Ch.9696. School Trip

While waiting for the subway, I looked around and activated my status window.

[Mission Complete]

-Reward: Monster Points: 3, Apocalypse Risk Reduced

Whatever happened, it seems the fight was resolved midway. Thanks to that, the mission is complete, but the damage was beyond imagination.

“This is no joke. But how did I survive?”

I was certain that last hit would kill me. Yet here I am, alive.

If I had to guess how I survived, wouldn’t it be because of this card?

[Awakening]

-Unevolved power of evolution.

-Power of new possibilities (Primitive Monster Power)

-The final unlock condition remains.

“Primitive Monster Power… what the heck is a Primitive Monster?”

There was new text I hadn’t seen before.

Primitive power. Is Awakening about drawing out latent power from a monster’s body?

What is primitive power in the first place?

I suddenly recalled those massive monsters. Monsters different from what we commonly know.

The connection between that dream and this card can’t be coincidental.

“But it’s tricky to handle.”

I barely used the Awakening card since evolving to adult form.

Unlike the adult form that can be controlled through mechanical fusion, this has control issues, and besides, I’m already strong enough without taking such risks.

But it seems this card saved me from the brink of death.

Strangely, when I hold this card, the pain seems to subside a bit. Why is that?

Thanks to it, I was now walking back home, unlike my usual routine.

“What? Where am I? Ah, I’m at the subway now. I hid for a while before moving. Yes, yes. Let’s meet at the station then.”

I was entering my home while talking with the security team again.

The dream seemed connected to the human monster’s power and the Awakening card. Is that the world of monsters?

Strangely, after looking at the Awakening card, I got back on the subway.

Whatever the case, I confirmed the gap.

That thing was strong enough to retire Dokgo Jun. It’s an entity difficult to defeat even in adult form.

I need to face it with something beyond that.

-Evolution Investment: 30 Monster Points

This is the only way. If I evolve beyond adult form, I should be able to face it.

Monster Points: 11

DNA Points: 16,000

M Points: 12,000

These are the points I currently have. Don’t they count the Tyrant Wasp? Isn’t that too harsh? Maybe they calculated it all at once since it was a nest.

I feel it’s an unconscionable mission, but getting angry won’t change anything.

Anyway, calculating monster points, I can currently generate a total of 25 Monster Points.

Let’s not be too hasty.

I can do it anytime depending on the situation.

I checked if I could transform again in this state, but unsurprisingly, neither adult nor sub-adult form was possible.

I should be satisfied with being alive. Besides, next week is the school trip. I need to prepare…

I collapsed as soon as I arrived.

And when I opened my eyes, it was noon the next day.

With muscle pain throughout my body.

“So it wasn’t recovery, just postponing the pain?”

I had to spend the weekend in bed, unable to move.

Monday. We gathered at Incheon Port.

*

What comes to mind when thinking of a school trip? Honestly, the best part was returning to the lodging after sightseeing on the bus.

Free time.

The real start of a school trip is when you enter your room divided by groups.

I prepared a thick suitcase no less substantial than a travel bag.

Actually, although the destination changed from my previous life, I still know how these trips generally proceed.

It changed from Gyeongju to Jeju Island, but anyway, we only have activities in the morning of the second day, and the rest is just free time.

Upon arriving at Incheon Port, numerous students in casual clothes were already gathered.

Oh Juhwan was directing arriving students to their respective classes.

“Do Jonghyun. Check in and wait over here.”

“Yes.”

A ferry for the changed itinerary to Jeju Island. That’s unexpected.

As I waited with an excited heart, students began to arrive one by one.

And familiar faces started appearing.

Koo Sangheon was dressed most neatly. Sporty attire with sunglasses, though that’s a bit much.

Keum Dohyun was in short sleeves and shorts like a Hawaiian despite the approaching cold.

Han Minwoo… just casual in a hoodie and jeans.

I naturally greeted them. Then, with a noisy voice, Yu Jia came pulling someone’s arm, her hair styled in waves.

“There he is. Do Jonghyun.”

That someone was Ariel. Ariel’s fashion wasn’t very student-like.

She wore a cropped military jacket with a black t-shirt and black hot pants. With bucklers as an accent… she dressed up nicely.

“A short military jacket?”

“Got a problem with that?”

As expected, a touchy response. I could bicker as usual, but it’s a good day, so I should compliment her.

“It looks mature and pretty.”

“…”

Ariel stared at me silently before turning her head away.

“Of course it does. I wasn’t expecting your compliment, but I’ll accept it gratefully.”

“Wow, he complimented you. And you talk to Ariel so well. You two really get along.”

Yu Jia naturally touched my shoulder.

“Ariel must be feeling shy.”

“No, I’m not! Jia, come here.”

“Yes, yes~ Let’s hang out later~ Do Jonghyun.”

She waved as she walked away.

That’s a nice combination.

Next came Seol Yuhwa. She was dressed modestly in a light purple cardigan and white pants.

Seol Yuhwa and I waved to each other before she left.

And right behind her, I saw Yu Deokmin.

“…”

“…”

To be honest, we’re not on good terms anymore.

As we stood there awkwardly, Yu Deokmin and Min Kangsu approached me.

“You’re close with Seol Yuhwa, huh?”

“We’re friends.”

“But aren’t you in the lower class? Shouldn’t you take care of your own classmates?”

What nonsense is he saying after suddenly talking to me?

