Chapter 74
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Doubt
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"Today, instead of the internal environment of gates, we'll be looking into the evolution of monsters and gates themselves."
The final week of classes before midterms.
Professor Lee Ah-young's calm voice echoed through the lecture hall.
It was her usual refined tone.
As Su-hyeon focused on the lecture like always, a phrase caught her ear that she couldn't just let pass.
"The monsters that first appeared in 1960 were different from the ones we see today."
Different from now?
"Back then, only one monster emerged per gate. That's in stark contrast to modern monsters, which act in groups. Their appearances and strengths varied wildly as well."
Su-hyeon's hair stood on end.
...Someone behind her made a weird noise, but she ignored it.
They said that right after those early monsters emerged, the gates closed immediately.
Attempts to force something inside had failed.
"Each one was an independent entity, not reliant on the gate. They didn't even have magic stones in their bodies."
Modern gates fixate on a specific environment, and the monsters that spawn adapt to it in the form of plants or animals.
That's why they can be classified as a single 'species,' like living creatures.
"In contrast, modern monsters weaken and collapse once they exit the gate. Those that don't erode their surroundings to expand the gate."
As the professor advanced the slide, the screen showed a black-and-white photo of a grotesquely shaped monster, alongside a modern gate and data comparing their magic densities.
"The biggest difference between early gates and current ones is the 'core.' Inside modern gates, there's something that acts like a 'plant.' Hunters call it the nucleus."
"Some theories say magic stones are like antennas receiving orders from the plant, and magic itself is akin to pheromones."
"Anyway, gates grow on their own until they're saturated with magic inside. Then monsters emerge to erode the surroundings—like how spore plants reproduce."
Listening to all this, gates sounded just like a single living organism.
Like how ant colonies or wasp hives are considered one entity?
"This one here. It looks bizarre, right? It's one of the early monsters. Oh, another difference: early monsters don't revive even if you expose them to magic after purification."
The black-and-white photo the professor pointed to showed a monster with long, spindly limbs dangling limply from a crane.
"In the past, that single monster held all the gate's magic. So the larger the gate grew, the exponentially stronger it became."
"No magic stone because its entire body served that role. That's why they were heavy and tough."
The more the professor explained, the more convinced Su-hyeon became.
They look similar to the monsters I saw at the department store.
Su-hyeon recalled those clumsily lumped-together masses.
Grotesque skin and massive teeth. Bulging eyeballs. Patchy, awkward fur.
Freakish limbs.
What if a child sculpted an animal out of clay and it came to life? Something like that.
Ugh, creepy.
The damp sensation of being swallowed resurfaced, making her shudder.
But if those were truly singular monster entities, there was something off.
How could multiple ones appear when only one came per gate...?
And the gate disappeared once they emerged?
There were more than one or two inconsistencies.
As she pondered with a serious expression, something poked her arm.
...?
Turning her head, she saw the girl sitting next to her.
Her neat hair and glasses suited her perfectly.
"Um... do you need to use the bathroom?"
"......No?"
What the hell is this glasses girl talking about?
Su-hyeon stared in bewilderment, but the girl smiled knowingly.
"Ah, okay. If you're embarrassed about it, just say so."
"......?"
The girl whispered quietly.
Even glancing down at Su-hyeon's lower body.
Then, as if nothing happened, she turned back to the lecture.
Su-hyeon gaped in absurdity.
"Ah, no...."
Isn't this sexual harassment?
There's a limit to treating someone like a kid!
Whether Su-hyeon glared at the girl next to her or not, the lecture pressed on.
"...So this is widely accepted as evidence that gates are evolving in some way."
Professor Lee Ah-young checked the time.
"Shall we wrap up here? Next week is exam period."
"Yes~."
"Your voices are loudest at times like this?"
Hahaha....
The students let out awkward laughs.
"No lab today, so no report to submit. This class grades on daily reports, so you know there's no actual exam, right?"
The students perked up at the professor's words.
"You can skip next week. Study hard, and good luck on your exams."
"Yeehaw!"
Midterms passed without incident.
Studying with friends at the library, grabbing dinner together.
Su-hyeon learned she couldn't resist falling asleep once the sun set, so she didn't stay too late.
Among her friends, it became routine to send her home after dinner.
If it got even a bit late, Ga-eun would approach and silently watch.
Meaning: pack up and go home quick.
What is this, Cinderella?
