Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Poison Immunity #7
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"Team Leader Jaaldi. Wasn't there something weird in the wiretap logs? They said we're after some crazy thing."
They also said we couldn't let them get their hands on it.
"I don't know what you're talking about. The Management Bureau's goals are exterminating the vampire forces, rescuing civilians, and crushing the Fake Management Bureau. Nothing else."
That's right.
Just as he said, we weren't after anything else in this incident.
So what was that conversation about?
Why were they yelling like we were scheming something?
"Grong. What are you so worried about?"
"Oh... Senior Spandal."
Spandal slid up beside me and spoke.
"That's just meaningless noise from the anomalies. Just because they look human doesn't make them human. If you fall for that, you'll die quick. Straighten up your thinking."
"Right, Grong. Think of it as meaningless static that pops up during surveillance. Like randomly generated speech."
Jamtree chimed in too.
Randomly generated meaningless speech?
Was it really just that?
"Got it. But what if there's something here we don't know about, and the Fake Bureau guys spotted it and assumed it was us?"
"Deep thinker, huh. Good point, Grong."
Jaaldi placed a hand on my head.
"We'll keep the possibility in mind. But we don't even know what it is, and it's info we picked up eavesdropping on the enemy. No need to obsess over finding some vague 'something' in a case like this."
"Why not?"
"Because battlefields are full of unknowns from the start. You don't know if there are enemy ambushes or hidden traps. It's the same as staying alert for those. Watching for unknown threats is Battlefield 101."
I nodded automatically.
"Understood."
Even if there was something, we don't know about enemy ambushes or traps either. Battlefields are made of uncertainties. Suspicious stuff is everywhere.
"Just act normal, then."
"Yeah."
I'd been overthinking it.
"Anyway, no sign of retreat. So we hit them while they're tangled with the vampires. Move out."
"Yes."
We moved on Jaaldi's order.
—Thump thump.
I felt my heart beating a little faster.
In the last loop, the Fake Management Bureau bastards definitely retreated midway. They even bluffed with that fake Deputy Chief Lee Do-hyung bullshit and then bailed.
Totally different from Section Chief Gwak Seong-ju's heroic no-retreat yelling.
No retreat...
If they really don't retreat this time.
Jinseop.
What happens to Jinseop?
Could I save him in a no-retreat battlefield?
The assault began.
The plan: swing wide around the ghoul-free side and hit the Fake Management Bureau. They'd be pinched between ghouls and us, suffering on two fronts, and eventually crumble.
—Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Bullets rained down.
Even as a superpower squad, guns are dangerous.
We advanced with cover and concealment.
How could I save Jinseop here?
Where the hell was he anyway?
"H-Hey, newbie! Follow me!"
"Yes!"
Quras called me.
I stuck to him right away. That's when I'd run into Jinseop last time—moving with Quras.
"They say you're a crack shot! Kurosna level!"
"I haven't met that senior yet. Is he that good?"
"Management Bureau's top sniper. Yeah, he's a bit of a psycho freak, hard to deal with, but his aim's the real deal."
What?
Psycho freak?
"What kind of guy gets called that? Super grumpy or something?"
"Kinda, but you gotta see it yourself."
Quras shook his head.
"You'll just think, 'That guy's not right in the head.' That's why he's such a good sniper, I bet. Y'know how snipers are often a little off? Some weird corner in their mind lets 'em hyper-focus like that."
I'd never heard that crap, and I didn't want to gossip about seniors not here. Especially calling someone a psycho or freak.
It was bad in the army too.
One senior dragged me aside, badmouthed another senior. I said yeah, that part's kinda iffy, and he ran off yelling at him.
Fucking asshole...!
Old grudge resurfaced. With this agent's power, could I track him down for some payback? I'd love to admit him to Cheongak Mary Hospital, tell the patients to bully him.
"My focus is good, but not pathological. But yeah, marksmanship's my thing. I'll show you. Prove I'm the Bureau's top gun."
"Whoa! You gotta join Suppression Team! We need guys like you, not the weirdos they keep sending!"
More weirdos?
Come to think of it, Gorgodio splitting in half all the time was weird. That level'd win top prizes in any freak contest.
"Hey, use that detection power first. It was clutch in that infested building. Feel any strong ones nearby?"
