Chapter : 7
A New Beginning (6)
“Earlier, President Jo Seung-hyeon said something, didn’t he?”
“What did he say?”
There had been something Jo Seung-hyeon mentioned before introducing the Black Bear earlier. ‘For most of you, this will probably be your first time doing this kind of work.’ Su-hyeon had wanted to ask what that meant, but the conversation had moved on before he could. Still, it kept bothering him.
He had thought that most of the people gathered here were experienced soldiers. It didn’t make sense for this to be their first time.
When he asked about it, Kim Chang-sik shrugged.
“I was wondering what you were getting at. It’s because most of us—including me—served on Earth, not on the Cameron Planet.”
“…?!”
Su-hyeon was genuinely shocked. They hadn’t served on the Cameron Planet?
“That’s why a lot of people here are doing operations in this region for the first time. As for someone who’s actually fought around here before… maybe Team Leader Lee So-hee?”
“You’re saying you’ve never even done an operation here?!”
“What’s the problem? Don’t underestimate us. Do you have any idea how much rough terrain I’ve been through? This is nothing. Same goes for the others.”
Su-hyeon was dumbfounded. Sure, they weren’t complete rookies—soldiers who had served in other regions adapted faster than true beginners. Still, it usually took time and trial and error.
On top of that, armies tasked with defending already-secured human territory were fundamentally different from mercenaries who had to roam unexplored regions. Even soldiers who had worked on the Cameron Planet needed time to adapt when they became mercenaries—so Earth-based soldiers?
Their basic skills might be solid, but when it came to common sense on the Cameron Planet, they were bound to be clueless.
And this is usually when a major accident happens.
Individually capable people, but poor teamwork. Equipment that felt just a bit unreliable. And insufficient adaptation on top of that. Sure, they could handle moderate danger—but the Cameron Planet was the kind of place where anything could happen at any time.
Up until now, Su-hyeon hadn’t been tense at all. But after hearing this, he started to feel uneasy. Misreading his expression, Kim Chang-sik laughed.
“Don’t worry. I said it’s dangerous, but nothing serious will happen. The monsters around this area are well within what we can handle.”
That kind of baseless confidence is exactly what makes me nervous!
Su-hyeon had planned to keep quiet and just follow along—but he changed his mind. This team was practically made up of rookies fighting on the Cameron Planet for the first time. As a newcomer who hadn’t even been here long, he had little authority and had intended to stay in the background. But if he left things like this, a major incident was bound to happen sooner or later.
They needed training.
* * *
“Hey. Gorgan. Come to think of it, this planet’s your hometown, right? Ever been around here?”
“No. And my hometown is the wasteland.”
“Damn it. There’s really no one useful here.”
They were currently advancing through the jungle in single file. Team Leader Lee So-hee, mounted in the Black Bear power armor, cut a path at the front while the others followed behind. Under normal circumstances, it was a flawless tactic.
“Halt. We’ll take a short break, then move again.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The members stopped, spreading out at intervals as they rested. Walking through a humid jungle while staying alert was more exhausting than expected.
“You’re keeping up well, rookie.”
“It’s not that hard.”
“Don’t pretend it’s easy. Acting tough won’t make the job any easier.”
“No, really, it’s not hard at all…”
There was no point arguing further. Su-hyeon lifted the canteen hanging at his side and drank. Everything he was using—from his combat suit to his rifle—had been provided by Jo Seung-hyeon. Naturally, he’d have to pay it all back.
You could tell a lot about a company by the quality of the gear it issued. A place that gave rookies low-quality equipment wasn’t a good one. They figured rookies might die at any moment, so giving them good gear was a waste of money.
From that perspective, Jo Seung-hyeon seemed like a decent man. Su-hyeon’s equipment was no different from anyone else’s. It was a generous investment for someone with no experience at all.
“…?!”
The moment Su-hyeon suddenly grabbed his rifle, the others stared at him in confusion.
Pffft!
With a suppressor attached, the gunshot wasn’t loud—but the result was unmistakable. The bullet pierced straight through the body of a bird flying overhead.
“What are you doing?!”
Ignoring the voices beside him, Su-hyeon focused on shooting. As one bird in the flock was sniped, the others scattered in panic. They were fast and small targets, but Su-hyeon’s shots were precise.
One shot, one kill.
Even those who had tried to stop him in confusion found themselves impressed by his accuracy.
“How did he—”
No, that’s not the point.
Coming to his senses, Kim Chang-sik shouted.
