Chapter 8
1.
In the Space Era, Humanity encountered the unexpected.
It was greatly shocked by these encounters.
Surprisingly, the most shocking encounter wasn't with the Mog.
While the initial encounter with the Mog, and the subsequent War against Mog, were indeed shocking, the moment Humanity first saw them, it thought:
“*Of course! It wouldn't be the Space Era without monsters!*”
It was bound to happen.
What truly astonished Humanity, however, was the Prophet's Relic.
The Prophet's Relics, discovered across Space and on various Planets, weren't immediately understood for their true value.
Initially, they were treated merely as jewels, extremely rare jewels, only obtainable in Space, and thus sold at exorbitant prices.
“*This jewel wasn't formed naturally. It was made.*”
However, the moment someone suggested that these jewels were created not by human civilization, but by another space civilization using their science and technology, humanity was aghast.
It was, in fact, quite strange.
Normally, upon hearing such a claim, people wouldn't be aghast. Instead, they'd look at the person spouting such nonsense and think, “Look at this lunatic, thinking sci-fi novels are real life, tsk tsk!” That was the usual reaction.
“*At the very least, I am certain of it. If you wish to deny it, try doing so in front of me.*”
But the fact that the speaker was none other than Doctor Space changed Humanity's reaction.
His words didn't end there.
“*Those born with Special Abilities can wield the power within these relics.*”
Doctor Space named them Prophet's Relics and then stated that there were beings capable of using them.
“*Therefore, from this moment forward, these are Prophet's Relics, and those who use them are Psychers. I have named them, so do not call them by any other name.*”
Thus, Psychers were born.
Naturally, Psychers subsequently received treatment befitting New Humans, along with all sorts of benefits.
And they deserved such treatment.
In the War against Mog during the Space Era, the abilities displayed by Psychers were overwhelming enough to change the tide of battle, and it couldn't have been otherwise.
The destructive power generated when superpowers like telekinesis, superhuman strength, teleportation, and precognition aligned with Humanity's science and technology was beyond imagination.
In any case, Psychers were formidable beings, and all militaries granted them a very special status and treatment.
For one, regardless of their actual rank, they were given major status when operating with the military. And even that Major Status was merely the minimum; even general officers couldn't easily order Psychers around.
They were transcendent beings.
“*A Psycher?*”
Thus, the moment he heard the word 'Psycher,' Private First Class Park Boseop's expression was more surprised than ever.
*At the same time, a hint of excitement was visible.*
To ordinary people, Psychers were like celebrities, figures to be revered, great beings.
It was the same for Space Marines.
“*Is it really a Psycher, a Psycher Agent?*”
To Private First Class Park Boseop's voice, tinged with excitement, Kim Seojun replied.
“*Definitely. There's no way someone that age could be a Major unless they were a Psycher.*”
And in Kim Seojun's voice as he answered, his grim expression, his emotions, were evident.
Private First Class Park Boseop immediately noticed that sentiment.
“*Staff Sergeant Kim, is there a problem?*”
To that question, Kim Seojun answered without hesitation.
“*I have good news and bad news. To start with the good news, the compensation for this Key Figure Rescue will be higher than you think.*”
“*Huh?*”
“*Since we rescued a Psycher Agent, the first digit of the reward you're imagining will change.*”
At those words, Private First Class Park Boseop's expression turned surprised.
He had heard countless times how valuable Psycher Agents were, but he never imagined it would be *this* much?
“*Considering the value of a Psycher Agent, their life isn't cheap. Moreover, while Soldiers might be overlooked, Psychers' worth is definitely taken care of.*”
“*Really?*”
“*Soldiers, even if something happens to them, are someone else's children. But if Psychers are treated poorly, they'll defect without a second thought.*”
“*Ah.*”
Private First Class Park Boseop immediately understood the explanation.
And then he tensed up.
“*Th-then, what's the bad news?*”
“*Psycher Agents are formidable beings. Some Psychers can change the Tide of Battle, accomplishing alone what an entire Space Marine Regiment cannot. That's why every time I saw a Psycher Agent, I prayed. I prayed I'd never have to see one again.*”
“*Huh?*”
Kim Seojun explained to Private First Class Park Boseop.
“*Seeing such a valuable Psycher means the situation here is bad. in many ways.*”
The moment he heard those words, Private First Class Park Boseop's expression no longer held the excitement of seeing a celebrity.
The situation was that serious.
Of course, Kim Seojun didn't simply agonize over it.
