Actually, Dad Was a Hero

Chapter 11: Black Continent

A 2-meter tall, muscular monster clad in heavy, ash-grey armor charged towards the camera, screaming in an unknown language.

The person filming hurriedly retreated, yet continued to capture the approaching monster on screen.

Perhaps they wanted to convey the information about the unknown disaster that had befallen them, even if it was only through a video streamed live on the internet.

The armored monster reached the cameraman.

The monster’s face, a mixture of bear and wild boar, filled the screen. The video shook violently in all directions, as if the cameraman’s terror-stricken fingertips were trembling uncontrollably.

[Garun Shitakun!]

A booming voice echoed from somewhere. The monster approaching the screen glanced back.

A few meters away stood another, larger monster.

Similar in appearance to the one in front, it was bulkier and wore a horned helmet.

[Chut!]

The monster replied and extended its hand.

The screen shook violently, briefly showing the blue sky and a collapsed wall. The camera had fallen to the ground.

At the corner of the screen, a white man was seen being dragged away by the monster.

And after that, only the blue screen and the collapsed wall remained, starkly displayed on the screen.

As the video playing on the central information center screen of the Monster Response Headquarters stopped, murmurs erupted from all around.

Intelligence agents seated at their consoles began verifying the authenticity of the video, tracing its source, and using the terrain in the footage to pinpoint the location.

Lee Sang-Jun, his face flushed, asked Jin Beom-Min,

“What is that monster?”

“……It’s a Bugbear. The one in the back is probably the leader.”

“They seem to be using language.”

“It said, ‘Bring them alive, don’t kill them.’”

Jin Beom-Min’s brief reply startled Lee Sang-Jun, who asked in astonishment,

“You can understand them?”

“Yes. A few of the languages commonly used by monsters are part of the basic curriculum at the Academy. I don’t remember well because it’s been a while……but I’m probably right.”

“Monsters that use language and have discipline……this won’t be easy.”

Jin Beom-Min silently shrugged.

Bugbears were certainly more difficult to deal with than the monsters they had faced so far. But they were still low-level monsters, no match for Jin Beom-Min.

However, being in a position where he was paid handsomely, was there any need to say the job was easy?

For Jin Beom-Min, it was more important how long this task would take and how much his daily wage would be.

“Where is that place?”

“It’s a medical volunteer camp in Somalia. It’s likely filmed by a doctor who was volunteering there.”

“And that’s how it ended up on the internet?”

“They were live streaming, so……it spread uncontrollably. I don’t think we can control monster-related information after today.”

Jin Beom-Min nodded. The issue of information control was Lee Sang-Jun’s problem.

What was more important to him was that the place was in Africa. It would definitely take more than a day to get there, so this would be a significant job.

Having confirmed the identity of the monster, Lee Sang-Jun bustled around the information center, checking various information and giving instructions.

Despite the system not being fully established yet, the agents in charge were handling their tasks quite competently.

Jin Beom-Min watched them work for a moment, then casually spoke to Lee Sang-Jun.

“Then I’ll go to the car and get my equipment.”

“Ah, yes. Ah, no. The deployment hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

“What?”

If he wasn’t being deployed when monsters appeared, who would stop them?

Lee Sang-Jun handed the document he was looking at to a subordinate and spoke again.

“It’s an urgent situation, but the deployment hasn’t been approved.”

“Why?”

“The volunteer camp is located in an area not controlled by the Somali government. It’s controlled by local warlords.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Of course it’s a problem! If we fly in without landing permission, we’ll get hit by a missile in that area!”

“Ah……”

Despite having studied various fields to adapt to modern society after settling on Earth, Jin Beom-Min’s knowledge of world geography and history was somewhat lacking.

He only knew that Somalia was a poor country, and he was completely unaware of the complex circumstances involved.

“Then what do we do?”

“We’re working on countermeasures now. But there’s another problem.”

“What is it?”

“Looking at the situation, it seems like about 30 to 40 people have been kidnapped from the medical camp……and many of them are from Western countries like the US, UK, and France.”

“Well, that’s to be expected. People from wealthy countries are more likely to volunteer.”

“Then, naturally, the governments of those countries will step in, won’t they?”

“Ah……!”

There were few countries that would sit idly by when their citizens were kidnapped abroad.

Especially countries like the US, UK, and France, which actively operate special forces, would be even more likely to intervene.

“If we don’t act quickly, special forces from other countries will move first. Then the damage will inevitably increase.”

Whether modern weapons worked against monsters or not, the dispatch of special forces was almost a certainty.

A country that hesitated to use military force just because the kidnappers were monsters would face immense backlash from its citizens.

“That’s not good……the Bugbears will definitely have defensive magic.”

“That’s right. Moreover, if special forces from multiple countries operate simultaneously, it will also hinder our operations. We might even get shot by friendly fire.”

“……Then what do we do?”

Lee Sang-Jun scratched his head in thought for a moment, then spoke with determination.

“We still have to go. We have to go faster than anyone else.”

“But you said we can’t use the airport.”

“That’s right.”

“Then how do we go?”

“We have to jump.”

“What?”

******

“What the hell is this bullshit?”

‘Sandman’ grumbled, wrapping messy bandages around his military uniform, his face sullen.

Jin Beom-Min adjusted his helmet with the attached headset and asked ‘Sandman’,

“What?”

