Chapter 6

The search for survivors within the base had already surpassed an hour. The Forward Base was no small place.

“Dead.”

Kang Mi-young was exhausted.

She checked the pulse and breathing.

Dead.

If only the results were that simple. This process inevitably forced her to look at their faces. And then, memories would surface. The times spent with that person.

Trivial episodes.

Experiences.

Likes and dislikes.

Small talk.

Everything.

Even though the Awakened are blessed as a new breed of humanity, many have regressed in terms of humanity. Especially in situations like this.

“Rest in peace.”

This was the 47th one. She covered the body with a nearby cloth. She wanted to dig a grave, but they had to send the bodies back to their families waiting in the homeland.

As soldiers, that was the right thing to do. She paid her respects and continued the search.

Next.

The next one will be different.

—

“Alive?! Turn on the radio, turn on the radio…!”

Kang Mi-young quickly turned on the radio and shouted.

“Sir, we’ve found a survivor! Inform Kang Jin-young as well.”

– Where is the location?

She approached the injured person, putting away her weapon. The command center was barely holding on. The pulse was unstable, and the heart rate was fast. They were on the verge of shock.

“The command center. One injured. The dead…”

She couldn’t continue. It was too gruesome. There were more than a few mutilated bodies.

“Can’t… can’t estimate. Join us immediately. Kang Jin-young knows the way. I’ll check if we can evacuate the injured. Over.”

– Understood.

The radio channel closed. Kang Mi-young felt relieved. After a long search, they had finally found a survivor.

‘First, emergency treatment is needed.’

The condition was critical.

The neck had bite marks and was half torn off, and the lower body seemed to have been attacked and severed. They couldn’t move.

She tried to carry them, but the weight was too much. Kang Mi-young looked outside. The lower-tier monsters were gradually retreating.

“Damn, the weather…”

The sun was setting.

Night is the time for beasts.

Kang Mi-young knew that.

She didn’t want to waste time. Kang Mi-young activated [Exit] while holding the soldier.

A skill to leave the tower.

[!Impossible!]

But a red warning message popped up.

“Tch.”

Kang Mi-young clicked her tongue.

She checked the time.

It was 9 PM.

The tower’s internal time flowed the same as the real world. [Exit] was disabled until the next morning. Until 9 AM.

[21:00 – 09:00, tower exit is prohibited.]

[Violating this will result in the curse, ‘Deserter.’]

Kang Mi-young was reluctant to get cursed. Even if she could endure it, the injured couldn’t.

“Here, eat this.”

“Ugh…”

She fed them some herbs she had and performed emergency treatment using the medical supplies from the first aid kit. The result… barely enough to keep them alive. Not perfect.

“Sister.”

“Major!”

Right then, Lee Seong-han and Kang Jin-young arrived at the command center.

Sssssss────!

What kind of sound was that? At first, it was puzzling. But it wasn’t hard to figure out the truth.

The sound of a punctured lung.

It reached Lee Seong-han.

He had followed Kang Mi-young’s trail.

He wiped his forehead.

“Damn, someone really tore through here.”

Lee Seong-han couldn’t help but curse as soon as he saw the injured.

From the looks of it, they weren’t alive.

A growing sense of discomfort.

[‘Mental Barrier’ has detected mental instability.]

[Extreme confusion, madness, and mental damage have been preemptively removed.]

“Ugh, my head.”

As [Mental Barrier] activated, he shook it off.

But the gruesome scene made him click his tongue.

Lee Seong-han stared down at the soldier.

‘Was this done by monsters during the attack?’

Especially the claw marks on the neck.

It must have been the work of a Hatchling.

No doubt.

He had seen a few bodies like this on the way.

Newly born Hatchlings are mentally immature.

But physically, they are complete.

The species itself is born with a golden spoon.

They could easily overrun a small base like this.

—

“You’re oddly calm? How boring.”

“I just do what needs to be done.”

“Huh, a rare trait. You seem thoughtful, care to share?”

Kang Jin-young gestured as if to say, go ahead.

Lee Seong-han chewed his tongue with his front teeth and then spoke.

“That soldier. It’s a fake. How could someone survive for nearly an hour in that state?”

It didn’t make sense from the start.

Surviving in that condition.

That couldn’t be human.

“I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt that.”

Kang Jin-young, who had been clinging like a leech, clicked her tongue sharply.

“Can I say it outright?”

“The Hatchling probably can’t understand us yet.”

Kang Jin-young stroked her chin with her finger.

“Besides, all we heard were screams and military terms. What else could there be?”

“That makes sense. Good thing we brought you. Hehehe.”

While the two bantered back and forth.

Kang Mi-young skillfully applied pressure to the soldier’s wounds.

“Major, something’s wrong.”

Lee Seong-han whispered to Kang Jin-young.

“That person doesn’t have [Mental Barrier].”

Mental Barrier.

An S-Rank trait that blocks negative mental influences.

