Chapter 165 ·Death Variable

-The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Red Hand wants war.

To ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍some people, the conclusion that flashed through both of their minds might have sounded rather absurd.

Certainly, ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Red Hand was an anti-government guerrilla organization that sought to overturn a world rotting away under the evils of militarism and the like.

But ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍realistically, no sane person believed the revolution they longed for could actually succeed.

If ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍such a person existed, they would probably fall into one of two categories.

Either ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they were being threatened by Red Hand soldiers.

Or something was wrong with their head.

According to official and unofficial records compiled by the Human Composite State, the population was approaching two trillion.

The Red Hand, on the other hand?

According to estimates from the Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of National Defense, its armed strength numbered approximately 500,000 to 700,000.

Unless they raised every citizen as a soldier like ancient Sparta once had, they were estimated to possess a population of roughly 15 million to 50 million at most.

After all, an army was, by its very nature, a group that only consumed resources.

‘It's certainly not a small number. But…….’

How did that compare to two trillion?

The comparison itself became meaningless.

Even if they somehow possessed a decisive weapon with overwhelming firepower—something akin to nuclear weapons during the Cold War—and bombarded every Ministry of National Defense stronghold...

Would the Human Composite State's other planets acknowledge them?

‘Of course not.’

Even if the Federal Army were annihilated, wiping it out completely would remain impossible, even if miracle upon miracle occurred.

Nor was that all.

Each planet's Defense Force would mobilize.

And the worst—and most likely—future would be the surviving military factions splintering into warlords, followed by an invasion from the Holy Galactic Empire.

“No one in their right mind would start such a war. But…….”

“They aren't in their right minds.”

Jin Crow answered Regcom Ging's words.

Both men stared toward the towering trees and skyscrapers of the Pure Land.

Yet what they saw was not the scenery.

It was the future reduced to ashes.

“But…….”

It was something many people misunderstood.

The Red Hand's goal was not to stand at the top.

It was simply...

Destruction.

“The Red Hand wants the current system to collapse.”

And the means to achieve that would be war.

There were many reasons why they believed so.

But the most decisive was the Black Iron they had stolen.

Had they stolen it simply for money?

Hardly.

How could they possibly dispose of such an enormous quantity of strategic material within a short period?

Even if they sold it to another terrorist organization, there was no group other than the Red Hand capable of accepting that volume.

Sell it to the Empire?

The Empire already possessed stable Black Iron suppliers.

And the frontier margraves on the borders would never collude with the enemy merely to obtain a handful of Black Iron.

“What a mess.”

“A complete mess.”

The two men spoke almost simultaneously.

Then they pushed thoughts of the Red Hand out of their minds.

There was no point worrying over something they couldn't resolve.

More importantly, the Red Hand had crossed a point of no return with this incident.

No.

More accurately...

They had crossed that line long ago.

This time, they had simply slammed the accelerator all the way down.

“Since they've stolen strategic materials... there'll probably be a large-scale suppression campaign before long.”

“So much for the frontline inspection. Tch.”

“The frightening part is that you were still planning to go.”

Regcom Ging let out a dry laugh as he looked at Jin Crow in disbelief.

But Jin Crow had been completely serious.

What he had gained was one thing.

What he had lost was another.

There was no need for it to be Planet Ju.

But realistically, after an instructor had gone through something like this, would the Central Special-duty Officer Academy ever approve another deployment?

Even if Ideale approved it, the Ministry of National Defense would most likely reject it.

A brief silence settled between the two men.

It was Jin Crow who broke it first.

“What happened to Governor Olga?”

His question was entirely reasonable.

In the original story, she had only been mentioned by name.

Even then, she had only been a Quad Gear.

But now...

Too many things had changed.

Above all...

There was the horrifying prophecy she had spoken.

“……Even I don't know very much.”

Regcom Ging smiled bitterly before placing another cigarette between his lips.

Then he answered briefly.

“One year ago, we received intelligence concerning an Immortal-rank High Priest of the Church of Cosmic Truth. At the time, the only Quad Gear on Planet Ju were Olga and myself. I happened to be away on Governor-General's Office business.”

An Immortal-rank High Priest possessed firepower comparable to that of a Quad Gear Special-duty Officer.

“She moved personally. By the time I'd finished my duties and returned to Planet Ju, she'd already been missing for a month.”

Naturally, Regcom Ging mobilized every Security Division unit to search for her whereabouts.

If she had died...

He intended to recover at least her body.

Yet despite his efforts, despite raiding every Church of Cosmic Truth base while risking the loss of their entire intelligence network...

Another month passed without a single clue.

“Just as I was about to request support from the Ministry of National Defense, fully prepared to wipe them out if necessary... I found Olga in my office at dawn after everyone else had gone home.”

At the time, she looked like a corpse.

Her once vibrant skin had turned deathly pale.

Every fingernail had been shattered.

Her always lustrous blue hair had become dry, stiff, and matted with blood.

“Her condition was critical. But what truly shocked me was the Psionic energy leaking uncontrollably in every direction.”

“It was unmistakably... that of a Penta Gear.”

But it was incomplete.

It was as though an imperfect vessel had been forcibly filled with water until it overflowed...

And was now on the verge of shattering.

Realizing something was terribly wrong, Regcom Ging secretly transferred her to the medical ward of a nearby Safe House with the assistance of the Security Division.

Another week passed with her unconscious.

When she finally woke...

The first thing she uttered was—

“Hliðskjálf.”

After that...

It became a living hell.

Her mind was no longer intact.

In the end, Regcom Ging had no choice but to imprison both the woman he loved and his superior in the underground confinement chamber beneath the Governor-General's Office.

No...

It had been her own wish.

She told him to awaken her someday...

When she was needed.