*'If we move with a Psycher, the rescue priority is automatically top-tier. All we have to do is hold out. And as long as there's a Psycher, future battles with the Mog are likely to be easier.'*
He tried to highlight the most positive aspects in his mind.
But such thoughts didn't last long.
The moment they arrived near the Supply Base where the remaining unit members were supposed to be, Kim Seojun and Private First Class Park Boseop's expressions inevitably hardened.
“*...Staff Sergeant Kim, there's no response from the Supply Base.*”
When there was no answer after sending the radio signal three times, Kim Seojun couldn't help but be certain.
“*Looks like they've been wiped out.*”
His prediction was correct.
The moment they reached the Bunker, what they saw was utter devastation: scrap metal and mangled flesh that had once been Space Marines, so horribly destroyed by the attacks of Mogdogs and thorn-snakes that their forms were unrecognizable.
*'Ah.'*
Private First Class Park Boseop froze on the spot.
He froze from the sorrow of his comrades' horrific deaths, from the fear that their gruesome fate might be his own, and from the terror of the unknown events that had transpired here.
*Thump!*
Kim Seojun lightly tapped Private First Class Park Boseop's shoulder.
“*I know it's tough. I've been there too.*”
Kim Seojun understood Private First Class Park Boseop's feelings perfectly.
He couldn't not know.
He, too, had witnessed such hell countless times.
“*Yet, I re-enlisted to earn money and return to Earth.*”
That's why he knew.
“*I'll do anything for that.*”
What needed to be done here.
“*Gather all the supplies you can. I'll collect weapons from the unit members' bodies, so you gather food, batteries, and other items from inside the Bunker.*”
At those words, Private First Class Park Boseop nodded weakly.
After that, the work proceeded smoothly.
There wasn't much to gather, after all.
That was the moment they placed the meager weapons, ammunition, and food supplies into the Military Truck's cargo bed.
“*Huh?*”
Private First Class Park Boseop, who was moving items, looked at the Medical Suit, and his eyes met those of the Psycher visible through the suit's visor.
So he saw that the Psycher had woken up, and at that moment, Private First Class Park Boseop shrieked in alarm.
“*Sh-she's awake!*”
2.
“*Major Lee Hyena, affiliated with the National Strategic Force.*”
“*Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun.*”
Major Lee Hyena, having woken up in the Medical Suit, first introduced herself, and Kim Seojun returned the greeting.
The moment they exchanged that brief greeting, Kim Seojun knew.
*'She's a Veteran.'*
Major Lee Hyena, who appeared to be around 27, similar in age to her younger sister, was more of a Veteran than he expected.
And it made sense, as Major Lee Hyena was currently in a Medical Suit.
This meant she had sustained quite severe injuries.
Furthermore, given that she had been taking shelter, it was highly likely she had witnessed the entire collapse of the Planet Amotia Korean Branch.
But to introduce herself immediately upon waking, in front of strangers, was unusual.
It could only be one of two things.
It was either a Veteran confident in her abilities, or a psychopath with numb social senses.
Either way, it wasn't good for Kim Seojun.
Encountering a Veteran Psycher Agent further implied that whatever happened on Planet Amotia was very bad.
“*I will provide a Situation Report. The Korean Branch is currently completely destroyed, and we are en route after detecting Major Lee Hyena's Rescue Request signal. The Bunker we were operating from was destroyed, so we are moving to another Bunker.*”
Separately, Kim Seojun first reported the situation.
At his report, Major Lee Hyena's eyes inside the Medical Suit began blinking rapidly.
, as if typing on a keyboard
Soon, she opened her mouth.
“*How many unit members are left?*”
“*Unfortunately, all remaining unit members, with the exception of Military Driver Private First Class Park Boseop, have been annihilated. Supply conditions are also poor.*”
The moment she heard the immediate answer, Major Lee Hyena spoke.
“*From this moment, you will follow my command.*”
“*Yes, ma'am.*”
Kim Seojun did not question her.
For one, Lee Hyena's rank was Major, a high-ranking official whom a mere Staff Sergeant would not dare to question.
*'If she's from the National Strategic Force, these are people who operate in real combat.'*
Moreover, the National Strategic Force, to which she belonged, was a group that operated independently even within the Ministry of National Defense.
*'Colonel Kim Taesu, whom I saw back then, was a monster too.'*
Since Kim Seojun had personally witnessed such formidable power, he had no intention of engaging in a pointless power struggle.
Rather, he was grateful for her willingness to take command.
