The Price of Survival
It's impossible to save everyone.
Regrettable as it was, even with a secret escape passage, trying to take more than thirty people with them would be suicide.
Which meant their only option now was to prioritize and focus.
And naturally, the top priority was the lab's director.
"What in the world happened here?"
Gobel, emerging from the lab, asked Robin in an irritated tone.
"Are you the director?"
"Yes, I'm Director Gobel of this facility. And who the hell are you?"
"Lieutenant Robin, currently attached to the penal unit. No time for introductions—let's get you out first."
"So you're one of the survivors. But have the Lycan bastards already arrived?"
"Yes. Where's the secret escape passage?"
"One floor down from here. Damn it, we didn't grab all the data."
True to form as a researcher, Gobel bit his lip thinking of the materials they'd left behind.
"No time to worry about that now. Where does the passage lead?"
"Probably to the stables by the village's back gate."
Not bad.
If they could snag some horses from the stables, escape was feasible.
"Prepare the most powerful magic bullet in the lab right now. We need to blow this place sky-high."
"Can't be helped. Grab one from the warehouse."
"Understood."
At Gobel's order, one researcher fetched a magic bullet from the warehouse.
"It's specially made for demolishing the lab—one should do the trick."
"Does it have a separate activation switch?"
"Of course. Can't go up in flames with the damn thing."
"Give it to me. I'll time it right."
"Hmph. Fine enough."
Not thrilled, but in this mess, following the soldier's lead made sense. Gobel handed over the activation switch.
"Let's move, then. First, headcount—who's your second-in-command, Director?"
"No formal hierarchy. They're all just support staff for my work."
Robin's eyes shifted subtly at Gobel's words.
"I see. So you handled all the stele design and production yourself?"
"Obviously. Who else could craft circuits this advanced?"
His voice brimmed with pride. That sealed it for Robin.
Only one would make it out alive: the director.
"Got it. From now on, we'll prioritize your protection, Director. Any objections?"
No researcher raised a voice against it. Protecting the director was only natural.
"Escape starts now. Lead the way to the passage."
"Follow me."
Gobel headed downstairs and opened a wardrobe.
Nothing special—just lab coats hanging inside.
But pressing the back wall revealed the hidden passage.
"I'll scout ahead first."
Not a wide tunnel, so Robin went in alone.
"Director, can we trust that guy? Penal unit scum."
"Makes me uneasy."
Whispers from behind, but Robin pressed on, inspecting the passage.
Reinforced against collapse. Solid work.
Whoever built it had put real effort in.
"Director! Something weird here—come check it out!"
Twenty steps in, Robin called out.
"Something weird?"
Gobel stepped inside without a second thought.
"I'll come too."
One researcher followed the director.
Not far, so they quickly reached Robin.
"Where's the weird part?"
"Nothing weird. Just..."
Robin held up the magic bullet switch he'd gotten from Gobel.
Gobel's eyes widened in realization, mouth opening—
KABOOOOM!!!!!!
No hesitation—Robin hit the button.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
"Aaaaggghhh!!!!!!"
Screams of agony from the researchers behind.
But only for a moment. Flames engulfed the lab, swallowing everything in silence.
All dead.
"Wh-what the—"
Slash.
The researcher who'd followed Gobel froze mid-reproach.
Robin's sword cleanly severed his neck.
"Don't hate me. Taking everyone was impossible—it had to be done."
Robin's voice was ice-cold.
No guilt on his face.
"If you try to fight me, I'll knock you out and drag you along."
He'd killed his own comrades—resistance was expected. But Gobel's reaction surprised him.
"Kuh-kuk! Kukukuku!"
Mad laughter. Robin stared.
"Excellent! Brilliant! Can't have those idiot bastards getting me caught by the enemy."
Gobel spoke as if praising him.
Madness gleamed in his eyes.
"Get me to the Empire alive, and I won't forget this debt."
"Keep your word."
"I always do. Favor or vengeance."
"Same here."
"We understand each other."
Gobel grinned chillingly at the much younger Robin.
* * *
"Gruesome."
Major Eden Tal shook his head at the blasted lab.
"Special forces captain, two men spotted fleeing the village on horseback just now."
"Pursuit?"
"Villager testimony. We'll try, but doubtful."
"Too few men."
By the book, they should've ringed the area.
But without certainty, they'd moved light—and the fight had kicked off suddenly, prep lacking.
"Try anyway. Researchers won't outrun mounted troops."
"Yes, sir!"
Eden eyed the charred corpses and passage alternately.
Scouted first to lower guards, then boom.
Closing his eyes, he pictured it. Ruthless. Precise.
Not wrong strategically.
Escaping with dozens? Impossible.
Handing the key researcher to Lycans? Unthinkable.
One choice left—and the unknown actor took it.
"No mercy, no tears."
Eden shook his head, heading topside.
"All checked out?"
A burly man dispersing gawkers—now Captain Alpen, with his new insignia.
"For now. Whoever it was, a real piece of work."
"Heard he torched all the researchers with the lab."
"Two sighted?"
"Yes."
"Means he took the key one and ran."
The puzzle clicked in Eden's mind.
"Reinforcements requested?"
"Yes, before dawn."
"Rest up till then—except sentries."
"Roger, shifts it is."
Not just Eden—the whole special forces unit was exhausted from the grind.
"And... Lieutenant Aisa, was it?"
Eden turned to the unsteady Aisa.
"Y-yes! Yes, sir."
"Didn't notice earlier, but word is you're on probation. True?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Military stiffness incarnate.
Made sense. Eden Major before her, Captain Alpen beside, dozens of superiors around.
All towering ranks.
"Report how you ended up in that mess."
Not a request—an order.
Aisa gathered her thoughts, reporting crisply.
"Yes, sir! Around 2300 hours, spotted Sergeant Jeren leaving camp late. Suspicious, so I tailed him..."
From tailing to theater entry.
Overhearing talks, escape attempt foiled.
Full details. Eden latched onto one bit.
"Spotting someone sneaking out that late—means you anticipated this?"
A touch of surprise.
Affirm, and she'd shine.
But Aisa hesitated. It wasn't her call.
"Well..."
Palan had offered her the credit—fudge it, no harm.
Yet conscience and principles held her back.
"Hm?"
"Captain Palan Oclo warned me—said the hidden ones would react, to stay sharp."
Truth over lie. Eden smiled faintly, inexplicably.
"Palan Oclo's name out of nowhere—surprising. Ah, so you're the top cadet?"
"Entry exam? Yes, sir. You know the captain?"
Aisa couldn't hold back curiosity at Eden's familiarity.
"I trained him—how could I not? He never mentioned me?"
Trained him.
Worked together recently, then. Palan's old words flooded Aisa's mind.
'Psycho who loves shoving people into jaws of death.'
And more: creepy ghost who pops up everywhere.
She'd pictured a grotesque monster.
But face-to-face? Different.
Gentle. Decent guy.
Handsome, too—and owed her life.
Impossible to think ill of Eden.