I breathed in the chill coming through the car window as the vehicle arrived at the station.

Only after leaving the city, going past the outskirts, and then even beyond the outskirts did the car finally stop.

A desolate station stood in the bluish darkness. Like some ruin out in the desert, the old station created an eerie atmosphere. I got out of the car and walked blankly toward it.

The dry smell of sand tickled my nose.

Here and there the streetlights were lit.

And on the tracks, there was a train.

“Get on the front car.”

Screeech! Screeeech!

Two other cars rushed in behind Yun’s and screeched to a stop. Familiar faces spilled out of them.

Yun didn’t turn his head even at the loud commotion. He simply grabbed the duffel bag he had tossed into the back seat.

“First car. Go into any empty compartment. There will be plenty left.”

“There are compartments?”

“The front part is a passenger train.”

I had been staring at what looked like a freight train when I asked. Yun explained.

I followed his words. Walking across the deserted station, crunching over the gravel, I came to the cars that really did look like passenger compartments.

I stopped at the only open door. Inside was darkness.

Going alone into the pitch-black train was a little frightening.

“What are you doing.”

Yun appeared behind me again, noiseless as a ghost.

“Not getting on?”

He was scarier than the train itself.

I climbed in at once. The darkness wrapped me, but without hesitation I walked deeper down the corridor. Reaching out, my hand found a door handle.

A sliding door.

I pushed it open. The compartment lit up.

Wood-paneled walls. Bed and window. Brass wall hooks. A small shelf with tissues, wet wipes, and cotton swabs.

What the—why is this so nice?

Dazed, I stepped inside and set my duffel on the bed. Yun stopped at the threshold.

He looked me straight in the eyes and said,

“Go to sleep.”

“...Sir?”

“It’s six hours straight.”

Six hours?

Behind him, Hesh and Carl Dow passed by.

“Six hours?”

***

“When you wake up, it’ll be outside the Core.”

His voice was flat.

This man had a habit of tossing out bombs like they were nothing. He’d done the same when he shoved me in front of that mushroom. If only he would look a little flustered, or at least impatient, he might seem human.

Tom and Angela passed by. I heard the sounds of Hesh and Carl unpacking their compartments.

Yun studied me, still staring blankly, then spoke.

“What did I say was the reason Badgers go outside the Core?”

For a moment, a feeling rose in me that I couldn’t name. The same sensation had come over me last time Yun brought up this subject.

Once again, I failed to pin down what it was.

Better not to think too deeply.

“You said it was to reclaim stolen land.”

“Correct. And what do you think is the most essential part of that?”

“Uh...”

I had never thought about it before.

“Deciding on the easiest spot to reclaim that will also benefit us?”

“That’s Yehyeon’s problem to think about.”

Yun continued smoothly.

“The important thing is supply.”

The train jolted.

I jumped in surprise. I could hear Hesh and Tom’s startled voices from the next compartments. But Yun didn’t blink.

The engine was heating, ready to move. The train vibrated, just faintly enough to be noticeable.

“There’s been a report that the supplies in the No. 1 storage facility of the zone we’re going to were lost. When we arrive, we’ll unload the cargo car and restock the storage. At the same time, we’ll figure out why the supplies went missing.”

“Oh, are supplies usually moved by train?”

“The tracks reach as far as Zone F. Beyond Zone D, they need other methods, but you don’t need to know that yet.”

Clunk. The train rolled forward. I glanced out the window, watching the Center Core’s silhouette sink into the dark, while the barren land slid away faster and faster.

Yun also looked out, then unzipped the duffel on his shoulder.

“This is your uniform.”

He tossed a plastic-wrapped set of clothes onto the bed.

“This is your earpiece—you don’t take it out after we arrive. And this is the Creature Guide.”

“A... Creature Guide?”

“You know Pokémon?”

Surprisingly, memory rose in me.

Earlier gaming had turned out useful. From the fog of broken memories, the game screen came up sharp.

I widened my eyes and nodded.

“Yes, I remember.”

“It’s like that. Think of it as a Pokédex. I don’t need it, but for you, it might help.”

The device he threw looked almost exactly like the Pokédex I remembered.

It wasn’t red. Instead it was a sleek black notebook-like device, with a luxury “B” embossed on the corner.

Opening it sideways revealed a blue screen and a small keypad. A camera lens was mounted in the corner.

“For reference, that’s one of the oldest versions. If you want a newer one, come by the research wing later.”

“There are multiple versions?”

“I don’t know, but those guys went wild, making pointless editions like Pokémon versions.”

“...Well, I suppose the makers enjoyed themselves.”

Yun shrugged indifferently at my sour tone.

Then he turned as if to leave. I set the guide down and bowed.

Others had already closed their doors, preparing to sleep. The corridor was steeped in silence.

“Sleep. You’ll be working the moment you open your eyes.”

“Yes, sir. Ah—Yun.”

He paused, raised a brow.

I held a short silence, then forced out the courage.

“Will it be okay... for me to go outside the Core?”

They said I attracted creatures.

He measured me with that unreadable gaze.

At length, he answered slowly.

“We’ll see.”

Outside the Core.

A land not ruled by humans, but by creatures. Territory humanity sought to reclaim. Zone F, where rookies began their first mission. A land with no civilians at all.

