EST Ch 12

“Right? At first, and even now, I think it’s abstract too. That’s why H.N. trains us until we get the hang of it. We do meditation and simulations.”

As he recounted his training experiences, Gijun momentarily rolled his eyes. Even H.N. seems to have no other approach to mana shaping than traditional methods.

“Is there no other instructional approach? Is it just about trial and error until you get the feel for it?”

“They say it’s necessary to have a detailed and deep understanding of one’s abilities. They need to know the emotions at the foundation of their powers. That’s the direction they guide us in…”

“Did they guide you in that direction too?”

“Yeah. My power is about making others obey…”

Unexpectedly, Baek Sunwoo hesitated and trailed off. Curious, Gijun prompted him, “So?”

Baek Sunwoo glanced around nervously before finally replying,

“They said I need to be willing to use any means necessary to achieve my goals…”

“Oh, like not caring if your opponent dies.”

“…Yes.”

As Gijun immediately understood, Baek Sunwoo awkwardly replied. His smaller voice suggested he felt somewhat downhearted, making Gijun look at him curiously. Why was he so wary?

After a moment of thought, Gijun realized one thing. This morning, Baek Sunwoo had used mana shaping against the links. This meant that, at that moment, he intended to kill the links.

It wasn’t just a threat; it was a genuine intent to kill. It went far beyond a momentary burst of anger.

Gijun barely suppressed a laugh. It was absurd to him that the boy who had died multiple times under his watch was now cautious about wanting to kill someone else. In truth, Gijun wished Baek Sunwoo would adopt that mindset more often.

But he knew it was difficult for Baek Sunwoo to maintain such a stance. He didn’t want to forcefully change his good-natured disposition either.

“Did they say there’s no other direction?”

“Yeah. My true ability seems related to that…”

True ability, the core of one’s power, referred to as lethal power in other countries. High-ranking ability users with high mana purity each possess a powerful secret technique. Similar to an ultimate skill in a game, this ability consumes a significant amount of mana.

Since Baek Sunwoo had S-grade potential, he also possessed such an ability, which seemed inherently linked to the death of others.

In other words, his core ability was to utilize someone’s life force.

Gijun silently looked at Baek Sunwoo for a while. He felt that it was an ability that didn’t suit him at all. It also explained why he seemed so self-conscious whenever he demonstrated his power to others. Although Gijun was curious about his true ability and felt he could get an answer if he pressed, he decided against it after seeing Baek Sunwoo’s shadowed face. He didn’t want to force him into revealing something he was clearly uncomfortable with.

The silence felt oddly heavy.

Around that time, they heard a thud—finally, they had succeeded in removing the mana artifact from the wall. As Gijun approached, Baek Sunwoo explained,

“It originally held enough mana to hide someone for two days, but since it has already been used for a day and its efficiency decreased during the separation, it can now only be used for about ten hours.”

“That’s still amazing. Can it be used on clothes? Or carried around?”

“Both are possible, but carrying it around would result in high mana loss, consuming several times the usual amount.”

Though his voice was somewhat subdued, Gijun nodded. The artifact could be useful for hiding from monsters or even during their underground search. Despite the need to move slowly and act cautiously, it was a valuable tool.

Feeling highly satisfied with the artifact, Gijun was about to compliment Baek Sunwoo when he remembered something in his jacket pocket.

“You’ve worked hard, so have this.”

It was a yogurt. A couple of hours ago, he had visited the small auditorium with Ahn Youngah and received it from Kim Joowan. As the class president, he had secretly handed it over, saying, “There are only two left, so you two should have them.”

Gijun had intended to give it to Baek Sunwoo. The reason was simple. The yogurt was labeled “Bone Strengthening Calcium Yogurt,” and it seemed fitting for Baek Sunwoo. He had put it in his pocket but had forgotten about it until now.

Seeing the sudden offer of food, Baek Sunwoo blinked in surprise. He stared at Gijun’s hand for a long time before hesitantly asking,

“…Aren’t you uncomfortable with me?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“You know how I used my abilities earlier and the conditions for my true ability.”