“This, I mean. They told us not to wear anything that could identify us on our uniforms, and now they suddenly want us to wear the national flag?”

‘Sandman’ slightly lifted the bandage, revealing the Taegeukgi (Korean flag) that had been hastily sewn onto his uniform.

“They said it’s some kind of mystique marketing strategy.”

“What the hell does that even mean?……And then they tell us to cover it with bandages, leaving only the edge exposed. I don’t understand what the hell they’re trying to do……”

“……I heard it’s a strategy to reveal our affiliation to other intelligence agencies that gather information on the ground while remaining hidden from the public media……”

“Then can’t we just say we did it?”

“I think so too……but I guess they have their reasons.”

“They’re so sneaky……”

‘Sandman’ grumbled as he tied the bandage.

The bottom right corner of the Taegeukgi peeked out from under the bandage. Despite his complaints, he was faithfully following the orders given.

Jin Beom-Min glanced around and saw that all the members of Ghost Squad on the transport plane were sullenly wrapping bandages around their national flags.

‘Reaper’ seemed to have wrapped hers haphazardly out of annoyance, but ‘Imp’ had meticulously wrapped the bandage and even tied it neatly with a knot.

“By the way, you said you didn’t receive airborne training?”

‘Sandman’ asked Jin Beom-Min as if he had just remembered.

“Ah, no.”

“Have you ever parachuted before? Even tandem?”

“What’s tandem?”

“It’s when two people share one parachute. You’re attached front and back. It’s popular these days with things like paragliding.”

“No, I haven’t. But I have ridden a Wyvern before.”

“A Wyvern?”

“You know……that lizard-like creature with wings.”

“I don’t think that will be of much help……”

‘Sandman’ cut him off and beckoned ‘Reaper’ over.

“Reaper, come here for a second.”

“Yes.”

‘Reaper’ approached them with light, bouncing steps.

Perhaps she had been called in urgently while hanging out with friends, as she had light makeup on, making her look quite pretty.

“Our VIP hasn’t received airborne training.”

“Oh dear, then you’ll have to do tandem.”

“Right?”

“‘Ogre’ will be good at it. He has experience as an airborne instructor.”

“But there’s a problem.”

“What is it?”

“This gentleman weighs 158kg.”

“What?”

‘Reaper’ exclaimed in surprise and looked at Jin Beom-Min.

Jin Beom-Min felt a little embarrassed, as if he was being treated like a fat person.

“You saw him last time. He’s not an ordinary person.”

“Ah……yes……but if he weighs that much, he can’t tandem with ‘Ogre’, can he? That musclehead weighs almost 100kg himself.”

“Right?”

“Then, in the end, the person with the least weight……”

“……Right?”

“Ah, damn it. Fine.”

‘Reaper’ muttered and slumped back into her seat.

“Watch your language, kid.”

“Yes, yes.”

‘Sandman’ chided the grumbling ‘Reaper’ and then turned to Jin Beom-Min with a grin.

“You’ll be tandem jumping with her.”

“……She doesn’t seem too keen on it.”

“Well, the pose is a bit……”

“Pose?”

‘Sandman’ spread his arms and legs and said,

“Like this, you have to hug from behind. In a back-hugging position.”

“Me?”

“No, Reaper.”

“Ah……”

Then it was understandable why she would be uncomfortable.

Although they had become acquainted after the last operation and dinner party……no, drinking party, Jin Beom-Min and Ghost Squad were still awkward around each other.

And now they had to parachute in a position where their bodies were pressed together. And with the only female member of Ghost Squad, no less.

“This is……isn’t there any other way?”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

‘Sandman’ teased, and ‘Reaper’ shot him a glare.

Jin Beom-Min hurriedly waved his hands and replied,

“No, no. It’s not that I don’t like it……”

“With the current equipment, ‘Reaper’ is the only one who can tandem. Considering your weight and the weight of the equipment.”

“Yes……I understand.”

“‘Reaper’ will take care of deploying and controlling the parachute. ‘Jin’, you just need to not panic and struggle.”

‘Sandman’ addressed Jin Beom-Min by his callsign, indicating that the conversation was now in the professional realm.

Jin Beom-Min understood his intention and nodded seriously.

“I don’t have acrophobia. As I said, I’ve ridden a Wyvern before.”

“It’s a bit different. Because you’re falling.”

“That Wyvern fell too.”

“Why?”

“Because I separated its head and neck.”

“Ah……so it wasn’t riding, but hunting?”

“It was quite thrilling.”

“Then there shouldn’t be any problem. Get some rest for now. I’ll teach you how to wear the harness after you wake up.”

The flight time to their destination, Somalia, was over 12 hours.

That was because they were refueling mid-air over the Indian Ocean. If they had to land somewhere for refueling, it would have taken another hour or two.

So neither Jin Beom-Min nor Ghost Squad needed to rush their preparations. Rather, they needed to get enough rest so they could start the operation as soon as they arrived.

Jin Beom-Min nodded and leaned back in his seat.

However, no matter what position he took, he couldn’t feel comfortable. The transport plane seats were far from being designed for relaxation.

‘Once I get paid for this job, the first thing I’ll do is look into comfortable seats that can be installed on the transport plane.’

Jin Beom-Min made up his mind and closed his eyes.