The journey to find the trigger continued into the afternoon.
I realized that understanding the other person must precede discovering a more powerful trigger.
Thus, I decided to test how much of the smell of blood Kang Han, the Berserker, could endure.
This was also part of the process of understanding him.
We headed to a nearby department store.
The basement of the department store was an expansive area filled entirely with food stalls.
Among them, we went to the butcher’s corner.
“Look, blood is everywhere here. Let’s take it step by step.”
“Still, did we really have to come to a place like this?”
“You never know. You might be a Berserker who reacts to animal blood.”
“I’m not…”
As we entered the area where pigs were dismantled and hung piece by piece, even I, an ordinary human, could sense the change in the air.
A cold and stagnant smell of blood permeated the atmosphere.
Anyone who’s been to the market holding their mom’s hand knows this scent—a slightly metallic yet oddly addictive smell that makes you imagine the flavors when cooked.
Looking at the hanging meat made me salivate.
Meanwhile, I asked Kang Han, who stood next to me, staring blankly:
“How do you feel now, Mr. Berserker?”
Kang Han, glancing at the pork scattered around, answered weakly.
His face seemed drained for some reason.
“I’m just…hungry.”
“Hmm.”
Was this experiment a failure too?
Luckily, we had no schedule for the day, so we were temporarily free.
Therefore, there was no one to scold us even if we decided to grill meat in the middle of the day.
“By the way, we haven’t had lunch yet, have we?”
“Nope.”
“How about meat for lunch today?”
“I like meat.”
Mr. Berserker says he likes meat.
Though it was a slightly scary statement, I believed he was referring to the pork in front of us.
Before returning to the academy, we stopped by a nearby barbecue restaurant and stuffed ourselves with pork.
After thoroughly greasing our stomachs, we returned quietly to the academy.
I briefly considered ending the day with a game at a nearby internet cafe, but I feared my conscience might end up smooth and round like a monk’s shaved head.
If I returned to face my mentor after skipping my assignments for coffee, meat, and games, it would be hard to look them in the eye.
And the experiment of mad scientist Joo Yidam was far from over.
To discover the trigger—and to get to know each other better—the journey ahead was long.
“Let’s head to the training grounds this time.”
At the academy, students of all grades and ranks gathered in the massive training center, either training individually or sparring.
Seeing some blood was no big deal for anyone here.
Hunters are inherently in a violent line of work, and the students here were all training to become hunters.
The training center was well-ventilated and air-conditioned, making it surprisingly pleasant despite being a space where hundreds trained together.
However, as we got closer to the training area, the faint smell of sweat became unavoidable.
Amidst the sweaty atmosphere of teenagers in their prime, we unintentionally caused a scene with the aroma of meat still clinging to us.
“What do you think?” I asked Kang Han.
“Some of them are bleeding a bit. Doesn’t that bother you?”
It’s a well-known fact that Berserkers get excited when they see blood.
As expected, Kang Han looked entirely different from how he’d been at the butcher’s.
His body was visibly tense, as if holding back some instinctive urge.
His gaze followed the blood of others.
Looking at him, I sensed the experiment was nearing its end.
“Hey, follow me.”
“…Huh?”
I grabbed Kang Han and led him to a secluded spot.
We found an empty classroom.
“This works.”
I pushed Kang Han inside, entered behind him, and casually shut the door.
Click.
The sound of the door locking echoed.
With my back against the closed door, the two of us were left alone in a completely private space—a silent room perfect for focusing solely on each other.
No one would interrupt us here.
Leaning against the door, I spoke:
“This is the final experiment, Kang Han.”
Kang Han seemed to sense it too, looking at me with trembling eyes before determination set in.
“Don’t do this, Joo Yidam. It won’t end well.”
“You sound just like you did that time.”
Not long ago, we had a similar conversation.
Right before a sparring session, Kang Han had said the exact same thing to me.
“Don’t provoke me. You’ll get hurt.”
“Ha!”
I laughed savagely, shaking off the fear of that day.
The pain of having my entire body torn apart by another’s bare hands was still vivid, but such pain was not enough to stop me.
I was determined to see the end of this experiment.
Sshhk.
I held a knife to my palm—a small dagger I always carried.
Its razor-sharp blade touched my soft skin, drawing bright red drops of blood.
Seeing this, Kang Han’s face turned pale.
The boy shouted impulsively,
“Joo Yidam!!”
His booming voice echoed through the room, unbelievably loud compared to his usual tone.
Tch, he should’ve reacted like this sooner.
“Too late.”
Even a monk couldn’t stop me now.
The blade had already sliced halfway through my palm.
The flowing blood soaked the floor beneath me steadily.
As the ground darkened with a crimson hue, Kang Han’s breathing grew rough, mirroring my own trembling breaths.
Yet the nature of our breaths was distinctly different.
One was that of a predator; the other, a prey.
The Berserker’s trait of excitement at the sight of blood was unfolding right before me.
Ah, how terrifying.
It felt like sticking my head into a lion’s jaws.
I barely held back the tremor in my voice and forced a smirk to avoid showing weakness.
“If you endure this, I’ll truly acknowledge you.”
Thump.
Thump.
My heart pounded wildly.
Our breaths had long since become ragged.
I could feel Kang Han’s entire focus converging solely on me.
If a gaze had weight, I would’ve already been pierced through.
His eyes, soaked with raw emotions, scanned my body like a beast staring down its prey.
And not just any beast—a beast starved for 17 years.
A creature born to drink blood, who had abstained from it its entire life out of a single-minded resolve not to harm humans.
And here I was, trying to draw out that beast’s ferocity.
Of course, unlike last time, I wasn’t doing this without precautions.
But having already been ripped apart by Kang Han once before, I couldn’t help my racing heart.
My stomach twisted painfully.
Was my damaged organ from that day still crying out in fear? I couldn’t be sure.
I, too, am a creature that feels pain.
I hate being hurt.
But no matter how much I thought about it, the only way to fully control Kang Han was to make him accustomed to my blood.
There were countless reasons.
The most significant being that Kang Han would undoubtedly see my blood many times in the future.
It would be impractical if he went berserk every time he saw it.
The best solution was to help him adapt quickly.
Thus, cutting my hand was akin to administering a vaccine to Kang Han.
Thwack.
At that moment, a larger hand covered mine.
It was Kang Han’s.
“Please, Joo Yidam, stop. Stop it. Put the knife away.”
Clinging to a sliver of rationality, Kang Han desperately grabbed my hand and the dagger.
His trembling hands radiated pleading emotions.
If Kang Han wanted to, he could’ve already made me drop the knife.
But he only held on, maintaining the status quo, even as I loosely gripped the dagger.
I could see straight into Kang Han’s heart:
The clash of “reason not to harm” and “instinct to attack.”
This conflict, born from a single innate trait, is what we have always called the “Berserker.”
“The monk was right,” I thought.
Kang Han harbored dangerous emotions toward me: affection, murderous intent, and more.
So, could he truly resist even at the sight of my blood?
If he managed to endure, I would sincerely apologize to him.
For being so harsh on a boy with remarkable self-control, who could even withstand the scent of blood from someone he cared for, I would owe him an apology.
And it would also prove that I didn’t need to keep holding his leash.
But if Kang Han failed to endure, it would be a different story.
I would have no choice but to continue holding his leash.
The academy, or perhaps even the nation, had begun doubting Kang Han’s ability to control himself.
To protect him, I’d have to keep that leash tight.
Anyway.
Enough distractions.
“Huff.”
I exhaled once and, without hesitation, sliced my palm.
Shhhk.
My blood splattered across Kang Han’s face.
The experiment had begun.