[Raccoon Man Beginning]
[Raccoon Man Beginning]
The Mexican restaurant that Lee Yoon-yang had told me about before all hell broke loose was a bit busted up, but it was still standing. After a little while, the shop owner returned.
"Hey mister, are you open for business?"
"Oh! My goodness! Of course I am! It's a bit smashed up, but for hungry heroes, I'd open up even if the shop had collapsed!"
While the owner was cooking in the kitchen, I helped clear away some of the rubble from the collapsed part of the shop. I sat down to catch my breath and gulped down a refreshing glass of cola.
"Ah, the carbonation taste of the authentic stuff is killer."
"Wasn't stuff like cola all standardized products? Is it different in Korea?"
"It's just for the vibe, you know. But I don't know, some companies in Korea actually make different versions for export and domestic consumption, man."
Is cola produced in domestic factories? I'm not sure. I drink it well enough, but I've never really looked at where it's produced.
"But how do you eat, kid? Are you going to take off your mask?"
"I eat like this."
As I pressed a button, the mask around my mouth slid up with a seureuk sound. It's really great that Sion is so good at making things like this.
When the tacos we ordered came out, Jacob and I each picked one up and took a bite. The crunchy hard shell of the taco, the salsa sauce inside, and the meat and vegetables were quite harmonious.
Mmm, it feels like I haven't eaten in about two days, so it's even better. I want to get some takeout for Sion too, but if I get it packed here, it'll take too long, so I think it'd be better if I just made some for her myself later.
While we were in the middle of eating, people who had come out of the bomb shelter flocked to the shop. They didn't come inside, but they were watching us eat from outside the window.
Some people tried to come in, but the shop owner went out himself and stopped them.
"Our heroes are eating, so please leave them alone for now! I beg of you!"
Even a dog isn't bothered while eating. Thanks to that, I was at least able to enjoy my meal.
True to authentic tacos, each one was heavy, but whether it was because Jacob and I are big eaters, or because we desperately needed to replenish calories after struggling in this fight, we easily downed a dozen or so each. Thanks to that, the shop owner was working his ass off.
While we were eating, Jacob asked.
"So, what are you going to do from now on? I heard you entered the country illegally, are you going to do the same when you go back?"
"I'll just swim or smuggle myself out, I guess."
"I can't let a hero of America smuggle himself out. Don't worry, I'll handle it somehow."
"As long as you don't do anything weird, that's fine by me."
Japan tried to detain me, and that caused a whole scene. But if that happened in the US... well, Japan might be a small country globally speaking, even if not economically, so that's one thing, but if it happens in the US, I'd become an international criminal in an instant.
I don't really care if I become one, but it would cause trouble for Sion, so I'd better be a bit worried about that.
"And one more thing. Have you thought about coming to the US?"
"Nah."
"Why? If you said you wanted to immigrate now, everyone would welcome you! Ah, is it because of your mysterious persona? In that case, we can keep your identity a secret."
"My wife is in Korea, why would I come all the way to the US on purpose?"
"What?!"
I do have an old-looking face, but I've heard from a few people who know I'm Raccoon Man that if I cover my face and modulate my voice, I look like a young man. They'd probably be a bit surprised to hear I'm married while young.
Come to think of it, was the setting that Sion was originally a US citizen who immigrated to Korea?
Suddenly, the thought crossed my mind that if you have a family member who is a US citizen, it's easy for the spouse to get US citizenship too. But anyway, Sion is Korean now. Her ID card even says Choi Sion.
Before that, it's weird to worry about nationality for an alien. I was born in Korea so I'm Korean, but Sion isn't.
"I understand it even less. In that case, you two could just happily immigrate here together."
"Forget it. My house is in Korea, and my acquaintances are in Korea, so there's no need to go to the US for no reason. Ah, someone's coming."
It wasn't someone watching from outside, but a man dressed in a neat suit, looking like he was from the government, walked into the shop.
He immediately approached our table and asked politely.
"May I sit?"
Instead of answering, I pushed a chair out with my foot to make room for him. He sat down and started by introducing himself.
"I am Agent Jason Bright from the Central Intelligence Agency. Please feel free to call me Agent Jason."
"I'm Raccoon Man... Ah, I guess no introduction is needed?"
"Of course. And first, I would like to express my gratitude for saving the United States, Raccoon Man."
