Chapter 70
Strength, stamina, agility, and other physical abilities could be strengthened through training. Conversely, this meant that people who didn’t train lacked physical ability.
Of course, after becoming Players, they would consistently engage in physical training, but physical constitution didn’t change easily.
“Alright, then what about the next attack team?”
“There’s the Mage Corps, ranked 8th in Korea, but they’re out in the field on a government request.”
“Mage Corps?”
Mason was impressed. Even just hearing the name sounded impressive.
“Are we finally getting a normal attack team?”
“For your information, the full name of that attack team is ‘Those Who Became Mages Because They Were Virgins Until 30’.”
Mason was speechless.
“…They really became Players for that reason?”
“Apparently, they’re not virgins anymore. Because of that, their attack team ranking has plummeted.”
“…”
South Korea was a country that had lost most of its military power and a large portion of its young men. It was strange that Players, who were objects of envy and high earners, couldn’t even date.
It was strange, but…
“…Isn’t it also strange that their combat power would decline for that reason?”
“What’s strange about it? Even the pro-democracy fighters of our youth turn conservative after getting married and buying a house. Isn’t the idea of noblesse oblige, where those with more are more willing to sacrifice than those with less, just a fantasy?”
“Alright, then what about the 9th ranked team?”
“Cell Sword. They’re an attack team that focuses more on salvage than raids, and they haven’t returned from the field yet. If the Mage Corps went on a business trip at the government’s request, this team violated the government’s standby order.”
“They don’t listen very well?”
“Yes, they don’t listen well to the government, nor to Yekaterina’s control.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Their mentality.”
Seo Yeonhee said in a calm voice.
“Cell Sword is an attack team made up of felons.”
๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑
South Korea was a nation that had lost most of its national defense capabilities.
The monsters, which had been multiplying endlessly in North Korea, out of the public eye, surged south, and the South Korean military had to fight a nightmarish defensive battle.
Thanks to the barrier, they didn’t die from one or two standard bullets. They had to aim for overkill with artillery and other heavy weapons.
But the problem was numbers, numbers.
If you killed one, two more would come; if you killed two, five more would come. The monsters literally surged in like a tidal wave. Just as firing artillery at a tidal wave only filled the space with water again, their ranks were restored.
The monsters were literally endless.
Desperate resistance and a nightmarish retreat. Countless defensive lines crumbled and were rebuilt, and eventually, the final line of defense was established along the Han River.
Most of the army’s equipment and personnel were exhausted, and the enlistment of women, once taboo, was encouraged. Still, South Korea lacked manpower.
Combat troops, especially experienced troops who had to fight on the ground.
That was the reason why South Korea clung to the new military branch, the Player System.
There were many discussions about how to operate the newly born Player System. However, one thing was certain. They had to somehow train troops against the monsters.
So, South Korea tried.
They decided to experiment with all those theoretical discussions.
That was why many of Korea’s attack teams had unique compositions.
To experiment with which combat doctrine was the most effective.
That was also why Korea’s attack teams were limited to 40 members.
To minimize damage in case of a failed experiment.
They had to do this because the situation was that desperate.
And one of the dark decisions made in this desperation was Cell Sword.
It was an attack team formed by releasing high-aptitude felons through plea bargains, under the calculation that it was better to send them to the battlefield than to keep them in prison.
Cell Sword was a symbol of Korea’s troop shortage, where even prisoners had to be utilized if they were useful.
“They’re not exactly folks with profiles I’d find appealing…”
The people Mason had met so far were good people who followed the rules, like Sung Kijun and Eun Yuri.
Those who were a bit more reckless were people like Seo Yeonhee or Steve Queen, who walked the line between bending the rules and breaking them.
He hadn’t met anyone who could be called a true outlaw yet.
To be honest, he’d rather not meet them.
“Well, don’t worry.”
Seo Yeonhee said with a smile.
“They probably won’t like you much either, Mason.”
“Yeah, I figured…”
Mason gave a wry smile.
Anyway, it seemed like the attack team tour was pretty much over.
“So, what do we do now?”
“There’s plenty to do if you’re willing. I could probably call up a hundred people who would come running if you said you had the time, Mason.”
“…The entertainment industry?”
“If you want to be a bit more dignified, we could do a talk show.”
Mason was a superhuman and a man from the future, even before being Korea’s Champion. There was no reason for people’s interest to fade.
Of course, the problem was that it wasn’t the kind of attention Mason wanted.
“Or how about touring research labs? I’m sure everyone would welcome you, Mason, even if we didn’t make appointments.”
“…Ugh.”
Mason felt cornered.
Seo Yeonhee was wearing a gentle and calm smile, but that only added to the pressure.
‘If I’m going to be dragged somewhere anyway, I might as well…’
It was the moment Mason was about to speak.
Ring.
Mason’s phone rang.
It was Yekaterina.
Seo Yeonhee’s face hardened momentarily, as if she had guessed who was calling.
“Shall I excuse myself?”
“…Sorry.”
