Inhuman Outing...! # 1
Inhuman Outing...! # 1
After filling our stomachs at the snack bar with Si-hoo, we headed up to the classroom. But when we walked in, there was Mr. Ryu, arms crossed, looking extremely displeased.
"Yo! Mr. Ryu!"
"..."
"Did you see me win two in a row? You're always calling me a scrub, but look at the results. Two in a row, I tell you!"
I taunted him like that.
"Please...! Would you shut up with that ludicrous bragging! No matter how many wins you rack up, you're still nothing but a scrub!"
"Next up, the third-place scrub."
"Y-you bastard! Are you, a mere Taliban, looking down on the third-place finisher?!"
"Let's ask Si-hoo about that. Si-hoo. It's okay to ignore third place, right?"
"Geun-cheol. Seriously, knock it off."
"See, Mr. Ryu? Si-hoo says to knock it off."
Si-hoo, man, I didn't see you that way, but you sound scary as hell.
Just like Se-kyeong.
"Gwaaah! I can't forgive this, you Lee Si-hoo!"
"What?! Why me?!"
"Si-hoo, you were out of line! Apologize right now!"
"Geun-cheol, you're dead!"
I immediately kicked off the ground and ran. Si-hoo tried to chase me, but stopped in his tracks to answer Mr. Ryu, who was yelling about something.
"Heh heh heh."
Once outside the classroom, I looked at my hand.
"This is the real me, Kim Geun-cheol."
But seriously, how did I fight that well? Pulling off superhuman combat so skillfully. Come to think of it, I haven't really been in that kind of acrobatic real combat.
The movements flowed out smoothly, as if my body remembered them. Was this what they called talent...? There was something inside me that couldn't be explained just by the status window.
*Ding.*
A message arrived.
[Hey, Geun-cheol. Wanna meet Sunday?]
It's Kitty.
[What the hell did you say to your sister.]
[Who knows?]
[If you don't tell me, I'm not going out.]
[Didn't say much. Just joking around.]
[Really?]
This is making me nervous as hell. If I were Kitty's sister, and Kitty was meeting some guy? A guy who's practically a grown high schooler? I would go out to check that guy out, no matter what.
She'd better not suddenly pop up when I go to meet Kitty.
[She's not gonna suddenly show up, right?]
[Geun-cheol, you're way too scared.]
[You must not know, but there's no one in this world braver than me.]
I guarantee it.
[Is that so?]
[Yeah.]
[See you Sunday, then.]
Alright.
Now that things are like this, I should dig up a bit more about Kitty's name and stuff. I've been thinking lately, Kitty seems a bit suspicious. Well, once I become a hero later, I'll get to know everything anyway.
That's just how the Awakened social network works. No harm in roughly looking into Kitty in advance.
* * *
The next day.
"Wow."
I got to school and they said there's no class today.
"As those who saw the morning news will know, the mass outbreak of otherworldly species has spread nationwide. They're ungraded, so they're not particularly dangerous... but the numbers are so massive it's problematic in many ways."
That's what we heard instead.
"So today, per the Chairwoman's instructions, we'll be heading out for volunteer activities. Our job today is trash cleanup. In other words, cleaning up the otherworldly species overflowing on the streets."
Yahoo!
No class today, we're going outside!
Thinking that instantly lifted my spirits. I might be a veteran, but how could I not be happy when the school takes us all outside...!
"It's almost like a picnic, Instructor!"
"Take this seriously. This is also a lesson. You'll be hunting slow targets to develop your sense of attacking monsters."
Sounds like a really fun lesson.
"Rise."
"Yes!"
I immediately stood up and grabbed my weapon.
"Heh heh heh, outdoor class is a total honey pot."
"This isn't something to be happy about, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Huh? Why?"
Leona said with a worried look.
"Why? It's obvious chaos has broken out. This isn't a normal situation, is it? Something might be wrong with the dimension."
"True."
