WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 252: Farewell (8)

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How many sighs had slipped out after the glass went empty? Even without 「Perception」, Gyeoul could guess at the words the supervisor kept swallowing. At first, he had meant to respect her consideration with silence, but the empty glass changed his mind. At this rate, her sleepless nights would stretch on far too long.

"You can say it."

"Pardon?"

"You have something you want to say. You don't need to hold it in. I've practically heard it already."

Because he already knew. Joanna, worn thin by it all, gave him a tired smile.

"Oh dear... I should have sent you away sooner."

"Mm, I don't know about that. Would I have gone just because you told me to? Me? Leaving Anne like this?"

"...Heh."

The supervisor chuckled quietly and swept back her disheveled hair.

"This is difficult. That is not something you should say to someone who has no choice but to be ready to die at any time."

"Then let's say I want to hear it."

"...Gyeoul, I know very well how heavy your burden is. So when you said you couldn't bear it, I was struck speechless. It felt as if my tongue had disappeared. I thought I mustn't become another burden too. That if I truly loved you, that was what I had to do..."

"It's really all right. Joanna Gibson isn't nobody to me. She won't be in the future either. Same as she never has been. That's why I'm saying I'll listen."

The supervisor, who had once said she did not want to become nobody to Gyeoul, let her eyelids tremble faintly. After hesitating for a long time, she opened her dry mouth, conflicted.

"If there is no other reason for your refusal."

A deep breath.

"Would it be... all right if I waited?"

Until the day he no longer had to worry about death.

For Gyeoul, that day would only come after he overcame both the end of this world and starless darkness, or at least around the time hope appeared for overcoming one of them. Judging by the flow of the world setting, it was fated to take shape within a few years, but even those few years felt so distant that he could hardly imagine them. As he had thought during his conversation with Talbot, it was a world he had never experienced before.

If, by some chance, such a day came, then he would exist for a long time, not only for his older sister, but for the Star Child as well. One more lingering attachment added to that... It was better to call it a comfort.

So Gyeoul asked in return.

"Are you the one who's all right with that, Anne? There's no promise of when."

"Yes. I said this earlier too, but... I won't be able to forget you anyway. A possibility is enough."

Then the supervisor spoke of the past.

"I went through more than enough failures. Whether it was simply because I had bad luck, because I was immature, or because there are that many bad people in the world... Whatever the reason, I believed I would never love anyone again. If it hadn't been you, someone different from everyone else, I would still believe that now."

"That's more than I deserve."

"It is the simple truth."

At the part about him being different from everyone else, Gyeoul naturally thought of the Star Child. In truth, he still was not certain whether he had the special quality the Star Child spoke of.

Countless ripples reflecting starlight, and among so many virtual personalities, the ones who nurtured happiness without system interference were only around Gyeoul. That did not feel real. Even if it was true.

Joanna spoke gently.

"There cannot be another person like you, and I have already met you. So this can only be the last time. Whether it succeeds or fails... Do you understand why I said I would wait?"

Gyeoul nodded.

"Yes."

"Then, your answer is...?"

Gyeoul nodded once more.

For several minutes, Joanna passed the time in tears. She smiled the whole time she cried.

A little later, she asked Gyeoul for his Net Warrior terminal. Gyeoul handed it over without asking why, and after a moment, he received it back with a new number saved on it. She explained.

"It's my personal contact information. I'd like to give you my work secure line too, but the number will change as soon as I return, so that's difficult for now. I'll contact you separately later."

"The number will change?"

"My special promotion has been confirmed."

"Ah."

Gyeoul understood. It was only natural. Operation Fair Strike, carried out to remove the nuclear threat, had been somewhat inflated to reduce the fallout from the failure of Manifest Liberation. Joanna had not only supervised that operation, but had also exposed an illegal private organization inside the government agencies.

"That's really good. Congratulations. I don't know much about FBI ranks, but this is a pretty fast promotion, right?"

When they had first met, she had explained that her position was equivalent to a Captain in military terms. She had added the caveat that a one-to-one comparison was difficult, but if she was now rising to a Major-level position, that was very fast. Even in the military, it was rare for someone in their late twenties to become a Major.

Then again, the Bureau must have been short on people too. In an age when the military came first in everything.

Joanna nodded.

"It is, but hearing you say my promotion is fast gives me a strange feeling."

"Well, that's..."

"There will be some reward for you as well, Gyeoul. The FBI Medal of Valor seems likely."

Gyeoul looked doubtful.

"Isn't that too much? For my activities in San Francisco, I'm already supposed to receive the Medal of Honor and the Intelligence Cross..."

"No. If not for you, the truth behind the 「True Patriots」 would have been buried. I would have died too. It is only normal for this to be assessed separately from Operation Fair Strike."

Affection clung to her words when she said she would have died.

"At any rate, contact me whenever you need help. I won't be capable of anything that grand, but for your sake, I will do everything I can within my power."

"You don't need to go that far because of me."

"You seem to misunderstand. This is separate from my feelings of love."

