◈ Episode 210

While climbing the mountain, Monica heard gunshots to her annoyance.

In addition to Kim Yi-hyun, Dustborne's agents were armed with guns and fought the mutants. There was no overwhelming scene like the first time. The power was also inferior to the sword attack that slaughtered the monsters in one go.

The parasites that the monsters had mutated into were indeed tenacious. There were even cases where they didn't die even after being shot ten times, let alone one with one shot.

But still.

'It can be this stable.'

After sparing no effort in pouring down bullets to reduce their numbers, they deal with the remaining troops one by one. Their close combat was also no less than that of the Knights. Their flexibility and sharpness outside the box stood out.

If I had to pick the biggest difference, it would be the equipment.

'Is it a firearm?'

The knights of Bastitera tend to disdain weapons, especially guns.

There is a perception that guns are the exclusive property of Minos. The reason that guns are not widely available in the country is simply because Basteira is backward, but they refuse to acknowledge it.

It was like a frog in a well, and up until now, it was fine to remain a frog. I was confident that I could easily subdue someone like Minos with a gun, even with my bare body.

A weapon used by the weak and cowardly Minos.

But what happens when the adjective "weak" is dropped? In the first place, Dustborn has two of its own kind. Despite having horns, they fit in well with my party.

At least Monica wasn't confident that she could deal with Dustborn with her current number of personnel.

"370p. You can see it now."

After proceeding without hesitation, we easily reached our destination.

"There it is."

Without even having to point a finger, everyone's eyes were drawn to it. A fist-sized hole in the air. The crack was shedding fine particles and displaying a unique presence.

"...That's it. I don't know why, but I feel bad."

"I agree with you this time."

Chelsea responded to Echidna's muttering. It was an instinctive rejection that was hard to express in words, something that seemed to have been ingrained in her since birth. It was enough to make some sensitive people gag.

"I'll listen to it, but what are your plans?"

When Kim Yi-hyeon asked, Monica made a face of embarrassment.

"I have been instructed to leave the handling of the cracks to Dustborn. I am ashamed to say this, but I have no choice but to ask you to do the job."

"I can't just leave it here. Oh, I'm sorry."

Chelsea nodded with a face that showed no remorse at all. Monica chose not to get entangled any further and remained silent. Although she couldn't hide the slight blush on her earlobes.

"In that case, I will do it at my discretion."

Kim Yi-hyeon looked back once and walked towards the crack. There were a lot of eyes watching, but it didn't matter. He decided that there was no need to go to great lengths to hide it.

'There's also Leila.'

Leila is no exception when it comes to explaining the principle. Now that the cracks are starting to appear in earnest, this is an ability that needs to be revealed publicly rather than hidden.

Without hesitation, the outstretched hand made contact with the crack.

Don't miss it!

Blue currents were released and entangled in the cracks.

It was no different from the phenomenon that Leila had previously caused. The only difference was that the particles were not absorbed by Kim I-Hyun. The condensed particles soon turned into light and disappeared without a trace.

'Is this actually a blessing?'

Even if it was a stepping stone for Leila, it was nothing more than an unpleasant foreign substance to Kim Yi-hyun. Wouldn't it be a problem if the mutation rate skyrocketed every time a crack was closed?

Although there is a 'molting' feature that lowers the mutation rate, it is a disposable trait.

We need to save as much as possible for the decisive moment.

The last spark flew out with a "Patsutsu." As the light subsided, Kim Yi-Hyeon was struck by a headache. It was a sensation very similar to when you overuse a spell.

It's a minor issue.

"The performance is certain."

The crack disappeared cleanly.

* * *

As soon as we got off the ship, we went through disinfection procedures.

Kim Yi-Hyeon was completely immune to external contamination, but other personnel were a problem. Even though only the highly contamination-resistant Pecatum and spellcasters were present, crystallization phenomena were frequently observed.

The character who influenced me the most in Dustborne was Leone.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I can't even take care of myself…."

"You should be sorry. Other people do the same."

It wasn't something to be excited about. Even if the impact was significant, it was only a small crystal sprouting on his right arm. After checking Leone's condition, Kim Yi-hyeon handed him the pills he had brought from the palace.

"If you take some medicine and rest, it will go away soon. It's just a rejection reaction from being exposed to high concentrations of pollution in a short period of time. Don't worry, the lab will take good care of it."

"Will it affect my training schedule?"

"What the hell is training? Just rest."

"Okay, I understand..."

This guy is also becoming more and more unstable.

"Anyway, you must have personally realized the danger of cracks."

"This isn't a phenomenon that only occurs in Bastetira, right?"

"That can't be. It's more correct to think that it can happen anywhere."

Echidna furrowed her brow at Kim Yi-hyeon's answer.

"The heavens are fucking crazy. Is the world really going to end?"

It's not an exaggeration or anything.

This time I was lucky. Although it was adjacent to the city, it wasn't in the middle of the street. It was a deserted mountain, and I could fight without worrying about the damage around me.

But what if the cracks occur in urban areas?

"If it were to explode in Cilicia, it would be a disaster."

"It wasn't like that there at all. It's actually okay there. It's a city where if you have bad luck, you'll be gone in an instant, so there's no need to change the existing policy."

The problem is even greater if discovery is delayed, Kim added.

"As far as we can tell, the cracks are widening. It's like they're making a nest and expanding it. We were able to deal with it quickly this time, so it's fortunate. If we had given it time, it would've been more annoying."

