'Why is that bastard suddenly acting crazy!'
Code Red, Academy internal gate and monster appearance. As soon as that warning broadcast came out, Lee Hyunwoo instantly ran off.
Was he originally such a strange character? Not at all? He's crazy about training and examinations, but that's all. He's absolutely not someone who'd shout 'Wahoo!' when monsters or villains are in front.
If it were Irina, who's crazy about combat, that would be different.
The Lee Hyunwoo I know is a guy with his head screwed on right.
Regarding combat, he prioritizes thorough efficiency rather than reckless methods. That's why he acts like that in examinations with me, planning to extract everything. There's no reason for such a Lee Hyunwoo to jump in like that...
"Oryat! Finish quickly! I have to go take my examination, you monster bastards!"
"I was supposed to examine and train right away! It's completely messed up! Damn!"
You bastard. Could that really be the reason?
Just because he can't take his examination when he should. Because they're making him miss training time. Getting angry at something others would say doesn't matter?
'I take back what I just said.'
Right, I take it back. His head screwed on right my ass. That bastard was crazy too. Why are there no normal people around me?
Shaking my head, I ran toward where Lee Hyunwoo was rampaging. Students and professors were already in the middle of combat there.
And among them was a familiar face, Kang Hana too.
"We professors will handle here, so rather than combat, focus on student evacuation..."
Another roar was heard and thick vibration was felt.
No way, right? I thought, turning around, and damn it. As if completely ignoring suppressors now, another gate was opening.
Not one or two, but multiple gate appearances? Even with suppressors?
'Fuck! Isn't this the disaster beginning part that only appeared in second semester!'
I raised the protagonist's level, reinforced new forces. Even held onto those who would leave and made them solid allies.
I was feeling a little relieved having done that. As expected, nothing in the world goes as planned.
...Complaints end here for now. Let's focus on the situation at hand.
"Professor! Please handle the rear front."
"Yes? But Examiner. Right now in front too..."
"What's most important right now is not letting anyone become isolated. I'll handle this side with the students, so please take care of students who might be left behind first."
Gate appearances aren't all finished, and we don't know when they might continue. In contrast, the Academy is wide and there are many students, so it's easy to lose someone.
To prevent that, those who are few in number but have good mobility need to step forward quickly. The faculty was suitable for such work.
"...Understood. Then Examiner, we'll trust you and go."
Being named seemed to have some effect here too. Look how the Academy professors, who could be called elite, immediately agreed. At this level, shouldn't I bow in thanks to Kwak Hyeok for letting me get beaten up?
More than that, why undead monsters of all things? The most unpleasant opponents. They're not particularly strong or tough monsters. But they're guys I just want to avoid because they're screwed up from appearance.
I swung thinking to cut, but a ghoul just gets completely crushed. ...If this stuff touches skin, it won't cause problems, right?
There wasn't such a setting, but seeing this naturally brings one thought. The point that their byproducts cause inflammation or contamination when touching the body. Plus, the stench is so realistic my head throbs.
You can see other students are also enduring disgust. They seem to be holding on somewhat thanks to burning with flame magic. Without that, they would have all collapsed for other reasons, not injuries.
Among them, what worried me most was still Suhyeon. Her talent and base are overwhelming, but her still gentle personality concerns me. But as if saying that's unfounded worry, she was cutting down undead monsters.
'...Suhyeon is doing better than expected.'
Not caring even when stench rises and disgusting byproducts splash. It was quite contrasting to several female students being horrified. Her eyes even seem to glitter... this must be my mistake, right?
Glancing around, I see Lee Hyunwoo grinning. Why is that guy smiling like that again? It's kind of scary seeing him like that.
"Having to aim precisely at heads. This seems like pretty good training! To think there's actual combat that improves accuracy . Undead monsters aren't all bad!"
Should I say congratulations or something? Are you happy, bastard? Other students don't seem to be?
"Hoobae! Stop causing a fuss up front and close the distance! The monsters aren't finished!"
