Chapter 43: The Bucheon Brigade Watches

As they leisurely walked toward where the giant turtle was headed, Yohan asked,

“Let’s talk now. You said you have a trump card?”

“Yes.”

“What exactly is this trump card…? I’m not trying to pry, but I need to know roughly what it is so we can plan our strategy properly.”

In response to Yohan’s question, Taehyun said,

“I can use magic with my own item. I can cast spells from 1st Circle up to 7th Circle. The trump card I mentioned is the 7th Circle.”

“7th Circle… How much firepower does that translate to?”

“Well, to be honest, since I can only use it once a month, I’ve been saving it without ever using it.”

Yohan furrowed his brow at Taehyun’s words.

Since he couldn’t grasp the exact strength, he wasn’t sure if it would be enough to defeat the turtle.

After a moment of thought, Yohan spoke.

“Um… you know the game you used to play? How strong would that 7th Circle magic be in that game?”

“…I was obsessed with games back in college. I don’t know about now, but back then, that spell was only available after reaching level 50, the max level.”

“I see.”

That meant it was almost a top-tier skill, probably comparable to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Of course, there are differences depending on the game, but if you think about most Korean online games, it’s definitely a powerful attack.

“That’s definitely a solid trump card. Then… your wife?”

“Han Ji-young.”

“Oh, right. Ji-young. What’s her ability?”

Ji-young glanced at her husband Taehyun briefly and said,

“I don’t have any skills that attack others.”

As she said that, she reached out her hand toward Yohan.

At that moment, her hand began to glow pure white, and soon that white light seeped into Yohan’s body.

Something astonishing happened.

“My dantian… it’s filling up?”

It wasn’t the automatic absorption effect of Heavenly Demon Divine Art, but an incredible amount of inner energy was charging his dantian.

While Yohan was amazed, Ji-young looked even more surprised and said,

“Ah, no, what kind of mana is this…?”

She was a healer.

With her dual abilities to replenish health and mana, she could consume her own mana to transfer mana to others nearby, refilling their mana or healing wounds and restoring health.

Because of that, she could usually estimate her husband’s recovery amount by the mana being absorbed around him.

But in this case, Yohan absorbed enough mana from just one heal to fully restore Taehyun’s mana.

That meant this man possessed an unimaginable amount of mana, even from her perspective.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Anyway, it’s amazing. Getting healed by a healer like in a game—this will definitely help.”

As Yohan tapped his now considerably filled dantian and walked forward, Ji-young, following behind, poked Taehyun’s side and said,

“Honey.”

“Hm?”

“Let’s definitely stick with that guy.”

“Why?”

“The mana is no joke. He seems really strong.”

“Honey, are you joking? Did you see him attack the giant turtle? Just from that, he’s terrifyingly strong.”

“Exactly.”

Though their voices were hushed, Yohan clearly heard their conversation.

He smirked quietly to himself but then suddenly stiffened his face.

“Stop.”

“Huh?”

“Why?”

Yohan hurriedly led the two into a commercial building beside the road.

“What’s going on?”

“A military base.”

“A military base?”

Yohan nodded and briskly climbed the stairs to enter the building, then pointed to a window for the two to look through.

Beyond the window, behind the busy path the giant turtle was walking on, a group had appeared.

Numerous cargo trucks carried armed soldiers, followed by Dazzi with Tou and Hyeongung trailing behind.

“Yoon Seonghun, the brigade commander.”

“…Who’s that?”

“He’s the head of the military forces in Bucheon. I met him not long ago. They seem to call themselves the Bucheon Brigade… Anyway, it looks like he’s moving troops.”

“Hmm…”

Yohan averted his gaze and looked toward the military forces.

“At their level, they wouldn’t even be able to scratch a single fingertip of the turtle.”

“The level difference with a dragon—or rather, a Drake—is huge.”

“Their durability is seriously terrifying.”

The three shifted their gaze back to the turtle.

“We need to get a closer look.”

“Won’t the military notice us?”

“Their level of ability is terrible. Even if we hide roughly, they won’t find us.”

Yohan said this, opened the window with a druk sound, and jumped out.

Since it was a third-floor building, it was easy for Yohan, but seeing him jump suddenly made the couple flinch, staring at him wide-eyed.

“Honey, can you do that?”

“…I can, but I’ve got something broken somewhere, so it’s a problem.”

The couple clicked their tongues and hurried down the stairs to follow Yohan.

Bucheon Defense Brigade Command and Control Room.

Brigadier General Yoon Seonghun looked heavily at the radio in front of him.

-“This is Eagle. This is Eagle. Nest, respond.”

Soon, a voice came through.

The Operations Staff Officer cautiously asked Yoon Seonghun,

“May I reply?”

Yoon raised his hand to stop him and spoke instead.

“This is Nest. Have you arrived?”

-“Currently in contact with Code Blue and tracking. Over.”

“Tracking? What do you mean?”

-“It appears to be fleeing after being attacked by Code Red.”

Everyone fell silent at that.

