EST Ch 14
by mimiAs Gijun grew up, his grandmother always brought him new glasses, and he accepted them without much question. Since the head of the household, his grandmother, had postponed the explanation to “someday,” he also postponed his thoughts to that time.
…If only he had taken off his glasses earlier, could he have used his eyes more efficiently now? He’s not one to regret, but in a situation where every ability counts, all sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.
Pressing his eyes with his palm and taking a deep breath, Gijun spoke.
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“Let’s go back now.”
“Yeah, let’s treat your wounds and rest a bit.”
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“I’m going to check the stone tablet.”
“What? Hey, you need to rest!”
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“There’s no time for that. We also need to find the bomb on the third floor.”
“We’ll find it ourselves!”
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“Right, where was it again?”
“Near the teachers’ dormitory!”
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The children’s rapid-fire words made his head buzz. Another headache came, and Gijun winced slightly, then raised a finger to his lips. He warned them to be careful, as monsters might be attracted, and they pouted.
But they didn’t seem willing to back down, starting a silent protest. Some even raised a hand and whispered, “Guarantee the right to rest!” It was absurd.
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Then Lee Donghun exclaimed.
“If you don’t rest, Baek Sunwoo will go to the basement alone!”
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“What? Are you out of your mind?”
“…I never said that, but the kids are right, you should rest.”
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Gijun’s eyes turned immediately. Baek Sunwoo, momentarily taken aback by the fierce gaze, eventually sighed and shook his head. Gijun had barely slept two or three hours at dawn and had been on edge since early morning. He needed rest.
Hae Gijun acted like someone being chased. He seemed to maintain a firm rationality, but at some point, Baek Sunwoo felt he could collapse at any moment.
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Baek Sunwoo gently wrapped his arm around Gijun’s and said.
“Gijun, stop using your eyes. You tell me not to overdo it, but why do you keep pushing yourself?”
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He continued, arguing that Gijun needed to rest and treat his shoulder wound. Gijun, who had ignored the other kids’ pleas, found it hard to dismiss Baek Sunwoo’s words. He had been rushing to solve as much as possible before the rain…
What was it about those eyes?
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“…Well, I guess I should change my clothes too.”
Finally, Gijun reluctantly nodded. His clothes were soaked in blood from fighting the monster, so he could change and treat his wounds. Though he was used to headaches and blurred vision, crying blood was a first.
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A short break should be okay…
While Gijun planned even his rest, the other kids quickly divided roles after a brief cheer. If they tried to take Baek Sunwoo, Gijun would follow, so the three of them had to move. It wasn’t hunting a monster, just finding items, so they thought they could manage.
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But as the three were about to leave, Ahn Youngah murmured with a strange expression.
“Why does our trio suddenly seem so unstable with those two gone? We have more people.”
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“Hey, don’t say things that kill morale.”
“Can morale be killed?”
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“Oh. Ahn Youngah has rubbed off on you.”
Lee Donghun chuckled at Shim Dokyung’s question. He was worried too, but he couldn’t ask Gijun, who was crying blood, to guide them. They had relied on Hae Gijun and Baek Sunwoo a lot, so they wanted to achieve something on their own this time.
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“You guys can rest and then move.”
“No! We’ll try something ourselves!”
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The three responded almost simultaneously to Gijun’s words. He looked at them in disbelief as they exchanged determined glances.
And so they parted on the third floor.
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Since room 304 and the teachers’ dormitory weren’t far apart, any commotion there would be heard in room 304. Gijun decided to focus on his hearing instead of his eyes as he entered the dormitory.
As he rummaged through his bag, Gijun suddenly realized something.
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“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m changing clothes…”
It was quite surprising and unexpected, yet also natural. He barely lasted two days at the training center, so there was no need to change clothes. There was no time or leisure for that. Everything would return to its original state upon regression anyway.
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As Gijun sighed, Baek Sunwoo peeked out from the bathroom.
“What did you say?”
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“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Baek Sunwoo approached, holding a towel soaked in water. He seemed to be hovering around, intending to wipe him down, making Gijun chuckle softly.
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“It’s fine. I’ll do it.”
“No. If you rub it hard like before, the wound will get worse… Oh, uh, no.”
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Baek Sunwoo’s firm words trailed off strangely, his voice trembling. It happened as Gijun took off his shirt in front of him.
Gijun pulled off his round-neck t-shirt and tossed it on the floor, rubbing his shoulder. He thought it would be fine, but it was quite sore. He looked up to see Baek Sunwoo frozen like a glitching computer.
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It seemed like he was trying to turn his head, but his body’s control system had malfunctioned. His eyes were lost, and his lips were twitching. Gijun asked curiously.
“Why, what?”
