Chapter 291 – Storm’s Envoy (1)
The military consumes enormous resources by its very existence.
In a world where steel companies, oil refineries, and chemical plants stopped operating, seasons changed several times.
In a situation where all forces were regressing or barely maintaining the status quo due to supply issues, the only one making progress was the army of our shelter.
Just as the first and second generation security robots were completely replaced by the Stalker series, the Black Hawk helicopter, which had been working hard for a long time, also disappeared into the back of history.
What took over the empty space are the massive new helicopters in front of you.
It is a gas that feels like a living thing and a machine at the same time, as organic and inorganic substances are harmoniously combined.
“The new helicopter responsible for our military’s long-distance flights, Vertigo.”
“I know your name.”
A huge amount of reports containing things that happened while I was away.
There was a lot to read, so I skipped it, but I forced myself to read the military part.
“Vertigo (vertigo)… That’s an odd name to give to a helicopter. “Aren’t they usually given names derived from wild beasts or myths?”
As is usually the case with Artemis’ independently improved aerial equipment, the first impression was that it was closer to a drone than a helicopter.
It was much larger than the Black Hawk and was a tiltrotor with two rotors on both sides. It is definitely different from a drone in that it has a thruster attached to the bottom of the rotor.
The most impressive thing is the front part, reminiscent of a dragonfly’s head, with an imposing design that imitates the compound eyes of a carnivorous insect.
I was fascinated by the texture, which reminded me of a dog’s nose, so I put my hand on it.
Wiggle!
Just before my hand touched it, the compound eyes moved and looked at me.
“Wow!”
I was startled and took a step back.
“Was this real snow?”
“Kukkuk.”
Artemis was happy, as if the reaction was as expected.
“It may look a bit grotesque, but it has excellent detection abilities.”
The Vertigo helicopter moves its gaze here and there with the characteristic snapping motion of insect eyes.
When I looked closely, I saw my image reflected in those compound eyes. Like the Stalker series, this helicopter is half alive.
“How did your name become Vertigo?”
“The official name was not given until the test operation immediately after development. Then, at the request of the military unit, we provided transportation support several times.”
This refers to the period when the southward migration of infectious agents coincided with the distribution of vaccines.
It is said that fighting broke out in various places and the Korean Peninsula was turned upside down due to escapes and refuges.
“However, 18.2% of the soldiers and civilians who boarded this helicopter vomited during the flight or immediately after landing. “Some people fainted.”
“… How rough did you drive it?”
“It wasn’t originally developed to transport humans. Moreover, people surrounded by infectious agents had to escape from various places?”
Artemis crossed his arms as if it wasn’t a design flaw.
“The load on the occupants was severe as it freely used tremendous acceleration, direction changes, and diagonal flight. But there was nothing we could do because we could have saved at least one more person by driving like that.”
“Is the name Vertigo (Vertigo) because the helicopter is covered in the vomit of those who carried it?”
“That’s a dirty analogy. Without dignity.”
Artemis frowned at him.
“Jinsu, this is the aircraft that even Lee Seong-bong, whom you respect so much, was eye-opening and coveted. “Evaluate it with a more awe-inspiring perspective.”
“I can’t imagine that guy being greedy.”
“Come on, stop talking nonsense and get on! It’s departure time soon.”
Artemis slapped my butt.
“Oh!”
A clicking sound rang out along with a pleasant shock. I stopped instead of going up.
“Why don’t you get on? “If you want to go to the bathroom, it’s inside.”
“Oh, that’s not it.”
“Huh?”
“Give me one more hit.”
“… This pervert.”
With a bewildered expression, Artemis raises her beautiful palms to the sky.
Slam!
An even more powerful spanking brought my morale to max level. Strongly climb onto the helicopter and politely extend your hand downwards.
“Thank you.”
Artemis boarded gracefully, lifting her skirt.
“Welcome.”
Artemis’ two maids dressed as stewardesses were waiting inside.
The door closed automatically and the rotors on both sides began to rotate.
Kiiiiing-!
Other Vertigos taking off one by one nearby had internal designs befitting military helicopters.
Small, hard chairs, a bleak space that prioritizes securing free space.
On the other hand, the one we rode was built from the beginning for non-combat use to serve VIPs, so the interior is luxurious.
There is a red carpet on the floor, and it is fully equipped with large, soft sofa-like seats, a bed, a large television, a kitchen, and even a bathroom.
This is the typical interior that comes to mind when thinking of a private jet.
