Ch.93Chapter 4. The Dignity of S-Class (1)

Though the world may be going mad, there still exists a line of goodness.

This line differs from person to person, country to country, world to world.

Earth and this world are different.

After the Great Cataclysm, common sense in this world collapsed along with the meteorites.

Ratatatatata!!

Gunfire fills the road.

A trio of sounds rings out—bullets hitting the ground, bullets striking car bodies, and screams from the gunfire.

“Kyaaak!”

“And you’re an ability user.”

I lightly turned the steering wheel, crossing into the opposite lane.

“You could protect yourself with mana so bullets would barely sting, yet you scream.”

“H-how is this kind of gunfire happening in Korea?!”

“I wonder the same thing.”

Though heading north briefly brought us closer to the Hwalbindang thugs, this car has been thoroughly bulletproofed.

Vroooom!!

The RPM instantly passed 12 o’clock, and I sped forward, avoiding the car ahead that had momentarily stopped due to gunfire.

Driving against traffic.

No chance of oncoming vehicles.

“What if a car comes from the front?!”

“Then I’ll dodge it.”

I steered the car back into the original lane.

Immediately, the Hwalbindang motorcycle gang—no, the rioters—spun around at the three-way intersection and pursued me.

“It seems they’re targeting you, miss.”

“I can see that!”

“Don’t unfasten your seatbelt. I’ll take you all the way to Yangyang.”

“What?”

There was no need to change gears.

I just had to press the accelerator hard and follow the navigation forward.

‘Being an ability user makes this kind of thing nice.’

I, who had only once driven at 140km/h on the highway, am now driving at nearly 200km/h.

And on the East Coast road, no less.

Though it’s somewhat more level than real-world roads, driving at this speed on winding roads is still insane.

My ability makes it possible.

My senses expanded through mana, my physical abilities enhanced through powers make it possible.

If nothing else, my agility is A-rank, so I can check all directions in a second and drive forward.

You could call it good driving, but the problem is there are people keeping up with this speed.

Vrooom!

“Nice cornering. Were you a military driver?”

“What does that have to do with anything?!”

“Military drivers all have amazing cornering skills.”

There are four motorcycles skillfully taking corners and chasing us.

They’ve attached K2 rifles to their handlebars, with levers connected to the handlebars so pulling them also pulls the trigger.

Dudududu!

Concentrated fire hit the trunk.

I swerved the car slightly to avoid the bullets, but with four bikes shooting simultaneously from behind, I couldn’t dodge everything.

“Kyaaak!”

“The bulletproof glass will protect us.”

“Why are you so calm?!”

“Because I’m a professional. Brace for impact.”

After checking the navigation…

“Counterattacking.”

“Eh? Kyaak?!”

I slammed on the brakes.

Screeech!!

Three of the motorcycles chasing us saw the brake lights and swerved away.

Crash!

The one at the back didn’t see it and rammed straight into the rear of the car, and I immediately accelerated again after the impact.

“If this were my car, I’d never do this.”

“Ugh…!”

Thud.

The rioter who had fallen onto the trunk tumbled to the ground.

“I-is he dead…?!”

“He’s an ability user. All four of them chasing us at this speed are ability users.”

No way someone who can effortlessly keep up with a car going 200km/h on a motorcycle while shooting isn’t an ability user.

Not an ability user?

…

Well, anyone shooting rifles mounted on motorcycles at dawn is a villain.

If he died, it’s just a villain who died.

Ratatata!

The muzzles flashed again.

Despite the recoil that should slow them down, the bikes kept up relentlessly, perhaps because they’re lighter than cars.

Vrooom!

One even tried to overtake me.

As it pulled up close to the driver’s side trying to attach something, I immediately swerved.

Screech!

The car turned sideways in a sharp curve, and the guy who had approached the driver’s side turned his handlebar in the opposite direction in surprise.

Crash!

The rear of the car hit the front wheel of his bike.

He skidded and rolled on the ground, and whatever he was trying to attach fell limply to the ground.

BOOM!!

A crisp explosion sounded.

Looking in the rearview mirror, I saw a red explosion raising dust.

“They’re shooting guns, so I guess there’s no law against throwing bombs too.”

“W-why are you so calm?!”

“I’m not your assigned driver for nothing. But… it seems they’re serious.”

As I tried to accelerate forward again, I saw a barricade spread out ahead.

Multiple layers of black and yellow metal bars stretched across the road, with Hwalbindang rioters aiming guns at us from both sides.

The “Gangneung City” sign visible behind them looked so out of place it almost made me laugh.

“W-what are those…! Why are they going this far…!”

“You’re trying to smuggle S-rank genes out of the country, so naturally they’re causing this commotion.”

“Y-you knew…!”

