Chapter 170

Like many countries on the continent, Kilikia had changed in the intervening two years. The walls around the city were thicker, and officials were more frequent.
“Will it even work?”
“You can cut it up and say it, but I can’t understand it.”
“Everything we do.”
Kabek, who has been with Dustborn since its inception, leans over the rooftop railing of Dustborn’s headquarters and looks out into the distance.
At the end of the line of sight was the outer wall.
The material itself is solid and cannot be crossed except by flying monsters. Even if they did, they would be quickly intercepted. The city was small enough to be easily defended.
But it wasn’t reassuring.
“How do you see Mr. Hyun?”
“Does my opinion matter?”
“Haha, who else would I listen to but you, you’ve been around more places in Kilikia, nay, probably more than anyone else on the continent, at least since the cataclysm.”
“I don’t know about the continent, but maybe in Kilikia.”
If the summit had fallen through, the countries would have been completely cut off from each other, and the world would have been too shocked to survive.
“This is why labs are so central.
Like Dustborne, the lab has agents in each country. Not only do they share research, but they’re also willing to help with rescues.
As if you’ve been waiting for this.
“There are some conspiracy theories floating around.
Some of the theories were pretty close to the truth. The narrative was that Celbrox Labs had caused a catastrophe. But there were more calls for help than blame.
Salvation was everywhere.
We couldn’t afford to stop the good deeds Rapp was spreading. Without asking for much in return, each agent took their work seriously, and their reputation grew without end.
“That’s a little mean.
The events of 40 years ago also began with the goal of eliminating a catastrophe, so the beliefs of Cellbrossix Labs have always been in the “good,” yet they seem to deceive the world.
For users, it’s a different feel from the openly villainous Legion. A time when good deeds seem like hypocrisy, and the organization’s foundations are increasingly questioned despite its growing reputation.
‘I thought the developers behind @snapdragongame had some kind of art disease….’
Maybe the story would be different.
“Effective, yes. Whether it’s an exterior wall or a barrier.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course not. You can have parasites out there pounding on your head for a week and it won’t collapse. Nor will the pollution index spike unless there’s a sudden catastrophe.”
The disinfectants used for quarantine have also spread from the labs. Even if the pollution index doesn’t go down, the status quo can be maintained. As I said, assuming no catastrophe occurs.
“That’s not a safe bottom line either.”
“What’s at stake?”
“There’s a lot of variability, like the Outlaws before, this time the parasites could come from MetroCity, quarantine could miss an infected person, or there could be no defense at all.”
“When you say you can’t defend against it, do you have an example?”
“Or a patient with a low toxicity tolerance who gets infected even though their contamination levels are well below the norm.”
Kavek’s complexion turned an earthy color.
“…… Is there such a case?”
“You know, you never know what’s going to happen.”
They both sighed, not sure who spoke first.
“The world is about to end.”
“You could ask a five-year-old about that.”
“Haha, that’s embarrassing, I shouldn’t be. It’s my job to make sure that if we’re all going to die tomorrow, at least the citizens don’t know about it until then.”
Kim oohs and ahhs at the plausibility of the argument. Kabek coughed as if embarrassed, but then his expression turned serious again.
“Well, I’m not saying you can just disappear without anyone knowing, you know.”
“Suddenly?”
“What happened last time means… we’re in trouble.”
“Ugh. That.”
I asked Kavek for a favor in Yudahi’s case. Information was shared with him that an ordinary citizen could not know. He asked for the data from the camera that captured her.
He even came to the company during the height of the investigation.
……I’ve gone back and thought about it, and I don’t think it’s going to work.
I think I’m pretty persistent, and I’ll do anything you ask me to do.
We wish you well in the future.
It must have been a difficult decision. To entrust herself to someone who had threatened her life meant that Yudahi’s life was tense and her mind was racing.
“No wonder.
I can understand where you’re coming from.
I used to love Polaris, but I only enjoyed it as a game. What would Kim Yi Hyun, a fellow drifter, mean to Yoo Da Hee, who never really fit in?
