Let You Down (9)

Kang Hyun woke up in the early hours of the morning. After a quick wash, he stepped outside and climbed into the driver's seat of a jeep. Dozens of identical jeeps surrounded him.

Their destination was Seer's mining site.

"Oh, you know how to drive?"

Kim Dong-ha chuckled as he climbed into the passenger seat. Kang Hyun gripped the steering wheel in silence. He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt a strange heat rising from his chest—something between tension and excitement.

*Thud.*

Suddenly, Kim Dong-ha placed a hand on his shoulder. Kang Hyun looked back at him.

"Hyun. I know you. There's no need to be nervous."

"...Yeah."

No. You don't know me. Just as I don't know you, and just as I have no desire to know you.

Shindra announced the start of the operation. Kang Hyun immediately stepped on the accelerator.

Dozens of jeeps were departing from this location. A similar number would likely be deployed from other camps, and they would all scatter to surround the mining site.

Kang Hyun thought quietly.

How many of them will actually make it there?

*Vroom.*

The jeep sped along the mountain path. Before long, a barrier of mana enveloped the frame and windows. It was the technology of NaN World, said to easily withstand most bombardments.

"They say it'll take about three hours. Hyun, I'm gonna catch some Z's, alright? I didn't sleep well last night."

Kim Dong-ha leaned his seat back while checking the GPS.

He didn't know. None of them probably did.

That the battle had already begun.

*Swerve!*

Kang Hyun yanked the steering wheel sharply, breaking away from the convoy ahead.

"W-what? Why aren't you following them?"

Kim Dong-ha bolted upright in surprise. Kang Hyun replied curtly.

"If we follow them, we die."

"Huh? What are you talking about? Hey, we won't clear the quest at this rate. Hurr—"

"Quiet."

Kang Hyun turned to look at Kim Dong-ha. His pupils were dyed a bizarre shade of gray. Kim Dong-ha swallowed hard without realizing it.

"Trust me. If you don't want to die."

I looked down at the ground from a rocky hill a reasonable distance away from our base. I had a rough estimate of the enemy's positions and the routes they were likely to take.

They would try to surround this place.

Of course, there was the option of flattening the area with long-range air strikes before moving in, but the enemy's goal was to seize the mining site. Excessive bombardment risked collapsing the underground excavation site, so that could be ruled out.

From our perspective, the best countermeasure was to reduce the enemy's forces without actually fighting them.

Simply put, inflicting one-sided casualties.

Therefore, I had planted traps in every direction.

Once they reached those points, a gift-like display of fireworks would erupt.

"*Sip.*"

I took a sip of black tea. My headache was severe because I had expended quite a bit of mana on the drones.

"You seem to like black tea."

A rich, smooth voice drifted from behind.

It was Kate. Approaching with elegant poise, she glanced at the tea I was drinking.

"Shall I brew you a cup?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Kate didn't refuse. I gladly steeped another cup of black tea.

Accepting the teacup, she took a sip. Every simple movement of hers was graceful.

That was how aristocrats were. Even in the most mundane actions, nobility clung to them like gold dust. Their upbringing, manners, and decorum were entirely different from those of a stray orphan like me.

Kate nodded as she savored the tea.

"...The tea tastes quite good."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. You brewed it well. The temperature is just right, too."

It was probably thanks to the leather gloves I was wearing.

"Hand-related actions" naturally included the art of brewing tea.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day I'd be complimented on my tea by a Haleford."

The Halefords were an immigrant family of British origin. They were so serious about tea that they directly operated their own tea plantations.

Kate asked back, looking surprised.

"You seem to know about the Halefords."

"I'd have to be living under a rock not to. A quick search on the wiki brings up dozens of pages."

"...Those public images are nothing but a facade."

Kate took another sip of her tea. Her expression softened further with each sip.

She was definitely someone who genuinely loved tea.

"To the public, only the good sides of the Halefords are highlighted. In reality, we aren't such a gentle family."

In conversations like this, one had to read between the lines. Kate wasn't the type to badmouth her own family just for the sake of small talk. Rather, she was subtly asserting her status.

In that case, let's probe her a bit.

"Everyone has a public face and a private one."

The Halefords were on my list of suspects. Opportunities for a one-on-one Q&A like this didn't come easily.

