EST Ch 3

The man, who was staring directly into Baek Sunwoo’s eyes, trembled violently. He couldn’t turn his head and made choking sounds, but no words came out properly. He felt like he was suffocating.11981c977551997b1bbc

An overwhelming sensation. The feeling of being forcibly separated from everything. The sensation of losing control of his body to someone else was very strange, but once he accepted it, he felt a bizarre sense of relief. His body relaxed as if his tension had been released.e37512c31b38e74ed8e7

To the dazed man, Baek Sunwoo spoke monotonously.d64151d4a8052f0f78bc

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“Bang your head until you pass out.”5cfb0034a516e956a729

As soon as the simple command reached his ears, the man fell backward with a thud! He had immediately obeyed Baek Sunwoo’s words, hitting the back of his head hard and passing out. There was no hesitation in his actions.a9eb73fa8683a6344c72

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“…….”ed000a8487554084a285

A chilling silence fell.f887a9cf09b0570dfd98

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When using his domination ability, Baek Sunwoo seemed like a completely different person. Despite his gentle appearance and kind personality, he exuded a completely different aura when using his ability. He naturally asserted dominance, trampling his opponent in an instant. The process seemed almost noble.a62744e5ae5e8f8fb370

Ahn Youngah and Donghun couldn’t say anything. They knew Baek Sunwoo had resolved the situation, but the lingering pressure in the air made it hard to regain their composure. The man’s face, completely dominated and slackened, was chilling. And Baek Sunwoo’s actions, giving such commands so naturally…526460b445335138f749

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-Clap, clap. At that moment, applause came from behind. The sound broke their thoughts, making everyone flinch.0262ce1e6b99975b15c9

Hae Gijun spoke with a nonchalant expression.3cd58c3e99e11e300dd0

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“Impressive. If it were me, I would have shot him. You handled it peacefully.”eb836298e93a561df9b1

Baek Sunwoo, who had been standing still in front of the man, quietly turned his head. Gijun met his eyes directly and nodded.3a565f3c818451028781

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“Well done.”24425a8e503377dc4a25

At the clear, deliberate words, Baek Sunwoo held his breath for a moment. His face, which had been frozen, slowly broke into a smile.9b7da45e35702bd0f367

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The smile that spread across his slightly pale face was warm. Like watercolor paint spreading warmly on a white canvas.8a05c2629ec777e60e27

Baek Sunwoo always did this. After using his domination ability, he would gauge the reactions of those around him. He feared they would be scared of him and distance themselves. Having seen this several times, Gijun would step forward, praise him, and tell him he did well.21c656542aa22e2404f7

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Despite resolving dangerous situations, he was always so cautious. Such a gentle soul. His soft smile somehow reminded Gijun of tofu.2080731ed932da0b1834

While Gijun was lost in his strange thoughts, Ahn Youngah and Donghun finally reacted a beat later. They clapped awkwardly and stammered compliments, giving thumbs up. The awkward atmosphere slowly dissipated.66b5a5852280a1163746

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Donghun, rubbing his stiff neck from tension, muttered.da861a4e814379210384

“Wow. That’s what it takes to get into H.N…”670e59e5ac8860cbe255

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H.N. High-class Necessaries.72e74323219dfea7e4c6

An organization that only the most exceptional ability users could join. The elite of the elite, standing at the forefront of the ‘Gate’ incidents where monsters from another world poured out. An organization composed entirely of A-rank or higher individuals, representing Korea.8ad66f0e78961d9ca4aa

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With government-level power and influence, it was a respected institution. The fact that its total membership was around 30 people proved how elite H.N. was.69465bc4f770a13a0f6b

And Baek Sunwoo had been scouted as a prospective member. When his true ability was revealed after his awakening, H.N. had directly scouted him. Though he wasn’t yet an adult and couldn’t be sent to the front lines, H.N. was researching and teaching him how to utilize his ability.5cc11c6bdf9dace54b2b

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Upon graduation, Baek Sunwoo would lead a life completely different from the other students at Shin Hae High. It was strange that he was still at this school…52ebeebeb5542e18ae9e

Donghun, feeling a renewed sense of distance from Baek Sunwoo, suddenly saw Hae Gijun flare up. He had moved next to Sunwoo and grabbed his wrist.604d8779f7e2454e05c1

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“What’s this?”ecd7ad2c2b01985ecc97

“Oh, I got grazed by the gun…”1e264a4ac925cbfdcf23

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“What? You should have killed that guy. And why did you raise your hand instead of running away?”4dce3865593296e6b91c

“I thought it would be more effective to make eye contact for the domination…”a04613880f5fb9fa292c

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“You almost got your wrist pierced trying to use your ability. If your artery had been severed, you would have died, you know?”f7d5ca7afa963b09ece9

…What is this situation? Donghun watched in disbelief. Hae Gijun was scolding Baek Sunwoo, and Sunwoo was stammering explanations. Sunwoo’s kind nature was understandable, but why was Gijun acting like this?5a5fd841c7de8445a62e

