Chapter 74. Thunder God (4)
Bzzzt.
A flash of light dances in front of my eyes.
Pang!
How fast must one be to prove that speed is power?
It’s only after awareness finally settles in that I hear the intense sound of impact and a scream.
Peaceful, indeed.
Well, maybe not so peaceful for Weejoo.
A white cloak spreads as it soars high in the sky, chased by a yellow lightning.
Crackle! Crackle!
With the sound of sparks flying,
the Thunder God constructs his form from the yellow sparks.
“Slow… Electricities aren’t seen; they’re felt through the body.”
The Thunder God’s hand, raised above my head, sweeps downward.
Zzap!
Zing!
A bolt of lightning strikes.
Boom!
From the clear sky, a bolt descends along the line of the Thunder God’s hand. It strikes Baek Sihyeon, who was soaring in the air, and simultaneously, the Thunder God’s punch comes crashing down into her abdomen.
Even as her muscles contract from the lightning strike, she can’t withstand the impact, causing her body to bend in a V-shape and then plummet to the ground.
As Baek Sihyeon falls towards the earth:
If this continues, she’ll die.
Crackle! Crackle!
With the sound of sparks,
the Thunder God, who has now reached the ground, kicks a foot towards Baek Sihyeon.
So fast that even I can’t catch the starting point.
Boom!
A collision sound that seems impossible to believe reverberates, and once again, Baek Sihyeon is sent hurtling back into the sky.
“Isn’t that dangerous, senpai? She looks like she’s about to die!”
“She won’t die.”
“Even when a person flies like that? No way!”
Han Ah points at Baek Sihyeon, who is still soaring into the sky, her face pale.
Well, if you see it for the first time, it does seem unreal, like an endless combo move from some fighting game.
“She looks like she’s being gentle, so it will be fine… probably.”
Boom! Crack!
“That?”
Before I can even finish my sentence, more lightning falls on Baek Sihyeon.
“But it will really be fine, right?”
“If the Thunder God goes all out, Sihyeon won’t even be able to come down from the sky. Even if she looks fine, falling from that height is no joke.”
It’s just that due to the height difference, there might be a bit of disorientation involved.
“So, isn’t that just bullying?”
“Bully? Why would the Thunder God hold a grudge against Sihyeon? It’s just a way to quickly awaken her cognitive skills.”
The best way to acquire a specific sense is to push someone into extreme situations.
Didn’t I push those kids into a crisis when I first came here?
If this continues for a few hours, Sihyeon should awaken her electric sensing ability.
“Feels like bullying to me. It looks like the Thunder God hates Sihyeon.”
Han Ah looks at the bouncy Baek Sihyeon, bouncing around like a basketball, as if she can’t believe my words.
Hmm, maybe it is a bit much? But it’s within the realm of expectations.
At a glance, it does look like bullying, but the Thunder God wouldn’t have any reason to dislike a stranger like Baek Sihyeon.
“The Thunder God absolutely wouldn’t dislike Sihyeon. None of my old companions were as kind as she is.”
The most serious damage caused is that it’s merely fireworks and celebratory lightning for the wins. Compared to others, she’s practically an angel.
“If I were the Thunder God, I would surely be dissatisfied.”
“How can you be dissatisfied with someone you’ve never met?”
Hahh!
Even while we’re engaged in dialogue, the Thunder God kicks Baek Sihyeon away and disappears somewhere, leaving just the two of us sitting in the plains.
“Ah, Han Ah, what are you going to do? I don’t mind following along to watch, but if Baek Sihyeon is in training, shall we train together?”
After hearing my words, Han Ah tilts her head for a moment, getting lost in thought before starting to grin wickedly.
I feel like I’ve seen that expression somewhere…
“Senpai, can I ask you something?”
That’s ominous.
That strangely scary expression and tone. Where did this come from?
“What is it?”
“What kind of relationship do you have with the Thunder God?”
Ding!
“No relationship at all.”