"What did I even do? I just did it because I needed to, no need to thank me."
It's the truth. If Sion hadn't been at risk of losing something, I wouldn't have had to come all the way to the US and do this shit. Even if Yejin had seen a future and Mr. Lee Gyeong-jin had asked me to.
The only person I consider important enough to endure this much trouble for is Sion.
You guys over there calling me a whipped fool, come out for a second.
"Although I am with the CIA, I am here as a government spokesperson. I have come to convey the decision made in Washington."
"Whoops, looks like they've got fire on their feet over there too."
Jacob, who was finishing the remaining half of his taco, grumbled. I just gulped down my cola and listened to what he had to say first.
"First of all, Raccoon Man, we know that your help to our United States is not something that can be compensated with just a few dollars."
"I wasn't doing it for money anyway."
"Ahem, but before that... let's resolve the illegal entry issue."
"Ah."
If they bring that up, I'm in a bit of a bind. I smuggled myself into the US, so what happens if they scratch the most sensitive part?
When I went to Japan last time, I just went in normally with a passport and went through immigration procedures, so I had at least some excuse, but this time, I'm really out. My conscience is pricking me a bit too.
"We have decided to grant you, Raccoon Man, honorary citizenship. It's a matter that has already been decided by Congress, so we just need to finish the paperwork. That will resolve the illegal entry issue."
"Wait, what is this, roasting beans in a lightning flash? Why is it so fast?"
From the incident starting to ending, it's been at most an hour. Adding the time we spent eating, that's plus 30 minutes. It's only been about 2 hours at most. The sun hasn't even set today yet.
But citizenship... citizenship?
Besides, honorary citizenship isn't something you just give away, is it?
"But I'm a South Korean citizen to begin with. Our country doesn't allow dual citizenship. That's why my wife left the convenient US and immigrated to Korea."
"Ah, as for that, since it's honorary citizenship, it doesn't count as dual citizenship... Wait? What did you just say?"
"My wife immigrated from the US to Korea?"
If I had met Sion earlier, when she was a US citizen, I would have left all my acquaintances in Korea and followed her to the US.
What's important to me is Sion, not nationality. People live pretty much the same everywhere anyway.
"Hey! Why didn't you tell me your wife was a US citizen?!"
"Why would I say that? It's not that important anyway."
"...Don't tell me you came to help our country because it's your wife's homeland?"
"No comment."
I'm not oblivious, so I knew what the atmosphere would be like if I said I came to protect my wife so her business wouldn't go under, so I kept my mouth shut.
At the news that I came to protect not my own country, but my wife's homeland, Jacob and Agent Jason looked moved. I'm not cruel enough to intentionally ruin that touching moment.
"This is a pity. If you had immigrated following your wife, we could have embraced you into the arms of America long ago."
"I thought about that too, but my wife had already started the immigration process to Korea first. Honestly, I don't care about nationality or anything like that. Same goes for language."
"Come to think of it, you speak English well too, don't you? I would believe it if you said you grew up in an English-speaking country."
"It's similar, I guess."
The planet Earth is quite unique. Perhaps it's loved by the Absolute Creator, as one exists in every dimension. Because of that, having been born on Earth from time to time, I know a few of Earth's languages.
English, Chinese, Japanese... a little bit of Russian. And Italian too.
"Anyway, we have decided to grant you honorary citizenship to repay your help, Raccoon Man, even if just a little. If you ever get involved in any international issues in the future, we, the United States, will take your side."
"That's convenient and good, but how will you prove it's me? What if someone else wears a mask and acts like me?"
For a masked superhero, anonymity is the most important thing. That kind of anonymity, where even acquaintances can't recognize you, is a huge help in hiding your identity and protecting yourself, but conversely, it's easy to get involved in all sorts of trouble, like someone imitating you to frame you or commit crimes.
It's the same for me. If someone wears a Raccoon mask and kills someone, how would they know if it was someone else or me?
"We have also thought about that problem. So, we have decided to award you an honorary medal as proof."
"Honorary medal?"
"Yes, it is a one-of-a-kind medal made with special materials and special technology that makes it impossible to forge. It is sufficient to present as proof."
Come to think of it, if only I know what it's made of, what shape it is, and what technology was used to make it, it could serve as proof. There's still a possibility of people scamming with fakes, but at least the possibility of just anyone wearing a Raccoon mask and acting like an asshole being pinned on me has decreased.
