novelraw Chapter 181 : Mission 11: Come Back to Busan Port (7)
Chapter 181 : Mission 11: Come Back to Busan Port (7)
Immediately after returning to Gimhae Port, Ghost placed a call to Hae-eun, despite the late hour.
“The Monster Unit might be useful after all. They have potential.”
Ghost delivered her mission report in a flat tone.
“For one, they’re sturdier than humans. Hard to kill. Their obedience is touch-and-go, but that’s true of the human convicts as well.”
«Good. Let’s keep putting them to work.»
“However…” Ghost let out a soft sigh. “I’m not sure they align with the Black Parade’s operational purpose.”
Hae-eun chuckled softly at the remark.
«The country’s in a bit of a state, you see. Right now, we need assets more than we need sacrifices. They could be useful in all sorts of places.»
“…”
«Oh, and the whale?»
“It got away.”
«I see.»
Hae-eun’s reply was gentle, as if the mission’s failure was of no consequence.
«Return at sunrise. The year is ending. You should at least rest somewhere warm on its last day.»
“How thoughtful of you.”
«Besides, tomorrow is your day, isn’t it?»
Hae-eun laughed lightly before ending the call.
«I’ll have a gift ready. See you tomorrow.»
Click.
The line went dead.
Ghost removed the communication device, tucked it into her pocket, and turned around.
A fire crackled in a nearby oil drum, its flames consuming the kindling within. The monster convict trio and Jae-hee were warming themselves by the blaze.
Jae-hee was draping blankets over the shivering monsters one by one.
Ghost addressed her disciple. “We head back at sunrise. Get some rest until then.”
Jae-hee offered her a blanket as well and asked cautiously, “Will the Whale Hunter be okay?”
“Who knows.”
The Whale Hunter was still sitting slumped by the docks. He remained motionless, huddled against the winter sea, staring up at the brilliant moon and the floating island of Busan, hazy among the clouds.
“That man is an outcast,” Ghost said dispassionately, pulling the blanket over her shoulders. “He can never return to that island. He’ll have to find something to do down here, on the ground.”
“And if he fails at that?”
“…What else can you do? Can’t just give up and die. You find something else.” Ghost shrugged. “That’s how this goddamn thing called life goes on.”
Jae-hee hesitated for a moment, holding his own blanket. Then, his face set with determination, he scurried over to the Whale Hunter and gently draped the blanket over the man’s shoulders.
The Whale Hunter didn’t move, frozen like a statue, his gaze fixed on the sky.
Jae-hee crouched beside him and looked up at the moon as well.
Watching them, Ghost shook her head and muttered to herself, her voice too low for anyone to hear.
“Too much kindness will get you in trouble someday, kid.”
***
[Mission Report]
[NEW S] Boy: Survived
[OLD S] Ghost: Survived
[M.Unit] Crying-X: Survived
[M.Unit] Flying Tentacle God: Survived
[M.Unit] Rose Princess: Survived
- 100,000 P.€
- Monster Unit HQ Facility Upgrade
***
December 31, 2050, the next morning.
Ghost, Jae-hee, and the monster trio returned aboard a transport plane.
“Go get some sleep. We’ll have dinner together later.”
They were on the Deck 10 landing pad of the prison cruise. As they disembarked, Jae-hee’s eyes went wide with surprise at Ghost’s suggestion.
“Dinner?”
“Yeah. Why, you busy?”
“No, no! Of course not! You’re the one asking, Master, so I’d have to go even if I was busy! Which I’m not!”
Ghost waved at the Boy, who was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, and started walking away.
“I’ll come get you later. Go sleep in your room.”
Behind them, a line of correctional officers followed, pushing the bathtubs carrying the monster trio. Jae-hee gave them a big wave before letting out a massive yawn and heading down to his room on Deck 1.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our exiled hero, returned from his labors.”
Razor called out, lounging on his bed and reading a dirty magazine.
“Working your tail off right up to the end of the year. You have my sympathies, hero.”
