(I’m just here to read and rec, not tryna start sh)
please rise for our national anthem
(Sing this to the rhythm of the star spangled banner)
"Ohhhh say can you seeeeeee
By Ridi’s early lighttt
What’s so proudlyyyy they held
On their front page now trendinggg
Who’s great works and great plooot
Hidden within plainnnn siiighttt
Overrr trash yaoi we watched
Her works gallantly streaming
“RAINBOW CITYYY”’S RED GLAREEEE
“THE FOUL” BURSTING IN AIRRRR
GAVE PROOOF THROUGH THE NIGHT
THAT GOOD PLOT WAS STILL THERE
OH SAY DOES OUR CHAEPALI’S GOOD WRITING STILL STAAAAAAAAAND
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT GOOD YAOIIIIIII
THE GOOD WRITINGS OF CHAEPALIIIII"
"There's no such thing as a bad Chaepali writing, only people who are too stupid to understand the plots."
GIRLS KISS OTHER GIRLS (Han Jay SA’s Taemin a bunch of times) and no one bats an eye (he’s considered a yellow flag) BUT WHEN I KISS THE HOMIES GOODNIGHT (when Major Kwak grazes his dick on Dr.Seok’s mouth once, he’s considered a red flag?)
MAKE IT MAKE SENSE, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!
I would gladly be infected with the Adam virus if it means Major Kwak SuHwan can shoot me in the head.
oops I mean- I love pretty men.
BL recs: Rainbow City, Little mushroom, Rainbow city and Rainbow city, oh and Rainbow City and don’t forget Rainbow city and last but not least, Rainbow city.
ALL HAIL CHAEPALI
ALL HAIL ROGER NIM
I believe in Major Lee ChaeYun supremacy
Is it legal to get married to a fictional ship?
Dad why is my sister’s name “Mafiyami”?
Cause your mother liked the ship.
Thx dad
No problem Major Kwak SuHwan x Dr.SeokHwa
What am I saying? I love anything with pretty men!
Ive only known Dr.Seokhwa for a few months but if anything happens to him I’m going to kill everybody in this room and then myself
Rainbow city made me buy a blue and white stuffed hamster plushie, make it a lil lab coat and name it Dr.Seok
Life hack: Anyone who doesn’t like Dr.Seok is instantly a red flag and should be blocked SKSKSKS JKJK
Dr.Seok my 34 year old baby hamster <3
Join the Chaepali Cult and together we shall rid mainstream BL manhwa of shitty ass BLs and replace them with Chaepali’s godly works!!!
I JUST LOVE RAINBOW CITY SO MUCH T-T. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS GRRRRRRR
I make Rainbow city my entire personality? I’m boutta make liking rainbow city my entire existence, I will BECOME ONE WITH RAINBOW CITY!
Bl? Rainbow city
Post apocalyptic? Rainbow city
Size difference? Rainbow city
Strong Uke? Rainbow city
Loveable side characters? Rainbow city
Caring ml? Rainbow city
Nonchalant Uke? Rainbow city
Smart Uke that isn’t a cry baby? Rainbow city
Green flag couple? Rainbow city
Ml that can be green and red? Rainbow city
Plot based? Rainbow city
Mystery? Rainbow city
Like little mushroom? Rainbow city
Obsessed Uke AND seme? Rainbow city
Complex plot? Rainbow city
Deep characters? Rainbow city
Less smut? Rainbow city
Smut? Rainbow city (eventually)
Fell first, fell harder? Rainbow city
Military? Rainbow city
Military X researcher? Rainbow city
Written by Chaepali? Rainbow city
German Shepard/ husky ml? Rainbow city Hamster mc? Rainbow city
Flirty ml? Rainbow city
Pretty Uke? Rainbow city
Handsome seme? Rainbow city
Like thrive in catastrophe? Rainbow city
Like dead man switch? Rainbow city
Like Codename: Mist? Rainbow city
More down bad Uke? Rainbow city
Dog X dog owner? Rainbow city
Office/lab setting? Rainbow city
Older Uke? Rainbow city
30+ year old characters? Rainbow city
Complex dynamic? Rainbow city
Cute Uke? Rainbow city
Badass female character? Rainbow city
Happy ending? Rainbow city
Us against the world? Rainbow city
Pretty art? Rainbow city
Caring but poker face mc? Rainbow city
Slow burn? Rainbow city
Hidden gem? Rainbow city
LET'S SEE WHO CAN STOP ME FROM PASTING THE ENTIRE RAINBOW CITY NOVEL
Same day, 5 PM in Sehwa-ri, Jeju Island.
“Hurry up!”
Commander Jang stomped his feet impatiently.
The long scar across his face became more pronounced as he frowned. Behind him, a man was walking leisurely, occasionally retying his boot laces and stretching his stiff body by crossing his arms.
“You bastard! Can’t you hurry up?! Dr. Stone is waiting for us.”
Dr. Stone? What kind of doctor calls himself Dr. Stone? Did a blockhead become a doctor?
The man smirked at his own thoughts and followed the Commander Jang.
The sound of gravel crunching under their military boots was slow and steady, and the sound of waves approached and receded behind them. About 300 meters ahead, an old thatched house came into view. Its roof, piled high with reeds and tied together with a net, looked like a shaggy, dry mop.
In these modern times, living in such a primitive house was possible only because Jeju Island was still a pristine area.
“Dr. Stone, my ass.”
“What?”
“Oh, right.”
Just 100 meters from the thatched house, the man suddenly stopped as if he remembered something important.
“What is it now?”
Commander Jang turned around, his face contorted in annoyance.
[Kwak Soohwan]
The three letters on the name tag pinned to his chest were smeared with dried blood, making it hard to decipher.
“Bathroom.”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed his crotch with his hand and grinned. It was already so swollen that he might need a suppressive injection soon.
“You crazy bastard. If it weren’t for the orders from above, I would have fed you to the dogs a long time ago.”
“You, Commander Jang, would be more like a snack.”
Kwak Soohwan mimed opening and closing his mouth and started walking back the way they had come.
“Hey! You idiot! Just piss anywhere in the reeds, why look for a bathroom! Get back here, you bastard!”
Kwak Soohwan, who had stopped again, scratched his eyebrow slightly. He turned to look at Commander Jang, exuding an air of annoyance.
“I don’t do that. What’s a soldier doing guarding anyway? Get someone else.”
“Do you want to go back to the stockade? Huh?”
Even while threatening, Commander Jang was watching Kwak Soohwan’s reaction.
Nowhere was the discipline between superiors and subordinates as strict as in the military. It was unthinkable for a Commander Jang to be wary of a Major in such a hierarchical society, but the string of idiotic actions Kwak Soohwan had displayed over the past week, or even before that, made Jang choose a more conciliatory approach this time.
“Hey, isn’t guarding the doctor better than going to the field? Better than getting covered in blood and smelling like crap, staying in a warm research facility with meals on time is better, right? Frankly, if they had asked me, I would have accepted without looking back. Look, Major Kwak Soohwan, you know I care about you, right? That’s why I pulled strings to get you out of the mess you made a week ago, running into the restricted zone drunk and ruining the quiet, right?”
Realizing he couldn’t escape now that the usually intimidating Commander Jang was coaxing him, Kwak Soohwan responded.
“One month.”
“What?”
“I’ll do it for a month since that’s how long I should’ve been in the stockade.”
Commander Jang, thinking it was better than nothing, gestured for him to come over.
This time, Kwak Soohwan followed the Commander Jang with brisk steps, clearly having planned this from the start. It turned out he wasn’t just a brute; he had some wits too.
“So, are you going to pee or not?”
“I’ll just wet my pants.”
“I have one more favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Your job isn’t just to guard him. You need to take the Doctor to Seoul. Convincing him is your job too.”
“Dr. Stone or whatever doesn’t want to go to Seoul?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“Then let’s just knock him out and transport him.”
Commander Jang tried to kick Kwak Soohwan’s shin with his steel-toed boot, but Kwak Soohwan quickly moved his leg back to avoid it.
“If you do that, you’ll rot in the stockade for ten years, got it?”
Commander Jang gritted his teeth as he spoke. Now just 10 meters from the thatched house, he raised his voice.
“Doctor, we’re here to escort you.”
Kwak Soohwan crossed his arms, eager to see what kind of old-fashioned crank would come out. As he counted to ten in his head, no one appeared on the visible wooden porch. Out of habit, he looked around and saw only one pair of cheap slippers nearby.
Realizing he had no choice, Commander Jang took off his boots and opened the door to the inner room. He looked back at Kwak Soohwan and shook his head. Signaling with his chin for Kwak Soohwan to check the outer building, Kwak Soohwan immediately headed there.
“Hey! Aren’t you going to take off your shoes?!”
“I can clean it up later.”
“If I barged into your house with blood-crusted shoes, would you like it?”
Annoyed, Kwak Soohwan reluctantly took off his boots and stepped onto the porch.
“I can’t live like this. And where are your socks? We’re already short on military supplies. You didn’t leave them at a bar, did you?”
Though Kwak Soohwan hated thinking about his parents, Commander Jang’s nagging forced old memories to resurface. Ignoring Jang’s complaints about his socks, Kwak Soohwan began searching the outer building.
Other than a desk piled with books, the place showed little signs of habitation. Numerous stones, ranging from the size of a human head to the size of a fingernail, were neatly arranged on a long table. This must be why he’s called Dr. Stone, he thought, but it wasn’t interesting enough to inspect further. The ondol floor felt like crossing a frozen river on his bare feet.
When Kwak Soohwan emerged, he stretched and yawned.
“It looks like Dr. Stone or whoever has run away. Let’s just leave.”
At that moment, they faintly heard the sound of gravel being crushed. When Commander Jang and Kwak Soohwan turned towards the sound, they saw a man staggering toward them.
“There he is.”
At Kwak Soohwan’s words, Commander Jang brightened up.
“Found him at last.”
The man was carrying something long and drooping in each hand. As expected, it was military socks filled with something heavy.
***
Same day, three hours earlier. Sehwa Beach, Jeju Island, 2 PM.
It was Kwak Soohwan’s first visit to Jeju Island since he was born.
Jeju, once known for its three abundances—rocks, wind, and women—was now a safe zone officially recognized by the government. It was a place where the wealthy, the high-ranking, and those who needed national protection, both humans and animals, gathered.
Walking along the sandy beach, Kwak Soohwan draped his cumbersome military cape over his arm. Only the sound of waves could be heard, and the cafes and restaurants that once thrived near the beach had long since closed.
Standing on the quiet beach, looking at the horizon, Kwak Soohwan was observed by another person.
Though his expressionless face revealed no emotion, he seemed somewhat displeased by the presence of a man in military uniform on this beach.
Since it wasn’t his land, he couldn’t argue and focused solely on finding the gems buried between the grains of sand. Squatting down, he used a stick to sift through the sand, when a shadow loomed over him from head to toe.
“What are you doing?”
Despite the indifferent tone, he just blinked and continued sifting the sand with the stick.
“Wearing just slippers in the dead of winter? Your toes will get frostbite and fall off. I’ve seen guys like that who can’t even walk properly.”
He shuffled sideways like a duck and began digging in a different part of the sand.
“Is this guy a bit slow? I asked what you’re doing.”
Kwak Soohwan had no good memories of soldiers. He knew the dangers they faced and how tough their jobs were, but he despised the sight of a military uniform stained with dried blood.
Clicking his tongue, Kwak Soohwan watched the fool who silently picked up stones from the sand. He seemed like the child of some important person, yet they let him wander the beach alone.
Rummaging through his pockets, Kwak Soohwan remembered he left his gloves in the car. He took off his boots and then his socks, which were relatively clean since he had received them that morning. He handed the stiff socks to the fool, who looked up in confusion.
“Put them on.”
The fool didn’t seem inclined to take them, so Kwak Soohwan just dropped the socks beside him. Even then, there was no response. Deciding he wasn’t worth the trouble, Kwak Soohwan began to walk away, kicking the sand as he went. Glancing back, he saw the fool in thin clothes and hesitated.
“Idiot.”
The fool was using the socks to collect the stones he had gathered.
In a world where such idiots were protected, those who truly needed protection on the mainland were exposed to danger. Kwak Soohwan thought about taking the socks back but decided against it. Instead, he responded to a radio call from Commander Jang.
At the same time, the man picking up stones stood up. He stared at the soldier, who looked as small as a finger from where he stood, and spoke.
“Why are you talking down to me?”
Clicking his tongue, Kwak Soohwan continued to fill the socks with stones.
***
[Late Spring, 202x: An epidemic breaks out in a small European town. Summer of the same year: The epidemic spreads rapidly across Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. Late summer of the same year: A vaccine is developed, but the virus mutates.]
The sound of typing accompanied the subtitles on the screen. Then, the announcer’s smooth voice began to speak.
[Due to the repeated development of vaccines and virus mutations, by 202x, two years after the epidemic began, one-third of the world’s population had decreased. A year later, another third of that population had decreased, and many countries lost their government functions. Law and order collapsed, chaos ensued, and a state of emergency was declared worldwide. Under the mission of preserving humanity, nations unified. The world, once divided into about 200 countries, now consists of only three. Our mission is the preservation and new prosperity of humanity.]
“Sure, the world has been unified into three countries, but it’s become even more nationalistic.”
Commander Jang muttered his complaints, having heard the broadcasts multiple times a day on TV and speakers. During the transfer from the thatched house in Jeju to the Safe Center in Jeju City, the Doctor had followed more compliantly than expected.
“Doctor, as you know, we need you.”
The Doctor remained silent, as always.
“We don’t need a stone doctor, do we? Unless you plan to teach us how to kill them with stones.”
Commander Jang took a deep breath and then pulled Kwak Soohwan towards the door, speaking quietly but sternly.
“You make sure to get him to Seoul. I have an emergency in Suwon, so I have to leave immediately, understand?”
Releasing Kwak Soohwan’s arm roughly, Commander Jang bowed to the Doctor and left the room.
The Jeju Safe Center was a converted luxury hotel, now a safe house. The carpet, though worn, still felt soft underfoot.
The Doctor, still barefoot, had placed the sock filled with stones on the table. Sitting at the table, he began sorting through the stones again.
Kwak Soohwan pulled out the chair opposite and sat down heavily.
“They call you the Doctor, right? Is that true?”
“……”
“Are you called the Stone Doctor because you know everything about stones? Is there some secret to getting rid of those bastards with stones?”
The Doctor found a stone embedded with a shiny crystal and held it up to the fluorescent light. Interestingly, it had glass embedded within the stone.
Kwak Soohwan snatched the stone and threw it to the corner of the room.
“I don’t enjoy being treated like something less than a stone. I need to take you to Seoul to avoid military prison, so cooperate, will you?”
The Doctor, who had gone to retrieve the thrown stone, picked it up and tried to leave. Kwak Soohwan quickly walked over and pressed the door shut with his hand.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The Doctor sighed softly and returned to his seat, not wanting to use force. He left the rest of the stones and only pocketed the one he had retrieved, then sat still without a word.
Kwak Soohwan scrutinized the Doctor, wondering if he was even breathing or how often he blinked in a minute. His face was pale, in stark contrast to his red, frostbitten bare feet. Kwak Soohwan felt a reflexive weight in his gut and thought that getting him to Seoul would mean immediately getting an injection.
“Are you smart?”
“Smarter than you.”
For a moment, Kwak Soohwan frowned, then laughed incredulously. He had assumed the Doctor was just an intelligent idiot, but his manner of speech was perfectly normal.
“Top graduate of the Military Academy, but not suited to bureaucracy, causing several incidents and receiving repeated disciplinary actions and jail time… You need to take me to Seoul to avoid military prison, isn’t that right?”
Hearing this articulate explanation felt as surprising as a six-year-old speaking fluently.
“And I’m not a Stone Doctor. I’m a researcher on mutant viruses and mutations.”
Kwak Soohwan clapped his hands.
“Well, that’s great, Mr. Researcher. I don’t care about your research. Let’s just get to Seoul.”
The Doctor squinted and read the blood-stained name tag on his chest.
“Kwak… Soohwan?”
“Feel free to call me Major Kwak Soohwan.”
The Doctor folded the sock that had held the stones neatly and handed it to Kwak Soohwan.
“Thank you for the socks. I’ll go to Seoul, but only if Major Kwak Soohwan is not my escort.”
That meant he wanted Kwak Soohwan to return to military prison.
Kwak Soohwan crossed one leg over the other and rested his chin on the table. He briefly considered knocking the Doctor out, but with such a sharp tongue, waking him up would surely cause more trouble.
“Why?”
“You came to protect me, but you don’t seem very interested in that task.”
“Right, I only care about avoiding military prison. Do you know what it’s like there? People scream all day so you can’t sleep, maggots bigger than your face crawl around, and popping them is only fun the first time. Soldiers have no rights or laws. Aristotle said a stable country is one where all men are equal before the law. But this isn’t a country to us, got it?”
The Doctor watched Kwak Soohwan babble on.
His well-built physique under the disheveled uniform suggested he was more brawn than brain, yet he spouted off about human rights and ancient quotes, hinting at some inferiority complex regarding his intellect.
As the vaccine was developed, the virus mutated to survive, and humanity did the same. Amid the drastic population decrease, humanity was undergoing its own evolutionary process.
A small number of mutants with abilities beyond normal humans had emerged, with either specialized physical or mental traits. However, they often had deficiencies in other areas. The Doctor himself had gained intellect at the expense of physical stamina. Additionally, mutants tended to exhibit obsessive behavior.
Though he was born and raised in Jeju, he had attempted to leave for the mainland once at the age of twenty, suffering from nausea and headaches so severe that the return to Jeju was terrifying. He only managed to return in his late twenties after his mother passed away and had never dared to leave for the mainland again.
“Why did someone who talks about human rights become a soldier?”
“They said I’d get plenty to eat. When I joined the military academy, there were about a hundred of us. It used to be an elite group, apparently. But now, the graduates are just cannon fodder. I got to eat plenty, but my comrades started disappearing one by one. Out of over a hundred, only four of us, including me, are still alive.”
Kwak Soohwan spread his four fingers and scanned the Doctor’s face. Despite the unpleasant gesture, the Doctor merely blinked.
“So, listen to me, Doctor. Locking up a talent like me is a national loss. You’re coming to Seoul with me.”
Kwak Soohwan smiled, but there was no humor in his eyes. If he was indeed one of the four survivors among many soldiers, sending him to the brig would be a loss for the military. Though the Doctor didn’t like Kwak Soohwan, he didn’t see the need to argue further.
“Fine. But I’ll need to be sedated for the journey to Seoul.”
Kwak Soohwan let out a hollow laugh.
“Those expensive drugs aren’t there for your comfort. You’ve been picking up stones and getting VIP treatment here on Jeju. Do you even understand the reality?”
“I do. But I’m asking because I might die on the way.”
“You’ll die if you don’t sleep on the plane? Do we really need to go as far as sedating you?”
Kwak Soohwan made a ‘come here’ motion with his hand, signaling the Doctor to stand up.
Grabbing the Doctor’s arm, Kwak Soohwan pulled him against the wall and pressed a large hand against his chest, leaning close as if about to kiss him. The Doctor looked up at him with a mixture of discomfort and irritation.
“Hold your breath.”
“What?”
“Yeah, take a deep breath and hold it.”
As Kwak Soohwan spoke lightly, reassuringly, the Doctor took a deep breath and held it. Immediately, Kwak Soohwan applied tremendous pressure to the Doctor’s chest, and the Doctor lost consciousness.
***
The same day, 10 PM, Yeouido Shelter, 63 Building.
“You idiot! You’re driving me crazy. My nerves are fraying because of you!”
“How was I supposed to know he was that weak?”
“You’re all brawn and no brains! The Doctor’s head is genius-level, but his body is fragile!”
“Don’t lump me in with that idiot, Soohwan. I’m different, Commander Jang.”
The three soldiers in black uniforms and capes stood around the bed where the Doctor lay with his eyes closed.
Commander Jang’s red-lined cape flared with every angry gesture. The uniforms were the same, but their epaulets indicated their ranks. The green epaulet was the Commander Jang’s, and the silver ones were the Majors’.
“Chaeyoon, please, just don’t start anything with Major Kwak Soohwan today, okay?”
Commander Jang asked, almost pleading.
“When have I ever started anything? It’s always him.”
“Shut your mouth.”
Kwak Soohwan spoke while staring down at the Doctor.
“See? He always starts it!”
Lee Chaeyoon pointed an accusatory finger at Kwak Soohwan, who ran a rough hand through his hair.
“Just wait a bit. His heart rate is fine.”
Kwak Soohwan frowned, crossing his arms and staring at the Doctor. He hadn’t expected the Doctor to stay unconscious for this long. He thought an hour would suffice, but even after getting off the military plane and transferring to the helicopter, the Doctor hadn’t regained consciousness.
“We can only hope the Doctor doesn’t remember your nonsense when he wakes up, got it?”
“He’s smart, isn’t he? He’lll remember everything.”
Lee Chaeyoon made a slicing motion across her neck while smiling at Kwak Soohwan.
“See, I told you I should go get him. Why do you even bother getting him out of the brig?”
“Get out.”
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, you’re right. Just get out. If the Doctor wakes up and sees your face, he might pass out again.”
“Wanna die?!”
Lee Chaeyoon picked up a folding chair, ready to throw it, but Commander Jang barely managed to stop her. Despite his efforts, Lee Chaeyoon’s strength was overwhelming. Kwak Soohwan caught the thrown chair and tossed it back, turning the scene into a chaotic game of catch with chairs flying over the Doctor’s bed. Commander Jang finally yelled in a booming voice.
“Stop it! Hey, Major! Knock it off, both of you!”
“I’m not Bruce Lee, damn it!”
Lee Chaeyoon hurled the chair at the wall this time. Kwak Soohwan suddenly started laughing.
The 63 Building Museum had video archives of famous actors, including Bruce Lee, and since that day, Lee Chaeyoon had been nicknamed Bruce Lee. Now, even being called Major would set her off.
“When did I ever call you Bruce Lee?! I called you Major! And I’ve told you repeatedly, it’s fine in front of me but not in front of other superiors. Be careful. There are already plenty of people watching us closely.”
Though it was Commander Jang who was angry, Lee Chaeyoon glared at Kwak Soohwan. Standing between them, Commander Jang spoke again.
“Enough. Chaeyoon, go handle the support request from Major Yang. Major Kwak Soohwan, stay here and watch over the Doctor until he wakes up. Do whatever it takes.”
“Can’t I stay here? The Doctor is so handsome. I want to admire him.”
Lee Chaeyoon brought her face close to the Doctor’s.
“Chaeyoon… please.”
Commander Jang pointed to his forehead, signaling his growing frustration.
“I’m joking. I’ll go handle the support request. And make sure this idiot gets sent to the brig when the Doctor wakes up.”
“That’s up to the Doctor. Let’s go. Hey, Major Kwak Soohwan, do your job, okay?”
Kwak Soohwan nodded slightly. As soon as they left, the medical room fell silent, with only the occasional sound of the air freshener spraying. Kwak Soohwan looked down at the Doctor, who lay staring at the ceiling.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t asked his name. He was a researcher of mutated viruses and mutations, supposedly with specialized intelligence, but he looked no older than his early twenties. Yet he was called Doctor.
The Doctor’s lips moved slightly, making a dry, sticky sound. Kwak Soohwan turned his gaze to his lower half. He needed a suppressant injection, but with no medical officer present, he was at a loss.
Well, there’s only one way to handle it.
“Sorry about this.”
Kwak Soohwan unzipped his pants and placed one leg on the bed. He stroked his swelling erection, bringing it close to the Doctor’s slightly parted lips, glistening with precum.
“Commander! Commander!”
Lee Chaeyoon’s sharp voice rang out, causing Kwak Soohwan to look toward the open door with his erection in hand.
“That idiot, Soohwan! He’s trying to rub his dick on the Doctor’s lips!”
Clicking his tongue, Kwak Soohwan lowered his leg and zipped up his pants. Commander Jang rushed in, looking incredulous.
“You idiot! Are you insane?!”
“Major, stop making things up. I wasn’t rubbing anything on the Doctor’s lips.”
Though he had been about to.
“Hey! I saw it. I really saw it.”
“Quiet. Why did you come back?”
Commander Jang squinted and looked at Kwak Soohwan’s lower half. Partially hidden by his long cape, it was hard to see if he was aroused or not.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, how long has it been since you had your libido suppressant injection?”
“I don’t need suppressants to keep my dick out of the Doctor’s mouth.”
“I saw your dick! It looked more disgusting than a cobra! What am I supposed to do about my eyes now?”
She was so loud that Kwak Soohwan considered targeting Lee Chaeyoon’s vocal cords the next time they went into the field.
Commander Jang, finding it hard to believe even a madman like Kwak Soohwan would pull such a stunt on the Doctor, who was a man, was about to rebuke Lee Chaeyoon when…
“Is this… Seoul?”
At the unexpected voice, Commander Jang and Lee Chaeyoon turned to see the Doctor, who had been lying on the ceiling, now facing the three soldiers. He had his hands calmly folded on his chest and spoke again.
“…More importantly, where’s my stone? And could I get some water…?”
He sighed deeply.
“My lips… smell fishy.”
***
Watching the Doctor calmly drink water, Kwak Soohwan crossed his legs the other way. He hoped the Doctor hadn’t been awake when he almost used his mouth earlier. How could his lips smell fishy when nothing touched them?
“I wash twice a day, you know.”
The Doctor didn’t seem to understand Kwak Soohwan’s words and simply replied, “Yes.”
“And, uh, sorry about earlier. I didn’t expect you to stay unconscious for so long.”
Using formal speech felt awkward for Kwak Soohwan, likely because he wasn’t used to apologizing. The Doctor nodded once and continued drinking water. It seemed odd to Kwak Soohwan, who was used to soldiers gulping down water like it was nothing, to see someone drink so delicately. It honestly made him feel a bit impatient.
“Just drink it quickly. You’re sipping like a rabbit.”
“I might get indigestion.”
“I’ve never heard of someone getting indigestion from water.”
“You’ll hear it often. I say it a lot.”
Kwak Soohwan crossed his legs again.
Judging by the Doctor’s appearance, he didn’t look particularly fragile. He was pale but didn’t seem small or delicate, and despite his expressionless face, he didn’t come off as cold. More like spaced out.
The Doctor felt Kwak Soohwan’s gaze and held the cup in his hand, staring back. His uniform looked uncomfortable, with a loose tie making him seem less rough around the edges than his demeanor and job suggested. Kwak Soohwan thought he might look better in a suit than a military uniform.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, if you keep looking at me like that…”
“Like that, what?”
Kwak Soohwan continued to stare at the Doctor.
“You’ll give me indigestion.”
“Some crayfish die just from being looked at. You’re not on that level, are you?”
“I might be on that level.”
The Doctor muttered self-deprecatingly. But he couldn’t just lie in bed forever. He got up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, taking a slow look around before walking towards the large window. When he mentioned Seoul earlier, he had a rough idea of where they were.
It was the 63 Building in Yeouido, known as the shelter. It was also where he worked before heading down to Jeju Island.
From the high-rise building, he could see the Han River Railroad Bridge, which used to carry trains filled with people non-stop. A train was halted somewhere on the tracks, and the tracks ahead were blown apart. The vines growing around the bridge indicated how long the train had been abandoned.
When the virus first broke out and spread across the mainland, there were suggestions to build barriers. But that was when there was still time. The virus spread so quickly that there weren’t enough people left to build barriers. Instead, they decided to blow up all the bridges and railroads in Seoul. It was a brute-force method, but it effectively bought them time.
All these stories were just knowledge the Doctor had gathered from various media and books.
“Did it die standing up?” Kwak Soohwan suddenly came up beside him.
“Is the lab still on the 34th floor?”
“Probably?”
“I’ll head there.”
“Aren’t you going to eat first?”
“I’ll go to the lab first.”
“Suit yourself. And you can use this room from today.”
This was something he had anticipated. He missed the stones he left in Jeju, but he knew there were more pressing matters. Besides, there were stones he had collected in this building too, so he needed to get to the lab first.
Although he was supposed to be a protector, Kwak Soohwan followed the Doctor half a step behind, almost as if he were monitoring him.
Since the building’s purpose had been changed to a shelter, the interior had undergone several transformations. For example, the elevator could only be accessed with a registered fingerprint.
When Kwak Soohwan placed his hand on the elevator’s fingerprint scanner, his name and an expressionless face appeared on the screen.
[Access granted.]
After the mechanical voice, the elevator door opened.
“Commander Jang said you wouldn’t leave Jeju so easily, but you followed surprisingly well.”
Who knocked me out and brought me here in the first place?
Still, the Doctor nodded since it wasn’t entirely untrue.
“Don’t you have a sense of duty as a mutant virus researcher? Enjoying your life in Jeju? As the Bible says, ‘He who does not work, neither shall he eat.’ Haven’t you been living too comfortably?”
The Doctor watched the numbers decreasing, eagerly waiting to get out of the cramped box once they reached the 34th floor.
Clunk! Suddenly, a hand reached out and pressed a button, causing the elevator to shudder. The abrupt stop made him feel nauseous, and the interior lights turned red.
[Emergency, Emergency, emergency stop activated. If Major Kwak Soohwan holds the button for more than 3 seconds, normal operation will resume. A short press will force the doors open.]
The Doctor turned to Kwak Soohwan, puzzled by his sudden action. He looked like he had no intention of releasing the button, arms crossed defiantly.
“Do you know why we brought you here from Jeju?”
The Doctor found it curious. There was already a chief researcher who could replace him at the Yeouido lab.
“Did something happen to Dr. Oh?”
“Yes, the old man died.”
Given his age, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had died of natural causes.
“He was murdered.”
“Murdered…?”
“The danger isn’t just out there.”
“You mean Dr. Oh was killed by a person?”
“That’s why the case went to a military tribunal. The military police are still investigating.”
Kwak Soohwan, who was originally supposed to be in the brig, was reassigned as his bodyguard, which is how he avoided punishment.
The Doctor wondered if Kwak Soohwan might be involved in the murder. But if that were the case, he wouldn’t have been assigned as his bodyguard. This soldier was simply playing a needless power game.
“Be careful.”
Kwak Soohwan grinned and slowly pressed the emergency button. After precisely 3 seconds, the elevator resumed its normal operation, and the door opened on the 34th floor.
“At least you’re better than a crayfish. You didn’t die from a scare.”
“I wasn’t scared.”
True to his words, the Doctor’s face remained impassive. Holding the elevator door, Kwak Soohwan waited for him to exit.
[Holding the elevator door forcibly is dangerous. Major Kwak Soohwan, please follow elevator etiquette.]
“Stupid machine.”
Kwak Soohwan resumed following the Doctor, who started walking slowly.
“Do you even know where you’re going? It’s been a long time since you worked here. Do you remember?”
“Major Kwak Soohwan, I understand this building is safe. I don’t know if I’ll need to go outside, but if I do, just escort me out of the building’s vicinity.”
The Doctor spoke slowly but firmly to Kwak Soohwan.
“I don’t want to.”
Who knows what kind of lecture he’d get from Commander Jang otherwise. Kwak Soohwan gestured forward with his chin, urging him to walk faster.
The Doctor instinctively felt that this man was going to be a handful. He also wondered if Kwak Soohwan might be gay. After all, he had almost put his genitals in his mouth. Or perhaps he was just a horny beast. Either way, it didn’t matter.
The shelter boasted a high level of security, especially in the research wing, which was meticulously maintained. This was because it housed dangerous viruses, bacteria, and vaccines.
The Doctor remembered that after passing about 50 meters from the elevator and turning the corner, he would reach the lab he used to use. His steps were slow but steady as he walked toward the lab, stopping in front of a transparent glass door. He turned and looked at Kwak Soohwan, who was casually draping his cape over his arm as if it were a nuisance.
“This is as far as you need to go.”
Kwak Soohwan thought it was better to guard the door than to be stuck in the boring lab. When the Doctor scanned his fingerprint, his identity appeared on the transparent glass door.
[Adam Virus Researcher Seokhwa (34 years old) recognized, access granted.]
“Then.”
Seokhwa nodded and entered the transparent lab. His name, like his expression, was stiff.
***
Despite the world being in such a state, some things hadn’t changed, one of which was that the shelter was still a non-smoking building.
Feeling confined inside, Kwak Soohwan used the pretext of patrol duty to drive a jeep around. Patrols were conducted in pairs, so Lee Chaeyoon was with him.
Near the south end of Wonhyo Bridge, Kwak Soohwan parked the jeep and inhaled the smoke from Lee Chaeyoon’s cigarette.
“Soohwan, let’s switch. Okay?”
“Switch what?”
“You like fieldwork, right? You go on field duty, and I’ll assist the Doctor. How about it?”
Having just returned from Uijeongbu, which had been declared a state of emergency, Lee Chaeyoon took a deep drag, nearly finishing half the cigarette in one go.
“Huh? Let’s switch.”
“Don’t you know it’s a duty assigned instead of going to the brig?”
“If we both want it, they’ll probably let us switch.”
Lee Chaeyoon had a point. He, too, preferred being in the field to sitting around in front of the lab.
“How about it? Deal?”
Kwak Soohwan followed the billowing smoke with his eyes and then spoke.
“Throw in a carton of cigarettes, and it’s a deal.”
“Screw you. No way.”
The day he was court-martialed, Kwak Soohwan had all his alcohol and cigarettes confiscated. Now forced to quit drinking and smoking, he had brought Lee Chaeyoon along to get a taste of secondhand smoke.
“What’s the Doctor like? I heard he’s pretty old. Unmarried and hasn’t dated much, right?”
Kwak Soohwan tilted his head, finding it odd to hear that Dr. Seok had dated anyone.
“Where do you get such news about someone who’s been away from Seoul for years?”
“The cafeteria guy said so. He eats like a mouse. Apparently, he’s so frail that once he collapsed into his soup while eating.”
“If such a person bit my dick, he would’ve choked to death right there.”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled dryly.
“Soohwan! You jerk! You were really trying to get him to bite your gross dick! You’re busted! Commander Jang always yells at me, saying I’m harassing you!”
“Shut up and look over there. Someone’s trying to get over the barbed wire.”
Kwak Soohwan, who had been covering his ears, pointed to the end of the bridge. Within a 2 km radius of the building was a relatively clean area, like Jeju. However, sometimes lucky ones tried to sneak in.
Kwak Soohwan took the sniper rifle from the jeep and placed it on the hood. Adjusting the scope to 4x magnification, he found the target. The figure stumbling at the barbed wire looked like it had been infected with the virus for at least three months. People called this mysterious virus Adam.
How ironic that a virus named Adam, the progenitor of humanity, was now here to annihilate it.
“What are you doing, not shooting that bastard’s head?”
Lee Chaeyoon had two cigarettes in her mouth this time.
“Major Lee, want to make a bet?”
“A bet? What kind of bet?”
Always game for a gamble, Lee Chaeyoon’s eyes sparkled.
“If I hit that bastard’s head with a stone from here, you owe me a pack of cigarettes. Deal?”
Lee Chaeyoon, holding two unlit cigarettes, laughed, placed them on the hood, and then stopped laughing abruptly. She picked up a stone from the ground.
About 200 meters away? Squinting to gauge the distance, she lifted one leg like a baseball player, put all her strength into her shoulder, and hurled the stone. Her nickname, Bruce Lee, came from this very skill. Lee Chaeyoon’s evolved physical prowess could crush their skulls with bare hands.
“Hey! Did you see that?! You should bet on something realistic. Why make it so easy?”
Kwak Soohwan patted her shoulder and pointed his chin to the target. It had missed completely, and the figure was still struggling with the barbed wire.
“How about it? Deal?”
“No way.”
As Lee Chaeyoon picked up another stone to throw, Kwak Soohwan fired the sniper rifle first. The bullet pierced the target’s forehead, and it collapsed.
“What a waste of a bullet.”
“Let’s head back. It’s about time Dr. Seok faceplanted into his soup.”
“What?”
“It’s dinner time.”
***
The shelter’s cafeteria offered a relatively luxurious menu. Despite Jeju being a place for VIPs, many of the foods consumed on the mainland were produced in Jeju. There were other well-controlled areas like Jeju, often referred to as islands. Additionally, they developed genetically modified crops in this building, benefiting each other.
After the announcement signaling dinner time, Seokhwa left the lab much later. He looked at Kwak Soohwan, who was standing guard outside. It felt like the cold air from outside still clung to his uniform.
“Haven’t you eaten?”
“I was waiting for you, Doctor. An ordinary soldier like me has no way to enter the lab.”
“Let’s go.”
Despite Kwak Soohwan’s provocative tone, Seokhwa showed no reaction.
Kwak Soohwan thought that he always spoke sharply around the Doctor without realizing it. He was curious to see if he could elicit a reaction from that expressionless face.
“The stone Doctor’s name is Seokhwa, but it’s not because he picks up stones. Isn’t it actually because his surname is ‘stone’?”
“You’re the first to call me a stone Doctor, Kwak Soohwan Major.”
“Come on, everyone calls you that behind your back.”
“I see.”
This time, Seokhwa operated the elevator.
“They say your grandmother was a diver in Jeju.”
Seokhwa spoke up only after they were in the elevator.
“A diver?”
“A haenyeo.”
“Do you think I asked because I didn’t know the meaning?”
The elevator doors opened on the cafeteria floor.
“So what does your grandmother being a haenyeo have to do with anything?”
Kwak Soohwan acted as if expecting Seokhwa to finish his statement before letting him exit first.
“Seokhwa means ‘oyster,’ not ‘stone.’ I’m not a stone Doctor either.”
Kwak Soohwan frowned as he watched Seokhwa slowly walk towards the cafeteria.
“Stone or oyster, damn it.”
Although he seemed to walk slowly, the distance between them started to widen. Suspecting that some of Commander Jang’s informants might be around, he quickly caught up to Seokhwa.
“Oyster Doctor, let’s walk together.”
The cafeteria was quieter than usual since the soldiers had already passed through. Seokhwa knew this and had taken his time leaving.
Seokhwa grabbed a tray and began to slowly receive his meal. Kwak Soohwan followed behind. Despite hearing that Seokhwa ate like a mouse, the staff, not knowing his habits, piled his tray high with rice and side dishes. Seokhwa sighed softly as he looked down at his tray. He found an empty seat, with Kwak Soohwan sitting across from him.
Seokhwa picked up his spoon and sipped the soup. Kwak Soohwan, while eating his meal, kept an eye on Seokhwa, expecting him to faceplant into his soup at any moment. But minutes passed, and Seokhwa continued eating slowly, almost as if he were chewing cud.
“Dr. Seok, about the Adam virus.”
Seokhwa hadn’t expected Kwak Soohwan to bring up the virus, so he looked up.
“Has it mutated again? The vaccine developed last time isn’t working anymore.”
“…That’s what I’ve heard. I’m still trying to get a grasp on the situation.”
“Are the infected truly mindless?”
“They move on instinct alone.”
“Survival instinct?”
Seokhwa blinked as he ate his bland fish cake.
“Yes. Viruses don’t want to die either, so they mutate. Just like Kwak Soohwan Major and me.”
They were in the middle of evolution.
“People used to call them zombies.”
“Zombie was the name of a West African voodoo god. It also referred to corpses revived by voodoo sorcerers. While it’s convenient to call them zombies, the details differ.”
Now that he had some food in him, Seokhwa spoke without hesitation.
“Calling them Adam is worse.”
“What does it matter what we call them?”
“People say they’re mindless, but maybe they’re not. They don’t attack each other, do they?”
Kwak Soohwan chewed on a crunchy sausage.
“Maybe they recognize each other as kin?”
“Infected individuals are virus carriers, so there’s no reason to spread the virus further by attacking each other.”
“Then they’re better than humans. Humans kill their own kind without hesitation. Like that old man who was murdered in the lab recently.”
Seokhwa had dealt with many soldiers since he started working at the lab. The soldiers stationed at the shelter were elite, and those with dramatically evolved bodies often had slower cognitive functions. This didn’t mean they were significantly lacking; they just spoke in an elementary manner and had low empathy. However, they executed orders well and didn’t question injustices. As such, few soldiers ever questioned Seokhwa.
“Kwak Soohwan Major, you’re more sensitive than I thought.”
“Yeah, I am. So, Dr. Seok, since I’m in this situation, could you do me a favor?”
Kwak Soohwan smiled charmingly.
“I’ve quit drinking and smoking. But you, Doctor, can easily get both if you want. Can you get me some alcohol and a few packs of cigarettes in your name? In return, you like stones, right? You couldn’t bring any from Jeju because you left in a hurry? I can get those for you.”
He openly made an illicit proposition.
There were numerous points where Seokhwa could have objected, but he ignored them all to finish his meal.
“I don’t drink or smoke. From what I hear from other researchers, you entered the danger zone to get alcohol. And it was in the Red Zone too.”
“Tch, those researchers have loose lips,” Kwak Soohwan thought, signaling for Seokhwa to finish his meal.
“I also heard you have a bad drinking habit.”
Unlike the calm Seokhwa, Kwak Soohwan’s expression subtly changed.
“Did you see it yourself, Doctor?”
He asked, sounding exasperated. Seokhwa didn’t answer and just took a sip of lukewarm water.
“How about seeing it for yourself tonight? You bring the alcohol.”
“Kwak Soohwan Major, do you know the molecular structure of ethanol?”
“I’ve never looked through a microscope in my life. How would I know? No matter how good my eyesight is, I can’t see molecules. Dr. Seok, just finish your meal.”
Seokhwa felt like the food was stuck in his esophagus from eating more than usual, but he held back.
“The molecular structure of ethanol looks like a dog.”
That’s why people turn into dogs when they drink, Seokhwa said expressionlessly. Kwak Soohwan laughed incredulously and suddenly brought his face close to Seokhwa’s.
“Woof!”
As Kwak Soohwan imitated a dog’s bark, Seokhwa’s face fell into his soup. Startled, Kwak Soohwan grabbed the back of Seokhwa’s head and pulled him up. He expected Seokhwa’s eyes to roll back, but instead, Seokhwa was struggling to open his eyes.
“I just felt a bit dizzy…”
Broth dripped from his forehead down his nose. Without the strength to wipe it away, he breathed slowly and heavily. Only then did Kwak Soohwan release his grip.
“Wait… Can you hold me for a bit longer?”
“What?”
In case I fall again.
Sure enough, Seokhwa’s head started to droop, and Kwak Soohwan tightened his grip. It looked like he was shaking Seokhwa’s head. A soldier in the distance confirmed it was indeed Kwak Soohwan, recognizing him with wide eyes. Kwak Soohwan clicked his tongue, wondering how the story would get twisted. He now had another incident to explain to Commander Jang.
***
[……The preservation of humanity, the new prosperity of humanity, that is our mission. Welcome to Rainbow City, Green Zone.]
The broadcast aired at noon without fail.
The peninsula’s official name was Rainbow City, divided into seven zones. The Green Zone was the safest. As expected, the Red Zone, or R Zone, was the most dangerous.
Seokhwa couldn’t understand why Kwak Soohwan would risk his life to get alcohol in the Red Zone, where there were no shelters. A drunkard who didn’t value his life—that was all Seokhwa thought of him.
<Oh Yangseok, age 72, was found dead in the Adam Virus Vaccine Research Center on the 34th floor. He was presumed to have been standing with his back to the central pillar just before his death. A 9mm Beretta M92F bullet penetrated his heart, killing him instantly.>
Seokhwa looked at the floor. This was the spot where Chief Researcher Oh Yangseok’s body was found. The direction the bullet came from was right in front of that glass door.
The lab entrance was made of bulletproof glass, accessible only to researchers and designated soldiers. For some reason, all the CCTV footage from the 34th floor on the day of the incident was missing.
Since only researchers were on the access list that day, the Doctors in the lab became suspects. However, only high-ranking soldiers could possess a Beretta M92F. Moreover, the time of death was around 5 a.m. Why Oh Yangseok was in the lab at that hour was unknown even to Seokhwa.
He was a good man and a dedicated Doctor committed to saving humanity. Seokhwa briefly paid his respects, then realized he shouldn’t be standing on the spot where the body was found and took a step back.
“The antibodies aren’t forming.”
Dr. Kim’s voice came from the distance. Dr. Kim, practically a disciple of Oh Yangseok, had turned his chair towards Seokhwa.
“Is that so.”
Standing in the center, Seokhwa walked over to his desk.
The Adam Virus was an extremely aggressive antigen. It had mutated seven times, rendering the sixth vaccine useless. They were trying to develop a vaccine using the seventh Adam Virus culture, but antibodies were not forming.
“Vaccines don’t just appear out of thin air, but the higher-ups keep pressuring us.”
It wasn’t the first time the superiors had demanded the vaccine be ready quickly.
“Dr. Seok?”
“…Yes?”
“I just wanted to check if you were listening.”
“I am. By the way, all the people who showed an immune response during the first phase were from Jeju Island, right?”
“Not all people from Jeju showed an immune response, but those who did were all either from Jeju or had visited Jeju.”
“And from the second mutation onward, that didn’t help.”
“Right.”
This information came from records left by researchers before their time.
“But Dr. Seok.”
“Yes.”
Seokhwa replied as he sat at his computer desk. Creating antibodies was a race against time. Even after hundreds or thousands of experiments, antibodies often didn’t form. Nevertheless, researchers had to diligently work until their hypotheses succeeded.
“That… Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Seokhwa looked up from the seventh Adam Virus vaccine research paper left by Oh Yangseok.
“Major Kwak Soohwan?”
“Yes.”
Dr. Kim hesitated, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. Since Seokhwa had no intention of pressing further, he returned his attention to the research paper.
Although they had worked together until Seokhwa left Seoul for his mother’s funeral, Dr. Kim always felt distant from Seokhwa, both then and now. However, Seokhwa seemed to have improved in stamina, as he no longer fell asleep at his keyboard, though it was only the second day.
“Well, Major Kwak Soohwan is currently assigned to protect you, Dr. Seok… Just be careful.”
Dr. Kim approached and whispered more discreetly.
“The person who shot Dr. Yang might be Major Kwak Soohwan.”
***
“Can you relax that brute strength?”
The doctor tapped Kwak Soohwan’s exposed arm.
“What strength? I’m totally relaxed right now.”
The doctor glanced at the monitor to check the chart and tilted his head.
“What’s this? You’re getting another dose when it hasn’t even been three months since the last one?”
“I know, but I need it.”
The effects of the suppressant usually lasted about six months. Kwak Soohwan’s high libido meant the effects wore off faster for him.
“Your morning erections are getting stronger?”
“They’re strong all day.”
“I heard a rumor that you tried to force yourself on Dr. Seok.”
The doctor looked at him, half-expecting a denial. His reputation for spreading gossip was well-known.
“Just hurry up. I need to get back to Dr. Seok.”
“They said you even grabbed his hair and shoved him into soup.”
“The first part is true, the second isn’t.”
The doctor, rubbing the alcohol pad on Kwak Soohwan’s arm, finally managed to administer the suppressant injection. It wasn’t a chemical castration; it just dampened sexual urges without affecting erections. It was a mandatory shot for all military academy graduates.
“This shot always makes me feel awful.”
It was probably just his imagination, but he felt like he could sense the drug spreading through his body. Kwak Soohwan, having unbuttoned his uniform to expose one arm, rotated his shoulder and put his shirt back on.
“You should be grateful.”
“For what?”
“For this suppressant. There used to be side effects like permanent erectile dysfunction if taken regularly. Dr. Seok eliminated those side effects. And you tried to force yourself on such a kind Doctor.”
Kwak Soohwan’s eyes widened in mild surprise, then he chuckled.
“Thanks to Dr. Seok, I can still perform well even after the injection. I should thank him.”
“With that face of yours, you could’ve lived off your looks in a normal world.”
“Maybe, but I’ve never lived in a normal world. I’m off.”
Kwak Soohwan, for once, properly donned his cape and left the infirmary. The sound of his military boots echoed through the hallway. So, it was Dr. Seok who eliminated the side effects. It felt like heat was radiating from the injection site. Kwak Soohwan glanced at his arm hidden under his uniform.
But Dr. Seok seems so weak. Can he even handle a proper night with someone?
It was amazing to think he ever had a partner. He wondered if Dr. Seok’s previous relationships ended due to inadequate intimacy. It was ironic that while he improved others’ sexual health, his own was likely lacking.
When Kwak Soohwan reached the 34th-floor lab, he glanced inside. Researchers’ desks were on the left side of the central pillar, while vaccine and virus management was on the right. From the outside, it looked like a lobby with a central pillar.
With arms crossed and back against the wall, Kwak Soohwan waited for Seokhwa to come out. He checked his cracked wristwatch; it was nearly dinner time. Though he ate like a bird, Seokhwa never skipped meals.
[Opening.]
Dr. Kim flinched upon seeing Kwak Soohwan as he and Seokhwa exited the lab. He gave a nervous smile and quickly walked away.
“Dr. Seok, are you going to eat now?”
Kwak Soohwan mimicked holding a spoon.
“No. I need to step out for a bit.”
“Where to?”
It had only been a few days since Seokhwa was brought to Seoul, and this was the first time he expressed a desire to go out. He was even wearing a gun holster inside his coat, carrying a Glock 18C, a handgun issued to Doctors. He also had a backpack.
“Why the gun? Are you leaving the Green Zone?”
“Yes, I need to.”
“Fieldwork is our job. Just give us orders.”
“I need to see it for myself. Let’s go together.”
Seokhwa began walking first.
If the Doctor insists, I have to comply. Kwak Soohwan followed him. As they took the elevator to the parking lot, Seokhwa exchanged casual greetings with several familiar faces.
“This way.”
Major Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and led him to his Jeep.
“The libido suppressant—Dr. Seok removed the side effects, right?”
The forceful grip made Seokhwa wince slightly.
“I just researched how to remove the side effects because I was asked to.”
Seokhwa sighed deeply as he climbed into the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt. Kwak Soohwan took the driver’s seat.
“Where should I take you?”
“To the Red Zone where you went to fetch alcohol, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“…What?”
“That’s where Dr. Yang’s family home is.”
Seokhwa nonchalantly pulled a blanket from the backpack on his lap, wrapped himself in it, and closed his eyes.
“Wake me when we arrive.”
What does he mean, telling me to wake him up after suggesting we invade the Red Zone? Kwak Soohwan tapped the steering wheel before even starting the engine.
“Hey, Dr. Stone.”
Seokhwa remained silent with his eyes closed.
“Do you know why it’s called the Red Zone? It’s the most dangerous area. I can take care of myself, but dragging a weakling like you along will be incredibly difficult.”
Seokhwa opened his eyes and looked at Kwak Soohwan.
“Get out.”
Kwak Soohwan responded with a blank expression.
“….”
“Get out. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll go alone.”
“You wouldn’t understand even if you saw it.”
Kwak Soohwan twisted his lips.
“What, you think I’m too dumb?”
“Major Kwak Soohwan, I don’t have the energy to argue with you.”
“So get out.”
Seokhwa pulled out a bottle of water from his backpack and slowly drank it.
“Oh Yangseok’s research logs indicate there might have been some issues at the time. A significant part of the logs is missing, but I know him well enough. He used to store sensitive data at his family home. The Red Zone was originally a Green Zone, but it recently changed to a danger zone.”
“Oh, so now you’re planning to play military police too, Doctor?”
Seokhwa rubbed his eyes wearily with the back of his hand.
“Alright. Let’s go with someone else then.”
He reached to unbuckle his seatbelt, but Kwak Soohwan grabbed his hand firmly.
“If you go with someone else, I’m as good as thrown in the brig?”
“Then go to the brig. I’m not the one who’ll be missing out.”
Seokhwa spoke each word with deliberate emphasis. Kwak Soohwan let out a laugh, almost exasperated.
“Quite a threat. Fine, I’ll go, but don’t blame me if you lose a limb.”
Seokhwa grasped the holster with the gun in it tightly.
“Let’s go. Wake me when we reach the Red Zone.”
And with that, he promptly fell asleep.
***
It only took thirty minutes to reach the Red Zone from Yeouido, where Oh Yangseok’s family home was located.
The area was guarded by soldiers, and despite Adam’s rampages, they couldn’t cross the perimeter. This was where the seventh mutation of Adam began, transforming the zone from Green to Red almost overnight.
Before entering the area, Kwak Soohwan stopped the jeep at the checkpoint. Rolling down the window, he showed his ID, and one of the sentries immediately recognized him.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, you’re not here to raid the liquor stores again, are you?”
The soldier looked pleadingly at him.
“Please have mercy on us. We got in so much trouble for not catching you last time you entered the Red Zone. Spare us, please.”
Kwak Soohwan tucked his ID back into his uniform.
“If I were here to raid again, would I show my ID first? Just move the barbed wire.”
“But who’s that beside you…?”
The soldier’s expression suggested he thought Kwak Soohwan might be planning to kill and dispose of someone.
“He’s not dead, alright?”
“Still, Major Kwak Soohwan, we need to verify the identity of your companion for the Red Zone.”
The soldier glanced at Seokhwa, who was asleep with his mouth slightly open. It was almost laughable how exhausted he looked after suggesting they head to the Red Zone.
“He’s my lover.”
Kwak Soohwan caressed Seokhwa’s cheek with his gloved hand. When that didn’t wake him, he patted his cheek gently.
“Honey, honey, wake up. You wanted to go on a date in the Red Zone, remember?”
The persistent patting finally stirred Seokhwa, who rubbed his forehead, still leaning against the window.
“Are we… there yet?”
He pulled a high-calorie chocolate bar from his backpack and began to eat it.
“Dr. Seok, give me Oh Yangseok’s address and wait here with the soldiers.”
Seokhwa, after rinsing his mouth with water, looked pensively into the dark expanse ahead.
Due to the ongoing state of national emergency, power was conserved, and only the Green, Blue, and Indigo Zones had consistent lighting. The darkness was such that one couldn’t navigate without a flashlight. Seokhwa eventually spoke up.
“…Alright.”
Kwak Soohwan, exasperated at Seokhwa’s nonchalance, stopped him from unbuckling and stepped on the gas.
“What are you…!”
The sudden acceleration caused the jeep’s tires to skid.
“Why aren’t you removing the barbed wire?”
As he yelled, the jeep started moving forward, barely squeezing through the opening barbed wire, setting off warning sounds from the vehicle.
[Beep-Beep- Emergency, Emergency, you have entered the 13th Red Zone. Please turn back. Emergency, Emergency, Emergency.]
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
Kwak Soohwan turned off the emergency alert on the navigation system and pressed the gas pedal harder. He glanced at Seokhwa, who was gripping his seatbelt with both hands.
“Don’t worry.”
“…Alright.”
He expected Seokhwa to say something more, but he simply replied with a calm “alright.” Kwak Soohwan laughed out loud.
“On the day I came in for the booze, I nearly wiped out all the Adams here.”
That was why the area was designated a Red Zone, to account for the remaining Adams.
“So, consider yourself lucky, Dr. Seok. There’s no one like me left in Rainbow City.”
“Major Kwak Soohwan, you didn’t kill Oh Yangseok, did you?”
Seokhwa asked calmly.
“Who said that? What dog spread such rumors? Although, considering I was his only drinking buddy, strange rumors are bound to pop up. There’s another stupid rumor that I grabbed your head and dunked it in soup. You know that’s not true, right?”
“Yes, I know. But one of those rumors is true.”
“What?”
“The one about Major Kwak Soohwan shoving his erect genitals into my mouth.”
Instinctively, he stopped himself from slamming on the brakes and instead pressed the accelerator even harder.
“Let’s get the story straight. I didn’t touch you, and I stopped myself.”
“Then why did you bring it close to my mouth?”
The only light on the dark road came from the headlights. Kwak Soohwan glanced at Seokhwa, confused. Seokhwa was calmly folding his blanket and putting it back in his backpack. Even in the dim car interior, it was obvious he was expressionless.
After zipping up his now fuller backpack, Seokhwa restarted the navigation system that Kwak Soohwan had turned off and input Oh Yangseok’s family home address. Following the instructions, Kwak Soohwan made a right turn 200 meters ahead.
“You don’t seem too keen on getting an answer.”
“No, I’m not.”
Seokhwa wasn’t particularly curious. He simply assumed there had been a reason for the erection and that Kwak Soohwan didn’t want to handle it himself.
“Dr. Seok, does it still get hard?”
“…Yes.”
“I was just wondering if you could still perform since you seem as dull as a stone.”
“Stones aren’t dull. They have moisture.”
“Ah, so that’s why you gathered those precious stones and put them in someone’s socks.”
“Why did you give me the socks?”
It wasn’t the kind of conversation one should have while driving through a danger zone, but there was no rule against it either.
“Some idiot was digging in the sand barefoot, looking like he was freezing to death, so I felt a bit of sympathy.”
He glanced down and noticed that although Seokhwa was wearing sneakers, he still wasn’t wearing socks.
“Do you have a grudge against socks?”
“My feet get too hot.”
When his feet overheated, it quickly gave him headaches, so he rarely wore socks even in the cold.
[You are near your destination.]
At the navigation prompt, Kwak Soohwan switched to high beams, illuminating a broader area. He slowly drove, scanning the clustered houses.
“Do you know exactly which house it is?”
“I’ve visited a few times.”
Oh Yangseok had been fond of Seokhwa. Before moving to Jeju Island, he would occasionally invite Seokhwa to his home for dinner. His wife was kind, and their son, Oh Cheongwoon, was Seokhwa’s direct superior.
“There, the house with the garden.”
Seokhwa pointed diagonally to a house with a low fence that reached up to their calves. Curiously, the windows and doors were barred, indicating that the security measures had been in place even before the area was designated as a Red Zone. Some families preferred to be extra cautious.
Seokhwa unbuckled his seatbelt and slung his backpack over his shoulder, causing his body to lean forward.
“Should I stay in the car?”
“Why? Are you worried that if Adam attacks, you’ll be a burden to me?”
“No, because I don’t want to die.”
Seokhwa’s matter-of-fact tone made Kwak Soohwan laugh again.
“Then it’s better to come with me. If Adam hasn’t shown up despite us driving around, it might really be wiped out.”
Kwak Soohwan removed the cape from his uniform and tossed it onto the back seat. He walked to the passenger side and opened the door, letting Seokhwa step out.
There was no eerie wailing of Adam, but as Seokhwa set his feet on the ground, his shoulders stiffened. The silence of the deserted city evoked a strange sense of loneliness. Seokhwa remembered the liveliness this city once had.
When invited to Oh Yangseok’s home, Seokhwa would sit at the dining table, and the doctor’s large dog and cat would come over affectionately. Children’s laughter often echoed from the playground. This was the world before Adam appeared. Not an alien invader, but a human-made creature that shattered the peace.
Kwak Soohwan kicked some wind-blown trash and stood by the front door, scanning the area with a portable military flashlight. He finally pointed it at the front door, which was securely locked.
“Give me the gun.”
Instead of handing over the gun, Seokhwa opened the cover of the door lock. The battery was nearly dead, flickering before completely fading.
“Do you know the code?”
“I did, but it’s useless now. If I give you the gun, you’ll have to file a report on its use.”
Crash! Before Seokhwa could finish speaking, Kwak Soohwan kicked the door handle.
“I didn’t want to use force, but I hate filing reports even more.”
The reason this Major, Kwak Soohwan, and a few other surviving soldiers could face Adam barehanded was because they had evolved beyond normal human limitations. The evolution of humanity from its earliest days to the present was both mysterious and awe-inspiring.
Seokhwa glanced down at his legs for a moment. Had he truly evolved? People said he was brilliant, but he felt no different. He was just repeating his research like a programmed macro.
He took a deep breath and followed Kwak Soohwan inside. He steadied himself to avoid dizziness and found that the nap in the car had helped; his legs didn’t feel heavy.
“We need to go to the second-floor study. Oh Yangseok kept important research materials there.”
“The military police likely searched it after he died.”
“They probably didn’t find the spot I know.”
As they creaked up the wooden stairs, Seokhwa stayed close behind Kwak Soohwan. He turned his body to press his back against Kwak Soohwan’s, holding the gun with both hands and moving backward up the stairs in sync with him.
“Dr. Seok, what are you doing?”
Kwak Soohwan stopped abruptly, clearly puzzled by Seokhwa’s actions.
“I’m covering you.”
This time, it was Seokhwa who looked puzzled.
“You think you know something from what you’ve seen somewhere. Don’t stumble back up the stairs and fall, just stick close and follow me properly. And put that thing away. You might accidentally shoot me.”
Seokhwa glanced at the gun he was holding and quietly holstered it. The only sound now was the creaking of the wooden stairs, with no sign of the distinct, throat-scratching growls of Adam. The door had been securely locked, so no one could have broken in.
Kwak Soohwan could have walked faster, but he matched his pace to ensure the frail Doctor wouldn’t stumble.
“It’s the first room on the left.”
At the top of the stairs, the first room on the left was Oh Yangseok’s study. Fortunately, the door wasn’t locked, and Kwak Soohwan entered first, sweeping the area with his flashlight.
“Clear.” He said briefly, untying the string from the flashlight and hanging it from the ceiling light fixture. It wasn’t as bright as a fluorescent light, but it illuminated the room well enough.
Seokhwa walked to Oh Yangseok’s bookshelf and began searching through it with his hand. Kwak Soohwan sat on the desk, picking up a crookedly placed frame.
The photo showed an elderly man smiling brightly, a woman who seemed to be his wife next to him, and in front of them, a young man who looked like a high school student. The photo seemed quite old.
He soon lost interest and looked at Seokhwa. For someone usually slow, Seokhwa seemed unusually quick. He was stuffing a few thin books and what looked like research materials into his backpack. As it got too full, he took out the blanket, draped it over his shoulder, and continued packing.
“Kwak Soohwan Major.”
Seokhwa looked burdened as he stood up with the backpack. Kwak Soohwan thought he might topple backward from the weight.
“Are you done?”
“Get up from there.”
Seokhwa approached and started pushing the large desk. Unable to bear watching, Kwak Soohwan gave the desk a hard shove.
“Ha, did the old man dig a tunnel under his house?”
The floor, previously covered by the desk, had a handle. Seokhwa tried to lift it but looked at Kwak Soohwan, who was standing with his arms crossed.
“Thank you.”
“What?”
Seokhwa stepped back, gripping his backpack straps tightly, clearly asking for help.
“What kind of situation is this, thanking someone before they’ve even done anything?”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed the handle and lifted the floor door.
At that moment, they heard the sound of something running up the stairs.
Kwak Soohwan quickly grabbed Seokhwa by the collar and pushed him back, grabbing the neck of the creature charging at them. It was thrashing in Kwak Soohwan’s grip, letting out Adam’s characteristic shriek.
“…Sunbae?”
Seokhwa, who had fallen to the floor, mumbled in shock. The wildly convulsing body suddenly seemed to freeze. Slowly blinking, the creature grasped Kwak Soohwan’s wrist with both hands.
“…Se, …hwa?”
The unclear sound came from its mouth, but Kwak Soohwan heard it. Seokhwa had called it Sunbae, and the creature had said Seokhwa’s name.
“Se, Sunbae?”
Seokhwa struggled to his feet, supporting himself on the floor. He had thought it was an Adam attack. But the attacker was none other than Oh Yangseok’s son, his superior, Oh Cheongwoon.
“…Hwa…ya…”
Sunbae reached out, calling desperately.
“…Can’t… breathe… Seok…hwa.”
Should he tell Kwak Soohwan to let go? Was this really Sunbae? Seokhwa was utterly confused.
“Dr. Seok, bring me the flashlight.”
At the clear command, Seokhwa handed him the flashlight that was hanging. Holding the creature by the neck, Kwak Soohwan shone the light on its face. The blood vessels in its eyes had burst, and its lips were caked with dried blood.
“Answer my questions properly from now on.”
“Yes.”
Seokhwa stepped back and drew his gun again.
“No, put that gun away. Do you think you can accurately aim and shoot us both at this distance?”
Feeling that holding it was better than not, Seokhwa didn’t put it away this time.
“Looking at its condition, it seems like an Adam, right?”
“From the outside, yes.”
“But have Adams ever spoken like us? Was there ever such a research finding?”
“Not until I went to Jeju Island. And I haven’t heard such reports from other researchers.”
Oh Cheongwoon, whose neck was being held, made strange animalistic sounds, repeatedly saying he couldn’t breathe. He looked emaciated, like a mummy. However, his pronunciation was gradually improving. Kwak Soohwan, sensing something was off, pulled out his radio from inside his uniform and spoke into it.
“This is Code Number 3121 Major Kwak Soohwan. We’ve found what seems to be an Adam at Oh Yangseok’s residence in Sector 13 Red Zone. It appears to be capable of communication. Requesting immediate support from the Adam recovery team.”
[Copy that.]
The response came back promptly.
“If you keep choking him like that, he might die…”
Seokhwa was still confused. Was he human? Adam? Had Sunbae gone mad with grief after Oh Yangseok’s death?
Growls and cries echoed around them, blending into a cacophony of desperation.
Kwak Soohwan pushed the wildly flailing creature against the wall. Its blood-soaked teeth clattered as it tried to bite, but this was no longer something that could be called human. It was an Adam, and it had its eyes fixed on Seokhwa with a predatory gleam. Just as Kwak Soohwan was about to plunge his knife into its eye without a second thought, he hesitated. He spun the knife in his hand and glanced back at Seokhwa.
“You said you knew this person?”
Seokhwa nodded slowly.
“This is an Adam, right?”
If they delayed their judgment even for a second, they themselves could become Adams.
‘Show no mercy to anything suspected of being an Adam. Kill it immediately. Even if it’s your parents, they are no longer human.’
This was drilled into them at the training center. However, humanity nearly faced extinction because emotions made that simple judgment difficult to make.
“Dr. Seok.”
Seokhwa nodded again, though uncertain. The fact that they could even have this conversation in front of a raging Adam was bewildering. He now understood why the military couldn’t easily let go of someone as uncontrollable as Major Kwak Soohwan, and why Lt. Col. Jang went to great lengths to protect him. Kwak Soohwan not only protected others from the Adam that lunged at them but also subdued it in an instant. If not for him, Seokhwa might have already been killed by his Sunbae.
“Dr. Seok, don’t resent me. These things were once someone’s acquaintances, neighbors, and family.”
With a swift motion, Kwak Soohwan ended the Adam’s life. More precisely, he stopped its movements completely.
***
[Adam 7th Mutation Report: It seems Adams are developing intelligence.]
They were on their way back to the Yeouido shelter.
Seokhwa was reviewing the research notes Oh Yangseok had personally compiled. After a while, he pulled another chocolate bar from his backpack and ate it, following it with a pill. The water bottle he had filled was now almost empty.
“Don’t you need to pee?”
“I don’t need to go.”
“I do.”
It was when they entered the green zone. Kwak Soohwan stopped the car and got out. Seokhwa turned his attention back to the report.
[It seems that Adam has finally started to speak. My …… has started to speak.]
Could he not bear to write down the name?
Seokhwa could easily infer who the speaking Adam was. It would be Oh Yangseok’s son, and his own Sunbae.
[The amazing truth about Eden. The higher-ups don’t want it.]
He couldn’t understand what that meant. He turned to the next page, but there was no further mention of it.
When Kwak Soohwan, who had gone out, got back into the car, he was wiping his hands with a wet tissue. Usually expressionless, Seokhwa blinked rapidly this time.
A person who relieves himself anywhere wipes his hands afterward…
As he stared blankly, he saw the Adam retrieval team vehicle passing by in the opposite lane. The headlights they shone cast shadows on Kwak Soohwan’s smooth face.
“It seems that the injection Dr. Seok researched has side effects.”
All the researchers would unanimously say that while his personality was terrible, he was handsome. Seokhwa suddenly understood why. Holding the steering wheel lightly, Kwak Soohwan continued talking to Seokhwa.
“It keeps causing erections.”
Seokhwa slumped his shoulders as if he was exhausted. It seemed like it was the end of the day for him.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
He closed his eyes and squeezed out his voice with effort.
“Don’t bring it to my mouth…”
He placed his hands on his backpack and soon fell asleep with his mouth open. Kwak Soohwan, who was watching Seokhwa with his arms resting on the steering wheel, let out a short laugh.
Cars have various fuel efficiencies. Some looked great but had poor fuel efficiency, while others, though not stylish, saved fuel. The jeep Kwak Soohwan drove was a military-issued one with excellent fuel efficiency. Even in an era of extreme fuel and power conservation, there was little inconvenience. At least, that was the case for those living in the green zone.
“In that sense, Dr. Seok is like a gas guzzler.”
A car that consumes a lot of fuel but is breathtakingly beautiful.
Even when they arrived at the shelter parking lot, Kwak Soohwan did not turn off the engine. He admired Seokhwa, who was quietly asleep with his arms on the steering wheel. The jeep didn’t have air conditioning that used fuel, but the heater worked fine. The car’s interior gradually fogged up with the heat inside, the cold of the underground parking lot, and their breaths.
His gaze lowered gradually to Seokhwa’s thigh. He thought Seokhwa only cared about rocks, but he was holding the report dearly. It wasn’t a research report taken from Oh Yangseok’s study but a document from the basement where Adam had emerged.
“Are you going down?”
Kwak Soohwan confirmed once again that Adam’s body was completely motionless. He stabbed the other eye with a knife, twisted it, and flicked the blood off the knife. Seokhwa visibly turned pale, but that was just how the scene was.
“Dr. Seok?”
Seokhwa, who looked like he might collapse any moment, approached Kwak Soohwan, leaning against the wall. He avoided looking at the sprawled body, wanting to be far from Adam.
“I have to go down… and check.”
Kwak Soohwan, holding the flashlight again, illuminated the basement stairs where Adam had leaped out. If there were more of them, they would have attacked by now, but to ensure safety, Kwak Soohwan descended first. The basement was filled with the stench of rotting flesh, so Seokhwa, following behind, breathed only through his mouth.
The basement floor illuminated by the flashlight was stained with dried blood, and at the far end were broken chains. The desk lamp was off, but it looked as if someone had just been there, with a pen and papers on it. However, the pen, left uncapped, had long dried up like the blood on the floor.
Seokhwa approached the desk and quickly packed the research materials back into his backpack. He hurried because he wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
Was it really Adam? After the Doctor died, had his Sunbae, trapped in the basement, gone mad from hunger and seemed like Adam? He had definitely spoken, right?
Perhaps… he had killed a Sunbae who was a human.
When Kwak Soohwan Major asked if it was Adam, Seokhwa had nodded, making him a co-conspirator. His head throbbed as he tightened his grip on the backpack straps.
“Let’s go up now.”
This time, too, Kwak Soohwan led the way, and Seokhwa followed. The question of whether it was a human or Adam repeatedly crossed his mind. Seokhwa approached his fallen Sunbae to collect a blood sample.
“There was a rumor.”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm.
“A rumor?”
“That the old man’s son had become an Adam. After visiting the violet zone, the son never appeared in the lab again. People kept asking the old man where his son was. Every time, he said his son was sick. Seeing this, I understand why. The Doctor couldn’t kill his son who had mutated into an Adam and locked him up instead.”
“It might not be Adam…”
“Really? Then I’ve gone from a liquor thief to a murderer?”
Kwak Soohwan’s indifferent tone made Seokhwa feel he was certain the Sunbae was an Adam. This reassurance eased Seokhwa’s anxiety a bit.
“The Adam retrieval team is coming, so we’ll find out if I’m a murderer or not.”
“If the Sunbae is…”
“Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan cut him off.
“Even if Dr. Seok had told me not to kill him, I would have done it anyway, so the result would have been the same. If this is a crime, it’s my solo act.”
As he lifted the backpack strap, he started walking on tiptoe. He went down to the jeep in that state, and on the way back, he confirmed that Kwak Soohwan’s words were probably correct by looking at the materials Oh Yangseok had left in the basement.
Then, with his body exhausted, he dozed off and had a dream about Oh Yangseok for the first time in a while.
In the dream, Oh Yangseok was hurriedly packing something into a briefcase. Looking nervously around the lab, Oh Yangseok quickly turned around a pillar to head outside.
Bang! A single gunshot rang out, and the Doctor collapsed to the floor. Dark red blood gradually spread around him. A man in black clothes and black shoes approached Oh Yangseok’s body and casually took the briefcase from the Doctor’s hands. After wiping the blood off the briefcase, the man finally pulled down his black mask.
It was none other than Major Kwak Soohwan.
“Ugh!”
Startled awake, he saw another hand trying to take the document from his grip. It felt like that hand was stained with dark red blood, but it was just a black leather glove.
“…What are you doing?”
Seeing the image of Kwak Soohwan taking Oh Yangseok’s briefcase in the dream made him wary.
“I just thought I’d take a look at what this is.”
Seokhwa slowly closed and opened his eyes, trying to shake off the drowsiness. Although it didn’t matter if Kwak Soohwan looked at it, the dream left him feeling uneasy. After all, it was just a dream, right? There was no need to insist, so he handed over the research materials to Kwak Soohwan.
Contrary to his actions, Kwak Soohwan didn’t look at the documents but turned off the engine. It was almost midnight. Since there was no traffic, he hadn’t woken Seokhwa even after arriving. Seokhwa followed behind Kwak Soohwan, who had gotten out first, and spoke up.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Kwak Soohwan turned around as if asking why he was being called. Seokhwa hesitated, looking like he was going to say something like “Thank you” or “You worked hard.”
“…I will also become an accomplice.”
What kind of nonsense was that?
“Dr. Seok, while you were asleep with your mouth open, we got a radio call from the Adam retrieval team. Given that the Military Police didn’t arrest me, isn’t the answer clear?”
“They confirmed it was Adam?”
“More than that, they questioned if the two of us are sane. They wondered how Adam could speak.”
Right. Even he wouldn’t have believed it if someone said Adam had spoken.
Before getting into the elevator, they were checked for identification, and Kwak Soohwan pressed the button for the floor where their rooms were. But Seokhwa also pressed the button for the research floor. With a low sigh, Kwak Soohwan canceled the floor he had pressed.
“After all the sleep, you still want to go to the lab.”
[Opening at the 18th floor.]
It was simultaneous with Kwak Soohwan’s words. The elevator stopped at the 18th floor, and the door opened.
“Huh?”
A uniformed Major stepped in, then paused with a surprised look. He then laughed heartily, reeking of alcohol. It was Yang Sanghoon, an army Major and Kwak Soohwan’s colleague, who was off duty from today until tomorrow.
“Well, if it isn’t Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Yang Sanghoon pressed the button for the 27th floor and then blew his breath in Kwak Soohwan’s face.
“Smell that alcohol?”
Want a drink? He drunkenly rambled. Kwak Soohwan felt the urge to punch him in the mouth, but fighting in this cramped box could scare Seokhwa to death. Even if he wasn’t a freshwater crayfish, hitting him in the wrong place would bring Colonel Jang’s nagging.
“Dr. Seok, do you have a stone among the ones you’ve collected that could be used as a gravestone?”
“I don’t have anything that big.”
Seokhwa just shook his head once.
“Then we’ll have to use a pebble for this guy’s tombstone. Yang Sanghoon the shorty, dies here after picking a fight with Kwak Soohwan while drunk. His thing is pebble-sized, so that should be enough.”
“What? You brat! Want to see how big it is?”
As he said that, he unzipped his pants and flashed his lower half. Kwak Soohwan quickly lifted his boot to stomp on the dirty sight.
“It’s bigger than a pebble.”
Seokhwa replied expressionlessly, making Yang Sanghoon shake his thing as if wagging a tail.
“Right? Mine’s like a rock, huh? But you acknowledge my size, right? No! In our shelter, with this face!”
As Yang Sanghoon leaned in, Kwak Soohwan stepped in front of him, and the elevator door opened simultaneously.
“When a rock breaks, it turns to sand, right?”
Kwak Soohwan pushed Yang Sanghoon’s lower half out of the elevator with his boot.
“Aargh! Damn it! Hey! Aargh!”
Yang Sanghoon, clutching his stomped lower half, tried to charge back in, but the door closed just in time. The smell of alcohol still lingered heavily inside.
“Dr. Seok, that’s how people become when they drink. Not me.”
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
As soon as they arrived on the 34th floor, Seokhwa called him.
“Forget telling me to sleep first. I have to escort you to your room anyway.”
“When a rock breaks, it becomes a stone. When a stone breaks, it becomes a pebble.”
Seokhwa, who had been hiding behind him in the red zone, now walked ahead confidently in the research wing.
“Damn, he really is a stone Doctor with all this stone talk.”
Although there had been a minor commotion in the elevator, Seokhwa still felt uneasy.
He had requested confirmation from the Adam retrieval team once again and was waiting for their response. He took a pill from the second compartment of the pillbox on his desk.
[Clinical Trial 2 for Stamina Enhancement]
There were six bottles of stamina enhancement clinical trial pills on Seokhwa’s desk. However, his stamina never improved as much as the soldiers’.
Oh Yangseok’s research notes.
Specifically, the 7th Adam mutation journal had bloodstains here and there, making some parts hard to decipher. He didn’t know whose blood it was, but he speculated it might be his senior’s. If it was Adam’s blood, it would be troubling, but dried blood did not transmit the infection.
The Adam virus was an antigen that actively spread only in living organisms, meaning it only spread when the body was functional. Eating Adam’s blood didn’t cause infection; it only happened if the virus penetrated the bloodstream. Moreover, Oh Yangseok had been conducting mutation research with him. They had been studying soldiers with peculiarities, but oddly, there were no records of Kwak Soohwan.
Seokhwa, having missed dinner, was eating a soy sandwich when he noticed the phone ringing.
“Yes, this is Seokhwa from the research wing.”
[Ah, Dr. Seok? Regarding the body recovered from the 13th Red Zone. You asked if it was really Adam?]
“Yes. Is it really Adam?”
[It’s confirmed. The blood coagulation reaction alone indicates it’s Adam’s blood. But did Major Kwak Soohwan also ask if Adam spoke?]
“…It seemed that way.”
[It seemed that way?]
There was a doubtful tone from the Adam retrieval team.
“If it’s confirmed to be Adam, I’ll hang up now.”
[Wait a moment!]
Hearing the urgent shout, Seokhwa paused and kept the phone to his ear.
[Oh, it seems he hung up. But you said the Doctor is a different story compared to Major Kwak Soohwan.]
Thinking the other side believed he had hung up, they continued speaking freely.
What did they mean by saying the Doctor is a different story compared to Major Kwak Soohwan? Seokhwa pressed the receiver closer to his ear, but all he heard was the click of the other side hanging up. Staring at the receiver for a moment, Seokhwa then returned it to its original place.
He rolled a pearl-like, mysteriously colored stone in his hand on the desk. He thought it was best to organize the mixed-up journals in order, so he began reading the countless papers one by one.
Though his stamina was lacking compared to others, fortunately, anything he read was stored in his brain like a photograph. Since Oh Yangseok’s journal was neither sequential nor complete, he expected it would take some time.
Even thinking about it, the idea that Adam had spoken seemed like madness, just as Kwak Soohwan had suggested. However, the voice of his senior calling his name wouldn’t easily fade.
Ring, ring, ring-
Seokhwa looked up from the journal. Someone was repeatedly pressing the bell outside the lab. He got up from his seat and walked to the central pillar. Looking out through the transparent glass, he saw Kwak Soohwan in uniform. Instinctively, he lowered his gaze to Kwak Soohwan’s hands, wondering if he was holding a gun— a remnant of his lingering dream.
Instead, Kwak Soohwan was holding a whiskey bottle in one hand and a glass in the other. When Seokhwa looked at him, puzzled, he grinned and gestured for him to open the door.
Instead of opening the door, Seokhwa spoke into the intercom speaker.
“What’s the matter?”
[I brought some whiskey to cheer you up.]
Kwak Soohwan shook the whiskey bottle behind the glass.
“I don’t drink.”
[I went through a lot to get this from Major Yang. Won’t you join me?]
Seokhwa lowered his gaze for a moment.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, please verify your identity first.”
He placed his five fingers on the glass door.
<32-year-old Major Kwak Soohwan, Rainbow City>
‘Do you permit entry?’ appeared on the intercom display. When Seokhwa permitted, the double glass doors opened sequentially.
“Dr. Seok, you’re really cold. You could’ve just let me in without the ID check.”
Though he seemed to walk loosely, the sound of his boots was clear.
“That’s because Oh Yangseok also died here.”
“Well, being cautious isn’t a bad thing.”
“But why did you want to come in?”
“I told you, I really brought the whiskey to cheer you up.”
Seokhwa glanced around the lab and then pointed outside.
“Then let’s move somewhere else, not the lab.”
“Weren’t you planning to work?”
“Yes.”
Unable to wait, Kwak Soohwan opened the whiskey bottle, filled the glass, and handed it to Seokhwa while he drank straight from the bottle.
“Work. I’ll drink using you as a snack.”
So much for cheering him up. It seemed he intended to use him as an excuse to drink freely. Seokhwa considered sending him away but turned back to his desk since he had let him in. At that moment, there was a click—the sound of a gun being loaded. Though it was a single click from a semi-automatic pistol, Seokhwa felt a sense of defeat as he remembered where he had put his gun. It was neatly stored in the drawer since he had returned.
Seokhwa didn’t know why Kwak Soohwan had loaded his pistol. That was likely the same for the murdered Oh Yangseok. The difference was that there was an access record of Kwak Soohwan entering this place. The CCTV aside, the main server, Mother, which managed access, had never shut down. It was the core system of the shelter.
Therefore, even on the day Oh Yangseok was murdered, the access records were intact.
Seokhwa took a deep breath and turned around. He was worried that the muzzle might be pointed at him, but in Kwak Soohwan’s hands, there was only a bottle of whiskey and an empty glass.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“What?”
Kwak Soohwan licked his whiskey-wet lips with his tongue.
“Why did you just load the gun?”
Seokhwa asked directly, as he always did.
“The gun?”
“Yes, I heard the sound of a gun being loaded.”
Kwak Soohwan frowned slightly and then drank more whiskey.
“This is technically a gun too.”
He pointed to his lower body, specifically his unbuckled belt. Seokhwa had mistaken the sound of him unbuckling his uniform belt for loading a gun. Feeling slightly embarrassed, Seokhwa walked to his desk without making any further excuses. Kwak Soohwan followed slowly, laughing incredulously.
“It turns out Dr. Seok has paranoia too.”
“I had a dream. A dream where Major Kwak Soohwan killed Oh Yangseok.”
“A nonsense dream.”
“Seems so.”
Seokhwa admitted plainly and put the whiskey glass down on the desk, staring at the untouched drink.
If it really was a consolation drink, maybe Kwak Soohwan was kinder than he seemed. He seemed different from the other soldiers Seokhwa had seen before heading to Jeju Island.
Soldiers were said to be inhuman, but they had to mercilessly kill those who were once human. Because of this, some suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or couldn’t endure and were discharged. Being discharged was effectively expulsion from the Green Zone, so many remained in the military reluctantly.
Seokhwa picked up the glass instead of checking Oh Yangseok’s journal. He tasted the drink with the tip of his tongue, finding the taste still unfamiliar and strange.
“Who’s calling whom a dog?”
Kwak Soohwan pointed at Seokhwa, who was tasting the drink with his tongue.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, you drink it all. I’m done.”
Seokhwa offered the glass, but Kwak Soohwan drank only from his bottle. He sat on Seokhwa’s desk, looking down at the scattered journal.
“I gave you access permission, but….”
He trailed off and chewed on the leftover soy sandwich.
“Even if I grant permission, you can’t enter without approval from the central control system.”
Even soldiers affiliated with the shelter couldn’t freely enter research labs with critical data. But Kwak Soohwan was one of the soldiers allowed entry.
“Is that your way of saying I’m a superior officer who gets special treatment?”
If he kept drinking like that, he’d soon be drunk. Half of the whiskey was already gone.
“No, I just find it intriguing.”
“It means I’m an exceptional talent, so finish that disgusting protein sandwich.”
“I just spoke with the Adam retrieval team. They confirmed it was indeed Adam….”
“It looks like both of us will be treated as crazies.”
Kwak Soohwan twirled his finger by his temple.
Seokhwa was about to mention something odd he’d heard but stopped. He couldn’t have misheard, but without fully understanding the context, it was pointless to bring it up.
“It’s certain that Oh Yangseok’s son was Adam, and he spoke. That’s why Dr. Seok is troubled and still uneasy.”
He gave a knowing smile.
“Did you know him well?”
“We only had a few meals together. We weren’t close.”
“Dr. Seok prefers stones over people, right?”
“That’s not true.”
Seokhwa didn’t expect a response but said he liked people more than stones.
Kwak Soohwan looked away from Oh Yangseok’s scattered journal. He was certain it was Adam, so he killed him, but there was still a nagging feeling. Despite having killed enough Adams to fill the shelter with their corpses, none had ever spoken like a person. If the Adam virus had mutated again, distinguishing between people and Adams would become extremely difficult.
“When someone you know dies in front of you, it’s normal to feel unsettled. So drink that in one go and forget it.”
Seokhwa just held the glass tightly with both hands at the unexpected consolation. The liquid in the round glass rippled like the calm sea of Jeju Island. Only then did his hands begin to tremble.
Was he scared? Yes. Was he sad to see his senior die like that? Yes. But his expressionless face showed no emotions.
“Major.”
“Yes?”
“I might pass out.”
Kwak Soohwan tilted his head, wiping the spilled drink from his mouth with the back of his hand.
“My liver doesn’t process alcohol well.”
He didn’t add that this was why he didn’t drink, but Kwak Soohwan understood.
Here is the translation of the provided Korean text into English:
“Dr. Seok, life must be pretty boring for you.”
Seokhwa looked back down at the glass of amber-colored liquor. Talking with Kwak Soohwan had somehow stopped his hands from trembling.
“Yeah. My life is not very interesting.”
Seokhwa downed the contents of the glass in one gulp. Without taking a breath, all that remained was a sharp sensation on his lips and tongue. The last time he had drunk alcohol was when his mother had passed away. Still, drinking like this wasn’t as bad as he had expected.
“Are you okay?”
Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa with surprised eyes.
“Better than I thought.”
Apart from the burning sensation in his throat, it was tolerable. Kwak Soohwan leaned in closer to check Seokhwa’s condition. His gaze seemed to ask if he was going to die.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“What? Do you feel like throwing up?”
“No.”
Shaking his head made him feel a bit dizzy. Seokhwa took a deep breath and exhaled a hot sigh.
“Fortunately, the third clinical trial drug seems to be effective. Major, have you ever heard of milk thistle? It has some amazing medicinal properties. I wanted to try drinking, so I extracted silymarin from milk thistle seeds and made a liver regeneration drug. Considering I drank this much whiskey and I’m still fine, it seems to have worked.”
Seokhwa was speaking at 1.5 times his usual speed. However, contrary to his words, his face was gradually flushing, and his eyes were becoming drowsy. Whether it was the milk thistle or whatever, it was clear that the drug Seokhwa made was of little use. His body, seated on the chair, was slowly slumping like melted jelly.
“Dr. Seok, are you really okay?”
Seokhwa managed to get up, drag his chair to the desk, and grab a pen. Holding a container labeled [Liver Support Clinical 3] in one hand, he began scribbling something.
Wondering what he was doing, Kwak Soohwan watched as Seokhwa’s pen suddenly trailed upward. Seokhwa then collapsed onto the desk.
[Whiskey approximately 150ml, lasted about 5 minutes….]
It looked like a dying message.
Worried that Seokhwa might really be dead, Kwak Soohwan extended his index finger to feel for breath under Seokhwa’s nose and used a cold towel to wipe the burning forehead and face. Despite his efforts, the fever didn’t subside, so he unbuttoned Seokhwa’s shirt.
For someone who roamed around under the sun looking for stones, his skin was remarkably untanned.
The skin under his fingertips was excessively smooth. He slid his hand down to the hollow of his navel and then clenched his fist.
When he saw Seokhwa on Sehwa Beach, he thought Seokhwa was his type but gave him only socks because he seemed like a fool. Yet he turned out to be a genius worthy of replacing the chief researcher. Touching him would only cause trouble.
Kwak Soohwan went to the bathroom, soaked a towel in cold water, came back, and finished taking off Seokhwa’s shirt. He raised Seokhwa’s arm to tuck the towel under his armpit and let out a chuckle. He touched the smooth part of Seokhwa’s skin and placed the towel. The sudden cold made Seokhwa frown and try to remove the towel, but Kwak Soohwan crossed Seokhwa’s arms to restrain him and waited for the fever to subside. Seokhwa finally opened his eyes slowly.
“Are you feeling a bit better? Want some water?”
As he released his grip and went to get water, something flew and hit him from behind. It was the wet towel he had placed under Seokhwa’s armpit.
“Your fever is quite high,” Kwak Soohwan started to say, but then scratched his eyebrows awkwardly. Seokhwa, lying on his back, began wriggling and shedding his clothes.
He took off his shirt, pulled down his pants and briefs, and spread his limbs wide open. This slow process of undressing was like watching an animal shedding its skin in real-time. Now completely naked, Seokhwa lay with his arms and legs spread out. Kwak Soohwan didn’t know that this was one of Seokhwa’s sleeping habits due to his high body temperature.
Kwak Soohwan pressed his hand against his forehead and turned away. He had brought Seokhwa to his room since he couldn’t leave him alone.
“Look. Who’s the real dog here?”
Leaving Seokhwa there wasn’t an option either; he feared he’d find a corpse the next morning. Although Seokhwa was older than him, he seemed insecure. Maybe it was because his physical condition was so poor, or perhaps the sight of his pale face when he killed Oh Cheongwoon was still fresh in his memory.
Kwak Soohwan soaked two towels in cold water again and approached Seokhwa. He spread the towels over Seokhwa’s upper and lower body and pulled up a chair to sit.
Suddenly, he craved a cigarette intensely. With no cigarettes at hand, he just kept drinking the remaining whiskey. Suddenly, the mood light flickered, signaling a power supply issue. Even in the safest and most affluent shelter, power outages were not uncommon.
“My life is pretty boring too, Dr. Seok.”
The towels quickly heated up with Seokhwa’s fever.
Seokhwa’s family had been native to Jeju Island for generations. His great-grandparents were all from Jeju Island, and his grandmother had also married a man from Jeju.
“That day was truly horrific. Those sailors from the mainland brought their ships and swarmed into Jeju port, and the military fired warning shots to make them go back. But those people came to survive, so would they turn back? Just when it was about to turn into utter chaos, the military shot and killed them all. As many people who had become ‘Adams’ died as did ordinary people. The sea, which had been blue, turned blood-red.”
The state of emergency was declared the year the Adams appeared, and all ships and maritime activities around islands like Jeju and Ulleungdo were temporarily halted under military control.
This was a desperate effort to protect areas free from the virus, but many who headed to the islands in desperation to survive were sacrificed. Seokhwa’s grandmother often said that they were simply lucky to have survived.
Seokhwa’s mother was a precious daughter born late to his grandparents. She had to be put in an incubator due to premature birth, but hospitals had long since lost their former capabilities. Though the grandparents’ devoted efforts saved the dying child, Seokhwa’s mother remained frail all her life. People said it was a miracle that she managed to give birth to Seokhwa.
“…Upon observation, Seokhwa seems to lack emotions. We don’t know when it started, but special people have begun to be born, haven’t they? People who are a bit different from ordinary people… Seokhwa showed outstanding academic performance, so we sent him to the S-Class run by the research center, but many there had similar personal opinions to mine. I wonder if Seokhwa lacks emotions…”
“That’s a rude thing to say. Seokhwa thinks and feels just like everyone else. He just avoids forming deep relationships with people because he knows he’s weak. If he gets too close, he’ll end up being a burden to others. Thank you for your concern, but please leave now.”
“Mother, Seokhwa will move to the Rainbow City research center after completing the S-Class courses. Judging by the current situation, three months should be enough to master them. What we need now are talents, nothing else. You know this, Mother. Seokhwa must leave Jeju. It’s fine now because you’re here, but if he moves to the Rainbow City research center, Seokhwa will need to build relationships with people who can help him.”
“Do you think Seokhwa is living without difficulty because I’m here? You’re mistaken, Doctor. It’s actually the opposite.”
His head was buzzing. His grandmother’s voice mingled with the voices of the doctor and his mother, who were in charge of the Jeju education center, creating a chaotic mix. It was like being submerged in a black sea, with only the buzzing voices audible. Then he felt someone cutting his hair, the sensation was unmistakable.
“Seoul will be dangerous. Don’t go outside the Green Zone, understood?”
His mother patted his shoulder after neatly cutting his hair.
“Don’t sacrifice yourself to save others. Your safety comes first.”
“…I understand.”
“When you go to Seoul, make sure to find someone at the research center who will help you. Remember how you suddenly collapsed and had a concussion recently? Though you’ve gotten better, still…”
“I will.”
His mother worried about him, but Seokhwa worried about his mother in turn.
Suddenly, he felt nauseous. It felt like the floor was shaking just like the day he left Jeju by boat. As he tossed and turned, something cold was placed on his forehead and body, and he felt a bit better.
Seokhwa slowly calmed his breathing and touched his forehead. It was a damp towel. He opened his eyes and looked around.
The familiar blue ceiling and windowless room, with a bathroom near the entrance, indicated it was a familiar type of lodging. However, the positions of the desk and table were different from his room. Looking at the table with a few books piled on it, he turned his gaze to the bedside. There was Kwak Soohwan.
Kwak Soohwan was sitting on a chair, looking down at a book. No, he was actually reading, judging by the way he turned the pages. The sound of him turning one, two pages was pleasant. After about ten pages, Kwak Soohwan looked up. The moment their eyes met, he widened his eyes a bit. He was just about to change the towel.
“You’re awake? How are you feeling?”
“…I’m okay.”
Seokhwa answered while still lying down, unable to get up easily.
“Are you reading a book?”
Kwak Soohwan closed the book with a thud and held it in one hand.
“Does it look strange for an uneducated guy to read print? How about dropping that prejudice?”
Kwak Soohwan put the book on the table, grabbed the towel, and rinsed it with cold water again. Unlike earlier, he simply threw it over to Seokhwa. Seokhwa thanked him and placed the cold towel on his body.
“I’m here to protect Dr. Seok, but doesn’t this feel like nursing?”
Seokhwa managed to sit up, leaning against the bed headboard. He realized then that he was completely naked. Fortunately, the towel covered both his upper and lower body, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
This time, Kwak Soohwan handed him lukewarm water. Seokhwa drank it very slowly from the glass, which was half full. Kwak Soohwan was wearing a plain black military-issued T-shirt and comfortable-looking pants, with dog tags hanging around his neck, which Seokhwa hadn’t noticed before.
As he drank the water, Seokhwa stared at the dog tags, and Kwak Soohwan lifted them. The front had the mark of Rainbow City—a goshawk—and the back had his identification details.
[Army code major – 3121 Kwak Soohwan]
It was also used to identify deceased soldiers.
“Earlier… What were you reading?”
“Don’t you have any pride, Dr. Seok?”
Seokhwa sighed and put the cup down beside him.
“I do.”
“You know I’m younger than you, right? But I’m speaking informally, and you keep addressing me respectfully.”
“Would you speak respectfully if I told you to?”
“No. Since I met you on Jeju, I thought you were a kid.”
He was about to tell Kwak Soohwan to speak respectfully but lacked the energy and just sighed. Seokhwa moved to the wall and lay down again.
“You probably didn’t sleep because of me, so sleep beside me.”
Though it was a double bed, it was quite cramped for two people.
“Don’t you want to go back to your room?”
“…No.”
“Do you want me to carry you?”
Seokhwa didn’t answer and turned his back to the wall. Showing his bare back with no intention to cover himself, it seemed he was just too tired to care about anything. Kwak Soohwan, also tired, crossed his arms, took off his shirt, and lay down on the bed. There was just enough space to avoid touching, and Seokhwa was still covered with the towel.
Seokhwa’s side of the bed was still warm and damp from his body heat.
Kwak Soohwan crossed his arms and looked at Seokhwa’s back. Specifically, his gaze landed on Seokhwa’s round, firm buttocks, and he chuckled quietly.
“It seems like there’s an issue with the suppressant Dr. Seok developed, doesn’t it?”
Seokhwa, who had been reluctant to respond, showed interest and turned around, causing Kwak Soohwan’s erect penis to brush against Seokhwa’s bare thigh.
“…When did you take the suppressant?”
“Yesterday, by the calendar.”
Seokhwa blinked slowly, then pressed his palm against the bed to raise his upper body. As he stared intently at the erection, Kwak Soohwan, feeling mischievous, rubbed it with his hand.
“I’m telling you, there’s a side effect.”
Seokhwa’s expression was unreadable, but his deep, black eyes were filled with thought. He seemed to ponder deeply, as if genuinely considering whether there was a problem with the suppressant. After a long moment, he spoke abruptly.
“Let me see.”
“What?”
Kwak Soohwan was both teasing and startled.
Seokhwa, with a serious expression, crawled out of bed and gestured for Kwak Soohwan to sit up. He then sat on the floor himself.
“Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan, taken aback, voiced his confusion, but Seokhwa was already unzipping his pants.
“You’re not a urologist, so why are you looking at my dick…”
With a swift tug, Seokhwa pulled down Kwak Soohwan’s briefs. His penis, which had been hardening more assertively with each touch, sprang free. Seokhwa slowly rubbed his chin.
“Major Kwak Soohwan’s penis…just hit my chin.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
Kwak Soohwan ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
“Can you ejaculate?”
Seokhwa’s tone was completely serious. Kwak Soohwan, still somewhat intoxicated from earlier, thought the situation was absurd—a researcher pulling out his dick to investigate a suppressant.
“I don’t know.”
Nodding as if he understood, Seokhwa moved to pull the briefs back up. Just then, Kwak Soohwan grabbed his wrist firmly.
“Why don’t you try sucking it?”
The light flickered off, then on again, revealing and concealing Seokhwa’s face. His lips parted slowly.
“…No, that’s disgusting.”
The light went out completely.
Disgusting? That one word deflated Kwak Soohwan’s erection. He almost grabbed Seokhwa’s head to force it down but decided against it. He lay back down with his fly open. His erection was gradually subsiding as Seokhwa crawled over his body to return to his original spot. Kwak Soohwan clicked his tongue in disbelief.
He didn’t even treat Seokhwa as a person, using his body to climb over like that. Seokhwa must have been exhausted to the point where even walking around the bed was too much effort. Luckily, the electricity was completely out. Otherwise, Kwak Soohwan might have grabbed that exposed butt.
“That disgusting thing is on you too, Dr. Seok.”
“Everyone has excretory organs.”
“If you think it’s dirty, you can’t have sex.”
There was a long pause before Seokhwa’s voice drifted in again.
“Jellyfish and sea anemones have the same opening for their mouth and anus. Now that I think about it, maybe it’s not that dirty.”
It was impossible to understand how Seokhwa arrived at that conclusion. The lights finally came on, revealing Seokhwa’s bare back, glistening with sweat. His breathing was quiet, but Kwak Soohwan knew he had fallen asleep because there was no reaction when he ran his hand over Seokhwa’s butt. Kwak Soohwan turned off the mood light. He clasped his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling.
When he was a child, he used to sleep with his parents in a bed even smaller than this. Maybe the lack of discomfort brought back those familiar feelings. Kwak Soohwan brushed off the unnecessary thoughts and closed his eyes. It had been a long time since he slept next to someone.
***
Yeouido Shelter had not always been safe. It had been overrun by the Adam several times.
Rainbow City, divided into zones of seven colors, could have different danger levels even within the same area. Yeouido, currently a green zone, had once been designated red.
“As of 9 o’clock today, Uijeongbu has been downgraded from red to violet.”
Korea, once divided into cities and provinces, had become a city known as Rainbow City after national unification. Many areas were designated as uninhabitable. Though the exact population was unknown, many civilians lived hidden in rugged areas. However, they were not recognized as citizens of Rainbow City.
“Suwon has entered the yellow stage. However, one abnormality has been observed in this Adam.”
Majors deployed in the field and senior officers directing from the shelters gathered in the 53rd-floor military conference room. Major General Park was present as well.
Yang Sanghoon, who had previously exposed himself while drunk, continued the briefing with a straight face. Today was the turn of the Invincible Unit, to which Kwak Soohwan belonged.
“An abnormality?”
Major General Park inhaled deeply from his cigar and exhaled the smoke. Although it was a non-smoking building, no one would challenge the lofty general.
“When attacked and faced with a disadvantageous situation, they retreat.”
“What?”
Major General Park stabbed his cigar into the ashtray.
“They’re not soldiers; why would they retreat?”
“This sign has been observed three times in the 10 Red Zones and twice in the 3 Violet Zones.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“We will gather more accurate data and report back.”
Yang Sanghoon saluted crisply and returned to his seat from the podium.
“Hey, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Kwak Soohwan, who had been sitting with his legs crossed under the table, stood up at Major General Park’s call.
“You brat, what kind of posture is that for a soldier? Try to learn from Major Yang, huh? Where has all the discipline gone?”
He was as nagging as Commander Jang. Even though he was only in his late 40s.
“The Adam Retrieval Team said the Adam you collected from Zone 13 Red talked. Is that true?”
Even though his posture was poor, for once he was impeccably dressed in his military uniform. Kwak Soohwan stood in place instead of going to the podium and began to speak.
“It did talk. It looked almost like a person right before mutating into an Adam. Maybe Oh Cheongwoon’s Adam mutation was much slower than others. Usually, once infected, one mutates into an Adam within 5 to 10 minutes, so it is a bit strange. There were no other Adams underground besides Oh Cheongwoon. It wasn’t spontaneous combustion, and there’s no such thing as a natural Adam transformation, right?”
“Don’t make assumptions, brat. Just report the facts. Soldiers shouldn’t mix their personal opinions into reports.”
Despite his words, Major General Park cared for Kwak Soohwan as much as Commander Jang did.
“Where’s Dr. Seok? I told you to bring him to today’s briefing.”
“He was passed out.”
Butt completely exposed.
“Major Kwak Soohwan! How dare you speak like that in front of the Director!”
Commander Jang, who had been quietly listening, raised his voice.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. That brat’s behavior isn’t new.”
Major General Park waved his hand dismissively, stood up, and picked up an unlit cigar. All the soldiers in the room stood up in unison, facing the Director. The sound of their uniforms rubbing against each other was synchronized.
“Let’s end the meeting here. Kwak Soohwan, you will head out to the field soon. The higher-ups also want this.”
He hadn’t been in detention for more than a few days, acting as Seokhwa’s guard instead. The higher-ups never intended to send Kwak Soohwan to detention in the first place. As Major General Park left the room, Commander Jang approached Kwak Soohwan, but then he received a radio message.
[Commander, Dr. Seok is not in his room. There are no records of him entering the lab today either.]
“What?”
He had ordered someone to bring Seokhwa since Kwak Soohwan didn’t bring him out. But now, he was nowhere to be found?
Commander Jang furrowed his brows and looked at Kwak Soohwan, who just shrugged his shoulders.
“Dr. Seok is in my room.”
“Hey, why is the doctor in your room?”
Lee Chaeyoon, who had been waiting for the right moment to interject, suddenly stuck his face in.
“Did something happen with the doctor last night?”
Commander Jang also looked confused.
“He collapsed right in front of me, so I brought him to my room. I took care of him all night.”
He left out the part about giving him alcohol. After all, it was Seokhwa who drank it.
“If that’s the case, you should have woken him up and brought him here. Is he feeling okay?”
“I don’t know, he wouldn’t wake up.”
He did try tapping him and calling, “Dr. Seok.”
“So, the doctor isn’t dead, right?”
Lee Chaeyoon said worriedly, causing Kwak Soohwan to smile silently. Seokhwa must really seem weak to others. Meanwhile, Yang Sanghoon, who blacked out last night, was casually asking who Dr. Seok was.
***
[The Ways of Love Between Him and Me]
Seokhwa sat on the bed, blinking. He suffered from low blood pressure every morning. As he regained his composure, the title of a book on the table came into view. It seemed to be the book Kwak Soohwan was reading last night.
He sat still until he felt strength return to his legs, then he stood up and reached for ‘The Ways of Love Between Him and Me.’ The cover was adorned with a cosmos flower, and the paper was quite discolored, indicating its age.
Seokhwa absentmindedly flipped through the first few pages, feeling like a touching love story was about to unfold. After reading the beginning, he put the book back and glanced at the spines of other books on the table.
‘Your Scent,’ ‘If We Love Like Us,’ ‘The Shackles of Sexuality,’ ‘One Night with the Teacher.’ It seemed Kwak Soohwan had a fondness for love stories. These were books stored in the shelter, with rental codes written on them. ‘One Night with the Teacher’ was particularly worn out, indicating it had been borrowed many times.
Seokhwa, not entirely disinterested, mentally noted the titles. These books were published when the world was peaceful, and he thought he might read them later.
He figured it was about time to go out…
Beep, beep- The sound from the door drew Seokhwa’s attention.
[Opening.]
The system’s voice announced, and the door opened. Naturally, it was Kwak Soohwan who entered, followed by Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon. Kwak Soohwan suddenly spread his arms wide, blocking the door.
“What are you doing? Move your arms! I can’t see!”
Despite Lee Chaeyoon’s complaints, he maintained his position and spoke.
“Put some clothes on.”
Only then did Seokhwa realize he was completely naked. Despite the embarrassment, he moved slowly like a slug to pick up the clothes from the floor, causing Kwak Soohwan to sigh in exasperation.
There used to be guys in the military who would ask others to pick up the soap. In this situation, Seokhwa was practically inviting trouble. He had no sense of caution, possibly because he was too weak to take care of himself, let alone be aware of his surroundings.
Once Kwak Soohwan confirmed Seokhwa was dressed, he removed his arm from blocking the door. Lee Chaeyoon, having noticed Seokhwa’s state, had been waiting quietly.
As Seokhwa walked out, he greeted Lee Chaeyoon.
“Hello.”
“Hi, doctor. Are you okay? I heard you collapsed yesterday.”
Seokhwa wondered if all of Kwak Soohwan’s friends were so informal, but it didn’t particularly bother him.
“I’m fine.”
“Hello, Dr. Seok. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Major Yang Sanghoon from the Invincible Platoon.”
From behind Lee Chaeyoon, Yang Sanghoon politely greeted him. Not all of Kwak Soohwan’s friends spoke informally, it seemed. But this wasn’t their first meeting.
“…Rock.”
“Pardon?”
When Seokhwa muttered, Yang Sanghoon widened his eyes.
“Dr. Seok, that guy loses his memory when he drinks. He doesn’t remember anything from last night.”
“What’s a rock?” Yang Sanghoon asked Kwak Soohwan.
“Rock, my ass. You’re a grain of sand, you brat.”
Yang Sanghoon acted as if his groin hurt and brought his hand down there but didn’t actually touch it.
“But why is everyone here….”
Out of nowhere, Lee Chaeyoon made a V sign in front of Kwak Soohwan’s face.
“I heard Adams have been acting strange lately. According to Yang Sanghoon, Adams are moving like people, right? You saw it yourself.”
“It was a bit odd. Usually, they never retreat even when hit, but there were some that ran away.”
Seokhwa tilted his head slightly. Adams running away? When he looked at Kwak Soohwan, he also seemed troubled. The strange phenomenon they experienced with Oh Cheongwoon was unprecedented.
“Anyway, let’s go have breakfast first!”
Doctor, if you’re still feeling unwell, should I give you a piggyback ride? Lee Chaeyoon pointed to her back with a thumbs-up. Seokhwa declined and started walking on his own.
The three Majors adjusted their pace to match Seokhwa’s slower steps. If they were here to talk about the strange behavior of Adams, Kwak Soohwan could have come alone. Joining them for breakfast felt strange.
Before heading down to Jeju Island, Seokhwa had spent a long time living in this shelter. Without Dr. Oh Yangseok, he always ate alone. He never had much chance to get close to the soldiers, and many of them were frustrated by his weak constitution. Seokhwa tried to walk faster but kept to his natural pace, not wanting to waste energy.
Since it was a late breakfast, the dining hall was relatively quiet. However, the remaining food was cold, and the popular kimchi had already run out. Unlike the first day, the dining staff served Seokhwa reasonable portions of rice and side dishes. The rumors about him face-planting into his tray had spread, and someone might have ordered them to give him smaller portions to avoid waste.
“They say the doctor eats like a mouse, but it’s more than that,” Lee Chaeyoon laughed, pointing at Seokhwa’s tray.
Still, I eat more than a mouse… Seokhwa didn’t react and placed his tray on an empty spot. Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon sat across from him, while Kwak Soohwan sat beside him.
“I eat quite slowly,” Seokhwa said before picking up his spoon.
“Really? I eat really fast!”
True to her word, she had already eaten half her food. Yang Sanghoon was no different. Kwak Soohwan, on the other hand, ate at a pace comparable to Seokhwa’s.
“Take your time, Doctor.”
Yang Sanghoon smiled kindly. Seokhwa wanted to smile back, but his lips wouldn’t cooperate. Even smiling took energy, and showing a range of expressions required strength he didn’t have. Though he had improved, he spent his childhood looking blank, his mouth slightly open. To conserve energy, Seokhwa’s facial expressions had regressed.
“Doctor, after breakfast, we need to go to the zoo.”
“The zoo?”
As Seokhwa asked her, Kwak Soohwan slid his water cup towards him. He was indeed thirsty.
“Dr. Seok probably doesn’t even know where the zoo is.”
Did any zoos survive outside Jeju or Ulleungdo? Seokhwa wondered as he drank the water.
“It’s in Zone 8 Red!”
A zoo in the Red Zone? The Adam virus could infect animals too.
“We just call it a zoo. It’s where we keep Adams for research.”
This reminded him of horror and zombie movies, where capturing and experimenting on zombies often led to disaster. But Rainbow City had already experienced many such crises.
About 30 years ago, a soldier suffering from PTSD released the Adams kept underground, causing chaos. Since then, any Adams for research were kept in the Red Zone, not the Green Zone, to prevent risk. They now called this area a zoo, and new terms had arisen in his absence. Seokhwa chewed his food thoroughly before washing it down with more water.
Wiiiiiiing—
Beeeeep— Beeeeep— Beeeep—
A sudden, ear-piercing siren made Seokhwa cover one ear. His eyelids twitched rapidly. This siren shouldn’t sound here, as there shouldn’t be any Adams inside this shelter.
[Emergency, Emergency. A critical situation is reported at the Yeouido Shelter in the Green Zone. Emergency, Emergency. All personnel, prepare for combat. An Adam has appeared in B-23. There is a 75% chance of spreading to the 5th floor within 3 minutes. Emergency, Emergency.]
Mother’s shrill warning blared. This was a first-class emergency alert designated by the Unified Nation. Everyone in the dining hall, including Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon, jumped to their feet. Amidst the chaos, Lee Chaeyoon shoved the remaining food into her mouth. Yang Sanghoon quickly tossed a sausage into her mouth as well.
Seokhwa remained frozen, holding his spoon amidst the bewildering alarm.
“Dr. Seok,” Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm to lift him up, “Do you want to run or get a piggyback ride?”
Despite the chaos, Seokhwa quickly made a decision. Being carried would be easier than running himself. Without a word, he moved behind Kwak Soohwan and wrapped his arms around his neck. He could feel Kwak Soohwan’s body tremble. Why? It turned out he was laughing in disbelief as he hoisted Seokhwa onto his back.
“Let’s go.”
Seokhwa urged him, knowing this was no time to dawdle. In response to the emergency, the elevators had shut down, and the system was closing off sections from the basement upwards. Soldiers trapped below wouldn’t be able to join them and would face the Adams alone, with predictable results. This was why the researchers’ labs were located on the upper floors: they were less capable of evacuating quickly than soldiers.
Kwak Soohwan and his colleagues swiftly ascended to the 48th floor, the final defense line of the Yeouido Shelter. Despite the grueling climb, they maintained their pace without a break. Seokhwa, on the verge of fainting from nausea, struggled to keep up.
[Yeouido Shelter 20th floor annihilated, 48th floor closure countdown: 1 minute. 59, 58, 57…]
Mother’s calm voice contrasted with the blaring sirens.
“Ah, shit! What’s with the fucking countdown!”
A sergeant ahead of Kwak Soohwan cursed at Mother while sprinting up the stairs at an incredible speed.
“Freak, keep dawdling like that, and you’re dead,” Lee Chaeyoon taunted as she raced ahead with Yang Sanghoon. Seokhwa realized he couldn’t go on like this.
“Haa, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“I’m the one running, so why are you out of breath, Dr. Seok?”
“Holding on takes strength too.”
Seokhwa loosened his grip on Kwak Soohwan’s neck.
“…Just leave me here.”
“What am I supposed to tell Commander Jang? There’s no time to argue, so hold on tight.”
They couldn’t both die. Seokhwa tried to push off and stand on his own, but Kwak Soohwan wrapped him in his cape like a bundle.
“I never even carried my little brother like this.”
Kwak Soohwan began running even faster. Seokhwa, giving up on struggling, held on quietly. If he could run like this, he wouldn’t have to rely on others and be a burden, despite his special treatment for being a researcher.
[20, 19, 18]
They were now on the 43rd floor. Reaching the 48th floor in 18 seconds seemed impossible.
“It’s okay, go on without me. There are others who can continue the research.”
“If there were many replacements, would the higher-ups have assigned me to you? Hold on tight.”
Kwak Soohwan gripped the handrail on the 46th floor and used the momentum to leap up the stairs. Seokhwa’s head spun.
[5, 4, 3]
As Mother’s countdown neared zero, Seokhwa felt guilty for putting Kwak Soohwan’s life at risk. Just then, Kwak Soohwan shouted towards the 48th floor.
“Dr. Seok is flying, catch!”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa by the scruff of his neck and threw him forward. Wrapped in the cape, Seokhwa was thrown under the closing iron gate, where Yang Sanghoon caught him.
“Nice catch,” Yang Sanghoon said, giving a thumbs-up for the good pass.
“Freak, go suffer,” Lee Chaeyoon waved leisurely. Even though the Adams were coming, their relaxed demeanor baffled Seokhwa.
“Major… Major Kwak Soohwan is still out there,” Seokhwa, expressionless but pale, stared at Kwak Soohwan outside the gate.
“Listen to me, Dr. Seok. I saved your brilliant mind for humanity’s sake. Don’t forget me, regret not… well, let’s skip that part. Live well,” Kwak Soohwan said earnestly, gripping the gate.
What’s happening? In the few days since arriving in Seoul, a doctor was assassinated, Senior Oh Cheongwoon died, and now the supposedly secure Yeouido Shelter was breached by Adams. Worst of all, Kwak Soohwan was at risk because of him.
His mother always told him not to sacrifice himself for others, but now someone was sacrificing themselves for him.
“Major Kwak Soohwan,” Seokhwa’s lips trembled.
“If only you’d listened, there’d be no regrets. Farewell, Dr. Seok. You’re quite an intriguing person,” Kwak Soohwan teased.
“Is he filming a movie?” Lee Chaeyoon laughed, mocking Kwak Soohwan. The soldiers behind him, who hadn’t made it inside, also looked defeated, cursing instead of preparing for combat.
Yang Sanghoon supported the staggering Seokhwa from behind.
“Are you okay, Dr. Seok?”
“I’m fine, but…” Seokhwa, his shoulders shaking intermittently, answered.
“It’s your first time experiencing this, huh?”
“What?” Seokhwa looked up at Yang Sanghoon with confusion.
“This isn’t real; it’s an emergency drill,” Yang Sanghoon explained.
A drill? Seokhwa’s eyes filled with doubt as he looked at Yang Sanghoon. Feeling a bit guilty, Yang Sanghoon tried to smile.
“It’s just a drill. After the Gangnam Shelter breach, they started these. Soldiers who don’t make it in time get extra training.”
“Freak’s first time, poor guy. Dr. Seok, you know? Once, Freak threw me right at the 48th floor entrance. I had to go through this too. He’s a bad guy,” Lee Chaeyoon chimed in.
Seokhwa still stared at Kwak Soohwan, pale-faced.
“So… this isn’t real?”
Kwak Soohwan, with a handsome smirk, grinned from beyond the gate.
“Did you get scared, Dr. Seok?”
Seokhwa clenched his trembling fist weakly.
“…Son of a bitch.”
[Kwak Soohwan Major and 23 others will enter retraining. Everyone, good job. Please return to your posts.]
Mother’s voice mixed into the scene, causing Kwak Soohwan to doubt if what he heard from Seokhwa was indeed a curse.
***
The CCTV footage showed people moving but captured no sound. In the military training room in the shelter’s basement, soldiers and “Adams” were in the middle of their exercises. Kwak Soohwan, playing the role of an Adam, was seen knocking down soldiers and even attacking his fellow Adams. He grabbed an attacking Adam’s arm, threw him to the ground, and was about to punch him in the face when he remembered it was just a drill and hesitated. Then, he punched an oncoming soldier in the solar plexus.
“If that were a real Adam, we would’ve all been wiped out long ago,” Commander Jang remarked with a mix of exasperation and pride.
“Today’s events turned out well. The soldiers training with Major Kwak Soohwan will benefit, and Major Kwak Soohwan himself will be more diligent from now on.”
Commander Jang knew that Kwak Soohwan could have reached the 48th floor on time even while carrying Seokhwa. Yet, for some reason, Kwak Soohwan chose to join the training he hated instead of completing the climb.
“Excuse me, Dr. Seok,” Commander Jang began.
“Yes?”
Seokhwa took out a snack made of nuts and syrup from his pocket and began eating. Commander Jang continued, slightly puzzled.
“He’s a bit rough but not a bad guy. Major Kwak Soohwan could clear a Red Zone alone. He fights well and is surprisingly clever in battle,” Commander Jang said, tapping his own head.
“So, maybe you should reconsider changing your protector.”
Commander Jang had brought Seokhwa to the training control room after he had requested a change of guard post-drill. Seokhwa had been pale and expressionless, barely holding himself together.
“Look at that! Major Kwak Soohwan is a one-man army,” Commander Jang exclaimed, clapping his hands as he pointed to the screen, implying there was no one stronger or safer than Kwak Soohwan.
With Kwak Soohwan’s victory, the training ended, and he looked up at the surveillance camera among the sprawled soldiers. Though their eyes couldn’t meet, Seokhwa clenched his fist again. Had this been a real emergency, he would have seen Kwak Soohwan mutate into an Adam and lived with that guilt forever. His own helplessness added to his frustration.
“Even if the emergency drill had been real, there would have been no problem,” Commander Jang said, as if reading Seokhwa’s thoughts, with a bitter smile. Seokhwa, having eaten only half the snack, crumpled the wrapper and put it back in his pocket.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” Seokhwa replied.
“As I said, he could handle a Red Zone alone. Even if Adams breached our shelter, he would be safe. You might not know this since you’ve been away from Seoul, but Kwak Soohwan’s unit is called the ‘Invincible Platoon’ for a reason. They’ve never lost in the field. He might be a bit mischievous, but…”
“I understand. Please forget what I said about changing my protector,” Seokhwa conceded.
Commander Jang was relieved that Seokhwa didn’t persist. In this world, cooperation was essential, and stubbornness only caused trouble for others. Seokhwa bowed to Commander Jang and began walking towards his research lab.
Seokhwa had been tense since arriving in Seoul, different from the protected zone in Jeju. He realized that during the drill, researchers and other shelter staff were probably in their designated safe rooms on each floor.
[Doors opening.]
As Seokhwa entered the lab, Dr. Kim looked up in surprise.
“There was an emergency drill earlier. Where were you?” Dr. Kim asked.
“I was in my room. Sorry for being late.”
“I forgot to mention the drill. When it starts, researchers are supposed to move to the emergency elevator at the end of the 34th-floor hallway. Only researchers can access the elevator and wait at the top until the drill ends,” Dr. Kim explained, scratching his cheek sheepishly.
“It’s preparation for a real situation.”
“Well, yes. Our lives depend on the soldiers, and their lives depend on us.”
The development of the vaccine for Adam’s 7th mutation was why researchers were protected in the shelter. Dr. Kim rolled his chair over to Seokhwa, checked the surroundings, and then whispered.
“Do you know about the recent communication issues with overseas branches? Researchers used to exchange studies with them.”
“Yes, I remember.”
Seokhwa had exchanged research with overseas colleagues before.
“I finally contacted a friend in the Chinese branch. It turns out their Adams are still in the pre-7th mutation stage. It seems like only our Rainbow City is isolated.”
Dr. Kim’s usually unremarkable chatter now delivered startling news.
“You mean we can’t contact any overseas branches?”
“Yes, we’re definitely isolated now.”
Global communication networks had long since collapsed. With more than half the population gone, maintaining the infrastructure was impossible. Adams caused further problems by cutting power lines, and abandoned refineries burned for months. Shelters like Yeouido barely maintained power, relying on all available resources. Communication with overseas branches relied on phone, mail, or direct visits, all of which ceased with the 7th mutation.
“By the way, what’s that stone you’re always holding?”
Seokhwa, lost in thought, was absentmindedly rolling a small stone in his hand. It was a habit and a way to cool down due to his warm body temperature.
“It’s just a talisman.”
“Hearing that from you is strange. Remember those stones you collected?”
Dr. Kim asked.
There was a collection of stones stored in a room used for supplies. Since arriving in Seoul, Seokhwa had been too preoccupied to check on them, but he had planned to do so soon. It felt ominous that Dr. Kim brought it up first.
“What about the stones?”
“Dr. Oh Cheongwoon threw them all into the Han River, saying they were in the way. This was before the rumors about him turning into an Adam started.”
Seokhwa, usually called “Stone Doctor” due to his stoic expression and love for stones, visibly frowned at the news.
“Is that so.”
He had taken the smaller stones with him to Jeju, but left the heavier ones here. It was his own fault for leaving them behind, not the fault of those who discarded them. Seokhwa was particularly attached to his stones, among other things.
“Don’t worry too much about it. If I find any nice stones, I’ll give them to you to cheer you up.”
“Thank you. It doesn’t have to be pretty stones. I also like ones with shiny bits inside or rough basalt textures. Just not pieces that have broken off from cement.”
Seokhwa showed the stone he was holding, causing Dr. Kim, who had just been making polite conversation, to nod in surprise.
“Sure, I’ll pick some up if I come across any like that.”
Seokhwa put the stone back in his pocket and stood up. As he trudged towards the opposite lab, he recalled Dr. Oh Yangseok’s journal.
Oh Cheongwoon, who exhibited abnormal behavior and mutation into an Adam, undoubtedly subjected his son to some kind of experiment, likely trying to revert him to human. However, there were no records of this in the journal.
The first to third generation vaccines weakened the Adam virus by continuously cultivating it in eggs, creating immunity like a flu shot. But the fourth-generation Adam virus was more potent, and even the weakened vaccines could not prevent infection. The virus had become unmanageable by the immune system’s memory cells.
Seokhwa knew very little about the seventh mutation. He had planned to visit the place they called the “zoo” for more information, but the emergency drill had interrupted his plans.
Under the microscope, the seventh Adam virus moved differently than before. In the absence of external stimuli, the cells appeared dead. However, with a slight stimulus, they rampaged like madmen.
Watching this, Kwak Soohwan from the video came to mind. As Commander Jang said, he was impressive but seemed as uncontrollable as this virus. Yet, he had thrown Seokhwa to safety before the doors closed. Or perhaps he knew it was a drill and was just toying with him.
Seokhwa felt a sense of relief mixed with anger. It wasn’t a real threat, so surviving the drill should be a good thing. However, he clenched the stone in his pocket tighter.
***
“Still angry, huh.”
Late at night, Kwak Soohwan left the training room, looking the same as usual but with a rougher edge.
“How did you know I’d be here?”
Seokhwa looked down from the now-unused sky lounge. Once praised for its night views, it was now dark.
“I asked around.”
Kwak Soohwan’s neck bore fresh scratches, which he touched when he noticed Seokhwa’s gaze.
“You also asked to change your guard.”
“I retracted that request.”
“Then know that we’re going to the zoo tomorrow.”
Kwak Soohwan turned to leave, brushing dust off a grand piano, and blowing it away.
“Do you know the current middle-class standard in Rainbow City, Dr. Seok?”
Seokhwa remained silent, not wanting to engage.
“It’s how many instruments you can play.”
Playing an instrument implied living in a safe zone, unlike those constantly fleeing danger or living in areas with sound-sensitive Adams.
Kwak Soohwan pressed a low note on the piano. He played a few chords, surprising Seokhwa with how incongruous his military uniform looked at the piano. He stopped playing and frowned slightly.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
As he left the lounge, Seokhwa raised his voice slightly.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“What? I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.”
“According to Commander Jang,” Seokhwa began, fishing out the leftover nuts from his pocket and eating them slowly. He rinsed his mouth with water from the lounge, taking his time.
“The Commander said you could have reached the 48th floor within the time Mother counted.”
“That’s if I was alone.”
“He said you could have done it even carrying me.”
Kwak Soohwan crossed his arms, looking at Seokhwa.
“Sure, maybe even with three Dr. Seoks on my back.”
“There’s only one of me, so that’s not necessary.”
“Fine. Even with all your stones, I could’ve made it.”
“If that happens, please do.”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled.
“So why did you do it today?”
He tilted his head, as if wondering himself. The lounge, once a restaurant, was softly lit, though the lights occasionally flickered.
“To see a different expression on your face.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s hard to tell what you’re thinking with that sullen expression. We haven’t known each other for long, but do you think you’d cry if I died? Earlier, between those bars, your eyes looked like you were thinking, ‘If I’d known Major Kwak Soohwan would die like this, I would have given him a blowjob.'”
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
Kwak Soohwan was only teasing, but Seokhwa’s serious response left him feeling a bit odd. Despite his usual low energy and dazed demeanor, Seokhwa might be more emotional than he seemed. Half the reason Kwak Soohwan was sure of this was because Commander Jang mentioned Seokhwa was very upset.
“Did you call me a bastard earlier?”
“No… I did not.”
With that, Seokhwa pressed his lips together tightly, glanced at the floor once, and then started to leave the lounge, passing by Kwak Soohwan. Kwak Soohwan followed him slowly, easily catching up with his slow steps. They walked down the hallway and into the elevator in silence. Since they were staying on the same floor, they had no choice but to get off at the same place. Seokhwa knew Kwak Soohwan was following him but didn’t look back.
To be honest, Seokhwa had thought that way. If he had known it would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have called it disgusting. There’s a saying that even the dead get their last wishes granted, so maybe he should have obliged when Kwak Soohwan, a soldier always in danger, made such a request. He had considered it for exactly 0.23 seconds. Thus, the feeling of being mocked didn’t fade. It seemed like Kwak Soohwan was looking down on him. Seokhwa didn’t want to show any more dignity, but he didn’t want a repeat of today’s events.
Seokhwa scanned his identity to enter his room.
[Access granted.]
Entering through the open door, Seokhwa finally turned around. He peeked out, looking at Kwak Soohwan, who stood a little way off, watching him.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Why did he drop the honorific? His eerie tone didn’t suit him. Kwak Soohwan, smiling, waited for him to continue.
Seokhwa took a deep breath, holding the door handle from inside. Then he spoke quickly.
“From now on, don’t speak informally to me. And I called you a son of a bitch, not a bastard.”
Kwak Soohwan, caught off guard, let out a puff of air, and the door closed faster than he could run to catch it.
[Closing.]
Unable to open the door, his hand turned into a fist. He lightly knocked on the door. “Son of a bitch.” Kwak Soohwan laughed and shook his head.
Thinking back, the stone doctor had more guts than he thought. Even while believing it was a real situation, he told him to go up without him, twice. People usually want to survive no matter what in life-or-death situations.
Kwak Soohwan was curious about what expression Seokhwa would make if he opened the door, but the surveillance camera blinking there made him think better of it.
“Alright, Dr. Seok. The son of a bitch is leaving. I’ll be back to pick you up in the morning, barking all the way.”
Inside, Seokhwa looked up at the ceiling. Kwak Soohwan kept barking until his voice faded away. He should have ignored him. Feeling drained again, Seokhwa unwrapped the nut bar. The syrup had melted and stuck to the wrapper due to his body heat. He lay down on the cold floor, letting the cool surface absorb his body heat. His mouth felt hot too. It was the first time he had cursed someone out loud.
***
Humanity’s impact on Earth was greater than imagined.
Cities were filled with countless skyscrapers, factories, power plants, tunnels, and subways, making it hard to find untouched places. Humans created and maintained all these structures.
Old buildings were maintained, and sewage and electricity systems ran safely due to human hands. The appearance of Adam showed how quickly things could deteriorate without constant human management. In the first few years, there were daily fires, tunnels and subways flooded, and abandoned concrete buildings gradually collapsed.
Even the Han River Bridge outside the Yeouido shelter was overrun by plants. For non-human life, Earth might have become a utopia. But humanity was resilient, evolving rapidly to survive.
As society changed and anxiety persisted, new religions emerged, some even worshiping Adam as a new human. Among them were rebels against Rainbow City. Eliminating threats to Rainbow City was one of the soldiers’ duties.
Kwak Soohwan looked at the white wall, drinking whiskey he got from Yang Sanghoon. Whiskey and wine stocks were nearly depleted, and within a few years, only the elite might enjoy them. Though most people drank sparingly, Kwak Soohwan didn’t care, downing his drink.
When he activated Project Beam, Mother’s voice came through the room’s speakers.
“Mother, I request access to Code Secret 3121.”
[Voice verified. Code Secret 3121 access granted to Kwak Soohwan. Level 1 classified information accessible. First, relaying a message from the Rainbow City Master.]
Instead of Mother’s voice, text appeared on the screen.
[Report the destruction of Oh Yangseok’s research data. The materials were reported burned after showing abnormal behavior, but with Oh Cheongwoon’s discovery in his home basement, it’s unclear if they were completely destroyed. Monitor Dr. Seok closely.]
Higher-ups said Oh Yangseok started strange research after showing signs of dementia. But did he have such symptoms? How could he have had those sharp conversations over drinks with me?
“What about the cult leader you wanted me to track?”
[Preparing.]
The screen displayed several low-quality photos. A man holding an apple was at the center of each.
[The Eden Garden cult is rising quickly, aiming to separate Rainbow City from the Unified Nation. The man with the apple is known as the cult leader. Followers are spread across regions, and his last known location was in the 13 Red Zone, as you know, Kwak Soohwan.]
He had almost gotten court-martialed after visiting the 13 Red Zone under the pretext of searching for stolen liquor. That’s how he ended up as Seokhwa’s bodyguard.
“Investigate the cult leader’s connection to Dr. Oh Yangseok.”
[Loading data. No connection found in existing records.]
“Useless.”
Mother, designed long ago based on AI capabilities, rarely provided clear answers beyond its stored data. Developing vaccines and eradicating Adam still fell to humans.
[End session?]
“No, wait. Pull up Dr. Seok’s data.”
After a few seconds of loading, data appeared on the wall along with Seokhwa’s face. Kwak Soohwan meticulously read through the detailed information about Seokhwa with his eyes.
[From great-grandparents to everyone originating from Jeju Island, father undisclosed and mother deceased a few years ago. Demonstrated outstanding academic achievements from Jeju Island Learning Center to Yeouido Center, including vaccine research, and successfully eliminated side effects of libido suppressants during the period at Yeouido Shelter. Developed improved varieties of corn and barley, as well as various health supplements.]
“When Dr. Seok was in Seoul, Adam was in the 7th mutation phase, so he seemed relatively relaxed, but he developed and commercialized everything. Kwak Soohwan took another sip of whiskey.”
[During his time at Yeouido Shelter, conducted mutation research with the late Oh Yangseok.]
“Mutation research?”
“Researching and studying people born with genetic material changes, including Dr. Seok himself. Upon returning to the shelter, it seems he resumed mutation research. No signs of insurgent tendencies.”
Additional information at the bottom that Kwak Soohwan also knew well:
[Dr. Seok’s mutation obsession characteristic: stone.]
“End.”
Soon, the project beam that illuminated the wall turned off, and the surroundings darkened.
“Ha, it’s cold. My balls are freezing. If the seminal tank freezes, we’re screwed.”
Yang Sanghoon sighed heavily outside the jeep. He parked the car on the first floor of the shelter and waited for the others.
“Who cares about the tank. Idiot. Damn it, I’m pissed off. Why isn’t our pure Dr. coming out?”
“Didn’t Kwak Soohwan say he’s bringing him?”
“Probably, right?”
Lee Chaeyoon checked the clock embedded in the jeep. It was already 9:15, but Kwak Soohwan and the doctor hadn’t shown up.
“I’ll go up and come back.”
“No need for that.”
Kwak Soohwan was walking slowly from over there. Beside him was Seokhwa, carrying a backpack as large as his own size.
“Hey, why did you make the doctor carry such a big backpack? Doctor, I’ll take this.”
Yang Sanghoon hurriedly tried to take the backpack in surprise.
“If you say you’ll carry it, what’s the use? Besides, it’s surprisingly light.”
“Yes, I can carry it. It’s light.”
“Light enough to fly if we tied balloons to it.”
“Why are you talking about impossible things?”
“Isn’t Dr. Seok himself trying impossible things?”
Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon exchanged glances. Whether it was because of yesterday’s incident or some other reason, their relationship seemed chilly at a glance.
“Ah, it’s cold. Let’s get in quickly, haha. Otherwise, our seminal tank will freeze.”
Yang Sanghoon tried to lighten the mood by laughing, but he saw it clearly. Seokhwa frowned ever so slightly.
There was a reason why Seokhwa’s already chilly mood worsened. It was none other than Kwak Soohwan. He barely managed to wake up on time, took a shower, and went to the infirmary, only to find the infirmary director absent. Anyway, he found the saline solution arranged there and checked the user’s name.
He pulled the cap covering the needle of the syringe and sucked up the saline solution. Those in the shelter affiliated with Rainbow City were all familiar with basic emergency procedures and how to administer injections. You also have to know how to put the vaccine down.
Seokhwa wiped his forearm with a sterilized cotton ball and then inserted the needle. The infirmary door opened the moment he pushed the piston completely.
“Dr. Seok?” Kwak Soohwan asked, immediately changing his words to “Dr. Seok?”
“Oh, right. Can’t dogs talk?”
Seokhwa glanced briefly at Kwak Soohwan, who was smiling, and then pushed the piston completely.
“What’s that?”
Kwak Soohwan, who walked and closed the door, showed interest in the injection.
“Libido suppressant.”
“What?”
He asked if what I just heard was really true, and he said it with a face that it didn’t make sense. Seokhwa did not know what the problem was and pressed his forearm with a cotton ball.
“I’m also a celibate.”
He also gets up every morning.
“And it’s been right before. Not to mention that when you don’t need libido during research.”
Kwak Soohwan was amazed at Seokhwa, who suddenly came in and said nothing. Then he soon smiled like a villain and looked at Seokhwa’s face.
“Really? Do you have libido? Have you ever put it in? Is it not faint as soon as you put it in?”
The question poured out without a break, and it was also clear that it was also a joke.
“I’ve been telling you not to speak informally.”
“Get used to it. Now I can’t fix it either.”
Seokhwa listened to Kwak Soohwan’s words with one ear and let the other go.
“Kwak Soohwan Major, why did you come?”
“Isn’t it a lie to say you’re here to take Dr. Seok?”
Kwak Soohwan knocked on his neck. The injuries sustained during training yesterday ignored the normal physical recovery rate and had healed.
“As much as you need to go to the Red Zone, you should prepare for it.”
Almost all of it was cured, but if Adam’s blood is sprayed and soaked into the tissue, it could be awkward. Kwak Soohwan could tell just by his actions, even without speaking until the end. Kwak Soohwan pulled out a band and put it on the wound. In terms of visibility, only faint traces remained. It seemed surprising, but it wasn’t that bad. Seokhwa was interested in Kwak Soohwan as a researcher.
“By the way, Kwak Soohwan Major’s sperm.”
Out of the blue, Kwak Soohwan glanced down at Seokhwa, who was sitting there. He tossed the cotton ball into the trash and shrugged off the sweater he had been wearing, letting it fall to the ground.
“Oh Yangseok was alive when I was instructed from above to conduct research on mutations with him. At that time, Major Kwak Soohwan was not present at this shelter.”
“But?”
“Everyone else left samples collected, including sperm. However, no data was found for Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Dr. Oh Yangseok wouldn’t have overlooked Kwak Soohwan, whom even the Yeouido Shelter recognized as a soldier. Seokhwa sat up straight and looked Kwak Soohwan in the eye, to which he responded with a dismissive gesture.
“He did ask me for sperm when he was alive. But just looking at his face now, I’m afraid it’s dead. How could I give him that?”
In reality, collecting sperm was simple. Most often, it involved watching explicit videos or magazines for self-stimulation and ejaculating into a cup. However, in some cases, direct extraction from the testicles was required. Even if Dr. Oh Yangseok had requested it, it would have been difficult to forcibly collect Kwak Soohwan’s sperm if he didn’t want to.
“Did you collect your own sperm, Dr. Seok?”
“I did it a long time ago.”
“Through masturbation?”
Kwak Soohwan pulled over an empty chair and sat facing Seokhwa. With his legs spread and palms flat on his lap, he leaned forward slightly, staring directly at Seokhwa.
“But…”
Seokhwa responded without any change in facial expression.
“What were you watching while masturbating?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Heterosexual material? Or homosexual?”
“Look here, Major Kwak Soohwan. Is it necessary to discuss this now? After we return from the Red Zone, I expect Major Kwak Soohwan’s sperm to be submitted.”
Kwak Soohwan scratched his chin and chuckled. Despite his attempts to lighten the mood, Kwak Soohwan often seemed more amused than foolish.
“I think I mentioned to you that Dr. Oh Yangseok’s libido suppressant had side effects, but upon reconsideration, it seems there weren’t any. Did you have trouble getting an erection this morning? Dr. Seok’s research is undoubtedly flawless.”
He had a way of getting under people’s skin. Seokhwa sought to cool off by finding a stone, but having come out in jeans, he returned empty-handed.
“I’ll extract it directly from the testicles after we return from the Red Zone.”
Seokhwa got up from his seat. Kwak Soohwan followed suit and whispered behind Seokhwa.
“Be gentle with me, honey.”
This concluded their morning encounter. Seokhwa remained cold, and Kwak Soohwan acted as usual. Inside the jeep, the only occupants were Yang Sanghoon driving and Lee Chaeyoon in the passenger seat.
As they drove, they passed areas where the Adam retrieval teams were handling bodies and disinfecting the surroundings. It was a sight Seokhwa hadn’t seen in a while, and although circumstances had led him to Jeju Island, he also felt a reluctance to return to Yeouido. The shelter was not an impenetrable fortress; he could have been attacked by Adam without warning and been eaten while unconscious. Despite being referred to as senior researchers, they had never produced a perfect research result in one go.
One reason he had no choice but to go to Rainbow City was his mother.
He didn’t know until the day she died, but if he didn’t go to Yeouido Shelter, she threatened to kick the entire family out of Jeju Island. She said there was no reason for a citizen who wasn’t protected.
Those called superiors lived amiably in places free from Adam’s threats. Even within Jeju Island, those who lived on Udo were the upper echelons of Rainbow City.
The soldiers inside the jeep were undoubtedly the bulletproof vest Kwak Soohwan mentioned. Seokhwa, who had been looking out, turned his gaze back into the jeep. Kwak Soohwan was staring intently at him.
“Dr. Seok.”
As if waiting for their eyes to meet, he looked away.
“How much do you know about Dr. Oh Yangseok?”
Lee Chaeyoon, who had been playing the mood, turned around through the rearview mirror. If he had hoped for an interesting story, he simply lit a cigarette with the window open.
“What do you mean by asking?”
Seokhwa took a few peanuts out of his backpack and chewed on them.
“He worked with Dr. Oh Yangseok on research. Whether it was a viral mutation or a sudden mutation.”
“Oh! I really hate that term ‘mutation.’ Even more than Lee Chaeyoon’s voice!”
Lee Chaeyoon shouted with a cackle. Kwak Soohwan pulled up the barrier separating the front and back of the jeep to its fullest. Despite Lee Chaeyoon’s yelling, the soundproofing was quite good.
“He did indeed work with Dr. Oh Yangseok.”
“Was there anything peculiar about that genius?”
Seokhwa briefly pondered Dr. Oh Yangseok. He was a senior researcher who didn’t seem remarkable in retrospect, but he did have a secretive side. There were times he left without reporting to superiors and jumped when someone appeared while he was immersed in something in the lab. Of course, if the person who appeared was Seokhwa, he was relieved.
“Why are you asking about that?”
“Does Dr. Seok have no interest in religion or anything?”
“Ha… It doesn’t suit you.”
Seokhwa looked out the window again, as if tired. He meant to speak concisely without beating around the bush. Seokhwa himself tended to throw out only the essentials when he had something to say.
Kwak Soohwan turned off the power to the video recording device in the center of the rear seat. Seokhwa also suspected why he had disabled the black box. He was going to bring up something secretive.
“Do you know what Dr. Oh Yangseok was researching?”
“The 7th Adam vaccine.”
“I wonder if Dr. Oh Yangseok died because of that. Dr. Seok is smart. Did you find anything strange among the things Dr. Oh Yangseok brought home?”
Seokhwa didn’t sense why this man suddenly began delving deeply into Oh Yangseok.
“Most of the data I brought back was torn or stained with blood. But what does religion have to do with it?”
Kwak Soohwan shrugged, as if it was nothing important.
“I thought I might try to take an interest in religion now.”
“…It doesn’t suit you.”
“Adam Virus began to spread from a small village in Europe.
The dark coat that spread the virus?
That has been long revealed. In the French major company, Adam Pharmaceutical Company, they spread the virus to sell the vaccine they developed. However, even the pharmaceutical company that spread the virus could not handle the rapid spread of infection, and their vaccine did not work either. Incredibly, a money-blinded company destroyed the world.
Those infected were called Adam, and the name of the vaccine researchers created with their heads wrapped was also Eve, the name of the vaccine that the pharmaceutical company put out.
The president of Adam Pharmaceutical Company hid in a bunker as soon as the incident happened, but he was eventually infected and died, and those who were in the pharmaceutical company were also killed or infected.
I wondered if humanity was in danger of being nuclear, and the threat came faster and in unexpected ways.
All this happened long before Seokhwa and the three soldiers riding on JEEP were born. Seokhwa dozed off and ate the remaining peanuts on the way back to waking up to the sound of Kwak Soohwan eating. Outside, the ground spider has already settled down, and soon we’ll light up the headlight of the immovable settlement.
“Anyway.”
Seokhwa’s voice was trapped.
“7th Adam looks strange.”
“Dr. Seok is pretty neat. Did he look like Eve in his eyes?”
Adam repeated the words to Kwak Soohwan, but he didn’t see that Adam was making such a mouth shape and didn’t show or have an attitude of interest.
“I already said that I had taken the materials related to Dr. Oh Yangseok’s research at the Palace Guards.”
“Maybe?”
“Can I see that, too?”
Kwak Soohwan moved his mouth.
“Let me ask for a favor.”
If there is still left, that is. Seokhwa guessed why Kwak Soohwan was told to watch him. It was to determine whether it could be carried as our person or whether it would be over. He did not know why Oh Yangseok had friction with the top. It wasn’t a fact that the top heads had removed it, it was just what I inferred.
“Why? Because the message coming down through the mother showed that the upper part was still wary of the dead Dr. Oh Yangseok.
The Rainbow City top was the one who first ordered to track Eden Garden. The relationship between Eden Garden and Dr. Oh Yangseok is just a relationship I associated with myself.
Until now, the top has never given such an order. There were rare threats even though there was a rebellion. But since the top was interested in Eden Garden and Dr. Oh Yangseok, it was impossible not to doubt that the two were related.
Maybe Seokhwa had more suspicions and reached several hypotheses than me. Actually, it didn’t matter how much suspicion was. The most important thing for Rainbow City is whether to stand in the way or not.
Seokhwa was wiping his eyes as if tired. He was shocked when he suddenly hit the dark road. Seokhwa was surprised and raised his head. There was no big shock because I was wearing a belt, but Yang Sanghoon was more surprised and looked back.
“Dr., are you okay?”
“Yes, but just now.”
It seems like I hit something…….
“It’s not a person, it’s an Adam that ran to see the light.”
It was an Adam who ran and fell on his side without hitting him head-on. I realized how safe the shelter was when I went out. Seokhwa just thought he had to go back to the shelter and talk to Kim about the anomaly.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Seokhwa looked back at Kwak Soohwan with his belt in his hand. In the front seat, I could hear the hum occasionally, and Kwak Soohwan was turning the cube in the back seat. It was a 4×4 cube and was almost halfway done. However, he repeated putting it all over the place as he was not interested in completing it soon.
Those who run like monsters, spitting thick blood, will always face them. They are ordinary people when they look like this. Seokhwa felt uncomfortable for some reason.
The front two looked at Adam as if nothing had happened and laughed, and Kwak Soohwan also acted familiarly, but they were frustrated by the fact that they were not ordinary people to whom unusual is everyday.
“Jeju Island……”
“Yes?”
Kwak Soohwan, who was turning the cube, asked.
“It was peaceful, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know because I haven’t been there! Jeju Island is said to be very good? How?”
Lee Chaeyoon held the passenger’s head and turned around and twinkled her eyes.
“It’s hard to see even Adam’s baby there.”
Yang Sanghoon was also interested in driving.
“There are people looking for stones like mojis on the sand, so it must be peaceful.”
“Let’s go later.”
Kwak Soohwan stopped turning the cube with a stop. Lee Chaeyoon also widened his eyes, and Yang Sanghoon was also surprised.
“Really? Dr., really?”
“But I don’t know when I can go.”
Yang Sanghoon sighed that he would send it here when this was the case. The reaction was that Kwak Soohwan was Dr. Seok or who had swallowed the stone. It was a change in sentiment, the first person to say where to go, and I wondered what kind of change it was.
“Because it’s the first time there’s no Adam. It’ll be peaceful.”
Kwak Soohwan inwardly swallowed laughter at the words.
Dr. Seok doesn’t know what signal he’s pressing on now, but if we looked pitifully, we must have misunderstood from the beginning. I never wanted peace, including myself, Lee Chaeyoon, or Yang Sanghoon, and I didn’t know what kind of emotion peace was. Anxiety was an emotion that happened when Adam was afraid. So my heart was always stable enough.
“Dr. Seok. But before Adam appeared, the world wasn’t always peaceful.”
Kwak Soohwan started turning the cube again.
“Before Adam appeared, it was called the era of peace.”
“In this case, it’s simple. The doctor’s Jeju Island or the Yeouido’s shelter is very safe? It means that you can go even if you’re naked,”
“Right.”
“Shall we think about the time just before Adam appeared, which was called the era of peace? There must have been safe countries like the shelters or Jeju Island even then. But not every country was safe. There were places where civil wars broke out, and some say that gangs actually took over some countries. Dr. Seok is lucky to have been born with that brilliant mind, which guarantees his safety. Likewise, those who weren’t born in countries experiencing civil wars back then were also lucky.”
“Ah, every time that bastard says something like that, I just want to punch him in the mouth.”
Lee Chaeyoon clenched his fist and made a gesture as if swinging it backward. Seokhwa pondered Kwak Soohwan’s words. It was true. He was lucky to be born on Jeju Island. Lucky to have exceptional learning abilities. But if he had been born with a body that couldn’t even run a lap around the playground properly, should he be grateful for that luck too?
Seokhwa decided not to think too deeply and tried to comfort himself.
He lowered his head and was about to pick up a few more peanuts when intense headlights shone from beside them.
Are there other vehicles on this road? He wondered for a brief moment. Less than a second later, a deafening bang erupted. A massive impact struck the vehicle, causing the jeep to spin wildly. The enormous centrifugal force made it impossible to comprehend what was happening, and he began to lose consciousness.
“Protect the doctor first!”
Lee Chaeyoon’s voice was urgent.
The last thing he remembered was seeing a rainbow-colored 4X4 cube flying through the air.
***
Screeeeech-!
Yang Sanghoon gripped the wildly spinning steering wheel tightly, trying to regain control of the vehicle. However, the jeep hit a utility pole and flipped over on its side.
Kwak Soohwan’s first priority was to get the unconscious Seokhwa, still strapped in his seatbelt, out of the jeep. Seokhwa’s body had slumped over him due to the jeep being on its side. Kwak Soohwan quickly pulled out a military knife from inside his uniform and cut the seatbelt.
Crack, the upper door was torn off simultaneously. The guy who rammed the car was wearing a white mask. He grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and yanked him out of the car.
There wasn’t just one of them. At least three were moving systematically. One of them was pouring gasoline on the car. As soon as the fire started, Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon smashed through the shattered front windshield and jumped out, and Kwak Soohwan climbed out through the door Seokhwa had been pulled through.
Kwak Soohwan pulled his Colt from his holster and shot the leg of the guy carrying Seokhwa. The man staggered as his thigh was pierced, and another masked man took over Seokhwa. He loaded Seokhwa into a car and sped away, abandoning his comrades.
When Kwak Soohwan aimed at the tires, one of the men lunged at him. A knife, longer than the standard military issue, grazed his chin. He backed away and looked at Yang Sanghoon as if asking what he was doing. Two of his comrades were struggling against the guy who had been shot in the thigh.
He had lost Seokhwa right in front of him. Not someone else, but him.
He dodged the stab aimed at his chest and struck the man’s solar plexus with his fist. As the man groaned and staggered back, he regained his stance and attempted to stab again. This guy seemed more battle-hardened than the soldiers in the shelter. It was unsettling that he wasn’t an ordinary person. He had heard rumors of mutants among the rebels but had never encountered one.
Timing his movements with the incoming knife, Kwak Soohwan twisted his body to control the man’s arm and stabbed him in the heart with his own knife. A dull sound escaped as the man’s strength faded. Kwak Soohwan looked down at the crumpling body. Blood dripped from under the white mask. He bent down, pulled out the knife, and wiped off the blood. He then threw the knife at the head of the remaining guy fighting his comrades.
The knife lodged in the man’s forehead, splitting the mask. As the mask fell to the ground, Kwak Soohwan shouted.
“You idiots, what are you doing with just one guy!”
At the same time, Lee Chaeyoon, who had climbed onto the man’s back, twisted his neck.
The jeep was burning brightly over there, two presumed rebels were dead, and Seokhwa had disappeared into the darkness in a car… Kwak Soohwan looked in the direction the car had disappeared and picked up the emergency radio.
“Connect me to the nearest shelter. This is Major Kwak Soohwan from Yeouido Shelter 3121. Level 1 crisis alert, the chief researcher has been kidnapped. Name: Seokhwa, affiliated with Yeouido Shelter. Open GPS monitoring and track him. Also, send a vehicle this way.”
Yang Sanghoon, breathing heavily, ran his hand roughly through his hair.
“Who the hell are these guys?”
Lee Chaeyoon removed the mask from the guy lying near Kwak Soohwan. It was an unfamiliar face.
“Not a soldier, but how…”
Despite being shot in the thigh, he had fought evenly with both of them. Yang Sanghoon’s hands trembled slightly, something he had never experienced before. He even had an unsettling thought that he might have lost if he had been alone.
“What do we do? Wait until the car arrives? Can we track Dr. Seok’s GPS? Can we rescue him? How did you drive? Are you an idiot? Huh? How did you not see them coming from the side!”
Lee Chaeyoon stamped his feet in frustration.
“They came without headlights! They turned them on just before ramming us, so I didn’t see them. Damn it! Kwak Soohwan, the doctor won’t be hurt, right?”
The way they took Seokhwa didn’t seem like they intended to kill him, but nothing was certain. Even the guy shot in the thigh passed Seokhwa to another before staggering.
[Successful GPS tracking of researcher Seokhwa. Proceed with the route?]
“Proceed. We need to rescue Seokhwa.”
Kwak Soohwan spoke with a blank expression.
***
[Preservation of humanity, the new prosperity of humanity, that is our mission. At the forefront stands Rainbow City. We are the citizens of Rainbow City, city, city.]
[Prosperity has ended, humanity has declined, and those who seek to suck the lifeblood of people for their own gain are now the leaders of Rainbow City! They do not want change and are using Adam to fulfill their own selfish desires, sires, sires.]
A chaotic mix of sounds flooded in. Seokhwa curled up, groaning from the intense headache. He still felt like he was trapped in the spinning car. He retched and vomited, tasting the sour bile. Gasping for breath, he barely opened his eyes but couldn’t see anything. He wanted to remove whatever was covering his eyes, but his hands were tied.
“Have you woken up, Doctor?”
Seokhwa flinched at the voice. Something touched his lips, and when he shook his head, the person reassured him and poured lukewarm water into his mouth.
“I understand that you must be very frightened. But we had no choice but to use this method because we have been waiting for you to leave the shelter.”
“……”
Seokhwa wanted to press his forehead hard, but his hands tied behind him couldn’t move at all. His headache was severe.
“Rest assured. We didn’t bring you here to threaten you, Doctor.”
The man with the soft voice poured lukewarm water into Seokhwa’s mouth again.
“……Where is this?”
“This is a temporary residence we’ve set up. Once we’ve conveyed what we need to say, we’ll release you safely.”
Seokhwa pressed his forehead again before lifting his head.
“I’d like to remove your blindfold, but it seems premature, so I ask for your understanding.”
“Who are you? The soldiers who were with me…?”
“We had to focus all our efforts on bringing you here, which caused us significant losses as well.”
“Are they unharmed?”
“Of course.”
The man chuckled softly.
“Time is short, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
As expected, the man’s voice, though gentle, carried a sense of urgency.
“What we are about to tell you is Dr. Oh Yangseok’s last will.”
“……What?”
“We believe this message was left for you, Dr. Seok.”
As Seokhwa listened to the man, he calmly collected his thoughts. If they intended to kill or harm him, they wouldn’t be trying to reassure him. It seemed that everything—the man’s identity and the reason for his abduction, even with the jeep crash—was related to Dr. Oh Yangseok.
A clicking sound of a button being pressed was heard.
[Preservation of humanity, the new prosperity of humanity, that is our mission. At the forefront stands Rainbow City. We are the citizens of Rainbow City.]
It was the regular broadcast voice of Mother, which he had heard countless times in the shelter. Following that, a familiar laugh flowed in.
[Do you hear that sound? It’s quite strange, isn’t it?]
Seokhwa focused more on the sound. He couldn’t be mistaken. This was definitely Dr. Oh Yangseok’s voice.
