Ch.6060. Becoming a Noble!

Originally, the plan was definitely to go to the gate and fight excitingly.

But now, I was just staring at the ceiling of my room instead.

“Ugh…”

As always, the price for intense fighting was muscle pain followed by bed rest.

Two days had passed since I transformed into my adult form.

I thought I’d be fine after resting for a day, but on the second day, my body still felt stiff.

“My goodness, son, what were you doing outside?”

Mom, looking dumbfounded, personally came to my room to deliver food.

“Well… I exercised too much…”

“Looks like you caught a cold. I told you not to overdo it.”

I munched on the food Mom gave me and sat for a while.

School was about to start soon, and here I was like this? I should be earning M points!

I took out my evolution card.

[Adult transformation is impossible in your current physical condition.]

-Sub-adult transformation possible

“I’ll have to go out once I recover a bit.”

As morning passed and lunchtime came around, my body became somewhat bearable.

I got up with my stiff body. I turned on the computer in my room and saw news reporting that violent incidents had increased by 30% over the past month.

“Is it because of that powder?”

They say if you eat it, you gain strength comparable to at least low-rank Jaegers.

[We’ll keep this confidential. If ordinary people find out, it’ll cause even more chaos.]

Since Jaegers who investigate drugs are on the case, I should just wait and see.

“Sigh. Really, what an embarrassment.”

It’s still horrifying to think about. What a humiliation in front of Seo Se-rin. Even though it was a group attack, I had trained for this.

Can’t change what’s already happened. I just need to do my best.

In my current state, adult transformation is difficult, but sub-adult transformation is possible. Considering this, I should hunt in sub-adult form… but that’s not the issue.

Even transforming into sub-adult form might put me back in bed.

Sub-adult transformation also has repercussions, so I need to recover first.

In other words, what I need to do is go to a low-rank gate and hunt wearing reinforced clothing.

“Alright. Time to use my brain again.”

I’ll find an E-rank gate and collect M points. M points are pretty good in their own way. They might not be as good as DNA points, but I can summon cards without burden in emergencies.

“Next time I transform, I must catch mechanical monsters to collect component cards.”

Currently, cards made with mechanical components are quite good in terms of performance.

Plus, some sub-cards are also decent in emergencies. But I’m severely lacking in component cards.

“So…”

I went to an E-rank gate and clearly recalled what I needed to do.

I always say this repeatedly. Since I can cover up to D-rank, I could just bulldoze through.

But I shouldn’t do that. I should always consider weaknesses and compete strategically.

That’s how I’ve lived my life.

M points are generated when you do something in human form. Especially when you do well in class, simulation practice, or at gates.

The best way to earn them is obviously by directly defeating monsters at gates.

There’s no easier way to earn M points than this.

I hunted a monster or a group of goblins at an E-rank gate.

[1,000 M points acquired!]

Every time I defeat a group of goblins, I get 1,000 points, and usually, it’s about 400-500 points.

“It would be nice if a king appeared.”

Unfortunately, king appearances have been rare phenomena so far and are actually hard to encounter.

It doesn’t matter anyway. I need to do what I can do now.

“Phew.”

When I had collected about 4,500 M points, my body sent signals of pain.

If I continue, my body will collapse.

I’ll stop here.

I’ll take care of my body, rest, and then collect points again.

Looking around, I decided to spin the M point gacha for once.

I changed into casual clothes in the portable toilet installed near the gate.

“Hmm, I have some time.”

Since I’m already out, should I buy clothes for my parents?

Better to be a good son with actions than a bad son. Not spending everything at once, but showing filial piety little by little frequently.

My steps headed not toward home but toward a famous department store.

“Where are the ready-made clothes? Would they look too old? For adults…”

I could see the brands in the department store, and my eyes scanned everywhere.

“Mom’s size is… Has she gained more weight recently?”

While I was contemplating among the clothing stores, I heard small footsteps approaching, and suddenly someone tugged at my pants.

“Is it you, big brother?”

“Huh?”

I looked down at the sound of someone calling me. There was a handsome boy who looked like he would grow up to be quite good-looking, looking up at me.

“Yes, I am a big brother. What’s wrong?”

“Found you. The ‘voice’ was right.”

“What are you talking about? Are you lost?”

