Chapter 11

The white restraint suit was covered with countless red laser dots. The moment the order to fire was given, I would be riddled with bullets.

More than ever, I needed Samra’s cooperation.

Without moving anything but my eyes, I glanced at him.

Unlike the standard Trial Response Agency uniform, Samra wore a white one.

Against the sea of dark-coloured uniforms surrounding us, his white attire made him stand out even more.

Samra placed a hand on my shoulder. As if to show everyone that it was safe to touch me, he even gave it a couple of reassuring pats.

“Han Goyo is human.”

A clear wave of murmurs spread through the crowd at Samra’s declaration.

Just then, the wall of uniformed personnel split in two, and a grey-haired man stepped forward.

The moment I saw the uniform covered in medals, I recognised him immediately.

Director Jang Seok-yoon, Commissioner of the Trial Response Agency.

Despite being well past sixty, he had the solid build of a man who had never neglected his training.

There was unmistakable authority in the eyes beneath his thick eyebrows.

I quickly greeted the most powerful man in the room.

“It’s an honour to meet you, Director. My name is Han Goyo.”

If I could, I would have bowed at a perfect ninety degrees, but moving recklessly now would probably get me shot to pieces. All I could manage was a respectful nod.

Jang Seok-yoon smiled knowingly.

“We’ve never met, yet you recognise my face. That’s supposed to be classified information.”

Then he strode directly toward me.

“Director!”

People hurriedly tried to stop him, but he paid them no attention.

“He’s human, isn’t he? And Samra’s here.”

Stopping right in front of me, he greeted me.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Jang Seok-yoon.”

His eyes carefully examined me.

“A handshake is… hmm, rather difficult, I see.”

My restraint suit bound both of my arms together, making that impossible.

Determined to appear as harmless as possible, I forced my brightest, most innocent smile.

“I’m sorry I can’t greet you properly. If it’s not too much to ask… could you have the snipers lower their rifles?”

At Jang Seok-yoon’s gesture, many of the red laser dots disappeared.

However, the ones aimed at my head and heart—the fatal spots—remained.

Samra might have confirmed I was human, but that didn’t make me any less suspicious.

Still, this was a huge improvement.

“Thank you.”

“Hoho. I’d love to have them all stand down, but old age has made me rather cautious. I hope you understand, Goyo.”

“Of course.”

I smiled politely while staying on full alert.

Jang Seok-yoon looked like a kindly old man, but he was terrifying.

He devoted himself entirely to the nation and the Trial Response Agency, believing that sacrifices were inevitable in the pursuit of justice.

If I wasn’t careful, I might become one of those “necessary sacrifices.”

“I heard you’re a professional gamer. Esports, is it?”

“…Yes.”

“Quite an impressive young man. So how did someone like you end up here?”

This was the moment to make my move.

With practically everyone in the Agency gathered here, I had to convince them that I wasn’t merely useful—

I had to prove I was indispensable.

“Director.”

“Hmm?”

“Please save me.”

It was so unexpected that Jang Seok-yoon burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha!”

Still smiling, he asked,

“And if I do?”

I made my declaration to the entire Trial Response Agency.

“Give me one month, and I’ll bring you three True Ending clears.”

If my hands weren’t bound, I would have held up three fingers.

Please… just let me live, Director.

I stared at him with burning determination.

It was a calculated gamble.

My limbs depended on entering Trials anyway.

If Jang Seok-yoon accepted my proposal, I’d be able to enter them with the full backing of the Agency.

And the Jang Seok-yoon I knew…

…would never reject an offer like this.

The smile vanished from his face.

His eyes became as sharp as a tiger’s.

“Are you saying your success this time wasn’t luck?”

“That’s correct.”

“Samra.”

“Han Goyo’s statement is factual. He possesses sufficient ability to fulfil his proposal.”

Samra met Jang Seok-yoon’s gaze directly.

“Furthermore, Han Goyo’s identity has been verified.”

His unblinking stare was distinctly inhuman.