In just a short period of time, it had already risen tens of meters into the sky.
“It will shake for a moment.”
The rotors rotating on both sides slowly tilted forward.
Like a fixed-wing aircraft, the rotor is raised forward while the thruster at the back emits an intense flash of light.
Shuaaaaang-!
The rocky mountain of the shelter moved away in an instant.
In the past, there would have been just a barren field below us, but now a city overflowing with life is unfolding.
“I remember when we took our first Blackhawk flight together.”
It seemed like just yesterday that we were driving around the area with a hologram of Artemis in the cockpit and me in the passenger seat.
“Have you ever wanted to go on a drive alone?”
“That wouldn’t be bad either. The way you drove was very sexy. The black sunglasses also looked good. “I want to see you again.”
“Hmph!”
Was he embarrassed when a fastball came back after a lightly thrown comment? Artemis turned her slightly flushed face and crossed her legs.
At that moment, a pink long-haired maid came up next to us.
“Lemon tea.”
I bow politely to Artemis’ short words.
Before I knew it, the helicopter I was riding had reached the edge of Polis.
Human guards and passers-by at the outskirts checkpoint, as well as numerous vehicles, rear carriages, bikes, and tents erected in the plain parking lot came into view.
“Are you performing?”
Some tents were much larger than others, and their bright colors and unique shapes made them look like circus theaters.
“…”
“Jinsu, what are you not going to drink?”
When I took my eyes off the window, I looked down and saw a maid with long pink hair waiting patiently.
“Are you waiting for my order? “Why didn’t you just ask?”
“No. “I don’t dare interfere.”
“I have black coffee. By adding two shots.”
“I understand.”
He places one hand on his chest, bows deeply, and leaves.
“Are you tired?”
“It’s not like that in particular, but I want to maintain my keen senses.”
I put bluetooth earphones in my ears. This is a real-time interpreter developed by Artemis.
I’m fluent in English, but I don’t know much about Japanese.
“How’s the fit?”
Artemis is confident, as if she already knows the answer to the question.
“It’s perfect. “It feels good on my ears.”
There is no feeling of foreign matter or pinching of the earphones at all. It’s okay to wear it all day.
“Of course. “It’s a special piece that is tailored precisely by scanning your auricles and ear canals.”
Artemis snapped her fingers and a radio broadcast played from the speakers installed in her reporter’s cabin.
It was sent from Japan and showed two comedians doing a rakugo joke.
The quality of the interpretation is high enough to make you chuckle while listening to the comic. Even though everything is a literal translation, communication seems to be no problem.
“The interpretation function currently in operation is for emergency use only. “When I’m around, I’ll do a real-time interpretation and put it directly into your earphones.”
Artemis accepts lemon tea with a grin.
“The target language was Japanese, so interpretation was convenient. The word order is similar to Korean, so you can translate word by word as soon as the other person speaks.”
“I guess so. If it were in English, you would have to listen to the end and then translate.”
Bewitching lips with a pink luster bite the teacup. The neat, white teeth stand out in the slightly open mouth.
“Why? Do you want me to kiss you?”
As Artemis’ lips part further, the tongue visible inside them flutters as if temptingly.
“That’s not bad, but I was looking at it for a different reason.”
“What is it?”
“When you arrive in Japan, you will be treated very warmly.”
“Of course. “They are the best guests we will ever have before or since.”
“The current situation is such that, even though it may not be all about the delicacies of the mountains and the sea, we will be serving dishes that are excellent by today’s standards.”
I think it’s probably a seafood-based dish.
Even today, when farming, ranching, and processing industries have been destroyed, the fishing industry can be operated quite reliably.
Besides, aren’t there many high-end traditional dishes using fish in Japan?
“Are you planning to reject them all too? I think the other person would think it was rude if I stayed there without eating even one bite. “Especially in times like these where everyone can’t eat enough.”
“…”
Did I get stabbed in a painful spot? Instead of answering, Artemis continued to sip her tea.
“Here it is.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the drink offered by the pink long-haired nymph.
“Oh, now that I think about it, you guys need a name too.”
“…!!!”
“…”
The two maids who were sitting in the city opened their eyes wide.
The long-pink-haired child, who is relatively emotional, already has her face colored with joy.
On the other hand, the boy with black short hair and a cool personality kept his expression blank. But the corners of her eyes were trembling.
“Didn’t you bother to come up with a name? “If you build them one by one, you will eventually have to do them all.”
“That’s true, but it would be inconvenient to accompany us in Japan without a name. Don’t the locals need a title to call them?”