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It seemed very strange for Gijun to be scolding the strongest person here. Come to think of it, on the way to the control room, he had kept Sunwoo behind him, constantly on guard.42c59683248f48a7fac1

Could it be that he’s overprotective of Baek Sunwoo…?1363f6c69c98957d5b69

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As Donghun watched in shock, Gijun muttered.35519fd38de4e98469fe

“If you die one more time…”840da657a2cfa9676665

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It sounded like someone gasping for breath, as if their throat was being squeezed. The eerie tone made Donghun pause, while Ahn Youngah quietly murmured from behind.01895d07790e0160d67c

“Aren’t humans supposed to die once and for all?”043b7d501035abf29ecb

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“I don’t know. He’s kind of strange…”dd02351a054aec8448d3

When they left the auditorium, he had been worried that a small scratch from bumping into the door might kill him. Now, he was treating Baek Sunwoo, who had just taken down an adult man in an instant, like fragile glass. The strange thing was that Hae Gijun was usually very calm.97d12839469ef21365ac

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After some time, Hae Gijun returned to his primary persona. He became expressionless and composed. Hae Gijun_Ver1 stepped forward to check the man lying on the floor.b170cea6b764982b9208

“Got a gun here. Lucky.”fea751c19a55a7cc73e9

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Gijun naturally took the gun and searched the man’s clothes. Despite the blood on the back of the man’s head, Gijun’s hands showed no hesitation. Ahn Youngah, curious, approached and sighed.66f4d8cf2226d49e9352

“Oh. This man… was our bus driver.”3fe4793b55cabd7da568

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The quiet statement about remembering the young bus driver hung in the air. Ahn Youngah looked at Gijun for confirmation, but he had long forgotten the face of the second class’s bus driver. He had ridden the first class bus several times.928d877a24d8243227b1

Still, he had suspected the bus driver, given that he had driven them here. Gijun nodded silently, and Donghun muttered in a trembling voice.6f1f2dc371d9704aa9ee

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“…Who are these people?”269195811415d4dea626

“They’re looking for a student among us who will awaken. And to trigger the awakening, they’ve brought real monsters, not simulations.”197248a7be6cc1f24fa5

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“The training center assistants… No, they’re not assistants at all, are they?”39d2e493472b9a83be8e

“Right. Even the bus driver is involved.”dbdff5b74e68cafed31d

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Confusion was evident, but Gijun had no time to comfort him. He continued searching the man’s clothes, and Ahn Youngah resumed her search quietly.ce2ae5515e6cacd6744c

A few seconds later, Ahn Youngah raised her hand.7c4da42379910f8641de

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“Found a card!”bb2bd1e6234feca348fc

“Oh.”5ed35d0afb5c256ecff7

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She proudly held up a card she found in the inner pocket. Gijun praised her and took the card to examine it closely.aa4ab7e6626b6eb522f2

In the center of the black card, the word ‘LINK’ was engraved in white. He checked both sides and held it under the fluorescent light, but that was all. The simple design made him think it might be a key to open a door.11d4bab34867b7587fa7

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He had found building keys before but never a card key. They were lucky. Gijun, holding the card, responded that it was a good find, and Ahn Youngah spoke hesitantly.2ffc2a99c7b188bee930

“…Is this useful?”80c93260ff2b87441fd5

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“It came from this guy, so it should be.”f48cb61df141b3aca4d1

“Then let’s pretend we didn’t encounter him when we opened the door.”9112da1750ebf3f2778b

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Ahn Youngah seemed bothered by the fact that she had said it was safe to enter, only to find a man with a gun inside.dc518dbad9198cddf5fc

Even if there had been someone inside, Gijun would have found a way to enter. In fact, it was resolved smoothly and quickly. Though he was concerned about Baek Sunwoo’s injury, it was fortunate that the tofu-like Sunwoo had only suffered a minor wound.bc0cf2082b046c977080

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Gijun chuckled and nodded.a03faf84f2d59bce29d5

“Alright.”38d2815a8715b63f42be

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After searching the man a bit more, they found nothing else. Gijun checked if the man was breathing by placing his fingers under his nose, then spoke to Donghun.46184da5234f286bb356

“Let’s put him in the cabinet. Tie his arms, gag him, and block the door.”89e2a2b252367d73bf23

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“Do we really need to go that far…?”0ecdd9ffe43c8f39c0a2

“He’ll come for revenge if he wakes up.”55e87eef9da56728d92a

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The person he would most want revenge on was undoubtedly Baek Sunwoo, so they couldn’t let him escape. Gijun signaled Donghun to help move the man, and Donghun followed with a slightly uneasy look.1ea7c4ef5110f5a33242