“Give me a break… I’m exhausted… Haaaah.” Without even thinking of washing up, Jae-hee collapsed onto his bed. “If I fall asleep… wake me up before dinner…”
“Why? Looks like you pulled an all-nighter. Get some rest.”
“I have plans… with my master…”
“Your master? Ah, Ghost?”
“Yeah… I have to go… it’s really important…”
Jae-hee conked out mid-sentence. He was dead tired from spending all day on a boat, followed by a sleepless night at the port.
The Boy was out cold, letting out soft snores.
“Jeez, his face will get stuck like that if he sleeps like this.”
Muttering to himself, Razor rolled the face-down Jae-hee onto his back and covered him properly with a blanket.
He was about to dust off his hands and step away when…
“Hey. Razor.”
“Gah!”
His eyes met Ghost’s. She was standing silently at the entrance to the room.
“Let him sleep. Gather up all the guys on your deck.”
Ghost’s voice was low as she scanned the area.
“There’s something to prepare.”
***
By the time Jae-hee woke up, feeling refreshed after a long sleep, it was completely dark outside.
“Holy crap, I slept this long?!”
It was well past dinnertime, nearly midnight. A horrified Jae-hee shot out of bed and stumbled out of his room.
“Ah, you’re up.”
Ghost happened to be walking toward his room.
She waved and said, “I was just coming to wake you. Come on, let’s go.”
“Ack, I’m so sorry, Master! I completely overslept…!”
“It’s fine. You’re not late. The timing is perfect.”
Ghost reached out and casually smoothed down Jae-hee’s messy bedhead. “I didn’t mention it, but today’s my birthday.”
“What? Your birthday, Master? It’s December thirty-first?!”
“Yep. Born on the last day of the year.”
“Whoa, what do I do? I didn’t get you a present…!”
Ghost waved a dismissive hand at the flustered Boy. “Forget about a present for me. You said you don’t know your own birthday, right, kid?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
“Then from now on, your birthday is January first.” Ghost cracked a smile. “That way, we can celebrate them together.”
“…!”
“What do you think? Not bad, right?”
“Not bad? It’s great! No, it’s amazing! It’s the best!” Jae-hee threw his arms wide and jumped for joy. “My birthday! January first!”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
Ghost guided Jae-hee forward, placing her hands on his shoulders and pushing him gently from behind.
“Everyone’s waiting.”
Jae-hee blinked. “Huh? Everyone?”
Ghost led him to Deck 1 mess hall. And there…
“Hey, sleep well?!”
He found Razor and Status Window. And not just them. Jail Mojik, Romeo and Juliet, Shylock… all the convicts he’d gotten to know on the prison cruise were gathered, chatting and laughing boisterously.
Jae-hee asked, bewildered, “What’s everyone doing here?”
“It’s the last day of the year. Gotta at least do a New Year’s countdown, yeah? It’s an annual tradition,” Razor said with a wicked grin. “Besides, I hear tomorrow’s your birthday.”
“Ah, yeah. We just decided!”
“Who the hell ‘just decides’ their birthday…?” Razor shook his head in disbelief and gestured toward the inside of the mess hall. “Anyway, because of that, our dear Patissier has been creating a masterpiece.”
“A masterpiece?”
The word was barely out of his mouth when Patissier emerged from the kitchen, pushing a serving trolley with something enormous on it. It was…
“A cake?!”
It was a classic cake, with chiffon layers covered in white cream and topped with strawberries.
As everyone marveled at the large, pristine cake, Patissier puffed out his chubby shoulders and wiped the sweat from his brow with a round hand.
“I may be good at baking bread, but my patisserie skills are second to none, you know?”
Ghost had procured the ingredients with her own Credits, and Patissier had put his talents to use for the first time in ages. And so, a real cake—a rare delicacy in this prison—had been created.
A stunned Jae-hee was still staring at the cake with wide eyes when Ghost stepped forward, placed a single candle on top, and lit it with a match.
“All right, then.”