[Dr. Seok, since you went to Jeju Island, there’s been no contact, so I’m leaving this recording separately. The higher-ups must have been meddling. Do you remember our discussions about the virus mutation? Isn’t it strange? Every time a vaccine is developed, the virus mutates again. But is this truly natural? We’ve already reached the 7th mutation. I wanted to develop a treatment, not just a vaccine, while working with you, Dr. Seok. Do you remember what you told me before going down to Jeju Island? That the treatment… Zzzt… Zzzk…]
Bang!
The sudden gunshot made Seokhwa recoil. But after that, there was no more sound.
“Don’t worry. The gunshot just now came from this speaker.”
That was the end of the message left by Dr. Oh Yangseok. So, that gunshot… It seemed Dr. Oh Yangseok was killed while trying to convey something to him. Seokhwa bowed his head deeply and reflected on Oh Yangseok’s words.
They had often discussed developing a treatment instead of a vaccine. However, the higher-ups had insisted on developing the vaccine first. Given the high costs, they said it was difficult to support other research, which he had understood at the time.
“Doctor, Dr. Oh Yangseok tried to contact you continuously. But he couldn’t reach you by any means.”
It was as if someone had forcibly cut off communication between Dr. Seok and Dr. Oh Yangseok. The man spoke this way. Seokhwa quietly caught his breath without saying anything.
“Yes, you must be confused. It must be hard to trust me. But please don’t trust anyone in the shelter either. Rainbow City is not normal right now.”
“Are you… the rebels?”
Seokhwa managed to ask.
“They call us that in Rainbow City.”
The man laughed bitterly.
***
“Damn it! I’m so pissed off! Aaargh!”
Lee Chaeyoon shouted and kicked the backrest of the jeep’s passenger seat.
“Major, I know you’re angry, but I’ll fly out the front. Major Kwak Soohwan, keep going straight for 2 kilometers.”
Kwak Soohwan was at the wheel, and Yang Sanghoon was directing based on the GPS tracking Seokhwa’s location.
The GPS pointed to a location below the zoo. It wasn’t part of the areas designated by color, meaning it wasn’t affiliated with Rainbow City. This confirmed that the people who kidnapped Seokhwa were indeed rebels. However, even after searching the bodies of the dead, they couldn’t identify their exact affiliation.
“Turn right at the big intersection over there.”
Yang Sanghoon looked at the radar on the screen and pointed to the right with his thumb. Citizens of Rainbow City have a chip implanted at birth. Kwak Soohwan called it a dog collar, but today it proved useful, which was fortunate. Several more jeeps were following them, carrying soldiers from the nearest shelter.
“Ah, this is so embarrassing.”
Yang Sanghoon clicked his tongue after checking the jeeps in the side mirror.
“You do feel embarrassed, huh?”
It was the first time for Kwak Soohwan and the others to be ambushed like this. Protecting someone was much more challenging than taking care of oneself. Even for Kwak Soohwan, this wasn’t a familiar situation.
“But those bastards were stronger than expected, right?”
Despite his bruised pride, Yang Sanghoon asked honestly. Kwak Soohwan pressed the accelerator harder to increase the speed.
“About A-grade.”
Even in the Yeouido Shelter, there weren’t many A-grade soldiers. Yang Sanghoon sighed in disbelief at Kwak Soohwan’s words.
“If they abandoned their own comrades so easily, what does that say about the rebel’s strength?”
Both Yang Sanghoon and Lee Chaeyoon had rarely faced rebels directly. Typically, when something needed to be handled quietly, Kwak Soohwan would take orders from the higher-ups and deal with it.
“Hey, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“Shut up and keep telling me to go straight?”
“Hey. But Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Yang Sanghoon’s demeanor was strange. Looking down, he saw Yang Sanghoon trembling as he held the GPS tracker.
“This is just ridiculous.”
It was beyond disbelief; it wasn’t even laughable.
“This is the first time I’ve felt this way.”
“Can you not use such creepy expressions?”
“Hey! Yang Sanghoon, stop shaking your damn hand!”
Lee Chaeyoon wrapped her arms around Yang Sanghoon’s neck from behind and squeezed.
“Don’t be scared, you idiot. Commander Jang always said the world is big and there are lots of strong people out there.”
Yang Sanghoon understood it was her way of comforting him. Kwak Soohwan took over the GPS and adjusted their direction. Embarrassingly, his hands were sweaty as he held the wheel. Seokhwa had mentioned an era of peace; in hindsight, it wasn’t entirely wrong. In such an era, he wouldn’t have lost Seokhwa right in front of him. He thought he was always composed, but maybe not.
At first, he wondered if it was because of Commander Jang’s nagging, but that seemed insignificant compared to the haunting image of Seokhwa being carried away. He couldn’t have just died in the car, right? No matter how weak he seemed, Dr. Seok had shown resolve.
The GPS indicated they were close. A crooked sign emerged in the headlights. It absorbed the light and revealed its identity as if it were still in operation. Honey Motel. The lettering was crude.
“A motel?”
As the car stopped in front of it, Lee Chaeyoon tilted her head in curiosity.
“Stay put.”
As Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon were about to get out, Kwak Soohwan held them back and listened to the jeep’s built-in radio. The soldiers in the trailing jeeps were also waiting.
“This area isn’t affiliated with Rainbow City, so we don’t know where the Adam might appear. Arm yourselves. We’ll enter through the front, and the rest will take the rear entrance.”
[Copy that.]
Kwak Soohwan confirmed that all the jeeps received the message. Both the front and rear entrances were chained and would need to be broken.
He tore off his half-torn cape and checked his pistol and combat knife. Seokhwa’s GPS signal was still inside without moving. The jeep’s spotlight illuminated the motel, but inside they would rely on flashlights. After watching the soldiers move to the rear, Kwak Soohwan signaled the front entrance with his chin. Yang Sanghoon cut the chain on the door with a silenced gun.
Screech!
A scream came from the rear entrance. Damn it. Kwak Soohwan kicked the front door, and the jeep’s light shone inside. Dozens of Adams, gathered at the rear, turned toward the light. The chaos began as they either staggered or ran towards the light, fighting with the soldiers at the rear entrance.
“Clear the first floor!”
Kwak Soohwan shouted, and Yang Sanghoon and Lee Chaeyoon fired at the approaching Adams. One shot per head, they aimed for the forehead until they ran out of bullets, causing some Adams to trip over fallen bodies. Fortunately, the Adams at the rear entrance moved toward the front light.
Soldiers attacked the Adams from behind, while the three of them pushed forward from the front. The number of Adams in the motel suggested someone had deliberately gathered them.
Kwak Soohwan grabbed an attacking Adam by the neck, twisted its body and head completely, releasing a stench of rotten blood that spread across the floor. The sound of their boots splashing through the blood echoed like wading through water. Adams’ bodies piled up, and as the rear and front teams met, he saw their numbers had dwindled.
“Report the casualties.”
A soldier at the rear shouted, and Kwak Soohwan punched an Adam in the face, crushing its skull underfoot. The bone-breaking sound was clear. A soldier at the rear counted their numbers with a pale face.
“Two, two are dead.”
“The bodies?”
“The Adams devoured them.”
Kwak Soohwan nodded and shone his flashlight around.
“The rest of you, wait here. Are you the commander of this squad?”
He looked at the insignia of the man at the front of the rear team. A captain from the supporting shelter.
“……Yes, I am.”
“Check and eliminate any remaining threats.”
Finding the stairs to the second floor, Kwak Soohwan gripped his combat knife.
“Understood…… Cough… Cough.”
The captain coughed, blood seeping through his fingers as he covered his mouth. The soldiers around him stepped back. The captain looked at his comrades in disbelief. His arm bore a long wound, the flesh torn.
“No…… Cough.”
He tried to speak, but blood poured from his nose.
“Grrr… Ugh…”
As he convulsed and twisted, the mutation began.
“Captain…”
A rear team soldier drew his gun, aiming shakily at the captain without looking him in the eye.
“Do you want to die too?”
Lee Chaeyoon, who had shot the captain in the forehead, now aimed at the soldier who had shouted.
“It wasn’t fully mutated yet!”
“Then you should’ve offered your neck. Don’t get sentimental. That’ll get you all killed. A captain who can’t protect himself is useless.”
The supporting soldiers fell silent. Lee Chaeyoon was harsh but right; Rainbow City’s military law dictated that even generals be killed if they began to mutate.
“Clean up the captain’s body and have it incinerated or something. You, Major, check the status of the others, and Yang Major, cover me.” Kwak Soohwan glanced at the captain’s body before pointing to the second floor. With Yang Sanghoon covering his back, he quickly ascended the stairs. Dried dark red blood, presumably from the Adams, stained the staircase, leaving Kwak Soohwan’s boot prints in a bright red trail.
At the entrance to the second floor, Kwak Soohwan shone his flashlight down the corridor. It was a typical motel layout with doors arranged in a zigzag pattern. Some doors were open, others closed.
Kicking down the closed doors, Kwak Soohwan inspected each room. The stench of mold, almost as bad as the Adams’ foul odor, hit him immediately. Despite checking all the closed rooms, there was no sign of Seokhwa.
“Second floor clear.”
The motel had three floors in total. Since Seokhwa’s GPS signal was detected here, he was likely on the third floor. Thud! Thud! Thud! As Kwak Soohwan ascended to the third floor, he noticed the entrance was barred with metal bars, similar to a prison gate. Three Adams were reaching through the bars. Yang Sanghoon shot each one in the head in quick succession before kicking the gate open.
“Where the hell are these bastards coming from?” Yang Sanghoon muttered, kicking a fallen Adam.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, someone must have lured and trapped all these Adams here, right?”
“Probably.”
Kwak Soohwan scanned the third-floor corridor with his flashlight. Like the second floor, it had motel rooms, but only the room at the very end was closed.
He detached his uniform belt and deliberately struck the first door with the buckle. The metallic sound echoed, but no Adams emerged from the rooms. After repeating this a few times, the surroundings remained silent. Kwak Soohwan signaled towards the last room, and Yang Sanghoon nodded in agreement.
Kwak Soohwan kicked the door handle of the last room. Bang! The door slammed into the wall and swung back. He kicked it open again and entered. The room contained a round bed, a dusty two-person table, and a glass-enclosed bathroom, but no sign of life.
Thinking the motel had no basement was a mistake. Kwak Soohwan and Yang Sanghoon hurried back downstairs. When they reached the first floor, Yang Sanghoon gasped. The Adams’ bodies were still there, but now the other soldiers were down as well. Lee Chaeyoon was struggling alone against a large figure in a white mask.
Her gun was far away, forcing her to fight with a knife, and she was limping, likely due to a leg injury. Kwak Soohwan reloaded his gun and aimed at the figure in the white mask.
“Major Lee! Fall back!”
At his command, Lee Chaeyoon leaped back just as Kwak Soohwan fired. The white-masked figure retreated, then fled out the front door. Blood droplets marked his path, showing where the bullet had grazed him.
Yang Sanghoon started to chase after him, but Lee Chaeyoon yelled, “Don’t follow!”
Yang Sanghoon turned back, puzzled, as Kwak Soohwan quickly approached Lee Chaeyoon. She had tightly wrapped her leg wound with her uniform belt and was breathing heavily, her face as pale as Seokhwa’s.
“Why not follow?” Yang Sanghoon asked, bewildered.
“That guy… he’s really strong,” she panted.
“Yeah, he looked tough,” Yang Sanghoon replied, examining her wound.
Kwak Soohwan checked the fallen soldiers with his flashlight and sighed. “Did that guy alone take on you and the soldiers?”
“Yeah, some fled. Make sure to demote those who ran. That guy suddenly came up from the basement.”
Lee Chaeyoon pointed towards the back entrance. “Yang Sanghoon, take Major Lee back to the jeep. There’s a first aid kit inside.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay alone?”
“I don’t want to deal with more Adams if I can avoid it.” Kwak Soohwan gestured to her wound. Yang Sanghoon agreed and helped her towards the jeep. She gritted her teeth in frustration, vowing to kill that masked figure next time they met.
If those two could handle that guy, they’d be fine. If they couldn’t, they shouldn’t have their invincible titles anyway. Kwak Soohwan ran to the back entrance and saw a small side door that the soldiers missed while fighting the Adams.
He opened the door and descended. Growls and moans echoed from below. Kwak Soohwan listened carefully, estimating at least five Adams. He checked his remaining bullets and put the flashlight in his mouth. With his gun reloaded, he rested his right hand over his left wrist and moved down.
As he reached the bottom, Adams lunged at him. Bang, bang, bang! Three quick shots took down three Adams. He dealt with the remaining ones using his military knife and his bare hands, swiftly dispatching all five.
Approaching the last Adam, he noticed it didn’t attack but instead seemed to be searching for an escape. “What the hell?” he muttered.
The Adam appeared to be mumbling, trying to say something. Was this a rare type of Adam showing unusual behavior? Kwak Soohwan walked toward it, his priority still finding Seokhwa.
Then he stopped. He noticed an open door and saw a person inside. Rushing in, he found Seokhwa trembling inside a cage. Despite being restrained, Seokhwa had no visible injuries. Kwak Soohwan kicked the cage door repeatedly until it broke open. Seokhwa flinched with every kick.
He ripped off Seokhwa’s blindfold. The dim light was still too bright, making Seokhwa blink repeatedly. His pupils dilated in recognition. “Major…!”
Roar! An Adam he had left alive pounced at that moment. Kwak Soohwan smashed its face and tore off its jaw. Seokhwa looked up at him, stunned and unable to blink. Kwak Soohwan smiled reassuringly.
“Babe, you were scared, weren’t you?”
Kwak Soohwan tossed the jawbone, which revealed white bone, to the ground and wiped the blood off his gloves.
“I came to get you.”
Seokhwa stared at the blood dripping from the gloves, then slowly lifted his gaze to meet Kwak Soohwan’s eyes. The white shirt under his black uniform was stained red, and his smiling face was splattered with blood. Unable to say anything, he let Kwak Soohwan hold his shoulders and look him over.
“I’m feeling dizzy.”
“If you can talk, you’re okay. For now, hold this tight like this.”
Kwak Soohwan broke the strap that bound Seokhwa’s wrist with sheer strength and handed him a flashlight. Without waiting for an answer, he hoisted Seokhwa onto his back. Seokhwa’s trembling was clearly felt on his back. Kwak Soohwan patted his thigh and walked out, kicking aside the debris on the floor.
Seokhwa didn’t insist on walking by himself. As he looked down at the remains of the enemies Kwak Soohwan had dealt with, he only slightly parted his lips. The corpses killed by the gunshots were still relatively intact, but those smashed by his hands were unrecognizable. Intestines were strewn across the floor, and the overwhelming stench made Seokhwa clench his teeth. If there were a hell, it would probably look like this. Misinterpreting Seokhwa’s trembling, Kwak Soohwan patted his thigh again, telling him to calm down.
Seokhwa hugged his neck a little tighter.
“Are you here to kill me?”
“Major Kwak Soohwan, are you okay?”
“What about Dr. Seok?”
Seokhwa shone the flashlight on the steps leading to the side door.
“I’m okay.”
Outside, Kwak Soohwan took a deep breath of the cold air.
“Were they rebels?”
“…I don’t know.”
No, he wasn’t sure if he should answer that way. This man had risked his life to save him; shouldn’t he tell him everything honestly?
“I’m sorry.”
Seokhwa blinked.
“For what?”
“For failing to do my job as your protector.”
In such a situation, anyone would have been helpless. Even Seokhwa had lost consciousness and didn’t know what had happened. The only clear memory was Kwak Soohwan reaching out to shield him from the impact before the vehicle overturned.
Instead of heading straight for the main gate, Kwak Soohwan took the long way around the building. There, a jeep was illuminating the darkness, and he set Seokhwa down near the back door.
“Doctor! Doctor! Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
Lee Chaeyoon, sitting in the back seat, opened the door with a worried expression. Seokhwa, looking down, noticed a bandage wrapped around her thigh, stained with blood.
“Get in. Let’s head to Yeouido.”
Nodding, Seokhwa got into the back seat. Kwak Soohwan took the driver’s seat, and Yang Sanghoon sat in the passenger seat. The jeep’s leather seat bore the mark of the Gwacheon branch.
“Major Lee, is your leg… are you injured?”
“This? It’s fine. My wounds heal quickly. Are you really okay, Doctor?”
“Yes, I’m fine. But your wound looks pretty deep.”
“It’s not deep enough to need stitches. Are you really okay? Want some peanuts? Soohwan rescued your backpack from the car, and there are a lot of peanuts in it.”
Seokhwa glanced at his backpack placed in the center of the back seat.
“Major Lee, stop talking and let Dr. Seok rest.”
Kwak Soohwan drove cautiously, not letting his guard down.
“You must have been very scared. Try to get some rest while we head to Yeouido.”
Grateful for Yang Sanghoon’s consideration, Seokhwa nodded. He was barely holding on with his mental strength. The impact from the crash had likely given him a mild concussion. He gagged a few times but managed to keep it down. He pulled a blanket from his backpack, folded it neatly, and placed it between his head and the window. Suddenly, he was pushed towards Lee Chaeyoon.
“It’s okay to lean on this leg. It’s injured anyway.”
Smiling, Lee Chaeyoon pointed to her injured left leg, as if telling him to rest his head on her thigh. Startled, Seokhwa tried to get up, but Lee Chaeyoon’s strength held him down.
“With all the blood we reek of, Dr. Seok won’t be able to rest properly.”
“Why are you being so harsh? I’m just trying to make him comfortable. Are you venting because you couldn’t catch that guy?”
“That guy?”
Seokhwa, still restrained by Lee Chaeyoon, tried to get up.
“Yeah, the guy who did this to my leg. He wore a strange white mask and was incredibly strong. It was no joke. If it had been Yang Sanghoon instead of me, he would have been dead.”
“Hey! You don’t know until you’ve faced him.”
“Funny, coming from someone whose hands were trembling. Soohwan, you brought Dr. Seok from the basement, right? Did the doctor see that guy’s face?”
“…No.”
“He had his eyes covered too. So stop bothering Dr. Seok.”
“Look who’s talking, the one who lost sight of the doctor.”
“I’ll rest now.”
Fearing another argument, Seokhwa quietly curled up and rested his head on her thigh.
“Major Lee.”
“Yes?”
Lee Chaeyoon smiled brightly, looking down at Seokhwa.
“I’ll carry you next time.”
Before he could finish, Kwak Soohwan slammed on the accelerator.
“Then you’ll have to carry me first.”
What, is he jealous? Lee Chaeyoon chuckled.
***
Upon arriving at the Yeouido shelter, both the jeep and the clothes and weapons they had were subjected to a thorough disinfection process. People were no exception.
To check for infections and assess the state of the wounds, they had to be more thorough. Lee Chaeyoon, who had a laceration, had to undergo a blood test and was held longer than the others.
Seokhwa also had to wait in the examination room for quite a while before being cleared of any major issues. He wanted to collapse in his room and sleep, but he was immediately summoned to the senior meeting room on the 58th floor. Due to the seriousness of the situation, the higher-ups were showing interest. It was only natural since a chief researcher had been kidnapped.
“Dr. Seok, we’ll start with a physical examination.”
In front of the senior meeting room, Seokhwa spread his legs and arms wide. A soldier meticulously checked his limbs before giving a clear sign. As the door to the meeting room opened, a strong aroma of scented candles filled his lungs. The golden lighting illuminated the room warmly, matching the candle’s scent.
Despite being called a meeting room, it was completely covered with an expensive carpet. The space, which regular researchers or soldiers couldn’t even dream of, was filled with rare artworks, taxidermy of now-extinct animals, and gleaming leather sofas. In the central sofa sat a familiar face, Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae, commonly referred to as “Three-Star.”
Seokhwa had rarely seen him due to his high rank; the last time was before he went to Jeju Island when Lee Yeontae was a Major General. He seemed to have been promoted while Seokhwa was on Jeju Island.
“Dr. Seok, how have you been?”
Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae, who had been lounging on the sofa, stood up with a broad smile. Despite being a soldier, he wore leather shoes instead of military boots.
“You haven’t changed. Still not wearing socks, I see, ha ha.”
Seeing Seokhwa glance at his shoes, Lee Yeontae laughed heartily. Only then did Seokhwa realize he was wearing sneakers without socks.
“Still as taciturn as ever. Come, have a seat. You must have been quite shocked, so have a warm cup of tea.”
Lee Yeontae guided Seokhwa to the sofa. Seokhwa walked over and sat on the leather seat, finding the cushioning quite comfortable.
“Dr. Seok, you probably want to rest, but the higher-ups are in quite a frenzy. Some even suggested detaining you and having the military police investigate. I insisted on handling it personally. Is that acceptable to you, Dr. Seok?”
“Yes.”
It was a subtle threat to tell the whole story honestly. Seokhwa raised his teacup and looked at the bottom. The cup’s underside, perfectly smooth, had French writing on it.
“What are you doing?”
Lee Yeontae frowned.
“The teacup is pretty.”
“I see. Would you like to take it with you?”
Lee Yeontae forced a smile.
“No.”
As he had felt before, he wasn’t a pleasant conversation partner.
“Now, Dr. Seok, why don’t you start by telling me what happened from the moment you went to the primate house? Who suggested going to the zoo first?”
It was Lee Chaeyoon, as he recalled.
“Major Lee Chaeyoon was the first to suggest it.”
“Yes, that’s right. We sent the Invincible Platoon members to the zoo with you. What happened next?”
Seokhwa detailed his experience at the primate house and the events leading up to the accident. Lee Yeontae didn’t take any notes or type out a record, likely because there were recording devices in the room.
“So, you have no memory after the car accident?”
“I was unconscious during the accident. I didn’t even know I was kidnapped until Major Kwak Soohwan rescued me.”
“I see.” Lee Yeontae seemed skeptical. Seokhwa watched him expressionlessly, waiting for him to speak again.
“So, you never encountered your kidnapper?”
“That’s correct.”
“Dr. Seok.”
Lee Yeontae, sitting opposite, crossed his legs. His previously kind smile turned into a more severe expression. His brow furrowed, giving him a slightly fiercer look.
“I don’t understand why you’re lying to me, Dr. Seok.”
Seokhwa continued to stare at him without any expression. Whether he had spoken with Kwak Soohwan beforehand, even he didn’t know about his conversation with the kidnapper. Thus, Lee Yeontae was testing him.
“I’ve never lied.”
“Then is it that you don’t remember well due to the shock of the accident?”
“Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae, I do not know why I was kidnapped. Isn’t that the truth the military police should uncover?”
“Ha, look at this guy.”
Lee Yeontae let out a hollow laugh at Seokhwa’s unusually confrontational response.
He picked up an internal phone and made a brief call. After a few seconds of silence, the door opened, and someone appeared. It was Kwak Soohwan, still wearing his military boots. Having showered after the examination, there was no trace of the battle on him. He was dressed in a newly issued, crisp uniform.
“Alright. Major Kwak Soohwan, come and sit down.”
Kwak Soohwan saluted Lee Yeontae and sat next to Seokhwa.
“I’ve heard the sequence of events from Dr. Seok. But I need to hear from you too. Seven soldiers from the Gwacheon shelter died, including a captain and three sergeants.”
“The captain was barely at the level of a trainee. Is the Gwacheon company really operating properly?”
“How rude,” Lee Yeontae muttered lowly, holding his teacup.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, you might be favored by Commander Jang and Major General Park, but I’m not so lenient. And it was you who failed to ensure Dr. Seok’s safety, correct? Very disappointing.”
One would have expected some reaction to the superior’s disappointment, but Kwak Soohwan responded nonchalantly.
“I won’t make excuses for that. The attackers are presumed to be rebels. Their affiliation is unknown, but one thing is clear: the elite members of the Invincible Platoon struggled against them.”
The Invincible Platoon from Yeouido, classified as S-Class, was currently the top force in Rainbow City. The fact that they struggled made even Lee Yeontae tense.
“Could they have been mutants?”
“Do you want my personal opinion, or do you want the objective facts?”
“Add your personal opinion to the facts.”
“Yes. They seemed to have capabilities of A-grade or higher, possibly S-grade.”
Lee Yeontae, who was holding the teacup, froze as if time had stopped. Seokhwa shifted his gaze to Kwak Soohwan, moving only his pupils. Although his posture was straight, his tone was insolent—an attitude no Major should take in front of a General. If the General of Rainbow City wished, Kwak Soohwan could easily spend his life rotting in detention.
“Were there any other peculiarities? Dr. Seok mentioned he didn’t recognize the kidnappers at all.”
“That’s correct. When I arrived, Dr. Seok was alone in a cell, with no one else around except for Adam.”
Hmm, Lee Yeontae observed them slowly, unable to shake off his suspicions. One had a sly smile, and the other was so expressionless it was impossible to know what he was thinking. However, neither seemed like a rebel, so he wondered if he was being overly cautious.
“Regardless, you both went through a lot. And Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Lee Yeontae moistened his lips and set down his teacup.
“If you’re so worried about the Gwacheon unit, why don’t you go there yourself?”
“If you send me, I will go.”
Kwak Soohwan smiled broadly. Underneath, it was clear he thought, “You won’t send me anyway.” Everyone knew who the key commander of the Unbeatable unit, composed of S-class and A-class soldiers, was. Anyone could give orders from the top, but dealing with Adam and the recent addition of rebels introduced variables that required experienced command on the ground. Few officers could boost the morale of the troops while leading from the front, and Kwak Soohwan was one of them. Even if they could undermine him, generals avoided confrontation to maintain loyalty. Kwak Soohwan knew this, so he didn’t voice his inner thoughts. If they didn’t like it, they could go to the field themselves, but he knew they wouldn’t.
Thud.
As the two smiled at each other in a battle of wills, Seokhwa collapsed onto the table, barely avoiding a disaster thanks to Kwak Soohwan, who quickly placed his hand between Seokhwa’s forehead and the table.
“Dr. Seok?!”
A startled Lee Yeontae sprang up.
“Nothing to worry about. He’s held up well under the circumstances.”
With a grunt, Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa. Since he had fainted, he couldn’t be slung over the shoulder, and carrying him carelessly might aggravate his concussion. So, Kwak Soohwan supported Seokhwa’s body with both arms.
“Well then, we’ll take our leave.”
As Kwak Soohwan walked, Seokhwa’s arm swung loosely.
“Wake up, babe.”
Just before opening the door, Lee Yeontae thought he heard Kwak Soohwan call Seokhwa “babe.” He frowned, wondering if he had misheard. A waiting soldier opened the door as Kwak Soohwan nudged it with his foot.
“You promised to extract my sperm today.”
Kwak Soohwan whispered close to Seokhwa’s face. Lee Yeontae, unable to speak, pointed accusingly from behind. He remembered hearing strange rumors about Kwak Soohwan trying to force his crude desires on Seokhwa.
“Major Kwak Soohwan!”
As they stepped out, Lee Yeontae’s roar echoed. Turning back, he saw Lee Yeontae’s face flushed with anger.
“I can’t condone rape, no matter who you are! Put Dr. Seok down immediately!”
Those who jump to conclusions see only what they expect to see. Kwak Soohwan chuckled, completely turning to face Lee Yeontae.
“Dr. Seok is using my sperm for research. How could you call it rape?”
Shaking his head, he nudged the door again. Lee Yeontae trembled with rage. Kwak Soohwan’s defiant behavior clearly stemmed from resentment at being summoned.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, a word of advice as your superior: You’ll only make enemies living like that.”
Lee Yeontae’s advice echoed through the closing door, but Kwak Soohwan ignored it. He walked down the corridor, looking at Seokhwa’s serene face. Leaning in, he was about to kiss Seokhwa’s forehead.
“What are you doing?”
Seokhwa, now alert, looked at Kwak Soohwan with clear eyes and blocked his forehead with his hand.
“Thinking of waking you with a kiss? But since you’ve been awake from the start, it’s meaningless now.”
“Did you know?”
Feigning unconsciousness? Of course. Kwak Soohwan laughed, seemingly in a good mood.
“I didn’t expect it, but Dr. Seok has a devious side.”
“I just want to rest quickly.”
Seokhwa pushed against Kwak Soohwan’s chest and stood on his own. The elevator was rapidly approaching.
“How did you know?”
Feigning unconsciousness? When I lifted you, I was sure. You winced slightly, and your forehead barely touched my palm when you pretended to collapse.
Kwak Soohwan kept these thoughts to himself. Seokhwa rubbed his forehead as if erasing lingering sensations, causing it to heat up.
***
Back in his room, Seokhwa sat on his bed, staring at the wall. Despite needing sleep for tomorrow’s schedule, his mind buzzed with thoughts.
‘The preservation of humanity, the new prosperity of humanity—that is our mission. At the forefront is Rainbow City. We are citizens of Rainbow City.’
“Noon, 6 PM.”
That was when the regular broadcast aired. However, it was also when Dr. Oh Yangseok’s final words were broadcast. Therefore, Dr. Oh Yangseok might not have died at 5 AM. The recording was made during the regular broadcast hours of Mother.
Why did the military police believe Dr. Oh Yangseok died at 5 AM? If it had been at noon or 6 PM, Dr. Kim might still have been in the lab…
Seokhwa slowly turned on his computer on the desk.
[Researcher Code Number 310, access granted]
The connection to the main server, Mother, was confirmed through the speakers.
“Mother, this is Researcher Seokhwa with code number 310 requesting access to the military police incident records.”
[Loading. Access denied. Code number 310 does not have sufficient clearance.]
What? Seokhwa gave up on voice recognition and started typing on the keyboard.
As soon as he accessed the military police incident records server, an ‘Inaccessible’ screen popped up. As a senior researcher, he had access up to Level 2 classified information, but he couldn’t even get near the military police records. This meant that all military police records were classified as Level 1. Or someone had deliberately lowered his clearance level.
“Mother, what is the clearance level for code number 310?”
[The clearance level for Researcher Seokhwa with code number 310 is confidential.]
‘Do not trust anyone in the shelter. Rainbow City is not normal right now.’
The kidnapper’s words echoed in his mind.
The development of a treatment instead of a vaccine. It had been years since he discussed this with Dr. Oh Yangseok. They had often talked about it until the day before his mother passed away.
Something had definitely felt off. Even the research data on Dr. Oh Yangseok’s seventh vaccine was incomplete, and there was almost no data on treatments.
Seokhwa disconnected from Mother and returned to his bed. With his feet on the cold marble floor, he rolled a well-worn pebble in his hand. He closed his eyes and began to recall the events before Kwak Soohwan had come to rescue him. The conversation with the kidnapper was still vivid.
***
“Are you… the rebels?”
“They call us that in Rainbow City.”
The man who smiled bitterly moved his legs back and forth a few times as if deep in thought.
“The person who killed Dr. Oh Yangseok… Well, that’s still speculative, so let’s leave it at that, doctor.”
Seokhwa felt the man kneel down in front of him. With a black blindfold over his eyes, his hearing was more sensitive.
“We would like to give you a choice. Think carefully about why Adam’s mutation is so peculiar, and why Rainbow City is so indifferent to developing a treatment, as Dr. Oh Yangseok suggested. I want to believe in you, just as Dr. Oh Yangseok did.”
A choice? I was merely fulfilling the role assigned to me by the higher-ups. I never had the same sense of mission as Dr. Oh Yangseok. I followed orders because they threatened to exile my mother from Jeju Island and disadvantage me in Rainbow City if I didn’t comply.
“I tried to buy more time, but it seems we’re almost out. This place is safe, so stay here.”
There was a sound of leather straps being tied.
“You might be the one who killed Dr. Oh Yangseok… couldn’t you?”
He couldn’t fully trust the kidnapper’s words. Seokhwa turned his face toward where he thought the man was.
“Do you think the rebels can infiltrate the Yeouido Shelter? If so, it would have been easier to contact Dr. Seok directly.”
His voice sounded muffled, as if something was covering his vocal cords. The kidnapper was probably wearing a mask.
“If we could…”
“Apologies for the late introduction. I am Serpent, in charge of Eden.”
Seokhwa shuddered and trembled with his bound hands.
“Is this the first time you’ve heard of us?”
“I read a brief mention in Dr. Oh Yangseok’s journal.”
“We don’t trust Rainbow City. They are vile people who exploit Adam for their own gain. Think carefully. One week from today, at precisely 9 PM. If you agree with us, we will meet at Dr. Oh Yangseok’s house in Sector 13 Red.”
The door creaked open, and the sound of a lock clicking followed. As Seokhwa tried to move forward on his knees, the masked man knelt by the cell door.
“Stay here. Major Kwak Soohwan will come to rescue you.”
“…Major Kwak Soohwan?”
“Be very wary of him. He is the guardian of the corrupt Rainbow City. The rest is up to your judgment.”
The door creaked open and closed with dull thuds. The grating noise was unmistakably Adam’s. Seokhwa pulled himself back. He heard the sound of Adams attacking the man as he ran out, then there was silence.
Cough, cough, cough.
Adam, spitting blood and scratching its throat, was heard from a distance. As the dragging sound grew closer, Seokhwa clenched his mouth and exhaled slowly through his nose.
Thump, a noise right in front of him made him flinch. An Adam had found Seokhwa and was trying to attack him through the bars, but the door was firmly shut.
Seokhwa pressed his back against the wall, trying to gauge the distance by sound. Cold sweat trickled down his spine like ice water. He was safe for now, but he couldn’t stay here forever. Bound and blindfolded, what could he do? If he screamed, all the Adams would converge on him.
Bang! Bang! Gunshots from outside startled him back to the floor. Growls and beastly screams made his head throb more intensely. Someone was fighting the Adams, and the sounds of flesh tearing and bones breaking mixed with his ragged breathing.
Who are you?
Seokhwa snapped his head up. He was sure he heard a familiar man’s voice. The footsteps grew closer. The rapid tapping sound might be Adam’s.
Bang! Bang! The sound of someone kicking the door made Seokhwa want to call out. Is it Major Kwak Soohwan? He wanted to ask, but his throat was too tight. When someone inside removed his blindfold, Seokhwa almost hugged him. If his wrists hadn’t been bound behind him, he might have.
Relying only on sound without knowing what was happening was terrifying. But relief was short-lived. Seeing an Adam charging at them from behind, he screamed.
“Major…!”
***
Seokhwa shook his head as if in a spasm. Reflecting on the past events left him drenched in cold sweat again. As time passed, his anxious eyes gradually found calm and settled deeply.
He could investigate Eden through Mother, but there was no guarantee the access logs wouldn’t be reported to the higher-ups. Hadn’t Lee Yeontae already shown signs of suspicion? He could tell the superiors everything, but he didn’t want to. Doubts had arisen. There was the possibility that Dr. Oh Yangseok’s killer was inside this shelter.
I thought I only needed to research vaccines and mutations, but I felt like I was caught in a strange vortex. What is the Garden of Eden, and what are the rebels thinking? Should I ignore everything and focus solely on vaccine research? I was no different from Mother. I had always followed orders from above. But I had experienced real fear.
Seokhwa looked down at his open hands. The pebble he was holding was stained with his sweat. Seven soldiers had died today. While he was safe in the shelter, the people and soldiers outside were not. Living with anxiety 24/7 without falling into a nervous breakdown would be a miracle. Treatments were just as important as vaccines. Dr. Oh Yangseok probably faced these issues long before I did.
Why do Adams attack living beings?
Seokhwa focused on this fact, recalling the time he mentioned it to Oh Yangseok. The results so far were simple. The Adam virus was an infectious agent that settled in healthy organisms like a cold and caused infections.
“Dr. Seok, could it be that we are overlooking something crucial?”
It was before he left for Jeju Island. Oh Yangseok had sighed and held his hand with his wrinkled one. Seokhwa squeezed the pebble and sprang out of bed.
“Disease.”
The Adam virus should be a treatable disease. There is no disease in the world that cannot be cured. It’s only a matter of when the treatment will be developed. Seokhwa had studied various viruses at the Jeju Island Learning Center long ago.
MERS, swine flu, and even the much older Black Plague. Many viruses did not have treatments. Pharmaceutical companies, driven by capitalism, focused on vaccines and treatments that made money. They stopped developing drugs that were not profitable. The Adam pharmaceutical company spread the virus to save their failing company.
So what about Rainbow City now?
“Prosperity has ended, humanity has declined, and those who seek to profit by exploiting others are the leaders of Rainbow City! They don’t want change and are using Adam for their selfish gain!”
He didn’t agree with the rebels’ ideology but started having doubts. If these doubts were resolved, it would be fine. However, blocking access to military police incident records only fueled his suspicion. Seokhwa lay on the floor with a complicated mind. Sleep did not come easily.
***
“Hyung, the store isn’t open today.”
His younger sibling returned with an empty rice container. The hands holding the container looked like fern fronds.
“With no rain, there’s not much drinking water left. What should we do, brother?”
“Who told you to eat so much?”
Kwak Soohwan scolded, handing over a water bottle he had set aside for himself. Promising to drink sparingly this time, his sibling wet their lips and spit the water back into the bottle.
“Where’s Dad?”
“He’s in the room over there. Go see him.”
“I’d rather not. Where’s Mom?”
“She’s with Dad in his room.”
“Oh…”
His sibling looked out the balcony wistfully.
“To hell with it! Rainbow City, perish! Salvation is coming! Believers, to the Hwaseon Auditorium!”
Below, cars and red graffiti written in blood were visible. They were in a region not affiliated with Rainbow City. Still, the market opened every four days, and soldiers were recruited from volunteers. A neighbor had volunteered for the military months ago but had not been heard from since. People assumed he was dead.
Kwak Soohwan’s parents were citizens of Rainbow City. They worked in the shelter and had a house in the safe green zone for commuting. However, Rainbow City required permits to have children under its care policy.
Kwak Soohwan and his sibling were unapproved children, so their parents raised them outside Rainbow City’s protection. Not everywhere outside was overrun by Adams. There were their own forces, and even poorly equipped mercenaries made up of ordinary citizens. However, if they gained too much power, Rainbow City branded them as rebels.
Their parents visited Kwak Soohwan and his sibling once a week, but now they were isolated in the inner room and could not return. Moreover, it was essential that their parents’ presence remained a secret. Kwak Soohwan opened the cupboard to check the remaining canned food and medicine.
“I’m going out, so stay home and don’t open the door for anyone, even if they ask. Got it?”
“Why, where are you going?”
His sibling followed him closely. Kwak Soohwan handed his sibling one of the few remaining pills.
“Take it with the leftover canned sausage. Don’t forget.”
“Okay.”
His sibling suffered from Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a primary immune deficiency disorder with symptoms of autoimmune disease and low platelets, making bleeding difficult to stop. They had survived so far on immune-boosting medications, but Rainbow City’s pharmaceutical companies announced they would stop supplying the drug due to low profit. Still, it wasn’t hard to find with money. Their parents had procured it through a broker, keeping his sibling alive.
Kwak Soohwan, only fourteen, was well-developed for his age despite not eating well. The neighborhood believed he secretly ate good food alone. They weren’t entirely wrong. Kwak Soohwan frequently raided the markets in the red zone.
He liked the red zone, especially areas that had recently declined from green. They had plenty of food. Fortunately, it was a full moon night. Kwak Soohwan descended the stairs and knocked on the door of a one-eyed man living on the third floor.
The one-eyed, limping man was known for connecting people with Rainbow City’s brokers. With his parents in their current state, he had to procure his sibling’s medication himself. The gruff man opened the door, annoyed.
“What do you want?”
“Mister, my dad told me to ask you for my sibling’s medicine if they couldn’t be contacted.”
The one-eyed man frowned but recalled the request. If they couldn’t be reached for a while, he was to get the child’s medicine.
“Money?”
Kwak Soohwan took out Rainbow City’s currency. There were seven types, each a different color. Green was the most valuable. When he handed over the green rainbow-emblazoned bill, the one-eyed man inspected it with a magnifying glass.
“I’ll bring it in two days. Wait.”
“Please do.”
Ignoring Kwak Soohwan’s plea, the one-eyed man closed the door roughly.
“Little brat, acting tough with a scowl.”
Kwak Soohwan spat on the closed door. He then headed downstairs to find his parents’ car and clumsily took the wheel. He turned on the radio to get information on the designated red zones and then stepped on the gas.
Kwak Soohwan knew something scarier than Adam: hunger. He rarely encountered Adam directly. Before reaching the red zone’s border, he parked the car and darted down a side path. Fortunately, the mart wasn’t far from there. He checked the surroundings for any sign of Adam and then sprinted towards the mart. It appeared to be a former affluent area, as there were fresh products that were hard to find elsewhere. However, items with short shelf lives were all rotten.
Avoiding the noise of plastic bags, he opened his backpack and stuffed it with canned goods, which had long shelf lives but lacked flavor. Kwak Soohwan greedily filled his backpack to the point it couldn’t be zipped shut. He gulped down fresh water from Jeju Island, savoring the rare pure taste. He also grabbed an entire tray of eggs.
In another backpack, he filled it with the crucial fresh water. The combined weight of the two backpacks was roughly 30kg, heavy for a fourteen-year-old. Yet, Kwak Soohwan wished he had more hands; this weight was nothing to him.
He checked the mart’s medicine shelves but couldn’t find the medicine his brother needed. After scanning the area, he used the moonlit path as his guide and dashed back to the car. The clattering of cans in his bag sent chills down his spine, but fortunately, Adam didn’t appear. He hurried back to his parked car.
“Damn it,” Kwak Soohwan muttered upon seeing soldiers from the checkpoint inspecting his car with flashlights. With no other choice, he began his journey on foot. The car trip had taken 30 minutes, but walking and running back would take at least half a day.
Worried about his brother left alone, Kwak Soohwan ran tirelessly. Though the backpack felt heavier, it didn’t affect his heartbeat. He always sensed he was different from others: he couldn’t empathize with phrases like “Aren’t you tired?” and felt lighter when asked “Isn’t it heavy?” He sprinted up to the 10th floor of their apartment, which had a non-functioning elevator, and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock. It was already dawn, so his brother shouldn’t be asleep. Kwak Soohwan tried the doorknob, but it was locked.
Knock, knock. He knocked again, feeling a damp, sticky sensation down his back as the broken eggs dripped from his bag.
Jihwan, it’s me, your brother. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. He knocked again with his fist.
[Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock.]
“!”
Kwak Soohwan woke up, squinting in the direction of the sound. With his light sleep, he wouldn’t wake for no reason. The clock showed it was 5 AM. He rubbed his face and got up from the creaky bed.
Knock, knock. The sound came again, but it wasn’t like a hand knocking—more dull and muted. He opened a bottle of water and approached the door. Without checking, he opened it to find a shorter man standing there.
“Dr. Seok?”
Is he sleepwalking? It’s only 5 AM, and he’s knocking on someone’s door?
Seokhwa bowed and extended his hand, offering something.
“What is it?”
It was a damp stone. It seemed he had knocked with it.
“It’s a moisture-retaining stone. I’m giving it to you, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“What?”
“Please, take it.”
Seriously… Kwak Soohwan, already in a foul mood from the restless night, was baffled by Seokhwa’s strange behavior. He leaned against the door.
“You’re the one who likes stones, not me.”
“I couldn’t properly thank you.”
Waking someone at 5 AM to say thank you? Kwak Soohwan realized just how socially awkward Seokhwa was.
“If you’re grateful, bring me alcohol or cigarettes. I’m closing the door.”
As he started to close the door, Seokhwa stepped forward, looking somewhat disappointed, though still expressionless.
“Why?”
“May I come in?”
“You think I know who kidnapped you?”
“Yes, I think I know.”
Seokhwa answered without hesitation. Kwak Soohwan, now fully awake, crossed his arms with the water bottle in hand.
“So why didn’t you tell Lee Yeontae?”
“I wasn’t sure. The person who injured Major Lee Chaeyoon is likely the same one who kidnapped me.”
“Probably.”
“I spent the night organizing my thoughts. The rebels who kidnapped me seem to be from the new religious group Eden’s Garden. They might also be linked to Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder.”
Seokhwa, unusually focused, looked directly at Kwak Soohwan with clear, bright eyes.
Kwak Soohwan put down the water bottle and slowly approached Seokhwa, who looked up at him, unflinching. They were so close that it seemed like a slight tilt of the head could lead to a kiss.
“Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan’s voice was deeper than usual, his gaze cold.
“Are you trying to challenge me now?”
He grinned.
“Challenge you? How?”
“Why else would you come to me at such an hour?”
“That is the reason.”
Seokhwa felt like Kwak Soohwan was trying to divert the conversation. Despite his usual playful demeanor, the man standing before him now, who had woken him up, seemed unfamiliar. Instead of being annoyed, his expression was cold and emotionless, resembling the kidnapper he couldn’t recognize.
“Eden’s Garden, Major Kwak Soohwan, you mentioned it to me first.”
Kwak Soohwan finally pulled a chair over for Seokhwa and gestured for him to sit. He sat down, straddling the chair with his arms on the backrest.
“Today, the kidnapper told me he belonged to Eden’s Garden. He said Rainbow City was rotten and that you, Major Kwak Soohwan, were its guardian.”
Kwak Soohwan’s eyebrow twitched with displeasure.
“And I heard Dr. Oh Yangseok’s last words.”
He parted his lips as if to cut off the conversation, so Seokhwa quickly continued.
“But something doesn’t add up.”
“What were the last words?”
“I don’t know exactly; I heard a gunshot immediately after. He did mention not being able to reach me in Jeju.”
“Then report it to Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae tomorrow.”
Kwak Soohwan stood as if he had heard enough, but Seokhwa grabbed his wrist.
“The kidnapper said he was from Eden’s Garden… and called himself Serpent.”
A heat like swallowing fire transferred from Seokhwa’s hand.
“Serpent?”
“Yes. But the strange thing is…”
Seokhwa hesitated. Should he share his doubts with Kwak Soohwan? After a moment, he decided.
“The man who said he was Serpent also had Dr. Oh Yangseok’s last message, which he shouldn’t have had. The rebels shouldn’t have been able to get close to the shelter. How did they get it? And it was recorded just before Dr. Oh Yangseok was killed.”
A smile spread across Kwak Soohwan’s face as he listened. This guy wasn’t just good at research; he could be an excellent investigator if he had the stamina. But Kwak Soohwan’s mind was occupied with Serpent.
“Why tell me this before Lee Yeontae?”
“I need your help.”
He got straight to the point.
“My access to military police case records has been blocked.”
“Maybe your clearance level isn’t high enough.”
“I had access to level 2 classified information, but now even my level is classified.”
Kwak Soohwan assumed it was to prevent Seokhwa from developing rebel tendencies.
“So?”
“I want to find information related to Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder. Can you access level 2 classified information?”
“What do you take me for?”
Seokhwa had expected as much. It was hard for a Major to access even level 3 classified information.
“I can access level 1 classified information.”
Seokhwa’s face visibly wrinkled in surprise. How could he access level 1 when Seokhwa struggled with level 2? Kwak Soohwan noticed Seokhwa’s pride was hurt.
“I’ll pay you. Just let me see the records.”
Finding answers was more important than pride. Kwak Soohwan chuckled.
“I can let you see them. No need for money.”
Seokhwa stood, voice rising in excitement.
“Really? Thank you,”
“If you have sex with me.”
“…What?”
Seokhwa’s brow furrowed deeper.
“You get sperm too. It’s a win-win.”
Seokhwa glanced at his computer, then the stone in his hand, and finally back at Kwak Soohwan.
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
Kwak Soohwan rested his chin on his arm, clearly amused. Seokhwa felt the urge to throw the stone at his grinning face but restrained himself.
“I’m not that desperate to see the records.”
Seokhwa turned to leave, but his steps were heavy. He couldn’t think of anyone else to ask.
“Goodbye, Doctor.”
Kwak Soohwan even waved, prompting Seokhwa to take a deep breath before speaking.
“Is there anything else you would accept instead?”
“What are you so curious about?”
“I want to know exactly how Dr. Oh Yangseok died.”
“But it seems you’re not curious enough to have sex with me.”
Kwak Soohwan’s words were a subtle jab, questioning if Dr. Oh Yangseok meant that little to him. Angered, Seokhwa strode forward.
“Didn’t you say your genitals don’t work, Major Kwak Soohwan? So how could we even have sex?”
“Oh, is that how you want to play it? What if it does work right now?”
Kwak Soohwan glanced down at his own lower body.
“Let’s make a deal.”
Kwak Soohwan’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected response. Hearing the word “deal” from Dr. Seok was a shock.
“I can’t sleep with you right now, but I can kiss you.”
Seokhwa looked up with a fierce expression. Shouldn’t he at least close his eyes? Kwak Soohwan remained where he was, not moving closer.
“You’re the one asking for a favor, so why should I make the first move? You should come to me.”
“I already offered to pay you.”
“I have plenty of money. My drawer is full of bills in all the colors of the rainbow.”
Seokhwa blinked and put his hands on Kwak Soohwan’s shoulders. The heat from his palms seemed to spread through Kwak Soohwan’s body. How is his brain not fried from this heat? Kwak Soohwan tilted his head slightly, inviting him. Seokhwa’s throat moved visibly. For someone who had dated before, why was he so tense? Feeling impatient, Kwak Soohwan almost leaned in first. He smiled with a hint of amusement, waiting for Seokhwa to approach, while his thoughts drifted back to Serpent.
Serpent was known to be part of Eden’s Garden’s leadership, so it was hard to believe he had acted directly. Unless he was confident enough in his skills to step forward himself.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“Hmm?”
“How much of what you say is a joke, and how much is serious?”
Kwak Soohwan looked into Seokhwa’s eyes, which were now very close.
“Do you really want to have sex with me or kiss me?”
Despite his usually blank expression, Seokhwa was quick to catch on.
“Of course, if given the chance, I’d love to do both.”
Kwak Soohwan wrapped his arm tightly around Seokhwa’s waist as he tried to pull away. Seokhwa pushed at Kwak Soohwan’s chest, separating their upper bodies but keeping their lower halves pressed together. Kwak Soohwan purposely pressed their hips closer.
“Open your mouth.”
Even so, Seokhwa kept his lips tightly shut, lifting his head. His lips were plump and dry, making the situation even more peculiar. Kwak Soohwan tilted his head and pressed his lips firmly against Seokhwa’s. He slipped his tongue inside, finding Seokhwa’s teeth clenched. He licked Seokhwa’s teeth and bit his lower lip gently, causing Seokhwa to let out a soft sound. Taking advantage of the moment, he held the back of Seokhwa’s head and deepened the kiss. The sensation of Seokhwa’s full lips against his made Kwak Soohwan want to bite down more. Seokhwa’s tense tongue fluttered occasionally, trying to avoid Kwak Soohwan’s, but he pursued it vigorously.
Gasping for breath, Seokhwa tried to pull away, but Kwak Soohwan followed, capturing his lips again. Seokhwa needed to breathe, so he pulled away, but Kwak Soohwan didn’t let him escape. Their lips and chins were wet with saliva. Seokhwa had never experienced a kiss like this before.
Seokhwa wiped his lips with the back of his hand. He couldn’t move back as Kwak Soohwan still held his waist. He tried to wipe off the remaining saliva with his hand again, but Kwak Soohwan’s lips approached once more. Expecting another kiss, Seokhwa froze, but Kwak Soohwan only put the stone he was holding into his mouth.
Seokhwa watched in shock as Kwak Soohwan tasted the stone, rolling it in his mouth. Then, Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s cheek and passed the stone into his mouth. Seokhwa, who had carried the stone around so much that it had smoothed out, found the sensation unfamiliar. It tasted like nothing. He spat the stone into his hand.
Kwak Soohwan leaned in for another kiss, causing Seokhwa to tilt his head back. Kwak Soohwan bit and nibbled on Seokhwa’s lips, making them burn. Seokhwa finally blocked Kwak Soohwan’s face with his hand, trying to stop him. Kwak Soohwan’s tongue brushed against Seokhwa’s palm, making his hand jerk back.
“You taste better than the stone, Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan finally let him go. He turned on the computer and returned with his lips still wet.
“Mother, request access to code number 3121.”
[Voice recognition confirmed. Code 3121 access granted for Kwak Soohwan. Access to level 1 classified information permitted.]
Seokhwa, holding the wet stone, snapped back to attention. This was no time to be lost in the aftermath of a kiss, if it could even be called that. He approached the computer, typing without sitting down.
As expected, most military police case records were classified at level 2. He quickly found Dr. Oh Yangseok’s case and realized he wouldn’t have been able to access it with his clearance.
Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder case was classified as level 1. When he tried to open the document, a robotic voice spoke through the speaker.
[Level 1 classified information on military police cases is accessed via voice recognition.]
“What do you want to know?”
Kwak Soohwan asked, arms crossed.
“As I said, I want to know about Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder.”
Kwak Soohwan suddenly brought a clock to Seokhwa and placed it in front of him. Then he spread two fingers wide, making a V shape, which confused Seokhwa.
“Mother, display the record of Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder case.”
[Loading. Proceeding.]
The monitor displayed a file that could be flipped through, titled “Dr. Oh Yangseok Murder Case (Ongoing).” Seokhwa quickly opened the classified document and began reading.
The data, which matched what he had, stated that Dr. Oh Yangseok was killed instantly by a 9mm Beretta M92F bullet to the heart. The estimated time of death was around 5 AM, and the CCTV footage had not been recovered. The case also included photos of Dr. Oh Yangseok’s body, which Seokhwa could barely look at. He started to meticulously absorb the details.
[The suspect in Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder is still being pursued. It is suspected to be an external perpetrator rather than an internal one. There is evidence suggesting a shelter insider was bribed. Various rebel movements are being tracked. The investigation is led by Military Police Platoon 2 and Major Kwak Soohwan.]
“Terminate access.”
[Disconnecting.]
Seokhwa spun around, looking at him as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“I was still watching.”
“The negotiation ends here.”
Kwak Soohwan extended his index and middle fingers once more.
“Our kiss lasted two minutes, so watching for longer would be too much of a loss for me.”
I hadn’t even finished watching the last part… More importantly, I was uneasy knowing Kwak Soohwan was among those investigating Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder.
“Want to see more? Then it will require more than just a kiss.”
Seokhwa replied stiffly, facing the grinning Kwak Soohwan.
“No, I’ve seen enough of the material.”
With that, he said he would sleep more and took a sip of water. Seokhwa, who had been glaring at his back with discomfort, also approached the bed.
“There was no need to review the material from the start. Knowing that Major Kwak Soohwan is the one investigating Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder. Just like the Garden of Eden… Major Kwak Soohwan, you didn’t deny it either. That the doctor might have died due to a conflict with the higher-ups. But that record seems to confirm it was the work of an external party.”
Seokhwa quickly and heatedly spilled out his words. Kwak Soohwan, lying on his back with his arms behind his head, had his eyes closed, showing no intention of speaking further.
“Do you have nothing to say to me?”
“It’s exactly as Dr. Seok saw it, and I don’t know who the culprit is. And why are you bothering with unnecessary concerns? Dr. Seok is a researcher, not military police.”
Seokhwa climbed onto his body at those words mixed with laughter. Kwak Soohwan finally opened his eyes, looking bewildered.
“I…”
Seokhwa hesitated, gripping Kwak Soohwan’s shirt tightly with both hands. He looked up from below, his jawline smooth. It was clear why Lee Chaeyoon always sang about how pretty and handsome Dr. Seok was. And in terms of looks, Seokhwa perfectly matched Kwak Soohwan’s taste. But that was it. What mattered most to Kwak Soohwan was what Seokhwa thought and how he acted.
“I… grew up on Jeju Island… so I don’t really know. I never questioned why people are so afraid, why Adam doesn’t disappear. But…”
For once, Kwak Soohwan showed no reaction to the emotional Seokhwa, merely staring blankly at his confused eyes.
“Something’s strange. Something seems wrong. Why did the doctor have to die…? And my senior, too.”
Something was definitely off. Living peacefully on Jeju Island, he hadn’t thought about it much, but after his mother’s funeral, he had expected to be called to the Yeouido shelter. Regardless of his reasons, the higher-ups would have done so. However, they just left him on Jeju Island. As Dr. Oh Yangseok had said, they lost contact, as if they were deliberately keeping them apart.
The hands tightly gripping the shirt quickly lost strength. Having gripped the stone tightly, his palm throbbed with pain. He tried to move back from on top of him, but his waist was held fast.
“What does any of that matter? Dr. Seok, just focus on the research you’re ordered to do.”
For some reason, a cold chill seemed to rise from where he was held. Unlike his own warm body, Kwak Soohwan’s lips and hands were cold. It might have been an average human body temperature, but it felt chilly to him.
Kwak Soohwan might be right. He didn’t want to expend energy on anything beyond his assigned tasks, and he didn’t have the capacity to do so either. But since returning to the Yeouido shelter, everything had been emotional, rebellious, and full of suspicions.
“…Let go.”
Seokhwa spoke weakly, trying to pull away from him. Kwak Soohwan let go surprisingly easily. Seokhwa slowly got off the bed and began walking away, leaving his bed behind.
“Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan spoke again, lying on his side with his chin resting on his arm.
“Everything you just told me.”
Those words came through the closing door.
“It’s all rebellious talk.”
***
Rebellious talk…
Seokhwa had never doubted his own identity. This was the first time he had questioned anything about Rainbow City. Suddenly, he felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him. Kwak Soohwan was his bodyguard, but he was also a soldier of Rainbow City, a guardian according to the kidnapper. If he reported today’s conversation to the higher-ups?
No, he wouldn’t. Kwak Soohwan seemed to suspect the murderer of Dr. Oh Yangseok might be an insider. By that logic, wasn’t that rebellious too? Seokhwa was keeping all possibilities open, even considering the new religious group Eden Garden that the kidnapper mentioned.
If the kidnappers had obtained Dr. Oh Yangseok’s last words, there might be someone bought off in the shelter or the military police, or…
[Opening.]
Seokhwa entered his room after recognizing his fingerprint, then slumped to the floor. Crossing his arms, he hugged his shoulders.
Or was it possible that the higher-ups were testing him?
He knew it was far-fetched. Yeah, it was nonsense. They said seven soldiers from the Gwacheon branch had died. But Seokhwa knew. About Dr. Wonho who had been at the Yeouido shelter long ago. And what happened to him.
Back then, he was a new researcher who had just arrived at the Yeouido shelter. Dr. Wonho was close to Dr. Oh Yangseok due to their similar age. But unlike the caring Oh Yangseok, Wonho had a rather aloof personality. He rarely interacted with new researchers and found Seokhwa’s frequent anemia symptoms annoying.
Then one day, a rumor started spreading around the shelter. That Dr. Wonho was spying for the rebels.
Seokhwa didn’t know where the rumor originated and had no interest in it. The rumor spread over several months, and eventually, the military police caught Dr. Wonho while he was contacting the rebels. The rebels he allied with aimed to make Rainbow City independent from the United Nations.
The Yeouido shelter was in an uproar. Dr. Wonho’s involvement with the rebels led to Dr. Oh Yangseok undergoing intensive questioning by the military police for over a week.
Dr. Wonho had developed a truth serum called Amobarbital, which had been banned for a while. He confessed everything truthfully under the influence of his own serum. When Dr. Wonho was being investigated, new researchers, including Seokhwa, were also summoned by the military police.
“Listen. Dr. Seok is absolutely innocent. I vouch for it. If you investigate this innocent person too harshly, it could kill him.”
Ironically, it was just as Oh Yangseok had said. The military police also thought it was impossible for Seokhwa to be a rebel. How could such a weakling, who would faint even while eating, engage in espionage or join the rebels?
The other doctors were able to walk out safely after being administered the truth serum, but Seokhwa was the only one who could leave the military police interrogation room completely unharmed.
After the day Wonho was executed, Oh Yangseok resumed drinking, which he had given up. He mourned his foolish friend. Up until then, Oh Yangseok had immense pride in being a citizen of Rainbow City. However, after his friend’s death, he started to change little by little.
He must have constantly wondered why his friend had joined the rebels. What was lacking that led him to betray Rainbow City? In seeking answers to that question, Oh Yangseok delved deeper and deeper, and, as per his last words, he might have developed resentment toward the higher-ups who didn’t want the development of the cure.
I don’t know…
Seokhwa mumbled, sliding his body sideways against the door. He wanted to take out a chocolate bar and eat it, but he didn’t have the energy to even lift a finger.
From Dr. Wonho to Dr. Oh Yangseok…
It felt as if he was now starting to walk the path they had tread.
[Opening.]
[Forcing open the accommodation of Dr. Seok, code number 310.]
Someone opened the door, and Seokhwa, who had fallen asleep lying on the floor, was pushed aside. Seokhwa, his body pressed against the door, drowsily opened his eyes. Three men in military uniforms were looking down at him. On their armbands was an eagle mark that Seokhwa recognized well.
They were military police from Rainbow City.
“Dr. Seok, we rang the bell, but there was no answer, so we forced the door open. Please forgive our rudeness.”
“It’s… fine.”
“Now that you’re awake, we need you to come with us.”
Could it be? Had the worries from yesterday become reality today? However, Seokhwa’s face remained as composed as usual. Two of the military policemen approached and helped Seokhwa to his feet.
“Can I take a shower first?”
“Yes, we’ll wait.”
Since they weren’t dragging him away immediately, it seemed it might not be as serious as he thought.
Seokhwa took out a chocolate bar from the drawer and ate it to gather his thoughts. The military policemen looked bored while he ate, but he slowly replenished his energy. He moved to the bathroom, took a cold shower, brushed his teeth thoroughly, and came out to find the military police opening the door, indicating it was time to go. Finally, he took three stamina pills in succession and washed them down with some bottled water.
Seokhwa followed the military police into the elevator and descended to the third basement floor. This area was originally a parking lot but had been remodeled into offices and interrogation rooms for the military police. It had been a long time since Seokhwa had been there, and the damp atmosphere was still unfamiliar to him.
After passing several offices, a heavy iron door came into view. Seeing the sign that read “Interrogation Room,” Seokhwa’s eyelids twitched a few times. There was nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be scared of. He hadn’t joined the rebels; he was only questioning Dr. Oh Yangseok’s death.
“Please, step inside.”
The heavy door to the interrogation room opened, and Seokhwa entered without hesitation. Inside, there were several rooms with iron doors. Seokhwa was guided into Room 3. The interior was divided into a waiting area and an interrogation room, centered around a two-way mirror. From behind the mirror, he could see a man sitting. Seokhwa was then pushed through another door.
The man waiting inside stood up with a bright expression.
“Welcome, Doctor.”
From the inside, the two-way mirror only reflected the man and himself. The man, who had extended his hand for a handshake, had silver epaulettes.
“I am Major Yoo from the military police.”
“I am Seokhwa from the research department.”
Ignoring the extended hand, Seokhwa immediately sat down in the chair that seemed to be meant for him. He pulled out the hard chair and sat down, placing his hands on his thighs.
On Major Yoo’s neck was a tattoo of an eagle, identical to the one on the military police insignia. He must have immense pride in his unit to have it tattooed on his body.
“Have you eaten? If not, I can have some food brought in.”
“I had a chocolate bar.”
“Haha, a chocolate bar, you say.”
Major Yoo laughed, but it seemed like he was asking if that was all. Sitting across from Seokhwa, Major Yoo swiftly flipped the file on the table toward Seokhwa. Looking down, Seokhwa saw detailed records of his time connected to Mother and his report to Lee Yeontae.
“You must have been surprised to be called to the interrogation room suddenly.”
“I’m not surprised.”
Haha, I see. Major Yoo smiled falsely at Seokhwa.
“There’s nothing to worry about. We just brought you in to clarify a few things. After all, we can’t treat one of Rainbow City’s chief researchers poorly.”
“Proceed.”
Major Yoo had interrogated many soldiers, researchers, and rebels. Usually, he could read their emotions and actions, but he couldn’t get a read on this doctor. Seokhwa didn’t seem genuinely surprised or anxious.
When the raid was reported over the radio, there was no noticeable reaction from him either.
“You must have had a tough time yesterday. You were suddenly kidnapped. You were with Lee Chaeyoon, Yang Sanghoon, and Major Kwak Soohwan, the pride of Yeouido Shelter’s undefeated unit, and your car overturned, right?”
“Yes.”
“Major Yang Sanghoon was driving. It’s strange that he couldn’t avoid the incoming car. Even if the car overturned, how did three S-class personnel lose sight of you? Of course, you said you were unconscious, so you wouldn’t know the situation.”
Could he be suspecting the undefeated unit now?
Seokhwa sensed that he should be more cautious with his words from now on.
“You were kidnapped to a place called Honeymoon Motel, and we rescued you via GPS. You said you didn’t see the kidnapper, right?”
He needed to answer carefully. If he contradicted his statement from yesterday, it might raise suspicions against him.
“I did hear the kidnapper’s voice.”
Major Yoo frowned.
“Didn’t you say yesterday that you didn’t meet them?”
“I had a concussion, so my memory was confused.”
“…”
Major Yoo clasped his hands together and placed them on the table. The polite smile he had been wearing vanished, replaced by the sharp gaze of an eagle scouting its prey.
“Continue.”
“The kidnapper mentioned Dr. Oh Yangseok’s death to me. Honestly, my memory is still jumbled, so I can’t remember the details.”
“Hey.”
A threatening, low voice hit him. Seokhwa raised his lowered eyes and met the gaze of the military police major.
“They say you’re smart, a genius even. So why is your memory so confused?”
Seokhwa slowly closed and reopened his eyes.
“A mild concussion was confirmed in the examination room yesterday. Memory confusion is inevitable.”
“And yet, someone like that tries to access military police confidential documents?”
“I had the clearance to view confidential documents. But I couldn’t access them yesterday. Who blocked it?”
Seokhwa asked calmly. He felt that putting force into his words would drain his energy quickly.
“Dr. Seok, it must have been blocked because you’re being suspicious and not honest.”
Major Yoo reached out and pulled a steel cart placed beside the table.
On the cart were various tools that looked threatening, like knives and pliers. Judging by the dried blood stains, they might not have been just for show. On the second shelf of the three-tiered cart was a truth serum developed by Dr. Wonho, still in use.
“The higher-ups don’t suspect you, Dr. Seok, but you know ambiguous answers are not what they want. They said it’s fine to use the truth serum if necessary. But Doctor, you’re so weak that I can’t carelessly administer it; it might be fatal.”
“You can administer it. I’ve only spoken the truth.”
Bang! Major Yoo slammed the table hard. Then, he forcibly grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and fixed it to the table. Seokhwa did not resist during this time.
“You say you’re weak enough to die from this? But Doctor, human life is tougher than you think. It doesn’t end that easily.”
I know. That’s why I’m still alive.
Seokhwa swallowed his sarcastic thoughts. Major Yoo placed the amobarbital solution on the table and injected the needle. He drew up enough solution to avoid a lethal dose.
Why is the military police going this far? I’m the one who was kidnapped, so why am I being suspected and driven into a corner?
After Dr. Oh Yangseok’s death, I came to Yeouido Shelter, and the higher-ups blocked my contact with the Doctor. But as soon as I arrived here, I went to Dr. Oh Yangseok’s residence… Maybe that’s when they started suspecting me.
It’s as if they know the person who kidnapped me is from Eden and are pushing me to reveal the truth. But I haven’t told Lee Yeontae the full details of my conversation with the kidnapper.
It felt like a trap was waiting under the leg he was about to step forward with. When Major Yoo brought the needle to his arm, Seokhwa spoke up.
“Let’s disinfect first. And I’ll administer it myself.”
“Oh, really? This is why I hate being around doctors. Just take it as it is.”
Pressing hard, he inserted the needle into the crook of his arm and pushed the plunger.
With a flick, Major Yoo threw the used syringe to the floor, grabbed Seokhwa by the collar, and slammed him onto the table. The impact made him cough.
“Forgive me for being rough, Doctor? Just being brought to my interrogation room means the higher-ups don’t want to go easy on you. I’m known for being quite rough. Let’s wait for the drug to take effect.”
“I can’t breathe.”
A hand pressed hard on his back, making it hard to breathe.
“What’s that?”
The guy leaned in close, whispering to him to repeat himself.
“You smell nice, Doctor. Is it because you eat well and sleep comfortably? Did you take a shower while waiting? After receiving all this good treatment, why are you trying to associate with rebels?”
Anyone else would have vehemently protested their innocence. As Kwak Soohwan said, merely doubting the higher-ups could be seen as rebellious thinking.
“How is it? This is supposed to make the drug act faster. Isn’t this also something the doctor bastards made?”
“…”
Major Yoo grabbed Seokhwa’s hair and yanked it up. As expected, Seokhwa’s face was pale, almost blue.
“Did anything happen yesterday? Let’s get through this well, okay? Did you know? A long time ago, when I first joined the military police as a fresh lieutenant, I stabbed Dr. Oh Yangseok in the thigh about twenty times with an awl. That old man had such strong willpower. What’s his name, the old man who was executed for being a rebel? Wonho? Oh, right! Wonho! When we interrogated him—”
“Major Yoo.”
Seokhwa called out with his hair still being held.
“What?”
“My head is throbbing.”
The man, who had been scowling, burst into laughter and released his grip. He even dusted off Seokhwa’s clothes after seating him properly.
“If the Doctor says so, I have to let go. Now, shall we start again? What did you talk about with the kidnapper yesterday?”
“…The kidnapper mentioned Dr. Oh Yangseok’s death. Honestly, my memory is still jumbled, so I can’t remember the details.”
“Oh, really?”
Major Yoo’s nose twitched in anger.
Hearing the same exact words as before, despite claiming a lack of memory, made him feel mocked. Major Yoo held back his anger, waiting for the drug to take full effect. The dose he gave Seokhwa was enough to make even an elephant clearly recall its activities for a day.
“What did you talk about with the kidnapper yesterday?”
Although Seokhwa’s eyes drooped more than usual, his expression remained unchanged.
“Shall I repeat it? The kidnapper mentioned Dr. Oh Yangseok’s death. Honestly, my memory is still jumbled, so I can’t remember the details.”
Haa, with a dry mouth, Seokhwa managed to swallow. Major Yoo, sensing something was off, suddenly brought a bottle of water and placed it in front of Seokhwa. Despite the truth serum, Seokhwa’s story hadn’t changed, causing Major Yoo to feel bewildered.
“Dr. Seok. Damn it. This isn’t right. You visited Kwak Soohwan early in the morning too. You think I don’t know about your strange schemes? What did you do? Huh?!”
Although there were orders from the higher-ups to investigate Seokhwa, there was no authorization to push this far. But Major Yoo had seen countless individuals with rebel tendencies.
Seokhwa’s inconsistent statements about encountering the kidnapper and his actions of digging into Dr. Oh Yangseok’s death were all suspicious. He hoped he could take down Kwak Soohwan, who had always been a thorn in his side, in one fell swoop.
“What did you do, damn it! Are you trying to side with the rebels like Dr. Wonho and Dr. Oh Yangseok?!”
“Did Dr. Oh Yangseok side with the rebels?”
Seokhwa asked back.
Bang!!!
The door next to the magic mirror hung loosely after being kicked in by someone.
“You can’t go in there right now!”
“Major!”
The military police tried to stop him, but no one in the shelter had the strength to restrain the man. Kwak Soohwan lifted the MPs blocking his way and slammed them against the wall.
“State your name and rank, you bastard. Who gave you the right to arrest Dr. Seok?”
“We know each other well, don’t we, Major Kwak Soohwan? Who are you calling a bastard? I don’t know why the higher-ups keep favoring you when you’re just a troublemaker going around bars.”
The MP in charge whenever Kwak Soohwan caused trouble was always Yoo Jungkyung. Each time, Kwak Soohwan pretended not to remember him, which only aggravated him further.
Anyone else would have rotted in a cell for years by now, but the higher-ups overlooked Kwak Soohwan’s actions because he was an S-class ability user. This infuriated Yoo Jungkyung, who worked tirelessly to protect Rainbow City.
“Get up.”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, even you won’t get away with this.”
He looked down at the broken vial at his feet. Recognizing it as a truth serum, his expression grew fiercer.
“So, what did you learn by injecting this crap?”
“I was just about to find out, but then you came.”
Seokhwa, held by Kwak Soohwan, looked at Yoo Jungkyung and responded.
“Can I answer now?”
Both soldiers turned their attention to Seokhwa as he mumbled.
“You asked why I went to Major Kwak Soohwan’s room early in the morning.”
“Dr. Seok, just keep quiet for now.”
Knowing that Seokhwa might say anything under the influence of the truth serum, Kwak Soohwan lifted him up and held him tightly. Seokhwa continued to speak, still looking at Yoo Jungkyung.
“I went to…”
“What?”
Yoo Jungkyung pushed the table aside and stepped closer, hoping to hear something that would implicate both men.
“I went to… kiss him.”
Seokhwa’s body was limp as he replied. Despite the context, what Seokhwa said was true, and it was better than being suspected of rebellion.
***
Ha ha, Kwak Soohwan let out a pleased laugh.
Seokhwa leaned back against the wheelchair, too weak to even turn around. After causing a commotion, Kwak Soohwan had finally ordered someone to bring the wheelchair.
As they made their way from the basement to their room, many people in the shelter took an interest. Kwak Soohwan loudly proclaimed that the MPs had done this to their doctor.
Seokhwa stretched his hand toward the recognition pad at his door. It barely moved, so Kwak Soohwan grabbed his arm and pressed his hand against the pad. After closing the door, he lifted Seokhwa onto the bed.
“Don’t be too upset. I won’t let Yoo Jungkyung get away with this.”
Kwak Soohwan wiped Seokhwa’s face with a damp cloth, noting that some color had returned to his face since they were in the interrogation room.
The truth serum used by the MPs was notorious for making even S-class individuals spill their deepest secrets. Yoo Jungkyung must have pushed too hard, eager to achieve results.
If it hadn’t been for Dr. Kim mentioning that Seokhwa hadn’t shown up at the lab, it might have taken longer to bring him back. Even Commander Jang was unaware that Seokhwa had been taken by the MPs.
“You don’t think I reported you, do you?”
Seokhwa squinted, staring at Kwak Soohwan. He pulled the cloth away.
“Get some rest.”
Even so, Kwak Soohwan stayed by his side. He gave Seokhwa sips of water through a straw.
“What did Yoo Jungkyung ask you?”
“The same thing Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae asked yesterday.”
Since he was under the influence of the truth serum, everything Seokhwa said would likely be the truth.
Kwak Soohwan pulled a chair closer to Seokhwa. The drug made him clear-headed but stripped of self-control, so he wouldn’t fall asleep easily until it wore off.
“I wonder if everything you told me yesterday is true.”
Seokhwa stared at him with crystal-clear eyes.
“Are you interrogating me now?”
Despite his weak body, his mental strength was impressive. Kwak Soohwan was genuinely amazed.
“You said you couldn’t hear all of Dr. Oh Yangseok’s last words because of the gunshot.”
“Haa…”
It was clear that Kwak Soohwan hadn’t handed him over to the MPs. Yoo Jungkyung seemed to have an inferiority complex about the Invincible Platoon and would have loved to drag Kwak Soohwan down with him.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Seokhwa’s usual slow speech was now tinged with drowsiness, giving it a peculiar tone.
“Amazing. You still address me formally even in this state?”
The fact that Seokhwa spoke like this even after being drugged suggested he had no issues with Kwak Soohwan’s usual informal speech.
“What should I call you, then?”
“Call me whatever you want. You can even speak informally.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I said you could, so why not?”
Without even thinking, Seokhwa responded immediately.
“I don’t want to get close to you, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Veins stood out on Kwak Soohwan’s neck. The words were likely a complete truth, which irked him.
“You said you volunteered for the military?”
“Yes, I did.”
He said he volunteered for the army because they promised to feed him well.
“Is it… really hungry out there?”
His unfocused gaze made it impossible to tell where he was looking.
“Dr. Seok, you’ve never seen anyone living outside Rainbow City, have you? Yes, it’s starving and desolate. But inside, we’re like animals in a cage. We get libido suppressants and can’t have children freely; we’re bred within Rainbow City.”
“That’s… rebel ideology.”
Seokhwa echoed Kwak Soohwan’s words.
“Honestly, I don’t care. I’d rather be a well-fed animal in a safari than a starving wild animal.”
Kwak Soohwan, with his fierce, wild eyes, spoke words contrary to his appearance. He didn’t seem like a domesticated animal, but he spoke well.
Wonho’s newly developed truth serum caused memory lapses once its effects wore off. Those injected with it couldn’t clearly remember what they had said or what questions they had been asked. That’s why those who were interrogated often trembled in fear once their minds cleared. Knowing this, Kwak Soohwan felt more comfortable speaking freely. Though he had nearly felt spiteful at Seokhwa’s earlier remark about not wanting to get close.
“They say the population control policy is to protect citizens safely. That’s what we were taught at the Jeju Learning Center. Do you know why Dr. Oh and I researched mutants?”
Seokhwa, pale as a corpse, only moved his lips.
“The higher-ups said that 30% of future children should be mutants with abilities. There should be no one defective like me.”
“Defective? In my eyes, Dr. Seok, you’re quite attractive. At least physically.”
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Seokhwa called him once more. Until now, whenever Kwak Soohwan was asked something serious, he would deflect or take it lightly.
“The person who killed Dr. Oh Yangseok wasn’t an outsider… was it?”
“Then who do you think it was?”
Seokhwa lifted his blurry gaze to the ceiling. Kwak Soohwan leaned in and whispered into Seokhwa’s ear.
“He won’t remember any of this conversation later, but I hope it lingers in his subconscious at least.”
Kwak Soohwan whispered as if sharing a lover’s secret, his words laced with an intimacy that no one else should hear. His hand slid across Seokhwa’s chest in a gesture akin to foreplay, and Seokhwa, feeling Kwak Soohwan’s touch, couldn’t push him away. A cold hand gently gripped his nape, moving up along his collarbone as if inhaling his scent. Kwak Soohwan then whispered again into his ear.
“Don’t dig any further into Dr. Oh Yangseok’s murder. It won’t do you any good.”
“Why?”
Kwak Soohwan kissed Seokhwa on the forehead with a loud smack, pressing firmly.
“If you keep being suspicious and digging around, you’ll end up getting tangled with me, even if you don’t want to get close.”
He felt Kwak Soohwan’s lips move intimately against his ear again.
Mother is always watching.
He whispered.
***
Seokhwa stretched to loosen his stiff body. He had slept for more than half a day after the effects of the drug wore off, and he was extremely hungry. He grabbed a cardigan from the closet and left the room. It was dawn, so he didn’t encounter anyone as he walked down the corridor.
When Seokhwa arrived at the 24-hour cafeteria, he glanced around. A few soldiers were scattered, eating late-night snacks. Seokhwa picked up a sandwich from the counter. It was a bean patty sandwich that Kwak Soohwan had complained tasted terrible. As he unwrapped it and was about to sit anywhere,
“Doctor!”
Lee Chaeyoon waved cheerfully, holding a carrot. When Seokhwa nodded and sat down, she quickly ran over.
“The Major said the military police made a big mistake with you, Doctor! Was it that bastard, Yoo Jeongkyung?”
“You know him?”
“Of course. That bastard’s a pervert. He enjoys torturing people but is terrified of going out into the field. If I ever meet him in the field, I’ll kill him myself.”
Lee Chaeyoon bit off half of her carrot. “Wait here a moment, Doctor.” She leaped over the table and ran somewhere. Before he knew it, she had come back from the vending machine with two drinks. She handed one to Seokhwa and started drinking the other.
“I didn’t bring any money.”
“No worries, this is on me, Doctor. Our pay comes in a couple of days anyway.”
“Thank you.”
Shelter staff received their salary quarterly, four times a year. Citizens living in the Green, Blue, and Indigo zones also earned wages for their respective duties, producing essential goods and military supplies. Despite the changing world, currency still held value. Rainbow City required money for living, and occasionally counterfeiters were caught. While there were some jails, they often overflowed, and when full, criminals were either expelled or executed, especially those caught with counterfeit money.
“Doctor.”
Lee Chaeyoon, having finished her drink, suddenly leaned in close. Though smaller in stature, she was brimming with energy and vitality, her presence invigorating others.
“Is it true that you and Kwak Soohwan are, you know, involved?”
Her words drained the energy out of him.
Seokhwa blinked, chewing his sandwich. He never paid attention to taste when eating to survive, but ever since Kwak Soohwan mentioned it was tasteless, it really did seem bland. He also recalled the taste of stone for the first time—the saliva was sweet, the stone tasteless.
“What do you mean by involved?”
“You know, like this.”
Lee Chaeyoon made an “OK” sign with one hand and poked her finger in and out of it with the other. Seokhwa mimicked her action.
“Yeah, that! Rumor has it all over the shelter that you secretly meet Kwak Soohwan at night. They say you even visited his room! Ugh, he might be good-looking, but you’re too good for him, Doctor.”
“Are you saying there’s a rumor I’m dating Major Kwak Soohwan?”
“I’m not sure about dating, but they say you’ve been intimate…”
Could it be something Yoo Jeongkyung said? If the rumor spread because he mentioned Seokhwa saying he kissed Kwak Soohwan, it couldn’t be helped.
“Doctor, do you know what kind of guy Kwak Soohwan is? In the field, he goes crazy, sometimes disappearing for hours on solo missions. Covered in blood, hunting Adams like a madman. Once, we waited for hours because he went on an Adam hunt alone.”
Bang! A large hand holding a drink slammed down between Seokhwa and Lee Chaeyoon.
“Enough gossiping behind people’s backs.”
Kwak Soohwan, not in military attire, looked more like a civilian in his casual T-shirt and slacks. He sat down without permission and wrapped an arm around Seokhwa’s shoulders.
“You have no idea how flustered I was when he came to my room, saying he wanted to sleep with me.”
As he brought his nose to Seokhwa’s hair as if smelling it, Seokhwa’s expression subtly twisted. Lee Chaeyoon’s mouth dropped open, and a few soldiers watching were shocked.
“You didn’t get some dirt on the Doctor, did you?”
“Dirt? No way. Dr. Seok must not remember, but he told Yoo Jeongkyung he came to my room for sex. Can you believe he’d reveal our secret like that?”
Seokhwa wiped his hair where Kwak Soohwan’s lips had touched.
Why is he lying like this? Seokhwa pushed Kwak Soohwan’s hand off his shoulder.
“I never said I came for sex.”
“Don’t deny it.”
Kwak Soohwan smiled slyly. Seokhwa couldn’t understand his intentions. Why act like this in front of everyone?
“I said it was for a kiss.”
Kwak Soohwan’s smile briefly faltered before he grinned again.
“What’s wrong with you?”
He lightly touched Seokhwa’s forehead with his finger. Seokhwa wiped his forehead with his palm, but nothing came off.
“What the! Doctor’s forehead is yellow! Yoo Jungkyung did this too, didn’t he?!”
As he pressed down, he felt a slight throbbing pain. Although the military police had grabbed his hair, they had not struck his forehead.
“Did Yoo Jeongkyung really hit you?”
Kwak Soohwan wondered if that bastard had assaulted Seokhwa before he arrived. He might have thought Seokhwa wouldn’t remember anything since he had been given a truth serum, and therefore treated him roughly. Until now, he had considered Yoo Jeongkyung a mere nuisance, but his increasing brazenness was starting to bother him.
“No.”
Seokhwa’s calm answer made him think Seokhwa didn’t remember, so his mood soured.
“He wouldn’t remember even if that bastard had done it.”
“Wasn’t it you, Major Kwak Soohwan, who did this?”
“What? Kwak Soohwan, you!”
Lee Chaeyoon stood up in shock, while Kwak Soohwan assumed Seokhwa’s memory was confused.
“Who do you think brought you back safe and sound? Don’t pin this on me.”
“Major Kwak Soohwan, you kissed my forehead, pressing so hard it hurt. That’s probably why it’s bruised. But why did you do it?”
Kwak Soohwan exhaled a short laugh.
“This is… He spoke as if he remembered everything.”
“Dr. Seok, can we talk?”
“Go ahead.”
“Not here.”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and pulled him up, causing the sandwich he was holding to drop to the floor. As he tried to pick it up, Kwak Soohwan’s grip tightened, dragging him out of the cafeteria.
“Major Lee, you can have that.”
“Get lost! I don’t eat things off the floor! Hey! Where are you taking the Doctor?”
“Don’t follow us.”
Seokhwa felt extremely irritated as he was forcibly dragged out, wanting to finish his sandwich.
Kwak Soohwan, who had been lightly smiling until a moment ago, now had a stern expression. He looked around the hallway, opened the emergency exit door, and pushed Seokhwa inside. Seokhwa stumbled but was held firmly against the wall by Kwak Soohwan.
“I wanted to finish my sandwich.”
“I’ll buy you a hundred of them later. First, explain what you just said.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you receive a truth serum?”
“Yes.”
“Then how do you remember what happened with the military police and what I said?”
After the incident with Doctor Wonho, Seokhwa and Oh Yangseok had administered small amounts of amobarbital to build a tolerance to truth serums. Seokhwa, who developed drugs for enhancing physical abilities, often used himself as a test subject. Thus, he hadn’t been worried when Yoo Jeongkyung injected him with the serum.
“Why is it dangerous for me to investigate Dr. Oh Yangseok’s case?”
Kwak Soohwan ran a hand through his hair.
“Dr. Seok, whether you have a tolerance to the serum or not, don’t let the military police know.”
“Why did you come to rescue me yesterday?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m your bodyguard.”
“Why did you press your lips on my forehead?”
“Consider it a reward for saving you.”
“What kind of bodyguard expects a reward?”
Kwak Soohwan stepped back, opened the emergency exit door, and spat out,
“I was worried. You’re just so damn weak.”
Seokhwa didn’t follow Kwak Soohwan as he left, remaining still.
A man who could access top-secret information, who surprisingly cared for him, yet still seemed untrustworthy. Seokhwa looked up at the flickering surveillance camera light.
Mother is watching. Perhaps it was another warning.
***
You foolish friend. Why didn’t you tell me? Why make me regret only now?
Kwak Soohwan sometimes drank with Oh Yangseok, who had a terrible drinking habit. When heavily drunk, he would often tearfully reminisce about his departed friends. Sitting by the Han River, looking at the dark water, Oh Yangseok would cling to Kwak Soohwan.
“Old man, let’s go back now.”
“Just a little longer.”
“I’m leaving.”
When Kwak Soohwan stood up with the bottle, Oh Yangseok grabbed his arm.
“How can I stay here alone, scared?”
Despite wanting to leave, even in the Green Zone, Adams were frightening, so he had brought Kwak Soohwan along. Sighing, Kwak Soohwan sat back down. It was hard to be callous to Oh Yangseok, who had helped him join the army. When he was assigned to the Ilsan Shelter after graduation, Oh Yangseok occasionally visited him. He often had to resist the urge to poke those pitying eyes.
“How is life in the Yeouido Shelter?”
“It’s all the same. It’d be better if Dr. Oh didn’t call me out like this. Stop drinking.”
Tears filled Oh Yangseok’s wrinkled eyes. Usually cheerful, he would sob when drunk.
“I have so many sins to atone for. I deserve to die.”
Oh Yangseok wobbled as he stood. After being tortured during an interrogation with Wonho, he limped on cold days.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, I feel so guilty towards you.”
“Thanks to you, I’m a well-fed citizen of Rainbow City.”
After his parents and brother died, another broker from Rainbow City approached him, who he later learned was paid by Dr. Oh Yangseok.
“If you hadn’t enlisted, how would you be living now?”
If that had happened, he might have joined the rebels. No matter how capable he was of surviving by raiding stores alone, in those desolate times, he needed somewhere to rely on.
“Old man, do you want to hear a thank you?”
“No, not at all. I just….”
“Then don’t call me out separately like this. These days, there are many upper-level folks keeping an eye on you.”
Oh Yangseok gulped down his harsh whiskey in three swigs.
“Who doesn’t know that? I’ve even left a will because I don’t know what lies ahead.”
“At your age, you should have one.”
Despite his previous tears, he laughed heartily.
“You don’t resemble your parents at all. They were so affectionate.”
Oh Yangseok sought out Kwak Soohwan because of his connection to Kwak Soohwan’s parents. Kwak Soohwan’s parents were shelter researchers who worked in the same research wing as Doctor Oh Yangseok.
“Don’t bring up my parents in front of me.”
Kwak Soohwan snatched the whiskey from Doctor Oh Yangseok and drank the rest.
“Let’s go inside. Your mustache is frozen with snot.”
Kwak Soohwan roughly grabbed the limping Oh Yangseok and dragged him back to the shelter. About a month later, Oh Yangseok was found murdered in the research wing.
***
Click, click, Kwak Soohwan rotated the cube, matching the colors.
In front of him stood a soldier wearing a green epaulet with an eagle-marked armband. Military Police Commander Cha was standing at attention, visibly nervous.
“Speak.”
Kwak Soohwan asked while rotating the cube.
“I have nothing to report.”
“How can you have nothing to say? A major in the military police took the chief researcher and administered a confession drug? Who ordered the investigation of the chief researcher?”
“Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae instructed a light investigation, but Major Yoo, out of excessive loyalty, ugh!”
Thud, the cube thrown by Kwak Soohwan hit Commander Cha’s forehead. Blood trickled down, but Commander Cha stood back at attention, unable to wipe it off.
“I’m sorry. I will demote Major Yoo to the Gwacheon branch.”
Commander Cha picked up the fallen cube and approached Kwak Soohwan’s desk.
“Who classified Dr. Seok’s level?”
“That is unknown to us as well.”
“Restore it to its original state. It’s causing unnecessary suspicion.”
“Yes, sir.”
Without looking at Commander Cha standing there, Kwak Soohwan continued to rotate the cube.
“What are you waiting for? Get out.”
“Yes, I will be on standby.”
Commander Cha saluted and exited the room.
[Zone 21 Violet]
A military zone an hour away from Yeouido, off-limits to civilians. Although labeled as a military zone, it was a place only Kwak Soohwan and a few soldiers designated by him could access. The area had been uninhabitable for a long time, so using it this way posed no significant problems.
Kwak Soohwan completed the cube in no time and stood up from his creaky chair. This building was once a high school, but there wasn’t a single intact window, and with the infrequent rain, the bloodstains on the walls remained unwashed. As Kwak Soohwan left the room that used to be the principal’s office, Commander Cha followed behind him.
The school motto hung crookedly above the main door covered in cobwebs. The letters were obscured by the webs, which seemed to be the work of multiple spiders rather than one. Despite the massive web, the prey caught was not even enough for one spider to feast on.
Sure enough, Commander Cha noticed one spider attempting to wrap and eat its fellow spider. He placed a long-dead beetle, likely unable to survive the winter, on the web.
“…Life starts from college.”
“What?”
“The motto, sir.”
Commander Cha had somehow managed to read the letters through the webs.
“College, my ass. Life starts with eating.”
“Each era and place likely has its own top priority.”
“So, what is it now?”
Kwak Soohwan drew his gun from its holster. As the muzzle pointed at him, Commander Cha regretted speaking up and closed his mouth. When the trigger was pulled, a puff sound indicated the bullet hitting something. Startled, he turned to see a nearly starving stray cat sprawled on the floor.
“Surviving, I suppose.”
Kwak Soohwan holstered his gun again.
“Absolutely right, sir.”
Commander Cha forced a smile, hiding his fear. Before getting into the jeep parked at the front gate, Commander Cha spoke first.
“Are you heading straight back to the Yeouido shelter?”
Without answering, Kwak Soohwan got into the jeep and started the engine. All the soldiers knew that he graduated top of his class from Rainbow City Military Academy. However, his title had faded due to his erratic behavior. Even until his death, Oh Yangseok didn’t know that Kwak Soohwan originally belonged to the military police before being assigned to the Invincible Platoon.
Kwak Soohwan rolled down the window halfway.
“Don’t demote that bastard to Gwacheon.”
“Pardon?”
“I won’t be satisfied unless I torment him myself.”
“Understood.”
“Wait, step aside.”
Commander Cha thought Kwak Soohwan was turning the jeep around and stepped aside, but instead, he saw Kwak Soohwan get out of the jeep. Bending down, Kwak picked something up from the ground. With a satisfied grin, he got back into the jeep.
“Let’s go.”
As Kwak Soohwan drove away, Commander Cha waited until the jeep was out of sight before opening the door. He sighed deeply, wondering why Kwak picked up such an item.
“Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For when you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
“But there will surely be times when one must know good and evil, even if it means risking one’s life.”
Seokhwa scrutinized Dr. Oh’s handwriting carefully. One was a passage from Genesis, and the other seemed to be Dr. Oh’s personal opinion. Until now, Seokhwa had not paid much attention to Dr. Oh’s journals, apart from the research data. However, with Eden being involved, he revisited even the parts he had previously overlooked.
The most plausible hypothesis so far was that Dr. Oh had questioned the structure of Rainbow City, allied with Eden, and was killed as a result.
Times when one must know good and evil…
The meeting date with the kidnapper, who called himself the Serpent, was just three days away. Though he could go alone to Zone 13 Red, where Adam had been eradicated, was it really the right thing to do?
More urgently, creating the seventh vaccine was the top priority. Despite this, all sorts of unsettling thoughts persisted.
As before, he cut out the protein causing infection from the Adam virus and inserted it into the cold virus, then used equipment to recombine the genes. However, the resulting vaccine failed to function properly.
One reason for the delay in vaccine research was the lack of direct experimental subjects in the lab. Using animals for experiments was problematic because the Adam virus was too lethal, and it wasn’t safe for the doctors to handle the rampaging animals. There was also the possibility that the virus had mutated, making it transmissible through the respiratory system rather than just through mucous membranes.
Long ago, the Ebola virus could only be handled in BL4 (Biosafety Level 4) labs, and some countries had only one such facility. So, extreme caution was required for the far more potent Adam virus. Rainbow City could collapse just as swiftly as when the Adam virus initially spread uncontrollably.
Currently, there was only one place where animal experiments were conducted. It was a research lab designated as a Red Zone, like a zoo, where vaccines developed in the shelter were sent and injected into test subjects. The effectiveness of the vaccine was then tested, and results were sent back. The researchers there were mostly soldiers.
However, not all animals were susceptible to the Adam virus. Birds, for instance, were currently not infected. Although birds had been infected when the first Adam virus appeared, they were no longer affected after the third iteration. Despite continuous research, no clear reason for this had been found.
No matter how brilliant individuals were born or how much research support was provided, everything was under the control of Rainbow City. There were times when the research wings were paralyzed due to insufficient funding. Similarly, physically superior individuals emerged, but just as Adam had never completely disappeared from the Earth, such individuals did not ensure survival.
“…Doctor?”
Seokhwa snapped out of his thoughts, staring at the gene recombination equipment that was as large as himself.
“Yes?”
Turning around, he saw Dr. Kim holding a mug of coffee.
“Today is the day of the upper-level meeting.”
Recalling the news, Seokhwa muttered a small “Ah.”
“What time is it now?”
“2:50 PM. Shall we head out?”
“Let’s do that.”
Seokhwa took off his lab coat and grabbed his laptop. It was a laptop made before Adam appeared, but its performance was still comparable to recent models. Perhaps Eden was right. Humanity had declined. Seokhwa shook his head, dismissing the useless thought.
The world was different from when populations were abundant, and countries ran smoothly. To the people of a peaceful era, this time might well be considered a dystopia. With no international interactions, Rainbow City’s domestic market was barely sustained.
“By the way, Major Kwak Soohwan hasn’t been seen all day today, has he? He usually follows you around everywhere.”
He had said he was going out into the field, but Seokhwa hadn’t paid much attention. Since their conversation about Dr. Oh, Seokhwa had deliberately avoided mentioning him further. With the word that Mother was watching and having been called by the military police, Seokhwa thought it best not to engage in any actions that might get him into trouble. For a while, Kwak Soohwan had been drowning himself in whiskey at night. Seokhwa had even refrained from opening the door when the man, reeking of alcohol, came to his room.
“To be honest, I don’t really like Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“Is that so?”
“He’s always drinking, acting recklessly, and… he’s been harassing Dr. Seok as well.”
Reflecting on it, Kwak Soohwan’s public image was exactly that.
A strong, handsome troublemaker.
“Be careful. No one has had a good experience after getting involved with Major Kwak Soohwan. Frankly, the same goes for Dr. Oh.”
Half listening, Seokhwa couldn’t help but look at Dr. Kim when Dr. Oh was mentioned. Dr. Kim had already drunk more than half of his coffee while walking down the hallway.
“What about Dr. Oh?”
Seokhwa showed interest more quickly than Dr. Kim could continue.
“Dr. Oh had quite a few drinking sessions with Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Seokhwa had heard this in passing from Kwak Soohwan.
“But even after Dr. Oh’s death, he didn’t show any sorrow, just came into the lab rummaging around… I really don’t like him. So, Dr. Seok, you should avoid him too. Who do you think started those strange rumors as soon as you arrived?”
Dr. Kim, pleased that the usually indifferent Seokhwa was reacting, began to chatter nonstop. Despite this, Seokhwa found something odd. While Kwak Soohwan was strong, he didn’t seem like just a handsome troublemaker.
At least he pretended to care for Seokhwa and even went to the military police to ensure he wouldn’t be mistaken for a rebel. Moreover, though he laughed casually, Seokhwa knew the contrast between his casual and serious sides. Just as Kwak Soohwan had assessed Seokhwa, Seokhwa had been quietly observing him as well.
“What are you doing? Get in already.”
Dr. Kim urged Seokhwa while holding the elevator’s open button. The researchers’ meeting was held on the 58th floor, where they, like the soldiers, presented research progress and received instructions from higher-ups. The meeting dates and times varied.
[Researchers’ Meeting Room]
Entering the room with the sign, they didn’t see any superiors yet, just a few doctors from other research wings. There were other research wings in shelters besides Yeouido, but direct encounters were rare except when exchanging research results. Even among the doctors within the same shelter, close relationships were uncommon. Seokhwa and Dr. Kim merely nodded to the other doctors.
“You wouldn’t believe how arrogant they acted after Dr. Oh’s death.”
Dr. Kim sat close next to him, but Seokhwa reacted indifferently this time. He had never been interested in factional fights.
After about ten minutes, the inner door opened, and the upper-level personnel began to enter one by one.
The upper echelon of Rainbow City consisted of generals, political advisors, and two ultimate overseers known as the Masters. They decided and executed all major policies. The two Masters were elected every ten years, with the possibility of re-election, though in practice, the process resembled a hereditary system. Voting rights for electing the Masters were exclusively held by the citizens within the shelter, leading to accusations of rigging behind the scenes.
Today’s meeting was attended by one army general and two advisors. The upper echelon members determined the meeting times and dates because they traveled up from Jeju Island.
“Alright, is everyone here? Our mission is the preservation and new prosperity of humanity.”
One of the generals stepped forward, projecting a commanding voice.
“We are the citizens of Rainbow City.”
The Doctors mumbled the same phrase.
“It’s been a week since we last met. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Dr. Seok back to the Yeouido shelter.”
One of the advisors clapped, prompting the rest of the attendees to follow suit. Seokhwa merely nodded in acknowledgment.
“We won’t keep our busy researchers from Rainbow City for too long, so let’s start with a message from the Master.”
The senior members stepped aside to allow the researchers to view the screen. The face of the First Master appeared, looking solemn.
[Greetings. I am the First Master of Rainbow City. Before we begin the meeting, let us mourn the death of Dr. Oh.]
It was a pre-recorded video, the date of which was unclear. The First Master looked noticeably older than the last time Seokhwa had seen him, which made sense given the years that had passed.
[As you all know, Adam has mutated for the seventh time. We are once again waiting for a new vaccine. We understand that your research conditions are harsh. However, I believe you all have a strong sense of duty.]
Yes!
Seokhwa flinched. One of the Doctors diagonally across from him nodded fervently. All the Doctors present were born and raised in Rainbow City and had been incessantly taught from a young age about the city’s benefits and safety. They didn’t realize this was indoctrination. Seokhwa, having no particular thoughts about these aspects, lacked any strong sense of duty. Perhaps this was due to his mother, who often emphasized not to sacrifice for anything, a message he heard more frequently than the instructional videos.
[Our enemies are not only Adam. We also face rebels who covet our safe haven. Protecting citizens from these rebels is our top priority. We deeply regret that we cannot provide more support to our researchers.]
“He might cry, really cry.”
Kim Doctor muttered softly enough for only Seokhwa to hear.
[If you need any supplies or funding for your research, please inform our advisors. We will prioritize it.]
The meeting proceeded as usual, with recorded encouragement from the Masters, followed by the researchers submitting their requests to the advisors.
“The First Master’s message ends here. Please write down your requirements on the provided forms and submit them.”
Suddenly, Seokhwa raised his hand. The unexpected move caught Kim Doctor and the senior members by surprise.
“Yes, Dr. Seok?”
“The data on the seventh Adam vaccine that Dr. Oh was researching is insufficient.”
An advisor who had remained silent stepped forward.
“If the data is insufficient, that’s all there is. Even the late Dr. Oh struggled with the latest mutation.”
Acknowledging this with a quiet response, Seokhwa wrote on the form not just the required supplies and funding but also a request to develop a treatment alongside the vaccine.
[Dr. Seok.]
Seokhwa looked up, meeting the eyes of the First Master on the screen. Surprisingly, it was a live feed.
[It must be tough. We’re also working hard to find out who killed Dr. Oh.]
“Yes, Master.”
Seokhwa’s reply was formal. The Master smiled kindly. He seemed more genial than Seokhwa remembered, likely due to the upcoming Master election in a year.
After the screen turned off, the Doctors submitted their forms to the advisors, who patted each one’s shoulder. When it was Seokhwa’s turn, the advisor read his form and smiled warmly.
“Dr. Seok, I heard about your kidnapping. That was quite an ordeal.”
“It was nothing.”
The advisor, after scanning Seokhwa’s request, smiled more broadly.
“We also consider treatment development crucial. We’re willing to support it as much as possible. However, please understand it requires immense time and resources.”
“Understood.”
“The First Master himself requested your return from Jeju Island. He has high expectations.”
Seokhwa swallowed back his questions about why he hadn’t been recalled before Dr. Oh’s death, questions that would inevitably lead to discussing Dr. Oh’s recorded voice as revealed by his kidnapper.
“Thank you. I’ll take my leave now.”
Kim Doctor, standing behind Seokhwa, was busy flattering the advisor and the general, even sharing unnecessary personal details like his parents wanting to move closer to the Green Zone near Yeouido Shelter.
Rubbing a stone in his pocket, Seokhwa exited. Despite everything, his doubts persisted, and he needed to confront the source of these suspicions, even if it might be a trap.
“Did you miss me?”
He looked up to see Kwak Soohwan flicking a peanut into his mouth.
“No.”
Ignoring Kwak Soohwan, Seokhwa walked past him. Watching Seokhwa’s ghostly quiet departure, Kwak Soohwan quickly caught up with his longer strides.
“Did the meeting go well?”
Kwak Soohwan, who had approached from the side, held a completed cube in one hand. Despite being known for drinking straight from the bottle, he always seemed perfectly fine the next day. It was apparent he never really got drunk. So why was there a rumor that Kwak Soohwan turned into a beast when he drank? Maybe Seokhwa just hadn’t witnessed it yet, he thought lightly.
In the elevator returning to the research building, Kwak Soohwan leaned in close. Seokhwa could see his perfectly shaped smile.
“The bruise on your forehead is gone?”
Without a mirror in the elevator, Seokhwa couldn’t confirm if it had indeed healed, so he rubbed his forehead with his hand.
“Isn’t it too much to get a bruise from a little kiss?”
Seokhwa, prone to bruising, found it odd that he would get a bruise from something as light as a kiss. Thinking back, he had been rubbing his forehead habitually since Kwak Soohwan’s lips touched it, which might have caused the bruise. Still, he said nothing.
“Won’t it break if I kiss it again?”
Seokhwa finally looked at Kwak Soohwan.
“It’s not that it breaks; it tears.”
“Dr. Seok doesn’t know how to joke.”
As they reached the 34th floor, the elevator doors opened. As they walked towards the research area, Kwak Soohwan followed him again.
“I thought I told you we should act separately in the shelter.”
Blocking Seokhwa’s path, Kwak Soohwan put his hands in his uniform pockets like a troublemaker.
“I’ve got something amazing. Aren’t you curious?”
“No.”
Seokhwa tried to move past him, but Kwak Soohwan blocked him again, clearly enjoying the annoyance.
“Look at this.”
Kwak Soohwan pulled out a large, hard stone from his pocket. Seokhwa looked at the stone curiously for a moment.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
The stone he was shaking resembled an erect penis.
“It’s a gift.”
Kwak Soohwan lightly grabbed Seokhwa’s wrist and placed the stone in his palm. The sight of Seokhwa holding the stone with his white hand was grotesque yet strangely provocative.
Seokhwa stared down at the phallic-shaped stone in his hand. Instead of throwing it away or looking at it with disdain, his dark eyelashes remained still.
“Thank you.”
Contrary to Kwak Soohwan’s expectations, Seokhwa put the stone into his coat pocket, causing its shape to form a silhouette.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
What on earth could be appealing about a phallic stone?
Before Kwak Soohwan could ask, Seokhwa walked into the research building.
“Dr. Seok, you better repay me soon.”
Ignoring his words, Seokhwa reached into his pocket and felt the stone. Despite its odd shape, it was smooth and pleasant to touch. It had taken hundreds, maybe thousands, of years to weather into this shape, and he couldn’t blame anyone for that. In fact, the delicate contours were quite impressive.
[Access granted.]
Seokhwa approached the genetic recombination equipment and confirmed that the process still had a long way to go. With only three days left until the meeting, should he ask Kwak Soohwan for help? He was also tasked with investigating Dr. Oh’s death, and if he mentioned contact with the rebel Eden, Kwak Soohwan might gladly join for the sake of results. It didn’t really matter whether the Serpent was captured or not.
Thinking it over, taking Kwak Soohwan along seemed the best strategy, and not because of the stone gift.
Seokhwa muttered to himself. So far, people had only criticized his love for stones, but no one had ever given him one as a gift. Even his mother often scolded him for bringing heavy stones home, saying he was too weak. In the shelter, collecting stones wasn’t looked upon kindly, so this was the first time he had received one as a gift.
Seokhwa walked around the lobby column and re-entered the lab.
“Were you coming to meet me?”
There was no sign of Kwak Soohwan, only a bewildered Kim Doctor.
“Come in.”
After checking both sides of the hallway, he still couldn’t see Kwak Soohwan.
“Did you see Major Kwak Soohwan?”
“Major Kwak Soohwan? I saw him near the elevator, but he seemed to be in a hurry.”
“I see.”
“Shit, the elevator’s gonna explode.”
At the sudden curse, Seokhwa tilted his head slightly.
“He seemed to be heading for the elevator, but it was so crowded he took the stairs instead. He cursed loudly for everyone to hear. Jeez.”
“Elevators don’t explode from being full.”
See? This is why I can’t talk to Dr. Seok, Kim Doctor thought to himself, smiling bitterly.
“Tell that to Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“I will.”
Seokhwa headed to his desk, taking the stone from his pocket and placing it on the table, causing Kim Doctor to look on in shock.
***
Could it be because he suggested they move separately in the shelter? Over a day had passed without seeing Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa had tried ringing his room bell but got no response. Thinking he might return at dawn, he was now heading back empty-handed. Taking advantage of being out, Seokhwa decided to get some fresh air and headed to the building’s rooftop. There were anti-aircraft guns to shoot down enemy helicopters or guided missiles, but they were rarely used now. Seokhwa enjoyed standing there, feeling the wind.
“Baby, baby sleeps so well in the shack by the railroad tracks.”
Seokhwa’s eyes widened in surprise as he listened to the eerie voice.
“Shhh, pop.”
The song, normally innocent, sounded so creepy that it quickly cooled his temper.
“Choo-choo, choo-choo.”
Seokhwa turned to head back down, but the iron door had already closed, causing him to bump his shoulder against it. The singing stopped abruptly.
“Who’s there?”
A figure in a uniform appeared from around a corner on the roof. As the moonlight revealed his face, Seokhwa recognized him.
“…Major Yang Sanghoon?”
“Oh? Dr. Seok? What brings you to the rooftop?”
“It’s hot.”
“Hot? It’s minus seven degrees today.”
Even though he was in uniform, he exhaled a puff of breath and then laughed awkwardly.
“How embarrassing. You caught me singing alone.”
Though the song was eerie at night, his singing wasn’t bad.
“Doctor, you like stones, right? I like trains. When I retire, I’ll live on a train.”
“A train?”
“My little brother’s wish was to ride a train. There are plenty of abandoned trains; I’ll just fix one up and live in it. I’ll build up my strength here and try towing a train with chains.”
Seokhwa imagined Yang Sanghoon pulling a train like a cart.
“Good luck.”
“Haha, I’m joking. I’m heading down; want to join me?”
“I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“Don’t stay too long; it’s cold.”
Yang Sanghoon hummed as he walked past Seokhwa.
“By the way.”
“Yes?”
“Is Major Kwak Soohwan very busy?”
“Kwak Soohwan?”
Seokhwa answered with his eyes.
“That guy’s not busy; he’s just pretending. He even sneaked some of my liquor, which really pissed me off.”
So, he must be drinking somewhere now.
“I heard he’s gone to deal with finding Eden’s headquarters.”
Seokhwa blinked rapidly, surprised.
“Headquarters?”
“But it’s probably not their headquarters. He went to the 13 Red Zone. Do you think they’d set up headquarters in Rainbow City?”
“Then when will he be back—”
“Doctor, is that rumor true? That you and Kwak Soohwan are… involved?”
What was he talking about? Seokhwa had only asked when Kwak Soohwan would return and was surprised about Eden’s headquarters being in the 13 Red Zone.
Just as Seokhwa was about to say something, Yang Sanghoon held up a hand, taking out his radio from inside his uniform.
“This is Major Yang Sanghoon of the Invincible Platoon.”
Amidst the static, a voice came through the speaker.
[Who doesn’t know it’s you, you bastard? Get down to the first floor.]
“The first floor?”
[Yes, the first floor.]
“Got it.”
Yang Sanghoon put the radio back into his uniform and spoke to Seokhwa.
“Major Kwak Soohwan seems to be back. Do you want to come down with me if you have something to see him about?”
“No. Just let him know I was looking for him.”
“Sure.”
Yang Sanghoon hurried to the elevator, muttering about how Kwak Soohwan would throw a fit if he was late.
Seokhwa pulled out the paper he had in his pocket. The writing wasn’t clear in the dim moonlight, but he knew the contents well.
[Top Secret: Dr. Oh showed signs of dementia. He used his son (Oh Cheongwoon) for human experiments and is suspected of embezzling funds for developing a cure, funding the rebels instead. The person who killed Dr. Oh remains unknown. However, a person not registered in the shelter, now considered a suspect, was seen in the shelter for a day before the incident. The funds taken for developing a cure amount to fifty times the cost of developing a vaccine. With no significant results, it’s hard to justify continued support from the masters.]
Before the advisor left for Jeju Island, he had handed this report to Seokhwa.
“Dr. Seok, please understand our position. We have citizens to protect, and they are against funding research with uncertain results. Look at smallpox. We don’t have the financial capability for that now.”
Smallpox, which killed one-fifth of the world’s population in the 14th century, was a virus existing since ancient times. Though the cowpox vaccine was discovered in the 19th century, it took much longer for vaccines to be mass-produced. Smallpox was eradicated 200 years after the vaccine’s discovery, with enormous costs. The advisor wasn’t entirely wrong. Seokhwa folded the paper neatly and put it back in his pocket.
His anger subsided, Seokhwa decided to leave the rooftop.
***
Kwak Soohwan pushed a bound man into a corner of the first-floor lobby. The man, who had tried to bite his tongue as soon as he was caught, was barely stopped by a punch from Kwak Soohwan. The gagged man was bleeding and still trying to bite his tongue.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, who’s that bastard?”
Yang Sanghoon approached, exuding cold air.
“What do you mean, what is he? He claims to be a disciple of Eden.”
“What?”
Kwak Soohwan gave a nudge with his foot to the kneeling man, who had bloodshot eyes and looked like he wanted to go wild, but all he could do was squirm.
“If we hand him over to the military police, he’ll be a half-wit in no time. Why don’t you take care of him, Major Yang?”
“Why me?”
Yang Sanghoon showed his irritation.
“Because you also came from outside Rainbow City? Maybe you can feel some camaraderie and help rehabilitate him. He seems useful but brainwashed in the wrong direction. Think of it as gaining a little brother.”
Kwak Soohwan patted Yang Sanghoon on the shoulder.
“He’s rated A-class or higher. If you think you can’t handle it, hand him over to the military police.”
Despite his bruised face and large build, the boy gave off an aura of youth, appearing no older than sixteen.
“A disciple of Eden? Shouldn’t he be handed over to the military police right away?”
“He seems to truly believe he’s a disciple of Eden but was likely used by impostors.”
He had been sent on a mission by his cult leader to infiltrate and steal food and medicine from the 13 Red Zone. When Kwak Soohwan received the message that an Eden disciple was caught in the 13 Red Zone, he rushed there but immediately realized the boy was a rebel impostor. True Eden disciples wouldn’t be sent on such sloppy missions.
“Why are there people pretending to be rebels anyway?”
“You should know; you were also used by rebel impostors, weren’t you?”
Yang Sanghoon frowned, indicating that he didn’t want to talk about it.
People who weren’t citizens of Rainbow City formed their own communities, but self-sufficiency was tough. Many joined new religious groups for safety, preferring the security of a community over solitude. Some cult leaders exploited this, and young people were often victimized. There were also those who pretended to be part of larger rebel groups like Eden to scam others.
“Feed him well and try to win him over. The learning center will decide if he’ll be accepted.”
“Look at the state you’ve left him in.”
“I only dislocated his jaw.”
“His jaw looks like it’s the least of his problems, you idiot.”
Grumbling, Yang Sanghoon lifted the boy, who was thrashing like a wounded animal, and slung him over his shoulder to subdue him.
“Oh, by the way, Dr. Seok was looking for you.”
“That explains it.”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled.
“What?”
“Just go.”
Watching Yang Sanghoon and the boy head towards the Invincible Platoon office, Kwak Soohwan took off his gloves. He had felt someone watching them from behind a column. It was Seokhwa, clutching something tightly in both hands. When Kwak Soohwan raised a hand to him, Seokhwa turned to leave.
Kwak Soohwan considered calling out but decided to follow Seokhwa instead. He stuffed his gloves into his pocket and quickly caught up.
“What are you doing here?”
Seokhwa slowed down, holding the phallic stone Kwak Soohwan had given him. Seeing Seokhwa openly carrying it, Kwak Soohwan couldn’t help but think he was a dangerous person. Despite the libido suppressants, many soldiers might still be drawn to such a display.
“Don’t carry that around so openly.”
Kwak Soohwan pointed to the inside of Seokhwa’s coat, suggesting he put it in his pocket.
“It’s too heavy to carry that way.”
“Then keep it as a decoration in your room.”
“I like how it feels.”
A laugh escaped Kwak Soohwan’s throat.
“Why were you looking for me?”
“Did you capture someone from Eden?”
“I told you before, Doctor, you should focus on your research.”
Kwak Soohwan draped an arm over Seokhwa’s shoulder. He didn’t want anyone eavesdropping on their conversation in the lobby. He guided Seokhwa towards the elevator, sticking close to him like a conspirator.
“The person you caught looked very young.”
“He isn’t from Eden, just a poor kid used by impostors.”
“A person, then. And elevators don’t break down even when crowded.”
Kwak Soohwan understood the first part but was puzzled by the latter.
“Why were you looking for me? I’m about to go for a drink.”
While they waited for the elevator, Seokhwa raised up on his toes and brought his lips close to Kwak Soohwan’s ear. Kwak Soohwan, used to making the first move, was caught off guard by Seokhwa’s advance. He instinctively pulled away, but Seokhwa followed.
“What are you doing?”
“Whispering.”
Despite the discomfort, Seokhwa’s calmness was disarming. Did he like the phallic stone that much? It was intricately carved, more so than anything handmade. But surely, it wasn’t just the gift that made Seokhwa affectionate.
Giving up, Kwak Soohwan stayed still as Seokhwa’s lips brushed his ear, whispering.
“Is there anywhere without mother?”
He moved his lips as if stimulating someone’s erogenous zones, but the actual words he spoke lacked any sensuality. A place without Mother referred to a blind spot where surveillance cameras didn’t reach.
“Where would that be?”
[Opening.]
The elevator doors opened, but Seokhwa showed no intention of stepping in. Kwak Soohwan could have used force to pull him inside but instead took his arm off Seokhwa’s shoulder.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s just past 1 a.m.”
Sighing loudly enough for Seokhwa to hear, Kwak Soohwan started walking back the way they came. Seokhwa stood still, watching his retreating figure until Kwak Soohwan called out.
“What are you doing? Let’s go on a midnight date.”
***
The first date spot Kwak Soohwan had seen in “Love Methods of That Guy and Me” was a restaurant in the city. Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa sat across from each other at an old, round table, staring blankly.
A cold winter wind blew in through the broken windows, and their breaths came out in white puffs. The restaurant sign had half blown away during a typhoon last summer.
“So, Seokhwa, what would you like to order?”
Kwak Soohwan mimicked flipping through an invisible menu. Then he raised his hand and spoke to the air.
“Ah, is the manager here?”
Seokhwa looked at him blankly, wondering what this soldier was doing.
“We’ll take whatever the manager recommends. Bring us a Bordeaux wine.”
Kwak Soohwan, who had been maintaining a serious expression, couldn’t hold back a laugh. Seokhwa’s dumbfounded look was too much.
“What was that all about?”
“Imitating a wealthy businessman? You’ll see it later in ‘Love Methods of That Guy and Me.'”
Kwak Soohwan stood up and looked around the nearly destroyed restaurant, then headed to the bar where cocktails used to be made. The floor and bar were littered with empty bottles and broken glass. Usually, areas swept by Adam were disinfected and reorganized, but this place hadn’t been touched yet.
He brought two wine glasses with jagged broken edges and placed them in front of each of them.
“Shall we start the date?”
“Can we just talk in the car?”
Seokhwa was only wearing a thin coat. Even though he was usually warm, prolonged exposure to the cold would get to him. Kwak Soohwan took off his own coat and handed it to Seokhwa. Instead of politely refusing, Seokhwa took it immediately. Despite his body being warm, catching a cold could be serious.
The uniform coat felt heavy like armor when he put it on. Seokhwa fidgeted with a piece of paper in the inner pocket.
“I’ll be direct.”
“Yeah, I think I know what you want to say.”
Kwak Soohwan clasped his hands together on the table, looking serious. Seokhwa wondered if Kwak Soohwan had discovered what he was hiding.
“…Do you know?”
“Yes.”
“Go ahead and say it first.”
“No, you go first, Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan smiled bitterly. Seokhwa exhaled white breath silently. He organized his thoughts and was about to speak, but Kwak Soohwan started talking first, unable to wait.
“Dr. Oh said he had dementia, but I—”
“Even your mother opposes it; don’t you think our marriage is premature?”
“…”
They spoke almost simultaneously, making Seokhwa fall silent first.
“What are you doing now?”
Seokhwa was visibly annoyed. Kwak Soohwan decided to drop the role-playing from the novel and unclasped his hands, removing his smile and staring at Seokhwa.
“I told you not to get involved. There’s nothing to gain, so why do you keep heading down this thorny path?”
“You said you were drinking buddies with Dr. Oh, right?”
“By that logic, Dr. Seok is my friend too. We’ve had drinks together, haven’t we?”
He spoke as if saying that drinking together didn’t necessarily make someone friends. After the kidnapping incident, Seokhwa had spent a lot of time each day thinking about it. He had crossed too many bridges to go back to just doing research and playing with stones in the research building.
“If I hadn’t been kidnapped, I wouldn’t have questioned things as Major Kwak Soohwan suggested.”
He wasn’t blaming anyone for the failed mission. That incident would have been hard to prevent regardless of who was there.
“But I can’t sleep well. Dr. Oh’s last words keep circling in my mind. Major Kwak Soohwan.”
As he spoke, the cold wind blew in, and he tightened the coat around himself.
“The kidnapper told me they played Dr. Oh’s final recording for me.”
“But you couldn’t hear the end because of the gunfire.”
“I also said my memory was confused due to the concussion. But now I remember it clearly.”
Despite Seokhwa’s lie, Kwak Soohwan’s expression didn’t change.
“Dr. Oh questioned the virus’s mutations up to the seventh variant and mentioned that the higher-ups were reluctant to develop a cure.”
Kwak Soohwan made an okay gesture with his hand.
“Because of the money.”
“I know that too. But…”
Seokhwa decided to take a gamble. He didn’t know how far the ripple would spread.
“The military police estimate Dr. Oh died around 5 a.m. The recording stopped with the gunshot, so he was shot while making it.”
“That makes sense.”
“Preservation of humanity, new prosperity for humanity, that is our mission. At the forefront stands Rainbow City, and we are its citizens.”
Seokhwa recited the regular broadcast he had memorized. Kwak Soohwan didn’t think Seokhwa mentioned this without reason.
“This broadcast aired before the gunshots. So, Dr. Oh must have been shot at noon or 6 p.m., right?”
“So you’re saying that what you heard from Oh Yangseok was about suspecting Rainbow City regarding the virus mutations and treatment development, and he was shot while saying this and died?”
“Exactly.”
“That old man did have dementia.”
Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan maintained eye contact.
“And he was colluding with the rebels associated with Eden.”
Their white breaths mingled and dissipated midway across the table.
“Dr. Seok.”
The low call made Seokhwa rethink if he had made a mistake. As a soldier, Kwak Soohwan could potentially hand him over to the military police for such remarks. However, he had his own defense: he claimed his memory had only just returned after the concussion.
“Have you considered that Eden might have edited the recording they played for you?”
“I thought of that, but it’s unlikely. Dr. Oh definitely spoke right after the regular broadcast ended, saying, ‘Do you hear that?'”
Seokhwa felt slightly out of breath from talking more than usual, but his health was better than when he was alone on Jeju Island, thanks to regular meals in the shelter.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, you’re chasing the suspect who killed Dr. Oh, right? The estimated time of death differs, though.”
“If we assume he was shot at 6 p.m., he could have bled out and died at 5 a.m.”
“You know that’s impossible.”
If Dr. Oh had been shot and collapsed in front of the pillar at noon or 6 p.m., someone would have found him.
“So, what’s your real intention behind talking like this on a date? You’re not asking me to arrest you, are you?”
“You rescued me from the military police because you know I’m not a rebel. I’m just curious about why Dr. Oh died.”
Seokhwa’s breath started to come out faster and thinner. If he kept breathing like that, he might end up with his face in the broken wine glass.
“Let’s go back to the car.”
Kwak Soohwan stood up and helped Seokhwa. Though Seokhwa waved him off, indicating he could manage, he walked to the still-running Jeep. He handed back the uniform coat and jumped into the passenger seat. His hands were so cold that even the heater’s warmth felt numb.
Since they had come straight out, there was no food or drinkable water. Kwak Soohwan, aware of this, reached into the back seat for something. It was a boiled egg.
“There’s water in the glove compartment.”
He handed Seokhwa the egg, who cracked it on the passenger window and peeled it. Watching Seokhwa eat the bland egg without salt, Kwak Soohwan patiently waited. Despite being weak, Seokhwa was diligent about eating well, likely a survival tactic. In terms of fuel efficiency, Seokhwa was always at his worst.
“Brown chickens lay brown eggs, and white chickens lay white eggs.”
After eating the egg, that was what Seokhwa said.
“So, the egg you just ate came from a white chicken?”
“Yes. Just like the reason for Dr. Oh’s death should be clear.”
Seokhwa swallowed the dry yolk to say the most important thing. He washed it down with water, handed to him by Kwak Soohwan, who took a sip after him.
“Serpent said… to meet at Dr. Oh’s house in two days.”
A cracking sound came from Kwak Soohwan’s hand holding the water bottle.
“You forgot that too because of the concussion, Doctor?”
“Yes.”
“You’re good at pretending to faint and lying. I didn’t expect that.”
“It was my first time pretending to faint, and I’ve only lied a few times. Besides, I told you because I can go alone, but I’m not a rebel.”
“I’m wondering how to report this to the higher-ups. Saying Dr. Seok changed his statement is too risky.”
“Sound the victory drum.”
“What?”
“If Major Kwak Soohwan catches Serpent, that solves everything, doesn’t it?”
He was asking if Kwak Soohwan was confident.
Kwak Soohwan drank from the water bottle Seokhwa had sipped, then smiled with wet lips.
“Wow, you’re scary, Doctor. If I catch Serpent, I might get promoted directly to Commander.”
“Who knows?”
“Maybe even straight to Colonel.”
He doubted such a dramatic promotion would happen.
“Serpent is one of Eden’s elders, right?”
Generally, that’s how it was known. Kwak Soohwan took another swig of water.
***
“After breakfast, after lunch, I looked out the window, and it was raining. Three worms were crawling. Oh, scary.”
Yang Sanghoon sang as he drew a sequence of skulls, then looked at the boy in front of him.
“Don’t like this kind of thing, huh? My brother loved it.”
Despite a deep wound on his tongue, the boy had consumed 2 kg of sausages, four bread rolls, and seven servings of rice and side dishes in one day. His eyes, once fierce like Adam’s, had calmed down, and being well-fed had reduced his wariness.
“How old are you?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re speaking informally, typical of someone caught by Kwak Soohwan. If you get dragged to the military police, you might get killed. But if you behave here, you can eat plenty.”
“Traitor.”
“Me?” Yang Sanghoon pointed to himself with his index finger.
“Yeah! You’re trying to fatten me up for human experiments, aren’t you? Do you think I don’t know? I know how many people you’ve taken for those experiments!”
“That might be true.” Yang Sanghoon nonchalantly replied as he drew another skull.
“What?”
“I don’t know about human experiments, but I do know this: a proper adult wouldn’t send a kid like you into a dangerous Red Zone to fetch food.”
“…”
The boy’s eyelids fluttered.
“No! The elder cares about me!”
“Sure, sure. Then I’ll just hand you over to the military police.”
As Yang Sanghoon pretended to leave the room, the boy shouted desperately.
“If I get handed over to the military police!”
“And then?”
“Will they really experiment on my body? I heard… they inject viruses and make you die painfully. So instead,”
“You were going to bite your tongue.”
The boy didn’t deny it. Yang Sanghoon approached the boy, who was still tied up, and placed a hand on his shoulder. The boy flinched.
“Nameless boy, believe it or not, I also came from outside Rainbow City. Like you, I had bad feelings but was lucky enough to volunteer for the army. You look about sixteen or seventeen; with your skills, Rainbow City would take you in. What we do is—”
“You capture and kill innocent people! Do you think I don’t know?”
“If that were true, wouldn’t you be dead already?”
“That…”
The boy struggled with the logic.
“We don’t have anything to learn from you, nor do we want to. And you claim to be from Eden, but based on what we’ve observed, they don’t use kids like you or operate this sloppily. Who’s the elder who supposedly cares about you?”
“The elder said I was chosen to enter Eden. It will definitely happen.”
“Boy, there’s no such thing as Eden. We’re not capturing and killing innocent people; we’re just killing Adam so innocent people can live safely. Do you want more food?”
Yang Sanghoon took the boy’s silence as a yes.
“Think about it while you eat. Boy, I like someone with spirit like you. Major Kwak Soohwan probably assigned you to me for that reason.”
Yang Sanghoon knew the boy wasn’t much different from his past self. Before leaving, he checked the handcuffs and chains securing the boy to the wall.
After Yang Sanghoon left, the boy began to breathe heavily, anxious. Yang Sanghoon watched him through a camera installed in the room. The boy occasionally seemed to sob or appear in pain. Yang Sanghoon hoped the boy could one day receive proper education and become a soldier, just like he had long ago.
***
Penicillin, considered the greatest discovery of the 20th century, was discovered by chance. Microbiologist Alexander Fleming was growing Staphylococcus bacteria and left it unattended for a while. He found that a mold had killed the bacteria. That mold was Penicillium, and the extract from it was penicillin.
Penicillin worked by destroying enzymes that synthesized bacterial cell walls. Luckily, animal cells don’t have cell walls, so penicillin could be administered without issues. It was hailed as a miracle drug that could kill bacteria.
However, mass production of penicillin required significant investment and time. Later, bacteria resistant to penicillin, like beta-lactamase, emerged. Researchers modified penicillin’s chemical structure, but even so, some resistant strains like MRSA appeared. Similarly, the Adam virus had undergone numerous mutations to reach its current form.
Seokhwa had little information about the cure Dr. Oh mentioned. Although Dr. Oh claimed they had discussed it, there were few actual experiments or cultures. Even their discussions often ended inconclusively.
Seokhwa, clad in a suit resembling a spacesuit for safety, moved awkwardly in his protective gear. He cultured proteins extracted from the Adam virus with mammalian and avian pathogens, including Mycoplasma and avian flu. Despite various hypotheses, none had succeeded so far.
Seokhwa carefully removed his gear and disinfected his entire body before exiting the containment lab.
[Opening.]
He passed through two doors to reach the lobby, where he saw Dr. Kim in a general research lab.
“What are you doing?”
Dr. Kim, startled, hadn’t realized Seokhwa was in the level-1 lab.
“Jeez, you scared me. Why are you so quiet?”
Feeling unjustly accused, Seokhwa simply walked past Dr. Kim without saying much.
“Have you eaten?”
“I’m about to.”
Despite Dr. Kim’s initiation, Seokhwa tried to be sociable for once.
“If you haven’t eaten, would you like to join me?”
“I’m not that hungry yet, haha. I’m fine.”
“Okay.”
Feeling he had wasted an effort, Seokhwa left the research building. He had expected to see Kwak Soohwan waiting, but he was nowhere in sight. Figuring Kwak Soohwan was busy, Seokhwa headed to his quarters instead. He rang the bell but received no answer. Just as he turned to leave, Kwak Soohwan’s door opened.
“What brings you here?”
He was standing there shirtless, wearing only pants. His hair was still damp, likely from a recent shower. As droplets of water trickled down the contours of his firm muscles, Seokhwa glanced down at his own body for a moment. Comparing oneself to others isn’t a good habit, Seokhwa reminded himself, quickly pushing the thought away.
“Dr. Seok?”
“You were in your room…”
“Didn’t you come here knowing that?”
“I just pressed the button.”
Kwak Soohwan frowned at the unexpected answer.
“I’m off duty today. Have you eaten yet?”
“I was about to.”
“Wait a moment.”
It took Kwak Soohwan only a few seconds to return. He came out wearing the same pants but now also a military-issued T-shirt.
Since the day they rode the Jeep back from the restaurant, they hadn’t mentioned Eden or Dr. Oh inside the shelter, even up to today, the day they met again.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“Yes, Doctor?”
As they walked side by side, Seokhwa addressed him, and Kwak Soohwan playfully nodded.
“I’d like to collect a sample of your sperm after dinner. It might hurt a bit when extracting from the testicles, but with anesthetic—”
“What are you planning to do with my sperm?”
Kwak Soohwan leaned against Seokhwa, who moved aside, saying he was heavy.
“You’re an S-Class, aren’t you?”
“Aren’t you too, Dr. Seok? So if we mix your sperm with mine, does that make an SS-Class?”
Kwak Soohwan laughed heartily, finding his own joke amusing.
“Please talk sense.”
“If you extract it from my testicles, it’ll hurt, and I won’t be able to go on a date today.”
Seokhwa sighed.
“Then let’s do it tomorrow.”
Seokhwa stared straight ahead, waiting for the elevator doors to open.
[Opening.]
A mechanical voice announced, and the elevator doors slid open smoothly.
“Dr. Seok, if you shake my dick instead of those phallic stones with your smooth white hands, I’d come quickly.”
They didn’t expect anyone to be in the elevator, but there stood Commander Jang and several soldiers from his squad. Seokhwa bowed in greeting and ignored Kwak Soohwan’s words, stepping inside.
“Major Kwak Soohwan… Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Commander Jang covered his forehead with his hand.
“It was just a joke.”
Kwak Soohwan stood close to Seokhwa.
“That’s sexual harassment, you idiot. Doctor, are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“If Major Kwak Soohwan keeps saying strange things, please tell me.”
“He doesn’t mean it, so it’s fine.”
“Because of him, there are already strange rumors about you, Doctor. I apologize.”
“Rumors?”
Seokhwa showed interest, but Commander Jang couldn’t bring himself to elaborate, merely clearing his throat and waiting for their floor.
The elevator didn’t stop on the way, so they arrived quickly. Commander Jang, feeling relieved, stood close to the door.
“Well then, Doctor, we’ll get off here.”
After Commander Jang and the soldiers left, Seokhwa spoke first in the now-empty elevator.
“Do you know what rumors Commander Jang was talking about?”
“I was serious earlier.”
Kwak Soohwan sounded offended that his sincerity was being doubted.
“If you want my sperm, do it with your hand, chest, or butt instead of my testicles.”
“Would you give it to me then?”
Seokhwa’s calm response surprised Kwak Soohwan, who had expected at least some scorn.
“Of course. Any semen that comes out is all yours, Doctor.”
“Then tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.”
Looking forward to it?
Kwak Soohwan almost asked again as they exited the elevator.
It was hard to believe that someone would touch another’s genitals just for research. If someone asked him to do that, he would have torn their dick off. Then again, Seokhwa had been serious even when examining him after a headbutt to his crotch.
As Kwak Soohwan chuckled, Seokhwa wondered why he was laughing and continued walking to the dining hall.
Today, instead of trays, they received food in round bowls. It seemed like a special meal day, with boiled chicken soup being served. The meat looked tender, indicating it had been well-cooked.
Even Seokhwa, who rarely showed much appetite, found his mouth watering and sat at the nearest table. As if on cue, Kwak Soohwan sat across from him, and Seokhwa carefully picked at the meat with his chopsticks. Inside, there was glutinous rice. He scooped a spoonful, blowing on it to cool it down.
From what Kwak Soohwan had observed, Dr. Seok had a surprisingly strong appetite. If he hadn’t known that Seokhwa’s obsession was stones, he might have thought it was food.
Seokhwa tore off a piece of chicken leg, placed it on top of the rice, and chewed it thoroughly. The constant gaze on his face made him look up.
“Why are you staring?”
“Do you like chicken soup?”
“Yes.”
“Eat a lot. You need energy to go out with me.”
Kwak Soohwan began eating too.
Seokhwa took a salt shaker from the condiments in the center and sprinkled some on his chicken soup. Kwak Soohwan, worried that Seokhwa might scald himself, kept an eye on him while eating. Compared to when they first arrived at the shelter, Seokhwa’s complexion had definitely improved. Thinking of the bleak conditions of the hut in Jeju, it was no surprise that he hadn’t been eating well there.
Kwak Soohwan put down his chopsticks and pulled out his radio. Someone had been trying to contact him.
“This is Major Kwak Soohwan.”
[Where are you?]
Seokhwa quickly recognized the voice on the radio as Yang Sanghoon.
“Me? I’m in the dining hall.”
[Which one?]
“Dining Hall 1.”
[Boy, let’s go. I’ll show you around the dining hall.]
Wondering what he meant, Kwak Soohwan tried to respond, but Yang Sanghoon said nothing further. As Kwak Soohwan frowned, Seokhwa quickly ate his soft chicken soup.
Surely, he wouldn’t bring the boy here, right? Even without thinking too deeply, it seemed unlikely. But it didn’t take long for Kwak Soohwan to realize that assumptions could be wrong.
“See? Boy? Have you ever had chicken soup like this?”
Yang Sanghoon approached Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa, holding a bowl with two whole chickens. The boy looked around the dining hall in amazement. Often going without even one proper meal a day, the shelter seemed like a new world, almost like Eden to him.
“Sit here, boy.”
“Yang Sanghoon, have you lost your mind?”
“Why?”
“I told you to convince him to go to the learning center, not to show him around the shelter.”
“What are you worried about? We already did a full body search on him. What’s so scary about this tiny thing? And he said he wanted to try a proper meal in the dining hall. What’s the harm?”
The boy kept his eyes on the chicken soup but remained wary of Kwak Soohwan. He vividly remembered the punch that had made his jaw feel like it was about to detach from his face. Seokhwa, who had been eating with his face almost buried in the soup, finally looked up.
“Eat a lot.”
He said only that to the boy beside him and then resumed eating with his chopsticks. The boy, irritated by Kwak Soohwan’s disapproving gaze, awkwardly picked up his chopsticks. If this was to be his last meal, then at least it was chicken soup, something he had never tasted before. However, he was distracted by the researcher ID card swinging on the man’s chest next to him. Glancing at it, he saw the word “Doctor.”
“You experiment on people, don’t you?”
Seokhwa stopped eating at the boy’s hostile voice.
“You’re an evil man. The elder said the devil must be beautiful to deceive people.”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled, his voice rumbling with laughter.
“You must have developed the vaccine by experimenting on poor people. I know everything.”
Seokhwa couldn’t understand why the boy was saying this to him. With nothing to reply, he simply continued eating his chicken soup.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? It’s because you’re guilty, right?”
“Boy, just eat your soup.”
Yang Sanghoon turned the boy’s head back towards the bowl of soup. The boy, apparently not knowing how to use chopsticks, grabbed the tender chicken with his hands and put it in his mouth. Seokhwa slid the salt in front of him.
“What’s this?”
“Salt.”
“It’s not some weird drug?”
“Yeah, it is. Eat it and die, kid.”
Kwak Soohwan shook some salt into the boy’s bowl. He then sprinkled some into his own bowl, stirred it with a spoon, and resumed eating.
“Feed him and take him back to the squad room. I’ll call a teacher from the learning center soon.”
“Traitors, I’ll never become a citizen of Rainbow City.”
“Everything you’re eating comes from Rainbow City, so stop eating.”
The boy clamped his mouth shut, his greasy hands clenched into fists.
“Oh my, if I knew today’s menu was chicken soup, I would have come down earlier.”
A playful voice came from behind them. Seokhwa turned to see Dr. Kim holding a bowl of chicken soup.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Yes.”
Seokhwa nodded. With the boy occupying the seat next to Seokhwa, Dr. Kim sat beside him.
“And who’s this?”
“He’s a kid we picked up outside. He seems to be of A-grade potential, so we’re thinking of training him well.”
Yang Sanghoon stood behind the boy, placing his hands on the boy’s shoulders.
“Oh, really?”
Dr. Kim smiled warmly at the boy, who still sat with clenched fists, glaring at his bowl. Dr. Kim grumbled about the soup not being hot enough as he picked at the chicken.
Seokhwa, who had a small appetite, looked regretfully at his half-eaten chicken soup. He glanced at the boy, who remained still with his head down.
Just as he was about to say, “It’s okay, eat some more,” a loud siren blared.
Wiiiiiing- Beeep- Beep- Beep-
An emergency alarm echoed through the shelter, but Seokhwa didn’t panic as he once might have.
[Emergency, Emergency. We have an actual emergency in the Yeouido shelter in the Green Zone.]
He thought it might be another drill, but the soldiers were already on their feet, and Mother’s voice boomed over the alarm, shattering his assumptions.
[This is not a drill. We have an actual emergency in the Yeouido shelter in the Green Zone. Emergency, Emergency. Please prepare for combat. An Adam has appeared in the 5th floor A-zone corridor and the 7th floor emergency exit.]
“An Adam?!”
Dr. Kim, overly excited, spit out pieces of food as he spoke.
“Doctor, we need to move quickly!”
Despite his words, he didn’t wait for Seokhwa and started running down the corridor toward the researchers’ exclusive elevator. He ran so fast that, if the world were normal, he might have excelled at the World Athletics Championships. Seokhwa was about to follow him, but Kwak Soohwan reached him first.
“It’s dangerous, Dr. Seok. Don’t go alone. Stick with me.”
Mother’s alert started flowing out again, reassessing the situation.
[There is a 35 percent chance of infection reaching the 25th floor within 10 minutes. All soldiers, prepare for combat. All other shelter staff and researchers, move to the final defense line on the 48th floor immediately. I repeat.]
“Major Yang, take that kid to the closed-off section of the dining hall.”
The boy, startled by the loud siren, looked up, still clenching his fists tightly. The dining hall turned into chaos in an instant. Soldiers checked their guns and knives before rushing to the designated area mentioned by Mother. Kwak Soohwan intended to take Seokhwa to the elevator heading to the 48th floor. Carrying Seokhwa on his back to the elevator at the end of the corridor would be much faster. Just as he was about to lift Seokhwa, he heard a cry.
“Urgh!”
A corporal guarding the entrance of the dining hall suddenly spewed blood. Screams began to fill the area, suggesting that more Adams had emerged from below, or the infected ones were rapidly increasing. It seemed Seokhwa needed to be taken to the closed-off section where the dining hall staff would be.
“Major Yang!”
Seokhwa turned to call him, intending to bring him along, but Yang Sanghoon was already pinning the boy against the wall by his neck.
“What are you doing, you bastard!”
“Damn it! We can’t take this kid to the closed-off section! Close the door! He’s on the verge of mutation!”
The voices were loud and chaotic, and Seokhwa’s eyes widened in shock.
As Yang Sanghoon had said, the boy was showing signs of turning into an Adam. Blood spewed from his mouth, and his body convulsed grotesquely, as if all his joints were twisting. Yang Sanghoon struggled to kill him before he fully transformed.
Kwak Soohwan quickly scanned the area. The dining hall door was barricaded by soldiers, but the newly infected were likely to break through soon. The closed-off section of the dining hall had already been sealed following Yang Sanghoon’s order. With the infected boy nearby, there was only one thing to do.
“Lieutenant.”
Surrounded on all sides, Seokhwa pushed Kwak Soohwan away, signaling him not to worry about him. Kwak Soohwan hurriedly placed Seokhwa in the farthest corner of the dining hall before rushing to Yang Sanghoon.
“What the hell are you doing? Aren’t you going to kill him?”
“Damn it… I have to kill him. Damn it!”
Yang Sanghoon couldn’t bring himself to look directly at the boy, whose eyes were now bloodshot. Kwak Soohwan pulled a knife from inside Yang Sanghoon’s uniform and drove it straight into the boy’s skull. He pulled it out and stabbed him again, making the thrashing body collapse like a puppet with its strings cut.
“Major Yang, are you insane?”
Kwak Soohwan looked at his colleague in disbelief.
“Something’s wrong! We conducted a full body search. How did he mutate? The Adams haven’t even reached here yet, and suddenly, he just… he just…”
Yang Sanghoon, also confused, struggled to form coherent words.
“Stop making excuses and make sure the dining hall isn’t breached.”
To make matters worse, Lee Chaeyoon had been dispatched to the field and wasn’t in the shelter.
“That bastard… he apologized to me. Damn it, look at his hand.”
Seokhwa approached the boy’s corpse. There, unbelievably, was a syringe. The blood inside might be…
“Major Kwak, can we collect this?”
“The military police will do it anyway. Don’t touch it now.”
Kwak Soohwan, gripping Seokhwa’s shoulder, tried to gather his thoughts. The closed-off section wouldn’t reopen for another hour. It wouldn’t be easy to get Seokhwa to the emergency elevator through the dining hall. Perhaps going down would be a better option.
“All emergency exits leading up are closed. Since Adams appeared on the 5th floor, the path from here to the 1st floor should be open.”
Blowing a puff of air to settle his disheveled hair, Kwak Soohwan continued.
“Let’s head to the jeep.”
“How?”
“We’ll use the emergency exit.”
Kwak Soohwan pointed to the door marked [No Entry Except Authorized Personnel] next to the closed-off section. He picked up his radio and sent a notification to the higher-ups and platoons.
“This is Major Kwak Soohwan, code number 3121. Currently engaged with Adams at the entrance of Dining Hall 1. All soldiers on the upper floors, come down before the doors close, and kill any Adams you see immediately. Also, kill anyone showing signs of mutation. I leave the command of Yeouido shelter to the Keys Platoon.”
As he was on-site, Kwak Soohwan issued a rough command.
[Copy that]
The reply came from the Keys Platoon major. All personnel of the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher had already moved to the upper floors, and majors had to be deployed to any unit on-site.
“7:30…”
Seokhwa checked the time on a clock hanging on the wall. He was supposed to meet Eden in Zone 13 at 9, but the appearance of Adams in the supposedly safe Yeouido shelter was an unfortunate coincidence.
“Dr. Seok, it might be better if you get on my back.”
Running together might hinder them, so Seokhwa opted to be a burden instead. He climbed onto Kwak Soohwan’s back and held tightly around his neck, glancing back at the soldiers fighting the Adams. The sight of blood splattering and the sound of gunfire made his vision blur. Kwak Soohwan kicked the emergency exit door and headed down. Instead of running down the stairs, he practically leaped.
Fortunately, there were no Adams climbing the emergency stairs, but unfortunately, there was a soldier-turned-Adam in the underground parking lot where the jeep was.
Kwak Soohwan sprinted to his jeep. He opened the passenger seat, put Seokhwa inside, and then opened the glove compartment. Inside were three guns neatly placed. He handed an automatic pistol to Seokhwa. He put one of the remaining two in his back pocket and held the other in his hand.
As an Adam, attracted by the sound, rushed at them, Kwak Soohwan finished loading and shot it in the forehead. The sound of gunfire drew another Adam, who staggered towards them.
“Major, you need to get in too.”
“I have to deal with these bastards anyway.”
Kwak Soohwan pressed the lock on the passenger seat and closed the door. He fired a shot at the ceiling, luring the Adam to the other side of the Jeep.
There were four in front, two on the left, and two on the right. That was the number of mutated soldier Adams in the underground parking lot. Typically, in combat, it’s disadvantageous to have your back to the wall due to the need for a retreat route, but not when facing Adam.
Kwak Soohwan started by shooting the nearest one, putting a hole in its forehead, hitting each one precisely with a single shot. The semi-automatic pistol held eight bullets in total, so there were enough rounds. After finishing off the eight shots, he hit the metal door with the bottom of the pistol’s handle. Since there was no response to the loud noise, it seemed the total number of enemies in the parking lot was eight.
When he turned back to the Jeep, he saw two of them furiously hitting the Jeep’s window with blood-stained hands.
“Damn it, Dr. Seok!” Kwak Soohwan called out as he ran over, but there was no sign of Seokhwa in the passenger seat. Could he have gone outside? Kwak Soohwan took out the gun from his back pocket and shot one of them in the back of the head. The remaining one, running toward him, was dispatched with a knife to save bullets. The knife flew and stuck into its forehead, causing the Adam to collapse backward.
Pulling the handle and looking down, he saw a familiar face. But there was no time for mourning, and Kwak Soohwan harbored no sympathy for soldiers turned into Adams. His concern was solely focused on Seokhwa.
“Dr. Seok!”
He tried to open the passenger door but it was locked tight.
“Where the hell did he go!” As he looked around, Seokhwa’s face suddenly popped up from inside. Kwak Soohwan felt his entire body relax.
Unlocking the door with a click, Seokhwa clutched the gun tightly in both hands. It turned out he had been crouching under the seat to avoid being seen by the Adams. Kwak Soohwan let out a long sigh of relief and got into the driver’s seat.
“Are you alright?”
“Obviously.”
He reloaded the empty magazine with bullets placed on the back seat and rested his head against the headrest.
“Are you really alright?” Seokhwa asked again, looking around.
“I thought you went outside.”
“If I went out, I’d be dead.”
“Exactly.”
Kwak Soohwan finally understood why he had felt so cold-blooded so suddenly. Was it because Seokhwa was the chief researcher? Even though another chief researcher could be found, it was easier to connect with Eden’s Garden with Seokhwa. But that wasn’t the reason for his heart racing.
“I guess I’m more attached to Dr. Seok than I thought.”
Kwak Soohwan started the engine. Seokhwa, seeing him smile wearily, spoke seriously.
“Then, please withdraw your affection and submit it.”
“That’s rejected.”
He stepped on the accelerator. Holding the steering wheel with one hand, he picked up the Jeep’s built-in radio with the other.
“This is Major Kwak Soohwan, code number 3121. I’ve cleared the Adams in the underground parking lot, so tell Mother to seal the parking lot after my vehicle exits.”
“Roger.” The broadcasting department responded to the radio.
“The first dining hall has also been cleared. The military police will be deployed, starting quarantine from the fifth floor. Major Kwak Soohwan, where are you headed?”
“I’ve taken Chief Researcher Dr. Seok. We couldn’t join the 48th floor, so I’ll return when the shelter stabilizes. And report immediately when the results of the investigation on where the Adams came from are out.”
Kwak Soohwan put the radio back in place and checked Seokhwa’s complexion. Although not pale or about to collapse, he seemed darker than usual.
“Why was there a syringe in that kid’s hand?”
“That’s something we need to interrogate Yang Sanghoon about.”
Of course, Yang Sanghoon was right. Every part of the boy was searched before bringing him here, allowing them to bring him to the shelter. So where did the syringe come from? If he suddenly mutated into an Adam, it was clear that the syringe was problematic. It’s not like the stew contained the Adam virus.
Recalling the events since they encountered the boy until now, Kwak Soohwan murmured.
“Dr. Kim…”
“Yes?”
“What kind of person is Dr. Kim?”
“Someone who doesn’t like Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“That’s no news. Dr. Kim was close with Dr. Oh too, right?”
“Dr. Kim is generally friendly with everyone.”
He’s also good at flattering the higher-ups.
Seokhwa found something odd too. The person who met the boy and could give him a syringe with the Adam virus was likely Dr. Kim. But there was no reason for him to do so. Perhaps another person got involved.
“It’s still hard to understand… Did the kid inject the Adam virus himself?”
If the boy thought of himself as a devout follower of Eden’s Garden, he might have done it to cause chaos in the shelter. However, they needed to thoroughly investigate why Adams appeared in the shelter. Kwak Soohwan casually replied.
“What if Yang Sanghoon hadn’t let him go?”
“What kind of person is Major Yang Sanghoon?”
“If that bastard did such a thing, I’d strip him and throw him from the 60th floor.”
Kwak Soohwan checked the time on the Jeep’s built-in clock and sped up a bit.
Their destination was the 13 Red Zone, but he detoured to the Violet Zone. Seokhwa was puzzled about switching to another Jeep but guessed it was to avoid the upper management’s surveillance.
On the way from the Violet Zone to the 13 Red Zone, Seokhwa stared out the window for a long time. It seemed certain that there was a rebel spy in the Yeouido shelter. Otherwise, Adams wouldn’t have appeared. His head started to ache. There would be extensive investigations soon; could they sneak out like this?
“Will Serpent come?”
“We have to hope so. And we have to hope the ones who turned the shelter into that mess are from Eden’s Garden too. That way, it’ll be less troublesome.”
They were just 2 km away from the 13 Red Zone.
“Dr. Seok, take the path I tell you. I’ll cover from behind, so don’t worry. Today, we’re sneaking into the 13 Red Zone.”
Seokhwa nodded his head. There was something he wanted to ask Serpent if he met him: how he got hold of Dr. Oh’s message and how he knew the exact time of the Doctor’s death.
Kwak Soohwan turned up the volume on the radio. He wanted to check the status of the Yeouido shelter through the broadcast. As expected, the broadcaster was passionately discussing the appearance of Adams in the Yeouido shelter.
“Although Adams appeared in the Yeouido shelter, the shelter staff and brave soldiers have successfully fought them off. The shelter is currently undergoing disinfection, and the number of casualties is estimated to be twenty-five. Ah, wait a moment. We have breaking news.”
Breaking news? Kwak Soohwan parked the car far from the 13 Red Zone guard post and focused on the radio. Seokhwa did the same.
“We have just received reports that the Yeouido shelter… the Yeouido shelter has been devastated up to the 38th floor. The shelter is currently on fire, and the fire department has been dispatched to extinguish the blaze. Ah… we will provide more details as they come in.”
Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan looked at each other. In an instant, a red hue washed over their faces.
Bang! Boom!
It felt as if they could feel the heat of the fire all the way from here, though that was impossible. The sound of the explosion came from the direction of the 13 Red Zone guard post.
Driving towards the source of the explosion, they saw the guard post engulfed in bright red flames. Soldiers were desperately trying to put out the fire, but it was spreading, seemingly ready to consume the entire 13 Zone. It wasn’t even 9 o’clock yet. Serpent had asked to meet at Dr. Oh’s house by 9, but now it seemed impossible to enter the 13 Zone.
“Are the date and time correct?”
Kwak Soohwan guessed what he was talking about.
“Yes, they are.”
“Damn it.”
Kwak Soohwan sharply turned the steering wheel and headed back towards the Yeouido shelter.
“Major!”
“You expect me to break through that inferno?”
Of course, Seokhwa didn’t call him with that intention.
“Dr. Seok, are you sure you only talked to Serpent?”
Kwak Soohwan’s question was strange.
“What else could there be?”
“We’re going to be prime suspects. If that breaking news is correct, someone planted a bomb in the shelter, and we’re outside. If I hadn’t switched the Jeep, the bomb that just went off in the 13 Red Zone might have been blamed on us.”
Seokhwa finally understood the situation completely. They were at risk of being framed. Kwak Soohwan had brought the boy to the shelter, and Yang Sanghoon from the Invincible Platoon had the boy who mutated into an Adam. While they were away, the Yeouido shelter burned, and even the 13 Red Zone guard post exploded.
Could it be that Serpent never intended to meet him? Was this all a trap to frame them? But for that, Serpent would need to be certain they would come. Not just a guess, but a certainty.
Kwak Soohwan switched the Jeep again in the Violet Zone. His radio was blaring with calls.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, report your location! Where the hell are you right now!”
Seokhwa felt his usually warm hands go cold. Commander Jang’s angry voice boomed from the radio. Kwak Soohwan just tapped the radio a few times.
“Didn’t you hear about the terrorist attack in the Yeouido shelter?! Where the hell are you with Dr. Seok? Respond, Major Kwak Soohwan!”
“This is Major Kwak Soohwan, code number 3121.”
As he responded, Seokhwa bit his lower lip hard.
“Where the hell are you! Are you crazy?!”
“I was in the Violet Zone with Dr. Seok. What do you mean by a terrorist attack on the Yeouido shelter?”
They said he was good at lying, but Kwak Soohwan was even better, fabricating a story without changing his expression.
“I can’t explain right now. Head back to the Yeouido shelter immediately. The fire department is there, but half the Yeouido shelter’s power is gone.”
“I’m on my way.”
Seokhwa pulled on his seatbelt, and Kwak Soohwan floored the accelerator. The needle on the speedometer shot up and nearly tipped over.
