EST Ch 2

The training center was filled with the cool air typical of the building.

In the heavy, oppressive air that suggested rain, footsteps echoed clearly. As Gijun walked quietly, looking around, Park Inhoo approached and spoke to him.

“Gijun, do you get carsick? You don’t look well.”

“Yes. I said I felt a bit nauseous on the bus.”

“Oh… okay.”

Baek Sunwoo quickly interjected, answering for him. Gijun glanced at Park Inhoo, who awkwardly averted his gaze, and chuckled. Sunwoo’s attempts to prevent Park Inhoo from talking to him were amusing. Even now, as they walked, Sunwoo deliberately stayed in the middle to keep them apart.

No matter how many times he saw this person die in front of him, the effort seemed pointless. But the effort was appreciated, so Gijun patted Sunwoo’s hand.

They finally arrived at the auditorium.

Hearing the sound of someone walking quickly behind them, Gijun moved to the second class’s section. The students were standing by class.

As Gijun approached, the second class president awkwardly apologized.

“Sorry, Gijun. We only realized someone was missing after we arrived… The first class teacher said our homeroom teacher had an urgent matter and left, so I have to take over as homeroom teacher. I’ve been so distracted.”

It was a familiar story. In the first loop, he had jokingly asked if he was neglecting his duties as soon as he became the interim teacher, but now he just nodded vaguely. He had heard it so many times that he almost memorized it. He ignored the classmates’ teasing calls for impeachment.

As Gijun didn’t react, the class president and other students glanced nervously at him, thinking he was angry. But Gijun’s gaze was fixed on the stage. His mind was filled only with plans for what was to come.

Soon, someone stepped onto the stage, quieting the bustling atmosphere in the auditorium.

However, there was slight confusion in their gazes. The person stepping onto the stage at a training center would typically be a teacher or an assistant, but his attire was unfamiliar.

A black robe that reached down to his feet. He even wore a hood, casting a shadow over his face, leaving only his lower face visible. His lips curved into a sinister smile under the hood.

“Welcome, students of Shin Hae High School, to the training center.”

He clapped. The students glanced at each other and then clapped along. They quietly exchanged murmurs about whether special ability high schools always had such themed trips, or if the lack of prior knowledge was meant to make the experience more shocking.

“We have waited for you for a very long time.”

Hae Gijun didn’t raise his hands and simply stared at the stage. Through his clear glasses, his eyes, filled with a serene aura, focused on the man.

The man, speaking in an emotional voice, spread his arms wide.

“Long ago, a prophecy was bestowed upon us.”

A sudden sound, like the tearing of space, came from the speakers on the ceiling. The students flinched, letting out short screams as the noise of long nails scratching a chalkboard continued. The grating noise became more intense, as if something was being shattered.

[In the direction… the horn points… lies… the true… key to the gateway…]

The voice seemed to whisper from afar, yet also as if it were being murmured directly into their minds. It sounded like a familiar language, yet also completely foreign, mixed with other whispers and noise.

This was an intent embedded in mana. Among the monsters from another world, the higher intelligent beings could embed their will in mana, which could be interpreted only by ability users with receptive abilities. It meant understanding the message.

“What is this…?”

“What’s with the sudden strange noise…?”

While the students whispered among themselves, Gijun turned around. The teachers standing at the back of the auditorium were being guided outside by another man in a black robe.

Gijun quietly watched their faces, filled with strange confusion, and then grabbed Baek Sunwoo’s arm.

“Baek Sunwoo. In a little while, I’m going to scream.”

“…Huh? Why all of a sudden?”

“Don’t ask why. Until I scream, you must stay still. No matter what you see, don’t try to step forward. Then, when I scream, run to the right side of the auditorium entrance and open the door.”

As Gijun kindly pointed in the direction, Baek Sunwoo blinked. He seemed confused, but Gijun tightened his grip on his arm.

“Once you open the door, don’t move anywhere. If you stay there, I’ll follow you soon.”

