Ch.116116. Counterattack Begins!

I missed having Siwujin for the optimal escape route.

One of the evolved form’s abilities is creating the best path for optimal decisions. It’s similar to a navigation system.

The only difference is that it just sets the target. If I had seen that bastard Siwujin on my way, I would have killed him, but unfortunately, he wasn’t around.

Most importantly, if he had been nearby, Dokgo Jun would have definitely followed. Dokgo Jun isn’t someone I need to kill. Rather, I should keep him alive.

So I literally flew through the streets using my high-speed movement skill. I released my transformation after hiding as far away as possible.

Muscle pain hit me, but fortunately, I didn’t pass out.

The price was three days of rest.

I skipped Friday and ended up resting straight through Saturday and Sunday too.

“Still better than passing out immediately.”

Especially the day after transformation brought pain so severe I couldn’t even stand up. I just lay there groaning until Sunday when I could barely move again.

[Evolution]

-Impossible

[Main Card]

-Only Half-Dragon Asura available

Even after three days, evolution remained completely impossible, showing how significant the aftereffects were.

But the fact that I could face Dokgo Jun head-on made this level of risk worth taking.

Dokgo Jun is arguably the world’s best Jaeger.

I was able to confront such a man directly, push him back, and escape.

“This should be enough.”

November’s biggest issue had been resolved. The other one was final exams, but that wasn’t even worth calling a problem.

I could just laze around like this and start working hard again from Monday.

“Next weekend I should sleep at home.”

I usually alternate weekends between home and the dormitory on a two-week cycle. Generally speaking.

Of course, if I have plans with friends or work to do, I can’t go.

It was time for me to go home again.

“My body feels terrible. I should only use the evolved form in truly dangerous situations.”

Still, I’m satisfied. With the evolved form, I can easily handle even a Crevasse.

I’ve put surveillance on Yu Deokmin, and as for the second-years… from now on, I’ll face them head-on.

The next day came, and I went to school energetically, but once again the classroom atmosphere was strange.

It was different from the pressure of the second-years.

The expressions of Yu Deokmin and Min Gangsu, who should have been confident, weren’t good at all.

“What’s going on?”

I looked for my training camp teammates.

“What happened on Friday? Why is the mood like this?”

Minhyuk looked around and whispered to me.

“Ariel got into it with the second-years.”

“Really?”

I was startled. Of course, given Ariel’s personality, I thought something like this would happen eventually, but this quickly?

No, more importantly, in the future timeline, Ariel and the second-years didn’t have much friction, so why this sudden clash?

“How did it happen?”

“It was about Yu Jia. The second-year seniors said something, and Ariel immediately pushed back.”

“What happened then?”

“Ariel cursed them out, and Senior Bang Seokcheol scolded her for not respecting seniors…”

That would make Ariel explode even more.

The rest of the story was exactly as expected. In the end, the second-year disciplinary committee issued a warning against Ariel.

True to her character, Ariel flipped them off and ignored it. Now the second-years were determined to teach her a lesson.

That was the general story.

This is huge. Absolutely huge.

A major rift had occurred. No wonder Yu Deokmin looked upset.

The girl he likes has become a target of the second-years.

By the way, is Gyeongsu still monitoring? I need to make contact with him over the weekend.

Well, I’ll have to take the long view.

Just as I was about to move on, something happened.

After finishing first period in the morning, during break time, I got a call from Gyeongsu.

[Jonghyun. Answer when no one is around.]

“Okay.”

That means he found something. I quickly got up and headed to the rooftop. I continued the conversation while watching my surroundings.

“Did you find something?”

[On Friday evening, Yu Deokmin went to the Goblin Market.]

“The Goblin Market? What did you see there?”

[He met with someone, a friend or whatever. The meeting was brief, less than 3 seconds. Strange, isn’t it?]

“Going all the way to the Goblin Market to meet someone for less than 3 seconds…”

That’s typically how drug deals happen. They don’t stay long, either naturally passing by each other or just exchanging items and disappearing. Yu Deokmin could be doing the same.

[It’s just a suspicion for now, but I’m talking with the council about infiltrating the Goblin Market. If we check openly, they might run away. Doing it secretly is standard procedure. So even if Yu Deokmin seems suspicious, don’t show it. This isn’t just a school matter.]

It’s probably at the level where they need to raid everywhere, like taking down a drug organization.

