Good news (1)
Russia, Primorye region.
The southern city of Artium was in extreme chaos after the news of the operation failed.
“Убейте китайцев (Kill the Chinese)!”
“Я, я не китайский. (Me, I am not Chinese.)”
Taang!
Smoke rose from arson fires in various parts of the city, and some citizens pointed to the Chinese as the cause of the incident.
I was on a human hunt with a gun.
To make matters worse, daily looting was taking place as food was crammed into the outposts.
“These bastards!”
“I’ve got everything I need! run away!”
outskirts of the city.
A group of four or five marauders kicks out the wooden door and starts running.
Drooling!
If those in the front were carrying items on their backs, those in the back were wielding submachine guns.
Not to be outdone by this, the farmers also tried to counterattack with pistols and KS-23 shotguns, but were overwhelmingly pushed back in terms of rate of fire.
“… it’s okay. stop.”
“But-“
“If you chase after this, it will be dog death. Pushed out of firepower.”
Nathan Kovalev, the young man who formed the very first village vigilante, uses an insight unbecoming for his age to restrain his comrades.
“I should have chased after the death of a dog. There wasn’t much left to eat. It’s a matter of starving to death or being shot.”
“… What exactly did you take?”
“Two sacks of potatoes, plus beets and corn.”
“You took away the good things. damn bastards.”
“What are you going to do now? It looks like it will eat the bark right away.”
“Let’s worry about eating later. Ludmilla comes first.”
Nathan Kovalev tried to take care of the wounded first, even though there were not one or two worries, such as a collapsed fence, insufficient bullets, and other medicines and food.
Earlier, a young woman standing guard had been shot.
“Sergey, how are you?”
“… … .”
“… damn it.”
However, right after returning to the fence, when a gloomy complexion returns to the hopeful question, curses spontaneously come out.
A white handkerchief was placed on the face of the woman who had just left for a long way.
“I was bleeding so badly that I couldn’t help myself. Of course, when it hits the artery… … .”
After a while.
A small tragedy soon spread to the villagers, and all but those who were in charge of the vigilance flocked to one place.
“How about a funeral?”
“You have to bury your little finger. If you want to be vague… It would be better to pay with only mementos.”
“… … .”
By the time the cries subside, the young leader asks for the elder’s opinion. The only man in the village who has passed his 60th birthday gives a thoroughly rational answer.
Cannibals.
It meant to keep in mind the situation in which people had to eat people.
“I’m not saying that because I like it. Look back six years ago. Aren’t the circumstances the same?”
“You mean the attack by Pector (Level 3)?”
“Right. Even this time it’s Glavenstva (referring to monsters of the 1st and 2nd ranks). Even if heroes and monsters are destroyed together, they will come with a new group as if it never happened. Even more so if you didn’t hit your head.”
The trembling voice contained fear for the gray eagle – Allamandra.
It has been 3 years since it became notorious in the Far East.
In the meantime, they went back and forth between the borders with China and made a fuss, and in the end, Artium’s breath was tight.
“Is this information reliable? I thought it was a rumor… … .”
“He was injured, but he said he escaped with his wings intact. Survivors say they saw it, so it’s not a lie. Anyway, what will happen to us if this happens.”
“… Vladivostok and Nakhodka are also there, right? Will things get worse that quickly?”
“Artium is a city located on the 1.5th parallel. It is inevitably a place where war materiel is gathered. But we have guns instead of pitchforks. It is to protect oneself from human beings, not monsters.”
“… … .”
“The problem is that the next one is even worse. Since the transport route for goods has been cut off, by the time summer comes the old people will have to sacrifice themselves, and by the time autumn passes, the children will be on the market. Of course, I also want to tell a hopeful story. But it was like that in the past.”
In response, Nathan Kovalev closed his eyes tightly and gritted his molars.
Did you just risk your life to chase after me?
A bar that includes ‘old people’ in a tragic future. It was difficult to criticize the old man, but it was difficult to obey him.
“Then Ludmilla… How did you get Ludmilla’s body-”
“You can leave it in the cellar. We don’t have to make a decision right away, so we’ll wait as long as we can.”
The moment he reluctantly reveals his intention to accept.
Following the sound of rough breathing, a young voice hits the back of my ear.
“Kovalev! It’s an intruder!”
“where?”
“East field!”
The sad atmosphere at the boy’s message disappears, and 10 people move with guns.
Another intruder.
He swears that he won’t go overboard this time. When I arrived at the scene, the exact opposite situation unfolded from what I imagined in my head.
On the edge of the forest that goes over the mountain.
Asians were watching in the direction of the village with a calm expression, and the guards were pointing their guns at them, but their hostility had softened considerably.
“Kovalev.”
“… what? Why didn’t you shoot?”
“that is… The strangers want to make a deal.”
“transaction?”
“I need information. They say they’ll give you food or medicine if you need it.”
