Chapter 89: Chapter 89

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 89: Physical Exam (3)

[Do you even know what that is…? Get out right now!]

"Lee Eunho, you bastard…! I’ll never lose again…!"

[You… worthless insect! How dare you!!]

Vrrr-!

The capsule spun violently before screeching to a halt with a clang.

For a moment, the lights flickered off.

Clunk!

The cylindrical capsule began to shake violently.

Suddenly, a translucent system window appeared in front of the scruffy-haired man.

【ERROR!】

【DATA MISMATCH!】

"Data mismatch?"

A data mismatch meant there was pre-entered information in the system.

In other words, someone had already been designated to use the capsule.

And that someone wasn’t Jang Hanil.

That meant…

‘They were targeting me!’

Whether they were after the "top applicant" or specifically "me," one thing was clear.

‘If I go in there, I’m screwed.’

With that certainty, the man quickly glanced at his monitor, filled with flashing warning windows.

Beneath them were incomprehensible, bizarre strings of numbers.

【Protocol halted!】

【Rebooting device.】

As a new warning window popped up:

Hisssss!

Red smoke began pouring from the bottom of the capsule.

[Stop! Stop it right now!]

The man frantically waved his arms, shouting like someone desperately trying to retrieve a treasure tossed into a fire.

【The "The Raven of the Administration Bureau" narrows its eyes suspiciously.】

【The "Ferryman of the Administration Bureau" advises against entering.】

【The "Prince of the Investigation Bureau" folds his arms, questioning why that capsule is even there.】

[We’re at the point of no return, Iro! It’s time to start for real!]

Amid the chaos, I waited.

[Shut… up.]

“Summon.”

In slowed time, I observed the movements of two non-human entities.

“Thirty seconds.”

[CHAAAAARRRGEEE—!!]

The scruffy-haired inspector's face twisted in frustration.

Although faster than the average person, their movements were still sluggish.

Good.

I’d been worried because of the attacks continuing even under accelerated time.

‘So, not all corporate goons are quick.’

In the unnaturally elongated moment, I scanned the scene.

A scrawny figure in a blotchy white lab coat.

Hands moving faster than feet, as if constructing those eerie strings of numbers manually.

‘This one doesn’t rely on physical prowess.’

I didn’t know their identity or intentions, but one thing was certain.

Even though they targeted me, instead of using brute force, they relied on capsules and cumbersome preparations.

There had to be a reason.

In that case…

“Summon.”

I grabbed a long-dormant item and quickly approached the man.

Swoosh!

Even in the frozen time, I moved as fast as I could.

I couldn’t risk leaving an afterimage in his sight.

‘Never thought I’d use it like this.’

I discreetly stuck a round sticker onto the scruffy man’s coat.

I’d doubted I’d ever need it, but here I was.

With that done, I turned toward the capsule filled with swirling red smoke.

Specifically, toward Jang Hanil, who was writhing inside.

“Ughhh….”

Being stupid is a sin.

Lacking awareness is also a sin.

Allowing yourself to be consumed by an inferiority complex in the face of an unknown enemy is, too.

But…

‘It’s not a sin worth dying for.’

CRACK!

I pried open the sealed capsule door, smashing it apart.

Dragging Jang Hanil out, I threw him onto the floor.

Tick-tock!

Time snapped back to normal.

[Again… huh?]

The scruffy-haired man, furiously pounding his monitor, froze for a moment, halting his frantic keystrokes.

In that brief pause, I said:

“I refuse.”

My calm refusal carried not a shred of hesitation or fear.

[What…?]

“I said I don’t need reinforcement.”

I reiterated my firm response.

【The "Ferryman of the Administration Bureau" praises your decision!】

【Many observers nod in agreement.】

Flash!

The scruffy-haired man snapped his head up, his face contorted with anger.

His twisted expression first glared at the fallen Jang Hanil before shifting back to me.

[It’s because of that guy, isn’t it? That worthless insect had to meddle!]

The jaundiced whites of his eyes glistened, his pupils darting with an unsettling glint.

“!!”

The wide-eyed stare was horrifying.

A gaze so chilling it could haunt your dreams.

[Fine. If that’s how it is, I’ll handle this myself…!]

Somewhere between murderous intent and madness, an invisible aura began to rise.

Shiver!

Feeling every hair on my body stand on end, I gripped my sword tightly.

The bone-chilling texture of the Skybreaker Sword steadied me.

It’s okay.

I can fight.

I can win.

I won’t lose…

Entranced, we locked eyes.

