Ch.4242. Expulsion Crisis

The moment the last monster was dealt with, Lee Chaerin approached Dokgo Jun, who was cleaning his greatsword.

“It’s over. The surrounding area is clear too. But you don’t look pleased?”

Lee Chaerin had noticed something off about her superior’s expression.

It was his typical unsatisfied look.

“Can monsters use smoke screens?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I could have caught both of them normally. But I never expected a smoke screen.”

Dokgo Jun clicked his tongue in regret. Just then, Chaerin remembered something.

“Speaking of smoke screens, wasn’t there one during the external training as well?”

“Hmm. Now that you mention it, that dinosaur monster did the same thing.”

Something was clicking into place in Dokgo Jun’s mind.

“At minimum, that humanoid insect monster and the dinosaur must be connected somehow.”

“Yes. We don’t know about the mechanical monster yet, but there’s evidence they hunted monsters together. But could they be related to the human monster?”

“They must be. But this is different from before. From what I observed, that girl was being attacked by Bong Junseok when the monster stopped him. Are Bong Junseok and the insect monster enemies? If so, why? Bong Junseok must have attacked alongside the monsters. But that creates a contradiction where monsters attack other monsters. Is this another diversion tactic?”

At this point, Lee Chaerin lightly tapped Dokgo Jun’s head as he was deep in thought.

“You can worry later. Right now, we need to clean up. The head of the White Dragon Guild needs to take care of this.”

“I suppose no one would have expected their instructor to stab them in the back.”

“The Academy seems strange lately. Especially that Instructor Bong Junseok.”

“You were taught by him too, weren’t you?”

Chaerin nodded with a gloomy face. Despite being called a psycho, he was kept on staff because he definitely improved skills.

His style was harsh and difficult, but optimized for explosively improving the skills of middling intermediate class students. For such a person to commit this betrayal?

It was serious. While there was no evidence yet that he was involved in the recent Academy incidents, the circumstances made it seem certain.

The head of the White Dragon Guild began controlling the area.

“Everyone wait in the classrooms. All instructors gather here!”

When the strongest Jaeger gave the order, everyone began to assemble in an orderly fashion.

“The Association people will be in an uproar too.”

The instructors approached Bong Junseok’s torn-apart corpse.

Oh Juhwan, who had also been attacked, looked particularly dejected.

“Why did you…”

“He attacks us and then suspects the instructors?”

Ban Seonwook, the advanced class instructor, looked dumbfounded.

“He did it deliberately to restrict our movements and make our positions easier to track.”

“So that bastard was spouting nonsense all this time?”

Dokgo Jun shouted at the shocked instructors.

“Enough sentimentality. Take care of the students first and seal off the area. Don’t let reporters approach, only let Association people in, and we’re starting a full dormitory search now.”

“What?”

“Why are you surprised? How many attacks has it been already? Do you think he was the only traitor inside? Now that it’s come to this, we need to investigate.”

“…”

Dokgo Jun was resolute. A sweeping search of the dormitories began, something not even covered by law.

Students were confused by the sudden inspection, and types like Ariel even protested.

“By what right? Is this how you push through forcefully when a crime occurs? This is an absurd approach!”

“It’s allowed for monsters.”

Dokgo Jun exuded killing intent toward the protesting Ariel.

Startled by his intensity, Ariel flinched momentarily before speaking again.

“What kind of unreasonable logic is that? If you were more cooperative…”

“Enough.”

Lee Chaerin smiled in front of Ariel.

“Sorry. This person loses his mind when it comes to monsters. Please bear with it for a moment, for everyone’s sake.”

“Ha… This is ridiculous.”

Ariel looked genuinely annoyed. It was a clash between her concept of freedom and Dokgo Jun’s concept of security.

But with this forceful approach, there was nothing Ariel could do.

Besides, while Dokgo Jun was highly skilled, he was equally forceful.

Especially when it came to monsters.

Since Ariel was no match for Dokgo Jun, backing down was the natural course.