“Was I… deceived?”
“Who knows? We’ll find out when we get back to the Yeouido shelter.”
As they sped down the road, new headlights appeared from the corner behind them.
The vehicle looked so similar to the Jeeps deployed in the shelter that it was hard to tell if it was friend or foe. As Kwak Soohwan glanced at the rearview mirror, bang! The sound of a gunshot came from the car behind. Confirming they were enemies, Kwak Soohwan shouted to Seokhwa.
“Do you know how to drive?”
“I don’t have a license.”
Seokhwa shook his head quickly.
“Just hold the steering wheel and look straight ahead. I’ll handle the pedals.”
Before Seokhwa could respond, Kwak Soohwan let go of the wheel. Seokhwa grabbed the rapidly spinning wheel, and Kwak Soohwan, while keeping his foot on the pedal, reached for the back seat. He dragged a bag of bullets to the front seat. Without a machine gun, he had no choice but to aim at the car behind with his pistol.
The windows of the military Jeep were made of bulletproof glass, but they could only withstand so many shots. As bullets from the car behind peppered the rear window, Kwak Soohwan deliberately eased off the accelerator. Though it would have been advantageous to fall behind, the enemy also reduced speed. Glancing at Seokhwa, who was pale and gripping the wheel, he opened the driver’s window and aimed his pistol at the tires of the pursuing car. A few rapid shots later, the left tire screeched, leaving skid marks on the road.
“Dr. Seok, now! Turn the wheel 15 degrees to the left.”
Repeating 15 degrees in his mind, Seokhwa turned the wheel exactly as instructed. With a better view, Kwak Soohwan shot at the remaining tires. As the two tires burst, the enemy car spun out of control. The overturned car in front of them was tempting to investigate, but with Seokhwa’s safety at risk, they couldn’t guarantee security.
“Who are they?”
Kwak Soohwan took the wheel back.
“I have no idea.”
“Shouldn’t we check who they are?”
“To be honest, Dr. Seok, you’re a burden right now.”
“Right.”
Though the words were blunt, Seokhwa responded calmly, showing that he understood without looking sullen.
“Normally, you’d just drop a burden, but you’re not a burden I can drop. Let’s get back to the shelter first.”
When Kwak Soohwan had instructed Seokhwa to turn 15 degrees earlier, their car had narrowly missed crashing into a utility pole. Seokhwa had managed to swerve just in time as Kwak Soohwan fired his gun. So, to be honest, he wasn’t exactly a burden.
“You have a good sense of direction, even without a license.”
“My hands are sweating.”
Seokhwa showed his hands, and when Kwak Soohwan reached over to feel them, they were indeed clammy with cold sweat. It made sense, considering Seokhwa usually handled test tubes in a lab rather than participating in high-speed chases.
Seokhwa hadn’t expected him to actually check, so he froze momentarily. But just for a moment, as he turned on the radio and raised the volume, curious about the next update.
“This attack is suspected to be the work of the rebel group Eden. Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the appearance of Adams, a rebel with a bomb entered the shelter lobby and caused significant damage.”
“Why couldn’t Mother prevent it?”
“Mother is an AI-based main server and doesn’t act on its own judgment. It only follows orders. This time, as per protocol, it started sealing off the floors where Adams appeared. Closing all floors indiscriminately could have caused even more damage.”
“So the rebels could enter the unprotected lobby.”
“Exactly. However, our Rainbow City will not fall because of this. The fire has been swiftly extinguished, and we are now managing the situation. According to another update, the First and Second Masters currently in Jeju will visit the Yeouido shelter the day after tomorrow.”
“Eden really…”
Seokhwa’s dry lips moved slightly.
“You don’t need to trust everything on the radio. Broadcasts are controlled, just like Dr. Seok’s research. But, this time, it seems the Eden bastards are indeed responsible.”
Though Kwak Soohwan had previously mentioned the rebel ideology a few times, Seokhwa thought he might be more inclined towards it himself. He had never doubted the radio or media before because it had always seemed natural from birth.
The red glow reflected in Seokhwa’s black eyes as he looked ahead. As Kwak Soohwan said, the Yeouido shelter was still burning, and the fire department was using water from the Han River to put it out. As always, rain or snow rarely fell in Rainbow City.
“The suspicious behavior wasn’t just once or twice. It’s not just a couple of times that we’ve overlooked it, given how much Commander Jang favors that friend of his.”
“Even if he’s a top graduate from the Army Officer Candidate School, it’s problematic for us if we can’t control a soldier. Frankly, hasn’t he compromised military discipline quite a bit?”
“Generals, even if you say that, isn’t Major Kwak Soohwan’s track record equivalent to an S-class squad leader? Everyone talks as if they’re being lenient because Commander Jang favors him, but that’s just shifting all the responsibility onto Commander Jang.”
“Do you really think so? Then let’s strip Major Kwak Soohwan of his rank right now!”
A military conference, with generals including the honor guard, was taking place in the military conference room.
Kwak Soohwan stood in the center of the generals, surrounded like a criminal in the dock, and was eagerly listening to how the discussion would unfold.
“Honestly.”
The commanding officer of the Key Unit, who had been silently listening, spoke up.
“The assumption that the Eden Hill terrorist attack is the work of the Eden Hill Syndicate is just speculation, isn’t it?”
Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae nodded. Then he gestured toward his aide standing behind him.
“Not exactly. Although it has been detached now, this was a notice posted on our shelter wall.” The aide unfolded a large piece of cloth stained with soot and blood in front of them.
[Because you have committed such an act, you shall be cursed among all domestic and wild animals, crawling on your belly and eating dust for the rest of your life until you die.]
“Genesis?” the Key Unit commanding officer asked.
“Yes. It’s a punishment God gave to the serpent. And that serpent is called Serpent. Even though it doesn’t specifically mention Eden Hill, just the notice is enough to suspect it’s their doing, isn’t it?”
Bang! General Yoon, who was in charge of the entire Yeouido branch, slammed the table. “So, what was Major Kwak Soohwan doing during that time?”
Now, the focus was on Kwak Soohwan. Kwak Soohwan stood before the generals in a composed stance.
“He moved to the Violet Zone to evacuate Chief Researcher Dr. Seokhwa during that time.”
“Sure, I know that. But why didn’t we receive any communication from our Yeouido Shelter until it reached this state, and why was there no contact for nearly an hour? Adam appeared inside our shelter. Our shelter is clearly in the Adam Clean Zone, so how is that possible? If Adam wasn’t there, how did the infection occur? Moreover, Major Kwak Soohwan, the unidentified child you brought in, was holding a syringe containing Adam’s blood, right? Of course, we know that you handled the situation before getting infected, but how do you explain that? And the video recording device on the Jeep was turned off. It’s reasonable for us to be suspicious of Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Ah, as expected. Kwak Soohwan only smiled inwardly. General Yoon of the Yeouido Shelter had always considered the Invincible Platoon as much of a thorn in his side.
It wasn’t the first time he witnessed scenes of General Yoon expressing frustration, claiming that even though he was the overall commander, all the credit went to the Invincible Platoon. It felt like a narrow-minded envy. Anyway, since the Invincible Platoon was under his jurisdiction, what harm was there in letting subordinates earn some credit? Unable to go to the front lines himself, he was getting excited for no reason, letting his inferiority complex bubble up.
Kwak Soohwan lowered his gaze to the floor for a moment before looking straight ahead again. And then, he began to speak.
***
At that moment, Seokhwa was being interrogated by the Honor Guard.
After returning to the Yeouido Shelter, Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa were separately taken into custody by different soldiers, each undergoing interrogation in different locations.
Seokhwa didn’t like the smirking face of Yoo Jungkyung, who was chuckling. Although he had rarely harbored hatred towards anyone in his life, it was different with Yoo Jungkyung.
Seeing him happily singing and humming, he thought, ‘You guys are truly done now.’ It seemed there were truly malicious people in the world.
Since arriving at the shelter from Jeju Island, Seokhwa had visited this interrogation room twice already. This time, he threw a sharp needle repeatedly, wondering if they were truly considering torture.
“Doctor, if you press this deep between your fingernails and push down, your nail will easily come off.”
Naturally, he felt fear at those words, but fortunately, his face didn’t reveal much emotion. However, instinctively, he flexed the hand placed on his thigh, hiding his fingernails.
“This time, Kwak Soohwan won’t come to save you, Doctor. That guy is also being sent to a military trial. Ha, really. Do you know how much I got scolded by our superior for injecting the confession drug to you that day, claiming that I broke down? But, Doctor, not today. Today, I should scold you a lot.”
Yoo Jungkyung grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and raised it onto the table.
“Every time you don’t speak honestly, one of your fingernails flies away. Now, why didn’t you contact us for nearly an hour when you went to the Violet Zone with Kwak Soohwan?”
“Do you enjoy torturing people?”
Thunk! Yoo Jungkyung pressed the pointed end of the needle. It felt like it would pierce inward if more force was applied.
“I don’t enjoy torturing people; I enjoy punishing the bad ones.”
“You said that before. You stabbed Dr. Oh’s thigh with the needle twenty times. At that time, Dr. Oh was innocent.”
Since that investigation, Seokhwa had learned on the day he received the truth serum that Yoo Jungkyung was responsible for it. That’s why he disliked this man even more. He didn’t understand why they entrusted the investigation to him. Even if he could force false confessions through torture.
“Oh, that? I apologized for that at the time. What could I do? I had to do as ordered from above. Do you think I enjoy blood splattering everywhere? Doctor, was the pork soup delicious? But, you know, the guy next to you injected Adam’s blood into his own body. Wasn’t that something Dr. Seok gave him? He said he would spread the virus in the shelter.”
Seokhwa chuckled for the first time. Although his expression didn’t change significantly, a short laugh revealed his attitude.
“Do you think, sensibly, that I would do such a thing to the person next to me? I would be the first to suffer, ugh!”
This time, the needle penetrated with the tip of Yoo Jungkyung’s finger. Looking down, it was evident that the needle had reached the center of the fingernail.
“Try mumbling again with that messed up mouth. What did you say?”
Seokhwa bit his lip and endured the throbbing pain. As someone vulnerable to physical pain, this kind of agony was shocking.
The first pain was transmitted quickly through fast nerves, followed by the second pain reaching the brain through slow nerves. Seokhwa didn’t understand why the sense of touch had two types of nerve fibers, causing double the pain.
“Fine, let’s assume the guy who injected Adam’s blood into himself wasn’t Dr. Seok. Since Yang Sanghoon also did something very suspicious, let’s talk about why Major Kwak Soohwan and you didn’t have contact when you went outside.”
Squelch! The needle pressed into the soft flesh inside, revealing the vulnerability. With a little more pressure here, it seemed the fingernail would come off. Seokhwa’s back quickly became damp with cold sweat. It was surprising how such a small fingernail could cause such great pain.
Looking at the pale Seokhwa, Yoo Jungkyung chuckled. Doctors, being generally delicate, often screamed and spilled everything with just a bit of pain. Yoo Jungkyung felt exhilarated when well-treated, high-nosed doctors from the research lab, who shed tears and mucus in front of him while receiving various treatments, experienced such discomfort. Especially the thought of Seokhwa’s expressionless face contorting and him crying while looking at her intrigued him.
Bang! Upon hearing the sound of the investigation room door opening, Yoo Jungkyung felt a sense of tension. Wondering if it was Kwak Soohwan again, he turned around with a stern expression, only to find Commander Cha, his immediate superior.
“Commander, have you come!”
Yoo Jungkyung removed the needle from Seokhwa’s fingernail and gave a sharp salute.
“At ease.”
Yoo Jungkyung, lowering the hand with the raised forehead, gave Cha Hakhyun a puzzled look. Why did Commander Cha come? Cha Hakhyun glanced at Seokhwa, who was clutching his fingernail, then turned to Yoo Jungkyung again.
“I’ll take over the questioning, so you can leave.”
“Yes?”
Thunk! Commander Cha flicked Yoo Jungkyung’s forehead. His face twisted for a moment, but his posture remained unaffected.
“This guy dares to be insolent. If you want to interrogate, go ahead, kid.”
“But, Commander! This case is under my responsibility.”
Cha Hakhyun made a puzzled expression, raised his hand, and showed the appointment letter lying on the investigation table.
“Look! This is an appointment given to me by General Yoon. He instructed me to interrogate Dr. Seokhwa.”
In an instant, Commander Cha, who was raising his hand, also noticeably froze.
It wasn’t just anyone but a directive from one of the top administrators of Yeouido Shelter, General Yoon. Yoo Jungkyung also chuckled at the unusual reaction from his superior.
‘Kid, did I play my cards well? You should be careful too.’
Such an atmosphere permeated the room. Commander Cha, unable to do anything, could only show a concerned expression towards Seokhwa.
“Dr. Seokhwa, are you okay?”
Seokhwa, still holding his finger, showed no reaction. He couldn’t understand why he ended up in this situation, only questioning the death of Dr. Oh.
“Don’t torture Dr. Seokhwa recklessly, huh?”
“I just gave him a little scare.”
Commander Cha felt perplexed about how to explain this to Kwak Soohwan. Still, he thought he had stepped out of his jurisdiction this time. After all, it was an order from General Yoon, not just anyone else.
Commander Cha pushed Yoo Jungkyung away with his hand and left the interrogation room. Yoo Jungkyung’s cursing at Kwak Soohwan, calling him a frustrating bastard, also reached Seokhwa’s ears.
“Doctor, bored, huh? Shall we continue?”
Yoo Jungkyung impatiently flicked his fingers, urging him to release his hand.
“I’ll talk.”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you what happened.”
“Well, Doctor. Why are you being so uninteresting?”
Seating himself on the desk with a disappointed expression, Yoo Jungkyung let out a sigh. Seokhwa kept his eyes closed for a while and eventually started speaking.
***
“Hey, you! You believe that?”
General Yoon thundered.
“That is the truth. Would I dare to lie in front of you, sir?”
Some generals grimaced, either scratching their foreheads or rubbing their chins.
“The reason for turning off the surveillance device is that?”
“Yes, that’s all.”
Kwak Soohwan remained calm as if he were only stating facts.
“So, Major Kwak Soohwan, you have a special relationship with Dr. Seokhwa, occasionally going on dates outdoors? Did you get hit on the head? You didn’t even know the situation inside the shelter and went on a date?”
“The upper floors were closed, so there was nothing we could do. At that time, we heard that the first-floor cafeteria had been cleared, and disinfection had started from the fifth floor. Dr. Seokhwa and I, who were in the basement, couldn’t go up in that situation. We prioritized Dr. Oh’s safety, reported our movement, and obtained permission. That’s all.”
Commander Jang, who had a troubled expression, cautiously raised his hand.
“Kid, get out. Don’t you know you’re trying to cover for that bastard again?”
Commander Jang subtly lowered his hand again. This time, Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae raised his hand.
“Yeontae, what’s with you again?”
Perhaps because he was the directly subordinate major, the general couldn’t express his anger too vehemently.
“Major Kwak Soohwan’s words seem not to be false. That…”
“Well, spit it out!”
Yeontae sighed. If it were someone else, he might have ignored them, whether they lived or died. However, it was not an easy task to just let Kwak Soohwan, the core of their power, go.
“Uh, Major Kwak Soohwan, when he saw Dr. Seokhwa,”
“What!”
“He referred to him as ‘his…'”
“What did he say!”
“I heard him say something like that.”
Yeontae felt a cold sweat on his forehead, wondering if he had blurted out something even when he said it himself. Still, he couldn’t just let Kwak Soohwan go without defending himself against these accusations.
“Although it might be inappropriate to mention this, it seems we have no choice but to reveal it to prove our innocence.”
Kwak Soohwan, with a serious expression, furrowed his brows and then spoke earnestly, as if he had made up his mind.
“Dr. Seokhwa likes outdoor dates. We’ve been on one before, and there’s still footage of it. It was a path to a nearby unprotected area restaurant, and I’ll submit this as evidence.”
Kwak Soohwan took a USB drive from inside his black uniform and slid it in front of General Yoon.
General Yoon tapped it with his hand and said roughly, “Let your subordinate take a look,” and the subordinate immediately connected the USB to the laptop, displaying the main screen of the military conference room. Since the video recording device was in the back seat of the Jeep, only their voices began to play.
[Dr. Seok has a subtly ominous aspect. If you want to date, just say so. Why beat around the bush?]
“Did I ask to date?’
[Why are you whispering in my ear and touching my earlobe with your lips?]
“Did I do that?”
[I’ve read my fair share of romance novels, and they say it’s all about knowing everything and being intrusive. Were you deliberately mocking me by whispering in my ear?]
[Sigh…]
[Look at this, sighing dramatically again.]
These were the usual playful remarks that Kwak Soohwan would casually throw out. Since the real important discussions took place inside the restaurant, the conversations during the car ride that day were of this nature. General Yoon, not used to such conversations, waved his hand to dismiss it with an annoyed expression.
“Bring Dr. Seokhwa.”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled inwardly. It was quite fortunate that the strange rumors circulating in the shelter turned out to be helpful in this way.
It took about 15 minutes for Seokhwa, who was on the 3rd basement floor, to come up to the military conference room. When the door opened, and Seokhwa revealed himself, Kwak Soohwan’s expression, which had been inwardly smiling, changed in an instant.
Seokhwa had bandages wrapped around his hand, and his face was so pale that it looked like he could faint any moment. When Yoo Jungkyung, who brought Seokhwa, saw Kwak Soohwan, she burst into laughter.
Only now did Kwak Soohwan regret not sending that guy to Gwacheon.
***
Seokhwa sat in the center of the U-shaped table where the generals were seated.
Standing while receiving an interrogation was the norm, but they decided to show some consideration since the doctor didn’t seem to be in good condition. Seokhwa sat on a rigid metal chair, resting both hands on his thighs. Kwak Soohwan stood beside him, and together, they looked as if they were undergoing a public trial.
“Dr. Seokhwa.”
General Yoon, sitting at the central front, called Seokhwa.
“Yes.”
General Yoon quickly glanced at the documents brought by Yoo Jungkyung and formed a somewhat compassionate expression. However, there was no occasion where the wrinkles on his face, as distinct as a bulldog’s, appeared to be welcoming.
“Do you know how much Rainbow City has been providing benefits to the doctors?”
“Yes.”
After going through various experiences in the Yeouido Shelter, I realized how much of a fragile flower in a greenhouse I really was.
“If Major Yoo used harsh methods, I apologize.”
General Yoon knew that Seokhwa was not as young as he looked, yet his tone was scolding, as if he were treating him like a young man who had just turned twenty.
“Is your hand okay?”
“It hurts.”
Even if it was an empty courtesy, Seokhwa answered honestly. General Yoon, holding a folder, swatted the back of Yoo Jungkyung’s head, who was waiting behind him.
“I told you to interrogate, not to torture.”
“Yes, that’s correct. However, I was just trying to intimidate her, but she pulled her hand back so suddenly.”
“So suddenly?”
“His fingernail got broken.”
General Yoon smacked Yoo Jungkyung’s head repeatedly.
Kwak Soohwan had been observing Seokhwa’s left hand during this time. A bandage was wrapped around the part where his little fingernail might have been broken. If he hadn’t returned his firearm along with the holster, he might have shot Yoo Jungkyung here.
“Understand that Major Yoo has an excessive sense of loyalty. Dr. Seokhwa, we heard some truly unbelievable stories. Did Major Kwak Soohwan possibly threaten you?”
“No.”
“As you know, Rainbow City doesn’t intervene in the romantic relationships of doctors. Freedom is a good thing, and young friends are free to date as much as they want.”
As General Yoon spoke, Rainbow City generally did not interfere much in romantic relationships, except for approved childbirth. Especially in the shelter, as long as proper contraception was practiced, they didn’t care much, whether it was same-sex or opposite-sex relationships. However, that didn’t mean they could date freely as they pleased.
“The most important virtue of a soldier is protecting Rainbow City, and researchers must develop medicines and vaccines to protect the citizens of Rainbow City. But now, Major Kwak Soohwan and Dr. Seokhwa have neglected that most important duty.”
General Yoon wore a benevolent expression, but internally, he was still suspicious. The reason they gave, that they were dating, seemed to have some shady aspects. He continued, “Going off-topic, let me say one thing.”
Yoo Jungkyung was granted the right to speak to the general. As if it was difficult to speak here, General Yoon signaled him to follow outside.
Following Yoon, Yoo Jungkyung went outside the military conference room and began speaking quietly, ensuring only the general could hear.
“General, I find it hard to believe that they are in such a relationship.”
“Do you have a valid reason for that?”
When General Yoon took out a cigarette, Yoo Jungkyung quickly lit it for him.
“Yes, it seems it hasn’t been opened yet.”
At that statement, General Yoon exhaled a bitter smoke, scrunching up his face.
“The opening? When did the communication base station collapse?”
“It’s not that; it’s about their relationship.”
“Explain it properly, kid.”
“Then, I’ll humbly explain. If Major Kwak Soohwan is in a relationship with Dr. Seokhwa, there should be physical evidence, right?”
“But.”
“I think there isn’t yet. I mean, that kind of relationship. That’s why it hasn’t been ‘opened’… That’s what I meant.”
“So, what you’re saying is that Kwak Soohwan lied about them dating?”
“Yes! As expected, General, you’re wise.”
“Do you think I look like a naive fool?”
“Uh? Uh, what do you mean?”
General Yoon extended his hand and lightly slapped Yoo Jungkyung’s cheek. It gradually became a firm, smacking sound. Even as Yoo Jungkyung’s cheek turned red, he did not flinch and successfully parried the general’s slap.
“Who would not know about that? Do I look like I don’t know, calling the generals and making a fuss about this?”
“If that’s the case…”
General Yoon sprinkled his cigarette on Yoo Jungkyung’s shoulder. Faced with the general’s indifferent attitude, Yoo Jungkyung had no choice but to remain silent.
General Yoon came back inside, and Seokhwa continued to shake his hands intermittently due to the persistent pain. General Yoon sat down but remained silent, lost in thought for quite some time.
Kwak Soohwan also knew that this method was just an improvisation. Moreover, General Yoon was the First Master’s line.
In fact, the Invincible Platoon was a newly formed platoon by Second Master, composed of Kwak Soohwan as his ground cavalry leader.
The First and Second Masters collaborated for the sake of Rainbow City, but their rivalry was always present. They showed with their actions that there could not be two suns in the sky.
“I highly appreciate the merits Major Kwak Soohwan has shown so far. According to Major Kwak Soohwan, the shelter has been cleared, so he went to the Violet Zone with Dr. Seokhwa, feeling relieved. However, being a soldier of Rainbow City, one should always be prepared. Do you have any explanation for that?”
“No, sir.”
Kwak Soohwan looked away from Seokhwa and faced General Yoon.
“Well, since everyone must be busy, let’s conclude this here. Army Major Kwak Soohwan is reassigned to the Gwacheon Branch Shelter as of today.”
The room soon buzzed with murmurs, but no one directly voiced their objections. Kwak Soohwan thought it was a reasonably satisfactory result.
“Taking away the command of the Invincible Platoon and appointing him as the commander of the Gwacheon Branch White Tiger Platoon.”
Taking away the command of the Invincible Platoon meant essentially dismantling their platoon. Kwak Soohwan couldn’t even muster a laugh at Yoon’s blatant intention. There was also an intent to weaken the influence of the Second Master.
Kwak Soohwan remained composed, but Seokhwa, sitting next to him, was the only one surprised. If he moved to the Gwacheon Shelter, it would be challenging for them to meet in the future.
“Dr. Seokhwa.”
Seokhwa stopped his thoughts and looked at General Yoon.
“Dr. Seokhwa came to the Yeouido Shelter as the chief researcher in place of the late Dr. Oh, so there should be no changes. Please continue to work at the Yeouido Shelter research lab as before. This concludes the military council. And Major Yang Sanghoon will continue the investigation as planned.”
When General Yoon stood up, all the generals stood up as well. Seokhwa also pushed his chair back and managed to get up. After General Yoon left, Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Some of the generals gave them glances, as if disgusted, or spat curses at them as they left, as if they had witnessed something unbearable. There were even generals who openly spoke, questioning why they should associate with a man, but such words meant nothing to the two.
Commander Jang approached, seemingly about to say something, but now knowing it would have the opposite effect, he quietly left the conference room. After everyone left the room, Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa headed towards the door in silence. It was in the corridor, just as they took a step forward.
“Hey, you’re lucky. Senior researcher leaves smoothly, and instead of kicking one out, they send him to Gwacheon. No evidence, so be it, but quite impressive, don’t you think?”
Seokhwa tried to ignore whatever Yoo Jungkyung was saying.
“Thud!”
If only it wasn’t for that sound. Seokhwa quickly looked at Kwak Soohwan. With black gloves on, Kwak Soohwan gripped Yoo Jungkyung’s neck, pushing him against the wall. Yoo Jungkyung, legs dangling in the air, struggled as if his eyeballs were about to pop out.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Seokhwa was on the verge of collapsing. Now, he just wanted the disturbance to end and go inside to rest.
“I can kill you right here, and I’ll be out in a year. Or maybe a month.”
Crack, crack. Yoo Jungkyung, caught in the trap like a captured animal, lifted his middle finger towards Kwak Soohwan. Kwak Soohwan grabbed that hand and twisted it. With a grotesque twist, he even pushed the little finger backward, causing a commotion.
“Cough, hack… You bastard! Let me go! Ahh!”
Yoo Jungkyung, holding his hand, rolled on the ground. Kwak Soohwan kicked him with military precision.
“See you in Gwacheon.”
He kicked Yoo Jungkyung again and looked at Seokhwa, who was walking ahead without turning back. Without looking back, he continued his unsteady steps.
Kwak Soohwan quickly caught up with Seokhwa. However, even then, Seokhwa walked without looking at him, only staring at the ground. Even in the elevator and until they reached their accommodation floor, he remained silent, so Kwak Soohwan could only keep his injured hand in his sight.
“I told you. There’s nothing good about getting involved in unnecessary matters.”
Now that Dr. Seok has also fallen out of favor, it was a warning in its own way for him to be careful. Anyway, even though Yoo Jungkyung would probably drag him to Gwacheon by the hair, Dr. Seok was concerned about who would stop him if he ended up smashing his face into a hot soup bowl at the restaurant.
Contrary to the breaking news, the fire at the Yeouido Shelter only reached up to the 10th floor, and fortunately, the upper floors were closed off, so there was no smoke seeping in. However, it seemed that it would take quite some time to repair the lower floors that were properly burned.
When Seokhwa reached out his hand in front of his room, Kwak Soohwan swiftly blocked his way. He couldn’t understand what Seokhwa was thinking at the moment, why he wouldn’t even meet his gaze again.
“You’re going to be demoted to Gwacheon tomorrow. Want to have a farewell tonight?”
“I’m good.”
He thought Seokhwa would say something, but Seokhwa just stood there in silence.
“I’ll be demoted, but why does Dr. Seok look like that?”
“Because of me, you’ve suffered.”
If only he hadn’t talked about Serpent, things wouldn’t have gone so wrong.
This incident made him realize that having doubts in Rainbow City comes with a considerable cost. He had always lived passively, so he had been safe. Perhaps Wonho and Dr. Oyangseok also faced consequences for questioning and acting.
“If you feel sorry for blowing away the bud of the promising Lieutenant’s future, do something about it.”
Kwak Soohwan raised one eyebrow and provocatively said.
[Opening.]
Seokhwa recognized his fingerprint to open the door.
“Goodnight, Dr. Seokhwa.”
Seokhwa stood holding the doorknob as Kwak Soohwan shook his hand. Yet, Seokhwa didn’t enter but widened the door further.
“Come in.”
Kwak Soohwan ran his hand through his eyebrows, which seemed to scrunch up in a perplexed expression.
“No matter how sorry you are, you shouldn’t act like a big shot. I’m worried about Dr. Seok’s stubbornness, so don’t act like that with others. I’m going.”
This man was always like that. He would ask for this or that with his mouth, suggest doing something, but he had never actually engaged in practical exercises.
“You told me you would give me your sperm.”
Seokhwa raised his voice behind Kwak Soohwan’s back. Seokhwa looked at Kwak Soohwan with dark eyes. Wrapped in bandages, his face was turning pale, creating an oddly delicate atmosphere.
“I want it.”
Seokhwa stated decisively as if driving in a wedge once again.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Damn it.
Kwak Soohwan, who had approached confidently, pushed the door and entered. Seokhwa finally released his hand from the doorknob, and the door closed, trapping the two men inside.
“You’ll regret it.”
Kwak Soohwan wrapped his arms around Seokhwa’s waist and lowered his head, looking down at him.
“I won’t do it.”
Staring at Kwak Soohwan with black, large eyes, Seokhwa seemed a bit weak. Enduring everything until now had been commendable enough. When Seokhwa pushed Kwak Soohwan’s chest with his hand, he easily stepped back.
It was the first time Kwak Soohwan had entered Seokhwa’s room, but it didn’t look as cluttered as he expected. Among the few items, Nam Geunseok, who proudly raised his head, was placed in the center of the desk. Seokhwa felt a strange sensation as he thought about touching and examining it morning and evening.
“Dr. Seok.”
He called out in a gentle voice, but there was no response. Seokhwa took latex gloves from the drawer and put them on. Surprisingly, he only put on the right glove. Kwak Soohwan couldn’t help but smirk. Indeed, it seemed that bringing him into the room was a well-thought-out plan to obtain semen.
Seokhwa approached again, grabbing Kwak Soohwan’s arm, and led him to the bed.
“Getting exploited all the time, huh.”
Seokhwa followed everything as if saying, “Do whatever you want.” The heat from Seokhwa’s wrapped wrists was transmitted to the skin, making that area feel warm.
Kwak Soohwan, with his cape and uniform top hanging on a hanger, sat on the bed dressed in a white shirt and pants. Seokhwa, pulling a chair and sitting in front of him, placed a clean chalice and a silver container on the desk.
“Shall we begin?”
Seokhwa reached out and undid the buckle.
“No matter how robust my libido is, it seems challenging to get an erection in this situation.”
It felt like becoming a patient undergoing a genital examination. Nevertheless, as Seokhwa unzipped and pulled on the briefs, the lower half responded.
Due to the previous memory of getting hit in the jaw, Seokhwa had distanced himself a bit, making the posture somewhat uncomfortable. He pushed the chair back and sat on the floor, then covered Kwak Soohwan’s genitalia with gloved hands.
This is going to be awkward.
Kwak Soohwan had to exercise patience to avoid grabbing and restraining Seokhwa. As things gradually progressed, Seokhwa lifted his head abruptly. It seemed like he was looking at him with a lecherous gaze, as if watching while performing fellatio.
“Can you masturbate?”
“This is really torture.”
Although Kwak Soohwan tried to stand up, Seokhwa placed his hand on his firm thigh.
“There are no explicit videos. Major Kwak Soohwan, I’ve read ‘One Night with the Teacher’ as well.”
“What’s that about?”
Kwak Soohwan attempted to zip up, but Seokhwa was quicker to stop him.
“It’s a novel that Major Kwak Soohwan reads. From there.”
Seokhwa took a breath, as if making a decision, then exhaled. The warm breath was directly transmitted to the lower half. Seokhwa took sterilized cotton from the silver container and meticulously began wiping Kwak Soohwan’s area.
“This is… again.”
Kwak Soohwan stared at the ceiling, feeling a sense of impending doom. The sensation, subtly uncomfortable, but cool and hot at the same time, repeatedly infiltrated his nerves. Despite not being a form of torture, the feeling of warmth and coldness alternated continuously through the latex gloves.
“I’ve felt it before, but Major Kwak Soohwan’s genitalia seems to have a pleasing shape.”
Having received an elite education since childhood, he never had to use a communal bathroom, so how could he compare someone else’s genitalia?
“Thanks for the compliment. Did you take a shower while disinfecting earlier?”
At that moment, Kwak Soohwan felt dizzy. Gently, Seokhwa extended his tongue and licked Kwak Soohwan’s genitalia. Instantly, under Seokhwa’s touch, it started swelling incredibly. Again, softly and smoothly, he stimulated the genitalia with his tongue, reminiscent of eating ice cream. Kwak Soohwan’s veins on his neck tensed in disbelief at the unbelievable sight.
Unless Seokhwa is crazy, why would he do this to my dick? Or is he feeling so sorry for being demoted to Gwacheon? Anyway, now that Seokhwa has started like this, I couldn’t resist either.
“In books, they say this leads to a quick climax.”
Because doing it by hand seems time-consuming and challenging.
With the genitalia right in front of him, Seokhwa whispered and once again extended his tongue, licking it.
Although it was borrowed for a night, and he hadn’t seen the novel yet, there were probably a few more of the same books in the shelter. Kwak Soohwan inserted his hand through the gap in Seokhwa’s gloves and slowly turned and removed them.
“That’s not enough. Dr. Seok must have tried masturbation at least. Can you lead a normal life by ejaculating with your tongue?”
Seokhwa still had one hand on each side of Kwak Soohwan’s thighs. Kwak Soohwan lowered his hand, traced Seokhwa’s soft lips, and slid his index finger inside. Seokhwa subtly wrinkled his brows, appearing slightly uncomfortable. As Kwak Soohwan scratched the ceiling, Seokhwa’s eyelids flickered.
With a circular motion, Kwak Soohwan turned his hand inside, pressing the tongue firmly.
“As you swallow it smoothly, you have to put it inside and suck it up continuously.”
“In the books.”
His pronunciation was inaccurate due to his index finger.
“Try it.”
With a gentle touch, he deliberately hooked his index finger on the lower lip and then pulled it away. Seokhwa’s lips quickly became moist, gradually parting. When he put the thick glans into his mouth, it felt satisfying. Moreover, he had given me a turn like that, and he had trusted me once despite lying before. He had always saved me when things got dangerous. Maybe this wasn’t a big deal since I might not be able to see him again twice.
Furthermore, from Kwak Soohwan, there was a pleasant fragrance tickling the tip of his nose. A sweet and refreshing scent, so delightful that he wanted to take a deep breath.
Kwak Soohwan was on the verge of a second death as Seokhwa continued to move up and down, focusing on the glans. The impulse to put his hands in Seokhwa’s soft hair and pull him toward me was strong. Moreover, in Seokhwa’s mouth, which had a higher body temperature than others, the lower part seemed to be melting away.
“Can I go a bit deeper?”
Seokhwa looked at Kwak Soohwan with a lower and slower vibration than usual. The man, who always wore a convincing smile, now had a languid gaze and was looking down at him. One arm was stretched backward, pressing on the bed, while the other hand gently stroked his cheek. Seokhwa felt like something strange was blooming inside him.
He raised his knees, gripping the thighs tighter, attempting to insert the genitalia deeper. It wasn’t possible to climax just by putting it in the mouth. Seokhwa knew that, so he slowly moved his head back and forth, repeating the process of inserting it inside. It felt like his large genitalia was perfectly fitting into Seokhwa’s mouth.
Haah, Kwak Soohwan’s hand in Seokhwa’s hair was tense. He pulled his head back and sucked the tip of the glans firmly.
“Suck!”
The genitalia entered the throat smoothly with a single breath. The sensation of the Adam’s apple going down was felt distinctly. Seokhwa blinked in surprise, tapping on Kwak Soohwan’s thigh.
Exhale. Ugh!
A genitalia larger than the throat was forcibly stretching the inside. When he lifted his waist like that, nausea rose. Even Kwak Soohwan’s hand, which was tapping his thigh, gradually lost strength due to lack of oxygen. Even the feeble friction felt pleasurable, and Kwak Soohwan, involuntarily convulsing, exhaled softly against the mucous membrane’s touch, releasing a low breath.
When he tried to push it in a little deeper, a faint moan leaked from below. Startled, he released his hand, and Seokhwa spat out the genitalia and coughed up saliva.
“Haah, ha….”
Seokhwa leaned his face against Kwak Soohwan’s thigh and tried to catch his breath. Unswallowed saliva from the open mouth dripped onto the thigh. Kwak Soohwan quickly put his hand under Seokhwa’s armpit and lifted him up.
“Are you okay?”
Seokhwa, with an indifferent look, continued to breathe heavily. Even he, momentarily losing his senses, became a bit rough. Kwak Soohwan sat Seokhwa on his own leg and gently wiped his back.
“The inside of your throat… seems like it’s still open.”
“Originally, with oral, it’s about inserting it up to here.”
He ran his fingers through the hollow in the center of Seokhwa’s collarbone as if to justify that it wasn’t something strange. “I’ll just use my hand.” Kwak Soohwan whispered into Seokhwa’s ear.
“Instead, enjoy it with me.”
Since fingers might be uncomfortable. Kwak Soohwan’s hand moved down to Seokhwa’s lower body, and he flicked his waist. Seokhwa’s genitalia was already half-erect, almost to the point of suffocation, as if he had been strangled. Seokhwa also had desires like anyone else, especially in moments of self-pleasure while thinking about a man’s body. He suspected it might not be envy for those physically superior to him, although he couldn’t be sure in his current dazed state.
With his waist pulled in, gasping for breath and almost on the verge of suffocation, Seokhwa’s genitalia was also half-erect. Perhaps due to the accumulated energy, Seokhwa wondered if it was because he was almost strangled. The experience was quite intense, and Seokhwa had sexual desires like everyone else. Even though he couldn’t confirm it in his current dazed state.
Kwak Soohwan pulled Seokhwa’s waist closer while unzipping his pants. The touch was oddly soft. Seokhwa had seen him naked before when he undressed, and the nipples and genitalia had colors that could whet one’s appetite. It was strange that I feel hungry when I’m neither Adam nor Eve.
Kwak Soohwan chuckled softly and overlapped Seokhwa’s with his own.
“You haven’t practiced with this, have you?”
Understanding what Kwak Soohwan meant, Seokhwa leaned his face on his shoulder and raised his head. He had no energy, and his mind was hazy, making the sensation of the large hand touching his genitalia enjoyable.
The grip and shaking were entirely different from what I do. Seokhwa already felt the urgency. Even though he had taken a sexual suppressant, it was fascinating how excitement and urgency rushed so quickly.
“Dr. Seokhwa.”
Blinking, Seokhwa looked at Kwak Soohwan with vacant eyes.
“But it’s too far for me to climax.”
Pressing down on Seokhwa’s now firm and squishy erection, Kwak Soohwan spoke.
“Since we’ve come this far, how about going all the way?”
“All the way?”
It’s difficult to climax with this kind of empty stimulation. He mentioned that even shaking it would be unrealistic.
“There are real side effects to the suppressant. I get erections easily, but climaxing is significantly delayed.”
It was a medication that forcibly suppressed sexual desire, but it didn’t work well on Kwak Soohwan’s body, making it even more challenging to climax with a fully erected state. Of course, this wasn’t the case when he was masturbating alone. At the moment, Seokhwa, with a flushed face and shallow breaths, was not in that state.
“Do you still not understand my obsessive trait?”
As Kwak Soohwan pulled up Seokhwa’s shirt, he slowly kissed his way up from the navel, matching his lips with the upward motion.
Nibbling, he bit the soft flesh above the navel and sucked it up. Red marks where he had bitten and passed on various parts of the neck and upper body repeatedly appeared and subsided.
“Biting, huh?”
With a short laugh, Kwak Soohwan completely removed Seokhwa’s shirt, putting his hands behind and embracing him.
Seokhwa felt a refreshing sensation, sharing all the heat overflowing from his body with Kwak Soohwan. Although his throat still felt a bit sore, Kwak Soohwan felt like a cool stone, soothing his feverish body.
“Ha…”
Seokhwa hugged Kwak Soohwan’s shoulders, who was nibbling on him, without realizing it. Chest biting was something he had never experienced since birth, making it difficult for Seokhwa to regain his composure.
He embraced Kwak Soohwan’s shoulders, who bit and sucked on his nipples, without knowing when. The bitten and sucked nipple quickly turned red, contrasting with the intact one. Rolling the pointed nipple with the tip of his tongue, Kwak Soohwan then nibbled on it. Each time, Seokhwa’s body twitched.
Asking for stimulation on the remaining side, Kwak Soohwan used his palm to lightly stroke that area, which had become stiff on its own. When the nipple fully protruded, he grabbed it and twisted it once.
“Ah!”
Due to the pleasure gradually overwhelming Seokhwa, Kwak Soohwan was also pushing beyond the limits. He removed his pants, creating a space, and slid his hand between Seokhwa’s buttocks. The warmth felt in the soft gap seemed to be coaxing him to let it enter quickly.
As the fingers slid lightly, Seokhwa suddenly pushed Kwak Soohwan away, displaying a guarded expression. In the meantime, a painful moan escaped along with the sound of his fingers hurting.
“Do you really not know?”
Even if he was born and raised in Jeju and studied a lot, Seokhwa probably knew about sexual intercourse. However, Seokhwa tilted his head, questioning why Kwak Soohwan was putting his hand on his anus. Unable to retreat now, Kwak Soohwan pressed down on the perineum while tickling Seokhwa’s neck and ear with his lips.
“Jellyfish and sea anemones, they say their mouths and here are the same. So, they probably have sexual intercourse with their mouths, right? Humans can use both mouth and here, can’t they?”
Kwak Soohwan considered what he said as a somewhat ridiculous statement. Still, he discreetly slid his finger into the hole.
“Sea anemones… they reproduce through spores.”
It was Seokhwa’s first time experiencing such stimulation and the first time someone’s hand touched him down there, making the sensation unfamiliar but not necessarily unpleasant.
“Dr., humans are higher organisms compared to sea anemones, aren’t they? It’s not right to compare us to lower organisms that just spray everywhere.”
Kwak Soohwan brought down the firm and large thing between Seokhwa’s buttocks. Seokhwa’s body, lifted by clasped thighs, was defenseless. Startled, Seokhwa tried to push him away, but his hand only slid along the contoured belly skin.
“There… it’s narrower than the throat. Ugh!”
Holding both thighs together, Kwak Soohwan hit Seokhwa’s testicles and moved up. As he grazed the twitching hole and reached the thighs, he confined his erection between them and nibbled on the peach-like pelvis.
With each smack, the buttocks tingled. The wind trapped between the thighs, gripping his erection, made Kwak Soohwan’s movements cause the inner flesh to be swept away and pushed out repeatedly. It seemed impossible, but the tingling sensation made it feel like the thighs had become the genitals.
Seokhwa reached out one arm and clasped Kwak Soohwan’s forearm. This time, Kwak Soohwan encircled the thighs, raising the waist higher. Seokhwa, with a weak hand, brought his hand to Kwak Soohwan’s and placed it on his neck. While gently stroking the soft flesh, Seokhwa hit the waist, and he mumbled.
“Please…”
“Hm?”
“Please.” After Kwak Soohwan, he exhaled and brought his face close with petrified lips. Due to that wind, his body bent completely in half, and the lower part adhered seamlessly as if it had been inserted. Soohwan pulled his hand, which had been embracing his back, and let it fall onto the bed.
“Hold me….”
With his mouth wide open and Seokhwa’s closed eyes, Soohwan licked his lips. Like this, should I just do it? Even though I’m completely exhausted, if I release below and insert…
Soohwan swept his hair roughly. Seokhwa’s body was covered in red marks even though nothing significant had happened yet. Instead of lifting his thighs, Soohwan lay on his side and embraced Seokhwa from behind. The warm body seemed to melt into his skin.
“You don’t want me to go.”
Soohwan bit Seokhwa’s shoulder without moving.
***
Experiencing symptoms of low blood pressure and morning stiffness in the back every day marked the beginning of the day for Seokhwa. He opened his eyes and mechanically sat on the bed, waiting for his mind to return from the leave it took.
“Do you still not understand my obsessive trait?”
Seokhwa finally turned his head to look down at the bed. And then he realized that his body wasn’t naked. He was wearing only a thin shirt that extended down to his thighs like a hospital gown.
Wondering when Soohwan had left, he checked the time, and it was still 9 a.m. He reviewed the situation from yesterday when he fainted, and Seokhwa brought his hand to his buttocks. He couldn’t tell if something was inserted or not. Only the inside of his thighs was sore, and his buttocks felt as if they had been hit.
Naturally, he wasn’t ignorant about sexual intercourse. He received sex education a few times at the learning center, but it was nothing more than a surface-level explanation. Mutants were more interested in his obsession than sex, and according to Soohwan, he spent his life stuck in the research lab. With no friends or close colleagues, he had never heard any gossip. So, he had no idea that the anus could be used for such a purpose.
Seokhwa shook his head. Then his head hurt even more.
For the first time in his life, he realized that such a sensation existed. Seokhwa put his hand inside his shirt and touched his nipples. Strangely, it felt quite different from Soohwan’s touch. The size of the hand and the tension of not knowing when and how it would be touched were possible only because it was someone else.
Seokhwa pulled his hand out of the shirt with an indifferent expression and went to the bathroom for a shower. There were red spots all over his body reflected in the mirror, which surprised him, but soon he regained composure. It was a trace left by Soohwan.
Seokhwa was wiping his body with a sponge, generating foam, when he hesitated to scrub his thighs and buttocks and only touched those areas with his hands. However, what is Kwak Soohwan’s obsessive nature? Lost in those thoughts, Seokhwa left the bathroom without properly drying off. When he looked at the shelf, where he had put the shale, there was nothing there. The anticipation quickly crumbled, but since Seokhwa had fainted, there was no way to blame him.
Suddenly shifting his gaze, Seokhwa saw a note placed at the end of the desk. Wondering why it had moved there, he examined it closely and found a small piece of paper underneath.
Seokhwa moved the stone aside and picked up the note.
“I tried, but not a single drop came out. Take care, Doctor. Sorry for poking a hole in your throat yesterday.”
Seokhwa spoke for the first time since getting up.
“He took off.”
The inside of his throat still stung.
***
Seokhwa squinted his eyes and stared at the back of Dr.Kim’s head.
Leaving me and running away alone?
It didn’t have that kind of meaning. It was because suspicions about Dr.Kim had arisen. There was no way Yang Sanghoon had Adam’s blood, and the person who had sat next to the boy that day was none other than Dr.Kim.
Does he trust Yang Sanghoon more than Dr.Kim? Did his dislike for soldiers play a role? Once again, he became confused, but the only thing certain was that he didn’t trust Dr.Kim. So, even though he wanted to inquire about Dr.Oh’s death, he kept his mouth shut.
A week had passed since Kwak Soohwan went down to Gwacheon. During that time, Seokhwa was summoned to the guards several times and had to go through several people to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Yang Sanghoon’s innocence was also proven, but he too was transferred to Gwacheon due to negligence as a supervising officer. The worry about military personnel investigating him became irrelevant as he too went to Gwacheon.
Recently, Seokhwa had been systematically organizing information about the 7th Adam. It included the peculiar behavior of Oh Cheongwoon and a few Adams who seemed to act intelligently. If he had gained intelligence, it might eventually be necessary to separate him as a new species, even if he were considered natural enemies of humans.
Other than that, Seokhwa’s daily life was unremarkable. He conducted research, studied in his spare time, and sometimes entered the shelter library to read novels. Except during meals, the absence of Kwak Soohwan was not particularly significant. However, he occasionally carried the stone he had given him in his pocket. It was larger and smoother than the pebble he used to carry, providing a refreshing and soothing feeling.
Without questioning the higher-ups, he simply carried out the given tasks, and now no one posed a threat to him. He also thoroughly investigated the Serpent.
If the Eden Garden had tried to persuade him or if Dr.Oh had revealed important facts, he wouldn’t have set fire to the 13 Red Zone outposts. Of course, there was no certainty that Eden Garden was responsible for the terrorism, but circumstantially, it seemed inevitable to think so.
This was an ordinary life, the routine he had been living. However, incessant doubts continued to multiply within.
Even Oh Cheongwoon, his son, would not have imprisoned Dr.Oh without researching the 7th Adam. And the time of death was also strange. He knew developing a cure requires a considerable amount of money, but aren’t the higher-ups being excessively passive? Repeating such thoughts, as soon as the clock struck 1 o’clock, he got up like a ghost and went down to the dining hall. Now, there was no one to eat with.
The feeling of loneliness seemed to visit only when he learned it. It was fine before, but now, receiving supplies alone and sitting alone to eat had become unpleasant.
“Doctor!”
Seokhwa heard someone shout from afar. Thinking it wasn’t directed at him, he just lowered his head and sipped the soup.
“Doctor! Doctor!”
Only then did he raise his head. Major Lee Chaeyoon was tapping the table where the tray was placed.
“Major…?”
“What’s up? Why are you eating alone? Wait, I’ll get some food for you!”
Lee Chaeyoon fluttered her cape and rushed to the distribution point. Cutting in line, she waved her hand at the soldiers in front, telling them to move aside. Anyway, even if Lee Chaeyoon didn’t do that, his subordinates would have moved aside on their own. The restaurant staff already knew her appetite, so they doubled the side dishes and rice.
Lee Chaeyoon came running with a heap of side dishes, not spilling a single one.
For some reason, Seokhwa felt a sense of relief. Lee Chaeyoon had said she was on the field, but she must have returned not long ago.
“Doctor, why did Freak Soohwan and Yang Sanghoon go down to Gwacheon?”
Seokhwa thought the conversation might get lengthy, so he took a deep breath before speaking. However, Lee Chaeyoon was much quicker.
“I returned today and was surprised. He suddenly appointed me as the commander of the Unit. But I’m terrible at commanding. If I make the wrong judgment and the others get killed, it’ll be my fault.”
Lee Chaeyoon complained as she scooped up a spoonful of rice.
“Where have you been?”
“Yeah, I went there! It’s incredibly cold up there, no kidding. It feels like it’s been a hundred years just waiting for the Jeep to warm up.”
It might not be a hundred years, but fearing a potential long lecture, Seokhwa decided to keep quiet. Now, he understood that such expressions were just customary, like the jokes Kwak Soohwan used to make.
“They said there was chaos in the Yeouido Shelter, right? The kid brought by Kwak Soohwan turned into an Adam, and there was an Adam inside the shelter as well. Those idiots, unable to find the culprit, are just sending off Freak Soohwan and Yang Sanghoon. But what’s with your finger? Why the bandage? Are you injured?”
Seokhwa, overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, decided to answer only the most crucial part.
“It’s my fault.”
Lee Chaeyoon put down her spoon abruptly.
“Why is it your fault? Why bring in a kid whose identity is unknown? And on top of that, the site I visited this time was suspected to be a rebel base. After searching, all the kids had disappeared.”
Seokhwa concentrated on her, facing her directly as she rapidly poured out her words.
“Those guys made a bunker-like thing underground, you know? But inside it, like your research lab, there were piles of machines. Moreover, there was a strange tree mark engraved in the center…”
As Seokhwa approached her to get more details, Lee Chaeyoon made a surprised expression.
“Oh! This is a secret.”
She pressed her index finger to her lips and smiled mysteriously.
“Anyway, I was told to burn it all down, so it took a while.”
Seokhwa could hardly take a few spoonfuls, but Lee Chaeyoon had almost finished half her meal while talking. Seokhwa, who often suffered from indigestion if he didn’t chew his food thoroughly, found her stomach incredibly enviable.
“Major.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you give me some of your stomach cells later?”
“What? Then I have to cut open my belly and take him out! Doctor., even if I recover quickly, I’ll die if I do that.”
Lee Chaeyoon responded somewhat seriously amid her playful tone.
“I’d like to ask you a favor for the next health check-up endoscopy.”
Soldiers underwent regular health check-ups once a year. Even that was conducted only in a few places like Yeouido or Gangnam Shelter, so one could only roughly guess how poor the conditions were in other shelters.
“But, Doctor, what’s this oddly-shaped thing?”
She pointed to the stone placed slightly away from the tray. It was taken out of her pocket as it was too heavy to eat with.
“It’s a rock.”
A robust and beautifully colored, naturally occurring treasure. Seokhwa didn’t go beyond saying that.
“Well, who knows. It just looks… Anyway, you know. Doctor, you look really depressed today. Is it because Freak Soohwan is not here?”
Seokhwa quickly sipped the lukewarm soup. Meanwhile, he wondered if Kwak Soohwan and Yang Sanghoon were doing well in Gwacheon. They knew many people, and he was full of energy, so he might not be thinking about Seokhwa at all.
“I’m fine.”
As Seokhwa spoke, his expression remained unchanged.
“Is that rock from Major Kwak Soohwan?”
“How did you know?”
There was no one else besides Kwak Soohwan who would do such a foolish thing.
Nevertheless, her blank face and Seokhwa’s appearance, holding only a spoon, lingered in her mind. That’s why she called Doctor even louder.
“Doctor, trust only me.”
Seokhwa, uncertain of her thoughts, smiled faintly for a rare occasion.
“But, Major.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you happen to know what Major Kwak Soohwan’s obsessive trait is?”
Lee Chaeyoon put the spoon in her mouth, mumbled, “I don’t know,” and widened her eyes as if she had never thought about it before.
“Do you know, Doctor?”
“No…”
Seokhwa quickly resumed his meal. Commander Cha, who had stopped by the dining hall to satisfy his hunger, stood still with the tray in his hand. It wasn’t just because Seokhwa, who had gone at the request of Kwak Soohwan, caught his eye; there was something more captivating. There was no way he could have seen it wrong. It was undoubtedly the stone that Kwak Soohwan had picked up in the Violet Zone.
Why would he bring such a thing, and did he give it to Doctor Seokhwa? Kwak Soohwan was already someone difficult to understand, but this time, he found Seokhwa even more inexplicable. Anyway, Commander Cha would only watch Seokhwa from afar, following Kwak Soohwan’s orders.
***
“You darn guy, because of you, I ended up in this mess. Going to Gangnam just because of a wrong saying following your friend.”
“What’s Gangnam got to do with Gwacheon?”
Sitting in a chair, Kwak Soohwan stretched his legs, propping him up on the desk, and tossed a peanut into his mouth.
If Yeouido Shelter was like a city hall, the current Gwacheon Shelter was at the level of a township office. The soldiers in Gwacheon were curious about the two who came down from Yeouido, wondering why he were demoted.
Having finished eating peanuts, Kwak Soohwan reached out and grabbed a book from the desk. It was brought from Yeouido Shelter, and he had no intention of returning it.
“Tell me honestly.”
Yang Sanghoon jumped onto the opposite side of the desk where Kwak Soohwan’s legs were stretched, just like that.
“You’re just pretending to read the book, right? You haven’t read a single word, have you?”
“Who do you think I am?”
[“Hospital Germs, How Far Can We Conquer?”]
It was actually a field that he wasn’t interested in, but if Seokhwa was saying something, he wanted to find some common ground, even if it meant reading medical books.
Commander Cha said he had been carrying a stone around lately. At first, he thought it might be to reminisce about the memories he had together, but Soohwan concluded that he probably just liked carrying it around.
“How are the others?”
Kwak Soohwan asked, flipping through the middle of the book.
“They seem to improve if trained. The new officers here were all obsessed with the upper ranks, only receiving handouts, and eating like pigs. That’s why the kids end up being more like bullet sponges.”
Just by looking at the level of support that came in earlier, Kwak Soohwan knew.
“Major Kwak, are you going on patrol again tonight?”
“I’ll pass today.”
Except for the shelter, Gwacheon had only a few green zones.
To pass the time and engage in a few days of Adam hunting with Yang Sanghoon, it subtly helped in organizing the zones. Yang Sanghoon, after spinning the cube on the desk a few times, soon lost interest and left the commander’s office.
Kwak Soohwan also closed the book he was reading about hospital germs. He turned on the computer connected to the main server and checked the message that arrived from the second master.
[“It seems that Serpent may be the actual leader of Eden Mountain, and the leader known from the photo is suspected to be a fake. Do not assault the headquarters hastily; there is a possibility of deeper concealment if handled carelessly. I hope you can focus more on tracking Eden Mountain now that you’ve moved to Gwacheon.”]
Gwacheon Shelter also had a main server called Mother, and there was little difference from Yeouido. Kwak Soohwan permanently deleted the secret message and opened the message sent by Commander Cha.
It was a photo of Seokhwa sitting on the rooftop, eating a Choco Bar absentmindedly, and, as Commander Cha had mentioned, there was a stone next to him. It was really hilarious. So, without getting involved in unnecessary rebellious thoughts, Kwak Soohwan advised Seokhwa to listen well.
Kwak Soohwan tapped Seokhwa’s face on the monitor. He looked at it for a while and then switched to the second master’s attached file on Dr.Oh.
[“It seems that the First Master is related to this case. Although my side also has limited information related to it, here is what I found: Dr.Oh’s time of death is certain to be 5 AM. According to those who saw Dr.Oh before burning the body, there were bruises all over, as if he had been tortured, and there were marks on the thighs and chest resembling whip marks. This is all the information I can find that you.”]
Kwak Soohwan pressed permanent delete again. The second master had suffered from polio since childhood and could not freely use his lower body until now. However, since his parents were recognized as Rainbow City supervisors by the Unified Nation, he, as his child, could easily rise to the position of the second master. According to rumors, the First Master’s family was involved in what happened to the Second Master—whether they were poisoned or attempted assassination. Either way, Kwak Soohwan was not interested.
Kwak Soohwan opened Seokhwa’s photo once again. Although there was not a single sexy feature, with a chubby expression, he knew how that face changed in bed. Kwak Soohwan chuckled and got up, putting on his cape. Then he picked up the phone on the desk and connected it to Commander Cha’s office.
[This is Cha Hakhyun.]
“Is Dr.Kim being well monitored too?”
[Yes, based on the investigation results from the Guard Division, there seems to be no contact with the rebels yet, but we will continue to keep an eye on it.]
After ending the call, Kwak Soohwan took the cube in his hand. He skillfully adjusted the messed-up cube that Yang Sanghoon had twisted and placed it back on the desk.
He recalled the man with the white mask that he had faced with Lee Chaeyoon. At least, he was of S-class level.
“That guy is called Serpent.”
Approaching Seokhwa, who was none other than him, seemed suspicious in itself.
***
“Hurry, hurry! Why is Dr.Oh so slow like this?”
Lee Chaeyoon urged Seokhwa, who was preparing his backpack.
Seokhwa carefully packed the necessary water, stones, and snacks into the backpack. Finally, he rolled up a mop and tucked it inside. As he was about to put on the backpack, Lee Chaeyoon came over and snatched it from him.
“Can we really go out like this?”
“It’s okay. Majors and above can go out at night as long as they report it. Dr.Oh, I saw you taking medicine earlier. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Lee Chaeyoon worriedly looked around Seokhwa’s modest room.
“I’m fine. It’s just a supplement for stamina.”
“Do you have such a thing!? Give me some too!”
“There’s no point in giving it to you right now, Major. I’ll give it to you after finishing the clinical trial.”
“Clinical trial? Doctor.. are you pregnant? Don’t tell me that idiot will…!”
“No. I’m not pregnant, and I’m not even a pregnant woman.”
Although there shouldn’t be any confusion between clinical trials and pregnancy… When Seokhwa expressed doubt, she jokingly stuck out her tongue.
Without further delay, Lee Chaeyoon grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and pulled him out. While doing so, she matched her strides to Seokhwa’s, who couldn’t catch up with her steps. Seokhwa lowered his gaze to check the length of his own legs. Even though he was taller, it was ironic that her steps were faster.
Recently, Seokhwa had to report the exact location if he wanted to go out, as he was being monitored even in the Guard Division.
In the underground parking lot, after Lee Chaeyoon reported that she would be visiting the Gwacheon Shelter, Seokhwa added that he would also join. When a soldier asked why Doctor Seokhwa was going, Lee Chaeyoon raised her voice in response, “If you’ve separated lovers, you should let him meet again!”
Only then did Seokhwa realize why she suggested going to Gwacheon. Perhaps she thought he and Kwak Soohwan were in a romantic relationship and wanted to be considerate.
A week had passed, but there was no news from Kwak Soohwan. Even though he were not lovers, Seokhwa wanted to know how he was doing.
With gratitude, Seokhwa got on Lee Chaeyoon’s jeep. As soon as she started the engine, she accelerated vigorously from the parking lot. It didn’t take long for Seokhwa’s face, tightly belted, to turn pale.
Lee Chaeyoon hummed a tune and turned on the radio. There were only about five radio channels, and only one played music. The rest were promotional broadcasts related to Rainbow City or news-like updates.
Although he tuned in to the music channel, the reception wasn’t good. After a few attempts, Lee Chaeyoon soon gave up. This time, Seokhwa started adjusting the radio frequency. He, too, disliked Rainbow City’s promotional broadcasts. He had discovered that the broadcasts sometimes lied. He didn’t have any doubts before, but now he wondered why he had changed so much.
[I don’t know how happy it is to be a citizen of Rainbow City. The only place that will protect us from Adam is Rainbow City!]
While adjusting the frequency, Seokhwa eventually gave up too. The only reason was that only these kinds of broadcasts came in properly.
[A happy city, families filled with love, let’s defeat Adam, our enemy, and find safety and happiness within Rainbow City, woo woo~ lalala lalala.]
The city’s theme song, similar to the Rainbow City song, started playing.
“Doctor, should we just turn off the radio?”
“That’s fine.”
Just as Seokhwa was about to turn off the power:
[Yes, we have just received an urgent breaking news update.]
Both Lee Chaeyoon and Seokhwa were surprised to hear this breaking news. Lee Chaeyoon’s reaction was a bit dramatic, while Seokhwa’s expression was more restrained, almost unsure if it would show.
[This breaking news, we… this… what… how…]
Crack, crunch, and static filled the radio.
“Anyway, this old thing is acting up again,” Lee Chaeyoon said, giving the vehicle’s body a firm punch. Usually, a proper hit would fix it, but this time, only the buzzing noise continued. Trying again with another thump, Seokhwa shrugged his shoulders.
“If the machine doesn’t respond, you have to hit it like this. And if it still doesn’t work, you hit it even more. If it’s completely broken, they will replace it with a new one from above.”
As if intending to completely destroy it, she was about to strike again.
[Hello?]
Seokhwa, who was opening his backpack while feeling thirsty, stopped in his tracks. The voice from the radio sounded strangely familiar.
[Dear citizens of Rainbow City, we have successfully developed the 7th vaccine, the 7th Eve, ahead of Rainbow City.]
Holding a water bottle, Seokhwa felt no sensation. Not understanding what was being said, he focused more on the radio.
[We have started distributing the vaccine nationwide, providing it free of charge. We are the Tree of Life, Eden…]
Static and interference interrupted again. Seokhwa concentrated more on the radio to figure out what was being said.
[…Emergency situation, emergency situation. Inform all external units. Return to your shelters immediately. Repeating, all unit members return to your shelters immediately.]
As soon as the broadcast was cut off, the jeep was filled with repeated messages from the radio, like a parrot.
“Shouldn’t we… ignore it and just go to Gwacheon?”
“Can’t we return to our shelter later?”
Seokhwa shook his head, expressing doubt. The voice from the radio was undoubtedly the intelligent Serpent, and it claimed that Eden Oasis had developed the 7th vaccine. Even though he had recently arrived at Yeouido, and there was no official word yet, if Eden Oasis claimed to have developed the vaccine first, it changed the situation.
Is it a more systematic and larger organization than he thought? Or is it a lie?
“Too noisy. Should we turn off the radio?”
[Hey! Major Lee Chaeyoon! If your radar detects that you’re gradually moving away from Yeouido, return immediately!]
Upon hearing Commander Jang’s shout through the radio, Lee Chaeyoon clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Anyway, he said something about ghosts. We have to go back. Doctor, hold on tight!”
She abruptly hit the brakes and turned the steering wheel more than half a turn. With a screech, the jeep made a U-turn on the empty road, and Seokhwa felt like his internal organs were all about to fly out.
“Doctor, if you feel like throwing up, let me know. Got it?”
“…Sorry.”
Seokhwa covered his mouth with both hands.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“Already…”
The water he had drunk earlier was flowing out of his mouth uncontrollably. It was unexpected due to the sudden U-turn.
Lee Chaeyoon hurriedly reached into the storage compartment attached to the driver’s seat door, handing Seokhwa a whole pack of wet wipes. Seokhwa, without expressing gratitude, meticulously wiped his hands and lips with the wet wipes. Even though the straight path seemed to improve his upset stomach a bit, the engine’s rough sound filled the vehicle.
Lee Chaeyoon worried about the Federation, while Seokhwa stared straight ahead, saying they were okay. Even with the headlights on and running at full speed, the vehicle returning to the Yeouido Shelter seemed to be engulfed by darkness due to its incredible speed.
***
When Adam first appeared, and the world turned upside down, he conducted human experiments against death row inmates. Not only that, but to fix Adam, he deliberately brought in innocent people, infected him, and even conducted experiments that were too horrifying to mention.
Even though the Unified Government knew about it, he turned a blind eye, and the Second Master’s family was the one to expose that secret on a large scale.
They reported events within the city to the Unified Government as supervisors of Rainbow City. The revelation was, in a way, a challenge to the Unified Government, but with such strong public support, it was impossible to casually eliminate the Second Master’s family. After that, a newly amended law was introduced.
[During vaccine development, humans should not be used as experimental subjects.]
Of course, there was fierce opposition. Some argued that in the current situation, where resources were scarce, why not use death row inmates, who were bound to die anyway, as experimental subjects.
At that time, some doctors declared that the Adam virus did not only infect humans, so they would conduct experiments with mice, as before. Of course, there were those who argued that human experiments were essential. In his youth, Wonho, who was now a doctor, had said to the doctor who made that statement, “If you have the courage to experiment directly on your body, continue expressing your opinion.” Those who knew the story considered it a well-known episode.
Back then, the shelters were not organized as they are now, causing not only civilians but also doctors and soldiers to feel a considerable sense of fatigue. They had experienced the sudden onset of division through continuous fighting of conflicting opinions.
Eventually, Rainbow City accepted the opinion of the Second Master family and developed the vaccine through humanitarian means.
All of this happened before Seokhwa was born, but the military officers, who were quite old, had personally experienced these events. Perhaps that was why General Yoon didn’t view the doctors who had grown up comfortably with a favorable eye.
“So, did you get your hands on the vaccine?”
Military officers and doctors were gathered around a ‘U’-shaped table. Seokhwa, called upon to handle the incident as soon as he returned to the shelter, was sitting some distance away from General Yoon, but the confined space made breathing difficult.
“I didn’t ask if you got your hands on it!”
The colonel of the Yeouido Shelter Transportation Division quickly bowed his head toward General Yoon.
“The location where Eden’s Paradise distributes the vaccine is not fixed. I instructed them to bring it as soon as they get it, but currently, it seems that only the Gwacheon Shelter has it in hand. We have received a report that soldiers from the Gwacheon Shelter will join us soon.”
“What about the radio?! How come the voices of those Eden bastards are coming out?!”
The person in charge of the military broadcasting station also began to untangle the mess caused by General Yoon’s uproar.
“We use the medium-wave band, and the broadcast is transmitted on the allocated military frequency. However, during the broadcast, radio interference occurred, and it seems to have been hacked. Moreover, the time of the broadcast being at night makes it difficult for tracking. We face difficulty in tracking because the medium-wave we use has a much longer transmission distance at night than during the day.”
General Yoon looked at the broadcasting official with an expression that said, ‘What on earth are you talking about?’
“So, are you saying you found it, or you didn’t?”
“We will do our best to track the location as quickly as possible.”
As the general’s response was not what General Yoon desired, his already uncomfortable mood worsened.
“Doctor Seokhwa.”
The arrows that had flown in order were now aimed at Seokhwa. General Yoon crumpled his expression in impatience when Seokhwa didn’t immediately respond.
“Doctor Seokhwa?”
Seokhwa, caressing the stone in his pocket, slowly opened his mouth.
“Yes.”
“A rebel, of all things! They claim to have developed the vaccine, but we have no results. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s correct.”
“That’s correct? Is that what the doctor has to say now?”
With a tone urging for some kind of excuse, General Yoon pressured Seokhwa. How could someone like him be a chief researcher? General Yoon muttered to himself, but his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Dr. Seokhwa, you’ve only recently come up from Jeju Island. You only became aware of the 7th variant Adam after coming up, didn’t you?”
“Major General Lee Yeontae, are you the spokesperson for Dr. Seokhwa?”
“No, I’m not. I apologize.”
Seokhwa, who hadn’t seen Lee Yeontae, nodded in gratitude towards him. Arrows had been aimed at him, and he had to fend for himself. Even if he were to faint right here, there was no one to take care of him. Seokhwa gathered himself.
“How can I face the Masters and Advisors in the future, huh? But is the vaccine really effective? They didn’t lie, did they?”
“That, too, can be known only when the soldiers from the Gwacheon Shelter, who have the vaccine in hand, arrive.”
“Whether it’s true or not, Eden’s Paradise has become widely known to our Rainbow City citizens!”
“Who will take responsibility for this situation? Military Broadcasting Station, won’t you take responsibility?”
“We’ve reported several times that our broadcast is vulnerable to hacking. But there was no support at all, was there? This was a situation that had already been foreseen.”
Chaos ensued like never before. A scene of mutual blame and evasion of responsibility unfolded. General Yoon, signaling for it to stop, slammed his desk.
“Dr. Seokhwa, so what if the vaccine is genuine, what are you going to do?”
Seokhwa thought General Yoon’s question was peculiar.
“If that vaccine is real… we need to mass-produce it and put it into commercial use.”
At Woohyun’s response, only Yeontae laughed inwardly.
Bang! General Yoon slammed the table and menacingly glared at Seokhwa. However, Seokhwa wasn’t particularly startled, as he had been watching the commander since earlier. He just looked back at him with a big, weary gaze, devoid of strength.
“Are you saying you’re incompetent now?”
“…That might be the case. If those doctors over there are more capable, then I must be incompetent. Shouldn’t we then join hands with the side that developed the vaccine?”
The murmuring grew louder once again.
“Dr. Seokhwa, do you not understand the current situation? The rebels attacked the Yeouido Shelter, and how many of our soldiers have been infected and died. And you suggest joining hands with those people?”
“I misspoke. If the vaccine arrives… If that vaccine proves effective, then I will consult and refine it further.”
“…”
With his words stuck in his throat, General Yoon resisted the urge to throw the paperweight in front of him at Seokhwa.
“So, are you saying we should just copy what Eden’s Paradise made?”
Seokhwa squeezed the stone in his palm until it hurt. His mouth was dry, and he slowly moistened his throat with water.
“If this vaccine proves effective, then yes, we should. The most important thing is people’s safety.”
“You idiot! Are you out of your mind!?”
General Yoon forcefully stood up.
“I see now, you’re not a chief researcher, you’re just a crazy person!”
His face turned red with anger. There was no longer any respect left for the doctor. The surrounding soldiers couldn’t even restrain the commander, but they sent signals to Seokhwa with expressions, silently indicating that he should say no more. However, Seokhwa believed that regardless of who developed the vaccine, there was now only one thing left. A real core statement as important as the vaccine.
“If the vaccine from Eden’s Paradise proves effective, please support us in developing a cure in the future.”
“What? A cure? Kid, you couldn’t even develop a vaccine, and now you’re talking about a cure!”
This time, the paperweight truly flew. Of course, it wasn’t aimed at Seokhwa but at the hapless Yeontae. Yeontae reflexively dodged the flying paperweight with his face, revealing an expression of surprise. He had to just take it, but the expression on his face betrayed his reluctance.
“I have been researching Adam individuals showing abnormal behavior among the 7th variant Adam mutations.”
After Kwak Soohwan left for Gwacheon, Seokhwa, left alone, had been immersed only in that matter. Otherwise, he found himself touching his body as if to reassure himself and getting lost in reminiscing about the unfamiliar sensations he had experienced that night. Come to think of it, Kwak Soohwan was like a snake to him. He made him eat the apple he shouldn’t have, awakening senses he could have lived without.
Seokhwa wanted to bury his head on the desk under the burdening gazes, but instead, he took another sip of water before beginning a long speech.
“The 7th variant Adam can be divided into two types, other than the commonality of attacking humans like before. One exhibits traits similar to the previous ones, appearing to lack intelligence. The other somewhat speaks or assesses situations and retreats. The analysis of the blood of these two types of Adams revealed…”
Seokhwa took another breath before continuing.
“The virus patterns showed different aspects. It seems we can find hints for a cure there. No, we have already found something.”
Comparing and analyzing the blood of Oh Cheongwoon, who exhibited abnormal behavior, with that of a regular Adam, the latter was much more aggressive, and the movement of cells was irregular. It was no different from the Adam virus they were familiar with. So, they cultured the cells using Oh Cheongwoon’s blood, and there, surprisingly, they witnessed a different pattern than what they had seen so far.
The Adam virus, which had infected healthy cells at a ferocious speed, now moved incredibly slowly, almost as if it had been neutralized. It was as if it showed an immune response. The Adam virus seemed to have mutated once again within Oh Cheongwoon’s body. However, they couldn’t determine exactly what antigen had emerged, or whether Dr. Oh had administered any medication. If they precisely researched that aspect, a cure might be possible.
Seokhwa believed that he needed to present his research data more clearly to them. As he tried to stand up to go to the lab, everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions.
“To prove my hypothesis… I need to visit the lab.”
“Enough! That’s not important now!”
Even though he had been promoted from being referred to as a kid to a person, Seokhwa didn’t care about how General Yoon addressed him. The statement that the cure wasn’t as important resonated much more with him.
At that moment, the door to the military conference room opened, and General Yoon’s aide entered. When the aide whispered something behind the commander, he nodded. Seokhwa stared at the open door while standing. Soon, a man in military boots walked in with a box containing the vaccine strapped to his side. It was Kwak Soohwan.
Seokhwa opened his eyes a little wider. When they mentioned finding the vaccine in the Gwacheon Shelter, he wondered if it might be Kwak Soohwan, and it turned out to be true.
“Gwacheon Shelter White Tiger Unit Commander, Major Kwak Soohwan, has arrived.”
Kwak Soohwan saluted the military officers, but his gaze turned as if looking for someone. As soon as he spotted Seokhwa standing there, he grinned.
Has it been almost a week? Despite seeing photos several times, it was different in person. However, whether intentionally or not, Kwak Soohwan’s complexion resembled a sheet of paper.
Slowly taking his hand out of his pocket, Seokhwa shook hands with Kwak Soohwan, seemingly expressing warmth but doing so with a firm grip. Although he maintained a poker face, Kwak Soohwan reciprocated the gesture with a slight handshake, lowering his saluting arm. It was to prevent other officers from seeing, and due to that, Seokhwa also couldn’t see.
“Is that the vaccine?”
“For now, that’s what we believe.”
Kwak Soohwan placed the box of vaccines in front of General Yoon.
“Dr. Seokhwa, come here and check it out.”
Turning around, Seokhwa approached the table where General Yoon was sitting.
While Kwak Soohwan stood behind the commander, he followed Seokhwa’s path with his eyes. As Seokhwa got closer, Kwak Soohwan’s face became clearer.
He hadn’t lost weight or aged in the past week. Seeing him exactly the same as the day before he left, Seokhwa thought he must have been doing well during that time.
Seokhwa glanced down at the vaccine box. When he opened it, there were ten kits in a set. Surprisingly, the vaccine wasn’t in vials. It was in the form of a pen-type syringe, which could be easily administered by ordinary people.
The vaccines sold in Rainbow City so far were in glass vials, which required a syringe for subcutaneous injection. Children and the elderly found it difficult to administer the vaccine themselves, so they had to visit the hospital annually, and the cost of vaccination was reduced to one-third of the medical fee.
The problem was not the high price of the vaccine, but rather how much it was cutting into medical expenses.
To alleviate this burden, Seokhwa had suggested pre-filled syringes for personal use or the pen-type syringe in front of him, but all proposals were rejected by the higher-ups. Of course, that was before going down to Jeju Island.
However, the fact that a rebel group can develop such a product…
“Dr. Seokhwa?”
Wondering if Seokhwa had opened his eyes and fainted, General Yoon called out to him. Kwak Soohwan also closely observed Seokhwa standing without blinking, but fortunately, there was no sign of fainting.
“I don’t know just by looking.”
That was all Seokhwa said.
“Well, then, don’t just stand there. Check something out.”
Nodding, Seokhwa picked up the vaccine box, and General Yoon swiftly took three vaccines from the kit.
“Major Kwak, where did you get these vaccines?”
General Yoon gave Kwak Soohwan a suspicious look.
Although he had hoped not to see that unlucky fellow for a while after sending him down to Gwacheon, of all people, he had to be the one to discover the vaccine. The resentment was clearly visible. Kwak Soohwan had a premonition that he needed to respond well. He could play a trick to send him further away by getting involved in this matter.
“To put it bluntly, it’s incredible. It’ll take at least 30 minutes. Should I go ahead?”
“Summarize it, kid.”
If you want. Kwak Soohwan raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
“After going down to Gwacheon, I joined the shelter maintenance and participated in the nightly area cleanup and Adam hunting with Major Yang Sanghoon.”
Seokhwa looked at Kwak Soohwan with the vaccine box. It felt strange because it seemed like he got along much better with Yang Sanghoon than I had thought. I think someone mentioned this as a bad omen… Anyway, since it was indeed a bad sign, Seokhwa quickly expressed his thoughts.
“I had some business today, so Major Yang went out first, and I joined him at the racetrack. It’s close to the building with the experimental center, and there was a tip that an Adam was appearing in the vicinity. But, who would’ve thought someone would be carrying that box around? After catching him, unfortunately, he wasn’t a rebel.”
As he spoke, he took the box from Seokhwa’s hand. It wasn’t particularly heavy, so there was no need to do that, and he missed the timing to mention it.
“If he’s not a rebel?”
“He’s a registered Rainbow City citizen on the Mother Server, and he claimed to have come to deliver for money. It was not delivered directly from someone; rather, there was a letter and money left in front of the house. The letter stated that if he delivers it, he will receive more money. I handed him over to the Gwacheon Shelter Guard, so you can check it out.”
General Yoon clenched his fist and pressed his temple with a pained expression. He kept his eyes closed for a long moment, seemingly lost in thought.
“General.”
“What is it, Dr. Seokhwa?”
General Yoon opened his eyes with a blurry gaze.
“May I go to the lab?”
Letting out a sigh, Yoon gestured for him to go with an impatient wave of his hand. When Seokhwa extended his hand again, asking for the vaccine box, Kwak Soohwan leaned it against his side.
“I’ll escort him. Is that okay?”
“Go. The other officers can discuss this situation further.”
Though Kwak Soohwan tried to support Seokhwa, he only nodded. He still had enough strength to walk on his own. Leaving the military conference room, Seokhwa took two crystallized nuts from his pocket. When he offered one to Kwak Soohwan, the latter pressed it against his side.
“I’ll take care of him. Is that alright?”
“Go and check. Let the other officers discuss this situation further.”
As Kwak Soohwan attempted to help Seokhwa, the latter declined with a shake of his head. He still had enough strength to walk on his own. As they left the military conference room, Seokhwa took out two crystallized nuts from his pocket. Offering one to Kwak Soohwan, he spoke.
“Do you want to see me that badly?”
He directly fed the nut to Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa, who had been watching Kwak Soohwan’s thumb and forefinger where they touched his lips, also slowly chewed the nut.
“Yes.”
For a moment, Kwak Soohwan was left speechless. When he tried to approach Seokhwa, the latter mentioned Yang Sanghoon, who was standing in the corridor.
“Major Yang Sanghoon as well.”
Approaching, Kwak Soohwan chuckled darkly, appearing somewhat like a villain saying, “Let’s watch and see.”
“Huh? Did you call me? Dr. Seokhwa, have you been well?”
“Yes. I’ve been well.”
Seokhwa took out another nut from his pocket and offered it to Yang Sanghoon. As Kwak Soohwan approached as if to feed it directly, Seokhwa casually spoke to him.
“If you take it directly, will it be humiliating?”
Yang Sanghoon raised an eyebrow in disbelief and then graciously accepted the nuts with both hands, saying he would appreciate them. Walking alongside the stumbling Seokhwa, the two men positioned themselves on either side of him.
“Doctor, can we confirm if that’s the real vaccine?”
Yang Sanghoon retorted with a tone suggesting, “Is it really?”
“It might be difficult to confirm immediately. It may take about a day.”
“What will happen to us if it’s indeed the real vaccine?”
“Well, it’s a good thing.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Sanghoon nodded as if to say, “Oh, I see.”
“What’s good about it?”
Only Kwak Soohwan, standing in front of the elevator, hinted that things had become complicated.
“Why?”
“If this is real, we’re in trouble too.”
“Why is that?”
“If you’re curious, it’ll cost you a bottle of whiskey.”
If it were Lee Chaeyoon, she would have scolded him and not entertained him further, but Yang Sanghoon was different. Since Dr. Seokhwa said it was good and Kwak Soohwan said it wasn’t, Yang Sanghoon was genuinely curious. He slapped Kwak Soohwan’s extended hand, sealing the deal.
“If Eden distributes the vaccine for free, their religious stature will rise, and citizens will hold resentment towards Rainbow City, which has profited from vaccines and medical expenses. They’ve been charging for something they could’ve given for free.”
Yang Sanghoon blinked rapidly, indicating a need for further explanation.
“So, in reality, what Eden distributed to the citizens is not a vaccine, but a psychological virus threatening Rainbow City.”
It seemed that Lee Chaeyoon’s words were indeed correct. Whenever Kwak Soohwan made such comments, he wanted to shut him up. Yang Sanghoon clicked his tongue, lamenting the loss of a precious bottle of whiskey.
Just then, the elevator arrived, and Seokhwa pressed the button instead.
“Are we going straight to Gwacheon?”
While facing forward, Seokhwa reached deep into his pocket. Kwak Soohwan suddenly leaned his face to the side, and a sweet scent wafted between them.
“Can I go to sleep?”
“Major Kwak, your room still seems unclean.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been there a few times.”
Although he hadn’t entered, seeing that it was unused by others, he didn’t know if he could still use it.
“In my room?”
Seokhwa nodded. Recently, while touching the stone in his pocket, he had absentmindedly walked past Kwak Soohwan’s room. At those times, the memories of that day would come to mind, and his body temperature would rise.
“Dr. Seok, we can’t even use the shelter elevator together. How can you open your room for us?”
“Well, that’s true.”
Normally, his expression was mostly indifferent, but unlike his honest response when he said he missed him, Seokhwa’s reaction seemed a bit awkward.
Kwak Soohwan, wondering if he made him uncomfortable, looked at him with a smile. As usual, Seokhwa’s nose was round, and his lips looked soft. Suddenly, Seokhwa turned his head to face Kwak Soohwan.
“Then, please sleep in my room.”
This was another unexpected consideration. No, it was probably not consideration but a desire to receive his semen.
“Don’t tell me you’ve prepared a cottage again?”
“Are you able to manage it now?”
Behind them, Yang Sanghoon cleared his throat, feeling an unnecessary warmth in his face.
“Major Yang, please sleep as well.”
“What? No, no. We need to go straight to Gwacheon now. It’s a complete emergency. But, Dr. Seok, Major Kwak Soohwan mentioned earlier in the lobby that he was on his way down from Gwacheon. Did something happen?”
They couldn’t ask more details as their faces barely touched in the breeze. But Lee Chaeyoon had clearly said that they were summoned back while heading to Gwacheon with Dr. Seok.
“Why Gwacheon?”
Kwak Soohwan also asked as if he were genuinely curious.
“I was on my way to see Major Kwak Soohwan.”
[Open.]
With eyes that showed a considerable surprise, Seokhwa looked at the elevator. The door opened. Why did you come to see me? Seokhwa entered quickly, leaving the question unanswered.
“I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“Sure. Hurry back.”
Yang Sanghoon said okay and was left alone in the elevator. Kwak Soohwan, now holding the vaccine box with one hand, followed Seokhwa. Without much effort, he could catch up with him just like before, and Seokhwa, with his hands firmly in his pockets, called for him without looking back, heading towards the research building. Even after calling him twice and getting no response, he grabbed his arm from behind. His lifeless hand slid out, and at the same time, something fell from his pocket.
No.
Muttering, Seokhwa, at an unprecedented speed, picked up the stone and carefully examined where it fell. Unbelievably, it was the stone I had given him.
“While I understand that you like it, try not to carry it around where people can see.”
Sweeping away the dust, he casually put the stone back into his pocket.
“I want to.”
There was nothing to say when he refused.
Since it looked ugly, I told him not to carry it around where people could see it. It’s his way of treasuring what I gave him, so I should be happy about it. Anyway, I told Commander Cha to keep an eye on Seokhwa, so there shouldn’t be anything dangerous.
Kwak Soohwan, who would soon be busy, planned to spend the remaining time observing his dull face. As Yang Sanghoon said, Rainbow City was currently in a state of emergency.
“Okay, carry it around as much as you want. Just don’t do anything weird.”
“Give me the vaccine.”
Seokhwa, standing in front of the research building, extended his hand.
“If you were coming to see me in brig, why?”
Kwak Soohwan lifted the vaccine as if it were a hostage. Seokhwa lowered his eyes for a moment and then raised his pupils. Then, he extended his hand towards Kwak Soohwan.
Oh no, this isn’t right. As the hand holding the vaccine was raised further, unexpectedly, the hand on the opposite side was grabbed. Seokhwa brought that hand to his chest.
“Dr. Seok… What are you doing now?”
Kwak Soohwan was standing still, his hand on Seokhwa’s chest, unable to move. Over a thin gown, Seokhwa’s warmth spread to the palm of his hand. Kwak Soohwan looked down and saw Seokhwa’s hand firmly gripping his wrist. There was still a band on his little finger, and unlike the warm body temperature, his hand felt cold.
“Do you really want to receive my sperm? You know that’s impossible in just 10 minutes.”
Thinking it might be right in front of the lab, he opened his mouth after a while.
“…Major Kwak Soohwan, it feels good when you touch it, but when I touch it, I feel nothing.”
It was an excessively honest statement. Kwak Soohwan let out a sigh and looked at the ceiling for a moment, then turned his gaze back to Seokhwa.
“It wasn’t because of that you were coming to Gwacheon, was it?”
“It was complicated.”
Seokhwa’s eyes, which made one feel lustful, were so clear that a sense of guilt could be felt. Nevertheless, Seokhwa was the one who ignited the flame first.
“What’s the difference?”
Kwak Soohwan whispered, lips close. Seokhwa finally took a step back. Then, he firmly pressed his hand against the recognition panel.
[Opening.]
Kwak Soohwan chuckled, expecting that, and extended the vaccine. However, Seokhwa grabbed his uniform sleeve and pulled him. Even though there was no strength in his grip, Kwak Soohwan was dragged into the research lab.
“That’s strange.”
“Yeah, Dr. Seok seems strange.”
Kwak Soohwan put the vaccine on the table in the research lab lobby.
Whether to let him touch his chest or pull him into the lab. In the midst of that, Seokhwa placed his own hand on his chest. He even touched it gently with an absent-minded face, which was surprising.
“The sensation is different.”
Looking directly at Kwak Soohwan, Seokhwa even pinched the area where his nipple was. Since earlier, blood had been rushing to his lower body. It wasn’t Kwak Soohwan who cared about the prepared meal.
As Seokhwa slid his hand onto Kwak Soohwan’s chest, his palm stung as if burned. Surprisingly, Seokhwa pressed his body against him even more. Now, Kwak Soohwan roughly understood why Dr. Seok was acting this way. Experiencing pleasure for the first time, he was exposing himself vulnerable to the unfamiliar and pleasant sensation. As the saying goes, a thief learned late in life might surprise everyone, and Seokhwa was precisely that pair.
Kwak Soohwan slid his hand inside the gown, pressing Seokhwa’s chest more closely. The small and sensitive nipple tingled on his fingertips, adding to the already parched mouth.
Wrapping his arms around Seokhwa’s waist, Kwak Soohwan gently stroked the little finger wrapped in a band. Seokhwa’s half-grown nails were itching, and he shivered as Kwak Soohwan stroked up from the back of his hand, wrapping his wrist, and pulled his waist once more.
Seokhwa also embraced Kwak Soohwan’s body, which was cooler than his own body temperature. Although his power was weak, he tried to envelop the large body as if gripping a stone as he usually did.
“It feels cool, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
This seems like just being treated as a toy…
Kwak Soohwan leaned lightly against Seokhwa’s forehead, adopting an affectionate tone.
“Seokhwa.”
At that call, Seokhwa raised his head. Kwak Soohwan removed his chin from Seokhwa’s forehead and looked into his eyes.
“This can’t happen; our mothers would oppose it.”
He thought he would at least grimace at such nonsense, but Seokhwa’s expression was ambiguous, and his eyes were clear.
“Is this some kind of role-playing? I read a novel where Major Kwak Soohwan was like that.”
Kwak Soohwan smiled subtly with a teasing face. Seokhwa, who had only read medical and scientific books until now, had gained various knowledge.
“Is this a reward for bringing the vaccine? Or a response as a gift for being a good boy.”
What kind of response? Seokhwa made a face as if he didn’t understand, but soon realized.
“Dr. Seok, the reward will be given soon.” He remembered the words he had said while giving the stone. However, due to the rush to Gwacheon, there was no chance for such a thing to happen.
“Shall I pay you?”
“I told you I have a lot of money.”
“So?”
Kwak Soohwan glanced at the wall clock in the lab and then looked down at Seokhwa again.
“We have 5 minutes left.”
Kwak Soohwan pushed Seokhwa, who was wrapped around him, toward the wall.
“Shall we spend this time kissing?”
Even if it was Seokhwa, I expected him to refuse a kiss. I thought he would ask for sperm rather than a kiss, considering that we were not on such terms. However, Seokhwa slightly opened his mouth. It seemed he remembered being told to open his mouth when they first kissed.
Back then, he was biting down as if zipping up…
Kwak Soohwan wondered how to handle Dr. Seok, who was weak to such pleasure. Of course, his patience also had its limits. Kwak Soohwan deeply pressed Seokhwa’s lips from top to bottom.
The inside of Seokhwa’s mouth, touched by the tongue with hot breath, became moist. Even the pressed Seokhwa barely exhaled and held back again. The squishy sound echoed in the ears.
Seokhwa leaned his whole body on Kwak Soohwan without realizing that his hand was digging into his shirt. The lower lip was slightly nibbled, and the fast tongue was chewed well. The pleasure, not pain, tingled from fingertips to toes. As felt before, Kwak Soohwan seemed to enjoy nibbling. He chewed on Seokhwa’s lips, even gripping the shirt.
“Haah, the bruise is gone.”
The marks bitten and chewed all over the neck and upper body had disappeared within a week.
Kwak Soohwan unbuttoned Seokhwa’s shirt and sucked on the smooth collarbone, biting hard. Seokhwa’s toes stood erect. Unconsciously, Seokhwa pressed his body even more against him. As he came up again, Kwak Soohwan locked lips with him. The place where saliva had passed gave a cool and tingling sensation.
“Like a patch…”
Treating it like a patch instead of a stone, Kwak Soohwan laughed as if surprised, pressing his body hard.
“I’ll make it cooler. Open your mouth wider.”
When Seokhwa turned his face away to breathe, Kwak Soohwan followed him diligently, stealing his breath.
Kwak Soohwan, feeling unsatisfied with just a kiss, kept sliding his hands all over Seokhwa’s body. The shirt was completely undone, revealing Seokhwa’s chest.
His body, which even made appetite disappear, was no longer tolerable. Damn it, Kwak Soohwan crossed his arms under Seokhwa’s buttocks, lifting him up forcefully. The small nipples were right in front of his nose. After biting fiercely, Seokhwa’s hair tangled with his hand.
“Ugh!”
Thinking it might have been too rough, Kwak Soohwan released his mouth, revealing one side of the chest reddened intensely.
“Did it hurt?”
“A little… but it feels cool.”
As he gently pressed with his tongue, Seokhwa’s tense body gradually relaxed. It was time to grab his buttocks.
[Hey! Aren’t you coming? It’s been more than 20 minutes.]
A walkie-talkie rang from Kwak Soohwan’s uniform.
Tch, he looked at the other side of Seokhwa’s chest that he had brushed with his tongue, then lowered him to the ground. Thanks to Yang Sang-hoon, he quickly regained his senses. Should I consider this fortunate? Kwak Soohwan, suppressing his excitement, made Seokhwa lift his arms onto his shoulders. Using hands strained from holding back, he meticulously buttoned up the shirt. He smiled at Seokhwa, whose face turned red with a vacant expression.
“The role-play ends here. I’ll go now.”
Brushing Seokhwa’s hair leaning against the wall, he turned around. Seokhwa unconsciously tried to grab his sleeve, but he had no strength left.
As Kwak Soohwan walked towards the door, he suddenly turned around to look at Seokhwa.
“If I force myself again…”
Seokhwa, still dazed by the aftermath of the kiss, didn’t understand what he was saying.
“Just hit me with that damn stone.”
Although it felt like his body was floating all this time, now he finally felt the weight of the pocket.
Kwak Soohwan had never forced himself on Seokhwa… if anything, it seemed like I was the one who forced myself onto him.
[“Why aren’t you coming? I’m fed up! Hurry back now!”]
Kwak Soohwan replied brusquely with the walkie-talkie.
“I’m leaving now, you little brat.”
The announcement from the Mother’s voice was almost simultaneous. Since he had shaken hands and left, there was no chance to ask when he would come again. However, Seokhwa was sure that Kwak Soohwan’s touch was incredibly pleasant.
***
“Don’t even look up. Every time I see your face, I lose my energy, and it’s annoying.”
Seokhwa looked at the guy who had been hurling insults at him while holding a stone in one hand.
He was a classmate from the same S-class at the learning center, and he always picked a fight with Seokhwa. There was no reason to offend him, and Seokhwa had no memory of causing any trouble.
“Planning to hit me with that stone? Go ahead and try. I’ll tell my dad about you, and you won’t get away with it. Do you know who my dad is? He’s a colonel in the Rainbow City Army!”
Seokhwa, who had never thought about it, looked down at the stone he was holding. This was not something like a weapon.
“Don’t hit me.”
“Why? Scared because I’ll tell my dad? It’s totally unlucky to take the S-class class with a beggar like you.”
Ignoring the guy, Seokhwa started walking down the corridor.
“A beggar with no dad! Your mom is a parasite, and you’re a parasite too! Do you know that people know about parasites born on Jeju Island?”
He stopped abruptly at those words. Seokhwa looked down at the stone he was holding. It wasn’t like a weapon.
“…Not gonna hit.”
“Why, scared because I said I’d tell my dad? You’re a beggar parasite! People know that parasites born on Jeju Island are parasites!”
Seokhwa ignored the guy and started walking down the hallway again.
“The parasites are extinct. So, people developed many autoimmune diseases.”
Speak properly, Seokhwa thought to himself. Without saying those words, he started walking again. Since he was recommended for the S-class from the beginning, there were no friendly peers. Despite receiving compliments from adults, including teachers, for his intelligence and good looks, it was only temporary. He didn’t smile or react much, and people eventually stopped paying attention.
Seokhwa also knew that he was annoying and troublesome. Fortunately, he was lucky to be born on Jeju Island, but he couldn’t fully enjoy what to eat and wear. He had eaten porridge made from leftover rice in the morning, and lunch was taken care of at the learning center’s cafeteria.
Originally, Seokhwa’s stomach was not capable of digesting a large amount of food at once. Instead, he would transfer durable foods like bread or nuts into a side dish container and eat them whenever he pleased. However, after witnessing this, the guy teased him as a beggar.
Actually, Seokhwa didn’t care what anyone said. When he went home, he had a loving mother, and he had grown up receiving plenty of love from his deceased grandparents. When the class was over, Seokhwa would often collect stones on the beach. This time alone, undisturbed by anyone, was the happiest for him. Although people complained about the difficulty due to Adam outside, Jeju Island was always pristine. Of course, Seokhwa didn’t think he could live here forever. Since he solved the issue of consciousness in Rainbow City, it was natural that he had to pay the price, as he had learned in the learning center.
Every day, for two hours, students had to listen to educational broadcasts conducted by Mother’s voice.
They repeated how great Rainbow City was and how happy the people affiliated with Rainbow City were. They also showed people dying without protection and affiliated citizens, emphasizing that they should never be tainted by rebel ideologies through daily indoctrination.
Children quickly developed pride in Rainbow City. Brainwashed with the idea that personal sacrifice is nothing to maintain this excellent system and that they could sacrifice themselves as well. However, whether it was because of his mother’s influence, Seokhwa was not easily swayed by ideological indoctrination.
Moreover, the repetitive videos became boring, and whenever that time came, he thought about something else. Of course, teachers were watching, so his eyes were on the screen. Since he was often absent-minded, there were no consequences for watching the video blankly.
[Happy city, homes overflowing with love, Adam is our enemy, defeat the rebels, safety and happiness within Rainbow City, woo woo lalala lalala.]
Seokhwa furrowed his brows at the song playing on the radio he had turned on. He had been absentmindedly watching the experimental mice, but he snapped out of it when the song played. He was waiting for the results of the vaccine that Eden Garden had developed and genetically modified into the gene machine.
“About 12 hours have passed since this guy was injected, right?”
Dr. Kim had injected a portion of the vaccine that Eden Garden had distributed into the experimental mice. The mouse that received the injection had been roaming around the case as if nothing had happened. Even if Eden Garden had distributed the vaccine, there probably wouldn’t be anyone who had directly injected themselves. Since they didn’t know what the results would be, they wouldn’t inject themselves hastily.
“I heard that the Eden Garden guys who spread this also randomly displayed videos in each region.”
Seokhwa finally showed interest in Dr. Kim’s words.
“Videos?”
“Yes. They said it was a video of directly receiving the vaccine and injecting Adam’s blood. He wore a white mask and was called Serpent… or Lana? Anyway, he holds a high position in Eden Garden. He personally received the vaccine and injected Adam’s blood, but there was no mutation. Well, that could also be fake. Even if you see that, people won’t easily administer the vaccine to themselves.”
“Dr. Kim.”
“Yes?”
“Dr. Kim, you seem to be very fast with information.”
Dr. Kim gave a surprised look. Seokhwa’s way of speaking, delivering messages sharply and with substance, was something he hadn’t seen much.
“Oh, really?”
He brushed his neck as if he were being impressive.
“Dr. Kim shot Dr. O Yang-seok with a rumor… that Major Kwak Soohwan did it. Why did you do that?”
For some reason, Dr. Kim didn’t like Kwak Soohwan. There was no reason for him to be so dismissive.
“I didn’t spread that rumor… Since you say it so bluntly, it’s a bit unsettling for me too.”
Seokhwa had suspicions about Dr. Kim that he couldn’t express while facing him.
“Dr. Kim, I also know why the boy turned into Adam. It’s because of Adam’s blood. But how did the boy get his hands on it?”
Seokhwa wanted to approach the essence of the incident, wanting to go beyond the advice not to show any interest.
“Surely… you’re not suspecting me, right? Even if you have thoughts about pushing me into the Presidential Security Service or something, it seems a bit insulting, doesn’t it? I’ve already been investigated without any problems. Aren’t Lieutenant Yang Sang-hoon or Major Kwak Soohwan more suspicious? They brought that boy. Isn’t it true that he was demoted to Gwacheon? Even the soldiers who brought the vaccine this time are said to be those two.”
There was no way to refute Dr. Kim’s words because they were true. However, it didn’t seem likely that Yang Sang-hoon or Kwak Soohwan, who had completed the search, would hand over blood to the boy. So, Seokhwa became more suspicious of Dr. Kim. Perhaps there was someone from an entirely different shelter that he didn’t know about.
“I did have some suspicions about Dr. Kim. I’m sorry.”
Seokhwa apologized cleanly, and Dr. Kim let out a hesitant, awkward laugh.
“It’s disappointing. Even though we’ve spent more time together, how can you give your heart more to Major Kwak Soohwan or Lieutenant Yang Sang-hoon? Both of them are from outside Rainbow City. They weren’t originally our citizens. So, don’t trust them too much. If you’re thinking about getting in line, Lieutenant Lee Chae-yoon would be better. His family is wealthy, and he comes from a recognized prestigious family in Rainbow City, isn’t he?”
The news that Kwak Soohwan and Yang Sang-hoon came from outside Rainbow City was new to Seokhwa. Kwak Soohwan said he volunteered for the military to get food, but there was no mention of him not being a citizen of this place.
“Shall we proceed since the time is getting late?”
Dr. Kim lifted the case containing three mice that received the vaccine. The location he pointed to was a Biosafety Level 3 research lab set up inside a regular research lab.
“Yes, let’s go.”
There, the 7th Generation Adam’s blood was stored, and Dr. Kim and Seokhwa, wearing protective gear for prevention and preparedness against infection, changed into the safety suits. It took about 30 minutes for the preparation time to pass before they could administer the 7th Generation Adam’s blood to the three mice kept in storage.
The entire experimental scene was being filmed by Mother. Naturally, Seokhwa and Dr. Kim began to closely monitor the mice’s conditions. Click, chirp, click. Suddenly, one of them opened its mouth wide and began to cry out, showing a striking resemblance to the state just before transforming into Adam. Then, the other two mice also trembled, making crying sounds.
“Was this really a lie? If there were people who got the injection, it would be a big problem.”
Dr. Kim’s voice, muffled by the protective suit, sounded distant. However, Seokhwa continued to watch the mice. Even though there should have been time left after the transformation, the mice’s immune systems were fighting the virus as if they were resisting it.
Not long after, an exclamation burst out from Dr. Kim. The one who first cried out was now perfectly moving around the case. Similarly, the other two gradually returned to normal.
Seokhwa couldn’t believe it. Perhaps it really was a perfect vaccine.
Seokhwa and Dr. Kim exchanged glances and quickly collected the blood from the three mice. They dropped it onto the Adam virus blood test kit developed by Rainbow City, and the result was.
“It’s negative.”
Dr. Kim provided the answer.
***
Bison, married, Tigris, and Euphrates. These four were the known signers of Eden’s Garden outside.
Information about Serpent was scarce, spreading only through rumors. Even though the guy had worn a mask, revealing his appearance, the only information available about Eden’s Garden was that they would engage in some sort of demonstration of power in the future. If the guy Lee Chae-yoon had encountered that day was truly Serpent, he would be at least S-Class level, and the ones he commanded would be at least A-Class.
Having rebels with that level of power aside from the city’s soldiers was a tremendous threat. Seokhwa somewhat understood why Second Master was continuously investigating Eden’s Garden with caution.
However, how did Second Master foresee that Eden’s Garden would become a threatening existence?
That was one of the questions lingering in Kwak Soohwan’s mind.
“Kraaack! Cock!”
Kwak Soohwan smashed the head of an Adam that rushed at him against the wall. Descending the stairs, he aimed his gun at the guys coming up one by one, shouting to the guards supporting from behind.
“Don’t enter until it’s cleared!”
Because the stairs were narrow, it would only be a hindrance if allies got entangled. They seemed to be guys who had recently transformed, but most of them were wearing the military insignia of Rainbow City.
“Lieutenant Cha, throw the gun.”
Following behind, Lieutenant Cha quickly threw the gun, and Kwak Soohwan went down the stairs without any obstruction. When he turned the corner and flashed the inside, it happened.
Crunch! In the flash of light, Adams, their faces covered in blood, were growling and rushing at him. It was a waste of bullets, so Kwak Soohwan tore off the glove with his hand and ripped off their jaws. Stepping on the fallen guy’s head, he shot wind holes in the foreheads of those running from behind, silencing the noisy Adams.
Kraaaack, the strange sound from the last guy’s thigh echoed. As soon as Kwak Soohwan shot the thigh of the last guy making weird noises, the one whose bones were shattered collapsed to the ground. Meanwhile, one of them tried to crawl towards him. Cutting the military tag hanging outside the sagging shirt, he cut off the back of the head to cut off the air.
“Clear. Enter.”
Kwak Soohwan turned the radio back inside his uniform. Five guards waiting on the stairs quickly joined him. The stench of blood and decaying flesh was even more pungent in confined spaces, but now the smell of blood was stronger than the decaying corpse odor.
The guard members were familiar with this smell, but the repulsion was still unavoidable. They relied on the belief that the sense of smell would quickly dull with fatigue.
“Turn on the light.”
At his words, one of the guard members placed a military-grade night-hiking flashlight in the center. With an Adam’s corpse beside him, the eerie face with a hole in the back of the head was clearly reflected in the light. Kwak Soohwan kicked the corpse and slowly inspected the underground bunker.
As expected, it was the place where the 7th vaccine and the 7th Eve were created.
“Get everything you need and take it to the 21st Violet Guard Battalion.”
Roger. Guards with their military gear looked around carefully. They were told to recover whatever they needed, but Eden’s Garden had already taken almost everything when abandoning this bunker. All that was left were desks, miscellaneous tools, and Adams left as bait for them – all comprised of Rainbow City’s soldiers.
Whether they were kidnapped for human experiments or an attempt to persuade them, Seokhwa didn’t know. However, it seemed like they had been transformed for at least about three days.
Rainbow City citizens had a chip called the “necklace” embedded in their bodies, but it was rarely used. In Seokhwa’s case, the GPS control tower had been opened because he was a senior researcher, and if regular soldiers had disappeared, they must have died fighting Adams. These guys were real bullet sponges. Kwak Soohwan rolled the dog tags in his hand.
On the central wall of the bunker, a tree with abundant leaves and numerous branches was drawn.
The Tree of Life. It was the mark representing Eden’s Garden.
“It seems like they cleared up before distributing the vaccine.”
Lieutenant Cha approached and cautiously conveyed his thoughts.
To conduct vaccine research, a sufficient space was needed, and the route to obtain necessary items had to be uncomplicated. Therefore, it was unlikely to be in a mountainous region. Moreover, it wouldn’t be far from the designated Rainbow City area. The investigation results from the locations Kwak Soohwan instructed to check revealed traces of Eden’s Garden in an underground bunker in Uijeongbu. The upper part, which was set on fire by Lee Chae-yoon, seemed to be a place they had passed through before coming down to Uijeongbu.
“Collect the military tags from the dead guys’ necks and hand them over to the bereaved families. Tell them they fought for Rainbow City and died honorably.”
Kwak Soohwan handed over the dog tags he was holding to Lieutenant Cha.
“I will take responsibility for delivering them.”
“I’ll go first. Clean up quickly and go up to Yeouido.”
“Yes, please proceed.”
Lieutenant Cha and the other guards maintained a salute until Kwak Soohwan disappeared. As he climbed the stairs, he took off his gloves, tossed them to the ground, and lit a cigarette. Seeing those strangely-shaped guys made everything aesthetic seem ruined. Seokhwa’s blank face suddenly came to mind, and unknowingly, I blew out a long puff of cigarette smoke.
I wonder what Dr. Seok Park, with his poor gas mileage, is doing right now. The last report he received was this morning. He had gathered the Violet Guard Battalion under his command this afternoon. The photos received this morning through Lieutenant Cha showed him drinking alcohol with a very serious expression on his face.
Commander Yoon in Yeouido Shelter was causing a commotion, almost as much as Serpent. Since Yoon could overturn Seokhwa’s rebel ideology if he set his mind to it, Kwak Soohwan had no choice but to keep an eye on him for a while. That’s what he thought, but he found himself looking forward to some interesting photos every day, along with some unnecessary expectations.
[This is the Gwacheon Shelter. Please respond.]
The radio in Kwak Soohwan’s jeep buzzed. He casually walked while lighting his cigarette and listened to the radio.
[Major Kwak Soohwan, this is the Gwacheon Shelter.]
“Speak. What’s going on?”
[Major Kwak Soohwan, a visitor has come to see you at the Gwacheon Shelter.]
Gwacheon Shelter? Kwak Soohwan brought his lips close to the radio.
“Who is it?”
With static noise mixing in, a clear voice was heard in the opposite direction.
[…It’s me. Major Kwak Soohwan.]
It was Seokhwa.
As Kwak Soohwan drove the Jeep from Uijeongbu back to Gwacheon, he had to avoid running over several Adam troops rushing towards him. Somehow, the number seemed higher than usual, and each of them was dressed in military attire. In this area, there was no doubt that the Eden Sanctuary folks had committed some mischief against the soldiers. However, he didn’t hear why Seokhwa had come down to Gwacheon. Surely it wasn’t because he wanted to see him. Even his voice wasn’t cheerful.
“Well, when were you ever cheerful?”
Kwak Soohwan opened the window and expelled the remaining cigarette smoke from his body. He intentionally tuned in to Rainbow City’s broadcast on the radio.
Occasionally, random broadcasts containing Rainbow City’s instructions would come out, so whenever he got in the Jeep, he would usually leave the radio on. The thrill of deciphering the random broadcasts containing the First Masters’ nonsense was also enjoyable.
[The emerging cult Eden Sanctuary is attempting to shake the peaceful Rainbow City. They committed cybercrimes by hacking our frequency and are misleading people with an uncertain vaccine.]
Although it was called an emerging cult, the actual creation of the Eden Sanctuary had been quite a while ago. It was only recently that they had grown significantly. The more chaotic and difficult the world became, the more power cults tended to exert. In that sense, if Eden Sanctuary successfully established itself, there would likely be so many believers that handling Rainbow City would become difficult.
[Our wonderful citizens, please pay attention. Just now, simultaneous results have been reported from the Rainbow City shelters in Yeouido, Gangnam, and Gangbuk. After investigating the vaccine distributed by Eden Sanctuary, it has been revealed that it is entirely ineffective!]
Since he had the window open, the wind was noisy, so he turned up the volume.
[As it contains ingredients that can induce side effects, citizens must never, never administer the vaccine distributed by Eden Sanctuary. The military is being deployed to retrieve the fake vaccine Eden Sanctuary has spread. A reward will be given to citizens who personally bring in the fake vaccine to Rainbow City. Wise citizens should not be deceived by fake vaccines and false stories. The only fence to protect our righteous citizens is Rainbow City.]
Kwak Soohwan let out a low chuckle.
He had no way of knowing if the vaccine was real or fake. However, seeing them repeating the same words like parrots, considering the nature of Rainbow City that he had seen so far, the likelihood that the vaccine was real seemed high.
The Masters are in deep trouble.
Kwak Soohwan hesitated to take out a cigarette but realized that he was nearing the Gwacheon Shelter, so he gave up the idea. It wouldn’t be good if the already weak Dr. Seok complained of lung pain. Kwak Soohwan had observed various mutations and their peculiar characteristics, but Seokhwa’s obsession with stones was a first.
In reality, collecting or carrying stones wasn’t a trait that needed to be controlled. It didn’t cause harm to others, so it seemed uniquely characteristic of Seokhwa. If Seokhwa’s obsession had been a sexual one, it could have been a big problem.
Before entering the parking lot of the Gwacheon Shelter, Kwak Soohwan had his identity confirmed. Several Jeeps seemed to be leaving the Gwacheon Shelter, likely on their way to retrieve the vaccine.
He parked his car in a ground parking lot different from the Yeouido Shelter and got out of the Jeep. Even though winter seemed distant, white breaths still lingered. Still, winter was preferable to humid summer. In summer, the Adam virus, along with various other diseases, spread rampantly, and the stench of decaying Adam was also unbearable.
Kwak Soohwan entered the decontamination center and saw his reflection in the mirror. After taking off the uniform stained with Adam’s blood, he became completely naked and faced himself in the mirror, becoming a living fossil. When meeting Dr. Seokhwa, he had to be presentable. He showered off the blood splattered on his face and washed his body with soap known for its high antibacterial properties. He stepped outside, letting his body air-dry, and roughly set his hair with his hands.
After entering the shelter, he chose comfortable clothes from the uniforms and casual wear provided by the shelter staff and tucked the military ID tag into his shirt. After finishing the blood test, he realized that two hours had passed since Seokhwa had called on the radio.
He wasn’t even aware that his pace had quickened. From the underground decontamination center to the lobby, he ran up the stairs and, after opening the emergency exit door, put his hands in his pockets.
“Dr. Seokhwa is here to see me.”
Kwak Soohwan suddenly asked the soldier guarding the shelter lobby.
“Yes, he’s been waiting for you.”
Kwak Soohwan took a look around.
“Hey, wacko! Where have you been and why are you only coming now?”
A sharp voice was heard, and when he turned to look, Lee Chaeyoon was running towards him, throwing off her cape. And beyond her, Seokhwa, sitting on a long guest chair, came into view. The bulky backpack he had seen before was placed next to him, and in between, an eggshell on a tissue revealed that he might have eaten an egg.
Seokhwa’s large eyes met his, and for some reason, he seemed to have more vitality than usual.
“Unlucky. Don’t make eye contact with me like that.”
Lee Chaeyoon made a vomiting gesture.
“When looking at a person, look into their eyes. Where else would you look?”
Seokhwa slowly got up from his seat, wrapping the tissue with the eggshell around it. Kwak Soohwan approached Seokhwa faster than walking this way.
“Hey, did the doctor tell me to go to Gwacheon?”
Lee Chaeyoon was also walking close by.
“He did it before.”
“No, I suggested it last time. Today, the doctor mentioned it.”
What? Was it this Major who suggested going before? Well, whatever.
Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa and smiled slightly.
“Did you come to see me?”
“Where did you go?”
Seokhwa’s voice seemed noticeably weaker than usual. Sensing something unusual, Kwak Soohwan took his hand out of his pocket and handed a banknote to Lee Chaeyoon.
“Hey, Major, there’s a snack bar on the third floor. Go get some snacks.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Why not just ask me to move?”
“Did you notice that?”
Lee Chaeyoon raised her middle finger, made a vomiting motion, and then shook her hand towards Seokhwa as if to say, “We’ll see later.”
Seokhwa nodded slightly as Lee Chaeyoon walked towards the third floor. Watching her back, Kwak Soohwan first lifted Seokhwa’s backpack. It felt heavier than expected, considering what he might have put in there.
“I want to talk where there are no people.”
He felt like he was about to say something serious.
Choosing the outside rather than the shelter interior where the surveillance cameras were active, Kwak Soohwan took his hand out of his pocket, and handed a banknote to Lee Chaeyoon.
Kwak Soohwan held Seokhwa’s wrist after putting the backpack on one shoulder. Let’s go. As they walked, Seokhwa began to move his steps as well.
The two walked out of the building into a garden with benches. There were no soldiers taking a stroll at this time, so the only people around were the two of them. Kwak Soohwan was wearing a thin shirt and slacks, but he didn’t feel much of the cold. Seokhwa also seemed to find relief in the cool air, and his breathing, which had felt stifled, seemed to open up a bit.
“Dr. Seokhwa, you’re quite persistent, aren’t you?”
After they sat side by side on the bench, Kwak Soohwan initiated the conversation.
“Did you come all the way here to get some sperm?”
Seokhwa turned his body swiftly toward Kwak Soohwan. Due to the wind bringing his body closer, Kwak Soohwan was almost under the impression that Seokhwa’s body had heated up for real. However, a white and listless breath seemed to emanate from Seokhwa. Even a chill could be felt in his pale face.
“The vaccine is real, but they announced it as fake.”
As Kwak Soohwan rested his tightly clenched fist on his thigh, a sound of crumpled eggshells on the tissue was heard. Kwak Soohwan unfolded Seokhwa’s hand, searching for any remnants of the eggshell, but found none. Instead, he took the tissue, rolled it up, and threw it far away.
“So what?”
Kwak Soohwan asked with a smile, as if to say, ‘What’s the problem?’ Seokhwa slightly opened his mouth, and his eyes, filled with embarrassment, met Kwak Soohwan’s gaze. Despite his expressionless face, Seokhwa’s emotions were readable from a certain point. While other areas remained unclear, his eyes were filled with emotion. Kwak Soohwan didn’t avoid those dark eyes.
“Moreover, they already announced it as fake. If Rainbow City says it’s fake, then it’s fake.”
“Even if it’s real?”
“I heard on the radio that the test results from each shelter showed it had no effect.”
“No. It hasn’t been administered to people yet, but it was effective on mice.”
Seokhwa reached out to the backpack that Kwak Soohwan was carrying on one side. When he did that, Kwak Soohwan tilted his head and clenched his fist.
“Is that why you came to see me?”
He said it with indifference and coldness. Seokhwa was at a loss for words.
“Because they announced the real vaccine as fake? As I mentioned before, Dr. Seok, I need you to focus on research rather than thinking differently.”
He took a long breath, and it felt like moisture gathered on his eyelids.
“And if the vaccine is real, you can announce that it was made by Rainbow City by identifying the ingredients.”
For a moment, he was on the verge of confusion. He was a soldier of Rainbow City.
Maybe he thought he would sympathize with him since he wasn’t originally a citizen here.
Seokhwa became even more confused about why he came to Gwacheon. When he reported to General Yoon that the vaccine was effective, he suggested announcing it as fake for the stability of Rainbow City. And the subsequent words were similar to Kwak Soohwan’s. If they mass-produce it, it’ll be fine.
“Why do you lie?”
“Research and politics are separate, and lies are necessary in politics.”
“Then isn’t Eden Hill better? At least there,”
“Dr. Seokhwa.”
Kwak Soohwan lightly grabbed Seokhwa’s shoulder with one hand.
“Just until a little while ago, I visited the underground bunker where Eden Hill guys were developing the vaccine. But there were quite a few Adams there. And all those Adams were our soldiers. Do you think that’s a coincidence? Eden Hill guys kidnapped our soldiers, conducted experiments, and turned them into Adams.”
“…”
“Go back to Yeouido. And I’ll catch the culprit and bring him in front of Dr. Seok. So let’s stop thinking about anything else now.”
Seokhwa bowed his head and looked at the ground. Without expressing affirmation or denial, he remained silent for a moment, then soon reached out his hand. Kwak Soohwan took the backpack he was wearing, putting his arms through the straps and securing it on his back.
“I’ll go.”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
Kwak Soohwan raised his hand into the loop of the backpack.
“Major Kwak, isn’t all of this… strange to you?”
His face was as cold as an ice sheet, but inside Seokhwa, it felt like magma was boiling. He couldn’t accept it at all.
“If it feels strange, so be it. You have a bed to sleep on, meals on time, and water to drink and use as you please. I understand that Dr. Seok may have doubts. But sometimes, it’s best to accept and live with it. Dr. Seok, who grew up as an elite, may miss exciting and thrilling adventures,”
“I’ll go.”
Seokhwa forcibly removed the backpack loop held by Kwak Soohwan.
“I’ll take you there.”
“I’ll go with this Major.”
Holding the straps of the backpack tightly in his hands, Seokhwa began to walk towards the building. Kwak Soohwan started to follow Seokhwa but stopped in his tracks, raising his voice without moving.
“Stop thinking about it before I hand it over to the royal guard myself.”
Seokhwa’s hand, turning slowly, showed signs of trembling.
“This is my final advice.”
Seokhwa seemed to be shocked, perhaps.
***
At the same time, on Jeju Island, Udo.
Ziing, ziing, the electric wheelchair moved in the hands of a man holding the directional keys.
As the wheelchair moved closer to the glass window of the living room, a steep cliff on the opposite side became visible. The mansion, harmonizing with the serene scenery, had neither iron bars nor safety devices prepared for Adam’s attacks. Only the sound of waves, heard day and night, blended naturally into the air, becoming a part of everyday life.
“A video has arrived from Mother.”
The man only stared out into the pitch-black outside, ignoring the voice of the butler.
“Aren’t you tired and bored?”
In response to the owner’s question, the butler approached with the wheelchair. The butler held the handle of the wheelchair and adjusted the direction.
“No way. Is there any place safer and more leisurely than this?”
“I don’t think so. I’m tempted to throw everything away.”
“If Master says so,”
“It’s just a joke anyway.”
The second master patted the hand of the butler holding the handle. Without saying anything more, the butler silently pulled the wheelchair to the master’s office. The locked office could only be opened and closed by the second master. He raised his hand, and the fingerprint was recognized on the pad.
“I’ll move alone from here.”
“Yes, I’ll wait outside.”
The master controlled the directional keys again and entered the office through the corridor.
In the center of the office was a desk, the left side adorned with a bookshelf filled with books, and the remaining wall displayed a glass board with information about Eden Hill and research. Since he was in a wheelchair, the glass was clean from a certain height and above.
“Mother, grant access to the Second Master of Rainbow City.”
The Master who connected to the main computer spoke.
[Voice recognition for Second Master completed. Opening all Mother servers. Welcome, Master.]
The Second Master, the one who integrated AI functions into the current Mother built in each shelter, was a scholar, a politician, and also the Master of Rainbow City. The Master silently watched the Mother’s broadcast transmitted from the Gwacheon shelter. After a brief conversation with Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa in the lobby, they disappeared somewhere, avoiding surveillance cameras.
While waiting for their reappearance, the Master rolled the round manor stone on the desk. The blueish quartz mineral, resembling the brain’s neural patterns, was called a manor. The subtle, undulating manor, seemingly capturing the color of the Jeju Sea, was one of the minerals the Master cherished.
Seokhwa entered the lobby, glanced around, and soon headed somewhere. Later, Lee Chaeyoon joined, followed by Kwak Soohwan, who approached them. The scene captured their backs as they headed towards the above-ground parking lot.
The reason Seokhwa sought out Kwak Soohwan could only be speculated. Perhaps it was because of the vaccine offered by Eden Paradise. But what was puzzling was that the Seokhwa he knew was not such an active person.
What could have triggered Seokhwa? Was it the death of Dr.Oh, or was it the impact of the kidnapping incident?
The Master cleared unnecessary thoughts and spoke again.
“Mother, has Serpent’s location been confirmed?”
[Loading. Serpent’s location is unknown. Appearance and age are not certain, and only voice data of Serpent is registered on the server. Tracking is in progress based on voice data.]
“Is there a possibility of using a voice modulation program?”
[Possibility is sufficient. Analysis of Serpent’s voice print shows that the voice separates when pronouncing harsh consonants, making it inaudible to the human auditory range.]
“Understood. Close the server.”
[Closing the opened server. Have a restful night, Master.]
Tap, tap. The Master, who had been tapping the desk with the manor, wiped his face as if tired. Following Wonho, even Dr.Oh had died. The symptoms were always there, just as usual.
The Mother’s surveillance cameras could be stopped, and the First Master could edit as well.
“What exactly were you thinking?”
The Second Master couldn’t roam freely like the First Master. After Wonho’s death, Dr.Oh’s research was only supported here.
If the First hadn’t sent Seokhwa back to Jeju Island, things wouldn’t have gotten this complicated. How much more do they need to take from me to be satisfied? The Master exerted pressure on the manor in their hand. However, that didn’t mean they could engage in a full-on confrontation with the First Master right now. It could lead to a three-front conflict, which would be troublesome.
What Rainbow City needed was not a revolution but reform. That’s why it would be problematic if Eden Paradise gained more power here. The headache didn’t end there.
Kwak Soohwan. He’s following my orders for now, but his ambition is too great; he’s practically a time bomb.
The Second Master began organizing again on the glass pane.
[Pishon: Kwak Jaewon. Gihon: Kang Soneun. Tigris: Wonho. Euphrates: Dr.Oh. Serpent: ?]
Why did they all side with Wonho? Did you all really want a revolution? They were comrades who shared the same ideals, but at some point, they all crossed a river they couldn’t return from.
The Master drew a line from Pishon to Euphrates. Now, they’re all dead and gone. Only Serpent remains.
They slumped their hand holding the pen and leaned heavily on the wheelchair, looking up at the ceiling, reminiscing about their former comrades.
And soon, they felt lonely.
“Stop thinking about it before I hand you over to the guards myself.”
It wasn’t strange for Kwak Soohwan to say that.
Seokhwa just mistakenly thought he had less loyalty to Rainbow City citizens than others. He had raided bars and had more demerits than merits despite his outward appearance of propriety. There weren’t many soldiers like him, so it was easy to make such a mistake.
Even though a new nail had grown on the little finger, it still felt sore. Seokhwa glanced briefly at Kwak Soohwan, wrapping his left hand, who had offered two cigarettes to Lee Chaeyoon and took the wheel himself.
“We still have time before reaching Yeouido. Get some rest.”
“I’m fine.”
Seokhwa decided not to say more than necessary to Kwak Soohwan. It could be troublesome if he decided to push Seokhwa into the guards.
It was strange in Rainbow City. They couldn’t question anything, had to believe that the actions of the higher-ups were right, and only adhere to the given roles. It was not like moving based on system values input like Mother.
Looking back, Dr.Oh had mentioned a few times that the orders from above were questionable, but at that time, Seokhwa had simply ignored it without much thought.
They believed it when the superiors said it’s impossible, when they claimed there wasn’t enough money for support. But not anymore. The radio lied, and even the real vaccine they saw with their own eyes turned out to be fake.
If all this was part of the rebel ideology, then Seokhwa was already confirmed as a rebel.
“Are you upset by any chance?”
Kwak Soohwan, staring straight ahead while holding the steering wheel, asked.
“I’m not feeling well. You said you would push me even though I didn’t do anything.”
Seokhwa wrapped his fingers around the little finger again.
“Don’t like pain, huh?”
“No, I don’t.”
“So, I, Major Kwak, don’t wish for Dr. Seok to meet the same fate as Wonho or Dr.Oh.”
The expression “meeting the same fate” didn’t sit well with Seokhwa. Still, he just pressed the backpack on his knees.
“Major Kwak, you were not a citizen of Rainbow City…”
Kwak Soohwan, who had been looking straight ahead, turned his head to look at Seokhwa. As they slowed down, Lee Chaeyoon, who had been following, honked and overtook them. The headlights of Lee Chaeyoon’s car illuminated the interior like a flash before disappearing.
“Why is that? Are you going to discriminate now?”
“No.”
“But why ask that? Everyone has their circumstances.”
A faint smile was on his lips, but the atmosphere suggested not to inquire further.
“Was it because your abilities were exceptional that you were accepted as a citizen?”
“Well, there’s that, too.”
It was a vague answer. As Seokhwa tried to speak again, Kwak Soohwan let out a sigh.
“I wouldn’t have been able to enlist easily without Dr.Oh’s recommendation. He vouched for me.”
“…Dr.Oh?”
“It seems like he felt sorry for me being left alone, but I don’t really know.”
“How did Dr.Oh, who wasn’t a citizen, influence Major Kwak?”
Squeak!
A squirrel darted onto the road. Kwak Soohwan instantly slammed on the brakes and covered Seokhwa’s chest with his hand. The squirrel, illuminated by the headlights, glanced over, perfectly fine. Given its small size, it seemed like a young one. With a twitch of its ears, it darted into the opposite woods.
Herbivores had no natural enemies, so their population was increasing unchecked. Nobody would say anything about hitting roadkill, but hitting that little creature might have wrinkled Seokhwa’s brow.
Kwak Soohwan, who had been checking on Seokhwa, exhaled a momentary sigh of relief. Seokhwa had been holding onto the hand that covered his chest with both hands.
“No rock today?”
Rock? What’s that about?
Seokhwa lowered his gaze and then opened his hand. He hadn’t brought a rock, rushing out as he did, but it was just a reflexive action. Kwak Soohwan slowly accelerated, not exceeding a certain speed this time.
“I wasn’t a citizen of Rainbow City, but my parents were. And they were similar to Dr. Seok.”
He wondered if his parents liked rocks, but it wasn’t that kind of meaning.
“They were in a research institute like Dr.Oh, but I don’t know much about what they did. I didn’t see them often.”
Major Kwak’s parents were researchers…?
He had never heard about it from Dr.Oh. Well, there wouldn’t have been any reason to mention it in the first place.
Seokhwa couldn’t hide his astonishment. If he were a researcher, records about his parents would surely remain in the shelter.
“But why aren’t you a citizen?”
“I was born without City’s permission. If that happens, they don’t recognize you as a citizen. Dr. Seok, did you really not know anything? Being from Jeju Island is quite nice.”
He often said he grew up like a potted plant in a greenhouse, but he didn’t dwell on that point.
“I know that too. But you were a researcher and a citizen, so it’s a bit strange that you couldn’t get a birth permit.”
The speed was steady, so motion sickness was tolerable. Seokhwa took out water from his backpack to replenish his fluids and popped a saponin into his mouth.
“What’s that about?”
Seokhwa, who often consumed strange pills starting from snacks, experimented with various things. “I’m trying out different things. To see if there’s an effect on improving stamina.”
Since ginseng was hard to come by, he was trying saponin extracted from beans. Of course, the odor neutralizer in the lab wasn’t brought for this purpose. Still, after three days of consumption, he hadn’t seen any effects.
Knowing that no medicine in the world could instantly change an inherently weak constitution, he still harbored futile hopes.
“Colonel Kwak.”
“Yeah?”
“What are your parents’ names?”
“Are you doing a background check before marriage?”
“I’m just curious about what kind of research they did.”
“It’s useless. There are no records left about my parents.”
“Still, their names at least—”
“In the end, I’m known to have been ostracized from Rainbow City. I had a child secretly and even hid it. That’s enough about me. By the way, Doctor Seok, the ‘화’ in your name isn’t the same as in ‘꽃(hwa)’ (弔花), is it?”
Kwak Soohwan was changing the subject.
“You don’t have to say if you don’t want to.”
Seokhwa didn’t delve any further and just took another sip of water.
“No, I’m really curious. Or is it the ‘불 화’ (火) character?”
Seokhwa ignored him.
“Oh, it’s the ‘재앙 화’ (禍) character then.”
“Where is there someone with ‘disaster’ in their name?”
“If you want to use it, you use it. What can’t you use? Your last name is ‘돌 석’ (rock).”
Because it hit the mark, Seokhwa closed his mouth again.
“Then you’re ‘돌꽃’ (rock flower).” [1]
Kwak Soohwan laughed out loud.
“Dr. Seok and ‘돌꽃’ really suit well.”
“My grandmother gave me the name.”
“Didn’t Seokhwa say it was ‘굴’ (oyster) before? If your grandson’s name is matched with oysters, does it mean your grandmother really liked oysters? Did she secretly pick and eat oysters while doing material research?”
Why is he saying such things? If he doesn’t want to talk, he should just stay silent. Seokhwa turned his head towards the window.
“Well, oysters are delicious. Soft and tender.”
Kwak Soohwan recalled the taste of oysters he had only tried once in his life. In fact, he couldn’t remember what the taste was like. On the contrary, human Seokhwa’s sweetness far surpassed it.
“They say oysters have excellent water purification abilities. They’re like the flowers of the sea. My grandmother wanted to help people by doing that.”
Although his mother advised him to avoid dangerous things.
“She was a wonderful person.”
“Very much so.”
“So, listen well to what that wonderful person said and do research for the citizens. Our Oyster Doctor has to do that for my sperm to be accepted, and maybe do some naughty things too.”
Kwak Soohwan gripped the steering wheel with one hand and raised his thumb with the other. Although Seokhwa felt like he knew this man, he couldn’t fully understand him. He played pranks easily and occasionally brought up suggestive remarks. However, there were times when the smile he consciously wore felt as genuine as the laughter from a moment ago.
He seemed like an unknown life form enveloped in an opaque membrane. That’s why Seokhwa felt he was a bit more dangerous.
Being embraced by Kwak Soohwan or having him touch his body felt pleasant, but now Seokhwa decided not to easily reveal what was in his mind.
Yeouido Shelter came into view. Kwak Soohwan finally accelerated and headed towards the underground parking lot. Lee Chaeyeon, who arrived first, was waiting for Seokhwa, fist-bumping in front of the jeep.
“Here to play again.”
Kwak Soohwan spoke as he parked the car at the entrance of the quarantine station. Seokhwa hesitated as he opened the door.
“Colonel Kwak, what’s your attachment trait?”
To me, he didn’t seem to have any particularly clingy traits.
“Guess.”
“I can’t guess.”
“Your attitude as a doctor isn’t right.”
“There’s no worth in researching that.”
Suddenly, Kwak Soohwan’s lips unexpectedly pressed against his. Seokhwa widened his eyes in surprise, and the kiss only turned into a sound, not a full kiss.
“For the cost of the ride.”
Kwak Soohwan, with one arm around Seokhwa’s shoulders, opened the door instead. Lee Chaeyeon, who was approaching, had a displeased expression. Kwak Soohwan tossed Seokhwa’s backpack to her.
“Take good care of him.”
Seokhwa pressed his lips with his palm, then lifted his two legs out of the jeep. Was he fixated on kissing? No, that also didn’t seem to be the case. Seokhwa briefly extended his tongue to lick his lower lip. Before Kwak Soohwan closed the passenger door, he shouted.
“Dr. Seok, let’s have oysters together next time.”
Seokhwa received his backpack from Lee Chaeyeon and responded nonchalantly.
“I can’t eat oysters.”
Bowing slightly, he began to walk into the shelter. Kwak Soohwan leaned his chin on the steering wheel and watched until Seokhwa entered. Lee Chaeyeon, who entered the quarantine station with Seokhwa, peeked over her head. Kwak Soohwan only turned the steering wheel when Seokhwa was completely out of sight, still smiling.
He wasn’t sure if Seokhwa would listen to him from now on, but he decided not to openly display actions that could be easily seen. At least, he didn’t want to tear apart Dr. Seok with his own hands. Rejecting a fragile life for the second time was also out of the question.
Kwak Soohwan took out a cigarette and stared at it, only to put it away again. It was because the lingering sensation of Seokhwa’s soft lips still remained.
***
Since meeting Kwak Soohwan, Seokhwa had started to secretly and cautiously gather information. Since it wouldn’t be good to be caught on Mother’s surveillance cameras, he scribbled with a pen only inside his room. Writing on encrypted paper was to avoid others’ eyes.
The vaccine produced in Eden Valley had not yet entered mass production. It was because, although the vaccine was effective for animals, it had not been tested on humans. Eventually, a citizen would voluntarily come forward to receive the vaccine, and that person would be rewarded handsomely in Rainbow City.
Having overcome low blood pressure to wake up at 8am, Seokhwa reluctantly ate a tasteless bean sandwich.
Seokhwa considered the possibility that Dr. Seok might not have given the vaccine to them, and that perhaps the doctor had shared the research results with Eden Valley. However, with the situation with Serpent turning into a mess, even the reason they approached him had become unclear. Seokhwa pondered how to figure out a way to meet with Serpent as he rolled his pen.
[Dr. Seokhwa, please come to the research team meeting room on the 55th floor right now. The adviser from Jeju Island has arrived.]
Through the built-in speaker on the wall, the broadcast employee’s voice echoed. What would they have done if I hadn’t been awake… But looking at the clock, it was already past 9 a.m. It was amusing how a couple of hours could fly by when lost in thought.
As he grabbed the desk to get up, he had to close his eyes for a moment because of dizziness from the wind. Although he thought it had improved compared to before, he looked like this every morning. As soon as he took a step, his head rang again, and reluctantly, he had to lie down on the bed.
Why did the adviser from Jeju Island come down again?
Seokhwa placed his hand on his forehead and took a deep breath. Unaware of how long he had been doing this, he heard the sound of knocking on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Seokhwa, who didn’t want to move a muscle and was lying down staring at the ceiling, felt annoyed by the persistent knocking on the door. Memories of being dragged away by the guards came to mind, so Seokhwa gritted his teeth and got out of bed. He quickly stuffed the documents I had organized into the desk drawer.
Once again, knock, knock, the person outside continued to persistently knock on the door. Seokhwa walked to the door to see who it was.
“Who is it?”
Why knock on the door instead of ringing the bell? Seokhwa opened the door briskly, and before him stood a man’s chest. Slowly raising his gaze, Seokhwa looked at the visitor. The man, meeting Seokhwa’s gaze, also smiled with a friendly expression.
“Dr. Seokhwa, I thought you were still sleeping.”
“….”
Seokhwa blinked his eyelids slowly.
“Have you woken up now, Doctor?”
‘Have you woken up now, Doctor?’
It was strange. Although he was meeting this man for the first time, his tone and voice didn’t seem unfamiliar.
“Are you not Dr. Seokhwa? The adviser mentioned that you were in this room.”
“Seokhwa… Yes, that’s me.”
“Are you feeling unwell? Your face looks quite pale.”
“I’m fine.”
“If you were surprised that I came to your room directly, don’t worry. That’s the kind of person I am.”
‘Don’t worry. I haven’t brought you here to threaten you, Doctor.’
Seokhwa reached out his hand towards the man, who seemed like he wanted to show his ID card, and brought his palm close to the man’s lips. The man looked at Seokhwa with surprised eyes. Then, he quickly narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“Why are you doing that?”
The man’s voice echoed through Seokhwa’s palm. Seokhwa thought it sounded familiar, but was it really? He removed his hand from the man’s lips and wiped his hand on his pants.
“It’s nothing. But who are you?”
The man smiled again, commenting that Dr. Kim was quite an interesting person. “I’m Choi Hoeon, and I’ll be working at the Yeouido Shelter starting today. I’ll be assisting Dr. Kim and Dr. Seok as a researcher to use the laboratories. I came to greet you in advance.”
The man introduced himself as Choi Hoeon and extended his hand for a handshake. Seokhwa shook hands with Choi Hoeon. For some reason, the man’s voice sounded similar to Serpent’s, though it was much lower as Seokhwa continued to listen.
“Nice to meet you.”
Seokhwa released Choi Hoeon’s hand and greeted him. “But from now on, you don’t have to come all the way to my room.”
Seokhwa withdrew his hand, bowed slightly in greeting, and closed the door.
Worried that Choi Hoeon might see the rebel thoughts-filled materials he had stored in the desk drawer, Seokhwa felt an itch in his feet for no reason. Of course, he had encrypted them to be readable only by him, but being cautious didn’t hurt.
He pressed his ear to the door and confirmed that Choi Hoeon’s footsteps were getting further away. The room seemed to have good soundproofing as it remained silent.
Knock, knock. Startled, Seokhwa quickly pressed his hand against his chest. Wondering why someone was knocking again, he opened the door with a guarded expression. He hadn’t forgotten to secure the double-lock chain.
“Doctor, since you’re already here, why not go to the adviser? I apologize for being presumptuous.”
Choi Hoeon awkwardly swept his neck. Seokhwa was about to honestly say he didn’t want to, but hesitated and swallowed the words.
“Well, just for five minutes…”
“Take your time to get ready. I’ll wait.”
Seokhwa closed the door and returned to the desk, tightly wrapping the remaining bean sandwich in plastic wrap. After thoroughly brushing his teeth, he changed into a clean shirt. Fifteen minutes had easily passed. Finally, he tucked the rock given by Kwak Soohwan into the outer pocket of his jacket and opened the door.
Thinking Choi Hoeon might have gone ahead to avoid waiting, Seokhwa found him scribbling something on a small piece of paper.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go to the adviser. Oh, before that.”
He tore the front page of the notepad and handed it to Seokhwa, who examined the contents without hesitation.
It was Seokhwa just a moment ago, seen through Choi Hoeon’s eyes. Opening the door neatly with a vigilant gaze, the image looked like a sketch.
“Well, take care, Doctor.”
Seokhwa took the paper from Choi Hoeon in a moment and tucked it into his pocket, moving it to the opposite side to avoid being wrinkled by the rock.
“Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure why he received such a thing, but since he got it, he decided to say thanks. During the elevator ride up to the 55th floor, Choi Hoeon kept talking energetically, and Seokhwa focused only on waking up his still-drowsy mind.
In the research team meeting room they arrived at, the adviser who had passed on a note about Dr. Oh’s death was present. Seokhwa no longer trusted the adviser who provided information about Dr. Dr. Oh having dementia.
Seokhwa nodded in greeting to the adviser.
“Dr. Seokhwa, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Yes.”
The adviser lightly tapped Seokhwa’s shoulder.
“I’ve reported a series of events to Commander Yoon. What are your thoughts on our decisions? We don’t blame the doctors for making the vaccine first; instead, we made this decision to protect our researchers. If it turns out that Eden Tower’s vaccine is genuine, citizens will blame the researchers who received substantial support but failed to produce results. We need to protect both citizens and researchers, so we made this decision.”
How about hearing that you are incompetent? Since Eden Tower released the vaccine first, isn’t that the truth? However, following Kwak Soohwan’s advice, Seokhwa didn’t reveal his thoughts.
“I understand.”
The adviser smiled deeply, seemingly relieved.
“We believed Dr. Seokhwa would understand our hearts. Oh, did I greet you too late? Or have you already issued a joint statement?”
The adviser gestured for Choi Hoeon, who was standing behind Seokhwa, to come closer. As Choi Hoeon approached, this time, he patted Seokhwa’s shoulder.
“Have you heard about Dr. Choi Hoeon, Dr. Seokhwa?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Even if he had heard, he might not have cared enough to remember. However, Choi Hoeon, unlike other doctors, had a well-built physique similar to Kwak Soohwan’s, which Seokhwa might envy.
“That could be possible. While Dr. Seokhwa was in Jeju, Dr. Choi achieved a lot of research results at the Busan Shelter. In my judgment, Dr. Seokhwa’s research style may match well with him, and his family background is excellent. Dr. Choi’s mother has provided substantial support for mutant research.”
It hinted at wealth and influence within a family. Come to think of it, Choi Hoeon’s suit looked brand new, and he even wore a watch on his wrist.
“You’re too kind. I’ve heard a lot about Dr. Seokhwa as well.”
Choi Hoeon extended his hand for a handshake once again.
“From whom?”
“Haha. Should I say this is just a form of greeting?”
The adviser, as if asking for understanding, exchanged glances as if to say he was originally not very sociable. Seokhwa simply nodded his head, as he had no intention of shaking hands twice.
“Let’s get to know each other a bit more. Get guidance from Dr. Seokhwa for the Yeouido Shelter.”
“I will.”
“Time has flown by. Let’s have a late breakfast. I need to stop by the Gangnam Shelter.”
The adviser patted both men’s shoulders and left the meeting room. Seokhwa put his hands in his pockets, and the two walked down the corridor. Choi Hoeon followed behind. Perhaps it was because he wore shoes rather than military boots, but his footsteps were nearly silent. If Seokhwa hadn’t known he was coming, he might have thought there was no one around.
Seokhwa waited for Choi Hoeon to walk ahead. However, Choi Hoeon’s pace was no faster than Seokhwa’s slow steps.
“I guess… Dr. Kim would be much better. You should get guidance from him for the Yeouido Shelter.”
“It seems like Dr. Seokhwa doesn’t really like me.”
Like or dislike, such concepts toward this man didn’t exist for Seokhwa yet.
Throughout his life, Seokhwa had never liked or strongly disliked anyone, and emotional consumption was difficult for him. This was possible because even when others approached him, he quickly lost interest and they left. Eventually, Choi Hoeon would also become closer to Dr. Kim.
As Seokhwa stroked the stone with his hand, he suddenly thought of Kwak Soohwan. If there were inequality signs for ‘like’ and ‘dislike,’ Kwak Soohwan would probably fall under the ‘like’ category. Even if Seokhwa showed no particular reaction, Kwak Soohwan was someone who would keep poking until the end.
Not only that, his body was refreshing, and when he touched, it felt pleasurable, even reaching the brain, and he gave stones as gifts…
Seokhwa spread both hands and lightly touched his chest. Choi Hoeon watched Seokhwa’s peculiar behavior with a gentle expression.
“Interesting, Dr. Seokhwa. If you haven’t had your meal yet, how about having it together?”
“I had a sandwich.”
Seokhwa lowered his head, put his hands back in his pockets, and began walking again.
***
Lately, the Second Master’s behavior seemed strange.
Kwak Soohwan brushed back his hair disheveled by the wind and stroked the cube again. When he graduated at the top of his class as a sergeant, there was an occasion where he directly faced the First and Second Masters. When he, as the top graduate, was given the rank of a Major, the freely-moving First Master pinned a badge on his shoulder. However, he didn’t say anything congratulatory at all. Perhaps he wasn’t pleased with Kwak becoming the top graduate.
Nevertheless, Rainbow City was not stingy with promotions. Despite the presence of old-fashioned people in leadership positions, they generously promoted those with abilities, as long as they weren’t an enemy like Adam.
About a year after being commissioned as a Major and serving in the provincial military police, one day, the Second Master’s steward approached him. They said that if he didn’t join hands with them, there was a high possibility the First Master would eliminate him, along with a half-threat.
Being a mere Major in the military police, he couldn’t avoid accumulating achievements by defeating Adam, who was unmanageable and boasted of the credit he had earned. It was rumored that the First Master disapproved of him, as Adam, who had not disappeared, was still gaining public recognition. The First Master was a person who didn’t acknowledge anyone unless they were a pure civilian from birth. At that time, it sounded like nonsense.
However, there was something that pulled him in. The steward of the Second Master proposed building a squad for the Second Master, promising a drastic promotion if he established it.
He said he would select the necessary soldiers and create a squad accordingly, so he recommended S-rank Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sang-hoon, his contemporaries. With just the two of them, it was easy to clean up the Red Zone Adam after voluntarily joining the seemingly invincible unit, gaining fame after volunteering for the Adam hunt.
Kwak Soohwan, following the Second Master’s orders, monitored the rebels who had just sprouted, as well as those around the First Master, or tracked their movements. The time spent on that was just when he participated in the Adam hunt.
Once again, a strong wind blew, shaking his head. This time, he left it unattended without fixing it.
Recently, the messages sent by the Second Master were eerie. It seemed that he didn’t provide clear information about Eden’s Garden, including Dr. Oh… Or does the Second Master really not know?
Kwak Soohwan stood up from the rooftop railing. He threw the completed cube, caught it again, and started down the stairs. There weren’t many items to pick up from the data brought from the underground bunker in Uijeongbu. However, one single wooden plate that lay as if on purpose seemed like a plausible clue. It was an embossed wood carving depicting four rivers.
Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. It represented the four rivers flowing out of Eden’s Garden, a signet emblem followed by the believers. However, the astonishing fact was that there was a high possibility that these four elders were not people of this world.
[After the withdrawal of all the elders, with Euphrates as the last, they gather in Eden’s Garden together.]
Kwak Soohwan focused on the writing carved on the back of the wooden plate.
Withdrawal would mean they responded to the call of God and ascended to that place above, and gathering in Eden’s Garden, which did not exist in reality, probably meant death in a word. Moreover, in the courtyard where the serpent revealed its form, it was unlikely that the signet elders abandoned the believers and hid somewhere.
Thunk, thunk, he repeated the action of throwing and catching the cube when he felt a presence and turned around.
“Major.” Commander Cha stood there with an awkward expression.
“The restroom is over there.”
Kwak Soohwan pointed in the direction of the building where the restroom was with the hand holding the cube.
The 21st Violet Zone was managed by Kwak Soohwan’s military police unit, and they were currently the secret unit of the Second Master. Of course, they did not pledge allegiance to a master they had never seen face to face. The reason they were not afraid of the dangerous Adam’s fights was that Kwak Soohwan always stood at the forefront. Their blind trust in the Major was based on the abilities he had shown so far. Commander Cha was also one of those soldiers.
“Business is fine.”
“But why the long face?”
“Master… is calling.”
Kwak Soohwan gripped the cube and narrowed one eyebrow. Could Second Master have sensed my suspicions? It’s still awkward…
As Kwak Soohwan moved to return to the Gwacheon Shelter, Commander Cha blocked his path.
“What’s up?”
“The one who called is not Second, but… First Master.”
The square cube piece slipped from his hand.
“Where?”
“Yeouido Shelter.”
“Well, I was wanting to see Dr. Seok anyway, so it works out.”
Are they feeling like a weekend couple? Kwak Soohwan chuckled briefly, not feeling particularly pleased.
Seokhwa still enjoyed being alone. However, recently there were reports of some nuisance sticking to Seokhwa. Although there was only one photo of that nuisance sticking to Seokhwa, it was still bothersome. If the opponent persisted like him, Seokhwa’s attitude might change…
As he gripped the cube tightly, the completely separated pieces fell to the ground with a thud. Kwak Soohwan brushed his hand and walked past Commander Cha.
“Not Second, but First.”
Muttered Commander Cha, only following with anxious eyes.
***
“I thought only individuals infected with avian influenza were not contagious, but it seems not to be the case.”
“Weren’t the immune individuals those who had been to Jeju Island or were from Jeju Island during the first outbreak?”
“That’s what’s known, but even that is not certain. One needs to be exposed to the Adam virus to determine if they are immune or not. It’s not right to inject the virus into people to find immune individuals.”
“Yeah. I understand what you’re saying, Dr. Seok. Take your time explaining. Hehe, we still have plenty of time, don’t we?”
Dr.Oh handed a mug to Seokhwa, urging him to drink lukewarm water.
“But the influenza originally only infects one species, right? Occasionally, when pigs get infected with avian or human influenza, the viruses exchange and give rise to a new virus with different traits. Could it be that a virus mutated from birds, with an unknown identity, is causing a polar reaction with the Adam virus?”
“Look here, Dr. Seok. I’m really worried. First, have some water.”
Already feeling dizzy, Seokhwa shared the water.
In the shelter where they ate well and occasionally fainted, Dr.Oh’s concern was not just idle curiosity. Of course, he only worried about Dr.Oh, while others just frowned, saying he’s doing that again.
“….hwa.”
Seokhwa rested his chin on a stone, then opened his eyes. Lately, whenever he had time, he would reminisce about memories with Dr.Oh. Kwak Soohwan’s stone, which had pressed under his chin, had caused pain, and he had loosened the sore spot with his hand.
“Doctor.”
This time, the sound came from nearby.
“Me?”
“Yes, Dr. Seokhwa.”
Choi Hoeon, who had thought of getting closer to Dr. Kim, ended up being more friendly with Seokhwa.
Since their previous quarrel, Seokhwa and Dr. Kim had been in a somewhat awkward state. Seokhwa remained unchanged, but it was Dr. Kim who kept a distance.
“We just received a call from Gangnam Shelter. They say the vaccine is effective for humans as well. Three citizens of Rainbow City volunteered, and they are receiving the Citizen Honor Award.”
Choi Hoeon praised them as people to emulate.
Although he was relieved that the vaccine was real, Seokhwa’s main concern was not the vaccine but the cure. Dr. Dr.Oh seemed to have said something meaningful, and Eden Hills must have received help from him. To get more hints, Seokhwa needed to approach Serpent.
“Doctor, would you like to have a meal together?”
He had probably refused at least five times before. However, this time, Seokhwa nodded his head, as it was time for him to eat. Putting the stone in his pocket and standing up, Choi Hoeon smiled.
“I’ve felt it for a while, but it’s an unusually shaped stone.”
“Is that so?”
“Do you like stones?”
Choi Hoeon asked as he exited the open door. Seokhwa had been going through the data he had researched at the Busan Shelter over the past few days and found something a bit peculiar. It seemed that rather than focusing on research related to the Adam virus, he was more dedicated to improving species. He had expertise not only in plant improvement but also in animal modification, even breeding chickens three times larger than normal.
“If it’s too much trouble to answer, you don’t have to.”
Choi Hoeon laughed casually, saying it’s okay to ignore him.
“I like stones.”
“I see.”
Seokhwa preferred the dining hall at the time when all the soldiers had left. Today, as usual for a late lunch, there were not many side dishes left, and the soup had cooled down.
“It seems like Dr. Park has a lot of interest in immune-enhancing products or health supplements. I have ginseng that I grow for research purposes. If you’re interested, would you like to visit sometime?”
“Ginseng?”
“It’s grown in the Green Zone, so it’s safe. If it’s okay with you, how about visiting this weekend?”
He was planning to visit Dr. Dr.Oh’s house over the weekend, so it was a bit awkward.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Haha, take your time.”
With his consideration, Seokhwa added a bit more.
“I have a lot of heat in my body, so I’m not sure if ginseng will suit me, but because it’s valuable, I’d like to see it.”
At his words, Choi Hoeon looked surprised.
“Judging by appearances, I thought your body temperature would be quite low, but it’s unexpected.”
“Is that so?”
Seokhwa sat down with the plate, playing with his hands and mouth absentmindedly.
Creaking, not just one or two pairs, but the sound of several military boots echoed at the entrance of the dining hall. Even with the numerous soldiers at the Yeouido Shelter, not everyone was familiar. However, the restaurant, which had been quite vacant, quickly became packed with the significant number of soldiers in no time. Seokhwa, whose focus was disrupted, hesitated between eating and not eating.
“They said Major Kwak was called today?”
“Why of all times, Kwak Soohwan?”
Seokhwa, stirring seaweed soup with chopsticks, raised his head. The soaked seaweed hung down for a moment before dropping. He didn’t know which soldier it was, but it seemed like they mentioned Kwak Soohwan…
“Looks like Major Kwak is here?”
Choi Hoeon, observing Seokhwa’s reaction, dropped a hint.
“Do you… know him?”
Seokhwa picked up the dropped seaweed and asked.
“Yes, indeed.”
He pushed the ID card, jiggling against his chest, into the shirt pocket.
“He’s famous, you know, in various ways.”
The eyes of the man with a gentle demeanor stretched long.
***
The fact that the First Master, residing in Udo, Jeju Island, had come up to the Yeouido Shelter was top-secret information.
The First Master, despite having called Kwak Soohwan, sat for a long time with his back turned. Kwak Soohwan also stood motionless in a waiting state. Whenever the breeze from the air purifier brushed against them, only the cape would sway slightly.
“I didn’t expect anything from you. As you know.”
The Master finally turned his chair around.
“Your parents secretly gave birth to you and your sibling, defying Rainbow City’s constitution, hiding it for over a decade. From our perspective, there was no reason to accept you. However, Dr. Dr.Oh elevated your status, promoting you to a citizen, appreciating your abilities.”
Woof, woof. Kwak Soohwan mentally translated the Master’s words into dog barks.
“However, your actions, although occasionally disappointing, have been surprisingly impressive at times. Can any soldier in our Rainbow City be as strong and wise as you? Of course, you are also at the forefront of breaking military discipline.”
When coming up to Yeouido, he had intended to see Seokhwa’s face first, but seeing the immature face under the hat dampened his mood.
“You know that you’ve gained the trust of the Second Master, right? You also know that the Second Master has given you a special position. That’s why I’m saying this.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Now, how about following me instead of the Second Master? If you do that, I can guarantee you a more secure future. Maybe that’s why you went to the Second in the first place.”
It was the biggest nonsense he had heard so far, but Kwak Soohwan just raised his lips.
“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying, Master. I am loyal to Rainbow City, not just to you.”
“Yeah, that’s right. I’m not telling you to betray the Second. Well, it’s not betrayal anyway.”
He never pledged loyalty in the first place. What betrayal is he talking about?
“The one trying to ruin our Rainbow City that you’re loyal to is none other than the Second.”
First Master placed his fist on the desk and trembled.
