Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: Saving the Galaxy of Science (2)
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I had just come down from the video archive.
I was planning to grab lunch in the bustling district near Black Badger HQ. I’d found a place that supposedly tasted somewhat like Rexic noodles.
After parking in the underground lot, I was heading out of the building.
But what was this about?
“John Mullen? Why him….”
[I’m up against a creature right now!]
What?
[I really think I’m gonna die!]
What the hell happened?
I was dumbfounded.
[What do I do? Yoon isn’t picking up. I’ve been calling nonstop…. He seems to be in the middle of a portal experiment. Help! He might actually kick the bucket!]
“Calm down first.”
I was curious about how this all went down, but prying into the details could wait.
First, I needed the location.
“Where are you?”
Hiroshi sent me the coordinates.
It was really close.
Right in front of HQ. Near the science wing, in the container zone where they stored all sorts of supplies—a creature had shown up there.
I could make it in under ten minutes if I ran.
I memorized the route, pocketed my phone, and leaped out onto the street.
“Hey!”
As I sprinted toward the GPS spot, eyes turned my way.
“It’s Hilde!”
“That’s the badger!”
“White hair!”
“Isn’t that the badger with yellow eyes?”
Even after all this time, passersby still recognized me.
The stares had lessened a lot. I could now eat out without too much hassle from their glances. Still, the attention followed, and I had to apologize in advance to anyone dining with me.
Luckily, I’d grown used to these looks.
Ignoring the murmurs and shutter clicks, I kept running.
The soft noon sun eased the winter chill.
Breathing out white puffs, I dashed toward the container warehouse.
The destination came into view quickly.
“Mullen, Senior!”
Why was he sprawled out like a felled tree?
The clearer the scene became as I approached, the more horrified I got.
John Mullen lay pathetically on the ground. Beside him were chunks of shattered asphalt, a punctured container, a toppled truck, and a massive slime.
A slime?
…Focus on the person first.
I ignored the wriggling slime and picked up speed.
Seeing John Mullen motionless on the ashen ground fueled my anxiety. He was face-down, spread-eagled, with some weapon—bazooka or rifle, hard to tell—lying nearby.
Why did that weapon look so damn oversized?
Did he really need a bazooka for a slime…?
No. Focus on the person.
I couldn’t gauge his condition with human senses, which made me impatient.
I slid to a stop on my knees and knelt beside John Mullen.
“Senior!”
I checked his pulse and shouted urgently.
“Are you okay?”
No response.
His pulse was steady, though. I rolled my eyes to scan for more info.
Huh.
Was that blood?
A pool of blood near his head chilled me to the core.
Anyone could see it was his. The location and amount screamed head injury.
I hurriedly flipped him over and checked his face.
Bloodstains suggested his forehead had split open.
As an Enhanced Body holder, the wound had already healed. Judging by the blood loss and stains, it didn’t seem life-threatening.
Probably from smashing into that asphalt chunk.
I let out a relieved breath.
“But that slime doesn’t look like it punched a hole in the container.”
I muttered down at John Mullen, still out cold like a statue.
Sure, it was pretty big.
But slimes weren’t threatening magical beasts on their own. As long as it just jiggled there in the road. Up close, it could punch civilians and be a nuisance. If absorbed by a compatible beast, it boosted that beast’s power, so handlers often preemptively cleared them before fights.
Still, it was known as a creature for teen sparring—hardly a big deal….
“And it smashed the container.”
I picked up the bazooka-like thing rolling around and inspected it.
“Shells don’t work well on them.”
Even if he’d hit, it wouldn’t have been lethal.
Chemical attacks or sharp cuts worked better. Guns weren’t useless—they’d penetrate with focused, precise fire.
But from the scene….
One shot landed but did squat, and the other gloriously missed, punching a hole in an innocent container.
Good thing he hadn’t fired more. Shrapnel could’ve hit the civilians peeking from afar.
Anyway, deal with that thing and get him to the hospital.
“Why’d you even come out here?”
I muttered, eyes off the slime.
I looked down at the scientific genius now laid low on the ground.
Blue eyes.
“Whoa!”
If you’re awake, say something!
“You okay, Senior?”
John Mullen…
Didn’t answer.
He just stared up at me blankly.
A face saying he had no clue why he was here like this.
I had no idea either why he was here like this.
He wouldn’t answer if I asked.
His eyes were open, and he didn’t seem in dire shape, so handle the slime first and think later.
“I almost died.”
John Mullen blurted out.
