The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 107

107. Jung Hyun-soo (1)

“So far, the confirmed death toll in Mangyeong is 778, with 1,521 injured and 312 missing. Over half of the injured are in critical condition. This figure excludes casualties from Bisan-dong, of course.”

The 1st Army commander continued his report to me.

Fewer casualties than expected.

I had anticipated at least four thousand casualties from the forward units during the initial defense.

After all, the enemy’s offensive was likely at its peak in those early stages.

We’ll need to factor in the damage from Bisan-dong to get the complete picture, but the battle in Ilbeon-ga can be considered a significant victory for Mangyeong.

Everything unfolded as intended, according to plan.

The soldiers fought admirably to make it happen.

Now, all that remains is to push into Doan’s main base.

Nevertheless, the war has exacted a tremendous toll.

It’s likely that more than half of the workforce will be permanently disabled, unable to return to their jobs.

In the aftermath of this war, Mangyeong will inevitably struggle.

I walked through the battlefield, observing the makeshift clinic that had been set up on one side.

The sign was precariously hanging on what used to be a veterinary hospital on the first floor.

From within the clinic, the sounds of wailing and groaning were clearly audible.

Since the League’s establishment, the surviving doctors and nurses of Mangyeong had been working tirelessly to treat the injured.

Medical supplies were scarce, but they were doing their best to provide care.

However, despite their best efforts, those with severe injuries were unlikely to survive.

Humans are fragile beings.

They succumb easily to minor wounds, and their capacity for recovery pales in comparison to other animals.

It is because of this weakness that they have developed science and medicine.

Moreover, this was a battlefield, and the facilities were woefully inadequate.

The beds and mattresses where patients were laid had been scavenged from apartments in the area, and even those were worn and dusty.

Perhaps the doctors’ efforts were futile.

Treatment couldn’t truly heal the wounds, and even if some miraculously survived, facing the world with a weakened body would be a daunting task.

A sigh escaped my lips.

‘…Still, we have to provide treatment.’

It was largely for appearances, but demonstrating that treatment was available would help to bolster the soldiers’ morale.

Not only the patients but also the soldiers who had fought in the battle were utterly exhausted.

The war had now reached a temporary standstill.

Doan’s warriors had retreated to Beomgye Station, and our soldiers were in dire need of rest.

I turned to the 1st Army commander and issued an order.

“Deploy the ogres and the 300-strong defense force to the front lines. Grant the remaining troops special rations and time to recuperate.”

“Understood.”

The 300-strong defense force, which had been guarding the walls of Mangyeong, was a reserve unit composed of minors under the age of 15 and the elderly over 70.

This unit, known as the Defense Reserve, was primarily made up of children.

In reality, most of the elderly had perished during the second wave of extreme cold, unable to withstand the harsh conditions, leaving only the children.

The children, who should have been attending kindergarten or elementary school, were now forced to serve as soldiers.

That’s simply the way of the world.

Regardless of age, gender, or physical ability.

Everyone in Mangyeong had to shoulder the burden of labor.

Now, the children of the Defense Reserve would stand guard on the front lines, providing relief for the main force.

The 1st Army commander bowed his head and responded to my order.

“Lord, the Defense Reserve has arrived.”

I turned in the direction the commander indicated.

There, one adult, a few elderly individuals, and 300 children stood in formation.

Most of the children appeared to be around the age of 10. Each of them carried spears and shields.

The unit was organized with simplicity and efficiency in mind.

The children moved in pairs, one holding a shield and the other wielding a dagger.

Based on Choi Myung-joon’s combat training, two children working together could subdue an adult.

The voice of the woman leading the children could be heard.

“Alright, everyone—line up! No talking!”

“Teacher, I need to pee.”

“Hey! Don’t step on my foot!”

“Eek! Eek!”

The leader of the Defense Reserve was a former kindergarten teacher.

The children had innocent expressions and were lined up haphazardly.

“Teacher, where are we going?”

“Teacher—! Teacher—!”

