< Chapter 94: Four divine beasts (4) >
It’s said that life does not flow as one thinks. I completely agree with that statement.
“Cadet Kang Seo-yul! Stand down!”
Leading the instructors, Instructor Pi Jin Ho, took the position to protect the cadets.
“Grrr.”
White Tiger, growled menacingly, receiving the full alertness of the instructors.
Its once calm expression, its once proud roar, was nowhere to be found. Its face was twisted in agony, and its voice cracked like metal.
“Seo-yul, what’s going on?”
Ha Si-yeon pulled at my sleeve, her face full of confusion. To Ha Si-yeon, who knew White Tiger’s previous demeanor, this was an incomprehensible situation.
“…I don’t know either.”
But I was in the same boat, unable to understand the current situation.
My original plan was this:
Using Hermit, who can freely access the laboratory, I would cause the Blue Dragon in the unmanned second experiment area, to run wild.
As a result, the world would learn about the newly emerged Four divine beasts and negative opinions would gather around the Blue Dragon, who would wreak havoc and destruction.
At the same time, sponsors backing the Beast Masters would likely give up on the rampant Four divine beasts, cutting their losses.
In this scenario, the experiment would voluntarily end due to the sponsors’ decision. Even if they didn’t, with the precedent of the Blue Dragon’s rampage, I was confident that an appeal to the media about the dangers of the Four divine beasts would at least prevent a defeat.
The only issue was the potential human and property damage caused by the Blue Dragon’s rampage. By targeting the uninhabited second experiment area, human casualties were excluded. Property damage would be minimal, nothing compared to the monster rampage planned for a year later.
It was a perfect plan.
“Cadet Kang Seo-yul! Move Goldie back! That’s dangerous!”
“But that one…”
Had White Tiger not suddenly run wild as we bid farewell at the airport, it would have been perfect.
“Enough! Follow the order! This is a real situation! It’s not the time for a mere cadet to strut around!”
The instructors shouted in rough voices.
“Ugh.”
I bit my lip.
“No. I’m sorry to Goldie, but I think it’s best to stay like this.”
Instructor Pi Jin Ho offered a different opinion.
“Instructor Pi? But!”
“Look. White Tiger’s focus is on Goldie. I don’t know why, but Goldie is buying time.”
“…Ah!”
Gasps came from the surrounding instructors.
“If we withdraw Goldie now, White Tiger’s fangs might turn to the cadets or civilians. Cadet Kang Seo-yul is worried about that, right?”
“Yes, yes. That’s correct.”
Although it was for entirely different reasons, I agreed for the time being.
“…I see. My thinking was short-sighted.”
The instructors were convinced.
For now, there was no need for us to retreat, but the situation remained unchanged.
“What do we do? If we stay like this, White Tiger will…”
Ha Si-yeon was restless.
In about three minutes, Australia’s superhuman troops will arrive, and then, regardless of White Tiger’s strength, it will surely be defeated.
…Think. Think.
There must be a way to resolve this situation smoothly!
My mind spun like a top.
In the original work, the Four divine beasts always moved together. Whether resting or acting, they behaved in perfect unison, regardless of the distance.
Could it be some resonance phenomenon, allowing them to communicate?
Maybe White Tiger fell into a wild state by resonating with the Blue Dragon’s rampage.
Its affection towards Goldie twisted into something sinister, causing it to target Goldie now.
It was a plausible hypothesis.
If my theory was correct, the solution was simple. Bring down the Blue Dragon. If the Blue Dragon stops its rampage, so will White Tiger.
“!”
I gasped.
“Rampage… Resonance?”
I broke into a cold sweat.
White Tiger resonated with the Blue Dragon’s rampage, and both became wild.
So what’s next?
It goes without saying.
“The other three will follow and go wild?”
Chills ran down my spine.
If I was right, if my hypothesis was correct, I might have made the worst choice.
…Damn it.
But it’s not too late.
There’s still a way to fix this.
First…
I called out to Goldie.
“Goldie!”
At this call alone, Goldie seemed to understand my thoughts and immediately took action.
“Roar.”
While confronting White Tiger, Goldie started sprinting like mad toward the airport runway.
“RAWR!”
White Tiger followed suit.
Considering what I saw in Monster Park, White Tiger should catch up soon, but its movement was clearly impaired.
The intimidation was as I had felt in Monster Park.
It was threatening enough to make Instructor Pi pause, but its movement was seriously hindered.
Because of the side effects of running amok, or perhaps because the White Tiger is resisting the rampage.
I quickly followed the two as well.
“Si-yeon-ah! Come on!”
“Uh …? Okay!”
Ha Si-yeon followed me.
“Cadet Kang Seo-yul!”
“Cadet Ha Si-yeon!”
Our sudden actions confused the instructors.
“We’ll lure it to a place without people first!”
