episode_0245

I walked silently through the trees, with Heize.

“……”

“……”

She, who had been excited after I called her aside, closed her mouth and lowered her eyes.

I had unintentionally become serious, but it wasn’t on purpose.

Because the content was a bit awkward to speak of readily, I couldn’t help but be cautious.

“How is it, after spending two days here?”

…Because of the awkwardness, I just blurted out something random.

“Everything is great.”

Though it was a short answer, seeing her smile again, I could feel her sincerity.

“The food is delicious. Everyone is kind. I feel very at ease.”

“…That’s a relief.”

“I made a good choice coming along.”

“Heh.”

A small laugh escaped me at her cute remark.

Heize stared intently at me as I composed my expression.

“So what?”

“Hmm?”

“You have something to say. What is it?”

“Ah…”

“Han. It’s frustrating. Are all Korean men like that?”

“…No, they’re not?”

I flared up slightly at her baseless misunderstanding.

“Speak quickly. Like a man.”

Though her words were a bit off, since she was cute, I let it slide without correcting her.

Heize crossed her arms and thrust her face forward.

Thanks to that, my gaze was almost stolen by her chest, which was gathered and boasted ferocious volume, but I couldn’t succumb.

My gaze was caught by her blue eyes, which stared straight and seriously at me.

At the gentle urging I felt soon after, I slowly brought up the main topic.

“I want you to protect my family members.”

“Protect?”

“Yes.”

“…What does that mean?”

Heize furrowed her brow.

“It’s exactly as I said. When I’m not here, I want you to protect our family members.”

“Not here? Why? Where are you going?”

“No. It’s not like that.”

“……”

“Calm down and listen.”

Perhaps she misunderstood slightly, so I gradually explained the situation to Heize, whose pupils were trembling.

The gist of it is simple.

That when I’m not with them, if they fall into danger, she protect everyone.

The content itself is something that family members can say to each other.

But to say it to Heize, it’s a bit harsh.

That’s why I hesitated a bit to bring it up, but in the end, I did.

Heize, who had listened to my explanation, blinked her eyes.

“Don’t worry. Even if you don’t say it, I’ll protect everyone. I was a bit surprised~”

She chuckled and readily agreed, but I didn’t laugh.

“The opponents aren’t just zombies.”

“Seonghan’s enemies?”

“Uh-huh.”

“No problem.”

At her confident words, I casually added.

“The opponent is the Taesong Group.”

“What? Taesong?? Korea’s No.1 Taesong?”

As expected, it’s a company with enough fame for even foreigners to know.

When I nodded in affirmation, Heize was openly surprised.

To her, I calmly told her everything that had happened until then, one by one.

Why I started fighting, what those bastards had been doing, what I had been doing.

I revealed everything I hadn’t been able to say to the other family members yet.

Even their cruelty and my own, without any omission or exaggeration.

The reason for doing this to Heize is simple.

Heize is a strong and excellent soldier.

She knows how to fight and is capable of fighting.

It’s almost regrettable to even compare her to our family members who have only had basic training.

From the results of our first encounter, I know.

Heize is definitely strong.

If it were the team leader bastard I met recently, before he doped, Heize would win.

That’s how I feel after testing her abilities.

That’s why she, with such proper combat abilities, is needed.

…More than anything, she wants to help me.

Heize is someone who can fight against danger.

That’s why in my absence, I wanted her to step up.

However, there’s also a problem.

“You must have been through so much and hurt, to ask such a favor… I’m sorry.”

“……”

I barely managed to utter the apology that didn’t come out easily.

Heize just stared at me silently.

She’s the one who went through all sorts of hardships while protecting just Lawrence.

She’s the one who followed me because she disliked and feared people.

Of course, I’m well aware of the fact that she has feelings for me.

I’m asking for an unreasonable favor from her, who has only been here for a few days.

And I couldn’t shake off the thought of using her.

That’s why it was hard to say it readily.

Among the family members, Incheol and Sohee will leave soon.

If that happens, there won’t be anyone among us who can properly fight.

As much as I’d like to hold onto them, people’s hearts don’t always do as one wishes.

Both Sergeant Kang and Incheol are cherished connections to me.

I know that Incheol and Sohee also hold Sergeant Kang in high regard.

Because of that, I want to respect their choices.

As a result, it ended up burdening Heize.

While I was rambling on, explaining my thoughts, Heize listened quietly.

“Is that an order?”

“No. It’s a request.”

At my words, Heize’s lips formed a beautiful arc.

“I’ll do it.”

“……”

“Just trust me.”

I’d felt it before too, but it was a refreshing answer; she didn’t hesitate for a moment.

Because of that, I was rather flustered.

“Why? I said I’d do it?”

“Ah, no. Are you sure?”

“Of course? Of course. Han’s home is my home. So I protect it.”

Seeing me dumbfounded by her neat acceptance, she was now grinning widely.

“I don’t just play and eat. I work well too.”

“Uh… that’s true.”

“I said it. I want to help Han. It’s my sincere intention.”

Though her Korean was broken, at her words, which felt resolute, a faint smile appeared on my face.

In response to that, I naturally uttered a sincere remark.

“…Thank you.”

“Between us~”

“Pfft-!”

Laughter burst out at her broken and sly way of speaking.

In the meantime, she seems to have learned the Old Man’s slyness.

Heize’s smile, as she laughed with me, subsided, and she spoke softly.

“Han.”

“Hm?”

“Are the family members precious?”

“…Indeed.”

Heize nodded her head slightly.

“Han’s precious things. I’ll protect them.”