Logically, Gijun was right, but moving and confining someone who looked like a corpse felt unsettling. But now wasn’t the time for such feelings. Donghun steadied himself and followed Gijun’s instructions. He found it remarkable how accustomed Gijun seemed to this situation.18b5182fb87aa70863a6

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They took off the man’s jacket to tie his arms tightly, gagged him to prevent shouting, and stuffed his limp body into the cabinet. They then dragged a drawer in front of the door to block it. It wouldn’t open easily, even if he tried to force it.d35c8da1e1df694886b0

Only after everything was done did Donghun sigh. His hands trembled belatedly.3a11d303e38835e4344a

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Meanwhile, Gijun walked to the back of the control room and started fiddling with the keyboard and monitor. The screens were all black, but after some fiddling, a light came on with a beep.6268a868baa3f8a36c5a

Nine monitors turned on simultaneously.d47bceef69c891bd7e20

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“What the…?!”0a1c62b7477c9c5327b7

“Is that real?!”d1d2d22b0f31ca39349f

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Donghun and Youngah gasped at the sight on the screens. Six monitors showed the annex, while the remaining three displayed the corridor leading to the main building. But those three were enough to understand the situation.4a23f08e6b728b8f74df

Students were running, chased by monsters. Though there was no sound, the screams seemed to echo in their minds.1ee6f2724d622f338e6a

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When the monster appeared in the auditorium, everyone instinctively moved in the opposite direction to get away, which was towards the main building. There, monsters appeared among the students again, causing another tragedy.e67c58a3b67a3d298b17

“…We need to go immediately.”eeb7c1ebc73600520748

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Baek Sunwoo moved to leave at once. He had thought the annex was quiet and peaceful, but the main building was in chaos. No dead students were visible on the CCTV, but blood was splattered everywhere.5d97ae32de3e28732943

As Baek Sunwoo started to leave the control room, Gijun grabbed his wrist.e27cb4a4226cb3242607

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“Calm down, Baek Sunwoo.”9b4950aeb78b86f669ee

“But I can…”6a2548e24bfde2d72d49

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“Yes, I know you can dominate monsters. But can you handle all the monsters in that chaos? There are three on the screen alone. There might be more inside the main building. Going there now is as good as suicide.”4c083db6d2f3686f8bfb

Gijun tightened his grip on the hesitant Baek Sunwoo.b732739d02c87bfd64e4

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His voice, tinged with slight irritation and frustration, carried a more profound emotion. It was desperation, bordering on obsession. His knuckles turned white, determined not to let him go.2a4e79e2fa61d723f25f

“I know you’re kind and full of a sense of justice and responsibility. But if you really want to be responsible, you can’t run there now. Does H.N. teach you to rush into danger?”56297ada19091ea7ddf4

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“…No.”7cac8ac485f91be887ab

“Assess the situation, plan a response, prepare thoroughly, and execute. Accept some risks but avoid absolute sacrifice… Isn’t that H.N.’s policy? If a key ability user dies, it’s a national loss and a blow to morale.”ea6816a24acf8840799d

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“…Yes, that’s right.”29c1c21ffa6f12df8a12

As the words tumbled out, Baek Sunwoo nodded quietly. He seemed much calmer than before, but Gijun didn’t release his grip easily.5e3269c038f067f5f4ff

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Donghun and Youngah were surprised. They found it curious that Hae Gijun knew H.N.’s policies, and it was strange to see the usually quiet Gijun speak so passionately.d488b6ffedb64fe77056

Youngah cautiously asked.d583a67f0055d27584dd

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“Then, how do we respond from here…?”e7724635a0e0750ab663

“Well, I haven’t fully figured it out yet… but I have a hypothesis.”d10e23aedd5e9fb53868

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Hae Gijun pointed at the CCTV screens. The nine monitors showed various places, but only three were chaotic.8314237e0b0045ad5353

“Why is the annex quiet, but the main building is so chaotic?”9b025520bf3e4fdb2561

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“…Because there are more people in the main building?”3f5af344eddf6fe03684

“Exactly. The monsters appear where there are more people.”57fcaf4419ea6a8ebb65

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“Monsters follow signs of human presence…?”0178c635321bd8231ba9

“No, what I mean is.”0980dc8fa6de2402c52c

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Gijun shook his head at Donghun’s words, then pointed at the monsters on the screens.bd99f5f100a911cc0e2f

“Focus on the fact that they ‘appear.’ Were there monsters in the main building initially? I joined late and went straight to the auditorium, but there were no monsters when you moved from the main building to the auditorium.”57ccf0474727e779e0ff

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“Oh…”7f2102c9e18840f83a06

“Or maybe they were hiding somewhere…?”4553e1d5c67511f06d79

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“There’s a low chance of that, but it could still serve as a basis for the hypothesis. I already mentioned before that these lunatics are ‘summoning’ monsters to trigger awakenings among the students.”a5064c12aec5742f5f08

Out of the three who blinked blankly, Baek Sunwoo was the first to sigh.f975690afe968a69832b