[They’re setting a date to do it simultaneously, so wait until then. Our side plans to isolate anyone confirmed to have taken ‘that drug’.]

Things were progressing faster than I thought.

[So, Yu Deokmin is in your class, right? I want to get him measured somehow. Is there any way to get him to the measuring device?]

“Measuring device?”

[According to Instructor Eun Serin, if someone takes that drug, monster components can be detected in their body. This can be identified with a measuring device.]

“It would have been good if we could catch the human-monster with that too.”

[If we could, we wouldn’t be struggling like this. That thing perfectly mimics humans, that’s the problem. Anyway, our plan is this.]

Getting Yu Deokmin to the monster measuring device? How should I do that?

The monster measuring device isn’t some portable test kit. It’s a massive machine that could easily fit ten people.

Getting Yu Deokmin to go there voluntarily?

“Forcing him is impossible, right?”

[Strictly speaking, it would be possible, but the department head, vice principal, and Eun Serin all warned against provoking him too much. They said we might lose track of him. It feels like they’re hiding something.]

“Hiding something?”

[I don’t know the details, but they’re not telling us everything. Anyway, once we confirm with the monster measuring device, we’ll track down everyone supplying that drug and raid them simultaneously. Once confirmed, we can interrogate as much as needed.]

I was truly in the middle of an enormous case.

It’s rolling out on a bigger scale than expected.

Yes, since it’s come to this, we should take them all down at once.

By the time I finished the call, the break was already over.

I quickly took my seat while being scolded by the instructor.

So many things happening today.

But today’s schedule wasn’t over yet. During lunch, this time Geum Dohyeon called me.

“Here’s the biggest victim among the first-years.”

Geum Dohyeon sat next to me and discreetly passed me a note.

“If it’s a love letter from a girl, I’ll welcome it.”

“It is a love letter, in a way.”

The moment I read the note, I looked at Geum Dohyeon.

“Are you… in your right mind?”

“Yeah. It’s time to shake things up. My personality demands it. We’re going to drive out the second-years.”

I knew it was strange that Geum Dohyeon had maintained neutrality until now. This guy only knows how to either tear his opponents apart or submit.

Right now, Geum Dohyeon’s fangs were aimed at the second-years.

“First, shall we suppress their momentum? Ariel has already made her move. Now’s our chance.”

The moment a gap appears, he swoops in like a hawk to finish things.

As expected of a man with a 7% risk of causing destruction. He’s full of plans to stir up trouble.

Well, I guess I should help him.

*

Geum Dohyeon’s plan was simple.

“To be honest, we’re short on numbers. And I acknowledge Bang Seokcheol’s skills, if I should call him ‘senior.’ His personality is trash, though.”

“So we’ll lose?”

“No. I’ll win. The problem is the concept of seniors we’ll have to see for a year. Even if I beat Bang Seokcheol, if the rest band together, we’re done.”

That’s why he needed forces. Geum Dohyeon wanted to unite the first-years, including his own faction, just like before.

“Fight numbers with numbers. Rather than challenging them half-heartedly, if we confront them as a group, what can they do?”

“But Geum Dohyeon, what happens after we gather everyone?”

“Well, we start by making sure they can’t ignore even small things. If necessary, we use force.”

But at this point, I remembered the security team investigating the second-years’ misconduct.

Geum Dohyeon’s bold plan wasn’t bad, but what if friction occurs?

Rather than a conflict between first and second-years, it would be better if our side were clearly the victims.

I needed to stop Geum Dohyeon.

“Nothing too aggressive.”

Geum Dohyeon looked dissatisfied with my words.

“Why? You were desperate enough to try to frame the second-years, weren’t you?”

“It wasn’t framing. I was backstabbed.”

I told Geum Dohyeon the truth.

“So this Cheongi kid backstabbed you? My God, I couldn’t forgive that. I’d beat him senseless and cut ties.”

“That’s why I’m gathering evidence of the second-years’ wrongdoings. But just starting a fight now…”

“Would be an obstacle to getting rid of the second-years? Is that it? I guess you’re right, it’s better if we’re clearly the victims. Oh, but you’re more persistent than you look. You didn’t give up and kept digging?”

Geum Dohyeon nodded.

“I was going to confront them today, but I’ll give up on that.”

You were going to fight today? That’s pretty aggressive.

But this isn’t the end. Since we’re changing methods, we need follow-up measures.