“We can’t leave the Second Master like this any longer. You must have suspected that Dr. Dr.Oh was executed for treasonous acts against us, right?”
It was a surprising statement. Of course, there were suspicions, but Kwak Soohwan never imagined that the First Master would utter such words. Kwak Soohwan wondered what kind of leverage the author had to make such important statements to him.
“We had no other choice. Dr. Dr.Oh joined hands with Eden Hills like a traitor! But do you know who created Eden Hills? The very center of it was the Second Master. Major Kwak Soohwan, please become our strength to expel the Second, who deceived Rainbow City. Help us by showing our power.”
Only then did Kwak Soohwan realize. This was not a request or persuasion; it was a threat. It was a form of pressure that if he did not join their side, they would send him away with the Second. Since the vaccine came out of Eden Hills, it seemed like the feces would hit the fan soon as expected. With the upcoming Master vote, things were bound to get messy.
“If you plan to supervise the Second until the end, you can do that, but we don’t want to lose a valuable S-class talent just because we followed the wrong superior. Of course, you can also relay today’s events to the Second Master. We trust Major Kwak Soohwan completely.”
Seeing that he could report to the Second Master, it was undeniable that the First Master had evidence unfavorable to the Second. Kwak Soohwan wasn’t one to rashly step forward without evidence.
“Master, if you have any tasks that need to be done, please feel free to assign them to me anytime. As I mentioned before, I am not a soldier loyal to the Second Master. If there is a valid reason according to the military law and constitution of Rainbow City, I can move at any time as ordered. I have followed the instructions of the Second Master so far. The reason you didn’t utilize me is because you are the First Master.”
The First Master nodded slowly. Initially, the First had intended to eliminate Kwak Soohwan before attacking the Second. However, it would be more troublesome if it failed, so he concluded that it would be better to persuade. If he set his mind to it, he could swim to Jeju Island, cut his throat, and look like a fool to others.
Even the troops led by Kwak Soohwan had built up strong trust in him. It would be better to use him as a pawn, deal with the Second Master, and then dispose of him. These guys were powerful and physically evolved, but politically, the ones handling politics were far superior. After all, they were soldiers fighting against Adam.
“Soon, I will inform Rainbow City that the Second Master has been wrong all along. Before the vote. So think carefully about your actions.”
“Yes, Master. However, I also have one request.”
“A request?”
Although there was an expression of ‘How dare you,’ the First Master gestured for him to go ahead.
For the First Master, it was not an unreasonable request, so the deal was easily accepted. Kwak Soohwan saluted the First and quickly left the Panic Room without any lingering feelings.
When the First and Second Master would clash in earnest, interesting things would happen. He could just watch and see which side would win. If both of them self-destructed, it would be even better. If they cut off the heads of these fools playing rotten politics, the city would return to normal. If that had been the case from the beginning, he could have at least avoided his brother’s death.
Come to think of it, it might be better if the First had the upper hand over the Second. The First probably saw him as an easily manipulable fool. The idiotic things he had done had been quite helpful in times like this.
Kwak Soohwan skipped waiting for the elevator and headed to Seokhwa’s research building using the stairs. When he descended the stairs at once, a thud was heard. There was no need to hurry like this. It’s not like Dr. Dr.Oh was running away somewhere.
He exited through the emergency exit on the 34th floor instead of waiting for the elevator, and just as he did, he heard a familiar figure. Seokhwa, with slow steps, had both hands deeply in his pockets. The curvature of the hand holding the stone outside the pocket was visible.
The guy next to him, I thought he might be Dr. Kim, but his physique was completely different. It was undoubtedly the guy I had seen in the photo. As Kwak Soohwan followed slowly and glanced up and down, the neatly dressed man turned around.
“I felt a presence, and who might be here.”
Felt a presence? Kwak Soohwan narrowed his eyes slightly. He lowered his gaze to the ID card of the guy with a friendly smile, checking the name.
“Kwak Soohwan… Major?”
Likewise, Seokhwa turned around, looking at him and calling his name. Kwak Soohwan walked briskly towards Seokhwa, smiling.
“Surprised?”
“No.”
“What? I came, and you’re not surprised.”
“I knew you were coming.”
Seokhwa looked up at Kwak Soohwan, lips moving discreetly.
Seokhwa’s black eyes looked clear and cheerful. It seemed like he had become quite friendly with that doctor, not that it mattered. Anyway, from now on, Dr. Seok wouldn’t be bored thanks to him.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, right? I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Dr. Choi Hoeon.”
Choi Hoeon interjected between them and extended his hand. Kwak Soohwan also smiled back and shook hands, feeling the other side giving some strength. Similarly, as he reciprocated the strength, Choi Hoeon, who made a groaning sound, withdrew his hand first.
“Oh, indeed. Captain, your grip is unbelievably strong.”
Exaggeration. Kwak Soohwan vaguely sensed that the guy hadn’t really exerted much strength. It was a bonus that he could feel my presence enough to react.
“Are you heading straight to Gwacheon?”
“No, I think I’ll stay here for the day. Is it okay if I stay in Dr. Seok’s room?”
“I don’t like it.”
Having been cleanly rejected, Kwak Soohwan took something out of his pocket and showed it. It was a small, hill-shaped stone, connected by two bumps.
“How about this? I picked it up on the field not long ago. Wanna kill it?”
With his face bowed as if burying his head in his palm, Seokhwa showed great interest. Then he compared the pebble given to him earlier with the one now in his hand.
“You can take it.”
Kwak Soohwan tucked a pebble resembling Seokhwa’s chubby buttocks into the opposite pocket of Seokhwa.
“What time will it end? Since I gave you that, can I go in first?”
“You can’t go in unless I open it.”
“Can I go in if it’s open?”
Sighing, Seokhwa just breathed out. Only Choi Hoeon, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, looked genuinely surprised.
“I’ve heard rumors circulating in the shelter, but it seems like you two are really close. I find it difficult to converse with Dr. Seok, but I envy you, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Kwak Soohwan looked at Choi Hoeon with a puzzled expression, who was speaking with polite speech.
“There is one way to become close with Dr. Seok.”
“What is it? Should I give him a pebble too?”
“Of course not.”
Kwak Soohwan smiled charmingly.
“Just be as handsome as me.”
“Um…”
Seokhwa hesitated to speak as if knowing that wasn’t the case. Kwak Soohwan was objectively good-looking, after all.
“Well, whatever. See you later. I’ll be waiting.”
He gave Seokhwa’s soft hair a firm squeeze before letting go. Seokhwa adjusted his hairline and spun around first.
“I’ll head to the lab for now.”
Gripping the smooth stone in his pocket, he walked away again.
Looking at Kwak Soohwan’s face, Seokhwa felt a slight uplift in his tired eyes since the morning. His outward appearance was quite pleasing, much like his body temperature. In fact, he liked the newly given stone even more than that.
Finding a satisfying stone takes me a long time, but it’s fascinating how he manages to find them so well. Since he covers a much larger area than himself, the chances of finding a better stone are probably higher. Seokhwa concluded this on his own and nodded.
***
[Secret code access granted, opening the room.]
As soon as Kwak Soohwan entered Seokhwa’s room, he glanced around with his eyes. Choi Hoeon, the name on the ID card. However, this uneasy feeling had been a long time. It was suspicious, whether it was feeling someone’s presence, turning around on purpose, or even exaggerating. Kwak Soohwan turned on Seokhwa’s computer and immediately connected to the Hyeonbyeongdae server.
After entering the unique password, he began to look into information about Choi Hoeon in the Yeouido Shelter.
[Age 36, a researcher who recently transferred from Busan Shelter. A family consists of one mother. Recognized as an honorary family by Rainbow City, his mother runs a business transporting specialty products from Jeju and Ulleung Islands to Rainbow City for sale. The profits are considerable, and he pays a significant tribute to Rainbow City every month. Around the age of 5, Choi Hoeon suffered severely from smallpox. No other peculiarities were found from Choi Hoeon.]
This was the extent of the data on Choi Hoeon. After shutting down the server, Kwak Soohwan slowly turned his chair around. While looking at the rotating ceiling, he suddenly thought of giving Second a hard time.
It seemed like First was trying to send Second away, but Second was by no means an easy opponent. Mutant soldiers often lacked intelligence, and some were even contemptible. However, Second had never shown such signs. Instead, he never revealed any emotions to me.
If Second was related to Eden Sanctuary, he might not have known that he was being used in reverse to escape from Rainbow City’s encirclement. It might be a good idea to roughly tell Second the story and step back to observe.
Anyway, since the fight between the two whales would intensify, it was better for Seokhwa to stay away from that maelstrom. There was a risk of getting swept away, and shrimp Seokhwa might fly away as it is.
Kwak Soohwan got up from his chair, lifted and dropped Seokhwa’s blanket, picked up and dropped the bedsheet. It seemed like the advice had been taken to heart; he wasn’t doing any unnecessary things.
Looking around the desk, when he tried to open a drawer, there was only a jingling sound. What did he put in there that he had to lock it?
He looked around places where a key might be hidden, but there was nothing conspicuous. If it weren’t for the paper sticking out between the drawers, he might have just ignored it. Kwak Soohwan grabbed one side of the desk and forcibly pulled out the drawer.
Inside the drawer, there were papers scattered in disorder. Numerous unreadable numbers, perhaps indicating a researcher, were densely written.
01000 10100, 01000 10001, 00111 10010 00001…
Pages filled with numbers composed of 0s and 1s.
The smile consciously hanging on his lips disappeared in an instant. Kwak Soohwan reached out and took out a pen from the pen holder. Looking at the repetitive and systematic numbers, he rotated the pen in his hand.
It was a binary code cipher, something he had interpreted several times during random broadcasts. Kwak Soohwan started deducing the rules Seokhwa used to encrypt, thinking that it might take time, but there must be a reason for encrypting and hiding it in the drawer. Hoping it would be different from what he thought, he moved his hand like solving a cube.
***
As soon as it became 7 o’clock, he left the lab.
Choi Hoeon suggested having dinner together with Kwak Soohwan, and he couldn’t find a reason to refuse. They agreed to meet in the cafeteria by 7:30, so it seemed fine to change into different clothes and come out.
He took out the peanuts from his pocket and ate them while walking to his room. This time, when he goes to the cafeteria, he planned to get more nuts.
[Room open.]
As soon as the door opened, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
Papers were scattered messily on the floor and desk, and in the center of it stood Kwak Soohwan in a uniform. Although he always wore a light smile, now there was only a chilling coldness.
He slowly lowered his gaze to the fallen papers. It seemed unbelievable. No, it was absurd. If the door hadn’t been closed, he might have instinctively taken a step back. He leaned against the cold door.
Kwak Soohwan threw the pen he was holding onto the desk and walked towards him, taking slow steps. The sound of his military boots echoed sharply, almost like tightening his breath.
“I knew it would come to this.”
He held up a piece of paper. Surprisingly, it contained the content of the binary code left as a cipher converted into letters. As Seokhwa swallowed his breath, Kwak Soohwan spoke chillingly.
“Dr. Seokhwa, under Article 25 of the Rainbow City Military Law, based on suspicion of ideological impurity and insurgent activities, you are hereby arrested on the spot.”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm roughly and pulled it upward. Despite Seokhwa putting on a faint expression, there was no slackening of strength in Kwak Soohwan’s grip.
“…Arrest?”
Seokhwa’s face, now devoid of any color, looked as pale as ever. Kwak Soohwan’s lips twisted subtly. Now that he thought about it, Seokhwa was not only good at pretending to faint but also skilled in lying. Though it was clear that Seokhwa wouldn’t escape, even without forcefully chasing him, Kwak Soohwan removed the string crossing the uniform top and tied Seokhwa’s wrists behind his back.
“Major Kwak, why are you doing this to me?”
Knowing he couldn’t win by force, Seokhwa looked up at Kwak Soohwan with his wrists bound. While all soldiers had the authority to make on-site arrests, it applied to ordinary civilians or under specific circumstances. Only the Military Police could arrest residents and soldiers in the shelter. With his wrists tied, Seokhwa, looking at Kwak Soohwan over his shoulder, added some strength to his voice.
“Major Kwak, for whatever reason, you don’t have the authority to arrest me.”
“Oh, really?”
Seokhwa felt a sense of incongruity in Kwak Soohwan’s formal tone. However, he couldn’t retreat.
“Whatever misunderstanding you have, please release me.”
On the paper he handed, there was a nearly perfect decryption of the cipher. However, it only increased confusion about how Kwak Soohwan had managed to decipher it.
“Do you want to say that my interpretation is wrong?”
It was accurate, and it was a message intended for Serpent. Seokhwa stared at Kwak Soohwan with his black pupils.
‘I distinctly told you not to delve any further.’
It seemed like Kwak Soohwan was saying that. He had warned several times, and it was Seokhwa who had ignored those warnings. Looking back, Kwak Soohwan had advised not to harbor prejudices before. However, Eden-Dongsan had developed the vaccine and distributed it for free, while Rainbow City had lied. Even though Kwak Soohwan knew that, he mentioned providing a comfortable bed, ample meals, and water, as if asking how it was. But that hadn’t been a valid reason for Seokhwa to accept it. Remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing, even when comfort is provided, was cowardly.
As Seokhwa resisted being easily taken away, Kwak Soohwan firmly grabbed the back of his collar. Seokhwa, reacting nervously to Kwak Soohwan’s attitude as if handling a beast, spoke up.
“As I mentioned before, my rank within the shelter is higher than Major Kwak Soohwan. It means that arrest is impossible. Please don’t handle me with force.”
Due to his inherently weak strength, Seokhwa despised anyone using force to overpower or manipulate his body at will. Whether Kwak Soohwan knew this or not, he had never dominated with strength until now, but this time was different. Kwak Soohwan pushed Seokhwa outside and even firmly gripped his bound arms.
“Major Kwak Soohwan, you are currently engaging in actions contrary to military law.”
Although his legs wobbled, Seokhwa found himself being half-dragged, half-carried, firmly held.
Kwak Soohwan, who remained silent, felt unfamiliar and strangely intimidating, even his grown-up fingernails seemed eerie. Seokhwa, with little strength left, opened his mouth again, crying out like an animal.
“I won’t stay still either. In a military trial, ugh!”
Thud. His body was pushed against the wall, and his shoulders were pressed.
Seokhwa managed to swallow his dry saliva and looked at Kwak Soohwan. Kwak Soohwan put his hand into the uniform shirt and swiftly pulled out the identification tag with the code major number, something Seokhwa had seen before. However, when Kwak Soohwan crossed his thumb and forefinger to push the identification tag, it slid away like a cube. Inside the overlapping identification tag, another identity of Kwak Soohwan was revealed.
[MP-Controller]
Military Police referred to the Rainbow City Guard, and the Controller held formidable authority to arrest anyone, regardless of their rank, up to the commander. Controllers were usually replaced every four years, and it was extremely rare for them to reveal their identities. Even Seokhwa couldn’t have imagined that Kwak Soohwan might be a Controller.
“Dr. Seokhwa, can I proceed with the arrest now?”
Seokhwa briefly felt a premonition that he might die. The revelation of the Controller’s identity inevitably meant that his life was at stake. Kwak Soohwan now felt completely different. His usual light-hearted laughter and the way he tossed teasing jokes might all have been lies.
“…If there’s any misunderstanding,”
“If there is, it can be clarified during the investigation.”
Having rewound the military tag, Kwak Soohwan once again held onto Seokhwa and headed for the elevator. When standing in front of the door, he took off his uniform coat and wrapped it around Seokhwa’s body. Due to the wind, the tied hands behind were not visible, and he firmly embraced Seokhwa’s shoulders.
As the elevator door opened, coincidentally, Choi Hoeon was already inside. He too had a surprised expression but soon softened into a gentle smile.
“I came to pick you up since Dr. and Major Kwak didn’t come.”
With Seokhwa’s shoulders in his grasp, Kwak Soohwan stepped into the elevator.
“Why are you waiting for Dr. Choi and Dr. Seok?”
“Haven’t you heard from the doctors?”
When Choi Hoeon looked at Seokhwa with lowered eyes, Kwak Soohwan pulled his shoulders even closer. In this state, Kwak Soohwan pressed the button for the underground parking lot, puzzling Choi Hoeon.
“Aren’t you here for a meal?”
“Meal?”
When Kwak Soohwan asked Seokhwa, Seokhwa nodded. Why was this fly buzzing around like this? With Seokhwa’s forehead lightly supported by Kwak Soohwan’s chin, Kwak Soohwan stared at Choi Hoeon.
“We’re planning to have a meal together today. Right, Dr. Seok?”
“…”
Seokhwa couldn’t utter a word. He couldn’t ask Choi Hoeon for help, nor could he push Kwak Soohwan away and escape.
Choi Hoeon carefully looked at the coat wrapped around Seokhwa’s body. It looked a bit unnatural due to the body hidden inside the large coat.
“I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”
As Choi Hoeon attempted to pull down the coat, Kwak Soohwan twisted Choi Hoeon’s wrist.
“What are you doing?”
“It looks like Major Kwak is kidnapping Dr. Choi, that’s why.”
While Choi Hoeon, still with a lingering smile, tried to pull down the coat, Kwak Soohwan prevented the action. Amid the struggle, Seokhwa let out a long sigh as the elevator’s display changed rapidly, and they had arrived at the underground floor.
Choi Hoeon, realizing it was futile, let go of the coat, and Kwak Soohwan released the grip on Choi Hoeon’s wrist. Choi Hoeon twirled his wrist, wearing a puzzled expression.
“Dr. Seokhwa, are you really okay?”
“No.”
Choi Hoeon widened his eyes, and Kwak Soohwan chuckled as if finding the situation absurd. Conversely, his cold gaze seemed to mock Choi Hoeon, suggesting, ‘Why don’t you ask for help from wherever you can?’
“In that case, I’ll…”
When Choi Hoeon tried to step forward, I shook my head.
“I’ll just go with Major Kwak.”
Seokhwa walked out of the elevator on his own. Since Seokhwa now knew that Kwak Soohwan was the Controller, he understood there was nothing he could do even if Choi Hoeon intervened. Moreover, Kwak Soohwan had previously suggested meeting with Serpent, implying a show of catching the prey together, and Seokhwa had willingly played into the hands of the predator.
“Are we going to the Brig?”
Without any response, Kwak Soohwan, in his own jeep, led Seokhwa. Seokhwa was seated in the front passenger seat, and Kwak Soohwan fastened the seatbelt for him. After securing a bit of space by pulling the seatbelt forward, Kwak Soohwan then untied the strap that bound Seokhwa’s wrists. Expecting an interrogation in the continued restrained state, Seokhwa blinked his eyes slowly.
“Major Kwak.”
It was time to ask if they were really going to the Brig.
“To destroy the flower garden you have in mind, Dr. Seokhwa.”
With that statement, Kwak Soohwan no longer looked at Seokhwa and started the engine. He pressed the accelerator forcefully, beginning to exit the Yeouido Shelter.
***
Rainbow City was officially in a state of martial law, and the power wielded by the military was exaggerated, bordering on absolute authority.
Soldiers could arrest civilians at their discretion, and fines could be arbitrarily imposed. In the past, the police had been responsible for public safety, but now, the military took on all those roles.
There were even cases where soldiers committing murder or exercising violence against civilians were implicitly overlooked. This was one of the complex reasons Seokhwa did not like the military.
Seokhwa rarely found himself in unreasonable situations, but he felt a physiological aversion to soldiers. Kwak Soohwan and his colleagues were exceptions, but now even Yang Sanghoon and Lee Chaeyoon were under suspicion. Did they also know that Kwak Soohwan was the Controller? The rank of Major seemed to be just an external facade.
Kwak Soohwan’s jeep headed smoothly towards Uijeongbu. In this situation, Seokhwa repeatedly shook his head under the strain, lifting it again. Eventually, the car stopped at the entrance of a bunker surrounded by a do-not-enter tape. Kwak Soohwan turned off the engine and got out first, opening the front passenger door.
Seokhwa anxiously glanced around, but the headlights only illuminated the entrance of the bunker. Everything else was pitch-black. As he put his feet on the ground, Kwak Soohwan grabbed his arm again, dragging him towards the bunker. Seokhwa breathed uneasily. Even though Kwak Soohwan knew it, he didn’t stop walking.
Could this be the execution site?
Seokhwa looked back at the path he had taken, but the absence of the vehicle’s headlights made it impossible to determine if his eyes were open or closed.
Thunk. When he took out a flashlight and shone it inside, red bloodstains clinging to the stairs continued endlessly. Seokhwa covered his mouth with both hands. An unbearable stench emanated from below, and even if he washed with water, it felt like the smell would never disappear. If hell had the scent of sulfur, this bunker was filled with the stench of decaying bodies.
Seokhwa tried to go back outside, but Kwak Soohwan kept pulling him forward. At the end of the stairs, the spacious interior of the bunker was revealed, and on the wall illuminated by Kwak’s flashlight, the Tree of Life was visible. Once again, vivid red bloodstains were clear. The overpowering smell even made his eyes tear up now.
“…Major.”
It was so intense that even his eyes were stinging now.
Still silent, Kwak Soohwan led him down the underground stairs connected to the end of the bunker. As they turned the corner, Kwak Soohwan illuminated the interior with his flashlight.
Seokhwa froze in place, unable to even inhale. Inside the prison, with iron bars lined up like a penitentiary, were bodies slowly decaying in the cold. There seemed to be at least thirty-nine of them, all wearing Rainbow City military uniforms.
The bodies were haphazardly piled up, as if trash had been recklessly discarded.
“What do you think when you see it for yourself?”
Kwak Soohwan’s face remained unseen.
“Are all of them like Adam now? How about helping with blood collection?” He tried to pull Seokhwa’s arm towards him. Seokhwa struggled to free his hand, but he couldn’t move. His legs were forcefully dragged by Kwak Soohwan’s strength, leaving him powerless, and in an instant, all the strength drained from his body.
“Why? You said you wanted to meet the Serpent. Dr. Seokhwa, the researcher, should confirm what the Serpent did to people.”
Haah, haah. Seokhwa’s breath came quickly. When they finally reached the iron bars, Kwak Soohwan forcefully grabbed his chin, making him face forward.
The light from the flashlight reflected off the cloudy eyeballs of a soldier. Seokhwa, unable to see the corpses anymore, vomited. Kwak Soohwan let go of Seokhwa and lifted the iron bar. When he grabbed and pulled down the arm of one corpse, it tore off more easily than paper. Approaching Seokhwa, who was retching and leaning against the wall, Kwak Soohwan extended the rotten arm towards him.
“Check it out.”
Seokhwa looked up at Kwak Soohwan with unbelieving eyes. His face was still concealed in the darkness. Even if he had fainted, the stench only made his mind clearer.
Kwak Soohwan supported Seokhwa as he tried to sit on the floor, lifted him again, and went back up the stairs. Seokhwa, like a discarded corpse, breathed shallowly all this time. Kwak Soohwan never let go of the arm emitting the foul smell.
***
The 21 Violet Zone, where they had changed the jeep earlier, was where Kwak Soohwan’s military unit was stationed. As you entered from the outskirts of 21 Violet, a high-rise building resembling a shelter was centrally located. It served as a place for interrogating military officers who violated military laws. Seokhwa was tied to a chair in one of the rooms with “First Interrogation Room” written on it.
A long tripod with a camera was placed in front, but the power was off. Above, a heat lamp emitted warmth, and Seokhwa was alone in the room. Kwak Soohwan, who had brought him to this building, handed over his private to the soldiers and had not revealed himself for what seemed like hours. Seokhwa, who had nowhere to escape, was meticulously bound to the chair, along with his hands.
Seokhwa kept turning his gaze away from the table in front of him, trying to avoid looking at it. Because Kwak Soohwan had brought down one arm, he couldn’t stand seeing it.
Since he had indeed attempted to encounter the Serpent, there was no room for excuses. Even if Kwak Soohwan tortured him. To say the interpretation was wrong, he would have to provide a different answer. However, it seemed challenging to deceive or outwit Kwak Soohwan, who had personally exposed him.
More unforgettable than that was the lingering image of numerous corpses in the underground bunker. If Eden’s Sanctuary conducted bio-experiments, it made sense that they developed the vaccine faster than Rainbow City. However, it was still an unacceptable act. That’s why the Second Master didn’t amend the law to develop the vaccine through humanitarian means.
“The bastards from Eden’s Sanctuary kidnapped our soldiers and conducted experiments, turning them into Adams.”
It was the day Kwak Soohwan issued the final warning. The corpses inside the iron bars weren’t Adams; it was a massacre reminiscent of Maruta and the Holocaust. The soldier’s arm in front of him looked freshly decayed, but countless injection marks were visible.
While Rainbow City’s soldiers might be considered enemies to Eden’s Sanctuary, there was no law that allowed them to conduct human experiments. Imagining the fear of soldiers trapped behind the iron bars, subjected to experiments without knowing when they would die, made Seokhwa’s breath tighten. He kept leaning forward, trying to avoid the oppressive feeling, by pressing against the backrest.
What will happen to me now? Will I lose my position as a researcher and face execution? Will Kwak Soohwan really make me like that?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, a sudden chill began to creep in. By discarding unnecessary ethical considerations to research something, he had ended up being kicked out of the comfortable shelter.
If they decide to execute him, he couldn’t think of a clear way to save his life. There was nothing substantial to offer in exchange. His superiors didn’t want the cure, and Kwak Soohwan, a military man overlooking Rainbow City’s corruption, wasn’t likely to overlook it either.
As the heat gradually rose in his body, he habitually reached for a stone. However, his body was bound, and he had nothing now.
***
Thud.
Seokhwa was startled by the sound of the door opening. He opened his eyes in surprise, not knowing when he had fallen asleep. Before him, one arm was visible. Afraid that he might vomit again, he tightly shut his mouth. Being tied up was a blessing; if he hadn’t been fixed in place, he might have collided his rotten arm with his mouth.
He heard the creaking sound of a cube rotating as the door opened. Seokhwa slowly raised his head, starting from the military boots, and lifted his gaze upward.
Kwak Soohwan, in a uniform with a cape, was sitting on the opposite chair, leisurely spinning a cube. Although his posture seemed relaxed, there were no gaps, and he looked more like a stern Rainbow City soldier than anyone else. He soon placed the cube on the desk, then raised the arm in front of him.
“It seems you don’t like the gift very much.”
As he tossed the arm backward, the thud as it hit the floor was dull.
“I… What will happen to me now?”
“How can someone who’s worried about what will happen ignore a warning and deceive people?”
Seokhwa’s mouth quivered at the grumbling tone.
“Will I die?”
Kwak Soohwan let out a hollow laugh from the depths of his throat.
“Well, it is a case where immediate execution is possible under military law.”
“…Did you really kill Dr.Oh in that way?”
If the controller executed him, it would make sense that Dr.Oh’s death remained veiled. In that case, Kwak Soohwan had perfectly deceived him all this time.
“I promised to find and expose the person who murdered Dr. Oh.”
He still denied it.
“Major Kwak… Is the mutation real?”
“Prejudice, curiosity, ambiguous sense of justice, and even arrogance. Those qualities aren’t really necessary for a researcher of the Adam virus, are they? As a researcher in Rainbow City, you seem worthless.”
When Kwak Soohwan stood up, Seokhwa flinched. Approaching with military boots, Kwak Soohwan took out a pocket knife from his back pocket. As the blade unfolded, Seokhwa instinctively pulled his back away, and the sharp blade sparkled in the light of the incandescent bulb. He thought it might pierce his chest.
Thunk. Kwak Soohwan only cut the ropes that bound him. Even though the tightness that had been holding his body had been released, he still felt tied up.
Instead of returning to his seat, Kwak Soohwan opened the door, went out, and came back in. He held a water bottle in his hand. Stretching his hand toward the offered water bottle, Seokhwa experienced a tremor as if he were a patient with Parkinson’s disease for a while. Taking a sip, he swallowed the water little by little.
During that time, Kwak Soohwan turned on the power of the camera placed behind him. After confirming the appearance of the red dot, he gripped the cube in the same posture as before.
As Seokhwa drank the water, his head became clearer, and he began to calmly organize his thoughts. When he wrote the code, he never directly mentioned Serpent. He had only left the possibility for Eden’s Sanctuary to intercept, placing the code there when they met at Dr.Oh’s residence.
Lowering his eyes and then raising his head, he could meet Kwak Soohwan’s gaze directed towards him.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. You interpreted the code correctly. However, it wasn’t a code intended for contact with the rebels.”
“There were no clues, but the situation indicated it.”
“It wasn’t for the rebels; it was just a note in case anyone among the people in the Yeouido Shelter, who knew about Dr.Oh’s death, came in contact… I wrote it because I hoped for contact.”
Seokhwa conveyed his words slowly but accurately.
“It was just out of curiosity. I never actually had any contact, so just let it be. Isn’t it easier to talk like that?”
Kwak Soohwan twirled the cube. The reason he hadn’t felt the military atmosphere until now was that he could control military officers. His actions felt like a smokescreen to hide his role as a controller.
“Arresting me based on circumstances alone, isn’t that an abuse of power?”
Seokhwa’s voice trembled a bit. It wasn’t fear because he had been subjected to force, so he sealed his mouth with water again.
‘Be especially careful of that person. He is the guardian of the decaying Rainbow City.’
Could it be that Serpent knew Kwak Soohwan’s true identity?
“Dr. Seok.”
Despite the formal tone, there was no sense of respect.
“Currently, Rainbow City is in conflict between First and Second. In such a situation, there’s always a risk of bloodshed. At least, consider my warning as words spoken for the safety of Dr. Seok.”
Considering that immediate execution was possible, it wasn’t entirely incorrect to say that keeping him alive went against his words.
“If both Rainbow City and Eden’s Sanctuary have problems,”
Thunk, Kwak Soohwan put the cube back on the table with a loud noise.
“Then, Dr. Seok, are you planning to establish a new country? A reasonable curiosity is fine. However, Dr., you’ve already crossed that line, and I’m giving you another chance. Cutting off the head of a chief researcher isn’t that difficult in Rainbow City, as you know.”
The saying that curiosity kills the cat now applied to Seokhwa as well. However, it was strange that Kwak Soohwan was offering him a chance. If everything he had shown earlier was false, then simply executing him would have sufficed.
“So, I can just conduct research without any suspicions?”
Kwak Soohwan lightly clapped his hands twice.
“It’s not a difficult decision.”
“If I attempt to develop a cure, am I eligible for execution?”
Seokhwa tightly gripped the water bottle with both hands.
“If that’s the case… then go ahead and kill me. Either way, I’ll end up dead. Or perhaps those upper-level guys might roll the dice and kill you while having their way with Dr. Seok’s face.”
Kwak Soohwan leaned in a bit more towards Seokhwa.
“Ever experienced unfair treatment? So, I do things people warn against without fear. But if I strip you of your entire position as a researcher from now on, you’ll return to being an ordinary citizen. I can do whatever I want with you, and there won’t be anyone to say anything.”
Eyelids trembled slightly.
“Why are you doing this? Even Major Kwak Soohwan… you must know.”
Kwak Soohwan turned his head slightly.
“Everything is going strangely. Accepting something untrue just because the consciousness issue is resolved… it doesn’t seem right.”
“So what can Dr. Seok do? Can you go out and beat Adam? Or can you present the cure right now? There’s no guarantee that a perfect cure will come out even after conducting experiments thousands or millions of times in the lab. I know that not all vaccines and cures available in the world were developed in an instant. Many took decades or even centuries to complete.”
“Adam… mentioned it. Major Kwak did too.”
See? The words finally came out. Seokhwa closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at the camera with a red light.
“You saw it, didn’t you? It’s not a coincidence that Adam gained intelligence.”
Kwak Soohwan pushed the table with his foot as he stood up.
He won’t give up easily, will he? I didn’t want to go this far either.
“Yeouido Shelter, Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan looked up at the clock on the wall and spoke.
“Starting from 9:25 PM, under the authority of the Guards Controller, I revoke your status as a researcher.”
He raised the camera, and the red dot disappeared.
“Hmm.”
The man murmured with a low voice as he scanned the floor. The sudden news of Dr. Seokhwa’s relocation, a researcher at Yeouido Shelter, reached him this morning. It was about what happened after Kwak Soohwan left the shelter, so there must have been something happening during that time. Having obtained permission from the higher-ups under the pretext of not receiving a handover related to the research, he entered Seokhwa’s room.
“Oh, this.”
The man picked up the first paper that caught his eye on the floor.
“Wants a meeting point…”
The man brought the paper close to his lips. Quietly lifting his lips, he began picking up the other papers. Among several sheets, only one had a different handwriting. It seemed to be a deciphered code left by Dr. Seokhwa, and the man had a hunch that Kwak Soohwan was the one who deciphered it.
The rest of the paper was filled with Seokhwa’s sloppy handwriting.
[The fact that autoimmune diseases have increased due to the extermination of parasites is plausible. The immune system, which attacked parasites, caused an error and attacked other tissues as parasites disappeared. Sunbae had Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Parasite. Mycoplasma… The intelligence gained by Adam is likely the result of external factors… Possibility of receiving an incomplete cure. Research funding denied.]
The man reading the hastily written text on the paper smiled more pleasantly.
Father, it seems we weren’t wrong.
“Why is Dr. Choi here?”
Choi Hoeon turned around, bundling several sheets of paper together. Standing outside the open door was Lee Chaeyoon. She had a cape draped awkwardly over her shoulders, carrying a large box on her own.
“I decided to organize Dr. Seokhwa’s room. How did you get in without my knowledge?”
Choi Hoeon made a favorable impression on Lee Chaeyoon, who was heavily guarded. She had a cautious demeanor.
“Well, Dr. Seokhwa is moving, and there was no handover. I don’t even know where she’s moving to, so I thought I’d come in and see if there’s anything needed.”
“I haven’t heard that story yet. Even so, you shouldn’t enter without Dr. Seokhwa’s permission.”
“I got permission from the higher-ups.”
Anyway, those higher-ups, Lee Chaeyoon openly grumbled.
“Anyway, it’s the paper you’re holding right now. Please put it in here.”
He pointed to the empty box with his index finger.
“Major Lee Chaeyoon, are you organizing Dr. Seokhwa’s belongings?”
“Well, yes?”
“Then, do you know where Dr. Seokhwa is moving to?”
Choi Hoeon asked while neatly placing the bundle of papers into the box.
“I know. It’s Gwacheon.”
Lee Chaeyoon easily answered, saying it wouldn’t be difficult. Then, she casually threw several stones, Seokhwa’s clothes, and a book on the desk into the box. Filling the box, which was three times the size of an apple box, happened in an instant.
“Can I help you?”
“It’s okay. I’m done.”
Lee Chaeyoon effortlessly lifted the box. Her body was almost completely covered by the box, making it hard to see her front properly. Choi Hoeon didn’t insist on helping twice and took the first step.
“But, Dr. Choi.”
When he reached the door, Choi Hoeon, with an expressionless face, added a smile and turned around.
“Speak.”
Just then, when he reached the door, Lee Chaeyoon’s face popped out next to the box.
“You’re in great shape, aren’t you, Dr. Choi?”
Choi Hoeon lowered his gaze, as if looking at his body, and then, with a somewhat embarrassed look, swept his neck.
“You’re exaggerating.”
“I wasn’t trying to compliment you.”
She pushed Choi Hoeon away with the box without putting much effort. Her face appeared beside the box. Choi Hoeon, pushed away, laughed easily and started walking towards the elevator.
Lee Chaeyoon placed the box on the floor and stared intently at Choi Hoeon’s back. She tilted her head a few times and then tightly grasped her thigh. The strange thing was that the old wound on her thigh was surprisingly twitching. Now that she thought about it, there was a reason why his physique felt familiar.
Lee Chaeyoon reached into the box and pulled out a small stone. What if she threw the stone at the back of his head? Would his brain burst out? But what if he really died? Still, let’s try throwing it for now. At that moment, Choi Hoeon, waiting for the elevator, suddenly turned around.
Bowing, greeting, Lee Chaeyoon hid the stone in her hand. It was Kwak Soohwan who had told her to keep an eye on Choi Hoeon, who seemed to have some shady aspects. It was already shady that he had entered Dr. Seokhwa’s room, and now, to her embarrassment, the feathers on his arm had all stood up.
“Damn, what’s this?”
Lee Chaeyoon lightly brushed the arm hidden under the uniform. She knew that this sensation was called goosebumps, but she had only experienced it a handful of times in her life. Lee Chaeyoon immediately lifted the box and began to dash down to the basement in her Jeep. Even though her view was blocked by the box, she didn’t lose her composure.
***
“Hey! What the hell is this guy?”
The box that burst into the office of the Baekho Unit in Gwacheon shouted. When the box was placed heavily on the floor, the owner of the voice finally appeared.
“What is it?”
An uncomfortable-looking Kwak Soohwan only moved his mouth while stretching both legs over the desk.
“That doctor guy, what’s with him? He got to Dr. Seokhwa’s room before me?”
Kwak Soohwan, with his eyes moving, showed interest.
“He got there first?”
“Yeah. What did that guy say? He was staring at a bunch of papers, saying he hadn’t received a handover, so I told him to put them here.”
The order to move Dr. Seokhwa to the Yeouido Shelter was given in the morning. But in the meantime, he had entered Seokhwa’s room, and Kwak Soohwan found it too suspicious.
“What do you think?”
“What?”
“That guy, Dr. Choi.”
“Hmm? Damn, you look strong.” Lee Chaeyoon lightly brushed my arm again. Lee Chaeyoon was more instinctive than Kwak Soohwan. She was born with a mutant physique, and that’s how it turned out.
“And that guy, when I tried to throw a stone, he turned around like a ghost.”
“Yeah, probably because he doesn’t seem to hide anything even though he has something to hide.”
It was evident from his claim that he could sense a presence, and just looking at their power struggle, it seemed so. What could be his identity? He wasn’t even registered in the mutant database.
Lee Chaeyoon raised her hand toward Kwak Soohwan, covering her face and studying him as if gauging something.
“Whether it’s Yang Sanghoon or you, even if you’re about a hundred meters away, I can recognize you instantly. Although human skeletons seem similar, they are quite different when you look closely. It’s like how everyone has eyes, nose, and mouth, but they all look different.”
“But.”
“That doctor guy. He’s similar with a white mask and physique.”
As she spoke, Lee Chaeyoon raised her eyebrows, as if implying that it couldn’t be true. Kwak Soohwan kicked the desk with his foot, pushing the chair back.
“Serpent?”
“Serpent?”
“Talking about the guy I stuck with in the motel that day.”
“Oh! That guy.”
Kwak Soohwan stood up from the chair and quickly approached Lee Chaeyoon.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Go upstairs and meet that guy. Strip off his clothes and check his upper body.”
“Are you crazy? Why would I look at Dr. Choi’s upper body? He’s not my type.”
Thump, Kwak Soohwan tapped Lee Chaeyoon’s right shoulder.
“If there’s a scar here, tell me right away.”
He shot the guy who was fleeing that day, and even though the wound might have healed, if the bullet had grazed him, there would undoubtedly be a mark.
“Hey, how do I take off his clothes?”
“Rip them, just like that.”
“Ignorant bastard. Then two packs of cigarettes.”
“Got it.”
Grabbing passing Dr. Choi, tearing his jacket while putting some force into it, and apologizing for putting a bit too much effort was enough to settle the matter. For Lee Chaeyoon, it was a good deal if two packs of cigarettes were gained for such a task.
“Where’s Dr. Seokhwa?”
Lee Chaeyoon looked around anxiously.
“Where’s he?”
“Go up now. If you confirm, let me know immediately.”
Kwak Soohwan shook hands casually and left the office. From behind, the sound of Lee Chaeyoon cursing could be heard, but ignoring it, he headed toward where Seokhwa was.
Fearless Dr. Seok, who needed a shock treatment, might close the door to her heart completely, causing unnecessary concerns. She had to develop a cure at some point.
Eden’s offer to Dr. Seokhwa might be due to expectations for a cure or vaccine. However, even if it were so, Seokhwa being executed outside the eyes of the higher-ups would be a tremendous loss of power for the city. Not only that, but her appearance was just to his liking, and her reactions were pleasing. She responded as she was stabbed with a blank face. Seokhwa herself seemed to think she was calm, but the hidden flames inside were as fierce as her body.
If only she had good stamina, she might have become the leader of the rebels, wearing a headband, shouting ‘Destroy Rainbow City’ or ‘Destroy Eden’.
“Major.”
Captain Kang from Baekho Company saluted as he passed by. Saying ‘rest’ and passing, he called Kwak Soohwan again as if there was something to say.
“Major Yang Sanghoon asked me to convey that he hopes you come down to the underground decontamination center.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know that either. But it seemed like an urgent matter.”
Annoyed, Kwak Soohwan, who muttered, changed his direction toward the decontamination center. He had checked Seokhwa an hour ago when he was sleeping, so he probably hadn’t woken up yet. The shelter in Gwacheon was only about one-tenth the size of the Yeouido shelter. It was easy to descend to the decontamination center without using the elevator. Kwak Soohwan casually felt the heavy stone in his pocket. It was the one that had been in Seokhwa’s gown.
Is this really worth it? Seokhwa, who had fallen into contemplation after hearing about being deprived of his research position last night, hadn’t uttered a word since then. Still, it was a treatment fitting for a gentleman, Dr. Seok. Even if he put on a show as a regular citizen down here, no one would say anything. Yet, he didn’t make a move. It was better to let the opponent attack willingly rather than forcing it. Of course, Seokhwa, who had flaunted his body like an art form, didn’t even glance in his direction now. Perhaps anger took precedence over lust.
Well, whatever. Let the masters fight among themselves in the future. His goal was to bring down Eden, which had unexpectedly gained power. Eventually, Seokhwa’s sense of justice would be needed. Things seemed to be progressing faster than the plans he had been contemplating.
***
‘Dr. Seok, isn’t it strange that Adam’s mutation is abnormal, but the sudden mutation ignoring the speed of evolution is also strange? No, it wouldn’t be right to say that Dr. Seok is strange. Haha. I’m just being biased. Mutants always seem to lack something. In Rainbow City, they express that as a ‘defect.’ But isn’t it strange to use the term ‘defect’ for a human who isn’t a product or an improved species? If there were mutants without defects, that would be… a new species, perhaps? In that case, the master’s position would go to that person. Perhaps the masters would consider it fortunate that mutants have defects. If not, their positions might have been precarious.’
Seokhwa was sleeping with handcuffs on his wrists. Occasionally, he would wake up and lift his eyelids. Lately, Dr. Dr. Oh often appeared in his dreams, like now. Perhaps it was because he thought about him a lot.
Looking back, Dr. Oh seemed to be full of rebellious tendencies. Seokhwa laboriously got up from the long chair and leaned against the wall. The transfer from the Violet Zone to Gwacheon was yesterday dawn. The incandescent bulb in the room emitted light from the center, just like in that place.
Seokhwa might have to be grateful that Kwak Soohwan only stripped him of his research position without killing him. Yet, a hollow laughter escaped his lips. He could hardly believe the strange law of Rainbow City, which allowed one person to freely adjust another person’s rank with just one decision.
The man who gave him a stone as a gift while laughing maliciously and the man who deprived him of his research position and put on handcuffs still felt like completely different people to him. He may have made a hundred mistakes in trying to connect with the rebels, but now he didn’t want to be loyal even to the Rainbow City avoiding the cure.
However, outside, there was Eden, engaging in experiments on Adam and human subjects, making it impossible for him to choose sides. Seokhwa felt like a solitary island amidst it all.
[Emergency. Alert to Gwacheon Shelter. Adam has appeared in the decontamination center, and the decontamination center is closing. Emergency situation, all residents in the shelter, including researchers, move to the safe zone immediately. Repeating the message.]
Seokhwa raised his head abruptly. The voice of Mother, similar to Yeouido, flowed from the speaker on the corner of the isolation room. It could be a training situation, but he looked down at the handcuffs that restrained his arms with uneasy eyes. Should he go out? But waiting here might be better for now…
Bang! A momentary explosion of noise made his shoulders shiver. Seokhwa looked at the soldier who entered the isolation room after banging the door, his eyes filled with surprise. The soldier shook his head several times as if coming to his senses.
He seemed to have dealt with Adam, as blood was stained on his hands and body.
“Escape… huff.”
Though his words were unclear, Seokhwa wondered if he came to take him, so he stood up from his seat.
“Ah… ugh… escape…”
The soldier with bloodshot eyes twisted his body as if drunk. Seokhwa reflexively took a step back.
“Are you… okay?”
The soldier nodded rapidly countless times in response to Seokhwa’s words.
“O-okay…”
Seokhwa quietly took a breath. This felt like the eerie sensation he used to feel from the mutant Adam, who used to talk about Sunbae or Eve.
The soldier standing near the door swayed as if standing in place, staggering. Seokhwa cautiously stepped along the wall with very careful steps.
“Ah… it hurts… hurts.”
The soldier started banging his head against the wall. Seokhwa swallowed dry saliva. Even if he escaped through the door, there was no guarantee that Adam wouldn’t be outside. Moreover, his actions were constrained due to the handcuffs. Think. Think. Seokhwa pressed his forehead with his hand. Even if he thought about it, if Adam attacked, it would be the end.
Perhaps it would be better to lure that soldier outside and lock the door… Seokhwa quickly looked around and then turned his gaze towards the desk. As it was an isolation room, there were no sharp objects or weapons suitable for use.
With caution, keeping an eye on the soldier continuing to hit his head on the wall, Seokhwa moved barefoot towards the desk. Checking the soldier after a few steps and moving a few more steps, he climbed onto the desk. Seokhwa carefully turned his shirt inside out and took off his handcuffs, holding them in one hand. Seokhwa grabbed the metal wire with the incandescent bulb and held onto the bulb emitting hot heat.
He took a tense breath and began to turn the bulb in sync with the thudding sound. Each time the light flickered, Seokhwa looked at the soldier with uneasy eyes. When the light completely disappeared, the soldier, who had been banging his head, also stopped moving. The isolation room, now turned pitch black, could only be gauged by the light flowing in from outside the door. With strange noises like clunking and clattering, the sight of the soldier wandering around was eerie.
Fearful, Seokhwa bit his lower lip.
There was no time to linger here. Holding the bulb tightly with both hands, he lifted it above his head. Just before the soldier noticed him, Seokhwa threw the bulb out of the door with all his strength.
Crash! As the bulb flew out of the door and shattered, the soldier started running in that direction. If he missed this chance, it would be over. Seokhwa also leaped off the desk and rushed to the door, shoulder-checking it. When he pushed the door with his shoulder, a hand unexpectedly came in.
He hoped it wasn’t the soldier, but the hand that faltered was stained with blood. Despite his best efforts, the soldier’s strength was overwhelming. As Seokhwa stumbled backward, the soldier climbed onto him. Making beastly sounds, Seokhwa blocked his face, trying to bite him, with both hands. Each time, the soldier chewed on the shirt with his clicking teeth.
As the struggling intensified, the closing door plunged the room into complete darkness.
“No… no… can’t… huff… bite…”
The stuttering soldier repeatedly mumbled. Seokhwa took advantage of that moment to kick the soldier off him. Ugh! A dull pain surged through his wrist as the bitten flesh stung sharply. Each time the soldier attacked again, screaming with a fierce tearing sound, the perfectly dark room enveloped them.
“No… can’t… bite…”
He was repeating the words in confusion. Seokhwa seized the opportunity and pushed the soldier away with his foot. Oof! The soldier, whose neck had been completely twisted by someone’s strength, tumbled down to the floor.
Although the sound of his skull being crushed under the soldier’s boot soon followed, Seokhwa just stared at his own wrist, feeling a flow of something unmistakable.
Lava erupted from Baekrokdam flows down Hallasan. The viscous, melting crimson lava bore a color similar to Adam’s blood. Had Mt. Hyuhwa finally become active? The intense heat seemed capable of evaporating one’s entire body in an instant.
Seokhwa saw the lava flowing right in front of him, but he didn’t even consider escaping. His legs had stiffened like stone, rendering him unable to move.
It’s so hot, scorching.
Every part of his body felt like it was simmering. The heat seemed to inflate his eardrums, making them feel tight, and the voices of murmuring people intermittently reached his ears.
“The temperature has soared to 45 degrees. Even if he regains consciousness.”
“What about the blood? Any mutations?”
It was too hot to even toss and turn, and he couldn’t even twitch like a specimenized insect. Then, something cold touched his hand. Cool hands clasped his own. Seokhwa managed to tear his gaze away from the erupting volcano.
…It’s hot. Feels like I’m going to pass out.
“Move to the isolation room and prepare some ice.”
Someone’s voice was heard and gradually faded away. Seokhwa, feeling a sensation reminiscent of an impending earthquake, vomited in vain.
Agonizing. I’d rather just fall asleep.
The more he wished for it, the clearer the pain in every cell of his fevered body became. The icy sensation on his back intensified the pain, and Seokhwa reached out with both hands into the void. However, in reality, he probably couldn’t have moved his hands. The coldness of the stainless-steel dehumidifier where a corpse would be laid was quickly heated by Seokhwa’s fever.
I’m not dead. I’m alive here.
Even with his eyes closed, he felt the light disappearing. He was being immersed into the cold and narrow freezer.
“What the hell are you doing right now!”
“We need to lower the body temperature.”
“Freezing to death? Get more ice!”
A familiar voice shouted in frustration. As he exhaled a relieved breath, the volcano had disappeared. Under the lowered head, only a layer of white snow piled up.
Taking a step and walking, the places where the footsteps landed were melted, and the snow had turned into water. Seokhwa walked along the black and white snowy path and arrived at his house near the Sehwa Beach.
“Mom, I’m home. It snowed today. It’s been three years since it last snowed. It feels refreshing and nice.”
Looking down, his hands were small and thin, like Jeju Island’s specialty, ferns.
“…I’ve said it before, but Sunbae is different from us. And our thoughts have changed. I can’t put my child on the experimental stage. They call it a defective product that can’t even be used as a successor.”
“Even though you’re of age, there must be a reason I haven’t sent you away. Did you think I wouldn’t know what you’re hiding? Lack of intelligence? You’ll understand once you go to the learning center. If there’s a place to use, it should be used thoroughly.”
“For the sake of Rainbow City?”
“….”
“I really think I know. Why Kwak Sunbae and Kang Sunbae made such choices. I will never force my child into sacrifice. Rainbow City? How great does it have to be for such sacrifices?”
“Luckily, I don’t execute you based on anti-military beliefs. End the video.”
Seokhwa couldn’t enter the house and stood blankly on the veranda. He had learned not to interrupt when others were talking.
After a while, damp water collected under his feet. Seokhwa crouched down and sat on the wet floor, rolling the stones gathered on the veranda. At the sound, Seokhwa’s mother opened the door. Behind her shoulder, a laptop that had not been seen for a while was placed in the room.
Jinyeon approached, worried, and saw the soaked Seokhwa.
“Hwa, did you walk barefoot again?”
“It’s snowing.”
“I see.”
“It’s been three years since it last snowed.”
Seokhwa looked at the still falling black and white snow with a vacant gaze.
At just eight years old, Seokhwa had become a pitiable child to the people living nearby. Walking around barefoot in the cold winter, picking up rocks, it was inevitable for people to think he lacked intelligence. Jinyeon wiped the child’s feet with a towel and muttered.
“Do you want to go to school?” “…I don’t have to.”
Seokhwa instinctively knew that his mother didn’t want him to go to the learning center. Likewise, Jinyeon, who understood that sentiment, smiled gently. This little child knew how to read others’ hearts.
“If you go to the learning center, there might be kids who don’t like you. They might point fingers, saying you’re a fatherless child.”
“Why point fingers just because I don’t have a father? That’s weird.”
“Aren’t you curious about your father, Seokhwa?”
“He’s gone. There’s nothing I can do even if I’m curious.”
Seokhwa answered a bit sullenly. Then he reached out the most smooth and beautiful stone he had collected to his mother. Smiling kindly, his mother covered Seokhwa’s cheeks with her rough hands. Wrapped up to the ears, her voice sounded like it was submerged in water.
She wore a slow but gentle smile.
“God created humans. Adam was created by humans. Because of that, humans were driven out of Eden.”
Seokhwa compared his cheek to his mother’s affectionate touch.
“The rivers that branched off from Eden were Pison, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates, and they made the land fertile. Well, they wanted to make it fertile, but… Seokhwa, no matter what anyone says, you’re not a failure. You’re a perfect child born from Euphrates.”
“The person who gave birth to me is Mom. Mom’s name is Jinyeon.”
“Yeah, our smart Seokhwa. At one point, I used to be Euphrates. I don’t know how the two children of Pison and Gihon would be. Tigris also… originated from the same place, but the four rivers that branched off can never become one.”
Seokhwa didn’t pay attention to the incomprehensible words.
“Adam needs Eve. But we failed, and we also had different beliefs.”
“Adam are scary.”
“People are scary too. Adam is not a frightening existence for you. Be careful of people. Let’s go to the learning center from tomorrow.”
As his mother’s rough hands turned to dust and scattered like a snowstorm, Seokhwa’s body heated up once again. The location soon changed to Yeouido Shelter, and Dr. Oh, dressed in a research suit, turned around and smiled.
“Welcome. You truly resemble Doctor Lee a lot.”
Blinking, Seokhwa cleared his eyelashes. Doctor Lee? Who is that? A momentary question crossed his mind, but he didn’t voice it. In the unfamiliar laboratory, Seokhwa only focused on the given tasks. However, working alongside Dr. Oh, who was dedicated to finding a cure, Seokhwa also engaged in research.
“Dr. Seok, I have something to say.”
One night, a call came from Dr. Oh’s residence to the research lab. Dr. Oh’s voice was filled with joy.
“Please, go ahead.”
“Dr. Seok said something, didn’t he? There seems to be hope in that. It’s difficult to explain over the phone, so I’ll come back to the lab right away tomorrow.”
Seokhwa internalized his doubts and hung up, acknowledging that he understood. Then, in the early hours of the next day, someone urgently knocked on his room door. Dragging his sluggish body, Seokhwa went outside to find a military personnel with a solemn expression.
“Doctor, please don’t be too surprised.”
“…What’s going on?”
“We received urgent news that your mother has passed away.”
Seokhwa, holding the doorknob, raised his numb eyes.
“…What did you say?”
“A neighbor found her collapsed inside the house, and she was transferred to the Jeju Hospital Center, but she had already passed away. Would you like to go down to Jeju?”
“…”
“Doctor?”
The soldier looked astonished. Seokhwa’s face was distorted with an expression of disbelief. It felt like his heart was being stabbed by dozens of knives at the shocking news he didn’t want to believe. Breathing unevenly, as if on the verge of drowning, he let out a strained breath.
“Doctor, are you okay?”
“I need to… go to Jeju.”
The soldier supported Seokhwa’s swaying body, but Seokhwa managed to stand with his own strength, albeit barely.
“There is no longer a single person in the world who is truly on my side. And the one target I could wholeheartedly support has also disappeared. The only place for Seokhwa’s heart was his mother. The sense of loss was enough to render everything powerless.
“Lonely.”
He uttered the word, and the loneliness deepened.
***
“…Wa.”
Kwak Soohwan, who had not left Seokhwa’s side and had been guarding him, was surprised and approached. He seemed to have said something just now, but…
“Major, it’s dangerous.”
Major Oh raised his voice, guarding the isolation room door.
“Keep your mouth shut.”
Although Seokhwa had been brought back to the Violet Zone, they had to take immediate action as he had been bitten by Adam. However, Kwak Soohwan ignored the advice of the duty officer, insisting on the necessity of immediate disposal.
From that moment, Major Oh’s concerns were not limited. It wasn’t because Kwak Soohwan might get hurt in Seokhwa’s attack when he transformed into Adam; rather, it was because his superior officer exhibited unusual behavior. Although Seokhwa hadn’t fully transformed into Adam yet, it would be wise to observe, but…
“If you approach like that and get bitten.”
“Do you see Dr. Seok as Adam in your eyes right now?”
“No, that’s not it. I’m just worried that the transformation might be delayed.”
“Stay here.”
Major Oh considered saying more but gave up. Due to Kwak Soohwan’s intimidating atmosphere, there was nothing more to be done, and he had no choice but to leave the isolation room.
Kwak Soohwan looked down at the restrained Seokhwa and sighed heavily. Several soldiers who had gone missing from the Gwacheon Shelter’s quarantine station, presumed to have escaped from Eden, had returned. They all seemed disoriented, but communication was possible, so the conclusion was that they had suffered from prolonged hunger. However, since they were presumed to have escaped from Eden, they had called Kwak Soohwan.
Some of them entered the shelter without any issues, but only one showed symptoms of repeating the same words. Kwak Soohwan, who was observing the situation through surveillance cameras, soon realized that the quarantine officers had handled the situation carelessly. The person looked somewhat similar to Oh Cheongwoon, whom Kwak Soohwan had encountered at Dr. Oh’s residence.
Without hesitation, Kwak Soohwan barged into the quarantine center to cut off the person’s breathing, but the transformation was faster than expected. Unprepared soldiers and officers were infected by Adam, turning the quarantine center into chaos.
***
“Major Yang, clean up the inside of the quarantine center.”
“Hey, what about you?”
Yang Sanghoon opened the door to the quarantine center monitoring room, prepared for combat.
“Damn! There are people who entered from above!”
Leaving the quarantine center to Yang Sanghoon, Kwak Soohwan immediately rushed towards Seokhwa.
Seokhwa, likely asleep or, rather, unable to move freely due to the handcuffs, was in no state to defend himself. The corridor outside the confinement room was in chaos due to the fight between the soldiers trying to prevent the transformed individuals and the ones who had already turned into Adam.
Kwak Soohwan quickly subdued the assailants against the wall and broke their heads, then ran to the confinement room. Seeing the broken light bulb in front of the room where Seokhwa had been, his blood turned as cold as ice. On the contrary, his hand, covered in leather gloves, was sweaty.
Quickly kicking the door, even stepping on the broken bulb, he saw a struggling Seokhwa. The awkward body, oppressed by Adam, looked precarious. Damn it! After dispatching the attacker who was attacking Seokhwa, he smashed their head to pieces, and only then did he release a cold sigh. He wanted to ask if he was okay, but his voice wouldn’t come out, and Seokhwa just bowed his head.
Approaching Seokhwa, who was dimly visible in the darkness, his footsteps inexplicably felt excessively heavy. Although he had never experienced this before, his body, which seemed to be pulled down with tremendous gravity, made it feel like he was being dragged. Holding both shoulders and lifting him up, the flesh of Seokhwa’s wrist, marked along the veins, was exposed.
Seokhwa’s trembling gaze met Kwak Soohwan’s.
Feeling an indescribable helplessness, Kwak Soohwan recalled his parents and younger sibling, whom he had sent away a long time ago. No, this can’t happen again. He squeezed Seokhwa’s shoulders tighter in desperation.
“I want to live.”
Seokhwa said that.
He swallowed the curses erupting continuously about himself, tore off his shirt, and tightly bound Seokhwa’s forearm. He didn’t think this would prevent infection, but there was nothing visible. Dr. Oh, Seokhwa, turning into Adam, was unimaginable. The whimsical doctor, who cherished the stone given as a mischievous gift, and the lively Seokhwa, who used to be lively and full of energy, turned into something other than human.
Kwak Soohwan felt as if someone was squeezing his breath tightly. While carrying Seokhwa and running, he shot Adam, blocking the way with a gun. He wasn’t afraid of those easily killable guys, but Seokhwa wasn’t one of them.
“Bring the Adam kit!”
Kwak Soohwan placed Seokhwa on the infirmary bed and shouted desperately.
“D-Did he get bitten?”
“Shut up and bring the kit!”
The infirmary chief urgently opened the drawer and took out the Adam kit. Kwak Soohwan uncovered the kit and stained Seokhwa’s wrist, then applied pressure with the bandage in his hand, pressing firmly on Seokhwa’s wrist.
20 seconds, that should be enough.
Kwak Soohwan embraced Seokhwa, who was unconscious, with his breath-coloring, gasping for air. Damn it, waiting for the long 20 seconds, he looked up at the wall clock. The terrified infirmary chief, fed up with fear, tried to open the door and leave.
Don’t go out!
Although Kwak Soohwan shouted desperately, it was already too late. As soon as the door opened, Adam attacked, and blood spurted from the infirmary chief’s neck. Unlike Yeouido, the poorly equipped environment and the overcrowded Gwacheon shelter, filled with low-class soldiers, had turned into a corner of hell where all kinds of screams resounded.
Even after 20 seconds passed, the kit showed no reaction. Kwak Soohwan flipped the table, kicked it with a thud, and broke and tore off the infirmary chief’s leg. Plunging the table leg into Adam’s mouth from behind, he fixed Seokhwa.
He found a new kit, placed it inside his uniform, and patted the mutated infirmary chief’s head. He checked Seokhwa’s face, now pale. He didn’t gnash his teeth to bite his neck, and only weak moans came out. If he were to transform into Adam, there was enough time left for infection. Kwak Soohwan had a lingering thought.
Even if he got bitten, the blood might not have penetrated. When he checked the kit with Seokhwa’s blood again:
Positive reaction.
No, that can’t be true. There must have been an issue with the kit. Kwak Soohwan threw away the kit and wiped Seokhwa’s forehead with his hand. He had an extremely high fever.
Unable to leave Seokhwa in the Gwacheon shelter as it is, he stormed through the chaos and headed towards the violet zone. He strapped Seokhwa into the front seat of the jeep, confirming his federal status. Even during the rough ride, Seokhwa didn’t regain consciousness. As soon as they arrived at the shelter under his management, Kwak Soohwan headed straight to the isolation room.
Preventing foolish guys from trying to put Seokhwa in the morgue, he poured ice to cool down Seokhwa’s extremely boiling fever. However, the kit, rechecked, still showed a positive reaction. He had really been bitten by Adam. Kwak Soohwan, unable to believe it even after seeing it with his own eyes, destroyed the kit.
He physically removed all the soldiers and medical staff from the isolation room, except for Commander Cha, and continued to watch over Seokhwa. It was already more than a day. The Gwacheon shelter was cleared under the leadership of Yang Sang-hoon, and an epidemiological investigation was underway on how the soldiers who had turned into Adam returned. Also, the fact that Seokhwa was bitten by Adam was top secret.
Kwak Soohwan occasionally checked Seokhwa’s blood with the kit, using up more than twenty already. Still, all showed positive reactions. At first, he believed there might be a problem with the kit, but the probability of all twenty being defective was extremely low.
Damn it, don’t change. Dr. Seok… Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s hot hands.
…It’s refreshing. Major Kwak.
It seemed as if Seokhwa had said those words. Kwak Soohwan suddenly raised his head and looked at Seokhwa. The skin was still human, but it was excessively pale. It was unimaginable that Seokhwa, with such a hot body, could be Adam.
The infirmary chief said that there could be problems in the brain as the fever rose to 45 degrees. He added that visual and auditory abnormalities might occur. The cure… A bitter laugh escaped from Kwak Soohwan’s mouth. When Seokhwa said he wanted to make the cure, he ignored it. Why? Because the cure wasn’t something urgently needed for me at the moment. However, if there had been a cure, Seokhwa wouldn’t be lying down like this.
Even if Seokhwa turned into Adam, he wouldn’t be able to cover a punch. Still, it seemed impossible to crush the lovely neck and round, pretty head. Anxious, Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa and, once again, took out the kit with a glimmer of hope. Stubbornly denying the truth like a blocked fool. Still, he pricked his thumb with a needle and absorbed blood into the kit. The 20 seconds felt long again.
Negative.
Kwak Soohwan lifted the kit with confidence and doubted his own eyes. Hastily, he picked up a new kit, wiped Seokhwa’s blood, and all five kits showed negative results. On the floor, the kits he threw mixed randomly, alternating between positive and negative results.
“…It hurts.”
Upon hearing Seokhwa’s voice from behind, Kwak Soohwan was startled and quickly grabbed his hand. Seokhwa slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the ceiling.
“Are you awake?”
The whites around his dazed pupils were fortunately clear.
He subtly furrowed his brows, which were barely visible through the blur, and let out a weak exhale. Kwak Soohwan poured lukewarm water near his mouth, but Seokhwa couldn’t swallow and coughed it out. Kwak Soohwan held Seokhwa’s dry back with his hand and moistened the cloth with water, then brought it to his mouth. When he tried to transfer it directly to his mouth, Seokhwa turned his head.
“…I was bitten.”
Kwak Soohwan swallowed the water in his mouth and sighed in response.
“It’s okay. Fortunately, it seems the blood didn’t penetrate. It’s negative.”
He conveyed half sincerity and half lies. However, Seokhwa’s dazed eyes did not regain any awareness.
“…It’s too hot. Feels like my whole body is burning. But it’s cold.”
Seokhwa, speaking with difficulty due to the high temperature, stared into space with feverish eyes.
“My head… hurts too much. Feels like it’s going to break. It’s snowing. Major…”
Seokhwa writhed in pain, lifting the thin, long patient gown to cool down. His entire body was exposed since he only wore a long top to dissipate heat. Kwak Soohwan squeezed the ice in a cloth and placed it under Seokhwa’s armpit. Shivering, Seokhwa mumbled.
“It’s cold. Major…”
“I have to cool down the fever.”
With feverish eyes, Seokhwa complained about the overheating and the freezing sensation caused by the central heating.
“My head… too painful. Going to shatter. It’s snowing. Major…”
In pain, Seokhwa tossed and turned, pulling up the thin and long patient gown. He exposed his whole body, wearing only a long top to cool down. Kwak Soohwan pressed the cloth with ice against Seokhwa’s armpit. As Seokhwa’s body trembled, he whimpered.
“It’s cold. Major…”
“I have to cool down the fever, that’s why.”
His hazy pupils finally focused on Kwak Soohwan.
“…Blurry.”
“It’ll get better in a little while.”
He thought of the possibility of worsening eyesight, but explained that it was just because he had kept his eyes closed for a long time.
Kwak Soohwan readjusted Seokhwa, held him again, and made him drink water. When he attempted to pour it into his mouth again, Seokhwa turned his weak head. Pouring water into his mouth or letting it spill out didn’t matter, whether it was negative or positive. Kwak Soohwan held Seokhwa’s body again, slowly pouring the water into his mouth. At first, Seokhwa didn’t drink but let it spill, but from the second time, he started swallowing with a gulping sound.
…It’s refreshing.
As Kwak Soohwan exhaled somewhat contentedly, his face wrinkled slightly. He wondered if Seokhwa would curse at him once he regained consciousness, but this foolish doctor would probably say it’s refreshing.
The ice placed between his armpits, back, and thighs had melted in no time, dampening the sheets. When Kwak Soohwan attempted to put ice on Seokhwa’s arm again, Seokhwa groaned.
“The fever is still severe.”
It’s agonizing. My head hurts too much.
Seokhwa didn’t know what to do in his agony. He then lost all strength and only breathed heavily. With unfocused eyes, Seokhwa seemed like a corpse drowning in a river. Kwak Soohwan took off his uniform top and unbuttoned his shirt. Holding ice in his hands, he rubbed it between his and Seokhwa’s bodies. Despite the coldness, Seokhwa struggled to embrace Kwak Soohwan’s large body and groaned.
It was positive. However, now it was negative. It was an inexplicable change, but Seokhwa’s well-being was the most important. Kwak Soohwan couldn’t press down on Seokhwa, so he laid himself on the bed and put Seokhwa on top. He placed the melted ice between Seokhwa and himself. As Seokhwa squirmed, their bodies rubbed against each other with moisture.
“Sigh… Sunbae…”
Muttering, Seokhwa gently slapped Kwak Soohwan’s shoulder. Kwak Soohwan, with his hand on Seokhwa’s back, flinched. Sunbae, is he referring to Oh Chungwoon?
‘I don’t think he had many people he was close to.’
Why is Lee Chaeyoon’s words coming to mind in this situation? Anyway, cooling down Seokhwa’s fever was the priority, so Seokhwa mistaking his body for someone else’s should be nothing to worry about. Still, the tendons in his palm tensed uncontrollably. It was not something he could control.
After holding Seokhwa for over thirty minutes to cool him down, the sound of his breathing seemed somewhat relieved. Every time his head throbbed, Seokhwa nuzzled his face against Kwak Soohwan’s skin.
With some relief and the warm living being pressing against him, unavoidably, a response also came from below. Kwak Soohwan squeezed ice and applied it to Seokhwa’s lower body after the upper body.
“Hmm.”
At the cold shock, Seokhwa blinked his eyelids several times. Even though it was supposed to be the coldest and most refreshing part of the body, even Seokhwa’s testicles were hot. Seokhwa lowered his powerless hand, aiming to remove the icy sensation, and accidentally touched Kwak Soohwan’s genitals.
Touching that area seemed appealing to him, as he alternated between patting the palm and the back of his hand. His cool testicles throbbed like stones. Kwak Soohwan exhaled a cold breath.
“You don’t even worry about people.”
Kwak Soohwan slightly bit his lower lip.
“…That’s right.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, Sunbae… What about Bison and the two children of the married life? Tigris… resemble…doctor.”
He still seemed to be talking nonsense due to the high fever. As Seokhwa continued mumbling below, Kwak Soohwan removed his hand. Seokhwa, breathing uncomfortably and feeling cool, put the small ice melting on his collarbone into his mouth.
Crackling sounds echoed in his small mouth, stimulating the ears. Could someone become lewd when bitten by Adam? No, that wouldn’t happen. Kwak Soohwan smiled bitterly. It was just an instinctive behavior to seek coolness, and he felt that way only because it was himself.
“Dr. Seok, what on earth is your identity?”
Is that all? Just lifting and dropping people? Isn’t there really no problem?
Kwak Soohwan, too, felt a bit relieved as he hugged Seokhwa. He stroked Seokhwa’s hot forehead with cold hands. Seokhwa enjoyed that touch and pressed his forehead even deeper.
While the front was cold due to melted ice, the heat inside the back and between the buttocks was still intense. Seokhwa unconsciously brought his damp hand to his back. Then, he took the ice from his mouth and rubbed it from his back to between his buttocks.
“It’s hot.”
Kwak Soohwan wrapped his large hand around Seokhwa’s nape and embraced him tightly. Then, starting from inside Seokhwa, who had the highest fever, he rubbed the perineum with ice. Seokhwa’s panting breath flowed down his collarbone like a stream.
“Haah… Is the heat still inside?”
The humid and hot breath scattered over his shoulders indicated that the heat inside was still there. Even in this situation, Kwak Soohwan made a defeated face at the instinct that showed a reaction.
The sliding ice melted in an instant, making both hands vigorous. Every time, he took out new ice from the container and cooled down Seokhwa’s heat. When he tried to regain the kit, Seokhwa’s limp body followed along. Every time he raised his body to grab the kit, Seokhwa’s body came along completely. They were both soaked as if they had just come out of the water.
He checked the blood again with the kit, and the result was negative. Kwak Soohwan buried his face in Seokhwa’s shoulder and sighed with relief.
Something damp made the spine uncomfortable. Kwak Soohwan couldn’t even put down the backpack with the broken eggs and knocked on the door.
“Ji Hwan, hyung’s here.”
Knock, knock, as soon as he knocked on the door, his younger brother, who ran faster than anyone else, came out and opened the door. Breaking the doorknob was not difficult, but fixing it was more troublesome. However, without hesitation, Kwak Soohwan lifted his foot and smashed the door. The doorknob was pushed inside, and with a creaking sound, the iron door opened.
On the old newspapers attached to the living room window, blood was splattered.
“Kwak Ji Hwan!”
As Kwak Soohwan urgently shouted, the sound of bare feet running out of the bathroom was heard. Without checking who was running, he quickly untied the backpack, and the sensation of even the intact eggs breaking followed.
Kwok, Kwok! The one chewing on the backpack was none other than their father. The parents who showed their faces right after the death of the Vietnamese aunt who had taken care of Kwak Soohwan and his brother from the beginning were no one else but the parents.
The Vietnamese aunt, who took care of them from the beginning, passed away without surgery, suffering from a burst appendix that spread pus into her stomach. After her death, they had to take care of themselves, so they asked the Vietnamese aunt to take care of them. And right after she died, their parents appeared. The parents, who had taken care of them since they were eleven and thirteen years old, showed their faces only once a week.
Their younger brother was full of hope that he could enter Rainbow City. However, Kwak Soohwan was not, and as he expected, his brother’s wish did not come true. The warm touch of their parents, who occasionally visited, was comforting, but in a corner of his heart, there was always a question.
“If she’s a Rainbow City researcher, why did they let the aunt who took care of us die? Can’t surgery be done there? If you’re not a citizen, can’t you get treatment? Is that why they secretly come to check on us?”
It was a question he had never uttered, and now his father was not in a state to answer.
Crack, Kwok!
His father’s red eyes flickered, wanting to bite into his son’s neck. Kwak Soohwan lowered his pained gaze and used the backpack as a shield to push his father against the wall. Awkwardly thin, his father stuck to the wall but revealed threatening teeth to attack Kwak Soohwan.
“Who let you loose? It wasn’t Ji Hwan, right?”
Crunch, Cack!
Kwak Soohwan distorted his face as he observed his father’s wild appearance. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the closed door inside.
“Hyung told you. Stay quiet.”
Looking around, there was no object to tie up his father. Despite his good physical development and strength compared to his age, the exhaustion from running all day without a break took its toll. Eventually, he began to be pushed back by his father’s strength. Kwak Soohwan had to drop the backpack to the floor.
“Crack! Creak!”
Facing his father, who was trying to bite his nose, Kwak Soohwan threw a punch. His father’s broken nose led to another attack, seemingly unaware of the pain.
Quickly getting up, Kwak Soohwan grabbed a dull knife from the kitchen. Although he had raided the Red Zone Mart several times, he had rarely encountered Adam in person. And even then, it was just an experience of running away with a backpack full of groceries.
Kwaak!
Watching his charging father, Kwak Soohwan tightly closed his eyes. He reached out and stabbed the knife into his side. Still, his father continued attacking, relentless. Please… When the slippery hand accidentally touched the knife, it quickly pulled back.
It was impossible to distinguish whether the flowing blood was his own or mixed with his father’s. Although he hadn’t learned it in Rainbow City, he knew that infection could occur through blood. However, he didn’t know how to stop Adam’s body. The adults here always said to run away when encountering Adam.
Even when stabbed with a knife or with a broken nose, his father continued to attack, and Kwak Soohwan couldn’t think of a way to stop him. But he had his younger brother. Kwak Soohwan blurred his vision with tears and struck his forearm against his eyes.
He repeatedly struck his father, who was attacking with a worn-out dining table chair. The sound of splattering blood and the flesh crunching made tears well up incessantly. After hitting the face dozens of times, the body, unrecognizable, no longer moved like a puppet with cut strings.
Kwak Soohwan got up, panting, and looked at the still-closed door. The canned sausage that his brother asked him to eat rolled around in front of the closed door.
“Ji Hwan…”
Kwak Soohwan approached the door and leaned his forehead against it.
“Mother…”
His voice was filled with tears.
Thud! Thud, thud!
The impact of the echoing door made waves on his forehead.
“Ji Hwan?”
Thud! Thud!!! Crunch, thud.
Although the sound was inhuman, the high-toned voice belonged unmistakably to his younger brother. Kwak Soohwan looked up at the ceiling, sobbing.
“This idiot…! I told him to stay still. I told him to wait until Father gets better…”
When he saw the tin can rolling at his feet, he already had a hunch. Perhaps that foolish guy was not trying to give sausages to their emaciating father.
“Hyung told you. If you just get treatment, you can get better. Father… doesn’t need to eat anything.”
Kwak Soohwan began to cry out loud.
“I’m sorry, Ji Hwan. I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t an apology for leaving him behind.
Kwak Soohwan heard the banging sounds as his brother called for him to open the door. “I’ll get it for you, Ji Hwan.” He turned the doorknob and opened it. He even thought it might not be bad to become like Adam. However, something massive pushed against the door.
“Ji Hwan.”
Shackles were hanging on the doorknob and his brother’s wrists. His bloodthirsty brother reached out to Kwak Soohwan, who had shackles on his wrists. He closed his eyes again, trying to wipe away the tears, but the wetness returned in an instant. And there, on the iron bed in the bedroom where their father was tied up, their mother lay. The floor and the glass window were covered in splattered blood.
The torn flesh on their mother’s arms and neck was vivid. She held a handgun in her hand, and there was a bloody hole in her throat.
“Ah…”
Kwak Soohwan couldn’t move and just stood there, shedding tears. He gazed down at his half-closed-eyed mother as tears continued to stream down his face.
Their parents had come to see them just a week ago. And their father started acting strangely that afternoon. After putting down the insulin injection after dinner, he suddenly showed bizarre symptoms, violently biting. Their mother, who screamed a piercing scream, instructed the children to bring something like a power cord or a tie.
She briefly showed tears, clutching her chest in despair and whimpering. Using the iron bed, she handcuffed her husband’s hands. She spread his legs wide, rendering him immobile, and after stuffing a handkerchief into his husband’s chattering mouth, she finally sat down.
Kwak Soohwan couldn’t understand why his father had changed so drastically. His two-year-old brother was even more clueless. Since his younger brother had never experienced Adam firsthand, he only thought of his father as being in pain. His mother calmly explained it to his brother, who pretended to understand. However, in reality, he didn’t understand at all.
To his brother, Adam was just a frightening and monstrous existence. He couldn’t have thought of his father as Adam.
Thunk! Clang!
Kwak Soohwan slowly raised his head.
“But who unlocked Father’s handcuffs?”
The handcuff key would have been with his mother… Did Ji Hwan steal the key from their mother?
Kwak Soohwan looked around. On the blood-splattered desk, there was a jumbled cube toy. It was a toy he had brought home to entertain his sick brother. Next to the cube, a piece of paper was lying askew.
When he picked up the paper, there was rough handwriting in crimson.
Kwak Soohwan turned around and grabbed his mother’s hand, lying on the bed. The tip of her index finger was dry with dried red blood, and there was still a scent of gunpowder. Kwak Soohwan ripped off the ID card hanging on his mother’s neck.
“What’s the use of all this?”
Kwak Soohwan suppressed his sobbing and looked at his brother. The brother, hanging on one arm to the doorknob, crawling toward him, wasn’t the Ji Hwan he knew.
“What’s Rainbow City? What do our parents do if they are researchers?”
Blood continued to ooze from his brother’s hand, cut by a kitchen knife.
“Aunty, while she was dying like that… couldn’t eat once. My brother, born sick, had to take medicine every day to survive. What is this? Are you really my parents? Why did you hide us? Why?”
Kwak Soohwan couldn’t continue speaking and broke down in tears again.
There were numerous things he wanted to say and ask his parents. However, fearing that if he spoke them aloud, they might never find their two brothers again, he forced a smile. Even his younger brother, who was curious as a mountain, kept his questions and curiosity swallowed deep inside.
“Why did you make our brother and me idiots!”
Kwak Soohwan pointed at his brother with his hand, not knowing who he was addressing.
“They say that if you’re born as a Rainbow City citizen, you go to school. They claim to know exactly what Adam is. They say they’ll give vaccines. But my brother can’t even write a single letter… And neither can I!”
I have no idea what these characters mean. Like a child, or rather, just a child, Kwak Soohwan sobbed, crumpling the paper in his hands.
It wasn’t until late at night that a gunshot echoed from the master bedroom. It was the signal that Kwak Soohwan was now alone.
Bang! Bang!
Kwak Soohwan, with lips pale from not eating anything, stared at the front door. The unventilated house was filled with the smell of decaying bodies, so much so that it stung his eyes. Collapsing from the high fever, Kwak Soohwan thought about how much time would pass before he could starve to death.
Bang!
The sound of someone knocking on the iron door grated on his ears. Since he had laid a dining table chair in front of the entrance to prevent the faulty door from opening, the chair wobbled as if it were about to fall.
Leaning against the living room wall, looking at the iron door, he saw through the round hole between the door handles a pair of eyes.
“Hey!”
It was the cross-eyed person from the third floor.
“Hey, Kwak Soohwan. Hm, what’s this smell? Open the door.”
Cross-eyed person called out to the listless Kwak Soohwan.
“I’ve got the medicine you asked for. You’re not going to take it?”
“No need.”
Kwak Soohwan muttered weakly. The cross-eyed person didn’t consider going back and kicked the door with his foot. With a crunch, the chair that had been laid down in front fell apart, and the front door opened.
Holding his shirt to block the overwhelming stench, the cross-eyed person surveyed the carnage in the living room and bedroom before letting out a reluctant sigh.
It was difficult to recognize the figure, but it was easy to deduce that the man with a crushed head in the living room was the brothers’ father. The researcher’s ID served as a substitute for the man’s identity like a military serial number.
“What on earth happened?”
Kwak Soohwan remained silent, staring only at the wall.
“Did you handle everything?”
Judging by the situation, it seemed that Kwak Soohwan had dealt with the father, who had turned into Adam, and his brother. Looking at the gunshot wound to the throat, the brothers’ mother appeared to have committed suicide.
The family that had become mutants, numbering only fourteen, had been killed by Kwak Soohwan, who had survived. He had always thought that the guy was not an ordinary person, but seeing it with his own eyes made the rumors circulating more tangible.
There were rumors that mutants born in Rainbow City possessed superior physical and mental abilities compared to ordinary people. Being the child of a researcher, he speculated that this guy might be one too.
“Tsk tsk, where the heck did he get infected?”
The cross-eyed person, who had covered his nose and mouth with his shirt due to the unbearable smell, let the shirt fall.
“Hey, get up quickly. Look at yourself now. Even if you say you’re Adam, I might believe it!”
Kwak Soohwan forcefully pushed away the cross-eyed person’s hand, attempting to lift him.
It might not be a good idea to leave them here with rotting corpses. The cross-eyed person once again grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s arm.
“It’s better this way, think about it. Carry your brother, who’s living on medication, and it’ll be a burden. You won’t easily lose your life with your level. So think that it’s good that he died, kaboom!”
Kwak Soohwan, who had risen from his seat, strangled the cross-eyed person’s neck. Despite his pitiful state and not having eaten for days, Kwak Soohwan’s grip was incredibly strong.
“Say it again. I’ll pluck out the other eyeball for you.”
Kwak Soohwan, who had raised his fist toward the intact eye, bit his lower lip. As soon as he let go, the cross-eyed person coughed violently.
“Cough, quite the personality…”
The cross-eyed person was quite sturdy and could have easily restrained Kwak Soohwan, but he also knew that the guy left alone was quite young. He had been observing this guy, who seemed unnecessary in the world, since childhood. Despite being a cunning fellow who never shared the groceries piled up in the pantry, there were other tasks his parents had requested besides his brother’s medication. If something went wrong with their couple, they asked him to send the children to the Hwasun Hall. Perhaps it might be better for this guy not to be a citizen of Rainbow City. The cross-eyed person looked at Kwak Soohwan’s family, now turned into rotten corpses, and made a somewhat embarrassed expression.
“Get out of here and go to Hwasun Hall. A person who survived should stay alive.”
“Just let me die here.”
“Would starving to death here be any different from a dog’s death? If I were you, I wouldn’t choose such a miserable death. If you have any thoughts, take this and go to Hwasun Hall. You can say it’s my recommendation.”
Kwak Soohwan was familiar with Hwasun Hall. He had heard about it from people wearing headbands who gathered occasionally, shouting slogans.
“To hell! Perish! Rainbow City! Salvation will come! Believers, to Hwasun Hall!”
“What is Hwasun Hall?”
“Well, it’s like some cult or religious group. They even provide food for the kids.”
The cross-eyed person, with a lowered head, went outside, and he came back dragging a makeshift cart. Kwak Soohwan followed the cross-eyed person’s actions with tired eyes. He placed his father’s worm-infested corpse inside it.
“What are you doing?”
When Kwak Soohwan sharply reacted, the cross-eyed person responded with irritation.
“If you leave it here, even rats will get involved. We have to burn it at the rooftop incinerator. Normally, when people die, they are either buried or cremated. I don’t want to come and clear up your four bodies, so you better go to the place I mentioned. Who knows? Maybe people outside will bring great trouble to this amazing Rainbow City someday. If I were you, I wouldn’t suppress such abilities. Don’t you know it yourself? Where else can you find a fourteen-year-old like you in the world?”
Isn’t it unfair? Even though you’re the child of a researcher, you couldn’t become a citizen of Rainbow City. How absurd. The cross-eyed person, venting various complaints, pulled the cart and went up and down the rooftop several times. And Kwak Soohwan prepared to go to Hwasun Hall, which was quite far away, on the last day.
My brother dreamed of becoming a citizen of Rainbow City, but not me. If Rainbow City abandoned our brother and mother, then I wasn’t needed either. This time, the cross-eyed person helped with packing, and Kwak Soohwan slung a bulky backpack containing water and beverages over his shoulder. The cross-eyed person handed Kwak Soohwan the key to the car with a little oil remaining.
“Since we’re going to abandon the car anyway, follow the map here and go well.”
“Sir.”
“Don’t call me sir. I thought you would call me cross-eyed.”
Kwak Soohwan laughed in a somewhat childish manner and then spoke sincerely.
“Thank you.”
“For what.”
The cross-eyed person offered to carry the backpack to the car, but Kwak Soohwan walked down the stairs without saying a word. When he reached the first floor, a neatly dressed man appeared climbing the stairs. It was an uncommon sight in this neighborhood, and the man even wore silver-rimmed glasses.
“Oh? What brings Major Kim here?”
As soon as the cross-eyed person recognized the man, he bowed his head. Major Kim served as a broker connecting Rainbow City and the outside area, making illegal money.
“Keep it down. Do the guys Kwak Soohwan and Kwak Jiho live here?”
Avoiding any mixed words with the cross-eyed person, Major Kim brought up the matter at hand. Kwak Soohwan raised his eyebrows a bit upon hearing his name.
“Why are you looking for those kids, Major Kim?”
Their parents were citizens of Rainbow City. Even if they turned into Adams, Kwak Soohwan was the one who killed their father. The cross-eyed person felt uneasy, wondering if Major Kim had come to execute the children.
“Why are you asking me for reasons on a petty matter like a bug? How dare you?”
As Major Kim approached, he slapped the cross-eyed person. The slapping didn’t stop, and as it continued, the nose burst, and a tooth flew out, staining the gums red. Kwak Soohwan grabbed Major Kim’s wrist firmly.
“What’s going on with you?”
“You, dare to ask me for reasons from Major Kim? How dare you!”
The cross-eyed person spat out unclear words and narrowed his head at Federal Major Kim. Nevertheless, Kwak Soohwan did not release the grip on his hand and stared at Major Kim.
“Why are you looking for our brothers?”
The cross-eyed person shook his head, indicating that Kwak Soohwan shouldn’t do this. Major Kim forcefully pulled out his caught arm and incredulously examined his own wrist.
“A bit ignorant, thinking it might be someone who grew up outside. Are you Kwak Soohwan?”
Getting no response from Kwak Soohwan, Major Kim chuckled.
“And what about the younger one?”
“Oh, sir. That kid’s brother is already dead. Please have pity on the poor child. This child is innocent.”
“Who killed him? Kid, you’re lucky. You’ll be moved to the learning center soon, so get rid of that ignorance stuffed in your head. If it weren’t for that request, you wouldn’t have set foot in this dirty place. Follow me.”
Major Kim poked Kwak Soohwan’s head with his fingers.
“Is Major Kim really going to the learning center?”
The cross-eyed person held Major Kim’s arm. There was a suspicion in his eyes, as if wondering if Major Kim was lying and planning an execution. Kwak Soohwan tried to convey to the cross-eyed person that he would handle it himself, but Major Kim pulled out his gun faster.
Tang! The sharp gunshot echoed down the stairs. It all happened so quickly that there was no time to intervene. “Sir!” Kwak Soohwan urgently held the cross-eyed person falling backward.
As the head tilted back, something sticky and moist flowed down the hand, supporting the back of the head. Looking down, the intact eye on one side was gone, pierced by a bullet. Kwak Soohwan couldn’t believe it. Unable to blink, he stared at the lifeless body before him.
“That filthy guy touched where he shouldn’t have.”
Major Kim spat on the ground after freeing the arm that the cross-eyed person had grabbed.
“So, are you coming with me, or do you want to die here?”
This time, the muzzle was aimed at Kwak Soohwan.
A man who helped us was killed by a soldier from Rainbow City. He treated us worse than insects. I wanted to rush in and crush his face, but the gun was still pointed at me.
Kwak Soohwan tightly clenched his lips, forcing his fists to relax despite the rage. He laid the man on the ground and covered his face with a vest, a gesture reminiscent of what he had done before sending his parents and brother to the sky.
“I’ll follow.”
Major Kim, with a disdainful smile as if it were obvious, spat out a laugh mixed with contempt.
“Then don’t stand there like an idiot, follow me.”
But what makes you guys so special? Why do you treat people from the outside like bugs and easily kill them off? If you’re so great, you should see for yourself how great you are. If not, then you all deserve to die.
Kwak Soohwan stared at the back of Major Kim’s head without blinking, full of anger.
***
Seokhwa, sitting with his back against the wall, still couldn’t focus clearly. Although he had opened his eyes an hour ago, Seokhwa had been gradually confirming the sensations of his body. In the meantime, he realized that the fever had returned to its place.
Seokhwa mechanically moved his hands to remove the bandage wrapped around his wrist. Despite his skepticism, he discovered the bite marks from Adam.
After a while, Seokhwa walked out of the bed and looked around. There was a large glass window beside him, and beyond it, there were various medicines. The door to this place was tightly closed, but there was a dressing cart filled with medicines inside. It was a familiar yet unfamiliar isolation room.
Approaching the dressing cart, Seokhwa unwrapped the packaging of an Adam Kit and pricked his thumb with the needle.
The result was negative.
This time, he grabbed a pair of tweezers and removed the part where the scab was stiff. He bit his lip at the pain of tearing flesh, but ignored it and placed the scab on the tray. After closing the lid, he returned to the bed with the tray in his hand.
He drank the water on the table, sat on the bed, moved his head slightly, and then stopped moving again. The body moved effortlessly according to his will.
He clearly remembered being bitten by Adam, but the memories during the fever were fragmented. Whenever he faintly regained consciousness, Kwak Soohwan was there. Feeling famished, he lifted his head to see a man in a uniform beyond the glass. It was a controller from Rainbow City, catching the attention of others.
In his hands, as he opened the locked door and entered, there was a bowl.
“It’s called ‘Tarakjuk.’ Is it okay?”
Kwak Soohwan placed the bowl on the bedside table. Seokhwa followed him with his gaze, but Kwak Soohwan wore the same smile on his lips as if nothing had happened. However, Seokhwa did not forget that he swiftly took the Chaleh that Seokhwa had placed down.
Seokhwa grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s wrist.
“… It was.”
After a few days since the fever subsided, his voice was rusty from being silent.
“Clearly… It was positive.”
Upon hearing this, Kwak Soohwan squinted his eyes, then lifted his lips.
“Did you dream? How can you talk to me if you’re positive.”
“It’s not a dream.”
“A few days of sleep, and now you’re overflowing with energy? Dr. Seok. No, now I should call you Seokhwa, right? Kill or eat.”
Kwak Soohwan, who pulled his hand away, lifted the detachable plate attached to the end of the bed. Then, he moved the porridge onto it.
His body condition was not so bad after sleeping for a few days, maybe because he felt relatively comfortable after enduring the hardship of a high fever. Seokhwa didn’t feel any discomfort, perhaps due to Kwak Soohwan washing him. Seokhwa put his legs under the plate and picked up the utensils. Kwak Soohwan watched him with his fists clenched, and Chaleh disappeared into the pocket of his uniform.
“If I’m bothering you, should I leave?”
Bothering? Why was he saying such a thing?
Although it was Kwak Soohwan who put him in restraints and confined him to the isolation room, it was only because he had committed an act that deserved punishment. It was just unfortunate that Adam had entered at that time.
“If I got bitten… Why did you save me?”
Kwak Soohwan let out a short sigh at the unexpected question.
“Kill or eat.”
“I’m eating.”
Seokhwa gently scraped the top of the porridge and put it in his mouth. Even though the porridge had no seasoning at all, he couldn’t say it tasted good.
“Where is this?”
“Violet Zone 21.”
“Why are you here?”
“It’s not like you’re a five-year-old. Why so many questions.”
Seokhwa bowed his head deeply and slowly ate the porridge. Kwak Soohwan approached quickly and stopped in his tracks. Perhaps he thought Seokhwa was going to faceplant into the porridge.
While soothing his empty stomach with the bland porridge, Seokhwa recalled the image of Kwak Soohwan that had taken root in his memory.
He had comforted Seokhwa when his body was hot from fever, embraced him when he shivered from the cold, and even melted ice to alleviate the cold. His gentle touch on the body was as affectionate as a mother in memory, making Kwak Soohwan even more elusive.
He remembered vaguely how desperate Kwak Soohwan had been when he, who had coldly stripped him of his researcher position, was attacked by Adam.
“I’ve finished eating. Please answer.”
Seokhwa pushed the empty bowl away and rinsed his mouth with water.
“What answer?”
When he avoided answering, Seokhwa knew he would either ask another question or divert the conversation.
“When I was delirious with fever… I saw a dropped kit on the floor. But it was positive. Don’t say I saw it wrong. I was bitten by Adam, and I know my body.”
Seokhwa’s eyes were clear after being exposed to the Adam virus. Of course, that was not possible. Seokhwa was pressuring Kwak Soohwan so that he couldn’t escape into another story.
“Do you resent it?”
“Why would I?”
“Because I was partly to blame for you getting bitten by Adam.”
The act of trying to contact the serpent was a case that could lead to immediate execution. Seokhwa realized how dangerous it was and felt his own helplessness keenly.
The soldier had tried every possible action when under attack but ultimately got bitten. No matter how hard you try, there are things that just don’t work out. It stemmed from his own feeble body. Seokhwa finally brought his trembling hands under the tray and hid them.
“Commander Kwak… has saved my life several times.”
Seokhwa added weight to the fact that Kwak Soohwan, who throws senseless jokes or offers stones, is not the controller of his inner thoughts.
“Not this time. Dr. Seok saved himself.”
He cleared the dishes, returned the tray to its place, and sat on the bed. Seokhwa also sat, staring at him. He realized for the first time that his lower body was naked beneath the long patient gown.
He glanced at the floor for a moment as if lost in thought, then turned slightly towards Seokhwa.
“An investigation is underway as to why the soldier who returned to the Gwacheon shelter while Dr. Seok was asleep became Adam. They’re also looking into how the missing ones returned.”
He wondered why Kwak Soohwan was conveying such news. Seokhwa approached him a little more. Although he felt him flinch, he didn’t react.
“Why?”
“Mother might be watching.”
“There’s no mother here.”
Still, Seokhwa didn’t back down.
If Kwak Soohwan had still been in poor health, he would have given him porridge and left. But seeing how he could talk and couldn’t contain his curiosity, he judged that conversation was possible. More so, he had thought that Seokhwa might be angry about getting bitten by Adam, thinking he was angry for being shot or handcuffed.
There was nothing Kwak Soohwan could do about Seokhwa being bitten by Adam, just like on that day long ago. As he had said, Seokhwa saved himself. Perhaps Seokhwa didn’t know how much relief that brought him.
It made him realize that in a world where loss was so familiar, there might be things he wouldn’t lose. Even if Seokhwa ended up being devoured by Adam, he wouldn’t die from transforming and being killed by him. So, as long as I protect him from Adam’s attack, that’s enough. After losing everything since fourteen, he didn’t want to create anything precious anymore. He didn’t want to lose anything else.
But now, perhaps it’s okay?
Kwak Soohwan felt that the petite doctor, more than himself, was like a savior bringing stability to this damn world.
“I want it.”
The resonance of the boy who had been left alone suddenly echoed.
“He’s so strong that he can overcome Adam. It’s okay to take him without enduring it.”
Kwak Soohwan reached out to Seokhwa, who looked at him with hidden hands. Seokhwa neither avoided the approaching hand nor showed any signs of wariness. Kwak Soohwan clenched his fist and pulled up Seokhwa’s patient gown.
If Seokhwa decided to create a religious group, he could gather a massive number of followers with just his body. If he claimed to have received the will of God and emerged unscathed from the Adam virus, it could be a ray of hope for those who wanted to catch at least a straw. Rebels who deceived people, claiming to be immune and spreading false information, already existed. They were fake, but Seokhwa was real.
So, if the higher-ups found out about this, it would be troublesome. There was a high chance that Seokhwa would be stamped as a crucial figure in the rebels rather than just a researcher with questionable ideology. Even if he called himself a controller of Rainbow City, it would be difficult to save him.
“…Listen carefully.”
Seokhwa, who had been asleep for a long time, found Kwak Soohwan’s voice even deeper.
“Dr. Seok is just a carrier. He wasn’t bitten directly because the bite is covered by the shirt.”
Seokhwa roughly understood the meaning behind Kwak Soohwan’s words. He nodded slowly.
“They said they would conduct an epidemiological investigation in the city, right? It turns out there was a Jeep transporting them witnessed. They came to Gwacheon shelter riding military Jeeps provided by Rainbow City, and they transformed into Adam with a time gap. What do you think, Dr. Seok? Is this possible?”
“…If infected with the Adam virus, the time it takes for each person to transform varies, but I’ve never seen a case that lasted more than 10 minutes. How long does it take from getting off the Jeep to entering the shelter?”
“Since they completed the disinfection and sent them up, it would have taken at least 20 minutes. As I said, they sent them up without even conducting blood tests.”
As a result, many soldiers and staff at the Gwacheon shelter’s disinfection center were expelled. Kwak Soohwan considered this an obvious outcome.
“The soldier who… bit me initially spoke. Like Oh Cheongwoon sunbae… at first.”
Seokhwa hid his hands inside the blanket to conceal his trembling.
“Can we retrieve the soldier’s blood?”
“I’ll get it for you.”
Seokhwa blinked in surprise. He had expected another useless remark. Without questioning the sincerity, Seokhwa calmly continued speaking.
“I’ve cultured the virus from Oh Cheongwoon’s blood before.”
It was also a fact reported to the superiors on the day Kwak Soohwan brought the vaccine from Eden Sanctuary.
“However, unlike the aggressive regular Adam virus, the virus from Oh Cheongwoon’s blood moved very slowly. We hypothesized that it was due to the antibodies, and perhaps Dr. Oh Yangseok administered an incomplete cure.”
Listening to the story, Kwak Soohwan reached out again and brushed Seokhwa’s hair back, which had fallen forward.
“Dr. Seok, what was the relationship with Oh Cheongwoon?”
Seokhwa didn’t hide his confusion.
“Oh Cheongwoon was… my senior?”
“Besides that.”
“What else is there besides that?”
He didn’t even mention that Oh Cheongwoon had thrown away all the stones he had collected.
“Did you have sex?”
Seokhwa furrowed his eyebrows noticeably, surprised. He couldn’t fathom Kwak Soohwan’s intentions behind such a question.
“If it weren’t for Lieutenant Kwak, I might have been bitten to death.”
“It’s not like that at all, but when your life is in danger, you look for Senior Oh.”
Seokhwa made a face as if wondering if he had ever done such a thing, then remembered a dream.
“…Did I say that out loud?”
“You were desperately looking for Senior Oh.”
“If it wasn’t Senior Oh Cheongwoon.”
“Then do you have another senior with the last name ‘Oh’?”
“…I don’t know.”
It was not a rhetorical question; there should have been an answer, but Seokhwa gave only a vague response.
“Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan wiped his face with his hand.
“I’m going to officially strip you of your doctorate title. Are you okay with that?”
“Wasn’t it already stripped?”
“Superiors still don’t know. They just think Dr. Seok has been relocated to Gwacheon. I’ll demote you to a regular citizen with my authority, and you’ll reside here in Violet Zone Shelter. I’ll support you so you can continue your research here.”
Seokhwa slowly processed Kwak Soohwan’s words. As he did, one answer became apparent.
“…Can I develop a cure?”
He didn’t provide any verbal response, but Seokhwa felt a positive inclination.
“They said it’s not allowed from above. But if I secretly develop a cure…”
Seokhwa, who was muttering confusedly, suddenly lifted his head and looked at Kwak Soohwan. The surprise and tension were evident on his face.
“What are you thinking?”
Kwak Soohwan spread his hands apart.
“Here’s the Second Master, and next to it is the First Master.”
He pointed to the left and right palms, then clasped the two hands together.
“In the future, the power struggle between the two will intensify, and both sides will take hits. Meanwhile, Eden Sanctuary is growing in size. Anyway, what’s important to those upper heads is not the cure but their own security. They don’t want change even though they know it’s wrong. What if Eden Sanctuary exploits that gap? Would the situation be better than this?”
He, the controller of Rainbow City, made a bold statement without hesitation.
“Are you… testing me?”
“Rather, it feels like I’m not the one being tested?”
Kwak Soohwan smirked.
“The alliance between Eden Sanctuary and Dr. Oh Yangseok is true. The superiors knew about it in advance, so they dealt with Dr. Oh Yangseok.”
Seokhwa’s lips slightly parted.
“It was the First Master who gave the order to assassinate Oh Yangseok.”
“When did you find out exactly?”
Seokhwa’s eyes were tinged with a faint suspicion.
“Don’t look at me like that. I found out not too long ago. The First Master only opened his mouth to persuade me to join his side.”
Kwak Soohwan took out a notepad and a pen from inside his uniform, then removed the cap.
“From what I’ve learned while working as a controller, the Eden Sanctuary’s signatories are Besson, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. However, all four of them are presumed to be dead.”
He wrote down the four names as if drawing the branching rivers.
“Think about the beginning of Eden Sanctuary. There’s Adam, Eve, and the serpent, Serpent. Adam turned into a virus, and Serpent has already revealed its true form. So, who could be the figure from Eden Sanctuary who hasn’t revealed their true form yet?”
…It was Eve.
‘The rivers branching out from Eden Sanctuary are Besson, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates, and they made the land fertile. No, they wanted to make it fertile, but… Seokhwa, no matter what anyone says, you’re not a failure. You’re the perfect child born from Euphrates.’
‘Adam needs Eve. But we failed, and we also changed our beliefs.’
The voice of his mother echoed in his mind.
“If I hadn’t intervened, Dr. Seok could have reunited with Eden Sanctuary’s Serpent. He clearly mentioned in the motel basement that they were talking about the cure, right? In that case, Eve to them might not be a being like Adam.”
Eve might be referring to a cure, just as Adam referred to the virus.
“If Eden Sanctuary develops a cure, the situation will be reversed. The Eden Sanctuary outside will strengthen its power, seizing control, and likely follow the course of destroying Rainbow City. However, I don’t believe Serpent will paint a convincing picture that Dr. Seok wants.”
Seokhwa felt the urge to step back a bit.
“You told me not to be interested in anything else and focus only on research. Why are you saying such things now?”
He pressed the sheet with his fingertips.
“I thought it might be a whale fight with shrimp bursting, but it turns out that shrimp is incredibly strong.”
“Shrimp is weaker than a whale.”
“Who knows?”
Kwak Soohwan laughed like a wooden sculpture, and Seokhwa suddenly thought that his expression was quite good.
In retrospect, Kwak Soohwan’s warnings to him so far were aimed at avoiding the execution by the superiors. If someone other than Kwak Soohwan had discovered the binary code cipher first, he would no longer be a person in this world. Keeping the incident of being bitten by Adam a secret also seemed like Kwak Soohwan’s attempt to protect him.
“Major… you’re a guardian of Rainbow City.”
Leaning forward smoothly, Kwak covered Seokhwa’s hand, placed on the sheet, with his own.
“One day, my father, who came to see my younger brother, turned into Adam. Thinking back now, someone must have implanted the Adam virus in the insulin injection that our father was supposed to take. Our father, who became Adam, infected my younger brother, and our mother also suffered attacks from both who turned into Adam. No, I didn’t see it, but it must have happened that way.”
Kwak Soohwan continued his story in a detached manner, as if talking about someone else’s story.
“When I went out and came back, that tragedy had unfolded. So… I killed everyone with my own hands.”
Seokhwa pulled his hand away from Kwak’s covering hand.
“It’s just a common story.”
As someone who was born and raised in safe Jeju Island, Seokhwa might not be able to empathize. Even though he knows that, he backs away in an instant, feeling uneasy. Kwak Soohwan maintained a nonchalant expression, hiding his inner thoughts, but Seokhwa approached him with determined steps.
“…It hurts.”
As Kwak’s warm hand wrapped around his cheek, Seokhwa could acknowledge that.
“Yeah. It hurts for me too. Very much so.”
His eyes seemed bloodshot for a moment. When he blinked once, they cleared as if to ask when that had happened.
“The soldier from Rainbow City, who helped me when I was alone, was killed. Just because he grabbed my arm, they shot him, calling him dirty.”
A chill seemed to rise through Kwak Soohwan’s cool cheek.
“Do you know what was the first thing I did after becoming the controller?”
Seokhwa only lowered his head silently, looking at him. Now, there was no hint of amusement on Kwak Soohwan’s face. It was so chillingly indifferent that it felt like a snake that had been hiding underground for a long time was now emerging, exhaling its accumulated venom.
“I watched him find that bastard, gouge his eyeballs out, and struggle. I watched for a week until finally, I threw him to Adam as prey. And am I supposed to be the guardian of Rainbow City?”
He firmly clasped Seokhwa’s hand covering his cheek. The bones of his hand clashed against each other from the pressure, causing a slight pain.
“I have nothing left to be taken away now.”
Kwak Soohwan looked up at Seokhwa, who was on his knees.
“I’ll protect you.”
He released the hand he held and this time wrapped his arms around Seokhwa’s waist. He consciously adjusted his strength to avoid choking him too hard.
Seokhwa looked down at his forehead with bewildered eyes. He remembered the man who had become Adam, killing his family, taking care of him, who had been bitten by Adam. He also remembered his actions, holding him tightly, telling him not to change. He couldn’t guess what emotions were behind it, but it still hurt his heart. Seokhwa naturally lifted his arms, which were hanging down, and gently embraced his head. Like always, Kwak Soohwan’s body felt like soothing his own body temperature.
Seokhwa, who began living in the Violet Zone, injected the Adam virus based on his blood.
According to Rainbow City regulations, only those with a biological safety level of 3 or higher were permitted to experiment with the Adam virus. However, since there was no surveillance by Mother here, he could conduct experiments freely. However, only Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan could enter the research building.
After dozens of experiments, surprisingly, his blood became infected with the Adam virus. Seokhwa raised the infected blood much higher than the average human body temperature.
Starting from 44.1 degrees, the activity of the Adam virus began to slow significantly. When it reached 44.3 degrees, it stopped moving as if entering a state of dormancy, and upon surpassing 44.5 degrees, the virus began to be destroyed.
It was a well-known fact that the Adam virus was weak against high fever, but it was rare for a human body temperature to reach up to 45 degrees. Moreover, how many times could the timing be when someone bitten by Adam was suffering from an intense fever? In the end, the human bitten by Adam had no choice but to generate heat on his own to destroy the virus.
In simple terms, a new virus that could raise the temperature quickly was needed. However, the body had to endure the heat up to 45 degrees, and if the fever did not subside, it would be a problem in itself.
Even if successful treatment occurred after infection, it was challenging to call the person immune. There was a significant possibility of getting infected again when exposed to the virus. Seokhwa’s blood was telling this now.
Is there really a cure?
Seokhwa looked down at his body. It would have been good if the immune system had been generated. However, he had definitely raised the temperature to destroy the Adam virus in a short time. Perhaps there were antibodies in this body that generated heat to destroy the virus.
Seokhwa lifted his wrist and lightly touched the still-healing bite mark with his hand.
He had not talked to Kwak Soohwan about it yet, but he had heard about the four rivers from his father when he was young. And his father had claimed to be Euphrates. The children of Bisone and Hymen… Could they have been a couple? Seokhwa sat down heavily on the chair and opened the lid of a container filled with nuts.
It had already been a day since he entered this building. During this time, the three meals were prepared by Kwak Soohwan and left in the adjacent building.
He seemed to harbor an extreme aversion to Rainbow City, more than anyone else. Perhaps, while the First and Second Masters were fighting, he might do something.
Seokhwa peeled off the peanut shell, placed it on a tissue, and rolled the nut with his thumb and forefinger. Since Kwak Soohwan also mentioned that he was a shelter researcher, there might be records of his parents somewhere.
No matter how much he thought about it, Kwak Soohwan was different from ordinary mutants. His physique surpassed criminals like Lee Chaeyoon or Yang Sanghoon by far, and his brain was as intelligent as leading a platoon or secretly operating as a controller.
“A mutant without defects.”
Seokhwa murmured. If that was the case, then was I a defective product? A defective product that couldn’t become a successor…?
The words of his old father, which he had forgotten, sounded strange even now. Although he didn’t understand it at the time, looking back now, it was odd. His father, originally from Jeju Island, received supplies from Rainbow City and lived by the sea.
Although he was physically weak and didn’t do any clear work, around the time Seokhwa was under five years old, he took a boat to Udo Island several times a week. Each time, his grandmother took care of Seokhwa. However, at that time, only workers or approved soldiers could enter Udo, which was both Adam’s clean zone and where the top resided.
The area from Seongsan Port, where the ferry to Udo departs, was a controlled zone, so even Seokhwa, who lived not far from there, had never set foot there. Udo, with strict security, was also an important residence for the First and Second Masters.
He suspected that his father, who called himself Euphrates, might have some connection with the rebels or the upper echelons of the city. It was just a kind of hypothesis, but this time, he didn’t just dismiss what he had said.
Seokhwa looked down at the destroyed Adam virus sample and then glanced at the syringe placed at the end. When injecting the Adam virus and raising the body temperature, collecting a blood sample at that moment might reveal something peculiar.
***
As soon as Kwak Soohwan became a controller, he first found Major Kim. Dealing with him was easy since he was still active as a broker at that time. What did that guy say back then, stumbling on the ground without eyeballs? He probably asked to be killed. His appearance was similar to the man now.
Kwak Soohwan looked down at Dr. Kim, who was groaning on the floor. Yang Sanghoon had thrown the severed fingers of the guy he had just cut off into the trash. Although the guy’s fingers had been cut off, making further research impossible, Dr. Kim would have no chance of surviving.
“People suspected that Dr. Kim gave Adam’s blood to the guy at the restaurant. There’s just no direct evidence.”
Yang Sanghoon nodded in agreement with Kwak Soohwan’s words.
The reason the boy could turn into Adam was because someone had given him a syringe containing Adam’s blood. Yang Sanghoon had suspected Dr. Kim from the beginning. Moreover, when the boy, who had not stopped eating Baksook while being cautious of his surroundings, only eyed Dr. Kim as soon as he appeared.
“Are you one of the elders under the four rivers?”
If Dr. Kim didn’t understand what he was talking about, he raised his head as if he didn’t understand what was going on. At that time, the boy said that he received favor from the elder. If it was the name of that elder, he might have stabbed the syringe into his body.
“Elder! I don’t know about that! Ahh! My hand! My fingers!”
Dr. Kim wailed while looking at his empty fingers.
“Since all four rivers are already dead, what else are you if you’re not the child elder who received their will unless it’s a newborn elder?”
Dr. Kim showed a very subtle hesitation at the mention of the elders’ death, but he focused on wrapping his hand with a rolled-up gown.
“I won’t stay quiet! Absolutely not! How many years have I been loyal to Rainbow City! This can’t happen to me!” Dr. Kim wailed like a broken dam.
Kwak Soohwan threw several photos onto Kim’s face, now covered with tears and snot. When Dr. Kim tried to get up, the photos stuck to his face fell to the floor.
“Take a good look, Dr. Kim. I brought you here to give you a chance. If you had reported to the upper ranks first, you wouldn’t have had time to make excuses.”
Kwak Soohwan pointed to the photos with his chin. The pictures showed the view of a military warehouse not far from the Yeouido Shelter, designated for disposal, and a clear image of Dr. Kim getting on a military jeep without a license plate.
“What is this!”
“Don’t act innocent.”
Kwak Soohwan rotated the chair he had brought and sat down, leaning his arms on the backrest, looking down at Dr. Kim.
“Why did you take a military jeep from the disposal military supplies warehouse? This picture seems a bit strange, doesn’t it?”
Dr. Kim crumpled the photo with his intact hand.
“I just needed it! Just that! Are you punishing me for using this jeep?”
“Of course not. Did you think it would be untraceable because the jeep doesn’t have a license plate? All military jeeps have serial numbers engraved on them. But the jeep you took matches the vehicle that brought soldiers to our Gwacheon Shelter.”
Perhaps due to the severed fingers, Dr. Kim’s face turned pale.
“Dr. Kim. I thought you got away with it that day, but I had planted my people with you since then. All your movements since then are in my hands.”
Dr. Kim, who had complained of unfairness, tossed the photo to the ground and tightly gripped the gown-wrapped hand.
“So, don’t think too hard about it. I’ll just give a hint to Dr. Kim about Serpent and smoothly finish it by expelling him from Rainbow City.”
“Serpent is… me.”
Dr. Kim spat out the words.
“I knew you would do that! You son of a bitch!”
Yang Sanghoon, highly excited, struck Dr. Kim’s belly.
“You damn bastard! An innocent kid died because of you! Can you believe that?”
Kwak Soohwan pressed his throbbing forehead.
“Major Yang.”
“Dammit! You’re really a piece of shit! Those bastards who exploit kids should all die!”
Kwak Soohwan raised his voice towards Yang Sanghoon, who was exercising violence against the shaken Dr. Kim.
“Major Yang! That bastard is not Serpent.”
“So what? He admitted to being Serpent anyway!”
It was when Yang Sanghoon turned around.
“Damn!”
Kwak Soohwan quickly rushed toward Yang Sanghoon, but he wasn’t faster than Dr. Kim, who was right in front of him as soon as he reached out. Only then did Yang Sanghoon, who had been full of confidence, realize that his waist felt lighter.
At the same time, Dr. Kim put the muzzle into his own mouth and fired.
Bang!
The sound of a watermelon breaking echoed, and the splattering brain matter and red flesh flowed down the wall. Dr. Kim showed no hesitation.
Kwak Soohwan flipped his disheveled hair back in front of the now lifeless Dr. Kim.
“Sorry… damn… really sorry, Major Kwak. I…”
Perplexed, Yang Sanghoon muttered while looking down at the collapsed Dr. Kim. Kwak Soohwan tried to say something but barely swallowed it down.
“Report to the upper ranks that he was executed immediately.”
“What about him?”
“I turned off the surveillance cameras here. It doesn’t matter; the upper ranks were already keeping an eye on this guy.”
“Hey, I’m really sorry. When I thought that bastard gave Adam’s blood to that kid, I lost it…”
“Enough, just get rid of the body.”
Yang Sanghoon’s mouth hung open. He expected a barrage of curses, but Kwak Soohwan left the Gwacheon Shelter control room without saying a word.
“Hey! By the way, what about Dr. Seokhwa?! You told me to recognize him, but he looks totally different from what I remember!”
“I wouldn’t have cursed at him. I wanted to ask him this time, but to my surprise, Kwak Soohwan didn’t even look back, raised his middle finger, and walked out.”
Seokhwa spent more than 12 hours a day in the lab. Of course, two hours of that time were reserved for rest to replenish his energy.
The 21 Violet Zone, managed by Kwak Soohwan, showed no signs of popularity. Perhaps the lab where he was located was isolated from other areas, which could explain the lack of activity.
Seokhwa left the lab and walked through the worn-out corridor. The lab of this shelter, which used to be the Green Zone, was not bad in terms of equipment.
It was a two-story building, and next to it was a large building, where soldiers seemed to reside, and jeeps came and went.
Chewing almonds provided by Kwak Soohwan, Seokhwa looked out the window. It was considered safe to look outside through the window; going out directly was dangerous, but he could occasionally see Adam appearing, as this was the Violet Zone.
Seokhwa chewed more almonds and observed a jeep coming in. The person getting out of the driver’s seat was none other than Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa was about to shake his hand out of a sudden sense of familiarity but quickly put his hand back in his pocket. Kwak Soohwan was making an impression and talking to a soldier, and the atmosphere seemed tense. Sensing his gaze, he looked up, and Seokhwa, avoiding his eyes, moved to the window.
Seokhwa had to remind himself of the uncomfortable feeling that he had been experiencing for the past few days. Of course, he had more freedom to research here than at the Yeouido Shelter, and Kwak Soohwan provided all the necessary supplies. It wasn’t that he prevented him from going outside, but it wasn’t easy to go out casually either. It was only now that Seokhwa realized he hadn’t been able to leave the place since he came here.
Walking towards the room arranged by Kwak Soohwan, Seokhwa put the last almond into his mouth. As he opened the door, he saw round stones and a note on the desk. Kwak Soohwan had brought them all. Instead of lying on the bed, Seokhwa went to the desk with stones and sat on the chair. He rested his body and leaned his cheek against the cold desk. Absently blinking his eyes, he gazed at the stones.
Is Kwak Soohwan trying to destroy Rainbow City? Eden Garden too? If a cure is developed, does he plan to use it to build a new power? These questions wandered through his mind, but that’s all. Seokhwa’s thoughts were solely focused on the Adam virus. I don’t know anything about politics. I just want the cure to come out soon so that no one has to suffer from Adam anymore. If that happens, Kwak Soohwan wouldn’t have had to kill his parents and siblings.
“Are you awake?”
Seokhwa lifted his gaze upwards. Kwak Soohwan, who entered without him noticing, was right in front of him. As he stood up, Kwak Soohwan stepped back. Seokhwa turned his chair towards him. Somehow, it seemed like there was a smell of blood, but he dismissed it as a hallucination.
Kwak Soohwan took out a Choco Bar and a few tangerines from his uniform pocket and placed them on the desk.
“Major Kwak.”
“Why, don’t you like tangerines?”
“I like them.”
Tangerines were particularly hard to come by.
“Should I peel it for you?”
“I have no immune system.”
Kwak Soohwan skillfully peeled the tangerine without showing any particular reaction. He skillfully cut it in half.
“Even though the Adam virus in me was destroyed, my blood is still infected with the virus. However, if it’s heated to around 45 degrees, the Adam virus is destroyed.”
As he finished speaking, the juicy tangerine entered his lips. Reflexively chewing on the tangerine, the sweet and sour taste spread in his mouth. Seokhwa involuntarily opened his mouth, surprised by the amazing taste. It was a tangerine he hadn’t had a chance to eat even when he was in Jeju Island. Fruits were very expensive.
“Dr. Seok had a fever that reached up to 45 degrees that day.”
Kwak Soohwan peeled off another point of the tangerine and approached Seokhwa’s lips. Seokhwa resisted the impulse of the tangy taste and turned his head.
“Don’t want more?”
He put it in his mouth instead. Smirking, he raised an eyebrow.
“Anything else you need?”
Seokhwa tightly bit his lips and looked inward. Kwak Soohwan patiently waited for him to speak.
“Bring back my stolen Chale.”
“Why make it difficult when it’s not?”
Kwak Soohwan added that Seokhwa is probably in his room. In truth, what Seokhwa wanted to say was not that. He had intended to bring up the question of what if he got infected again. However, given his knowledge of his past, it wasn’t easy for him to talk about it. His role as a researcher and his emotional self were entangled.
“Can you also bring the vaccine that Eden’s Garden distributed?”
At the time, he had been chased away while investigating the vaccine, but he had found a parasite in it. He didn’t mention this fact to other doctors because the vaccine could have been contaminated during transport.
“Is that all?”
“And… Is it possible for me to visit the Yeouido Shelter?”
Kwak Soohwan’s lips softened gently.
“Going to get a rock?”
“No.”
“Should I bring the rocks from my house in Jeju Island here?”
Seokhwa shook his head, expressing that he didn’t understand.
“I think I need to go to the shelter myself.”
“I’ll go for you.”
“Am I unable to enter the shelter because I lost my researcher qualification?”
He knew that he could enter if he got permission. Kwak Soohwan approached, spread the back of the chair, and placed Seokhwa inside.
“This is the safest place. I let you do whatever you want, Dr. Seok.”
“It’s safe, but I can’t stay here forever.”
“Why not? You spent all your time in the shelter in Yeouido.”
Kwak Soohwan, smiling, felt a bit unfamiliar.
“Then… can’t I go outside?”
“Did I detain Dr. Seok? What are you talking about? I’m just saying let’s stay safe until the situation calms down.”
It was only now that Seokhwa realized the true nature of this uncomfortable feeling. Although he denied it, his situation was akin to being detained.
“I promised to protect you.”
Kwak Soohwan, seemingly unaffected, started peeling the tangerine again. Seokhwa looked down at the smoothly peeled tangerine with unease.
“Damn it, you bastard!” The enraged Second Master swung down the glass tumbler. It was the first time Second Master had shown such a frenzied reaction since the woman’s death. The butler hurriedly approached the master, examining the glass-shattered wounds on the skin.
“Master, please calm down.”
“Get out of my way!”
As the master clenched his fist again, blood dripped onto the carpet. Second Master, holding the electric wheelchair’s directional keys, turned away from the desk.
“He really went too far, Kwak Soohwan… Stripping him of the petrification researcher position and demoting him to a regular citizen? And hiding him somewhere! In the footage seen through Mother, Seokhwa was undoubtedly betrayed by Adam. No, the observation room was dark, and only the outline of a person was visible, but from the duty room onwards, everything was clear.
Adam Kite examined Seokhwa’s blood, and it would have been positive. Even though it wasn’t clear from enlarging the footage whether it was positive or negative, Kwak Soohwan’s expression made it evident. He was undoubtedly desperate.
“He was an immune subject. Seokhwa…”
Second Master also knew that Kwak Soohwan had colluded with the First. However, he couldn’t believe that he would really stab him in the back. He wasn’t a fool who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong, and there was no reason for him to take the First’s side.
Ignoring the anxious butler examining the wounds, the master headed to the office. Recognizing fingerprints on the pad was cumbersome due to the flowing blood. Passing through the long corridor, he raised his voice as soon as he entered the office.
“Mother! Allow access for Second Master of Rainbow City.”
The office lights turned on sequentially, and Mother’s response echoed.
[Second Master voice recognition complete. All servers are now open. Welcome, Master.]
“Immediately revoke Kwak Soohwan’s controller position with the authority of Second Master.”
[Master, that is not possible.]
“…What?”
Impossible? Second Master doubted his ears, widening his eyes.
[According to Rainbow City Amendment Act Article 213, it is impossible to revoke the current controller’s position without the permission of the First Master. Please obtain First Master’s consent.]
That was the favor Kwak Soohwan asked when he allied with the First Master.
“If I join hands with the First Master, the Second Master will try to revoke my controller position first. Please prevent that from happening.”
Damn it!
Second Master threw the cherished mana mineral against the wall.
***
Seokhwa absentmindedly stared at the orange peel on the windowsill. It had dried up completely overnight without any moisture, but the fresh scent lingered.
Seokhwa extended the antenna of the small radio on the desk. Next to the orange peel, he had placed the radio.
Twee, twee. He carefully tuned the radio frequency to avoid any noise.
[…Shelter reorganization is complete. Our citizens, you don’t need to fear Adam. It has been revealed that Adam, who entered the Gwacheon Shelter, is responsible for the actions of our hostile Eden Hills. Through the investigation by the guards, it was revealed that Dr. Kim Seoktae in the Yeouido Shelter is a serpent, and our military is focusing its efforts to eliminate the remaining rebels from Eden Hills.]
What?
Seokhwa blinked his eyelids. He increased the volume of the speaker a bit. However, the news about Dr. Kim or Eden Hills was the end of it. The rest was the usual brainwashing broadcast of Rainbow City.
The serpent I met and its physique and way of speaking were completely different. Dr. Kim as the serpent of Eden Hills? Could the serpent I met that day have been an impersonation? No, it would be more plausible that Dr. Kim was framed. He had suspected Dr. Kim due to the Adam incident at the Yeouido Shelter restaurant, but the idea that he was a serpent was an absurd deduction.
If Dr. Kim were in custody, there was a high possibility of interrogating him to root out information about Eden Hills. Well, more like torture than interrogation. Somehow, it felt like his nails were itching, so Seokhwa put his hand in his pocket and touched the stone.
The second stone Kwak Soohwan had given him was relatively lighter than the first one. Moreover, the condition was better than when he was in the Yeouido Shelter. He could sleep well, rarely interact with others, and have timely meals, so his health had improved.
Knock, knock.
There was only one person who would knock on the door of this room. Even before hearing the radio, Seokhwa had been waiting for Kwak Soohwan.
“Shall we eat?” Usually, he would come in with a plate of food, but Kwak Soohwan entered empty-handed.
“Let’s go to the neighboring building for a meal.”
“We can eat here.”
“It feels stuffy here. Let’s go out and get some fresh air.”
Kwak Soohwan raised his lips as if to say, ‘Look at this, how liberating it is.’
Seokhwa placed the radio back in its original position and put on the coat he had prepared. The fluffy and warm material seemed to raise his body temperature even more.
“How’s the research going?”
Walking side by side with Seokhwa, Kwak Soohwan opened his mouth first.
“Good.”
“I asked for the vaccine, so it should arrive by today.”
“…Yes.”
As Seokhwa only gave brief answers, Kwak Soohwan lowered his gaze and examined Seokhwa’s face.
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
“No.”
“Anything you want?”
Seokhwa couldn’t understand why he was behaving like this. He had always been unpredictable in his actions, but now he wasn’t just protecting himself; he was also offering to do anything Seokhwa wanted.
“Nothing?”
“Yes.”
He sighed briefly, sounding uncomfortable. He answered that way simply because there was truly nothing he desired.
“With the number of meals you’ve had more than me, why do you keep acting like a kid?”
“Me?”
“You’re not acting like yourself.”
“I… I’m the same as usual.”
As they stepped outside the building, Kwak Soohwan used his hand to fix the hair blown by the wind.
“Dr. Seok acts the same as usual. If I don’t feel the same way, then there must be a problem with me.”
Seokhwa, unsure where to go as Kwak Soohwan stopped, stood with his hand in his pocket.
“Your responses, your facial expressions, everything makes me keep checking. I’m not used to this; it’s my first time feeling uneasy.”
In his stiff uniform, Kwak Soohwan looked down at Seokhwa. An irritated expression lingered on him, like those anxious kids who couldn’t have their way.
“Alright, let’s just eat.”
As Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm to lead him, Seokhwa made a groaning sound. It was because the grip was so tight that it made his bones tense. After releasing his arm, Kwak Soohwan matched his stride and walked again.
The entrance to the building called Violet Shelter was guarded by three soldiers. They seemed more disciplined and stern than the Green Zone soldiers, without any expression. After confirming Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa, they simply cleared the way without showing any interest in Seokhwa.
The second-floor restaurant inside the shelter was unusually quiet since lunchtime had passed. Unlike Yeouido, even the restaurant staff here were all soldiers. As there was still food in stainless steel side dishes, Seokhwa picked up a tray.
“If you wait at your table, we’ll bring it to you.”
The cook who leaned out from the kitchen had a strong but polite tone.
“Never mind. Let’s just eat whatever is left. Anyway, Dr. Seok probably doesn’t have anything he wants to eat.”
Why don’t you have anything you want to eat? If there was something, it would be chicken back soup. Since it was a dish that couldn’t be made right away, he didn’t mention it. Seokhwa scooped up cold rice and started taking only enough side dishes not to leave any behind.
“Come on, let’s eat quickly.”
Kwak Soohwan, who was behind, poked Seokhwa’s side with the tray. When Seokhwa turned around, he saw Kwak Soohwan smiling with a slightly mischievous look. Feeling a sense of mischief, who could it be… he was treating Kwak Soohwan no differently than addressing the First.
Even in a situation where human dignity was lost, even when he became Adam, and even after being practically stripped of his researcher status externally, it seemed that even if Kwak Soohwan buried him somewhere and killed him, there was not a single person who would come looking for him. Since his mother passed away, it seemed only natural that he was left alone. Yet, thinking that no one remembered him was somehow melancholic. Now, it seemed that Kwak Soohwan was the only one here who remembered him.
Can I ask about Dr. Kim in this state of mine…?
Seokhwa, without realizing it, was subtly gauging Kwak Soohwan’s reaction. That’s why he couldn’t easily bring himself to ask for the Shalena vaccine.
While Kwak Soohwan protected his well-being, he also held the lifeline in reverse. Even though he thought he had little attachment to life, the first thought that came to him when bitten by Adam was a desire to live.
“The ghost that can’t eat ham seems to have stuck around. The kids completely wiped everything but the ham.”
In the pan where sausages and vegetables were stir-fried, only sausage pieces were visible. Although Seokhwa preferred sausages over vegetables, he scraped together what was left and put it on his plate. Kwak Soohwan raised his eyes in surprise.
Before he could say anything, Seokhwa found an empty spot and placed the tray down. Without saying anything, Kwak Soohwan took a few tiny oranges from his pocket and placed them on Seokhwa’s empty plate.
The shape was similar to an orange, but the size was much smaller, enough to be unsure of how to eat it.
“That’s called a golden nugget tangerine.”
“Golden nugget tangerine?”
“They say you eat it with the peel on, and there are seeds inside.”
Although it looked similar to an orange, the way to eat it was completely different. However, like an orange, this would also be a precious fruit from Jeju Island.
Seokhwa belatedly nodded his head and began to eat slowly. Kwak Soohwan placed half of a sausage on Seokhwa’s spoon.
“…I heard on the radio that they’ve revealed who the serpent is.”
Seokhwa detached his luck first.
“Do you believe it?”
Kwak Soohwan added a word, as if the cook had not even filtered out rotten onions.
“It’s said to be Dr. Kim… I don’t believe it either. So, are they interrogating Dr. Kim?”
“He’s dead.”
Seokhwa froze, holding his spoon. Kwak Soohwan, as if it were nothing significant, continued with his meal. Seokhwa, not knowing what else to say, mechanically moved his hands and mouth.
“Do you not know about this place?”
“Surely, Second Master knows. Even if he knows, what can he do? With his lower body paralyzed, he can’t even come out of Udo easily. Originally, it was a unit created to protect the Second Master, but the people here, the ones I recruited, pledge allegiance to me, not Rainbow City.”
He casually uttered words that could lead to an immediate execution if the higher-ups found out.
The direct unit of controllers residing in Violet Zone 21 consisted of about twenty people. However, each individual was so exceptional that they could be called a special forces unit. With just a few people, they could easily sweep and clear the Red Zone. Moreover, they belonged to the citizens of Rainbow City, but unlike Commander Cha or Kwak Soohwan, they had no official rank, making them ghosts not registered with Mother.
The Second Master intended to create his army but ended up becoming part of Kwak Soohwan’s unit.
“Thinking about it, isn’t it funny?”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled briefly.
“What do you mean?”
“I was born without the city’s permission and was discharged outside. My brother is the same, but even if he’s alive, he wouldn’t have been registered with Rainbow City. He had a congenital disease. Have you ever seen anyone here suffering from an incurable disease or having a disabled body?”
He knew what he was talking about. If you are born with a disability, you are thoroughly abandoned. It was one of Rainbow City’s population policies. They couldn’t divert resources to other welfare when they were focused on protecting citizens and eliminating enemies like Adam and the rebels.
“But one of the big shots in this city has a lower body disability. Another one has a perfectly healthy body, but his brain is filled with crap. Isn’t it ironic that such guys are executing population policies like that?”
Since coming to Violet Zone, or more precisely, since he survived the encounter with Adam, Kwak Soohwan has been candidly expressing his thoughts.
Seokhwa gripped the utensil tightly. Then, in a quiet but undeniably flat voice, he asked, “Major Kwak, do you… want Rainbow City to fail?”
Kwak Soohwan rested his chin on his hand and looked up at Seokhwa. Yeah. He just hummed in his throat with his lips sealed. Ironically, Seokhwa, taken aback, slightly opened his mouth.
“Substantially collapsing the city might be difficult. But there’s one way to break this system. That’s Adam disappearing. Well, even a three-year-old would know that. It’s a theory that even a three-year-old would understand.”
“A three-year-old might not even know the expression ‘theory.'”
Kwak Soohwan raised his shapely eyes.
“And this, Dr. Seok would know better than me. Whether the reason for the Adam virus repeatedly mutating even after the vaccine comes out is natural or not.”
“…”
Seokhwa remained silent for a while, and Kwak Soohwan continued to pass the time by eating.
Having eaten only half of the rice, Seokhwa picked up a golden tangerine placed in front of him. Curious about its taste, he bit into it. The intense bitterness made the mucous membrane inside his cheek, pressed against his teeth, contract. Yet, even though the taste was bitter, his mouth was filled with saliva, and Seokhwa chewed on the fruit, spitting out the seeds onto his palm.
“If you plant these seeds, will they grow?”
“It will take a very long time.”
“Viruses… also take a long time, but there are cases of natural mutations. There have been bacteria called beta-lactamase that developed resistance to penicillin. After that, there were strains that didn’t respond to penicillin at all.”
Seokhwa sighed, and as if to dismiss the topic, he shook the seeds into an empty cup.
“But that’s a phenomenon that occurs over a very long time. It’s rare for seven mutations to occur in such a short period, like now.”
Seokhwa shook his head as if to say it’s not possible even as he spoke.
“Probably… it shouldn’t exist.”
“Is that so?”
Kwak Soohwan finished his meal neatly, stating that his thoughts were the same.
“To maintain this system, Adam is essential for Rainbow City. So, if a new Adam virus that doesn’t respond to the vaccine continues to be needed, it will probably continue to be artificially created.”
If that’s the case, the healthy doctors in the shelter are nothing more than exhibitions. To demonstrate how hard Rainbow City is working on producing vaccines.
Seokhwa might have scoffed and dismissed such a drastic leap if he had said this before he was affected by Adam, but now he sympathized with Kwak Soohwan’s words. Then, who on earth is carrying out such deeds?
“Could it be the Masters…?”
“However, Dr. Seok completely shrugged off my warning,” Kwak Soohwan said, gulping down the water in front of him.
Considering the executed doctors who came close to the truth, it was possible that they had been executed by the Masters or those in higher positions who collaborated with them. Kwak Soohwan himself might have faced such a fate.
“If you’ve finished, let’s go.”
Since Seokhwa had no intention of continuing his meal, he pocketed the golden tangerine. He left the plate on the collection tray and put only one hand in his pocket this time. One side of his coat pocket bulged with the golden tangerine.
Expecting to be taken straight to the building where his lab was, Seokhwa was surprised when Kwak Soohwan headed to the weapons storage room on the opposite side of the cafeteria. Unable to enter, Seokhwa waited for him in the hallway that led away from the storage room.
When he came out of the weapons storage, he was carrying a K3 machine gun on his shoulder. Seokhwa almost thought Kwak Soohwan would go straight to the building where his lab was located. However, Kwak Soohwan headed to the opposite side of the cafeteria. Since Seokhwa couldn’t enter, he waited for him in the corridor that led away from the weapons storage room.
As Kwak Soohwan walked out of the weapons storage room, he had a K3 machine gun slung over his shoulder. Seokhwa felt like Kwak Soohwan was about to leave the scene. Seokhwa waited until he approached, then started walking, matching his steps.
As they exited the entrance to go to the building where Seokhwa lived, Kwak Soohwan stopped him.
“Where are you going?”
“To the lab.”
Seokhwa gave an answer that seemed too obvious.
“Come here.”
Kwak Soohwan, who was a little far away, gestured for him to come. Seokhwa approached, and Kwak Soohwan patted his pocket with one hand. When Seokhwa looked up after getting closer, Kwak Soohwan swept his handsome face down.
“Dr. Seok, have you ever seen a rainbow?”
“No.”
Although Seokhwa knew what a rainbow was, he had never actually seen one. Perhaps it was because he spent more time inside than outside, and Rainbow City did not see as much rain as its name would suggest.
Kwak Soohwan nodded towards the back. Seokhwa couldn’t find a reason to refuse, so he followed him. He didn’t entertain strange thoughts like being taken to the back to be shot. There was no need to waste bullets; Kwak Soohwan could simply break his neck if he wanted to.
Behind the shelter building was a pond that looked artificial, as if it had been made a long time ago. Since the cold wind was still dominant, the pond was frozen solid, and the water plants beneath seemed frozen, as if time had stopped.
“I’ll show you something good.”
Kwak Soohwan loaded the long gun in front of him and started firing at a frozen part of the pond. Tuk-tuk-tuk, the ice shattered with each impact, creating a fountain-like burst of water. Along with the sprayed water droplets, subtle colors began to emerge mysteriously. It was a small and cute rainbow.
As soon as the rainbow appeared, Kwak Soohwan stopped shooting and leaned the gun against his shoulder. He watched Seokhwa, who was witnessing a rainbow for the first time since birth. Of course, the principle of the rainbow was not that complex; it was simply a spectacle of colors due to refraction when light passed through water droplets. However, Seokhwa found it fascinating and stood there for quite a while. The rainbow appeared suddenly and disappeared like an illusion, but the idea of creating a rainbow with a gun was something he had never thought of before.
“…It’s fascinating.”
In response to Seokhwa’s honest impression, Kwak Soohwan showed a triumphant smile. On one hand, he seemed like a child eager to impress.
“Want me to shoot it?”
Of course, he hid the fact that he didn’t discover it himself; it was Sunghoon who informed him. However, Kwak Soohwan suddenly made a disappointed face. It was because there was a red mark on Seokhwa’s jaw.
It was a scratch from a piece of ice, and Seokhwa, unaware of it, looked at Kwak Soohwan with confusion.
“You’re bleeding.”
Only now did he feel a stinging pain, touching it and pulling his hand away. It wasn’t a big wound; there was just a bit of blood. When Kwak Soohwan tried to touch the wound, Seokhwa was surprised and stepped back.
“I’ll go in first.”
For some reason, Seokhwa was moving urgently. Kwak Soohwan quickly caught up with him.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“No.”
“Let me see the wound.”
Kwak Soohwan caught the hand that covered the jaw and made him face him.
“No, it’s okay. There’s blood,”
Seokhwa stopped speaking and closed his lips before finishing. Kwak Soohwan had a rough idea of why Seokhwa was acting this way. Since he had been bitten by Adam, he might be cautious, wondering if there was any issue with his blood.
“You’re definitely negative. What’s there to worry about?”
“Still.”
Seokhwa gave a stern look, indicating not to touch the wound under any circumstances. After all, he was the one going around trying to beat up Adam. What’s there to fear about a mere drop of blood?
“With all that worry, how are you planning to engage with people in the future?”
“Adam’s virus is transmitted through blood. And you can live without engaging in physical contact.”
Seokhwa covered his jaw with his hand again.
“I don’t think I can live without it.”
Kwak Soohwan bluntly remarked, causing Seokhwa to take a step back. As his gaze was as intense, Seokhwa retreated further. Despite being in a confinement that wasn’t a confinement, Seokhwa was conscious of Kwak Soohwan.
“I’m fine with that. His dick is big and even looks pretty, and I’ve even put it in my mouth. I’m not sure about other people’s touch, but the sensation of Kwak Soohwan touching me has lingered in my mind several times.”
“When you were in Yeouido, you kept asking for sperm, but now that it’s readily available, why aren’t you asking anymore? Is it not needed now?”
“Are you offering?”
Seokhwa lowered the hand covering his jaw. Kwak Soohwan seized the opportunity and grabbed his arm. Pulling Seokhwa towards him, he gently bit his jaw.
“Eugh!” Surprised, Seokhwa pushed his shoulder, but Kwak Soohwan, seemingly unscathed, only tightened his grip on his waist. Raising his tongue sharply, he licked the scratch, and then started sucking on it vigorously.
“…Major.”
It felt like the blood inside him was being sucked away. He squirmed awkwardly, raising only his eyebrows, like someone bitten by a vampire. As Kwak Soohwan sucked and licked fiercely, the wound seemed to be neglected.
“…It hurts.”
When Kwak Soohwan finally pulled his lips away, Seokhwa’s jaw was damp with saliva. It felt like the surrounding area had reddened from how forcefully he sucked. Seokhwa, with a face as white as chalk, felt his lips dry. With one swollen eye, he stared at Kwak Soohwan’s wet lips.
…Damn, I can’t stand this.
Seokhwa shook off the sudden roughness in his words as if he were bewitched. He held the radio buzzing inside his uniform and said, “Go in first.” Oddly enough, it was Kwak Soohwan who took the first step. Seokhwa stood in front of the cracked pond, rolling the golden persimmon in his hand. He tried to figure out why Kwak Soohwan suddenly got annoyed, but there was nothing more than him complaining about the pain. Seokhwa pressed his throbbing jaw firmly with his hand. It was only then that he realized it had become erect.
***
As soon as night fell, Seokhwa habitually turned on the radio to check if there was any news. He couldn’t fully trust Rainbow City’s broadcasts, but he wanted to know what was happening. Being confined here, which Kwak Soohwan boasted was safe, could be extremely dangerous for him. While not completely immune, he had survived exposure to Adam’s blood. He must have kept this fact hidden from his superiors, and that’s why he was here.
[The Master voting day of Rainbow City is approaching. The key point will be whether the current First and Second Masters will be reelected. Before the Masters announce their strategies and achievements, the Second Master has unusually sent a statement. It is reported that the development of a cure for the Adam virus is now over 80 percent completed.]
Seokhwa clenched the lukewarm persimmon tightly, rolling it too much. A cure? He wondered if they were lying again. Once again, he focused on the radio, but most of the words were praising the Second Master.
His hair, left unattended, quickly dried as he showered. Seokhwa changed into comfortable clothes and buried himself under the blanket. It was a clean blanket provided by Kwak Soohwan, but the unmistakable smell of mold rose from the mattress. It was pitch dark. After hearing the sound of a few car engines, he heard gunshots. It seemed like they were fired at Adam, who followed the light.
Seokhwa pulled the blanket further up and curled up. Sleeping alone was familiar, but the loneliness of being the only one in this large building came with fear. Seokhwa brought the persimmon he had been holding to his lips. Stones were always comforting, but this persimmon was no less.
Thud!
Seokhwa sat up abruptly at the tremendous noise. Holding the blanket, which was more like a shield, he pressed his back against the wall. Could it be that Adam had come this far? Even though he knew he wouldn’t get infected by Adam, his heart pounded wildly. Thump, thump. He locked the door, and the doorknob shook.
“Major?”
He spat out words from his mouth, but they were too faint for him to hear. As Seokhwa stood up, the doorknob broke with a crunch, and the door creaked open. The light from an incandescent bulb illuminated the corridor and cast a black shadow on the person standing in front of the door. Even with just the silhouette, he could tell who it was. Seokhwa sighed and laid down the quilt after turning on the light.
Kwak Soohwan entered, clad in ordinary pants and a comfortable T-shirt, holding a whiskey in his hand. Silently, he pulled a desk chair and positioned it in front of the bed before plopping down. Seokhwa observed him closely, sipping the whiskey without uttering a word, and then seated himself on the bed. He couldn’t recall witnessing Soohwan drink to the point of intoxication before. However, presently, his eyelids appeared heavy, and his posture seemed more disheveled than usual.
Kwak Soohwan reached out, grabbed a cup on the desk, and poured some alcohol. Seokhwa received the offered glass and spoke, “I can’t drink.”
“I know,” Kwak Soohwan replied, drinking again.
Holding the glass with both hands, Seokhwa’s face seemed a bit tense. Kwak Soohwan, aware of it, continued to stare at him without looking away.
“Dr. Seok.”
He called and then raised the glass to his lips again.
“Would you go to Udo?”
The yellowish liquor in the glass shook slightly.
“Udo?”
“Second Master wants to bring in several doctors under the pretext of developing a cure, and one of them is you, Dr. Seok.”
“I have been stripped of my position.”
“Second Master has given it back to you.”
It seemed like they targeted Seokhwa as he couldn’t be stripped of his controller position.
“Superiors don’t want a cure, they say.”
“If the Second Master can monopolize the creation of the cure, the situation might change. The reason they still haven’t eliminated Adam is to control their security and citizens. If the Second Master can produce the cure, they might even be able to restrain the First. Of course, that’s a story for when it can be made, and they might just use the excuse of bringing Dr. Seok to Udo. There’s a high possibility that the Second Master noticed that Dr. Seok was infected by Adam.”
Are they planning even human experiments, for heaven’s sake? Seokhwa lifted the glass to his lips and then pulled it away. “If we have to go, we have to. If I don’t go, Major, you’ll be in danger.”
As if he had heard an unexpected answer, he tilted his head.
“Superiors must know that Major Kwak is the one who brought me out of the Gwacheon Shelter. But if I don’t go…”
Seokhwa lowered his eyes as if lost in thought. Shadows fell on his thick eyelids, and Kwak Soohwan took a deep breath before clenching his fist.
“I don’t want to lose you. But is Seokhwa really mine?”
Every time he went out and returned to the building, Kwak Soohwan found solace in it. It felt like coming back to a home. While there wasn’t exactly a warm welcome upon return, knowing Seokhwa was in a safe place was reassuring. On the other hand, Kwak Soohwan couldn’t be sure what Seokhwa was thinking. Sometimes it seemed like he wanted to leave, and other times it didn’t. There were clear marks on Seokhwa’s jawline where he had sucked earlier.
Unconsciously, he reached out and cupped the back of Seokhwa’s neck. As he pulled him closer, a slightly wary look appeared in Seokhwa’s eyes. Would making him feel good be appreciated? After all, Seokhwa had shown signs of sensitivity to pleasure before.
Kwak Soohwan, licked the wound he had created with his tongue. Seokhwa’s eyelids fluttered. He raised Seokhwa’s lips slightly higher and pressed them against his soft lower lip, causing Seokhwa’s lips to part.
As Kwak Soohwan slid his tongue, mingling with the faint scent of alcohol, Seokhwa felt like he was getting drunk just from the smell alone. He slid his hand into his shirt and pressed his already stiff nipple firmly with his thumb. As he kissed Seokhwa as if to devour him, the force pushed Seokhwa’s body onto the bed.
“Ah, Major.”
Even as he experienced pleasure, he wondered why they were kissing and entwining their bodies. His gaze, filled with inquiries about their relationship, was fixed on the other person.
“Are we… friends?”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled and let out a bitter laugh.
“That’s the most absurd nonsense I’ve heard lately.”
“So, what are we then?”
Even with a straightforward question, Kwak Soohwan couldn’t easily define their relationship. Instead of an answer, he bit and sucked on the exposed nipple as the shirt rode up.
“Sex… Are we sex partners?”
Perplexed, Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa. “It’s not any kind of relationship, but our bodies intertwine. That’s what the book said.”
“Do you want to be my sex partner?”
Seokhwa looked at Kwak Soohwan with a flushed face and blinked his eyes. “I don’t… know.”
I have to go to Udo…
With a smooth and slender movement, Kwak Soohwan slid his hand down his pants, undoing the buckle. As soon as his hand touched the genitalia, Kwak Soohwan rolled the sensitive glans in his hand.
“What about underwear?”
“Normally… I don’t really wear them.”
It’s too hot because of the fever…
Murmuring, Seokhwa felt the sensation of his genitalia being touched. Imagining him without underwear under the lab coat made the atmosphere unexpectedly lewd. Although he usually had a dull face and claimed not to be interested in such topics, Kwak Soohwan, like an animal, bit and nibbled on Seokhwa’s shoulder. Marks were left on the delicate skin, and with each touch of the lips, Seokhwa’s body shivered honestly.
“So, is this a one-night stand?”
He bit and sucked on the exposed nipple while chewing on it with his tongue. Seokhwa blinked his eyes and pulled Kwak Soohwan’s head closer.
“Who puts so much effort into a one-night stand?”
He felt Kwak Soohwan’s breath spread as he lifted his chest, and then Kwak Soohwan firmly grabbed the back of his thigh when he went down. As he reached below, his erect genitalia was fully exposed. The erect genitalia trembled, reaching up to his back. Seokhwa reached out to him in confusion.
As his buttocks spread and a soft sensation came from below, Seokhwa scratched the sheet with the hand that couldn’t reach him. Feeling a sensation he had never experienced before, Seokhwa twisted his body and let out a moan. No, he wanted to twist, but firmly held by Kwak Soohwan, he could only surrender helplessly as the lower part moved rapidly.
Explicit sounds filled the room, and every time it was thoroughly licked, the hole twitched.
“Hmm… this feels strange.”
To the beast below, it seemed like everything below was being devoured. Kwak Soohwan used his tongue to glide up to the sensitive perineum and sucked on the testicles. Seokhwa draped his legs over Kwak Soohwan’s shoulders and pressed his waist against him. Although he pressed his shoulders with his weight, Kwak Soohwan supported firmly, preventing any withdrawal.
Kwak Soohwan, who had taken both sides into his mouth and then released them, felt him smile. He sucked on the firmly erected tip of the rigid genitalia. Seokhwa’s warm mouth, which had felt cool before, now seemed like a hot spring. Seokhwa, with his hands tangled in Kwak Soohwan’s hair, subtly moved his hips.
“What, you want to come inside my mouth?”
He lightly nibbled on the glans. Anywhere was fine. Seokhwa wanted to be quickly embraced and squeezed in a warm place. The chest that had been thoroughly sucked was cold due to saliva but felt hot. Kwak Soohwan placed Seokhwa, who was urging him to suck again, on top of him. Since he was reversed, Seokhwa’s chin touched his substantial genitalia.
“Lower the zipper.”
With misty eyes, Seokhwa undid Kwak Soohwan’s buckle and lowered the zipper. As the briefs were pulled down, the confined genitalia sprang up energetically. The tightly closed hole between smooth thighs was clearly visible, and Seokhwa, unable to contain himself, grabbed his member. As he awkwardly moved, Kwak Soohwan lightly teased the entrance with his thumb.
“Handsome, isn’t it?”
It was a bit odd to call a genitalia handsome, but it was perfectly shaped, as Kwak Soohwan said. Unable to just watch, Seokhwa extended his tongue and licked the precum. As the lascivious taste stuck to his mouth, he swallowed the glans, and Kwak Soohwan exhaled softly.
Leaning against the top of the bed at an angle, Kwak Soohwan spread Seokhwa’s buttocks and grabbed them. Although it scratched slightly as it entered due to the awkward insertion, he endured it. Despite the small entrance not widening further, just sucking on the tip brought a sense of satisfaction. Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa’s waist from behind, embracing him with large hands and covering his chest.
“Haa… why.”
Seokhwa exhaled a disappointed sigh, as if wanting more. Kwak Soohwan inserted his finger into Seokhwa’s mouth, gently rolling against the ceiling. Holding back laughter due to ticklishness, he pressed his finger against Seokhwa’s tongue, inserting it deeply.
“Mmh. MMph.”
Seokhwa’s chest trembled with a fake gag. As Kwak Soohwan comfortingly kissed his ear, he whispered.
Try opening up more inside. Here, if you keep putting it in, it’ll get wider.
Seokhwa turned his head to look at Kwak Soohwan. His eyes, devoid of focus, were clouded.
“…Is this the right thing to do?”
Since he spoke with fingers in his mouth, the pronunciation was unclear. Nevertheless, Seokhwa harbored a lot of doubts.
“This is like a drug.”
Kwak Soohwan couldn’t define how different his and others’ sex styles were. He was just exercising patience to endure until Seokhwa might faint.
Seokhwa nodded slowly and then went down again to grip Kwak Soohwan’s thigh. Lowering his head, he continued to take Kwak Soohwan’s moist member into his mouth, pushing it deep inside. In the process, he compared it to Kwak Soohwan’s firm lower abdomen, reaching up to his erected nipples.
Open up.
Kwak Soohwan gently teased the exposed hole with wet fingers. As tension eased, Seokhwa’s buttocks blushed vividly as he massaged them. Kwak Soohwan put his finger inside the relaxed hole, and when Seokhwa tried to spit out his member, he blocked it with a thrust of his hips.
“Keep going.”
Seokhwa, bewildered, only held onto Kwak Soohwan’s member with a fluttering of his eyelids. The sensation of the opening below was too unfamiliar. A muffled moan escaped from the blocked mouth, and Kwak Soohwan wantonly explored both above and below, making Seokhwa feel like his body was no longer his own.
As one more finger entered, Seokhwa spat out the genitalia from his mouth. He could only moan as he pressed his face against Kwak Soohwan’s thigh and felt the intense friction from the heavily erected member, even reaching his nipples.
“Tight… hm.”
His forced-open lower part was being intensely stimulated. The fingers moving like scissors came close with excessive stimulation to the mucous membrane that had never been exposed before.
“Ah!”
As the finger was twisted, and the pressure applied to the direction of the abdominal skin, a scream erupted.
“Don’t faint.”
His buttocks clenched, and Kwak Soohwan’s breathing became rough. He continued to press and explore inside with his fingers, and the fluid flowing from Seokhwa’s genitalia slowly dripped down to his chest.
As he surrounded the two thighs attempting to escape and twisted his fingers, a moan close to a whimper burst out. The breath scattered outside was hot. As if awakening from a faint state of mind, continuous stimulation from below poured out relentlessly.
“Ah, no… Hoo…”
As Kwak Soohwan slowly withdrew his fingers, the previously widened opening tightened again. He pulled his fingers before the lower part, painstakingly widened, could fully close. Seokhwa’s heavy breaths caused the lower part to expand once more. Running out of patience, Kwak Soohwan, instead of lubricant, spat saliva into the opening.
“Ugh!”
Seokhwa looked at him with surprise, lifting himself up and covering his buttocks with his hands.
Though it seemed like a blaming gaze, Kwak Soohwan didn’t know what the problem was. Still, he apologized briefly. He carefully pulled Seokhwa, who had distanced himself, closer and embraced him. While gently loosening the damp opening, he rubbed his member against Seokhwa’s genitalia. Sweat glistened on his round forehead. Kwak Soohwan pressed his lips to Seokhwa’s forehead and gently laid him down, then climbed on top.
Lifting his legs and teasing the perineum with his large member, the anticipation or tension caused the opening to contract sharply. Bringing the glans forward, it felt as if it was sucking him in.
“Should I put on a condom?”
Although condoms were supplied in the military, they were of poor quality and often tore easily. Suppressing the desire to thrust as it is, Kwak Soohwan whispered to Seokhwa. While softly caressing his chest and teasing below with his member, he asked, “Do you have any?”
“No, I don’t. We need to get one.”
