‘Is she crazy?’
~ Shin Sena’s internal monologue ~
I just wanted to take out my frustration on that outsider, Dana, who keeps getting involved with the Heavenly Kings.
She’s an irritant, a nuisance, always somehow at the periphery of their attention.
I never imagined she’d react like this, showing such audacity.
The truth was, Shin Sena didn’t know much about Dana at all.
They weren’t even in the same class, a convenient distance that usually meant they barely crossed paths.
And if it weren’t for the Heavenly Kings, those frustratingly handsome and aloof boys who seemed to gravitate towards Dana, they didn’t even share mutual friends, so there was absolutely no reason for them to interact in any meaningful way.
Shin Sena had always seen Dana as an insignificant, quiet girl, a mere shadow in the bustling hallways, easily overlooked and certainly not someone who would ever stand up to her.
When I tried to scare her in the incinerator before, she clearly seemed like a weak, helpless kid who couldn’t even speak up for herself, crumbling under the slightest pressure.
She was utterly pathetic.
But to provoke me by telling me to use my skills, to challenge me directly in the restroom?
That was an unprecedented level of impudence.
It was completely out of character for the timid girl I’d always known.
No one had ever talked back to me like this before.
I was the one who dictated the terms, the one everyone avoided.
She had only transferred here this year, so perhaps she genuinely didn’t know who I was, or the extent of my family’s influence, a thought that briefly flickered through my mind, tinged with a faint unease.
But even if she didn’t know, her defiance was unacceptable.
I had absolutely no desire to escalate things further, not genuinely.
After the last incident, the one involving the broken vase in the art room and a stern talking-to from my father’s associate, my parents had threatened to send me abroad permanently if I caused any more trouble at school.
The threat was real, and it hung over me like a guillotine.
Besides, I didn’t even possess any offensive skills that I could use in a direct, overt fight without causing catastrophic damage or exposing my weaknesses.
My abilities were more suited for manipulation and subtle intimidation, not outright brawling.
If things blew up, if word of my actions reached my parents’ ears again, I would undoubtedly be forced onto a plane heading overseas, exiled from everything I cared about.
The thought of high school life without seeing the Heavenly Kings, without being able to subtly influence their orbits, was terrifying, a nightmare scenario.
It was a fate worse than academic failure.
So, I had only intended to vent a little, to scare her a bit, to put her back in her place, and then have her quietly attend school, fading back into the background where she belonged.
This unexpected defiance from Dana had completely thrown a wrench into my perfectly calculated plan.
“Let’s be reasonable.”
I was desperately trying to process what had just happened, my mind struggling to keep up with Dana’s sudden, inexplicable transformation.
My thoughts were a chaotic jumble of anger, confusion, and a burgeoning, unsettling fear.
That was when that outsider, Dana, instead of cowering or crying, placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke, her voice surprisingly calm, almost chillingly so.
“There’s a limit to how much I’ll go easy on you.”
Those were the exact words I had just said to her, thrown back at me with casual contempt.
Who was going easy on whom?
The sheer audacity of it, the reversal of roles, was so staggering that a disbelieving scoff escaped my lips, a shaky, breathy sound. But strangely, and most unsettlingly, I couldn’t bring myself to get angry.
The familiar heat of fury that usually consumed me was replaced by a strange, icy paralysis.
The moment Dana revealed her true personality, shedding the docile facade like an old skin, I felt a crushing pressure in the air, as if the very oxygen had been sucked out of the room.
And now, I was utterly paralyzed, unable to move a muscle, like a tiny mouse standing before a magnificent, terrifying tiger, utterly helpless.
My usual arrogance had completely evaporated, replaced by a cold dread.
Dana simply walked out of the restroom, leaving me standing there, dumbfounded.
Shin Sena, who had just experienced a taste of her own medicine, a truly bitter and unexpected flavor, stared blankly at Dana’s retreating back, her mind struggling to reconcile this new Dana with the old.
To think I would feel so helpless in front of a non-Awakened person.
The thought was a jarring, bitter pill to swallow.
I couldn’t easily accept this reality, this sudden shift in power dynamics.
All this time, I had reigned as the school’s unofficial female power broker, a silent queen of the social hierarchy, able to bend most to my will with a glance.
