The Earth Defense Union’s Seoul Branch is renowned for its top-tier teams, with Team HunterKiller being the most notable, and Team SpecialForce standing at an equal level. Despite their excellence, these teams aren’t widely known.
Years have passed since the conflict with Spacystro began, and two decades ago, Earth faced chaos due to alien invasions. However, the invaders’ peaceful approach allowed Earth to quickly regain stability. Consequently, the public’s interest shifted away from the superhumans, and the media focused more on celebrities and current events rather than these heroes. This lack of attention wasn’t entirely unjustified; after all, the superhumans had been fighting for Earth without significant changes for 20 years, making it natural for people to lose interest.
However, some superhumans continued to cause trouble, and their actions reinforced negative perceptions among the public, who felt these superhumans weren’t delivering results despite receiving tax support.
In Seoul Branch, there were also superhumans who, despite facing manpower shortages, received lenient punishments for their misconduct, continuing to repeat their offenses.
Among them, Team Guerrilla was notorious for its infamy, far surpassing other superhuman teams in Seoul Branch.
When I first saw him, he gave me an uneasy feeling, and I couldn’t recall exactly where or when we had met. But his rash behavior instantly brought back memories, allowing me to recognize him.
On the day I first met Hayang, he was at a restaurant, hurling abuse and violence towards a staff member over a simple lunch.
“Everyone, stay calm.”
Unlike the time when he caused damage to my table alone, now he was drinking with colleagues, and any sudden action could escalate the situation.
If this was seen as a deviation from our scheduled engagement, we would face disciplinary action for breaking rules. Given that Spacystro highly values these rules, even if we were transferred to another branch, we wouldn’t be able to protest.
Although some colleagues found this unreasonable, we knew there was no choice. Even if 20 years had passed and public interest had waned, our status as invaders hadn’t changed. Therefore, we needed to be more cautious and vigilant against superhumans like Indigo, who acted recklessly.
My colleagues became visibly upset, but upon hearing my words, they regained their composure and softened their expressions.
“Sorry, did we make too much noise?”
Klugger awkwardly smiled, trying to calm him down by extending his hand, but Indigo pushed it away and glared at Kluger with a drunken look.
“Sorry? What a joke. These bastards.”
I couldn’t understand why he was being so aggressive and abusive. There seemed to be no specific reason; perhaps he was having a bad day and had been drinking.
Those who exhibit extreme behavior after drinking often act irrationally, without logical reasons. Attempting to understand such behavior would be foolish, and even if one tried, it would be impossible to comprehend.
“Indigo, cool it. You’re acting like a coward.”
I had heard Indigo’s name before, even briefly meeting him earlier. Whether it was his name or codename didn’t matter; what mattered was that my perception of Indigo the superhuman had solidified in my mind.
“If you want to gossip in groups, get a room or stop bothering people.”
Though I wasn’t good at social gatherings, I understood the basics. Whether in the military, during planetary invasions, or in space, I knew that places for drinking should be lively and joyful.
His anger and actions lacked any logical reasoning.
Moreover, our voices weren’t that loud. We were aware that we shouldn’t stand out during gatherings, so we avoided conspicuous behavior.
Indigo, who was just drinking, mistook us for common men, and because superhumans can easily handle several regular men, he confidently provoked us.
“We haven’t had a gathering in a while, so we might have been a bit loud.”
“Hey.”
Klugger tried to calm Indigo down, but Indigo was offended by his tone and grabbed Kluger by the collar, becoming even more aggressive. Nearby colleagues tried to intervene, but Kluger signaled them not to interfere.
If everyone got involved, it could become uncontrollable. So, I asked my colleagues to step back and stepped forward myself.
“It’s best if we calm down a bit. There are many customers here.”
Before I realized the pain from my abdomen, I pushed a blue plastic chair aside and fell to the floor.
“!”
I realized Indigo had kicked me in the stomach. The pain wasn’t unbearable, but the sudden shock made it feel intense, and the unexpected violence left me stunned.
Many people were already watching, and my colleagues, unable to call out my name, helped me up.
“Calming down? Customers? I’m upset because of you guys, and you think that matters?”
Indigo was beyond comprehension. For a while, I had forgotten that not all superhumans are good, even though I’ve met HunterKiller members. Perhaps all superhumans are good, fighting weekly to protect their planets. Who could call them evil?
As invaders, we knew that invaders are perceived as evil by the planet’s inhabitants. However, Indigo and his team were undoubtedly evil superhumans.
They laughed and drank while watching their teammate verbally and physically abuse civilians, who could be innocent bystanders. They may not directly participate, but they are complicit.
“Customers, this is problematic.”
The owner came to mediate, but Indigo ignored him, grabbing the owner by the collar and lifting him. Kluger, who was taller, remained still, and the owner, lifted by Indigo, struggled to free himself.
“Damn, you guys think superhumans are a joke.”
We must stop him. The situation had escalated, and we needed to prevent further harm. Yet, regardless of our thoughts, we couldn’t do anything.
“Don’t do anything.”
My colleagues were instructed not to act rashly. Using force here would be easy, and it might seem justified as self-defense. However, our actions would be different since Indigo didn’t know we were Spacystro, and we knew he was a superhuman.
Above all, using force here would make us no better than him.
From the moment I was kicked, Kluger’s expression had been grim. He is a strong colleague with leadership qualities. I knew his personality well from working together for a long time.
Seeing him clench his fists, ready to strike Indigo, I called out to him despite the surrounding attention.
“Klugger!”
At my shout, Kluger and Indigo turned to look at me. Indigo was also looking at me, but now wasn’t the time to consider his gaze.
“Calm down.”
