Ch. 130
***
After checking my status window, I saw that some stats had increased. And I also made some coins. Let’s keep the coins for now. After that, bedtime.
*Dding-ling.
“Damn.”
Is it morning already?
As I reached to turn off the morning call, I saw that it was a call from Sihu. What’s up? It’s not like I’m late, but why is this guy calling me this early?
“Hey, Sihu.”
“Geun-chul! Get up quickly! It’s chaos outside!”
“Chaos?”
*Swoosh!
I was already leaping into action.
“Alright! I’ll get ready and head out!”
I quickly went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and checked my phone. Looking at it, several news articles were up, and clearly, something chaotic had indeed happened… What the hell is going on!
[Giant Monster Outbreak!]A giant monster outbreak, no less!
“Kraaagh!”
I quickly washed, got dressed in my uniform at lightning speed, grabbed my gear, and headed out. Sihu was already waiting for me outside.
“Geun-chul! First things first, TV! Turn on the news!”
“Yeah!”
Heading out? Check the news first.
I immediately turned on the TV and saw.
“Here we are in Gangnam. As you can see, we can’t tell if this is Korea or another world, with small monsters the size of chickens flying around everywhere.”] [This is Bundang. The situation isn’t great here either, all sorts of creatures from other worlds clinging to the outside walls of buildings…]
“Damn.”
I couldn’t help but swear.
What are these, small creatures clinging to buildings like overpopulated pests?
“Apparently, some kind of strange Gate opened up overnight!”
“Is it normal for it to turn out like this?”
“I don’t know.”
Sihu shook his head as if he really didn’t know.
“Anyway, we need to move out fast! Sihu! Got your gear ready?”
“Yeah!”
Right away, Sihu and I left the dormitory, but instead of heading to school, we went outside the school gate to check the neighborhood.
“Wow.”
Just as I thought.
Our neighborhood was in complete disarray too.
*Pshttsss*.
*Ggrrrrrr*.
*Shssshshss*.
Giant insects… No. Creatures the size of large dogs from other worlds were flying in every direction, and some larval creatures clung to the outer walls of buildings, secreting slimy substances as they crawled.
*Pshak.*
The road was littered with crushed and shattered bodies of the small monsters.
“Geun-chul. All these creatures are E-rank or lower from other worlds.”
“Aha. They looked like it.”
Creatures from another world that do not have a rank. Technically, they are similar to monsters but are less dangerous, so they are not classified. They come from other worlds, but strictly speaking, they are closer to pests or wild animals rather than monsters.
“Hey! Hey!”
“Die, you bastards!”
“Hahaha!”
In the middle of that believed security, elementary school kids wielding steel pipes were beating up something like larval creatures.
“Woah!”
“Look at that!”
Middle school kids were making flamethrowers with lighters and spray cans, torching creatures that resembled flies.
“This is truly the end of days. Let’s move fast, Sihu! Get the civilians to disperse!”
No time to watch and play. According to the manual, whether it is a monster or another world creature or whatever, if civilians are in contact, we must control the situation.
I’m not a police officer, but I am a cadet with superhuman strength.
Of course, I have that authority.
“Let’s do that. Even if they’re creatures without a rank from other worlds, there’s no good staying like this. Geun-chul. Recite the control manual for me.”
“Civilian Control Manual. If civilians are playing and getting close to the creatures from another world, make a loud noise and drive them away. It’s not even a wild boar chase manual.”
“Wild boar? Didn’t they go extinct in the wild a while ago?”
“What?!”
Has it really come to that?!
Let’s just get on with the control.
“Citizens! Get away now! Those things shoot poison, poison! You hear me, poison!”
“Poison?! Kyaaaah!”
“Aaaah!”
“Mommy! Mommy!”
“Aaaah!”
Spreading a bit of fear worked wonders. Moments ago, civilians who were toying with the creatures from the other worlds were now in a state of panic, screaming and running away.
“That’s more like it.”
“It’s not the time to be amazed, Geun-chul. Let’s quickly take care of all the visible ones. If we don’t clear them fast, we’ll be late.”
“Yeah!”
*Thwack!*
I drew my hero’s sword immediately.
“I didn’t expect to test this today… Yap!”
Launching myself at a telephone pole, I encountered monstrous insects the size of roosters. No hesitation, I plunged the sword in.
*Plook!*
A disgusting liquid burst out.
[You have gained a coin: 1]These bastards give coins too.
“It’s earning well.”
The hero’s sword should not be taken lightly. Seeing how well it cuts, it might be good even for spare use.
“Sihu! Let’s compete to see who can kill more!”
“Time limit is 20 minutes!”
“The loser pays for the meat! But yeah, you have to catch three times as many as me!”
“Hahaha, it’s useless to play dirty. Geun-chul.”
While saying that, Sihu:
*Wham!*
Ran vertically up a telephone pole, then in one fell swoop, he cleared the winged creatures from the other world that were on it!
