Surviving in the 121st Century - Chapter 62



Only Noblemtl

“···”

Whether Jincheol had a headache or not, Snow just stared blankly at Jincheol. Jincheol, who was scratching his head, soon realized the silent gaze and opened his mouth.

“That… okay. You don’t have to tell me the details. I don’t want to get involved any more. Anyway, it seems like you’re not in a position to listen to your mother and go home. I can tell Ishanka a message, though. Is there something you want to say?”

“···What do you want to say?”

“I didn’t come here to force you to Shiol or to take you to Ishanka. I had work to do, and I just wanted to pass on the message. So, if you have something to say to Ishanka, I will tell you.”

“···”

Her eyes were back on the ground. Jincheol, who had been waiting quietly for her answer, saw her and thought that he would miss hearing a quick answer.

“Yes. You may not be able to think of anything right now. Please organize what you want to say and tell me before we part ways. In return, I’ll ask you to keep it short so that it doesn’t get too long and complicated.”

“···”

Instead of answering, Snow only nodded slightly. Looking at that, Jincheol became convinced again. This kid was clearly socially awkward.

There was another reason why Jincheol delayed speaking like that. Over there, beyond the camp, a Doljuk truck appeared in the forest with a loud engine noise. And behind that truck, military trucks that seemed to belong to the revolutionary army were following behind.

As he approached them and waved, Doljukpum stopped his truck in front of the camp and got out. He smirked as he looked at the corpses spread out behind the troopers and the armored men sitting in a line, disarmed.

“I thought it would be like this. It was like a monster.”

“Monster? This kid calls someone a monster. He’s going to die.”

“···Tch, that’s a compliment. It means you’re as strong as a monster.”

The smiling Doljumeok’s face hardened. He averted his eyes, feeling uneasy about the approaching Jincheol. Jincheol certainly looked a bit of a mess right now. He was covered in blood, and there were small scars here and there – already healing – and he was swearing loudly.

It would be hard for an ordinary person to approach him, but he was Jincheol. The fact that Doljumeok first brought up the monster and what not was there was a moment that made me think he was really strong-hearted.

In fact, the revolutionary army that followed behind couldn’t come forward after seeing Jincheol. However, Jincheol soon stepped aside, and when Snow approached them again wearing an owl mask, they also rushed into the camp.

The revolutionary army officer who asked Jincheol his name. He approached Jincheol.

“···I’ve heard about that armor. The strongest unit in Urata, the Armored Special Forces, wears exactly that kind of armor. I heard that it’s a special force unit that usually only handles close-quarters protection or special missions for Rahiman···”

“I think that guy was the target of that special mission.”

“Snow, White Slaughterer… So you two defeated this special forces alone? And you even hijacked two airships?”

“The plane was hijacked by that guy over there.”

Jincheol shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Ramien sitting alone over there. Nevertheless, the revolutionary officer nodded his head in admiration and let out a ‘hoho…’ sound to himself.

The revolutionary army he commanded immediately arrested the armored soldiers after grasping the general situation. Jincheol looked at Commander Rabito, who was still unconscious and being dragged away, and asked.

“How is it handled?”

“You shot civilians in the forest, right? Elderly people and children at that. Since there are witnesses who survived thanks to you, it won’t be hard to prove their guilt. The commander will probably be hanged, and the rest will receive the appropriate punishment after determining the extent of their crimes. In the first place, it doesn’t make sense for them to be in Jaso’s land. Kapitan is probably negotiating with Urata’s general in the south right now, and they were supposed to withdraw all of Urata’s troops.”

Kapitan. That’s what pig doctor Miguel is called. He said he had business in the south, and it seems it was that area.

“If it’s the south, Rostang?”

“It’s a little bit above Rostang. It’s a place called Bayspe. The revolutionary army including Kapitan and the Urata negotiating team are probably negotiating a treaty there.”

Jincheol’s mind was spinning as he listened to the officer’s explanation.

According to what I heard from Ramien, there used to be a gathering of meditation in a city called Rostang. After that, a war broke out between Urata and Jaso, and that place became a battleground. The revolutionary army, which later absorbed Jaso’s influence, has not been able to reclaim that place yet.

A huge ruin is being excavated in that Rostang. They are said to have selected only the able-bodied men from the land of Jaso and taken there to dig the ground, making them do whatever they want.

The clues I got while coming here. The ‘American Arsenal Excavation Operation’ that was supposed to take place in the East, the Ophesis mercenaries, Ramien’s captured lover, and the suspicious movements that the Knights Aiman ​​belonged to found in the East.

Jincheol sorted out the remnants that came to mind here and there. First of all, the place where the arsenal was being excavated seemed most likely to be the excavation site of Rostang. If so, the entity excavating that place would be the Gathering of Meditation, and according to what Jincheol had seen so far, they were either the forgotten Empire’s warm-hearted or its enemies.

Correction. They are probably the ones who don’t even know that they are warm. At least, that’s what I thought of the guy named Gugban I met in the dungeon of Shiol.

