Extra. # 4
Extra. # 4
"Look at that. This is no ordinary situation."
Leona pointed at the television while spooning up a mouthful of soup.
The news was on, and it was covering something shocking: an otherworld abduction.
[The incident occurred yesterday at 3:00 p.m. On the CCTV footage, a man exiting a convenience store vanishes after a sudden burst of light.]
A man carrying a black plastic bag was swallowed by the light and disappeared.
"Oh my god."
Exactly the same thing I went through. I ended up in the exact same situation and got sucked into Planet Zora.
More CCTV clips played. A car on the highway. A soldier standing guard. A middle-aged guy golfing, plus his caddie.
The announcer wrapped up by saying experts were divided on whether this was an attack that vaporized people or a Special Gate opening and whisking them somewhere.
"Kim Geun-cheol? You saw, right? It's exactly what we talked about yesterday. I don't think it's a vaporization attack. It looks like they were pulled into another world, just like Kim Geun-cheol."
With a profoundly serious face, Leona picked up a piece of pickled radish and ate it.
"The same thing happened several times yesterday. Even my cursory investigation turned up over twenty cases. A lot of people have vanished with a flash of light. And as for anyone returning... I don't know yet. There were some posts online claiming to be victims, but they aren't credible."
Which meant.
"So maybe the only returnees are me and those guys, and everyone else is dead."
"If a civilian fell onto a monster planet, there'd be no way to survive. Sigh... it's truly tragic. It's enough to make you furious."
She had a grim look on her face.
This was a huge disaster. Of course kind-hearted Leona would feel terrible.
"If the missing people were Heroes or hunters, they might have a chance at surviving. The problem is finding a way back. Anyway. Kim Geun-cheol has to provide solid intel. At least then they can prepare."
"Yeah, I will. I'll go tell them properly. Ah. Those guys are on their way now too."
"The BKM party?"
"No, when did you even make that an abbreviation?"
"Aren't their names too long?"
What are they, Pokémon names?
We finished our meal at the soup restaurant and got up. Leona immediately put on the white coat hanging on the back of her chair.
It's still summer, but maybe because the sun isn't out much.
It's a little cool.
"Hey, Leona."
"Yes?"
"Why does that outfit look so good on you?"
"Whaaat?!"
I looked at Leona's clothes and thought she really pulled them off.
"Ah, fufufu!"
Leona, who had been flustered by the compliment, laughed haughtily.
"But of course! Is there any outfit in this world that doesn't suit me?"
"Hehehe, walk and you're a model. Fly and you're an angel. No such thing as an unflattering outfit."
"Exactly! Every garment in the world exists for me!"
What the spirited Leona was wearing was none other than.
"An inhumanly sleek bodysuit! And a coat over it!"
A high-end bodysuit I'd mentioned before, paired with a special superhuman coat.
"Equipment that only High-Rank Heroes use, and I, a minor, am wearing it—and it's not weird at all!"
Honestly, the black bodysuit was a little embarrassing. It showed off the whole silhouette... But throw that white coat over it, and the visual just exploded with sheer badass Hero energy.
"Because I, Leona Kainus, am a member of Mister Dominators! I can use expensive gear as much as I want!"
"Truly too noble, Leona!"
"Keep complimenting me!"
"Wealth that matches your aristocratic dignity!"
"That's exactly right!"
She was just beaming and totally proud of herself.
Yeah.
This is Leona.
"..."
Similar to the outfit Leona was wearing in my memories.
But the Leona in those memories was constantly frowning. Exhaustion from endless combat, maybe.
It wasn't a pleasant sight.
Wasn't Leona the very definition of an Archangel? A smiling face, a benevolent face, suits her best. That face contorted with pain, fighting in despair... it hurts just to look at it.
Last night, I dreamed again.
Because of the Fragment, all kinds of memories had surfaced chaotically and fused together. Strangely enough, I had both a mom and a dad but grew up in an orphanage, caused trouble while living there, enlisted, and after being discharged, superhuman powers manifested and I enrolled at the academy.
A truly absurd fusion of memories.
But if I peeled it all apart, piece by piece, and analyzed it logically, a very consistent and understandable pattern emerged.
When I sorted it all out, I could divide it into a few categories.
"Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Huh?"
"No, seriously, why are you spacing out so much lately? Aren't you, like, the guy who goes through something like that and just—bam—shakes it off and keeps moving forward, y'know?"
That's...
"Leona. You think I look spaced out right now? It's all your fault! How's a mortal standing next to an angel supposed to keep his sanity?!"
"You're so over the top. Still... I guess that's better. Anyway, let's go to the meeting spot. It's about time."
We'd agreed to meet the BKM Trio there.
"Anyway, things are unsettling lately. Be careful. There's no special reason I'm wearing gear too. I put it on to be prepared because things are volatile. Look. I even brought a gun, see?"
