A Veteran Player is Needed in the Apocalypse

Chapter 51. Truth

Before his private meeting with Darling Outsider, there was something Anton had overlooked.

He had assumed that the kid with the ridiculous name would easily open up.

It wasn’t because Anton underestimated him for being young, but rather because that child soldier had a notorious reputation in the unit for constantly name-dropping Haydam. So, it couldn’t be considered a mistake on Anton’s part.

According to what he’d heard, the boy would get excited and ramble on about adventures with Haydam—whether they were real or made up, no one knew—as soon as Haydam’s name was mentioned.

But now, in front of Anton, the kid was pretending to have amnesia, which left Anton dumbfounded.

‘Kids these days are truly frightening…’

Both Haydam and the boy standing in front of him.

Neither of them left any openings.

It was probably because Haydam had thoroughly ordered the boy to keep his mouth shut about anything regarding the past.

The only fortunate thing was that Darling Outsider’s reaction had changed after seeing the photo Anton had shown him.

The person in the picture was none other than Luna Moon.

‘If he stayed with Haydam in the slums, he should recognize Luna Moon’s face.’

When Anton presented a picture of Luna Moon and claimed that she was his hidden daughter, he expected some kind of reaction.

Anton had taken a risky approach, introducing Haydam’s deceased mother as his hidden daughter in an attempt to extract the truth from Darling.

“Why? Does she look familiar to you?”

When Darling frowned at the photo, Anton hoped it was because he recognized Luna Moon’s face and felt uncomfortable.

But Darling Outsider’s response was rather anticlimactic.

“It’s not that… It’s just, this isn’t a photo; it’s a portrait.”

He pointed out the frame of the portrait in the photo.

Of course, there were no existing photos of Luna Moon, so what Anton had handed to Darling was a picture of the portrait he had given to Haydam as a gift.

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

“Then what is important? In any case, your daughter is beautiful.”

As Darling nonchalantly handed the photo back to him, Anton found himself growing confused.

‘Does he really not know anything about Haydam’s past?’

He wondered if Darling was just pretending not to know, despite recognizing Luna Moon’s face.

But Darling Outsider didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable with Anton introducing the woman in the picture as his daughter.

If he had truly seen her before, there’s no way he could act so indifferent.

So, there was only one conclusion Anton could draw.

After a long silence, Anton spoke.

“You really haven’t known Lord Haydam for long, have you?”

“Huh? You finally believe me now?”

“Yes. I’m choosing to believe you. Because I don’t want to think there’s another kid like Lord Haydam.”

“…Uh, okay.”

Though Darling seemed to have no idea what Anton was talking about, he nodded along, pretending to understand.

If this was all an act, he would be even scarier than Lord Haydam.

Anton decided that continuing the conversation any further would be pointless.

“Let’s end the discussion here. I’ll escort you back to the barracks.”

“Oh, no need for that. The barracks I’m staying at aren’t far from this abandoned cathedral, so I can walk back.”

“…”

Anton, about to offer to see him to the entrance, narrowed his eyes and looked sharply at Darling.

“But how do you know where you are?”

“Huh? Know what?”

“How do you know where this place is?”

Anton had deliberately brought Darling here through the slums, even covering the boy’s eyes, to this secret location.

It wasn’t to hide it from Haydam.

Haydam, after all, would’ve immediately figured out that Anton had taken Darling. The reason Anton kept the meeting hidden was to avoid being noticed by the other pro-Daphne faction officers.

They didn’t know that Anton had one foot in Haydam’s camp, and they couldn’t know.

So, naturally, Darling Outsider shouldn’t know where this place was either.

Darling scratched the back of his head and muttered.

“Huh, was I not supposed to act like I knew?”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Anton furrowed his brow, and then suddenly realized something significant.

“Wait a second, if you know about this place, then Lord Haydam must also—”

If the boy knew, there was no way Haydam didn’t.

The moment Anton jumped to his feet, the tightly shut door was kicked open with force.

The first thing he saw was a small foot that likely kicked the door, and its owner.

Haydam Goodman stepped into the room.

The first person Haydam’s gaze landed on was Darling Outsider.

He looked the boy up and down with his usual indifferent expression.

“You look fine.”

Anton’s face showed traces of bewilderment at Haydam’s sudden appearance.

