“Shh.”
Two humanoid monsters.
From their narrow shoulders and long calves, they’re the type that’s sensitive to gunpowder.
“Just stay still.”
All monsters have one thing in common: they detect the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath.
So no matter how still you stay, as long as you’re breathing, they’ll notice you.
But if there’s one person moving and one person staying still, they’ll go for the one who moves first.
Crack. Crack.
The fact that there are only two of them matters too.
Monsters operate in clusters, so if there are only two, it means they’ve already been attacked once and most of them were wiped out.
There might be a few more nearby, but not many.
What matters is that a small cluster of monsters is still active.
That means the core is still out there.
Among a cluster, at least a few monsters carry a core, and they share its energy to survive.
So if there are only two left and they’re still moving?
That means there’s about a 50% chance you’ll get a core just by taking one down.
A windfall.
They go berserk if they smell gunpowder. I need to use a blade.
The moment I drew my knife and stepped forward—
Click.
Huh?
Bang!
“You idiot!”
The brat fired out of nowhere.
Both monsters lunged straight at him.
I quickly slit one’s throat with a dagger, but that was it.
By the time I took down the second, the kid had already lost a lot of blood.
No core.
“I told you to stay still. You really never listen.”
“Ha… I saw you going in with just a knife… and thought that wouldn’t be enough…”
Where did he even get ammo?
So he didn’t eat it after all?
“I should’ve fixed that habit of not listening to adults a long time ago.”
“I… just did what the captain said…”
“Huh?”
“He told me… if it seems dangerous, just go for it… guys like me without experience… shouldn’t think…”
He’s not wrong.
This was just an exceptional situation.
This kid’s just unlucky.
“But… you’re amazing. Taking on two monsters with just a blade… you’re not just a regular postman, are you?”
None of his limbs are severed, but some are just about to be.
And he’s bleeding badly.
Still, I can at least try to save him.
I could use all the medical supplies in my bag.
But the chances are slim.
One in ten thousand, at best.
“Ha… guess this is as far as I go…”
“Shut up and stay still.”
As I moved my hands over his body, a blue glow began to appear.
If I intervene, his chance of survival…
[0.9%]
Too low.
And that’s not even the only problem.
Even if he survives, the chance of severe disability…
[99.6%]
The kid doesn’t even have a settlement that would take him in.
In a situation like this, ending up severely disabled is practically a death sentence.
In cases like this, you don’t waste even the tiniest amount of resources.
That’s just common sense.
“Don’t… use any medicine…”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Heh…”
After something like this, it messes with your head for a while.
That’s why I don’t travel with companions.
For my own sanity.
[99.6%]
The blue numbers floating calmly in front of me feel especially irritating today.
They’re just numbers.
Just probabilities.
“Ha… you’re tougher than you look…”
“Keep your mouth shut.”
For a moment, I let my thoughts wander.
Those damn numbers.
Probability.
Is there no way to overturn it?
If only I could reverse probability.
Some kind of dreamlike ability… where the harder something is, the easier it becomes.
A pointless fantasy.
Something that could never happen.
Like subways running again.
The kid reached back into his cornucopia.
Just as I expected.
“One last favor…”
What he pulled out was a bloodstained letter.
So predictable it’s almost laughable.
He did say he was heading to headquarters because of mail.
“Mail?”
“Yeah… could this be delivered in person…?”
I almost asked, “What’s the payment?”
If he dies here, everything he has becomes mine anyway.
But I’m not expecting much.
Even if I strip everything off him, it won’t come close to covering the delivery fee.
Still, all the necessary delivery information was written on the envelope.
– Sender: Park Kyung-soo, “Shelter,” Suwon, Gyeonggi Province –
Settlement names in addresses are pretty arbitrary depending on who writes them.
Even for the same place, the name used by residents and outsiders is often different.
The kid’s settlement, for example. I’d heard it called “Rag Heap.”
Though now, there isn’t even a settlement left to call that.
Anyway, as a postman, the sender’s address doesn’t really matter.
What matters is the recipient’s address.
If a postman personally accepts a piece of mail, the rule is that they have to deliver it themselves.
“Recipient: Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul… damn it.”
