Chapter 46 : Leona's Secret Hobby #6 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

"Wow! Kim Geun Cheol really did a great job! Thanks to him, the kid is safe, and Lee Si Hoo is too! It's incredible that something like this is possible! You really have a talent for screaming! I thought it was only theoretically possible!" Leona, brimming with excitement, ran as if she were carrying a bazooka. Well, I do have a knack for shouting, but I never imagined it would be this effective. Monsters reacting to human screams? Is this normal? But if my scream truly has such an effect, it could be a great area-provocation skill to exploit. But why does my talent have to lie in something like this? Is this some kind of Kung Fu Hustle scenario? "Kim Geun Cheol, I won't mind if you scream again in the future! This is talent, pure talent! You managed to attract all the attention with just one scream!" "Uh, yeah... if you can call it talent." "Let's spread the wings of your talent!" She’s right. Anyway. —Whoosh! "Ah! Lee Si Hoo! You made it!" "Si Hoo, you’re here!" While we were running, Si Hoo caught up, carrying an elementary school kid on his back. Fortunately, the aggro was spread out, allowing him to outpace them and reach us safely! "Yeah! But it was really a close call! Thank you, Geun Cheol! Your scream sounded like the trumpet of salvation!" What the hell is the trumpet of salvation! "Hehe! It’s true that if you had failed, we might have genuinely been sent to heaven, so in a way, it’s accurate! Anyway, I'm telling you Kim Geun Cheol has talent! By the way, Si Hoo! What about the kid?" "The kid?" I took a casual glance at the elementary school-aged kid Si Hoo had abducted. "Hey, hey?! This kid is foaming at the mouth and has passed out!" The child was indeed foaming and unconscious! "What, what do we do now?! Geun Cheol!" "I don’t know, damn it! Let’s run to the hospital!" "Right!" "Oh! And Kim Geun Cheol, can you keep a lookout while we run?" "Say what?!" —Spin! Leona spun me around to face the rear so I could keep watch as we ran... A truly novel idea! "How does it look?" "Well! They can't keep up!" It was obvious at a glance that more than dozens of ant-like creatures were crossing rooftops trying to chase us down, but being trained heroes, we weren't as slow as elementary kids. We were naturally faster. "We're safe! We're ahead!" As I turned my head to check behind and announced it, —Thud, thud, thud, thud! From that direction, a helicopter approached. "Ah! A helicopter!" "It's here! The military has arrived!" "Let's quickly head to the hospital! The kid might not make it!" Leona kept a firm grip on me as I observed the incoming troops. —Rumble. —Thump, thump, thump. Armored infantry equipped with mounted machine guns followed alongside armored vehicles. They said these power-suited soldiers were all professional soldiers. Korea in this world is slightly different from my hometown. I myself was enlisted as a conscript up to sergeant before discharge, but here the conscripts finish only until private first class and are promoted to corporal on the day of discharge. Anyway, the professional soldiers in this world undergo 12 months as a private at their base, then proceed directly to professional military school. After completing their training, they receive their corporal rank and are stationed. Those armored infantry there are all cases like that. They learn how to handle power suits at the professional military school. Although such military-grade power suits are inferior in performance compared to those used by Awakened individuals. If the power suits used by the Awakened are high-end models, the ones the military uses are mass-produced models focused on cost-effectiveness. But those guys are not the concern here. "Running scared." Behind the armored infantry, regular soldiers wearing protective gear were walking. They were literally conscripted soldiers. Although they receive normal wages, the fact that conscripts are deployed in real combat says it all about Korea's situation. But without deploying conscripts, they cannot cope with the daily Gate crises that appear nationwide. Even the United States and Europe have started benchmarking Korea’s conscription system and are operating their forces in a similar manner. Who would have thought a day would come where the world would benchmark Korea's conscription system... Turns out the standing military consists of a little over 1 million men and women. Reservists face annually a 9-day mobilization training for 10 years. Isn’t that crazy? I would’ve lost my mind, but they say the Supreme Commander of Korea is an S-ranked Awakened being... No one can challenge him. He's not just a president, but a potentate with legislative, judicial, and executive powers all in one. He even has the authority for summary execution of civilians, though it's said he’s never used it. Who would dare challenge a reigning superhuman? "Wow." But it's chilling. If I weren't an Awakened, I’d be one of those soldiers over there, damn. Well, we eventually arrived at the hospital. "Hurry! The kid needs help!" "Gah! Mo-Monster Shock! It’s Children Monster Shock! Doctor! It's a Children Monster Shock patient!!!" "What did you say?" A nurse in a frenzy announced to the doctors, desperately seeking aid. Apparently, it’s a medical term used for when someone is in shock after being chased by a monster. * * * "Ugh! How can so much happen on a volunteer activity day? Isn't today too long?" Leona sounded complaining, but she looked very refreshed. Doing good deeds must have uplifted her spirit. "Hahaha, indeed. But it was a fulfilling day. We even saved a kid at the end, didn’t we?" "And we witnessed Kim Geun Cheol's talent again. It was worth coming today." "Geun Cheol gets a perfect score." Indeed. All things considered, today was quite fulfilling. Not only did we volunteer at an orphanage with friends over the weekend, but we also rescued a civilian boy from a Gate outbreak area. "Hehe, not even a perfect score does it