The Tough Guy Hides the Villainess

“Instructor, will they be alright?”

In the bright white control room, students were marked as small dots on a holographic display.

The positions of the students who had entered the Great Labyrinth were being tracked by smartwatches and drones and visualized in 3D.

Moon Hyun-ah, a seasoned explorer, took off her blindfold and carefully observed the students.

Among them, the team that concerned her the most was the group formed by those rejected by other students, the team named “No Leftovers Day”.

“Instructor, will they be alright? These kids… They’ve headed towards the stream where monsters reside. The creature that lives there is from the ‘Nose’ category. Its aggression has been weakened, but still…”

“A monster is still a monster. Even normal people faint just from being exposed to the poisonous fumes these creatures emit. So, why did they go there? Could it be that they intentionally aimed for the monster’s territory?”

Instructor Kang Cheol-min already knew that the team of Geum Tae-sung and the transfer student, Han Nam-jin, had started their practical training at the cliff.

Because of the cliff climbing, their exploration was delayed by about 30 minutes compared to other teams.

In such a situation, trying to find weapons imbued with concepts was like starting a sprint race five seconds later than the other competitors.

“In the midst of that, these kids decided to switch their route to hunt monsters and push through. You get 2 million merit points for hunting one monster. That’s 400,000 points per person. I don’t know whose idea it was, but it’s truly…”

Kang Cheol-min laughed loudly.

Soon, Moon Hyun-ah joined in, laughing as well.

“Pfft, it’s such a reckless and foolish plan. That mutant may not be very aggressive, but even our teacher team barely managed to capture it because it was so swift and cunning.”

Moon Hyun-ah recalled the time they had captured the dog with the concept of the “Nose”.

Its eyes were burnt, but its sense of smell and hearing were exceptional.

It would run away at the slightest sign, making it incredibly difficult to capture.

“Honestly, there’s no way third-year students can kill it. The creature will flee before they even get close.”

For students who hadn’t yet become adults, defeating a monster was an incredibly difficult task.

The monsters in this training labyrinth weren’t placed there to be defeated but were meant to be obstacles that signaled the time to escape.

In other words, they existed to show the students their limits and the walls they would face.

“But if this team somehow manages to defeat the monster with their own strength, that would mean they’ve achieved results on par with the ‘Supernova’.”

“Supernova” referred to students who displayed talents equal to or greater than active explorers while still being students.

Moon Hyun-ah didn’t believe that the students left behind were capable of shining that brightly.

“Especially not the problem-filled students of Class D, who are full of variables, unlike our elite Class F students with their high potential.”

However, Instructor Kang Cheol-min had a different opinion.

“There’s one student in that group that I’ve been keeping an eye on. That kid is going to become a ‘Supernova’ soon. He’ll be wearing the Knight Brooch.”

“Oh, if you’re saying that, Instructor, then… I guess I can expect something from him too. I think I already know which student you’re talking about.”

Moon Hyun-ah’s gaze turned towards the boy student captured by the drone.

It was Geum Tae-sung, who had previously been assessed with a 4th grade potential rating during the preliminary evaluations.

He would have fit right in with the elite students of Class F, but due to his background, he was demoted to Class D.

As for the rest of them?

Moon Hyun-ah didn’t even bother to look further—at least, that’s what she thought as the homeroom teacher of Class F.

###

I shouted, small but clear.

“Look at that damn dog! Its eyes are scorched, like they’ve been burned! That means it can’t see! That’s why it’s prowling around and not charging at us!”

Just like how humans awaken through special circumstances, when animals awaken, they become monsters.

And just like how humans who grasp concepts become even more special, monsters do too.

“Nose. That creature is a Nose.”

I had a hunch that the monster in front of us had a concept related to ‘nose’, ‘smell’, or ‘scent’.

It had an enormously large nose, making it easy to recognize.

“After losing its eyesight from burns, it gained the concept of smell to compensate. Abilities stem from a strong desire, right? That creature must’ve been so frustrated by its blindness that it awakened to a new power.”

“So, what’s your point?”

Candy Maker Chang-sik asked, and I almost sighed.

I’ve explained enough that even a fool could understand.