"Besides."
"Besides?"
"To put it simply, these otherworldly species are prey. Some monsters have even settled down and live on Earth. If those creatures eat this prey and multiply... I'd say it's a serious issue."
"Wow."
Is this the judgment of a noble young lady?
"That's convincing."
"Right? I got a call from home because of this. They said even Europe is keeping a close watch."
"From Mister Dominators?"
"Yes."
That really drives home how serious this is.
"Still, there's nothing we can do by worrying right now. Let's just be a little careful and beat up some otherworldly species."
"Let's do that."
"Hey! Hurry up and get out here!"
Yu-ri shouted.
"Alright! I'm coming!"
And so, for the first time ever, we all stepped outside the academy fully armed.
* * *
Sure enough, when we got to the streets, absolute chaos was underway.
*Psssht.*
There were even more otherworldly species roaming around than last time, and burst corpses were strewn about everywhere.
On top of that, soldiers and cleaners were bustling around, and with gunshots echoing from all over, it genuinely felt like we'd come to another world.
"Everyone follow me and hunt any otherworldly species you see. A contractor will come later to clean up the corpses, so feel free to show off your skills. Understood?"
That order was the decisive trigger.
"Understood!"
"Yes!"
My classmates answered enthusiastically and immediately charged at the otherworldly species. Shall I show off my skills too?
"Hey! Kim Geun-cheol! Hurry up! Five! Four! Three!"
I'd barely drawn my sword when Yu-ri called me.
"Yeah! I'm coming!"
She'd hit me if I didn't go, so I immediately kicked off the ground!
"Wait! Kim Geun-cheol! Let's go together!"
"Geun-cheol, let's go together!"
"You guys hurry up too!"
No sooner had I spoken than Leona and Si-hoo dashed over to my side. Isn't superhuman society just amazing?
"We're all here. Let's just slaughter every last one of these bastards."
Yu-ri said that with an excited look, her sword already drawn.
"Heh heh heh, let's do that."
"Kim Geun-cheol? They're giving us volunteer hours for this, so work hard."
"Yes!"
And so.
*Shing!*
I hunted the otherworldly species with my friends.
*Psssht!*
As I approached, an otherworldly species that looked like a dragonfly larva with tentacles got startled and ran. It was a bit bigger than a cat, but wasn't particularly agile.
"Where do you think you're going, you little shit!"
I thrust my sword.
*Squelch!*
The otherworldly species split in two, absurdly easily. This has its own kind of satisfaction. It relieves stress like playing a hack-and-slash game.
"Hahp!"
"You bastards!"
Over there, Yu-ri and Leona were literally grinding up the otherworldly species clinging to the building's exterior.
"Geun-cheol! Careful, stuff's falling!"
Si-hoo went right up a utility pole and was killing the ones on top. Watching it was a heartwarming sight, truly.
"Kim Geun-cheol. Working hard with your friends, I see?"
"Oh, Instructor."
As I was doing that, the Instructor, who had been surveying the area, came over.
"Isn't this all for the good of society? We cadets should be the first to work hard. That's our mission, isn't it?"
"You sure know how to wag your tongue. I don't know about anything else, but I think you, Kim Geun-cheol, will go far."
"If I do get successful, I'll definitely visit you on Teacher's Day."
"I'll look forward to it."
The Instructor smiled slightly, seeming pleased by my words.
"It's good to see you've been getting along well with Mun Min lately."
Was that what she came to say?
"No, Instructor. Let me be clear about this one thing. I'm not really close with Mun Min."
"I can tell."
*Tap.*
A hand rested on my head.
"Just keep doing that. Ah, by the way, Kim Geun-cheol? I received a report that you recently brought a gun to school."
"Huh?"
"Explain yourself properly."
W-wait.
"Who reported it?!"
"Do you think I'd reveal the reporter's identity?"
"That bastard Mun Min!"
