Chapter 2397 – 2397. Eternal Eden

I ran out of the building and shivered from the cold.

‘Ugh, fuck. It’s hard to move.’

I went right back into the building.

If it were a real body, this much cold would have been nothing.

My current physical abilities are similar to or lower than E-level based on real-life hunter standards. Moreover, you cannot use mana.

-Eugene. You didn’t even bring a weapon. Are you out of your mind?

Na Chae-young’s voice heard through the building’s speakers was full of absurdity.

‘That’s right. You can’t carry it in your inventory. You can put it in, but you can’t take it out of this world. I’ve been using the inventory so far, so I forgot.’

You have to keep carrying things like knives and other equipment. She sighed at the discomfort and turned around to go get her equipment.

Cutlassfish swords that are used in this world, winter clothes that must be worn due to the weather, and guns and grenades that you might not know.

-Choi Hye-jin and Irina are also waiting. Should we dispatch it?

They were the biggest force at Seongak Elementary School. Except me, of course.

You shouldn’t send them to deal with mutants. Maybe if the weather was nice. It wasn’t a good idea to send them to fight mutants in this place where the weather was terrible. Also, it was necessary to act as Na Chae-young’s escort in case of an emergency.

“Leave them alone. The Holy SS also needs to gain experience. As a bonus, there is also combat AI. But when can I use combat AI?”

-You can use it right away. Probably much better than elite soldiers. Although it has the disadvantage of not being able to deal with variables well… And there aren’t many combat machines for the combat AI to control. You know that. The resources we can gather are limited. Although resources are steadily being collected, it is not enough to produce a combat machine.

There is nothing we can do right now.

Because Seongak Elementary School did not dominate the whole of Seoul.

‘It’s a matter of time. The seeds of a plan to go beyond Seoul and engulf the entire Republic of Korea have already been sown.’

I packed up my equipment and went outside.

The winter clothing did not completely block the chill. Still, I think I can be active for a few hours. It was difficult to even move earlier.

For her head, she wore a combat helmet, which was very awkward.

-Can you hear me?

“It sounds good. But do I really have to use this?”

-That helmet will protect you from the cold. Why? Can’t you see clearly?

“It looks good. The HUD design is also pretty good. But it’s a bit frustrating.”

UHD appeared on the display. Small maps, weather information, heart rate, etc. Delivered in real time. I don’t know about anything else, but the game’s minimap was useful.

-I can’t help feeling frustrated. Adapt. It will launch the navigation, so go as you see.

The minimap responds. I’m not manipulating it, Na Chaeyoung is manipulating it in real time.

-The blue dot you see on the map is you. Allies are green, enemies are red. The red triangle is a variant or boss level. You looked at the map and roughly understood the situation, right?

The variant is outside an elementary school. Still not moving. I don’t know why. Thanks to you, I was able to relax.

“The Holy SS is fighting well. Upload the video. “I’ll have to see how they fight.”

A video appeared on the display.

The SS men, armed with combat helmets, winter clothing, assault rifles, knives, and grenades, were overwhelming the mutant Mew Hounds. They calmly use their assault rifles while keeping the distance wide open, and when the distance gets closer, the two members step forward to block and cut them down.

“Processed. “There are no injuries.”

“We found five mu hounds at 2 o’clock. Run this way. Squad leader. “Can I use a grenade?”

“It’s an empty lot. Write it.”

There was no trace of fear in the crew members’ voices. I nodded with satisfaction.

“Good. It’s useful.”

-Because we have invested quite a bit so far. Although this is my first time dealing with a Mew Hound, there are no problems. The real problem is variants. I don’t know yet what abilities it will have. Be careful.

Na Chae-young is overly wary of variants. Of course, she understands her. Mutants are difficult to deal with even with well-trained military units.

Driving through the pure white snowy field with snow piled up, we arrived at the place where Byeonbyeon was. There was a red-skinned wild dog over 2 meters long. It’s amazing how they survive this cold even though they have no fur.

“Krrrr…”

The mutant growled, drooling. Pure white steam flowed from the snout, where sharp teeth were visible.

“Something is strange.”

-What’s strange? … You’re not letting down your guard, are you?

“Your eyes look strange.”

-… Can you recognize the eyes of a mutant?

Na Chaeyoung asked back. Her reaction was natural. Because with his eyes and everything, he will look like an ordinary monster.

I know this because I have dealt with all kinds of monsters in many worlds.

“I got sick of your eyes. In the first place, mutants and mutants are not normal, but this one feels like it has lost its taste differently.”

-… You mean Byun Byeon is out of his mind right now, right?

“That’s how I feel.”

-Maybe it’s the player’s doing. Among the psychic powers of an esper, there is also the ability to control the minds of mutants.

“Someone intentionally sent a mutant here to attack?”

-It’s just a guess. But the possibility is high.

There were more than three suspects alone.

First, a bunch of marauders. These guys are criminals. It wasn’t strange no matter what I did. The nearby looters have been completely eliminated, but they reappear like cockroaches.

The Ilwoo group that I have a bad relationship with. These guys may have tried their hand again.

America’s CIA. It wasn’t a very good relationship with me.

It wasn’t strange if other enemies suddenly appeared.

‘… By the way. This bastard has been watching the tide since a while ago. ‘Why don’t you attack me?’

I was constantly preparing to counter if they attacked. Because it is several times more convenient to aim for a one-hit kill than to grab him for no reason.

