There’s a Monster Inside Me Chapter 11

There’s a Monster Inside Me

Chapter 11

After the welcoming ceremony, the seniors guided the freshmen to the dormitory. 

While moving, I secretly pocketed two night pearls that were installed throughout the White Crane Castle.

Naturally, in this life too, my roommate was Bada Gurumi. 

“Hey, thanks for earlier.” 

Gurumi’s expression was fresh as he extended his hand. 

It was completely different from the last memory I had of him, with his darkened dying gaze. 

Moved by his lively appearance like crashing white waves, I firmly grasped his hand. 

“I should thank you too. Thanks to you, our other classmates suffered less. And… I’m sorry.” 

“What, suddenly?” 

For leaving you behind. 

For not being even a speck of support for you. 

For ignoring your misfortune and struggling only to save myself. 

“Sorry that you got stuck with someone as inadequate as me for a roommate.” 

“Hahaha. You crazy guy!” 

Gurumi laughed cheerfully, showing his entire mouth. 

Then suddenly his expression turned to surprise. 

“Oops, crazy… this isn’t an insult, just something like an exclamation.” 

“Yes, I know.” 

Of course, I wasn’t bothered at all. 

“I’m Bada Gurumi.” 

“I’m Bada Maru.” 

“I heard earlier. Did you also live in a seaside village?” 

“No, my hometown doesn’t have any sea even if you go a hundred li away.” 

“Oh, then why?” 

“My master named me. I was an orphan without a family name. He gave me this name because I was always curious about the sea, hoping I would see the actual sea someday.” 

“Ah, I see.” 

The word ‘orphan’ that I couldn’t even mention before came out naturally. 

“That’s great! Come to my hometown with me sometime! Then you can know what a real sea is!” 

I wondered why I had hidden so much in my previous life, when such an open response would come back.

“So is your master your family?” 

“That’s right. My master and his granddaughter Yeolmae are my family.” 

“I see. Pretty small, huh? In our house, we have six sons including a newborn who cries WAAAH WAAAH.”

 “Really?”

“Yeah. Six sons of a fisherman with nothing but brute strength. And since my uncle left completely for the Dragon Palace… There’s also my aunt and three more cousins. If I want to feed my younger siblings well without starving them, I need to graduate from the Thousand-Year School and earn a lot of money. They say that once you become a sorcerer, you can earn tremendous amounts of money.” 

I see. So that’s why you endured so stubbornly until the end. 

And to think that you turned your back on the Thousand-Year School and left. 

I couldn’t even imagine what your feelings, your pain must have been like. …So that’s why it rained so much for three days and nights. 

“…I’m sorry.” 

“You crazy bastard, is saying sorry a greeting in your hometown? What’s with you saying it after everything?!” 

Embarrassed, I threw my belongings onto one of the bamboo beds. 

“Sorry for claiming this one first.” 

“Come on, what’s that about? Use the good one all you want! I don’t care.” 

Gurumi laughed heartily as he put his belongings on the remaining bed. 

We pulled out thick paulownia chests from under the beds. Inside was everything we needed, from paper and writing implements to clothes to change into. 

“So, we wear these now?” 

The freshmen’s attire was set as ochre-colored upper and lower garments with an orange half-coat. 

Unless you skipped a grade, this was the mandatory attire for three years. 

There was no gender distinction in the color, though one could wear a skirt instead of pants. 

However, when going outside the Thousand-Year School, whether freshman or senior, everyone wore blue military uniforms with red hats. 

We changed into ochre clothes and looked at each other. 

A laugh burst out simultaneously. 

“Maru, you look like a carrot.” 

“What? You look like a bull.” 

It was funny, but the feeling of stiff new clothes was thoroughly enjoyable. 

“By the way, can I ask about that?” 

Gurumi pointed with his chin at my bulging pocket. 

“Ah, you saw?” 

I readily took out the night pearls I had stolen. 

The round beads that filled my palm completely were emitting mysterious light. 

