Chapter 74: Thunder God (4)
Chapter 74: Thunder God (4)
Flash.
A bolt of light streaks before my eyes.
Thud.
“Gah...!”
As if proving that speed is power, the heavy impact and the scream only follow after the mind registers the event.
How peaceful.
Well, it’s not exactly peaceful up there.
A white cloak flutters as it soars through the sky, pursued by yellow lightning.
Crackle. Zap.
With the sound of sparks flying, the Thunder God reconstructed her form from the yellow electricity.
“Slow. You don’t watch electricity; you feel it with your body.”
The Thunder God’s hand, raised high above her head, swung downward.
Lightning struck.
Boom!
A single bolt of lightning descended from the clear sky, following the path of her hand. It pierced through Baek Si-hyun’s body as she flew through the air, and simultaneously, the Thunder God’s fist slammed into Si-hyun’s stomach.
Despite her muscles contracting from the electric shock, Si-hyun’s body folded into a V-shape, unable to withstand the impact, and she plummeted toward the ground in that position.
Baek Si-hyun falls toward the earth.
It would be nice if it ended like this, but...
Crackle. Snap.
With the sound of sparks, the Thunder God—who had reached the ground before her—swung her leg toward Baek Si-hyun.
It was an upward kick so fast that even I couldn't pinpoint where it started.
Wham!
A collision sound so loud it was hard to believe it came from two bodies echoed out, and Baek Si-hyun was launched back into the sky.
“...Senior, isn't that dangerous? It looks like she’s going to die...”
“She won’t.”
“You’re saying a person won’t die after being tossed around like that?”
Han A-bin pointed at Baek Si-hyun with a pale face.
Even now, Si-hyun was flying through the air, being pummeled by the Thunder God.
I suppose, seeing it for the first time, it would look impossible. An infinite aerial combo like something out of a poorly made fighting game.
“She’s pulling her punches, so it’ll be fine. ...Probably.”
Boom. Bang.
“...That’s pulling her punches?”
Right as I finished speaking, consecutive bolts of lightning struck Si-hyun, but she really would be fine.
“If the Thunder God fought seriously, Si-hyun wouldn't even be able to come down from the air. Look. She’s still bouncing between the sky and the ground, isn't she?”
Though, she might be losing her mind from the constant change in altitude.
“...Then isn't she just being mean?”
“Mean? What grudge would the Thunder God have against Si-hyun? She’s just trying to awaken her perception abilities quickly.”
The best way to gain a specific sense is to be pushed to the extreme.
Didn't I push those kids to the extreme when I first came here, too?
If she keeps this up for a few more hours, Si-hyun will eventually awaken her electricity-sensing ability.
“...It definitely feels like she’s being mean. It looks like the Thunder God hates Si-hyun.”
Han A-bin stared intently at Baek Si-hyun, who was bouncing around like a basketball, as if she couldn't believe a word I said.
Hmm. Is it a bit much? It’s still within the expected range, though.
It might look like bullying at a glance, but the Thunder God has no reason to hate Baek Si-hyun, whom she’s never even met.
“There’s no way she hates Si-hyun. Among my old comrades, there wasn't anyone as kind-hearted as her.”
The most serious damage she ever caused was when she dropped lightning on a transmission tower to create 'fireworks,' blacking out an entire district. Compared to the others, she’s practically an angel.
“From the Thunder God’s perspective, I’m sure she has a grievance...”
“How can you have a grievance against someone you’ve never met?”
Rumble!
While we were talking, the Thunder God kicked Baek Si-hyun and vanished somewhere, leaving just the two of us sitting blankly on the plain.
“...What about you, A-bin? I don't mind following them to watch. Or, since Baek Si-hyun is training, do you want to train with me?”
Hearing my words, Han A-bin tilted her head and fell into thought for a moment, then soon began to smile wickedly.
I feel like I’ve seen that expression somewhere...
“Senior. Can I ask you one thing?”
I have a bad feeling. That strangely scary expression and tone. Where have I seen this?
“What is it?”
“What exactly is your relationship with the Thunder God?”
Tsk.
“We don't have any kind of relationship.”