“…So?”

“…”

“…What? Why does it matter?”

Gijun was perplexed. Hadn’t they already finished that conversation? Why was he bringing it up again? After quickly replaying the situation, he realized that Baek Sunwoo had grown quiet after mentioning it. At the time, Gijun had been lost in thought, so the conversation had abruptly ended.

Now that he understood, Gijun looked at Baek Sunwoo in disbelief. Why was he so self-conscious? He wanted to tell him that he preferred him to act without hesitation, even if it meant killing others. However, Gijun decided to filter his words, considering how sensitive Baek Sunwoo might be.

“I don’t care. Whether you kill someone or use your true ability that involves someone’s life, it doesn’t matter to me…”

“Why?”

“Because that doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“…”

“Anyway, just eat this. You’re weak, so you need to strengthen your bones.”

Baek Sunwoo looked at him with a slightly, no, very confused expression. Regardless, Gijun urged him to eat, but Baek Sunwoo shook his head.

“I’ll eat it later. A little later.”

The way he carefully held the yogurt and put it in his pocket was as if he were treasuring a precious item. Gijun watched curiously, wondering if Baek Sunwoo liked yogurt. He thought that if he had known, he would have convinced Ahn Youngah to give him another one. She had eaten hers right away…

They had already spent quite some time here. As he pocketed the palm-sized artifact in his jacket, Gijun felt a renewed sense of satisfaction, thanks to Baek Sunwoo’s effort. However, he was also puzzled.

Separating the artifact must have been challenging, yet Baek Sunwoo had done it. He seemed to be an exceptional student at H.N… It reminded Gijun that Baek Sunwoo had been ranked first in Shinhe High School even before awakening.

“Why do you still attend Shinhe High School?”

Typically, students who scored S-grade in the SPI test at age 16 would leave school altogether. They would be scouted by guilds, undergo training, and be ready for dimensional gate incidents as soon as they became adults. It was considered efficient and honorable. Even those who chose to continue their schooling would usually attend top-ranked schools with high SPI students.

In reality, after Baek Sunwoo’s awakening, numerous elite high schools reached out to him. H.N. even suggested he quit school to train fully with their organization.

However, Baek Sunwoo rejected all those offers and remained a provisional member of H.N., likely to be fully inducted once he turned 18…

Shinhe High School had offered numerous benefits to keep him. Having an outstanding ability user as a student was a significant achievement. Baek Sunwoo, who had been living with his uncle, was able to live independently with the support from Shinhe High School. They found him the best officetel near the school and provided scholarships and other benefits.

Even so, Baek Sunwoo would have been better off going to another high school, or he could have chosen to quit school altogether. If he had just left Shinhe High School, then…

He wouldn’t have ended up on this school trip.

“…I was going to.”

“What? Then why didn’t you?”

Gijun immediately questioned Baek Sunwoo’s calm response. However, Baek Sunwoo remained silent for a long time, and the longer the silence dragged on, the more Gijun felt deflated. It seemed like a meaningless question now.

Moreover, Gijun realized that Baek Sunwoo might also regret his choice. He probably wanted to get out of the training center too. If he had left earlier, he wouldn’t have had to hear the student council’s nonsense about becoming a sacrifice.

Feeling that he had asked a pointless question, Gijun shook his head.

“Never mind. You don’t have to say—”

“Do you remember when you gave me the yogurt from the school lunch?”

“…?”

Of course, Gijun didn’t remember right away, but seeing Baek Sunwoo’s calm face, he finally recalled that moment. He didn’t remember the exact conversation, but he had run into Baek Sunwoo in the library study room and noticed he hadn’t eaten, so he gave him the yogurt from the school lunch.

That was probably the day after Baek Sunwoo had awakened.

“After receiving that, I decided to stay at Shinhe High School. It was really delicious…”

Baek Sunwoo quietly laughed as he looked down at the yogurt in his hand. Then he slowly lifted his head and made eye contact with Hae Gijun. The emotions reflected in his light brown eyes seemed calm but quickly filled with sincerity.

“Because I liked it.”

