Humans Tear Bears!!

'What the hell is he thinking?'

Cheolsu glanced back at Yujin while taking the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lead, probing for any signs. Yujin wasn't just some brute with raw strength. No, he preferred schemes that broke his opponents psychologically. And the guy had the brains for it.

'A schemer like that wouldn't suggest teaming up without a plan.'

It was Yujin who'd first proposed forming a team. There had to be something cooking. Cheolsu had accepted partly out of his competitive spirit. He couldn't just run from the provocation.

Of course, he'd made his own preparations. Putting himself at the front was part of that. He stayed vigilant for any tricks Yujin might pull.

But...

'No signs at all.'

The guy wasn't doing a thing. Just following along like an innocent teammate.

'He's definitely got a plan.'

This time, Cheolsu checked on his childhood friend Younghee. She looked a bit cowed. He knew she'd made some deal with Yujin, and things had gotten awkward between them afterward.

'It stings my pride, but if we fight together here, can we even beat that guy?'

An empty forest. The opponent's armament: a single pistol. It was almost too easy to take him out like this. If he charged now, he might bury the bastard for real.

'...Hah! No way he didn't account for that.'

Yujin was the one who'd suggested the team—and picked the pistol. Would a guy like that not anticipate their attack? It was too tempting a trap. Falling for it now would make them the idiots.

'Sorry, but it won't go your way this time.'

Yujin probably wanted him to charge. That laid-back attitude was pure provocation, urging him to seize the moment and attack. But Cheolsu wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.

He boldly decided to ignore Yujin for now. Better to stay low and focus on scoring high.

That was when it happened.

"...Let's take a break."

Yujin suddenly spoke up. Cheolsu shot him a suspicious look.

'A break here? Out of nowhere?'

He couldn't read the guy's intentions at all. But Yujin wasn't the type to suggest something without reason.

"What're you on about?"

"Just a short break, then we go."

Cheolsu narrowed his eyes, sharpening his senses. What was the play here? But his pondering didn't last long.

-Kieek! Kieek!

His keen senses caught the monster. Cheolsu reflexively drew his sword.

"Cheolsu!"

"Yeah, it's close."

He glared at Yujin anew. The guy was only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now casually pulling his pistol, like this was mere entertainment.

'He sensed it while walking, from this distance?'

Cheolsu's senses weren't bad—actually pretty good. Detection was thief or mage territory to begin with. For him to pick it up at this level was impressive. But Yujin had surpassed it effortlessly.

'No ambushes will work on him...'

Feeling the gap again, Cheolsu gripped his sword and assumed position. No time to dwell now.

"I'll take the front."

"Ah, yeah!"

Separate from his detection skills, Yujin didn't seem eager to fight. Just hanging back with the gun aimed. Cheolsu hadn't expected much anyway.

"Buff incoming!"

Younghee's buff enveloped them. A massive boost to physical abilities and senses. Even upperclassmen rarely had buffs this potent.

'Overkill for goblins.'

The familiar surge filled his body. A sensation honed through countless drills together. Power swelled within.

"Hup!"

"Kirr? Kirr?"

Cheolsu lunged, slicing the goblin in one stroke. Gunshots followed—but most missed. They even hindered his movement.

'...That fucking asshole.'

Glancing back, Yujin was firing in a half-assed stance. Who was he even aiming at—the goblins or him?

'Whatever, I expected this level of interference!'

Young as he was, Cheolsu was an awakener at minimum E-rank hero level. As long as it wasn't blatant, bullets were no issue.

"Kieek! Kieek!"

Cheolsu stepped nimbly, closing in fast. A goblin thrust its dagger right on cue. But he parried upward faster, throwing it off balance. Then an axe-wielder charged.

Cheolsu swung wide.

Slash!

Cheon-gong Geom. Cloud Dropper.

He cleaved both goblins at once. Skill worthy of disbelief for the wounds they'd taken.

Points seemed to go only to the killer. Younghee with her buff got none, nor Yujin sniping from afar. But they'd total the team's score anyway.

'His shooting's decent, though.'

The bullets had grazed his limbs by inches. To an outsider, it'd look like misses. Plenty of deniability even if he got hit.

'Planned to claim he was "helping" but missed.'

Maybe that's why he picked the pistol. No hero practices guns. Screw-ups get a pass—even for mafia heirs.

'Still a petty bastard.'

It was obvious. Cheolsu had been wary of Yujin more than the goblins. Good thing he wasn't falling for it. But the road ahead was long. No room for complacency.

"Alright, short break then we move—"

That was when a dizzying impact hit from the side. By the time he snapped to, his body was airborne.

'...What?'

For a split second, he thought Yujin attacked. But no—Yujin was by Younghee. No way he'd swing from there.

'What the...?'

Felt like a heavy hammer smash. He flew meters before crashing.

-Kwang!

"Cough!" Blood gushed from his mouth. Internal injuries. His wounded arm slowed his reaction.

"Cheolsu!"

Younghee's healing magic flowed in. Amid agony, Cheolsu forced his eyes open to ID the attacker.

'Ogre?'

A high-level monster that took packs of B-rank hunters. It loomed over him.

Instantly grasping the situation, Cheolsu shouted firmly at Younghee.

"Ditch me and run."

"Wh-what are you saying?!"

Younghee snapped back like it was nonsense. But Cheolsu had no time for that stubbornness. They'd all die otherwise.

She wouldn't leave him, though. Knowing that—and hating how it bruised his pride—Cheolsu had one option.

"Kim Yujin! Take Younghee and run now! Please!"

He yelled at Yujin.

"You don't want her dead either! If I go down here, it's over! You win!"

Yujin looked down coldly. He was Cheolsu's only hope now.

'Ah, fuck, sorry man.'

Yujin's shoulders slumped. His original plan was to help Cheolsu—fight in his place once injured.

But things hadn't gone as expected. The gun was harder than thought. He'd nearly shot moving Cheolsu.

'This is useless. No help, no action, no clue.'

At this rate, he'd lose what little standing he had. Should've practiced shooting. The uncles at home made it look easy. Maybe ask them later.

Such random thoughts, then—

A roar boomed, sending Cheolsu's body flying.

'Eek?!'

Heart dropped. But his body stayed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠calm. It happened sometimes—body and mind out of sync. Guess that was the original owner's temperament.

'Wh-what the hell is that?'

The monster ahead was huge. Like a small truck. Real deal, unlike the goblins.

'Whoa, shit. Insane.'

Fear gave way to disbelief. This world had no student protections? Trying to kill in class? He'd report to the education board if he survived!

"Run!"

Cheolsu yelled from the ground, eyes pleading.

"Kim Yujin! Take Younghee and run! Please!"

Damn, so cool. Nearly teared up. Prioritizing friends in this mess. Cheolsu, you magnificent bastard!

"Whew." With trembling hands, Yujin dropped the pistol to the ground. It wouldn't work on that thing—instinct said so.

'Honestly, don't wanna fight.'

Until recently, Yujin was a normal high schooler. Just aiming for good mock exam scores.

But he couldn't abandon his first friend and flee.

'Hold for 5 minutes—no, 1 minute.'

Then Younghee could heal Cheolsu. After that... who knew.

'Second life anyway. Dying here ain't bad.'

Clenching fists and legs, Yujin charged. Big target—no dodging needed. Just swing.

-SMASH!!

A heavy boom echoed through the forest. Unbelievable from a fist. The ogre smashed through trees and flew.

"Kuh... guh..."

Crashing sounds, then the giant toppled.

Cheolsu and Younghee stared blankly. Yujin gawked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too.

So that's what hit our Cheolsu...