“If you really don’t want it, return it after the recapture is over,” said Yehyeon softly.
“But keep it with you during the operation.”
I hesitated, then reached out my hand.
Everyone inside the tent turned their eyes toward it. The hand I extended trembled faintly. Trying to steady that tremor, I took the sword.
My sword.
My shaking hands slowly unwrapped the cloth.
The sharp scent of metal filled the air.
The long blade gleamed—and something inside me surged up all at once.
I barely managed to smooth my expression.
“Yes.”
It was difficult to say even that much.
“I’ll return it to you afterward.”
Yehyeon looked at me with a strange expression.
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking—not that I wanted to know.
Still, this wasn’t the time to get lost in emotion. I set the sword across my knees and straightened my posture.
The unsteady feeling inside me, I pressed it down hard. I ignored the lingering gazes of the seniors watching me so intently.
Thankfully, Yehyeon soon dispelled the tension in his usual calm, worklike tone.
“Let’s begin.”
At the husky command, the others adjusted their postures.
“You all already know the process of the recapture operation, but since Hilde’s here, I’ll explain it once more.”
Sorry about that, I thought, fixing my eyes on the projected panel.
Yehyeon began his clear and concise explanation, matching each point to the displayed footage.
The core of the recapture operation was simple: protect the Core devices.
When the operation began, the ‘Breath’ surrounding Center Core and Core 24 would open. Immediately after, a new layer of Breath would expand to include both of them. The key was to defend the designated zone until this new Breath was fully formed.
The top priority: protect the Core devices generating the new Core.
The next goal: repel the Creatures’ territorial invasion.
The larger the reclaimed zone, the longer it would take for the new Breath to stabilize. This time, they estimated eight hours before completion.
Meaning we had to defend both the devices and the Core for eight straight hours.
The video displayed the Core devices installed throughout the area.
Yehyeon narrowed his eyes as the colored footage changed, then turned his head.
“Ska will command the defense line.”
The others waited for his next words.
“We’ll be striking the Titan.”
He said it in a tone as casual as if describing dinner.
“Their leader is on the move.”
A sharp tension coiled in my chest.
At that instant, I felt Kyle’s presence surge in—a sudden, ghostlike shift. The sensation was impossible to explain, but unmistakable. Kyle was coming here. Not close enough yet to gauge his exact distance, but close enough to feel the direction his eyes and feet were aimed toward.
He was getting nearer.
I drew in a long breath.
“How did you know?”
“The video division worked hard for it,” Yehyeon replied flatly, then smiled faintly.
“Looks like you’re sensing it too now. Once this is over, I’ll have to send the video team a bonus.”
“Yes. He’s coming.”
“Then let’s go meet him.”
The Commander’s voice was calm.
“We’re going outside the wall.”
So it was a strike strategy—take out the leader first.
Not the most efficient plan, but not the worst either. Especially since Kyle’s current strength had decayed as much as mine. If he still had the skill he’d possessed at his peak, walking straight into enemy lines like this would’ve been suicide. But strangely enough, now he was as dulled as I was.
If we pushed hard enough, my kin would pull back to protect him.
Of course, with Yehyeon going out himself, it was as if we’d set our own king on the board.
“Can you sense who’s with him?”
I had expected the question.
“Three strong ones. They’re advancing with a mass of Creatures ahead of them. The Titan group is keeping some distance from the Creature front.”
“It’s such an odd feeling,” Yehyeon murmured. “When we can sense each other, there’s no way for ambush or surprise.”
Even as he said it, that faint, cold smile lingered on his lips.
“So, we’ll take the drones with us.”
He tapped a white finger on the table.
“They’re lifeless—won’t be detected. Our goal is to push the Titan leader back and force a retreat.”
He continued with operational details. When the time came, we would jump down from the wall and board the vehicles waiting outside. The first objective: lure Kyle to a chosen location—one favorable to us.
“Whether it goes that smoothly, who knows. But in any case, they hate you enough to come straight for you.”
“Yes. That’s why he’s on his way.”
He’d always been the type to stand at the front.
But now, seated as leader of our kin, for him to march personally into a fortified enemy position—it wasn’t a wise move. He couldn’t possibly be unaware of the wall. He knew siege warfare better than anyone.
And yet he couldn’t pass up the chance to see my face again.
Kyle’s boiling hatred was so strong it almost had shape.
