Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Tracks in the Wasteland
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'Damn...'
I cursed him inwardly but followed silently all the same.
After all, I'd teased my own rookies the exact same way back in the day.
Was this some kind of lineage passed down?
Everyone teased the same.
We pressed on through the barren wasteland, staying vigilant of our surroundings.
A crimson earth stretched out beneath a gray sky.
It was utterly bleak.
Miren-7.
A map I'd seen hundreds of times in the game, the staple stage for early scouting quests.
As we passed scattered rocks and withered plants, Ellen Squad Leader's voice came from up ahead.
"Full alert, everyone."
At her command, the squad members raised their rifles in unison.
"Check ahead."
One of the point men cautiously advanced, then soon raised his hand.
"Footprints."
At his words, the squad scanned all directions warily.
Footprints in the scouting zone meant one thing.
Bugs were nearby.
Ellen Squad Leader approached and examined the ground.
"Type 2."
Tension rippled through the squad at her words.
Type 1 Bugs were manageable, at least.
But Type 2s required staking your life on it, just like in the tutorial.
They were that threatening.
'If I could just use the gear I had from my vet days, Type 2s wouldn't be an issue—even Type 8s or 9s.'
Pushing aside the regret, I assessed our squad's firepower.
We could handle it.
Assuming just one Type 2 Bug.
But Bugs never traveled alone.
They moved in packs—that was their nature.
Now came the judgment call.
Wrap up scouting and head back, or push forward despite the risk?
About a minute passed.
"Advance carefully. Maintain formation."
She decided.
Push on.
When the squad leader chose, we squad members followed.
We were soldiers, after all.
"Understood."
Following the tracks while holding formation, more footprints appeared.
The expressions of every squad member, including the squad leader, hardened.
More footprints meant the nest was that much closer.
The bigger issue: multiple Type 2 Bug prints.
"Not just one Type 2."
"With our current strength, two or more could mean casualties."
"Hm..."
Damn.
Even in the game, this was the worst pattern for early scouting quests.
'Encountering Bugs near the nest event.'
Usually, retreat on sight was the right answer.
Of course, vets would bust out strategic weapons and smash the nest regardless, but our firepower was lacking.
"Ellen Squad Leader."
Platoon Sergeant Kallix spoke up then, carefully voicing his opinion.
"Wouldn't retreat be better?"
"Hm..."
While Ellen Squad Leader pondered,
I observed our surroundings.
Bug footprint patterns, depths, spacing—all of it.
Patterns from 30 months of gaming flashed in my mind.
And I reached a conclusion.
"Squad Leader."
She turned to me at my call.
"What is it, rookie?"
"The spacing says at least three Type 2 Bugs."
"I know that."
Yeah, any squad leader would.
But she wouldn't know this.
I pointed at the prints.
"Depths vary. This one's shallow. Likely a hatchling or injured."
"...Evidence?"
"The manual..."
"Not in the manual."
Platoon Sergeant Kallix narrowed his eyes and cut in.
But it really was in the manual.
Though people might picture thick tomes at "manual," the Galactic Empire's ran a whopping 15,515 pages.
In 8-point font.
"Page 6,651."
"You're insane. Memorized the whole thing?"
"Yes."
Page 6,651 was BS.
But it was in there, for real.
I remembered it.
No way to check the manual now, so it was a safe bluff.
Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant examined the prints closely, then looked at me in shock.
"Depths do differ."
"And more."
I scanned the terrain.
"Rocky area there. Bypass that way to skirt the nest and reach the target point."
"...You scouting solo at night or something?"
"Careful. Could be an officer in disguise."
"That'd make more sense."
They eyed me suspiciously, but what could they do?
It was all true.
"Satellite photos show it."
Squad Leader pulled up the map and zoomed; it proved everything.
All facts.
"Lucas, what's your real deal? Zero Unit?"
"Private First Class Lucas."
"Too knowledgeable for a PFC."
Platoon Sergeant Kallix nodded too.
"Zero Unit fits better."
"...No."
