Chapter 63
’No way.’
But it was too obvious.
The moment our eyes met, Captain Kwak Han-mook’s gaze shifted toward Dominic and then back to me.
’Captain Kwak...’
He was the last person I expected.
’Captain Kwak!?’
I was so shocked that I barely managed to stop myself from jumping out of my seat.
As I clenched my fists, Dominic’s laughter echoed again.
"Are you surprised? There is no need to be overly shocked. He is simply someone of a lower rank than you, Roasted Chestnut."
’No, then how exactly does he see Captain Kwak!’
I waited anxiously, praying that he would continue.
However, Dominic said nothing more, playfully scurrying back and forth across my forearm.
Settling on the back of my hand, Dominic looked up at me, his body squishing softly.
His attitude suggested that if I were curious about the story, I should find a quiet place on my own.
But it seemed I wouldn’t be able to be alone with Dominic until after we entered Slay to Plate.
I barely managed to tear my gaze away from Dominic.
I was in the middle of a briefing; I couldn’t afford to act too strange.
’Mr. Dominic. Please, tell me the rest soon!’
I suppressed the urge to grab the slime and shake him vigorously, trying to focus on the briefing, but all sorts of thoughts were racing through my mind.
Captain Kwak Han-mook’s gaze, which kept flickering between me and Dominic, didn’t help; I had to exert a tremendous amount of effort just to listen to the briefing properly.
"The suitable candidate to enter with the team is First Lieutenant Won Tae-bum of Field Response Headquarters, Field Team 2. He has extensive experience entering trials as a team with Captain Mo Hae-in and has also teamed up with Captain Kwak Han-mook."
I knew First Lieutenant Won Tae-bum.
I had played with him in a team during the Archive game; he was skilled and taciturn, meaning he could keep a secret.
In many ways, he was the most appropriate personnel placement to enter with the Special Task Team.
"Additionally, he is an infected carrier of the BT-DH virus. However, his infection level is low, and he stably maintains a clear state of mind, so there are no concerns regarding that."
Won Tae-bum’s appearance had changed slightly due to the infection, but it was minimal compared to Je Hyun-oh or other infected.
Recalling the pixel art version of Won Tae-bum, I listened intently to Samra’s words.
"In the case of First Lieutenant Won Tae-bum, he has decided to suspend his current mission to join the entry into <Slay to Plate», so he is scheduled to arrive at the hatching site last."
The fact that he was coming at all was something to be grateful for.
’Especially since it’s a mission with Lieutenant Colonel Je!’
For several years, Je Hyun-oh had proudly held the number one spot as the superior that candidates from the TRA Administration least wanted to enter a trial with.
I felt infinite gratitude toward Won Tae-bum.
And finally, when the briefing ended.
I tried to secure even a moment to talk with Dominic, but there was simply no opportunity.
Even if I said I was going to the restroom, the soldiers would likely follow.
Left with no choice, I carried my anxiety with me as I moved toward the hatching site of Slay to Plate.
The hatching site for Slay to Plate was Dosan Park in Gangnam.
I had heard it was chaos because a meteorite fell in such prime real estate, and seeing the location, I could see why.
’It really is the middle of Gangnam.’
Upon arrival, I saw that Dosan Park and its surrounding areas were completely restricted.
Thanks to that, I was able to get out of the car in an area without people and move into the park.
The Slay to Plate meteorite had fallen among the trees.
It was a peculiar sight; the surrounding trees had all fallen outward in a circle, leaving the small meteorite in the center.
It was as if the environment was emphasizing the meteorite’s position.
Surrounded by soldiers, I crouched alone beside the meteorite.
I stared blankly at the palm-sized stone.
The Slay to Plate meteorite, with its red base mixed with white light, looked at a glance like a piece of fresh marbled beef.
’If someone with bad eyesight saw this, they might have picked it up and fried it in a pan.?’
While I was thinking about how delicious it looked, Dominic moved to the back of my hand and peered at the meteorite with interest.
"Is this the entrance to the trial you mentioned, Roasted Chestnut?"
I glanced around.
The soldiers surrounding me stood at a distance.