Here’s my approach:

“We gather as many first-year opinions as possible, and there are second-years who don’t participate in this kind of behavior.”

“You want to bring in those second-years too? Won’t they side with their own year?”

“They won’t switch sides easily. For that, we need to show that we’re superior and stronger than the second-years. We need to demonstrate strength, whether in practical training or whatever.”

“Either way, we need to recruit more first-years? Most of the advanced class agrees with me. The intermediate class too. The lower class… isn’t Yu Deokmin close to the second-years?”

“I have three friends there.”

It’s bitter, but I have to admit it. If they’ve joined the enemy, we need to do our part.

“I beat Yu Deokmin one-on-one before, but that’s not enough. One-on-one is just personal satisfaction. To truly gain respect, we need results.”

“So you’ll take the lower class hegemony from Yu Deokmin again?”

“From today, you need to show dominance over the second-years. If they give you an opening, boldly call them out.”

That roughly settled what we needed to do.

“By the way, Dojeonghyun. You’re close with Ariel, right?”

“…Yes, we’re close.”

“Before coming to you, I also talked to Ariel and Seol Yuhwa.”

“You approached them first?”

“Yeah. Having girls on our side is better. Looks good too.”

Right. This guy likes women, doesn’t he?

“I get what you mean. It would be good if those two joined us.”

“You catch on quick. Gu Sangheon and Han Minwoo already agreed to join. After the memorial service incident, many people think the second-years went too far. It’s the perfect timing.”

Then there was nothing more to discuss. I went to find Ariel.

“Ariel, Seol Yuhwa. Can I see you two for a moment?”

I went to the advanced class and called them out.

“Dojeonghyun? Who are you to call me? No!”

“What is it?”

As expected, their reactions were completely opposite. This was anticipated.

“Both of you, come out to the hallway. I have something to discuss.”

“Dojeonghyun, I said I’m not coming.”

“I’ll be waiting outside.”

“Hey! Listen to me!”

When I ignored Ariel’s words, she immediately ran out.

“Stupid Dojeonghyun. If it’s something trivial, I’ll curse you.”

Seol Yuhwa followed, and I explained Geum Dohyeon’s plan.

“Working together so we’re not suppressed by the second-years? That’s not a bad idea. But Geum Dohyeon suggested it, right?”

“Yes. Just between us, I’m gathering evidence of the second-years’ misconduct. Since I’ve already lost credibility with the instructors, I need to gather enough evidence that they can’t make excuses. But until then, many people are suffering under the second-years, right? We need to prevent that.”

Seol Yuhwa nodded readily at my words, but Ariel had a sullen expression.

“Why don’t you manage the lower class properly first? You were suppressed by that Yu Deokmin or whatever, so can you really do what you say?”

“I will. Thanks for last time.”

“…I didn’t do it because I like you. It was because that pig was annoying. But I still don’t trust you. If you feel wronged, prove it by clearly suppressing him. That’s the only way to get more supporters in the lower class.”

That’s just like Ariel. She’s right that crushing Yu Deokmin again is an important factor in winning over the students.

“I will.”

“Really? Dojeonghyun. I’d appreciate it if you showed me it’s not just talk.”

Anyway, I reached an agreement with Ariel… Wait? Seol Yuhwa’s gaze was directed at Ariel, not me.

With a cold expression.

Right. They don’t get along, do they? I called them together because I didn’t want to repeat the same conversation twice.

Seol Yuhwa soon turned her gaze to me.

“Jonghyun. About the evidence you’re gathering. When you have it all, will you tell me? I want to see how much you have.”

“Of course. I was planning to have someone check it anyway. We just need to prevent any attempts to cover it up. If they have strong backing, it might end disappointingly.”

“That absolutely won’t happen. Trust me.”

Seol Yuhwa’s words carried firm conviction. Why?

Her face was full of confidence, as if telling me to trust her.

“Then I’ll see you at practice later.”

Seol Yuhwa turned away haughtily. And I noticed Ariel looking at her with displeasure.

“I can do that too. So show me what you’ve got. Then I’ll help you.”

Ariel also went back to the classroom. Good. I’ve secured both of them.

Things were progressing smoothly, and from today, Geum Dohyeon started to make his move.

“The seniors’ special lessons are making everyone struggle, but they’re not mandatory. Today we first-years are having a dinner together.”

“What did you say?”

“Is there a problem?”

Geum Dohyeon was smiling broadly.