Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 52

 

ep9. Rooting Out the Fake (13)

 

Baek Sa-ra wiped the flowing nosebleed with the back of her hand while lowering her center of gravity.

 

「Delta」 stood up, straightening his broken neck.

 

Despite the visual imbalance between the beautiful woman and the armed man, a tense atmosphere flowed between them.

 

What kind of time had Baek Sa-ra spent to become like that?

 

In my pure awe, 「Delta」 was the first to move.

 

The bastard who came to devour me understood.

 

That to achieve his aforementioned goal, he had to deal with that woman first.

 

「Delta」 lunged forward to catch Baek Sa-ra.

 

Stab- Stab stab-!

 

Baek Sa-ra responded with embroidery-like precision.

 

Baek Sa-ra stabbed her knife into 「Delta」’s shoulder a couple of times as he charged, then retreated.

 

Whether his tendons were severed, 「Delta」’s arms dropped limply downward.

 

But 「Delta」, who felt no pain, left his broken arms alone and swung his legs to kick Baek Sa-ra.

 

Thwack-!

 

Though kicked in the side, Baek Sa-ra endured, rather allowing part of the impact to grab 「Delta」’s leg.

 

Stab stab stab stab stab-!

 

The knife plunged deep into the inside of his knee as well.

 

Baek Sa-ra released that leg and slashed with her knife at the leg 「Delta」 was standing on.

 

Thud-

 

「Delta」 collapsed helplessly.

 

But in the meantime, his shoulder tendons must have regenerated, as 「Delta」 aimed at Baek Sa-ra with the crossbow tied to his wrist.

 

Twang-!

 

The crossbow bolt shot out fiercely.

 

But Baek Sa-ra had already turned her head at the loading sound.

 

The bolt missed, passing through Baek Sa-ra’s hair.

 

It was a failed attack.

 

However, that attempt was enough to make Baek Sa-ra more violent.

 

Crack- Thud-!

 

Baek Sa-ra grabbed 「Delta」’s hair and smashed his face with her knee.

 

Thud-! Thud! Crack-!

 

Hmm, how should I put it.

 

I suddenly became curious about Jae-gyeom’s well-being.

 

Jae-gyeom, you’re okay, right? I’m a little scared.

 

Did the ‘field worker and border crosser’ who left the Management Bureau also get beaten up like this?

 

Thud-!

 

「Delta」, with his face caved in, finally collapsed.

 

Baek Sa-ra pulled out something like shackles, not handcuffs, from under her skirt.

 

Then with swift movements like sorting recyclables, she stepped on 「Delta」’s shoulder to dislocate it.

 

In that state, she tied 「Delta」’s arms behind his back.

 

「Delta」 was bound like a pheasant with clipped wings, unable to stand anymore and writhing on the floor.

 

As the situation concluded, Baek Sa-ra caught her breath and reported calmly.

 

“「Delta」 secured.”

 

-Uh… Right. Good job.

 

Was it just my imagination? Manager Kwon Mu-seop’s voice also sounded a bit disgusted.

 

Baek Sa-ra smiled brightly at me.

 

As if saying proudly, ‘I really saved you this time.’

 

Thank you so much for saving me.

 

The book… I think you don’t necessarily have to return it.

 

Baek Sa-ra, standing on top of 「Delta」, asked Kwon Mu-seop back.

 

“Manager, where is 「Alpha」 right now?”

 

Since she successfully dealt with 「Delta」, was it now 「Alpha」’s turn?

 

-「Alpha」 is currently fleeing. And right now Si-eon is…

 

Just then, I sensed a presence from the direction of the door.

 

Both Baek Sa-ra and I turned our heads simultaneously and discovered it.

 

A massive shadow blocking the doorway.

 

That thing, is it 「Alpha」?

 

The unique intimidating aura emanating from 「Alpha」 made my breath catch.

 

Baek Sa-ra, still not cooled down from the excitement of battle, immediately kicked off the ground.

 

As if to finish it before he could pass through the door, gripping her knife again.

 

-Sara, stop!

 

Manager Kwon Mu-seop’s urgent cry rang out.

 

Baek Sa-ra’s movement wavered for a moment at that.

 

But it was too late to withdraw her arm.

 

Baek Sa-ra’s knife flew straight toward 「Alpha」’s neck.