And after awakening, becoming an Awakened person, I had always ruled over the ordinary students, looking down on them from an unassailable height, my status a shield and a weapon.
This was unprecedented.
Still disoriented and lost in thought, a strange mix of humiliation and lingering anger simmering within me, Shin Sena quickly chased after Dana, rushing out of the restroom.
I saw Dana’s figure descending the stairs at the end of the corridor, moving with a confident, almost casual grace that irked me even more.
What just happened was merely due to being caught off guard.
Yes, that must be it. I was surprised, that’s all.
Therefore, I needed to chase after that arrogant girl again and clearly show her what happens when someone dares to challenge me, when someone dares to try and usurp my position.
My pride demanded satisfaction.
***
I wonder if that was enough to intimidate her a little.
I was descending the stairs, deep in thought, pondering how I would deal with Shin Sena if she continued to bother me in the future.
The previous encounter had solidified my resolve: I wouldn’t endure her petty bullying anymore. It was time to put her in her place, permanently.
As I passed the first-year floor, the usual noise of younger students fading slightly, and entered the corridor where the principal’s office and administrative office were located, a sudden, guttural sound reached my ears.
A sound I definitely shouldn’t have heard in a quiet school hallway.
Grrr…
‘Grrr?’
My steps faltered, my mind immediately recognizing the unnaturalness of the sound.
It was raw, animalistic, and utterly out of place.
It was coming from the principal’s office.
It was prime lunch hour, and since the principal’s office and faculty room were areas students rarely frequented, there was literally no one else around.
The corridor was unnervingly silent, amplifying the strange growl.
I cautiously took a step, my senses immediately on high alert, the hair on the back of my neck prickling.
The air itself felt heavier, charged with an unsettling energy.
‘Is there a monster in the principal’s office?’
The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.
My quest window, dormant for too long, might finally get some action.
A distinct, unnatural energy emanated from beyond the principal’s office door, a heavy, oppressive aura that was undeniably non-human, far too strong for any ordinary animal.
The ominous silence, coupled with the absence of anyone running out, indicated that the principal’s office was likely empty of human occupants, meaning no one was trapped inside.
It seemed no one knew a Gate had opened in the principal’s office, an area where neither students nor Awakened individuals would normally venture.
It was a blind spot, a dangerous oversight.
I was torn between two options, my mind racing through the pros and cons: should I quickly run and call Yeon Ha-yeon, or the Heavenly Kings, or even Yeon Hyung-gwang?
They were all powerful, capable.
Or would it be better if I quietly handled it myself?
It was a gamble, a risky proposition, but if I could quickly go in, finish it, and come out while no one was around, completely undetected, I could increase the number on my quest window.
The thought of that numerical progression, a direct and satisfying measure of my progress, was incredibly tempting, overriding all caution.
As I walked towards the principal’s office, my footsteps light despite my internal turmoil, endlessly debating the fastest and most efficient course of action, I heard the undeniable sound of someone quickly descending the stairs behind me.
My opportunity for a stealthy solo mission was slipping away.
“Oof!”
It was Shin Sena’s voice, surprisingly close.
‘Ah, too bad.’
My plans for a quiet, efficient monster hunt were dashed.
I had been leaning towards handling it quickly while no one was around, maximizing my personal gain from the encounter.
But then, Shin Sena’s shout, already close by, echoed through the corridor, loud and piercing, completely shattering the quiet anticipation.
CRASH!
At that exact moment, as if in response to Shin Sena’s sudden, loud intrusion, the monster, alerted by her voice, burst out of the principal’s office, shattering the wooden door with a splintering roar.
It was a wolf.
A terrifyingly large, muscled wolf, its fur matted and dark.
Seeing it walk on two legs, its powerful hind limbs propelling it forward, it appeared to be a were-wolf or a similar type of bipedal monster, its eyes glowing ominously, a malevolent red in the dim hallway.
It emitted a low, guttural growl, eyeing us as potential prey.
Shin Sena, who had been calling my name loud enough to shake the entire corridor just moments ago, her voice filled with a desperate, vengeful fury, suddenly fell silent, frozen in the middle of the staircase.
Her face, moments ago flushed with anger, was now pale, almost ashen, her previous rage replaced by stark terror. Her bravado had completely evaporated.