“Have you decided on anything?”
“Well, it was only after I got on the helicopter that I thought of it.”
I scratched my head and looked at the pink long-haired nymph.
“… I feel somewhat uneasy.”
A doubtful Artemis and an expectant nymph. I opened her mouth to those innocent eyes.
“You are pink.”
“…”
The happy face just froze.
I turned my attention to the black short-haired nymph.
“You are black.”
“…”
The corner of her eye that had been fluttering stopped and returned to her usual cold face.
“Wow.”
Artemis sighed and cupped her face.
“What do you name your dog? No, dogs don’t do things like that these days.”
“I tried to think quickly, but nothing came to mind. Anyway, Japanese people are pink and black, so even if they tried, they wouldn’t know the meaning.”
Just as when Koreans hear the word “Blacky,” Most of them only have the feeling, “It’s just an English name.”
“What are you going to do when you introduce it to Koreans?”
“I am your personal maid anyway, so how many times will I encounter an outsider like this?”
“Yes, but.”
Artemis looked at her two maids with pity.
“I’m sorry. Naming is the exclusive authority of the administrator.”
“… No. “I like the name the manager gave me.”
Kamangi answered expressionlessly.
“Let’s just use a stage name or something. I might build a new one later when I have time.”
Feeling stung for no reason, I added a word. A heavy silence falls.
“Ah, my throat is burning for no reason. “Can I get you another drink?”
“Yes.”
Pink takes a gulp and takes the empty glass.
Artemis, looking at the back, smiled mischievously.
“Maybe you can spit in your drink and bring it back?”
“Then it’s probably not black coffee.”
I couldn’t help but smile awkwardly.
* * *
The helicopter quickly crossed the Korean Peninsula.
We live in an era where there is no need to seek flight permission or restricted areas, so take the shortest route! And you can fly.
Wherever you look in the Honam Plain, neat crops are sprouting green sprouts.
Although they went through many hardships, they were eventually able to recover their farmland and cultivate large-scale farming.
“Did you say that there is no future for humans who do not sow seeds?”
This was the reason why Honam commander Hwang Jin tried to recapture farmland at any cost.
“It’s very beautiful during the fall harvest season. “Then we went for a drive alone.”
“Are you driving with that body yourself?”
“Of course.”
Artemis smiled, pretending to put on sunglasses.
It wasn’t just beautiful scenery unfolding below us.
The colony of infectious agents that were devastated by the vaccine while moving south left behind ugly waste remnants on the land.
The amount was enormous, and people did not bother to clean up the piles of corpses for fear of spreading bad bacteria.
Anyway, as time passes, it will all disappear in front of nature’s weathering and decay.
And finally reached the sea.
“The noise tree has been completely pushed out.”
The objects we burned in the past by dropping massive amounts of napalm have been blown away by the sea breeze, leaving no trace.
The rest appear to have been rotted from the inside by the vaccine. It was discolored black, broken, and rolling around everywhere.
At the beach, you can see people enjoying a bath under the warm sunlight of a spring day.
In the sea not far away, fishing boats were floating leisurely.
The sea monsters have disappeared, but because oil is scarce, many old-fashioned rowing boats are in operation.
We could also see female divers diving and coming up naked.
Looking at that peaceful scenery, it feels like the horrors of the infection war are completely forgotten.
“This is the world you brought back. Be proud.”
Artemis crossed her arms arrogantly and stuck out her big chest.
“Why do you think you are prouder than me?”
“A husband’s glory comes from his wife’s support. So isn’t it also my pride?”
“Of course it is.”
The helicopter heads further south.
The light of the clear blue sea became brighter and the amount of active fishing boats decreased.
This is because it is too far to row from here. This is a sea area that only leisurely fishermen who can use synthetic oil can reach.
While looking through the somewhat boring scene, I found something interesting.
At best, hundreds of seagulls were flying in a certain sky.
Below, motor-type fishing boats are moving around, actively spreading out their nets and engaging in fishing activities.
“What is that? Why is everyone gathered there?”
“Seeing is worth hearing. “You will find out when you get closer.”
“?”
Artemis, smiling brightly, pursed her lips as if she would not reveal her good sights in advance.
And after a while, I could see a huge figure sinking beneath the blue sea.
All the tough and strong skin and muscles have been torn away, and only the huge bones remain, like dinosaur fossils.
It is the remains of a giant sea monster.
Fishing boats and seagulls were feasting on the sea of that ugly yet majestic landmark.
