◈ Episode 047

"Excuse me, is that true?"

A location west of the Kingdom of Vines. While exploring the area surrounding the temporary campsite that had been set up, Leila received a radio transmission from Kim I-Hyeon.

"Ah, yes. I see. Thank you for your hard work. We are… resting at Point W-04. Yes, yes. Understood."

Leila nodded and answered, even though it was impossible for the other person to see. It was a habit that the agents had teased her about many times.

Stop.

The communication was cut off and the radio was put into her jacket. Leila immediately turned around. Her steps toward her companion were light.

The team members were each taking a break at the campsite. There were six team members in total, excluding Leila. They all looked tired.

'I guess everyone is having a hard time.'

It couldn't be helped. I had just defeated the entity named 'Tarantula' an hour ago. The battle with the dangerous beast was hard and exhausting.

Kim I-Hyeon's efforts were even more admirable because he had faced him directly. Leila gathered her team members and began to relay information.

"Everyone, I think we'll have to postpone our departure for a bit."

"What's wrong, Leila?"

The man who was quenching his thirst with water asked for details. It was West Creek, an elite agent from Team 1.

The Ghost who usually accompanied the professor was not here. He was carrying out an operation as the leader of another team.

"Don't worry, this is good news. I got a call from Mr. Hyun from Team 4. He said he'd defeated the two dangerous beasts and would like to join us."

"...Already?"

The agents looked surprised. It was a natural reaction. They were worried about whether Team 4 would be able to complete the mission safely.

Team 4 has no elite agents. There are only three reserve agents with little operational experience. I thought it was some kind of test given by the director of the research center.

Dustborne has proven his skills as expected.

"Is your team okay? It must be quite a forced march, after having been through two battles already…."

"I heard there was no damage. He said, 'I'm tired, so I'll leave the direction to the professor.'"

Leila looked at the professor, scratching her cheek.

"I decided it on my own… What do you think, Professor?"

"No problem. I think it'll be a lot easier if Hyun cooperates."

The professor's expression as he answered seemed much more relaxed than before. Seeing him sigh in relief, Leila thought to herself, 'As expected.'

The way the professor looked at Kim Lee-Hyeon was quite different from the way he looked at the lab's agents.

'Not only the professor, but I too.'

I feel a strong sense of camaraderie with the agents I have been through thick and thin with. Of course, I have been through many things with Kim Yi-hyun, but I feel a different kind of feeling than camaraderie.

He becomes a source of support. No matter what crisis you face, he seems to have a solution ready. If a crisis arises, you end up believing that he will solve it.

'… This kind of thinking might not be good.'

He has already received great help from Kim I-Hyeon. Even the not-so-gentle Pawel feels that he owes his life to Kim I-Hyeon.

This time, I feel like I'm going to owe him again. But I shouldn't take his kindness for granted. It's something I have to repay in accordance with our mutually cooperative relationship.

It took about half a day for the four teams to arrive. After checking each other's situations, Kim I-Hyeon's team went under the command of Team 1.

"Hyeon, what did you do?"

Just before we cleared the campsite and got into the vehicle, Pablo asked us a question.

"The two you were in charge of looked tough, but who would've thought you'd finish them off so easily? And those three over there, why are they acting like that?"

The three reserve agents were extremely quiet. It was a welcome change for Kim Yi-Hyeon. At first, he had been very mentally unstable.

"Well, I guess you've been thinking a lot. I'll submit the operation video when I get back. Check it out then."

"Well, okay. Thanks anyway. This will make me feel a lot better than when I was a spider bastard."

It looked like he had a hard time catching the tarantula. Kim Lee-hyun responded with a smile and got back into the car.

'This is what happened.'

One team finishes their mission and joins another team. In the game, this is systematically blocked, but in reality, it can be done somehow.

It was possible because I quickly killed both of them. I wasn't injured during the fight.

In a word, it's skill.

'Now let's take a look at their skills.'

Movement has resumed.

Kim Yi-hyeon looked at the vehicle in front of him from the passenger seat. Even though he couldn't see it because it was obscured by the cargo area, the professor must have been sitting inside.

There was only one reason he joined Team 1, which was doing well on its own. He remembered the problems with the rap that Ghost had pointed out.

'I already feel it to some extent.'

I glanced at the reserve agents in the rearview mirror.

Turkam, who was holding the steering wheel, was stiffer than before. Tatalia was half-conscious, and Shay kept his eyes on the floor the whole time.

'It's not like there's no room for consideration at all.'

All three are just reserve agents. Their performance in the game is also miserable, so I didn't have high expectations.

'But I'm not a professor.'

There are so many things that a professor needs to do. If his or her own actions have diminished his or her ability as a professor, he or she needs to be brought back up.

'I guess I'll have to get some direction first.'

* * *

Boom, boom!

There was a series of ground shaking sounds. From the center of the battle, a shock so strong that the ground shook was transmitted. The loud noise was getting closer.

- Hey, Pablo. You'll see it in 10 seconds.

The professor's voice flowed from the in-ear communicator. Hiding in the alley, Kim Yi-hyeon aimed the grenade launcher he had been given.

There was little room for error. At the ten-second mark, Westcreek came into view first. He leaped backwards, sword in hand.

- Ugh!

A dangerous creature ran after West Creek. An entity named Cyclops. A dangerous creature with a height of about 7m, of a simian appearance.

Fight!

A 40mm grenade fired hit the Cyclops in the side. Smoke billowed out as it exploded. A scream of pain erupted.

- Get out of sight. West Creek and Botticelli will get your attention again.

Kim Hyun and Pablo turned their backs as instructed. Cyclops checked this side, but there was no need to worry.

