I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 277 : Suicide Squad (1)

Immediately after Nam Tae-hoon reported the location of the Catacomb.

Ju Taeyang sighed as he examined the documents received from Heo Sung-gyeom.

"Is this the list of the suicide squad?"

"Yes."

Six Captains, four Deputy Captains.

A total of ten members formed the suicide squad.

"Ji-gwang, this friend has stepped up too."

'Reversal War General' Son Ji-gwang.

He was expected to lead this suicide squad.

"...He said he doesn't have many days left to live, so shouldn't he do something for his descendants?"

"This guy. Sounds like he's saying it for someone to hear."

Ju Taeyang laughed heartily.

"That couldn't be the case."

"Fortunately, Captain Gong didn't step forward."

Ju Taeyang nodded.

"Apart from skill, Su-hyeon is still too young. Captain Gong is the right person to hold the center of the organization as my successor. Both in terms of skill and personality."

"...I agree with those words."

Whenever his superior, whom he had respected and served his whole life, talked about his end, Heo Sung-gyeom had to feel grief.

In addition to that, 'Flame Emperor' Seol Ji-yun, the 3rd Unit Captain, not only volunteered for the suicide squad.

"If Captain Baek Seungyun of the 5th Unit steps up, the breakthrough power will be certain."

Captain Baek Seungyun, who leads the 5th Unit, which operates close to an armored unit.

His characteristic, "Battlefield Brilliance," was the ability to rush forward wrapped in physical force-immune light by burning the mana within his body.

"He's close to the strongest in the realm of vanguard."

Baek Seungyun, cloaked in brilliance, was no different from a modern heavy cavalry with durability and charging power that wouldn't lose even to 'Battle Maniac' Jang Su-il.

'Fist King' Jin Seong-geun of the 10th Unit and 'Grim Reaper' Kang Ji-min of the 12th Unit were Captains who demonstrated excellent skills in close combat.

"Captain Go Seongjin is stepping up too."

Were-Ratel Go Seongjin, Captain of the 13th Unit composed of lycanthropes.

He was an Awakened who could transform into the famous honey badger, which is said to have the strongest combat power among the weasel family, which is the strongest in the same weight class.

With a small and agile build in the mid-160cm range, and combining unique toxicity, durability, aggression, and agility, he was a man who reigned above fierce beast types like Were-Tigers, Were-Lions, and Were-Wolves.

"The moment Captain Go infiltrates the enemy's rear, the enemy will inevitably fall into panic."

"That's right. Even though we only accepted volunteers, the balance of power is quite good."

Heo Sung-gyeom said.

"I think this is a force exceeding one-third of the currently available forces."

"...The risk if we fail will be tremendous."

"Yes. It's a dangerous operation."

"But it's worth it."

"......"

Seeing Heo Sung-gyeom's dark expression, Ju Taeyang asked.

"You seem worried."

"We're charging into the heart of enemy territory. Will this be enough?"

"[Catacomb] has never been invaded. If we leverage the advantage of surprise, and with this caliber of personnel stepping up, I think there's a possibility."

Ju Taeyang tapped Heo Sung-gyeom's arm.

"I understand your concerns too. But since Captain Seol Ji-yun is stepping up, the number of enemies doesn't really matter."

"...That's true."

Seol Ji-yun's power, rampaging without any restraint, was literally like a natural disaster.

"I'm sorry, but this isn't a situation where regulations or morality matter. If they run wild in enemy territory without any restriction on killing... they will be truly formidable."

Ju Taeyang laughed heartily.

"Conversely, imagine if they were Ma-in, attacking Seoul."

"That is, hmm."

Heo Sung-gyeom, who quickly ran a simulation in his head, laughed dryly.

"That would be terrible indeed."

"Exactly."

"Plus, Su-hyeon has also decided to go."

"Hmm. That kid's Chukji is really an impossible technique."

"Catching Su-hyeon when he is determined to escape is impossible."

"That's right. That's why even that crafty Hwang Won-jae hasn't been able to do anything to Su-hyeon so far."

"...Su-hyeon will arrive within 30 minutes. Would you like to meet him?"

Ju Taeyang smiled gently, feeling Heo Sung-gyeom's consideration.

"Thank you."

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A suicide squad of 11 people.

Among them, the 10 excluding Su-hyeon only informed their unit's Deputy Captains or Captains about their volunteering and completed a brief handover.

Each carrying a will in their pocket, they arrived at the unit and moved to the waiting quarters under tight security.

Only Su-hyeon was having a private meeting with Commander Ju Taeyang.

