Ch.121121. A Turbulent Weekend

Everything had returned to normal. Since the second-year students’ tyranny had ended earlier than expected, there were no more problems with school life.

However, the atmosphere was grim with final exams approaching.

The lingering effects were secondary to the impact of Yoo Deokmin’s death.

An ordinary person had transformed and died due to illegal drugs.

Rumors spread that Yoo Deokmin was essentially a monster and a spy.

Additionally, ominous news came from various places. Animals were dying near the school, and mysterious murders were occurring.

As a result, the classroom atmosphere was downcast with finals just a week away.

The bullying had stopped and freedom was regained, but as mentioned earlier, the school atmosphere had taken a turn for the worse.

“Ugh, how annoying. So annoying.”

I sat down in my seat amid the depressing classroom atmosphere.

In the midst of all this, Min Kangsu appeared to be in the most unstable state.

The story of Yoo Deokmin turning into a monster after consuming red powder was now being applied to others who had taken the same substance.

Min Kangsu was a prime suspect. Moreover, classmates were investigating rumors that something was fishy about him too.

“Didn’t Min Kangsu’s grades suddenly improve? Isn’t that suspicious?”

“He was always showing off with Yoo Deokmin…”

Min Kangsu kicked his desk and stormed out somewhere. The classroom continued to buzz with talk about the drug.

“Seriously, what makes someone turn into a monster?”

“It’s an illegal drug that creates monsters. If you take it, you become one.”

“Who even makes such things? I don’t want to try it.”

Various rumors were blooming like cumulus clouds. The fortunate part was the fear of the drug itself.

People had developed a fear of drugs. However, one strange thing was that the specific method—illegal drugs—had been revealed in detail. Where had this information leaked from?

If it was intentionally leaked, it was clearly meant to instill fear.

Who would take a drug that turns you into a monster, except for the Goegyeopdan? Even I wouldn’t take it.

Honestly, I was shocked and couldn’t imagine becoming a monster, and other people would definitely feel absolute disgust toward it.

What should I do about Min Kangsu? Should I just warn him?

Having received orders from Eun Serin, I needed to take definitive action regarding Min Kangsu.

“Min Kangsu. Can we talk for a moment?”

As always, strike while the iron is hot.

I called Min Kangsu out to the hallway.

“Yoo Deokmin ended up like that.”

“…So what? Are you going to bully me now that I’m alone?”

“No, according to rumors, Yoo Deokmin took illegal drugs. And his grades improved dramatically in the second semester. Just like yours.”

Min Kangsu’s expression contorted.

“Are you saying I did the same?”

“Turn yourself in before you become a monster.”

“Do Jonghyun. Are you crazy? Do you have any evidence?”

“No. But…”

“You’re just suspecting people as you please? Are you insane? You’re talking complete bullshit.”

Min Kangsu angrily confronted me. True, I had no clear evidence.

It’s also true that I had nothing to say when he reacted like this. But having confirmed that people can transform into monsters, there’s a high probability Min Kangsu will end up the same way if left alone.

I should either make him turn himself in or prevent him from touching the drug at all.

Should I take him in front of the monster detector next time and intimidate him?

No, let me tell him the truth about the drug first.

“I heard a bit about it when I got involved with Yoo Deokmin. That illegal drug has nothing to do with latent abilities.”

“What?”

Min Kangsu’s expression hardened.

“It simply increases output by using the body’s life force as collateral. What do you think happens to a body under such strain? I heard Yoo Deokmin couldn’t produce any magical power.”

“How do you know such information?”

“I was questioned by the police about that powder too.”

That’s a lie. Eun Serin told me, but here I need to mix lies appropriately.

“Didn’t a rumor spread before? About a low-level Jaeger getting beaten by an ordinary person?”

“…Was that you?”

“Yes. Embarrassingly, it was me, and that’s when I learned about the illegal drug. And guess what happened to the people who beat me? They aged rapidly, like elderly people drained of all energy. I don’t know what happens to those with magical power. Whether they’ll end up like Yoo Deokmin or just have their energy drained… I’m advising you to prevent that.”

After mixing lies and truth like this, Min Kangsu looked half-convinced.

“So what? I’m not involved. It has nothing to do with me.”

Min Kangsu left, looking perplexed.

At the very least, maybe he’ll stop taking it after hearing this.

