The Returner

Chapter 315: Pardon? Did you eat something bad? (5)

Ka-aaaaah!!

Gururuk!! Guruk!

Monsters’ growlings could now be heard. Different, unique hisses, screeches and howls coming from each monster intertwined into one and resulted in an otherworldly cacophony of horrifying noise.

‘Don’t be scared.’ (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min grasped her shoulders as she watched this spectacle unfold. No matter how hard she tried to calm herself down, her body wouldn’t stop shuddering and her teeth continued to clatter.

The wave of monsters, dashing towards her in pure maddened frenzy, imparted such a large oppressive pressure that she found it hard to stare at it in the right frame of mind.

“Heee... hee-ik!”

“W-what the hell is that?!”

At least she was faring better than some others.

The North Korean soldiers unfortunately didn’t have a lot of opportunity to face monsters up until now, so naturally, they fell into a state of panic and began retreating in fear.

A regular person would freak out when seeing an actual tsunami wave of that size. Yet this was no ordinary wave of water, but one comprising entirely of monsters, so the terror these soldiers felt couldn’t even be described in mere words.

Monsters hadn’t even arrived yet, but the defensive line was already breaking down.

“Calm down! I told you to calm the hell down!!”

“You stupid stinking b*stards! Man your positions, or else!!”

Their commanding officers desperately tried to get a hold of the situation, but that was simply asking for a miracle here.

Even the agents of the NDF, who’d not lose against anyone in the world in terms of pure combat experience against monsters, couldn’t really regain their calmness from this horrifying sight, so there was simply no way a regular, powerless human being could endure psychologically.

“W-we’ll die! We are all going to diiiie!”

“We gotta run away! This is insanity!!”

Yi Ji-Hyuk watched this scene unfold and scratched his chin.

“Ehh, what was the technical term for this again?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“The technical term?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Uh... so, like.... Ah, right. It’s supposed to be called ‘nada morals’, right?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Wrong!!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Mental Ka-pow, then?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Stop inventing weird new words, please!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Kekeke.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

If they were about to engage in a war where the army’s battle spirit had a large impact like in the past, then this event was already as good as game over. There was a smidgeon of hope here, though, as they were a modern army equipped with firearms that didn’t get affected by the wielder’s physical attributes or the mental state.

“Wait, can I even call the North Korean army a modern one?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“What are you busy mumbling to yourself about?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Wowsers. Even under our current situation, you’re still tackling me about every single thing, aren’t you? What a thorough person you are!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“.............”

Choi Jeong-Hoon blushed a little. Yi Ji-Hyuk wasn’t wrong there.

“At this rate, they might run away from here. Don’t you think so?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon sneakily tried to change the topic, so Yi Ji-Hyuk decided not to sweat it and simply go along.

“Well, not wanting to die is a part of human nature, no?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Honestly speaking, telling these folks to use their measly guns to stop that monster wave was pretty nonsensical, to begin with. If Yi Ji-Hyuk was in their shoes, he’d turn around and get out of here immediately.

It was far more preferable to fight a tank with a pistol than this. Fighting that many monsters with some rifles was no different than killing yourself.

“Although, it’s none of my business....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

If the South Korean military tried to do the same thing, then Yi Ji-Hyuk might have thrown a tantrum, demanding to crack open the head of the general issuing such an order and see what’s rotting inside there, but this neck of the woods wasn’t really related to him, so that was that.

He shouldn’t be concerned with what North Korea did to its people.

“Run away! We gotta run away!!”

“This is madness!!”

And so, soldiers breaking away from the defensive line began appearing one by one. The Chief of Staff Park Yong-Hui watched that with a hardened expression.

The sense of defeat was capable of spreading around quickly like a plague. If one got away, then in less than a blink later, many more should start breaking away from the line next.

“What the hell are the commanding officers doing?!” (Park Yong-Hui)

Park Yong-Hui loudly yelled out.

Then, this happened.

Blam! Blam! Blam!!

Sharp gunshots rang out. Soldiers shifted their gaze immediately in the direction of the noises.

“Step aside.” (Kim Ryong-Seong)

The top commander-in-chief of the Joseon People’s Army, Kim Ryong-Seong, was pointing a pistol with thick smoke still rising out from its barrel.

