Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Day the Sky Closed (3)
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“If you really don’t want to, you can return it after the reclamation battle.”
Ye-hyeon said softly.
“But keep it with you during the reclamation battle.”
I hesitated before extending my hand.
The gazes of everyone in the tent fixed on my hand. My outstretched hand trembled faintly. I tried to steady the shaking as I took hold of the sword.
My sword.
I moved my trembling hand to slowly unwrap the cloth.
The sharp scent of metal.
As I looked at the long blade, something surged up from within me.
I barely managed to compose my expression.
“Yes.”
It was hard to say more.
“I’ll return it after it’s over.”
Ye-hyeon looked at me with a strange expression.
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Not that I particularly wanted to know.
In any case, this wasn’t the time to get lost in sentiment, so I placed the sword on my lap and straightened my posture.
I suppressed the churning feeling inside me. I ignored the seniors’ sticky stares observing me.
Fortunately, Ye-hyeon quickly shifted the mood with a businesslike tone.
“Let’s begin.”
At his husky voice, the seniors adjusted their postures.
“You all know how the reclamation battle proceeds, but since Hilde is here, I’ll explain once more.”
Sorry about that.
Thinking this, I took in the image appearing on the panel in the tent.
Ye-hyeon explained the process while showing the appropriate footage.
Clear and concise.
The key to the reclamation battle was protecting the core devices.
When the reclamation battle began, the ‘Breath’ surrounding the Center Core and Core 24 would open. Immediately after, a new Breath would form encompassing the Center Core and Core 24. The core of the reclamation battle was defending the designated zone until this new Breath was safely completed.
The top priority was safely protecting the core devices producing the new cores.
The next was preventing Creatures from invading the territory.
The wider the repair zone, the longer it took to complete the new Breath. This time, it was expected to take 8 hours.
In other words, they had to defend the core devices and cores for 8 hours.
The footage showed core devices installed in various places.
Ye-hyeon narrowed his eyes as he absorbed the colored images, then turned his head.
“Ska will command the defense.”
People waited for what came next.
“We’re going after the Titans.”
His tone was like explaining the dinner menu.
“Their leader is coming.”
My stomach tightened.
And at that moment, Kyle’s presence suddenly pressed in. It was a ghostly shift. A sensation hard to describe made me aware of Kyle’s existence. He was definitely approaching this way. Not close enough to gauge the exact distance yet.
Not enough to sense the direction of his footsteps or where his gaze might fall.
In any case, he was getting closer.
I took a deep breath.
“How did you know?”
“The imaging team worked hard.”
Ye-hyeon answered emotionlessly, then smiled faintly.
“You’re sensing it now too, huh? After the reclamation battle, we should give the imaging department a bonus.”
“Yes. He’s coming.”
“We should go welcome him.”
The superior said.
“We’re heading outside the walls.”
A strategy to strike the leader.
It wasn’t entirely inefficient. Especially now that Kyle’s skills had deteriorated as much as mine. If he were at his peak, it would be like walking into a trap, but strangely, his skills had rusted just as much as mine.
If we could push hard enough, my kin would pull back to protect Kyle.
It was similar for us—Ye-hyeon was stepping out, so we were putting out our king too....
“Anyone with him detectable?”
I answered the expected question readily.
“There are three powerhouses with him. He’s approaching with a herd of Creatures ahead. Keeping some distance from the Creature front lines.”
“What a strange sense. We can detect each other, so no ambushes or surprises.”
Even as he said this, Ye-hyeon didn’t erase the faint smile on his lips.
It was an uncharacteristically cold, businesslike smile.
“So we’ll bring drones.”
He tapped the table with a pale finger.
“They have no life, so they won’t be detected. Our goal is to push the Titan leader and force a retreat.”
The general explanation came after. When the time came, we’d leap outside the walls and board the vehicles waiting there to move out. The first objective was luring Kyle to our desired location. So we could choose the battlefield.
“We don’t know if it’ll go smoothly, but they hate you intensely.”
“Yes. That’s why he’s coming personally.”
He’d always been the frontline type, but even so.
Now sitting as the leader of my kin, marching personally into a fully prepared enemy stronghold was far from wise. He had to know it was surrounded by walls. He knew better than anyone how tough sieges were.
Yet he couldn’t pass up the chance to see my face.
Kyle’s boiling hatred was palpable.
Feeling his overheated emotions on the verge of exploding, I chuckled softly.