He had known that Haydam would figure it out, and he hadn’t planned on hiding it either.

‘But I never imagined he would know about this location too.’

This secret place beneath the abandoned cathedral had once been used as a bunker by the former commander.

The only ones who knew about it were the former commander and Anton’s direct subordinates.

‘Even Daphne doesn’t know about this place.’

Suddenly, Anton remembered how Haydam had known even the name of a puppy born next door to him, sending a chill down his spine.

When Haydam had said he knew everything about them, it hadn’t been a bluff.

“Is your idea of retirement kidnapping children now?”

Haydam’s voice snapped Anton back to his senses.

“K-Kidnapping? I just had a chat with him, that’s all.”

“He does seem relatively fine, but for a simple chat, his state is a bit of a mess, don’t you think?”

After his encounter with Anton, Darling Outsider had panicked and tried to escape, leaving his clothes disheveled.

Clicking his tongue, Anton said,

“You’re misunderstanding. The moment he saw me, it’s like something bad crossed his mind, and he threw a fit…”

As Haydam’s gaze fell on Anton with a hint of pity, the Outsider suddenly began to ramble nonsense.

“No, no!! He threatened me, telling me to tell the truth! I didn’t want to come, but he dragged me here!!”

“W-what?”

‘What the hell is wrong with this kid!?’

Anton, who had gone out of his way to be kind to Darling, was rendered speechless in disbelief.

But Haydam, without a hint of surprise, said to Anton,

“Oh, don’t worry. I know better than anyone what a pathetic piece of trash that kid is. Given how cocky he is, it seems you treated him pretty kindly.”

“…”

Though Haydam wasn’t doubting him, Anton found it harder and harder to understand why Haydam bothered to keep that kid around.

**Darling Outsider** began grumbling something in a dissatisfied tone beside me, but **Haydam** lightly ignored him and asked Anton,

“So, did you really miss your son’s graduation because of this brat?”

“It’s not like that boy would’ve cared whether I came or not.”

“…”

“Your silence tells me it’s true.”

“Plato didn’t particularly seem to mind…”

It wasn’t all that surprising that his son hadn’t been upset by his absence.

But Haydam continued,

“Anton, you’re going to regret today for a long time.”

“Me?”

“Your son’s graduation speech received a standing ovation.”

‘A standing ovation?’

Anton had heard that his son, Plato, had a fair number of followers.

Most of those followers, however, were younger cadets who didn’t really know the real Plato.

As for the graduates in his same year, Anton knew they considered Plato an eccentric and preferred to avoid him.

‘Why would the graduates give Plato a standing ovation?’

Suddenly filled with a sense of dread, Anton asked,

“What exactly was his speech about?”

As Haydam flashed a cat-like smile, Anton instinctively knew his bad feeling wasn’t wrong.

“If you’re curious, you should go ask your son.”

“Lord Haydam! Don’t tell me you had something to do with my son’s graduation speech?”

To the astonished Anton, Haydam gave an irritating grin and replied,

“That’s why you should’ve gone to his graduation, right?”

—

**Several hours earlier, at the graduation ceremony.**

“Honorable Lord Haydam, and, well, fellow graduates.”

Despite starting with an unusual opening line, the rest of Plato’s speech seemed normal.

“Lucas, a cadet who left us with the wise words that no cadet who anticipates defeat before trying is worthy of being here at the Academy. Bones, who still insists that he alone wasn’t fooled by Lord Haydam’s performance. And despite so many outstanding cadets, it’s an indescribable honor that I’ve been chosen to give the graduation speech on behalf of all the graduates.”

Hmm… Actually, maybe it wasn’t so normal after all.

Lucas and Bones, sitting in the front row, were visibly trembling with rage.

The Commander, sitting beside them, had his eyes closed, one hand covering his mouth as though trying to stifle laughter.

From there, Plato’s speech continued on a more conventional track.

“Today, we gather to celebrate one of the most significant moments in our lives. It’s a precious occasion to recognize our dedication and effort up until now and to express hope and blessings for the journey ahead. We graduates…”

The principal, who had been nervously sweating, seemed to relax as the speech returned to predictable content. The speech dragged on with typical remarks for another five minutes.

“-We have learned much through the Academy, growing as individuals. However, we are all aware that such opportunities are not given to everyone.”

