Chapter 204
Chapter 204
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Closure! (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ami pounded on me furiously while sobbing.
She must have been relieved of all that tension.
I pulled Ami toward me as she drenched my face with her tears and struck me. I gently held her shaking body and patted her back.
“Sorry. You must have been startled.”
Ami didn’t respond and just sniffled.
After a while, when her tears finally subsided, I let her go and took off my shirt.
My right sleeve was completely gone, making it look ridiculous.
I stood up, tossing aside the grimy shirt soaked in blood and rainwater.
“No scars either.”
Yoon approached and ran his hand over my right arm.
My master squeezed my shoulder and right arm as he came closer. I wrung out the water from my torn shirt and shot him an awkward glance.
“Yes. All good now.”
Anyway.
Holding the rag that was once my shirt in my left hand, I grabbed the man’s shoulder as he inspected my bare torso with his right hand.
Our eyes met as he looked up in surprise.
“From now on, I’ll handle the absorption myself, so no more using that device, please.”
“It did look painful.”
“I don’t even remember it properly. It hurt that much.”
My arm had come off, and I’d lingered a bit after that.
But I’d had enough presence of mind to absorb it on my own.
Yoon didn’t reply. Ignoring him as he continued to scrutinize me despite my words, I looked down at the pool of blood on the ground. The puddle was drying into a dark crimson stain.
Next to the massive dragon corpse.
The parts I hadn’t fully absorbed.
I had no intention of leaving them behind, but first, I needed to check one more thing.
I scanned the seniors in front of me.
“Any injuries?”
Ricardo kicked me in the stomach.
Ugh. I staggered but managed to look up with a weak nod.
Ricardo grinned.
…That was even scarier.
“Not at all~. I’m perfectly fine~.”
“…If you’re really hurt, don’t hide it. Tell me.”
“Put on some clothes~.”
Does it bother you that much?
I’m fine, though. I glanced down at my bare torso.
Ah, the lab rat brand might be an eyesore.
When we’d stormed Colton’s mansion, I’d taken a bullet right on the brand scar. Forced absorption had regenerated the area, erasing about three-quarters of the scar. Only a quarter remained now.
I could see why it looked bad.
But I had nothing to wear right now.
As I pondered, I heard a zipper being pulled down.
I turned to see Yoon taking off his jacket and holding it out to me.
“Thank you.”
Yoon pulled a cigarette from the jacket pocket before handing it over. Now in a black short-sleeved shirt, my master lazily put the cigarette in his mouth.
Ami rubbed her eyes and approached Yoon, asking him to make a donut cloud.
They really did look unscathed.
I turned my head toward the quieter recruits.
“You two are okay too, right?”
Sophia didn’t answer and just kept staring at me.
Kal, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, mask pulled up to his nose. He nodded when our eyes met.
“The hatchlings are safe, and we’ve tied up the stunned prisoners in the back building.”
Ah.
Another wave of感動 that wouldn’t end.
I couldn’t hold back and confessed my true feelings.
“Senior. Stick with me on missions from now on.”
Everyone looked at me.
A brief silence followed.
Kal broke it with a chuckle.
“We’ll see. I get too many requests like that.”
Crazy.
Even as I widened my eyes, I had to admit he had a point.
Anyone would want to keep a talent like him. Even Richard Green might skip the nagging with Kal Dou.
I nodded heavily.
“Then put me on the waiting list.”
Kal snorted again.
Without answering, he turned away. He uncrossed his arms and began his personal maintenance. His lower face was hidden by the mask, but his eyes suggested a faint smile.
It was a relief that my injury had healed cleanly. Sophia didn’t seem inconvenienced either.
A moment to marvel at Black Badger’s healing capabilities.
In the end, we’d taken down the brain dragon without any injuries or deaths.
And in such a short time, no less.
Satisfaction and accomplishment swelled in me as I turned my gaze to the dragon corpse.
Part of it was gouged where I’d absorbed it, but plenty remained. The organs were ruined from the plasma bolts, so they were unusable, but claws or intact scales could be put to good use.
I’d take one claw for sword maintenance.
Pleased, I examined the corpse before turning back to the seniors.
