WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 251: Farewell (7)

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The supervisor and agents’ quarters occupied one of the buildings that made up the ranch. It had been reinforced with thick layers of added wood. To Gyeoul, the thickness felt awkward. The defenses had probably been designed with human attacks in mind just as much as mutant raids. The simple fact that it was not near division headquarters already told him enough.

‘Major General Rogers did not seem like that kind of person, but I cannot judge by impression alone.’

The purity of a dedicated soldier could sometimes become a weakness. Especially to the Intelligence Agency, which knew this sort of field inside and out, or to shady groups that claimed to be true patriots.

Oliver Talbot was leaning beside the door with a rifle in hand. He greeted Gyeoul warmly.

“I heard you would be coming, but you are earlier than I expected. Are you finished with today’s work?”

“It is hard to say. Everything I have is the kind of work where the end is unclear.”

“Haha! Field work is usually like that. Taking reality, messy and shapeless as it is, and forcing it into neat forms and standards. And after all that, reality remains exactly what it was.”

“I have heard something similar before. Something about the first thing to die when combat begins being the operational plan.”

It was something Sergeant Pierce of Fort Roberts had said. Gyeoul suspected the sergeant had heard it somewhere too.

Talbot gave another faint laugh, rummaged inside his clothes, and held out a business card-sized piece of paper.

“Before you go in, please take this.”

When Gyeoul accepted it, he found the phone number for some pizza franchise. A pizza-shaped mascot was eating pizza while giving a thumbs-up. Was this a joke? But Talbot looked quite serious. Gyeoul checked the paper again. Even when he held it up to the light, though, there were no hidden letters or anything like that.

“What is this?”

“An unofficial apology from the Central Intelligence Agency. A sort of secret contact network.”

“...”

“When you call, you will get an automated response system. Major, you should ask for an operator.”

“What is it specifically for?”

“Anything.”

Anything? Gyeoul narrowed his eyes. Talbot explained.

“I mean that literally. If you are in trouble for any reason, we will help as much as we realistically can. Administrative procedures, legal processing, funds, information, interference in investigations, whether a specific person is detained or released, bringing in equipment or supplies that are difficult to obtain, and so on... For example, if you wanted to resolve some problem among the refugees through illegal means...”

Talbot let the end of the sentence trail off meaningfully. Gyeoul answered.

“I do not know. I am grateful, for now, but my first thought is that I should be careful.”

What had happened in San Francisco Bay was not enough reason for the Intelligence Agency to go this far.

Talbot nodded.

“The youngest member of the House of Representatives in history was elected at twenty-eight.”

“...”

“Assuming the mainland reclamation ends successfully, that record will be broken seven years from now. That will be when you become eligible to run for the House, Major... And if you pass through the governorship of a territory or state instead of the House... it would not be a bad career path toward becoming a major figure in politics.”

“Governor? Me?”

“Have you not already received a hint from the President?”

Did the Intelligence Agency know the contents of that call because it was already being discussed that openly? Or had they learned it through their own channels? Talbot’s expression gave no clue.

“So you want to prepare blackmail material ahead of time?”

“Speaking personally... yes. In effect, that is what this is. But I do not think it will be a deal where only you lose out, Major. The higher-ups seem to be looking farther into the future than that... Most of all, it would be difficult to do anything to someone like you.”

“What if I have no interest in politics?”

“As long as you do not abandon the refugees, it will happen whether you want it or not. Politicians are not the only people who wield political power.”

The Intelligence Agency must have been certain based on Gyeoul’s record. Even the FBI supervisor had admitted there had been surveillance of the refugee zone for a time.

Political covert work, especially supporting “our son of a bitch” from the American point of view, was part of the CIA’s original job. It was unusual only because the stage was their own country.

“I do not know whether to call this impressive in a situation like this, or absurd.”

At Gyeoul’s words, Talbot shrugged.

“In truth, it is nothing major. Even if you make personal requests, how much could you actually ask for, Major? Your environment is limited... At most, it would be friction among the refugees. As a long-term investment, it is very cheap... I am sorry to say this, but if you go missing during the operation... or if something happens to you, Major, the cost is low enough to write off.”

“Now that I hear it, I suppose that is true for the time being. Definitely.”

“Yes. For the time being. Later on, things will change, but investments made under those circumstances will be worth more than they cost.”

Gyeoul understood. It was not as if he would be tricked without knowing anything, so if he handled it carefully, it was a decent enough deal.

‘There is no guarantee that day will really come.’