“Luring him to the spot we want doesn’t seem hard.”
“Good news. It’d be great if we could take him out, but there’s probably at least one sane one among those with him.”
I nodded quietly.
I could sense Hecate too. She’d probably be as fired up as Kyle, wanting to kill me. But Sequoia beside her would keep her cool to the end.
Ah....
Too many familiar names.
“How many Titans approaching?”
“Four including Kyle. Countless Creatures.”
“We’ll handle those four.”
No emotion mixed in his husky voice.
“We depart at dawn.”
That was it.
Ye-hyeon didn’t specify the exact departure time. It would depend on Kyle’s speed.
No one asked further questions. The seniors, experienced in multiple reclamation battles, quietly accepted the orders.
Rest until the time comes—they replied sharply with “Yes.”
After that, the Supreme Commander released the Task Force freely.
With a reminder to sleep well for the long battle ahead, he quickly vanished outside the tent.
Naturally, I was called out separately.
***
Kyle. Hecate. Sequoia. Sion.
Sion was the only unfamiliar one. When I crossed to Earth, I brought kin I didn’t know. I’d gathered and brought the survivors, so it was natural.
Kin who escaped the crumbling world.
Living with them on Earth, I eventually memorized their names and faces. But I hadn’t formed deep bonds with all. Sion was one of those distant connections—a kin whose name and face I knew, but not much else.
Sequoia, on the other hand, I had some ties with.
She was an outstanding Beast Tamer.
“He won’t attack personally.”
I was relaying to the seniors what I’d told Ye-hyeon.
They sat in chairs, staring at me intently.
We’d just eaten lunch. After devouring barbecue, they gathered back in the tent with drinks in front. In a few hours, they’d face Titans directly. The more they knew about the enemy, the better.
I wet my parched throat with water and continued.
“He’ll attack using the Creatures he commands. That might actually be easier for you to handle. You know how to deal with most Creatures.”
“So that’s why specific Creatures kept targeting Hilde.”
“Yes. And Sequoia rarely loses her composure. The opposite of Hecate.”
I briefly explained Hecate.
No need for details. The seniors had encountered her once. The day I reunited with her, they’d seen some of her techniques.
Later, Joo provided footage, and they’d all watched it.
Anyway, after the brief explanation, the four seniors nodded.
Finishing with the three kin, I let out a long breath.
Then slowly added,
“I’ll keep Kyle occupied.”
He’d only target me anyway.
“Our skills are probably evenly matched.”
No one replied.
I didn’t try to break the silence that followed. It was actually a relief that no one spoke for a moment. So much had happened suddenly; my chest felt stuffy. Diving deep into each would make me burst.
But I couldn’t let my mind wander.
Not until the reclamation battle ended.
“Aren’t you going to draw the sword?”
Ami spoke to me as I gripped my knees tightly.
The senior watched me intently with round eyes.
I smiled faintly at her.
“When the time comes, I’ll draw it properly. I’ve steeled myself, so don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
“Ready to kill your own kin?”
Karl asked.
His deep blue eyes stared straight at me. He’d asked something similar when he first heard the truth from me. A fine soldier.
I let out a silent sigh of admiration and a small laugh.
Then answered sincerely.
“If I could, I’d kill all four with my own hands.”
Even if they killed my kin, I wouldn’t resent or hate the seniors.
Truth be told, I didn’t want to see kin die by human hands.
Of course, I knew that was asking too much.
“When the time comes, I’ll be too busy with Kyle to look away.”
“We’ll support you properly, so don’t lose~....”
Ricardo, who’d been silent, spoke up abruptly.
He watched me intently, arms crossed, leaning back.
The snake ring on his right hand reflected the light bulb’s glow.
Taking in that light, I nodded without erasing my smile.
“Yes.”
The people stared piercingly at my smile.
I didn’t bother figuring out what their strange expressions meant. I was trying not to think too deeply. Thinking deeply wouldn’t change anything. What I needed to do now was share as much info as possible with my comrades, warm up, and rest fully.
I’d done the first two, so now the last.
Focus only on what’s in front of me.
I slowly rose from the chair.
“I’m going to rest now.”
Their gazes clung.
Brushing them off as best I could, I walked out of the tent.
Deeply relieved that no one stopped me as I left.
***
Dawn.
Inside the container, gauging distance to Kyle, when Ye-hyeon’s voice came.
“Hilde.”
The door opened, revealing his refined face.
“Time to depart.”