By Zephyria ‘If you obsess too much over the Aberrant, the Aberrant’s mind will also look into you.’
‘Those who fight the Aberrant must be careful not to become Aberrant themselves.The rumors about the mercenary-born instructor spread throughout the defense force in just one day.
Most of the stories were grim, saying he imitated Aberrants and broke chairs, or spat in someone’s face and rolled them on the floor, but surprisingly, there weren’t many complaints about not wanting to be taught by a madman.
The first reason was that everyone present was a low-ranking member. They didn’t have enough Hyung-experience, in other words, to argue about a single class with an instructor assigned by the higher-ups.
Another reason was that the classes they received after that commotion were of surprisingly good quality.
After about three hours of training and lectures, everyone left with an ambiguous review of ‘not bad.’
Considering the atmosphere of waiting to see how well he did, it meant that he met their standards to some extent.
“Everyone seemed to like the idea of making a noose with a grappling wire.”
“Their expressions were rotten.”
“The area above his cheekbones moved like this. That’s liking it.”
Mu-hae’s method of using supplies was peculiar. He suggested using noise drones not only to lure enemies away but also to distract them by making them spin around their heads during combat, and to gather Taser bullets with the safety devices removed and attach them to the corpses of the fallen.
He freely suggested things that were too extravagant for mercenaries and too undignified for the defense force to consider, saying that consumables would run out if the battle dragged on or only a few people were stranded.
Any member who raised unfounded objections or insisted on their own way was invariably called to the center of the lecture hall.
Jin Mu-hae would become an Aberrant again and pronounce a death sentence on them using all sorts of methods.
After about four people were subjected to bizarre role-playing, the members’ attitudes became noticeably calmer. Mu-hae didn’t have any research data to back it up, but he had a truckload of cases he had seen and heard himself.
‘That’s desecration of a corpse. It’s dishonoring our comrades.’
‘Report that they died honorably for their comrades. Isn’t that true?’
Mercenaries have no loyalty. Their top priority is to save their own lives, and once their safety is secured, they immediately do whatever makes them money.
Thanks to this, they have a higher mortality rate than defense force members in normal times, but in accidents with a low probability of survival, they often miraculously manage to survive and return alone.
Of course, the purposes of the two professions are different, so it is impossible to unconditionally force the mercenary’s way. So, the method chosen was to pick out only the useful advantages and mix them together like dog food.
The new defense force members were injected with raw tactics that barely crossed the line of ethics.
The two-year veteran, who had a little more experience, stared blankly at Jin Mu-hae, who kept ker-ler-ing with a ‘is this right?’ expression on his face.
The new instructor’s training was 80% hindrance and 20% amazing survival show.
“Oh, right. Central was looking for Jin Mu-hae.”
“What? When?”
“On my way back from getting snacks from the vending machine.”
“…That was 40 minutes ago.”
Mu-hae, who was organizing the training content while keeping his eyes fixed on the pad, raised his head sharply at the unexpected news.
No matter how sudden the assignment was, he was still an instructor temporarily assigned, and he had only been at work for a few days before finally receiving a call from his superior.
Why are they telling me about this important matter now? No matter how crazy Joo-oh is about food, he couldn’t have forgotten the call just because he was munching on a bag of snacks.
“It’s okay. Instructor Jin said he went to the bathroom. Said he ate a lot.”
To make matters worse, thanks to the crude excuse, he became a human who had been shitting for a full 40 minutes. He must have promised to deliver the message himself, which is why they didn’t contact this office.
“I always help Jin Mu-hae.”
“You’re full of it.”
“I’m serious.”
All he does here is eat, hum, and stand in the training area pretending to be an assistant.
Jin Mu-hae glared at the head he wanted to punch, slammed the pad down, and left the room.
If it’s Central, it’s probably the Defense Affairs Department. Thinking so, he hurried his steps, but…
“…We haven’t called for you.”
The official, with a look of disbelief, contacted someone. A moment later, Mu-hae was led to the command room on the upper floor, unexpectedly.
Why did they call me here?
Knock knock. The space he entered with tension was filled with the fragrant smell of coffee.
A space of about 20 pyeong, with a round water stain left on the reception tea table, as if someone had stayed and left.
“Ah, you’ve come.”
Damn it. Walking out from behind the desk was the vice commander who assists the defense force commander.
A middle-aged man who seemed to suit a shirt better than protective gear. Despite his age, he had a sturdy physique, but the hand he shook in greeting had almost no calluses.
Somehow, he was called from the command room, so he received a call from a higher-up than he thought. Mu-hae, who was turning his head, not knowing the reason, ahem, he cleared his throat and gestured to the sofa as if to tell him to sit down.
“I was a little late because I received a call while I was away for a while.”
“It’s okay. We’re just as late in greeting you. I’ve been busy with a lot of things, so I’ve only just confirmed the report.”
It is strange that the vice commander of the defense force is not only meeting a mere temporary instructor in person but also explaining the reason for being late.