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“Oh. So they are summoning the monsters. The one in the auditorium appeared out of nowhere too.”5130c188818d39652b54

“Yes. I’m not sure if it’s exactly summoning, but someone or something is deliberately bringing monsters in and controlling them. The monster in the auditorium was calm at first.”bc8955ab707a98729a1d

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“Wow… that’s right. That weird person was right next to the monster, yet it stayed still.”d6edd274ca0a4cd06b58

Lee Donghun nodded in agreement, while Ahn Youngah was shocked.68f09f39e79c0c16b4ea

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“Are there people controlling monsters? How is that possible?!”8f1149ba6d5025e4640f

No one had ever tamed monsters from another world. Monsters always tried to massacre humans and take over this world. The idea that someone could control them was shocking.75e4b90810d79e34711d

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It took Gijun some time to arrive at this hypothesis. Seeing the CCTV in the control room made it clear, but before that, he had been running around the building, evading the monsters.ee344dad1b308a8216bc

Monsters appeared everywhere. But after repeatedly grouping and dispersing with the students, Gijun realized that the frequency and direction of monster appearances depended on the density and distribution of people.5108f38395d94c5bddc5

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He wasn’t sure if it was people or some kind of machine causing this. But for now, this hypothesis seemed most plausible.df20c3587a48542d7110

“Then we should escape outside…”e3d0f418eec564c0f0a6

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“No, there are monsters outside the training center too.”306276fe6920de3cf9d2

“What?!”5e628ce2d99d8b06e92e

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Lee Donghun panicked and ran to the window. He could vaguely see the shadow of a huge monster in the distance. As he tried to open the window to confirm, Gijun spoke.f6496bcbddd895c4227d

“If you open the window, they might detect us. Don’t open it recklessly.”f3dcd1a980e8de0cc905

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“Gah, cough, cough.”240953f6d1da75490005

Startled, Lee Donghun choked and coughed. Ahn Youngah patted his back and asked.61902ad83e3dae4a77bb

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“How do you know there are monsters outside?”e3febcff834261215c5d

“…I saw them on the way here.”9c56fa2bd2a3105265bb

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“Why didn’t you say anything?”649e7301a718de05c630

“It would only cause confusion. No point in mentioning it.”36e1325e49367e1d79e4

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Though he hadn’t actually seen them, Gijun’s words successfully convinced them. They had thought he was just overprotective of Baek Sunwoo, but maybe he had been assessing the situation all along.5963ec16d9d7d2e4251c

It was surprising how observant and survival-oriented Gijun was, considering he always seemed indifferent to everything. He looked like the kind of person who would get caught by a monster out of sheer laziness, yet here he was, surviving and strategizing.050faee1c054bf4af8aa

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But the awe was short-lived, as Ahn Youngah soon looked dejected.9ae8d3af49c69d4a9d06

“The kids are all just running away and can’t even fight properly. Who among them could possibly awaken?”58f8b8a780d35a271921

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The scenes on the screen were dreadful. Some students tried to fight back, but their attacks barely affected the monsters. Everyone was busy running, and even that seemed difficult. With low SPIs, ability users were practically like ordinary people who never encountered monsters, so this outcome was expected.b8b2aa21ea0bf3999256

“There isn’t anyone with potential. Our school doesn’t have anyone who manipulates shadows, wizards who cast water and fire simultaneously, or people who summon swords from the ground! We don’t even have someone who can repair buildings!”2365993fa13135885063

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“What are you talking about…”9f9ec346168b18323bfe

Lee Donghun looked bewildered. He agreed that there seemed to be no potential candidates for awakening, but the abilities she mentioned sounded like something out of a novel. If someone with such abilities existed, they would quickly handle the monsters…b4a11f91ec8b4c868b61

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As they tried to escape into fantasy, Gijun banged the table. The sudden noise brought them back to reality.0d18fe00c694dbc544af

“First, we need to find out what’s making the monsters appear. Whether it’s a person or a machine.”54a318d728ec26f5634b

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“And if we find out…?”6c086049827ef002f67b

“We need to stop it. If it can make them appear, there must be a way to make them disappear.”50b062cd22bca66e16a0

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“Oh…”34bd7dd33a87406c0676

“Facing the monsters head-on isn’t a good idea. They won’t show us the way.”3d5107c004158756d94b

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Gijun subtly glanced at Baek Sunwoo and explained patiently. Though he had tried escaping outside before, each attempt ended disastrously.668f3215d56a8c885f6b

With monsters appearing outside too, Gijun had to consider the ‘range.’ How far did these monsters appear? There must be a specific area where they were being summoned, and maybe he was trapped within that area, repeating the loop.fc5fe9cffe44a5975a5c

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Therefore, Gijun aimed for a fundamental approach.8cf39726bdc3570ee474

“The place to find out about this is likely the main building rather than the annex… What do you think, Ahn Youngah?”37df2a5223a772c8aeed

