Chapter 63

…No way.

But it was far too obvious.

It was because Kwak Hanmuk’s gaze, after meeting mine, shifted toward Dominic and then returned to me.

‘Captain Kwak….’

He was the last person I expected.

‘Captain Kwak!?’

I barely managed to stop myself from jumping up in shock.

When I clenched my fist tightly, Dominic’s laughter rang out once again.

“Were you surprised? There is no need to be overly shocked. He is someone of a lower level than you, Roasted Chestnut.”

‘No, then how can he see Dominic, sir!?’

I waited anxiously, hoping he would continue.

But Dominic did not say anything more and simply wandered around on my forearm as if teasing me.

After settling onto the back of my hand, Dominic looked at me while his body gently wobbled.

It was as if he was telling me that if I wanted to know his story, I should move somewhere quiet on my own.

But being alone with Dominic would only be possible after entering Sla2Plate.

I barely managed to tear my gaze away from Dominic.

Since we were in the middle of a briefing, I couldn’t act too strangely.

‘Dominic-ssi. Please tell me the rest quickly.’

I suppressed the urge to squeeze the slime tightly and shake him around while focusing on the briefing, but countless thoughts continued racing through my head.

Kwak Hanmuk’s gaze, which kept alternating between me and Dominic, also contributed to my distraction, so I had to put in a tremendous amount of effort just to properly listen.

“…The Adaptee who will enter alongside you is Lieutenant Won Taebeom from Field Team 2 of the Field Response Headquarters. He has entered trials multiple times while teamed with Captain Mo Haein, and he has also previously formed a team with Captain Kwak Hanmuk.”

Lieutenant Won Taebeom was someone I knew.

I had even played together with him in the Archive game. He was highly skilled, quiet, and the type of person who could keep secrets well.

In many ways, he was the most suitable personnel assignment for entering this trial together with the Special Mission Team.

“He is also an infected Adaptee of the BT-DFH virus. However, his infection level is low, and he is able to maintain a clear state of mind consistently, so there are no concerns regarding that.”

Won Taebeom’s appearance had changed slightly due to the infection, but compared to Je Hyun-oh and other Adaptees, the difference was minimal.

I listened carefully to Samra’s explanation while recalling the Won Taebeom I had seen in the pixel graphics.

“In Lieutenant Won Taebeom’s case, he will stop his current mission and join the entry into <Slay to Plate>, so he is expected to arrive at the incubation site the latest.”

I was in no position to complain. I should be grateful that he was coming at all.

‘Especially since it’s a mission where he has to enter together with Lieutenant Colonel Je.’

Je Hyun-oh had proudly held the number one spot for several years among the superiors that Adaptees from the Trial Response Agency least wanted to enter trials with.

I felt endless gratitude toward Won Taebeom.

And finally, when the briefing ended.

I tried to find even a little time to speak with Dominic, but there simply wasn’t any opportunity.

Even if I said I was going to the bathroom, it seemed like soldiers would follow me.

With no other choice, I carried my anxious feelings with me and moved to the incubation site of Sla2Plate.

The incubation site of Sla2Plate was Dosan Park in Gangnam.

I had heard that a meteorite had caused chaos after falling into one of the most valuable areas of land, and after seeing the location, I understood why.

‘It really is right in the middle of Gangnam.’

When we arrived, the entire surrounding area, including Dosan Park, had been placed under a complete access restriction.

Thanks to that, we were able to get out of the vehicle in an empty area and move into the park.

The Sla2Plate meteorite had fallen between the trees.

All the nearby trees had fallen outward in a circle around the small meteorite at the center, creating a strange sight.

It looked almost as if the meteorite’s location was being emphasized.

Surrounded by soldiers, I crouched down alone beside the meteorite.

I stared blankly at the meteorite, which was about the size of my palm.

The Sla2Plate meteorite, with its red base mixed with white streaks, almost looked like fresh beef with marbling at first glance.

‘Someone with bad eyesight might have picked it up and grilled it in a frying pan.’

While I was thinking that it looked delicious, Dominic, who had moved onto the back of my hand, examined the meteorite with interest.

