NOVEL NEXT Chapter 238
Episode 238. The Magic-Eating Monster (1)
“This is Kunai-1. I’ve never seen anything like this before……. We’re going to need backup.”
[This is the Command Center. Engaged in combat. Get here now.]
“This is Kunai-1. What’s going on?”
[This is the Command Center. Multiple attackers. All units return to the Command Center defense line immediately.]
I looked up at the sound of knocking on the door.
“Dr. Kim?”
“Yes. Come in.”
The person visiting my office today was the Support Department Head. I tilted my head. Why would the Support Department Head come to my office personally? There are so many people under him.
He looked like he had just come from a fight, with a deeply shocked expression. Well, the Support Department Head is often like that. He’s a bit of a sensitive person.
But considering he’s lasted this long in the Foundation, he’s not really that sensitive. It’s more accurate to say he’s not the type to hide when he’s scared or surprised.
“The Osaka Branch has requested military support. They say they need it immediately.”
I turned my head. What’s going on? They don’t usually ask for help like this.
It’s rare for overseas branches to ask for help. They usually request it from Headquarters.
Let’s see what’s going on.
A few days ago, the Foundation was in a state of civil war, and things were so chaotic that even if they requested support from Headquarters, who knows who would show up……
The Osaka Branch Director didn’t seem to know the details either. It’s not unreasonable for him to be scared. I sighed.
“What’s going on?”
“I didn’t get the details. I heard they’re fighting multiple monsters.”
“Let’s go. The Osaka Branch, right?”
“Yes.”
The Support Department Head nodded. I got up from my seat. We need to move quickly.
When the incident happened in Yulje-myeon, I requested support from the Foundation Headquarters, and the Administrator arrived within about 15 minutes of my call.
If we’re responding at a similar level now, we need to leave immediately. Who should we bring for this operation, though?
We need to leave within minutes, so let’s think about high-firepower assets first. Nanami and Dr. Chae might need to command the Seoul Branch in case of an emergency, so we can’t take them to Japan.
Not many options left. It’s either Hasti or the Hero, and since we don’t know the situation, the Hero might be more useful as a meat shield than the mage Hasti.
So. We’ll take the Hero, board the hypersonic transport, and land at the Osaka Branch.
This is the transport compartment of the vertical takeoff and landing hypersonic transport for the Administrator. I was sitting in the transport, waiting for the Hero to arrive.
We can’t leave until he’s here.
I double-checked the situation on my terminal.
What could be happening that they’d ask me for help? And outright military support at that. I hope it’s not a large-scale incident……
It’s written that there’s a monster attack, but the explanation is a bit lacking. It says the facility is under attack by multiple insect-like monsters.
What does that even mean?
That’s why they called me?
Maybe if it’s a branch with little combat experience. I scratched my head. Shortly after, the Hero came running and boarded the transport.
“Whew, sorry I’m late!”
“Yeah, come earlier next time.”
The transport door closed immediately, and the aircraft took off into the sky. The flight time should be about 15 minutes. It took some time to prepare, though.
The Hero was shouting something next to me.
I couldn’t hear a thing.
This aircraft is accelerating at hypersonic speed, and I was wearing a headset connected to the helicopter. I pointed at the headset with my hand.
“You won’t hear anything without that.”
The Hero put on the headset. Now, through the headset, I could hear the Hero’s voice.
“Where are we going?”
“Osaka.”
“Why Osaka?”
“An incident happened at that branch that they can’t handle on their own. The Special Forces ‘Kunai’ are in combat but are overwhelmed.”
“What are they fighting?”
“Bug-like monsters.”
I showed the Hero the tablet.
The Hero frowned. Hmm……. After reading the report sent by the Seoul Branch for a while, I started to understand what was going on.
Among the animal-type supernatural phenomena, there’s a creature like that. A bit larger than usual, and like ants searching for candy, they search for magic.
I think they’re called Landcrabs.
