Chapter 20: The Game Board (3)


    - If were not careful, the nightmare from ten years ago could repeat itself.


    I stared nkly at the article, reading and rereading it, before sighing. Ten years ago, our response system was still in its infancy. Monsters had ughtered countless people. The situation was dire.


    Its not against the rules to discuss the game, is it?


    [Indeed. After all, you are the ones who will bear all the responsibility.]


    ..Theyre still in the dark?


    I scrolled further down. This was the only topic of conversationtely. Evolving monsters, or as they weremonly known, mutants. To those unfamiliar with the situation, it could indeed be baffling. But to be urate, they werent mutants. They grew, interacted, and learned. There hadnt been any reports of such mutants in Korea yet, but they could appear at any time.


    How is the legion faring? How much more does it need to grow before we canmunicate?


    Desperation surged within me as the situation escted. I bit my lip. I had inquired if it was feasible to extract information from even a fragment of a higher entitys body. The response, however, was thatplete restoration was beyond the legions current interpretive capabilities. This implied that even if I sent my blood, teeming with my genes and cells, the legion couldnt replicate a human from that alone.


    [Whenmunication will be possible, no one knows. It could be right now, or it could be in the distant future. But rest assured, it is your role to control it.]


    My role. I nced at the sample slot I still had avable. I was somewhat prepared. If the monsters appeared, I nned to find them and take samples.


    I


    "Huh?


    Suddenly, a loud siren echoed from outside.


    *


    Are we sure its around here?


    Cha Ji Yeon, having driven her car into the bustling street, parked it and ced a small stone in her palm. The stone hummed and vibrated. It was the signal she had finally caught after scouring more than half of Seoul. Based on this signal, she had roughly determined the range of her target.


    [Its impossible to find the exact location. However, if you approach within a close range, you should be able to spot any suspicious individuals.]


    Understood.


    She exited the car. Her unique appearance began to attract attention from the surrounding crowd. Ignoring their stares, she moved on, donning a hat and sunsses. Two schools, numerous apartments and shops, a subway station, and more. Despite narrowing down the range, there were still too many potential targets.


    However, she was being watched. Not just her, but also an unknown entity that trailed behind her. The creature, its vision shared with a sparrow circling the sky, bared its sharp teeth and smirked.


    ...The location has been fixed for several hours now. So its not a passerby, but a house, school, or self-employed person?


    Cha Ji Yeon, who had been wandering around the neighborhood, racked her brain to infer potential candidates. This area was a typical bedroommunity, so if someone stayed in one ce on a weekday morning, she could identify a few potential candidates.


    [Oh no.]


    The tranquil morning was abruptly fractured. She raised her head as the sound of distant screams echoed.


    A sudden gate!


    A goblin! But their appearance...


    Her hunters acute hearing precisely picked up the faint screams. From the peoples shouts, she grasped the situation.


    [A coincidence? Definitely not a coincidence. Dodge them. Theyre after you.]


    ...So you had to cause a scene.


    With a click of her tongue, she instinctively ran towards the source of the screams. As a hunter, it was her duty to hunt monsters and save people.


    [No, retreat immediately. You cant create variables. Thats Carcoss meaning.]


    People are dying! Because of us!


    [Unfortunately, such considerations are not a concern for your yer.]


    Tsk...


    A sharp pain pierced her spine, making her wince. It was a warning. Her yer, a clear powerhouse with mysterious powers, had bestowed its grace upon her from the beginning. It imposed restrictions, controlling her as its subordinate.


    [Step back and assess the situation. Once their power is confirmed, then join in and earn merit.]


    She was left with no choice but to heed themand. Despite the escting screams, she bit her lip and dodged with haste.


    What kind of goblins are these...


    Just as Cha Ji Yeon evaded, monsters surged from the warped space,unching attacks on people without discrimination. They were roughly the size of elementary school children, their skin a dark green, their faces distorted. Their appearance resembled the goblins in creative works, hence they were referred to as goblins, a small group of monsters, rather than their official name. In reality, they were known as the weakest D-rank monsters, so weak that an average person could beat them in a one-on-one fight.


    This, this is...ugh.


    But the ones pouring out of the gate now were different.


    They were no longer a mere beastly horde. A crude g, inscribed with blood on old cloth, fluttered in the wind.


    ! !


    Several policemen, who had been desperately firing their guns, fell to arrows shot from a powerful bow. They had evolved into an army. Amander with a long beard led the troops, releasing those who ran rampant for plunder and massacre, then organizing them into well-structured formations.


