Chapter 10

"Ma Donghoon."

Choi Yuseong strode over to us and grabbed Ma Donghoon's wrist.

"Ah!"

Ma Donghoon, seemingly feeling a great shock, let go of my collar and started hitting his right wrist, which Choi Yuseong was holding, with his left hand.

"It's not even what the instructor said yet. And as Daeyong said, if you were really a half-demon, you would have returned to the classroom just fine, right?"

"Ah! I get it! I'll stop!"

Just as Ma Donghoon was screaming, the front door opened, and Im Mansu came in.

"Sit down, all of you!"

Seeing this, Choi Yuseong let go of his tight grip and, as if nothing had happened, began to get the students to sit down.

His expression changed so quickly that I wondered if it was really the same person who had been angry just a moment ago.

Anyway... Now Im Mansu is about to start talking.

"There was an unpleasant incident during today's practical session. We suspect it was the work of an outsider, and the investigation is ongoing, so I urge you not to approach the area of the seal's flood if possible."

The students began to whisper to the students next to them.

Im Mansu, apparently displeased with this, frowned and warned the students.

"Quiet! And as for Cadet Kang Daeyong, the results of the detailed examination confirmed that he is just an ordinary human, not a half-demon at all."

With those words, the noisy atmosphere calmed down.

Finally, the moment when my innocence was completely proven.

"You know about the Transformation characteristic, right? Cadet Kang Daeyong was also a case of reawakening that type of characteristic. It's a very rare and unique ability, so I imagine the guys in the same group were quite surprised."

At the mention of the Transformation characteristic, many students' eyes turned to me.

Yes. To pick one representative, 'Eunrang (Silver Wolf)' is one of the 'Eight Dragons' and has the Transformation characteristic, so it's a natural reaction to be interested.

Thanks to this, the eyes that had been looking at me with hatred and contempt gradually turned to eyes filled with curiosity.

"Can we start the class now? Class president, do the greeting."

Only then did I feel relieved and let out a sigh of relief.

It seems I've finally overcome the biggest hurdle since I fell into this world of novels.

***

Fifth period, hand-to-hand combat class.

This class is about learning and training in how to fight without weapons.

Of course, you can use the power of your talent or characteristic, so it's also a time when I hope not to be paired with a student who has strong superpowers.

And today, we were given time to practice sparring in pairs of two.

But my partner just happened to be...

"I'm really sorry."

A burdensome guy.

Alisa, who bowed 90 degrees in front of me, apologizing.

She seemed to be a sensible person who, unlike Ma Donghoon, knew what she had done wrong.

"What did you do wrong?"

"...Suspecting the person who saved me from a life-threatening situation was a half-demon. So, I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"Really, it's fine."

"Please give me a chance to apologize properly."

Man, what a burdensome girl.

Since I have to keep my distance from her anyway, I don't want to get involved, but I can't keep refusing her.

"Then, how about buying me a drink at a café later?"

"...What?"

"We're fellow students, so I can't ask for much, can I?"

"Ah... Yes! I'll do that."

Alisa, relieved that I accepted her apology, smiled slightly and bowed to me again, and I smiled, saying it was okay now.

After about two minutes of apologies, she called out to me in a cheerful voice.

"Shall we start the sparring?"

"Sure!"

I ended up shouting in unison without realizing it.

After shouting, we started the sparring, and about five minutes later, I was already being brutally beaten and caught in a guillotine choke.

"This can't be."

"Surrender..."

"...No. You can't be this weak. Come on, try to get out of it."

"Surrender... Please let me go... Please..."

Alisa, still at ease even while holding me in a guillotine choke, spoke gently.

When I tapped to indicate my surrender, Alisa released the choke and helped me up.

"Try transforming, Daeyong. You fought well when you transformed."

"...No."

Crazy woman. You want me to do that in the gym where the whole class is gathered?

Do you have no sense of shame? You must have heard what I shouted, right?

"Come on."

"Absolutely not."

She kept attacking me, demanding that I transform, but I never used the Black Flame Dragon.

In the end, I had to be Alisa's punching bag for the entire class.

***

After all the classes ended, on the school grounds.

Baeg Seol was heading to the library on the left side of the main building with Yun Heejin.

"Seol. Let's go to the karaoke room later, after studying..."

"Hey. Don't you have any sense of urgency? The written exam is already difficult, and you're not going to prepare?"

"Come on, it starts in April, so it's fine to have some fun now! So stop dodging and come to the karaoke room with me~."

"Ugh, you're so annoying! Get away!"

She kept pushing away Yun Heejin, who was annoyingly clinging to her.

But the innocent Yun Heejin kept clinging to her, saying she liked the cold Baeg Seol.

As the two were joking around, Baeg Seol suddenly emitted mana.

"Seol?"

Baeg Seol stopped for a moment, turned her head, and looked behind her.

She glared at the old oak tree they had just passed.

'I felt like someone was following me.'

Baeg Seol felt as if something was following her.

But she soon thought it was just an illusion and started walking again with the annoying Yun Heejin.

『ㅇㅃ… ㅇㅈㄷㅇㄴ?』

However, Baeg Seol didn't know one fact.

Under the tree, where the shadow was deep, Lee Hyung's presence was stirring, watching her.

To be continued in the next episode.

Episode 4: Sinister Current (2)

"Ugh..."

10:30 PM.

A long and tiring day has finally ended.

I finished showering and immediately flopped onto the bed. My body aches all over.

"...I need to do what I have to do before sleeping."

I want to close my eyes and sleep right away, but there's a reason I can't fall asleep immediately.

