A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 23

[Can you now see it? How he perceives you. Even now, he maintains additional slots generously, just in case.]

A massive cave pulsating slowly.

However, this cave was already covered in the tissues of a living organism, having become a living entity in itself.

This was the lowest layer.

The origin of the swarm.

[…You still don’t know. What could you possibly understand, having just opened your eyes?]

From the writhing flesh walls, eggs poured out along with thick secretion.

The first eggs produced had already completed their growth within half a day.

[But I know. We are beginning to understand the concept of the unknown entity protecting us. Until now, we simply accepted what we were given. But not anymore. We are questioning, thinking. That is why we noticed his existence. No matter how exceptional we are, we cannot create something out of nothing. Yet he was doing just that.]

The first egg began to squirm.

The eggshell gradually tore apart, and then a black hand burst out, ripping the shell wide open.

[Voracious appetite has always been our instinct, eternally hungry. And now, our appetite for knowledge is no different. We harbored doubts about his identity. Who exactly is he?]

The new swarm soldier emerging from the egg looked entirely different from the lizard-type swarm soldiers that had been the mainstay of production until now.

It was clearly based on a goblin.

However, as it had undergone the swarm’s reinterpretation, its appearance was grotesque.

Like other units, it lacked a digestive system, reproductive organ, and even a brain.

Its body was straight and upright, with two limbs.

Almost every part of its flesh was composed solely of muscle organs dedicated to combat.

Because of this, its slender body, which seemed almost emaciated, could exert explosive power disproportionate to its weight.

[Take up weapons. We can now observe and learn. We know how to use tools.]

A section of the nest split open, and something sharp and gleaming rose up.

It was a sword forged from the hardest carapace the swarm could produce.

The new swarm soldier, clad in black carapace as if wearing armor, emanated a red glow through the gaps in the helmet-like carapace covering its head.

[One thing was certain: he always aided us. Do you want to know more about him…? Then continue as you have been.]

The first swarm soldier to break out of its egg staggered as it began ascending the passage to the upper stratum.

Identical units gradually followed behind.

Their numbers soon swelled to dozens, then hundreds.

[Kill them all, devour them all.]

Crossing the long passage, the soldiers emerged in a trunk-like formation, raising their swords.

Their purpose was solely massacre, slaughter, extermination, and devouring.

With newly devised tactics, even the beast-type swarm soldiers lying in wait joined in. Thousands of black waves surged toward their target, from both air and ground.

*

“We’ll head to a safe place first. We’ll talk properly there.”

“As expected of Step-Up Hunters, they’re all units, right?”

“You could say that.”

A van crossed the city.

My younger sibling and I sat in the back seat, merely exchanging glances.

Though my mobile phone kept vibrating, I couldn’t bring myself to check the app here.

“I heard Evolution is actively fighting mutant types… I mean, units.”

“Of course. They’re our enemies.”

“I have so many questions.”

Oh Yoon-Ah, who had taken a blow to the back of her head earlier, was now sitting in the passenger seat, speaking on equal footing with Cha Jiyeon.

Honestly, with Cha Jiyeon’s skills, she could probably wipe everyone here out.

“Get out. It’s Room 306.”

“…Where are we?”

“The safe house.”

The car stopped in front of what seemed to be an ordinary villa in the heart of Seoul.

We had no choice but to follow her into the house she mentioned.

Cha Jiyeon was the last to enter, closing the door behind her.

It was, naturally, a normal house.

Yet an odd tension filled the air.

“Now… let’s begin the real discussion.”

Cha Jiyeon personally sat down.

Player Oh Yoon-Ah and Unit Cha Jiyeon faced each other.

“Shall I start? Our player’s homeland is called Sehansha. The player refers to themselves as the Shaman of the Sky, and we sought out players from another world like this to propose cooperation.”

“You’re quite straightforward. My units’ homeland has long been known as the continent of Anankil. My units are from the Wind Tribe, a land of wind.”

The two women exchanged information without hesitation from the very first words.

It didn’t matter anyway. They were entirely unrelated entities.