“I need to pee…….”

“Sniff—I’m hungry.”

Holding each other’s hands tightly, they looked around, bewildered.

However, the shields, daggers, and protective gear the children carried created a jarring contrast.

The kindergarten teacher addressed the children.

“Alright, everyone—got it? If you see something moving between buildings or spot a bad person, tell the teacher or grandpa and grandma right away. Got it?”

“Yes—!”

The children answered in unison.

“And never step forward in dangerous situations; always tell the teacher first. Hold your partner’s hand tightly. Don’t go wandering around without telling the teacher. If you’re sick or need to go to the bathroom, always go with your partner, and tell the teacher then too. Can you promise?”

“Yes—! Promise!”

Innocent replies.

Those children likely had no real understanding of what they were supposed to do.

They were simply following the instructions of the adults.

Ultimately, it was my order that had sent those children to the front lines.

I quietly observed the children and then gave an additional order to the commander.

“Also, deploy 100 rear combat troops. You know, the Surisan defense team? The mine-laying squad.”

“……Yes?”

The commander seemed quite taken aback by the unexpected order.

Even though it was only a one-day mission, I was concerned about leaving only children to guard the area.

* * *

While successive victories were being celebrated in Ilbeon-ga, the situation in Bisan-dong was drastically different.

Apartment complexes were ablaze.

Doan continued its relentless offensive, spearheaded by players with fire resistance, and more than 10 buildings had already fallen into Doan’s control.

The sound of burning was incessant, and the screams of people echoed through the air.

Squad leader Jung Hyun-soo, who was in charge of Building 206, pulled the bowstring back until his finger muscles felt like they were about to tear.

The defense line up to the 13th floor of Building 206 had already been breached by the enemy, and now the 14th and 15th floors were their next targets.

Dozens of people from both sides were crammed into the narrow defense line on the 14th-floor staircase.

Locked in a deadly struggle.

Jung Hyun-soo, the leader of Building 206, drew back the bowstring once more.

His arrow was aimed at the warrior who was attempting to pull down the Mangyeong soldier’s shield.

But things didn’t go as planned.

Thwack—! Crack!

Hyun-soo’s bowstring snapped.

As a result, the released bowstring struck Hyun-soo’s right cheek and eye.

“Keuh……!”

He had already fired arrows more than 200 times that day alone.

It was perhaps inevitable that the bowstring would eventually break.

Blood streamed from Hyun-soo’s eye, following his pupil, running down his cheek, and dripping onto the floor.

“Ugh……! Ugh……!”

Hyun-soo gasped for air.

His vision was filled with red.

Through that crimson haze, the soldiers of Mangyeong continued to fight. But soon, the 14th-floor defense line crumbled.

Crash—!

Warriors wielding swords and blunt weapons surged forward, and the soldiers fell one by one as the defense line collapsed.

Even then, Hyun-soo’s vision was impaired. A warrior wielding a monkey wrench charged toward him.

“Eurgh!”

But the boy’s father was quicker.

Thud—!

“Hyun-soo!”

“…….”

Hyun-soo’s father, having taken the warrior’s monkey wrench attack on his back, pushed the warrior away and quickly hoisted Hyun-soo onto his back.

The battle raged on, but Hyun-soo struggled to regain his senses. His father, carrying him on his back, hurried up the stairs.

Then Hyun-soo tugged on his father’s sleeve.

Hyun-soo stubbornly insisted.

“Have to…… fight……. Let…… me down…….”

“What fight! You’re bleeding too much! We don’t have a doctor anymore! You can’t fight anymore! Dad can’t live if I lose you too!”

Hyun-soo’s father was equally resolute.

“Dad……. Da…… dd……. Dad…… please…….”

“Just listen to your dad for once!”

The father’s pace quickened.

17th floor, 18th floor, 19th floor, 20th floor.

The father and son crossed the defense lines, passed the defense garrison, and made their way to the rooftop.

It was as he was passing the 21st floor.

