The Real One Appears
After receiving permission to leave the zone, Meursault, Taejeong, Shut-in Honey, and I geared up and gathered in front of the entrance.
The moment Shut-in Honey laid eyes on me, he bellowed at the top of his lungs.
“Call me out more often! The army is fucking miserable!!”
Ugh. That deadweight.
Embarrassing me in front of Meursault, of all people.
Yet contrary to my expectations, Meursault was gazing at Shut-in Honey with a surprisingly warm look in his eyes.
“…Why are you looking at that guy softer than you look at me?”
“It’s been a while since I saw a child behaving in a manner befitting his age.”
“…….”
That bastard is twenty years old…
“Still, is it really all right for just the four of us to head outside the zone?”
When Taejeong asked the question with mature composure, Meursault nodded.
“Today’s outing is strictly to verify whether the monster core’s location can truly be identified on sight, and whether the newly developed combat ration is suitable for young soldiers. We won’t stray far from the zone, and I won’t allow any dangerous activity, so please rest easy.”
He won’t allow any dangerous activity, so rest easy?
Is that line meant for me?
Still, this was major progress. The first time I’d suggested going hunting, Meursault had chanted that it was suicide as if he were already writing my eulogy. Compared to that, he’d become surprisingly bold.
Meursault lined the three of us up and began the briefing.
“This morning the watchtower reported a large-class monster—a Fur Crocodile—wandering the area wounded. With the subjugation season approaching, it was likely driven out after losing a territorial fight with other monsters near the center. It was trailing a heavy stream of blood, so by now it should have collapsed somewhere not far from here.”
Even from the watchtower earlier, the blood trail left by the wounded Fur Crocodile had been stark against the snowfield. Finding it wouldn’t be hard.
“Ordinarily this would have been left to the watchtower guards, but if the core-location method Lord Haydam described is genuine, we can extract the core without heavily damaging the carcass. Our goal is to finish and return before the moon rises.”
“Before the moon rises” was a critically important rule in the Safe Zone’s setting.
It was the reason monsters had to have their cores destroyed when killed. A Safe Zone monster could be slain by shattering its core—but the reverse was also true: as long as the core remained intact, the creature would not die. Any wound on a monster whose core was unharmed would regenerate under moonlight.
That made the ability to visually locate each monster’s differently placed core a matter of life and death.
“Well… I specialize in the ones that come charging, but a downed one works too.”
Meursault gave me a look of mild surprise.
“Are you saying it’s easier to confirm a core’s location on a moving target than a stationary one?”
“Obviously. Most living things, as long as they still have the strength to move, unconsciously try to protect their weak point.”
“That’s a perspective I had never considered….”
“Anyway, finding it won’t be hard. You handle convincing the officers, Meursault.”
“Do you truly intend not to bring the officers on this subjugation campaign?”
Correct.
I had no intention of taking the officers along this time. Not the pro-Daphne officers whose only real combat experience consisted of sitting in the rear and coming home, nor the pro-Hayden officers who had plenty of experience but were now too aged to contribute any real power.
We would go with a small elite force. Besides, the first subjugation campaign in the game always turned into an “officer rescue” main event the moment you brought the brass along. This was no longer a game, but there was no reason to leave room for that kind of dangerous side quest to trigger.
“Soldiers who can’t help in a fight are useless. They’re just obstacles.”
“I suppose I will have to do the persuading. Saying it that bluntly would earn their hatred instantly. Though those people will probably be delighted to hear they don’t have to go on the campaign….”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen the officers since the meeting with Daphne.
Were the pro-Daphne officers nursing a grudge over that day? News of the training simulation must have reached their ears by now…
I was curious how Anton, Platon’s father, had reacted.
The day after the training simulation, Anton—leader of the pro-Daphne faction—visited the military academy and shared a meal with his son Platon.
“So… how does it feel to lose to a ten-year-old?”
Platon set down his fork and answered.
“I learned that there exist heights in this world that ordinary people simply cannot approach.”
Anton clicked his tongue.
“You’re saying you lost because Lord Haydam is simply that outstanding?”
“That would be the case.”
“Quite a grandiose excuse for losing to a ten-year-old. I specifically warned you not to let your guard down.”