“What do you mean ‘take care of’? Who am I supposed to take care of?”

“Ah, I guess you’re too high and mighty to know.”

“Are you picking a fight?”

Yu Deokmin smirked.

“Someone who lost to me… No, I’m just telling you out of pity. You’ll regret acting like you’re not part of the lower class.”

“That’s just your opinion, but you shouldn’t state it like it’s the truth. What’s wrong with you lately? You’re not like before.”

“Not like before? You mean when I couldn’t do anything? Well, since your nose is in the air, I guess you’d prefer if I stayed at the bottom?”

Why does this guy keep twisting my words? He’s become twisted.

“That’s not what I meant. Why are you misunderstanding? What, are you on drugs or something?”

“What did you say? Drugs? What did you just say?”

As Yu Deokmin’s expression contorted, Min Kangsu stepped forward.

“Don’t fight in front of the instructor. You’ll get in trouble.”

“Min Kangsu…”

“Why fight on a school trip day?”

Yu Deokmin was breathing heavily, trying to calm his excitement.

Min Kangsu and Yu Deokmin weren’t originally close, but they seem to be sticking together now, like during that training.

This isn’t good. Who knows what trouble they’ll cause.

Plus, they’re showing abnormal growth.

Could that red powder be the cause?

But I can’t just move or forcibly take it away.

I wish I had official authority.

My gaze went to Eun Serin, who manages the upper class.

Should I ask for help?

I don’t know how the red powder affects Jaegers, but Eun Serin, who has also experienced its effects, might help.

Of course, there’s no need to mention it during the school trip.

But I feel another gaze. When I turned my head, several people were gathering around Yu Deokmin and Min Kangsu.

‘When did it become like this?’

The number of students hanging out with Yu Deokmin was increasing.

I sighed, hoping they wouldn’t cause any trouble.

Meanwhile, I joined up with the training camp members.

“What should we do for fun on the trip? Seems like we’ll have a lot of free time after the first day.”

“…”

“Cheongi?”

“Huh? Oh… yeah, we should have fun.”

Cheongi’s gaze was directed toward the second-year students. Even on the school trip, second-years are present.

No matter what, they couldn’t change the schedule just because of my situation.

Instead, we’re prohibited from approaching each other.

“What’s wrong? Did the seniors give you a hard time? They can’t come to the first-year area anyway.”

“No, no.”

“Are you really being bullied?”

“No, no. I’m just nervous. Remembering when I used to get scolded…”

Cheongi desperately denied it.

I gathered the rest of the members.

“We have eight members, but where are the other two?”

That’s when I noticed the strange looks in everyone’s eyes.

Sucheon and Huimin were nowhere to be seen.

“Sucheon and Huimin haven’t arrived yet, but it’ll be difficult to stay together.”

Why?

I didn’t understand, but these guys weren’t being straightforward either, and just as they spoke, the missing members appeared.

“You guys are here? What are we doing for the trip?”

“We’re going to have fun.”

They answered curtly and sat down.

“Why are you angry?”

No one answered my question.

When it was time to board, we followed the instructors onto the ferry.

I was quite excited since it was my first time on a ferry since kindergarten.

It’s not a luxury cruise but a regular ferry, though quite large.

“As soon as we arrive, we’ll unpack and visit the state-certified maritime security team for observation. We’ll have meals there while learning from professionals about how they handle situations.”

Oh Juhwan enthusiastically explained the purpose of the trip, but who was listening? Everyone was just eager to go up to the deck.

“You rascals! Know where your life jackets are and put them on in case of emergency.”

Only after Oh Juhwan scolded us in disbelief did we calm down.

We practiced putting on life jackets once.

Although it takes a full 10 hours to reach Jeju Island, we could enjoy it slowly.

And I could also observe what Sucheon and Huimin were doing.

While each class was resting in a common area like a duty room, Sucheon and Huimin went over to Yu Deokmin’s side.

And they were chatting happily.

In short, they had joined the other side.

It was bitter to see them suddenly leave their close group.

It reminds me of when Keum Dohyun exerted his influence before my regression.

“Huh?”

And then I realized. This method is exactly what Keum Dohyun used to do.

The upper-class Keum Dohyun using his lackey Min Kangsu to exert influence and control.

Are Yu Deokmin and Min Kangsu doing that now?

Even now, more than half of the lower class was gathered around them.

And at that moment, my eyes met Yu Deokmin’s.

“What? Do Jonghyun. Want to join us?”

“Join what? No thanks.”

“No, you looked envious.”

I should have let it go, but I was also irritated.

“Why would I envy you?”

Perhaps because emotions were already poor, I responded hastily.

And the atmosphere that followed flowed like a leaked script.

“Oh, really? Feeling good being all high and mighty by yourself? Abandoning your lower-class peers and sucking up to the upper class. You know what? The second-years don’t like you. How do you plan to spend the year? Are you trying to make enemies? You’ll end up being ostracized.”

“That’s for me to figure out. My situation is different from you first-years. Why have you been picking fights with me lately? Is it because you’re sucking up to the second-years?”

“What? Sucking up? You bastard!”

Yu Deokmin was rushing at me.

In an instant, he was about to grab my neck when suddenly a slender hand shot out.

“What the—”

“Ariel?”

I turned my head when I saw Yu Deokmin’s expression change.

There was Ariel, who had somehow appeared beside me.