ICWDS 13

Chapter 13

Special Treatment (2)

“Gaseong-ssi. You can come out now.”

Surprisingly, I was released from the holding cell after just a single day.

They must have recognized my sincere intentions in trying to save Colonel Cho and cleared up the misunderstanding.

“Park-hyung, how is Colonel Cho doing?”

“Fractured scapula. Penetrating wound through the shoulder joint. Severe tears in the pectoralis major, deltoid, and trapezius muscles. Fractured ribs, chest stab wounds, and vascular-nerve damage. Fourteen weeks of medical rest.”

“Sounds brutal.”

Usually, patients who received my special treatment took six weeks at most to recover.

However, due to the corruptor’s resistance and interference from the surrounding military officers, his injuries had ended up far worse.

“Still, Colonel Cho was cured, right?”

“Cured…?”

“I mean, Colonel Cho was a corruptor. Didn’t I treat him?”

“……Wow.”

Park Dokyung stared at me silently for a moment.

“Were you actually being serious?”

“Huh?”

“You really were……”

Park Dokyung looked genuinely marveled.

“Huh? Was he not?”

“The odds of a man who’s never even stepped foot into a Dark Zone becoming a corruptor are pretty low.”

“Wait, then why did he pull that commie nonsense back there? Unless he was a corruptor, there’s no reason to block the soldiers from getting treated.”

“Hahaha……”

Park Dokyung let out a hollow laugh before explaining the underlying situation.

“It was probably for his promotion. If the reconnaissance unit’s Dark Zone sorties drop, it directly affects his promotion evaluation.”

“What?”

Preventing soldiers from getting treated and shoving them into death’s door… just for a promotion?

“Is he even human?”

“There are plenty of beasts in this world that you shouldn’t bother treating like human beings.”

So those things he was bellowing at the top of his lungs in the ward weren’t some evil plot by a corruptor?

“Then how did I get out?”

“Well, at first they were making a huge fuss, blabbering about throwing you in jail for attempted murder and whatnot.”

Park Dokyung casually flashed the contract.

It was the special treatment agreement signed between me and the Bureau, and he pointed to a specific clause.

“‘The Hunter Management Bureau hereby specifies that it shall act as the legal and medical proxy, fulfilling, responding to, and resolving all legal and medical liabilities of the Special Therapist’?”

“Your special treatment was strictly an act to treat Colonel Cho Yanggi. The Bureau guarantees this and promises to handle any legal disputes.”

Park Dokyung added that on that very night, the Bureau Director had held a showdown with the Capital Defense Commander.

Appeals were raised, and voices got exceptionally loud, but seeing as I was walking out free, it looked like our Bureau Director had won.

“The Bureau holds quite a bit of clout. The Ministry of National Defense can’t afford to clash with us over a mere colonel.”

Fact of the matter was, Colonel Cho’s Karma Index had actually gone down, which proved crucial.

Though the method of special treatment was rather unorthodox, the index for over twenty soldiers had already dropped significantly.

From the military’s perspective, having force that could continuously lower its Karma Index and be redeployed was far more attractive.

A reconnaissance battalion commander’s promotion issues meant nothing compared to that.

“Still, would they really go that far for just one person like me?”

The Bureau Director… A figure suddenly far too high up in the clouds had stepped into the picture.

Hadn’t he practically fought with the Capital Defense Commander just to pull me out of the holding cell and prevent my prosecution?

“Because you’re irreplaceable, Gaseong-ssi.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t think you quite realize your own standing yet, but ever since the connection to the Dark World, stopping ‘corruption’ has been the single ultimate objective for all of humanity.”

None of the organizations worldwide dealing with the Dark World had found a way to fundamentally prevent corruption.

“Remember when I said if your existence got out, nations would go to war to claim you? That was no joke. Reversing someone who has already fallen to corruption is practically a miracle.”

Treating the soldiers first was also because military personnel were obligated to keep state secrets.

In fact, the Bureau was doing everything in its power to ensure my identity wasn’t leaked.

“For now, we’re introducing you as a ‘Special Therapist’ who can lower the Karma Index somewhat, but eventually, even this excuse will hit its limit. You need to prepare for that time.”

“Didn’t you say I’m extremely precious?”

“There are always people who can’t stand seeing others possess something precious.”

There would definitely be the type who’d rather kill what they couldn’t have.

“The military doesn’t know the full scope yet, but just knowing you can lower the Karma Index gives them a good guess about your value. That’s why they decided not to make a big scene.”

“I suppose that’s the rational response.”

“Indeed it is.”

In the end, since he had technically received treatment, Colonel Cho couldn’t even be prosecuted and was left stuck in the hospital.

I thought the issue with the soldiers’ special treatment was settled.

“I think we’ll have to postpone the treatment scheduled today for Sergeant Baek Jinsung. The other soldiers too.”

