Chapter 44
The Darkwing was a flying beast more suited to gliding on air currents than flying with psychic powers or wings.
Being suitable for gliding also meant that it could stay in the sky for that much longer.
“Distance, within 2 kilometers.”
Masika calmly said.
“Shall we s*oot?”
“Can we hit it?”
“About half of our team can.”
The player-exclusive ray gun was easier to handle than a normal rifle. This was because energy rays, unlike physical bullets, were not affected by wind or gravity.
A trained ranged dealer could hit a perfect score within 500 meters.
However, at a distance of about 2 kilometers, talent was needed. To be more precise, the talent to predict the opponent’s movements.
Being able to hit half of the shots was impressive.
“You’re saying only half can…”
But from a raid team perspective… saying that only half could hit meant that only half of the firepower could be utilized.
Mason looked at Deroa.
“Is there no way to tie it down?”
“It’s impossible at this distance.”
Deroa grumbled.
“And, even if there was, it’s impossible with just the two of us.”
Mason nodded.
“Let’s just get past the b*idge and see.”
The Darkwing was also circling around the raid team with a wide turning motion.
‘It’s conscious of us.’
Mason narrowed his eyes and looked at the Darkwing.
What was it thinking?
What was it looking for from them?
In the midst of the tense standoff, the raid vehicle slowly moved forward.
“Whew…”
Was the sigh that escaped when they crossed the b*idge one of relief or regret? Mason looked at the Darkwing with mixed feelings. The Darkwing was disappearing beyond the clouds as if being sucked in.
“This is going to be a long fight…”
It was a thought that everyone agreed on.
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The place where the group set up camp was the old Itaewon Station intersection.
They set up barricades in the middle of the intersection and installed cover at each subway entrance. They would soon be divided into parties to sweep the subway station.
“…It’s been a while.”
Surprisingly, it was Masika who looked around with nostalgic eyes.
“Did you have any ties to Itaewon?”
“Not really ties, I just used to come here to have fun when I was feeling down during my study abroad days.”
Mason looked around.
It was now in ruins, but there seemed to be quite a few restaurants that cooked authentic foreign food.
“Hmm, did you come here to soothe your homesickness by eating your hometown food?”
“No, I came here to go to clubs.”
“…Clubs?”
It was a place that didn’t suit her neat image.
“The land prices in Itaewon went up, so foreign restaurants and cafes were driven out to Gyeongnidan-gil… It seems like Gyeongnidan-gil’s land prices went up too, so they were driven out again.”
Masika shrugged.
“In the end, the only things that remained were bars and clubs.”
“I see. That’s a bitter story.”
“Oh, big size clothing stores also remained until the end.”
“…Ah, that’s a really bitter story.”
The 2.3-meter-tall giant looked at the ruined big size clothing stores with blank eyes…
“By the way, what are you doing?”
Suddenly realizing, Deroa was listening to Masika’s story with an interesting expression.
“What am I doing? I’m listening to the story.”
Deroa asked, looking at Masika.
“There were clubs in Itaewon? I didn’t know that.”
“There were clubs and many interesting places. There were also transgender bars…”
“…Really? There were places like that too?”
Seeing Deroa surprised, Mason chuckled.
“Deroa, you’re a foreigner too, didn’t you come to Itaewon?”
“You think all foreigners eat three meals a day in Itaewon? I haven’t eaten my hometown food once since I came to Korea.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s expensive…”
The woman whose home-cooked meals were Italian food grumbled.
“Would you eat ketchup noodles for tens of thousands of won a bowl?”
“You could eat it, I guess. Food preferences are preferences.”
“I wouldn’t eat that for that much money. I’d rather eat a hearty bowl of hot gukbap with noodles for that money.”
Mason made a dubious expression.
He had to respect food preferences as preferences…
‘It doesn’t suit her.’
It was a taste that didn’t suit her appearance or nationality.
“Then why are you interested in the Itaewon story?”
“It’s not my story… My brother used to go to Itaewon with his friends sometimes. I wondered why he went there dressed so flashy, but now I know.”
At that moment.
“…Deroa, could you tell me more about that story?”
Seo Yeonhee, whose voice had suddenly become low, placed her hand on Deroa’s shoulder.
“Eek…!”
Deroa looked at Masika with a pleading expression, and Masika subtly turned her gaze away and began to maintain her sniper rifle.
Deroa’s desperate gaze reached Mason, and Mason slightly raised his head and looked into Seo Yeonhee’s eyes.
“…”
And Mason also lowered his head and checked his two-handed hammer.
“Hey, you traitors…”
Seo Yeonhee grabbed Deroa by the scruff of her neck like a cat and dragged her away.
Mason and Masika looked at each other.
“…Shall we go to work?”
“Yes…”
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The first thing they started with was clearing the subway station. Of course, monsters were also settled in Itaewon Station, and the raid members, divided into parties, slaughtered the monsters in the subway station with their overwhelming level advantage.