It even sounds like an excuse to say that he was busy. On the first day, the treatment Mu-hae received was nothing more or less than a mercenary instructor who had rolled in from somewhere.
Glancing, the vice commander scanned the empty tea table with strange eyes. Taking advantage of the moment when his gaze briefly fell, Mu-hae touched the watery table with his fingertips.
Faintly, there was still warmth, as if someone had been sitting here with a drink until just before.
If he had come ten minutes earlier, he might have met the person who was sitting in this seat first.
“It’s nothing special, but our defense force is facing a difficult problem recently, isn’t it?”
“I’ve heard that.”
“As much as we called Instructor Jin early, we want to say that we have high expectations for Instructor Jin. I had to call you during your busy time.”
I’m grateful that you said that, but I still don’t know what it means. Still, it’s never bad to look good to a high-ranking person. Mu-hae tried to open his fierce eyes and make a good smile.
“If you need anything, feel free to ask. I’ll tell Instructor Choi as well.”
“Thank you. But not that much…”
“Since there’s an implication… no, an expectation, we’ll support you as far as we can reach.”
Muttering the words that came out wrong, the vice commander patted Mu-hae’s shoulder. An implication. Did someone put in their opinion about my work?
Even though there is no point of understanding at all, I know that this is not a bad opportunity as an instructor.
Maybe… this is a chance to cleanly ignore even the few complaints from the defense force members. No matter what crazy things I do, it’s enough to solve the problem the defense force is facing.
The situation helps Mu-hae miraculously. It’s a rare tailwind.
‘I’ll have to roll them more so they can’t stand up for their useless pride.’
While muttering thoughts that would make the defense force members who had fallen twice in the morning lose their minds, Mu-hae smiled faintly with a face that didn’t look harmless at all.
“Are you okay?”
“Damn it.”
One of the defense force members with disheveled hair grumbled and hurried into the shower room.
Only after the sound of water pouring down did fluorescent green paint flow down the smooth tile floor.
That crazy instructor sprayed something strange on people’s faces again. He even made barking noises as if mocking them in front of the juniors, and kept picking on them for no reason.
There have already been five anonymous complaints that the new temporary instructor is excessively violent and forces training that does not fit the group.
I thought the higher-ups would take action by now, but the entire defense force is quiet as if they have never received such complaints.
‘It is not a common case enough to be included in the case studies, but Jägers sometimes leave a tracking mark by spraying secretions on their prey. Jäger’s urine contains a small amount of paralyzing poison, and a unique pheromone that can be detected by Aberrants lasts for about 30 minutes up to 1 kilometer away.’
I admit it’s useful information. But was it necessary to hold a tube the size of an arm in front of my stomach and press it on me?
I felt disgusted and flared up, but I couldn’t bring myself to rush at him. That’s because he’s an instructor, and I’m sure he’s not the kind of person who would just stand there and take it if I rashly swung my arm.
Instructor Jin was a head taller than the well-built defense force members. And what about his solid body that wouldn’t even be affected if you hit him with a chair?
I even heard that the human who is always standing in the corner of the training ground or lecture hall as his assistant is also quite strong.
He lifted a five-section steel cabinet full of things with one hand, and then lightly put it down as if he didn’t know when he made eye contact with others.
“Has Young-chan responded yet?”
As I came out drying my hair with a towel, the junior who followed me made a troubled expression.
The colleague was also insulted by being spat on and humiliated in the face from the first training, but strangely, he didn’t react to the instructor’s provocation any more.
Rather, I heard that he is even changing the composition of the equipment he usually receives. It’s as if he was impressed by the mercenary-style battle that only avoids the immediate crisis and backs away.
He’s a talented person who came to the defense force from Central after a long time, so his cooperation is needed to get out of this shitty situation…
“Damn it. Damn it.”
The defense force in the past few days is not the way I knew it. One rolling stone is disturbing my mind in every way.
The member recalled the instructor’s personal information that he had heard from others before while changing the top he had taken off.
He was a mercenary from the slums. It’s an environment where he would have committed illegal acts several times to survive.
If I dig up and spread some sticky information, wouldn’t even the thick-skinned people reduce the frequency of their antics?
“It’s no use.”
Then, suddenly, an unfamiliar voice spoke. When I turned around, a man with a handsome face was leaning against the wall instead of the junior.
It’s Instructor Jin’s assistant. Another mercenary. His red eyes, as if he had some kind of disease, were staring at the member.
“The B route visit is getting faster. So, I wish you could reduce some of the original interference without Jin Mu-hae knowing.”
The man, who uttered meaningful words as if reading other people’s minds, threw a small, crumpled piece of scrap metal.
The member accepted the object in a daze. Faded gold. Embossed decorations that seemed to be compressed and a crushed lock.
“…”
Ooh. A chilling sensation that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end brushed past my breath.
When I realized it was the handle on the shower room door, the man had disappeared like a ghost.