Ch.5050. Crisis Averted

When summer vacation begins, most students typically seek freedom they couldn’t have in the dormitories by traveling or resting all day.

They’re just like regular school students in that regard.

However, some students saw this as an opportunity to improve their skills. Koo Sangheon spotted a frivolous-looking man waiting at the café.

“Kim Dohyun, I can’t believe you called us here.”

Koo Sangheon, who had been an enemy before the regression, gathered at the café with Han Minwoo.

“Three guys meeting at a café. Truly the worst choice of venue.”

“…”

When Koo Sangheon sighed, Kim Dohyun looked at him with a contemptuous expression.

“Shut up. How was your experience in the first semester? You know it too, right? Ariel and Seol Yuhwa. Those two surpassed us.”

“I expected it from Ariel, but Seol Yuhwa was a surprise.”

Han Minwoo was observing the conversation between the two.

“Do Jonghyun was even more surprising. He doesn’t even have a summoning spirit. A strategic rear support who plans well might be useful. Anyway, he’s not our direct competition. We need to beat those talented ladies.”

“Isn’t it too early to worry about this when we’re just freshmen?”

“The Jaeger Academy years are precisely the opportunity for skill improvement. It’s a chance to leisurely improve our skills all day long! We need to start now.”

Kim Dohyun then looked at Han Minwoo, who was quietly examining the menu.

“Hey, Han Minwoo. Say something. You’re ranked 5th, right? After you is Yu Jia, and Dominic was 7th, but he’s taking a leave due to illness? So he’s excluded. Anyway, let’s band together as men and give it a shot. I’ll cover the costs. Let’s receive training from the Cheonji Guild and take practical tests.”

At this point, Koo Sangheon felt puzzled. Kim Dohyun specifically calling only the men? Something seemed odd.

“You contacted Ariel too, didn’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“It seemed strange that you’d proceed without any women.”

Kim Dohyun fell silent at the accurate observation.

“I heard she’s getting separate education because her family is wealthy. She’s training with Yu Jia. It would be nice if the girls could join us.”

“So when do we start?”

When Han Minwoo spoke up, both Kim Dohyun and Koo Sangheon flinched.

“You startled me. I’ll check with the Cheonji Guild and let you know the schedule as soon as it’s set. You’re all in, right?”

The enemy from before the regression had now transformed into an ally for skill improvement.

This was another gap created by the changing future.

But Kim Dohyun’s gaze wasn’t entirely friendly.

‘I’ll keep an eye on everything from the sidelines.’

They decided to band together for development during the vacation.

This was one way to utilize the break.

Each chose their own survival method—attending academies for training, getting private tutoring, or paying guilds for training programs.

But not everyone was living constructively.

“Everyone fought while I ran away. They say Do Jonghyun was right in the middle of it!”

During the vacation, Yu Deokmin was in a near-panic state.

The shock from the report was still vivid for this boy.

Being called slow by Ariel, whom he liked, was nothing compared to the resonance phenomenon and the new species.

‘An A, A-rank monster right before my eyes… I couldn’t do anything. That’s only natural.’

A monster that couldn’t even be set up in simulations had cornered Yu Deokmin.

His legs went weak, and he almost wet himself, but he barely managed to hold it in because Ariel, whom he liked, was there.

[Everyone, listen to me carefully.]

He still remembered it. Amidst his panic, what he heard was Do Jonghyun’s instructions.

Unlike himself, Do Jonghyun was giving clear advice using his knowledge.

‘In this situation? Why are you so calm?’

What was even more surprising was that the senior class students followed his words without question.

‘I… I can do it too. I have knowledge!’

Though he desperately tried to memorize, the words wouldn’t come out. How could he command them? And what if he failed?

Like a coward, he watched as Do Jonghyun managed it effortlessly.

‘I’m envious. I want to be like that too…’

But in his eyes, there was always someone ahead of him.

Do Jonghyun.

At this moment, a small sense of jealousy sprouted in Yu Deokmin’s heart.

