Chapter 44
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Bus Crash Rescue
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I quickly approached a student crawling out through the bus window and helped him up.
"Are you okay?"
"Ugh... Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you."
Those near the shattered windows from the impact or who regained consciousness quickly were in better shape.
A few passengers had completely lost consciousness and weren't moving at all. What do I do?
That's when I spotted Kim Han-soo rushing over with a panicked look on his face. Or more precisely, the cardigan he was wearing caught my eye.
"Do-jun! It's dangerous. We need to get out of here!"
"Team Leader, take this off for a sec."
"Pardon...?"
No time for explanations. I forcibly pulled off Kim Han-soo's cardigan and spread it over the broken glass.
People crawling out from inside could get hurt.
"Come this way."
"Ugh."
I yanked hard on the person struggling to crawl out. With the cardigan's help, they slid free.
"Th-thank you..."
I nodded back and hurriedly scanned inside. How many were left exactly?
One, two, three... five? And over there...
"Isn't that a kid?"
A child who looked no older than early elementary school was still inside the bus.
The person next to them seemed like their mom, but she was slumped over too, probably still unconscious.
"Damn, you're right."
Kim Han-soo peered inside and fidgeted anxiously. Meanwhile, the smoke rising from the bus was getting thicker.
I didn't know for sure, but if this kept up, it could explode any moment.
...I had to pull out the people at the back somehow.
The problem was, it wasn't that simple. The windows where people were had held intact.
Smashing them from outside could seriously injure those inside. If someone came to and broke them from within with an emergency hammer...
"Ah!"
A good idea hit me. I wrapped Kim Han-soo's cardigan around my neck and got down on the ground.
"D-Do-jun?"
"I'll go inside and break the windows, so Team Leader, grab the other side."
"What? What are you...!"
Before he could stop me, I crawled quickly into the bus.
Good. Not bad. Stay calm.
"Hah."
Once inside, there was enough space. I stood up straight, grabbed the emergency hammer from the wall.
"Do-jun! Hurry!"
Kim Han-soo's urging came from outside. I headed straight to the kid first and started smashing the window.
Bang! Bang! Crack!
After three hits to the corner, the window shattered completely. Outside, Kim Han-soo and others were positioned to help.
Time was critical. I unbuckled the kid's seatbelt and scooped them into my arms.
"Damn."
Still unconscious—would they be okay?
Getting out came first. I laid the cardigan on the floor and placed the kid on it.
"Got 'em!"
Everyone pulled together, yanking the kid out in one go.
I confirmed they were carefully carrying the child to safety.
In the meantime, I tried moving the kid's mom. But...
"What the hell?"
Unlike the lightweight kid, the unconscious adult was too heavy to move freely in the overturned, tilted bus.
And my legs still weren't working right.
Items 'Perfect Weather for Skipping Rope' and 'Fatigue is Because of Sleep' are available for use.
A loud chime rang out, followed by the status window message.
Normally, I'd think, 'What good are motor skills or fatigue recovery right now?' But this was a last-resort moment.
"Use them! Use!"
Mastering control over your own body is the foundation of all things.
'Perfect Weather for Skipping Rope' x1 has been used.
Your 'Motor Skills' have increased for 3 hours.
'Fatigue is Because of Sleep' x1 has been used.
Your 'Fatigue Recovery' is complete.
"Oh?"
Any doubts about the effect vanished as strength surged through my entire body.
The mom, who hadn't budged before, was now easy to pull. I quickly laid her on the cardigan.
"Do-jun, faster! Hurry!"
Kim Han-soo urged me anxiously after pulling her out completely.
Smoke was already creeping inside from the rising plume outside. No time to waste.
I practically ran around, smashing every window near the fallen passengers.
With help from outside, everyone inside the bus made it out.
"Done! Get out now!"
The moment the last person escaped, Kim Han-soo's shout hit like lightning.
I crawled out fast and scrambled to my feet. Looking back, flames were already licking the front of the bus.
"Run!"
The gathered helpers scattered away from the bus.
Fortunately, the unconscious were safe on the shoulder. I saw someone holding the kid.
Kim Han-soo grabbed my arm, pulling me as far from the bus as possible.
And then.
Boom!
A massive explosion rocked the air as the bus burst into flames.
❤
The road where the four-car pileup had occurred fell eerily quiet once the chaos subsided.
Critical patients had all been whisked away in ambulances, leaving only overturned and crumpled vehicles as grim reminders of the frantic scene minutes earlier.
The bus, charred black and fully engulfed, drew particular attention.
"Whew."
Officer Lee Soo-cheon whistled lightly to steady his nerves. No fatalities in an accident this massive was miraculous.