 

Then, 「Alpha」 caught Baek Sa-ra’s wrist holding the knife.

 

「Alpha」 pulled Baek Sa-ra toward him.

 

In that moment, Baek Sa-ra was helplessly dragged along.

 

The blade’s trajectory changed too easily, and Baek Sa-ra’s body turned, exposing her back.

 

“…!”

 

I was horrified, sensing disaster.

 

But at that moment, I caught sight of long hair swaying ungracefully.

 

Huh?

 

Then 「Alpha」 quickly twisted Baek Sa-ra’s wrist and wrapped his arm around her neck to subdue her.

 

Is that really… 「Alpha」?

 

As I looked at that scene with doubt, a familiar voice came from behind.

 

“Whew, this place is just completely destroyed. Hyung Do-un, are you okay?”

 

The one who then revealed himself was the blonde 「Delta」.

 

It was Kwak Jae-gyeom.

 

“Ugh, that’s really disgusting to look at.”

 

Jae-gyeom looked around the ruined dressing room and grimaced when he spotted 「Delta」.

 

Right, if something that looked exactly like him was tied up in such a miserable state, it would naturally be horrifying.

 

“Do I really look like that? Honestly, aren’t I better looking than that thing?”

 

And in the midst of all this, he was critiquing his doppelganger’s appearance.

 

This guy, he’s really the real Jae-gyeom.

 

Then that 「Alpha」-like guy over there must be…

 

“Since you recognize me, would you please let me go now, Team Leader Cha Si-eon?”

 

Baek Sa-ra said, looking uncomfortable with the thick forearm wrapped around her neck.

 

“Hah…”

 

A long, long sigh poured from my lungs.

 

That wasn’t 「Alpha」 but Cha Si-eon.

 

Realizing that, the tension released and my strength drained away.

 

When Baek Sa-ra tapped out, Cha Si-eon obediently released his arm.

 

Baek Sa-ra lost her balance and fell with a thud, and Cha Si-eon extended his hand to help her up again.

 

But for some reason, Cha Si-eon’s gaze was directed at me, not Baek Sa-ra.

 

When I stared back blankly, not understanding, Cha Si-eon spoke in his usual calm tone.

 

“The Response Team also places significant emphasis on anti-personnel tactics.”

 

What is he suddenly talking about?

 

“As you can see, we’re not lacking compared to the Exploration Team.”

 

“…?”

 

I was bewildered, wondering what he expected me to do, when something suddenly came to mind.

 

Jae-gyeom had mentioned this before.

 

That Cha Si-eon had been quite hurt in his pride when I chose Baek Sa-ra as my supervising instructor.

 

I realized what Cha Si-eon was trying to appeal for.

 

But so what, why should I care?

 

Since there was nothing to think about regarding this matter, I answered firmly once again.

 

“I still prefer Ms. Baek Sa-ra.”

 

* * *

 

When I came out of the dressing room, the performance hall had been completely destroyed by the various members of Response Team 3.

 

The incomplete “Fake Humans” that had been annihilated.

 

“Alpha” that had managed to escape.

 

Still, they hadn’t destroyed the core of the “National Theater,” so it would regenerate soon as time passed.

 

However, in this state, the “National Theater” couldn’t create “Fake Humans” like before.

 

So Choi Sang-eun and I, who had stayed in the Special Zone too long, came out first using the “Fake Humans,” along with the injured Baek Sa-ra.

 

The remaining people would escape under Response Team 3’s command through the hidden escape route, “The Circulating Library.”

 

The time it took for Response Team 3 to escape with the citizens from “The Circulating Library” was 29 hours and 11 minutes.

 

Thanks to getting out in just over a day, Cha Si-eon and I sat face to face three days after I had emerged from the “National Theater.”

 

“The higher-ups are expressing concern regarding Mr. Seo Do-un’s excessively long stay in the Special Zone.”

 

Cha Si-eon said as soon as he sat down.

 

“While it’s within the regulatory safety line, you must be careful not to make contact with the Special Zone for the next two weeks.”

 

I wish that were up to me.

 

“What happens if I do make contact?”

 

“If you’re curious, try it yourself.”

 

And for some reason, Team Leader Cha was more irritable than usual.

 

Was this due to fatigue from breaking through the Special Zone with the citizens, or because he’d been repeatedly passed over for the instructor position?

