Infected - Chapter 538



Only Krnovel

Side story episode 25

After noon, Gaon led his men to the open space.

He didn’t know when Finance and his party would find him, but he needed training to hold out until then.

Eugene, Dots, the squad members, and the three friends standing in a row look at Gaon.

“From what I’ve seen so far, your fighting prowess is a mess. No, to be honest, it’s a wonder you’re still alive. Of course, you survived thanks to your own abilities. But there’s no way to know how long that luck will last.”

Gaon pointed beyond the outer wall in the distance.

“The enemy is still alive and the battle could break out again at any moment. If we want to survive tomorrow and next week, we can’t do this. I will start special training now.”

“Just a moment.”

The spotted one raised his hand and asked a question.

“If I just do as the captain says, will I be able to become stronger?”

Eugene, standing next to him, pokes his side with his elbow.

“Ah! It’s just as you said, Captain.”

“The chances of survival are higher. That doesn’t mean you won’t die. But at least you can look after each other. Any other questions?”

The platoon members just looked at each other and didn’t say much.

What more needs to be said?

You have to know something to ask questions.

“Let’s start with close combat.”

Gaon demonstrated with Seonwoo, explaining the most basic fighting stances, weapon characteristics, and how to use them.

Weapons are ultimately handled by people.

Therefore, understanding weapons was a priority for skilled combat.

Next was understanding the attack.

It had to be effective even if it was only a single attack.

It would be much more effective to attack the vital points rather than clumsily cutting here and there.

The facing platoon members held leather-clad daggers and aimed for each other’s openings.

“Attack is all about timing. If you just want to knock down your opponent, you’re a surefire way to get counterattacked. Especially when you’re in close combat, you’ll be out of your mind the entire time. Then, if you make one mistake and swing your sword in the air… … .”

As Sunwoo swung his sword in the air, Gaon poked his exposed side.

“This is how it is. If you’re unlucky, you might get stabbed from behind. This is where the lungs are. If you get stabbed once, even if your dead ancestors come out through the coffin, they can’t save you. So when the attack fails… … .”

Seonwoo spun around halfway in the same posture as he was swinging his sword in the air.

“Finish with this connecting movement. Then, you can avoid any attacks that may occur, and since your center of gravity will naturally return, you can attack again. And your opponent will also retreat for a moment due to the sudden movement. Do you understand?”

“yes!”

The platoon members answered in unison.

Next is defense and evasion.

As important as attacking, if not more important, were defense and evasion.

“There are two ways to defend and evade. One is to look at the opponent’s eyes, and the other is to look at the legs. I recommend looking at the legs. Of course, you shouldn’t just look at the legs. I mean, keep them in your field of vision. When a person moves, they use their legs first. Wherever the tips of their feet point, that’s the direction. The eyes can lie, but the feet don’t.”

As Seonwoo demonstrated, Gaon easily dodged the attack using his shoulder.

“Of course, seeing it from the side and having a weapon in front of you are different. However, recognizing what I said and not knowing it are worlds apart. The next important thing is choice. You need to quickly decide whether to defend or evade. I will first tell you the advantages of defense.”

Gaon struck Sunwoo’s arm away as he was stabbing him and stabbed him in the chest.

“Did you see? In a hand-to-hand fight, you can defend yourself just by protecting your body, but in the world of weapons, it’s different. You have to strike unconditionally. Then, you have to counterattack immediately. If your opponent isn’t a great master, you’ll lose ten times out of ten.”

“Then when do you evade?”

One of the platoon members raised his hand and asked a question.

“There are two types of evasion. One is when it is too late to strike. In other words, when the opponent is more skilled than you. The other is when you want to figure out the opponent’s level and style. Since you are not the latter, just remember the former. If you fail to neutralize the attack, the only option is evasion. If you can’t make a quick judgment… … .”

The tip of Seonwoo’s sword touched Gaon’s neck.

“… It’s like this. Okay, from now on, you can train in attack, defense, and evasion all at once. We’ll go around and personally take care of the details. Let’s do it.”

While the platoon members were impressed by Gaon’s professional knowledge, they also showed a strong will to somehow acquire it.

Perhaps the most important survival skill for living in today’s world.

Even though I learned whenever I had time, my body would react first when the important moment came.

Gaon and Seonwoo were like that too.

The training continued throughout the afternoon.

Everything was repetition.

The same words poured out countless times from Gaon and Seonwoo’s mouths, and the platoon members repeated the same pattern to the point of getting tired of it.

You need to know the basics to be able to create variables for anything.

Gaon’s gaze turned to Eugene and the dotty that was training.

“for a moment.”

Then he squinted his eyes at the speck.

“Spotted.”

“Yes, Captain. No, Sir.”

“Just call me captain.”

“All right.”

“Who taught you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Who taught you how to use a dagger?”

In that moment, everyone’s eyes turned to Polkadot.

The confused polka dot rolled its eyes from side to side.

“I don’t understand what you are saying… … .”

“Look at it again.”

The spotted man hesitated for a moment, then swung his sword at Eugene.

Gaon’s head tilts slightly.

Normally, when you are told to cut down an enemy, your arm goes first.

Because I am obsessed with the idea that I have to do it.

But the recoil that started from the waist was passed down the shoulder and straight to the fingertips.

If we have to compare, it’s similar to the principle of throwing a hook in boxing.

At first glance, it looks like the shoulder is being used to strike, but in reality, the power starts from the waist and continues to the fist.

This would have been impossible without learning.

Or maybe you’re a natural genius.

“again.”

Whoosh!

“Are you saying you’ve really never learned it?”

“I received basic training, but that’s the same for everyone.”

Gaon nodded slowly.

“Okay. Keep going.”