The North Korean soldier trying to run away first was in front of him, bleeding profusely on the ground.

“You stinking sons of b*tches! You dare to show your backs?! Our glorious Comrade Supreme Leader is watching our actions right now, yet you dare to show him your unsightly back?! Step aside, now! Want to run?? Go ahead! You’ll soon learn which is faster, dying by the monsters or by my hands!” (Kim Ryong-Seong)

He threatened everyone here with a high-pitched yell, which caused unrest among the North Korean soldiers to subside a tad.

It wasn’t because a single pistol managed to successfully threaten them, though. Of course they knew that a handgun pointing at their backs was incomparably better than those monsters rushing in at them like rabid dogs.

It was just that they were brainwashed nonstop regarding ideals of absolute obedience to the command structure since their early years, and it prevented them from making a move here.

The fear towards the Party, and the fear towards the monsters.

These two disparate fears were suppressing the North Korean soldiers and pressuring them mercilessly.

“Heeeiiiik...”

The number of those faltering where they stood and wetting themselves began increasing.

And even in the midst of all these, the monsters were diligently closing the distance.

Choi Jeong-Hoon watched this scene unfold and scowled deeply.

Calling them a mob of ill disciplined vagrants seemed quite justified for breaking out of the rank like that. A soldier was not supposed to escape when the enemy was right before your eyes, after all.

But when he thought about how much braver the South Korean soldiers would react in the same situation, he couldn’t simply start hurling insults in their direction.

Not only that, most of the soldiers present here should know that they could never stop the march of the monsters, anyway. They were about to throw away their lives while knowing the truth, so who could dare to claim that they understood these people’s plight?

‘Even then, that crazy as*hole!’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Even if his ally was running away, how could he shoot without a single shred of hesitation like that! This wasn’t the middle ages, so what the hell was up with that?!

Choi Jeong-Hoon silently gritted his teeth, but the Chief of Staff Park Yong-Hui was actually clapping his hands, instead.

“As expected of Kim Ryong-Seong! He still remembers how to herd these kids well!” (Park Yong-Hui)

Choi Jeong-Hoon was rapidly overcome by this sense of disharmony.

They might wear the same type of faces and speak the same way, but these people were fundamentally different from him. This was the moment that a certain expectation was collapsing in on itself – the expectation, and the hope, that everyone would live in harmony while understanding where each other was coming from if the two nations managed to unify somehow.

Indeed, if one got in bed with people thinking in this way, the only thing awaiting you was discord.

Kuwaaaaah!!

When monsters got close enough for their outer appearances to be discernible by naked eyes, Kim Ryong-Seong raised his hand high up.

“Fire at will!!” (Kim Ryong-Seong)

The moment his words ended, the long range artillery began spitting out flames. At the same time, tanks also sprayed their shells as well.

Ka-boom!! Booooom!!

Contrary to Choi Jeong-Hoon’s fears, the tanks managed to fire without an issue. Even the multiple-rocket launchers operated without much of a problem, flinging their cargo accurately towards their targets.

What a relief it was to see that, but on the other hand, it was also a rueful thing to see, as well.

‘No effect as expected.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon slightly bit his lip.

He already suspected it would be the case.

The modern firearms didn’t have a big effect on the monsters. Ammo designed to kill humans couldn’t penetrate the monsters’ hides. The armour-piercing rounds used against tanks had some sort of an effect, but unfortunately, these monsters in front of their eyes were no ordinary creatures at all.

Indeed, they were monsters spat out from level 6 Gates. Each and every single creature here was powerful enough to be designated the threat level above level 3 Gate.

And such monsters were rushing in at the same time in humongous numbers, so how much of a help the North Koreans’ deteriorating, obsolete weapons could realistically provide?!

“Fire!! Fire some more!!” (Kim Ryong-Seong)

However, it seemed that Kim Ryong-Seong’s thought process was different from his.

An endless barrage of fire rained down.

The North had been heavily investing on their defensive budget even when their citizens were dying of hunger, so it was quite likely that they did enjoy some ability to continue pouring out their attacks.

Choi Jeong-Hoon thought that this was simply a waste of money, though.