 

It was probably the latter, but I should just think it’s the former.

 

“Also, the fact that ‘Delta’ went to Mr. Seo Do-un when cornered is interpreted as being for the purpose of obtaining data.”

 

“Don’t tell me, to create a ‘Fake Human’ exactly like me….”

 

“What the ‘National Theater’ wants are strong specimens. Therefore, it couldn’t have been targeting Mr. Seo Do-un, and was likely an attempt to update information on me or Kwak Jae-gyeom.”

 

Just wait and see, I’ll become stronger.

 

“For reference, the ‘Delta’ that Baek Sa-ra captured has been destroyed. It appears the specimen stopped its activities on its own when it couldn’t break free from its restraints, and when the ‘National Theater’ recovers its full function, a specimen cloned from Kwak Jae-gyeom is expected to be reborn.”

 

It really never ends.

 

Since it comes after “Delta,” will the newly created specimen be called “Epsilon”?

 

Just thinking about it is sickening.

 

What’s worse, these things have been spotted in other Special Zones too, so I’m scared we might encounter them again.

 

“Lastly, the mastermind who was controlling the contaminated individual Kim Hae-seong is currently being tracked.”

 

Kim Hae-seong’s mastermind.

 

-Hyung-nim says he’s going to kill you.

 

-He says he’ll kill you by any means necessary. He says he’ll never leave you alone….

 

The one who had poured sharp malice toward me.

 

-Hey, don’t you remember oppa’s voice?

 

-You really did a thorough job with your identity laundering, you monster.

 

The one who had spoken sarcastically and unpleasantly to Baek Sa-ra.

 

The owner of that voice heard from the other end of the phone.

 

The culprit who had caused trouble by creating an auction house in the “National Theater.”

 

“Do those contaminated individuals operate like criminal organizations in the Special Zone?”

 

Contaminated individuals are people who underwent physical transformation due to the influence of the Special Zone.

 

I had understood this as a disaster like radiation exposure.

 

But seeing Kim Hae-seong turned my thinking upside down.

 

People who wielded their contaminated traits as power instead, using them to build influence in the lawless zone that is the Special Zone.

 

This was the new concept of contaminated individuals that Kim Hae-seong had taught me.

 

“There are people who adapted better to the Special Zone environment than to reality. Such people gathered in the Special Zone and their numbers gradually grew, forming factions and organizations. Kim Hae-seong’s group is one such type.”

 

“They live in the Special Zone?”

 

How is that possible?

 

The Special Zones I had experienced so far were living hells where survival itself was desperate.

 

“The places where contaminated individuals gather are mainly Type 2 Special Zones. Clear hostile acts toward humans are a characteristic of Type 1 Special Zones, while Type 2 are relatively friendly.”

 

So Type 2 is somewhat livable?

 

Livable enough to think it’s better than reality?

 

“That’s why there are quite a few contaminated individuals in Type 2 Special Zones who claim those areas as their territory.”

 

“Isn’t that problematic?”

 

“Of course it’s not without problems.”

 

“But you’re leaving it alone due to lack of personnel?”

 

Cha Si-eon was silent for a moment.

 

I must have hit the mark.

 

“First, there’s no legal basis to order their eviction. Since Special Zones are not South Korean territory….”

 

Well, well.

 

“The scale of contaminated individuals who have established themselves in Special Zones is already considerable, and there are valid aspects to their rights claims, so we’re avoiding unnecessary friction through agreements.”

 

“Agreements?”

 

“The Management Bureau agreed not to arrest contaminated individuals without clear criminal charges, and the contaminated individuals agreed not to reveal anything about the Special Zones to the outside world.”

 

Right, these are the people who can’t even rescue citizens lost in Special Zones.

 

They wouldn’t have the capacity to deal with people who’ve settled down there too.

 

And in such neglect, dangerous individuals beyond specifications grow.

 

-Hyung-nim says he’s going to kill you.

 

Kim Hae-seong’s words came to mind again.

 

Thinking that a dangerous individual who controls the game in Special Zones was targeting me made me uneasy.

 

I thought I had unexpectedly gained a troublesome enemy.

 

But I was mistaken.

 

And I was definitely underestimating the Management Bureau.

 

To cut to the conclusion, the very next day.

 

I received that bastard’s mugshot.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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