Just as Kluger knows me well, I know him too. Though I don’t know how he perceives me, I believe he noticed my attempt to remain rational in this situation.
His rigid expression relaxed, but the problem was Indigo.
“Calm down? Calm down? Are you serious?”
He threw the owner to the ground and pushed Kluger aside, then approached me.
Feeling that my colleagues might get involved, I pushed them away, and my colleagues stepped back to create distance.
There was a solution to the current situation. Regardless of Indigo’s actions, I hoped he would leave out of frustration. I understood that a lukewarm response was necessary.
In the Korean military, there’s a saying: if a fight breaks out while drinking, always avoid the scene.
Positions exist. Even with power and ability, one shouldn’t disregard their position. Spacystro prioritizes peaceful methods of invasion, considering it a fundamental rule.
Though we are ordinary soldiers with limited power and ability, we can respond to Indigo’s actions here. However, our position, this place, is not where we should act this way.
Even if we subdued him with force and resolved the situation, it would be seen as self-defense and not problematic in this isolated incident. However, viewed holistically, our small actions could label us as outlaws.
“Try calming down!”
He threw a bowl of sauce onto my clothes and slapped my cheek with his hand. It wasn’t just a light slap; the force pushed me back, and the description “slapped” was fitting.
But I didn’t flinch. Being slapped by him was infuriating, and the unfair treatment only added to my anger. Nevertheless, I had to endure. If I acted rashly here, it would affect our team leader, Luche, who was enjoying the gathering.
We lost again today, as we do every time. Despite this, Luche doesn’t blame us. I couldn’t add any more burden to her.
My colleagues felt the same. When I was slapped, Kruger, who was about to confront Indigo, was knocked down by Indigo’s colleague’s kick.
With unwavering eyes, I looked at Kruger, and he returned my gaze, regaining his composure. We had to endure. As mere soldiers, that was all we could do. We never expected the gathering, meant to be enjoyable after rigorous training, to end this way. It was the worst gathering ever.
“Damn, these guys are making people angry.”
By the time, all the customers had left the shop, and my colleagues and I were sprawled on the floor. Indigo, looking down at me with disdain, spat on my clothes.
My clothes were dirty, and the shop was in disarray, but we endured.
The saying “enduring is winning” didn’t apply here. More importantly, it wasn’t about winning or losing. By enduring, we prevented a potentially worse outcome.
After venting their frustrations, Indigo and his group left the shop.
Looking at the mess, I slowly approached the owner, who was crying in disbelief.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, customer, are you okay?”
“Yes, don’t worry about us.”
It was strange that the police hadn’t arrived, which might be a blessing in disguise for us.
“Did you report it?”
“Yes, but those guys were superhumans…”
The perpetrators were superhumans, so the police deliberately delayed their response, explaining why they hadn’t arrived yet.
Unwillingly, I saw a side of Earthlings viewing superhumans negatively, which was disheartening.
After helping the owner clean up, we left the shop. Much time had passed, and our condition was dire. No one spoke, but we knew what to do.
Then, my smartphone rang. Checking it, I saw a video call from Luche, and my colleagues sighed.
“Hey, pretend we’re all drunk.”
I answered Luche’s call.
“Hey? What’s going on? Why do you guys look like that?”
Luche’s shocked expression was evident through the screen.
“Oh! Miss Luche! We were just fooling around and fell asleep!”
Despite not getting high from drinking, I feigned intoxication, telling Luche it was nothing. My colleagues also pretended to be drunk.
“Drink responsibly and go home safely. Are you hurt?”
“No, we’re fine! You know we’re tough, right?”
Even Kluger, whose expression had been rigid, spoke loudly to Luche, and Luche shook his head as if exasperated.
“Ugh, I called just in case… Is the gathering over?”
“Yes! We’re heading home now!”
The battered Ban, Jack, and Ron spoke as if they had all gotten drunk and caused trouble. Luche, thinking we had enjoyed the gathering, smiled.
“Okay, be careful on your way home, and perform well in next week’s match.”
“Yes! See you next time!”
“Miss Luche, take care of yourself!”
“Love you, Team Leader!”
The call ended with loud farewells, and the screen went black, leaving us with grim expressions.
“Damn, we’re in trouble.”
“This needs to be reported, but Miss Luche will worry a lot.”
“What a headache.”
Beside me, Jack and Ron added their thoughts after Ban’s sigh. It made me wonder if reporting this was the right thing to do. Clearly, it wasn’t an official incident, just a fight at a gathering. And we stayed silent to prevent any potential escalation.
“First, keep quiet. Report it if it gets bigger.”
Klugger’s intention was clear to everyone, including me. I agreed with his stance. Still, something troubled me.
“Is that right?”
Ban raised a doubt. Everyone shared the same thought, turning their gaze to Kluger, and I spoke on his behalf.
“Does right or wrong matter?”
We are like minor characters in a war movie, dying unknown. We couldn’t burden Luche with more defeats. After parting ways with my colleagues, I remembered Yubin waiting for me at home. After returning from a trip, seeing her after a long time, I didn’t want her to see me like this, and it made me angry.
Looking at my disheveled state, I noticed my dirty shirt.
‘This was bought on our first date.’
One of the shirts Yubin picked out when we first shopped and dated together was now so dirty I couldn’t bear to look at it.
Knowing that worrying wouldn’t change anything, I entered the house after entering the password.
“Brother!”
Yubin, with a joyful voice, approached and stopped upon seeing me. Without a word, I took off my shoes, entered the house, lowered my body, and embraced her. Yubin held me tightly, despite my filthy appearance.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
Carefully, she asked, and I nodded silently.
Feeling disgusted meeting Yubin in this state, and enraged by Indigo and his group undermining the efforts of HunterKiller members, I clenched my fists.