—Click.
Leona drew a pistol from her holster.
A .50-caliber revolver with an impressive futuristic design.
"Whoa, this thing's huge? Why's it so big?"
"It performs accordingly. At my level, I can manage the recoil one-handed. Although this is a bit of a niche firearm. Let's go shoot together sometime."
"Hehehe, let's do that. Ah. I'm thinking of getting my firearms carry license pretty soon too."
"Hurry up and get it. Heroes need to be proficient with firearms as well."
Chatting with Leona, we headed to the meeting spot. When we arrived, the BKM Trio waved at us cheerfully.
"Oh, Mister Geun-cheol! And Class President! Good to see you!"
"Good to see you, Class President. It's been a while."
"Uh... hey."
These bastards are in way better shape than I thought?
"Good to see you. I already contacted the Instructor, so let's wait here at the café."
"Yes!"
And so we entered the café.
"Oh, one Americcano medium size! Five! Please!"
"R-run away, please! Hey! Brian! We'll be on the second floor!"
"Of course!"
Why is ordering with that guy so damn embarrassing?!
* * *
"...You really gathered only the honor students, huh."
"Ah, good to see you, Instructor. We're on break but here we are meeting again."
"Kim Geun-cheol? You seem to be getting tangled up in a lot of peculiar incidents."
"Feels like I've got some kind of jinx on me."
"Sigh, it genuinely looks that way. Anyway, let's move. I've already briefed the higher-ups. Everyone, follow me."
"Yes."
We got up immediately and followed the instructor. Leona continued exchanging greetings with her, while the BKM Trio, seeming a little intimidated by the instructor, awkwardly said hello and shut their mouths.
"Why so quiet?"
"Oh... Instructor Two Heavens. Too scary."
"Two Heavens?"
"Oh. Slip of tongue. Instructor Twin Sky."
"Since when did Wiansky become an academy instructor?"
Didn't he die along with the Chinese Empire?
—Thud.
Anyway, we got into the instructor's car. Leona took the passenger seat and the four of us crammed into the goddamn back.
Feels like the instructor spends her whole break just managing students. Pretty sure if we mess this up she'll beat the crap out of us... I'll keep my mouth shut.
—Vrooom.
Driving, the instructor spoke.
"You've all done well. More than anything, I'm glad you made it back alive."
"Ah, yes..."
"Oh..."
We nearly died, after all.
"What you experienced is currently being treated as a serious matter by the state. Several more cases have already occurred today, and the reserves will likely be mobilized by this afternoon."
"Good heavens."
"A travel advisory will be issued as well. It won't apply to Heroes, but tell everyone you know to avoid going out after evening if possible."
The situation definitely seemed serious.
"I hope you'll give a thorough account once we're there. We need to gather information before this situation escalates further."
"Understood, Instructor."
"Don't worry, Kim Geun-cheol is definitely reliable on that front."
When Leona, who had the highest credibility among us, said that, the instructor nodded.
"As of now... you're the only returnees."
"It's a terrible...!"
"Hurk...!"
Brian and Ken drew sharp breaths.
"I-it's that big a deal?"
"Yeah. Mun Min, you bastard. You're the most terrified and you thought it was something minor?"
"N-no, but... so that means dozens of people went missing just yesterday and today? They definitely went to that other world and d—"
"Let's not talk about that right now."
In that gloomy atmosphere, we headed for the intelligence bureau.
* * *
"Yes. A pack of Antazora emerged there. Moreover, the plants were identical to what was on record. So we deduced it. That it was Planet Zora."
"We also saw Quoperelzora. Oh. That guy, Kim Geun-cheol, dealt with it."
"We brought back minerals too."
The investigation proceeded in a surprisingly genial atmosphere. The amiable investigators sitting across from us asked questions politely, and we just cracked open snacks and drinks and explained properly.
"So Kim Geun-cheol here took out the Quoperelzora?"
"That's right."
"Really impressive. A cadet, taking down a C-rank monster alone."
"Hahaha, but it was one of the weaker individuals among C-ranks, wasn't it? It was basically just an oversized Antazora."
"Still impressive. The kid’s got potential. I heard you completely wrecked... Ham Woong-cheol?"
"Pardon?"
They knew about that?
"Talent. Pure talent. Who’d dare lay a hand on Ham Woong-cheol? And you just smashed him to bits. I’m seriously grateful. He beat me up once."
"Ah, yeah..."
Seems like rumors about me have spread among the Special Operations Division agents.
"All right. Then the investigation is over. This information will be put to excellent use. Pulled into Planet Zora... if a Hero from Special Operations ends up getting taken, a rescue operation might actually be possible."
"Ah, but, Investigator. There's no guarantee it's always Zora, so that might be a bit..."
