Chapter 18
3Qb6gI had already seen in the game that Je Hyuno’s vocal cords had mutated to the point that they no longer sounded human.IWM
93Z2ZNKBut even knowing that, hearing it in person made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.Ls1
da9q2I forced my paralyzed mind to think.2cb
pHO‘How did he know?’za8NA4p
WkwlRThis was a completely unexpected situation.TMsxH
EwbFFwwJe Hyuno waited for my answer as he slowly moved one finger.EP0D
QW37DWIThe sound of metal striking against metal echoed through the air.Gav0
PULT2iUnder that silent threat, I carefully opened my mouth.L64fFfk
ZxYI2k“I…”hCKn
pMf2pTap.yvsli
mkbU1The sharp tip of one of his fingers rested against my chest.YUJAufX
5mzEven through my clothes, I could feel the edge of the metal.sCsvx
Z1KILsgWith just a little more force, it would pierce my heart.Y4SdW
1vfS8iIHe had deliberately chosen that spot.1qrj
rhAvfpIt was a very clear warning.fBz3
f6wILying meant dying.HgW
FnxSo I discarded every lie and answered truthfully.YY10
lGhDmL“I was the one who told you to stay still, Lieutenant Colonel.”yZDD
mKgZAt the same time, a system window appeared in front of Je Hyuno.eAi
yvCmDII would like to complete Dead Zone Delivery with you and achieve the True Ending.4rAP7bL
l9mNmLIt was the Message I had sent him.Myxb
h5UuHzJe Hyuno silently looked at the system window.FQsVo
rAoxwJI swallowed hard.NsM5b
l6GIhwThe tension was so overwhelming that I could feel even my hair standing on end.fe7z6S
ciLmoEwFortunately, the darkness of the night concealed the shivers running across my face.lzS
RFNI abandoned my original plan of pretending it was a system mission.HBAv
P0BXVOInstead, I decided to try convincing him using the system window itself.JKgRN
UOP483What do you think about having an extremely useful recruit?z8lmLg
yxkHox7I started with an eye-catching line and quickly continued writing.11Gs7
TbNHMA recruit capable of communicating freely through system windows inside the Trial!0uEqI22
DzsA recruit who knows Trial strategies and items that even Samra doesn’t know about!HRu5CQC
XCYOlA recruit capable of stopping you from attacking Captain Kwak and Captain Mo!YEq76t
WGLIuIf you trust me, I promise you a fast and convenient way to clear this Trial.szE
xUQ5ttAt the end, I added a small threat.jBZXOD
kcZdIf we keep this up, we’ll all end up turning into zombies after failing the Trial.72ZC
UMpI could imagine the bewildered expressions on Mo Haein’s and Kwak Hanmuk’s faces.pqFI3e5
1a0I had told them I would try to persuade him.PWX5
Pv5bY3aBut from the outside, it probably looked as though the two of us were simply standing there in complete silence.Ev8
CjG‘Even though I really am trying to persuade him, Captains.’sKSGA
oFdLMMFI watched Je Hyuno, hoping that would be enough.PYfXJM9
KnlU8KEverything I had written should have interested him.XP44Kz
YpYHis only goal had always been to clear Trials as quickly as possible.Hxudi4V
tABfa8ZHe had never taken more than a week to complete any of them.ZCJbYG
GEzVDHowever.v1Uv
tovHe didn’t react.wGMa
TBdHis metal hand remained pressed against my chest.rDIJhc
dR9cBgUFinally, I resorted to my last option.hxWRhvK
4E6eDevThe one I had never wanted to mention.vxs
MJWpQI also know what happened in Zero.PVhkhI
VGWmThe Trial that turned you into an Infected.juh
N8gII held my breath as I waited for his reaction.PJh1ps
OXxAa^ ^SE69faY
O84tMxA smiling emoticon appeared on his goggles.Z9H
aebKVGBefore I could understand what it meant, I heard a deep whisper.iX2mbPS
xMI4N“You’ve got a lot of nerve…”RWZlR6U
SOUuMlHThose few words seemed to rise from the abyss itself.TLdM
c9nMNAnd I immediately realized one thing.XDT
Vbhkw‘I’m finished.’jrA6C
LK3My first plan had failed completely.AiaySh
ZpdhyJ“Captain Kwak!”J9x1ROB
