Ch.123123. The Power of Mahanaga

Am I dreaming right now? Yoo Deokmin is dead. But he’s standing in front of me.

I looked around.

It’s still 7 PM. People are walking by, and I’m not hallucinating. What the hell is going on?

“Who are you? That’s not a funny joke.”

“…”

“Yoo Deokmin is dead! Stop this weird prank and show yourself!”

At my words, Yoo Deokmin started laughing maniacally.

“Dead? What do you mean dead? I’m alive right now, aren’t I? Do Jonghyun? You’re usually quick-witted, but you’re slow to catch on this time.”

“Huh?”

I heard a dull sound right in front of me.

To be honest, I didn’t see it coming. Yoo Deokmin clearly attacked me from the front.

I didn’t even notice the slightest hint of it until Hyung Kyungsu blocked it and appeared in front of me.

Kyungsu hyung pushed me away.

“What impossible strength! Go ahead and alert the other guards!”

At Kyungsu hyung’s voice, I quickly retreated. Just as I was about to take out my card after sending an emergency signal, I saw something strange.

I saw a tail made of magical energy right before my eyes. And along with a slender, snake-like body, Kyungsu hyung was flying toward me.

That was the end of my memory.

Because the moment it swung, I lost consciousness. The next time I opened my eyes was thanks to the power of the status window.

[Awakening Card]

-Physical safety secured

“What is this?”

As I opened my eyes with a throbbing headache, I saw Yoo Deokmin in front of me.

“…”

“…”

We stared at each other in silence for several seconds. Yoo Deokmin was smirking.

I reflexively tried to get up, but something was restraining my body.

Restraints? Metal locks were wrapped around my body.

Like a test subject lying on an examination table.

Where am I? But wait?

It looks like a hospital. No, this isn’t a normal hospital.

“Honestly, I want to beat you up right now, but I made a promise.”

Yoo Deokmin flicked his tongue.

“A promise? With whom? And where is this…?”

“Hey!”

Just then, the bed I was strapped to shook. An earthquake? But Yoo Deokmin’s laughter suggested otherwise.

“What? Think it’s an earthquake? You can’t even see it, can you? This is my talent. I’ve found my original power!”

“…”

It’s nothing compared to when he ate that red powder. I can’t see the attack at all. Let me assess the current situation—have I been kidnapped?

What’s the protocol for this situation? There must be instructions for when you’re caught by kidnappers.

1. Don’t unnecessarily provoke the perpetrator.

2. Don’t attempt any foolish heroics. You’re not the protagonist of a movie.

These two points circled in my mind. I shouldn’t provoke him and risk getting killed, so I’ll stay quiet and try to figure out where I am.

First, let’s see how strong these metal restraints are.

When I apply moderate force, they rattle.

I might be able to break them using magical energy.

If these aren’t special equipment but just hospital-grade restraints, it should be possible.

However, now is not the time.

I need to transform when he’s distracted or gone. Judging by his speed, I might die before completing the transformation.

Besides, didn’t he say he couldn’t do something because of a promise?

There must be an accomplice or someone helping him, someone stronger than him or with some means of control.

Yoo Deokmin died, but somehow came back… is that right?

Or did he fake his death and deceive everyone?

Either way, Yoo Deokmin exists right in front of me now. And he’s kidnapped me.

He’s keeping me alive because he has a purpose, but what is it? Why so suddenly?

Comparing this to Jesus rising after three days might be disrespectful, but it’s equally astonishing.

Wait, what was that mass of magical energy I saw before passing out? It looked like a tail?

Yoo Deokmin is different now. He’s changed significantly from when he was just an athlete on drugs.

“That’s impressive power. I can’t even see your attacks. If you wanted to kill me, I’d be dead for sure. But if I’m your target for revenge, why not just kill me right away?”

“I do want to kill you, but killing you instantly wouldn’t be satisfying enough. I need to make you suffer more.”

“…My family?”

“Your pathetic family? What do they have to do with me!”

There are countless things I want to ask, but I need to hold back.

Where is this hospital-like place? And what about Kyungsu hyung who was protecting me?