Gijun was stunned by the gentle voice.

From the moment Baek Sunwoo mentioned the yogurt, Gijun felt confused—a lot. He stayed at Shinhe High School because the yogurt was delicious? Hadn’t he known which brand it was because the label was missing? But it was part of the school lunch menu, so he could have found out easily…

…Was there some mind-altering substance in the yogurt?

Gijun became seriously concerned. At first, he wanted to get mad and ask if it was a joke, but he couldn’t because Baek Sunwoo’s eyes were so clear and honest.

Realizing that his thoughts became softer when it came to Baek Sunwoo, Gijun spoke in a hesitant tone.

“…Okay. I’ll give you more yogurt when we get out of the training center. I’ll buy you a lot, so don’t die.”

Baek Sunwoo slowly blinked. Surprise filled his widened eyes, followed by a smile that spread slowly until he looked utterly happy.

“Yeah. Got it. I like that.”

Gijun felt a surge of bewilderment, but all his thoughts disappeared in the face of Baek Sunwoo’s smile. Concluding that if Baek Sunwoo was happy, then he was happy too, Gijun turned away.

They returned to the meeting room.

Fortunately, they didn’t encounter any monsters on the way back. It was just past 6 p.m., but the sky was already growing dark. The clouds, already heavy with rain, darkened further, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere.

Gijun glanced out the window, thinking. They had said they were going to the bathroom, but it had taken a while. The others might be curious and ask questions—he’d say they went to the dormitory if necessary.

However, contrary to his thoughts, the meeting room was extremely quiet when they arrived.

“….”

Everyone wore serious expressions, with their mouths tightly shut. Hae Gijun and Baek Sunwoo exchanged puzzled looks. When Gijun asked curiously, “What’s going on?” Ahn Youngah urgently put a finger to her lips.

“Shh. It looks like the teacher is about to finish interpreting.”

Gijun’s eyes widened at the whispered explanation. He stopped moving, and Baek Sunwoo, who had been about to return to his seat, stood still beside him, looking confused.

Choi Sowon had her hand on the tablet, eyes closed. She was concentrating intensely; sweat beaded on her forehead, and though injured, she continued using her ability. She didn’t stop the mana resonance despite her obvious struggle.

After a few minutes of silence, Choi Sowon finally opened her eyes. They were unfocused.

“Oh, noble guardian of the land’s values for centuries… now everything you sought to protect has crumbled…”

Her face relaxed as if she was seeing something far away, and her words flowed slowly. She was reading the will contained in an otherworldly object.

“The humans you sought to protect have trampled upon and exploited those values, bringing calamity upon themselves, yet they remain ignorant and ungrateful, even forgetting your existence…”

“…”

“Take our hand, and we will grant you the world you desire…”

Speaking in a voice that felt almost ephemeral, Choi Sowon finished the last sentence and wore a dazed expression. She didn’t even blink, as if entranced by a vision, causing the children to startle.

The interpretation itself was confusing, and with the teacher not snapping out of it, the children grew worried. Ahn Youngah, standing beside her, hesitantly tapped her arm.

“Teacher…?”

Choi Sowon suddenly blinked and refocused. She took a sharp breath and sighed as she looked around.

“I… I saw it.”

“What did you see?”

Hae Gijun approached and asked. Choi Sowon looked more than just startled—she seemed dumbfounded. Instead of answering immediately, she frantically looked through the documents on the table. Quickly skimming through the organized materials, she finally replied with difficulty.

“It seems the otherworld can control the flow of the world. That’s why they, the links, covet it.”

“…What does controlling the flow of the world mean?”

“It’s hard to define precisely. From the power I sensed, it felt like they could change the very laws of this world to realize any will…”

Her words, though somewhat rambling, reflected the shock she felt from the vague yet powerful force she encountered during the mana resonance.

The children exchanged confused glances. They had thought interpreting the tablet would solve everything, but they were still in the dark. Baek Sunwoo, having pieced together some understanding, cautiously offered a hypothesis.

