Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Plan
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"Alright. Shall we wrap up with just the sketch for today?"
"Thank you for your hard work."
It was 8 PM.
Lost in the drawing, I hadn't realized time had flown by like this.
>
Han Cheong-ah stretched her arms high and stood up from her seat.
"Sitting still is more tiring than I thought."
"That's why model gigs exist, isn't it?"
I'd already gotten permission from the art teacher and stored the drawn paper in the locker.
"Do-hyun."
"Yeah?"
"Things have been rough out there lately. Want me to walk you home?"
"Don't guys usually say that to girls in situations like this?"
Han Cheong-ah said proudly.
"You look kinda scrawny, so I bet I'd win in a fight."
This girl has no idea she's talking to a vampire who could smash asphalt with his bare hands.
I let out a small sigh.
Just as I opened my mouth to reply...
My phone buzzed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Second evolution condition for trait 'Vampire' has been achieved. ⚙ TRAIT INFO ⚙ Level.1 - Vampire A clan of the dark night. A grotesque being that feeds on human blood. Its form is beautiful and seductive. Physical abilities surpass humans, but it is extremely vulnerable to the sun. Evolution Condition: Evolution Points 100. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Evolution Points remaining until trait evolution: 50. 'Evolution Points' are awarded based on 'Fateful Turning Points'. Please contribute to 'Fateful Turning Points' even for trait evolution. The message no longer included the line about 'Build sufficient favor with Han Cheong-ah.'
Truth be told, one reason I'd readily agreed to draw her portrait was to fulfill the evolution condition.
I checked the message and pocketed my smartphone.
"I've got somewhere else to be today... Can you get home alone?"
"I can manage. It's not far from school anyway."
"See you then."
"Got it. When do we continue the drawing?"
"I said the weekend might be tough, right?"
Han Cheong-ah nodded vigorously.
Hmm.
Today was Monday.
Drawing two days in a row would be exhausting anyway, and the place I was heading to now would set this week's timeline.
I couldn't set a firm appointment right then, so I vaguely said I'd contact her later.
After parting with Han Cheong-ah, I checked my phone again.
Unlike last week, a new contact had been added.
His name was 'Antonio del Piero,' but I'd saved it as 'Goat.'
I sent a message to Goat.
[Meet on the rooftop of the abandoned building in Sector 5]
A moment later... buzz.
[OK]
I took a deep breath and melted into the dark night streets.
It was time to start twisting the main story.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About three days ago.
I came across some news on my smartphone.
📰 Breaking News 【Shocking News from Academy City!!! Sudden Dimensional Beast Appearance. 12 Casualties, Beast Estimated at Rank 5...】 📰 Breaking News 【Arc Special Report!!! Dimensional Beast Appears Suddenly in Sector 5... Could Rifts Really Open in Academy City...?】 📰 Breaking News 【Federal Guidance Bureau Closely Investigating Dimensional Beast Incident... Citizens and Students on Edge】 It was unprecedented news: a Dimensional Beast appearing inside Academy City, protected by outer barriers.
Online forums were buzzing with speculation.
A post on a Korean community site read:
📰 Post [Picked Up Original Footage from Academy City News] The post included a video shot by someone at the scene.
It showed a tiger-sized giant spider monster brutally hunting people in gory detail.
When the beast tore into people with its sharp, massive fangs, the surroundings were dyed red with flesh and blood.
The screams of people mixed with the monster's roars were captured raw.
Pure pandemonium.
The video, like a scene from hell, was quickly taken down but had already ignited the community.
💬 Comments — Anon123 Anyone see that video just now? — WorriedParent My house is only about 50km from that rift. Should I move? Instant death if I run into one of those f***ers lol — SkepticHunter Wasn't Arc supposed to be rift-free safe zone? Isn't it in the Pacific? Why the sudden monster bullshit? — DoomedAF All the hunter trainees and Psykers who'll handle security for the next 50 years are there. If they die, we're all screwed lol — LogicFail Why cram all those people in one spot then? Whose dumb idea was that? — StatsNerd ↳ Reply Idiot above? You think they dig money for schools outta the ground? Psyker crime dropped 70% after Academy City. Go check stats before typing, moron lol — Politicool Fr lol, some politician said the same shit and if he'd won, we'd be getting zapped by Psykers right now — Zappy Electric zap zap lmao The video from the Korean site quickly spread to global video platforms viewed by people worldwide.
