Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: True Ancestor Ameris
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It had been over two hours since we'd been waiting in front of the barbed wire fence cutting through the Ghoul Field.
The clock already read past 12, and most of the students looked fed up with just standing around.
"Damn it. How long are we gonna stand here?"
"Whether it's the Citrus Field or the Ghoul Field, just let us in already."
"You wanna rush into a place like that? I'd rather they just feed us quick."
As the small complaints started bubbling up, Professor Kang Geom-seon glanced at his watch and spoke up, addressing us.
"Focus, cadets. What I'm about to explain is directly tied to your safety."
At Professor Kang Geom-seon's words, the rowdy students instantly fixed their gazes on him, as if the noise had never happened.
"I'll now explain this joint training exercise. This one will be a bit different from the boot camps you've heard about or already experienced."
Professor Kang Geom-seon looked over at Instructor Yoo Chae-hwa, who nodded in response.
At the same time, she fiddled with her smartwatch, and alarms started going off on the students' wrists, signaling incoming data.
"What I just sent you is a map."
A few students murmured at her words.
"A map? What's with the map all of a sudden?"
"No idea. Maybe they want us to go camping or something."
Ignoring the whispers, Instructor Yoo Chae-hwa began her explanation.
"There'll be a point marked in red on the map."
Sure enough, checking the map revealed a red dot.
'Near the deepest part of the Ghoul Field, huh.'
"That's your destination. Get there within three days, by any means necessary. You'll be scored based on your route and arrival order. Of course, any materials you collect along the way are yours to keep for academic purposes."
Her bold declaration essentially greenlit unlimited material gathering.
The students started buzzing at Instructor Yoo Chae-hwa's words, and soon a model-student-looking third-year girl voiced her anxiety.
"Isn't this the deepest part? It seems way too dangerous..."
In response, a burly guy sneered loudly.
"How do you plan to become a hunter if you're scared of a few ghouls? If you're chicken, just sit it out."
Baek A-rin frowned at his words and whispered to me.
"That's the former vice-captain of Predation. Such a barbarian—totally not my type."
"He looks like a total meathead."
Erina seemed to agree a bit with her assessment.
"Don't you like strong guys? He seems pretty tough."
When I teased Erina mischievously, she glared and snapped back.
"Shut your trap. Shib-shi-woo."
Yeah, should've kept my mouth shut—now I've just earned myself some curses.
As the students' clamor grew, another one who seemed to share the girl's concerns asked,
"What's the point of a training like this?"
Professor Kang Geom-seon paused for a moment at the question, then chuckled.
"Haha! Cadets these days have changed so much. Back in my time, we just did whatever we were told—'good is good,' and trained our asses off!"
""...""
The students' mood turned awkward in an instant at Professor Kang Geom-seon's words.
"Just kidding. Guess it wasn't funny."
Professor Kang Geom-seon cleared his throat awkwardly a few times before continuing.
"This operation is training to prepare for a large-scale dungeon break."
The students started murmuring again at his statement.
"Dungeon break?"
"Exactly. In the event of a massive dungeon break, the first ones deployed would be elites like you. Civilians and private sectors can't handle the high-grade monsters deep inside. This is prep for that."
"But dungeon breaks don't really happen that often..."
Professor Kang Geom-seon shot back sharply at the student's question.
"Can you really be so sure? What if it happens—are you ready to take responsibility?"
His words silenced everyone, as if they'd all lost their voices.
Fair enough. It was obvious why the academy had suddenly ramped up to such harsh training.
'They've gotten wary of large-scale dungeon breaks.'
In the original story, anomalous gates started popping up in droves right after Lee Seong-hyeon appeared.
'The place where I got the Empty Skillbook was an anomalous gate too, after all.'
Of course, Inferno Clan, in charge of Seoul's security, doesn't want to advertise it. Most anomalous gates get handled in secret.
But separately, they want to train the elites heading into fieldwork next year on anomalous gates.
'The Ghoul Field's perfect for that.'
Jeju Island was so overrun during its dungeon break that it's hard to even pinpoint when it started.
Ideal spot to simulate a massive break.