“The prophecy child was originally a guardian of certain values in this land, but those values have collapsed. The otherworld has the power to restore them by controlling the flow of the world?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then the links are gathering energy and materials in the capsule to use that otherworldly power…”

They began to understand the large machine that looked like a gate and the capsule connected to it. Choi Sowon nodded repeatedly.

“The materials used must be extraordinary. Ordinary energy wouldn’t be enough to control the flow of the world.”

“Oh…”

“The links seem to have been gathering materials for a long time. That’s how they’ve managed to slightly open the dimensional gate now.”

Muttering while checking the documents, Choi Sowon’s words prompted Ahn Youngah and Lee Donghun to exchange looks. They understood a bit better thanks to Baek Sunwoo’s summary, but they were still puzzled. Although they had heard it in Korean, it was still hard to grasp. In the morning, they had failed the reading test with the documents, and now they were about to fail the listening test.

Faced with the risk of losing their nationality, the three discussed among themselves.

“Does this mean if you sincerely wish for something, the universe will help you…?”

“Well, there’s an analysis that suggests the otherworld is a part of the universe…”

“The links might be dreaming of being shadow rulers.”

Hae Gijun looked at them with a briefly incredulous expression. He was still trying to process what Choi Sowon had said, but their strange comments distracted him.

As he turned back, a document caught his eye.

“…What’s this percentage?”

A, 10.11, 80%

A, 10.23, 54%

A, 10.48, 17%

A, 11.02, 1%

A, 11.03, 0.9%

[0101001001100101]

A’, 10.11, 80%

It was a document they had put aside because they couldn’t interpret it. Gijun’s fingers slowly traced over the paper. He initially thought the numbers might represent dates, but since they exceeded 31, they seemed to be times. However, at some point, the time recorded again as 10.11, with A’ and down to A”, A”’, continuing in sequence.

Based on the information that had just been discussed, this seemed to be a process where the links were using otherworldly power to derive the A values. The otherworld had the power to manipulate reality…

“Did they conduct experiments simultaneously at 10:11?”

“No, those numbers mean ‘reset.'”

“…What?”

Suddenly, Yoon Mijung answered from beside him. Watching Gijun examining the document, she ran her index finger over the sequence of zeros and ones and explained,

“When the probability drops below 1%, they reset to find a new value.”

Gijun blinked slowly. While he couldn’t fully grasp it, he got a vague impression that the otherworld’s power worked like a simulator, continually running simulations to create the desired reality.

And ultimately, it was a power to make that reality ‘come true.’

It was a highly surreal concept. Simulations were common in modern systems, often used by scholars for future predictions. However, the otherworld seemed capable of not just predicting but actually altering the world’s flow to ensure those predictions came true. In other words, it manipulated reality…

The links had shown astonishing results from a simple experiment. If the prophecy’s entity awakened and the dimensional gate fully opened, it was hard to imagine what would happen.

Suddenly, Lee Donghun sighed.

“Wow, if this is true, the prophecy child might fall for it.”

“Yeah. They said the values they protected for centuries have crumbled and been trampled on. Even their name has been forgotten. And they’re offering to restore all that?”

“It sounds like a utopia…”

Ahn Youngah agreed, and Kim Sihyung added, still drowsy from just waking up. What she said might have been closest to what the links ultimately desired.

The children’s faces showed a mix of confusion and curiosity. The idea of a power that could grant all desires was both absurd and fascinating. It sounded like something from a cult, but it was a force they had felt through mana resonance, possibly stronger than the teacher had predicted.

However, Baek Sunwoo shook his head firmly.

“No. The otherworld wouldn’t offer such a favor without a cost.”

“Sunwoo is right, everyone. Don’t be swayed by the otherworld.”

Choi Sowon clapped her hands sharply to bring them back to reality.

The idea that the otherworld was malevolent was a truth people had experienced for decades and a deeply ingrained sentiment. The casualties from dimensional gate incidents and gate breaks were countless. At the same time, it was undeniable that otherworldly mana and energy had fueled societal advancements.

The emergence of ability users was a result of connecting with the otherworld. The prevailing view was that our world had evolved and changed under the influence of another world.

