I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 121 : Hostage Rescue (1)

The Execution Force requires a wide range of mission capabilities.

Simple combat, search, and exploration are just the basics.

Intelligence, security detail, and special operations like hostage rescue were also part of these requirements.

"Hostage rescue is an extremely difficult mission. Even the most skilled Execution Force agents can't guarantee success. Do you know why?"

I answered Instructor Kim Cheol-han's question.

"First, the success conditions are too harsh. Negotiating to prevent the hostage from being killed when the hostage-taker holds complete power over life and death is exceptionally difficult."

"Correct. The premise itself makes it a very difficult mission."

"Furthermore, not only is it challenging to negotiate when holding such a disadvantageous hand, but even in a forceful confrontation, it's extremely difficult to neutralize or subdue the hostage-taker without getting the hostage killed."

"That's right. What makes it tricky is that it's not a situation that can be resolved simply by fighting well or having superior strength. It's especially hard to make the right decision when you have to make urgent judgments without negotiation specialists on hand."

The expressions of the cadets listening to our conversation grew increasingly serious.

"That's why it's important to plan well in advance, and equally important to exercise good judgment and adaptability in responding to the inevitable variables."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han began writing on the blackboard.

"First, you need to understand that the moment the hostage dies, the mission immediately fails. Therefore, the primary objective is definitely to keep the hostage alive, and afterward, check their condition, protect them, and evacuate them to a safe area."

He wrote down the process in more detail.

"...therefore, if you succeed in this mission, to put it coldly."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han paused his writing, turned around, and said coldly.

"Even if all of you are wiped out, it can still be called at least half a success."

"...!"

The atmosphere among the cadets grew heavy as they realized anew their position and mission.

"Of course, that's only the lesser evil. The second-best outcome is for all of you to survive and repel the hostage-takers. The best outcome is to subdue the hostage-takers without any allied casualties."

"Once we safely extract just the hostage, can we then freely subdue the Ma-in?"

Instructor Kim Cheol-han nodded at Hong In-hyeon's question.

"If possible, yes. But I can't strongly recommend it."

"Why not?"

"The Ma-in designated as your opponents this time are Kwak Mu-jin and his subordinates, who operated as an elite small unit conducting all sorts of white terrorism ten years ago."

An evil smile crept onto Instructor Kim Cheol-han's face.

"I warn you in advance. The leader Kwak Mu-jin's estimated rank is B+."

"...!"

"You're free to fight or escape with the hostage, but I suggest you abandon any thoughts of winning by confronting them head-on without finesse."

"Oh my god."

"No way."

The cadets' faces turned pale.

'That's a bit harsh.'

I thought to myself.

'Setting up a Ma-in of this level for first-year students in their first semester, not even second-years...'

It means the expectations for this cohort are quite high.

'Of course, I don't think they expect us to actually win against this opponent.'

Well.

My thoughts were different.

"...This time, you will form six teams of five people each."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han continued his explanation.

"The conditions are the same. All teams will conduct the exercise simultaneously without taking turns, and the enemy's abilities and composition will be identical."

His words clearly conveyed the intention to see how much difference there would be under the same conditions.

"Team leaders were selected by comprehensively considering current skill level, midterm rankings, and re-measured estimated ranks."

The names written on the blackboard were as follows:

Seo Jun-seong, me, Hwang Ji-su, Lee Yu-jin, Hong In-hyeon, Choi Mina.

'They replaced Kim A-yun with Choi Mina. Reasonable.'

Kim A-yun was still lacking in both personality and leadership to lead a team.

"The following six people have been selected as deputy leaders to assist them: Kim A-yun, Kwon Seung-yeon, Kang Geon-woo, Nam Tae-hoon, Oh Min-seon, Park Chang-jun."

'Park Chang-jun instead of Kim Ho-su.'

Aside from personality, it seems they highly valued his recent momentum as he'd been showing growth while honing his new precision bombardment tactic.

'Strictly speaking, Yu-jin and I are close-combat types, Choi Mina and Seo Jun-seong are area-of-effect types, and Hwang Ji-su and Hong In-hyeon are versatile types who can perform both kinds of combat evenly.'

On the other hand, among the deputy leaders, Kim A-yun, Oh Min-seon, and Park Chang-jun were area-of-effect types.