“Yes, I know.”

I briefly turned my head back.

“I’m only doing this on the director’s orders; I’m not thrilled about it either.”

“L-look ahead!”

“Why bother? Anyway…”

I pressed the pedal harder.

“Barricade or not, we’re breaking through and going forward.”

I channeled mana into the steering wheel.

My left hand gripping the wheel began to burn with red flames, and soon the flames were sucked toward the front of the car.

Whoosh.

Fire ignited at the front of the car.

Like flames racing with fire, the car burned with blood-red flames as it rammed straight into the barricade.

Aaargh!!

As we broke through the barricade, I thought I heard someone scream, but I didn’t pay much attention and kept pressing the accelerator.

“W-who are you…?”

The car races forward.

Though covered in bullet marks and slightly slower, it still runs without major issues.

“Currently, I’m with Moby Dick, directly under Director Qiongqi.”

“Never heard of… whatever, I don’t care. Y-you.”

Now seemingly a bit more relaxed, Juliana leaned forward in the passenger seat.

“Would you consider joining October Travel… kyaak!”

I slammed on the brakes.

Juliana’s face hit the passenger seat backrest, and I completely stopped the car before moving forward again.

“W-what was that for?!”

“Red light.”

“That’s ridiculous…! You’ve been ignoring all the signals until now!”

“Have I?”

Not my problem.

* * *

At that time.

News of the commotion in Gangwon Province quickly reached key figures involved in national defense.

-Juliana Faygreen, granddaughter of October Travel airline, has acquired Taejo’s genes.

-Planning to leave the country this morning via private jet from Yangyang Airport.

-Intelligence received that anti-government group “Hwalbindang” has captured October Travel’s chairman’s family and intends to recover and incinerate Taejo’s genes.

-Confirmed that transnational terrorist organization “Yimemangryang” has come to provide support. Available S-rank heroes requested to assemble in Gangwon Province.

“……”

The Taegeuk Watch that rang at dawn contained a mobilization order for “Snow White.”

“Taejo, what trouble have you caused this time…”

Reading the report that came directly only to S-rank heroes trusted by the nation—not revealed to others or the media—Baek Seol-hee removed her pajamas with a serious expression.

“So a foreign girl and Taejo… Hah. That kid, so reckless…”

Baek Seol-hee shook her head as she brewed coffee in the kitchen.

Though coffee was a bit much first thing in the morning, she needed some caffeine to clear her mind.

“Should I go or not.”

This was a request.

Not a threat.

During her vacation in Seoul, such an urgent telegram had arrived, and the president himself had called asking her to stop Red Scarf who was heading north.

But now it’s different.

This time it’s a genuine request.

“Sending this message at this hour means… Hah. They’re conditioning me. If I don’t respond, they’ll make a fuss later, but even if I go, the situation will already be resolved.”

Indeed, asking her to go to Gangwon Province at this urgent hour, when chaos would already be unfolding, was clearly unreasonable.

Beep.

The Taegeuk Watch rang once more.

Baek Seol-hee was about to turn it off and take a shower, but her expression changed when she saw the urgent report.

-Gunfight in progress.

-Hwalbindang estimated to be using approximately one gun per person.

-Currently, “Armored Taejo” is flying from Busan to Gangwon Province.

“…Insane. Gunfire in Korea? The world has truly gone mad.”

Baek Seol-hee laughed hollowly at the unbelievable report.

Beep beep beep.

A phone call.

It was a familiar number, and Baek Seol-hee answered immediately.

“Hello, Yirin.”

[Unnie, have you seen the emergency report?]

“Yes. Your brother…”

[He’s not my brother, not like that.]

At the girl’s irritated tone, Baek Seol-hee frowned slightly, but soon calmed down, thinking that anyone might feel that way about a male family member.

[I’m planning to go. Want to come along?]

“Hmm…”

[If The Syndicate shows up, won’t your husband show up too?]

“What are you saying? Who’s my husband? How dare you say such things?”

[It’s half true, isn’t it…?]

“Shut up.”

Baek Seol-hee snapped her fingers, quickly grooming herself with mana.

“Fine, I’ll change and come right over, so get ready. We need to head to Yangyang first.”

[To see your husband?]

“You really…”

She’s only going because she happened to wake up early.

“Do you think I’m going just because the Goblin might be wherever The Syndicate is?”

[You might run into him by chance.]

“If I meet the Goblin in Gangwon Province… fine.”

Baek Seol-hee put on her shirt with a smirk.

“I’ll ask him out for a cup of tea. What nonsense. Why would the Goblin be in Gangwon Province?”

[What if he is?]

“Then that’s…”

Flutter.

“Destiny.”

Baek Seol-hee wrapped an ice fishing line around her finger with a flick.