“Can’t we go together from the start?”

“No. I have to do something here. So you’ll do as I say, right?”

“But…”

“You’re the only one I can trust and ask for this, Baek Sunwoo.”

Staring into his eyes, Baek Sunwoo flinched. When Gijun lightly shook his arm, he finally nodded with a troubled look. He seemed to have more questions, but Gijun turned his gaze away. There wasn’t much time left.

In the meantime, the presence on the stage clapped again. The attention focused.

“If you understand the voice of the prophecy, it means you all have potential.”

“……”

“The ‘horn’ mentioned in this prophecy is interpreted to be hidden among you. A noble power concealed among the most insignificant beings. Therefore, we pursue true and sincere awakening.”

The word ‘awakening’ stirred the auditorium. Among ability users, awakening only meant one thing. Moreover, everyone gasped as something appeared on the stage in the blink of an eye.

It looked like a fox but was much larger than a person, with pitch-black skin. Behind its shining, scaly body, five tails swayed abundantly. Sparks flickered from its tails as they swayed.

Its bright red eyes looked as if stained with blood.

“What’s that, a monster?”

“It appeared suddenly, could it be a real monster?”

“Isn’t it a simulation?”

“Wow…”

The students’ eyes sparkled. Some glanced at Baek Sunwoo, whispering that they could experience this because of him.

The student council also subtly puffed up their chests. It was well-known that this year’s second-year student council had a high average SPI. They seemed to boast, implying that the simulation wasn’t just prepared for Baek Sunwoo but also due to their influence.

‘Ridiculous.’

Gijun thought the student council’s noses might soon reach the ceiling and tightened his grip on Baek Sunwoo’s hand. Sunwoo flinched and tried to step forward as soon as the monster appeared, but Gijun restrained him. He was the only one in the room who immediately realized it wasn’t a simulation.

Hae Gijun took a deep breath. He needed to focus on this moment when all the students were excited with curiosity. While everyone was gazing at the stage with shining eyes.

First, the man on the stage clapped again.

“Even if you don’t awaken, don’t be discouraged. You all have the honor of becoming sacrifices for the great gate.”

“……”

“Then we will devote ourselves to finding the protagonist of awakening.”

Second, he spouted nonsense.

• Thud!

Third, the moment the monster lowered its body.

“Lee Donghun, move to the left!”

Hae Gijun shouted loudly. Simultaneously, a terrifying crash echoed from the front. A loud noise of something breaking, and debris scattered.

The monster leaped, causing the floor to cave in.

“Huff, huff…”

And right beside it, the boy who had rolled to the left was breathing heavily. His face was pale, and his whole body trembled.

In the eerie silence dominated by shock and fear.

As if a string pulled to its limit suddenly snapped.

“Ahhh!”

“Run, run!”

Everyone started screaming and running away. A simulation program cannot physically impact the real environment. But when the monster charged, the floor broke, and debris flew everywhere. The implication was clear.

This monster was real.

The students ran frantically. Without even determining where to run, they followed their instincts to get as far away from the monster as possible.

And someone shouted to those students.

“Hey, come out this way!”

It was Baek Sunwoo, who had flung open the right exit door of the auditorium.

Earlier, Gijun had pushed Baek Sunwoo the moment he shouted. Sunwoo hesitated for a moment but then moved as promised. He didn’t need further instructions from Gijun to call out to the kids and direct them where to flee.

Gijun glanced at him and then turned back to assess the situation.

The man on stage had disappeared. Watching closely until the end, Gijun saw him exit through the curtains at the back, but he already knew that door was now locked. The only open door in the auditorium was the right exit.

The students crowded towards one exit, slowing the pace. They needed time until everyone could get out. Gijun stepped forward with determined strides. He moved against the flow of the crowd without hesitation.

Walking towards the auditorium window, Gijun reached out his hand. The curtain ripped with a tearing sound. Rapidly rolling the curtain with quick arm movements, Gijun called out.