But this kid looks familiar. A face I’ve vaguely seen somewhere.

Where did I see him?

While I was rewinding my memories, I recalled the compound eyes’ gaze. Certainly, when I transformed into a half-insect…

“Huh?”

“Jun-hoo!”

Just then, following the familiar face, a familiar voice reached my ears.

“Seol Yu-hwa?”

“Oh, Do Jong… hyun?”

I saw Seol Yu-hwa in a modest outfit, wearing a one-piece dress.

Up to this point, it might seem unrelated, but the problem was that three more children appeared behind her.

“Unnie!”

“Jun-hoo oppa, did you find him?”

“Jun-hoo, he’s always playing somewhere else, isn’t he?”

Two girls and one boy.

Is that Seol Yu-hwa’s family… with as many as 5 members? Including her deceased parents, that’s 7 people!

She’s rich in children.

While I was marveling, Jun-hoo pulled my arm.

“Brother, let’s go together!”

“?”

Why suddenly? I was dragged along without understanding what was happening.

*

Recently, Jun-hoo had been anxiously watching his sister, Seol Yu-hwa.

She had been working hard, sweating at the White Dragon Guild throughout the vacation.

Clearly, Seol Yu-hwa had succeeded in becoming stronger. After all, the White Dragon Guild was a place for only the best.

Thanks to her own efforts, she was now at a level where she could rival Aerial.

Perhaps that’s why her expression was bright. Plus, she wasn’t living in poverty anymore since she was getting paid.

[I’ll pay off debts, save money, and move to a better place. Just bear with me for three years.]

Seol Yu-hwa was dreaming a happy dream. As soon as she graduated, she would receive a contract fee from the White Dragon Guild and move to a nice house.

Seol Yu-hwa saved half of her salary and spent the rest taking care of her siblings.

The clothes they used to inherit from others were now replaced with new ones.

The house was filled with laughter, but Jun-hoo felt uneasy about Seol Yu-hwa.

‘I hear an unfavorable voice.’

The house itself was happy now. But the ‘voice’ surrounding Seol Yu-hwa was concerning.

It wasn’t just about the hard training. Jun-hoo saw some ominous signs.

The voice wanted things not to be left as they were.

But there was nothing the young Jun-hoo could do.

He only heard a voice saying he could meet a benefactor today.

That’s why Jun-hoo took the lead and suggested going out.

Following the voice, Jun-hoo finally met the benefactor.

Do Jong-hyun. This was probably their first meeting as human Do Jong-hyun, not as a monster.

The voice whispered that it was this man.

Jun-hoo smiled brightly, and the two were surprised at each other.

Though young, Jun-hoo realized that the other was looking around the clothing store.

“Noona! This brother is also choosing clothes. Noona, you should help him pick.”

“What?”

Flustered, Seol Yu-hwa hesitated, seeming like she might miss the opportunity.

Faced with such a frustrating behavior, the boy could only do this much.

But the benefactor he found was different.

“That’s perfect timing. Yu-hwa, are you here to buy clothes too?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“I know men’s clothes well. How about it, since we’ve met, want to look around together?”

He was proactive. He didn’t back away or anything.

“Um. Well…”

This was the point where Jun-hoo needed to step in as Seol Yu-hwa was hesitating.

“Noona! I think it would be good if he helps choose.”

“R-really?”

Although Seol Yu-hwa was hesitant, she accepted when her brother urged her.

As the two started walking together, the siblings asked Do Jong-hyun various questions.

“Oppa, are you in the same school as unnie?”

“Yes. But we’re in different classes. I’m in the lower class, Yu-hwa is in the upper class.”

“Is the upper class better?”

“Yes. Yu-hwa is exceptional.”

“So oppa, are you not good?”

In response to the playful question, Seol Yu-hwa grabbed her sister’s shoulder.

“Seo-hyun. Stop it.”

“Hmm…”

The girl called Seo-hyun grabbed Do Jong-hyun’s pants.

“Sorry, the kids don’t see many boys their age.”

“Yu-hwa, you’re the eldest, right?”

“Yes. As the big sister, I have to do everything.”

“That’s impressive. I’m an only child, so I don’t have siblings.”