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“Um, umm. I agree, but I’m uneasy. And my luck isn’t a precognitive ability, yet you keep using it that way?”e8a0c3657c03b8c08cf1

“A well-utilized ability is a good thing.”be14113bd1b822a965f3

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“Hey, you…!”468711ddf54a0650b81f

Ahn Youngah flared up at Gijun’s nonchalant response but quickly calmed down. Hae Gijun’s ability seemed the least useful. Lee Donghun’s physical ability was somewhat useful against monsters, and Baek Sunwoo’s ability was beyond question.a344c2134277260c9cd1

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Ability users often envied and competed with each other, but Hae Gijun didn’t. He even trusted her ability, which might be a good thing.b66d8e8250ba164584be

Ahn Youngah sighed.a4f1591cfbb834d93dda

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“But don’t rely entirely on my luck. What if I’m wrong?”c98de4362b1c3278b255

“I never said I trust it completely.”1b1c813a03e21ab644c6

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“Oh, right…”91d9b43af7648754d53a

Ahn Youngah was at a loss for words at his immediate response. She had thought Hae Gijun had a good personality, but she quickly discarded that thought.4cdb3e7094c736362503

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Lee Donghun chuckled and offered a suggestion.5415911d51dbeab9f7af

“If finding out is the goal, how about capturing one of those guys and using Baek Sunwoo’s domination ability to make them talk?”c41add75850672d21241

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“Domination only forces external actions. It can’t extract information from their minds.”b255938a8dfee18b7390

“Oh, I see…”627f2348b76b61d69466

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“Gijun is right. But did I mention that?”f62a99af571ffb56fae6

“…Yeah. You said it on the way here.”07a16e087d979ff89cce

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Gijun answered naturally, then mumbled as Baek Sunwoo looked at him questioningly. He had already considered the method Lee Donghun suggested. He had thought about torturing them for information but didn’t have much time.acc4bbb50bb15243e7fc

As he resolved to be more careful with his words, Baek Sunwoo looked at the CCTV screen and muttered.df034d95406e145a4bc1

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“…But what if the kids die while we’re looking?”455e43af01b46131ee47

He glanced at Gijun, aware of his subtle hints, but seemed more concerned about the main building’s situation. Gijun felt frustrated but reminded himself that this was a different loop and answered.52a4b254caf7e06690fe

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His voice, tempered with patience, came out softer.354cdbeadd49134c80db

“Their goal isn’t indiscriminate slaughter. They said they aim for ‘awakening.'”942396e0757f6cdeafb1

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Awakening is believed to occur when someone is pushed to their psychological limits. Though opinions on awakening vary, it was certain that all those who had awakened had gone through such a process. Their abilities awakened in life-or-death situations, allowing them to defeat monsters and survive.ce5721803c613c2f1389

Lee Donghun nodded at Gijun’s words.8d787de3e88402b1986c

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“Yeah, that’s right. They don’t know who the prophecy’s target is, so killing us indiscriminately would be a loss. Awakening doesn’t happen easily.”9f00deeda9c3d5636906

“Wow, so they have to keep this chaos up until someone awakens?”9afc911ee333849f8eea

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Ahn Youngah spoke with a weary look but seemed somewhat relieved. She felt reassured that encountering a monster didn’t mean certain death. Baek Sunwoo also seemed somewhat convinced and fell silent.17a8830f6ab93c7b5b75

In the slightly relaxed atmosphere, Gijun swallowed the truth.f1c457985a58f44220c7

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They could still die to the monsters. Initially, the monster in the auditorium had bitten Lee Donghun in half and killed other students, creating extreme tension. But this time, he had prevented that, making for a more moderate start.10fca272ea579609d4f3

Also, once a monster marked someone as prey, they were mercilessly killed. If someone annoyed the monster or landed a significant hit, they were more likely to be targeted.0786b5020dc744ec6972

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In that sense, the students of Shin Hae High were surviving by chance due to their low SPIs. They were too weak to be worth hunting. But there was no need to share this information.b667246e37aac93b081b

And this only lasted until the second day. Monsters, driven by bloodlust, would start hunting in earnest.c7e9dbb11ced2d903506

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But this was also demoralizing information, so Gijun kept it to himself. These experiences hadn’t happened in the ‘present.’ If he could prevent such disasters in this loop, he could preserve their illusions to some extent.6fa0477da756428ee6f0

Pointing at the screen, Gijun spoke calmly.3dd615e9adf74e77ebc4

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“My goal is to find out what’s summoning the monsters. If you want to back out, do it now.”245a0bc0fe21f2be6398

“Backing out here is as good as dying, isn’t it?”435003f46051920f7822

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“I’m not saying you should die, but if any danger comes, I won’t care.”df0f3a8cb7838eb4c7fb

