Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Rock Giant Hunt (3)
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“I wouldn’t know.”
“Save it. I didn’t ask because I wanted an answer.”
Joo Won-jun waved off Seo Kang-seok’s serious reply.
“I already know a way.”
“Is that so…?”
“This is the difference between a team leader and a regular squad member—whether you can or can’t do things like this.”
Joo Won-jun knew someone in the Development Planning Department. If it was a secret project unrelated to him, it’d be hard to dig up, but he trusted the guy. He’d shoveled so much money into him to make him his own.
‘Not just anywhere else—this is inside the Development Planning Department. Piece of cake.’
He sent a message right away. About what job Uncle Jo Company had taken on this time. But the reply that came back twisted Joo Won-jun’s face.
-I couldn’t access it due to security protocols.
“You little shit?!”
* * *
Like someone who startles at a pot lid after being spooked by a gecko, Suhyun was pretty paranoid about security. Uncle Jo Company wasn’t some no-name outfit anymore. The right people were already paying attention.
‘And with our grudges…’
The Chinese special forces team that got wiped out. On the surface, it was the jindo dog’s doing, but if they investigated thoroughly, who knew when or where they’d get caught. They had to be careful with jobs now.
Hunting the rock giant wouldn’t be a big deal even if it leaked, but you never knew with the world.
‘Panther Power Armor… I really wanted to borrow the U.S. military’s Odin model. Guess that was a no-go.’
The Panther was civilian-grade Power Armor. Solid and reliable performance-wise, but it couldn’t quite match the military-exclusive models.
‘Eh, this’ll do fine.’
He used to charge in fearlessly against that black bear with less. Suhyun wasn’t the type to gripe about machine specs.
“Move into the formation I mentioned last time. No slacking.”
“Yes, sir!”
Suhyun in his Power Armor up front, superpowered Shaina and Kim Chang-sik in the rear. Lee So-hee piloting the other Power Armor in the middle. Flexible for any situation.
He told the squad that, but Suhyun figured they wouldn’t run into monsters until they hit the mountains.
The base they’d stopped at was relatively close to the rugged terrain. The area had likely been cleared of monsters multiple times for development.
As Suhyun predicted, Uncle Jo Company entered the mountains without issue.
“Should I use shadows?”
“No need. Keep them on squad protection.”
After answering Shaina’s question, Suhyun launched a small drone. It had basic AI, so no manual control needed.
The Euterpe region wasn’t cluttered and dense like Calcutta. Plenty of vertical mobility, making drones super useful.
‘Handy.’
Recon with drones on top of scouts. Hard to get ambushed like this. No wonder mercenaries flocked to Euterpe. Even mercs liked easy work.
Suhyun added one more thing to the drone.
A spraying sound hit the air. Water misting lightly over gray rocks was its own spectacle.
“That actually work?”
“Has to. Team Leader’s never wasted time on bullshit.”
What Suhyun installed on the drone was a sprinkler. The mountains were lousy with rocks perfect for the rock giant to hide in. No matter how vigilant, you had limits.
‘They didn’t fail for nothing.’
If focus alone worked, the rock giant would’ve been dead ages ago. Humanity’s superpowered forces weren’t weak. It survived thanks to killer camouflage.
But even that had a weakness. It hated water.
Spraying didn’t hurt it, but it loathed water so much that even hiding, it’d drop camo and react if hit. That was enough.
Spot its hideout, secure safe zones without it—that was half the rock giant hunt won.
“Good. Nothing around there at least. Let’s move.”
“Ugh…”
‘Doesn’t this guy ever get bored?’
The squad started with trusting gazes at Suhyun’s methods, but hours later, their looks turned weary.
Since arriving, they’d moved really, really slowly.
Suhyun checked obsessively before advancing. Every huge rock got a thorough dousing, eating up time.
“Team Leader, monsters spotted behind us. Iron Hogs, looks like.”
“Yeah? Take ‘em out, then move.”
Monsters sighted? The squad grabbed weapons with relief. Standing idle while Suhyun solo-scouted wasn’t easy.
Iron Hog. Grand name for a tough wild boar. Common in Euterpe. Firepower alone crushed it without superpowers; with them, even easier.
Shaina struck first with her superpower. Shadows rippled, forming a beast.
“Two of them. No need to shoot. Shaina, Kim Chang-sik—handle it. If you two can’t, Lee So-hee backs up immediately.”
“Yes, sir!”
Dust kicked up behind as massive gray boars charged. Jagged tusks screamed monster.
The danger with Iron Hogs was failing to stop them. Fast and strong, they wreaked havoc if they breached formation.
-Kreung!
