I Became an Illegal Cheat User

67 – Bewilderment (1)

…Biiiiiik.

A ringing in my ears.

A blurred vision.

The earthy scent rushing into my nostrils.

I realized I was lying on the ground.

“Ugh….”

My head felt foggy.

My whole body throbbed with pain.

‘Ah, I just want to rest deeply like this.’

But I had to get up.

I need to understand how we ended up in this situation.

As soon as I thought that, I pushed myself up from the floor with both hands.

And as soon as I knelt on one knee, I pulled out the spirit elixir from my inventory and consumed it.

“Huuh.”

The nausea that had been churning in my stomach settled.

My shaky vision regained its focus.

The fog in my mind cleared once more.

I immediately looked around.

“…Aah!”

“My leg, my leg…!”

“Hey, you! Get a grip!”

I could see my comrades with broken arms and twisted legs.

I spotted others who had collapsed on the floor, just like I had, losing consciousness.

From the looks of it, it seemed that Park Garam’s defensive magic had come a moment too late.

But if there was a silver lining in this misfortune…

– Kkiieeek! Kkiieeeek!

Sak, saak!

“Damn it, barrier!”

“Break, break! Just break already!”

“aaah! A barrier after a barrier!”

Bang! Bang bang!

The monsters and the corrupted were blocked from entering by the magical barrier.

As soon as I saw that scene, I steadied my trembling legs and shouted.

“Everyone, gather where Park Garam is!”

As soon as I yelled that, everyone rushed towards Park Garam.

Of course, I didn’t forget to check on the injured ones lying around.

I too made my way to Park Garam while helping those who had lost consciousness nearby.

Watching us, Park Garam began to draw his arms, which had been spread wide, inward.

As he did, the magical barrier that had been positioned began to narrow.

When it had shrunk to about a 20-meter radius…

Clap!

Park Garam, who had fixed the size of the barrier with a clap, plopped down onto the ground.

Then, with a somewhat relieved expression, she let out a long sigh and said,

“Ha, that was tough….”

Even as a disciple of the Gray Witch, it seemed quite a stretch to cast a defensive spell without incantation, especially on such a wide scale.

Her pale face was drenched in cold sweat.

“Park Garam, you did well.”

“Yeah…, heh heh….”

Park Garam nodded weakly, managing a faint smile.

I handed her a Spirit Elixir and told her to take a moment to rest.

Of course, since she had already consumed the elixir, she wouldn’t receive any further benefits like an increase in mental strength or an expansion of her spirit vessel.

The mystical energy contained within the elixir, however, would not vanish.

And that mystical energy would help restore her “magical power.”

In other words, the Spirit Elixir served as both a “full-body cleanser” and a “magical power recovery potion.”

“Th-thank you.”

Knowing this, Park Garam didn’t refuse the elixir.

As I watched her consume it, I pulled out a box filled with elixirs.

Then, I thumped it down onto the floor and said,

“If anyone is low on magical power or having mental issues, take this.”

At that, my classmates looked at me in shock.

“What? Isn’t this only for those who do well in practice?”

As one of my classmates pointed out, I had previously only given elixirs to the main and supporting characters or those who excelled in practice.

But right now, it was an extremely urgent situation to uphold that rule.

Not to mention, I had the cheat of infinite items.

If it were a comfortable situation during practice, I might hold back on the elixirs, but in a situation like this?

‘That would be foolish.’

It would be no different than sticking your head out and asking the enemy to kill you.

“Not in practice.”

But this isn’t practice; it’s real combat, isn’t it?

“I have no intention of saving elixirs when we need every bit of strength we can muster.”

“…You’re not going to say anything later, right?”

“What, do you want me to write a statement or something?”

Even when told to eat, they can’t do it comfortably.

I sighed and pulled out a potion from the box.

Then I approached the classmate at the front and said,

“Open your mouth.”

“…Huh?”

“I said, open your mouth.”

“Uh, okay…, ah….”

My fierce demeanor made my classmate shrink back slightly, but they slowly opened their mouth.

No, have you seen this frustrating friend?

“Not slowly.”

I said to open it wide, wide!

“Ah, ah!”

“Yes, just like that.”

Keep your mouth wide open.

The potion is going in!

I shouted that and placed the potion into my classmate’s mouth, who was opening it like a baby bird.