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“No, it’s just, you suddenly took off your clothes.”
“…I came in to change clothes?”
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“Well, yes, but, um…”
“What’s the fuss between guys?”
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Gijun looked at him incredulously and snatched the towel. He was worried about the blood flowing from his shoulder, so he needed to wipe it off quickly.
But the bloodstains from just a few minutes ago didn’t come off easily. As Gijun scrubbed hard, Baek Sunwoo snapped back to reality and shouted.
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“You’ll make the wound worse!”
“It’s not a big wound.”
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He answered calmly, glancing at the wound. It looked like someone had scratched his shoulder, but it wasn’t a big deal. Baek Sunwoo had died with his neck pierced, so this was nothing.
Besides, the blood below the shoulder just needed to be wiped off. As Gijun scrubbed harder, Baek Sunwoo panicked.
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“It’s just a bloodstain-.”
“You have a wound on your chest too!”
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Baek Sunwoo grabbed his arm. Gijun was surprised by Baek Sunwoo’s sudden approach but more puzzled by the ‘wound’ he mentioned. He hadn’t been attacked on the chest, so what wound…
“Huh…?”
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Looking down, Hae Gijun’s eyes gleamed strangely. Baek Sunwoo carefully wiped the left side of his chest, where his heart was. And there, between the fading bloodstains, was a strange mark.
Two lines, the length of a finger joint, were drawn. They looked like scars, or Roman numeral II. And…
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They also looked like the number 11.
“…”
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He didn’t originally have such a mark, and he hadn’t been injured on his chest in this round. But seeing the mark instinctively brought a realization.
This was the number of times he had repeated the training center.
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‘…Twelve times…’
Suddenly, a voice from a dream came to mind. He wasn’t sure if it was his own words or someone else’s. But seeing the number 11 engraved on his body made him feel a strong connection.
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Could twelve be the maximum number of times, and if he didn’t solve it within that, it would be over? For now, he had one chance left…
“This doesn’t seem like a wound…”
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Baek Sunwoo tilted his head. As he leaned closer to see, Gijun quickly stepped back. He hurriedly put on another shirt, turning his body away.
Wearing a dark blue short-sleeved t-shirt and a black jacket over it, Baek Sunwoo remained silent. Finally, when Hae Gijun turned around.
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“…Gijun. What’s that mark?”
“It’s just a scar.”
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“It didn’t look like a scar.”
“I got it when I was very young.”
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Gijun lied smoothly, avoiding eye contact.
Baek Sunwoo opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it, lowering his gaze. His fingers touched the end of his gaze.
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Gijun suddenly remembered that Baek Sunwoo’s fingertips had brushed over the numbers while wiping the blood.
“…”
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Silence stretched between them.
But at the end of the strangely tense silence, Baek Sunwoo nodded silently. He even smiled faintly, and Gijun sighed in relief inwardly. Whether he truly believed him or was just letting it go, he couldn’t tell.
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Along with the thought that Baek Sunwoo was a kind and gentle person, Gijun felt a strange sense of guilt. He had lied using him in the meeting room earlier, and now he was hiding the scar.
“…Anyway, let’s go.”
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“You haven’t rested properly yet. It’s only been a few minutes since we came in.”
“I’ve rested enough.”
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Seeing that there was no loud noise outside, it seemed like nothing was happening, but Gijun quickly moved. It felt awkward to be alone with Baek Sunwoo.
But just before he opened the door, his hand was grabbed.
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Baek Sunwoo’s fingertips gently intertwined with his as they brushed against his palm. It was a touch he could easily reject, but somehow Gijun couldn’t shake it off.
He stopped, startled, and turned around.
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“…Why?”
Baek Sunwoo’s light brown eyes held a calm light. The candle they had briefly lit when entering the dorm was now out, leaving only darkness. Yet Baek Sunwoo’s eyes were clearly visible. It was hard to avoid the clear gaze directed at him.
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The grip on his hand tightened slightly. As their fingers intertwined and their palms touched, Gijun felt a bit dazed. The warmth, the proof that he was alive, sometimes left Gijun feeling distant.
“Gijun, I know you’re hiding something from me.”
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“…Yeah.”
“And that you’re lying to me.”
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“…”
The words, spoken softly but with weight, fell heavily. Even though he knew Baek Sunwoo had noticed something strange about him, the weight of those words felt particularly heavy.
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For a moment, he felt a pang of fear that Baek Sunwoo might be disappointed in him, might hate him. It wasn’t something he should care about, but…
Maybe it was because he thought that if someone as kind as Baek Sunwoo hated someone, that person must be truly irredeemable. Gijun briefly lowered his gaze, then looked him straight in the eye. He intended to respond coldly with, “So what?” but…
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The gentle smile in Baek Sunwoo’s eyes stopped him.
