I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 678

In most cases, when someone is hurt, they usually rest at home.

However, as always, when the situation is dire, no one can afford to rest, no matter who they are. Especially when the entire nation has entered a state of emergency, this becomes even more true.

How badly one is hurt no longer matters. A healthy body has become the most valuable asset one can possess at this point, and those who are acknowledged as injured and treated with care have become extremely rare.

Fortunately, I was one of those who could still receive care.

However, that didn’t mean that just because I was being cared for, I was guaranteed to comfortably recover in a room.

Moreover, the people who had spoken kindly to me recently... were individuals with abilities that had transcended human limits, and although they could easily survive on their own with those abilities, they were relentless in their self-improvement. They were scary people.

And, as the saying goes, "A person who stays close to ink will turn black."

"You don't need to use a gun or exercise, but you should know the basics. I’ve brought the manual for the basic operation of the Icarus Gear, so read it. I’ll be asking you about it every day, so don’t get too relaxed."

"Hmm, the functionality isn’t much different from the smartwatches that existed before... It’s pretty basic. It’s a bit disappointing that it’s not at the level where a hologram can appear though..."

"Wow..."

I’m so excited. I could die from excitement.

I can’t help but feel that way. After all, this device might save my life and the lives of these people. I’ll need to master every function of the gear, from start to finish, like an expert.

But... well... it’s a bit harsh. And it didn’t end there. These people, trying to accelerate my learning, have been speaking endless English lately. They repeat things if I don’t understand... but still...

Because of that, I’ve found myself using English nonstop. I’ve never used English this much in my life, and the amount I use grows every day... It’s a bit... encouraging, I suppose.

That wasn’t said with the best of intentions.

Still, even though I was complaining a little, that didn’t mean I didn’t appreciate what I was doing. The necessity of the studies I was currently undergoing was something I understood better than anyone in this room.

Especially since I had officially joined a place called Icarus, Lauren had helped me become aware of various outside situations... and I learned that the entire Central Park was gradually quieting down.

This was not a good sign.

'...If I think naively, it might just be each person for themselves, but the atmosphere around here is far too unsettling for that.'

It didn’t really matter if fewer people were working.

In fact, Central Park would probably welcome that. The reason Central Park had been overturned for nearly a month was to ensure smooth supply of water and other essentials to the civilians.

It might actually be a good thing that they weren’t wasting resources on unnecessary construction.

But the issues with resources and food, the mismatch between the reported amounts of supplies and the actual ones, and the theft of explosives left in military outposts were problems.

Moreover, the "biological rocket" that the entire 107th Military Police and half of the 442nd Military Police Battalion consistently mentioned... I heard that this was not something that could be found in a military supply warehouse.

It was a special item, but according to the data sent by the Cleaners—formerly known as the New York City Sanitation Department, now a semi-autonomous armed group— the rocket launcher had already been shattered.

It was a self-destructive item that, once used, left no trace.

Anyway, normally, I would have been dismissed as insane and disbanded by force, but unfortunately, in Manhattan right now, there was no way to stop that.

What went on behind the scenes, I didn’t know. I wasn’t Lauren or Olivia, so I couldn’t know the details.

Because of that, these days, I just... nodded vaguely and pretended to understand. Others seemed to be doing the same, adding that I should just keep a general understanding.

But recently, the thing I had been paying attention to was something else.

"Kid. Want a snack?"

"Yes!"

"...When did you become the caretaker, Olivia?"

Olivia had been a bit... overly affectionate toward me lately.

At first, I thought it was just an attempt to get closer quickly, but after more than a week, it started to feel a bit... unsettling. And judging by Lauren’s reaction, this didn’t seem to be the norm.

...But I liked snacks. Snackies are great. Hehe. Though, I wondered if I was overdoing it with the snacks, I couldn’t help but melt in front of them... even though I wasn’t usually weak when it came to snacks.

Anyway, as awkward as it was for me to say, Olivia’s way of training me like a pet with snacks had been incredibly successful. I could imagine what everyone else thought about it.

"I heard you graduated from early childhood education before enlisting, but... is that related to your current behavior?"

"They’re cute, kids."

"Hey, I’m not a kid..."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes, I’ll be a kid..."

Well, if they liked me, I supposed that was a good thing.

And, though it was a bit strange to say, even though I’d settled into Central Park, I still missed my parents and the world I originally came from. I wanted to hear my mom and dad’s voices.

And when these people took care of me, I felt those worries and anxieties slowly fading away.

Only I truly knew what I went through in Brooklyn, and what I almost went through. But maybe, just maybe, they could read between the lines of how I acted, even if they didn’t know the full details.

Maybe this was some kind of mental clinic... but whether this was intended by them or not, that didn’t matter.

I was just thankful. So, I decided to repay them for their kindness.

"...It tickles..."

"Our little snake... How do you manage that tail? Do you clean it with solo wipes?"

"Uh, I just scrub it with my hands when I shower."

"I’m not sure if that works..."

Meanwhile, Olivia gently poked my tail with her finger, looking curious.

I had been practicing moving my tail to control it, and maybe that’s why, but as soon as she poked it, I felt a tickling sensation and started wagging my tail.

I had allowed her to touch it a few days ago, and now, she grasped my tail with her hand. Since I still couldn’t overpower her strength, my tail remained calm in her grip.

...Maybe if I trained like in arm wrestling, I could build up some muscle here too. After all, the tail is a muscle mass, and muscles grow through training.

Anyway, I decided to think about that later.

Soon, Lauren Tina was sitting at the table across from us and added:

"The various skill prototypes produced by DARPA should be loaded onto the transport planes by now. We should receive the prototypes in a few days."

"DARPA? You’re talking about the one in Washington D.C.? How’s it still operational... Oh, I remember you said you came from there. I don’t know why Task Force Blue is stationed there, but..."

"The Special Mission Department folks risked their lives to calm most of the chaos in the capital. The cost was the dismantling of the Secret Service... but as of now, only shattered remnants of the Special Mission Department remain in Washington D.C."

The conversation continued about Washington D.C., the heart of the U.S.

"It seems like the situation is getting worse. Where should we start?"

"If you’re planning to stay here, we should begin by fortifying Central Park."

"Before that, we need to stop further civilian intake. The recent cases of people leaving the park clearly show that the population density has reached its limit."

"...I hear you. The main premise of Central Park HQ won’t change. The survival and continuation of the nation as a whole is the top priority."

Later, after several hours, the main subject of the conversation shifted to the pressing need for military strategy and coordination.

The President gave instructions regarding the upcoming tasks and military objectives, all while Central Park’s operations and survival continued to be handled with the utmost secrecy.