Wooooooong—
The sound of drones swarming in filled the air.
I checked the tablet.
It displayed an overhead view taken from one of our allied drones about 1.5 kiloters above, showing us and the surrounding terrain.
The drones had gathered faster than expected, but it didn’t matter.
Right in front of us stood a building with a worn sign that read “Youth Hostel.”
The windows were boarded up,
Creak—
but with a light push, one opened.
As the soldiers and Jeong Dae-kyung entered through the open window, I kept watch outside.
Buuuuuuung—
Just before I entered, the drone's engine roared, but it didn’t open fire.
Instead, I withstood the oppressive hum trailing right behind and firmly shut the wooden board.
Wuuung wuuung wuuung—
A small drone lingered just outside the board for a while.
It felt like a beast licking its lips after narrowly missing its prey.
We could’ve shot it down, but over twenty unknown enemy drones were already released in the area.
There was no need to provoke them.
It worked to our advantage if they believed the recent gunfire was rely a coincidence.
Even inside the Youth Hostel, we didn’t stop advancing.
On top of that, I planned to run a small operation simultaneously.
“Alright. Bring it out. The mont you hear anything, get inside imdiately.”
Just as we observed the battlefield with our drones, the enemy had drones overseeing the entire area as well—it was impossible to sneak away unnoticed.
We needed to draw their attention, even temporarily.
There were many possible distractions, but the one that would most surely draw attention was displaying a weapon capable of directly threatening the enemy.
Jeong Dae-kyung’s side would unveil artillery hidden throughout the city.
Though the barrels were worn and deed unusable, there was no way drones peering down from above could tell whether they worked or not.
Just the sight of artillery capable of dropping shells on their heads would throw the enemy into panic.
And just as expected—
Wooooooong—
Buuuuuuung—
Several drones that had hovered above or even at our level turned and rushed toward the location where the artillery was revealed.
One of the drones on our level had escaped my detection until now.
It was likely a trap: land the drone quietly near a potential exit, and once we erged, detonate a bomb attached to it.
Even though we hadn’t planned to use that exit, the drone operator’s discipline was evident.
“Alright, Sang-taek. Don’t overdo it. Wait a bit, then enter the mont you hear anything.”
While Jeong Dae-kyung commanded the decoy troops, I checked the screen reflected on the tablet.
I turned to 777, who was working with us on this mission.
“This route leads through?”
777 nodded.
“Yes. See here? That arcade roof? It looks like it collapsed, but if you crouch, there's just enough space to slip through.”
It’s true that high-altitude drones now offered reconnaissance and control capabilities once exclusive to satellite-equipped nations. Still, fundantally, they provided only a top-down view—a bird’s-eye perspective.
Extrely speaking, a two-dinsional world.
You can’t fully grasp the world at eye level just by looking from above.
The enemy’s small drones may provide similar viewpoints to ours, but the resolution is low, and eye-level environnts are cluttered with all kinds of obstacles.
Like , anyone whose profession is combat tends to fear non-combat losses more than combat ones.
Just because they could see everything from above didn’t an they’d lower their drones into risky, obstacle-filled zones and risk losing valuable assets.
BOOM!
Tatatatatang!
Explosions and gunfire echoed from afar, signaling the mont.
We exited the Youth Hostel and headed toward the half-collapsed roof of the old market arcade.
“Daeseok, how is it over there?”
Maybe it’s just my impression, but I think Jeong Dae-kyung’s unit might have taken control of this area even without him.
Using the artillery as bait for a diversion was my plan, but they didn’t stop there—they moved multiple squad-sized units simultaneously to create maximum confusion.
Their reasoning reeked of professionalism.
“High-end recon drones can link with battlefield control systems to target everything that moves. Using artillery as bait is fine, but if only we move, we’ll naturally draw all the attention.”
777, despite his ridiculous insignia, showed signs of solid combat experience.
Following ticulously calculated cover routes, we exited the city.
