Chapter 5

D-grade monster, Green Goblin.

The behavior pattern of this monster can be summarized in one word: human wave tactics.

Even if individual combat power is weak, when they swarm, their win rate is surprisingly high.

On the other hand, when alone?

They’re weaker than most monsters.

“Die!!”

In other words, they’re perfect for reducing the mission duration.

Being F-grade, they’re not that numerous, but every little bit counts.

More is always better.

“Kyarururuk! Kyaruruk!”

The bushes rustled noisily.

A Green Goblin burst out.

One arm was missing, and its body was covered in blood.

The tattered cloth it was wearing had long since flown away.

‘I want to live. I want to live!’

The law of the jungle is survival of the fittest.

Weak individuals must be cautious in their actions.

But the goblin, fleeing from predators, had no time to be careful.

‘The hunting party was wiped out.’

Upon hearing the news, the tribe came.

What kind of humans would wipe out our kin!

Tears welled up at the sight.

A few thrusts and it could have been used as a breeding stick!

How dare they!

Touching the precious body of a goblin!

“Sister, ahead. Can’t you kill that?”

“Let’s make a bet on who can kill more.”

“Deal.”

But something was strange.

With just a few sword techniques, the group was annihilated.

It wasn’t for nothing that the strong Hobgoblins and Orcs formed mountains of corpses.

The goblin fled.

While other kin bought time.

As a messenger, it had to bring reinforcements.

For the tribe’s revenge, it had to succeed.

Tatadatat!

“Ke, keruruk!”

Bullets rained down on the goblin.

The goblin, pierced by bullets, fell to the ground, scattering brains.

Lee Seong-han, following behind, checked the goblin’s pulse.

Instant death.

The forehead was a honeycomb.

Incredible marksmanship. Even Lee Seong-han was impressed by his own skill.

“This is insane.”

No pulse.

Definitely dead.

The mission duration is reduced, but this much blood can be covered.

A smile bloomed on Lee Seong-han’s face.

[Monster species, Green Goblin has been defeated.]

[No enemies detected.]

[Automatic Combat deactivated.]

Strength drained from his body.

[Automatic Combat] was deactivated.

“Ha. That was a persistent one. This was the last entity detected. Time to catch a breath.”

Lee Seong-han knelt on one knee, preparing to dismantle the corpse.

[Notice.]

[Approaching target detected.]

[Target: Kang Mi-young.]

Lee Seong-han, upon confirming the report, immediately tensed up.

“Sir?”

“Loyalty.”

Rustling through the bushes, Kang Mi-young peeked out.

Her full-body suit was stained with blood.

The acrid smell of blood made it hard to maintain her expression.

“Awakened Soldier Lee Seong-han. I was resting after completing assigned duties.”

Kang Mi-young looked down at the goblin corpse.

Bullseye.

A precise shot through the forehead.

Modern rifles use large-caliber bullets, making recoil hard to manage.

Seeing him fire without bracing, it seemed like he was possessed.

Competent.

Skilled.

No issues with personality.

Perfect of perfect.

‘I want him. I really want him.’

Kang Mi-young stood beside him, chin in hand.

“Sir, are you a marksman?”

“No. This level of marksmanship is basic for an Awakened One.”

“Oh. Is that so? Can I borrow you for a moment?”

Kang Mi-young reached out as if asking for the gun.

Lee Seong-han, on the other hand, hugged the gun tightly.

At Nonsan Training Center, they said to treat it like a lover.

Having never had a girlfriend, he didn’t know what it meant to treat it like a lover.

So he decided to cherish it.

Thus, his rifle was well-lubricated, and he was knowledgeable about firearms.

“This, this is my first love. Please treat it with care.”

“Of course. I’ll treat it with care.”

Kang Mi-young took the rifle as if snatching it.

‘Not a speck of dust.’

Originally, she planned to find fault.

But she changed her plan.

‘Perfect. No need to even inspect it.’

She shouldered the rifle.

Bang─!

She fired a few shots into the air.

Nearby monsters fell instantly.

“How, how?”

Standard bullets.

For low-grade monsters, maybe, but high-grade ones would only get scratched?

Lee Seong-han, who had handed over the gun, looked awkward.

Is this what NTR feels like?

