Chapter 127

Go, go, go!
I couldn’t tell whose heartbeat it was.
It was like my brain was paralyzed. I didn’t know what to do, whether I should prepare for a follow-up attack, scream, or call for help. I couldn’t think of a single response.
“Tongue, string.”
His voice shook with embarrassment.
After that day in Ulantz.
Asterike had never imagined Kim’s death. He was always at the center of events, always ready.
I was blinded.
Just like Chelsea did before she was attacked by Negrum. I vaguely thought that even if I died in the future, Kim Yi Hyun would somehow survive. I thought vaguely.
“Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah…….”
A wordless moan escaped Asterike’s mouth. Out of breath as if she had sprinted, she hugged Kim tightly.
It was then.
“Let go of this.”
The words in my ear were very clear.
“Current…?”
“I said let go.”
“Uh, ah.”
The tears that threatened to burst out were held back. Asterique untangled her arms awkwardly, her face contorted in pain as she fell.
I was really sick, not my mom.
Asterike’s heartfelt hug is better than a bullet.
‘Shit. Isn’t that a broken bone?
Luckily, it didn’t hinder my movement. I’ll have to get checked out again when I get back to the lab. As I thought that, I glanced up the hallway to the Static Tower that blocked my view.
The doll was still there.
Bang, bang!
Bullets kept flying. The lead bullets, smaller than fingernails, grew rapidly as they left the muzzle. The 5.56mm rounds were intercepted by the shield and ricocheted in all directions.
Not much different from a regular firearm. Enough power to pierce human flesh. Asterique’s nonchalance, despite the fact that she must have taken a couple of shots, baffled him.
“String. Are you okay? How can I….”
The answer was actually quite simple.
“Body Armor.”
Whenever Kim goes out, he wears body armor under his clothes. It was a habit she’d picked up after her trip to Banjar. In a world where you never know when you’re going to get hit, overprotection is just right.
The problem was more asterisks than guns.
“I almost got screwed.
What if Asteriske had hit you. What if you’d been surprised and triggered [Bloodthirsty]. What if you’d dropped below 25% HP with the spell on?
The odds would be extremely low, but it would be 1%.
It’s body armor, it’s nails, it’s almost no body.
Somehow, the crisis was averted.
“I’ve got it. Just stay back.”
Asterike’s spells are not suitable for indoor use. He knows what he’s doing. Now that he’s been thwarted, he has no chance.
Just when I thought it was …….
Bulk.
“Oooh…. It’s going to be loud….”
The door to the cabin opened and Arya walked out.
She slept with Tatalia last night. Asterique had plans to go out with Kim in the morning. She had dropped Aria off beforehand so she wouldn’t be disturbed.
Tatalia was still sleeping sprawled out, and by some coincidence, it happened to be the room closest to the shelves.
Chuck!
The rifle was pointed straight at Arya.
“Arya, dodge!”
Tududududu!
Aimed and fired. The doll unleashed a barrage of less than half a round. It wasn’t a common sense dodge, especially in a dazed state.
But in many ways, Aijah was a man who went against common sense.
Pavavavak!
Arya ran upside down along the wall of the hallway. Her tousled hair whipped around her. Her hazel eyes held a feral glint, an instinct not dulled by her comfortable life.
With a gravity-defying motion, you hang above the light. The gun is out of ammo just in time. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Arya plummets from the ceiling.
Kwazik!
My palm tore into the shelf like I was swatting a fly.
“Hooah.”
Yawning with her mouth open, Arya brushed her hand away. Drops of blood splashed. She wiped her bloody hand against the wall, then turned back to the room, pretending nothing had happened.
Bam!
The door was closed. It was the only sign of socialization after months of training.
“…….”
The bustling hallway has fallen silent.
Neither Kim nor Asterike are at a loss for words. Only their gazes moved. The doll was in a state that was too horrible to describe, a state that could never be moved again.
“How easy is it to…?
Minimi.
Not a boss, not even a mid-boss. A named object that appears during a stage. However, in the game, they were quite a challenge to face.
The 99% evasion rate was troublesome. Can’t be used against Inspection-type agents. Agents with range attacks or special weapons with high hit modifiers are essential.
But, um.
‘Well. It’s real…….’
Over time, Minimi’s body grew larger. The knickknacks on the shelves that were pushed over fell to the carpet. When Minnie returned to her original size, she fell to the floor in a heap.
It was definitely a spell that had as many downsides as upsides.
A ridiculous ending compared to the hype.
But I couldn’t help but laugh.
This was not something to be taken lightly.
“Why did it show up in front of me?
In the game, it appears in Episode 15, where the Shran Empire takes center stage. An entity that specializes in assassinations. Regardless of their abilities, they are more than just Legion officers.
Minimi is both human and doll.
One of the flesh that the leader of a Legion deals with.
“He suddenly tried to kill me?
It was the first point of contact. But I wasn’t convinced.
