Chapter 20
10. What the Nation usually said about the Infected was one thing.
“The Mog Virus is extremely dangerous, so let's make thorough efforts to avoid infection!”
That was all. The higher-ups didn't explicitly say how dangerous the Mog Virus truly was. And those operating in Space, including the Space Marines, didn't hold much apprehension. But those who had faced the Infected said, without exception:
“The Infected are extremely dangerous. Very dangerous. This is truly dangerous. Whatever you're thinking, it's about 100 times more dangerous than that!”
Kim Seojun was no different. He had faced the Infected. Not just any Infected, but Kim Seojun had faced a Psycher Infected. Kim Seojun wasn't deployed on the mission, not knowing it was a Psycher Infected from the start. No matter how obsessed Kim Seojun was with Hazard Pay, he wasn't crazy enough to say 'Yes! Understood!' to the command 'Go face a Psycher Infected!' He'd gone out on a Support Request that stated, 'We're in a fierce battle with the Mogs, we need backup!' only to find a Psycher Infected rampaging among the Mogs, and he'd been so terrified he'd just fled. Furthermore, the world didn't know the story of what Kim Seojun had experienced then. The moment he returned to his unit, someone from high up said, 'If you keep quiet about what you saw today, we'll add another zero to the Hazard Pay deposited into your account. If you refuse, we'll levy various taxes on all the money you've received so far!' Kim Seojun, of course, agreed and kept his mouth shut about it ever since. In any case, Kim Seojun realized then that the Mog Virus was truly terrifying beyond belief. It was so terrifying that the Government would spend a fortune to downplay the dangers of the Mog Virus.
*Fuck, things shouldn't get this messed up!*
Therefore, the moment he heard the system window's notification, only one thought entered Kim Seojun's mind.
I have to run. No matter what.
Not fight, but run. It wasn't a problem to ponder for long. While the Poland Headquarters was valuable, that was only true when the Headquarters was intact and there were Survivors who could operate it. The same went for the event that had just occurred. Platinum Ticket? It was an opportunity that could make one's eyes spin. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted.
Reward or whatever.
However, Kim Seojun knew well that excessive greed led to ruin. He couldn't not know, having witnessed the outcomes of greedy individuals countless times. Kim Seojun himself had become a Space Marine out of greed for money. Yet, he had survived because he hadn't crossed that delicate boundary, that line that shouldn't be crossed. And now, that line was right before him. Here, the best option was to abandon all plans and simply retreat. At that point, Kim Seojun moved immediately. He spoke to the Survivors in front of him.
“This is an Emergency Situation. Everyone, evacuate.”
It was then.
- Staff Sergeant Kim!
Private First Class Park Boseop's urgent voice came through the comms, and Kim Seojun immediately caught on and said.
“Is Major Lee Hyena in combat?”
- Huh? Oh, how did you know?
And the moment he heard Private First Class Park Boseop's subsequent answer, Kim Seojun immediately started running.
11. The moment Kim Seojun was deployed into the Poland Headquarters, Major Lee Hyena was waiting outside. Seeing this, Private First Class Park Boseop felt more reassured than ever.
“With the Major protecting us, there shouldn't be any problems.”
Major Lee Hyena felt the same.
“Don't let your guard down.”
Although she said that, Major Lee Hyena honestly thought there wouldn't be any major problems here.
*Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun will handle it well.*
Such was her trust in Kim Seojun. In many ways, there seemed to be no issues.
Beep-beep-beep-beep!
“Huh?”
But all those thoughts vanished as a single gauge on the Military Tank Private First Class Park Boseop was in began to fluctuate wildly.
“Uh, uh, uh!”
Private First Class Park Boseop, seeing it, cried out in surprise.
“It's, it's appeared!”
Major Lee Hyena, who had been sitting in the cargo bed of the Military Truck, immediately grabbed her axe, dismounted the Military Truck at that frantic voice as if an earthquake had struck.
“What's the class?”
“It's Fly-class!”
And it happened the moment Major Lee Hyena, hearing the answer, steeled herself, thinking that a Fly-class was manageable.