“Why are you doing this? Please tell me too. It’s my story, not something else.”

“curious?”

“yes.”

Gaon looked around at everyone with his arms crossed.

“Sometimes there are people who show a natural talent for handling weapons. People who can accurately understand and express a story they have heard once or a movement they have seen once. Polkadot is one of those types.”

Her gaze turned back to the spots.

“But don’t be proud. Geniuses are made. When you meet someone similar to you, it’s a one-shot fight. One attack determines everything. But you have a short temper and can’t control your mind well. Fix that first. Keep that in mind.”

“Oh… I see. Genius!”

The spotted owl looked up at the sky with his arms outstretched.

“I was good at something too!”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Hey, how could I not be happy when I was praised by the captain and not someone else? I’m not a robot… … .”

Then he spread his arms again and screamed loudly.

Gaon shook his head.

The training ended just as the sunset covered the whole world.

In the empty lot, the platoon members and three friends, exhausted from training, lay stretched out like corpses.

Their clothes got dirty from the dirt rolling on the floor, but no one cared.

For now, I just wanted to rest like this.

Son Ye-ju, who was blankly looking at the sky, spoke to Hwang Si-won.

“… Hey, what if someone suddenly barges in while I’m doing this? I really don’t have the strength to lift a spoon.”

“Are you the only one who feels this way? I’m going to die too.”

Then, Seungwoo Han, who was lying at a distance, added his words.

“It’s the first time since I was born that I’ve seen eggs on the soles of my feet… … .”

“Hey, Siwon. If anyone comes in, tell them I’m not here.”

“Seungwoo, did you hear that?”

So the three of them were passing everything on to each other.

Gaon was climbing up the outer wall with Eugene.

The wide open fields and the mountain ridge extending to the right came into view at a glance.

Gaon, who was looking around the area, asked while closing his jumper.

“Can you hold out?”

“Well, I have to hold on. Somehow.”

Eugene laughed awkwardly.

“You must be feeling bad. Countless people who were your colleagues until recently have died.”

“It’s okay. It’s the path I chose.”

“Surprisingly manly.”

“Oh my, when was that not the case? What’s going to happen now?”

“We’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.”

“What I’m asking is, why are you leaving them alone? If you shake them and push them harder, you can end it quickly. You can also reduce unnecessary casualties.”

Gaon, who was looking at the scenery outside the outer wall, let down his hair to tie it back up.

Her long hair fluttered in the late autumn breeze.

“Why do you think so? In your opinion.”

“I don’t know, so I’m asking.”

Gaon, who was sweeping his long hair, glared at Eugene.

“You, are you speaking more and more harshly?”

“Ah! It’s pretty!”

“what?”

“Oh, no. That’s not it. I’ll try to speak nicely from now on.”

“Do you think I’m doing this simply to destroy the governor’s safety zone?”

“Actually, I had some idea. That they were trying to drain Sanha’s power.”

“That’s true too.”

“Are you saying there’s more?”

“Once I take down that leadership, what happens next? Someone has to take responsibility for that.”

“You’re not going to do that?”

Eugene’s eyes widened.

“What are you talking about? Are you stupid?”

“No.”

“We’ll absorb it. Both this side and that side. After this is over, we’ll all go to Seoul together.”

“No, wait a minute.”

Eugene’s face wrinkled in confusion.

“So what you’re trying to do is unification. Is that what you mean?”

“Similar.”

“Then what was it you told us at first? That thing you said about freedom?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. If we absorb you, you can live freely in Seoul. Your family can also live in a much better environment.”

“That’s not it, you lied to us.”

Gaon’s head tilts slightly.

“What a lie.”

“If this was going to happen, you should have said so from the beginning. We followed you because you promised to overthrow the leadership and give us freedom.”

“What difference does that make?”

“Yes. You are deliberately continuing the war to weaken the power of the two forces. How many times have I told you that those soldiers and those who follow the governor are innocent? What good is it if they all die and enjoy their freedom? Don’t you think about the families who survived and will feel a sense of loss? If you do this, then you are only persuading us to use us!”

Eugene raised his voice to Gaon for the first time.

Gaon, who had been staring at the sight, turned around and faced her straight ahead.

“so?”

“…what?”

“Is it wrong to use it?”

“How could that be… … .”

“You used me too. To survive. To avoid dying. You said it was for your family, but in the end, wasn’t it because you wanted to live?”

“you……!”

“Don’t get me wrong. There was only one path you could choose from the beginning. I just made it look like you chose it. And you come here and suddenly talk about humanity? The army of the governor and the soldiers you speak of. They are your comrades and friends, but to me, they are just insects that would have invaded Seoul if I had left them alone. And that goes for you too. Don’t forget. If I hadn’t come to you that day, you would have seen me as an enemy. Before you say such ridiculous things, be thankful that you are alive.”

“under…….”

Eugene, who was about to refute, let out a sigh and a groan.

“If you have time to argue with me, think about something small that will help you. You know? You’ve come too far to turn back. Even if you take my head later, you’ll still die.”

“Why did I… … your neck?”

“Then don’t complain. I did my best not to touch your family during any of the operations. If I hadn’t paid attention to that, those bastards would have been torn to pieces by now. Do you understand?”

Eugene bowed his head deeply.

There was nothing more to say.

From one to ten, everything Gaon said was right.

On the surface, it seemed like he was complaining that no one thought of him as a true colleague.

If you dig into the details, it’s all about the feeling of defeat from being used.

“Just look at the situation. Don’t be offended by my words. If we’re going to be real friends, we need to look at actions, not words. No matter what the background is, we’re helping each other now. Is there anything more important than that?”

Eugene shook his head.

“Yeah. Just look at that.”

“…okay.”

Infected people