I Became a Mad Scientist for the Foundation

Episode 240. The Magic-Eating Monster (3)

[※ This is a classified document. Do not open it unless you are directly involved in the containment and control of this supernatural phenomenon. ※]

[Supernatural Phenomenon P-■■■■]

[The Magic-Eating Monster]

[This supernatural phenomenon takes the form of a crab-like crustacean wearing a conical hat or a straw hat. Its size can range from smaller than an egg to larger than a car.]

[This creature has a tendency to collect, consume, or destroy supernatural phenomena, making it extremely threatening to the Foundation’s operations. All individuals must be killed on sight.]

[This creature grows stronger and larger by consuming other supernatural phenomena or simply being near powerful ones. Its regenerative abilities also improve.]

[To ensure its death, it must be completely crushed or burned. Even if it appears dead, it often regenerates and returns.]

[Individuals larger than a human are strong enough to tear apart vehicles with their claws and can withstand biochemical weapons and small-caliber firearms.]

[Genetic analysis shows it is related to creatures like coconut crabs and hermit crabs.]

[Well…]

[There are several hypotheses about the origin of this creature, but there is one unpleasant fact. That’s also why this document is classified.]

[Supernatural artists seem to find some irony in this creature that collects, utilizes, or destroys supernatural phenomena.]

[They say it’s similar to the Foundation.]

[So, some supernatural artists use this creature to mock the Foundation. I can see the irony too, though I don’t find death amusing.]

“Can anyone report the situation outside the facility? Where should I go to help?”

An awkward silence followed. No one answered, and I looked around the command center again.

“Nothing?”

“Uh, right now, Special Forces ‘Kunai’ is engaged in combat near the facility. There are a few monsters left in the nearby… forest.”

I sighed.

“Ha… Fine, I’ll head to the scene now. We’ll deal with this issue later.”

Osaka is a much smaller city than Seoul. The Foundation’s Osaka Branch is much smaller than the Seoul Branch, with fewer personnel and combat assets.

We moved to the scene in a Type 96 armored vehicle. You know, the one with eight wheels that looks like an alligator.

They said we’d arrive in a few minutes.

“In the Middle Ages, there was a class called knights. In French, they were called ‘nobles of the greatsword.’ Literally, becoming a noble through the greatsword.”

“Ah.”

“Thinking about it, it makes sense. One knight in armor on horseback could do the work of dozens, even hundreds, of common soldiers.”

The hero tilted his head as if confused, but we had time to kill.

“Hero. Do you know why the age of knights ended in Europe after the Renaissance?”

“Guns?”

Half right, half wrong.

“The major governments began maintaining large standing armies, and that’s when the age of knights ended. It wasn’t just because of guns.”

Knights coexisted with guns and cannons for centuries. It wasn’t just about guns; the importance of individual combat prowess had diminished.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Well, I’m saying why I have to go to the scene myself at this point. It’s the age of knights again. In the Foundation.”

It’s not just about the power to kill something, but the ability to understand the situation and achieve objectives. But knights were probably the same.

It’s an era where governance relies on individual combat power again. No, thinking about it, I wonder if we ever left that era.

The Type 96 armored vehicle started moving. It was much faster than I expected. I picked up the radio.

“This is Gold-1. En route to the combat zone.”

[This is the field command center. Confirmed.]

Field command center.

The operation is being commanded not from the Osaka Branch command center, but from a command armored vehicle on the field. That’s better, I guess.

The wind brushed through my hair.

I put my helmet back on.

[This is the field command center. The terrain is unfavorable, and visibility is poor due to the forest. Be cautious when entering the operation zone.]

The armored vehicle moved forward, and the mountain in question came into view. It was worse than I thought. I thought it was just a hill behind a school. It’s a real mountain.

I could understand why the Americans sprayed defoliants in the Vietnamese jungles.

“This is Gold-1. Any air support?”

[This is the command center. One helicopter has been deployed. It’s currently refueling.]

Ugh. What’s even working properly here?

[We’ve arrived at the scene.]

The armored vehicle stopped, and I immediately got out. The hero followed.

“Gold-1. Starting the operation.”

[Confirmed. We’ll deploy a surveillance drone to monitor the situation. Proceed to the engagement point of Special Forces ‘Kunai.’]

