◈ Episode 23

In a normal battle, there would be no reason for White Fang to be pushed back. It was an open tunnel with no curves or cover. There was no place to hide and avoid being shot.

There is also numerical superiority. Assuming that no access is allowed, this is an environment where firearms have an overwhelming advantage.

But what is the reality? On the contrary, White Fang was feeling the pressure.

"Are you a monster…!"

Squad Leader Robben groaned. Snowfield ran up the wall as if it were flat ground, escaping the hail of bullets. His movements were not human.

The only reassurance was that the enemy was on the defensive. A single shot from Chelsea opened up a path.

'I'm definitely on guard.'

Kim Yi-hyeon carefully observed Snowfield's movements. Even in the midst of confusion, he tried to read the situation as objectively as possible.

In fact, Mary's skill duration is very short. In the initial state where she has not been trained, it is only 3 seconds.

If it was 3 seconds, it would have passed a long time ago. Snowfield's spell was already stable.

'Still, it's fraudulent enough.'

It was useful in the game and in real life, as evidenced by the fact that Snowfield didn't just blindly jump in and rely on the spell like he just did.

'I'm glad I got my money's worth.'

At the moment, Mary's limit for casting spells was three shots. She needed someone who could use a weapon with a limited number of hits.

'... ... I didn't know it would be a lifeline.'

Kim Yi-hyeon checked my physical condition. It wasn't bad. I felt a dull pain all over my body, as if I had muscle pain, but my arms and legs moved well.

In the front was a white top.

There were no people running around in panic. Some were fighting hard, and some… were frozen, not moving at all.

I decided not to think about it now.

We have to survive and we have to send them out alive.

Thing!

Kim Yi-Hyeon removed the pin from the smoke grenade and threw it at the midpoint between White Fang and Snowfield. It was equipment he had received from the platoon leader in advance. Green smoke began to spew out with a sizzling sound.

"Shoot and step back!"

Bryce, who had figured out the intention, gave instructions in a hurry. The magazine was already empty because the agents had been hurriedly pouring out bullets.

But they won't let them go quietly. It's easy to imagine a future where they'll be annihilated by the enemy who's chasing them. Someone had to catch the enemy's ankle.

"Bryce. Hand over the shield."

It was a voice that was particularly audible even to those with hearing dulled by gunfire. Kim Yi-hyeon threw away his crumpled shield and approached with his bare hands.

Kim Hyun-hyun wasn't looking at Bryce. He was glaring at Snowfield through the smoke. His eyes were filled with venom unlike usual.

There was no time to hesitate. Bryce nodded. He handed over the shield he was holding and shouted.

"...Retreat! Dump all remaining bullets!"

The White Fang agents fired their guns into the smokescreen. Snowfield showed no sign of pursuing them even as the distance between them grew longer and longer.

One by one, the ammunition of the soldiers ran out. The number of bullets raining down was noticeably reduced. At that moment, Snowfield accelerated again.

Snowfield, who had crossed the tunnel in an instant, emerged from the smoke, keeping his posture low to reduce the area that the bullets would hit.

Boom!

The second shot also hit the mark.

This time it was the shoulder. Chelsea didn't have the spell, but her outstanding shooting skills alone made her an elite member of the future rap team.

The frost disappeared from the armor once again. The momentum of the charge died down. As if he had been waiting, Kim Ihyeon flew forward and struck Snowfield.

Thud!

'What the heck, it's not even a truck…!'

Kim Lee-hyun clenched his teeth in shock beyond his expectations. It felt like his whole body was falling apart. What if it had been his bare body instead of a shield? Just imagining it made his spine tingle.

Strangely enough, Snowfield was quicker to prepare himself than Kim Yi-hyeon. Ignoring the sprawling Kim Yi-hyeon, he extended his legs toward the fleeing agents.

Kwak!

At that moment, a hook was caught on Snowfield's leg. The pulling force was quite strong. Snowfield supported his body and turned his gaze.