But Do Jonghyun was recognized for his courage even by the senior class.

It was natural that he was different.

Moreover, the school newspaper frequently published articles questioning his relationship with Ariel, whom Yu Deokmin liked, and senior students who didn’t know the situation already misunderstood them as a couple.

“Do Jonghyun…”

Yu Deokmin slammed his desk hard.

He would probably remain in the lower class until graduation. He could get a job with a commendation, but Do Jonghyun might even enter one of the three major guilds through his connections with the senior class.

Their futures had diverged frighteningly in just one semester.

‘I’m smart and study well too. If it weren’t for Do Jonghyun…’

His jealousy was growing. But the powerless reality remained.

At this moment, Yu Deokmin stood up abruptly.

“That’s right. Back then, surely…”

Something he had seen while searching for information about Jaegers and monsters to build his knowledge came to mind.

‘There was definitely an academy where you could become stronger, though it’s dangerous.’

An accelerated tutoring academy known to be illegal. Being illegal, there were no reviews, only ominous rumors.

‘I… I’ll become stronger too. I’ll get ahead of Do Jonghyun and with Ariel…’

Desire was stirring within him.

Yu Deokmin had chosen a bad path.

*

Seol Yuhwa wanted to know how I observe and analyze monsters up close.

“It’s difficult to immediately see a monster and deduce its weaknesses. I want to know how you do that.”

“Is the White Dragon Guild quite demanding?”

“Yes. They say I’m not even at the level where I can identify the weakest points.”

I can see Seol Yuhwa’s bitter smile. Feeling discouraged in front of the prestigious White Dragon Guild, are you?

“But that’s just for now. They recruited you because they saw potential. The White Dragon Guild isn’t a pushover.”

“Really? Thanks for saying that. Is that why Ariel is so friendly with you?”

“Ariel? She’s always arguing with me… She never gets tired of it.”

“Is that all?”

Seol Yuhwa looked surprised. Well, bickering is the best way to describe my relationship with Ariel.

Communication happens in cases like this.

We warmed up in front of an E-rank gate. Seol Yuhwa’s request for help was to improve her judgment skills.

Indeed, if her judgment is quick, subduing enemies with Brisingamen would be easier.

In exchange for Seol Yuhwa asking for my help, I also asked our model student to tell me about her free time after this and the White Dragon Guild’s surveillance routine.

“Think of it like cards. Poker or traditional card games have set patterns and rules, right? Monsters are no different. First, the major classification.”

“Major classification?”

“Broadly categorizing monster types. Like humanoid, insect, and so on. Visualizing the image at once. So you first recall that ‘stereotype’.”

This is the method I actually used when I was studying desperately.

Now, I’ve memorized so much and have future monsters imprinted in my mind that I can immediately recall monster characteristics, but in the beginning, I was also busy inferring and analyzing.

“Classify and then eliminate one by one from the stereotype. For instance, the Raiki we caught last time, from its name alone, is associated with lightning, so it shoots lightning and moves nimbly. Similar to this is the C-rank Tyrannical Lion. However, the appearance is different, and it uses earth-attribute attacks, which is a significant difference.”

“You think so deeply. We don’t analyze to that extent.”

“To be honest, analyzing while fighting is difficult. It’s best to judge in advance. First, judge by major classification and then eliminate one by one. This gets complicated, but you also need to consider the terrain.”

“Terrain?”

The new species we faced is a perfect example. Most insects are often weak against fire-attribute attacks.

But that new species emerged from the ground and moved the terrain. Normally, it would have appeared normally between the jungle.

“Moving the terrain usually indicates earth attribute, but since it’s an insect, just to be sure, try a fire attribute attack, and if that doesn’t work, considering that insects traditionally have weak bodies, it probably won’t die easily from direct attacks.”

“My goodness, you thought all that upon first sight? That’s why you told Ariel to try.”

To be precise, I was pretending not to know, but it’s also true that I thought it could withstand an attack.

