NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10
010 – Those Foolish Ones Find Joy Just by Looking at Each Other #4
“Instructor, is this alright?”
A pure white control room.
The students were marked as dots on the holographic screen.
Their locations were pinpointed using smartwatches and drones, visualizing the positions of the Yeongsa High School students who had entered the Great Labyrinth.
Current researcher Moon Hyun-a removed her eye patch and carefully observed the students.
Among them, the team “No Leftover Day,” comprised of those not chosen by the children, caught her attention the most.
“Instructor, is this alright? These kids are heading towards a stream where monsters dwell. The monsters there are ‘Ko’ dogs. Their aggressiveness is low since we’ve weakened them, but…”
“Still, a monster is a monster. Ordinary people can’t even withstand the poison they exude and pass out. So why did they come here? Are they intentionally targeting a spot infested with monsters?”
Instructor Kang Cheol-min knew that Geum Tae-seong and the transfer student Hanam-jin’s team had begun their training on a cliff. Because of the cliff climbing, their exploration was nearly 30 minutes behind other teams.
In such a situation, trying to find creatures with concepts felt like starting a sprint 5 seconds behind the competition.
“From there, those kids decided to switch their route to monster hunting to earn points. Hunting one monster gives a total of 2 million points, which means they can split 400,000 points per person. I don’t know who came up with this idea, but really…”
He chuckled.
Soon, Moon Hyun-a joined him in laughter.
“Pfft, such a reckless and foolish plan. That mutant may be low in aggression, but we barely managed to subdue it as teachers.”
Moon Hyun-a recalled the time they had tried to capture a dog with the concept of ‘Ko’. It was fast and cunning, despite having singed eyes.
It had a keen sense of smell and excellent hearing, making it escape at the slightest hint, causing them a lot of trouble during the capture.
“Honestly, at the level of third-year students, they won’t be able to take it down. It will escape before they can do anything.”
It was extremely difficult for students who had not yet become adults to defeat monsters.
These monsters were not placed to be defeated in the training labyrinth; rather, they served as obstacles to signal when to escape.
In other words, it was absurd to make the students aware of their limits and barriers.
“But if this team succeeds in defeating a monster on their own, that would mean they’ve achieved results similar to the ‘Supernova’ level.”
The term “Supernova” referred to students who showed talent on par with, or even surpassing, current researchers. Moon Hyun-a couldn’t believe the children left behind would shine so brightly.
“Let alone our elite class F students, who are brimming with potential, these D class students are full of variables and issues?”
Instructor Kang Cheol-min had a different opinion.
“There’s one kid in that group I have my eye on. He’ll probably become a ‘Supernova’ soon. He’s destined to wear the Night Brooch.”
“Oh, if you say that much, I guess I can look forward to it. I think I already know who it is.”
Moon Hyun-a’s gaze turned to a male student that the drone had captured.
It was Geum Tae-seong, known for being a ‘Reversal’ who had been rated a potential Level 4 in a preliminary evaluation. While he was a student in the elite group F, he had been demoted to D class due to his background.
There was nothing else to consider—the homeroom teacher, Moon Hyun-a, thought the rest were not worth mentioning.
I shouted, albeit quietly but distinctly.
“Look at that bastard! His eyes are scorched and look like they’ve been burned, right? That means he can’t see! That’s why he’s unable to charge at us easily and is lurking around!”
Just like humans can awaken under special circumstances, when animals awaken, they become monsters.
Those who acquire concepts among humans become even more special awakened beings, and similarly for monsters.
“Ko. That guy has the concept of Ko.”
In my opinion, the monster in front of me seemed to embody the concept of ‘Ko’, or ‘smell’, or ‘olfactory’ senses.
Its nose was disproportionately large, making it easy to identify.
“Since it lost its sight due to burns, it likely developed this concept to compensate. Abilities are born from strong desires. This creature has been highly uncomfortable without sight, thus awakening its new abilities.”
“So, what does that mean?”
In response to Candy Maker Choi Chang-sik’s question, I felt a slight sigh escape my lips. Surely even a fool would understand what I was saying by now.
Perhaps the fear of being in front of a monster was clouding everyone’s rationality.
“Because of the boiling candy smell, our scent will be masked. The sweet aroma saturating the air has sealed its nose. In fact, can’t you see that it’s unable to charge at us?”
