Ch.159159. Enemy Preparations

Junhu’s words were accurate. They had indeed succeeded in finding one near Gangwon Province.

But just like with Aerial, I have one question.

Why me?

With Aerial, I could assume she was testing me out of suspicion. There were plenty of reasons to be suspicious of me during the Mahana incident.

But Junhu…

No, actually, Junhu might know my true identity. That voice seems to exist somehow.

It appears to provide various information… but why specifically me?

Even assuming people wouldn’t believe a child, there’s Yuhwa who would believe him.

Why specifically me?

Did he think I could solve the problem?

Seol Yuhwa: “But when I met Junhu, he didn’t say much.”

Do Jonghyun: “It’s a secret between men. Don’t worry, it’s not about bullying or anything like that.”

Seol Yuhwa: “That’s a relief. I’ve been worried because Junhu keeps being wary of his surroundings lately.”

Do Jonghyun: “Maybe he’s just getting sensitive as he grows up? He told me a lot about that too.”

I made up an excuse. But here, I learned one important fact.

Seol Yuhwa: “I just saw on the news that children were even kidnapped by monsters, and apparently one of Junhu’s friends was among them. He was so happy when he saw the news about their rescue…”

So one of Junhu’s friends was among those kidnapped children.

Could that be why he was out in the park that day?

Was he going to be kidnapped there?

That’s why he asked me for help. This automatically leads to the conclusion that Junhu knows I’m a monster.

That’s why he asked me for help instead of other adults.

“Haah. This is complicated.”

Does he really know my identity? No, he didn’t show any signs of knowing until then?

Did the voice just now…?

But no matter how much I ponder this, I won’t get an answer unless Junhu tells me directly.

If I awkwardly ask and he actually doesn’t know? Junhu isn’t the type to snitch on anyone, so I should just stay quiet for now.

Besides, my body feels heavy. The adult transformation really requires rest.

Junhu told me about two locations in total.

The place I attacked today and one in Daejeon. They really go far just to kidnap one child.

So my next destination is naturally decided.

Daejeon.

I’ll rescue the children there.

After giving my body enough rest. And the next day, we were able to experience our first case study.

Unlike before, the practical training wasn’t all packed in the afternoon.

In the morning, we learned and practiced rescue operations.

In teams, we checked how to save people and learned first aid treatment.

Everyone was confused about memorizing what they’d learned rather than properly demonstrating it.

For me, since I was thorough with the theory, it wasn’t a problem.

However, what would normally have ended there continued with team discussions until lunchtime.

When none of us could speak during our first case study experience, Serin pointed out issues one by one.

“Aerial, you’re too autocratic. When you speak, don’t beat around the bush. Communication is crucial in emergencies. You might miss something important that way.”

“Conversely, Yuhwa, don’t be too accommodating. Even during the rescue operation just now, you were so concerned about others that you ran out of time. Quick decision-making is important.”

After scolding them, her gaze turned to me.

“Jonghyun, even though you were on the same team, you should have pointed these things out immediately. Understand? It’s not enough to just do your part well. The focus of this class is to identify your teammates’ shortcomings and communicate effectively. Got it?”

Faced with her intimidating gaze, I could only bow my head.

Her tone was quite different too. This was Serin as an instructor.

After all this, Serin told the children:

“You need to find these issues I’ve pointed out by yourselves. From now on, I won’t say anything to you. And in a month, you’ll take a test. The grades from here will affect your ranking next year. Communicate verbally with each other and understand each other. You all have different tendencies and abilities, right? You need to recognize that.”

She’s right. We can’t just leave things be; if there’s a problem, we need to clearly align our wants through conversation.

So I should take those words to heart.

This is separate from me giving orders during operations. It’s about knowing and addressing weaknesses and problems. It’s not about me covering up those weaknesses and resolving the situation.

In that sense, I’m not worried about Geum Dohyun, Gu Sangheon, or Han Minwoo.

Geum Dohyun probably has his own dreams.

[“Hey, after graduation, I’m going to create my own guild and surpass the top three guilds. Those who share my dream better line up early. Since I’m a rookie too, other rookies can easily join! Though I’ll still separate the wheat from the chaff to some extent.”]

This is different from when he got angry after losing to Gu Sangheon in the second-year discipline incident.

Maybe this is what “growing up properly” feels like. As for Gu Sangheon, well, he’s always laid-back.

He’s voluntarily solitary but can communicate well with anyone.

Minwoo is always taciturn and works diligently.

Those three get along well, so their grades are good too. Even better than Aerial or Seol Yuhwa.

So if only Aerial and Seol Yuhwa can be resolved, there’s minimal concern.

If Seol Yuhwa puts the brakes on movement, the powerful Aerial can cut through in one go, and if Aerial overwhelms the enemy with firepower, Seol Yuhwa can infiltrate and control in the meantime… There are many methods.

To make those two get along… some catalyst is needed.

[“Take them both.”]

Serin’s advice comes to mind, but honestly, wasn’t that just a joke?

Well, it’s not like I’d be able to manipulate those two with their affection even if I did receive their love…

It’s not that popular or capable men don’t have such stories.

Plus, there’s the added bonus of getting stabbed and dying a miserable death if things go wrong.

You need to solve the fundamental issue to be able to smooth things over with affection.

As Serin said, we need to go deeper.

During break time, I asked Aerial:

“Aerial, is your goal to become the best in the world?”

“…You’re asking something so obvious. Absolutely, I must be number one. My family has put in so much effort for me, and so has Corner. Well, I’m naturally talented anyway.”