Kwon Seung-yeon, Kang Geon-woo, and Nam Tae-hoon were close-combat types.

'Nam Tae-hoon is of course the trickiest type, so he's quite different from the other two.'

Personally, the one I'd most want to take from the deputy leaders would definitely be Nam Tae-hoon.

'With that guy, we could fly through a mission like this.'

But.

I never expected Instructor Kim Cheol-han to arrange the personnel to make it so easy to tackle.

He might create combinations that would produce quite a bit of discord.

The worst combination I could think of would be Park Chang-jun, but...

"First, Seo Jun-seong's Team 1 will have Kwon Seung-yeon as deputy leader."

"Oh."

"Weren't they paired before too?"

"Yeah, I remember they had good chemistry."

"Wonder who Su-hyeon will be paired with?"

'Please, anyone but Park Chang-jun.'

"Jeong Su-hyeon's Team 2 will have Kim A-yun as deputy leader."

"Phew."

'Thank goodness.'

As I sighed in relief, there was someone pouting beside me.

"...You seem pleased."

"...Anyone would be fine as long as it's not Park Chang-jun."

"That's... true."

Yu-jin easily conceded.

'Man, that bad first impression really lingers.'

"Next, Team 3, Hwang Ji-su will have Nam Tae-hoon as her assistant."

"Aack!"

Nam Tae-hoon, who surely wanted to be on Choi Mina's team, screamed in despair.

"What's with that reaction?"

Hwang Ji-su's eyebrow twitched.

"Ahem. Just so happy, that's all."

"You're dead."

Then Team 4 paired Lee Yu-jin with Oh Min-seon, Hong In-hyeon with Park Chang-jun, and Choi Mina with Kang Geon-woo.

So the final composition of our team was me leading Kim A-yun, Yoon Garam, Jeremy McGarr, and Go Do-il.

A fairly balanced formation had been assembled.

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

Seo Jun-seong, watching his team members deeply engaged in tactical discussion, sank into his own thoughts.

'With my ability, the hostage rescue itself shouldn't be too difficult to solve.'

He could simply distract the enemy, momentarily restrain them with telekinesis, and then rescue the hostage.

So the problem began after that.

'A B+ ranked Ma-in would have truly formidable power. Especially considering how much we struggled against "Crusher" before.'

Of course, it's true that they had grown rapidly in a short time since then, but...

'A-ranked Ma-in are truly monsters, and B+ is the level closest to that. Plus, their abilities are unknown.'

The estimated rank is just a reference.

The complexity of their abilities and overall combat power varies tremendously even within the same rank.

'Instructor Kim Cheol-han explicitly told us to abandon thoughts of winning through combat.'

However, Seo Jun-seong felt something odd about that statement.

'Is following that advice truly the correct answer?'

What if that wasn't Instructor Kim Cheol-han's real intention?

'It would be more appropriate to interpret it as "don't fight recklessly without a solid plan."'

At least.

He thought that Su-hyeon would certainly find his own answer rather than taking the words at face value.

"...I've been thinking."

Therefore.

Seo Jun-seong decided to take a risk, trusting in his own strength, Kwon Seung-yeon's, and the rest of his team members.

And, it was the same conclusion reached by the leaders of the other four teams.

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

[Begin the hostage rescue now.]

The five cadets of Team 2, having connected to the virtual space with their capsules, witnessed five Ma-in staging a hostage situation with a well-built, middle-aged man in a suit.

"Ah, so that's the setup."

Yoon Garam nodded.

"Judging by the look, he seems like some kind of congressman?"

"Could also be a company president."

"Enough chatting, let's begin now."

Su-hyeon cut in with a heavy tone.

"First, we'll use negotiation to buy time. I'll handle this."

"Okay."

Kim A-yun nodded with a tense face.

"Fortunately, the terrain is the typical urban setting we anticipated. Yoon Garam, secure a sniper position on a taller building rooftop."

"Okay."

"Jeremy McGarr, Go Do-il. You two should also quietly move to the positions we discussed. Kim A-yun, you assist me."

"Got it."

"Su-hyeon, your role is the most important. Are you sure you're okay with it?"

Su-hyeon nodded at Yoon Garam's question.

"No problem."

Su-hyeon began speaking into the megaphone.

