Ch.6666. New Evolution

The Academy’s direct protection helps in times like this.

It’s not some ambiguous ending. The school administration has temporarily excluded Gu Jeong-yul and his gang from classes after witnessing their harassment.

There’s no lukewarm rule like “community service” at this academy. They’re excluded from classes and absolutely prohibited from taking the same classes as me.

In other words, this meant they would be excluded from all practical sessions where 2nd, 3rd, and 1st years have joint classes.

Since I shouldn’t have any major issues, I’ll be attending all joint classes.

This disciplinary case caused quite a stir when the student council president and other officers went into meetings.

Amid various protests and controversies, the final conclusion was this:

“From now on, Gu Jeong-yul and related parties are prohibited from approaching the first-year classroom. They are forbidden from exerting any tangible or intangible influence, whether through clubs or privately. And the involved parties are given a one-week disciplinary period during which they cannot attend classes.”

Up to here it was lukewarm, but what followed was more devastating.

“When the involved parties return from their disciplinary period, Do Jong-hyun will primarily attend classes with third-years, and the second-years involved will be divided into two groups to participate in classes with first and third-years.”

This measure takes into account that everyone from advanced to intermediate classes will be mixed in a week anyway.

Whatever the case, they’re saying they won’t let those people and me cross paths.

Is this good enough? Honestly, Bang Seok-hyun was the problem, not Gu Jeong-yul, but with this arrangement, it won’t be easy for anyone to mess with me.

This is a win-win situation.

This should prevent Bang Seok-cheon’s group from moving recklessly too.

Anyway, what remains for me is just one thing: how to hunt without those who are protecting me.

I don’t want to spend the entire second semester being constrained like this.

Let me think of some methods.

1. Mindlessly farming M points

2. Ask Aerial for help

3. Use guild training as an excuse

4. During monster breaks, backstab and hunt

The best method here is the strategy I used against Lee Yeon-hwa of the White Dragon Guild.

Lure them into a monster break and hunt during that time.

The downside is that I can’t do it consecutively, and if the monster is too strong, the people protecting me might get hurt.

Plus, response times have gotten faster lately, so I really need to catch them quickly.

And one more thing. Dinosaurs and armored insects are all huge. Dinosaur Suras seem to be about 9-10m, and armored insect Suras are at least over 4m.

If I were to do a mission with these in an urban area? The surroundings would be destroyed, and above all, it would be difficult to fight properly.

“It wasn’t particularly intentional… but I’ll need to add humanoids.”

So my next target is preferably small, in other words, something that fights in human form.

While organizing the situation, the Monster Daily sent me a mission after a while.

[Monster Daily Mission]

-Catch the sea monster Curse Octopus.

-Monster Points: 2. Reduces doom risk by 0.2 percent

-Appearance: 3 days later, 8 PM. Incheon coastal waters

“Ah… a Curse Octopus in the sea?”

[Curse Octopus is an S-class monster with high intelligence and special abilities in its eight legs, making it quite tricky. It places a ‘curse’ on smaller enemies before devouring them. To avoid this curse, you need to be at least the same size as it. Otherwise, the best approach is for four S-class Jaegers to attack simultaneously for a quick resolution.]

“…That’s too much.”

But the next monster that the Monster Daily is assigning is one where having a larger size is advantageous.

Since it’s in the sea, I’ll need to evolve a fish.

Currently, my points remain at 11,500, the same as when school started. With the protection program activated right from the department head’s office, I couldn’t do much.

Still, my M points have increased from 12,000 to 14,000.

If converted, I can perform pretty much any transformation.

I’ll have to rely on that. So I need to look for other breaks near Incheon’s coastal waters.

“Hmm, it’s quite far?”

The problem is that the land monster breaks are quite distant.

If that’s the case, there’s not much point in delegating and running away, is there?

One method does come to mind, but it would waste some points.

After arriving at school, I exchanged brief greetings with Gicheol, Mingu, Hyeongman, Cheongi, and other dormitory members.

