Ch.158158. The Enemies’ Secret Weapon

Yoon Dong-ha was looking down at Do Jong-hyun and Ariel.

“Is that the couple that appeared on TV? I’m envious. She’s a good woman.”

He licked his lips, but he knew he couldn’t touch her anyway.

[Ariel’s family is from an Irish conglomerate with numerous threatening Jaegers as bodyguards. If you carelessly mess with her, you’ll face double trouble.]

“Even without that, isn’t Ariel herself ridiculously strong? Is it normal for a second-year academy student to completely exhaust an S-class monster? That’s talent.”

Yoon Dong-ha briefly recalled memories from his childhood.

[Dong-ha is the best among the first-years?]

[Now XX is better than Dong-ha?]

[This year our pride is XX and OO.]

[Wasn’t Yoon Dong-ha showing off because he was good in his first year? He’s quiet now.]

Resentment toward geniuses briefly showed on Yoon Dong-ha’s face.

‘No, this isn’t right. Ariel must have been educated like a true genius at the Magician Guild.’

In fact, Ariel had spent her vacation training at the Magician Guild and sparring with strong individuals like her butler, Connor. She was in the best environment to defeat Seol Yu-hwa.

Unlike her arrogant and vain self before the regression, her efforts were now whipping her talent into growth.

She hadn’t even met with Do Jong-hyun during the break.

Yoon Dong-ha couldn’t know about these efforts. He simply thought she was growing quickly because she was a genius.

Currently, the Monster Apocalypse Group’s operation was still ongoing.

In fact, after Yoon Dong-ha took charge of the operation, he had originally planned to have more of his monsters killed today.

He had intended to deploy one monster person after several monsters.

But Ariel’s early victory against the monster that approached her had thrown off his calculations.

‘I was stupid. What was I thinking just surrounding her? If only I had been more meticulous with the control!’

Regardless of Ariel’s strength, he could have made her struggle more.

It was just like when Do Jong-hyun attacked the factory with the mechanical wolf.

He had demonstrated firsthand that when a commander leads poorly, the army fails.

“Ex-Executive, what should I do now?”

Behind him, a timid-looking monster person was trembling.

This was the one who was supposed to be deployed, but the plan had been ruined.

“Well, we’ll do it next time. It’s fine. We can create an even better stage.”

However, Yoon Dong-ha noticed that the transformed monster was staring at a certain child.

In a way, it was normal. Protection of children is universal across the world.

Ordinarily, he would have ignored it.

But Yoon Dong-ha took note of this gaze that could have been considered natural.

His jealous perspective made him think there might be something to even such a trivial detail.

This was exactly what the Monster Apocalypse Group needed.

“Keep an eye on that kid.”

“What? But he’s just a child in the park…”

“Just do as I say.”

At that moment, Yoon Dong-ha’s hand struck the monster person’s forehead.

[Command]

Captured by Yoon Dong-ha’s magical power, the monster person’s expression quickly changed to one of docility.

[From now on, investigate that child. Try not to touch him. It’s not time to kill the child yet.]

Once his command was recognized, the monster person moved quickly.

“Then, I’ll have to give orders to the next monster person from the beginning. They have no loyalty.”

The operation was now ripening. After stirring things up once or twice more, they would initiate the plan.

Yoon Dong-ha carefully disappeared.

*

Ariel is the type who doesn’t readily share her thoughts.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing. Why? Do Jong-hyun, did I say something strange?”

Faced with Ariel’s expression, loaded with teasing intent, what could I do?

“No… nothing.”

I’m too afraid to dig deeper. I wonder if she just casually dismissed it in her typical Ariel way, or if she actually noticed something.

But if she did notice…

She’s not the type to tell anyone. Ariel is more perceptive than she appears.

But if she had figured it out, shouldn’t she have given me some hint when we were alone?

Thinking back to before, she might just be suspicious or testing me.

But I’m not in a position to openly reveal that I transform into a monster.

Having suspicions and having evidence are different things. And considering the overall atmosphere of this world.

Besides, with human monsters and monster people already existing, the distinctions are blurry.

I need to keep it hidden as long as possible.

This is my basic mindset. And since there are no guards anyway, I can now go on expeditions whenever I have time.

This time, I’ll go on an expedition to catch those monster people playing hero.

I know well enough where the monsters that have made the news are active.

There are over 30 of them across the country.

They’re all different individuals, not the same entity. Operating large-scale monster people and capturing them will be a significant blow.

I returned home and made thorough plans.

March 2nd is Tuesday, and I’ll go on expeditions Thursday evening and over the weekend to eliminate enemies.

On weekdays, I’ll go to nearby places since time is limited. On weekends, I’ll go on longer expeditions.

Having made this decision, I let my tired body rest.

The next day, Eun Se-rin officially started case studies centered on discussion.

It means students freely discuss and share opinions on topics presented by Eun Se-rin.

Since it was the first discussion, the agenda itself was easy.

“The topic is areas for improvement in academy life. Actually, I’d like to give you something difficult, but let’s start light on the first day. Everyone, let’s begin. By the way, each person needs to speak up at least once overall. Do your best.”

We need to get used to the more liberal American-style classes.

After class ended, as I was about to head home, Seol Yu-hwa called out to me.

“Jong-hyun.”

“What?”

“Did you get home safely yesterday?”

Seol Yu-hwa’s face was full of smiles. Was it just yesterday?

