Chapter 21
12.
As soon as Kim Seojun received the Situation Report from Private First Class Park Boseop, he reset all his plans.
Even when he heard that Major Lee Hyena was engaging an Infected Psycher, he thought they absolutely had to evacuate.
“A Block Suit?”
“Yes? Ah, yes, that’s what they say!”
However, the moment he heard that the Infected Psycher wore a Block Suit, his calculations changed.
Kim Seojun knew the spectacle a Psycher Agent in a Block Suit could create on the battlefield, and he knew how absurdly powerful it was.
*A Block Suit is an Agent Suit that sacrifices mobility for nothing.*
And he also knew well what it had given up for that absurd performance.
*Evacuation is not a problem.*
At this point, Kim Seojun no longer hesitated about escaping with the Survivors.
Instead, he had two concerns.
*If only I can catch it.*
To catch it, or not to catch it.
*I can protect the Headquarters and get the reward.*
At that juncture, Kim Seojun spoke.
“Name and rank?”
At his words, Sergeant First Class Viktor Lewandowski wore a bewildered expression.
Kim Seojun didn't give him a long explanation.
*Thwack!*
“Ugh!”
He lightly kicked Sergeant First Class Viktor Lewandowski’s shin, and at that, Sergeant First Class Viktor Lewandowski’s face contorted.
“Please state your name and rank.”
“S-Sergeant First Class.”
If you speak and they don't listen, you kick their joint—this was a tradition that held true even in the Space Era.
Of course, he wouldn't have done it normally.
Kim Seojun was a Staff Sergeant, wasn't he? There was no Non-commissioned Officer he met who was lower in rank than him.
But now, such things weren't important.
And Kim Seojun had already committed so many military offenses that this was trivial, and he intended to commit more.
“V-Viktor Lewandowski, Sergeant First Class.”
It was certainly effective, and Kim Seojun bowed his head and said.
“I apologize for the sudden violence. The matter is very serious, so I resorted to violence.”
“Ah, no, it’s fine.”
At the apology, Sergeant First Class Viktor Lewandowski nodded with a stiff expression.
Kim Seojun then asked him.
“Where are the Battle Tanks?”
“Excuse me?”
At that, Sergeant First Class Viktor Lewandowski didn't answer, and seeing his reaction, Kim Seojun subtly lifted his foot.
At the hint that he might kick his joint again, Sergeant First Class Viktor Lewandowski spoke.
“Ah, I know.”
And a moment later, Kim Seojun was able to arrive at the Poland Headquarters Warehouse where the Battle Tanks were stored.
“Private First Class Park Boseop, I’m counting on you.”
“……I’ll try.”
Together with Private First Class Park Boseop.
*Rumble rumble rumble!*
A short while later, a Battle Tank appeared.
13.
When the Space Era began and the War against Mog started, the first Combat Vehicle Humanity developed was the Tank.
There was no hesitation.
“Tanks have been with Humanity throughout history! The Space Era is no different!”
It was no exaggeration to say that there was no Combat Vehicle more familiar to Humanity than the Tank.
Thus, Tanks suited for the Space Era began to emerge, and through various trials and improvements, Humanity created a Tank optimized for fighting Mog in the Space Era.
And from then on, Humanity's Tanks began to be called Battle Tanks.
Battle Tanks differed from Regular Tanks in many ways, enough to warrant a different name.
To face Mog and traverse Space Planets, they possessed superior Mobility incomparable to Regular Tanks.
Also, to deal with the numerous Mog, they were equipped with not just simple shells, but many other high-performance weapons.
In summary, they had superior Mobility, overwhelming firepower, excellent durability, and were lightweight. Anyone who heard this explanation would mostly ask the same question.
“Then it’s just a very good Tank, isn’t it? Is there a need to call it a Battle Tank?”
The answer to that question was simple.
“What? The price is on a different dimension?”
Just as a regular supercar and an F1 racing car aren't classified as the same type of automobile, the value of a Battle Tank was too astronomically high to be placed on the same level as a Regular Tank.
Because of this, even Nations with considerable scale found it difficult to operate many of them.
Furthermore, each Nation invested enormous costs in Battle Tank development and meticulously concealed its technology.
Naturally, the Battle Tanks operated by different Nations varied greatly in their control methods and other aspects.
“Starting the engine!”
*Vroooom!*
“Oh! It started!”
The reason why Private First Class Park Boseop, a Korean Space Marine, could immediately drive Poland’s Battle Tank was simple.
“It’s a good thing Poland imports our Battle Tanks.”
Currently, Poland was an excellent Military Partner, importing many weapons from Korea.
Moreover, the Black Panther series of Battle Tanks made by Korea was recognized as excellent even across Space.
“Yes, it really is fortunate. To meet Private First Class Park Boseop in this universe.”
“Excuse me?”
“I never imagined you could even pilot a Battle Tank.”