They collect other supernatural phenomena and, depending on the situation, either eat them or absorb part of their power.
They’re found all over the world, and in Seoul, they’re usually found underground. Because of their tendency to seek out magic, they’re often seen near Foundation branches……. Are there a lot in Osaka?
[This is Condor. We’re within 5 minutes of Osaka. Administrator, if you wish, we can connect you to the Osaka Branch.]
“Connect us.”
[This is the Osaka Branch. Is this-]
“This is Administrator Kim Bari. We’ll arrive at your facility in 5 minutes. Be ready.”
[Huh? 5 minutes?]
“Yes.”
[We requested support 12 minutes ago, how- no, never mind. Please land on Runway 1. Thank you for the support.]
As planned, we landed at the Osaka Branch 5 minutes later. Only the Hero and I were getting off the transport, but we shouldn’t need more firepower than this.
After landing, the transport door opened.
The Hero and I got off the transport with our equipment. The Osaka Branch staff held their breath.
The Hero was wearing armor like last time, holding a greatsword. A submachine gun was slung at his waist. The difference from before was that the armor was painted in urban camouflage instead of a shiny metallic finish.
I brought equipment similar to what I used during the assault on Facility No. 1. Enough to single-handedly annihilate a small government.
I looked around. Several Osaka Branch staff in suits were gathered. Where are the soldiers and engineers?
“Who’s in charge here?”
“Hello. This is Director Totoki.”
“What are you doing?”
“Currently, the problematic bugs have been sighted all over the city, and many have infiltrated this facility. We’re doing our best to respond.”
So there are bug monsters inside the facility too.
We couldn’t just stand around with our arms crossed in the operation area. I checked the loading status of my submachine gun again.
“Director. Are you kidding me? There are hostile entities inside this facility, and you’re standing in line on the helipad in suits without weapons?”
The Director bowed his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“The situation outside the facility isn’t under control either, is it?”
“No.”
I sighed. This isn’t the time for arguments. If there are hostile entities inside this facility, that’s the most important target right now.
The response has been terribly mismanaged, but now isn’t the time to criticize that.
That’s something to address after we deal with the monsters inside the facility.
“This isn’t the time. The Hero will go after the monsters, and I’ll head to the scene. Connect me to the Command Center immediately.”
Are they idiots……?
Of course, the Osaka Branch isn’t that big. In terms of scale, it’s about 20-30% of the Seoul Branch. But it’s also true that their response to the problem is incredibly lax.
This time, I was equipped with the robot arm I used during the first siege. Three of the four robot arms were loaded with semi-automatic pistols.
If this were a Hong Kong gangster movie, this would be enough to easily dominate the streets.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a Hong Kong movie. When dealing with monsters, guns are not the ultimate weapon but the bare minimum.
I fiddled with the four guns.
“Let’s go, Hero.”
The Hero nodded.
I lowered my head and released Popo.
“Popo. Find the spider bugs.”
“Popo!”
My hunting dogs ran forward.
Landcrabs move to hunt magic, right? I’m carrying several artifacts and surrounded by Popo.
The monsters will naturally come to me first.
No need to go looking for them.
I scanned the area with the laser pointer attached to my submachine gun. Nothing yet.
The Hero stood next to me, holding his greatsword.
“This is Gold-1. Requesting target location.”
[This is the Osaka Branch Command Center. The target is currently in the humanoid supernatural phenomenon containment zone.]
“This is Gold-1. What happened to the humanoid supernatural phenomena in the containment zone?”
[This is the Command Center. Some have been rescued.]
Oh no.
Most, or a significant number, are trapped in the same area as the magic-eating supernatural bugs. Thinking about it, that’s horrifying.
“Let’s move quickly.”
We reached the firmly closed bunker door. The Command Center will open it, right?
“This is Gold-1. Open the bunker door.”
[This is the Command Center. There are multiple hostile entities beyond the bunker door. Please step back.]
The Hero and I moved to either side of the bunker door. The closed bunker door opened-