If I whispered briefly, they probably wouldn’t hear.
"Yes, Mr. Dominic. If you place your hand here, you will be transported. Including the people around me." I explained quickly, fearing Dominic might touch the meteorite.
Since Slay to Plate required a specific number of people to enter, touching it now wouldn’t trigger the transport, but since the subject was Dominic, I had my concerns.
Dominic answered calmly from the back of my hand.
"I see. I certainly feel a sense of heterogeneity that does not belong to your planet, Roasted Chestnut."
As Dominic and I admired the meteorite for a while, a booming voice rang out.
"Goyo!"
I jumped up and turned around.
Kwak Han-mook and Mo Hae-in had arrived.
"Captains!"
I quickly perched Dominic on my shoulder and ran toward them.
As I approached them happily, my eyes widened.
Both of their uniforms were a mess, as if they had been rolling around somewhere. It seemed catching criminals had not been an easy task.
While I stared at them with a surprised face, Kwak Han-mook suddenly ran toward me and stopped right in front of my nose.
He looked down at me.
His expression was that of someone who had too much to say but didn’t know where
to start.
"Goyo, you..-"
Kwak Han-mook started to speak but flinched, shifting his gaze to the side.
He was clearly looking at Dominic, who was enjoying the midday park on my shoulder.
Meanwhile, Mo Hae-in approached.
She gripped my forearm tightly.
It was almost painful, but I stayed still, unable to say a word.
Mo Hae-in soon let out a long breath. Having regained her composure with a single breath, she called me.
"Trainee."
"Yes..?"
"Let’s talk after we enter Slay to Plate."
"Yes..."
Both Mo Hae-in and Kwak Han-mook probably wanted to grill me right this second.
But there were too many TRA Administration soldiers around.
I bowed my head first.
"Thank you for coming, Captains. Entering a trial immediately after your mission because of me...."
"Why is that because of you, Goyo?" Kwak Han-mook cut me off.
"That’s right. It’s not your fault, Trainee."
Mo Hae-in followed up on Kwak Han-mook’s words, muttering lowly.
"The TRA Administration is the one that pushed the trainee into a one-month timeframe from the start."
Mo Hae-in’s words made me feel strange. I awkwardly offered my thanks again.
"Still... thank you very much. Um, are you two alright, Captains?"
Mo Hae-in frowned.
"We’re fine. Our clothes just got a bit dirty."
Looking at her expression, it seemed they hadn’t managed to catch the high-profile criminal they were chasing.
’Was it a smuggler?’
Those targeting trial items were always aggressive.
Just as I was thinking of the most famous criminal organization among them, a trailer carrying a container and several vehicles stopped at the entrance of Dosan Park.
Je Hyun-oh had arrived.
Thanks to his fast trial clear, I had been able to distance myself from Ham Ji-wol, so I went to greet him with a happy heart.
The park entrance, which had been quiet due to strict control, was suddenly packed with the container truck and the vehicles surrounding it.
Dozens of soldiers in deep blue uniforms poured out of small SUV-style tactical vehicles.
They simultaneously drew their weapons and aimed them at the container.
One soldier cautiously approached the container and opened the door.
From the pitch-black darkness, the sound of someone walking out could be heard.
Thump, thump, thump.
Unlike the surrounding atmosphere of extreme tension, the footsteps coming from the container were languid.
A man wearing sleek goggles and a gas mask appeared under the bright sunlight.
Dressed entirely in black, he idly clinked his metallic hand.
It was merely a habitual movement, but the soldiers surrounding him grew even more tense.
’I don’t think they need to go that far.’
Je Hyun-oh has no interest in ordinary humans.
The only things that move him are the trials and the candidates.
Even if the soldiers poured bullets into him right now, he would show no intention of attacking.
At most, he would find it somewhat annoying, like a swarm of gnats.
While I thought the vigilance was excessive for someone who had never harmed a civilian, I also understood the TRA Administration’s position of having to prepare for the worst.
Since he was infected, they would have to kill him immediately if he lost his reason.
’Still, they could at least let him travel comfortably.’
It bothered me that he was brought in a container like a piece of luggage.