Lee Seong-han had also acquired it during his return.

He didn’t know the details.

But he wondered if he had achieved some 『Hidden Achievement』.

“Sister has always been fragile since childhood. This kind of place doesn’t suit her.”

Kang Jin-young clicked her tongue with a venomous look.

Her gaze was directed at her sister.

[Iron Blood Empress Kang Mi-young is in a charmed state.]

Charmed.

Someone was manipulating Kang Mi-young’s perception.

Kang Mi-young irritably waved her hand.

“This time, I won’t let them die… I’ll save at least one person.”

Kang Mi-young’s eyes turned red.

She focused her mana on the wound.

The emergency equipment from the uniform had already stopped the bleeding.

“Sir.”

“Yes.”

“There’s a research building nearby. If we can get a mana pack, we might be able to save them.”

Lee Seong-han went outside the tent.

Kang Jin-young was supported as well.

“There.”

“Where? It’s all tents and buildings.”

“The cross flag!”

As Kang Jin-young said, a cross flag fluttered in the distance.

“Here?”

“Here.”

The research building, despite its name, was a shabby tent.

Various medical equipment and research facilities were scattered inside.

But it seemed the air conditioner had been running until recently.

The interior, isolated from the outside, had a faint chill.

Kang Jin-young looked around for a moment and then pointed to a nearby table.

“Can you sit me there?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Ouch! P-put me down gently. You’re so strong, not very manly.”

“Sorry!”

“No need to apologize.”

Kang Jin-young sat on the table.

She caught her breath and checked her ankle.

It was already swollen and purple.

‘This is bad. The condition is too poor.’

Even Lee Seong-han, who had no medical knowledge, could see that recovery would be difficult in the short term.

What to do.

Can’t just leave them here.

Even high-level Awakened can get into big trouble if ambushed alone.

—

“Don’t make such a face like you’re about to die. I don’t plan on dying alone. Even if my sister is unreliable… I can’t just leave her behind.”

Kang Jin-young spoke confidently and grabbed her ankle with both hands.

“I’ll do it.”

“It’s fine.”

The blue light from her hands.

She was infusing mana.

One of the mage’s abilities.

A skill that uses mana to heal injuries.

Checking the wound again, it had somewhat improved.

“This state isn’t bad for now.”

“I’ll look for the mana pack.”

“I’ll help.”

Thud.

“…Ouch! I’d like to, but my body’s in no condition. My mana’s probably depleted too.”

Lee Seong-han didn’t want to rough up the injured either.

Looking around.

Lee Seong-han began searching drawers, cabinets, and research equipment for the serum.

From the outside, it seemed quite cramped.

But inside, it was as spacious as a decent building.

Kang Jin-young, holding her waist, spoke.

“By the way, Seong-han, is your ability [Reconnaissance]?”

“[Reconnaissance] isn’t the only one.”

“Of course, it can’t be just that. What else?”

Oh no, I messed up again.

Lee Seong-han thought his mouth was trouble.

“The essence is similar, let’s just say that.”

Lee Seong-han opened a large freezer.

He took out a blue serum.

“Is this it?”

“Yes. Bring it all!”

Even though the power was out and it was lukewarm, it didn’t matter.

“If we inject all of this… something will go wrong.”

“Right. That’s what we’re aiming for.”

The concentration is low.

Meaning, it’s contaminated.

Considering the Hatchling’s heart is a mana circuit, it should be fatal.

“Here.”

“Yes, I’ve brought the serum. Major. Just inject it.”

Kang Mi-young’s sweaty face.

She finally seemed to relax.

“First, let’s move them to the rear. They’ll be fine. Let them rest.”

Kang Jin-young skillfully injected the serum.

“……”

As the needle entered the vein.

The wound began to regenerate.

At the same time, Lee Seong-han expertly aimed his gun at the soldier.

If it’s a fake, maintaining that form would be difficult.

The soldier’s pupils split into several parts.

“Major, this thing isn’t human.”

“What.”

The rifle’s bolt was pulled.

[High-density mana wave detected.]

[Target, ‘Hatchling’ identified.]

[Presumed to be using ‘Shape Shift.’]

Before any judgment could be made, the soldier’s neck split open.

[Automatic Combat initiated.]

Crafty little thing.

Only then did Kang Mi-young realize the truth, her eyes moving.

Boom───!

They exchanged heavy blows.

Kang Mi-young breathed heavily, as if exhausted.

If that attack had hit, it would have been shattered.

Lee Seong-han breathed a sigh of relief.

Thud.

Kang Mi-young collapsed.

It felt like her energy had been drained.

Between the Hatchling and Kang Mi-young, a blue line was visible.

[Will you accept the 『Hidden Quest』?]

A quest?

Well, I’m doomed anyway.

Might as well try.

Lee Seong-han grinned bitterly.

“Accept.”

[『Hidden Quest』 has arrived!]

Let’s give it a proper shot.

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