“This is the first time we’ve hunted a dragon this quickly. Great job, everyone.”
I grinned and blinked at the seniors, adding,
“We can collect claws and scales, cut some meat for lunch. It’s also the first time we’ve all come out unscathed after a hunt. Even in this weather…. Your skills made it smooth.”
“Even if you give me a plane ride, nothing comes out~.”
Ricardo smirked around his cigarette.
I meant it. No exaggeration, just my honest thoughts.
But Sophia, Kalak, and Kal Dou seemed surprised by my praise. Maybe because I was a much junior member praising the seniors?
It could feel a bit awkward.
I chuckled sheepishly and rubbed my neck. Unbeknownst to me, I’d developed a habit of praising the team after missions.
Gotta be careful, I thought, when Ami approached with wide eyes.
“We can eat dragon?”
“Yeah. It’s a bit tough, but tastes fine.”
“Wow.”
Her eyes sparkled as she ran to the dragon corpse.
“Dragon meat!”
Yoon sauntered over lazily.
My master, with minimal movement, stopped beside me and scanned me up and down.
“Giving praise?”
“…Sorry if it was out of line. I meant it.”
“Then can I take Ye-hyeon now?”
I blinked.
“You’re allowing it?”
“Don’t push it.”
This guy.
As I glared, Yoon chuckled and turned away.
My master exhaled smoke and walked slowly toward the dragon corpse. A acrid scent lingered where he’d stood.
The man muttered in a low voice amid the cigarette smoke.
“Put on proper clothes. Don’t get sick on the way back.”
We’ll see.
I think I have antibodies, so I’ll be fine?
***
The car was wrecked.
The dragon’s lightning bolt had vaporized half of it. After lunch, we searched the area for any salvageable vehicles, but found none. We were stuck walking back.
Thank goodness there were no injuries.
We still had drinking water. We packed the surviving supplies and set off toward B Zone.
If no issues arose, we’d reach base camp by midnight.
Prisoner duty fell to me, naturally.
Before departing, I fed awakened Byeongaebaek some dragon meat. Ignoring his murderous glare, I informed him.
“If you get tired walking, let me know. I’ll carry you.”
“Just kill me and go.”
“No thanks.”
I smiled and added,
“You have no right to choose right now, Byeongaebaek.”
And so the march began.
Every senior except Ami hated the idea of me carrying Byeongaebaek if he tired. They wanted him to walk until his feet blistered.
But that would slow us down too much.
And Byeongaebaek wasn’t the type to admit fatigue.
Sure enough, after four hours of walking, he suddenly collapsed forward.
The seniors stopped abruptly.
I gave a wry smile and approached my fallen clansman.
“Should we keep going until we reach the city? It’s too open here to rest properly.”
I asked while hoisting him onto my back.
The seniors agreed without complaint. Ricardo and Yoon shot me looks questioning why I was carrying him, and Sophia glared like she wanted to throttle him right then, but none spoke up.
Kal and Ami just nodded quietly.
Thanks to them, I carried Byeongaebaek all the way to the ruined city.
It wasn’t entirely problem-free.
As we arrived in the city to eat dinner and rest, Byeongaebaek, riding on my back, pulled the gun from my waistband.
“Don’t move!”
He aimed the barrel at my temple and shouted.
“Move and I shoot!”
The seniors froze.
Their killing intent surged in an instant, sharp and clear. The sudden pressure choked me.
I gave a wry smile at the seniors poised to leap in.
“You don’t need to tense up like that.”
They ignored me, eyes fixed on Byeongaebaek’s hand.
“There’s no ammo in it.”
I’d forgotten to load the magazine….
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Shock filled the seniors’ beast-like gazes. All five stared at me with ‘What did you just say?’ faces.
Even Byeongaebaek, who’d drawn the gun, fumbled in confusion.
The silence of astonishment settled over the space.
Ami broke it.
“Hilde!”
She clutched her face with both hands.
“How could you make such a basic mistake!”
“Huh? Ah…. Sorry. I forgot.”
“You set off without loading the magazine?”
Kal crossed his arms, eyebrow arched in disbelief.