Kate curled her lips.

"The difference between the inside and the outside might be far greater than you think."

I nodded.

"Yes. Especially the Halefords."

"......."

She hadn't expected me to agree so readily. Kate fell silent for a moment, and I looked at her.

"I used to serve with Colonel Percival."

Kate's expression stiffened.

Percival Alistair Haleford. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had participated in several operations with him. He was once my commander, and he had taken quite a liking to me, wanting to keep me by his side.

Though the ending wasn't a happy one.

"The Colonel often spoke of his niece. I assume that was you, Miss Kate."

It meant I knew far more about the Halefords than she thought.

"...I see," Kate replied, pretending to be unfazed as she set her teacup down. *Clink.* The sound was exceptionally sharp. Her fingertips trembled ever so slightly.

"The enemy will be here soon."

"I suppose so."

*Brush, brush.* Kate stood up, dusting off her trousers.

"Mr. Seol Ha-woon. You always seem to keep yourself far away from the center of the battlefield."

There were thorns in her voice.

I smiled. Was Percival a sore spot for her?

"I was at the center of the battlefield for far too long. It's about time I retired."

"...I heard the enemy's scouts have arrived nearby."

"I know."

I had detected the small advance party ages ago, but I left them alone. I hadn't triggered the mines either.

Naturally, to draw in even more of them.

"I'll be looking forward to it."

I replied calmly to Kate's words.

"You should."

Kate walked down the rocky hill.

Kate returned to the main force. The security at the base was tight. Everyone was in a state of hyper-vigilance bordering on paranoia.

"Miss Kate. What did Seol Ha-woon say?"

Kim Du-gyeom quickly ran over and asked. Kate gave a brief reply.

"...Let's just focus on our own duties."

"Ah, yes, ma'am."

Kate found herself lost in thought.

Seol Ha-woon knew Percival. Her uncle, Percival, was a direct descendant who managed the Haleford family's labyrinths.

Originally, it was illegal for a single clan to own a labyrinth.

However, the story changed in regions where no "state" existed.

In deserts, oceans, and deep seas where state functions were lost or beyond control, laws were meaningless.

The Halefords controlled quite a few labyrinths in those lawless territories.

Therefore, the fact that he had worked with Percival meant...

──*Boom!*

A thunderous roar echoed from somewhere. Kate flinched and looked in that direction.

In the distance, a flame resembling a blue gas lamp flared up. A few seconds later, a wind carrying the scent of gunpowder swept over them.

It was only the beginning.

*Crash! Bang! Kaboom!*

Mines detonated in rapid succession. Multiple flashes of light burst as if filling the night sky. A thick cloud of smoke mixed with mana billowed upward.

"...Miss Kate. This is..."

Kim Du-gyeom blinked as he stared at the scene. Kate nodded quietly.

"It must be Mr. Seol Ha-woon's work."

*Rumble!*

The explosions, which had started as isolated points, suddenly connected into lines and swept across the entire area. Like a grand orchestral finale, a destructive roar gripped the horizon and shook it violently.

───!

Ruptures tearing up from all sides and relentless shockwaves decimated the enemies approaching the base.

This was likely the landscape painted by Seol Ha-woon's mana.

Or perhaps, the imagery engraved in his heart.

Staring at the intensely spreading blue lights, Kate murmured softly.

"For far too long..."

He was at the center of the battlefield.

She finally understood what Seol Ha-woon meant.

Thirty minutes ago.

Jayden was a warrior who claimed to be Shindra's "First Sword." He prided himself on being highly skilled.

Because of that, he wasn't pleased that Shindra had hired some random outsiders for this operation instead of relying solely on him. However, he figured he could just use this opportunity to imprint his true worth on her mind.

"Let's go."

"Yes, sir."

The subordinate in the driver's seat stepped on the gas. *Vroom.* Inside the jeep speeding over the rough terrain, Jayden toyed with his sword.

He felt excited.

"Boss. Can we really trust those swordsmen? They just look like pretty boys to me."

Dozens of jeeps drove off-road before scattering. It was a formation designed to disperse and approach the destination.

"Just think of them as a few extra hands. We can slaughter Seer's forces even without them. What about the scouts?"