“W-why is that here…?” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes wide with unadulterated fear.
Even if the monster before us was only D-rank, its sheer size and ferocity made it clearly an overwhelming opponent for Shin Sena, especially if she truly only possessed healing skills.
She fumbled frantically through her uniform skirt pocket, searching for her phone, her fingers trembling visibly, and her face grew darker in real-time, her frustration clear as she found nothing or couldn’t operate it.
She must have been planning to contact someone for help, perhaps her family or some other Awakened individual she knew.
In the midst of this chaotic tableau, the wolf, having spotted us, lowered its body with a savage intensity, its muscles bunching.
Its front paws dug into the ground, scraping against the linoleum, and it lunged forward on all fours, a blur of dark fur and sharp teeth.
Its movement was precise, predatory, clearly intending to pounce on us, its glowing red eyes fixed on our forms.
“What are you doing?!”
I yelled, my voice sharp with a mix of urgency and exasperation, snapping Shin Sena out of her frozen stupor.
In a fleeting moment, as the wolf soared through the air towards us, I was debating whether I should finally feign awakening and unleash my power, revealing my true capabilities in a way that would secure my future status.
But then, to my utter shock, Shin Sena suddenly stepped forward, putting herself directly between me and the approaching wolf.
My eyes widened in genuine surprise at her completely unexpected action.
I had fully expected her to abandon me and run away, given her previous behavior, her self-preservation instincts.
Had becoming an Awakened person suddenly instilled a sense of responsibility in her?
A flicker of respect, however grudging, stirred within me.
Just by looking at her back, rigid and tense, I could clearly feel how utterly terrified yet resolved Shin Sena was.
Her shoulders were hunched, her hands clenched, her whole body screaming with a desperate courage she hadn’t shown before.
The wolf, which had jumped towards us, landed squarely on top of Shin Sena, a heavy, crushing weight, pinning her to the ground with a soft thud.
I watched, anticipating which skill she would use to repel the wolf, expecting some kind of flash of light or defensive barrier, but to my utter astonishment, Shin Sena simply remained pinned beneath it, struggling uselessly, her face contorted in a mix of pain and panic.
“Ugh! Hey, quick, call Eun-hyul, the Heavenly Kings, or anyone!”
Her shoulder pinned by the wolf’s massive front paw, its weight pressing down on her, she barely managed to twist and dodge its snapping jaws, crying out, her voice ragged with fear and exertion.
“Your skill?! You’re an Awakened, aren’t you!”
I yelled urgently, the question a stark reminder of her recent boast.
Shin Sena, struggling desperately, plunged the chipped dagger she’d used before — the one she’d used to pick at her teeth — into the wolf’s leg, a surprisingly effective jab that drew a pained yelp.
She shouted back, her voice strained.
“Agh, I… I don’t have any offensive skills!”
Seriously?
Just moments ago, you were so confident and aggressive, throwing your weight around like a true combat Awakened!
And now you tell me you have no offensive skills?
My internal monologue was a mix of exasperation and a strange, grudging admiration for her surprising, if foolish, courage.
“Yeah, I’m a healer! So hurry up, call anyone!” she pleaded, her eyes wide, staring at me with a mix of desperation and a newfound vulnerability.
There was no time for further hesitation, no time to analyze her sudden honesty or debate the implications.
I immediately launched into a body slam against the wolf, channeling my strength into a sudden, forceful push.
It was attacking as if it meant to rip Shin Sena’s face off, its fangs bared, and she was clearly helpless.
My first priority was to get Shin Sena out from underneath it, to create some breathing room.
Whine—Growl—
Pushed sideways by my unexpected assault, the wolf emitted a surprised whine before quickly regaining its balance, its powerful legs steadying it.
This time, its piercing, malevolent red eyes locked onto me, recognizing me as the primary threat. It prepared to lunge again.
[Skill, ‘Shackles of Darkness’ is activated.]
I immediately used the skill, extending my hand towards the wolf.
Dark, ethereal chains shot out, wrapping around its limbs, preventing it from moving any further.
