010 – The Ugly Ducks Enjoy Seeing Each Other’s Faces # 4
“Teacher, is it alright?”
In the snow-white control room, the students were marked as dots on the hologram-like video hovering in the air.
It was a visualization of the locations of Yeosago Academy students within the Great Labyrinth, tracked via smartwatches and drones.
Active investigator Moon Hyun-a had taken off her goggles and was carefully observing the students.
Among them, the most concerning were the members of the team “No Leftovers Day,” a group made up of students not chosen by any of the ace students.
“Teacher, is it alright with these students? They’re heading towards the stream where demons dwell. The beasts residing there are ‘Nose’ dogs. Though their aggression has been dulled, still…”
“Even so, a demon is a demon. Regular people can’t even endure the toxic aura they emit without fainting. Then why are these guys heading there? Did they deliberately choose the place where demons live?”
The instructor, Kang Cheol-min, was aware that the team of Geum Tae-sung and transfer student Hanamjin had begun their practical training on the cliff.
Due to the time consumed by climbing, their exploration lagged approximately thirty minutes behind the other groups.
Attempting to acquire the artifacts under such circumstances was akin to starting a short race five seconds behind the competitors.
“Still, here they are, having altered their course to hunt demons in hope of catching up. For each demon k*ll, there’s a total reward of two million points, which could be equally shared among the group as four hundred thousand points per individual. I’m not sure who proposed it, but this plan is…”
Kang Cheol-min let out a hearty laugh, and soon Moon Hyun-a joined in.
“Pfft, a truly reckless and foolish plan. Those mutants may not be aggressive, but even the instructor team had difficulty capturing them alive. They’re quick and cunning.”
Moon Hyun-a recalled the experience of capturing the dog possessing the ‘Nose’ concept.
Although its eyes were scorched and it had lost its vision, its sense of hearing and smell remained sharp.
Even the slightest noise would send it fleeing, making the capture process extremely challenging.
“To be honest, students at the third-year level wouldn’t be able to k*ll it anyway. That dog will escape before they even get close.”
It was extremely difficult for students who were not yet adults to defeat a demon.
The demons in the Great Labyrinth were not placed to be defeated but to act as obstacles, demonstrating the timing for escape to students.
This was a form of harsh reality check meant to teach students about their limits and boundaries.
“But, if this team manages to defeat the demon using their own strength, it would indicate a result similar to that of ‘Supernova.'”
‘Supernova’ was a term used to describe students who, despite being young, possessed talents comparable or superior to those of active investigators.
Moon Hyun-a didn’t believe that the left-behind students could achieve that level of brightness.
“Especially not the problematic students from Class D who are filled with variables, as opposed to our elite students from Class F?”
However, Instructor Kang Cheol-min had a different opinion.
“I have someone in mind among that group. That guy will become a ‘Supernova’ sooner or later, I mean he’ll earn the right to wear the Night Brooch.”
“Wow, if Instructor is confident enough to say that… I can also start getting my hopes up. As a matter of fact, I have an idea of who it might be.”
Moon Hyun-a’s gaze shifted to one of the boys caught on the drone camera. This was Geum Tae-sung, who, despite being rated fourth in potential during the preliminary evaluation, was demoted to Class D due to his background, despite his potential fitting perfectly in Class F.
As for the others… at least Moon Hyun-a, as the head teacher of Class F, thought they weren’t worth much.
# # #
I called out quietly but firmly.
“Look at that dog! Its eyes look like they’ve been burned, right? That means it can’t see. That’s why it’s not rushing at us but moving around unsurely.”
When animals undergo awakening, like humans, they become demons.
Just as humans who grasp concepts awaken with special abilities, the same goes for demons.
“Nose. That thing—it’s its nose.”
In my view, the demon in front of us likely possessed concepts related to ‘nose’ or ‘smell’ or ‘olfaction.’ Its nose was exceptionally large, making it easy to identify intuitively.
“After losing its vision from an injury, it seems to have awakened to a concept that made up for its lost sight. Abilities usually stem from a strong desire, right? The inability to see was likely very inconvenient for it. So, it opened its eyes to a new ability.”
“So what does that mean?”
In response to Chang-sik the Candy Maker’s question, I felt a sigh coming on.
If I said this much, even a fool should understand, but I suppose the fear of standing in front of a demon has paralyzed everyone’s reasoning.
