Chapter 134
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 134: How to Set a Goal (8)
Only after crying for a long time did I come to my senses. I felt embarrassed, and my face grew hot.
“I'm sorry….”
“If you ever have any worries, just tell me.”
“Yeees…”
Lee Hana said, gently combing her fingers through my hair. Choi Sujeong then added slyly.
“You can cry~”
“I'm not going to cry!”
Still, after getting it all off my chest, I felt better. The thought that I had people who cared about me this much made a corner of my heart feel warm. It seemed the sun had set, and I suddenly thought of my friends in the barracks. I thanked the sunbaes and left. Choi Sujeong and Lee Hana, seeming worried about me until the very end, asked if they should walk me back, but I refused. Taking the ice packLee Hana handed me, I bowed my head.
“Good night.”
“See you tomorrow~”
“Get back safe.”
“Yes!”
I left the sunbaes'barracks and looked up at the sky, which had grown dark. My mind felt clear, perhaps because the conclusion was simple. I like you.But I hate you. The two emotions swirled together. But this much was certain. I can't forgive you until my own wounds have healed.So, until then, let's resent them all I want.After that, if I still love them, you…If that lingering attachment still remains even then, let's think about forgiveness. I made my resolve. The sky was not yet completely dark, as the sunlight still faintly remained. I passed under it and returned to my barracks.
“Nahyun-ssi, Nahyun-ssi…! What kind of bastard…! Made Nahyun-ssi…!”
“Who made you cry?! Tell me!”
“...You cried? Th-then, an ice pack…! You already have one?! Then, revenge…!”
“Everyone, calm down.”
…There was a bit of a commotion when I got back, thanks to my swollen eyes, but let's just skip over that.
And the next morning.
“Ugh…”
“Are you okay?”
“It doesn't look that bad….”
“It's a little swollen.”
“Is it very noticeable?”
“Not very, but you can tell if you look closely.”
I chatted with Na Yuri, who was sticking to me worriedly, and headed to the assembly point we were told to go to. When we arrived on time, it seemed the others had already gathered.
“Oh, if it isn't the juniors! Good to see you!”
“Hello, Sion-sunbae.”
The ones assigned to escort the researchers to the field today were our party, plus Sion and a few other sunbaes. The rest seemed to have been given other roles within the garrison. The sunbaes working inside the garrison seemed quite relieved not to be going out to the battlefield right away, sighing in relief or relaxing. I'm nervous as hell, though. I was fiddling with the guns on my hip and back again when Park Siwoo approached me. I greeted him cheerfully.
“Ah, hi Siwoo!”
“What happened?”
And as soon as he saw my face, he exuded a frightful atmosphere and asked what was wrong. I was reminded anew. Right, he's sharp. I just smiled at Park Siwoo, who was gently brushing my eyelids with his fingers.
“It's nothing. I was talking with the sunbaes yesterday and got a little emotional….”
“...Is it something you can't tell me?”
“No.”
Only then did I realize that mixed in with the pity in his eyes was anxiety. So I shook my head firmly. Good grief. Worrying about every little thing. And I looked into Park Siwoo's eyes and spoke clearly.
“If I had met you first, I would have told you. Because you're my friend.”
…Every time I say this, I'm reminded anew that I have such a wonderful friend, and a corner of my heart feels warm, as if a heater was turned on. Right. I have people like this who genuinely care for me.So...
“I'm okay.”
Because I have you all, I'm okay. I can feel my heart, which had gone limp with the sorrow I'd poured out, growing firm. When I showed a genuine smile, I could feel you, the one who can best grasp my true feelings, relax.
“...If you have any worries, just tell me.”
“Yeah. I promise.”
I replied and playfully held out my pinky finger. Park Siwoo looked down at my finger, then chuckled and hooked his finger with mine. It was a firm promise.
“Ah, Nahyun-ssi! Me too!”
“Okay!”
“Ooh~ Something fun?”