【WARNING!】

【Proceed with the "Physical Examination" immediately!】

【Auditor will be summoned in 10 seconds!】

【10, 9, 8…】

[There’s no time to waste!]

The runt, smaller than the scruffy man and even me, snapped.

He hurriedly stopped the man in a desperate voice.

[Immediately!!]

[…Fine. There are still plenty of opportunities.]

The inspector, his displeasure clear on his face, gritted his teeth as he continued speaking.

Whoosh!

The short investigator hastily removed the capsule and shouted.

[Begin!]

Swish-!

Simultaneously, a faintly gathered mass of clouds.

The grayish mist quickly enveloped the two, and then—

Flash!

It vanished.

[Project “Body Examination” is now commencing!]

[Everyone, move to your designated areas!]

At that moment, people staggered, exhaling the breaths they had been holding.

“Y-young man! Just now, what on earth…?”

“Damn it, what about the enhancement?! Are they not going to do it?!”

“Enhancement, my ass! Can’t you see what’s happening to that guy over there?!”

Hmm?

Lee Yeji, who had snapped back, pointed at someone.

"That guy."

At the end of her gesture was Jang Hanil, sprawled on the ground.

“Huff… I-I was definitely fine just a moment ago…”

Coughing, presumably due to the smoke, Jang Hanil barely regained his senses.

“Damn it, what the hell did that bastard do… huh?”

“!!”

Jang Hanil’s eyes filled with shock.

Though he was already sitting, his arms and legs collapsed further as if drained of all strength.

“S-senior! Your, your ankle…!”

“My leg…! Huff…!”

Oh no.

“Aaaahhhh!!”

Jang Hanil clutched his legs, screaming in agony.

Both ankles had been burned black as if seared by a laser.

“It’s the smoke!”

The red smoke that had risen to their feet.

Its influence was undeniable.

If the smoke had been allowed to rise all the way to his head…

“M-my legs! My legs…! This can’t be happening!!”

…his entire body would have burned black.

“Senior! Please calm down!”

“Aaaahhhh!!”

[Once again, an announcement for all survivors.]

[Please proceed to the examination area immediately.]

At the perfect time, a broadcast echoed, accompanied by a map.

The map pointed to an open area not far from the entrance.

[You have 10 minutes.]

[Anyone who fails to arrive within the time limit will be immediately ‘deleted.’]

“It-it’s not that far, Senior!”

“That’s right! H-here, let us carry you!”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

The large men next to him chimed in, but their voices seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“Huff…”

With a face stricken by a mix of fear and pain, Jang Hanil stared blankly at his charred ankles.

“……”

He opened his mouth but said nothing.

Still, perhaps his life hadn’t been in vain.

In a world like this, where he had become disabled, quite a few people still rushed to help him.

So.

Step.

I approached him.

Looking down at the man sitting as though the world had ended.

“Fix it yourself.”

At my words, Jang Hanil raised his head toward me.

Eyes so empty, they could’ve belonged to a dead fish.

They were familiar eyes.

The kind I encountered every morning in the mirror, filled with horrifyingly familiar despair.

“It will take time, but…”

[Recovery rate for impaired walking: 100%.]

Having invested three rewards to erase the pain and fear from my own life.

Because I know.

Better than anyone, I know.

“As long as you’re alive, you can always bounce back.”

“……!”

So endure it.

Whether you get carried on someone’s back or crawl on your own, survive.

“Eunho…”

A glimmer of light returned to Jang Hanil’s once-empty eyes.

Reflected in his pupils was my face.

Seeing my blurry face through the tears that began to well up, I turned around.

“Let’s go.”

From behind, I heard a low voice.

“Let’s move.”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go, Eunho!”

And so, I walked away, leaving him behind.

Just like in childhood. Leaving the guy I’d overtaken countless times, walking away without hesitation.

* * *

“Eunho, that man…”

Step. Step. Step.

Jieun, who had been walking briskly beside me, cautiously asked.

“He was an athlete from the neighboring school.”

A calm answer.

Though it wasn’t a detailed explanation, Jieun seemed to understand immediately, nodding her head.

“He must have been really jealous of you, Eunho.”

“I guess so. Silly, isn’t it? I wasn’t even a world-class athlete.”

While I was skilled, I wasn’t some unrivaled, once-in-a-lifetime athlete.

Even so, he had always been fixated on competing with me.

People, after all, tend to envy those just within reach rather than those far beyond.

Foolishly so.

Shaking my head at the thought, Jieun gave a bittersweet smile and said:

“Maybe it wasn’t envy… maybe admiration.”

“What?”

