Ch.3838. Jealousy

“But why does my back hurt so much?”

On my way back, I kept feeling pain in my back. Is there something else besides the full-body fatigue that comes with transformation?

I don’t know what happened while I was unconscious.

Today’s total points: 7,680. I earned an absolutely incredible amount.

It’s hard to even imagine how much I earned while I lost control.

What I confirmed today is that this black card, if used incorrectly, is powerful enough to override characteristic adjustments.

The enhanced body from this is on a completely different level from other entities.

The power of Gaia Flame is astonishing, and it further increases both recovery and defense.

However, the major drawback is losing control to the point where even characteristic adjustments can’t stop it. What if I encounter a priest or someone with even greater abilities than an aptitude user?

“I’d die.”

Yes, that’s quite important in battles against the strong.

“I wish there was some way to control it.”

As I entered the monster point shop, I suddenly noticed something at the very bottom that I hadn’t touched before.

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

“A special sub-card…”

My current M-points exceed 5,000 anyway. That means I can definitely afford it.

With my aching back preventing me from lying down on the maglev train, I try purchasing a card from the shop.

[Purchase Special Sub-Card]

-Guaranteed to be green grade or higher.

-Sub-card grades: White < Yellow < Green < Blue < Silver

-Using component cards allows you to utilize mechanical characteristics.

A card of middle grade or higher? This gacha seems worth trying.

I won’t miss this opportunity.

-Use Component Card

I decided to use one of my three remaining component cards.

The cards began to shine, changing from yellow to silver right before my eyes.

And finally, a blue card materialized in my hand.

[Output Limit Release Device]

-When charged, increases basic stats by 1 rank, eases all characteristic conditions, and enables electric property attacks

-Other species: Use mechanical characteristics for 5 minutes and increase resistance and magic resistance.

“Even for other species? Something this versatile is welcome.”

So the machine species gets an unlimited output increase, while other species can use machine characteristics and become tougher.

“Higher grades offer more variety, I see.”

I’d like to use this right away, but—

Just then, my smartwatch rang. Someone had sent me a message.

I checked the name and was surprised.

“Geum Do-hyeon?”

Surprisingly, it was from Geum Do-hyeon. Not Seol Yu-hwa, but him contacting me first?

While I was thinking how unexpected this was, another message came in.

-Do Jong-hyeon. I have something to talk about. Can we meet tomorrow?

This doesn’t seem like a joke.

***

“What do you mean? Don’t touch him?”

That evening, Min Gang-su went to Geum Do-hyeon Family’s hideout.

Coming from a well-off family, Geum Do-hyeon had plenty of funds, though not as much as Aerial.

He had personally paid to rent out the largest and most spacious underground club room.

This is where he gathered his family members to give orders and discuss various matters.

Min Gang-su heard something there that he simply couldn’t accept.

“What do you mean don’t touch Do Jong-hyeon?”

“Don’t touch him. Do Jong-hyeon is on hold.”

Geum Do-hyeon calmly ran his hand through his hair. His handsome face was filled with concern.

Min Gang-su grew anxious.

“Is it because that guy’s been doing well? He’s weak by himself.”

“He’s more helpful than just being strong.”

“So you’re saying to just leave him alone?”

“Yeah. Leave him alone. No, actually, treat him well.”

Geum Do-hyeon was lying comfortably, fiddling with his phone.

He was the leader, commanding this group.

Whatever Geum Do-hyeon said was essentially truth and law.

But Min Gang-su was different.

“You told me to mess with that annoying guy, but now suddenly?”

“There’s nothing special about it. You already lost to him, Min Gang-su, so there’s no point in bullying him anymore. Besides, based on recent evaluations, he has considerable talent. There’s no need to pressure him.”

Geum Do-hyeon closed his phone.

Normally, this wouldn’t have been an issue. When he gave an order, following it was all that mattered.

But on this day, Min Gang-su rebelled against Geum Do-hyeon’s solid fortress.

“So it’s because I lost? Because I’m useless?”

“…To put it bluntly. But I wasn’t going to phrase it that way. Since you said it, I’ll have to agree.”

His smirk highlighted his handsome features.