"We know all that. Don't worry. We're good at our jobs."
You guys actually are good at your jobs, right?
"Good work. There's a cafeteria on the first floor, grab a meal before you go."
"Yes."
"Give my regards to Instructor Lee So-ra."
"Will do."
After the investigation, the four of us came out.
"Oh, Geun-cheol. Seems you've become a big shot?"
"Hahaha! Definitely! Truly, I sense the dignity of a leader!"
"Who's a leader."
"Scream Man, you're our leader from now on."
"Is that how it is?"
Not bad.
"Kim Geun-cheol? The investigation's over, right?"
"Yeah, Leona. Where's the Instructor?"
"She's talking downstairs for a moment. Let's head down. Good work, everyone."
"Yeah."
We followed Leona down and ran into the instructor coming up. We told her it was all done and headed to the cafeteria together.
"But Instructor. The investigation today was pretty cordial, wasn't it? The atmosphere was so easygoing and warm, it felt kind of relaxing."
"Because it was a legal investigation."
"Honestly, wasn't it because you were there, Instructor?"
"Heh, I won't deny it had some effect. But let me correct a misunderstanding... it's only agents like Ham Woong-cheol who are like that. Most of the agents are kind to a fault."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I hope this actually helped the country.
"So, Instructor? We're eating here together and then heading back, right?"
Leona said.
"That's the plan. Before that, a moment. Kim Geun-cheol? Follow me."
"Huh? Uh, Leona. Order the same thing for me as yours."
"I was already going to do that."
We really are on the same wavelength.
I followed the instructor right away. We arrived at an empty terrace. A perfect spot to catch the breeze.
"Kim Geun-cheol. This is just a personal thought."
Resting her arms on the railing, the instructor spoke while looking at the sky.
"Don't you have something going on?"
"Excuse me?"
What does she mean?
"Ever since the start of the semester, you keep getting caught up in incidents."
"Well, that's—"
"Encountering a monster gate on the street and engaging in a brief skirmish... that happens fairly often. Enough that cadets report it several times a month."
That kind of thing is routine.
"But Kim Geun-cheol seems to get tangled up in rather unusual things quite a lot. Well, there are occasionally people like that. Even among Special Operations Division agents, there was a guy who attracted trouble like that."
The instructor was still gazing at the sky.
"But that guy died young."
"...Damn."
"If you don't want to die, always prepare thoroughly. And watch how you conduct yourself. Kim Geun-cheol, you have a tendency for those kinds of incidents to latch onto you."
—Slowly.
When the instructor turned and looked at me... there was a faint, indescribable sadness in her eyes. Right. She'd mentioned there was a major incident in the past.
"Ah, come on, don't worry, Instructor. Who do you think I am? The kind of guy who pulls out the moment things look dangerous."
"Well, I suppose you are."
And with that, we went to eat.
* * *
"Sigh, all that going back and forth really ate up the time."
After everything was over.
I returned and walked the streets with Leona. Maybe it was the aftermath of this situation. The streets, normally bustling with people, were quiet.
Somehow, this quiet feeling unsettled me. Surely, streets like this ought to be full of people.
"Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Yeah, Leona."
"You're spacing out again. Don't try to dodge it with the angel joke this time. You're thinking about something else right now, aren't you?"
—Thud.
Leona planted herself in front of me, hands on her hips, and said it like she was interrogating me. Looking at her face, her expressions are really something. Angry, laughing, complaining. Leona is probably the most emotionally expressive out of all of us.
"How dare you let your mind wander in my presence. I cannot forgive this. If you keep it up, I'll go eat jjamppong, so snap out of it."
"Leona."
"Yes?"
"Let's go eat jjamppong."
"What?! What did you say?!"
"I need to eat something spicy and get my head together."
"The spiciest! Let's go eat the spiciest one! The one that doesn't even compare to what we've had before! That one! We have to eat that one!"
Leona, all worked up, grabbed my hand and kicked off the ground like she was taking flight.
"Whoa."
Feels like being on a roller coaster.
"..."
Being dragged along with both feet floating in the air, I was thinking.
If I try to sort out the surfacing memories, I can divide them into exactly three categories.
One is... the me who was literally born in this world. The Kim Geun-cheol who lost his parents, bounced around orphanages, and enrolled at the academy. That place was never good. A space dyed crimson in every direction. Buildings collapsed, monsters rampaged. We were fighting countless monsters.
As if facing extinction.
Like what appeared in the game's story.
And then.
The other one is the me who was born on a normal Earth, lived an ordinary life, went to the military, came back, and then fell into this world.
The last one is now.
The me who lived on Earth and then arrived in this world.
After contemplating those three sets of memories, I arrived at a truly terrifying conclusion.
"This one! This is it! They say it's the spiciest jjamppong in the world!"
"I'm so scared...!"