Chapter 49

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– ……Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, can you be sure?

The voice of Kim Gang-seok, coming from the Mana Messenger, was filled with a surprise that couldn't be hidden.

– Are you certain that the object you eliminated is the 'Erosion Factor'?

Because he had trusted Lee Hyun-wook entirely, he had formed the Steel Platoon and deployed them for the operation. However, no matter how much he trusted them, the fact that the Wave was a disaster too great to handle remained unchanged. Even if Lee Hyun-wook's Steel Rain was useful, it wasn't omnipotent, so he hadn't dared to hope too much.

However, he had just heard a report that the first Erosion Factor had been eliminated in just one day.

Therefore, he was repeatedly asking to confirm if he had heard correctly.

In response, Lee Hyun-wook answered confidently.

“Yes, I confirmed it accurately. I identified and destroyed the Erosion Factor in the form of a World Stone that was burrowing into the ground, and immediately after, the system message confirming the destruction of the World Stone was displayed.”

If he had seen the system message, it was certain he wasn't lying.

Kim Gang-seok finally chuckled.

It was a laugh of amazement, bordering on disbelief.

– Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, I've always believed in you… but it seems my trust was a bit lacking.

“No, there are still three more left, so I'll stay focused and continue my mission.”

– Good, and soon the brigade headquarters will also mobilize the 'Assault Platoon.'

It seemed that the brigade headquarters, commanded by General Choi Jung-chul, had just finished dealing with the gates that had appeared within the camp.

In fact, it meant that they had successfully handled four gates in just one day, which was a highly successful response.

It was just that the 1st Battalion, where Lee Hyun-wook was, had been overwhelmingly faster…

‘If the brigade commander's direct Assault Platoon is mobilized, it will be a great help in the final battle.’

The Assault Platoon was a unit of 3-4 assault squads, the highest combat force of the 3rd Anti-Demon Brigade.

It would be useful when the 'Additional Event' occurred after eliminating more than three Erosion Factors.

“Understood. I will continue solo operations until the next order.”

– Of course, you're the best right now, so I'll follow your lead. Oh, do you need anything else?

“Not immediately, but I'll request supplies if they run low.”

– Sure, the brigade commander said he will fully support the Steel Platoon. They'll send it immediately by transport aircraft, so don't hold back and use whatever you need.

“Understood.”

After the report ended, Lee Hyun-wook checked his watch.

– 01:06

After fighting almost non-stop since the early morning, he really needed some rest now.

However, there was one urgent matter.

“I need to find those who took the Beastification Potion, so please gather all the Priest players.”

Lee Hyun-wook, along with Lee Jung-jun's group and the station guards, gathered as many Priests as possible and identified those affected by the Beastification curse. Fortunately, the task didn't take as long as expected.

When they filtered out those who had contact with the sanctuary manager, there were only a few.

After completing this task, he gave the order for everyone to sleep.

It was 1:40 AM,

and the Steel Platoon members finally sprawled out in the station corridors and fell asleep.

However, as they say, love blossoms and children are born even on the battlefield,

and with no distinction between men and women, whispers and giggles could be heard from somewhere…

“Hey! If you don't sleep, I'll force you to. Just shut up…”

After Kim Se-hee cursed a few times, it quickly became quiet.

***

At 2:50 AM, Lee Hyun-wook volunteered to stand guard and sat in the station guard room.

He needed to clearly plan the next day's operation route.

Additionally, he needed to periodically check his overall abilities.

‘If I don't clearly recognize my level, my judgment might falter during battle.’

So, Lee Hyun-wook had a habit of reading his stats whenever he had a break.

– Current controllable 'metal' weight: 78,658g

* Transcendent Sense (+30%) is applied.

* Strong Bones (+10%) is applied.

‘Indeed, an additional effect has been added.’

Strong Bones Level 1, that was the power of 'Mogulay.'

Mogulay's first skill, 'Strong Bones,' was a 'passive skill' that increased not only physical abilities but also overall power, and in Lee Hyun-wook's case, it included 'metal control.'

‘With this, I can gain an additional 40% control power.’

After checking his abilities, he took out his military PDA and looked at the Seoul map.

‘There are a total of 4 Erosion Factors in the current Seoul Wave Zone. I just destroyed one, and if we follow the original scenario, the Erosion Factor in Anyang will be handled by the Anyang Duo, so I don't need to worry about that side.’

Out of the 4 Erosion Factors, one was supposed to be handled by the 'Anyang Duo.'

