Field Trip # 5
Field Trip # 5
—clack.
I racked the spent firearm back in its place and stepped away.
"Fwoo."
Maybe because I sprayed the monster to death with a burst of gunfire—a strange excitement hummed through me, an elevated feeling. Yeah. With a gun like this, low-rank monsters are nothing.
[Coin Acquired: 1]
"What?"
Wait, it's giving me a coin? Does this count as hunting a monster? I mean, sure, I killed it. But who gives a single coin?
"Hehehe."
Still, many a mickle makes a muckle, yeah? I wish there were more chances, but unfortunately, I only got to shoot one dead.
"Kim Geun-cheol? You're looking pleased."
"I am extremely pleased at the moment. I had no idea using firearms could be this fun."
"Ho, does it suit your taste? A fine mindset. A Hero does need to become proficient with firearms."
Hell yes.
"Firearms are effective against more than just low-rank monsters—villains too."
"Ma'am?"
"Low-ranked villains are merely untrained civilian Awakened. You can handle them easily with a gun. The statistics show roughly 50% of D-rank and lower villains die from gunshot wounds, so if you get the chance, build up your firearm proficiency."
"Good lord."
A world where villains get shot and die. I genuinely dropped my jaw.
Villains, you bastards—why risk your lives pulling that shit? Couldn't you just be heroes or hunters?
"Hm? What's the problem?"
"No, just a little surprising. Makes me realize villains are still people, huh."
They're people, after all. Of course getting shot kills them.
"What are you talking about? Villains are not people."
"Oh my god."
She said it so matter-of-factly I almost got persuaded for a second. Instructor, what the hell kind of scary mindset is that?
"The rule is shoot-to-kill on sight. Later, Kim Geun-cheol, if you see a villain, shoot him dead without hesitation. Because if you don't, you'll be the one who ends up dead."
Spouting terrifying words with the same attitude as always, Instructor Lee So-ra...!
Shoot a villain dead the instant I see him! Shocking, but honestly, she's right. I saw the video of Instructor Lee So-ra's active-duty days before. Monsterkin, villains—she beat them all to death and tore them apart.
Because if you don't, other ordinary people die. They don't lump villains, monsterkin, and monsters together for no reason. All of them are enemies to kill.
"Well, naturally it's okay to feel averse right now. But Kim Geun-cheol? That is what being a Hero is. Monsters. Monsterkin. Villains. You have to kill them all to protect the nation and its citizens. Kill them, and you reduce civilian casualties."
"Of course. I understand perfectly."
"Good. Admirable."
—rustle.
The instructor ruffled my hair.
"We'll cover villain education soon as well. Killing a villain is a genuinely virtuous act... fufufu."
Instructor Lee So-ra laughed like she was enjoying herself and wiped her lips.
"Uh, Instructor. Seeing how villains die so easily, why do people even become villains?"
"Who knows. Sometimes it's conviction or fanaticism, but still, the biggest reason would be money, wouldn't it? Dealing drugs pays. Exceptionally so."
Some things are the same no matter what world you're in.
"Over six out of ten villains killed in the Republic of Korea originate from China and Russia. Stateless Awakened from ruined nations. Scum who ignore control and order and think only of grabbing money. Naturally, those types get their hands on the drug trade."
"So only bullets deliver salvation."
"Bullets... Heh, you say the strangest things. Anyway, return to your spot. Firing practice seems finished."
"Yes, ma'am."
So I shot the breeze a while longer with Instructor Lee So-ra before returning to my position.
Villains. Villains, huh. My head feels like it'll burst from classes on monsters and monsterkin, but if they add villains on top of that, I'm literally going to become a studying machine.
Those brutal villain bastards...!
Turning students into studying machines!
They must be overthrown—it's only right!
"Sigh. Geun-cheol. Shoot well?"
"Yeah. Way more fun than I thought. You?"
"I did well too. The power's incredible, huh? Definitely feels like a Hero ought to carry at least one firearm."
"Large-caliber, too. Hehehe. Is there a gun shop or something? I kinda wanna check one out."
"Geun-cheol, even if there is, you can't buy right now. You'd need to be a fully licensed Hero for that."
"Such regulations."
Whatever. Once I earn Hero certification, I'll buy a gun first thing. Taking it to a shooting range and messing around sounds fun.
"..."
But... I only become a full Hero after graduating from the academy. And graduating means I've resolved the fucked-up doom threat facing this world.
Which means... would I get to go home?
"Hm? Geun-cheol?"
"Nah. Nothing. Let's go."
"Okay. Oh, right. Geun-cheol. You know that?"
"What?"
"Going to the farm reminded me. Apparently, there's a Villain Alliance fighting for the rights of livestock monsters."
"What the hell does that mean?"
No, shit—what now?
"Fighting for monster rights?"
"Weird, right? I'm pretty sure the name was Animal Lovers? A globally-active Villain Alliance. They're famous for demanding that monsters be recognized as proper livestock and raised humanely, then terrorizing companies in the monster livestock industry."
"Actual lunatics. What kind of bastards are those?"
"Right?"
The world really is going crazy. But then again, a group like that makes sense. The real world was always full of lunatics.
"And there's one more similar Villain Alliance."
"If it isn't our walking encyclopedia Miss Leona. What teaching have you come to bestow now?"
