Chapter 56

Through the in-ear devices, rapid communication was taking place. Since Han Sang-ah and I were assigned to infiltrate the Refrigerator, Lee Se-eun was supporting us along with the other Hunters so that we could enter the Erosion Zone.

― Compiling the total number of entities detected. The current number of confirmed slimes is 778. Coordinates of discovery….

Hunters were provoking and luring the slimes spread around Bratsk, and in that opening Han Sang-ah and I were to approach the Erosion Zone.

It seemed like a simple plan, but the problem was the sheer number of slimes roaming around Bratsk.

There were seven hundred seventy-eight of them. That was far more than I had imagined. And in this environment, the operator team that Lee Se-eun had hired began to show its worth.

“They’re good enough that I can see why Lee Se-eun would keep them on a regular contract.”

At my words, Han Sang-ah nodded.

Through the in-ear comms the operators provided only the most essential information to each Hunter, guiding their movements and warning them of possible dangers they might encounter.

Seagull, was that what they were called?

“I had operator support back on Gyodong Island too, but...”

“This is a whole different level.”

I usually disliked comparing, but the difference between operators run by the government and those run by a private company was staggering. The public sector and private sector were never on the same tier to begin with.

― Prepare for ingress. You will move on our command in five minutes. Around the target location is predicted to have an estimated 25 slimes. Maximum margin of error is 5.

The instructions came through the in-ear comm. Han Sang-ah and I both took a deep breath. So, it was finally our turn.

― The moment we confirm the two Hunters entering the Erosion Zone, everyone else will withdraw. As you already know, communication inside the Erosion Zone is impossible.

Following the operators’ guidance, we sprinted across the snowy plains of Siberia. The region was cold to begin with, but the influence of the Erosion Zone made it even colder. On top of that, as we drew nearer the chill grew sharper and sharper.

“Damn it.”

I brushed the ice crystals clinging to my eyebrows.

― You are almost there. About five slimes are heading toward the two Hunters.

“Guide them away as much as you can.”

We couldn’t afford to waste strength here. We had no idea what awaited us beyond the Erosion Zone.

― We are doing our best, but around three will be unavoidable.

Considering there were hundreds swarming about, having to face only three felt like something worth bowing in thanks to the operators for.

As predicted, slimes lunged at us.

“We ignore them.”

“Yeah.”

We couldn't waste time fighting them. There were only two of us, but we had the skill to keep running toward the objective while dodging their attacks.

Dodging the lashing tendrils of the slimes, Han Sang-ah and I ran on. The scenery gradually changed. The forest thinned away, and ruined roads and snow-covered abandoned factories came into view.

“We’ve reached Bratsk.”

― Affirmative. Continue straight ahead.

Bratsk was not a particularly large city. Vaulting over ruined factories and dashing past collapsed walls and shattered homes, we arrived at our destination, the residential district.

Not a single person was around. With every breath I could feel my body temperature drop. And all that chill radiated from the enormous hole that loomed before us.

The Erosion Zone of Bratsk, the Refrigerator.

― Enter the Erosion Zone within thirty seconds. Any further delay will only force unnecessary casualties on our allies. Communication within the Erosion Zone is impossible. We wish you good luck then.

Thirty seconds huh. Not even enough time to prepare ourselves. We would have to plunge in immediately. Once we entered, contact would naturally be cut off, and the operators would at once order the Hunters engaged outside to withdraw.

“Han Sang-ah, we’re going in!”

At my words, Han Sang-ah nodded. Now it was either death or survival, nothing in between.

We leapt into the Erosion Zone together.

For a moment my vision went dark.

With a heavy thud, the darkness suddenly blazed with light. Then a voice rang out.

In a chill that felt like it was carving at our flesh, the air before us froze and formed words.

[Welcome to the ballroom.]

[When one acts, the other observes.]

[Two are one. One is two.]

[Without togetherness nothing can be achieved, and you will not be able to meet me.]

What on earth was it saying? Suddenly, a voice rang in my ears.

― Yoo Chan-seok, what are you doing? Don’t move.

It was Han Sang-ah’s voice. But Han Sang-ah was nowhere in sight.

― Right now, there’s a blade at your neck.

I frowned in doubt at her words. What was she talking about? I was standing in a hall like that of a palace. Wide, vast, and empty. Carefully, I lifted my hand toward my neck.

Nothing was visible, yet my fingertip was nicked by something sharp and a trickle of blood ran down.

“Perhaps.”

Was it that I simply couldn't see? I quickly tried to grasp the situation.

“Han Sang-ah, do you see anything else?”

Han Sang-ah answered my question.

― There's a blade at your neck , and wires are strung up around you . The whole space is riddled with traps. Also, three doors connected here have just opened.