'Of course, there are serious injuries...'
No life-threatening ones, though. A relief.
If there had been deaths, he couldn't afford this leisure.
Then.
"How do you just charge ahead without looking?!"
A loud yell echoed. On the shoulder, a sharply dressed, tall man was scolding a young guy.
The angry man was handsome enough, but nothing compared to the youth. His disheveled clothes didn't detract from his striking face.
Officer Lee Soo-cheon nudged his junior's side and nodded toward them.
"An idol, right?"
"Don't you know, Officer? He's pretty famous these days."
Good. If a celebrity had died, headlines would explode, and frontline guys like him would bear the brunt.
Amid it all, the man's shouting continued.
"Catching that falling person on the stairs last time too—you need to think about yourself!"
"It looked bad. I couldn't just leave them."
First time seeing a crash survivor chew out their own group like this.
Officer Lee turned away. Time to get statements from other victims first.
The perpetrator was obvious from the scene; it was mostly procedural.
Drunk driving in broad daylight, crossing the median—no need for more details.
But as he wrapped up routine accounts, one victim's statement turned the obvious on its head.
"Uh, so... that guy broke the window and went inside?"
Officer Lee pointed at the still-scolded youth. The victim nodded vigorously.
"Yes! If he'd been even a few minutes later, we'd all be dead."
Believe it or not?
No reason for victims to lie, but it was hard to buy.
Wasn't he an idol? Risking his neck knowingly?
His junior, fresh from other interviews, approached with awe.
"Wow, not many celebs would do that. Impressive!"
Even regular folks wouldn't. Officer Lee glanced back at the shoulder.
"A celebrity? Who?"
"That young guy there."
"Ah, figures he was too good-looking."
Nearby victims murmured. All eyes turned to the youth.
"Hoo."
Meanwhile, oblivious to the talk, Kim Han-soo sighed deeply, as if the ground might swallow him.
'Already contacted the agency for a press release...'
His head throbbed even as he listed tasks.
Why risk such insanity? A moment later, and he'd have been caught in the blast.
Most freeze in crises; how was his gut so iron?
Idol thing? Not all idols are like that.
At least no injuries. He'd checked Do-jun repeatedly, prodded everywhere—seemed fine. Hospital would confirm, though.
'Kim Han-soo, you idiot.'
His heart weighed heavy, sighs escaping nonstop.
The GH rumor mess, now this—he couldn't stop Do-jun's impulses.
The crash was the drunk's fault, but afterward? Totally preventable.
Exposing his charge to danger—competent manager?
Anyway, Kim Han-soo refocused on what he could do.
"Do-jun, hospital first."
"Huh? I'm totally fine."
"Crash injuries aren't always obvious. Need a checkup."
"Audition first. You said Writer Seo Ji-hye hates lateness!"
Do-jun's firm tone gave Kim Han-soo pause.
Even a small role in Seo Ji-hye's work was gold for a rookie. Miss this, no second chance.
But his hesitation was fleeting. Health over everything.
"No. Hospital first."
"I'll head straight to Byukjo-mok Pictures. You stop by the hospital. I'll be good. Please."
Clothes and face wrecked, but Do-jun's eyes sparkled.
They hadn't been together long, but he knew this: Do-jun's stubborn streak was unbreakable here.
"...Fine. Audition, then hospital together."
"Thank you!"
Do-jun's booming thanks rang out. He finally glanced back at what was a 'car' that morning.
"Ah! Our car!"
But the fully flipped wreck looked undrivable.
"What now? Can't go like this..."
"Contacted Byukjo-mok Pictures about the accident, so explain ASAP. But no taxis with the road blocked..."
"Call taxi! App!"
"Won't come to a crash site. Road's jammed."
Do-jun stared despairingly at the crumpled car, face etched with anxiety anyone could see.
Then, the junior who'd overheard grabbed Officer Lee Soo-cheon's arm, hoisting it high.
"We'll help!"
Do-jun and Kim Han-soo's gazes turned.
Officer Lee was baffled.
Help how? Why?
"What are you doing?"
His glare was fierce, but the junior beamed.
"They need an audition but no ride. We'll take them."
"Hey, police aren't...!"
"Why not? Scene's mostly cleared, perp's gone. Good for our image too, right?"
Officer Lee nearly retorted but clamped his mouth at the follow-up.
"Righteous idol saves citizens! Cool cops assist!"
Uh...? Yeah, not bad.
Do-jun, who'd watched blankly, stepped forward.
"You can really help?"
And.
Vroom!
Soon, a police car sped off with the two aboard, leaving the scene.
Reporters arrived shortly after hearing of the crash.
By the skin of their teeth.