justice. Actually, today, I handled everything myself. It was hard carrying." "Handling everything by yourself, you say? Today was my day." "I was the one who saved the kid though." We briefly argued in playful banter about who performed the best today, yet like with all things, no conclusion was reached. "Oh, but can we write a report about this and submit it to school?" If we did something good, we might as well get recognized for it at school. "I think we can? Let's write it together and submit it. I heard that if we turn it in, we might be exempted from doing something over break." "What do you mean 'something over break'?" "I don’t know the details, but I heard we need to submit something during break. If we turn this in, we get exempted! That's awesome!" "Let's definitely write it!" "Let’s meet tomorrow and write it!" That sounds perfect! "Hehe, sounds great. Where should we meet?" "Well, since I can't go into the boys' dorm, let's meet at a nearby café. Kim Geun Cheol? You have to be quiet in a café, okay?" "Do you think I just scream anywhere?" While we were chatting, we stopped by a place called “Schweinhaxen,” and picked up some packed food. However, it might be cold by now. "Now that it's packed, it feels awkward to eat it somewhere. It might not taste good cold. And it's almost curfew time." "Yeah, that's true. It's almost time for us, too. What should we do, Geun Cheol?" "What else? You should take it, Kim Geun Cheol. You and Lee Si Hoo can have it at the dorm." Oh, really! "You're just giving it to me? You really are an angel, Leona!!!" "Take this kindness to the grave with you!" "Of course!!!" What a joyous day! Getting a bonus meal from Schweinhaxen! With that, we returned in Leona's flying limousine. * * * _________________________ 「Main Quest: Omen 2」 「Quest Completed」 「Defeated Assault-Type F Rank Gate」 「Reward: 2,500 Coins」 __________________________ "Oh...!" As soon as we reached the dormitory, I realized the quest was completed! Now I’ve cleared two main quests in total! Despite not having done much other than drawing monster aggro and rescuing a civilian, it seems the system considers it a clear. Anyway. [Coins Held: 5,020] My wallet is finally pleasantly full! Clearing two main quests in succession has brought my coin total to over 5,000. "Hehehe." I couldn't help but chuckle. At that moment, —Ding! A notification sounded. [A new skill has been unlocked.] An amazing news appeared!!! "Geun Cheol?" "Huh?" Just as I was about to scream with joy, Si Hoo popped his head in front of me. Well, there's no rush. I can check it later. "What should we do with the Schweinhaxen?" This was our dinner, something for Si Hoo and me to enjoy. We've had a productive day; maybe it's time for a feast. "Si Hoo, let's eat in your room." "Why mine again? We had chicken in my room last time! Let's eat in your room today!" "Oh. Okay." I didn’t mind. "Hehehe, then let's head in." We went ahead and opened the door to my room. As soon as we went in, I started stripping off my jacket and then my shirt, preparing to shed my pants, too. "Ah, wait?! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Geun Cheol?!" "Whoa, you scared me. What is it? Why are you shouting?" "Wh-why are you taking off your clothes...?" "What?" Si Hoo shouted, his face turning beet red as he looked at me. "Well, because we're inside now. Isn’t it hot? You should take off your jacket too." "Uh, um, I-I’m fine." "Really?" Anyway, I stripped down to just my boxers and a white tee. It’s always the most refreshing feeling to be this relaxed at home. "Geun Cheol... isn't it a bit much being in just your underwear..." "They’re trunks." "Put something on!" "Dude, what’s with all the fuss between guys?" Lee Si Hoo is really sensitive about these kinds of things. "Alright, alright. I’ll put on some shorts." "Whew... Alright, I'll pop this in the microwave." I quickly tossed on a pair of shorts and headed to the bathroom to wash my feet. It’s customary to wash your feet when you take off your socks. "Alright! Let’s eat! Si Hoo, set the table!" "Got it." —Slide. Si Hoo set the Schweinhaxen on the table. Although we reheated it in the microwave, meat is still meat. I grabbed drinks and utensils, feeling my stomach growling in anticipation. "Si Hoo, let’s eat." "Yeah. We should thank Leona for this." "She really is an angel." —Fizz! We opened the cola, And popped a slice of Schweinhaxen into my mouth. "Wow...!" This has an unusual pig trotter taste! "It’s unique, isn’t it?" "Hehe, it’s tastier than I expected. It’s got a peculiar pig trotter flavor." "I agree. Oh... but today was really something, wasn't it?" "It sure was." "We have to report this. Let's tell the school. That Gate was strange, wasn't it?" Si Hoo nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We should. It was definitely weird." "But wouldn’t this be all over the TV news by now?" "If GATES are appearing without warning, it’ll definitely make the news. It’ll be reported globally." "Does that mean we'll get interviewed too?" "Geun Cheol, do you want to become the globally famous Scream Man?" "That doesn’t sound too bad." "Hehe. Silly thoughts." With that, Si Hoo and I devoured the entire Schweinhaxen. Maybe because we’d exerted so much energy, it just went down so easily. It would’ve been nice if Leona could’ve joined us too. "Ahh, I’m stuffed. Si Hoo, was it good?" "Yeah. It was delicious." "Shall we hit the baths?" "Again with the bath talk. Geun Cheol, you know what?" "Are we going?" "We’re not going anywhere! I already told you!" Why not, though? By now, seriously, isn't it about time we go? "But Si Hoo, why are you so against it? I like going to baths with friends. Don’t you?" "I-I told you! It's embarrassing!" "What's there to be embarrassed about? It's just you and me. The amazing Geun Hoo combo. To the bathhouse we go." "I'm definitely not going." So stubborn. "More importantly, Geun Cheol, since we said we’d write the report tomorrow, you should start thinking about what to include." Alright, alright.