Chapter 42: Chapter 42

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 42: Mock Battle (1)

The company’s “aptitude test” evaluates a total of three categories.

The first is combat ability.

In the "Dark Path Mission," the plan was to assess innate reflexes and unique skills by limiting vision... or at least, that was the intention.

‘Though I messed it up.’

The second is intelligence.

Specifically, strategic and tactical skills.

It’s not about grading test scores or anything like that.

「Mock Battle」

Participants conduct a mock battle with identical troops.

Victory is achieved by breaking through the opponent's base and capturing their flag.

The identical “troops,” in other words, soldiers, must be strategically maneuvered to seize the flags of others.

And compared to the other missions, there’s something a bit unusual.

‘You can choose the type of battlefield.’

I spent the night poring over dozens of proposals.

Reading and rereading them, memorizing every detail, analyzing their pros and cons, and contemplating what choice would give me the best advantage.

So.

"This is a joke... right?"

"Buried alive? Really...?"

"Could this be some sort of psychological test?"

The moment I saw the question before me:

┌────────────┐

Q. You’re on the verge of being buried alive!

Which of the following locations would you prefer?

City

Mountain

Sea

└────────────┘

"If I had to choose, I’d pick the mou..."

"City!"

I shouted confidently.

"Huh, Eunho?"

"The city. Everyone, choose the city."

"Um, okay?"

Jieun blinked her wide eyes in confusion and reluctantly nodded, looking completely unconvinced.

"Right? If we’re going to be buried alive, it’s better to do it together in the city..."

...No, that’s not it.

"It seems like this is actually the location for the next mission—the mock battle."

"What?"

"There are too many people here for combat. It seems they’ve given us the option to choose the battleground to spread everyone out."

My deduction, though speculative, made Jieun tilt her head.

"But why would they frame it as something like being buried alive? Couldn’t they just say it’s to choose the mission location?"

"I’m not sure about that part..."

The proposal had clearly stated:

When the mock battle begins, participants will be deployed to the "closest location based on their chosen type."

Which means:

"If you choose the mountain or sea, no one knows where you’ll end up."

In other words, the mission locations are 100% random.

Choosing a bizarre option unnecessarily increases uncertainty in an already unpredictable situation.

"If we choose the city, we’ll likely fight nearby, right, hyung?"

"That’s the most probable outcome."

"But... isn’t urban combat the type with the highest civilian casualties? I heard it’s the hardest to strategize."

Jaehyuk voiced his concerns with a wary tone.

It was a stark contrast to others, who seemed resigned to the chaos—perhaps because of his military background.

But.

"There are no civilians left."

"Ah..."

Seoul had become a ghost town long ago.

There were only a handful of survivors left.

Civilian casualties, protecting people—those weren’t even considerations anymore.

"If things go south, there are plenty of places to hide."

I added, glancing at Yura.

Jaehyuk nodded as if he finally understood.

"And being close means we can cooperate if necessary."

"Ah! That’s true!"

So.

"Yura, if you ever find yourself alone, use your ability to hide, okay?"

"Okay!"

Even a five-year-old couldn’t escape the necessity of fending for themselves.

This would be their first step toward true independence.

"Sola, we’ll be okay, right...?"

"Of course. Just don’t die, okay?"

As the two childhood friends held each other’s hands tightly, the end of the selection process approached.

[30 seconds left until selection closes.]

The border of the prompt turned red and started blinking.

Blink!

29 seconds, 28 seconds, 27 seconds...

[If you do not choose within the time limit, an option will be selected randomly.]

"Eunho...!"

Jieun stared at me with trembling eyes.

Sola clung to Yeojin’s hand tightly.

Hanul hugged Yura and looked at me with pleading eyes.

[10 seconds remaining to respond to the survey.]

I nodded.

Without speaking, but with everyone understanding what it meant.

Then, all at once, everyone opened their mouths.

"City."

[Do you confirm the selection of 'City'?]

Together.

Whether it was burial or a mock battle.

"Yes."

[Selection complete!]

[The 'Mock Battle' mission will now begin!]

The announcement signaling the end of everyone’s choices echoed through the air.

— Fwoosh!

A blinding light engulfed us.

So intense it pierced through my eyelids, making everyone groan under its overwhelming brightness.

[Transporting to the combat zone.]

[Brace for impact!]

I opened my mouth, determined to remind everyone once more.

"Oh, and if it gets dangerous..."

Blink.

"I’ll... take care of..."

The world went dark.

No light.

No sound.

No words.

[Subject 'Lee Eunho.' Transfer complete.]

[By the administrator's authority, 'Eyes' are now open.]

Hearing returned before sight.

The first thought I had upon realizing I’d been 'moved' was:

'...Why does it feel so heavy?'