*'We can move together right now, so there's nothing bad about this at all.'*
As mentioned before, Psycher Agents belonging to the National Strategic Force possessed powerful combat capabilities, and from a Psycher's perspective, one Staff Sergeant and one Military Driver were, frankly, negligible.
It wouldn't have been strange if she had simply said, “Survive on your own,” gathered supplies, and left without a trace.
There was no way to stop her.
In any case, from Kim Seojun's perspective, it felt like he had grasped a reliable lifeline in the worst possible situation.
He let out a sigh of relief.
“*From now on, we must carry out an operation.*”
However, the moment he heard her next words, Kim Seojun's expression changed.
The current situation was an accident that had occurred, requiring damage control.
It was certainly not a situation where the word 'operation' should be used.
But she mentioned the word 'operation'?
“*Are you familiar with the Kilmas Planet Incident?*”
And the moment he heard Major Lee Hyena's subsequent words, Kim Seojun squeezed his eyes shut.
*'Damn it, seriously.'*
He cursed inwardly.
Kim Seojun knew.
“*What is the Kilmas Planet Incident, Staff Sergeant?*”
What answer would come to Private First Class Park Boseop's question.
“*It's the planet where the Queen was born.*”
“*Huh? The Queen?*”
So Kim Seojun answered himself, and upon hearing that answer, Private First Class Park Boseop wore a blank expression for a moment before snapping out of it and shouting.
“*Th-th-the...*”
“*Yes, *that* Queen. The one that can create a Mog Legion.*”
The Queen.
One of the Mog species, a being with powerful leadership, as its name suggested, and simultaneously a powerful reproductive capability to create Mogs.
*'Now I understand why the Mogs were acting up. The Mogs started rampaging to protect the Queen.'*
Furthermore, the moment a Queen was born, the Mogs would launch an Annihilation Operation to destroy everything on that Planet to protect her.
The bigger problem was what came next.
*'If a Queen dominates a Planet, that Planet then becomes a factory for churning out Mogs.'*
Beyond just losing the Planet, the areas surrounding a Planet occupied by a Queen would become overrun with Mogs.
In terms of Human Civilization, it was like a cancer cell.
A cancer cell that, the moment one was born, would metastasize everywhere.
Naturally, Humanity had to prioritize eliminating that cancer cell the moment it was discovered.
This wasn't merely a job for Psychers alone.
Rather, Psychers were just the beginning.
“*When is the Deadline?*”
“*Deadline? Staff Sergeant Kim, what's that?*”
“*There's a set time limit for Queen elimination. If the deployed forces fail to eliminate her within that time, then external support arrives.*”
“*Support? Additional Forces?*”
“*No, Nuclear Missiles arrive.*”
If the situation didn't resolve, then the higher-ups would take the maximum possible measures.
That was when.
*Beep beep beep beep!*
A warning sound suddenly began blaring from the stopped Military Truck, and at that alarm, Kim Seojun immediately stood up and looked at the Military Truck's dashboard.
Then he saw it.
One of the needles on the dashboard was trembling wildly.
It was a detector.
Just as there were beings like Psychers among humans, there were also Special Individuals among Mog Individuals.
Such Special Individuals emitted unique wavelengths, and Humanity had installed detectors capable of sensing these individuals on most vehicles.
“*Fly-class! A Fly-class Individual has appeared!*”
Moreover, what had just appeared was a Fly-class Individual, the lowest rank among them.
Of course, that didn't mean it was 'doable'.
There was only one reason why most vehicles were equipped with this detector.
“*Private First Class Park Boseop, run!*”
It meant to run without looking back.
However, at that moment, Kim Seojun had forgotten.
That he no longer held command.
“*Engage.*”
And the one who held command chose to fight instead of fleeing.
Kim Seojun didn't question that fact.
This was the Military.
A place where you followed orders from above, no questions asked.
Moreover, with a Psycher Major giving orders, Kim Seojun's survival instincts weren't weak enough to commit insubordination.
Furthermore, Kim Seojun trusted the Psychers' abilities.
Their presence meant the Battlefield was hell, but at the same time, they were the ones who survived hell.
So Kim Seojun simply prepared.
*'If necessary, I'll inject a stimpack.'*
That was the moment.
The moment Kim Seojun steeled himself, an alert sounded in his ear.
[A Powerful Mog Individual has appeared!]
[An Event Mission has occurred.]
[Points acquired in this battle will be doubled.]
[If you hunt the Powerful Mog Individual in this battle, a Gold Ticket will be awarded as a special bonus.]