Chapter 22: First Watch, Part 2
Our base was set up in an open area, right at the intersection of two avenues. Towering buildings surrounded us — a district that buzzed with life during the day. But now, in the dead of night, not a soul walked these streets.
We had prepared everything we needed for the patrol. All ten members of our squad carried their weapons and wore helmets that concealed our faces completely.
Taehwan had asked that the five soldiers not separate from the hunters, but they refused the proposal. And so, even at our own base, we sat on one side — and they on the other.
"Well, that's unfortunate," Elephant said as he walked up to us. "Stubborn bunch. They don't want to stand guard with us."
"That's bad..." Harin added softly. "If this keeps up, anyone watching us will sense the division in our team."
She held a sniper rifle in her delicate hands — a weapon capable of piercing through even the toughest demons. I couldn't help but glance at it; it looked far too large and brutal when held by someone as sweet and gentle as Harin.
Minjae let out a scoff and crossed his legs on the bench.
"So what? They know the risks. Let them do whatever they want."
Eventually, I decided to speak and turned to the girl.
"Hawk, your sniper rifle... Isn't it heavy for you to carry around?"
"Ah? Well... once you're on the battlefield, you forget how heavy it is. For a scout, hitting the mark is what matters most. So I don't pay attention to the weight anymore."