Family expectations, a sense of duty to live up to them, and confidence in herself.

But the issue arose when Seol Yuhwa went to the White Dragon Guild and surpassed her.

In my previous life, Seol Yuhwa was so broken that Aerial had nothing to criticize her for, and she was consistently behind in grades, so Aerial didn’t pay attention to her.

But now the situation is different. With the roles reversed, she’s reacting sensitively.

It’s an issue tied to Aerial’s pride; wouldn’t it be better to make them acknowledge each other?

If they could be rivals who recognize each other’s skills, that would be good…

And then I ventured:

“What do you think about a man dating multiple women?”

“He should be killed. How dare he?”

Aerial’s eyes changed to look like those of a vampire. Then she gave me a strange look.

“Hmm~ Do Jonghyun. You want to do that? Know your place.”

“No, it’s just that sometimes you see such people in the news. Even famous soccer players have done it.”

“Generally, people would dislike it. But if the parties involved agree, what can you do? There must be some merit to it. And Do Jonghyun.”

Aerial grabbed my shoulder and gave a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

“It will never happen for you. Wake up.”

“Hahaha… I wasn’t expecting it to.”

“Honestly, it would be too much for you anyway.”

So Aerial superficially dislikes it. Next is Seol Yuhwa.

The next day, during break time, I asked her the same question.

“Yuhwa, what’s your goal after graduation?”

“For my family to do well. I need to take care of them. And also to move to a… no… to a bigger house.”

“So family is a big consideration for you. Success must be important.”

“Yes. I need to do well at the White Dragon Guild too. I’m determined to. And…”

She didn’t continue. She just stared at me intently without saying what she was going to say.

Well, the important thing is that Seol Yuhwa seemed to prioritize success to support her family rather than being number one. Family is her priority.

All this effort she’s putting in is solely for that purpose.

Aerial wants to be number one, Yuhwa wants success. It seems like there might be room for harmony?

“So, Yuhwa. What do you think about men who date multiple women, as seen in internet news?”

“…If they all agree, I don’t see why it’s a problem. We don’t know their circumstances to judge. It might be for money, but there are many people who exchange money and love and live well.”

“You’re more lenient than I expected?”

“That’s just in principle. If I were in that situation, I’d have mixed feelings. Especially if I were the one in love. Why? Jonghyun, are you interested? If so, I might start disliking you.”

I hastily denied it. Though their conclusions seem similar, their thought processes are different.

Get to know each other’s inner thoughts through conversation and blend them together. That’s the way to create harmony, like bibimbap.

After asking Seol Yuhwa, I went straight home that day.

As my body had recovered somewhat, I needed to head down to Daejeon to deal with the kidnapping site.

The reason I deliberately rested for two days was because I was considering evolving if necessary.

While I could transform into an adult form in about a day, wouldn’t the side that had been attacked once be more prepared?

Expecting stronger opponents, I headed down.

As I was moving, hidden by optical camouflage in the darkness:

[So that’s how you come?]

At that moment, light enveloped my entire body.

In this darkness?

[Optical camouflage deactivated]

My sub-card’s ability was nullified? A list of monsters that can cancel opponents’ buffs flashed through my mind.

But before that, the attack had already begun.

“Keurk!”

One of my arms was severed without me even seeing it.

I was in the Half-Dragon Asura state, but I couldn’t even see the attacker.

[Evolution]

I immediately selected the evolution card. How would this injury affect the evolution?

I evolved into a wolf right away, since one of the wolf’s sub-cards includes rapid recovery.

As the evolution card emitted light, I evolved all the way to the evolved form in one go.

[Left arm injury recognized, recovery sub-card used]

Only then could I identify the opponent.

It was a dark spider extending something like a thread… but was the dark spider this fast?

Even with my evolved form’s vision, I could barely see something moving at high speed.

It was that instantaneous.

When I blocked the attack with my emphasized claws, I felt an unprecedented power.

It was enough to surprise me in my evolved form.

Is this the power of a dark spider? But a dark spider’s only ranged weapon is its web?

At this point, I fired the bullets mounted on my shoulder and activated my trait.

What’s the problem now?

My situation assessment circuit finally found the answer.

Above.

There are two of them. Not just one. As my gaze moved to where the tentacle was retracting, I opened my mouth.

There was a flower-petal-shaped monster I had “never seen in the future” waving long tentacles.

A new species. A new species that even my knowledge couldn’t identify had appeared.

*

While Do Jonghyun was fighting, Yoon Dongha was preparing his operation.

“Black Spider! You stick to the plan as is. I’ll frame him right here.”

In front of him were an unconscious broadcast camera operator and reporter.

The question was how long the byproduct would hold out. Yoon Dongha recalled his conversation with Astro.

[“This byproduct is the worst failure among the byproducts we received as compensation. Still, it’s stronger than an ordinary monster. You’re just using it to buy time anyway, right? Try pitting it against that monster as a performance check.”]

‘So that’s why they were so confident? Well, let’s see how its performance holds up against him.’

It was actually holding its own against the evolved wolf. This was the opportunity to exploit.

As his orders were inputted, people were beginning to regain consciousness one by one.

Yoon Dongha stepped back, and a humanoid monster quickly supported them.

[“This place is safe now! That monster has shown its true colors!”]

Hearing this, the dazed reporter parroted:

“We were… chased by a monster… you saved us…”

“That’s right. They’re fighting for their lives outside right now! You need to capture this scene on camera and broadcast it!”

The scenario was unfolding exactly as planned.