The Returner
[467] 4. If I have to, I have to stretch at least my legs (2)
Christopher rubs his eyelids silently.
“What's the situation?”
“It's the worst.”
The deputy smiles deeply.
‘From now on, I have to take this course off. ’
I have not asked about the situation in the last month and have not heard hopeful words. It seemed objective, but I felt exhausted every time I heard it.
“Okay, let's hear what else is the worst. It would be awful if it tasted worse than the steak I had yesterday. ”
“… Europe is on the verge of collapse. ”
“Correct. It was a decent steak. ”
Christopher rubs his face.
“Goddamn EU guys. You've been playing hard to get, and you can't last two months. How far does the wire go? ”
“Welcome to Russia. ”
“I don't know if it's hopeful or hopeless. Anyway, if we're going to get into Russia, we're going to have to spend a lot of time crossing that vast patch of land. So what about our Alpha One? ”
“That's a little weird right now. ”
“Strange?”
The deputy said with a frown.
“The line's already been breached, actually. I thought, of course, they were going to march on Russia. ”
“Why? Has the march stopped? Then the gardeners are smarter than the Napoleons. Seeing as how you don't run into a cold place in this weather without any clothes on. ”
“Personally, I don't think he would have been pushed this far if he were in the modern world. ”
“If Napoleon's artillery is pinned down by monsters. So?”
“The monsters have stopped marching. And it's not moving. ”
“Why do you think that is? ”
“… of Spain and Portugal? In fact, we don't have the right information on the African side, but given that most of the major cities have already been destroyed, we don't think we're going to enter Russia behind the scenes with the U.K., Portugal, Spain, etc. Moreover, the Italian side is still healthy. ”
“Are you telling me that ruined Europe is still stalling? So, you think collecting all the remaining power will buy us some time? ”
“Impossible.”
“I'm not asking you to arrest the damn Demon King, I'm asking you to buy me some time, and you can't?" Where is the power of Europe? ”
“The spots were big in Germany. He was also the chairman and most reliable country in this situation, and as Germany began to disintegrate, he was not able to gather his strength properly. even though there was a limit to how much power we could muster. ”
“Okay, fine. Those damn monsters condemned the Nazis 100 years later, put Europe at risk, and the rest of the world at risk for too little time. That's very promising news. And?”
“China has been halved. ”
“... That's a good sound to hear. If I had my way with the Horse Merchant Faction now, I would have won a can of beer. Looks like the game's almost over. ”
Christopher said it himself.
“Even with this much evil, all the major wires are being destroyed? ”
“… the Director did his best. ”
“The best?”
Christopher laughs in vain.
“It doesn't matter what you do best. The important thing is that we're being pushed relentlessly, and we're running out of time. At this rate, there will be only two lines left: Korea, the United States. ”
“Korea?”
“Yes."
“Do you think Korea can survive much longer? It's the only place they've launched a nuke because it's the worst. ”
“It's not the worst place, it's the hope that a nuclear blast will survive. Europe and China are so scattered that they can't see the effects of nuclear bombardment. Only the poor will die. ”
“… do you think you can afford to stay in Korea? ”
“None.”
“But how do you keep the wire? ”
Christopher sighs.
“All that's left is a man. But I'm afraid of him. ”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Song is not a very decent person. He's a man with every means at his disposal. At least ten more days when he starts to move. And ten more days of nuclear power. After twenty days, how many places do you think you'll still be able to survive? ”
“... none. ”
Christopher nods.
“Nothing, nothing. Then only Korea and the United States are left. ”
Christopher looked at the map with cold eyes.
‘I don't know if I should say faster than I expected or slower than I expected. ’
As he predicted, 60% of the world should already be the land of the dead. Today, however, less than 30% of the world's land was wiped out by humans.
However, the speed at which the wire moved was faster than Christopher expected. It was not an exaggeration to say that they were almost robbed.
They're not cleaning up civilians. ’
Unlike what he had originally anticipated, the devils were moving as if they were occupiers. It does not mean that the civilians are visible but that they do not want to find and kill civilians who are not on their way.
It was a very different movement from his prediction that he would target the extinction of humanity, but it was undeniable that this behavior was a much more effective way to deal with humanity.