“I did not let my guard down. Lord Haydam was simply far superior to me.”
Faced with his son’s unyielding reply, Anton slowly shook his head.
He had deliberately raised the boy free of political bias, not wanting his own child to become a partisan creature. Even so, watching Platon lose to a ten-year-old without even showing resentment was not what Anton had hoped for.
From the moment he heard about the mock battle with Haydam, Anton had already suspected his son might lose. Compared to the cunning commander’s child, his own son was far too upright and rigid. Still, he had allowed Platon to participate, thinking that if he lost, it might be the boy’s first real taste of inferiority.
He never expected Platon would instead be completely won over by Haydam.
Lady Daphne had instructed them to maintain amicable relations with Haydam for the time being, but still…
“And he even knew the name of the neighbor’s dog.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“He knew that the dog in the front yard next door is named Winter.”
“Winter?”
“Yes. Born in winter, so they named it Winter.”
Anton burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing, Father?”
“You were thoroughly fooled.”
“What?”
“The neighbor’s dog is named Edwin. I’ve known the family since I was young; I know the dog well.”
“Are you saying Lord Haydam lied? It felt as though he had known the name for a very long time….”
“You would never have memorized the name of the neighbor’s dog, so he simply made one up on the spot.”
“As expected of Lord Haydam. Even his improvisation is outstanding.”
“What a hopeless fool. I’m leaving first.”
Everything Platon said ended in praise for Haydam. Even though the boy was his own son, Anton found it pathetic enough that he rose and left the table first.
On the way home, he spotted the neighbor sweeping snow in front of his house. Just in case, Anton stopped the car and spoke through the window.
“Hey there.”
“My goodness, it’s been ages, Lord Anton! Everything all right with you?”
“Fine as always. Say, you keep a dog, don’t you? What was its name again?”
“Edwin, Lord Anton.”
“Ah….”
Having half-feared the man might answer “Winter,” Anton finally relaxed and managed a smile.
The neighbor tilted his head, puzzled by Anton’s reaction.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, nothing. Someone simply had the wrong idea that your dog’s name was Winter.”
At those words the neighbor’s face lit up with surprise.
“How did you know?”
A sudden premonition made Anton’s heart drop.
“…How did I know what?”
“Edwin gave birth a few days ago. Since the subjugation season is spring, we planned to name a spring pup April, and a winter pup Winter. She delivered safely just the other day. The puppy’s still so young we haven’t even brought it outside, so I was shocked you already knew the name.”
A puppy born only a few days ago… named Winter?
Haydam had declared at the officers’ meeting that he even knew the name of the neighbor’s yard dog—and that had been several weeks ago.
How could Haydam have known the name of a puppy that had not yet been born?
No… thinking about it, Winter is hardly a unique name. He must have simply gotten lucky.
Anton felt an unplaceable sense of wrongness. He could not pinpoint why the unease kept gnawing at him, and that only made the vague dread worse.
We set off across the snowfield in search of the Fur Crocodile, our boots sinking deep with every step.
Taejeong, tall enough to have the widest field of vision, took the lead. Shut-in Honey and I walked in the middle. Meursault followed right behind us.
“They really whipped up combat rations in no time.”
Apparently never having learned—or having already forgotten—that you keep your eyes forward while walking, Shut-in Honey pulled out a Star Candy and turned it this way and that before asking me,
“So, did you find out anything about Luna Moon?”
“…….”
This careless idiot.
“What? Why aren’t you answering?”
“Meursault is right behind us.”
“I’m speaking Korean. How’s he gonna understand?”
“Luna Moon is Luna Moon in English too.”
“Ah….”
This guy… his English improved, but his intelligence clearly stayed the same.
“And Meursault is sharp. He can catch Korean just from the nuance.”
Shut-in Honey made a face as if he finally understood, then tried again.
“Didja find owt anyfing abowt Loonah Moon?”
“…You look so pathetic right now. Just stop.”
“You little shit!”
Shut-in Honey lunged as if to grab me by the collar; Meursault cleared his throat from behind. After a quick glance back, Shut-in Honey lowered his hands.
I smirked at him, then asked,
“Have you been practicing your healing in the army?”
“Of course. If I’m in contact, I can probably heal other people now too.”
What?
