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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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Chapter 35
The special forces agent dispatched to the academy this time, D.
He was the one who was forced to leave after interrogating the terrorists caught by Karl not long ago.
“Can we really entrust this matter to student Karl Adelheit?”
“He’s just a civilian. It wouldn’t be wise to involve him further.”
He’s a Medal of Honor recipient. Not because I doubted his abilities.
On the contrary, I said that since he had received such a medal, it would not be a great sacrifice.
After all, doesn’t he want to be called a ‘student’ rather than a ‘sergeant’?
However, the higher-ups have already appointed Karl as the head of the Hyzens’ extermination unit and instructed us to cooperate with him.
They even issued an order for assistance from him, stating that since he’s already at the academy, he should be of help.
It was a strange thing. He’s a Medal of Honor recipient, but is he really this good?
He was awarded for saving the lives of his allies. It was for an act of bravery.
Feeling something was amiss, Agent D investigated within his reach.
Karl Adelheit. Who was he exactly and how did he spend his time?
Why did everyone seem to have so much trust in this man?
The bottom line was, they had reason to.
“This is ridiculous. How many times has his unit been declared wiped out and he still survived?”
Karl was an original member of his unit and spent three years on the battlefield.
From reconnaissance to elite troops, he faced all kinds of enemies.
And even in extreme situations where frontline soldiers died or were injured, and newcomers came in, he continued to hold his ground.
Even as vacancies were created by the deaths or injuries of original members and newcomers rushed in to fill the gaps,
Karl Adelheit steadfastly held his position. He continued to fight.
Was he an exceptional commander? No. Was he a staff officer with extraordinary talents? No, not even close.
Was he a brave assault leader or a firefighter in a pinch? That, too, was not appropriate.
He’s never been a man of any particular status or special mission.
Karl was simply a survivor. A veteran who experienced dozens of major and minor battles.
That’s why he knew better than anyone about Luzernes and the ‘Kanfras’ he talked about.
More than any of the senior staff at the Ministry of War, more than any agent of the Ministry of Special Affairs.
And ‘knowing well’ didn’t just stop at a conceptual level.
How to inflict more suffering. How to move freely. And how to fight in a way that instills extreme fear and despair in them.
“Urgh!”
“Crack! Ouch!”
Never engage them, just make sure they’re not running away.
If not, make sure there’s a backup plan other than these.
That was all Agent D was asked by Karl.
I could see from a distance how Karl dealt with the Kanfras.
I could see why he deemed Bungeoppang and hotteok sufficient weapons.
‘Such an effective and certain combat method.’
Of course, there are agents in the special forces who possess such skills when you look for them.
Because they’ve been trained. They need to maximize lethality with minimal force.
But Karl wasn’t part of the special forces. He was just an ordinary soldier.
He received basic training and was immediately sent to the battlefield to fight.
There, he learned. He gained everything. Every combat method and every skilled move.
‘At that level, he must be much stronger in close combat than me.’
He aimed relentlessly for vital spots. He would rip apart weaknesses, even if he had to tear them off.
Once he targeted a weak spot, he wouldn’t let go. He would hang on until the end, relentlessly inflicting fatal wounds.
Saying he didn’t want to see blood on festival day, he truly didn’t see any.
By targeting the respiratory system, he momentarily seized control of the opponent’s body and ravaged it.
He was already filled with excitement and tension from the battle.
With blood rushing fiercely through him, his heart raced and his breathing quickened.
And yet, with just one breath control, complete suppression was possible.
Next, it was merciless, almost cruel, joint destruction.
The Kanfras caught in Karl’s grip all had their arms and legs shattered.
No one is safe. They will all be crawling for the rest of their lives.
‘Extremely simplified movements. Pursuing simplicity while possessing powerful attacks. Can an ordinary soldier really demonstrate such a thing?’
Suddenly, I remember a woman I saw in the interrogation room not long ago.
Rika Adelheit. In fact, I myself knew nothing about her.
Just an ordinary noblewoman. As a peculiar fact, I considered her someone who greatly cherishes her younger brother.
But a meeting with a senior Ministry official soon revealed her true identity.
“You almost died just now. Don’t ever talk to that woman like that again.”
“I can’t disclose details. But… yeah. Let’s just say she’s one of the sharpest daggers in the royal family’s possession. That should be enough for you.”
Listening up to that point, I could immediately deduce her identity.
Special Operations Execution Division. The highest military organization under the royal authority. Specialists in every field.