"It wasn't him, so stop your groundless accusations... Well, anyway. I wanted to settle this quietly, but since it's a gun matter... come by the faculty office next time."
"Agh!"
I was too careless!
I let my guard down because it was the first loot I'd ever gotten!
* * *
Anyway.
While we were out volunteering and cleaning up the trash known as otherworldly species, this abnormal situation wasn't something that could be resolved just by us cadets putting in a bit of effort.
Daily life continued with a nationwide alert in effect, and Saturday arrived.
"Kim Geun-cheol! I'm sorry!"
But Leona apologized the moment we met.
"What? Why?"
"Today's volunteer work is canceled!"
"What? Weren't we supposed to clean up otherworldly species corpses at the orphanage today?"
It's canceled?
"Well, I got a call from home. I'm sorry."
Can't be helped if it's a family matter.
"Is that so? A call from home?"
"Yes. I think I need to talk with my mom and dad today. So I can't spare any more time."
"Because of this incident?"
"Exactly. *Sigh.*"
Leona let out a sigh and picked up her phone.
"Sorry for making you wake up early and come out. Look, there's an ice cream shop over there, so use this to buy some ice cream and head back."
"Ice cream, you say!"
Leona immediately sent me a gift card!
"I'll enjoy it!"
"Enjoy it then. See you Monday. Ah, I feel so bad. Making you come out early."
"Heh heh heh, I said it's fine. Leona. Don't worry about it. What's the problem between us?"
"Us...! I'm off then! You get back safely too, Kim Geun-cheol! Don't wander off somewhere weird!"
Where would I even go?
"Bye!"
After parting ways with Leona, I was about to return to the dorm, but stopped and sat on a bench.
"Ah."
Still, I got ready and came all the way out; it'd be a waste to just go back. I immediately called Kitty. It rang about three times before she picked up.
"Hey, Kitty."
"Ah, Geun-cheol?"
"Yeah. I've got some time right now. How about you?"
I asked, cutting straight to the chase.
"Yeah. I'm free too."
Kitty answered in a quiet voice.
"But what's up? Weren't we supposed to meet tomorrow?"
"No, I've just got a lot of time on my hands now. So, where should we meet?"
"Come to the place we met last time. I'll head right out."
"Will do."
Guess I'll hang out with Kitty today. No matter what, I want to clear up that misunderstanding. Just what does her sister think of me?
"Oof."
So I took the bus to the meeting spot.
"Geun-cheol. Over here."
From over there, Kitty greeted me, waving her hand happily.
"Huh...?"
But.
"Geun-cheol?"
Did she put in a bit of effort? She was wearing a pretty outfit, a black dress or one-piece, and the color went really well with Kitty's hair.
Kitty is blonde with red eyes. A bit unusual.
"..."
And looking at her, she gave off a weird feeling. She's like a little kid, but there's also something adult-like about her. Maybe it's because she has a mature-looking face? She was seriously cute to begin with.
*Swish swish.*
Kitty waved her hand in front of my eyes.
"Are you staring at Kitty?"
"No. It's nothing."
"How's the outfit? You were looking at it, right?"
She caught onto everything.
"Who told you to put in that much effort?"
"I wore something pretty on purpose. Since it's the day I'm meeting Geun-cheol."
"Someone could really misunderstand hearing that!"
I'll actually get arrested!
"Hohoho, just kidding. Let's go, Geun-cheol."
"Okay. Ah, seriously. Kitty. But really, nothing happened with your sister, right?"
"You're curious about that?"
"It seemed like I was misunderstood... Let's just eat first. What do you want to eat?"
Somehow I only ever get treated by Leona, and I'm always treating Kitty. But what can I do? She's a kid.
If I go out with a kid, I gotta buy for her.
"Mmm, I don't know. What should we eat?"
"Chinese?"
"Gi?"
"It means hungry."
"Nothing else? I want to try something new, Geun-cheol."
Saying that, Kitty hugged my arm.