    Themander sniffed the air, surveying his surroundings. Through a spell, he linked his field of vision to a bird soaring in the sky, a method to locate his target. However, the target he had been tracking had suddenly disappeared.


    "! !


    But it didnt matter. After all, his purpose here was not merely to hunt a single enemy unit. He waved his baton, dispersing his soldiers.


    Kyaaak!


    Hey, let go of this!


    Even those who were indiscriminately ughtering did not kill certain targets but captured them. The targets of the hunt were females. From the beginning, goblins were a race that could not reproduce without females of other races.


    A warrior at the forefront sniffed the air. People were frantically evacuating from arge building. The scent of prey was strong there.


    Hey, guys! Keep your wits about you and act ording to the manual! To the shelter! You cant go out now!


    The once tranquil school had descended into pandemonium. Sirens wailed incessantly, and distant screams echoed, but the evacuation had been unstable from the onset.


    Guys..!


    As the reality of the situation unfolded, the teachers control wavered. It wasnt a matter of safety insensitivity, but rather extreme fear.


    What are you doing? Lets go.


    You seem oddly calm? But shouldnt we consider heading to the shelter?


    In the midst of this chaos, Kang Do Yeon found herselfpelled to stay close to Oh Yoon Ah.


    However, Oh Yoon Ah hesitated at Kang Do Yeons suggestion to quickly seek refuge in the shelter.


    What are you talking about?


    If we make a mistake, we could end up ughtered. Its not that I dont trust the manual. Its just that I cant be certain ''what kind of guys will emerge from the gate.


    Seeing her friend chuckle in such a situation, Kang Do Yeon frowned at the mention of ughter. They were aware of the app and the game, but regardless, they were just ordinary high school girls.


    Im not sure. Even if I want to take sides, it doesnt seem wise to engage with the monsters spilling out of the gate.


    Kyaaak!


    While Oh Yoon Ah was engrossed in her thoughts, something shattered the window of the chaotic corridor and flew in. The tip of an arrow, honed to a point like obsidian. Seeing it, Kang Do Yeon felt a chill run down her spine.


    Its a goblin!


    A scream echoed, as if someone was being torn apart. The goblins, who had targeted the school, ignored all else and began to swarm over the wall like ants.


    Lets run away.


    Yeah.


    In that moment, they both agreed. One might wonder what a mere goblin could do to the steel doors of a shelter, but these two knew that these goblins were far from ordinary.


    Everyone, run outside... What are you doing?!


    Dont make a foolish decision now when youve been so sensible up to this point. If everyone runs outside together, its difficult to escape properly. And we dont have time for that.


    Kang Do Yeon halted Oh Yoon Ah, who was attempting to evacuate the other students and teachers outside. Oh Yoon Ah was taken aback, not expecting her to say such a thing.


    ..Theyre our friends. Are you suggesting we use them as bait?


    Use them as bait? Bait is used when hunting. Were trying to survive.


    She was resolute. Despite being the one in charge, Oh Yoon Ah was overpowered by her determination and nodded. After that, they sprinted wildly down the corridor.


    The goblins, who had already infiltrated from behind, began to ughter those who resisted and capture students who couldnt escape in time.


    Heeek...


    In the midst of all this, a goblin, grinning and holding a bloody sword, stood in front of them as they were going down the stairs. The victims were the schools principal and the head of student affairs.


    Even the new teachers, who had sworn to protect their students, abandoned them and fled. They were swiftly killed by the monster that had charged ahead.


    Protect me! Thats why I gave you power!


    I know.


    A terrified Oh Yoon Ah cowered behind Kang Do Yeon, her small body shaking. Kang Do Yeon had no choice but to step forward. If they didnt escape, they would die. Worse, they might endure even more horrific experiences. At least for now, they had a modicum of power.


    The goblin sneered, brandishing his sword at her. It was a goblins sword, but it was as long as a machete.


    Please, pull yourself together.


    Kang Do Yeon fought to keep herposure. Each encounter with a monster, direct or indirect, resurrected the traumatic events of that fateful day. The chilling childhood memory that still haunted her.


    Hoo...


    The incident had left a deep scar on her psyche. These effects would asionally trigger panic in certain situations.


    You disgusting monster bastard!


    At other times, it ignited a seething hatred and anger within her. The moment her anger overpowered her fear, she stomped on the ground. In a swift motion, she grabbed a fire extinguisher with one hand and urately mmed it into the face of the goblin.


    The sound of flesh bursting, bones crushing and breaking, and the clear impact reverberated throughout the area.