Chapter 32 – LV.Five Mage Lee Hoon – [One]

It seemed the incident that had just occurred had turned everyone’s minds inside out.

Some soldiers’ pupils were bizarrely dilated. It was the effect of excessive adrenaline secretion. Some soldiers, even after the crisis had passed, remained flat on their stomachs, unable to muster the courage to get up.

Some soldiers just blankly stared at the gray sky, perhaps to avoid looking beside them. That is, to avoid seeing their comrade whose head was gone.

Blood flowed from the corpse with the torn-off neck and pooled in the truck bed.

As the two-and-a-half-ton truck jolted, that blood flowed towards one soldier.

He must have felt his pants getting damp. The soldier turned his head absentmindedly, saw the stream of blood and the headless corpse beyond it. His eyes widened, and only after his pants were completely soaked with blood did he curse a few beats late.

“Fuck…”

His curse was mixed with a sob.

After driving for another hour, the two-and-a-half-ton truck stopped. Then one soldier frantically looked around and shouted.

“Why are we stopping? Keep going! They’re chasing us!”

Seo Yun glanced back, but there was no one chasing them.

Yet he was worried about being chased? What did he think was chasing them?

Oh Haengbok?

It seemed he was genuinely afraid of being pursued by that orc. He was acting this way even though he clearly saw that orc had been left far behind.

Meanwhile, another soldier seemed to be hearing things.

“Didn’t you guys just hear a motorcycle sound?”

He startled everyone, then got a few angry kicks moments later.

After that, Seo Yun continued to watch the soldiers. Even though considerable time had passed since the battle with that orc, the soldiers were still gripped by fear.

It was an almost irrational fear.

Looking at the soldiers’ defeated, pitiful state, Seo Yun thought.

‘Well, I’d heard Oh Haengbok was strong, but I didn’t know it was to that extent. Those military grunts seem to be the same.’

Seo Yun surmised that the soldiers knew of the existence of LV.13 Warrior Oh Haengbok and that he was the strongest Player on the Korean Peninsula, but they probably thought there was no particular need to fear him.

After all, everyone was armed with rifles and even carried anti-tank weapons. With this level of equipment, it was reasonable to think they could take down a superhuman or a monster. It was a sort of rational confidence.

And when that damn rational confidence was shattered so miserably, they all fell into a state of panic.

Everyone seemed anxious, as if expecting the orc’s figure to appear at any moment.

While ten men stood guard in all directions, the remaining personnel cleaned the blood and vomit from the truck. Their movements were uniformly hurried.

One soldier approached Seo Yun.

More precisely, he approached Kim Ak beside her. In front of Seo Yun, the soldier began to stammer.

“When we… capture people and take them to the division, we gather the captured people in one place and start with disciplinary training, right?”

Perhaps because the statement was so abrupt, Kim Ak couldn’t respond.

So Seo Yun answered instead.

“Disciplinary training?”

“Yeah, disciplinary training. Drills. Whether they’re women, men, or old, we make all the captured people do drills together. If anyone refuses, we say it’s because of them and make everyone start over from the beginning…”

Seo Yun could guess why they did that. It’s a trick to make the captured people docile for easier control later. It’s a method frequently used not only in the military but also by human trafficking organizations on abducted people.

“So, what about it?”

“That… we’ll exempt you guys. No, actually, the seniors would say something, so I’ll tell the seniors we gave you the drills even though we didn’t. So…”

Seo Yun now understood what the soldier was getting at. The soldier was making a kind of proposal here.

“Are you asking us to put in a good word for you now? Because you’re scared of Oh Haengbok?”

The soldier didn’t deny Seo Yun’s question. As he hung his head, Seo Yun continued.

“If that’s the case, just let us go.”

The soldier shook his head.

“Can’t.”

“Why not?”

“A mage died, we lost a two-and-a-half-ton and a squad… if we go back like this, we’re dead… Instead, we’ll treat you well. We’ll really treat you well…”

Seo Yun looked at the soldier’s terrified face.

That soldier was making such a proposal because he feared the orc that had attacked them, because he feared the day he would meet that orc again.

‘So he must be afraid of a situation where that orc either succeeds in pursuit or later leads a group to attack the military base. That potential future trouble too…’

From Seo Yun’s perspective, it seemed like excessive worry in many ways. The soldiers were all covering their faces with cloth now, so later, no one would be able to identify who specifically participated in the abduction. Even knowing that, he’s saying such things?