At this rate, his rank was Lieutenant Colonel in name only; his treatment was no different from a high-profile criminal.
Filled with dissatisfaction, I approached Je Hyun-oh.
The soldiers loosened their perimeter slightly to make a path.
"Lieutenant Colonel Je, you’ve arrived."
Je Hyun-oh slowly turned his head. Upon spotting me, the lights on his goggles flashed.
!!
Displaying exclamation marks, he gestured to me.
As I crept closer, he stood me in front of him and stared at me silently.
I stood there blankly while he examined me meticulously from head to toe.
Then, Je Hyun-oh replaced one of his metallic hands with a crow glove and suddenly grabbed the crown of my head.
"L-Lieutenant Colonel..?"
He forcibly rotated me.
I was released only after spinning about three times in front of Je Hyun-oh.
Having finished his elaborate observation, Je Hyun-oh let go of my head and walked into the park, seemingly satisfied.
’What was that.?’
Left standing there alone and bewildered, I belatedly noticed a man getting out of a vehicle.
A man built like a mountain was wearing an TRA Administration uniform.
His body, composed of thick and solid muscle, was like a shield.
His grayish-brown skin, a color difficult for humans to possess, was the mark that the man was infected.
I quickly greeted him.
"I am Han Goyo, a trainee of the Special Task Team."
The man standing before me spoke bluntly.
"First Lieutenant Won Tae-bum of Field Team 2."
I wanted to say more, but Won Tae-bum headed straight for the park.
I quickly followed.
Mo Hae-in and Kwak Han-mook, who were waiting near the meteorite, gave Je Hyun-oh a formal salute.
Seeing that, I realized my mistake.
A trainee in their first month of service hadn’t even saluted a distant superior like a Lieutenant Colonel.
Actually, the Captains didn’t usually go this far, but today it felt like they were intentionally following formality because there were so many soldiers watching.
Belatedly, I moved beside the Captains and saluted.
Since I had never saluted before, it was somewhat clumsy, but my intention was just to fit the mood.
Seeing my salute, Je Hyun-oh displayed an emoticon on his goggles.
??
"Pfft..."
Kwak Han-mook couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.
Mo Hae-in was smirking.
The only one who remained expressionless was Won Tae-bum.
’Was it that weird?’
I awkwardly lowered my hand.
Mo Hae-in said to me with a smile.
"I’lI teach you how to do it properly next time."
Then, after a brief nod to Lieutenant Won, she pressed her earpiece to report to Samra.
"Lieutenant Colonel Je, Lieutenant Won has joined. We are entering."
She placed her hand on the meteorite.
The world collapsed, stained in blotches of fluorescent colors, and the moment the five of them were about to enter.
"...!"
Everyone in the Special Task Team widened their eyes.
Won Tae-bum had been pushed out of the entry zone.
As if the maximum number of people had been exceeded.
He looked at us with bewildered eyes, but the entry had already begun. I entered the trial.
Cheerful music rings out with a dung-dang-dung beat.
A selection window appears on a black screen.
Please choose your profession!
- Swordsman
- Mage
- Paladin
- Berserker
- Chef
As soon as I chose a profession, an electronic beep sounded and the screen transitioned.
A small wooden building, so old it looked like it was about to collapse. The surroundings were a tangle of brush and weeds, no different from a jungle.
Standing in front of the crumbling building, I was wearing overall jeans and a shirt.
Text appeared before my eyes.
[The old restaurant is the perfect place to start a dream!]
[The owner says they will rent this place for a mere ’1G’.]
[Captivated by the shocking price, the contract is complete!]
[But you should have read the contract carefully....]
[Did you read all the fine print?]
[First, let’s start by tidying up around the restaurant!]
With a pyong sound, a rusty sickle and a shovel appeared.
I stood there bewildered, holding the tools in both hands.
Then, I snapped back to reality at the sound of a voice.
"Roasted Chestnut, I have chosen the Mage."
The slime sprinkled sparkling light as if it were delighted.
The one who had pushed Won Tae-bum aside to enter Slay to Plate was none other than....
Dominic.