Something feels strangely dirty.

My, my lover was toyed with.

And by someone of higher rank! Ugh, sorry, Reinhard. As Lee Seong-han’s eyes reddened.

“Sir?”

“Ah, yes!”

“If you infuse mana, you can deal significant damage to monsters. That’s how Awakened abilities work. Try using it in the next battle.”

“Oh, ohhh. Got it!”

In fact, all he could do was admire.

Lee Seong-han wondered if such superhumans existed in the Tang army.

If it were him?

‘Would have deserted immediately.’

Get U.S. citizenship!

Go to the outskirts, build a house.

Go hunting occasionally!

But that’s not possible.

“By the way, impressive marksmanship, sir.”

“Thank you! Um, can you help me dismantle this?”

“Dismantling? Sure. I’ll assist.”

Lee Seong-han dismantled the goblin as if it were routine.

He split the chest with a large sword and reached inside.

Fumbling around.

When his fingers touched the heart area, he felt something hard.

Not bones.

Already removed them all.

Pulling out the hard object, a fist-sized blue gem popped out.

“Major. Would you like to take this magic stone? Just extracted, fresh.”

Lee Seong-han looked up at Kang Mi-young, boasting.

“The magic stone is yours to keep.”

“Thank you!”

“Thanks are unnecessary. I was forcibly brought here. I can’t help but feel sorry.”

Lee Seong-han seriously considered abandoning his lover, Reinhard.

Such a warm-hearted person!

Helping to reduce the mission duration.

Must work hard until discharge.

Lee Seong-han stood up awkwardly, wiping off blood.

Rustle rustle.

“Hu, I’m here. Were you waiting?”

“We just arrived.”

“…….”

Kang Jin-young, in charge of rear reconnaissance, arrived.

Her face showed clear signs of exhaustion.

That’s how many monsters there were to deal with.

“These guys really keep coming, huh?”

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin-young explained with arms crossed.

“Goblins always need a mage. Ah, do you have something to wipe with? Men always carry something, right?”

“Yes, I do. I’ve used it, is that okay?”

“Of course.”

As she received the handkerchief and patted her face.

Kang Mi-young cautiously spoke up.

“……By the way, sir, let’s continue the earlier conversation.”

“What conversation?”

“I respect your opinion. But it’s hard to believe there are no survivors at the forward base.”

Eyes burning red.

Sharp, hawk-like gaze.

Lee Seong-han nervously stepped back.

‘But it’s true.’

The system doesn’t lie.

Enemies are detected everywhere.

[Reconnaissance] confirmed only ruins, the forward base collapsed.

If there were survivors, it would have been reported.

“It would be a miracle to survive in this situation.”

Kang Mi-young’s face twisted.

Arms crossed, she looked troubled.

She knows it too.

Miracles are really rare.

Moreover, she saw it in the forest.

A black silhouette flying towards the base.

A large mass with wings.

That was definitely a hatchling.

That’s why it’s even harder to believe.

Losing those who’ve been together for months. Death is hard to get used to.

“They are the nation’s top talents.”

“I know.”

“They trained with me for such situations. They must be hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity.”

“I hope so too.”

Endlessly optimistic judgment.

Lee Seong-han shook his head, ending the conversation.

Would things really go as this young major said? It’s quite doubtful.

“Hey.”

Kang Jin-young, wiping off sweat, cautiously approached.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“·····Fighting a dragon bare-handed. It’s insane.”

“But there’s an S-Rank Hunter, right?”

“This is crazy.”

Biting her tongue.

Three people taking down a hatchling?

It’s as hard as doing 300 backflips on your hands, Hong Jin-ho beating Lim Yo-hwan, Faker getting solo killed.

That level of difficulty.

“Ah, come on.”

Knowing or not knowing her feelings, Kang Jin-young just smiled.

“Even with a herniated disc, I’m like this, right? Nothing to lose. But··· ugh. I need some rest when we get back to headquarters.”

Kang Jin-young waved her arms and started walking forward.

Limping.

Her steps were off.

Oh no, did she get injured in the last battle?

Lee Seong-han quickly approached and supported Kang Jin-young.

“Uh, uh uh.”

“If you’re hurt, you should say so. Here, relax. I’ll help.”