“……”2d25332faf79def0295c

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Ahn Youngah chuckled next to the bewildered Lee Donghun. But after a brief moment of contemplation, they both nodded. Following them, Baek Sunwoo also agreed that it was a good approach.220193668b550b30c665

Gijun met each of their eyes and then calculated the variables in his mind. With fewer people and a relatively good atmosphere, there was little chance of anyone deserting or betraying them. He also had a good grasp of their personalities.a581bb2934d878eea3e0

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After taking a deep breath, Gijun opened his eyes.db92fbd2640c9cb64667

“Let’s move.”16eba8559f42167a475b

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* * *78dcccff982294913d94

There were bloodstains scattered along the path to the main building.59c06ad64740ad91b5fa

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“Ugh, what do we do…”7feace6c1c7a5d86a09d

“I hope the kids are alright…”7fb7ad9b58472547466e

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Ahn Youngah and Lee Donghun lamented as they looked around. They were moving along the path shown on the control room’s CCTV, which seemed to be the safest route without any monsters. While there was a risk of monsters returning this way, it was still relatively safe.54413d1a8a9d5b6a944e

Seeing the struggles other kids must have faced made them furrow their brows and voice their concerns. Even though the monsters didn’t kill immediately, the kids wouldn’t know that, and encountering monsters was terrifying. Lee Donghun particularly empathized with this.71d0e779252e149027d7

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However, Hae Gijun walked the path without hesitation. To him, this scene was relatively peaceful. Judging by this, the monster in the auditorium was likely the most aggressive. When it rampaged, the bloodstains were far worse.35e65511b3031fa4c46a

“If we walk slowly, we might meet the monsters, so stay alert and move quickly.”57a35142ac6a41a33527

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“O-okay…”6f6b57b00b71e238c935

At Gijun’s firm words, Lee Donghun flinched and quickened his pace. Despite the limited view from the CCTV, Gijun walked confidently as if he knew the way. Lee Donghun thought he was a calm friend as he watched his back.eadab71eb0169297b77f

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After a few minutes of walking, they heard a faint sound ahead.bf5deba0ccbc4a4c9623

They stopped to listen carefully. In the silence, they realized the noise wasn’t the chaos of being chased by monsters. There were no screams or loud noises.d544b8e5cd3781c57284

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“It must be the kids!”a1fb4d942a7f07f33c98

Ahn Youngah’s face lit up as she ran towards the sound. Lee Donghun hesitated, glancing at Gijun before following.d4ff11f7bf6479603770

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“……”57a5dc656d99c8345a0b

Gijun watched them go and sighed softly. Next to him, Baek Sunwoo tilted his head and asked quietly.77f9da5a5c1d77e530f8

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“What’s wrong?”acd1b088b573eb5efe12

“……What?”2f4944d79cd2a4b8a23f

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“You don’t look happy even though we found the kids.”2fafa13279b81d9f8e67

“Finding them doesn’t mean we’ll be moving together.”b998c269f2a2811e171f

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Gijun answered indifferently and glanced out the window before locking eyes with Baek Sunwoo. He wasn’t sure when it started, but sometimes Baek Sunwoo would get close during conversations. Gijun didn’t avoid him, as it was a good opportunity to warn him.d2b715ca086de2ef3dad

“If you see any injured kids, don’t say you’ll join them.”eb0044ca00381b33cf52

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“I won’t.”b16b251460237e567220

“You’re too kind. It seems very likely.”e590d9718bc52da0d072

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Baek Sunwoo’s lips pressed together for a moment. He seemed to contemplate something, his eyes rolling to the left before he returned Gijun’s gaze with a faint smile.0f0b2c77332208e3f1c4

“You might be the only one who calls me kind knowing my ability.”bef887fad4c416be704d

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Then, as if probing, he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked.ea9cf3c4e6b024522fe3

“You’re not scared? You saw how I used my domination ability earlier.”416aec8c769cad357ef0

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“……”8e75da01615746c06f76

“If you look into my eyes like this, it happens in an instant.”b4f769798a5c1a7ca673

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His low voice settled heavily in the hallway. The ensuing silence was tense, but Hae Gijun didn’t avert his eyes from Baek Sunwoo. For a moment, Baek Sunwoo’s gaze was so intense that it seemed like they were bound by his domination ability.1b3ffc35c50fa4596900

Scared? Why would he be scared of someone who had died in front of him multiple times? Well, yes, he was scared of dying. In that sense, the expression might be accurate.afed29b4de6ba8415483

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Gijun laughed softly and said.30b4da1b965117e18ccc

“Scaring people doesn’t suit you at all.”440ddc4f37698b3d228d

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“…Really?”c03ce5f4eaf9250d1e4f

“Yeah. And before your ability awakened, people used to say you were kind. It’s not like you’ve changed since awakening.”989002decc3d16423aea

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“Everyone thinks I’ve changed.”071066fdda8e102bee32