“The smell of boiling candy will make our scent faint. The strong scent of sweetness around us effectively seals its nose. That’s why the dog hasn’t attacked us, right?”
“C… Could that be true…!”
“There’s only its hearing left to deal with, and this is where Deoksun has to step up. Deoksun, you previously mentioned you could make the surrounding sounds quieter, right?”
“Deoksun? It’s Deok-hee actually…”
Though the girl corrected her name, she kept alternating her gaze between the demon and us.
“You can silence the sounds, right… But only within a ten-meter radius around you, and for about twenty seconds maximum.”
Ten meters and twenty seconds? That’s plenty enough. An unexpected attack in a soundless and scentless environment would surely fluster even a demon to the point of discombobulation.
“So, Deoksun, it’s all on you. Two million points at stake! Divided equally, that’s four hundred thousand points per person! You’re our key player!”
“…”
With a trembling grip, the introverted girl clutched the edge of her skirt, seemingly aware of everyone’s gaze, shaking even more.
It might take a bit of time for her to respond.
“I… I can’t do it…”
Shiver-shiver-shiver…
Deoksun was trembling like a featherless duck in winter. Her sweat-soaked clothes and heavy breathing made her seem utterly devoid of courage.
And why wouldn’t she be?
We are the leftovers.
Garbage deemed unnecessary and discarded.
There’s no way she’d have self-confidence.
“Deok-hee.”
Hiss.
At that moment, Geum Tae-sung grabbed Deoksun’s hand, surprising her.
“Eek… Wha…?”
“I always calm down when someone holds my hand when I’m trembling like crazy. Does it help?”
“Uh, uhuhuhuh…?”
“Deok-hee, let’s give it a try. Since Hanamjin has multiple abilities, this might turn out differently than the last practice. Besides, we don’t have anything to lose, right?”
“Uh…”
Was it because of Geum Tae-sung’s sharp and handsomely featured face, or perhaps because of his gentle voice, in contrast to his thug-like exterior? Though even more nervous than before, Deoksun seemed to sense something.
“…I’ll try. But only for twenty seconds!”
Wobble wobble wobble.
Once she made her decision, Deoksun began to dance, in a bizarre and peculiar manner that reminded me of a child trying to win New Year’s money from their grandfather through antics.
I found it agonizing just watching her.
Her face, visible through her long hair, was so red it seemed like it might burst, and sweat dripped from her chin onto the ground.
Still, what amazed everyone was that it was as if she had donned a heavy headset, erasing all noise around us.
“…”
“…”
Everyone opened their mouths in surprise, trying to call out, but they looked like fish flopping in an aquarium, as no sound could be heard. Complete silence.
Bang.
Even when I clapped my hands forcefully, there was no sound to be heard.
“Wow, this is incredible. If I had this kind of ability, the difficulty of frost-proofing potato fields would’ve been reduced!”
I signaled the group with gestures.
Still, no one moved, only standing cowering.
Of course, approaching a living rabid dog might explain the frozen feet.
I understood but was still exasperated, so I took the first step.
One step. Two steps.
The ‘Nose Dog’ didn’t notice me approach but was happily licking the hot sugar syrup pot with its nose inside.
What an idiot!
I slowly moved behind it and kicked it with all my might right where it shouldn’t be kicked.
Crash!
The big mutt—!
Silent howls filled the air as it rolled over.
(Name: Blackie
Condition: <Shock> – He hasn’t realized what’s happened. Experiencing immense pain as if the whole world has fallen apart!)
Great!
Taking advantage of the moment, I kicked it again hard.
Pwaaaang!
Flung by my jump-enhanced kick, it tumbled far and hit the ground, much to everyone’s relief.
“Attack it all you guys! Focus on the groin!”
I yelled, though, of course, no one could hear it, but I assumed they understood.
Everyone surrounded the dog, lost in combat, pounding and stomping it relentlessly.
Tramp-tramp-tramp!
Just like imperial powers plundering their colonies!
With smiles of hope overcoming their once-tense faces!
Just like that, the demon slaying was—
about to end when…
Dunk, zzzzzt, cruch, crack!
A strange event unfolded.
Just as it absorbed blows, inflamed wounds appeared on the dog’s body, and ‘eyeballs’ started to form. They looked like patterns on a peacock’s tail.
Pwaaabba!
