Chapter 66

-It seems that the Special Zone…… has stopped functioning.

Stopped functioning?

It was an expression I had never heard before.

Kwon Mu-seop seemed the same, because he stood blankly for a moment.

Then he spoke as if squeezing out his voice.

“Effective immediately, designate the entire 「Ant Hill」 as a Grade 8 quarantine area. Group 6 will withdraw support from 「Meditation Center That Turns Back Time」 and deploy to 「Ant Hill」.”

-Yes, I will move them immediately.

When Yoon U-jeong answered quickly, Kwon Mu-seop straightened the upper body he had bent toward my smartwatch.

Then he gripped my shoulders tightly with both hands.

“Well done. Thank you, truly.”

Kwon Mu-seop had always been generous with praise.

Even so, the words he spoke now carried a different weight from usual.

The eyes with which Kwon Mu-seop looked at me were shaking violently, as if he had gained the whole world.

I had not fully grasped the situation, but at that earnestness, I nodded for now.

“Manager, this core now…….”

At that moment, Kwon Mu-seop let go of my shoulders and turned around swiftly.

I too shone the searchlight in the direction Kwon Mu-seop was guarding.

Damn it…….

I ground my teeth with a sick-and-tired feeling.

「Alpha」 was watching us from the end of the passage.

The distance was about 30m.

If it rushed at full speed, it could reach us in a few seconds.

Feeling a biological revulsion, I took a step back.

I could not see where the pistol had gone.

Manager Kwon Mu-seop was still carrying the rifle, but in reality, it was as good as not having one.

Because that gun had no magazine in it.

The only weapon we had was Kwon Mu-seop’s knife, so what do we do?

If that thing attacks again…….

Step—!

Kwon Mu-seop took one step forward.

As if he intended to face 「Alpha」, he stood directly opposite the bastard.

A suffocating silence flowed.

At the end of a soundless standoff, 「Alpha」 slowly retreated.

Retreated.

And just like that, it disappeared into the darkness.

---

Do you know the joy of sleeping all at once?

Enduring until the brain is overloaded, then leaving every agony behind and falling asleep as if passing out.

For the sake of one’s lifespan, it is much better not to know this forbidden pleasure.

Ah, I slept really well.

The place where I woke after sleeping deeply and messily was the Bureau’s Medical Center.

That was right. I was relying on a hospital again.

I did not have any particularly major injuries.

However, because I had been covered in 「Ant」 mucus and had directly touched the core, they decided to observe my condition for half a day.

It was when I had made do with my first meal as breakfast and lunch, and was savoring my languor.

Knock, knock.

With a light knock, someone came to visit.

“Hello, Mr. Otter.”

It was Baek Sa-ra.

“The Deputy Manager told me to come and tell you how things are progressing.”

Cha Si-eon and Kwak Jae-gyeom were still on a mission in 「Island Where Blood Falls」.

In contrast, Baek Sa-ra had been excluded from this Intensive Suppression Week’s missions because of the injuries she received in the 「National Theater」.

It seemed she had come for the post-event interview instead.

“You truly went through a lot. I’m glad you weren’t hurt too badly.”

“That was thanks to Manager Kwon Mu-seop. How is the Manager?”

“He had stab wounds on both arms and his legs, so he underwent surgery. He had 8 places stitched up, but he looked all right.”

To think someone could look all right after being stabbed 8 times and having surgery.

Was this Baek Sa-ra’s bravery, or Kwon Mu-seop’s?

It was a stupid question. Both, probably. Yes.

“This time, Mr. Otter, you really did something huge.”

Something huge?

I looked at Baek Sa-ra without understanding what she meant.

For some reason, Baek Sa-ra was smiling with overwhelmed eyes.

“They said it’s the first time since observation began that a Special Zone has stopped functioning. We’ll have to observe more to know whether it truly stopped, but still.”

That was right.