Joanna drew the line.

"I believe in you. I believe helping you is one of the best things I can do in an age like this. Because you always act for a better purpose, rather than for personal desire."

"..."

"Upholding law and principle does not always lead to the best result. Given my profession, I have also experienced many exceptions treated as classified. The difference is that until now, those were unavoidable compromises or orders, while from now on, I am choosing with my own will. You are the first, Gyeoul. I have been thinking about it since that night, when I had to turn away from the deaths of what might have been more than ten million people."

Her eyes held firm resolve. In a sharp sense of deja vu, Gyeoul slowly accepted it. With this, he had gained a line to both the CIA and the FBI.

Of course, it could not compare to the CIA's unofficial apology. There was a vast gap between an organization-wide promise and cooperation on an individual level. Like she said, it was hard to expect any grand help. Still.

'Access to information alone is enough.'

An FBI agent at field-grade equivalent would be able to obtain in-depth information on most matters. Not only about the military government office, but also about news that did not cross the blockade line.

It also had the advantage of giving him less to worry about afterward compared to the CIA's help. Unless Joanna became involved in some incident and ended up under investigation.

"I understand what you mean. I'll rely on you from now on."

"Yes. I would be grateful if you contacted me sometimes even when you don't need anything."

At the supervisor's words, Gyeoul burst into a genuine laugh.

The next day, ahead of a new operation, a special gift arrived to raise morale. Transport planes landed one after another on the temporary runway and unloaded several trailers from their cargo bays. Their identity was...

"Welcome, young man (Son). Thank you for choosing McCluster Burger. What would you like to order?"

A welcome from an old veteran employee in an old military uniform, with a Vietnam Service Medal pinned to it. More than half the employees were veterans who had volunteered to cheer on the soldiers of the quarantine front. Apparently, they had practiced a lot for this day. Twenty-one companies had made and sent mobile stores. Hamburgers, pizza, donuts, coffee, and more.

Gyeoul had heard of this happening in Iraq, but he had never imagined they would send them across the blockade line. Public attention on this base seemed extremely high. Otherwise, there would be no reason to waste transport sorties.

"..."

One of those stores stood out to Gyeoul in particular. It was the very brand the CIA used for front operations. Rather than a simple front company, it was more likely a private company that had received funding at its founding stage and cooperated with the Intelligence Agency.

"Huh? Little Captain, aren't you eating? You should get in line quickly. It's getting longer and longer."

Yura, who asked, looked very happy. She had cola in one hand and a hamburger in the other.

"I'm fine. There's someone I have to see off right now."

"See off?" she said, lost for a moment before quickly realizing.

"Ah, the people from the Intelligence Agency and the Bureau. They're leaving today?"

"Yes."

"Mm... That's a shame."

"What is?"

"After hearing what you said, Captain, I thought I should try to become friends with them. Little Captain wouldn't call just anyone a good person."

"..."

"It can't be helped. If there's anything you want to eat, Captain, please tell me. Whether it's me or one of the kids, I'll have someone get it for you. We already picked up a lot so everyone can eat together, but there might be something Little Captain especially likes. Pineapple pizza, for example. We'll wait without eating..."

Gyeoul shook his head.

"I'm really fine. Don't worry about me. Tell everyone to eat first."

"We can't do that. This is all thanks to you too, Captain. Hurry and go."

After sending away the stubborn Yura, Gyeoul walked toward the runway. There had not been enough time to build a proper airport, and the triangular runway was only firmly packed earth. But it was good enough for reliable military transport planes to take off and land.

Finding the agents was easy. The people confirmed for evacuation had gathered in front of their respective transport planes, but since Kowalski and Joanna were important witnesses, a separate flight had been arranged for their safety. Even from far away, that spot was the only sparse one, so there was no way to miss it.

"Thank you very much for everything."

The Intelligence Agency agents shared hugs with Gyeoul one by one. Talbot, Kowalski, Tucker, Kelly. Kowalski hesitated a little. But in the end, she too offered human warmth.

"Anne."

At Gyeoul's gesture, a faint smile appeared beneath the supervisor's sunglasses. They embraced lightly, then parted. Gyeoul said goodbye to everyone.

"A lot happened, but looking back, it wasn't all bad. I think it's because I met all of you. I'll miss you."

It was no grand farewell, but Tucker's eyes reddened. Highly contagious tears spread quickly. Talbot, sleeves damp, grinned.

"What a shame. Because of us, you can't even eat the special meal."

"They said they would wait without eating."

"You have quite the reputation."

"I'm Han Gyeoul, after all."

Gyeoul's awkward bragging made the departing people burst into laughter.

"We will probably be able to meet again in D.C. Given the state of things, it will be hard to get time off work, but I will make sure to come that day."

Tucker's words were said with the Medal of Honor ceremony in mind. Unlike the previous award ceremony, which Gyeoul had skipped through Time Acceleration, there was a high chance that his freedom of action would be guaranteed at this ceremony. The President had even apologized for what happened before. The agents were saying that even if they could not attend the ceremony itself, they could meet outside.