“Roger.”

The hero took the lead, and I followed with the Osaka Branch soldiers into the forest. The area where Special Forces was engaged. The source of today’s crisis.

“Let’s go.”

The Osaka Branch’s plan was to lure the enemy out of the facility by sending out their strongest combat asset, Special Forces, and then annihilate them outside.

It was a good plan.

The problem was that the monsters had successfully entered the facility. The high-level combat assets needed to clean up the building were now isolated outside.

“This is Gold-1. Kunai-1, where are you?”

A brief silence. There are dozens of people in the operation zone. They might not have heard, or they might not have time to respond. We kept moving forward.

[Kunai-1. We’re at the abandoned building on the mountain.]

This is a peculiar battlefield. It might seem like we’re just fighting mindless monsters, but that’s not the case. Just look at the current situation.

We were caught off guard, and the plan had to change. All because of some crabs.

[Hostile entity ahead!]

The monsters mostly ignored ordinary people and charged straight at me and the hero.

I aimed at the enemy with four pistols, but I didn’t have the luxury of wasting bullets. I took a step back, falling behind the front line.

An incendiary grenade exploded ahead.

That’s the problem. Those soccer ball-sized, or smaller, entities. They’re hard to take down with airstrikes or heavy weapons, and leaving them alone causes big problems.

We had no choice but to deploy boots on the ground.

Ugh, they’re really persistent in chasing me.

[Using the flamethrower. Be careful.]

Every time I see a flamethrower, I’m reminded of how big the flames are. It always feels that way.

If this were a battle against humans, the best strategy would be to keep moving quickly to avoid being tracked. But the enemy is a swarm.

Moving like that could lead to being surrounded or chased, which would make things worse. The best option is to move at the pace of the accompanying soldiers.

It’s frustrating, but it’s the best method. The Osaka Branch is smaller than the Seoul Branch, which draws on the resources of an entire nation, or the Tokyo Branch, the largest in Japan.

[Advancing again.]

The target came into view. Special Forces ‘Kunai’ is fighting using the transmission tower as a stronghold. I can see the monsters moving.

[This is the field command center. Confirm kills on the monsters. If you don’t, they’ll regenerate quickly.]

“Confirmed.”

We moved forward-

Boom!

A bug monster the size of a tank pushed through the trees. Its claws alone were almost human-sized. We ran. It would take anti-tank weapons to take it down…

[This is-]

The radio wasn’t working well. It seemed the monster was interfering with the signal, and supernatural phenomena weren’t working either.

This enemy was a real pain. Seeing the blood and entrails on its claws, it had probably already killed several people today.

A grenade exploded in front of the monster, but it wasn’t very effective. We took a step back, reloaded, and resumed firing.

[Hero.]

“Yes.”

[Move behind the monster and attack.]

“Understood.”

I’m not sure if the monster will move as planned, but we need to try something different. I sent the hero to the back. I moved further back and fumbled with the recoilless rifle, loading it.

I doubt the monster will die from a recoilless rifle hit, but it might at least injure it. I aimed the rifle-

“Get down.”

The recoilless rifle isn’t meant to be used this close. The sound of the shot created a gust of wind, like a helicopter taking off.

And boom.

Fragments of the monster’s shell and flesh flew high into the sky, and the monster slumped like a puppet with its strings cut. Black blood poured out.

“Screeeech!”

The monster didn’t stop moving.

Tentacles writhed beneath its shell. It’s not dead yet. We resumed firing, but the monster slowly got back up.

They said it regenerates, didn’t they?

I’m never eating lobster again.

The hero moved behind the monster.

If this were a game or a manga, we might have found a weak spot and achieved a dramatic victory. But this isn’t a game.

The back was just as well-protected, minus the big claws. Getting close would risk being ensnared by tentacles.

The hero had no choice but to wait awkwardly.

It was only a few seconds.

Boom!

Must have shot something big.

Blood and flesh fragments flew from the monster’s shell. Ahn Yuri charged at the monster. She’s cut down countless monsters.

If we target the wounds before it regenerates-

The trajectory of destruction. For the first time in a while, a warm light, like sunlight, flashed from the tip of the hero’s holy sword.

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