Chapter 11
Bgb3ICountless red dots covered my white containment uniform.HyvtFjd
56wg2The moment the order to open fire was given, I would immediately be turned into a sieve.t7YMh
osrjd1Now was precisely the time when I needed Samra’s cooperation.0awR4bF
uKJoXsMI moved only my eyes to look at him.qssm
fbBUnlike the usual Trial Response Agency uniforms, Samra wore a white uniform.BnK
qxlxkThat uniform, which distinguished him as a special existence, stood out even more because everyone else was dressed in dark colors.iJHOJ
pOX9pSamra placed a hand on my shoulder.qKg
CMQHe even gave me a couple of gentle pats, as if trying to demonstrate that it was safe to touch me.EMPP
eMLbOg“Mr. Han Goyo is human.”IWrk
K9PSamra’s declaration caused an obvious commotion.4piy1kD
Tz0aWAt that moment, the barrier formed by uniforms split in half, and a gray-haired man walked out from the center.UMxT
Xphy06The moment I saw the uniform covered in medals, I immediately understood who he was.eOX7TM
F336It was Jang Seokyun, Director of the Trial Response Agency.whoPbV4
jirnDespite being over sixty years old, he still maintained a robust physique.5rV7qH
6tvQThere was an unmistakable strength in the eyes beneath his thick eyebrows.jCHcPT2
OzXI hurriedly greeted the highest authority present.zBv9Gvw
2VN9a“It is an honor to meet you, Director. I am Han Goyo.”kb8
yruIf I could have, I would have bowed ninety degrees.oQ2ZVVU
TbOBut I felt that if I moved suddenly, I would end up full of holes, so I barely managed to greet him with my eyes.XkkGpgf
6wmoAfter receiving my greeting, Jang Seokyun smiled meaningfully.2i3
Kg2j“This is our first meeting, yet you already know my face. That’s fairly confidential information, by the way.”n5hH5
BA6CqXAnd he began walking straight toward me.klU
GQk2Od“Director!”dJ1mqp
iKryMSeveral people hurriedly tried to stop him, but Jang Seokyun ignored them.0GuFbS
9fNGcN8“Didn’t you say he’s human? Besides, Samra is here.”2WbK
6TbWhen he arrived in front of me, he greeted me.8H5Ob
Bhvhv“Nice to meet you. I’m Jang Seokyun.”NkkGq
2Oc3d7Then he looked me over carefully.oBDZG
8X590g“A handshake, hm. That seems difficult.”09wGI
U2t1hThe containment uniform kept both of my arms immobilized, making it impossible to shake his hand.HRNK17
vTDiTrying to emphasize that I was a completely harmless human being, I smiled with all the innocence I could muster.NbgTY
PHAgKZV“I apologize for not being able to greet you properly. If you don’t mind, could I ask that the sniper rifles be withdrawn?”SatB3Zh
mZPFWith a gesture from Jang Seokyun, many of the red dots disappeared.y1aH
KuFWHowever, the lasers aimed at lethal areas such as my head and heart remained.2R2ql
2yppvsEven though Samra had guaranteed that I was human, that did not change the fact that I was still suspicious.9TZ
ybchCEven so, it was much better than before.dwhp
V73n“Thank you.”4bCTtrv
OAY“Haha. I’d like to remove them all, but I suppose I’ve grown fearful with age. I hope you can understand, young Goyo.”bbU
bNr2fs“Of course.”YeitCzT
kdfI smiled while remaining completely tense inside.ra6vZZy
XFZSJang Seokyun seemed like a kind person.Irr
eLfdBut in reality, he was frightening.fybPMwp
hxRHe was someone who devoted his life to the country and the Trial Response Agency, and firmly believed that some sacrifices were inevitable in the name of justice.yeb
wdFDajDAnd if I was unlucky, I could become one of those inevitable sacrifices.Wrq
9il“From what I see, you were a professional player.”6zK2csb
dJLTa“…Yes.”Bv7i