It seemed the fear of facing a monster was paralyzing everyone’s reasoning.

“The smell of boiling candy is masking our scent. With all the sweet smell filling the air, the creature’s nose has been sealed. That’s why it hasn’t attacked us yet!”

“R-really…?”

“All that’s left is its hearing. That’s where you come in, Deok-soon. You said you could quiet down the surrounding sounds, right?”

“It’s not Deok-soon, it’s Deok-hee….”

The girl corrected her name while glancing back and forth between the monster and us.

“I can mute sounds, but only within a 10-meter radius… and only for about 20 seconds.”

10 meters for 20 seconds?

That’s enough.

No sound and no scent—an ambush with those conditions would catch even a monster off guard, like a lightning strike from a clear sky.

“Alright, Deok-soon, we’re counting on you. This is for 2 million points! We’ll each get 400,000! You’re our key player!”

“…”

She tightly grasped her pant leg.

The shy girl, feeling everyone’s gaze on her, trembled continuously.

It might take her some time to give an answer.

“I-I can’t do it….”

She quivered like a featherless duck in the middle of winter.

Her clothes were soaked with sweat, and her breathing grew rough—she really didn’t seem to have the courage.

Well, that’s to be expected.

We’re the leftovers.

We’re like trash that wasn’t needed and got thrown away.

There’s no way we’d have confidence.

“Deok-hee.”

At that moment, Geum Tae-sung took Deok-soon’s hand.

She was visibly startled.

“Huh? Wh-what…?”

“I always feel calmer when someone holds my hand like this when I’m nervous. How about you? Feeling better?”

“O-oh, um….”

Was it because of Geum Tae-sung’s handsome face?

Or was it the unexpected kindness in his voice, which didn’t match his delinquent appearance?

Deok-soon trembled even more than before but seemed to feel something.

“…I’ll give it a try. But I can only do it for about 20 seconds!”

Deok-soon made up her mind and began to move, though her bizarre dance looked like a child performing for their grandparents on New Year’s.

Watching her made me cringe.

Her face, partially hidden behind her long hair, turned beet red, as if it might explode, while sweat dripped down to the floor.

The surprising thing was that it became completely silent around us, as if we were wearing heavy headsets.

“─”

“──!”

Everyone opened their mouths wide in shock, but no sound came out.

It was like watching fish silently move their lips inside an aquarium.

Perfect silence.

I clapped my hands together forcefully, but no sound emerged.

‘This is amazing! If I had this power back when I was raiding potato fields, it would’ve made things a lot easier!’

─Let’s go!

I motioned to everyone.

But no one moved, hesitating as if they couldn’t step forward.

I guess I could understand—it was like asking them to charge at a rabid dog, and they were too scared to move.

Frustrated, I took the first step forward.

One step, then another.

The Nose Dog didn’t seem to notice me as it eagerly lapped up the sweet liquid from the boiling sugar pot.

You idiot!

I snuck up behind it and kicked its groin as hard as I could.

Whack-!

The huge dog’s testicles were kicked─.

━━───!

It let out a silent, brutal scream and flipped over.

[Name: Blackie
Status: 《Shock》 – It has no idea what just happened. It’s writhing in pain as if the world has shattered!]

Good!

Without missing the chance, I kicked its body again as hard as I could.

Boom-!

Enhanced by the concept of Leap, my kick sent the dog flying, rolling on the ground, and everyone’s faces lit up.

“Everyone, stomp on it! Focus on the groin if you can!”

I shouted, and while they couldn’t hear me, they seemed to understand my intention.

Everyone surrounded the dog, which had lost its senses, and began stomping and hitting it as hard as they could.

Dududududu-.

Like imperialist powers exploiting their colonies!

Their once-tense faces were now full of hopeful smiles!

It seemed like the monster hunt was about to end─.

But that’s when it happened.

Snap, crack, creak, crunch-.

Something strange was happening.

The wounds on the dog’s body began to swell, and then eyes began to appear, like peacock feathers with eye

-shaped patterns.

Pop-pop-!

The dog that had been getting beaten suddenly spotted us with its countless eyes and quickly put distance between us.

We were all stunned by the sudden turn of events.

