Ch.145145. Going to the Cheonji Guild!

“The Watching Eye” is, as its name suggests, a small monster in the form of an eyeball.

This monster was now at the scene of a massacre of its own kind.

It doesn’t participate in battle, only records. For one reason only. Because of the new species of monster rampaging now.

The scene where the dinosaur-shaped monster’s annihilation shot literally disintegrates the body of their prized new species monster right before its eyes.

Originally, they don’t send Watching Eyes. Their original purpose is to induce continuous attrition warfare and just cause damage until the enemy dies on their own.

But strangely, they can’t inflict that damage; they’re blocked. Even when they do, it’s only partial.

After nearly a year of this, the monster side sent a Watching Eye to assess the situation.

The result was this: another monster that suppresses the new species.

[Monster spotted helping humans, reported by the Catastrophe Group. Flesh samples needed. Analysis required. But question: How is it waiting at locations where we appear? Ability? Precognition? Must confirm.]

The Watching Eye was recording this monster.

And it requested another monster from their side. This time, not a new species, but a regular monster.

But this time, that monster didn’t appear.

[Request again. This time, request new species.]

And at the third request, likewise, the monster didn’t appear.

The Watching Eye derived several questions.

[Does it know our plans? More calculations needed. Send new species monster ‘as scheduled.’]

The moment this fourth mission was issued, they encountered it again.

At least in this battle, they fought at adult stage and succeeded in wounding it.

[Appears for scheduled events. Complete schedule readjustment needed. Appears to transform from existing body. Analysis. Flesh analysis!]

After the monster left, the Watching Eye analyzed the flesh.

It realized one fact.

[Monster confirmed, not monster-human. Not hybrid. Monster confirmed. Primitive ancient species genes identified. Urgent reporting necessary.]

This was an astonishing fact. The Watching Eye, realizing this, hurriedly left to report.

*

Damn it. You had to pull that stunt right before the assembly day? Monster alerts came twice in ten days.

“What’s with getting two alerts?”

Monster alerts came often in the second semester, but this time is especially tiring.

Especially since I was attacked by that blade-beaked monster at the end.

I managed to resolve it by creating excuses and putting on a show by sending the guards elsewhere.

Thanks to that, I had 12 monster points, which, combined with my current points, would be enough for another evolution.

“Fine. It’s a 124 million won training session. It would be a loss not to take it.”

As soon as I headed to Mount Seorak, I saw men with somehow frightening expressions.

For normal hiking, they’d have hiking gear. But these men were all heavily armed.

Well, I’m carrying a reinforcement suit case too, so maybe it’s not that strange.

These men look at me and all act like they know me.

“Isn’t that the kid from TV?”

“Hey, look who we’re seeing here.”

The power of media is truly strong. I never expected it would be like this.

I also saw the curly-haired man and the loitering man from before, so I greeted them cheerfully.

And then a loud voice was heard from somewhere.

“Everyone gather!”

Keum Do-hyun. This man connected to the Cheonji Guild was leading several people.

He had gathered everyone from the lower class like me, as well as the middle and upper classes.

“Jonghyun, why did you go down to Gwangju?”

“I had something to do. Anyway, I passed.”

“I heard you went alone, you did well among adults. I was right to keep an eye on you.”

“What good does it do you to keep an eye on me?”

“Who knows?”

Keum Do-hyun just smiles. Han Min-woo approached from behind.

“Long time no see.”

“Yeah.”

It’s a short answer as usual, but considering Han Min-woo’s personality, it’s quite a lot of conversation.

Koo Sang-heon slapped my shoulder.

“That’s impressive, right? You worked with adults?”

“You guys would have done better.”

“What… It’s always hard to change old men’s stubborn minds.”

Koo Sang-heon shrugs and walks away.

Anyway, I shared the joy of being selected with the other kids too.

People were gathering one by one at the entrance to Mount Seorak.

But meeting here rather than at the first meeting? Somehow it reminded me of a path of hardship.

A little later, at exactly the appointed time, the guild master of Cheonji Guild finally appeared before us.

“Welcome! To our Cheonji Guild! I’ll amaze the world with two weeks of special training!”

Park Tae-sang, with his bronze muscles and solid body, tall in both height and build, made a hero landing in front of us.

“Wow~”

But next to him, a woman clapping weakly came with tiny steps.

“I apologize for our guild master speaking informally at first meeting. He’s just like that. But he’s such a warm-hearted and caring person…”

“Hey! You’re ruining my dignity!”

Park Tae-sang hurriedly covered her mouth and looked at us.

“Forget what you just saw. Got it?”

No, I think it’s going to stay in my memory?

Anyway, Cheonji Guild members were visible behind Park Tae-sang.

So Ji-hyun, whom I met during the whale incident, was also there.

“Since it’s the first day, you’re not expecting to just relax, right? Every day is precious. Just unpack and come out immediately! Understood!”

The accommodation was a luxury hotel. How wealthy must they be to rent half of this hotel for two weeks for us?

They even gave everyone individual rooms.

“Wow. It’s gorgeous.”

The dormitory rooms are hotel-style and nice, but the finishing materials of the walls in a real luxury hotel are different.

My face reflects on the black floor.

But this is my first time being surprised. Anyway, we’re going to be busy from now on.

On the first day, we worked hard with monster simulators spread throughout Mount Seorak.

Like a survival game, if you get attacked, a mark appears on your body.

If they jump out suddenly, hit you, and make you unable to fight, you’re out. We repeat this three times.

Then comes a writing session where we have to note what actions led to these injuries.