West Creek, Botticelli. Each has a 6-star and 5-star agent in charge of the vanguard. There are few compositions that are as reliable as this at this point.

We exited the alley and headed to the next point. A thorough hit and run. The professor chose to confuse the enemy and gradually wear them down.

― It's taken quite a hit. They'll be on guard, so even a brief appearance will distract them.

"Are we the bait this time?"

It was a very effective tactic. Kim Yi-hyeon followed the orders without any unnecessary training. He literally became the professor's hands and feet.

'It's comfortable.'

Deployment orders coming down in real time. Briefings that concisely convey the movements of enemies and allies. The timing for attacking or withdrawing is also appropriate.

There are few people who let them play while handling two teams at the same time. Asterike is not used, but that is because the professor is ignorant of her spells.

'I was tired to begin with.'

As he was active in the battle with Nepenthes, his attrition was also great. Even if he was given the [Vibranium Composite Sword], he would have difficulty using spells properly.

anyway.

'As a battlefield commander, I'm doing my part.'

If he were to imitate the professor, he would have stuttered considerably. Kim I-Hyeon did not have the confidence to carry out such detailed tactical command.

Certainly, the professor is excellent. No matter what enemy we face or what kind of ally we are working with, if we have the same command as now, it will be possible.

but....

'He just feels like a great commander.'

A strategy with great generality. On the other hand, it is ordinary. It lacks fresh ideas. It fails to utilize the individuality of each agent.

'This won't do.'

It's a tactic that doesn't fit Polaris. Spells exist here, and human limitations are extremely high. In fact, it feels like the professor's command is limiting the agents' abilities.

No, actually, that's what's happening.

'It's not even a difficult stage.'

Actually, there is no need to go through all this trouble. There is also a way to just throw in Leila, Botticelli, and West Creek and conquer them.

'I wonder how they caught the tarantula. I'll have to watch the operation video when I get back.'

It's fortunate that the ability has been proven. I feel half regret and half relief. Kim Yi-Hyeon gathered his thoughts and focused on the battle.

Even though bullets were flying everywhere, the Cyclops could not pursue the archers. Every time he turned his back, sword cuts were carved all over his body.

"That guy is a monster after all."

"Haha, that's true."

Pablo agreed with Kim Yi-hyeon's words. West Creek was running on Cyclops's arm. In an instant, he reached his neck and stabbed him with his sword.

- Krrrrrr!

He writhed and cried. Westcreek, unable to bear it any longer, jumped up, pulling out his sword. That was when a punch flew at him.

Dismissed!

The current released from Leila's fingertips hit the Cyclops directly. In the moment when its body stopped for a moment, a large-caliber bullet was fired from somewhere.

grasp!

The only eyeball was pierced precisely. The Cyclops was left flailing about, his entire body covered in wounds.

- Keep your distance and subdue him like this.

Grenades and bullets rained down. His legs were blown off and he lost all mobility. Even when he was on the verge of death, the agents did not stop shooting.

Eng.

A huge body collapsed on the ruins. A gasp escaped through the smoke, but soon even that became inaudible.

The agents remained in combat readiness and waited for the smoke to clear. A moment later, the Cyclops' body was captured.

- West Creek, I'll wrap it up for you.

Following the professor's instructions, Westcreek approached the Cyclops and stabbed him in the neck with his sword.

Only then did the professor sigh.

- The situation is over. Everyone worked hard.

* * *

After the battle, the operation team checked the body. Botticelli cut open the Cyclops' chest with his greatsword while Westcreek was paralyzed by the backlash from the spell.

"Miss Leila, I found it."

Botticelli took out the hand that had been poking inside. A strange object came out of his bloody hand.

An unknown object, sharp like a starfish. It feels slightly softer than iron. When I wiped the blood off it, I could see a mark carved into the center.

It was a letter.

"It says NEXTA-011."

"It wasn't a coincidence after all."

Leila carefully wrapped the item in a handkerchief. As Kim Yi-hyun stared at it, she gave a simple explanation.

"We found a similar object inside the tarantula's body. How were the two that Team 4 defeated?"

"We weren't in a position to check. One fell into the river and the other was completely burned, leaving no trace."

I couldn't possibly look into it. I never even thought of leaving the body behind. I knew from the beginning that something was hidden, but… … .

'So what, they'll bring it from another team.'

[Unidentified Dog Tag]. This is an item that can be obtained during the Ashbelt Operation.

A thing that cannot be exchanged for any goods and just takes up space in the warehouse. Users swallowed their disappointment, thinking that it would be an important piece of bait.

'And then there was no news for a while.'

It took over a year for the truth to be revealed. Users had also forgotten about its existence, so most of them responded with, "Oh lol, there was a hint like that."

"I see. The occurrence of multiple simultaneous dangers… I thought it was strange, but maybe there's something hidden."

It ends like this, leaving a sense of uneasiness. In fact, since it was an early event, there were more users who didn't know about this story.

But it was an important story.

'This should also be resolved in advance.'

There was a mountain of work to do. Kim Yi-hyeon felt a pounding headache.

I got used to fighting, created Dustborn, and even developed a partnership with Lab. But this was just the foundation.

The key was how well we could cope with the tragedies that would come from the position we had established.

Leila took the [Unidentified Dog Tag] and looked around at the agents. There were no serious injuries or deaths. Only one or two people had minor injuries.

Teams 2 and 3 also received word that their missions had been completed. With this, the Kingdom of Vines was spared from the damage caused by the Dangerous Waters.

It was an ideal outcome. She smiled.

"Then shall we return now?"

Operation Ashbelt is over.