The 'Arc Attack' became a hot international issue, covered even in foreign news.
In Academy City, attendance and dismissal times were adjusted for nearby schools, Federal Guidance Bureau surveillance tightened, and so on. That was why Han Cheong-ah had said, "Things have been rough out there lately."
The incident caused ripples everywhere.
I was paying close attention to the Arc Attack too.
Though my focus differed from ordinary folks worried about security, the future, or stocks.
I stroked my chin as I read the news.
This meant Main Scenario Chapter 1 was about to begin.
Main Scenario Chapter 1: Dimensional Beast Awakening.
This marked the start of the main story, centering on protagonist Kim Si-hu.
True to my friend's taste for 'tragic tales,' the story was quite brutal. Chapter 1 included lines like:
'There wasn't even a tiny rift that could spawn Dimensional Beasts here. He'd confirmed it with his own eyes... Academy City Arc was undoubtedly safe from those hazardous monsters.'
'But the scene before Kim Si-hu's eyes shattered that notion outright. The monster looked like dozens of beasts ground up in a blender—grotesque. It let out a gleeful roar as it devoured people.'
'After finishing its meal, it fixed its seventy hole-eyes on Kim Si-hu.'
'Then, in a voice like something crawled from hell, it said:'
'"Si-hu, want a bite too?"'
'With those words, countless Dimensional Beast roars echoed through the city center.'
The story's truth was tragic.
While investigating the Arc Attack's cause with Yubyeol-ha and Han Cheong-ah, Kim Si-hu meets Yubyeol-ha's best friend, Haena Rolling.
Haena, a flawless and kind Arcana cadet, seemed unsuited to being a hunter.
But her reason for entering Arcana—a strong sense of justice and gentle heart like the protagonist's—made it fitting for her.
Though not quite on Yubyeol-ha's level, she was a promising student.
After hearing the situation from Kim Si-hu and the group, Haena offers to help.
But tragedy strikes then.
The Dimensional Beasts in rift-free 'pure zone' Arc appeared due to drugs.
Experimental Awake.
The mysterious drug Baek Do-hyun received from someone and had Wang sell to Arcana cadets.
Commonly called Expe, it induced hallucinations and boosted the body's viral 'Erosion Rate' like doping.
Erosion Rate, simply put, is 'Cost.'
Psykers use psychic powers via the unknown Psychic Virus, creating barrier fields and such.
But powers aren't unlimited conveniences.
Psykers pay 'cost' like game characters with every use—that's Erosion Rate.
More power use activates the virus, eroding the body.
Greater erosion allows stronger powers.
Why call it a cost/resource? Because at 100% body domination, the Psyker loses all control to the virus.
This is Last Time.
Psykers in Last Time become impulse-driven monsters.
Conscious but body unresponsive to the brain—a horrifying state.
If they can't suppress the virus then...
They transform into gruesome Dimensional Beasts like Haena's depiction in the story.
While investigating alone, Haena uncovers info on Expe.
Sudden city beasts, Erosion-boosting drug.
Rushing to tell Kim Si-hu, she's caught by 21st Century Secret Society member Antonio del Piero, who witnesses it.
Antonio force-injects massive Expe into Haena, triggering her Last Time.
Unable to control the virus, Haena becomes a beast and massacres people.
Kim Si-hu and Yubyeol-ha fighting the monstrous Haena is Chapter 1's climax.
Yes.
Arc's beasts weren't from rifts or breached barriers—just Psykers inside turning monstrous.
Due to the 21st Century Secret Society's drug distribution.
Knowing the full truth, I'd spent three days planning countermeasures, mapping it out in my head.
And today, I began actively twisting the story.
The first step: meet Antonio del Piero, the drug distributor.