I Became the Dystopian Swordsman –
What needs to be done is clear.
Head to the city’s central control center and shut down all nuclear reactors.
That is an absolute, non-negotiable line.
The biggest reason I spent time acquiring the master key was for this.
So, I must harden my resolve.
I must be prepared to cut down anyone who stands in my way.
I have no intention of sacrificing my lifespan for someone else’s beliefs or personal convictions.
Stopping the nuclear reactors is the clearest way to extend my survival period.
—Just as this thought concludes.
Out of habit, my focus shifts.
Bzzzt—
Expressionless, yet their red lasers convey their hostility—androids.
“My apologies for the disturbance.”
I walk past them toward the door.
“This must be it.”
As I reach for the button that opens the entrance to the top floor, one of the androids approaches.
Surely, they aren’t trying to stop me now.
In the android’s hand is a small terminal.
Bzzzt—
“Ah, this is….”
A terminal containing Gale’s message.
Probably an order left for Vergo.
“Almost forgot.”
As I take the card-shaped terminal, a message appears.
[To My Dear Vergo]
Invisible text.
Due to my dyslexia trait, I can’t read anything outside the system.
Losing interest, I press the access button without hesitation.
Screech— Clunk.
Beyond the now-open door stands a motionless formation of bodyguards, waiting.
“Hmm.”
“Ugh…!”
Amidst them, Vergo’s sharp gaze locks onto me.
It wasn’t hard to guess what he was looking at.
“Are those the Chairman’s glasses?”
“Yes.”
“I see. I don’t know the details, but it seems things worked out.”
As Vergo finishes speaking, several bodyguards step forward to check Gale’s condition.
I had no intention of stopping them.
They, too, needed to confirm his state.
But ironically, it was the androids who blocked them.
Bzzzzzt—
—Warning. Entry prohibited.
—Unauthorized entry will result in immediate termination.
“……Why are they doing this?”
“The Chairman has entered hibernation. The androids must be guarding him in this state.”
“Then we have to check. Ensuring the client’s safety is our job.”
“Command authority over the androids lies with the Chairman.”
“Are you saying the Chairman ordered even us to be barred?”
In this situation, silence was synonymous with affirmation.
Vergo’s expression hardened.
“Did the Chairman leave any additional instructions?”
“Here.”
I hand him the terminal.
The card-shaped device was Gale’s personal memo pad.
“……Hm.”
As Vergo reads the message, his eyes grow increasingly clouded.
“Chief, what does it say?”
“Stand back and wait.”
“Ch-Chief?”
With symptoms worsening by the hour, those marked for mutation were acting uncharacteristically impatient.
That’s why Vergo couldn’t share the memo’s contents.
“Is all of this true?”
“I don’t know what it says, but judging by your expression, I can guess.”
“The… no, the change—is it real?”
His deliberate shift from “mutation” to “change” revealed his stance.
He was trying to prevent those showing signs of mutation from spiraling into further chaos.
“It’s real.”
Vergo’s expression grew increasingly conflicted.
And what settled at the end of that conflict was—
His comrades.
“Chief?”
“Tell us too. Does it say how to alleviate these symptoms?”
“You said you knew a treatment, right? Can you share it with us?”
They were human, too.
The greater the pain, the greater the confusion.
The phenomenon was tightening its grip on Vergo.
And soon, he would be forced to make a choice.
“How much time do we have left?”
“Eight hours.”
The time now was just past 3 o’clock.
In eight hours, the first mutant would appear.
And within three hours after that, most of the afflicted would transform.
“We’re heading to Bizen Pharmaceuticals. Now.”
Before the choice could be forced upon him, Vergo made the decision first.
Had the memo contained a way to mitigate the symptoms?
He chose to save his comrades—all of them.
However—
“I’m going to the central control center.”
I couldn’t set aside the bigger task for an uncertain solution.
“Did I hear wrong?”
“No.”
I couldn’t back down.
As I said—this was non-negotiable.
Vergo’s expression twisted into something rigid.
“Didn’t you come here to save the Chairman? Now you’re leaving?”
Perhaps driven by desperation, Vergo chose physical intimidation over words.
“Ch-Chief!”
“Stay back!”
Pressure on my neck.
Vergo grabbed my collar and yanked me forward.
“Say that again.”
Why did his grip feel so weak?