“We should be safe from here.”
Leaving the last building behind, we slipped into the forest and monitored the situation.
No drones followed.
I looked back.
Bang! Tatatatang!
Bang!
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Intermittent gunfire echoed from across the city.
Among them, I heard the distinctive boom of a 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
It was likely aid at enemy eyes watching us from the skies.
Even if it didn’t hit, it’d at least create pressure.
Thanks to the efforts of Jeong Dae-kyung’s troops, we entered the safe zone without raising suspicion.
We overturned the enemy’s assumptions.
But the mission wasn’t complete yet.
Thud— Thud—
I stripped off all unnecessary gear.
Even the gas mask.
Taking a deep breath, I scanned everyone’s faces, focusing on Jeong Dae-kyung’s.
He grinned.
“Don’t worry. I haven’t neglected my physical training since that day.”
I nodded and took the lead with my weapon drawn.
Then, the sprint began.
The enemy was roughly 7.72 kiloters away.
We’d close that distance in one go.
...
Running through mountainous terrain at near-maximum speed, under the heat of late spring tipping into sumr, wasn’t easy.
Breath quickened. My heart pounded as if to explode. The heat made my vision blur.
Of course, we could’ve walked slowly.
But if I could predict it, so could the enemy.
777 said we were clear of enemy surveillance, but I wasn’t convinced.
There was a good chance they’d noticed us.
They may not have reacted because we were too few to count as even a full squad.
A capable commander would factor in the ti needed for a small detachnt to reach their domain on foot and plan accordingly, leaving before any attack could begin.
Huff! Huff!
“Ahh...”
“Gonna die...”
I checked our position while listening to the panting and grumbling behind .
That ridge.
Once we crossed that lush ridge, we’d have visual on the enemy.
I pushed harder up the slope.
The others began to lag, their breaths growing more ragged—except for one, who kept pace.
“Old-school Hunters aren’t known for their stamina training, are they?”
It was Jeong Dae-kyung.
I glanced back and replied.
“Not at all.”
The abs I glimpsed under his scarred abdon weren’t just for show.
He’d clearly trained relentlessly, just like soone bearing the na Jeong Dae-kyung.
Despite the grueling mountain run, his breathing was remarkably steady.
We reached the ridge.
Below, in the open field, multiple armored vehicles were positioned.
As expected, they were preparing to retreat.
Had we taken it slow, we might’ve missed them.
While we waited for Jeong Dae-kyung’s n to arrive, I picked the attack point.
Soon, 777 and the others joined us.
“Alright then. When I give the signal, we attack.”
Though their breathing was still harsh, like true veterans, they recognized the value of our grueling run.
A man whose na I didn’t know passed by, giving an admiring look and muttering in a thick Gyeongsang-do accent,
“...You’ve got skills.”
We prepared for battle.
Click.
The enemy numbered around a hundred, ard with various heavy weapons.
But this was Jeong Dae-kyung’s turf.
A surprise ambush would drive them into retreat, creating a situation where escape was their only option.
But at least one vehicle had to be destroyed.
Among the many, I pointed to a trailer with windows.
“That one must be destroyed.”
It housed the drone operator.
777 crawled forward with a recoilless rifle.
As the soldiers took positions, I joined Jeong Dae-kyung in the center to wait.
Brrrrrrr—
The engines of their vehicles started.
The enemy force that had fired upon us was relocating.
We waited for the right mont.
An armored vehicle led a convoy of SUVs down the overgrown old highway.
More vehicles followed.
We waited until about half had exited.
Then—
Bang!
We attacked.
The soldier holding a radio collapsed mid-transmission, triggering gunfire from every direction.
Tatatatatang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Tatatatang!
Ambush assault from all sides.
Then—
Shoooooo—
A rocket launched from the recoilless rifle punched through the trees and slamd into the trailer’s cargo bay like a steel fist.
KABOOM!
The trailer burst into flas as I charged forward.