Hyundai and Polaris. They are the only ones who can empathize with each other on this issue. The magnitude of the need may be different, but Kim perceives Yoo Dahui in a similar way.
Eventually, it was accepted into Dustborn.
Yudahi is a motivator for Leone and the cadets. I’ll keep an eye on him, but I’ll treat him well once I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt. I feel sorry for him, and I feel sorry for him in many ways.
‘Your abilities are good.
After an intimidating interview, they were able to figure out Yudahee’s spell.
– Is it called back view? My view changes to third person, and I’m losing track of time.
– It’s like when you’re playing a game, you pause it and strategize, so it’s like that.
– Instead of being unable to move, they can observe and think.
I was dumbfounded when I heard that.
‘It’s like a crazy cheat key.
The time limit is one minute. It was said to cause double nosebleeds if used consecutively, but all things considered, it was a deceptive ability. It was the reason why Yoo Dahui was able to grasp the situation as if she was trusted at first.
Compared to Kim Yi Hyun’s [Special Weapon Crafting], it paled in comparison, but it had a lot to offer. If the professor got it, it would be like having wings on his back.
But it’s a skill that would have been a revelation to Yoo Dahui up until now. Giving yourself a minute to think doesn’t make you a better fighter, and it’s hard to make money.
“How should I write it?
A battlefield commander would be better suited than a combatant, but I’m afraid I can’t entrust him with such a grave task. I’d rather have Asterike do it.
For the time being, there were only a limited number of roles that Yoo could take on.
“There might be more drifters.
You can’t always navigate in such an accessible way. I had to consider the possibility that they would find me when I wasn’t looking. Yoo Dahui was caught by Bryce first.
That’s why he’s delegated the response to Yoo Dahui. I don’t want her to barge in and start talking about Polaris when I’m not looking.
“Please don’t.
I don’t want to add to the load if it helps. It’s very annoying if you’re overconfident and want to twist an already twisted episode even further.
At that point, you really have no choice but to get your hands dirty.
“Yoo Dahui doesn’t seem like that type.
We were lucky to have each other.
“Don’t worry about the weirdness, he’s perfectly fine.”
“That would be great.”
“Is Senator Metzokalu healthy, we should visit him sometime.”
“He wanted to know how you’re doing, anyway.”
“It looks like you’re going to be free for a while. I’ll have to make you dinner.”
Like Celbrox Labs, Dustborn was on a roll.
* * *
Dustborn has been quite the place lately. That’s because the company has grown and added a lot of staff. It’s a far cry from the days when we were a mom-and-pop shop with no one in the office.
Among the rookies were trainees, or in other words, parachutists.
“What’s your name, Dai?”
“No, it’s not Dai, it’s Dahee….”
“Dahi. Mr. Ai. It’s hard to pronounce.”
“…just call it whatever you’re comfortable with.”
As for the name, Yoo Dahui has long since been liberated. It was probably a good thing, since it wasn’t meant to be mocking. Besides, it didn’t really matter at this point.
“Hmmm. You look a little like my boss. Hair and eye color, too.”
Chelsea’s pink eyes reflected her own. It was a thrilling feeling. I couldn’t believe I was talking to a game character face to face.
“Are you from the same province?”
“Maybe not…?”
“You didn’t always know each other?”
“Yes. I just saw him the other day.”
We’re more or less in agreement on where they’re from. In fact, even Polaris had a country with an oriental name. It fell apart and refugees were scattered across the continent.
“It’s a shame. I thought we were going to have some fun.”
“What do you mean, fun to watch?”
“Developing childhood friends. It’s royalty.”
“Hey, I know what you mean….”
“I’m not trying to make you understand.”
Chelsea’s mind was racing with possible plot twists. The boyfriend-and-girlfriend setup, a staple of love comedy manga, was out, but there were still other possibilities.
‘It’s a bit like that, they talk to themselves, and Mr. Asterique watches them….’
The relationship between Kim and Asterique has been very good lately. Asterique is very open with her emotions and doesn’t try to hide them. Everyone at the company knows and supports her.