Feeling that burning pressure, I let out a small laugh.
“Drawing him to our chosen ground shouldn’t be difficult.”
“That’s good news. I’d like to eliminate him here, but one of his followers is bound to stay clear-headed.”
I nodded quietly.
Hekate’s presence reached me too. She would be just as furious as Kyle, eager to kill me. But Sequoia at her side would remain composed until the end.
Ah...
Too many familiar names.
“How many Titans total?”
“Kyle included, four. The Creatures—uncountable.”
“We’ll handle those four,” said Yehyeon, his husky tone devoid of emotion.
“We move at dawn.”
That was the end of it.
He didn’t give an exact time; it would depend on Kyle’s approach speed.
No one asked questions. Those who’d fought through many recapture operations simply accepted the order in silence.
When told to rest until the time came, they all answered crisply, “Yes, sir.”
The Commander dismissed the task force soon after, telling us to get real sleep—it would be a long battle. Then he left the tent.
Naturally, I was called out afterward.
***
Kyle. Hekate. Sequoia. Sion.
Only Sion was unfamiliar. When I crossed over to Earth, I’d brought kin I barely knew—gathering whoever survived as our world collapsed.
They were the ones who escaped that ruined world with me.
Living together here, I’d eventually learned their faces and names, but not all became close. Sion belonged to that distant ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ circle—someone I knew by face and name, but not well.
Sequoia, on the other hand, I did know.
She had been an exceptional summoner.
“She won’t attack directly,” I told the seniors, relaying what I’d reported to Yehyeon.
Everyone seated around the table stared at me.
We had just finished lunch. Those who’d devoured barbecue now sat again inside the tent, drinks before them. In a few hours, they’d be facing Titans themselves. The more they knew about the enemy, the better.
I moistened my dry throat with water and continued.
“She’ll use the Creatures she commands instead. That’ll actually make things easier—you already know how to deal with most Creature types.”
“So that’s why certain Creatures targeted you before,” someone muttered.
“Yes. Oh, and Sequoia rarely loses her composure. The opposite of Hekate.”
I gave a brief explanation of Hekate.
No need to go into detail—the seniors had encountered her once. The day I’d met her again, they’d seen some of her abilities. Later, Personnel Director Ju had provided footage, which everyone had reviewed.
After the brief explanation, the four seniors nodded.
I finished describing the three kin and let out a long breath.
Then added slowly,
“I’ll keep Kyle occupied myself.”
He’d only come for me anyway.
“Our strength should be about even now.”
No one spoke.
I didn’t try to break the silence. For once, I appreciated the quiet. Too many things had happened too quickly, and my chest felt tight. Thinking deeply about any of it would only make it worse.
But I couldn’t lose focus—not until this operation was over.
“Are you fine without drawing it first?”
Ami’s voice came softly, her round eyes fixed on me.
I smiled faintly.
“When the time comes, I’ll draw it properly. I’m prepared, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Mm.”
“Are you ready to strike your own kin?” Carl asked.
His deep blue eyes met mine directly. He’d asked a similar question when he’d first learned the truth about me. A true soldier, through and through.
I gave a small laugh of admiration, then answered honestly,
“If it were up to me, I’d kill all four with my own hands.”
Even if my seniors killed my kin, I wouldn’t resent or hate them.
But truthfully, I didn’t want to see my kin die at human hands.
I knew that was greedy.
“When the time comes, I’ll be too busy dealing with Kyle to look elsewhere, though.”
“We’ll back you up properly, so don’t you dare lose~...”
Ricardo finally spoke, breaking his long silence.
He sat leaning against the chair, arms folded, watching me.
The snake-shaped ring on his right hand glinted in the lamp light.
Catching that glint, I nodded, still smiling.
“Yes.”
They kept staring at me, faces unreadable.
I didn’t try to interpret their expressions. I was trying hard not to overthink. Thinking too deeply wouldn’t change anything. My job now was to share as much intel as possible, stretch, and rest.
I’d done the first two. Now for the last.
Focus only on what’s ahead.
I rose slowly from my chair.
“I’ll go rest now.”
Eyes followed me.
I ignored them and walked out of the tent, relieved no one tried to stop me.
***
Dawn.
I was gauging Kyle’s distance inside the container when Yehyeon’s voice came.
“Hilde.”
The door opened, revealing his striking face.
“It’s time to move.”
