—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Hmmhmmhmm~”
I couldn’t help but hum.
I hadn’t realized filling magazines with bullets could be so enjoyable.
Leaning against the dresser as I loaded the magazines, I found they each held thirty rounds.
180 rounds in total.
I had a new task for Soo-hyun.
I needed a bandolier.
There were probably some belts in the men’s section of the supermarket. Could she make something with them?
It was fine even if she couldn’t.
I had my backpack.
I inserted the fully loaded magazines into the two Ingrams and organized my bag.
The water, energy bars, and snacks I’d brought, just in case…
I took them all out and carefully arranged the boxes of ammunition at the bottom of the bag.
Then I placed the snacks and water on top.
Pushing them to one side.
Four magazines in the remaining space.
The bag was full and heavy.
I slung the bag over my shoulder, feeling happy and satisfied, and checked my phone; it was already afternoon.
Buzz-
Hmm.
It was about time.
I answered the call and said,
“Yes. I’m leaving now.”
“It took you quite a while. Are you sure you weren’t injured or bitten?”
I chuckled.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m leaving now.”
I hung up and stood up.
Wow, it was heavy.
It wasn’t too much, but I could definitely feel the weight.
It was the first time since acquiring the HP achievement skill that I’d felt this heavy.
Two swords, a bow and about ten arrows, two submachine guns, and a heavy backpack.
My heart felt as full as my bag.
I would have been struggling without the HP achievement skill.
It had been a lucky choice as my second specialization, raising my HP to 100 early on.
I was truly grateful for it.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting there.
Or rather, how long it had taken me to prepare my new gear.
Judging by the fact that my stats were almost fully recharged, it must have been over two hours.
Feeling refreshed, I ignored the children’s room, went down the stairs, and left the house.
The sun was setting.
“Huu.”
I saw the Special Task Force members smoking in the distance.
I chuckled and called them.
“Yes, Sung-hoon. What is it?”
“It’s safe up to this point. Come on over.”
I hung up.
The Special Task Force members looked at each other and talked briefly.
Special Task Force Leader Sung Kyu-hyuk raised his hand, and the four of them walked over.
I nodded to them and moved on to the next house.
It was empty.
The next one too.
Perhaps because of the base relocation process?
There were quite a few empty houses.
Next.
The hospital.
A three-story building.
But it looked flat because it was so wide.
…Would there be many inside?
Since it was a US military hospital undergoing relocation, I figured there wouldn’t be many patients.
I glanced at the Special Task Force members and entered the hospital.
The reception desk at the entrance.
It was adjacent to the emergency room.
It was quiet.
Growl- Growl-
I could hear it.
Coming from the closed emergency room.
And from deeper inside, from a room I couldn’t identify.
I drew my swords.
Shing-
“Huu.”
There were mostly doctors and nurses in the hospital. And not many of them.
There were no inpatients, just a few people in civilian clothes.
They must have had something like the flu.
I should have skipped this place if I’d known there were fewer than ten.
“Tsk.”
I stepped out of the hospital, and the Special Task Force members were smoking.
I considered joining them for a cigarette.
But no.
The sun was setting.
I had to hurry.
“Let’s move on.”
Beyond the road surrounding the hospital, a house and a warehouse stood side by side.
The house was no different from the others I’d seen.
A first-floor window was broken, but there was no glass on the ground outside.
Something had broken through the window from the outside and gone inside.
Typical.
I nodded and crossed the road, approaching the house. The warehouse next to it was probably the armory.
I hoped there were a lot of weapons…
…Hmm?
I stopped.
…The house.
…The door.
It was shattered.
Not broken by force like I would have done.
I approached the door and looked at the doorknob.
The wood around the doorknob was splintered outwards.
And a black hole.
…Someone had shot at it.
I looked closely at the door and frame.
Scratch marks.
Faint bloodstains.
…Something had happened here.
Buzz-
My phone rang.
My voice unconsciously dropped to a whisper.
“Hello.”
“What is it? Is there something in that house?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll go in and check. I’ll call you back.”
I hung up and drew my swords.
Shing-
And grabbed the doorknob.
Growl- Growl-
…I could hear it.
I slowly opened the door.
Towards the stairs.
And the kitchen.
Their backs were to me.
…Those people…
I glanced back.
…They looked the same.
I turned my head back.
Broad shoulders and chests.
Neatly trimmed hair.
Tall and athletic builds.
…They were Special Task Force Team 1.
…They were here.
The warehouse was right next door.
They had penetrated quite deeply.
These Special Task Force members had also risked their lives.
The fact that they were in the house meant they had needed a safe haven.
The scratches and damage on the door told a story of a desperate struggle.
…I calmed myself.
I quietly closed the door.
And made a call.
“Yes, Sung-hoon.”
I said quietly,
“I found Team 1.”
Silence.
I looked back, and Sung Kyu-hyuk was slowly lowering his phone from his ear.
His eyes were wide as he stared at me, at the house.
I looked at him and pointed at the phone at my ear.
He brought the phone back to his ear.
I said,
“They’re not Team 1 anymore. I’m going to take care of them now.”
“Sung-hoon, are there any…”
He paused.
