Chapter 105 – Sample Collection
[Is it possible to do business in a place like this?]
Artemis asked.
We are standing in front of a four-story motel built in Gangchon.
The fixing bracket on one side of the horizontal sign broke off, leaving it hanging vertically and shaking. There are many broken windows, and some places are scorched or have collapsed walls.
[There are no specialties, and it is not a tourist destination. You come and stay in this empty place with nothing?]
“It’s better because it’s a rural area with nothing.”
She still seems vague.
“Artemis, it is not good to approach human ecology only through dictionary definitions. The basic usage of lodging facilities is to come to sleep after playing, but some people say that sleeping itself becomes play. Please refer to the slang section under ‘Janda’.”
Artemis was silent for a second.
[If that’s the case, there’s no need to come all the way here. It’s a waste of time and a waste of money.]
This innocent girl seems to lack understanding of the dark side of humanity.
Even though he was able to skillfully analyze records of biological experiments that violated human rights.
“That’s because it’s a relationship that shouldn’t be noticed. It feels like criminal organizations are smuggling in the middle of the desert.”
[… Yuck!]
It seemed that her thoughts finally approached adultery.
“I’m not saying that all people who come to places like this are like that. Anyway, are you sure there are walkers?”
[The drone that was scouting discovered something moving beyond the window.]
The lower floors are slowly being covered with vines.
[Let’s go in.]
It hasn’t been long since it rained, so puddles are forming here and there.
When she steps on the puddle in front of her, her ankles are submerged in water. But she didn’t care. Because it’s not my foot.
Through linking with the VR machine, I went on an external expedition possessed by a predator robot.
‘Link the VR machine and robot controls. So that you can control it remotely and realistically.’
Despite the impromptu request, Artemis completed her programming in time for a cup of tea.
More time was spent moving the VR machine to the central control room and installing it.
Cheolpuk.
I’ve stepped in the puddle several times, but I don’t feel like I’m getting wet.
The hand in front of her shook slightly due to the strong wind, but there was no feeling of being hit by the wind.
[It is difficult to embody the senses. VR exploration isn’t going to end just this time, right? It would be too wasteful to maintain sensory sensors on combat robots.]
It’s just as she said.
The most expensive part of the second-generation Android accessories is the sensory sensor.
There are models released without sensory sensors to cut costs, but the really rich don’t even pay attention to those models.
When a woman is fucking herself, she makes her moans and when she actually moans with pleasure.
This difference made a huge difference in satisfaction for men.
Going back to the original story, attaching valuable sensory sensors to combat robots is very wasteful in terms of maintenance.
Artemis, who is a frugal housekeeper, would not be willing at all.
[But if you really want…]
Nevertheless, as I continued to look at her hand shaking in the wind, she spoke in a voice that seemed to make up her mind.
Like a single mother who sees her child looking at expensive Legos through the window on Christmas.
It makes me laugh when I think about how much she must have measured and measured resources and budget for just that one word.
“Are you okay. Because I didn’t go on a picnic. “I’m trying to learn how to fight against them, so this is enough.”
My hands open and close according to my will. Every finger movement is natural, without an error of 0.1 second.
“It’s even better than I expected, isn’t it? “I need to reflect on how I ignored VR training in the past.”
[Then! Who made it?]
Even though it was an expedition that did not require my involvement, there was a reason why I came out in the form of a robot.
After experiencing the bitter taste of the Bloodtech expedition, I felt the need for more practical experience.
Of course, meeting the giant sea anemone monster there was a situation that was almost like a natural disaster.
The important thing is that we need to further develop our capabilities to deal with unexpected variables.
I pride myself on being a veteran soldier who did what he was supposed to do in actual combat, but that only applies when dealing with humans.
In this new war, I am just a kid who has just been commissioned as a second lieutenant.
I tore off the green vines blocking the motel’s front door and grabbed the handle.
The door opens with a creaking sound that sounds like it might break.
Although it is daytime, it is dark inside.
The two exploration teams that had dispatched together came in behind them. Both are armed with 12.7 mm.
I was holding a fully automatic shotgun. It is a unique weapon that has two magazines: one main magazine that goes diagonally from under the barrel and one auxiliary magazine that goes into the butt.
Depending on the battle situation, up to 4 types of bullets can be fired, and usually 3 types of bullets can be fired for reliability.
Not to mention regular walkers, it shows excellent coping skills even against small variants.
I’ve fired assault rifles countless times during my military service, but I’ve never handled a shotgun much.
Afterward, you must become familiar with the actual use of various weapons in consideration of unexpected situations during the expedition.
“It looks like there were refugees staying.”
There were pieces of broken and dismantled wooden furniture scattered around, and there were traces of a bonfire being lit in the central lobby. It looks like someone has already robbed the first floor.
[Look at the counter.]
Supplies were placed on the counter. These are toilet paper, a razor, a can of lotion, several cans of canned food, and other small daily necessities. It is not a large amount.