“Sorry, but what happened to Kyungsu hyung? The person who was protecting me?”

“Not my concern. Is he dead? I don’t know?”

The moment I saw his mocking gaze, I genuinely wanted to kill this bastard.

Yoo Deokmin snickered.

“Ah, don’t worry. Don’t worry. I’m strong, so I can control myself. But he probably got seriously injured. When there’s a significant skill gap, that’s enough.”

“Kyungsu hyung must be S-rank. You beat him? That’s impressive.”

“It’s just my true ability.”

I wasn’t interested in his boasting. I was relieved that Kyungsu hyung wasn’t dead.

What’s important is that if he’s alive, he would have already contacted the other guards.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but they must know I’ve been kidnapped. That means they’re looking for me, unless we’re hidden somewhere?

“By the way, where is this? They must be tracking you by now.”

“Where? It’s a hospital.”

It can’t be a deserted place. In this day and age, if they start tracking, they can find us if they’re determined.

But there’s a hospital here?

“Is this near a gate or a place where a gate has formed…?”

“Shut up! Stop acting smart just because you figured that out!”

The bed shakes again. What a terrible personality.

“You always acted so smart. Hanging out with the advanced class.”

“…”

It’s wiser not to respond here.

“Is it fun? Showing off with the advanced class kids. Had fun with Ariel? And then mocking me…”

“I never mocked you. Ariel and I aren’t dating.”

“Stop with those lies! You trash!”

Suddenly he grabbed my neck.

But he couldn’t kill me. Perhaps thanks to whoever is cooperating with him.

“Anyway, I swore to kill both of you. I’ll kill Ariel right in front of your eyes.”

“But can you fight against the three major guilds? If the kidnapping becomes known, they’ll enter a state of emergency.”

I deliberately provoked him. If he’s alone, I could break these restraints and escape.

But he wasn’t a fool.

“You might be able to break free as a Jaeger. So, one shot of this medicine will let you sleep quite comfortably.”

“A drug… Your collaborator must have quite a bit of knowledge in this field.”

“Trying to act smart again? Just go to sleep for now.”

He’s putting me to sleep with drugs, but does he know when I’ll wake up? Careless.

Let’s go along with what he wants for now. If he wants revenge on Ariel, he’ll have to go outside. Security will be tight since Yoo Deokmin’s face is surely known.

Soon, a syringe was inserted into my neck. I drifted off to sleep with a stinging sensation.

*

The academy was in an uproar. News of Do Jonghyun’s kidnapping and the appearance of Yoo Deokmin, who was thought to be dead, had spread.

“How is Yoo Deokmin alive?”

“Is it because of Mahanaga’s cells?”

“The person who stole his body is the culprit! They did something with Yoo Deokmin’s corpse.”

The security team was on high alert once again at the academy.

It wasn’t an external threat, but a kidnapping between students due to a grudge.

The problem was that the kidnapper had defeated the security team with a strange power. The form resembled Mahanaga.

Mahanaga is an SS-rank ‘or higher’ monster. Everyone at the academy was buzzing with this news.

Among them, Cheongi was shocked by the fact that Do Jonghyun had been kidnapped and even more astonished that the perpetrator was Yoo Deokmin.

“What’s going on? Wasn’t Yoo Deokmin dead?”

“He kidnapped Do Jonghyun and apparently became incredibly strong.”

“He died but came back to life?”

“Is that even possible? Isn’t it just a monster?”

The academy canceled the final exams as discussions about this incident spread everywhere. They mobilized all security teams and instructors to find Do Jonghyun.

They worked with the police to trace Do Jonghyun’s kidnapping and Yoo Deokmin’s movements.

But Yoo Deokmin’s movements were unusual.

He had moved through the air, making it difficult to track his path.

While everyone was confused and the investigation was at a standstill, Yoo Deokmin revealed himself too easily from within.

By transforming into Min Kangsu.

*

“Aaaaah!”

Cheongi couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

He was being held by a tail with bells, looking down at the school.

‘Why…’

It was incomprehensible. Min Kangsu had called him to discuss Do Jonghyun’s situation.