I gave Na Yuri, who had approached and gotten jealous, a promise stamp, too. As I was talking with Choi Sujeong, who popped her head in, it was soon time to depart.
“Squad 1! Kang Nahyun, Na Yuri, Na Yuhan, Min Jaeyun, Park Siwoo, Shin Baran, Lee Hana, Choi Sujeong! Is everyone here?”
“Yes!”
The senior Hunter, who had checked off all the members of our party, finished and reported. It seemed the other squads had also finished their checks. As ordered, we surrounded the researchers on all sides. There were 4 Huntersquads in total, arranged in a formation to cover the researchers from east, west, north, and south. Two senior Hunters were assigned to each squad to lead the students and help protect the researchers. Our squad's senior Hunters were some male Hunter and,
“Ahem, your eyes are wandering.”
“Sorry.”
Choi Garam. Choi Garam grabbed Na Yuhan's head, who was looking around to find the dragon-shaped rock, and locked it firmly on the battle in the distance, speaking nonchalantly.
“Our job is to escort the researchers who will move in for research after the battle up front is finished. We're entering after the Gate Close and all monsters are suppressed, so the risk is low, but… this area is a danger zone, so we don't know when or where a new Gate will open. Don't let your guard down. We hit it fast and get out.”
“Yes.”
“Good. There's some distance, but monsters that escape from the front will often come this way. In that case…”
Kieeeek—!!!
Speak of the devil. Just then, a badly wounded wyvern was seen staggering and fleeing toward the researchers in the rear... that is, toward us. As the large wyvern's form closed in, the surroundings stirred. But Choi Garam kept looking at us and nonchalantly reloaded her gun.
Chk-chk—
The moment the wyvern, which was frantically trying to escape, was about to pass over us, Choi Garam pointed her gun at the sky without even looking up.
Taang—!
And a single gunshot rang out.
“Kill it, making sure it doesn't go past the fortress if possible.”
That was enough.
Kieeeek—!!!Clang—!
Simultaneously with the sound of something breaking, the wyvern flipped and staggered, then crashed right behind Choi Garam. Kuuung—!Kiii… The wyvern, which had been flailing weakly, soon died, as if it had no strength left to struggle. Choi Garam, who hadn't taken her fixed gaze off us for a second during the entire process, continued.
“Other than that, if there's anything you need to be careful of—”
After briefly and concisely explaining the necessary points, Choi Garam led us.
“Hey, get this out of here!”
“Y-yes, ma'am!”
The Huntersquads passed the soldiers who were butchering the fallen wyvern and followed Choi Garam to our assigned post. The place we moved to wasn't that far from the garrison. But just a short distance out, numerous Gates and the monsters pouring from them were visible in the distance. This really is a danger zone. I swallowed dryly.
“Still, it's a slow day today.”
“...This is slow?!”
“Yeah. The garrison and its surroundings are heavily suppressed with stabilization items, so this is what it's like.”
“Stabilization item?”
“They exist. Damn expensive, get used up fast, and you can only get permission to use them in an emergency. Your Academy is probably using one on that spot where a Gate opened.”
I was horrified, looking at the hordes of monsters pouring from the fourteen Gates and the Hunters fighting them. This is the 'stabilized' state, thanks to an item?Then what is the normal state like?
“Oh, looks like they're closing. Stand by.”
“Already…?”
Just as Choi Garam said, the Hunters skillfully fought against the monsters, who far outnumbered them. I let out a small sound of admiration, watching as monsters'cores were shattered by the hundreds with every swing of a sword or spear. At last, when they touched a rainbow-colored crystal to the final Gate, the Gates in that area quieted down all at once. Only then did Choi Garam, wearing a radio, try to contact the Hunters over there.
“Any mutant monsters?”
—There were about 3 types.
“Got it. Bring the core fragments and corpses of those bastards to the south road. The researchers will collect them.”
—Yes, ma'am. Should we move out after? We haven't received any requests for support yet…
“No. This is perfect. We've only got new fledglings here. If you have time, look after them a bit.”