"...Have you mentally prepared yourself?"

"Yes. But I didn't write a will."

"Good."

A jewel-like boy who reminded him of his dead son.

In Ju Taeyang's gaze toward Su-hyeon, satisfaction, apology, and pride were mixed together.

"But as you know, situations always flow in unexpected directions. It might not go well. It could get dangerous."

"Yes. Rather, I should be suspicious if things go according to plan."

"You're so intelligent that I have nothing more to teach you."

A year of training had matured not only Su-hyeon's skills but also his inner self.

"...The worst-case scenario I'm thinking of isn't simply the failure of the suicide squad. Perhaps a situation may come where I have to step up. That situation might not be my final battlefield that you once mentioned."

"...I suppose so."

"...As a commander, I'll give you one cruel order."

"Go ahead."

"Even though everyone has prepared for death."

Ju Taeyang's deep eyes looked straight into Su-hyeon's eyes.

"You alone must prioritize survival. Can you do that?"

"......"

After a moment of silence without avoiding his gaze, Su-hyeon eventually answered.

"Yes."

"Gong I-an. He is truly a man worthy of entrusting the next generation to after me. But that's just the limit."

Ju Taeyang closed his eyes, taking his gaze away from Su-hyeon.

"You are the only one who can reach the realm I couldn't reach even devoting my whole life, and who can face the enemies that will invade from the shadow world. In other words."

Ju Taeyang's hand, full of wrinkles and scars, was placed on the back of Su-hyeon's hand.

"The future is entrusted to you. Can you handle it?"

"It's not a matter of whether I can or cannot."

Su-hyeon's answer was firm.

"This is something I must do."

"Thank you."

'And I feel sorry.'

Ju Taeyang swallowed his next words.

'Because that path will truly be lonely. My final battlefield will come soon, but you are not...'

Belphegor.

The calamity of another world known as the lord of demons.

'True peace won't come unless we draw him in and kill him.'

"Actually, I was surprised."

At Su-hyeon's words, Ju Taeyang asked.

"About what?"

"About you saying we need to draw the king of Nastrond into this world and kill him."

"Do you think it's reckless?"

"No."

Su-hyeon shook his head.

"Anyway, the apocalypse can't be stopped unless we defeat that being. Drawing in the enemy's head and striking it. It might be the most rational thought."

'...The problem is that bastard is too strong.'

Wasn't it because he couldn't do that that he hadn't seen a clear victory throughout hundreds of playthroughs?

'But this time it might be possible.'

"My final arrangement for you. If that arrangement exists, the possibility of victory exists. I think that is the only way."

"I think so too."

An arrangement that only Ju Taeyang could give, and only Su-hyeon could receive.

With that arrangement, victory was theoretically quite possible.

"I'm sorry for giving you such a heavy burden, Su-hyeon."

"Not at all."

Su-hyeon shook his head and answered.

"With great power comes great responsibility."

"...I like those words."

"...Do you?"

He couldn't bring himself to say it was a quote from the most famous spider-man in the world he was from.

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"A suicide squad."

Hwang Won-jae muttered.

"We're lucky. We almost got hit without knowing anything."

"You're really meticulous. If you hadn't attached a surveillance eye to one of the staff members, we would have had no way of knowing."

Vampire Queen Song Yeonhui chuckled.

"What. Without your ability, it would have been impossible."

Hwang Won-jae crossed his legs the other way.

"It's actually good. This move is favorable for us."

"You're moving as if you've been waiting too long. You, did you deliberately leak it?"

"No way!"

Hwang Won-jae laughed.

"It's not like that, but I did think it could happen."

"And the result is this operation."

"That's right."

Hwang Won-jae planned to throw himself and the Catacomb as bait, and instead use that opportunity to rob an empty house.

Because.

"The cipher has already been decoded. We now know where the [Fragment of the Eroding World] is."

"Right. And that's been causing us trouble."

The Vampire Queen shrugged.

"It happens to be there, making it difficult to figure out how to attack."

"That's why it's a favorable development. If they come divided like this, I can use a strategy of sacrificing my flesh to take the enemy's bones."

Hwang Won-jae continued, shaking his empty whiskey glass.

"I can only say we're lucky about this. This must also be 'His' help."

"It was difficult. Who would have thought it would be under the nuclear power plant complex?"

"It's quite coincidental. This is exactly what they mean by the darkest place being under the lamp."

Nuclear power plant complex.

In this era, more than half of the power supply relied on nuclear power generation.