“If it’s no relationship, then why does the Thunder God come out of your room?”
Is that… a valid point?
“I’ve never done that.”
“Hey! I even saw it happen, plus you were talking to the Thunder God, right?”
Han Ah’s face bears an increasingly intense grin as she relentlessly presses.
Now that I think about it, that face is definitely the Thunder God’s mischievous expression. The way she talks and her face remind me of the moment I first met her.
“Yes, I was with the Thunder God, but we’re just close friends—close enough to spend a day together. Not special or anything.”
The moment those words left my mouth,
a sharp pain stabbed me somewhere in my heart, but I’m sure it’s just my imagination.
It felt like Han Ah’s expression shifted. It seemed like she wanted my answer to be something else.
“Oh? So spending a night together in the same room is fine for close friends? You said you were old friends, so that makes sense, huh?”
“But we did sleep together a lot when we were kids.”
“What? So you’re saying you’re not ‘just’ friends?”
I figure what Han Ah imagines is vastly different from reality:
Two kids buried under a shabby blanket seeking a short nap amid scarce resources.
But that’s not reality anymore…
“Han Ah, I don’t know what answer you want from me. Whatever relationship I describe seems to cause more trouble.”
Seriously, what answer is she after?
As I was staring at Han Ah, resigned, I let out a sigh and said something bizarre.
“With the way things are, I can see why the Thunder God is so distressed. Poor Sihyeon is the one stuck in the middle.”
What on earth am I talking about?
Ever since yesterday, the whole incident feels dubious. Now I’m stuck in discussions I can’t comprehend.
Just as I felt this irritation rising in me, suddenly someone put their hand on my shoulder.
“Good morning, Haram.”
“Oh! Iriah Department Head! Good morning! Good job this early!”
Before my senses could grasp who placed a hand on my shoulder,
Han Ah immediately informs me of her identity.
Turning my head, I see the Iriah Department Head, who set down a cart full of goods.
“Did you sleep well?”
Thud!
I shrug off her hand on my shoulder and return the greeting.
“I slept really well last night, almost lost consciousness.”
“Ah, if it was last night…”
As Han Ah stumbles over her words, she seems to search for a topic over the last few days, but I can’t feel even the tiniest guilt.
Is it truly wrong to refrain from needless conversations?
Isn’t it fair punishment for them not to know anything?
Still, Han Ah’s gaze searching for the truth strangely stimulates my conscience, so I turn my head away.
“So, do you need something?”
Surely she isn’t here because she’s feeling guilty over me fainting yesterday.
“Are you free?”
Is she trying to sneak in some unwanted task?
“Not really…”
“Yes! I’m free. Is there something I can help with?”
I wanted to cut her off before she involves me in some annoying work, but Han Ah catches my words:
Suddenly, Iriah nods as if she had thought of a good idea, grabbing the handle of the cart to lift it while speaking.
“I’m delivering supplies, so if you’re free, would you mind coming with me?”
“Where’s the other cart?”
In that case, she should have mentioned it earlier instead of wasting time with this situation.
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
A clattering of cheap wheels wobbles as I turn my head.
Metallic sounds come from the two carts slowly crossing the plains, leaving small tire marks in the dirt.
One cart bears a massive burden while the other carries a moderate load.
The three of us, including myself, begin moving slowly toward the Great Barrier.
“Senpai?”
As I ride on the cart and dangle my legs over the edge, boredom makes it tough to endure. Han Ah speaks to me.
“What is it?”
“Didn’t you see the truck parked beside that cart earlier?”
“Yeah, there was one; a rather military-grade vehicle.”
A truck modified for use in the Otherworld.
It’s covered in matte paint, giving it a stealthy shine, with additional rugged frames attached. It looks expensive.
“So why are we laboriously moving with a cart instead of the truck?”
“Do you think I want to use a cart instead of a truck? There’s a reason behind it.”
Considering an accident would only wreck such a cool truck, even disguising it as a crash with a monster wouldn’t go well.