It’s an infamous settlement.
“That place is a no-go.”
“Please…”
It’s a delivery that would cost me my life.
Then again, what delivery job doesn’t carry that risk? Still, this one is on another level.
I’m absolutely not doing it.
Nothing matters more than my life.
But—
“Alright.”
I can at least lie.
“Thank you…”
He has every reason to be grateful.
Lying for free, even when it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, is already more than generous.
Crack. Crack.
Sounds like there were more monsters.
Probably from the same cluster as the ones before.
So the one with the core might be among these.
Judging by the sound, there were about four of them.
“I hear monsters… or am I hallucinating?”
They sounded fast.
Four of them, including one with a core, could be tricky.
In that case, it’s better to take the easier route.
“Kid, I wouldn’t exactly call this payment for the delivery, but…”
The kid nodded, gripping what I handed him with both hands, as if he knew how to use it.
“Heh…”
He still had enough strength left to smile.
***
The monsters approached at a leisurely pace.
There were a few corpses of their own kind scattered nearby, but they weren’t intelligent enough to be wary of something like that.
As they gathered around the sprawled-out kid, lowering their heads together to look—
Boom!
The grenade exploded.
To make sure the shrapnel would pierce them, the kid had the presence of mind to raise the grenade high in his palm at the last moment.
After the blast, nothing in that spot was left alive.
As expected, there was a core.
About the size of a fist, its surface smooth, glowing red.
Tch.
I’d have to get it appraised back at base, but if luck wasn’t on my side, it might turn out worthless.
From my experience, cores that look like this are often duds.
At the very least, I hope it covers the cost of one grenade. Otherwise, I’ll be having nightmares again.
Getting back was easier alone.
I had to hide a few times along the way, but without anyone to worry about, it wasn’t difficult.
I didn’t have to open my mouth or talk.
Things were back to normal.
***
The “New Government Complex” towering over Yeouido.
The pristine white building, with not a speck of dust on it, felt especially out of place today.
Beside it stood a massive railgun pointed skyward. A symbol that this place was safe.
It housed the command centers for both soldiers and hunters, essentially the heart of national operations.
The name “New Government” is long and awkward, so postmen usually just call it Headquarters.
Soldiers and hunters use their respective command names, but even they just call it Headquarters when talking among themselves.
I know, because I’ve been there.
From the main gate to the mission report counter, it only took an hour and a half.
A lucky day.
I got searched three fewer times than usual, and one security officer rushed through my biometric check because he was busy.
As soon as I finished reporting the measurement data, I regained access to the residential area.
That night, I had bad dreams.
The next day, I headed to my personal locker in the secure zone.
Clank.
I only stockpile things that can be used as currency.
Which basically means I’ve got a pile of ammo.
Being able to own a personal cabinet like this and accumulate assets inside a tightly secured residential zone is one of the perks of being a civil servant.
I took out a magazine loaded with 29 rounds from my bag.
Then I placed it in the very bottom section of the cabinet, where I kept the standard 5.56 magazines.
Among all the identical-looking magazines, the one missing a single round stood out.
I picked up a loose 5.56 round rolling around and considered filling the empty slot in the magazine, but decided against it.
In the wide compartment at eye level, I dumped out the items left in my survival bag after completing the mission.
A bloodstained letter spilled out along with them.
For a moment, I imagined delivering the letter.
There was nothing more I could do with it now.
I pushed the letter into the narrow top compartment out of sight, only reachable by hand.
I closed the cabinet.
***
“Jung-kook-ssi!”
It was Director Bae.
“Jung-kook-ssi! Where are you going!”
“What is it.”
When that guy calls for me, it’s always one of two things.
Either praise or a warning.
I don’t like either.
If I had to choose, I hate the praise more.
“Kuh, as expected of you, Jung-kook-ssi!”
“I’m busy right now.”
“Just hear me out. Looks like the higher-ups have been keeping an eye on your performance!”
“I see.”
“Why do you think that is? Kuh!”
I know exactly why.
And Director Bae definitely has it wrong.
“Of course! Because you ranked first in performance again this month!”
Just as I thought, he’s wrong.