Time flew by to Thursday. The exam for the required liberal arts class she took with Ga-eun ended.
"Ughhh-."
Waiting in the hallway lost in thought, Ga-eun emerged stretching near the end.
"Hey."
"Yeah, where'd you go? You left ages ago."
"This much is fine. How'd it go?"
"It was exactly as previewed, but there was so much content it was tough. Names and years were similar.... Oh, that last one—was it 1991?"
"No, 1997. 1991 was the first wave."
"Ah, I agonized over that...!"
The class was called History of Hunters.
Basically droning on about post-monster and gate emergence, the rough exploits and sacrifices of old-generation hunters... Honestly, pretty crude for a suddenly mandatory subject.
No fun at all.
"Sigh, what's this got to do with gate environments? Feels like the professor's forcing it too. Never thought I'd memorize history in engineering."
"Well, that's liberal arts for you. No class, no graduation."
"True."
Heading to the library with Ga-eun.
"You done now? Friday's a free period, right?"
"Yeah, heading home with Brüel."
"Lucky.... Home's Jiri Mountain, yeah?"
"Yep, you remember."
"How could I forget? Right after all that chaos."
True, it'd only been shortly after meeting Ga-eun, and after that shocking incident—hard to forget.
"Argh! I've got two tomorrow!"
"Hehe, good luck."
Su-hyeon waved goodbye to the writhing Ga-eun and turned away.
Planning to stop by home first before heading down.
Brüel driving made it convenient—no need for terminals or transfers.
Back at the one-room, Su-hyeon was packing her bag.
"Anything else to bring?"
Pulling out notebooks and pencil case, hugging the slim bag, she pondered.
Honestly, most things were at home.
Clothes from childhood would fit despite the gender difference, toiletries aplenty.
But underwear had to be packed.
A kid's body, so not much difference honestly, but...
"Panties from decades ago? No thanks."
Even if not exact, panties for a 5-year-old frame were at least 20th century.
Weird they hadn't rotted away.
Probably tossed long ago?
"Nothing much to bring."
Zip-
Zipping up and slinging the bag, two bundles of panties rolled inside.
Staying four days but only two pairs? The one on now was fresh from changing.
Today covered, Sunday change at home.
Wise and efficient plan.
Preparations done, Su-hyeon headed downstairs to where Brüel waited on the first floor.
The wardrobe handle had her seldom-used hat.
Thud-
The front door slammed shut, the breeze making the hat sway slightly.
Down at the vacant lot doubling as trash and parking, a familiar vehicle awaited.
Sleek shine, luxury lights.
The car from first meeting Brüel.
"Shall we depart now?"
"Yeah, nothing much to pack. Been a while for this too."
The motorcycle before too—where does she keep them?
"I'll drive."
As Su-hyeon approached, Brüel opened the door first.
Details like holding the edge to avoid bumps caught the eye.
But she opened the back seat, not passenger?
"...Brüel."
"Yes, Lady Su-hyeon."
"This wasn't here before, right?"
In the back seat center: a child car seat, absent before.
"I forgot to prepare last time, but not this time."
Brüel said proudly.
"...I hate this. I'll sit in front."
Trying to dodge to the passenger side, but easily blocked.
"Lady Su-hyeon. Given your proportions, standard seats and belts may be vulnerable in impacts. I overlooked it the first day since I didn't realize you'd be this small, but I recommend the custom seat this time."
"What? Didn't realize I'd be this small!?"
Su-hyeon stomped uncomfortably, but Brüel didn't blink.
Not wrong, just honest.
"Custom seat? It's a child car seat!"
"Well, your build is child-sized."
"Ack!"
No counter to Brüel's logic and facts.
Time for carrot and stick.
"You drive well, so no accidents, right? And if—if—one happens, I trust you'd protect me no problem."
Su-hyeon clasped hands, gazing up.
Provoking you scared? while stroking pride with I trust my Brüel.
"Lady Su-hyeon...."
Touched by the trust, Brüel shook her head pleadingly.
"But it's for safety and your comfort. Colleagues made it to fit perfectly... If the design bothers you, I'll note it. Could you bear it just for today?"
"Ugh, it's not the design..."
Hard to refuse when said like that.
"......Just today."
"Thank you so much."
Brüel bowed slightly, lifted Su-hyeon, and settled her in the seat.
Fancy car was comfy even normally—how much more could this be?
Tight straps might just be uncomfortable, lucky if not.