Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Reawakening
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When the Red Orc Shaman fell, the monsters freed from its brainwashing began to rampage.
The creatures that had stood side by side just moments before now tore at each other, the scene quickly descending into chaos.
*I need to get out of here, fast.*
Elatra's blessing was about to run out.
But I didn't have nearly enough mana to break through the swarming horde of monsters.
I wanted to deploy stone spheres in every direction to clear a path, but just maintaining the Golem Armor was pushing my limits.
Just then.
"Chwiik!"
The Red Orcs, having lost their great chieftain, charged toward Do-jae.
"Get out of my way!"
I needed to leave immediately, but they kept delaying me.
In the end.
*Crack—.*
*Crumble—.*
My mana could no longer keep up with the Golem Armor's regeneration.
Gaps began to appear all over it, yet I continued to hunt the Red Orcs. But they just trampled over the corpses of their fallen comrades and thrust their swords and axes at me.
"Chwiiit!"
Seizing a moment when Do-jae's concentration wavered, a Red Orc stabbed at his back with a sword.
But damn it!
A fallen Red Orc grabbed Do-jae's leg.
*Damn...*
Do-jae staggered, losing his balance.
And just as the Red Orc's crude sword was about to pierce him.
*Thwip—!*
*Thud—!*
An arrow from somewhere flew in and blew the Red Orc's head apart.
Then, a woman's voice was heard.
- *Consider yourself fortunate to have been freed from the mind's shackles.*
Do-jae glanced around.
But there was no way a voice could be heard so clearly amidst the monstrous screams.
"Who's there!"
Do-jae shouted with all his might.
Was the fight not over yet?
- *However, you are an enemy of the Salreuma. There will be no mercy the next time we meet.*
*Flinch—.*
Salreuma.
Remembering the name, Do-jae looked in the direction the voice's energy was coming from.
A gray-skinned individual, who appeared to be female, was moving forward, protected by a group.
She turned back, and their eyes met.
- *Don't even think about following us. I've warned you. There won't be a next time.*
Do-jae could only watch silently as the gray-skinned people departed.
The blessing's time had already run out, and the backlash was beginning to set in.
The worst-case scenario was unfolding.
"Hngh."
His body was stiffening, turning hard.
Do-jae had become like a stone statue, unable to even twitch a finger.
At the same time, a wave of exhaustion washed over him.
Drowsiness overcame him, and the world grew hazy.
"Chwiik."
"Chwichichik."
The Red Orcs closed in on him.
*But I'm so sleepy...*
Do-jae's eyes began to close.
Isn't the need for sleep said to be the strongest of the three basic human desires?
Finally, his eyes started to shut.
As his mind grew fuzzy, the snorting of the Red Orcs began to sound like a lullaby.
"Lee...!"
A familiar man's voice reached him.
The voice grew closer and louder.
"Lee Do...!"
Mustering what little strength he had, he slightly opened his eyes.
Do-jae smiled upon seeing the man's face.
And when the final words came.
"Mr. Lee Do-jae!"
Do-jae fell into a deep sleep, relieved.
***
"Hey, how many did you get?"
"I must've hunted at least fifty, right?"
"Bullshit. You?"
"What's wrong with me! How many did *you* get, then?"
"Me? I got about two hundred, I'd say."
"Pfft. Give me a break. Aren't you the one laying it on a bit thick?"
"What'd you say, punk?"
Jang Pil-ho and Lee Ji-woong boasted back and forth, chattering loudly.
Yesterday, after the Red Orc suppression in Sector 3 ended, the Chilgok Unit members returned to their barracks late at night.
Exhausted and weary, they passed a quiet night without a word to one another.
And today.
Under Captain Kim Hwan-soo's orders, the day was designated a special day off. After a hearty breakfast, the members of Squad 3 were relaxing and chatting.
"Hey, Hyun-jae."
Song Ji-yoon approached quietly and nudged him.
