Chapter 31: A New Era (2)
TL: Hanguk
Editor/Proofreader: Daikusa
Like most other military fathers, my father is quite reserved.
In the past, even our phone calls wouldn’t last more than a minute, and if there wasn’t any particular matter to discuss, he wouldn’t call at all.
Perhaps because of his job, which made me transfer schools frequently, father would grant whatever I wished for. However, I considered it more compensation for giving up a normal school life rather than affection.
But after being stranded on a deserted island due to a disaster, the concern my father showed made me realize how short-sighted I had been.
“You rascal. If you had crossed the sea, you should have called to let me know.”
Upon seeing me, father immediately hugged me tightly.
Normally, even the slightest touch between men, whether friends or family, was considered unpleasant, but in this moment, I didn’t mind it at all.
I smiled softly, replying almost as if making an excuse, with a mix of relief and happiness towards my father.
"There were a few incidents. But I came quickly, didn't I?"
"Yes, as long as you're here."
After a while, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed for hugging his grown son, father coughed awkwardly and let go.
Looking at the crowded Gyeryong base filled with refugees, I asked my father.
“The scenery of Gyeryong base has changed a lot, hasn’t it?”
“There’s no helping it. There aren’t many places as safe and spacious as Gyeryong base.”
“Well, it was nice to enter without a checkpoint, though.”
The changed scenery of Gyeryong base wasn’t just about the presence of refugees.
The appearance of the soldiers had also changed a lot, as there were quite a few soldiers carrying spears and crossbows in addition to those armed with firearms.
It was confusing whether this was really the place where the military headquarters of the world's 6th-ranked military power was located or a fortress from the Middle Ages.
“Where’s mom?”
Having observed the surroundings, I moved on to the main topic.
Having seen father, it was now time to see mother.
“She’s at home.”
“Not in the hospital?”
“There were so many patients that the hospital was overwhelmed, and she eventually had to be discharged.”
My mother was severely injured in her thigh and arm by a weapon wielded by a monster while she was out.
She had been hospitalized, but two days ago, as civilians began to be admitted to Gyeryong base, she had to be discharged.
“I did think about taking her to a safe zone.”
Being in a safe zone would have sped up her recovery, which sounded like a good idea.
However, the problem was...
There are no safe zones within Gyeryong base, and, unfortunately, the nearby safe zones were surrounded by monster spawn areas.
“It’s possible to walk, but it’s not easy to go outside with an injured person.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Just because. It wasn’t a fatal injury. It would heal over time naturally. That’s the usual way.”
He probably didn’t inform me about the discharge to avoid worrying me.
I shrugged my shoulders, seeing my father glancing around nervously, and said.
“Let's go. I have some healing items and a lot of healing potions.”
"R-really?"
Father had said it wasn’t a fatal injury, but he must have been very worried.
And his brightened expression proved it.
Father stepped into the headquarters to pass on some instructions to his subordinates, and then we walked home side by side.
“But didn’t you say you were raising an adaptive force?”
“Yeah, we are.”
"Then those people would also get recovery potions while hunting, right?"
“We do gather them. Some are even stored at headquarters. The problem is that they are too precious for a mere colonel to lay hands on.”
A mere colonel, huh?
It seems there was something I wasn’t aware of.
I didn’t ask for details and matched my steps with my father.
“Honey!”
After a while, we arrived at the military apartment.
Father, unable to hide his joy, flung open the front door and entered.
The familiar scenery, the familiar scent.
“What’s this? Why have you come back so early?”
And then, a familiar voice was heard.
The door to the master bedroom opened in response to father's call, and mother limped towards us.
Hiding me behind his back like a child, father said,
“I’ve brought a gift.”
“Haha, what kind of gift?”
Was father always this adorable?
Mother laughed weakly as if she couldn’t believe it, and then, as father stepped aside with a ‘Ta-da!’, I was revealed.
“Huh?”
For a moment, mother was frozen in place, unable to grasp the situation.
I smiled awkwardly at her reaction.
“Am I a bit late?”
“Baek-ho, is that you?”
“Yes, mother.”
And just like with father, I shared a hug of reunion with mother.
The difference between them, though, was that while father had held back his tears, mother cried openly.
