Ch.9393. After the Practical Training

“Impressive. Do Jonghyun, if you maintain that pace until your third year, you’d be worth recruiting.”

Compliments always feel good, no matter when you hear them. Especially when scouts, and from the three major guilds at that, come looking for me.

I hadn’t expected it, but scouts from not only the White Dragon Guild, but also the Magician Guild and the Heaven and Earth Guild complimented me.

“It’s certainly rare to see someone like you who thinks while they move. We’ve been following Jeon Sejin too, and he’s definitely amazing. You’d make a good tactical analyst or sidekick. At our level, we have separate command roles.”

“However, the reason we say you’re impressive is because you’re a first-year. You’re impressive for a first-year. As Jeon Sejin said, if you maintain this performance until your third year, you’d definitely be qualified to join us. It’s been a while since I’ve seen something this interesting.”

Well, there was that condition about maintaining my current performance until third year.

“This concludes the gate training for all grades. Thank you everyone for your hard work today.”

With the principal’s final words, this breathless schedule came to an end.

The upcoming week isn’t officially a holiday, but it’s filled with theoretical classes instead of practical training.

Normally, I should feel relieved from the pressure, but my eyes were fixed on Bang Seokcheun. Now that the third-years are officially leaving, those guys will start throwing their weight around.

But in this situation, I could just report them for bullying without hesitation, right?

I’m worried about the time ahead.

From what I remember before my regression, things just flowed like some rough military-style hazing.

They won’t touch confrontational types like Aerial, but they’ll start by manipulating Geum Dohyeon.

Back then, Seol Yuhwa was bound to Geum Dohyeon, so she naturally followed along. As I mentioned before, Gu Sangheon and Han Minwoo generally respect their seniors.

So everyone endured until the Han Minwoo assault incident.

But I’m different now. The situation has changed, and there’s no risk of me suffering the same fate.

Besides, there’s no reason for me to participate in their games.

Bang Seokcheun was gathering the second-years.

He was saying something to his peers, with Baek Dongguk and Shin Minjeong eagerly working as his lackeys.

The second-years will get swept up in this too.

The problem is the first-years…

I spot Yu Deokmin and Min Gangsu. They’re approaching the second-years and talking about something.

Strangely, Yu Deokmin is sticking close to the second-years. Is this also because history has changed?

Is that why he’s hostile toward me?

But what about Min Gangsu? Why suddenly? Even Geum Dohyeon has left me alone since expressing his recruitment intentions, so why would his lackey Min Gangsu be involved?

That powder kept coming to mind. I need to look into it eventually, even if not right away.

After everything ended, I was about to head to the dormitory, but of course, a dinner gathering awaited.

This time, it was led by the third-years.

We’ve passed through a sensitive period, and things have relaxed a bit now.

“Come on, junior, eat up!”

I sat at the same table with the seniors I had worked with.

It’s nice when seniors take care of you. If it weren’t for the second-years’ stupid behavior, I wouldn’t even need to worry about these things.

Instead of alcohol, drinks were moving around everywhere, and I took a refreshing sip of cider.

I just hoped nothing would happen until the school trip.

*

Yu Deokmin met Min Gangsu at the dinner gathering.

Min Gangsu was amazed by his newfound power.

“Unbelievable. Such power… Yu Deokmin, where did you get this?”

“How is it? The effect of the sample?”

“Amazing. To think it could awaken latent abilities.”

Seeing his significantly changed attitude, Yu Deokmin grinned.

He already knew that Min Gangsu was getting anxious after losing to Do Jonghyun and then to him as well.

He had secretly tempted him, targeting that insecurity.

“Actually, it’s still a prototype, and this is just a secret test. As long as you keep the confidentiality agreement, there’s no problem. It’s just that the price is quite high.”

Yu Deokmin roughly tore the steak in front of him.

“Latent power within my own body?”

“Yes. It’s the power you were meant to have. This is our true strength.”

“My goodness…”

“You know how monsters are getting stronger and more intelligent, right? The Association isn’t just sitting idle. They need to promote rapid growth this way. Usually, there are many problems with human experimentation and such.”

Yu Deokmin was deceiving Min Gangsu with a setting (lie) he had made up.

Though Yu Deokmin himself believed the other’s lie about “latent abilities,” so there wasn’t much difference.

“But the price is too high. I’d have to save two months’ salary.”

“You’ve experienced its effectiveness with your own body. Is it easy to grow that much so suddenly? Even illegal tutoring is incredibly expensive.”

“That’s true.”

Min Gangsu had certainly been noticed alongside Yu Deokmin in the lower class.

He was outstanding as a first-year lower class combatant.

It was certainly surprising that first-year lower class students faced C-rank monsters.

“Yu Deokmin, so I can only get that powder through you?”

“Yeah. It’s really hard to meet them, and I met them in a place like a black market.”

Yu Deokmin vaguely evaded the question.

“0.2g per intake? It’s really hard to measure the units.”

“For safety, the efficiency decreases as your body gets used to it. When efficiency drops, you need a cooling period before taking it again.”

“I see.”

“So, Min Gangsu. You know? If you want this powder, you need to be nicer to me.”

Yu Deokmin recalled what the second-year Bang Seokcheun had said.

[You take charge of the lower class. Keep them in line. You have the talent for it.]

Yes, this was the real beginning.

Bang Seokcheun made Yu Deokmin his ally, and Yu Deokmin brought in Min Gangsu.