“Was it hard with Ariel?”

Unlike Ariel’s snippy attitude, she was suddenly holding my hand and showing concern.

“I understand. Do you have time today?”

“…Yes.”

At that moment, I turned my gaze forward. Ariel had already turned around and started an intense staring contest.

But I could confirm again that Seol Yu-hwa had changed from before.

“Ariel. What? Are you his girlfriend or something?”

“No.”

“Then don’t worry about it.”

She’s different. Ariel’s surprised look is exactly my look. Yu-hwa has definitely changed from before.

After class, I was led out by Yu-hwa.

Surprisingly, we headed to an elementary school.

It was obvious who we were going to meet.

“Jun-hoo and Seo-hyun?”

“Seok-min joined this time too.”

“You must be busy every morning.”

“They’re children. Actually, I wasn’t planning to come to the elementary school today, but Jun-hoo said he has something to ask you?”

When I heard Jun-hoo’s name, various thoughts immediately came to mind.

It’s Jun-hoo, not someone else.

“By the way, we did a summoning spirit test last time. Jun-hoo doesn’t show anything on the test, but he keeps… So I’m worried.”

“Even though you did the test?”

If he doesn’t have a summoning spirit, then what is that voice?

It seems too accurate to be schizophrenia or auditory hallucinations.

Because he doesn’t have a summoning spirit attached?

Various possibilities come to mind. If a summoning spirit were attached, he would have unlocked his abilities by now…

Is it just giving him information?

“I hope not, but Jun-hoo seemed smart. If the hospital says there’s no problem, then there isn’t.”

“I hope so too.”

Leaving Seol Yu-hwa’s concerns behind, now three children were rushing toward us.

Seo-hyun, Jun-hoo, Seok-min—I’ve even memorized all their names by now.

“It’s oppa! We meet again?”

“Yes.”

They greeted me happily, and with the children… what would we do? Just have dinner together.

Of course, my interest was in Jun-hoo.

I was curious about what Jun-hoo, who was also the host of this gathering, would say.

During the bustling dinner time, I made eye contact with Jun-hoo.

“I need to use the bathroom. Noona.”

“I’ll go too.”

Naturally following him out to the bathroom, Jun-hoo beckoned me in the men’s room.

I immediately leaned in to listen.

[A child disappeared from the park yesterday.]

By yesterday, does he mean when I was on a date with Ariel? Children disappeared?

[I can hear voices. Children from all over. They’re gathered in one place.]

Kidnapping children and gathering them in one place?

“Where?”

Jun-hoo’s voice echoed in my ear.

*

Yoon Dong-ha had gathered monster people in the basement of a dilapidated building.

But surprisingly, the abandoned building was warm inside and the walls were freshly painted.

“Let’s be clear about the ‘roles.’ Nothing is as convincing as children’s pleas.”

Yoon Dong-ha placed his hand on the heads of the kidnapped children.

[Command]

He continued inputting commands.

This was Yoon Dong-ha’s ability. It was this ability that got him recommended for an executive position.

[An executive must excel in both literary and martial arts. Physical ability is also essential to utilize good abilities.]

But since the Flowing Milky Way also emphasized physical abilities, he was forced to train his body.

“Now, now, you’re good audience members. When you wake up, you’ll tell everyone who kidnapped you.”

He was in the process of fabricating evidence to corner Do Jong-hyun.

‘This will bring more chaos. Evil deeds will occur, and we’ll gain complete trust.’

What comes next goes without saying.

By destroying trust, they suppress the rampage of a third monster.

‘Not us, but society itself.’

With that expectation, the brainwashing continued. When these children wake up, they’ll say who kidnapped them.

And then their monster people will rescue them.

‘The script needs to be at least this good.’

After examining the five types of monsters, Yoon Dong-ha realized they couldn’t communicate with humans.

‘The records only said they understand human language.’

If they can’t speak human language themselves, he could definitely target them.

As Yoon Dong-ha was snickering while working, suddenly a tremendous noise enveloped the place.

“…No way? How did they know about this place?”

It was incomprehensible. An intruder had appeared.

“What the hell is this nonsense?”

The moment Yoon Dong-ha opened the door in surprise, a wolf monster had already revealed itself in front of him.

[An entity capable of 1:1 combat with Dokgo-jun]

The executive meeting flashed through Yoon Dong-ha’s mind.

‘Not now.’

The wolf was a mature form, not an evolved form, but he had no leisure to distinguish that.

Yoon Dong-ha quickly fled.

“For me! Block him! You bastards!”

He ordered the monster people to buy time while he escaped with all his might.

‘After all that effort to gather them!’

Information had leaked. Who could have leaked this information?

“Damn it!”

But one-on-one was impossible. Yoon Dong-ha escaped and called the Monster Apocalypse Group.

“The first gathering place has been raided. Can you protest to the monster side? Who the hell leaked information?”

He gritted his teeth.

There was still one more place left, but if information had leaked, it wouldn’t be safe.

Humiliation. His carefully prepared scenario was being ruined.

‘Geniuses are always like that. Disgusting bastards. Always exceeding my expectations!’

As past feelings of inferiority resurfaced, Yoon Dong-ha contacted the Flowing Milky Way.

“I want cooperation before the plan collapses, Grand Executive. Give me that byproduct of the ancient species or whatever it is!”

Shortly after, Yoon Dong-ha left with a satisfied smile.