If only I could put a repair fee claim through the Association for the expenses, I’d keep it at home for sure.
Of course, I’m completely disqualified from that.
Now, elaborate more:
“The guy next to me can explain it better, so why don’t you ask him?”
Really, I can’t be bothered to share answers.
If I just say it can’t be done, she wouldn’t be able to grasp it anyway.
“Are you referring to me?”
“Who else would it be besides you?”
“I don’t consider myself that old…”
The monster lets out a sigh, attempting to get on with its tasks by drifting toward the cart.
“How much do you know about the polluted zones, Hero Han Ah?”
Polluted zones.
She’s going straight for the information without twisting the words.
“Beyond the barrier, where the Otherworld devours the land? That’s about all I know. I have visited on deployment, but that’s about it.”
Even so, knowing this much is decent compared to others—some folks don’t even know of their existence at all.
Woof!
Somewhere an unearthly howl pierces through the air, accompanied by a faintly heard laughter:
“Due to the controlled nature of information regarding polluted zones, it’s difficult for us to gather donations. If even just photos or videos were allowed, that would help in our efforts.”
Iriah, in her own serious tone, ends with a note of genuine concern.
“I’m sorry…”
But I can’t figure out if I’m unaffected by this heaviness in her voice.
“Don’t be sorry. Not knowing isn’t a crime. Just being aware moving forward would suffice.”
“Ah! You mentioned the truck; how could one go about asking about it?”
Suddenly, Iriah redirects her attention toward Han Ah as if realizing she was off-topic, turning her head as if to save herself from an awkward situation.
“In the polluted zones filled with powers from the Otherworld, there are many phenomena. However, the most representative one that you can often see is Otherworld Corrosion.”
“Otherworld Corrosion?”
The term seems to invoke a hint of fear in Han Ah’s voice.
Naturally, that would be her reaction. She experienced it last time in the previous battle, so she could comprehend that fear to some degree.
“You don’t need to be too frightened. It’s not high-level corrosion; it just brings about minor changes.”
“But then, is it not a change to the original state? I would think that even a slight change could lead to considerable danger.”
“Yes, changing the original state is indeed assured. Let me give you a quick example.”
Iriah appears to be drying her throat, stretching to speak through microscopic lips.
She moves her posture in a way that is clearly not human while Han Ah seems engrossed enough in the atmosphere to not think it odd.
Crackle!
This is how mild Otherworld Corrosion occurs:
When the intensity of flames lowers slightly. It’s not significant, merely a shift in temperature.
“Ah, that makes some sense.”
“What does that have to do with the truck?”
Han Ah seems to want to ask why but gets lost in her thoughts while also oddly attentive to Iriah’s explanation.
“Though it doesn’t seem like much, problems arise when it gets severe:
In such corrosion, the truck’s engine may stop functioning completely.”
“Wait, what?”
“When the intensity of flames lowers, it affects electric sparks too, meaning the fuel can’t ignite, causing the engine to stall.”
“Then suddenly, the truck simply turns into a hunk of scrap.”
So, that’s how it is.
“As long as we don’t experience such corrosion, it’s fine. But in the polluted zones, constant unforeseen corrosion hits, leading to various mechanical failures. That’s why we’re using this cart.”
“I see.”
Han Ah, seeming to resonate with her words, begins to nod slowly.
What an acceptable explanation.
I only sat and listened, but in a way, she elaborated without going into excessive theories or additional phenomena.
It’s just too bad she didn’t mention that carts aren’t entirely safe either.
As in extreme circumstances, ‘metal isn’t invincible’—such corrosion could destroy these carts too.
Deep in thought, I turned to Han Ah and saw her grasping the concept:
Even slight corrosion could be critically damaging.
She seemed to be sorting through thoughts, perhaps in terror as she quietly spoke to herself:
No need to escalate the fear here; this cart isn’t 100% safe either.
I buried that truth deep in my mind as we headed toward the Great Barrier.
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