“These are night pearls, and if you connect two of them, you can send messages. Well, it only works at close distances.” 

“Oh, really?” 

Gurumi’s eyes widened as he moved closer. 

I held the night pearls in both hands and repeatedly moved them apart and closer together. 

After some time, a barely visible thin thread appeared between the night pearls. 

“WOW!” 

Gurumi’s eyes sparkled at encountering something new. 

When the connection between the beads became strong, I put them back in my pocket. 

“I’ll be right back.” 

“Hey, can’t I come too?” 

Gurumi asked as I was about to leave abruptly. 

He seemed very curious about what I was going to do. 

“Well, come if you want.” 

I threw out the words casually and jumped out the window. 

The thumping sound of him following made me smile unconsciously. 

The freshmen’s rooms were located at the edge of White Crane Castle. I scanned through the freshmen’s dormitory rooms. 

Before long, I found female students who had changed into ochre clothes. 

I climbed up to the large zelkova tree in front of the dormitory. 

Agile Gurumi followed without difficulty. 

I looked around for a while searching for someone. 

It wasn’t easy to distinguish, but eventually I found ‘her’. 

“Gurumi, stay here.” 

“Huh? Hey, Maru!” 

Before Gurumi could finish, I jumped down from the tree. 

I crept up quietly, placed a night pearl on the windowsill, and returned. 

Gurumi gave me a strange look as I returned excited by my success. 

“Oh my, you crazy bastard… are you a pervert?” 

“No, I’m not!” 

I clenched my teeth in exasperation.

And I hurried back to the room. 

Getting a bird egg from the top of the tree was a bonus. 

I put the wild bird egg in my left sleeve. 

When I returned to the room, it was mysteriously gone. 

I didn’t even feel the movement of the immature dragon coiled around my wrist, which was truly fascinating. 

Back in the room, I took out the remaining night pearl. 

Gurumi’s face grew even paler. 

The connected night pearl clearly showed what was happening on the other side. 

“Hey, Bada Maru! You rotten bastard! I thought well of you, but to think you’re a pervert who peeps into girls’ rooms! I’ll thoroughly expose your mental state!” 

“What are you saying? Shut up and look here!” 

I pointed to a person inside the night pearl. 

“Oh, that girl…?”

She was a girl with bright red hair that stood out. Gurumi nodded. 

“I remember. Was her name Violet?” 

“No, Jin-dallae. She said her name was Dol Jin-dallae.” 

I corrected Gurumi’s words. 

“I really liked her. Without any fear of seniors… was everything she said a lie?” 

“Yes, she’s fearless.” 

“Do you think the seniors will bully her?” 

“Yes, I have a bad feeling.” 

Remembering Geum Tae-min’s expression turning cold sent chills down my spine. 

Since I didn’t know what method they would use, I planned to watch over her with the night pearl. 

Though I had no memory of this classmate, I wanted to protect her somehow. 

I clenched my fist. To do that, I need to become stronger. 

Only then can I protect Jin-dallae, Gurumi, or myself.

***

Early dawn, someone knocked on the door. 

It was the senior who had guided us to the dormitory yesterday. 

Gurumi and I followed the senior in our ochre freshman uniforms. 

Somehow, we both felt like baby pheasants following their mother. 

After going up and down many stairs and corridors, we finally reached the dining hall. 

The senior left us with the words

“Find your own way from now on.” 

Gurumi sighed. 

“To be honest, I’m not sure if I can find this place again.” 

He was right. 

The White Crane Castle was a maze in itself.

That’s why for the first few months after enrollment, most students spend their time wandering around lost. 

“Should we just stay here until lunchtime?” 

“Wow, you’re smart!”

 I was sincere. 

Previously, we didn’t listen to Gurumi’s suggestion and ended up missing lunch and dinner on the second day. 

Thanks to that, we never forgot the location of the dining hall again. 

“Is this the place we need to find today…?” 

I examined the paper the senior had given us. 