Clang—! Fwoosh—!

An explosion erupted from the lower floors.

A soldier shouted.

“It’s a player……! That monster bastard is here……!!! Aaaaaaack……!!!”

“Cawaaaaack!”

“Keheok! Aaaaaaack!”

The soldiers’ screams echoed throughout the stairwell.

The soldiers were terrified by the screams, and Hyun-soo’s father hesitated for a moment before resuming his ascent.

Finally, the father and son emerged onto the rooftop.

A soldier guarding the area was startled and approached Hyun-soo’s father.

“S, Squad Leader……! Where are you going?!”

“Get out of the way! We’re leaving.”

Hyun-soo’s father pushed aside the soldiers blocking his path and ran toward the bridge connecting the buildings.

But the soldiers stopped him.

“N, No!”

“We need the Squad Leader!”

“Are you saying you’re going to run away, just the two of you?!”

“Get out of the way! I have to save him! If it’s fighting you want, I’ll fight for my son’s share!”

A scuffle broke out between the soldier and Hyun-soo’s father.

The bridge on the rooftop was bustling with Mangyeong soldiers transporting supplies.

In that situation, Hyun-soo’s father’s actions were clearly wrong.

It was a violation of the military law established by the lord.

But to Hyun-soo’s father, his son’s life was more precious than the lord’s command.

That’s why he had to leave.

But to the soldiers, Hyun-soo’s father’s actions were unacceptable.

The soldier pointed his weapon at the boy’s father.

“We need the Squad Leader……!”

“You guys!”

“Everyone! Wants to run away! Who would want to fight here!”

“But we have to fight, don’t we? You know that!”

Building 206.

Sion had assigned soldiers to each building based on pre-existing relationships.

This was intended to foster camaraderie and improve combat effectiveness.

That’s why the boy’s father and the soldiers pointing weapons at him had known each other for a long time.

Since the 1st round.

The soldier shouted, tears welling up in his eyes.

“I know. I know! How miserable you’ve lived……! But you! We’re all the same. There’s no one here who hasn’t lost something!”

“…….”

“Squad Leader is excellent. That’s why the lord chose you. We need the Squad Leader. Put Hyun-soo down.”

“……Can’t.”

“Put him down! Or I’ll arrest you!”

“Can’t!”

Thwack—!

Hyun-soo’s father shoved the Mangyeong soldier aside.

Then he tried to flee across the bridge.

But he was quickly surrounded and apprehended by the soldiers.

The soldiers grabbed the unconscious Hyun-soo and dragged him to the floor, then tied up Hyun-soo’s father, who was struggling.

The soldier shouted at Hyun-soo’s father, who was tied up and lying on the floor.

“Please, get a grip……!”

“Please…… let me go.”

“If you run away from here? What’s there? What’s there! If it’s not Mangyeong! It’s all hell!”

At that moment, a soldier guarding the stairwell shouted.

“Hey! No time to argue! The enemy player has broken through the 20th floor! Hurry!”

Hearing that, the soldier took out handcuffs and secured Hyun-soo’s father’s hands.

“The lord will send reinforcements. Okay?! So please stay still!”

“Kueugh…… Heueueu……!”

“So…… so! We will definitely win here. So stay put!”

Kwaang—!

Just then, the rooftop entrance was engulfed in flames, and the defense line in the area was completely obliterated.

Sparks flew in all directions. Fiery smoke billowed from the rooftop entrance, resembling a chimney.

The abnormally rising fiery smoke.

It was a sign that Doan’s player was approaching.

“…….”

A pure white skeleton player, his entire body ablaze, finally revealed himself on the rooftop.

Blaze…… crack…… crack…….

The Mangyeong soldiers recoiled at the grotesque and terrifying figure.

The burning player raised his chin and surveyed the rooftop.

Then he spoke in a low, monotonous voice.

“It’s meaningless. Just die quickly. You.”

Thud.

The figure slowly advanced toward the Mangyeong soldiers.

(To be continued)