◈ Episode 088

I staggered through the corpses that were burst and crushed here and there. I tripped over the corpses lying around and stumbled several times. Fortunately, I didn't fall.

"...하."

Kim Yi-hyeon, who came out of the station again, looked up at the sky. It was still broad daylight. Of course, it only felt long, but in reality, it hadn't even been an hour.

The surroundings of the station had not changed much either. The death of Camellia, the source of the pathogen, had weakened the attacks of the infected, but many of the guards had also died.

'In some ways, he's the most successful I've ever seen.'

Camellia left a deep scar on Basteterra. She had a greater influence than Snowfield, who was futilely subdued in Metro City.

No one in this country even knows her name.

"Where is the radio…."

Kim Yi-hyeon checked his belongings. He took out the radio with his clammy hands and saw that it was in a terrible state. The buttons were broken and the antenna had disappeared somewhere.

It's a day when luck sucks.

"염병."

I threw the broken radio on the ground. It seemed like I had to grab someone and ask them to contact the king.

The thought of it being a nuisance came first. It would be difficult for a single guard or soldier to contact the king directly, and even if it were possible, it was doubtful whether he would listen obediently.

'Okay, that's fine.'

If you beat him moderately, he will take care of it.

'I guess I'll have to look for someone who looks good.'

It was a time when I was looking around while breaking the head of the infected person.

Thud, thud!

Vehicles began to appear in the distance. Infected people blocking their path were rammed into with the body of the vehicle, and the corpses lying on the ground were trampled with the tires. It was truly a relentless drive.

Before long, the car arrived at the station. It stopped right in front of Kim I-hyeon. The door opened wide and the driver's figure was revealed.

"Team leader, please get in quickly!"

"Turkam?"

A guy I hadn't seen in a while was here.

Kim Yi-hyeon quickly got into the passenger seat, looking at him blankly. He took off his tattered jumper, threw it on the ground, and closed the door.

"Let's go right away."

"Yes, I know."

Turkam stepped straight on the accelerator.

The car body shook as it collided with the infected. The head was stained with blood and drove through the chaos. For a while, they remained focused without talking to each other.

As I entered the alley, it became noticeably deserted. Those who were trying to run away had already run away. I ran down the narrow street, pushing aside the infected who were eating the cat corpse.

After a little more time, Kim Yi-hyeon finally opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm sorry for dirtying the sheets."

"What? It's not even my car."

"Okay then."

I leaned back against the backrest, sniffling. I tried to calm my breathing, which had risen to the tip of my chin. I kept my eyes closed for about 30 seconds, then slowly opened them.

[Mutation rate 29.1197%]

'Is this enough to prevent it?'

That was my first thought. I can't measure how high the safety line is, but it's at least much lower than what I was worried about.

Somehow I managed to get it done cheaply.

"Are you okay?"

"No. I think it'll fall behind."

The effects of Helixivir. As soon as the so-called 'mutation' was over, I felt a sense of weakness. My limbs were unstable, as if I had dived into the deep sea.

'But this time it didn't work.'

It's better than when I passed out. Even though I've been holding it for longer than before, the recoil is actually less. If you look at it separately, it may be a good thing, but I can't be completely optimistic.

'Are you saying that your body has already lost some of its flavor?'

I felt a strange feeling not only in my hands but also here and there. For example, my neck, my forearms, and even some of my thighs. Turkam must have noticed it too, as he glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

It's hard to hide it now. If you want to hide it, you can, but how stuffy would it be? Even in the summer, you have to wrap yourself up.

'In that case, why don't you just go out and do it proudly?'

I was going to get tested when I got back to the lab anyway. I can't expect a cure, but just hearing the researchers' opinions will help.

Of course, this is a story after everything is over.

"It's a little late to ask, but how did you get here?"

"Actually, it's been a few days since I came to Magnu."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. But the reserve personnel are supposed to be on standby here. We need to leave some people behind to respond to emergencies."

Turkam added bitterly.

"Well, it's outside of power."

"That's true."

He readily agreed, and a laughter returned as if it had been expected.

"You just admit it."

"If you don't like it, then say so. If it's you, even being an elite agent wouldn't be a dream."

"I thought you were good at everything, but your lip service is really off the charts."

"What are you talking about? You're good at it when you actually do it."

It's just that there's usually nothing to do. Since there's no direct supervisor, there are rare situations where you have to try to please them with empty words.

This was also a position he created himself. If he had not founded Dustborne and had entered the rap industry from the beginning, Kim Lee-hyun might have ended up in a similar situation to Turkam.

"Anyway, I survived thanks to you."

"...No, I just did as the professor instructed."

"There are so many kids who can't even do that properly. You don't think there are just a few torturers who forget what they heard 3 seconds ago and say, 'Didn't you hear that?'"

Kim Lee-hyun shivered for no reason as he recalled the past. Soon, he grabbed a blanket from the backseat and began to roughly wipe his body.

"There's a walkie-talkie. Get in touch."

"Yes. Please tell me."

"Tell the king to send the knights out soon."

The worry about contagion is gone. All we have to do is deploy our saved high-level manpower and wipe it out.

"I cleaned up the station once, but I told them to check carefully because there might still be remnants left."

Turkam paused for a moment.

Of course, he had been given a rough idea of ​​the situation before he set off. He had also been informed of how dangerous a den Magnu Station had become.