When I opened my eyes, the train had stopped. After washing and changing into uniform, I stepped into the corridor and met Tom with his mentor. Angela gave me a nod in greeting.

She pointed her thumb toward the train’s interior.

“Breakfast first.”

Following her, I reached the dining car.

Hesh and his mentor were already eating. No sign of Yun. I wasn’t surprised and sat with the others for breakfast.

Heated croissants, bagels, cheese, sausages, salad packs, milk or coffee. Afterward, we tidied the dining car and prepared to leave.

Combat suit on. Earpiece clipped to ear. Guide packed....

Did I forget anything?

I was looking myself over when someone approached.

“Kid.”

Carl Dow.

“Your weapon?”

Weapon?

Like a gun, or a sword? I hadn’t been given one. I froze, staring at him.

His blue eyes were darker than Tom’s. Black hair, strong jaw, a black mask pulled down under his chin.

He radiated a quiet, solid impression. I stared blankly.

“Uh...”

“Your weapon is a sword.”

A familiar voice came from behind.

I jumped silently. Damn it. If only he’d make some footsteps.

Turning my head—Yun stood there again.

He shoved [N O V E L I G H T] a sheathed sword at me.

“Take it. Wear it at your waist.”

“Yes, sir.”

“A sword?”

Carl’s raspy voice grew a little louder, surprised.

“Not a gun?”

“He’ll probably handle a sword better than a gun.”

“I heard his regeneration is poor.”

“Right. So he’ll also get a gun.”

Yun shoved one at me.

As I carefully took it, he stared into me.

“If something happens, draw the sword first. Got it?”

“Yes.”

I obediently accepted the weapons.

So, now we go out?

Then Yun spoke again, reminding me of something I’d forgotten.

“Let’s check your injury first.”

Right. My arm.

I quietly offered my arm. Rolled up the black uniform sleeve to reveal the neatly wrapped bandage. Ami had changed it carefully the day the cabin collapsed. She had applied some kind of painkiller, and since then it hadn’t hurt.

Carl Dow’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

“What?”

It was Hesh who spoke up.

“Why’s your arm like that?”

“Knife stuck in it, two days ago.”

“But it should be healed by now.”

His eyes went wide, realizing.

“Is this what they meant by your regeneration being low?”

“Is he fit for the field?”

Carl turned to Yun. Angela and Tom came closer, also staring at the wound.

Awkward, I smiled under their gazes.

Yun took my arm and led me to a table.

“It’s mostly healed.”

He pulled out a medical kit from under the table and diagnosed.

“Better recovery than a normal human. Still far below a Badger.”

“Isn’t there a way to boost his regeneration?”

Angela frowned, clearly unhappy about me being deployed like this. She looked like she hadn’t expected it to be this bad. I could imagine now why Ricardo had been so angry.

Yun narrowed his eyes at the wound.

“Need to talk more with Samuel. First time seeing a case like this.”

“But is this even possible?”

Tom asked, astonished.

Then, realizing his words could be taken differently, he quickly added,

“I mean—we were told the reason we can endure enhanced bodies is thanks to high regeneration and young cells.”

“That’s why he’s a research subject.”

Yun answered flatly while wrapping my arm with new bandages.

Applying ointment, gauze, and bandage—all quick and precise. Just like Ami had done.

He finished smoothly and let go of my arm.

“But for now, focus on the work.”

He turned his gaze to Carl.

“The higher-ups who know the truth had no objections.”

“I still think giving him a melee weapon when his recovery is low is too risky....”

“I judged after watching him use it.”

Yun jerked his chin toward the door in the dining car.

The door leading outside the Core.

“Let’s go.”

His tone allowed no argument.

“If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”

No one spoke against him.

They quietly followed him toward the door. I checked my sword at my waist and followed.

Creak. Yun opened the door and vanished outside. The wind blew in.

I stepped out behind Tom.

Outside the Core.

An open expanse spread before us. Cool air. Wind brushing through my hair.

Grass sprouted from cracks in the asphalt. Remnants of a once-prosperous city greeted us. Buildings half-collapsed under vines. Abandoned cars. Silent traffic lights. Empty roads.

The gray of decay and the green of new growth mingled together.

Tom and Hesh let out small exclamations.

I too stared, dazed, at the sight.

“Let me tell you the basic rules.”

Angela’s voice pulled us back.

She still used honorifics even with rookies like us. Without even looking at us, she checked her gun and spoke.

“First. Do not enter the subway. Second. Do not enter tunnels.”

“Are there subways and tunnels nearby?”

“Walk a little and you’ll find subway entrances. But no matter what, don’t go in.”

So there’s something inside?

I listened carefully. Only the wind over grass filled the silence.

“They’re full of who knows what, and the risk of collapse is high. Even our recovery can’t beat nature. If you get buried, your chance of survival plummets.” 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

“For now we’ll just move supplies, so nothing should happen.”

Hesh’s mentor added in his raspy voice.

“Zone F has almost no creatures. But wherever you are, stay away from subways and tunnels.”

“Are the subway stations sealed?”

“No. Some Badgers can go down there.”

The blue-eyed man pulled his mask higher.

“Badgers with extraordinary concealment skills, or those able to survive in sealed spaces. But not all of them return alive. Even veterans who survived long outside the Core drop dead down there. For at least ten years, don’t even dream of going.”