They handle things fast. Is it because it's the US, or is there another reason?
"Besides that, we have prepared various privileges and rewards, and I have brought documents related to them. Please read them slowly."
"Ah, that's a lot."
"Regarding that part, since there are many additional things related not only to the government side but also to other research institutes and companies, I have brought only the confirmed ones separately."
"Wait, this is only the confirmed stuff?"
It was only about two sheets of A4 paper, but it was written in dense text. Basically, since I'm an honorary citizen, there's no tax obligation or anything like that... I scanned it roughly, and the treatment is quite good. To the point where I'm thinking, just a little bit, about moving to the US.
"And as for the next issue... there is the Humanoid Hostile Species that you two caught."
"Ah, that guy? Why about it?"
"Because you caught it relatively intact, there are love calls coming in from other companies and research institutes regarding the corpse and... the core of the thing you have. Honestly, that is the reason for a significant portion of the inquiries."
"I did have a hard time because of this guy. If it weren't for me, I don't know about the whole US, but New York would definitely have been blown away."
"Hey, did you forget I was there?"
"Setting aside other things, you're not good because of bad compatibility."
If it were Hibiki from Japan or Mr. Lee Gyeong-jin from our country, the battle pattern would have been different. Since both of them make a living from close-quarters combat, they would have been able to deal with it, even if there was damage.
If he's lucky, Mr. Lee Gyeong-jin could even repel it. The Gray Resonance Sword is a technique I can't ignore either, so if he lands a counter, he'll win.
"We received word a while ago that the situation in Japan has ended. A Humanoid Hostile Species appeared there as well."
"Oh, really? What about Hibiki? Is he okay?"
"He is currently unconscious, but they say he repelled the Humanoid Hostile Species."
"What, did he get up close and trade blows?"
"Unlike the Hostile Species that appeared on our side, it didn't have a weapon, so they fought by trading blows. We haven't received detailed information yet."
It seems Hibiki really did trade blows. Even to me, the attack had power that was a bit too much for a Master User to block, and there's no way there would be such a big difference just because it didn't have a weapon. He must have been hitting it while getting hit. And the one that fell over first was the Hostile Species.
Anyway, if he's still alive, he'll recover somehow. His body alone is bound to be incredibly sturdy thanks to the karma he accumulated in his past life.
"The situation in China has also ended. Three Dimensional Rifts opened there, and they say a Humanoid Hostile Species appeared there as well."
"The Master User there was... was it Fist Dragon Empress Yong Hwa-jeong?"
Just because they appear on TV doesn't mean I memorize all the names of Master Users, but at least I remember the gender I see with my eyes. The Master User in China was a woman.
The alias feels like a nickname from the martial arts world. Well, since China is the birthplace of the martial arts world, it can't be helped.
For starters, even among Force Users, men are superior in general physical ability.
Men find it easier to build muscle, and since even Gaia Force doesn't create something from nothing, if you run it with the same electricity (Gaia Force), the one with better hardware (body) is more efficient. However, what can make a difference there is the software (Trait).
"We heard news that although they struggled, they succeeded in repelling it... though the damage is a bit significant."
"Hmm, the one with the highest average in Asia might be that lady, Yong Hwa-jeong."
If I look at the rankings among the Master Users I've met, thinking purely of a 1-on-1 battle, 1st place is Yong Hwa-jeong, 2nd is Mr. Lee Gyeong-jin, 3rd is Hibiki, and 4th is Jacob.
Mr. Lee Gyeong-jin's Gray Resonance Sword is definitely worthy of being called a finishing move, but if Yong Hwa-jeong faced a Humanoid Hostile Species alone, her overall specs are superior.
Even if he tried to counter with the Gray Resonance Sword, she could just dodge it. At that guy's current level, he'd have to squeeze himself to the point of death, and 3 times would be the limit.
"Come to think of it, what happened to Korea? Since you're not mentioning it, I guess the situation is still ongoing?"
"Ah, yes. About two Dimensional Rifts occurred simultaneously in Korea as well."
Because it's my country, Agent Jason explained it in more detail than the other countries.
"The locations are... Yongsan-dong and Myeong-dong."
"What the fuck?!?"
Oh my god! Our chicken shop!!"