◈ Episode 097

There was no need to request a direct inspection.

Agents returning to the lab were required to undergo mandatory medical checkups, a policy that was designed to guard against possible injuries and the aftermath of disaster.

"...What is going on?"

Inevitably, the mutation symptoms were discovered. Kim Yi-hyeon didn't even bother to hide it. He faced Kushan and touched the crystal that had grown on his neck.

"Didn't you hear from the professor or Leila?"

"I'm hearing this for the first time. Did those two know?"

It seems that he kept the secret. He must have felt sorry for them both. He must have been conflicted about whether or not he should tell them.

"Well, it's long, so to speak."

"I'll cancel the next schedule. It may take longer, but I'll explain."

Actually, it became a long story.

It started when I was injected with Helixivir by Nigrum. I confirmed that my physical abilities were enhanced along with the mutation, and I used it once of my own volition… … .

There was no part that was muddled. On the contrary, because I tried to explain the situation at the time in detail, the content became long-winded. While I was telling the story, Kushan did not respond and just listened silently.

By the end, his face was frozen hard.

"You're still alive, somehow."

"I also thought it wouldn't work at that time."

"This is not a matter to be joked about."

Kushan grabbed my forehead with his finger.

"We have also done some research on Helixivir. Simply put, it is a mixture of drugs that extremely activate immune cells and an elixir."

The materials stolen from the research lab were already sent to the lab. Not only the actual Helixivir, but also the research records from that time.

The investigation yielded considerable results.

"There have been many precedents of people taking elixirs, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Usually, mutations occur rapidly and necrosis occurs. The same goes for monsters. If dangerous creatures were born that easily, dangerous creatures would be rampant everywhere by now."

"so?"

"In other words, Helixivir is a diluted version of the elixir. It is intended to suppress the progression as much as possible, prevent death, and settle into the mutation stage."

"I understand."

The total amount administered to Kim Yi-Hyeon so far is less than 50mL. Even a small amount is enough to have this much effect, so what would happen if the original solution was used?

I felt uneasy all over again.

"Just wait a moment."

Kushan walked out of the examination room at a brisk pace. And after three minutes, he came back with flasks, droppers, and other equipment that could be used in a chemistry experiment.

"Roll up your sleeves."

As I obediently held out my arm, Kushan thrust in the syringe. The needle was accurately inserted into the vein. Kushan poured the blood he had collected from Kim Ihyeon into the flask.

Next, I removed the cork from the plastic bottle I brought separately.

"This is Helixivir. Let's check the reaction."

After sucking up the Helixivir with a dropper, drop a drop into the vial containing Kim I-Hyeon's blood.

Then, without waiting, the results appeared.

The blood began to bubble. Even a faint vapor rose. The reaction could be observed with the naked eye without having to look through a microscope.

'Is this what was happening inside my body?'

Kim Yi-hyun also swallowed dry saliva without knowing. I used it because I needed to. That's for sure and I don't regret it. But I was able to be so bold because I didn't know better.

This was not the end.

Kushan went through the same process again, this time using someone's blood in a vial. It was the moment when the Helixivir came into contact with the blood.

Pogururur!

The bright red foam rose up like crazy and boiled over the outside of the flask. It was a completely different situation from a moment ago when it had been somewhat restrained. Steam rose up and the smell of blood spread everywhere.

But it didn't last long.

Since everything had evaporated, there was nothing left to boil.

"This is a normal reaction. But..."

Kushan turned his gaze to the left. The first flask he had written about. There, Kim Ihyeon's blood continued to boil.

"I don't know why there is such a difference. Constitution? It's not a simple allergy symptom, but can it be explained by the word constitution?"

"...."

"I guess this is about all I can say for sure."

Kushan pressed Kim Ihyeon's arm with gauze.

"Don't ever use it again. It's just a matter of degree, but it's still extremely dangerous to you. I think it's just a stroke of luck that you've been safe so far."

The following cannot be guaranteed, he emphasized.

* * *

After several more requests, it was decided to have a regular checkup. As it was, Kushan could not provide any prescription or treatment.

'As far as I know, this is an unprecedented case.'

It's still a mystery.

The only good thing is that the mutation rate doesn't increase unless you use helixivir. But that doesn't mean you can feel at ease.

What if it metastasizes like cancer and mutates even if you just sit there? Then there's no way to do anything. It'll be hard to even carry it in the lab.

'My mentality wasn't good enough to handle it in the first place.'

Were you unconsciously thinking, 'It's safe as long as the mutation rate doesn't reach 100%'? It was a complacent thought.

The disaster at that time actually served as a brake at the right time. In return for excluding the godmother early, he ended up with a limited lifespan.

The math doesn't add up.

'… … This is another dilemma.'

It's already dealt a huge blow to the Legion. It's clear that things are going much better than before. However, we haven't even reached the middle part of the story yet.

