Elite Brigade (2)
Elite Brigade (2)
It felt like Yun Seol-ha and I had just set up a newlywed home.
The moment I thought about spending a pleasant time with her before breakfast, yesterday's rules explained by Kamyu came to mind.
I had to go to work.
Except for the security battalion stationed on the surface 365 days a year, all other brigade members must report to military facilities on the surface by 9 AM. They're notoriously strict about tardiness-failure to comply could result in forced discharge.
"What time is it now?"
"8:10 AM..., Ah! Mr. Kelrot, I'm sorry. I should've woken you up earlier. Let's eat quickly and go."
I shoved toast into my mouth and left the house.
After all the trouble to enlist, I didn't want to get kicked out over something like tardiness.
As I was about to summon X to fly to the surface at max speed, Kamyu's warning resurfaced in my mind.
Damn, she said combat suits are prohibited in residential zones.
"X, display the shortest route to the train station. How long until we reach the surface?"
[Factoring in the Qualified One and Yun Seol-ha's speed: 10 minutes walk to Underground Train Station, 30 minutes by train to Surface Station, 5 minutes walk to Attendance Recorder. Total estimated time: 45 minutes.]
With 50 minutes left, we had a 5-minute buffer. A dangerously tight margin where any delay meant lateness.
I scooped up Yun Seol-ha in a princess carry. The stares of bystanders prickled my skin. Yun Seol-ha's face turned beet red.
"M-Mr. Kelrot, can't I just run alongside you?"
"We might be late then."
Yun Seol-ha opened her mouth to protest but gave up, burying her face in my chest as she mumbled shyly.
"Okay. But this is embarrassing every time-let's wake up an hour earlier tomorrow."
"Hehe, an hour's enough time for a quick round."
"Huh?"
Without answering, I tightened my grip and sprinted toward the underground station at full speed. Having reached superhuman levels, I arrived far quicker than X's estimate.
A streamlined train waited on the rails. Staring at it, a question struck me.
How does this thing reach the surface?
When Kamyu brought me down to the underground sector, we'd taken a hyper-speed elevator. Shouldn't there at least be a hyper-speed escalator otherwise?
While inspecting the tracks, I noticed something peculiar-they bent vertically several hundred meters ahead.
"X, is this safe?"
[Affirmative.]
Hmm... Well, if it were dangerous, people wouldn't be boarding.
Holding Yun Seol-ha's hand, I squeezed into the packed train car.
The stifling heat of bodies, the sensation of being pressed into a human mass-it reminded me of the discomfort of rush-hour subways in my past life.
"You okay, Seol-ha?"
"I'm fine. What about you, Mr. Kelrot?"
"I'm used to this."
Yun Seol-ha wore a puzzled expression at my last remark.
A female announcer's voice flowed from the ceiling speakers.
"Activating stabilization system. Departing now."
The scenery outside moved, yet I felt no vibration. Soon, the view blurred past at terrifying speed before the train shot vertically upward like a rollercoaster.
Yun Seol-ha stared wide-eyed at the window before exclaiming with childlike excitement:
"Mr. Kelrot, this train is amazing! How is this possible?"
"Probably another one of Arpien's creations."
Arpien-the bastard who'd spread advanced technology across Killing World. This had to be his handiwork too.
"Arpien?"
"Yeah, Arpien."
"Who's Arpien?"
"Huh..."
Guess the bastard isn't famous. Civilians probably don't know who founded Killing World.
"He's a renowned scientist in Killing World."
"Ah~, I see! You're not just strong but also smart, Mr. Kelrot! You're incredible!"
Yun Seol-ha clasped her hands, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she gazed at me.
"It's nothing. Don't flatter me."
Swish.
Huh?
A rough palm slid disgustingly along my thigh.
An accident?
Swiiish-swish.
The large, coarse hand groped my thigh again before worming toward my inner thigh. This was clearly intentional.
A molester.
Since I'm wearing pants, he can't go further. Not worth getting angry over some pervert.
I hoped he'd grope a bit and leave, but he seemed to take my stillness as consent. His hands crept upward before openly kneading my buttocks.
His touch grew increasingly violent. When he squeezed my ass like dough, I involuntarily gasped.
"Ngh."
"Mr. Kelrot? What's wrong?"
The crowded train prevented Yun Seol-ha from noticing my predicament.
"Nothing. Just hiccups."
Passengers pushed between us, separating me from Seol-ha.
"Wait for me at the front when we arrive!"
"Okay, Mr. Kelrot!"
Even as I spoke, the bastard kept kneading my ass like dough. My glutes relaxed, sending tingling shocks to my clitoris. Beyond sexual pleasure, the massage felt oddly relieving, so I let him continue.
It's just over clothes anyway.
Ziiip.
"Huh?"
I froze at the sound of my zipper lowering. A gravelly male voice hissed in my left ear:
"Liked my hands? I'll make you feel even better if you stay still."
Something repulsive prodded my buttocks.
"Leave now, and I'll forgive you."
"Kekekeke, seeing a scared bitch act tough is irresistible. I'll train you as Oist Mercenary Battalion's new whore."
"Mercenary Battalion?"
Turning, I saw only his chest. Looking up revealed a face scarred with knife marks and crimson eyes. This familiar presence-it's Oist.
Molested on my first commute day, and by Oist Mercenary Battalion no less.
Memories of being brutalized by Oist bastards resurfaced, twisting my face into a grimace.
He laughed triumphantly, mistaking my expression for fear.
"Stay still if you don't want your life ruined here. I'll pump your cute little vagina full of honey."
I'd heard enough.
I interlaced my fingers with both hands groping me. He asked, bewildered:
"What're you doing?"
"I'm not interested in weaker men. Do whatever you want if you overpower me."
"Kekekeke, feisty bitch. Want to be crushed by strength? Fine, try twisting my hand."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
Craaack! Snap!
Though his wrist was four times thicker than mine, breaking it required zero effort. His hand bent backward until knuckles met forearm.
He stared dumbfounded at his shattered wrist.
Too shocked to feel pain?
I twisted it the opposite way. The sound of splintering bones echoed.
Craaackle! Crunch!
"GAAAAAAAAAH-!!!"
Only then did he scream horribly, trying to pull away-impossible for a weakling.
"Hey, thought you could handle me?"
"Guhk! Guoooooh!"
As he tried to kick, I rotated his hand 180 degrees.
Crrrrrunch!
"GRAAAAAAAAH!!"
He collapsed writhing, wrist twisted grotesquely. I kicked his gut with non-lethal force until Yun Seol-ha rushed over to stop me.
Our train car had become a warzone. At the surface station, armed soldiers awaited.
They stared blankly at the Oist mercenary lying unconscious in his own piss and me, struggling to comprehend the scene. After hearing the station staff's CCTV report, they loaded us into a vehicle.
"Mr. Kelrot, why did you do that?"
I didn't want to admit I'd been molested.
"That bastard was targeting you. I sensed something off-he was about to touch you. Had no choice."
"Mr. Kelrot..., you did this... for me?"
Seeing her tearful, moved expression, I sighed internally.
When did I start lying this effortlessly?
As I peeled off her clinging form, I glared at the Oist mercenary, signaling him to stay silent. He looked ready to expose my lie, but when I mimed wrist-twisting, he bowed his head.
Bastard, why'd you touch someone minding their own business?
Soon, we arrived at Oist Mercenary Battalion HQ. Guided by soldiers, we entered the Battalion Commander's office.
The swivel chair spun around, revealing a familiar face. Writhing tentacles swayed snake-like behind him as he spoke gleefully:
"Krkrk, here for revenge over yesterday?"