Ch.7777. Mischief

One of the advantages of Yeager Academy is that you can freely skip classes just by saying you won’t attend. They’re quite understanding of various circumstances. No one becomes delinquent after coming to the academy. Though there have been cases of original troublemakers coming in, acting up, and then receiving proper discipline. Everyone takes their classes seriously. Even if someone like me skips in the second semester, it’s not a big issue. After all, everyone except me, who already possesses all the knowledge, would only be at a disadvantage by not attending classes.

“This week’s gate will definitely be on Friday.”

No matter what chaos happens on the weekend, I won’t go out. I’d rather enjoy my Sunday instead. Perhaps due to my recent difficult experiences, I need to live strictly by the rules. While it’s easier to earn many points, the adult transformation causes various complications, so I’ll focus on fighting in my adolescent form. I’ve decided to only transform into my adult form when necessary, like for monster pursuit missions.

Anyway, I can handle up to A-class monsters in my adolescent form, so why bother transforming into my adult form just to overwhelm them?

“I was too obsessed with the adult evolution.”

Yes, I’ve been pushing myself too hard. It’s better to hunt slowly with my adolescent form up to B-class gates, even if it takes more time. Of course, last Sunday I exhausted myself by desperately using all my strength in my adolescent form. But such situations don’t occur often.

I was checking my appearance and about to turn off the TV.

[The shock from the attack on the Ace Guild leader last Sunday continues to grow.]

The news was still buzzing about the death at the Ace Guild.

This is also the work of the Monster Apocalypse Group. Just as history is flowing similarly, the Monster Apocalypse Group is causing chaos at the academy and trying to eliminate other guilds from all directions. The leader of the Ace Guild suffered the same fate. It’s just happening a bit earlier.

Before my regression, the news reported that the Ace Guild leader was attacked by someone who had been expelled for sexual harassment. I remember it made the news because it was a fight between a guild member and the guild leader, an A-class versus an S-class, and the Ace Guild leader beat up the attacker severely. It happened around this time. Then the Monster Apocalypse Group targeted him and he died, but this time it’s happening a bit earlier. I guess that’s because history has changed.

It’s the start of Tuesday after skipping Monday. For me, this is the beginning of my first week. And on Friday, I’ll go to the gate to collect points.

I burst energetically through the classroom door, and sure enough, the dormitory members were there.

“Hey guys, how have you been?”

“Where were you yesterday?”

In response to Mingu’s question, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Nothing special. I passed out on Sunday due to a monster break.”

“That’s intense. Does that happen to you often? Why do you always get caught up in incidents?”

Mingu’s puzzled reaction made me feel guilty. Rather than getting caught up in incidents, I voluntarily participate in them, but I can’t say that. I just have to brush it off.

“Nothing unusual happened on Monday, right?”

“Unusual?”

But these guys’ reactions are strange. They avoid my gaze when I speak.

“What? Did something happen?”

“Well, nothing major. We just had a simple evaluation session yesterday.”

“Evaluation? A practical assessment?”

They had an evaluation while I was gone? Then it can’t be important.

“If there was no prior notice, it can’t be an important test, right?”

“Gate simulation.”

“What? Already? Wait! Even if it’s early, it should be next week.”

There’s a reason why 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year students are simply running joint simulations. It’s different from when a single grade does it alone. There’s a higher chance of accidents, and 3rd-year students can turn into rage mode due to job placement issues. So naturally, the goal is to run as many drills as possible to get everyone accustomed to each other.

According to the learning schedule, we’re supposed to go on a practical gate exercise in the first week of October before the 3rd-year students leave. From the second week, they start leaving for training, so looking at the timeline, we should run the gate simulation in the third week of September. But now, it’s only the second week of September. We should have one more week of coordination and practice. Yet they’re already entering the gate simulation?

“Were the 3rd-year seniors in a hurry? But if they had a test there, what happens to me? Do I get a zero?”