—Yes. Understood.
Choi Garam, who seemed to exchange a few more words with other Hunters, soon cut the connection and spoke to us.
“They're coming. Let's go.”
Just like that, we cautiously moved toward the place where the battle had been. As we approached the mountain of corpses, we could see the bodies of three bizarrely shaped monsters and a group of Hunters.
“Is this it?”
“Yep. That's right. They showed signs of fusing two or more types of monsters.”
“I see…”
Under the Hunters' escort, the researcher who seemed to be the representative approached the monster corpses and exchanged words with a Hunter. Immediately after, that researcher gestured to the other researchers. The group of researchers then scattered in an orderly fashion toward the spread-out monsters.
“We'll escort the researchers over there, by the mutant slime.”
“Yes!”
Getting closer, I saw that the slime looked like a Starlight Slime. The cores, which should have been embedded in it like fine starlight, were shattered into fragments. It was completely pulverized, but because of that, the inside of the slime's corpse reflected the sunlight, shining even more like starlight. The difference from the Starlight Slime we faced during our first-semester midterms was that its color was very strange. The center of its body was the color of a normal Starlight Slime, but one side was reddish and emitting heat, while the opposite side was blue and emitting cold. Just like…
“...Fire and ice?”
“Right. It seems a Starlight Slime fused with a Fire Slime and an Ice Slime.”
The researcher unni I'd met before answered my mutter.
“Ah, Unni!”
She greeted me, waving the hand with the fox emblembracelet.
“Slimes don't mix like this, because of their unique attributes and density… This is unusual.”
“Is it related to that 'mutation'?”
“Yes. Since the unusual situation began, many monsters have been appearing, mutated in ways that shouldn't be possible. We're in charge of investigating and collecting them in the field.”
“I see…”
Mutant monsters. They were definitely mentioned in the original novel. However, they were only mentioned very simply as having 'appeared along with the unusual situation', so I had no detailed information. I continued to chat with the researcher unni every now and then. The researcher unni's name was Park Juhyeon.
“All done. Let's go now.”
“Good thing nothing happened. Is that side done, too?”
“Seems mostly finished. But Garam-nim. That's a flag.”
“Fla... what?”
As I half-listened to Park Juhyeon and Choi Garam's conversation and lightly looked around, I caught a strange distortion in the sky. As soon as I saw it, I pointed at the sky.
“There!”
“It's a Gate! Everyone, prepare for battle! Get the Gate Close items ready!”
As soon as the call came that a Gate had appeared, the sunbaes and our group tensed and switched to a combat stance. The novel said nothing happened on the first day. I grit my teeth at the reality that was, as expected, so different from the novel. The researchers quickly moved away from the Gate.
“It's just one! It'll be over quick! It'll be fine!”
“Isn't that a flag?”
“What is that, anyway?!”
Before long, the distorted space began to open. The hole, tearing the sky apart, grew larger, consuming our vision. At last, it reached the size of one of the Gates from before, and then… it began to grow larger than expected.
“Damn it, what?!”
“This damn unusual situation!”
“This is all Deputy Captain Choi Garam's fault!”
“Why is it my fault! It's the monsters' fault!”
The Hunters who saw this grumbled in annoyance. I could even see some people needlessly blaming Choi Garam. Amidst it all, the Gate ominously swelled until it was large enough to rival all 14 of the previous Gates combined, and began to pulse. Inside the pulsing Gate was only darkness. The darkness was silent. A silence so deep you could hear a pin drop continued for a long time. And,
Piiieeeeee—!!!
A single, giant monster that looked like a bat with many red eyes burst out. Starting with that one, small batmonsters with sharp fangs also began to pour out of the Gate.
“Damn it, Dark Bats! Watch out for the poison! Especially the fangs!”
“But what's that giant bat? I've never seen anything like that?!”
“Dunno, must be a variant! Deputy Captain, we're counting on you!”
“Yep!”
