Chapter 21
I regressed.
"..."
I stood there blankly for about ten seconds.
So, right now.
Did I just film a live-action Attack on Titan in the middle of Seoul?
Well, then I guess I need to find the actor who played Light in Death Note first. If we're making a live-action adaptation, he has to be cast. It just doesn't hit without that actor.
"Ha."
A dry laugh escaped me.
A building that looked like it cost well over a hundred billion won had cracked open like a cocoon, and giants burst out of it, trampling everyone to death. In my last memory, I was trampled to death too.
I really got to experience the Rumbling for real.
Yeager faction bastards, stand at attention.
From now on, me and Zeke Yeager are one body.
"That bastard who went into the wall."
There's only one thing I can imagine.
That guy went into the wall, and that's why the giant appeared. I don't know the mechanism, but that doesn't matter.
I dawdled around for nothing and got myself killed before I could even run.
From now on, if I run into a bizarre phenomenon, I'll run without even looking back.
That's how I'll survive.
"But... regression."
It's the point where I got off in Seoul.
Fortunately, I hadn't regressed to the guard office.
I think I have a rough idea of how the regression point is determined. When you get caught up in a bizarre phenomenon and escape from it, does that point get fixed there?
I should think about that once.
But not now.
I kicked off the ground.
"That bastard...!"
Rage, in stages.
I died because of that goddamn bastard!
If giants appeared because the bastard went into the wall, then wouldn't stopping him solve it? I died last time because I didn't stop him.
Let's try stopping him first.
If I can't stop him, then giants will really appear, and I don't know what that'll do to the world, but it's better for that not to happen at all.
I arrived at the alley.
ㅡshamble, shamble.
A guy with a twisted face was shuffling along.
The moment I saw him, I sprinted without hesitation and shouted.
"You fucking bastard!!!"
"Gwak."
Gwak?
The moment the bastard turned around.
ㅡKWAANG!
My dropkick slammed into his back. Honestly, I came here to stop him, but I didn't actually have a plan. I just went for it.
But.
"..."
This bastard...
He didn't even fall over.
His body is too hard!
And then.
ㅡwhoosh!
The bastard suddenly sprinted like a lunatic.
"S-stop right there, you bastard!"
A speed beyond imagination.
The guy reached the same spot as last time, let out a scream, and then went back into the wall.
"Shit!"
Run!
This isn't something I can stop with my own strength!
"Ah!"
But...!
Teacher Kim Seong-han's wife!
I keep thinking about her and can't force my feet to move. The righteous Teacher Kim Seong-han helped me. If giants appear, his wife will be trampled to death too.
As a man, Kim Geunhong has his pride—I can't just run!
I immediately got on the e-bike and headed for the mansion as fast as I could.
Last time, I wasted a lot of time because I stopped by the hospital first. If I go now, I can probably save them and still get away. If I just use Teacher Kim Seong-han's name and tell them to run, they'll probably listen.
"..."
On the way, I briefly thought about the Bureau.
I even had a business card, so should I report it?
No.
Calling those idiots is out of the question. Not only can I not imagine those morons, who got taken out in one shot by the hospital director, beating monsters like that, but even if they somehow solved it, I'd be hauled off and have my brain pulled out.
Even if a hundred Lee Do-hyeongs came, they still couldn't beat a giant like that.
Let's just tell them to get lost.
"Excuse me!"
As soon as I arrived at the mansion, I pounded on the gate and rang the doorbell over and over.
-Who is it?
It was the voice of that suit-wearing secretary.
"I'm here at Teacher Kim Seong-han's request! Doesn't his wife live here!"
-Please wait a moment.
Hurry up and tell her already!
ㅡclick.
The door opened and the secretary came out.
"I was told she'd understand if I showed her this ring."
"Understood. Madam? There's a ring here. Yes, please come in."
I went inside with the secretary right away.
"Are you the one...?"
An Arab woman greeted me.
I cut straight to the point and took out the ring.
"That!"
"Teacher Kim Seong-han entrusted this to me. He asked me to let you know he's alive. He is alive."
"Ah, ah...!"
The Arab woman sobbed.
What happened next was the same as last time. I received a very luxurious box as a reward. Inside was a pendant made of black stone.
"And Madam, I have one last thing to say."
"Yes?"
"You need to get out of Seoul right now. I don't really know why, but Teacher Kim Seong-han said it'd be best to leave Seoul as soon as possible. I trust his instincts. I was planning to run far away myself, but I came here just to deliver this and repay his kindness. So please, run!"
Honestly, that's the limit of what I can do to persuade her. If she doesn't listen, there's nothing I can do.
I'll just have to give up and leave.
"..."
The Arab woman looked at me seriously.
"I understand. If that's what he said, then I should run. Driver Kim, head straight to the airport. You come with us too. If it's dangerous, we'll take you along."
"Oh! Really?"
Running away by plane couldn't be better!
"Because you recovered something precious for me."
"Thank you! But wait a second! I'd like to bring my parents too, so could we stop by my parents' house?"
"How many family members are there?"
"Three, including me!"
"Driver Kim. Prepare five plane tickets."
"Yes."
Perfect!
At this rate, we can get away somehow!
It hurts a little to just abandon the giants and run, but there's nothing I can do anyway. You never know. If we run, maybe the military or the Bureau can do something. After the situation gets resolved, if I come back then, everyone will know monsters like giants exist, so I guess I'll just have to survive in this changing world.
ㅡVROOOOM!
Just like that, I got into the limousine and left Seoul. Driver Kim drove expertly, and before long we arrived at my parents' house.
My parents' house.
Honestly, I didn't want to come here because of that vampire bitch. But a giant is about to appear. What could some mere vampire do in front of that overwhelming giant? That bitch is just a mosquito.