Those who are either the Urata Union or the Zaicheop Union will also be under their influence. That is why they will start a war to take Rostang away from Jaso, and they will also capture people from Jaso’s land and use them as laborers.

So, if we put all the thoughts together so far? Rostang is now a den of demons, and there is a very high possibility that there is an Ophesis mercenary there.

So, there are humans there.

A human like Jincheol is excavating ancient ruins, the ruins of America, which were once the chief of the Earth. And if that human is a descendant of a forgotten empire, then his motives are likely to be very impure.

“···You’re human, right?”

According to what I heard from Jindallae, they were psychopaths disguised as humans, but I didn’t know that. The Forgotten Empire fell about four or five thousand years ago. If their descendants had continued on during that time, wouldn’t it be possible that they had turned into somewhat sane people? Considering what the Meditation Gathering did, it’s unlikely.

Anyway, now it was clear where Jincheol had to go. Rostang. A city located in the southern part of Jaso and the northern part of Urata.

While Jincheol was thinking like that, Ramien came over and pulled on his pants. When he turned around, she said.

“I will continue to chase Ipani.”

“···You’re going to Rostang?”

She nodded. Her round finger pointed toward one side of the camp. Towards the airship. Yeah, that would be a lot faster than riding a motorcycle.

Jincheol turned his gaze to the side. Among the corpses, he found the body of an Olog armored soldier, and Doljumeori, who had been crouching there and squirming, raised his head at his gaze.

“I’ll keep going as long as you give me money.”

The next gaze turned to Maro, who was soothing the baby in the back seat of the truck. The boy shrugged his shoulders without saying anything even when Jincheol looked at him. It seemed that he wanted to move with them. Why did that boy go all the way, seemingly present and absent?

At that moment, Jincheol felt a presence and quickly turned around. He saw the owl mask approaching him. Jincheol said.

“Have you decided what you want to say to Ishanka?”

“···no.”

“Huh? Then what is it?”

“We have to rescue the people who were taken away. The residents I was looking for might have been taken there too.”

Jincheol didn’t understand what he meant for a moment, but then opened his mouth.

“Oh, you want to go together? With us?”

“···”

Instead of answering, he nodded. If it had been a real military unit, he would have been called a torturer. Anyway, Jincheol turned his gaze to the group to ask for their consent.

But Ramien was looking into the distance, picturing his lover, and Stone Fist was still shaking the dead Olog armored soldier. Maro was busy looking after the baby. No one seemed to care much about who was coming and going in the group.

“···Okay. Let’s go together. I see you’re good at fighting. It would be nice to have one more person to fight with···”

Snow joined the group in such a way. The revolutionary officer was surprised, but seemed touched by the words that he would go out and help track down the captured people.

“It’s our job to do this… It’s really unfortunate that if we leave Solkan now, it will become a complete lawless zone. Is there anything we can do to help?”

“That airship. I’ll give you one, so give me some weapons and supplies.”

“That airship is just that? Let’s do that.”

He said he would radio the Kapitan, the pig doctor, about what was happening here. If he did something wrong, it might ruin the ongoing negotiations, but he thought the Kapitan would be able to make a wiser choice.

After loading the bullets and supplies of the revolutionary army from the airship over there, as well as Doljumeok’s truck and Jincheol’s motorcycle, they were ready to leave at any moment. However, Jincheol and his party did not leave right away.

They returned to Solkain and headed to the hospital bed set up by the revolutionary army. Then they met Mrs. Witkay again.

“Mrs. Witkay.”

“Ah, Ramien! Did you find Ipani?”

“No, she wasn’t there.”

“Huh? Then surely···”

Ramien shook his head.

“I’m alive. I just went a little further, ma’am. I’m sorry to say this, but I came here to ask you a favor.”

“What favor···?”

Ramien looked at Maro. Maro approached Mrs. Witkay with a face dripping with regret and sadness and showed her the baby. Upon seeing the baby, the woman lowered her ears and trembled her hands.

“···It’s a baby. In this ruined city, such a small life survived···”

She was caressing the baby’s cheeks and nose with trembling hands, but then she flinched and pulled her hands away.

“That, the baby’s mother···?”

“···”

Ramien shook her head again. Mrs. Witkay let out a sigh and took the baby in her arms, shedding tears. Then she held him carefully and sobbed quietly.

“But this baby is alive… She’s alive. So many people, so many people, have died in this city, but still this baby is alive…”

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I asked you to do something like this when you’re already tired…”

The woman shook her head.

“No. Thank you, Ramien. I really appreciate it. I really mean it···”

She did not let go of the baby, though she was shedding tears. And the baby, without even opening his eyes, sniffed, lifted his chin, and sniffed Mrs. Witkay’s scent. And he nuzzled his face into her arms.

“···Sniff.”

Jincheol, who was watching the scene from a little distance, turned his head at the sound of sniffing next to him. The revolutionary army officer was having a runny nose.

Jincheol said while looking at that.

“With the airship, it might be easier to get supplies and personnel from other areas, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. So you… you are no different from the saviors of Solkan.”

“If you’re grateful, pay a little more attention to that lady.”