As for Min Gangsu, well, we’re not close, so whatever. Now we’re going through full-fledged joint training.

The morning theory class was just so-so. Oh Juhwan did give us a pop quiz, but I could solve this with my eyes closed.

[1st place: Do Jong-hyun]

As always, I’m first, but how could I not be after regressing?

Oh Juhwan called my name.

“Do Jong-hyun has never missed first place in these classes. He could even become an analyst. Everyone, keep the final exams at the end of November in mind. You need to finish your first year well. Be consistent.”

After the theory class, we finally entered the long-awaited simulation class.

It’s the same case as yesterday, but now it’s not just among ourselves; we’re including seniors.

“I’m nervous. Having to work with seniors.”

“You’re a sidekick. The seniors will do the fighting anyway.”

“But what if the senior is a sidekick?”

“Just listen to them. Wouldn’t a sidekick senior be stronger?”

The sense of anticipation and excitement is palpable. Well, I could also proceed with peace of mind now that Gu Jeong-yul, that sewage water, had been removed.

The opponents I want are Yumi noona and Jeong-hyun sunbae. They’re both nice people.

I’ll use this opportunity to get close to them in advance.

After lunch, there was a tense atmosphere at the outdoor simulation site.

Who would be comfortable to have class with?

I know the answer. Of course, since it’s awkward at first and the instructor will assign us anyway, let’s just get to know each other.

Will it be different from before the regression? The number of victims during the monster attack incident has decreased significantly.

Anyway, while I was anticipating, the assignments began.

“Yu Deok-min, Lee Yumi, Pi Jeong-hyun, Child.”

But the people I wanted were paired with Yu Deok-min.

“Well, this is…”

No, it’s the first time for everyone anyway. What am I worried about? I can control everyone.

And finally, my name was called.

[Do Jong-hyun, Han Si-woo, Park Dae-man, Lee Ha-na.]

Hmm, I’m not sure. There wasn’t much impact since I don’t know them.

I stepped forward as called, along with the sidekick girl.

A guy with a rooster comb hairstyle and a senior blowing bubble gum.

The first impression was fine. The problem came next.

“Hey, you don’t have a summoning spirit, right?”

“Yes, yes. But I can do well. I have an enhancement suit, and even if not, I know a lot about monsters.”

“Even if you know a lot, you’re just a first-year. It’s meaningless if you can’t fight.”

“You need to be helpful in combat. We know more about knowledge anyway.”

It’s different. From their expressions, I somehow became the weird one.

But at this moment, I realized how the environment had changed from the first semester.

My fellow first-years, even if they have doubts about what I say, will at least go along because we’re peers. Plus, they themselves lack knowledge.

But these are upperclassmen who can claim to know more than me, a first-year.

Will they follow my instructions?

“And you’re a first-year. Don’t you think it’s presumptuous to give orders to us?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“I hear a lot of talk about you these days. Be careful.”

Senior Han Si-woo left those words and turned away.

At times like this, I need to read the room.

For the first time as a combat team member, I listened without giving orders.

I have enough sense not to do something stupid like pointing out the flaws in Han Si-woo’s tunnel worm hunting method right now.

“Got it? Tunnel worms sense their prey through vibrations. So first, you create a big vibration to confuse them. Then you lure them out and attack.”

The theory is correct, but why is he running wildly before feeling the big vibration? Is he trying to show off in front of his juniors?

Because of that vibration, the plan to give another vibration first and strike was disrupted, and the tunnel worm appeared in front of me.

“Take this!”

In the end, I pinned down the opponent in one go with the power of my enhancement suit.

Fortunately, I managed.

“Hey! I was supposed to catch it. How could you catch it first?”

But Han Si-woo shouts at me.

“It reacted to a different vibration first.”

“Geez… follow the order next time! Teamwork is vital.”

It came to me because of whom? Originally, it would have gone towards him because of his noise, but he was running and missed it.

Besides, why doesn’t he know where the tunnel worm comes from?