His appearance might have been human, but his eyes made no effort to conceal the machine beneath the skin.

“This is the judgment of Samramansang, acting on behalf of the Trial Response Agency.”

Silence settled heavily over the room.

No one had expected Samra to defend me so openly.

“Well now…”

Jang Seok-yoon finally spoke after a long pause.

“At my age, very little surprises me anymore. Yet you’ve managed to give this old man’s heart quite a workout.”

He raised one hand.

Every remaining red laser sight vanished.

Inside, I let out a long breath of relief.

I’m alive…

“Let’s find somewhere quieter to talk. Come with me. Samra as well.”

He turned and began walking away.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t follow.

My legs were tied together too, so I’d need a wheelchair or something similar.

Samra quietly called after him.

“Director.”

“Ah… You’re right. That was thoughtless of me. My apologies.”

Only then did Jang Seok-yoon notice my predicament and order that I be released from the restraint suit.

At last…

I was finally free.

They gave me the comfortable training clothes worn by Trial Response Agency personnel.

I almost cried with joy.

From now on, I’ll be a model citizen.

I never wanted to wear another restraint suit again.

After changing, Samra and I entered the Director’s office together.

The office looked exactly as it had in the pixel-art game.

Even the decorative orchid sat in the exact same place.

It looked as though someone had simply copied and pasted the room.

Just how much had the game’s creator known?

Surely no ordinary human could have recreated reality so perfectly.

“Han Goyo.”

Jang Seok-yoon, who had been gazing out the window with his hands clasped behind his back, turned toward me.

“Do you know why the Trial Response Agency was established?”

I knew, but pretended otherwise.

“No.”

“We’re a government organisation created to respond to national disasters and threats caused by Higher Existences.”

His voice remained calm.

“Until moments ago, we classified you as one of those Higher Existences—a national catastrophe. Now that we’ve confirmed you’re human, that judgment has merely been suspended.”

Suspended.

Not withdrawn.

Considering how suspicious I looked, that was understandable.

“Regardless, you’re clearly special. This is the first time I’ve ever seen Samra take someone’s side so firmly.”

He smiled playfully before becoming serious once again.

“Can you truly clear True Endings?”

“If you place your trust in me, I’ll repay it.”

He stared at me thoughtfully.

“You remind me of myself when I was young.”

…That was a compliment, right?

After hesitating briefly, I answered,

“Thank you.”

Apparently amused, he chuckled softly before picking up a folder from his desk.

“More and more Trials are hatching, while the number of compatible Awakened is nowhere near enough. Permanently closing them is even more difficult.”

There was unmistakable helplessness in his voice.

It was the helplessness of someone trapped in quicksand—struggling endlessly while things only grew worse.

“It’s an age that needs heroes.”

He said it as though it were a joke.

But he meant every word.

“Whatever you truly are, Goyo… if you can reduce the number of Trials on Korean soil by even one…”

He held the folder out to me.

“Then I will support you with everything I have.”

“I’ll do my utmost.”

I accepted the folder respectfully.

The deal was made.

As Commissioner of the Trial Response Agency, Jang Seok-yoon issued his orders.

“Effective immediately, a Special Operations Team will be formed under Han Goyo’s leadership for a period of one month. Every Field Response Team leader will be assigned to the unit, with Samra serving as its support.”

Samra saluted crisply.

I couldn’t quite believe it.

I had expected some assistance, but not an entirely new task force.

And not just any team—

Every Field Response Team leader.

Plus Samra.

The absolute elite of the Agency.

“As for Han Goyo’s official status…”

I finally opened the folder.

“Recruit.”

Inside was an official Trial Response Agency Recruit Contract bearing the Director’s seal.

“While serving as a recruit, you’ll reside within Agency facilities under our protection.”

Smiling warmly, Jang Seok-yoon added,

“I’m looking forward to working with you, Recruit Han.”

And just like that…

I became a one-month recruit of the Trial Response Agency.

*

Standing before the mirror, I awkwardly adjusted my sleeves.