A damp, oppressive sensation pressed down on my entire body, stifling me.

Rough particles assaulted me instead of air, leaving no room to breathe.

And then—

Sssk, ssst.

A chilling sensation, as if something tiny was crawling over my body.

"Haa—"

When I exhaled involuntarily, dry, gritty soil slipped into my slightly open mouth.

Ssshh!

Coarse sand shifted and slid off my body as I lifted my arm with all my strength.

This... this is...

'Was I... buried alive?'

...This system is insane.

【'The Raven of the Administration Bureau' asks if you were already dead and buried.】

【'The Prince of the Investigation Bureau' expresses disappointment, saying they were hoping for some real entertainment after a long while.】

In the pitch-black darkness, where nothing could be seen—not even 'Eyes'—the voices of observers echoed in my ears.

For now, I ignored their nonsense.

Sssk!

Still lying flat, I raised my knees as high as I could, like a mountain peak.

With effort, my knees pushed through the dirt, poking above the surface.

Fortunately, the layer of soil on top of me didn’t seem too deep.

Sssssssk!

Gradually, I thrashed my arms and legs, clawing my way up until I managed to pull myself upright.

"Phwaaah!"

I spat out soil several times, shaking off the remnants of being buried alive from my hair and clothes.

But then...

'Where is this?'

An unpaved dirt path, a vast grassy field, towering trees, and a giant pond.

The serene landscape of a park.

'If there’s a park this large in Yongsan District...'

There’s only one.

The Yongsan Family Park—prime real estate in Seoul.

Breathing in deeply, I took in the open sky and the lush greenery before me.

The grassy field was so vast it could put most school playgrounds to shame.

A flat expanse with no slopes offered an unobstructed view of the area.

Standing alone with no allies or enemies in sight, and with no incoming attacks, it seemed there were no ambushes.

'The approximate distance...'

As I calculated the surrounding terrain and situation before the real battle began—

[A 'Flag' is created in the border zone.]

[Forces are being deployed to both sides.]

A message announcing the start flashed before me.

Thunk!

Far off in the middle of the grassy field, a pole as tall as a building’s first floor plunged into the ground like a utility pole.

Ssssssst—!

Black smoke slithered up the solitary pole.

Flap!

Gathering and coiling, the smoke formed a dull gray flag, unfurling with a sharp snap.

As if that wasn’t enough, the writhing smoke burst outward like a flash of light.

Bam!

Like a water balloon dropped from the air, the dark smoke exploded upon hitting the ground, spreading rapidly in a circular motion.

【'The Prince of the Investigation Bureau' folds his arms and remarks, "So, it's finally starting."】

【'The Raven of the Administration Bureau' remarks that a true man should also be able to strategize, unable to hide their anticipation.】

【Many observers demand powerful soldiers!】

It all happened in an instant.

Ssshrrrk—!

Previously just plain soil, the ground beneath me absorbed the black energy like a sponge.

Twitch!

And then, it began to wriggle.

"...!!"

Like sprouts bursting from the earth after a long winter, the writhing soil in several spots suddenly—

Rustle! Crackle!

—emerged with a strange noise.

And then, with a snapping sound—

...White.

"...?!"

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Skeletons.

[Skeleton Soldier (Lv. 1) acquired!]

[Remaining troops: 100]

"Skeleton soldiers?!"

【'The Ferryman of the Administration Bureau' tilts their head, wondering if such monsters even existed.】

From the piles of dirt, pale skeletons began rising one by one, rattling their creaky limbs as they stood.

A literal army of white bones.

"Urgh..."

"My... arm..."

—Clatter!

"My... leg..."

"Graaaargh..."

It wasn’t just burial—it was as if a graveyard of bones had come alive, attaching heads to necks, arms to shoulders, and moving of their own volition.

The skeletal warriors, equipped with rusted armor and chipped swords, were not few in number—they were one hundred strong, rising simultaneously.

[Subject 'Lee Eunho.' Troop support complete.]

[Check your troop status!]

"Troop status?"

Muttering the words as if testing them, a translucent window popped up beside the rattling head of a skeleton soldier.

Seventy-two, four, twenty-five...

Each skeleton bore a number alongside the name Skeleton Soldier.

〔Skeleton Soldier (#72)〕

Affiliation: Lee Eunho (Temporary) Guard

Rank: Trainee

Stats: HP (3), Strength (0), Intelligence (2), Judgement (1), Agility (1), Endurance (8)

Traits: Undead

Skills: [Rattle (Lv. 99)], [Dislocation (Lv. 1)], [Bone Bomb (Lv. 1)]

A detailed explanation followed:

-By sheer luck, they crossed the River Styx again, but their senses from life have long dulled.