I tilted my head, looking at him questioningly.
Sung Kyu-hyuk asked,
“…Are there any women among them?”
Women?
I thought for a moment and shook my head.
“I saw two of them. Men. I’m not sure if there are any women. I’ll have to go inside to know for sure.”
Sung Kyu-hyuk slowly lowered his head.
He hung up.
Then, looking around cautiously, he walked towards me.
The other three task force members exchanged glances and followed him.
I waited.
They stopped next to me by the door.
Their stances were textbook perfect.
I could sense their conviction to never stand directly in front of a door.
Special Task Force Leader Sung Kyu-hyuk said,
“We’re going in too.”
He drew his tonfa from his waistband.
…Hmm.
I nodded and said quietly,
“That won’t be necessary.”
The look in his eyes told me he was determined to go inside.
I said,
“…Let’s go.”
I adjusted my grip on my swords, opened the door, and stepped inside.
And then I shouted,
“Special Task Force!”
“Groar!”
Two.
No, three!
They burst out of the open bathroom.
All men!
“Kraaaa!”
They were coming!
Accelerate.
[Auto-cast: Accelerate]
In a flash, I whirled through them, piercing their heads.
I couldn’t bring myself to slash.
I wanted to preserve their appearance as much as possible.
Even though they had become human beasts, no longer human, they were different from those who had died without knowing why.
These were soldiers who had fought to the bitter end in a desperate situation.
Accelerate wore off.
“—Gah!”
The three of them collapsed simultaneously.
Blood sprayed.
Thud.
Blood splattered on my face and clothes.
I lowered my head and listened.
For any sounds.
Growls.
The sound of their breathing.
Were there any more inside the house?
…No.
It was quiet.
I looked up, and the Special Task Force Team 2 members were inside, examining the bodies.
Then, with somber expressions, they lowered their heads.
They didn’t cry or mourn.
They just sighed quietly and stood up.
Their faces were their usual, stoic selves.
They were soldiers, setting aside their grief for their comrades and focusing on the mission.
…I liked that.
I flicked the blood off my swords and sheathed them.
Shing Click
I walked over to Special Task Force Leader Sung Kyu-hyuk and took the pistol out of the utility pocket of my backpack.
“Here.”
Sung Kyu-hyuk looked at my hand.
Then he looked at me.
He didn’t refuse or hesitate.
He nodded, took the pistol, immediately ejected the magazine, and checked the chamber.
Then, holding the pistol, he flicked the safety off with his thumb and lowered his hands.
All in one fluid motion.
He nodded to me.
I nodded back and began searching the house.
I couldn’t hear anything, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
There might be more.
The Special Task Force members checked each room and signaled to each other. Those who received the signal nodded curtly and moved on to the next room.
They were efficient and well-coordinated.
After clearing the first floor, we went up to the second floor.
Sob Sob
…I could hear it.
I stopped on the stairs and held out my hand slightly.
The footsteps on the stairs stopped.
But it was behind me.
I crouched and headed towards the room where the sound was coming from.
There was blood on the door.
And on the doorknob.
I carefully grabbed the doorknob and turned it.
…It was locked.
The Special Task Force members quickly moved to either side of me, flanking the door.
Special Task Force Leader Sung Kyu-hyuk, holding the pistol, stood facing me.
He nodded.
I grabbed the doorknob and twisted it.
Crack!
And then I threw the door open.
“Sob… ah!”
Bang!
A gunshot!
[Auto-cast: Accelerate]
A bullet!
I could see it!
It was spiraling through the air, twisting the light around it.
It was then I realized it was a woman’s voice?!
But more importantly!
I stared at the bullet flying towards me.
A bullet flying against the yellow backdrop of a gunpowder explosion.
Like a flower blooming.
I immediately raised my swords.
Should I slash at it?!
But what if my swords broke!
I angled my swords defensively and prayed silently.
Please, gloves!
Don’t let my swords break!
The bullet struck my swords.
A scraping sensation.
A vibration traveling up my arms.
I felt it in my hands.
And then, Accelerate wore off.
Ping!
Creating a shower of sparks, the bullet ricocheted and lodged itself in the wall.
“Ah, ah!”
Click, click!
A woman, pointing an empty gun at me, pulling the trigger.
She was wearing a tight t-shirt and skinny jeans.
She was incredibly beautiful.
But her face was pale.
And there was blood all over her.
…Her ankle.
It was so swollen it looked inhuman.
“Ah!”
The woman stared at me, her face contorted in fear, and pulled the trigger again.
Click, click!
“Ga-yeon!”
Special Task Force Leader Sung Kyu-hyuk rushed past me and embraced the woman.
“Ga-yeon! You’re alive!”
“Ah… ah… ah…”
The woman was still looking at me.
I sighed quietly.
I almost got shot, damn it.
If it wasn’t for Accelerate, there would be a bullet hole in my forehead right now.
…My forehead?
…She’d aimed for a headshot in that situation?
This woman wasn’t just any soldier.
“Who is she?”
I asked.
Sung Kyu-hyuk, still holding the woman, turned to me.
Tears welled up in his eyes, despite his rugged, masculine features.
He said,
“My younger sister.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