The weekend was approaching with this faint hope.

*

Min Kangsu was trembling with fear. Before him was the last packet of red powder he had received.

“This can’t be. This drug… this drug…?”

Not a release of latent abilities, but a cursed substance that devours the human body.

Accepting this fact was causing considerable confusion.

He had acted tough in front of Do Jonghyun, but he was just a first-year high school student.

He harbored great anxiety mentally.

His body trembled, and his skin became hypersensitive. He would swat at even a single strand of hair falling, as if it were a mosquito landing on him.

“No way. That bastard is just testing me! Because I surpassed him along with Deokmin! This is my real talent!”

He was trembling, too anxious and scared to function.

In this state, he felt he couldn’t do anything.

Just as he was wishing someone would help him…

“Kangsu!”

Wasn’t that his parents calling him from outside?

“Yes?”

“A teacher from the academy is here to see you. They want to talk.”

The instructor who suddenly appeared—he thought of Oh Juhwan.

‘Why now? Could it be…?’

With many concerns, he went out, but the person who appeared before him wasn’t Oh Juhwan.

It was Eun Serin, dressed in a neat suit.

“Hello, I have something to investigate from school. Do you have time?”

Even her bright smile and dazzling appearance couldn’t settle Min Kangsu’s mind right now.

In the room, Eun Serin pulled out a bag containing red powder.

“It wasn’t me.”

Min Kangsu reflexively spoke, but Eun Serin didn’t listen.

“Do you know why Yoo Deokmin was caught? It was because of red powder suddenly discovered at school. That led to attention on students within the school.”

“It, it was Yoo Deokmin.”

“Don’t lie.”

At this moment, Eun Serin’s cold gaze constricted him. It wasn’t the gentle, soft smile he usually saw, but a coldness harsher than the north wind.

“Actually, to tell you the truth, I’m the one who took the powder from your bag.”

“!”

Min Kangsu stared at Eun Serin in shock. The missing incident, which seemed to be the start of everything, was apparently intentional.

“It was very meticulously secured with multiple locks? But I’m quite good at handling ‘that side’ too. I unlocked it easily.”

Indeed, how could a triple-locked security system be accidentally lost? Eun Serin had intentionally taken it and lied about finding it.

“Ah…”

“Don’t speak. Take a deep breath.”

Eun Serin was suddenly covering Min Kangsu’s mouth and injecting something with a syringe. Min Kangsu didn’t realize it, but his whole body was heating up as if he was about to do something.

And when the syringe was fully injected, his body went limp.

“Calm down. If you get more excited, you’ll transform like Yoo Deokmin.”

“!”

Eun Serin smirked. Min Kangsu was sweating.

“You took the powder from my bag? Then why didn’t you just report it…”

“I gave you a chance. Actually, there was no need to give someone like you a chance, but I wanted to try acting kindly these days.”

In the past, Eun Serin would have actively participated in annoying or interfering matters. But she had informed Do Jonghyun and given them the maximum opportunity. However, both Yoo Deokmin and Min Kangsu had kicked away that chance and refused it.

“But you both rejected that opportunity. This would usually be the end, but luckily, I’m giving you one last chance. You have two options. First, simply turn yourself in. That’s the most ideal, right?”

“Turn myself in?”

“Strangely, according to our assessment, you’re more stable than expected. Whether it’s due to different dosage or physical constitution, I don’t know. If you turn yourself in now and somehow rehabilitate your body, wouldn’t it get better? Of course, I honestly question how to treat a case where the body has transformed into a monster, but it would at least be better than now.”

Despair was creeping into Min Kangsu’s face.

“The other option is to stop taking it immediately and continue living as if nothing happened. But in return, you have to do me a favor.”

“…A favor?”

“Of course, it’s not a legitimate request. I’m proposing this because only I know that you still have the red powder.”

“Why?”

Min Kangsu looked up at Eun Serin, trembling.

“Why are you giving me these options?”

“Honestly, what happens to you isn’t really my business. But there’s one person I care about. Because of that person, I find myself wanting to do ‘good deeds.’ Which option will you choose?”

Eun Serin was staring at Min Kangsu with almost complete disinterest and contempt, completely different from how she treated Do Jonghyun.

It was natural for Min Kangsu to cower under that gaze.

