Infected - Chapter 515



Only Noblemtl

Side story 2

There was a brief silence.

“Hey, don’t you open your eyes? Where did this come from, sister… … .”

Just when Gaon was about to scold him harshly.

A child standing next to me suddenly jumped out and blocked my path.

“Jiho is upset, that’s why. Unnie puts up with it. Hehe.”

She was a girl who looked a year or two older than Jiho.

“Oh, I’ll hold back because of Hyunseo. You should thank Hyunseo later. It was just a little thing.”

“I hate you, Sister! You don’t even take my side! I’ll tell everything to Dad!”

“Oh. Go and tell me right now. Let’s see who’s right.”

“Of course Dad is on my side!”

“Really? Is that really true?”

That was when.

“Han Ji-ho!”

A woman appeared with a loud noise that shook the surroundings.

“Oh, Mom… … ?”

The child was startled and stepped back as soon as he saw her.

“I knew it.”

The boy who was holding hands with Hyunseo shook his head.

A ghostly white face, thick eyebrows, legs that are much longer than those of her peers, and eyes that look cold for her age.

The child copied the typical Korean food.

“Han Ji-ho, come here.”

“No, that’s not it… … .”

“Not coming? Should I go?”

Jiho rolled his eyes here and there and reluctantly ran.

“Didn’t you say that if I messed with you one more time you wouldn’t let me go?”

“… My sister didn’t take my side.”

“Wow!”

Jiho, who had been confused for a long time, finally calmed down after shedding tears.

She was Anna, Han Ji-ho’s mother and Han Jae-jeong’s wife, with her tall, impressive, and short, yellow hair.

Anna, who had come back after scolding Jiho, smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.

“Mr. Kim, thank you for coming such a long way.”

“Oh, yeah. It’s been a while.”

“You guys worked hard too. Is it still raining in Seoul?”

“I got there before I left, but now I don’t know.”

Seonwoo answered, rolling his shoulders, which were stiff from driving.

“Did you drive?”

“Yeah. It seems like Gaon’s condition isn’t very good.”

“Does anything hurt?”

Anna asked worriedly, touching Gaon’s forehead.

“No, not like that. Where is everyone?”

Gaon leaned his head against Anna and whined.

They were both tall, and Anna looked so young that at first glance they looked like sisters.

“I’ll be waiting at the generator. While you’re here, why don’t you say hello? Everyone’s gathered here.”

“I wonder?”

“What about food? Sir, have you eaten?”

Instead of answering, Mr. Kim waved his hand.

“I heard you drank a lot yesterday.”

“Oh, you’re in full swing. Are you guys going back today?”

“That’s right.”

“Let’s see, we don’t have much time. Let’s go quickly.”

Anna checked her wristwatch and then started walking while half-hugging Gaon.

* * *

Yeongjongdo, which I explored while walking, was incredibly peaceful.

Due to the nature of the island, where only the entrance and exit roads needed to be well managed, an open landscape was spread out instead of an outer wall.

It was a contrast to Seoul, which had to be constantly managed.

Behind the new city, you can see endless rows of solar power generators in a wide open space.

Among the people passing by, you can see some familiar faces.

“uncle!”

Seonwoo shouted with a bright face when he saw them.

Finance, who had been crouching under the panel, sat up.

Even though 10 years have passed.

Finance was still in good shape, without an ounce of fat.

Beom-sik, standing next to him, snatches the cigarette from Jae-jae’s mouth and throws it on the floor, muttering something.

The forehead of the finance department is distorted.

While two people were arguing.

Further inside, those who heard Seonwoo’s voice were coming out.

“Oh, Seonwoo. Long time no see? Gaon is here too!”

As the platoon leader spoke, running his hands through his sweaty hair, Chanyeol and Choi Hoon also greeted him with bright faces.

The three people had lost their youthful appearance and now looked quite old.

After exchanging greetings.

Finance walked through the aisles between the panels, taking everyone with him.

When he reached the center, his fingertips pointed to the lacquered structure.

It was a support that held up solar panels.

“I don’t know when it became like this, but judging by the state of the damage, I think it’s been a few days or so.”

“… That’s some real shit. What kind of kid did that?”

As Mr. Kim’s swear words said, this was not a natural trace.

It was clear that someone had intentionally damaged it.

“I have to find them. But… there are more than one or two. This way.”

The party followed the finances and went a little deeper.

Then, the black lacquer marks that had been painted in advance began to appear here and there.