"Oh, about that."
I explained I wasn't getting any vibes. Quiet spots maybe, but not on a battlefield like this. He bought it right away.
"Can't be helped. Sensory superpowers are finicky like that. Let's go."
"Yes."
So I moved with Quras.
"..."
Calm down, calm down.
Thinking Jinseop might show soon cluttered my head. No matter what, I had to save him.
In the Giant Apocalypse, Jinseop was my most reliable second, my comrade. Soul brothers—we had each other's backs like no tomorrow.
How many times did he save me?
How many times did I save him?
I couldn't let him die.
From the start... hadn't I resolved when dying to those monsters?
I wouldn't let those guys go through that shit again!
Focus!
Only I could save Jinseop!
"Hoo!"
My scattered focus sharpened fast. My senses, keener than ever, scanned tautly.
—Whoosh!
Flames erupted then. Gunfire followed, bullets halted by the fire wall.
"Take cover!"
"Yes!"
Quras for the win!
He'd conjured a flame wall to block the incoming rounds!
Superpower on superpower, but that proficiency made it possible. Leagues above small fry like Gorgodio. Quras was Suppression Team's most reliable by far.
"Sudden gunfire...! Bastards were hiding nearby!"
"Seems like. Wow, blocking bullets with a flame wall. I'm impressed."
"Hey, badass, right? This is reaction speed."
For real?
"Eh, more like auto-defense."
It was auto!?
"Anyway. They rate me high on offense thanks to this, but defense too. So cover me. I'll break through."
Quras, brimming with confidence, coiled to spring.
Up to here.
Same progression as last time.
Details differed, but me covering Quras as he pushed here—identical.
So what came next?
After Quras went, ambushing Jinseop blew himself up.
I had to stop Quras now!
"Wait!"
All judgments flashed in an instant. I grabbed Quras's shoulder.
"Huh? What?"
Quras, mid-leap, looked back puzzled. Had to hold him. How?
What BS to spin... Right!
"Sudden bad vibe!"
"What? Vibe?"
Lies and bluffs for the win!
Not my first rodeo bullshitting with this power!
"Duck! Something's coming!"
"Sudden trigger...! Got it!"
Quras ducked. My BS worked again. Vague super-sense was the best alibi ever.
I cautiously peeked up.
And.
—Pitter-patter-crack!
Fake Bureau agents in cover ahead scrambled. Jinseop, Jinseop? Unknown face, unknown, skip, that far left guy!
Jinseop!
Side profile!
"Ah...!"
He's alive!
I'd recognize that face anywhere after years. I watched him bolt rearward.
Yeah... run!
Fall back first!
Anything, just retreat—odds skyrocket!
"Hey, they're running!"
Quras peeked after me, yelling accusingly. Bad. Could look like I was aiding enemy retreat—treason.
So more BS.
"Shh...! Feeling something!"
"What?"
One lie needs more. No need for boy-who-cried-wolf lessons.
"Stay cool. No clue what, but better not give away our position. Don't shoot."
I set a heavy tone; Quras cooled off.
"No way... a strong vampire?"
"Maybe. Point is, firing here tips them off—we lose."
"Makes sense. Got it."
Quras's charge blocked.
I saw Jinseop and his suited pals sprinting.
Safe for now. Wiretap said no retreat, but better than holding here.
Then.
Sudden as hell.
—KABOOM!
Something crashed from the sky.
"Huh."
Right onto Jinseop's head.
"Huh?"
Time slowed. Everything slo-mo. Dirt and severed limbs flew. Crimson blood sprayed, guts burst out.
Like a water balloon.
Stepped on and popped.
And.
Standing on Jinseop's remains.
Humanoid shape.
Vampire...?
Flesh looked off somehow.
The blood-and-bone-stomping man was buck naked, not a stitch.
—Fwoosh.
Red glow.
Behind his head, a red halo formed.
Like a religious halo...
"W-What the hell...! W-Where'd that anomaly...!"
As his gaze hit us—or seemed to.
—Splat!
Quras's head exploded.
I ducked, splattered in his blood.
.
.
.
[You have witnessed ■■■.■■■.]
[You may become a devotee of ■■■.■■■.]
[Accept?]
[YES / NO]