‘The orc’s infrasound must have really messed them up…’

Kim Ak, who had been keeping quiet until now, seemed to see this as an opportunity. He shouted.

“If you don’t let us go, you’re fucked! See this really pretty kid here? She’s Chief Oh Haengbok’s little sister!”

Following Kim Ak’s finger, the soldier looked at Seo Yun.

“Little sister?”

“Technically an adopted sister, but practically the same as a real sister or a foster daughter! Do you know how much the Chief cherishes this girl Seo Yun? He’ll definitely come to rescue her later, bringing the village Players to attack, you bastards!”

Seo Yun nodded at his words while thinking. In her view, it was an unlikely scenario.

Certainly, the Oh Haengbok who had been roaring seemed like an incarnation of rage who wouldn’t think twice about charging into a military base alone with his warhammer.

But that was the orc Oh Haengbok. The human leader Oh Haengbok would never do such a thing.

Wasn’t he the Oh Haengbok who would rage and shout at newbies for doing dangerous things? Apart from his anger management issues, Oh Haengbok was a leader who terribly prioritized safety. He hated dangerous actions and hated ordering his subordinates to do dangerous things even more.

He was absolutely not the type of person to order the village Players to do something as reckless as attacking a military base.

Meanwhile, the soldiers seemed to take the threat realistically. However, they still didn’t actually release them, just repeating ‘we’ll treat you well, so please put in a good word for us.’

Finally, the two-and-a-half-ton truck reached its destination.

Seo Yun saw the encampment spread out ahead. Frog patterns and digital patterns filled her vision abundantly.The sign above the guard post was inscribed as follows:

• Welcome to the barracks. Dawn Corps –

The two-and-a-half-ton truck came to a stop at the center of the encampment.

While all the soldiers who had been riding in the truck had disembarked, only those who had been captured and brought in the cargo hold remained. Seo Yun bit her lip.

Soldiers began to gather around the two-and-a-half-ton truck.

“They’re here.” “They’ve arrived.”

Their expressions were filled with delight and curiosity.

From the atmosphere, Seo Yun could tell that those soldiers had gathered to gawk at them. She was already feeling uneasy, but what about Seong Juri?

Seo Yun subtly shifted her position to shield Seong Juri’s body.

The soldiers who continued to gather truly began their spectacle. Commentary on the captured ‘prisoners’ commenced.

The soldiers’ gazes moved back and forth among the various prisoners. And most of those gazes stopped on Seo Yun’s face.

They were staring, practically drilling holes with their eyes.

At this moment, far too many soldiers made eye contact with her. Seo Yun struggled not to frown.

The faces of the soldiers looking at her now all resembled the supply sergeant’s. The worn-out, aged appearances of soldiers who looked older than their years.

However, they lacked the supply sergeant’s plump build that Seo Yun remembered. Looking at these soldiers’ gaunt, aged appearances, Seo Yun once again felt the same emotion she had felt when looking at the eight boys from the neighboring village.

A soldier, after staring at Seo Yun’s face, muttered.

“What’s with her face?”

One of the soldiers who had captured Seo Yun, looking at her, asked in return.

“If you mean ‘her,’ are you referring to the girl with long hair?”

“Who else’s face would I be talking about, you idiot? We sent you to catch kids who’ve Class Changed, and you bring back a girlfriend?”

“No, sir. She’s a Priest.”

“A Priest? Really? If you’re talking nonsense because your brain’s fucked up, you’re dead.”

“It’s certain. I saw her Heal.”

Hearing a comment like ‘must get hurt a lot then…’, Seo Yun once again struggled to manage her expression.

Another soldier asked.

“That aside, what about the other two-and-a-half-ton truck? Three squads departed, so why is only one arriving late?”

“Well…”

The private explained what had happened today. And everyone present among the soldiers seemed horrified. They immediately called a superior, and perhaps that superior was also horrified, as they ultimately summoned the highest-ranking officer.

An old man appeared on the scene and was also horrified.

“What kind of insane talk is this? An entire squad wiped out?”

Judging by his rank insignia, he was a major general. Probably the division commander. His name tag read ‘Kim Jeongtong.’

After hearing the detailed explanation, Division Commander Kim Jeongtong bit his lip.

“Oh Haengbok, that bastard son of a bitch…”

The private cautiously pointed at Seo Yun and added.

“They say that girl is something like Oh Haengbok’s adopted daughter. So, they also said we don’t know what might happen later…”

Division Commander Kim Jeongtong raised one eyebrow.