[You are surrounded. If you cooperate willingly, we can reduce your subsequent sentences, but if not, we inform you that your punishment will only increase.]

"Wow..."

Kim A-yun softly exclaimed in admiration of Su-hyeon's skilled delivery.

'How many times has he rehearsed this speech?'

Su-hyeon stretched out his words to buy time, waiting for Yoon Garam to secure his sniper position.

[...So state your demands. If you guarantee the hostage's safety, I have the authority to provide escape means along with a reasonable amount of money.]

"...Really?"

"...You shouldn't fall for it."

Su-hyeon soothed Kim A-yun in a low voice and was about to pick up the megaphone again when—

'Good!'

Yoon Garam, who had climbed to the tallest building, signaled to Su-hyeon by reflecting sunlight with a mirror.

"Kim A-yun."

"Yes!"

"Let's begin."

'Mana Shield.'

Woooong!

While Su-hyeon created a Mana Shield at a distance to protect the hostage's neck...

"Hm!"

Zzzzzap!

Kim A-yun created an intense flash of light, enveloping the area.

"Damn it!"

A Ma-in who became momentarily incapacitated unhesitatingly stabbed at the hostage's neck.

'Any team that didn't calculate that these guys would easily kill the hostage when startled is out at this point.'

Su-hyeon thought while covering his eyes with his palm to protect them.

Clang!

"What the—?!"

While the Mana Shield Su-hyeon had created blocked the knife...

"Now!"

Su-hyeon charged directly toward the five Ma-in.

"Damn! Someone's coming!"

"Block him! Attack the front!"

The Ma-in, whose vision hadn't fully recovered, had no choice but to focus all their attention on the approaching Su-hyeon.

'They took the bait.'

Seeing the attacks flying toward him, Su-hyeon slightly smiled and created multiple Mana Shields in the air, stepping on them to move and avoid attacks as he flew upward.

"Little rat!"

"Now, attack!"

Everyone's attention turned to Su-hyeon hovering in the air.

'Now!'

Yoon Garam, who had been timing his shot, fired three arrows with maximum tension.

Swooosh!

By the time the sound of arrows cutting through the air was heard, the arms of the Ma-in who was holding a knife to the hostage's neck had already been pierced by the solid arrows.

"Arggh!"

Simultaneously, Jeremy McGarr struck a Ma-in with his flame-wrapped spear.

"These bastards, when did they—!"

"Kill them all! We don't need the hostage anymore!"

Go Do-il, who had transformed into steel, appeared and blocked the attacks aimed at Jeremy McGarr who was retrieving the hostage and retreating.

Boooom!

"Kuk!"

It was quite a powerful attack, but it couldn't overcome Go Do-il's body.

"Well done, Go Do-il! Fall back!"

With Su-hyeon's shout, Kim A-yun's lightning bolt pierced through where the five Ma-in were standing.

Kraaaaang!

"H-have we dealt with them?"

Jeremy McGarr uttered 'that line.'

'There's no way.'

Su-hyeon thought.

"Pathetic brats."

In the middle of the building, charred black from Kim A-yun's lightning strike...

A Ma-in with a dark red, long nameless cloth spread wide like a cape stood with only a clean landscape behind him.

"Getting beaten by mere green youngsters whose blood isn't even dry yet?"

'Kwak Mu-jin.'

Su-hyeon thought.

The so-called 'Cloth of Annihilation.'

A mysterious item that turns everything it touches into nothingness.

It appeared as if a black hole that absorbed everything had taken residence in the nameless cloth.

'He can freely change its shape at will, give it rigid hardness to wield it, and wrap it around his body to use as armor. An annoyingly troublesome item.'

Not only was it terrifying that anything it touched was finished.

It was also a problem that if Kwak Mu-jin deliberately surrounded himself with that nameless cloth, attacks would become virtually impossible.

'Well, someone like the Sword God might be able to cut through it all with a sword that transcends logic.'

Such feats were only possible for those who had reached the S-rank level.

'From the start, Kwak Mu-jin is a Ma-in with power in the upper ranks among B+ ranked Ma-in.'

This meant he was clearly of a higher caliber than Chu Jinhong, who was at the mid-to-lower tier of B+ rank in terms of power.

But.

'Let's give it a try.'

Su-hyeon's hand gripping the hwando twitched with thick veins.