Chapter 20 – Variables
To begin with, the final battle ended without a hitch.
A few hours after the first battle.
We managed to wipe out all the beasts inside our area without hurting anyone.
No matter how much I searched with No. 2’s magic, I couldn’t detect the beast’s reaction anymore.
When this fact was announced, the members of the crew cheered loudly.
There was no need to dry them, so I held them in moderation and said.
“From now on, we will return to the main unit.
After all the hunting team has withdrawn, the personnel of the main unit will finally
Going to check
If there is a group that has a problem, you have to go to support, so pray that there is no such group.
And… I’ve had a lot of trouble so far.
Everyone followed along well.
Let’s work hard until the restoration is over.”
“Kyaa… You’re giving me lip service for the last time.
I’m about to shed tears of emotion, Captain!”
The guys who heard me whistled and chattered.
Anyway, I can’t say anything serious.
I chuckled.
“Shut up!
Stop chatting and get going.
#2, be careful and don’t stop detecting until the moment the return is over.”
“Captain, are you embarrassed?
Please don’t do that and praise me more.
Don’t compliments make even whales dance?”
“I’m bad at spitting out cheesy comments like me.
Never do it twice
Stop talking and follow me!”
I began to return with the members of the crew who booed and chased after me.
It was dark when I entered, so I couldn’t see well without lights, but the sun was rising before I knew it.
My eyes were dazzled by the light of dawn pouring down in front of my eyes.
I frowned and took out a magic tool for communication from my pocket and manipulated the frequency to connect with the unit commander.
[We are returning after completing the 5th hunting mission.
No injuries or deaths.]
When I spoke into the walkie-talkie, after a moment of crackling, a voice that sounded like a staff member from headquarters replied.
[Check the 5th hunting group.
We have not received any support requests at this time, so please return immediately.]
“Did you hear?
You just have to go back.”
When I told them, the members of the crew made an uproar.
“This is the fuck!”
“I’m going to go and make one last cake.”
“Are you thinking about that all the time?”
I’m sure the work will be done well, and the day will be bright.
The debris on the way back has been largely cleared, and the return step is light.
It was a refreshing feeling.
I happily walked among the rubble, having a singing competition with the members of the group who sang at a pitch that didn’t match.
However, No. 2, who was using detection magic, tilted his head.
Why is he like that?
How serious is your expression?
“Uh…? This is strange.
Captain, something seems to be going on.”
“What’s going on?”
As he spoke seriously, the voices of the members of the group who were singing stopped.
Number 1 said in a sullen voice.
“Fuck, do you still have work left?
It’s leaking steam.”
To be honest, I also felt depressed, but I approached No. 2 without showing it on my face.
The guy told me
“It’s kind of strange.
Just a moment ago, 27 members were located 800 meters beyond.
No response now.
There’s no way this could happen unless I teleported out of the range of 1km…”
“What?”
Reflexively, I looked in the direction No. 2 was pointing at, but I couldn’t see very far, obscured by the remains of buildings there.
In order to check beyond 800m, it seemed that I had to approach directly.
I took out the walkie-talkie again.
[Headquarters, Headquarters. I want a response.]
[—Princess!
I saw you earlier
I knew you would contact me first.
Other groups still take longer.
Our princess is the best!]
“…”
Was the squad leader.
Doesn’t this guy mistake the radio for some kind of chattering machine?
I was annoyed for a moment, but I endured it.
…Look at it because it’s pretty.
I explained everything to the unit commander.
[Your teammates detected it?
I remember it as magic that puts mana on sound waves and detects them with the echoes, right?]
[You’re right.]
After hearing my explanation, her voice became more serious.
Still, this person has the ability.
To remember the magical characteristics of a member of the group in one sitting.
Surely you’re not memorizing all the magic of the members of the hunting party?
The unit commander was silent for a moment after the question.
About a minute later, her voice came back on the walkie-talkie.
[First of all, there was no request for support from Article 27.
Besides, a staff member from headquarters just sent a message to report the situation, but there is no response.
It must be a radio failure or a situation where there is no time to respond.]
The unit commander continued.
[There is a high possibility that Team 27 is currently fighting the remaining beasts.
Of the 27 members, there are four with magic enough to cause an explosion.
There are quite a few cases where the detection magic fails because the waves created by loud noises or collapses generated in battle cancel out the sound waves.
You guys won’t be able to afford it either, but first, wait until Article 27 reports.]
[So far, I’ve been through the situation the unit commander said, but in that case, it was possible to detect it again after tens of seconds at most.
This time, it seems that something variable has occurred since it is not detectable even after several minutes.
This is not a simple radio malfunction or a temporary phenomenon.
Wouldn’t you be sure to take the kids to check it out?
If, as the commander said, you are busy in combat, I will support and return as much as I can afford.]
Guys, be patient.
I apologized to the members in my heart and said.
[Hmm…]
The unit commander thought about it for a while, but soon gave permission.
[Good. Instead, if there is something wrong, report it immediately.]
[I will.]
I put the walkie-talkie back into my bosom.
Looking back, the members of the crew who heard the contents of the radio transmission were very spectacle.
Maybe it’s the expression of being given food and then being taken away again?
“Sorry.
It happened like this.”
“Isn’t that unavoidable?
We also received support a few times…”
“The world’s work goes round and round, Captain.”
“If we return like this and there are casualties, the dream would have been disturbed.”
The clothes and expressions are very different.
Still, I was very grateful to the guys who followed me without saying anything.
“I’ll give you a shot when you return, so let’s solve it quickly and go back.
That’s what I said, but I’m sure it won’t be a big deal.”
“Yep!”
