Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Eternal Poison #6
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How the hell do these bastards know my code name?
In the previous loop, they definitely mistook me for Kurosna.
This is too strange.
A sense that something is wrong starts to bubble up.
But right now, it's a combat situation before any questions. The heat of the battlefield drowns out my anxiety and doubts. I focus on the present and continue the firefight.
—Rat-a-tat-tat!
I fire, duck, and fire again. With every shot, the Fake Management Bureau goons curse, calling Grong that crazy bastard.
"Damn it...! We're losing to Grong!"
"Headquarters! We need backup!"
"We can't even stall for time!"
How many such shouts did I hear?
"What...!"
"S-Spandal!"
"Kuaaaah!"
"Huaaaah! No, nooooo!"
"Thorns... thorns are coming out of my body...!"
Along with the massive screams.
Silence fell.
I looked up to see Spandal walking toward us. Situation cleared. She had turned every one of those Fake Management Bureau guys hiding behind cover into a pincushion.
Last time, she used her ability on Gwak Seong-ju Section Chief, but this time she activated it quicker.
As I watched, Jamtree explained Spandal's ability. It was the same explanation as before.
"Worth praising. Grong. Good shooting."
Spandal said upon her return.
"You really know how to give proper praise where it's due."
"Isn't that obvious? What do you take me for?"
I wanted to say more, but there's no time for that now.
We wiped out one squad of Fake Management Bureau agents.
With the situation resolved, it was time to clear up the questions.
"Team Leader Jaaldi."
I asked Jaaldi.
"How do those guys know my name?"
"Were you wondering about that?"
"Yes. The moment I started shooting, they pegged me as Grong."
"To repeat: those guys are anomalies."
Anomalies.
"They suddenly know the names of our Management Bureau agents at some point."
Suddenly knowing names.
"We suspect they get the info too. According to the wiretap just now, they even knew you're a sharpshooting master."
Suddenly getting all the info.
"Yes. That's right."
"Grong, only a few people truly know how good you are with a gun. Me, who saw it during your physical exam, and our team who heard my description. Other teams know the basics on new agents—like that you're good with guns or have special detection skills—but that's it."
"But those Fake Management Bureau guys knew I was a sharpshooting master like it was the most natural thing."
"Yeah."
"What if it's hacking? They hack the Management Bureau and pull agent info?"
"Grong. I've told you before."
Told me before.
"Grong, we don't enter that kind of info into computers. Even if they hacked us, they couldn't find it. It's not logged in the first place."
"Oh."
Right.
That's right.
I heard that when I first got the Management Bureau rulebook.
Important info isn't entered into computers.
"So that's what makes them anomalies."
"Then... what about a traitor inside the Management Bureau? If someone's leaking info, it would fit."
"Of course, that's possible too."
Jaaldi nodded, arms crossed.
"But we don't need to worry about betrayal. The Management Bureau handles all that. Plus, there are things that can't be explained that way. Grong, the Fake Management Bureau might know you better than you think."
"Yes?"
"That's the most suspicious part. It's possible because they're anomalies."
"..."
"Take a short break, then we move."
It's confusing.
If they know my code name and shooting skills...
What about my true ability... regression?
Do they know about that too?
If they know me better than I know myself, it's possible. But then they'd react differently... Normally, if enemies knew you were a regressor, they wouldn't act like this.
—Crunch crunch.
Anxious, I popped the four peeled garlic cloves I'd brought into my mouth and crunched away, savoring the sharp flavor.
To earn recognition from the vampire hunters later, I need to build up a tolerance for raw garlic now. If they acknowledge my garlic-eating prowess, I'll be thrilled. Yeah, time to get a hobby. I'll develop garlic recipes and bring them to vampire hunter gatherings. When they beg for the recipes, I'll act all smug, crack a joke, pretend to reluctantly share, and hand them over.
"Gr-Grong? Suddenly? You're eating that?"
"Vampires could show up anytime. Gotta stuff garlic in my guts too."
"Hmm, looks like the vampire trauma gave you anxiety after all. Wanna go to Mental Health Team with sis? No, I'll take you."
Jamtree said with a worried look, but even if this is anxiety, no therapy will fix it.
Only the warm welcome of vampire hunters can heal me. And likewise, I can heal their wounds.
"Thanks, but I plan to channel this anxiety into fighting spirit."
"Really...? Well, next time, we go together for sure."
Anyway.
The garlic calms the confusion.
Guess Koreans really are descendants of the bear woman.
With the pungent garlic spreading through me, I sorted my thoughts and reviewed everything.
How do those guys know my code name?
If they do, since when?
My guess.
Jo Seong-chun Section Chief.
When I first met him, he said if I introduced myself, it goes into some 'Management Bureau database.' That's why he told me not to. So I didn't tell Jo Seong-chun Section Chief my code name.
But... at the end.
In the pitch-black Management Bureau during our escape. When Spandal burst into the lab and called my name, that's when Jo Seong-chun Section Chief learned it.
Then we escaped out the window and looped back via elevator. That's how today unfolded.
