Ch.1414. Monster Shop

Familiar.

Have I ever been this exhausted? My footsteps were gradually slowing down.

I managed to escape quickly, thinking about the Jaegers from before. But the moment I got on the subway, my body became extremely heavy.

What happens when a person suddenly overexerts themselves? That sensation I felt before regression returned.

I’m talking about when I got sick after pushing myself too hard trying to become stronger.

That’s exactly how I feel right now.

“Ugh. My head is spinning.”

For a moment, I almost collapsed forward but stopped myself.

I’ve definitely been pushing myself lately.

Basic exercise, transformation hunting, simulations.

And of course, the unavoidable academic classes.

The fatigue that suddenly hit me was my body sending a signal.

But collapsing would be embarrassing. I gritted my teeth.

[Point Shop]

I can’t miss the opportunity to check my newly acquired ability. I’ll just look at this. It’s not like it’ll drain my stamina, right?

Holding onto my consciousness that was trying to escape, I finally opened the Point Shop.

[Point Shop]

-Monster Point Exchange: You can exchange 1,000 DNA Points for 1 Monster Point.

-You can exchange 1,000 M Points for 100 DNA Points.

The first thing I saw was the point exchange. Monster Points are the highest tier, followed by DNA Points.

So the value hierarchy goes: M Points -> DNA Points -> Monster Points.

And right now, I have 1 Monster Point.

Now, what can I do with this?

[Point Shop]

-Special Evolution Route (Mechanical): 3 Monster Points (other special evolution routes may be added), 10 component cards.

-Special Evolution Route (Random): 3 Monster Points

-Evolution Body Investment: 30 Monster Points

-Mechanical Component Attribute Assignment: 1 Monster Point, 1 component card required.

-Special Sub-Card Purchase: 3,000 M Points

-X (Not yet unlocked.)

I tried my best to take in what appeared before my dizzy eyes.

I guess they put mechanical separately since it’s not DNA.

Currently, with my 1 Monster Point, the only thing I can buy is the Mechanical Component Attribute Assignment.

Now I understand why they told me to store components as sub-cards.

You offer these components and points to enhance cards significantly.

That’s roughly how it works.

The most I can do right now is the Mechanical Component Attribute Assignment.

Of course, I can’t do it here; I need to return to my dormitory.

So I got off the subway and called a taxi.

“Are you an Academy student, sir?”

“Yes. Yes.”

Of all things, the driver was the chatty type.

Still, I endured it desperately, showed my ID at the main gate, and handed over my card.

Good. Now I can use this Point Shop… but my consciousness was already fading.

When I woke up, I was predictably in the infirmary.

Obviously, the Academy isn’t so negligent as to leave someone who collapsed on campus unattended.

“Ugh…”

As I struggled to get up, I saw a red asymmetrical bob cut beside me.

“Huh?”

“You’re awake. You owe me one now.”

Ariel. This girl was smiling at me.

*

Ariel’s meeting with Do Jonghyun was purely coincidental.

Although the male and female dormitories are separate, it’s not like they’re completely isolated from each other—people who want to meet will meet.

Moreover, the dormitories aren’t far apart but located right next to each other.

That’s where Ariel was able to spot Do Jonghyun.

‘Do Jonghyun? Ah, how annoying.’

Ariel, still harboring resentment from before, cursed inwardly.

‘Anyway, next time first place is mine! No matter how good your eyes are.’

In her perception, Do Jonghyun was just a lower-class student with good eyes.

However, she was keeping an eye on him due to the fact that she had lost to him and the feeling that Seol Yuhwa seemed to be hanging around him.

‘But, that’s strange. He looks really tired?’

Literally, she just happened to pass by and noticed that he looked off.

He was staggering, looking extremely exhausted.

‘No way…’

And exactly as Ariel predicted, without any deviation, Do Jonghyun collapsed.

“Hmm…”

Someone would save him anyway.

‘But it wouldn’t make sense for a Jaeger not to help someone.’