“Hey, Lee Donghun! Stop spacing out and listen to me!”

“Huh, what…?”

Earlier, Lee Donghun had narrowly dodged the monster’s charge, saving himself. But the shock of facing the monster left him frozen. When Gijun called his name sharply, Donghun snapped out of it and looked at him.

Currently, Donghun was standing about three meters away from the monster. The surroundings were empty, and if he moved, the monster seemed ready to pounce.

“The monster has marked you as its prey, so move calmly.”

“What? How am I supposed to stay calm hearing that…?”

“Pick up the longest stick among the debris on the ground. Keep your feet planted and lower your upper body slowly.”

Ignoring Donghun’s protests, Gijun continued speaking. Donghun flinched but followed his instructions. As he did, the monster only flicked its tail, not attacking immediately. It judged that the target wasn’t posing a high threat.

Donghun, gripping the debris with trembling hands, asked.

“What next…?”

“Hold that and lure the monster while running to the center of the auditorium.”

“What? How can I do that!”

“You’re good at it.”

“Me?!”

Donghun looked shocked, as if he’d heard something absurd. But Hae Gijun nodded calmly.

“Yeah, you’re good at it. Trust me and do it. Remember to stop in the center.”

“Do you realize this is the first time we’ve spoken…?”

“I’ll signal you to run. One, two.”

“What the… You’re crazy.”

“Three.”

Donghun’s complexion changed in real-time as Gijun counted abruptly. When he heard “three,” he started running. The scream he let out was desperate.

But Gijun, watching the situation, remained perfectly calm. The monster followed the suddenly fleeing Donghun, but he instinctively swung the debris to keep a distance. As observed before, he had a knack for this.

Lee Donghun had a physical ability. His SPI was low, making him just slightly faster than an average person. But in this situation, his ability was quite useful. The faster the prey moved, the more interest the monster showed.

As the monster picked up speed, Donghun’s face turned pale.

“Ahhh, am I really supposed to stop? Should I stop?!”

Gijun nodded. To Donghun, it felt like a death sentence, but he hesitated at the center of the auditorium. The instinct to flee clashed with Gijun’s words, causing him to pause. Although Gijun’s words were effective, it was their first conversation.

In the end, Lee Donghun tried to run again, but at that moment, the monster leapt high from behind.

“Huff!”

The monster’s blood-red eyes glistened. Just as it seemed the monster would sink its teeth into Donghun’s neck, its shadow enveloped him.

Whoosh! The curtain flew and caught on the monster’s tail. Gijun had tied a knot in advance, preparing for this.

Thud, the monster was yanked to the side as its tail got caught, causing it to fall next to Donghun. As Donghun trembled in relief while lying on the floor again.

“Grrr!”

The monster violently shook its body, causing the curtain to fly off. As Donghun turned pale and tried to run again, the curtain completely covered the monster this time. Gijun had deliberately spread the curtain wide and threw it.

The monster struggled more violently, letting out a monstrous scream as it raised its tail high. Seeing the tail rise, with sparks flickering at the tip, Donghun trembled and spoke.

“Will this really hold it…?”

“No, I can’t hold it.”

“What?”

Donghun flinched at Gijun’s calm reply. But before he could react, he saw flames burst from the monster’s tail. The flames successfully set the curtain on fire. It ignited in an instant.

The monster stood tall amidst the flames, its eyes filled with even more rage. As Donghun backed away in despair.

— Swishhh.

The sprinkler system activated from the ceiling. It detected the fire and automatically sprayed water. With the large flames in the center of the auditorium, water poured from both sides.

“Grr…”

The monster hesitated and couldn’t move forward. Being a fire-attribute monster, it couldn’t easily move in the pouring water.

This was information Hae Gijun had learned from a previous loop. After Lee Donghun died initially, the monster tasted blood and went on a rampage, attacking students who hadn’t escaped the auditorium.