‘I don’t know how to deal with Jonghyun.’

He had apologized, but things were still cold. He had just followed along hoping to find some way to improve their future relationship.

But Min Kangsu was already not Min Kangsu.

Min Kangsu suddenly transformed into Yoo Deokmin, and then into a snake wearing a golden crown.

Its mouth showed a solid jaw, and the golden crown was fitted over a dragon-like face.

Mahanaga. One of the famous monsters even featured in textbooks. Its majesty and pressure were almost enough to make one faint.

[How stupid. Kim Cheongi. Befitting of someone who betrayed his friend.]

Yoo Deokmin mocked as he looked down at everyone from above the school grounds.

[Ariel. You have 12 hours to come to the ‘Taean’ gate. If you refuse, I will kill Do Jonghyun. I’ll contact you through Min Kangsu’s phone. If there’s any suspicious behavior, all these hostages will die.]

Kim Cheongi’s role was to be an additional hostage, just in case.

Mahanaga is currently recognized as an SS-rank top-tier species. It’s powerful, but can be handled if there are strong entities like the three major guilds or other top ten guilds.

So taking hostages could preemptively block their intervention.

Kim Cheongi lamented his fate, having been tricked by the mention of Do Jonghyun and becoming a hostage.

‘….’

He was miserably dragged to the Taean gate. The Taean gate is considered one of the two most powerful gates in Korea.

It means that even decent Jaegers can’t enter carelessly—it’s that powerful.

As they entered, monsters rampaging in all directions came into view.

Their might was not something a mere first-year lower-class student could handle.

Kim Cheongi simply fainted.

The gate was massive, consuming several buildings in Taean.

As they entered, a destroyed hospital came into view.

Yoo Deokmin, who had returned to human form, gave Kim Cheongi a drug.

“You saw my power, right? No matter how much you two struggle, you’ll die. Want to live, Kim Cheongi?”

Kim Cheongi nodded with tears in his eyes.

“Then just follow my instructions. It’s simple. Inject this drug every 6 hours until I bring Ariel in front of Do Jonghyun. From now, that would be in two hours. When he wakes up, I’ll kill him along with Ariel. That’s your only role. I have no interest or business with the likes of you. If you do just that, I’ll let you live.”

Kim Cheongi accepted the syringe.

And he glanced at Do Jonghyun, who was completely tied up.

He was alive.

“Thank goodness…”

Kim Cheongi shed tears of relief, and Yoo Deokmin scoffed at this behavior.

“You’re a traitor too. Now you care? When Do Jonghyun wakes up and sees you, he’ll be even angrier. You’re finished anyway. I’ll at least kill Do Jonghyun for you, so you can lift that burden from your heart. Understand?”

“…”

Kim Cheongi couldn’t say anything. Their relationship had deteriorated to the worst because he had betrayed Do Jonghyun and put him in danger.

“Even if you try to save him now, Do Jonghyun won’t look at you. I’m certain of that. It was such a trashy thing to do. We’re accomplices. Just keep that in mind.”

The concept of 12 hours could be tracked with a smartwatch.

Numerous texts and messages of concern had arrived, but he couldn’t check them.

Yoo Deokmin was watching him from the side. Instead, he had taken it away and was looking through it.

“I sent a message saying if Ariel doesn’t come alone, you’ll be the first to die, just in case you might betray me. Pray that happens.”

After Kim Cheongi had administered two injections and more time had passed:

“She’s here. Keep watch well. This is a gate where at least S-rank beings operate. Even if you free Do Jonghyun, nothing will change. If you want to leave on your own and risk dying, feel free to release him. Or choose to survive alone.”

When the time came, Yoo Deokmin left to check if the promise had been kept.

After Yoo Deokmin left, Kim Cheongi was crying profusely.

And he was reassuring his family and friends through the backlog of messages and responses.

Just then, a huge roar and vibration occurred. It might have been a fight.

Kim Cheongi was cowering in fear when:

“Hey, Kim Cheongi.”

Do Jonghyun called him with his eyes wide open.