Ch.4545. Solid Metal Dinosaur

# A Beauty in an Apron, Humming While Cooking

A beautiful woman wearing an apron and humming while cooking.

From a man’s perspective, this might be a scene from a dream, but for me, it’s nothing but confusing.

Stay calm. I’m not some inexperienced fool.

The teacher is a married woman. In other words, she’s taken, and I’m a student. Normally, she’s literally just offering me a meal, right?

Wait, is this… for real?

Amid my confusion, a pot of boiling ramen appeared before my eyes.

Eating ramen at a married woman’s house? How did this happen?

Is it because I told her where I was going?

Honestly, a student eating ramen at a teacher’s house? This would be embarrassing to report to my friends. It could easily lead to misunderstandings.

Did she deliberately bring me home with ulterior motives?

While my thoughts remained jumbled, the meal began.

The soft, chewy noodles swirled around, emitting an appetizing aroma.

“I’m really sorry I could only offer you ramen. You must have been expecting more.”

“It’s ramen with dumplings and rice cakes—it’s quite generous. Who wouldn’t like this?”

Taking a cautious first bite, I was overwhelmed by a flavor that surpassed any ramen I’d ever tasted.

“It’s delicious! You enhanced the flavor with mushrooms, didn’t you?”

“Ramen usually lacks substantial ingredients. As someone responsible for a household, I couldn’t just serve my student plain ramen.”

She put some effort into it, in her own way.

As I slurped away, Eun Se-rin just watched me.

“It’s uncomfortable when you stare like that.”

“I’m staring because I’m interested.”

“No, Instructor. If you keep talking like that, anyone but a cool-headed, composed kid like me would misunderstand.”

“Cool-headed and composed? Is that how you’d describe the way you were looking at my body?”

At her words, my eyes involuntarily scanned her body again.

And that gaze led to Eun Se-rin’s smiling face.

“Well, that’s unavoidable.”

“It’s natural for a young man to be interested in a woman’s body. No need to feel awkward about it. Just don’t stare too obviously—that would be inconsiderate.”

“Yes. Then I’ll look occasionally.”

What nonsense am I confidently spouting? We hadn’t even had much conversation, yet I felt entranced.

To be honest, while Ariel has impressive breasts too, this woman’s mature charm is overwhelmingly powerful.

Damn it. She’s married and my enemy for the second semester, so why am I like this?

My instincts kept trying to overcome my reason. At that moment, Eun Se-rin casually spoke.

“Honestly, I am interested in you.”

“Interested?”

“You have many suspicious aspects.”

“Suspicious?”

My heart pounded again. I tried to maintain a nonchalant expression while averting my gaze.

“Do you remember when we first met?”

“On that mountain?”

“At that time, a humanoid monster wearing some strange machinery appeared. It killed a monster and left.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Eun Se-rin suddenly stood up. She approached with a meaningful smile.

“Will you be honest with me? Your instructor trusts you.”

She came closer, brazenly bringing her face near mine.

“That mechanical monster was you, wasn’t it?”

“What nonsense is that? You think I’m a monster??”

“I’m trying to help you.”

I could feel her warm hand explicitly touching my cheek. Wow, it was so comforting that I almost lost my composure for a moment.

“That mechanical monster was also spotted at the Academy. Strangely, while hunting monsters. Wouldn’t you say that’s a common thread? I’m deducing it might be an Academy student. And you were there that night, weren’t you? You were in the vicinity.”

“That’s quite a logical leap. What’s going on? Why suddenly…?”

Eun Se-rin’s eyes were staring at me as if they could draw me in.

I can’t back down here. She’s just fishing for information without any evidence.

I need to be confident, change the subject, and take control.

At that moment, I grasped both of Eun Se-rin’s hands.

“Instructor. I don’t know what’s happened, but I’ll help you. If you’re going through something difficult, I’ll support you, so please don’t think of me that way. I’m on your side.”

Pushed back by my approach, Eun Se-rin took a step back.

I need to be sincere. If I can prevent Eun Se-rin from committing suicide, maybe I can learn more about the enemy?

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

Eun Se-rin backed away, slipping out of my grasp. I need to take the lead here.

“But honestly, it’s your fault, Instructor. Don’t get so close after inviting your student over. Besides, you seem to have some misunderstanding about me. I don’t even have a summoned spirit yet, so I’m on the verge of being expelled.”