“Is… is it a multi-concept holder?”

Had Deok-soon stopped dancing?

The sounds around us returned to normal.

Breathing heavily, Deok-soon shouted.

“The monster has awakened a second ability! It seems to be the concept of ‘Eyes’!”

Nose.

Eyes.

They were somewhat related.

But of all times, the monster had to awaken a second concept now!

What rotten luck!

“…Is it because of me?”

Baek Yeoul, on the verge of tears, whimpered.

Was her ‘Misfortune’ responsible for this?

━Grrr-.

The Nose Dog drooled, staring at us as if enraged.

If it bit us, it’d be straight to rabies.

While everyone was frozen, the dog made its move.

━Grruff!

“What the—!?”

The creature targeted Baek Yeoul.

Out of all of us, it chose her first.

As expected, she’s the icon of bad luck.

If we didn’t act, Baek Yeoul would get seriously injured.

Looks like it’s time for me to step in.

It’s time to pull out my secret weapon.

“Everyone, get ready to charge when I give the signal!”

Schwick-. Flop-.

Shouting with determination, I swiftly pulled down my pants.

“You insane pervert! You’re finally showing your true colors!”

“Eeek!”

The girls screamed as my secret weapon was revealed to the world.

My flashy tiger-patterned underwear, worth exactly 10,000 won.

The dog’s countless eyes, which had been focused on Baek Yeoul, immediately locked onto me.

[Name: Blackie
Status: 《Attention》 – It’s focusing on you!]

Now! This is my chance!

I kicked off the ground and rushed toward the dog.

━Grruff…!?

The dog, distracted by my underwear, tried to retreat, but my Leap ability made me fast enough to cover 100 meters in just 3 seconds.

“Yaaahhhh!”

I quickly closed the distance, grabbed the dog, and locked its neck with my arms and its body with my legs in a sleeper hold.

━Grrr-!

But this bastard wasn’t going down without a fight, scratching and biting at me with its claws and teeth.

Damn it! It hurts like hell, but I’ve got to hold on!

“Everyone, beat it up! Beat it to death! Now’s the time! I can’t hold it for long! Hurry!”

“Nam-jin!”

Geum Tae-sung shouted and rushed over, punching and kicking the dog—but he hit me too.

“Aaagh!”

As expected from a former delinquent!

Damn, his punches hurt!

“S-sorry!”

“No, don’t worry about it! Just keep hitting it! Keep beating it! We’re not giving up 2 million points! Never! 2 million! Aaaargh!”

Dudududududu-.

The dog struggled, but I held on.

And the others surrounded it, unleashing a one-sided barrage of punches and kicks.

“You damn mutt! Die already!”

Baek Yeoul shouted fiercely, leaping into the air.

Whoosh, thud!

Her kick struck the monster’s groin like a predator’s deadly blow—but it also cleanly hit my groin too.

━Grrrrraaaahhhh!!!!!

“Grrrraaaahhhh!!!!”

The monster dog vomited up the sugary liquid it had been drinking, covering me in filth.

“Ugh, the smell!”

As if the pain in my groin wasn’t bad enough, now I was covered in vomit.

What awful luck.

But I could feel the tension leaving the monster’s body, and at the same time, my strength gave out.

“W-we did it! We really did it! We’ve killed a monster! We did what only Class F elites could do! We did it! Together!”

Candy Maker Chang-sik cheered, looking at the lifeless monster.

Baek Yeoul offered me a hand, covered in filth.

“Hey, a-are you okay? I didn’t mean to kick you on purpose!”

Honestly, I felt like I was going to die.

But winning 2 million points was definitely a stroke of luck, wasn’t it?

This brings me one step closer to my goddess, Seo Ga-eul.

But for now, there’s something even more important.

We killed a monster, so we need to claim the ‘reward’, don’t we?

“There’s no time to celebrate! We need to retrieve the loot from the monster’s corpse!”

“Loot?”

“What loot are you talking about?”

What else would it be?

Treasure, of course.

It was common knowledge in the post-apocalyptic world, but it seemed like research on monsters in this era wasn’t fully developed yet.

If no one knows, that means I can keep it all to myself, right?