“It’s okay.”
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“…What?”
“You can lie to me, and you can use me.”
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Hae Gijun, momentarily stunned, frowned. He knew Baek Sunwoo was kind, but to this extent? He appreciated the understanding and the kindness of not prying, but this…
“Just don’t die in front of me.”
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…Hae Gijun blinked slowly. He was surprised by the unexpected words and felt a reflexive absurdity, but he said nothing. No, it was more accurate to say he couldn’t.
Baek Sunwoo’s voice trembled as he spoke, and his hand, holding Gijun’s, also shook.
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“If you get hurt, if you die… I don’t think I could forgive myself.”
His voice was filled with extreme anxiety and worry. Baek Sunwoo lowered his head as if collapsing, resting his forehead on Gijun’s hand. Gijun blinked, feeling his breath on his fingertips.
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In truth, Gijun wanted to retort that those were his own words. But Baek Sunwoo’s emotions were so clear, and knowing his past from the previous night, he couldn’t speak. He had lost his parents in front of his eyes during the Imun incident.
So, in this place where the Imun had opened, it was natural for him to overreact. The responsibility learned at H.N., the anxiety from past losses, and perhaps even guilt. Everything was weighing him down.
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“If something happens to you, I don’t know what I might do.”
His low voice carried a gloomy tone. It sounded more like a warning than a request…
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Suddenly, Gijun felt strange. Why had he assumed Baek Sunwoo was always fine? He must have his own struggles, and as a member of H.N. and a past victim of the Imun incident, he would feel even more emotions. He had only seen Baek Sunwoo’s gentle smile and hadn’t noticed his burdens.
Maybe, honestly, he hadn’t bothered to care. Hae Gijun was more focused on his own situation. As long as Baek Sunwoo didn’t die, that was enough. He tried to control him, not letting him stray from his grasp, regardless of how he felt.
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Suddenly, Gijun felt relieved that Baek Sunwoo didn’t remember the regressions.
Not only did he not remember dying, but he wasn’t the one experiencing this situation. While Gijun found this situation horrifying, he felt a strange relief that Baek Sunwoo wasn’t going through it.
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If he had experienced this, repeatedly seeing someone die in front of him, he might have gone mad long ago. Whether it was himself or anyone else. It’s hard to imagine a mentally broken Baek Sunwoo…
Gijun slowly pulled Baek Sunwoo’s head up, meeting his eyes, and said playfully.
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“Alright. How about we make a bet not to die in front of each other?”
“…Did you mean to say promise?”
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“No, a bet. A promise is too weak. If we die, it’s over.”
Baek Sunwoo’s eyes seemed to question how a bet was any different, but Gijun didn’t waver. They needed a bet to have more determination. Besides, promises seemed like something made before dying. In movies, when they promise not to die, they always end up dying. Gijun didn’t want to set up such a flag.
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“So, one of us wins, and the other loses?”
“What are you talking about? We both have to win.”
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“…What’s the reward for winning?”
“Well, something simple like a wish. If I survive in front of you, you grant me a wish. You survive, and I grant you one.”
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He hadn’t thought much about the reward, so he answered vaguely. If Baek Sunwoo had other ideas, he was open to them, but surprisingly, Baek Sunwoo nodded immediately.
“Yeah. I like it. Sounds good.”
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Wish. The way his eyes sparkled at that word seemed so innocent. Gijun couldn’t tell if he accepted this ridiculous bet because he was kind or because he genuinely liked it. But since he agreed three times, he decided to believe it was sincere.
In fact, if granting Baek Sunwoo a wish made him more determined to live, Gijun was willing to grant two or three. Money… Baek Sunwoo had more than him. Connections… Baek Sunwoo was better connected. Other aspects… He wasn’t sure what benefits he could offer.
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…Gijun felt a bit calmer. He had said something random to change the mood, but he thought Baek Sunwoo was genuinely innocent for accepting even this absurd proposal. At least he could buy him yogurt, right?
While Gijun had these absurd thoughts, Baek Sunwoo also calmed his emotions. He straightened up, smiled slightly, and gently shook their clasped hands.
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“Don’t die just to avoid granting a wish.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
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Gijun chuckled. The sight of someone who had died in front of him several times begging him not to die was absurd. And it felt so strange.
The warmth from their clasped hands felt oddly ticklish.
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A very strange warmth.
They stepped into the hallway.
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Gijun tried to leave the dorm quickly, but Baek Sunwoo stopped him. He argued that just changing clothes wasn’t rest and that Gijun needed proper rest for his eyes. Gijun said he was fine, but Baek Sunwoo, reciting the problems of overusing abilities learned at H.N., eventually won him over.