I stared down at him.
“Good thing your head’s still attached. How’s the body feel?”
“…”
Mullen touched his forehead with a pale, long, distinctly jointed hand.
Confirmed no wound, then dropped it.
No reply, but I was satisfied. No issues with movement.
“Go back to HQ.”
Mullen blinked.
Slowly. Twice. No answer, no movement—just eyelids fluttering.
Once more.
Again.
One more time….
…Huh?
What?
Did he just pass out?
“No way.”
Unbelieving, I shook him lightly.
“Hey, Senior.”
But what I saw was real.
John Mullen had passed out. Like an AI with power cut off. Like a delicate orchid hit by cold wind.
Eyes peacefully shut, motionless.
For real?
I was so stunned I forgot how to move for a bit.
Then I snapped out of it.
Shook my head, laid him flat, and draped my windbreaker over him.
“What an absolute weirdo….”
“Foooool-piiiilllllaaaaaar!”
A familiar voice rang out.
With it came an overwhelming presence. Reflexively, I reached for my sword hilt and twisted.
Then I spotted Giacomo Ro bounding toward us.
In Black Badger combat gear, curly-haired senior with what had to be at least a Level 6 creature chasing him like mad.
He seemed oblivious to the beast hot on his tail.
“Who the fuck!”
Giacomo Ro was furious.
“Who the fuck messed with this idiot!!”
Me too, curiously.
But aside from pure curiosity, this situation looked bad.
That thing bounding after him was ominous.
I held up my palm toward the rapidly approaching senior.
“Wait, Senior.”
Don’t bring that beast near the slime.
That mannequin-like creature, eyes bulging from every joint, was a tricky bastard. And it synergized with slimes—devour one, and it got way stronger.
Then it’d be a real pain to handle.
Why drag that here?
“Mullen Senior’s fine!”
“What happened to make the fool pass out!”
Giacomo Ro ignored me.
“Hang on a bit longer, Pole!”
No need to hang on.
“I’m coming, Pole!!”
…Just let me handle the creatures.
I gave up talking to my seniors. Gave up planning to sort the scene before fighting.
I was the fool for trying to talk.
I grinned, drew my sword.
Kill the slime before the mannequin eats it.
You’re next, Mannequin.
Stomach growling, I wanted to wrap this quick.
Ignoring the passed-out John Mullen and the earnestly responsible Giacomo Ro, I gripped my sword and charged the beasts.
***
“Don’t go near Command Staff offices right now.”
After lunch at the mess hall, I headed to the science wing.
Opening the heavy door, I found Lee Ho—there to watch the scientists’ recorded “Galaxy of Science First Deployment” footage—giving serious advice.
“The Commander’s mega pissed.”
“Yeah, thanks. But who exactly is mega pissed at?”
“John Mullen.”
The senior slurped coffee from a paper cup.
“At first, he was just dumbfounded. But the more he heard the report, the more absurd it got, till he blew up.”
“Fair enough.”
“Mullen Senior’s getting reamed in his office. First time the Commander’s raised his voice like this since the HR Director’s vacation fiasco.”
“What’d he yell?”
“‘Do you know how important your role is? If you die, core and portal management’s fucked. There aren’t multiple geniuses like you. How disappointed will the young scientists who look up to you be if you go like this….’”
Overly dramatic concern?
“‘I know you live without a brain most days, but at least think enough to stay alive,’ he said.”
Got it. Stay far from Command Staff offices all day.
“Fuck.”
No sooner had I resolved than Yoon shuffled in gloomily from somewhere.
“Why the hell did you pick up?”
He’d clearly gotten chewed out by Ye-hyeon too. His face said it all.
I grinned mischievously, poking at my master’s nerves.
“Did you get reamed?”
Yoon’s cold eyes turned to me.
“What’s with that getup?”
“This mushroom hat? Lab folks just gifted it. Pink glasses, coin earrings, and a carnivorous plant bracelet too.”
“Where’d the chocolate come from?”
Lee Ho asked, eyeing my bright smile.
I snapped off a chunk of the massive chocolate bar with a crack.
“Some student gave it after I cleared the creatures on the way back.”
“Don’t scarf down random shit.”
Yoon grumbled.
“What if it’s laced? You shove it in your mouth without knowing?”
I just smiled.
I figured I could tell the crazies apart. Not blindly trusting my judgment, though.
Bold scientists spotted Yoon and shouted, “Watch the Galaxy of Science First Deployment footage!”
Yoon glared at them sullenly.