However, despite the good news, the young man in charge of the village does not let go of his guard.
Looking at the armor, it was clear that he had the ability, but his appearance without a drop of blood raised suspicion.
“How was the conversation?”
“uh? He knew how to speak our language. Black hair over there.”
“… They all have black hair.”
“The guy with the iron glove on his right hand.”
However, the fact that he is a person with the ability to ignore or strike preemptively is bothering him, so he soon suppresses the tension and shouts.
“You there! come here! alone!”
“… I’m here. say.”
“Who are you? What is it from the west?”
“I am returning to Artium after the failed operation.”
“Who asked for the story? Who are you? Are you Chinese?”
“I am Korean, and my name is Lee Yong-soo. It came through the port of Vladivostok at the invitation of the Russian government.”
I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere for a while.
The Asian boy immediately got to the point.
“I don’t want to waste time. will you trade? What I want is downtown information, to be exact, the location of the governor or South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“What is the price?”
“Three packs of dry rations. Up to four packs depending on the value of the information.”
“Whose nose would you put that on? There are over thirty people in the village alone.”
“I’ll give you effervescent vitamins (vitamins that you dissolve in water). four barrels.”
The first cost wasn’t very appealing, but vitamins were hard to refuse, even on empty words.
“I don’t know the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but I know where the governor is. He said he returned to Artium City not too long ago. But how can I trust you? They might just listen for information and try to attack.”
“You spoke well. Shall we go hard then?”
“… … .”
“It’s too much to trade for the governor’s position. Don’t be greedy for more than this. If it was going to be difficult, we wouldn’t even have a chance to talk.”
“… great. I understand. The Governor is at the Artium City Hall. It’s 10 kilometers east-west. it’s okay?”
“one more. to the nearest road.”
“Take two kilometers south. It has a four-lane road.”
Although it is useless to worry, Lee Yong-soo puts down the trade items as soon as he hears the answer.
Then, without regret, I turn my back and leave.
No matter how many times he looked, he didn’t feel threatened, so Nathan Kovalev raised his voice and shouted.
“There are military forces stationed in the city center, beware! If you fail to prove your identity, you will be punished!”
People around him were puzzled by the sudden favor, but it was a natural reaction for him.
Effervescent vitamins could drastically reduce food consumption, so the body of a colleague could be buried in the ground.
* * *
The long forced march comes to an end as they enter the city hall.
[Please present your citizenship. Only domestic or foreign passports are accepted.]
“I need your ID.”
“Everyone take out your temporary registration card.”
I rented a car on a 4-lane road and rode (forced) and reached my destination after going through 3 inspections.
Even though the governor agreed to a face-to-face meeting, the inspection process was thorough.
[I will check the equipment.]
“… … .”
[Please take off the gauntlet. Weapons are not permitted.]
Not too long ago, when I was living alone, looking back, there were no restrictions… It’s a bit strange.
Are you getting a bad reception?
＜The prophecy was wrong.＞
In the middle of riding the elevator to the second floor. Snorting at the absurd story, the parrot retorted in a rather serious voice.
＜Originally, superstition does not discriminate between high and low social status. It is said that misunderstanding is free, but the fact that the misunderstood person is the governor is a problem.＞
“… I won’t be that petty.”
＜Do you really think so?＞
Of course not sure
＜Then what profit do you come here for? I’ll find a place to stay, get some rest, and check the rewards.＞
“… I must say I killed him.”
＜Oh, I don’t know. Anyway, I don’t like the way you behave. Same when you come back Hold on to Park Gun-young and give him extra lessons. Think of your body first. Since when did you become such a kind person?＞
Did it bother you to inform you every now and then, or was it displeased that you suppressed your injury with painkillers?
what.
Either way, nothing changed.
In order to calm the chaos in the city, a treatment report had to be made, and rest came after that.
Not just for the sake of others, but for the safety of the party.
＜Wait and see what the governor says. I’d be glad if you didn’t punish me for running away. It’s usually the guys who sit in high seats. He left himself out of the battlefield and blamed others… … .＞
Then, all of a sudden, the second floor of the City Hall – the door opens and the parrot’s beak opens.
Knock, Knock, Knock.
above the bed.
While the Ringer’s fluid is regularly dripping, a person with a recovery type ability is clinging to the governor’s side and sweating.
“Have you come?”
“… It’s out of shape.”
“Aren’t I a talented person too? I went out to the battlefield belatedly and was properly hit by the poison gas of Zimei (Dragon, Level 4).”
He showed off a nice smile, but my snout didn’t open easily.
“Is it ugly? I heard that after fitting the prosthetic leg, it looks the same on the outside.”
“… Do you really need to seal it up? It should be able to regenerate at least partially if it is treated by a high-powered person.”
“It’s a waste of resources. It’s like infusing the ability to save someone’s life into a child’s leg. I didn’t like it.”
yes.
Westerners who were aging gracefully… I left both legs on the battlefield.