34 – That was it (15)
A fierce war of nerves is taking place between the two countries that use the mountain range as their border.
They have different religions and races, and historically, they have fought back and forth, and recently they were again in the process of causing small-scale local wars.
So far, there has been no intervention at the administration level on this, but this time is different.
For some reason, the international order has changed, and the stance of the major powers supporting these two countries has also changed.
As a result, the management bureau predicted that this local war would not be a border dispute as usual, but a large-scale all-out war.
However, the administration does not intend to intercede with a false sense of choosing the people, such as ‘War is bad and peace is good’.
We were dispatched because when we calculated all the possibilities, benefits, and losses, it came out that it was better to intervene.
Although the Bureau is a supranational organization, it does not act as a thoroughly neutral mediator.
Rather, it is the side that dominates the international situation with unprecedented weapons called heroes.
In that respect, what we are climbing the mountain for now has absolutely nothing to do with heroes, the guardians of justice and common sense that come to mind.
So, instead of exchanging great lines with strict and solemn faces like the heroes of various media, we went up the mountain chatting insincerely.
“Hey, Professor Hyun. Are you really going to be an academy professor?”
“Because you do?”
“Why do you do that?”
“I don’t have the hero aptitude, but I don’t think I have the secret aptitude even more. It’s because I just want to retire quickly and live a comfortable life rather than walking a tightrope waiting for the day I die.”
“Well, a personality like you is perfect for a scholar, not a hero.”
Then Jia Seo, who was walking beside her, chimed in.
“Soohyun’s nickname at the academy was Gray Mold. He’s gloomy and likes to be in the corner. Plus, he only digs defense, so…”
“It’s a joke.”
Han Tae-woo giggled and slapped me on the shoulder.
“By the way, when are you going to show that mental barrier you mentioned?”
“It’s still a long way off. It’s only a few more years or so.”
“What the fuck, mental management skills are so difficult. Anyway… Hurry up and get a seat at the academy. When Min-ha enters, we should wear at least an assistant professor.”
“What’s the department head… To do that, you have to retire at level B or higher, so hurry up and ask me about good things. Then, whether or not you get a promotion, won’t you teach Min-ha?”
“Jia. Did you hear? You bastard, record all of this with a body cam so you don’t hear anything else later.”
Seo Ji-ah smiled and turned around and turned the body cam toward me.
“C-class hero Professor Hyun. Call sign Gray Steel. Promise to make Han Tae-woo and Seo Ji-ah’s daughter Han Min-ha into S-class.”
“What an oath…”
“You swear.”
Seo Ji-ah said with a smile on her face as she walked with crab steps.
“Make Han Min-ha an S-class.”
Knowing that this was all a joke, I finally smiled and looked straight into Seo Jia’s face and swore.
“I swear. I will make Han Min-ha an S-class.”
“Okay. Definitely recorded.”
Turning around and walking properly again, Jia Seo tapped the body cam on the pit of the stomach.
“Prepare a lot of money in advance. Private tutoring is expensive.”
“I think I’ll just use the one I saved the other day?”
“Isn’t that the price I already paid for saving you by setting up a shield at the right time the other day?”
“The defense is originally a supporter’s duty. Isn’t it a bit wrong to do something obvious and expect something in return?”
“Then saving the lives of your teammates is not a matter of course, but is it being courteous?”
Struggling, we continued up the mountain ridge.
“We’re almost there. Camouflage.”
Han Tae-woo, who climbed to the top of the ridge, gave the order.
The surface of the suit shimmered and changed to a color similar to the snow around it.
Fully camouflaged, we slowly moved forward, hiding behind rocks and sticking our heads out.
I saw something sticking out in the valley below.
“Is that right?”
Seo Ji-ah took out a monocle and held it to one eye to examine it closely.
“The warheads definitely look similar.”
“Then that’s right. Is there another missile launcher here other than that?”
Han Tae-woo, who was listening to Seo Ji-ah and I exchanging opinions, said.
“Then let’s go right in. Suhyeon will support you here, and Jia and I will sweep up.”
“You know? You can’t leave even one person behind.”
“I know, man. That’s what I said before we left.”
“Please go.”
Seo Ji-ah and Han Tae-woo were simultaneously wrapped in auras and bounced up into the sky like bullets.
Shaking off the snow that had fallen in the aftermath, I got up from my seat, put on my protective shield, and walked forward.
Violet and dark red beams of light that rose vertically high in the sky made a great turn and pierced fiercely to the ground.
With curses and shouts from all sides of the valley, anti-aircraft attacks against the heroes began.
The entire valley was filled with flashes and gunshots.
I looked at the trajectory of the bullet and spread the shield appropriately.
Quite a few small-caliber bullets were repelled with the power of the aura itself, and firearms such as anti-aircraft guns were blocked by my shield and exploded powerlessly.
Among the two rapidly descending beams, the red beam, Velvet Butcher Seo Ji-ah, made a sudden stop in the air and fired indiscriminate killing beams in all directions.
The bloody killing ray was not a straight line, but a graceful curve, flying like a creature with its own will to the enemies scattered throughout the valley.
Horrible screams erupted from all over the place, and I could see soldiers being shattered by the killing beam fired right below me.
Very helpless.
In the meantime, Han Tae-woo, dragging his purple aura for a long time, fell into the valley and penetrated the missile launcher.
The entire valley shook with a tremendous explosion.
I floated in the air to avoid the vibration and looked at the situation below.
A large cloud of fire rose from where the missile launch pad was, and Seo Ji-ah was slowly flying past it.
All around seemed to have been annihilated, as there was no reaction.
This was my first goal.
That roar and flames were probably clearly discernible elsewhere, so I had to move quickly to the next location.
“Is there anything wrong?”