“No, no!”
Private First Class Park Boseop, seeing the gauge needle suddenly fluctuate even more wildly, shouted with all his might.
“It's Feather-class!
The moment she heard that answer, Major Lee Hyena's expression crumpled. It couldn't be helped. Fly-class and Feather-class were only one weight class apart, but the actual perceived difference was far more than just one level. The class was truly different. Major Lee Hyena was certainly a skilled Psycher, but even for her, a Feather-class entity was by no means easy. Of course, that didn't mean she would retreat. Not only was it not her first time facing a Feather-class, but Major Lee Hyena had also considered such a situation.
Not in this situation, with even the Infected appearing, nothing would be strange, no matter what happened.
Planet Amotia had already become a place where common sense didn't apply, a place where many Soldiers and people would, in a few years, say, 'Planet Amotia was hell back then.' Whether Mogdogs or Thorn Snakes appeared, she was prepared to face anything.
“Come on!”
As Major Lee Hyena voiced her resolve, she could see.
Grrrraaaah!
Space Marines in Battle Suits were charging, emitting grotesque sounds. Before that sight, Major Lee Hyena couldn't help but freeze.
“Huh?”
Private First Class Park Boseop was no different.
“Ah…!”
And Major Jan Zabłocki, who had been half out of his mind, couldn't help but fall into even greater despair the moment he saw it. Because they were Poland's Space Marines. They were Major Jan Zabłocki's subordinates, friends, and comrades. The very people he had willingly sacrificed his life to protect! But now, they had become Infected, charging forward looking no different from Mogs. And they were coming to kill him and his saviors.
“My God.”
In that moment, even Major Jan Zabłocki couldn't help but call out to God. Major Lee Hyena was no different. Even she, who rarely felt flustered by ordinary matters, couldn't help but waver in such a situation. Moreover, this wasn't the end. At this moment, the words Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun had spoken came to Major Lee Hyena's mind.
*If a Psycher became Infected*
He had called that situation the worst. And that situation soon became a reality before her eyes. Major Lee Hyena could see. A Psycher wearing a black Agent Suit.
*Damn it.*
Furthermore, the moment she saw it, Major Lee Hyena's expression hardened more than ever. It was then. Major Jan Zabłocki shouted.
“Major Lee Hyena! It's a Psycher! It's Poland's Psycher, Jakub Mazur! He's a Melee Combatant, and he's a Tanker among them!”
Information about their Nation's Psychers was top secret, and leaking that information was an offense punishable by severe military law, but Major Jan Zabłocki didn't care about such things here. He was simply trying to give information to help Major Lee Hyena in any way he could. Of course, even without his words, Major Lee Hyena could tell what type of Psycher was before her the moment she saw it. The black Agent Suit she saw immediately had a different purpose from a typical Agent Suit. It was an Agent Suit that sacrificed Mobility for pure defense, commonly known as a Block Suit.
“He uses an axe!”
Furthermore, in his hand was an impossibly massive axe. A sound escaped Major Lee Hyena's lips as she saw it.
“Tsk!”
A sharp click of her tongue. Naturally, this was the worst possible situation. An opponent that even normally would be difficult for Major Lee Hyena to face had now appeared as an Infected. Considering that those infected with the Mog Virus wouldn't die unless their heads were destroyed, and their physical abilities were enhanced, it was a horrifying prospect. On top of that, the Space Marines, also Infected, were charging towards Major Lee Hyena's group like Mogdogs. If she were to get wounded and their bodily fluids touched the wound, she would truly be facing the absolute worst.
*Retreat.*
Thus, Major Lee Hyena immediately knew what the best course of action was here.
“We're retreating.”
And she was about to choose that option.
“As soon as Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun returns.”
However, she added a condition, and the two in the Military Truck raised no objections the moment they heard it. If they fled from here, it was clear to anyone what those Infected would target!
“Major!”
“I'm not stupid enough to engage in a head-on fight with an Infected Psycher. I'll fight by avoiding him.”
Of course, that didn't mean Major Lee Hyena intended to fight without watching her back.