“You little-! Do you have any idea how much your mom and dad worried about you!? Why on earth would you sneak off to a deserted island!”
To add to it, a barrage of scolding followed.
Mother's nagging, something I once found unbearable, now felt oddly comforting.
However, it was perplexing how her scolding seemed never to end.
"Huff, huff..."
“Don’t overdo it.”
After about ten minutes,
Mother finally ran out of steam, breathing heavily.
Her pale complexion suggested her energy had been significantly drained due to her injuries.
I used the Advanced Healing skill built into the Ring of Recovery for my mother.
“Eh?”
Suddenly, a dazzling light enveloped the living room, and soon after, mother opened her eyes wide, looking refreshed.
“What is this?”
Her complexion had improved considerably and her breathing had stabilized as well.
Honestly, using Advanced Healing might have been a bit excessive, but it wasn’t a potion, and it was a skill embedded in an item, so there’s no need to be frugal, right?
“You’re not hurt anymore, right?”
“Huh? Really?”
The long stitch marks, as if a centipede had crawled over, disappeared without a trace.
Mother looked shocked, and father, smiling happily, hugged us both at the same time.
“This is great. So great.”
Despite not understanding the full story, mother once again burst into tears at father's words.
*
After the tearful reunion, the heightened emotions gradually gave way to embarrassment over time.
Both mother and father, their faces flushed, asked me how I managed to cross the sea and arrive at Gyeryong base.
So, I explained what had happened.
Their expressions were a continuous show of surprise, and unlike father, who had a rough idea of my situation, mother was particularly shocked.
Flying through the sky over the sea? That was something straight out of superhero or martial arts movies.
“So, you ran all the way to Gyeryong base without stopping?”
“Yes.”
But there was just one thing.
I deliberately omitted the part about fighting thugs and taking their lives.
It was too shocking a story for mother to handle.
I planned to tell father about it separately later.
“I also have something for both of you.”
Then, I took out gifts for both of them from my inventory.
The gifts I gave them were as follows:
- Four Low-grade Healing Potions
- Two Intermediate Healing Potions
- One Advanced Healing Potion
- 10,000 coins
- Shield Ring
Potions and coins were one thing since I had plenty of them.
The ‘Shield Ring’ was acquired by using one of the Premium Grade Equipment Selection tickets I had saved up.
Although I had gotten two rings, leaving me with only one Premium Grade Equipment Selection ticket, I didn’t regret it.
It was all for my parents, after all.
[heading_tag] [Shield Ring / Premium Grade] [/heading_tag]
- A ring that can deploy a Low-grade Shield three times a day.
Even if the options are not as good as other drop items of the same level, being able to deploy a Low-grade Shield three times a day can be a huge help in emergency situations.
"What, what is this?"
Mother seemed clueless about how precious the item was, but father was not.
“This is unbelievable. The headquarters only just managed to secure two Intermediate Healing Potions... and now an Advanced Healing Potion, which has never been found before? Plus, 10,000 coins and a shield item as a set. What exactly are you…?”
Father's reaction alone was enough to gauge the level of the adaptation troop in the military.
But mother's reaction was entirely different.
Why?
“Why are you giving us these? We've only just reunited, and it's as if you're preparing to leave again.”
Mother sensed something odd about the composition of the gifts.
“......”
I couldn’t easily respond.
The gifts I had given were indeed prepared for a scenario where I might not be around.
"Don't tell me you...?"
Father too reacted belatedly to mother's words.
Scratching the back of my head, I said,
“I plan to continue my activities outside. Hunting monsters, clearing dungeons, exploring hidden fields. I’ll probably be hopping here and there using waypoints, but I think Wolgwang Island will serve as my base.”
An answer no parent wants to hear.
Of course, Mother staggered while holding her forehead with her palm, and Father's expression also darkened.
“Why do you have to do that?! You can just live here safely under the protection of the soldiers!”
Mother firmly opposed my argument.
However, father didn’t speak up easily, and because of that, he got an earful from mother.
“Honey! Why aren’t you saying anything to stop him!”
It seemed father might have somewhat anticipated my decision.
Despite mother's scolding, he just kept staring intently at me.
“What level are you now?”
Father cautiously asked about my level.
“34. But I consumed an Elixir that increases my Magic Power by 10, so my actual stats are around the level of 44.”
