38. No More Hiding (2)
Seong Ga-yeon translated the US commander's words.
"We wanted to know what you were up to. A new force shows up, and it's not wrong to be curious, right? We've sent out recon drones multiple times. We saw exactly where you're holing up and how you're fighting those monster beasts."
...So they've been watching us with recon drones the whole time. Couldn't spot them at night. Those things must fly damn quietly. They look like some plastic junk glued to a stick, but the performance is insane.
...Can't keep the Special Forces guys in the dark anymore. They've gotta have a ton of questions for me. But with the situation, they can't just blurt them out.
The atmosphere froze solid. The US commander broke the ice.
"Can't you tell us? How the hell do you fight like that? Our analysis showed you firing nine arrows at once. And a sword moving on its own? It looked like a black figure popping out of nowhere and vanishing. What the fuck is that?"
The Latino guy fiddling with the projector chimed in. Seong Gyu-hyuk translated.
"Analysis showed each shot killing one zombie precisely. Even with Ingrams, which have a rep for shitty accuracy, dual-wielding one in each hand. How is that possible?"
...Fuck. They really saw everything. No bullshitting my way out of this. Can't hide it anymore.
I slowly lifted my head.
...Right now, it's not just the Americans listening. The Special Forces guys are hanging on my every word too. And I have zero clue how to explain this shit.
A square status window pops up in front of my eyes? Visible only to me? I tap it, raise my stats, unlock skills—how the fuck do I explain that?
I turned to Seong Ga-yeon. Seong Gyu-hyuk too. They're staring at me, unblinking.
...Damn it. Fine. Keep it simple.
I took a slow breath and opened my mouth.
"...I'm a superhero."
...What're you gonna do, fuck it. Yeah, I'm a superhero! So what! The fuck!
Seong Ga-yeon, Seong Gyu-hyuk, the Special Forces guys. All eyes on me, Americans included. Their stares hit hard. Some asshole calling himself a superhero right to their faces. If I were them, I'd laugh first, then deck him.
But fuck it. No confidence I can explain this logically, or make them get it straight-up. I'm just a superhero. End of story. Believe it or not, your call.
The US commander smiled. "Could be. What you've done is unreal. When I—we—first saw it, we thought the camera glitched."
The conference room door opened. A burly American came in with a tray of coffee cups. The commander took one, sipped, and continued.
"But we can't say it's fake. Corpses piled up, monster beasts dead, those monster dogs showing up. All proof of what you did."
He glanced at the screen. Me standing there, dual swords in hand. The footage froze there.
"Your abilities are unreal. Impossible. A few months ago, I'd have laughed and called it fancy editing. But you know what?"
He turned to me. "You're proof that if someone can wield unreal power, the situation can be unreal too."
I sipped my coffee. Not because I wanted it—just had nothing to say.
The commander went on. "We lost family. Government. Everything holding our lives together, gone in a flash. Outside, our neighbors, friends, family are shambling around with mouths open, trying to rip us apart."
He stood slowly, walked over, and perched on the table edge in front of me.
"World turns unreal, so why can't an unreal-powered guy show up? That's how I'm seeing it."
Seong Gyu-hyuk, who'd been listening, murmured low. "You've accepted it well. I still feel like I'm watching a movie every time I see this guy's skills."
...He said it loud enough for me to hear. A hint of reproach in his tone—like, why didn't you tell us sooner this was possible? If it was something I could've shown and explained easily, I would've. It's impossible, so I bullshitted my way here.
The commander gave a faint smile, pulled two cigars from his jacket pocket, and offered me one.
...A cigar. Sure, why not.
He cut mine with a cutter. "Don't misunderstand. Feels like a movie to me too. We replayed that footage all night, talked our asses off. Came to a solid conclusion."
Seong Gyu-hyuk tilted his head. "...What conclusion?"
The commander lit the cigars.
...Damn, this is good. I savored the deep Cuban flavor while Seong Ga-yeon translated.
"Whether we believe it or not doesn't matter now. Whether his power is real does. That's our conclusion."
He said that to Seong Gyu-hyuk, then turned to me. "...Is your power real?"
...Straight-up asking for a demo. Special Forces guys staring too.
...No hiding this shit anymore. No dodging, no half-assing. Everyone's eyes on me.
...Tension I never feel fighting human beasts or monster beasts is creeping up. Burp's coming—damn it. Can't belch loud with all these eyes.
I breathed deep, hand on my sword hilt, and stood. Drew it slow.
Shing—
The commander stepped off the table to the window. Wants a close-up view.
Hoo. Fine, whatever. People finding out about my powers was just a matter of time.
I tossed the sword onto the table. Hilt rolled along my fingers. The instant it left my fingertips—
From my cheek. Fingertips. Shadow under my outstretched arm.
A shadow slashed into form like a diagonal stroke and snatched the blade.
Whoosh!
The shadow warrior gripped the sword, kneeling one knee on the table.
It slowly raised its head. Stared at me. No face.
"Gah!"
Seong Ga-yeon jolted up with a shriek. Everyone jumped, clamoring to their feet.
Yeah. Scary as hell. I was pretty shocked the first time I saw this faceless black thing too.
Faces showed shock, awe, fear, wonder. Each expression raw, they crowded around me.
...Come back.
The shadow warrior crouched, then leaped at me full force. Right in my face, it shoved the sword into my hand, cubed like a hologram, and vanished in a blink.
Gasps all around. I lowered my arm slow, sheathed the blade.
Shing—click.
"...That do it?"
The commander was smiling. But sweat beaded on his cheek.
"That... is fascinating."
...What'd he say? Someone translate.
Seong Ga-yeon just stared, wide-eyed, frozen. This chick was right next to me when I summoned it before, but I was in Acceleration—probably just looked like a blurry shredder. First time seeing the shadow warrior up close and personal. Her face says she's spooked bad.
Other Special Forces guys no different.
The commander spoke. Seong Gyu-hyuk, catching his breath, glanced between us.
He adapted fastest. "Commander asks if you can summon that thing anytime you want."
Drains me if I push it hard, but summoning? My call.
I nodded slow.
The commander spoke. Seong Gyu-hyuk translated. "...Will you help us? Join our operations?"
...Yeah. This is what they were waiting for.
I smiled faintly. "Tell me about the op first. And we gotta talk compensation, obviously."
The commander grinned, approached, and stuck out his hand.
"Now we're talking."
...Now we're talking? Weren't we just talking? After all that chit-chat, what the hell.
English, tch. I shook his hand.
Seong Gyu-hyuk translated then. "Means 'now we're talking,' like finally getting to business."
...That's what it meant? Translate on the fly next time.
The US commander and I shook on it.