Seven years later in the time inside this world, in other words eight years after the starting point, whether a government system capable of holding elections would still exist was completely unknown even to Gyeoul. There was a high chance they would be close to the ending he had only heard about, or would already have reached it. When the result of Situational Computation found that the possibility of humanity’s extinction was infinitely close to zero, Days after Apocalypse would finally reach its grand finale.

After a grand finale experienced while alive, aside from the apocalypse’s special restart, the choice to live out one’s natural lifespan in a world that had overcome the apocalypse would also appear. Though accidental deaths would still happen.

So its immediate usefulness alone was enough reason to accept it. Gyeoul put the card away.

“If I call, do I not need any separate authentication?”

Talbot said no.

“The number itself is only given to a limited number of people, and your acoustic signature has also been registered, Major. If someone else calls, they will only get a real pizza franchise operator. It is not important, but if you choose store finder, you will be connected to the nearest base. In Washington or New York, they actually run storefronts as cover, so you can order pizza. If you connect through this number, of course it is free, and you do not need to tip. Employee discount.”

“...”

“All the ingredients are organic, so if you get the chance, please enjoy it without worry.”

The agent winked. Gyeoul let out a short, quiet laugh.

“It feels strange. Like something out of a movie.”

“Sometimes we learn from movies and novels too.”

“...Anyway, thank you. For telling me honestly.”

“You are embarrassing me. You saved my life, and I am sorry I have no real way to repay you. Later, depending on the circumstances, I will give you my personal contact information. Right now... that is a little difficult.”

Gyeoul could roughly guess what made it difficult. He gave Talbot a brief hug and went inside.

Tak, tak. The sound that had been faintly audible from outside the door grew louder. It was a bayonet striking a wooden board. The people who had been taking turns throwing them stopped when they saw Gyeoul. Kowalski bowed her head with awkward goodwill. Agent Tucker silently gestured him onward.

The building had not originally been meant for residence, so the inside was plain and shabby. Still, the sections were properly divided. It was a combination of wooden boards and tent components. Wires and lamps hung along the canvas cloth, and cover had been prepared in case of intrusion.

“I am here, Anne.”

The supervisor closed the book she had been reading and offered him a seat with an unfamiliar smile.

“Sit down.”

Gyeoul sat on the edge of a cot. The space was not very large. A strong smell of wood mingled with the slightly stuffy air. The wood seemed to have been cut recently, without enough time to dry properly.

Joanna rose from the only chair and reached for the coffee pot on the table.

“Is it not late for coffee?”

When Gyeoul asked, Joanna shook her head.

“It does not matter. I do not think I will sleep tonight anyway...”

Had she not said there was no more work to handle here? His uneasy premonition lasted only a moment. Joanna lifted a second cup and gestured with her chin. Gyeoul nodded.

“Then give me a cup too.”

At that, Joanna took a bottle of alcohol from under the table.

“Would cafe royale be all right?”

“...Same as ever. Yes, that is fine. It reminds me of the old days too.”

When Gyeoul gave a bitter smile, the supervisor let out a quiet laugh as well. After brewing the coffee, she poured strong liquor into a deep spoon, placed a sugar cube on it, and lit it. She dipped the brown, fragrant melted sugar into the cups several times. He had thought this before, but her recipe was closer to a cocktail than coffee.

“Here, take it.”

The mug passed from hand to hand. Thank you. Gyeoul blew on it and took a sip. It was a drink with a decent aroma and taste, but only while hot. Joanna sat beside him as well and sipped from her cup.

The sound of insects came through the cracks of the sealed window. It was a quiet moment difficult to experience in the outside world. There were still weeks and months left before the harsh summer arrived. Gyeoul turned his gaze to the side.

“So, what is the matter you need to resolve?”

“...”

Joanna blinked. Her gaze lowered without an answer and simply stared at the meaningless floor. Gyeoul waited. When her cup was half empty, Joanna finally spoke.

“Before I say that, I want to thank you for everything until now.”

“Thank me...?”

“Looking back, there were many times when I placed unreasonable expectations on you. Especially on the last night we spent in San Francisco, I do not think I kept my composure in the face of all those deaths.”

“That is a human limit. When you are frightened, you cannot help it.”

“I was not.”

“No. Even when you look calm on the outside and believe you are calm yourself, it is like that. There are times when you think you endured your fear, but once the crisis has passed and you think it over, you regret how narrow your vision was. Why did I do that? Why could I not understand? Times like that. But that is not really true. Mm, I think you must have experienced that, Anne...”

When Gyeoul let the end of his sentence trail off and looked at her, Joanna smiled bitterly.

“I understand what you mean. Even so, I should not have been like that.”