And since he said ‘the sharpest,’ it means she’s the best among them.
Although I couldn’t find out more due to restricted information, that was enough.
Of course, Rika wouldn’t have taught her brother Karl.
But the talent she possesses could easily manifest in him as well.
In that sense, it was a clear outcome that the Luzernes folks were literally being slaughtered.
“Kirch!”
“Aargh!”
There were less than ten of them, unless dozens of them attacked at the same time.
In such a situation, there was no chance of victory for them to begin with.
Although someone like Karl would likely not be overwhelmed by the numbers, given the circumstances.
Even though they were elves, known for their strong affection for their kin, this went beyond that.
Instincts prevailed. The desire to live, to escape, the longing for survival overflowed.
“Plan B! Plan B!”
The three elves who were still unharmed scattered in different directions.
Watching them, the special forces agents formed teams of two and subdued them one by one.
Then, unexpectedly, something happened.
Phew!—
“Kuk!”
“Cough! Kak!”
Something lightly pops, and two of the agents jump up, coughed violently.
One look at them and it’s clear they’re in a lot of pain. Even though they were trained, that thick smoke was too much for them to handle.
“Ugh!”
Even Agent D involuntarily recoiled in fear at the smoke.
It paralyzes the sense of sight and smell in an instant. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like it.
Damn Kanfras. What the hell did they create!
“Shit! We lost one!”
“What the fuck are the reserves doing! Get him!”
They succeeded in capturing the fleeing elves, but one got away.
Although the reserves were quickly deployed, elven agility surpassed that of humans from the start.
Meanwhile, one fleeing elf headed straight for a booth that happened to have Selena and the others.
* * *
“Sigh….”
Selena sat down on a chair, her face tired.
There were more people than I expected.
I had worried there might be too many ingredients prepared, but it turned out they were insufficient.
Those four who were diligently working there, chopping and pressing, were saying things like, ‘Hey, isn’t this going to be insufficient?’ ‘Wasn’t there anything left over?’ ‘What do we do if it’s not enough?’ ‘I don’t know. Karl. Help….’
‘Did Karl expect this to happen…?’
While I was wondering, amazed by the unexpectedly high popularity,
Suddenly, screams and shouts were heard from behind, and a strange man rushed in like lightning from behind the tent.
Thud! Clang!―
“Ack?!”
Startled, I instinctively stepped back, only to hear a clear command from behind: ‘Get him!’
At that moment, I realized that the man’s ears were peculiar.
One was normal, but the other was elongated. Upon hearing the order to capture him, he paled and hastily attempted to flee.
Acting on impulse, I grabbed the mysterious man’s leg without even realizing it.
“Let go! Let go of me!”
The pursuer frantically drew a dagger from his belt and swung it towards me.
“Aargh!”
My clothes tore, and blood trickled from the wound. In the chaos, I lost my grip on him.
As the bystanders intervene and the man attempted to flee towards the opposite direction.
The front of the booth slid open with a snap, revealing the man who had been chasing him.
“….”
His eyes darted past the dagger the elf was holding, to the bleeding Selena.
In that moment, his rationality faded, and his instincts, which had kept him alive until now, took over.
Ugh―
The elf’s face is instantly crushed. He falls backwards, and Karl is on top of him.
Puck!― Puck!―
Without pause, Karl continued to rain down blows with his fists. Blood splattered in all directions, teeth and flesh scattered.
Even when his screams faded and his body went limp, he didn’t stop.
The person I had known and interacted with had fallen victim to the elf’s blade, bleeding and in pain.
I had to kill. I had to, to save her. I couldn’t let him live. Otherwise, someone else would die again.
“…Karl…!”
I can’t be the only one to survive. I can’t be the only one. I don’t want to be.
Damn it, who do I have to hold and cry to in my dreams again?
I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. How long do I have to cry out to myself, empty and alone?
“Karl!!”
Karl’s fist froze in mid-air at the sound of someone’s sobbing scream.
An elf is crushed beneath me. Special forces agents attempting to restrain me.
Shouts coming from all directions. Four men blocking the front of the booth.
And Selena, sitting next to me, holding my bloodied hand.
“Karl! That’s enough now….”
“Are you okay?”
At that moment, the person who looks scarier than anyone else is Karl himself.
There’s a faint glimmer of fear in his eyes as he asks.
“Are you okay? Are you… alive?”
“I’m fine! I’m fine, so stop now. Stop!”
Finally, Karl slowly lowered his fist.
It was a relief. This time, it wasn’t too late.
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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