When it attacked a student by the window, the curtain caught fire, and the sprinkler activated, causing the monster to hesitate for a moment. Although it quickly moved out of the water’s range, Gijun clearly saw it flinch.

Hae Gijun confirmed his plan worked and turned around.

“Let’s get out before it breaks free.”

“Y-yeah…!”

Donghun looked between the monster and Hae Gijun with astonished eyes, then quickly followed when Gijun moved first. Donghun hesitantly expressed his gratitude.

“Thanks for saving me. You also yelled at me to dodge to the left at the start, right?”

Gijun glanced at him. Despite the running, his breathing was impressively steady.

Lee Donghun. As a physical-ability user, he liked playing sports, his face tanned from the sun. His short hair, exposing his forehead, and slightly upward-tilted eyes gave an active impression.

Gijun wasn’t close to Donghun from class 3 but had seen him energetically playing soccer in the playground a few times. Many students sought him out during breaks, making the corridors lively.

Therefore, when he became the first victim, the students were heavily impacted.

“……”

The reason Hae Gijun saved Donghun was precisely that. The psychological impact of someone dying right from the start was significant. Especially if the victim was someone well-liked by many students. The shock and drop in morale would make it hard to face the monster properly.

To avoid such a chain reaction, he saved Donghun. He also wanted to test if the monster could be stopped with water.

He had tried to save him several times before. Though he always died before properly escaping the auditorium…

“Yeah, sure.”

Gijun replied curtly and turned his gaze away. The joy or pride of saving a student who died in a previous loop had long faded.

Soon after exiting the door, Baek Sunwoo, who had been waiting, quickly closed it. He brought various items to block the door so the monster couldn’t easily escape.

Only after that did Baek Sunwoo let out a sigh and turn to Gijun.

“Gijun, that was dangerous.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“You were the one facing the monster…”

Gijun meticulously checked Baek Sunwoo, who responded with confusion. When he found a small scratch on Sunwoo’s hand, his expression immediately hardened.

“What’s this?”

“Oh. I bumped into someone while we were rushing out.”

“Who was it? I’m going to get rid of them.”

“Huh? Actually, I hit the door.”

“What? What if you get tetanus?”

“…?”

Lee Donghun, standing nearby, cast an awkward glance, but Hae Gijun was serious.

He was only supposed to open the door, yet he got a scratch on his hand. Baek Sunwoo must be someone who attracts all the world’s dangers, with luck converging to zero and even dipping into the negative. What if he really gets tetanus? It seemed all too possible with Baek Sunwoo.

As Gijun examined the wound with a grave expression, Donghun spoke.

“Hey, calm down… You can’t get tetanus from this.”

“Then why can you get tetanus from a small puncture wound from a nail?”

“That’s a puncture, this is just a scratch. Was he always like this?”

He seemed perfectly calm and composed when facing the monster, yet now he looked as if the world was ending over a small scratch on Baek Sunwoo.

And worrying about Baek Sunwoo, of all people…? Curious, Donghun glanced at Sunwoo, who also seemed taken aback, adding to the confusion.

Finally, Sunwoo gently held Gijun’s wrist and shook his head.

“I’m really okay. I’ll tell you if it hurts.”

“You always say that too late.”

“Huh?”

“…Nothing.”

Suddenly silent, Gijun took a deep breath and looked around.

The hallway outside the auditorium was empty. It seemed they had moved to the main building to get as far away from the auditorium in the annex as possible. Faint sounds of commotion echoed from afar.

Donghun asked.

“Did everyone get away? What about the teachers?”

“I don’t know about the teachers. Should we head to the main building too? We don’t know when the monster might break through the auditorium door…”

“Wait. There’s somewhere we need to go first.”

Gijun shook his head and moved in a different direction. To reach the main building, they needed to go straight, but he chose another path, causing Donghun and Sunwoo to exchange puzzled looks.

Then they saw where Gijun was heading and nodded. A restroom sign was on the wall. As Donghun slowly stopped, about to tell him to go ahead.

