Chapter 47— "Observation Tower"
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**Western Peninsula Military HQ – Night.**
Helicopter blades slowed—WHUMP… WHUMP… WHUMP…
Mechs touched down with heavy THUDS—ground shaking.
Hasegawa jumped out first—boots hitting concrete.
Her team followed—rifles up, formation tight.
She turned to the pilots.
"Keep engines hot. Any sign of trouble—lift off immediately. No waiting."
The pilots saluted.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Hasegawa looked up at the mechs.
"You two—stay here. We'll check if the path is safe."
Mio's voice boomed from the cockpit speakers.
"No. I'm coming."
Hasegawa spun—eyes narrow.
"Stubborn little—"
She exhaled sharply.
"Fine. But stay sharp."
She turned to her team.
"Formation. Slow. Rifles ready. Finger off trigger until I say."
The soldiers snapped into line—perfect military rhythm.
**"YES, MA'AM!"**
They moved out—single file, weapons angled, eyes scanning every shadow.
Hasegawa led—rifle low, body leaning forward slightly, ready to drop or fire in a heartbeat.
They reached the HQ entrance, half roof gone.
She signaled one soldier.
"Check inside."
He nodded—moved forward slow.
Door creaked open.
Inside—dark.
Tables smashed.
Chairs overturned.
Blood—everywhere.
Smell hit like a wall—thick, coppery, rotting.
He covered his nose.
Searched.
No bodies.
Just blood.
He backed out.
"Nothing inside. Just blood. Destroyed room."
Hasegawa nodded once.
"No bodies?"
"None, ma'am."
"Okay. Let's go."
They continued—through empty streets.
Broken lights flickered.
Wind howled through shattered windows.
Silence pressed in—heavy, suffocating.
Every step echoed too loud.
BOOM.
Insect-like mana monsters swarmed—small, fast, claws clicking.
Soldiers opened fire—controlled bursts.
Creatures dropped—purple blood spraying.
They kept moving.
Past ruined shops.
Past overturned cars.
Past silence that felt like eyes watching.
They reached the observation tower—tall, concrete, half its windows gone.
Hasegawa signaled.
"Inside."
They entered—slow, weapons up.
Stairs creaked.
Top floor.
Door opened.
Four people inside—two women, two men—rifles raised instantly.
"CONTACT!"
Hasegawa shouted.
"Don't shoot! Reinforcement!"
Guns lowered.
Four relieved faces.
Hasegawa's team entered.
Mechs powered down outside—Kaito and Mio climbed out.
The four saluted.
Hasegawa nodded.
"Names."
The first girl—short hair, sharp eyes.
"I'm Kim Ji-Won. This is my partner Park Hyung-Seok."
She gestured to the next.
"That's Park Min-young. And her partner Jin-young."
Kaito bowed—polite.
Jin-young stepped forward—hand out.
But saw the bow.
Pulled back—bowed instead.
Kaito—seeing the bow—stopped bowing, reached out.
Jin-young—seeing the hand—stopped bowing, reached out.
They froze—mid-motion.
Kaito laughed—awkward.
"I'm Kaito. She's Mio."
He looked at Min-young—smiled.
"She's beautiful."
Jin-young grinned.
"It's plastic."
Min-young—overhearing—kicked him in the shin.
"OW!"
Kaito laughed harder.
Another Soldier looking at Hyung.
"See, That's Hyung the monster slayer."
Another Soldier nods.
"And much handsome than i thought."
The room felt lighter.
Just for a second.
Outside—the wind howled.
The peninsula waited.
Silent.
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*End*