"They've already arrived, apparently."

The scouts had been sent ahead. Having departed early to check for potential traps, they had successfully set up an outpost.

"Tsk. Why waste money paying them when this is going to be so easy..."

Jayden grumbled as he checked the rear-view camera. His brow furrowed.

"...What the? Where did those bastards go?"

"Huh?"

The subordinate looked at the screen as well. The vehicle was missing—the jeep carrying that pretty-faced mercenary.

The subordinate's face twisted in disgust.

"Damn it. They must have taken the down payment and run!"

"...Ha. What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?"

Jayden let out a hollow laugh. Meanwhile, the vehicle entered the mountain path.

*Rumble.*

The jeep climbed the mountain path with vigor. It was a detour route that went over the mountain.

"Should we report this for now?"

"No. Just leave it. No need to disrupt the operation over some useless punks."

*Rumble.*

The mountain range was quite high. It was exceptionally treacherous terrain, but this jeep was sturdy enough to survive rolling down a cliff.

"Boss, how many kills are you aiming for today?"

"How many? Who knows. I'll slice off every neck I see. But to put on a decent display of heads, I think I'll need at least twenty."

"Oh, twenty! As expected of you, Boss."

*Rumble.*

Just as the jeep was tearing through the dirt path of the mountain...

"I said twenty is the minimum, you idiot. I've been waiting for today. Once I impress the boss..."

──*BOOM!*

A violent pressure surged from the ground. A thunderous explosion slammed hard against the chassis.

A military jeep could easily withstand a moderate shock. Most of the occupants were also cyborgs equipped with prosthetic bodies. They weren't the type to die from mere gunpowder or a simple blast.

However.

*Creeeeaaak!*

This was an explosion reinforced by a magic formula. A power on an entirely different dimension from ordinary gunpowder crushed the jeep and its passengers into scrap metal.

*Bang! Boom! Crash! Kaboom!*

A chain reaction of explosions erupted like fireworks. Traps triggered from between trees, under bridges, beneath rocks, and within the gravel. The blast radius was vast, and they had been installed along almost every single path.

*Roar!*

They detonated simultaneously, sweeping through the area. A tidal wave of magic formulas engulfed the scattered jeeps.

Numerous vehicles were blasted into the air. The screech of metal grinding against metal rose like screams. Torn cybernetic limbs rolled on the ground, scattering blood and oil.

*Thud.*

Suddenly, Jayden's sword fell to the ground. Jayden didn't let go of his sword. His hand gripped the hilt tightly.

At least, his severed hand did.

A blood-soaked voice drifted through the jeep's radio.

Kang Hyun replied.

"Kang and Kim here. We survived."

"What... what the hell was that explosion just now?"

Kim Dong-ha ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still seemed unable to grasp the situation.

"We are moving forward."

Kang Hyun belatedly joined the main route. The scenery was utterly gruesome. Craters were gouged into various parts of the mountain, with vehicle debris, flesh, blood, and cybernetic parts strewn everywhere.

*Screeech...*

Kang Hyun drove a bit further before bringing the jeep to a halt.

"Hyun. Let's keep going straight."

Kim Dong-ha said. Kang Hyun turned to look at him.

"The places where the bombs already went off should be safe, right?"

Kim Dong-ha's argument wasn't entirely without merit. In fact, most people would probably think that way.

But.

"If you thought of that, Dong-ha..."

"...Huh?"

"...then it's definitely not safe."

If Kim Dong-ha could think of it, the enemy could too. It was an unfair game of rock-paper-scissors. When psychologically cornered, people would, with a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠high probability, move exactly as the enemy intended.

The best option was to refuse to play the game.

In other words, to wait.

The advance party caught in the explosion was only a third of their total forces. The rest would arrive as the rear guard, so they just had to let them go first.

Kang Hyun pulled the vehicle over to the shoulder.

Before long, another jeep arrived. Just as Kim Dong-ha had predicted, they chose the path that had already been scorched by the explosions...

───*BOOM!*

A second explosion erupted.

Various curses rang out over the radio, and there were even desperate cries specifically begging Kang Hyun's vehicle for help, but Kang Hyun remained calm.

He merely watched the exploding jeeps with indifferent eyes, waiting for his turn.