Chapter 30

030 – Speed 120Km

In life, plans often change.

You might intend to just take a single bite, but when you come to your senses, the bowl is empty, or you might think, “I’ll just watch this one video then go to sleep,” only to realize the sun has risen when you regain awareness. Such occurrences are quite frequent, aren’t they?

“Life is originally nothing but a continuous improvisation, isn’t it? Therefore, from now on, we’re going beyond reconnaissance and investigation. We’re changing our operation to ‘extermination.'”

As to why Samajun, Prince Juhyen’s lackey, was in this abandoned factory, it’s unclear, but it was certain that he was somehow connected to Yeomhun, known as “Yeomra.”

It’s impossible for me to just stand by and do nothing if a top-level wanted criminal is in this abandoned factory.

Just then, Deoksun nervously began to speak.

“That… but I’ve heard a 3rd-class ability user can produce firepower equivalent to that of a battalion alone. A battalion is a subdivision of the military where tactical independent actions become possible…”

“Miss Deok-hee, your analogy isn’t quite getting across. Can you elaborate in simpler terms?”

“A battalion captain is usually a major. It’s the same rank as Captain Kang Cheol-min of our Class D… In fact, the composition of our Class D is more or less battalion-level… A 3rd-class ability user is similar in firepower to all of Class D…”

In other words, engaging with someone who possesses 3rd-class level abilities would be the same as facing off against the entirety of Class D.

To be able to project such immense firepower alone—human potential is truly astonishing.

Of course, upon closer inspection, there was a fatal “error” in Deoksun’s analogy, and it would be better to show rather than explain it verbally.

“…What should we do? Hanamjin, what are you planning to do?”

Bangdaengi looked at my expression.

Judging from what Deoksun had said, it occurred to him that rushing into this abandoned factory would be a reckless and dangerous move.

‘The probability is high that Yeomra’s allies are stationed inside this factory.’

There was no guarantee that Yeomra was the only 3rd-class ability user in this abandoned factory.

According to information from Seugal and Yu Yeo-reum, the illegal organization witnessed around here, known as “Villains,” was composed of psychopathic terrorists from the first graduating class of Yeonsa High School.

Meaning, it was a collective entity.

At the very least, we should bear in mind the possibility that there could be one or two more individuals akin to Yeomra.

If there are other 3rd-class awakening individuals with battalion-level firepower, does it mean we might be talking about regiment-level or perhaps brigade-level?

A group of 3rd-class awakening individuals—this weight was apparently quite significant for high school students who haven’t even graduated yet.

I could feel the tension and fear spreading across everyone’s faces like watercolor paint on blank paper.

Fear?

What’s so alarming about battalion or regiment-level anyway?

“Hey! Don’t worry, everyone! We’ve got the national authority backing us, right? This is a fight we are guaranteed to win!”

“My friend, national-level backing? Did you have such a thing? What exactly is your backing?”

“112!”

In a destroyed world, one might not understand, but in this current society with well-established systems, reporting to the police is a lawful right and duty of citizens.

Some people might derogatorily refer to the police as useless bureaucrats, but if you live through a post-apocalypse, you’ll realize how much you’ll long for those Officer Sirs…

“The police are the walking sticks of the people. I can say this with confidence.”

“…Oh…”

Baek Yeo-ul’s round mouth opened.

Something in her expression was off.

“Bangdaengi, why?”

“Well, I never thought you would suggest calling the police. I figured you’d suggest burning down the factory. You actually have a pretty common-sense side to you? I thought you’d want to burn it.”

To capture a 3rd-class awakening individual by setting fire to the abandoned factory?

This could also have been considered a viable method and was indeed something I considered in detail. However, the issue is our opponent, “Yeomra.”

He’s the type who would joyfully walk around a burning department store while people burn, showing remarkable fire resistance.

I still occasionally see in my dreams the eerie laughter from behind the gas mask.

“Fire-based abilities are indeed powerful. But, they have fatal weaknesses, especially in this stifling 21st century where the law and system are sturdy. We must exploit that.”

“Weakness…?”

Grrr-.

When Bangdaengi tilted her head in confusion, several small trucks appeared in front of the abandoned factory.

“What the…?”

Who let out the startled remark?

It sounded like Bangdaengi.

And I could empathize with why.

Samajun and a few other shadowy figures including “Yeomra” swiftly darted from within the abandoned factory, boarding the trucks quickly.

Grrr-.

As the van disappeared into the distance, the thought occurred to me that I might lose this rare opportunity if I stayed put, making my mouth foam at the thought of missing it.

“Changsik! I’ll give you my card, call this number and inform them of what just happened! Just mention my name, and we’ll find a way through this!”

“Nam Jin! What exactly do you intend to do? They’ve already all boarded the vehicle!”

“I’ll chase down those cars to buy time, while you all use the number on the card to call for help and wait!”

—

“Ah, d*mn it, how much longer are we gonna keep hiding around like this? It’s disgusting to keep moving our base. How about deploying us somewhere better? Hotels, perhaps, would be nice.”

“Yeomhun, are you serious? Because of your poor handling of business two years ago, we all ended up on the wanted list. Do you think hotels are an option? Just shut up and stay quiet.”

Grrrrrr-.

Inside the violently shuddering small truck,

Samajun, a student from Class F of Yeonsa High School, sat uncomfortably wedged between a man and a woman.

The people sitting next to him were all members of the infamous terrorist group, the “Villainers,” also known as Super Villains.

Having received detailed explanations from his father, an executive at a broadcasting company, regarding what the “Villainers” had done and what they were capable of, Samajun couldn’t help but feel both fear and admiration.

“Seems like the characters you see in movies.”

Samajun was an awakening individual.

In fact, a super-elite possessing the concept of “explosion.”