For a week, freshmen had to navigate every corner of White Crane Castle. 

Every morning, we were given a new location to find, and if we found it and got a stamp, the mission was complete. 

There was a special gift for accomplishment, but it wasn’t easy. 

In my past life, Gurumi and I never succeeded even once despite staying up all night. 

Of course, we weren’t the only ones. 

“Why does this food taste so good?” 

“Right? There’s a cook in the kitchen who serves the Thousand-Handed Culinary Deity.” 

“What? So there’s divine power in the food?” 

“Yes, so eat a lot. It digests well and helps tremendously with physical strength and divine power.” 

“Wow, really? By the way, Maru, you know a lot about the Thousand-Year School, huh?” 

“Yes, because I’ve heard many stories…” 

As I was brushing it off, Gurumi tensed slightly.

“She’s here!” 

“Huh?”

Glancing at the dining hall entrance, I saw Dol Jin-dallae coming in. 

She had tied her disheveled red hair into one, and I almost didn’t recognize her. 

She looked much more presentable in the Thousand-Year School freshman uniform instead of her patched-up old clothes. 

“…But she’s alone?” 

She was. 

Only Jin-dallae was behind the senior. 

Did she get assigned a room by herself? 

Conveniently set up for someone to cast a spell… 

I had a feeling this wasn’t a coincidence. I became anxious. 

“Gurumi, I have somewhere to go today.” 

I apologetically told him as soon as we returned to our room.”

Why?”

“I have something to find.” 

I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t tell him everything either. 

“What are you looking for?” 

“Well, how should I put it… I’m looking for something that might help my divine power.” 

“Do you mean a shamanic tool?” 

“Yes, that’s right.” 

Shamanic tools like knives or bells that enhance divine power… 

You could buy them with money, but shamans and sorcerers often find them by listening to divine messages. 

I knew where many such items were hidden in the Thousand-Year School. 

“Can… I come with you?” 

“…Do you want to?” 

I was a bit surprised. 

The Gurumi I knew was a man with a strong sense of independence. 

A proud man who would never depend on or cling to others.

 Why did he keep trying to follow me? 

I wondered. 

“I’m not trying to steal anything. I’m just worried about you. That’s why I want to go with you. Maybe I can help? I’m quite strong despite how I look.” 

Only then did I understand his true feelings. 

He was willing to abandon the first assignment from the school to help me. 

“Can I come?” 

“Y-yeah.” 

I didn’t mind. 

“I’m worried about you. That’s why I want to go with you.” 

Those words echoed in my ears.

In my past life, he was carelessly blurting out words that I didn’t dare to say. 

Something… heavy settled in my chest. 

We proudly left the White Crane Castle. 

And moving farther from the main hall, we crossed through the forest. 

Since one of today’s tasks was to find the herb garden, roaming through the forest didn’t seem strange. 

I led Gurumi past the northern mountain of the Thousand-Year School. 

And we continued on for quite some time. 

“Maru, how do you know your way around so well?” 

Gurumi couldn’t hide his curiosity as he watched me moving forward without hesitation. 

“In last night’s dream…” 

“Ah-ha!” 

I should mention, this is the Thousand-Year School. It’s a place where divine workings, ghost magic, and monster enchantments are commonplace. 

You can frequently see people having prophetic dreams, and many who receive divine messages in their sleep. 

So the single word ‘dream’ could explain everything. 

The Thousand-Year School is another world beyond the barrier. 

Not only is there an academy here, but mountains, fields, rivers, and streams exist as well. 

After crossing the northern mountain of the Thousand-Year School and passing through the dense forest, a swamp appeared before us. 

“This is it.” 

The damp smell irritated my nose, and I felt my whole body going limp. 

The large trees gradually decreased in number until we reached a spot full of small water ferns and black algae. 

“Don’t go any further!” 

I stopped Gurumi as he tried to take one more step. His final step that he couldn’t pull back sank deep into the ground. 

“OOPS!” 