“Is that so…?”
“The remaining factor is hearing. This is where Deok-soon has to step in. Deok-soon, you said you could silence the surrounding sounds, right?”
“I’m not Deok-soon; I’m Deok-hee…”
The female student corrected her name, glancing back and forth between the monster and us.
“I can silence sounds, but… only within a radius of about 10 meters… and for only about 20 seconds.”
10 meters for 20 seconds? That was enough.
In a situation where there would be no sound or smell and a sudden ambush was approaching. Even monsters would be flustered by something like a lightning strike from a clear sky.
“Then Deok-soon, please. It’s 2 million points! We can each get 400,000 points! You are our key!”
“…”
Gulp.
The shy female student clutched the hem of her pants tightly. Feeling the gaze of everyone, she trembled.
Would it take a moment for an answer to come out?
“I, I can’t do it…”
Shiver.
Deok-soon shivered like a featherless duck in the frigid winter.
Her clothes were soaked with sweat, and her breath became rough, showing she was genuinely lacking courage.
Well, that’s expected.
We were the leftover scraps.
We weren’t even worth keeping, just like trash thrown away.
It was impossible to have confidence.
“Deok-hee.”
Suddenly, Geum Tae-seong grabbed Deok-soon’s hand.
Deok-soon was taken aback.
“Eh? Wh, what…?”
“When I’m really nervous, holding hands helps me calm down. How is it? Are you feeling a bit more settled?”
“Er, uh….”
“Deok-hee, let’s give it a try. Nam-jin is a multi-ability holder. Maybe this exercise will turn out different. After all, we have nothing to lose, right?”
“Ugh….”
Was it because of Geum Tae-seong’s slender face?
Or perhaps it was due to his surprisingly gentle voice beneath that hoodlum-like appearance? Deok-soon trembled even more than before.
Still, it seemed like she had sensed something.
“…I’ll try. But my limit is just about 20 seconds!”
Dum-dum—
Having made her decision, Deok-soon started moving as if she were performing a strange dance to entertain her grandfather to receive New Year’s money.
It was truly an awkward performance that made it difficult for me to watch.
The female student’s face, peeking through her long hair, was flushed red and looked like it might explode, while sweat poured down her chin.
The surprising thing was, just like she was wearing a heavy headset, all noise around us had perfectly faded away.
“━─.”
“━──!”
Everyone looked shocked, mouths agape, trying to yell, but no sound escaped, making them look like fish gasping in a tank.
Perfect silence.
Clapping my hands together, I tried to make a sound, but not a single sound was produced.
‘This is truly amazing. If I had this ability, the difficulty of sneaking into the potato field would have drastically decreased!’
—Let’s go!
I signaled everyone.
But everyone just hesitated, unable to move.
After all, asking them to charge at a live rabid dog would understandably make them hesitate.
I understood, but it was frustrating, so I decided to take the first step.
One step. Two steps.
The Ko did not notice me approaching as it plunged its snout into a bowl of hot sugar, greedily licking the sweet liquid.
What a stupid creature!
I stealthily moved closer and then kicked it hard between its legs.
Ploosh!
The large testicles of the dog made it flip over, letting out an excruciatingly silent scream.
“Name: Blacky
Condition: 《Shock》 – It does not realize what has happened. It is suffering in immense pain as if the world has shattered!”
Good!
I seized the opportunity and delivered another powerful kick to its body.
Pang!
With the concept of jumping enhancing my kick, the dog flew far and rolled on the ground, causing everyone to brighten up in expression.
“Everyone, stomp the hell out of it! Focus on the groin!”
I shouted.
Of course, they wouldn’t hear me, but they would understand my intent.
They surrounded the disoriented dog and stepped down hard.
Thud thud thud thud thud—
Like imperialist powers plundering colonies!
With hope shining through their previously tense faces!
The monster extermination was about to reach its conclusion—
Just when I thought that.
Crack, sizzle, snap, crunch—
An eerie event occurred.
It seemed that as the dog was being beaten, wounds were swelling on its body, and then ‘eyes’ began to form—eyes that resembled the patterns seen in a peacock’s tail.
Flap-a-whoosh!
The dog, battered and beaten, quickly distanced itself from us as if it had spotted something with those countless eyes.
Everyone was startled by the abrupt turn of events.