After the guys answered loudly, we moved towards the location where 27th group was.
But what really happened?
To step out of detection range momentarily.
Did the ground collapse and the entire crew got stuck in a pit?
Kang Ji-ah’s fighting ability is formidable.
As she not only strengthens her strength but also enhances her five senses, she can be considered superior to me in terms of her physical enhancement magic alone.
Even though he was asleep while drunk, he is so skilled that he succeeded in assassinating me as a result.
It wouldn’t be a big problem even if a beast that was strong enough came out.
Nothing will happen.
I sincerely thought so.
That was until Group 27 arrived about 100 meters from where they were last seen, and found a human body that had been grievously beaten.
“What the fuck…”
Behind him, one of the members of the crew groaned.
I cried reflexively.
“Peripheral boundaries!
Number 2, is there any enemy reaction nearby?”
“Doesn’t exist.
27 members are still not responding.”
Following my instructions, the members of the group started to be vigilant.
I bent over her and tore off the dog tag hanging around her corpse’s neck, and found out that she was Gu A-ram, a member of the 27th trillion won.
This is really crazy.
It couldn’t have been a big deal.
I groaned and put the dog tag back around her neck and inspected the corpse.
Blood splattered all over her, and her torso collapsed forward, with several fist-sized holes pierced.
Judging from her posture, she seemed to have been hit on the back while running away.
The distorted expression of fear and pain proved that her end was painful.
This wound was not inflicted by a beast.
For that reason, the shape of the flesh cut out was too neat.
You’ve seen scars like this before.
That’s obviously…
I got up and looked around.
“Check nearby walls and rubble for bullet marks.
Report immediately if…”
“Chief… It’s right in front of you.”
Before I could finish my words, Unit 1, which had advanced a few meters on alert, noticed holes in the wall nearby.
When I got closer and looked at it, I was sure.
It’s a lot bigger than the ones I knew, but it’s definitely a bullet mark.
27 trillion won Gua Lam was shot and killed.
The moment they realized that, everyone fell silent.
“No. 7, the shield is always on standby.
First, I will report to headquarters.
Don’t let your guard down.”
I quickly gave the order and took out the walkie-talkie.
[Headquarters, hunting team 5.
A body of 27 trillion won was found 100 meters away from the previously shared coordinates.
Judging from the wounds and bullet marks, it is clear that he was shot.]
[Check. Did you find any survivors?]
[Could not find.
We will investigate the situation as best we can and report back.
Please apply quickly.]
[Check. There is a transmission.
In Article 27, there are no combatants with firearms.]
When I put the walkie-talkie in, I could see the members of the crew getting anxious.
It was worth it.
‘Cause I’m dying of anxiety
Jo Won was hit by a firearm, which is actually a dead weapon.
Of course, the wild beast couldn’t have shot.
However, unless there is a member of the 27 trillion won who uses a gun…
Oh damn
No. 1…
There is no doubt that the self-defense weapon of the ruins, which we have only heard about, has been activated.
“If you calculate backwards from the angle of the bullet mark, the location where the gun was fired is that building.”
I pointed my finger at the large building in front of me.
The two-story building was built so sturdily that it kept its shape even through the storm.
It was not high, but the site was very wide, and it looked like a building that was used as a school or barracks.
“If the gun had been fired from that position, there is no way that the gunshot could not have been heard from our position only 800 meters away.
It is believed that the magic that blocked the sound that spread out in front neutralized the sound of gunshots and the detection magic of No. 2.
In other words, as long as there is no response to No. 2’s detection magic so far,
There is a high possibility that someone with a firearm is still in the building ahead, spreading a barrier.”
As a bonus, there is a possibility that 27 trillion won will remain.
I kept saying
“I, who has the most mobility, enter the building ahead and rescue the 27 survivors.
In the meantime, retreat to an area out of line of fire and wait.”
“Are you saying you want to go alone, Captain?
Does that make sense!”
The guys rebelled against my words.
I raised my index finger to close them.
“Do you think I’m telling you to sell your emotions right now?
As the unit commander said earlier, you guys have almost no mana left from fighting.
If you follow me, it will only become a burden. Don’t you know?”
“It is, but still…”
“You still don’t know me?
One of my body takes care of it like a ghost.
I’ll be back in 20 minutes, while…”
“Then take me!”
I was explaining it gently so that I could not refute it anymore, but No. 7 shouted in a loud voice.
I was surprised.
“You said you couldn’t do it because you didn’t have magic?
Today’s work was easy, so I didn’t have to use my magic.
If the opponent uses a gun, I will definitely need it.”
“No.
I told you to wait
Can you follow me running?”
“Just fucking take me!
If I’m alone, I can just pick it up and run.
You can’t let go alone!
I can still fight.
Did you tell me why it couldn’t be logical!”
“…”
My teammates and I opened our mouths wide.
I was at a loss for words because I was dumbfounded, and because she was right.
No. 7’s magic would be of great help if the opponent used firearms.
She said she still had the energy.
Except for her personal concerns of mine, she had no reason not to take her.
I let out a deep sigh.
“Good.
The two of us and number 7 enter.
I’ll be back in 20 minutes, so wait until then.
In case of emergency, get support from other groups.
In action!”
“Yep!”
The guys moved in unison.
They gave No. 7 a mixed look of concern and request and left.
As they disappeared into a blind spot, I looked back at No. 7 and said,
“If you pass this way, you will hear the sound over there.
Of course, the other side will be able to hear us too.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
No. 7 replied meekly as if he had completely forgotten about the fact that he had swear at me just before.
Sucked away by her spirit, I sighed once again and lifted her up.
“Goes!”
I shouted as I rushed towards the building in front of me.