I quickly tied a rope around Gurumi’s body as he stepped backward. 

It was a precaution against any potential danger. 

I took off my clothes and wore only my undergarments that reached down to my shins. 

I also hid the dragon bracelet I wore on my left arm between my folded clothes. 

“It’s dangerous, so stay here.” 

“Are you really going to be alright?” 

Gurumi looked worried as I went into the swamp wearing only my undergarments with just a rope tied around my waist, making squelching sounds. 

“I’ll be fine, it was like this in my dream too.”

 SQUISH! SQUISH!… 

I pushed aside the aquatic plants with my hands and went deeper, but there was no splashing sound. 

The sticky swamp had swallowed even the sound. 

I immersed my body in the mud and waved my arms. 

I knew that objects infused with divine power were submerged in this deep swamp. 

Throughout the long history of the Thousand-Year School, there were many greedy individuals. 

They dropped divine objects into the swamp—items they couldn’t use themselves but didn’t want to give to others. 

So this place is essentially a treasury of divine objects. 

However, simply stirring around wouldn’t yield divine objects. 

Above all, if fate doesn’t connect, the swamp will never give up what it has swallowed. 

I closed my eyes. I stirred my arms and legs while recalling earnest thoughts in my mind. 

Though the strong resistance made it difficult to move, I persisted in moving my arms. 

‘I don’t want to lose a comrade.’ 

‘If I don’t help, Jin-dallae will leave the Thousand-Year School.’ 

‘Valuing even the smallest connection is a lesson I learned in my past life.’ 

‘I want to help. Please share your power so I can help…’ 

With that desperate heart alone, I took steps with feet that wouldn’t budge. 

I was so focused that I didn’t notice the mud rising steadily to my neck, my chin, up to below my nose. 

No, even if I knew, I wouldn’t have pulled out. 

I just held my breath as much as possible and wriggled with my earnest wish. 

“Hey, you, Maru!” 

When my forehead was almost out of sight, I faintly heard someone calling me from far away. 

That Gurumi guy, he must be worried about me. 

Suddenly, an incredible force pulled at my waist. 

I could crawl out by myself… but Gurumi had started to exert himself. 

“Hey, you bird-brain! You knotweed, you thornbush kid!” 

What creative cursing. I can’t breathe, and he’s making me want to laugh? 

“GULP, GULP.”

As I tried to hold back the breath that was about to burst out, something cold caught on my finger. 

‘Huh?’ 

Fumbling around… 

The shape I felt was strange. Something very thin, very slender… Something that wouldn’t normally be considered a divine object was sticking to my finger. 

SQUISH! 

Just then, as I tried to grab the rope to get out, I felt a splash of water movement. 

‘Hey, Gurumi! I’m coming out. Don’t come in! You’ll just ruin your clothes!’ 

I wanted to tell him this, but my mouth was still submerged in the swamp. 

“Hey, you! You hawthorn bush!” 

Gurumi grabbed the top of my head with just my nose showing and pulled with all his might. 

“URGH!”

 I writhed in pain as if all my hair would be pulled out. 

“Hey, Maru! Are you okay?” 

Gurumi’s face was bright red. A face full of worry! I almost had all my hair pulled out, but I couldn’t possibly be angry. 

“Yeah, I’m fine.” 

Anyway, I think I grabbed something… 

While I was examining my palm, a gasp escaped from Gurumi’s mouth. 

“Whoa! W-what is this?” 

Gurumi was looking down at his hand with a puzzled expression. 

In one hand was the rope he used to pull me up, and in the other… 

“Oh, what in the world…?!” 

Gurumi stared with bewilderment at ‘that thing’ which had followed as if attracted by a magnet. 

Along its elegant curve, wet mud was dripping. 

As the water plants and muddy water that covered it disappeared, the dignity of the divine object was clearly revealed. 

A sacred weapon with a sense of lofty spirit! 

‘This can’t be!’

Something magnificent had followed Gurumi!