But it was a crucial moment of choice.

Turn himself in, or commit an illegal act in exchange for turning a blind eye?

Min Kangsu made his choice in despair, and Eun Serin inwardly sneered.

‘I gave you two chances through Do Jonghyun, but you rejected them all. Well, everyone is like that when pushed to the extreme.’

Eun Serin knew it was a vain hope. She knew Min Kangsu would choose the other option rather than turning himself in.

That’s why she deliberately came looking for him. For her own plan.

‘I only cared because of that boy. I should be like this originally.’

With that, Eun Serin left the house.

*

Friday was the first time in a long while that I headed to a gate. It was to earn points at the sub-adult stage.

Transformed into a dinosaur Sura after a long time, I was sweeping through the gate.

At the sub-adult stage, I can handle up to B-grade gates. Plus, I can minimize fatigue recovery.

Moreover, the gate I went to was higher grade than my usual ones.

Starting from C-grade at minimum.

[Will you be okay?]

[Senior Gyeongsu! Do you think this new reinforced suit is nothing?? I’ve been repeatedly going through C-grade gates for weeks. Honestly, I think I know even the first steps of the monsters that appear now.]

The power of this new form wasn’t just for disciplining Yoo Deokmin.

It provided an excuse to go to higher gates to earn more points.

[Trait Adjustment]

[Blood Rage]

After a long time, I crushed a C-grade armored lizard as a dinosaur Sura.

[Parts]

I need to stock up on part cards since I don’t have many these days. Plus, now that I’ve broken through to the evolved form, I need to collect for the next evolution.

After obtaining the evolved form, the evolution cost appeared.

-Evolved Form: 33,333 points needed

The species-specific evolution disappeared, and the points were unified. And more expensive.

The points seem very connected to the number 3, but this amount is enough to upgrade after a few trips.

M-Points: 24,000

Additionally, being diligent with school classes has accumulated points nicely. With this, I can purchase more sub-cards for thorough use.

The 10 cards I obtained desperately last time are all being used excellently.

Look at the dinosaur footprint I’m about to use.

Body tackles that splash and sweep nearby enemies as I pass by.

And if I finish with a tail swipe?

Monsters fall like autumn leaves. From here, I smoothly advanced to an A-grade gate.

If I use energy supplements or other sub-cards, I could handle up to S-grade.

Here, I replaced three sub-cards.

Strength Amplification, Energy Supplement, Firepower Amplification.

The moment I applied the three stat-boosting brothers, unparalleled power surged through this body.

The first monster to challenge in this state was the S-grade Sakpung.

This new species had started appearing in this gate.

I had faced it before. But unable to fire a decisive shot, I had to leave it to someone else and flee.

But now?

[Gaia Flame]

A very thick laser formed before my eyes. The laser, enhanced by all stat effects, pierced through Sakpung’s body the moment it flashed.

Destructive power beyond imagination. And achieved with a sub-adult dinosaur form.

“If you actively use sub-cards, you can handle monsters stronger than yourself!”

Of course, this only applies to attack power. Later, I foolishly provoked another S-grade monster and had to retreat after losing in physical combat.

Still, the important thing is that you can even fly with the effects of sub-cards.

With this, I collected a whopping 14,500 points.

That’s a lot earned in a short time for a first sortie.

Should I buy more sub-cards with this? Aim for a jackpot by including part cards too.

Here, I draw good condition cards again.

First, five cards. I’ll invest half of the 15 part cards I collected today.

[Special Sub-Card]

-3,000 M-points consumed

-15,000 M-points consumed to summon 5 cards

I first drew five cards.

As expected, the lowest was yellow, and there was also blue.

“Let’s see… Identification Radar, Vibration Wave, Focused Shot, Roar…”

Four cards were like others, but a blue card appeared before my eyes. It’s the best card except for the silver ones that haven’t appeared yet.

[Mechanical Trait]

-Temporarily (5 minutes) converts non-mechanical types to mechanical species.

-Resistance and magic resistance increase by 1 rank

“This is good.”

This allows me to apply sub-cards that only work on mechanical types to other types as well. Even sub-adults.

I was spending a satisfying weekend drawing cards like this.

But there’s never a peaceful weekend.

On Sunday, news came that Yoo Deokmin’s body, which had been returned after investigation, had disappeared.