A new home, a new plan, and yes, Hangyeol, you are all definitely going to do that.
The team's impromptu plan of finding Erythos came in quicker than expected. In no less than two hours, they already have found his territory, but his ability of generating biomagnetic stalactites and stalagmites from kilometers away proved too difficult for the team to fight into, and they were soon forced to flee the area.
It was a stroke of luck that they found a device that took them out of the deadly train subway safely. It was an even greater stroke of luck that they encountered remnants of the Korean military at their exit point. At first, they were suspicious of Hyungwon and his team, because they had a Koul'in with them.
Fortunately, the soldiers had listened to reason, and soon, they trusted them.
Two notable individuals who led the military unit introduced themselves to the team---Kim Jinwoo and Jung Sanghoon.
Kim Jinwoo was the one who recognized TWICE's Jihyo, Sana, and ITZY's Ryujin. He looked as tall as Hyungwon---5'5, and had a black, spiky hair, thick eyebrows, and a well defined face with a pale complexion. He had a slim stature but well defined muscles. He has multiple cuts on his arms and neck, and he was sporting a fresh, seemingly brand new military uniform.
Jung Sanghoon, the one with a crew cut hairstyle, was just as tall as Jihyo. He had a slightly round face with reading glasses, and was wearing a military uniform with a damaged military bulletproof vest. He was slim as well, but he had no defined muscles.
After the formal introductions, Jinwoo then informed the settlement team that they landed in a large grove close to Ganchang Station, located extremely due west of Daegu.
Most of the settlement team considered this as a disadvantage--- for they thought that they have strayed too far from their objective, and that they have no way get back to that place without dealing with biogmagnetic traps and stalactites once more.
But for Hyungwon, this retreat was an opportunity---they may get additional supplies, potential assistance, and more importantly, a new way to get back into Erythos' territory.
April 27, 2023, 8:59 am, Grove Due North of Ganchang Station, Daegu, South Korea.
It was a quiet walk towards the soldier's settlement, with only the sounds of trampled snow and snapping branches echoing throughout the grove.
Zeke quietly observes his surroundings, twirling his mystical scissor in his hands as his feet continued to plow through the slightly thick snow. Jihyo, on the other hand, was looking at Sana, who had her arms wrapped around her left arm.
Hyungwon, Hangyeol, and Ryujin were quiet as well, seemingly exhausted and just wanted to focus on walking to conserve energy.
Vanta feels the soldiers eye on him every now and then, presumably cautious about him despite Hyungwon and Sana's reassurance that he wasn't a threat. He was still Koul'in, after all, and again, he can't blame these individuals for acting like that around him.
They soon arrive in settlement grounds of the barren grove.
"Here we are." Jinwoo said as they all look at the settlement area just several feet away from them.
Unlike Minhyuk's settlement---which was enclosed, had many intact buildings, and surrounded by fortified walls, the soldier's settlement was much more of an open area encampment with six huge military tents scattered around---with four of them serving as the settler's sleeping areas, one serving as a medical tent, and the final one being the command post for meetings and gatherings.
Piles of wooden crates lay neatly on the snowy ground. There were also patches of a ground with extinguished campfires, leftovers of packed lunches, and charred branches.
There were a few civilians roaming about, seemingly carrying boxes to and fro.
"This place makes me feel like I'm back in military service again..." Hangyeol muttered.
"We can talk inside the settlement, in our meeting tent. But a word of advice..." Sanghoon said as he turns to Vanta with a disgusted look on his face. "If that Koul'in is really a part of your team, then be ready to defend him once we get inside. I don't know why you decided that having a Koul'in on your team was a good idea. I'm inclined to believe that he's somehow reformed. But regardless, he's still one of the reasons why countless of people are left traumatized by this shitstorm their kin created, and the settler's pent up anger will definitely flare up when they see him. Perhaps he should hide, and hust be prepared for whatever consequences you may have."
"..." Vanta just looks at him.
The team quietly enters the settlement. Vanta was just close behind, hiding in between the settlement team as he tried to go unnoticed to prevent the settlers from being startled.
"This settlement has been up for quite some time now. It houses alot of civilians we rescued over the weeks... and we trained them into being militia so they can assist in rescuing more people." Sanghoon began. "Only a few of us are actually from the military. The rest you see... All civilians. Trying to fight. Trying to stay alive."
The settlers around them began looking at Jihyo, Ryujin, and Sana, faintly muttering and whispering amongst themselves as they eyed on the Korean idols.
"Hey... isn't that TWICE's Jihyo and Sana...?"
"Did Captain Sanghoon and Captain Jinwoo rescued them...? Wow..."
"ITZY's Ryujin is here too... Look at that armor. She's probably been into alot... Poor woman. I hope she's gonna be fine..."
Zeke also hears audible comments about him, Hyungwon, and Hangyeol.
"Those men... have they been with these idols...? So lucky..."
"They look handsome, too. Are they their non-celebrity boyfriends...?"
"No... They're probably the managers or JYPE staff. Never seen the other guy though... He looks like a foreigner. Filipino, maybe?"
While the other settlers were murmuring about, a particular woman, clad in a bulletproof vest and white hoodie, sees Ryujin, and was so shocked at how she was here.
This woman seems to be a fan of her.
"Oh my god... It's actually Ryujin. It's actually her, oh my god, I need to say hi or something...! Or maybe an autograph... Ah, whatever! Any interaction would be nice!" She thought as she digs into her pockets and finds a pencil and a torn receipt.
"Okay, this will do for an autograph. Come on, Youngsook... It isn't that hard..." She thought as she stands up and hesitantly approaches the team.
"Uh, Ryujin-ssi...! Annyeong!" Youngsook said as the settlement team stops and looks at her.
"Oh---" Ryujin notices the seemingly flustered Youngsook looking at her, holding a small, crumpled receipt and a dull, stubby pencil.
She was short---4'9 in height, and had a short, brown hair. She was pale in complexion, with big, round eyes and slightly chubby cheeks.
"...Hello!" Ryujin said, waving.
Youngsook then bows in front of the team.
"I'm Park Youngsook...! I'm... I'm a fan, Ryujin-ssi!" She exclaimed. "Im honored to see you here in our tiny settlement! Can I...?"
Youngsook was hesitantly trying to give Ryujin her pencil and crumpled paper.
"Oh, of course, if you need an autograph, then you got it." Ryujin smiled as she takes the pencil and reciept and signs it.
Youngsook moves her eyes around the settlement team. She sees Jihyo and Sana, members of TWICE, smiling at her as they waved. Youngsook bows, waves back nervously and giggles. She hasn't seen TWICE and ITZY in a single group---apart from big time music shows, of course---so for her, this was an unforgettable sight to see.
Her eyes then gazes onto Zeke, Hyungwon, Hangyeol as she waved to them as well.
And then, Youngsook sets her eyes on the Koul'in soldier Vanta that was hiding behind Ryujin, and her face that was filled with admiration turns into absolute horror.
"Done! Here you are!" Ryujin said as she returns Youngsook's pencil and the reciept, which was now containing the ITZY member's wonderful signature. "I'll try to give you a better piece of paper with my signature on it soon!"
"..." Youngsook just looks at her with a serious face.
"...Uh, Youngsook? Something the matter?" Ryujin asked.