Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Fire
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Three days had passed since he bought the smartphone. In that time, he'd spent his days gauging the current world through the internet.
Finding those names wasn't hard at all. 'Earth Union' was pretty common. There were even clubs named that. 'Strategic Special Forces' popped up now and then too.
But none of them matched what AI Jeon Ji-in knew.
"I was hoping there might be someone else from 2082 like us, but looks like not."
"Could be. Or maybe we're the only ones in this era."
The PC bang had hit it big with lunch and dinner service over the past few days.
The head chef's special menu was only sold when Na Gang-in was there. If he stepped out to scout the neighborhood and didn't return by mealtime, they skipped the specials.
Even so, customers had poured in. Some just grabbed a bite and left, but most stuck around for an hour or two of gaming anyway.
With the crowds, they needed more part-timers. Evenings were especially hectic.
Boss Cha Dong-seok asked Na Gang-in.
"A new part-timer's coming for an interview right now. Wanna sit in, Gang-in?"
Na Gang-in only handled the special dishes. PC bang management wasn't his job.
"Why would I?"
"It's just occasional fill-in work for busy times, but if things get really crazy, they'll help in the kitchen too."
"You handle hiring, Boss."
"Alright then. Oh. Here they come."
Na Gang-in glanced toward the door. A familiar face walked in.
"Hm?"
"I know him."
Cha Dong-seok waved at An Seong-hwan.
"Hey. Come on over. Resume?"
"Here."
"Whoa. Korea University Computer Engineering? You must be good with computers, huh?"
"Yes. I've been really good at it since I was young."
"Why apply here? Close to home?"
It was out of guilt.
The rigged program An Seong-hwan had made for testing had been installed here—and Na Gang-in had removed it.
He'd been forced to create it, but he still felt a bit bad about the mess.
That wasn't the only reason he'd come here, though. There was a real one.
"I just wanted a normal part-time gig."
"Huh? Isn't all part-time work normal?"
"Well..."
An Seong-hwan hesitated. He'd come partly from guilt, but spilling the whole truth was tough.
"I have bad memories of being locked up somewhere and forced to work under threats..."
"Oh man. What about those guys?"
"Police got them all."
"Good thing."
The interview wrapped up quick. Boss Cha Dong-seok said,
"Start today. Seong-hwan, you know it's just fill-in for busy times, right?"
"Yes! That's perfect for me!"
"You might help in the kitchen when it's crazy, so say hi to Gang-in here. Oh, Gang-in's the chef. He usually just cooks, but he's killer with computers too, so ask him for help if you're really stuck."
An Seong-hwan bowed politely.
"Hey, hyung. I'm An Seong-hwan."
"Hm..."
Na Gang-in whispered,
"He's calling me hyung. How can I fire him?"
"You act human most times, but you can be ice-cold sometimes."
He turned to An Seong-hwan.
"I'm Na Gang-in. Nice to meet you."
"You too."
An Seong-hwan tilted his head.
"But hyung... have we met somewhere before?"
"Probably just seen each other around the neighborhood."
"Ah, yeah!"
The next day, Na Gang-in passed by the neighborhood theater in the afternoon.
His AR Lens had video playback. Yesterday, AI Jeon Ji-in had shown him footage of An Seong-hwan captured via the lens.
"Ji-in, can I lie in bed and watch movies with the AR Lens?"
"No one's selling that stuff in this era."
"Knew it. You are messing with me."
He stopped by the big mart, checking the electronics displays with his own eyes. Internet info alone might miss something, so he wanted a real look.
After browsing the electronics section thoroughly, he picked up a few spices from the grocery area. He put them in a recycled bag.
Then headed back to the PC bang.
The alley shortcut would get him there faster.
Everything in sight became data for AI Jeon Ji-in.
The residential alley was quiet in broad daylight, just a few people passing.
Mid-5-story studio building ahead
Semi-transparent red circle overlaid on AR Lens.
A semi-transparent red circle overlapped the middle of a 5-story studio building ahead. It was a virtual image from AI Jeon Ji-in via the AR Lens.
Fire risk detected in that location.
No sooner had she said it than the building's fire alarm blared. Flames flickered briefly outside a hallway window.
Updating info: Fire already active.
The burning building was a narrow 5-story studio. Flames devoured the 2nd floor in seconds.
A passerby spotted it and frantically called the fire department.