Of course, no matter how you looked at it, it was absurd for a Military Driver to pilot a Battle Tank.
“Ah, well, I studied because they said the basic allowance would increase if I got a Battle Tank License.”
Private First Class Park Boseop spoke as if he were getting a car driver’s license, but a Battle Tank License was by no means easy to obtain.
Not only did it require mastering various manuals, but the visible field of view itself was on a different dimension from a regular car.
If a regular car was like playing a game on one screen, a Battle Tank was like playing a game on five screens.
Driving wasn't just about grabbing the steering wheel and pressing the Accelerator and brake. The sensation was on a different level.
As Private First Class Park Boseop said, many people challenged it because they were told they'd get more money with a license, but it was fortunate if even one out of 100 people passed the basic driving test.
“But I’m a beginner driver. I have no real combat experience.”
And naturally, real combat operation was on a completely different level of difficulty from license driving.
But Kim Seojun didn't worry much about that aspect.
“I can trust Private First Class Park Boseop.”
Private First Class Park Boseop’s driving ability shown so far far exceeded that of a typical Military Driver.
“More importantly, can you use the weapons?”
Rather, the problem here was Kim Seojun.
“Ah, I’m not disrespecting Staff Sergeant Kim. It’s just that…”
Most of the weapons mounted on Battle Tanks also required specialized training to use.
“They’re not the weapons Space Marines use.”
They were on a different level from a Space Marine's gun, which merely required pulling the trigger.
“But don’t worry. I have experience.”
“Ah!”
Of course, Kim Seojun didn't get into the Battle Tank thinking, *I've never done it before, but what the heck, let's try it! Won't it work out somehow?*
Moreover, he was currently in a situation where he had to face an Infected Psycher.
This was quite dangerous.
Although Battle Tanks were powerful, it was difficult for them to exert that power against Psychers.
If a Psycher were to say, "Let's exchange blows fairly, I won't dodge, so hit me first!", then it might be possible to win, but naturally, there weren't many Psychers who would do such a crazy thing, and those few crazy Psychers had already been killed by Mog.
So, when normal Psychers had to deal with a Battle Tank, they would use their fast Mobility and Special Abilities to lay a bunch of Anti-tank Mines around the Battle Tank, or something similar.
Therefore, Kim Seojun hadn't initially intended to use a Battle Tank against the Infected Psycher, but upon hearing that it was wearing a Block Suit, Kim Seojun saw a significant possibility.
Furthermore, Kim Seojun had a certain confidence in operating Battle Tank weapons.
“That’s a relief! That Staff Sergeant Kim can also fire Battle Tank weapons! But how did you learn?”
“I didn’t learn because I wanted to. When all the Tank Crewmen died on the Battlefield, and there were mountains of Mog left behind, and all the ammunition was gone, anyone would learn.”
“Excuse me?”
“Because if you don’t learn, you die.”
The confidence one could only gain by learning with one's life on the line.
*To barely survive all that, only to re-enlist... I must be crazy.*
Anyway, Kim Seojun no longer hesitated.
There was no time for that either.
Even at this very moment, Major Lee Hyena was fighting the Infected for Kim Seojun and the other Survivors here.
He had to go provide support as quickly as possible.
“Maneuver.”
“Yes!”
At that command, Private First Class Park Boseop began driving towards the Battlefield, and in the meantime, Kim Seojun sat in the gunner's seat, which was for Aimed Shot of the Battle Tank's most crucial weapon, its main cannon.
Sitting there, he connected a dedicated cable to the Battle Tank's specialized helmet he was already wearing.
Then, the situation outside appeared before Kim Seojun's eyes.
“Clear.”
As Kim Seojun said, it was a clear world.
Looking at that world, Kim Seojun picked up a Controller shaped like a steering wheel, something one might see in an F1 racing car.
That was the moment.
*Huh?*
Kim Seojun's clear world, a Red Light began to appear in it.
*A bright red line is visible?*
14.
“I’ll provide support. Just hold on a little longer!”
The moment Kim Seojun, who had reached near the Military Truck, said that, no questions like, *Shouldn't I run away right now? What support? Are you crazy?* came to Major Lee Hyena's mind.
It was because of her conviction.
A conviction that Kim Seojun would produce the best possible outcome in any situation.
If it weren't for Kim Seojun, it would have been impossible for everyone to even survive this far.
*He's someone who tries harder to survive than anyone.*
And the biggest belief was Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun's obsession with survival.
*I'll hold out.*
So Major Lee Hyena thought of only two things.
*After killing everything but that one.*
To eliminate as many Infected Space Marines as possible!
Achieving that goal was not difficult.
For Major Lee Hyena, an Infected Space Marine was, at most, a Mogdog-level difficulty.
*Tat-tat, tat-tat-tat-tat!*
They used guns as weapons, but Major Lee Hyena was currently wearing an Agent Suit.