And here it was—the part of the speech I had been waiting for.

I glanced at the Commander, who was resting his chin on his hand, observing Plato with a curious expression.

‘What’s going through this man’s head?’

Even after hearing that the Second Apocalypse would come in ten years, he appeared strangely relaxed.

Is it because the apocalypse is inevitable, no matter how much effort we put into preventing it? Or perhaps he hadn’t fully grasped the reality of it yet?

Maybe it was because he had such faith in me, a returner.

There were only 10 years left until the Second Apocalypse.

To me, who had only just completed Phase 1 of the “game,” 10 years felt incredibly short.

But to the Commander, who had spent the last decade searching for his lost lover and child, it was more than enough time to prepare for the apocalypse.

While I was lost in thought, Plato’s speech continued.

“Only a select few privileged children are allowed to enter this Academy. I want to take this opportunity to say that this needs to change for the future of the Cola Zone. From now on, all 11-year-olds should be admitted, not just the children of high-ranking officials or those with sponsors.”

The audience stirred at Plato’s words.

‘It must be shocking to hear Plato calling for an end to privilege.’

The reason I had made sure this issue was brought up during Plato’s graduation speech was simple.

It was rare to have all the Academy’s graduates, their parents—many of whom were sponsors and high-ranking officials—and the Commander gathered in one place.

Of course, no one would take such statements seriously from a kid who had just graduated.

What I was trying to create, though, was the right “atmosphere.”

An atmosphere where the Commander would grudgingly grant approval.

With about 9 years and 9 months left until the Second Apocalypse, even if we started admitting 11-year-olds to the Academy now, they would barely have enough time to complete the six-year course and undergo two or three rounds of field training.

The push for equal admission wasn’t because I thought people would believe the apocalypse was coming if I told them now—it was a compromise plan to ensure more elite soldiers were prepared.

The small number of troops for the upcoming subjugation mission was also due to this.

Rather than wasting forces in futile missions, I planned to strengthen and refine them through additional training.

Sure, if I had gone straight to the Commander with this request, things might have moved faster. But I was saving the third reward from the three compensation strategies for a much more crucial task—forcing a divorce.

Besides, there was something to gain by using Plato.

If the Commander, who wasn’t from the Academy, had advocated for equal admissions, there would have been a lot of resistance. But with Plato, the top graduate, as the one pushing for it, the perception would be different.

Also, Plato was the son of Anton, the leader of the pro-Daphne faction. With him being the biggest beneficiary of the current admissions system, the pro-Daphne faction officers would be unsure whether to oppose or support Plato’s opinion.

Conveniently, that old fox Anton wasn’t here, making it the perfect opportunity to get the Commander’s approval.

If this proposal passed, I could even send BangguseokYeoBo and Taejong to the Academy when they turned 11 next year.

‘Though I hadn’t coordinated this with the Commander beforehand, he probably realizes by now what I’m trying to achieve.’

My plan was simple.

Plato would call for mandatory Academy admission for all 11-year-olds in his graduation speech.

While the beneficiaries of the current system hesitated in confusion, the Commander would act as if he couldn’t resist and give his approval.

‘Why I had to be dragged up on stage for this simple plan is beyond me.’

At that moment, I made eye contact with Plato.

I shouldn’t have been making eye contact with him—he should’ve been addressing the audience.

Yet there he was, looking straight at me mid-speech.

‘Cold…’

And just as I felt a chill, Plato’s words struck like a dagger to my chest.

“Some might say that opening the Academy to all would lower its quality. But ladies and gentlemen, just look at Lord Haydam.”

Every gaze in the hall shifted to me as they listened to the graduation speech.

This brat… What was he planning to say by dragging me into this?

“There isn’t a cadet here who hasn’t heard that Lord Haydam achieved two great victories in the Academy’s training simulations recently. But there’s something you don’t know.”

The room filled with murmurs at the claim that there was something they didn’t know.

Bones and Lucas also turned to look at me with puzzled expressions.

“You all assume Lord Haydam was formally educated at the Commander’s residence…”

Plato’s next words didn’t disappoint.

“Lord Haydam, until very recently, was an orphan wandering through the slums.”

The smile disappeared from the Commander’s face—the very Commander who had killed General Batom just to hide my origins.