“Nothing wrong.”
Seo Ji-ah flew next to me and looked at the flame cloud side by side.
Soon, through the dark clouds, Han Tae-woo appeared.
“Phew. Diving is always thrilling.”
“Then let’s go to the next place.”
I was about to turn around when I noticed something between the rocks on the other side.
It was a bloody soldier aiming a recoilless rifle this way.
It looked like he managed to survive and try to strike us down.
The moment the soldier pulled the trigger, a circular barrier was created around the soldier.
The high-explosive projectile fired from the muzzle immediately collided with the shield and exploded.
The inside of the circular shield was instantly engulfed in an explosion, and the soldiers inside it died without even screaming.
“Huh… They use all sorts of strange methods.”
Seeing this, Han Tae-woo stuck out his tongue.
“Let’s go.”
He said, looking at the steep peaks on the other side that caused an avalanche in the aftermath of the explosion.
“Okay. The next location is TP3. Here’s a clear satellite picture, so we’re going straight ahead without landing.”
“All right.”
“Looking at the armed level here, I don’t think there’s a need for a shield, so all three switch to attack. Let’s finish it quickly and go back.”
“Yes!” “Yep!”
We soared at the same time and flew to point TP3.
Looking at the absurdly vast mountain range below his feet, Han Tae-woo radioed.
[Because they are really crazy. To come up to a place like this and think of fighting.]
[Once you occupy it, you can sit down until the end. So it is.]
Seo Ji-ah flew between us and radioed.
[We will arrive at TP3 in three minutes. Everyone, keep your mind straight.]
[Jia and I will go in first, so Suhyeon and you follow us while sorting out the things we missed.]
[All right.]
We flew to our destination faster, breaking through strong winds and clouds.
[Clouds block the view. lower your altitude It goes down.]
I quickly lowered the altitude, and soon the surface was revealed.
[Oh! that?!]
Seo Ji-ah was surprised and pointed down.
The TP3 we targeted was right under our feet.
However, that place had already been destroyed by someone.
There are a lot of dead bodies scattered all over the place.
The strange thing was that only people were lying down, but other facilities and equipment were standing intact without any flaws.
[what? Why are you like that?]
[Is there another team with overlapping missions besides us?]
[Well… I don’t know.]
[Aren’t they rain or heroes, senior?]
[It won’t be. They probably don’t have that much money. What is it?]
[First… Shall we look back?]
[OK. Keep it large. Suhyeon is in charge of the rear.]
[Yes.]
We exchanged opinions quickly and slowly descended.
It looked like Han Tae-woo and his wife were about 50 meters in front of me, and I was approaching the scene from behind, looking behind me.
Suddenly, Han Tae-woo rang an urgent radio.
[Professor Hyun! Shield! Quickly to the advanced level!!!!]
I was wary of the back, but when I looked back, I saw something like a mass of clouds of a strange color that couldn’t be described in words, rapidly approaching us.
Understanding the situation, I quickly put a barrier on the couple.
[What the hell is this?!]
[Professor Hyun! Get out of the back while holding the shield! Don’t come anymore!]
Just as I was about to put the shield on myself, I suddenly felt a terrible burning pain in my throat and nose.
“Keuhuhuh…?!”
What…? poison gas?!
Creating a shield now would be like entering an airtight gas chamber…!
You have to get outside…!
However, the toxic gas was so strong that I quickly lost consciousness without any time to do anything.
[The shield is released! Coke! Suhyun-ah…! what are you doing?!]
[I think I got hit! wait for a sec! What’s coming ahead!]
[Because I’ll stop it… Cough Cough! Suhyun help me!]
In my blackened vision, I saw Han Tae-woo protruding through the poison gas.
“Hey you bastard! Wake up!”
At that time, a terrifying flash of light flashed several times from inside the cloud behind him.
“Senior…! Cough! Jia…! Go to Jia… I’ll take care of myself… Cool!”
Han Tae-woo, who turned his head and saw the continuous flashes, spat out a low curse.
“This shit…”
“Because you won’t die even if you fall from this point… Hurry up… go!!”
“Hey Professor Hyun.”
Han Tae-woo looked straight into my eyes with a solemn expression.
“If we both die, please take care of Min-ha.”
“Don’t say shit… Let’s leave this… Starting with Jia… Even if a child doesn’t have a father, he should have a mother…”
“You crazy bastard, this.”
Han Tae-woo smiled even in that situation, then let go of the hand holding me and shot into the cloud where Seo Ji-ah was.
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My consciousness was hazy, and I used the last of my strength to put a superior shield on Han Tae-woo.
Then, helplessly, he fell to the ground.
that was the last one
When I came to my senses, I was lying on the floor.
As I hurriedly tried to get up, the tremendous pain in my left shoulder almost gave me my mind again.
When I touched it lightly, it seemed that my bones were completely crushed by the impact of falling to the floor.
“Ugh…?! Senior!? Seo Ji-ah!”
Looking up, the cloud was still hanging high up in the air, and the flash was no longer visible.
And…
“no…”
Han Tae-woo and Seo Ji-ah turned into purple and dark red comets and were falling to the ground.
“No no…!!!!”
Their auras flickered a few times before dissipating completely, and they fell among the peaks far away from here.
I tried to run forward, but I lost my balance and fell down.
“Fuck… fuck…”
He muttered incessantly as he crawled forward, scratching the ground with his hands.
Because I… I couldn’t keep my shield up…
it’s all because of me
Because I was a fool…!
Guilt and anger flooded over me, making it difficult to stay sane.
The back of my head was sore and the splitting headache hit me so much that I couldn’t even see straight ahead.
I killed… I killed…!
At that moment, a wall of extraordinary strength sprouted and trapped my mind.
So that what happened