“If you don't have a relationship, why did she come out of your room this morning?”
She saw that?
“...That never happened.”
“Oh, come on. I saw it with my own eyes, and I even talked to her.”
The smile on Han A-bin’s face deepened as she began to press me persistently.
I remember now. That face is definitely the Thunder God’s. That tone and expression she uses when she’s teasing me. She learned something strange after only knowing her for a day.
“It’s true I slept with her, but we’re just close friends who trust each other enough for that. We’re not in a 'special' relationship.”
The moment I said that, a mysterious pang arose in a corner of my heart, but it must have been my imagination.
As if my answer wasn't what she was hoping for, Han A-bin twisted her lips further and continued.
“Hmm. So you’re close enough that staying the night in the same room isn't an issue? You said you were old friends... did you do that back then, too?”
“We did. We used to share a bed often in the old days.”
“...And you’re saying you don't have any kind of relationship?”
The scene Han A-bin was imagining was likely very different from the reality.
Two children, small in stature, huddled under a stained blanket in the midst of a resource shortage, trying to catch a few moments of sleep.
That was the reality.
“A-bin. I really don't know what kind of answer you want. No matter how I describe our relationship, you react like this.”
Seriously, what answer is she looking for?
As I looked at A-bin while letting out that lament, she sighed and began to spout nonsense.
“If the person involved is like this, the Thunder God must be suffering quite a bit. I only feel bad for Si-hyun, who’s taking the brunt of the blame.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about.
Since yesterday, between Prohibition and now these three women, they’ve been talking about things I don't understand. I don't know what their deal is, talking in circles instead of just being direct.
As my thoughts reached that point, irritation flared, and I raised my voice.
“Look, if you don't like the way I act, then someone should just tell me—”
Tap.
A hand was placed on my shoulder just as I was about to snap.
“You’re quite energetic this morning, Lee Ha-ram.”
“Ah, hello, Branch Manager Irua! You’re working hard so early.”
Before I could even expand my senses to identify who had touched my shoulder, Han A-bin greeted him, revealing his identity.
Turning my head, I saw Branch Manager Irua, who had just set down a handcart loaded with various supplies.
“Did you sleep well?”
Slap.
I brushed his hand off my shoulder and returned the morning greeting.
“I slept very soundly last night. So soundly I practically lost consciousness.”
“Ah... about yesterday...”
Han A-bin stammered and glared at me, but I didn't feel even a fingernail’s worth of guilt toward her.
Didn't I just administer a just punishment to someone who was spouting nonsense?
I did nothing wrong.
However, Han A-bin’s glare was strangely pricking my conscience, so I turned my head away to avoid her gaze.
“So. What do you want?”
Surely he’s not holding a grudge because he got knocked out yesterday.
“Are you free?”
Is he planning to make me do something tedious?
“No, not really—”
“Yes! We’re free. Is there something we can help you with?”
I tried to shut him down before something annoying came up, but Han A-bin cut me off.
Irua nodded with satisfaction, gripped the handles of the handcart, and spoke.
“I’m on my way to deliver relief supplies. If you’re free, why don't you come along?”
“Where’s the other cart?”
If that’s what it was, you should have said so sooner, you damn Mutant.
* * *
Rattle, rattle.
A strange metallic sound echoed from the wobbling, cheap wheel axles.
Two handcarts, the source of the noise, slowly crossed the plain, leaving small wheel tracks in the dirt.
One cart was piled high with a massive amount of luggage, while the other held a moderate amount.
The three of us, including myself, moved slowly toward the Great Barrier.
“Senior?”
Perhaps unable to endure the boredom of sitting on the cart and swinging her legs, Han A-bin spoke to me.
“What?”
“Wasn't there a truck next to the cart you brought earlier?”
“There was. A pretty expensive one, too.”
A military dump truck modified for Otherworld use. As if that wasn't enough, it had a matte finish to absorb light and even additional armor frames. It was a vehicle that looked expensive at a glance.
“Then why are we struggling with handcarts instead of using the truck?”
“Do you think I want to drag a cart while leaving a truck behind? There’s a reason for everything.”