Of all of them, Chelsea is the one I’ve been rooting for the longest.
But sometimes human taste buds crave spice…….
“This must be the best job in the world.
Chelsea was giggling through a straw.
A slender blonde woman appeared from around the corner of the hallway.
“Uh-oh, you’re picking on the junior again, moderation.”
“What’s the catch. I was just saying hello to a new trainee.”
“Do I really need to be greeted personally?”
Chelsea’s unnecessary tantrum.
“Ha! That kind of individualism is what makes society cold. Do you know your next-door neighbor’s face?”
“He’s got a face and a name, right? Macmillan Hunt, 41, former fund manager, no criminal record….”
“Crazy. Did you do a background check on how long she’s been here?”
“I did it before I moved in, because it’s scary to have a criminal living next door.”
“I’m more afraid of you…?”
I realized they didn’t get along.
“If you’re going to do it anyway, do it outside, outside.”
The blond woman walking away with graceful strides was someone he recognized. She was Ekidna of Nuova Era, a character he had no idea why she was in Dustborne.
“Yippeee…! You suck…!”
Chelsea clenched her hands tightly around her straw. Ekidna’s condescending demeanor was maddening. She had a feeling it had only gotten worse since she’d been given the title of director.
It was a problem because he was good enough. As far as Chelsea were concerned, Ekidna filled a gap in Dustbourne’s game. Too many guys with brains and muscles.
Conversely, Ekidna also recognized Chelsea.
She’d had a kind of inferiority complex about Chelsea since Ishrad. The one person she thought could even the score in combat was an unorthodox marksman.
In other words, it was a healthy competition, albeit in different fields.
“I’m sorry for the hysteria, I looked like a bat yesterday.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine.”
“Be careful, that’s the second or third asshole he just did.”
There’s nothing normal about this company. Yoo watched Chelsea’s back as she walked past, muttering. He was much more animated than in the game.
‘…… Not bad.’
My first impressions of Dustborn were mixed.
Yoo Dahui was a Polaris user after all.
* * *
Even when he returned to the company, there was nothing on his agenda that he had to deal with directly, and that was as it should be. In the first place, the placenta’s problems could be solved by the branch manager.
Ekidna seems busy, but that’s because she’s a workaholic. She wants to get her plate everywhere. Kim didn’t bother to touch it.
It was like a vacation for him.
“We’ve also prepared for episodes where we can.
When the shit hits the fan, they’re going to come after me. I’m not going to stop them even though I know it’s coming. If I try to stop it, I can see a future that will only get worse.
Of course, it wasn’t all fun and games.
He reaffirmed that his relationship with the council was good, and he actively participated in training to sharpen his skills, sometimes even shadowing trainees.
“You’ve grown again. You’re talented.”
“See? It’s his stuff. He eats everything I teach.”
The compliment, so lightly uttered, doubled in size as it left Jenna’s mouth. Leone smirked as she lowered her target practice earplugs.
“Thank you. We’ll keep working hard!”
“You seem to have settled in well. How are you with the seniors?”
“They’ve been really good to me, no questions asked, and I’m learning a lot.”
Chelsea was taught to shoot, and Edwin was taught practical martial arts. I’ve heard that Asterique often takes him out on the streets, perhaps because of his ambiguous teaching style.
‘She’s a good follower, she’s fast, she deserves to be pretty.
There was a normal person. If you can call a 19-year-old who is becoming a combat weapon every day normal. It’s all because the world has gone crazy.
Yeah, it’s a crazy world out there.
“So, um, just a second.”
Around 3pm.
Kim had an unexpected visitor. It’s no exaggeration to say that he was the head of Kilikia, and he had to greet him.
Not a congressman, not a CEO of a large corporation.
Because I visited as the mother of one.
“She’s Chelsea’s mom.”
“Yeah, yeah. Well, I told you so….”
Eyes that can’t stay still, hands that nervously grope their own arms.
“How in the world did I not get caught until now.
It was typical of a drug addict.