episode_0025

8. Aftercare (1)

While I was talking to Hyunseok like that, fidgeting with my hands and looking around, I heard the ‘Polaroid shutter sound’ and ‘the sound of holding back laughter’ from behind me, so I turned around.

Yeonseo was looking at me with a very happy smile, while at the same time covering her mouth with her left hand to hold back her laughter, and in her right hand she was holding a Polaroid photo that looked like it had just been printed.

At that sight, a goosebump suddenly ran down my back, and I looked at her with the thought, ‘No way?’ and slowly moved my lips.

” Hey… No? Right? Huh? ”

” Huh~ What are you talking about? ”

” Ahem, when did you come? If you came, just say you came. ”

” No~ What’s between us, I was just watching because the atmosphere felt good when I was hugging Hyunseok. ”

” Hey…! Give me the picture you have in your hand! Quickly!! ”

I, who was sitting down, quickly stretched out my legs and ran towards Yeonseo, but as if she had expected it, she created a wall of ice in front of her and ran far away.

‘ That… picture! When on earth was that taken?! More importantly, why is the kid running so fast?! ‘

I quickly broke the ice wall rising in front of my eyes with my hand wrapped around the ‘Holy Fire’ and chased after Yeonseo, but I ended up losing her.

” Haa, haa, slurp… Where the hell did you go?! ”

Although I missed Yeonseo, I thought I would meet her eventually since we were sharing a room anyway, so I returned to where Hyunseok was, and in the meantime, Hyunseok was tying Han Jinoh up with a rope.

” You’re here? Isn’t Yeonseo running away quickly? It’s amazing? She’s always in the room and doesn’t move much, but she runs away quickly. ”

” Haa, that’s right. But what are you going to do with that guy? Honestly, I want to cut off his head right now, but first… I made a promise with you… ”

” Let’s tie him up like this and discuss it with the gentlemen. Oh! And can you pull out the sword for me? ”

There was no bleeding because it was imbued with divine power, but the sword was still stuck in it, so it was a problem to tie it up, so I took back the ‘Kurtana’ and approached Hyunseok to ask what to do next.

” So you’re leaving now? ”

” Huh? Oh, right. Actually, I didn’t plan on coming here originally, but I had some work nearby, so I came here to buy some news or supplies from the settlement, and I ended up helping out at the request of Mr. Hancheol. ”

” I see? But can I ask why you’re here? ”

Hyunseok looked at me and opened his mouth after tying the string tightly with his well-muscled arms.

Well, after hearing that, I guess I shouldn’t have just asked. Because…

” There is a settlement called ‘Nodul’ that is on good terms with the ‘Garam’ settlement where we are?

But they said that they had been hearing explosions every night for the past month from the Mokdong settlement area.

I came to investigate because I heard there was a very faint sparkle, like firecrackers exploding, and I thought maybe there were new demons or outlaws active. ”

” Ah… oh… I see… ”

” Yeah. But when I asked several people after arriving, they all said that she suddenly disappeared? Oh, it was around the time Charlotte arrived? The direction is similar. Do you know anything? ”

I took a slight step back, sweating profusely as I prepared to run away. It was definitely that one.

It is clear that the fireworks I shoot up every night while practicing.

And just like Yeonseo said, I think Hyunseok is not stupid. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be asking me so directly.

‘The kid is so kind that he fell for it, but he’s actually a bit of a sly snake!’ Knowing that and doing it is right.

They’re doing that because they only have circumstantial evidence and no physical evidence!

‘Yeah, let’s run away quickly! I have to go back quickly and see what kind of pictures Yeonseo took and steal them.’

I turned around to run away, but my escape was cut short by the men who approached me.

I looked back slightly and saw Hyunseok smiling slightly.

‘Is there a mouse hole somewhere… I want to go in…’

*****

The expressions on the faces of Mr. Du-sik and Mr. Han-cheol when they saw Han Jin-oh in front of them were very serious.

Mr. Dosik glared with his eyes wide open and his forehead was slightly bulging with tendons, making a ‘thud thud’ sound.

Yes, it was as if he was completely possessed by an evil spirit, just like in the cartoon where he turns into a goblin when he gets angry.

But I can understand. After all, he was the enemy of my precious daughter.

‘ That’s right. It’s amazing how you can hold on to your daughter’s enemy right in front of you, clenching your fists so hard that they turn white. ‘

Mr. Hancheol was not as angry as Mr. Dusik, but he looked just as angry.

It was nothing short of terrorism that frightened people in their own cherished settlement, and it was only natural that he threatened them by raiding them.

” So, what are you guys going to do? Honestly, I’m going to… ”

” Charlotte. ”

” Ahem, I think they need to be punished. Or maybe send them somewhere… ”

Hyunseok quietly called my name, and I immediately changed my words and looked at the men.