“Huh... what about your equipment?”
“My helmet is of Rare grade, the sword is Special grade, and the rest are all Premium grade.”
I was currently dressed in regular casual clothes.
I had removed my equipment because it was too conspicuous to enter Gyeryong base blending in with the refugees.
So, I laid down each piece of my equipment in front of father, allowing him to examine their details.
He carefully read through the descriptions of my gear and then massaged his temples while forming a '川' shaped wrinkle between his brows.
"Impressive. At least as far as I know, you're overwhelmingly the best in the country."
“Does that mean there are similar people abroad?”
“Well, I don't know about that. But the world is vast, isn’t it? It’s entirely possible.”
“I see.”
Mother exploded at this conversation between father and me.
“What are you doing! When a child tries to do something dangerous, the parents should stop him!"
However, father gently patted mother on the back, saying,
“Sometimes in life, you come across people who show exceptional talent in a certain field.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Our son is one of those people.”
“......”
“A talent that would have gone unnoticed in 21st century South Korea. It's only because the world has come to this state that such a talent can shine.”
I had thought my situation was the result of a combination of various fortunes leading to the current outcome.
But not father.
Was it simply because I was his son, or did he genuinely consider this a type of talent?
Naturally, mother didn't understand and was puzzled, but father confidently asked me another question, as if to explain.
“How many monsters have you killed so far?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but it easily exceeds a thousand. I can take down about 20 orcs in under a minute without even using skills.”
"Did you hear that... Really?"
“Yes.”
But father was the one surprised by the example I gave to illustrate my point.
As I nodded affirmatively, father coughed and explained to mother.
"It's only been 11 days since the disaster started, and this is where he stands. But what about as more time passes? A month, a year, ten years? Baek-ho will surely be able to live the life he desires even amidst this disaster."
Father was in a position to understand and support my intentions for the future.
However, mother prioritized my safety over my becoming stronger.
"But it's still dangerous."
"I'm being as careful as I can to avoid danger."
"Then why don't you stay here and do your activities from here?"
Eventually, mother, thinking persuasion was futile, changed her approach.
I'm sorry, but that won't work.
While Gyeryong base is indeed a very safe place, my existence here is too out of place.
If I were to base my external activities here, I would inevitably get entangled in trouble.
That could also lead to undesirable consequences for my parents.
"Independent expeditions from Gyeryong base would be difficult. The core of Gyeryong base is more sinister than you think."
Father seemed to agree with me on this matter.
Holding my worried mother's hand, I tried to persuade her.
"I'm not saying I'll leave forever. I'll visit often. So, please don't worry too much."
"Baek-ho..."
There's no winning against a parent, is there?
Mother's voice gradually weakened.
"When I become stronger, and I'm confident we can travel safely together, I'll take you both out. Whether it's to Wolgwang Island or some other place, we'll live together in a safe and quiet area."
At this stage, it's safest for both of them to stay in Gyeryong base.
Moreover, isn't father at the center of information?
I can't lose this advantage during a time when information is crucial.
"Really, such a disobedient child."
Eventually, mother surrendered.
*
"Is it okay for you to return so soon after such a long-awaited reunion with your family?"
"Now that I can use waypoints, I can visit them anytime."
Upon returning to Wolgwang Island via the waypoint, Willia, who had been playing with my pets at the edge of the safe zone, greeted me with a smile.
"How was the mainland, after such a long time?"
"It was its own kind of hell, but I found a few places I'd love to visit with you and my companions, if we become comrades, Willia."
"Really? I'm looking forward to it."
"Ah, and this is a gift for you."
"What is it this time?"
As we entered the safe zone, I handed her a gift to commemorate my trip to the mainland.
It was an ordinary-looking black bag, but inside were various drinks, candies, chocolates, and other snacks.
She immediately lit up like a child and started munching away, and I watched her with a smile.
But all of a sudden,
[NPC Willia's favorability has reached 80%.]
[NPC Willia can now be recruited as a companion.]
"Huh?"
The favorability level was supposed to be just 75%, but suddenly, the messages popped up.
I had assumed it would take quite some time to reach 80% because the higher the affection, the harder it is to increase.
Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, I found myself staring at Willia in surprise.
*****
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