I gripped my dual pistols instead of my sniper rifle. Countless Dark Bats flew toward us at high speed. Taang—! At the same time as Choi Garam's gun burst one of the giant bat's eyes, the melee began.
Piiieeeeee—!!!
“Kid, I'm counting on you!”
“Yes! Understood!”
Na Yuhan was given command authority over the student squads. As planned, Na Yuhan quickly deployed his shield.
“Shield of Protection! Overlap the shields! Ranged dealers, healers, and supporters, get inside! We have to take care of the mobs!”
“Got it!”
“Healers and supporters, put status ailment and poison resistance buffs on your parties! If you have any other attack-strengthening buffs, pour them on!”
Na Yuhan proceeded to cast buffs on us. I glanced at Choi Garam gathering the other adult Hunters to start the raid on the giant batmonster, and shot a Dark Bat that was trying to rush me. The Dark Bats, which were attacking the shield in a swarm so thick it looked like fog, were weak individually, but their numbers were so great it was difficult to deal with them. Na Yuhan, who was watching the situation, gave orders to each squad.
“Focus on AoE skills! It's fine if the power is low, just spread them as wide as possible and herd them toward us! Park Siwoo, Shin Baran! Squad 4 looks unstable, support them!”
“Yep!”
“Lee Hana! Spread your mana as wide as possible and check them by freezing! Just slowing them down for a moment is fine!”
“Got it.”
“Choi Sujeong! Gather them all to the north!”
“Roger~”
“And Kang Nahyun! Switch to your sniper rifle and gather mana! Prepare to fire a max-power Mana Bullet! You're firing north!”
“Okay!”
In that moment, I sensed what Na Yuhan was trying to do. He's planning to annihilate them in one go with my Mana Bullet. My LV10 Mana Bullet certainly had the power for it. I swapped my gun and quietly gathered mana.
Giiiiing—
Amidst the noise of the chaotic battle, the small sound from the gun barrel felt strangely clear. Piiieeeek—!!! Following Na Yuhan's command, the Dark Bats slowly began to be herded into a single point in the north.
Giiiiiiing—
As I felt the mana slowly gathering into one point and focused intently, I had the illusion that my surroundings had gone quiet. Before my eyes, a giant, pitch-black sphere gradually took shape. The moment the lopsided sphere became perfectly round,
“Fire!”
Taang—!
I pulled the trigger. A clear light shot out from the muzzle. And the pitch-black sphere was purified and annihilated. Piiiii… I could see the Dark Bats scattering as ash or falling, having lost parts of their bodies. As the black mass fell to the ground, only a few remaining Dark Bats and the single giant batmonster remained in the sky.
“Good, now we just have to take care of the rest!”
“Let's go!”
With their numbers greatly reduced, everyone's morale rose, as if they could see hope. While the sunbaes took down the remaining Dark Bats, the Hunters' side was also wrapping things up. I could see the giant bat, which had lost all its red eyes, falling powerlessly. Kuuung—!Waaaaaah—! The sunbaes cheered, excited. But for some reason, the Hunters' faces didn't look bright. Why? That question was answered only when the Hunters dragged the mutant monster's corpse over to the researchers.
“It spoke. This mutant monster.”
“Spoke? Are you sure you didn't mishear?”
“Sunbae, look at this. Its vocal cords and tongue are completely similar to a human's... Could it be like a parrot?”
“Hmm… Don't tell me, is it to divide the human parties?”
“If so, this is a big problem. Language is a great weapon…”
While the Hunters and researchers were discussing with serious faces, I, who was secretly eavesdropping, suddenly recalled the incident during the first-semester midterms. '...Liberate... the Tower...!''Liberate... us...!' The talking monster that had come from the Gate created by the Wild Hunt, which had wanted to say something so desperately. I looked up at the clear sky. A Gate that appeared so suddenly, unlike in the novel. An unidentified monster that speaks human words… …Could this incident also be related to the Wild Hunt?