After cleaning the subway, they searched the nearby buildings and what used to be buildings. They killed monsters if they saw them and took anything that could be sold.
It was more like a hunting camp than pre-raid cleanup work.
‘Is it okay to be this unguarded?’
When Mason, who was waiting at the camp, looked on with a displeased expression, Andrei, who was also waiting, chuckled.
“I know what you’re thinking… Just pretend you didn’t see anything.”
“Because money is important?”
“That too, and if we show weakness, the Darkwing might think to attack as well.”
“…Hmm.”
Hearing those words and looking again, the raid members were keeping a certain distance.
It was a distance where if someone was attacked, those around them could at least react.
“They’re veterans too. Don’t underestimate them.”
“Hmm.”
Mason raised his head and looked up at the sky.
To him, monsters were the embodiment of violence itself. Uninvited guests who came uninvited, and evil that was not beneficial to anyone.
But now, Mason, who had come with the intention to fight, was waiting for a monster that had no intention to fight.
It was a strange situation, and a strange feeling.
‘Why do monsters appear in the first place?’
It was enough to make him think about the thoughts he had buried long ago.
‘Why are they hostile to us?’
Bitterness lingered in his mouth.
It was too sentimental a thought to have in a city that had been turned into ruins by monsters.
“Whew…”
Mason sighed and looked up at the sky.
It was about two hours later.
“Ah, it’s passing by.”
The Darkwing was passing by in the distant sky.
“…”
Humanity knew less about monsters than they didn’t know, and even more so about the Darkwing.
But one thing was certain.
“…It really has no intention of fighting.”
Only the fact that fighting the Darkwing would not be easy.
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“Let’s move the camp.”
It was about a week later that they decided to move the raid camp.
“Where to?”
“Towards Hangangjin.”
Originally, there wasn’t much need to move the camp if the purpose was monster hunting. This was because they set up camp in the optimal location for monster hunting in the first place.
However, this time was a little different.
“You’ve done enough salvaging, is that it?”
“Yes.”
The main purpose of this camp had changed from raiding the Darkwing to collecting valuables. It was better to focus on collecting than to be obsessed with a monster that wouldn’t even come.
Of course, it was called collecting… but it was closer to looting.
“…Alright. Let’s move.”
Mason couldn’t refuse.
This was because there had been no progress in raiding the Darkwing.
And so, the camp vehicles began to move.
Hangangjin Station was much higher than Itaewon Station. In front of the station was Yongsan International School, and across from that was the Blue Square, famous for its operas and performances. The surrounding area was quieter and more upscale compared to the free and bustling atmosphere of Itaewon.
“Nine One Hannam and the Raum Museum of Art are nearby, so we can collect a lot of valuables.”
“…”
Mason didn’t say anything.
Among the busy people, Mason and Andrei just sat blankly in the camp headquarters, waiting.
“Ah. There’s the Darkwing.”
The Darkwing just brushed past the distant sky.
Mason sighed.
That evening, people gathered with their arms full of valuables.
“Pack the artwork well. It’s easy to get tracked down if you try to sell it off on the black market, so let’s just return it to the original owner and extort compensation. Keep the jewelry separate.”
“Yes.”
Valuables began to pile up in the empty spaces where supplies had been consumed. The reward for hard work always made people feel satisfied. Even if they couldn’t earn as much as fighting monsters, it was a good income for no casualties.
“At this rate, we’ll break even.”
“Yes, that’s good.”
Mason’s voice was low.
Masika understood Mason’s feelings, and so she decided to pretend not to know.
“Our people will take care of the night watch. You should get some rest today.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Mason said in a gloomy voice.
“I haven’t done anything, anyway.”
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That night.
A person approached Mason, who was standing night watch.
“Seo Yeonhee.”
“Yes.”
It was Seo Yeonhee, holding two beer cans.
Seo Yeonhee threw one of the beer cans, and Mason caught it in mid-air.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“How can I be tired when I haven’t done anything?”
“Not being able to do anything can also make a person tired, you know.”
Mason gave a wry smile.
“I can’t say you’re wrong.”
He leaned his back against the wall and said,
“Since I have nothing to do, I just think a lot. Endless, unanswered, and depressing thoughts just by discussing them.”
“I know that feeling well.”
“Hmph…”
Mason opened the beer can.
The cool beer’s refreshing gulp washed away the gloom.
“The Darkwing…”
“It’s probably impossible…”
“Yeah.”
Mason was the only one in this raid team who really wanted to catch the Darkwing. Seo Yeonhee wasn’t to that extent, but she thought catching it was better than not catching it.
However… no solution was no solution.
“Did you finish talking about the club?”
“…It’s my private life.”
“I just asked if you finished talking about it.”
“Whew…”
Seo Yeonhee sighed.
“I think she went for the music and the atmosphere.”
“Really?”
“I decided to think that way… because there’s no one to ask.”
Mason looked at Seo Yeonhee.