Using otherworldly energy had made previously unimaginable things possible. People on the brink of death were revived through mana treatments, incurable diseases were healed, and new industries combining science and mana led to stunning advancements. Now, no one could imagine a world without mana.

There were rumors that the more one researched the otherworld, the more addictive it became. The Ability Management Agency even circulated warnings to “beware the whispers of the otherworld.”

“Mm-hmm.”

The children cleared their throats and looked away. It had been a playful conversation, but they were genuinely captivated by the power of the otherworld.

“…”

And, truthfully, Gijun was the same. For a moment, he thought that if he could use the otherworld’s power, he would ask to escape the training center.

Logically, it was absurd. No matter how powerful the otherworld was or how noble the values it promised to restore, students were dying in the process. While there hadn’t been major casualties this time around, Gijun had witnessed all the horrors.

The idea of sacrificing the few for the greater good was spouted by those who weren’t in danger of being sacrificed. Shaking his head, Gijun pushed the thought away.

However, even after sorting his thoughts, he couldn’t shake the unfamiliar feeling in his chest. It was a strange pull. Almost as if reacting to an unknown force, his gaze wandered until it landed on Choi Sowon.

She was still holding the tablet with one hand.

“Teacher, is that tablet activated?”

“Huh? How can you activate a tablet?”

“…How do you know that term?”

“It was said to be possible.”

Ahn Youngah and Lee Donghun were both startled by Hae Gijun’s question, and then embarrassed by Choi Sowon’s reaction. They regretted reacting without knowing the situation. Choi Sowon shook her head at them.

“It’s normal not to know. When mana resonance is difficult, you activate the mana in the object to align with the interpreter. We call it ‘awakening.’ It’s a term only insiders usually know…”

“…My grandmother researched the otherworld, so I know.”

“Wow, Hae Gijun, really? Your sister specializes in monsters, and your grandmother researches the otherworld.”

“Research runs in the family; it kind of makes sense.”

Gijun hesitated before answering, and the other two made a fuss. But Choi Sowon still seemed puzzled, looking between the tablet and Gijun.

“Feeling activated mana is extremely rare…”

Her gaze shifted subtly to Baek Sunwoo. He had the highest SPI, so she wanted to check if he sensed it too. However, just as she was about to speak, Choi Sowon sighed. The moment she became aware of the tablet being awakened, something flashed in her mind.

“Oh! If we further activate the tablet, we might be able to use it underground!”

“How?”

“You said the underground sensors were a problem. We’ll use the tablet to disrupt those sensors!”

The tablet contained highly concentrated otherworldly mana. And the power of the otherworld was strong enough to make the entire training center undetectable by satellite sensors. They would exploit that. The theory was that fully activating the mana in the tablet would cause it to become even more unstable.

“The tablet is filled with the desire to find the prophecy child. So, if we fully activate it, it might gravitate toward that child…”

“What do you mean by ‘gravitate’?”

“In simple terms, more monsters would be drawn to the child. Perhaps more than now.”

“Oh, then let’s activate it.”

Hae Gijun responded simply. His unhesitating attitude made the other children look at him in surprise, but Gijun’s determination remained unchanged.

The prophecy child was not Gijun’s concern at the moment. His top priority was Baek Sunwoo’s safety, and to ensure that, he had to thwart the links’ plans. As long as the risks didn’t directly endanger Baek Sunwoo, anything was acceptable.

He didn’t care if the prophecy child suffered.

And hindering the links’ plans would ultimately save everyone in the training center, so shouldn’t the prophecy child be grateful? Gijun concluded for himself.

However, Baek Sunwoo seemed worried about the unknown child, mumbling with concern.

“Wouldn’t that child be too dangerous…?”

“Then they should awaken.”

Gijun replied nonchalantly, and Ahn Youngah cheered enthusiastically.

“Our guardian stone does it again!”

She patted the tablet affectionately, as if it were a cherished pet. She mentioned that if they safely escaped the training center, she would carry it around like a companion stone. Lee Donghun looked at her in amazement, slightly envious of her achievements.