“……She won't live much longer. The drugs keeping her conscious have already exceeded the lethal dose.”

“……”

Jin Crow silently placed a cigarette between his lips.

Neither of them said it aloud.

But they both roughly understood her situation.

...She had seen the future.

And now she was paying the price.

‘My death......’

As the thought lingered in his mind, Jin Crow slowly reached out to light the tip of his cigarette.

“Take care. If we meet again, I hope it won't be because of something like this.”

“You're leaving already? How cold.”

“The instructor's return has already been delayed, Olga.”

“So what? Honestly, you're just as stiff as ever. Anyway, I'll come over tonight, so take a shower.”

“……Hm? Why?”

Ignoring the curious stares around them, Jin Crow left behind the Governor and Vice Governor chatting together and boarded the transport ship.

Originally, he had planned to return by passenger ship.

But given the circumstances, Regcom Ging had arranged different transportation for him.

“Instructor, please get some rest.”

“Very well.”

Thanks to that, Jin Crow and the Military Police officers were able to return safely to the academy in accommodations that, while not as luxurious as a passenger ship, were still quite comfortable.

Although it had been a harsh battlefield, everyone had survived.

As a result, the Military Police officers looked remarkably cheerful.

“……Hmph. That fucking bitch. I'll tear her apart someday. Whip play? That's way too rough.”

Naturally...

There was one exception.

Obia Timist muttered those words with a smile overflowing with killing intent.

Across her body remained crimson whip marks left by Staff Sergeant Kim Min.

Of course, they looked like little more than red streaks now because she had already received treatment.

Apparently, when she had first been brought in...

Her condition had been utterly horrific.

‘It's not strange for her to grind her teeth over it.’

She had probably lived her entire life as a predator.

Having her pride crushed like that couldn't have been easy.

“Sniff... Instructor, please get revenge for me.”

“Tch.”

Naturally...

It wasn't his concern.

Leaving behind Obia Timist, who dramatically smeared the alcohol she had been drinking across her cheek while pretending to cry, Jin Crow entered his room and sat down.

“Phew.”

He was, in the end, only a supporting character.

Now that Baek Hwi-young, the true protagonist of this story, had finally obtained his weapon...

Things should become easier from here.

...The frightening part was that they might not.

‘He should've returned on his own by now.’

He sincerely hoped so.

What was the point of obtaining Gae Assail?

If Baek Hwi-young got expelled from the academy afterward, that would only complicate matters further.

‘There was quite a lot to gain from this mission.’

But most of it...

If he said it didn't leave a bad taste in his mouth, he'd be lying.

Jin Crow's past.

His connection to Hound.

The Red Hand's plans.

Governor Olga's prophecy.

‘It's a field full of chicken ribs.’

No.

Perhaps that expression wasn't quite right.

All of it was necessary information.

It was simply...

Troublesome.

And above all else, there was one thing he absolutely couldn't ignore.

His own death.

‘So I'm destined to die.’

That future had been seen by someone who had ascended to Penta Gear despite already being broken.

Olga had no reason to harbor any ill will toward him.

He had no choice but to believe her.

Unable to hold it back any longer, a bitter smile escaped his lips as he quietly murmured.

“A Death Variable.”

Olga Tristina had told him.

That he absolutely had to find a way to survive.

Which meant...

There had to be a way to survive.

“……I won't die so easily. Absolutely not.”

Whether he returned to modern Earth...

Or failed to.

Whether he fought the North Korean forces that had launched the coup...

Or the countless madmen and Creatures scattered throughout the Human Composite State.

As he reflected upon the one goal he had nearly forgotten while constantly running for his life, he quietly muttered.

“Discharge.”

That was his goal.

And somehow...

He would survive and enjoy the rest of his life.

Thinking that, Jin Crow placed one of life's utterly unnecessary essential nutrients between his lips and lit it.

Hiss.

As thick cigarette smoke twisted through the air, mirroring the turmoil in his heart—

“Hic. Instructor, what are you doing in there? Are you eating something delicious?”

Ignoring Obia knocking on the door while whining drunkenly, he leaned back into the chair and closed his eyes.

Hoping that the next time he opened them...

He would already be back at the Central Special-duty Officer Academy.

Meanwhile, at that same time.

“Attention.”

“……”

“At ease.”

“……”

“Down.”

“……Get down!”

On one side of the platform returning from Planet Sirt to Sigma Satellite City, Baek Hwi-young was doing push-up position punishment alongside a group of cadets.

“You're a whole day late returning? You mixed up the return date? And even dragged first-years into it too......”

The Military Police officers responsible for supervising cadet discipline could only issue warnings.

At worst, they could hand cadets over to the academy.

Punishments like this would normally cause jurisdictional conflicts between the Military Police Battalion and the academy, making them impossible.

Yet despite knowing that fact perfectly well, every cadet silently rolled their eyes while faithfully carrying out the punishment.

“You were late because you were drinking? Does that even make sense? Get your heads straight!”

The reason was simple.

The one coldly scolding them wasn't a Military Police officer.

He was an academy instructor.

And unlike his usual reputation...

His face was frighteningly cold and exhausted.

“Hah. What a sight.”

Brown hair.

Brown eyes.

Assistant Instructor Ginatio.

Normally well known for his warm and kind demeanor.

Yet contrary to his reputation, he bit his lip with an icy expression before muttering while looking over the cadets with deeply exhausted eyes.

“Damn it. This is all because Instructor Crow isn't here......”

Every cadet present thought exactly the same thing.

Just what had happened to make someone change so much?

Of course...

As Ginatio looked over them, he was thinking about something entirely different.

‘Which one should I make my teaching assistant? If I keep doing everything by myself, I'll die. I can't become the first instructor to literally work himself to death.’

...That, in its own way, was quite a terrifying thought.

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