The Regressor Only Protects Me Chapter 131

Episode 131. Metro Forces (2)

Six months have passed since the end of the war.

The weather was now midsummer.

I can't even bring myself to go out on the street without a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.

Some people who couldn't stand the heat jumped into Anyangcheon to cool off.

As the severe cold ended, a heat wave arrived.

Familiar scents and sounds could be heard on the street.

The sound of cicadas and the smell of grass.

The giant alien plants that enveloped the city created a new ecosystem on Earth.

Even after the war ended, the soldiers' main job was to subdue monsters that threatened humans.

Now, the punitive operation has become formalized, and the number of soldiers deployed for combat operations has exceeded 3,000.

The number of new people joining the force in the past six months is around 500.

Now that many rounds have passed, humans have begun to adapt and settle into the world.

The number of new people coming in is bound to be small.

The metro forces were quieter than expected, and the city was peaceful.

Besides this, there were many changes in Man-gyeong.

The biggest change is, of course, the city.

Now they could be called true inhabitants of the apocalypse.

The sight of so many people gathered in the streets was truly spectacular.

In the midst of the collapsed city center, new wooden structures have been built between the buildings.

Giant flowers of all kinds bloomed between the cracked concrete structures.

Some plants even grew huge stems that towered over the buildings, like Jack's beanstalk.

Above it, several licensed citizens were living in tree houses.

Children ran around in groups of three or four, and street vendors called people together to gamble.

Wherever people gathered, there were inevitably brothels and bars, and the entertainment culture that took hold after the war is still very popular and has become a major industry.

The ogres have increased in number, now numbering close to 80.

After the war, the number of human corpses decreased, making it impossible to guarantee their feeding environment.

So, unlike before, they were raised by releasing them into the Suri Mountains and letting them graze.

In addition to the Ogres, new strategic weapons were being developed by specialists.

The existing bows and arrows, crossbows and bolts were improved to make them stronger and more durable.

Not only that, there was a blacksmith shop on the street, and many blacksmiths worked faithfully in their respective positions.

There have also been many changes in food culture.

The foods we used to eat gradually disappeared, and now we started eating newly discovered crops as our staple food.

We've discovered an alien crop that can be grown.

A crop that grows well even in dark, barren soil where not a single drop of water flows.

It looked like a potato, but it tasted sweet and sour like a radish.

Altolan.

Someone named it that, and the people of power took it at face value.

Altolan's cultivation method was simple.

If you plant the seeds of Altolan in the ground around Anyangcheon, you only need to periodically cut the roots and water them.

Of course it didn't taste good.

It's just a crop to get carbohydrates.

All this labor was done by second-class citizens, warriors captured from the countryside.

Not only Altolan, but also monsters that can be hunted and eaten.

A spice with five distinct fragrances, harvested from alien flowers.

From dried beef jerky processed into various forms to seafood caught only in the nearby Anyang Stream.

The streets were bustling with new foods being discovered every day.

“For sale, for sale! Fresh fish caught today. One stick per fish.”

“It doesn’t come every day~ If you guess correctly, double. If you guess correctly, double. Okay, the neighborhood elders, housewives, daughters, uncles, aunts, uncles, nephews, sons-in-law, relatives, uncles, great-grandfathers, eighth cousins, and even ancestors~ Come and try to guess. If you guess correctly, double~ If you guess correctly, double~.”

“Altoran, I’ll give you a bundle for three lighters. Get it. Get it.”

“Sir, come here first. I caught it today. Look at it jumping around and flapping its wings.”

“Ugh. They’re all dead. What.”

“Hey! What are you dying for? You’re flapping your wings.”

Now, a new culture, environment, and people were living here.

Lost smiles bloomed again on the streets, and new life was born.

When a new life was born, people cheered.

The woman holding the child in her arms went around the city, receiving praise from everyone.

Now everyone was going back to their normal lives.

All these were the achievements of the king of the city.

… … And the king of this city, Kang Sion, has now finished preparing to leave this place.

* * *

Choi Hyun-ji was looking at the sky with her mouth full of grass.

Then he frowned at the pouring sunlight and said:

“A new plan… … . Isn’t that difficult?”

Although it was in front of Kang Si-on, Choi Hyeon-ji was lying down.

That's why Jin Jae-hee gave warning.

“Hey. Get up.”

But Choi Hyun-ji wasn't the type to pay attention to Jin Jae-hee's warnings.

She continued, crossing her legs.