"Where are you going, kid?"

Kim Yi-Hyeon was lying face down on the floor, holding onto a chain. [Tactical Hook]. A two-star special weapon.

Since it is classified as an auxiliary equipment rather than a weapon, there is no attack power adjustment value. It is an equipment with a simple special ability to attract enemies.

It's a 2-star character with a lot of usefulness, but... it's still a 2-star character. You can't have high expectations. In the game, its effectiveness against bosses is reduced.

The hook froze and the cold spread to the rope it was connected to. Kim Yi-hyeon hurriedly let go of his hand. As expected, this was not an opponent that could be fooled.

And the third step.

Fight!

The last bullet struck Snowfield's side. As soon as the spell was suppressed, Kim Yi-Hyeon pulled out [Mu-Byeong-Chang]. Although it was less convenient than a firearm, there was no weapon with the same power as this one.

Kim Yi-hyeon jumped up and shouted [Mubyeongchang].

A blow fired from an unstable position. However, it was sharper and more powerful than ever. It might have been the strength that came out in a crisis situation.

I guess it was a good thing.

As a result, the tip of the spear did not reach the armor. It was not even enough to lament that it was a waste. Kim Yi-hyeon looked down at his hand, dumbfounded.

'What did you do?'

The two halves of the spear fell diagonally, crossing each other. The spearhead had already been cut off. Wasn't it clearly set to be of good quality even if it was only a 1-star?

Even the last desperate attempt failed. Chelsea's, no, Mary's ammunition was also depleted. Snowfield, who did not know this fact, would be careful now, but he would soon find out.

Now, there really is no way out. At that moment, Snowfield opened his mouth.

"...They saved their lives thanks to you."

It was a pretty voice that was quite pleasant to hear. As you can tell just by looking at her physique, Snowfield is a woman. In addition, she is a pretty woman. That is why she is popular with users.

Snowfield seemed to want to talk. It was a desirable flow. At the moment, there was only one thing Kim Yi-hyun could do.

Open your mouth diligently.

I had planned to stay alone from the beginning. I had no intention of sacrificing myself to save my comrades. I'm not a ghost or anything.

"I don't have to chase after you?"

"The road ahead is complicated. Several passageways converge in this tunnel. That's why I've been waiting for you here."

"Thank you for your kind explanation."

In other words, it is realistically difficult to catch and kill them all if they are scattered. In reality, the White Fang agents were scattered and running away.

"It doesn't matter if one person lives or six. If you hit the sniper, there will be seven. My information will be transmitted to the ground."

"Then I wish you would just let me go."

"Just kidding."

Don't say that with a smile. Snowfield didn't even snicker.

"We have reservations. Those who have joined hands with us are criminals. They are devils who kill people for personal gain and brag about it in front of others."

The tone was full of contempt.

"At least you have the title of protecting the city. Even though you are murderers, I prefer people like you."

Snowfield looked into the tunnel. The path the enemy had taken… … Rather than the facts, he took in the darkness that had descended underground.

"But where is the good and evil in the first place? Everyone just feels sorry for my body."

The darkness seemed to move as if it had its own will. It was her distress and anger that made her think so.

"I think that in the end, everyone has their own role and everything flows accordingly."

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."

"I guess so."

It was not a clear enough thought to be understood by others. Snowfield himself did not understand his own mind well.

Protecting Cilicia. Their goal was so simple and clear, but on the contrary, her heart was filled with dark clouds.

Meanwhile.

For a while now, numerous hypotheses have been presented and rejected repeatedly in Kim Lee-hyun's head. The topic is 'Why did Snowfield come here?'

The first thing I thought about was why things were different from the original scenario. The answer to that was already decided.

'Of course it's because of me.'

There were other possibilities. The possibility that there was a 'foreign substance' that fell on Polaris other than the Kim Lee Hyun that was here.

Boldly ruled it out.

When I think about it, any kind of inference becomes impossible. I just conclude that it was a butterfly effect caused by my own actions.