Business is business. Personal is personal.

As the first person to discover Do Jonghyun, Ariel took him to the infirmary.

This place is different from a school infirmary. Specialized machines check your body.

The examination ended quickly. Na Hansang, the healing Jaeger at the infirmary, clicked his tongue as he looked at Do Jonghyun.

“Looking at his vitals, it’s a typical case of overwork. Well, it’s not uncommon for kids to push themselves to the brink trying to get stronger in the beginning.”

“So he was working himself to death?”

It’s a predictable story. Ariel didn’t have much of a reaction, but at the same time, she recalled what Seol Yuhwa had said.

‘So he is making an effort…’

Seol Yuhwa’s words weren’t empty. Ariel carefully observed Do Jonghyun’s face.

‘Not bad. No, that’s not what’s important. Did this lower-class student really figure out my weakness?’

Normally, she should have just left him and gone, but perhaps due to her wounded pride at losing first place, Ariel was carefully observing Do Jonghyun.

‘How are his eyes so good? Is there something that allows him to catch Killer Bees faster than me?’

Pride.

Ariel thought of her parents and gritted her teeth.

In the midst of these thoughts, her eyes met Do Jonghyun’s.

“Are you awake?”

Ariel quickly changed her expression back to haughty. She was a rising star, someone with a bright future.

She was on a different level from Do Jonghyun.

“Huh? Ariel? Why are you here?”

“Because I’m the one who brought you here. How about saying thank you?”

“Thanks. Thanks to you…”

Do Jonghyun was checking the time. About an hour had passed since he fainted.

“You saved me.”

“You owe me one. Got it?”

“Well, yeah. What do you want? A meal?”

At his casual response, a vein popped on Ariel’s forehead.

“I have no reason to go on dates with you.”

“That’s true. Then how should I repay this debt? A debt should be repaid, right?”

“You’re quite direct. I like that.”

But here, Ariel had to think.

She had helped him, but it wasn’t a big deal, so a simple meal would have been appropriate.

But having rejected that, she didn’t know what to say.

“Hmm…”

“What are you trying to make me do?”

“No, it’s nothing serious.”

They weren’t close, and he was associated with Seol Yuhwa, which made things awkward. As Ariel was thinking, she had an idea.

‘Should I tell him to stay away from Seol Yuhwa?’

But that seemed excessive. As confident as she was, there was no real reason to separate Seol Yuhwa and Do Jonghyun.

Above all, Ariel’s pride as a woman, not just as a Jaeger, was greatly hurt.

‘That would make me look like a villain from TV. He’s only interested in Seol Yuhwa, not me. I only care about grades!’

In the end, while Ariel was deliberating, Do Jonghyun got up from his seat.

“Take your time thinking. I’ll be going now.”

“Hey! Do Jonghyun! Wait!”

Ariel grabbed Do Jonghyun as he was about to leave.

“I can’t think of anything now, but I’ll definitely collect later.”

“Okay. So?”

“Give me your contact.”

Ariel was certainly confident, speaking like a debt collector demanding payment.

But once she said it, it sounded similar to asking for contact information out of interest.

Do Jonghyun smirked.

“As expected, people who’ve been abroad are straightforward. I can certainly give you my phone number.”

“It’s not like that! I’ll ask you to repay when I think of something.”

“I know. You’re not used to jokes, are you?”

So they exchanged contact information. But this direction was completely unexpected.

Especially this exchange of phone numbers was not what Ariel wanted.

“Why? I’m the one who saved him! Why… why do I have to give him my contact information!”

She felt wronged all by herself.

*

To be honest, I don’t remember anything from that day after showering.

I even took a day off from school, explaining the situation.

Since I already know all the academic material, it wasn’t a problem.

As you can tell, transforming into a monster causes a backlash to my body.

While resting, I checked the new attribute I couldn’t see yesterday.

-Mechanical Component Attribute Assignment

This is the only thing I can do with what I currently have.

Plus, I have quite a few components in my card deck.