It had been a long-standing situation.

Since it became difficult to extract and export oil by ship as in the past after the rampage of demonic beasts, each country had no choice but to focus all efforts on nuclear power generation to secure electricity.

And that trend still continued even now when maritime security was somewhat secured.

Gigantic marine demonic beasts periodically attacked ships, and high-level Awakened resources to protect them were limited.

Therefore, considering the transportation costs and time efficiency involved, using oil for power generation was almost a luxury.

'That's why places like the US are such a cheat.'

Song Yeonhui thought.

'Even now, the most powerful forces in continental countries like China and Russia are those that have secured resources.

Even in countries where the central government had collapsed long ago, resources and the capital derived from them were still the most powerful weapons.

'Now this country will end up the same.'

The civilization that humanity had rebuilt with difficulty was facing death.

"The problem was that breaking through that nuclear power plant complex was even more difficult than attacking the B&S Group."

"That's right. From the beginning, not only has it been repeatedly fortified for a long time, but there are almost no factors favorable to us, like civilian casualties or urban warfare."

To maintain civilization on the Korean Peninsula, which originally had few underground resources, both methods were necessary.

First, securing and exporting mana stones and carcass byproducts through an excellent hunter group.

And second, building large-scale nuclear power plant complexes and equipping them with the best defense posture to meet power demands.

Therefore, regardless of what situation arose, at least two units were always stationed to protect the nuclear power plant complex.

And that was not an excessive measure at all.

In fact, there had been numerous cases where huge radioactive leakage incidents occurred at several nuclear power plants that had actually been attacked by Gates opening nearby or intentional attacks by Ma-in, turning the surrounding area into a land of death.

"But it is dangerous."

Song Yeonhui said.

"Radiation is a force that destroys living things at the cellular level from the beginning, right? Even Ma-in and demonic beasts would find it difficult to survive in front of it."

"Right. If an accident happens, both sides could perish. A truly dangerous place has become the battlefield."

But.

"That's why it might have meaning as the final battlefield for 'Him' to descend."

"You're unexpectedly romantic."

"To live in a crazy world, romance is quite an important virtue."

Hwang Won-jae laughed and filled the empty glass with whiskey.

"But I'm glad. The fact that Jeong Su-hyeon is among the enemies I've drawn in by sacrificing my life."

"...That child."

"Jeong Su-hyeon has ruined my plans so many times. Looking back, it's almost nauseating."

Su-hyeon, who had been irritating since the Academy raid incident and the Blood Plaza incident, but wasn't yet truly threatening.

"The Executioner, Rusty Sword, and Little Evil Demon died at his hands. He even defeated the Sword Warrior who had become stronger by becoming a Ma-in with his own hands."

How many humans had Su-hyeon saved in the process?

"And now he's become so strong that even attempting assassination is nearly impossible. It's uncertain whether even you and Asura can kill him."

Therefore, Hwang Won-jae continued.

"When he charges in here as part of the suicide squad, that's the opportunity. With my ability, I can kill him, and he won't run away with me right in front of him."

"But that child's power is dangerous. Can you stop the suicide squad without me and Asura?"

"But if even one of you two is missing, we won't be able to secure the [Fragment of the Eroding World]."

Hwang Won-jae asserted as if it wasn't worth considering.

"Considering his potential, it would be fortunate if it becomes a mutual destruction. We can't bother 'Him'."

Hwang Won-jae's eyes were filled with faith bordering on blind belief.

"In achieving our great work, it's not necessarily essential that I remain alive."

"How noble."

Song Yeonhui tilted her head.

"Are you planning to die?"

"Not particularly. Just that this time, the situation is so dangerous and desperate that I have to bet even my neck as a stake."

The butterfly effect derived from Jeong Su-hyeon's existence had pushed them this far.

That's why he wanted to kill Su-hyeon even at the cost of his own life.

"Therefore, from here on it's a race against time. While the suicide squad suppresses the Catacomb and is drunk with victory."

Hwang Won-jae's finger pointed at Song Yeonhui.

"You and Asura break through the scattered forces of the Execution Force and open the door to Nastrond, and with that, our mission is complete."

"It's a pity."

Song Yeonhui sighed delicately like the flutter of a butterfly's wings.

"Su-hyeon, that child should be killed by my hands. Would he be afraid? Curse? Beg? Shed tears while resolutely preparing for death? I was really curious about that."

"If I fail and don't kill him, wouldn't it be your turn then?"

"Oh my."

Song Yeonhui laughed.

"Is that something I should like?"