"Mom! Dad!"
I immediately went inside and called for my long-missed parents.
"Huh? W-what is it? Suddenly, at this hour..."
"Hey, you brat! What about school? Why are you here all of a sudden!"
"I have a reason, a reason! Ah, first! Both of you put on some clothes and come out, hurry! We don't have time! It's urgent!"
"What? What are you talking about, Geunhong? Calm down a little!"
A suspicious look.
"Aaaagh! Hurry, hurry! Just put on your clothes and come out! Only take your valuables!"
It's hard to waste time persuading my parents here!
Honestly, if it were me and my son suddenly barged in yelling that we had to run and throwing a complete fit, I'd have asked what cult that crazy bastard had joined and beaten him senseless with the discipline stick in an SSS-rank barrage.
"Aagh! Hurry! Hurry! Put your clothes on and come oouuut!"
"Y-you brat!"
Still, I somehow managed to force them to get dressed and come out. The fact that they listened when I forced the issue really is so like my mom and dad.
"Get in!"
"W-what is this?"
"No, what is this limousine! Geunhong, did you join some cult or something?!"
"I told you, that's not it! Something huge is about to happen in Seoul right now! So we're heading farther south for a bit! This car is, uh, my friend's parents!"
Then it happened.
ㅡWEEEE-OOO-WEEEE!
ㅡThis is an emergency.
ㅡAn air raid warning has been issued.
The sound of sirens began to ring out.
Could the giant have appeared...!
Still, the broadcast itself couldn't be better timed!
"See? I told you! It's war! It's a real situation! World War III! Those North Korean bastards invaded!"
"What the... a real war?! This won't do! Honey! Get in quickly!"
"Y-yes!"
Mom and Dad got into the limousine in a panic. I got into the car too.
"How could this happen... the, your friend's parents? Hel-hello, uh, uh? An Arab woman?"
"Yes. Nice to meet you."
While Dad stood there bewildered, Madam gave a brief reply and ordered us to depart.
"Madam. With a real emergency breaking out, I don't think the plane will be able to take off."
Come to think of it, Driver Kim was right.
A plane wouldn't possibly take off in a situation like this.
"That's true... but there's nowhere particularly suitable we can go..."
"For now, I'll head toward wherever seems safest."
He's really reliable.
Quick thinking is important for a secretary.
ㅡflash.
The TV in the limousine turned on.
I checked the news channel first.
The headline already stretched across the screen, saying it was a real emergency.
"It's really war! A war actually broke out!"
"H-honey! Something's wrong!"
It is definitely weird.
There hadn't been any news about North Korea.
-A strange life form has appeared in Seoul right now! Giants! They look like giants!
A reporter in a helicopter screamed at the top of his lungs. The camera immediately panned down below. Dozens of giants were marching through Gangnam, laying everything to waste.
"No, giants?! Is that real?! Isn't this just some movie viral campaign?!"
"Honey! It's real!"
Both of them were screaming in shock, clinging to each other.
Their eyes were practically glued to the screen.
Watching them, I felt anxious.
For now, I had fled.
I had gotten away from the site where the giant appeared.
Then.
What will be the end of this situation?
Giants appeared in this world and smashed Seoul to pieces. So what happens after that? How does this end? Will the military or the Bureau handle it, and will everyone now live knowing monsters like this really exist?
My unease wouldn't die down.
Will this situation really end normally?
Then it happened.
"Ah, aaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaah!"
Madam suddenly started screaming.
"Madam!"
"W-what! What's wrong with her!"
The scream felt grotesque. And that wasn't all—Madam's hair began to rise as if she were levitating.
ㅡflash!
Then a flash suddenly burst out, and Madam vanished just like that!
"What?!"
What kind of bizarre phenomenon is this!
Madam disappeared?!
"Oh my, Hong-ah! What in the world is this!"
"Stop pretending to be a cat! No, what the hell! Hey, Secretary! What's going on? Madam just disappeared along with a flash of light!"
"I-I don't know! What is this!"
"Car! Stop the car, for now! We're going to crash!"
It was a scene of utter panic.
A situation so chaotic no one could tell what was what.
The secretary stopped the car.
"W-we have to find Madam..."
I stopped the secretary from trying to get out of the car.
"Driver! What do you think you're doing going out there when you don't even know what's happened? Stay put!"
"Ah..."
"For now, let's run! Busan or wherever! Head south!"
"But!"
"Just drive the limousine! The world's completely fucked right now! Can't you see giants keep showing up on the news?!"
The news was already reaching its climax.
ㅡBOOM!
ㅡBBAAANG!
The giants were trampling Seoul and turning it into a wasteland.
In the corner of the screen, you could even see a new giant being born.
But that scene lasted only a moment.
ㅡflash.
The broadcast was cut to a black screen.
Information control had begun.
"Let's evacuate! Drive!"
"Understood!"
The secretary, having regained his senses, grabbed the wheel again.
But after not going far, we ran straight into a massive traffic jam. Everyone had come out from every direction trying to flee.
Should we abandon the car?
ㅡthudududududu!
"Hey! The sky!"
Dad shouted, and I looked out the window.
"Oh!"
Fighter jets and helicopters were up!
"I don't know what it is, but the military's been deployed! Whatever that giant thing is doing, it won't be able to do a thing in front of the military! Honey, so relax! You know how strong our military is!"
"Ahh..."
Dad shouted loudly, trying to reassure Mom. Mom was completely terrified, clinging to him.
The military.
The military...
"..."
Will it?
Can the military really solve this?
"Please...!"
Honestly, right now there's nothing I can do but pray!
Please, military!
Do something!
If you can just fix this, I really won't say a word even if you reenlist all my friends!