He even mentioned the bet, saying, “To survive till the end, you need to take breaks.” Gijun couldn’t ignore him. So, after resting for over 30 minutes, he finally came outside. He even did an unexpected eye compress with a warm towel.
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Suddenly, Hae Gijun thought he was too influenced by Baek Sunwoo.
Being obsessive about Baek Sunwoo’s safety was natural, but he didn’t know when he had become so susceptible to his words. Was it a judgment that he needed to stabilize him psychologically to increase survival chances? It seemed plausible.
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With this absurd rationalization, he stepped into the hallway.
Lee Donghun, Ahn Youngah, and Shim Dokyung were lingering near the teachers’ dormitory. They were startled when Gijun approached, their eyes wide as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.
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“Why, why are you here already?”
“Yeah, you should rest a bit more…”
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The words that spilled out reflexively felt somewhat awkward. They also averted their gaze, rolling their eyes around. The meaning behind these reactions was clear.
“You haven’t found it yet, have you?”
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“Well, that’s… right, but…”
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
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He couldn’t understand why everyone was so cautious around him. Gijun had never yelled at the kids or said anything harsh. Usually, others found Baek Sunwoo intimidating, but in this group, they seemed to fear him more. Still, it was better than them finding Baek Sunwoo difficult…
He just occasionally stared silently, so why were they so wary of him?
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Unaware of how intimidating his expressionless face could be, Hae Gijun simply shrugged.
“Let’s look together now. How far have you checked?”
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“Actually, we did find a room, but it was just full of boxes with nothing inside…”
“What? Where is that?”
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Gijun reacted immediately to Lee Donghun’s cautious words. The three exchanged awkward glances before guiding him to the location.
A small room right next to the teachers’ dormitory.
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Inside, Gijun carefully inspected the surroundings. Judging by the pile of blankets and pillows, it seemed to be a storage room for bedding. The scattered mess indicated that the three had thoroughly checked the bedding.
There were also a few boxes in the storage room, but as they said, they were empty.
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“Did they hide the door somewhere?”
“We thought of that too and felt along the walls, but we couldn’t find anything…”
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Ahn Youngah shook her head. Gijun’s eyes gleamed as he shone the flashlight along the walls.
According to his memory, this was the right location. Could it be that the commotion caused by the monster wasn’t because of a bomb? It wasn’t unusual for a fire-element monster to use skills similar to a bomb, but at the time, the monster seemed more like a physical, large wolf…
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Could his memories have mixed up the locations? Gijun silently stepped outside to recall the events, then returned to check the space again.
During this process, the room grew increasingly silent.
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“…Gijun.”
Baek Sunwoo cautiously grabbed him, glancing behind. Following his gaze, Gijun noticed the disappointed expressions on the three faces. They had wanted to do it themselves but seemed embarrassed and regretful that they hadn’t found anything.
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Moreover, Gijun’s continued silent search made them more anxious. Shim Dokyung was even on the verge of tears.
Late to realize, Gijun sighed briefly and shook his head.
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“…I might have mistaken the location. Maybe I saw it wrong.”
“Huh? Didn’t you find it two hours ago?”
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“Ah.”
The other kids chuckled awkwardly at Gijun’s sigh. It sounded like he was telling a white lie to make them feel better. They couldn’t imagine Hae Gijun making a mistake with information, so it felt like he was being kind.
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Witnessing the misunderstanding, Gijun felt a bit uneasy. He had meant it sincerely…
Deciding to double-check his memories before speaking next time, Gijun changed the subject.
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“Anyway, let’s go find the teacher.”
“Oh, right! By now, the teacher should be back in the meeting room.”
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“We did a good job distracting them, so he should be fine, right?”
While the five dealt with the little monster, Choi Sowon, Yeon Mijeong, and Kim Sihyung had planned to evacuate to a safe place to fully awaken the stone tablet. They agreed to meet back in the meeting room once the commotion was over. Checking his watch, Gijun nodded. By now, the stone tablet should be fully awakened.
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The children’s faces quickly filled with anticipation and pride. Even though they hadn’t found the bomb, they were happy to have successfully lured the monster, feeling they had contributed.
They urged to go down quickly, and Gijun chuckled, telling them to lead the way. Seeing their brightened faces and lightened steps, he was relieved that their mood changed easily.
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Finally, glancing back at the empty room, Gijun followed them.
***
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They carefully moved and arrived at the meeting room on the second floor.
On their way past the small auditorium, they happened to meet Kim Joowan, who opened the door and thanked them. Originally, the little monster had targeted the auditorium, so Kim Joowan expressed gratitude to Hae Gijun and his group for saving them from that danger.