Yoon asked again,

“How is Code Blue’s condition?”

-“The shell is slightly damaged but appears to have self-repaired.”

“And Blue One?”

Blue One referred to the small turtle.

-“Blue One, who usually guards Code Blue at all times, is not to be seen.”

“Could it have gone somewhere else?”

-“No. It’s assumed Code Red killed them all.”

“I understand. Continue tracking.”

-“Confirmed.”

No sooner had Yoon and the vanguard finished their conversation than the staff began to stir.

“Code Red is really dangerous, huh?”

The Personnel Staff Officer clicked his tongue.

Though a colonel, he was the most senior officer in terms of service time, holding a position in the Defense Brigade with sharp political skills before retirement.

Unlike the tense staff, he spoke loudly and somewhat relaxed.

“Sir, shouldn’t we catch and kill that bastard?”

In response, the Operations Staff Officer spoke instead of Yoon.

“Personnel Officer, you know it won’t be easy.”

“If we shoot arrows or grenades like when hunting lizards, since that thing’s human, would it survive? We have to eliminate dangerous elements beforehand! Isn’t that right, Commander?”

“I think we should try to persuade him first.”

“Intelligence Officer, is that possible? Who’d want to be under a monster like that?”

“Well… since that powerful guy didn’t kill the superhuman team after encountering them but ran away, maybe they’re not enemies or villains. If we talk properly, persuasion might work.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Leaving the conversing staff behind, Yoon Seonghun, deep in thought, finally spoke heavily.

“All anyone talks about is Code Red.”

Yoon took a cigarette from his chest pocket, put it in his mouth, and said,

“The important thing now is Code Blue. We have to catch Code Blue. We missed the dragon. If we miss Code Blue this time too, the major titles that can be earned from killing monsters in this game will all be taken by other forces.”

Yoon looked toward the right screen on the front monitor.

Displayed were lists of over 5,000 gifted individuals, monsters caught, and currently held items.

“Old Red, Code Red now—compared to outside gifted people, our superhumans are far behind. If we lose the titles, that gap will only widen.”

Those who earn titles and steal abilities from others grow stronger, catch stronger monsters, and accumulate more powers.

Those left behind, no matter how much they are the Defense Brigade, will eventually be crushed.

To survive and dominate in this never-ending game, they had to catch more monsters and steal more abilities.

Since they weren’t doing that well now, Yoon felt anxious.

Usually optimistic and bright, his heavy expression and serious tone were enough to show his concern.

“We’ll deal with the giant turtle somehow.”

When the Operations Staff Officer said that, everyone nodded in agreement, and Yoon nodded too.

“Everyone has to do well. Let’s do well.”

Only after he smiled did the atmosphere begin to lighten.

The capsule coffee and sweet snacks, already hard to come by, were quickly emptied from the plates, and just as the old yet elegant crystal ashtray in front of Yoon was emptied once.

“Reporting! Lieutenant Jungwon Yoon.”

“What’s the matter?”

“The residents of Seonga Village apartment complex who came last time have returned. May I let them in?”

The Personnel Staff Officer frowned and asked,

“For what reason?”

“They seem to want to seek refuge again… If not, they’re ready to protest.”

The moment he heard that, everyone’s faces crumpled.

“Are those people crazy?”

The Personnel Staff Officer voiced the concerns of others.

“No, what era do you think this is? Do you think if you protest in front of a military base, they’ll just accept it?”

“Sir, this time we really can’t just ignore it. Maybe we need to show some force to drive them away…?”

Yoon also showed his discomfort and said,
“If they really protest, shoot them.”

“Yes, sir!”

***

Tatata-tatang.

The bullets fired right in front of them made Mrs. Kim Sunja flinch and fall backward.

As the asphalt cracked and gunpowder smoke billowed, the faces of her and the Seonga Village residents turned pale.

A soldier guarding the brigade headquarters spoke.

“I don’t know how you found our command post, but due to higher orders to prevent military secrets from leaking, shots to kill are authorized. We spared you once because you looked pitiful, but if you come near or show signs of protest again, next time the shots won’t hit the ground—they’ll hit you!”

Chachak.

At those words, all at once, the muzzles aimed at them.

An older woman from Seonga Village asked Mrs. Kim Sunja,

“W-what should we do, Madam?”

“C-could they really shoot? People who have no power at all?”

“Ugh, can’t you see? They’re ready to shoot! Let’s get out of here!”

“Right. And why did they kick out the poor Self-Defense Force leader…”

“We’re doomed. All doomed!”

With the Self-Defense Force, including Taehyun, leaving and no one left to protect them, complaints toward Kim Sunja rapidly increased.

“Hmph! Do you think there’s no other way besides the military? Don’t worry, everyone! I’ve found another place!”

As her influence dwindled, Kim Sunja tried to put on a brave front, but her once unyielding pride and confident shoulders sagged little by little.

Feigning confidence, she turned away haughtily.

But fearing a gun barrel might be pointed at her, her legs moved busily like a swan’s legs under water.