“Kang Seo-yul! What are you doing…?”
Instructor Pi Jin Ho, who followed us first, asked in a bewildered tone.
“This White Tiger is not a real White Tiger!”
“…What?”
“Think about it! The White Tiger can’t be this small!”
“That’s … ”
“They say the Blue Dragon is as big as a mountain, but the White Tiger is only as big as a gold tiger! Everyone assumed it was just a white tiger!”
I lied.
A desperate lie to convince Instructor Pi Jin Ho.
“No, but the timing of the appearance of the Blue Dragon and that creature is too perfect. There must be some connection … ”
“That’s possible! The characteristics of the Four Symbols are to control and rampage the surrounding monsters!”
“How do you know that … ?”
Another instructor asked.
“It’s in the history books! When the Four Symbols appeared, all the monsters in China went berserk! This is a precursor to that!”
“…The appearance of the Four Symbols?”
Pi Jin Ho’s expression grew serious.
An expression of realization.
“Yes. That’s right.”
I said.
“The Blue Dragon is just the beginning. Soon, the other Four Symbols will reveal themselves as well.”
Pi Jin Ho’s pupils trembled.
“That must be a guess … ”
“Instructor!”
Just then.
“We have reports of a White Tiger appearing in the nearby mountains!”
The news came of the White Tiger from Laboratory No. 4 causing a rampage.
“The size is similar to the Blue Dragon, and the intimidation surpasses a disaster-level threat easily!”
“The Australian government has declared a national emergency! They’ve requested help from the World Superhuman Federation!”
“There are reports that numerous monsters, besides the White Tiger and Blue Dragon, are rampaging!”
My hypothesis became a reality at that moment.
“Instructor Pi Jin Ho! Ha Si-yeon and I can handle this! Please prepare to evacuate civilians and stop the real White Tiger and other monsters! If we delay any longer, something truly irreversible may happen!”
Laboratory No. 4, where the White Tiger is sleeping, is quite close to the city. If we’re late, a great disaster will occur.
“… Kang Seo-yul.”
Instructor Pi Jin Ho looked into my eyes. I met his gaze and said firmly,
“Trust your disciple once.”
Instructor Pi Jin Ho gave a faint smile and nodded his head as he looked at the White Tiger running on the runway.
“… Understood.”
With that, he stood his ground.
“From now on, the instructors of the Korean Superhuman Academy will move to prevent the disaster in Australia.”
Instructor Pi Jin Ho’s words started to fade away,
“Instructor Pi!”
“So that guy!”
“You must have heard. That guy is not White Tiger. We must leave it to Kang Seo-yul and Ha Si-yeon…”
Soon, they were no longer audible.
Thank you, Instructor.
For trusting me.
“Goldie! Keep running and head out onto the runway!”
White Tiger can be left to Instructor Pi Jin Ho.
Blue Dragon will be dealt with somehow by the Australian government’s superhumans.
Neither of them is in perfect condition.
So now, what remains are the Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird.
Considering the abilities of the superhumans residing in Australia, they won’t be able to stop the Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird.
Then…
“Hermit!”
I shouted as soon as I stepped out onto the runway.
If it’s the Hermit I know, he must be hiding nearby.
“Seems like a variable has come into play.”
My guess was right.
“Yes! There’s a problem! So, please do me one more favor!”
“You really know how to push people around. Well, fine.”
Hermit shrugged his shoulders.
“Soon the Black Tortoise will go wild! Go to Lab 1 and handle the Black Tortoise!”
The White Tiger at the airport nearest to Lab 2 went berserk.
Next, White Tiger of Lab 4, which is close to Lab 2 and the airport, went wild.
So next in line, the Black Tortoise of Lab 1 will go berserk.
It must be stopped.
“…”
Hermit looked dumbfounded.
“You ask a difficult task as if it’s nothing. Like asking to go buy cigarettes or something.”
“There won’t be any difficulty with your power! the Black Tortoise and you are a perfect match!”
“Well, fine. I’ll at least try. I’m not in a position to refuse your request.”
Hermit smiled slyly.
“And if you say it’s possible, then it must be.”
“Yes. If it seems dangerous, you can run away.”
“Understood.”
With those words, Hermit vanished again into thin air.
This should take care of the Black Tortoise.
Now all that remains are Vermilion Bird and that White Tiger, who has gone berserk in a strange way.
“Who was that just now?”
Ha Si-yeon, who was quietly watching, asked.
“My subordinate.”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“I’ll explain later.”
I cut her off.
“Right now, we need to stop that White Tiger from going berserk. Goldie!”
At my command, Goldie took its place.
White Tiger also stopped in place.
Its expression was still twisted.
A desolate mountain slope with no people around.
Here, we don’t have to worry about prying eyes.
Whoosh!
I spread out Heavenly Wings.
“Why the wings?”
“For magic!”
