Just hearing it was enough to sound brutal.

If it’s that bad, wouldn’t it be better just to seal the subway entrances? Or is there some other reason they still need to go down there?

The question formed, but there was no time to ask.

Yun, who had been staring off into the distance at something unseen, turned his head.

“Let’s begin.”

He said it flatly.

“There’s a mountain of supplies to move.”

“Where are we moving them to?”

He met my eyes at my question. His dry gaze fixed on me, then he jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Tom and Hesh followed his gesture.

“That big building.”

His finger pointed at a massive white building standing amid the ruins.

Before the world fell, it must have stood on a wide, well-kept lot. The sunlight gleamed on its glass windows. Grass grew on the grounds, and at each corner turrets were set.

Were those cannons near the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) entrance?

“The Library of Beginnings.”

While I was studying it, Yun’s monotone voice reached my ear.

“After Breath was founded, it was the first supply base the Badgers built.”

***

We worked all morning.

With enhanced strength, the labor wasn’t backbreaking—but the quantity was overwhelming.

Like ants in a line, we carried supply after supply. When noon came, we stopped. Inside, we ate the boxed lunches stored on the train. After lunch, we rested about an hour in our compartments, then stepped outside again on schedule.

Afternoon shift.

Before resuming, Yun approached Tom and Hesh’s mentors.

“About the supply count. What exactly did that bastard say?”

Yun locked eyes with Carl.

“I heard it was Trevain who reported it.”

“They said food was going missing,” Angela replied.

“Every night, one crate disappears.”

“One crate?”

Yun raised a brow.

Carl and Angela nodded. Yun’s brow furrowed faintly, and he muttered like to himself.

“The number missing is too ambiguous.”

“They said it seemed like someone was eating it or smuggling it out....”

Angela pulled on gloves, readying for work.

“They think someone’s stealing it.”

“Well, whatever he claims is irrelevant. Facts matter. His sloppy guesses are useless.”

My mentor never changed—always rude.

I marveled at his consistency. He wasn’t wrong, but did he have to phrase it like such an ass?

But as the talk continued, I realized why Yun had dismissed it that way.

Because I understood who Trevain was.

“So where is that bastard now?”

“On his way back from Zone D. He said he’ll arrive here around midnight.”

“The train?”

“He said he hasn’t decided whether to take it back or not.”

“When he contacts you again, hand him to me. And don’t mention the three rookies are here. It’ll be trouble if he meets them.”

Yun spoke casually.

“Especially Hildebert. He’s already got his eye on him, calling him a parachute.”

“Jason Trevain sunbae?”

So it was that man.

The one who mocked Yehyeon in the corridor right after introducing himself. I’d only seen the back of his blond head then.

Angela said she understood. Carl gave a silent nod.

I put on my gloves, hesitated, then asked, carefully,

“Who exactly is Sunbae Trevain?”

Maybe I was digging my own grave with the question.

The mentors turned to me.

Yun answered.

“The blond trash-talker.”

As I thought.

“Trash-talker?”

Carl’s thick brows rose.

I gave an awkward smile. Explaining in front of other mentors was embarrassing.

I just let the words trail off.

“I did join in a strange way. My weak regeneration will inconvenience other Badgers... I can see why they’d resent me.”

“He just hates Yehyeon.”

Yun said flatly.

“And since Yehyeon pays attention to you, he hates you too. The bastard’s an old fossil.”

“Don’t mind him.”

Carl spoke, watching my face carefully.

He thought I was dwelling on that insult. He wasn’t wrong—I had.

“The senior’s explanation is accurate. He just hates the Commander.”

“Why does he hate him so much?”

Hesh asked.

He’d said he applied to be a Badger because he admired Yehyeon—so of course he’d wonder.

Again Yun answered.

“Because Yehyeon got promoted.”

...Huh?

Seriously?

“They killed a 10th-class creature together, but he thinks all the credit went to Yehyeon. He’s astonishingly simple-minded.”

“For that reason alone...?”

“Officially, Yehyeon’s promotion was credited to finishing off the 10th-class creature.”

“Officially” meant there was more beneath.

