Chapter 24
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 24
Chapter Title Name Tag Ripping Frenzy
Waking up to a siren blaring in my sleep was bad enough, but the first words out of someones mouth right after were We have to fight fiercely.
Heo Yubin, still stuck in buffering mode, had only his face poking out from under the blanket, his eyes radiating pure confusion.
Ffight? What do you mean?
There was a saying back where I lived.
I opened the box lid and pulled out the neatly folded purple gym uniform inside.
It was the same design as our usual training clothes, but with nonwoven patches on both arms and the back.
To seize what you want, you have to fight desperately every single moment.
Whwhat kind of life did you even live in Estonia, Brother Karis?
Here, take it. And get dressed as fast as you can.
He still looked like he had no clue what was going on, but both Kang Siyoon and Heo Yubin eventually slipped into the purple gym uniforms.
I quickly pulled my top over my head and grabbed the instructions laid out at the bottom of the box to read them.
At exactly 8 a.m., Cell Name Tag Ripping will begin, where you decide the theme for your personal PR video. Each trainee has three name tags. If all three are removed, youre out immediately. Your targets are the trainees on the same floor as your current cell. The cell that rips off all 18 name tags can choose any theme they want for their PR video. If you dont collect enough, themes will be assigned randomly, so keep that in mind.
Same mission as before.
We had to gain an edge for our personal PR videos through this socalled name tag ripping.
If we didnt wake up early or got delayed in prep, we could end up defenseless and eliminated on the spot.
I let out an inner sigh as I looked at my two barelyawake roommates.
Lucky we got up quick, or we couldve been wiped out without a fight.
Name tag ripping? Ive only seen this stuff on variety shows.
IIIm really bad at sports! Back in school, PE was the one class I dreaded most
Dont worry. Just stick right behind me, and youll be fine.
I flashed a grin, and Heo Yubins eyes widened in, his hand clamping over his mouth.
Looks like the crown princes ego was unintentionally flexing its influence again.
Well, its Karis von Waldens body to begin with, so this confidence comes naturally.
Idol stuff might as well start from zero for me, but events like this? Pure expertise.
The endgame of Grand Quest Saga is slaying the Demon King.
In other words, its packed with characters built for starting a war with the demon realm and surviving to the end with the brute force to take down the big bad.
I gripped the cold door handle of our cell.
A familiar sensation washed over me.
Feels just like holding Durandal.
My roommates, glued right behind me, started urging me on.
Whatre you waiting for? Open the door! Strike first!
I wanna see Brother Karis massacre them already!
Checking for sounds outside first is Combat 101.
So? You hear anything? Anyone come out yet?
Heo Yubin, whod been barely crawling out of bed just minutes ago, was now beaming with eager anticipation.
I glanced at the clock on the dorm wall.
Two minutes till 8.
What do we do? Rush out and hide somewhere?
If someones waiting, thatd just be walking into a trap but no sounds, so were good.
Move out! Move out! Move out!
As expected, no other cells were out in the hallway yet.
I hustled to the central stairs and hunkered down on the 3.5floor landing.
Isnt the stairwell risky?
Rules say only samefloor cells count, so no worries about attacks from above or below. Enemies can only come through the halls, so holding a spot with wide sightlines gives us a huge edge.
Hearing you talk like that makes it feel like were in a real battle, man.
Even as I chatted with Kang Siyoon, I was counting down the seconds in my head.
About three seconds left, I figured.
Announcement. Announcement. It is now 8 a.m. It is now 8 a.m.!
The dormwide alert signaled the start of name tag ripping.
I tensed up, ready to bolt out at any second.
But a few seconds later, the scene unfolding before me made all that tension feel ridiculous.
Where is everybody?
Im sleepy.
My eyes wont open.
The trainees spilling out from the cell right next to the central stairs still looked halfasleep.
No time for showers meant bedhead city, and eyes puffy from their first deep sleep in ages.
They were so wide open for an ambush, I almost felt embarrassed for psyching myself up like it was DDay.
Whatre you waiting for, Karis? Go rip em off!
Not yet.
I caught a clatter from the end of the hall and held Kang Siyoon back.
Sure enough, doors flew open amid excited shouts as a horde of disheveled trainees burst out.
Rip off whatever you see!
Stick together! Dont scatter!
Hhey, people over there! Go, go! Run!
In the blink of an eye, chaos erupted.
Some desperately guarding the name tags on their gym tops, others clawing to rip them off.
Attack and defense clashed, heating up the frenzy.
Now.
Rright in this mess? For real?
Thisll be fun!
I crouched low, pressing tight against the stairwell wall.
Not even a meter away, six guys were locked in a fierce scrum.
Prey everywhere.
Couldnt help but grin.
Whwhy wont this rip off?
Bro, why you gotta do this first thing in the morning! Ow, my arm! Thats flesh, flesh!
I spotted one guy pinning another to the floor, straining for the arm name tag.
