Chapter 189 – Solaver (1)
Shoot aaaaa.
Clear waves crash onto the shore under a clear sky.
It was raining quite heavily for a spring day.
The rooftop garden on the top floor had a perfect drainage system, so it only felt fresh after the rain, but that wasn’t the case down there.
Yellow-brown puddles were created throughout the wasteland, and shallow water accumulated in abandoned rice fields, capturing the sky like a mirror.
“It’s slippery so be careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
Artemis stayed as close to the railing as possible and watched the scenery.
I wore non-slip sports sandals and tightly gripped the railing with my thin fingers.
The white, wide-brimmed that and dress go very well with nature after the rain.
Every time the dress flutters, her white legs are exposed, and even though she keeps her legs together, a triangular ravine is created between her groins.
Although the body is light and the wind is strong, it sometimes shakes precariously, but it is as beautiful as a painting.
I stood behind her so that I could catch her at any time in case of emergency.
Is it because of my presence?
Artemis stepped onto the bottom of the railing and pushed her body out even further. Below her chin is a dizzying cliff.
‘This body is special. If you lose it, it’s very difficult to recover. So, should we treat it with respect?’
She says it in a cute and charming way, but it’s actually because she’s not this scared.
But when I think she trusts me that much, she loses the will to say anything.
“Where is the leak?”
“Eight places. Six of them are in the upper hangar area. “Everyone is at a mild level.”
Artemis bent her back and pointed her index finger here and there behind me.
I didn’t even look there. The moment she supported her railing with one hand, I clung to her and wrapped my left arm around her stomach.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Even though my physical strength is average, I am confident in my sense of balance.”
Artemis said, stroking my arm.
“You’ve never fallen on a slippery place, right?”
“Yes, but.”
“Oops! Oh, no! If you haven’t experienced that moment, don’t say anything. It’s not a matter of simulation or balance. It’s closer to luck. “I have experienced many times how a slip of the foot can lead to an accident.”
He hugged her from behind and whispered in her ear.
Although this young lady has a genius mind and knowledge, she is strangely childlike.
I’ve slipped my feet several times, my heart has pounded, and I’ve never experienced a truly bruised knee or a broken one.
That’s why, watching it, I’ve seen a dangerous situation happen more than once.
“I’m done with climbing the railing. Now, quietly put your feet on the ground.”
“… I think the feeling of being treated as an avatar was too strong.”
I thought she would be stubborn, but surprisingly, Artemis obeyed me obediently.
“This body will become something more someday, so it wouldn’t be good to maintain the same attitude now.”
She took both of her hands and placed them on her navel.
Even though it was quite chilly after the rain, her stomach felt very warm through the thin cloth.
Afterward, we talked about water leak work.
No matter how well it is built, water leaks are an inevitable fate in an underground city of this size.
In particular, the area around the hangar for production and storage of flight units became more vulnerable to water leaks due to unplanned expansion work.
“Originally there were at most three places, but the number has increased significantly. When are you going to take action?”
“In four days at the earliest.”
It is difficult to take immediate action because water from the soil and plants on the ceiling comes out little by little.
Would this be the price paid for using the mountain as a cover for both space utilization and defense? Well, this is something that can be tolerated.
“It will all be over by then.”
As soon as I finished speaking, a helicopter flew over our heads.
“Ah!”
Because it was a close distance, Artemis’ hat flew off due to the strong wind pressure, but I caught it in the middle.
“Thank you.”
“Okay, here’s the view from the railing.”
He put a hat on her head and led her by the hand.
This is because hangar doors opened in various places and helicopters revealed their massive fuselages.
If you watch from the railing like you are now, her light body will blow away like a pinwheel.
We saw off the helicopters taking off one by one.
The strong wind they caused the trees and grass to shake violently, scattering the water droplets in all directions.
“Kyaaa.”
Artemis let out her excited scream.
In the past, it was thought that rain, snow, and even fog were harmful due to pollution, but these days, everything is clean.
The robots glimpsed inside the helicopter don’t even move, let alone chat. Only the red eyes visible from the dark interior revealed their military spirit.
Buuung-.
As the attack helicopter, armed to the limit, took off, the rockets hanging on its belly swayed little by little.
It is a model that Artemis has modified to be closer to a plug tank based on the Black Hawk, and about 8% of the total parts are said to be made of ‘living’ materials.
Perhaps because of this, it has an appearance that strangely coexists the feeling of organic and inorganic substances.
The last thing that appeared was a large transport helicopter that was larger than a Chinook.
Inside, the necessary equipment and space are arranged in the process of escorting the operational target.
All helicopters that have completed sorties fly in formation.
Towards Yeosu, and towards Japan.
* * *
The video transmitted by the expedition team filled the screen with the central control room.
The ruins of war, abandoned roads, the appearance of horribly mutated monsters, and traces of battle and refuge left here and there. Contrary to that, nature is recovering.
Scenes that had already been seen several times were repeated countless times.
However, as we went far south, traces of infection subsided and living people began to appear.
Because it is still a dangerous area, there are no full-scale camps, and most of them are explorers who have entered deep into the area.
There are many who work alone or in groups of two, and sometimes they form squad-based teams.
Since it was right after the rain had stopped, the infectious agents were slightly less active, so the density was higher than usual, perhaps because they rushed out.
Since it is lunchtime, everyone is taking a break at a good base to monitor their surroundings and having a quick meal.
As we passed them and headed further south, outposts appeared.
It is a transit point between a heavily guarded military camp and a moderately large number of civilians.
