On a cold winter night, the airship ‘Guardian’ was flying across the territorial ocean of Japan. With a displacement tonnage of 24,500 tonnes, it had a length of 95 metres, and a width of 37 metres.
Standing on top of the wide deck were nervous-looking cadets standing in rows.
The number of cadets on board were 800, with 87 of them belonging in the Azure Dragon study group. In addition there were staff members from Lair, guards from the International Hunter Association, as well as those from Japan’s Hunter Committee, and reporters. Their total number reached approximately 1400.
It had the largest scale worldwide for a mere one-time event of a military education institute, and was a demonstration of Lair’s capability.
“Our priority is practical experience.”
The principal, Ha Sukmoo, started the press conference with those words.
“But even before that comes the safety of the cadets.
“It has been less than 20 years since the storms of war had drifted past us. Due to that, we had lost our family, brothers, sisters, friends and loved ones.”
Ha Sukmoo read through the prepared script.
There were still countless monsters, as well as wars against demons being carried out realtime around the globe. The likes of safety and peace were unrealistic but Ha Sukmoo sincerely wished it to exist.
“I wish the same tragedy wouldn’t revisit us in this time of peace. We have taken all sorts of precautionary measures to make this raid into…”
His voice reading the script faintly quivered.
“…a safe event.”
He knew that something dangerous would be occurring in this place.
The event had to be cancelled.
With the mic in front of him, he could drop the bomb right now and the event will naturally be cancelled, since the media was watching.
“So parents and caregivers that have sent your precious sons, daughters and disciples to this place do not need to worry.”
However, as a mere figurehead chosen by the Association, there was only one thing he could do.
He could do nothing but read the script.
“The event will end safely.”
The dungeon raid thus began.
***
BM and Li Hwa were able to join the raid team with the recommendation of Minamoto Ai, while Yu Jitae and Bom joined in as assistants of BM.
“Oi Yu Jitae.”
“…”
“You nervous? What’s with that stiff expression?”
“…”
“…I tried talking casually as fellow assistants. Sorry.”
Bom appeared nervous, and it was evident from how she was trying to put up a casual front with a joke.
Once the raid begins, the two of them had to split. Yu Jitae had to move alone, while Bom had to travel with Li Hwa. During the planning of the battle formation, Li Hwa ended up being the one in charge of Ysayle Khalifa. The old woman smiled while whispering to herself, “It’s fate, huh. Fate.”
“Bom.”
“Yes.”
“You have to run if need be.”
“Yes.”
“Have you completed the Teleportation Memorisation?”
“Yes.”
“If you think you might get hurt, don’t even look back.”
“Yes.”
Bom would never get hurt. Despite being certain of that, Yu Jitae did not spare his entreat.
“You have to kill demons as cleanly as possible.”
Yu Jitae looked into Bom’s eyes. What did she see, and why was she saying this?
“…Alright.”
“If you don’t have to kill, please don’t kill them.”
“Okay.”
“If you can, you have to let innocent people survive.”
“Okay.”
“You can’t get hurt. Otherwise I’ll jump in, carry ahjussi and run away.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Okkayy…”
“Later then.”
Bom gave a nod.
Her eyes were slightly slanted down from anxiety.
Meanwhile, his clone confirmed the locations of Ysayle Khalifa and Noah, who were in the midst of other demons. The two of them seemed to have changed their facial features with the likes of a fake skin, but by relying on reading their demonic auras, it was easy to find them.
‘It’s these two.’
Okay.
‘In that case, I’ll move on to your next orders.’
There were seven routes leading to the boss room in total, and seven groups were therefore formed. Each route had around 50 to 200 cadets, with around 40 guards on average following them from behind.
For the cadets, this was the first large-scale raid they were in part of, and their immature faces were filled with nervousness.
As he had expected, Ysayle, Wei Yan and Noah were all standing at different locations.
According to his assumptions, their roles were probably like the following:
Ysayle Khalifa: Enter the boss room, ‘Melissia’s room’ before anyone else. After that, hunt Melissia and use her core to activate the ‘altar’.
Wei Yan: Lead the cadets of the Azure Dragon study group into Melissia’s room before other cadets.
Noah: Protect Wei Yan, as well as ensuring everything goes smoothly.
And there was one more existence.
“…”
A puppet was mixed within the human noncombatants – that one seemed to be staying behind at the entrance of the dungeon.
That wasn’t the end. Throughout the dungeon, there were puppets resembling humans standing in the mix. In addition to the one amongst the noncombatants, there was one from the reporter’s side, and each group of the seven raid groups had at least 2 puppets inside.
From the very beginning, the raid was on the back of the demons’ hands.
The Azure Dragon study group was allocated to the fifth group, and would be led by Wei Yan and Noah. They would probably ignore the regulations of the raid and enter the boss room before others could.
A group of guards had to be assigned to the fifth group as well, and after talking to Minamoto, Yu Jitae was able to join them.
“Ah, you’re from Japan’s Royal Family right.”
