Chapter 33 – Presenting Oneself

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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After receiving permission to go outside the zone.

Me, Meursault, Taejeong, and CornerHoney equipped ourselves and gathered in front of the zone entrance.

As soon as CornerHoney saw me, he shrieked.

“Call me more often! The military is fucking hard!!”

Sigh, that trash-tier bastard.

Making me feel embarrassed in front of Meursault.

However, contrary to my expectations, Meursault was looking at CornerHoney with a warm gaze.

“…Why are you looking at that guy with gentler eyes than me?”

“It is because it has been a while since I saw a child acting in a way that fits his age.”

“…….”

That bastard is twenty years old, though…….

“But is it really alright for just us to go outside the zone?”

As Taejeong asked maturely, Meursault nodded his head.

“Today we have only come out to test whether the location of the monsters’ gems is actually discernible, and whether the newly developed combat rations are suitable for young soldiers. We won’t go far from the zone, and I won’t allow anything dangerous to happen, so rest assured.”

Rest assured because he ‘won’t allow’ anything dangerous to happen?

Was he saying this for my benefit?

Well, even so, this was a massive improvement.

Compared to how he used to chant that it made no sense like someone going out to die when I first suggested going hunting, Meursault had also become quite bold.

Meursault lined the three of us up and spoke.

“Today they say the guard post spotted a Furry Crocodile, a large-class monster, wandering around this area with injuries this morning. Since the subjugation period is near, it must be a fellow that got pushed out during a territorial fight with other monsters in the center. Since they said it was bleeding profusely, it should be collapsed somewhere not too far away by now.”

Even when I looked from atop the watchtower before gathering, the blood trail left by the injured Furry Crocodile was clearly visible on the snowfield, so it wouldn’t be difficult to find.

“Normally this would be a task left to the guard post soldiers, but if the method of discerning gem locations that Lord Haydam spoke of is real, we should be able to find the gem at once without damaging the Furry Crocodile too much. The goal is to deal with it and return before the moon rises.”

The concept of ‘before the moon rises’ was a truly important setting in the Safe Zone worldview.

The reason why one must destroy the gem when killing a monster.

While monsters in the Safe Zone could be killed by shattering their gems, conversely, it also meant they would not die as long as the gem was intact.

This was because a monster’s wounds would self-heal when exposed to moonlight if the gem was undamaged.

Thus, whether one could discern the location of the gem—which differed for each monster—with the naked eye was bound to be a critical issue.

“Well… although I specialize in the ones that lunge at me, I don’t mind a collapsed one either.”

At my words, Meursault looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Are you saying it is easier to confirm the gem’s location in a moving subject than in a still one?”

“Of course. Usually, if a creature has the strength to move, it will unconsciously try to protect its weak point.”

“That is a perspective I have never thought of before……”

“Anyway. Since finding it isn’t hard, Meursault, you persuade the officers.”

“Are you really planning not to have the officers participate in this subjugation battle?”

Indeed.

I intended not to take the officers to this subjugation battle.

Neither the pro-Daphne officers, whose only real combat experience was returning after staying in the rear, nor the pro-Hayden officers, who had plenty of combat experience but were now too old to be of help to our forces.

Although we planned to head out as a small elite force, if you brought officers to the first subjugation battle, the main event usually ended up becoming ‘rescue the officers.’

Even though this was no longer a game, there was no need to leave room for such a dangerous event to occur.

“I don’t need soldiers who are of no help in battle. They are only in the way.”

“I suppose I will have to do the persuading. If you say it like that, you will instantly earn their hatred. Well, those people would probably be glad if they were told they didn’t have to go to the subjugation battle anyway……”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t met the officers since the meeting with Daphne.

Did the pro-Daphne officers hold a bit of a grudge against me over that day’s matter?

The news of the training simulation must have reached the officers’ ears as well…….

I was curious about the reaction of Anton, Plato’s father.

* * *

The day after the training simulation.

Anton, the leader of the pro-Daphne faction, visited the military academy and had a meal with his son, Plato.

“So… how does it feel to lose to a ten-year-old child?”

At Anton’s question, Plato set down his fork and replied.

“I learned that there is such a thing as an unreachable realm in this world.”

At those words, Anton clicked his tongue.

“Are you saying you lost because Lord Haydam was too outstanding?”

“That would be the case.”

“That’s a grand excuse for losing to a ten-year-old. I clearly warned you not to let your guard down.”

