Things That Fall Have Wings (2)
Average speed of around 190 km/h, top speed over 250 km/h. With a glide ratio of 2.5, wingsuit flying meant advancing 2.5 meters forward for every 1 meter of descent.
"Gaaaaah!"
But the info he'd casually looked up online out of boredom felt worlds apart in real life.
"Fuuuuck!"
Just like in those videos he'd seen before, Go Cheon-su stretched his body out straight, but he wasn't some expert. The insane speed made it impossible to think straight.
"Gotta... grab one...!"
He had to snag one of the Maple Flies plummeting toward the ground. He knew that much, but it wasn't easy. He had no clue what functions this suit even had.
"Brothers!" Go Cheon-su yelled desperately. "Tell me anything quick!"
Pop! He did as told.
"Huh?"
Incredibly, his descent speed halved.
"It's fine!"
He'd figured it out from the supply items on the plane—they always popped up at key story moments. The randomness had been a shock, but he'd half-expected things to work out like this.
'They have to help if I shut up and ask.'
Die-hard fans were worth a thousand troops to him. Of course, blindly relying on just Han Do-choe wouldn't keep him alive.
'Need more fans.'
As Onlyone said, viewers came in all types—one person couldn't know everything. Survival meant tapping a crowd. And to build that crowd...
Shhhiiing!
...he needed nonstop, jaw-dropping plays.
"Nngh!"
Fierce wind battered his face. Even slowed, keeping his eyes open was tough, but Go Cheon-su locked onto the nearest Maple Fly.
"You're the one...!"
Falling and gliding, he fixed his gaze on it. Hitting a moving target mid-flight was harder than it looked. Tears streaming, he dropped his wrist to accelerate.
"Just a bit... almost...!"
Finally, with the Maple Fly just 10 meters ahead—
Snap!
He hugged its spinning, bloated body tight.
"Urgh!"
He nearly slipped but grabbed a gap at its waist and held fast.
"Haa."
He exhaled hugely without realizing.
The reactions poured in, as expected. Go Cheon-su grinned through a grimace.
'Damn...'
His hand was torn up from the impact. It hurt, but he was thrilled.
'I'm alive.'
He'd thought he might miss on the first try. This was a total win. Sponsorships bumped his funds to 39 zen.
Thud.
He inspected the Maple Fly closely. Blood smeared it. He'd seen it burst on the plane, but up close, it was clearly a suicide collision.
'Could just be knocked out, though...'
Either way, as long as it stayed out till landing. Now the worry was reaching Pohang Airport—and the coast—safely.
"Huh?"
Go Cheon-su's eyes widened.
***
"That guy's...!"
Someone stood by the hole in the plane's wall.
"What the hell are you doing!"
It was a kid. Amid the plane shaking from endless Maple Fly collisions, the kid teetered, peering out.
"Don't come out!"
It was scary, sure. Fuselage pierced, bugs slamming nonstop. But jumping was another matter.
"Get back inside!"
His shouts couldn't reach. The kid stumbled as more Maple Flies hit, lost balance, and tumbled out.
"Ah."
No time to react. The kid plummeted.
Not the time for jokes. The kid was dropping way faster than Go Cheon-su. Left alone, death was certain.
"Shit... "
He scanned quickly. If he couldn't help, better look away. Not that he was ignoring the kid on purpose.
Save the Kid
🎁 Union Reward: 19 zen
by Ulbu-jjimneun Jeongsin-byeongja, Waterer
Thump. Go Cheon-su clenched his fist, eyes darting like he was calculating.
'19 zen...!'
A weirdly specific amount, like those 19,900-won home shopping deals. But no small change.
Maybe not. But—
Fwoosh!
—if he could pull it off, that was nothing.
Whiiir! The wind enveloped him.
'I got the plan!'
Hanging from the Maple Fly, he'd replayed it all. Now, just no dumb fear-induced mistakes.
'Not far...!'
The kid was below him now. Go Cheon-su dove the shortest path.
"Heeey!"
The kid didn't react.
"Can't hear me? Idiot, spread out!"
Even naked, air resistance could nudge you. But no response.
If knocked out, trouble. Go Cheon-su kept scanning the Maple Flies dotting the ground like flowers.
'Land him there and...!'
Snagging branches mid-fall could save him. These spinning Maple Flies could cushion.
"Heeey!"
No reaction, but he closed in.
"You little shit!"
Finally alongside. "Why the fuck jump out! Huh?"
As he yelled, the kid's eyes fluttered open groggily.
Eyes open, but still dazed. Go Cheon-su slid under him.
"Get ready."
Normally, wrist flip alone wouldn't spike drag much. But with the suit—
Shhhrrrr!
—it defied physics.
"Nngh!"
Slowly flipping his wrist, he braked. The kid landed atop him; they slowed together.
"Hey! Snap out of it!"
"Uh... bro...?"
"Listen up! We're climbing on those things!" He nodded at the Maple Flies below. "Get ready to grab!"
"Huh?"
"Get ready to grab!"
But this wasn't enough.
"You gotta grab yourself! Might miss! Don't worry!"
The top of three close Maple Flies was the target.
"Even if you fall, more below! Just don't go straight down!"
If they could chain like that...
"I'll handle the rest!"
"W-wait. I can't do th—"
"You will! Unless you wanna die!"
No time left. The trio loomed.
They couldn't both grab one—speed and weight could fling them off. Only his solo grab was proven. Time for bold moves from both.
"Hoo."
Deep breath eased his tension. His enhanced body sharpened in crisis.
"Watch close, brothers."
What Go Cheon-su was made of.
Fwoom!
He thrust his wrist forward, diving first. Wind howled between them.
The kid flailed without him.
Thud!
"Gah!"
The lowest Maple Fly. Braking hard, Go Cheon-su slammed onto it.
"Urgh!"
Not done. He looked up.
"Don't disappoint me!"
Mission pending. Survival wasn't the end—he needed that reward.
"Please...!"
His eyes burned with more than that as he watched the kid.
"Guk!?"
The kid smashed into the top Maple Fly. Missed the grab.
"Aaaah!"
Thump! Hit the next.
Go Cheon-su's eyes bulged. "This wayyy!"
Speed cut. He could catch safely—if the kid stayed on path.
"Aaaaah! Brooo!"
Then—
Clack!
Go Cheon-su's outstretched arm. Barely a meter, but the kid's pelvis hooked it.
"Aaaaah!"
Grabbed low, the kid tipped forward. Go Cheon-su yanked him onto the Maple Fly.
Drip.
Unbalanced, he wobbled, but the kid reflexively clutched it.
Chat exploded. Go Cheon-su savored the thrill rising in his throat, exhaling wetly.
"Ha, haa."
He'd targeted the best shock-absorber, but whatever. Miss, and the kid was dead anyway.
Reward granted.
Check chat $ for details.
Kid saved. Land and clear the fall mission, funds hit a slick 73 zen.
"Haa, haa."
Adrenaline lingered. He glanced at the kid, who stared back near tears.
"Don't cry, punk."
Go Cheon-su raised a brow. "I told you how, so why crawl out? Wanna die that bad?"
"Th-the monsters inside..."
"Later, idiot! Explanation later!"
He pinched the kid's cheeks, released. "Snap to it. Not over—cut the whining."
Even on winged bugs, it was still a fall. Destination pending.
Go Cheon-su eyed the horizon where sea met sky.
"Remember. Wanna live? Pull your weight—at least one person's share."