Shim Dokyung felt the same way. Ahn Youngah had obtained clues from the tablet with her luck, and Lee Donghun had rescued Choi Sowon. He felt like he hadn’t achieved anything yet.

With a sense of urgency, Shim Dokyung checked the documents. He wanted to contribute somehow, so he reviewed the organized papers and reexamined the photos he had taken.

“A video! There’s a machine here…!”

He exclaimed, raising his head. When they had gone underground, Hae Gijun had instructed him and Ahn Youngah to record videos. While reviewing the footage, he noticed something significant.

Gijun immediately approached. While Ahn Youngah had recorded the overall scene and people’s actions, Shim Dokyung had focused on the details of the machinery and structures. Zooming in on one part of the wall revealed a semi-transparent black box filled with switches.

Dozens of switches could be toggled up and down, with something written beneath them. Though it was hard to read by zooming in on the video, Gijun managed to make out a few faint words. He recognized some numbers.

“First floor, second floor… This looks like a control panel for the training center’s electricity.”

Everyone was shocked and looked at the phone. Several heads crowded around the small phone screen. Then Lee Donghun exclaimed with amazement.

“Oh! There’s a switch for the underground lights too!”

“And next to it, there seems to be an emergency power system.”

Baek Sunwoo said calmly. While everyone else tried to read the text under the switches, he examined the box. Considering the importance of the underground area, he guessed they had a backup power system in case of a power outage.

As predicted, there was indeed something that appeared to be an emergency power system. Choi Sowon tilted her head to look at it and sighed.

“Ms. Mijung, aren’t you knowledgeable about these systems? What do you think?”

She assumed her expertise in technical subjects would be helpful. Yoon Mijung, sitting opposite them, finally took the phone and examined the video.

After a moment of careful observation, Yoon Mijung replied,

“…Yes, it’s an emergency power system. If we turn off all the switches in the box and destroy this system, the underground electricity will be cut off.”

“Wow!”

“Shim Dokyung, you’re amazing! How did you find this?”

Ahn Youngah cheered, and Lee Donghun gave him a thumbs up. For the first time since morning, a smile spread across Shim Dokyung’s face.

There were no windows underground, so cutting off the electricity would plunge the area into darkness, giving their party a significant advantage.

“If we deactivate the sensors with the tablet, cut off all the electricity, then Hae Gijun can guide us!”

Ahn Youngah’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, and Lee Donghun agreed. While appreciating how valuable Hae Gijun’s abilities were, Kim Sihyung hesitantly raised a hand.

“But… turning off the electricity alone won’t be enough, right?”

Even from the video, it was clear there were over a hundred people underground. All adults, and likely some ability users too. A few students couldn’t handle that many people. The two adults with them weren’t combatants, and one was injured.

They might be able to disable the underground sensors, but there would be many obstacles on the way to the switch. They’d have to cross through areas filled with people to reach it. And even if they managed to cut off all the electricity, what would they do afterward?

“Ah…”

“That’s true…”

One by one, the children sighed. It had seemed like things were falling into place, but they had overlooked a crucial part. Shim Dokyung fiddled with the phone screen in disappointment.

“If we can cut the electricity, won’t that machine stop too?”

“It seems to run on otherworldly power, so I’m not sure…”

Choi Sowon shook her head, indicating her uncertainty. Cutting the electricity might cause some disruption, but it wouldn’t be enough to stop the entire plan. After all, they hadn’t opened the dimensional gate with just electricity.

The children’s gazes shifted to Baek Sunwoo and then quickly looked away as soon as they made eye contact with Hae Gijun. They were sure that one wrong word would result in the same fate as the student council. They couldn’t bear the thought of enduring Hae Gijun’s mockery.

Each one looked away or cleared their throats, trying to convey their innocence. They wanted to show that they had no intention of putting Baek Sunwoo forward. Hae Gijun’s stern expression made them even more cautious.

“…Third floor.”

Amidst the silence, Gijun muttered something. It sounded like a sigh.

“There’s a bomb next to the teachers’ dormitory.”

