<Amkena Gaiden Episode 12>
* * *
late morning.
But the great city, containing ten million people, never sleeps.
Even at night, lights are turned on in various parts of the building, burning the entire city like a bonfire, and cars passing between the roads create a stream of light.
Almost always.
The city that Amkena remembers has always been.
But now, a scene she had never seen before was reflected in front of her eyes.
“… … .”
The whole city is dark.
In the outline of the moonlight, only the shadows of tall buildings appear at a glance.
A large city with a population of 10 million was submerged in a black swamp.
‘How could that be?’
That place is no longer the place she knew.
A demonic world beyond the present world.
It is just a fake imitating Seoul.
‘It does not make sense.’
In two days, everyone in the city left this place.
Didn’t you have an accident?
If so, wouldn’t the traffic congestion be so great that the roads would be clogged up?
It’s the same when returning home on holidays, if the entire city is escaping.
There is no sense of reality.
Whether or not you ask such questions, people are rarely seen.
Where have people gone?
Will mom and friends be all right?
Actually, I tried to make a call earlier, but I was told that the call was impossible because it was not in the reception area.
‘Maybe I’m dreaming?’
If not, how could Seoul change like this in one night?
‘They said the whole planet was hypnotized.’
It seemed that the situation had flowed on a more unrealistic and grand scale than Amkena had imagined.
‘Isn’t Korea going to ruin?’
Amkena leans against the railing and looks down at the city.
This is the rooftop of the abandoned building complex that was first kidnapped.
I thought it would be unreasonable to spend the night at my parents’ house, so I returned to my original place.
‘How much will Seoul lose if it takes a day off? group 1? Article 2?’
Useless daydreams swell.
I felt like I would lose my mind if I didn’t even delusion.
Shall we go back and tell you now?
the truth is scary
It’s unbearably scary to get involved in this.
The current situation was more difficult and terrifying than expected.
she’s not a hero
It’s just common people.
so… … keep daydreaming
If you stop thinking, you become scared.
“It is windy. Aren’t you going in?”
Late at night, Amkena’s thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected voice.
Amkenna looked back.
Aaron was walking.
I didn’t know because I was in a hurry at the time.
Now that I think about it, it makes no sense.
Now that the hero in the game came to me in reality.
“Oh, hello.”
Amkenna bowed shyly.
Aaron politely bowed his head.
“hello.”
Awkward atmosphere for a while.
It was Amkena who spoke first.
“I-here.”
“yes.”
“therefore… … Taonian’s Aaron Delcurd. Right? really right? Wearing a spear, hanging out with Mr. Han, studying abroad in Niflheim… … .”
“you’re right.”
“The hero in the game called Pick Me Up, which I did, is it really true? It’s like I’m seeing an illusion, isn’t it?”
“Of course you are. If you deny it, I have nothing to say.”
“No, no. I just asked.”
The conversation stops again.
gulp.
After a while, Amkena opened her mouth again.
“How was I?”
Aaron turned to Amkena.
firm expression.
As a master, how was he to the heroes?
Originally, there would be no communication at all.
It was a question and answer that could only be imagined.
That question, Amkena tried.
“As a master of Taoni, did I do my part?”
“… … .”
“It was my first time playing a game like that, but I did my best… … .”
It was the first time.
The game she originally enjoyed was Car X.
However, when I got to work, I quit, and I was looking for a game to kill time in my spare time, and what I came across by chance was Pick Me Up.
“You don’t like me, do you?”
Amkena threw out a fastball.
Aaron was silent.
“Looking back now, I realized that it was a piece of shit. There could have been a better nickname, but I had no idea.”
Amkenara.
It’s an abbreviation for casually, but what is this?
It is a name without any sincerity or zeal.
That’s right, the first time I did it, I was just going to kill time and then erase it.
‘I want to change.’
I want to be remembered with a better and impressive name.
However, there was no nickname change function in Pick Me Up.