Never in the game has he ever ambushed a Lab agent ‘in person’ like he just did. The battle with Minimi. It came about because the Legion attacked the Shran Empire, and the Rap came to their aid.
Even as the Legion’s top brass attacked Rap, they didn’t do as much as he did. It wasn’t a coincidence. Kim knew why, and he was confused.
It was very clumsy to begin with.
“We could have gotten a more solid approach.
It was a situation that would have made me feel uncomfortable even if I didn’t know the game. Whether or not it could be handled, there were far more effective ways to do it.
Another hypothesis is formed.
“It wasn’t an assassination attempt?
There’s no real rationale.
But one thing was clear.
‘You’re watching me anyway.’
Never before seen in the game.
The fame that began to spread after the events in Bastitera. A trend in the Legion that he had learned about through Kushan and Edwin. The name Kim Yi-hyun should have reached his ears.
Maybe the raid was a warning of sorts.
A show of force to stop touching the legion beyond this point.
If so, the answer was obvious.
“Look at it or not, do as you please.
The leader of the Legion is the least of your worries. Despite his absurd abilities, he’s much easier to deal with than his godmother. Unless his ‘main body’ breaks free.
You can’t be free in the first place.
In the game, he’s presented in a different light, rather than as a dark and powerful figure. He’s a character with a complex narrative, with deep ties to Celbrox Labs.
And some sort of trigger to move on to the second half.
“You don’t have to be afraid of it.
The Legion’s fortunes have already tipped with the departure of so many of its officers. With no replenishment of Pekatum soldiers from Bastitera, the organization is effectively reduced to a cult with only the Godmother to deal with.
The Legion is on a cliff. The day is not far off when I will kick its backside.
‘You too, wash your throat and wait.
You’re freaking people out, asshole.
* * *
Raonis received a polite apology.
He couldn’t escape responsibility because it happened in his own hotel. He promised material compensation, not just words.
A gesture of goodwill, so to speak.
It was better to take it for the future relationship. As it was a personal reward, Kim was bold enough to ask for what she wanted.
“─High-carbon phlogiston steel, terrarium, chlorodium, and even carbon fiber from the Buffett Factory. You name it.”
Beep.
The assistant finished recording instead of taking notes.
She was usually careful not to interfere in matters between employer and client. This time, however, her stoic expression cracked.
“What are you going to use all that for….”
“It’s just a personal need.”
I meant don’t bother exploring.
“Excuse me.”
“When can I expect to receive it?”
“When do you expect to leave the country?”
“I’m leaving in a week.”
“We’ll make sure you can pick it up then.”
Aside from the mini-me attack, the vacation itself was quite enjoyable. The casino was interesting, and I had a good time. I even had a little bit of beginner’s luck and won some salty wins.
As an aside, Chelsea, who had been watching and smoking, was on the verge of tears. I loaded her up with a few chips in case she cursed at any point, and she seemed to be cruising along nicely.
Of course, we’re a long way from the main event.
“Asterike’s gotten a little nervous.
It doesn’t mean you’re hysterical at your coworkers. I just became overly vigilant. In particular, I became overprotective of Kim, which was frankly annoying.
‘Ugh. I can’t even be annoyed.’
I must have felt pathetic for not doing anything until the end, and I had every right to. Asterique hasn’t played to her full potential since the Atlanta escape.
“But what the hell.
He’s not an agent you can just pull out at your convenience. Even in the game, he blows up allies. Even with the [Vibranium Composite Blade], it still takes physical damage.
This time, Asterike’s good behavior paid off. She could have burned the hotel to the ground, and I doubt Raonis would have returned the favor.
“It’s all about the right place at the right time.
Ast is an exception because he is an irreplaceable high Chapter damage dealer. In the game, she’s most often used as a lone specialist to drop into enemy territory.
In general, agents who can perform well in a variety of situations are highly valued. In the real world, this tends to be even more pronounced. Chelsea and Edwin are a good example.
But flipped around, it looks like this
Asterique may be weak at the things that “anyone can do,” but she can do the things that are “hard for anyone. Her role will increase as the story progresses.
“It’s time to start preparing.
In our experience, this is the time to start the countdown. Even if it’s not a cliffhanger, there’s a strong possibility that the episode as a whole will be advanced.
Or not.
By evening, I heard the news through Laonis.
“I’d like to hear from you, Lab Director, what you think of the trends in the Shran Empire.”
“The Shran Empire? I haven’t heard anything about it.”
If there is movement, Kushan will know it. Kushan’s ears are brighter than even the Raonis. When it comes to the Shiran Empire, he will be listening especially closely.
Why didn’t you tell me?
“I guess they decided it wasn’t urgent.
But that was before I came to St. Kitts.
Maybe it’s time to get urgent.
“May I share the information with you?”
After a moment’s thought, Raonis spoke up.
“From what I hear, they’re pushing for a big summit.”
Oh, that’s right.
‘Yikes, that’s a good twist.
A scenario that would have originally started four years later.
It was the first reading of Episode 13, “Unity.