Echidna felt a sense of emptiness. It was something she had never imagined when she was a mafia member. Back then, she only had to take responsibility for herself and the organization, but at some point, the scale had grown beyond recognition.

"This is already the second time in Bastitera. It may have already started elsewhere."

"If it weren't for you or Leila, we wouldn't be able to get rid of it?"

"I don't know about that."

The agents of Dustborne have been given a brief explanation. They know that Kim Yi-Hyeon occasionally takes Helixivir. And that he has a different level of contamination resistance than others.

In relation to that, I pointed out the direction of 'peculiar constitution'.

'It's not a lie.'

In fact, it is highly likely that the reason he gained the [Chimera] talent was because of Helixivir. He became a half-parasite after taking the medicine. The difference from Leila is that it is 100% his own responsibility.

'No. I feel wronged too.'

Kushan too, everyone has misunderstandings.

I'm not sucking it because I want to suck it, that suspicious drug.

"Anyway, get ready to pack your bags when you get back."

"Ugh, I'm going to be crazy busy again from now on."

"If you're going to be rude, then be rude."

"He really is a bad person."

Chelsea sighed, grumbling as usual.

"Are you returning to the throne now?"

"I was planning to do that, um."

At the moment when the conversation was over, Kim Yi-hyeon looked around the barracks. At that moment, there was a man walking out of the infirmary. It was a face he had seen before.

"Just take a break for a moment."

* * *

As it was getting late, we decided to stay in Kartata for a day.

As he was a state guest, he was not confined to the barracks like a regular soldier. Thanks to Monica's consideration, he was able to stay in the officers' quarters, but even that was far from comfortable.

"The bed is hard…."

Asterike grumbled to herself as she got out of bed. Immediately afterwards, she realized that she was full. It seemed like only yesterday that she had been sleeping on straw, but the bed was hard.

'It wasn't like the day before yesterday.'

If I think about it, it's been quite a while since I met Hyun.

Counting by years, it's been 6 years. Next to my family, he's the person I've been with the longest. In the meantime, I've also become attached to new places. Like Cilicia and the underground facility of Cellbrox Labs.

Even though it didn't last long, like several years, she still misses it. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it attachment. The unfamiliar air that made her hesitate at first is now familiar.

On the other hand, the word 'hometown' is tinged with awkwardness.

'I thought it would be different if I came in person.'

The biggest reason I wanted to return home someday was to overcome this awkwardness. But it didn't make much of a difference. It's not so much that I can't breathe, but I feel like something is weighing on my chest.

Even Asterike himself couldn't know.

What on earth can you hope for in your hometown where you have no home or family left, that makes you feel so frustrated? Hasn't it been a long time already for it to be a problem that will be solved naturally with time?

"Ha, I don't like it."

I was just thinking about getting some fresh night air.

-Asterique. Is it there?

My heart naturally felt lighter at the familiar voice. Even without the bean pods, Hyun's tone had a corner that reassured people. The resonance itself was clear and had a sense of weight.

I opened the door without delay.

"Hyun, why? Did something happen?"

"It's nothing special. I just brought someone with me."

"huh?"

Kim Yi-hyeon nodded to the left. Asterike poked her head out of the door frame to follow the direction of the gaze. Then, her eyes met with a woman's.

A glimpse of the gray hair. Wrinkles that represent the years of life. Dark spots blooming under the eyes. Scenes from the past suddenly overlap before my eyes as I look at the face of an old woman.

"...nurse?"

A warm smile like that from back then appeared on the nanny's face.

"You've grown up beautifully, young lady."

* * *

The international situation has been changing very rapidly recently.

It was a huge flow of the times that could be observed even in the isolated island of Basteira. After thinking about it for a long time, Adrian felt a kind of awe.

"There is not a single part that Hyun is not involved in."

"Watch your tone, brother. Doesn't it sound like Hyun is the mastermind?"

"Isn't that the case for most?"

"It's a fact that others don't need to know."

Adrian decided to be careful with his words. He had learned from experience that it would only harm himself if he tried to argue pointlessly. His younger brother was the type of person who would not back down from a single word against someone he could easily defeat.

Especially when it comes to current affairs.

'I understand your longing.'

When I think about the relationship between Ainoa and Hyun, it would be stranger to not feel any feelings. I wonder if it will be repaid or not, but the hope still seems slim.

"...Anyway, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this is a place that Hyun created."

Adrian stared at the invitation on the table. It had arrived only today. A messenger from Harrenhal had come in person to deliver the news.

This is none other than the agenda for convening a summit.

"Two weeks later. It seems like it's quite urgent."

"It's fast, considering how long it took to get here."

"Yes. I guess we should consider that cracks have occurred in other countries as well."

It's a headache. That's all I can say.

"It'll get quite a bit of attention...."

It is assumed that the first place of occurrence was Bastitera, and it also has a Cellbrox Lab that can seal the rift. It is bound to attract attention at least once.

"Whew. I'm so busy just trying to stabilize the country."

"We should pray that no terrorist attacks occur."

"I heard that there was something like that too."

Adrian slowly tilted his head as he recalled that time.

"Hmm… No, really."

"Why are you doing that again?"

"I have a strange thought. Could it be that the terror attack back then was…."

Ainoa's eyes widened as she realized the context.

"Hey, do you think that was true?"

Even as he said that, his reasonable doubts were not erased.

Rather, the deeper I thought about it, the more my doubts grew.

The Salviati siblings realized the truth too late.