Oppa, You're Pretty Good? - 3

I finally managed to prop up the guy who'd been hit by the Orox. Supporting someone who's still conscious is one thing, but this was on a completely different level. I never knew a limp body could be this heavy.

"Park Minho! You idiot! I told you not to get so worked up!"

"We need to treat him right away. Looks like a fracture."

"Thank you. You saved us. Hey, Minho! Snap out of it!"

The ability users' comrades were frantic, trying to take care of their fallen friend. Was it really okay to just stand around like this? What about the monsters they'd been fighting?

Uuuu—! Uuu—

The Oroxes that had been charging so ferociously just moments ago were now clustered together, milling about in confusion. Thanks to that, the others finally had some breathing room. Reinforcements would arrive soon, too.

Uuuu—

Man, these are the same monsters that were trying to crush people earlier? They just look like oversized cows now.

I realized that was how herd animals always behaved. Lose the leader, and they fall into total chaos, unable to do anything. Time might fix it, but not right now.

More importantly, my trait suddenly activated a moment ago.

It hadn't triggered when I first faced the monsters. In fact, it had been so quiet that I'd nearly screamed "I'm screwed!" several times. But now…

The trait was manifesting perfectly, just like it did with the students at the Academy. I'd assumed both Silver Gatekeeper and its sub-traits only worked inside the Academy. After all, they seemed useful only there. But Third Eye was directly contradicting that assumption. Throwing the boss Orox had been clear proof.

Come to think of it, something felt off even back when I was gaming. My skills shouldn't have been that good…

Uuuu—!

The Oroxes' cries sounded ominous. I turned my head to see the boss I'd sent flying earlier struggling to its feet. It shook its head repeatedly, looked around, and locked eyes with me.

In that moment, I could almost hear the monster's thoughts.

So it was you. The one who hit me.

Grooo—!

The boss Orox stomped the ground and charged at full speed. Even a human running at you would make you go "whoa," but this thing was the size of a dump truck. Normally I'd be terrified and want to dodge, yet the first thought that crossed my mind was, I can handle this.

It hadn't fully absorbed the impact from being thrown. It was still fast, but nowhere near its original speed. I was certain—this was an opponent I could manage.

I picked up the sword dropped by the ability user who'd been hit earlier. The monster didn't use tricks or feints; it was a simple-pattern creature. It couldn't lay traps like A-rank or higher monsters, and it didn't wield abilities like villains, so there was nothing to worry about.

The boss Orox's speed. Its body structure, which I'd seen somewhere before. No matter what, it had no choice but to charge straight at me. All of it clicked together in my head, forming a clear conclusion.

Uoooo—

Not yet. Not yet. If I moved too soon, it would react. I had to wait longer. Closer. Much closer, so it couldn't respond in time.

"D-dodge!"

I ignored the scream—whose, I didn't know. Dodging now would ruin the plan and put me in even greater danger.

Just a little more. Just a little more.

The ground shook harder with each step. The creature that had seemed the size of a compact car was now the size of a bus. For a split second I considered dodging, but I pushed the thought away. If even this monster could be stopped by the Gatekeeper trait, then I had to stop it. That was the only way I'd gain something from this, one way or another. If I failed, I'd die. Or at least be ruined. So I had to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stop it.

The monster was right in front of me. That brief moment felt like an eternity. Its savage eyes, its heavy breathing—I could feel everything clearly. I twisted my body to the side and drove the sword forward with all my strength.

—!!

A strange sensation brushed my fingertips, then vanished. It felt like stabbing something incredibly soft with a blade. I couldn't even register whether it was satisfying or disgusting. All I could think was whether I'd succeeded, whether the strike had landed properly. If I'd failed, how was I supposed to stop an enraged monster?

Thud—!

The ground trembled with a heavy impact. The monster that had seemed ready to charge to the ends of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earth lay collapsed, completely still. Even the rough breathing from earlier was gone.

I'd done it. I'd stopped a monster from reaching people.

"Hiyaaa!! It actually worked?!"

Wait, what? When did that crazy woman get here?

"Stabbing a charging monster in the side is already hard enough, but a one-hit heart strike?"

In that moment, I saw it. Irina's gaze, directed straight at me. It was the exact look a nephew might give after spotting his uncle's plastic models.

"My handsome Seojin oppa?"

Irina suddenly leaned in, shoving her face right up to mine. Watching her, I felt a chill run down my spine—yet at the same time, I couldn't help thinking how genuinely pretty she was. Was I the crazy one?

"You're pretty good. Better than I expected."

"…Should I say thank you?"