And yet, most creatures on the island are mid-to-low tier ghouls, manageable for students.
Can't ask for a better training ground.
'As long as no unexpected accidents happen.'
As I mulled that over, Baek A-rin, who'd been muttering to herself, turned to me.
"I figured it'd be rough, but making us trek right into the heart of the Ghoul Field? They must be prepping for something."
"It's definitely harsh."
"Even camping in a place like this..."
Baek A-rin shook her head.
Yeah, she might not show it much, but she's a sheltered young lady. Roughing it in the Ghoul Field probably doesn't appeal.
I flashed her a thumbs-up.
"Don't worry. Big bro here's got full-setup camping ready."
"What're you talking about?"
As Baek A-rin tilted her head in confusion, Instructor Yoo Chae-hwa's voice rang out.
"Exactly 30 minutes from now, clubs will enter the Ghoul Field through separate zones. This is your final check time."
At her words, the cocky Predation vice guy piped up.
"What about food? You're supposed to feed us here, right?"
Cocky, but not wrong. The schedule clearly listed lunch.
But in K-Academy training, expecting that stuff is for fools.
Professor Kang Geom-seon laughed heartily at him and pointed to his left with a finger.
"Isn't there a five-star restaurant right over there?"
"Five-star restaurant...?"
His finger pointed beyond the barbed wire.
"From this moment, you're on your own for clothing, food, and shelter. Faculty only steps in if your life is at stake."
""Th-that's...""
Sighs erupted from students here and there at his declaration.
"Damn, I didn't pack any food."
"How the hell do I shower in a place like this?!"
Even academy kids are mostly pampered. Survival in the boonies? Not likely.
Baek A-rin and Erina were no exceptions.
"Are we gonna starve, shib-shi-woo?!"
"Should've packed more energy bars if I knew."
Erina panicked and shook me, while Baek A-rin distributed bars from her bag.
As expected of A-rin. Prepared thoroughly despite zero intel.
'But I'm on another level.'
I might not know everything, but I'm ahead here.
Unlike these city slickers, I've camped from urban to wilderness—it's second nature.
Packed enough survival gear for three, no problem.
I cracked open my bag to show the panicking duo.
"Wh-what's this! It's dazzling!!"
"Kim Si-woo, what's all this?!"
That's right.
Big bro planned full-on glamping—essential gear plus mental health boosters for delicate ladies.
As I grinned smugly, Baek A-rin commented.
"How'd you even know to bring all this? Too much for just reading the schedule."
"Never know what might happen. Just prepared."
Baek A-rin eyed me suspiciously but soon smiled and gave a thumbs-up.
"Fine, I'll pretend I buy your excuse. This deserves praise, though."
"Right! Shib-shi-woo! No, K-Warrior!!"
No, drop that. It's embarrassing.
As I covered Erina's mouth, Baek A-rin, inspecting my bag, pulled something out and asked curiously.
"Emergency flare? Why bring this?"
"For emergencies, obviously."
At my curt reply, Erina jumped in.
"Even if you're lost, no need for that. Just call on the watch."
"After that incident with me last time, you still say that?"
"Ah. S-sorry. Sorry."
Erina shrunk into a corner, PTSD from being trapped in the dungeon kicking in. But even Baek A-rin looked puzzled.
"Even so, ghouls are super sensitive to light, right? Unless you wanna die, no reason to use it."
She's right.
Ghouls have mostly atrophied senses except vision—just barely distinguishes light and dark.
Of course they're light-sensitive.
Like in some movie, they swarm toward it, piling up like crazy.
"Yeah, that's why I brought it—just in case."
Baek A-rin stared at me wide-eyed for a beat, then narrowed her gaze suspiciously.
"You wouldn't not know that basic fact. You're not thinking what I think you are, right?"
"What's that?"
"Like, throwing it at people or something."
...What does she even think I am?
Well, it is for chucking at Lee Seong-hyeon in a worst-case scenario.
To dispel her absurd worry, I chuckled.
"Just in case something happens. No big meaning."
Baek A-rin sighed in resignation.
"No idea what 'something' you mean, but hope it never comes."