RVN Ch 12

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<5 Years Ago – Central District>

Renault was affiliated with the Esper-Guide Center but was active in the military. This was due to a unique ability that enhanced weapon performance—something no one else possessed. Because of this, he had been forcibly relocated from his hometown in District 13 to the Central District, where he had now lived for three years.

It didn’t particularly matter. Whether he was in the Center, the military, the District 13, or the Central District, his life wouldn’t change. He still had to obey orders from above. His life was one of following commands.

That day’s mission was no different. There was no need to know the details—he was simply ordered to extract all researchers from a laboratory and evacuate them to a designated location. Up until now, he had only been deployed for rebel suppression or monster extermination missions outside of dungeons, so this assignment felt somewhat unfamiliar.

At first, he thought monsters had appeared near the lab, requiring the researchers to be evacuated. However, upon surveying the area, he found that wasn’t the case. He couldn’t understand why a mission like this had been assigned to someone with his abilities. But soon, Renault put aside his doubts and silently set out for the lab alongside the Espers and military personnel selected for the operation.

The research facility was in a remote location, surrounded by trees with no adjacent towns. In terms of distance, it was closer to the outskirts of the Central District than to its city center. The boundary between the Central District and the outskirts was marked by towering walls that no one could cross. Even if the lab was just a wall away from the outskirts, it might as well have been in an entirely different world.

The secluded research facility, hidden by dense trees, was difficult to spot. Its very existence was suspicious. That likely meant classified research was being conducted inside. But Renault, a mere expendable Esper, had no reason to know or be curious about such things.

With an expressionless face, he strode toward the entrance of the lab. The team members trailing behind him were equally silent and expressionless, like toy soldiers.

As they stepped inside, the researchers who had been waiting for them hurried to move. They were burdened with large bags and heavy luggage. Perhaps because of the sudden evacuation, their faces were tense with anxiety.

There were quite a few researchers—nearly thirty in total. Under the guidance of the team, they exited the facility. Due to the lab’s special nature, Esper abilities were restricted inside, so they had to be taken outside in order to activate the teleportation portal.

What kind of research were they conducting here to necessitate restricting Esper abilities? The thought crossed Renault’s mind but quickly faded. He focused solely on following orders—escorting the researchers to the portal while avoiding unnecessary exposure.

Eventually, the facility’s waiting area was empty. However, while reviewing the list one last time, Renault discovered that one researcher had not taken the portal. A woman named Dr. Kate Henson.

“One person hasn’t come out.”

“That can’t be. We’ve confirmed that everyone has gone through the portal.” 

As Reanult pointed out, a fellow officer with the same class replied. He insisted that a thorough headcount had been conducted both before and after the teleportation.

Even so, Renault couldn’t shake off his unease. He glanced at the list in his possession but had no choice but to respond with an acknowledgment.

The Esper in charge of teleportation looked exhausted from repeatedly opening the portal to transport nearly thirty people. His pale face and body language practically screamed his desire to leave as soon as possible. Bringing up another issue seemed difficult under the circumstances.

“So, is the mission concluded?” 

Renault asked, folding the list and tucking it into his pocket. The officer stepped closer to Renault, his expression slightly stiff.

“Captain, have you checked the latest orders?”

“What orders? I haven’t checked yet.”

“There are explosives set up inside the facility. The new directive is to detonate them and destroy the entire place.”

Of course. Renault let out a silent, bitter chuckle. There was no way they would send an Esper with a weapon-enhancement ability just to escort researchers. Their true objective was to erase the lab entirely.

“They could’ve just told me from the start.”

The words slipped from his lips before he realized it. The officer gave him a hesitant look, lowering his voice.

“The decision was made just now.”

“…Just now?”

“Yes. I don’t know the details, but apparently, the higher-ups delayed the decision until the last minute. It’s strange, isn’t it?”

Renault pressed his lips together. This wasn’t just strange—it was outright unsettling.