“Ah, I definitely don’t want to work under someone like that.”

In a way, this moment could be seen as determining Ariel’s career path.

After all, in the original timeline before the regression, Ariel had joined the White Dragon Guild.

Dokgo Jun smirked.

“That’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. We wouldn’t be able to choose you anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve found a young talent who excelled in this incident.”

Dokgo Jun placed his hand on Seol Yuhwa’s shoulder.

“I’ve seen enough of your performance. Our White Dragon Guild officially recruits you, Seol Yuhwa.”

“…”

In that moment, Ariel’s expression turned frightening.

*

It was a sudden declaration. While I was nervously relieved about not being discovered, Dokgo Jun unexpectedly announced that he would recruit Seol Yuhwa.

The future changed here. Significantly.

The original flow was joining the White Dragon Guild and then crossing over to Ireland.

But the White Dragon Guild recruiting Seol Yuhwa?

It was an event so curious that even I wondered how things would change.

A major branch of events had diverged.

This formal announcement of Seol Yuhwa’s recruitment became the biggest topic alongside the attack incident.

Not just our Jaeger Academy, but the media also spotlighted Seol Yuhwa.

Particularly, her ability Brisingamen and its effectiveness in area reconnaissance began to receive renewed attention.

With the White Dragon Guild officially declaring their intent to recruit her, no other guilds could make offers.

And at this time, I could observe Ariel.

Her face, showing anger and agitation I had never seen before, was glaring at Seol Yuhwa.

“It would be a problem if those two don’t get along.”

Even before the regression, they weren’t particularly friendly, but it was never to the point of such openly hostile expressions.

After leaving this turmoil, the dormitory attack incident concluded, and we had to live in lockdown like during the COVID era.

With the White Dragon Guild practically assisting the entire Academy, could a monster-human attack still occur? The future was flowing differently from what I had anticipated.

[All Academy students must strictly observe curfew times]

As a result of this incident, we now had periodic curfews. Previously, we could stay out until dawn as long as we didn’t cause trouble, but now we had to strictly observe curfew and undergo inspections.

It became difficult to go out hunting at night like before.

As a result, I too had to attend classes normally for the time being.

“Inspection complete, no abnormalities!”

Naturally, nothing additional was revealed in the overall inspection.

It was unexpected that Eun Serin, who normally starts activities in earnest from the second semester, came today, but being on maternity leave, she hadn’t left anything at the school in the first place.

It would be stranger to leave something that could endanger one’s identity.

Bong Junseok’s past actions were thoroughly dissected.

The media exposed even his minor preferences, subjecting him to public humiliation.

For now, all incidents within the Academy were attributed to him.

As a result, he was expelled from the Association in an instant and achieved a position similar to “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

The difference from Harry Potter? Voldemort was truly powerful, but this guy was just average.

[Monsters are constantly evolving. We must never let our guard down.]

The instructors emphasized safety more than before and began teaching theory classes more rigorously.

Thanks to this, should I not worry about monster-human attacks?

No madman would enter with the White Dragon Guild protecting us.

So they would attack depending on other situations, but at least I could be certain it wouldn’t be now.

Another change was that Eun Serin returned quickly.

She was on maternity leave and expected to return in the second semester, but she filled in for the intermediate class to cover the gap.

[A new instructor will join in the second semester. The country has decided to double the number of instructors to respond. Everyone, hang in there until then.]

Eun Serin announced her return sentiments calmly. Since she’s with the intermediate class, I wouldn’t see her often, but it was still unsettling.

The White Dragon Guild said they would protect us only until the vacation, so things would move after that.

This means that, according to history, events will occur from the second semester.

It’s fortunate that I can predict this much.

What I needed to do was to collect M points without fail.

I focused on gathering M points through simulations and solving various problems.

However, the inefficiency of converting M points to DNA points had already been revealed.

So I planned to go to F-rank gates with Yoo Deokmin and some lower class students.

Of course, I wouldn’t make excuses to avoid participating.