“Advance!”
Tatatatang!
Closing the distance under fire.
Half the enemy had already fled, losing their will to fight.
And losing their drones—those eyes in the sky—had likely heightened their fear.
We entered the smoke-filled battlefield.
A few corpses were scattered about, and from the wrecked trailer, we pulled out an officer with a minor head wound.
“Bastards.”
The man wore a captain’s insignia. He clearly wasn’t soone to take lightly.
There was a certain rigidity about him that told he wouldn’t open his mouth easily.
He was probably from the national army.
One who had never left Korea’s side.
But then he looked at with surprise.
He recognized .
I asked him,
“Your affiliation?”
He stayed silent.
“...”
He probably wouldn’t speak—ever.
But I had all the proof I needed.
Pyo Won-sang.
He was the one who ordered this forward unit to attack .
Of course, the target may have been Jeong Dae-kyung, not .
But he knew I might die and ordered it anyway.
He tried to kill .
“Have you learned all you needed to know?”
Jeong Dae-kyung approached with a warm smile.
“To a degree.”
While I prepared to leave, he didn’t say a word.
It seed like he was letting go without resistance.
It was unexpected.
At the very least, I thought he’d propose so kind of joint effort against Pyo Won-sang.
Of course, I knew our eting wouldn’t end here.
There were still things I needed to do with him.
I couldn’t tell him everything now—but I could share a little.
I took the opportunity to speak.
“I’ll visit again soon. But before that, there’s sothing I need to tell you.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“The truth is... soone asked to co here.”
Jeong Dae-kyung smiled faintly.
“Kang Han-min, right?”
I nodded.
He must’ve figured it out.
Though he now ruled Shangri-La, he once fought beside Kang Han-min in the Jeju Rift.
He probably knew much more about Kang Han-min than I did.
The man known as the Savior.
But then, sothing unexpected ca.
“Actually, I was going to tell you sothing too.”
Jeong Dae-kyung chuckled lightly.
“The truth is, I didn’t end up here by accident. It was intentional.”
One truth:
Jeong Dae-kyung wasn’t caught in so accident.
“As I ntioned before, I know how to move between different points on Earth via the Rift. I wanted to go to the Paju Rift, but exits aren’t evenly connected. Luckily, I found one to Yangsan and decided to migrate.”
He had chosen to leave Jeju and settle here of his own free will.
“Kang Han-min helped. I don’t know ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ if you know this, but I got along quite well with him. He was the one who connected to a local warlord—albeit just a small AA unit.”
Second truth:
Kang Han-min and Jeong Dae-kyung were genuinely close.
And Jeong Dae-kyung added, self-deprecatingly,
“We shared a bond—being losers. Unlike you, Professor.”
“...”
“I’ve been in close contact with him. Just a few days ago, he asked a favor.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
Everything about this man was a lie—his na, his identity, his past.
But those radiant eyes were honest.
And with that narrow truth, Jeong Dae-kyung said,
“Kang Han-min asked to help you awaken.”
I didn’t know how to respond.
Jeong Dae-kyung watched my reaction and asked softly,
“...Wasn’t that your wish?”
It was.
*
The return trip by train was tedious and complicated.
There were so dangerous monts, but they were minor—nothing life-threatening.
I returned to the Panokseon just after sunset.
“Senior!”
“Captain!”
My juniors and subordinates ca out to greet .
Naturally, among them was my junior, Woo Min-hee.
True to form, while the others ran barefoot to greet , she stood directly in front of the train, arms crossed, wearing a sly smile as she watched .
As I passed her, she asked in a quiet voice,
“So it was our side that attacked you, huh?”
As expected, Woo Min-hee already knew the whole story.
I gave a small nod, just enough for her to notice.
“What are you going to do?”
She stepped closer and whispered,
“I’m on your side.”
There may be no words more reassuring.
Hiding my emotion, I whispered back,
“I have a plan.”
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