“Is this the entrance to the trial you mentioned, Roasted Chestnut?”

I glanced around.

The soldiers surrounding me stood at a distance, as if forming a perimeter.

A short whisper probably wouldn’t be heard.

“Yes, Dominic-ssi. If you touch this, you will be transported. Including the people around you.”

I quickly explained because I was worried Dominic might touch the meteorite.

Sla2Plate required a set number of people before entry was possible, so simply touching it wouldn’t immediately transport us. Still, since the person in question was Dominic, I couldn’t help but worry.

Dominic calmly answered while standing on my hand.

“I see. I can definitely feel an unfamiliar quality that does not belong to your planet, Roasted Chestnut.”

We spent some time looking over the meteorite together when a loud voice suddenly called out.

“Goyo!”

I jumped up and turned around.

Kwak Hanmuk and Mo Haein had arrived.

“Captains!”

I quickly placed Dominic on my shoulder and ran toward them.

I approached them happily, but my eyes widened.

Both of them looked like they had been rolling around somewhere. Their uniforms were a mess.

It seemed capturing the criminal had not been an easy task.

As I stared at them in surprise, Kwak Hanmuk suddenly rushed toward me and stopped right in front of my face.

He looked down at me.

His expression was that of someone who had too many things to say and didn’t know where to begin.

“Goyo, you….”

Kwak Hanmuk started to speak, but then flinched and shifted his gaze to the side.

He was obviously looking at Dominic, who was enjoying the middle of the day at the park while sitting on my shoulder.

In the meantime, Mo Haein approached.

Her face was flushed with emotional excitement as she looked up at me.

She grabbed my forearm tightly.

It hurt, but I couldn’t say anything and simply let her hold on.

Mo Haein soon let out a long breath. After regaining her composure with one breath, she called out to me.

“Trainee.”

“Yes…?”

“Let’s talk after we enter Sla2Plate.”

“Yes….”

Both Mo Haein and Kwak Hanmuk probably wanted to question me immediately.

But there were too many Trial Response Agency soldiers around us.

I bowed my head first.

“Thank you for coming, Captains. Because of me, you entered a trial right after finishing your mission….”

“Why would that be because of you, Goyo?”

Kwak Hanmuk cut off my words.

“That’s right. It’s not your fault, Trainee.”

Mo Haein quietly added after Kwak Hanmuk’s words.

“From the beginning, it was the Trial Response Agency that forced a Trainee into a one-month deadline.”

Mo Haein’s words made me feel strange. I awkwardly thanked them again.

“Even so… thank you so much. Are you two okay, Captains?”

Mo Haein frowned.

“I’m fine. My clothes are just a little dirty.”

Judging from her expression, it seemed like they had failed to capture the wanted criminal they were chasing.

‘Was it a smuggler?’

People who targeted trial items were always troublesome.

I was thinking about the most infamous criminal organization among them when—

A trailer carrying a container and several vehicles stopped at the entrance of Dosan Park.

Je Hyun-oh had arrived.

Thanks to his fast trial clear, I had been able to separate from Ham Jiwol, so I went to greet him with a happy heart.

The quiet park entrance, kept empty due to strict security control, quickly became packed with container trucks and vehicles surrounding them.

Dozens of soldiers wearing dark blue uniforms poured out of small SUV-style tactical vehicles.

They all immediately drew their weapons and aimed them at the container.

One soldier cautiously approached the container and opened the door.

From the darkness inside, the sound of someone walking out could be heard.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Unlike the surroundings, which were filled with extreme tension, the footsteps coming from inside the container were relaxed.

A man wearing sleek goggles and a gas mask appeared under the bright sunlight.

Dressed entirely in black, he idly clicked his metal hand.

It was nothing more than a habitual movement, but the soldiers surrounding him became even more tense.

‘Is it really necessary to go this far?’

Je Hyun-oh had no interest in ordinary humans.

The only things that moved him were trials and Adaptees.

Even if the soldiers fired bullets at him right here, Je Hyun-oh would not show any intention of attacking.

At most, he would find it slightly annoying, like insects flying around him.