Rather, I would thoroughly support and help with hunting.

In other words, I would fully commit to hunting when we went out.

I would return within curfew time and go out once a week, repeatedly.

You might wonder when I hunt with this schedule. It’s possible.

By advancing the departure time.

I plan the lower class expedition and leave two hours earlier by myself.

If the meeting time is 7 PM, I submit the application right after classes end at 5 PM and leave first. As long as we all return by curfew, there’s no problem.

“Let’s go quickly!”

Currently, the DNA points I’m collecting are for evolution to adult form.

This monster can defeat up to A-rank, but it’s inadequate against strong opponents like Seong Minwoo or Bong Junseok.

I need to prioritize evolving to adult form.

DNA Points: 8,850

M Points: 10,700

These are the points I’ve earned while participating in these expeditions during the control period.

If I gather a bit more points, I can become stronger again.

If things continue smoothly, I might be able to evolve to adult form by the start of vacation.

Then one day, while I was diligently earning points…

Things had been progressing smoothly. But with so many surprising events, I had forgotten something.

“Do Jonghyun. To the principal’s office.”

One day I was called to the principal’s office and finally realized the reality.

Kim Taeseong, the first-year department head, was looking at me with distrust.

“You’re the only one without a summoning spirit, both before and after the founding. What are you going to do?”

“Ah…”

Right, this was it. I almost got expelled around midterms. This is exactly it.

They’re trying to kick me out because I don’t have a summoning spirit.

“As you advance in years, the frequency of gate practice increases, and there’s joint training, guild internships, and more to do. It’s too dangerous. Someone without a summoning spirit cannot function properly. Be a man and give up.”

“I can do more. By cooperating with others…”

“What can you do alone? Currently, against lower-level monsters, you’re just receiving help from others, Do Jonghyun. You’re not doing anything properly!”

That hits where it hurts.

“Surviving in that manner against unexpected, stronger monsters in the future would be a burden to others. Do you understand? Your achievements are only possible because it’s the early stages. Since you haven’t done anything wrong, it won’t be expulsion. But we can’t allow an unsuitable person to continue in the second semester, so if you insist, I’ll have to expel you.”

“H-how can you be so unreasonable?”

I desperately searched through my past memories. How did I overcome this situation?

[Monster-human attack]

Ah… I realized the key point.

I overcame the expulsion crisis because monster-humans attacked, the department head was injured, and the school fell into great confusion, causing the matter to fizzle out.

But now?

Monster-humans coming here when the White Dragon Guild is protecting it? That’s bullshit!

In other words, monster-humans won’t come, and I need to escape this crisis.

“Submit your withdrawal form before the second semester. With the Academy attacks and increasing dangers, we can’t keep someone without a summoning spirit indefinitely.”

He’s right.

Leaving the department head’s office, I was utterly perplexed.

How do I overcome this crisis in a different way from the past?

I do have a summoning spirit now, but if I register it, they’ll need to know what ability it has, and that would reveal it.

If my ability to transform into a monster is discovered…

I’d be completely ruined.

How do I prove my usefulness? Should I argue that with the enhancement suit, I can handle up to D-rank?

While my mind was filled with various concerns…

Returning to the classroom, I saw the owner of an asymmetrical short haircut approaching.

Ariel. This red-haired girl approached me with a grin.

“I was just looking for you, perfect timing. Do Jonghyun. We’re having a study group for midterm preparation after school today.”

“And?”

“Organize the key points. You’re good at that.”

“?”

What is she saying? My head was filled with question marks.

“You’re the teacher. Teach me.”

“?”

“So we start today, okay?”

I grabbed Ariel as she was about to wave and leave.

“Wait! Wait! I never agreed to this!”

“Your opinion doesn’t matter. I’m what matters.”

She nods without batting an eye. See what I mean?

“But why am I the teacher?”

“Is that important?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“If I declare it, it’s not that important. So come to the advanced class after school.”

“Hey!”

Ariel was brazenly disappearing with a wave of her hand.