Mr. Du-sik seemed to still be angry with his mouth, and Mr. Han-cheol looked at me and moved his tightly closed mouth.

” First of all, is Ara okay? ”

” Yes, he seemed a little hurt, but I treated him to some extent. And since the others were also held captive, I made sure they could all move around, and moved him to a church a little ways away, so he should be okay.

I’ll go with Yeonseo or Hyunseok later. ”

” Yeah, that’s good, really good… Thank you Charlotte. And this guy… Honestly, I want to get rid of this guy quickly too.

Just in case, I should contact the Blue House and ask them to send someone from the ‘Management Department’. ”

” Okay. Then I’ll bring Ara and the others first. ”

” Okay, after you get back, come back to my office with Ara. I think we need to talk some more. ”

So Hyun-seok and I quickly went back to the room to find Yeon-seo, and I came out of the room with Yeon-seo and headed towards Ara.

*****

While riding the summoner with Yeonseo, I asked her about the photo from earlier.

” Hey. So what did you take a picture of earlier? Huh? ”

” Oh my~ Are you really that curious? Wouldn’t it be better not to know? ”

” What on earth did you take a picture of that you’re trying to hide like that? ”

” Hehehe~ Well, if you want to know, I can tell you, but I’ll finish everything first and then go to my room and tell you. It’s better to look at these things alone! Hehe. ”

‘What? Is the kid laughing now? What on earth did you film that made the kid who never used to laugh laugh…?’

No matter how many times I asked him questions, he just kept smiling and avoiding me, so I decided to ask him something else.

” Haa, I lost. I lost! Do you know what ‘management department’ is? ”

” Ah~ There? Well, to put it simply, it’s like the police. The police of this era. You heard of the Blue House? That place is said to be the first settlement created by the government on the surface.

So, you created several departments under it. Management, Administration, Welfare? Was it like that?

Well, places like the government or the Ministry of Welfare are places that help the settlements communicate organically.

There’s no need to go into detail, but as I said, the management is like the police, trying to maintain order in this day and age. ”

” Now, this is an era where laws are only in books, right? So, what, is this a place where you bring in criminals who have committed crimes and rehabilitate them? ”

Yeonseo opened her eyes slightly, paused, and then quietly opened her mouth.

” Well, as for education, if there is no law, is education really necessary? Well, I heard that there are cases where they just let them go, but in those cases, they’ll probably put a leash on them and send them out, right?

But other than that, I’m not sure~ ”

” Yeah, I get the gist of what you’re saying. ”

Frankly, this era is no different from the old Wild West, an era of outlaws.

If you have power, you take it, and if you don’t have power, it’s taken away. It’s just that people have kept the law until now and have lived within it, so everyone is reluctant.

If this situation continues for a few years, there may actually be more lawbreakers. After all, the law will only function if the country runs properly.

But at least there will be people who are trying to preserve the form of society that has been maintained so far.

As we talked about the times when we were apart, we arrived at the church where Ara and the people were.

When we opened the church door, people were surprised to see us suddenly appear, but they began to feel relieved because I was there to save them.

Ara approached us and started talking about how the settlement was doing.

” So, is it really all resolved now? ”

” Yeah! Now we just have to go back together. And Ara, can you make a cart or something? ”

” A cart? Why is that all of a sudden…? ”

” Ah, it doesn’t have to be a cart, but anything with wheels so people can ride it will do. Yeonseo here will take care of the rest ”

” Our Bul-yeosi, is that why you brought me here? Not Hyun-seok? ”

” Hey, didn’t I tell you to stop calling me that idiot? ”

As Yeonseo and I were bickering with each other, Ara smiled

” Hehe, you two seem to be pretty close? Have you known each other for a while? ”

Yeonseo and I looked at each other and opened our mouths.

” No? About 3~4 days now? Is that okay? ”

Ara, who heard what we said, started to laugh awkwardly, saying, “Ahaha…”

*****

As we returned to the settlement, the sky was turning red as the sun set and pitch-black night was approaching again.

Everyone is tired, but the night ahead will be more comfortable than last night.

The cool night breeze was cooling our tired bodies, and Yeonseo, Ara, and I headed to where Mr. Hancheol was after sending the rescued people to a place to rest.

Mr. Hancheol slammed the desk down with a ‘bang! ‘ and shouted at Ara in front of him. His body flinched at his shout.

Ara flinched and continued to shrug her shoulders, tilting her head back and closing her eyes as she listened to Mr. Hancheol’s continued words.

Of course, Yeonseo, Hyeonseok, and I were also watching that scene.