I probably made at least 2 with M cards last time.

So I assign attributes to these? How?

[Random]

“Ah, I hate random! Can’t I choose?”

-You can choose a fixed attribute for 1,000 DNA Points.

“That came out right away.”

As they say, you have to listen to the end of Korean sentences.

[Mechanical Component Enhancement Attributes for 1,000 points]

-Attribute Adjustment (Weakens or strengthens the entity’s attributes.)

-Output Enhancement (Increases skill power through component strength.)

-Hardness Itself (Greatly increases durability.)

-Stat Up (Enhances stats.)

“Not bad at all? Increased strength or defense like hardness are excluded for now.

Because I’ve seen what I need right now.

So now I sacrifice Monster Points and 1,000 to fix one attribute.

After starting all the procedures, the card began to glow.

[Attribute Adjustment]

Yes, I need to weaken this uncontrollable wild power.

What I realized while facing the Predator Worm is that the dinosaur form is strong, but it’s problematic if I can’t control it.

Moreover, what if I encounter a Jaeger while in an uncontrolled state?

Either I die or the Jaeger dies.

Even if I kill the Jaeger, it puts me in great danger as they’ll investigate or I’ll be exposed as someone who transforms into a monster.

Since this entity is strong enough and can be supported by various sub-cards, I chose Attribute Adjustment, which I need for control right now.

[One component card is required.]

The card in front of me started glowing yellow.

And this yellow light began to consume the card.

New yellow text was being engraved on what was once a simple component card.

[Sub-card’s grade is increasing.]

-Attribute Adjustment

-Can weaken or strengthen attributes for 10 minutes when equipped.

A bright yellow, chick-like card was created before my eyes. So sub-cards have separate grades?

I nodded at this new knowledge.

With this, I can prevent uncontrolled rampages in the future.

Having obtained this, I naturally had to try it out, so I used Monster Step.

If I need many component cards, I can use Monster Points, so I should try to catch mechanical monsters.

And although not entirely satisfying, I went out again to catch an Armored Salamander.

This shouldn’t strain my body.

[Sub-cards]

-Breath, Smoke Screen, Evolution, Attribute Adjustment

[Attribute Adjustment]

-Attribute Weakening

-Attribute Strengthening

And I felt it more clearly in my dinosaur-transformed body.

[Wild Power is weakened.]

[Senses are weakened.]

It’s a shame that other attributes are also affected, but safety comes first.

Just as I was about to catch the monster:

“Amazing! It’s a new species of monster!”

I heard something I shouldn’t have. Suddenly, I saw someone with a huge hammer behind me.

A Jaeger. Of all things, I encountered another Jaeger nearby.

“Oh? You saw me? Well… since I found it first, I’ll handle it.”

He’s even communicating with his guild members. All sorts of things are happening.

How does he find me without a Monster Step?

Maybe my weakened senses due to the control adjustment prevented me from noticing, but anyway, it was a major crisis.

But how strong is he? If he was a Jaeger sent to deal with me, it would be predictable, but this guy seems like a passing Jaeger?

How skilled is he? Should I use the smoke screen and escape?

As I was deliberating, he swung his hammer threateningly.

“Hey, you look cool as a dinosaur! Are you a dromaeosaur? You’re finished now that you’ve encountered a genius like me.”

Shit, is he strong? Then I’m in trouble.

Just as I was stepping back in fear:

“Oh, look at you backing away. But you can’t escape! You’ll be a sacrifice for the soon-to-be B-rank genius, Kwon Suntae!”

What? Then he’s C-rank.

I stopped my retreating steps. As the self-proclaimed Kwon Suntae charged at me with his hammer, I lunged at him in one swift motion.

“Huh? Fas…”

I grabbed his hammer and slammed him down.

Then I lightly struck his face with my tail, and he stopped moving.

After confirming he wasn’t dead, I quickly fled the scene.

I can easily handle C-rank opponents. It was a day that reconfirmed the strength of this entity.