I crept up silent as a shadow and struck the exposed back like lightning.
Rip!
Whahuh? What the!
The trainee startled by his name tag ripping spun around.
I grabbed his twisted arms at the perfect angle and spun him reverse.
Rip! Rip!
.
Whoa.
Heo Yubin, trailing me, let out an awed gasp.
I dangled the three freshly ripped name tags and shot a playful wink at the dumbfounded trainee.
In battle, always watch your back. Slack off, and you die like this. Remember that next time.
Whwhatre you even talking about?
No time for chitchat.
I crumpled Park Jaehoons three name tags into my pocket and charged ahead.
Too late, too late!
Hurry and rip, hurry!
The whole dorm was so noisy now that even the last holdouts were up.
Cell 27s door suddenly burst open in front of me, but I dodged aside without losing balance.
Heo Yubin, with zero athleticism, though? Straightup assplanted backward.
A trainee in a shower cap stepped out, spotted him, and yelled to his roommates.
Guys, lets rip em! Pin his arms!
Yeah, not that easy.
Siyoon, block the doorkeep reinforcements out!
Got it.
As Kang Siyoon bodyblocked the door, I closed in on the shower cap guy reaching for Heo Yubins arm.
Tapped his shoulder.
Mind if I cut in?
Huh?
The second he turned, I clamped his shoulders.
Used his forward lean to trip him lightly, catching his belly with one arm to soften the fall.
Shower cap trainee hit the mat like hed eaten a pro wrestling movetotally helpless.
Cant go ripping my teammate without permission.
Brother Karis!
Biggest threat neutralized for now.
But two more trainees had spotted the chaos and pinned Heo Yubin down.
This distance? Easy jump.
I vaulted over the shower cap guy.
Crown prince body nearly autofired a knee strike from ingrained closequarters skills, but I snapped out of it just in time.
Grabbed the left arm holding Heo Yubins leg instead and squeezed hard.
Ow!
Let go already.
Im letting go, Im letting go!
Thanks.
A quick thankyou, then yanked the arm to leisurely peel the back name tag.
No pauseI launched at the last trainee.
Crash!
Didnt wanna go this far, but sorry.
Just take the name tags and go.
Having watched his friends drop like autumn leaves, the trainee threw up his hands in surrender.
Thats how, in under ten minutes, wed ripped off 12over half the goal.
Brother Karis, behind you!
Hm?
Heo Yubins urgent shout made me spin around to see Kang Siyoon get flung off the door.
The three holdouts inside Cell 27 had busted through his block.
Guess one extra guy had been trapped in there with the regulars.
Ugh, this sucks. Whwhat?
Theyre all out already?
.
Fresh prey delivered right to me.
I licked my chops inwardly as I stood.
The two up front exchanged glances, nodded, and chorused
Bolt.
Bolt.
Wait, fighting me would be way more fun
Ignoring my pleading hand, the two trainees bolted down the opposite hall.
That ways even more of a madhouse.
Siyoon, you good?
Head hit the wall, but Ill live.
As I helped Kang Siyoon up, an absurdly lanky figure slowly approached us from inside Cell 27.
Right, one left in there.
I tensed my legs to reenter combat stance.
But Cell 27s last survivor showed zero fight in him.
.
.
I swallowed a groan at Ji Yooncheols halfasleep face.
His innocent kid vibetotally at odds with his stage presencecaught me off guard.
The real shocker, though?
Could I ask a favor?
Ji Yooncheol mumbled while clutching a massive bunny plush tight.
A favor?
Im so sleepy. Could you just take my name tags?
You sure youre okay with that?
He nodded silently at my question.
Hell, he even turned around to show his back.
Brother! I wanna rip some too!
Go ahead, get a feel for it.
Yes!
Heo Yubin ripped off all three of Ji Yooncheols name tags, and the guy bowed deeply.
Thanks a bunch. Sleep well.
Uh yeah. Night.
Mhm.
I watched in disbelief as Ji Yooncheol hugged his bunny plush tenderly and shuffled back to bed.
Kang Siyoon mustve thought the samehe clapped my shoulder and stuck out his tongue.
Those types always pull the most unexpected stuff for their size, huh?
Seems like it.
I was straightup scared watching him dance, but this? Fresh out of bed, hes just a total kid.
That bunny was cute! Kinda suits him?
I pulled out the three name tags Id stuffed in my pocket.
3, 9, 3. Thats 15 total so far.
Just three more for free PR video choice.
Our side of the hall had quieted down a bit, but the opposite end still echoed with trainees gleefully brawling.
Let me rip the last three. At this rate, my screen times just gonna be door block and pratfall.
Hm. Finenext time I grab the preys back, you rip the tags, Siyoon. Once the arms are pinned, theyre done forno sweat.
Karis. This isnt Africa. Were not hunting herbivores.
Just my tone slipping out from habit.