Ricardo scoffed and reverted his melting shapeshifting weapon to a snake-shaped ring.
“Rookies, man~…. They make mistakes you’d never imagine~.”
“Sorry.”
“We’ll have to reteach you gun handling.”
Yoon grumbled as he holstered the gun he’d drawn.
“For my reputation’s sake, at least.”
…I’ll check the gun before leaving next time.
I gave an embarrassed smile and apologized. Though I still had no intention of using guns in combat. They weren’t familiar, and I feared misfires or grenades.
In the chaos, I might shoot a senior.
Byeongaebaek sighed heavily from my back.
“No wonder it was so easy to grab….”
Yeah, well.
My clansman grumbled and returned the gun to my waistband.
Feeling it slide into the holster, I scouted the city for a dinner spot.
As we searched, Sophia spoke.
“You must have been a good leader once.”
I looked up at her.
“Why’d you only convince a third of your clansmen?”
I stared at her for a long moment.
This senior, who hadn’t said a needless word during the march but had occasionally given me inexplicable glances while walking, now fixed me with a piercing gaze. I couldn’t fully read the emotion in those burning black eyes.
Hatred? Blame?
Either way, it was a painful question.
I gave Sophia a faint smile.
“I wasn’t a good leader.”
The leader who’d failed to prevent the schism.
“I did my best, but it didn’t go as planned. I lacked the ability.”
Sophia stared at me for a long time.
She didn’t take her eyes off me the entire time we prepared dinner, her gaze filled with that unknowable emotion.
***
We arrived safely at base camp at midnight.
After that, things went smoothly. We slept, then took a spare vehicle back to C Zone. There, we prepared to return via portal.
Not six, but seven people.
We sent word of our return.
Since we were coming from A Zone, only minimal personnel at the portal zone. We didn’t mention the prisoner but requested urgent contact with command staff.
No issues. Wait for preparations.
We spent personal time until the portal activated, then stepped right in.
A strange sensation enveloped my body.
I stepped forward, and artificial light stabbed my eyes.
Psssh! Pssshhh!
“Seven safe return!”
“Portal shutdown!”
“Disinfect properly before exiting!”
“Change fully before coming out!”
“Return all weapons!”
The AI’s voice announcing our arrival time and the researchers’ booming orders assaulted our ears.
White disinfectant rained from above.
So this is the protocol from A Zone.
Thinking that, I dragged Byeongaebaek forward.
Gripping my trembling clansman tightly, I followed the researchers’ instructions. The portal zone was empty. Everyone was behind windows where they couldn’t see us.
Instead, like an airport, the floor was marked with where to go and what to do. Changing booths in the bluish space. Areas to return weapons and samples.
Mechanical arms descended from the ceiling to collect our clothes.
Should I return my sword too?
“They give it back right after disinfection, so don’t worry.”
Ami, changed, laughed at me hesitating by the weapon return.
“You’ll have it back in five minutes.”
Good.
After finishing, we exited the portal zone.
Still gripping Byeongaebaek’s arm, I headed to the waiting lobby and immediately contacted command. I sat the trembling clansman on the sofa and waited desperately for a reply.
Then someone pounded fiercely on the lobby door.
Heads turned in the silence.
What?
“Mr. Hilde!”
Sophia opened the door, and two or three researchers poured in.
“Mr. Hilde! Big trouble!”
What?
I blinked at the familiar faces. Kate, Sean, Hiroshi—from the science wing.
Why were they here?
“What’s wrong?”
Flustered by the unexpected visit, I stood and shielded Byeongaebaek.
Breathing hard, I asked the scientists.
“What happened? Martin kidnapped again?”
“They’re closing!”
Kate swallowed her gasps and shouted.
“Closing down!”
“What is?”
“Rexik Noodle!”
Hiroshi yelled.
“Mr. Hilde, Rexik Noodle is shutting down!”
The phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor.
No….
No.
What?
“Rexik Noodle is closed starting today!”
Thud.
My legs gave out.
I collapsed to the floor, feeling like I’d lost the world.
“Hildeeee!”
Ami rushed over.
I stared blankly ahead, unable to reply.
How could the world do this to me?