Even if I get a zero, I can do well on the final exam. This kind of evaluation is more like a regular assessment. I didn’t really care if I got a zero. If it were an important test, they would have given notice in advance. This kind of thing can be recovered anytime.

“It’s okay. Well, even if you get a zero…”

“I guess you can be at ease, Jonghyun. At least you have people looking out for you.”

Judging by their expressions, did they get scolded?

“Why that face? Did you get thrashed in yesterday’s gate simulation?”

“…”

The kids nodded with gloomy faces.

“The seniors were really sharp because it directly affects our scores. I’ve never been cursed at like that before.”

“Haha… I understand. 3rd-year students, right?”

“How did you know?”

As I mentioned earlier, it’s the 3rd-year students who cause trouble, not the problematic 2nd-year students. This is separate from Bang Seokhyun’s trashy personality. The 3rd-year students, sensitive about scores and evaluations as they approach employment, are the ones who openly berate their juniors during the job hunting season. If they can’t control their juniors well, it affects their own employment prospects.

“So we’ll have gate simulations today too? It’s okay. We just need to do well from today.”

“Are you confident? It’ll be the first time for everyone, right? You’ll get scolded terribly.”

I shrugged at Mingu’s words.

“I’m originally good with theory. And getting cursed at is something we have to accept. The 3rd-year seniors are sensitive, given the timing.”

“Jonghyun, you’re really relaxed.”

“Not relaxed. I’m just simulating what kind of curses I’ll hear in advance. You think only practice needs simulation? Thinking about the curses in advance helps reduce the shock.”

I’ve experienced 3rd-year hysteria for two years. This is the only time when they won’t say anything even if you get cursed at, after Bang Seokhyun’s disciplinary actions have stopped.

The morning’s peaceful theory class proceeded. Theory classes are always boring because I already know the content. Even if they update with the latest information, it’s already in my head.

“Along with human monsters, there have been updates on the abnormal behaviors of monsters recently. Make sure to familiarize yourselves. Usually, the guild that handles a new species keeps the information, but this new species is exceptionally being shared with everyone. That’s how much caution is needed.”

Today, some fresh information came in. It was about the eagle I transformed into, and the blurry dinosaur and insect that were seen.

“These monsters are uniquely identified as not attacking humans. Of course, the dinosaur is suspected of killing people, but the basic report is that it didn’t attack.”

Next was that lizardman.

“It’s a lizardman with slime characteristics. The Cheonji Guild, along with the Poseidon Guild, searched the gate and found traces of it. If discovered in D to B-class gates, cease combat immediately and report.”

This kind of information is useful. Even I, who was bored in class, perked up. And interestingly, there was also a rank evaluation.

“These new species don’t have official names yet and are only temporarily assigned ranks.”

– Dinosaur: SS-class

– Insect: A-class

– Whale: A-class

– Machine: B-class

It seems they’re evaluating based on what’s been discovered so far, but isn’t it too much to rate the whale as A-class? It should be on par with the dinosaur Sura. Is this how they evaluate based on appearances? Quite interesting.

Only I knew the accurate evaluation.

After the morning classes ended, lunchtime approached. I filled my plate with meat at the buffet and sat at the 1st-year section.

“Huh? Where’s Cheongi?”

All the usual members were gathered, but Cheongi was missing.

“Cheongi? I saw him going to the 2nd-year section earlier.”

“What?”

Looking at the situation, Kim Cheongi was with Bang Seokhyun’s group.

“…”

Something feels unsettling. Kim Cheongi has been hanging out with 2nd-year students recently.

After the meal, while waiting for the 5th-period class, I approached Kim Cheongi.

“Cheongi, you ate with the 2nd-year students?”

“What? It doesn’t matter anymore, right?”

“But why suddenly?”

“No, the 3rd-year students are too scary, so I wanted to get some advice.”

I almost blurted out, “What advice from those guys?” Well, generally, as seniors, they would have things to teach. But Bang Seokhyun is the main culprit in making school life miserable.

I don’t like it.