Hae Gijun suddenly called out in front of the women’s restroom.

“It’s safe now, come out.”

A heavy silence followed. Gijun knocked on the wall again.

“Hey, come out quickly. We need to move.”

Just as Donghun was about to give him a ‘he’s lost it’ look, there was a creaking sound from inside. Someone stepped out, cautiously peeking their head around.

It was agreed to keep it a secret that her reflection was clearly visible in the mirror behind.

“…How did you know I was here?”

“I was the last to enter the auditorium, and I saw you head to the restroom. When you didn’t return before the chaos started, I figured you’d still be here. You might have moved with the commotion, but I checked just in case.”

His words were a mix of truth and falsehood. Gijun hadn’t originally thought someone would be hiding in that restroom.

However, he had met this student by chance in a previous loop. They had joined up in the main building, and he had learned where she had originally hidden. Back then, she had already injured one arm, so this time he had come to rescue her in advance.

The bob-haired student gave a short sigh of admiration.

“You have a good memory. I thought you didn’t care about the other kids.”

“…I know you’re in the same class, Ahn Youngah.”

He didn’t really know. But repeating the school trip, he learned, so it wasn’t a lie. Gijun spoke very calmly, and Ahn Youngah was surprised he knew her name.

“Anyway, thanks for saving me. It was so noisy outside that I kept hiding, not knowing when to come out. And my phone wasn’t working…”

Muttering this, Donghun was shocked. He checked his phone and found it had no signal, feeling frustrated. Other students had mentioned their phone reception flickering when they arrived at the training center, but having no signal at all was different.

Gijun, already familiar with this, responded nonchalantly.

“They seem very well-prepared. It would be strange if the phones worked.”

“Prepared… Yeah. What is this situation? What’s with the sudden awakening, and why did the monster appear?”

Donghun’s question was more of a lament than expecting an answer. Everyone knew no one would have the answer.

Ahn Youngah tilted her head in confusion.

“Huh? Awakening?”

“Oh, did you not hear?”

She might not have heard the announcement properly while in the restroom. Donghun briefly explained what happened in the auditorium, and Gijun, watching him, thought it was good he saved him. His friendly personality was useful.

While Gijun was having these calculated thoughts, Ahn Youngah, having learned the whole story, was shocked.

“What do you mean awakening? How rare is an awakening after an SPI test? 0.1%? No, 0.01%? There’s only been one person in Shin Hae High’s history who awakened…”

Her words trailed off. The first person to awaken since the founding of Shin Hae High was Baek Sunwoo. But considering the troublesome events he faced after awakening, she seemed to think it was inappropriate to mention awakening in front of him.

Ahn Youngah cleared her throat and changed the subject.

“Anyway, is there anyone in the second year who could become more remarkable if they awakened? What ability could relate to the horn and key? Hey, what’s your ability?”

“I have a physical ability…”

Donghun scratched the back of his head at her pointed look.

“What kind of physical ability?”

“I’m slightly faster at running. I can climb walls a bit.”

“Oh… That’s not related to the prophecy at all.”

“Then what’s your ability?”

Feeling a bit defensive at Ahn Youngah’s indifferent answer, Donghun asked back. There were many students at Shin Hae High, so they didn’t know each other’s abilities, and many abilities were too trivial to remember.

Ahn Youngah proudly replied.

“I’m lucky.”

“What? How do you prove that?”

“I’ve never been caught at a traffic light in my life.”

“That’s amazing! I want that.”

Donghun, who was initially smirking, quickly showed interest and admiration.

“What happens if you play the lottery with that?”

“Congratulations. You’re the 30,000th person to ask me that.”

“…”

Donghun coughed awkwardly as Ahn Youngah spoke, even clapping sarcastically. She seemed to be silently saying, ‘You’re just like everyone else,’ making Donghun avert his eyes.

And because of this, Gijun had also heard people ask about the lottery about five times. Unintentionally feeling a sense of solidarity with Ahn Youngah, Gijun looked at Donghun similarly.