“But, actually, what is a wanderer? It’s safer to travel alone. It’s dangerous to travel with four people.”

Kang Shi-on answered with his eyes closed.

“We have to find a way.”

At that moment, Choi Myeong-jun clenched his fist and shouted.

“Don’t worry! I will protect you, brother, even if it means giving up my life.”

Since even non-wanderers were able to travel to the southern part of Gyeonggi Province, he was able to volunteer for this expedition without any problems.

“How can you do that?”

When Jin Jae-hee glared at Choi Myung-jun and asked, Choi Myung-jun instantly frowned and growled.

“Why do you keep picking a fight? You bitch.”

“I hate punks like you the most.”

“A thug? I’m a gangster.”

“Are you bragging? You punk, thug.”

“Ah! That crazy bitch is for real!”

Bam-!

Choi Myeong-jun jumped up from his seat and growled at Jin Jae-hee.

Jeong Hyeon-su, who was nearby, stopped Choi Myeong-jun.

“Tea, hold on! Please!”

“Let’s see sometime? Huh?!?”

While each executive was having a meeting that wasn't a meeting, Kang Shi-on was sitting on the sofa, quietly thinking.

Moving to the ground was risky.

To be honest, I wasn't too worried because I had Jin Jae-hee, but there was a variable.

If we lose Choi Hyun-ji or Choi Myeong-jun during this expedition… … .

'Should I force it? Or… … .'

Kang Shi-on put his hand on his forehead and fell into thought.

At that time, Ha Yoon-ha approached him carefully and said.

“Where does it hurt? Should I bring you some water?”

Zion opened his eyes and looked at Ha Yoon-ha.

In her two hands she already had a mug filled with water.

“Thank you. I was just thirsty.”

Zion took a sip of water from his mug.

Ha Yoon-ha sat down quietly next to Zion and looked at him.

“Brother… … Are you going to look for him?”

“… … Yeah. I have to find it.”

“Then please take me on this expedition. I’m sure it will help.”

Yoon-ha always wanted to help Zion.

Zion smiled pleasantly as he recalled the first time he met Yoon-ha.

“What you have to do is inside the city.”

"but……."

“Don’t worry. It’ll be a short expedition. If the road to Suwon is blocked, I’ll be right back.”

“I’m worried… … .”

“There’s Jin Jae-hee, right? There’s Choi Hyun-ji too.”

"but……."

“Don’t worry. Until I return, you just have to stay here and work hard for the citizens of Mankyung. You have the strength to do so.”

Ha Yoon-ha's ability is overwhelming.

You could almost think of it as a living computer.

In fact, at this point when the health of the Minister of Order was deteriorating, the most important figure in the power was Ha Yoon-ha.

Her ability, which had been successfully awakened, was truly a superior version of the current Chief of Order.

Zion has chosen Ha Yoon-ha as its next leader.

Above all, Ha Yoon-ha trusted and followed Kang Si-on.

“Do you have to come back early? I can’t even imagine what it would be like without the King.”

Yoon-ha asked Zion.

“Yeah. I have to come back early.”

Zion answered Yoon-ha.

But just in case.

If so.

If Zion finds his younger brother Jun-ho during this expedition.

And also, what if Junho belongs to another place and can’t come to Man-gyeong?

Kang Shi-on will not return to Man-gyeong.

Because his goal is to find his brother anyway.

But for now, he promised to return.

* * *

“Please call us anytime. We at Man-gyeong will pray for the King’s safe return.”

“You can use the resources, food, and even combat troops as you wish, Sion-sama. Our bodies already belong to Sion-sama. If it weren’t for Sion-sama, we would have died long ago.”

“You are the only king of Man-gyeong. Please return safely and take care of me again.”

The Minister of Public Safety, the Minister of Labor, and even executives from each organization came out to greet them.

They hid the fact that Kang Shi-on was going on an expedition to Suwon from the citizens of Man-gyeong.

They would be greatly disturbed by the mere fact that the king was not within their power.

There were four people who set out on this expedition.

Guide Choi Hyeon-ji, porter Choi Myeong-jun.

And it was Kang Si-on and Jin Jae-hee.

“Cough… …! Cough!”

Kang Shi-on looked at the chief of police, who was coughing.

Her condition worsened.

Even before the war, she had been coughing up blood and often collapsed.

Perhaps it is because, for the past two years, she has been taking care of the forces with a motherly heart without a single day of rest.