‘Did you really know that if you get into the name of an asshole, you’ll die? ‘You’re so smart about being an asshole.’

If you don’t come, I’ll have to go.

I walk while stepping on the snow. Then, my legs get caught in the accumulated snow. The balance of the body is temporarily lost. The Mew Hound variant rushed in, taking advantage of the gap.

‘Now that I see it, I used a trick. Is this a trick pulled by this guy? Or not…’

The Mew Hound swings its sharp clawed front paw. I quickly regained my balance, blocked the claws with my cutlassfish sword, and took out the pistol from my thigh with my left hand and held it.

‘No matter how bad my shooting skills are, there’s no way I can’t hit it at this distance.’

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

A special armor-piercing bullet designed for variants was lodged in its body. The guy thrusts his snout in without even stopping. It’s obviously strange. No matter how mutant it is, as long as it is a living thing, it cannot help but feel pain. But he doesn’t even seem to feel pain.

Thunderstorm, thunderstorm.

The lightning extending from the blade of the cutlassfish split into dozens of strands and penetrated into the creature’s body. He stabbed the silver-colored blade into the neck of the man who seemed paralyzed. Just in case, he cut off his head and killed him.

“It’s over. It’s no big deal.”

-Saw. This side has also been cleaned up. There are two injured. I didn’t get hurt in the fight, I just slipped because of the snow. The injuries are minor.

“In short, there is no damage? Good. Not bad. “I’m returning.”

-Bring the mutant corpse. Mutant corpses are a valuable resource.

“Ah.”

I was trying to put it in my inventory but stopped. It was really annoying not being able to use the inventory.

• • •

Jo Jung-hong, who was sitting in his chair, opened his eyes. He had a bead of sweat running down his forehead. Marcus, the white man next to him, asked, brushing his orange hair.

“How did the operation go? Was it successful?”

Jo Jeong-hong’s eyes are trembling. He hung himself with his right hand. I didn’t feel any pain.

“It failed. It wasn’t normal. Seong Yu-jin personally came forward and… No, I killed the mutant.”

“Isn’t it for nothing that people say that he is the strongest among Korea’s awakened people? What are his forces like?”

“There were troops armed to the level of special forces. Each one of them is elite. I had no hesitation about dealing with Mew Hound.”

“Are you saying that mutants alone can’t break through? “You’re in trouble.”

Marcus stroked his chin.

He and Cho Jeong-hong are members of an American faction, ‘Signals.’ A force created by powerful figures and entrepreneurs in preparation for destruction.

Their purpose was two.

Securing Seong Yu-jin, a person with healing abilities. Among those with healing abilities, those with healing abilities are very rare, so they must succeed.

Another goal is to ruin the talks between South Korea and North Korea. There were many people in their faction, ‘Signals’, who did not like the meeting itself. Specifically, those who benefit only when the Korean War breaks out.

“It is difficult to kidnap Seong Yu-jin using force… “Is the only thing left to do is persuade with words?”

“It’s impossible. If they could have been persuaded, the CIA would have already done so. There is also information that they maintain a good relationship with the Ministry of National Intelligence. In addition, Seong Yu-jin created a religious group called Seongjingyo and is also carrying out pseudo-religious activities.”

“A pseudoscience with real healing abilities.”

“Even if I were Seong Yu-jin, I would not abandon all the power and foundation I had built in Korea and come to the United States.”

“So do i. But there is no way to do this. There are limits to our force. Maybe it’s the US. “This is Korea.”

“… First, let’s report to the higher-ups and wait for orders.”

“The superiors will not be able to give up on Seong Yu-jin. “How can I give up when I say I even cured the US President’s son’s Lou Gehrig’s disease?”

Signals is a group of people with money and power. A force preparing for the destruction of humanity. And those with money and power prioritized their own safety and dreamed of immortality. Research into immortality is still ongoing somewhere in America.

The superiors believe that Seong Yu-jin could be the starting point for the immortality project. In many ways, Seong Yu-jin is in great need.

“But shouldn’t we report it?”

“Of course.”

Marcus picked up the communicator. He uses a dedicated communication device to prevent any wiretapping.

Communication took place for about 5 minutes.

Afterward, Marcus sighed as the ground fell.

“Why are you doing that?”

“I heard that the summit meeting between South Korea and North Korea is going as planned. They told us to break up the talks. As a bonus, they told me to bring Seong Yu-jin back somehow. The best thing to do is to bring him back alive… They said if that’s too difficult, just kill him and bring the body back.”

“… Even if it kills me? “Did you really say that?”

“Okay. They told me to make sure to bring the body. You are a player. What do you think the higher-ups are thinking?”

Jo Jeong-hong thought for a moment and then said.

“If bionics advances its technology, it will be possible to create clones. Of course, it’s impossible right now… It seems that they are planning to store Seong Yu-jin’s body and then create a clone later when the technology is complete.”

“Are the clones of the Awakened?”

“No. Most of them are ordinary people without any abilities. However, there is a very rare chance that a clone will awaken the same abilities as the original. It seems like they are aiming for that.”

Marcus smiled bitterly.

“It seems like the world is already ruined.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Is there a way? I have to do what my superiors tell me. Fortunately, they said they would support it… I have to make sure I don’t fail. You are worse off than me. Even though he is a player, he is acting like a hunting dog.”

“This is correct. Esper is the class that shines the most in the early stages of destruction.”