'Then the question is what incident it is connected to.'

Cilicia. Ulanzi. Tulavia. As time goes by, it will become harder to count back like this, but Kim Ihyeon hasn't done much yet.

If there was an incident that could have influenced Snowfield's actions among them... ... .

Only one thing comes to mind.

Kim Yi-hyeon moistened his dry lips with saliva. Now that the examination was over, it was time to wag his tongue.

"You, you look completely different from what I've heard."

Snowfield's eyes fell on Kim Yi-hyeon again. She had been on guard against sniping, but judging by the situation, the sniper seemed to have retreated.

Should I use him as a hostage and lure the enemy underground? No, it's too much trouble. Now is the time to rush in. It's better to deal with this guy cleanly.

It was the moment when she put strength into the hand holding the knife.

"The name is, isn't it? Talixis?"

Snowfield hesitated.

"I guess so. Well, it's so distinctive. You always wear that when you go out, right?"

"Do you know me?"

"I heard it from a friend."

"friend?"

"That guy named Carib."

Silence fell.

Kim Yi-Hyeon couldn't read Snowfield's expression because it was covered by the helmet. However, he could imagine it.

The imaginary Snowfield was in a state of complete confusion. Her pale blue eyes were wide open, and her lips were puckering like a fish's.

No, I wouldn't make such a stupid face. Even though I have deep feelings, I'm basically the type that doesn't show my emotions on the outside.

"I heard you're called Shadower over there. How's it going? Have you gotten over your gloomy personality yet?"

A voice soaked in sentiment. Kim Yi-hyun spoke with a longing attitude, as if he were talking to a close friend he hadn't seen in a long time. Acting wasn't difficult.

Yoo Seung-bae, Oh Seung-jun, Kim Sang-goo… … .

Kim Lee-hyun also had friends.

'You bastards. You never dreamed I'd be rolling around here.'

I should have listened when he nagged me to stop spending money on that damn phone game. This is the price I got for shielding him so hard in the name of love.

Snowfield, who had been frozen for a moment, lowered her head slightly. Soon, she answered.

"The Caribbean is dead."

"...What? Dead?"

"They say they found a body in a remote area of ​​Cadillac. I can't tell you anything else. Even if I knew something else, I shouldn't reveal it."

"...허."

Kim Yi-hyun slowly lowered his gaze to the ground. He avoided exaggerated reactions. There was no need to ask in detail how Carib died.

As natural as possible.

The 'Kim Lee-Hyeon' that Snowfield sees is a person who roams the underground armed. He is a person who is accustomed to the deaths of others.

He had already given the information that he was a friend of the Caribbean. This time it was Snowfield's turn to lead the conversation.

"Where did you meet him?"

"It's the Shiran Empire. I'm from a faraway place, as you can see, so I've been wandering around. I've received a lot of help from Carib. I've even been told to join the Legion, but I just don't feel like doing it."

"When did you notice that we were in Cilicia?"

"I wasn't sure. It's just that the guy told me to be careful if I ever stay in Cilicia. Haha, I wondered what it was at the time."

Kim Yi-hyeon let out a dry laugh and raised his head again. He looked at the knife without a single drop of blood on it and said.

"How long do you plan on talking about this?"

"Weren't you trying to beg for your life?"

"You brought up the Caribbean? I was just wondering how you were doing. I didn't realize you'd already been gone. How could I possibly be hawking connections to you?"

"...."

"I know what you, the Legion, are trying to do, and I know why. I don't agree with it at all, but you don't care what I think. I think it's some kind of great current. As you say, what can a punk like me do? I just have to go with the flow."

Of course, it was a lie. I had no intention of being swept away by the current.

Sometimes I will deceive you, sometimes I will kill you. I will use all my knowledge and ability to sabotage you.

Kim Lee-hyun has already made many sacrifices.