“Maybe that’s why they’ve invited you to a special mission briefing! You!”
“A special mission?”
Does that mean more points?
It’ll be just as dangerous.
“Sounds like they’re only calling in the best. So? You’re going to take part, right?”
A portion of my performance goes to Director Bae.
Instead of being assigned to a general department, I report directly to him, and in exchange, he takes thirty percent of my performance.
And through his influence, I get to pick only the missions I want.
We’ve openly agreed to a relationship where we each take exactly what we need.
Does that mean we trust each other? Not at all.
I’ve never told him anything about my past.
Even at his level, he probably has decent information channels, but even that wouldn’t be enough to dig up anything about me.
Maybe that’s why Director Bae doesn’t share any information about himself either.
What’s remarkable about Director Bae is that, even in a relationship like this, he can act so nonchalant around me.
“What if I don’t want to do it?”
“Then, well… it can’t be helped… kuh.”
A fifty-year-old man makes a pitiful expression like a child.
And somehow, that makes it even more unpleasant to look at.
“If you stop pouting like that, I’ll go.”
Ah!
“Don’t suck your lips in either.”
A special mission, huh.
I’ll at least hear it out.
If I don’t like it, I can always refuse.
“I’ll attend the briefing, at least.”
“That’s right! I’m sure you’ll like it!”
That’s what he’s hoping, I guess.
…….
In a conference room that could fit about twenty people, around fifteen postmen had gathered, including me.
While everyone else chatted in small groups, I enjoyed the privilege of sitting quietly alone.
Since I’m the only one not assigned to a department, it’s only natural.
Not knowing anyone comes in handy at times like this.
“Then we’ll begin the briefing. What you’re seeing now—”
In short, a waste of time.
The briefing was about a new kind of delivery operation.
An absurd plan to transport hundreds of units of military supplies through several waypoints in a single expedition.
“Well… it looks like quite a difficult mission.”
Someone spoke up with a question.
The waste of time dragged on.
“That’s exactly why we’ve gathered all of you. Because you’re the best of the best.”
“What’s the destination?”
“Good question. First, the primary waypoint is right here.”
Tap.
The spot he pointed to on the large map on the wall was an empty lot in Yeongdeungpo District.
If I remember correctly, there’s a secretly constructed military facility underground.
“We won’t be carrying out this delivery right away. There are still a few preparations needed. You can think of this as a preliminary selection process for participants.”
Do as you like. I’m not interested.
“The points we’ll be offering to those who participate in this—”
Once again, I’m reminded of the power of numbers.
As soon as he revealed the five-digit figure, everyone began to stir.
Everyone except me.
I can understand why.
For ordinary postmen who receive random assignments, it’s common to end up with deliveries they’d rather avoid.
For people like them, a job that guarantees a solid number of points is more than enough to be tempting.
But for me, since I can pick and choose my missions, not so much.
“Then, those who wish to participate, please raise your hands.”
I crossed my arms and even closed my eyes.
A clear gesture that I had no intention of raising my hand.
But it seemed quite a few of the others did.
I could sense movement from all around.
“Is everyone participating except for one person?”
Tch, I hate standing out.
“Um… may I confirm one more thing?”
“Questions are welcome. By all means.”
That damn question.
Either way, I’ve already made it clear I’m not participating, so maybe I can just leave first?
“The load must be quite heavy… will you be using vehicles?”
Most likely.
That’s what makes it even more dangerous.
“I was planning to explain this after confirming your level of participation, but that’s fine. It seems you’ve shown more than enough interest, so I’ll go ahead and tell you now.”
When he removed the large operation overview sheet attached to the wall, a hidden map behind it was revealed.
A purple line stood out in particular, likely marking the route to the destination.
But something felt off.
The route was so simple it was almost a straight line.
There’s no way a large-scale delivery that already draws attention could move like that.
“This is the planned delivery route.”
“That… that route is absolutely impossible.”
“No, it’s possible.”
For some reason, the officer smiled with complete confidence.
And there was a reason for it.
“The subway system is being rebuilt.”
Clatter, thud.
I shot up from my seat.
The sound of my chair toppling drew everyone’s attention to me.
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