Zero Unit.
Galactic Empire's Special Ops Command direct secret force.
Elites only, handling high-difficulty infiltrations and assassinations.
"If I were Zero Unit..."
My eyes flashed as I swept over the squad leader and all members.
"Only I'd walk out of here alive."
Rookie Lucas's words chilled the air.
And for good reason: Zero Unit was the Empire's top-secret force.
Knowing of their existence was dangerous enough; learning one's identity...
Record purge.
All witnesses eliminated.
"Joking, right...?"
A spine-chilling moment.
Ellen Squad Leader asked in a tense voice.
"Of course a joke."
Lucas smirked in reply.
"Zero Unit wouldn't be here. Just a manual-studying rookie."
"You maniac..."
Someone sighed in relief.
"Nearly gave me a heart attack."
"This new rookie's nuts, confirmed."
"Agreed."
Squad grumbled, but tension eased.
Ellen relaxed her shoulders, scanning wider.
"Bypass as Lucas said. Formation change. Lucas, take point."
"Understood."
Lucas led; grumbles from behind quieted at Ellen's word.
"Shut up and follow. If you wanna live."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Lucas's neck prickled.
'I'm screwed.'
But what choice?
This path led to wipeout otherwise; he had to step up to survive.
The squad veered toward the rocks, away from the tracks.
Lucas guided like a pro, but the situation felt off.
Squad minds grew more tangled.
'What's this guy's real deal?'
A week-old rookie leading the squad?
Even a kid passerby would get laughed off.
Yet Lucas kept delivering spot-on info.
"Halt."
He raised a hand; squad froze.
"What's up?"
"Type 1 Bug behind that rock."
Squad eyed the distant rock—no sign.
But his confident tone couldn't be ignored.
"Evidence?"
"Footprint traces."
Ellen held out a hand; Platoon Sergeant handed over binoculars.
"Here."
"Got it."
She scanned: faint Bug prints visible.
"...How'd you spot this? Bare eyes can't from here."
"Good eyes."
"...Right."
She passed the binoculars back, gestured.
"Quiet takedown."
"Understood."
Platoon Sergeant drew his Ultrasonic Cutter, dashed to the rock.
Close in, Bug cry echoed.
"Kieeeek..."
Unaware, it idled—till Kallix sliced its neck.
"Ki..."
Thud.
It collapsed without a full scream.
[Type 1 Bug defeated]
Experience +10
Lucas grinned satisfied.
'EXP without lifting a finger? Sweet deal.'
Unaware of his thoughts, Ellen's face hardened more.
'Real deal?'
But pros don't show it.
She'd investigate later. For now:
"Keep guiding."
"Understood."
Following Lucas's route, smooth sailing.
"12 o'clock, big rock—three Type 1 Bugs."
"Confirmed."
[Type 1 Bug defeated]
Experience +10
[Type 1 Bug defeated]
Experience +10
[Type 1 Bug defeated]
Experience +10
Such smooth scouting was a first; squad faces showed bewilderment.
All but one.
'Nice, EXP farming easy.'
Lucas inwardly cheered, pocketing gains effortlessly.
As a result,
they reached the hilltop scouting point.
"Target point."
"Full alert. Check below."
Squad approached the edge at Ellen's order.
Gazing down, every face—including hers—froze.
"What the hell."
A Bug nest.
Bigger than the one they'd skirted.
Bugs swarmed around it.
At least ten Type 2s.
Countless Type 1s crawling everywhere.
"...Company-level op needed. We shoot and retreat."
Kallix pulled his camera, started snapping.
Click.
Click.
Shutter echoed in the silent wastes.
"Shots done."
"Good. Return to base."
"Yes."
As squad turned quietly,
Chill.
Every back prickled identically.
Only one knew the truth.
'We're screwed.'
Lucas alone.
This was the game's 0.01% boss spawn event.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
A massive shadow emerged from the cave.
Five meters tall, eight arms, three horns atop its head—a Bug.
Lucas muttered at the sight.
"Type 3 Bug..."