“I won’t hurt you. I’ll be careful,” he tempted, kissing slowly down Seokhwa’s eyes and cheeks. Seokhwa hugged Kwak Soohwan’s shoulders. Though his large body still provided a sense of security, he was a bit frightened, but it seemed okay. It felt good with fingers, and he couldn’t help but look forward to what it would be like with his member. Was this really meant to be so explicit?
Kwak Soohwan raised both legs high and looked down below. The face of the man who always wore a relaxed smile felt cold. However, the heat in his eyes was evident. Holding onto the buttocks, he began pushing in forcefully. Seokhwa’s mouth opened, but not even a sound could escape. Below seemed to be opening so tight it wouldn’t close again.
Hak, haha… Intermittent breaths escaped his throat like there were beads stuck in it. Kwak Soohwan pressed his forehead and exhaled low. Pushing forward with his glans, it felt like he was being sucked in.
“The effect of the libido suppressant didn’t work well and it has been a while since it wore off. Careless moves might lead to losing control. While penetrating deeper, Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa with a lowered face. The resistance seemed to be weakening.
Seokhwa gasped for air, waiting for the stretched lower part to become familiar. Each time the cock penetrated a bit further, he wrapped his lower abdomen around it. Kwak Soohwan was paving the way with his cock where fingers couldn’t reach.
“Ah, ah…”
“I’ll go slowly.”
Though the words were tender, Seokhwa couldn’t hear them well. Nevertheless, it wasn’t just pain that filled him; it felt like oscillating between heaven and hell. As Kwak Soohwan slowly probed inside, then withdrew his waist, Seokhwa bit his lip. When it went out and then came back in, he couldn’t help but open his mouth.
The pace gradually picked up under the slow teasing, and the thrusting became stronger. As the cock vigorously pounded inside, causing him to gag, the shape of his lower abdomen changed each time it went in and out.
“Oh, Major… Inside… Pushing. Pushing out.”
Kwak Soohwan, holding Seokhwa in his arms, captured both the moaning lips and the hazy eyes. The pleasure of having his cock fully engulfed led to the intensification of the act. If this was what ecstasy meant, it would never end with just one time.
Despite the difficulty, he continued to thrust into a particular place inside Seokhwa that responded, causing his body to tremble.
“Ah! Haah… Ugh.”
As Kwak Soohwan pressed against the prostate, a watery fluid spurted from Seokhwa, flowing down from the testicles to the perineum, surrounding the hole. Seokhwa looked up at him, bewildered.
“Why… Haah!”
Continuing to thrust relentlessly, as if Seokhwa would faint, he began to convulse. Kwak Soohwan recklessly teased his cock against the narrow inner walls.
“Feels good?”
“Ah, it’s strange. It’s coming out. Can’t stop it… Hold it.”
Seokhwa grabbed his member, but it was futile. Kwak Soohwan, with a smile that seemed to say something but didn’t, gently removed Seokhwa’s arms and lifted them up.
Regardless of how many times he had penetrated, now Seokhwa accepted Kwak Soohwan smoothly. The shock when the glans hit the hole and thrust up remained, and Seokhwa’s thighs trembled. He couldn’t endure it anymore. He wanted to escape from the stimulating tremors Kwak Soohwan was giving him or maybe lose all reason and become a mindless body.
Kwak Soohwan pushed himself so obsessively that it seemed as if his fixation nature might truly be focused on sex, and he didn’t stop at ejaculation either. Seokhwa remained oblivious to when he climaxed. No, it wasn’t even an ejaculation; his lower region was drenched with a watery fluid. Each time Kwak Soohwan went in and out, there were squelching sounds. Seokhwa wondered if he had lost control due to the stimulation of penetration.
“Stop, Major… I need to… go to the bathroom.”
Seokhwa murmured that it couldn’t go on anymore, but Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa’s body and sat him on top. As the penetration became deeper, Seokhwa, completely soaked below, twisted his body.
“Dr. Seok, you suit my taste perfectly.”
His voice was deeply buried.
“Taste…?”
“You’re very clear.”
With a thrust, he lifted his waist. Seokhwa strained to place his cheek on Kwak Soohwan’s shoulder.
“Dr. Seok, you’re like a fountain bursting with these clear fluids.”
His voice was hoarse.
“What’s that…?”
Well, you do have to know what shame feels like. When Kwak Soohwan laughed, everything beneath, filled with his penis, trembled
“Seokhwa.”
Huh! With him deeply inside, Kwak Soohwan called him. Gripping his waist tightly, he pressed down to prevent any escape.
“Seokhwa.”
Lifting his face, Kwak Soohwan wet his chin.
“Hyung.”
Seokhwa opened his eyes wide, looking down at Kwak Soohwan. While looking up, he extended his tongue, licked the nipple, and sucked it again. It seemed that the violation wasn’t limited to their entangled bodies but also reached their gaze. Hyung, do you like it? Feeling strangely different, Seokhwa tried to push him away with his lower abdomen and fingertips, but Kwak Soohwan intentionally dove in.
His unstable breathing disrupted, and the area below, which had been pounded, seemed completely turned into a genital organ beyond control. He wished he could faint instead, but every time his mind grew hazy, a surge of stimulation flowed through him.
“Haah, it’s hard…”
Kwak Soohwan withdrew his penis and thrust back in forcefully. Ah! A shock followed, enough to push him upward, but he had to endure it to the root as he held both wrists tightly. Goosebumps rose as his sucked chest became more sensitive. His eyes, fixed on Seokhwa, were vivid, unlike the distracted Seokhwa. Moreover, there was fear as he didn’t ejaculate, which was terrifying. It seemed like the wide-open hole wouldn’t return.
“Do you… not ejaculate?”
“It’s because of the suppressant developed by Dr. Seok.”
Blaming Seokhwa for his cock not softening, he felt another expansion as the swollen member penetrated deeply once more. Every subtle movement of his felt significant due to being enclosed by Seokhwa’s inner walls.
Despite the turmoil within, conflicting emotions crossed his mind. As Kwak Soohwan explored places even he didn’t know, rather than embarrassment or wariness, he felt the desire to press their skin together more. He reached out his trembling hands and embraced Kwak Soohwan’s body.
“I ejaculate.”
His muscles trembled as if burned, feeling the shock fully on his palm. He whispered. Kwak Soohwan chuckled as if amused by Seokhwa’s whisper. However, he soon embraced Seokhwa’s body tightly with both arms.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Now, he was tired and couldn’t hold on anymore. He couldn’t even speak those words, and the strength drained from the hands that were holding tightly.
“I think you need to help me a little if I’m going to cum.”
I called him “hyung,” without even thinking…
Kwak Soohwan withdrew his penis from Seokhwa. As he withdrew without warning, the hole quivered with a sense of loss. Only moans came out as the widened interior contracted again. He flipped Seokhwa’s body over, grabbed his waist firmly, and lifted it up. Barely pressing the bedsheet with both arms, a clattering sound was heard. At the same time, something pierced inside.
“Ah!”
Entering from below, he trembled even more as if to say it hadn’t been just a prelude until now.
“Ah! Hoo…”
Entering from behind instead of the usual position was much deeper. He felt like his rock-hard penis was scraping against his inner walls so fiercely that his tailbone felt pushed out. He couldn’t support his body anymore, and his arms lost their strength. His upper body, reaching out its hands, collapsed onto the rough sheet, cheek grazing it. Even saliva dripping from the open mouth stained the sheet. Without releasing the hand holding his waist, he repeated pounding against the hot inner walls.
Seokhwa couldn’t even grasp the sheet, and only his penis was fluttering as Kwak Soohwan tormented him. He wanted to run forward and take out the member that was filling him, but the difference in strength made him just call out to him.
Major Kwak, Major Kwak…
While he was jerking, Kwak Soohwan inserted his member deep enough to touch Seokhwa’s pubic hair. When he moved his waist to the deepest position, it felt like a punch to the stomach. Pleasure and pain alternated, and his eyelids kept drooping.
“Ha, do you really need my cum? Can I do it inside?”
“…Inside? Hmm, where?”
Seokhwa asked back, not even realizing what he meant.
“Here, inside hyung.”
“… Ugh!”
As Kwak Soohwan pushed his member in, Seokhwa’s feverish eyes turned cloudy.
“Shall we do it outside?”
Kwak Soohwan, who had his upper body pressed against his back, whispered. His body was also hotter than usual, and it felt nice to touch his firm body.
“Outside…Inside…In the petri-dish…”
He muttered without even knowing what he was saying.
Kwak Soohwan wrapped his hand around Seokhwa’s penis, which was fortunate for him not to faint. Perhaps it was because the inhibitor drug effect remained, but more watery fluid than semen leaked out. Even though he kneaded and shook it, it only stood halfway up and did not become solid. Kwak Soohwan bit Seokhwa’s shoulder and sucked it, then tapped Seokhwa’s waist again. Every time, his still tense body reflexively contracted.
“I’ll do it right away, right away.”
Seokhwa wanted to argue with him for saying something similar earlier, but all he could do was exhale.
Still, he didn’t know if his physical strength had improved a lot while he was here, or if Kwak Soohwan was just saying it, but he just wanted to keep holding on. As his body was defenselessly pierced, Kwak Soohwan’s trust was growing. If something other than him had entered his sensitive insides, he wouldn’t have felt any pleasure due to fear. However, because it was Kwak Soohwan, he could entrust his body to him. Of course, the person giving him a hard time right now was Kwak Soohwan.
Seokhwa barely moved his limp body and curled up face down. He felt like a foolish animal with only his head stuck in a cave, but it was much more comfortable than having his waist held by his strength. As a result, the lower part containing the member was exposed obscenely under Kwak Soohwan’s gaze. Since his buttocks were slightly raised, the penetration became a little deeper. Kwak Soohwan, who was gently rubbing his member, let out a low breath.
Even though he had never properly experienced sex, he managed to captivate people’s attention. The idea that Dr. Seok’s sex life would be pathetic if he rescued others’ members had to be reconsidered.
“Ha, damn. My member is melting.”
“Ah, why use such profanity… um.”
“It’s just an expression of admiration.”
As Kwak Soohwan gradually increased the speed, squeezing both well-shaped buttocks, Seokhwa turned his head to look at him. Kwak Soohwan, who had been focused on Seokhwa, soon noticed his gaze. It seemed strange that Seokhwa, with exhausted and drooping eyes, continued to look at him, and it even seemed to encourage him. Kwak Soohwan, driven by that momentum, explored further below.
A fragrant, sweet aroma wafted up. The passion between the two was erupting. The scent made Kwak Soohwan’s desire intensify, and he embraced Seokhwa’s body as if engulfing it. Seokhwa’s moans were surprisingly faint. As they clashed more fiercely, repeating intense insertions as if devouring the entire body, at some point, Seokhwa’s body completely relaxed.
Damn, he was undoubtedly unconscious, yet below, it still stimulated him. Kwak Soohwan, unable to stop, thrust his teeth into the soft neck.
Gotta control myself, he thought to himself, withdrawing his member with a swift motion. Observing the hole that was opened to accommodate his member, the urge to thrust again surged strongly.
Still holding his member, which was still intimidating, he reached out to the top of the bed. The bed must have shaken so much that even a water bottle had tipped over. He grabbed the half-poured bottle of water, gulped it down, and then sprinkled the remaining water on his member. Although it was lukewarm, it seemed to settle down a bit compared to before.
Kwak Soohwan carefully embraced Seokhwa’s body, removing the sheet covering the bed. There were no new sheets in the unused building. It might be a little uncomfortable, but he wrapped Seokhwa’s body in a blanket.
Putting on his clothes haphazardly, Kwak Soohwan lifted the limp Seokhwa gently. As he was leaving the room, he grabbed one of Seokhwa’s favorite toys. It took quite a while to reach the adjacent shelter because the erect member didn’t easily subside while walking.
Some soldiers who were standing guard looked bewildered, wondering if Seokhwa had died, but that was it. Kwak Soohwan walked up to his room. Until he laid Seokhwa on the bed, he couldn’t regain his composure, hoping that Seokhwa would wake up by then.
He had intended to make Seokhwa feel good, but it turned out to be awkward.
Nevertheless, it seemed like he enjoyed it… Kwak Soohwan meticulously wiped Seokhwa’s body with a warmed towel. He wiped the soft member clean and gently swept over the reopened hole.
“Dr. Seok, am I not patient enough?”
Despite such actions, Seokhwa’s body was marked with reddened traces from bites and suctions. Already weak, even the skin seemed delicate. Kwak Soohwan continued to wipe the body and finally covered him with a blanket. He entered the bathroom, grasped the showerhead, and took a cold shower as hot water wasn’t available. Thankfully, the situation below calmed down. However, the hand holding the showerhead was stiff.
Honestly, he didn’t expect it to be this good. It’s a big problem. If Seokhwa says he won’t do it again, he’ll have to figure out how to smooth things over with Tyler somehow. Concerns about his stamina surfaced as he lay exhausted on the floor. Still, Seokhwa wasn’t someone who would engage in casual sex easily.
Kwak Soohwan, towel-drying his hair, opened his eyes. He thought Seokhwa was still sleeping, but he had his eyes open. “Are you awake?” Despite Kwak Soohwan’s question, Seokhwa continued to stare at the ceiling. Something seemed odd, and as he approached, Seokhwa opened his eyes, but they lacked focus. Wondering if he was just half-asleep, Kwak Soohwan observed, and soon Seokhwa closed his eyes again.
Something blinked intermittently on the uniform hung on the clothes rack. It was a lamp attached to a military radio. As he was about to grab the radio and detach it, Commander Jung’s voice came through the radio, and it sounded unusual. Moreover, the way he spoke to his subordinate suggested someone else was present.
“Speak.”
[Come down to the first floor right now.]
“What’s the matter?”
[Hello, Major Kwak Soohwan.]
Through the radio, another voice, not Commander Jung’s, spoke.
“Who is this?”
[I am Dr. Choi Hoeon, a colleague of Dr. Seokhwa.]
Choi Hoeon?
[Haha, excuse my intrusion, but I have come to Zone 21 in person. Can we meet?] Unless Commander Cha has gone mad, why would he bring Choi Hoeon here? However, seeing that Commander Cha was still using informal language with me, it was highly likely that the fact he was a controller was unknown.
“I’ll go.”
[Dr. Seokhwa is also here; why don’t you come down together?]
“I’ll go alone.”
[While conducting an epidemiological investigation regarding the Gwacheon Shelter incident, we discovered a kit with Dr. Seokhwa’s blood.]
Kwak Soohwan cut off the communication. He tucked the dog tag into his shirt and changed into his uniform. The fact that Commander Cha brought Choi Hoeon to this area meant it was at least a Level 1 critical situation. Those who knew I had Seokhwa with me were at the highest levels.
Kwak Soohwan looked at the bed where Seokhwa was sleeping, holstering his gun. Seokhwa, wrapped in a blanket, sat up and looked at him.
“Dr. Choi Hoeon came?”
It seemed like the brief moment Seokhwa opened his eyes earlier was an attempt to regain consciousness. However, his voice was noticeably hoarse.
“I’ll be back.”
“I’ll come too.”
Seokhwa got up from the bed but swayed. Before he could support him, Seokhwa opened the wardrobe and took out a few of Kwak Soohwan’s casual clothes. Kwak Soohwan held Seokhwa’s shoulders, guiding him back to the bed.
“Just stay here.”
Just looking at Seokhwa’s face would reveal that they had engaged in intimate activities. Moreover, it was an Adam’s kit, and all the kits left in the medical office had been collected and dealt with a long time ago. Whether Choi Hoeon was merely observing or had watched the footage from that day, one thing was certain – there was something fishy.
Ignoring Kwak Soohwan’s words, Seokhwa began to put on clothes.
“Dr. Seok, do you know what you look like right now?”
He opened the coat button of the uniform. Since there was no mirror in the room, Seokhwa glanced at the bathroom while buttoning up. The shirt and pants didn’t fit properly, so he cinched the waist.
The marks on the eyes and cheeks were vivid, and the neck and collarbone were covered with bite marks and red traces. However, the more significant problem was that he still felt a foreign sensation with every step he took.
Grabbing the bathroom door, Kwak Soohwan gestured towards the bed with a nod of his chin.
“Go and talk alone, I’ll be back soon. Take a rest.”
Before Seokhwa could respond, Kwak Soohwan left the room and locked the door from outside. Seokhwa, who had gone out late, tried turning the doorknob but in vain. Somehow, the memory of being trapped in the isolation room flashed through his mind.
He knew it was an action to protect him, but there were times when Kwak Soohwan tried to control him completely. Even though it was his duty, Seokhwa couldn’t help but feel uneasy about being excluded. Even if he had such thoughts, he couldn’t go outside anyway, so he slowly walked towards the bed. It felt as if gravity was acting doubly on his lower half.
Noticing the absence of a clammy feeling on his body, he realized belatedly that Kwak Soohwan had wiped him down. Seokhwa brought his hand between his buttocks. The heat was intense. Thinking about the sensation of his genitals being stirred up and the tightness below, he involuntarily twitched, and his lower body moved.
The stimulation of nerves, experienced for the first time in his life, contained an addictive quality. The sensation of Kwak Soohwan’s firm skin rubbing against him each time was pleasant. Even when bitten on the chest and sucked, or when his genitals were teased, he felt a sense of fullness. That’s probably why people engage in sex, he thought.
Lying on his side and unable to fall asleep, Seokhwa began to look around the room. There were only a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe, and the room was neater than he had expected. Come to think of it, the room Kwak Soohwan used in Yeouido was also well-organized. Seokhwa picked up a cube placed on the desk.
The old cube with peeling paint felt worn-out, with the rotating faces showing signs of wear. It seemed different from the cubes he usually played with. Seeing that it was kept instead of discarded, it might have been a precious item.
Seokhwa placed the cube next to the stone that seemed to have been brought by him. After contemplating for a moment, he opened the desk drawer, just as Kwak Soohwan had done. It wasn’t a childish revenge, just mere curiosity. However, there were no pens or paper in the drawer. Only one book was laid out, and it didn’t have the barcode label of the Rainbow City Library.
Seokhwa carefully opened the book.
[Kwak Soohwan]
The owner’s name was written, as if there was a name tag on the book. The handwriting was amateurish, like that of a child. Flipping through the pages, he noticed the handwriting gradually becoming more refined. Turning a few more pages, something stuck between the pages caught his eye.
It was a discolored piece of paper stained with dark red.
[Alive]
Seokhwa stood frozen for a while, holding the open book.
It sounded like someone’s cry, and at the same time, it seemed like a plea. It was strange that sound could be heard from the letters, but the wishes contained in these two characters were palpable. Feeling like he had glimpsed into a part of Kwak Soohwan’s depths that he shouldn’t have seen, Seokhwa closed the book with a thud.
Alive. The letters lingered in his mind, refusing to be erased.
***
An army jeep idled with the engine running. Steam rising above the hood indicated that spring was still distant. Kwak Soohwan looked out through the second-floor window before finally coming down to the lobby.
When Commander Cha met his gaze, he sent an apologetic glance. Choi Hoeon was dressed in a neat black suit, smiling as he roamed around the shelter lobby.
Originally, this building had been used as the residence for researchers conducting biotechnology studies. Of course, transformed into a military facility, there were almost no traces left of that time. The only remnants were pictures of researchers left abandoned in one corner of the lobby. Choi Hoeon walked over, pressing the frame against the floor with clean shoes, picking up the frame. Within the broken frame, people dressed in various colors of gowns were smiling.
“Dr. Choi Hoeon?”
Kwak Soohwan’s voice rang out as he descended the stairs.
“Oh, you’ve finally come. Welcome, Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Choi Hoeon placed the frame back in its original position and returned to Cha, the Colonel. He extended his hand for a handshake, but Kwak Soohwan greeted him with a nod. Choi Hoeon, putting his hand down as if there was nothing awkward, smiled deeply.
“But where is Dr. Seokhwa?”
Choi Hoeon glanced up the stairs that Kwak Soohwan had just come down from.
“He’s not feeling well, so I came alone. What brings you here?”
This guy, a member of the prestigious Gomo clan from Busan, was not even registered in the mutant database.
He is from an esteemed family in Busan, and he is not even registered in the mutant database. He had more expertise in botanical modifications than viruses, and his strength surpassed that of an A-grade soldier. It wouldn’t be a huge leap to say that this was acknowledged by Lee Chaeyoon. Kwak Soohwan, looking at Choi Hoeon, also smiled as if in agreement.
“We shouldn’t talk here. Let’s go to my room with Dr. Choi.”
Caught in the middle, Commander Cha, who had been nervously hesitant, finally managed to speak. Outwardly, as Commander Cha held a higher rank, Kwak Soohwan appeared to obediently follow, and Choi Hoeon, expressing gratitude for their consideration, exchanged greetings.
It was challenging to call it Commander Cha’s room specifically, but they opened the door to the first-floor office they used for strategy meetings. The Rainbow City map hanging on the wall had various colored pins stuck in each zone. Currently, green pins were the most numerous, followed by red. Choi Hoeon, looking at the map with interest, finally lost in thought.
“I’d like to have a private conversation with Major Kwak Soohwan.”
“…Certainly, Doctor. Once the discussion is over, I will escort you back to Yeouido.”
Commander Cha closed the door and left. Only then did Kwak Soohwan sit down at the desk.
“The Violet Zone is not an easy place to access, and the fact that Dr. Choi was brought here by Commander Cha implies a significant matter.”
Choi Hoeon, who had been looking at the map, turned around. He took off his glasses and put them in his suit pocket. Then, from inside, he pulled out a kit contained in a transparent pack.
“The blood on this kit belongs to Dr. Seokhwa. As you know, the result of the kit indicates a positive reaction.”
Kwak Soohwan responded with a relaxed fist.
“So, are you suggesting that Dr. Seokhwa has become an Adam?”
“I’ll have to see it with my own eyes. There are rumors that Major Kwak has a secret relationship with Dr. Seokhwa, and it’s possible that you’re hiding Dr. Seokhwa, who has become an Adam. But hiding an Adam is a serious crime, as you know.”
Don’t get involved. There was a high possibility that the bastard already knew that Seokhwa was fine.
“But it’s strange. Dr. Seokhwa’s researcher position was revoked and then reinstated. I acquired this kit in the meantime.”
“Even if you were colleagues for a few days, why would you be so interested in Dr. Seokhwa?”
“Well, Dr. Seokhwa might be an immune individual.”
Choi Hoeon answered easily, as if it were a very ordinary question.
“If that’s the case, Dr. Seokhwa should do a lot for Rainbow City. Don’t you think so, Major Kwak?” Kwak Soohwan pondered for a moment. If he had strength surpassing that of a registered mutant and didn’t even appear in the database, it was impossible to rule out the possibility of a spy planted by the higher-ups.
There might be other positions to restrain the controller, but Kwak Soohwan’s intuition spoke volumes. It seemed like that guy hadn’t fallen victim to Rainbow City’s brainwashing.
Considering the timing of his arrival at Yeouido and choosing the research labs with Dr. Kim and Seokhwa among many, not to mention acquiring the kit in Gwacheon, it was clear that he had been keeping an eye on Seokhwa. Moreover, a fellow researcher, Dr. Kim, associated with Eden Orchard, had died. Why wasn’t he delving into that?
“Hey.”
Choi Hoeon furrowed his eyebrows at the impolite remark.
“Serpent, right?”
“…”
There was no sign of agitation in his raised cheek and pupils. Similarly, Kwak Soohwan, with his fist clenched, only crossed his legs. Breaking the silence that had lasted for a while, it was Kwak Soohwan who chuckled.
“Maybe because you’re used to just looking through a microscope, you don’t know how to enjoy a joke. Anyway, even if the blood in that kit is Dr. Seokhwa’s, there shouldn’t be any issue. The accuracy of the Adam Virus kit is around 98 percent, and the kit Dr. Choi is holding demonstrates the 2 percent margin of error.”
Choi Hoeon turned the kit in the plastic around.
“There’s no registration for the name Kwak Soohwan in the mutant database.”
“Oh, I came from outside. Also, it’s just a story that I might not be a mutant.”
“Even though you’re not registered, all the surrounding soldiers are convinced that Major Kwak is a mutant. I see it too. Someone who single-handedly clears the Red Zone isn’t an ordinary researcher.”
“But isn’t that the same for you? You don’t look like an ordinary researcher either, and likewise, you’re not in the database. Could it be that you’re not from here either?”
Kwak Soohwan tested Choi Hoeon with a light tone.
The fact that Commander Cha brought him here indicated that he approached first. Being from an esteemed family might explain why he seemed to know more than expected. Yet, catching onto the relationship between Commander Cha and himself was curious.
“If I report this kit to the higher-ups, Dr. Seokhwa will be summoned for whatever reason.”
“But even without that, Dr. Seokhwa will soon be sent to Udo.”
Choi Hoeon’s eyes, which had shown no fluctuation throughout, twitched very briefly. With this, it became clear that he had an excessive interest in Seokhwa.
Kwak Soohwan released his clenched fist and stood up from the desk. He approached Choi Hoeon, extending his hand and asking for the kit.
“Send him to Udo?”
Choi Hoeon expressed doubt, suggesting it wasn’t likely.
“Major Kwak. As you know, unlike Major Kwak, who is said to have come from outside, I grew up in a very wealthy family. Although the world is in this state, I’ve experienced almost everything. I’ve even raised precious dogs and cats. They lived safely and died peacefully in their old age. However, thime was only one failure.”
“That’s something you write in an autobiography.”
He urged Choi to hand over the kit before using force.
“It was when Adam entered the Green Zone where I lived, and the infection started within minutes. Thinking it could infect birds, I fled to the air-raid shelter with my canary, who was still a chick. After safely entering the shelter and looking at the canary, it died in my hands, whether it was due to my excessive worry or not.”
“I’m too ignorant to understand even if you make such a metaphor.”
“Bring Dr. Seokhwa to me.”
“If you don’t want to.”
“I will report to the higher-ups.”
“Do you think you can come back alive?”
“We need Dr. Seokhwa.”
“No one needs Seokhwa as much as I do.”
Safety, creating a family-like barrier, welcoming him warmly each time he returns safely – he will have all of that. I will even bring back rocks for him. While Rainbow City crumbles, Seokhwa will be living in a cozy place.
“Is it reasonable not to develop a cure just for the desire of one Major?”
“Because Dr. Seokhwa is not an immune.”
“What about the cure itself?”
Kwak Soohwan scoffed.
Reaching out, he tried to snatch the kit from Choi’s wrist. Choi Hoeon, with immense strength, held onto the kit. Kwak Soohwan raised his elbow, hitting Choi Hoeon’s chest and struck his jaw with his fist. Stepping back a single pace during this, Choi Hoeon dodged the punch.
“Kuk, Major Kwak.” “That’s why I said, let’s not use force unnecessarily.”
Choi Hoeon, finding it difficult to convey through words, swung his fist while still holding the kit. Kwak Soohwan lowered his upper body and drove his fist into Choi’s solar plexus. A short cough from Choi, who retrieved his tie, winding it around his hand. Quick to react, he lunged at Kwak Soohwan, wrapping his hand around his neck. However, Kwak seized the opportunity to slip his hand in and tear the tie off.
Grown up in affluence? At least, his fighting style isn’t very elite.
Once again, a hand-to-hand battle ensued as they aimed punches at each other’s vital points. However, unable to land significant blows, the confrontation deteriorated into an endurance match.
“I didn’t come here to fight with Major Kwak!”
“If you take Dr. Seokhwa, we have to fight. It’s obvious we’ll end up as human experiments in the Immune Experimentation Center.”
Hoo, Kwak Soohwan exhaled and threw a punch. The cabinet, caught in the wind, dented unimpressively instead of hitting the intended target.
“Stop!”
Choi Hoeon clicked as he loaded his gun, aiming it at Kwak Soohwan.
“It could be fatal.”
Kwak Soohwan released his clenched fist and approached the gun.
“Please stop!”
Choi Hoeon raised both hands, signaling that he wouldn’t fight anymore.
“I’m not here to fight. I happened to come across footage of Major Kwak discussing matters with Commander Cha at the Gwacheon helter during an epidemiological investigation related to this incident. It was coincidentally found while investigating this incident. As you both have no connection, it was strange that Commander Cha went down to Gwacheon to meet Major Kwak. Moreover, the last person to take Dr. Seokhwa was Major Kwak. Just to be cautious, I mentioned it to Commander Cha before reporting it to higher-ups. Commander Cha deemed it an important matter and brought me here.”
Choi Hoeon spoke without hesitation, “What about that kit?”
“I watched the video from the Gwacheon Shelter’s duty room stored in MOTHER.”
Kwak Soohwan turned the gun’s muzzle and holstered it.
“That kit, it’s Dr. Seok’s, right?”
“…”
Choi Hoeon sighed, not with relief but unease, then nodded his head.
“Go back.”
Even for someone like him, killing a person from a prestigious family would not be easily forgiven. The hesitation still lingered, but the first thing to do was to erase Seokhwa’s presence from Rainbow City.
“Why is Dr. Seokhwa going to Udo?”
“Well, I don’t know. But, Dr. Choi, no matter how you think about it, you seem closer to the field than a researcher.”
The clean suit, glasses, and unworn shoes all seemed like a mask that enveloped Choi Hoeon. Even if he had been hit, such a level of impact usually disrupts the sense of balance. It seemed as if he learned various self-defense techniques to protect his own body.
“I’ve learned self-defense to protect myself in this world where I have to preserve my own body.”
“Did you learn self-defense from a street thug?”
Like Lee Chae-yoon’s instinctive intuition, Kwak Soohwan also felt suspicious about the guy’s identity, but it was a waste of time.
“Dr. Choi Hoeon, I’ll inform Commander Cha that I’m heading back now.”
“You’ll regret it.”
“That’s a typical line from a villain.”
“Dr. Seokhwa is weak. That’s his flaw.”
Hearing the word “flaw” directly made Kwak Soohwan more uncomfortable.
“Get out.”
“However, he mentioned that gaining heat puts him once again free from the constraints of the flesh.”
He gestured for them to stop blabbering nonsense and leave. Choi Hoeon glanced at his wristwatch, then took a deep breath before exhaling loudly. He then raised both palms to the sky over his chest, closing his eyes as if receiving a divine revelation. If angels had descended behind him, it would have been a plausible sight, but this neighborhood was a world where monsters served as the backdrop anyway.
“The four rivers of Eden’s Hill have erected the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.”
Choi Hoeon slowly opened his eyes with a smile. It seemed like utter nonsense, but before he could even mock it, his vitality vanished. This guy had been stalling for time with unrealized performances.
“We are the Tree of Life, and we condemn you.”
Boom! Along with a thunderous noise resembling a sonic boom, the entire glass window shattered. Flames erupted fiercely from the explosion outside. It was a moment intensified by countless screams of the Adams.
“Fuck! Dr. Seok! Kwak Soohwan urgently opened the door to the conference room, drenched in sweat.
***
Dr. Seokhwa? Someone knocked on the door, calling for Seokhwa. Seokhwa quickly changed into Kwak Soohwan’s training suit, loosening the belt for a bit of comfort; it wasn’t bad at all.
“Who is it?”
“Commader Cha here. I’ll open the door. Please step back.”
Following the voice from outside the door, Seokhwa moved to the corner of the bed, as instructed. The discomfort inside his sore buttocks remained, but he could still move.
“Are you far away?”
Commader Cha’s voice sounded distant. Seokhwa raised his voice a little and replied, “Yes.” Then bang, several gunshots were heard, and the door opened. Since Kwak Soohwan had jammed the latch so that no one else could open the door, Commader Cha had no choice but to resort to this method.
Seeing Commader Cha revealed, Seokhwa was puzzled.
“What’s going on?”
Commader Cha, who made this decision, thought that Kwak Soohwan could at least endure it, or perhaps he would be hit hard enough to nearly die.
“Doctor, the situation with Major Kwak Soohwan has become quite difficult.”
“…Because of me.”
Commader Cha looked surprised. Seokhwa hadn’t expected him to reveal that he knew everything.
“Is protecting me causing a problem? In that case, I’ll go to Udo.”
“Udo?”
“Yes, I was summoned to Udo by the higher-ups.”
Commader Cha seemed puzzled by this unexpected development.
Dr. Choi explained that Seokhwa, being an immune survivor even after being infected by Adam, needed to be taken to Yeouido. He even showed the video of Kwak Soohwan taking Seokhwa out of the shelter in Gwacheon.
Commader Cha had initially planned to vent his anger, but the fact that Kwak Soohwan was the one protecting Seokhwa was already known to the higher-ups. They just didn’t know Seokhwa was an immune.
Commader Cha had no choice but to bring Dr. Choi here. If a report on the immune went up to the higher-ups, the entire Hyeonbyeong unit would have come to subdue Kwak Soohwan.
“Dr. Seokhwa, I’m not sure where you need to go, but Dr. Choi Hoeon came here personally to take you. From what I see, he seems rational and gentlemanly, so there shouldn’t be any major issues with your safety.”
In truth, Commader Cha wasn’t entirely sure. If Seokhwa was truly immune, it was evident that he would undergo some experiments. However, Commader Cha had to protect the Controller and his unit.
“Yes.”
Seokhwa nodded obediently.
Seeing that Commader Cha was waiting and standing in front, it seemed like a situation where they needed to leave immediately. Seokhwa wanted to take the stone that Kwak Soohwan had given him, but the urgent urging left him with nothing but reluctance.
Following Commader Cha at a slow pace, Seokhwa bit his lips a few times due to the dull pain. Fortunately, there was no blaming himself for his slow steps. He thought they were heading straight out to the lobby, but suddenly Commader Cha grabbed Seokhwa’s forearm.
Crack, crunch, kyak! Familiar but unpleasant sounds of a beast were heard. Startled, Seokhwa also widened his eyes. Three soldiers who had been in the lobby were turning their heads like Adam, searching for prey.
Why…?
Seokhwa didn’t speak out, fearing they might hear. Commader Cha, too, couldn’t fathom why his subordinates had turned into Adams. But with Adam right in front of them, there was no need for speculation.
Commader Cha immediately loaded his pistol and forcefully lifted Seokhwa. Seokhwa barely managed to stifle a gasp. Instead of heading to the lobby, he turned left into the corridor, sprinting away. Hearing the stomping sounds of the Adams, the creatures began growling and following behind.
“Doctor! I’ll take you to a safe place for now.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Seokhwa repeated the words, and Commader Cha, acknowledging there was nothing to apologize for, rushed out towards the conference room where Kwak Soohwan was. The difference between him and the Adams widened, and just as they tried to open the firmly shut door, a massive explosion shook the entire building.
Boom! Boom! The tremendous noise caused the building to tremble. The Adams following from behind roared in response to the recoil. Commader Cha reached for the doorknob just as someone forcefully swung it open.
“Major!”
Upon seeing Kwak Soohwan attempting to rush outside, Commader Cha shouted. Equally surprised, he moved before his mind could process the situation.
“Dr. Seok! Quick!”
Kwak Soohwan urgently reached out to receive Seokhwa. A hand with a watch quickly extended from behind and grabbed Seokhwa, pulling him inside the room. Seokhwa was dragged into the room, tumbling, and just as the door was about to be opened, Adam approached.
Bang! Commader Cha shot Adam in the face as he closed the door tightly.
“Close the door! Protect!”
Commader Cha shouted, sealing the door firmly.
“Let go of that hand, you bastard.”
While holding Seokhwa ruthlessly, Kwak Soohwan tried to intervene, but Commader Cha had already extended his arm, shooting Seokhwa’s approaching face.
“Closing the door! Guard!”
Commader Cha shouted, firmly closing the door when he saw Kwak Soohwan trying to rush out. The moment the door was forcibly opened, the entire building shook with an explosion. Adams, now turned into creatures, began to move, growling menacingly.
“Why…?”
Seokhwa refrained from speaking, fearing that they might hear. Commader Cha couldn’t understand why his subordinates had turned into Adams, but it didn’t matter with Adam right in front of them.
“There was a reason my jokes fell flat.”
Adjusting his posture, the now shirtless Choi Hoeon clenched his fist and shook his wrist.
“I’ve never said I’m a Serpent.”
Seokhwa, picking up the gun, turned around, suspicious of his own ears.
“It’s the first time I’ve greeted you without a mask, Dr. Seokhwa.”
Serpent, looking down at Seokhwa, smiled.
“Considering the danger, hand over the gun this way.”
“Nice trick.”
Kwak Soohwan shoved Choi Hoeon. The sound of a finger with a ring flicking down Kwak Soohwan’s back was audible. It seemed like Seokhwa was about to aim the gun at the two men because Kwak Soohwan’s spine might have been broken, but he couldn’t easily pull the trigger, fearing Kwak Soohwan might get hit.
Kak! The training suit was grabbed by someone. Adam in military uniform was pulling the clothes through the broken window.
With his mouth torn to his ears and blood spreading under the pierced arm, the force trying to come inside was unobstructed. “Dr. Seok!” Kwak Soohwan’s shout was heard. Seokhwa didn’t hesitate, quickly turning the gun barrel towards Choi Hoeon.
Tang! The fired bullet pierced the soldier’s eye. Even if it could have been removed from the grip, he pulled the trigger again. However, the bullet didn’t come out, just stuttered.
“Remove the casing and reload!”
Casing, casing. Seokhwa repeated the words to himself. When the gun was fired, the slide needed to go back and forth, but now the casing was stuck in the ejection port.
Seokhwa quickly pulled the casing stuck in the ejection port while glancing at Adam rushing towards the broken window. With a metallic click, he reloaded the slide and stepped back from the window. In an instant, his hands became sweaty. When he looked back, he saw the two men, evidence of a fierce fight, exerting strong force.
Choi Hoeon, looking down at his wristwatch, spat out bloody saliva with a “thoo” sound.
Seokhwa aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon.
Dr. Choi is a Serpent? Is he the mastermind of Eden Paradise, who kidnapped himself and conducted human experiments against the soldiers underground? Still, Seokhwa couldn’t muster the strength to pull the trigger on the finger resting on the trigger. Instead of handing the gun over to Kwak Soohwan, he had waited for the right timing, but it was difficult to follow their intense fight.
Kyaah! Seokhwa fired another shot towards Adam crawling up through the window. He consciously released the tension in his finger as the pistol, capable of automatic fire if the trigger was continuously held down, was in his hand.
Inside, the Controller unit confronting Adam seemed to be in a dilemma, as screams and shouts from the confrontation echoed outside the door. How many of them managed to deal with Adam? Seokhwa checked the remaining ammunition and looked at the window. One, two, three, and then he gave up counting.
With a pistol lacking aiming accuracy and no experience in field operations, there was no guarantee that I, without proper marksmanship skills, could hit everyone. Moreover, Kwak Soohwan had to create opportunities for Choi Hoeon several times while being concerned about me. Seokhwa pressed against the wall opposite the window and raised his voice.
“I’ll shoot if you don’t stop!”
Choi Hoeon, who was pounding his fist on Kwak Soohwan, paused just for a moment. He must have sensed that it would be difficult to aim properly at this distance. Kwak Soohwan, seizing the opportunity, kicked Choi Hoeon with military precision. As Kwak Soohwan rushed towards me, intending to throw the gun at him, he shouted.
“Hold onto it!”
In an instant, Kwak Soohwan aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon.
Choi Hoeon grabbed Adam, crawling up through the window, and threw him towards me. Kwak Soohwan aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon. Choi Hoeon, however, grabbed Adam’s nape, who had climbed through the broken window, and threw him in my direction. Kwak Soohwan, about to pull the trigger aimed at the guy with his mouth wide open, shouted.
“Hold it!”
Kwak Soohwan, who had approached in an instant, aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon.
Choi Hoeon grabbed Adam’s neck, who had climbed through the window, and threw him towards me. Kwak Soohwan aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon, ready to shoot, but it was just after passing through the broken window. There were more people left inside than those who followed Adam. It was dangerous. Protecting Seokhwa inside was not easy. Kwak Soohwan handed the gun back to Seokhwa.
“Hold it tight. If anyone dares to attack, shoot.”
“Yes.”
Seokhwa contemplated, but his response was prompt. Kwak Soohwan chuckled as if to say not to worry and lifted Seokhwa, charging towards the door. He kicked the door down without stopping. The corridor was a battlefield. In a narrow space, soldiers in military uniforms and intact soldiers were entangled, unable to easily use their guns. They confronted Adam with knives or fists.
“Lure them outside!”
Kwak Soohwan shouted as he ran, guarded by Cha Jungryung, who urgently held him back.
“Major! There are more enemies outside!”
“How many?”
“At least thirty.”
“What about the air raid shelter?”
“We can only use the adjacent building now.”
The squad was in a dire situation, but Kwak Soohwan couldn’t entrust Seokhwa to Cha Jungryung. Kwak Soohwan ran to the lobby and turned back to look at Cha Jungryung, who was calling him. It was burdensome to carry Seokhwa on his back, not knowing what attack might come from behind. It was best to carry him like a baggage.
Kwak Soohwan gently placed Seokhwa on the floor and took out leather gloves, fitting them snugly on both hands.
“It’s expected that Adam, who was brought in on the truck while the ammunition depot was exploding, has been released. I think I was followed by enemies when I brought Dr. Choi Hoeon. I’ve already sent armed men over there.”
“First, deal with Adam, and if it’s impossible to capture Dr. Choi Hoeon alive, eliminate him.”
“Understood?”
“Dr. Choi Hoeon is a serpent.”
For a brief moment of surprise, Cha Jungryung fired his gun consecutively towards Adam, rushing towards the entrance.
“Alright, Major. I’ll take command of the squad.”
Kwak Soohwan, who was about to crawl towards Cha Jungryung to bite him, fired a gunshot towards the guy trying to bite him. The bullet penetrated the back of his head, and blood slowly spread down his face.
“Heh, living gives you a chance to owe your life to Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan laughed, his face a mess. Seokhwa wanted to wipe away the blood on his mouth, but there was no time for that now.
“We’ll jump to the air raid shelter like this, and I’ll carry you. Got it?”
Considering the likely poor health due to recent events, Seokhwa thought it would be impossible for him to run directly. Moreover, there was the possibility that he had better running skills than the newly mutated Adam. Tighten your grip. Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa onto his shoulders and firmly held him. There was no place to hold onto, Major Kwak. Before he could say anything, Kwak Soohwan began to run.
Seokhwa held the gun tightly, half-folded in his body, to prevent it from falling. If Kwak Soohwan or A-rank soldiers decided to sprint with determination, there was no chance for Adam, who couldn’t catch up. He mashed Adam’s face blocking the way, grabbed his hair, and slammed it against the wall. The number of Adams following closely during the sprint to the adjacent building was immense.
Seokhwa tried to aim the gun at least once, but the shaking was too severe to make accurate shots. He endured the feeling of nausea, biting his lips. When Kwak Soohwan, who entered the research building, leaped down the stairs in one go, the recoil was tremendous. If his mouth had been open, he might have bitten his tongue.
Adam was now at a distance, but they were still following. As soon as Kwak Soohwan discovered the underground air raid shelter, he swiftly turned the round locking mechanism with one hand. The door of the air raid shelter, which had been locked for a long time, made a creaking and eerie sound as it opened.
As the heavy door swung open, emergency power flowed in, brightening the interior. After placing Seokhwa down, Kwak Soohwan received the gun and fired two shots inside. It was a waste of precious bullets, but it was to confirm the safety inside. Just in case Adam, if alive, would react to the sound. However, there was no sign of life inside the air raid shelter.
“Dr. Seok, you probably have three shots left. Keep it. I’ll tidy things up and be back within an hour.”
“Can’t I stay with you?” Seokhwa scolded himself for impulsively expressing his true feelings. What possible help could he be? Perhaps Serpent found them because of him. If he hadn’t been there, Kwak Soohwan wouldn’t have been in danger.
Kwak Soohwan firmly grasped Seokhwa’s shoulders. “Stop useless thoughts for now. Think about flower gardens. There have been more dangerous things even when Dr. Seok was not around.”
As if reading Seokhwa’s thoughts, Kwak Soohwan quickly spoke. “More importantly, Dr. Seok, my workout suit looks good on you.” He chuckled, pushed Seokhwa inside, and locked the door from the outside. Seokhwa approached the door again and touched the cold iron with his fingertips. It was a soundproof space; the hellish noises from outside couldn’t penetrate.
In the silent air raid shelter, Seokhwa, left alone, tightly gripped the gun. Turning around, he slowly surveyed the surroundings. Emergency rations and stacked bottled water were visible. Dust-covered beds, three in total, and a bathroom with moldy water stains showed signs of disuse.
Choi Hoeon is Serpent? Seokhwa pondered while exploring the air raid shelter. Did he alter his voice when he wore the mask and met me? Come to think of it, when I first met Choi Hoeon, I definitely felt a sense of discomfort.
What could be the motive of the person who claims to be the head of Eden Valley, distributing vaccines containing parasites? Seokhwa unintentionally lifted a framed picture placed between the beds. It was pictures of people who seemed to be researchers, but there was no date. However, the strength in the hand that held the gun involuntarily weakened. It was because of the very familiar face inside the frame.
Dr. Wonho…
Though his face was younger than the last time he saw it, he could easily recognize it due to the stern expression. No, what caught his eye even more was…
…Mom.
She was a short-haired woman with her hands in the pocket of the lab coat. There was no mistaking it. He had touched that beautiful face with his hands since he was a child. She was always the mother who gently embraced her child. But why is Mom with the researchers? Next to Mom was Dr. Wonho, and next to him, a seemingly affectionate couple stood together. A shiver ran down his spine. Trembling, he even crumpled the frame in his trembling hands. Unbelievably, the tall man, much taller than everyone else, looked remarkably similar to Kwak Soohwan.
Seokhwa shook his head and turned the frame to reveal the photo behind. He tore off the white paper wrapped around the back of the photo and held the worn picture in his hands.
[Four rivers together]
Neat handwriting appeared on the back of the photo. Seokhwa held the photo tightly with both hands to avoid dropping it. He unzipped the zipper of the training top, put the photo inside, and closed it again. His heart thumped loudly. Was it the belated tension that was flooding in, or was it because of this photo? The words of his mother, who called herself Uprates, came to mind again. Then who is Serpent, after all?
Click, click, thump! In response to the sounds coming from the other side, Seokhwa quickly adjusted the gun. He said there were three shots left. Click, click, thud. Like when he turned the iron door a while ago, the rusty iron was rubbing against something. Seokhwa straightened his body in the direction of the sound.
One side of the wall began to shine in the shape of a long rectangle. It was painted to look like a wall, but it was a hidden door, the panic room.
Seokhwa checked if the slide was pulled smoothly once again.
“Oh no. Don’t shoot. I have no intention of causing harm.”
A voice that could sound gentle spoke up. The one revealed in the darkness was Choi Hoeon. He, who had torn off his upper garment earlier, was now wearing a thin sweater.
“If you come closer, I will shoot.”
Seokhwa aimed the gun in that direction and spoke as calmly as possible.
“Unfortunately, you have to go to Udo. If you go with the mask, you will die. So come with me. Misunderstandings may have occurred, but I came to save you, Doctor.”
“I refuse.”
If Choi Hoeon was surprised by the decisive refusal, he smiled awkwardly.
“Otherwise, Major Kwak Soohwan will be in greater danger.”
“Still… I refuse.”
Rather, I had a premonition that if I obediently followed Serpent, Kwak Soohwan would be in even greater danger. I pushed the gun back towards Choi Hoeon, who was trying to get closer. I was really going to shoot. I was determined to shoot when he crossed the bed line.
Seokhwa supported his opposite wrist with one hand, assuming the aiming position as he had learned at the Jeju Learning Center.
“If you come any closer…”
Bang! A gunshot echoed, making Seokhwa’s body flinch. It wasn’t the sound of his gunfire. Choi Hoeon, who had rushed forward like a snake, turned Seokhwa’s body and hugged him. Ouch! His wrist was roughly twisted, causing him to drop the gun, which Choi Hoeon picked up. Something damp was sensed, and blood was flowing from Choi Hoeon’s forearm.
“Annoying!”
The cheerful voice was quite angry. The person who followed Choi Hoeon out of the door where he appeared was none other than Lee Chaeyoon.
“Major..?”
“Doctor, sorry. I was going to shoot that bastard, but he noticed first.”
Choi Hoeon, who held Seokhwa from behind, squeezed his body tighter to prevent him from struggling.
“Amazing. Did you step on his back?”
“Well, shut up and send the doctor over here.”
“Thought you were just strong, but you’re good at trailing too.”
Choi Hoeon praised Lee Chaeyoon as if he were truly remarkable.
“Unfortunately, I’m not interested in Major Lee Chaeyoon, so stop following me now.”
“Nonsense. I’m not interested in you either.”
“You seem to be mistaken because you were so eager to see my bare skin.”
Lee Chaeyoon, who had been trying to look at his shoulder at the request of Kwak Soohwan, but had been thwarted by strong defenses, responded playfully. However, she ended up not being able to examine it thoroughly. She had probably followed me all along, but Dr. Choi, who was faster than her, had caught up, leading to the current situation.
As they were checking outside, a few trucks entered, and shortly afterward, the ammunition depot exploded. When the cargo compartment of the truck opened, and soldiers came out, the truck left again.
It was a strange scene, but at that moment, Lee Chaeyoon thought those guys were just ordinary soldiers. It seemed odd that she was only tailing a suspicious person.
“Oh, goodness. What’s going on here? Doctor, are you hurt anywhere?”
Lee Chaeyoon pressed her temple with her hand.
“Yes, I’m fine. Major Lee…” Though there were bloodstains on her uniform, fortunately, she didn’t seem seriously injured. If Lee Chaeyoon hadn’t dealt with Adam after the explosion, the soldiers in the Violet Shelter would have faced an even tougher battle now.
Seokhwa kicked his knee to put more strength into his right leg.
“Don’t do anything unnecessary.” Choi Hoeon whispered from behind.
“If you want to save him, do as I say. The Violet Shelter is surrounded by our forces already.”
Was it true, or just a threatening remark?
Choi Hoeon’s gun was aimed at Seokhwa, while Lee Chaeyoon’s gun was pointed at Choi Hoeon. Seokhwa judged that all these actions from Choi Hoeon were mere threats. The reason Serpent approached was undoubtedly because there must be some value in using him.
“Major, shoot.”
“What? Doctor?”
“Shoot.” Lee Chaeyoon aimed at Choi Hoeon, then immediately looked at Seokhwa.
“Oh, Seokhwa, it seems like Dr. Seokhwa is having a big misunderstanding.”
Bang! A gunshot rang out right next to them, making their ears ring. After blinking a few times, sudden pain started to set in. Seokhwa realized only then that Choi Hoeon had shot his arm.
“Ah…” Blood flowed from the torn flesh where the bullet grazed his forearm, staining Kwak Soohwan’s workout clothes in an instant.
“You bastard! You crazy son of a bitch!”
Lee Chaeyoon also raised an incredulous gaze, blood vessels pulsating in her temples. “Major, step aside from that door. Without proper treatment, I cannot guarantee Dr. Seokhwa’s life.”
“Doctor, are you okay?” Lee Chaeyoon, still with her gun pointed in their direction, looked distressed. Pain pulsed through the torn area as if her heart were attached there. Seokhwa clenched his forearm and spoke to Lee Chaeyoon again. “I’m fine… Shoot.”
With his gun aimed at Seokhwa, Choi Hoeon grinned at Lee Chaeyoon. “I don’t intend to kill the doctor, but taking out a leg or an arm is not that difficult. Try it, Major.”
Choi Hoeon was sincere. Faced with the threat of this guy wanting to pierce Seokhwa’s arm or leg, Lee Chaeyoon had no easy choice. Seokhwa, too, was scared of what might happen if he were taken by Serpent.
As Choi Hoeon approached, pulling Seokhwa forward, Lee Chaeyoon stepped back. “I can’t do it. Doctor, I can’t.,” she murmured without hesitation. Seokhwa couldn’t burden Lee Chaeyoon any longer. Carefully opening her zipper pocket, Seokhwa dropped a photo to the floor, distracting Choi Hoeon so he wouldn’t notice.
“Major, please tell Major Kwak Soohwan.” Lee Chaeyoon furrowed her brow as if questioning the request. Seokhwa continued speaking quickly, hoping she would remember. “My mother’s name is Lee Jinyeon. Lee Jinyeon, and she was Euphrates. Major Kwak Soohwan’s, ugh!”
“That’s enough.” Choi Hoeon inserted his fingers into Seokhwa’s torn arm. A scream erupted from Seokhwa’s mouth. Despite the pain, Seokhwa gestured with his eyes towards the photo he had dropped on the floor.
“She’s there.”
Seokhwa’s desperate words were cut off. Lee Chaeyoon tried to follow with her gun, but Choi Hoeon, who had exited, pushed the door closed. He laid a metal rod horizontally and jammed the door shut. Given some time, Lee Chaeyoon could easily break the door and come out. Whether Choi Hoeon knew that or not, he dragged Seokhwa, walking confidently through the dark corridor. Seokhwa’s steps were almost dragged, but Choi Hoeon didn’t care, forcefully dragging him along.
“Forgive the rudeness. I didn’t plan to go this far.”
Lethargy had always been an accompanying label for Seokhwa. And today was no exception. Seokhwa tightened his grip on Choi Hoeon’s arm, exerting force. Suddenly, much like the gunshot wounds inflicted by Lee Chaeyoon’s gun, blood seeped from his torn wounds. Choi Hoeon showed no reaction, as if he couldn’t feel any pain. Seokhwa bit down, squeezing Choi Hoeon’s torn wound even tighter, but his steps did not falter.
The corridor inclined without stairs. When Choi Hoeon reached the end and opened the door, they stepped outside the shelter’s boundaries. Inside the shelter, still engulfed in flames, the battle between soldiers and Adams continued.
Choi Hoeon forcibly removed Seokhwa, who still held his arm, and pushed his into a waiting car. As Seokhwa tried to leave, he pressed his chest firmly, retrieving handcuffs from the console compartment. After attaching the handcuffs to the ceiling handle, he filled Seokhwa’s arms.
Blood gushed on Seokhwa’s face as he glared at Choi Hoeon, who was on the driver’s seat. Turning his head abruptly, he grabbed his chin with one hand and slid his thumb into Seokhwa’s lips, lightly grazing the tip of his front teeth.
“Your teeth seem unharmed.”
While Choi Hoeon’s tone was polite, his actions were not. Reaching into the back seat, Choi Hoeon brought forward a medical kit. “Just endure a little. With the pain reliever, it should hurt less.”
Pouring out hemostatic powder and bandages, he skillfully applied first aid to Seokhwa’s injured arm. He casually sprinkled hemostatic powder on his own arm, roughly wrapped it with a bandage, and finished. Seokhwa had been staring out of the window without saying a word. Both wrists fixed to the handle throbbed.
Pulling out only a pen-sized scanner, Choi Hoeon suddenly began scanning Seokhwa’s arm. Startled by the sharp sensation, like an ant bite, Seokhwa heightened his vigilance.
“What are you doing?”
“For safety measures.”
Only then did Seokhwa realize what he was checking. Unfortunately, the microchip implanted under his skin had stopped functioning due to the gunshot wound, and it didn’t register on the scanner.
With no need for a second task, Choi Hoeon grabbed the steering wheel and pressed the accelerator forcefully. Seokhwa leaned his forehead against the car window, looking back at the receding flames. Kwak Soohwan was supposed to return within an hour, but he had failed to fill even that time and ended up captured by Choi Hoeon.
“Dr. Seokhwa.”
Seokhwa stared out of the window without responding. Choi Hoeon drove without turning on the headlights, taking side streets instead of major roads.
In the distance, a series of Rainbow City’s jeeps were seen heading towards the Violet Shelter. In the deserted Violet Zone, the only light was from the shelter Seokhwa had just left. The sparse moonlight failed to reach the city partially consumed by darkness, concealing even our figures. Seokhwa forced strength into his eyelids, which kept trying to droop. his whole body ached. The heat below felt as intense as his bandaged arm.
“…Where are we going?” Seokhwa slowly opened his lips.
“To a safe place.”
“What’s the purpose?”
“You’re asking the obvious. It’s to purify the rotten city along with clearing out the Adams.”
“So, you infected even the healthy soldiers?”
Knowing that the upper echelons were infested with corrupt individuals, it didn’t make Eden’s Paradise, who captured innocent people for torture and experiments, look any better.
“When developing a vaccine, you don’t use humans as test subjects. That’s Rainbow City’s policy.”
“….”
“If you believe that, Dr. Seokhwa, then you haven’t seen any of the darker sides. Major Kwak Soohwan probably knows too. Military officers surely know what’s happening in the Red Zone, where civilians are not allowed to enter.”
Choi Hoeon increased the speed, turning on the headlights.
“Kidnapping people outside and using them as experimental subjects is a daily routine. It’s not just about injecting the drugs they developed into lab mice. At least you, Dr. Seokhwa, participated in clinical trials with your own body, but those higher-ups experimented with the virus as they pleased. Didn’t you anticipate that?”
“So, while distributing the vaccine, you planted malaria parasites?”
Choi Hoeon swiftly swept his hand over the steering wheel.
“Caught on, did you?”
He responded casually, as if it were no big deal, like a child hiding an item in a treasure hunt.
“Since we’ll be leaving disguised with a vaccine developed by Rainbow City, they should be willing to accept that level of risk.”
“Why did you attempt to approach me?”
“I merely apologized to you, Doctor. To discern between good and evil.”
If it weren’t for Serpent, Seokhwa might not have questioned Dr. Oh or the Rainbow City leadership. he would have likely repeated the given tasks as before.
“Did you succeed in developing a cure?”
Given that Serpent had fully revealed himself, there was a hint of uncertainty.
“Oh Cheongwoon willingly got infected with the Adam virus.”
Seokhwa looked at Choi Hoeon for the first time since getting into the car. His uncomfortable posture with his arms tied up made him uneasy and even nauseous.
“The first one to approach us wasn’t Dr. Oh, but Oh Cheongwoon. We have our principles too. Isn’t that the most basic aspect of religion? Just as Rainbow City has the pretext of Adam for everything they do.”
Though Choi Hoeon might have seemed like the leader of Eden’s Paradise, he appeared rather skeptical of religion.
“However, who would have thought that Dr. Sunbae would immerse himself in those principles? He claimed he was a chosen human by God. Perhaps Oh Cheongwoon had inferiority complex issues with mutants.”
Unlike the rough ride, Choi Hoeon’s voice was smooth.
“But Dr. Oh attempted to develop a cure to save his son infected with the Adam virus. However, it remained incomplete. Dr. Oh said he got hints for the cure from you.”
Seokhwa shook his head.
“I have never developed a cure, nor have I provided any hints.”
Choi Hoeon just smiled quietly. The car had now left the side street and was traveling along the railroad tracks. The downward direction suggested they were heading towards the provinces.
“Take a deep breath. It’s going to be a long journey.”
“Then, can you… untie my hands?”
“Just endure a little longer.”
Suddenly, abruptly, even as Seokhwa shook the hands hanging in front of Choi Hoeon, he remained motionless. Seokhwa, however, was far from asleep.
“Once you see it for yourself, Doctor, your perspective will change. After all, you are soon to be part of our doctrine.”
***
Baekho Unit arrived when the Adam suppression was mostly complete. As soon as the ammunition depot exploded, Lee Chaeyoon radioed Yang Sanghoon, and he discreetly left Gwacheon with only the elite forces. The flames from the still-burning ammunition depot showed no signs of subsiding. Even though they were quite a distance away, Yang Sanghoon could feel the heat throughout his body.
Bodies lay scattered on the ground, forming a field of corpses. Some soldiers seemed to have committed suicide before transforming into Adam, while others were shot by soldiers. At Yang Sanghoon’s command, groups of three split up in different directions inside the building for the final clean-up.
Yang Sanghoon firmly gripped the handle and magazine of a 9mm submachine gun as he confirmed and shot the Adams lying on the ground. He moved towards a building that seemed to be an abandoned research facility. The path was also filled with bodies in military uniforms. Although he had witnessed countless gruesome scenes, the sight of all corpses being soldiers was almost unheard of.
Yang Sanghoon contemplated shouting to find Lee Chaeyoon or Kwak Soohwan but refrained from doing so. Unable to estimate how many Adams remained, he briskly entered the adjacent building. He raised the gun to check above, then lowered it, finding corpses extending in that direction. Kicking an Adam on the floor, he moved forward.
Faint light emanated from below. Hastening towards the light, he kicked a door that seemed almost closed but opened into the room with his combat boots. He aimed his gun as he entered.
“You’re early, you son of a bitch.”
Upon seeing the face, Yang Sanghoon, who had just received curses from Lee Chaeyoon, wondered if he should just shoot him. Kwak Soohwan, who had taken off his gloves, lay roughly on the ground.
“Where is the doctor?”
Yang Sanghoon asked, and Lee Chaeyoon brushed his hair away roughly.
“Serpent took him.”
“What? Serpent?”
“To make it short, it’s complicated.”
“Can’t we find him with GPS? Wasn’t the doctor’s position reinstated?”
“I got GPS clearance, but the signal isn’t being picked up.”
While the two were engaged in conversation, Kwak Soohwan mulled over the words Lee Chaeyoon had conveyed.
“Dr. Seokhwa’s mother’s name is Lee Jin-yeon. Dr. Seokhwa mentioned something about his being Yoo-pra or Tee-pra, and what else… Major Kwak Soohwan also said something similar. Did he specifically ask you to convey this message? He showed me a photo and said his mother was in it, but what on earth does that mean? Am I remembering it correctly? I’m not even sure what I’m saying. Oh, this is driving me crazy. I have no confidence in my memory.”
Kwak Soohwan unfolded the photo that had been folded in half. A sigh almost akin to a lament escaped him from deep within.
In the photo were my father, whom I killed with my own hands, and my mother, who left her last words for me. Next to her was Dr. Wonho, and then who…?
A short-haired woman wore a researcher’s ID, but due to the image quality, the text was unreadable. However, Seokhwa had talked about his mother while pointing to this photo. There was no reason for him to say unnecessary things in such a dire situation.
[Four rivers flowing together]
The moment I read the writing on the back, it felt as if the back of my head was chilling.
‘What about two children from a non-son and a married one? Tigris… I resemble this doctor…’
Seokhwa’s voice seemed to echo in my ears. I dismissed it as just excited nonsense.
If Seokhwa resembles this doctor and his mother’s name is Lee Jin-yeon… then the woman in this photo might be Euphrates, and the possibility of being Seokhwa’s mother could not be ignored. Clearly, among the four rivers flowing together, two of them were my parents. Kwak Soohwan tightly gripped the photo and turned around.
“Didn’t Choi Hoeon say that his hometown is Busan?”
Yang Sanghoon blinked as if he didn’t understand what was being said.
“For now, Major, secure the locations of Choi Hoeon’s hometown and that bastard’s mother together. Since both of them don’t have internal chips, there’s a high possibility of collusion.”
“Hey, you said that bastard could be Serpent before. Take a look at his shoulder. It looked weird. Anyway, it seemed suspicious, so I did some digging.”
“Just get to the point.”
Lee Chaeyoon, who was about to lose her temper, calmed herself. She had been restraining her frustration ever since she heard that Seokhwa was injured. Kwak Soohwan was trying to leave without looking back after they both went out, making it impossible to deduce where he went. Gathering information was now a priority.
“Choi Hoeon’s hometown is near Busan Harbor. His family owns several passenger and cargo ships. They play a role in transporting goods between islands and the mainland. Damn rich.”
“I don’t know either, so just get to the point.”
“What was the name? Anyway, Choi Hoeon’s mother is usually in Busan Harbor. When I asked my dad about it, he said that woman became a distinguished family by pushing her husband.”
“What?”
“The woman reported her husband, who was involved with the rebels. That’s how they became a distinguished family, and the uncle’s job was taken over by the woman. And that house’s child suffered a lot from smallpox when they were young?”
Since Lee Chaeyoon’s family had been a distinguished family in Rainbow City from the early days, she knew most of the information.
“Major, please, just the essential details.”
Kwak Soohwan’s patience had long been shattered.
“Didn’t I say everything I mentioned is essential? Anyway, my dad said that even though he knew the child died back then, it was strange for them to resurface as an adult and work as a doctor.”
So, the real Choi Hoeon might have died from smallpox, and the current Serpent could simply be using that name as a cover.
Lee Chaeyoon’s parents were known for reading the political trends and siding with the mainstream. They were currently on the First Side Line, but they could easily switch to the Second Side at any time. They were one of the citizen representatives who could change sides. Information from such individuals might not be completely unreliable.
“Thanks. Please find out the exact location for now.”
Lee Chaeyoon widened her eyes in response to the sincere expression of gratitude.
“But why are you two here at 21 Violet?”
Yang Sanghoon abruptly interjected. They had come here because of Lee Chaeyoon’s urgent request, but it was indeed puzzling that these two were here.
“Fool, it’s because Major saved Dr. Seokhwa here!”
“Oh, right.”
As Kwak Soohwan sighed, a gust of wind lifted his bangs slightly.
“Major Kwak, Dr. Seokhwa will be okay, right?”
It was the question that Kwak Soohwan actually wanted to ask. He looked at the closed door through sunken eyes, where Choi Hoeon and Seokhwa had left together.
Anger bubbled in his head, and he wished to destroy everything he could see just by imagining what Serpent might do to Seokhwa. He had missed Seokhwa being taken by Serpent twice.
Cursing his own stupidity for mistakenly thinking that the air defense bunker would be safe, he sent a profanity-filled praise to himself. “Kwak Soohwan, I did my best too.”
“Kwak Soohwan, I did my best too.”
Lee Chaeyoon tapped Kwak Soohwan’s shoulder and started walking out.
“I will secure the address of Choi Hoeon’s home and that guy’s mother’s location, and I will send a message as soon as I confirm.”
Kwak Soohwan stopped multiplying his thoughts. He only wished that Seokhwa wouldn’t succumb to Serpent’s cunning tongue, even if he tried to exploit Rainbow City’s shortcomings and inject the advantages of Eden’s Sanctuary to pull him to their side…
No, even if that were the case, Seokhwa would never yield.
“Major Yang.”
“Yeah.”
“Return to Gwacheon. If First Master asks for me, say I went out to hunt Serpent.”
“Well, they contacted me before I came here, right?”
Kwak Soohwan took the submachine gun from Yang Sanghoon.
“What contact?”
“They told me to come up to Yeouido.”
Click, Kwak Soohwan unloaded the submachine gun.
“What’s the contact?”
“You’re ordered to Yeouido. They said to come up.”
With a clang, Kwak Soohwan removed the magazine from the submachine gun.
“What’s the contact?”
“They told me to come up to Yeouido.”
With a click, Kwak Soohwan unloaded the submachine gun.
“You, kid, are under military prosecution. Second Master has filed charges against you.”
“Second Master keeps playing hard to get.”
“Who’s playing hard to get? Anyway, if you don’t go, a wanted order will be issued immediately. What are you going to do?”
Kwak Soohwan spat and shouldered the gun. Since the area would be cleaned up by Major Jung, he had no choice but to leave it to him. They couldn’t afford any more delays now.
Yang Sanghoon shouted after Kwak Soohwan, who was running up the stairs.
“Hey! Where are you going? At least say something, kid!”
Kwak Soohwan kicked Adam’s corpse with his foot and replied.
“35 Green Zone.”
It was Busan.
If Second Master were to prosecute him, the reason would likely be related to petrification. The most plausible reason would be the accusation of concealing petrification infected with serpent, and delving deeper, they would likely use the failure to report the petrification suspected to be immune as a charge.
As Kwak Soohwan drove down the Central Inland Expressway, he skillfully avoided abandoned cars scattered along the way. With sufficient fuel, he planned to reach the Busan Green Zone and refuel. Despite Yang Sanghoon buying him some time, Second Master had made up their mind and would try to bring him down by any means necessary.
First was trying to entangle Eden Garden and Second Master, so all he could do for now was to buy time. No, even putting that aside, retrieving the petrification was the top priority.
My life has always been like this. I’ve never been able to protect anything. It was always loss, and death surrounded me. In this life of constant loss, petrification had appeared, and it seemed like history was repeating itself. Even though there’s only one thing to protect, why is it not so easy?
The light blinked at the checkpoint guarding the branch point. It was a signal to stop the car, but Kwak Soohwan ignored it and stepped on the pedal.
Bang, bang – rough claxon sounds echoed, accompanied by a strong beam of light. Glancing at the rearview mirror, Kwak Soohwan’s Jeep was being chased by several cars. There might not have been a wanted order issued yet, and even though it was confirmed to be a Rainbow City military Jeep, he still revved the claxon.
The needle on the dashboard began to exceed its limit. Paaang, as the headlights of a truck coming in the opposite direction in the wrong lane flashed, Kwak Soohwan hastily turned the steering wheel to the side. The tires screeched as he left skid marks. While the Jeep made a big turn, Kwak Soohwan repeatedly tapped the brakes to bring the car to a stop. The inertia was so intense that his head was spinning. The cars that had followed closely also surrounded Kwak Soohwan’s Jeep. He gripped the submachine gun that had fallen to the floor on the passenger side.
Alternating between the side and rearview mirrors, the guys getting out of the cars were holding guns and wearing uniforms. The epaulettes on their shoulders indicated they were ordinary soldiers.
Ttok, someone knocked on Kwak Soohwan’s Jeep window.
“Get out of the car. Where are you going at this hour?”
The truck that came in the wrong lane seemed to be on the same side as these guys. The checkpoint they passed was in the Orange Zone, a city abandoned by Rainbow City. Setting up a checkpoint and conducting inspections there was an excessive waste of resources.
“I told you to get out of the car.”
Kwak Soohwan, looking ahead, lowered the window by about a palm’s width. The face of a young man, who looked no older than twenty, became more visible.
“Which unit are you from?”
“We belong to the Key Unit. Get out of the car and identify yourself.”
I do have some information I picked up. The Key Unit in Yeouido guarding this place, what’s their reason for being here? There was no need to ponder over their identity; they were just one of the many criminal organizations not recognized as citizens.
Kwak Soohwan, looking at the cars surrounding him, judged that it would be difficult to charge straight through. He pulled the lever of the car door, swung it open, and jabbed the body of the guy standing there with the gun. Then, he aimed the barrel at the fallen guy.
“Clear the truck in front.”
The guy belatedly pulled out a gun, but Kwak Soohwan shot him before he could react. Ugh, uaaah. The guy thought his hand had been blown away and rolled on the ground. In reality, the bullet had only passed by the barrel of his gun.
“If you don’t clear it, everyone dies.”
The guy who had his hands wrapped around the gun finally noticed Kwak Soohwan’s military uniform. He initially thought he was just an ordinary supply soldier, but looking at the epaulets on the shoulder, he was at least a Captain. The guys who got out of the car were reloading their guns and gradually tightening the encirclement. The guy on the ground, glancing around cautiously, boldly raised his head to look at Kwak Soohwan, trusting only their numbers.
“Hand over the Jeep, the gun, and all the cash you have. We’ll spare your life then.”
There was a flaw in their words. Taking the car on this highway meant essentially saying, “Die.” One guy in front, two at the back, one in each direction, dealing with them didn’t seem difficult.
Chich, chik. Static started to mix in the radio.
[… do. Major Kwak Soohwan. If you hear this, respond.]
Kwak Soohwan took the radio and responded to Lee Chaeyoon’s voice.
“Speak.”
Lee Chaeyoon had identified the location of his family’s residence and provided coordinates close to Busan Port on the map. Taking advantage of the distraction, the guy who had picked up the fallen gun fired at Kwak Soohwan, but Kwak Soohwan’s gun was faster. The bullet pierced through the guy’s arm, and bullets from Kwak Soohwan’s Jeep started hitting indiscriminately. Though made of bulletproof glass, the durability was not great.
Kwak Soohwan checked the positions of the guys using the vehicle mirror and opened the door he had closed. He shot the leg of the guy trying to take away the guy with the bandaged arm, and as he got off the Jeep, he grabbed the neck of the struggling guy.
“Drop it! Ah!”
When he swung the long magazine at the back of the squirming guy’s head, at least out of camaraderie, the shooting stopped. Kwak Soohwan, suppressing the urge to kill them all, raised his voice.
“Clear the truck, or else.”
He aimed at the guy using the car door as a shield, placing the gun against the open window. When one ear burst, screams intensified.
“I said I’ll kill all of you.”
Approaching the guy with the injured arm, he pressed the barrel against him, and the guy writhed in immense pain.
“Are you the leader?”
“Guh… No leader. We’re just… Don’t kill the kids, please. Major, right? A-grade? I messed up. Please don’t kill us.”
“Oh, really? Did you spare those who begged for their lives too?”
The guy let out a sobbing sound, even offering excuses that it was just for survival.
Damn, this felt like some melodramatic play. Kwak Soohwan looked at the guy in the truck driver’s seat and gestured to move aside.
“Was there a car passing through here other than me?”
With severe bleeding, the pale-faced youth nodded without understanding English. Currently begging for mercy, Kwak Soohwan didn’t think these guys would have clean hands. They probably resorted to theft to survive, and there was a possibility they had killed the owner of the military uniform they wore.
Leaving these guys alive might result in more victims, but Kwak Soohwan didn’t really care. It was Rainbow City that created this lawless zone in the first place.
After throwing the guy he had lifted by the neck onto the ground, Kwak Soohwan grabbed the steering wheel again. If he hadn’t traveled on the highway, it would be an even more disorganized national road, probably following the railway tracks. There was almost no chance that Serpent, carrying petrification, would head towards Seoul or its suburbs where soldiers were stationed.
Kwak Soohwan swerved the truck to pass, but squeak, he quickly slammed the brakes. It happened after he saw the drawing engraved on the side of the truck.
The Tree of Life.
It almost perfectly matched the picture he had seen in the Uijeongbu Bunker. The guys, who had been picking up their comrade, now had tense faces, thinking he had come back to kill them. Kwak Soohwan quickly got off the Jeep and approached them with military strides.
“Are you guys Eden Garden followers?”
The guy with the injured arm opened his eyes, lifting his head as if to gather strength.
“No, we’re not! We’re not rebels!”
Kwak Soohwan aimed the gun on his shoulder back at the guy.
“Please spare us! We joined as followers because they promised to provide food. It’s true!”
The guy who used to be the truck driver stood in front, blocking their path.
“Where does Eden Garden distribute its supplies?”
“Usually… they distribute them in areas not belonging to Rainbow City… we…”
They skillfully blended truth and lies, their tails of speech wavering.
“Where are you guys from?”
“F-fr, from where?”
“Busan?”
They hesitated, nodding their heads, unsure of what to do. In such situations, persuasion is better than threats.
“I know someone who got involved with Eden Garden and ended up joining as a follower. I don’t care if you’re Eden Garden followers or whatever. All I want is to bring that person back. So, if you tell me where the followers gather, that’s all I need.”
Kwak Soohwan, in the midst of speaking, took out his wallet from his uniform. He pulled out several banknotes with the Rainbow City emblem and handed them to the guy who seemed like the leader.
“With just a broker, this should cover at least a year’s living expenses.”
The guy, with a tattered cloth wrapped around his arm, swallowed his saliva.
“We get supplies once a week in Busan.”
“Hey!”
“He’s giving us money!”
As internal conflicts arose among them, Kwak Soohwan cocked his gun towards an empty space.
“Where in Busan?”
“Uryongsan… we’re from Uryongsan.”
Kwak Soohwan handed over the bills to them and quickly returned to the Jeep. For now, the coordinates received from Lee Chaeyoon were a priority. Though he briefly considered following the railroad tracks, the time difference required him to increase the speed of the Jeep.
***
Seokhwa, unable to sleep, stared at the sea outside the window. Both arms now lacked any sensation.
It was the first time he had come to the city called Busan, a place he had only heard about in words. Until he met Kwak Soohwan, his sphere of activity was limited to Jeju Island or Yeouido. Even those were only his laboratory and home. Seokhwa felt that Rainbow City was truly vast. It used to be a country, not a city, a long time ago, so it made sense.
The frog in the well refers to someone who only sees their own limited perspective. While following the railroad tracks, Seokhwa could easily observe the beggars begging for fire and the children exposed to Adam’s danger. Even the place that was once used as a historical site was no different from a shelter for those outside the city. Choi Hoeon said that most interactions among people occurred in history.
“Everyone needs salvation. You’re all too exhausted. Exposed to so much danger just because you’re not citizens, and sometimes serving as guinea pigs in the lab. The military and leaders of Rainbow City are just as frightening as Adam to those outside.”
It was a dilemma. There was not a single false point in Choi Hoeon’s words, but Seokhwa had seen the numerous bodies of soldiers that Eden Garden had piled up.
“Is Eden Garden… created for those who are not citizens of the city?”
“No, it’s created for everyone.”
“But why soldiers?”
Choi Hoeon was passing by Busan Port.
“Dr. Seokhwa, are you hungry?”
“I assume Dr. Choi Hoeon is the same. It’s rhetoric.”
“We were just preparing for the attack from Rainbow City.”
He didn’t even bring up whether Eden Garden had conducted experiments on soldiers.
“In fact, Major Kwak Soohwan was originally supposed to join us, but it seems that human affairs don’t always go as planned.”
Seokhwa decided to close his ears entirely. He couldn’t trust Choi Hoeon’s words.
“After Major Kwak’s parents passed away, my father tried to bring Major Kwak first. However, at that time, Dr. Oh, who we hadn’t thought of, extended a helping hand to Major Kwak Soohwan.” Choi Hoeon’s voice, which Kwak Soohwan didn’t want to hear, kept penetrating his mind. He seemed like a person who put strength into every word he uttered.
“In the end, Major Kwak Soohwan entered Rainbow City. I also had to become a citizen of the city to make contact with Dr. Seokhwa and Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Serpent. Serpent was a cunning snake that employed clever language.
“My father used to talk about Dr. Seokhwa quite often, saying he must not be a complete failure.” Seokhwa, feigning indifference, looked towards Choi Hoeon. Choi Hoeon parked the car in front of an old wooden house and faced Seokhwa. He emitted a different atmosphere than Kwak Soohwan. Although rough, his surface seemed quite smooth, as if he had been polished thousands of times.
“My father…”
“Dr. Seokhwa also knows him well.” Choi Hoeon released Seokhwa’s one wrist that had become entangled in his explanation. Silently, he lowered his hand, feeling the tingling heaviness caused by gravity. Choi Hoeon did not release the handcuffs but filled the opposite hand with it again.
“Let’s have a meal.” Choi Hoeon, who got out of the driver’s seat, came to the passenger seat, grabbed Seokhwa, and pulled him out. Seokhwa looked sadly down at Choi Hoeon, as if unable to go inside.
Seokhwa thought about putting his hand on Choi Hoeon’s back, but he decided to conserve strength and set a plausible goal: to escape if there was a gap.
Inside the wooden house was cleaner than it appeared from the outside. As if telling that the house had been vacant for a while, there was only a thin layer of dust on the table.
Choi Hoeon, who walked into the kitchen, sat Seokhwa on a dining chair. After a long drive, Choi Hoeon casually crossed his arms as if to loosen his stiff body, then opened the cupboard. It was difficult to see his relaxed movements as the attitude of a kidnapper.
“It seems we have to fill up with canned food since there are no fresh ingredients.” Choi Hoeon took out a can of corn and sausages. He placed a pot on the burner and poured water from a bottle. Since there was no water supply in the area, all the faucets were rusted. While waiting for the water to boil, Choi Hoeon detached a photo attached to the non-working refrigerator.
“My father always said that precious things should never be kept in secret places. Still, putting only one photo taken with his child on the refrigerator is a bit strange, isn’t it?”
Seokhwa looked down at the photo Choi Hoeon offered. Choi Hoeon, noticing the water was starting to boil, opened a can of sausages and placed them in the pot.
“If you eat it as it is, it will have a strange smell. Just wait a bit while you’re hungry.”
“…Dr. Wonho.”
Seokhwa muttered as he looked at the man in the photo. Dr. Wonho had his hand on the shoulder of a child who appeared to be around ten. The background was the same wooden house Seokhwa had seen just outside.
“All that’s left now is the photo. Everyone.”
Serpent was Dr. Wonho’s son? Seokhwa had never heard of Dr. Wonho having children. No, he wasn’t even aware that Dr. Wonho had ever been married. Tuk, a plate with sausages that were slightly crispy and fragrant was placed in front of Seokhwa.
“Dr. Seokhwa was born from the Euphrates, the remaining child of Bison and his wife is Major Kwak Soohwan, and finally, the child of the Tigris is me.”
Seokhwa stared at the table without feeling hungry. He couldn’t understand what Choi Hoeon was saying. He knew about the four rivers, but he didn’t want to know why they were being claimed as their descendants. Seokhwa had never heard that Dr. Wonho had children. No, he didn’t think Dr. Wonho had ever married… Tuk, a plate with sausages that were slightly crispy and fragrant was placed in front of Seokhwa.
“Dr. Seokhwa was born from the Euphrates, the remaining child of Bison and his wife is Major Kwak Soohwan, and finally, the child of the Tigris is me.”
Seokhwa stared at the table without feeling hungry. He couldn’t understand what Choi Hoeon was saying. He knew about the four rivers, but he didn’t want to know why they were being claimed as their descendants. His mother always said to avoid dangerous things. There was no way that such a person could be the one who created Eden Sanctuary.
No, more than anything else, right now…
“I…”
Choi Hoeon smiled gently.
“I want to see Major Kwak.”
Seokhwa raised his head.
***
Click, click.
[…White Tiger, 3121, Sparrowhawk, food flight, individual actions prohibited.]
Words like a code flowed through the vehicle radio. Choi Hoeon was intercepting military CB communication, and Rainbow City communicated with codes following military law.
Although he didn’t want to eat anything at the moment, Seokhwa forcibly pushed the sausage into his mouth before leaving home. When Seokhwa asked Choi Hoeon to send him to Major Kwak, Choi Hoeon only gave an impossible answer. So, if he ran out of energy here, it would be a problem.
“Did you just interpret the radio transmission?” Seokhwa replied while still bound with both arms to the ceiling handle.
“No.”
“3121 is Major Kwak Soohwan’s code number, and Sparrowhawk is a tracker. It seems like Major Kwak is on the run.”
Not Serpent, but Kwak Soohwan is on the run?
“Probably someone from above has intervened. Since Dr. Seokhwa hid the fact that he is immune.”
Pretending not to know, but it could also be Serpent who pushed for that fact. Seokhwa opened his mouth, pretending to be indifferent.
“…I’m not immune.”
“Whether it’s true or not, once you return to Rainbow City, Dr. Seokhwa will have to receive an Adam blood transfusion.”
“There’s no law that says Dr. Choi can’t tell me not to.”
Choi Hoeon looked at Seokhwa unexpectedly, then turned back.
“Why would I do that? We are all brothers derived from the same place.”
Still wanting to believe that Serpent was just playing with words, the pictures he saw in the air raid shelter supported his words. If this fact became known to the higher-ups, not only Seokhwa but Kwak Soohwan would become even more dangerous. Clearly, they were the children of rebels.
“Did you sleep with Major Kwak Soohwan?”
Seokhwa made a subtle expression at the sudden and unpleasant question. Since Seokhwa was generally expressionless, the change was quite noticeable. Choi Hoeon pointed to Seokhwa’s eyes, cheek, and slightly reddened neck with his hand.
“The rumors circulating in the Yeouido shelter weren’t false.”
“Seriously… What benefit do you gain from kidnapping me?” Choi Hoeon did not answer the question and continued driving somewhere.
Although it was called the Green Zone, the number of soldiers was significantly lower than in Seoul. Only in areas where the wealthy lived were there strict military patrols, and elsewhere, there were only people sitting on the streets or those holding water bottles, waiting for the rain.
As they climbed up a narrow road and crossed over a hill, a neglected forest overgrown with bushes appeared. Seokhwa’s uneasy feelings intensified as they drove into an area where no road was visible.
Even in the city, they were tracking Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa worried if he might come to find him, whether he had been injured somewhere in the process, or if he had escaped to some unknown place by now. In reality, he was a burden with his nose that was a traitor. If anything, without him, Kwak Soohwan would be safer.
The place where Choi Hoeon parked the car was an ancient Western-style mansion. This time, Choi Hoeon completely released the handcuffs tied around Seokhwa’s wrists. The wrists that had been tormented by handcuffs for a long time had bruises and swelling. Moreover, the arm with only emergency treatment for the gunshot wound complained with a few twitches.
“It’s difficult to escape alone from here.”
Whether it was a warning or not, Choi Hoeon’s words turned out to be true.
At least, Seokhwa needed to steal a car and run away, but he had never learned to drive. However, he had repeatedly observed and simulated driving by watching Choi Hoeon shifting gears. It seemed that it might not be impossible for him to drive himself. However, Choi Hoeon put the car keys in his pocket instead of leaving them in the car.
Seokhwa, who was watching him leave the car, suddenly glimpsed a human figure through the long windows of the mansion. It felt as if their eyes had met, so he stared as if he had seen something, but the figure quickly disappeared.
When he tried to open the passenger-side door, he had to get out of the car without intending to open the door. For now, it was a priority to pretend to listen to Choi Hoeon’s words well while easing the sense of vigilance.
Contrary to its appearance, the luxurious Western-style mansion required fingerprint recognition at the entrance. When Choi Hoeon recognized the fingerprint, the door opened with a click. Unlike ordinary houses, there was no threshold at the entrance, so they entered with their shoes on. Looking up, Seokhwa noticed that the ceiling was high. Most of the chandeliers hanging there had broken or missing bulbs.
Seokhwa began to examine the structure of the house by turning his gaze. When his eyes reached the central wooden staircase, he saw someone coming down carefully from above. It wasn’t just one person; there were at least three or four. As vigilant as Seokhwa, they also regarded him with suspicion. The one who looked the oldest seemed to be no more than twenty.
Choi Hoeon hugged Seokhwa’s shoulders and spoke towards the person on the stairs.
“The savior has come.”
His voice had a deep resonance that could be felt as trustworthy just by hearing it. At the same time, the youngsters began to descend the stairs quickly. They circled around Seokhwa like new family members, examining him from head to toe as if inspecting a new addition.
“…Will you not abandon us again, promise?”
The boy, eyebrows raised in fear, pleaded with Seokhwa, who removed Choi Hoeon’s hand and stepped aside.
“He will protect us from Adam. He’s our savior.”
The girl who seemed the oldest comforted the boy.
People began to appear on the underground and Second Master floors, one by one. Some had missing limbs or parts of their bodies, but they all wore clean white clothes, immaculate as if they neglected no cleanliness, unlike ordinary people. They were the followers of Eden Garden.
“Reverend, I will inform each branch! Finally, the Tree of Life has come to us.”
An excited middle-aged man clasped his hands in front of his chest. When Seokhwa took a step back, he collided with Choi Hoeon’s chest. Choi Hoeon gently placed his hand on Seokhwa’s shoulder and whispered.
“Treat them kindly. You’re their savior.”
Seokhwa could only be dumbfounded. Behind the chair he sat on, a large tree was drawn, and people frequently approached him, trying to talk to him. Some shared their life struggles, hoping for answers. They even called him the most liberated savior from Adam, the last hope born from the four rivers.
Seokhwa couldn’t say anything looking at them. He had no religious beliefs. However, for them, religion seemed equivalent to life. The overwhelming hope lingering in the air made his chest feel tight. Why was he forced into the role of a savior? This was a lie told by Choi Hoeon.
“I’m not that, it’s not like that.”
“What?”
A woman, surprised, shook hands with Seokhwa when it was her turn.
“I don’t know what the Tree of Life is. I’m not a savior. Dr. Choi Hoeon is lying.”
Seokhwa whispered quietly to the woman in front of him with all his heart. Choi Hoeon was talking to one of the elders leaning against the wall. The woman smiled compassionately.
“A true savior doesn’t claim to be one. A true savior doesn’t deceive us by impersonating. A savior who denies himself is the true Tree of Life.”
With her words, Seokhwa gave up trying to convince them. After that, he didn’t say a word, and he didn’t pay attention to the people shaking hands with him. Exhausted and unable to sleep properly, fatigue overwhelmed him.
When I’m like this, I would have already fainted, but whether it’s sheer willpower or not, no disasters have occurred in the future. As Choi Hoeon approached, those waiting in line stepped aside.
“Are you tired?” Choi Hoeon supported the pale Seokhwa. “You seem exhausted; trying to bless everyone must be quite draining.” Choi Hoeon conveyed his message to the believers. They all appeared to be well over thirty, and among the Eden Mountain followers, they seemed to hold high positions or be the most faithful. Since the vaccine broadcast, the number of Eden Mountain believers had exceeded at least a thousand. The distribution of the vaccine aimed to expand their influence.
Seokhwa deliberately didn’t avoid Choi Hoeon’s support. He emerged from the Tree of Life chamber and ascended the stairs, opening the first door on the second floor. The room wasn’t much different from a shelter, with only a desk and bed placed sporadically, and a book containing the doctrines of Eden Mountain lay on the desk. Seokhwa glanced briefly at the cover with a tree drawn on it before turning away.
“Shall I bring you some food in a while?”
“Why did you call me a savior?” Seokhwa, sitting on the bed, leaned his head against one shoulder. He wanted to lie down from exhaustion, but he didn’t want to appear weak in front of Choi Hoeon.
“Because the immune are the saviors.”
“Do they believe that?” “They have no choice but to believe what I say. Citizens of Rainbow City and outsiders are all mixed here, trembling with injustice and fear. They believe that if Adam disappears, a beautiful world will come. They also have hope that they can become immune through the power of salvation.”
“So, am I supposed to make a cure here?” Choi Hoeon pulled a chair over and sat facing Seokhwa.
“Continuing the work of the four rivers’ failure is our mission. Achieving a humanity free from Adam is salvation. It’s about achieving flawless, perfect genes.” Serpent’s words were oddly peculiar.
“Genetics, you say?”
“Do you think we’ve undergone natural evolution?”
Choi Hoeon placed his glasses on the desk.
“Don’t Dr. Seokhwa know about it too? He conducted mutation research within the city.”
The evolution of mutations had proceeded abnormally quickly. Like the Adam virus mutating, it was also a result of human interference.
“Not just Dr. Seokhwa, but also Major Kwak Soohwan. They edited the genetic information of embryos to create humans who were born with edited genes.”
Seokhwa massaged his temples as if in pain.
Choi Hoeon was referring to editing embryos’ genes using genetic scissors. Theoretically, if one wanted immunity against AIDS, removing the CCR5 gene from our bodies would suffice. CCR5 acts as a gateway for the HIV virus to penetrate immune cells, so removing it grants immunity to AIDS.
If one could identify which genes predispose individuals to certain diseases, through editing, diseases and infections could be prevented from the outset.
Even before Adam appeared, there were many who sought to create super babies in this manner. However, the risk was too great for commercialization, and there was fierce backlash due to uncertainty about the repercussions. Editing genes in random embryos was tantamount to human experimentation.
“So, are you saying that my mother and the doctors conducted experiments on embryos?”
“Countless times.”
Seokhwa’s face turned even paler.
“Embryos with genetic modifications were either killed or expelled. All of it was at the direction of Rainbow City.”
Choi Hoeon rose from his seat.
“Rainbow City is already so corrupt that it’s beyond repair. Unless we oust them all, even if a new city or country emerges, nothing will change.”
Even after Choi Hoeon left, the sound of him locking the door was not heard. Seokhwa felt like he needed at least an hour of rest, but his mind was boiling with thoughts.
Was it because of Rainbow City’s directives that they attempted genetic editing and modifications, and dealt with problematic fetuses? If so, did the doctors who opposed it establish Eden Park?
Seokhwa moved on the bed with cautious steps and looked out of the window. The forest beyond was so dense that not even an inch ahead was visible. With no electricity reaching the mansion, he had to use candles to illuminate the surroundings. Leaning against the window, Seokhwa pondered how to get Choi Hoeon’s car keys. If only he had the strength, he could have easily knocked him out and taken them. Seokhwa let out a frustrated laugh. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have been kidnapped in the first place.
As he gathered his knees and rested his face on them, drowsiness kept creeping in.
“Dr. Seok.”
Seokhwa snapped his head up and buried his face again. Hearing voices that weren’t there indicated that his mind was really at its limit.
“Seokhwa hyung!”
He lifted his head in a flash and looked out the window.
“No way. Kwak Soohwan wouldn’t know about this place and come here.” Seokhwa slapped his cheeks with both hands. Pull yourself together. You can’t fall asleep. If there’s no car, you’ll have to walk down. Since it’s in the green zone, there won’t be any Adam. Seokhwa thought positively.
Just as he was about to dart out of bed, a bright, intense light shone from behind. Then, a loud bang! startled him. Startled, he looked outside to see Choi Hoeon’s car engulfed in flames. When he saw the man standing next to the fire, Seokhwa didn’t hesitate to grab a chair. It was just a wooden chair, but it felt unexpectedly heavy. Gritting his teeth against the pain in his arms, he used all his strength to smash the glass window. As the window shattered, the chair slipped from his hands and fell outside.
The man suddenly looked down at the fallen chair and then slowly raised his gaze.
Seokhwa, standing in front of the broken window, was visible. Kwak Soohwan, tossing aside his blood-stained gloves into the burning Serpent’s car, extended his arms.
“Hey, it’s only been a few days, why so happy to see me?”
Seokhwa stood on the shattered window frame at his cool voice. It seemed like going downstairs would only complicate things if he got caught by Serpent.
“Can you jump down?”
He shouted. Hearing footsteps approaching from outside the room, Seokhwa quickly nodded his head. Even if he didn’t catch him properly, it wouldn’t be fatal since it was only the second floor.
Seokhwa took a deep breath and threw himself towards Kwak Soohwan’s direction. He calculated the angle and pushed off the window frame to help propel himself forward. He forced his eyes open, wanting to close them tightly. Kwak Soohwan lowered his center of gravity and caught Seokhwa in one swift motion.
“Gotcha! Nice catch.”
Still, Seokhwa’s entire body tingled with gravity. Looking up at the second floor, Choi Hoeon had his hand on the window, peering down. Kwak Soohwan promptly seated Seokhwa in his jeep. As if signaling him to come down, when Kwak Soohwan gestured towards Choi Hoeon, Seokhwa spoke up.
“Sir, I’ll be your baggage.”
Inside, there were not only boys and girls but also adults, so they didn’t know what kind of variables might arise. Fortunately, Serpent only looked down towards them without coming down. Kwak Soohwan also decided not to push further into the mansion without making three mistakes.
“Major Kwak Soohwan!”
It was when Kwak Soohwan opened the driver’s seat door. Choi Hoeon called out to him with a smiling face.
“Have a good chat with Dr. Seokhwa. Looking forward to what’s to come.”
Kwak Soohwan raised his middle finger and swiftly climbed into the driver’s seat. Stepping hard on the accelerator, the jeep, after a few spins, began to dash through the forest. One headlight was emitting light, regardless of what had happened. Until they merged onto the road, Kwak Soohwan didn’t utter a word.
Seokhwa glanced at him. Sensing Kwak Soohwan’s gaze, it was time for him to break the silence.
“It’s only been a few days.”
“Huh?”
“It’s been a little over a day.”
Really? Kwak Soohwan laughed as if to say, did it really matter.
“It felt like it’s been more than just a few days by perception.”
“Me too.”
At the honest answer, Kwak Soohwan gripped the steering wheel tightly. He didn’t know how to express this emotion.
Seeing the bandaged arm and the blood seeping in reverse, he wanted to clear his mind or whatever and tear Serpent’s throat out. When he saw Seokhwa smashing the window with a chair and jumping out, it felt like his stomach tightened.
If a situation arose where one had to trust and jump with someone, he would never do it. However, Dr. Seok seemed to have complete trust in himself, and there was faith that he wouldn’t miss, so he jumped.
Seeing the yellow bruises on Seokhwa’s cheeks and the corners of his eyes, veins bulged on Kwak Soohwan’s hand. Soon, he realized he had left his mark and needed a moment of strange reflection.
He didn’t even want to ask the ridiculous question of whether Seokhwa’s body was alright. Just by looking at him, Seokhwa was a mess. The Seokhwa who belonged in the lab was on the verge of losing fingernails, getting shot, experiencing things that ordinary soldiers shouldn’t have to endure.
“How did you find your way here?”
“Woof.”
Seokhwa looked at him in confusion.
“You called me a dog. I followed your scent.”
Seokhwa seemed to realize the joke out of the blue and smiled tentatively. His tension eased, and his body collapsed onto the chair as if it wanted to bury itself.
“Just a little… tired.”
From the moment Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan escaped the mansion, Seokhwa was engulfed in overwhelming fatigue. Before Kwak Soohwan could even comfortably suggest resting, Seokhwa slumped first. His mouth slightly agape, with a tired expression, it was pitiful to see. Kwak Soohwan ran his hand over Seokhwa’s cheek once before gripping the steering wheel again.
Kwak Soohwan was currently wanted in Rainbow City. According to CB radio, several teams were tracking them down. Probably, Choi Hoeon leaked information about Seokhwa or Second actively intervened. Kwak Soohwan could have also exposed Choi Hoeon’s identity, but he ordered checks on those who were in the Violet Zone.
Once Serpent’s identity was revealed, it would have been difficult to guarantee Seokhwa’s safety while the soldiers were chasing him.
Since he rescued Seokhwa, it would be easier to go all in by reporting Serpent’s location. However, there was no one to trust the words of a wanted soldier.
When Kwak Soohwan arrived in Busan and headed straight for Mount Uryong, he briefly doubted whether the kids were lying. It was because there was no sign of popularity around.
If it weren’t for the trees of life painted on some walls on the mountainside, he would have turned back his footsteps. Along the road up the mountain, camellias were blooming extravagantly. The scattered petals were always as red as blood. But unlike blood, they had fragrance.
Although he had been to many scenes dealing with Adam, it was the first time he had seen blooming camellias. Kwak Soohwan stopped when he came across a frozen camellia. He felt the impulse to show wildflowers to Seokhwa. Eventually, it got messed up inside his pocket. So he just took him in Choi Hoeon’s car along with the gloves.
Kwak Soohwan checked on the soundly sleeping Seokhwa once again. He refrained from touching him again, fearing he might wake up, and instead focused on the map of Busan laid out in front of him. Most of the road signs were either fallen or entangled with withered vines.
Since the Gwangandaegyo Bridge was destroyed in the early days of Adam’s appearance, the only intact bridge was the Jwasuyeong Bridge. Even that was only a two-lane road out of the six available. Kwak Soohwan drove towards the Jwasuyeong Bridge.
When dividing Busan into two, it seemed safer for them to head towards Haeundae, designated as Violet or Red. Fortunately, they had enough fuel, so he turned off the headlights and ventured into the uninhabited areas.
Must be because it’s so dark. Kwak Soohwan crossed the bridge and drove deeper, avoiding the coastal area where old hotels were clustered. As soon as he saw the signboard of a pharmacy in the neighborhood, Kwak Soohwan parked in a blind spot. As he turned off the engine, the heat from the heater also ceased. He didn’t want to wake up the sleeping Seokhwa, but he couldn’t leave him here.
Even when he shook his shoulder slowly, Seokhwa didn’t seem to have any intention of waking up. Just as he was about to shake him harder, Seokhwa slowly opened his eyes.
“…Where are we?”
“Let’s get off first.”
Kwak Soohwan got off first to look around and signaled to Seokhwa that it was safe to get off.
The pharmacy, which used to operate in the Green Zone, had medicines scattered on the floor or on the shelves. Perhaps they hoped to come back when fleeing, but the pharmacy door was locked. Kwak Soohwan grabbed the bottom of the iron shutter with his hand and forcefully lifted it upwards. The screws that had been fixed to the floor came loose, and the shutter went up with a creak.
As he stepped inside, Seokhwa followed. When Kwak Soohwan turned on the long, thin flashlight, the dark interior of the pharmacy became bright. The medicines produced under Rainbow City seemed to be in good condition. Kwak Soohwan found medicines and bandages and seated Seokhwa in a chair inside the lab.
Seokhwa was surprised, wondering if he was hurt, but he understood that Kwak Soohwan intended to treat him, so he began to unwrap the bandage himself.
Kwak Soohwan illuminated Seokhwa’s wounds with the flashlight. That damn bastard had left bruises on Seokhwa’s forearm. Seokhwa looked up at Kwak Soohwan, who was furious, then checked his own wounds. Fortunately, they weren’t festering, and thanks to the quick treatment, the risk of infection seemed low.
“I’ll do it.”
Seokhwa took the disinfectant from his hand, checked if there was any sediment, and opened the lid.
“Dr. Seok, I can—”
At the same time, Seokhwa poured disinfectant onto his wound. Seokhwa, closing his eyes against the boiling pain that came instantly, gritted his teeth inwardly. After a few seconds, the stinging pain gradually subsided. Kwak Soohwan, with a hardened expression, silently applied ointment to the wound. Since there was no bleeding, it would be better not to wrap the wound, but they had to bandage it since Seokhwa couldn’t just lie still.
“It hurts.”
Kwak Soohwan’s voice was tightly locked.
“Just endure it.”
“Don’t endure it. Say it hurts. Dr. Seok always tells the truth.”
Seokhwa grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s wrist carefully bandaging his wound. It felt exactly like the comforting warmth I knew. Kwak Soohwan flinched as if touched by fire but soon let Seokhwa’s touch stay as it was.
“Then I’ll endure it.”
“That’s not the point, what’s different?”
Kwak Soohwan secured the bandage with a pin and picked up the flashlight he had placed on the table.
“Let’s go.”
Seokhwa packed a few more useful medicines and got back into the jeep. He didn’t know where he was heading, but even after a short but deep sleep, the exhaustion that had been pressing on his entire body had eased a bit.
“Major Kwak… Dr. Choi Hoeon,”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
Seokhwa felt the urge to ask why, but he didn’t bother.
While the car was moving, Kwak Soohwan drank a few sips of water from the bottle he had given, and shook the grain powder pack, mixing it with water and consuming it. It tasted bland.
“I feel strange.”
“You probably want to go back to the lab.”
He replied bitterly as if he knew everything. Seokhwa brought his hand to his lips, still tingling with pain. Then he leaned his face into his touch, like a large animal leaning into a comforting touch.
“That’s not it, I never thought it would come to this. Just living in the lab… I thought one day I might end up messed up either behind or ahead.”
Kwak Soohwan drove straight through the alley inside the pharmacy until he parked the car in front of a somewhat intact house. Seokhwa was silently observing Kwak Soohwan with his narrowed eyes.
“Through Major, I learned about a different world.”
He leaned his face close to the steering wheel for a moment.
“You know how to protect your brother, and a true brother is a brother.”
Kwak Soohwan thought Seokhwa was comforting him. Seokhwa felt that too, but since he was not very talkative to begin with, he couldn’t clear up the misunderstanding.
“Is your arm really okay?”
“Yes, Major Kwak.”
“Yeah.”
“I want to touch your testicles.”
He blurted out, surprising Kwak Soohwan. Kwak Soohwan turned his face leaned on the steering wheel sideways.
“Will touching my balls make you feel better? I’m not some panacea, Dr. Seok.”
“Then I’ll say it again. I want to hug you naked.”
Dr. Seok knows nothing about human emotions.
Kwak Soohwan endured the impulse to pounce on Seokhwa. He wanted to kiss those talkative lips and smooth skin wildly. Just hold it in until they get inside, just hide the car for now. Kwak Soohwan clenched and unclenched his fist.
“I’ll be right back.”
Kwak Soohwan locked the car door and went outside with only his gun.
The house had a parking lot next to the garden, resembling a house like Oyang-seok’s, with all the windows covered with iron bars. Kwak Soohwan broke through the front door and went inside. He checked every room, including the bedroom, living room, and storage cabinets.
When he opened the bathroom door, he saw strands of hair sticking out of the bathtub. He loaded his gun and approached, shining the flashlight. It was a decomposed body, not a living person. There were no bugs or insects, indicating that it had been dead for quite some time. Seeing no signs of struggle besides the bathtub, he could only guess it might have been a suicide. Kwak Soohwan tore off the shower curtain and covered the bathtub.
Hastily stepping out into the garden, Kwak Soohwan couldn’t see Seokhwa anywhere. In this short time, he wondered if something had happened. Quickly, Kwak Soohwan opened the passenger door.
“Major Kwak?”
Seokhwa, who was hiding under the passenger seat, slowly sat up. Kwak Soohwan felt his heart sink and then rise again.
“Why were you hiding?”
“I thought it would be safer.”
Indeed, the outside was extremely dangerous, but Kwak Soohwan couldn’t send Seokhwa back to the city. They had to wait for a breakthrough, so all Seokhwa could do was endure.
Kwak Soohwan grabbed the military backpack he had left in the back seat and slung it over one shoulder.
“The interior should be safe, but don’t go into the bathroom. There’s no water anyway.”
“Okay.”
Seeing Seokhwa stepping out of the car, Kwak Soohwan began walking towards the entrance. Thud, Seokhwa turned back at the sound from the car. The reason Seokhwa hid under the passenger seat was also because of this. He had heard strange noises earlier. Since they had already confirmed that there was no one in the back seat, the source of the noise might have been the trunk.
Seokhwa glanced at the spare tire hanging behind the jeep. As he approached and peered into the dimly lit trunk window, he was startled and took a step back.
“What are you doing?”
Kwak Soohwan, who had stopped walking, turned to Seokhwa.
“Major Kwak…”
Seokhwa whispered to Kwak Soohwan about what he had seen.
“There’s someone in the trunk.”
However, Kwak Soohwan, seemingly unconcerned, continued to walk steadily.
“Let’s go in.”
“In there?”
“You can ignore it.”
Given that she wasn’t struggling, it was unlikely to be Adam, but it was definitely a person. Seokhwa, who usually followed Kwak Soohwan’s orders, was not doing so this time.
“She says she wants to hug me naked.”
“Not now… No.”
“Dr. Seok, you’re too much. What’s all this about setting fire and now this?”
Kwak Soohwan clicked his tongue. Opening the trunk door like a barn door, inside was a woman with her arms and ankles bound. The middle-aged woman, already worn out, looked exhausted.
“Who are you?”
As their eyes met, she blinked rapidly and shook her body. Kwak Soohwan lifted the struggling woman into his arms and walked her inside. Seokhwa didn’t avoid the gaze of the woman, who had red eyes, but stared directly at her. Although he looked closely, there was no recognition between them. Kwak Soohwan laid the woman on the dusty carpet and roughly removed the gag.
“Cough, cough.”
As she coughed dryly, Kwak Soohwan took out water from the backpack and splashed it on her face. The woman looked around nervously, her guard up.
“Are you an enemy?”
Seokhwa also asked her, staying a bit away. It was an assumption since it didn’t seem like Kwak Soohwan would kidnap and tie up a normal person.
Kwak Soohwan gulped down the water and brushed off the debris with his hand.
“Choi Hoeon’s mother. No, could she really be his mother?”
Seokhwa reflexively grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s sleeve. Seokhwa hadn’t yet realized that he kept holding onto Kwak Soohwan without reason.
Now that he looked, the necklace around her neck was gold, and her clothes were made of thick fur. If she had stood properly, one could easily tell she was from the affluent class.
“A tree… we… hope.”
With a voice filled with exhaustion, she looked up at Seokhwa. Seokhwa had already experienced that blind gaze before. It was at Choi Hoeon’s mansion when they escaped.
“At last… finally.”
Tears welled up in the eyes of the middle-aged woman in relief. With a puzzled heart, Seokhwa let go of the sleeve and stepped back. Kwak Soohwan, who was squatting in front of her, placed the water bottle beside her face.
“Ma’am, if I hadn’t been able to bring Dr. Seok back safely, I was thinking of using you a bit. Now that we’ve rescued him safely, I was planning to drop you off somewhere tomorrow, but it seems Dr. Seok’s curiosity is no joke.”
The woman shot Kwak Soohwan a sharp glance and spat, but he dodged faster.
When they reached the top of Mount Wuryongsan, he happened to spot this woman. With three bodyguards distributing food to people, he had a hunch that she held a high position in Eden Valley, and he was right; she was even more important than he’d thought.
Kwak Soohwan had checked Choi Hoeon’s parents’ photos when he was investigating. It didn’t take him long to figure out who the woman was. If he didn’t find a clue on Mount Wuryongsan, he planned to search for her according to this Major’s coordinates. Without any need for haste, he waited for them to finish distributing supplies and then picked them up in the jeep.
Stubbornly refusing to reveal her hiding place, he threatened to slice one of the bodyguards’ arms and carve the rest if she didn’t cooperate. The woman, who hadn’t blinked once, finally opened her mouth only when both men had their arms sliced.
Originally, it was easier to use others than to directly threaten this kind of person. After all, just the fact that she distributed food to the believers showed her altruistic nature. But the serpent had released Seokhwa more easily than expected. Of course, the serpent hadn’t anticipated Seokhwa leaping from the second floor, but the man’s words about expecting the future lingered in Kwak Soohwan’s mind.
“Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan, lost in thought, spoke up.
“Did you give birth to Dr. Choi Hoeon?”
Seokhwa threw a strange question at the woman without even waiting for an answer.
“Are you Dr. Wonho’s wife?”
Seokhwa’s words seemed out of context, as if he’d been brainwashed by the serpent.
She seemed to want to say something, but her pupils, strained from enduring the trunk, struggled to focus. Seokhwa touched her forehead in surprise and checked her breathing. As his warm touch reached her, the woman exhaled deeply as if she had been rescued and closed her eyes. Fortunately, she seemed to have only fainted from exhaustion, so there didn’t seem to be any major issues.
“Why did you kidnap her?”
“I had my reasons. Besides, she’s not a good person anyway. You believe me, right?”
Kwak Soohwan, making excuses, held Seokhwa’s hand. Instead of pulling away, Seokhwa held on tightly, radiating warmth. Kwak Soohwan led Seokhwa into a relatively clean room, closed the door, and stood him in front.
“Dr. Seok, do you know how to summarize?”
Seokhwa hesitated for a moment before nodding. Before launching into a long explanation, he swallowed once, his throat dry.
“Dr. Choi Hoeon… He’s Dr. Wonho’s son.”
“What?”
This seemed too condensed.
Seokhwa wrapped his arms around Kwak Soohwan, who seemed oddly anxious, and gently guided him to sit down. In truth, it seemed more like an action for him than for Kwak Soohwan. Leaning into his shoulder and feeling his whole body relax brought a sense of comfort. Kwak Soohwan, who hadn’t anticipated Seokhwa’s actions, awkwardly raised his hand for a moment before finally enveloping Seokhwa’s body.
“My mother, Major Kwak Soohwan’s parents, and Dr. Choi Hoeon’s father, Dr. Wonho. The four of them conducted genetic editing research together. They experimented on embryos to create mutations… And we were one of those experiments. It was all ordered by Rainbow City, and in response, they created Eden Valley.”
According to Lee Chaeyoon, Seokhwa dropped a photo when he was being kidnapped by the serpent. The serpent couldn’t have been that careless. Perhaps he intentionally left it there, knowing he had dropped it, so ultimately, it was a new apology.
That photo raised suspicions for him, and on my way to Busan, he considered a myriad of possibilities. The hypothesis even extended to the theory that the short-haired woman in the photo was Seokhwa’s mother and a researcher, and that she had been in the same lab as his parents.
“So, the defects in the mutants are due to genetic editing? Then, does that mean all the mutants in the city are experiments?”
“Probably.”
The Second Master was just as interested in Seokhwa as the serpent was. Was it because he was not only an immune, but also a child born through genetic manipulation?
“If Choi Hoeon is Wonho’s son, then that woman wouldn’t be his biological mother.”
The man executed by the woman’s push wasn’t Dr. Wonho.
“That’s what Dr. Choi said. Even though she wasn’t a citizen of the city herself, she came to the city to meet us.”
Seokhwa raised his head abruptly. Kwak Soohwan’s lips were close as he looked down at him. Kwak Soohwan also tightened his grip on Seokhwa’s waist.
“Originally… Major Kwak was supposed to join Eden Valley.”
“Don’t stay here, go to Hwasun Hall. The living should stay alive. Just say it’s my recommendation.”
Kwak Soohwan remembered the one-eyed man who died long ago. He was the adult who rescued him and was going to send him to Hwasun Hall, where the rebel forces were. However, through a broker, Dr. Oh Yang elevated Seokhwa to citizenship, diverting his path from the rebels.
Could it be that the forces at Hwasun Hall back then were Eden Valley?
Suddenly, Kwak Soohwan smiled as if to say it was all fine. He had no intention of taking the Serpent’s words at face value, and even if they were true, it wouldn’t change anything.
“Seokhwa.”
His smooth lips parted, and a soothing voice flowed out.
As their cheeks met like people who had been apart for a long time, they felt the texture of each other’s skin once again. When Kwak Soohwan kissed the still bruised area around Seokhwa’s eyes, he instinctively squinted at the ticklish sensation. The slight movements of their lips touching seemed to intensify the thirst for more. Kwak Soohwan nibbled on the bridge of Seokhwa’s nose and then gently pressed his lips against Seokhwa’s, but they remained tightly shut.
“Open up.”
“Outside, town.”
Pushing Seokhwa further against the door, Kwak Soohwan delved inside with his tongue. Seokhwa, who had been embracing his back, turned his shoulders back and wrapped his arms around Kwak Soohwan, encasing him up to his shoulders.
As the kiss deepened, Seokhwa thought Kwak Soohwan’s muscles felt even harder, like stone. When he felt short of breath and tilted his head back, Kwak Soohwan followed him, peppering kisses all over his face.
“Hah, Rainbow City, whatnot, should we run away?”
“Dangerous town, it is.”
“Why would it be dangerous with me here?”
As if Kwak Soohwan were sucking the essence of life itself, he sucked on Seokhwa’s lips and licked roughly inside.
Although the aftermath of their previous encounter hadn’t entirely disappeared, Seokhwa somehow shuddered at the back. Whether Kwak Soohwan knew it or not, he squeezed his buttocks. Unable to bear it any longer, Seokhwa lifted his body abruptly, and Kwak Soohwan looked up at him from below as Seokhwa cupped his cheeks.
“If you cross the line, Major Kwak will be safe. It’s because of me that he’s wanted.”
“How did you know I’m wanted?”
Kwak Soohwan bit his lip hard.
“If you were going to cross the line, do you think I would have come all the way to Busan?”
It’s mine, Dr. Seok is mine. No one else is going to have him. Dr. Seok jumped into my arms by himself.
“Major Kwak.”
Whether he had read his mind or not, the tone was unexpectedly serious.
“I didn’t cross the line. It’s huge.”
Seokhwa, perhaps conscious of people outside, whispered and then descended from his embrace.
Pushing away from his chest, Kwak Soohwan hugged Seokhwa from behind, who was trying to escape.
“It seems like it did. Doctor, please take a look.”
Seokhwa shook for a moment at Kwak Soohwan’s playful antics. Sensing it as if by magic, he whispered in his ear.
“Huh, what?”
Kwak Soohwan’s hardness met Seokhwa’s buttocks. The silhouette of his erection showed prominently through his uniform pants.
“There’s someone outside.”
“Just be quiet.”
Describing being unconscious as sleeping. Seokhwa barely managed to erect a barrier against the overwhelming tide of lust that threatened to flood over him. If he didn’t cut it off with a swift blow here, it felt like it would overflow.
“I… don’t want to.”
Even the sigh he let out tickled his throat, making his body recoil.
“There’s someone outside, and there’s a person who’s unconscious to consider.”
Having sex with a person unconscious behind a door went against Seokhwa’s sense of decency.
“Dr. Seok has been quite vigorous in bed so far, but I’ve never had a chance? How long do I have to keep my semen stored? If my balls burst, Dr. Seok won’t be the one most saddened, will he?”
Seokhwa’s face, which suddenly turned red as he quickly turned around, puzzled as he rarely showed any embarrassment.
“Didn’t cum.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t.” Seokhwa retorted firmly. Kwak Soohwan glanced at the bed where Seokhwa was lying.
“Shall we try again?”
Walking over, he cleared the sheets, revealing a clean one underneath. Kwak Soohwan took off his suit coat and laid it on the sheet. He gestured with his index finger, indicating for Seokhwa to lie down.
“I don’t want to.”
“Why, you said you didn’t cum. Then you won’t cum now even if we do it.”
Standing awkwardly in front of the door, Seokhwa finally opened his tightly shut lips.
“I… came.”
Kwak Soohwan couldn’t help but burst into a bewildered laugh. Though rare, knowing Seokhwa’s stubbornness, even pushing further here wouldn’t likely change his refusal.
“Come and lie down.”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa, who was still standing stiffly. His eyes were full of disbelief, as if he only knew how to force things. Kwak Soohwan even dragged the dusty pillow to the floor.
“Get some sleep. We need to move first thing in the morning.”
“What about you, Major?”
“I’m fine for now.”
Kwak Soohwan hadn’t slept a wink until he found Seokhwa, but if they both fell asleep, who knew what might happen.
“I’ve rested, so Major Kwak, you should rest a bit too. I’ll keep watch.”
“Trust Dr. Seok to keep watch and sleep?”
With a look that seemed to agree, Kwak Soohwan pushed Seokhwa down onto the suit coat.
“If you really get sleepy, don’t worry, just ask, and I’ll take over.”
Even though Seokhwa had slept briefly, he was still feeling the strain on his stamina. His physical endurance had improved compared to before, perhaps due to not just being confined to the laboratory as before but also from moving around.
“I’m sorry.”
Seokhwa lay flat, placing his hands on his chest. Kwak Soohwan, noticing his empty hands, rummaged through his pants pocket and pulled out a small pebble. It was an oddly shaped stone he had picked up from Mount Uryong. It was made of basalt and was small enough to fit in the palm, resembling a marble. Seokhwa rolled the rough surface of the stone in his hand, seemingly fond of it.
“Do you like the stone that much?”
“Yes.”
Considering he was born with genetic mutations, it wasn’t unusual for him to have peculiar obsessions. Even the genetically modified pigs Kwak Soohwan knew about tended to grow larger in size but had deteriorated eyesight and hearing, fixating only on food.
Kwak Soohwan leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, waiting until Seokhwa fell asleep. Seokhwa might not be accustomed to sleeping in such a dusty room, but fortunately, he breathed evenly. After confirming that there were no abnormalities with the iron bars on the window, Kwak Soohwan slipped out of the room.
The woman registered as Choi Hoeon’s mother in the city was still in a dazed state. Kwak Soohwan brought the radio from the kitchen and monitored her while tuning in to the frequencies. Since there wouldn’t be any important news on regular radio broadcasts, he searched for military encryption broadcast frequencies.
Currently, only static noise was heard, and there was no broadcast at all. Kwak Soohwan turned up the volume to the maximum and took out a can of pineapple from the kitchen. He opened the canned pineapple with a jackknife and chewed on the flesh that fell off the knife.
Strangely, the timing of Second Master’s order to bring Seokhwa and the moment Serpent kidnapped Seokhwa seemed similar. He briefly suspected they might be working together, but Serpent hesitated when he told Seokhwa to go to Udo.
Kwak Soohwan pressed his eyes with the hand holding the knife. He had often pondered countless reasons why his father turned into Adam. He wondered if his father had a mental issue and injected Adam’s blood himself, or if someone had contaminated the insulin solution. If so, whose doing was it?
The jumbled cube seemed to be moving slightly. Perhaps it was retaliation from the parents who created Eden Park, or retaliation from the city that discovered it.
“They wouldn’t have experimented with just one or two embryos. It would have been a large number, and children with physical defects were probably all disposed of. Kwak Soohwan speculated why Seokhwa’s mother retired from her research position.
Wasn’t Seokhwa, born with low stamina, one of the candidates for disposal? And now he could understand why their parents had secretly hidden their siblings. There might have been an older sibling born before him.
It’s a suspicion that there were genetic defects, leading to disposal, and since the parents couldn’t afford to lose another child, they sent them outside the city.
“…On the day the tree of life knows good and evil, salvation will come.”
Kwak Soohwan sat on the sofa, his gaze lowered. The woman, now sober, looked up at him and murmured.
“Madam, snap out of it. There’s no such thing as salvation.”
“Poor child. Eventually, violence and power submit to salvation. You still have the tree of life with you, so you’re safe.”
It seemed that the tree of life this woman was talking about was Seokhwa. Kwak Soohwan took another bite of pineapple.
“Oh yeah? Your tree of life needs a helicopter, and does Madam have a helicopter?”
The woman looked at him with a puzzled look.
“Didn’t Dr. Seok just mention it?”
“The social status of the tree of life doesn’t matter.”
Choi Hoeon seems to have brainwashed her well.
“Anyway, if Dr. Seokhwa needs a helicopter, shouldn’t we help? If you want salvation, you should impress the savior, shouldn’t you? But isn’t it strange to call their leadership ‘Serpent’? Serpent is the one who expelled Adam and Eve from Eden Park.”
“The snake is a creature of wisdom. Having known good and evil, isn’t it another form of salvation? Child, don’t just look at what’s in front of you.”
“I may not understand having blind faith in religion in such a fucked-up world, but isn’t it a bit much for you to believe and follow Eden Park like that? And isn’t it that two of the elders who created Eden Park are our parents? It’s not like our parents had great faith, so there must have been some kind of mutual understanding. Isn’t it unreasonable for you to ask me to believe in such a religion? Isn’t Choi Hoeon your own son?”
“My child is correct.”
“Child embraced with the heart?”
Asking with a deep tone, the woman slowly closed her eyes and then opened them. Kwak Soohwan flicked away the fruit juice stuck to the knife.
“You were also involved in rebel activities, so why did you push your husband?”
“Because I was ignorant. I believed in Rainbow City, and truthfully, they said it would save my husband. I didn’t push him; I was coerced to push him. And then my husband was executed.”
It seemed that the past was still vivid for the woman as her eyes welled up with tears.
“So you found a place to put your heart. Since there’s no savior like you people talk about, you gave up on futile hope.”
“Why? You’ve been saved too.”
Startled, Kwak Soohwan froze with the knife in hand.
“That’s why you followed us all the way here, to get it in your hands.”
He glared at the woman with fierce eyes.
“That’s right. But I’m not your savior, I’m my own savior.”
“Child, you can’t possess anything in vain.”
Is this how reading between the lines works? Kwak Soohwan chuckled and leaned back against the sofa.
“If you need a helicopter, I’ll provide it. If you need a passenger ship, I’ll provide that too.”
“And release you?”
“Join us then. I can be your mother.”
“Sorry, but my family consists only of Dr. Seok.”
“A tree that’s too big to embrace alone.”
“That big tree will wither and die without me.”
“Weren’t you living well without me? Meeting you only brought danger and made things difficult like this.”
“Well, that stings a bit.”
Kwak Soohwan closed the blade of the knife and tucked it into his back pocket.
“It seems the serpent doesn’t have to be Choi Hoeon, it can be the old lady.”
“Kwak Soohwan, Kwak Jihwan.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“We were like a new river embracing you. Even the Oryang Dr. Seok who took you eventually was influenced by us. Didn’t I reveal our hideout because of your threat? You too were embraced by us.”
[Rustling, rustling, Baekho Mountain trek, Buzzard 35, Resuming tracking]
The encrypted broadcast began on the radio. Baekho referred to Kwak Soohwan, and 35 indicated Busan Green Zone. Although it seemed like they had already caught up to Busan, removing the tracking device from the jeep meant it would be like finding a needle in a haystack on the sandy beach. Still, they decided to allow themselves just two more hours of leisure.
“You were the guide leading the Tree of Life for us. Other emotions are unnecessary.”
This was something he couldn’t simply brush off.
Looking back, the reason he went to the Red Zone where Dr.Oh’s mansion was located was to investigate Eden Garden. He had almost gone to Brig to deceive his activities as a controller and ended up taking on Seokhwa’s security instead of being pardoned. If that wasn’t a coincidence, it meant there was someone from Eden Garden in the upper ranks. And they were very adept at understanding the cause and effect.
Kwak Soohwan’s mood plummeted suddenly. Being someone’s pawn was out of the question.
“Damn it. So how does Dr. Seok save you?”
“That existence is salvation. We realized that our beliefs and faith were not wrong.”
“Ah, an antibody? But how? Dr. Seok’s blood is still infected with the Adam virus.”
“But we prevailed. The tree that has gone through adversity and suffering is the true savior.”
Think what you want. Kwak Soohwan gave up on mixing words further. He roamed around the house, loading canned goods and remaining water into the car, lighting a cigarette and waiting for dawn to break.
There, there, cough, an Adam who could barely walk was wandering around the neighborhood. If left as it was, it seemed his body movements would soon cease altogether.
Seeing Kwak Soohwan’s cigarette, Adam made strange noises, wriggling his body as he approached. Though grotesque with skin peeled from mouth to ears, revealing gums, it wasn’t threatening. Kwak Soohwan considered smashing him as he approached, but he walked up first and kicked the odd body away. Then, he opened the back door of the jeep and took out spare leather gloves, putting them on his hands. He grabbed the approaching Adam’s head, which was trying to bite him, and slammed it on the ground, shattering it all. Kwak Soohwan flicked his finished cigarette next to him.
He immediately grabbed the guy’s neck and dragged him into the house. Upon seeing Adam, the woman who had been calm all along began to visibly tense.
“You said there’s a savior in that room. Even if I’m bitten by this guy, the savior will save me, right?”
“I… have no doubt in my faith.”
“Impressive.”
Kwak Soohwan laid the struggling Adam on the floor and said without enthusiasm.
“In the book I read, it said that some nobleman denied the existence of God three times, but there’s nothing like that here. Do you really think I won’t question this guy to you? Knowing full well what you people have done? Capturing innocent soldiers for all sorts of experiments, and now someone like that is supposed to be a savior for Dr. Seok? Farewell, ma’am.”
It was the moment when Adam brought his face close to his neck.
“Major Kwak…!”
Seokhwa’s face standing in front of the door turned pale.
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Adam, who was staggering with broken teeth, from behind. He stabbed the back of his head with a knife, stopping him without directly breaking his skull.
Seokhwa, holding onto the uniform coat, didn’t even flinch as if doubting his own eyes.
“It was a joke, ma’am. Just playing around.”
As if inviting him, he spread his hands, then quickly took off his gloves as if he had been defeated.
“Hmm?”
With a smile added, he looked truly mischievous. Despite knowing he wasn’t serious, Seokhwa still felt a strange unfamiliarity. Although he owed his life to Kwak Soohwan several times, he couldn’t claim to know him well. What he knew was that he was like an unpredictable mutant with no flaws and took care of him better than anyone else. Perhaps that’s why his behavior just now felt unsettling.
“Why are you up already?”
Not thinking of that, Seokhwa couldn’t hide his gaze when Kwak Soohwan approached. He lowered his eyes to confirm the woman sprawled on the carpet. Adam’s fur was stained with blood, but there were no signs of infection.
“Aren’t you coming?”
Kwak Soohwan slightly frowned as if offended.
“Don’t play such jokes.”
“Got it. I won’t do it again.”
Only then did Seokhwa start walking forward.
“Shall we start moving?”
“Where to?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
He slung the backpack over one shoulder and cut the rope tying the woman’s legs. He then moved the hands that had been tied behind her to the front and tied them again.
With his legs having been bound for so long, the woman couldn’t put any strength into them, so Seokhwa supported her from the side. Kwak Soohwan, who hadn’t seen this, stopped the woman himself. After trying to load her into the trunk but hesitating, he put her in the back seat.
The woman only trembled silently, with only her bound hands shaking. If a savior hadn’t appeared, she might have really been infected by Adam. Although it was brushed off as a joke, Kwak Soohwan’s face showed no emotion at that moment. He felt something was definitely going wrong. Given Kwak Soohwan’s obsession with Seokhwa, if they returned safely, it would be difficult to involve Kwak Soohwan. Could they return safely? However, as long as Seokhwa was there, he believed Kwak Soohwan wouldn’t act cruelly.
Seokhwa tore open the bread bag that Kwak Soohwan handed him and handed a piece to the woman’s hands. Instead of eating the bread Seokhwa handed over, she held it tightly with both hands.
“Got plenty of rations, huh?”
Ignoring the sarcasm, he handed the remaining piece to Kwak Soohwan.
“Dr. Seok can have it.”
He pulled the seatbelt from the passenger seat and fastened it before starting the engine.
“Ma’am, I can’t drop you off at Busan Harbor because of the hunting dogs chasing me, but I’ll drop you off at the nearest available payphone, so make your own way from there.”
Kwak Soohwan shifted into gear and pressed the accelerator pedal hard. Seokhwa watched carefully how Kwak Soohwan shifted gears. First gear, second gear, he mentally drew the gears according to the speed, and it seemed like he remembered correctly from Choi Ho-eon’s car.
Seokhwa chewed the remaining bread tightly and rinsed his mouth with water. Even though he didn’t feel like it, he carefully wiped his teeth with the oral tissue from the auxiliary drawer, poured water into the coin tissue, and waited for it to swell. Kwak Soohwan glanced at him wiping his face with the unfolded tissue.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand his discomfort with cleanliness.
“Want to take a shower?”
“I’m fine.”
It didn’t rain often in the city, but he could find frozen ponds. Even in the middle of winter during his time in the army, he had to jump into the pond, but every time he did, it wasn’t water that wrapped around his body, it was ice. It might be okay for me, but it would be difficult for Seokhwa to bathe in an ice pond.
“If you need a helicopter.”
The woman behind spoke up.
“It would be convenient if we had one, but we have no intention of going to Busan Harbor.”
“There are other places besides Busan Harbor.”
Seokhwa found it a little strange with the tone of voice, as if he were being treated like a child.
“Why should I believe you.”
Screech, Kwak Soohwan suddenly slammed on the brakes and parked the car in front of the payphone.
Getting out of the car, he pulled the woman from the back seat and cut the landline of the payphone with a jackknife. Shielded from view and happening in a split second, Seokhwa couldn’t see it.
Kwak Soohwan got into the driver’s seat before the woman could say anything.
When he looked at the woman whose hands were tied in front of her, he suddenly pressed the accelerator. Seokhwa’s body lurched forward.
“Major Kwak.”
“Just getting out of the Green Zone and dropping you off somewhere safe should suffice. And we’re being chased now, right? Falcons have come all the way to Busan.”
In fact, the Green Zone was a bit far from here, but with luck, they could return safely. Kwak Soohwan turned up the volume of the radio tuned to the frequency.
If he could hijack a helicopter, he planned to go straight from Busan to Jeju Island. Since that became impossible, he found another way even if it meant going back a little. There was no need to take risks here.
Kwak Soohwan unfolded the map of Rainbow City, bypassing the marked X and connecting the possible routes with a pen.
“Haenam…?”
“You know?”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
The map of Rainbow City could be obtained by a commander or rescued, and it was also prohibited to be taken out by ordinary citizens. Even being a doctor didn’t make an exception. That’s why Choi Ho-eon went down to Busan from the 21 Violet Zone by following the railroad tracks.
While driving the Jeep, one could easily see places that had become ruins here and there. The owners of the abandoned old houses were now vines. A flock of crows sat in a row on top, watching as the Jeep moved. Non-infectious birds had increased in number, and they were good as food as well. Most people outside the city lived in tribes, and their main food source was those birds.
“Major Kwak.”
“Yeah.”
Still, it was hard to believe they were being chased while driving on a quiet rural road.
“May I… drive?”
Kwak Soohwan widened his eyes a little.
“You haven’t learned.”
“I think I can do it. And Major Kwak needs to rest too.”
The falcons searching Busan probably wouldn’t know that their destination was Haenam. Since they had traveled quite a distance, Kwak Soohwan planned to park the car in some dense woods and rest.
“Can you see the map?”
“I think so.”
Whenever Kwak Soohwan moved according to the map, Seokhwa also followed along with his eyes.
“If Adam appears, can I just accept it? Then, I’ll hand over the steering wheel.”
“…Okay.”
Although he was suspicious, Kwak Soohwan handed the driver’s seat to Seokhwa for now.
Driving was always his job, so there was a considerable tension when their positions were reversed. Seokhwa calmly shifted gears as he had seen before, and Kwak Soohwan, who had tried to snatch the steering wheel whenever there was a problem, was taken aback at how smoothly he put the gear in and stepped on the pedal.
Although his movements were slow, it seemed there was no problem with driving the car. Kwak Soohwan couldn’t help but burst into laughter for a moment.
“Why?”
Seokhwa asked, facing straight ahead.
“You’re like a sloth.”
“I’m not.”
“Do you know what a sloth is?”
“I’ve never seen one. But the name sounds slow.”
“I’ve never seen one either, but they say in books they’re incredibly slow.”
Kwak Soohwan couldn’t stop chuckling as he leaned his head against the headrest.
“Why go to Haenam?”
“Because that’s where my treasure trove is.”
With his arms crossed, Kwak Soohwan closed his eyes. He was worried, but if he kept a close watch, Seokhwa would feel burdened.
Screech! Suddenly, Seokhwa slammed on the brakes and looked at the steering wheel in surprise. It was the moment when he felt it wouldn’t work out and was about to reclaim the steering wheel.
“A squirrel!”
The squirrel that popped out of the bushes was already running in the opposite direction.
“But the squirrel didn’t say ‘cheese.'”
Seokhwa, eager not to lose the steering wheel, spoke faster than usual. After putting the gear into first and getting it back, he started again.
“I’ll do well, so don’t worry.”
As he put the car into second gear and accelerated, Kwak Soohwan closed his eyes again.
“Counting on you, bro.”
Focusing more on this wouldn’t be productive. Might as well just doze off. Kwak Soohwan hadn’t slept properly for over two days, so his head felt slightly groggy. Being the type to fall asleep as soon as he put his head on a pillow, he could soon doze off.
Seokhwa had been alternating between checking the old signposts and maps. It was fortunate that the weather had cleared up. If it had been bad weather, he might not have brought up the idea of driving himself. Every time he accelerated, he put the gear back in and gripped the sturdy steering wheel tightly. Military jeeps had tight steering, so he had to exert a lot of force every time he turned.
Around 10 a.m., when he had some leeway in driving, he felt more relaxed. However, apart from the road in front of them, there was nothing to see elsewhere. But that was enough to know about the outside world.
Driving around on the road in zigzags was an experience he had never had, even in his dreams. The engine roared like a living creature, and the steering wheel trembled. The car often jolted on the dry grass stems covering the road, but driving himself, he didn’t feel nauseous.
Electricity surged from his tailbone to the tip of his head. And for some reason, it felt like there was moisture in his eyes.
For over thirty years, he had only known Jeju Island or Yeouido, and even there, he had spent most of his time in learning centers and shelters. So why did Oh Yang-seok invite him home from time to time? Because he pitied the researcher who was confined to the lab without seeing the wider world? Even the changing angle of the sun shining through the window seemed marvelous. Driving like this, it felt like no one was chasing him, and he could be free, regardless of Rainbow City.
He had thought the constrained life was natural and that was freedom. Since he had never looked back on an autonomous life, he had only been a part of Rainbow City so far.
[Beginning of Hope, Land’s End Haenam] Eventually, a faded but clear welcome sign appeared.
***
Kwak Soohwan woke up when they entered Haenam, just as Seokhwa was struggling with the directions.
Finding Dalmasan in Haenam, where their destination was, was somewhat of a challenge, but the road to the helipad was confusing even for those who had been there. Despite that, Kwak Soohwan just tilted his head and watched Seokhwa. Seokhwa, who had been concentrating on the front, looked the most serious he had ever seen.
“Dr. Seok, aren’t you pressing too hard on the pedal?”
Kwak Soohwan drank water to clear his throat, as Seokhwa, who was driving up the unpaved road of Dalmasan, gently applied the brakes.
“Are you awake?”
It was winter, so it was lucky, but if it had been the bushy summer, they would have lost their way long ago. Kwak Soohwan checked the clock built into the car’s body. It was already 1 p.m. Without realizing it, he had slept deeply, so he could alleviate some of his fatigue.
“I’ll take it from here.”
As Kwak Soohwan got out of the passenger seat, Seokhwa immediately moved to the driver’s seat. He seemed to have no strength left to get off. But when he came to the driver’s seat and grabbed the steering wheel, Seokhwa’s warmth was comforting. Looking closely to see if he was okay, Kwak Soohwan noticed a flush on Seokhwa’s cheek. It seemed not to be pain but rather excitement. That shook his heart quite a bit.
Kwak Soohwan restarted the jeep and pressed the pedal in the direction of the helipad.
“You surprised me. You drive well.”
Seokhwa felt a sting from his praise. It was because he had almost stalled the car several times by putting the gear in wrong while Seokhwa was sleeping.
“I’m not that good.”
“No, you’re better than Yang Sang-hoon when he got his license. That guy probably took three months just to memorize first gear.”
Even though he had broken gears several times with force.
Seokhwa’s hands still tingling, he clenched and unclenched his fists. After about ten minutes of driving, a helipad with an H logo came into view. Even that looked desolate with dry weeds growing everywhere. On the opposite side, there was a mobile home, strangely made of metal rather than wood.
Kwak Soohwan turned the steering wheel and parked the jeep behind it. He gestured for Seokhwa to get out quickly as he jumped out of the car. Kicking the metal door at the back, he then opened the cover of the door lock and entered the password effortlessly. As Seokhwa got out of the car, the sound of the door opening was heard.
Kwak Soohwan forcefully opened the long-closed metal door. The stale smell of dust hit his nose. After ventilating for a while, he and Seokhwa were able to enter. Instead of electricity, the interior was filled with car batteries on one wall. When Kwak Soohwan used the battery to turn on the light bulb, the dark interior brightened up. Seokhwa looked around with his mouth agape. Dozens of pistols, submachine guns, and sniper rifles with telescopes hung on the walls, along with various unidentified keys.
“Where is this…?”
“My treasure trove.”
Kwak Soohwan activated the ventilation fan and took off his uniform coat. Then, he opened the door of the shower booth on one side while pulling off his shirt. Click, click, as he turned on the shower knob, water surprisingly started pouring from above. After letting the water run for a while, Kwak Soohwan undressed completely. With a beckoning gesture, he motioned for Seokhwa to come closer.
Seokhwa, with his smooth skin’s contours, approached Kwak Soohwan hungrily. Unable to resist the temptation of the shower, he began to undress one by one. Water fell from the rounded faucet, not a showerhead, and even getting close felt chilling.
Wanting to feel more of the cold that lingered in the mountains, Seokhwa, now similarly naked, embraced Kwak Soohwan. Despite his cool body temperature, he felt hot in this cold. As the strong water jets hit Kwak Soohwan’s back, the coldness returned to Seokhwa.
Alone in their mountain, it felt like they were the only two in the world, as his laughter suggested. Seokhwa wrapped his arms around Kwak Soohwan’s waist, and they hugged tightly. Water mixed with their breaths and created a humid atmosphere, bringing them closer together. The water acted as a conduit, intensifying their closeness. After exhaling, Seokhwa whispered.
“Us… living here?”
“Maybe?”
Up to this point, they might not be traced by the City. There was no law that said they couldn’t survive by hunting animals in the mountains. But being chased wouldn’t change. As Seokhwa leaned on Kwak Soohwan’s shoulder, he felt the cold water hit him again.
“In the future, Dr. Seok will go to Jeju Island.”
Seokhwa just nodded.
Having experienced the vast world from Seoul to Busan and then to Haenam, returning to the narrow world seemed acceptable. Looking back on these memorable days in the future, at least it might be better than the unimaginable old days. One fear remained. The fact that Seokhwa called him a second could mean he wanted to use him as an experiment.
When Seokhwa’s hand touched Kwak Soohwan’s buttocks, his muscles tensed. Seokhwa caressed his curved buttocks with his hands and looked up.
This might be their last time together. Seokhwa wanted to hold onto Kwak Soohwan’s body everywhere. Kwak Soohwan, unaware of this, felt awkward if Seokhwa wanted to insert something. If he said he did it, Major Kwak wouldn’t have any words if Seokhwa asked why he couldn’t. Fortunately, Seokhwa moved his hand from his buttocks to his thighs. As Seokhwa gently touched his thigh, Kwak Soohwan’s penis began to rise.
Seokhwa looked down at his penis touching his abdomen. The sensation of flesh piercing his skin somehow satisfied him. When he lightly grasped his hard penis from his hard thighs, a low moan escaped. When he shook it gently, Kwak Soohwan strengthened his grip on his penis with force. Like a starving person, he repeated biting and sucking on his neck.
Seokhwa lifted his head and pressed his glans with his palm. The copious amount of precum mixed with water and became slightly sticky. Water droplets hitting his eyes made him close them, focusing all his senses on the sound and touch.
The sticky tongue licking his throat and the expansion of Seokhwa’s penis, increasing in size to an almost uncomfortable level, felt realistically close. Kwak Soohwan also firmly grasped Seokhwa’s semi-erect penis. He had to consciously control his grip. He knew that if he didn’t restrain himself, he would be overwhelmed by the intense desire to burst.
“Ah, feels good.” Just hearing Seokhwa’s voice made everything below melt.
“Should I touch you harder?” “…Harder.”
As Seokhwa grasped and shook his rigid member, Seokhwa pressed closer. Seokhwa tried to rub Kwak Soohwan’s member with as much force as he could, but he couldn’t match his strength. As it shook rapidly, a tingling sensation started from his thighs. Seokhwa pushed his chest away. It was too early to finish. He pushed Kwak Soohwan back again, who surprisingly withdrew easily. Then, without hesitation, he knelt down.
He could sense Kwak Soohwan’s surprise, but he took his thick glans into his mouth. Digging into the wet hair, he tickled his ear with his thumb. Seokhwa twisted his head slightly with the member in his mouth, causing the glans to pop out. A significant amount of fluid flowed out, mixing with the water, and he swallowed it down. As he moved his tongue downward, he started to navigate the path inside his mouth as Kwak Soohwan had taught him before.
Kwak Soohwan looked down and met Seokhwa’s gaze as he sucked and inserted his member deeper, leaving a faint impression on his forehead when he went deeper. He wanted to hold onto his head and push it all the way in. Seokhwa wasn’t usually passive, but today he was more assertive.
“Dr. Seok, did you want this too?”
When Kwak Soohwan slapped his waist, Seokhwa looked up. With the member in his mouth, he made him shiver. Kwak Soohwan inserted his hand into Seokhwa’s armpit and lifted him up. Drool and water dripped from his slightly open mouth. He reached behind to lock the shower knob, then inserted his tongue into Seokhwa’s wet cave. Seokhwa eagerly moved his lips against his, their bodies heating up.
Kwak Soohwan constantly licked and nibbled on his lips and chin. It wasn’t just a delusion to feel like he was being eaten up from head to toe when they kissed or intertwined their bodies. Kwak Soohwan’s hand trembled slightly. He was worried about accidentally hurting him. Even though he was exhausted, he wouldn’t easily get hurt. He explored Seokhwa’s arm while continuing the kiss, even gently touching the bandages on his forearm. Despite being wet, fortunately, there was no sign of bleeding.
“Major Kwak… harder, please.”
Seokhwa clasped his hands around Kwak Soohwan’s neck.
“I’m worried.”
“I want it.”
When he spoke into his ear, Kwak Soohwan spread his buttocks wide. Exposing the inside to the cold air made Seokhwa shiver. As he slipped his fingers into the federal opening, Seokhwa writhed with pleasure. When the moist fingers pushed inside, his hips twisted. Seokhwa pressed closer without pulling back.
Kwak Soohwan felt proud to see Seokhwa come out like this. He gently spread the tightly closed insides with two fingers. He thought it would be firmly closed, but it quickly softened as if it remembered the sensation of insertion, so he wrapped his hand around it.
When he scratched the slightly protruding area inside, Seokhwa blinked in stimulation. Instead of coming and going, the stimulation continued to spread. Seokhwa lightly bit down and shivered. His thick fingers weren’t enough. Wanting to fill him deeper and tighter, he released his arms and rotated his body. His fingers got stuck in the hole and slipped out, causing his legs to buckle, but he managed to hold onto the wall in front of him.
Seokhwa pulled his waist back and pressed his buttocks against his member. With one hand, he inserted Kwak Soohwan’s swollen member into the hole.
“Dr. Seok… I’m not a whore.”
He said it as if blaming, but there was a pleasant smile on his face.
He wished Kwak Soohwan would insert it quickly, but Kwak Soohwan played with the hole as if teasing, repeatedly pressing and lifting it up. Seokhwa leaned his cheek against the wall and held his own member with both hands. He felt the heat rising in his eyes because he couldn’t release the pleasure as he wanted. He couldn’t wait any longer and bit Kwak Soohwan’s neck, causing him to turn around to face him.
“Look around like earlier. Hmm?”
Seokhwa clasped his fingers around Kwak Soohwan’s neck again. He held on tightly to prevent slipping due to moisture, and Kwak Soohwan lifted one of Seokhwa’s legs.
Ah, it hurts. Seokhwa had never torn his legs like this before, so he tried to put it down again. But before that, his member touched the hole past the testicles. Then, abruptly, he spread Seokhwa’s thighs with both hands. His shoulders pressed against the wall, and the lower part floated in the air. He barely managed to hold onto the wall with both arms around his neck, but the position was too unstable.
He pushed his glans into the hole. From that moment, Kwak Soohwan stared at Seokhwa’s face. Only the sound of panting came from his wide-open mouth. To get a little more comfortable, he wrapped his legs around Kwak Soohwan’s waist, and he hugged him tightly, penetrating deeply.
“Ah…! Ah…”
As the inside expanded, he gagged. His hands slipped off his neck, and his legs did the same.
“Back, back, please,” Seokhwa urgently muttered. Kwak Soohwan pinched and then gently caressed Seokhwa’s exposed nipple.
“Can you take it?”
“Quickly.”
As Kwak Soohwan let go of Seokhwa, the member slid in effortlessly. Seokhwa reflexively hugged his buttocks. He pressed his thighs together, waiting for the dizzying sensation of pain to pass. Ironically, it was Kwak Soohwan who couldn’t wait upon seeing his backside.
“I wanted to see your face.”
He grabbed Seokhwa’s wrists and pulled him towards him. He inserted his erect member into the slightly open hole. The tight opening enveloped the member, and the pillar trapped between the buttocks was excessively provocative. Drops of water dripped from Kwak Soohwan’s hair down his back. The droplet that slid down between his buttock bones encircled the joined hole.
As Kwak Soohwan pushed the member further in, Seokhwa’s abdomen convulsed.
“It… went in.”
“It’s not visible.”
“No, but… ah, it’s all in.”
He cried out that it was all in even though there was still a long way to go. Kwak Soohwan pressed Seokhwa against the wall. He grabbed Seokhwa’s member, which had slightly sagged from pain. As he stimulated him with his hand, he felt the tension in the inner walls gradually loosen. Each time, Kwak Soohwan pushed the member a little further inside.
Seokhwa tried to turn his head to see where it was inserted, but Kwak Soohwan didn’t miss the opportunity and kissed him. When he tried to turn his face again, Kwak Soohwan pushed the other cheek, preventing any movement. From lips to below, he completely invaded, leaving Seokhwa unable to focus. It felt like the member, fully inserted inside, was vibrating his navel. Finally, he managed to turn his face back, and his tongue tingled.
“Can I move?”
“Ha… not yet.”
Contrary to his words, Seokhwa’s inside alternated between enveloping and releasing Kwak Soohwan’s member. He lifted his waist forcefully. Although it felt like his buttocks were being hit, the inner sensation overshadowed any pain. Slowly pulling back his waist felt like falling endlessly downward. However, from Seokhwa’s member, a slow fluid trickled down as Kwak Soohwan scratched the prostate.
Kwak Soohwan placed his hand on Seokhwa’s abdomen as he gradually increased the pace. Although he felt sorry for his thin body, he felt as if he was holding his own inside when he thrust in.
“It’s… getting bigger.”
“It’s okay, it won’t hurt.”
Kwak Soohwan lowered his lips to Seokhwa’s shoulder.
“Ha, can I go harder?”
He had been asking for it since earlier. Kwak Soohwan licked his round shoulder with his tongue.
“We’ll go slowly. We still have time.”
He said it would be okay to roll around here for a while longer.
“But it’s the last time, so it’s the last.”
Stopping his movements, Kwak Soohwan asked puzzledly, “The last?”
Seokhwa, breathing heavily, detached his wet lips.
“I’m going to Jeju Island. I won’t see you anymore. Uh!”
He hugged Seokhwa tightly with both arms and pulled him towards him. His toes stood firmly.
“You thought I wouldn’t see you?”
“Uh, ah, it’s deep, too much…”
“Was Dr. Seok okay with it?”
It was right to go because of him being chased. Seokhwa nodded weakly.
“You’re okay with me never seeing you again?”
Not understanding the meaning of the question, Seokhwa moaned softly.
“Inside…my belly… hurts.”
“No?”
Seokhwa tried to push his leg to push his leg out. But the sole of his foot that had touched the floor slipped away. Holding onto him with both arms, he turned to look at him. They were too close, so he could only see his lips in his sight.
“Tell me it’s not.”
Although his lips moved lightly, he felt strange.
If he says he doesn’t want to go when he has to go, Kwak Soohwan will be in danger. Seokhwa clenched his mouth shut tightly. A shudder, and his inner member expanded once more. Seokhwa twisted his body to break free, but an immense force deprived him of his freedom. He had always disliked being controlled by others through force. Although Kwak Soohwan had never forced him, Seokhwa suddenly felt anxious due to the extreme difference in strength.
He forcefully grabbed both of Seokhwa’s arms.
“Major…!” Seokhwa called out softly.
“Uh!”
His vision turned white for a moment before the dreary wall came into view. His member, pushed in as far as it could go, pressed against his buttocks. The shock of it being pulled back forcefully and then thrust inward caused a surge of nausea. Although he gripped the bandaged arms underneath, it felt like his wounds were reopening due to the pressure.
As Kwak Soohwan relentlessly pounded inside with tremendous force, Seokhwa’s prostate began to swell. With each thrust of his member, Seokhwa let out sobs from his contorted mouth. With pleasure and pain intermingling, his mind grew hazy.
“Is it that easy?”
Kwak Soohwan forcefully plunged his member to the hilt as Seokhwa’s widened mouth failed to swallow the saliva that dripped onto the floor.
“Am I nothing to Dr. Seok?”
“Uh!”
His nape was bitten hard. He repeatedly thrust inside deeply, causing a pounding sensation. He couldn’t close his mouth. Yet, despite his movements, Seokhwa’s member remained erect, swaying with each motion. Not only did he thrust upward, but he also vigorously brushed against the sides, causing a rush of fluid with each stroke.
Kwak Soohwan roughly manipulated his member with his hand.
“I’m here exposing myself like this, damn it. How will you manage without me? Is there anyone who can take care of you as well as I do?”
“…I don’t want this. I hate this.”
Seokhwa’s face twisted in agony for some reason.
He felt his body tremble uncontrollably, feeling the inner walls gripping his member tightly. Finally, Kwak Soohwan seemed to pour cold water on him. The marks on his white and smooth back became clear, and blood began to seep through the bandages wrapped around his arms.
When he forcefully withdrew his member, Seokhwa’s body sank to the floor. Seokhwa continued to tremble on the cold, wet floor. Kwak Soohwan didn’t know what to do and was on the verge of self-loathing.
This wasn’t what he wanted. It was just that Seokhwa seemed too eager to let him go…
Kwak Soohwan picked up the discarded uniform coat and wrapped it around Seokhwa’s body. His face, looking up, was a mess.
Seokhwa, not knowing why he was angry, just looked at him with confusion. Kwak Soohwan looked deeply upset, like a child who had been wronged so much that he couldn’t even scold. Seokhwa reached out and touched his forehead with his fingertips. He tried to pull away his hand, feeling the touch painfully, and quietly said,
“Are you cold?”
Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa up. He walked outside and removed the plastic covering the mat, placing Seokhwa on it. He put on his pants and lit the fire in the portable heater placed nearby. Then, without looking back, he tried to go outside. Seokhwa quickly reached out and held onto Kwak Soohwan.
“Don’t go.”
“I’ll be outside. Dr. Seok, it’s better this way.”
“Together…”
Seokhwa grabbed him again with a weakened voice.
“Why, because it’s the last time, should I give you a proper pounding?”
Kwak Soohwan was on the verge of pulling out his tongue after spitting out these words.
“Let’s cool off your head a bit.”
Seokhwa tightly grasped his wrist.
He could have easily pushed him away, but Kwak Soohwan remained quiet like a defeated beast. When Seokhwa pulled him towards him, he was dragged to the mat and sat down. The oil heater, which initially smelled pungent, soon began to warm up the surroundings.
“Why did you do that?”
With black eyes, as if genuinely unaware of the reason, Kwak Soohwan found it difficult to speak honestly about why he had done what he did. If Seokhwa found out, how much of a fool would he think he was? He felt so pathetic, exploding with anger as if Seokhwa didn’t care about him at all.
He wasn’t angry right now, but he had definitely been angry before.
“Tell me. Or else I won’t know.”
Excessive honesty sometimes caused disturbances, but it also resolved issues that could otherwise linger. That’s why Kwak Soohwan liked the honest Seokhwa. In a world where schemes and tricks were rampant, Seokhwa stood out as pure.
“It seems that Dr. Seok likes stones more than me.”
Nevertheless, Seokhwa couldn’t be as honest as Seokhwa. The warmth of Kwak Soohwan’s cheek shimmered with the red heat from the heater.
“I like Major Kwak too. He’s always there to rescue me, even in dangerous situations.”
While others said all sorts of things, Kwak Soohwan was the only one who gave him a stone as a gift and accompanied him when he was always alone.
“That’s called the ‘suspension bridge effect.'”
“Suspension Bridge?”
“It means mistaking this excitement in dangerous situations as love.”
Kwak Soohwan tapped around Seokhwa’s heart. Due to the wind catching his nipples, he had to pull away hurriedly.
“I’ve never said it’s love.”
“So Dr. Seok wants to live and die with the beloved stone.”
As Kwak Soohwan’s words sharply pierced, there was nothing to be done about its childishness. Seokhwa briefly shrank from the rising tremor below, then grabbed his hand again. Although he didn’t understand why he had to compare himself with a stone, he wanted to convey this message.
“More stones are better, but Major Kwak is one. Stones can be replaced by other stones, but not Major Kwak.”
The words that came from Seokhwa were not idle chatter.