kFsFBl“An impressive young man. How did you end up in a situation like this?”wOJ
V7SZSdiIf I was going to play my most important card, I had to do it now.Uwcm3Y
S8I6All the important people in the Trial Response Agency were probably gathered here.2f7h2o
AEp2GSpI needed to convince them that I could be useful.9KnLI
c56EKdFNo.vInc8Ko
jC8SMore than useful.5Vwxgjx
WYDwI had to prove that I was indispensable.A9d
C5CTT“Director.”1SGbf7
KTbva“Hm?”p3grA8w
cBdPC6“Please let me live.”2m3NA
sCKizUThose words seemed to take him completely by surprise.jHXf
ypZJang Seokyun let out a loud laugh.rFhA9V
xAEqb“Hahaha!”DW0wf
ZLYRc6And asked between laughs,yVdvbZ
eFRV“Why should I let you live?”YoJ3E3
3LAYI looked at all the members of the Trial Response Agency and declared:V9Hs
9y3W“I will achieve three True Endings in one month.”CjYXMA7
3m5jIf I had been able to move my hands, I would have held up three fingers to accompany my words.Rae
qD6tJPlease, Director.2NbzO
Spgvv6WJust let me live.QPlInF
AVMI looked at him with eyes full of determination.3zVTB0q
xXWNZ4It was a calculated gamble.CSBc
0qa3QLIn any case, I had to enter Trials to keep my limbs.beI
MuBRX5If Jang Seokyun accepted me here, I could receive the support of the Trial Response Agency while facing them.W6lgH1G
NMRjISAnd if there was one thing I knew about him.F8ur1
K77GytIIt was that he would never reject a proposal like that.05eOj
yhFnwk8Jang Seokyun was no longer smiling.ZuZ
trHaJHe looked at me with eyes as fierce as a tiger’s.2hYw
geZS5O“So what you’re saying is that this wasn’t simple luck?”8crfZC
As7“That’s right.”XLo
6RJ6LAX“Samra.”MGUk65q
HjYr“Mr. Han Goyo’s words are true. He possesses the ability necessary to fulfill that proposal.”A3zk
Ak5YSamra met Jang Seokyun’s gaze without hesitation.ydYsE
jqi“Furthermore, Mr. Han Goyo’s identity has been verified.”eIM8
viqHis gaze was strange.pcSEW
JxxjVZAlthough he appeared human on the outside, his eyes made no attempt to hide that what lay within was a machine.OZrbSN
gkH5VAe“This is the judgment of Samra Man-Sang of the Trial Response Agency.”k5IVb
aqFFWhen Samra finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the area.rDvOp0J
IQirNo one seemed to have imagined that Samra would defend me so openly.eNxe
4Iz“Well.”8dxPl
NNCz8DJang Seokyun spoke after a long moment.THXWG
SXK“At my age, very little surprises me anymore. But you certainly make this old man’s heart rise and fall, young Goyo.”sb1494
4a6gTOHe raised a hand.odu7XOX
EN1hAll the laser sights aimed at me disappeared completely.0Cv
hZNYI let out a long sigh of relief inwardly.HzRK9
y12g6I survived.mfG
Izqtrnx“Let’s talk somewhere quieter. Follow me. Samra, you too.”Ot8P
6c0Jang Seokyun turned around and began walking ahead.6J25uRz
acvqOknBut I could not follow him.iPCvUa
dJIx4bThe containment uniform also immobilized my legs.xVOwJVQ
aF6I needed to be transported in a wheelchair or something similar.obi
323f“Director.”a3E0oX5
5XSwzSamra called out quietly.C3O
HdIz“Ah.”kzC
pIg2fCJang Seokyun finally noticed my situation.ULMA
AO5LHxt“That was my oversight. My apologies.”NlVExIS
rF10UoAnd he authorized that I be given a change of clothes.Ij7U4p
yaOgcUJAt last I was free from the containment uniform!j6DFZ
jKWDQWhen they handed me a comfortable tracksuit like the ones Trial Response Agency soldiers wore during training, I nearly became emotional.riWm65
cXo7‘I’ll behave myself from now on.’fkkK
tBSe8njI never wanted to wear that uniform again.NYUy
WL4iLAfter changing clothes, I sat beside Samra in the Director’s office.rXBAJ8