Kang Hana, who was busy with magic, encouraging students, and grasping the battle situation, pours nagging on Lee Hyunwoo. What's surprising is seeing Lee Hyunwoo respond with "Yes!" and listen.
"How is it, Examiner?"
"You're doing well. Very good, Kang Hana."
"Yes? Uh, well... th-thank you! But not that!"
What? I thought you wanted praise so I gave it, but that wasn't it. Sorry. I feel like my standards have been adjusted to Suhyeon lately. The so-called 'praise makes even the Red Witch dance!' strategy.
"How does it look? This situation, I mean."
Kang Hana was asking about the current situation. To her question, I thought very briefly, then spoke honestly.
"Not bad so far. So far."
At my answer, Kang Hana nods as if she expected that.
"As expected, Examiner is also feeling uneasy about something?"
"There's no law saying that phenomenon from last time won't happen this time."
Gates appeared ignoring suppressors, and not just one or two but several. But then an event where monsters appear having grown one stage. There's no guarantee the 'Great Change' symptoms won't appear.
'No. It's not just no guarantee. High probability of appearing. Very high...'
As soon as I think that, a student who was fighting well gets knocked backward. Turning my head, I see a disgusting ghoul as expected, hmm.
No, that's not right. I can't call that a ghoul. How should I put it? Right. Wouldn't it be if Hulk became a ghoul? Or maybe a ghoul went to the gym a lot and bulked up.
"Cr-crazy! What is that!"
"Avoid it! Waaahhh!!"
A guy at least four times bigger than normal ghouls charges at students.
Right, that's another difference from existing ghouls. It can run. Wasn't slowness a kind of trademark for undead monsters? But that bulked-up ghoul showed very fast movement as if it didn't give a damn about that.
This guy trying to make me into human jerky is like that too.
'It's not overwhelmingly fast. But...'
Ah, this is just my evaluation by my standards. For ordinary students, it would feel like a completely new monster. Size, durability, speed, and even disgustingness all improved.
The one fortunate point to mention—
Despite all the hard bulking up, the head being a weak point is the same. Thanks to that, if you properly aim for the head, processing it wasn't difficult at all.
"Nothing to panic about! Just aim for the head the same way and it's over, everyone!"
As soon as I defeated the bulked-up ghoul, Kang Hana shouts loudly. Then immediately casts a magic to assist students.
It got bigger. That also means its center of gravity became more precarious. They don't have even the balance sense of normal monsters, let alone humans. You could say they can get back up if they fall, but in combat, who would wait for that?
When the bulked-up ghoul falls, other magic-type students cast flame magic. The power is just so-so, but enough to deal significant damage. Close combat students rushed at the ghoul that became a good magic target after falling.
Fortunately, unlike initial worries, they're doing well. Students who were floundering and struggling seem to have adapted somewhat now. Even students who were about to retreat were returning to the front lines.
Right. Originally people are like that. Watching others' actions and reading the situation. If everyone runs away together? It's okay. But me running away alone? That's not allowed. Humans are social animals. Therefore, they instinctively hate being socially buried.
"Don't overdo it, just one attack at a time!"
When everyone's gritting their teeth and fighting, running away isn't just disqualifying as an ability user. Beyond that, you'd just be treated as a nobody by people you know.
"Whew! Ha! Examiner! This place seems finished too, how about we check other places!"
Lee Hyunwoo, who had been excitedly cutting down undead monsters, approached. Right after, Suhyeon also stood beside me with just a slightly disgusted expression.
"I also agree with hoobae, Examiner. Let's finish here and go to other places..."
"Stay here. This can't be the end."
At my words, Kang Hana and Lee Hyunwoo tilt their heads.
Clearly the surrounding monsters are all being subdued. The threatening bulked-up ghouls are also down to just a few. Anyone else would show such a reaction if I said this.
"Something big is coming. The real thing."
I can feel it. Faint but definite vibration of something. Gates seem finished with this, monsters mostly defeated too. Some sense is telling me. This is exactly what a 'cliché' is.
- The Third Eye activated.
'Right, just like now.'
There was a reason the quiet Gatekeeper trait manifested belatedly.