Those civilians are the only ones left. They can take care of them anytime.
Moreover, the guerrilla tactics against regular soldiers do not work at all for monsters. Unlike someone who can be convicted with a surprise attack, such attacks do not work on horses who boast superior defensive strength with a hard upper.
There was nothing a civilian lacking in firepower could do against a shotgun. Once all the regular troops were defeated, the arrows would be directed at them, and those who remained were overwhelmed with despair and had no choice but to die.
‘Despite your frustration. ’
Christopher sighs deeply.
“We have to do everything we can. Put me through to Europe. ”
“Yes.”
Looking at the deputy going out, Christopher covers his face with both hands.
‘How long do we have to hold out? ’
Their vacancies were too big. Now humanity has no choice but to wait for their return.
“You stink.”
Herkana frowns at the man in front of her. Even his face, full of regrets, felt tempting. The man smiles low, looking at Herkana's face.
“A compliment?”
“It's an insult.”
“Hmm, a compliment. ”
Herkana is annoyed.
“You know what? I hate that about you. I hate it.”
“That's not so bad either. ”
His attitude was relaxed.
He had to.
Everything was going according to a man's intentions. The man shakes his hand slightly, and a translucent sphere appears right in front of him. As the sphere began to change, it soon became familiar.
Earth.
The earth appeared over the man's hands, and the place began to fester in color.
“You're holding up pretty well. ”
“Didn't you let me stay? ”
“Of course I do. ”
When the man smiled, a white tooth appeared. However, it was a smile that was scary for those who looked at it differently from the neat color.
It was a smile that instinctively made me feel crisis beyond just the emotional side.
“If they had their minds set on it, they would have done it already. ”
“Of course, Herkana. ”
“Then why are you stalling? It's a hobby.”
“No, this is reasonable. ”
The man reached out his hand and took the glass on the table to his mouth. The aroma from the horse Americas irritated his nose.
“What do we gain by cleaning up after humans? ”
“ ……. ”
“The negative energy will be full. But only for a little while. In the end, we go back to the beginning. Like tearing open the belly of a chicken that lays a golden egg. ”
“You're familiar with the proverbs? ”
“Of course. It all starts with understanding. Understanding humans is necessary to handle effectively. ”
“Is that why you're doing this? ”
“Of course.”
The man flicked his finger.
“Humans are so much fun. They are strong enough to dominate this star when they are together, but if you separate them one by one, they are just weak beasts. So in order to get comfortable with humans, we have to dismantle all the groups they've created. A country or something. ”
“That's not why you're stalling. ”
“Don't you feel it? ”
The man reaches out and grabs the air.
There is nothing, like black smoke, being sucked into his hands.
“Here, look. It can be typed.”
“Hmm."
“Humans are now in the greatest despair since they were born. And you're gonna feel it on your skin. The negative energy generated by such people is quite full. ”
Erkana's eyes narrow.
“You can't just die easily. That would be inefficient. Desperate and desperate, living through hell and dying. Well, that death is supposed to smell like a good drink. ”
The man took a sip of wine to his mouth.
“When those who have to die die, we turn this world into an energy production plant. Then we won't starve forever. ”
“Is it not enough just for the horse system? ”
“You're not asking because you don't know, right? ”
The man smiles white.
“We can only live by ourselves. But it's also true that Manawa isn't the only one. Are you satisfied with the horse? Then why did you reach out to Beraf? ”
“ ……. ”
“You were the same. Now come on, don't say anything else. I'm not weird, you're weird. Well, good. It can get weird in a short amount of time. After a while, you'll be back to your old self. When it was more beautiful and seductive than anyone. ”
Herkana grins.
“Ridiculous. ”
“What's the point? ”
“I'm sorry, but I'm not going back. No, I can't go back now. ”
“Weakened.”
“Maybe so. But I like me. Now I'm several times more comfortable than I used to be when I was hungry for endless hunger. ”
“Erkana.”
The man's eyes burned.
“Don't think I won't kill you. ”
“I don't think so. But I want you to know one thing. I'm serious. You're making a mistake. ”
“A mistake?”
The man's eyes sank deep.