“W-What?! Multi-concept holder?!”
Was it because Deok-soon had stopped dancing?
The sounds returned to normal.
Gasping for breath, Deok-soon shouted.
“The monster has awakened its second ability! It seems to be the concept of ‘Eye’!”
Ko.
Eye.
If there was a connection, it was certainly related.
But to think that the monster would activate its second concept at this timing!
How unfortunate!
“…I think it’s my fault!”
Baek Yeoul wore a tear-streaked face.
Was Baek Yeoul’s ‘misfortune’ the cause of this situation?
Growww—
The Ko’s stare was fixed on us, drooling as if it had lost its sanity.
If we were bitten by that thing, it would lead straight to rabies.
At that moment, all lightheadedness vanished from everybody’s minds, and the dog was the first to make a move.
Cough!
“What the! Hyek!”
It targeted Baek Yeoul, of all people.
Amidst all these people, so much for being the unlucky icon.
If this continued, Baek Yeoul would be seriously hurt by the monster.
Was it time for me to act?
My trump card was coming out.
“Everyone, when I give the signal, charge again!”
Swish- flurr—
As I shouted vigorously, I quickly removed my pants.
“You insane pervert! Finally showing your true colors!”
“Ahhh!”
The screams of the girls accompanied the reveal of my secret weapon.
My flamboyant tiger-striped pants that I couldn’t show during the debate. Worth ten thousand won.
With that provocative pattern, the dog’s gazes, which had been aimed at Baek Yeoul, shifted towards me.
“Name: Blacky
Condition: 《Attention》 – It is focusing on you!”
Now! Right now!
I sprang forward, kicking the ground.
Cough-cough…!
The dog, momentarily distracted by my pants, finally took a step back, but my leap was faster than any human could move, covering 100 meters in 3 seconds.
“Yaaaaah!”
Pang.
In an instant, I had closed the distance, grabbing the dog and constricting its neck with one hand while wrapping my legs around its body to finish a sleeper hold.
Growww—
However, this son of a dog was not so easily subdued, biting me with its claws and teeth.
Damn! This hurts like hell, but I have to do it!
“Everyone, hit it! Beat it! Now! I can’t hold it for long! Now!”
“Nam-jin!”
Geum Tae-seong shouted loudly.
Soon, he rushed over to me and began punching and kicking the dog, and at the same time, I was hit too.
“Argh!”
As expected, a former hoodlum!
Damn, my fists are killing me!
“Sorry!”
“Don’t worry about it! Just keep hitting it! Give it your all! 2 million points! I won’t let this slip! Never! 2 million! Yaaaaah!”
Thud thud thud thud thud—
The dog was struggling.
I was holding it down.
And a one-sided beatdown and violence ensued around it.
“Damn this dog! Die! DIE!”
Baek Yeoul shouted fiercely as she soared into the air.
THWACK!
Her kick came down sharply like a wild beast’s strike, hitting the creature’s groin, but the problem was my own groin also received a clean hit at the same time.
Grrrrr!
“Grrrrrr!”
The monstrous dog spewed out the sugar water while vomiting filth.
I happened to be underneath it, and I got completely splattered.
“Ugh, the smell!”
Having my groin hurt while getting covered in filth was truly bad luck.
But I could feel the tension that had been taut around the monster’s body dissipate. Simultaneously, my own strength drained away.
“We… we did it! We really did it! We managed to defeat the monster! What only the elite F-class could achieve, we accomplished! We did it! Together!”
Choi Chang-sik cheered loudly, looking at the lifeless body of the monster.
Still drenched in filth, Baek Yeoul reached out a hand to me.
“Hey, are you okay? I didn’t kick you on purpose!”
Honestly, I felt like I might die.
But getting 2 million points should be a great fortune, right?
With this, I’d get a step closer to my goddess, Seoga-eul.
Yet, there was something more important right now.
Since we had killed the monster, we had to enjoy the ‘rewards’, right?
“Everyone, there’s no time to celebrate! We need to recover it from the monster’s remains!”
“That thing?”
“What do you mean by that?”
What do you mean, what? It’s treasure.
It was common sense in a ruined world that there was treasure to recover, yet it seemed that research on ‘monsters’ was not fully established in this era.
Since it seemed everyone was clueless, did that mean I could just hoard it all for myself?