"'Walking encyclopedia', my ass. Can it. Anyway, there's a group called Righteous World among the Villain Alliances. Cultists who argue that using otherworldly monsters as livestock is an affront to Earth and humanity. Their mindset says turning a profit by using monsters as livestock is no different from colluding with monsterkin to profit. So they define the monster livestock industry as a treasonous act against humanity."
Are these guys actual psychopaths?
"They tend to specialize in corporate terrorism, too. Awful bastards, aren't they? If we become Heroes later on, we'll have to fight those types as well."
"An extreme job. For real."
"Of course it's an extreme job. It's work for the sake of the world."
So many goddamn villain bastards.
But man, the info load today is kind of heavy.
Doesn't this feel like foreshadowing? Kinda makes me uneasy.
* * *
The field trip ended just like that. I was in a good mood. This was exactly what school life should include—field trips to places like that. You could call that day fulfilling.
Today was fun!
"Did everyone enjoy the field trip?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The students answered Instructor Lee So-ra's question energetically. Lunchtime was approaching. The field trip was over, so it was finally time to be released. Just thinking about what to do afterward had me stoked—
"Good. After we eat, we'll return to the academy."
"Waaah! Instructor! After we get back, do we go straight home?!"
"What are you talking about? We have afternoon classes, do we not?"
What!!!!!!
"What is this!!!!!"
I won't tolerate this dystopia!!!
* * *
"Hellooo! Cadets! Did you enjoy the field trip? Were you happy thinking school was over? Too bad! From now on, it's Instructor Kawar's magic class time!"
Instructor Kawar, riding high, cackled as she yelled.
"Oh, for fuck's sake."
I was happy thinking we were going home, but the instant we got back to school, class started? And the hardest one—magic class. Just thinking about the time I had freaked out at the hallucination still made my face burn.
"Class begins! Everyone, push your desks back!"
"Yes, ma'am."
We immediately pushed our desks back. Magic class usually goes like this. Still, magic class is pretty substantive.
"Alright, cadets. From the looks of it, you've all gotten somewhat used to using mana. So! Now I'll teach you the most important thing!"
The most important thing?
—snap.
Hearing those words, I felt my senses sharpen. Instructor Kawar might be a bit frivolous, but she's not the type to throw around empty words about this!
If she says it's important, it's genuinely important.
Whatever the case, she's an instructor who's great at explaining everything magic-related. I'll focus like hell and raise my level. I've gotta listen hard in classes like this.
"The most important thing! That is... shields!"
"Shields?"
"Yes! Shields! A skill that protects your body with mana! Safety is the single most crucial thing, is it not? So today, we'll learn how to manifest a shield!"
"Ooh...!"
A shield, she said!
This is promising!
"Now then, Kim Geun-cheol! Come up front!"
"Again! Am I the guinea pig again?! Why is it always me!"
"Shouldn't you be getting used to it by now? Complaints won't help, so hurry up and come out."
As if this scene was entirely familiar, my classmates smirked.
"Hehe, Geun-cheol. Go do your thing."
"But you really do make an excellent teaching aid."
"At least you probably won't scream during shield class."
As long as nothing triggers it.
"Yes. Understood. I'll be the guinea pig again. So, Instructor. What shall I do today?"
"Simple. Kim Geun-cheol can't use a shield yet, correct?"
"Right. The stuff I can do is basically manifesting a bit of sword aura and High Jump, give or take?"
"Fufufu, so fresh. But you've made very good achievements, no? Seeing you've already reached that level."
"Well, true. As expected, Instructor Kawar has a keen eye. I'm the type with a bit of talent, after all."
Seriously, every time this topic comes up, I can't help bragging.
An involuntary grin situation.
"If that's the case, you'll learn shields quickly. Okay, first, the basics. A shield is a skill where you emit the mana inside your body outward to coat your skin, defending against enemy attacks."
I get the general idea.
Wrapping your body in mana like coating a blade with sword aura. Of course, being able to imagine it doesn't mean I can do it.
"Then, Kim Geun-cheol? Shall we give it a try? Think about subtly emitting the mana inside your body and covering your skin with it."
"Like applying skin lotion?"
"Exactly! Now, start!"
"Hup!"
First, I focus a bit.
—whoom.
While raising the mana inside my body, I tried slowly emitting it. First... right. Let's try it on my forearm.
—slide.
But it's harder than I thought.
It felt like the mana was concentrating almost entirely in my hand. Mana was flowing from my palm, but doing the skin-lotion-coating thing with it was impossible.
"Hmm... this is a bit tough. For a start, mana is flowing out from my palm, but coating it is kinda..."
"Fufufu, yes. That's exactly it. Beginners are usually the same. Even if you can emit it, coating your body with it is hard. Emission and coating are entirely different concepts."
My classmates nodded.
Getting called up every single time kinda sucks, but she really is good at drawing us in and teaching.
"Okay, then! Kim Geun-cheol! To help you manifest a shield, I was thinking of giving you a tiny little stimulus from now on!"
"Wh- what?! Stimulus!"
Wait!
"Hold on! Wait a sec! Every time you say you'll 'give a stimulus,' things have never gone smoothly! What are you planning to do?!"
"Why, do you think I'm going to attack you? I said I'm giving a little stimulus. Hold still!"
"No! Wait! I said, wait just a—!"
What are you trying to pull now!!!