Then I snapped their jaw shut with a gentle thud.

Gulp.

My classmate’s eyes widened as they swallowed the potion, which melted like liquid.

A surge of magical energy erupted from their body.

Since it was their first time consuming the potion, the effects were kicking in.

Of course, they didn’t release a massive amount of magical power like the main characters.

Still, they had a rather rough energy, as if to say they were not just any ordinary class.

“Are you still not going to eat?”

A chance to expand the vessel of the soul, right?

It’ll be hard to eat it later if not now?

Just as I was about to say that.

“W-Well, I’ll eat it!”

“Ah, move aside! I’m running out of magic!”

“I’m having a mental breakdown right now, so let me eat first!”

Everyone rushed to dive into the elixir box.

I nodded at the sight of my comrades and took out three boxes from my inventory, placing them down.

“After you all finish that elixir, eat this too.”

I said that, but it seemed everyone was savoring the effects of the elixir, as no one responded.

I shook my head and opened the box.

As I did, the potion inside emitted the same unique fragrance as the elixirs.

“…They’ll figure it out.”

Since I had opened the box, they would surely realize that what was inside was an elixir without me having to say anything.

So what I needed to do now was.

“Hey, guys, I need some help.”

“Yes!”

“Um, what do you need help with?”

“Do we just use the potions in these two boxes?”

It’s about healing the injured.

&

Meanwhile, at Arena Academy.

Bang! Crash! Bang!

Clang! Clang!

“…Damn it, why haven’t those guys from the association shown up yet!”

“Hey, Instructor Park! Didn’t the association’s team leave earlier? Where are they!”

“I don’t know either… Ugh! They definitely left a while ago!”

Injured instructors.

There had been 50 of them when they first clashed.

Now, the number of instructors fighting the corrupted was barely 20.

“Try contacting them again!”

“…I can’t get through! It seems like they’re under attack over there too!”

“Damn it! Have those corrupted freaks gone completely insane? Suddenly acting out like this!”

The instructors cursed with furious expressions, swinging their weapons even harder.

Each time, the fallen of the mid to lower ranks were swept away in droves by the swords and magic of the instructors.

Though they were retired, the instructors still held a rank that was undeniably superior.

The fallen beneath them were not opponents they could dare to confront.

Yet, the sheer number of the fallen was overwhelming.

Even so, no matter how much higher the instructors’ rank was compared to the fallen…

“…aaah!”

“Instructor Seo! Instructor Seo─!”

There was a limit to the sheer volume of enemies.

“The numbers, there are just too many! We have to retreat!”

“Shut up! We know that too!”

“Then why aren’t we retreating?!”

At the words of one instructor, the oldest among them swung his weapon and shouted.

“Aren’t there children behind us?!”

At the old instructor’s cry, the other instructors fighting alongside him added their voices.

“There are staff members who used to scold us for not filling out the paperwork properly!”

“And the chefs and ladies from the cafeteria who always serve us delicious meals!”

“There’s also the gardener who decorates the flower beds beautifully!”

The old instructor chuckled and continued.

“How can we retreat in a situation like this!”

At the old instructor’s words, the one who had suggested retreating seemed to realize something.

He clamped his mouth shut.

Then he began to swing his weapon with even more ferocity.

Seeing this, the senior instructors laughed and shouted.

“Of course, being young means you have boundless energy!”

“Can’t you just take them all down for us!”

“Getting old is tough, it’s tough!”

But contrary to those words,

The fervor in their eyes and the strength in their weapons were no less fierce than the instructors who were fighting with all their might.

Boom─! Boom─!

And it was the same for Kang Cheol-soo, who was battling against pride.

But it was just a show of bravado; Kang Cheol-soo’s strength had undeniably weakened.

“Ugh….”

Kang Cheol-soo let out a pained groan.

Even while using only his upper-tier power, the shards of the plague embedded in his body were inflicting torment.

『Ah, our Crusher has become too weak, hasn’t he?』

Pride sneered.

In response to that arrogance, Kang Cheol-soo gritted his teeth and swung his fist, filled with the power of destruction.

『Oh dear, that looks painful, so I should dodge.』

Pride leaped away from his position.

Kang Cheol-soo’s fist struck the spot where Pride had just been.

Kwooom─!