After rushing around for three days, I need time to check my abilities and review everything that has happened so far.

"My status window."

─────

Name: Kang Daeyong

Date of Birth: December 24, 2014 (Currently 17 years old)

Height: 176cm

Weight: 66kg

Blood Type: AB

Stats: Strength 125 / Stamina 125 / Mana 13 / Agility 74

Mana Attribute: Fire (火)

Skills: Spicy Fist, Burst Flame (爆炎) / Black Flame (黑炎) ... [More Details]

Talents: That's Not Enough to Break Me!, That's... [More Details]

Characteristic: Black Flame Dragon (黑炎龍) [More Details]

─────

"Wow, I gained 1kg in just three days?"

It's surprising because it's hard for me to gain weight with my constitution.

I've been fighting and training non-stop, so my stats have improved quite a bit.

It's a slow pace, but the fact that they're improving is a positive change. My mana has also increased.

Still, it's nice to be praised for my talent...

It's still noisy, but maybe because I've overcome a critical moment, it feels a bit more endearing.

So I threw a casual remark at them.

"Hey, what's the deal with you and the Black Flame Dragon? Are you really just a simple characteristic and talent?"

I was genuinely curious.

However, there was no response, either in my head or in the status message.

Well... I guess the truth will be revealed when the story nears its conclusion.

─────

· That's Not Enough to Break Me!

· That's What This Daeyong Wiki Will Explain!

· I Will Become the Greatest Dragon Someday!

· ??? [Unlocks with Specific Conditions]

─────

I opened the talent list for the first time in a while.

Of course, there have been no changes since the last update.

"The fourth talent is hard to unlock."

It must be a good talent, so it's quite expensive.

Well, it can't be a bad talent if it unlocks later than the last update, right?

I'll just wait and see when it unlocks.

· Weapon Memory Absorption Progress: 7.2% (Unlocks Skill Name at 10%)

This is the absorption rate of the Branded Knuckle.

My movements seem a bit different, but there's no clear change.

Still, it's rising smoothly, so I'll let it increase naturally.

"Alright!"

After finishing all the checks, I closed my eyes and immediately fell asleep.

***

Thursday, March 6th.

On the way to school, many students are setting up flyers and booths, enthusiastically promoting something.

It seems that the 'Club Promotion' activities, which will start tomorrow, are actively taking place today.

Of course, the clubs promoting now are not really relevant to me.

'The ones promoting outside are the autonomous clubs.'

The reason they are not relevant is that the clubs in this school are divided into two main types.

The first, mandatory clubs.

These are clubs that take place during the 5th, 6th, and 7th periods on the first and third Fridays of every month, known as 'C.A. time'.

Since one is mandatory, it's important to choose carefully.

'The mandatory club is a practical club.'

I plan to join the 'Practical Combat Club'.

The Practical Combat Club not only trains in various martial arts but also goes on 'field experience training' outside the school under the guidance of the instructor.

Especially since it provides an opportunity to fight real monsters in the 'Demon Realm' where actual monsters appear, it's a club I absolutely need to join to gain experience.

I realized this during the fight with Nephentes yesterday and the sparring with Alisa.

I lack both experience and skills.

Even during the capsule training, I felt that the kickboxing experience I had gained was almost useless against monsters.

So, I need to learn more systematic combat techniques.

That's why the Practical Combat Club, which Choi Yuseong's group joined, seemed like the best choice.

The second, autonomous clubs.

These are clubs that students freely schedule and operate with the school's approval.

There are many interesting autonomous clubs.

From common hobbies to niche interests, all kinds of clubs are formed.

From my memory, you can join up to two, but it's not mandatory.

However, if you actively participate in autonomous club activities, you can earn 'points', the school's currency...

'I'll put the autonomous club on hold.'

I won't join.

If I join, my free time will decrease.

When weighing points against time, time is always more valuable.

Thud.

While pondering the club issue, I arrived at Class A's classroom.

I immediately went to my seat quietly.

I didn't want to get into another argument with Ma Donghoon and ruin my mood.

"Is there a Kang Daeyong here?"

"Da, Daeyong!"

But as soon as I sat down, a bespectacled guy and Shim Deokhee called me from the front door of the classroom.

Who is he? Is he like Ma Donghoon?

I just wanted to sit quietly, but why are they looking for me?

"That's me, Kang Daeyong."

"Ah! You're Kang Daeyong!"

His tone is really off-putting.

This feels unsettling.

"Kang Daeyong, become our comrade!"

"What?"

The bespectacled guy, who introduced himself as 'Oh Hansol' from Class A, 2nd year, said with spittle flying.

"I heard about your exploits from Cadet Shim Deokhee here! I heard you have a 'Black Flame Dragon' sealed inside your body..."

"That's not true."

"Denying it won't help! I already heard everything about you from Cadet Shim Deokhee here!"

I don't know what their relationship is, but he must have coaxed Shim Deokhee to tell him about the situation.

But what does my Black Flame Dragon have to do with him?

"Come to our 'Literary Creation Club' and let the Black Flame Dragon inside you run wild!"

...So it was a recruitment for an autonomous club.

'No, I absolutely won't go.'

Would I be crazy to choose the Literary Creation Club among all the interesting autonomous clubs?

Besides, I don't plan to join any autonomous club right now.

And what does literary creation have to do with the Black Flame Dragon?

"I'm sorry, but I don't plan to join any autonomous club yet."

"What? A sensitive guy like you not joining an autonomous club?"

He's being incredibly persistent.

The 2nd year senior, Oh Hansol, went on at length about the 'advantages of the Literary Creation Club'.

Of course, I ignored it all.