It’s absurd, but Han Si-woo just walks away, scolding me.

This feeling continued throughout.

It’s frustrating.

The power that comes from the word “senior.” And somehow, the fact that they’re uncomfortable with me.

And the next day, I had to put a period on it.

A female senior named Lee Hae-seon, who was friends with Gu Jeong-yul, was hostile to me as soon as she saw me.

“So high and mighty. Giving your senior disciplinary action instead of a greeting. Yeah, just because you’ve made a name for yourself, you treat us lower-class seniors like trash?”

“That’s not it.”

“It’s not. At this rate, I might also get reported for bullying.”

Lee Hae-seon glared at me and then openly said to the instructor:

“How can I practice with someone who doesn’t even have a summoning spirit? Please change.”

“Do Jong-hyun has an enhancement suit, so why?”

“Enhancement suits are for those without skill. How can I fight alongside a Jaeger who can only rely on an enhancement suit in life-or-death situations?”

“This is practice.”

“Even for practice, it’s the same. Plus, if I make a mistake, I might get reported.”

“Lee Hae-seon! Do you think I’m an instructor to accommodate your tantrum? If you’re so unwilling, I’ll take responsibility and remove you from this class.”

With Oh Juhwan’s threat, Lee Hae-seon finally complied, but in this atmosphere, things couldn’t go well.

[1st place! Yu Deok-min!]

Meanwhile, Yu Deok-min is taking first place no matter which senior he’s paired with.

That’s at least a relief. Now Yu Deok-min will get more attention.

But it was clear that my academy life had become precarious.

“Sigh, it’s okay. It’ll get better when the intermediate and advanced classes mix.”

This is nothing. I just need to prevent the future from being destroyed.

The third day passed somehow. The problem was the day of the monster hunt.

The issue was that this day was Friday. This means that the next day is the weekend, and from next week, the advanced and lower classes will be mixed overall.

If you just hear this, you might wonder what the problem is, but the issue is that the lower class seniors organized a dinner gathering on this day.

“….”

Since I’m a minor, I won’t drink alcohol, but unfortunately, to get to Incheon’s coastal waters by 8 PM, I absolutely cannot attend a dinner that starts at 5:30 PM.

It’s better to decline in advance than to leave in the middle.

I reluctantly expressed my intention not to attend. I was worried about being caught, but:

[Alright, can’t be helped then. Don’t complain later that you couldn’t join. Even though Gu Jeong-yul’s group isn’t there, you’re still not attending? Well, do as you please.]

On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be a problem. Well, things like this will accumulate and create an unfavorable image.

Still, I have to decline. Monster hunting is more important to me.

Just in case, I told the security guard that I was going to meet a friend living in Incheon.

Unlike the White Dragon Guild, I can directly communicate and call them.

Unlike them, their real purpose is protection.

“You’ll follow me to Incheon, right?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“I’ll have to treat you again…”

“What’s the big deal about hanging out with a friend? We’re like bodyguards, so just don’t go to strange places. Meet your friend and come back on your own.”

“Yes.”

Now I moved towards my friend’s house, anticipating the monster break time.

“You jerk. You call me a friend and then come all the way to my house.”

I deliberately created a fictional friend and shouted like this.

In this way, I guided them towards where the break would occur.

And as the alarm sounded and the break happened, I immediately sat down and started acting.

“B-b-break…!”

“Step back! Jong-hyun!”

As expected, the security team stepped forward, and I shouted while running away:

“I’ll stay as far away as possible!”

“Hide in a shelter or something!”

Since it’s a B-rank monster, there shouldn’t be much of a problem. Like with Lee Yeon-hwa, I’ll let them fight, and now I need to get to Incheon’s coastal waters.

But I’m at Incheon Namgu Arts Center Station, and the appearance location is Eulwangri Beach.

Even if I transform into a monster, the distance is extremely far. It would take a long time even as a monster.

What’s a faster way than going by land?

[Birds]

I’ll fly there.

It’s time for a new evolution from the monster shop!