What was he supposed to say here?

“Gyeoul.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think of me?”

A rigid silence passed. The supervisor looked straight at Gyeoul. A heavy resolve showed in the eyes that met his. The fingers gripping the cup handle had turned white. Gyeoul tried to choose his words carefully.

“By that, you mean...”

“I like you. If there is a chance, I want to try.”

“...”

“I do not know when it began. At first, I was just going to leave. There are many realistic barriers, and I would always be worried about you, since no one knows when, where, or how you might die. But while you were out on the last operation, Gyeoul, I realized something. Even if I left without saying anything, I would not be able to forget you.”

Her firm confession continued.

“If we part here without any promise... it will probably be difficult to meet again. There are so many people who need you. I will become just one of the people who passed through. I do not want to become someone who is nothing to you, Gyeoul. I want you to think of me when you are having a hard time, the way I think of you... I began wanting that.”

Was that so? In truth, Gyeoul had felt this might happen. He had similar experiences too. Several times. But that did not mean he was used to it. Emotions that deepened were burdensome.

Simply because this world was Virtual Reality?

No. As the audience showed, even the people outside did not have anything like humanity. As he had said in his conversation with the child searching for a heart, other people’s hearts were inside boxes that would not open. They were beyond the barrier of sensation, where he could not even know whether they truly existed. Even the stone Gaeul must have carried was something Gyeoul could only guess at.

So the reason lay elsewhere.

The stone-like clumps of the past were heavy too, but Gyeoul had always prepared himself for the time he would disappear. He did not want to create new lingering attachments too difficult to bear. Just adding a promise of starlight to the life extended for the rose was already too much. At least the later promise carried some comfort.

‘I am glad that child cannot feel sadness.’

Not being able to feel sadness was an even sadder thing, but with that, it was enough for Gyeoul alone to hurt.

So this was not a question of whether he liked or disliked it. It was a question of whether he had the ability to endure it.

“I am sorry. I do not have the confidence to handle it.”

At Gyeoul’s conclusion, the supervisor turned her eyes straight ahead and quietly closed them. A sigh mingled with her smaller voice.

“By being unable to handle it, do you mean because you do not know when you will die?”

“...Yes.”

The meaning and context each of them had in mind were different, but if you only looked at the words, they were the same.

As expected of someone who had said she planned to leave quietly because she thought even she would not be able to handle it, Joanna did not add much else. Staying beside her was comfort.

============================ Author’s Note ============================

#Our son of a bitch

“Somoza may be a son of a bitch. But that son of a bitch is our son of a bitch.”

These are words President Roosevelt left while defending Nicaragua’s dictator.

#Q&A

Q. Eeiko: @Memorize The author always said they would absolutely finish within 600 chapters, haha. I hope Ossuary gets longer than expected too.

A. Waaah, no... Even if I would become unemployed after finishing, I do not want it to get that long.

Q. MasterKalsolum: Let’s go past 1,000 chapters like WhiteBean!

A. 1,000... That is a serialization amount possible only because WhiteBean is a dicotyledon.

Q. 14C2A58H2: Between ebook and physical book, which helps Tunguska more?

A. The ebook is better, as expected. If readers had not wanted it, I would not have signed the contract for the physical book.

Q. Tanzanite: @When is volume 3 of the physical book coming out?

A. I heard it is at the stage where the cover is being drawn right now. I do not know the exact schedule, but I think it should still come out within two months.

Q. qgegegqe: @Uh, author, you spoiled that it is a happy ending, but it will be a hell-py ending full of childlike innocence, right?

A. No, it is a real happy ending. For Gyeoul.

Q. Yuseul: @Author... Can you please open a romance route for Gyeoul??

A. Yes... There will not be a romance route in the usual sense.

Q. Mr. Satgat: @Can you show us your “Aagh, my eyes!” works, author? Your previous works!!!!!!

A. Haha... I am too embarrassed, so no...

Q. VanillalatteS2: @I wonder if you know Tasawuf. This person is amazing too, so maybe Gyeoul’s story could become an epic too.

A. Of course I know Tasawuf. The length of Bloodline is so huge that I have not read it yet, but... that person has even more force than WhiteBean, so I dare not approach.

Q. Baekwoosasin: @A happy ending... Bleak childlike innocence is good too, but a happy ending is nice. Putting that aside, if the current mutants’ level were compared to other BJs’ level, about which DLC would you need to buy to clear them?

A. Among the things mentioned in the story so far, there is no DLC where you can just buy this one thing and clear it. As for the other DLC, it is a little hard to answer that here.

Footnotes:

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