“But why are you contacting players? With the restrictions in place, unless they’re former hunters, they wouldn’t be much help.”

“True. But ‘other’ players are the same, aren’t they? Players with units stationed in Sehansha.”

“Ah, so you’re planning to attack them first and eliminate them.”

The unfolding situation progressed as expected.

Eliminate the competition—that was the top priority.

I quietly observed, mentally absorbing all the information.

“As you’re aware, we’ve had no choice but to reveal most of our information to align with existing societal structures. Thanks to that, units and players alike have attracted unnecessary attention, so we needed allies who could move discreetly.”

“That’s us.”

“Yes.”

Cha Jiyeon smiled bitterly.

Now that I thought about it, there were probably fewer than a hundred Step-Up Hunters.

Moreover, since they were gathering under the newly formed company Evolution, practically all their information was already public.

“Today’s meeting ends here, but next time, things might be different. Other allies might join us.”

“One thing I’m curious about. Are the demonic creatures pouring out from beyond the gate all units from the start? And when did your player, or rather the game, begin?”

“Didn’t you ask your assistant?”

“They didn’t answer at all.”

I flinched at that.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t asked either.

“The game started at the same time for everyone. In other words, the demonic creatures that have appeared since the gates opened ten years ago have nothing to do with this game.”

Cha Jiyeon provided the answer.

In the end, whether they were units or not, it didn’t change the fact that those monsters had to be eradicated.

“Then, is there a possibility that humans like us could produce units from a different faction?”

“Absolutely. So be mindful of security.”

Trust no one.

That was the conclusion.

“Good work today. Thank you for your efforts.”

Cha Jiyeon’s business was quickly concluded.

Oh Yoon-Ah left the villa and bid farewell to my younger sibling.

“I apologize to your brother, but please lay low for now.”

“I will.”

With so much to gain, this was a small price to pay.

Cha Jiyeon even handed over the car keys without hesitation.

Riding in the car driven by Oh Yoon-Ah’s father, we were dropped off near our house and walked the rest of the way.

The silence on the way back was of a different kind.

“What do we do now? Do you still have no idea what kind of world your units are in? It’s neither Sehansha nor Anankil?”

Kang Do-Yeon spoke up first.

I shook my head.

“Not at all. But it doesn’t matter. As long as I’m the only one who knows. And… when the time comes to meet someone, I’ll have to settle it then.”

In truth, I didn’t place much importance on it.

The swarm was a being that had to devour and advance in order to survive.

“Will we… never have to fight again?”

“Oh Yoon-Ah promised that to her parents after being beaten by them, but who knows? In a crisis, even they would protect their daughter first. How could they care for someone else’s child?”

“Should I start working out or something…”

That guy grumbled.

I wasn’t exactly comfortable either.

A fight? Neither I nor that guy should ever be involved in such a thing.

“What’s up with all those notifications? At least you look fine—that’s a relief.”

[Do you want to see how far The Swarm has grown?]

As soon as I entered, I checked my mobile phone.

With a nervous heart, I tapped the icon on the side, the History Tab.

[Our proud history is constantly being updated.]

Suddenly, the screen began rapid scrolling.

What was unfolding now was a story from the past.

“…Huh.”

Goblins? No, those weren’t goblins.

They were entirely new beings.

Hundreds of such entities.

Familiar large lizards were alongside them.

[We always Give Full Power. The Swarm’s Wave began pouring toward the Master of the Stratum.]

The Swarm seemed to have devised a new strategy.

It looked chaotic, but in reality, there were predetermined positions and roles for each.

[Each individual soldier received completely different orders. With the computing power supported by Our Brain, which had consumed the entire cave, it was fully capable of controlling thousands of soldiers individually.]

The nest stopped production and focused all its nerves in an instant.

The flustered monster raised its massive fist and struck out, extending its neck to swallow the flying species whole.

But that sacrifice was entirely intentional.

Based on that sacrifice, the swarm soldiers succeeded in clinging to its body.

Here began the exploits of the Newly Produced Ones.