‘Too many unnecessary personnel has been gathered here.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Sure, he understood that they had to mobilise every available manpower since their capital, Pyongyang, was about to be destroyed. They sought out only the so-called elites, so out of the ten million-strong North Korean army, only around hundred thousand could be summoned here.

However, Choi Jeong-Hoon still found this unnecessarily over the top.

If you want to stop monsters, you needed ability users.

If you weren’t going to rely on your users in times like this, then why would you go ahead and create those ability user organisations in the first place?

It seemed that the Chief of Staff, Park Yong-Hui, thought the same as well.

“Rhee Jin-Cheol! What are you doing!” (Park Yong-Hui)

The People’s Ability User Brigade.

The organisation that North Korea had so meticulously prepared until now found itself in the situation where they now had to prove their worth.

Rhee Jin-Cheol didn’t budge an inch even as the shells continued to fire right behind his back and closely observed the monster wave.

“This blows.” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

No matter how hard he looked, he just couldn’t arrive at an answer. Monsters had to be of a certain level for him to fight properly, realistically speaking.

“Well, if I’m told to jump, I’m supposed to say how high, anyway.” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Too bad, there was no such thing as second retreat for him. His standing was already hanging in the balance after the first retreat, so if he did it again here, then even a three-year-old child could tell that he’d not be able to keep his head above his neck.

“Everyone ready?” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“Yes we are, Comrade Senior Colonel.”

“Running away from here means we will die later anyway. So, let’s just fight to our hearts’ content and go out in a blaze of glory, shall we?” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“Understood, comrade.”

“Hah, at least our graves will be kick-a*s.” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol cackled as pure-white arcs of electricity buzzed on both of his hands.

“By the way, where is our Comrade Brigade Commander? Why can’t I see that person anywhere?” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“I’ve been wondering about that as well, comrade.”

“Seriously, man. These higher-ups, they are never there when you need them the most. I mean, he’s so old already, so how much longer can he even live for, anyway?” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol then shouted out loudly.

“The People’s Ability User Brigade of the glorious People’s Democratic Republic of Joseon!!” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“Uwaaaaah-!!”

The roars following after him were filled to the brim with anger and they sounded more like screams now.

“If the Party tells us to die, then it’s our duty to do so.” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“That’s right!”

“Let’s go and die!”

“Ahck!!”

Rhee Jin-Cheol, as soon as he was done talking, dashed towards the monsters crashing in like the tsunami waves.

“Wow!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk watched that and exclaimed loudly.

Marching straight into the monster wave, now that took some guts.

“That’s pretty impressive.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon nodded his head in agreement.

They were a platoon from a nation considered to be an enemy that adhered to a different political ideal than his, but at least in this moment, even his blood seemed to boil in excitement when they began roaring out.

“Can they really stop the monsters?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Are you having a laugh?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“....I guess not.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Having ‘drive’ was nice. But... How much more wonderful would it be if you could achieve anything in this world with drive alone?

“Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“I know.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk didn’t bother to wait for Choi Jeong-Hoon’s follow-up and nodded his head.

He could guess the contents already, anyway. Even if this monster wave was nullified, there was no meaning if the North’s Ability User Brigade was wrecked in the process. North Korea would lose the ability to deal with Gates opening up in the future if that happened, eventually leading to its inevitable destruction.

Although the idea sounded heartless, the People’s Ability User Brigade had to be preserved even if every regular soldier present here were to be sacrificed.

“Tsk. I don’t like this, but still....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

....The world revolved because of ‘necessity’, after all.

“Should I get started?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Everyone, cover him!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

The moment Choi Jeong-Hoon roared out, the NDF agents quickly stood around Yi Ji-Hyuk. Their mission during this operation was to provide protection for him, and that was it.

Go-ohhhh.....

“W-what the hell??” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol busy dashing forward freaked out and hurriedly looked behind him.

This chilling, terrifying sensation coming from behind him felt like a bunch of needles pricking him on the nape of his neck.

“W-what the f*ck is that??” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol’s eyes trembled as if an earthquake had erupted in them.

His vision now caught sight of a massive black flame billowing upwards as if to swallow the heavens itself.

It was a flame so deep and dark, like the licking tongue of an insane devil.

< 315. Pardon? Did you eat something bad? -5 > Fin.