At Ghost’s signal, Status Window immediately broke into a booming song.
“Happy birthday to you~! Happy birthday to you~! Happy birthday, dear Boy-kun~! Happy birthday to yooooouuuu!”
The other convicts joined in half-heartedly before erupting into applause.
“Woohoo~“
Jae-hee was still too stunned to process anything, just blinking.
With a fond smile, Ghost drew a combat knife and, with a few swift motions, sliced through the cake. The massive cake was instantly divided into dozens of clean, perfect pieces.
Everyone let out sounds of admiration at her flawless technique.
“All right, everyone, get a slice!”
As Patissier began to serve the cake, the convicts practically drooled, rushing forward to grab a piece.
“Wow, how long has it been since I had a proper cake…”
“This is amazing-desu! Boy-kun, you should have a birthday every day-desu!”
Most of them offered perfunctory birthday wishes before burying their faces in their plates, inhaling the cake.
Jae-hee just stared blankly at the slice he’d been given, unable to even touch it.
“So this… is cake. It’s the first time I’ve ever had it…”
Ghost gestured with her chin. “Don’t just stare at it, eat. If you space out, one of these other gluttons will snatch it.”
“Gah! Can’t let that happen!”
Jae-hee grabbed a spoon and hastily scooped a large bite into his mouth. He chewed the soft cake for a long moment before swallowing.
“…It’s delicious.”
“What’s it taste like?”
“It tastes… like an angel!”
Everyone around them burst out laughing at his strange description.
“Eating cake on my birthday, with friends celebrating…” As he nibbled on the cake, savoring every bite, Jae-hee murmured in a daze, “I never thought a day like this would come.”
“…”
“I’ve never been wished a happy birthday before. I’ve never eaten cake before.”
Just then, a roar went up throughout the ship.
Startled, Jae-hee saw that it was nearly midnight, and everyone had begun the New Year’s countdown. The entire ship seemed to vibrate as convicts on other decks shouted in unison.
“10! 9! 8! 7! 6…”
The convicts counted down as one, and as the number hit zero…
FWOOM!
Fireworks launched from above Deck 10 exploded in a brilliant flash, their glittering trails visible even to the lower decks.
Up top, Hae-eun and the correctional officers were holding their own New Year’s celebration, setting off a spectacular display.
“Happy New Year!”
“Let’s all try not to die next year, ya scumbags!”
Convicts produced flasks of liquor from their pockets, toasting each other and trading insults.
Watching the scene, Jae-hee found himself looking up at the sky. Through the quickly fading sparks, he saw the brilliant moon and, far in the distance, a certain floating island adrift in the clouds.
He gazed at the same sky the Whale Hunter was surely watching from the shores of Gimhae.
He began, “Master.”
“What.”
“Will my world end someday, too? Will I be left behind as an outcast?”
Ghost shrugged as she returned with the last slice of cake on her plate.
“People romanticize the past. It’s what they do. So… yeah. Chances are good you’ll be one of them someday, saying, ‘The old days were better.’”
“…”
“But maybe what you said yesterday was right.”
“What I said yesterday?”
“That even if you’re left behind… there’s a view you can only see because of it.”
Jae-hee looked around at that. He saw the convicts in the prison cruise mess hall, celebrating his birthday.
“You never know what hell you’ll end up in, who you’ll meet, or how you’ll live…”
Ghost used the tip of her spoon to pick the single strawberry off her slice of cake and held it out to her disciple.
“Still, you might have a good day every once in a while. You know?”
“…Yeah. There will be good days. I’m sure of it.”
Jae-hee didn’t refuse, quickly accepting the strawberry. A bright smile spread across his cream-smudged lips.
“Master!”
“What.”
“Happy New Year!”
Ghost let out a soft laugh. “Yeah.”
Then, with genuine sincerity, she said, “Happy birthday, kid.”
The night of December 31st bled into the dawn of January 1st.
***
A few hours later.
The morning of January 1, 2051.
President San Kim was assassinated.