As3n22The office I had visited in the game through pixel graphics was exactly the same as the real one.bKpN8t
QmtEven the decorative plant was placed in the same location.nml0
Mrm1Y7PIt looked like an exact copy.1JgLYR
yb7vrYJust how much did the Developer know?HfY
QkMThe more I thought about it, the less likely it seemed that a human being could have created something like this.6BRVa
ahH5mF“Young Han Goyo.”H47
GxpC1Jang Seokyun, who had been looking outside through the window with his hands behind his back, turned toward me.peFZFq
BuqRwN3“Do you know the purpose for which the Trial Response Agency was founded?”WuLP
DP3wI did.0TxBw
ABOYXBut I pretended not to.Qhoqnf
SCqy6Xu“I don’t.”WtXV
eFS“It is a national institution responsible for responding to disasters and national threats caused by higher-level entities.”UvDppb
0W2Nsr0Jang Seokyun’s voice was calm.FfIfyh
eULIy“We considered you, Mr. Han Goyo, to be a higher-level entity. In other words, a national disaster. Although it has now been confirmed that you are human, that judgment has only been suspended.”xte
P0JjvpMSuspended.raX
NcjC9bThat meant it had not been completely withdrawn.5QDTex5
PLQAnd, honestly, I could understand it.nxieD
CyeNo matter how much Samra insisted, I was still suspicious.jj8q
rdI“In any case, it seems you truly are someone special. This is the first time I’ve seen Samra so clearly take someone’s side.”dgBq
ftplOA playful smile briefly appeared on his face before disappearing.cXrROpa
LgSISpJ“Can you really achieve True Endings?”l4IPx
WwjwL0g“If you place your trust in me, I won’t disappoint you.”U4ckD
l2CqV7Jang Seokyun looked at me for a long moment.zVq
pVfLMG“You remind me of myself when I was young.”RxsGuLW
qpjp2bWas that a compliment?5ofi3Y
12GsoWAfter thinking about it for a few seconds, I replied,V0E
nvDsg5“Thank you.”AIoYNG
OprSMy response seemed to amuse him.LqK7i
l0CRXJang Seokyun let out a brief laugh and picked up a folder resting on the desk.4p2
EuWjDA“The number of Trials continues to increase. But the number of Compatibles capable of facing them is desperately insufficient. And permanent closures are even more out of reach.”NMQ9
vBMhvb3There was a faint sense of helplessness in his voice.V3uN2B
GAAVa3The helplessness of someone trapped in a swamp where no matter how hard they struggle to escape, things only continue to worsen.Cl6fr
KpI“We live in an era that needs heroes.”ITJgwWQ
fwgWHe said it as if it were a light joke.hwBw9Ny
1seQDOBut it was desperate sincerity.KiXx4
NL5R0K“No matter what exactly you are, Mr. Han Goyo, if you can reduce even a single Trial in this country.”f6G
TRBowz4Jang Seokyun handed me the folder.qceo
3qsAJg“Then I will give you all the support within my power.”XTQ8
BQq“I will do my best.”8rR
Z1QpbVI replied respectfully as I accepted the folder.BULq
zeghc0GThe deal was sealed.hX4SV1
yrWAs Director of the Trial Response Agency, Jang Seokyun issued an order.W8bWZ
YxbCcNm“From this moment onward, a Special Mission Team will be formed directly under the Director’s authority, centered around Mr. Han Goyo. Its duration will be one month. Mr. Han Goyo will be assigned alongside all Field Response Team leaders. In addition, Samra will be assigned as support.”nFJh
qvlQAt the assignment order, Samra performed a flawless military salute.47mk
OLpLZuOI felt somewhat dazed.8VZ1Lsa
wM3yoI hadn’t expected them to simply send me alone into Trials.2Yy
tp53miBut I also hadn’t imagined they would create a special team exclusively for me.jdhnc