After that, Kim Cheongi continued to stick with the 2nd-year students rather than us.

Then the gate simulation began. Teams were assigned, and the 3rd-year students’ expressions had indeed changed. Only top students like Ko Jiyun and In Yeseul seemed relaxed. From the moment teams were formed, you could feel the change in their gazes.

Intermediate teacher Christopher announced the list.

“And the 70th team! 3rd-year Jo Sangmin, Kim Suhee, 2nd-year Lee Jintae, 1st-year Do Jonghyun!”

I was assigned to the 70th team. I wanted to be comfortable with the 3rd-year students since we’re close, but that was a misconception. Kim Suhee glared at me.

“Do Jonghyun. Can you do well? You didn’t try it yesterday. Will you be okay?”

The pressure I experienced before my regression comes rushing back. If I mess up here, I’ll definitely get cursed out. So I need to help them score well.

3rd-year senior Jo Sangmin and 2nd-year senior Lee Jintae are sidekicks. Senior Kim Suhee and I are the combat team. I’ll be doing the fighting.

“This reminds me of the past.”

In the first semester’s gate simulation, Dokgo Jun came, and the 1st-year students formed their own teams. This is the first simulation practice since the first semester.

The game began amidst worry and tension.

*

It all started with Bang Seokhyun’s manipulation.

[We juniors will gladly work hard for our seniors. Let’s advance the gate simulation! A week’s difference is significant!]

After inciting all the 2nd-year students, he succeeded in getting the instructors to advance the gate simulation. The superficial reason was “wanting to help the seniors with their job placement by advancing the curriculum.”

[We will conduct special classes to teach the 1st-year students. We’re saying we’ll raise everyone’s skills for the seniors’ employment.]

Thanks to this enthusiasm, the instructors moved the class up by a week.

Naturally, the 1st-year students couldn’t adapt and were literally cursed at and cowered.

This was exactly what Bang Seokhyun wanted. He used the emotions of the 3rd-year students, who are sensitive about employment, to make the atmosphere even darker.

In fact, on the first day, 2nd-year Bang Seokhyun used this as an excuse to gather everyone.

[Aren’t you ashamed in front of the 3rd-year seniors? No, I’m embarrassed now! I suggested advancing the class because I trusted you. But why are you like this? Are you mocking the seniors? Making those kind 3rd-year seniors curse… That’s impressive, really impressive.]

He naturally takes control of discipline. Plus, with such a justification, it’s hard to oppose.

“This weekend, don’t go out playing. We’ll all train together. Understand?”

“Yes!”

The 1st-year students had to nod in fear.

But not all 1st-year students were present. Especially in the advanced class, there were absences. Except for Han Minwoo, promising students like Gu Sangheon, Seol Yuhwa, and Aerial just skipped.

And Yujia from the advanced class also skipped, following her friend Aerial.

But Bang Seokhyun wisely didn’t say anything to them. He avoided challenging their authority and potentially undermining his own.

“If you have circumstances, you can skip. And of course, if you do well, you’re exempt. Hey! You guys can also go home and practice as you wish!”

By exempting some good students from the intermediate class, he created legitimacy.

In the lower class, everyone except Yu Deokmin was forced to take the class.

“Yes, this is the atmosphere we need.”

Bang Seokhyun was greatly pleased with the intensified cursing on Tuesday.

“The 3rd-year students are sensitive, and we’re using that. Perfect, just perfect.”

And now his gaze turned to Do Jonghyun, who was about to start the practice.

‘No matter what, it’s impossible to do well with 2nd and 3rd-year students. Plus, that guy missed Monday. Get cursed out a bit.’

He was watching with anticipation, hoping Do Jonghyun would be swept up in that atmosphere.

He must fail.

He must make mistakes.

From his perspective, Do Jonghyun’s team was now starting the gate practice.

But Do Jonghyun was different from their expectations.

“…What is that?”

“How is he doing so well?”

A result different from their expectations was unfolding.