There's a long way to go.

There will continue to be incidents that did not occur in the game. I cannot be certain that I will never need to use Helixivir in the future.

Should I say it's a poisoned chalice?

"It's complicated."

Kim Lee-hyun passed through the hallway, scratching the back of his head. His footsteps stopped at the restaurant. The time was around 12:30. As it was lunchtime, the inside was crowded.

It was the time when we were looking for a suitable seat after receiving our meals.

"Hyun! Come here, here."

When I turned around to hear the voice calling me, Rosetta was waving. Castle Rock, who was standing across from me, greeted me with his eyes. Unlike in Bastitera, he was dressed casually.

There was no reason to act like a slob, so I obediently joined in. As I put down my plate, I looked around. For some reason, the agents were pretending not to notice and were glancing at me from the corner of their eyes.

"But why?"

"Why do I feel like my eyes are being drawn to you?"

"That makes sense. It's true that you played an important role."

The operation report from Bastitera has already been uploaded. All the video records have been submitted. Agents who know the details have already figured it out.

"That's just how it is. Once you've accomplished something big, people start to become interested."

"I'm not in a position to talk about others. If there's a rumor going around, it's bound to attract some attention."

"Well, people live here too. You'll get used to it quickly."

Rosetta chuckled as she rolled the pasta around with her fork.

"If it really bothers you, call them over and beat them up one by one."

"Is that okay?"

"That's part of the training, isn't it?"

"That makes sense."

"Where on earth does that make sense…."

Castle Rock made a disgusted expression. From what I've seen so far, I thought Hyun was a rational and calm person, but was he actually a total idiot?

"Oh, but this kid is like this again."

Rosetta clicked her tongue in disappointment as she looked at Castle Rock's plate.

"Eat some broccoli! You're such a picky eater at your age. You're such a picky eater."

"It smells disgusting."

"It's more disgusting when you twitch. It makes my appetite disappear, really."

"I know. And what does age have to do with likes and dislikes?"

Despite his dignified appearance and personality, Castle Rock's table manners were not very good. On the other hand, Rosetta was impeccable. She was on par with Ainoa.

"What, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Isn't it amazing that a guy who looks like he's going to eat while slurping eats so cleanly?"

"That's pretty much it."

"these guys...."

Joking aside, it was clear that she had received a high level of education. Everyone has a complicated past, and Rosetta was no exception.

It's not a topic you can bring up without hesitation.

Polaris' gloomy worldview. And a group that lives together in the territory of a destroyed country. Although it's called a rap, it's an organization that's closer to a PMC. It's hard to have a bright story in this environment.

There is an unspoken understanding that is maintained within the rap. Kim Yi-hyun has never been asked open questions about his past except in special circumstances.

"That's right. I heard something unusual happened recently."

"It seems like the fortress has always been like this."

"It feels a little different. It's more of a novelty than a serious incident."

She cleared her throat and began to speak.

"I heard that a while ago, one of the reserve agents went to that unexplored area while collecting materials."

"Are you talking alone? You're so brave."

"Since all of our agents were drafted, I guess they were bored because they were given simple tasks."

Kim Yi-hyeon just listened silently. Castle Rock's janggu-banging skills were quite good. It was a combination that was both sparring and fitting.

'It's hard not to become a scapegoat.'

The conversation itself was interesting.

"Anyway, I went there, and unfortunately, I ran into a monster. And then somehow I ended up hurting my leg. So I ended up stuck in the middle of the forest, unable to go anywhere."

"If that's true, I'll have to go through basic training again."

"What about education? I almost didn't come back alive."

If it were normal, I would have just let it go, saying, "There are so many careless agents, it's your own fault." But as I listened to it, I started to feel a sense of urgency.

So I asked once.

"How did you come back?"

"Well, he said he didn't know either. No matter how dangerous it was, he was still human, so he took a deep breath there. When he opened his eyes, he was already outside the forest. He was even lucky that he was on the path that the patrol team was following, so he was safely protected."

"It was a fabrication after all. It smelled."

"Right? It's suspicious."

Rosetta giggled at Castle Rock's reaction to Kim's comment.

"But it's true that he was injured, and I heard that other footprints were found at the location where he was found. They were about 210mm in size? The agent's feet were much larger than that."

"I'm not sure. I think it's not very credible."

"Just listen for fun, just for fun."

Even the person who brought it up didn't seem to believe it at all. It was just a way to kill time. Even the elite agents that others looked up to were ordinary people who enjoyed talking about trivial rumors.

The only person who took it seriously was Kim Lee-Hyeon.

'This too has come a bit earlier.'

This event was originally placed after Episode 6. It is one of the few heartwarming stories in the bloody Polaris. The characters that appear are also popular regardless of their performance.

'Should I go pick her up soon?'

He is also the guy who will solve Asterike's problem.