It was a magnificent truck that would only get a scratch even if you used it to stage a car accident with a Mutant.
If I could charge the Management Bureau for repair costs as a professional negligence claim, it was a beauty I’d want to keep at home.
Of course, my qualifications have been revoked.
“Could you be a bit more specific...?”
“The uncle next to me will explain it better than I can, so ask him.”
To be honest, I’m just too lazy to answer.
Even if I told her it just doesn't work, A-bin wouldn't be satisfied.
“By 'uncle,' do you mean me?”
“Who else is here besides you?”
“I don't think I’m quite that old yet...”
The dog Mutant let out a sigh, but as if intending to do his job, he pulled his cart closer to ours.
“Hero Han A-bin, how much do you know about Contaminated Zones?”
A Contaminated Zone, huh? He intends to tell her directly without beating around the bush.
“Beyond the barrier, places consumed by the Otherworld? I only know that much. I’ve been to one during a mobilization period, but...”
“Even that is knowing quite a lot. There are people who don't even know they exist.”
Kah-hat.
A laugh that sounded strangely like a dog’s bark escaped him.
“Because information about Contaminated Zones is controlled like that, it’s hard for us to get donations. It would be great if they’d at least allow photos or videos...”
Irua seemed truly invested in his volunteer work, as a hint of sadness tinged his voice at the end.
“I’m sorry...”
Affected by that sadness, Han A-bin’s voice also grew quiet.
“What is there to be sorry for? Ignorance isn't a sin. It’s enough if you take an interest from now on. Ah! You asked about the truck.”
Irua seemed to realize only then that he was giving an irrelevant answer, and he abruptly changed the mood, turning his head toward Han A-bin.
“There are many phenomena in Contaminated Zones filled with Otherworldly Power, but the most representative and frequent one is Otherworld Erosion.”
“Otherworld... Erosion?”
Fear seeped into Han A-bin’s voice at the mention of the term.
It was a natural reaction. Having experienced Otherworld Erosion in her last battle, she could understand its terror to some extent.
“You don't need to be that afraid. It’s not a strong erosion; it only causes small changes.”
“But... doesn't something still change? I think even a small change could be very dangerous.”
“Yes. It’s true that something changes... let me give you an example.”
Irua’s mouth seemed dry, as he extended his long tongue to lightly lick his lips and the tip of his nose.
It was an action that clearly looked non-human, but A-bin seemed so overwhelmed by the atmosphere that she didn't even find it strange.
“‘The flames are weak.’ This is a type of Otherworld Erosion. It’s not a very Strong One. It literally just means the temperature of fire becomes a bit lower.”
“I see. If it’s just that...”
What does that have to do with the truck?
Han A-bin looked puzzled, as if she wanted to ask that, but she kept her mouth shut and listened quietly to Irua.
“It seems like nothing, but it causes a lot of problems for machinery. The moment you’re hit by that kind of erosion, the truck’s engine stops working.”
“What?”
“Whether the lower temperature of flames includes things like electric sparks, the fuel won't ignite, and the engine dies. In an instant, the truck just becomes a hunk of Scrap Metal.”
“Ah... so that’s why...”
“That’s the reason. It’s fine as long as you don't hit that kind of erosion, but in Contaminated Zones, Otherworld Erosion happens constantly and unpredictably. Since it’s common for machines to break down for various reasons, we use these handcarts.”
“I see.”
A-bin nodded slowly, finding the explanation relatable.
It was a decent explanation.
I was just listening from the side, but he did a good job of focusing on the single phenomenon of the engine stopping without getting bogged down in useless theories or additional phenomena.
If there was one thing missing, it was that he didn't mention that handcarts aren't 100% safe either.
In an extreme case of erosion like ‘Metal is soft,’ even a handcart would break.
With that thought, I looked at A-bin.
“Otherworld Erosion... even if it’s weak, it can be that fatal...”
I saw her organizing her thoughts, whispering to herself in a voice tinged with fear.
There’s no need to make her even more scared.
I buried the fact that even this handcart wasn't 100% safe deep in my mind and continued walking toward the Great Barrier.