YE4ziGI took off running as I called out to him.MxJ98
tk7LgkmThe prayer beads wrapped around me and flung me through the air.CBYuwF
PqdAt the same time, the jeep waiting some distance away accelerated at full speed.fvX
lJ0zMy body landed on the rear spare tire.ltdj
us88ESitting on it and still bound by the prayer beads, I looked toward where Je Hyuno had been.Wpg3
wLINnI could no longer see him in the darkness.pmACm
C8y0aNBut that didn’t mean I was safe.xj7
6Vn5I knew he would catch up to us soon.aCgl
J3YOThe jeep sped over cracked, pothole-ridden asphalt.xvg7aWm
bhncXPoEvery time it hit a rock, my body bounced along with the vehicle.2OVk1ic
G8ph“Captain Mo, it’s your turn!”nAc6
XqdTlG“I know, Recruit.”eIpJ
t8YA pale hand emerged from the window and braced itself against the body of the jeep.Ey09O
HcFMo Haein climbed onto the roof of the jeep.BkJKfqW
GJ53The infection had already strengthened her body tremendously.pAepfD0
UOrShe was able to climb onto the roof of a moving vehicle without any difficulty.lnLb
IFnnJEven so, Kwak Hanmuk secured her legs with the prayer beads to keep her from being thrown off.zXgN
XlEaNMo Haein watched the darkness for a few seconds.mKyEBLE
KMnP6Then she drew the Black Moon Blade.2n1DbGn
kUQw6ZBut she didn’t aim behind us.WDOJcw
tgNShe aimed forward.9LuzT
Vq1nWDShe lightly tapped the roof with her spear.DIxy
oS2q2At the same time, the prayer beads wrapped around my waist also restrained my arms.enaiPa
MB7tmVI was completely bound.CE7c
zTOI looked like a prisoner kidnapped by an armed organization.bvwD
bxiiFrom where I was, I looked ahead of the jeep.Ldo
FSiKnjSThe sound of the engine attracted hordes of zombies.0JQ
Kq57GpBut none of them could match the jeep’s speed.MPaXCAS
GcwIn the blink of an eye, we passed through Yellow Zone.eoyXqc
VZmwIYfThen Red Zone.oQDVP
nQoCXI9And finally entered Dead Zone.nbxXlt
idlghgThe moment we did, the Dead Zombies appeared.3Am6R
b3oxCUnlike ordinary zombies, these ones could keep up with a jeep traveling at full speed.VNX
KlwIWBut I wasn’t looking at the zombies.uvONKa
De4I was looking at the sky.bw9
nxa6Y3dThere was a tiny black dot in front of the moon.6t6
kyDAnd it was getting bigger.2zvG
wl1p“Ten seconds!”rD7gKg
oSAMo Haein announced Je Hyuno’s position as she swept away the zombies blocking the road with her spear.nCGk
swC51fBut more kept appearing from the sides and behind us.VU4S2
Jbe3nB“Damn it, he’s fast!”0v4h9KC
8AjKwak Hanmuk had barely finished speaking when Je Hyuno came into view.z9r6G
2thwJSo did the countless black crescent blades he launched.T9TFdWK
XaMVvdk“Captain Kwak!”sGHb
I2qAt Mo Haein’s shout, Kwak Hanmuk slammed the accelerator to the floor.4cmS
6LEThe jeep shot forward.WEPI
cpwDva0Dozens of black crescent blades sliced through the exact spot where we had been only an instant before.CAGL
5hMQyH“Graaagh!!”UKc
GbUbjZiThe zombies trying to attack the rear of the jeep were torn to pieces.lWJeON
Qolu2The attacks aimed at me ended up hitting the zombies instead.c7B
otdqnTYThe next instant, a metal hand came crashing down onto the jeep.zBQN0I
8vZnThe very moment the air was split by a deadly whistle, the prayer beads lifted me up.oe7vka
Gx5t3The hand missed by a hair.ta005h
wizUIt only scraped the rear of the vehicle.5AUJ4
9kC44DScreeeech!TbXerK
SYmDThe screech of metal echoed for a long time.Jdm0ca
2PsDeep claw marks were carved into the jeep.a0f18
x7A8eBut the spare tire remained intact.YtkGV7
AEnOAnd once again, Je Hyuno’s missed attack ended up massacring the zombies running alongside the vehicle.w2rfmc
QHqKDozens of Dead Zombies roared, baring their teeth.SJeY
b3VCJThey sprinted with all their might, trying to reach me.QT9
HRZDBut they couldn’t touch a single thread of my clothing.YfGm
GWoMqUMuch less stir up the dust from the wheels.WlnTAVq
