41. Departure, Return. (3)

American-style houses are quite spacious with many stairs.

I settled on the second floor, which has a nice view, but thanks to the continuous downpour, I’m just enjoying the sound of the rain and the rain-soaked streets.

The advantage of a rainy day is that the sound of rain can be quite soothing.

Watching the rain from inside can make you feel quite cozy.

The disadvantage of a rainy day is that it’s difficult to launch helicopters.

It’s not just any rain; with such a heavy downpour, how can you fly in the sky?

That’s why we’re all stuck here, unable to leave, and the U.S. soldiers can’t depart either.

I thought it was just a brief shower, but it turned out to be a monsoon.

Leaning my elbow on the windowsill and smoking a cigarette, I looked outside when someone knocked on the door.

There are only a few people who might come to my place.

“It’s open.”

Seong Gyu-hyuk and Seong Ga-yeon entered.

Their pants were soaked, indicating they had been out doing something.

Seong Ga-yeon approached and sat in the desk chair, smiling.

“You look bored.”

I chuckled and looked at the two of them.

“How are the villagers?”

Seong Gyu-hyuk said:

“They should be fine. The U.S. side not only provided personal weapons but also heavy weapons. It seems they plan to mount a minigun on each rooftop.”

I whistled.

Miniguns too?

“They’re quite well-armed. But I wonder if that will be enough. There are still many beasts in those forests.”

Seong Ga-yeon tilted her head and said:

“That’s a bit strange. They say there are almost no beasts in those forests now.”

What do you mean?

They were swarming in the mountains, right?

Seong Ga-yeon explained:

“After the battle with the leaders, the U.S. side sent several observation drones to check if there would be a beast raid. After the monster boar, known as the ‘Mountain Lord,’ died, the beasts suddenly scattered in all directions, as if by agreement.”

I took a long drag on my cigarette and looked up at the ceiling.

“…Is it because the leader died? And they don’t know where the beasts went yet?”

Seong Ga-yeon shook her head.

“They’re speculating that the beasts are gathering somewhere to serve a new leader and form a new wave.”

While riding the Riverlin, we killed quite a few of the beasts in the forest.

We also significantly reduced the number of bats in the sky.

Not only the leaders but also many beasts in the mountains were killed.

I hummed and looked at Seong Ga-yeon.

“Still, there must be quite a few left in the mountains, right?”

Seong Ga-yeon nodded.

“Yes. So, they’re providing a few observation drones to the villagers to keep an eye on things. Our special forces will teach them how to use them until the weather clears up.”

I looked at Seong Ga-yeon and Seong Gyu-hyuk with a slightly surprised expression.

“Can they handle that?”

Seong Gyu-hyuk shrugged and said:

“We’re not experts, but we all learned how to use them in the military. Recon is part of our duties, and it’s not that complicated.”

Hmm.

The special forces are quite reliable.

Seong Gyu-hyuk said:

“We’ll give a few to the villagers and take a few with us. The security of our area and Seong Hoon’s area will greatly improve.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

A small reconnaissance drone, about a meter long, would allow us to monitor the sky without worrying about a wave, which would be perfect for both Seoraevillage and us.

I turned my head to look outside.

I wonder how our people at the supermarket are doing.

Once the rain stops, Captain Park will fly a helicopter, and we can return immediately.

Ah, right.

I turned to Seong Gyu-hyuk and asked:

“What about the Chinooks? It seems a bit wasteful to just leave them here.”

Aside from the few the U.S. will take and the one we have, four will remain at this base.

It’s a real waste, isn’t it?

But, there’s no one to pilot them, so there’s nothing we can do.

Seong Gyu-hyuk smiled and said:

“Captain Park and Captain Kim will come later in a light aircraft.”

I tilted my head.

“A light aircraft? What about the helicopter?”

“The people of Seoraevillage are setting up barricades at the sports complex. They’ll place the Chinooks and our helicopter hangar there. Captain Park and Captain Kim will come in a light aircraft and return in the Chinook.”

Ah, I see.

I chuckled.

“Can Captain Kim pilot a helicopter?”

“Probably not. He’s probably learning from Captain Park right now. Since Captain Park is the main pilot, Captain Kim only needs to assist.”

I tilted my head.

“I thought it usually takes three crew members to operate a Chinook… Is it okay with just two?”

“I’m not sure. But when we talked to Captain Park yesterday, he said it would be fine. In that regard, the timing was good.”

“Timing?”

Seong Gyu-hyuk smiled and nodded toward the window.

“The monsoon. Captain Kim needs to learn how to pilot a helicopter, the villagers need to learn how to use the drones, and we need to check if there’s anything else we can take besides what the U.S. provided.”

I smiled at Seong Gyu-hyuk’s expression.

“You got quite a lot, didn’t you?”

“Yes. Especially, we got a lot of additives for making aviation fuel. We won’t run out of fuel for at least one or two years.”

Oh.

That’s great.

With the existing helicopters, Chinooks, and now aviation fuel, our operational range has greatly expanded.

…Finding my family is one step closer.

“…That’s great.”

