Actually, Dad Was a Hero

Chapter 37: Capture

“. . .In Jindar. . . among those we call monsters. . . .”

Jin Beom-Min began in a serious voice.

“There are also humans who cooperate with monsters for power, wealth, or other gains. And naturally, dealing with them is also included in the training process.”

“Training. . . is it?”

“. . .Hero Academy training always includes ‘practical exercises.’”

Jin Beom-Min’s resolute gaze did not waver. The fact that his opponent had a human form was no obstacle to him.

It could be a monster transformed into a human, or a human corrupted and cooperating with monsters.

Either way, it didn’t matter. That’s how he was taught, and that’s how he acted.

“Understood. Please proceed.”

In truth, Jin Beom-Min had shed human blood even after coming to Earth.

However, he didn’t mention it because it was a secret shared only with his deceased wife, a secret now lost to the world.

After confirming the enemy’s deployment through Wraith’s tablet screen, Jin Beom-Min gave instructions to Kuen, who was drawing the enemy’s attention.

Aside from the ability to summon an undead guardian, the Ring of Necromancy had another useful function.

By simply touching the skull engraved on the ring and thinking, one could give instructions to the guardian.

And this function proved its worth when the two were fighting far apart, like now.

Kuen, who was slowly walking with his shield forward, received the instructions transmitted through the ring, lowered his posture, and began to move towards the enemy’s left flank.

Boom! Tatatatatatang!

Shells and bullets poured down in response to the sudden movement.

However, Kuen was someone who boasted excellent defense, even when he was alive, enough to be called the ‘Blue Rampart.’

It was impossible to penetrate his shield with stray bullets or inaccurate shelling.

While the armored vehicle and infantry attacks were focused on Kuen, Jin Beom-Min quickly moved around to the opposite flank.

The North Korean infantry, who had spread out wide to encircle Ghost Squad, were now lined up in a single file in front of Jin Beom-Min.

However, preoccupied with attacking the armored corpse they had never seen before, the North Korean soldiers didn’t realize that the Grim Reaper was approaching.

“C-Comrade! What the hell is that monster? It’s not dying even after being shot!”

“Don’t ask me! Just. . . just shoot!”

“S-Shouldn’t we retreat?”

The North Korean company commander, about to scold his frightened subordinates, suddenly realized that a dark gray shadow was rushing towards him.

“What’s that. . .?”

Slice! Thud!

There was no need to raise his Mana. A single swing of his sword was enough for the infantry who were not protected by magic or armor.

Before the blood of the falling enemies could splatter into the air, Jin Beom-Min had already passed through them and charged towards the other soldiers’ flanks.

Crack! Slash!

The North Korean soldiers, who were relentlessly attacking, collapsed, bleeding, without knowing what had hit them.

A North Korean armored vehicle appeared in front of Jin Beom-Min, who was running, scattering the blood from his sword.

The armored vehicle crew was also completely oblivious to Jin Beom-Min’s presence, who appeared from the side.

Crackle! Boom!

Mana transformed into a powerful electric current wrapped around the sword and ripped through the armored vehicle’s steel plates like paper.

Crack! Bang!

After Jin Beom-Min swung his sword a few more times, the armored vehicle was completely mangled.

The engine, which had been roaring just moments ago, soon stopped working.

As Jin Beom-Min jumped over the destroyed armored vehicle, the black muzzle of another armored vehicle appeared.

They had finally realized that something was amiss on their flank.

Bang!

The 73mm cannon mounted on the armored vehicle’s rotating turret fired at close range.

Jin Beom-Min twisted his body to avoid the direct hit and once again raised his Mana.

Boom!

The shell fired by the armored vehicle grazed Jin Beom-Min’s armor and hit the already destroyed armored vehicle.

Flames erupted as the scrap metal that was once an armored vehicle exploded.

However, Jin Beom-Min had already leaped high and split the turret of the second armored vehicle vertically with his sword, which was now wreathed in blue-white sparks.

Boom!

The ammunition loaded in the turret exploded, engulfing the second armored vehicle in flames.

The third armored vehicle, observing the situation from a distance, shuddered and remained motionless for a moment.

Just as Jin Beom-Min regained his posture and was about to move again, the third armored vehicle made a sharp turn with a loud engine roar.

Rumble!

Amidst the flying pebbles and dust, the armored vehicle quickly started to flee in the opposite direction of Jin Beom-Min.

“What, is it running away?”

Jin Beom-Min muttered in bewilderment.

It was absurd that an armored vehicle, equipped with thick armor and a cannon, would be frightened by a single human and run away.

However, it was actually the right decision. Even if they brought a tank, it would be useless against Jin Beom-Min, who had already approached them.

Jin Beom-Min raised his Mana and chased after the armored vehicle.

The Soviet BMP-1, with its innovative design that once surprised the Western world, could reach speeds of over 50km/h even on unpaved roads.

Unfortunately for the BMP-1, Jin Beom-Min could also achieve speeds exceeding that of a car on unpaved roads.

Clank―

The turret hatch of the fleeing armored vehicle opened, and someone peeked out.

The frightened North Korean crew member looked around and was horrified to find Jin Beom-Min chasing after the armored vehicle on foot.

Bang!

The North Korean crew member slammed the turret hatch shut and screamed in terror.

“What, that monster! It’s chasing us!”

“Shoot, shoot it!”