A heavy, thunderous sound echoed, as if something immensely weighty had fallen.

Kwadadadadadak─!

Following that, the space warped and crumpled.

『…Kyaaah!』

『You crazy bird of Pride…, Kyaaah!』

『If we dodge that, we’ll…, crack!』

Countless Fallen behind Pride were ground to dust, vanishing as if caught in a crusher.

『Phew, maybe he’s still holding on?』

Yet contrary to the words, Pride’s mouth still curled into a mocking smile.

To that Pride, Kang Cheol-soo continued to swing his fists without rest.

『Hmm, is he not done for?』

Pride tilted his head in confusion.

『Damn, I can’t tell.』

As if genuinely perplexed, Pride tilted his head this way and that before suddenly breaking into a sly grin.

Then, he thrust his fist toward Kang Cheol-soo’s approaching blow.

Kwaaang─!

A radius of 30 meters exploded around Kang Cheol-soo and Pride.

Simultaneously, a tremendous shockwave swept through the surroundings.

“Ughhh!”

“What a shockwave!”

『You arrogant b*stard… Ugh!』

『If you’re going to take us as your subordinates, at least take care of your subordinates, you arrogant piece of trash!』

The instructor and the fallen were flung away by the shockwave, rolling across the ground.

Of course, neither Gangcheolsu nor the completely indifferent Kyoman had any time to care about that; they were too busy clashing their fists.

Kwah-ahh─!

『Weak!』

Kwah-ahh-ahh─!

『Weak─!』

Kwah-ahh-ahh-ahh─!

『I said it’s weak─!!』

Kyoman shouted this with glee, bursting into laughter, “Puhaha!”

In contrast, Gangcheolsu was bleeding profusely from every orifice—eyes, nose, mouth—as he continued to counter Kyoman’s punches.

But as time passed.

Sizzle, sizzle…

Gangcheolsu was gradually pushed back.

Kyoman relentlessly pressed forward.

And eventually.

Kwah-ahh─, kwah-jijik─!

“…Kuhak!”

Kyoman’s fist shattered Gangcheolsu’s gauntlet.

And from that moment on.

『Crusher─!!』

Kyoman’s fist began to embed itself into Gangcheolsu’s body.

Puh-buh-buh-buh-buh!

『Our nightmare!』

Gangcheolsu’s right arm twisted.

『Our terror!』

Gangcheolsu’s left shoulder slumped.

『Our death!』

Crack!

…Kang Cheol-soo’s chest caved in.

Thud.

Ultimately, Kang Cheol-soo’s knee hit the ground.

“Hahaha, hahahaha! The Crusher has knelt! The Crusher has knelt!”

Pride burst into laughter, gripping Kang Cheol-soo’s head.

“You little pest, you’ve really done a number on the Crusher, hahahaha!”

An unseen gaze.

But it was certain that the b*stard was right in front of him.

Kang Cheol-soo swung his broken right arm.

Thud…

“…Huh?”

Pride, who had been laughing heartily, lowered his head to something that had touched his leg.

“…You little shit.”

The laughter vanished from Pride’s lips.

A swing devoid of any strength.

Pride realized from that swing that Kang Cheol-soo still hadn’t given up.

“Why are you still unbroken?”

How?

How, despite being so utterly shattered?

It was incomprehensible.

No, he didn’t want to understand.

“…Just die.”

Pride raised his fist.

And just as he was about to swing it toward Kang Cheol-soo’s head.

Bang─!

“…Aah!”

With the sound of a gunshot, something burrowed into Pride’s arm.

Pride grimaced at the pain radiating from his arm and pulled out whatever had lodged itself there.

“What the hell is this… a bullet?”

It was nothing less than a bullet infused with divine power.

“Which b*stard fired this kind of bullet! Show yourself right now!”

At that moment, Pride shouted.

“Is that so? As you said, here I am.”

With a gust of wind, Gray appeared before Pride.

At the same time.

“Sister, you must come with us.”

A priestess in white robes appeared behind Pride, accompanied by a radiant light.

“No, this b*stard is saying it’s this kind of bullet, how infuriating.”

“Still, aren’t we a team, Sister?”

The priestess, who had been keeping her eyes closed, gently opened one eye.

At that, Gray averted his gaze and nodded.

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

“Then can you go alone, or not?”

“…Not.”

