I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 85

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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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Episode 85

‘It’s impossible to save everyone.’

It’s an unfortunate story, but even if there’s a secret escape passage, taking all thirty-plus people would be suicide.

Then what needs to be done now is selection and focus.

Naturally, the top priority is the director of this place.

“What the hell is going on here.”

Gobel, who came out of the research lab, asked Robin in an irritated voice.

“Are you the director?”

“Yes, I’m Gobel, the director of this place. Who are you?”

“I’m currently Lieutenant Robin of the Punitive Force. Since there’s no time, I’ll skip the detailed introductions and start with the escape.”

“So you’re that survivor. More importantly, have the Lycans already come?”

“That’s right. Where is the secret escape passage?”

“Go down one floor from here and you’ll find it. But I haven’t finished gathering all the data, damn it.”

Like a true researcher, Gobel bit his lips thinking about the data he couldn’t collect.

“Now isn’t the time to worry about such things. Where does the passage lead to?”

“It should be the stable at the back gate of the village.”

‘Not bad.’

If they can just get horses from the stable, they can escape sufficiently.

“Please prepare the most explosive magic bomb in the research lab right now. We need to blow this place up.”

“Can’t be helped. Bring the one from the warehouse.”

“Understood.”

At Gobel’s command, one researcher went into the warehouse and brought out a magic bomb.

“It was made specifically for blowing up the research facility, so this one should be enough.”

“Is there a separate activation button?”

“Of course. We can’t burn to death along with the magic bomb.”

“Please give it to me. I’ll activate it at the right timing.”

“Hmm, very well.”

Though not entirely pleased, Gobel handed over the activation button since following the soldier’s words was right in this situation.

“Then let’s go in right away. First, I think we need to know the personnel status. Who is directly under you, Director?”

“There’s no one directly under me or anything like that. Everyone just plays a supporting role for what I do.”

At Gobel’s words, Robin’s eyes quietly changed.

“Is that so? Then did you do all the design and construction of the monument yourself, Director?”

“You’re asking something obvious. Who else do you think could create such an incredible circuit besides me?”

At the voice filled with pride, Robin made up his mind.

He would save only one person from this place.

“Understood. Then from now on, I’ll prioritize protecting the director above all else. No one has any complaints, right?”

At Robin’s words, none of the researchers objected or opposed.

Prioritizing the director’s protection was perfectly natural.

“Then we’ll start the escape right away. Please guide us to the passage.”

“Follow me.”

Gobel went down to the lower floor and opened a wardrobe.

It was an unremarkable form with research coats hanging inside.

But the moment he pressed the wall of the wardrobe with his hand, a hidden passage revealed itself.

“First, I’ll go in and check the inside.”

Since it wasn’t a very wide passage, Robin entered alone.

“But Director, can we trust that person? He’s from the Punitive Force.”

“Isn’t it a bit unsettling?”

Murmuring voices could be heard from behind, but Robin steadily examined the inside of the passage.

‘It’s prepared so it won’t collapse from the explosion.’

He didn’t know who made it, but considerable care had been put into it.

“Director! There’s something strange here, could you come take a look for a moment?!”

Robin, who had entered about twenty steps into the passage, called for Gobel.

“Something strange?”

At Robin’s call, Gobel entered the passage without much thought.

“I’ll come along too.”

One researcher followed behind the director.

Since it wasn’t a long distance, Gobel and the researcher quickly reached where Robin was.

“Where is this strange thing?”

“There’s nothing strange. It’s just.”

Robin held up the activation button for the magic bomb he had received from Gobel.

The moment Gobel, who understood the meaning of that action, widened his eyes and tried to speak.

Kwaaaaaaaang!!!!!!

Robin pressed the button without a second’s hesitation.

“Uaaaaaaak!!!”

“Aaaaak!!!!!!”

The researchers’ agonized screams echoing from behind.

That too was brief as the explosion’s flames completely consumed the research lab, making it quiet as death.

Everyone was dead.

“Wh…what just.”

Swoosh.

The moment the researcher who followed Gobel tried to protest while his brain froze.

Robin’s sword cleanly cut the researcher’s throat.

“Please don’t resent me. Taking everyone back was impossible, so this was an unavoidable decision.”

Robin’s voice was simply endlessly cold.

No guilt could be found on his face.

“If you intend to oppose me here, I’ll knock you unconscious and take you with me.”

He threatened, expecting resistance since he had killed all of his colleagues, but the reaction was unexpected.

“Kekek! Kekekekek!”

Gobel burst into mad laughter, and Robin stared at him intently.

“Good! Excellent! I shouldn’t be captured by enemies while taking care of these idiots.”

Gobel spoke as if praising him.

Madness was spinning in his eyes.