“It didn’t seem like mere jealousy. It felt too intense for that. And a lot of time has passed…”

Admiration, huh?

“This guy recognizes me right away? Thought he’d forgotten all about me.”

Meeting an athlete from the neighboring school for the first time in 10 years, and he immediately knew who I was.

“Wow, you’ve changed, Eunho. Even talking back to me now.”

Even though I had never paid him any attention, he’d constantly approached me, picking fights.

Because he admired me?

"That can’t be true. I’m not that amazing of a person."

Shaking my head at the thought of such an idea being absurd.

However.

"Mr. Eunho, you are amazing."

Jieun refuted him with a soft smile.

"I... admire you too."

She averted her gaze to the ground and added a shy remark.

【'The Raven of the Administration Bureau' points out that the lady's face has turned red!】

【He advises you to cool down to avoid sweating, as it might hinder combat.】

At this point, Jaehyuk, who had been waiting for his turn to jump in, also chimed in.

"That's right, hyung! I've never met anyone as incredible as you!"

"Exactly, exactly. So sharp and determined. I’m over fifty, but I’ve never seen a young man like you!"

"Uncle is pretty impressive, huh."

"Thank you, but... let’s stop now."

He hurriedly interrupted the sudden relay of compliments.

Because.

"That capsule earlier—it was aimed at me."

"What?!?"

"!!"

This wasn’t a situation where they could afford to chat casually.

"If it had been me in there instead of the target, I would’ve burned up too."

"But... wasn’t it set to target you, and someone else entered by mistake?"

A natural reaction.

If it were someone else’s story, he might have said the same.

That is, if he hadn’t come face-to-face with the grotesque, gleaming eyes of that thing, filled with insatiable greed.

Unlike the naive Jaehyuk, who spouted innocent remarks, the foul-mouthed skeptic, who naturally distrusted others, quickly agreed.

"Dammit, right? I thought it was weird from the moment that gray-haired guy started talking to you when he first appeared…."

"Careful."

I cut off the foul-mouthed one’s rant, even though we were on the same wavelength.

【'The 'Ferryman of the Administration Bureau' advises against having unnecessary thoughts.】

‘They’re watching.’

Swoosh!

When I tilted my head toward the 'eye' floating in the sky, the foul-mouthed one seemed to understand. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He covered his mouth with his hand and went silent.

Well, at least he listens.

‘They’re probably monitoring this conversation too.’

Through that accursed eye.

But.

[...Fine. There’s still plenty of time.]

Thanks to the enemy’s kind warning, I had gained time to prepare.

I also figured out that my acceleration skill worked.

[If that’s the case, I’ll deal with it personally...]

The enemy was the 'Examiner' of the physical examination mission.

It was going to be a tough fight.

I couldn’t predict how they might change the mission rules.

‘If I just follow the system’s orders, I’ll be defeated.’

If so.

‘I’ll strike first.’

I decided to take advantage of the moment the enemy let their guard down.

With that in mind, I quickened my pace.

At that moment, Jieun poked her face out and gently grabbed my sleeve.

"Eunho?"

"Yes?"

"Your face looks tense. Are you... worried?"

She looked more worried than I was.

"It’d be a lie to say I’m not."

When I responded to Jieun’s question with a faint smile, even Jaehyuk joined in, clenching his fist.

"It’s okay, Eunho! Even if that guy attacks, we’ll fight together, so it’ll be fine!"

"That’s right, hyung! I’ll smash that guy’s head no matter what!"

"It seems like he’ll attack as soon as the physical examination mission ends. Right, Jaehyuk?"

"Yes! Once the mission is over, how about hiding yourself for a bit, hyung?"

Hmm.

I appreciated the suggestion, but.

"There’s no need to hide."

"What?"

"I’ll take control of the situation."

The two of them looked confused.

"Take control...?"

"How are you going to do that...?"

Their faces seemed to ask how I planned to find and catch the enemy who had vanished so suddenly.

I couldn’t explain in detail because of the ‘eye,’ but…

‘It’s definitely possible.’

Because.

[Target’s location detected!]

[Tracking Target: Iro]

— Blink!

A map appeared in front of him, with a blinking light moving around, revealing the target’s location.

▣ Compact Tracking Device

-A tracking device created by the Future Research Center.

When activated, it can track the location of the attached target on a map.

-Note: Once attached, it cannot be retrieved or reused, so caution is advised.

I had obtained the Simple Tracker after taking down "X."

And I had attached it to the target earlier.

So, if I had to face them anyway.

"Let’s end this quickly."

The physical examination and that bastard too.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!