This was the only usable skill I had for immediate, non-lethal combat that wouldn’t draw too much attention or raise immediate questions about my true power level; I had to make the most of it. If I used Black Cloud Mist here, as tempting as it was to simply erase the problem, Shin Sena’s body would dissolve without a trace, and explaining that would be far more trouble than it was worth.
“You, you… what are you?”
Shin Sena quickly rolled away from the now immobilized wolf and got to her feet, stumbling slightly, her eyes wide with shock and confusion as she stared at the dark energy binding the creature.
Her voice was laced with disbelief, a stark contrast to her earlier arrogance.
Her gaze, still unable to comprehend what she had just witnessed, then shifted from the shimmering chains to me, then back to the wolf.
“How did it just get thrown back like that? You… you actually threw it? Did you awaken? Just now?”
Her rapid-fire questions, a breathless torrent of astonishment, stung my ears.
She was trying to process too much at once.
“You boasted about showing off your power whenever you felt like it just because you’re an Awakened, but you were a healer?”
I asked, my tone dry, an eyebrow raised. Now that there was no need to hide my true personality, now that the cat was out of the bag, I spoke in my usual casual, slightly sarcastic tone.
I naturally sidestepped the question of whether I had just awakened, leaving it ambiguous, but Shin Sena, still reeling from the events, didn’t seem to notice my evasion.
Her mind was too preoccupied with the immediate shock.
“It really doesn’t suit you,” I added, shaking my head slightly.
Ignoring Shin Sena, who was bristling at my remark, her face reddening slightly at being called out, I instead pulled out my gun.
It was a sleek, dark firearm, designed for Awakened use, a stark contrast to my school uniform. |
Bang!
With a precise shot aimed at its head, a clean, swift action, the wolf, which had been immobilized by the Shackles of Darkness, collapsed with a heavy thud, its glowing eyes fading.
The chains dissipated moments later.
Beyond the massive fallen wolf, its body steaming faintly as it faded, someone was running towards us at high speed, their footsteps pounding on the linoleum.
It was Ban Eun-hyul, his expression a mixture of concern and urgency.
At the other end of the hallway, a few more figures were also sprinting our way: Eun Ba-da, Ji Gang-han, and Han Ji-bin.
The entire Heavenly Kings contingent was arriving.
It seemed I didn’t need to step in anymore; they would handle the remaining threat in the principal’s office.
So I began to put my gun away, holstering it beneath my gym clothes, but just as Ban Eun-hyul came to a screeching halt right in front of the principal’s office, I saw another monster attempting to emerge from the still-broken door behind him, a shadowy, hulking form.
My body instinctively lunged forward, a pure, unthinking reaction.
Before Ban Eun-hyul, who had just turned around, could even react or attack the monster, my fist struck it first, a blur of motion.
It was an impulsive action, having just been in combat, my adrenaline still pumping, my focus solely on neutralizing the threat.
CRASH!
The monster, which had been trying to emerge, was caught completely off guard.
It let out a loud roar of surprise and pain as it was sent flying backward by my punch, smashing into the principal’s office desk with a resounding crack of wood.
And then…
“You… what are you?”
Trapped by my arm, which had inadvertently executed a perfect ‘wall-slam’ as I delivered the punch, Ban Eun-hyul found himself pinned between me and the hallway wall.
He leaned tightly against the wall, his eyes wide with a mix of shock, confusion, and something else I couldn’t quite decipher, looking down at me.
The close proximity was sudden, unexpected, and utterly awkward.
“Whoa… Dana’s got incredible power!”
As I found myself in an awkward pose with Ban Eun-hyul after taking down the monster, a scene that looked straight out of a romance webtoon, Han Ji-bin’s eyes sparkled with mischievous delight as he shouted, clearly amused.
Startled, I quickly withdrew the hand I had placed on the wall, breaking the intimate pose.
An awkward silence instantly settled between us, thicker than the dust settling from the shattered door.
“Did you just do that?”
He stared at me, his sharp eyes, usually so composed, now wide with disbelief, then glanced at the monster I had just sent flying, now slumped against the ruined desk.
His gaze, urging an answer, felt intense, demanding.“Uh… I guess so?”
I mumbled, still slightly flustered by the unexpected ‘wall-slam’ scenario, my cheeks feeling uncomfortably warm.
My mind raced to find a plausible explanation that didn’t reveal too much.