“I did not let my guard down. Lord Haydam was simply far superior to me.”

At Plato’s stubborn reply, Anton shook his head.

Although he had raised his child without prejudice on purpose because he didn’t want him to lean politically.

For him not to even feel frustrated after losing to a ten-year-old was not what Anton had expected.

Anton had thought that his son might lose ever since they said they would conduct mock training with Haydam.

This was because, compared to the commander’s clever son, his own son was far too upright.

However, even if he lost to Haydam, he had regarded it as an opportunity for Plato to feel inferiority for the first time and allowed him to participate in the mock training.

To think he would end up being influenced by Haydam instead.

Although Lady Daphne also told him to maintain a friendly relationship with Haydam for the time being…….

“And he really did know the name of the neighbor’s yard dog.”

“What does that mean?”

“He knew that the name of the yard dog across the street was Winter.”

“Winter?”

“Yes, he said it was named Winter because it was born in winter.”

At those words, Anton laughed out loud.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You’ve been beautifully tricked.”

“Yes?”

“The dog across the street is named Edwin. It is a dog raised by a neighbor I’ve known since my youth, so I know it well.”

“Are you saying Lord Haydam was lying? I felt like it was a name he had known for a very long time……”

“Since there’s no way you would have memorized the name of the dog across the street, he just threw out any name.”

“As expected of Lord Haydam. He is also outstanding at quick-wittedness.”

“What a fool. I shall leave first.”

Although Plato was his own child, his appearance of ending everything in praise of Haydam was pathetic, so Anton stood up from his seat first.

On his way home like that, the neighbor who was sweeping snow in front of his house caught his eye.

Just in case, Anton stopped his car and spoke to him through the car window.

“Hey there.”

“Oh my, it has been a while, Lord Anton! Have you been well?”

“I’ve been well. By the way, didn’t you raise a dog? What was its name?”

“It’s Edwin, Lord Anton.”

“Ah……”

Anton, who had been anxious lest the name ‘Winter’ come out of his mouth, finally felt relieved and could smile.

Whether Anton seemed quite strange, the neighbor tilted his head and asked.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Someone mistakenly thought your dog’s name was Winter.”

However, at those words, the neighbor showed a surprised look.

“How did you know?”

Sensing something, Anton’s heart sank.

“…What do you mean, how did I know?”

“Edwin gave birth to puppies a few days ago. Since the spring subjugation season is coming up, I was going to name it April if it was born in spring, and Winter if it was born in winter, and she safely delivered recently. The puppy is still young, so we’ve never shown it outside, but I was startled that you knew the name.”

‘A puppy born a few days ago is named Winter……?’

It was already several weeks ago when Haydam declared at the officers’ meeting that he knew even the name of the neighbor’s yard dog.

How on earth could Haydam know the name of a puppy that hadn’t even been born yet?

‘No, thinking about it, Winter is not a particularly special name. He must have gotten lucky.’

Although Anton felt some unknown sense of incongruity.

Because he couldn’t know the exact reason why he felt the incongruity, he became endlessly uneasy.

* * *

We began to walk over the snowfield where our feet sank deep, searching for the Furry Crocodile.

Taejeong, who was tall and had a wide field of vision, walked at the very front, while CornerHoney and I were in the middle.

Meursault followed right behind.

“They really whipped up the combat rations in no time.”

Whether he hadn’t learned that he should keep his eyes forward while walking or had forgotten, CornerHoney, who was pulling out a Star Candy and examining it this way and that, asked me.

“So, did you find out anything about Lunamoon?”

“…….”

Such an incautious bastard.

“What, why aren’t you speaking?”

“Meursault is right behind us.”

“We’re speaking in Korean, so how would he understand?”

“Lunamoon is Lunamoon even in English.”

“Ah……”

This fellow… his English skills have improved, but his intelligence remains the same.

“And Meursault is smart. He can understand at least the nuance of Korean.”

CornerHoney wore an expression showing he got what I meant, then spoke again.

“Dwid yuo fwnd out enything abowt Lwnamwwn?”

“…You look seriously pathetic, so stop it.”

“This bastard!”

As CornerHoney looked about to grab me by the collar, Meursault, who was following from behind, cleared his throat.

CornerHoney glanced at Meursault’s expression once and lowered his hands.

After sneering at him once, I asked.

“Did you practice healing in the army?”

“Of course. I think it might even be possible to heal someone else if we’re in contact.”