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As Kim Joowan thanked them, other kids also gathered around, expressing their gratitude. They had thought they were doomed when the little monster was banging on the door, but thanks to Hae Gijun and his group’s intervention, they were saved.
Receiving such thanks naturally lifted the spirits of Lee Donghun, Ahn Youngah, and Shim Dokyung. They entered the meeting room with faces full of pride, almost like triumphant generals.
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But as soon as they stepped inside, their faces turned to shock.
“Kids… are you okay… cough, are you okay?”
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“Sowon, don’t strain yourself by getting up.”
Choi Sowon was in bad shape. The bandage around her head was soaked with blood, and her clothes were scratched and torn in several places. Blood oozed from her legs through the burnt hems of her pants.
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Yeon Mijeong and Kim Sihyung were treating her wounds, but they didn’t look in great condition either. Their faces and clothes were covered in soot.
Seeing Hae Gijun’s hardened face, Kim Sihyung hesitantly explained the situation.
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“We were chased by a strange fireball while escaping.”
“…Fireball?”
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“Was it about this big and running around?”
“Y-yes.”
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Kim Sihyung nodded at Ahn Youngah’s description. It was the fire willow monster that had appeared at the training center last night, chasing the students.
As the three of them fled to the third floor, Choi Sowon fell down the stairs. Yeon Mijeong saved her, and Kim Sihyung managed to find a hiding place where they stayed quiet for a long time until they finally lost the monsters and returned to the meeting room.
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Everyone expressed shock and concern at this story, but Gijun’s face remained stern. He quietly surveyed the meeting room and muttered.
“I don’t sense the energy of the stone tablet.”
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“Oh, that’s… the stone tablet broke at that time.”
Looking awkward, Kim Sihyung held up a piece. It was a fragment of the stone tablet, split in half. The other half had rolled down to the first floor, but it was too dark and dangerous to retrieve, so they returned.
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“Gasp…”
The kids recognized the broken stone tablet and sighed. Judging by Kim Sihyung’s vague expression of “at that time,” it seemed the stone tablet had broken when Choi Sowon fell down the stairs. But they couldn’t blame the injured. Choi Sowon had been helping them at great risk.
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Choi Sowon spoke with a somber face.
“Kids, I’m sorry. I should have been more careful…”
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Everyone exchanged awkward glances at their teacher’s apology. The appearance of the fire willow monster was an unforeseen event, and it would have been difficult for Choi Sowon, already severely injured, to escape. They were relieved it hadn’t turned into a worse situation, but…
The emotions radiating from Hae Gijun’s silence were clear. His eyes, looking down at the half stone tablet, were filled with irritation and frustration. It was a feeling directed at the situation, not at any specific person.
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They had finally devised a plan to go underground, but now all paths were blocked. The stone tablet, crucial for disabling the underground sensors, was broken, and they hadn’t found the bomb to create a distraction. Just when things seemed to be going smoothly…
“Wait. Where did you encounter the fireball?”
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“We were heading towards the east gate on the second floor and saw a room labeled ‘Seminar Room.'”
“And at that time, it was just you and the teachers in the hallway? Was it quiet until you encountered it?”
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“Yes. Both are correct. But why do you ask…?”
Suddenly, Hae Gijun’s detailed questions made the kids exchange puzzled looks. They couldn’t figure out his intention. But after asking a few more questions, Gijun fell silent, hand on his chin. He exchanged a subtle glance with Baek Sunwoo.
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Eventually, Gijun approached Kim Sihyung and asked. Stepping up close, Kim Sihyung tilted his head back in surprise.
“Hey. Can you guide me to that location?”
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“Huh? Didn’t you already know?”
Kim Sihyung was puzzled. Gijun had spoken earlier as if he were very familiar with the training center’s layout, but now he was asking for guidance, which was confusing.
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Yeon Mijeong also asked with surprised eyes.
“Why do you want to go there, Gijun?”
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“…I want to accurately locate where the stone tablet fell.”
“Why is that?”
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“We need to pick it up.”
Hae Gijun’s response surprised everyone. Even if they reassembled the broken stone tablet, it was uncertain if they could harness the otherworldly energy again. Additionally, even if they found it, the likelihood of Choi Sowon being able to resonate with mana again was low. She had already used too much of her energy.
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“Just in case…”
However, Hae Gijun’s slanted gaze and mumbled words were filled with regret. He looked like someone who knew their hopes were futile but couldn’t let go.
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In the end, Kim Sihyung agreed to the request, and Choi Sowon apologized again. She said that if they found the stone tablet, she would try to resonate with mana again. Hae Gijun looked at her silently for a moment before turning away.
Soon, Choi Sowon lay down again, barely breathing. It seemed she had only regained consciousness briefly and could barely open her eyes. Unwilling to see their teacher in that state, the children followed Gijun.