I was able to see the door open too.

― From each door, a slime is coming in. But it seems I can’t touch anything. Everything just passes through my body.

Yet I saw nothing of the slimes she spoke of. Roughly, though, I could understand what was happening.

“Hey, it looks like you’re my eyes.”

No danger was visible for me, but I could act. For Han Sang-ah, every danger was visible, but she couldn't act at all.

― …I think I understand.

Unless Han Sang-ah told me, I couldn't know what was happening around me. And though she knew what was happening, she couldn't do anything.

So that was the meaning of “two are one.”

― Still, the slimes are moving very slowly. Compared to those outside, their speed is maybe twenty percent.

I examined the floor after hearing her. Like tiles, clear ice and white ice were laid out in a grid.

Using accumulated experience and instinct, I forced my mind to work and swiftly reached a conclusion.

“Listen carefully. Using my current spot as the origin, use the tiles as coordinates and tell me the locations of the incoming slimes and the dangerous traps. You can do that, right?”

― That’s a good idea. I’ll do my best.

I drew my spear and fixed my eyes on what looked like an empty hall.

“There’s no need to panic. A few mistakes are fine. Just don’t get me killed. I’m too young to live as a debtor.”

― That’s true huh?

First, I had to deal with the blade aimed at my throat.

― No, a bit lower! Yes, it’s fixed there.

When I moved my hand, Han Sang-ah’s warning came a little late. I let my finger get nicked again, then following her guidance I found the mechanism anchoring the blade and smashed it with my spear.

― An axe is falling from above. Step aside, three steps. No, sorry. Three to the left.

I followed her direction and stepped to the left.

“Strange. It should already have fallen on my head with how slow you were.”

― …The falling speed was extremely slow. Just like the slimes, it was about one-fifth the normal speed.

So this space was showing mercy, since she had to give instructions and I had to move.

― Sorry. I should give orders faster.

“Don’t worry, just focus. No time for apologies.”

Wasting time for a single apology in this deadly place was meaningless. Blind man in daylight, that was what this felt like.

My life was in Han Sang-ah’s hands. This was beyond merely not seeing. There was no way for me to perceive the threats at all.

Every attack, every dodge, and every defense had to be made according to her instructions.

“I trust you. Like I said, a few mistakes won’t matter.”

Telling her not to mess up or she’d get me killed would do no good. Pressure ruins even simple tasks after all.

― …Got it. Trap at 3―15. Trigger it and arrows will pour out from holes in the wall.

“So you can see the structure too?”

― Yeah.

She couldn't act, but everything was visible to her.

― 7―8. Step on the button and spears will shoot up from below. Slime positions are 18―5, 31―7, 5―7. The closest slime is swinging a tentacle at you, from left to right, angle seventeen degrees. Step back two squares.

She rattled off words as fast as if she were rapping. And I moved as best I could to match.

“Kghh.”

― Sorry.

Slime attacks and traps grazed me, leaving cuts.

We couldn’t always execute our coordinations perfectly in this crazy space. No one had ever gone through anything like this. Even if everything but me was slowed to a fifth, it was still hard.

It was nothing like a silly three-legged race. The difficulty was far beyond.

“You don’t need to tell me the trap structures. Just keep it to yourself.”

All she had to do was tell me not to go somewhere. Han Sang-ah’s instructions had to be as simple as possible. I cut down on words even as I took wounds.

After repeated mistakes, she and I finally managed to make her directions simpler.

― Two traps. Zero five one three, one two zero eight.

I even had to dredge up from memory the weird way of counting numbers from my army days.

Those numbers meant (05,13) and (12,08) in this vast grid.

― Move to 2―3. After moving, the enemy is positioned at 0315, 2015, 1305.

Slowly, bit by bit, we adapted.

Honestly, my head and body both ached. It was hell.

― One eliminated.

At last, after pouring out everything we had, Han Sang-ah and I managed to eliminate one slime. Of course I couldn’t confirm it myself, but I accepted her word.

After nearly five hours, we finally destroyed all three slimes.

― My head is pounding.

“You too? Same here.”

Just then, I suddenly felt my consciousness pulled away. The vast hall spread beneath my gaze like a map. And where I had been standing, Han Sang-ah now stood.

“Hey, it looks like it’s role reversal time.”

― Seems so.

Now it was me giving the orders, and Han Sang-ah moving by my guidance. I’m gonna go insane at this rate.

This time, five slimes entered.

“Five entered this time. Have fun.”

Even though there were five, their speed was still slow, and since we had somewhat already adapted, it didn’t seem impossible.

― I don’t want to die either.

Don’t worry, I won’t let you. Our roles switched, and we had to repeat that torturous process all over again.

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