What?

He already developed his ability to that extent?

…Was he a genius to a much greater extent than I thought?

Then again, with that intelligence and personality, he had to at least have talent…….

“Just looking at your face, you’re ignoring me in your head, you bastard.”

“No, just now was a face of feeling proud of you.”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

“Please stop fighting.”

Unable to stand our bickering any longer, Meursault spoke up from behind.

“I know you are on good terms, but you must keep to the line. It is fine right now because there is only me, but you must not act like this in official settings. You will go to the brig if you do.”

At those words, CornerHoney grew slightly sullen and nodded.

CornerHoney was not such an idiot as to call me a bastard, the commander’s son, in front of other people either.

…Probably not?

Just then, Taejeong, who was walking silently ahead, stopped in his tracks, turned to us, and spoke.

“Over there, there is something.”

Looking in the direction Taejeong pointed, I saw a huge, shaggy white-furred thing slumped powerlessly.

“Is it unconscious? Should we wake it up?”

“Hey!”

CornerHoney carelessly packed a snowball and threw it, but the creature did not react.

“Be careful.”

At my words, CornerHoney shrugged his shoulders.

As we approached the Furry Crocodile, I could see snow piled up thick on its body.

‘It seems to have been unconscious for quite a while.’

Circling around the guy, I first searched for the wound the guard post soldier had seen.

Although it wasn’t immediately noticeable due to the fur, I could soon tell that blood was clotted on the fur of its right flank.

‘It defended with its right.’

The unconscious pose was lying flat on its stomach.

‘Left abdomen.’

Without hesitation, I pressed the muzzle against the Furry Crocodile’s left back and fired so that it would penetrate to the abdomen.

Along with the sound of tearing flesh, there was a crisp cracking sound.

The unconscious fellow died without even being able to put up a single struggle.

Meursault stared at me with a dumbfounded face.

“…Was that just now the sound of the gem breaking?”

He gets so surprised at something that is actually nothing when you know the secret.

I gestured with my chin to Taejeong and CornerHoney.

“Turn it over and show him.”

“Yes!”

“No, why are you bossing me……”

CornerHoney grumbled, but he succeeded in helping Taejeong flip the Furry Crocodile over.

Seeing the gem that had been embedded in the left abdomen pour out in shattered pieces, Meursault looked back and forth between the broken gem and me in disbelief.

“Are you just going to keep looking with that stupid face?”

“N-no. I will have to persuade the officers when we return.”

Even as he said so, Meursault repeatedly stroked the spot where the Furry Crocodile’s gem had been, as if he still couldn’t believe it.

“That thing, even if the meat tastes bad, the hide is useful, right? Tell them to come and collect it.”

“Ah… indeed, we must bring it back as evidence. Let us fire a flare.”

As Meursault quickly pulled out and fired a flare, a white flash soared silently into the cloudless sky.

You might think it would attract the monsters’ aggro, but that white flash is a signal that cannot be seen by the eyes of monsters.

“It ended too quickly to even test the combat rations.”

“Take the Star Candies and eat them. Don’t forget to eat them while testing their ‘performance’.”

Understanding that these words meant they should try eating them after wounding their own bodies, both of their expressions turned complicated.

Although both of these guys were adults, their current bodies were children, so I didn’t want to order them to self-harm either, but.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because if they did not get used to healing, they would end up dying before becoming adults.

Just then.

Vrooom—

“……?”

The sound of an engine or something drifted from somewhere.

As if I wasn’t the only one who heard it, CornerHoney and Taejeong also looked toward the zone.

“We just fired the flare, are they already coming?”

However, rather than a sound approaching from the direction of the zone, it sounded bizarrely close.

This was as if…….

‘It feels like it’s coming from right above my head.’

The moment I thought so, an ominous shadow cast over our heads along with a chilly wind.

“What, you’re carrying Meursault around with you?”

“……?!”

The four of us stood up in surprise at the voice that came from above our heads.

As we stood up and aimed our muzzles at the sky simultaneously, the figure of a young man in a white coat riding a hoverboard, looking down at us quietly, entered our field of vision.

“What… is……?”

Whether it was his sudden appearance from the sky, him riding a hoverboard, or him mentioning carrying Meursault around.

Although it was an appearance not easily acceptable, nevertheless, I knew this man.

And I was not the only one here who recognized this face.

CornerHoney blurted out in a dazed voice.

“…Dopamine Addict?”