Kwak Soohwan trusted Seokhwa entirely, no matter what he said. Just like the old lady said. Haven’t you been saved too? It truly felt like salvation, and he couldn’t think of any other salvation.
“Is that so? Am I the only one in the world?”
Kwak Soohwan, quickly turning confident, brought his body closer. Seokhwa blinked his eyes as if he thought it was a given.
“There’s only one, but wouldn’t it be a waste not to look?”
“… “
As the strength in Kwak Soohwan’s backhand increased, Seokhwa, hesitating to answer, flinched. Perhaps he became cautious due to the memories from earlier. Still, Kwak Soohwan firmly reaffirmed the uniform wrapped around Seokhwa’s shoulders.
“Don’t let go if it bothers you.”
“I don’t want to be a burden.”
That damn “I don’t want to” phrase.
Kwak Soohwan firmly laid Seokhwa on the mat.
“Dr. Seok doesn’t even reach the level of a burden to me.”
As if to make up for his previous mistake, Kwak Soohwan gently kissed Seokhwa’s forehead. Even the eyelashes brushing against his face intensified his suspicions.
“I’ll be gentle. Make you feel good.”
Kwak Soohwan muttered as if talking to someone else, and kissed cautiously. As he twirled his tongue inside the warm mouth, Seokhwa tried to follow suit somehow. With one hand, he wrapped around Seokhwa’s member and continued to soothe the cheeks and ceiling with his mouth.
Gradually, he descended his lips to the nipple. He sucked on it, rolling the small nub with the tip of his tongue. It was time to suck on Seokhwa’s member while wiping his belly button and ribs with his tongue. Seokhwa raised both thighs as if to release tension. Kwak Soohwan’s lower body immediately surged with blood at the sight. He tapped the two firm balls together, where semen gathered as if it were about to burst.
“I want you to put it in…”
The hole that had been tormented quivered as it moved. Seokhwa brought his hand there and, as if trying to relax, directly touched the perineum as if massaging it.
“Seokhwa, Seokhwa hyung. If you do that somewhere else, it’s really not allowed.”
Seokhwa wrinkled his forehead in annoyance.
“I only want to be with Major Kwak.”
While saying this, he pulled down Kwak Soohwan’s pants with his other hand. Now, just Seokhwa’s words or actions alone might make him ejaculate. Kwak Soohwan closed his mouth straight and inserted his firm member deeply.
“Ha-ah!”
As Seokhwa took in Kwak Soohwan’s cock deeper, he exhaled sharply.
With a firm grip, Kwak Soohwan pressed down on Seokhwa’s lower abdomen, causing his thighs to tremble.
As the pressure both inside and out pressed against the prostate, Seokhwa didn’t know how to handle the pleasure. From Seokhwa’s erect member, thin drops of pre-cum dribbled down. Kwak Soohwan pressed on the abdomen a bit more with his palm and moved his hips slowly.
“Ah… Feels good… So… good…”
Seokhwa, with blurry eyes, let out a sigh. The pressure surrounding his member was immense, making him wonder if he was truly feeling it.
“Can I come once?”
I’ve endured too much. He whispered as he nibbled on Seokhwa’s earlobe. Even though Seokhwa didn’t fully understand the meaning, he nodded his head several times. While the lower half was still rough, it was different from the unilateral pressure from earlier.
Lifting his knees, Kwak Soohwan hung Seokhwa’s legs over his shoulders. As he swiftly thrust his hips from below, Seokhwa scratched the mat. Kwak Soohwan rested his hand on Seokhwa’s back and pressed his body firmly against his. Without slowing down the insertion speed, he tormented the insides.
The mucous membrane softened, but still clung to the cock like a vice, and the stretched opening remained gaping. Uncontrollable moans burst out from Seokhwa beneath. Kwak Soohwan kissed Seokhwa’s parted lips.
Even with unfocused eyes, Seokhwa extended his tongue, surrendering to him entirely. With an unstoppable force, he thrust his entire body in with a loud thud. Inside, where nothing had touched before, the violent semen began to pour out. The pillar, which ejaculated while trembling, echoed inside the abdomen. It seemed to swell continuously with the constant ejaculation. Despite the cool body temperature, the interior felt like it was burning.
“…I’m full… Ah, it’s bursting…”
Although ejaculation hadn’t finished yet, Kwak Soohwan tried to withdraw his cock. Kwak Soohwan hugged Seokhwa tightly to prevent him from escaping and moved his hips slowly.
The cum, which tried to flow out, was blocked by his cock. He wanted to pull out and let the cun pour out fully. On the contrary, the heat filling his entire body with Kwak Soohwan was addictive.
“Ah, since Dr. Seok is receiving my semen for the first time, I have to take responsibility until the end.”
To take responsibility, Seokhwa heard the word for the first time. However, the sense of responsibility, although heavy, resonated with a good feeling. Even amidst the pleasure, Kwak Soohwan’s gaze was clear.
***
Seokhwa’s belly was entangled with sticky semen and thin fluid. Although Kwak Soohwan’s cock inside was still intimidating, the slippery walls accepted it effortlessly. Instead, he was relentlessly rubbing his semen-covered cock all over the insides.
Seokhwa, who might faint at any moment, followed diligently despite groaning.
“Are you okay?”
With each sway of the cock, the ejaculate that flowed out was accumulated on the uniform. Kwak Soohwan thought he was stubbornly persistent. But it wasn’t his fault that Seokhwa had made a sexual inhibitor that didn’t suit him.
“Uh-huh. I’m fine.”
Seokhwa grabbed the softening member that ejaculated several times. As he shook it, the erection started again. But it didn’t get as hard as before.
“…Major.”
“Yeah.”
Kwak Soohwan’s forehead was now sweating.
“I’m envious.”
After releasing his grip on Seokhwa’s cock, he lifted his testicles. Then, with half of it still exposed, Seokhwa stroked Kwak Soohwan’s shaft with his hand. With his glans twitching inside the slippery walls and his outside being touched by Seokhwa’s hand, his already hot body heated up even more.
“What, envious of what?”
“It seems good because it’s big.”
“What?”
“Because it’s big, it fills up inside, and the prostate keeps… being stimulated, ah, all the moisture inside is taken away. Too much ejaculation.”
Kwak Soohwan covered Seokhwa’s mouth with his hand. As he laughed, making the insides tremble, Seokhwa curled up and trembled.
“You can be honest when it’s like this.” It was absurd, but it felt good. Kwak Soohwan lowered his lips to Seokhwa’s arm, which was covered in sweat, and then firmly pulled his legs. Since the springs were obstructing movement, Kwak Soohwan, who was standing outside the mat, grabbed Seokhwa’s waist. He leaned his body down, bearing his weight.
Seokhwa looked up with eyes devoid of energy, not knowing what was happening. Suddenly, he forcefully withdrew his cock. Despite the tremendous sense of loss, his walls and hole convulsed, but what came rushing in was even faster. It made a squelching sound. He repeatedly pulled out completely and then pushed back in. Each time he withdrew, the thick glans scraped out the remaining semen, dripping down along Seokhwa’s buttocks.
“Ah, ah!”
Seokhwa only moaned helplessly, unable to form words.
While roughly probing inside, Kwak Soohwan glanced down at the inserted area. Each time he pulled out, he urged the gaping hole to come in faster, and as soon as it came back in, he thrust back in forcefully. After pulling out firmly, he pushed it back in deeply, stirring up the soaked interior.
Seokhwa tensed up and squirmed his legs. “Major, I can’t take it anymore.” But the words didn’t come out. Once again, the sensation of ejaculation hit hard against the back of his head on the mat, but Kwak Soohwan continued irregularly, violating below. Suddenly, semen erupted from Seokhwa, but it was excessively thin.
No, stop. Stop moving. His tongue stiffened, and only sobs escaped. With each thrust of his hips, fluid leaked from his member. Seokhwa felt like his pupils were rolling back, so he bit down hard on his lips. The sensation of the hole being turned inside out and then pushed back in now felt almost terrifying.
Feeling like he couldn’t hold on any longer, Seokhwa tried to push Kwak Soohwan’s chest away. But as he pushed his lips together, Kwak Soohwan folded Seokhwa’s body in half, pressing it down. He didn’t stop his hips, and Seokhwa, completely messed up, was even soaked in tears.
When Kwak Soohwan felt his thighs stiffen even more, he began ejaculating inside again. The unreceived walls redirected the ejaculate through the crevice. Kwak Soohwan, feeling like he couldn’t go on, ejaculated while still inside, firmly grasping his cock. With a gurgling sound, semen poured out, and the ejaculate that splattered from the cock scattered onto Seokhwa’s face. Seokhwa’s body, reaching its limit, collapsed limp. Kwak Soohwan reached out in surprise, but thankfully, he was still breathing.
He still half-pressed down on the still-standing cock as if to regain his senses. He pulled out the soaked uniform from under Seokhwa’s body without effort. He reduced the heat from the heater and took out toiletries and towels from one of the boxes. Was it too intense? He wet the towel and began wiping Seokhwa meticulously from his face. The unpleasant feeling of wiping a corpse on a whitened face crept over him.
As he gently massaged his chest, he felt the traces of a beating heart and the fluctuating breath. He wiped his entire body to remove any stickiness and then placed a towel under his buttocks.
Kwak Soohwan filled a pot with cold water and placed it on the heater before starting his shower. As he looked towards where Seokhwa, the Federal agent, was, Seokhwa began to toss and turn slowly. Since he didn’t have spare clothes, he only wore pants and a shirt. He hurriedly approached Seokhwa’s body and comforted him. Wanting to hug him tighter, he felt an urge.
“What if Dr. Seok gets pregnant?”
…No.
At the mumble, Kwak Soohwan quickly lowered his head. Seokhwa was staring with narrowed eyes.
“You know it’s a joke, right?”
With a slight smile, he patted Seokhwa’s head once while still providing support. Seokhwa had no strength to speak and simply placed his hand on his chest. Inside his belly still bubbled with heat.
***
Hmm, yeah. The man walking down the stairs was singing loudly. He seemed to be in high spirits and had a lively look in his previously dull eyes.
Choi Hoeon descended into the basement of the mansion and turned on the incandescent bulb. A man in casual clothes was sitting there, with his hands and feet tied, blood dripping from his nose.
“How does a sparrow catch a white tiger?”
The man’s eyes widened as soon as he saw Choi Hoeon.
“Your nose keeps bleeding.”
Choi Hoeon sat down in front of him, looking at him with a pitying expression. Around him, stainless steel surgical tables and scalpels were on the right, while cabinets filled with medication were on the left.
Choi Hoeon reached out and removed the man’s gag. Whether he was a soldier assessing the situation or not, he didn’t shout or beg for his life. Being an A-rank tracker, he must have received some level of education.
Attempting to achieve something publicly by acting on his own, he was lucky enough to have been discovered by Kwak Soohwan, who had left a woman at a payphone. Although she followed him because she knew the direction Kwak Soohwan had moved in, the destination they arrived at was a strange forest. It wasn’t luck, but misfortune.
“Who are… you?”
The tracker didn’t have information about Choi Hoeon, a Yeouido Shelter researcher.
“You must have been instructed not to take personal action, right? Why didn’t you listen and bring misfortune upon yourself?”
Choi Hoeon sat down with a regretful expression, pulling a chair closer. Around him, stainless steel surgical tables and scalpels were on the right, while cabinets filled with medication were on the left.
Choi Hoeon reached out and removed the man’s gag. Whether he was a soldier assessing the situation or not, he didn’t shout or beg for his life. Being an A-rank tracker, he must have received some level of education.
Attempting to achieve something publicly by acting on his own, he was lucky enough to have been discovered by Kwak Soohwan, who had left a woman at a payphone. Although she followed him because she knew the direction Kwak Soohwan had moved in, the destination they arrived at was a strange forest. It wasn’t luck, but misfortune.
“Who are… you?”
The tracker didn’t have information about Choi Hoeon, a Yeouido Shelter researcher.
“Your nose keeps bleeding.”
Choi Hoeon, tapping the man’s cheek as if feeling sorry, turned the faucet near the surgical table. As he pulled out the hose attached to the faucet, water flowed onto the floor. Holding the anxious man’s hair, Choi Hoeon lifted his head.
He inserted the hose into the bleeding man’s nose. The water that entered through the nose flowed out of his mouth. The man’s eyes became red and congested as he half-swallowed and half-spit out the continuously flowing water. Despite trying to pull his head away, he couldn’t move due to the immense force.
Choi Hoeon removed the hose from the man’s nose. Then, he used the water from the hose to clean the floor. While the man coughed, Choi Hoeon locked the faucet and returned to his seat.
He gently raised the satisfied face, wiping it with a soft touch of his palm.
“Was Second instructed to track Kwak Soohwan?”
“Cough, splutter.”
The man, spitting out water, couldn’t answer Choi Hoeon’s question. Choi Hoeon grabbed the man’s chin, laying his body flat on the surgical table. After pulling up the hanging belt to secure the body again, he put on latex gloves.
“What are you… trying to do.”
Pressing his palm against the man’s abdomen, he squeezed firmly, causing the man to vomit water again.
“No matter how warm it is in Busan, winter can be cold, right? There were a lot of rabbits in the mountains when I was young. If you remove all the rabbit blood and grab the ears to pull down, the intestines pop out through the anus. Then you can neatly brush off the rabbit fur. But I think it could work for humans too.”
When Choi Hoeon picked up the scalpel, the man hastily spoke up.
“Y-Yes, Second is correct.”
Choi Hoeon reached into the man’s shirt and removed his military ID.
“It’s true! I don’t know the reason. We just follow orders.”
He glanced at the insignia and name. Choi Hoeon turned on the water again and this time inserted it into the man’s mouth. Deep into the throat, he blocked the mouth with his hand. The man struggled, but Choi Hoeon sighed as if bored. As the chest and abdomen visibly swelled, he removed the hose.
“Well done. Our captain needs to recover.”
Choi Hoeon gently wiped the man’s forehead as he regurgitated water. The captain thought no matter what he said, this guy would kill him. Screaming hysterically without knowing where he was or who this man was. It was more terrifying that nobody would know of his death. Choi Hoeon patted the captain’s head once again.
“Did Second instruct to capture Kwak Soohwan only? Or kill? Or did he say to bring Dr. Seokhwa?”
The captain was confident that he had more information than expected. The superiors said that if necessary, it was okay to kill Kwak Soohwan, and they ordered to capture Seokhwa.
“B-Both. Both.”
“Locked up in this cold and narrow basement, the city won’t search for you, sir?”
Choi Hoeon looked genuinely pitiful and gloomy.
“That’s the policy. But that policy is terribly wrong. How can failing to protect my citizens and soldiers be a policy? If it were my people being held like this, I would do whatever it takes to find them.”
Coughing, the captain vomited federal water. Now he seemed to deduce Choi Hoeon’s identity.
“You bastard… You’re a rebel, aren’t you?”
Standing up, Choi Hoeon looked down at the captain expressionlessly.
“You got it wrong.”
He slowly sliced the captain’s chest with the scalpel. At the unbearable scream, he took off his gloves and shoved them into the captain’s mouth. Slamming the door shut, Choi Hoeon turned to the incoming person.
“I’m really disappointed, Mom.”
The woman hunched her shoulders.
“Kwak Soohwan has been obsessing over Dr. Seokhwa more than necessary.”
The woman tried to make excuses but then closed her mouth.
“How did Major Kwak Soohwan seem to you?”
“He didn’t seem relaxed enough to be persuaded. He tried to harm me without any hesitation. Although Dr. Seokhwa was controllable, Major Kwak Soohwan seemed relentless.”
The evolution Rainbow City aimed for was the emergence of a few mutants to protect the city, while Dr. Wonho’s goal was the complete evolution of humanity.
Kwak Soohwan was an embryo that escaped all the flaws of the newly born Choi Hoeon and Seokhwa. Dr. Wonho and Kwak Soohwan’s parents created genes close to perfection, and the mission of those genes was to achieve repeated evolution through reproduction. Wasn’t the present the best time for evolution?
The beginning of evolution was survival because survival leads to reproduction. Kwak Soohwan would inevitably cling to the instincts ingrained in him. And Seokhwa, who was free from Adam, had to take on the role of a kind of leader who could spread the ideology of evolution. Rainbow City had to collapse under the crowds dreaming of a new world.
“Actually, I don’t really care about evolution or reform.” Serpent glanced back at the Major, blood pouring from his widened wound. He was slowly dying, yet his eyes seemed to disbelieve his own death, staring blankly. The woman rummaged through the drawer and took out a box containing surgical thread. Choi Hoeon, who received the sterilized sutures, showed the box to the Major. Hope began to dawn in the dead fish-like eyes. Choi Hoeon checked his watch.
“Major, we’re going to suture now. Have I been too harsh? Hang on just a little longer.”
But the strength seemed to drain from the Major’s mouth, which was covered by gloves. The focus of his pupils vanished, and it was now impossible to know where he was looking. With a mournful expression, Choi Hoeon gently closed the eyes of the man who had died.
“Mother, he carried hope with him into the world.”
“Yes, I saw the last glimmer of hope too. No matter how much he lived for Rainbow City, he departed with hope, and he will rest in the embrace of the four rivers.”
The woman placed her hand on her heart and meditated briefly for the Major. Choi Hoeon turned the Major’s body on the surgical table.
“Moreover, Major Kwak Soohwan said he needs a helicopter.”
A helicopter?
Choi Hoeon turned around with a puzzled expression.
***
Seokhwa watched Kwak Soohwan, who was busy moving around.
Kwak Soohwan cooked instant noodles in the pot on the stove and even made rice. Seokhwa scooped up rice with a spoon, his stomach still feeling hot, having to crouch down several times.
“Still hurting even though you’ve taken everything out?”
“It’s not that painful.”
“See, I had a reason for not packing you into the chalet.”
Why is he so confident? Although it wasn’t wrong, Seokhwa stirred his spoon again.
“What do you think of Major Kwak if I go to Udo Island?”
“When did I say Udo? I said Jeju Island.”
Kwak Soohwan sat down in a folding chair and loaded ammunition into the handgun Seokhwa could use.
“Udo is part of Jeju Island.”
“That was back in the day. Now it’s a different area.”
“But it’s still part of Jeju.”
“Yeah, maybe. Jeju Island must be as big as Major Kwak’s… never mind, not important.”
Seokhwa’s words were preempted by Kwak Soohwan. He stood up with the gun and placed it on the mat where Seokhwa was sitting.
“It’s for emergencies.”
Seokhwa placed the pot he was holding on the floor with both hands.
“If not Udo, where in Jeju should I go?”
“To a safe house.”
The safest area in Rainbow City is still Jeju Island.
While the confrontation between First and Second reached its peak, Seokhwa thought he could hide out on Jeju Island, and I planned to assist in defeating Second and act as a close aide to First afterward. It was a plan set for the next ten years, but with Seokhwa appearing, it was just a little faster. All the rotten parts of Rainbow City must be cut out. Even if it means building a new city.
“Why?”
“Why? Because Dr. Seok said it’s safe.”
“Stay there indefinitely?”
Kwak Soohwan also plopped down beside Seokhwa.
“It’s dangerous outside. It’s better to lay low until the Master vote is over.”
Anyone qualified can run for Master in Rainbow City, but no one ran recklessly. It’s because they couldn’t get more votes than the current Masters who are already well-known. However, if one of them is eliminated or encounters a problem, new candidates can become Masters. The candidates for the election have not been confirmed yet.
“If one of them fails the Master candidate evaluation or has a problem, a new candidate could become the Master, right?”
Kwak Soohwan paused, about to kiss Seokhwa’s lips.
“Probably.”
“Who’s going to run for Master?”
Seokhwa looked at Kwak Soohwan with a skeptical gaze. Only those from prestigious families can run for Master, but it was already known that Choi Hoeon was Serpent. Whether there would be superiors who would believe this fact was uncertain.
Even if Kwak Soohwan’s controller unit or Major Colonel testified, there was no solid evidence to prove that Choi Hoeon was Serpent. Furthermore, Kwak Soohwan, who had hidden Seokhwa, who was suspected as an immune, couldn’t rule out the possibility of being branded as a rebel.
“Surely Dr. Choi Hoeon wouldn’t run for candidacy, right?”
“That would be the worst-case scenario, but Second isn’t an easy opponent, even though First is unknown. If Choi Hoeon runs, there will be suspicions from the start. And not just him, there will be eyes waiting for First and Second to fight each other.”
According to the Unified Nation law, there must be two Masters. Seokhwa suddenly remembered what Dr. Kim had said.
“I managed to get in touch with a friend in the China branch today. He said that Adam is still in the 7th stage mutation, right? Suddenly losing contact with other countries… We’re isolated since the 7th stage mutation began, do you know that?”
Seokhwa moved closer to Kwak Soohwan.
“Whose side are you on, Major Kwak?”
Kwak Soohwan chuckled at what that meant.
“I’m not on anyone’s side. Still, I don’t think the current regime in Rainbow City is normal. We need to overhaul it. That way, my brothers won’t be harmed… But for now, Dr. Seok’s safety is top priority.”
Kwak Soohwan gently wiped Seokhwa’s serious face. He said he wouldn’t side with Eden or First or Second. Aren’t the opponents too formidable to fight alone? If possible, Seokhwa also wanted to help. That way, even if a cure is developed, it can be provided to people without restrictions.
“Dr. Kim mentioned it before. He said there was no contact with other countries. We’ve been isolated since the 7th stage mutation began.”
That was a fact even Kwak Soohwan didn’t know.
“There was suspicion that the higher-ups were behind the 7th stage mutation, right?”
“They said they were using Adam themselves. But maybe… This 7th stage mutation wasn’t the doing of the higher-ups.”
“What?”
“Serpent told me he would destroy Rainbow City. Surely there will be followers of Eden within the shelters, but that alone won’t be enough. Saying a new religion will destroy a city belonging to the Unified Nation… It’s essentially saying that.”
“It could happen if the Unified Nation abandons us.”
Seokhwa nodded slowly.
“And the point where the 7th stage mutation was first discovered…”
Kwak Soohwan noticed why Seokhwa was suspicious. The place where the 7th stage mutation Adam was first discovered was the area where Dr. Seok’s mansion was located.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Seokhwa’s shoulders jerked at the sound of banging on the iron door. Kwak Soohwan reassured him that everything was okay and patted his back.
“Hey, come out!”
The familiar voice flowed through the closed iron door.
“Is it Major Lee Chaeyoon?”
“You’re here sooner than expected.”
Kwak Soohwan gently kissed Seokhwa’s cheek and checked the newly wrapped bandages on his arm before putting on a shirt. Seokhwa also changed into a pair of military trousers.
“You called me, but where did you go?!”
Lee Chaeyoon seemed to be trying to open the door by force, causing a creaking sound. Kwak Soohwan walked over and opened the iron door wide. Lee Chaeyoon just threw the upper part of a backpack she was carrying inside.
“Is Dr. Seok okay!?”
Seokhwa was also relieved to see her running towards them. After exchanging nods of greeting, fortunately, she didn’t seem to have any injuries.
“Are you okay, Major? I was worried too.”
“I’ll be fine wherever I go. I’m more worried about the Doctor.”
“How did you get here?”
“My mom told me to come here.”
As she spoke, she smiled and unfolded the V-sign. Kwak Soohwan widened the mouth of the backpack she had laid down.
“Are there people following you?”
“Of course not. Yang Sanghoon’s kid is waiting in Gwacheon. Major Cha said to give this to you.”
Kwak Soohwan looked down at the folded paper.
[Im Sangmu, Favor]
“What does that mean?”
In preparation for the fight between Second and First, Kwak Soohwan’s contact was none other than Lee Chaeyoon’s family. As a prestigious family adept at tightrope walking, they didn’t side with anyone for now, but if either First or Second fell, there was a possibility of siding with a new force. And if that new force became them, it would be the ultimate prize.
“What are you talking about, kid?”
“I don’t feel like explaining. Dr. Seok, take this.”
What Kwak Soohwan took out of the backpack was a bulletproof vest. Seokhwa put on the vest that was handed to him, slipping his arms through the openings. Kwak Soohwan suddenly burst into laughter.
“Not right now, wear it when we’re actually on the move.”
The vest was already heavy enough to weigh down his shoulders. Seokhwa took off the vest and neatly placed it on the mat.
“What are you really thinking?”
Although Lee Chaeyoon had known Kwak Soohwan for a long time, there had been times when she couldn’t understand his actions.
“I’m thinking of surviving.”
“Everyone heard the rumor that you flew away with Seokhwa Doctor. They’re all going crazy looking for you, you know?”
As expected, Seokhwa thought Kwak Soohwan had suffered because of him.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll go straight to First after going to Jeju Island.”
“Jeju Island?!”
“You take this and go back to Yeouido.”
What Kwak Soohwan handed over were a few bandages stained with Seokhwa’s blood.
“Tell Major Chaeyoon not to do anything until she sends an encrypted radio message. You’ve been through a lot coming here.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. How are we going to Jeju Island? Are we going to swim?”
“Speak reasonably. We’re going by helicopter.”
He packed the bag full of medications like hemostatic agents and painkillers, along with emergency rations and water. Not only Lee Chaeyoon, but also Seokhwa, was surprised by Kwak Soohwan’s words.
“A helicopter?”
Seokhwa asked.
“Yeah, a helicopter.”
“Oh… you crazy bastard. Ah! You’re really! You son of a bitch!”
As if suddenly remembering something, Lee Chaeyoon flailed around like having a seizure.
“I lost the helicopter! You damn asshole! Do you know how much trouble I got in with my mom because of that?!”
Lee Chaeyoon had every reason to be angry.
When they were assigned to the Yeouido Invincible Unit from the provinces, there was a time when two helicopters were provided by Lee Chaeyoon’s family. One day, they took the helicopters out to respond to an urgent request from the province, but they crash-landed in an unknown mountain. It was Kwak Soohwan who piloted the helicopter.
Since they had to urgently go to the area where Adam had appeared in large numbers, they had abandoned the car and moved on, but when they tried to find the helicopter later, they couldn’t find it anywhere. Kwak Soohwan also couldn’t figure out its location at all.
“We’ll find it later, we’ll find it later.”
When Lee Chaeyoon clenched her fists, Kwak Soohwan gave an excuse that didn’t sound like an excuse.
“But thanks to that helicopter, Dr. Seok was able to safely go to Jeju Island, so it’s a good thing.”
Kwak Soohwan put on a training suit top over his head and zipped up the zipper.
“Major Kwak Soohwan.”
Seokhwa blocked Kwak Soohwan as he was about to go outside.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go to Udo.”
Kwak Soohwan put on a stern expression that was clearly visible. But Seokhwa’s face was not resigned like it was last night.
“We can’t go to Udo.”
“I have a plan.”
“Everyone has plans. I don’t know what Dr. Seok is thinking, but Udo is out of the question.”
Seokhwa pondered how to persuade Kwak Soohwan.
There was a possibility that the Second Master would use him as an experimental subject, but he wouldn’t be foolish enough to blindly walk into a trap. It was more likely that they would use his blood to research the Adam virus rather than forcibly conducting human experiments.
It was Second who proposed building Mothers in each shelter and presenting the issue of preventing human experimentation. Then wouldn’t it be better to go to Udo rather than blindly avoiding Second? Moreover, there was a high probability that Rainbow City was not the one that produced the 7th generation Adam, so Seokhwa was also curious.
“Major Kwak, were you on the side of the Second Master?”
“I don’t want to keep picking sides. I wasn’t on anyone’s side.”
“There must have been a reason why you, as a Major, joined hands with Second instead of First.”
Seokhwa came off as firm, but Kwak Soohwan didn’t back down.
“Even if I caught them back then, it’s not the same now. Listen to me this time.”
“I met a Serpent in Eden Estate. Since the Second Master also wants to destroy Eden Estate, wouldn’t it be better for me, who knows the Serpent, to mediate and assist Major Kwak Soohwan? And the easiest way to lift the warrant for Major Kwak is for me to go to Second.”
“Are you trying to jump into the action after taking the wheel and play spy? I’ll handle the physical stuff, so for now, stay out of sight.”
Seokhwa looked over at the sound of someone munching on ramen. Lee Chaeyoon watched their argument with an interested expression. She chuckled as she sucked on the ramen powder stuck on her thumb.
“Just carry Doctor around in your mouth.”
Kwak Soohwan put on a serious expression, saying it wasn’t a joking matter.
“What’s the exact reason for trying to take Doctor away from Second?”
“It’s obvious they want to use him as a test subject.”
“But didn’t the Second Master prohibit human experimentation?”
“That was just a show to gain support.”
“I’m not sure about that, but outwardly, our family seems to lean towards the First line, but in reality, my mom prefers the Second much more.”
“What your mom prefers, I don’t need to know. Don’t interfere.”
“You’re such an annoying, stubborn bastard. I don’t even know what you’re thinking, but I’m still helping.”
Lee Chaeyoon scooped up the remaining ramen from the bag like a forklift.
“I’ll just move with Doctor. No matter how much you say Second, they can’t just mess with our family. And what Doctor says is right. If you want to move freely, you need to lift the warrant first.”
Seokhwa’s eyes widened. It was when he was about to refuse, fearing that Lee Chaeyoon might be in danger.
“Then report every hour.”
“Make it every three hours. I also have something my mom asked me to do, so I think it’s better to go to Udo for this reason.”
“Asked you to do what?”
Lee Chaeyoon brushed off the remaining ramen into the bag and avoided answering.
“I’ll find out what your family’s intentions are, but for now, I’ll hold off and see if throwing a few inducement newspapers can do the trick.”
Kwak Soohwan gauged the strength of the wind as he opened the iron gate and stood outside. Even though it was a military helicopter, it was not easy to take off in such strong winds. They had planned to bring the helicopter here and attempt to land, but it seemed like everyone needed to move. Seokhwa also knew that, hence he was wearing the bulletproof vest that he had taken off.
“We need to climb about another 20 minutes from here. Is that okay?”
“If it takes us 20 minutes on foot, Doctor will take an hour, right?”
“I’ll follow along.”
Seokhwa inserted the gun Kwak Soohwan had handed him into his holster.
Kwak Soohwan, seeing Seokhwa arming himself, understood the feeling of a parent sending their child on their first errand. It was impressive, but worry overshadowed it. Even when driving, Seokhwa seemed to have a serious expression.
Having spent his life confined to a laboratory and never experiencing an active lifestyle due to weak physical condition, Seokhwa seemed more energetic now than usual, perhaps because he was being chased.
Back inside, Kwak Soohwan tossed a submachine gun to Lee Chaeyoon. He also grabbed his own gun and holstered it on his thigh. After testing the mobility by moving his legs, he slung the backpack over his shoulder. Seokhwa also packed a few bottles of water into a small backpack, and another gun was stuck in the storage net. After extinguishing the fire of the stove and looking around, they were ready to go out.
Lee Chaeyoon went out first, followed by Seokhwa, and finally Kwak Soohwan came out and locked the iron gate.
“Help Dr. Seok up.”
“I’ll walk by myself.”
Seokhwa exhaled a white breath, indicating that if he had stored his energy well, and the thick mountain wind shook his head, making it sway.
“It’s better for you to be carried than to walk since we won’t be following a path.”
The mountain, devoid of people’s footsteps, had long since deteriorated its hiking trails. They literally had to climb up a wild mountain. Seokhwa looked up, then reluctantly turned towards Kwak Soohwan’s back. He had already put the backpack on the front. Lowering his body to make it easier to carry, Seokhwa wrapped his arms around Kwak Soohwan’s neck.
“Are you okay inside?”
“I’m fine, not feeling nauseous.”
“It’s not about that. Are you not hurting inside?”
“I’m okay.”
There was occasional discomfort in his buttocks and abdomen, but it wasn’t unbearable.
“Major, follow us.”
“I’m already coming.”
Lee Chaeyoon tightly tied the laces of her military boots. Kwak Soohwan rolled his leg once in place and then looked back. There was no pursuit, but he had a feeling someone might be following. They were the only ones around, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the branches.
“Dr. Seok.”
“I’ve got a tight grip.”
Seeing that Seokhwa didn’t just lift him once or twice, a smile spread across his face.
Kwak Soohwan firmly grasped Seokhwa’s thigh and started climbing the mountain. Even though they said it would take 20 minutes, he planned to shorten it much more. He ran up quickly, using the rocks embedded in the ground to prevent slipping.
Turning his legs so they wouldn’t get caught on the tangled dry branches, and Lee Chaeyoon was following closely behind. Seokhwa clenched his teeth to prevent them from chattering. While the scenery of the mountain passed by swiftly, Kwak Soohwan occasionally looked back and surveyed the surroundings. Whenever there was a hint of human presence, startled birds would fly up.
Before reaching the summit of the mountain, Kwak Soohwan suddenly turned right and started walking. White breaths kept emanating from his mouth without a break. As he pushed aside the barren branches with his hands, he finally set Seokhwa down. Having cut almost half the time, he took a deep breath.
“I was worried we might get lost.”
Of course, there was no such possibility, so he laughed confidently.
Behind a large rock towering up, a space resembling a courtyard emerged. In the center, a large body covered in soil and dry leaves was visible. Lee Chaeyoon approached the helicopter and brushed off the dusty door with her hand. Lo and behold, the mark depicting the profile of an emperor penguin was revealed. It was the mark of Lee Chaeyoon’s family.
“Damn it.”
He cursed more incredulously upon seeing it with his own eyes.
“After we’re done, let’s just dump it on the road.”
Kwak Soohwan opened the helicopter door and checked the interior. Unlike the exposed exterior covered in dirt and dust, the inside was relatively clean. He hung the backpack on the seat, then looked at Seokhwa, who was gaping in amazement.
“Please, Dr. Seok, have a seat.”
He pointed to the back seat. It was larger than a small helicopter, with the back part being elongated, and the seats were arranged sideways. There was also a belt in front of the door so that soldiers could use firearms from the air.
Seokhwa climbed into the back seat and sat down. It was Kwak Soohwan who had climbed up, but surprisingly, his heart was pounding wildly. Kwak Soohwan leaned forward in front of Seokhwa, telling him not to be tense, and then bent down.
“Spread your legs.”
Seokhwa casually spread his legs despite the subtly suggestive tone. Though lacking any hint of sexiness, he was curious if Seokhwa was aware of the firmness of his thighs, so Kwak Soohwan intentionally grasped Seokhwa’s thigh. Meanwhile, Kwak Soohwan, pulling out a parachute-shaped backpack from below, removed the bag Seokhwa was carrying and replaced it with the parachute belt. Due to the wind, Seokhwa’s back arched, pushing his hips forward.
“Just in case you’re wondering, don’t worry too much about the preparation, okay? You know how we listen to the safety briefing before takeoff on an airplane. It’s kind of like that.”
He reassured Seokhwa, fearing he might get scared once the parachute was put on. However, Seokhwa seemed unperturbed.
“If we need to escape from here, we’ll jump out through that door over there. Don’t open it immediately after jumping. Don’t jump and spread it out; you should jump straight down. When you feel the helicopter is far enough away, pull this, and the parachute will open. But don’t worry; you won’t need to use it for real.”
He repeated his reassurance several times. There was a perception that helicopters were slightly more dangerous than planes or ships, which is why he emphasized it. Indeed, helicopters were considered riskier for civilians to ride.
“Don’t worry. Even if such a situation arises, I’ll escape well.”
Kwak Soohwan tidied up Seokhwa’s head, which had been carelessly tossed about in the wind. Seokhwa closed his eyes contentedly at the touch.
“That’s enough.”
Lee Chaeyoon, who had climbed into the cockpit, thumped Kwak Soohwan’s seat with her fist. Kwak Soohwan, without yielding, neatly tidied up Seokhwa’s head before sitting in the cockpit. He flicked a switch mounted at the top.
“How long has it been since you’ve flown?”
Kwak Soohwan asked Seokhwa again, checking him once more.
“That was the last time.”
There had been no further helicopter support for the Indestructible Battalion since they lost their helicopter.
Military helicopters used jet fuel (JP-8), and fortunately, a generous amount was stored inside the helicopter. Since they would need to refuel en route, it seemed they would have to make Seokhwa’s home their destination.
After the helicopter’s engine started safely, the slow rotation of the propeller suddenly accelerated. Kwak Soohwan began to lift the helicopter rapidly, as he had during maneuver training. The helicopter’s body shook violently in the wind. Seokhwa tightly gripped the belt around his shoulder, repeatedly checking the belt I held to ensure the parachute didn’t deploy inside.
As the helicopter soared upward, the noise from the spinning propeller was deafening. Although Kwak Soohwan and Lee Chaeyoon said something, Seokhwa couldn’t hear a thing. But as they reached a certain altitude, the helicopter stabilized and began to move forward. The sea lay directly ahead. Their journey back to Jeju Island had begun.
***
Two hours later, near Jeju Island’s Sehwa Beach.
“Do you remember what I said?!”
Seokhwa tried to look at Kwak Soohwan in the helicopter, which was spinning round and round, but his neck was too stiff. Kwak Soohwan, holding onto the controls, managed to maintain altitude. Lee Chaeyoon, who had been sitting in the cockpit, quickly released her seatbelt and jumped out to grab Seokhwa. She held him firmly in front of her, securing him with a belt.
“Doctor! I’ll deploy the parachute! Got it?!”
Shouting, she forcefully opened the helicopter’s door with all her might.
“Major is, Major Kwak is–!”
Before she could finish her sentence, Lee Chaeyoon hurled herself into the air. Black smoke billowed continuously from the helicopter. Seokhwa tried to look up, but he couldn’t move his head due to the wind blowing from below.
As Lee Chaeyoon unfolded the parachute’s wings, a tremendous roar erupted from the direction of the helicopter.
***
[Second Master, Major Lee Chaeyoon is approaching Jeju Island.]
Second lifted his head at the emergency alert from Mother. His office desk was cluttered with various documents and information about acquaintances of Oh Yang-seok.
“Major Lee Chaeyoon?”
[Estimated arrival at Sehwa Beach within 15 minutes, calculated based on the moving speed, presumed by helicopter.]
While it was Rainbow City’s regulation to insert a chip for tracking into the body, there was an exception for honorific families. This was because they could be exposed to surveillance or espionage due to their central power. However, since Lee Chaeyoon was deeply associated with Kwak Soohwan, Second instructed her to insert a chip under the pretext of an Adam vaccine when she underwent a physical examination. Even as Second, he couldn’t open GPS monitoring without the adviser’s permission. Second had set up a warning to Mother if anyone approached Jeju Island among the key personnel.
If Lee Chaeyoon was approaching Jeju Island without permission, she was likely not alone.
“Connect me to Sehwa Army Headquarters.”
[Loading, connecting.]
After a few seconds of connection, a response came from the army headquarters.
[Second Master, this is Sehwa Communication Center. Please proceed.]
“An unidentified helicopter is approaching Sehwa Beach.”
[Yes, we have also detected an unidentified helicopter. We are preparing to intercept.]
Second Master slammed his desk forcefully, eyes wide open.
“Stop the intercept! Stop it right now!”
[…Request to cease interception relayed.]
“Who authorized the intercept?”
The soldier at the communication center hesitated for a moment before responding in a tone of utter disbelief.
[Isn’t it the Second Master?]
“What did you say?”
[It has been confirmed that the intercept request came from Second Master.]
“How on earth was this confirmation made?”
[Master… Didn’t you send a message to us through the dedicated line?]
Second quickly accessed the army’s security system with his keyboard. A duplicate access system message popped up. Second instructed to track who had accessed his unique server, but the access location was his own office.
What the…
[Master, although we relayed the request to cease interception… we have received news that the intercept has already been executed.]
“Damn it!”
Second threw his keyboard towards the glass window. He felt tension in his legs and his toes twitched. Second covered his lower body with a large cloth.
[Master, the helicopter has been intercepted, but fortunately, there is a person who has made an emergency escape. Shooting at the emergency escape personnel has been halted.]
“Report the identity of the emergency escape personnel immediately.”
[Yes, we will report as soon as we identify them.]
Second moved his motorized wheelchair towards the direction where the keyboard had flown. He had a ominous feeling that the person who accompanied Lee Chaeyoon might be Seokhwa. If so, he hoped that Seokhwa was the one who had escaped safely.
Second didn’t even think about picking up the fallen keyboard and instead looked out through the front glass window.
Around Eden Hill, members of prestigious families, soldiers, and researchers were arranged radially. It looked like various branches extending like a spider web. Among them, there were four rivers, and through them, Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa emerged.
The place Seokhwa’s fellow researchers arrived at was Dr. Kim and Choi Hoeon.
A circle was marked next to Choi Hoeon’s name.
***
Even though he landed on the sandy beach with a parachute, the impact was enormous.
Despite trying to minimize the shock by moving his legs vigorously upon landing, he got tangled in the sand and stumbled. In the urgency, Lee Chaeyoon lifted Seokhwa onto her body to shield him as much as possible.
Seokhwa, covered in sand, struggled to remove the fabric of the parachute with his hands. The more he struggled, the more entangled he became. When Lee Chaeyoon cut the straps with a jackknife, Seokhwa quickly crawled forward, trying to escape from the sandy beach. There was no sign of the helicopter in the air. Only flames flickered in the far-off sea, along with black smoke. It looked like the remains of an exploded helicopter.
“…Doctor.”
Lee Chaeyoon, who had stood up and brushed off the sand, called out to Seokhwa. Seokhwa just stared blankly at the sea.
“Don’t worry. Kwak Soohwan will be fine. This isn’t the first or second time we’ve been through something like this.”
However, Lee Chaeyoon’s voice also trembled with anxiety.
“Doctor, it seems like we’re in big trouble too.”
Soldiers from the Sehwa Garrison began to surround Seokhwa and Lee Chaeyoon. Lee Chaeyoon straightened her uniform and composed herself.
“I’m Major Lee Chaeyoon from Yeouido Invincible Battalion, you guys out of your minds? Don’t you see the helicopter markings? With our already limited resources, you shoot down a helicopter?!”
The unauthorized entry into Jeju Island was the problem, but Lee Chaeyoon instead lashed out at the soldiers.
“We only shot it down because we received the request to do so.”
Seokhwa, still sitting on the ground, clenched sand in both hands. The sand slipping through his fingers felt like hundreds of glass shards.
“A request to shoot it down? Who the hell gave that order?”
Given the enormous cost and time involved in training pilots, usually only city soldiers could operate helicopters or planes. Moreover, there were very few soldiers who were trained pilots. Even in wartime situations, pilots were to be taken as prisoners, not killed. It had never occurred to anyone that a helicopter would be shot down, even in a crisis like the current one. Protecting pilots, even if they were enemies, was an unwritten rule.
“Who the hell was it?!”
When Lee Chaeyoon shouted, the platoon leader cautiously intervened.
“Second… Master.”
Although Second Master revoked the order to shoot down, he was evidently the one who initially gave the command.
Seokhwa, who had been staring blankly at the sea, finally turned to look at the platoon leader. As the soldiers approached closer to escort Lee Chaeyoon and Seokhwa, Seokhwa stood up, holding onto Lee Chaeyoon’s arm.
“Let’s not resist. We can walk. They might kill us all here, so let’s not provoke them. I’ll manage.”
Lee Chaeyoon held onto Seokhwa’s arm.
“Doctor, are you okay?”
Seokhwa gripped his chest tightly. His heart felt suffocated. It felt like someone was strangling him. It was undoubtedly because of Kwak Soohwan. That’s why he felt this pain.
“We will take you to Udo Island. Second Master ordered so.”
Seokhwa felt an immense resentment at the mention of Second Master. He had never experienced such overwhelmingly negative emotions that were so difficult to accept. It resembled anger. Someone once said that people can get sick and die from a broken heart, but he had never empathized with that sentiment. However, now, he felt like he could truly die if the anger and sadness accumulated inside him without an outlet.
When his mother passed away, he only truly realized after the funeral that he would never see her again. But the thought of never seeing Kwak Soohwan again didn’t feel real. That’s why he believed he would be safe. Seokhwa couldn’t take his eyes off the distant sea where flames were dying down. He kept imagining Kwak Soohwan emerging from the water.
***
After a 15-minute high-speed boat ride from Seongsan Port, Udo Island, the rearmost and highest part of Rainbow City where only the elite resided, came into view.
Seokhwa retched due to seasickness, and Lee Chaeyoon rolled her eyes, saying she would die at this rate. Seokhwa, despite retching on the boat, couldn’t tear his gaze away from the sea. He didn’t know if Kwak Soohwan was somewhere out there. But even until they arrived on Udo Island and drove towards Second’s mansion, Kwak Soohwan’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
Udo Island, untouched by human hands, was as beautiful as any resort in a country only recorded in history. People were seen walking along the cliffside paths, which had been naturally eroded. Seokhwa found this landscape strangely surreal. There was no hint of anxiety among those laughing and chatting leisurely on the promenade. It was a world so different from the mainland, where one couldn’t venture outside without fear.
The peace in this scene felt utterly unfamiliar. Were they all like this before Adam appeared? Kwak Soohwan wouldn’t have been in danger either, right? Was it right for countless people to sacrifice themselves for the privilege enjoyed by a few? Seokhwa didn’t envy those who lived here. The only thing he could be sure of was that Rainbow City, as Kwak Soohwan said, was wrong.
“From here, Second Master’s butler will guide you.”
It only took a few minutes to reach the mansion facing the gem-colored beach. After passing three security checkpoints, Second Master’s mansion came into view. Countless surveillance cameras monitored the vehicle Seokhwa was in. Why was such strict security even in this safe place? Seokhwa got out of the car, feeling overwhelmed by the sight of the enormous mansion.
He heard the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs. Second Master, sitting in a wheelchair in front of the central door of the mansion, smiled kindly. Seokhwa walked towards Second, feeling a bit uneasy. The soldiers guarding Second and his butler tried to stop Seokhwa, but Second gestured that it was okay.
“You must have had a hard time getting here, Dr. Seok.”
Seokhwa looked down at Second sitting in the wheelchair.
“Yes, I made it without dying.”
Seokhwa was that kind of person. Second’s smiling face turned serious.
***
The icy water, turning into hundreds and thousands of needles piercing his body, was already a familiar sensation, so it didn’t feel significant. If there was anything unbearable, it was the saltwater.
“Ah, fuck.”
Kwak Soohwan, crawling up onto the sandy beach, vomited and spat out seawater. As soon as he finished expelling the water, he collapsed onto the sandy shore. Gasping for breath, he looked up at the sky, noticing the stars densely scattered across the clear sky.
Me… surely I don’t think I’m dead, right?
If you make a move, the other party won’t stay still.
He muttered in a tone mixed with jokes, but his expression was as cold as ever. He rose to his feet and threw his soaking wet training shirt onto the sandy beach. There was no time to catch his breath in a place like this.
Behind Kwak Soohwan, who had drifted to Rabbit Island riding the current, he could see Udo Island floating steeply. Even though it was a relatively short distance, swimming against the current towards the light was obviously impossible.
Kwak Soohwan stripped off his shirt and, leaving only his military dog tags dangling loosely around his neck, began to swim towards Rabbit Island. Unlike the summer when white flowers bloomed, the dormant seagrasses rustled as the stranger entered. Rabbit Island was only connected to the mainland when the water receded, and the incoming tide was slowly approaching. Kwak Soohwan pushed through the waist-deep water towards the mainland. The speed of the incoming water was not slow, so he had to swim and escape at the halfway point.
Damn, it’s so cold.
After treading water in place and shaking off the water, Kwak Soohwan began to run towards where there were residential houses. The order to shoot down a perfectly good helicopter must have come from at least a colonel or higher, and the only person here who could watch us with such influence would be Second.
Only after confirming that Seokhwa had jumped off with Lee Chaeyoon did Kwak Soohwan move towards the sea and ditch the helicopter. Deploying a parachute over the sea would only result in drowning, so he had come this far without deploying the backpack, using it as a tube instead.
Continuing to run along the road leading to the beach, he saw small tidal pools hidden among the basalt rocks. Spitting out the gritty salt residue remaining in his mouth, he headed towards the houses by the road.
Once a popular tourist destination, there were still townhouses and guesthouses remaining, but the sewage system was not as robust as before. Construction of the city gas pipeline was also halted due to Adam’s appearance, so only houses with oil boilers or fireplaces could be inhabited.
Kwak Soohwan spotted a house with an open door. He walked in and rinsed his mouth with the water in the yard before splashing it on his body.
“Who, who’s there?”
The startled old man suddenly appeared at the door and peered outside. Kwak Soohwan scooped up water with a basin and rinsed himself again before gulping down the water. He showed the old man his military dog tags.
“I’m a Rainbow City Army Major. I’ve run into some trouble on my way to Jeju Island.”
The mention of being a soldier made the old man visibly tense. Although Jeju Island was a clean zone, the influence of the military here was not much different from the mainland. There was a rumor that a resident of Hadori, who had been receiving rice rations, was hit and killed by a soldier a few months ago.
“Oh, what about your clothes?”
The old man seemed even more uneasy with sweat on his face and body.
“I ended up stranded on Rabbit Island due to some trouble during the journey to Jeju Island. I’m sorry, but can I borrow some clothes?”
Before the old man could give his permission, Kwak Soohwan hurriedly walked towards the house. Having rid himself of the chill, he was now dripping water.
“May I come in?”
The old man looked up at Kwak Soohwan and nodded.
Taking off his military boots, Kwak Soohwan used a towel hanging on the drying rack to dry himself off. He took off the leg holster hanging on his thigh and looked around for clothes to wear. However, there were only pants and shirts that didn’t fit him at all, and they were brightly colored.
“Excuse me.”
In the inner room, the old man held out a training suit.
“My son used to wear this when he went to the mainland a long time ago. I’m not sure if it’ll fit you, but…”
It was a training suit with a faded company logo engraved on it.
“Thank you.”
The old man also handed him a new pair of underwear wrapped in transparent plastic. Knowing that he might be taken advantage of, he made sure to provide everything necessary, so Kwak Soohwan felt a little uncomfortable. He sincerely thanked the old man and changed into the clothes he was given. The top was in the form of a windbreaker, and surprisingly, it provided decent insulation.
He rummaged through the pockets of his discarded pants and pulled out his wallet. Opening the wallet drenched in seawater, he found that even the bills were completely soaked in salt. When he handed over some money, the old man’s eyes widened.
“This much money…”
“I’m grateful, that’s why.”
Kwak Soohwan wiped the moisture from his wallet with a towel and stepped back outside. The old man offered a pair of sneakers, but Kwak Soohwan declined, saying it was okay and wiped only the insides with a towel. It had been about five minutes since he entered. Kwak Soohwan, who had finished preparing to leave, tightened the laces of his military boots.
[…Attention. This is an announcement for Rainbow City residents in Jeju Island. If anyone locates the whereabouts of Rainbow City Army Major Kwak Soohwan, please contact the Army Center immediately. If you find a body washed up on the beach, please check the tags. This is a reminder. Over.]
The radio playing in the background, set to the usual military broadcast for Gujwa-eup, sounded. Seeing Kwak Soohwan, who resembled the description from the broadcast, the old man clenched the bills tightly in his hands. Then, the old man’s gaze fell on the gun in Kwak Soohwan’s holster.
“P-please spare me.”
Kwak Soohwan sighed. Reluctantly, he took off his military boots and pushed the old man back into the house. He found a room with a landline phone while the old man kept repeating his plea for mercy. There was a note on the wall with the numbers for the Safe Center or the Army Center.
Kwak Soohwan didn’t pick up the receiver but switched to speaker mode. He dialed the number for the Army Center written prominently on the note.
[This is the prestigious Rainbow City Army Center. Speak.]
Prestigious, my ass.
“Why am I looking for you?”
[…Excuse me?]
“Is Dr. Seok and Major Lee Chaeyoon being detained?”
[Who is this? Please state your name.]
“I’ll find out for myself, but tell me if Dr. Seok and Major Lee Chaeyoon are safe.”
[Are you… Major Kwak Soohwan?]
The signal was a bit noisy beyond the speaker, then a confused tone was heard. Whatever. Recognizing him was easy even just by his voice.
[Major Kwak Soohwan.]
Kwak Soohwan lowered and raised his eyelids.
“…Second Master.”
Even just from his voice, it was easy to deduce who he was.
[Why are you trying to pick a fight with me? I just can’t understand. If you had just followed my orders properly, things wouldn’t have gotten so complicated like this. You know I trust you.]
“Is Dr. Seok being held by Second Master? If Second Master harms Dr. Seok in any way…”
[Even so, Major Kwak, there’s nothing you can do.]
“Why not? Second Master, I could at least pull the trigger and die.”
Kwak Soohwan realized that his hands were sweaty despite his cold body. He wanted to believe that Second wouldn’t do anything rash, but he was worried that Second might have injured himself while jumping, or worse, that Second might have tortured Dr. Seok.
[You, do you even know what you’re saying? It’s pure insubordination.]
“So tell me how Dr. Seok is doing.”
Second Master emitted a low hum as if pressing down his anger.
[Come to Udo. Let’s talk here.]
“Is it true that Dr. Seok is with you? At least let me hear his voice, and then I’ll believe you.”
[He still has a gunshot wound on his arm. That’s why the location tracker chip is gone. Will that be enough?]
Click, the call was abruptly cut off. Now that he thought about it, it seemed that the Army Center had connected the line to where Second was. Kwak Soohwan also pressed the speaker button to disconnect the call and strapped the leg holster to his thigh.
“Old man, put that down.”
The old man was holding a frying pan, which he didn’t even know where he got it from.
“I-I can’t just die like this!”
Seeing him struggling weakly, squeezing out all his strength, made me feel like a villain. Kwak Soohwan quickly snatched the frying pan from the old man and placed it on the floor.
“If I were going to kill you, would I give you money like this? I’m really busy right now, you know?”
His lips were still tightly sealed, wrinkles deepening. It was time for Kwak Soohwan to leave.
“I can get to Seongsan Port, but Udo is guarded by soldiers, so not just anyone can go there.”
A slightly softened voice collided with Kwak Soohwan’s back.
“And the boats only sail once or twice a day. It’s so dark like this, they won’t sail anymore today.”
Telling me to wait until tomorrow is like telling me to wait until I die of thirst.
Kwak Soohwan nodded his thanks towards the old man and went back outside to put on his military boots again.
“Hey.”
The elderly man who followed along called out to Kwak Soohwan. Despite being a fearless soldier, he didn’t behave arrogantly, nor did he overflow with money, nor did he resort to violence unnecessarily. If he really intended to kill, he would have done so from the beginning and robbed what he needed. As the old man realized this, Kwak Soohwan appeared differently to him.
“But why are you going to Udo? Not just anyone can enter Udo, and if you’re a soldier, you should know that.”
Kwak Soohwan tightened the laces of his military boots.
“I’m going to find my lover.”
The old man blinked his tired eyes.
“Lover?”
“I’m leaving now, live comfortably for a long time.”
“Just a moment, just a moment!”
After saying to wait, the old man went into the house and rummaged for something. With time running short, Kwak Soohwan decided to just leave and walked out into the yard, but the old man came running out. He handed something to Kwak Soohwan. Looking down, it was an old key.
“I can’t use it now because there’s no fuel, but it’s from the old days when I used it.”
“Grandpa, do you even have a boat?”
Kwak Soohwan asked, knowing full well it was unlikely.
“Where would I have such an expensive thing? Even if I did, it would all be owned by Rainbow City. Come here. It’s been a while, but I’ve cherished and maintained it, so it should still work. It’s no use to me anyway; it’s better for someone who needs it to use it.”
The old man grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s arm and headed towards the back of the house.
When he opened the wooden door of the shed, behind the old truck, a jet ski with a shabby paint job was revealed. Despite its age, there were traces of repainting several times on the old product.
“How’s this? Isn’t it great? You’ll have to manage the fuel yourself.”
Kwak Soohwan let out a short laugh. Where would he even fill up the fuel? The army center is far away from here. Nevertheless, Kwak Soohwan quickly checked the fuel tank of the truck. There was still about a liter left.
“Will the fuel in this truck be enough to get to Udo?”
“The distance isn’t that far, so it should be just enough.”
“Grandpa, I’ll give you more money, so transfer the fuel from the truck to the jet ski.”
“Then how will you transfer the jet ski?”
The jet ski was placed on a cart made of iron so that it could be transferred to the truck. Kwak Soohwan grabbed the front of the cart where the jet ski was placed and pulled it. Although it took some effort, there were wheels underneath, so it was easy to pull. The old man was amazed.
“You’re quite strong. Are you a mutant too?”
“I can manage this much.”
Although the weight was easily over 150kg, as Kwak Soohwan said, it wasn’t difficult to move it with a little effort.
The old man emptied all the fuel from the truck and transferred it to the jet ski. In his younger days, before Adam appeared, the old man used to go out to the sea and play with the jet ski several times a day. He hid it to avoid being taken by the soldiers, but it was not what the old man wanted to decay and disappear in the shed.
Kwak Soohwan brought the rope tied to the front of the cart to his shoulder. Gripping the rope tightly with both hands, he started pulling it towards the sea.
“How’s the mainland? Are the Adams still causing trouble?”
“It’s always the same.”
The old man tried to help from behind, but it was no help at all.
“My son was drafted to the mainland, and a few months after he left, he died at the hands of the Adams. I couldn’t even receive his remains. Life is always a war. Only the young ones keep dying.”
The old man’s voice sounded quite distant, as if it were from a long time ago. Kwak Soohwan quickened his pace and headed towards the coastal road, connecting to the concrete road leading to the sea. He pushed the jet ski into the water and stepped onto the footboard. The engine was off, and even the gentle waves made it sway. Kwak Soohwan inserted the key and turned it. Impatient because the engine didn’t start at once, but fortunately, after several attempts, the water jet started working.
“When you press the handle, it accelerates. There’s no reverse function, so just turn the handle sharply when changing direction!”
Before the explanation was over, Kwak Soohwan had already pulled the handle. The body shot forward. Operating the jet ski was much simpler than driving a car.
“I’ll come back to return it later.”
The old man waved as if saying goodbye. Kwak Soohwan exerted force on the accelerator handle and began heading towards the distant island in view. Water splashed on his face, but his clothes didn’t get soaked. With each wave he crossed, the body of the jet ski swayed. Somehow, he felt like if Dr. Seok were riding behind him, he’d see a face brimming with excitement. To achieve that, he’d have to pull both arms around his waist to keep them from falling, but that was just a thought. Perhaps due to impatience, Udo seemed much farther than what was visible.
***
It was said that the seawater was salty because of a man who dropped a magic fan into the sea. Kwak Soohwan remembered the story told by a Vietnamese lady when he was young. Back then, he didn’t even know whether the seawater was salty or not. But now, he tasted the seawater so much that he could curse the guy who lost the fan.
As Kwak Soohwan circled around Udo, he looked up at the mansion emitting a strong light from the top. He didn’t know where Second Master’s mansion was, but it was probably the place where the most electricity was wasted.
Dragging the jet ski to the coast near the rocky coast, Kwak Soohwan turned off the engine. As he pulled up the body, people who were walking by the beach were amazed.
It was Kwak Soohwan’s first time visiting Udo. The benches on the beach, the swings, and the mart where you could get necessities anytime were impressive. The night on Udo was illuminated by several tall lighthouses, constantly surveilling the surroundings.
Over there, a jeep with soldiers came running and stopped at the end of the sandy beach.
Even if it was Second Master’s trap, he had to come. Kwak Soohwan looked down at the pistol hanging on his thigh, then glanced at the jeep. The person who got out of the car was wearing slippers. It reminded him of the day he first saw him with white bare feet in this cold weather.
Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa expressionlessly.
Seokhwa, checking for any wounds or injuries from the fall, walked towards Kwak Soohwan, kicking up sand. Every time the lighthouse light passed between them, their figures were clearly visible, and Seokhwa also stared intently at Kwak Soohwan.
Still, as if he couldn’t believe it, Seokhwa asked cautiously, “Are you really Major Kwak?”
Though he didn’t expect Seokhwa to come running and hug him, it was still a question that didn’t confirm his existence.
“Who do you think I am?”
When Kwak Soohwan responded expressionlessly, Seokhwa’s eyes widened. It was clear that he thought there was a problem with his memory after the fall. Kwak Soohwan felt a subtle guilt for startling Seokhwa so dramatically.
“Are you here to pick up rocks with slippers again today?”
Seokhwa’s eyebrows noticeably furrowed.
“Are you kidding me?”
“Don’t get angry. I came all the way across the rough sea at midnight just to meet Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soohwan spread his arms. But Seokhwa just stood still as if his feet were buried in the sand. If he didn’t come, Kwak Soohwan would go to him. However, just as he was about to walk up to Seokhwa and embrace him, an interferer came from behind. It was Second Master’s servant, whom he had seen several times before.
“I’ll escort you to Second Master’s residence.”
“You shot down a helicopter telling us all to die, and now you’re doing this?”
“There was a big misunderstanding. It was actually Second Master who requested the cessation of the shootdown.”
Kwak Soohwan stood in front of Seokhwa, blocking his way.
“We still have recordings left from the Army Center, so any misunderstandings can be resolved.”
Since they could create hundreds of manipulations and conspiracies in a single day, there was no trust in recordings. He didn’t even consider taking Seokhwa with him on the jet ski and escaping, but there was hardly enough fuel anyway. Moreover, once on Udo, avoiding Second Master’s clutches wouldn’t be easy.
“Major Kwak.”
Seokhwa tightly grasped Kwak Soohwan’s arm.
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
Only now did Seokhwa realize the person in front of him. Even if the ground beneath his feet collapsed when he said he didn’t remember him, if he was unharmed, that was enough.
“I don’t die easily.”
“Major Lee Chaeyoon and Second Master are waiting.”
The servant spoke firmly, indicating not to delay any longer. Since he couldn’t avoid meeting Second Master, Kwak Soohwan walked with Seokhwa towards the jeep that had stopped.
“Are you injured anywhere?”
“No, I’m not. And you, Major?”
“I’ve just had my share of seawater.”
Getting into the car, Kwak Soohwan noticed a cut on his chin. When touched by the side, Kwak Soohwan smiled softly.
“I got hurt.”
“It’ll get better soon.”
“I thought I wouldn’t see you for a while.”
“That’s why I flew over on the jet ski.”
The servant sitting in the passenger seat narrowed his eyes. The bond between them seemed so strong that it made one wonder if what Second Master said was true. Of course, the servant also had considerable information about Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa was only interested in stones, and Kwak Soohwan engaged in light behavior just to conceal his true identity. Seeing the two of them trying to imitate affection made one suspect if they were acting.
Looking back in the mirror, Kwak Soohwan, who had sensed the gaze like a ghost, met eyes with him.
“Second Master was very worried.”
Kwak Soohwan contained an obvious smirk.
“Would such a person issue a wanted order?”
“It was to protect you both from Eden Estate.”
Kwak Soohwan dismissed it as nonsense to the point of wanting to plug his ears.
Seokhwa, sitting on the rear seat on the central bulging seat, held onto Kwak Soohwan’s sleeve tightly. Despite the uncomfortable position, as if afraid Kwak Soohwan would disappear somewhere, he leaned his body against him, seeking warmth.
Unconsciously, Kwak Soohwan struggled to suppress the urge to embrace Seokhwa. Perhaps today’s events had been quite a shock to Dr. Seok…
Seokhwa seemed to have suffered a lot more after meeting him. If he had stayed only in the lab, he would have lived without knowing anything. No, if Choi Hoeon had taken an interest in Seokhwa, it was fortunate that Kwak Soohwan was there. Just thinking about Choi Hoeon shaking Seokhwa in his hands made him want to tear his face and body apart.
“Second Master said…”
Seokhwa quietly spoke while looking at the mansion emitting light.
“He knows that Dr. Choi Hoeon is a Serpent.”
It wasn’t surprising. Second Master could compile various information and could probably suspect to some extent. But if Second Master clearly pointed out Choi Hoeon as a Serpent, the story would be different. At least, there was tremendous power in Second Master’s words.
“Whatever Second Master said, don’t believe it blindly.”
“I only believe in solid facts.”
Although he seemed lethargic and might be easily swayed, Seokhwa was firm in his thoughts and beliefs. Apart from everything else, Kwak Soohwan’s body was wearing out from Seokhwa persistently clinging to him.
He wanted to go somewhere secluded, check if there were any injuries all over Seokhwa’s body, and kiss him. The marks he had left around the nape of his neck were still vivid. Previously, he hadn’t been this impatient, but after mixing his body with Seokhwa’s, his desire had intensified. It was because he knew Seokhwa’s body temperature so well, wrapped warmly around him.
Seokhwa glanced at Kwak Soohwan’s training pants.
“Why are you standing?”
He had to say it out loud. Still, he didn’t say it blatantly but whispered into Kwak Soohwan’s ear. Kwak Soohwan, deliberately mixing laughter into his words, pulled up Seokhwa’s foot. Due to that, Seokhwa, who was pushed towards the door, blinked with a puzzled look. He hadn’t walked much, so the soles of his feet were soft but cold like seawater. Although he knew he didn’t wear socks because he felt hot, he felt a bit sorry for him.
“We’ve arrived. Please get off.”
The servant got out of the car without looking back on purpose. Kwak Soohwan held Seokhwa’s foot tightly with both hands and then let it go again. Seokhwa couldn’t understand all of his actions, but feeling the warmth that touched his foot, he wiggled his toes inside the slippers.
If he hadn’t heard that Kwak Soohwan was safe, he would have definitely confronted Second Master. Whatever relationship Second Master had with him, he would surely not forgive. Seokhwa had always envied those with perfect bodies, but this time he was grateful that he was sturdy. Today, he painfully realized how precious Kwak Soohwan was to him. Just the thought of losing him made him feel a deep pain.
As they walked through the door opened by the servant, Lee Chaeyoon was standing at the end of the corridor, arms crossed. He was chewing on a sausage without even touching it with his hands.
“Didn’t die, huh?” Even though he said that, Lee Chaeyoon’s eyes betrayed a hint of relief.
“Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”
“Good grief, if it’s about gratitude, I only hear it if it’s from Dr. Seokhwa, you know? Aren’t you lucky? Our household is not easily accessible, yet you come here for food?”
With a mechanical sound, Kwak Soohwan glanced past Lee Chaeyoon’s shoulder. Through the front glass window, there was a cliff along with the coastline, and Oriental paintings adorned the walls of the corridor and living room. And in the center of the living room sat Second Master in a wheelchair.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face in person, Controller.”
Lee Chaeyoon, chewing on sausage, briefly turned to Second Master before facing Kwak Soohwan again.
“Major Lee, would you kindly make room for me to talk to the Controller.”
Realizing it took two times for Lee Chaeyoon to understand, he momentarily expressed his surprise, then glared at Kwak Soohwan, muttering insults. “You talk later.” Lee Chaeyoon walked past Kwak Soohwan, growling softly. Seokhwa speculated that even Yang Sang-hoon might not know his true identity from his reaction.
“Dr. Seokhwa will continue the conversation.”
Second Master wiped his wrinkled eyes with his hand. He looked extremely tired, as if he hadn’t slept for days. Kwak Soohwan was more alert than usual, not knowing what tricks the man had up his sleeve. He was the type of person who, if given the slightest chance, would devour any gap in politics and swallow it whole.
“Both of you come here.”
As Second Master wheeled closer to the window, he looked out. He seemed so defenseless that one could almost strangle him right away.
“Dr. Seokhwa doesn’t trust my words. That’s why Major Kwak Soohwan was needed.”
Seokhwa stared at Second Master as if he were an inanimate object. Despite having almost no social experience, unlike Kwak Soohwan’s concerns, Seokhwa didn’t easily trust others. While he formulated hypotheses, he wasn’t one to get caught up in them. Seokhwa always valued only tangible results. Oh Yang-seok often scolded Seokhwa, calling him an inhumane doctor even though he took care of him.
“Dr. Seok is smart, so he filters out Second Master’s words.”
Kwak Soohwan blurted out abruptly. Second Master, laughing with a peculiar sound in his throat, adjusted the wheelchair’s direction towards them.
One seemed flawless like a new species, and the other seemed dim-witted as if a screw were loose, yet he was free from Adam, and as a researcher, he was impeccable.
“The function of religion is quite excellent. Even without clear evidence or material proof, the emotion of faith alone is enough to strengthen a person. So perhaps the original purpose of Eden Estate was good.”
Second Master pressed a button on the remote control lying on his lap under the blanket. At the same time, curtains began to descend, covering the large window.
“Security level 1 will be activated within approximately 30 Second Masters from now.”
Mother’s voice came through the speakers in the living room.
“Now listen to me carefully.”
Only after the curtains completely covered the interior did Second Master speak.
“In the future, Dr. Seokhwa will run for Master instead of me.”
“I… I said I won’t.”
Seokhwa replied bluntly. Although he had suspected that Second Master would pull something, he didn’t expect such nonsense. Kwak Soohwan sighed in frustration.
“I admit that the world needs to change. However, reform is more stable than revolution.”
As Kwak Soohwan lowered his gaze, the round cheek of Seokhwa came into view. Seokhwa stared at the Master with eyes so dark it was impossible to discern his thoughts. Since leaving Rabbit Island and coming here, Seokhwa hadn’t been privy to the conversation between him and the Master, so he couldn’t just dismiss it as nonsense.
“Come this way.”
Second Master adjusted the joystick and took the lead. As they followed him, focusing only on his back as he walked down the corridor opposite the entrance, Second Master opened his mouth again.
“I have something to show you, so don’t be too guarded.”
Since they had already entered Second Master’s mansion, it would be more beneficial to take away something. Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa reluctantly followed suit. After passing through a long corridor, they saw a security door leading to the office. After verifying their identities, they walked through the open door and walked for a while, and soon a spacious office appeared. However, the opposite side of the office, where books were displayed, was covered with thick curtains.
On the display shelves in the office were minerals compressed to resemble the sea and obsidian with a flowing black gloss placed at a height reachable by hand. Seokhwa’s gaze was drawn to the obsidian sparkling like glass. The undulations were present, but there were no signs of wear and tear. The obsidian, larger than a fist, was the first size he had ever seen, making it impossible to divert his gaze.
“Shall I steal it for you?” Kwak Soohwan whispered in Seokhwa’s ear. Seokhwa firmly shook his head.
“When lava cools down by touching cold seawater, it turns into smooth glassy rocks like this. In a way, this guy is a child of lava and thawing sea.”
Second Master affectionately stroked the obsidian with his hand.
“Do you not have these things in your house? Showing off rocks like potatoes? It’s annoying,” Kwak Soohwan muttered, feeling uncomfortable.
“Did you bring them here to show off rocks like kids?”
Second Master chuckled as if he found something amusing, scratching his neck once again.
Seokhwa liked the obsidian, but he didn’t want to steal it. The stone that looked like the egg Kwak Soohwan gave him was still safely in his pocket, and if he had to choose between the two, it would be the stone in his pocket. Come to think of it, all the stones in Second Master’s office were minerals.
Unlike rocks, minerals are characterized by regular atomic arrangements, and diamond, a carbon mineral, was one of them. Those composed of a single element generally had high prices. Seokhwa looked at the round mano placed in the center of the office desk. Despite receiving the caretaker’s care, access to the office required Second Master’s fingerprint. In the end, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Second Master’s touch was most prevalent here.
There was not a speck of dust in the spacious room, and the position of the mano was also at the exact center. Moreover, the positions of the minerals placed on each square pillar were evenly spaced without any irregularities. Seokhwa shifted his gaze from the minerals to Second Master. he had liked many stones rolling on the roadside. It wasn’t that he only liked certain minerals.
“What are you observing?” Second Master asked Seokhwa with curious eyes.
“One of them is so obviously hostile, I can tell just by looking,” Second Master said, as Kwak Soohwan was looking around the office in a different sense than Seokhwa.
Because Kwak Soohwan was there, Seokhwa could regain his sense of security, knowing that there was a way out if Second Master’s throat were cut or if there was a panic room somewhere, or if there was a space to build defenses if attacked.
“Why are you nominating me as your successor?”
“Because there are reasons and justifications for it.”
Second Master had said that after receiving the message that Kwak Soohwan was safe. Asking him to become his successor.
“Reasons?”
Kwak Soohwan, standing in front of Seokhwa, asked uncomfortably.
Second Master raised the remote control on his knee again and pressed a button. With the sound of the curtains being drawn, one side of the concealed office began to be revealed. Gradually, the relationship chart spread out in a radial pattern was exposed. At the center was Eden Estate, and from Eden Estate, four rivers spread out. Seokhwa took in the relationship chart at a glance, as if taking a picture.
Pishon (Kwak Jaewon), Gihon(Kang Soneun), Tigris (Wonho), Euphrates (Lee Jinyeon -> Oh Yangseok), Serpent (Choi Hoeon)
Each stem indicated that the descendants of Pishon and Gihon were indicated by Kwak Soohwan, and Lee Jinyeon was Seokhwa. And Serpent was the child of Tigris. It was no different from what Choi Hoeon had told him. Seokhwa looked at the inscription hanging at the top of the stem.
‘Revolution’
But Kwak Soohwan focused only on one place, one particular part. There was another child derived from Lee Jinyeon, Seokhwa’s mother.
Choi Hoeon.
Veins stood out on Kwak Soohwan’s back of the hand.
“What trickery is this?”
“Watch your tone.”
Who was this guy who made him speak so bluntly?
“Dr. Seok, didn’t I tell you to reject it?”
Seokhwa had finally reached the bottom of the stem, past the revolution.
The child of Wonho and his mother…
“I don’t believe it.”
Seokhwa said flatly. He knew his mother better than anyone else. His grandmother had said that his mother was weak because he was born prematurely. Because of that, Seokhwa had barely been able to hold onto him.
“I understand if you don’t believe me. We’ve disposed of all the research we did together, and there’s no evidence left to prove it. But Dr. Seokhwa, one thing is certain. Lee Jinyeon was also a researcher who worked with us.”
Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and led him behind him. It was a fact that they were part of the research team. Second Master was even more surprised at the fact that they were not surprised. Perhaps he thought they had acquired more information than he had, being stuck on this island.
“The first immune carrier of the Adam virus came only from Jeju Island. Mother, open the security server.”
Second Master awakened Mother with a heavily encrypted voice.
[Voice, iris recognition completed. Opening Second Master’s security server.]
“Show me the list of confirmed Adam virus immune carriers so far.”
A list of immune carriers, not many in number, appeared, and among them, a familiar face was seen. It was Seokhwa’s mother.
“Rainbow City created variant viruses based on the blood of immune carriers. The one who did that is the First Master line.”
Although there were suspicions that the upper echelons created the variant viruses, no one had thought that the truth would come from the highest level. That’s why Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa were suspicious. To them, telling such a story seemed like a ploy to exploit them in some way.
“Your mother was an immune carrier?”
“The education center in Rainbow City is not perfect either. They doubt my words, the Master of Rainbow City. But that’s human nature. Doubt is an essential element of evolution, which should neither be discarded nor degenerated. People sometimes trigger revolutions and reforms through doubt, deriving the truth. That’s why Rainbow City suppresses the acquisition of knowledge. Ultimately, it’s about controlling citizens and manipulating them as they please.”
The form where the minority enjoys privileges while the majority is oppressed was a relic of the feudal era. Back then, it was common for numerous serfs to suffer for the sake of one lord, and it was natural for those born as commoners to comply with their fate. However, those who became aware of the injustice spoke out for equality and peace.
For that, humans tirelessly repeated revolutions and sometimes achieved them, but one day, they regressed again with the advent of Adam. And the current Rainbow City was not much different from the world desired by the privileged class.
“So, Second Master wants reform rather than revolution and intends to use Dr. Seokhwa politically as a pawn, is that correct?”
Kwak Soohwan said sharply. It was as if he was saying, “Dream big.”
It was transparent that Eden Estate and Second Master, using Seokhwa as the immune carrier of the 7th variant of the virus, had political intentions. Kwak Soohwan was not someone who would just sit back and let it happen.
“Then, Major Kwak Soohwan, do you want a revolution? Do you want this city to collapse completely? Then it will become a haven for crime. Even though there are soldiers now to control it, what do you think will happen if those soldiers have no one to control them? It will become a state of anarchy where no law applies. Power will become the truth.”
“No revolution in the world has ever become a state of anarchy. After establishing a new government, it would have naturally dealt with chaos.”
“Yes, Major Kwak Soohwan, your words make sense. However, during the time of that revolution, was there an enemy of humanity named Adam?”
This time, Seokhwa stood in front of Kwak Soohwan.
“Do you have plans to make a cure?”
“It’s premature, but if possible,”
[Emergency, emergency.]
Before Second Master finished speaking, Mother sounded the alarm.
[Large-scale Adam appearance in Rainbow City 13 Red Zone.]
If it was the 13 Red Zone, it was where Dr. Oh Yangseok’s residence was. Getting an emergency alert even to the island meant that the number was not just one or two.
[Emergency, correction for Rainbow City Green Zones 1, 3, 5, 2, 31, 21 Indigo Zones, Adam appearance. Loading, providing through visuals due to simultaneous Adam appearances.]
As the wall screen brightened, a clear map of Rainbow City appeared. Red dots were being marked endlessly.
[Emergency.]
Mother’s voice, as always, was unfaltering.
(google translate from here)
Choi Ho-eon looked down at his wristwatch.
He stood on a hill with a panoramic view of the residential area and looked down. Screams and sirens mixed together in a haphazard manner in the area that had been a green zone just a few hours ago. The place where a large pillar of fire rose with a loud noise was a gas station. Choi Ho-eon took a deep breath. The corners of his mouth curled up smoothly in satisfaction.
People began to run up the narrow stairs of the hill in a hurry. When someone is being chased by something, people instinctively look up rather than down. Some of the people who were running away shouted at Choi Ho-eon, who was standing still, to run away quickly, while others ignored them and ran.
Adam also ran up the hill, chasing the people’s movement radius. The newly mutated Adams were now incredibly energetic. Whoa! Adam ran up screaming and rushed at Choi Ho-eon, who was standing still, but the bullet pierced his forehead faster. The sound of a watermelon bursting was refreshing.
After killing Adam, who had followed the people running here, one, two, five to be exact, only healthy humans remained. At that moment, the person who had the brains that had been thrown from Adam reached out with a desperate face.
“Are you from the city?! Please save me! Where should I evacuate to! Bam.”
Choi Ho-eon fired his gun at the screaming man’s head. There was no hesitation. The man opened his eyes and died without even knowing why he had to die.
“Hey! You! What are you doing!”
The person who ran up late looked at Choi Ho-eon with shock. Choi Ho-eon rolled up the man’s sleeve with the barrel of the gun. The bite mark from Adam was clearly visible on the dead man’s wrist.
“We had no choice but to prevent infection. Run higher. There is a bus that will take you to a safe place.”
“Are you from the city?”
Choi Ho-eon shook his head as if he was sorry.
“We are a group called the Garden of Eden.”
There were a few more people around, but they were all on guard and scared. Another roar and screams began to be heard from below. If another group came running up here, Adam would join them again.
“Rainbow City does not have the power to protect its citizens even in an emergency. But we are different. We pursue the right to live equally for all. We all need to be protected.”
In the midst of the chaos with rising flames and the smell of blood creeping up, only Choi Ho-eon’s voice was gentle. Although he was scared by the word rebel, Choi Ho-eon’s words had power, and he easily dealt with Adam, the object of his fear. It was clear that if he went down now, he would die. Waiting for the city’s support, which might come at any time, was like risking his life.
Has Rainbow City tried to save all its citizens so far? People could not say yes to that question. In this urgent situation, Rainbow City did not provide any certainty.
“The choice is up to the citizens. We won’t force you. There are limited seats on the bus.”
When Choi Ho-eon raised his gun, the people started to murmur. A bullet was fired from the gun barrel, and Adam, who was trying to cover the person running toward him, fell backwards. Pot, to make matters worse, the streetlights illuminating the stairs on the hill also lost power. The night was as dim as the moon, covered by clouds, and it was like a polar night. Choi Ho-eon took out a portable flashlight from his suit pocket and handed it to a man.
“We don’t know how long we can protect you, so move for now. You can hide somewhere, or you can come with us.”
The man who received the flashlight said in a trembling voice.
“If I take this,”
“I have good night vision, so it’s fine.”
Choi Ho-eon smiled with a friendly expression. Then the man who turned on the flashlight seemed to have made up his mind. The man pointed in the direction he had to run and spoke to the people.
“Let’s not vaguely expect support from the city. We have to survive on our own.”
“But we don’t even know what kind of place the Garden of Eden is.”
“Survival comes first.”
“That’s right. When Adam spread in the Green Zone, the city immediately abandoned the area and later sent in soldiers to quarantine it, right? What’s the use if we’re all dead?”
People spoke up one by one. The man holding the flashlight took the lead and started to climb up, as if he wasn’t going to delay any longer. The people who hesitated actually had no choice. Some left, but others followed the man. Only Choi Ho-eon went down the stairs and picked up the radio.
“Sector 17 will withdraw in 3 minutes.”
[Detection and support forces are all fine.]
Eden placed buses in various places where Adam broke out, and Class A and above were guarding the area like Choi Ho-eon. Of course, the man Choi Ho-eon handed the flashlight to was also a member of Eden and was called a wind catcher. Choi Ho-eon crushed Adam’s skull with his gloved hand as he chased after the man. Some of them had not mutated, but it didn’t matter since they had already achieved their goal.
Major Kwak, Dr. Seok-hwa. Shouldn’t we leave Udo Island soon?
The pale moon floating above Choi Ho-eon’s head was completely covered by clouds.
***
“Deploy troops from where the situation is known. Since this is an emergency, even lieutenant colonels should go to each site to provide support, and all commanders who have gone to the site should report directly to the battalion commander.”
The Second Master, who had finished speaking quickly, hung up the receiver. The situation from each location was being sent to Mother’s server in real time.
“Major Kwak, you should gather the Jeju troops with Major Lee Chae-yoon right now and return to Seoul immediately.”
Unlike Seok-hwa, who was seriously watching the situation, Kwak Su-hwan had a calm demeanor.
“Why am I going?”
“What?”
Second slammed his hand on the desk.
“You!”
“I told you, I don’t care if Rainbow City falls. Dr. Seok, whom I have to protect, is here safely, so why should I go?”
“Because you’re the Controller! No matter how much you resent the city, your position is for Rainbow City! Do you think I don’t know that you sided with the First and prevented the removal of the Controller position?!”
“Ah, you moved as expected.”
He tried to cut my throat. Kwak Soo-hwan made a halfhearted gesture of cutting his throat.
“Has there ever been a time when Adams appeared simultaneously in various places?”
Seok-hwa calmly asked Second, who was indignant.
“I can’t say that there were none at all, but I think that there weren’t any on this scale.”
If that was the case, it meant that they weren’t natural appearances, but rather artificial. The fact that Adam appeared simultaneously meant that someone had transported Adam to each district, and even if it was the Garden of Eden, it wouldn’t have had this much power. Seokhwa found that strange.
“Major Kwak, if you don’t follow what I say, you’ll have no choice but to hand them over to the military police for disobedience.”
Even though Kwak Soo-hwan had outstanding abilities, he was a soldier from Rainbow City. As Second had said, if he didn’t follow his superiors’ orders in an emergency, he would definitely be court-martialed.
“I’ll go with you, Major.”
“Stay in Udo.”
Kwak Soo-hwan was just trying to show his guts once. Since Dr. Seok was still being held by Second, he couldn’t completely ignore the order.
“Think about it carefully, Major Kwak. Why did I recommend Dr. Seokhwa to run? I don’t like the fact that Dr. Seokhwa trusts you, but I’m willing to take that risk. So you can trust me a little more. At least I want reform without bloodshed.”
Second was a moderate reformist, while First was a privileged group that wanted a dictatorship. Common sense would suggest that Second would be better than First, but Kwak Soo-hwan didn’t think it was necessary to choose one side. Kwak Soo-hwan had been drawing a picture where both sides would self-destruct. Second, knowing this or not, tried to inject Seok-hwa with new blood.
“Put aside the idea of using Dr. Seok politically. Or find another immunizer and make him a puppet.”
“There’s no need for another immunizer. I’m sure I told you that I have a justification.”
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed Seok-hwa’s hand as if he had nothing more to say. Seok-hwa also grabbed his hand because he had no intention of accepting Second’s offer in the first place.
“Leave Dr. Seok-hwa here in a safe place. No matter how much you say you’re not afraid of Adam, it’s hard to fight while protecting someone.”
“I’ll decide where it’s safe. What do I trust you with?”
“At least I won’t harm the child who inherited my genes.”
Seok-hwa, who was walking with Kwak Soo-hwan, stopped walking. His arm was grabbed, but Kwak Soo-hwan stopped right away, so he wasn’t shocked. Seok-hwa had clearly been possessed by a strange feeling since he looked at the minerals in the office. He wondered if the Second Master was a mutant. The Second Master seemed to be as obsessed with minerals as he was, and his mother had visited Udo several times.
“That’s my justification. The child who inherited my genes will become my successor.”
Kwak Soo-hwan tilted his head.
“Let’s say you believe that nonsense. But aren’t you trying to put your child first by saying that you’ve neglected Dr. Seok all this time and are sorry about that? If not, why didn’t you tell me until now?”
His mother had once asked him if he was curious about his father. To be honest, he was curious about who his biological father was. But it didn’t matter. Because his mother’s love was so great, there was no empty space in Seokhwa’s heart. However, the Second Master said that he was his biological father.
Seokhwa tightened his grip on Kwak Su-hwan. It wasn’t because he was angry or moved. He just didn’t feel anything. He was only his genetic father, and they had no emotional connection at all. Rather, Kwak Su-hwan, who shared his body temperature with him, felt more like family. That’s why he held Kwak Su-hwan’s hand even tighter. He must have interpreted his actions differently, as he whispered in Seokhwa’s ear.
Ignore him, you’re a piece of crap.
“I couldn’t reveal it in order to protect Seokhwa safely. I was thinking of revealing it whenever the time came and making him my successor.”
‘I can’t put my child on the test. He said he was a defective product that couldn’t be my successor anyway.’
‘Why don’t you send him away even though he’s old enough? Do you think I don’t know what you’re hiding? That you lack intelligence? That’s it.
Hey, you’ll understand when you go to the learning center. If there’s a place to use it, you have to use it thoroughly.’
It was a dream I had on the day I was boiling with anger after being bitten by Adam, and a fragment of the past.
‘I really think I know. I understand why Senior Kwak and Senior Kang made that choice. I will never force my child to make a sacrifice. Rainbow City? How great is that that that is that I have to sacrifice it.’
‘Lee Jin-yeon, I’m glad you’re not being executed for anti-military ideology. End the video.’
Senior Kwak and Senior Kang.
That might have meant Kwak Soo-hwan’s parents. Seok-hwa didn’t exactly remember the voice of the person talking to his mother. However, it was probably the Second Master.
“Second Master.”
Seok-hwa opened his tightly shut mouth.
“I’m not fit to be a successor. As you said, I’m a defective product.”
Kwak Soo-hwan pulled Seok-hwa closer before the Second made a face.
What kind of defect is Dr. Seok? He’s a top-notch product. No, he’s the best to me. Even without saying it out loud, it seemed like he could hear Kwak Soo-hwan’s true feelings.
“Dr. Seok-hwa.”
Maybe it was because of his age, but there was nothing left in Second’s eyes that could be called a gun. Fortunately, Second didn’t call him his son.
“Find someone else as your successor. I’m not good enough for that.”
“Our Dr. Seok is good enough, but he’s a waste as the Master of Rainbow City.”
If there was a perfect ally in the world, it would probably be like this. Seok-hwa felt secure, but at the same time, he was afraid that he would feel a great sense of loss if he wasn’t around anymore.
“You shouldn’t forget that we were the ones who created you. You, Kwak Soo-hwan, were born with everything because you had our technology.”
Second was angry, but didn’t raise his voice.
“Is that technology you’re talking about a hit or miss? If you had seen my brother, you wouldn’t have said such a thing.”
“Your younger brother is a child born of love between your parents. But you are not.”
Kwak Ji-hwan was a child born through direct contact between his parents, while Kwak Su-hwan was a child born through experimentation.
“What do you know?”
Kwak Su-hwan was right. Seok-hwa also acknowledged it. It didn’t matter whether Choi Ho-eon was his full-blooded brother or Second was his father. Furthermore, he didn’t think Second had been in love with his mother. If that was the case, he wouldn’t have threatened to execute her.
“Aren’t I just one of the test subjects that the Master is talking about?”
Seok-hwa instinctively looked at Second’s crippled lower body and then looked away.
“I’ll go.”
“Does that mean you’re giving up being citizens? If that’s the case, you two will be hunted for the rest of your lives. You said you wanted to create a cure. Are you really going to give that up?”
“No. If the Second Master withdraws his appointment of me as his successor and does not cause any disadvantage to Major Kwak Su-hwan, I will remain a citizen of Rainbow City.”
“Dr. Seok-hwa. Is it such a difficult request to be on my side?”
“Yes.”
Kwak Su-hwan couldn’t help but laugh when Seok-hwa answered neatly. This is how you should be Dr. Seok. Kwak Su-hwan grabbed Seok-hwa’s hand and dragged him along, telling him to hurry up and go.
“I’ll come up and help sort out the situation, but don’t think about anything else. I know exactly where you live.”
Second couldn’t stand Kwak Su-hwan’s challenging attitude any longer.
“What do you want, Kwak Su-hwan? Are you trying to be a master?”
“Are you going to let me do it?”
Do you think I don’t know that you were going to make Dr. Seok a puppet anyway?
Second must have guessed his intentions and stopped talking.
Kwak Su-hwan, who no longer felt the value of being here, walked with Seok-hwa. Seokhwa followed him diligently, even though his pace was burdensome. Even though he could have picked him up and run faster, Kwak Soo-hwan matched Seokhwa’s pace.
“Do you really want to do it?”
“Sex?”
“Master.”
“If you say you want to do it, I’ll make you do it?”
Seokhwa pursed his lips as if he didn’t have that kind of power.
Since Second would be more cautious, the fight with First was likely to be a long one. However, it wasn’t easy to completely side with First and tell him all about Second’s weaknesses. Second didn’t seem to have any particular weaknesses. Knowing that, First was trying to spread false information.
When he left the hallway, he saw Lee Chae-yoon and the butler in the living room. For some reason, her face was pale.
“Hey! Did you hear the news? Is it true?”
“Uh. Let’s go back.”
The butler approached and handed Kwak Soo-hwan a walkie-talkie.
“You should go to Jeju Airport and move with the Jeju troops.”
The fact that they’re even using airplanes means that this situation is definitely not simple.
“At least to prepare a passenger ship here.”
While the butler looked up at his watch, Kwak Soo-hwan spoke.
“Give me the gas here. And do you have any jet skis left?”
“There are probably a few on the beach for leisure use.”
Leisure use? It was no longer funny. Come to think of it, the curtains in the living room had been pulled down, as if they had lifted the level 1 security.
Over there on the beach, parents were playing with fireworks with their children, seemingly uninterested in what was happening on land. Seok-hwa, who was looking out the window with his forehead pressed against the glass, also felt a strange sense of repulsion. Do they really not know what’s going on? Why are they getting such special treatment? Because they have a lot of money? Because they’re good at politics?
“Dr. Seok.”
Seok-hwa slowly turned around when Kwak Soo-hwan called from behind.
“Your forehead will be bruised.”
He rubbed Seokhwa’s forehead, which had cooled on the glass, with his large hand.
“It might be a nuisance, but I’ll go with you. I’ll hide well in the shelter.”
Of course, it would be safer to leave him on Udo Island, but in fact, Kwak Soo-hwan was more anxious about not seeing Seokhwa. Who knows, someone might harbor a grudge and spread the Adam Virus to Udo Island. If that’s the case, the safest place in the world was next to him.
The butler said he was ready to go to the shore where Kwak Soo-hwan’s jet ski was and handed him the car key.
“When you arrive at Seongsan Port, there will be a car waiting to take you to the airport.”
Kwak Soo-hwan headed straight out of the mansion before the butler finished speaking. Lee Chae-yoon and Seokhwa also went together, and Kwak Soo-hwan took the wheel. Lee Chae-yoon looked a little more timid than usual. Seokhwa, sitting in the backseat, also realized that she was less talkative than usual.
“This major, about the controller,”
“That’s a secret anyway, so I understand that you didn’t tell me.”
Kwak Soo-hwan stepped on the accelerator. It only took a few minutes to get to the Geommulle coast. While driving at top speed on the quiet road, Lee Chae-yoon spoke anxiously.
“They say Adam appeared in the area where my parents are. My uncle and aunt can’t even fight.”
“What’s the worry, since they’re protected first anyway? There’s probably a bunker in the house.”
“But I’m still worried. I heard from the butler that it’s a level 1 situation.”
“Then, as soon as you get off in Seoul, run to your parents’ area.”
“This kid, is a soldier kid moving to be the supervisor?”
“If your house gets breached anyway, this city will just fall apart.”
So he told her not to worry.
While the two were bickering, Seok-hwa was thinking back and organizing the strange things. The reason why Adam appeared simultaneously.
Who brought Adam, or the Garden of Eden invaded each area and injected the Adam virus into people. Or… … .
Kwak Soo-hwan arrived, waking Seok-hwa up from his other thoughts. He took out a bulletproof vest along with a can of oil from the trunk. When Seok-hwa got down to the sandy beach, he put the life jacket on for him.
“I’m going to drive it?”
“No, I’ll ride behind you.”
Kwak Soo-hwan strode over to where his jet ski was and filled it with oil. On the other side of the surfboard, there was the jet ski that Lee Chae-yoon would ride.
“Lieutenant Lee, I’ll explain briefly. You’ll know the rest when you ride it, and if you have to go backwards, go around in a big circle.”
Kwak Soo-hwan pointed to the jet ski handle and explained to Lee Chae-yoon how to drive it.
“Are you kidding me? I’ve ridden a jet ski before.”
“Well, that’s fortunate.”
Kwak Su-hwan, who had filled up all the fuel, threw the empty can onto the sandy beach. Seok-hwa knew what a jet ski looked like, but had never ridden one herself. As he stood still behind her, Kwak Su-hwan dragged the jet ski into the water and let it float. He returned to the beach, soaked to the brim with seawater, and quickly picked up Seok-hwa.
“I can go.”
“The water is cold.”
It’s all over the place! Lee Chae-yoon shouted while pulling her jet ski with all her might. Kwak Su-hwan easily ignored her and lifted Seok-hwa onto the jet ski. He stopped the fuselage from tilting and jumped on as well.
“Are you sure you can hold on?”
Seok-hwa had already wrapped both arms tightly around Kwak Su-hwan’s waist. It was a shame that he couldn’t feel Kwak Su-hwan’s body temperature because of the life jacket.
“I’m going to go really fast, should I tie you with a rope?”
Seok-hwa nodded, thinking that was a good idea. Kwak Su-hwan tied the long string that came out from under Seok-hwa’s life jacket around his waist several times. Seok-hwa, who had been thinking about tying up his wrists, crossed his hands that had been extended toward the ship and hugged them tightly.
“Captain Lee, do you see the light over there?”
When the two jet skis started, the engine noise was loud enough to eat up the waves. Even without that, the lighthouse at Seongsan Port was brightly lit from here.
“Just run toward the light over there!”
As soon as Kwak Su-hwan finished speaking, Lee Chae-yoon started to drive the jet ski first. Following the path she had taken, strong waves arose, causing Kwak Su-hwan’s jet ski to rock. Seok-hwa kept her lips tightly shut in case she got seasick. Kwak Su-hwan also started to drive the jet ski so as not to fall behind.
While cutting through the water while keeping a distance from Lee Chae-yoon, Seok-hwa rested her cheek on Kwak Su-hwan’s back and looked at the rolling waves. It was a little scary because I couldn't see anything under the black water. The more I felt that way, the more I tightened my grip on Kwak Su-hwan. The seawater carried by the wind splashed my face. Seok, who had lived in Jeju Island but had never been to the center of the sea,
It was a dream. This moment of crossing the deep sea with Kwak Su-hwan, where he had never dared to go, was like a dream.
“Dr. Seok, are you okay?”
Kwak Su-hwan’s voice was entangled with the waves and engine noise.
“I feel good.”
Seok-hwa’s voice could not reach him, but Kwak Su-hwan felt relieved at the feeling of her cheek rubbing against his back and increased his speed. Even though it was an urgent situation, he wished that the distance to Seongsan Port was a little farther. Because he liked this moment when Seok-hwa trusted him and relied on him with his whole body. However, the lighthouse’s light was approaching in an instant.
Thinking about it, time passes slowly when he is in pain, and passes in an instant when he is happy. Maybe it is the relativity of time. To Kwak Su-hwan, this moment felt like a fleeting moment. He laughed bitterly as he untied the string, wondering how much he must have enjoyed it to feel like a fleeting moment.
I guess I really like Dr. Seok.
Kwak Su-hwan got off the jet ski and dipped his legs into the sea again. When he reached out, Seok-hwa was embraced, unlike before. As they walked through the water to Seongsan Port, several soldiers in uniforms were waiting for them.
The man in the lead saluted.
“Jeju Army Center, Captain Lee Cheol-heon and 121 others are gathering at Jeju Airport.”
Kwak Su-hwan walked with Seok-hwa to the jeep with the door open.
“Give me a brief report on the current situation on land.”
He spoke to the captain who was following him. He motioned for Seok-hwa to go to the jeep first.
“According to reports that came in ten minutes ago, normal people suddenly started acting like Adam. And they were all over the city.”
“Anything unusual in each district?”
“Nothing. It didn’t just occur in a specific district, it was random. And today isn’t the first time that Adam has occurred in the green district. They say that it happened just a week ago, starting today. They were discovered several times after that, but they were all killed. The strange thing is that there was a witness' testimony that they were fine and then turned into Adams."
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the door of the jeep and turned around as if wondering what he was talking about.
"Are you saying that it can be transmitted through the air?"
"We don't know that either... ... I guess."
"It can't be transmitted through the air."
Seok-hwa suddenly interrupted without getting into the car.
While eavesdropping on their conversation, Seok-hwa filled in the missing puzzle piece in his mind.
The vaccine distributed by Eden Garden contained parasites. Also, Senior Oh Cheong-woon spoke human language even though he was infected with the Adam virus. That might not have been because he was administered an unfinished cure. Senior Oh Cheong-woon, infected with the Adam virus, might have become Adams over a long period of time.
Seok-hwa was able to discover something peculiar while investigating the vaccine from Eden Garden. In the meantime, he was bitten by Adam and ended up going to the 21 Violet Center. However, the malaria parasite in the vaccine was clearly dormant.
Here, Seokhwa made a hypothesis. The vaccine that Eden Garden spread was likely the Adam virus with an incubation period.
Seokhwa looked up at Kwak Soo-hwan in a hurry.
“We have to stop the distribution of the vaccine.”
“What?”
“Is it true that the vaccine that Eden Garden distributed for free was completely recalled?”
No, it is possible that they did not completely recall it. Some people may have used the pen-type injection distributed by Eden Garden instead of going to the hospital and getting the Rainbow City vaccine that cost a third of their salary. There were always variables.
“Let’s move first.”
As Kwak Soo-hwan said, moving to the city was the most urgent task right now.
“Uh, meet me at Jeju Airport.”
Lee Chae-yoon, who had shaken off the moisture, also got into another jeep. Seok-hwa sat in the backseat where the captain was driving and began to calmly talk to Kwak Soo-hwan next to her.
“At first, I thought the vaccine was contaminated. But when I was kidnapped by Dr. Choi Ho-eon and taken to Busan, I asked if they had planted the parasites on purpose. That day, Dr. Choi admitted that they had done it.”
“What kind of contamination?”
“Among the vaccines distributed by Eden Garden, there were those that had malaria parasites in a dormant state. Rainbow City broadcasted not to trust the Eden Garden vaccine, but there may have been people who were influenced by Eden Garden.”
Kwak Soo-hwan also agreed with that point. There may have been people who were citizens of the city but went over to Eden Garden.
“If you get the vaccine with that parasite in it, you become Adam?”
“That’s just a hypothesis. If I go up, I’ll go to the Yeouido Shelter. There will also be materials that were studied before.”
The Adam virus vaccines that have been released so far have been in the form of instilling resistance to the Adam virus.
In other words, those who have been vaccinated have individual resistance to Adam. Although the 7th Adam virus vaccine has not been released in Rainbow City yet, they couldn’t just sit back and do nothing, so they administered the 6th vaccine to the citizens. Of course, a parasite alone doesn’t make you Adam. Seokhwa guessed that the parasite must have caused some other effect in the body.
“Can you grasp the situation at the Yeouido Shelter?”
Kwak Soo-hwan asked the captain who was driving.
“I understand that Yeouido, Gangnam, Gwacheon, Busan, and several other shelters are still safe.”
The collapse of the shelter where the military was located meant that the area was completely destroyed.
Since the birth of Rainbow City, there have only been two Level 1 incidents.
It was the early days of the United Nations when the Adam Virus mutated and spread again, and today. The fact that Mother reported a level 1 emergency proved that the infection was spreading uncontrollably quickly.
Before we knew it, the sun had risen and Jeju Airport was bustling with soldiers waiting to board the plane. There were a total of 125 people moving, and the troops guarding Jeju were more systematic than the city above, and there were quite a few Class A forces.
Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa got off near the waiting military transport plane. The soldiers were armed, not in their formal uniforms, and were carrying bulletproof vests and guns.
One of the soldiers wearing a uniform hat approached Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa.
“This is Lieutenant Colonel Oh Hee-won from Jeju Shelter.”
Kwak Soo-hwan also saluted his superior.
“This is Major Kwak Soo-hwan from Gwacheon Shelter.”
“At the same time as receiving the Second Master’s order to safely escort Dr. Seokhwa, a first-class crisis dispatch order was given. 80 of our armed troops will be transported on the C-130, and the rest on the CN-235 transport plane.”
“Dr. Seokhwa will board the same transport plane as me.”
“Permission granted. Major Kwak Su-hwan will command the CN-235 transport plane. The armed troops on the CN-235 transport plane will be divided into Gwangmyeong, Yeouido, and Gwacheon shelters to send support, and Major Kwak Su-hwan will guard the key location, the Yeouido shelter.”
“Orders have been given.”
The lieutenant colonel raised his arms and pointed to both sides of the transport plane, and the soldiers began to board the transport plane. Lee Chae-yoon also boarded the transport plane heading to Suwon according to the order, and Kwak Su-hwan and Seokhwa boarded the CN-235 heading to Seoul.
The interior of the transport plane was not much different from that of a regular passenger plane, except that it was smaller. Kwak Soo-hwan took Seok-hwa to the front row of VIP seats. After watching Seok-hwa fasten her belt, she approached the cockpit where the two pilots were.
“Where exactly is the landing location?”
“We are planning to land on the Seongnam base runway.”
Although Kwak Soo-hwan’s rank was lower than the two pilots, there was a message that he should follow the orders of Kwak Soo-hwan, who was an S-rank, since this was a crisis.
“Isn’t the Gimpo runway closer?”
“It is said that the Adam infection is rapidly spreading in Gimpo. And the Gimpo runway is still under repair.”
When the Adam incident first broke out, there were bombings here and there, blowing up bridges or cutting off roads. The runway was no exception. Kwak Soo-hwan, who was on site, knew the condition of the Gimpo runway better than anyone else. However, since the military transport aircraft had a reverse thrust engine, it was possible to take off and land even if the runway was only 500 meters away. There was still a decent amount of distance left.
“We’re going to Gimpo.”
“Yes?”
The two pilots looked back at Kwak Su-hwan at the same time. They wanted to use the roads in downtown Seoul as their runway, but there were still tall buildings left, so that was impossible.
“There are several areas where vehicles cannot move when moving from the Seongnam base runway. If we go around those areas, we’ll waste even more time.”
The pilots had no idea about the road conditions in the city. So Kwak Su-hwan, who had actually been on the scene, would be more accurate, and he was the one giving the orders anyway.
“Let’s go, we’re going to Gimpo.”
When Kwak Su-hwan returned to his seat, Seok-hwa, who was sitting by the window, was still lost in thought. Kwak Su-hwan sat down to block the view of the soldier next to him who was curiously looking at Seok-hwa.
“When we get off at Gimpo, we’ll go straight to the Yeouido shelter.”
“Yes.”
[Ready for takeoff.]
After the pilot’s announcement that takeoff preparations were complete, the landing gear began to rotate. The military aircraft, which was flying down the runway at a much faster speed than a passenger plane, defied gravity and began to rise into the air. Seokhwa’s ears soon became numb and his ears even rang. The shaking of the transport aircraft shook his entire body until it reached a certain altitude, and even the clanking and friction of military equipment sounded dull.
As he looked out the window, Jeju Island gradually became smaller and turned into an island floating in the sea. As he flew above the clouds at full dawn, the hot sun touched his shoulder. Unlike the blood-splattering land, the bluish sky simply looked peaceful. Seokhwa was not impressed by the sight of the sky he was seeing for the first time. What occupied Seokhwa’s mind right now was that he had to run to the lab right away.
Senior Oh Cheongwoon’s blood had to be preserved safely, and he also needed a vaccine containing parasites. If his hypothesis was correct, there would be a latent period, so the blood reaction would not occur immediately, so a catalyst was needed.
“Dr. Seok.”
It wasn’t just my imagination that Kwak Soo-hwan’s voice sounded farther away than usual. The sound of the transport plane’s engine was that loud.
“Just rest for now. It’ll take 40 minutes to land anyway, so I’ll take a break and look around outside. It’s the first time I’ve seen the clouds this close.
See?”
“First time seeing you.”
Seokhwa replied nonchalantly and wrapped Kwak Soo-hwan’s legs with the blanket that was only placed in the VIP seats. His combat boots and training clothes were also wet because he had been in the sea. Kwak Soo-hwan snickered at Seokhwa’s gesture of arranging the blanket.
“Why?”
Seokhwa straightened his waist and leaned back against the back of the chair.
“I knocked out Dr. Seok before.”
“That’s right.”
“We traveled by plane back then too, don’t you remember? At that time, I didn’t know I would get entangled with Dr. Seok like this. You never know what people do.”
When he received socks from Kwak Soo-hwan, his impression was just that of a soldier from Rainbow City, and when he knocked him out, he was still a creepy soldier. However, he had experienced various things since the Yeouido Shelter, was bitten by Adam, and even traveled around the country. In the meantime, Seokhwa had become so attached to Kwak Suhwan that he couldn’t separate himself from him.
“Thank you for getting involved.”
Kwak Suhwan opened his eyes wide and frowned.
“If you say something like that in this situation, it’ll sound like you’re going to die.”
“I don’t want to die.”
“That’s what I mean. Watch a movie. In a dangerous situation, confessing your love is usually a sign of death.”
Seokhwa couldn’t understand Kwak Suhwan’s playful words at all.
He had never properly watched a movie, and the broadcasts from Rainbow City were mostly radio rather than screen. People in higher positions could access existing movies or content, but even those could only be rented for the purpose of accumulating knowledge that would be helpful to the city.
After becoming a soldier, Kwak Suhwan, who was outside the city, dug up all kinds of books and occasionally learned musical instruments. The one who taught him how to play the piano was none other than Oh Yangseok. Even so, all Dr. Oh Yang-seok could play was Do-Re-Mi.
“If this infection situation is resolved safely and Dr. Seok develops a cure, I’ll play the piano for you. I’ve never done it for anyone.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
Kwak Soo-hwan made a sullen face for no reason.
“I told you that if you say that, you’ll go die.”
Seok-hwa’s shoulders looked even more slumped as he spoke expressionlessly. Kwak Soo-hwan couldn’t bear it any longer, regardless of whether there were soldiers or not, so he gave Seok-hwa a quick kiss on her plump lips. Seok-hwa stuck her tongue out and licked her lower lip in the short kiss. It was an action that came out without her knowing. Then Kwak Soo-hwan put his mouth back on hers and sucked her saliva.
Kwak Soo-hwan straightened up as if nothing had happened. Of course, he didn’t care if someone caught him and scolded him for the current state of affairs.
Love blossomed in any situation.
“Captain Kwak.”
“Yes.”
Seokhwa curled his lips inward and then pulled them away. It was because he still had a burning sensation.
“We have to catch Dr. Choi Ho-eon this time.”
“If we can’t capture him alive, we can kill him.”
“We have to keep him alive.”
I wondered if Seokhwa was sympathizing because he was my half-brother.
“If you see that he created a dormant malaria parasite, someone from the higher-ups must have been involved. Eden Garden alone couldn’t have built a research center as good as City.”
“Do you like rocks, Dr. Seok? Do you like research?”
Kwak Soo-hwan asked quite seriously.
“… … I like rocks.”
“Then I’m the best.”
Kwak Soo-hwan raised the corners of his mouth.
Seokhwa had previously said that he liked himself more than rocks, so it was only natural that he liked me more than research. As his priority was Seokhwa, Dr. Seok's priority had to be Kwak Suhwan himself.
Seokhwa, who still couldn't understand Kwak Suhwan who was so happy, had to look out the window again because his ears hurt. As the transport plane gradually lowered its altitude while heading to the Gimpo runway, black smoke could be seen rising from various places.
[3 minutes later, landing. Inbound for landing.]
The transport plane, which had secured about 600m of runway, circled around and began to attempt landing again. The transport plane, which had lowered its altitude as much as possible, felt a huge shock and shook violently as if someone was holding its fuselage and shaking it. When the reverse thruster engine was activated, the transport plane, which had been running down the runway, suddenly stopped, ignoring the acceleration.
Seokhwa, whose body had been leaning forward, hit his back against the seat with a thud. Kwak Suhwan was holding his hand to prevent him from hitting his head, so the impact was less severe on the back of his head. It was a landing where it seemed like nothing would break, but the pilot’s skills were top-notch just by safely settling the fuselage. When the transport plane came to a complete stop, Kwak Soo-hwan unbuckled his belt and stood up.
“There are about twenty military jeeps in the B32 area at 3 o’clock from the transport plane exit. Each group’s captain will become the commander and move to B32. Groups 1 to 5 will go to Gwangmyeong Shelter, Groups 6 to 9 will go to Gwacheon Shelter, and the rest will move to Yeouido. If Adam is found moving, kill him immediately, but stopping is prohibited. Rescuing civilians is the top priority, but there may be rebels among the citizens, so I wish you the best of luck. Groups 1 to 5, start moving first.”
The soldiers systematically got off the transport plane and ran to the area where the jeeps were. The protection team and the advance team were divided to ensure each other’s safety, and the rest of the teams after Group 6 were the same. It was bitter to think that so many of these elites were on Jeju Island. Of course, there was only one reason. The higher-ups placed only the most capable people on Jeju Island because they wanted to ensure our safety first. Ironically, they sent us to be cannon fodder in times of crisis, fearing that the city would collapse and their livelihood would be cut off.
Kwak Soo-hwan planned to expose the corruption of Eden Garden and the higher-ups once this was over. Since a first-class incident had occurred, it would be easy to change public opinion that was loyal to the city.
Seok-hwa also unbuckled his belt and stood up, waiting for his turn to go down. He had to return to the lab as soon as possible and inform them of the problems with the Eden Garden vaccine. Kwak-! The sound of something exploding was heard from afar. The waves were enough to shake the transport plane, but Kwak Soo-hwan nobly extended his hand as if he were escorting us.
“Seok-hwa, shall we also go to Yeouido?”
***
If there was such a thing as the right time in life, Seok-hwa thought it was probably after he met Kwak Soo-hwan. So I thought about my first meeting with him over and over again. Was it really a coincidence that Kwak Soo-hwan became my guardian and came to Jeju Island?
Kwak Soo-hwan first visited Jeju Island with Lieutenant Jang. Before that, he had made an excuse that he had robbed a bar while investigating the 13 Red Zone, and the person who had ordered him to investigate that zone was none other than Second.
Since Dr. Oh Yang-seok, the chief researcher, had died, there was enough reason for Seok-hwa, who was in Jeju Island, to go up to Seoul. Looking back, there was something even stranger. He had thought he would be called right after his mother’s funeral, but City had neglected him. Has Rainbow City ever left a perfectly good researcher alone?
Judging from the fact that he had cut off contact with Dr. Oh Yang-seok, someone did not want him to return to the lab. In the meantime, Dr. Oh had died, and Kwak Soo-hwan, who had to go to prison, took on the role of security guard, which led to their meeting. Of course, it could have been dismissed as a simple coincidence. There were many cases where cures were created by chance, like penicillin. However, even that was not a perfect coincidence.
Let's say a restaurant owner unexpectedly created a certain ingredient that could be a cure for an incurable disease. Can a cure be developed? If you ask, the answer is almost certainly no. The restaurant owner had no reason to research the ingredient, and he had no way of predicting what effect it would have. Most people who discovered vaccines and cures by chance were researchers.
You could say that Kwak Soo-hwan and I met unexpectedly, but on the other hand, someone who was interested in us might have connected us at the right time. The meeting of a doctor who needed to be protected and a soldier who was a perfect mutant.
Of course, there were also relationships that could not be explained by simple causality, such as people who could not possibly be together, falling in love with the child of an enemy, and accidentally reuniting with a brother who had been separated from them. Some even said that it was God's will.
Seok-hwa had never thought about God before, so he suspected that it might have been an artificial meeting. But how else can we explain that Kwak Soo-hwan became a more precious person than a stone?
Seok-hwa planted a dormant parasite in Oh Cheong-woon’s blood and calmly observed the changes. He also planted parasites in the blood of a healthy person.
He put his hand in his pocket and rolled the quail egg stone he had given him. All the other stones he had given him before were in the Violet Zone, so he could only feel regret. He had to deal with a huge number of Adams just to get from the runway to the Yeouido Shelter.
Seok-hwa knew better than anyone what Adams were like, but the city, where fires were rising everywhere and people could not tell the difference between Adams and humans, was reminiscent of hell. He thought that it was exactly like the scene when the Adam virus was first spreading.
Seok-hwa suppressed his anxiety and planted the vaccine from the Garden of Eden in his blood. He set the temperature of each blood in the incubator differently and checked the changes every 10 minutes. Since it was a difficult task for one person, some of the researchers at the shelter also helped Seokhwa.
It seemed that Seokhwa could still hear people's screams in his ears. The sound of a child's crying kept ringing in his ears like tinnitus.
***
"Don't shoot civilians! You idiots!"
"There is no difference between civilians and Adams. If we don't kill them, we can't stop the spread!"
Sacrificing cattle for a greater cause. Everyone thought there was nothing they could do in the face of death.
Even when the Adam virus first spread, people bitten by Adams would sneak into bunkers where healthy people were gathered in order to survive, and high-ranking officials exposed to the virus would also take over virus research centers and hospitals and paralyze them, saying they couldn't die like this.
In fact, there were more people who took the lead to save others than those who did. Among public officials, there were even great people who volunteered to be trapped in bunkers with those who had been turned into Adams.
Unfortunately, the Adam Virus was different from war, and the impact of one bad guy was greater than that of 100 good guys.
But were they all really bad guys?
Some soldiers looked at the people struggling to survive with their necks bitten, with confused eyes. They couldn’t even aim their guns properly. Were they really bad guys?
All the bridges leading into Yeouido, which was surrounded by the Saetgang River, had been blown up or cut off, so the only thing left was Seoul Bridge. Also, the current boundary of Yeouido was the Seoul Bridge intersection.
Dozens of tanks were blocking the intersection, and further ahead was the barbed wire fence that City had built as a fallback. However, the barbed wire fence would likely collapse if the strength of so many people gathered. Even worse was Adam, who was mixed in with the people.
At the intersection’s border post, which was a concrete fortress equivalent to a 15-story apartment building, Kwak Su-hwan raised the scope of his sniper rifle. He identified Adam and shot him in the head.
“Major! The order to kill everyone outside the defense base has been given.”
While reloading, the signalman spoke hurriedly.
“What?”
“Orders have come down from above.”
“So who!”
“First Master.”
That fucking punk. Clink, Kwak Soo-hwan shot Adam one after another as he tried to attack someone. The commander of Yeouido Intersection was none other than him, but he couldn’t completely ignore orders from above.
Kwak Soo-hwan lowered his gun and looked down. People from other districts were rushing in like a tidal wave to get to Yeouido Shelter via Seoul Bridge. Those who had been bitten by Adam had also mutated, and the virus was clearly spreading in both directions.
When Kwak Soo-hwan didn’t say anything, the signalman spoke again.
“Major, the order to kill has been delivered.”
It was now impossible to pick out healthy people and let them in. The moment the wire fence was opened, Adam would also flood in like a tidal wave.
“Major… … .”
Kwak Soo-hwan pressed his eyes tightly with both hands and then pulled them away. Kill them all?
Kwak Soo-hwan, who had been to countless sites, had never experienced this situation before. Killing the already mutated Adams was easy, and clearing out the areas based on the starting point of Adam’s appearance was the same. However, since mutated Adams appeared simultaneously in unspecified areas, the soldiers in all areas were having a hard time. It was the same for Lee Chae-yoon who went to Suwon and Yang Sang-hoon who was guarding Gwacheon. There had never been a large-scale Adam purge like this since they were born.
At this point, wouldn’t it be right to just ruin everything? Let the upper-level bastards live on their own, and I and Dr. Seok can go to some island and live happily ever after.
Kwak Soo-hwan killed Adam after killing him with his loaded gun, and finally saw the child the parents were holding mutated.
What would it have been like if Seokhwa hadn’t been there? Would he have just told them to kill everyone? Or would he have given up, saying that this crazy city must be destroyed? If I kill a healthy person because it was an order from above, how will Dr. Seok view me?
Kwak Soo-hwan's rationality was also signaled that it was right to kill all of them, but it was not easy to give the order. If the intersection was opened, Yeouido, which he was barely defending, would completely collapse. He pursed his lips and then spoke. It felt like a cold air was leaking out of his mouth.
"Everyone... ... ."
He could not even utter the order to kill. Bang, taang, ta-ta-tak. Machine guns began to fire from the concrete fortress on the other side. Countless screams and shocks erupted. As the city soldiers began to shoot indiscriminately, people began to scatter here and there. Those who retreated, those who somehow broke through the barbed wire and came in, and Adams who simply rushed at people like bloodthirsty demons were overflowing. Kwak Soo-hwan approached the signalman at the back of the fortress and grabbed him by the collar.
“Yu, Captain Yoon personally gave the order. Major Kwak Su-hwan disobeyed the order… … .”
The eyes of the signalman, who was suffocating because of Kwak Su-hwan who grabbed his collar, were also bloodshot.
“Major, is that right? If we can’t save everyone safely… … . Is it right to kill them? I absolutely cannot.”
The captain holding the machine gun in front of me was shaking his shoulders.
The sound of the propeller, which seemed to tear the wind, began to be heard. Support fire came in from a helicopter flying past the fortress. In an instant, the intersection was covered in blood. It was a damn world filled with people screaming in pain after being shot and people wandering with their injured bodies in search of their families.
Kwak Su-hwan only knew how to protect himself and could do nothing else. Even though he had superior abilities than the criminal, he couldn’t cast a magic spell that could single out Adam and kill him.
“Where is Captain Yoon now?”
Kwak Su-hwan stared blankly at the scene and opened his mouth.
“You are at the Yeouido Shelter.”
The bastard who could cast magic with just his fingers or his voice was the captain.
Those bastards who didn’t care what kind of aftereffects the guys swinging their guns here would suffer later were just giving orders inside the shelter.
“Stop shooting.”
“Huh?”
“Stop. I’ll take responsibility for what happens next.”
Kwak Su-hwan turned his back on the fortress and started to descend. All that was left at the intersection that had already been swept by a huge storm were corpses, injured people, and Adam who was constantly trying to attack the survivors even if one side of his body was blown away. The smell of blood grew thicker as he went down the ladder.
Kwak Su-hwan, who had landed on the ground, started to walk briskly toward the wire mesh. All the shooting had stopped at Kwak Su-hwan’s command. He ran from behind and grabbed the wire mesh and climbed up. He crossed the wire mesh that was a little over 3 meters high and stood at the intersection. Chalbak, blood was on his combat boots.
Dr. Seok said that. He was always a burden to others because he was weak.
That’s why he wished Dr. Seok was strong like me… … .
No, Dr. Seok. The cure is the solution to all this. If only there was a cure, this kind of tragedy wouldn’t have happened.
‘I’ll make it somehow. I’ll make a cure somehow.’
Seokhwa said that when he dropped him off at the Yeouido Shelter.
‘I told you I’d take responsibility. Trust me.’
He crushed Adam’s head with his combat boots, who had become a half-cripple and was running at him even if he had to crawl. He approached where he could hear sobbing in the sea of blood. The source of the sound was under the corpses lying around.
He grabbed the back of his neck and removed the corpse, and the woman was dead with her shirt stuffed down her throat. It must have been because he was afraid that she might turn into Adam and bite his child even in the midst of the pouring bullets. Kwak Soo-hwan tried to pick up the child. However, the child, who was gasping for breath, twisted his body wildly. The child, who seemed to be in pain and convulsing all over his body, could not overcome the virus and just trembled with his broken body. Even the child that his parents were trying to save had died, and there seemed to be no hope.
I understand very well why that bastard Choi Ho-eon wanted to use Dr. Seok. Those who experienced fear directly would deify Seokhwa, the immune system. If they received a revelation from God, they would try to deceive them by saying that they could also become immune.
Kwak Soo-hwan began to rescue the survivors. The emotion that was as thick as the fear in their eyes was hostility toward the soldiers.
Trust me, Dr. Seok.
Kwak Soo-hwan muttered to himself.
[Those who wish to be saved, believe in the Garden of Eden. Rainbow City has abandoned its citizens. We have the Tree of Life, the salvation, and the Serpent of Wisdom, who protects the tree. The Garden of Eden prioritizes the safety of its citizens. Believers, if you persevere, the Garden of Eden will come to greet you… … Chit, chit.]
The broadcast of the Garden of Eden flowed out from the radio that was turned on. Even that was jammed, so it didn’t finish and soon became filled with noise.
“Will the city collapse like this? Even with Adam in power, the Garden of Eden?”
The researcher who grew up in the education center bit his fingernails in anxiety.
“If the Garden of Eden takes power, we’ll all be dead, right?”
Seokhwa showed no reaction to the researcher’s subsequent words.
The Eden vaccine showed a reaction in the blood of the person who received the 6th vaccine, but even that showed little movement.
Certainly, some of the 7th mutation Adams spoke or showed retreating behavior. I saw them open their mouths and say Eve at the Seokhwado Zoo, and all of those Adams came from District 13. Also, Choi Ho-eon called him to District 13, where Oh Yang-seok’s house was, attacked the Yeouido Shelter, and caused an explosion in District 13.
Did he really try to kill him then? No, if he did, he wouldn’t have called himself the Tree of Life. Even if we look at past history, most explosions were the work of terrorists with wrong ideas or those who were trying to destroy confidential information. Even so, it seemed that the Garden of Eden gained nothing from the explosion. All it gained was the poster hung at the Yeouido Shelter.
[Because you have done this, you are cursed among all beasts and wild animals, and you will crawl on your belly and eat dust until you die.]
Since the story of the poster was passed around back then, Seokhwa also knows that it is a passage from Genesis. It was God’s punishment for the snake. But what if it was a warning to the leaders of Rainbow City, not the snake?
You will be cursed to crawl on your belly and eat dust until you die… …. I thought that Adam, unable to use his arms and legs, would look like that.
I changed the frequency of the radio here and there, but there was no other information besides the mechanical announcement telling me to evacuate to a safe place. Seokhwa took off his gown and left the lab. He ignored the other researchers’ comments about where he was going. As he walked away, he drank some fruit juice that had quite a few calories and reorganized what he had to say. As he headed to the elevator, Mother’s voice flowed out of the hallway speaker.
[Our shelter is safe. Going outside the shelter is prohibited. All personnel in the shelter except soldiers are prohibited from moving below the 20th floor.]
Since the 20th floor, not the 48th floor, which was the final defense line, was safe, it seemed that the Yeouido intersection had not been breached yet. Seokhwa let out a sigh of relief, thinking of Kwak Su-hwan who would be there.
Seokhwa walked busier than usual. He had felt something was wrong before, but at some point, his physical strength seemed to have improved significantly. If it had been like before, he would have fainted several times on the way down to Busan. It would have been the same in Jeju Island. Thinking back carefully, that starting point was after he had been bitten by Adam and suffered greatly.
Seokhwa shook his head. Let’s not get lost in thought. There were still more important things to do. As soon as he got off at the 58th floor, the soldier guarding in front confirmed Seokhwa’s identity.
“What is it, Dr. Seokhwa?”
“I want to see Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae again.”
The armed soldier radioed Seokhwa’s business.
Soon after, the corridor was cleared, and Seokhwa walked steadily to Lee Yeontae’s office. There was also a soldier guarding the front, but since he had received a call in advance, he obediently opened the door.
Lee Yeontae was talking nonsense with the landline phone pressed to his ear.
“A crazy researcher’s hypothesis? It’s not that. It’s that you don’t want to admit your corruption! You fucking assholes! Do you know what it’s like outside right now?!”
Lee Yeontae’s receiver was already half cracked. It was clear that he had hit it several times. Bang, Lee Yeontae hung up the receiver and took a deep breath.
“Dr. Seokhwa.”
“Why aren’t you broadcasting?”
As soon as he returned to the shelter, Seokhwa had asked Lee Yeontae to broadcast about the Eden Garden vaccine. It was natural that he trusted and chose Lee Yeon-tae, who was his superior in the Yeouido Shelter and who occasionally took his side.
“What were the results of the experiment?”
“The blood administered with the 6th vaccine reacted with the contaminated Eden vaccine.”
“So that’s the 7th Adam virus? Dr. Seok-hwa, do I have to hear from those higher-ups that I’m Dr. Seok-hwa’s spokesperson again?”
He glared at Seok-hwa with annoyance. Then his eyes softened.
“What Dr. Seok-hwa said was just a hypothesis, right?”
“Isn’t it true that the Eden vaccine was contaminated? I’m asking you to stop it from being administered.”
Lee Yeon-tae had known Seok-hwa for a long time, but he was usually absent-minded. He always had the look in his eyes of an old man sentenced to death, but now he was as energetic as a boy who had just discovered a new world. Even so, he still looked weak compared to the energetic soldiers.
“They already announced that they’ve all recovered it, so there’s no point in broadcasting something like that. In addition, there must be people who received the contaminated vaccine, and it only confuses them.”
“Then what if there are people who receive the Eden vaccine because of the large-scale infection? There is clearly a problem, so why are you avoiding it?”
“Rainbow City is a city built on avoidance and compromise.”
Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae laughed bitterly, saying that it would not be strange.
“Create a cure, or bring me results on what exactly is wrong with the Eden vaccine, other than the contaminated one.”
A cure. Easy to say. You have pressured me to not create it until now, and now you are asking me to bring you results right away. Isn’t that a contradiction?
“Don’t you think it’s wrong?”
“I think about it. I just can’t execute it boldly. Let’s say I ignored what my superiors said. Do you think they will leave me alone once this is sorted out? I might be too late since I swore at them anyway. They call you a crazy researcher.”
Lee Yeon-tae let out a hollow laugh.
“Please broadcast. If you can, then even if this situation stabilizes, there will be problems again. There was a slight but clear change in the blood. If there is confusion, don’t say that the vaccine in the Garden of Eden is contaminated, but just tell them that the expiration date is very short, so do not administer it.”
Lee Yeon-tae sat down on the leather chair.
“If my hypothesis is correct, they are the 7th mutant Adams from District 13. The reason they retreated or repeated their words was not because Adam had acquired intelligence. They were exposed to the Adam virus, but the infection rate was significantly slowed down. Dr. Oh Cheong-woon is the same.”
Lee Yeon-tae also knew about this phenomenon. Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa reported that Oh Cheong-woon, an Adam, had spoken.
Lee Yeon-tae connected a phone call somewhere and removed his trembling lips.
“I am Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae. From now on, broadcast all the stories I am telling you on the regular radio broadcast of Rainbow City.”
Lee Yeon-tae closed his eyes tightly as if he was tired, then opened them.
“It is presumed that the simultaneous Adamizations occurred in various places due to the contaminated vaccines distributed by Eden Garden. We completely prohibit the administration of the vaccines distributed by Eden Garden. Those who received the vaccines should not leave their homes and evacuate their families and friends to their home bunkers. I strongly urge you to do so in order to protect your loved ones.”
Lee Yeon-tae hung up the receiver.
“If you compromise to this extent, the higher-ups won’t even execute you.”
Seok-hwa bowed his head to Lee Yeon-tae and started walking back the way he came. No matter how safe it was, the inside of the shelter was also noisy.
Seok-hwa had to wait a long time for the elevator, so he thought of him again. He had made a bold promise to Kwak Soo-hwan to trust him, so now it was time to do what he could. He had just arrived and was returning to the lab. The researcher ran out as if he had been waiting for Seok-hwa.
“Doctor, Doctor! Hurry up and look at this!”
I looked at the researcher who was impatiently grabbing my arm and then turned my gaze to the monitor.
When I used Oh Cheong-woon’s blood cells to culture, the Adam virus, which had been acting violently, moved very slowly as if it had stopped.
At that time, I expected that it might have something to do with the cure, but it wasn’t. Even I was fooled by the serpent’s cunning tongue that talked about a cure.
Now, my hypothesis was finally correct.
When the contaminated Eden vaccine was injected into healthy blood and the Adam virus was planted, there was no change at that moment. However, as soon as the virus was injected, the dormant malaria parasite was stimulated and became active. In this way, the parasite played a role in blocking the Adam virus for a while.
When the red blood cells were destroyed by the parasite and the platelets decreased, the blood clotting and hemostasis became slower. Soon, when the platelet count was significantly reduced, the virus that had been spreading slowly also gained speed.
Also, when the Eden vaccine was administered while the 6th vaccine was still in the body, the platelets decreased as well.
At the end of the decrease, the Adam virus, which was a component of the 6th vaccine with weakened toxicity, began to become active. The reason the virus moved slowly in Oh Cheong-woon’s blood was because his senior was killed before he could completely mutate.
Seok-hwa felt his back turn cold.
What Eden was after was not a cure, but a trick.
The vaccine was all a lie.
It is true that the parasite slowed down the progression of the infection, but if the platelets decreased too much, the virus would spread immediately. What was more dangerous was that the decrease in platelets made it much easier to bleed under the skin. In other words, since even a slight touch to the gums would cause continuous bleeding, it would have been easier for the virus to spread.
“Dr. Seok-hwa… … .”
The researcher was also dumbfounded as he looked at Seok-hwa, who had turned pale. It was a much more dangerous situation than he had thought. Wasn't the Garden of Eden intended to destroy the city and establish a new government? If we look at this result alone, it is not a new world, but It seemed to mean complete annihilation.
Seokhwa drank cold water to regain his senses.
Who should he deliver this to? No, even if he delivered it, would there be a good way to resolve the infection? The person who flashed through Seokhwa’s mind was none other than Kwak Su-hwan.
It was uncertain whether Kwak Su-hwan, who was fighting Adam with his bare body, would be safe from Adam, who was easily bleeding. Furthermore, there would be people infected with the Adam virus before it mutated. What if he were to get infected through blood while trying to save someone who looked healthy… … ?
Seokhwa started running.
He had never sprinted before, so his heart was about to burst out of his mouth, but he gritted his teeth. He waited anxiously for the elevator and headed back to Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae, but he was not there. Even if he lied and said he had left something in his office, it wouldn’t work.
“Please, if you’re a soldier, you’re the one protecting the city… … I have something I need to tell you quickly. Please let me use the phone.”
Despite Seok-hwa’s desperate breathing, the soldier said he couldn’t do that and blocked his way.
“This is the chief researcher. If we don’t do something now, we’ll all really die… …!”
The soldier knew better than anyone else what was happening outside. He also thought that the civilians could almost die if he wasn’t careful.
The soldier opened the door to the office where the owner was not present. He treated Seok-hwa as if it had opened on its own. That was the most consideration the soldier could give. Seok-hwa couldn’t even say thank you and quickly picked up Lee Yeon-tae’s landline phone.
On his desk were the phone numbers of the communication center and each branch. The first place Seok-hwa chose was the communication center of the Yeouido Fortress.
“This is Yeouido Shelter. All the rescued people must be tested with the Adam Kit!”
[Please say it again.]
The connection was bad, so it sounded distant. Seok-hwa took a deep breath and continued speaking slowly.
“I am Seok-hwa, the chief researcher of Yeouido Shelter. Since Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae is out of the office, I will relay this message in his stead. Please test all the rescued people with the Adam blood kit. Even if they look fine on the outside, they may be carriers of the Adam virus.”
[… … Currently at the Seoul Bridge intersection, no survivors confirmed.]
Seok-hwa barely managed to catch the receiver after almost dropping it.
“… … Is Major Kwak Soo-hwan okay?”
[He went out to rescue any survivors. He is no longer visible here.]
“Please relay this message to Major Kwak Soo-hwan. We must isolate all the survivors. He must be very busy, but please test them all with the Adam kit. Otherwise, the infection will spread again.”
[Didn’t you say you were the chief researcher?]
It was natural for the soldier to be suspicious since it was an order from a researcher, not a military superior.
“Please. Everyone could be in danger.”
[I will relay this message.]
The connection was cut off with an unpleasant voice. Seokhwa then dialed the direct number to the Second Master. The rough signal overlapped as if it were a mix-up. Click, the other person answered the phone and opened his mouth.
“This is Seokhwa. Please connect to the Yeouido Shelter Research Institute server through the Mother System. I will organize the current virus situation,”
[Speak slowly. Our Savior is going to die.]
Seokhwa shivered as if he had been struck by lightning.
“… … Dr. Choi Ho-eon.”
[While the Second Master was stuck in Udo, he didn’t know how the world worked and was defenseless against hacking and confusion. More importantly, Dr. Seokhwa, did you figure it out already? I thought it would take at least a while.]
“What on earth are you thinking? If this is the case, we could all be infected and die.”
A soft laugh was heard from the other end.
[Humanity doesn’t collapse that easily. Those who are meant to live will survive in any era. Just look at the Black Death. A third of the European population died. But history continued, didn’t it? There are too many people living in the city now. We’re just doing a one-time purge to save only those who believe in the Garden of Eden.]
“… … That’s not true.”
Seokhwa held the receiver tightly with both hands.
“I know that’s not true.”
His hands were shaking, but not because he was afraid. Seokhwa was angry.
“You’re just trying to kill everyone. The Garden of Eden actually means nothing.”
Among the infected, there must have been believers from the Garden of Eden. The fact that the infection rate was this fast means that their believers who received the contaminated vaccine were also in the city.
[… … My brother who grew up in a greenhouse. You must have heard a lot of stories since you met the Second Master.]
Even if Serpent was really his brother, he didn’t have any affection for him as family. He wasn’t worse than anyone else, but he was just a stranger.
[Look, even though this incident happened, the city leaders are either taking refuge in Jeju Island or are giving orders from safe places. Do you know that the order to kill all civilians has been given? Are you going to say that my brother is too naive to do that?]
“Choi Ho-eon… … . It was you who did it.”
[If you commit a crime, you should be punished, right? My savior, come to me quickly. My family is only Dr. Seok-hwa now. I won’t lose it helplessly like my father did.]
Seok-hwa didn’t listen any longer and put the receiver down.
Turrur, turrur, the red light on the phone flashed and a ringtone was heard. Since it could be Choi Ho-eon, his hand was slow to reach the receiver. Seok-hwa lifted the receiver again as if to erase his hesitation.
[This is Major Kwak Soo-hwan.]
His urgent voice was heard.
“Major!”
[… … Dr. Seok?]
“Are you okay? Did you hear the story?”
[I’m fine, so calm down for now. What do you mean check on the healthy people with Adam Kit? There are already citizens who entered Yeouido before the control.]
Ah… … . A voice flowed out of Seokhwa’s mouth as if his thoughts were cut off.
Emergency, emergency, Yeouido Shelter Adam appears, final defense line closed up to the 48th floor, count 360. Counting in.
Seokhwa raised his head blankly and turned to the speaker.
Emergency, Yeouido Shelter Adam appears.
Mother continued to warn of danger.
[Dr. Seok!]
Kwak Soo-hwan shouted, as if Mother’s notification had reached the other end of the receiver.
[Wake up. Is this Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae’s room?]
“… … Yes.”
[Lock the door and stay there. I’ll go.]
“No, you can’t.”
It was ridiculous for him to climb up from the 1st floor to the 58th floor by himself.
“Let’s move up a bit.”
[They haven’t penetrated the 48th floor yet, right?]
“I think so.”
[I’ll send a helicopter, so wait on the rooftop.]
Bam! The door to Lee Yeon-tae’s office opened and the soldier guarding the front came in. The soldier who was making strange sounds, creaking, groaning, repeated the words, “This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening,” and vomited blood.
“Major… … .”
Seok-hwa looked at the soldier who was making strange sounds while holding the receiver. Then he slowly opened the drawer below and found a pistol.
[What was that sound just now? Dr. Seok, answer me!]
There’s someone who’s trying to become Adam right in front of me. I wanted to tell him that, but I didn’t say it out loud. It was something I shouldn’t have said to him on the other end of the receiver. If it were the Kwak Soo-hwan I knew, he would definitely criticize himself if something went wrong. Even if something went wrong, he couldn’t make him feel guilty.
[Dr. Seok. Seokhwa.]
Gwak Su-hwan’s voice was filled with despair. Seokhwa swallowed hard and gripped the pistol tightly. The soldier bared his teeth like an animal, shook his head, and even hit his head with his fist.
“I’ll go to the rooftop. I told you to trust me. It’s okay.”
Seokhwa repeated those words as if brainwashing himself. He hung up the phone before Gwak Su-hwan could say anything else. He thought he could hear his yelling, but Seokhwa aimed his pistol at the soldier.
***
“Seokhwa!”
Gwak Su-hwan called Seokhwa into the receiver, but there was no answer. The call had finally ended.
Below was a sea of blood, and the sky he squinted his eyes and looked up at was cloudy. It looked like it was going to rain. However, Rainbow City was just cloudy. There was no trace of rain anywhere.
Kwak Soo-hwan took off his cumbersome uniform coat and handed the receiver to the signalman.
Could the infection have spread to the 58th floor? If so, the phone in Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae’s room shouldn’t have rang either. There was a possibility that they would flock to the area where Seokhwa was.
“Don’t call this Lieutenant General’s room after this time.”
“Understood.”
“Captain Cho.”
He urgently called the captain who was absentmindedly watching the miserable scene from the fortress.
“How many Adam kits do you have left?”
“There are about a hundred in the intersection warehouse.”
“First, administer the Adam kit to the isolated survivors. As soon as survivors are confirmed, test them as well and stay in your position. I’ll go back to the Yeouido Shelter.”
“I heard that the shelter has also started to be infected with Adam. Are you okay?”
Kwak Soo-hwan put on his leather gloves without answering and went down the fortress’ ladder. As he went down, he checked the helicopter that had landed on the right side of Seoul Bridge. Without even getting in the jeep, he ran straight there, and there were two guys with guns on their shoulders, talking nonsense. As soon as he saw Kwak Soo-hwan running towards him, he put on his combat boots and saluted. Kwak Soo-hwan pushed them aside as if they were bothered and got into the helicopter.
“Pilot, can we move to Yeouido Shelter now?”
The pilot said, putting on the headset he had taken off.
“The wind is not so strong, so we can take off right away.”
“We’re going to the shelter for support. You two, join us outside.”
The two guys who had been chatting and getting nervous got on board right away at Kwak Soo-hwan’s order. The two guys didn’t seem to know that Yeouido Shelter had been breached, but they didn’t question their superior’s order. That’s how absolute the orders from the Rainbow City upper echelons were. The distance from here to Yeouido Shelter was only a few minutes at most. The propeller turned and the tilting helicopter began to rise vertically.
Kwak Soo-hwan raised his voice at the loud propeller sound.
“Adam appeared at Yeouido Shelter. According to Mother Broadcast, the 48th floor should be closed by now.
It is planned, and there is a possibility that Adam appeared on the upper floor. If you find Adam, kill him immediately.”
The two men who had been relaxing gulped. The fact that the final defense line could have been breached meant that even the Yeouido Shelter could be in a state of ruin. The helicopter flying over the densely packed apartments circled around the shelter and gradually increased its altitude. Kwak Soo-hwan clenched and unclenched his leather-gloved fists. His hands were covered in cold sweat.
He had hoped that there would be no problem since Lee Yeon-tae’s room was on a high floor, but he had clearly heard Adam’s strange cries. Seok-hwa was always honest. However, this time, his words that he was okay came across as a lie to reassure me. Even if he were bitten by Adam, Seok-hwa was immune, so he couldn’t be reassured. If he were bitten by Adam and continued to bleed excessively, Seok-hwa would die.
“Prepare for landing!”
As soon as the pilot shouted, Kwak Soo-hwan got up from his seat, grabbed the support, and looked down.
High-ranking officials were gathered on the rooftop waiting for support, and Seok-hwa was nowhere to be seen. There was no time to even wait until the plane landed completely. Kwak Soo-hwan jumped out of the helicopter a few meters before landing. He also sent a hand signal to the two men who were watching him to see if he should jump out as well, telling them to cover the rooftop. Several high-ranking officials who had been standing far away to avoid the helicopter saw Kwak Soo-hwan and ran to him.
“Why on earth did our Yeouido Shelter get breached?!”
Looking at the epaulettes of the guy who was frowning and angry, he was a brigadier general who looked like a one-star.
“How on earth did you manage the army to end up like this!”
Kwak Soo-hwan pushed the brigadier general who was blocking him with his hand.
“Is there anyone who knows exactly what’s going on inside the Yeouido Shelter right now?”
The brigadier general got angry at Kwak Soo-hwan’s shouting. They were trying to get on the helicopter, telling us to move to a safe place first.
“I asked if anyone saw Adam inside the shelter!”
The two guys in the helicopter were at a loss when they saw the brigadier general rushing toward the helicopter with loaded guns. Since he was such a high-ranking officer, they had no choice but to do so when the brigadier general ordered the helicopter to depart. As expected, the brigadier general got on the helicopter and started yelling at them to depart quickly. Kwak Su-hwan ran to the helicopter and grabbed the brigadier by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out.
“You dare! Do you want to die for disobeying orders?!”
The brigadier general pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Kwak Su-hwan. However, Kwak Su-hwan hit the brigadier’s wrist faster than that and made him drop the gun.
“What are you two doing! Aren’t you arresting this guy!”
The two soldiers who were hesitating aimed their guns at Kwak Su-hwan, but no one shot.
“You fucking idiots! The city is in this state because there is no discipline and you ignore what your superiors say! I will definitely catch you and send you to the military police!”
Kwak Soo-hwan reached into his shirt and grabbed his military number and pulled him out. He quickly pushed it away with his hand, revealing the controller’s ID tag recognized by Rainbow City.
“I am Kwak Soo-hwan, the Rainbow City controller. Brigadier General Oh Seon-beom will not be allowed on the helicopter. Since the Brigadier General, who is responsible for protecting Yeouido Shelter, did not properly fulfill his duties, he will be referred to a military court when the incident is concluded. If he refuses, you can kill the Brigadier General.”
The two men on the helicopter also checked the ID tags inside and stood blocking the helicopter entrance.
“Except for Brigadier General Oh Seon-beom, we will load the survivors in order. We will board the helicopter in pairs, and the location will be Yeouido School, a first-class emergency shelter in Rainbow City. The Yeouido Shelter personnel will move to the middle school building.”
The bunker in the first-level crisis was where elementary and middle schools were gathered.
“Order all the shelter survivors to have their blood tested with an Adam kit, and isolate those who test positive. Then request more helicopters from the bunker and fly them in order.”
Only then did the two men begin to quickly load people onto the helicopter. The brigadier general acted noisily as if he was lying even though he saw the dog tags, but the other high-ranking officials who knew him could not help but be convinced that he was the controller. That was why they wondered if he had been acting strangely all this time.
When he aimed his loaded gun at the brigadier general who was talking noisily, the bastard shut his mouth. Kwak Soo-hwan started to go down, opposite the people who were trying to go up to the rooftop.
Among them were researchers, and there were also employees who were living on the upper floors. Armed soldiers were leading the people, but Seok-hwa was nowhere to be seen.
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed one of the captains who was leading them.
“Did Adam come up from the lower floors?”
“Yes. The exact circumstances of the accident are unknown, but there are soldiers among the infected. There are probably survivors on each closed floor.”
There was a space to evacuate when Adam appeared on each floor. However, if Adam was caught in there, everyone would be trapped and die.
“Helicopter support has arrived, so join them and lead the people. After leading all the survivors, gather all the remaining soldiers on the rooftop. If I can’t join them, Captain Kim, you will push Adam down from above.”
Since Adam appeared in various places, most of the commanding officers, majors and lieutenant colonels, were out on the scene. Most of the high-ranking officers and commissioned officers remained in the shelter. The captain was also afraid, but we were the only soldiers who could wipe out the Adams here.
“I will follow orders.”
[Floor 48 closed. The entrance to the 58th floor is closed due to the discovery of Adam on the 58th floor. Closure count 10, 9, 8… … .]
At Mother's broadcast, Kwak Soo-hwan pushed people away and hurriedly went downstairs. Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae's room was on the 58th floor. If Seok-hwa had not escaped the 58th floor, he would have been trapped inside. Kwak Soo-hwan checked people as he went down the stairs, but Seok-hwa was still not there.
[3, 2, 1. Closure begins.]
Kwak Soo-hwan threw himself under the iron door coming down from above.
Clang! As soon as he rolled inside, all the entrances and exits to the 58th floor were closed. Kwak Soo-hwan took out his pistol from his holster and aimed it at the hallway. The elevator stopped working and the lights on the ceiling of the hallway blinked.
Kwak Soo-hwan approached the soldier standing in the hallway while aiming his gun at him. The guy was banging his head against the wall. Then he sniffed and looked up at Kwak Soo-hwan. His eyes were bloodshot and his mouth was covered in blood, so he immediately realized that it was Adam. Kwak Soo-hwan fired his gun at the guy running towards him. But why can I only see one?
Kwak Soo-hwan kicked the body away and walked towards Lee Yeon-tae’s room. Dr. Seok, are you okay? Despite Adam’s appearance, the overly quiet atmosphere on the 58th floor made the ominous atmosphere even more ominous.
Blink, blink, the lights were shaky as if there was a power problem. What was even more suspicious was that all the offices visible from the hallway were closed. The auditorium door was also firmly shut, and the preparation room door was tightly wrapped with a rope hanging from the uniform. It looked like someone had locked the door from the outside.
Did they lock Adam in here? No way… … .
Kwak Soo-hwan moved as quickly as possible and headed towards Lee Yeon-tae’s room. As he turned the corner, Lee Yeon-tae’s room was right in front of him, and the door was wide open. Kwak Soo-hwan clenched his fists again and opened them. He walked slowly and opened the door wide. He saw a corpse lying on the ground. His heart sank, but the guy was wearing a uniform. He looked down and saw that the bullet had penetrated his head.
Did Seok-hwa already run upstairs and not meet him? No, that couldn’t be. There was no way I didn’t find Seok-hwa.
After leaving Lee Yeon-tae’s room, Kwak Soo-hwan took a deep breath. Then he had to find him. He wanted to firmly believe that he was hiding because of Adam.
He banged the iron door with the bottom of his pistol. Bang, bang, bang. The sound of explosions began to spread through the quiet 58th floor hallway.
“Seok-hwa!”
At Kwak Soo-hwan’s shout, a thud-! A sound like a body hitting something was heard. Again, kuung! It was the sound of at least several guys, not just one, slamming into the door.
“Seokhwa-hyung!”
Kwajik! With the sound of a wooden door breaking, the door to the military conference room in the center of the hallway was shattered. At the same time, Adam, who was trapped inside, started running while screaming. There were at least ten, and at most twenty. Gwak Soo-hwan saw Adam, who started to rush at him like a demon, and thought that perhaps Seokhwa had locked them up. If so, he could just kill them all. If only he could kill them all and meet Seokhwa.
“Major!”
It was when Gwak Soo-hwan broke the jawbone of the guy who rushed at him first. He heard Seokhwa’s voice.
It was a faint voice that made him think he was hearing things. Gwak Soo-hwan instinctively turned around, but had to look forward again because of Adam rushing at him. It was a very brief moment, but he definitely saw Seokhwa’s face. It was also in the closed bathroom next to Lee Yeon-tae’s room. There, Seokhwa was sticking his face out of the door. I wanted to run to Seokhwa right now, but the guys who were running wild were the problem.
“Close the door and go inside!”
Kwak Soo-hwan shouted while looking straight ahead.
Most of the mutated individuals were soldiers, so they were all physically fit. Kwak Soo-hwan couldn’t come to his senses when dealing with them.
The infected who ran at him screaming, each of them crawling up, stepping on the corpses that were lying there, saying they would attack first. The distance was too close, so he couldn’t fire his gun, so he smashed the skull with his fist. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood that couldn’t penetrate his leather gloves dripped down.
What the hell is that guy?
To his dismay, one of the guys at the end was attacking Adam. He was from the same room, and the flesh on his cheek was torn off, so he could tell it was Adam. Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed Adam by the collar, who had torn off his jaw, and used it as a shield to charge forward. Since they were already excited and wild, Kwak Su-hwan also gasped for breath.
“What are you, you brat!”
After crushing the heads of twelve men, the hallway was covered in blood, as well as grotesquely twisted brains soaked in blood. No slaughterhouse would have seen such a horrific sight. The man with the tattered cheeks shook his head convulsively. It looked like he was about to mutate into Adam.
Although the mutation time varied from person to person, I had never seen an Adam attack Adam. If that guy was immune… … .
The guy who had been making a boiling sound in his throat suddenly vomited out blood. He kept making unclear pronunciations and looked at Kwak Su-hwan with bloodshot eyes. He put his hands inside his uniform with his legs twisted strangely. Suddenly, the guy pulled out a gun. Kwak Su-hwan also put down Adam, who was using him as a shield, and took out his own gun and aimed it at the guy.
Bang-! The gun barrel was not pointed at Kwak Su-hwan, but at his own temple. Kwak Su-hwan looked down at the soldier who had committed suicide, feeling astonished.
Was he in the middle of transforming? Did he choose to commit suicide before he completely lost consciousness? He ripped off the guy’s military number. He was one of the lieutenants guarding the 58th floor.
Kwak Su-hwan took off his dog tag, put it in his back pocket, and took off his gloves. Then he started running, stepping on a part of his body where his brain or organs would not get on his boots as much as possible.
Bang! When I opened the closed bathroom door, soft classical music was playing. I thought that the executive bathroom, which was only available to Lee Yeon-tae and those of similar rank, might be the cleanest in this building. He closed the door tightly and walked inside. There were three stalls available, but only the last one was closed. Kwak Soo-hwan approached him and called out to Seok-hwa.
“Dr. Seok.”
With a click, the door slowly opened with the sound of the lock being released. Seok-hwa’s pupils were dilated greatly. I could clearly see how surprised and scared he must have been, and it made me feel suffocated. Kwak Soo-hwan reached out and grabbed Seok-hwa. Then he wrapped his hands around Seok-hwa’s cheeks. Kwak Soo-hwan closed his eyes for a moment at the warm warmth, then sighed in relief.
“Are you hurt?”
“No. How about you, Major?”
“You’re fine.”
He lowered his forehead and hit Seok-hwa’s forehead.
“I tried to go up… … . Adam kept following me… … . I couldn’t.”
If Seokhwa had tried hard to climb up to the rooftop, maybe the place up there would have been scorched earth before I even got there. Even so, he didn’t want Seokhwa to make a sacrifice. He almost blamed him for thinking of others instead of prioritizing his own safety, but Kwak Soo-hwan tried hard to keep his words in check.
“Good job. Did Dr. Seok lock them all up?”
Seokhwa removed his forehead and nodded his head in agreement.
“Next time, just avoid it unconditionally. There’s no way luck will always be on your side.”
“It’s not luck. I was waiting for the call.”
“Huh?”
He should have kept his body as far away as possible because there was blood on his clothes, but he couldn’t hold it in any longer and hugged Seokhwa’s body.
He rubbed his nose from his thin, soft ear to the nape of his neck as he came down. Seokhwa raised his hand and stroked Kwak Soo-hwan’s head. Seokhwa’s hands were still trembling with tension.
“When the phone rings, the infected Adams flock to the sound. I waited for the right moment, but the call didn’t come.”
Kwak Soo-hwan let out a deep breath from inside. He had clearly told Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae not to call his room. Seokhwa must have thought he would call again since he hung up the phone like that.
“I knew it was dangerous, so I didn’t do it.”
“I kept calling from the Lieutenant General’s room to other rooms. When the Adams gathered, I would close the door and run away, like that. At first, there were more healthy soldiers, and everyone tried to stop them… … . The brigadier general ordered the soldiers to defend the shelter, and he was the only one who ran upstairs. As more people came up from below… … .”
The Adams below must have also come up to the 58th floor, and Mother’s judgment had closed it down. Kwak Soo-hwan hugged Seokhwa tightly, who was still trembling. He wanted to touch and comfort every part of his body, but this city never gave him the luxury of that.
“What did you mean, ‘Check the survivors with Adam Kit?’”
Seokhwa pushed Kwak Soo-hwan’s chest, saying that it was okay now. She went to the sink and turned on the faucet. Water flowed out of the water tank, as if there was no problem, and Seokhwa washed her face with cold water. She motioned for Kwak Soo-hwan to come over. He also washed his face with water.
Seokhwa continued talking while watching from behind.
“Among the vaccines distributed by Eden, there was one that contained a dormant parasite. The parasite wakes up and becomes active when exposed to the Adam virus. And it plays a role in blocking the progression of the Adam virus. Before, the Serpent of Eden got the vaccine and spread a video of him injecting the Adam virus into his body. That person must not have been Choi Ho-eon, so he must have used a double. Normally, it is true that he did not mutate within the time we knew. So the people of Eden had no choice but to trust the vaccine.”
Kwak Soo-hwan raised his head and met Seok-hwa’s eyes in the mirror.
“So the vaccine containing the parasite slowed down the progression of the virus?”
“Yes. The speed at which complications caused by the malaria parasite develop varies from person to person. There were probably other times when Adam suddenly appeared in areas where there were no Adams.”