‘Then… the next destination is Gangnam.’

And right there, the divine weapon 'Mistilteinn' of the God Slayer was sleeping.

The villains would surely try to obtain it first, so he needed to get there quickly and take the lead.

At that moment, Kim Se-hee appeared at the end of the corridor.

She yawned widely and shuffled over.

“Sergeant Kim, where are you going alone again?”

“To the bathroom. Why, do you want to come with me as a comrade?”

She frowned and shot back.

“No… I thought you were going to fight a spirit or something.”

“…Don’t just eat anything someone gives you when you're tired in the middle of the night.”

Despite being the platoon leader, he didn't want to say more than that.

‘Indeed, her personality is suited for arguing and cursing with spirits.’

Lee Hyun-wook lowered his head and looked at the map again.

However, after using the bathroom, Kim Se-hee approached Lee Hyun-wook.

Water dripped from her face, which she had just washed.

“…Why?”

“It's my turn next. Didn't you know?”

“Hmm, there's still time, right?”

Without answering, Kim Se-hee leaned against the wall and sighed.

“…No one died.”

“Huh?”

“During this operation, no one died. That means you did a good job leading us.”

Lee Hyun-wook, not understanding what she meant, just nodded dumbly, and Kim Se-hee continued.

“But yesterday… 19 of our platoon members died. Because of those bastards.”

The five executioners had massacred the 5th squad.

And the skeletons had launched a surprise attack, causing many to lose their lives.

Even Lee Hyun-wook couldn't prevent that.

“Shit…”

Looking again, her face was full of fatigue.

Despite her small and pretty appearance, she had a very tough and rough personality.

However, losing comrades seemed to have been a significant shock to her.

“…So, please make sure no one dies in the future.”

“Of course, that's a given.”

“If you do that… I'll follow you until the end.”

She bowed her head and looked at the ground, speaking.

It was clear that she wasn't good at saying such things.

But perhaps she was shaken by the harsh battles…

‘Well, she's a great woman, but she's still in her early 20s…’

Lee Hyun-wook turned off the PDF and looked up at Kim Se-hee.

“Of course, I'll do my best to ensure no one dies… but sometimes, someone will have to die.”

His answer was overly realistic.

Lee Hyun-wook had once harbored the same wish as Kim Se-hee,

but after numerous experiences, he realized it was impossible.

***

The sky was brightening, and preparations for the move began.

However, as the AMT was preparing to leave, the congressman Park Gil-sang and his group seemed very pleased.

They had been subdued for a while, but now they were gathered, whispering and smirking.

‘…If we just leave them, they will surely cause trouble. They are a danger.’

The Wave closure period was only 5 days, but the rescue process would take much longer.

After securing safety by eliminating the monsters that had taken over the streets, they would have to rescue people from the outskirts, one by one. Therefore, they might have to endure for several months in this shelter…

‘They plan to live comfortably in this small kingdom until the Wave ends.’

Clearly, they couldn't give up their arrogant behavior.

However, Lee Hyun-wook had no intention of letting them run wild.

He called the guard commander separately.

“Commander, as you know, we will leave as soon as it gets light.”

“Yes, thank you very much for everything. And about that incident… I'm sorry.”

The guard commander blushed and bowed.

For a moment, he had doubted and been skeptical of the AMT's capabilities.

“I really… didn't expect you to be such amazing people.”

“No, it's fine.”

Lee Hyun-wook smiled awkwardly and got to the point.

“But… I'm worried that other problems might arise after we leave. Have you seen anyone who was close to the sanctuary manager and had frequent contact with him?”

“Huh? Do you mean… a co-conspirator?”

The guard commander swallowed hard, recalling the terrifying plan of the sanctuary manager, Gong Hyun-joon.

If not for the AMT, everyone in the shelter would have become Hel Rett's food.

“No, not necessarily, but I'm thinking about the possibility.”

“I'm not sure. Before the Wave, I hardly ever talked to him…”

At that moment, Lee Hyun-wook leaned in and whispered.

“Actually, I'm not sure, but I heard something from the sanctuary manager.”

“…Yes?”

“When I subdued him, he said that if I spared his life, he could get the favor of a high-ranking person in the shelter. The high-ranking person in the shelter… hmm…”

“Huh! Is it… Congressman Park Gil-sang? Oh my God…”

Of course, this was a complete lie, a form of slander.

‘But sometimes, it's necessary to act cunningly.’

If he were bound by morality, he couldn't even handle a villain, let alone someone like Park Gil-sang