“I tried my best too. If only Aerial had bought me a reinforcement suit…”

“That’s in the past. And in the end, you lost to someone who couldn’t even contract with a summoned spirit. That’s enough. I recruited you because I thought you could exert some influence in the lower class. But you couldn’t. Honestly, I want to kick you out, but since you’re still my connection to the lower class, I’m keeping you around.”

“If you bring in Do Jong-hyeon, I’ll…”

“Who knows. I don’t even know if Do Jong-hyeon will join or not.”

Min Gang-su gritted his teeth.

He turned his head to see other middle-class gang members snickering.

Park Jae-hyeok and Seong Do-jun. Both were laughing at him.

“You should have done well in the first place.”

“We’ve practically conquered the middle class. Everyone fears us and avoids us. You’re the only one who can’t do things right.”

“…”

Min Gang-su’s eyes flashed with killing intent, but when the middle-class students glared back, his hostility melted away like morning snow.

“With Geum Do-hyeon’s money and status, we’ve been getting good support, but what about our Gang-su? You’ll be kicked out of here. When Do Jong-hyeon comes, there won’t be a place for you.”

“No, Do Jong-hyeon was just lucky.”

Min Gang-su was acutely aware that his position in this family was being threatened.

The benefits Geum Do-hyeon provided were substantial. Connections with good guilds and backing that allowed for some reckless actions.

“I just need to prove I’m better than him.”

“Oh? Can you do that?”

Hearing the middle-class students’ mockery, Min Gang-su approached Geum Do-hyeon.

“If I do better than him, that should be enough, right?”

“Is that possible?”

Geum Do-hyeon’s gaze showed no sign of belief. Min Gang-su’s pride was crumbling.

“Even if he’s smart, that’s all he has. He can’t do well when it’s just among our class.”

“Give it your best shot.”

Geum Do-hyeon already looked disinterested. Min Gang-su realized again that his position was in jeopardy.

‘I’ll prove myself by putting him down.’

Min Gang-su made that resolution.

***

I really don’t understand why Geum Do-hyeon wanted to see me.

Wasn’t he the one who sent Min Gang-su to keep me in check?

Even though that stopped after I won our one-on-one, Geum Do-hyeon was still the mastermind.

So why is he calling me again?

During lunch break, Geum Do-hyeon and I met at the school store.

“Hey there.”

Geum Do-hyeon waved his hand. Why is he acting friendly?

I sat down anyway.

“Why did you call me here?”

“You look angry?”

“I know you were behind Min Gang-su’s actions. So why did you call me this time?”

“Haha, I’m a bit childish, you know. That’s my personality, so I came to apologize. Is it too late?”

“A bit late. It’s been almost three months.”

“Exactly three months in one more week. I wanted to apologize now. We’ll be seeing each other for over two more years, right?”

I can see something sinister behind Geum Do-hyeon’s intentions. He’s apologizing, but it feels like there’s something more.

“If you’re apologizing, I don’t want to hold a grudge either. Is that all you wanted?”

“For now. But I’d like to ask one more favor.”

“What?”

Geum Do-hyeon suddenly pushed a bag in front of me.

“What’s this?”

“Open it. There’s no password.”

It’s a bag with a lock. Well, since there’s no password, I opened it.

“Money?”

Surprisingly, what’s in front of my eyes are bundles of cash.

“100 million won.”

Geum Do-hyeon kindly explained the amount.

“Suddenly giving me money? Are you trying to be charitable?”

“I want to formally recruit you, Do Jong-hyeon.”

After closing the bag, I saw Geum Do-hyeon’s serious expression.

“Are you planning to form a guild?”

“Something like that. You’ve caught the White Dragon Guild’s attention, but you won’t be able to join them for at least three years. You’re getting support under the assumption you’ll join in three years. But no one knows what will happen in three years.”

I recalled the future. Geum Do-hyeon, who lived as the second-ranked male behind Gu Sang-heon, eventually formed his own guild with his family.

It grew fairly well until he killed Gu Sang-heon, but ultimately failed due to childish jealousy and revenge.

“You think you can achieve that much?”

“Of course. I’m confident. Someone like you is definitely talented enough to join the Geum Do-hyeon Family.”

“What are the benefits?”

“Did the White Dragon Guild formally try to recruit you? I don’t think so. You’ve caught their attention, but the academy lasts three years. Who knows when other talented individuals might appear.”