“Exactly. You can’t go alone.”

With Gray’s affirmation, the priestess smiled softly and closed her eyes again.

“From now on, even if you’re angry, you mustn’t go alone, understood?”

“Yeah….”

Just then, as Gray nodded with a sullen expression at the priestess’s gentle admonition.

“…Are you two messing around right now?”

Pride trembled with a vicious expression.

“Are you playing games in front of me?!”

Filled with rage, Pride swung his fist at Gray.

No, he tried to swing it.

“You’re quite arrogant, aren’t you?”

“……!”

…Kugugugugugugu─!

Until the intangible force pressed down on his body.

“I’m speaking, and you dare to interrupt me?”

The priestess’s closed eyes slowly open.

With each passing moment, Pride’s form sank lower and lower.

“A wretch like you?”

And as her eyes fully opened, revealing their crimson hue.

『…Cardinal Remilia?!』

Pride, kneeling on the ground, cried out the priestess’s name with a face full of horror.

Then the priestess… no, Cardinal Remilia, looked down at Pride with an expressionless face and reached her hand toward the void.

Kiiiiiing…!

Light gathered in her hand.

The light took shape.

It was a spear adorned with the emblem of the temple.

『…No, no!』

Pride screamed at the sight of the spear.

Regardless of Pride’s protests, Remilia lifted the spear.

“God is with us.”

As Remilia spoke those words, she thrust the spear down with a thud.

“Immanuel.”

Flap!

The banner attached to the spear unfurled like wings.

At the same moment, a beam of light shot forth from the tip of the spear, soaring upward.

And moments later.

Wuuung─!

A colossal trumpet sound echoed from the heavens.

Hwaaak─!

A tremendous light cascaded downwards.

『…Kraaak!』

Enveloped in light, Pride cried out in agony.

The other fallen ones vanished without a trace, unable to even scream.

And the light healed the wounds of the instructors completely.

With all wounds healed, Gangcheol bowed his head to Remilia.

Remilia smiled softly and nodded.

“Gray.”

“Yes.”

At Gangcheolsu’s call, Gray met his gaze.

To her, Gangcheolsu asked,

“The fact that you’re here means the commander of the extermination squad has gone to the kids, right?”

At that question, Gray smiled gently and nodded.

Then Gangcheolsu slumped down, letting out a deep sigh of relief.

“That’s… a relief.”

&

&

&

I treated the injured with the special recovery potions and awakening potions I had made.

Then, I set up barriers again and dealt with the monsters and the corrupted.

I did not deactivate Park Garam’s magical barrier.

No, to be precise, I couldn’t deactivate it.

『Shubaaam─!』

『…Shubaaam─!』

Kwahh—, kwahh—!

The corrupted occasionally self-destructed with a shubam bang.

And even when a shubam bang exploded right in front of her, true to Park Garam’s boast, her barrier remained intact.

Of course, as the barrier absorbed impacts, her magical energy was being consumed, but since I had placed a spirit box right next to her, there was no worry of running out of magic.

As we continued the siege for several tens of minutes, even hours.

Something caught my eye.

It was… a very beautiful woman.

One that seemed to draw me in completely.

She beckoned to me.

At that alluring gesture, I felt an irresistible urge to go to her.

And the moment I stepped onto the barrier.

[‘Strong Mind (A)’s derived skill ‘Calm Mind’ activation conditions have been met.]

[‘Would you like to activate “Calm Mind”?]

A message window appeared before my eyes.

“…Crazy!”

In an instant, I regained my composure and hurriedly pulled an awakening potion from my inventory and drank it.

As soon as I did, my clouded mind cleared in an instant.

I then gathered my magical energy in my throat and shouted.

“Illusion, appear! Everyone, drink your awakening potions─!”

As I shouted, a sultry voice whispered in my ear.

– Haaah…, your voice is so sweet.

I turned to look at her.

– Darling, won’t you come to me?

The illusion licked her lips with her tongue and continued.

– I’ll show you the ultimate pleasure, okay?

At those words, I lowered my mini-gun.

Then the illusion beckoned to me with eager eyes.

I smiled back at her.

Then, drawing the pistol ‘Thunderbolt’ from the holster of my tactical vest, I aimed it and said.

“Shut up.”

Boom─!

Thunderbolt shot out a bolt of lightning.