Luck abilities were hard to categorize as special abilities, but after undergoing mandatory SPI tests and having ‘Special Ability’ marked on their IDs, they couldn’t purchase gambling items. If they were found to have unfairly obtained winnings later, they could be arrested.

Feeling embarrassed, Donghun asked again.

“Then if you’re lucky, shouldn’t you not be stuck here?”

“If I were that lucky, would I have enrolled in Shin Hae High?”

“…”

This was the fourth time hearing this question and answer. Ahn Youngah seemed to lead a very tiring life. In fact, luck-type ability users were quite rare, and without SPI measurements, they were hard to recognize as ability users.

Then the focus shifted to Gijun’s ability. Having had two awkward experiences, Lee Donghun quickly changed the subject.

“Ahem, so what’s your ability?”

“Oh, come to think of it, I don’t know his ability either, even though we’re in the same class.”

“Isn’t it a combat type?”

“No way, if it were that noticeable, I would know…”

Donghun shook his head and recounted the events in the auditorium. He said Gijun suddenly came running to save him, looked very skilled in dealing with the monster, and so on. His eyes were filled with anticipation.

As Ahn Youngah listened to the story, her face showed surprise, and Gijun spoke. His tone was very plain.

“I just see well at night.”

“…Huh?”

“I can see well in the dark.”

“…”

“…”

“Uh, okay. That’s a very fitting ability for Shin Hae High. So, the four of us are not related to the prophecy at all. Very far. We’re not the targets those strange people are after. We can consider ourselves safe.”

Ahn Youngah babbled nonsense, seeming uncomfortable with the awkward atmosphere.

In reality, having minor abilities meant they were easy prey for the monsters, so they weren’t safe at all. But Gijun didn’t bother to point that out.

After a moment of silence, Donghun asked.

“You were very calm dealing with the monster earlier. For people like us, meeting a monster is rare, and we don’t get to experience simulations. How did you manage that…?”

In the auditorium, facing the monster, Hae Gijun showed no signs of panic or fear. While all the students were running away in shock, he alone moved against the flow and dealt with the monster very skillfully, even trapping it.

How could anyone not believe Hae Gijun’s ability was combat-related? As Donghun looked at him expectantly for an answer, Gijun tilted his head slightly, only glancing at the window. His gaze became distant, as if looking beyond something.

Then, he returned with a calm, indifferent expression and answered.

“Just happened, by chance.”

“What? Does that make sense?”

“If it doesn’t, what are you going to do about it.”

“…”

Donghun hesitated. Although he wasn’t in the same class, he had occasionally seen Gijun. They only crossed paths in the hallways or during joint classes, but Hae Gijun always had a unique atmosphere. He seemed indifferent to everything, always wearing a bored expression.

Even though his SPI was low, abilities were fascinating, and lessons using them interested everyone. Yet, he was always indifferent, looking annoyed or bored. He wasn’t particularly close to anyone, nor did he engage in long conversations.

Hae Gijun always kept his distance from people.

His jet-black hair and dark eyes were so deep it was hard to see through. His round glasses seemed to dull and obscure his sharp gaze.

For some reason, Donghun found it difficult to make direct eye contact with Gijun. Just as he awkwardly averted his gaze, Gijun sighed shortly and spoke, his hand rubbing the back of his neck, showing annoyance.

“My sister researches monsters, so I know a bit.”

“…Oh, you have a sister? You seemed like an only child or the eldest.”

“What made you think that?”

“You seem very independent…? Or maybe you have a strange sense of leadership?”

“What nonsense.”

Gijun chuckled incredulously and started walking. They couldn’t afford to linger and chat here. Although no more monsters would appear in the annex for now, it was best to get as far from the auditorium as possible.

Everyone followed Gijun in the direction he led. Naturally taking the lead, Gijun navigated without hesitation. Having repeated this several times, he knew where to go.