Mason answered Yekaterina’s call.
<Mason.>
“Kacha.”
Yekaterina spoke in a leisurely tone.
<Did you finish touring the attack teams?>
“You knew?”
Mason gave a wry smile.
It was a stupid question.
“No, there’s no way you wouldn’t know…”
Yekaterina was the lord of the Players, and she was interested in Mason. Either one was a sufficient reason, but both together?
“So, what’s up?”
<There’s something I need your help with.>
“Really? Where should I go?”
<Just get in the car.>
As soon as she finished speaking, a car stopped next to Mason.
It was just like Yekaterina to handle things this way.
Mason shrugged and got into the car.
๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑
The place Mason arrived at was the attack team headquarters of the Guardian Attack Team.
He was guided to the inner room by a secretary, and a familiar face appeared.
“Raid Leader Mason.”
It was Gwendolyn, the large woman with a veil covering her face.
Mason smiled brightly.
“Gwendolyn, it’s been a while.”
“I don’t feel like it’s been that long. I see you on the news every day.”
“I’m much better looking in person, right?”
“Hmm… I think the pictures are a bit better.”
“I think so too!”
Mason laughed heartily.
Gwendolyn crossed her arms. She felt like she was the one being teased because Mason laughed it off so easily.
“…I really don’t like you.”
She grumbled.
“To think that someone like this will be our king…”
“I might not be.”
Mason wore a relaxed expression.
“I prefer friends to subordinates!”
“I really, really don’t like you…”
Gwendolyn grumbled and turned around.
“The Heavenly King is in the underground lab. Follow me.”
The Guardian Attack Team’s underground lab had a slightly different feel from other attack teams’ labs. While other teams focused on practical research, such as improving equipment or strengthening cores, the Guardian Attack Team’s lab felt more like a biology lab.
“Hmm…”
Mason, who was casually looking around, noticed something that caught his eye.
“…Huh?”
A man-sized blob of liquid metal. It looked like a giant’s arm made of mercury, displayed on a stand. Mason couldn’t take his eyes off the arm, and he approached it as if drawn in.
“This is… this is…”
Mason reached out his hand. As his fingertips touched it, ripples spread through the liquid metal. Mason closed his eyes and concentrated, but after a moment, he sighed and drew his hand back.
“Ah, d*mn it…”
“What’s wrong?”
The slightly surprised question didn’t come from Gwendolyn. Yekaterina, wearing a lab coat, was standing next to him.
“Heavenly King.”
Ignoring Gwendolyn’s salute, Yekaterina looked back and forth between Mason and the liquid metal arm.
“You seem very interested in the Titan’s arm?”
“Yeah, where did you get this?”
“It’s from the Titan, an A-rank raid boss we caught during the Eliminate Empire days. It was a giant made of liquid metal.”
Yekaterina looked at Mason. As if it was his turn to answer.
Mason licked his lips and said.
“This is a very primitive and basic nanomachine. The problem is there’s no way to connect to it.”
“Can you use it?”
“I can use it. It was a common item in our time. The problem is… there’s no way to use it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t connect to it mentally. There’s no way to input commands.”
Yekaterina fell into thought.
“Is it worth it?”
“If I could use this, I could take down a raid boss like a normal monster.”
“Are nanomachines that powerful?”
“If I had this much A-rank nanomachines that could be controlled at the particle level, I could probably wipe out all the monsters on Earth. But this one is too rough and crude, so I can only use it as a blunt weapon.”
“What if there was a way to use it?”
Mason’s face brightened.
“You have such technology?”
“It’s not technology, it’s magic. There’s a spell that allows a person’s soul to inhabit an object. Wouldn’t that work?”
“A person’s soul?”
Mason made a disgusted face.
“Are you saying you’re going to kill a living person and put their soul into an object?”
“Yes.”
“How could you even imagine such a horrible thing?”
“It can’t be done if the person doesn’t want it. It’s only possible if there’s a volunteer.”
“…A volunteer. But it’s still a horrible thing.”
Mason said in a admonishing tone.
“And even if you did that, it would be meaningless because their minds would resist each other. Even if another person’s soul inhabited it, at best, it would be like attaching a prosthetic arm or leg.”
“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Yekaterina was wearing a faint smile.
Mason looked puzzled.
“Why?”
“Because I’m proud of you.”
“What did I do?”
“You value human life. The king I want, the person to rule us… I’ve always thought it would be good to have a king who values human life.”
“I told you I’m not going to be king.”
Mason grumbled.
“Anyway, why did you call me? To have tea?”
“That wouldn’t be bad either, but… I wanted to get some advice on science.”
“Ugh…”
Mason’s face contorted.
Mason, the man from the future, had knowledge but lacked wisdom, and the scientists of the present day lacked knowledge but were full of wisdom. If Mason misspoke about something he didn’t know much about, he would be bombarded with a barrage of questions.
“…What is it?”
“I’m trying to create an artificial lifeform. Can you help me?”
“If I can help.”
“This way.”