‘We didn’t have to take all of this. Good luck.’
It was a note written on the counter, and it was written in neat, sharp handwriting.
Materials were organized neatly rather than thrown around in a disorderly manner. As if hoping it would be useful to someone who visits this place in the future.
The entrance to the stairs was blocked by a barricade with a vending machine and a desk.
Use a black pen on the vending machine
‘There are zombies inside! ‘Never open it!’
It is written kindly.
Unlike the note on the counter, it has round and cute writing.
“I’m not a zombie.”
It definitely brings a smile to my face.
“If the group that went here is still alive, I really want to meet them.”
I felt like my mind was being purified when I saw these traces, rather than just records containing hopeless or ugly content.
I cleared the barricade and went inside.
“Keeeeek-!”
Before I had even walked that far, a walker came out to meet me. It seems that the noise generated during the process of putting the barricade back in place was the problem.
Without any further thought, I fired at the upper body of the running walker.
Some of the iron balls flew into his face, crushed his eyes, and played a game of ping-pong inside his skull.
The metal balls that flew to his forehead took the beanie he was wearing and smashed it into the hallway wall.
Inside the beanie, the torn scalp along with the hair remain.
Whisk.
Walker’s head slowly fell to its knees, its smooth white skull exposed. He looks miserable but somehow funny.
Starting with this, cries were heard everywhere.
Bang!
One of the guest room doors, which was half open, was thrown open as if it would break. What jumped out from there were two naked male and female walkers.
This poor couple was thrown to the ground after being hit by dozens of awls.
Because she was naked, the power of the pellets seemed even more noticeable.
It is definitely more convenient than an assault rifle when dealing with regular walkers that attack in close combat.
“Keueeek-!”
A room opens, and another guy comes running. He is a male worker wearing a dark blue business suit.
The tie is almost completely undone and dangles like a rapper’s necklace, but it’s still hanging around his neck.
Boom!
While running at full speed, he slipped in a puddle of blood spilled by the couple who died earlier.
“Krrrr-.”
After struggling on the ground, he raises his head and glares at me. A shotgun is pointed in front of his forehead.
The slug bullet loaded in the auxiliary magazine on the buttplate was fired.
Pump!
The sight of his eyeballs being pushed out by the pressure of the cap of his head bursting is as unrealistic as a scene from a cartoon.
[The location was marked based on the direction and volume of the walkers’ screams.]
There was a red dot on the minimap. This mapping is possible thanks to the motel’s unique layout of rooms and the habits of those who do not know silence.
I slowly pass through the hallway in a hip shooting stance as if I were out for a walk.
Now there is only one room left with walkers on the second floor.
Thud! Boom!
A pounding sound was heard from inside the locked door.
Kwasik!
When a slug bullet was fired at the doorknob, pieces of wood flew and a hole was created that could fit a fist.
Bang!
When I kicked the door, the walker just beyond hit it and fell out.
Inside are two dressed walkers, a man and a woman.
The male walker who had just run out was estimated to be in his 50s or older, and the female walker who was now running towards him appears to have been in her 20s.
“Keeeeek!”
He kicked the female walker in the stomach, sending her flying up to the wall, and fired a series of bullets at the male walker who stood up.
Clink!
The guy, who happened to be perfectly aligned with the window, was pushed back by a barrage of bullets and fell through the window.
“Kkieee-“
The moment the female walker pinned against the wall turned her head this way, her head was shattered by a 12.7 mm bullet.
“Take samples.”
At my command, Hangi stood guard in the hallway and the other Hangi collected body tissue from the mouth and fingernails using the sampler brought.
When I secured all the samples on the 2nd floor and tried to return to the stairs, all the walkers from the 3rd and 4th floors came down and blocked the end of the hallway.
“Keueeeeek!”
The walker at the front sees us and screams. They lined up and ran towards us. Thankfully.
The kinetic energy of a 12.7 mm bullet, close to 20,000 joules, passed through all the flesh in the same path.
Pow!
High explosive shells fired from a shotgun cut off all connected parts wherever they hit.
Exploded heads, torn limbs, blood and intestines poured into the hallway, creating a chaos.
One walker had been hit in the nose by a high-explosive bomb that had blown over her lower teeth, and her tongue was sticking out of her throat like a mullet, as if it had hit a wrong nerve.
Even with such a gruesome sight, I am not very impressed.
Have we become too accustomed to the battlefield? Or is it just that they treat it like pork and beef because they consider it to be something other than a human?
I don’t know which side my change is.
After securing the sample, the same work was continued on the 3rd and 4th floors.
I also packed some useful supplies, and except for some that needed to be reverse engineered, I placed the rest side by side on the counter.
[Are there any survivors who can pick them up?]
Artemis seemed to be acting senselessly.
“It’s just like throwing a coin into a fountain. It’s self-satisfaction.”