“Of course, if a human transforms into a monster, how is that different from a human monster? You’d naturally die, so just confess everything to your teacher.”

“It’s hard to confess when you’re suspicious of me. Can I stay overnight then? Maybe if we talk more, trust will develop.”

“I’m not sure if you’re being bold or desperate…”

A smile that seemed to see through my thoughts briefly appeared.

“I’m not sure what kind of proposition that is to a married teacher. You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Actually, I don’t have a husband.”

“…What?”

What is she saying now? Of course, there wasn’t much information about her husband before the regression either. She doesn’t have one?

Then it doesn’t matter, right? No, get a grip. Focus right now! You’re in an enemy’s house.

“He was a bad man. I thought he was a good person, but peeling back one layer revealed otherwise. What about you? Can you take responsibility?”

She started smiling again with half-lidded eyes.

“I’m different. Once we build mutual trust.”

“Sigh, was your teacher being too serious? I’m sorry. I’ve had a lot of difficulties lately. With the monsters and all. I don’t usually talk about these things.”

She was looking at the ground with tired eyes.

“I’m sorry for suspecting you. I must have seemed strange to you.”

“Not at all. I meant it when I said I’d help if you’re having a hard time. Ask me anytime.”

“Really? Thank you. It’s 7 o’clock now, right? We have three hours until curfew. I’ll take care of this, so you can go enjoy yourself. I need to go check on the child I left with someone.”

“Ah, I see. I was hoping to see the baby’s face.”

“I’ll show you another time when there’s an opportunity.”

The conversation ended there, but I didn’t leave.

“I haven’t finished my meal yet.”

“Ah, right. I was too forward, wasn’t I?”

I started putting the barely-touched ramen back into my mouth.

*

Eun Se-rin watched Do Jong-hyun leave.

‘I didn’t expect him to confess under pressure, but this is unexpected.’

[Instructor. I don’t know what’s happened, but I’ll help you. If you’re going through something difficult, I’ll support you, so please don’t think of me that way. I’m on your side.]

“Anyway, it reminded me of the old days for a moment. I wonder if you could really be different from other men?”

She had deliberately tried to seduce Do Jong-hyun to question him about his connection to the monsters.

It was one of the techniques of using beauty as a weapon—making someone unable to think clearly and extracting necessary information.

But Do Jong-hyun had resisted.

Eun Se-rin could have pressed further and continued to shake him.

She was a veteran, and Do Jong-hyun had little immunity.

But Do Jong-hyun’s sudden sincere words had shaken her heart a little.

That’s why Eun Se-rin, who was trying to find out more, stopped her seduction.

‘It’s too late. No, you couldn’t help but be late. It’s a pity. I guess I haven’t shed my weakness yet. To stop because of words like that.’

Cold eyes followed Do Jong-hyun as he left.

‘Well, now that the shackles are gone, is it no problem? But that baby…’

Eun Se-rin carefully opened the door to a small room.

There, a baby was sleeping soundly.

“You were born far from an ordinary life. It’s hard for both of us.”

While she was holding the baby, a phone rang somewhere.

Eun Se-rin checked the caller ID.

She answered the blocked number and snapped:

“Now that he’s dead too, I don’t care anymore. I’ll just continue with the remaining research. You all figure it out yourselves.”

[How can you say that? If we speak up once, you’re finished. Do you think you can have a normal life?]

“So what do you want me to do?”

[We eliminate dangerous individuals. Why did you bring Do Jong-hyun into your home and not kill him?]

“I’m not convinced that boy is the dangerous element slaughtering monsters. We need concrete evidence, which we don’t have. What if we push him too hard and he tells Dokgo Jun? Besides, if he dies, I’ll be the prime suspect since I was with him. Is that what you want?”

Eun Se-rin was incredulous, recalling her own value.

“You act like you’re in charge, but you don’t know that I hold a crucial element of the project. That person may be dead, but the results remain. Don’t treat me carelessly, it’s disgusting.”

[Fine. If you can’t move, we will. We’ll confirm it ourselves.]

“Are you in your right mind at this time? If you run into Dokgo Jun, you’ll all be finished.”

[We don’t belong to the Academy. We can attack whenever and wherever we want. Just like how you don’t follow our instructions well.]