I smiled and looked outside.

Then, I took out another cigarette and lit it.

The monsoon lasted for a week.

By midday.

The U.S. soldiers filled several Chinooks with combat personnel and weapons and sent them into the sky.

The plan was to secure the destination first, and then the remaining combat personnel and civilians would be transported in subsequent trips.

Our side was also ready to leave.

We first loaded the 10 tons of weapons, ammunition, and explosives onto the Chinook and sent them, planning to return and pick up the personnel and fuel.

All the personnel would leave last, and I was leaving now.

On the rain-soaked runway, our Chinook.

As I walked, I saw Captain Park and Captain Kim in the cockpit, both wearing proper military helmets, looking like proper crew members now.

They waved to me when they saw me.

I waved back.

It’s good to see them again.

“Seong Hoon!”

Seong Ga-yeon called me from behind.

Turning around, I saw a few U.S. soldiers standing next to the special forces.

They weren’t there a moment ago?

I noticed that the U.S. commander with the cane was also there.

Seong Ga-yeon ran up to me with a wooden box.

“This is a gift from that gentleman.”

A gift?

What is it?

Looking at the wooden box, I saw it was labeled in English.

[Tom L. Jackson]

Tom Jackson.

It seems to be the U.S. commander’s name.

Opening it, I found it was full of cigars.

…Oh!

The U.S. commander, Tom Jackson, was waving at me with his cane tucked under his arm.

What a wonderful gift.

The local villagers, holding reconnaissance drones, were also waving at me from a distance.

I waved back to the U.S. soldiers and the villagers and then boarded the Chinook.

“I heard you’ve been through a lot. Are you feeling better?”

Captain Kim, sitting in the co-pilot’s seat, asked me.

I shrugged and smiled.

“I’m fine.”

Captain Kim smiled and nodded, then said:

“Good job. We’re taking off, so please sit down and fasten your seatbelt.”

I nodded and sat in the third crew seat, fastening my seatbelt.

Whirrrrr-

The Chinook’s engine started.

 * * *

The Banpo Sports Complex had changed quite a bit since we left.

First, they had set up sturdy barricades using barbed wire, fences, and various furniture, creating a strong barrier around the perimeter.

It was clear that this wasn’t the work of ordinary labor.

It felt like everyone had been mobilized day and night to build the barricades.

While we were away, they had also cleaned up the area, and when the Chinook landed with a roar, almost no human beasts appeared.

Banpo Sports Complex and Seoraevillage.

These two areas had become almost complete safe zones thanks to the efforts of the people.

Seeing this with my own eyes, I got off the Chinook and returned to the government’s base in Seoraevillage, the motel.

“You really did a great job. I heard about your efforts from our special forces commander. You accomplished something incredible.”

President Min Jeong-woo shook my hand and said with great enthusiasm.

I smiled and nodded.

“Not at all. The special forces worked hard.”

They had worked tirelessly with me on the Riverlin, going up and down the river, guarding with the U.S. soldiers, transporting weapons, and teaching the villagers how to use the drones. The special forces had really worked hard this time.

I didn’t want to diminish their efforts or claim that I did everything.

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae approached me and said:

“I heard you also secured aviation fuel. Thank you. It’s a huge relief.”

I nodded.

Secretary An Jun-gyu also came over.

“Not only did you secure weapons, but you also formed an alliance with the local farmers and brought a large helicopter. Excellent. With this, the recovery of the Korean Peninsula is no longer a dream. I look forward to your continued efforts.”

His voice was filled with joy.

His expression and tone.

Everyone was saying a word or two, and I couldn’t respond to all of them.

People patting my arms and shoulders, shaking my hand, and congratulating me.

I left their warm welcome behind and headed to the edge of Seoraevillage.

The barricade of Seoraevillage, which used to require a ladder to climb, now had a metal gate that could be opened and closed.

They really worked hard while I was away.

They even did this.

People came out in a crowd to see me off.

A special forces member from Team 4, who was on guard duty on the barricade, looked down at me and said:

“Are you leaving? I’ve kept your bicycle for you.”

He pointed to the gate.

There, my bicycle was neatly placed.

…Ah.

The bicycle.

Even though I hadn’t been away for long, seeing the bicycle brought a sense of nostalgia.

I smiled and said:

“No, I don’t need it.”

As I approached the metal gate, a special forces member standing below opened it for me.

Creak-

The special forces member who opened the gate asked me:

“Are you walking? It’s a long way. Would you like an escort?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I smiled and stepped through the metal gate.

The U.S. soldiers and local villagers.

Seong Ga-yeon and Seong Gyu-hyuk, along with the special forces.

They all know now.

That I’m not an ordinary person.

I walked slowly toward Banpo Bridge, receiving everyone’s gaze.

I opened my inventory and gripped Dalgaram.

And I released it in front of me.

-Whoosh!

The snow-white motorcycle.

Dalgaram appeared.

Gasps of amazement came from behind.

Without turning back, I got on Dalgaram.

Vroom-

A low but powerful engine sound.

I rode Dalgaram and sped off.

Vroom-!