“Did something happen?”

“Colonel Cho put a freeze on their leave.”

He isn’t even a corruptor, so why is he acting so petty?

Even though the special treatment for the soldiers was put on hold, it didn’t bring any major changes to my daily routine.

Except that my previously busy life got a bit more laid-back.

“The Bureau will handle the issues with the Ministry of National Defense. Just rest for a while.”

Team Leader Park Dokyung also seemed to think Colonel Cho was a real headache that would take time to resolve.

“By the way, Gaseong-ssi. I know this might sound a bit strange to you.”

“What is it?”

“An inquiry came in asking if ‘secret treatment’ was possible.”

Secret treatment?

Weren’t all the soldiers put under leave restrictions, unable to step outside their unit?

I heard they were blocking official medical requests from going through, too.

“Weren’t they unable to leave?”

“The enlisted troops can’t leave. But the officers can, can’t they?”

“What does that… Ah!”

Only the conscripted soldiers were subject to leave bans.

The officers could freely enter and leave while commuting.

“They blocked the soldiers from getting treated, but want to get treated themselves?”

The officers who had been chiming in behind Colonel Cho flashed distinctly in my mind.

Weren’t those the same guys raising their voices, saying corruption was due to weak willpower and that one had to endure with military spirit?

What was this? Were they not soldiers?

As I stared in sheer disbelief, Park Dokyung offered a bitter reply.

“That’s just how the military is.”

The word ‘military’ truly had a magical way of explaining things.

“But wait, the applicants are only field officers and company officers. Aren’t NCOs in a much more urgent situation?”

According to Park Dokyung, Dark Zone reconnaissance was conducted at the squad level.

An NCO always served as squad leader, usually one or two per team.

Then their Karma Index should be much higher; why were field and company officers—who didn’t even need to step into the Dark Zone—the ones making contact?

“Their Karma Index isn’t even over 2,000.”

“Their own bodies are precious to them, I suppose. Even if they don’t enter the Dark Zone directly, they often wait nearby.”

I was dumbfounded.

They shoved sergeants and corporals with scores over 5,000 into danger while spouting nonsense about ‘military spirit,’ yet the officers watching from the outside were trembling and begging for treatment at barely 2,000?

Is this really the 21st-century South Korean military?

“Ugh, damn. I’m so glad I was exempted.”

“Well, if you can avoid the military, avoiding it is for the best.”

According to Team Leader Park Dokyung, if an NCO or soldier awakened while serving in a reconnaissance battalion, hell opened up for them that very day.

You awakened? Oh, so you have leeway until 10,000, right?

With military spirit, you can push through to 15,000, can’t you?

You don’t want to? Are you disobeying orders? You want to go to the stockade?

“Why do you know that in such detail?”

“……”

“……”

Patting Park Dokyung’s shoulder to offer some quiet comfort, I thought to myself once again.

I’m so glad I was exempted.

For a while after that, I trained continuously with Kang Chunghwa.

Park Dokyung occasionally dropped by to assist, mostly giving me practical tips regarding hand-to-hand combat and common sense inside Dark Zones.

[Blood! I crave blood! Give me blood!!]

Because I wasn’t stabbing soldiers for treatment and was only training, the Black Crow started showing withdrawal symptoms again.

Just as I was thinking it might be time to take on a hunter mission, Park Dokyung came over with a new assignment.

“Gaseong-ssi. Want to head into a Dark Zone with us today?”

“Is that okay?”

“It’ll be in the form of us hiring you as external personnel, but treat it as a training session on the side.”

The Bureau’s Special Task Division was a frontline strike force for Dark Zone clearings.

With Team Leader Park Dokyung of Special Task Team 2 by my side, the skilled agents in his team would easily carry me through.

It was a great opportunity to get carried while learning real combat. There was no reason to refuse.

Two more members joined the Special Task Team, faces I had seen occasionally while passing by.

“Heeey~ Gaseong-ssi! After training with Agent Kang, we finally get to work together.”

Agent Jang Taesik, characterized by a massive shield and a heavy flail.

“It’s our first time formally greeting each other, right? I’m Min Dohyun.”

Agent Min Dohyun, who carried a sharp look and held a long spear.

Including Park Dokyung and Kang Chunghwa, these four made up Special Task Team 2.

“If you’re Team 2, does that mean there’s Team 1 and other teams as well?”

“There are about ten teams in total. You need at least that many to rotate through the Dark Zones.”

“Speaking of which, isn’t Team 1 due to return soon? I heard they’re on a long-term mission, so their Karma must have accumulated quite a bit.”

“If nothing goes wrong, they can just come back and get treated by Gaseong-ssi.”

I sure had a lot of people to ‘treat.’

We headed toward the Dark Zone that Team 2 was assigned to clear, and there I ran into a familiar face.

“Oh, isn’t that the mister who was standing behind that colonel?”