"Passengers! Board the aircraft! We will take off soon!"

A soldier beckoned from the wide-open ramp door of the transport plane. Joanna gave a slight nod.

"I'll go."

"Take care."

Gyeoul waved and watched the supervisor's back as the wind from the turboprop engines blew against him. While climbing the ramp, she stopped halfway for some reason. Then she abruptly put down her luggage and ran back the other way. Gyeoul could have stopped her easily, but after a moment's hesitation, he did not.

Their lips met. Her tongue entered his mouth. A desperate breath brushed his ear.

The Intelligence Agency agents stared with stunned faces.

At the end of the kiss, Joanna lowered her head.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't hold back."

"Don't apologize. I understand."

Despite Gyeoul's words, she did not brighten.

"I shouldn't have done that."

"Why?"

"Because it felt like one sip of water after three days."

Three minutes without air, three days without water. That was what she meant.

The supervisor went back up. The hand picking up her dropped luggage was loose and powerless.

============================ Author's Note ============================

#Romance

I thought about it, and it is possible to add romance without changing the main flow. The problem is that we are already quite close to the ending...

I have already changed course to a happy ending once, so I will seriously consider it.

That said, please do not expect too much. Writing romance consumes childlike innocence very seriously. I might die. Just from yesterday's and today's parts, I am already...

#Q&A

Q. UnlimitedOne: @Thinking about it, you said interaction with virtual personalities is proportional to the user's aptitude. This chapter made me think that maybe that aptitude was humanity. It was a thought that suddenly hit me like a Hook, though...

A. I think it would be fine for you to think of it that way. People are formed through relationships between people, after all.

Q. Epsilon00: @(omitted) Ah, and I am curious whether there is currently any user who has cleared the Days after Apocalypse world setting. Can it be cleared without paying;;; (omitted)

A. S Grade users can clear it without additional payment. However, people like that do not place much meaning on clearing it.

Q. PleasePickUpSoap: @A happy ending for ~~ has always torn my heart apart and hurt me.

A. I guarantee that a happy ending for Gyeoul will be a happy ending for the readers too.

Q. Guaaaaak: Author, when you write each chapter, how much time do you usually spend? And if you have free time, what do you usually do with it?

A. Excluding the time spent on research, usually around 8 hours. Though like the amount I posted yesterday, there are also times when it goes over twelve hours.

In my free time, I watch movies or read books. A good book with beer makes me very happy. Ramen soup powder is enough as a snack.

Q. LunarKarma: @If there is no normal romance, please give us romance with a variant.

A. ...I will just consider normal romance.

Q. PersonOfBlackLight: @Then, Author, are you a monocotyledon Old One?

A. I am simply... an untouchable Old One without even a sprout...

Q. Bahoe: While reading, I thought of Source Code... Do you know Source Code? If you do, what do you think of its ending? Keep writing!

A. I know there is a movie like that, but I have not seen it yet.

Q. White Feather Death God: @Eh, in that case... Would you be interested in writing Han Gyeoul's playthrough where he has received all viewer DLC gifts? Like a munchkin Jesus Superstar God-Winter side story where he has received all that stuff, lightning shooting from his hands and Cupid arrows firing and so on? Hahahaha.

A. I think that would be impossible because it would break the character. Only the name would be Han Gyeoul. Haha.

Q. ThisIsBullshit: @I got curious while reading, so I have one question. If the Control AI gains a heart, will every person be able to feel Virtual Reality as reality?

A. The Control AI will gain that ability. Whether it actually does so is a separate matter, though.

Q. Ikidas: @Longswords still have not appeared at all. Personally, I think the military might issue them for anti-zombie use, and especially if Gyeoul had one, he could probably do something close to mowing everything down... I heard America has amazing technology for making longswords with modern steel too, so is there a reason they are not issued?

A. First, one has appeared. The sword Captain Singh carries is a full-fledged combat longsword. But that is less because it is useful in itself and more because it is a religious tradition of the Khalsa Amritdhari, a Sikh sect. Think of it as around 40 practicality and 60 religion.

The reason the U.S. military does not issue them is... because they are inefficient.

Back in the #Influence chapter, when close-quarters combat education and training was discussed, the instructor said this.

"The most important principle of close-quarters combat does not change. What is that principle?"

"It is simple. Using a gun somehow is best."

If we assume one practical longsword is light at 2 pounds, that is about the same as two 30-round magazines (5.56mm). To display killing power equivalent to 60 live rounds with a longsword... unless you are around Gyeoul's level, it is impossible. The U.S. military is already racking its brains trying to reduce the weight soldiers carry, so there is no reason to use cold weapons.

On top of this, there is the problem that they are not trained for it, and the problem that the difficulty of engagement is extremely high. Also, live ammunition has the advantage of being usable at both close and long range.

The reason Gyeoul stopped using the iron bar after ammunition supply became smooth follows the same logic.

Footnotes:

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