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As soon as they moved away from the meeting room, Ahn Youngah asked pointedly,
“Hey, Hae Gijun. Are you really going to ask the teacher to reactivate the stone tablet if we find it?”
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“No, a damaged stone tablet can’t be reactivated with D-grade resonance. Even A-grade would barely manage.”
“What? Then why…?”
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She was about to accuse him of overburdening an injured person but then deflated at his response. His tone was so matter-of-fact that she realized he hadn’t expected reactivation from the beginning.
Amidst the puzzled stares, Gijun shrugged, saying he needed to confirm something.
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They soon arrived at the east seminar room on the second floor.
Traces of the earlier commotion were evident, with scattered items and scorched walls. While Kim Sihyung shivered in the eerie hallway, Gijun looked around and asked,
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“Explain the situation again.”
“Huh? There’s nothing special…”
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Despite his puzzlement, Kim Sihyung faithfully described the situation. As they turned the corner, a fireball suddenly chased them from the opposite side. They fled towards the stairs to the third floor, and the teacher fell. The stone tablet fell to the first floor…
“Before encountering the fireball, was it quiet around you?”
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“Yeah. That’s the third time I’m saying it.”
His patience was wearing thin with the repeated questions, but he still answered diligently. Hae Gijun reenacted the entire situation in his mind, based on the details.
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He then exchanged a glance with Baek Sunwoo. They both seemed to share the same thought.
This area wasn’t supposed to have fire willows.
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Last night, at the dorm, Gijun had identified several spots where fire willows might appear. While other kids didn’t remember, Baek Sunwoo noticed. H.N. had emphasized the importance of not missing any details about the situation and location during the Imun incident.
If there was a place on the east side of the second floor where fire willows might appear, it would be the storage room next to the emergency staircase, which was far from here. It was a monster that appeared only in remote corners.
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Moreover, fire willows were noisy creatures, so if one had come all the way from the emergency staircase storage room, there should have been commotion long before. But it was silent until they turned the corner.
It was possible it had moved here in advance to surprise people, but…
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Gijun quietly pulled Baek Sunwoo aside and whispered,
“Do you think it reacted to the stone tablet too?”
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“There’s a chance, but it’s strange that it was quiet until it got here. It didn’t seem that intelligent…”
Baek Sunwoo responded immediately, seemingly having the same thought. He had observed and analyzed the fireball monster while dealing with it last night. Today’s little monster might be different, but the fireball didn’t appear smart enough for such calculated actions.
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The two exchanged ambiguous glances. The entire situation felt strangely perfect.
Finally, Gijun stepped forward.
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“Let’s check the emergency staircase on the second floor for a moment.”
“What? Not the first floor? Why suddenly there?”
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Lee Donghun immediately expressed his confusion, but Gijun walked silently.
There was one reason Gijun was heading ‘there.’ He wanted to confirm whether the fire willow monster from the emergency staircase had moved here or if another monster appeared. If it was the latter, there was a risk of encountering a monster when opening the storage room, but he could quickly close the door before it got out…
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While planning in his head, they arrived at the storage room. Gijun gestured for everyone to step back and carefully opened the door.
“…”
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Silence fell heavily.
Though they didn’t know why, everyone cautiously watched Hae Gijun, who stood still after opening the door. There was no commotion or monster jumping out. Yet, Hae Gijun stood there without even a sigh of relief, almost holding his breath as he stared inside.
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Baek Sunwoo also checked inside and stood still. Their similar reactions made the others approach curiously.
The unlit storage room looked as if it were swallowed by darkness. But even in the pitch-black space, a faint red glow flickered intermittently. Ahn Youngah, fumbling with her flashlight, widened her eyes.
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“Wh-what is this? There are bombs…”
The narrow storage room was filled with bombs.
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They found the bombs they couldn’t locate on the third floor here. The kids exchanged confused glances, unsure whether to be glad they had weapons now or to be horrified by the number of bombs in the training center.
Hae Gijun blinked slowly, deep in thought. It was certain that there were bombs in the training center. He had wondered if he had mistaken the monster’s skill, but they had actually found bombs. This meant there could have been bombs in the third-floor location as well.
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Empty boxes.
One by one, the clues connected. Picking up the scattered puzzle pieces, he carefully assembled them. If there were originally bombs next to the teachers’ dorm on the third floor, why were they gone now? What had changed this time?
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Because he mentioned the location.
Hae Gijun looked towards the meeting room. When he mentioned the bombs on the third floor, the people with him were the students here and the two teachers.
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Perhaps there were listening devices hidden in the meeting room. They monitored the commotion in the training center through CCTV, so it wasn’t far-fetched to think they had listening devices.
But other unsettling thoughts began to take shape in Hae Gijun’s mind.