“This guy!”
“Ambulance! Anyway, let’s get this relief operation done quickly!”
“Okay, let’s go!”
And so, Sihu and I went around the neighborhood, killing every creature from other worlds we could find.
“Go away! All of you, get lost!”
“Argh!”
“You manic!”
“Save me!! Save me! A lunatic is spinning!!”
As an aside, I went near some elementary school kids playing with the extraterrestrial creatures and chased them away by spinning with a whirlwind attack. Honestly, that was the most fun part.
***
“Geun-chul. Since we didn’t eat breakfast today, you owe me a round of meat in the morning.”
“Ah, you bastard. Hey. Humanely, you’re fleecing someone who’s broke?”
“Forgot about the bet you started?”
Watching Sihu smiling from ear to ear, waiting for his meat, my heart sank.
*Thud.*
So, I opened the classroom door and entered.
Understandably, the situation wasn’t great given what had happened this morning. Huddled in twos and threes, everyone was on their phones, discussing the events.
“Today is the day of the ranking match.”
Walking over, someone stepped in my way.
*Thwack.*
“Isn’t that Moon Min? Hey, Kim Geun-chul.”
“Moon Min.”
Moon Min had a warrior-like expression as he blocked my path…!
“You. Be prepared today.”
“Hahaha! Be prepared? Do you really think you can beat me, Moon Min!”
“If we fought properly, I would win.”
He spoke as if incredulous, but the reality is if we did fight, I’d have him hands down. It’s a shame he didn’t see me fight yesterday.
“Still talking big. Hey, Moon Min. Do you know what I did yesterday?”
“That, who knows? Did you go to a swordsmanship dojo or something?”
“Not a dojo. I actually had a real battle.”
“A real battle? Oh! Could it be! The department store?!”
“No?”
“You saw the news, right!”
“I went there and sliced up some monsters yesterday. Take a look. I brought back some spoils of war.”
“This is a hero’s sword! Can I see it!”
Moon Min seemed genuinely interested in it, which is odd for him. Wasn’t hard to oblige, so I held out the handle of the sword to him.
“My god!”
“Surprised?”
“Yes!”
“I also have a gun.”
“What did you say?!”
Just as I was explaining things to Moon Min.
*Thud.*
The door opened, and instructor Lee Sora and Leona walked in together. Leona barely escaped being late today.
“Alright, everyone. Please take your seats. We’ll start the morning assembly now. As planned, we’ll proceed with the ranking match this morning… As you know, the outside situation is not ideal. If we receive any alerts, control procedures will be implemented immediately, so don’t let your guard down. That’s all. Let’s move to the gymnasium.”
That was quite a brief morning assembly.
“Let’s go, Sihu.”
“Yeah. Geun-chul. Work hard today.”
“I have to.”
Let’s see.
My opponent today was Ken, wasn’t it?
***
When we arrived at the gymnasium, everyone was high-spirited like a bunch of hyper cats, and when we grabbed the sparring gear, the place was practically bursting with energy.
“Oh, Moon Min! You! Prepare to be ‘executed’ by me today! The Execution!”
“That half-hearted foreigner…! Before Geun-chul kills you, I’ll use you as a warm-up!”
“Hahaha! You stupid! Moon Min could never beat me! Believe that!”
With a snotty laugh, Brian tormented Moon Min with his peculiar accent, causing a great deal of amusement, while Ryu was engaging in a rivalry with Sihu, shouting and fussing over something.
As I too drew my sword.
“Hey there, Crybaby Man!”
Ken approached me cheerfully.
“Hu hu hu, Ken, you lunatic. Are you going to be the sacrificial meat for my sword today?”
“Hahaha! You’re so confident, Crybaby Man!”
Ken drew his sword in the manner of a samurai. It would be interesting to see how our styles differ, thought I’d keep an eye out and analyze him today.
“But don’t jump to conclusions, Crybaby Man. This is our first time crossing swords.”
“Right. I’m looking forward to your samurai swordsmanship.”
“Feel free to watch as much as you like!”
Ken, with his brown shaggy hair and glasses that gave off a computer enthusiast vibe, suddenly took a stance as if he had become a samurai. Backing a foot and crouching, he gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.
“Hmm, I certainly thought you were a strange fellow since the beginning of the semester, but… looking at you now, your spirit is definitely extraordinary, huh? Crybaby Man?”
*Thwack.*
Saying that, Ken stepped back, adopted a low stance as if a samurai, and gripped the handle of the katana at his waist.
“Are you going to show me some Iaido today, Ken?”
“Of course, I’ll show you.”
*Shing!*
Ken swiftly drew his sword.
“What, what? Why did you already draw your sword?”
I thought you’d draw the sword when approaching to finish it off?
“What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t it like you draw your sword as you approach and end it?”
“Ah, Crybaby Man. You have quite a big misunderstanding about Iaido.”
Ken flashed his glasses and grinned broadly.
***