As he walked, Baek Sunwoo approached and asked quietly.

“…Is that really all your ability is?”

A soft whisper settled in his ear. A simple question, yet a bit peculiar. Gijun glanced sideways and met Sunwoo’s eyes.

“I have no reason to lie here. And you knew that from the start.”

“That’s true, but…”

When Gijun was in the same class as Baek Sunwoo in their first year, Sunwoo knew his ability. The reason Ahn Youngah, who is currently in the same class, didn’t know was that Gijun rarely mentioned his ability, and he had only told Sunwoo by chance.

Recalling that memory, Baek Sunwoo smiled faintly. His white, smooth face lit up with a smile as if he had recalled a pleasant moment.

Gijun looked at him curiously and then turned away. He didn’t know the reason, but as long as Baek Sunwoo was happy, it was fine. As long as he didn’t die, everything was okay. Even now, he had been tense and grim, but now he was smiling, which seemed very hopeful.

Taking it for granted that all his decisions were centered around Baek Sunwoo, Gijun asked Ahn Youngah.

“I’m thinking of going left. What do you think?”

“…Huh?”

“Do you feel uneasy or uncomfortable?”

“I’ve felt uneasy and uncomfortable ever since I found out about this situation.”

“Think a little more carefully.”

At the sudden question, Ahn Youngah tilted her head. Gijun asked again calmly.

“Then, between left and right, which do you feel more drawn to?”

“…Left?”

“Good. Then we’ll go left.”

Ahn Youngah blinked. Then, a beat later, she realized how she was being used and sighed. Her brown eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.

“Are you seriously using my luck to decide the direction?”

Gijun nodded. His expression asked what the problem was, and Ahn Youngah’s mouth fell open. Next to them, Donghun admired, realizing that’s how abilities could be used. He even looked at her with a hint of envy, finding it surprisingly useful.

But Ahn Youngah felt various emotions. It wasn’t just because her luck was used to choose a direction; it was because Hae Gijun didn’t question her ability and immediately relied on it. Luck-based abilities were often taken lightly, even by the ones who possessed them.

But Hae Gijun used her ability so naturally. She had never imagined he would even know her name before this happened…

“So, are we going to the main building now?”

“No, before that, we’re going to the annex control room.”

“Why the control room?”

“There’s CCTV there.”

“How do you know there’s CCTV there…?”

“…Usually, buildings have them.”

The creaky answer was strange. Knowing about the control room’s existence was odd, but she thought he might have discovered it on the way to the auditorium. He seemed to have good observation skills.

While Ahn Youngah pondered these thoughts, Gijun kept asking for her directions. He wanted to avoid wasting energy by encountering monsters unnecessarily.

The training center was a very large building, and they had to turn several times to reach the control room. Gradually, a tired Ahn Youngah was panting.

“What is this, I feel like I’m being used. Did you save me just for this?”

She was right. She was very perceptive.

But in a previous loop, others hadn’t believed in her chosen path, leading to casualties. She felt guilty for not convincing them more and eventually died to the monster.

So now, by fully respecting her opinion, wasn’t his behavior very appropriate? Gijun agreed with himself and kept asking Ahn Youngah for directions.

The annex was quiet, as everyone had moved to the main building. After wandering in the serene atmosphere, they finally stopped in front of a room marked ‘Control Room.’

Gijun put his ear to the door to check for any sounds. Nothing special could be heard from inside, but checking was necessary.

“Ahn Youngah. Is it okay to open this door-?”

“Yeah. Yes. I think it will be fine.”

Her answer, mixed with annoyance and fatigue, came out immediately. Ahn Youngah looked at Gijun with really tired eyes, and while he wanted to double-check, he decided against it. Using her ability too much might reduce its accuracy, and Ahn Youngah might be too exhausted to move.

But Donghun cautiously asked.

“Isn’t there a caretaker?”

“If I were the caretaker, I’d run away as soon as I saw this commotion on the CCTV.”