*『We will protect what you love.』*

“……….”

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no. Nothing.”

I shook off the distracting thoughts that had crossed my mind.

As the conversation paused for a moment, Heize slightly lowered her head.

“…Han. Um, um…”

Heize uncharacteristically fidgeted with her fingers.

“I, I too… I too…”

“……”

Rustle—

At the somehow girlish feeling, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

I gently approached Heize and softly pulled her into my arms.

“……”

“I’ll protect you.”

“…Mhm….”

It seems that was the right answer.

Heize uncrossed her arms and hugged me back.

From Heize, who had buried her face in my chest, I could smell a fresh scent.

*‘She’s so delicate.’*

I thought she had a sturdy physique, but she fit right into my arms.

She’s simply slender.

If I put strength into the arms holding her, it felt like she would break.

Yet, for some reason, she also felt firm, so she didn’t feel entirely weak either…

Squeeze—

I gently stroked Heize’s head, which was pressing harder into me.

“It’s not that I want you to do it alone. I’ll train everyone too.”

“…Mhm.”

“It’s only when I’m not here, so don’t feel too burdened.”

“…Mhm.”

Did she understand?

“…Mhm. Can’t you say anything else?”

“…Mhm.”

“Seriously…”

“Hehe~”

Heize somehow rubbed her face against me like a child.

At the faint tickle I felt, the corners of my mouth lifted.

“It’s warm.”

“Is that so?”

“Hmm~ A man smell.”

“Hey…”

“I like it.”

*‘…Seriously.’*

Because of her broken Korean, she feels cute, but she occasionally reveals a slyness.

I wonder what her original personality is like.

Contrary to that, I slowly released my arms wrapped around Heize.

Heize, who had been in my arms for a while, licked her lips as I released her.

Her expression was somehow similar to when she eats meat, making me feel strange.

“…Shall we go in now?”

When I gently led her, Heize followed without resistance.

*‘……’*

It was a selfish and inconsiderate request, but I’m relieved it worked out well.

While I felt a bit relieved, a feeling of apology came along with it.

…I planned to repay her for a long, long time so that she wouldn’t feel sorry.

And if possible, I also had the desire to solve it before danger arrived.

I, who had walked with Heize to the entrance, let her go inside first.

“Where are you going? I want to go too.”

“No. I have something to do for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

“……”

Perhaps because of my past record, she stared at me with cold, distrustful eyes.

To appease the distrustful Heize, I said seriously.

“No, really.”

“…Alright.”

“If someone asks where I went, tell them I’ll be back soon.”

Heize, who didn’t drop her suspicion, stood still and watched me leave as a send-off.

Until I was out of sight, riding the truck I brought from Sangil-dong.

Seeing Heize’s figure in the rearview mirror, how should I put it…

*I strongly felt the feeling that ‘my feet didn’t want to move’ [a phrase used when it’s hard to leave a place or person].*

For now, I pulled myself together and focused on driving.

Without needing to go far, as soon as I left the shelter, I immediately stopped the car.

Since there was no one around to see… I immediately loaded the truck with cargo.

The uniform and luxurious black storage boxes quickly piled up.

Starting with the things I had seized before, I took out weapon boxes.

The boxes were carefully packed and loaded, as if playing Tetris.

Things like rifles without packaging were laid out on a blanket and carefully wrapped.

The mini-gun, which I particularly liked, I packed a bit more carefully.

I feel something from this one that makes my heart race.

As I loaded the weapons in an instant, the car body instantly sagged.

Seeing it sag even more than when I stacked food the other day, I worried if it would be able to climb a hill.

I liked the contents, which made me feel that much fullness.

If asked where I got these, I decided to make up a plausible excuse and pass some time.

“Hmm…”

I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.

Normally, at a time like this, I would have picked up my smartphone, which is a bit disappointing.

Seeing the weapon boxes loaded in the car, Taesong came to mind.

*‘Those damn bastards.’*

I wondered if they’d uselessly loiter around here.

I had a small hope, but that was unlikely…

While getting unnecessary stress, I recalled the words Hyunwoo had casually left behind.

Gangwon-do, and Hanam.

I don’t know about Hanam, but if it’s Gangwon-do, there’s something that comes to mind.

Taesong’s research facility that Dr. Jang had awkwardly mentioned.

I wonder what they’re truly doing there.

Before that, now, just thinking of the word incites anger first.

*‘I want to smash it all to pieces….’*

It would be even better if I could burn it all down, like the base in Sangil-dong.

I only had the thought of wanting to somehow make them suffer.

If I could see those bastards collapse and writhe in uncontrollable rage, I think I’d feel a bit better.

As inappropriate emotions swelled in my chest, a cold wind struck my face.

Staring in the direction the wind was blowing, there was nothing to see.

Just, unchanged, only the sight of a dead street entered my vision.

…This too is the result of those who did useless things.

Looking at it this way, in some ways, they’re truly remarkable bastards.

“Tsk.”

Feeling unnecessarily melancholic, I clicked my tongue and got into the car.

…I needed a change of mood.

Having killed enough time, it’s time to go in and unbox.

When receiving a delivery and unboxing it, I feel good and happy.

With the thought of enjoying that feeling with everyone, I deliberately didn’t open the boxes.

I know they’re weapons, but I don’t know what’s inside.

Feeling similar to when opening a random box, I even felt a little excited.

*‘Hope I get something good.’*

With the feeling of drawing a lottery, I put in a small earnest wish.

And at the shelter I returned to, I, along with my family members, could have a fun (?) time.