“Isn’t that bastard Oh Haengbok the village chief there, so he adopted an orphan?”

“I’m not sure about that part.”

Division Commander Kim Jeongtong clicked his tongue and looked at Seo Yun. Wiggling his eyebrows, he muttered.

“She certainly looks like she was born incredibly pretty. And in this situation, seeing her walking around all made up…”

Seo Yun refrained from mentioning that she had never worn makeup. Division Commander Kim Jeongtong continued.

“Anyway, from what I’ve heard, it seems like a headache… We’ll think about the rest later, for now, let’s handle the immediate tasks.”

Those immediate tasks seemed to be related to the captured Players.

“Everyone, disembark!”

Seo Yun got off the two-and-a-half-ton truck along with the other Players. Division Commander Kim Jeongtong stood before them and began a speech.

“I consider it truly fortunate that we have been able to rescue and protect you all.”

He was now describing the abduction as protection. Did he sense the emotional shift in the listeners due to the inappropriate expression?

Commander Kim Jeongtong quickly elaborated.

“Saying ‘protection’ is not an incorrect expression. Until now, you all have been detained by an illegal violent organization and forced to wield blades and fight. Having rescued you from them, you will now reside here…”

Seo Yun thought. Did they really capture us with that purpose? To be fair, on a national level, it is something that should be stopped—17-year-old boys and girls roaming around fighting hostile creatures under the pretext of being Players.

However, listening to the following words, it was, of course, not such a ‘benevolent’ intention.

“From now on, under the protection of this headquarters, you will fight for the right purpose against the right enemy. For honor, and for the nation and your friends and family who may still be alive somewhere.”

After the speech ended, thunderous applause erupted. Under the gazes of the surrounding soldiers, the captured Players also had to clap along.

Even after the applause subsided, Division Commander Kim Jeongtong spoke.

“We have two girls here, and that’s quite a headache. If we let them live together with the vigorous males, problems will arise, hmm… 4th Battalion Commander?”

A man answered in a low voice.

“Yes, sir.”

“You personally oversee and look after them. I’m entrusting them to you because you’re the most exemplary, so don’t let any strange incidents happen, understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

Even to Seo Yun’s ears, the reply seemed somewhat lacking in sincerity. Perhaps displeased by this, Division Commander Kim Jeongtong frowned but didn’t press the issue.

Meanwhile, the man just called the 4th Battalion Commander turned around impassively.

The man’s rank insignia and name entered Seo Yun’s view.

‘Name… Lee Hoon.’

His rank was lieutenant colonel, but his face looked young enough to be believed as a captain.

Lieutenant Colonel Lee Hoon approached. His eyes moved toward Seo Yun’s face and then hesitated.

Lieutenant Colonel Lee Hoon clearly seemed to notice that face worthy of a perfect 10 in charm, but pretending not to, he said.

“Two girls? Follow me.”

Seo Yun and Seong Juri followed behind him.

As she walked, Seo Yun glanced sideways and saw Seong Juri trembling. She tightly grabbed her wrist.

Lieutenant Colonel Lee Hoon asked as he walked.

“How on earth did you girls get captured? Usually, only men get caught. Because it’s mainly men who roam around calling themselves Players or whatever and fighting…”

“They ambushed us while we were hunting.”

When Seo Yun answered, an unexpected remark followed.

“Fucked up world…”

Hearing that curse, Seo Yun thought. He’s muttering as if he himself is displeased with this situation—is that him trying to portray himself as the only decent guy? Or perhaps…

A shout came from behind.

“One, lower your arms! Two, raise your arms!”

Seo Yun looked back and frowned.After the division commander and officers withdrew, only the soldiers and the captured Players remained at the spot from earlier.

The Players, surrounded by soldiers, were doing push-ups. Even at a glance, it was clearly a punishment. Kim Ak was also sweating among them, enduring the drill. It seemed he couldn’t keep his promise to exempt them from punishment, likely because there were too many senior officers around.

“Anyway…”

Watching the scene, Lieutenant Colonel Lee Hoon furrowed his brows again. Whether he found the sight awkward or was trying to divert Seo Yun’s attention, he spoke up.

“The one with long hair. What’s your name?”

“Seo Yun.”

“So, you’re a Priest?”

“Yes.”

“If you really are a Priest… I’m sorry, but I’ll need you to get to work right away. You can use Healing Spells, right?”

“Yes.”