“So you want me to think that too?”40c5f9ef1f1db6e6f9ba

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“No.”a0200538dfcd6e253e41

Baek Sunwoo answered quickly, then laughed softly. Gijun watched as a clear smile spread across his face like a tiny flower bud blossoming.f206e23f4c46e33ccf11

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While Baek Sunwoo had gained more responsibility from training with H.N., his inherent nature hadn’t changed. He was always kind. Gijun was sure of this, and it worried him.16a22092108ef26573cc

“You really can’t go. No matter who you see over there, you can’t move. And because you’re from class 1… even if a class 1 student is injured, don’t try to join them. Don’t suggest joining them either.”2f052e30fb95c309feb3

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Baek Sunwoo nodded at Gijun’s firm words. He seemed to find the way Gijun held his hand tightly amusing, as his eyes curved into a smile.0332b4058f6708300300

“I won’t. You told me not to leave your side.”4192a9277f37271891fd

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For a brief moment, a ray of sunlight broke through the thick clouds and cast a soft light on his face. He had such a pure, beautiful face, utterly mismatched with disaster.2cac1e09c7d976490284

Reflecting on Baek Sunwoo’s face, Gijun recalled the past. Come to think of it, Baek Sunwoo always listened well. He stayed behind him when told to. He died from a surprise monster attack from behind, though.12ad87c259a24e4d20db

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When confined, he resisted quite a bit, but when Gijun desperately begged him to stay inside, he eventually listened. He wasn’t sure what convinced him, but Baek Sunwoo always listened.c344364e102056145418

Though even in the loop when confined, he died disappointingly…252c654e0003ec392688

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Suddenly feeling down, Gijun rubbed Baek Sunwoo’s neck and made an excuse about dust when Baek Sunwoo looked puzzled. He probably knew it was nonsense, but he didn’t avoid it. Such a gentle and kind guy.ebaa5de86a7f4d0be368

Gijun finally started moving.a292707e78f70f2e7b6f

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Ahn Youngah and Lee Donghun were already having an emotional reunion with other students. Gijun checked the newcomers first. About twenty students, no teachers. They hadn’t been found yet. They were trapped somewhere in the main building, gradually being freed by Park Inhoo.5f23dad695bf40b00974

Originally, the monster in the auditorium caused great chaos, and Park Inhoo took on a heroic role by coming out and addressing it. But since the commotion hadn’t been as significant this time, he remained silent for now.a0a716f465398891ac41

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As Gijun contemplated, someone exclaimed.74c31422b1d146424141

“Oh, Baek Sunwoo…”99acef96cb3c0c9689b3

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All eyes turned to him. After a moment of silence, the students rushed over and began bombarding him with questions.330bf4c8a0ddd97709a0

“Sunwoo, are you okay? You’re not hurt?”08a13f5ba9493bc1ea7a

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“Thanks to you opening the door in the auditorium, we escaped quickly. Thank you…”ea9b0be8412a40f40143

“Can you contact H.N.? I heard they have emergency communication devices for team members.”8748ee625196dc44f546

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“Our phones aren’t working, we can’t find the teachers, and there are monsters appearing in the main building…”247b5a8f49433bf92eef

“We tried to get out, but the doors are locked. How do we get out?”0be4c1585a5d3c191365

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The questions were chaotic, but their purpose was clear. They wanted help from Baek Sunwoo. Even those who had feared him now lingered nearby, trying to speak with him.f1beda7aa027e574b163

Baek Sunwoo, though flustered, answered each question. He explained that as a prospective member of H.N., he didn’t have a communication device yet, and that he had checked outside but saw monsters… The students listened intently to his calm responses.1652533c0dbce36b6a99

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Hae Gijun had anticipated this, so he stepped back to observe the situation. He didn’t plan to say anything to them. Their reactions were natural. The presence of the strongest ability user in a crisis brought reassurance.ed38475660aa21d19d98

The only thing Hae Gijun was wary of now…ae54965e3bb7bfff5be6

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“Baek Sunwoo, we’re looking for the teachers. Will you join us?”a753047739266a3c4a95

Someone at the front asked, stepping forward. Others near him chimed in.6a22a3257bbf7622827c

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“We can’t stay here forever, even with monsters outside. We need to find a way out. The buses are there, so we thought about finding the drivers…”e9fbbef37c6867b4737d

“The bus drivers are in cahoots with those weirdos from the auditorium.”ad8ae67dcf7f1e659fa0

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Hae Gijun interrupted suddenly. They looked surprised for a moment, then the student at the front asked.3d0e4c48d50b429fc500

“How do you know that?”f5830463d04fb977145b

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“We ran into him by chance, and he was wearing that robe.”1033a69b3c76a2902ba1

“You sure you didn’t see it wrong?”86bc2903e8d62fa458a8

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“Isn’t it better to be cautious than to risk danger by denying reality?”fbb7c19a8cf130a61423

“……”97275e53867b0977461b

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“Ahn Youngah confirmed it too. It wasn’t just me who saw it.”aaa2ff4cbcb4c5c0ea51