Baek Sa-ra, like Kwon Mu-seop, was excited about this unprecedented situation.

“And this is also the first time the core of a Special Zone has been secured. So as soon as Suppression Week ends, people from the Research Division are going to enter 「Ant Hill」 and investigate.”

“I see.”

Right now, Group 6 had been deployed into 「Ant Hill」 and was conducting quarantine surveillance.

The core I had secured had been placed back where it had originally been.

They had considered separating it from the space, but if they hastily took it out and it disappeared, it would be disastrous, so for now, they left it there.

“The Research Division seems more interested in the core they secured this time than in the fact that the Special Zone stopped. I heard they’re sending a text bomb to the Deputy Manager, asking to be let into 「Ant Hill」 immediately.”

Baek Sa-ra spoke with laughter in her voice.

The core of a Special Zone immediately evaporated if artificial contact occurred.

Researchers regarded this phenomenon as a kind of self-destruction.

When a person is doing something rotten and is driven into a corner, they blow up their cell phone or computer first to destroy evidence.

The Bureau had suspected that Special Zones concealed information in that way too.

But that core had been secured intact.

If they were researchers, it was only natural that they would be impatient to tear it open and look inside.

……I should not say I smashed that core against the wall.

It was intact in the end, so I do not need to say it, right?

While feeling a prick of guilt over my attempted act, I also remembered the item I had successfully destroyed.

“By the way, the ring you gave me, Ms. Baek Sa-ra, was destroyed.”

“I heard. I’m truly glad I gave that ring to you, Mr. Otter.”

Baek Sa-ra smiled even more brightly.

“They say it is not yet certain whether this situation happened because of you, Mr. Otter, or because of that ring. Still, for now, the strongest inference is that the ring had some kind of effect.”

“Of course it must be because of the ring, right?”

When I grabbed the core, there had been two rings on my hand.

Of those, the silver ring remained intact, and only the black ring had shattered and disappeared.

Even though the black ring was made of a material far harder than the silver ring.

“In any case, since the phenomenon has been confirmed, we will be able to uncover the exact conditions going forward.”

“To do that, you will need that ring.”

“So a mission was added for Group 1. That ring is a piece of 「Big Cat」, the dangerous entity from 「Island Where Blood Falls」.”

“Is that so?”

I had only heard that it was “part of a named dangerous entity,” so I had no idea.

If it was 「Big Cat」, then it was the thing Group 1 was facing right now, wasn’t it?

“Yes. They went in during the total-war period 2 years ago and tore it off. So this time too, they said they relayed it to Group 1. To secure a part of 「Big Cat」.”

That was good.

If they made several more black rings with that, we would be able to try all kinds of things.

I nodded and added,

“It would also be good to confirm whether only 「Big Cat」’s body works, or whether the same effect occurs with parts of other dangerous entities.”

“That’s right. But personally, I think only 「Big Cat」 is special. The only thing other Type 1 entities fear is a piece of 「Big Cat」, and sometimes that entity gives the impression of commanding the others.”

“Commanding them?”

“Yes. The mercenary entities gather particularly when 「Island Where Blood Falls」 is attacked, and there have also been observations of those entities sacrificing themselves for 「Big Cat」.”

If so, 「Big Cat」 really might be special.

For example, the leader of Type 1 Special Zones.

“So right now, everyone is excited because of you, Mr. Otter. Suppression Week isn’t even over yet, but once all the agents dispatched to the field return, they will make an official announcement.”

Baek Sa-ra, who said this, was also more excited than usual.

She was so calm that sometimes she even felt older than me, but when she smiled brightly without calculation, she looked young, as if she were truly her age.

Seeing that radiant smile, I too gradually began to feel it.

The reason heat had gathered in Kwon Mu-seop’s eyes.

The reason Yoon U-jeong’s voice had trembled.

Until now, Special Zones were a maze where one had to endlessly repeat the same refrain: leave them alone, break them apart, or explore from the beginning again when they reappeared.