“I'll only deal with the Space Marines.”
In other words, she intended to clear out the small fry while avoiding the Infected Psycher's attacks. There was nothing she couldn't do. The Infected Psycher was an entity that had sacrificed Mobility, while Major Lee Hyena was one who had chosen Mobility. All she had to do was strike and withdraw! And Major Lee Hyena immediately made that goal a reality. Ignoring the Infected Psycher, she swiftly dealt with the charging Infected Space Marines.
CRUNCH!
Every time her axe moved, the heads of the Space Marines shattered like watermelons. Brain matter and blood splattered everywhere, and naturally, Major Lee Hyena's body was covered in it. In other words, Major Lee Hyena's body was drenched in the Mog Virus. This meant that if her body, or rather, her suit, were to get even a scratch at this moment, she would face a horrific situation! It was a chilling thought.
Grrrraaaah!
And what was even more chilling was that the Infected Psycher repeatedly moved to kill Major Lee Hyena. At that sight, Private First Class Park Boseop and Major Jan Zabłocki, who were observing the situation from a distance, felt goosebumps all over their bodies.
“Major Jan, isn't there any way we can help?”
At that, Private First Class Park Boseop, who had just relayed the situation to Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun, spoke with desperation. He felt that Major Jan Zabłocki, at least, might have an answer. Indeed, Major Jan Zabłocki, a seasoned veteran in his own right, knew the answer here.
“If we step in, we'll only complicate Major Lee Hyena's movements.”
For a Psycher fighting with all senses focused, a Military Driver and a Hover Rider interfering would only be a hindrance, not a help.
“The only way to help Major Lee Hyena is to take her and get out of here with all our might the moment Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun arrives.”
At that cold assessment, Private First Class Park Boseop gripped the military truck's steering wheel tightly.
*Staff Sergeant, please come quickly, quickly.*
It was that moment.
“Private First Class Park Boseop.”
“Huh?”
A voice was heard, and Private First Class Park Boseop said in response.
“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun! Please hurry! Major Lee Hyena is buying us time!”
Private First Class Park Boseop, answering, naturally thought Kim Seojun's words were coming from a distance via radio. That's why.
“Private First Class Park Boseop.”
“Staff Sergeant Kim! Please hurry!”
“I'm here.”
“Huh?”
“I'm right next to you.”
Thump-thump!
When Private First Class Park Boseop saw Kim Seojun, Kim Seojun, knocking on the Military Truck's driver's side door as he spoke, made Private First Class Park Boseop jump in fright.
“S-Staff Sergeant?”
Major Jan Zabłocki, who was next to him, also jumped in fright.
“Private First Class Park Boseop.”
“Yes! Get in immediately! We're getting out of here!”
Then, at Kim Seojun's call, Private First Class Park Boseop tightened his grip on the steering wheel. At the same time, he lightly pressed the accelerator. He showed his determination to get out of here as quickly as possible.
“I have a question.”
“Huh?”
However, Private First Class Park Boseop froze at Kim Seojun's unexpected follow-up question. Kim Seojun asked him.
“Can you drive other things too?”
“Other things?”
“I'm talking about things in the Military.”
To that question, Private First Class Park Boseop instinctively replied.
“I can operate most things with wheels among the things in the Military. Ah, I don't mean I'm good at it! I can just make them move! I definitely can't drive them like cars or Hoverbikes!”
Even after speaking, Private First Class Park Boseop hastily made excuses, thinking he might have made a mistake.
Kim Seojun asked him.
“Then, can you perhaps drive a Battle Tank?”
“Huh? A tank?”
The moment he received that question, Private First Class Park Boseop first nodded his head.
“I know how to make it move. The Polish guys also use the Black Panther made by Our Country, so it's definitely possible... Huh?”
Only after answering did Private First Class Park Boseop finally realize a very serious problem.
“S-Staff Sergeant Kim, surely you don't mean...?”
Because at this very moment, there was only one reason Kim Seojun would ask such a question.
“That's right.”
And Kim Seojun willingly told him the reason.
“I'm planning to take down that Infected Psycher with a Battle Tank.”