He’d already grown that much?
…He was a far bigger talent monster than I’d thought.
Then again, with that brain and that personality, he needed some kind of gift just to survive…
“I can tell from your face you’re looking down on me again, you bastard.”
“No, that was my ‘I’m proud of you’ face.”
“Bullshit!”
“Please stop fighting.”
Unable to watch any longer, Meursault spoke up from the rear.
“I can see you two are close, but you need to maintain boundaries. It’s fine while it’s only me, but you must never behave this way in an official setting. You’ll end up in the stockade.”
At that, Shut-in Honey looked a little dejected and nodded.
Even he wasn’t stupid enough to call the commander’s son every name in the book in front of other people.
…Probably.
Just then Taejeong, who had been walking silently ahead, stopped and turned back to us.
“There’s something over there.”
I looked where he pointed. A massive shape covered in fluffy white fur lay sprawled limply in the snow.
“Is it unconscious? Should I wake it up?”
“Hey!”
Shut-in Honey carelessly packed a snowball and tossed it; the creature didn’t so much as twitch.
“Be careful.”
He only shrugged.
As we approached the Fur Crocodile, we saw snow piled thickly across its body.
It’s been out for a while.
I circled it, searching first for the wound the watchtower guards had reported. The thick fur hid it at first, but I soon spotted the blood-matted patch on its right flank.
It guarded with the right side.
The unconscious pose was belly-down.
Left abdomen.
Without hesitation I pressed the muzzle against the left side of its back and fired so the round would punch straight through to the belly.
The wet rupture of flesh was followed by a sharp, crystalline cracking sound.
The creature died without even managing a single thrash of resistance.
Meursault stared at me, utterly dumbfounded.
“…Was that just now the sound of a core shattering?”
It really wasn’t that impressive once you knew how, yet he looked thoroughly shocked.
I jerked my chin at Taejeong and Shut-in Honey.
“Flip it over and show him.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Why do I have to take orders from—”
Despite the grumbling, Shut-in Honey helped Taejeong roll the massive carcass over. Shattered fragments of the core that had been embedded in the left abdomen spilled out in a glittering cascade. Meursault’s eyes flicked back and forth between the broken core and me as if he still could not believe what he was seeing.
“Are you just going to keep staring at me with that stupid look on your face?”
“Ah—no. When we return, I will need to persuade the officers.”
Even as he said it, Meursault kept running his fingers over the empty socket where the core had been, still half-convinced it was some kind of trick.
“The meat’s not great, but the hide is usable. Tell them to come collect it.”
“Y-yes. We need it as evidence anyway. I’ll fire a signal flare.”
Meursault hastily pulled out a flare and launched it. A pure white flash rose silently into the cloudless sky.
It might have seemed like it would draw monster aggro, but that particular white light was invisible to a monster’s eyes.
“We finished so fast we never even got to test the combat rations.”
“Take the Star Candies with you and eat them. Don’t forget to test their performance while you do.”
Both of them immediately understood that “performance testing” meant deliberately wounding themselves first; their expressions turned complicated.
They might be adults mentally, but right now their bodies were still children’s. I didn’t particularly enjoy ordering kids to self-harm either.
There was no choice, though.
If they didn’t get used to healing, they would die long before they ever grew up.
Then—
Vrrroooom—
“……?”
Somewhere, the sound of an engine reached us.
I wasn’t the only one who heard it; Shut-in Honey and Taejeong both turned toward the zone.
“We just fired the flare—are they already here?”
Yet the sound was far too close to be coming from the direction of the zone.
It was almost as if…
It’s coming from right above our heads.
The instant the thought formed, a chill wind swept down and an ominous shadow fell across us.
“What’s this? You’re dragging Meursault around with you?”
“……?!”
All four of us flinched and shot to our feet at the voice from above. As we rose we trained our muzzles skyward—
—and found a young man in a white coat, standing casually on a hoverboard, looking down at us.
“What… the hell…?”
Appearing out of the sky, riding a hoverboard, casually mentioning Meursault by name—every part of the entrance was impossible to process at once.
And yet I knew this man.
I was not the only one at this spot who recognized that face.
Shut-in Honey’s voice came out dazed and empty.
“…Dopamine Addict?”