Mutual Recognition -10 Days Ago
Ten days earlier. Yeonhyeon bit her lip hard as she stared at Kim Chaeyun.
"This makes no sense. Adding more enemies here won't help Seven Seed at all!"
She couldn't understand the intent behind the orders she'd received. They'd been told to kill In Raon, who had approached them with goodwill and no hostility toward Seven Seed. She had no choice but to be stunned.
"Looks like you've gained some sway behind my back?"
At Chaeyun's words, Yeonhyeon let out a groan. "Urgh..."
"Enough to ignore the Responsibility Council's decisions. Ah, how impressive."
Kim Chaeyun looked at Yeonhyeon with a mocking smile.
"I-is that true?"
"Are you doubting me now too? Even I wouldn't be reckless enough to decide something this important on my own."
"...No. If it's an official decision from the Responsibility Council, I'll follow it."
"That's what I like to hear."
Yeonhyeon could only nod silently.
"But as the field operative... I think I need to know the operation's exact goals and intent. Would it be okay to ask for a more detailed explanation?"
"Ask away."
Chaeyun smiled leisurely.
"I'd like to hear the operation's purpose. Is it punishment? Or negotiation?"
"Neutralization... that should suffice. Life or death doesn't matter much, but alive would be preferable if possible."
"...Why?"
"Simple. They're a threat."
Yeonhyeon stared blankly at Chaeyun.
"Why that face? Like you never saw it coming."
"...I didn't."
"Hmm... I thought you were decent, but you're making this assignment uncomfortable."
"They haven't done anything to us. They can't be a threat!"
"The very fact that an organization is moving into Anseongu is a danger to us."
Chaeyun persuaded Yeonhyeon in a gentle voice.
"Until now, Anseongu has been a safe rear guard for Seven Seed. Sure, monsters roam a lot inside, but they rarely crawl out beyond it."
"..."
"But people are different. They can emerge from there anytime and threaten us. So we need to make a decision."
"A decision...?"
"We neutralize that organization, right?"
"Even if one group vanishes, another will move in soon enough. And there's no guarantee the new ones will be friendly to us."
"Smart question. Gain a bit more experience, and you might even join the Responsibility Council. Of course, that came up in the meeting too."
"I-it did?"
"If Anseongu stabilizes enough for a base, we could move in ourselves."
In the end, it was greed. Yeonhyeon sensed the ugly desire they harbored in their hearts.
"It's a chance to expand our territory. If they grow stronger, we'll miss this opportunity."
Yeonhyeon had faithfully reported everything she'd seen of the Anseongu group's reality. The thought that her honest report might have led to this tragedy weighed heavily on her chest.
"They... haven't done anything."
"Of course not! They're weak! They wouldn't dare challenge Seven Seed!"
Chaeyun scolded Yeonhyeon in exasperation.
"But what if they get strong enough? What if, while we're fighting another group, they hit us from behind for a bigger payoff?"
"For now—"
"You've met that man once, right?"
"Yes."
"I've met people like him countless times—me and the rest of the Responsibility Council."
Yeonhyeon shook her head.
"Abandon the delusion of coexistence. The only ones we can trust are ourselves."
"Still..."
"Realizing that is what responsibility means. Putting personal desires aside for the safety of us all."
Yeonhyeon bit her lip tightly. But in the end, she had no choice but to nod.
"Still, it might be dangerous. Reports say he took down Seohee barehanded and made her a slave, so we'll need considerable forces. We might have to accept sacrifices."
Chaeyun smiled.
"Doesn't matter if people die. Just make sure the mission succeeds. No failures. Got it?"
Yeonhyeon could only nod weakly, guilt for him buried in her heart.
I was bewildered. It was hard to accept the situation before my eyes.
"E-excuse me... Did I do something wrong?"
Yeonhyeon shook her head firmly.
"I'm sorry it's come to this. Orders from above."
"Orders from above?"
"Seven Seed's Responsibility Council sees you as a threat. They plan to... dismantle your organization."
"A... threat? How?"
"I'm sorry."
It wasn't an answer to my question, but from her voice and expression, I could grasp the situation. She couldn't defy the orders from above either.
I'd been through situations like this countless times. Knights who approached to kill me with faces full of reluctance, claiming royal orders to slay the hero. They lacked the power, courage, or ability to refuse.
Even if they did refuse, others would have come to kill me instead.
Talking to her was pointless. I couldn't get meaningful information from questions and answers.
She herself didn't seem to understand why she had to kill me.
"Man..."
I felt deflated, like I might collapse. My breath caught in my throat.
I'd tried to understand those who'd killed people and create an environment where they could apologize. But they just wanted to kill me.
Even though I hadn't insulted them or posed any real threat.
It was a bit sad. The Earth I'd left wasn't the warmest place, but it wasn't filled with psychos who pulled guns just because they "couldn't trust" someone.
I felt empty. Everything I did might be meaningless.
But I couldn't just stand there dazed.
'So, what now...'
Things had gotten complicated. A real hassle.
'No way I'm dying here, obviously...'
From the start, they couldn't kill me with their current forces. Plenty of guns, sure, but not enough. Their weapons couldn't kill me.
But it was different for the women around me.
'Seohee... might manage to escape somehow.'
If we focused on fleeing instead of fighting, she could take a few bullets and get away. If it got too dangerous, I could carry her and leap out like flying—not impossible.
Even considering Seohee's safety, it wouldn't escalate too badly.
But the other women here were different. Criminals who'd brutally beaten Seohee, left her to die, robbed for food or humiliation.
Merchants blinded by losing trade partners, trying to kill and frame others.
I couldn't protect them.
"Is there... no room for negotiation?"
"I'm sorry."
Yeonhyeon looked at me with sad eyes.
"What do they want exactly?"
"To neutralize you—capture or kill and bring you in."
"And ultimately, dismantle our whole organization?"
"...Yes. They think without you, the rest will collapse easily."
"I see..."
I sighed deeply.
'This is... too much.'
Even focusing and swinging my sword after full prep, I doubted I could kill this many in one go.
And even if I could, it was different from when Heea was hostage. Those women were ragtag, unprepared.
These people were different. They'd shoot at the slightest oddity or surprise.
'Plus...'
Hard to tell innocents from those who deserved death among them.
In a real fight, no time to sort them, but I didn't want to kill any until the last moment.
"Seohee-ya. If you take the kids to the base, safe?"
"Yeah, safe. I'm super high level, remember?"
Seohee joked around. I felt relieved.
"Still... if you're fighting, let me join?"
"No. Not planning to fight."
I shook my head and looked at Yeonhyeon.
"You said neutralizing me is the goal. The others don't matter."
"Yes... Letting Seohee's subordinates go might be tricky, but my orders are to take you down."
"Then, let's make a deal. I'll surrender, so let these people go."
I raised both hands. Yeonhyeon gazed at me with sad eyes.