The dog, which had been taking hits, suddenly realized us with all those eyeballs and quickly leaped back to gain distance.
Startled as the situation shifted, we were left speechless.
“Mutli-concept possession…?”
Had Deok-hee stopped dancing?
The surrounding sounds returned.
Gasping for air, Deok-hee exclaimed,
“The demon awakened a second ability! It seems to involve the ‘Eye’ concept!”
Nose.
Eye.
A rather related set of abilities.
But why did this demon have to awaken a second concept at this moment?
d*mn bad luck!
“…Maybe it’s because of me!”
A distressed Baek Yeo-ul. Was it her ‘Bad Luck’ that caused this situation?
Grrrrrrrr!
The nose dog snarled, saliva dripping as it glared at us.
A single bite from it would probably result in rabies.
Everyone was too stunned to speak when the dog made the first move.
“Whaaaat!?”
“Kyaeek!”
The target of the dog’s attack was Baek Yeo-ul.
Among all these people, she was targeted first. Truly the icon of misfortune.
If we stayed this way, Baek Yeo-ul would be severely injured by the demon.
This was my cue to step in. To unveil my hidden weapon!
“Everyone, when I give the signal, attack again!”
Whoosh! Huuhh!
Loudly signaling, I quickly stripped off my pants.
“Mad pervert! Showing your true colors, huh!”
“Kyyyaaa!”
As the girls screamed, my ultimate weapon was revealed to the world. My flashy tiger-patterned underwear, priced at ten thousand won.
The dog’s multitude of eyes, heading for Baek Yeo-ul, abruptly locked onto me.
(Name: Blackie
Condition: <Focus> – It’s intently focused on you!)
Now! This is it!
I jumped with all my might towards the dog.
“Yaaaaaah!”
Startled by my underwear, the dog took a step back at the last moment, but my ‘Jump’ was fast enough to traverse a hundred meters in three seconds.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
In no time, I caught up and grabbed the dog, applying a sleeper hold by squeezing its neck with my hands and its torso with my legs.
Grrrrrr!
Still, this mutt resisted ferociously, using its teeth and claws to tear at me.
d*mn! It hurts like hell, but I have to endure it!
“Everyone, attack! Smash it hard! Now! I can’t hold on for long! Now!”
“Nam Jin!”
A loud shout from Geum Tae-sung.
He ran over and started hitting the dog with punches and kicks while I continued to get hit.
“Aaaaagh!”
Of course, a former thug!
d*mn, the punches are brutal!
“Sorry!”
“That’s okay! Don’t mind it! Smash this guy hard! Smash him! That’s twenty million points! No giving up! Never! We got it! Gaahhhhh!”
Tramp-tramp-tramp-tramp!
The dog struggled.
I had it pinned.
A unilateral brutality encircling it.
“d*e, d*e, dieee!”
With a fierce cry, Baek Yeo-ul leapt into the air.
Whoosh, pahk!
Her kick struck the demon right on its groin just as my groin got hit simultaneously.
Grrrrrrrruuugh!
“Grrrrrrrruuugh!”
The dog demon spit out the hot syrup through its mouth while flailing and splattering filth all over me, lying directly beneath it.
“Aaaah, smell!”
In addition to the excruciating pain in my groin from being splattered with filth, this was truly atrocious luck.
But I could feel the tension in the dog’s body dissipating. Simultaneously, my strength began to wane as well.
“We did it! We actually did it! We defeated the demon! What the elites in Class F do, we did! We! Together!”
Celebrating greatly while gazing at the demon’s lifeless body was Choi Chang-sik.
Baek Yeo-ul offered her hand to me, caked with filth.
“Hey, are you alright? I didn’t mean to kick you!”
To be honest, I feel like I might collapse.
But gaining two million points was a great stroke of luck, wasn’t it?
This means I’ve taken a step closer to my lady Seugal.
Still, there was something more pressing at hand.
We need to claim our ‘reward’ now we’ve killed the demon.
“Guys, there’s no time to celebrate! We need to collect the thing from the demon’s corpse!”
“What thing?”
“What thing? What are you saying?”
It’s treasure, of course.
In the collapsed world, it was common knowledge. But evidently, the research on ‘demons’ in this age was not sufficient yet. Everyone seemed to be unfamiliar.
Since they don’t know, it means I can quietly take it for myself, right?