The crew member hurriedly turned the turret backwards. However, Jin Beom-Min had disappeared without a trace.

“W-Where did it go?”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you just say it was chasing us?”

“I-It was definitely there?”

Boom!

A crashing sound echoed, and the armored vehicle shook violently.

“W-What was that sound?”

“Look b-behind!”

The crew member in the turret couldn’t see anything. However, the commander, who turned around from his seat, could see it clearly.

The figure of a monster in dark gray armor, clinging to the broken rear hatch.

“Aaaargh!”

“M-Monster!”

Bang! Bang!

Crack!

Screams of terror, a few gunshots, and a dull thudding sound like splitting firewood resonated from inside the armored vehicle.

Soon after, the armored vehicle slowly lost speed and came to a halt in the middle of the open field.

“Phew. . . .”

Jin Beom-Min let out a heavy breath as he got off the armored vehicle.

His armor and face were covered in red blood. Of course, it wasn’t his.

The gunfire that had been echoing from all directions had stopped.

It seemed that Kuen, who had steadily advanced with his shield, had dealt with the remaining infantry.

Jin Beom-Min plopped down on the ground and let out a quiet sigh.

“Whew, that was tough, tough. . . .”

This was the lament of a man who had just single-handedly defeated a large monster and a North Korean mechanized infantry platoon in half a day.

******

“Hey, I’m not MacGyver. How am I supposed to drive an armored vehicle?”

Ogre asked, bewildered.

“Huh? Weren’t you our designated driver?”

“Well, yeah, but this is different. An armored vehicle isn’t a car.”

Jin Beom-Min awkwardly scratched his head.

“Oh. . . . I didn’t destroy it because I wanted to ride it back.”

“Who the hell knows how to drive a North Korean armored vehicle? We’re not spies.”

“. . .I think I can do it.”

Wraith, who had just put down the heavy drone box he was carrying and was taking a breather, spoke up.

“What?”

Ogre, whose words were refuted in a second, asked back in surprise.

“Really?”

Jin Beom-Min also asked in surprise, and Wraith replied in an uncertain tone.

“Well. . . I think I can try. I need to get in to be sure.”

“Are you a spy? How do you know how to drive a North Korean armored vehicle?”

“I served in the Lightning Unit. They had BMP-3s and T-80s.”

“Ah, those things, the ones from the Soviet Union?”

“It’s Russia, not the Soviet Union, but. . . . Anyway, I drove them back then. It might be a little different. . . but I’ll give it a shot.”

Jin Beom-Min asked, puzzled.

“We had those in our country?”

“I heard they were received in exchange for the debt we lent to Russia a long time ago. I don’t know the details, it was a long time ago.”

“Wow. . . that’s amazing. Anyway, that’s good news.”

Wraith scratched his head and opened the driver’s hatch with an unsure expression. Then he grumbled in disgust.

“Ugh, it’s a bloodbath in here.”

“Ah, sorry about that.”

Jin Beom-Min, the culprit who had made a mess inside the armored vehicle, quickly apologized.

He had roughly cleaned up the bodies inside the armored vehicle before Ghost Squad arrived, but he hadn’t had time to wipe away the blood.

“Ugh, this is going to stain my clothes.”

Grumbling, Wraith sat in the driver’s seat and looked around the dashboard, pressing and turning a few switches.

Rumble!

With a loud roar, the engine of the armored vehicle started.

“Oh, it works!”

“Whoa!”

******

Agent Kang Jin-Woo pressed a small remote control that didn’t match his sturdy physique, switching the screen.

Satellite images of the area where Jin Beom-Min had fought the North Korean troops were displayed on the screen in chronological order.

“Based on the analysis of the satellite images, Ghost Squad has captured an unidentified North Korean infantry fighting vehicle and is moving south. . . .”

Lee Sang-Jun raised his hand, interrupting Kang Jin-Woo’s report, and asked.

“Unidentified. . .? You still haven’t identified its affiliation?”

“Uh. . . . Yes. It’s definitely not a unit stationed near Hamhung. The intelligence analysis team is currently re-examining past satellite images to track its movements.”

“While the return of Ghost Squad is important, it’s also crucial to find out who attacked them. There’s no guarantee that there won’t be another attack.”

There were several possibilities. It could be a betrayal by the North Korean leadership trying to hide the fact that they received help from South Korea, or it could be an act of insubordination by some commanders who opposed the decision of their superiors.

Either way, they needed to figure it out and prevent further attacks to increase the chances of Ghost Squad’s safe return.

“Yes, we’ll find out as soon as possible.”

As Lee Sang-Jun gave him a look that said to continue, Kang Jin-Woo resumed his report.

“We don’t know how much fuel is left in the infantry fighting vehicle, but even if it’s only half full, they should be able to reach the Military Demarcation Line without any problems. If Ghost Squad crosses the armistice line on their own. . . .”

Lee Sang-Jun listened to Kang Jin-Woo’s report with one part of his mind, while the other part was already thinking about what to do next.

If things went smoothly, Ghost Squad might be able to return without any further assistance.

Especially thanks to the unexpected addition of the knight in blue armor, things had become much easier in many ways.

Then, Lee Sang-Jun’s next task would be to find those behind the attack on Ghost Squad and make them pay the price.

Dealing with monsters was Jin Beom-Min’s specialty, but dealing with scheming humans was Lee Sang-Jun’s.

And Lee Sang-Jun was a man who knew how to utilize his expertise very well.