Yook Hyun-jae, who had been reading, looked up at her and closed his book.
"What is it?"
"Look at those two. Aren't they hilarious?"
"What? What about them?"
"Just listen. The two guys who were the most cautious on the field are now bragging about how great they were. Hehehe, what a cute pair. But you know..."
Song Ji-yoon settled down on Yook Hyun-jae's bed.
Sensing that an endless stream of chatter was about to begin, Yook Hyun-jae took a bottle of water from his personal mini-fridge.
He placed it in front of her, knowing it was a foregone conclusion that she would soon get thirsty and ask for water.
"Wow, that's our Yook Hyun-jae! Thanks."
"Yeah, so what did you want to talk about?"
"What were you listening to? Anyway, my mom called this morning and you won't believe what she said to me..."
Meanwhile, Son Jeong-gyu approached Kim Jun-seo.
Kim Jun-seo was struggling to apply ointment to his back.
"Jun-seo, how are you feeling?"
"I'm doing great. I really thought I was going to die, but that high-grade stuff is on another level."
"Still, you should rest up for a while. I'll put the ointment on for you. Come here."
"Huh? It's fine. It's almost healed."
"No back talk. Take off your shirt."
"Huh? Really?"
Son Jeong-gyu glared.
Kim Jun-seo shuffled over awkwardly and lifted his shirt.
"As long as you keep applying the medicine, it shouldn't leave a scar."
"A scar or two is fine. Isn't it proof that I fought with everything I had?"
"Quiet, you. You're getting married soon. I'm sure your wife will love that."
"Hehe. Yujin says she likes me no matter what I look like."
*Smack—.*
"Ahhh!"
"There. All done."
"Hnngh. Thank you."
Son Jeong-gyu watched Kim Jun-seo with a satisfied expression.
If it hadn't been for the high-grade potion Do-jae had given him, they wouldn't even be having this conversation.
Son Jeong-gyu turned his gaze to Do-jae, who was sleeping soundly.
*Thank you, Squad Leader.*
The other squads had suffered considerable losses.
Tragically, there were fatalities, and a large number of severely injured as well.
But Squad 3, and only Squad 3, had survived without any major casualties.
It was all thanks to Do-jae.
*And yet he himself hasn't woken up. What could have happened...*
Just then, Son Jeong-gyu's eyes widened.
He then shouted to the boisterous squad members.
"The Squad Leader is awake!"
Startled by Son Jeong-gyu's sudden shout, several squad members jumped to their feet.
Realizing what he'd said, they all gathered around Do-jae's bed.
"Squad Leader!"
"Leader?"
"Are you all right?"
Do-jae slowly sat up.
He then slowly looked around the room.
Taking in the situation, he swallowed dryly and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Can someone explain what happened..."
*Thud—.*
Lee Ji-woong pushed through the others and gripped the bed frame.
Then, as if he'd been waiting for this moment, he started talking a mile a minute.
"So, what happened was, yesterday we started fighting those orc bastards at the Bravo Line, right? Then suddenly the sky went all dark. Wow... It was daytime just a second ago, and then it felt like night? That's when I knew. We're screwed! Then they all started going crazy and... Mmph!"
"My apologies, Squad Leader. You must be disoriented after just waking up."
Son Jeong-gyu clamped a large hand over Lee Ji-woong's mouth.
Then he pointed to Kang Eun-taek and said.
"Eun-taek, you explain."
"Yes, I'll do it."
*Swoosh—.*
Kang Eun-taek stepped forward, his hair fluttering.
Lee Ji-woong coughed and glared at Son Jeong-gyu, but everyone ignored him and waited for Kang Eun-taek to speak.
"I'll start from the point when the other squad leaders returned to the Bravo Line after the Captain's radio call."
Kang Eun-taek began his story right around the time Do-jae had met with Altein.
The squad leaders, except for Kang Young-chan, returned, and the battle between the Red Orcs and the Chilgok Unit began.
