57 Episode 57 - National Treasure, Part I (1/2)
Chapter 21. National Treasure, Part I
Translator: Khan
Editor: RED
1.
Kim Yu-ri and Kim Joo-hyuk, who were affiliated with the 35th Commandos, had the same nickname, ”Ace”.
Even within the 35th Commandos, where the elite gathered, they showed a unique attitude. They had different natural qualities, higher goals than others, and better posture to reach those goals. Of course, they had everything: self-esteem, pride, and confidence!
All these things gave them confidence in the end. They were confident that they would be able to fulfill the duties assigned to them, no matter what happened.
But on December 31, everything the two had was shattered. They did nothing in the battles that began with the sudden appearance of the monsters. They did not get rid of the monsters to be killed, they did not reach their goals, they did not protect the ones they needed to protect, and they did not save the one they needed to save.
It was a series of failures, a series of miserable days. The end of the tragedy was despair.
When they could afford to turn their heads to the ongoing battle with monsters, the scenery in Seoul was not what they had remembered.
Skyscrapers were scattered all over the ground, half eaten by monsters everywhere, and screams burst out all over the place, like a ticking clock.
The climax of despair was the future given to survivors. Many people were mad at the fact that they had to face even greater despair because they had survived. Of course, Kim Yu-ri and Kim Joo-hyuk thought this would be the case everywhere in the world. It was the same in reality.
Wherever outside of Seoul, there was despair and nothing that could be called hope. But this place, Bucheon, was different.
In Bucheon, which existed only on the map, and they saw only on the map, there was vitality they thought had already disappeared.
In the broad park, construction was underway to create space for solar panels, while in other places, disassembling monsters was taking place in real time, along with clearing debris from collapsed buildings, and clearing roads.
The workers were either smoking for a short break, or laughing and talking with chocolate bars and Ramen as their food.
'How can they laugh?'
Those who did the hard work in a miserable place were laughing and talking. It was a landscape not seen in Seoul. Seoul did similar work, but it was virtually forced labor. If they wanted rations, they had to work in front of guns.
'Only this place is like a different world.'
The biggest surprise was the appearance of those who noticed Kim's coming. It wasn't just words like respect, faith, or love.
It was more than that. So, they couldn't find words to express what they were seeing. That was another point. The Awakeners and soldiers who became superhuman to the survivors of Seoul were another source of fear, rather than the ones who protected them.
It was shocking in many ways. It was so shocking that Kim Yu-ri and Kim Joo-hyuk followed Kim, but did not have the slightest intention to escape. Eventually, the two followed Kim into Bucheon City Hall without making any plans.
Bang Hyun-wook was the first person to greet them.
”Big brother!” Appearing welcoming with all his body, he flinched when he saw Kim Joo-hyuk and Kim Yu-ri, who were behind Kim.
”Uh? Who are these?”
Not only did Kim bring in people, but Kim Joo-hyuk and Kim Yu-ri felt similar to when Bang first had met Kim.
”The watchmen.” Kim explained the two briefly.
”Yes?”
”If you feel they are doing an unreliable thing, kill them.”
”Yes?” Bang looked as if he didn't know what's going on.
The same was true of Kim Joo-hyuk and Kim Yu-ri. They could not figure what kind of expression to make in Kim Tae-hoon's bottomless image, whether to ask a question or just keep quiet. Eventually, the two stood blankly like robots with a program error.
In the meantime, a new person appeared. It was Kim Soo-ji, who saluted Kim Tae-hoon immediately after appearing.
”Is the Major here?” She immediately looked at the two behind Kim Tae-hoon and changed her eyes.
'Are they members of special forces?'
She was raised in a military family. A moment was enough for her to know what kind of class the two were.
'Soldier? 'Is the Mac Guild a force built on a military basis?' The same was true of Kim Yu-ri and Kim Joo-hyuk. The two also changed their eyes the moment they saw Kim Soo-ji.
”They are Sergeant Kim Yu-ri and Kim Joo-hyuk. Keep an eye on them so they do escape from the City Hall.”
”Yes, sir.”
”What about Jang Sung-hoon?”
”He is on his way.”
”Boss!” Jang appeared as if he were trying to take his time. As soon as he approached, he looked at the two behind Kim.
”There are two new faces. Similar feelings… couples?? Are you married?” Kim Joo-hyuk and Kim Yu-ri shook their heads with puzzled looks on their faces.
”Oh, no.”
”We do not have that kind of relationship.”
”The man seems to be happy about something, and the woman looks so determined, I can draw a picture of it.”
They looked at each other at the repeated remarks by Jang. Kim Ju-hyuk gave out a cough and Kim Yu-ri made her face colder. Jang took advantage of the gap and looked over Kim Ju-hyuk.
Kim Tae-hoon raised his eyebrows. It meant talking in the mayor's office. In other words, Kim Yu-ri and Kim Joo-hyuk needed to be separated for a while.
”Well, good to see you. I'll treat you as a guest. Hyun Wook, take them to the meeting room next to the mayor's office. Why don't you join them, Lieutenant Kim Soo-ji?”
Jang naturally prepared everything.
2.
”So, what happened?” Jang, facing Kim across the desk, asked his questions with a serious expression.
Kim explained all his experiences at Gimpo International Airport.
The first thing Jang did when the story finished was to breathe out a long sigh.
”There is no president or prime minister. Is this it? Wait, who's going to take over without them?”
”If the situation was normal, it would follow the order of deputy prime minister for economy, then the deputy prime minister for social affairs.”
”Does the chairman of the national assembly or the chief justice of the supreme court have no influence in this situation?”
”The forces that have survived are the military, after all, but only the president and the prime minister have influence over them. It's a fight for justification.”