Chapter 304 – East Sea
Since the creation of firearms and standing armies, armies of each country have used service rifles.
However, with the advent of an era of arduous self-sufficiency after the infection war, the concept of ritual is fading.
Each military unit continues to accept new recruits as gaps arise due to deaths, injuries, desertion, and discharge. However, the equipment provided was very different.
Five soldiers patrolling a hillside road in Gangwon-do on a sunny spring day.
On their arms, the 21st Infantry Division mark is affixed, with strands frayed and colors missing.
“Ugh.”
The only soldier with a private rank insignia sighed.
“Then the ground will disappear. “Just stop it.”
The sergeant at the forefront said.
Originally, he was a sergeant who was about to be discharged, but he ended up serving a long period of time, half of his own choice.
“To be honest, if Sergeant Choi were in my situation, I would have sighed. “Isn’t this the Middle Ages? Are the soldiers using crossbows?”
The new soldier looked like he was crying as he raised his crossbow alone among the senior soldiers holding guns.
“You are good enough. There are places that give out battle shields and axes.”
“It would be better to carry an axe. “When I’m not on patrol, I spend all my working hours sharpening crossbow strings and bolts, and my shoulder feels like it’s going to fall off.”
It has been several years since all units lost supplies and became self-sufficient. Guns are guns, but the problem of ammunition shortage was severe.
It is an unavoidable reality that extreme drug prescriptions are provided only to veteran soldiers.
This is because it is more effective for 50 skilled soldiers to have 10 rounds each rather than 100 people sharing 5 rounds each.
Even now, none of the five were carrying grenades. Precious explosives are only used for base defense.
“Let’s say guns are like that. Then what is this?”
The new soldier pointed to his clothes.
The other four were wearing military uniforms, although they were old and patchy. However, what the new soldiers wear are work clothes.
The division mark and rank insignia were sewn onto work uniforms that were as similar in color and texture to military uniforms as possible.
“If you hold a crossbow and wear work clothes, are you a hunter or a soldier?”
“…”
Sergeant Choi was silent, as if he had nothing to say about this. Because he thought it was a bit too much.
The Republic of Korea is a country that does not produce a single drop of oil, has no useful mineral resources, and even has poor food self-sufficiency.
If trade is cut off and there is no government supply, there is no choice but to return to the medieval manor economy.
However, it is deplorable that even the level of weapons has returned to the manor era.
“Wow.”
The new soldier sighed again and put the crossbow on his shoulder.
“I’m thinking about moving to Yeosu when my contract period ends next year.”
“You are so amazing to say that confidently in front of seniors.”
Sergeant Choi laughed at the new soldier’s bold attitude.
Attempting to operate the unit without supplies had the side effect of weakening its color as a regular army and making it resemble a mercenary company.
There is a big difference in values between veteran soldiers who remember the identity of the military before the war and new soldiers who enlist under a contract to make a living.
However, the loss of sense of belonging to the country called Korea was common to both new soldiers and veterans.
“I heard that Yeosu County gives flamethrowers to new recruits.”
“The oil that was previously stored there is rotting away. We are also making synthetic oil to some extent.”
A senior soldier answered.
The situation of the armies of Honam and Yeosu was better than that of other warlords. This is because a small amount of ammunition trade took place thanks to the friendly relationship with Shelter.
In particular, Yeosu was operating many flamethrowers based on ample oil reserves. It is already rancid and cannot be used for tea, but it burns well when lit.
It was a desperate measure to maintain firepower per soldier in a situation where ammunition was short.
“Isn’t a soldier with a flamethrower much cooler than a soldier in overalls with a crossbow?”
“You can say that because it’s spring now, right? If you wear a fire retardant suit in the summer, you’ll get steamed to death, right?”
“Ah…”
The recruit was embarrassed by the unexpected criticism.
“If you’re going to go, you should go to the police guard. They are all supplied with American-made rifles, right down to the extremities.”
“I looked into it a while ago, but they won’t accept you unless you’re a former executive.”
“Oh my, did you already recognize it?”
He was a new recruit who was quick in a useless direction.
“Sergeant Choi, are you going to renew your contract?”
“Well.”
Soldiers who went on active duty in the infection war were treated everywhere as people with excellent experience.
In the eyes of new recruits, it seemed like a junior sergeant would be enough to get into a better military unit than here, perhaps even the police.
“It’s not like you can carry any equipment, so if you go barefoot and get rejected, you’re like a duck egg from the Nakdong River, right?”
“Then you can come back here again.”
“I don’t know about loyalty because I’m afraid this guy is a new recruit. Still, we’ve been eating together for several years. If you leave and come back, you won’t notice anything, right?”
“Hey, what use is loyalty in today’s world?”
The seniors said the same thing, but deep down they were thinking about changing jobs.
Now that farming has resumed, and minimal logistics movement has become possible thanks to the vaccine, it is better in many ways to go inland than Gangwon-do.
There is a shortage of toothpaste right now, so I brush my teeth with salt water. Even though my teeth are rotting, and I am suffering, there is no place to get treatment nearby.
In terms of the human body, the spraying of the vaccine removed cancerous masses from critical areas such as the heart and brain, but could it be said that it did not prevent necrosis from spreading to blood vessels throughout the body?
People’s living standards were still poor.
The chatter that continued throughout the boring patrol was interrupted by the sound of a helicopter coming from afar.