He had been pondering the issue that Kim Sihyung had raised. From the moment he saw the number of people underground, he knew a full frontal assault was impossible. So, he reviewed all the chaotic incidents at the training center and finally recalled one.

While fighting a monster in the third-floor hallway, a student had been caught by the tail and thrown into an explosion. During the rescue, Baek Sunwoo had grabbed Gijun in a hurry, but the student had died in vain.

At that time, Gijun hadn’t thought it was a bomb. He had assumed it was just a monster attack. But upon reviewing the chaos, he realized it wasn’t one of the monster’s skills.

There must be bombs or explosive artifacts hidden in the building.

“Th-There’s a bomb in the training center?!”

“We’re struggling with monsters, and now bombs too…”

“But how do you know that?”

The children looked at Gijun in confusion. They had never heard him mention bombs during their time at the training center. If he had known about the bombs, they could have used them against the monsters.

“…When I went outside with Baek Sunwoo earlier, I discovered it.”

Baek Sunwoo’s gaze immediately turned to Gijun. His slightly widened eyes revealed his feelings. But after hesitating for a moment, he remained silent.

“…”

The intense gaze slowly withdrew, and Baek Sunwoo silently nodded.

Gijun silently thanked him. This was the only excuse he could use at the moment. He’d have to come up with another lie for Baek Sunwoo later, but he’d deal with that when the time came.

“That’s why you took so long in the bathroom? You went to the third-floor dormitory?”

“Yeah, we did both. Anyway, there are quite a few bombs, so we need to prepare bags to carry them.”

To quickly change the subject and not focus on the source of the information, Gijun swiftly diverted the conversation. Given the powerful explosion he recalled, he would need to pack several bags. Making multiple trips would be too risky.

“How long do you think it will take to fully awaken the tablet?”

“It’s already connected now, so it will take about an hour.”

There was still some time before the heavy rain started. They might be able to descend underground before the space became chaotic due to the rain. As soon as he finished calculating, he felt that everything was going quite smoothly.

Not only would the path to the underground open, but they also found a way to create confusion. Although it wouldn’t be easy, even if things went wrong, they could briefly avoid danger using the concealment artifact.

Feeling more confident, Gijun said, “Then let’s go and find the bombs now.”

“Me! Can I go this time?!”

“…If you go, then I’ll follow too.”

Lee Donghun quickly raised his hand, and Baek Sunwoo joined with a peculiar expression. It had already gotten dark outside, so the risk of the search increased. Considering that quick movement was essential, Ahn Youngah and Shim Dokyung decided to stay in the meeting room.

Feeling restless, Lee Donghun stood up energetically.

“Why did they hide the bombs? Were they planning to die together if things went wrong? Or, did they intend to stay underground while letting the students die? Or was it a precaution in case the monster got out of control?”

“I don’t know…”

Gijun was also unsure about that. The discovery had been a coincidence and an absurd accident, so without asking the link, it was impossible to know why they had hidden the bombs in the building. And truthfully, he wasn’t curious about the reason.

Now he would just steal them.

“Let’s go quickly! I can’t think straight anymore.”

Lee Donghun urged. He confessed that he wasn’t a brainy type and struggled with data analysis, which made Gijun chuckle briefly. It felt like a dog that had been forced to stay still, getting excited at the mention of a ‘walk.’

However, as they were about to leave the meeting room together—

—Thud!

An ominous sound reverberated. The ground shook as if a huge pendulum had dropped on the other side of the hallway.

The meeting room fell silent in an instant. There was some commotion in the adjacent auditorium, but this place was enveloped in chilling stillness.

—Thud!

The sound echoed again. Something was slowly approaching, creating a heavy vibration.

It was a much heavier sound than what they had heard a few hours ago, but as soon as they felt the vibration, they knew it was ‘that.’ An instinctual danger signal.

Lee Donghun, who was about to open the door, turned his pale face around. The kids who had been sitting also turned pale. With a stiff face, Hae Gijun glared at the door, hoping it wasn’t what he thought it was…

Finally, ‘it’ cheerfully shouted.