Na Gang-in's body housed an Implanted Combat Support AI. AR device in his eyes, auxiliary module in his ears, enhanced leg strength.
Suddenly, a special way to put out the fire popped into his head. If possible, he could snuff it in one shot.
He extended his right hand toward the blaze. It felt right.
He thrust his hand out and shouted,
"Fire suppression beam launch!"
"Uh... no freeze ray superpower, huh?"
Na Gang-in sheepishly lowered his arm and changed the subject.
"Ji-in, find a way to put out that fire."
Na Gang-in entered the 1st floor. An extinguisher stood in the corner. He grabbed it and headed to the 2nd floor.
The flames on the 2nd floor roared fiercely. AI Jeon Ji-in marked optimal spray points. But it barely dented the blaze.
"Hey, this isn't cutting it."
Evacuate building immediately.
"Always when I say so."
He stepped out and looked up.
"No choice. Hope the building's empty..."
A figure appeared on the roof.
A young woman's desperate voice rang from the roof. She waved her arms wildly.
"Help! Someone's up here!"
Onlookers gathering to gawk panicked at the sight.
"Huh? Hey! Someone's up there!"
"Where's the fire truck?"
"Oh no! What do we do?!"
Na Gang-in asked,
"Fire truck ETA?"
"Can she hold out 4 minutes on that roof?"
Even if the truck arrived and hosed it down, the fire wouldn't die instantly. Ladder deployment took time too.
99% chance civilian dies before truck arrives.
"No helping it."
"She's a customer. Gotta save her. I'll climb to the roof and get her out. Find entry path."
AI Jeon Ji-in analyzed without complaint. Transparent markers appeared on the outer walls—mostly window frames.
He checked his mask. It blocked fine dust.
"Will this handle the smoke?"
"You don't know everything, huh?"
Virtual lines traced the building wall. The path had external fixtures for hands and feet.
"Better than nothing."
He donned the mask and approached. Onlookers didn't catch on.
Na Gang-in hopped lightly at the front, grabbing above a window frame. He pulled up. His foot hit below the frame. He stepped and leaped higher. Hand reached a 2nd-floor protrusion.
"Hey! That guy's climbing the wall!"
He gripped and hauled up again. Leaped once more.
"Whoa!"
Misangled jumps could send him plummeting. He snagged the next frame first.
Protrusions dotted between floors. AI Jeon Ji-in marked the best ones.
He grabbed and stepped, keeping balance.
Onlookers freaked.
"Wait, is he climbing to the roof like that?"
"Whoa, it works."
"Isn't that super dangerous?"
Na Gang-in ordered while ascending,
"Check other floors for survivors."
"2nd floor?"
"Anyone on 2nd would've bailed already."
Na Gang-in grabbed the next frame while listening. Muscled up—body surged higher.
As he dangled from the 5th-floor frame, things shifted. Crimson flames burst from a shattered 3rd-floor window, licking upward like a monster's tongue.
Screams from below.
"Huh? Huh? Huh?"
"Fire's spreading up!"
"Should've warned me sooner."
Na Gang-in gripped the 5th frame tight and pulled up. Bent his legs, toed the edge, and kicked off hard.
The boost shot him up, but not straight.
Body drifted from the wall.
Screams from ground.
"Eek!"
He thrust forward. Fingers closed on a rooftop metal railing post.
Na Gang-in yanked, flipping sideways midair. He vaulted the top rail lightly.
"Easy."
Yoon A-reum stomped anxiously on the roof, then threw her hands up at the sight of him.
"Yes! You came to save me? Thank you! I'll owe you forever... Wait, PC bang chef oppa?"
"Haven't worked there long, so you probably haven't seen me much. And I'm masked."
"Epic! Knew it was you 'cause you're oppa!"
The 4th-floor window shattered. Flames surged.
"Eek!"
Flames spreading faster than revised estimate. Evacuate immediately.
Na Gang-in glanced aside. Opposite building across alley: also 5 stories.
He muttered softly,
"Ji-in, can I jump her to the other roof? She looks light."
A few days back, rescuing hacker An Seong-hwan, he'd kicked two guys flying—not full power, controlled. They still smashed desks.
"Full jump, I could fly us both over."
"Got it. Other ideas."
He scanned the roof. Spotted a clothesline rope.
"Use that to rappel down?"
"Tie to opposite railing, tightrope across?"
A virtual straight line appeared between buildings.