The concept of explosion that arose from his rebellion whenever he heard his nagging father’s drunken ramblings, thinking “I just want to burn everything.”

Samajun truly and without a doubt believed he was a chosen person, the protagonist of the world.

However, after entering Yeonsa High, Samajun began to think he might not be the protagonist after all. The numerous “walls” he encountered led to his frustration and disappointment.

And recently—

“Hanam Jin that punk spread that bizarre video all over. Old fogies start yelling at me. Prince Juhyen that guy suddenly stopped taking my calls. d*mn bastards, you’ll see.”

Samajun wanted to regain his sense of specialness.

Thus, the lunatics in “Villains” who acted out like real-life movie villains seemed like the coolest senior figures in his eyes.

“Hey, high school kid, you have a fire-based ability like me, right?”

At the words of Yeomra, Samajun was startled.

The once celebrated fire-based ability user, Yeomhun, showing interest in him?

Samajun was surprised but quickly regained his composure. Perhaps this was an opportunity to learn the secrets and techniques from a senior with similar abilities.

“I… I possess the concept of “explosion.”

“Explosion”? Wow, simple yet powerful. But you must have some terrible personality issues? What kind of thinking leads someone to yearn strongly for “explosion”? Are you a psychopath?”

“Well, that’s…”

“I am “flame.” There was a time when I wanted to burn to d*ath all those delinquents who were choking me.

Swoosh- “Yeomra – Yeomhun” revealed the burn marks on his neck by pushing aside his hair covering most of his neck. Samajun quickly realized the frightening holes were cigarette burns.

Grrr-.

At that moment, the line of advancing small trucks split. One heading into the city, and the one Samajun was in made a loop back into a neighborhood filled with old vacant houses.

“d*mn, we are being sent to a twenty-minute walk from a convenience store for another stupid stakeout? Why should I endure this kind of treatment? -Sob-.”

Already annoyed with the monotonous surveillance, Yeomhun pulled out his asthma inhaler and took a puff.

They drove in circles through the quiet neighborhood meaninglessly, over and over.

“Such a backward district. Whose tail are we supposed to be following again?”

Yeomhun could not endure the boredom.

Then, his gaze fell upon the high school student nervously sitting beside him, neatly dressed and exuding refinement.

While he didn’t recognize the brand, they were undoubtedly high-end items.

“Thinking about it, those who bullied me were also rich kids whose fathers were company presidents or city councilors. So, no matter how much I reported or told teachers, nothing changed. How about you?”

“Eh?”

“Didn’t you love bullying others when you were younger? Aren’t you the successful type? Your class at Yeonsa High is F, isn’t it? Isn’t it usually only the wealthy kids who end up in F class? The D class is for the dirt-poor.”

Samajun was tense and flustered.

He wasn’t sure what would happen if he answered incorrectly.

“Well, the F and D class division isn’t based on background, but…”

“Ugh?”

“I… well, I think I was rather the bullied side. Do you know the Imperial Group? Their son, Prince Juhyen, he almost constantly harassed me like a bread shuttle, you know…”

“Bread shuttle?”

“Offering me pocket money, insisting I carry his bag in exchange for steak house gift cards… frankly, my self-respect was utterly damaged each time I took the money…”

“d*mn it, how can you put up with that?”

Sssshh-.

Yeomhun rested his arm on Samajun’s shoulder and whispered into his trembling ear.

“You know what, you. Can I be that bread shuttle? Let me do that. Carrying bags in return for steak house gift cards? That kind of bread shuttle gig, I want to do that.”

Hee hee hee-.

Just as everyone in the truck burst into awkward laughter at Yeomhun’s absurd proposal, he pulled something from his pocket and handed it to Samajun.

It was a pebble-sized object.

“This is called a ‘Concept Stone.’ We’re in the middle of heavy research on it right now. There might be a teensy bit of… side effects, but, with this, even that Prince Juhyen guy you detest so much—”

Bang! Suddenly, something collided with the mini-truck.

Frontal impact. Everyone was momentarily disoriented from the unexpected event as the truck did a somersault-like roll over into the air.

Kaboom, Boom!

“d*mn it, what the hell? Oof.”

Creak-.

Yeomra, who got out of the crumbled truck door, and soon after, Samajun struggled to escape the overturned vehicle.

In front of them, standing upright on the ground, was a man.

From his experience, Yeomra instantly recognized that this man had possessed a tremendous power and crashed into the car.

“Hey, who are you? Oh, Samajun, is this girl you mentioned, Yu Yeo-reum? I heard she’s some sort of errand boy, but that’s a guy.”

“That, that person… it’s not Yu Yeo-reum…”

Samajun couldn’t understand why Hanamjin, the high school boy he started disliking the most, suddenly appeared.

Hanamjin, brushing off the dust on his legs, said:

“I scouted around this area thoroughly this morning; no one lives here. So, no matter how loudly you scream now, no one will come to help.”

“What? What kind of nonsense is that.”

As Yeomhun rose to his feet—

“Problem, how fast in km/h is someone running 100 meters in 3 seconds?”

“Huh—?”

Suddenly, an enormous foot loomed in front of Yeomhun’s face.

Zzzzzing! A loud noise accompanied as Yeomhun’s body soared up into the air.

It felt like getting hit by a car speeding on the highway, everything spun.

An unexpected ambush that was too quick for even the experienced Yeomhun to handle.

“d*mn, is this guy a speed-type Awakened One?”

The problem came next.

The male student aimed a kick at Yeomhun, who had fallen to the ground, aiming between his legs.

Despite being a villain, as a fellow man, his “empathy” kicked in, making it hard to harm or destroy the groin.

“Ultimate Move, Hanamjin Kiiiiiiick!!!”

The speed was 120 km/h.

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