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This morning, they ran into Kim Joowan on their way back from raiding Link’s lab. He had said he came to get blankets at the teacher’s request. It seemed coincidental, but he remembered that Kim Joowan was injured and that there were already enough blankets in the small auditorium.
Kim Joowan’s ability was affinity, so they might have sent him knowing Hae Gijun and Ahn Youngah from class 2 were in this group.
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Yeon Mijeong had also offered warm food and a place to rest, inviting them to stay as long as they needed. She was already well-liked by the students, so the group warmed up to her and eventually began researching there. It was during this time that Yeon Mijeong came into the meeting room. The lock had already been broken.
They had gone to the underground base of Link with Yeon Mijeong. But if that was a ploy to gain their trust? If they gave some information to keep them close?
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The monster they encountered on the way back was also suspicious. It seemed to know their location despite no indication of their presence. And the monster that appeared right after they devised a plan to use the stone tablet and bombs to go underground. Also, the fire willow that specifically targeted Choi Sowon, breaking the stone tablet.
The fact that the fireball deviated from its usual location was strange too. Such suspicions would need to be based on the terrifying assumption that Yeon Mijeong could control monsters…
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There had never been talk of someone controlling monsters. But there had never been talk of opening the Imun first either. This training center defied all established logic.
If this place were logical, Baek Sunwoo wouldn’t be regressing every time he died.
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“I need to tell the teacher.”
At Kim Sihyung’s words, the other kids nodded in agreement. They had heard about the bombs but didn’t expect there to be so many, making their faces pale. Reporting dangerous items to an adult was the right thing to do, but…
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Gijun shook his head firmly.
“No. Let’s secure the bombs first.”
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“What? Won’t they explode if we handle them wrong?”
“Yeah, they’re blinking red…”
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“That’s typical for bombs. Anyway, we have bags, so let’s start by securing them.”
He practically pushed the hesitant kids inside. He knew they were anxious and worried, but he couldn’t let them go back to Yeon Mijeong.
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There was no concrete evidence yet, but his suspicions were strong. The problem was that his suspicions weren’t convincing enough to persuade the kids. How could he prove the fire willow monster was here, and how did he know about the bombs in the training center?
He couldn’t tell them he had experienced this place eleven times. They joked about him being on his fifth round at the training center, but if he said it was actually his eleventh, they’d be horrified. They wouldn’t believe him, and there was no time to spend convincing them.
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Despite Gijun’s orders, the kids couldn’t easily comply. They were pushed into the room but kept glancing nervously at the door, afraid to approach the bombs.
When facing monsters, Gijun’s command was absolute. But that was because he was the only one who knew how to deal with the monsters. Now, dealing with “dangerous items,” a more realistic problem, they wanted to find a teacher. They trusted Yeon Mijeong, so it was natural.
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Lee Donghun approached the door and said,
“It’s too dangerous for us to handle this alone. I don’t know if the teacher knows about these things, but we should tell her first-.”
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“No. Let’s do as Gijun says.”
But Baek Sunwoo blocked his way. Standing in front of the door, he met the kids’ eyes, preventing them from leaving. Though it was only a brief moment, the kids froze when they met Baek Sunwoo’s gaze.
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Suddenly, Baek Sunwoo’s ability, “Obedience,” felt heavy.
Even though he wasn’t using his ability, and they knew from experience that he wouldn’t force them to obey, they couldn’t voice their opposition. The pressure made it hard to speak.
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“The bombs might disappear while we’re gone, so let’s secure them first.”
His calm voice resonated deeply. Though it was only slightly lower than usual, the kids tensed and eventually nodded, avoiding his gaze.
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Gijun looked around, surprised. This situation must be unpleasant for Baek Sunwoo, yet he blocked the door. It was partly for their safety, but ultimately to help him.
“…”
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Meeting Baek Sunwoo’s bitter gaze, Gijun mouthed, “Thank you.” A slow smile spread across his face.
They soon moved to secure the bombs.
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They thought it would be simple, just transferring the bombs from the boxes, but there was a small device attached to the strings connecting the boxes. The bombs themselves also looked somewhat familiar.
“Wait, these aren’t regular bombs; they’re artifacts, right?”
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“Yeah. And the device on top looks like a remote detonator…”
Baek Sunwoo answered, inspecting the boxes. The palm-sized black spherical artifacts were packed tightly. Explosion artifacts were much harder to obtain than regular bombs, making them more powerful. If they all went off here, the entire hallway would be obliterated.
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The device connecting the artifacts was a remote detonator. If Link activated it, it would immediately infuse mana and trigger the explosion.
The kids looked around, shocked.
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“This is near the emergency staircase.”
“They planned to blow it up if the kids tried to escape this way?”
