Chapter 1: Do You Admit Your Guilt? I Admit You’re a Fool! (Episode 54 – Legion VS Legion (8))
“Ah…”
When it shattered the ground and revealed itself, my body froze in an instant.
It was a monster. A giant monster.
“Aaaah!”
What pulled me back to reality was someone’s scream.
I propelled myself backward, hurriedly moving out of the way.
In a split second, the monster’s powerful hand struck where I had just been.
[The prey has been decided.]
“I know that!”
There was no time to pay attention to the letters flickering in front of my eyes.
As I watched the roaring beast charging at me, I hurriedly dodged.
At the same time, I activated what I had learned.
Body enhancement using Celestial Soul. It was the only ability I had learned with great difficulty during a short time, but I didn’t think it would be enough to capture that thing.
“Is it a unit? Or not? Just tell me that!”
[Try it out.]
If it wasn’t a unit, then there should at least be a way to deal with it, even without Execution Authority.
Glancing around the chaotic scene that had become a battlefield with the emergence of those things, I pulled out my phone.
I had saved battery for such occasions, minimizing its use.
‘Please.’
It might not be something I could use multiple times, but if this didn’t work, things could get troublesome.
Fortunately, my worries were unfounded.
The terrifying creature that had been roaring and shaking the ground vanished with a click. That meant it wasn’t a unit.
[It is the largest and strongest of the sent samples. Watch as the Legion hunts it.]
“That’s enough. I believe it. But right now, I don’t have time to watch.”
I shook my head and cleared the screen.
Despite the creature that had been attacking me disappearing, the chaos around me was such that no one was paying attention to it.
[Then hide your body and ensure your safety.]
“…I can’t do that.”
[Your life does not belong to you alone.]
“That’s certainly true.”
I forced a bitter smile and moved my trembling legs.
I wasn’t moving to hide.
“I hope the connected Legion can comprehend the meaning and intention behind my actions.”
I dashed towards the people who were being attacked.
It was crazy. But the fact that I had come here against my will was already madness.
All of this wasn’t for my own sake.
“You…!?”
“Let’s go now.”
The creature, which seemed to completely disregard bullets, was writhing in fear from the tear gas fired by the mercenaries.
In the meantime, I saved those around me.
After all, I couldn’t inflict damage on those monsters with my capabilities.
If I could even scratch those shells, it would be impressive.
[It is a meaningless and dangerous action. I recommend avoiding it immediately… ]
“What are you going to do then? I’m going to act as I see fit?!”
I raised my voice while looking at the flickering letters.
I could feel the foreign researchers freezing in surprise, unable to comprehend my words spoken in Korean.
“I acknowledge that the Legion has established its own value system. But it’s still not enough. There are opportunities.”
This was, in fact, something I was saying to myself as well.
The trajectory the Legion had shown so far.
And the imagery of the gate opening according to our will made it impossible for me to shake off the bad thoughts that emerged.
‘The Legion is most influenced by me.’
That’s why I had made my decision.
Through my actions, I hoped at least for them to understand one thing.
That humans, this world, should not merely be seen as prey. I wished for them to perceive us as beings living alongside them.
Therefore, I thought it might even be a good thing that the Legion maintained its obsession with me.
“It’s better this way. A monstrous swarm that mechanically analyzes everything in this universe and continues on a path of destruction and slaughter is worse than a whiny, jealous child. You probably thought the Legion would become more ferocious and destructive if it gains emotions and a self. But I don’t think that way. I believe there must be another way.”
[If you believe that, then act accordingly. You will eventually know what is right.]
I grimaced at the response.
I thought I would land a hit, only to have it answered without hesitation as if it had been waiting.
“Ah, over there…!”
“Stay here!”
After securing the researcher in a safe place, I dashed back to the ground.
I had to save at least one more person. It wasn’t merely for the Legion to see.
Ten years ago, there were those who saved our family from the monsters that mercilessly killed my father.
Now that I had power, I could repay that debt.
Fortunately, there were surprisingly people standing against those monsters.
That created an opening.
“…A soldier?”
A soldier dressed in military uniform was definitely the one swinging a sword in the air.
I recalled something. A special forces unit formed by the country to recruit hunters.
That must be him.
“Get a grip, J. I’m going to move you.”
As I evacuated the remaining researchers, I rushed to the mercenary who had collapsed on the ground.
Blood was streaming all around. One side of his upper body had been severely torn apart. Panic hit me for a moment, and my hands fumbled helplessly in the air.
“I’m already too late.”
“But…”
“I knew it, the rookie is a rookie after all. Is this your first time seeing someone die?”
He smiled weakly even as he was dying. Then, with trembling hands, he grasped my arm.
“Please tell Robert to keep his promise to look after my family. That man will survive. And… remember, this kind of thing is common.”