The call ended.

Eun Se-rin’s expression was troubled.

‘It’s not my concern anyway. That kid too…’

As Do Jong-hyun’s face appeared in her mind, Eun Se-rin looked conflicted.

*

What an opportunity. This is perfect.

Eun Se-rin sent me away, and I can hunt during the remaining time.

If I gather just a bit more, I can collect enough points for adult evolution.

I can’t miss this chance.

I’ll make the most of it here.

My destination is a gate starting from at least B-rank. Of course, I should leave a record of entry, but I won’t.

What’s important to me isn’t having a record of going to the gate, but going there secretly.

Entering the B-rank zone, I took out my main card.

The higher the gate rank, the fewer people there are. Just as I was about to start hunting to earn points:

“Th-th-this, r-really. A l-l-lower class s-student at a B-B-B-grade gate? S-suspicious no m-matter how you l-look at it.”

A chill ran down my spine. Someone had followed me? Turning around, there was a pig-faced guy.

“Th-that woman interfered, s-so my friends c-couldn’t come. B-but I’m different. I c-can also achieve s-something. My n-nose is special. D-different from the others…”

His pig-like nose was twitching constantly.

There was no need to hesitate. I used my main card to transform.

[Main Card: Half-Dragon Asura]

-Evolution

As the red evolution card emitted light, my body transformed into a dinosaur asura.

This guy is dangerous. I realized it in an instant, so I won’t show mercy.

[Magic Claws]

[Output Limit Release Device]

[Characteristic Adjustment]

[Breath]

After equipping the remaining four cards as sub-cards, I immediately raised my claws.

The guy had already started transforming too. Yes, this is a monster-human. People who transform into monsters.

One of the main culprits who plunged humanity into chaos.

That form is an A-grade monster, an Ogre.

I could see an A-shaped body that appropriately combined burly muscles with pig-like flesh. Ferocious tusks and arms as thick as a human torso were visible.

But the difference between monster-humans and monsters is the face, and the seam-like marks that somehow look forcibly joined.

He was speaking to me with a human face.

“F-found it. A s-s-special species. N-not a human-monster but t-transforms into a monster! I discovered it.”

Simply a strong monster. But think about it. This dinosaur form doesn’t lose in physical power either.

I charged in at once, engaging in a power struggle.

[Characteristic Adjustment]

The first charge, suppressing my wild nature, was successful.

In this power struggle, this dinosaur asura’s body slam has the advantage.

The guy was being pushed back in confusion.

[Magic Claws]

Not missing this opportunity, I aimed for the Ogre’s neck. The weakness of an Ogre is precisely that neck. Pierce it, and it’s over.

Just as my magic-infused claws were about to pierce through him, he dodged, and I inflicted a wound on his chest instead.

Not bad… Huh?

At that moment, I felt pain in my chest.

“!”

Looking at my chest, I saw an identical wound in the exact spot where I had attacked him.

“Hehehe… G-got you. My c-curse worked. I c-can return attacks.”

There’s one thing that differentiates monster-humans from ordinary monsters. They possess special abilities using summoned spirits.

This guy is no exception.

“A-attack me…”

I could see his wound healing rapidly. But my wound wasn’t recovering.

“I a-attack you. But I d-don’t get hurt. Y-you do.”

With this fucking technique, it had to be a curse type. If I attack, I get hurt too?

So I struck the approaching guy with my tail. But again, a wound appeared on my body.

In his Ogre form, the monster-human was shouting:

“I’m… strong… You’re… finished.”

If I attack, I get hurt, but he can attack without consequences? What a terrible exchange rate.

The output limit release device strengthens characteristics, so it’s risky. Direct attacks are dangerous.

So what about indirect attacks?

As he approached with a grin, I pulled up my status window.

[Consuming M-points.]

Here, I’m betting on fate again.

No, I’m sure there was a card among the ones I saw before that would be effective in this situation.

[Component Card Characteristic]

-Hardness Itself (Greatly increases durability.)

-Consumes 1,000 DNA points, 1 component card

“You heal that well? Let’s see who wins.”

I replace the card. Using M-points and DNA points, I successfully created a new machine card.

[Using Sub-Card]

My dinosaur’s scales began to transform into something like steel.