The charging Iron Hog screamed and bounced back. Shaina’s shadow beast had tackled from the side. It ignored the hog’s tough hide, ripping into its throat.
-Krerrung, kreung!
The Iron Hog rolled aside, thrashing. It swatted at the shadow beast to shake it, but the shadow didn’t budge.
‘More useful than I thought.’
Suhyun was impressed inwardly. He’d rated it high for recon, retreat, versatility—but combat? It pulled weight. Shaina’s power was stronger than expected.
“Hup!”
Kim Chang-sik swung his lightning axe. After all Suhyun’s hazing, he could probably hit blindfolded now.
Pajijik!
He aimed for the eye. Lightning bolt nailed it; the hog screamed and tumbled.
“Hit the eye?!”
“Luck.”
“Luck? After all my suffering! It’s skill!”
“Not dead yet. Quit chatting and finish it.”
“Yes, sir!”
Kim Chang-sik swung again with gusto. Lightning crashed onto the downed hog. Confirming the kill, he pumped his fist happily.
He’d dropped a monster with superpowers. Artifact-powered, sure, but still—different thrill from guns and bombs.
“Huh? Hey, don’t let it slip!”
They had the upper hand for clean finish, but the hog seized the gap, slipping under the shadow beast. It started moving again.
Shaina clicked her tongue, refocusing to reconnect with the shadow beast. It acted independently post-summon, but fine control needed this link for intent.
“Nah, let it go.”
“Huh?”
“It’s mortally wounded anyway. Good chance to test something.”
Mobility—its best trait—was gone from injury. It staggered toward the squad.
“Kim Chang-sik, try fire.”
“Huh?”
“See if it works on monsters. Perfect opportunity.”
Monsters had wild instincts unlike humans. Test if his superpower fooled them now.
“Ah, yes!”
Kim Chang-sik thrust his hand out. Unlike the lightning axe, fake fire cost almost nothing. Flames bloomed gorgeously in midair.
“Always looks flashy as hell.”
“Shut it, you punks!”
-Krrrng…
Low growl, and the Iron Hog halted, backing off slowly. Clearly spooked by the flames.
“Well…”
“It works. Good. Now finish it.”
Shaina snapped her fingers. The waiting shadow beast lunged, tearing the throat.
“Not totally useless, right? Like making monsters back off…”
Kim Chang-sik asked Suhyun, approaching.
“Yeah, but don’t use it lightly.”
“?”
“Bluff fails the second it’s called. Monsters have aggressive types that charge anyway. Only use when I say—stick to lightning axe otherwise.”
Bluffs lost meaning if seen through. Same with monsters. Kim Chang-sik nodded understanding.
“Short break. Rest as needed.”
“You, Team Leader?”
“Sending more drones for recon.”
“…”
Repeating tedious checks flawlessly was a skill. Suhyun endured boredom fine.
“Hey, this is a monster too. No coin for it?”
“Iron Hogs aren’t valuable. Easy to find. If they paid, they’d be extinct.”
“Really? The hide or…”
“You wanna wear pigskin?”
“Just asking. Oh, Team Leader—can we grill this?”
“Huh?”
“What’re you… We on a camping trip?”
“Nah, grill it. Fire or gear, whatever. Finish during break.”
“Seriously?”
Shaina eyed Jeong Seong-jae skeptically.
“Yeah? Poison?”
“No, not poison, but…”
“Then grill it! It’s pork, right? Wild boar even.”
“Is this even pig…?”
Kim Dong-uk questioned his buddy but sliced meat as asked. They carried snacks, but meals were always vacuum packs. Fresh grilling tempted.
While Suhyun doggedly sprayed every rock, the squad huddled to cook. Shaina walked to his Power Armor, tapping the cockpit.
“What?”
“You knew and still said eat?”
“No clue what you mean.”
“…”
“Gotta experience it to learn. Sticks better than words.”
Iron Hogs ranked low-utility among monsters. Some had gourmet meat, but not these.
“Urk…”
“What’s this taste? Grilled right?”
“Ah, no—more salt.”
“Won’t fix this…”
Metallic fishiness from the meat. Squad spat it out, faces sour—even Lee So-hee paled.
“Everyone enjoying?”
“Team Leader…”
“Good lesson. On Cameron Planet, suspect everything you find. Confirmed stuff? Double-check. Unknown? Don’t touch. Got it?”
“Warn us next time!”
“Experience lasts longer. Don’t worry—healthy stuff.”
“This?”
“Yeah. Some bodybuilders seek it out.”
Squad eyed the carcass queasily.
“Rested enough. Moving out. Path ahead’s clear.”
Didn’t feel rested. Feeling duped, they stood.