The dark navy uniform, decorated with silver trim, had a sleek appearance.

The complete uniform included a cap and gloves, but unless there was an official ceremony, most people simply wore the jacket, so I did the same.

To think I’d actually end up wearing a Trial Response Agency uniform…

The existence of Trials.

My becoming a recruit.

None of it felt real.

As a temporary one-month recruit, I’d spent my first night in what they politely called “quarters” but was really a containment room.

It was essentially a studio apartment with its own bathroom—comfortable enough for one person.

I’d collapsed from exhaustion, slept soundly, eaten breakfast from the cafeteria tray the next morning, and changed into my uniform.

Now I was simply waiting for someone to come fetch me.

It all felt strangely dreamlike.

I’d been staring into the mirror for quite some time when someone knocked.

The heavy steel door opened.

The moment I saw who it was, I quickly bowed.

“Good morning.”

“Morning, Goyo. It’s Gwak Han-muk.”

Opening the door wide, Gwak Han-muk unexpectedly bowed a full ninety degrees back at me.

Caught completely off guard, I waved my hands in panic.

“You don’t have to be so formal. I’m younger than you anyway. Please speak casually.”

“Really? Then you can call me big brother.”

That somehow made things even more awkward.

“Want me to give you a nickname? Was it Chestnut?”

Wrong chestnut…

“Just Goyo is fine.”

Being called “Chestnut” in real life sounded unbearably embarrassing.

“Guess it’s because you’re tall. The uniform suits you.”

“Thank you.”

“Hmm. You look more normal than I expected. Don’t you think so, Lieutenant Mo?”

Only then did Mo Hae-in step out from behind Gwak Han-muk.

She had arrived with him, but his large frame had completely hidden her.

“Good morning, Lieutenant.”

I bowed politely again.

She remained silent for a moment.

Considering the last time we’d met involved my head exploding…

…I was understandably nervous.

Yeah… she witnessed that.

She studied me with a peculiar expression before giving a brief nod.

“Let’s work well together for the next month, Recruit.”

The tension I’d been unconsciously carrying finally melted away.

Smiling slightly, I replied,

“Likewise.”

The two of them led me to the Special Operations Team office.

It wasn’t far from my quarters.

As we walked, I could feel curious stares from every direction.

I’d hoped to explore the Agency building someday, but it looked like I’d be confined for the foreseeable future.

The Special Operations office had been assembled in just a single day, so it still looked somewhat unfinished.

Packing boxes remained stacked in one corner.

A large round conference table dominated another.

The break room, however, was completely stocked.

Massage chair.

Folding bed.

Sofa.

Even gaming consoles.

Expensive-looking snacks filled the shelves, while a refrigerator and espresso machine completed the setup.

Curiously, though…

There were no desks.

No computers.

No projector.

No meeting room.

As I wondered why, an android appeared carrying a tray filled with coffee and snacks.

Ah.

Samra.

With a supercomputer handling every administrative task, the field personnel only needed to focus on fieldwork.

Individual paperwork could always be done back in each team leader’s office.

Only a team wealthy enough to have Samra as support could afford such luxury.

Watching him with unconcealed envy, I saw Samra place the tray on the table.

“Welcome, Han Goyo.”

There were four cups of coffee—including one for the android himself.

Future technology apparently allowed machines to drink liquids without issue.

Watching Samra serve coffee left both Gwak Han-muk and Mo Hae-in staring in disbelief.

Gwak Han-muk asked with complete seriousness,

“Samra… are you sick? Or… wait, what do I even call it? Have you been hacked?”

“I am functioning normally. Furthermore, current Earth technology is incapable of hacking me.”

Taking a sip of iced coffee like any ordinary person, Samra projected a holographic screen into the air in place of a projector.

“The Special Operations Team meeting will now begin.”

Ignoring the rustling sounds of Gwak Han-muk pouring sugar into his coffee, Samra began the briefing.

“Our first Trial will be Dead Zone Delivery.”

The Special Operations Team’s first mission…

…was a zombie game.