Their combat ability is poor, but they might suffice as shields.

-Vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are all dulled, making them resistant to pain and the fear of annihilation.

'Haa...'

A peaceful park in the city, now swarming with skeletons instead of people, dogs, or bicycles.

—Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

[Current Loyalty: 50%]

[Remaining Troops: 100]

Thwack!

As I inspected the status screens of the soldiers, the sound of wood colliding echoed all around.

The skeletons, clueless about what to do with their limbs, bumped into one another.

When the shock caused one of them to drop its head...

Clatter!

Without a care, the creature picked up its head and placed it back on its neck.

Snap!

It shoved it back into place.

Well, they wouldn’t die that easily.

Or… were they already dead?

…As I was caught up in these thoughts, an announcement blared, as if to pull me out of the swamp of my musings.

[You have 3 hours.]

[At the end of the mission, any participant who does not capture the 'flag' will be erased. Rewards will be calculated based on the number of surviving soldiers.]

The objective was clear: capture the 'flag' planted far away.

And the ones I’d be competing against for that single flag were…

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter—!

The deafening, thunderous noise made me look up.

The enemy had already filled the grassy plain.

Skeleton soldiers.

Sigh.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘Are they skeletons too?’

The only difference was that while our side had polished white bones, theirs were jet-black, as if they'd been painted together.

And their commander, leading the charge at the front…

“Punish the traitors of death!!!”

…was a skeleton as well.

Wearing a horned helmet crafted from monster bones, radiating an ominous glow from its eye sockets.

“Traitors…!”

“Eradicate… them…!”

On top of that…

“The flag’s already been taken, hasn’t it?”

The flag had spawned in their camp.

Right in the center of the grassy plain.

The very spot where those black skeletons had emerged from the earth.

[A 'flag' has spawned in the border zone.]

【The ‘Ferryman of the Administration Bureau’ is agitated, questioning how this can be called a border zone!】

【A minority of observers are raising concerns about the unfair conditions!】

【The majority of observers anticipate ‘Lee Eunho’s’ strategy!】

Damn them.

The system's blatant intent to stack the odds against me made me chuckle bitterly.

“Maintain formation!!”

Their commander shouted with a booming voice.

Perhaps because of the enormous horns on its helmet, it exuded a commanding presence.

It carried itself with a dignified air, as though leading the horde was as natural as breathing.

But what shocked me most was…

‘They’re forming a proper battle line?’

The enemy commander was setting up a defensive formation, demonstrating a capacity for tactical judgment.

Could that thing be more than just an ordinary monster?

“Lay down your lives to block them!”

Its display of valor and resolve could’ve convinced anyone it was a general from a great nation.

If only it wasn’t literally just bones.

“Approach… and I’ll detonate them!”

“Uooooaaaahhh!”

“Kyaaaaahhh!”

Its bizarre charisma rallied the black skeletons, who shook their bones in response.

Each held a fragment of bone in their hands.

‘Are they… threatening us?’

It was clear they intended to use their ‘bone bomb’ skill.

In other words, they were threatening to blow themselves up.

‘If I rush in recklessly, I’ll be caught in a chain explosion.’

Getting too close would only lead to disaster.

“Urgh…?”

“Sc-Scary…”

Think. Think. Think.

Even as my own white skeleton soldiers scratched their innocent skulls in frustration…

[Your skeleton soldiers are overwhelmed by the enemy's aura.]

[Morale is dropping.]

Morale plummeted.

[Low morale slightly decreases attack power.]

[Fatigue increases easily.]

An already-established defensive line.

An open, empty plain with no resources to utilize.

Debuffs from low morale.

It seemed like an overwhelmingly unfavorable start with no room to maneuver.

But.

“Troop status.”

[Checking the status of troops under ‘Lee Eunho.’]

[Remaining troops: 100]

〔Skeleton Soldier (#2)〕

〔Skeleton Soldier (#11)〕

〔Skeleton Soldier (#65)〕

……

Only I could see it.

A ‘gap’ in this battlefield that only I could exploit.

A method those skeletons could never emulate, even if they died and came back to life.

“Summon.”

Fwoosh—!

I equipped the round shield and black sword gifted by the foul-mouthed artisan onto my left arm and right hand, respectively.

Feeling the balanced weight in my grip, I opened my lips again.

Then.

Hoo—!

Drawing in a deep breath, I shouted with all my might.

“Units 1 to 10! Forward!”

“Forward…!”

Clatter!

Among the skeleton soldiers idly standing around, a few creaked as they dragged their bodies forward.

One, two, three… exactly ten of them.

Now then.

“Let’s break through.”

Both the enemy formation and this cursed system.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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