Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense
187 – Commencement of the Counterattack
After hearing Myung-jun’s idea, Seung-ho, as if to prove his abilities, miraculously completed the new drug that Myung-jun had requested. The critical assistance in this process came from Soo-jeong, who had created equipment capable of detecting parasites perfectly assimilated with human tissue.
“Unlike the parasites that have begun self-destruction, the dormant parasites have tissue characteristics that are 100% identical to the surrounding human tissue, but there is one difference from humans. My detection equipment can sense that difference,” Soo-jeong explained.
She revealed that since the parasites were entities from outer space, even the perfectly assimilated ones had a faint flow of crystal energy within their bodies. Hearing this, Seung-ho deliberately created the first reagent in an ‘incomplete’ state and injected it into the test subjects. Normally, the synthesis process would require the injection of the necessary amount of crystal energy, but Seung-ho intentionally added just below the critical threshold of crystal energy to the reagent.
As intended by Seung-ho, the reagent, which was ‘slightly lacking’ in the energy needed to activate its effects, reacted explosively with the crystal energy flowing within the parasites the moment it was injected.
“Perfect!”
The reagent caused a chemical reaction with the crystal energy inside the parasites without affecting human tissue. Its effect was to change the entire internal tissue of the parasite into a completely different type of tissue within just 2 seconds.
What Seung-ho needed was precisely those 2 seconds. In that brief span, barely enough to take a breath, Soo-jeong’s dual injector would administer the second reagent, which reacted only with the altered tissue.
Soo-jeong completed the dual injector as an auxiliary part that could be attached to the arm of the bionic suit. Myung-jun, now dressed in the bionic suit, attached the equipment to his arm and said, “We don’t have time, so we’ll go straight into practical use.”
“What? Right now? Shouldn’t we at least run a test?” Seung-ho asked.
“The problem is that the medical pods are already at full capacity, so we can’t thaw the frozen infected even if we capture them. Because of this, the EDA operatives have already stopped the capture operations. So, the only remaining method is to use this equipment as intended and directly inject the needles into the bodies of the living infected,” Myung-jun explained.
With determination, they prepared to put their plan into action, knowing that the success of their counterattack depended on their swift and precise execution.
Soo-jeong expressed her concern about the possibility of failure and the resulting death of an infected soldier, knowing Myung-jun’s special sentiment towards the active-duty soldiers of South Korea. Myung-jun had a strong sense of sympathy for the conscripted soldiers, and Soo-jeong feared the psychological damage he would suffer if an infected soldier died during treatment.
However, Myung-jun, as if reading Soo-jeong’s mind, gently patted her head and reassured her, “Senior, it’s true that I feel sorry for the soldiers conscripted into military service in South Korea, but that doesn’t mean I have a sense of mission to save every single one of them. I just want to do my best within what I’m capable of.”
Myung-jun stated that it was impossible to end the gate incident without any casualties. “We’ve already refused the field commander’s decision to eliminate all infected individuals and are doing our best to treat the infected soldiers. If there are any deaths due to the cure going wrong, that would be beyond the scope of our efforts.”
“Why not have the EDA operatives do it? They’re wearing bionic suits, so they could scan for the infected areas and fire the syringes easily, right?” Soo-jeong suggested.
“That feels a bit iffy. What if they make a mistake in firing and then claim the reagent was bad if the soldier dies? It’s better if I do it myself, seeing and firing with my own eyes,” Myung-jun insisted.
Unable to sway Myung-jun’s determination, Soo-jeong pulled his arm and checked the settings of the injector multiple times. Letting go of his arm, she said, “Okay. I’ve checked the injection order and amount, the timing settings, and the projectile speed and range. There shouldn’t be any problems...”
“Of course not. Who made the equipment?” Myung-jun replied confidently as he stood up, and Kei, who had been waiting, stood up with him.
Although Soo-jeong’s newly made scanner could easily confirm the presence of infection once they arrived at the location, finding the exact location of the infected was much faster with Kei’s help. Thus, Myung-jun and Kei quickly moved towards the suspected location of the infected individuals.