“and… … and… … .”
Strategy is reading and rolling.
I randomly started compositing and played as I pleased.
For her at that time, the game of pick me up was simply a way to relieve stress.
“But was it different for you?”
Amkena looked into Aaron’s eyes.
okay.
It was a game for me.
But for that person, it was reality.
‘If only I knew he was actually alive.’
so that no one is victimized.
Wouldn’t I have played the game harder and more carefully?
No, wasn’t it wrong to play such a game in the first place?
Shouldn’t it have been reported to the police?
I don’t know.
I couldn’t tell.
“yes.”
Aaron replied.
in all honesty.
“Each of the Master’s thoughtless actions was at stake for our lives.”
“… … .”
“It reminded me of my childhood. Me in my immature days playing with passing ants. At that time I… … I had no idea. I killed the ants that were carrying food out of simple curiosity.”
Aaron laughed bitterly.
“I even thought that maybe I was being punished for being an ant at the time.”
Amkena said.
“You are resentful of me.”
“Yes, I was resentful.”
“Ugh… … .”
Hearing those words right in front of my eyes made me feel sick to my stomach.
Amkenna bowed her head.
“But that is a thing of the past. I am not resentful now.”
“I went to Niflheim because I wasn’t trustworthy, wasn’t it?”
“That’s my fault, not the master’s.”
Aaron laughed.
“I can only misunderstand you. There are several circumstances. Please understand.”
“yes yes. Still, the previous… … .”
“Now, I am not resentful. Master couldn’t help it either. No, rather… … .”
Aaron looked straight at Amkena.
and bowed down
“I am grateful to you.”
“yes?”
“Master, he did not give up the fight until the end.”
“A fight? I was just playing a game?”
“Even so, they did not abandon us. Remain till the end and fight alongside our heroes. That’s enough. I am more sorry for not being able to properly help with the topic I left earlier.”
no?
Amkenna was startled and backed away.
“No, I did the synthesis at random, too?”
“If you don’t know, it could be.”
Could it be?
Is it okay if I don’t know?
You killed a person, right?
No, if you think about it, it can’t be helped… … .
How do I know the hero on the screen is a real person?
But anyway, here’s the next one.
“I just sortie the heroes without thinking!”
“Wasn’t it fixed later? Please refer carefully to the strategy.”
“Ah, yes, but… … .”
hmm.
“That’s what matters. To not repeat a mistake once done twice. to keep moving forward.”
“is it so?”
“This is my master’s teaching.”
“Then I was a great master!”
“… … ?”
“Because you worked so hard! I also did a great job! How many times have you hit your mother on the back because you were caught doing something clever? … !”
oh.
needless to say this
“Anyway, I did my best!”
Amkenna clenched her fists.
At the beginning of the game, I was conflicted while thinking about whether or not to quit, but once I made up my mind, I never quit.
It was the same in the service review of Pick Me Up.
Despite frequent server crashes, widespread bugs, and strange operation, Amkena did not stop Pick Me Up. Even the so-called “Pick Me Up” big-timers are falling out of the game.
‘Because, because… … .’
Couldn’t stop.
Because her hero in the game, was moving on.
Amkenna cleared her throat.
Looking at it, I was curious.
Was I really helpful to that one Israt hero?
what do you think of me
When we first met, everything was so sudden that we couldn’t even talk properly.
‘But now… … After things are sorted out… … .’
perhaps.
Maybe we can truly have a sincere conversation with each other as a Master and a Hero.
There Amkena found courage.
Despite the absurdity of the current situation and a situation that he had never encountered before, he was not afraid of it now. It may be that the sense of reality itself has disappeared.
“That is enough.”
Aaron also nodded.
As a Master, I did my best.
That was enough.
‘Maybe that’s it?’
The answer will probably be known after this work is over.
Anyway, we have to save Han who is trapped in the gap of the universe.
Amkenna was determined.
* * *
the next morning.