Seok-hwa was right. The higher-ups didn’t even realize how dangerous this situation was.
“So you’re saying there might be other citizens who received the problematic vaccine somewhere?”
“Yes. That’s why I asked them to broadcast that they shouldn’t get vaccinated. Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae did it.”
Kwak Soo-hwan, who was holding the sink, turned around.
“Is it a hypothesis or a certainty that there might be Adam virus carriers who haven’t mutated yet?”
“I’m certain. Among the evacuees, there might have been someone who recently received the Eden vaccine. We should also quarantine those who show symptoms of malaria infection. But this virulent malaria has an irregular rise and fall in fever. First, we have to isolate those with fever symptoms, but the problem is that they might get mixed up with patients with only colds.”
Since there weren’t that many isolation rooms, we had no choice but to cram those with abnormal symptoms together.
Seok-hwa pressed his eyes with both hands and then pulled them away. He was overcome with extreme fatigue, but he tried to block it out. Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the doorknob with his wet hands and opened it. Perhaps because the 58th floor was closed, all that was visible was the tragedy he had caused. He held Seok-hwa’s hand and walked out of the bathroom and into Lee Yeon-tae’s room. If Seok-hwa had seen the tragedy, he might have vomited, so it was fortunate that the room was right next door.
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the body lying on the floor and dragged it outside, then locked the door. There was a bloody trail where the body had been dragged, as if a mop had passed over it. Seok-hwa followed the blood with his eyes and then looked up. It was true that he had tried to shoot the soldier who had first mutated in this room. However, the soldier somehow managed to come to his senses and went out into the hallway on his own. Since then, Seokhwa had not known where the soldier had gone.
The body inside was Adam, who had come in when he returned after locking up the mutated soldiers in the preparation room. The phone had been left ringing in the preparation room, so the receiver had been placed on the desk. Seokhwa quietly watched Adam react to the ringing sound on the receiver, then quietly closed the door to the lieutenant general.
Adam, who had sensed the presence, turned around, and Seokhwa fired at his forehead with all his strength. He had done mock shootings several times when he was at the learning center, but when he faced Adam alone, his hands and feet were shaking. Moreover, he was a soldier he had seen several times in the cafeteria. Gwak Su-hwan had said that before. They were all acquaintances, neighbors, and family members of someone.
At that time, I just thought he was a cold-hearted person, but one day he said that he killed his family with his own hands. It still hurts when I think about that time.
Kwak Soo-hwan’s face was calm as he connected to the lieutenant general’s computer with a controller code. Blood was splattered here and there on his clothes, but he didn’t seem to care.
Seok-hwa didn’t know why he felt sorry for Kwak Soo-hwan, who was much bigger and stronger than him. He also killed Adam to live, but the thought of killing a person didn’t go away easily. It was presumptuous to even guess how much more self-loathing Kwak Soo-hwan must have felt.
Now, we were basically trapped on the 58th floor. Still, as always, the priority was to do what we could in the given situation.
“Sir. I contacted the Second Master a little while ago, and Choi Ho-eon received it.”
Seok-hwa hurriedly added to his words because his expression made it seem as if Choi Ho-eon had gone all the way to Udo.
“They were talking about hacking, but I think they were talking about the Second Master. The call I made to the Second was transferred to Choi Ho-eon. I don’t know about anything else, but I don’t think Dr. Choi wants revolution or reform.”
“I think so too. Is that guy some kind of mad scientist? Is he going to reconstruct the world with new humans? Mother, grant me access to the controller.”
Kwak Soo-hwan spoke his mind without holding back, not hiding his grumbling.
[Permission granted. A general notification has come down from the control tower.]
The control tower meant the First Master, Second Master, and advisors.
Seok-hwa also approached Kwak Soo-hwan and listened to Mother.
[Thanks to the soldiers’ self-sacrifice and the efforts of the superiors with excellent crisis response capabilities, the Adam Virus that Eden Garden had spread entered a lull. As previously warned, Eden Garden’s vaccine contained the Adam Virus that was intended to destroy Rainbow City. There is a solution for those who have been vaccinated, so let them voluntarily report to the soldiers. Adam will be eliminated within the next three days, and citizens who are sheltering at home should wait until the quarantine is over.]
Seokhwa opened his lips with cloudy eyes. Kwak Soo-hwan let out a hollow laugh.
“I think the upper level noticed that there was an interaction between the parasite and the virus.”
I thought that the Second Master might have noticed it first.
[When connecting to the controller, there is a message.]
Kwak Soo-hwan read the message.
[Captain Osan Shelter, a survivor of the 29th Green Zone, mutated into Adam without a virus infection route, and was killed on the spot. Two survivors of the 15th Indigo mutated into Adam, and were killed on the spot. All were confirmed to be spies of the Garden of Eden. In addition, all citizens gathered in the isolation room where Adam occurred were killed. Yeouido Shelter also immediately kills any survivors who show symptoms of Adam infection.
. With this message, Kwak Su-hwan’s position as Controller will be removed.]
Mother’s voice held no emotion. Seok-hwa grabbed his arm in surprise. The fact that the Controller position was removed meant that both the First and Second Masters agreed.
The First probably knew that Kwak Su-hwan had met the Second. It was highly likely that he removed him because he thought he could hit him in the back of the head.
“Let’s just tell these guys to leave, and let the two of us run away to live somewhere?”
It was sweet. Seok-hwa didn’t have the ability to be unshakable. It seemed like he could live happily if he went to some island with him and lived there secretly.
But what if he died first?
Then Kwak Su-hwan would be left completely alone, and vice versa.
“Major… … .”
[There is a final message. Would you like to read it?]
Mother cut off Seok-hwa’s words. Even though Kwak Soo-hwan pressed confirm, only a blank window appeared.
[Please enter your password.]
He entered numbers or letters that could be inferred as his controller code number or password, but none of them were correct.
“Can you confirm the person who left the last message?”
[It is possible.]
“Tell me.”
[Second Master.]
Kwak Soo-hwan sat Seok-hwa, who had anxious eyes, on the lieutenant general’s chair. Then he sat down on the desk with his butt pressed against it.
“Why did the old man put a password on it?”
“I guess he doesn’t want other people to see it.”
What else could he have to convey after he had even been relieved of his position as controller? Kwak Soo-hwan typed whatever came to mind on the keyboard. He tried typing Eden Garden, Serpent, Bison, Tigris, etc. without any problems, and then he thought, “Could this be it?” and entered the password.
[Password confirmed. [The Second Master's voice is transmitted.]
Seokhwa, who was sitting on the chair, opened his eyes slightly.
"What was the password?"
"I don't know, I opened it after doing this and that."
[You may be going on about the Controller position being removed, but please listen to me until the end.]
Second doesn't know me at all. What's there to be excited about? It was clear that my authority would be taken away sooner or later anyway.
[There is a situation where Choi Ho-eon joined hands with First. Choi Ho-eon took advantage of the stupid First. The First and the advisors' strong opposition left me with no choice but to remove Kwak Soo-hwan's Controller position authority. More than a thousand citizens have already died. This is the disaster caused by Choi Ho-eon, who talked about revolution. With my hands and feet tied in Udo, the only thing I can do now is to develop a cure. So send Dr. Seokhwa to me, and I want you, Kwak Su-hwan, to defend the Yeouido Shelter.]
After the message, Kwak Su-hwan’s controller position was lifted and the connection was cut off. Kwak Su-hwan looked at Seokhwa, whose face had become pale in just one day. There was a way for Seokhwa to live comfortably without any hardships.
“Do you really want to go to Udo and live? You saw the people there. They live so peacefully and happily.”
“I don’t want to do it without Major Kwak.”
Kwak Su-hwan reached out and pulled Seokhwa’s body toward him. He rubbed his face on Seokhwa’s shoulder as if he was being childish.
“I wanted to hear that, so I said empty words on purpose.”
Seokhwa spread his legs and climbed onto his thighs. Instead of refusing, Seokhwa wrapped his hands around Kwak Su-hwan’s back.
“Honey, do you trust me?”
“I trust you.”
He often said negative things like “I don’t like it” and “It hurts,” but he also said positive things. Seokhwa wouldn’t know how much he felt secure when he gave her a definite answer without hesitation.
Kwak Soo-hwan wrapped his large hand around the back of Seokhwa’s head. He sucked Seokhwa’s lips, which looked a little awkward, as if this wasn’t the situation, and slid his tongue inside. Seokhwa opened her lips slightly. She gripped the shirt that was stuck to his back tightly with her hand and followed the movement of her lips diligently. When he sucked hard inside her mouth and pulled it away, Seokhwa’s tongue came out across her lower lip.
The bottom of her tongue tingled and she tried to put it back in place, but Kwak Soo-hwan, who had bitten her tongue hard, deeply explored her lips again. He touched her chest with his hand and finally found her nipple and pulled it. Heh, Seokhwa flinched.
Haa, she pulled her lips away while holding her nipple. She could only let out a breathy sigh because Kwak Soo-hwan was pulling on both her nipples and rolling them with his hand.
Kwak Soo-hwan clicked his tongue at his instinct to keep sticking to Seok-hwa’s body like a magnet. Seok-hwa obediently offered her breasts, not knowing that he wanted to lay her down on the desk and roll around. It felt as if she wanted to touch him more.
“I’ve been holding back on wanting to suck Dr. Seok, too.”
Even without that, he wanted to suck and bite until his nipples swelled with saliva. Instead, Kwak Soo-hwan kissed her lips and put Seok-hwa down on the floor.
“Let’s escape from here for now.”
Seok-hwa answered with her head without answering. A strange feeling lingered on her face, hazily.
Until just a moment ago, she didn’t even know if her nipples had any sensation, but after he skillfully grabbed her, even the brushing of her shirt made her feel tingly. It seemed to have become even harder because of that. Seok-hwa massaged her breasts with her hands, as if trying to calm down the sharp protrusions.
Kwak Soo-hwan, who was opening the lieutenant general’s closet, looked at Seok-hwa. Since his gaze seemed to be scolding him, Seok-hwa confessed the truth.
“My nipples are standing up.”
“Dr. Seok, what are nipples?”
Kwak Soo-hwan said as if telling him not to break his patience.
“It’s a nipple.”
He couldn’t stop Seok-hwa’s honest speech, so he just laughed briefly.
He took off his blood-stained shirt and took out some easy-to-move everyday clothes from the lieutenant general’s closet. He quickly lifted the emergency backpack that was on the floor and it seemed like Seok-hwa could easily carry it. He carried the plump backpack and had Seok-hwa put it on.
“Is it heavy?”
“It’s easy to carry.”
Inside were several water bottles, first aid kits, and combat rations. The backpack would act as a shield even if Adam attacked from behind, so it was killing two birds with one stone.
Kwak Soo-hwan pulled the backpack down again and took out the lieutenant general’s thick coat and put it on Seok-hwa. Spring was not far away, but the cold showed no sign of ending. I put two pistols in Seokhwa’s pocket and armed myself this time.
Seokhwa watched Kwak Su-hwan hurriedly prepare to go out, then started wrapping tape around his wrists. Thanks to the lieutenant general’s thick coat, he was able to create a decent shield up to his elbows. Kwak Su-hwan was wearing black pants and a dark-colored jacket.
“Did the learning center tell you?”
His two arms wrapped in tape looked really dull.
“The learning center doesn’t teach you things like this.”
Kwak Su-hwan pressed Seokhwa’s crown with his palm as if he was glad he had done well.
He put his backpack back on and took Seokhwa’s two arms wrapped in tape and gently squeezed them.
“How are the wounds on your arms?”
“It’s okay.”
Kwak Su-hwan nodded his head as if he could barely see them.
“If we go up to the rooftop, we’ll be moved to the Yeouido bunker, and since we’ve been stripped of our controller position, it could actually be more dangerous.”
This time, Seokhwa responded as if he understood.
“So we’ll go down through the emergency exit instead of up. It’ll be really hard because we’ll have to go from the 58th floor to the 1st floor.”
“It’s all locked.”
“Only the 48th floor and where we’re currently are are closed, so the rest can use the emergency exits.”
They say it’s the 58th floor, but the journey to the 1st floor could easily take more than a day, and he could get seriously injured in the meantime.
“Major, is there a parachute in the shelter?”
Kwak Soo-hwan squinted one eye slightly.
“There is.”
“I’d rather jump down.”
Kwak Soo-hwan had thought about it, but he was worried whether Seokhwa could do it.
“It’s more dangerous to go down through the 1st floor.”
The parachute provided in the shelter was for one person, so it was impossible for Kwak Su-hwan to jump down while holding Seok-hwa. The reason he was able to jump down with Lee Chae-yoon in Jeju Island was because the parachute could hold the weight.
“I’ll just get through to the first floor.”
“I can do it, too.”
I could sense the nuance of not wanting to be a burden.
Seok-hwa made the most rational decision in the current situation. Even if he was Kwak Su-hwan, the probability of getting down safely after overcoming the countless Adams was significantly low. Moreover, it would not be easy to follow them down to the first floor.
“How many Adams are locked in the preparation room?”
“I don’t know exactly, but I think there are about five. The auditorium has the most.”
Fortunately, Adam could not break the iron auditorium door with his strength. The preparation room was a wooden door, but it was double-door type, so Seok-hwa tied two doorknobs with a rope.
“Don’t open the door until I signal.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say, “I’ll help you.” Letting him go to the preparation room alone was actually helping him. Seokhwa brought the tape and wrapped it tightly around Kwak Suhwan’s arm.
“I don’t have to do this.”
“You never know.”
“It’s not worth it.”
“Your life is more important.”
“Okay, Seokhwa hyung.”
Seokhwa had a serious expression on his face the whole time he was wrapping the tape around Kwak Suhwan’s arm. Even though both sides were finished, he didn’t seem to be satisfied and kept wrapping it until he ran out of tape.
Seokhwa liked the way Kwak Suhwan called him “Dr. Seok” or “Dr. Seokhwa.” Sometimes he would call him “Seokhwa,” but he didn’t feel bad about it.
Everyone had called him “Dr. Seok” or “Dr. Seokhwa,” and no one even called him by his name affectionately at the learning center. When Kwak Su-hwan called her name with emotion, Seok-hwa felt like her existence became special. Her mother was like that too. She said that when she called her name while she was in her womb, she became a flower and came to her.
“Su-hwan-ah.”
Seok-hwa put down the used tape.
Unlike Seok-hwa who was indifferent, only Kwak Su-hwan looked surprised. Did I hear you correctly? His eyes were filled with doubt.
“Kwak Su-hwan.”
Seok-hwa put her heart into her words because she hoped that her calling would have a special meaning to him too.
“Come back safely. And let’s get out of here together.”
His heart ached more than ever. Oh, damn it. As Kwak Su-hwan lowered his head,
He let out a soft curse.
“Do you know it’s an exclamation? Next time, call me when you have some time.”
Kwak Soo-hwan kissed Seok-hwa on the lips and strode toward the door. He grabbed the doorknob and looked back at Seok-hwa.
“I’ll be back before the alcohol cools down.”
“Alcohol?”
“There’s something like that.”
The tips of Kwak Soo-hwan’s ears turned subtly red as he opened the door and went out.
I thought I was immune to Dr. Seok’s honesty, but I was the one who was not immune. He pressed his ear tightly with his hand and started running to the preparation room.
Blinking, the lights on the ceiling of the hallway finally went out and the emergency power came on on the floor. Even that only served as a landmark to show me which way to run, and was not much help in securing my vision. Unfortunately, there was no flashlight, so I waited for my eyes to get used to the darkness.
Kwak Su-hwan stood in front of the door of the preparation room and ran his hand through the ropes that Seok-hwa had tied. Even in the midst of the urgency, they had been tied so meticulously that it would definitely be difficult to untie them. He took out a jackknife from his pocket and started cutting the ropes. The rattling sound shook the door as the men who were banging against it. Kwak Su-hwan cut half of the ropes and quickly stepped back. He moved to where the emergency lights on the floor were coming from and aimed his gun.
With a strange crack, crack, the ropes snapped and the door opened roughly.
The men who were running towards him using the light on the floor as a path were shot in the head. He shot a few men whose movements were irregular and knocked them down, and one man who had come through the darkness came right up to his nose. Kwak Su-hwan deliberately bit his arm in the man’s mouth. He then struck the heads of the rest of them. He grabbed the bitten man’s hair and pulled him away, making a hole in his forehead. Blood and brains poured out onto the floor.
“There are six of them, Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soo-hwan reloaded his pistol while refilling his ammunition. The preparation room was thick with the smell of blood the men had vomited out. He stepped through the puddle of blood and found a flashlight to illuminate the inside. Backpack-type parachutes were stacked high on the water tank on one side.
He quickly grabbed two parachutes, an analog military radio, and a grenade and headed out onto the road. Using the light in the hallway as a guide, he ran to Seok-hwa. The door to the auditorium behind him rattled at the commotion, but it only made an unpleasant noise.
Kwak Soo-hwan knocked on Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae’s door.
“It’s me.”
As soon as he confirmed the voice, Seok-hwa opened the door. Kwak Soo-hwan smiled and showed off the parachutes and radio case. Fortunately, the lieutenant general’s room was brightly lit. Kwak Su-hwan, who had come inside, began explaining to Seok-hwa how to use a parachute again. It was something he had already heard before boarding the helicopter heading to Jeju Island, but Seok-hwa thought about it again.
The theory was clear, such as where to deploy the parachute and how to cut it with a hook knife if the line got tangled. It was extremely rare for there to be a problem with the parachute, but he had to prepare for even a 0.1 percent risk.
When Seok-hwa put on the parachute backpack, Kwak Su-hwan tightly secured the harness to his waist and legs. He also put the parachute on his back.
“We’re going to the hallway where the auditorium is. You have to jump from that direction so there are no obstacles ahead. Adjust your direction toward the parking lot below. Okay?”
“Yes.”
“You have to jump well even if you’re scared. If you hesitate, it’ll be more dangerous.”
“I know.”
“Why don’t we just go straight up to the first floor?”
Somehow, Kwak Su-hwan seemed more nervous than Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa carried the backpack containing emergency food in front of him.
“Let’s go. But what about the window?”
“Even bulletproof glass can be broken by a machine gun.”
“Do you have a machine gun?”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Kwak Su-hwan opened Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae’s closet and took out the gloves from the drawer. Then, he clenched his fist and smashed the wooden closet wall. He ripped off the broken wooden boards and took off his gloves again.
“Generals always keep good things like this in their rooms.”
Kwak Su-hwan grabbed the long barrel from inside and pulled it out. It was a 7.62mm machine gun called the Mk3. Machine guns were originally issued to each squad before Adam appeared, but this one was considered a new model even before the world became like this. Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae must have taken good care of it, because it was in pretty good condition, like an old man’s jet ski. Kwak Su-hwan, who had no desire for guns, wanted to take this.
“Do you remember everything I said?”
“Don’t worry.”
Seok-hwa went to the door to look brave and waited for Kwak Su-hwan in front of it. He thought that Seok-hwa had probably been a good kid who listened well since he was at the learning center. Kwak Su-hwan, who had a heavy machine gun on his shoulder, grabbed Seok-hwa’s hand. He opened the door and shined a flashlight in front of him.
He turned the corner and walked down the hallway where the corpses were lined up. Kwak Su-hwan and Seok-hwa stood far away from the glass window in front of the hallway.
Kwak Su-hwan gestured for them to stay further away and placed the Mk3 buttstock firmly under his armpit. The long, thick band of bullets was packed tightly together and heavy. This should be enough to break the window. Tutu-tuk, he started firing machine guns at the glass. As the bullets were fired in rapid succession, the shells fell to the floor. The sound made the iron door of the back auditorium rattle again. Seok-hwa looked back with anxious eyes and then turned to the glass window again. Finally, cracks were forming in the bulletproof glass. Just a little longer, Kwak Su-hwan continued to fire bullets at the window.
Boom! A loud noise as loud as a machine gun erupted from the auditorium. Whoa, whoa. The sound of an animal could be heard through the cracked iron door. Several blood-soaked hands popped out of the iron door like tree branches shaking in a typhoon.
Was it because the hot-blooded soldier had mutated? The iron door that he had hit countless times finally opened. The Adams who were trapped inside the auditorium began to run.
“Major!”
Even without looking back, Kwak Su-hwan could sense the situation. He repeatedly kicked the glass that had cracked and left black, soot marks. The force tore the entire glass window apart and it fell far below.
“Dr. Seok, now! Jump!”
Kwak Soo-hwan changed the direction of the machine gun and fired at Adam. In just two seconds, all the remaining bullets would have disappeared. Seok-hwa didn’t think too deeply. Like a falling leaf, he flew straight from the 58th floor. While he was thinking about when he would jump and if he would be safe, he wanted to look back, but he knew that if he did, he would miss the timing to open his parachute.
From the moment he flew from the 58th floor until now, the scene passed by like a very slow motion screen. He could see a few buildings still emitting light in the distance, and he could also see a helicopter moving in the opposite direction.
As his brain took hundreds of pictures in a second, a huge amount of visual information poured out while he fell. If you call this a kaleidoscope, it would be too insignificant. Wasn’t looking back on his life a kaleidoscope? If so, then not yet. Seok-hwa pulled the handle with all his might. The parachute fully opened as the body was lifted upward by the air resistance.
Seokhwa did not look up. He felt like crying, but he adjusted both handles toward the parking lot he had mentioned. Only when he finally collapsed on the ground did he look up. However, his body was wrapped in the parachute cloth, making his vision obstructed.
Seokhwa flailed his hands, pulling up the thick cloth, and using a hook knife to cut the string connected to the parachute. Kwak Su-hwan was nowhere to be seen in the sky. He was nowhere to be seen on the ground.
There was no sound of gunfire, and only a dreary wind swept through the building. Seokhwa spread his hands and covered his face. He could feel his face distorted in his palms. Now, all his muscles were distorted to an ugly degree.
Thud! Seokhwa took his hands away from his face at the sound of a large watermelon exploding. A soldier in military uniform had fallen and died. He raised his head again. He saw Kwak Su-hwan opening his parachute. Several Adams who jumped after him fell to the ground, exploding their bodies.
Seokhwa wanted to stretch out both arms to catch Kwak Suhwan. However, he was frozen in place, and Kwak Suhwan was leisurely manipulating the parachute to come down. The moment he came down felt really slow. Even though he saw him with his own eyes, Seokhwa couldn’t believe that he was safe, so he followed his trajectory without taking his eyes off him.
Kwak Suhwan, who rolled his legs and landed on the ground, smiled at Seokhwa who was sitting down.
“Dr. Seok, you can enlist in the military now.”
However, he was clearly afraid too. He was worried that I might not have opened the parachute wings properly, or that I might get caught in the wind and do something wrong.
Thud, thud! He could hear the waves of the impact on the glass. There was no time to enjoy the relief of having survived. Kwak Suhwan grabbed Seokhwa and lifted him up. Then he ripped off the tape on his forearm that was said to be bad. The infected on the first floor who had gathered at the sound of Adam falling discovered the two and started to run out in a group.
Kwak Soo-hwan picked up Seok-hwa and started running towards where the jeep might be. Seok-hwa looked at Adam rushing at him like a demon and felt that there was no safe place anywhere in the city anymore. If there was hell, it would probably look like this. There was only one word to describe it. It was truly horrible.
Seok-hwa buried his face in his back and grabbed his shirt. As soon as Kwak Soo-hwan found the jeep outside the barbed wire surrounding the shelter, he shouted.
“Don’t answer me because I’m biting my tongue, just listen! I’ll go over the barbed wire right in front of you! If I jump and grab onto it, I’ll somehow get over it, okay?!”
At the same time, he picked up speed and jumped up and grabbed onto the top.
Seok-hwa stepped on his shoulder and climbed up, placing his body on the edge of the barbed wire. Kwak Su-hwan, who saw him crawl down safely to the other side of the barbed wire, also used his arms to pull himself up. He jumped down and ran back to the jeep with Seok-hwa and opened the door.
He put Seok-hwa in the passenger seat, got in the driver's seat, and turned the key, but damn it, it wouldn't start. The engine was groaning faintly like a worn-out old man. Someone must have abandoned the car because it was in trouble. Adam in uniform, pushing his body to break down the barbed wire.
It was bustling outside.
“Come over to the driver’s seat. Do you know how to press the clutch? If you look here, you press the one on the far left. Okay?”
“What about you, Major?”
“I’m going to push from behind until the engine starts. Once it starts, I’ll catch up and get in, so don’t press the brake.”
“I’ll try.”
Seok-hwa moved from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat. Kwak Soo-hwan looked back at the barbed wire fence and moved a little faster. He opened the passenger door and went to the back of the jeep, raising his voice.
“Do you know 3rd gear?”
“I remember.”
“Put 3rd gear in and press the clutch! Now!”
Seok-hwa put the gear in 3rd gear and pressed the clutch hard. Since the military jeep was a manual transmission vehicle, the engine could be started by moving the wheels. Kwak Soo-hwan put his legs back and forth and started pushing the jeep with force. The wheels started to turn with difficulty, and the engine started to explode.
Seokhwa almost stepped on the brakes reflexively as the car rolled forward, but he believed Kwak Soo-hwan’s words. Get in quickly, get in quickly. Seokhwa muttered to himself as he stepped on the accelerator. Thump! He grabbed the open passenger door and got inside with the reaction. Kwak Soo-hwan, who was sitting in the seat, sighed audibly.
“Who told you to go so fast? I thought you were leaving me behind.”
But something was funny, and his heart pounded several times. Seokhwa held the steering wheel and walked away from Adam, looking straight ahead.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s go a little further and then switch seats.”
Seokhwa looked up at the rearview mirror to check behind him. Adam was running toward him, perhaps because the barbed wire had collapsed, but no one could beat the speed of the car.
“We’re going to get out of Rainbow City.”
Kwak Soo-hwan said.
***
When the Adam virus was first spreading, each country tried to form a survival route by linking up with neighboring countries.
The first to declare a state of emergency called Doomsday was Europe. There was even an incident where an entire city was blown up through the parliament that was not yet paralyzed, and there were various opinions about using nuclear weapons. However, no amount of destruction could completely block the spread of the virus.
The countries that were prepared for this Doomsday selected key figures who would rebuild the world and moved them to bunkers in various places according to protocol. In the process, many people were infected with Adam and killed. The corpses that were left unattended caused another epidemic, and most countries, except for a few, lost their government functions.
Most of the countries that had prevented the spread of the infection through quick judgment and response had no choice but to shrink. For example, since they could not protect all 20 cities, they abandoned 10 cities and defended the rest. However, rumors spread to the regions where the continent was connected to them. Survivors who had hopes of surviving there abandoned their homes to seek refuge, and Adam followed them.
The military tried hard to prevent the survivors from seeking refuge. Shooting at healthy people had mental and physical limitations, and since they had not built a barrier, they could not completely block all passages.
In the end, the country that had prided itself on being safe was once again hit by the Adam virus. All of this happened in just three years. To prevent chaos, they created a new group called the Allied Nations. They had to avoid invading each other’s territory, and until the Adam virus was completely eradicated, exchanges were only allowed in designated areas.
Before the 7th mutant Adam appeared, Seokhwa and other researchers had been in contact with the Chinese branch. Rainbow City was now practically isolated, but in fact, exchanges had not been active even before that.
I wondered what the Allied Nations meant, and I began to doubt whether they were actually functioning properly. No matter how much the Adam Virus mutated helplessly, the researchers from the surviving Allied nations could not come up with any significant results.
I also thought that perhaps the countries that were freed from the Adam Virus were rebuilding their countries among themselves. Since the population had decreased significantly, it would take a long time to rebuild. If we left the controlled and oppressed Rainbow City, a utopia might unfold.
“Let’s get out and walk. We’re almost there.”
Kwak Soo-hwan gestured at the road that was jam-packed with abandoned cars. Seok-hwa put the backpack he had left in the back seat on his shoulder. Fortunately, there was plenty of food.
He disconnected the car’s battery and took Seok-hwa’s backpack back to me. Looking at Seok-hwa, who was completely exhausted, I wondered if my judgment was right. Should I bring Seok-hwa to Udo Island now? This was the second time the road had been blocked like this, and I had to change cars several times.
“It’s okay.”
Seokhwa, who felt Kwak Soo-hwan’s gaze, grabbed his hand. While going up, the areas outside of Rainbow City were completely ruined or there were survivors living here and there. However, they did not form villages or live together. Since they survived by surviving the fittest, their appearance was extremely shabby. There were groups that looted, but almost no one would dare attack the two who were armed.
“If we get a little further out of here, it’ll be okay.”
He carried Seokhwa, who was slow, on his back and quickly walked down the road.
There was a secret base set up like Haenam in the upper area that was not part of the city. Since he was a controller who had a freer range of movement than other soldiers, he used his position to make progress step by step. The platoon in the 21st Violet District and Lieutenant Colonel Cha were also part of that process. So it was only natural that Second was out of favor.
When the road began to open up, Kwak Su-hwan chose a car that was in relatively good condition and replaced the battery. Seok-hwa, sitting in the passenger seat, closed her eyes while holding her backpack. The musty smell bothered her nose, but rest was more important right now. Kwak Su-hwan, who was behind the wheel, started the engine and slowly increased the speed to tame the car. He even adjusted the radio frequency, but all that came out was noise.
The biggest reason for wanting to leave Rainbow City was to evacuate Seok-hwa to a safe place and make contact with the Chinese branch to create a cure. In addition, it was easier to form a force outside the city without Mother or military surveillance.
According to the treaty between the Allied Powers, the route to China was usually completely blocked. Right now, the military forces were almost concentrated in the center of the city due to the Eden incident, so they were able to avoid control.
“Major.”
Seok-hwa opened his eyes slowly and called him.
“Huh?”
“Would it be okay if we went to the Chinese branch?”
Will they accept us? It was as if he was asking that.
“Shouldn’t we tell the Allied Forces about the situation in Rainbow City?”
If the Allied Forces were still there, that is.
Seokhwa could also see the hidden intention in the words. If I hadn’t chosen Udo, I wouldn’t be in Rainbow City, and Kwak Suhwan had become a major who had to unconditionally follow orders from his superiors.
“Honestly, I just want to throw away the cure and everything and leave the two of us to live.”
“We can’t live alone.”
“Why not.”
Kwak Suhwan grumbled at Seokhwa’s harsh tone.
“Not only Major Lee and Major Yang… … . There were people who believed in Major Kwak. And you saw it.”
Seokhwa drank the remaining water sparingly as if his throat was choking.
“We have to do what we can. We can’t avoid it.”
Innocent people dying from the virus must stop. Since everyone had been played by the higher-ups, the leaders of Rainbow City had to be punished and step down in some way. They couldn’t use the Adam Virus as a means to maintain power.
Kwak Soo-hwan could only laugh.
Seok-hwa, who had seemed listless and powerless in the past, tried to find out about Dr. Oh Yang-seok’s case. He had also been brainwashed at the learning center, but he was suspicious of his superiors. Then and now, Seok-hwa had a strong rebel spirit, as the city calls it.
Seok-hwa quickly fell asleep as if he had said everything he wanted to say. His head was tilted crookedly, and his fatigue was evident. Because of that, he didn’t say anything about having a go since it was just the two of us. Well, it wasn’t really a situation where that would be possible.
After driving for a few hours toward his destination, Kwak Soo-hwan stopped the car at one point. He stared blankly at the sight before his eyes. This place, formerly called Sinuiju, was also a place where the Allied Powers completely prohibited entry.
Kwak Su-hwan’s calmly settled eyes were cold. The only bridge connecting the peninsula and the Chinese mainland, the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, was broken.
I had heard that the bridge that had been broken by the explosion after the Adam Incident was rebuilt when Korea and China joined the Allied Powers. This was something that was constantly repeated on Mother’s history education broadcast.
Kwak Su-hwan leaned his arms on the steering wheel and shook his head. Seok-hwa, who had been sleeping, also opened her eyes, tossing and turning at the sound of a soft but eerie laugh.
Seok-hwa blinked her blurry eyes and looked at the place where his gaze was directed. As her vision gradually cleared, she saw the broken bridge over there. It was as if a very long time had passed, just like the Han River Bridge, with only dry vines tangled around it.
“You said you had contacted the Chinese branch, right?”
“… … Yes.”
“Have you seen them in person?”
“… … “No.”
The buildings visible far across the river were left in a state of collapse after being blown up. Maybe the other side was safe… … .
“Were the researchers Dr. Seok was contacting really from the Chinese branch?”
Kwak Soo-hwan looked back at Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa’s eyelids twitched once. Looking at this sight, he couldn’t even be sure of that anymore.
All that had become clear was that Rainbow City was either not part of the Allied Forces or the Allied Forces had collapsed.
[Restricted area - Rainbow City Autonomy]
No Entry - Autonomous Government of Rainbow City
An old and crude sign was shaking back and forth at the entrance to the railroad bridge.
Today, 460 days after the Adam Virus incident in the Garden of Eden and 130 days after the announcement of the inauguration of Choi Ho-eon, the Rainbow City Master.
Former Allied Forces Russia Hasan (Xacah)
[Crackle, crackle.]
Kwak Soo-hwan was on the hood of a Jeep, holding a CB radio. Russia was clearly a place where even the coldest winters come, but since it was a city almost adjacent to the Korean Peninsula, the weather was quite cool.
The river in front of me, which had been covered with ice all winter, was flowing rapidly as if it had never been like that. The population had decreased rapidly, and the water quality of the rivers and lakes had improved beyond compare, but Kwak Soo-hwan had never been born then, so he had no idea how dirty it had been before.
He rolled up his shirt to reveal his sunburned arms.
[Crackle, crackle.]
He jumped down from the hood and rearranged the antenna hanging from the car.
[Crackle, damn it!]
A harsh curse burst out from the radio. Done, Kwak Soo-hwan threw the radio into the driver's window.
[Sigh… … . Crackle, can you hear me? Ddol-su, squeak,]
“… … Is this Major Lee?”
Seok-hwa, who had been dozing off in the passenger seat, got up.
[Allied Forces, crackle, is this real!]
He got into the driver's seat and handed Seok-hwa the radio.
The bangs I cut the day before yesterday were a little crooked, but they still had their own charm.
“Did you sleep well?”
Kwak Soo-hwan put his lips on Seok-hwa's cheek and took a bite. His cheek, heated by the sun, was warm. Seokhwa made a faint expression in the throbbing pain and spoke into the radio.
“Lieutenant Lee, can you hear me? It’s Seokhwa.”
[Tsk, tsk. Doctor?! I miss you! Really! So much! Lieutenant Cha, … … I said, tsk.]
“I’ll go make contact now. I missed you too.”
Kwak Su-hwan brought the radio again. He only grumbled inside to see you.
“Should we go back soon?”
As he stepped on the accelerator, Seokhwa also pulled up the mask he had been wearing under his chin.
The backseat was filled with vials containing clear solutions.
***
The only railroad bridge connecting Russia and the Korean Peninsula crossed the Duman River.
The river was short enough to see people on the other side, but the current was so fast that swimming across it was impossible. The low Duman River Bridge had been neglected for a long time, and the cement and steel bars were broken or fallen off in some places. I had used this bridge when I first crossed into Russia, but it seemed to have become more outdated after the winter.
Kwak Su-hwan parked his car at the entrance to the bridge and stacked the solution boxes in his backpack. Seok-hwa also got out of the passenger seat with his backpack containing food and water.
He slowly raised his head as the intense light struck his head. The hot sun was scorching the surroundings, making him forget the harsh winter of Russia.
Behind the bridge, green leaves had grown lush, and this place, which was called the border between the Korean Peninsula and Russia, had long since lost its meaning. If the forest grew a little bigger, it might eat up this bridge too, and one day the bridge might collapse.
“Major.”
“It’s been a while since I got my major’s badge, and you’re still saying that.”
“You’ve only been stripped of your controller position.”
Seokhwa moved his lips inside the mask.
“Choe Ho-eon became the master, so how could he have just left it alone? It would have been good if they hadn’t issued a public wanted warrant.”
In the end, was Choi Ho-eon not trying to establish a new country, but rather wanting to be at the center of power?
Seokhwa didn’t know what his half-blood brother was thinking. Right now, his priority was to contact people who were sure that this vaccine was on our side.
As he was about to take a step forward, Kwak Su-hwan stopped him for a moment. He smiled and hooked his index finger on the mask, pulling it down to his chin.
“If I walk, I’ll be out of breath.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to hide my face?”
“The last kiss in Russia.”
When Seokhwa looked up at Kwak Su-hwan, a dark shadow fell over his face.
He lightly tapped her lips and kissed her again, making a peck sound. Unable to hold it in any longer, he grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her deeply. Seokhwa also opened her mouth and naturally closed her eyes. As he licked his sloppy tongue, his hand that was holding onto his backpack strap turned white. The base of his tongue tingled, so he pressed his body against it a little more, and a burning heat rose up in an instant.
“Haa… … . Now, let’s go.”
“No, the kids have to stay for ten more minutes.”
Kwak Soo-hwan spoke skillfully and hugged Seok-hwa’s waist, which was hidden by his backpack. At this rate, he would be swept away. Seok-hwa, who had experienced this several times, pulled his lips away and opened his eyes wide in the opposite direction, saying, “Huh?”
He frowned and looked back at the direction Seok-hwa was looking at.
“What, you’re already here?”
However, there was only a train left alone in the middle of the bridge.
“Let’s go.”
Seok-hwa responded expressionlessly with wet lips.
“Wow, Dr. Seok. Now you’re even cheating.”
But Kwak Soo-hwan’s lips were still softly relaxed. As Seokhwa walked ahead, he raised his voice behind him.
“Come with me, honey.”
As Kwak Su-hwan ran toward him, the railroad creaked and made an uneasy sound. The weight of two people wouldn’t break the bridge, but he was worried about the train in the middle. Kwak Su-hwan seemed to know this, and he walked a little more carefully as he came next to him.
Clang, clang.
A few screws that held the bridge in place were heard snapping off. The skeletal bones inside the train were so tangled that it was hard to tell who they belonged to. To make matters worse, the cement was dented here and there, and you could see the river flowing under the steel frame.
“The holes are bigger than when you came here?”
“They’re bigger. There are more of them.”
Squeak, squeak, behind them, the train carrying the skeletons was scraping the railroad as if it was about to depart. The squeak, the sound of the steel bending and the cement breaking was gradually gaining momentum. When Kwak Su-hwan grabbed his arm, Seok-hwa also stopped. He took a short breath and let it out, then shifted his backpack to the front.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
He quickly picked up Seok-hwa and ran, and his legs began to sag and sink. As if a huge gravity was at work, the train’s waist bent in half and was about to dive into the river. The weight of two people added to the legs that were barely holding them up, and it became a detonator. Kwak Su-hwan’s muscles tightened as he ran along the edge, leaving the tracks. The beginning of the Korean Peninsula was right in front of him, but now only the steel frame remained.
A flock of ducks were leisurely swimming under the bridge. The animals were so calm, and it seemed like only humans were struggling above, but if you think about it, the ducks were also moving their legs diligently under the water. Moreover, there was no need to envy the birds that were not infected by Adam.
It was doubtful whether this rusty steel frame could support the weight of two people while being carried. Furthermore, it was so narrow that even Kwak Su-hwan would be able to keep his balance.
“I’ll get off.”
Seok-hwa said urgently and grabbed him as he got down on the ground.
“I’ll run first.”
“Just carry me,”
“Run. It won’t be able to support both of our weights at once. Hurry up.”
“If you follow me and it seems like it won’t work, tell me right away.”
“Let’s go!”
Kwak Su-hwan started running, stepping on the cement remaining on the outside of the bridge. Seok-hwa also moved his legs diligently, moving his legs as fast as he could.
Thud, thud, Seok-hwa felt the lump of cement falling down, but he ran forward without looking down. Even when a huge noise erupted from behind, he didn’t look back. It was the moment when Kwak Su-hwan, who had already gotten out of the bridge, reached out his hand. Seokhwa’s body fell through the steel bars right in front of his nose.
Kwak Su-hwan, who didn’t let go of Seokhwa’s outstretched hand, grabbed it and pulled his arm up.
“Fuck, I’ve been through ten years.”
He hugged Seokhwa while lying on the floor. Seokhwa was relieved, but he quickly got up because the backpack he was carrying was pressing down on him.
“What about the vaccine?”
“It’s not broken, but it’s over there.”
When he looked back in the direction he had pointed, the train had crashed into the river, and the bridge was completely broken and in disarray.
“If Dr. Seok hadn’t stopped us, we might have died while we were all merged.”
He sighed and kept groaning as if something was so funny. Seokhwa lay down next to Kwak Su-hwan and slowly caught his breath. As the engine’s rumbling sound approached his head, he spread his arms on the floor and looked up at the sky.
“Wow, you’re breaking the bridge and coming over?”
Seokhwa raised his head and looked at the stopped jeep. Lee Chaeyoon, who had been looking stunned, soon smiled pleasantly.
“Doctor! Welcome back to Rainbow City. Are you glad to see me too, Tolsu-hwan?”
“You must be really nice.”
Gwak Su-hwan, who got up first, grabbed Seokhwa’s arm.
“What? Your complexions don’t look like those of people who ran away?”
Yang Sang-hoon, who was holding the steering wheel, also jumped out of the jeep. Seokhwa bowed to the two people he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“How have you both been?”
“Yeah, we’ve been doing well. We’ve been doing too well, which is a problem.”
Lee Chaeyoon scratched her eyes with her hand, feeling a little embarrassed.
“Let’s talk about it later. Let’s just move first.”
Yang Sang-hoon patted the hood of the jeep, telling her to get in quickly.
***
Seokhwa calmly took in the scenery around her as she drove down the road.
The days I spent in Russia weren’t bad, but I wanted to come back to this land. Even so, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that my life was all about living in Jeju Island and Yeouido Shelter, but Rainbow City was my homeland anyway.
460 days, not a long time, but not a short time either.
While going down to the old name of Pyongyang, Seokhwa couldn’t help but be surprised at the cleaned up roads. It was definitely a road full of abandoned cars when they went up to China. However, now the roads were cleaned up enough for a jeep to drive through without difficulty.
“I guess they cleared everything?”
Kwak Su-hwan, who was sitting in the back seat, also clicked his tongue.
“Oh. The land above here has been completely abandoned by the city. It’s all designated as a restricted area.”
Yang Sang-hoon responded somewhat bitterly.
“This kid didn’t even know what restricted access meant when he was talking?”
“Who do you think he’s an idiot?”
“Then what is it?”
“Access control is access control, what does that mean?
.”
Rather, when Yang Sang-hoon made a tired face, saying, “Don’t you know?” Lee Chae-yoon lightly raised her middle finger instead of answering.
Seok-hwa smiled because they seemed to have not changed at all, as they were grumbling. The only one who noticed was Kwak Soo-hwan, who moved his lips slightly.
Having lived in Vladivostok for nearly 300 days, Kwak Soo-hwan had half-honestly thought about not going back.
“Choi Ho-eon’s approval rating has already surpassed 90 percent. Can you give me a rough idea?”
Lee Chae-yoon grabbed the headrest and turned around.
“Even if 20 percent of that is a lie, honestly, people’s reactions aren’t bad. Rather, they prefer young masters.”
“How’s the military?”
“Among the old farts, all the ones who are against Choi Ho-eon.”
With a squeak, Lee Chae-yoon made a gesture of slitting her throat.
After driving on the unpaved road for a while, Yang Sang-hoon stopped the jeep in a thicket of grass. Nearby was a 12-person military tent with protective clothing, and Yang Sang-hoon got out of the jeep and checked the surroundings. After confirming that there was no particular problem, he signaled for them to come out.
Seok-hwa also got down on the ground because he had been sitting for a long time and stretched his stiff back. Kwak Soo-hwan carried Seok-hwa’s backpack and also tightly packed the bag containing the vaccine.
“Doctor, are you okay?”
Lee Chae-yoon came over and asked carefully. Seok-hwa couldn’t fully understand what she meant, but answered, “Yes.”
“You can sleep if you’re tired.”
She seemed to be saying that I know you well, so there’s no need to save face. Seok-hwa added a small laugh and said that it was okay instead.
“Why are you like this? You’re not the old Dr. Seok. You guys didn’t see it, but it was Dr. Seok who ran while destroying the bridge.”
“It’s old and broken.”
“You still don’t know how to joke.”
Yang Sang-hoon also raised his voice as if he was finally letting go of his tension.
The sun was already setting, and as the grass grew thicker, the amount of light coming in was noticeably reduced. Yang Sang-hoon took out whiskey and a plastic cup covered with dirt from his trunk. The rest of the group went into the military tent and unpacked their luggage.
When Kwak Su-hwan lifted the tent covering the entrance, a cool breeze blew inside. Inside, there were cots, canned food, and bottled water piled high on one side.
Yang Sang-hoon came inside and took down the tent. He turned on the light bulb hanging in the center of the tent and opened a makeshift table. He placed plastic cups according to the number of people and poured alcohol bottles with great enthusiasm.
“I’m going to get food poisoning just looking at it.”
Kwak Su-hwan swore as he looked into the cup.
“Hey kid, if you disinfect it with alcohol, you won’t get food poisoning.”
“Who said I would? I’m worried about our Seok Doctor.”
“Don’t you drink alcohol, Doctor?”
“I’ve had one more drink since I lived in Russia. It’s okay.”
Seok-hwa was the first to hold the plastic cup with both hands and show it to Yang Sang-hoon. Yang Sang-hoon also poured whiskey with both hands without thinking.
“Hey hey! Stop pouring! No matter how much you’ve had, it’s not one drink, it’s just one sip.”
“That bastard went into hiding for over a year and now he’s back as some kind of nanny.”
“That bastard was always like that.”
Lee Chae-yoon pulled out the plastic chairs that were stacked on top of each other and threw them to each person’s seat. She was chewing on dried squid legs that she didn’t know where she got.
After pouring a glass into each person’s glass, silence spread for a moment. Now the sun was completely hidden, and only the dim light bulbs illuminated the tent.
“Let’s have a drink first.”
Kwak Soo-hwan gulped down the liquor. It was quite expensive, so the taste was quite good. Seok-hwa, who did not follow the unspoken rule of a single shot for the first drink, just moistened his lips.
“Ddol-soo-hwan, where should we start?”
Lee Chae-yoon pressed her forehead as if her head hurt.
Even while in Vladivostok, she occasionally heard news of Rainbow City. It was because of propaganda that had accidentally flowed in there.
The place where Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa were staying was home to Koreans who had immigrated long ago. Most of them were born after the Adam Incident, so it would not be an exaggeration to say that they could hardly speak Korean. Strictly speaking, they were like 4th or 5th generation immigrants. The first propaganda material they brought, which seemed to be news from Rainbow City, was a poster for Choi Ho-eon’s election as Master.
“How did Choi Ho-eon become Master? Let’s start from there.”
Lee Chae-yoon took the squid she was sucking out of her mouth at Kwak Soo-hwan’s words.
“Well, at first, Choi Ho-eon joined hands with First to campaign for the Master election. But a month before the Master election, First died. They say he died of a chronic illness, but who would believe that? We’re sure Choi Ho-eon killed him, but people have no way of knowing. After the Adam incident, Choi Ho-eon gave people a ton of food. Later, with that bastard’s help, he found out about the headquarters of the Garden of Eden and raided it all.”
“Choi Ho-eon… … . snitched?”
Seok-hwa, who had been listening, made a puzzled face.
“Yeah.”
Everyone here knew that Choi Ho-eon was a key figure in the Garden of Eden.
“You don’t believe it either, Doctor? I still do. But Choi Ho-eon's mother was executed instead. That bastard wasn't her biological son, but her adopted son? She said on the radio that she felt a huge sense of betrayal because she didn't know that her adoptive mother was the leader of the Garden of Eden. So her adoptive mother was executed with everything turned upside down, and really... ... That guy didn't say anything until the end. The rest was just like Choi Ho-eon's scenario. The First Master must have died too, because he started to propagandize that he inherited his will."
"Second went into hiding before the election?"
Kwak Soo-hwan took out water from his backpack and handed it to Seok-hwa.
"How did you know that?"
Yang Sang-hoon's eyes widened.
"You can't tell if you look at him? He looks thirsty."
As expected, Seok-hwa was drinking the water that Kwak Soo-hwan handed her.
"No, I mean Second went into hiding, you brat."
"Even though I was in Russia, I heard the news."
In the end, that was how a single master was born. Lee Chae-yoon bit the squid with her teeth and tore it with her hands.
“But Tol-soo, is that true? That the Allied Forces have collapsed?”
“Oh. It’s been a long time since they collapsed. The Allied Forces have only been doing their job for a few years, so Rainbow City has been isolated. Choi Ho-eon and the previous masters probably knew all about it.”
Yang Sang-hoon let out a hearty laugh and poured himself another glass of alcohol. If it weren’t for Kwak Soo-hwan or Seok-hwa, he wouldn’t have been able to easily believe that the truth he knew was a complete lie.
“What’s the current situation in the city?”
“My mother said that it’s better than before. It’s no exaggeration to say that most of the citizens support and follow Choi Ho-eon. It’s safer and more peaceful than before. Even the abandoned regions have been cleared out by sending soldiers in one go, so isn’t that true? Since that bastard became a master, Adam has hardly ever run wild.”
“Instead of living a little better, he’s lost a little more freedom.”
Lee Chae-yoon nodded at Yang Sang-hoon’s insistence.
“Doctor, is it true that you made a vaccine?”
“Yes.”
Seok-hwa pointed to the backpack that Kwak Soo-hwan had placed on the floor with his eyes.
“Doctor, is it true? A real vaccine?”
“I wonder if these guys have been living a life of deception, but they have been living a life of deception. Oh, it’s true.”
“How on earth… …?”
He was asking how he could go to another country and complete a vaccine that even Rainbow City couldn’t achieve.
“As soon as he arrived in Russia, he met a master with three generations of internal energy, obtained a mysterious elixir, and developed an incredible brain and strength to create a vaccine and return. You guys should see Dr. Seok’s performance. It’s on par with light-heartedness.”
“What is he talking about?”
I guess this is a bit more, Lee Chae-yoon twirled her fingers around her temple.
“So you’re saying that you made the vaccine with Russian technology?”
“No, it’s Dr. Seok’s technology.”
Kwak Soo-hwan brought a bottle of whiskey and drank it down in one gulp.
“Dr. Seok, I told you, didn’t I?”
Ha, Kwak Soo-hwan put the bottle down with a sharp breath and looked at Seok-hwa.
“When you go back, we’re now rebels.”
Seok-hwa nodded once.
“Are you really going to fight Choi Ho-eon?”
Only Yang Sang-hoon reacted indifferently.
“I don’t know.”
Kwak Soo-hwan gave an ambiguous answer and supplied expensive alcohol to the liver. The sound of the tent plastic rustling in the wind and the bushes swaying could be heard.
“Do you know that Lieutenant Cha is wanted?”
“I know.”
“At first, I thought Lieutenant Cha was lying when Lee Chae-yoon told me the location of the meeting.”
It was true that Lieutenant Cha, who was wanted, contacted Lee Chae-yoon and connected with Kwak Soo-hwan.
The last time he contacted Lieutenant Cha was about a month ago, and that day, Kwak Soo-hwan decided that it would be better to wait a little longer before meeting Yang Sang-hoon. Kwak Soo-hwan had not expected that Lee Chae-yoon would ask him to go with her.
“Where on earth is Lieutenant Cha hiding with your kids?”
Kwak Soo-hwan lifted his lowered eyelids and looked at Yang Sang-hoon.
“Yang Sang-hoon.”
“What is it, you brat. It’s creepy.”
“Why are you curious about where Lieutenant Cha is?”
“Did you really have to ask that question so seriously?”
Kwak Soo-hwan asked Yang Sang-hoon again, who was trying to laugh it off as a joke.
“Are you sure you didn’t get caught?”
“What?”
“You didn’t even check? No, you probably already knew that there were guys following you, so you didn’t need to check.”
Yang Sang-hoon blinked in bewilderment when I responded expressionlessly, then quickly frowned. It was a slow reaction, like a kid who suddenly fell to the floor and realized the pain belatedly.
“This fucking shit! You piece of shit!”
Bang! Yang Sang-hoon kicked the table with his foot. Seok-hwa’s cup spilled over, and amber liquid dripped onto the floor. Kwak Soo-hwan tapped the back of Seok-hwa’s hand from under the table.
“Are you doubting me now?”
Yang Sang-hoon and Lee Chae-yoon, both neatly dressed in their Rainbow City uniforms, and Seok-hwa and Kwak Soo-hwan, both in shirts and pants, couldn’t get along even though they were at the same table. They were wearing the same uniforms and clean white shirts.
It was completely different from when they were wearing luck. Lee Chae-yoon held the table tightly with both arms during the war of nerves between the two.
“Kwak Soo-hwan, do you know that you’ve gone too far this time? Even if others don’t, don’t suspect us. Don’t you know that we had a hard time coordinating the situation after saying we were going to the site?”
“You might have done that, but that kid doesn’t.”
Kwak Soo-hwan said nonchalantly and tilted the bottle to moisten his lips. Yang Sang-hoon and Kwak Soo-hwan’s fierce gazes clashed, and Yang Sang-hoon was the first to widen his pupils and look at the incandescent light. Kwak Soo-hwan immediately grabbed the bottle by its spout and hurled it at the light bulb hanging at the top of the tent.
Thud! The sound of the light bulb exploding after hitting the bottle caused complete darkness to fall.
“Hey! You crazy Dol-soo-hwan! That kid must have really come back! What the hell are you doing!”
Seok-hwa had already grabbed the backpack that was underneath him at his signal. Kwak Su-hwan grabbed Seok-hwa’s hand and ripped the tent with a jackknife. The moment he was about to pull his body out, a gunshot rang out, and Kwak Su-hwan took a pistol out of his backpack pocket and fired straight ahead.
“Lieutenant Cha! Now!”
As Kwak Su-hwan shouted, the echo spread through the thick forest. At the same time, gunshots began to erupt around the tent. Seok-hwa lowered his body as much as possible and followed Kwak Su-hwan, and he fired his pistol at the soldiers in ambush while making his way through the forest path.
Suddenly, a light blinked three times in the 11 o’clock direction. It was a signal from Kwak Su-hwan’s 21st Violet Unit. Kwak Su-hwan made Seok-hwa run after the light and began to follow him while providing cover from behind. Seok-hwa quickly ran out of breath, but he didn’t stop running. The light blinked again, and the light was gradually getting closer. The sound of bullets hitting wooden poles seemed to be right next to his ears. As Kwak Su-hwan let out a low groan, Seok-hwa's speed slowed down a bit.
"Don't turn back and keep running!"
He shouted softly and refilled his magazine.
Surrounding the city troops surrounding the tent were the surviving members of Kwak Su-hwan's unit. If everything went as planned, they should have joined up with Lee Chae-yoon, Lieutenant Colonel Cha, and his own unit members, but Lieutenant Colonel Cha didn't show up because Yang Sang-hoon followed him. Instead, he followed behind and continued to protect Kwak Su-hwan.
Seok-hwa found a jeep waiting with its headlights off and ran as fast as he could to the passenger seat. He held onto the open door and continued to exhale the breath that had risen to the tip of his neck. Someone lifted his body up and placed him in the passenger seat. Seok-hwa could tell who it was just by the warmth. However, there was red blood on the waist where he had been holding onto. Kwak Su-hwan, who had gotten into the jeep, brought out the radio and held it to his lips. Blood was visible between his fingers, as if the bullet had grazed his forearm.
“All hands, withdraw. Move individually and make contact at number 53.”
He gripped the steering wheel tightly without turning on the headlights. Lieutenant Cha’s jeep was following them right behind.
“There must have been a reason… … . Haa, there must have been.”
Seok-hwa’s voice was quieter than usual, perhaps because he was not sure.
“Where are you hurt?”
“… … It’s okay.”
The major is bleeding. He couldn’t say that and had to catch his breath again.
Kwak Soo-hwan stared straight ahead as if nothing had happened. However, it was none other than Yang Sang-hoon. Seok-hwa skillfully took out a styptic from his backpack and put it on his forearm. He peeled off the plastic covering the bandage and firmly pressed his forearm, which was holding the steering wheel.
Seok-hwa looked at the pitch-black forest path that was impossible to see even an inch ahead and wondered if returning here was the right choice.
Why did Yang Sang-hoon betray? Of course, he was Kwak Soo-hwan’s friend, but they met in the military and he was also a soldier in Rainbow City. Even though he knew that Choi Ho-eon was the head of the Garden of Eden, did he become loyal to him because he became the Master? Seok-hwa didn’t let out his multiplying questions.
“Dr. Seok, it wasn’t Yang Sang-hoon who betrayed you.”
What the heck. Kwak Soo-hwan slammed the handle once.
***
Lee Chae-yoon found a flashlight in the tent and pressed the button. When she shined it at Yang Sang-hoon, her expressionless colleague felt unfamiliar.
“What on earth did you do, you punk?”
Yang Sang-hoon snatched the flashlight from Lee Chae-yoon and shined it on the spot where the bag had been. There was only the remains of the spilled alcohol left there.
“Yang Sang-hoon! What did you do? Did you really bring those punks!?”
Lee Chae-yoon pointed at the soldiers outside who had been shot dead. Yang Sang-hoon, who walked out of the tent without answering, took out a pistol from inside his uniform. He already confirmed the death of the dead soldiers. Lee Chae-yoon, who followed him, snatched the pistol from Yang Sang-hoon and threw it outside.
“Are you crazy! Huh?! If the mouth is open, at least explain why you are doing this!”
Lee Chae-yoon roughly grabbed Yang Sang-hoon by the collar and shook him.
“They are all under Choi Ho-eon’s direct control. What will happen to us if they come back alive?”
He took out the knife in its sheath and immediately scratched Lee Chae-yoon’s forearm.
“Ah! Major Yang, Yang Sang-hoon! You really!”
“Lee Chae-yoon, if you want to protect your house, do as I say. This is what happened because you fought an all-out war with Lieutenant Cha. Do you understand?”
Lee Chae-yoon shouted, “You crazy bastard!” and repeatedly punched Yang Sang-hoon in the face.
“You must have misunderstood! How are you going to solve this!”
As he grabbed him by the collar and shook him violently, the buttons on his uniform were ripped off.
“Stop hitting him! That kid is smart! He’s smart, so he’d know why I did it!”
Yang Sang-hoon spat out blood, his nose bleeding and his teeth hurting.
“This major, you’re obsessed with promotion. You’re friends, but you used Kwak Soo-hwan and Dr. Seok-hwa to catch Lieutenant Colonel Cha. You know what I mean? Why did you drag me into that?”
Yang Sang-hoon’s military ID slipped out through his disheveled shirt. Lee Chae-yoon grabbed the military ID and checked the inside number that was off.
MP- Controller, this was Yang Sang-hoon’s current location.
***
After the nationwide Adam infection, Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa were reported missing, and 300 days later, they were declared criminals with ideological discord for leaving Rainbow City without permission. Also, after the all-out war with Choi Ho-eon and the Violet soldiers in the 21st Violet District, who were known to have deserted their platoon, a wanted order was naturally issued. Because of the all-out war with Adam that Choi Ho-eon had released, the remaining unit members were reduced by almost half.
Those who knew that Choi Ho-eon was a Serpent included the Second Master who had gone into hiding and the Violet unit members, but he had escaped easily even when he was a doctor. Now that he was a Master, it would be even harder to reveal the whole story.
The 53rd area where they were supposed to meet with the Violet unit members was an abandoned church building in Yeoncheon County. Of the soldiers at the scene, except for Lieutenant Cha, none had yet joined. They were on their way back because there might be a force chasing them.
“Lieutenant Cha.”
Seok-hwa picked up a vaccine ampoule and filled an empty syringe with the solution.
“It’s a valid vaccine. I tested it on my body first. However, there may be variables, so please avoid being bitten by Adam.”
Seokhwa calmly explained to Lieutenant Cha, who had put out his arm.
“You may have a fever for a day.”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
He rubbed it with a disinfectant cotton pad and injected the vaccine into Lieutenant Cha’s arm.
“How’s the movement of the Garden of Eden?”
After checking the wound, Kwak Soo-hwan tightly bandaged it again.
“Wasn’t the Garden of Eden a rebel force in Rainbow City? It may be a leap, but it seems that Choi Ho-eon is thinking of reorganizing the Garden of Eden and making it the state religion of the city. There are Eden gatherings all over the city, but recently, the military has become more and more indifferent.”
“There must be some friendly citizens since there were people who received help from the Garden of Eden during the Adam incident.”
“Yes, it seems so. But is it true that Major Yang Sang-hoon really turned away?”
“No.”
Kwak Soo-hwan replied with a sigh.
“I was sure that guy gave me a signal and we were surrounded.”
He honestly couldn’t completely trust Yang Sang-hoon until the guy pointed at the light bulb with his eyes.
If Yang Sang-hoon knew, he would be furious and angry, but since it was a matter of life and death, it was nearly impossible to completely trust someone.
“Still, there’s something suspicious about Major Yang Sang-hoon’s behavior, so be careful. We’re also living outside the city, so news is a bit late, but the Mother System has been completely reorganized, and the Education Center’s methods have become strange. They’ve chosen a method of education that supports Choi Ho-eon as an individual rather than supporting the Master.”
Kwak Soo-hwan opened his mouth while looking down at the map that organized the city districts.
“You’re saying that you’re going to solidify it as a single dictatorship. The doctrine of the Garden of Eden says that the Tree of Life saves you, what the hell is that?”
“I don’t know for sure, but it seems similar.”
“The savior does not say that he is the savior. He does not deceive us by pretending to be the savior. The savior who denies himself is the true tree of life.”
Kwak Soo-hwan and Lieutenant Cha looked at Seok-hwa at the same time. He recited the doctrine, but his speech was dry and far from the beliefs of a believer who was absorbed in the Garden of Eden.
“That’s what the believer said in Busan when he was kidnapped by Choi Ho-eon. Do you remember the broadcast that came on the radio when the large-scale Adam incident broke out?”
Kwak Soo-hwan also roughly remembered the context. Seok-hwa wrote down exactly what he remembered on the blackboard in front of him.
[Those who want to be saved, believe in the Garden of Eden. Rainbow City has abandoned its citizens. We have the Tree of Life, which is our salvation, and the Serpent of Wisdom, which protects the tree. The Garden of Eden prioritizes the safety of its citizens. Believers, if you persevere, the Garden of Eden will come to greet you.]
“The serpent of wisdom is probably the Serpent and Choi Ho-eon. And the executed adoptive mother is probably a martyr in the Garden of Eden by now. According to the doctrine I saw back then and what people said, the Adam Virus immune body is the Tree of Life. Choi Ho-eon said me. If there were other immune bodies besides me, they would have put the new Tree of Life first.”
“It is true that there are believers who have been blessed by the Tree of Life once. Those believers who have received that blessing are now elders.”
Seok-hwa had never actually given a blessing, but they considered it a blessing.
“There is an atmosphere in the city that recognizes the Garden of Eden.
If it is formed… … . The city will be completely in Choi Ho-eon’s hands.”
“Probably so.”
The Seok-hwa that Lieutenant Cha remembers is a doctor who is always absent-minded and absent-minded. He doesn’t talk much and is mostly absent-minded, but even though his absent-mindedness is still there, his eyes are clearer than before.
“Lieutenant Cha.”
Kwak Soo-hwan sat down on the desk. He quickly dragged one ankle and placed it on his thigh.
“Yes, Captain, go ahead.”
“Now that you’ve been vaccinated, is there any reason for you to stay with me? Take the kids back to the city and live comfortably, or go up to Russia.”
“No matter what anyone says, I’m a citizen of Rainbow City and have no intention of leaving. If there’s something wrong, I won’t avoid it and will fix it. Those guys would all grit their teeth if it’s Choi Ho-eon. Don’t you know that I lost a comrade who shared joys and sorrows with him?”
“I just left.”
“Yes, it seemed so.”
Kwak Soo-hwan chuckled. However, Seok-hwa knew that it wasn’t an empty promise.
If Lieutenant Colonel Cha or his men wanted to leave in search of their own lives, he would have let them go, and there were actually one or two soldiers who had deserted. Now, all that was left were a small elite unit.
With a thud, the church door opened and soldiers in plain clothes began to come in. Kwak Soo-hwan signaled to the soldiers who saluted to announce their return to come closer.
“One by one, roll up your arms and line up.”
They looked puzzled, but they didn’t respond and just held out their arms. Kwak Soo-hwan also helped Seok-hwa administer the vaccine to his men. Seok-hwa also explained to each person that it was the Adam virus vaccine. Coincidentally, there were twelve people in total who received the vaccine, including Lieutenant Colonel Cha.
“Are there any of you who will become Judas? If so, tell me in advance.”
The soldiers who received the vaccine just stared blankly at each other.
“Captain, what is Judas?”
“It’s something to eat, kid.”
Kwak Soo-hwan also felt happy and complicated when he saw the faces of his direct subordinates in person. They were originally like ghosts because they belonged to the controller unit, but now they were being chased.
“Hey, captain.”
A soldier as big as a Russian bear raised his hand stealthily.
“Tell me.”
“Can we openly fight Adam now?”
Kwak Soo-hwan put the remaining vaccine boxes in his backpack and replied.
“Kid, you’re wearing a bulletproof vest, so you’re going to just run into the enemy when they’re shooting?”
“No.”
He lifted his butt off the desk and tapped the toes of his shoes twice.
“Our goal from now on is to eradicate Adam and mass produce the vaccine. And we’ll find the Second. We have to take down Choi Ho-eon too, but with our numbers, it’s impossible.”
When the captain said that, the subordinates couldn’t help but have dark faces. Even if each individual’s fighting power was high, they were powerless against numbers.
“That’s why we’re going to use this.”
Kwak Soo-hwan pointed to his temple.
“From now on, you and I are all followers of the Garden of Eden. Not only that, we are the real Garden of Eden.”
“Captain, you don’t believe in that religion?”
“Who really believes in it? You’re just pretending to do that. The Tree of Life that those bastards acknowledge is on our side, so who would be truly saved?”
The rest of the soldiers, except for Lieutenant Colonel Cha, looked like they had no idea what he was talking about.
“The savior that the Garden of Eden speaks of is Dr. Seok here. Since the elders of the Garden of Eden acknowledge Dr. Seok as the Tree of Life, we are the real Garden of Eden.”
The soldiers’ eyes were all focused on Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa took out the peanuts in his backpack and nodded. He hurriedly prepared to leave the church. It was probably because he was uncomfortable with the attention.
“Let’s rest here today and start moving in earnest tomorrow.”
Kwak Su-hwan started following the path Seok-hwa had taken. The old rural church had been deserted for a long time, and the yard was overgrown with weeds. Seok-hwa didn’t go far and was crouching under the stairs outside the church. Jung-su-ri was chewing peanuts and picking rocks around him with a tree branch.
“Are there any rocks you like?”
“Not yet.”
Seok-hwa’s desire to collect rocks had diminished significantly because he had moved around. Before Kwak Su-hwan showed up, his obsession had always been rocks, but now he was just as focused on Kwak Su-hwan as on rocks.
“We… … . Did you come back safely?”
Kwak Su-hwan crouched down in front of Seok-hwa as well.
“What do you mean?”
“Rainbow City has become more stable than before.”
“That bastard Choi Ho-eon is a doctor, so he’s using his brain well. What do people want now? Safety. They traded safety for freedom. What if Adam was eradicated and the vaccine was perfect?”
Seok-hwa raised his head while scraping the dirt with a branch and looked at Kwak Soo-hwan.
Since they had been together all along, he didn’t notice what had changed easily. However, he only realized it after seeing Yang Sang-hoon and Lee Chae-yoon today.
Kwak Soo-hwan was a man who suited the city uniform better than anyone else, and if it weren’t for me, he might have been successful. He wouldn’t have been at odds with Choi Ho-eon. Even if he hinted at this, Kwak Soo-hwan would definitely say that he had a strong rebel spirit and would have gone astray at any time.
“Again.”
“Why?”
“You look like your brother.”
“You’re right, brother.”
“Listen. When I was young, I was told that a Vietnamese woman took care of me and my younger sibling. She told me a wonderful fairy tale.”
Seokhwa blinked her eyes a couple of times. Kwak Soo-hwan quickly took the branch Seokhwa was holding and began drawing a sharp castle.
“There was a kingdom on this small island, and the king bastard who lived there told the people not to go near the sea because the sea was dangerous. If anyone crossed the line, they were punished. Then someone said that they were going to develop a ship and leave for a wider and freer land. Then the king bastard destroyed the ship and executed all the people who could build it. And he lied to the people. He said that when he let them go out on a ship, they ran aground in a huge wave and came back as dead bodies. Since then, the islanders never went out to the sea.”
When I was young, I thought he was just a beggar king bastard, but it was a fairy tale that perfectly encapsulated Rainbow City.
They isolated people by imposing a plausible title called the Allied Forces, preventing them from freely crossing over. And within that, they used Adam for their own succession of power and their own indulgence.
It is clear that poison is a medicine when used well, but if it exceeds the allowable range, it can lead to death. I wonder if Choi Ho-eon knows that. Is he sure that he can perfectly control Adam? The two of them had already seen that story in Russia.
“Dr. Seok, I told you a fairy tale.”
Kwak Soo-hwan pulled Seok-hwa’s shirt round with his index finger.
“Can I suck your nipples?”
From here, he could see a point protruding from the secretly hidden inside.
“The clothes are stretched.”
Seok-hwa took his hand away.
Instead, he pulled his shirt up from the bottom. The reason it was a little plumper than before was probably because Kwak Soo-hwan bit and sucked it yesterday. Kwak Soo-hwan opened his mouth and pulled down the shirt that Seok-hwa had lifted. Instead of throwing away the branch, he grabbed Seokhwa’s wrist. He quickly turned around the church and headed toward where several jeeps were parked.
He leaned Seokhwa against the wall and looked around. His eyes narrowed sinisterly.
“Do it again.”
“What?”
“Lift up your shirt and show me your chest.”
He knew that Kwak Su-hwan was doing it on purpose. Seokhwa didn’t hate it either, so he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up to his neck.
The damp wind that smelled like grass as if it had come over the mountain soothed his exposed upper body, and the light coming from inside dyed his nipples lewdly. Kwak Su-hwan couldn’t hold it in any longer and sucked her breast in one bite. He also lifted Seokhwa’s body up.
“Ugh.”
Seokhwa hugged Kwak Su-hwan’s head in pain from the intense sucking.
He chewed the soft flesh with his teeth and bit the pointed egg, feeling like he was going to let out a groan. Seokhwa deliberately kept his lips tightly shut and only put strength into the arm that was wrapped around him.
He sucked in the other breast and pulled it away, and a reddish mark quickly appeared. Haa, Kwak Suhwan, whose chest was warmed by his hot breath, raised his head. The blush on Seokhwa’s cheekbones looked darker under the light.
When Kwak Suhwan opened his wet lips, Seokhwa covered his cheeks and lowered his face. Seokhwa liked this moment when he was looking at him from an angle he couldn’t normally see. Looking down at him from above, his eyelashes and his well-defined nose caught his eye anew.
He touched his lips, slid his tongue over the soft mucous membrane, and unconsciously rubbed his exposed chest against his shirt.
“If you keep doing that, it feels like it’s going to burst.”
He whispered and pressed his lower body against Seokhwa’s, and he put Seokhwa down again. The shirt that had been rolled up also flowed down, leaving a wet mark on his chest.
He had tried to do only light petting, but that determination never came to fruition. Seokhwa rubbed the wet part with his hand, feeling it cool.
Kwak Soo-hwan was the one lighting the fire, but Seokhwa was the one fanning the flames. Kwak Soo-hwan led Seokhwa to the back seat of the jeep before his lower body grew bigger and he became tired. He unbuckled his pants and pulled down his underwear in one go, revealing his smooth legs and half-erect penis.
“To clarify. I stood up because I sucked his chest a little.”
“Suddenly… … . No.”
“Yeah. Half-erect.”
Kwak Soo-hwan put Seokhwa’s penis in his mouth, his chest pounding once.
The saliva and Seokhwa’s Cooper’s fluid mixed together, making an obscene sound. Seokhwa's eyes relaxed at the sensation of being eaten into a hot cave.
When Kwak Su-hwan sucked it up, it felt like his lower body would be pulled out, but it quickly turned into an incredible pleasure that made his head boil. Seokhwa slightly opened his lips and let out a breath. It felt like he would vomit if he kept sucking it a few more times. His thighs were tense.
He kneaded the soft flesh inside his thighs with his large hands and gently rubbed his testicles.
"Haa, Major… … . I'll go… … I'll go… … ."
Kwak Su-hwan, who had swallowed the dick all the way to the root, made a sound
He took his mouth off. Thin saliva flowed from his tongue. His penis, which had been on the verge of ejaculation, twitched pitifully.
“Why, you’re not the captain.”
Kwak Soo-hwan held his wet penis with his hand. He wanted to shake it like that, but he only rubbed the tip with his thumb as if he was trying to tease her. Seok-hwa whispered with hazy eyes.
“… … Soo-hwan. I think I’m going to do it.”
Damn. Kwak Soo-hwan held my penis tightly with his hand and let out a soft moan. He suddenly slid his hand down to my perineum and rubbed it, and I felt the bottom part loosening up.
“Why does it keep getting wet here?”
“… … No.”
He tried to say it was because of his wet hands, but his pronunciation was muffled. While his fingers dug inside, Seok-hwa held her own penis with both hands.
“Can I cum inside? Huh?”
He chewed on his earlobe while pressing the sensitive part inside with his fingers. Their contrasting body temperatures were seeping into each other and changing to just the right temperature.
“Ah, hand… … . I don’t like it.”
As if asking why, he put three fingers in at once and spun them around. His eyes grew wide. Seokhwa grabbed the shirt wrapped around his back and twitched occasionally. Jiik, he heard the sound of the zipper going down, and soon a heavy penis spread his buttocks and entered.
As the blunt front pressed down on the hole, the tension made his lower body tense. He consciously tried to relax, but the lower body closed even more.
Kwak Soo-hwan pulled Seokhwa towards him and grabbed his thigh. He licked his completely exposed lower body with his tongue.
“Ah, no… … ! I don’t like that.”
He held on to Seokhwa, who was trying to escape by twisting his body, more tightly and continued to gently lick his lower body with his tongue. Seokhwa, who had a face that was almost like crying, now let out only moans that were almost like sobs.
He raised his waist, placed one leg on the floor, and the other knee next to Seokhwa’s shoulder, and thrust his erected dick in. Seokhwa held his penis with both hands and caressed the glans with his tongue.
“Hyung, look here.”
Only at times like this do you say “hyung.” Seokhwa filled his mouth with his glans and looked up at Gwak Su-hwan. His face was obscene as he moved his waist slightly and put his dick in his mouth. Every time he did that, Seokhwa felt a tickle in his lower body. He blinked because his dick was bent along the curve of his throat.
“Ugh… …! Ugh!”
As if he couldn’t stand it anymore, he patted Gwak Su-hwan’s thigh with his hand, and he pulled his dick out. When I turned my head and coughed, he felt sorry and kissed me here and there on my face.
Gwak Su-hwan, who held my thigh again, placed his saliva-soaked glans on the hole. Every time Seok-hwa breathed, his lower body twitched as if he was sucking me in.
“Can I put it in?”
“… … Ah, slowly.”
“They say it’s better to get beaten quickly. Can’t I put it in quickly?”
Seok-hwa shook her head listlessly and then relaxed her leg that was on his shoulder.
Gwak Su-hwan grabbed his dick and rubbed the hole up and down. It felt like my lower body was being torn apart by a solid, large pillar, unlike his sloppy tongue. Even the sensation of hitting my testicles and rising up was followed by a pleasure that made my head stand on end.
It was a moment when the dick that had been hitting my perineum from my tailbone and rising up let go of the tension. It dug in!
“Ah! Ahh!”
The bottom part opened up in an instant to match Kwak Soo-hwan’s dick. His eyes and ears became dizzy from the intense pain and shock, and the hand holding him twitched uncontrollably.
Sorry, I’ll make you feel good soon. Okay? Do you know how good I make you feel?
Unlike the violent bottom part, his voice was soft. As he lowered his lips to his forehead where cold sweat was dripping down, the penetration deepened and Seok-hwa let out a soft scream.
“Ah, I don’t know… … It hurts.”
“Why don’t you know? I always make you cum. You say your dick feels broken every time.”
He tried to turn his head, saying that he never said that, but his body completely froze and all he could do was gasp for breath.
He whispered in his ear that it was okay, but he diligently expanded his interlocking inner walls and came in. The fully filled penis was familiar, but still unfamiliar.
“Look at this. Seok-hwa hyung, it’s starting to get messy inside.”
Kwak Soo-hwan smiled pleasantly with wet lips.
As he said, the stimulated inside wrapped around his genitals as if squeezing them. As cold sweat soaked his eyes, he closed his eyes and the sensation below became a little thicker.
His tailbone and navel felt tingly at the same time, and he flinched, feeling Kwak Soo-hwan’s thing grow bigger once more.
“Do you like me, being a major?”
He pushed down his back thigh with his strong upper body and inserted deeply, and his mouth opened by itself. Seok-hwa just shook his head repeatedly as if he didn’t know what he was saying. Even the sound of his thin hair rubbing against the leather seat was obscene. He went in deeply and then moved his waist shallowly as if he was teasing her. He also lightly touched his prostate, making his fingertips and toes tingle.
“Ah!”
His body trembled as he thrust all the way back up. Every time he thrust from top to bottom, he had the illusion that his tailbone was being pushed out.
“That’s rough.”
“Ha, I like it now.”
Roughly? When I looked up with that meaning, Kwak Soo-hwan spread his buttocks apart.
“We’ve been stuck together all day, so it’s nice to be together like this.”
It seemed like he had taken to heart the pity he had looked at me like that earlier.
“Huh? Dr. Seok, too?”
Kwak Soo-hwan stopped moving and looked down with pitch-black eyes.
Seok-hwa slowly nodded his head, as if he wanted a definite answer. Kwak Soo-hwan spread his buttocks apart a little more. He twisted his waist as if the tightly spread area was stretching to its limit, but his crushed body didn’t move at all.
Seok-hwa grabbed Kwak Soo-hwan’s wrist and slowly opened her lips.
“Being together… … . is good. Ah!”
Kwak Soo-hwan started to thrust into his body that was folded in half.
He stabbed to the left, then swung it again, and spun his waist around while deeply inserting it so that it touched his pubic hair. A scream-mixed breath burst from Seokhwa’s mouth. The word “no” hung on the tip of his tongue and wouldn’t fall. Kwak Soo-hwan just kept pushing his dick in further.
Every time he repeated the insertion, Seokhwa’s erected penis hit his stomach and spat out liquid. Kwak Soo-hwan teased him that he was always hot, and this was why. His thighs were also soaking wet.
“Hey, you punk. Do you have any cigarettes left?”
Seokhwa’s eyes, which had been wet and blurry, came into focus.
Outside, two of Kwak Soo-hwan’s men were sharing a cigarette while bickering. He raised his hand to push Kwak Soo-hwan away, but he told him to be quiet and pressed his body closer. When he jerked his waist, the jeep seemed to shake, and Seokhwa’s body stiffened.
As his dick was squeezed inside Seokhwa, Kwak Su-hwan also let out a low breath. To tell him to stay still like this was torture. His patience was short-lived, and Kwak Su-hwan moved his waist to rub and stir inside. Seokhwa was surprised and covered his mouth with both hands and pushed his shoulder with his foot.
Unable to bear the soft touch of his soles any longer, he lifted Seokhwa and turned him over on top of him. While they were going, he hugged him from behind and wrapped his wet genitals with his hands. As he licked the back of his neck and touched his nipples, Seokhwa bent forward. Because of that, the insertion became much deeper and saliva dripped from his mouth that couldn’t close.
When he pressed Seokhwa’s lower abdomen to block his struggle to get away, he let out a sharp moan. Something leaked out of his genitals in shock. He didn’t have any urges, so it wasn’t a mistake, but Seokhwa’s body suddenly felt hot.
Take it out… … .
His back vibrated faintly. Not now. Seokhwa’s body itself seemed to be a resonating chamber, resonating whenever he made a sound. Since it was deeply connected to his body, everything about Seokhwa felt more certain. Kwak Su-hwan leaned his cheek on Seokhwa’s shoulder and answered.
No.
He gently rubbed his lower abdomen with his palm as if soothing a child and sucked the flesh on his shoulder. Then, when he pressed his abdomen tightly again, Seokhwa began to sob. He twisted his waist and squeezed Kwak Su-hwan’s dick as much as he could. The moment the red dot moving outside disappeared and the sound of footsteps grew distant, he roughly laid Seokhwa down. He rolled his nipple with his hand while hitting his inner wall as much as he had held back.
“Ah… … Ahh!”
Major, Su-hwan… … . Seokhwa let out the moans she had been holding back without even knowing what she was saying.
“Whew, see. I make you feel good.”
“Ah! Ugh.”
The heat inside of the bak-ah-dae rose up and the soft slit was being carelessly pressed, but I couldn’t tell if it was a good feeling or a painful feeling that went too far.
As the insertion was repeated countless times and the lower part was released, Seok-hwa’s body also lost strength. No matter how healthy she was, she quickly lost her stamina in front of Kwak Soo-hwan who never got tired. Furthermore, even without taking libido suppressants, she was still persistent until she ejaculated. She said she had nothing to say until her lower part was completely released and her stomach was bruised and aching, and then she ejaculated.
He stopped moving as if he was holding back the urge to pour it out.
“Ah… … . Heuheu.”
Seok-hwa flinched because he suddenly stopped.
The tendons in Kwak Soo-hwan’s neck stood up and his lips clenched tightly. He took a deep breath and exhaled, then kissed her forehead.
“Let’s do it together.”
He pulled Seokhwa’s two legs together and pulled her up onto his shoulder, wrapping her tightly with one arm. He held Seokhwa’s penis tightly with his other hand.
When he held onto the hard swollen thing, his hand would tighten to the point where he would want to burst it without realizing it. Why, don’t kids also hold onto it when they like it too much and then burst it? He wasn’t a child who couldn’t control his strength, so he controlled his grip and wrapped Seokhwa’s thing around.
He kissed her calf, which he was wrapping around with one arm. He started slowly, then gradually increased his speed. Seokhwa tried to suppress the feeling of ejaculation that was slowly rising from below while holding onto the leather seat with his hand. The more he did, the more he pushed into the most sensitive spot inside and poked it. When the hand that was shaking his penis in time with his movements blocked his urethra, Seokhwa waved his hand to remove his thumb.
“Ugh.”
Seokhwa looked at him at the pained voice. There was a little blood on the bandage wrapped around his arm.
“Are you okay… …?”
“It hurts if you push hard.”
So Seokhwa scolded him for blocking his hand as if telling him not to push hard. Seokhwa quickly Ki-ha only grabbed Kwak Soo-hwan’s pants tightly.
In fact, the blood had been coming out since he wrapped the bandage, so he didn’t care. Somehow, Dr. Seok’s trick on my leg seemed to be following my usual behavior… … . Kwak Soo-hwan muttered to himself and then started rubbing Seok-hwa’s urethra hole. Seok-hwa, unable to do anything due to the pleasure that was being given so freely, gave himself over to Kwak Soo-hwan.
The mucous membrane inside him squeezed his genitals, and the ejaculation that had started from his toes finally reached his head. Kwak Soo-hwan carelessly stroked Seok-hwa’s testicles and thrust his waist. He put it in enough that his lower abdomen bulged, then pulled it back completely, and then slammed it in again. I want to do it. Soo-hwan. It’s painful. Even Seok-hwa’s voice was so muffled that it was unintelligible. He pulled out the dick that was inside him and held the two genitals together. He rubbed it as hard as he could and shook it vigorously, and Seokhwa started to ejaculate first. While he was spitting out semen with a good momentum, Kwak Su-hwan put his dick into the soft hole again.
“Ah, ahh. Ah… … .”
He grabbed Seokhwa’s forearms, who were suffering from excessive pleasure, and prevented her from moving.
Oh, I feel like I’m going to die. His teeth, which had been lightly clenched because he didn’t have enough strength, clenched together. Kwak Su-hwan looked down at Seokhwa, who had completely loosened up, and inserted it quickly and deeply. He also swept the semen that spurted out every time with his hand and rubbed it against Seokhwa’s upper body.
When he squeezed both of her wet nipples, her waist arched and she bit down on her dick even harder. Kwak Su-hwan felt the urge to fill Seokhwa’s insides with his own. However, he couldn’t give in to his instincts. He barely held himself back and pulled his dick out and shook it. He ejaculated while rubbing against Seokhwa’s sluggishly hanging genitals, and the semen spurted out all the way to Seokhwa’s chest.
“Haa… … .”
Seokhwa trembled several times at the touch of his hands, then closed his eyes as all his strength drained away. The part where Kwak Su-hwan’s semen had pooled seemed to melt hotly.
“Are you okay?”
Even nodding his head was difficult. As if he was okay, he just caught his breath and Kwak Su-hwan quickly wiped his body with his shirt.
Only a faint light was still leaking out from inside the church, and the surroundings were quiet. Kwak Su-hwan laid Seokhwa down comfortably in the back seat and took a towel out of the trunk. After locking the front and back doors, he quickly moved to the front yard.
An automatic pump was installed in the front yard of the church, so groundwater poured out without a problem. Kwak Su-hwan turned on the faucet, grabbed the connected hose, and rubbed his entire body with cold water. The water drawn from underground was like ice even in the middle of summer. So there was nothing better than this to cool down a body that was still hot.
After roughly wiping myself, I wet a towel and returned to the jeep. I took out some clean clothes from the trunk and started wiping Seokhwa’s body with a towel. At times like this, I felt like a monk practicing asceticism or a believer who was cleaning the body of a savior. In any case, the time I could touch every part of Seokhwa’s body was important to Kwak Su-hwan.
“Big, big.”
At that moment, there was a noise outside the car and a faint cough was heard. Someone was deliberately scratching their neck to signal. Since they hadn’t come close yet, this time I wrapped Seokhwa’s body in a dry towel.
Kwak Su-hwan got up late and got out of the back seat.
“Why.”
Lieutenant Cha, who was a little away, coughed again.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
As soon as the permission from his superior was given, Lieutenant Cha quickly approached. Knowing his superior’s personality, Lieutenant Cha did not look at the jeep and got straight to the point.
“Major Yang Sang-hoon.”
Seeing that he had brought up the story that had ended, it seemed like the conversation would be a bit long. Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the blanket from the passenger seat and covered Seok-hwa with it. After closing the door, he reached out and Lieutenant Cha handed him a cigarette.
“I thought you quit.”
“I was afraid that Dr. Seok’s lungs would hurt.”
He said he didn’t smoke in front of people. Lieutenant Cha laughed and lit Kwak Soo-hwan’s cigarette instead.
“If you’re going to be that picky, aren’t your colon lungs dangerous too?”
“Didn’t you know? My lungs convert nicotine into vitamins.”
“Ah… … .”
Lieutenant Cha nodded as if he could believe that.
“Do you believe that? Why Yang Sang-hoon?”
“It doesn’t seem like he completely betrayed you, as the captain said, but didn’t I tell you that his behavior was a bit strange? He sometimes shows up in places where he shouldn’t. He seems to flash from east to west, which is a bit strange. It’s like… … .”
Kwak Soo-hwan took a deep drag on his first cigarette in a long while and exhaled a long stream of smoke.
“Isn’t he like me?”
Useless remains scattered around his mouth.
Lieutenant Cha couldn’t easily confirm it. If his prediction was correct, Yang Sang-hoon would be the controller, and he was no different from the sole master Choi Ho-eon.
“If Major Yang is the controller, you should keep your distance even more.”
Even if Yang Sang-hoon didn’t betray him, as long as he was the controller, he absolutely should not be involved in the future.
“A dark and sinister bastard, right?”
“Yes?”
“I mean Choi Ho-eon.”
Kwak Soo-hwan stomped his cigarette out with his foot.
The reason Yang Sang-hoon was appointed as the controller was probably not because he was that good. It was probably some kind of bait. I didn’t think Choi Ho-eon had given up on tracking him while we were away in Russia. I just thought he was acting a little lukewarmly. Perhaps he had a priority on solidifying the system, so he didn’t have enough time. But now that I think about it, I wonder if that was really the only reason.
“I couldn’t say anything because I was afraid the guys’ morale would drop, but what are you going to do now?”
“It’s like hitting a rock with an egg?”
Lieutenant Colonel Cha was careful with his words this time too. He knew that hitting a rock with an egg would only leave a fishy smell, and even that would be washed away when it rained.
“Our Seok Doctor is a rock expert. He must know how to break rocks.”
“Captain.”
Lieutenant Colonel Cha responded with a hardened expression at the half-joke.
“Tell me.”
“I also have a hard time accepting Choi Ho-eon. But if the captain wants to join hands with him, I will respect that choice.”
Kwak Soo-hwan paused as he tried to get another cigarette. He couldn’t even laugh out loud because he thought what the hell was going on.
“Why would I join hands with Choi Ho-eon? Just thinking about touching that bastard makes me sick. If he knew we had the vaccine, he would find it and destroy it all.”
Lieutenant Cha showed a suspicious look, wondering if he would really do that.
Choi Ho-eon did terrible things to the 21st Violet Unit, but he was currently the Master and the one who stabilized Rainbow City. Since most of the citizens were on the Master’s side, Lieutenant Cha was actually not confident. In addition, there was this question in the back of his mind.
Could it be that Choi Ho-eon was shedding blood to cut out the rotten parts of Rainbow City, become the Master, and normalize the country?
Kwak Su-hwan, who had been quietly watching Lieutenant Cha, clicked his tongue briefly.
“Lieutenant Cha, don’t compromise, even if you think it’s impossible. The bastard who mutated and spread the Adam virus was Choi Ho-eon. I did that because I wanted to seize power, and countless people died, right? But now that I’ve stabilized the city, all the work I’ve done before has disappeared? Is this a good single master system? If Choi Ho-eon does something crazy again, who will stop him then?”
Leaving Choi Ho-eon aside, the most important thing was to eradicate Adam. Since Russia had not yet completely eliminated Adam, most groups lived in the form of private houses. I heard from others that there were countries that had become normalized, but since I had never seen them in person, it was just a rumor.
“I’m sorry, Captain.”
“What?”
“I’m just saying such pitiful things.”
Lieutenant Cha smiled bitterly as if he was ashamed. The captain had saved his unit members from the brink of death several times. As I followed Kwak Su-hwan, my life became easier, so at some point I had no choice but to lean on the captain. Maybe it was because of that, but when I saw his face after a long time, I couldn’t help but let out a weak voice. Now I was being chased, but even that was the result of the choices made by the remaining unit members.
“Don’t joke. If there are any of you who want to defect, tell them to go without worrying about what they’ve done. It’s brave enough to have held out until now.”
“The ones who defected in the beginning sold our information and went back to the city’s military, but where are they going now?”
Since Kwak Su-hwan, the leader, was in Russia, there wouldn’t have been any information worth getting. In fact, if they defected now, it would be easier to sell information, but Lieutenant Cha didn’t show it.
“You’re acting like a fugitive? Shave your beard.”
Whether it was because he had suffered a lot or because he had taken off his uniform, Lieutenant Cha looked rougher than before.
“This is all about gaining experience. “You can’t raise them in the city, right?”
Kwak Soo-hwan tapped Lieutenant Cha on the shoulder, telling him to do as he pleased.
“We’re going to move in the morning, so get some rest.”
As he was about to go back to Seok-hwa, Lieutenant Cha suddenly opened the bag on his waist. He was shocked by the thought that he might take out a gun and kill him. Since even Lieutenant Cha was like this, it was proof that he had been on edge the whole time he had been back here.
Lieutenant Cha took something out of his bag.
“This is for you, Captain.”
What Lieutenant Cha held out was a book that resembled a notebook and a cube. The worn-out parts of the old cube were smooth. The feeling of it touching his hands was so familiar that it made him forget about it. Kwak Soo-hwan placed the cube on the Jeep’s auxiliary drawer. He didn’t even open the book, but just left it next to him.
“And this.”
Lieutenant Cha, still standing behind him, was holding something with his thumb and index finger. He clearly had a trembling expression, as if he didn’t want to even touch it.
“This is the stone that the doctor couldn’t take from the Violet building.”
The dick stood firm even in the darkness. The butt-shaped stone disappeared somewhere, so he only brought this one. Kwak Soo-hwan laughed silently and received the stone from Lieutenant Cha.
“Was Dr. Seok famous for liking stones?”
“Yes. There were rumors that he carried around a strangely shaped stone.”
It was just a slight exaggeration. Lieutenant Cha knew very well how much the doctor liked that stone, having watched Seokhwa the whole time under Kwak Soo-hwan’s orders.
“Thank you. There’s always more than enough stones.
.”
“Even if it’s overflowing, it’s different to have attachment.”
He was surprisingly delicate, even though he didn’t look like that. I was thinking about putting the penis stone on the passenger seat, but Seok-hwa, who had gotten up without a sound, was already sitting there.
“Did you wake up because of the noise?”
Fortunately, he was wrapped in a blanket, so he didn’t think about hiding Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa quickly approached the window and nodded to Seok-hwa. He didn’t say a word, but it was obvious that he was touched. It was as if someone had recognized his love for the stone that no one had noticed.
Kwak Soo-hwan’s hand, which was holding the stone, tightened. He resisted the urge to throw it far away.
“You don’t understand, Lieutenant Cha?”
“Huh? What are you saying?”
“Why do you like stones like this?”
Kwak Soo-hwan shook the penis stone.
“… … That’s it. I think people don’t need a big reason to like something.”
As soon as Lieutenant Cha saw Kwak Su-hwan laughing, he quickly turned serious.
“Yes! But I don’t understand. I really don’t understand why you like rocks.”
Kwak Su-hwan tapped his shoulder again. Then he raised his thumb and signaled for him to go. Captain, you’re so childish. He muttered, but Kwak Su-hwan just pushed his back regardless.
After confirming that Lieutenant Cha was leaving, Kwak Su-hwan opened the back door. Instead of giving Seok-hwa the rocks, he put them in the net in front.
“If it’s uncomfortable, should we go inside and sleep?”
Her dazed face and unkempt hair went well together. When she approached him, wanting to kiss him, a deep voice leaked out.
“Are you going to… hold hands with Choi Ho-eon?”
He told Lieutenant Cha that he had no intention of doing so, but he asked again, perhaps because he had heard it in his sleep.
“I don’t intend to.”
“If it’s hard to push in from the outside… … I learned that it’s not bad to attack from the inside.”
I joked with my old colleagues that I met a master of internal energy in Russia, but I actually had a connection with someone similar to him.
“A Trojan Horse is impossible. Would that guy just leave us alone?”
I never thought that Choi Ho-eon’s approval rating would be this high before I entered Rainbow City.
When the rebels were at their most powerful, there were many citizens who had resentment toward the leadership, or the approval rating was extremely low. I said that I would become the main body of the Garden of Eden and grow in size, but I couldn’t guarantee how long it would take.
“If Choi Ho-eon was going to kill me… … . There were already plenty of opportunities to do so.”
“Dr. Seok. I told you before I came here, didn’t I? I have no intention of leaving. Let’s say I raise the white flag and go under Choi Ho-eon. Every move I make will be monitored, and there’s a high chance that I’ll just be used and end up like that.”
“I’ll just let you be used as you please. If you put me in front as the Tree of Life, then I can turn away from Choi Ho-eon.”
“That’s what you call wishful thinking. If Dr. Seok becomes the Tree of Life next to Choi Ho-eon, do you think he’ll be able to go outside? Don’t you think you’ll be locked in a room where no light can see?”
“Then is there another good way?”
Seok-hwa put strength into his words without answering, then soon lowered his shoulders.
“First… … . I’ll sleep a little longer.”
He laid down on the backseat and pulled the blanket up to his head.
“It’s suffocating.”
He turned the blanket over his face because he was arguing.
Even when he was in Russia, Seok-hwa hated sleeping with the blanket over his head. When he was sleeping still, he would put his finger on his philtrum to check if he was breathing. When he saw him sleeping without moving, he wanted to make him turn over by touching him even once. That’s how anxious he was.
Seokhwa repeatedly told me that I wasn’t as weak as I thought, but on days when I slept in late, I was anxious until Seokhwa woke up. Kwak Su-hwan climbed into the back seat and reclined the chair. He tilted it back slightly and stared blankly at Seokhwa, who had her eyes closed.
Go in and sleep. Seokhwa whispered, but Kwak Su-hwan used his arm as a pillow to sleep.
“You want to sleep like this?”
“It’s uncomfortable.”
“It’s more uncomfortable to sleep inside.”
Even though it was a military jeep, it was too narrow for two adults to sleep together. Moreover, because of Kwak Su-hwan’s height, this location was the most ideal.
“Tell me a story.”
“What kind of story?”
“Like the novel that Major Kwak read.”
Every night, Kwak Su-hwan told him stories that rivaled the Thousand and One Nights. As time went by, he was slowly running out of books he had read.
“Um… … . 21 There’s a ruined school in Violet District. According to the school rules book, the first rule is to prohibit unhealthy relationships between the sexes.”
“Not 19+.”
Seokhwa mumbled in a sleepy voice. Whenever he told me a dirty novel, he would say 19+, but now he just said it well.
“What’s 19+? It’s a school rule.”
Kwak Soo-hwan said it as if he was scolding me, but he couldn’t hide his laughter.
“And what was the second rule… … . It was so similar that I can’t even remember. It was about being on time for class. Anyway, there were kids who broke the first rule, and they put some kind of paper in the school rules book. It said things like, “Did we have sex? Did we kiss? Just holding hands? They punished us and told us to go bald.”
Seokhwa listened to the story and laid down on his side so that he could see him whenever he opened his eyes. Every movement was exhausting and he sighed quickly, but he soon found stability.
“But I was a little jealous. Those insignificant things.”
Seokhwa seemed to know what he meant by jealous. They didn’t know their lives before Adam appeared. People they knew yesterday would become monsters today, and my family would suddenly turn into enemies. It was a daily routine.
Then, bang! A gunshot rang out. Then two more gunshots were heard, and it was quiet. The unit members had cleaned up Adam, who had crawled in after seeing the light, and had completely turned off the lights. The light from the thin moon couldn’t penetrate the darkness. Only the crickets that had come up through the ground were chirping in the pitch-black field of vision.
The voices of the two people in the jeep also rang out and then became quiet.
Kwak Su-hwan tossed and turned for a long time in Seok-hwa’s sleeping habits, where he couldn’t even hear his breathing, and then fell into an uneasy sleep.
***
“It’s okay. You don’t have to be so nervous.”
The hands of the man in the black suit and black shirt were excessively delicate.
When he looked up, his neat face was visible above the tie, and his complexion was also impeccable. One strange thing was that his skin was white enough to contrast with the black clothes covering his body.
Lee Chae-yoon was sitting next to Yang Sang-hoon in the master’s room, just rolling his pupils.
“Major Lee Chae-yoon, Major Kwak Su-hwan and Dr. Seok-hwa crossed the Duman River and entered Rainbow City.”
“… … Yes, that’s right.”
Choi Ho-eon uncrossed his legs and untied his hands that had been intertwined. He picked up the teacup on the table and moistened his lips. The teacup contained clear water.
“Major Yang Sang-hoon said that Major Lee Chae-yoon hid the fact that he met the two because he was greedy for promotion, and tried to hand them over to the military police himself. Is that true?”
Ah, I really hate this kid. Lee Chae-yoon muttered to herself. He was the type who used his handsome face as a shield to raise dozens of snakes in his stomach.
“I thought I couldn’t be a major forever. I’ll accept the punishment.”
“Oh, really? How will I accept the punishment?”
Choi Ho-eon laughed heartily.
“Would the punishment be sweet if I decapitated him and sent his head to Major Lee’s family?”
Lee Chae-yoon flinched, unable to hide her embarrassment.
“Master.”
“Major Yang Sang-hoon, don’t get involved. Major Yang Sang-hoon didn’t trust me as much as I trusted him, so he shouldn’t have anything to say even if he had ten mouths.”
Lee Chae-yoon glanced at Yang Sang-hoon, who was trying to take her side. Yang Sang-hoon met her gaze and quickly focused his eyes. It was because he had noticed Lee Chae-yoon’s temper and her true feelings.
‘Should I smash that bastard’s head in and run away?’
I was sure it was a similar impulse. However, Lee Chae-yoon had also fought Choi Ho-eon before, so she wasn’t sure that she would win completely if they fought. That made Lee Chae-yoon feel even worse.
“I’m not blaming Major Lee Chae-yoon. Likewise, I’m not looking for Major Kwak Soo-hwan and Dr. Seok-hwa to punish them. Aren’t they talented? Why do I still call Major Kwak Soo-hwan Major? Even though they broke the law and left Rainbow City, it must have been inevitable at the time. If they found a way to eradicate the vaccine or the Adam Virus while living abroad, they should definitely join us.”
There was a serious appeal in Choi Ho-eon’s voice. Lee Chae-yoon pulled herself together, afraid that she would be sucked into the words that were like a stream of water.
“Did you hear anything from Dr. Seok-hwa?”
“Master sent soldiers, so he noticed right away and ran away, so I didn’t hear anything.”
“I see. You made a vaccine.”
“!”
Lee Chae-yoon raised her head in surprise and made a face that said, “Oh no.” Even Yang Sang-hoon was surprised by Choi Ho-eon’s words, so he couldn’t blame her. Since he had reacted, it was useless to lie or make excuses later. He didn’t let his guard down, but he pretended to be gentle and came at her, so there was no way to stop him.
“I don’t know if you heard from Dr. Seok-hwa, but Dr. Seok-hwa and I were born from the same mother.”
The two of them wondered if he was lying. Choi Ho-eon ended even that suspicion in an instant.
“If you don’t believe me, feel free to meet Dr. Seok-hwa and ask him. I admit that my methods for getting here were different from those of Major Kwak Soo-hwan and Dr. Seok-hwa. But look at Rainbow City now. How much better it has become since the forces that sucked the blood of the citizens disappeared. We had no choice but to see innocent blood for a better world.”
Choi Ho-eon lowered his eyes as if he was truly sorry for their deaths, expressing his pain. He soon raised his head and stared at the two with a clear face.
“Families are supposed to live together. If someone dies or gets hurt, the family This kind of thing can’t happen again. To do that, I, the leader and master of Rainbow City, have to show that I’m with my family. I believe you all know what I mean.”
If Choi Ho-eon hadn’t been treated like that, I would probably have been loyal to that master. Knowing his dirty side, Lee Chae-yoon was horrified at the thought.
“I won’t punish you two in any way. Major Kwak Soo-hwan and Dr. Seok-hwa will probably not contact you for a while. Instead, if you hear news of them after some time has passed, make sure to let me know. There will be no second chance.”
There was no benefit to Choi Ho-eon from executing them. He also wasn’t angry or upset that he lost Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa.
“I heard that Adam from Daejeon 11 Violet has moved to the Green Zone. You two can go there for support. Now, go out.”
Choi Ho-eon pointed to the door.
Lee Chae-yoon and Yang Sang-hoon each saluted and left the Master’s room faster than anyone else. They saw the two talking before the door closed, but they didn’t pay much attention. As soon as the door closed, they simply called Mother.
[Master, wait for orders.]
“Transmit the video from Lab 3.”
Choi Ho-eon picked up the glasses that were next to the teacup and put them on his face.
A black and white screen appeared on the screen, and Adams were seen biting each other in it. The one who had spilled all his intestines out of his stomach put his own organs in his mouth and chewed them. Then he spread them out and shook them. It wasn’t even about showing off his organs. Choi Ho-eon frowned and smiled faintly.
They somehow looked like children playing with food. The people in the video were soldiers who had deserted from Kwak Su-hwan’s unit, and no one came looking for them even when they disappeared like ghosts.
“Mother, report the location of Kwak Su-hwan and Seok-hwa.”
The screen went dark and a mechanical voice saying [Loading] flowed out.
[Tracking failed. This is beyond my ability. The last confirmed location is the old Sinuiju.]
Choi Ho-eon got up from the sofa and stood in front of the large window.
He just looked down and saw helipads all over the apartment rooftop, and the Han River flowing beyond them. The top floor of this building was currently the master’s room. Choi Ho-eon transferred most of the people in Udo to the mainland, and placed the entire Jeju Island under military control.
Choi Ho-eon, who had been looking outside like an emotionless mannequin, turned around again. A photo he had taken with Dr. Won-ho was on his desk.
“Families should be together.”
This Yeouido Shelter was the perfect place to watch the festival.
***
While Kwak Su-hwan and Seok-hwa were coming down to Paju, the noise on the radio gradually disappeared. It meant that they were gradually approaching the center of Rainbow City.
A strong wind blew Seokhwa's hair through the open window. Since his bangs didn't block his eyes, he was able to comfortably feel the wind. He could see Adam's rotten corpse here and there on the road, but even the crows didn't stick their beaks in.
[The eradication of Adam is imminent. Today, our Rainbow City soldiers are working hard to eradicate Adam in order to eradicate Adam. Volunteer for the military. The military will take responsibility for our families.]
Since it was a broadcast that was not much different from before, he didn't listen carefully. However, he didn't turn it off because he wanted to get at least some information.
[... ... On the 23rd, the single master will visit Seongnam, the 77th green district. The master's speech for the future of Rainbow City has been prepared, so everyone should stop what they are doing and turn on the radio at 2 PM on the 23rd. The master will make an important announcement. Happy Rainbow City Today!]
In the past, the radio host's voice was stiff, but now it was lively enough to feel friendly. After a while of music, a frightened child's voice was heard.
[Mom, Adam is knocking on our door again today!]
[Don't worry, our house has an Adam extermination security system, right? If Adam comes over our house, Adam extermination technicians will be dispatched. There's nothing to be afraid of. It's a company recognized by Rainbow City, and all of the technicians are former soldiers.]
[That's right. For the safety of our family, it's only 60 greens a year! 60 greens is enough.]
Greens are the unit of currency in Rainbow City. 60 greens was the average annual salary of most citizens. This was a symbol of a robber who asked for all of his money in exchange for saving his life. And to think that this kind of advertisement, which I had never imagined before, was playing on the radio... ... .
The two looked at each other's faces.
“You’re back.”
Seokhwa also agreed.
[Continued in Volume 5]
The jeep shook against the speed bump, and Seokhwa looked back in surprise.
“Don’t worry, it won’t explode like this.”
Every time the jeep shook, the dynamite also rattled.
“Bang!”
Kwak Soo-hwan spread out one hand and held it against Seokhwa’s face. Seokhwa was so surprised that he couldn’t move. He should have scolded her instead. This kind of reaction would make him feel bad for nothing. Kwak Soo-hwan wrapped his arms around her head and pulled her toward him, kissing her lips.
“It was just a signal to kiss.”
He said confidently, not feeling embarrassed, and picked up the pace again. At the moment of another jolt, Seokhwa spread out his hand.
“Bang.”
“What, a dud?”
But since the signal to kiss had come, he had to do it one more time. He looked at the rearview mirror and hugged Seokhwa, kissing her lips. Paaaaang- The horn honked loudly. Another jeep passing by shouted.
“Captain! There’s a guy over there. Should I get ready?”
“Oh, let’s go.”
In front of the jeep that passed, there was Adam, who looked like he had mutated for quite some time. He slammed Adam into the jeep as he turned his head toward the oncoming car. The other jeeps that followed also gradually slowed down, and the subordinate in the lead jumped out of the car. The stench from the rotten intestines was so bad that it pierced his mask. The subordinate tied up Adam, whose legs were twisted, and stuffed a towel in his mouth. He didn’t pose a threat because his teeth were all gone, but he was used to being prepared for danger.
“I’m sorry. If you do everything, I’ll let you go in peace, so please bear with it.”
The subordinate grabbed Adam with his bear-like hands and secured him to the trunk. Kwak Soo-hwan leaned his arms on the steering wheel and asked while facing forward.
“Do you really have to do this?”
“I’m fine.”
Seok-hwa answered calmly. Kwak Su-hwan looked like he had something else to say, but he pedaled again when he received a signal that he was ready.
Their destination was where the Eden Garden meeting was being held. According to what Lieutenant Cha had checked, the northern branch of the Eden Garden was about 30km away from here.
While driving on the road, you could often see Adams, but most of them were weak or mutated. Some even threw stones at Adams crawling on the ground. A newly mutated Adam was a fearsome being, but a rotten Adam was no better than a three-year-old. Even so, if you were too complacent, you never knew what would happen. Sometimes, Adam’s blood splattered from the stone throwing would touch the wound. Infections spread in ways no one could have imagined.
[Rainbow Citizen Registration Permit Period, Limited to Holders of 1 Green Citizen Registration Tax.]
The banners hanging every 10km were tight and wrinkle-free.
Choi Ho-eon raised his approval rating by absorbing even those outside the city, but those who held the city’s money were also part of the wealthy class outside. In the end, even if the master changed, not everyone could become a citizen. Seok-hwa looked up at the banner that was gradually getting closer, then lowered his gaze when a jeep passed under it. He opened the auxiliary drawer while holding the stone that he had placed next to his thigh.
I thought it was a stone I would never see again, but thanks to Lieutenant Cha, it was back in my hands. Kwak Soo-hwan’s unit members resembled him as their leader, so they were a little different from the soldiers I had seen before. They didn’t brag, didn’t ignore me because I was weak, and most importantly, they didn’t pay much attention to me. There was a reason why Kwak Soo-hwan’s murderous gaze would be directed at me if I even spoke to him.
Seok-hwa stopped quietly as he was about to put the stone down next to his notebook and cube.
Kwak Soo-hwan.
The name Seok-hwan was written in large letters on the notebook. He remembered that there was a note with traces of his writing practice and a piece of memo inside. The wish contained in the two letters still remained in Seokhwa’s mind. Seokhwa carefully picked them up and put them in his backpack, pretending not to see them.
It was before entering the Rainbow City core area. The Violet agents who had moved to the mountain began to wrap the jeep with grass and branches. They had to be more careful now, as they could get tangled with the city’s soldiers.
“Captain, if you go straight down from here in the 10 o’clock direction, you’ll find a mountain lodge.”
Gwak Su-hwan, who was the controller, used to place a point in each area and bring weapons and vehicles.
“Did you check the inside?”
“Yes, I checked before contacting the captain, and there were no problems.”
“Moon-gil, follow me, and Dr. Seok, change into your uniform. The rest of you, there are a lot of guys who have sold their faces, so wait here.”
At Gwak Su-hwan’s call, a man as big as a Russian bear dragged out Adam, who was tied up.
Kwak Soo-hwan took off all the clothes he was wearing and changed into the Rainbow City uniform he had prepared. Moon-gil also clicked his tongue at the uniform he was wearing for the first time in a long time. It looked nice, but it wasn’t practical because of the fancy cape. Still, since it was clothes he had worn for over a dozen years, he had no trouble adjusting his clothes.
Fortunately, there weren’t only sizes for soldiers with bear-like muscles. There were some that fit Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa was at a loss as to where to tie the strings.
“I’ll do it for you.”
Kwak Soo-hwan crossed the cross belt and leather straps around and pulled the waist belt to secure it. He then tidied up Seok-hwa’s hair with his hand. Seeing Seok-hwa in his uniform felt strange.
‘Is it because I’m more used to white gowns? But it suits me well.’
Contrary to his feelings, Seok-hwa looked apologetically at his uniform, which he hadn’t seen in a long time. He just smiled on purpose.
After finishing preparing to move, the unit members were waiting in line in front.
“Okay. If I don’t return within 24 hours, you go back upstairs. If you don’t hear from me for more than a week, Lieutenant Cha, you take care of the kids.”
“Yes, I have received the order.”
Kwak Soo-hwan’s order to distribute money to the remaining guys when a problem arose was still valid.
The activity fee he received when he was a controller was extremely small, but he had saved a considerable amount of money by emptying the pockets of the higher-ups. Lieutenant Cha even joked that he could use the bills as fuel on cold days. Of course, even that could become useless money if Choi Ho-eon reformed the bills.
Kwak Soo-hwan, who had been on the hood, jumped down after finishing the order.
“Count the time carefully.”
He grabbed his backpack and said his last words to Lieutenant Cha. Meanwhile, Moon-gil wrapped Adam in a plastic sheet. Adam had no teeth and his fingers were all rotted away, but the stench he gave off when he carried him was a problem. At least his flesh was almost completely rotted away, so he was quite light. Moon-gil tied the plastic with rope and put Adam on his back. Kwak Soo-hwan did a final check and then patted Moon-gil on the calf, saying that they should go.
Seok-hwa carried a light backpack, but Kwak Soo-hwan said he would carry it for him and left. Since there was a long way to go, he had to give up his useless stubbornness in order to conserve as much energy as possible. So Seok-hwa just said thank you and started following him.
He remembered Kwak Soo-hwan’s back as he walked with all his luggage in the bitter cold of Russia. It was a memory he didn’t want to recall, but we still returned to Rainbow City safely. Like the wish on paper, we were still alive.
Kwak Soo-hwan checked the direction with the compass and put it back in his pocket. The remaining members of the unit started to erase the jeep’s tire marks, and the three of them started to move forward.
It was originally used as a hiking trail, but plants had taken over the land and blocked the path for people. Moon-gil, who was in the lead, swung his jungle knife in the thick grass to clear the way. The knife, which could easily cut off Adam’s head, was also good for cutting sugar cane and tree trunks.
“Captain, why don’t we just take the jeep and go on the road?”
Moon-gil swung the tree branches, saying it was quite annoying.
“Why don’t you take out a loudspeaker and announce that the wanted criminals are back?”
It was quite a distance to Seoul, so there wouldn’t be many soldiers, but it was easier to use the mountain path than to be stopped by a security check on the road.
Seok-hwa followed last, looking at Adam, who Moon-gil was carrying, several times. The eyeballs were also rotted away, so maggots were wriggling inside. It seemed that the body’s movements would stop in a day or two.
“We should get something that’s okay. Bring me a kid who’s going to work today or tomorrow.”
Kwak Soo-hwan also cursed softly when he saw Adam. The mountain lodge that Lieutenant Cha had mentioned was slowly coming into view below. Since the downhill slope was too steep, Kwak Soo-hwan signaled Seok-hwa to carry him. Seok-hwa took Kwak Soo-hwan’s backpack back and put it on his back.
“Moon-gil, run.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Moon-gil firmly stuck the jungle sword in his back.
Kkuueek… … !
At the same time, Adam’s body completely fell apart after letting out a final scream. It was a disaster that happened when he tried to stick the jungle sword into the scabbard on his back out of habit.
“That idiot.”
Kwak Soo-hwan pressed his forehead while carrying Seok-hwa. Moon Gil was surprised and quickly untied the rope tied around his shoulder, but Adam’s crown had already been hit with a direct hit from the jungle sword.
Kwak Su-hwan was about to curse Moon Gil as much as he could, but then he thought it was better.
“Hey, Captain. Should I just carry you even if you’re dead?”
“Leave it. Let’s just go.”
“Major.”
Seok Hwa called him while hugging Kwak Su-hwan’s neck. His breath tickled the back of his neck.
“Dr. Seok, let’s just go. If you whisper there, I won’t be able to run.”
“Kha-hak, Captain, your dick is sticking out.”
Moon Gil laughed while holding his stomach.
“Are you laughing right now? Moon Gil, you little cub?”
“No, Captain! I’ll correct you!”
Moon Gil, who had been patting his stomach like a bear giggling, soon became serious and grabbed the jungle sword. He shook off the thick blood and put it back in the scabbard properly.
“Run.”
Kwak Su-hwan hit a rock with the toe of his combat boots and hit Moon-gil’s leg.
Moon-gil, who received the signal, started running downhill as if rolling, and Kwak Su-hwan also used the rocks stuck here and there as brakes and moved to the mountain lodge. Seok-hwa bit his tongue as if he was going to bite it, and only wrapped his teeth tightly around Kwak Su-hwan. He diligently rolled his pupils to see if there was another Adam somewhere on this mountain, but there was no way that there would be an Adam who suddenly fell in a place like this.
It was hard to tell from afar.
When they got near the mountain lodge, they saw a cover that was disguised as part of the mountain. When Kwak Su-hwan took off the cover, a motorcycle in relatively good condition was revealed. Kwak Su-hwan got on the motorcycle without delay and started it. Moon-gil hid the jungle map under the stairs of the mountain lodge and got on another motorcycle likewise.
Seok-hwa took something out of his backpack and handed it to Moon-gil.
“If you get stopped, use this.”
It was one of the forged citizen IDs from Russia.
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“That bastard’s face is completely different. Do you believe me?”
Kwak Su-hwan pointed at the face on the citizen ID, saying that it was half of that bastard’s face.
“It’s better than nothing.”
Seok-hwa got on behind him and hugged him by the waist.
“Let’s go.”
Kwak Su-hwan grabbed the handlebars at the signal.
“We’ll get to our destination in 20 minutes.”
Before he could hear Moon-gil’s answer, he ran down the mountain hut first. It was a path overgrown with bushes that seemed to never end, but as he saw buildings one by one in the distance, it began to feel real. He had really returned to Rainbow City.
***
“You are soldiers whom I have never met before. Have you registered?”
The woman holding the chart to her chest smiled kindly.
The white priest’s robe she was wearing had the Tree of Life drawn on its chest. The northern branch of the Garden of Eden and the building where they prayed were in a fairly conspicuous place, so it wasn’t hard to find. The problem was getting inside. The prayer center was surrounded by several soldiers in city uniforms, either guards or watchdogs.
When Moon-gil shouted to kill them, Gwak Soo-hwan broke his shin twice. He raided their outpost, tied up the men who were changing shifts, and ordered Moon-gil to hold out for exactly 30 minutes. It would definitely take 30 minutes.
“We’ve been transferred to this area starting today. Please take care of us.”
Kwak Soo-hwan raised the corners of his mouth smoothly with a friendly expression.
“I see. By the way, have you registered as a believer?”
The woman also smiled back at him like before.
“This is Adam’s blood.”
Seok-hwa suddenly spoke while holding an ampoule. The woman’s eyes widened and she took a step back.
“I brought it because I have something to tell you, so don’t worry.”
Seok-hwa put the ampoule back in his uniform pocket. She looked back with a wary expression, not knowing what he meant by Adam’s blood. He seemed to be planning to call the guard, so Kwak Soo-hwan narrowed the distance.
“Is the elder of the Garden of Eden here?”
“… … The elder?”
He couldn’t treat them lightly because they were soldiers of the city, but he doubted whether these two were real soldiers. If there was a transfer planned, I would have told them in advance, but this was the first time I heard about it.
“If the elder is here, I would like to see him.”
Seokhwa spoke politely but firmly.
“The elder is not someone that anyone can meet just because they want to see him.”
That didn’t mean there was no elder here right now. For the next 25 minutes, there was no time to respond leisurely.
“I have a message from the higher-ups, so I will just deliver that and go.”
“Then tell me.”
“Who are you?”
Kwak Soo-hwan looked down at the woman threateningly. Even three-year-olds knew that she should not dare to confront the soldiers of the city, who were the center of power.
“I am the leader in charge of this northern branch.”
The woman took on a slightly more lenient attitude, as she did not have the confidence to confront the soldiers out of suspicion alone.
“And the elder is currently out.”
“Then I’ll just tell you what I have to tell you and go inside.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“Did you say you’re a leader? Do you have any support from the military?”
“That’s… … . Since you came without any notice… … .”
Contact? Kwak Soo-hwan laughed briefly as if he found it absurd.
“The city’s support should not be reversed. The reason we protect you is not because you’re great, but because we’re just unilaterally giving you something. How nice it would be if you just understood when I was being polite. Northern Branch? Should I turn you into ashes in an hour?”
Kwak Soo-hwan pointed to his shoulder straps. He looked like he was going to catch someone on the street and make them commit a crime that didn’t exist. Seok-hwa was unfamiliar with Kwak Soo-hwan acting like a gangster, but he thought he was just acting.
“No, no. I haven’t been a leader for long, so I’m short-sighted. Follow me.”
The woman who had become thoughtful opened the way and started walking ahead.
Kwak Soo-hwan looked at Seok-hwa and winked as if to say, ‘You know it’s all an act? I’m not that kind of person.’ Seok-hwa nodded.
The walls of the long hallway were covered in red palm prints and bloodstains. Next, there was a grotesque mural of Adam screaming in a pool of blood. As they walked further, the blood color faded and a bright background was revealed. From there, they could see the Adams burning to death, and five people were standing in front of the bright light that Adam was reaching out his hand to.
Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa, who were looking at the mural, had no choice but to stop walking.
When they stopped hearing footsteps, the guide turned around. She smiled brightly at the two who were distracted by the mural and returned.
“Isn’t it really sacred? The incarnated Tree of Life and the early elders. The elders over there are the ones who established the Garden of Eden. When the rapture was successful and the time came to bestow grace, he would appear on earth again and select a successor.”
Pison, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates surrounded the personified Tree of Life, and their faces looked somehow familiar.
“I haven’t seen you since you passed away, and you’re even appearing.”
Kwak Soo-hwan sarcastically muttered.
The elder looked like Kwak Soo-hwan’s parents, Seok-hwa’s mother, and Dr. Won-ho.
“Huh?”
The leader belatedly asked back, as if asking what he meant. Kwak Soo-hwan said it was nothing, and motioned for him to take the lead again. The leader looked at Seok-hwa, who was standing quietly behind Kwak Soo-hwan. The side profile of him staring at the mural for a long time resembled the Tree of Life in the mural.
As soon as he saw the leader tilting his head, Kwak Soo-hwan clicked his tongue.
“Let’s go, Lieutenant Seok.”
He woke up Seokhwa’s spirit. He said there was no time to do this and walked down the hallway faster than the leader. At the end of the hallway was a large hall with a very high ceiling.
“Are you a new family member? You are a soldier of the city! We are truly welcome.”
A believer who was praying on the floor gave a warm welcome. In this difficult world, we are one, they seemed to be gathering people by putting up a slogan like that, but the way they spoke as if they were family was unpleasant to hear. Kwak Soo-hwan ignored the person who approached him and ran up to the stage.
Ah, the microphone test. As he held the microphone and spoke absentmindedly, Kwak Soo-hwan’s voice filled the hall. Seokhwa untied the backpack he was carrying on his back and took out a box.
“Let’s cut to the chase and get to the point. We will distribute the vaccines now.”
The murmur gradually turned into a noise. There were about twenty people looking up at Kwak Su-hwan, all wearing white clothes and shirts with the Tree of Life on them.
“Vaccine? What vaccine are you talking about?”
An older man raised his hand and shouted.
“Adam virus vaccine.”
Everyone’s reaction was the same. Their eyes were wide open, and their mouths were wide open, each pouring out their own stories. At that moment, the leader jumped up onto the stage.
“Vaccine? I’ve never heard of this before. Are you really a soldier of the city?”
“Why do you distrust me when I say I’m doing good things?”
“Then give me the microphone first, and then talk to the elder.”
The leader tried to take the microphone away from Kwak Su-hwan, but he raised his hand.
“Everyone! This is not certain. You shouldn’t be so easily deceived!”
The leader could not take the microphone away, so he raised his voice and shouted at the people. Nevertheless, as the commotion continued, people began to appear one by one on the stairs leading to the basement. Seokhwa went up to the stage and placed the vaccine box on the table where the microphone stand was.
“This should be enough.”
Seokhwa spoke to the people, but no one heard him properly.
Some people asked Kwak Su-hwan what was going on, and others were cheerful, asking if City had finally succeeded in developing a vaccine. Some people climbed up and tried to grab the vaccine by reaching out, and others raised their voices to ask if he was a real soldier and asked for identification.
The hall was thrown into chaos as many people spoke their minds. Kwak Su-hwan put the microphone in Seokhwa’s hand and took out a gun and fired into the air.
Boom! The gunshot echoed through the hall, and it was suddenly quiet.
“Speak.”
Seokhwa stood up straight toward the people.
“I completely understand your confusion. However, the vaccine is safe. Of course, you shouldn’t make light of getting bitten by Adam just because you received the vaccine. “You don’t wear short sleeves in the middle of winter just because you got the flu shot. You have to be careful.”
He had never given a speech in front of a large crowd, so it felt like the countless eyes were poking him like needles.
“If you got the vaccine, why wasn’t it on City’s regular broadcast?”
Kwak Soo-hwan pointed at him with his index finger, saying, “You said well.” This time, Kwak Soo-hwan received the microphone and put it to his lips.
“Our great master will give an important speech at 2 o’clock on the 23rd.”
Everyone knew that because it was broadcasted widely on the radio. When a few people agreed, Kwak Soo-hwan paused for a beat and continued.
“The core of that speech is the Adam Virus vaccine.”
People cheered. In fact, he had no idea what he would say in his speech, but if rumors spread that a vaccine had been developed, Choi Ho-yeon wouldn’t be able to avoid it.
“And as you know, the city is showing signs of making Eden a national religion. Those of you with great faith have the opportunity to be the first to receive the vaccine.”
You are very special people. The excited expressions on their faces were amazing when I said that indirectly.
“But how do you know if the vaccine is real or not?”
“I’ll show you that myself.”
Seokhwa suddenly interrupted and spoke near the microphone that Kwak Suhwan was holding. Kwak Suhwan absolutely did not want to do it. He knew there would be no problem, but he was anxious. He wanted to shout why Seokhwa had to become a test subject and that the disbelievers should just not get hit. Seokhwa grabbed Kwak Suhwan’s wrist, which was giving off a cold aura. Then he whispered quietly.
“You promised.”
“I promised. But I still don’t want to.”
Seokhwa patted Kwak Suhwan on the back as if trying to calm his tantrum-throwing younger sibling.
“It’s the Tree of Life.”
A young child who had become a believer in the Garden of Eden following his mother pointed at Seokhwa with his hand. His mother covered the child’s mouth, asking what dangerous things he was saying, but all the believers had already heard him.
The appearance of the Tree of Life was so vivid that he could draw it with his eyes closed, having seen it countless times in murals and even as a portrait in a doctrine book. They only then noticed that the figure looked very similar to the person in front of them wearing the uniform. However, they were all busy denying it, saying that it was just a similar person. No one would easily believe if the god they believed in appeared in front of them.
Seokhwa opened his mouth without a microphone this time amidst the pouring gaze.
“Of course this vaccine is suspicious. I know it’s hard to believe.”
He took out an ampoule from his pocket and showed it to them.
“It’s Adam’s blood. As you know, when exposed to Adam’s blood, it changes over time, but for someone my size, it’ll be completely transferred within about 10 minutes.”
Seokhwa filled an empty syringe with the vaccine solution. Without warning, he rolled up his uniform sleeve and injected the vaccine.
The people gathered under the stage watched in silence.
“I actually received the vaccine in advance, but I injected it in case there were people who didn’t believe it. And now I’m going to administer Adam’s blood.”
“Is that really Adam’s blood?”
“Yes. “Aren’t you lying by bringing healthy blood?”
“Then you do it yourself.”
Kwak Soo-hwan acted fiercely as if he was going to put Adam’s blood in his mouth right now. Seok-hwa knew why he was angry, so on the one hand, he was grateful, but on the other hand, he felt sorry.
He had expected them to act like this. He had only tried to capture Adam himself to convince him, but since Moon-gil had completely ascended the rotten Adam, he could only show him the blood that had the virus in it.
Seok-hwa filled the empty syringe with blood again and took a deep breath. He knew he would be fine, but even he couldn’t help but feel nervous. It was when Seok-hwa was about to stick the needle into his wrist.
“Don’t do it.”
Kwak Soo-hwan stopped Seok-hwa.
“Just me,”
“No.”
Kwak Soo-hwan’s blood didn’t produce antibodies even with the vaccine.
In Russia, blood from a total of fifty people was donated to the vaccine, and not a single person did not develop antibodies. Kwak Soo-hwan was the only exception, but he always added that he should always be careful when getting the vaccine because there might be other people like him in the world. So the only person who could do it now was Seok-hwa himself.
“I’m going to get angry.”
I promised you that. Seok-hwa looked up at Kwak Soo-hwan. Contrary to his words, his eyes were red with regret rather than anger. Seok-hwa looked at him, stabbed the needle into his wrist, and pressed the piston. He continued to look at Seok-hwa while holding both of his forearms. In the silence of everyone, not even the ticking of the clock could be heard.
Some people stepped back, worried that Seok-hwa might turn into Adam, and those who lived with vague hopes hoped that it was a perfect vaccine. They even prayed that the Tree of Life that came to save them was that soldier.
Kwak Soo-hwan did not take his eyes off Seok-hwa, who had turned pale.
He wanted to get rid of everything. Choi Ho-eon, and those who don’t believe in vaccines. Kwak Soo-hwan couldn’t understand why Seok-hwa would go to such lengths to save people. No, he understood, but he didn’t want Seok-hwa to sacrifice herself.
Seok-hwa, you’re mine, but you’re not the Tree of Life, and you shouldn’t be everyone’s savior, you should be mine alone… … . Kwak Soo-hwan tightly shut his lips. His head felt like it was going to burst from the heat.
He had thought about it dozens of times a day in Russia. Why can’t we just live happily together? Why can’t we just go far away and live in peace, regardless of what happens to others?
He had tried to destroy Rainbow City, but now his most important goal in life was to live in a safe place for Seok-hwa and himself.
‘Soo-hwan… … . What are you going to do after I die? You’ll be left alone.’
It was a Russian night when a blizzard raged so hard he couldn’t see even an inch ahead of him.
Seok-hwa thought he had fallen asleep first, so he muttered to himself. I was angry that he was talking as if I was going to die first, but I pretended to sleep on purpose. It felt like I was going to cry because it felt like it was true.
After ten minutes that felt like a hundred minutes, Seokhwa grabbed the microphone.
“Originally, I was going to catch Adam and use his blood. But circumstances didn’t allow it… … . I ended up showing you this, but please believe me. It’s a real vaccine. Of course, you don’t have to believe it.”
“I believe it.”
An older woman who was mixed in with the people walked forward. Seokhwa’s eyes widened slightly as soon as he saw the woman.
I’m sure… … .
“I believed that you would come back, that you would perform a miracle.”
She was a member of the Eden Church that he had met at the mansion in Busan.
“Elder! What on earth do you believe in that vaccine!”
When the leader stopped her, the woman called Elder turned around with a stern look in her eyes.
“A savior doesn’t say that he is a savior! Don’t deceive us by pretending to be the savior! The savior who denies me is the true tree of life!”
She shouted at the people with the same words as that day.
“I have firmly believed from that day until now that you would not abandon us.”
She held out her arms, asking them to quickly give her the vaccine. At the elder’s words, the believers also began to gather around Seokhwa, each saying that they had received the tree of life.
Kwak Soo-hwan looked down at them with a disillusioned look. They are putting on a show. Are they the kind of people who would commit suicide if the elder told them to die? Seeing those who were full of distrust and did not believe in me jump out first, they looked like parasites. Seokhwa was handing out new syringes along with the vaccine to people because he could not give them all. When some people reached out to grab Seokhwa’s hand even once, Kwak Soo-hwan stood in front of them and blocked them.
“Take the vaccine.”
Kwak Su-hwan put down exactly the number of vaccines left and grabbed Seok-hwa.
“Let’s go.”
“Where are you going? Aren’t you with us?”
The elder approached him urgently.
“We’re planning to distribute the remaining vaccines to other places.”
At Seok-hwa’s words, the elder put his hands together on his chest and closed his eyes tightly.
“I see. We were the first to be saved. We are now free from Adam.”
“That’s not true.”
Seok-hwa spoke urgently, but the elder just smiled happily.
“We have to go. There’s no time.”
“The vaccine isn’t a panacea. It’s just a way to prepare for unavoidable dangers.”
He appealed, but he wondered if anyone really understood what he was saying. People followed him as Kwak Su-hwan grabbed his wrist and led him outside, and he threatened to blow a hole in the head of any more punks. He got on a motorcycle parked in front of the building and sent a radio message to Moon-gil.
He picked up the speed of his motorcycle to rejoin his men. Seokhwa called out to him from behind a few times, but there was no answer. He could only tell that he was extremely angry because his muscles felt stiffer than usual. Moongil joined him halfway up the mountain path, and his white shirt was splattered with red blood. Moongil wasn’t hurt, but he was just about to start again.
“… … Captain.”
“Don’t hesitate, tell me.”
“Did you know, Captain?”
“What?”
Moongil’s already fierce expression became even more distorted. He looked like a bear about to roar.
“Young punk, aren’t you going to speak properly?”
“The reason the soldiers are guarding that place!”
“I’ll give you one second.”
“Captain! Adam is there! That’s why the soldiers are guarding it! Did you know, Captain?”
The roaring engine sound of the motorcycle died down. It was because Kwak Suhwan had turned off the engine.
“What?”
“The guys I subdued at the outpost. I know one of them. He thought we came to deal with Adam. He said there was a lab in the Northern Branch. But those guys were saying some really weird things… … .”
“What about the guys at the outpost?”
Moon-gil, who was rambling nonsense, looked down at the blood on my shirt.
“I had no choice. Those bastards thought we’d all become test subjects… … .”
In the end, he said they were all killed.
“Why on earth is the lab in the Northern Branch? What are they up to again, Captain?”
“You go take Dr. Seok and join the kids.”
Kwak Soo-hwan got off his motorcycle and picked up Seok-hwa.
“What about the Major?”
“I have to see it with my own eyes.”
“Major… … !”
He forced Seok-hwa, who was struggling, to sit behind Moon-gil.
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the handlebar of the motorcycle, lifted the front wheel, and changed direction. He quickly got on and started the engine, and immediately started going back down the road he came from. Seok-hwa had to watch his back until he disappeared.
“Don’t worry, Doctor. Our captain is really strong.”
Moon-gil patted Seok-hwa on the shoulder with his hand like a pot lid.
“There were many times when it was much more dangerous than now, but the captain was always safe. Hold on tight, we’re going.”
As Seok-hwa continued to stare, Moon-gil started to drive the motorcycle upward. Seok-hwa had no choice but to turn her head and grab Moon-gil’s waist.
She couldn’t catch Kwak Soo-hwan, who had left in an instant, or insist on following him. I’m always a burden. That fact didn’t change.
“… … I hate myself so much.”
Seok-hwa muttered with her head down.
“Haha, I like you, Doctor.”
Moon Gil, who was bright-eyed, tried to comfort him, but Seok Hwa kept seeing Gwak Su Hwan's back, which was disappearing. As Moon Gil said, he was safe.
He only firmly believed that he would return.
***
“What’s going on, bang!”
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the guy blocking him by the collar and threw him.
He quickly removed the rope from his uniform and sealed the door to the northern branch, and even put on gloves on both his hands. The moment people started to crowd around, he fired a gun toward the ceiling and the surroundings split like the Red Sea. Kwak Soo-hwan started running smoothly to the basement he had seen earlier. He even took off the cumbersome cape and threw it away because it was shaking.
The damp and humid smell of the basement stimulated his sense of smell. Instead of electricity, candles lit the stairs here and there, and another hall was visible below. The elder and the leader sat facing each other and held each other’s hands.
“You’re back! Are you back with the Savior?”
The elder looked at Kwak Soo-hwan and greeted him happily. He found the stairs leading to the basement once more. However, the entrance leading down was blocked by iron bars.
“What’s down there?”
The elder simply lifted his lips as if it was nothing.
“It’s a prison where prisoners are kept.”
“You know that Serpent is the Master, right?”
As the light flickered, a shadow fell over the elder’s smile, making his face look distorted like an evil spirit.
“Mother said before. The one who was supposed to lead the Savior has sadly become a devil. Are you that person?”
Kwak Soo-hwan pushed the elder’s shoulder and fired a gun at the lock on the iron bars. Then the elder blocked his path.
“Get out of the way, or you die.”
“Don’t interfere with Serpent. His profound meaning cannot be understood by someone as insignificant as you. The Savior has created the vaccine, so now all that’s left is to spread the vaccine to people and teach them the doctrine of the Garden of Eden. Everyone will be saved.”
“That’s right, that’s what you have to do.”
“You understand! I’ve already relayed the Savior’s story to the South and East. Now, you can go there with the vaccine.”
“You said you were the leader?”
The leader, who had been standing behind him without saying anything, rolled his eyes.
“Is Adam under here?”
As soon as the lock on the iron bars was broken, the leader was the one who showed the greatest agitation.
“You’re different from the elders? You don’t actually believe in the Tree of Life, do you? You just pretend to believe because you need a place to entrust your body comfortably?”
“The leader isn’t like that! You understand our doctrine better than anyone else, so how dare you!”
“Do you honestly think the elders are stupid? There’s no such thing as the Tree of Life. The one who developed the vaccine was just the chief researcher of the Adam virus. How can a single person be a savior? What do you think will happen if Choi Ho-eon falls?”
You, who were in the front line, won’t be safe. Kwak Su-hwan had no intention of driving a wedge into the shaking leader. He pushed the elder aside and ran briskly down the stairs where not even the light could reach.
He took out a portable flashlight from inside his uniform and shined it in front of him. The elder and the leader no longer followed him. That meant there was something inside that they wanted to avoid.
Thump! A cracking sound spread forward from inside. Kwak Su-hwan ran again, shining the flashlight in front of him. Adam’s groaning sound scratched the darkness. Even the sounds of animals would be clearer and cleaner than this. There were many iron gates that he had passed, but this was the only room with a closed door. He raised the flashlight and shined it on the iron gate.
[Laboratory 3]
Thump!
Kwak, Kwak! Adam banged his face against the square window with his eyes gleaming. When he found a living person, he slid his yellow teeth against the window. One, two, now at least five of them, slammed their bodies against the iron gate to reach Kwak Su-hwan.
They were like moths to a flame. Was the fire they were drawn to Choi Ho-eon, or were they born into a world where they had to run straight toward fire from the beginning? However, if they had at least followed Lieutenant Cha, they wouldn’t have ended up like this.
If they had betrayed and left, they could have taken a seat so they could curse at him to their heart’s content. What is this?
“You little shits.”
Kwak Su-hwan wiped his face.
The guys who had been following him as their leader were spilling their intestines on the floor, and they were slamming their chests as if they were jealous of the living, having abandoned all their pride as human beings. He checked the remaining bullets and reloaded his gun. Even if they were rotten, they were his subordinates. He didn’t want to do anything more than smash their heads with his hands.
Kwak Su-hwan grabbed the iron gate handle. The lock was on the outside, so it was easy to open the door. He pushed them aside as if giving them freedom. He stepped back and waited for them to come out. He placed his hand with the flashlight on his wrist holding the pistol.
Crack, crack! The first one to open the door slipped and fell into his own intestines. Kwak Soo-hwan fired his pistol at Jeong Su-ri, and quickly caught the ones who rushed after him and pierced their foreheads. The stench was worse than any Adam he had ever seen, as they had been starving for so long. Five shots were fired, but one of them, who had missed his temple, ran forward with good energy. He had been a foolishly strong man when he was alive, and he was the same after becoming Adam.
I'm sorry.
Kwak Soo-hwan punched his subordinate in the face with his mouth wide open. He climbed onto the fallen body and repeatedly punched him. Thud, thud, the sensation of his skull being shattered ran down the back of his hand and pierced his head. The body that had been trembling quickly sagged. He cast his gaze toward the door that was still wide open. When he opened the door and went in, he saw a subordinate with eyes like a dead fish in the corner. His lower body was completely destroyed, his thigh bone exposed. His legs had not rotted away as if he had been subjected to some kind of experiment, but had been artificially cut off. Even so, he made a strange noise and tried to crawl toward where Kwak Su-hwan was. It was as if the sound was calling him, calling him the leader.
Since he had no more bullets left, he stabbed the jackknife into the bastard’s skull. He crouched down in front of his dead subordinate for a long time.
He had killed his parents and younger sibling with his own hands. He barely had time to think about this. He pulled out the jackknife and got up, and the security camera light above his head blinked red.
He looked up at the camera from the pool of blood. He put strength into his shoulder and swung the bloody jackknife, smashing the camera. Even so, the red light was still blinking.
***
“Captain, this is… … .”
Lieutenant Colonel Cha opened his mouth as he received several military ID tags with dried blood on them.
“At least bury them in the mountains.”
He wondered if they had found and killed the traitors, but soon realized that it wasn’t true. This was because he had vaguely heard the story from Moon Gil. His subordinates had really become test subjects.
“Let’s move for now. The military will soon begin searching. We’ll be split into four groups like during the J-type field training. I’ll call you the meeting place now, so the group leaders should write it down.”
Kwak Soo-hwan spread out a military map on his hood and set up a base near Seongnam according to the military coordinates. It was the location of a building that had been used as a science research center a long time ago.
Seok-hwa couldn’t approach Kwak Soo-hwan, so he just watched from a distance. He was grateful for his safe return, but Kwak Soo-hwan looked more exhausted than ever. He was always so energetic that he could be a burden to me, so Seokhwa just sat down next to him in the Jeep without saying a word. He wanted to ask what happened and if he was okay, but his mouth wouldn’t open.
“Did Moon-gil drive well?”
He started the engine and spoke first.
“Are you hungry?”
Seokhwa took out an energy bar from the auxiliary drawer and took off the wrapper. He handed it to Kwak Soo-hwan, who put it in his mouth twice and chewed it.
“If you’re tired, I’ll drive.”
“I’m okay for now.”
Seokhwa thought about asking about the bloody military ID, but ended up just biting into the energy bar.
“When I went down to the basement, there was a place called a laboratory.”
He knew Seokhwa’s curiosity and told her the truth.
“I don’t know what he did, but I brought it just in case.”
He handed Seokhwa a vial containing bloody blood.
“It’s the blood of one of the guys in the lab, but that vial was an empty vial that contained the vaccine, so the blood might have been contaminated.”
Seok-hwa wrapped the vial in a towel and put it in the auxiliary drawer.
“Were they soldiers you knew?”
“They were my subordinates.”
Seok-hwa sighed silently. He wanted to comfort them somehow, but when he thought of Kwak Soo-hwan, who had personally killed them, any words he said would sound like hypocrisy.
“Dr. Seok.”
Seok-hwa felt nervous for some reason, so he put down the energy bar he was eating. His body temperature was higher than usual and his head was pounding, but he didn’t show it.
“Did you see those bug-like bastards?”
“Bugs?”
“The elders were talking about being saviors and all, so they came rushing in like a pack of dogs to get the vaccine, just like bugs. Why do I keep getting angry?”
He ran through the dark forest without turning on the headlights. The only light was a lamp shining on the floor inside. The light didn’t even reach Kwak Soo-hwan’s face, so he couldn’t even tell what kind of expression he was making.
“Why did Dr. Seok have to become a test subject to save those bastards? If you don’t believe, shouldn’t you not be hit?”
“… … How could people who just saw me for the first time believe everything I say?”
“So if you don’t believe, just throw it away. Just give it to those who believe. I like pretending to be a fake Garden of Eden. But when I see those so-called believers in person, they all look like rats to me. What on earth have those people been doing up until now? They just accepted it and lived without doing anything, so why do I have to take care of those guys?”
Seok-hwa drank the half-empty water little by little. He fully understood what he was saying.
“I’ve said this countless times in Russia. A world without Adam would be normal. If we can just stop the infection, it’ll be a little easier to wipe out Adam.”
“Well. I just wanted Rainbow City to fall, but meeting Dr. Seok and acting like an apostle of justice doesn't suit me at all."
"The Major... ... is. He's not afraid of Adam. But I'm afraid."
When Adam bit him, he didn't want to die, and he didn't want to become like Adam.
If Adam were to attack right now, he'd be weak.
He didn’t have the confidence to overcome it. Adam’s existence was no different from living with a tiger in a large cage. He had to be prepared for an attack that could happen anytime and anywhere, and he always had to carry the heavy feeling of anxiety on his back. Furthermore, while beasts don’t hunt when they’re full, Adam attacked any living human without fail.
“I’m here anyway.”
Kwak Soo-hwan scolded him for worrying too much.
“If it weren’t for you, Major, I might have already died. But not everyone is with someone like you.”
“Why should I care about that?”
“Have you forgotten? I was bitten by Adam. If it were me, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
The sound of someone grabbing the handle could be clearly heard.
“You’re also a human born with City’s technology, Major. You know that many people have been sacrificed to create perfect genes.”
“When did I ever say I wanted to be born like this?”
“Then let’s go to Russia right now. Go and live with me like a burden, just staying in a house surrounded by iron bars and not being able to go anywhere without you.”
Seokhwa also spoke while looking straight ahead. Only then did Kwak Su-hwan look at Seokhwa and laugh heartily.
“Seokhwa hyung, you really speak well at times like this. You’re the kind of words that twist people’s internal organs.”
Seokhwa regretted his words, but this time he couldn’t back down. Of course he knew. That the fight was because he always put himself first.
“I… … I want to live with you in a world without Adam. I don’t know anything about justice. I just don’t want to tremble with anxiety like when I saw you disappearing like today, leaving me behind, and I don’t want to live a life where every minute feels like an hour, doing nothing until you come back.”
Seokhwa slowly controlled his increasingly rapid breathing. His throat kept throbbing, so he moistened his mouth with water again. This feeling was very similar to when he had a high fever after being bitten by Adam. Could it be that he had an infection? He was fine, except for a slight fever.
“But I can’t do it the way Dr. Seok did.”
His voice seeped in lowly.
“From now on, I’m going to do it my way.”
He usually didn’t argue, but today he didn’t want to. What on earth could he say to him, who had killed his subordinates with his own hands? Seokhwa simply leaned his throbbing head against the car window.
I guess I’ll get better if I close my eyes. Or should I say I have a fever? He raised his eyelids slightly to look at him, but he couldn’t open his mouth. The jeep shook, and his head against the window bounced a few times, so he just leaned back in his seat and lay down straight.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, I’m just going to sleep.”
Kwak Soo-hwan reached out and swept Seokhwa’s face. Seokhwa followed his hand, closed his eyes, and didn’t open them again.
***
Red eggs were hanging from the cherry tree that reached his waist. He reached out and ate a few cherries, and then saw ants moving in a line toward the ant hole. The sight was so sadistic that he thought about stepping on them, but he realized that more ants would run away.
Choi Ho-eon seemed to have a good idea and started pouring boiling water into the hole. The ants were busy running out of the hot flood and running away.
“Master, what are you doing?”
“Are you here, Lieutenant Lee Yeon-tae? As you can see, we’re doing pest control.”
All those who had been conspicuously taking advantage of the First or Second Master were either kicked out of the city or killed.
When the Adam infection incident broke out, Lee Yeon-tae believed Seok-hwa’s words and broadcasted that the vaccine spread by the Garden of Eden was the problem. Although he expected the new master to say something about it, Choi Ho-eon kept Lee Yeon-tae by his side instead. Maybe he kept Lee Yeon-tae alive because he was not in anyone’s line.
“Does pouring hot water kill ants?”
“Not all of them. The ants inside are fine.”
“Then the pest control won’t work properly. I’ll get some pesticide.”
“Lieutenant, isn’t it amazing?”
“Yes?”
Choi Ho-eon’s house was about ten minutes away from the Yeouido Shelter. It was where the First Master lived whenever he came up to Seoul, and the garden was much more organized than before. The trees were also in full bloom, providing natural shade.
“These ants must think that it’s the wrath of God. How surprised must they be, with the hot rain?”
“Haha. Do ants think like humans?”
So you’re saying that you’re a god? Lee Yeon-tae forced a smile, hiding his true feelings.
“There are many people in the world who are lazier and more thoughtless than ants. Look at how I became the Master through voting. Isn’t it strange? Now everyone thinks that there was no problem with the vaccine spread by the Garden of Eden. The existing leaders of the city abandoned the citizens, and it was none other than the Garden of Eden that saved the citizens.”
One of the people who knew that Choi Ho-eon was a serpent was Lee Yeon-tae. However, he was careful with his words. Even if there was a problem with the vaccine from the Garden of Eden, as Seok-hwa said, it was Choi Ho-eon who was wielding the hammer right now.
The purpose of making the Garden of Eden the state religion was probably to unify religion and government. Strangely enough, Choi Ho-eon didn’t seem to have any great ambitions to monopolize power. The First Master was the one who wielded the power he had at will.
“While eating such delicious fruit, I suddenly miss my younger brother. He must have suffered all kinds of hardships.”
Choi Ho-eon often mentioned his younger brother, but Lee Yeon-tae didn’t know who he was.
“Isn’t it amazing that he went all the way to Russia to make a vaccine? That’s why I can’t let go of my younger brother.”
He swallowed his surprise when he heard that the vaccine had been made in Russia.
It was because he had come to report that the outpost near the northern branch of the Garden of Eden had collapsed and that the vaccine had been distributed at the temple. And the central figures were Seok-hwa and Kwak Su-hwan.
“Have you already received the report?”
“Do you just receive the report? I also received the declaration of war.”
Choi Ho-eon picked a few cherries from the cherry tree again and handed them to Lee Yeon-tae. The burst cherry juice stained Lee Yeon-tae’s hands dirty.
“My younger brother looked happy because he treated me well, but I’m jealous.”
The Master put the cherries in his mouth and rolled them around.
“Everyone said we should change our schedule in Seongnam. What do you think of Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae?”
“Dangerous… … I think you can do it. If Major Kwak Soo-hwan comes.”
“Right? I didn’t know Major Kwak Soo-hwan and Dr. Seok-hwa would come all out. It’s unexpected.”
The Master nodded.
“That’s why I’m going to go first this time.”
He pointed to Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae’s fully burst cherry and said, “Eat it,” affectionately.
***
The sun was rising. They were now about 3km away from the science research center, and Kwak Soo-hwan was lost in thought the whole time he was driving.
He wasn’t taking out his anger on Seok-hwa. However, sacrificing himself for others was far from his values. If he had to shed blood for a world without Adam, whom Seok-hwa resented, he would make a river of blood, and he could have slowly spread Choi Ho-eon’s flesh in front of Seok-hwa’s eyes, whether he was his brother or his brother-in-law. He wouldn’t have been able to inflict pain that would make him unable to die even if he wanted to, until his bones were exposed. It wasn’t just Choi Ho-eon, it was the same for anyone else.
The research center, which looked to have been abandoned for over a decade, was overgrown with vines and weeds. Since Kwak Soo-hwan was the first to arrive, he turned off the engine and looked at Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa’s face still looked pale in the pale light.
“Dr. Seok.”
It wasn’t just because of the light. Seok-hwa, half-conscious, was sweating coldly on his forehead. When he called Seok-hwa again, he only let out a small groan. When he put his hand on his forehead, it was hotter than usual. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?
“Seok-hwa, come to your senses. Okay?”
Kwak Soo-hwan jumped out of the driver’s seat and moved to the passenger seat. Since he couldn’t take him into the untidy building, he hugged Seok-hwa’s body and laid him down in the back seat. He soaked a towel in water and started taking off Seok-hwa’s uniform one by one. He had to lower his fever first. He wiped Seokhwa’s dry arms, armpits, and chest with a towel. The cold towel quickly warmed up to Seokhwa’s heat. He wetted it again and continued to rub Seokhwa’s entire body until the fever went down.
“… … I’m cold.”
His blue lips trembled. He unconsciously tried to cover himself with his uniform.
“Hold on a little longer. I need to bring down the fever first.”
Kwak Su-hwan had often suffered from fever, so he was good at dealing with it. However, whenever that happened, it felt like I had swallowed a fireball. It would be better for me to be sick.
“… … There seems to be a problem with the vaccine.”
Even in the midst of this, he tried to regain his senses, wondering if there was something wrong with the vaccine.
“It’s just that I get feverish sometimes like usual. It’s okay.”
Kwak Su-hwan patted his body with a towel and gave him a massage. If he really had this fever after being injected with Adam’s blood, he would have probably gone crazy and gone crazy by now. However, what Seokhwa had injected was not the Adam virus.
Kwak Su-hwan had already decided long ago that he would never let Seokhwa, who had suggested exposing himself to Adam’s blood to convince people, do that.
“I’m sorry.”
He didn’t tell the truth about switching Adam’s blood with his own. He just massaged Seokhwa’s legs and arms, whose fever was starting to go down little by little.
“The Major… … Why are you sorry?”
A tired voice approached Kwak Su-hwan as if comforting him.
“I’m just sorry for everything.”
I had given Seokhwa a blood transfusion in Russia, and he was fine then. That made him feel relieved, but he was the idiot who didn’t even know he had a fever and drove without even looking at Seokhwa because he couldn’t control his temper. But I won’t tell the truth about lying. Seokhwa and I had different ways of thinking, thinking that we could fool ourselves about something like this.
“Should I give you some water?”
Seokhwa nodded as if he could see it.
Kwak Soo-hwan was lying down.
I lifted Seokhwa’s body up, poured water into my mouth, and carefully brought it to him. I relaxed my arms so as not to hug Seokhwa, who was drinking the water, too hard. I put a white shirt on Seokhwa’s body, who barely swallowed the water. When the fever went down a little, I had to wrap him in a thin blanket so he wouldn’t suffer any more.
If there was a god, he was truly a mean person. He brought someone who was the complete opposite of me in front of me and made him fall for me in a nice way. I was in pain every time Seokhwa got sick, but I was happy if he could just breathe next to me. I wish he didn’t get sick, but if he really got sick, I wanted it to be right in front of me. If I thought Seokhwa was sick when I wasn’t around, it would be like my whole body and soul being twisted.
“Do you want some soup?”
Even so, it was just instant food that had to be mixed in lukewarm water and shaken. If we were in the city, there wouldn’t be any problems with food, clothing, and shelter. Just as Seokhwa felt sorry, Gwak Su-hwan felt the same way.
“I’ll eat it later.”
Seokhwa curled up, saying he needed to sleep a little more. Kwak Soo-hwan sat down with the back door open and looked outside. The heat was still on Seokhwa’s bare feet against his back. He could also feel his face buried in the sheets as if trying to hide his groaning.
It wasn’t like this when he was in Russia. He had been entangled with people, but he had never felt this miserable. When he returned to the city, he realized to his bones that he had nothing. Choi Ho-eon had ascended to the position of Master and was enjoying all sorts of things, but I had to watch my own person get sick because I didn’t have even one fever reducer.