“That’s true…”

Donghun nodded at Ahn Youngah’s reply.

Gijun glanced at them. There was no caretaker in this building. Throughout the past loops, he had never encountered a caretaker. This place was only filled with robed lunatics and monsters.

But those suspicious people might have taken over this place…

Gijun, just in case, pulled Baek Sunwoo behind him and checked the back. He meticulously looked around, fearing someone might suddenly jump out. Then, he met Baek Sunwoo’s eyes, filled with a peculiar question. Gijun guessed what he might be wondering about but didn’t answer and turned his head. He tightened his grip on Sunwoo’s hand to keep him behind.

Soon, Gijun carefully opened the door. Donghun, holding the mop stick he had grabbed from the restroom, stood on guard.

But there was no one in the control room.

“See? Now you know how lucky I am.”

Ahn Youngah boasted, raising her nose high. Donghun clapped, and meanwhile, Gijun meticulously closed the door.

In a previous loop, the control room in the annex had been wide open, allowing him to confirm the presence of CCTV inside. This time, they had contained the monster in the auditorium, preventing the initial disaster, so perhaps there hadn’t been enough commotion to open the control room. There were many variables in each loop, making it hard to pinpoint the exact cause.

Still, Ahn Youngah had worked hard, so as Gijun was about to thank her.

— Rustle.

A small noise came from inside the control room. Gijun immediately turned his head towards it. A tall cabinet. The sound came from inside…

— Clang!

“Baek Sunwoo, get back…!”

Action first, recognition second. As someone suddenly jumped out of the cabinet, Gijun immediately pulled Baek Sunwoo behind him. The urgency in his grip was palpable. Gijun quickly scanned the intruder. A black robe. One of them.

And the man held a mana gun.

The moment their eyes met along the barrel, Hae Gijun’s face hardened. Ah, damn it. Just a moment…

“Lower your hand.”

In an instant, the space grew heavy. Just one word. Even that calm voice instantly suppressed the chaos and commotion. The air felt dense, making it hard to breathe. His whole body tingled.

Baek Sunwoo.

He stepped forward, using his domination ability. With each step, the entire flow of the space focused on him. The power to dominate was akin to a form of control. It felt like dozens of chains extended from him, binding the opponent.

In that moment, everyone froze, and only Baek Sunwoo moved. Stepping out of the shadows into the light, his neat face was bathed in a cold glow. One side of his face was shadowed, the other brightly lit.

With a saint-like face, Baek Sunwoo looked down at the man expressionlessly. His light brown eyes held no warmth.

The man trembled, his hands lowered. The barrel, which had been aimed at Gijun, now pointed at the floor, shaking uncontrollably. He tried to resist, but it was futile.

The man’s face turned pale with horror.

And Ahn Youngah and Donghun felt the same. Baek Sunwoo was only using his domination ability on the man, but just being in the same space made their whole bodies tremble with tension. Instinctively, they watched his every move.

Finally, Baek Sunwoo reached the man.

“Now-.”

But before Baek Sunwoo could speak, the man screamed, “Ahhh!” As if waiting for this moment, he suddenly raised his hand, and the gun fired. The trigger was pulled faster than Sunwoo could raise his hand.

— Sizzle!

The blue light, in the form of a bullet, spread out like a net, turning the space white. Sparks flew everywhere, as if high-voltage electricity was flowing.

The mana gun, designed to fight monsters, had a powerful effect. It could instantly kill a human. The man’s face filled with hope.

“…Huff.”

But soon, despair washed over his face. The mana bullet barely grazed Baek Sunwoo’s sleeve. The end of his white sweater was slightly singed. The concentrated mana flew to the ceiling, bursting and disappearing.

“…”

Baek Sunwoo glanced at his sleeve, a faint annoyance in his eyes. The man’s last desperate act had only caused him minor irritation. Silently, he clenched and unclenched his hand.

Then, he grabbed the man’s lower jaw firmly.