But this time, a new option called “turning them off” had appeared.

A new phase had opened for the Bureau, which had been drying up in a sickening stalemate.

“I wondered whether there would ever really be an end, but it feels like a miracle happened.”

Baek Sa-ra whispered softly.

So I lowered my gaze for a moment.

Because I wondered whether this was truly a miracle.

Because I had a suspicion that it was closer to someone’s intention, or design.

This suspicion rose all the way to my throat, but I did not want to disturb Baek Sa-ra’s joy, so I refrained from speaking.

Then, belatedly, I thought of one thing I could agree with.

“It did work out like a miracle. Especially at the end, if 「Alpha」 had not retreated, it would have been dangerous.”

Honestly, it was strange.

Why did 「Alpha」 simply turn around at the end?

It could have killed us and retrieved the core.

But Baek Sa-ra tilted her head and asked back,

“Which side?”

“Pardon?”

“Which side do you mean was in danger?”

“Obviously, me and the Manager.”

At my answer, Baek Sa-ra let out a shallow laugh.

“No, Mr. Otter. In that situation, the one in danger was 「Alpha」. Back then, 「Alpha」 did not simply retreat. It ran away to preserve its own life.”

This time, I grew bewildered.

That 「Alpha」 ran away?

Back then, we had no weapons and were exhausted and tattered.

There should have been absolutely no reason for that monster to run away.

When I was half in doubt, Baek Sa-ra spoke playfully.

“I think you’re underestimating too much.”

“Ah, of course I also know Manager Kwon Mu-seop is incredible. But back then, he was already badly injured…….”

“No, I mean you, Mr. Otter.”

“Pardon?”

“When the Manager could not see, the one who suppressed 「Alpha」 was you, Mr. Otter.”

That was true.

“That was because I had a gun. I do not have confidence I would win fighting barehanded.”

“Of course. Who would win one-on-one against that?”

Baek Sa-ra, who already had experience, shook her head.

“But this time, the Manager was there too. If those two ended up fighting, what would you do, Mr. Otter?”

“If the Manager took the front, I think I would aim for its lower body from the side.”

“That’s right. That’s exactly it.”

Ah, this is how frightening rote instruction is.

At my reflexive answer, Baek Sa-ra nodded as if her teaching had been worthwhile.

Thinking about it, that was true.

Back then, we had been the ones with the advantage.

But until Baek Sa-ra pointed it out, I had not even thought of it.

When I was belatedly impressed, Baek Sa-ra laughed quietly and said,

“Other employees get scared in advance too when it comes to 「Alpha」. It’s an entity modeled after no one else but Team Leader Cha. In fact, it feels like they fear it more because of that original.”

“I suppose so. The original is so vicious.”

Thinking about it, 「Delta」, a similar 「Fake Human」, had not given me this much pressure.

The same was true of other dangerous entities such as the 「Moving Gun」 or the 「Ants」.

In fact, 「Alpha」 had not directly attacked me yet.

I had merely watched from beside them when Baek Sa-ra and Kwon Mu-seop were attacked by 「Alpha」.

Even so, the reason I felt this much intimidation was probably greatly due to the influence of the original, 「Cha Si-eon」.

“That’s right. It’s scarier because you know him. Team Leader Cha’s presence is no ordinary thing.”

I acknowledged Baek Sa-ra’s words and nodded.

But Baek Sa-ra smiled strangely and added,

“That is true, but at least you, Mr. Otter, do not need to fear Team Leader Cha or 「Alpha」.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Team Leader Cha is especially prickly to you, right, Mr. Otter?”

“……Was that not just my imagination?”

“No. Have you seen Team Leader Cha pick at someone else’s words and start a fight?”

I had not.

I felt as if I had never seen him open his mouth except when giving instructions.

“That is Team Leader Cha keeping you in check, Mr. Otter.”