“As long as I return alive to the Empire, I won’t forget this favor.”

“Please keep that promise.”

“I always keep my promises. Whether it becomes a favor or revenge.”

“That’s the same for me.”

“We understand each other quite well.”

Gobel looked at Robin’s face, much younger than himself, and raised the corners of his mouth chillingly.

*    *    *

“How terrible.”

Lieutenant Eden, who confirmed the exploded research lab, shook his head.

“Special Task Force Commander, it’s just been confirmed that two people escaped from the village on horseback.”

“The pursuit.”

“Since we heard this from village residents’ testimony, attempting pursuit now would be difficult, though we’ll try.”

“Having few personnel is regrettable.”

Normally, by standard procedure, they should have deployed troops around the area in preparation for the possibility of escape.

However, since there was no certainty, they were moving in small numbers, and the battle was also suddenly decided with insufficient preparation.

“Still, let’s attempt pursuit. If the escapee is a researcher, they won’t be able to move that fast.”

“Understood!”

Eden, who gave the order, alternately looked at the corpses burned to death and the passage.

‘He must have gone in first to reassure them, then detonated the magic bomb.’

As Eden closed his eyes and imagined the situation, there had never been such a cruel yet coldly calculated decision.

‘From a broader perspective, it wasn’t the wrong decision.’

It would be impossible to escape with dozens of researchers.

But handing over the key researchers to the Raikhan Empire would also be unacceptable.

Then there was only one remaining option, and whoever the enemy was had put it into action.

“Ruthless.”

Eden shook his head as he came up from the research lab to the surface.

“Have you finished looking around?”

A man with a sturdy build who had barely managed to turn away the gathered residents.

It was Alpen, now wearing captain’s insignia.

“For now. I don’t know who it was, but they were quite something.”

“I heard. They burned all the researchers along with the research lab.”

“Did you say two people were spotted?”

“That’s correct.”

“We should assume they took only one key researcher with them.”

The puzzle of the situation came together in Eden’s mind.

“Did you request support?”

“Yes, they’ll arrive before sunrise.”

“Then have everyone rest except for those standing guard until they arrive.”

“Yes, I’ll organize shifts for rest.”

Not only Eden but the entire special task force was in a state of extreme fatigue from the intense activity.

“And… Lieutenant Aisa, was it.”

Eden turned his head and called to Aisa, who was standing unsteadily.

“Y-Yes! That’s correct.”

“I didn’t know earlier, but I heard you’re a trainee. Is that right?”

“Th-That’s right!”

Her posture was rigid with military discipline.

In a way, it was natural.

From Lieutenant Eden right in front of her to Captain Alpen beside him, and the dozens of people around them.

They were all vastly superior officers to Aisa.

“Report on what process led you to be in that situation.”

It was an order, not a request.

Aisa gathered her thoughts for a moment, then began her report in a stiffly rigid voice.

“Y-Yes! Around 23:00, despite the late hour, I confirmed Sergeant Jeren leaving the battalion. Feeling suspicious about this…”

From beginning to tail Sergeant Jeren to entering the theater.

And hearing the conversation content and trying to escape but being caught.

She revealed the details thoroughly, and Lieutenant Eden, having heard it all, became interested in one particular part.

“The fact that you were watching for people going out at that late hour means you anticipated this kind of situation would occur?”

A slightly surprised reaction.

If she said yes here, she would certainly receive a good evaluation.

But Lieutenant Aisa couldn’t easily open her mouth.

The truth was, it wasn’t a judgment she had made.

“Well…”

Since Paran had said he would pass the credit to her, lying a little here wouldn’t be any problem.

However, her conscience and beliefs firmly grasped the ankle of that easy decision.

“Hmm?”

“Well… Captain Paran Oclo told me that the hidden enemy would definitely react, so I should be careful.”

In the end, Aisa revealed the truth rather than a lie, and Eden, hearing this, smiled for some unknown reason.

“I didn’t expect Captain Paran’s name to suddenly come up here. How surprising. Ah, then you’re the top graduate?”

“If you’re referring to the entrance exam, that’s correct. But do you know our company commander?”

At Eden’s attitude of seeming to know Paran, Aisa couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked.

“He’s someone I raised, how could I not know him. Haven’t you heard stories about me?”

Someone he raised.

That meant they had worked together until recently, and in Aisa’s mind, the things Paran usually said automatically came to mind.

‘A psychopath who likes to drive people into deadly situations.’

Among other things, a gloomy person who appears like a ghost from nowhere, and so on.

When she heard such words, she thought he would be extremely eccentric and scary-looking, but the person she actually faced was different.

‘He seems gentle and like a good person.’

His face was also handsome, and he was the benefactor who had even saved her life.

It was nearly impossible for Aisa to think badly of Eden.

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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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