He’s right. The White Dragon Guild showed interest in me, but they’re in the superior position, so they demanded that I come to them.

“Besides, the White Dragon Guild, like the Magician Guild, sweeps up all the top-tier talents. You’ve shown ability in lower grades with your judgment. Can you do the same at higher grades? Moreover, at higher grades, you won’t have time to analyze. People die even with summoned spirits, and you don’t even have one—you’d die just from the aftereffects. How far do you think knowledge alone can cover?”

Surprisingly logical. In truth, my ability is just about getting ahead of others with knowledge early on.

It’s natural that things get harder as the difficulty increases.

Geum Do-hyeon seemed to understand this well.

“That’s why I’ll support you. Reinforcement suits have limitations, but there are ways to utilize sidekicks. Specifically for you.”

“The White Dragon Guild would never do that for me.”

“In that place full of elites, you’d have to survive on your own. But with me, you won’t have that worry. What do you think?”

This is quite surprising. I only saw Geum Do-hyeon explode with jealousy and inferiority toward Gu Sang-heon in the later stages.

Did something happen during these two months to change his mind?

It’s a good offer, certainly.

But I had to decline.

“I already have a place in mind. Somewhere I can manage on my own.”

“Was I too late?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a shame. But let me know if you change your mind. Lower-class students who perform as well as you are rare.”

Geum Do-hyeon withdrew with the bag. Even though it was a good offer, my new summoned spirit’s characteristics make it difficult to team up with anyone.

Geum Do-hyeon retreated without much regret. There will be opportunities over the next three years anyway.

After lunch, it was time for the afternoon session. Today, like last time, we have gate simulation.

Last time it was among the same lower class, but this time it’s a freely mixed format.

While I was looking for potential candidates, Min Gang-su approached me.

“Going to ride the bus with upper-class students again?”

“How did you know? I was planning to take a plane and enjoy myself.”

“You’re such a parasite. That’s just how you operate.”

“Is that what you came to say?”

“You think you’re so great? You just got information from the internet or by running errands for guilds. You’re nothing on your own.”

“Didn’t you lose to me one-on-one last time?”

“That was luck! Let’s do it again!”

Min Gang-su shouted. People’s attention started to focus on us.

“My, my. Two lower-class students bickering so well.”

The first to show interest was Aerial.

“Coming straight to the lower class, you must have been nearby.”

“Don’t misunderstand. This time I’ll do it without you. I need to measure my record. I might get first place even without someone like you.”

“What if you don’t?”

“You’re being so annoying. Anyway, that’s how it is. Good luck.”

Aerial waved goodbye as she left. Seol Yu-hwa looked at me and shook her head.

So she plans to test her record without me. Well, these things happen.

“Are you two fighting? How friendly.”

This time Geum Do-hyeon came back.

“It’s not worth having you two fight separately since Min Gang-su already lost, right?”

Geum Do-hyeon’s gaze was cold, directed at Min Gang-su.

“I won’t lose if we do it again!”

“The next one-on-one duel isn’t for two more weeks. Instead, why not check your solo record here?”

“Solo record check? Ah…”

I know what that is. Usually, we form teams, but a solo record check means hunting monsters alone to measure performance.

Since people rarely go alone in gates, this method isn’t typically used in the first year. It’s usually done in the second semester of the second year, purely for individual record purposes.

The points to check are speed against monsters, counter methods, and how quickly you can clear a route alone.

It’s a test that evaluates multiple aspects.

“What do you think? For a Jaeger, what matters is defeating monsters. One-on-one duels are secondary. This would be a good way to evaluate your abilities, right?”

Geum Do-hyeon stepped in like a mediator. Then he looked at Min Gang-su.

“What do you think, can you win?”

“Of course. Without team support, he’s nothing.”

“Good. Then, Instructor Oh!”

Under Geum Do-hyeon’s leadership, a solo record check competition between Min Gang-su and me was arranged.

As I was preparing, Geum Do-hyeon approached me.

“Honestly, I was curious. How well you’d do without team support. Anyway, good luck. If you truly have ability, you’ll do well.”

How well can I do alone…

This will test my performance without transformation. It piqued my interest.

How far can this “normal body” go?

“This might be better than simulation practice for gate practice.”

With anticipation and excitement, I stepped up to the challenge.