The two naturally became the center of the conversation. Jun-hoo felt good hearing the continuing voice.

A benefactor indeed. Seol Yu-hwa’s reaction was different from what he had seen before.

Jun-hoo whispered to his younger brother, Seok-min.

“Ask if he likes her.”

“Who?”

Jun-hoo cleverly used his younger brother Seok-min to ask an awkward but interesting question.

A question that’s innocently possible because he’s a child.

“If you’re dating? W-what…?”

Seol Yu-hwa’s face turned bright red as she became flustered, and Do Jong-hyun whistled.

“Haha, does it look that way? Then I guess Yu-hwa doesn’t meet many guys.”

“No… What are you saying?”

Do Jong-hyun is smoother with women than he appears.

Like with Aerial, he handles sensitive or awkward questions with ease.

“We’re friends. Just friends. And Yu-hwa is so popular at school that it’s hard to approach her casually.”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

“It’s true that you’re popular. Kids, you can be proud of your sister.”

He compliments Seol Yu-hwa while smiling at the children.

He really knows how to make people feel good.

Above all, the fatigue that Seol Yu-hwa usually showed wasn’t visible.

They might not be lovers, but at least she was walking around with a comfortable expression.

‘It’s him. Noona needs to be with that person.’

Somehow, he needed to connect them. While Jun-hoo was happily watching the scene:

“Noona, we’ll go look at clothes for a bit.”

“What? What if you get lost?”

“We’ll just look around this area. Me and Seo-hyun noona will be fine.”

“Don’t go outside the store, absolutely.”

Jun-hoo sensibly made room for his big sister.

He hoped they would have a better time.

‘It’s good that he’s proactive.’

If he had been timid, it would have been really awkward, but the other didn’t back away at all.

Jun-hoo tried to gather the rest.

“Don’t leave here…”

“Huh… where’s Ji-yeon?”

But then Jun-hoo noticed that someone was missing.

His sibling, who hadn’t even entered elementary school yet, was nowhere to be seen.

“Uh…? Uh…?”

Although Jun-hoo was mature for his age, a child is still a child.

He panicked momentarily.

“Ji-yeon?”

“Hey, Seol Ji-yeon!”

The siblings all started calling out, but Ji-yeon was nowhere to be seen.

It’s natural for a child to move around randomly.

He had only done it to help his sister who didn’t look well.

“Uh… what should I do?”

The boy was trembling all over. He had confidently separated them, but now he had made such a mistake.

He was on the verge of tears, trembling with fear.

“Stay calm.”

With a mature voice, Do Jong-hyun grabbed the boy’s shoulder.

“B-brother?”

“Who disappeared?”

Behind them, Seol Yu-hwa was touching Brisingamen.

“Noona… I’m sorry… I… I lost Ji-yeon.”

“Don’t cry. If she just disappeared, there’s still time.”

Seol Yu-hwa stroked her brother’s cheek to prevent him from crying.

“But you’ll be punished later for getting distracted.”

“Okay…”

Seol Yu-hwa began scanning the surroundings with Brisingamen.

Do Jong-hyun picked up the slightly crying Jun-hoo.

“Don’t cry. With Yu-hwa’s ability, she’ll find her soon. So don’t worry too much.”

Such words of comfort provide great strength.

As Jun-hoo calmed down and returned from his panic state, he heard a voice. But its content wasn’t so good.

“Huh? Ah…”

“What’s wrong?”

As Do Jong-hyun looked at him curiously, something that shouldn’t have sounded reached their ears.

[Weeing! Weeing!]

An alarm sounded, and a monster break occurred in broad daylight.

Seol Yu-hwa prepared for battle, and Do Jong-hyun pulled the children close to him.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a big problem, but now an anomaly was occurring.

“The break alarm suddenly stopped?”

“Huh?”

Usually, the alarm continues for about a minute.

But now, the alarm had stopped, and this place was becoming quiet.

Something was happening. As Do Jong-hyun looked outside, this place began to transform into a steep cliff, like a canyon.

“Resonance phenomenon… no. This is?”

Everyone’s expression turned serious. If it were a resonance phenomenon, the alarm should continue until the end.

It’s not? The surroundings are changing?

“A gate is being created!”

Do Jong-hyun realized. A gate was being created right here, right now.