"Hmm, I wonder?"

Uu— Uuuu—

The Oroxes that had lost their leader let out mournful cries. Irina's eyebrow twitched once, then she swung her arm without warning.

Crack—!!

…Insane.

I didn't see anything. Literally nothing. She hadn't used shadows like Hyun Sujin or swung a spear like Kwak Hyuk. She'd just swung her arm once, and the monsters exploded.

"Seojin oppa. You're really, really not connected to the Elders, right?"

In this situation, even if I were, I'd probably deny it. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠She was terror incarnate. Even if abilities were called miracles, I'd never heard of someone tearing monsters apart with a single gesture.

Fortunately, I really had no connection to the Elders. If anything, it was the other way around—two of them had taken an interest in me.

"I don't. You already know that. I'm just an ordinary civil servant with nothing special about me."

"Right. Oppa’s right. You're just a civil servant. Hmm, then…"

Irina seemed to be thinking deeply. To me, it looked like she was wondering how to make something explode. No wonder the villains called her the crazy bitch. I had to be careful…

"Want to date me?"

"…Huh?"

"Let's date."

She was seriously, genuinely insane. What kind of nonsense was this all of a sudden? My rational mind was screaming, yet I found myself looking at Irina without realizing it.

…No, seriously. If you're going to be this crazy, at least don't be pretty. Isn't that cheating? Why was she making me hesitate over an answer?

"Ahaha! Just kidding! Am I crazy? Dating someone younger? No, dating an older guy?"

"…"

For a moment, my heart had actually raced. Now I felt like an idiot. I needed to add another entry to the list of crazy women. Mood disorder patient, or something like that.

"Hee. What's this? You looked a little hopeful there."

"I wasn't hoping."

"Really? Well, actually, I do prefer younger guys. It's only natural to want someone younger than me! But! Suddenly, older guys look cool too? So, Seojin oppa! Do you really want to date me?!"

"Get lost. I'm not falling for it again."

"Ah, come on! You really won't date me? Seojin oppa!"

Damn it, please just go away. Where did the truth end and the joke begin? Her mood swings were so unpredictable they were downright arbitrary—rising and vanishing on a whim. And this woman was an S-rank ability user, the strongest in Korea. It was absurd, but also a relief. If she'd been a villain, it would've been the end of the world.

"Ah, I picked up a ton of smells again. So annoying."

Irina's bright smile suddenly twisted into something grotesque. It was so demonic that I genuinely wondered if she had a mood disorder.

"Seojin oppa."

"Yes?"

"What are you doing? Hurry up and take my hand."

She held out her hand and urged me on. Just as I was starting to suspect she was about to pull another weird stunt—

"The reporters will be here soon. A gate appeared despite the suppressor, so this is the scoop of the century. And with the super-powerful, super-beautiful Irina on site, it'll be an even bigger story."

"…So?"

"So what? You're helping me, aren't you? You're not going to ignore my goodwill, right?"

Goodwill? What was she— Ah. I understood. She was offering me a chance to send a warning to "someone" who'd tried to frame me for sexual harassment or assault. Irina didn't casually show closeness to just anyone. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If a photo of me shaking hands with her appeared in tomorrow's news special, that person would have no choice but to abandon their scheme and run.

"There they are! Over there!"

"Irina! Irina-ssi! Irina-nim!!"

Pick one honorific already. Even I was getting a headache listening to them. Watching the reporters swarm like zombies from afar, I finally understood what life was like for skilled, famous ability users.

"…For now, just say you're a capable civil servant."

"For the reporters' questions?"

"Yes. That's best. Keep your answers vague. Or just ignore them."

"What if they twist it into something weird…"

"Then I'll go find them."

Irina spoke with a serious expression, her smile completely gone. I was genuinely shocked. Seeing Irina without a smile, speaking so gravely—it was unimaginable. And the fact that even she found these reporters insufferable… The scoop-obsessed press really was something else.

"Alright, let's put on a little performance. Our handsome, surprisingly skilled, but still forever-alone Seojin oppa."

"I'm not forever alone."

"Everyone who says that is forever alone."

After saying that, Irina smiled again.

"Irina-nim! What happened? We heard a gate appeared!"

"Were you here by chance? Please give us a comment!"

"Did the Association know in advance and respond?"

Irina didn't answer the reporters' questions. She simply kept shaking my hand and smiling. I tried to smile along, but I couldn't manage a natural expression. Maybe it was nerves from being in front of reporters, or maybe it was because of Irina. How was I supposed to smile as naturally as she did…

…Oh. Ohhh! Ooooooh!!