“What the hell are you doing, rookie?!”
“Don’t interfere!”
“What are you saying, you lunatic?! Stop it!”
Kim Chang-sik grabbed Su-hyeon’s shoulder. At the same time, Su-hyeon fired at the last remaining bird—but the impact caused the bullet to graze past its wing. The bird escaped into the sky.
“Damn it! I missed!”
“Are you ignoring me?!”
Kim Chang-sik’s face reddened as he yelled, frustrated by Su-hyeon completely ignoring him.
“That’s enough. Corporal Kim Su-hyeon. What was the meaning of that shooting just now?”
“That bird must be killed on sight.”
“…?”
Su-hyeon picked up one of the birds that had fallen to the ground. It was an ordinary-looking bird with reddish feathers—nothing that seemed dangerous.
“What do you mean by that?”
“This bird is commonly called the Calcutta Crocodile Bird. On its own, it’s completely harmless. The problem is that it roams around, finds suitable prey, and then calls other monsters.”
The Calcutta Crocodile Bird. On Earth, the idea that crocodiles and plover birds live in symbiosis was a misconception—but the Calcutta version of the crocodile bird was infamous for maintaining symbiotic relationships with monsters.
It flew around, spotted intruders or easy prey, and lured monsters to them. Once the monsters devoured the prey, the bird fed on the remains. It was essentially a scout for other monsters.
Because it was such a nuisance, Su-hyeon always shot them the moment he saw them. If they were dead, they couldn’t send a signal. They were small and agile, making them hard to hit—but for Su-hyeon, it was as easy as breathing.
After hearing the explanation, the team members stared at him in disbelief. None of them had ever heard of such a monster.
Information about the Cameron Planet was rarely well-organized. The military did have compiled data on famous monsters, but it was classified. Ironically, PMC units roaming the front lines often knew more—and they guarded that information even more closely.
That was why knowledge like this was hard to obtain without direct field experience. The Cameron Planet was vast, and every region had its own unique traits.
“Corporal Kim Su-hyeon. I was told you have no actual combat experience. May I ask how you know something like this?”
“My father was a soldier on this planet. My mother was as well. Everything I heard growing up was about this planet.”
Lee So-hee thought for a moment with a stiff expression, then nodded.
“Understood. Then is the danger gone now?”
“No. One of them escaped. Monsters will definitely be coming this way.”
“I—I didn’t do it on purpose…”
Kim Chang-sik apologized awkwardly, his face red. Su-hyeon waved it off.
“It was my fault. I should’ve said something before shooting. I acted out of urgency.”
“But are you really sure? If you’re wrong, we’re just wasting time.”
“It’s a worthwhile waste of time. For safety, it’s more than enough.”
When one of the members objected, Lee So-hee responded firmly. The information Su-hyeon provided felt vivid—like something only someone with firsthand experience could say. It didn’t sound baseless. Even just in case, preparation was necessary.
Good thing the team leader is broad-minded.
Su-hyeon thought to himself. If she had been narrow-minded, she might have seen his actions as a challenge to her authority. After all, he had fired without permission.
At least now he knew she wasn’t that rigid. If Su-hyeon spoke convincingly, she would likely listen within reason.
“Let’s move. If your parents ever mentioned what to do if we’re discovered, did they say anything?”
“The best method is to shoot all the birds. That’s the optimal solution.”
It wasn’t something his parents had said—it was Su-hyeon’s own rule—but it didn’t matter.
“And the next option?”
“The second-best is to join up with other units and increase our numbers. The monsters in Calcutta are cunning. If the enemy doesn’t look weak, they won’t attack.”
“That’s not possible. It’s just us here. That’s a tactic only the military can use.”
“The worst option is relocating to advantageous terrain. An open area is best—easy to concentrate firepower and detect approaching monsters. They didn’t recommend retreating or running away.”
“Why is that?”
“Once the bird spots you and monsters start coming, you should assume they’re tracking you. Even if you move, in this jungle, monsters are faster and have better detection than humans. It’s better to deal with pursuers as you go. Ignoring them can get you attacked from behind at a critical moment.”
“Corporal Kim Su-hyeon.”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Excellent. The CEO didn’t recruit you for nothing. I don’t know much about the Calcutta region myself. If you have any suggestions during the mission, don’t hesitate to speak up immediately.”
“Thank you.”
This was the best response he could have hoped for. Lee So-hee would clearly see Su-hyeon as an advisor—albeit a limited one.