Y8LAnd not just any team.3Y0CBC
LjfBoAll field response leaders.NSXXQIh
bZXkPlus Samra as support.rby
tLIIt was a unit composed of the finest talents in the entire Trial Response Agency.yiD
LEFA“And regarding Mr. Han Goyo’s status…”ggG
yrwxR2Only then did I open the folder I had been given.bhou9
VkkARHy“He will be a recruit.”xWBYQ
JE4WInside was an official Trial Response Agency recruit contract bearing the Director’s personal seal.9a3T
3EXtA“As long as you are a recruit, you will live within the Agency and remain under our protection.”QfuQER
w60A4ftJang Seokyun smiled kindly.Y3Rq
wZjhe“I’m counting on you, Recruit Han.”bmaU1
4OECMVTAnd that was how I became a recruit of the Trial Response Agency for a period of one month.47aGvMn
zZi35eu***Qu6WTys
2yVEIEkI stood in front of a mirror, awkwardly adjusting my sleeves.bC7UVg0
d8QkThe dark blue uniform with silver trim looked elegant and refined.d1W
k4INormally, it was supposed to be worn with a cap and gloves to be complete.9Xhm3Vy
IyAiBut aside from official events, most people only wore the uniform itself, so I did the same.EERXbtc
BYxuCI never imagined I would end up wearing a Trial Response Agency uniform.arxzLU
nouSNeither the existence of Trials in the real world.6bV
VX17XNor the fact that I had become a recruit of the Agency.5BI
0CzNone of it felt real.M97be7C
kpCAs a temporary one-month recruit, I had spent the previous night asleep in what was officially called accommodations, though it was really an isolation cell.a56sDw
V0y5aUIt was a small studio with a private bathroom.r0Xhl6Y
YmFh2MMore than enough for one person to live in.rAj
VoQfI had collapsed from exhaustion.mVFwo2c
ubQMpWrWhen I woke up, it was already morning.N910
VekH4WI ate the breakfast served on a tray and then put on the uniform hanging in the wardrobe.iFNz
t4YAfterward, I waited for the person who would come to pick me up.Z0T5ZN
TIkSxEOEverything felt like a dream.E1ucH8X
wyHtvBhI spent quite a while staring at my reflection before knocks on the door brought me back to reality.5xww3L
dkTwoYmThe heavy metal door opened.qeK4
IOGAnd the moment I saw who had entered, I quickly bowed.Kmrni1
fPQT“Good morning.”vZJL1
7AUFE“Yes, Mr. Han Goyo. I’m Kwak Hanmuk.”SlPh1s
LtWKwak Hanmuk opened the door wide and then bowed ninety degrees toward me.PeIPARq
wydWithout meaning to, we ended up exchanging bows.LrkBH89
1QUkhI hurriedly stopped him.8s45I7s
hFwYpL“You don’t need to be so formal. I’m much younger than you. You can speak comfortably to me.”nUpuQ
qwoFT6“Oh, really? Then you can call me hyung too.”yqT
tA27YNow I was getting nervous for an entirely different reason.KYCeR
gbvjf“How about I give you a nickname? Was it Al-bam?”PMj
oNmbe2It was Gunbam…9seCI
ghWr“You can just call me Goyo.”AL7nAca
eBSEThe idea of someone calling me Gunbam or Al-bam in person was pretty embarrassing, so I tried to correct him discreetly.imH
L8cDd5“It must be because of your height, but the uniform suits you very well.”V3b
5bDRVL“Thank you.”bdMq
vbviOl“Hmm. You’re much more normal than I expected. Don’t you think so, Captain Mo?”0RVno
uWFpc96Then a figure appeared behind Kwak Hanmuk.ngms
BJn716Mo Haein.05KHsp
0ihVShe had arrived with him, but his huge frame had completely hidden her.IgwuEG
eFq40c“Good morning, Captain.”2gN
C53gdCI bowed respectfully just as I had to Kwak Hanmuk.T6fmmu
gfP9Zt9Mo Haein remained silent for a few moments.tiPxwD
SGmEbI tensed up slightly.Shkc
Db0SAfter all, our last interaction had not ended particularly well.Os5