” You’re a kid! Do you have any thoughts or not?! Didn’t I tell you so?! Wait for your time!

And if you were going to go, at least say something before you go?! Huh?! Or you could have taken someone with you!

I went alone and ended up like this! Huh?! If you have something to say, say it!!! ”

He wiggled his index fingers on both sides.

” But… if I say something and go, you’ll stop me, and it’s dangerous to take people with you… ”

Again, the old man’s voice burst out in a ‘Bam!’

” You’re stating the obvious!!! Thinking that other people would be in danger!! Do you think that you wouldn’t be in danger?! Huh?!! ”

At the moment when Mr. Hancheol took another deep breath and was about to shout

The old man standing next to her, Doosik, wrapped his arm around Ara’s shoulder.

” Stop it, bro. Even Ara would have known, and sooner or later, those guys would have turned their teeth on us anyway, right?

At least it was resolved well since Hyunseok, Yeonseo, and Charlotte were there. Ara seems to be reflecting too, so let’s stop here. ”

Ara looked up at Uncle Dosik at those words.

” Uncle Doosik…! ”

” Of course, that’s that and this is this. ”

” Oh my! My…uncle’s shoulder!! My shoulder is broken…! It’s breaking…! ”

Looking at Mr. Dosik, who was pressing Ara’s shoulder with force, it seemed that he was also quite angry.

After that, Ara sat on the sofa and lost consciousness, and the men looked at us and started talking about Han Jin-oh.

” First of all, the guy has already requested someone from the management department like I said earlier, so you don’t have to worry anymore. They’ll take care of it.

And speaking of compensation for work. ”

At that moment, Hyunseok quickly opened his mouth

” You don’t have to pay me anything in particular. I’ll be satisfied if you continue to maintain good relationships with the ‘Garam’ and ‘Noddle’ settlements. ”

At that sight, Yeonseo frowned and glared at Hyunseok, saying, “He’s acting all rashly again.”

Me? Well, I felt more comfortable when Hyunseok said that.

Anyway, considering the maintenance and such here, it’s a bit strange to ask for it

Right now, if you give me a room to sleep in and food like this, I would like to stay here a little longer.

” Haha, thank you for saying that, but calculations are calculations, so we have to make it comfortable for both parties. Of course, I want to continue to have good relations with those settlements, so let’s move on.

First, I’ll leave the room you’re using as is so you can come and stay comfortably whenever you want. Or, since I’m doing the renovation anyway, should I make a separate building for you? ”

Hmm, I like where I am now, but at the moment when I was contemplating whether or not it would be a good idea to ask for our own space, Yeonseo quickly opened her mouth.

” To be honest, this kind-hearted fool is acting up so quickly that he deserves to be paid. And before we build a new building, I think we should take it from somewhere that’s not being used. ”

At those words, Mr. Dosik brought out a map and key of the settlement and showed it to us, pointing to a place.

” There will be a camper van here. It’s big enough for the three of you. There’s a shower room and two bedrooms, so it should be fine. I’ve taken care of everything so far, so you won’t have any inconveniences using it. ”

” Hey! Doosik, over there..! ”

” It’s okay. If I leave it empty, it’ll just keep gathering dust, right? ”

” Sir, are you really okay? ”

At first glance, it seemed like a place related to Mr. Dosik’s daughter, so I asked if it was really okay. The old man smiled brightly as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

” It’s okay. It’s fate that I received your help like this, so I think this is better. ”

” Then, I’ll do it there. It’ll take a while to build a new one anyway, so this is better. ”

Yeonseo said that and immediately started moving her luggage, and Hyunseok also left the room to move her luggage.

” Charlotte, you should go to bed too. You must be tired, so go get some rest and we’ll talk again tomorrow. ”

After hearing Mr. Dosik’s words, I started to feel relaxed and drowsy.

Well, even today, I was out of my mind because of the incident that happened this morning, and I was busy moving around to save Ara.

Finally, after a big fight at the settlement, my eyes gradually closed.

” Haam~ Yes, let’s do that for now. Then I’ll go in first. ”

I followed Yeonseo and Hyeonseok, who had gone first, and went to the place that Mr. Dusik had told me about with my luggage.

” Wow… Can I really use this here? ”

A fairly large camper van in the parking lot outside the stadium surrounding the settlement. Not quite as big as a bus, but certainly big enough for three people.

The exterior was painted black, and the windows of the living space, except for the driver’s seat, were dark tinted and covered with curtains so that they could not be seen from the outside.

I wanted to admire the outside view a little more, but I felt increasingly tired, so I opened the door with the thought that I should quickly wash up and lie down.

And when I opened the door, what I saw was…

Hmm… Okay, let’s think of it as a snowball fight!