‘Yes, I’m the one in control. Me… I ranked first in the records this time.’

In terms of pure speed, Yu Deokmin’s team was truly first.

Having Go Jiyun in the same team helped, but his knowledge as a sidekick and ability to overpower with strength when necessary were notable.

His gaze fell on Aerial. She was being treated like a queen after carrying other third-years.

That proud and beautiful face.

Yu Deokmin wanted to possess Aerial.

‘Aren’t I good enough now? Be friendly to me too.’

Yu Deokmin was still full of hesitation. When the dinner was in full swing, Aerial naturally went over to “pick a fight” with Do Jonghyun.

Do Jonghyun wasn’t the type to just take it; he would respond in kind.

That’s how their conversation formed. Aerial naturally sat next to Do Jonghyun.

“Having scouts from the three major guilds come to you, not bad for someone like you, Do Jonghyun.”

“Jealous?”

“Jealous? What do you take me for? The three major guilds came to me before the training even started, unlike you! Are you showing off to me with that?”

It was strange to see Aerial, who looked down on others, get worked up in reverse.

Yu Deokmin’s eyes fell on Do Jonghyun.

The man who had what he couldn’t have. He wished he could be Do Jonghyun right now, having that conversation.

‘Should I do it now? I’m different now too…’

His grades were high, and he was getting attention.

But Do Jonghyun was still above him. It was because the scouts, especially from the three major guilds, had ignored him.

They didn’t give him the praise he deserved. The three major guilds play a significant role in that. But they didn’t look at him.

They looked at Do Jonghyun and praised him.

Even the Poseidon Guild approached Do Jonghyun to talk.

‘Fuck, this sucks.’

Yu Deokmin suddenly snapped his chopsticks.

Min Gangsu looked at him in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

Sweat was suddenly pouring all over his body.

Yu Deokmin barely caught his breath.

“Nothing. Just suddenly annoyed.”

“At who?”

“Do Jonghyun.”

Yu Deokmin couldn’t take his eyes off Do Jonghyun.

[Instead of touching Do Jonghyun, you need to put pressure on him. Deokmin, follow the seniors’ methods. Gather kids who listen to you well.]

In the end, Do Jonghyun needed to be dealt with.

He thought he had already won with his skills, but Do Jonghyun still had those impressive people close to him.

‘I should be in that position.’

How could he take it away? Yu Deokmin roughly shoved the steak into his mouth.

*

By the second week of October, the third-years had ebbed away like the tide.

They left to receive training at various guilds. They’ll only come back before the final exams to take the tests and leave again.

In other words, this was now the second-years’ world.

“Ah, because of that guy…”

This is when it really started. The second-years were divided into two groups for training, but the third-years who had been on my side were now gone.

The second-years had to split into two groups whenever they had joint classes with first-years, and I was really feeling the intimidating atmosphere now.

They never say anything directly. They just apply pressure by throwing jabs as they pass by, like throwing punches.

During tests, they don’t say much because of the scores, but during simple practice sessions, they pick fights in various ways.

“Is that right?”

“Won’t you listen to your seniors properly? Do you think you’re so great?”

They act like this whenever I speak?

Except for a few kind seniors who tell me to stay calm, this is how it goes.

It’s okay. I was planning to keep a low profile anyway.

This level was something I could ignore and move past.

The problem was the first-years.

Yu Deokmin started exerting influence in the lower class, just like Geum Dohyeon did before.

And for some reason, his grades suddenly improved.

“First place: Yu Deokmin! Second place: Min Gangsu!”

Surprisingly, those two had suddenly improved their grades in all tests.

If we say their talent emerged because the future changed, I guess it makes some sense.

It’s also peculiar that Mingi and Suchan, who had shown signs before, have now started hanging out with Yu Deokmin and Min Gangsu.

I can’t get involved, but the problem is that after classes end, the kids leave for special lessons.

“Seokcheun sunbae wants us to gather today.”

“Again?”

Our lower class kids are going to these special lessons in all sorts of ways.

I wondered if these special lessons were teaching them well, but the kids definitely seemed to respond positively.

Besides, there’s nothing I can do about it.

But Cheongi had a dark expression throughout.

“Cheongi, what’s wrong with you?”

I asked just in case, but Cheongi wouldn’t answer. Does he have some worry? Bullying?

I wanted to ask, but it was frustrating that he wouldn’t talk.

Anyway, in this situation, we had to prepare for something else.

“Next week is the school trip, so everyone prepare well.”

It’s the school trip I mentioned earlier.

Since it’s next week, we need to pack with a picnic mindset.

“This time, we’ll spend two days and three nights in Jeju Island to see and learn how the Jaegers there operate. Then we’ll go to America to observe the activities of Jaeger 119.”

“…”

But there was no response from the kids. There’s a lot of dissatisfaction from those who want to just have fun on the school trip.

Oh Juhwan cleared his throat.

“You’ll only be observing for one day each. The remaining day is completely free time, so prepare accordingly.”

“That’s more like it!”

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

The children were cheering.

This makes me compare it to before my regression, though things are different now.

Originally, we couldn’t go abroad because of the chaos caused by Eun Serin’s schemes. But strangely, we’re going abroad this time? The future really changes in unexpected ways.

Should I just rest well until the school trip? I got up from my seat as Oh Juhwan concluded the homeroom.

[Monster Daily]

“Right, I should take care of one thing before going.”

But something came up.