A unique hitting sound made when the rotor hits the air. It’s a precious sound that’s really hard to hear in today’s world.
“What’s going on here?”
Choi Ha Sa frowned and looked up at the sky.
Currently, the forces that operate helicopters on the Korean Peninsula are so small that they can be counted on one hand.
Among them, there is only one where multiple helicopters can form a formation at once.
“Oh my god! How many are those?”
“Have you heard of a colony forming here recently?”
“No, I’ve never heard of it.”
Unlike the new recruits, who were surprised, the veteran soldiers calmly analyzed the situation.
If that level of military force was mobilized, it must have been because there was a great danger nearby, but there was no other reason than the colony.
Thanks to the vaccine, it is limited in time from the time the colony is formed, but its destructive power is enough to evaporate several camps.
Shelter, which had the best intelligence, would send a strike force when a risk factor above a certain level occurred on the Korean Peninsula.
Buuuuung!!!
After a while, heavy helicopters passed near them.
As the imposing chunks of metal formed a line and swept across the sky, a single infantryman felt a shiver.
“That’s the real army!”
This time, no one could refute the new recruit who burst out in admiration.
In fact, a culture has developed among the refugees where they regard the Shelter army as a regular army rather than the old national army, which has become a local warlord and mercenary.
This is because it was closest to the dictionary definition of ‘army’ by providing active support to the people regardless of region and possessing strong combat power.
If there really was a new colony in the vicinity, it had to be reported to the commander as soon as possible.
Usually, the shelter provides advance notice to military units in the relevant area, but this is not 100% guaranteed.
The fact that they were unaware means that they were not notified until the patrol departure.
“Somehow, it doesn’t feel like I’m going to fight.”
The new soldier said.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because it doesn’t have anything dangling underneath. Why things like missiles?”
“That’s a great deduction.”
Sergeant Choi took out his walkie-talkie.
However, one beat quickly, a radio signal came in from headquarters first.
[Distributed from the command and control room. The purpose of the helicopter unit passing by today is local patrol, not military operations. Unit members on patrol should not panic and focus on their tasks as usual.]
Everyone’s eyes were focused on the youngest.
“Wow, that’s a very expensive patrol. “I can’t believe I’m driving not just one or two cars, but so many of them.”
The new soldier shrugged her shoulders with an expression of victory.
* * *
The rooftop of a half-ruined resort.
As I stood on the railing at the end, the East Sea spread out, filling my view.
“Why did I do that when they suddenly asked me to change course?”
Beside him, Artemis is adjusting her collar. Even though it is spring, the sea breeze on the East Sea seems quite chilly.
Today was the day I returned from a staycation-like stay in Japan.
-Artemis, I have a favor to ask you.
On the way back, some military units got into a small commotion due to the sudden change in course.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been to the East Sea. “I thought it would be a good idea to stop by for a while before heading back anyway.”
“You’ve been there before during Operation Global Seed Bolt, right?”
“That was conducting the operation remotely.”
For Artemis, the remote experience using her robots is not much different from her in-person experience.
The differences in her senses and ways of perceiving the world were not easily bridged even after she gained her own body.
“If it’s the sea, it’s in our city too.”
“That’s the West Sea. Because the East Sea has its own charm.”
The sea was so blue and deep that the boundary between the horizon and the sky seemed meaningless. Just looking at it made me feel like my heart had been blown.
“I think I like the East Sea more. “I think it would have been great if the shelter had been built here.”
“Okay? “I like the West Sea better.”
There was a dissatisfaction in Artemis’ voice that could not be hidden.
“The wind is strong, and the waves are loud. Look, unlike the sea off our coast, no one enjoys swimming here.”
“You know that’s a very lame decision, right?”
“Hmph!”
Unlike the sea off the shelter, which benefits from thorough cleanup work and patrols, this is a lawless area.
It is natural that no one enjoys swimming in the sea. If you were unlucky, you could have been caught by slave traders while swimming.
“Why don’t we build a simple villa?”
Artemis raised her thumb and pointed at the waiting escort.
Helicopters have landed in suitable vacant lots, and robots are busy with security, patrol, and equipment inspection.
They were the strongest in combat, but as engineers, they were also good at building or remodeling things.
This is thanks to all-purpose software and human limbs capable of various actions.
“Because it was a tourist destination, there are many useful buildings.”
Artemis’ golden eyes scanned the surrounding buildings.
“It has been neglected for a long time and has become a half-dead house, but with some repairs, it will become better…”
“No, there is no need.”
Instead of answering, I held her shoulder in my arms. The back of her neck and shoulders were cold when she touched them.
“Because the place I should be is the shelter. What’s the use of a villa and all that? Besides, it’s a bit cold here. It’s spring and my skin is already cold.”
I took Artemis, who had calmed down in my arms, and headed to the helicopter.
“Let’s just go back. To our home.”
Kiyiing!
Before I could finish my sentence, the helicopter started, and the rotor began to rotate.
The helicopter’s door opened, and inside were two maids holding blankets to cover their bodies.
“Give it to me.”
I took it instead and gave it to Artemis. After giving her a kiss on the cheek, a smile finally returned to her pretty face.
Looking at that, she thought she would have to be more careful with her mouth from now on.
For Artemis, it seems that cities were not the only category of shelter.
It seemed that West Island, which was adjacent to the island and supplied water resources, was included in her territory.
She just told me about her appreciation of the sea, and she almost made the precious girl sulk.