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“Huh…”
Lee Donghun’s guess made the others shiver. They thought removing the bombs would help the other students, but they were more worried about the bombs suddenly going off.
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Gijun stepped forward to inspect the detonator. The red light blinked periodically, but it didn’t seem like it would explode immediately. Confirming there were no CCTVs, he carefully cut the wires with a multitool. The thin wires connecting the bombs required delicate handling to avoid triggering them.
Kim Sihyung also helped. Using a knife he had taken earlier, he skillfully cut the wires. His movements were more precise and delicate than Hae Gijun’s.
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Ahn Youngah admired his smooth work.
“They say you shouldn’t mess with an art student holding a knife…”
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“…Isn’t it common sense not to mess with anyone holding a knife?”
While Lee Donghun reacted in bewilderment, the two continued to work steadily with the knives. By now, the bickering between Ahn Youngah and Lee Donghun had become a daily background noise.
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After cutting all the wires, they placed the detonator far away under Baek Sunwoo’s supervision. It seemed to only function as a trigger for the bombs without detecting other changes.
With the device removed, they quickly packed the bombs into bags. Although the discovery process was surprising, securing the bombs itself was relatively straightforward.
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Finally, they packed all the bombs and started back.
While hesitant at first upon seeing the bombs, they felt more reassured once they were packed in the bags. Artifacts were expensive and not easily accessible, but they all knew how to use them. This was taught at Shinhigh School and practiced there as well.
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Each of the five bags, except for Baek Sunwoo’s, was carried by the kids. He had suggested it was better for the others to have them since he could manifest mana. Gijun wasn’t thrilled, but he couldn’t take the protective items from the F-grades to give to the S-grade.
The kids looked at their bags with shining eyes.
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“Now we can handle most monsters with these, right?”
“We need to calculate the space well when using them. We don’t want to get caught in the explosion.”
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“Of course, we know that!”
“We can take down three or four, no, five monsters with these…”
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Lee Donghun responded nonchalantly to Gijun’s caution, and Shim Dokyung’s eyes sparkled. They couldn’t handle all the monsters in the training center, but these were powerful weapons. Kim Sihyung, feeling proud, carefully touched the artifacts in his bag and suddenly asked,
“How did you know there were bombs there?”
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It was a question everyone had. Although they hadn’t secured the third-floor bombs, they knew the location and found the bombs on the second floor.
Gijun glanced sideways and answered,
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“That place is where the fire willow monsters usually are. So, I checked what was left inside the storage when the fireballs came out.”
“What? How did you know the monster was there?”
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“…Based on the monster’s habits, it was most likely to hide there.”
It was a somewhat awkward excuse. But by now, except for Kim Sihyung, the others nodded. Since being with Hae Gijun from yesterday, they had broadened their range of acceptance. While there were still questions, they trusted their safety with him and followed.
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Only Kim Sihyung blinked and asked,
“Then, if you know other locations… could there be more bombs?”
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“Wow, really!”
“If there are that many bombs, it’s shocking, but it might be worth checking, right?”
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Ahn Youngah and Lee Donghun reacted simultaneously, and Shim Dokyung, with sparkling eyes, listed a few locations Gijun had marked on the map last night. The map was rolled up and kept in the meeting room.
If they could remove all the bombs from the training center, their group would become incredibly strong. It felt satisfying, like turning Link’s traps against them.
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“Let’s go back and tell the teacher, then look for more together!”
“No. Don’t tell.”
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Hae Gijun’s firm voice brought an odd silence. It was like pouring cold water on their excited atmosphere. He realized he had responded more coldly than intended, but there was no choice. If they mentioned knowing the bomb locations, they could be moved again.
“Ah. Maybe you think the teacher will stop us?”
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“The teacher is very concerned, but… considering what happened earlier, I think she’d agree on the need for bombs.”
Shim Dokyung’s guess was quickly dismissed by Kim Sihyung, shaking her head. She had been with Yeon Mijeong since arriving at the training center, sharing a close bond. And generally, students tend to trust and rely on adults. Yeon Mijeong was a teacher and a higher-grade ability user than the students.
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Until now, Yeon Mijeong’s behavior could be seen as that of a worried teacher. Only to Hae Gijun did it no longer seem like mere concern.
In Gijun’s silence, Lee Donghun rolled his eyes and checked outside, sighing.
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“Oh, right. A monster could jump out from inside. It’s almost time for the rain, and there’s no moonlight…”
Approaching 10 PM, the sky was ominously dark with thick clouds. Since a bit past 9, there had been occasional rumbling sounds. It seemed like heavy thunderstorms and rain could start any moment. Even inside the tightly closed training center, the cold of a rainy night settled eerily in the space.
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