Also, those guns were not as powerful and effective as one might think.
In other words, they had a fatal flaw.
*Click!*
Namely, ammunition was quickly expended.
*Grrr!*
Normally, Space Marines would have considered their ammunition to some extent before pulling the trigger, but one characteristic of the Infected was extreme rage and a resulting decline in judgment.
Their minds weren't clear enough to calculate the number of rounds.
*Groan! Groan!*
And the process of changing magazines was not delicate enough to be performed without error.
*Crunch!*
Major Lee Hyena didn't miss that opening, rushing in and splitting the Infected Space Marine's head in two.
*Roar!*
And through all this, the Infected Psycher in the Block Suit simply couldn't keep up with Major Lee Hyena's Mobility.
Thanks to that.
*Crunch!*
*It's over.*
Major Lee Hyena was able to deal with all the Infected, except for the Infected Psycher, before Kim Seojun arrived.
Thus, the two Psychers faced each other one-on-one.
*Growl!*
The Infected Psycher expressed an unspeakable rage towards Major Lee Hyena.
It wasn't a good situation.
Anyone could see that the Infected Psycher was cornered.
However, at this moment, it was Major Lee Hyena who was cornered.
*How do I deal with this?*
There was simply no way within her understanding to defeat this Infected Psycher.
That's when it happened.
*Screeeeeeech!*
Suddenly, a bizarre sound spread across the sky, and at that sound, Major Lee Hyena's eyes changed.
“Fuck.”
She unconsciously cursed and looked up at the sky, and then she saw it.
A small dot.
*Screeeeeeech!*
The Cyclops, with its single eye, was emitting such a wave, and what it meant was simple.
The Mog Legion was now approaching this place!
“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun!”
At that fact, Major Lee Hyena urgently said.
“A Cyclops has appeared! We need to get out of here!”
Immediately, a reply came through the speaker.
“Support preparations are complete. We can eliminate the Infected Psycher.”
“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun!”
At that reply, Major Lee Hyena said.
“There’s no time!”
It was a valid judgment.
To break through the Infected Psycher’s Block Suit, ordinary firepower wouldn’t be enough.
Moreover, the Infected Psycher wasn’t stupid; if powerful firepower came, it would surely flee.
Even if it was slow, that was by Psycher standards; it was definitely faster than a Regular Space Marine.
“Even with a Battle Tank, it’s useless if you can’t hit it…!”
*Boom!*
Then, a thunderous sound was heard, and with that sound, a massive explosion erupted in front of Major Lee Hyena.
It was the sound of a Battle Tank shell hitting the Block Suit.
*A direct hit?*
While Major Lee Hyena was surprised by that fact, the Infected Psycher reacted immediately.
*Roar!*
It roared in anger and began to run.
Surprisingly, the running Infected Psycher was quite intact.
Only the Outer Armor of the Infected Psycher was damaged by the Battle Tank shell, and even that seemed to have absorbed the impact properly, as the internal structures appeared sturdy.
*Crazy!*
She knew the Block Suit's power well, but Major Lee Hyena's expression hardened at the sight of it enduring a shell hit so easily.
Then she said.
“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun! It hit! But its condition is quite intact. We need at least four more direct hits to see a significant effect!”
She reported the situation.
“So we need to escape now!”
And she uttered a conclusion that anyone would find reasonable, and to that conclusion, Kim Seojun replied.
“Major Lee Hyena, fall back!”
“Understood!”
At those words, Major Lee Hyena naturally thought it was a Retreat Command and retreated without looking back.
And she could hear it.
*Boom!*
*Huh?*
The repeated explosions.
*Crash-bang-boom!*
And the subsequent massive impact sound.
*What was that?*
*Boom!*
Another shell sound was heard while she was surprised, and at that point, Major Lee Hyena stopped, looked back, and saw it.
*Crash-bang-boom!*
The third shell hit the body of the fleeing Infected Psycher squarely and very accurately.
The Infected Psycher's Block Suit, having been hit not once but three times by shells, was no longer intact.
Its interior was exposed.
In fact, under normal circumstances, the Psycher inside should have already died from internal organs rupturing due to the External Impact.
*Groan!*
However, the Infected Psycher was different from a human, and so the Infected Psycher got up and moved.
It began to flee.
Its escape speed was fast.
Its Mobility was actually enhanced because the heavy outer plating had been destroyed.
At that fact, Major Lee Hyena thought for a moment.
*That can't be hit.*
Unless someone held that Infected Psycher down.
*It's moving.*
Just as Major Lee Hyena was about to willingly take on the role of tackling it, that was the moment.
*Boom!*
A cannon shot was heard.
*Crash-bang-boom!*
And that cannon shot reached the Infected Psycher.
*Huh?*
Major Lee Hyena froze at that fact, and then she heard a voice in her ear.
“Infected Psycher eliminated.”