Kang Jin-young’s face turned beet red.

Is this a new kind of blushing?

Wh, why is he so tall?!

‘What kind of man is this bold? He, he was supposed to be timid according to records! Strange. My, my information can’t be wrong.’

She hadn’t anticipated this situation.

Spinning.

The world spins, and spins again.

Kang Jin-young caught her breath and tried to assess the situation.

‘This man is helping me now? Because I look tired? Just that? This is totally seduction.’

She’s twenty-nine. Next year, she’ll be thirty.

Her belly is starting to show, and lately, her libido has been rising.

Tossing and turning at night, and now this happens.

‘Go, good smell. I want to smell more.’

Sweet and soft like fabric softener.

Is this male pheromones?

This kind of stimulation is a first.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

Lee Seong-han tilted his head.

Handsome and polite.

Skilled too.

If anyone heard, there’d be a big fight over who’s the heroine.

Kang Jin-young quickly waved her hands.

“No, no, no!!”

Big and soft hands.

Not manly.

Like a big teddy bear.

Carefully touching with her hands.

‘So, so firm.’

Slightly soft but with calluses.

The more she touches, the better she feels.

This alone has all the elements women go crazy for.

Strong.

Competent.

Obedient.

Handsome man?

Who wouldn’t like that?

Especially when he’s seducing her now.

A strong stimulus hit her head.

Tsupat!

A bit of pleasure mixed in.

The strange pleasure of controlling a man.

Maintaining this state is key. It’s the best. Teasing a pure man.

“Are you okay?”

Lee Seong-han tilted his head and asked.

“Ge, getting help from a man is rare. Ah, ahaha. No problem.”

“Th, then I’ll let go for now.”

“Why, why?!”

Kang Jin-young’s face turned pale.

“Did I make you uncomfortable?”

“Uh, uh uh.”

“Sorry.”

Did I overstep?

Of course.

He’s incredibly shy.

Of course.

Men would hate that, right?

The women here were like that too.

They only like delicate guys.

Did I do something weird?

Lee Seong-han’s face looked troubled.

“Sorry.”

Tap.

Kang Jin-young skillfully grabbed his hand as he tried to pull away.

Oh my, this man.

He’s good at push and pull. Is he seducing me on purpose?

“If you let go, my back might strain again~ Oh dear.”

“Ah.”

If you don’t want to die, you better take care of my back!

Lee Seong-han resumed the supporting position.

I don’t want to die.

‘Cute. I want more.’

Smirk.

A smile appeared on Kang Jin-young’s lips.

There’s a taste to teasing.

Like a sulky puppy.

Big but well-behaved white dog?

Not some anime character, but incredibly pure.

As Kang Jin-young teased Lee Seong-han.

“······.”

Kang Mi-young remained silent.

Drawing her sword towards a pile of rubble.

“Completely destroyed.”

Concrete debris blocking the main gate.

The forward base, where supplies were to be received, was full of corpses.

* * *

“It’s huge.”

Lee Seong-han’s first words.

Like an abandoned research facility from an FPS game.

Actually, it was.

The difference?

Not destroyed by a full-scale war, World War III.

But by nature and all sorts of monsters.

Blue tents and various construction materials were visible.

According to Kang Jin-young’s explanation, this place was intended to be a resource base.

······Seeing the piles of corpses, it seems to have failed.

They entered after thinning out the monsters at the outer defense line.

But the already neutralized base interior was a mess.

Destroyed vehicles.

Scattered corpses.

One thing is certain: no material or human support can be expected for hatchling hunting.

Lee Seong-han was certain.

‘Why do I feel a chill down my spine moving with these two?’

No humans detected within a 2km radius except for them.

“Sister?”

Kang Jin-young, being supported.

She urgently shook her sister, who had stopped in her tracks.

“Sister. We need to move.”

“······.”

“Sister?”

Kang Mi-young roamed the entire base.

She often stared down at the discovered corpses.

“Good people they were. Sorry to you. Since childhood, I’ve been one to give a lot of affection. Let’s have a moment of silence.”

Troubled face.

Shaking red eyes.

She seemed shocked.

Rustle-

A sound approached.

“Isn’t that a moan?”

There couldn’t be anyone.

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