The officer nodded, looking at Jincheol with bright eyes.

“Yes. In the name of the hijacker, I will do so.”

“···”

Jincheol was embarrassed to reveal his name now, so he just kept his mouth shut. It didn’t mean anything good. But when he suddenly turned his head, he heard a small sniffling sound from the owl mask standing a little further behind him. Then, when Jincheol looked in his direction, he suddenly turned his gaze to the distance.

Having finished their business, the group left Solkain again. This time, not to the east, but towards the airship anchored on the outskirts of Solkain.

On the way, Jincheol said to Maro.

“You really don’t want to stay here? That woman seems like a nice person.”

“Yes? Why? I am Gar’s child now.”

“···what?”

Jincheol looked at Doljumeok in bewilderment at the obvious tone. However, his expression still looked as if it was obvious.

“Maro is Gar’s child. We must go together.”

“What is Gar’s child?”

“What is Gar’s child, Gar’s child?”

“···”

When Jincheol silently raised his fist, Doljumeok’s words became faster.

“Gar is a family. A child of Gar is a child of the family. Even if Gar is disbanded someday, Maro is still a member of Gar for now. We must learn how to live together until Gar is disbanded. Maro has not learned much yet. He must learn more.”

“···Okay, Imma. How great would it be if you explained it so well?”

Jincheol said that and got on the airship, and didn’t stop Maro from getting on. It only took a moment for the entire group to get on the airship and rise.

Jincheol, Ramien, Doljumeok, Maro, and Snow. People of different races and stories were literally on the same boat. Ramien in the cockpit pulled the control stick, and the airship rose. And leaving Solkain behind, it began to fly towards the southwest into the starry night sky.

*

The next day, the airship carrying the group was flying across the vast plains.

Except for Ramien sitting in the cockpit, no one else had much to do, except for watching the empty cockpit while Ramien was sleeping last night. Even then, there was a function similar to autopilot, so I sat next to Ramien to wake her up if something happened.

In front of the complicated dashboard that Jincheol had felt slightly dizzy upon seeing for the first time, Ramien fiddled with the control panel and the numerous buttons, toggle switches, levers, and dials. Although he had taken turns sleeping, his eyes still looked tired.

Jincheol, who was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat, said while looking at the slightly bloodshot eyes.

“How about sleeping a little more?”

“Huh? Who, me?”

Ramien, who had turned his head, smiled softly.

“No. I have to watch the controls. Anything can happen while flying. We might hit a bird, or there might be a strong wind.”

He had a faint smile on his face, but behind that smile, there was great anxiety and fear. Anxiety that he might be too late. That might be why he couldn’t leave the control panel.

“You even slept sitting there.”

“That way, if something happens, we can respond immediately. The only time a pilot leaves the cockpit is when the aircraft stops.”

Ramien, who was saying that, suddenly laughed as if he remembered something.

“why?”

“No. I suddenly remembered the first time I met you.”

“When the battleship crashed?”

“That’s right. At that time. I barely made an emergency landing on the ocean, but when I saw that my belt wouldn’t come off, I thought I was going to die. I should have had a knife or something to cut the strap.”

At that time, Ramien, who was struggling inside the sinking Battlewing, was surprised when Jincheol approached and pulled out his pistol. Jincheol also smiled slightly at that thought.

“Your rowing was really useless back then.”

A voice suddenly interrupted. I turned my head and saw Dol-Fist. He was holding a bowl in each hand, and there was something thick in them. It seemed to be food.

When Jincheol accepted it, Ramien said.

“I am always grateful to you too. If it weren’t for you two back then, I would have never escaped the Battlewing and would have been drowned. General Donchava would have said that was a soldierly death, but…”

“We are not Donchava. From our perspective, there was no reason for them to die like that.”

Ramien looked at him in surprise at Doljumeok’s words, and Jincheol snickered while taking a bite of stew. When did he say he was useless and should just leave? Doljumeok even considered Ramien as emergency food.

“···That’s right. That’s why I’m here now.”

“Thank goodness we were passing by at that time.”

“That’s right… Thank goodness… Thanks to that, I was able to go rescue Ipani.”

Doljumeok made a proud expression as if he had said something great on his own at Ramien’s answer. Jincheol almost spit out what he was eating when he saw that face.

At that moment, the proud face of the reckless gorilla hardened slightly.

“What is that?”

“···?”

Ramien followed his gaze and looked straight ahead. Jincheol, who was serving stew, also raised his head and soon discovered three dark dots in the distant sky.

“That is···”

Ramien hurriedly pulled down something like a periscope from above the cockpit and buried his face in it. And by then, Jincheol, who had been straining his eyes, had also figured out the identity of the dot.

“···It’s a Battlewing.”

“That’s also Urata’s Battle Wing···”

Battle Wing. The fighter plane of the Rabitos. At first glance, it looks like an early monoplane with a propeller removed and a few more muzzles added, but it is still a powerful air weapon that contains the essence of Rabito technology. And that air weapon was flying towards us.

It became clear a moment later that the target of the three was the airship the party was on, as a hail of bullets flew in.