But Yun didn’t elaborate. Angela spoke instead.

“If he contacts again, we’ll pass him to you.”

“Fine.”

Yun nodded without expression.

Then his gaze drifted away again. He spoke while staring off.

“First, let’s finish unloading the supplies.”

Everyone moved swiftly.

***

Work resumed. As in the morning, no one complained. We carried crates in lines like ants. I hurried to keep pace, too busy to even wonder what the boxes held.

By the time the last was moved, the sun was setting.

The final crate passed from Yun’s hands into the Library. After disappearing briefly inside, he walked back out, hands in pockets.

“How is it inside?”

Angela asked, approaching. Yun didn’t look at her. Even as he came out, his gaze was locked somewhere distant.

The same direction as before. What the hell was he looking at?

“Nothing obvious.”

“Then someone really is stealing it?”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to see what he saw.

What is it....

“If the shortages continue, we’ll need to report higher—”

“Send the rookies inside.”

His words cut her off.

Click. The sound of Carl assembling and loading his gun snapped the atmosphere taut. The sunset air grew heavy with tension.

Hesh, who had been sitting on the asphalt, jumped to his feet. Tom straightened, gloves half-off.

Angela fell silent, turning her head.

And I saw what Yun had been watching.

[Creature: “Witch.” Class 5. Floats in the air and fires energy blasts. The stronger the witch, the stronger its blasts. Spears and swords are more effective than guns. Weak point: head. No fixed habitat. Never sighted inside the Core.]

The guide spoke on its own.

So when a creature appeared, it automatically gave an explanation. Good—I didn’t have to ask what those ragged figures gathering on the horizon were.

Carl whipped his head.

“You three, get inside the Library.”

His deep voice rumbled as he strode toward Yun and Angela.

“Don’t come out until we return.”

“We can fight too!”

Hesh shouted, gripping his gun in both hands.

“Let us fight!”

“Why are there so many...?”

Angela’s voice, alarmed, carried on the wind.

And their numbers kept swelling.

The horizon darkened. Yun drew out his cigarette pack, eyes as if watching some boring TV show.

“Looks like they came for the rookie.”

“What?”

“Let’s save some time. As you judged—rookies inside the Library.”

With an unlit cigarette in his mouth, Yun gave orders.

“We’ll go meet them.”

“Sunbae!”

Hesh protested.

“We came out here to fight!”

“You’re not being shoved inside to protect you. Just do as you’re told.”

This time Yun pulled something like a car key from his pocket.

He pressed the button—somewhere, an engine roared to life.

“I couldn’t care less about your life. We’re splitting up. Rookies defend the base. The rest of us wipe them out.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, Sunbae.”

“Defense team—if possible, also figure out why the supplies are missing.”

Three black motorcycles roared out from the Library.

Unmanned, they stopped neatly beside the mentors. Our eyes widened. So they had those hidden inside.

Yun swung onto one and turned his head.

His black gaze locked onto my yellow eyes.

“I want to clock out as soon as this is done.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Check every corner.”

“I’ll search thoroughly and report.”

I had no idea what I was supposed to do, but I answered with all my might.

Tom, silent until now, spoke calmly.

“We’ll hold the rear.”

“Don’t drop your guard.”

Angela, on her bike, warned Tom.

“Their numbers are high. Some could slip through. Guarding the base is just as important. Don’t think it’s trivial—do your best.”

“Yes, Sunbae.”

“Watch the fuel tanks.”

Carl jerked his chin toward the Library.

“If an energy blast hits them, it’ll be a disaster.”

So there were fuel tanks in the facility too.

The roar of engines filled the air. Yun’s bike shot off first.

Vroooom!

With a violent growl, the machine sped away.

Carl and Angela followed right behind, tearing forward. In moments, the seniors vanished at blistering speed.

We watched until they shrank into specks across the ruined city. Then, step by step, we backed toward the Library.

“Shall we begin too.”

When the mentors were no bigger than thumbs, I turned.

Hesh bit his lip. Tom’s face stayed composed.

They looked at me, nodded.

I turned my body.

“Let’s go inside the Library.”