And there, he found Wei Yan.
After greeting the captain of the guards of the fifth group, Wei Yan turned his head and threw a glance across the guards.
His eyes were trying to spot any possible nuisances. In that process, he found Yu Jitae, and his eyes twitched once he recognised him.
“Oh wow. Our pleasure to have you here.”
Yu Jitae hadn’t used [Temporary Body Modification (A)], since there was no need to hide his face.
“That’s the badge of the Royal Family huh… Others were extremely curious about your affiliation, Mr Yu Jitae. Did you know?”
Wei Yan seemed to have misunderstood the situation.
“No wonder, considering you belong to Japan’s Royal Family.”
“It’s nothing that great.”
“It is, isn’t it? There’s no-one in the academy that doesn’t know the Yu household.”
“Is that so.”
Wei Yan wore a smile as he threw a gaze down for a split second. No, in fact, he was scanning Yu Jitae from the top to the bottom.
“Professor Wei Yan. It’s time for the last meeting.”
That was when Noah, wearing the mask of a young man, opened his mouth.
“In any case, nice to have you here.”
He flashed a faint smile, before turning around.
“Enter your pathways!”
And before long, the order of the commander echoed across, as every raid group rode dimensional fissures and entered their designated rooms. It was similar to an old school RPG, in the sense that one had to move between maps (rooms in this case) with portals (fissures).
The first room of the fifth group he belonged in, was the sewers. It was in the shape of a large and long cylinder, and the disgusting odour irritated their noses the moment they entered.
This was the beginning of the shortest route to the boss room.
Squeak squeak…
Squeak…
“At the front, 15 sewage rats!”
When the information was given by the operator, the cadets of the Azure Dragon study group all prepared themselves for the battle. Monsters like sewage rats and sewage lizards showed up occasionally, and although they were as big as humans, the cadets defeated them in an instant.
“They are all quite good…”
“I don’t think they even need us?”
The cadets were strong to the point that the guards composed of professional superhumans were surprised.
“But… are they all nervous or something?”
One of the guards looked at the cadets with doubt.
“Huh? You thought that as well? Their expressions and stuff are quite rigid right?”
“It’s a little bit weird, yeah…”
The Azure Dragon study group cadets all wore rigid expressions, and their movements were slightly unnatural at times. Even then, the cadets fought well, and obeyed their instructions very well.
“Maybe they were instructed to be on guard or something.”
“Yeah. It’s not a bad thing right?”
Thus, the guards went over it indifferently. Whatever the case, up to now was a fairly normal raid.
But when night befell after the first day of the raid came to an end,
A change occurred.
*
Inside the temporary command centre of a large tent, there were three representatives from the guards, Yu Jitae, with three commanders of the raid group plus Wei Yan.
Noah was nowhere to be seen.
“Then, we will end the meeting there.”
Once the long conference as well as the calculations came to an end, the participants were about to heave out sighs when a guard opened his mouth up with an objection.
“Umm, I have a question about the raid speed.”
His question earned the glares of the superhumans in the commanding position. It was because the guards had no right to take part in directing the cadets.
“A question, is it?”
After carefully looking around, the guard continued.
“From 9:00 to 24:00, we have cleaned up 9 rooms in the span of 15 hours. Isn’t that 4 more rooms than what we had in plan?”
“Hmm… and does that serve as a problem?”
“In my opinion, I think it’s too fast.”
“It could happen when the cadets are all superb and the commanding group is excellent, can’t it.”
“I was given the impression that it was consumptive. Judging from the stamina level of the cadets, I don’t think quarter a day of rest is going to fully recover their strength.”
“The Azure Dragon study group focuses our training heavily on stamina–”
“Damn it, we’re saying they’re pushing themselves above their limits!”
A slightly more aggressive sentence left the mouth of another guard. He was a black person with a tough build, and he had been grumbling about the speed throughout the raid.
Wearing a gentle smile, Wei Yan looked back at him.
“Above their limits?”
“What will we do if our group is the only one in front of others?”
“Please use appropriate expression.”
“Heavily on stamina or whatever, aren’t you speaking in circles right now? Ah, okay, let’s say their staminas are great. Leaving all the other groups behind, we’re gonna go before others and do what; lick our fingers or something?”
This was the fundamental problem.
The cadets of the Azure Dragon study group had to arrive at the boss room before others, in order to become demons, and that was a clear breach of the raid’s regulations.
“Let me ask you again. Please use appropriate words.”
“Trying to change the topic now ey. We’re not in front of a camera right now.”
“Sorry?”
“You want to go before others and promote, or something? ‘Our fucking Azure Dragon study group was the first group to arrive’?”
“Haha… Please refrain from excessive interference. I am the commander.”
Kwang!
In response, the guard smacked the table and stood up.
“Then are we just servants? Flowery decorations or something? Are we not even allowed to object when the lives of the cadets are on the line?”
Other guards nodded in response to his words.