The Red Orcs that descended with the black clouds were much stronger than before.
Each one was a struggle to deal with, and the Chilgok Unit members fought with all their might against the strengthened foes.
The golems had also suddenly vanished at some point.
It was such a difficult battle that they felt they would have been annihilated if the squad leaders hadn't returned.
Fortunately, the situation improved when Kim Hwan-soo arrived a short while later.
They were puzzled that Kang Young-chan had arrived unconscious, but Kim Hwan-soo's presence alone was a massive boost to their strength.
That was when it happened.
The black clouds suddenly lifted, and the dark smoke enveloping the Red Orcs vanished.
The Chilgok Unit, now with the upper hand, began to rapidly suppress the Red Orcs.
Once victory was certain, Kim Hwan-soo issued a new order.
- *Squad 3 Leader. Go rescue Lee Do-jae!*
At those words, every single member of Squad 3 immediately ran toward the place where the black clouds had originated.
However, though Squad 3 had been the first to leave, the first to arrive was the leader of Squad 2, Shim Young-jin.
Shim Young-jin rescued Do-jae from among the monsters, and the suppression was finished off by Squad 3 and the other squads who arrived shortly after.
"After finishing the battle late into the night, we carefully transported you, our fallen Squad Leader, back to the barracks. We've been waiting for you to wake up, and it's only now, around noon, that we're able to tell you this."
Do-jae, having listened intently to Kang Eun-taek's explanation, thought for a moment and then got up.
"Huh? Squad Leader, you should rest a bit more."
The members of Squad 3 looked at Do-jae with concern.
But in Do-jae's eyes, they were the ones who looked more pitiable.
"As you can see, I'm fine. Not a scratch on me."
"Then where are you going?"
"Hey, hey, the Squad Leader probably needs the restroom. Let's go back to our spots so he can go in peace."
Kang Eun-taek asked, and Song Ji-yoon answered.
Do-jae chuckled at them, then said as he left the barracks.
"I'm going to see the Captain."
"Ah..."
***
*Knock, knock—.*
"Come in."
*Creek—.*
Do-jae opened the door to the captain's office and stepped inside.
Kim Hwan-soo, sitting at his desk buried in a pile of documents, didn't even glance at Do-jae.
"I've heard the gist of the situation."
"You have? Good. Saves me the trouble of explaining."
*Scribble, scribble—.*
"There's something I want to ask you, Captain."
"What is it? I'm busy, so make it quick."
Kim Hwan-soo put down his pen and looked at Do-jae.
He seemed to have something he wanted to say as well.
"Squad 1 Leader... What exactly is Squad Leader Kang Young-chan?"
"Hmm. I understand the intent behind your question, but am I not your superior? I think you should start by telling me what you know."
"Yes, I'll tell you my side first."
Do-jae explained about the Red Orc Shaman.
The conversation they'd had, the aura he'd felt from the creature.
And about Kang Young-chan's existence.
"A Reawakened."
"Pardon?"
"Kang Young-chan is a Reawakened."
Kim Hwan-soo stated that Kang Young-chan was a Reawakened.
But what did Kang Young-chan being a Reawakened have to do with the Red Orc Shaman?
It wasn't as if the Red Orc Shaman had made Kang Young-chan reawaken.
"The public thinks of reawakening as a stroke of heavenly luck. That one day, you just suddenly reawaken. But that's not always the case."
"Are you saying there's a method to reawaken?"
"That's right. There is a way to make an ordinary Awakened ascend to a higher level. And Kang Young-chan used that method to go from C-rank to S-rank."
Do-jae was slightly shocked.
He thought he might have found a clue as to why he had become so strong.
"What is it?"
"Do you want to know?"
"Yes."
Kim Hwan-soo paused.
And then he uttered a single sentence.
"Then, after the Kaesong suppression is over, you'll come with me to the Suppression Corps Headquarters."