Two bikes and a convertible are parked in a row in the parking lot of the abandoned building complex.
“Are you ready?”
Yunet said.
Amkena, sitting in the driver’s seat, nodded.
“You must have understood that the outside world is no longer the Seoul Amkena knew, right?”
“yes. I was determined.”
I have no choice but to know.
Beyond the parking lot, an unknown purple fog covers the whole of Seoul. In addition, a huge reddish cloud was floating enveloping the building forest.
‘A state in which reality is eroded… … I said.’
I don’t know exactly what the situation is.
However, it was clear that it was not an ordinary space.
In the city in front of me, there were no people, no cars, no peepholes to be seen.
“Lidigion and I will go to the broadcasting station as is.”
bike on the left.
Lydigion, sitting in the driver’s seat, started the engine.
Yurnet sat behind the Lidigion.
“For the other four, just go to the World Tower.”
The promise is made.
Amkena examined the leather bag on the passenger seat.
‘good.’
A battery full of warhorse statues is securely fastened with seat belts.
I will never fall for anything.
“Then, let’s wish each other luck.”
Siris, who was wearing a rider suit, pushed down his helmet.
And got on the bike painted red. Even without one hand, I skillfully grabbed the steering wheel and started the engine.
“We are going too!”
Aaron and Nihaku are riding in the back seat of the Black Thunder.
After Nihaku raised his hand, Amkena started the car.
Whoops!
The engine vibrates violently and screams.
“I will go first. When you’re done, I’ll join you right away.”
Lydegion kicked off the ground and bowed.
Boaaaang!
A gray bike with two people left the parking lot and entered the outskirts of Seoul. After that, Black Thunder and Red Bike also left the parking lot and entered the road on the other side.
‘The target is over there.’
can’t see
World Tower, the tallest skyscraper that stands out anywhere in Seoul.
It is over 500 meters high on the 120th floor. However, even such a skyscraper is shrouded in a mysterious fog.
‘I expected it.’
Amkenna had no choice but to swallow.
Over the city of Seoul.
Dozens of large helicopters are floating.
‘Are there that many helicopters in Korea?’
It’s clear who you’re looking for.
and.
‘Ugh!’
Koo-goo-goo-goo!
Vibration enough to shake the ground.
In the distance, tanks are passing in formation on the main road.
A group of armored vehicles lined up behind him.
“Hey! They brought an entire army! Are you going to wage a war with the country above?”
Nihaku exclaimed in admiration.
The same announcements resonated from simple speakers installed throughout the street.
<This is breaking news. The terrorists are still not leaving Seoul. In response, the government has declared a state of emergency and is taking the maximum possible measures.>
The announcer’s voice I’ve heard many times.
It is not the president or a high-ranking government official.
A third-rate announcer on a cable channel was representing the government.
<But really, is this the right thing to do? Martial law following the entire Seoul evacuation order? Isn’t it said that there are only five terrorists? Haven’t any of the terrorists been caught yet? It is said that they searched all over Seoul in a few days. Can this happen?>
<It is not impossible.>
the expert replied.
<Perhaps, it has been suggested that they may be secretly supported by the enemy.>
<Yes? that’s kinda… … .>
<It’s not something that can’t happen at all.>
<That’s true… … kinda weird… … .>
<It is not absolutely impossible! Enemy support! Terrorist activity! Their whereabouts have not yet been caught! It’s possible. >
<That’s right. Anyway, I hope that peace in Seoul will be restored as soon as possible… … oh! Breaking news! The location of the terrorists has been exposed!>
Amkena blinked.
‘already?’
Siris, who rode the bike side by side, said.
A voice leaked through the helmet.
“Since we escaped the hidden barrier of the abandoned building complex, of course.”
to argue
I hear the sound of helicopter propellers somewhere.
it started
“let’s go.”
“yes!”
Amkena stepped on the accelerator.
Black Thunder began to accelerate.