Meanwhile, Yu Jitae had his arms crossed, as he watched the situation unfold with interest. Wei Yan, who could not find anything to say, had his eyes quivering.
“If you continue doing this, I won’t hold myself back either. I could send you off by the military regulations.”
“Look, look. He’s changing the topic again; that Professor Wei Yan, who’s famous for being a good speaker. Ahh, is it because we’re not in front of a camera?”
Yu Jitae could see the demonic aura swaying faintly near Wei Yan’s eyes and mouth.
“Moderation, moderation please… Do not forget your place as a guard.”
The aura was hanging in his mouth, as if it could explode out whenever possible; like a snakehead barely caught up in a net, it seemed like he could explode anytime.
That was when someone rose up from the commanding section.
“Like, how rude are you!”
“What?”
“You don’t even know to look before you leap?”
“What a joke. What are you guys doing, instead of being the first ones to stop him when you’re meant to be commanders as well? You are the most incompetent!”
“Your impertinence is going out of control. You might end up dead if you’re like that all the time.”
“Did I say anything wrong? The kids will be the ones dying if this goes on, you retards!”
“How dare you!”
Shrrng–
Unable to hold back, one of the commanders unsheathed a sword and slashed the table. The longsword slashed through the table as it fell onto the ground in two pieces.
“This crazy bastard…!”
Shrrng!
The guards unsheathed their swords as well.
That was when someone contacted Wei Yan on the radio.
– Urgent news! Urgent news!
Due to the rushed voice, the commanders and the guards all turned their gazes to Wei Yan’s handheld radio receiver.
– The Grand Fissure, the entrance of the dungeon is fluctuating!
Gasps left the mouths of the superhumans.
Meanwhile, Yu Jitae wiped his mouth with his thumb.
They were trying to close the entrance of ‘Melissia Masquerade’, and the radio news was like a signal flare marking the start for the demons. Only now would all demons of the dungeon start moving themselves.
‘Kuaak!’
‘W, why are you suddenly doing this…! Aaak!’
At the same time, shrieking screams were heard from outside the tent. Small explosions and the firing sound of mana guns were also heard.
It was probably Noah, who started killing some of the troublesome members of the raid group that could serve as even a small threat.
“What! What’s happening outside!”
Startled, the guards were about to move.
Bang–
But that was when the head of the guard with the tough build, exploded.
“Ah!”
“…!”
In that instant, they all stopped moving.
Straight after that, the astonished guards took several steps back, while the unaware commanders also distanced themselves.
Even then, Yu Jitae was still sitting on his seat.
Soon, the gazes of the surroundings all gathered at Wei Yan, and the mana gun in his hand.
“Thisfuckingpieceoftrash,who,whodoeshethinkheis.Impertinenthumantrash.”
With his eyes inside out, Wei Yan mumbled and the guards were stunned.
Speaking without a break was an abnormal symptom seen from demons. That wasn’t the end – the gun in his hand was the Level 3 artifact, [Peace Invoker], and was one of the well-known treasures of the undetectables.
“Fuckinghell,dotheythinkthey’retheonlyonesthatcankill? Theonlyonesthatcanswear? Theycan’tunderstandforshitif I trytosmileandbenice…”
After realising the situation, the superhumans were about to back off when Wei Yan opened his mouth with a smile, after returning to his usual expression.
“Ahh, stop there please. Anyone that moves from hereon, will have their heads explode okay?”
“You fucking…!”
They twitched and unconsciously took a step back in surprise.
“I.”
Bang–!
“Told you.”
Bang–!
“Not to move!”
Ba, bang–!
Their heads exploded consecutively, and all the guards were then killed. Let alone them, even the commanders were in a panic. Although they stood up from their seats, they were all awkwardly half-way up in the air, and stared at Wei Yan.
“P, Professor Wei Yan… You, what in the…”
“Do humans only listen obediently once they’re scared? Lowly creatures… Well in fact, I’ve gotten used to it since that’s always been the case.”
“…You, you’re not human?”
“Surprise. I was a demon – the demon that devoured your sons, daughters and friends. Ah, this is not a joke by the way. Biruan, your wife tasted like pork. You must have been nice to her? Her stomach was full of fat.”
“…!!”
“Now, wake up all of you. I got this gun as a gift, and it has a decent output. So I recommend you obediently listen to my…”
Wei Yan was in the middle of laughing and murmuring something, when his eyes turned to the side and found Yu Jitae on the other side of the table.
“…What are you doing?”
Yu Jitae was raising his watch and facing Wei Yan’s direction. The display of the screen was standing vertically, and it was obvious that he was filming a video. Since there was no longer a need to keep up the pretense, Wei Yan raised his voice with a growl.
“I’m talking to you, Yu Jitae!”
In contrast to the situation, there was not a single trace of tension on Yu Jitae’s face.
“What are you doing. You’re in front of a camera.”
“What?”
With a slow movement of his fingers, he zoomed on the display and focused on Wei Yan’s expression.
“Smile, won’t you?”