Yz2Every single one of them ended up being torn apart by Je Hyuno’s attacks.OkA
YcHJThe second plan.FaEkv
P35“Using Je Hyuno to clear out the zombies.”VBYy
SlFM7FIt was working perfectly.SGB7u4
Eu7It was precisely the plan that had made Mo Haein call me crazy with complete sincerity.WYXpkAK
hyejAAnd, to be honest.RCcEhgU
IFVafIt had a few minor drawbacks.Dtojw
F12FI had to serve as bait so Je Hyuno would launch his attacks.0atij
9ft8PzMo Haein had to fight the zombies ahead while standing on the roof of the jeep.9pYM55
uYxlAnd Kwak Hanmuk had to drive while simultaneously controlling the prayer beads.XVvWnW3
DL3rnNQBut the results were outstanding.lLSp
qs5CMo Haein only eliminated the zombies blocking the road.VHy1Wfb
K0XJe Hyuno took care of the rest.vcpz158
R1bYWatching dozens of Dead Zombies disappear every time he attacked was unbelievably satisfying.0KEop
AtDVkNwIt was like activating a cheat code in a video game.d41
ws9Besides, this was the second time we had escaped from Je Hyuno.y3Nn
fIQMaybe we had become professionals by now.8iszS2
SXozXvCompared to the first chase, everything felt much easier.BO1
c3EBXI continued swinging cheerfully from the back of the jeep, enjoying my role as bait.S9K
hUewThen.g2UI
2edxOur eyes met.WZY
iJytMo Haein’s and mine.1xqx5GF
ScF“……”GLkc
oIwYWhile fighting the zombies, the half-zombified Mo Haein stared directly at me with the Black Moon Blade in her hand.v7vxS
zBC9lHer expression made it clear that she had a lot of things she wanted to say to me.LUzJ8D
qQ6The moment I realized it, I stopped smiling to myself.hyZ
Q6DkIOMo Haein frowned deeply before swinging the Black Moon Blade at the zombies once more.stdSE2
RGWglVThanks to Kwak Hanmuk driving like an absolute madman, the laboratory soon came into view.wTQM3
IA3aAs befitted Dead Zone, the surrounding area was a complete wasteland.pmx
CcLvoIn Yellow Zone and Red Zone, a few buildings were still standing.X3jiYqA
bhO9But in Dead Zone, the only building left intact was the laboratory, built from reinforced materials.LWIb
qCV6It stood alone, like the last hope of a ruined world.DiaYPk
fmUvTU1Using Je Hyuno like a game exploit, we had reached the laboratory in record time.0uJ0
pS7L4I quickly scanned the surroundings.7GkV
6Xh“Captain Kwak, turn right!”z42Dgaj
uvrwKwak Hanmuk sharply turned the steering wheel in front of the laboratory.20vi
fBrDYYbThe tires left long black streaks across the asphalt.vybFPZ
gucThe jeep swayed dangerously, nearly flipping over from the oversteer.V5SSt
Bam3UJust as the drift was completed.gDgUzLl
VT5ZymQA black metal hand lunged at me.4ebU1M
HzZJJe Hyuno had been waiting for that exact moment.tseVVk7
05CjThe instant the jeep slowed down and Kwak Hanmuk became too focused on driving to control the prayer beads.lnvzUoV
EVBNRJsBut I still had one final card left.4XPkR
SyTm3qc‘Restriction.’jpf9zE
xdMqfoRestricting ‘Je Hyuno.’v858hC
mXIwjAlthough it only lasted a few seconds, the effect was absolute.dA0
xNkvgThe metal hand that would have torn my body apart this time froze in midair.RKd1l
zFPUnable to control his wings, Je Hyuno crashed to the ground and rolled violently across the asphalt.mW3j
bwo“Ugh…”3P6TG
1diqHvNI squeezed my eyes shut.9arFRs
dp6rMy eyeballs felt as though they were burning.i3F4R
61IJMIEven so, I managed to endure it because I had been prepared.0LU
ZNmQJB‘I didn’t want to use it again.’mTHAv5
ZCnTQRBut if I hadn’t, I would have died.S5DaXn
i01ouAnd enduring pain was far better than dying.lyFi8Kp
iRPszHowever.Hl4
GiVlEVI knew I couldn’t use that ability again.FC4WFh
MvckI had the feeling that one more use would permanently damage my body.fNg0dv
xZZlCvjThe jeep came to a screeching halt.CI3y
7CqpVgWith a sharp tug, the prayer beads released me and dropped me onto the ground.29PeG