If my code name leaked to the Fake Management Bureau, the only time was when Jo Seong-chun Section Chief heard it.
But that's weird too—I escaped right after and looped back. Shouldn't that... reset? Like a reset?
Meeting Jo Seong-chun Section Chief and the database entry shouldn't have happened, right?
This feels off... Well, after experiencing that the Reality Recognition Device stuff wasn't just illusion, I can accept it's strange but possible. Once recognized, maybe it can't be undone.
But.
Jo Seong-chun Section Chief only heard my name. And that was underground in the Management Bureau. He didn't escape to report it, and he doesn't know I shoot well.
Just because Jo Seong-chun Section Chief heard my code name in the Management Bureau basement, it gets logged in the Management Bureau database?
If so, that's some seriously scary anomaly.
For now, with no certainties, I'll conclude it happened because Jo Seong-chun Section Chief learned my code name then.
"Rest enough? Time to move."
"Yes."
We moved on Jaaldi's order.
Where are the vampires and what are they up to?
High-rise apartment.
We linked up with the Suppression Team.
Quras and Agent Kalehyu greeted us. Kalehyu is a flashy blonde woman agent. I saw her once before but don't know her well.
"The situation isn't good right now."
Quras explained to Jaaldi.
"Gwak Seong-ju's providing covering fire, making breakthroughs tough. Gorgodio's scouting paths, but we're short on firepower. Plus, ghouls are popping up everywhere."
I cautiously checked the battlefield.
—Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu!
Gwak Seong-ju Section Chief, clad in full body armor, was spraying twin machine guns. But ghouls were swarming like a pack of wild dogs.
The machine gun rounds were shredding the ghouls. Gwak Seong-ju Section Chief was holding back that insane horde alone.
"Is this a three-way battle?"
Ghouls swarming from all sides, and the Management Bureaus fighting them while eyeing each other warily—a three-way deadlock.
Zhuge Liang's dream of dividing the land into three was unfolding right here.
"And there are a lot of those sword guys too."
"Sword guys?"
Ah, the Fake Management Bureau's sword squad.
"Grong. Over there. Look."
Jamtree pointed it out. I looked carefully and saw something zipping around far off—slash slash slash.
On closer inspection, suited men... what the hell?
"Those are the Fake Management Bureau sword squad?"
"Yeah."
The suited men were sprinting madly, hopping like maniacs. Japanese swords in hand, they sliced ghoul necks mid-stride like pulling items from pockets—slick slick.
Fast and strong.
Five swordsmen per group, sweeping ghouls in seconds and charging. Their inhuman display left my jaw on the floor.
Swordsmanship like Lee Do-hyung's... yeah, same vibe when he carved up that nurse. His disciples, huh? They handle blades well.
"As you see, dangerous bastards. They're aces in close quarters."
"Looks like it. Gotta take them out before they close in."
"Some deflect bullets with their swords."
"What?!"
Deflect bullets with swords?!
That's a superpower!
"Singles won't cut it. Burst fire at minimum. Recommend full auto."
"Got it. Since they're no pushovers, I'll finish them clean."
"Good."
Must full-auto them.
Or I'll be the one sliced by those blades.
"Good thing Lee Do-hyung's dead."
Quras clapped my shoulder.
"If he were here, we couldn't handle this level of force."
"Real lucky... Oh, Senior Spandal?"
"Yeah?"
"That thorn ability earlier was amazing, but could you take those sword squad guys?"
"Hmm, I could. But risky? Right in their lines? And close-quarters experts are tough."
Makes sense.
Spandal seems like an enemy backline assassin type.
"Hmm, ghouls keep coming endlessly. Didn't expect this many. Looks like they swallowed a whole city."
Jaaldi peered outside.
"Team Leader. What's the plan?"
"Fake Management Bureau's fighting ghouls now. Mutual destruction would be ideal, but they'll notice."
Unless they're idiots, they'll know wasting firepower on ghouls leaves them open to us.
"So they'll retreat?"
"Likely. We could hit them then. Jamtree? Wiretap?"
"Still hacking. One sec."
Jamtree fiddled with her pad.
"Got it."
Handy wiretap skill.
"Shit! These ghoul bastards! So many fuuuck!"
"Gwak Seong-ju Section Chief...! We gotta retreat! Can't fight Fake Management Bureau like this!"
"Shut up! No retreat! We hold here no matter what!"
"But!"
"If those fake bastards get that crazy thing, what happens?! We stop that at all costs! Reinforcements from HQ! Hold or die! Use me as a shield if you have to!"
"Urk, Section Chief!"
"Retreat plays into their hands...! Can't let those monster fucks control that! Sacrifice for humanity! I've already resolved to die here!"
Real human talk.
Gwak Seong-ju Section Chief's passionate declaration almost seemed heroic.
"Well. Looks like no retreat planned."
Jaaldi said, rubbing his neck... wait.
Something off in that convo?
What if those fake bastards get that crazy thing?
What's that?
They think we're here for something?