Up until now, I couldn’t use them due to others’ eyes, but Heavenly Wings has a supportive function called magic circulation increase.
Next, I removed the [Weapon’s Extreme] and put on [Mana’s Grace].
With that, preparations were complete!
“Si-yeon! Coordinate with Goldie and somehow stop White Tiger’s movements!”
“What for?”
“What do you mean, ‘what for’!”
I flickered the ‘Spirit Flame’ in my hand.
“We must precisely burn only the ‘berserk factor’ inside that White Tiger!”
Fortunately, this White Tiger is not that big.
Considering my current state, filled with all sorts of magical buffs including Heavenly Wings and resonance, it should be possible.
* * *
The Beast Master of Laboratory 3 was holding his head with both hands, screaming in despair.
“Why… Why!!”
First, the Blue Dragon went berserk, and now even the White Tiger had gone wild.
“The psychic response of the Vermilion Bird is approaching the berserk stage!”
“We can’t hold on for even 10 minutes!”
“The situation with the Black Tortoise in Laboratory 1 is even more serious!”
Despair.
“The safety devices are all down!”
“There’s no way to stop it!”
Fear.
“Contact the client!”
“The experiment is over with this. Take care of it on your side…”
“Research support is terminated as of now. We declare no responsibility for the unanticipated outcome of the experiment, and you must handle the current situation…”
Those words were the final blow.
The Beast Master’s mind completely collapsed. The advent of the Four divine beasts project, the fruit of decades of research, had been utterly scrapped.
‘What’s the big deal if one or two countries are destroyed?’
This experiment was humanity’s hope.
If humans could control monsters at will, they would no longer have to live in fear of them.
‘A world where we don’t have to grovel to powerful superhumans!’
If this experiment succeeded, superhumans would become unnecessary relics of the past.
‘The downfall of superhumans, praised by all for their strength, uniqueness, and flashy abilities!’
For 72 years, a lifetime, he had devoted himself solely to this research for that cause alone.
‘Damn it! Damn it!’
But now, it was over.
The client had already begun to wash their hands of the situation.
The Beast Master would likely be left to shoulder the blame alone for this unauthorized experiment.
He would be branded a villain, never to see the world outside prison again.
He had dedicated his life to the world! And what he got in return was the infamy of a villain and a one-way ticket to jail!
The Beast Master couldn’t accept this reality.
“That can’t be.”
Yes.
If he’s going to be a villain anyway, he might as well be a more definite one. No way he’s going to prison.
‘Villain or not, I just have to escape… I can restart the experiment later. All the results are in my head anyway.’
The Beast Master’s eyes emitted a hideous light.
“You there. Bring me sample number 7.”
* * *
“Heuk, heuk.”
Thick beads of sweat poured down my forehead.
A sign of magical exhaustion.
I had used too much magic.
“Seo-yul, are you okay?”
Ha Si-yeon, who had undone the Ice Queen’s spell, hurriedly rushed over to me.
“Ah… ah, I’m fine… heuk.”
I gestured to Ha Si-yeon that I was okay.
“Keeing.”
Goldie licked my face.
A face full of concern.
“I’m fine… really.”
I’m out of breath.
So this is what happens when you use too much magic.
“But… thanks to you pushing yourself too hard…”
I spoke, gasping for breath.
“You saved… white tiger.”
At Goldie’s feet, the White Tiger, having reverted back to the form of a cat, lay collapsed.
“Did you… sleep well?”
With all the ferocity gone, it looked at me with its bright red eyes.
“Aren’t you going to thank me? Your brother went through a lot… to save you.”
I joked, catching my breath and smiling.
The White Tiger, all traces of its previous fierceness gone, turned its head away with a sullen expression.
“…Good. I’m glad you seem alright.”
I couldn’t help but smile at its familiar demeanor. I patted the White Tiger’s head and stood up.
“Seo-yul? Shouldn’t you rest a bit more?”
“There’s still work to be done.”
Thanks to Heavenly Wings’ magical circulation and Mana’s Grace, my magic was recovering faster than usual.
“Goldie, stay here and look after White Tiger.”
I stroked Goldie’s head.
“I’ll be back after meeting with Vermilion Bird for a bit. Si-yeon, you stay here too.”
Si-yeon looked at me with worried eyes.
“…You’re going to break the seal?”
I smirked.
A seal.
It would be nice if there really were such a thing.
A hero who conveniently breaks a seal to overcome a crisis every time. How cool that would be.
“Yes.”
Sadly, I have no such seal or hidden power.
“Don’t worry. I’ll control it. If I manage the timing well, the enemies won’t catch us.”
But that doesn’t mean I’m without a trump card.
Inside my ‘Artisan’s Portable Forge,’ there is the top-tier ancient relic ‘Lucifer’s Lance.’
< Chapter 94: The Four divine beasts (4) > End.