OO9I‘After showing her a head exploding right in front of her.’GuEi4HX
U8kMo Haein looked at me with an expression that was difficult to interpret.7EL
u9IGFinally, she nodded once.Lz0F
t99wm“I look forward to working with you this next month, Recruit.”owm4
m0YOnly then did my shoulders relax.gWM
Dx4c3dFWithout realizing it, I had been tense the entire time.cKYesj
vX5IN7gI smiled slightly.ttMed
ouEdU2V“Likewise.”TOmFcB
rt8xuThe two of them took me to the Special Mission Team office.LNSz
uHeW7wGIt wasn’t very far from my accommodations.MRE0WGb
u2ZUGHowever, throughout the entire walk, I felt countless eyes fixed on me from every direction.Hb1w5
9mVL4I would have liked to use the opportunity to tour the Trial Response Agency building.tWrhu
yZtBut it seemed that for some time, I would have to limit myself to staying confined to my room.efu
rSltYYThe Special Mission Team office had been created only a day earlier.bC8
Vw9It was still somewhat disorganized.ZWQNHQ0
KrRThere were unopened boxes stacked in various corners.fJ5WT
s2tpS9And in the center stood a huge round table.N23
EaQHowever, the lounge area was perfectly equipped.FKbN
SO5WJThere were massage chairs.DxI
zB9bAaFoldable beds.iyyz
yLlTZ7KSofas.MAWn2
ESdGSEven video game consoles.h9f5T2
hZ4Along with clearly expensive snacks, a refrigerator, and an espresso machine.KbKZ
oaQUgBut something was strange.kJNwt90
uZID240The things that should normally have been there were missing.Ikw2
k4lDYOThere was no conference room.pqMV2O
JDuBNo projectors.BQEg
NmNMvgNo computers.ztt
5FaHaq9No office desks.sryEs
VuUz92nAs I tried to understand why, I saw an android emerge from the lounge carrying a tray with coffee and snacks.tN6PgAY
AIxAnd then I understood.3M70DKf
fLeAh.wGI4OFs
NYWJr8Samra.cQ3fF6
8ZE5pSince the supercomputer would handle all administrative work, the human personnel would focus exclusively on field operations.Cmy
OEg‘Besides, each team leader already has their own office.’fIfo
HvGA95Only a team luxurious enough to have Samra as support could afford something like this.PBL
q6QWhile I stared at Samra with a greedy gaze, he set the tray down on the round table and greeted me.7I4gCS
nEMHeR“Welcome, Mr. Han Goyo.”gjcFy3c
k5lTwThere were four coffees.HTAv
Xm8y5Including one for Samra himself.R9D3lJ
6o4Future technology apparently had no problem tolerating liquids inside an android.e4ynFrL
kpHKwak Hanmuk and Mo Haein looked at the scene with strange expressions.SeGeD
y0tKwak Hanmuk spoke with complete seriousness.Hat
wsSB“Samra, is something wrong with you? No, wait. How should I put it? Did you get hacked?”kRvu
Sss“I am perfectly fine. And with Earth’s current scientific technology, it is impossible to hack me.”ycsGV
uAsWSamra drank iced coffee as if he were a human being.zbtkZq
jMcKThen he projected a floating screen into the air without needing a projector.SujYpTH
MK0APl“We will begin the Special Mission Team meeting.”HNJZ8i
pvnHQKwak Hanmuk was still busy stirring sugar into his coffee.JvdH88x
eLLoSamra completely ignored him and began the briefing.05Q2ir
IivZio“The first Trial we will enter is Dead Zone Delivery.”ZsXE9
avsxwFaThe first mission of the Special Mission Team was, fittingly, a zombie game.grI
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dihnblls 300
Golden Coresamra be for real
dihnblls 300
Golden Coreletssss gooooo
Nyx
Mortal🌈👀 ??
0221
MortalSpooky!
0221
MortalIt all starts from here
dihnblls 300
Golden CoreI can certainly make you feel young too sirr👀👀👀🤤🤤🤤
dihnblls 300
Golden Core👀👀👀👀👀👀