FlQAt last, my feet touched solid earth.mGrOc
gUZBt“Ah…”W1Y0o
Y8WNF3sMy legs immediately gave out.VENAgWL
zcCTYMy vision was stained dark red.2YnJv
byiThe sound of my heartbeat thundered inside my ears.TZ0fehg
DSOWQE“Recruit!”PuDP
xV0Mo Haein jumped out of the jeep and caught me before I fell.lNVcc
FyFeSXKKwak Hanmuk also hurried out of the driver’s seat.Ni1vN
jL25The moment he saw me, his eyes widened.m4qzDoD
R3WC1viI wiped the blood beneath my chin with the back of my hand and smiled awkwardly.mmXf1F
xZIX“I’m fine. I’m just in critical condition. It’s because of hunger and thirst… Give me a moment to eat something, and I’ll recover right away.”I1KJz
02S8u“…What?”5wjYb
OKWfMThe two of them stared at me in complete bewilderment.Yk2y
ogvoUI felt a little embarrassed.qlW3
c1CA‘The three of us have gone hours without eating, and I’m the only one who ended up like this.’3HwjjL
egA3B1They had pushed their bodies far harder than I had.Vglj
PcvuOAnd yet neither of them had reached critical condition.7x0Y
YN4w9POThe difference in our physical abilities was obvious.Pmkm5z
X5a7Trials only increased your attributes to the minimum level required to complete them.KEOoU
Q40PhBut they never reduced abilities that were already above that minimum.3Ic
fjBt1From the very beginning, I had been far below Mo Haein and Kwak Hanmuk.clz
kM0xsUThat was exactly why I should have managed my hunger and thirst much more carefully.7aeH9
QKZBut I had been so focused on Je Hyuno that I made a basic mistake.JkTs
L3zh“What the hell did you do to end up like this?”xXJ
SnMGPci“I’m sorry.”yLL
m08“I’m not asking for an apology.”EG7B
tBs1XqSMo Haein ran a frustrated hand through her hair and turned toward Kwak Hanmuk.P7f
88jFBefore she could even speak, he was already pulling the backpack out of the back seat.sXVoI
XBlVHe dumped it straight into my arms.TT8J8P
aQv0JEverything inside spilled on top of me.dDU0d
K5xHI looked at the mountain of food I was holding.s40w
YwBZ50“I think one can and one bottle of water will be enough.”hFk8
tllf“Yeah, yeah. Eat all of it.”VBaFYN
2XSokHe unwrapped an energy bar and practically shoved it into my mouth.cWM7x
vk5wAs I chewed, the deafening heartbeat disappeared and my vision returned to normal.KqY0q
Bh6JdMo Haein handed me a bottle of water she had already opened.xVMAT
WJ8sxlJWhile I drank, Kwak Hanmuk couldn’t stop exclaiming.xutsXT
F81M“Damn it, seriously, this Crazy Night hyung is going to drive me insane.”3WZ
WOmCrazy Night.JQ5iG
AYJ98hEMy nickname kept evolving.C0zx
gMMFirst it had been Chestnut.ieOP
GlCNow it was already Crazy Night.KtD
OEfNRzAs soon as my hunger and thirst were restored, I looked back at Je Hyuno.8AN0
NKtn76NUntil then, he had remained motionless where he had fallen.QvLa
KhShuThen he slowly began to stand.sPc9rVZ
1GrYOjNKwak Hanmuk and Mo Haein immediately stepped in front of me to protect me.xKQNB
H4fJFh9Je Hyuno simply made a gesture with his hand.KW8MAzj
q1P“Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyuno, have you come back to your senses?”G8OeWGx
pVce6AKwak Hanmuk asked suspiciously.a0guQ52
EVvDxvAn emoticon appeared on the goggles.7l8
OZu76lFㅇ (Q0v
uj99VI‘Is he winking?’pr3jnHm
dAcIt seemed to mean yes.AhKjil
hnGxThen he gestured with his hand, signaling for me to come closer.baMIap
adMfWhen Kwak Hanmuk stepped forward, Je Hyuno shook his head.AYPOzj1
Q2GsMo Haein also took a step forward.E5Fb36
1A7ZyQLHe shook his head again.pEuGL
SpYuTHe only stopped when I was the one who stepped forward.WZ85tzA
cpi4NAs I hesitated over whether I should get any closer.lyA
nusxa5uClick.B5vR
1yTtSedThe sound of Je Hyuno removing his protective goggles echoed through the air.jym
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