It became easy to spit out lies with the tip of my tongue. I could shoot people without hesitation if I judged them to be my enemy. The guilt and unpleasantness also diminished, and sometimes I felt like I was working.

I often think, 'I' didn't do this.

26 years old. Office worker. Busy with work and people. Enjoying Polaris while cursing it as a crappy game, and occasionally talking about living together with friends. Just an ordinary person.

There were many times when I realized that things had changed. Maybe in a year or two, the original form of Kim I-Hyun would fade away and disappear.

It's something that has to be endured.

To survive. To make the world, which is already a cesspool, a little more sane.

I made up my mind when I saved Ghost and killed Carib. My decision became even stronger when I brought in Asterike and Roscoe.

'I can't die like a dog in a place like this.'

Kim Yi-hyeon closed his eyes and counted the seconds in his mouth.

Even after ten seconds, the blade had not fallen. Snowfield was looking down at Kim Yi-Hyeon with calm eyes.

In fact, Snowfield did not agree with the Legion's ideology either. She could not find interest in suppressing the incompetent.

He just wandered. While he was wandering, Legion picked up Talixis. From that day on, Talixis became Snowfield.

I was friends with Carib. That was why I went to invade Cilicia, which I had no interest in.

Since Carib had died in vain in a foreign land, I had to take his place. I thought so even though no one had asked me to.

So what is this person's role?

Snowfield finally put down his sword.

"Leave the city. If you want to live even one more day."

"...You're not going to kill me?"

"Cilicia is just the beginning. What else can you do but get swept away by the waves? I won't have to do anything."

I didn't completely trust the words of the Caribbean friend. I just didn't want to kill with my own hands anyone who remembered him.

'Snowfield' was that kind of person.

Pecatum, who accidentally drifted into the Legion. She could have been a mafia member, a bounty hunter, a League player, or an agent of Cellbrox Labs.

It was a sad situation, if anything. That's why some users were asking for it to be released as a playable character.

It was a wish that would never come true.

chuck.

Snowfield turned around and started walking away, as if he had nothing more to say. His shadow disappeared into the green smoke, and the sound of his footsteps grew farther and farther away.

Even after he could no longer sense any presence, Kim Yi-hyeon continued to watch the smoke. He was afraid that the moment he turned his back in relief, a knife might fly at him.

How many minutes passed like that?

"…Haaah. F*ck."

Kim Yi-hyeon, who was certain that Snowfield had left, collapsed on the floor. A feeling of exhaustion took over his entire body. His clothes were soaked with sweat.

"I really thought I was going to die this time."

I realized anew how miserable the weak are in the Polaris world. The only thing they can do to save their lives is to open their mouths.

It was an experience I never wanted to experience again. I had never been in a fight where I had a low chance of winning, but I felt I needed to be more careful in the future.

'If it's unfair, then it is unfair.'

Snowfield, who was upset because Shadower died, suddenly appeared in Cilicia? How could anyone have predicted this?

But even if you complain about the injustice, there is no one who will listen. You have no choice but to bear the damage caused by the unexpected change.

'I was being hasty. There are several stages after LW-3, but I ignored them all and tried to eat them all up.'

I acknowledged what needed to be acknowledged. At the point when the plot twisted, this place had become a world that was similar to, yet different from, the Polaris that Kim Yi-hyun knew.

'You need to be more careful.'

It has to be more dense than it is now.

Kim Yi-hyeon forced himself up from his exhausted body. In front of him, smoke showed no sign of settling down. Below, he could see scattered bullet casings and equipment.

And the body.

Squad leader Chiara. Tony who was shameless, Philip who was big but timid, Iana who gave them food every time they met, and Graves who was quiet.

merry.

"...That damn bastard."

Kim Yi-hyeon turned around. Hearing the commotion, he was worried that a monster would come rushing in. He had wasted time, so he had to leave the place quickly.

Whether you whine like a child or beat your chest and blame yourself for accidentally killing a comrade, it's something you do when you get home and burrow under the covers.

I won't do either one though.