[Hmph.]
When we got out of the motel, one of the crew members went to finish off the walker that had crashed earlier, and I headed toward the APC.
“Meow.”
And then I found a cat curled up near the wheel.
The yellow-furred cat was looking at us with a puzzled expression. It is a face that is a mixture of joy, caution, and confusion.
[It looks like an object that was touched by a person?]
Did he sense the existence of humans and hope that they would take him?
I heard that there are often stray cats that try to reverse choice as if hitchhiking, aiming for a comfortable cat life. I never dreamed I would experience a situation like this.
“Meow.”
The guy seems to be as surprised as he is. Robots came out instead of humans.
At first glance, it looks similar to a human, but it smells like metal and plastic, and its face is also different.
‘Should I go and rub myself on the shoes? Or should I run away quickly?’
I could see him desperately contemplating which of the two choices was right, risking his life.
Pump!
After hearing the sound of a skull breaking in the other corner, the crew joined in.
I stood like a statue and gave the cat enough time to think.
[How long are you going to wait?]
As the standoff dragged on, Artemis, who was worse off, spoke.
As he took a few steps towards the cat, he became restless and finally made a decision.
He ran towards the field.
“It’s a shame. If you obeyed me, you would have been given a warm place to sleep and food.”
[Were you interested in cats?]
Artemis said in surprise. There was a bit of dissatisfaction in her voice.
“No, not really. “I like dogs.”
Although I am not interested in pets, I have a good impression of dogs since I was deployed to the military and saw a lot of help from military dogs.
[Yes? After all, dogs are good. How loyal! Good job.]
Artemis said happily.
“The reason I wanted to take that cat was just a desire for nature. There are ducks and dogs in our city. “I thought it would be nice to see cats added as well.”
An ecosystem where various plants and animals come together. It heals the human heart in itself.
Since going outside is restricted, I also want to create a similar feeling to a park in the city. Even if it’s not to the zoo.
That’s how synchronization ended.
Chwii Iik.
As soon as the VR machine opened, my five senses, which had been blurry, became clear.
“It’s cold.”
The floor I stepped on was colder than I imagined. The chill I feel on my bare feet gives me goosebumps.
[Great job. And take your feet off.]
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Rose, who was waiting with Artemis and the medical robot as her attendant, said.
She is wearing a suit today as well, with black stockings and shoes.
Artemis assured that there would be no side effects, but she did not stop Rose from following FM procedures according to regulations.
[Jinsu, I don’t welcome your dirty feet. Even though it is cleaned every day, there are still countless germs on the control room floor. Is my generosity in turning a blind eye to the sweat secreting from your feet not enough?]
The serving robot brought a square medical tray containing alcohol-soaked towels and slippers.
“Ah!”
Rose caught her breath.
He then intervened in front of the medical robot that was trying to receive the tray and almost extorted it.
“I will take care of you.”
She knelt next to me as I sat in the VR machine.
I politely supported my feet with one hand and carefully wiped them with the towel I held in my other hand.
The cool touch of rose, the touch of cold alcohol, and the refreshing sensation as it volatilizes are pleasant.
“Thank you.”
The coldness of alcohol touches her feet and her warm smile touches my face.
After Rose put her slippers on for the last time, she took two steps back.
[How about the actual VR experience?]
“It’s perfect. It feels like a combination of only the strengths of training and actual combat. “What about other exploration parties?”
A total of 6 vehicles were involved in this mining operation.
[Team 2 is already returning, and the other 3 teams will complete the mission within 1 hour. There was some damage, but it did not result in inoperability.]
“There was damage?”
Artemis sent a video to the PDA.
“Oh, this guy.”
This is a variant seen in the Bloodtech clinical laboratory. I still remember the muscles compressed to the limit, the long limbs, and the sight of moving upside down on the ceiling.
An exploration team that was collecting body tissue while clearing out walkers in the park was ambushed by this guy.
It approached in an instant, moving from tree to tree like a monkey, then grabbed a thick branch and rotated 360 degrees like a gymnast.
Using that centrifugal force, he stepped on the tree branch until it broke, and then was shot like a stone loaded into a slingshot. Towards the exploration team.
If the accompanying drone had not fired quickly enough to destroy one of his shoulders, there would have been considerable damage.
That guy managed to get close and blew off the expedition member’s chin.
If the hand, which is large enough to hold a basketball, was turned slightly up or down, it could have been damaged and stopped working.
Tok tok tok.
I tapped my index finger on the screen that was collecting body tissue from a dead long-armed mutant.
[Now, I have to pay attention to latitude when traveling in areas with trees or buildings.]
“That’s bad news.”
The more things you have to worry about on the battlefield, the more loopholes there are. This means that your vision and nerves are dispersed.
“Well, it’s better to walk around with a headache than to suffer without knowing.”
It’s better to have a headache than to have a hole in your head. This is my credo that I learned while fighting in the field.