While I thought the level of caution against Je Hyun-oh, who had never harmed civilians, was excessive, I also understood the Trial Response Agency’s position of needing to prepare for the worst.

If he, an infected Adaptee, lost control of himself, immediate execution was the rule.

‘Still, they could at least let him travel normally.’

Seeing him transported in a container like cargo bothered me.

At this rate, he only had the rank of lieutenant colonel, but he was being treated no differently from a serious criminal.

I approached Je Hyun-oh with a great deal of dissatisfaction.

The soldiers slightly loosened their formation and made a path for me.

“Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh, you’re here.”

Je Hyun-oh slowly turned his head.

The moment he noticed me, a light flashed on his goggles.

The exclamation marks appeared, and he gestured toward me.

When I cautiously approached, he placed me in front of himself and silently examined me.

While he carefully checked me from head to toe, I simply stood there awkwardly.

Then Je Hyun-oh replaced one of his metal hands with the crow glove and grabbed the top of my head.

“Lieutenant C-Colonel…?”

He forcibly spun me around.

I stood in front of Je Hyun-oh and spun around about three times before he finally let go.

After finishing his surprisingly thorough inspection, Je Hyun-oh released my head and walked into the park as if satisfied with himself.

‘What was that?’

Left standing there alone, I stared after him in confusion before noticing a man getting out of a vehicle behind him.

He was enormous, wearing a Trial Response Agency uniform.

His body, made of thick and solid muscles, looked like a shield.

His grayish-brown skin, a color difficult for ordinary humans to have, was proof that he was an infected Adaptee.

I quickly greeted him.

“I’m Special Mission Team Trainee Han Goyo.”

The man standing in front of me spoke in a blunt voice.

“I’m Lieutenant Won Taebeom from Field Team 2.”

I wanted to say something more, but Won Taebeom immediately headed toward the park.

I hurriedly followed.

Mo Haein and Kwak Hanmuk, who had been waiting near the meteorite, gave Je Hyun-oh a formal salute.

Seeing that, I realized my mistake.

A Trainee who had only enlisted one month ago had failed to salute a distant superior officer of the lieutenant colonel rank.

The captains didn’t normally act this formally either, but today, with so many soldiers watching, it felt like they were intentionally maintaining proper etiquette.

I hurried over beside the captains and saluted as well.

I had never actually saluted before, so it was probably awkward, but my intention was simply to match the atmosphere.

Seeing my salute, Je Hyun-oh displayed an emoticon on his goggles.

“Pfft….”

Kwak Hanmuk couldn’t hold it in and laughed out loud.

Even Mo Haein was quietly laughing.

The only one who didn’t laugh and remained expressionless was Won Taebeom.

‘Was it really that strange?’

I awkwardly lowered the hand I had saluted with.

Mo Haein smiled and spoke to me.

“I’ll teach you properly next time.”

Then, after briefly exchanging a look with Lieutenant Won Taebeom, she pressed her earpiece and reported to Samra.

“Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh, Lieutenant Won Taebeom has joined. We’ll proceed with entry.”

She placed her hand on the meteorite.

The world became stained with fluorescent colors and began to collapse, and just as the five of us were about to enter—

“…!”

Everyone on the Special Mission Team widened their eyes.

Won Taebeom had been pushed out of the entry area.

As if the required number of people had already been exceeded.

He looked at us in confusion, but the entry process had already begun.

I entered the trial.

A cheerful melody rang out.

A selection window appeared on the black screen.

After choosing a class, a bright electronic sound played, and the screen changed.

A small wooden building that looked old enough to collapse at any moment.

The surroundings were tangled with bushes and weeds, no different from a jungle.

Standing in front of the crumbling building, I was wearing denim overalls and a shirt.

Text appeared before my eyes.

With a popping sound, a rusty sickle and a shovel appeared, one in each hand.

I stood there in confusion, holding the tools.

Then I came to my senses at the sound of a voice.

“Roasted Chestnut, I chose the Mage class.”

The slime sparkled brightly with delight.

The one who pushed out Won Taebeom and entered Sla2Plate was none other than….

Dominic.