“I said I’m going to the central control center.”
Instead, my mind grew cold and clear.
At the same time, my gaze shifted to the surroundings.
Vergo’s violent reaction was only agitating the agents further.
So, I made a calculation.
What would be the most rational course for everyone?
First, I had to loosen his grip.
His hand, rough with calluses, clenched tightly around my collar.
I wrapped my fingers around it.
Then, I applied pressure.
“……!?!”
Vergo’s eyes flickered in shock.
His grip loosened effortlessly.
He stared at his palm as if he couldn’t believe it.
“You all should head to Bizen Pharmaceuticals.”
Since they’re not immediately necessary for survival, it shouldn’t matter.
“One way to mitigate the symptoms is to administer NH-03 suppressants.”
“W-Will that stop the symptoms?”
I shook my head.
“I can’t guarantee it. It’s just a possibility.”
“And if it doesn’t work…?”
“Beyond that, I can’t say. At worst… death is a possibility.”
The agents struggled to steady their breathing.
A sliver of hope—that was all they needed.
But Vergo, who had glimpsed the truth, reacted differently.
“Hey, we’re not done talking—”
“We don’t have time for this. Honestly, would my presence really make a difference?”
Did Gale guess the truth and write it in the memo?
NH-03 suppressants.
Would injecting them immediately reverse the altered genes?
The very reason they’re called suppressants is because they slowly ease symptoms, gradually restoring mutated genes to normal.
In other words—
It takes time.
That’s why the “hibernation” technology, which drastically slows the mutation rate, is essential.
And considering the gamble of an uncertain success rate, sending them to Bizen now was just tossing them false hope.
That’s why they want me with them. They think I have some kind of solution.
So, I drove in the final nail.
“Vergo, I don’t know any other methods. I don’t have anything beyond what you can do.”
That finality became a wedge, sealing the matter.
I truly knew nothing beyond suppressants.
A brief silence followed.
It stretched on, but I waited patiently.
Then—
Vergo, finally grasping the situation, wore a devastated expression.
“Why do you need to go to the central control center?”
“To shut down the reactors.”
“Why? Is there a more important reason?”
“The EMP fried all the power lines. The electricity generated by the plants isn’t being distributed properly. Worse, this city won’t be able to manage the fallout.”
“I can’t let you go.”
The crude greatsword in my hand still lacked any special functions.
But from the moment I gripped it, I knew.
These people were no match for me.
At least in hand-to-hand combat, the idea of losing had long vanished.
“Please. Just step aside.”
“I’m begging you. Just come with us.”
A dialogue of parallel lines.
The action that broke the stalemate was simple.
Slash.
The moment the thought formed, countless lines appeared in my vision.
I swung my hand lightly, following one of them.
[Slash LV.1]
Shhk—
There was no deafening roar.
Instead, the crisp sound of severing only made it eerier.
Vergo’s gaze dropped to the floor, mesmerized.
“Hey….”
“You’re next, Mr. Heinz.”
A clean gash marred the floor.
On closer inspection, its depth was unnatural.
The critical point was that a blade had sliced through the building’s foundation.
The surrounding eyes trembled in silent shock.
Vergo was no exception.
“Ch-Chief… Let’s just go.”
“He’s right. There’s no other way anyway.”
“We can handle finding the suppressants at Bizen ourselves.”
The agents made the most rational decision under the circumstances.
As I watched them quietly, Vergo finally spoke again.
“Are you from the military?”
“No.”
“For a civilian, you’ve got an awful lot of military-grade implants.”
“…….”
“What’s your name?”
“Kyle Han.”
“I’ll remember that. If this turns out to be a lie… well, I’ll leave the consequences to your imagination.”
A bitter smile escaped me.
So, I had to leave him with one last thing.
“A catastrophic event will happen someday. When it does, you’ll realize what I was trying to do.”
I had failed to keep Vergo as a friendly survivor.
A shame.
But if he ever understood the purpose behind my actions—
Maybe his stance would change.
“The Chairman won’t forgive this… Let’s move. To Bizen.”
Watching Vergo’s retreating back, I couldn’t shake the bitter aftertaste.
Just as it began to fade—
I accidentally locked eyes with someone watching from afar.
“……Mr. Han.”
“What are you doing here, Ellie?”
Ellie Wayris.
She must have been tailing me.