The cause of the illness was overwork.

Although her abilities were outstanding, due to her illness, she needed someone to succeed her, and that person was Ha Yoon-ha.

“Manager. Please take good care of Ha Yoon-ha. And I hope she gets better soon.”

Kang Si-on held the manager's hands tightly and urged him.

The chief of order nodded weakly.

“Just leave it to me. And. I hope you return safely.”

“Yes, sir. We will go now.”

Kang Shi-on left like that.

The leaders of Man-gyeong were worried that even a small stone might be on the king's path, and promised to support Zion with all their might if it needed it.

His back as he walks into the ruined city center.

The officers remained in their positions until the king disappeared from sight.

This expedition would last at most a week, or at most three days.

Kang Shi-on said it was just reconnaissance, and the officers who saw him off also didn't think much of it.

I'll be back soon anyway.

But contrary to everyone's expectations, they did not return for five years.

* * *

They returned five years later.

Foodduck-!

A dove flew in and landed on the broken windowsill.

The woman who had been writing a report to send to Kang Shi-on stood up from her seat.

A woman in a pure white silk dress gathered some feathers and approached a pigeon sitting on the windowsill.

The pigeon naturally pecked at the grain placed on the woman's palm.

The woman saw a letter tied to the pigeon's leg.

The woman's eyes shook as she looked at the letter.

-The King has returned. It is true. He has now arrived at the border. This is Geumjeong Station.

"ha……!"

The woman was so moved that she covered her mouth with her hand.

The visit opened with a bang.

Rattling-!

A startled pigeon flew up through the open door.

Then a woman came running down the hallway toward them.

The executives who filled the hallway upon seeing this quickly stood on either side of the hallway and got out of the way.

Then, two men followed the woman out of the room she had kicked out.

"your majesty……!!"

“Your Majesty… … !!! Where are you going!”

Her subordinates called her 'Your Majesty'.

But despite their calls, the woman did not stop walking.

Instead, I ran and ran.

The woman quickly descended the stairs to the police station.

The soldier at the entrance straightened his back in an instant at the appearance of the king.

The woman ran past the soldier.

Passed the market floor.

But I encountered a small monster pulling a cart and an old man riding on the cart.

Boom!

“Whoa-!”

-Squeak, squeak!

The woman passed them both quickly.

Now, the central market of Man-gyeong, bustling with people, has opened up.

People were bustling about in the market, buying, selling, and haggling.

“Dyako. 2 lighters for 10.”

“Why is it so expensive? It wasn’t like that yesterday.”

“Production has decreased. Well, I don’t know. Didn’t you say that the Metro forces are sending more and more expeditionary forces?”

“Really? Isn’t there another war?”

“Because of those bastards who keep insisting that it’s the Republic of Korea, there’s war almost every month… … .”

That was when.

“Get out of the way!”

“Every day… …? Huh, huh? Your Majesty!”

“Vicky!”

Boom!

The woman pushed her way through the haggling shop owner and customer.

She didn't stop.

I ran and ran again.

He didn't care about the eyes of those around him.

The woman was barefoot because she ran out of the palace quickly.

“Haa… … Haa… … Haa… … !”

The woman's breath was puffing up to the tip of her throat, but she held it in.

Because this time I believed it was true.

The true king of Man-gyeong has returned.

The forgotten hero has returned.

The telegram from the border was so shocking that even the current King of Man-gyeong came running out barefoot.

Five long years have passed.

During the time when Zion did not return, Man-gyeong was ruled by Ha Yoon-ha.

As the new king.

Ha Yoon-ha, now a full-grown lady, ran barefoot toward the border.

'Why? Why now?'

Why haven't I heard from you in 5 years?

After three years had passed since the expedition, the leaders of Man-gyeong began to think that Kang Si-on was dead.

But Ha Yoon-ha didn't believe those words.

Even after five years, Ha Yoon-ha still believed that Zion was still alive.

I continued to send him letters.

He sent out endless expeditions and exploration parties into the dense forests.

Yet neither the exploration party nor the expedition returned.

But Ha Yoon-ha believed.

I will definitely come back someday.

And today.

just now.

I finally got news that he was back.

The border is starting to come into view.

There was already a large crowd gathered.

Ha Yoon-ha squeezed out every bit of her last bit of strength and pushed her way through the crowd.

In that way, Ha Yoon-ha approached right in front of the border.

And soon she arrived at a crowded border checkpoint.

(Continued in the next episode)