Mr. Kim’s face suddenly became serious, mixed with annoyance.

“Isn’t that bad? I thought someone was playing a prank on me.”

“I don’t think so. This is intentional damage to the equipment.”

“Judging by the condition, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long… … Hey, this is going to take a while? So that’s why you asked me to come in person.”

“Yes. Because I have to reinstall it if necessary.”

Mr. Kim lit a cigarette and sat lost in thought.

“How long will it take?”

“How many of these are there?”

“There are more than thirty.”

“ha…….”

Mr. Kim let out a deep sigh as he shook off the cigarette ash.

Is it because I’ve been doing too much?

Now, just standing still made my back hurt.

The thought of repairing so many generators in such a situation made my eyes darken.

“I can’t guarantee the duration. Just assign me some people.”

Finance pointed to the platoon leader, Chanyeol, and Choi Hoon.

“These guys will help you. They’ve been managing facilities in the military for a long time. If they don’t listen, tell me. You know their faces, right?”

Mr. Kim slowly looked over the three people.

“I know. I personally taught that guy, Chanyeol. How could he not know? I was wondering why I hadn’t seen him before, but it turns out all three of them were in the military.”

“It’s been a while, sir.”

“Live with your face in the light, you punk.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been very busy… … .”

Chanyeol scratched the back of his head as if he was embarrassed.

“This is fucking sick.”

“lol.”

Even though he swore at her, Kim was secretly happy to be reunited with Chanyeol, who he once treated like a son.

Chanyeol also knew that feeling well.

“Anyway, I would like you to do it as quickly as possible so that there is no disruption to the electricity supply. Would about two weeks be okay?”

“You have to finish it before then. You told me to do it, not someone else.”

“If you need anything, please let me know. I can add more people for you.”

“Okay. It’s not like there are too many people. I’m the only one who can fix the damaged panel anyway.”

“There are many people you have taught over the years.”

“There must be a lot. It’s because there are no people who do things properly. Okay, I’ll take care of this for now, so you know that.”

“All right.”

“Catch those guys who did this quickly!”

“Of course. As soon as I find it, I’ll take it to you first.”

“The words are… … .”

Finance turned around with a faint smile.

From now on, it was up to Kim and the three others.

Anna, who was walking down the panel, asked alongside Jaejae.

“Brother, there’s no way the people of Yeongjong Island would have done that.”

“I don’t know. There might be a problem inside.”

“Could it be that someone came in from outside?”

“no way…….”

Beomsik intervened.

“The bridge is guarded 24 hours a day, so the only way to sneak in is to swim.”

He continued speaking, pointing to the bridge in the distance.

“Even if you’re crazy, would you swim across the ocean just to break a panel?”

“Elena and Jake went to check on me, so I’ll hear something soon.”

“You could have crossed it in a small boat.”

“Then there should be traces on the riverbank. There was nothing.”

While the three people were talking about various things related to the panel.

Seonwoo, who had been following from behind, tapped Gaon on the shoulder.

“Don’t you think it’s more serious than you thought?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“Aren’t you worried? Anyone can tell that it’s intentional. Something feels a bit off… … .”

“Here we go again, again.”

Gaon looked him up and down as if he was thinking of something new.

“I really don’t like it. Do you think the people living here are crazy enough to touch this? If there’s a problem with the power supply, they’ll be the first to get hit.”

“That’s why we’re investigating.”

Seonwoo was lost in thought as he walked down the hill.

“… In my view, it has no relationship with the people of Yeongjong Island.”

“Then who said that?”

Gaon asked with a laugh.

It seemed quite funny to act as if I was a detective.

“I have to figure that out now.”

“What are you talking about, how did you figure that out?”

“If you’re going to destroy it, destroy it all. Why did you only destroy a part of it? It means you have no interest in supplying electricity in the first place. This is clearly a ploy to attract attention. There must be another real intention.”

“…Do it in moderation.”

Gaon shook his head.

“No, that’s right. If you don’t have any other intentions, why bother breaking just a few panels? If you’re going to do that, just cut them all off.”

“Dad, he’s talking weird.”

At those words, Beomsik, who had been walking ahead, quickly turned around.

“Who? Seonwoo?”

“Uh. Since earlier… … .”

“No, Uncle. I was just joking.”

“You’ll find out for yourself. Who the culprit is.”

“How are you going to find out?”

“Hey, I told you it was a joke… … .”

Beomsik looked at the two people alternately and then turned his head away as if he was bored.