Before long, they discovered an infected soldier at a farmhouse, attempting to infect a pitiable elderly woman by forcing a disgusting parasite into her mouth.
“That bastard!” Kei, seeing the soldier who appeared to be forcing the parasite into the mouth of an old woman who looked to be over seventy, immediately tried to stop the soldier’s actions.
But Myung-jun’s outstretched hand blocked Kei, who was rushing towards the soldier.
“Getting infected doesn’t mean immediate death. We need to wait for now,” Myung-jun said.
“But the grandmother!” Kei protested.
“The parasite has already entered her esophagus. It will move around inside her body until it settles. The injector that Soo-jeong made isn’t designed for targets moving inside the body. Let’s save the grandmother later,” Myung-jun explained, taking a deep sigh. He knew that if he had arrived just a bit earlier, the innocent old woman wouldn’t have had to suffer such a terrible fate. But he also understood that thinking this way would lead to endless regret. Reality was not a fairy tale; it was harsh and unforgiving.
“Kei, I understand how you feel, but the soldier infecting the grandmother isn’t doing it of his own will. He’s just another victim. So, let’s hate the parasites, not the infected,” Myung-jun said.
“She’s quite elderly, so I’m a bit worried,” Kei admitted.
As soon as the last parasite settled, Kei and Myung-jun fired the injectors. Six syringes embedded themselves into the grandmother’s body.
“Parasite removal complete. It looks like the new treatment is a success,” Kei observed.
“We’ll know for sure once the first soldier regains consciousness, but I think you’re right,” Myung-jun agreed.
The girl felt as if she were dreaming. The soldier who had suddenly attacked her grandmother, the two people in what looked like movie-like suits saving her and treating her grandmother—it was all beyond her comprehension. Yet, the stinging pain from pinching her cheek told her this was no dream.
“Excuse me...” the girl hesitated, addressing the man who was removing the syringes from her grandmother’s body. Unlike the other man, this one had a slight build, reminiscent of a boy.
Having removed all six syringes from the grandmother, Kei turned to the girl and spoke.
“Why?”
“Are you two aliens by any chance?”
“No, we’re not. We have similar technology, but I’m just like you, an Earthling,” Kei replied.
“Pfft. Doesn’t calling yourself an ‘Earthling’ make you sound more like an alien?” Myung-jun chuckled at Kei’s choice of words.
Kei quickly corrected himself, “No, I mean human, human.”
Seeing the girl look at him with even more suspicion, Kei felt a bit exasperated. “Hyung, can I take off my headgear?”
“Scan the area first. If it’s clear, go ahead. We’ve taken them off a few times already,” Myung-jun replied.
“It’s safe,” Kei confirmed.
“Then do as you like,” Myung-jun said.
Kei pressed a button on his neck, and with a mechanical sound, the helmet covering his head opened and folded back behind his neck. The girl, seeing the cute face of a young boy emerge from the suit, widened her eyes in surprise.
“Elementary school student?” she exclaimed.
“I’m the right age, but I don’t attend school. I’m Ito Kei, a Seeker from the Liberal Clan. Ah, you might not know the Liberal Clan since I’m not a Hunter,” Kei explained.
The girl shook her head vigorously. Even though she lived a life unrelated to the gate incidents, the name Liberal Clan was one she had heard countless times. She just couldn’t believe she was meeting a member of the famous clan in this remote mountain area.
“I... I’m a fan!” she stammered.
“Of whom?” Kei asked, curious.
“Of Kei! Wait a moment! I even have some merchandise!” she exclaimed, rushing back into the room she had come from. She quickly returned, holding a notebook and an acrylic stand with Kei’s picture on them.
However, what awaited her was a small note left in the spot where her grandmother had been lying just moments ago.
“Your grandmother has been taken for treatment. If there are no health issues, she will be safely returned. Please don’t worry. With infected individuals roaming around, do not leave the house under any circumstances.”
She held the note left by Kei as if it were a treasure, clutching it tightly. Looking in the direction she thought the two had departed, she quietly murmured, “Ah... he’s even cuter in person...”
With that, any worry she had for her grandmother had completely vanished from her heart.
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