[This work has no affiliation with any specific religion or organization.]
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[Can't you go faster? I'll catch up!]
Taehyung, sitting in the passenger seat, stuck his head out the window and said.
"Stop rushing me!" Minji urged Taehyung, pressing the accelerator harder. But instead of accelerating, she was on the verge of exploding.
[Focus! We're getting there soon!]
After Jeongguk finished speaking, the car became silent, but outside it was the complete opposite.
The road we were currently driving on had not yet been attacked by defenders. In other words, we only knew about the situation through the news and radio, and nothing more or less.
“Get down quickly!”
As soon as the car stopped under the dark clouds, I kicked open the door and ran out.
People who were shocked by the sight of the defender for the first time in their lives screamed, but the defender's low, unsteady cries drowned out all their screams.
“Everyone, cover your ears!”
The place we ran to was none other than high school.
I shouted through the speakers so loud that my ears were about to burst, and the result was better than I expected.
Those who sensed something unusual from my shouts all covered their ears.
Just before the trumpet sound was heard, the seven defenders came so close that the ground shook and shook loudly, and at that moment the sky opened and a golden light descended.
Phew-
A trumpet sound was heard from heaven.
***
The defenders, who had been focusing all their attention on us, began to scratch their heads with their long claws until they were almost torn, and then began to fall down one by one, letting out loud screams.
[Did...you get rid of it?]
What the fuck is that kid?
I turned my head and saw Jeongguk looking at the fallen defenders with a solemn expression.
[Do you want to lose? Why are you saying such things?]
Taehyung grabbed Jeongguk by the collar and shook him back and forth.
The mercilessly shaken Jeong-guk frowned and raised an objection, asking what the problem was.
"Still... judging by the lack of movement, it seems like it was a success, even if only temporarily."
I let out a deep sigh, all the strength draining from my body, and I collapsed to the ground.
Starting with me, Taehyung, Jungkook, and Minji also sat down one by one, letting out sighs of relief and fear, and several students and teachers began to gather around them.
What is that? Is it some kind of surprise camera?
A person who looked like the dean of the department approached us and said.
To that question, we simply shook our heads without answering.
[I saw that on the news... what is it?]
The playground became noisy, and people's attention began to turn to curiosity, then interest, and then fear.
What the heck is that? Say something!
The long-haired high school girl, who seemed to be the student council president, who had been shouting loudly, slammed the rolled-up paper in her hand onto the floor and spoke.
[Hey! When people talk, answer...!]
The high school girl who had been expressing her opinion strongly was slammed to the floor by a large foot, so much so that her form was invisible.
The noisy playground suddenly became silent as a defender fell from the sky.
Those who encountered the stomach-churning grotesqueness had no choice but to keep their mouths shut, and thanks to that, the attention of two or so defenders was not attracted.
[Unforeseen variables cause troop losses, reducing the number of defenders deployed to Inmyeong-dong.]
The defenders no longer appeared, along with an unknown sound in my head.
Just two, it was a move that could have easily been avoided.
The defenders began to walk towards the sound from afar, and the heavy air in the exercise field became light again.
“Everyone, please focus on what I’m saying.”
Seizing the opportunity, he picked up the loudspeaker and began to speak.
My voice, shrill and resonant, was enough to attract people's attention.
"There won't be any more defenders coming from beyond. The ones that fell here have also moved elsewhere."
In the crowd that was concentrating on what I was saying, a voice suddenly popped out.
How do you know the names of those monsters? And you seem to know quite a bit about survival... Are you drawing the line like that just to save yourselves?
Oops, I didn't mean to say the defenders' names directly.
He cleared his throat and began to answer slowly.
“I only found out his name by chance, and I don’t know anything else about him. I’ve only just figured out his weaknesses.
...and we can't be of much help to you. Rather than relying on a small group of four, we believe it would be better for the students and teachers of this school, brimming with bright minds, to put their heads together and figure out a solution... That's why we've made this decision."
“Oh, is that so?” voices began to be heard here and there.
[Okay, I understand. Please take care.]
A teacher with wrinkles on his face came out and spoke to us.
Just as I was about to nod my head slightly and leave, a mysterious voice was heard again.
[Focus on chasing the variables 'Jeon Jungkook', 'Kim Taehyung', 'Kim Minji' and... the person emitting that unknown energy.]
[The 'Hunters' begin to descend on your village.]
Our town...?
Ah, over there, far away...
Taehyung, who saw my expression, asked me.
(Where does it hurt? You're sweating profusely.)
I couldn't possibly answer Taehyung's words.
"Guys, that...
We have to go back home now."
[Why are you being so cautious? There won't be any monsters there, so it should be safe.]
Minji told me.
“.....Oh, right, let’s go.”
Without even having time to tell them the truth, the group started walking back towards my house.