“And you need to be careful with those that completely conceal their bodies. You need to be really cautious with them. The reason is…”

“Because you don’t know what they’re hiding?”

“When your life can be lost in an instant, it’s hard to rush recklessly at such uncertain creatures. There are whip types in movement, and there are ranged types. Attack methods can be inferred based on form. In that sense, amorphous types like slimes can be difficult if they’re strong specimens.”

Explaining like this is fine, but practical experience is the best.

“Shall we start then? Seol Yuhwa, keep your promise.”

“Of course. I’ll give you free time after this. But you’ll stay inside this gate. Roam around as you please.”

“Okay.”

I activated my enhancement suit in front of Seol Yuhwa.

In the wasteland field of the E-rank gate, a goblin warrior was moving cautiously.

Here, I pointed at its hand.

“What comes to mind?”

“That I can handle it easily?”

“Goblins usually move in groups, but this one is alone. Suspicious, isn’t it?”

“The field is a wasteland, so maybe underground?”

“Correct. There’s a high probability of a trap. Honestly, someone like you, Seol Yuhwa, could probably ignore the trap and just kill them all. But just as in mathematics, it’s more standard to work through the solution rather than jumping straight to the answer, this will greatly help your judgment.”

“I’ll definitely remember what you just said.”

“Then…”

If there’s a high probability of a trap, it’s best to drive the enemy from a distance.

In my case, since I don’t have that means, I just pretend to chase after it.

“Kieek!”

I carefully observed the goblin as it fled.

Not aimlessly. I’m following it. It runs hard and then heads to an area with many rocks?

“So predictable.”

I targeted the rocks first and, as expected, found the goblins waiting there.

“Kyaak!”

I immediately struck with my fist, decapitating it in one blow.

I wish points would drop here. But no matter how much I beat them in human form, DNA points don’t come in.

But anyway, today I need to focus on dispelling Seol Yuhwa’s suspicions.

After demonstrating like that and killing the fleeing ones, Seol Yuhwa approached.

“I roughly understand the method. But the hardest part is easily knowing monster information.”

“You have to keep studying. New species will continue to appear.”

“Right. So that Ariel won’t be able to beat me even with your help.”

“Hmm?”

I could see competitiveness in Seol Yuhwa’s expression. It seems her pride was hurt from losing in the written test last time.

After demonstrating like this a couple more times, Seol Yuhwa gave me free time.

“Do as you please. I’ll wait at the entrance.”

Finally, the free time to earn points has arrived… but I know.

Seol Yuhwa is not the type to just sit still.

Clearly, during that incident, Seol Yuhwa encountered me while looking for insects.

In other words, there’s room for suspicion.

“I’ll have to put on another show.”

She clearly said she’d wait at the entrance, but how can I trust that? This is when acting is necessary.

I fought E-rank monsters for about an hour and then took off my enhancement suit.

“Let’s see how far I can go without it.”

And like a real fool, I charged at goblins without the help of the enhancement suit, got beaten up, and was on the verge of death.

Pretending to be collapsed, I held my main card in my hand. If Seol Yuhwa comes to save me, I’ll stay as is; if not, I’ll transform.

It’s risky, but better than being discovered.

“Kik kik!”

“Kieek!”

The goblins’ voices grew louder, and shadows loomed.

They raised their weapons to attack me.

Or not? Is Seol Yuhwa not watching?

My heart was pounding as their hands came down all at once.

Towards each other.

In an instant, they stabbed each other, creating chaos.

So Seol Yuhwa was watching after all?

As I struggled to get up, Seol Yuhwa glared at me with an angry face.

“Are you an idiot? Why did you take off the enhancement suit?”

“Well, I thought I had gotten stronger. Were you watching?”

“I was worried…”

Seol Yuhwa slightly averted her gaze. This is enough. I needed a moment to dispel suspicion, and now is perfect.

Now Seol Yuhwa won’t move next time, and if I find out the shift change time, I can use that interval to transform and have a go.

I’m looking forward to it. The adult form is not far off.