Seonwoo whispered, embarrassed.

“What if I tell you that?”

“It means don’t think about useless things.”

“Oh, really lethal.”

“This sister has grown too big for you to play detective.”

“Sister, what the heck… … .”

It was when Seonwoo exhaled deeply.

“No, who is this! It’s Gaon and Seonwoo!”

On the narrow road connecting the power plant area and the new city.

Elena, a blonde wearing a thin jumper, approached, waving both arms.

She hugged them both tightly and smiled brightly.

Next to him was Jake, clean-shaven.

Jake asked.

“When did you come, cuties?”

“It’s been a while.”

“Uncle Jake, can you grow your beard back?”

Seonwoo asked seriously, looking at his now cleansed face.

“Why? Not really?”

“It’s seriously bad. Seriously.”

“Elena likes it?”

“Auntie, anything is not pretty.”

“Why are you guys like that? They’re cute and nice.”

Elena smiled happily, cupping Jake’s face.

Even though ten years had passed, Jake was still lovable in her eyes.

The two people looked at each other for a moment and then suddenly kissed.

Gaon and Seonwoo coughed in vain and avoided eye contact at the unexpected display of affection.

Jaejae, who was watching the scene, took the paper in Elena’s hand and asked.

“Did you find out anything?”

“The first discoverer checked this place three days ago, and before that, a week. So, this happened in the span of four days. There’s no one who’s suspicious right now. They don’t come here except to clean up once every few days. Everyone’s busy, so if they’re not moving together, they don’t even know where each other has been.”

“It’s not easy… … .”

“I think we should start by repairing it and then post guards to keep an eye on it.”

“Isn’t there any chance that the kids did it?”

“doesn’t exist.”

Gaon, who was listening to the adults’ conversation, tapped Beomsik’s arm.

“Dad, we’re going now.”

“already?”

“I have to go back before it gets dark.”

“Why? While we’re here, let’s just sleep. We’re going to stay a few more days before we leave.”

Gaon shook his head.

“Okay. I have nothing to do. But did you tell Mom? How many more days will it take?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Beomsik scratched his forehead as if he had forgotten.

“Anyway… … .”

“You speak better.”

“okay.”

“Oh, and while you’re here, go see Hyunsoo too.”

“Uncle Hyun-soo? Didn’t you go to the nuclear power plant?”

“I came last night. I told you I might have to go again, so I’ll go and check it out.”

“Really? I miss you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”

Gaon locked eyes with Seonwoo.

If it were anyone else, they could see it from the safe zone at any time, but Hyunsoo was a little different.

Once he left Seoul, he would be away for several months.

Seonwoo nodded.

“Do whatever you want. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Uncle Hyunsoo either.”

“Hayeon, did your aunt come too?”

“No. I came alone. Ha-yeon must be at the power plant.”

“I wanted to see both of them, but it’s too bad. Oh, right. Dad. Aunt Anna was so discouraging Jiho.”

“You need to tone down his spirit a bit. He’s just like his father, he’s very stubborn.”

“But you’re still a kid. Dad, tell me a story.”

“Even a child is a child. Hey, look at Hyunseo. She’s so kind and polite. She’s pretty. What’s missing? Even though she’s so far away from her mom and dad, she never complains. She’s so mature.”

“Jiho will get better when he gets to Hyunseo’s age.”

“No, he can’t. His father can’t do it either.”

That was when.

“Ouch! Uncle! It hurts! Aaah!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to where the sound came from.

On the pavement block, a man with long hair tied back was holding Seonwoo’s head tightly with both arms.

A wide beard growing from his scalp to his chin, and from his chin back around his mouth, and scars tattooed all over his face.

A welcoming greeting burst out of Gaon’s mouth as he saw him with a sharp yet gentle impression.

“Uncle Hyunsoo!”

Then he ran to me and hugged me tightly.

It’s been almost half a year since we last met.

In the past 10 years, Hyun-soo, who has changed beyond recognition, gently strokes Ga-on’s head in his arms.

“Hey, Lee Hyun-soo. Do you keep hugging your grown daughter like that?”

Beomsik tried to press them with a jealous voice, but the two of them showed no signs of separation.

To Hyunsoo, Gaon was still a nine-year-old child.

He takes Gaon out of his arms and smiles happily.

and…….

“You’ve gotten prettier since I last saw you, our Gaon.”

That’s right.

That was Hyunsoo’s voice.

Infected people