The Cheonji Guild members stick with each of the 90 participants to give advice.

It’s more of a brutal training style than systematic.

Experience with your body, then find improvements and get guidance.

It was a different approach.

And based on this, they run us through it again.

“Why are we doing the same thing?”

“Getting hit again? All dropouts repeat one more time! The rest can rest!”

There are 30 people from Academy years 1 and 2, and the remaining 60 are graduated professionals.

Honestly, most of us in the lower class got tired and either dropped out or went into additional supplementary classes.

As for me, it was the same.

“Jonghyun! How can you not handle a surprise attack!”

Having fought in transformed state the day before, my body wasn’t normal.

Besides, with monsters I can make judgments and deal with them, but my body isn’t following.

Moreover, it’s the same monster in the same place, but they change the positions.

That is, the attack method is the same, but only the position is changed. But from the receiving end, you’re hit without information.

So I give instructions, but unfortunately, I can’t follow them.

“Ugh… That was brutal.”

Barely staggering back, others had already left for meals.

“It’s hard. So hard.”

Dropouts don’t leave right away. Cheonji Guild checks their bodies before sending them.

That’s thoughtful.

Meal time is at the hotel buffet, so eat as much as you want.

But that’s not the end; it’s followed by interviews with mentors.

However, in my case, since I don’t have a summoning spirit, it’s very difficult to guide me.

“I’m just planning to go with physical enhancement, is that okay?”

My mentor was also perplexed. Of course, reinforcement suits have no future.

It means the suit is the limit. There’s nothing to advise on.

How to develop in the future, that is.

But I still need to learn. I’ve been a sidekick, information analyst, and bullet sponge my whole life.

I’ve faced enemies forcibly while experiencing hundreds of near-death situations.

Therefore, I honestly don’t know monster combat or such things.

I just stab weak points to catch them. In other words, an assassin style.

It’s worked well so far.

Except for cases like monster transformation where I can just overpower with strength.

So if I can properly learn anti-monster combat techniques here, it will be a great help for future monster transformations.

Just look at how Jo In-hyung, with relatively weak stats, performs well with the combat manual sub-card.

This is when I can grow rapidly with guidance from the top 3 guilds.

Hearing this, my mentor, Oh Chang-min, nodded.

“Well, you said it’s a prototype of the new reinforcement suit that’s about to be released? If it works up to C-grade…”

Oh Chang-min agreed to teach me monster combat techniques.

*

The second day was generally individual guidance. Skilled members of Cheonji Guild guide lower Jaegers one-on-one.

They enhance capabilities by providing feedback based on yesterday’s data.

On the second day, everyone shouted orders and devoted themselves to capability enhancement.

On the third day, we go back to where we were on the first day to measure records.

Here they instill confidence and teach methods.

“So the first week is individual capability, and the second week is joint missions as a guild.”

Keum Do-hyun looked at the cider being poured in front of him.

“Should have given me McCol.”

“Your taste is unusual. Inadequate alliances with individuals who lack capability only bring confusion. Knowing what to do even when mixed with ordinary people is the priority. Because…”

“No one tells Jaegers and monsters to get in a ring and fight, right?”

Keum Do-hyun sipped his cider, and Park Tae-sang downed his beer in one go.

“Exactly. Except for direct hunting through gates, most of the time they come first and wreak havoc around. The Academy will teach rescue training, but we teach how to fight and ally with civilians.”

“Learning practical things that can’t be learned at the Academy. Isn’t that why everyone applied? The first week is like that, but at the end, we’ll bring real monsters. For students, around E-grade. How about it, can you see the gems?”

“I see a few. People who may lack skill but have high tactical understanding, those are important when forming the first guild.”

Keum Do-hyun’s eyes were shining with ambition.

Just like he tried to recruit Do Jong-hyun before, this boy was already trying to form his own group.

“Right, don’t forget to maintain a cooperative relationship, even if it’s not like our subsidiary Gaebyeok Guild.”

“Ignoring such support would make me trash. Trust is important.”

“Watching Koo Sang-heon and Han Min-woo, they’re truly remarkable. It’s hard to decide which one to go for.”

Park Tae-sang, like the other two guilds, was considering recruiting outstanding students with effort.

Keum Do-hyun recommended Han Min-woo.

“Sang-heon has excellent technique and skill, but his personality is free-spirited, so it’s hard to predict him.”

“He’s receiving feedback well, isn’t he?”

“You’ll see soon. He’ll modify the feedback in his own way.”

“You mean he changes instructions in his own way?”

“And it will work. In terms of talent, Sang-heon is the best among us. He’s a free type. That’s why Min-woo is better for guild life. To handle Koo Sang-heon’s personality, it’s better to have someone like me who can treat him as an equal.”

“Hmm. I see. Han Min-woo is solid and diligent. But I haven’t heard him say a word?”

“He’s always quiet. I’m still surprised every time Min-woo opens his mouth.”

Park Tae-sang downed his beer in one go.

“But that Do Jong-hyun kid you mentioned was a dropout. Wasn’t he a promising talent? He doesn’t seem that outstanding.”

“Well, without a summoning spirit, that’s natural. But his true value hasn’t been revealed yet. I told you, right? In crisis situations, we all rely on him.”

“Talented as an analyst?”

“He could be a professional right now. He’s not at a first-year level. Just wait and see. Once Do Jong-hyun adapts, he’ll threaten even the professionals.”

Keum Do-hyun’s confidence was by no means an exaggeration. By the end of the first week, Do Jong-hyun began to show his true value without reservation.