'But you cleaned it up? By yourself, without Mr. Asterike?'

While Turkam was inwardly shocked, Kim Ihyeon continued speaking.

"Tell the professor when you'll be arriving. If possible, find out what's going on there too."

He leaned back in his seat. Then he lay back with his arms crossed.

"If you think it's urgent, wake me up."

"Oh, yeah? Are you going to sleep?"

"...."

In an instant, the sound of breathing became even.

It really looked like he was asleep. Turkam, who was looking at Kim I-hyeon with a puzzled look, was soon able to notice a few things.

His left hand, resting on his right forearm, twitched violently. His forehead, stained with blood, was covered in cold sweat. He was not wearing any rags.

There were traces of a fight.

'… … He is a great person.'

* * *

The battle was more sluggish than expected.

This does not mean that the Legion's attacks were passive. The Walkers were still vicious. They did not put down their guns even when impaled on spears, and when their guns were blown away, they would bite their enemies with their mouths.

The madness also affected the Bastetian army. If someone ran away in fear and was whipped by the poisoner, someone else would follow suit as if infected.

In short, it was a very ordinary war.

'What are you aiming at?'

The professor's eyes scanned the holographic image. Thanks to Selim, he was able to see the battlefield at a glance even from a safe location. It was like watching a movie while maintaining an objective viewpoint.

That's why I was suspicious.

'Are you not going to come out like this?'

My godmother was strangely quiet.

'You don't want to waste time, do you?'

The more they strove, the stronger the capital's defenses became. The reason the Bastitera military responded passively was because they were not confident in the Legion's invasion itself.

But now it's different.

The existence of the Legion has become clear. The borders are under threat from dangerous forces, and there has been a terrorist attack in the capital. There is no room for suspicion of an invasion.

It's time for the regular army to get up its heavy butt. No matter how outdated it may be, Bastet is still a nation. The size of its army is nothing compared to that of terrorists.

Among them, the Knights Templar are of a different class.

A strategy to break through before they can move. The professor had been aware of Legion's intentions until now. But was there an error he hadn't considered?

"Carmen, how about you?"

They say the area around the station is completely sealed off. The Knights will be rushing in soon. I don't know how many people are still alive, but I think it will be sorted out soon.

"Understood. If you discover anything unusual, please let me know immediately."

It seemed unlikely that the original intention was to terrorize the capital. No, perhaps even the Legion could not have predicted that it would be suppressed so easily.

'If not that… … .'

Waiting for something. For example, the activation condition of a spell. Or did you deliberately induce melee in order to use a spell at the optimal timing?

Professor, I'm sorry, but I can't wait any longer.

It was Rosetta's words. Then the other agents followed her lead.

Caution is a virtue, but if the battle ends like this, it will certainly be difficult. Our position within Bastitera will be at risk.

Yes. I can't just stand by and watch like this. Professor, please give me some instructions.

The professor was conflicted.

It is dangerous to deploy agents in the current situation where they cannot read the godmother's plan. However, the agents' criticism also had some merit.

Kushan ultimately wants to establish a formal cooperative relationship between Lab and Bastitera. That means he needs to create a debt, preferably with a prominent specialty.

I cannot afford the dishonor of having hidden during a battle.

"...Okay, I understand. You may join the fight."

The professor said with a sigh.

"Instead, target the rear. Start by aiming for the guys who are just standing there with their bags behind them. The woman holding the cane is probably the Godmother. Leading the way are Rosetta and Westcreek. Good luck."

The order was given. The agents, led by two elite agents each armed with a chainsaw and a longsword, began to run down the hill.

The godmother also discovered them.

'Are you running out of patience?'

He wasn't a bad commander. His plan to blow up the gas was novel, and above all, he seemed to understand the differences in positions between Cellbrox Lab and Bastitera.

But this time, that caution turned out to be poisonous.

The Matron looked out over the battlefield. Corpses were strewn across the snow. Whether Pecatum or Minos, Bastite or Legion, it didn't matter, they were full of flesh.

It was not a small number for a sacrifice.

"Spring is coming."

Saaaa ...

A dark red stain spread under the godmother's feet.

* * *

The once pure white snowfield was covered with a strange slime. Not only the front line, but also all the way to the command post, a dark red swamp was spread out over a wide area.

Bubbles bubbled up from the swamp. The small bubbles burst and multiplied into five, then dozens. They clumped together and formed a specific shape.

Their appearances were all different.

Neither dangerous nor mutant. Something with three heads, walking on two legs like a human, with eye-like granules sprouting all over its body.

- Snih in you! darling!

They appeared as if hatching from an egg and let out a roar. Their voices, like scraping iron, rang out sharply even in the battlefield filled with gunfire.

"Ah, devil...!"

A monster hung on the back of a soldier who was running away. A tentacle came out of a gaping hole in its face. The tentacle dug into the soldier's ear hole and reached his brain in an instant.

"Ugh, ugh. Kreuk…."

The soldier whose brain had been invaded trembled as he dropped his sword. Soon, he began to scratch at my neck, drooling profusely. So hard that the fine flesh was caught between his fingernails.

Similar disasters occurred everywhere.

Self-harm, madness, loss of will to fight. The Legion was no exception. A soldier whose eyeball was pierced by a thorn from the monster's mouth continued to fire bullets without mercy.

Kim Lee-hyun muttered in a car driving on the snow.

"What the fuck."

The Granada Line had become a magical realm.