Ch.155155. Execute Anyway.

Eun Serin wasn’t particularly involved in today’s promotion test. Partly because the academy granted her more rest time as a new mother, so there was no real reason for her to be there.

But she came anyway.

“Why is Instructor Eun here?”

“My parents came from my family home to help. Just because I’m a mother doesn’t mean I can just lounge around.”

In truth, this was possible because her baby wasn’t an ordinary one.

‘I need to see Do Jonghyun.’

She had been ordered by the Catastrophe Cult to keep Jonghyun under continuous surveillance and report on him.

So it was natural for her to be here. It was an opportunity to properly observe Do Jonghyun during the break.

‘Second year already… A whole year has passed.’

There had been many changes. From the first semester of freshman year, they had tried to turn the school upside down, but that failed.

It was partly because all of the Catastrophe Cult’s operations had collapsed, and partly because of the emergence of that unusual existence called Do Jonghyun.

‘What was I expecting?’

The first time she saw Jonghyun was indeed during that first semester meeting on the mountain.

It was true that she became interested in Jonghyun then.

She had heard with certainty that he was connected to monsters and tested him in various ways.

Perhaps because of this, she was cautious. She refused to participate in the operations planned for the second semester under various pretexts.

Especially after learning that Jonghyun was a monster.

As they grew closer and their relationship improved, reality set in.

Many things happened during that brief second semester, but the Catastrophe Cult was active, and she had to move for her own purposes as well.

‘In the end, I’m on the Catastrophe Cult’s side. You’d be disappointed if you knew.’

How would that gaze that promised to help her change when he found out?

Eun Serin smiled bitterly.

As she did so, she watched Jonghyun’s video feed.

‘That’s a C-grade monster?’

It was an extremely powerful monster for a test. Of course, she herself had made Jonghyun fight real monsters before, but she had been right beside him and had carefully arranged one-on-one encounters.

But this was a monster famous for destroying Jaegers, even among C-grade monsters.

For a moment, she felt worried.

‘Jonghyun is definitely a hunter-style fighter who targets the opponent’s weaknesses, not a martial artist who fights head-on. They gave him a difficult monster.’

As a fellow instructor, she could easily guess Oh Juhwan’s purpose.

‘Does Instructor Oh think of Jonghyun that way? But Jonghyun is weak unless he can transform into a monster.’

If things get dangerous, he can just transform into a monster. A child with such an advantage wouldn’t be discouraged even if they failed the promotion test.

As she continued watching, something unexpected appeared.

‘Monster combat techniques. Did he learn those from the Cheonji Guild?’

Jonghyun was properly utilizing monster combat techniques.

‘Why? It’s not like you’ll be facing monsters directly yourself?’

He would face them in monster form anyway. She knew very well how incredibly powerful Jonghyun’s monster form was.

‘Why bother? Though amateurish, he’s practicing what he learned and moving according to the manual properly.’

Eun Serin was both impressed and puzzled by Jonghyun’s strategic hit-and-run tactics.

She had already confirmed during the Mahana incident that he possessed an incredibly powerful monster form unlike anything she’d seen before.

‘I know, you’re also the monster who survived fighting Dokgo Jun. With that power, you could be a great help to humanity. But in human form…’

What use would it be? A Jaeger without the physical abilities to match is useless. Even sidekicks are valued highly just for having bodies that can withstand monsters.

Combat Jaegers need even stronger qualifications.

But Jonghyun’s limit is the limit of his enhancement suit. It’s difficult for him to go beyond that.

‘I think it’s pointless, but if it’s what he wants, I suppose it has meaning.’

[We’re going to turn the world upside down, Eun Serin. It will include what you want, won’t it?]

The cult leader’s words struck her mind. At the same time, memories of Jo Seonghee and her past flashed before her.

‘Was turning the world upside down what I wanted?’

No. It’s more modest than that. Jo Seonghee and her gang, along with all the humans who drove her brother to his death.

But if she overthrows them, the world naturally becomes her enemy. If she turns the world upside down, Jo Seonghee’s side would be included anyway. That’s why she went along with it.

‘It’s meaningless. The moment I kill the head of the Three Great Guilds, I’ll become everyone’s enemy. Why am I thinking like this?’

Is it because she thinks Jonghyun would make a difference? Because he’s different?

She felt her desire for revenge fading.

Eun Serin glanced at Oh Juhwan. His evaluation itself was already flawless.

‘Well done. I would have targeted similar weaknesses too. A sturdy monster is indeed the natural counter to Jonghyun’s style.’

Oh Juhwan’s expression was happier than she had ever seen it.

Eun Serin felt a twinge of jealousy.

“You seem pleased?”

“Jonghyun knows his weaknesses well. And he’s covering them with techniques he learned from the Cheonji Guild. It’s impressive. That child will do well wherever he goes. I was worried because he doesn’t have a summoning spirit.”

“He’s working hard, I see.”

“Yes. To think he’d develop like this even when we weren’t watching. This should be enough to pass, right?”

It might seem strange for him to ask for her evaluation, but Eun Serin was an advanced class instructor.

She smiled slightly while looking at Jonghyun.

“That’s right. He’s more than qualified. Even though it’s a C-grade monster, few people face B-grade or higher during their academy years, so he won’t fall behind in class either.”

“Indeed. Please guide him well from now on. I’m counting on you.”

