Leave The Monster Alone

The female led the pact, her eyes looking at the fallen monster with an unknown expression. From her body language, it was really difficult to tell what she was thinking but Mark was not interested in her reasons at all.

"A living specimen. What good fortune we have to get our hands on a living one. The data would be marvellous" that seems to be someone from the scientific department, her tone very excited. Her words proved just how she saw this monster - a specimen.

Mark could see Jean tense up, even more, her eyes clouding into a deeper shade of blue.

"Mark, give me some space. I'll do the honour of shooting this m-monster and put it out of its misery" it must have taken immense courage and willpower to get to this solution but she had made her decision now.

The breaking point was the inhuman comments from the scientific department, Mark was willing to bet on it with his life.

"Y-you can't do that. No, we need this specimen alive" the people seemed to be complaining but the female did not listen to them. Mark wanted to ask her if she was sure but her expression spoke so much for her.

If she did not do this today then she would never be able to stand on the battlefield again. This was for her resolution, her betterment and she needed the proof that it would help.

Mark gave her the way but he also kept his gun at the ready. In case she missed and messed up things, then he would end things with his own hands.

The gun was shaking in her hands which was not good. With her vision obstructed by small tears, the headstrong girl was nowhere to be found. She was once again a scared little girl who was helped by the people around her.

She was glad her team was not here because she could not face them now. Every mission she had even been on, she had acted as a backup for them. Even the young Alan and the twins who joined the training after she had advanced far beyond.

They did not hesitate, they did not question, they just did but here she was, scared. 

As a backup, she had never questioned her position before in the team. Their team was the best and as a part of it, she was by proxy - one of the best. It did not matter much to her but now she was beginning to see how wrong she was.

And she needed to shoot right now to overcome it all.

The gunshot was loud and the female's closed eyes did nothing to change the direction or aim of the shot. Mark was surprised that she had even been able to hit her mark but the scream caused her to flinch.

The monster had been hit in a crucial spot and Mark finished the job with a few well-placed shots. The monster went down with a cry.

"Why would you do this? I-I'll complain about you to the base captain" the scientists were not happy at all and they can try to complain about it as much as they like, they would not get anywhere.

"Do you feel better now?" Mark asked the female who seemed to be panting. The exertion was mentally taxing on her part and it showed in her moments and breathing. 

"I.HAVE.NEVER.BEEN.BETTER" the female was coming around now, her blown wide eyes finally looking straight at him with calmness.

Ah, she was alright now which was good. Mark should leave now.

"I see. Give Alan and others my regards in this matter. What were you doing out anyway?" Mark asked, now curious about this topic. Since nothing else was left to do now, he could relax and curl up with Kuro.

Also, the uploading had reached 100% a long while back but he had gotten no time to check what it meant at all. 

"I was just taking a stroll, nothing you need to worry about" the female was embarrassed today she had just wanted to have fun in nature. This was not a good enough excuse to be out in these times since the resources were limited in nature right now.

"I see. Have fun then. I have a post to report to" the day ended far too fast in Mark's opinion and the shop's shift was once again upon him. Luckily, as soon as he would be finished with it, he could go and retrieve Kuro. Her timer was about to be up too around the morning.

The duty was changed without much problem and there seemed to be no crowd around him. Really, the luckiest of his day today had been for him.

________________________

System mission complete: retrieve the vials

Reward: Extra vial + recipe 

Core absorption: 100% (Usage conditions not met: complete the quest - the hidden power inside to get access)

________________________

He read the reward and then read the whole thing and felt an incoming headache.

What kind of nonsense was this? He spent so long and tried so hard to get his hands on the vail only to be rewarded with another one along with the recipe for it? Why was the world like this?

Why did he feel mocked at every turn he took? It was clear that his luck had run out.

Even the counter drawers refused to open when he pulled them which only made him suffer. Everything was going well and now everything seemed to be not going well at all.

"Another thing that seems to mock me today. Why is this happening?" he asked no one, pulling on the drawer handle and it came out. Why? Why did these old fashioned things exist when system storage existed?

"Ehm" someone coughed to get his attention and it was another generic NPC he did not need to pay extra attention to. Still, he did turn to the other to at least hear him out in case it was an emergency.

"Are you looking for something specific?" Mark asked and then yelped in pain when the loose handle of the drawer fell down on his foot. If only for a few seconds, the shock plus pain made him see red.

The other looked awkward in front of him, his eyes shaking from side to side and not really looking at Mark. He looked scared to be here which was odd. This place was the most secure place in the whole base after the labs. The other had no need to be so scared.

"E-excuse me, the chosen one sent me. H-he has another task for you along with your existing one" and that was all Mark needed to hear to make this day worse.

That chuunibyou child, that delusional freak, what did he want now? Mark was not even a proper member of his rebellion and yet he was being tasked with so much. 

Either the other was confident enough that Mark could not betray him or he had a hidden card up his sleeve to ensure Mark followed his command. Both made him seem far too confident in this scenario and Mark liked none of them.

"I see. Let's hear it" even though he did not want to take any more burden, Mark was curious. And anyway, since it was in the mission perimeters, it would not hurt to hear the other out.

"H-Here" he was passed a paper, once again blank in nature and the other did not look at him. Was that guilt he saw on that face? 

"Did you try to peek inside this letter?" Mark asked, now suspicious. If he had been in the other's position then he would have peaked inside too.

"O-of course not" the other denied but his curious demeanour made his lie known. Well, it did not matter to Mark since the other could not have read it at all. If the other was employing such a method then there might be more truth to his claims than Mark was led to believe.

It made his heartbeat in fear of the knowledge the other might have about him and his interactions but he remained calm on the outside.

"I see. If you need nothing else then you can go now" the other looked relieved at his words, his worry somewhat fading away. Well, if he had tried to see inside then he might have breached the line of trust. He might not be let off so easily now.

The other left and Mark had a feeling he would never hear from the other again after this. 

He once again turned his attention toward the letter in his hand and he knew that this was a warning and a sign of trust in the same package. The other would not expose his secrets if he kept quiet about them.

Too bad for them, his secrets were not easy to reveal and their existence was already known to Liam anyway.

But he still had to be careful and he waited to go to his room before decoding this message. Who knew how many spies he had on his back for now.