“And we’ve been ordered to withdraw immediately.”

The officer looked somewhat apologetic as he gauged Renault’s reaction.

“They said that since detonating the explosives is a simple task, Captain Renault can handle it alone. We’ve been given orders to return. Once the timer is activated, the bombs will detonate in fifteen minutes. The portal will also remain open for only fifteen minutes.”

“Ah.”

“Captain, please be careful.”

His tone was genuinely concerned. Renault gave him a slight nod, but just in case, he pulled out his phone to check the orders himself. They were exactly as the officer had stated.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. Renault calmly turned back toward the research facility. The other soldiers hesitated briefly, watching him with unease, but soon moved toward the portal.

In truth, it wasn’t a difficult or complicated task. Nor was it particularly dangerous. The facility was already empty, and all he had to do was activate the explosives. There was nothing to worry about.

If anything, having others around would only get in the way. Someone else might have been offended by the decision to leave them behind, but Renault, who had been raised under strict military discipline from childhood, was used to following orders. He neither resented nor resisted it.

He entered the now-empty research facility and checked the explosives. They weren’t just a single device but an interconnected system set up throughout the facility, designed to detonate in sequence. That alone was enough to bring the building down.

But with Renault’s touch, it wouldn’t just collapse—it would be wiped out without a trace. Whatever remained inside would be erased entirely, leaving no evidence behind. That was precisely what the higher-ups wanted.

With an indifferent expression, Renault activated the system. His energy instantly spread through the entire network, and as soon as the switch was flipped, a countdown appeared on the monitor.

<00:15:00>

The numbers on the monitor, counting down from fifteen minutes, began to shift. And then—it happened. A faint sound echoed from nearby. Renault’s sharp gaze snapped toward the source of the noise, his hand instinctively reaching for the pistol at his waist.

In this empty laboratory, where no one but himself should be, tension prickled along his spine. Gun raised, Renault moved forward, slowly, cautiously. As he approached the corner of the lab, his eyes widened in an instant. A woman was curled up on the floor. The missing researcher from the list.

“Dr. Henson?”

Renault’s voice remained level, but the petite, middle-aged woman lifted her face, filled with fear.

“Didn’t you hear the evacuation order? Why are you still here?”

Urgency tightened in his chest. The bomb had already been activated—there was no time to waste. Renault extended his hand toward her.

“No, it’s good that I found you now. Get up. We have to leave. Right now.”

“I… I can’t leave without that child. I can’t go alone. So… if you won’t help me, just go. Please.”

She didn’t reach for his hand. Instead, she shook her head, her voice trembling. Renault’s brow furrowed.

“A child?”

A child, in a place like this? It didn’t make sense.

“I’ve looked after him since he was young. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He doesn’t even know what’s happening. He’s been trapped here…”

Dr. Henson’s clasped hands trembled violently as she spoke in a near-delirious mumble. She looked utterly terrified. Renault resisted the urge to drag her out by force and instead tried to reason with her.

“I understand. I’ll report this when we get back. But first, you need to—”

“Didn’t you hear me?! I saw you activate the bomb! You’re going to kill him! They want to erase every trace of what happened here, and that includes him! I can’t let that happen!”

“Dr. Henson, calm down. We don’t have much time—”

“I won’t allow it! I’ll save him, even if I have to do it alone! I have to atone for my sins! That’s why I hid, why I waited for everyone to leave before coming out. Because I want to save him! So if you won’t help me, just pretend you never saw me!”

He was about to tell her there was no time to help anyone when she started shaking, her face deathly pale.

“This was wrong… We never should have done such a terrible thing… We’re all going to be punished. Every last one of us.”

Her voice was unsteady, teetering between hysteria and despair. Then, suddenly, she tore herself from Renault’s grasp and bolted deeper into the lab. For a moment, Renault could only watch her, stunned at her sheer desperation. Then he gritted his teeth.