[Let’s play!]

The child’s cheerful voice rang out so loudly it seemed like it would tear the air apart.

Simultaneously, everyone in the meeting room gasped for breath. Shim Dokyung covered his mouth with both hands, and Ahn Youngah’s face turned pale. Choi Sowon, though she had never encountered the little monster before, trembled as if she could feel its menacing mana. Already gravely injured, she seemed unable to handle such a threatening aura.

“Sowon, you need to breathe.”

Yoon Mijung approached Choi Sowon, who was struggling, and patted her shoulder. Hae Gijun watched their backs and stared at the stone tablet on the table. Could the mana from the tablet have attracted the monster? But why now, when the tablet wasn’t fully awakened?

The thumping sound drew closer and stopped nearby. Everyone hoped the monster would pass by, but it knocked on something.

“Is anyone here?”

It was right next door, in the small auditorium where the wounded were gathered. Lee Donghun hoped the students would remain silent. Thankfully, they seemed to instinctively understand the need to hide, for no sound emerged from the room.

—Knock, knock.

—Knock, knock, knock.

—Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.

“Isn’t there someone inside?”

The monster persistently knocked on the door, producing an eerie sound as if many people were speaking together and radiating a terrifying aura. The ominous presence was palpable even in the meeting room next door, making it hard to breathe inside the small auditorium.

Lee Donghun turned to Hae Gijun with a frightened look.

“What, what is it? Isn’t it supposed to be safe in a sealed room?”

“…It’s because it’s night now.”

While hiding in a sealed space could keep them safe from the monster’s attention during the day, its ‘obsession’ grew stronger at night along with its increased attack power. It would now actively seek its prey, making it unlikely to leave the area once it sensed a presence.

“Once it has a target, it’ll focus on it for a while, but…”

It was knowledge gained through experience. Once, Hae Gijun had avoided the little monster by merely staying 5 meters away while it hunted a different prey. The monster had concentrated solely on its target without paying attention to Gijun.

Hae Gijun’s eyes slid towards the direction of the small auditorium. The students of Shin Hae High School, who were almost like ordinary people, would struggle to withstand the monster’s relentless call.

As he had anticipated, a noise emerged from the small auditorium. The little monster burst into laughter at the sound.

“I knew you were inside. I know you’re all in there!”

The knocking on the door intensified, turning from a steady rap to a heavy bang. It seemed as if the door would break down. While others, including Lee Donghun, watched Hae Gijun with bated breath, he bit his lower lip.

Should he use the students in the small auditorium as bait?

It was the first solution that came to Hae Gijun’s mind. The thirty or so injured students wouldn’t be able to escape quickly, buying them more time.

But…

“…”

Stealing a glance at Baek Sunwoo, Hae Gijun dismissed the idea. As soon as he mentioned the monster’s focus on its prey, Baek Sunwoo had seemed to understand something and would never agree to such a plan. Moreover, Hae Gijun himself wasn’t keen on the idea either.

Gijun pondered a way to solve this problem. If things continued as they were, the students in the small auditorium would surely die. But facing the monster head-on wasn’t an option either.

‘Monsters tend to reveal their desires through their actions, so simple approaches can sometimes work,’ Yoon Mijung’s words suddenly flashed in his mind. The monster’s desire. If he could simply approach it…

After taking a deep breath, Hae Gijun exhaled quickly, then abruptly opened the door and stepped out.

“Huh, what’s this?”

The monster’s head turned sharply to the side. Its movement was eerily disjointed, but Gijun stood calmly, staring at it. Though the hallway was dark, the faint light from the meeting room illuminated Gijun’s form, catching the monster’s attention.

The monster’s grin widened, stretching up to its ears.

It was a time filled with a peculiar, ominous darkness just before the rain. The cold, heavy air in the hallway felt suffocating, as if it was suppressing his breath. The space was filled with an eerie, forlorn atmosphere, reminiscent of a graveyard at dawn.

Gijun watched as the monster’s mana spread through the hallway, then let out a shallow breath, almost like a scoff.

“Do you want to play hide and seek with me?”