Oh Juhwan put on a solemn expression again and rushed over to Jonghyun.

“Good timing.”

Eun Serin watched the scene contentedly before tapping her cheek.

Rather than congratulating Jonghyun in person, she used the phone.

‘If I see him directly, I might say something strange.’

She made a brief congratulatory call and also asked a small question.

“By the way, did you learn monster combat techniques to become stronger?”

“Of course. Now that I’m being promoted to the advanced class, I can’t use the enhancement suit as an excuse anymore. I want to change myself through my own efforts.”

How admirable.

Eun Serin found herself smiling.

“That’s good. So you’ll be taking my class starting next month.”

“That’s right. I’ll be in your care, noona.”

“Call me Instructor or Teacher at school. Don’t do things that might cause misunderstandings. Did you learn monster combat techniques recently?”

“Of course. I guess I’ve done some advance studying for the second-year curriculum.”

In the second-year curriculum, students learn not only about terrain structures but also about ability utilization, more effective combat methods, and tactics.

Monster combat techniques maximize one aspect of those tactics.

It’s advance learning, but not something emphasized at the academy.

Jonghyun had already entered that domain.

“Even if it’s advance learning, they don’t teach it professionally. They just teach the methods and instill the basics. Your time at the Cheonji Guild must have been effective.”

“Yes. I need to get stronger. To keep the promise I made before.”

Eun Serin was surprised anew. It wasn’t just something he said to please her; he was constantly working to keep that promise.

“I’m proud of you. Really… So keep that determination until the end. To continue developing.”

Eun Serin ended the call. She had said she wouldn’t say unnecessary things, but she did anyway.

“Keep that determination until the end? I’m being too rude to him.”

Eun Serin turned away.

*

Facing the start of school in March, I finally succeeded in getting promoted.

I should clearly be happy, but I couldn’t be for two reasons.

One was that among the lower class members who challenged the promotion test with me, everyone except Jinsu and me failed.

“…This is the reality of my skills.”

“We didn’t do well. All of us.”

“It’s okay, we can try again next time.”

How could we have a promotion celebration while the others were consoling each other after failing?

I’d get beaten up on the spot.

Jinsu and I tactfully excused ourselves, saying we’d leave first.

Jinsu to the intermediate class, me to the advanced class.

It would also be awkward to celebrate just the two of us, so we congratulated each other briefly.

“Congratulations.”

“You too.”

From second year, I’ll be with new kids… well, not really new since I know many of them, but anyway, with kids I’ve only seen occasionally.

The start of a new life. As I was about to begin my second year, suddenly there was a change in the Monster Report.

“Jinsu! Since the others are like that, let’s part ways here! Good work today!”

“Huh? Okay. Where are you rushing off to?”

I left Jinsu behind and immediately boarded the subway. It was time to hunt again.

“Wait for me.”

The Monster Report showed changes in several locations.

I can’t control the monsters that have already appeared. But at least I knew what would come next.

But how do they notify me of changes so quickly?

Do they know how to detect or how monsters prepare when opening a breach, allowing them to respond immediately?

The moment things diverged from the future, I rushed with the thought of reducing casualties by even one.

Instead of telling my family about my promotion, I went home and said I was going to rest.

Then, like before, I used optical camouflage and went to the location I was told about.

But unfortunately, they didn’t appear.

“…”

The guild should come at times like this, but sadly, they can’t arrive immediately.

Moreover, I saw cars entangled in front of me, unable to avoid each other.

“I have to go.”

I came back to prevent the world’s destruction, and to save people now.

[Evolution]

Transforming into an Avian Sura, I immediately kicked away a mini-dragon that was diving from the sky.

There were four monsters in total.

I need to finish this before the guild arrives.

I use my sub-card and activate my trait. As my own world unfolds again, I was taking care of these monsters one by one.

As points were pouring in and time was about to resume, I saw it.

A monster rushing toward me.

But it was wearing a mask. A monster-human who had even appeared on TV.

That guy was now rushing toward me.

Why?

Are there any monsters left?

No, there aren’t. I took care of them all. So why is it coming for me?

It’s not unusual to instinctively sense danger.

Besides, they’re enemies.

There’s only one target. Me.

He openly ran, drawing two blades. But the direction is strange. He’s not aiming at me in the air.

He’s running in a straight line. In that straight line, there’s a stopped vehicle.

He was rushing in with blades drawn.

“You crazy bastard!”

My kick pierced through his body faster than his blade-swinging motion.

Is this guy a slime? His body seems to stretch.

As the slowed time resumed, I tore him to shreds with Wind Modulation in one breath.

Confirming his death by the incoming points, I fled back to the sky.

I pride myself on eliminating another fake hero today, but the evening news told me this was definitely not a coincidence.

The monster-human I killed had saved someone before I killed him.

And then he charged at me.

[He, the monster who saved me, was killed. Monsters shouldn’t fight each other!]

The child’s plea echoed through the TV screen.

[The monster who has been helping humanity killed another monster who was also helping people. Experts say that once might be a coincidence, but twice is certainly not.]

They were replaying footage of me killing the monster-human. Do as you please. I’ll do what I need to do.

No matter what the media says, I’ll deal with them. I just… hope the worst future doesn’t come.

If chaos breaks out with no distinction between friend and foe, the chances of ‘that man’ making a move increase.