Water Sword Dance], which had their usage restrictions lifted this time, and the stats that had grown while conquering dungeons, I wanted to check them all casually, but honestly, I didn’t feel like doing anything.

It had only been three days since I joined <Judgment of Fire>, but I had already completed various tasks, from conquering undiscovered dungeons to facing at least A-grade or higher boss monsters.

There had been too many events in just three days.

Maybe that’s why.

Even though I only organized the information of the newly acquired runes, my head still hurt.

“Let’s do it tomorrow. Tomorrow.”

I entrusted the piled-up tasks to my future self and immediately fell asleep. It was the sweetest sleep I had had in a while.

***

Ippotranslation

***

The next day, I went to the clan with a fresher mind than anyone else. The air in Yeouido welcoming me on my way to work was surprisingly refreshing.

<Judgment of Fire>’s mornings were always lively. The front desk on the first floor was busy with phone calls every time I saw them, and the rookie guards responsible for security were firmly guarding the entrance today as well.

“You shouldn’t do this. You can’t enter without an access card.”

“Hey… guys? I already told you, I’m Scout Team Leader Cho Kyu-hyuk. Right now, the front desk is busy, and there’s no one to vouch for me. Do you know how experienced I am? Can’t you let me in?”

“You can’t enter without an access card.”

“No, I went on a mission and came back, and you guys still don’t recognize me…”

…Is this déjà vu? It feels like I’m seeing a familiar scene. Why do these team leader-level people never carry access cards? They are reliable teammates when we go on missions or fight, but on ordinary days, they are unruly troublemakers among clan members.

I arrived at the clan tower’s 25th floor via the elevator. It was the 5th Hunting Team’s office.

Overflowing with documents and various items, the office appeared quite welcoming, even though it had only been empty for a day. As I opened the office door and greeted my colleagues lightly, their attention converged on me.

“Good morning, seniors.”

Everyone who had been engrossed in their work turned their eyes toward me. Many team members had already arrived early in the morning. I was also among the early arrivals, but it seemed like there were quite a few punctual team members.

“Oh, intern, good morning. You’re here early, huh?”

“Has Do Jae-hyun arrive?”

“Hello, Do Jae-hyun…!!”

Lee Soo-mi, Choi Dong-wook, and Shin Yuna greeted me one by one. When I first joined this clan and entered the 5th Hunting Team, they had seemed awkward and distant as teammates. But now, we had become colleagues who exchange morning greetings.

Someone had mentioned that parties during monster hunting were the fastest way to become close with other clan members, and it seemed to be true in my case. After participating in a mission to conquer the Forest Covered by Snake dungeon as a member of the 5th Hunting Team, I quickly bonded with my team members, and I easily grasped how the team operated. That’s why operational team outings seemed more important than orientation.

“Hasn’t the team leader arrived yet?”

I heard that the C-grade members in our team had been sent on a mission to Iukhansan Field. So, today, only the B-grade members, along with me and Shin Yuna, were in the office. These were the team members I had joined for the dungeon raid just yesterday. Among them, Kim Seong-cheol, Kang Juyeon, and the team leader, Kwon Oh-jun, had not yet arrived.

“Um… the team leader is on the 10th floor.”

“The 10th floor?”

I inadvertently asked again in response to Lee Soo-mi’s answer.

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