At Gijun’s response, the student’s eyebrows raised slightly.6da10b6c3ad5cd4d218f

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The boy leading the students was Nam Hyungwook, the student council president of Shin Hae High School. With the second-highest SPI after Baek Sunwoo, he naturally rose to the position of student council president. The others around him were also from the student council.ae9ebadbfe6c2d72c92d

Nam Hyungwook, who had a large build and somewhat authoritarian demeanor, glanced at Ahn Youngah to verify Gijun’s statement.97833813fb9c8999a5e0

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“Oh, yeah. That’s right. He tried to attack us…”4cb56bf31accb601ebe1

“What? Are you alright, Youngah?”36743abe51af13d8eb8d

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“Baek Sunwoo took care of it quickly. I’m not hurt at all, it’s okay.”9c0bb22cd105a4c7458f

Ahn Youngah smiled as she reassured her concerned friend. Her voice was soft, but the information spread to everyone.5483a8289dd3437e6a68

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Baek Sunwoo had already protected the students with his domination ability. His ability was undoubtedly the most needed in this situation. After considering this, Nam Hyungwook spoke.6214b19cc33ce30d671a

“Then we need to be cautious of the bus drivers too. Let’s move together, Baek Sunwoo.”79bf9b0b6ff785eaffe8

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“No.”24b2bcf62f231d81d15c

“What? Oh, I didn’t mean just Baek Sunwoo, but all of you too…”ddf80091aa1bb6c0e20f

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“I understand what you’re saying. But let’s move separately.”dc4b71e3ed3d24d72ce9

Nam Hyungwook’s face hardened slightly at Gijun’s calm response. It was absurd that he was answering for Baek Sunwoo, and his actions suggested that there was no need to reconsider his suggestion.c78e59089914a0558bdd

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Nam Hyungwook took a deep breath and forced a smile.281274638fd93b234e66

“Hae Gijun, I’m asking Baek Sunwoo, not you…”a1749a6e382b8e54015e

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“I also prefer to move separately.”b79d35570ec95a467274

“……”8252f4639e4414f39d39

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Baek Sunwoo’s blunt reply brought a strange silence. Gijun glanced at him and quietly sighed in relief. The conversation they had earlier was paying off. The fact that there were no major injuries also contributed to his firm refusal.88bd9ffef3e35d11824f

Due to past experiences, Gijun had lost a lot of trust in the student council. Joining them was a trap and a wrong choice. While moving with the capable student council might be safe initially, it always ended poorly. The problem wasn’t just the monster attacks but also the unavoidable conflicts among the group.6612907b858b655c52b9

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So, he couldn’t help but react sharply, especially towards Nam Hyungwook.b6ea045354ea9a1b499c

Nam Hyungwook was proud and had a quick temper. He was not suited for the student council president position, but his high SPI had secured it for him.1dc6697d57c0183d13c4

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Shin Hae High had students with SPIs ranging from 1 to 100, and the current second-year student council members were all close to 100. Nam Hyungwook’s SPI was slightly over 100. Though he didn’t need to attend Shin Hae High, he came to be a big fish in a small pond.c5ca486af876d11d2245

At school, he subtly antagonized Baek Sunwoo and even encouraged students to distance themselves from him. He requested that Baek Sunwoo be excluded from the integrated training, influencing the students as the student council president.96354c4c72d118105020

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This wasn’t the only reason Gijun disliked him. There were also previous incidents that hadn’t yet occurred in this loop.95d2ed5bd1c2d598b428

Suppressing his emotions, Gijun spoke calmly.03797113fb1ca16ca7ba

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“It seems that monsters are drawn to places with many people. So, if the goal is to find a way out, we don’t need to move together.”87d469151c23ee2325c7

“What? How can I believe that?”5c3a360e3d37ec13e996

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“Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”51fcab1dc0a60b66c656

“Moving separately doesn’t guarantee we can avoid monsters, does it?”2ff3996a2aefe1e9a17d

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“I merely suggested a possibility. I don’t see why you need to argue with me.”b13176bd5ecec566df0c

Though Gijun’s effort came off as calmly cold, it wasn’t much different from his usual tone, so there wasn’t much suspicion. Only Nam Hyungwook’s eyebrows twitched in irritation.0b9bf3d8ac39ffedb90a

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However, Nam Hyungwook knew that causing conflict now was not a good idea. All the students were watching, and Baek Sunwoo was on the other side. They couldn’t part on bad terms for future coordination.bf3be4e6ba15ef6f97e8

Nam Hyungwook took a deep breath and nodded, thinking he was being patient.887c3beb43a95fadfb2c

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“Alright, I understand. Though scattering and encountering monsters seems more dangerous…”e0bf17d3e2fb2261468e

“That sounds like a remark from someone who doesn’t understand at all.”6650262cbd7172bb86d7

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