“You little…!”

The moment he saw us, the captain-ranked officer’s face turned bright red.

Since Colonel Cho was hospitalized, did this guy come in his place?

Why was a captain hanging around here anyway?

Park Dokyung voiced that question for me.

“Company Commander Park Manho, what are you doing here?”

It wasn’t just Captain Park Manho. The other officers I had seen back in the ward were also standing around with anxious, restless expressions.

Wait, their faces looked familiar… Weren’t they the very guys who had applied for secret special treatment?

“What do you think you’re doing coming here?! The reconnaissance hasn’t finished yet!”

“Pardon? It’s been three days since this Dark Zone opened, and the reconnaissance still isn’t done?”

“There was an unexpected situation on site, so it’s temporarily delayed! It’ll be resolved shortly, so back off!”

“We cannot do that. Three days after a Gate opens, the assault must proceed, whether handled by a civilian clear team or the Special Task Division.”

“I said get the hell out of here!!”

Suspicious. My instincts were ringing alarms.

Something had definitely blown up.

[The smell of blood…! Ooh! The scent of blood is suffocating! Host, over there! Let’s go over there!]

While Park Dokyung and the captain bickered, I slipped over to a tent pitched near the Gate.

It was a temporary medical tent set up around the perimeter, and inside lay injured reconnaissance soldiers.

What the… They’re injured this badly, so why haven’t they been sent to a hospital?

“Did you come from the Special Task Division?!”

Just then, a soldier with his head tightly wrapped in bandages called out to me.

Looking at his name tag, his name was Sergeant Yoon Gihun.

“Uh… something like that. Is your body holding up okay?”

“Ah, yes… I’m still alive, sir.”

Sergeant Yoon Gihun looked at me with desperate eyes.

“When will the clearing start? Every second counts…”

“Is something happening inside? We just arrived.”

“Sergeant Baek… Sergeant Baek Jinsung is still inside!”

Sergeant Baek Jinsung?

At the familiar name, I recalled the list of special treatment candidates.

He was the soldier who couldn’t receive treatment due to Colonel Cho Yanggi’s order.

His Karma Index was definitely around 5,800…

I stepped out of the tent feeling dazed.

Outside, Park Dokyung was still arguing with the captain.

“We need to enter immediately!”

“I told you, the Dark Zone reconnaissance isn’t finished! Come back tomorrow!”

If an ordinary soldier with a Karma Index reaching near 6,000 was isolated inside a Dark Zone for an entire day?

Before survival even came into play, corruption was virtually a certainty.

Holy mother of bastard.

The moment I realized the captain’s intention, I was appalled.

The officers standing over there must have known what he was up to as well.

These were people who usually refused to step anywhere near a Gate out of fear of contamination, yet here they were crowding around in a group. There was no other reason than to block external access.

Was this really something people calling themselves soldiers could think up?

If it weren’t for Cho Yanggi, I never would have imagined such foul intentions.

“Black Crow.”

[Damn it! Such a waste of blood! At least give me the blood those guys over there are spilling!]

“I’ll give you fresher blood, so just wait a second.”

[Huh?]

I carefully examined the faces of the reconnaissance officers standing in the way of the Special Task Team.

Hmm, yep, I recognize every single one of them.

They were the ones who secretly applied for special treatment behind the scenes after their battalion commander got sliced up by me.

Even Captain Kang Manho, who was currently shouting at Park Dokyung.

“Captain Kang Manho?”

“Who’s calling me?”

Captain Kang Manho turned around at the mention of his name.

I asked him directly.

“You applied for special treatment, right?”

“Huh? What are you talking about—”

He trailed off, but I already had the application list memorized. I had already unwrapped the bandages binding the Black Crow.

“Treatment commencing!”

The Cursed Sword plunged straight into Captain Kang Manho’s shoulder.

“AAAAAARRGGHH!”

“Th-this crazy bastard again!”

“You little shit! What the hell do you think you’re—!”

Having successfully delivered ‘special treatment’ to Captain Kang Manho, I pulled out the Black Crow, which was actively draining his blood in real-time.

Looking at the panicked officers, I double-checked the list in my head. The next rank is that guy.

“Next patient! First Lieutenant Ju Yangwoo!”

“W-Wait, what…?!”

“Patient, please stay still~ You’ll get hurt if you dodge!!”

Stab!

“AAAAAARRGGHH!”

“Next patient!”

Stab!

“NEEEEXT PATIENT!! STAY STILL!!”

Stab!

Stab!

Stab!!

“Whew~ Treatment complete.”

Having treated five officers in the blink of an eye, I savored the proud satisfaction of a doctor who had just saved his patients’ lives.

I ended up a bit covered in blood, but I suppose this too was the heavy burden carried by those who save lives.

“Does anyone else hold command authority… I mean, are there any more patients left?”

There was no answer.