The tendencies of each base were different, and while some fired threatening shots at anyone who approached them, there were also military positions that provided first aid to those who suffered disaster during the expedition or protected lost refugees.
If you pass by there and go down further, a full-fledged human living area begins to appear.
“Now we have started farming.”
From here, farmers began to appear, as if revealing that people were settling down.
Of course, this is not rice paddy farming. We are cultivating old-growth crops and other types that can be easily grown and harvested at once.
This type of farming is being done in all camps where survivors are located, but what we are seeing now is ‘large-scale’ farmland.
“Should we call it the Mokpo garrison, or rather the Honam garrison? They can’t wait any longer. Existing military and civilians, soldiers requesting to join, and refugees from other areas coming after hearing the news. “If we don’t grow something, we can’t maintain that size anymore.”
Just as Artemis said.
In terms of size alone, the Mokpo garrison occupying the Honam Plain was the largest on the Korean Peninsula.
As a commander, you are virtually all-in, so you cannot make a choice from this point on.
“You’re doing a lot better than I thought. Even though he may be competent, he is ultimately a soldier. “I must have been illiterate in politics and administration my whole life, but at this level, it’s really like running a city-state.”
“That was during the chaos right after the catastrophe.”
Controlling and feeding many people with conflicting interests while maintaining rations with insufficient supplies.
This is a task that makes my bones hurt just thinking about it.
“Because they had that level of capability and vision, they would have rushed out from Mokpo and carried out an operation to occupy Honam. The moment you make a fuss, you may lose your base and your unit may disintegrate.”
A certain amount of admiration was evident in Artemis’ voice.
On the screen, people of various ages are working diligently, leveling the land and dragging it around in baskets and carts.
However, if you move your gaze a little, you can see armed soldiers patrolling the ridge of the field.
Guard posts are set up at regular intervals at the Mangyeong River, the front line. You can see drones flying above it occasionally.
Mortars, self-propelled guns, and even tanks are deployed to strictly monitor the area beyond the Mangyeong River.
‘No access. Mine laying area.’
Lastly, signs placed here and there blocked access to civilians.
It was a much more intuitive and effective warning than saying, “Don’t cross the river because it’s dangerous.”
“It would have been best if we had secured the Geumgang River basin, but I guess that was too much.”
“You have to give up what you have to give up. If you are too greedy, you will lose everything you have. Even if we only secure the Mangyeong River, it is half of the Honam Plain. “It’s enough for now.”
As we head further south past the people who are working hard to rebuild civilization, the atmosphere changes once again.
From this point on, you can barely see the infected body, and only peddlers, explorers, and wanderers can be seen moving about sometimes.
It looked peaceful.
Broken buildings, scorched and broken streetlights and signs are everywhere, but that is not what distinguishes peace in these times.
And finally we reached the first target.
[This is the Coast Guard quarters.]
The spacious parade ground and lodgings located between the mountains, as well as the previously mentioned fuel tanks and maintenance equipment, come into view.
A unit of the Yeosu Army was stationed there to prevent looting, and some resting soldiers were fishing at a water source right next to it.
As the helicopters landed close to the parade ground, violent ripples arose in the water source, and soldiers were seen hurriedly retrieving fishing gear.
Well, in today’s world, a usable fishing rod is a valuable means of earning a living. If the line breaks or the lure is lost, it will be a big loss.
“Is it not possible to supply food?”
“In fact, the current survivors are maintaining a close to plunder economy, and the supplies they have stockpiled may be reaching their limits.”
Artemis said.
During the infection war, they were quickly pushed south, and the border was drawn without any time to transfer or stockpile supplies, so there was not a single wealthy camp or garrison.
Helicopters were landing on the parade ground one by one, while three soldiers of a single military commander were waiting in an immobile position a little distance away.
Three stalker robots approached them.
[Loyalty! Welcome.]
A soldier who appeared to be their leader said.
His rank was lieutenant, but he looked very young.
Perhaps because the specially selected people were thoroughly trained in advance, they were all tall and not at all intimidated by the imposing robot soldiers.
“You don’t have to salute. We are a private group.”
What I said came straight out of the robot’s mouth.
[It was just done as a courtesy.]
The lieutenant grinned and handed over a folder.
[This is a list of oil and maintenance parts and equipment set up here. You are already checking it.]
As he said, the remaining robots had already disembarked and were checking the condition and amount of oil and various parts.
“Do you smoke?”
When the robot handed them three packs of cigarettes prepared in advance, their stiff faces relaxed slightly.
“Don’t ask, take it. “No one has anything to say about this.”
[Thank you.]
The lieutenant put one pack in his arms and handed the remaining two packs to the soldiers behind him.
[The supply situation is not very good these days. I can’t even dream of luxury goods.]
“It’s worth knowing.”
After a while, it was confirmed that there was no problem with the installed oil and parts. I refueled as much as was consumed while flying here.
When I signed on the touch panel in front of me, the robot’s fingers moved the pen to sign the document, just like my handwriting. It’s a strange feeling to see it on the screen.
[As promised, our squad will remain here to guard the supplies. Not all refugees are necessarily law-abiding.]
The lieutenant who received a copy of the handover said.
“Then please follow me. “We have a long way to go, so let’s stop.”
[Good luck. Loyalty!]
The lieutenant finally saluted us and sent us off.
The helicopters started up one by one and took off into the sky again.
The screen briefly showed mountains and coastal villages. Residents who were repairing boats, cleaning fishing tackle, and washing vegetables look up at us with surprised faces.
Their appearance was quickly pushed away and filled with the blue sea.
Namhae.
I hope this road ahead is as smooth as that peaceful horizon.