“I know. Me too.”
“Is that so? Then that’s a relief…”
The strength drained from the arm that had been holding mine, falling limp.
I clearly saw life fading from his eyes.
“Go, help others.”
“…Yes.”
And that was his last.
Surprisingly, the shock was minimal. Or perhaps it wasn’t minimal at all.
Regardless, I found myself rising and running again without realizing it.
[The Legion has already become a powerful entity. Do you really think you can guide such an existence? Being a Player doesn’t make you superior to a unit.]
“I don’t have a giant brain or anything, so I don’t know that. I just do it.”
Rather, my thought that I should step forward became even more resolute.
I continued dragging the injured to the rear, drawing the attention of those monsters with my gun, buying time.
“Alright! Let’s retreat. Retreat!”
Covered in blood that didn’t belong to him, Robert shouted to retreat after I told him I had evacuated everyone else and threw down his grenade launcher.
“Ah, damn it.”
“Ugh…”
One of those monsters appeared in front of us.
We instinctively took a step back.
In this situation, we had no way to confront that thing face-to-face.
“Screeeech!”
Then she appeared.
A soldier who jumped up from behind the monster and precisely struck her sword into its head.
“Everyone, get away!”
As the creature let out a horrific scream and thrashed about, I made eye contact with that person.
*
“Anyway, get ready again. We need to gather more tear gas, as it’s more effective than useless grenades.”
Back to the present. Robert patted my shoulder and went outside.
Surprisingly, my reputation had improved quite a bit, considering I had done nothing but flail around in an unexpected situation.
It seemed that my desperate efforts left a good impression.
Even Robert, instead of cursing my inability, no longer called me a rookie.
[Do not try to bear a burden you cannot handle.]
“Why have you become so talkative? Are you scared?”
In that brief moment, I checked the appearance of the Legion.
I couldn’t help but feel my heart racing, wondering if my intentions had been conveyed.
“Disappear. You useless trash that has been eliminated.”
“…”
And the Legion’s appearance welcoming me on the screen was engaged in its final battle against the mutated Devouring Fungus.
While the overwhelming sight was one thing, I could tell that the Legion was currently quite excited and thrilled.
“That can happen.”
Momentarily dazed, I blinked, but quickly understood.
After all, the mutated Devouring Fungus was an obvious enemy that they had to kill.
“We have to devour everything and rise higher and higher.”
However, when the Legion, victorious in battle, muttered while looking up, I ultimately made the call to my brother. This was not merely a simple sense of competitiveness.
The intense emotions the Legion felt flowed into me as well.
That’s why I could sense it. My heart thudded, and my blood boiled.
This was unmistakable madness.
If it continued this way, it seemed the Legion would grow in a completely different direction than I intended.
…That cannot happen. I had already made my determination.
So, the Legion had to continue its fixation on me. It had to see only me. It must not break free from my control.
“Is there any injury? Is there no injury?! Why did you expose yourself instead of just running away!!”
“Hah, yeah. I’m fine.”
Finally calming down, I watched as the Legion hurriedly hid its physical form, speaking at the right moment.
As soon as Kang Do-yeon heard what I had said, she yelled out in concern for me.
“I’m fine, so calm down. Besides, you rolled around worse than I did.”
“I’m fine. I’m not even human anymore. I’ve felt it recently. I now eat with tentacles…”
“No. You are human.”
To the self-deprecating laughter from the person beside me, I replied firmly, my face stiffening in the moment.
“But…”
“What does the body matter? It doesn’t matter. How you were born and how you change, ultimately, what matters is your thoughts.”
I relayed the message once again to my sister and the entire Legion.
The intention was the same as expressing that I was saving people for their sake.
I could only swallow resentment for being scolded for something that sounded pleasant. I just wished they would understand my intention.
Did they really understand? I sincerely wanted to talk to them directly. But with them refusing, there was nothing I could do.
“By the way, I noticed that your emotions were wavering around the middle there.”
At that moment, my sister, who had been observing, changed the subject.
It was obvious now. This was the Legion’s directed utterance.
“Did you feel attracted? It’s nothing significant. I already told you earlier. In moments of crisis, I received the help of many people. It was just the feelings I had towards those people.”
I explained it as if it were nothing.
I emphasized as much as possible the help I received from those people. That just as a single human being, I needed people, and they had to be there.
Even if the Legion felt jealousy, I wished that if it ever reached this planet, it would spare those people on my behalf.
“They are irreplaceable beings to me.”
I blurted out a saintly remark but held back.
Kang Do-yeon’s face twisted in disbelief, as if looking at a madman. My face flushed.
“You’re speaking interesting words.”
At that moment, I was startled by a voice I heard and quickly closed the application in front of me.