Is the Master a big deal? Kwak Soo-hwan snorted. He was the one who had been closer to the Master than anyone else and was with the leaders. He liked power and didn’t care much about those bundles of bills. But if they could be a shield to protect his people, he would take them and take them.
Chijik, chik, signals began to come in on the CB radio.
[… … Mae … … 2nd group moving… … . Unable to join… … , I was stepped on.]
Kwak Soo-hwan, who had gotten up, reached out and grabbed the radio.
“No need to join. We’re moving to the Second Master now.”
I thought there was no need for a justification, but not anymore.
***
Since the nationwide Adam infection outbreak, the population of Rainbow City has decreased considerably, but there has been no threat to its existence. The survival instinct is the most primal and innate behavior of humans, so no matter how much Adam ran wild, those who were able to survive somehow managed to survive. The country that those who had survived in the early days of survival of the fittest realized the importance of community and founded was also Rainbow City.
Even after going through a long period of brainwashing, there were those who did not think the city would help them. Most of them locked the door after listening to the radio broadcast about 460 days ago that day. They held out with emergency food and water they had prepared, waiting for the soldiers to sort out the situation. But even they were part of the wealthy class. Those who did not have enough food had no choice but to leave their homes, and were infected or killed in the shelters set up by the city.
The Second Master watched all of this from Udo and was certain of one thing. If he left it alone, his head would be blown at any moment. The two Masters were clearly responsible for the Adam infection. No matter how powerful their army was, the citizens’ resentment would soon be expressed in the Master vote since so many people had died.
The Second wanted reform, not revolution. The First wanted to maintain the status quo and succeed to power, and it was unclear what the Serpent wanted from the Second’s perspective.
When it became clear that Choi Ho-eon had betrayed his adoptive mother and joined hands with the First, the Second escaped Udo and went into hiding. All he could learn was that Seok-hwa, his only hope, had moved to Russia with Kwak Soo-hwan.
“Infiltration into Mother is impossible.”
The butler who guarded Second was full of fatigue.
“My child was taken away by the enemy. Look, Butler Kang.”
“Yes, Master.”
I told him to throw away the title Master several times, but he didn’t listen, so now I’m tired of correcting him.
“What on earth does Choi Ho-eon want from your perspective?”
The butler pressed the center of his half-broken glasses with his hand. When he fled from Udo to Haenam, he had no choice but to receive help from Lieutenant Cha. Second was furious at Lieutenant Cha, who was loyal to Kwak Soo-hwan, not him, but he was in no position to be picky. Lieutenant Cha had been the bluebird connecting Kwak Soo-hwan and Second at the time, but it seemed that Kwak Soo-hwan would catch him, so Second went back to his own hiding place.
“Well. Right now, I think he’s focused on finding and eliminating Master.”
He smiled faintly at the butler’s clever answer and walked around the living room on two legs.
“I didn’t know you would fool me, Master.”
The butler still seemed disappointed.
“How could I have continued to be elected as the Second Master? It was because the First fell for these two legs that were inconvenient to move. That’s why I wouldn’t have known that Dr. Seokhwa was my child.”
Second thought. If Seokhwa wasn’t an immune system but just a defective product, he would never have revealed the truth.
Although he had provided the genes, he didn’t have any special affection for it, and he had no intention of acting like a father now. However, Second had a greater attachment to Rainbow City than anyone else. It was a city he had nurtured and raised for more than half his life, and he was never discouraged when the Allied Powers collapsed. The instability of the leadership only instilled anxiety in the citizens, so even if a comet were to hit Earth tomorrow, Second was confident that he would maintain his reason. He was also convinced that he had the qualities of a Master better than anyone else.
“Master… … . I see a light.”
The butler looked at the surveillance camera screen and panicked.
“What?”
“It’s probably a military jeep.”
“Raise the security level to maximum.”
“Yes, Master.”
The remaining food in the underground bunker was now about two weeks’ worth.
***
Seokhwa’s fever subsided not long after he left the science training center. He felt refreshed, perhaps because he had slept a little, but his body felt uncomfortable because he had sweated.
“The unit members were stepped on?”
“I expected that much.”
He had clearly sent a message to the unharmed members that they were moving to the Second Master. He might have misheard in the heat, so Seokhwa spoke again.
“Are we going to the Second Master?”
He couldn’t read Kwak Soo-hwan’s emotions as he looked at his profile. He was expressionless, as if he had no emotions.
“Do you know where he is?”
“Are you okay?”
Kwak Soo-hwan, who was talking nonsense, touched Seok-hwa’s forehead. He felt relieved because it had returned to its usual warmth and grabbed the steering wheel again.
“Do you know where Second is?”
Seok-hwa asked again calmly, not getting angry.
“There are three places in total, so I hope you find it the first time.”
“How do you know?”
He turned his body completely toward Kwak Soo-hwan while still wearing his belt.
Seok-hwa had heard from him that Second had disappeared when he was in Russia. However, it seemed that he had already guessed Second’s whereabouts since then. He didn’t think that Kwak Soo-hwan shared everything with him, but he felt empty.
I know I’m not good enough, but can you tell me? He felt like he was going to blame him. If we try to discuss it now, it will only hurt each other’s feelings.
Seokhwa thought about it briefly and decided not to talk about it anymore.
“I wish we found it first, like the Major said.”
He had to be sincere so that it didn’t sound sarcastic.
“You know we kept bumping into each other after we returned to Rainbow City?”
Kwak Su-hwan was telling him that he didn’t want to do that.
“I just thought it would have been better if you had told me.”
He looked up for a moment and stopped the car.
“What should I talk about? I just thought there was nothing good to talk about.”
He had been like this with him a few times before. That was when he was investigating the murder of Dr. Oh Yang-seok. He was so absorbed in something that he was reluctant to approach the truth. He said it was for his safety, but it was nothing more than avoiding the truth.
There were more than one or two suspicious points about Kwak Su-hwan’s father’s transformation into Adam, which he had not shown until now, and his mother’s sudden death. There was a more important purpose, so he just buried it.
Considering the circumstances, his parents or his mother could have suspected that it was First’s scheme, just like how he had dealt with Oh Yang-seok. However, he was no longer of this world. If it wasn’t First but Choi Ho-eon or someone else involved… … ?
We have always failed to know the truth. Didn’t we only learn of the collapse of the Allied Forces, which we had firmly believed in since birth, after seeing it with our own eyes?
“It’s good that Dr. Seok is proactive. But it’s a burden to me to drag that weak body around.”
Kwak Su-hwan told Seok-hwa the truth without changing his expression.
It wasn’t wrong, and there was nothing to refute, so Seok-hwa remained silent. It seemed as if he was holding a bitter poison in his closed mouth. I knew better than anyone that I was a burden, but hearing it from his own mouth made my poisoned body tingle.
“Dr. Seok is the most important person in my life. That’s why I don’t want to make you suffer like this.”
Seok-hwa could only say one thing at the moment.
“Okay… … .”
I’m sorry. He trailed off in a faint voice.
Boom! Kwak Soo-hwan suddenly slammed down on the steering wheel. He slammed it once more and briefly grabbed the steering wheel with both hands. He didn’t stop there, he hit his forehead hard.
“Fuck, why can I only say this? I’m just going to get upset, Dr. Seok.”
He turned his head with bloodshot eyes and looked at Seok-hwa.
“Every time you get sick, I feel helpless.”
On the contrary, he couldn’t bring himself to say things like he was better now than before he met Kwak Soo-hwan. He knew how much he suffered whenever he got sick, and today was no different. Seokhwa reached out and grabbed his arm.
“Go. To Second.”
Seokhwa took his place, still feeling guilty.
He started the engine. The car engine started running again.
***
When he first set foot on Russian soil, Kwak Su-hwan made one promise to himself. At least, he would not let our Dr. Seok get cold or starve.
When he went into the mountains to live, he diligently transported wild animals and firewood, and when he came down to the city, he was treated well by the people.
To the people who lived in the village, Seok-hwa was a smart doctor, a botanist, and a wise man. After he started studying Russian and began communicating to some extent, he received what he wanted in return for the help he gave them.
He was able to use the virus research center in Vladivostok, and there he met an old man who was in his eighties. The old man introduced himself as a Korean who had immigrated to Russia long ago. The strange thing was that the old man was immune to the Adam virus.
One day, the eccentric old man who had been conducting all sorts of experiments on his body, saying that he didn’t have much time left, spoke to Seok-hwa while he was sleeping.
‘What on earth did you make in Rainbow City?’
The old man lifted his wrinkled fingers and pressed Kwak Soo-hwan’s chest.
‘Old man, these amazing muscles weren’t made in Rainbow City, they were made by me?’
The old man, who made a whistling sound while saying ‘Pe-haeng,’ drank down strong alcohol one after another.
‘Have you ever been infected with a virus?’
‘Why are all the old men I know so crazy? Old man, if I were Adam, Rainbow City would have already been finished, and even Russia would have been scorched. No one would have killed me. Besides, Dr. Seok would die without me. Look at him, he woke up a little early today and still hasn’t come to his senses.’
Kwak Soo-hwan held back the urge to run over and smack Seok-hwa’s face here and there with his lips.
‘Then don’t go back.’
‘What?’
‘Just live here.’
‘Haha, this old man wants to play family games with me?’
‘You… … . You’ve had a high fever before, right? After getting infected with a virus.’
‘… … I told you I’ve never been infected with a virus.’
‘Remember, Kwak Soo-hwan. You’re poison.’
I tried to laugh at him, asking what nonsense he was talking about, but the day he stabbed his father flashed through my mind. Was the blood flowing from his hand his own?
‘I guess I can guess.’
‘Old man, there’s no such thing. And didn’t you hear what Dr. Seok said? I’m non-immune. My blood doesn’t produce any antibodies.’
‘That’s why I asked what the hell that damn city made. Of course, you wouldn’t have known.’
I dismissed it as the words of a mad scientist who was addicted to alcohol and had his blood vessels clogged. However, from then on, I often recalled the day I lost my family. I remembered my father’s blood mixing with my wounded hand, but it was so long ago that my memory might have been distorted. It didn’t make sense to expose myself to the virus to determine whether I was immune or not. It was no different from jumping off a tall building, whether I would die or not.
When I looked at Seokhwa at the rustling sound, he was trying to open the jerky and put it in my mouth.
“Honey, aren’t you mad?”
“Why are you mad?”
“I said shit.”
“Words… … can’t be shit.”
That’s right. Gwak Soo-hwan, who laughed, opened his mouth to receive the jerky, and Seokhwa took out the last line and chewed it. Gwak Soo-hwan’s heart grew more impatient as he was eating as much as he could.
He picked up the radio and sent a signal.
“Colonel Cha, can you hear me?”
He couldn’t tell if they were within the range of reception, and the only answer was a crackling noise.
“Anyone else besides Colonel Cha? If so, respond.”
[Roger, Group 1. We’re connected to Colonel Cha.]
Since the distance between us and Colonel Cha was quite far, Group 1, which was in the middle, had to act as a link.
“Tell them to go back and wait until I give them instructions. Take care of the guys who were chased, and if necessary, kill all the pursuers.”
[Group 1, relaying.]
A minute or so later, the radio rang again.
[Group 1 has relayed. Captain, Group 2, who was chased, has also taken care of the guys. Our group will also be on standby… … . Heuk!]
Bam! That was the moment when he heard something explode. Kwak Soo-hwan suddenly stepped on the brakes and stopped the jeep. Seokhwa also clearly heard the dull sound coming from the radio.
“Team 1, what just happened?”
He raised his voice into the radio, but there was no answer.
“Major.”
Seokhwa also swallowed dry saliva.
“Respond, Team 1. Report the situation!”
Tick, tick, tick.
The dissonant sound was regular, as if someone was pressing and releasing the radio button. Tick, tick, it repeated several times, and soon it became silent. It was just as Kwak Su-hwan was about to speak again.
[… … It’s been a while.]
A smiling voice began to flow from the radio.
[Rainbow City Master Choi Ho-eon, greeting you.]
Seokhwa flinched at the hand on his thigh. The fact that the radio was in Choi Ho-eon’s hands meant that Team 1 was in danger.
[Hmm? Was there a car accident there? Why isn’t there an answer? Ah, the traffic accident happened here. I thought they were elite, but these soldiers are nothing special. Disappointingly, there aren’t many useful ones in the city.]
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the radio’s wire and threw it on the floor of the car.
He pressed his eyes tightly with both hands, took a deep breath as if to suppress his anger, and swallowed it without letting it out. He started driving again toward his destination. Seok-hwa wanted to ask if the soldiers of the 1st platoon were okay. He would have to hear the answer from Choi Ho-eon, but there was no use talking to him. Since Choi Ho-eon had the tongue of a cunning snake, Kwak Soo-hwan suppressed his impulse and rendered the radio useless.
“It’ll be okay.”
That cliche was also Seok-hwa’s own words of comfort.
“If you can’t kill the enemy, you die. That’s how it always is.”
The speedometer on the dashboard soared upward and then fell sideways. The Jeep's engine roared and the wheels never stopped except for a quick gas fill-up. By the time the long summer sun set, we were able to leave the city's management area. The roads and forests were no longer distinct, so it was hard to tell which way was which.
I could tell the direction with my compass, but the endless forest felt like a tropical jungle I would never be able to get out of again. The croaking of frogs constantly leaked in from outside the window that was open about an inch. The lush leaves were covered in darkness, and their disheveled hair hung down. It was a gloomy sight, the complete opposite of the green daytime.
Kwak Soo-hwan turned on his high beams to secure his view. Two deer suddenly jumped into the darkness in the strong light. In addition to the croaking of frogs, he could also hear the sound of water flowing somewhere. Kwak Soo-hwan, who was riding up the hill, stopped the car for a moment and looked around. Turning the steering wheel to the left and stepping on the lush grass, I surprisingly saw a valley with a waterfall.
It was a year after I became the controller, when the Second Master gave me an order to deal with the rebels. When I caught the person the Second had designated, I could tell at a glance that he was not a rebel because he was groaning.
‘I have not revealed the location anywhere, and I will never reveal it in the future, so please spare my life.’
The man begging me to spare my life was strange.
Kwak Soo-hwan looked into the man and found out that the Second’s family had built a hideout about half a century ago. The workers who had participated in the construction at the time were either murdered or had their deaths faked. The person the Second had ordered to kill was a worker who barely survived, so Kwak Soo-hwan let him go instead of killing him. Of course, giving him the location of the bunker in exchange for sparing him was just a give-and-take.
There were three hideouts in total. Since I had been traveling all over the country with the controller, I had no trouble securing the location. I had found a place that I thought I might use later, but I didn’t know that Second would hide in a cave first and survive.
“I’ll lock the car door, so wait here.”
“Be careful.”
“Okay.”
Kwak Soo-hwan gave Seok-hwa a kiss on the forehead. He got out of the jeep, locked the door, and threw the car key up and caught it as a habit. He put the key in his pocket and took the pistol instead.
This valley was home to a fair amount of fish like trout and willow trout, and the water was good enough to use as drinking water. Aside from the fact that the fish didn’t taste good, it was a place suitable for survival.
Kwak Soo-hwan shoved the grass with his combat boots while shining a flashlight on the ground. If there were any traces of people coming and going, there would be trampled grass near the entrance. Second, there’s no way he ran away alone, and the butler must be helping him.
He’s bothering people.
Kwak Soo-hwan muttered to himself. When he said he’d protect him, he would’ve stayed quiet, but he’s making things worse.
Thump, thump. Kwak Soo-hwan found a spot where the grass was crushed and rolled his feet. The solid iron, not the dirt, made his soles tingle. After clearing away all the grass around there, he found a groove inside the round iron plate where he could put his hand.
He placed one arm on the dirt floor to support himself, and with the other hand, he held the groove of the iron door tightly and lifted it. Judging from the fact that it didn’t move at all, he must’ve locked it from the inside.
“I saved the swallow, but it bit Mr. Park.”
The survivor also showed him how to open the bunker door when it was locked, but this was difficult for him alone. Kwak Soo-hwan ran back to the jeep, shining a flashlight in front of him. Seokhwa was nowhere to be seen, neither in the passenger seat nor in the driver’s seat. When Kwak Su-hwan knocked on the window, Seokhwa, who had been hiding, quickly came up.
“You can come out. Let’s go together.”
“What about your luggage?”
Seokhwa pointed to the backpack.
“Leave it for now.”
Kwak Su-hwan unfolded a protective vinyl sheet that resembled the color of the forest and wrapped the jeep perfectly. Seokhwa, who helped behind, carefully buttoned up his half-unbuttoned shirt and walked with him to the entrance of the bunker.
“Is that the entrance?”
A round iron door appeared in the direction Kwak Su-hwan was looking.
“Yeah. I don’t know if it’s inside or not, but since he’s not opening the door, it looks like it’s not there, but it looks like it’s there.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know what’s inside the second. Honey, shine this on me from above.”
Kwak Su-hwan held up the flashlight He held it out to Seokhwa. Seokhwa stood tall and shined a flashlight on the iron gate he had mentioned. The iron gate was firmly shut except for a groove on one side.
“Are you trying to open it with force?”
“Do you think I’m just some ignorant guy who’s strong?”
“Being strong isn’t ignorant, it’s good. But you shouldn’t get hurt.”
“You’ve been frozen since you came down to the city, have you relaxed a bit?”
Kwak Suhwan took a deep breath and pretended to lift it with force, but then made a joke as if he couldn’t do it.
“I can’t do this even with my strength.”
“Help me?”
“Yeah.”
The gate was only big enough for Kwak Suhwan’s hand, so he was worried about how to help. Seokhwa immediately hugged his waist tightly from behind.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to pull it together.”
Kwak Suhwan couldn’t hold it back for a moment and burst into laughter. It was because he remembered the scene where he had stood back to back to protect Oh Yang-seok at his house.
“Hold on tighter.”
He must have exerted some strength, because his body felt tight. As he was chewing on that feeling, Seok-hwa was trying to pull his body back by exerting more strength.
“Should I do it slowly?”
“… … Are you kidding me?”
“Yeah.”
He released Seok-hwa’s hand as if to vent his anger and lightly bit his finger. The method for opening the closed iron door was simple. All he had to do was put a string or rope on the ring inside the groove and pull it in the opposite direction. He was about to wave the flashlight again, telling her to shine a little light inside. He heard the sound of the iron ring turning under the iron door. Creak, creak, the iron door that had been turning with difficulty opened by itself. Seok-hwa was surprised and shined the flashlight inside.
“It’s been a while. Major Kwak Su-hwan, Dr. Seok-hwa.”
He was the Second Master’s butler.
If he was inside, he would have crawled out quickly. Kwak Soo-hwan was about to kick his head, but he saw Seok-hwa and took patience to heart.
“Thank goodness.”
He found it first. Seok-hwa faintly smiled, even though he didn’t say that.
“Second Master?”
“Yes. He’s safely inside.”
The butler started to climb down the iron ladder.
Kwak Soo-hwan checked to see if Seok-hwa was holding onto the ladder properly before he followed and closed the iron door. The air conditioning was good, so the air inside wasn’t bad.
The bunker, which was about 100 pyeong in size, had carpets on the floor, an island-style kitchen, a large leather sofa, and even a camera screen that monitored the valley. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a luxury home. And in the middle of it all, the Second Master, who had become much thinner and more unsightly than before, was sitting in a wheelchair. His eyes were filled with complicated emotions, as if he didn’t know what to say. Second sighed several times.
Stuck in such a comfortable place, acting like a refugee. I should have twisted his neck to death.
Kwak Soo-hwan passed Seok-hwa and headed straight to the kitchen.
“Hey, Major Kwak Soo-hwan.”
Second opened his mouth to Kwak Soo-hwan, who didn’t even say hello, but he opened the cupboard first. He took out various things inside, turned on the burner, heated up water, and put instant rice inside. In one container, there was a trout that the butler seemed to have caught. He skillfully caught the trout that was running away from his hands and cut open its stomach with a jackknife. He took out all the intestines of the flailing trout and placed them on the pan.
“What on earth are you doing now?”
The butler approached him with a frown.
“You should feed me rice first.”
Dr. Seok, you haven’t even had a proper meal yet. Kwak Soo-hwan made a face worse than the butler.
“Captain Kwak! How dare you, change your words.”
The butler asserted his authority, asking where he was being treated.
“Then shall I come to this extent and treat you well? If you have nothing better to do, just turn over the fish.”
Kwak Soo-hwan even took out salt and sprinkled it on the trout whose belly had been cut open.
“Let’s eat.”
Seok-hwa, who had been staring at Second, turned to the table. He wasn’t really hungry, but he sat down on the chair because he didn’t want to eat what Kwak Soo-hwan had prepared for him.
He muttered that the two men must have gone crazy after visiting Russia, and that the butler was crazy. Instead of pushing the wheelchair with his own hands, Second got up from his seat with his own two legs.
“Wow, Master!”
It wasn’t the exclamation of a believer who had witnessed a miracle, but closer to shock. Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa also stared at Second, who was standing on two legs, without moving. Ha, Kwak Soo-hwan laughed briefly and took out the warmed instant rice and placed it on the table.
“You probably didn’t receive salvation by becoming a believer in the Garden of Eden, but you were so scared of the First that you acted like you were disabled.”
Somehow, he managed to escape with his uncomfortable two legs.
When Kwak Soo-hwan took off the cover, steam rose from the instant rice. The steam tickled Seok-hwa’s chin and hung on his eyelashes. Seok-hwa blinked to shake off the moisture and picked up his spoon. It was surprising that Second’s two legs were fine, but it didn’t make much of an impression.
Second came over and sat across from Seok-hwa.
“Your face has been hurt a lot, Dr. Seok-hwa.”
“That great master is enjoying his rural life in a bunker, but our Seok Doctor suffered because he couldn’t eat properly.”
“Major Kwak. Don’t talk nonsense about having a pierced mouth, huh.”
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed Second by the collar.
“Kwak Soo-hwan!”
When the butler rushed at him, he kicked the butler’s stomach with his foot. The butler, clutching his stomach and rolling, retched.
“If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t attack me. If you knew how dirty I feel right now, you wouldn’t be able to do that.”
The butler, who was used to obeying orders, couldn’t believe Kwak Soo-hwan’s actions. Although he was wearing a uniform, he was actually a wanted man, not a major affiliated with Rainbow City.
Seok-hwa spread the flesh of the ripe trout on his spoon. He focused on eating as if nothing had happened. The butler looked at him as if he was amazed at the sight, and Kwak Soo-hwan pushed Second back into the chair.
“Hey, Major Kwak.”
He was angry, but his voice was a bit weaker, and he called Kwak Soo-hwan.
“I expected you to come to me at any moment.”
“You mean.”
Kwak Soo-hwan opened a can of corn and poured it into a disposable bowl. He pushed it in front of Seok-hwa and roughly heated up his own instant rice before taking off the lid. As they were leisurely eating, Second and the butler seemed to have lost their words.
“You killed all the workers who built this bunker. You used me to kill the last survivor, but in fact, I saved them. You tried not to get your hands dirty, and you got hit in the back of the head.”
Kwak Soo-hwan pointed to the ceiling of the bunker with his spoon. You killed the workers? Seokhwa looked at Second without hiding his contemptuous gaze. Second just looked at his wrinkled face indifferently.
“If you came to me to stop Choi Ho-eon, you should be polite enough.”
“I need the help of the Master. Choi Ho-eon killed First and even tried to kill Second, so I had no choice but to hide. Above all, I have to reveal to the world that this in the Garden of Eden is Choi Ho-eon.”
He tapped my temple.
“If you had predicted my coming, you would have guessed this too. You are the cause, and I am the power.”
“I guessed it from the beginning when you said you would protect me. You would use me as you pleased.”
“Why, when I did the same.”
Haven’t you used me and Dr. Seok as you pleased? It was Second who tried to put Dr. Seok in the position of Master and manipulate him as he pleased.
“It’s so rude. It’s hard to see it as someone who wants to hold hands. It’s the worst negotiator.”
“I didn’t come here to negotiate. It’s more like threatening.”
Kwak Soo-hwan wiped away his fake smile and glared at him fiercely. Second didn’t change at all, showing that he wasn’t an easy old man.
“Then kill me.”
“What’s so arrogant about you?”
Second suspected that the rude words had just come from Kwak Soo-hwan. However, it was definitely Seok-hwa’s voice. Seok-hwa was drinking water after finishing his meal. It had been a long time since he had tasted such clean and cool water, but instead of enjoying the taste, he felt humiliated.
“You’re hiding to save your life. What did you do on the day the incident happened? When the disaster actually happened, you couldn’t do anything.”
The young soldiers of the city fought as a shield and followed the absurd orders. Second hid in here, but countless people had already died that day.
“I don’t even know the life or death of the people I talked to and worked with until yesterday. The Major has been with them longer than I have. Why should soldiers who are better than cowardly masters get hurt first? Why should we, who are like that, be treated with courtesy?”
Second was shaking, unlike when he was grabbed by the collar. Now, Seokhwa was spouting thoughts that shook the foundation of Rainbow City.
“Dr. Seokhwa, I understand your hardships. But I clearly asked you to be my successor back then. It was all for the sake of Rainbow City, and you were the ones who rejected that and left.”
Second felt sorry, saying that it was all your fault.
“You even acted like you had trouble moving around to keep your position as master. For the sake of Rainbow City? No, it was for your own safety. “You didn’t have the confidence to confront the First?”
Second’s face turned red as he blurted out the truth without hesitation. How dare he try to defeat me when he was born with my genes? Second, who thought it was his child’s provocation, lost his pride and couldn’t save face. The butler intervened on his behalf as he trembled and became angry.
“Dr. Seokhwa, that’s absolutely not true. The Second Master is the one who has continuously blocked the First, who dreamed of dictatorship.”
“Now, stop being the spokesperson.”
Kwak Soo-hwan, who had been watching, put down his spoon with a thud.
“To catch Choi Ho-eon, who has a high approval rating, we need solid evidence that the Serpent of the Garden of Eden is the one. We also need to reveal that the Adam infection incident was planned by the Serpent.”
As Kwak Soo-hwan finished his business, Second grabbed the table and stood up as if it was a good thing. His legs were free, but his muscles had deteriorated to the limit. Not using a cane was the second's stubbornness.
Da.
“Do you understand when you bump into me? The power of the fake Master that you guys talk about.”
Second, who had no regrets, walked to the corner of the living room and peeled off the carpet. He grabbed the handle attached to the wooden floor and lifted it, revealing a small space where he pulled out his briefcase. It wasn’t covered in dust, as if he had often taken it out.
Master pushed the empty bowl aside and lifted the briefcase.
“Yes, the noose to catch Choi Ho-eon is inside here. Instead, promise me that after you take him out, you’ll go back to the two-master system.”
“I could kill you and take it now.”
“You said you needed a justification, Major Kwak. I, the Second Master, am the one with the power of words.”
“So you want me to appoint you as Master again?”
“Then, will you take over the First? If you want, I’ll do it.”
Kwak Soo-hwan showed his teeth and laughed. It was funny how he was confident that he could be elected First Master if he wanted to.
“Was the Master vote that was held before really fair?”
Second bit his lips at Kwak Soo-hwan’s sarcasm.
“Do you know, Dr. Seok? When I first entered the military academy, the most absurd thing was the Master ballot paper. They handed out ballot papers to the students, but they were already voted on. Every time the soldiers voted, they had to vote for the designated Master. If they didn’t, they would be branded rebels and killed without anyone knowing.”
Seok-hwa couldn’t raise his head at those words. He had received a ballot paper himself, but he had voted for the person he was told to vote for. At that time, he thought that the safety of the people was guaranteed only when First and Second were the leaders of Rainbow City. The teacher at the learning center also said that change and doubt were hell. He said that the system had to be maintained because it was all thanks to the efforts of the leaders and soldiers that they were able to be this safe from Adam.
He had also contributed to the neglect of Rainbow City.
“The learning center… … had problems.”
“I agree with that. The education method that made people loyal to Choi Ho-eon,”
“No. It was the same even before.”
Second sighed deeply. He seemed to have been completely immersed in strange ideas after leaving the city.
“Then how should it be changed?”
“Like the world before Adam. Not forced brainwashing, but in a form where freedom and individual choice are guaranteed. That way, people like me won’t appear.”
“This is truly a utopia. Aren’t you just dreaming? Dr. Seokhwa, the reason you’ve survived safely is because the city’s system was stable.”
Second criticized Seokhwa sharply.
“It must have been safe because it was useful.”
Second’s neck turned red as if he was giving a speech in front of the citizens. He didn’t forget to slap the table.
“We have our worst enemy, Adam! Do you think our city would have survived without control and management!?”
“Then why did you use Adam!”
Seokhwa raised his voice a little. Second and the butler were surprised, but Kwak Soo-hwan’s eyes widened just as much. Seokhwa had never shown his emotions in front of others to this extent. He had suppressed and endured it because he had no physical strength.
“I never intended to annihilate Adam in the first place, and I used that dangerous time bomb to oppress and threaten people. Do you know? There are already countries that are free from Adam. No, you wouldn’t know. You’re trapped in a well yourself, so how can you see outside?”
A faint blush appeared on Seokhwa’s face. It seemed as if his fever was rising. Kwak Soo-hwan, who had been watching, approached Seokhwa. I didn’t want my people to fall because of that old man.
“What’s wrong with being locked in a well? Thanks to that, we were able to live safely! You know what I’ve experienced! Those guys out there are likely to starve to death! Yes, you’re right. I provided you with good clothes and good food because you were useful! If your mother had been useful, I wouldn’t have let her die like that!”
“… … What did you say?”
Seokhwa’s fist turned white.
Second realized belatedly that he had been excited by Seokhwa’s impure thoughts and had made a slip of the tongue, but it was already too late.
“I expected First to take action. But how could that be my fault?”
He recited it as if he was talking about someone else’s business without a trace of guilt. Seokhwa silently got up and aimed the pistol he took out of his bosom at Second.
You knew and neglected it?
Although Kwak Su-hwan was focused on Seok-hwa, he failed to stop her unexpected behavior. To be exact, he did not stop her.
“Do you know what you are doing, Dr. Seok-hwa?”
Second was still chilling even with the muzzle right in front of him. Seok-hwa gripped the gun so tightly that his palms were tingling. The pistol grip was gradually heating up with Seok-hwa’s heat. It felt like his entire body was engulfed in flames. Has he ever been this angry since he was born?
No matter what others said, he did not listen, and even when someone harmed him, he let his anger flow away. At that time, he really did not care. When he was swayed by his emotions, his body would hurt, so he endured it on his own, and those were the days when his mother embraced him when he was helpless. It is said that Second tacitly consented even though he knew that she was in danger.
“You sacrificed your mother because you had to send me to Jeju Island?”
“First must have acted that way because he was overly enthusiastic about making the cure. He must have thought that he shouldn’t get involved with Dr. Oh Yang-seok any deeper.”
Seok-hwa’s lips twitched.
“Just because of that?”
“If you had just quietly done what you told me to do, Jin-yeon would have lived. Wouldn’t I have been sad too? I also cherished and loved Jin-yeon more than anyone else.”
How could I let her die after caring for her and loving her? Like the teacher at the learning center said, is it because my emotions are different from others and I can’t understand?
“… … Major.”
Seok-hwa turned his head and looked at Kwak Soo-hwan. His eyes were unfocused, as if he was possessed by something. However, the gun was still pointed at Second.
“Major, can you let me die for the purpose?”
“No, if it were me, I would kill the purpose.”
Kwak Soo-hwan couldn’t decide whether to take the gun from Seok-hwa’s hand or let him go even if it meant killing Second. It was an overstep of authority for him to block Seok-hwa now.
Before I was here, it was his mother who protected Seok-hwa, and he knew better than anyone how much the death of a family member drives people crazy. That’s why he couldn’t forgive Second for saying something like that. The author, who had been the head of a country, was gripped by an inferiority complex and swung his tongue three inches.
“Dr. Seok-hwa, this one thing must be made clear. Dr. Seok-hwa is also partially responsible for Jin-yeon’s death.”
As soon as he saw Seok-hwa’s hand tremble, bang! Kwak Soo-hwan slammed his fist on the table. The solid wooden board dented and the back of Kwak Soo-hwan’s hand turned red.
“I know very well what kind of person you are. People like you don’t feel guilty. Instead, you make others feel guilty. Now that I look at it, I kept my position as Master by playing with that pitiful mouth.”
“Do you think physical strength is the only strength? Sometimes, the pitiful mouth you talk about has greater power.”
He pretended to be a rational orator, but it was nothing more than an act of plausibly covering up his inferiority complex of not being able to show his strength due to being pushed by the First Family. Second was just a loser.
“Dr. Seok, give me the pistol.”
Kwak Soo-hwan took the pistol from Seok-hwa’s hand. He thought he would use his strength to keep him from taking it, but he handed it over too easily.
“So, you’re not going to accept my help?”
Judging from the food on the cupboard and the floor, he could only hold out for ten to fifteen days. He wasn’t a great negotiator, as Second had said, but he was a straggler and soldier from the city who survived in a worse place than a mud pit.
Bang! A short and concise gunshot rang out, followed by the old man’s dirty scream. Seokhwa looked at Second, who was lying on the floor and curled up. Only after seeing the blood that dyed the carpet red could he realize what had happened.
Blood poured out from Second’s leg where the bullet had penetrated. The butler, who was screaming at him, asking what the hell he had done, and Second’s voice cursing Kwak Soo-hwan were deafening.
“If you’re going to act like a cripple, do it to the end.”
Kwak Soo-hwan’s cold voice next to him made him come back to his senses.
Second said that it was his fault for his mother’s death. It was First who killed her, but it was Second who knew and kept silent… … If he hadn’t been interested in the cure, would his mother still be alive?
Kwak Soo-hwan held on to Seokhwa, who was staggering. Seokhwa leaned against him and looked down at Second, who was groaning in pain.
Even if I regretted it, my mother was dead and the fault was all with the leaders of the city. It was never my fault. I wouldn’t act like a burden to the people next to me because I was fooled by Second’s words. So whether you die or not is none of my business, but if you were still needed by him, I could have saved you.
Seokhwa stood up on his own and approached Second.
The butler ripped his pants to reveal the wound, but he was struggling because he didn’t know how to stop the bleeding. Seokhwa blocked the blood pouring out of his perforated thigh with both hands. Second yelled at him to get out of the way. Seokhwa applied pressure to the gunshot wound without any expression.
“Let’s stop the bleeding first… … . I’ll apply pressure to the wound.”
Since the bullet had penetrated, there was no need to remove it. Since it hadn’t touched the bone, he also realized that Gwak Su-hwan hadn’t really fired the gun to cripple him. He had just caused him pain in his stead.
Seokhwa gritted his teeth as he applied pressure to the wound. He almost got his hands dirty because of those words. If he had cried out that he wished Second was dead, Kwak Su-hwan would have committed murder more than enough. Seok-hwa vowed that from this moment on, he would never be swayed by any advice. That was also the way for him to protect Kwak Su-hwan.
Kwak Su-hwan also knelt on the floor and applied pressure to Seok-hwa’s wound instead. Seok-hwa shook his bloody hands and He sprayed the granular hemostatic agent from the first aid kit. The blood coagulated like jelly, which helped stop the bleeding, but the wound was deeper than he had thought, so the bleeding was not completely stopped.
Seok-hwa put on latex gloves and started to shove gauze into the punctured wound. Second, who had been holding back a groan, rolled his eyes and convulsed.
“What a joke.”
Gwak Soo-hwan pressed down on Second’s struggling body from above. It was a pain that soldiers who had encountered an emergency had all experienced before. He had also shove gauze directly into the wound several times. Second had never experienced this kind of physical pain, so it must have been even more terrifying. However, no matter how often soldiers were exposed to pain, they never developed a tolerance to pain. Everyone felt the same amount of pain.
After filling the wound with gauze, Seok-hwa took out a painkiller and handed it to the butler.
“It’s a medicine that also has a sleeping effect. You can take it once every 7 hours, and you have to change the gauze again tomorrow.”
The butler was shocked as if he had to poke the gauze himself.
“It hurts more when you take it out than when you poke it in. The gauze comes out while rubbing the flesh that has started to heal.”
It was said to scare him, but it was also true. While Seokhwa was bandaging Second’s thigh, Kwak Soo-hwan pulled out his briefcase.
“Password.”
Second was still unconscious, so he asked the butler.
“… … I don’t know the password either. Only the Master knows it.”
The butler, shaking off the cold sweat, watched Kwak Soo-hwan’s expression.
Thinking about how difficult an uncontrolled S-class soldier would be, Second decided that if he became Master again, he would create a law that would suppress and deal with soldiers more effectively.
“Password. If you don’t want to tell me, should I send the other one away?”
When Kwak Soo-hwan threatened, Seok-hwa pulled a chair and put the legs of the unconscious Second on it. It was simply an action to stop the bleeding, but the butler gritted his teeth, thinking that those two guys had come at him on purpose.
Seok-hwa fixed his legs higher than his heart and only then did he sigh. Fortunately, he didn’t feel sorry even though he saw Second’s face, which was pale from losing a lot of blood.
“Three seconds.”
“I really don’t know! Really.”
“Really?”
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the handle of the briefcase and lifted it up. The butler let out a short scream and covered his face with both hands. He just looked at that pitifully and slammed the corner of the bag down on the floor. He slammed it down repeatedly, not just once or twice, so the interlocking parts twisted and the insides began to show.
Nevertheless, it must have been made quite sturdily, because the carpet was worn and cement dust was flying around, and it was only when he could put his hand in that he could see through it. Kwak Soo-hwan spread his bag wide and forcibly tore it open.
Inside the bag were a USB and several cell phones that had become unusable after the base station collapsed. Touch-type cell phones were a type that even Kwak Soo-hwan had not seen easily. It was because the factory that made the cell phones had disappeared long ago after the base station lost its function. It could have been normalized, but it was more likely that the high-ranking officials of the city had not activated the communication products in order to control the citizens.
He took out one of the cell phones and swiped the screen with his hand, and bloodstains spread out. When he turned it on, a refreshing notification sound came and the screen began to load. At that moment, a sound of metal rubbing against metal was heard from somewhere. The source of the squeaking, eardrum-piercing noise was not this cell phone. Seok-hwa, who had also heard the sound, quickly approached behind Kwak Soo-hwan.
It was the moment when Kwak Soo-hwan loaded his pistol and aimed it at the entrance to the bunker.
Thud! Someone jumped down from above. The man, who had landed safely by lowering his center of gravity, straightened his back and shook his hands.
“Oh no. Did I interrupt a cozy family dinner?”
It was Choi Ho-eon, wearing a black suit. Kwak Soo-hwan looked up to see if there were any soldiers following him. Choi Ho-eon raised both his hands and smiled pleasantly.
“Don’t worry, it’s just me here. I came alone because I was afraid my little brother would get scared.”
He wanted to shoot Choi Ho-eon in the forehead while he was talking nonsense, but if he couldn’t kill him in one shot, he could snipe Seok-hwa. Besides, he knew it well because he had fought him. If he moved his body thoughtlessly, he would end up giving himself an opening, so he had to be more tense than ever.
“You don’t believe me, do you? There must be about twenty S-class generals waiting up there.”
“How… … .”
The butler took a step back, asking how he had found this bunker. It seemed like he was looking for a way out, if there was a panic room somewhere.
“Mother.”
Choi Ho-eon called out to Mother absentmindedly.
[Voice recognition complete. Welcome to the Master.]
Mother’s mechanical sound spread through the bunker.
“The Second Master tried to connect because he couldn’t let go of his attachment to Mother. Well, it was only that one day, but thanks to him, we were able to gather together and have a family meeting. So, Mother, shall we start the count?”
[Loading. Counting in progress.]
While Choi Ho-eon opened his mouth, Kwak Su-hwan grabbed Seok-hwa’s arm. I don’t know why he came down alone, but since he was talking about counting, it seemed like he had another plan. Even if there were soldiers holding out above, the entrance was narrow, so it wouldn’t be difficult to deal with them one by one.
“Dr. Seok-hwa, Major Kwak Su-hwan. It’s so nice to see you with my own eyes. No matter what, you have to answer the radio. Since there was no answer, I thought something had happened and came running like this.”
Choi Ho-eon smiled and took a step forward.
[Count zero, starting.]
Boom! The earth shook with the loud noise of a bomb exploding behind him. The door on the wall covered with tapestry flew away, and a foul, foul stench, as if coming from sulfur fire, flowed in in an instant. The butler turned his back to the burst door and opened his eyes wide.
Tak, tak, tak, these were the boots running through the darkness toward the light. Kreuk, keugeu, a strange roar also echoed from the hole. His two legs were tied together in fear as if he had seen a roaring tiger right in front of him. Get out! Seok-hwa shouted, and that was the moment when the butler turned his head.
“Eww!”
The one that came out of the darkness rushed to the butler and bit his neck. Red blood spurted into the air along with the torn flesh.
“Dr. Seok, now!”
Kwak Soo-hwan kicked the table up with his foot, pushed it to the corner, and hid Seok-hwa inside. At the same time, a loud gunshot rang out, and Choi Ho-eon closed the distance in an instant. The damned bastard must have been wearing a bulletproof vest inside, because he was hit hard in the chest, but he charged without stopping.
As he fought with Choi Ho-eon, who was holding the gun, the gun barrel went up, and the bullet that was fired hit the ceiling. Damn it! Kwak Soo-hwan threw the gun to the table where Seok-hwa was hiding and jabbed Choi Ho-eon in the jaw.
If he had been hit in one shot, he would have fallen, but Choi Ho-eon lowered his center of gravity and deflected the punch, and instead, he punched him in the face. He opened his hand to block the impact and grabbed Choi Ho-eon’s fist. As he twisted his wrist, the sharp tip of the jackknife grazed his chest. Even though his uniform shirt was torn, his skin was intact because he quickly pulled his body back.
Choi Ho-eon's gaze turned to the corner of the table that was standing at an angle. Kwak Su-hwan didn't miss that moment and took a step forward, elbowing his collarbone. He saw the guy staggering and extended his other fist straight. This time, he felt a proper hit on his hand bone. However, before he could relax, Adam rushed at him from behind, so he grabbed his head and slammed it on the floor, crushing it.
Choi Ho-eon, spitting out blood, immediately took out a gun from his side and shot Kwak Su-hwan. He used Adam, who was lying down, as a shield to block his path. Bang, bang bang! The bullets he fired three times were embedded in Adam's body, and Kwak Su-hwan narrowed the distance between them as much as possible.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Adam was busy rushing at the two men who were alive and thrashing around rather than the unconscious Second. It was hard enough to deal with just Choi Ho-eon, but with his back turned to Adam, Kwak Soo-hwan felt even more like dying. However, if he changed directions with Choi Ho-eon, the corner where Seok-hwa was would become a blind spot.
Kwaaah! When Adam’s breath suddenly poured out from behind, Kwak Soo-hwan lowered his center and grabbed him by the collar. He threw Adam, whose mouth was open strangely, at Choi Ho-eon. Choi Ho-eon, who changed direction and dodged, stomped on Adam’s head and crushed it with his foot.
“Damn it. You’re still trying to break Adam.”
“I only need to protect myself, but you have to protect Dr. Seok-hwa too, right? You have to use what you have to your advantage.”
Kwak Soo-hwan checked Seok-hwa again. He was hiding so well that not a single hair was visible, but he couldn’t be at ease. Before attacking Choi Ho-eon, he caught the Adams who rushed towards him and sent them to him, and he also directly killed the remaining ones. People attack using their brains, but Adams are true to their instincts, so the variable was on Adam’s side. Choi Ho-eon also knew this, so he couldn’t focus on Kwak Soo-hwan rashly.
Kwak Soo-hwan glanced back and checked the number of Adams who were left. He had expected them to keep pouring in, but only one or two of them crawled out late, aside from those who had fallen down and died. The only escape route in this bunker was the round passage on top of the iron ladder. It was a completely different situation from when he had invaded the 21st Violet Unit and poured a barrage of weapons on Adam.
That bastard, I wonder if he shouldn’t be bitten by Adam.
Of course, Kwak Soo-hwan himself shouldn’t be infected because the vaccine wasn’t effective, but it meant that he wasn’t the only one who had a weakness. Kwak Soo-hwan unfolded his Gerber knife and pierced the large Adam’s eyeball. He circled around and swung it inside, then slashed at Choi Ho-eon, who was facing Adam. The blade cut the air just barely enough to graze his cheek. Choi Ho-eon, who barely avoided it, furrowed his eyebrows and smiled briefly.
“Lieutenant Kwak, you’ve gotten a lot uglier since I last saw you.”
“Being honest with that dirty bastard only hurts me.”
“If I came here to talk, would you believe me? Dr. Seok-hwa, can you hear me?”
Seok-hwa was crouching behind the table, only keeping his ears open. He was holding the gun that Kwak Soo-hwan sent with both hands.
I didn’t forget.
I had to rely solely on my hearing to distinguish the sound of Adam’s bones being crushed and the close combat between the two. If Adam had found me and attacked me, Kwak Soo-hwan would have been left vulnerable and would have been in the worst situation.
Thud! I looked to the side in surprise at the impact on the table. I found Seok-hwa hiding, who had been thrown over here. He was crawling towards me, bleeding from his lower jaw. He tried to move backwards, but the wall blocked his movement. Slowly, Adam reached out and just barely touched Seok-hwa’s body.
Should I shoot? What if Adam was cornered by the sound of the gun? I could just crush his head with the handle… … .
I’m not Kwak Soo-hwan, so I couldn’t easily break a person’s skull. Seok-hwa clung to the wall, hoping that Adam wouldn’t crawl any closer. Sweat dripped down his forehead and entered his eyes. He couldn’t even rub his stinging eyes with his hands, so he just shut them tightly and opened them.
Oh, my… … . Since he didn’t have a lower jaw, his voice was even more strange. Did the Second Master get bitten by Adam? He was about to shoot at Adam, who had crawled a little further.
Crunch! As if a huge gravity had been applied only there, Adam’s head was crushed to the floor. Broken teeth scattered around, and his outstretched arms trembled a few times before falling to the floor with a thud. Seokhwa saw his military boots and was sure it was Kwak Suhwan. He hurriedly stuck his face out and saw Choi Hohwan’s fist extending straight and smoothly. Kwak Suhwan, who had raised both arms to guard, was pushed back and made eye contact with Seokhwa.
Are you okay? It was as if he was asking that. As soon as he confirmed that Seokhwa was safe, he turned to Choi Hohwan again and pushed him as far away as possible. His mouth was completely torn, and blood was pouring out from his nose. The face of Kwak Su-hwan, who had passed by in an instant, remained as an afterimage.
Seok-hwa lay down and stuck his face out of the table again. The floor was covered in blood, and Adam’s corpse was strewn here and there. Meanwhile, the Second Master, who had come to his senses, was hiding in a corner, covered in blood.
Kwak Su-hwan and Choi Ho-eon punched each other in the pile of corpses. The sound of the blow was so loud that Seok-hwa could barely breathe. The moment he slipped in the blood, Choi Ho-eon wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him from behind. Since he crossed his arms to prevent him from escaping, Kwak Su-hwan intentionally fell backward. Even when he struck Choi Ho-eon’s side with his elbow, the pulling force was still tremendous. Seok-hwa quickly grabbed his gun and ran to them.
“Dr. Seok-hwa!”
The Second called softly, but Seok-hwa didn’t even look at him.
“Let go of that arm right now. Or I’ll shoot you.”
The distance was close, but the two men were overlapping each other, so he certainly wasn’t confident he could shoot Choi Ho-eon. Even now, most of his body was covered by Kwak Soo-hwan, and Choi Ho-eon could have moved his body when he fired the gun.
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed Choi Ho-eon’s arm. The blood drained from Kwak Soo-hwan’s face as he groaned. Choi Ho-eon didn’t let go of his arm, as if telling him to shoot if he wanted to. Seok-hwa suddenly felt afraid. He knew that Choi Ho-eon was strong, but he didn’t expect that he would have the strength to match Kwak Soo-hwan’s. However, he couldn’t delay any longer. Seok-hwa opened his eyes wide and gripped the gun tighter.
Bang!
He fired the gun above Choi Ho-eon’s head, and Kwak Soo-hwan quickly pulled his arm away. Crack, gulp, crack! He had been out of breath for a long time, so he coughed and vomited out the saliva he couldn’t swallow. Just as Choi Ho-eon was about to grab the jackknife that had fallen to the floor and stab him in the back,
Ta-ang! Another gunshot rang out from Seok-hwa’s hand. The jackknife fell to the soft carpet with a thud.
“I just wanted to talk… … . Why is this so hard?”
The sleeves of his suit were soaked with blood. Blood dripped down from underneath. Choi Ho-eon, clutching his forearm, looked at Seok-hwa as if resenting him.
“Get away from Major Kwak.”
“Shoot… … !”
The old man’s rough voice burst out from behind him.
“What are you doing! Now… … ! Now! Shoot!”
When Seok-hwa aimed the gun at Second, the old man’s eyes widened. Seok-hwa fired the pistol again without hesitation. Second covered his face with his hand. This can’t be happening. Shooting me, his father, not Choi Ho-eon. Even so, the only pain was in his thigh, so Second checked to see if he was still alive. Next to him, the butler who had turned into Adam and was about to attack the Master was lying there.
“Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Soo-hwan sent Seok-hwa behind him and swore. The elite soldiers who had already lined up and come down were pointing their rifles. If Seok-hwa had shot Choi Ho-eon as Second said, they would have been showered with bullets. If the current Master were to die here, the elite soldiers would only follow Second, so the bastard knew that and tried to sacrifice his son. His teeth ground at the old man’s dirty tricks.
“If it were just me. Don’t you think so?”
Choi Ho-eon opened his mouth to Kwak Soo-hwan.
“There are many gaps. You probably thought I could handle it easily, but protecting Dr. Seok-hwa would break your concentration, right?”
Choi Ho-eon walked to where the table had been and picked up his tattered briefcase. He picked up the scattered cell phone and USB on the floor and whined, wondering what this was. Seokhwa grabbed Kwak Suhwan’s tattered uniform coat from behind. If he was taken away like this, Kwak Suhwan’s life would not be guaranteed. Of course, it was the same for him. Seokhwa released the hand he had been holding onto as if leaning on him and stood next to him.
“… … What do you want?”
“What do you want? We’re my family.”
Choi Ho-eon looked like he was scolding Seokhwa for asking such an obvious question. Kwak Suhwan continued to suppress his boiling blood while the bastard walked around the bunker. If it was a mistake to come here, it was a mistake, but the Second Master was more foolish and insignificant than he thought. It was pathetic that he had accessed Mother and revealed his location.
He could have lived rationally when he was inside the safe fence, but people’s true worth was revealed when they were cornered. The Second Master wasn't even a cornered rat.
Of course, as long as Choi Ho-eon controlled Rainbow City, the meeting would have been inevitable at any time. He just hoped it wouldn't be now. He didn't want to act against Seok-hwa's opinion because Seok-hwa was too precious to him. He was cowardly. It wasn't because he was precious, but because he was afraid that Seok-hwa would hate him even a little. If he were his old self, he would have destroyed and killed all obstacles that stood in his way. Or he might have stayed in Russia with Seok-hwa, who didn't want to do it.
"Okay, then. Shall we go home?"
Choi Ho-eon clapped his hands together and lightly clapped his hands.
"Oh, before that."
As he waved his hand at the soldier, the soldier ran over and handed him a pistol. Choi Ho-eon aimed the gun at Second. Second had lost consciousness again due to excessive blood loss.
Push! As expected, Choi Ho-eon pierced Second’s forehead with his gun.
This time, he turned the gun toward us.
“Don’t be nervous. I have no intention of harming Major Kwak Su-hwan, whom my younger brother cherishes so much, and Major Kwak Su-hwan seems to be misunderstanding, but I don’t hate him. Isn’t he special? Considering how much my father put in.”
Phew, he shook his head as if he was acting. Kwak Su-hwan had been simulating all this time. He had thought of several ways to escape with Seok-hwa, but there were too many soldiers. The possibility of him firing his gun recklessly was low, but if he got shot, recovering would be a bigger problem. He would have to hide for a while, and if he was unlucky, there was a chance that his wound would become infected and necrotic… … .
Major, let’s just watch the situation for now.
Seok-hwa grabbed Kwak Su-hwan’s wrist, worried that he might do something reckless. I don’t know what Choi Ho-eon’s plan is, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll kill or execute us out of the blue like he did before.
When Choi Ho-eon made a gesture, the soldiers came and grabbed Kwak Su-hwan’s arms. When they twisted his arms in the opposite direction and held them down, two or three of them rushed in and forced Kwak Su-hwan to the floor. He was handcuffed behind his back with his limbs crushed like a lab animal. If it weren’t for me, he would have easily run away. He didn’t deserve to be treated like this.
“Doctor.”
Seok-hwa stretched out both his hands at the soldier’s tone, which seemed to tell him not to resist. The handcuffs closed, taking away his freedom of movement.
“Dr. Choi Ho-eon, you said you wanted to talk to me, right?”
“Yes, it seems like you didn’t eat well, so let’s go to my house and talk.”
Choi Ho-eon, who was still bleeding from his arms, looked excited like a child, as if he didn’t feel any pain.
“Then promise me that you won’t harm Major Kwak Su-hwan.”
“Of course. There are plenty of empty seats at our table.”
Kwak Su-hwan searched the soldiers one by one. If he took the rifle and attacked them in return, there was no way he couldn’t escape. The problem was Choi Ho-eon. He had taken the attitude that he didn’t care if Seok-hwa got hurt as long as he was alive. That was the difference between him and me. Because of that, it was hard for me to fully exert my strength.
The three soldiers started climbing the iron ladder first. They went outside and aimed their guns before letting Kwak Su-hwan climb up. Two soldiers followed him in front and behind, and since his hands were tied behind him, he had difficulty maintaining his balance, so he was grabbed by the collar a few times. This time, it was Seok-hwa’s turn. He grabbed the ladder with his handcuffed hands and looked back as he climbed up.
The Second Master, his father who had only provided him with genes, was now a corpse and mixed in with Adam. He had used Adam to seek power, but in his words, he was with Adam.
“Second is not worthy of being a family.”
Choi Ho-eon, who was below, said. Seok-hwa did not answer and started climbing again. In the meantime, Choi Ho-eon sprinkled the oil that he had sent down from above here and there in the bunker. As the last step, he climbed up the ladder and lit a Zippo lighter and threw it down. The flames spread in an instant, and the Second Master’s body was soon engulfed in flames. Choi Ho-eon, who had arrived on the ground, pushed the entrance shut with his foot. It seemed that the heat of the fire burning the underground could be felt here. Silent The sound of the explosion was dull and soon became quiet.
Kwak Soo-hwan had to get in the first jeep, and Seok-hwa had to get in the jeep behind him. Kwak Soo-hwan was deep in thought even as he walked to the jeep. The soldiers’ guns moved in the direction he was moving. He looked back at Seok-hwa before sitting in the jeep. His gaze slowly rose from his handcuffed wrists to his face.
I don’t know what he’s thinking, but Seok-hwa stared at him expressionlessly as usual, as if hiding his anxiety. But honestly, he couldn’t think of any way to do anything now. We were powerless in front of such great power. The goal was simple enough to get rid of Adam. However, the process was complicated.
Kwak Soo-hwan turned his head first and got into the jeep. Black darkness had descended everywhere, so now he couldn’t even see his back.
Seok-hwa opened his mouth to Choi Ho-eon, who was sitting next to him.
“What are you going to do with Major Kwak?”
He asked in a calm, though anxious, voice.
“What do you think I’ll do? I’ve never done anything to Major Kwak Su-hwan. Major Kwak was the one who got in my way every time. He prevented my brother’s reunion and took Dr. Seok-hwa away from me.”
Choi Ho-eon furrowed his brow and pulled Seok-hwa’s hand toward him. Surprisingly, it was as cool as Kwak Su-hwan’s.
“Those guys are a bit rough.”
Choi Ho-eon received the handcuff keys from the soldier in front and freed Seok-hwa’s hand.
“Let’s go.”
As he signaled, the jeep they were in passed the car in front and started to run ahead. Seok-hwa turned around, but he still couldn’t see the inside of the jeep he was in. Choi Ho-eon grabbed Seok-hwa’s remaining hand and placed it on his cheek. When Seok-hwa tried to pull his hand away in discomfort, he held it a little tighter.
He turned his head to the side to look at me and gently rubbed his cheek against his palm.
“What are you doing?”
“Our mother often did this to us.”
Seokhwa opened his lips in embarrassment. His mother really used to wrap both of his cheeks around him so preciously.
“My mother was this warm, too.”
Choi Ho-eon closed his eyes as if lost in old memories. The corners of his lips slightly raised, so it was easy to tell that he was recalling good memories. Seokhwa couldn’t take his hands off Choi Ho-eon’s strength and kept looking back. Choi Ho-eon couldn’t know that he didn’t like having his body controlled by force. However, even if he had known, he wondered if he would have respected him like Kwak Su-hwan did.
“Don’t worry too much. Major Kwak Su-hwan is a very good stallion, isn’t he?”
Choi Ho-eon narrowed his eyes.
***
Kwak Su-hwan, who saw the car Seokhwa was riding in, kicked the back of the passenger seat with both legs together. His two handcuffed wrists were again hanging on the jeep handle.
“Major Kwak, please stay quiet. I beg you.”
The captain in the passenger seat asked Kwak Su-hwan, who was sitting behind the driver’s seat.
“Do you know me?”
“Yes, I do, but you probably don’t know me, Major.”
The captain had once volunteered for a field operation under Kwak Su-hwan’s command. He knew how Kwak Su-hwan looked when he was on the run, so he couldn’t relax even more. He was extremely cautious when he was handcuffed, but for some reason he felt that he was hiding his body. He guessed that it was probably because of Dr. Seok-hwa, who had left ahead of him.
He wondered what kind of ideology had brought the doctor and the soldier, who had no contact with each other, together. When he heard that a wanted notice had been issued for Kwak Su-hwan, the captain doubted his own ears. Kwak Su-hwan had risen through the ranks faster than anyone else, so he was an object of envy for soldiers without a background.
“Why on earth did you leave the city, Major?”
The captain couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked. He was the one who had been in the streets. Was it overlooked by these guys, ”he said. Do not cause our problems, so let's go to Kwak Soo -hwan. Shit, if I were you, I’d be loyal from head to toe.”
Did these guys just collect the sap? Kwak Su-hwan spat the blood that was pooling in his mouth onto the floor. For now, it seemed like a certain amount of strength would be enough for this distance.
[Follow Car 2.]
Unexpectedly, a radio call rang out from the car in front. It seemed like the order was given after Seok-hwa had distanced himself considerably. The guy holding the gun pointed a black cloth at Kwak Su-hwan’s face. Although he was pretending to be relaxed and making sarcastic remarks, they didn’t let up for a moment because they knew Kwak Su-hwan well.
“Car 2 is leaving now.”
As soon as the car started, Kwak Su-hwan started counting to 10 seconds in his head. It wasn’t hard to draw the terrain he had seen while coming up, and when it reached exactly 1 second, the sound of water crashing into the surface became completely clear. He took a deep breath. The other side was definitely a cliff where the stream water was falling. The opportunity was now. At the same time, the arms were raised in the hand and kicked out with the door. The muzzle is also a fuck! When the captain reached out to hold the Major, the captain was given up to the cliff. I'm faster. Paaaang- A loud horn honked. The driver's head, pierced by a rifle misfire, was forced to the steering wheel.
He stretched out both legs toward the captain who was trying to stop the car in a hurry and strangled him. The guy who was cut off from oxygen in an instant fainted, and Kwak Su-hwan pushed down the handcuffed handle with all his might. Damn it. The handle of the military jeep was also made to hang handcuffs, so it didn't break easily.
As we rattled down the mountain road, the steering wheel turned on its own. Now the jeep began to drive more fiercely to the right.
Thump, thump! He stretched out both legs and pushed off the ceiling, pulling both wrists toward me. Blood dripped down his face as the handcuffs cut into his flesh. Damn, damn, break quickly. When the blood seemed to flow back up to the ceiling instead of down, the car began to crash into the valley.
Ugh, Seokhwa felt nauseous. The cool body temperature of Choi Ho-eon on his hand made his stomach turn upside down. Choi Ho-eon shook his head and wiped away all his laughter.
“I guess I’m getting motion sickness because it’s an unpaved road.”
“… … No. Don’t touch me.”
“Is it because I’m nauseous?”
“… … .”
Choi Ho-eon said that it couldn’t be true and just handed him a bottle of water.
“You’re stuck with Lieutenant Kwak, and I’m just trying to find my mother’s memories with my younger brother, and I’m getting nauseous?”
When Seokhwa was at the Jeju Learning Center, he knew a strange classmate. He was generally a quiet and introverted student, but he was kind to Seokhwa. However, when pests appeared on the balsam tree he was growing or someone played a prank by digging up the dirt, he would change 180 degrees and cause a commotion.
Seokhwa, who had originally preferred to be alone, avoided him more thoroughly after that. Someone who was pathologically obsessed with something was not someone I could handle. I was a little scared because I couldn’t tell when and where he would get angry and go wild. It was like a vague fear that came over me when I looked at the deep sea.
“Am I nauseated?”
Seokhwa responded indifferently to Choi Ho-eon, who insisted on hearing the answer.
“Yes.”
“Why? We’re family?”
“We’re not family. My only family is Major Kwak.”
One of the reasons Choi Ho-eon boasted such a huge popularity as a Master was his appearance. The young and handsome Master gave people a strange sense of elation. He looked perfect on the outside without any shortcomings, so he had pride in the leader he had chosen with his own hands.
If Seokhwa had only seen Choi Ho-eon from afar, he might have thought he was a next-generation leader fit for a Master, but he wasn’t like that when he saw him up close. Seokhwa turned around to check if Kwak Su-hwan’s jeep was following him. When Choi Ho-eon roughly grabbed his face and stopped him from turning, he felt like he was going to vomit again.
“If you refuse, there’s nothing we can do. That’s how families are.”
“Dr. Choi and I have been strangers for decades.”
“I knew. I knew. I knew that my mother and I lived together in Jeju Island. Didn’t she really never talk about me?”
“Yes.”
He let go of the hand that was holding his face.
“You said you succeeded in developing a vaccine. I’ll help you mass-produce it.”
Choi Ho-eon pressed his arm, which was still bleeding, as if he was a little tired. Seokhwa thought that the author’s words weren’t sincere.
“And get rid of all of Adam.”
Seokhwa didn’t waver.
“Including all of the fallen.”
Choi Ho-eon’s white bandage was soaked in sticky, red blood. Seokhwa tried not to question the words “the fallen.” I have already experienced several times that being swayed by Serpent only leads to bad things.
“Master.”
The soldier in the front seat cautiously spoke to Choi Ho-eon, who had his eyes closed. Choi Ho-eon only gave the answer that he had been told to speak.
“The radio is not connecting with Jeep No. 2.”
The one who was more flustered was Seok-hwa.
“It seems like something has happened.”
“What’s going on?”
Seok-hwa leaned close to the passenger seat.
“I’ll check it myself and come back.”
“Yes, I’ll check and join you. If I can’t join you, I’ll leave you behind, Master.”
The soldier, armed with a pistol in his arms, a rifle on his shoulder, and even a radio, got down. Seok-hwa also tried to get down this time, but Choi Ho-eon pulled the belt and fixed his body. With a thud, he stuck a jackknife into the belt lock button, preventing him from taking it out.
“Let’s go again.”
Seok-hwa looked back repeatedly. The sight of the armed soldier climbing up was soon covered in darkness. If something had happened to the jeep he was riding, he wanted to believe that Kwak Su-hwan had successfully escaped.
“Take a deep breath, we have a long way to go.”
Seok-hwa grabbed the handle of the jackknife and tried to pull it up, but it was no use. Soon, he just held on to the belt across his body with both hands. He wanted to stretch out on the seat and sleep like a chimney. It had only been a few days since he came down from Russia, but he had not been able to sleep properly, so he was barely holding on with his mental strength. Since all his nerves were focused on Kwak Su-hwan anyway, there was no way he could sleep comfortably.
Should I have lived in Russia like he said? If he had lived under Kwak Su-hwan’s protection until he died, he wouldn’t have felt this anxious. Seok-hwa was still burdened by these emotions. It was a pain he would never have noticed if it weren’t for Kwak Su-hwan. When you actually get a wound on your body, you can clearly see where to treat it, but when your emotions hurt, you don’t even know where to start.
Seokhwa glanced at Choi Ho-eon, who had his eyes closed. Although he and I were brothers, we had nothing in common. The same was true of the Second Master. Although he thought he had no feelings about his death, Seokhwa had to realize that he was more sentimental than he thought. The image of him shouting at Choi Ho-eon to shoot him was vivid, but he was no longer of this world. He had been alive just a few minutes ago… … . It felt strange.
“What’s wrong?”
Choi Ho-eon opened his eyes slightly as if he sensed her gaze. Their eyes met, and Seokhwa did not hide his wariness and disrespectful gaze toward him.
“If it was because you killed Second, then I couldn’t help it. Even if I kept him alive, it would only cause trouble. Second lacks the qualities of a leader. Rather,”
Choi Ho-eon stopped himself in his tracks.
“It sounds like an excuse. Yes, I admit it. I just killed him because I wanted to. I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.”
I went outside with Kwak Su-hwan and saw the deaths of many Adams, but this was the first time I actually saw a person kill another person. Kwak Su-hwan killed many Adams to save me, but he never killed a healthy soldier or person. When he fought against the thugs who came to steal our food in Russia, he didn’t take a life either.
‘It’s easier to kill, but you shouldn’t get used to it.’
Kwak Su-hwan said this while moving after subduing the thugs. At that time, I thought he had decided that he shouldn’t get used to killing, but that wasn’t the case. He was worried about me.
It’s never wrong to kill someone to live. Furthermore, I wasn’t a sage who would open my arms and embrace someone when they stabbed me with a knife. Death was an obstacle to be avoided, and there was no need to deliberately face the grim reaper.
Even if Kwak Su-hwan killed someone to live, it was just self-defense, but he tried not to lose his human pride. If you become insensitive to the death of others, you can no longer be called a human being, so in a world where people cannot be human, Kwak Soo-hwan protected me. That is why he was able to mourn the death of Second.
[Master.]
A radio transmission came in from the jeep. Seok-hwa flinched and reacted, and the driver handed the radio over to Choi Ho-eon.
“Tell me.”
[The jeep crashed into the valley. Since it was submerged in water, we went in to check and found four bodies.]
“Four bodies?”
Choi Ho-eon frowned.
[Yes, the bodies were severely damaged due to the crash, but it is certain that there are four.]
“I will send a support team, so come back after collecting the bodies.”
[Understood, Master.]
Choi Ho-eon handed the radio back and looked at Seok-hwa.
Seok-hwa was frozen and staring straight ahead. However, there was nothing in his field of vision. There were four bodies. There were four people in the jeep, including Kwak Su-hwan.
It was unbelievable. It was hard to believe that they all fell into the valley and died. However, Seok-hwa also saw the valley of the steep cliff. Even if it was Kwak Su-hwan, if he had fallen while trapped in the jeep… … .
Seok-hwa, frozen like a statue, grabbed the handle of the jackknife and lifted it up. His hands were sweaty and slipped, so he grabbed the middle of the blade and the handle, and the bottom was instantly soaked with blood.
“Dr. Seok-hwa, stop.”
Choi Ho-eon forced Seok-hwa to let go. His throat was choked up as if he had swallowed mud. He wanted to scream at them to let go and that he would check it himself, but all he could do was breathe. He grabbed Choi Ho-eon by the collar. He wanted to speak, but he couldn’t make a sound as if someone had damaged his vocal cords. In reality, he was the one who had killed Kwak Su-hwan.
***
Both hands that had been cut by the knife were bandaged, and his hair was still half-dried and still breathless. A feast that he had never seen before was laid out before his eyes, but his throat still felt blocked and he couldn’t swallow any food. Even when someone treated his wounds or sat him down at the table, Seok-hwa didn’t react at all. After Choi Ho-eon grabbed him by the collar, he was as quiet as if his battery had run out.
He decided not to believe it until he saw it with his own eyes. Kwak Su-hwan wasn’t someone who would die so easily. Even though he firmly believed it, he couldn’t be certain, so he kept feeling like someone was grabbing the back of his head and pulling him back. He just wanted to fall backwards and collapse.
“Dr. Seok-hwa, you said you like boiled chicken.”
Just as Choi Ho-eon said, the boiled chicken, steaming hot, was right in front of him. Seok-hwa awkwardly picked up the spoon with his bandaged hand. And he took a spoonful. It’s okay, it’ll be okay. So I had to hold on until I saw and heard for sure that Kwak Su-hwan was alive. If that’s true and he’s not really from this world… … . I can die too. It’s hard to avoid death, but it’s not that hard to face it with open arms.
However, one thing that hurt my heart was that for me, death was just returning to the earth. I didn’t have any hopeful thoughts that I could be reborn and meet him anew, like the love stories Kwak Su-hwan enjoyed watching.
“Do you really think Major Kwak Su-hwan is dead? I don’t believe it either, so I’m just waiting for the support team to come back with the body.”
“… … That’s why I eat.”
Seok-hwa’s voice was cracked and without any highs or lows.
“Su-hwan is alive… … . I can’t die first.”
He moved the spoon again and repeatedly put food in his mouth mechanically.
***
Kwak Su-hwan took a deep breath right before the crash. He doubled over in front of him to prepare for the impact.
I pushed with my legs and held my head between my forearms.
Boom! There was a loud noise as the jeep and the water surface rubbed against each other. The car, which had been traveling at over 100 km/h, hit the water surface, causing my entire body to tremble. Water quickly filled the punctured back seat. Fortunately, the impact on the entire jeep caused the handle to loosen up a little.
Before the buoyancy slowed his movements, Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the handle with all his might and pulled it off. Now he saw that the inside of the handle was made of iron and was connected to the ceiling. When he pulled out his wrists while still handcuffed, water rose up to his head.
Kwak Soo-hwan tried to climb up, leaving the sinking jeep behind, but stopped. Since he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, half of the captain’s body, who was sitting in the passenger seat, had gone through the windshield. Pop, he clicked his tongue and water bubbles rose up. Kwak Soo-hwan ripped off the windshield and grabbed the captain. The depth of the valley was quite deep, so it took a while just to bring him up.
“Haa!”
As soon as he lifted his face out of the water, Kwak Soo-hwan let out a breath. He put his handcuffed wrists around the captain’s neck, who was bleeding from his head, and started swimming. He walked on both legs from the point where the gravel touched his feet, but his body out of the water felt excessively heavy, perhaps because his clothes were soaked. In addition, his center of gravity seemed to be sagging to one side, and his left shoulder, which had been hit when he fell, was out.
Kwak Soo-hwan laid the captain down on the gravel floor and hit his chest with his fist. Whoosh! He searched through the pockets of the guy who was spitting out water, and then pressed his forehead hard because his head felt dizzy.
“Crap, gulp! Whoosh!”
The captain instinctively turned his face and spitted out all the water, and his eyes were blank.
“… … If you’re awake, give me the handcuff keys.”
Kwak Soo-hwan, sitting on the floor, looked terrible. Water mixed with blood flowed from his wet hair, and the flesh on his wrists became rags. The captain looked around and pressed his hand to his bleeding head. Not only Kwak Su-hwan, but the captain’s condition did not look so good either.
“Key.”
Kwak Su-hwan scratched his neck lowly, saying not to make me say it twice.
“What kind of handcuffs did those bastards make out of alien meteorites?”
He could no longer sit and fell back. Only then did the captain realize that Kwak Su-hwan had saved him from the water. For one thing, he had strangled me. Although his vision was red from the blood, the captain opened his uniform pocket and took out the handcuff key. He could clearly see that he was struggling even though he was holding it in his hand, so Kwak Su-hwan got up again.
“You little brat, you can do something about it even now. If you were going to die and get it taken away, why don’t you just take it off?”
The captain took a deep breath and released Kwak Su-hwan’s handcuffs. He twisted his bleeding wrists here and there before grabbing his dislocated shoulder and putting it back in place. The captain frowned at the sound.
Oh, it really hurts.
Kwak Su-hwan spat out the blood that had accumulated in his mouth again. The captain tried to get up after Kwak Su-hwan but collapsed.
“Where are you going like that? Get treatment first, ugh.”
The captain raised his voice and groaned while covering his broken ribs.
Why, what do I look like? Kwak Su-hwan looked down at himself as he asked himself. The shirt was soaked in blood to the point where it could have been considered red, and the color that fell from his body and stained the gravel was also dark red. Someone might mistake him for Adam, but Kwak Su-hwan walked forward.
“Captain Kwak… …!”
“Fuck! “You should go to Dr. Seok!”
When Kwak Soo-hwan shouted, the black onlookers sitting on the tree flew up in surprise.
I know it doesn’t make sense. If I go like this, I’ll be immediately subdued by Choi Ho-eon, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to see Seok-hwa’s face properly.
It would only hurt Dr. Seok’s heart if I showed him bleeding profusely. Kwak Soo-hwan spat out blood again. The blood kept flowing back as if something inside was hurt.
I thought I had walked for a long time, but I could still see the captain lying behind me. It was the first time in my life that I had experienced the expression, “my legs weigh a thousand pounds.” It was rare for me to be injured so badly that I couldn’t move.
Maybe it was because I lost so much blood. Suddenly, I snickered and laughed. Now that I think about it, Dr. Seok’s body is always this heavy. How did he follow me around with that body? It was as if a rock was hanging from each cell, and it was a deathly feeling.
Kwak Su-hwan barely managed to stand, holding onto the tree with his body collapsing. A long bloodstain in the shape of a palm spread across the tree. Thud, he spat out blood again and raised his head. A strong light shone on his face in front of him. I wondered if it was God coming down with a halo when it was time to die.
If I die, Dr. Seok would be so sad. Seok-hwa, who was already feeling weak and even had a deteriorated facial expression, seemed to be smiling a little more like a human being. Well, no one else noticed that subtle change in the corners of his mouth, but only he did. So I threw away my useless sentimentality.
Kwak Su-hwan tore off his shirt and wrapped it around his trembling wrist. He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to regain the feeling in his hands and prepare for battle.
Crack, crack.
“The jeep crashed into the valley. It was underwater, so I went in to check, and found four bodies.”
The soldier who sent the radio message put down his flashlight and rifle on the ground. When a soldier disarms, it means surrender.
I wondered what kind of trick this was, so I glared at him, and suddenly, a huge amount of blood poured out of his mouth. Kwak Su-hwan collapsed.
***
After arriving in Russia, enduring the bitter cold and when the snow began to melt, I moved my residence to the side of the mountain.
I changed the place that had been used as a mountain lodge a long time ago into a home-like place, and two deer suddenly appeared nearby. Perhaps because they had been living in the mountains where no one had come for a long time, the male and female deer did not avoid the person. Instead, they stared at Kwak Su-hwan and Seok-hwa with curious eyes and gradually narrowed the distance between them.
A day passed, then another two days, and then a week, when the two deer came close enough to touch each other. Nevertheless, Seok-hwa just watched them intently from the same spot.
As I watched the side profile of him wrapped in a blanket and exhaling white breath, I felt a sense of playfulness.
“Whoa!”
Kwak Su-hwan scared the two deer away. They ran away so dramatically that I felt even more embarrassed for chasing them away.
“Why did you do that?”
Seok-hwa looked resentful.
“This is the first time I’ve seen them this close.”
I’ve seen all kinds of wild animals, starting with deer, but Seok-hwa had never been outside, so he probably hadn’t seen animals properly.
“I’ll probably come back. They came because they were curious.”
I blurted out the words, but as expected, it was the next day. A strange scent wafted from the wind from far away. It was the scent I always smelled before the two deer appeared. But this time, it wasn’t two, it was one.
Seok-hwa put on his blanket again and went outside, and Kwak Su-hwan followed suit. The guy with his wide ears was quite small. The deer, which had forgotten what happened yesterday, was fidgeting as it came right up to his nose. As the guy stomped his feet in place, the scent became stronger.
“Do you smell something strange?”
“It’s me.”
“That’s musk deer.”
Seokhwa took a deep breath and sniffed the scent.
“You shouldn’t smell it too much.”
“Why?”
“That’s the smell coming from that bastard’s dick.”
To be exact, it was the scent coming from the sac surrounding the testicles. Seokhwa thought that Gwak Su-hwan was joking. So he sniffed the scent without paying attention, and the musk deer, which had been stomping its feet, came up behind them. Then it poked Seokhwa’s butt with its nose.
“Why is that?”
“Well, are you crazy because you want to get fucked?”
Kwak Su-hwan scared them by hitting his front paw, but they were startled and stepped back, then came back.
“Doesn’t something seem strange?”
“I can communicate well with dogs, but I can’t communicate with deer.”
He was bringing up the words he had called a bastard before. However, the musk deer’s behavior was strange, so I watched it quietly. It pushed its body as if telling me to follow it, then moved forward and looked back at us again. Kwak Su-hwan came out carrying the rifle that was hanging inside the mountain lodge on his shoulder. The two of them started to follow him together, but the snow had melted, so their feet sank into the mountain path. Instead, the path was gentler than other places, as if it was the path that the two musk deer always took.
After climbing a little, they saw a deer lying down in front of them. Kwak Su-hwan carried Seok-hwa, who was walking slowly, and ran up in one go. It must have been attacked by a natural enemy like a bear or a raccoon, because half of its internal organs were gone, and the other half were sticking out. The male pushed his already dead mate with his snout. He also circled around as if asking us to do something. Seokhwa got down from his back and made a gloomy face. The pupils of the corpse musk deer were cloudy with no life left in them.
“I guess he came to ask for my life.”
Gwak Suhwan tried to hug Seokhwa again, saying that he couldn’t do anything about a dead one. No matter how much the weather cleared up, his bare feet in his sandals were bothersome.
“Let’s go and eat breakfast.”
Seokhwa didn’t let Gwak Suhwan stop him again and hugged his neck. The male stared at them as if asking why they were just leaving. Gwak Suhwan deliberately fired his gun in the direction of the male, and the deer ran deep into the forest.
“Why did you do that?”
“I told you not to come back. What are you going to do if you keep coming for my mate’s body?”
Seokhwa hugged Gwak Suhwan a little tighter.
It must have been about a month since I came to Russia. When we were alone like this, it felt like we were the only people in the world. His warmth gave me a sense of stability, and although it was not a delicious meal to say the least, my stomach was always full. However, the moment they saw the musk deer’s corpse, they both knew. If one of them got hurt or died in this deep mountain, the other would be left behind and suffer loneliness for the rest of their lives.
… … Kwak Su-hwan. Su-hwan.
Seok-hwa called his name, leaning her face against his shoulder to convey something important.
“Let’s go down to the city too.”
Kwak Su-hwan did not answer.
***
Huh, Kwak Su-hwan quickly got up and looked around. His whole body was still screaming in pain.
He couldn’t just lie down. Besides, he had felt Seokhwa’s hot skin just a moment ago, but damn it, it was just a dream. Kwak Soo-hwan roughly pulled out the long ringer line on his arm, needle by needle.
“Captain!”
Lieutenant Cha jumped up at the noise. He had been dozing off for a while because he had been watching until the captain came to his senses.
“You shouldn’t get up yet.”
“Where is this?”
Kwak Soo-hwan groaned and woke up his sleepy voice. He asked where it was, but he knew this place, where there was a cot and a shelf, very well. This was none other than Hassan’s house, where he had stayed with Seokhwa before going down to the city. For a moment, he wondered if those few days he had gone down to Rainbow City had all been a dream.
“This is Hassan (Xacah). The situation was not favorable, so we had no choice but to leave the city.”
Kwak Soo-hwan immediately got out of bed and took off the shirt he was wearing.
“Don’t you know that it’s no use going down to the city like this? First, take a rest.”
Lieutenant Cha expressed his concern, saying that his body was still not well. Kwak Soo-hwan also knew. Even if he went naked, the chances of bringing Seok-hwa out safely were extremely slim.
“We’re going to Vladivostok.”
“Are you talking about Russia?”
“Isn’t this Russia?”
He tightened his boot laces, saying that he was asking a useless question. However, his body felt excessively heavy, as if his muscles had atrophied in the meantime. As Lieutenant Cha had said, he wondered if the injured area was not well, so he rubbed his chin, but the rough feeling on his palm felt unfamiliar.
“Lieutenant Cha, how long has it been since I woke up?”
Lieutenant Cha offered lukewarm water to Kwak Soo-hwan. The inside of his throat was tight, so he had to pour it slowly, like Seok-hwa often did, instead of swallowing it all at once.
“You’ve filled up a week today.”
A week after the jeep crashed, Kwak Su-hwan had been lying in bed without regaining consciousness. When he was so hungry, it felt like his stomach had been completely cut out, and he didn’t even feel hungry, but that was exactly the case right now.
“I’ve been moving your body, but you’ll need to rest for another day before you can leave.”
I’m going to go. Kwak Su-hwan wiped his face. He opened the closet door and looked at himself in the mirror that was split in half. His body was covered in white bandages from his shoulders to his waist, and the scabs on his face had fallen off, leaving only faint scratches. However, his side would ache whenever he raised his arm.
He usually heals wounds faster than most people, but if he was still like this after a week, it meant that his condition was quite serious. He had even vomited blood, so it seemed like his broken ribs had torn his internal organs.
“What about his uniform?”
Lieutenant Cha quickly brought over a basket placed in the corner. The uniform, which was stained with a lot of blood, was roughly stuffed into the old basket. The smell of blood wafted from the uniform coat that had been soaked in water because it had not been properly dried. Kwak Soo-hwan took out his cell phone from the inside pocket of his coat. It was the second item he had kept in the bunker. He tried to turn it on, but the LCD remained silent, either because it had discharged or because it had broken after falling into the water.
He threw the cell phone on the bed and took a deep breath, and it still felt throbbing. He wanted to ask about Seok-hwa, but if there had been any news, Lieutenant Cha would have mentioned it first. Kwak Soo-hwan only hoped that Choi Ho-eon would stop acting like a dog. It felt like shit to just be wishing for something vague.
He moved his arms and legs lightly as if he was awakening his senses and went out of the building. Hasan, which borders the Korean Peninsula, was an uninhabited city. There was no shortage of food while wild animals were running wild. However, Seok-hwa could not go out freely because they were beasts that lived by instinct. So whenever he was away, he would always stare out the window of that building. He raised his head and looked at the small window, but there was no way he could see the stone flower.
Kwak Su-hwan poured water from the underground water that had been drawn up on his body. He could hear several wolves growling behind him as if they were searching for prey. Even the young beasts thought he looked easy. He went in with a basin and sprayed water from head to toe several times. When he felt the presence of two wolves right behind him, a gunshot rang out. Lieutenant Colonel Cha, who had gathered his belongings, fired a gun at the wolves. He wanted to avoid unnecessary killing, so he scared them away.
One of the peculiarities that occurred after the Adam Virus appeared in the world is that the number of endangered species increased. Protected species that escaped from zoos went to the mountains and made new living grounds, and thanks to that, they were able to stay away from the virus infection route to a certain extent. No matter how hungry the beasts were, they did not touch the paper or corpses infected with Adam. That must also be a kind of evolutionary instinct, and the ancestors of those wolves were individuals who moved to Hasan to escape the Adam virus.
“Captain, even if you are the captain, an animal that smells blood is dangerous.”
“Wouldn’t it be bitten to death by a wolf?”
Kwak Su-hwan began to shave his beard with the soap and razor that Lieutenant Cha had given him. When he lived in the mountains with Seokhwa, he used to shave his beard with a sharp blade. Seokhwa, who was from Jeju Island, a protected area, and who lived without a shortage of water, considered cleanliness as important as eating. It was said that infectious diseases generally spread better in unsanitary conditions. Of course, there were exceptions, like the Adam virus.
After wiping off the hardened blood with soap, he felt like a layer of fatigue had been removed. However, whenever he thought of Seokhwa, he felt so anxious that he wanted to destroy everything he touched. Maybe that’s why he wished the beast would attack him instead. I knew that excitement ruined things, but I cursed myself for wasting a week lying in bed.
“What about the kids?”
“I divided them into areas that the City Army couldn’t reach. I guess Choi Ho-eon would be the one searching for the captain the most, so I came here.”
“Do you know who the guy who helped me is?”
The soldier who was putting down his gun while talking on the radio didn’t remember seeing him before.
“Yes, actually, even after arriving in Hasan, the captain’s condition was so bad that I thought we should go inside Russia.”
Suddenly, the sound of an engine began to be heard through the narrow alley. Kwak Su-hwan put on his clothes without even drying off the water. He looked closely at the approaching military jeep and saw two familiar faces inside it.
One was the guy I saved, and the other was the guy who saved me. The two who got out of the jeep were wearing ordinary shirts and pants.
“Hey, you bastards.”
Behind them, they heard a strange speech, although it wasn’t a dialect. It was because the accent was thick and Russian, even though it was Korean. The old man who got out of the back seat spit out thick phlegm.
“You drive like shit.”
Most of the curses that the old man spit out were ones he had learned from Kwak Soo-hwan. Kwak Soo-hwan shook off his wet hair and looked at the old man who approached him curiously.
“Why are you here, old man?”
“I found you. What was so urgent that you broke a bridge and ran all the way to the city?”
Old man me?
“You didn’t find me either?”
“That’s right. Thanks to that, I don’t have to do much legwork.”
Old man, who had been a great help in developing the vaccine, didn’t seem drunk or crazy like before. Rather, he seemed to be brimming with vitality, as if he had developed a rejuvenation drug.
“What about you, Dr.?”
Lieutenant Cha was rather taken aback by the inspiration’s direct question.
“Inspiration, while you’re here, help me out.”
Kwak Soo-hwan made a dry request. However, if he refused, he would snap his neck.
“Tsk, tsk, you foolish bastard. Who told you to leave without saying anything in the first place?”
It was a very sudden event for the inspiration that Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa went down from Vladivostok to Hasan along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The people of Vladivostok wanted Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa to live together, so they had no choice but to leave without saying goodbye. As soon as he found out that they had left, the inspiration followed them, and it had been a full day since he arrived, dragging his old body. I thought they might still be in Hasan, but the two had already gone down to the city and had a fight.
The inspiration clicked his tongue hundreds of times when he saw Kwak Soo-hwan, who had returned covered in blood just a few days after leaving Russia.
“You idiot, you almost became a real idiot because you just put your shoulder back in. Even if your ribs and shoulder are like that, do you think people die simply from being shot in a war? First, from excessive bleeding, and second, from wound infection. You almost died too.”
The old man took out the hip flask he had been carrying at his side and threw it at Kwak Soo-hwan. The silver stainless steel bottle was half-full of whiskey.
Before Lieutenant Cha could stop him, Kwak Soo-hwan put the alcohol in his mouth, rinsed it, and spat it out on the floor.
“That crazy bastard! You threw away the alcohol I gave you to drink like that!”
The cold smell of alcohol made him come to his senses even more. Because of that, the pain in his leg became a little more vivid. There was a stapler stuck in his thigh that was torn the size of a hand’s span, and judging from the excessive bleeding, it was the old man’s hand.
“Whose side are you on?”
Kwak Soo-hwan raised his finger and pointed at the soldier he had seen just before he fainted.
“City Military Academy 52nd Class, Captain Jo-woon.”
He put his legs together with a thud and put his hand on his forehead.
“There must have been a reason for him to save me. The guy next to him must have been grabbed by the collar and brought here.”
As the sun began to set, Kwak Soo-hwan pointed inside the building.
“Come in first.”
At night, not only wolves but also bears appeared here, so he had enough of the headaches. As I was going up to the third floor where I had been staying with Seok-hwa, there were a few insects stuck to the wall of the stairs.
The body under the transparent wings was metallic, so it shone softly when it was exposed to light. Seok-hwa had caught it without fear and held it in his hand without even knowing what it was. He was very curious, so he surprised me several times. The place Lieutenant Cha had brought me to was the building where I had been staying with Seok-hwa, so I felt like my reason was being tested.
Suddenly, the old man took off an insect stuck to the wall, turned it around, looked at it, and put it in his mouth. When he heard a faint chewing sound, the two soldiers looked shocked. It was fortunate that Lieutenant Colonel Cha did not see it because he was busy locking the door.
“Huh, the city guys must be full. Sometimes they need these beetles or something for food.”
Then he caught another one and tried to put it in his mouth. The soldier who identified himself as Jo Woon grabbed the old man’s wrist.
“It’s a Mosigeumjara Namsaengi Leaf Beetle. We don’t need food right now, so let it go.”
“What?”
“You’re not hungry, are you?”
After Dol, that guy’s name was so hard to remember that it seemed like he was obsessed with insects. However, Kwak Su-hwan had the name Mosigeumjara Namsaengi Leaf Beetle clearly in his head. When he met Seok-hwa, he would proudly tell him that the insect had that name.
As soon as he entered the room, Kwak Su-hwan threw his cell phone at the old man.
“The power of civilization! Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”
“The power isn’t coming in. Do you know how to fix it?”
“You’ll know when you open it. Originally, when humans had problems with their internal organs, they had to open up their skin to solve the problem, right? Later, I even opened the cell, but kkul kkul.”
The old man looked around the cell phone as if it was new. In the meantime, Kwak Soo-hwan suddenly took off his pants and sat on the chair in briefs. He looked at the two soldiers while removing the staples buried in his flesh.
“Thank you.”
Kwak Soo-hwan honestly told Jo Woon his feelings.
“No. I just did what I had to do.”
“What in the world is there that I should have done? I ended up betraying the city that fed and raised me. Don’t you regret it?”
“I… … wasn’t a city person.”
Jo Woon looked a little disappointed.
“Then?”
Lieutenant Colonel Cha, who had returned after locking the door, handed him a bandage this time.
“Isn’t that the person the captain recommended? If you sow the seeds, those that grow on their own will grow, and those that don’t will be left alone.”
When the flesh came out of the heart, Kwak Soo-hwan frowned.
When he was out cleaning up Adam, he often sent the children who were left alone to the learning center, and it seemed like Jo-un was one of them. In order not to arouse the Masters’ suspicions, he always sent the orphans to the center using another soldier as a referrer. Now that I think about it, he must have been in his mid-twenties at most. If he had met him when he was a teenager, he probably wouldn’t have remembered.
“You really don’t remember? The captain gave him that guy a name.”
“Me?”
Kwak Soo-hwan changed his gaze sharply, as if to say, “Isn’t that kid a spy?” It was something he didn’t remember at all. However, his hands didn’t stop, and he wrapped a bandage around his thigh where his heart had been removed.
“You told me to be like Zhao Yun… ….”
At that moment, Kwak Soo-hwan burst into laughter. Now that I think about it, it must have been when he was reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I couldn’t name him Jo Ja-ryong, so I gave him his real name.
“It’s understandable. He’s grown up a lot.”
He was a kid who couldn’t leave his room because his parents had mutated into Adam, and he was discovered just before he died of starvation. He was in his late teens, but he didn’t eat properly, so his body was smaller than that of an elementary school student. He wasn’t even registered as a citizen of the city, so he remembered spending his own money to send him to the learning center. At that time, he was acting like that because he remembered his younger self.
“What are you going to do? If you’re going to go back to the city, then go.”
Kwak Soo-hwan gestured to the soldier who was standing silently. He must have gotten better from the ankle he had injured when he fell earlier, because he limped whenever he walked.
“… … Is there really no Allied Force?”
The old man who was disassembling his cell phone suddenly burst out laughing.
“You sick bastards! How long has it been since the Allied Force disappeared!”
Having been brainwashed by Rainbow City since birth, Captain Kim couldn’t easily accept the truth. It might have been more plausible that his girlfriend was actually a man, or that his parents actually killed his parents.
“If you pretend not to know the truth, at least life in the city is a little easier. So I don’t mind going back.”
Captain Kim had been caught half-bruised and had all sorts of thoughts. He tried to return to the city when he had the chance, but he couldn’t be sure that the military would release him safely. Since he had lost Kwak Soo-hwan while transporting him, he could have covered up the military’s mistake by accusing him of being a rebel.
“Was the vaccine… really real?”
“Hey, leave that kid behind. Look at him with your own two eyes and you’re curious. Are you a piece of shit?”
In the few days since he hadn’t seen him, his old man’s swearing had gotten even better. He realized once again that the one thing he couldn’t stand about his old man’s many shortcomings was his loudness. Besides, he boasted that he learned most of his swear words from me, but I never used such words. If it were normal, I would have said something, but I didn’t have the time to do that now. Kwak Soo-hwan focused on the cell phone that his father was holding.
“Then why did City lie? Why did the Masters? The Generals… … .”
Captain Kim stuttered like an overloaded machine. The father took off his socks and threw them at Captain Kim.
“You idiot, what is it? It’s because of their selfish desires plus their sense of superiority. What makes people go crazy as much as power or wealth is the fact that others look up to them. Once you get a taste of that, you struggle to never go down. How can you stand seeing everyone look up to you and then one day being looked down on? In that case, I’d rather kill myself or become a monster. Well, isn’t the current City filled with people who have become monsters?”
Even though he was busy talking, the father didn’t move his hands. He took apart the cell phone and blew the chip with his mouth.
“You look like a City person, but why are you in Russia?”
Lieutenant Colonel Cha, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly asked.
“Me? If you think about it, I was also a City person. After learning that the Allied Forces had collapsed, I left the city and moved to Russia to settle down. To be honest, I don’t care about Adam or Nabal because I’m immune to the virus. This is something that even that guy Kwak-ga and the doctor know.”
Kwak Soo-hwan approached Kwak-ga and put the disassembled cell phone back together in order.
Kwak-ga was his assistant, but the only person in the world he trusted completely was Seok-hwa. Since he had seen the disassembly process with his own eyes, he had no trouble putting it back together. It seemed that blood had seeped into the machine and it had become unusable. When Kwak Soo-hwan turned it on, the cell phone began to light up.
“Hey, Kwak-ga. Why would I be immune to the Adam virus?”
He had to enter a six-digit password to unlock it. I listened to the inspiration with one ear and let it go out the other, guessing what the password value the second had set.
“I’m also an Adam Virus doctor like the doctor, and I’m from Jeju Island.”
The inspiration smiled, showing his yellow teeth.
“Don’t you know? That monster created by the doctors in the city is that guy.”
***
I knew not to tilt my head back when my nose was bleeding, but I couldn’t hold my head up. My neck lost all its strength, and even when I tried to force it up, it would collapse and fall over. The bright red blood coming out of my nose would flow back into my throat or into my mouth.
“Huh… … .”
When I dropped my head, my shirt was soaked in blood like a waterfall. I couldn’t close my mouth, so thick blood flowed out of my loosely opened mouth again.
“Haa… … .”
It was hard to focus my pupils. When the blood got stuck in my airway, I coughed. Red blood was splattered on the shirt in front of him as if paint had been sprinkled on it.
“Seokhwa.”
The only person who would call me affectionately was Kwak Su-hwan.
Although he didn’t like Choi Ho-eon’s title, his throat was filled with blood and only a gurgling sound came out. Choi Ho-eon wiped Seokhwa’s lips and nose with a white cloth. For some reason, he felt his hands moving slightly. He was in so much pain that he wanted to hold on to the person in front of him and distract his pain, but he just held on to the chair handles until his hands turned white. His vision became blurry as if someone had taken his eyesight away. Whoa, Seokhwa vomited blood again.
“Why is this happening?”
Choi Ho-eon was confused as if this couldn’t be happening. Even though he had a red blood cell transfusion because the bleeding didn’t stop, Seokhwa was losing more blood. When his pupils rolled and his head snapped back, Choi Ho-eon quickly made Seokhwa lower his head.
He pressed his nose with his thumb and index finger and put his finger between his closed mouth, making him spit out the blood that had been cold in his throat. Seokhwa’s body was damp, as if he had just sprinted through the rain. However, his body temperature was incredibly high, as if he had just come out of a hot bath. Choi Ho-eon faced fear for the first time in his life, thinking that he might die like this.
He took off all of his clothes and laid Seokhwa’s body in the bathtub filled with ice. His lips turned blue in an instant, but the blood flowing out had decreased compared to before. Choi Ho-eon sat on the edge of the bathtub and held Seokhwa’s hand. He brought his weak hand over to his cheek and looked down at Seokhwa. Seokhwa was his only brother, his savior, and the greatest legacy left by his father and mother.
Knock knock, someone knocked on the bathroom door. Choi Ho-eon pulled Seokhwa’s body out and held him in his arms as if he was comforting a child. He made him lean his face, which kept tilting, against his shoulder. Blood was still flowing faintly from his nose. The fever that was high enough to melt ice in an instant had dropped to the same level as Choi Ho-eon’s body temperature.
“Come in.”
Yoo Jeong-gyeong, who was wearing a uniform, flinched as she opened the bathroom door. It was because she saw Seok-hwa’s back, who was in a state of shock. He was so bloodless that she thought he might be dead. It felt like a spy who had seen something he shouldn’t have seen.
“Master, we found those who received the vaccine and took care of them all.”
“What about Major Lee Chae-yoon and Major Yang Sang-hoon?”
“There was no particular movement.”
“Hmm, so Jo-woon and Captain Kim Ho-il were people planted by Major Kwak Su-hwan?”
When Choi Ho-eon organized the elite force, he checked everyone’s personal information, and none of them had any contact with Kwak Su-hwan.
Or maybe Kwak Su-hwan had been preparing to make things bigger than expected. Or maybe he was threatened by Kwak Su-hwan and sent a false radio message before dying… … . The reason all possibilities were open was because of the tracking chips implanted in the captains' bodies. Their signal was cut off around Yeoncheon, Gangwon-do, not the bunker where the second was. That story also meant that they had left the city's jurisdiction.
"The doctor... ...
. Are you okay?”
To Yoo Jeong-gyeong, he looked like a corpse.
“It’s nothing. He just had an adverse reaction to the blood transfusion.”
Choi Ho-eon brushed Seok-hwa’s hair back. Then he put Seok-hwa’s feverish body back into the bathtub. Yoo Jeong-gyeong took a step back for a moment. Seok-hwa’s face was covered in blood, like someone who had been drowned in blood and then pulled out. Choi Ho-eon began to thoroughly wipe Seok-hwa’s face with a wet towel, and instead of telling him to go outside, he gestured.
“Master, can I dare say just one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
Choi Ho-eon’s hands were very affectionate, as if he was washing his beloved doll.
Yoo Jeong-gyeong felt an unpleasant pain in her fingers ever since she saw Seok-hwa. The fingers that Kwak Soo-hwan had torn off had long since returned to their proper place, but they were completely twisted, so her movements were restricted. Since the Master’s elite force had missed Kwak Su-hwan, the opportunity now fell to Yoo Jeong-gyeong.
“Can I find Major Kwak Su-hwan and kill him?”
“You’re saying you’re going to kill Major Kwak Su-hwan?”
Choi Ho-eon, who had been reacting indifferently the whole time, showed interest.
“If you want, I’ll capture him and bring him back. But if I capture Major Kwak Su-hwan and bring him back, promise me the position of Controller.”
Oh, this is interesting.
Choi Ho-eon muttered as if it wasn’t funny at all.
“Major Yoo Jeong-gyeong belongs to the City Class A unit, right?”
“Yes, but I think brains are more important in real combat. If the Master allows it, I’ll take the elite force and,”
“Does Major Kwak Su-hwan seem inferior to Major Yoo?”
This time, he seemed cheerful.
“He’s just an ignorant guy with a lot of strength. He’s a criminal who doesn’t even follow the rules.”
“Then, Lieutenant Yoo will never be able to catch Lieutenant Kwak Su-hwan.”
“Yes?”
“How can you expect to win when you don’t know your enemy?”
The end of the bandage was leaking out from under the rolled-up sleeve. Choi Ho-eon pulled the end and fixed it again. The arm that Seok-hwa had shot was still healing.
“Let’s go.”
Yoo Jeong-gyeong was about to say more, but she just saluted and turned around. After Kwak Su-hwan grabbed her by the collar and sent her down to the Gwacheon branch, she had half given up on promotion, but people are so unpredictable. That good-for-nothing Kwak Su-hwan became a wanted man. Thanks to that, Yoo Jeong-gyeong was able to return to Yeouido, and she took on all sorts of dirty work to catch the eye of the current master.
It was just a little while ago that Seok-hwa, who had been captured, had been chewing on the tip of his tongue, thinking that he would be tortured or executed, but instead, she had lost her appetite. Why does it look so different from when Kwak Soo-hwan treated him with such care? No, it seemed like he was pouring out all his blood, so maybe he was using him as a test subject? I heard there was a rumor that Dr. Seok-hwa was the immune system.
The one who spread the vaccine to the northern branch of the Garden of Eden was Seok-hwa, who they called the savior.
“You’re doing something useless.”
Yoo Jeong-gyeong took a cigarette only after leaving the top floor of the Yeouido Shelter. Vaccines were something that should never have appeared in this world. Even a three-year-old would wet his pants just looking at the uniform, so of course, there shouldn’t be people who dare look down on the military because of the vaccine.
Yoo Jeong-gyeong glared at the fist that wasn’t clenching properly and ground her teeth.
***
His body felt as if it was burning hot, but the skin of the person he was touching was cool. Seok-hwa wanted to soothe his body with that familiar body temperature. But I couldn’t move a finger or open my eyes. Only my sense of smell was alive and keen. A heavy scent flowed from the skin touching the bridge of my nose. The smell of artificial perfume was different from the smell of his body that I knew. Seokhwa consciously moved his body to get away from the other person. He was still motionless, as if he was being held down by scissors.
The support team only collected two bodies from the valley that day. The driver with a hole in his head and the major whose body was crushed from the fall.
Just from those bodies, I could clearly guess what had happened in the jeep. Seokhwa was relieved that Kwak Su-hwan was alive, but he had not heard any news since the body was delivered.
He searched for an escape route and set up a guard around the area, but after being transferred to the Yeouido Shelter, all escape routes were blocked. The only possibility was to jump out with a parachute like before. However, since Choi Ho-eon was elected as the master, the inside of the shelter was completely reorganized, so everything was new to him.
I thought I was anemic for several days, but it wasn’t because I didn’t eat properly. I kept putting anything in my mouth, even if I had to vomit. Suddenly, something flowed out of my nose, and when I touched it, it was nosebleed, and it didn’t stop for more than ten minutes. As the blood kept pouring out, Seok-hwa soon couldn’t stand on his two legs.
Choi Ho-eon called the medical team and gave him a red blood cell transfusion, but from then on, it was even more hell. He had lost blood because of a problem with his hemoglobin level, but he ended up bleeding even more after the transfusion. Did the transfused red blood cells have an adverse reaction with the vaccine?
It felt like someone was putting me in a centrifuge and spinning me around, and my whole body was falling apart. Every time I lost consciousness and came back, the feeling of the fluid moving around was creepy.
‘Have you ever received a blood transfusion from Major Kwak Su-hwan?’
‘Dr. Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa?’
‘… … We successfully stopped the bleeding.’
‘There is a risk of infection, so burn everything.’
Wow, people’s voices were ringing incoherently in the cave. My eardrums seemed to have lost their function, so I couldn’t hear anything anymore, and my mind became dizzy. The last thing I thought was that I wouldn’t be able to open my eyes.
***
“Are you awake?”
Choi Ho-eon smiled affectionately, slowing down the speed of the IV regulator a little. The black suit looked like mourning clothes, and Seok-hwa had a strange thought that his death was not far off.
“You must be very hungry.”
Choi Ho-eon pressed the button on the top of the bed, and the bed slowly folded. Seok-hwa had to sit down, half-involuntarily. Choi Ho-eon brought him a cup of liquid soup. There was a straw in it, but he didn’t even have the strength to suck it up. Fortunately, the bleeding had stopped, and the sheet he looked down at was white and clean.
When Seok-hwa showed no reaction, Choi Ho-eon put his latex-gloved hand into his mouth. As he poured warm water little by little, his dry throat slowly eased.
The spoon containing the soup approached his lips, and Seok-hwa opened his lips and swallowed slowly. At best, it was just a sore throat, but he had to use all his body's strength.
"Do you know how worried I was, thinking you wouldn't be able to get up?"
When he raised his gaze, he saw Choi Ho-eon, who was relieved. He couldn't understand. He lived like a complete stranger, but he couldn't understand why he had such attachment to me. When he put his hand on his forehead, the cool body temperature reminded him of Kwak Su-hwan.
"... ... I want to."
Choi Ho-eon put his ear to Seok-hwa, who was making a cracking sound.
I miss Su-hwan. Send him.
As if he hadn't heard anything, he straightened his bent back and put the soup back into his mouth.
“If it’s hard to eat, should I put a hose in it and feed it to you?”
It should be fine since it’s liquid food. Choi Ho-eon acted like an older brother who cared for his younger brother. Seok-hwa swallowed the spoon every time it came to his lips. It took at least an hour to eat the liquid food that didn’t even fill half of the mug. Choi Ho-eon didn’t say or do anything to tell Seok-hwa to eat quickly, and he focused on Seok-hwa finishing the soup the whole time.
Seok-hwa looked up at the clock and closed his eyes again.
He fell asleep again feeling the fluid flowing through his body, and when he opened his eyes again, there was a bandage on his wrist instead of a needle.
He slowly got up, but his strength drained, so he crouched down. Seok-hwa stayed in the same position for a while to catch his breath and stepped out of the bed. He was still anemic, perhaps because he had lost a lot of blood, but he was no longer in a state of confusion. He ran his hands through the dark room where he couldn’t see even an inch ahead of him. When he found a wall, he leaned against the cold cement and started to move forward. He walked slowly and walked until he reached an iron doorknob. He turned the doorknob and the door opened unexpectedly easily.
A strong light from the ceiling outside the door pierced his vision, so he made a shield with his hand.
As he gradually got used to the light, he saw Choi Ho-eon sitting in front of him. He was wearing a shirt and cotton pants, as if to tell him that the day had changed.
Seok-hwa calmly scanned the room where Choi Ho-eon was. Various flowers and plants being grown hydroponically were visible by the window, and on one side were chemical reactors and sampling machines. It seemed to be a laboratory, but behind Choi Ho-eon's back there was a blackout curtain.
Seok-hwa walked out and grabbed a bottle of water. He couldn't see the cup, so he just opened the lid and quenched his thirst. Choi Ho-eon spun his chair around, got up from his seat, and approached Seok-hwa.
"Good to know you're up. If you keep lying down, it's worse for your health. How are you feeling?"
It was hard to tell if his body was light or heavy. While he continued to drink water, Choi Ho-eon looked cheerful.
“… … How long has it been?”
There was a clock here, but no calendar.
“It’s been about four days.”
Choi Ho-eon lightly grabbed Seok-hwa’s wrist and led him to the monitor. He pulled out the chair and made Seok-hwa sit on the leather seat.
“Don’t treat me carelessly.”
Seok-hwa’s voice was eerie as it sank.
“You don’t know how anxiously I waited for Dr. Seok-hwa to wake up.”
Choi Ho-eon tapped the screen with his hand without paying attention to anything. Cracks appeared on the previously calm surface.
“Come and take a look.”
He wrapped his arms around Seok-hwa’s shoulders affectionately. On the screen connected to the microscope, a virus that looked vaguely like a diamond was visible. It was the Adam virus.
The reason why people infected with the Adam virus had aggressive tendencies was in the brain. Serotonin is known to be a neurotransmitter that suppresses human aggression. When infected with the Adam virus, serotonin secretion stops and the function of the frontal lobe is also lost. The reason Adams can move even when their bones or flesh are blown away is because they do not feel pain due to abnormal brain activity. Therefore, the most effective way to kill Adams was to crush their heads or pull out their hearts.
The vaccine developed by Seokhwa showed a pattern in which the Adam virus stopped working in the blood even when it penetrated. Established with Dr. Oh Yang-seok Hypothesis, that is, it was successful in finding a new type of virus that was created in birds. Existing birds were largely divided into two types. Those that were infected with both the new influenza virus and the Adam virus, and those that were not.
The former type did not cause infection even when birds ate Adam's corpse. The new influenza virus and the Adam virus could not be active in the blood at the same time.
When birds exposed to both viruses laid eggs, the offspring also became carriers because they contained the virus DNA. Since birds have a much shorter lifespan than humans, most current birds were carriers of both viruses.
The vaccine was able to be produced over a period of three months by finding an antigen that induced a cessation of response in the new influenza virus. However, the Adam virus currently active in this monitor aggressively destroyed red blood cells. It seemed that an ordinary person would become brain dead shortly after being infected.
It was an enormous destructive power that was incomparable to any virus we had seen before.
"Aren't you curious to know whose blood sample this is? It's the blood of a person who received the vaccine."
Choi Ho-eon clapped his hands together as if he was clapping.
“And, that new Adam virus.”
It came from our Dr. Seok-hwa’s body, and it was the same as what was found in Major Kwak Soo-hwan’s blood.
Choi Ho-eon’s words were so shocking that he didn’t even care about the breath tickling the back of his neck.
“My father said that. If you want to be free from Adam, you have to embrace the virus itself.”
His eyes were strangely shining.
“That’s the true new humanity.”
***
About five years after Rainbow City was established under the United Nations system, the United Nations lost its power and collapsed.
When your own rice bowl is full, you can afford to fill the empty rice bowls of others, but since each country is busy taking care of its own country, it was amazing that it lasted for five years. Each country signed a non-aggression pact until it got back on track, and Rainbow City was also reborn as an autonomous government.
When the Allied Forces existed, they were able to avoid conducting inhumane experiments because they were aware of the situation, but now that they had become an autonomous government, there was nothing to fear. Rainbow City gathered excellent scholars among the survivors. The fields were not limited to viruses or biology. They gathered historians and archaeologists and set out to find a way to overcome the virus.
They set up all sorts of hypotheses and forced human experiments, and after decades of research, they realized one thing for sure: the Adam Virus cannot be treated with current technology.
The rebels’ claim that the city deliberately mutated the Adam Virus was absurd in some ways. The city couldn’t even make a vaccine properly. So how could they make a mutated virus? It was nearly impossible. However, the city’s masters denied the rumors while also using them. The ability to make a mutated virus proved that they had the technology to do so.
Rather than saying, “We don’t have the technology to stop the mutating Adam Virus,” it was much more effective in controlling people to say, “We have the technology to mutate the Adam Virus, but we are a government that helps by making a vaccine, so don’t challenge us recklessly.” Of course, for researchers who knew all the truth, a virus without a cure was a source of great fear. They tried to find people with immune antibodies, but they couldn’t capture an unspecified number of people and indiscriminately inject them with the virus. So City and the researchers decided on a specific target.
Why did immune people only come from Jeju Island? The answer to that question was also very simple and clear. It was because they conducted experiments on Jeju Island residents. Later, the number of indigenous people used as test subjects decreased, and those in power from outside created their own utopia.
Based on various research data, gene editing was attempted almost at the same time as the Garden of Eden was revealed to the world. Everyone started with the same goal. Dr. Won-ho, Seok-hwa’s mother, and Kwak Soo-hwan’s parents.
They wanted future generations to be free from the virus, and they considered the Garden of Eden, a paradise on earth, as their origin. Ironically, the Four Rivers did not believe in God. If there was a God, they would not have allowed a virus with the destructive power to wipe out humanity to be born.
The four rivers challenged the creation of life, which they called the realm of God. Numerous embryos were sacrificed, and even more fetuses were born with disabilities.
“That’s when I heard that they were going to do that crazy thing, so I went straight to Russia.”
The old man gulped down the liquor in his hip flask. The soldiers surrounding him were as silent as ghosts. There was no excitement of grandchildren huddled around their grandfather and listening to old stories. All that was left were the truths that should have been avoided if possible.
Kwak Soo-hwan couldn’t hastily press the password on his phone and only gripped his torso tightly.
“Do you think the researchers know something really great? No, they don’t. If they did, then so many children wouldn’t have died. Among them, the ones who were born healthy are the mutants who are alive now. It’s funny how they did that. The birth of mutants was a gift from God and a miracle.”
The old man grabbed his stomach, grumbling at what was so funny.
“My parents were both virus researchers, but they were executed as soon as they rebelled against them.”
He, Seokhwa, and other mutants who were born through gene editing. The Second Master probably started with them. Then the four rivers had different intentions, and for some reason, my parents hid me and my younger sibling. Seokhwa’s mother, Lee Jinyeon, also raised Seokhwa without telling him the truth.
It was likely that Dr. Wonho was the reason the four rivers split. However, Kwak Su-hwan didn’t care about that.
“Do you understand now why I was so wary of you, Kwak Ga? Kwak Ga, you’re going to hell.”
“How dare that old man!”
When Lieutenant Cha got angry, Kwak Su-hwan reached out and stopped him.
“Old man, old man, don’t do that. It’s annoying to hear old man. But when I thought about it carefully, I wondered what the doctor and you had done wrong. You idiot, you idiot. Tsk tsk. Who would have told you to leave so quickly?”
“Why on earth did the old man follow you here?”
The fact that the old man, who was full of age, followed them meant that the matter he was trying to convey was as important as his life. Otherwise, there was no way that the eccentric old man would have followed the cross-country train route threatened by beasts.
“Kwak-ga, have you ever caught a cold in your life?”
He was going to take away the little life he had left if he kept talking nonsense. But his body froze first.
“Huh, no.”
It was just as the old man said. I had never caught a cold in my life. It was natural, and I didn’t think much of it because I was so healthy.
“Kwak-ga, the city created a monster like you. You are free from all viruses. That means you can become the host of all viruses.”
Only then did Kwak Soo-hwan stretch out his hand and grab the old man’s collar. He kept thinking about the words he had said to himself, and his hand tightened.
“So, what’s the problem?”
“You probably know the problem. When I first saw you guys, I didn’t think this much either. So I thought there wouldn’t be a problem with the blood transfusion.”
“Blood transfusion… …?”
Kwak Soo-hwan asked with sharp eyes.
“So where is the doctor now?”
***
Seok-hwa was bleeding from his nose again. He was isolated in a hospital room inside the shelter, and a large plastic curtain was wrapped around his bed. He came to his senses, but he collapsed several times, so he couldn’t even tell how much time had passed. Still, his mind was much clearer than when he had opened his eyes the last time.
He left the blood flowing, and it dripped onto the bed sheets.
“Ah, shit, hey!”
Yoo Jeong-gyeong, who was watching Seok-hwa, suddenly shouted. She threw the tissue box next to her, and it hit her forehead with the corner.
“That idiot, he can’t even catch that.”
Yoo Jeong-gyeong, who was sitting on a folding chair with her legs crossed, spat out the gum she was chewing.
“Master is so cherished, isn’t he? Wasn’t this only with Kwak Soo-hwan?”
She covered her hands with her hands and made a sound of compressing air. Yoo Jeong-gyeong disobeyed Choi Ho-eon’s order to just watch and approached Seok-hwa. She was angry at being treated like a nobody, so she raised her hand, but Seok-hwa just stood there, her nose bleeding.
The nosebleed didn’t continue like before, and it stopped and then flowed thinly again. Seok-hwa’s eyes and ears seemed to strangely become brighter the more she did. She also felt refreshed, as if the excessive blood in her body was being discharged.
“Hey, do you have some kind of illness?”
Seokhwa ignored Yoo Jeongkyung, who was raising her voice, and recalled the virus that Choi Ho-eon had shown her. I was an immune system and a body that listened to vaccines. But now, they say there is a new Adam virus inside my body. What’s even more surprising is that I didn’t mutate into Adam.
Seokhwa had no choice but to make one solid hypothesis. The blood I received that day at the Northern Branch of the Garden of Eden was not the blood of a normal Adam.
‘It came from our Dr. Seokhwa’s body, and it is the same as what was found in Major Kwak Su-hwan’s blood.’
Kwak Su-hwan must have been infected with the Adam virus. However, he himself did not experience any problems. The Adam virus must have remained in a dormant state.
It was impossible to rule out the possibility that Kwak Su-hwan had switched Adam’s blood with his own that day. That’s how much he didn’t want me to inject him with Adam’s blood.
Seokhwa pulled out a tissue and pressed it under his nose. The blood had stopped flowing out.
So far, no vaccine has been effective on Kwak Su-hwan. In other words, it was an expression that his body did not need a vaccine. A flawless mutant and a new human, Seok-hwa seemed to understand what that meant. And why did Choi Ho-eon refer to Kwak Su-hwan as a stallion?
He was free from all viruses. Since the virus immunity system was included in Kwak Su-hwan's DNA chromosome, all of his descendants would be born with virus immunity.
The children who inherited Kwak Su-hwan's genes were not only Adam, but also the current He would be free from all diseases. But now, he couldn’t tell whether he was going through the process of necrosis or fusion after receiving a blood transfusion from Kwak Soo-hwan in Russia. He had suffered greatly when he received a blood transfusion from Kwak Soo-hwan once, but he was fine. If he had developed an immune system from the previous transfusion, there was a high possibility that he would be fine the second time, but there could have been a problem with the vaccine he received at the same time that day.
“Hey, are you crazy?”
He muttered to himself as he collected his thoughts, and Yoo Jeong-gyeong grabbed his hair.
“… … Let go.”
“You don’t want to?”
“Haa… … Get away from me.”
When Seok-hwa tried to pull his hand away because it was dangerous, his cheeks burned.
“What the fuck, I’m not interested in a man’s asshole either. Get away? Should I just drop your balls? Are you going to squirt and fall down like a man?”
He grabbed her cheeks viciously and turned them around.
“Should I tear them off now?”
When I tried to grab her bottom, Seokhwa struggled. He really put strength into his hands as if he was going to grab her bottom and tear her off. He reached out and grabbed whatever he could grab, and this time, the corner of a tissue box hit Yoo Jeongkyung’s face. Her pale eye area was torn and a red line appeared.
“Ana, fuck!”
“Don’t touch my wounds. With those hands… …!”
Yoo Jeongkyung was already roughly rubbing her eyes with her hand. When Seokhwa tried to stop her again, saying that she shouldn’t do that, he slapped her cheeks again.
“If something happens anyway, there won’t be a master, so why don’t you try to get your hands on me today?”
Seokhwa looked at Yoo Jeongkyung with a sense of despair. His hands were covered in blood because he had grabbed her cheeks and shaken them, and my blood had spread to her rubbed eyes. Seokhwa stepped back to avoid Yoo Jeonggyeong, who was approaching him with a groan.
“It’s already… … too late. I told you not to do that.”
“Oh, it’s too late. It’s fucking late to calm my anger down.”
Yoo Jeonggyeong clenched her fist and tried to hit Seokhwa in the stomach. If he didn’t show it, Master wouldn’t know, and it didn’t seem like Seokhwa would tell him.
Damn it… … .
Seokhwa muttered like Kwak Soo-hwan had a habit of saying.
“What?”
He was about to swing his fist, asking what he just said. Something dripped onto the floor. Seokhwa was lying there, so if that blood was mine, then it was mine.
“Huh… … . Huh?”
Yoo Jeonggyeong covered her nose and then spread her hands as if she couldn’t believe the blood flowing out.
“What is this… … . Why is this happening?”
Seokhwa avoided Yoo Jeonggyeong’s hand reaching out to her and moved closer to the end of the bed.
“… … Hey. This… … . Cool.”
Seok-hwa jumped out of the bed to get away from Yoo Jeong-gyeong who was staggering toward him. As he continued to back away, the plastic curtain touched his back. The nosebleed that had been flowing from one side now started to flow from both sides. Yoo Jeong-gyeong stopped the blood from gushing out with both hands, but the bleeding continued.
Seok-hwa couldn’t stand to watch any longer and crawled on the floor to pick up the plastic. When he heard Yoo Jeong-gyeong following him, he hurriedly fell down, and with a cough, the blood burst and dripped onto the plastic.
Seok-hwa went to the door as if he was waiting again. When he turned around, he saw Yoo Jeong-gyeong collapsed in a pool of blood. Seok-hwa wiped the blood off his face at the sink next to the door. It’s dangerous. The blood shouldn’t be exposed. He took off his shirt and threw it away, and took out a long hospital gown from the closet in the hospital room and put it on.
When he opened the door, there wasn’t a single soldier in the hallway. What the hell is going on? It was the time when he was running towards the emergency exit. Boom! He turned around at the familiar but unwanted sound of an explosion. Outside the corridor window, he could see a building engulfed in fierce flames in the distance. The swaying flames caught his attention, but Seokhwa turned his head and ran towards the emergency exit again.
The moment he swung the door wide open, he saw several soldiers in uniform. One of the soldiers who suddenly raised his head had his upper lip torn so much that his gums were exposed.
Those weren’t soldiers, they were Adams.
“It’s dangerous! Retreat!”
He tried to close the door at the sound of a voice behind him, but Adams had pushed in faster. Blood began to flow from Seokhwa’s nose again. Even though he heard the signal to retreat again, there was nothing he could do. Adam was already right in front of him. Adam, his gums exposed, thrust his face toward me and then stopped abruptly.
… … b.
… … Eve.
The human language mixed with the groaning sounds of animals was heard.
***
About three months ago today, Vladivostok.
Kwak Soo-hwan was holding Seok-hwa’s two hands tightly in his own.
He looked at Seok-hwa with anxious eyes, whose body temperature was lower than usual. His pale face was motionless and had no expression on his face.
It had already been over two hundred days since he had stayed in Vladivostok. It was good that he had met a crazy old man and that they had been conducting research together in a run-down research institute. He wished he had not overdone it, but Seok-hwa did not have the stamina to do so in the first place. Then, did he catch a cold? Since he had no symptoms of fever or cough, he had no idea why Seok-hwa was acting like this.
The research institute they were living in was a place recognized as a biosafety level 3 before the appearance of Adam. After the Allied Forces collapsed, Vladivostok, which had not been organized like City, became a hotbed of plunder. However, since there were warning signs everywhere that said that they were handling dangerous germs, most of the items and machines were safe. Even if they were looters, they were alert to viruses. Of course, the places without warning signs had already been swept away by looters.
The old man opened the door to the research lab library and came in.
“The doctor?”
Kwak Soo-hwan asked right away, looking only at the stone painting.
It was called a library, but the books and bookshelves had been emptied for firewood, so at first it was just full of dust. Kwak Soo-hwan had refurbished the room for us, so now even if you just looked at the bed mattress and desk, it looked like any other room.
“Where’s the doctor?”
The old man was carrying a stainless steel container at his side, and in his other hand he was holding a syringe and an empty pack.
“Do you think this is a city? What’s a doctor? And you punk, I’m half a doctor.”
The old man’s speech had a Russian accent, so it sounded like a dialect.
“Did Dr. Seok inject me with some strange medicine?”
I knew that Seokhwa had been conducting clinical trials on my body, but he had avoided dangerous things since meeting me. So if that wasn’t the case.
“Is that you, crazy old man? Are you the one who did that?”
The old man wanted to punch the shameless Kwak Suhwan. He sighed because he knew that he was always staring at Seokhwa with hungry eyes. Even though the two of us had come over from the city, Kwak Suhwan’s obsession was incredible even to others.
He wouldn’t let me take a single step outside the lab by myself, and even when the townspeople came to exchange food and medicine, he would tightly link arms and guard Seokhwa’s back. Since Seokhwa couldn’t come to his senses, he had no choice but to act like that. The old man thought that he had to endure it since he was much older than him, and approached Seokhwa.
“It’s because he lacks blood.”
“Blood?”
Looking at Seokhwa’s pale face, he looks like a vampire, but I wonder if he has the strength to chew someone with those fangs.
“You must have eaten well when you were in the city. How could the doctor have lived a decent life with that body? It’s because you were a chief researcher in the city you curse at. If you were born here in that state, you would have died before you even turned five.”
Gwak Su-hwan was speechless at the old man’s sharp remark. No matter how much he took care of Seokhwa, it wouldn’t compare to when he lived comfortably in the city. That meant Seokhwa had barely managed to hold on and collapsed.
“I’ll transfuse your blood.”
“Can I?”
“Why, is there a reason why I can’t?”
The old man narrowed his eyes.
“You and the doctor have the same blood type. What’s the problem? Or just leave it like this. Then either come to your senses or suffer and become weaker until you collapse.”
Kwak Soo-hwan stretched out his arm. The old man put on his gloves and began to drain blood from the energetic Kwak Soo-hwan. He looked like he could fly even if he drained two liters, but he had the aura that he would separate his face and torso if he did anything even a little strange.
“If you don’t eat, you don’t have enough blood?”
Kwak Soo-hwan didn’t know how anemia occurs or what it feels like.
“You thought the doctor was a hamster and ate peanuts and almonds all the time? He’s lacking iron, so he eats to survive. You don’t understand, but two hundred years ago, everyone died before they even reached their fifties or sixties. Those born weak in particular died early. Well, they’re regressing now. In the end, God struck them down.”
“Inspiration, introduce me to the Garden of Eden? It seems like it would fit well since you’re talking about God.”
The inspiration’s hand flinched as he pulled the needle out of Kwak Soo-hwan’s vein. Inspiration, drink less alcohol. You have tremors. Kwak Soo-hwan pressed the blood-gushing forearm with a cotton ball and threw it on the floor. He pulled a folding chair and sat down near the bed where Seok-hwa was lying, linking his arms.
“Why did you betray City?”
“I’ve never been loyal, so what betrayal?”
“Then why would you go back? Why would you develop a vaccine and go back?”
Kwak Soo-hwan was overcome with a strange joy as he saw his blood go into Seok-hwa. It felt like he was conceiving a child with his own blood. With this, Seok-hwa and I truly became one family.
“Kwak-ga, the vaccine must have reached the success stage now. Why don’t we just live here and do good things for people?”
Unlike Seok-hwa, who answered quickly when asked, Kwak Su-hwan rarely talked about himself.
“I’m fine with that, but Dr. Seok doesn’t like it. He says I should live more freely.”
Unlike Kwak Su-hwan, who was feeling bitter, Yeong-gang seemed to understand Seok-hwa’s feelings.
Kwak Su-hwan would survive even if he were dropped on a deserted island, but Dr. Seok would die without someone to take care of him. Then, he suddenly looked back at Kwak Su-hwan, who was linking arms.
“How on earth did the two of you get along?”
They called each other Dr. Seok and Major, so I knew they were doctors and soldiers, but it was strange that two people with different jobs left the city together.
“I was a little moved by Dr. Seok’s infatuation with me and his constant pursuit of semen.”
If someone heard, they would think that Seokhwa had been courting Kwak Suhwan passionately. I wondered if the ignorant major had fallen for the smooth, white egg-like doctor and had followed him without thinking.
In fact, since there was no friction with the residents here, Kwak Suhwan would go out to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol without Seokhwa knowing. Not only that, he would keep looking for an opportunity to get close to Seokhwa and be impatient. On days like that, Seokhwa, who was already like a ghost, would come down to the lab even more timidly. In the old man’s eyes, unlike Seokhwa, who was diligently working on making a vaccine and locked himself in the lab, Kwak Suhwan looked like a bum. He was just a punk who volunteered to be the doctor’s bodyguard because he liked the smart doctor. Tsk tsk, I always clicked my tongue because I was worried about the doctor, wondering what was so cute about such a person.
But when I thought about it carefully, they were the two who had come from the city to Vladivostok naked. They must have encountered marauders along the way, and they must have encountered countless wild carnivores like bears, but they were perfectly fine.
“If they came from the city, they would have followed the railroad tracks, but bears often appear around there. And they are the ones that have a taste for human flesh.”
“I’ve never seen one.”
“The only thing as scary as Adam is the hungry beasts. But you say you’ve never seen one?”
“We were lucky.”
“Did Razvonik get lucky and escape?”
Kwak Su-hwan, who had been looking only at Seok-hwa, turned his head to Yeong-gang. It was a split second when his eyes suddenly turned fierce, as if telling him not to pay attention.
At that moment, a faint sound was heard from the quiet bed.
“… … sir.”
Kwak Su-hwan jumped up and approached Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa, who had been as quiet as a corpse, was finally groaning.
“I’m here. It’s okay. You can sleep a little longer.”
His face, which had been pale, seemed to be slowly turning red. When he approached and touched his hand, his temperature was slowly returning to its original state. Feeling quite relieved, Kwak Su-hwan patted Seok-hwa’s forehead with his large hand.
“It wasn’t long before you guys showed up. The size of Razvonik suddenly shrank. No matter how many idiot looters they are, they have great loyalty among themselves. They’re a group of a hundred people who would rush to get revenge if one guy died. Since the number of those guys suddenly decreased, everyone applauded, saying that they must have been killed by animals… … . How many guns did they have? How many animals could they have killed?”
Kwak Su-hwan checked if Seok-hwa had fallen asleep again. He put his ear to his nose to see if he was breathing well.
“He must have been hit by a person. And by one guy at that.”
Kwak Su-hwan, who had put the blanket over Seok-hwa, looked down at the old man, who was two spans shorter than him, with a haughty look.
“What’s that?”
It was as if he wouldn’t let Dr. Seok leave him alone if he opened his mouth even once. The old man felt dizzy at the thought that his prediction was right.
“Kwak Ga, you’re a mutant too.”
Then wasn’t this also a disaster caused by the city guys? A combination of a guy who was full of energy and a doctor who was absent-minded and absent-minded? The old man laughed bitterly inside. It probably didn’t matter though. I must be worrying too much. The old man saw Seok Hwa receiving a blood transfusion without any problems and thought that his worries were justified. However, the unease didn’t go away, so he collected the remaining blood along with the cotton that Kwak Su-hwan had thrown away.
On the very day that Seok Hwa and Kwak Su-hwan left, leaving only the development method behind after the vaccine was completed. After the blood transfusion, a peculiarity was discovered in Kwak Su-hwan’s blood, which had only been hypothesized. The reason why no vaccine was effective.
Damn Rainbow City really succeeded. Kwak Su-hwan wasn’t just a mutant. Fortunately, Seokhwa, who received a blood transfusion from Kwak Su-hwan, didn’t have any problems until he left. It would have been fortunate if that had been the end, but the problem was the characteristics of the vaccine and mutants that Seokhwa had developed. Even though it took three months to learn all the truth, he still wasn’t sure. It was just a hypothesis, but it was enough to move his inspiration.
***
Seokhwa swallowed his breath. The Adam in front of him clearly said that it was Eve. Just like the ones he had seen at the zoo.
Kreuk, Adam started to run fiercely toward the soldiers at the emergency exit on the other side, avoiding Seokhwa. However, one of them, Adam, who had one arm missing, didn’t avoid Seokhwa and attacked him directly.
“Ugh!”
Kwa, ugh! Adam, whose entire body was covered in wounds, screamed and tried to bite Seokhwa’s face. Seokhwa screamed silently. He pushed Adam’s chin with his palm to keep him from opening his mouth. Blood was still flowing from his nose. Seokhwa clenched his teeth and pushed Adam away with all his might, then crawled forward.
Thump, thump. Blood soaked the floor, and Adam followed suit. As he crawled on the floor with one arm, his own blood was covered by Adam’s blood that was dripping down.
Should he run to the emergency exit on the other side? If even a healthy soldier gets infected because of me… … . Seokhwa barely managed to get up and leaned his back against the transparent window.
“Ugh. Keke.”
Suddenly, Adam grabbed his neck like an animal with a bone stuck in its throat. As soon as he heard the sound of vomiting, slurp, blood poured out onto the floor. Seokhwa started to run in the opposite direction to avoid the blood that was gradually spreading.
Seokhwa!
That was the moment. It couldn’t be, but he thought he could hear Kwak Su-hwan’s voice from somewhere.
It was definitely an auditory hallucination, so he couldn’t stop his legs.
“Ugh.”
Seokhwa shook his head and continued running to the hospital room from earlier. His heart pounded as he pushed through the slightly opened door. Could Yoo Jeong-gyeong be alive? What if she attacks me with a knife or a gun? Fearfully, he shut the door tightly and stood.
Inside the transparent plastic, he could still see the corpse lying face down. Strange. If the new Adam virus was circulating in my body, those infected should become Adams, but neither Yoo Jeong-gyeong nor the Adam from earlier suffered excessive bleeding and did not move.
Seokhwa deliberately tried not to look at Yoo Jeong-gyeong’s corpse and pulled the dressing cart. He stood in front of the sink and continued to let the blood flow from his nose. He pressed the bridge of his nose hard to stop the bleeding and swallowed a sob.
It’ll be okay.
As soon as the bleeding stopped, Seokhwa cleaned it thoroughly so that there was no trace of blood anywhere. His hands holding the soap were shaking so much that he dropped it on the floor. The soap, which had almost no friction, slid down the floor. It was when he was lying on the floor and trying to pick up the soap that had rolled away.
“!”
When he opened his eyes, it felt like he was dreaming. The corpse that had been lying inside the plastic sheet was nowhere to be found. When Seokhwa hurriedly got up, something eerie touched his back. In an instant, his whole body froze as if he had frozen.
Keuuu- The sound of someone scratching his neck was heard right next to his ear. Only then did Seokhwa bounce forward and turn around. Yoo Jeong-gyeong, covered in red blood, was opening her mouth like an animal that had starved for several days, and was oozing sticky blood.
“Yoo… … Major Jeong-gyeong?”
Like most Adams, her whites were very cloudy. She raised her head at Seokhwa’s call, but Yoo Jeong-gyeong just stood there.
Bang! Taang! The gunshot that erupted outside startled Seokhwa, and Yoo Jeong-gyeong started to run toward the door. She had completely turned into Adam, and was burying herself in the door without any intelligence.
But why aren’t you attacking me… … .
A hungry beast would eat its own kind without hesitation, but Adam didn’t. It was the virus’s characteristic that Adams didn’t attack each other. Rather than recognizing those infected with the virus as their own kind, they treated each other as if they didn’t exist.
Seokhwa pressed his eyes tightly with his hands. At times like this, he had to be more alert. Just because Kwak Su-hwan isn’t here, he shouldn’t just throw himself into the approaching danger. He let out a trembling breath and calmed his pounding heart.
The entity that had called itself Eve earlier ignored me and ran away, and the other Adam attacked. Then, it showed signs of secondary infection in its blood and vomited a huge amount of blood like Yoo Jeong-gyeong. If we consider the time Yoo Jeong-gyeong woke up, it was possible that Adam had also woken up by now. But Yoo Jeong-gyeong didn’t attack him.
That’s… … .
Because I’m the host?
Seokhwa muttered in despair. I carefully approached Yoo Jung-kyung, who was still banging her body against the door. I picked up one of the tweezers on the dressing cart and held it tightly. I poked Yoo Jung-kyung, who was banging her head against the door. Her heart jumped out, and it seemed like all the blood vessels in her body were expanding. I poked her again, but Yoo Jung-kyung didn’t show any reaction to me.
Even while I was pulling out the gun from the holster, Yoo Jung-kyung was only interested in the outside. Seok-hwa took off the hospital gown that was stained with blood again and changed into the black pants and black shirt that were in the closet. At this point, even if there was blood, it wouldn’t be noticeable.
After putting the gun in his waistband, he threw the tweezers that he had put down behind him. With a sharp sound, the tweezers rolled on the floor. Yoo Jung-kyung quickly turned her head and started running toward the sound. Seok-hwa didn’t miss the gap and came out the door again. In case of an unexpected situation, he grabbed the doorknob and started looking for Adam, who was showing symptoms of secondary infection.
“That kid, what is that! Is that Adam?!”
“It looks like Adam, but we don’t know! They started fighting among themselves earlier.”
The soldiers who were closing in on Adam couldn’t hide their bewilderment. Seokhwa was the same. Adam, who had come in through the open emergency exit, and Adam, who had been infected with the second infection, were biting each other like natural enemies. When Yoo Jeong-gyeong tried to come out because of the commotion, Seokhwa came out completely and slammed the door shut. The soldier in front of him turned around and pointed his gun at Seokhwa. Seokhwa was surprised and reflexively raised both hands.
“Dr. Seokhwa?”
It was a soldier who seemed to know me. The soldier wearing a gas mask exposed his face.
“It’s dangerous, so go back inside the hospital room!”
“… … Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae?”
He wanted to ask what was going on, but Seokhwa kept his lips tightly shut.
“I told you to go back inside!”
The second-infected Adam was holding his ground well against five Adams.
“Should I kill him?! He’s attacking Adam, but he looks like he’s an Adam too!”
Seokhwa couldn’t go back inside. The moment he opened the door, Yoo Jeong-gyeong would jump out… … .
“Dr. Seokhwa! Get in quickly!”
“Kill him! It’s a new mutant Adam!”
Seokhwa raised his voice. Lee Yeon-tae He was momentarily taken aback by the loud voice of Seokhwa that he had never heard before, and then turned his gun toward the Adams.
“Allow, kill them all!”
Bang, tata tang! Bullets began to fly out of the machine gun. Countless bullets began to hit the bodies of the new mutant Adam and Adam who had escaped the emergency exit. Their heads exploded, and brains splattered everywhere on the floor and walls, and the soldiers who were firing their guns frequently closed the distance and killed them as they always did. Finally, they pulled out the bodies that had fallen on the emergency exit and closed the door tightly. As the hallway became quiet, the banging sound behind Seokhwa’s back became even more distinct.
“Is Adam in the hospital room?”
“Yes.”
So that’s why he couldn’t go in. Lee Yeontae nodded and tried to grab Seokhwa and send him aside. Seokhwa was startled and stepped aside before Lee Yeontae could even reach him. Since Seokhwa was a person who often behaved strangely, Lee Yeontae didn’t care and motioned for his subordinate to open the door.
He took aim and counted 3, 2, 1. The door opened on the count of 1, and Lee Yeontae pierced Yoo Jeonggyeong’s forehead with one shot. There was a sound of a watermelon bursting open. Lee Yeontae, who checked the body by tapping it with his combat boot, clicked his tongue briefly.
“Huh, it’s Yoo Jeonggyeong?”
He didn’t unload the gun because he thought there might be another Adam in the hospital room, but it was just this one.
“Dr. Seokhwa, was Yoo Jeonggyeong the only one in here?”
Seokhwa nodded.
“Did the doctor lock her up because she was infected by Adam?”
Lee Yeontae looked at Seokhwa’s condition with a fierce expression. He had heard rumors that Seokhwa had developed a vaccine, but he seemed to want to check if he had been bitten.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t get bitten. But don’t come near me. I might have gotten Adam’s blood.”
Seokhwa’s legs gave out and he was on the verge of collapsing, but he barely managed to hold on. Only then did Lee Yeontae feel relieved and throw away his gas mask.
“More than that, Doctor Seokhwa.”
After a moment of relief, Lee Yeontae called Seokhwa seriously.
“You stole my precious Mk3 from my room, didn’t you?”
“That’s… … Major Kwak Soo-hwan.”
Seokhwa made excuses in a crawling voice, as if he had never raised his voice before.
“Then you’re an accomplice.”
Lee Yeontae laughed heartily.
***
Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae and Seokhwa were sitting on the sofa in the hospital room, facing each other. Seokhwa just hoped that the bleeding would stop.
“What the hell is going on?”
Seokhwa deliberately straightened his back.
“That’s what I should be asking.”
“Yes?”
“Does Dr. Seokhwa know exactly what the Master wants?”
What Choi Ho-eon wants? The birth of a new human race? If he were the new human race that Choi Ho-eon spoke of, all the existing people would die. Why did the Adam virus mutate in my body? To figure out the cause, I had to look back at the evolution, or rather, the process of change, of the virus.
When I first received a blood transfusion from Kwak Su-hwan in Russia, I was unconscious from hypothermia. After that, I suffered from a high fever, which must have been the process of destroying the Adam virus inside me. Kwak Su-hwan probably just thought that my body temperature, which had dropped, had risen.
Even I couldn’t believe that Kwak Su-hwan had the Adam virus. That was because the virus had never been detected in his blood.
Could the virus that had been dormant inside him become active again when it infiltrated other blood? Suddenly, goosebumps came to mind.
What if Kwak Soo-hwan had not been an S-class soldier? If he had been someone who was easily injured, there would have been many people infected with his blood. Maybe the reason Adam was found in a place where he shouldn’t have been was because there were people infected with Kwak Soo-hwan’s blood. Not only Lee Chae-yoon and Yang Sang-hoon, but everyone in the shelter was carrying a time bomb called Kwak Soo-hwan. Then another hypothesis came to mind.
What if the dormant Adam virus remained dormant even when transferred to someone else? What if some kind of stimulus was given to wake up the virus… …?
If that hypothesis was correct, I couldn’t ignore the possibility that the vaccine I had received that day was the catalyst. However, I couldn’t easily come up with an answer either way. Even though I had been studying viruses for so long, it was still like an unknown territory to me. Of course, if it were an area that could be easily conquered, there wouldn’t have been any diseases in the world.
Lee Yeon-tae waited patiently for a long time for Seok-hwa, who was silent.
“Choi Ho-eon.”
Seok-hwa belatedly raised his head.
“He is not qualified to be a Master. He will let Rainbow City, no, all those who are not immune to the virus, die. Lieutenant General, don’t you know what happened before?”
Choi Ho-eon, the Serpent of the Garden of Eden and the main culprit of the large-scale Adam infection.
Lee Yeon-tae also believed Seok-hwa’s words that day, so Choi Ho-eon couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. If all of that was done by Choi Ho-eon to become Master, then he should have been dismissed. Lee Yeon-tae tightly closed his eyes. He had known better than anyone that Rainbow City needed to change for a long time. The upper echelons were rotten to the core.
It was easy to see that this city had become very livable after Choi Ho-eon became Master just by looking at the cleaned-up outskirts. That’s why he pretended not to know. He brainwashed himself into thinking that he sacrificed the cow for the sake of the generation to cut out the rotten part.
At least Choi Ho-eon was not so eager for his own selfish desires, and the citizens said that their lives were much better than before, so he also encouraged me that it was not wrong to follow Choi Ho-eon. Even Lee Yeon-tae himself believed Seok-hwa’s words and broadcasted a broadcast that went against the Garden of Eden. However, the Master forgave him and even kept him by his side. Unlike before, the current Master was not a chief who ordered people around as a supervisor.
“Dr. Seok-hwa. When I was still working in the field, I was doing well, although not as much as Major Kwak. Since I had no supporters, I had to climb up on my own, so I was half-crazy about getting promoted. Dr. Seok-hwa must know that I didn’t stand in anyone’s line, right? That was my way of dealing with the world, and that’s why I’m still alive.”
Lee Yeon-tae pursed his lips as if he was thinking about whether to speak or not. Seokhwa stared blankly at Lee Yeontae, who had a bitter smile on his lips. It was because he didn’t understand his intentions.
“One day a long time ago… … . I received a report that Adam had appeared in the Green Zone. It was a house where a couple and a child lived together. When I surrounded the house and went inside, all the lights were off and there was no one in the room. So I started searching the house thoroughly, starting from the basement. The last thing left was the attic, and I heard a child crying inside. I was sure that it was that place. I hurriedly broke down the door and shot the man in the back as he ran to the child, and he fell down immediately. I still can’t forget the wife’s screams. She said I killed her husband, and that I was a murderer. I only killed Adam, so I turned the man’s body over to confirm the death… … . It wasn’t Adam, it was a real person. He was scared because the soldiers surrounded his house. He must have been afraid that he would be arrested if he asked what was going on. So he must have hidden himself in the attic with the child… … . But the funny thing is, Adam’s report was a false report. The neighbor who had fought the day before held a grudge and filed that kind of report. I executed that man myself, and I received no punishment. Dr. Seokhwa, is this normal? Did I not receive any punishment?”
Seokhwa couldn’t say anything. He didn’t know why he was confessing his mistake. When he met Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae, he had expected that he would be able to get out alive, but a little while ago, he started to feel uneasy.
“I’m sure that the current Master is a better person than before. If he had, he would have made me pay for it that day. He wouldn’t have let me live after killing a family to hide the truth and even the family of the reporter. If he had, Rainbow City would have been a little better, right?”
Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae turned his gun on Seokhwa.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Seokhwa. I feel like I’ve crossed too many rivers to go back.”
Seokhwa also reached for the pistol on his waist.
Bang-!
He heard the sound of the gun firing, but unfortunately it wasn’t mine.
***
It felt like a bomb was stuck in his throat, its fuse burning. The blue tendons on the back of Kwak Su-hwan’s fist twitched. The already murky water of the Duman River had taken on an even darker muddy color, as the rain had stopped not long ago.
Since the bridge connecting the city and Russia had collapsed, he had to cross the river straight to enter the city. It was shorter than the Hangang Bridge seen from the Yeouido Shelter, but the river was faster. Even if the waves looked calm on the outside, they weren’t necessarily rough on the inside. It wasn’t difficult for me to cross the river alone. However, if I went to the center of the city by land and had friction with the soldiers, I would have a very short time. If what my father said was true, that is.
Kwak Su-hwan turned his back to the river and got back into the jeep.
Damn, damn! He clenched his teeth and slammed the steering wheel with his fist. If he didn’t, he would have let out a loud scream.
‘The doctor might die. No, he might have died.’
The old man was talking nonsense.
The vaccine Seok-hwa developed was an Adam virus reaction-stopping antigen extracted from a new influenza, but he said the problem was in my blood.
If you get infected with the Adam virus after taking the vaccine, nothing happens, but if you get infected with the dormant virus in Kwak Su-hwan, it’s a different story. The virus, which was as inactive as dead, reacts explosively and destroys red blood cells in an instant, penetrating the brain.
The old man also talked nonsense about the mystery of viruses, but I doubted whether he had come all this way because he was worried about Seok-hwa. It seemed like my curiosity had taken over first.
Kwak Su-hwan drove the jeep toward the inside of the descent and increased the speed to the max. There was no way that Seokhwa could have died from an infection. He had definitely been with me for at least half a day before being captured by Choi Ho-eon, so I wanted to think that there was no problem. Still, my eyes were red from anxiety, and my blood vessels were about to burst.
Razvonik. In the current situation, I had no choice but to open their pockets. This was the Duman River.
It was downstream of the stream, and the East Sea was only about 15km away.
If you arrived at the city by sea using a boat or ship and then took the road, you could shorten the time by several days. It was about 20 minutes to Primorsky Krai, the residence of the Razvonik guys, and there was a road from there to the East Sea. Kwak Su-hwan calculated the fastest route to the city in his head and shortened the time.
Bang, bang bang! When he honked the horn at Hassan’s building, Jo-un and Captain Kim Ho-il quickly jumped out. After them, Lieutenant Cha appeared along with his old man.
“We’re going down to the city. Those who want to go can get on, and if not, you can go up to Russia.”
Anyway, Jo-un had decided to take the same boat as Kwak Su-hwan, and Kim Ho-il didn’t have the confidence to live alone in Russia. In fact, he owed Kwak Su-hwan his life.
“I’ll follow you.”
Kim Ho-il turned his ankle once. It seemed like he was checking if his legs were better.
“Young Master, you can’t go back. You have to go with me.”
“If it was going to be easy, you wouldn’t have come down like this. I’m going to step on my homeland for the first time in a long time.”
Young Master was already fully prepared, carrying a backpack on each shoulder. He threw his backpack in the jeep trunk and naturally fell into the passenger seat. Seok-hwa, who had always been sitting next to him, was more real because of Young Master.
“Captain, then I’ll follow with the captains.”
“Let’s do that. Load all the remaining fuel in the jeep.”
Lieutenant Cha also knew that it was an urgent matter, so he quickly started moving. He brought all the fuel and canned goods remaining in the building and loaded them into the jeep, and the rest of the captains also checked their loaded pistols and knives.
“But Captain, don’t we have to abandon the jeep anyway?”
Lieutenant Cha, who had finished preparing, asked in a puzzled manner.
“We’re going to go and kill the punks now. If you give it to me right away, I won’t kill you, but if you don’t, I’ll kill you and take it.”
“A thug? Are you talking about a thug I know?”
The other captains, including Lieutenant Cha, were flustered.
“Kkeulkeul, that guy Kwak Ga got rid of the Razvonik guys. Are you trying to take your boat and go down to the city?”
Kwak Soo-hwan nodded once.
“So let’s not waste time. Is it Jo Ja-ryong and Captain Kim, your S-class?”
“According to the results from the city, that’s it.”
Jo Woon wanted to add the word captain like Lieutenant Cha, but it didn’t seem like the time for that to happen.
“Then survive on your own. If I can’t persuade those Russian thieves, I’ll kill every single one of them and take the boat.”
Kwak Soo-hwan tightened the steering wheel and started to race toward Primorsky Krai. The looters’ base was close by, so at first, he had a lot of friction with Kwak Su-hwan.
Before arriving in Russia and going into the mountains, we first set up camp here in Hasan, but the guys on patrol knew about us like ghosts and came looking for our food and tea. After smashing the heads of two guys who threatened our lives, the next day, about fifteen of them came and started shooting at us. Of course, they knew that bullets were precious, so they only shot each of them three times.
Worried about Seok-hwa’s safety, we took refuge somewhere else, and when night fell, we raided their residence. They stole food and expired medicine, and we had no choice but to kill a few of them who resisted violently. Also, we had to brutally deal with a few of them as an example to avoid any trouble later.
That night, I gave Seok-hwa some canned peaches that I found on the street, and what did they say?
‘Major, it’s so delicious.’
It was a truly Dr. Seok-like answer. Looking back, I felt a little hurt. I’ve been living from the bottom, so I can eat anything, but I wasn’t a stone statue. I didn’t eat much of that delicious food and even gave it to myself, saying I was full. Damn, our Dr. Seok would be alive, of course, but I don’t want to become so sentimental.
As we drove along the dirt road and entered the village, the scenery was still gloomy. The buildings that had been bombed long ago were left as they were, and the entire city looked like ruins. Among them, in front of the intact brick house, there were wolf teeth and bones hanging out. A pot-bellied man sitting on a rocking chair on the wooden terrace, drinking vodka, spotted the jeep and shouted.
“Blyadchi! (Блядь!)” (F*ck!)
I shot my gun near the feet of the guy who was jumping up with the vodka and trying to enter the house. Ouch! The one who shouted made a face while holding the bottle of liquor. The bald man was the leader of the looters, and he knew who he was just by looking at the jeep. Kwak Soo-hwan loaded his pistol and kicked open the car door.
“Blyad, pomnysh minya (Блядь, помнишь меня)” (You bastard, you know me)
Kwak Soo-hwan said something similar to “You know me, you know me?” and the bald man spat out thick phlegm.
“Пошёл на хуй (Fuck you)” (Fuck you)
“Where did that bastard come from? Old man, when I say nice things, please translate for me to give me a boat.”
When the old man stuck his head out the window and translated, the bald man raised his middle finger this time. At the same time, the men who had remained in the house also ran out with guns.
“Get down.”
Kwak Soo-hwan closed the door again, put the car in gear, and stepped on the accelerator. The wheels spun around and started to rush straight towards the men. Thud, thud! The men shot, but they couldn’t penetrate the bulletproof glass of the jeep. Without hesitation, Kwak Soo-hwan brought the jeep towards the fleeing leader and rammed it.
Thud! The bald man was stuck between the jeep and the front door, coughing up blood. Kwak Soo-hwan opened the car door again and shot the men running away one by one.
He put the car in gear and backed up again, and the bald man fell down on the wooden floor with a thud. Only then did Kwak Soo-hwan get out of the jeep and walk with his boots. Just then, the lieutenant colonel and the captain arrived and began to escort Kwak Soo-hwan from the rear.
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the bald man by the collar and lifted him up. Kwak! Judging by the scream, it was clear that his spine or some internal organs were seriously damaged.
“Give me the boat.”
The guy pursed his lips and shook his shoulders. Kwak Soo-hwan fired his gun through the living room window of the house diagonally across from him. At the same time, a child screamed. It was the kid who was hiding by the window, worried about the bald head, who was not sure if it was his child.
“I’ll shoot him properly this time.”
As he pointed the gun at the kid, the bald head grabbed Kwak Soo-hwan’s trouser leg and rubbed his forehead.
“So give me the boat, damn it!”
I don’t want to do this either. When Kwak Soo-hwan reloaded, the kid screamed, and the old man turned pale and jumped out of the jeep. The old man grabbed the bald head and urged him to do as Kwak Soo-hwan said.
“Suka! (Suka!)” (You son of a bitch!)
Tch, the guy who spit out blood along with the curses couldn’t stand it anymore, but he soon nodded. At the call to get the key, the kid who was stuck to the window quickly grabbed the key and came out. Kwak Soo-hwan took a rope out of the trunk and made the leader sit in the passenger seat. He tied his body and both arms tightly with the rope and threatened to lead him to the boat. The old man who had no choice but to sit in the back seat could only sigh.
“Kwak Ga, I know you’re impatient and I know you care about the doctor, but don’t cross the line.”
“It’s been a long time since I crossed it anyway.”
Kwak Soo-hwan clenched and unclenched his fist as he headed toward the dock. The distance to the city was far, far away. He hadn’t come to his senses for over a week and had wasted even more time. Seok-hwa must have been waiting for me with bated breath… … .
He went in the direction the bald man had told him and saw a boat that looked as sleek as a silver hairtail. At least 50 knots would be needed to reach the city today. Kwak Su-hwan jumped onto the boat from the wooden bridge and started it. Fortunately, the engine that made the boat vibrate was powerful.
“Kwak Ga! If this guy runs out, please return it. He said he really did!”
It was a super-fast boat that could accommodate 8 people and once belonged to a rich Russian.
“Pashol tey (Пошёл ты)” (Get out, you punk)
Kwak Su-hwan raised his middle finger at the bald man. The old man shook his head, saying that he only learned Russian swear words.
After moving the food, weapons, and fuel from the jeep, he loaded the people who were going down onto the boat. The bald man who was still tied to the jeep yelled something, but Kwak Su-hwan ignored him and started driving the boat.
The water spray hit his face and stung his skin.
We can’t be like the deer left alone. So wait a little longer. I’ll be there soon.
***
“Fuck! Lee Yeon-tae!!!”
The voice of a man with a loaded pistol rang out like thunder from behind. Lee Yeon-tae was holding onto one of his punctured shoulders. The pistol aimed at Seok-hwa had already fallen to the ground.
Lee Yeon-tae, who had turned pale in an instant, let out a long breath and looked back. Kwak Soo-hwan shot him once more, rendering both of his shoulders useless. While he pushed Lieutenant General Lee Yeon-tae away with his foot, Seok-hwa couldn’t continue speaking and just trembled with her lips.
She opened her eyes wide and looked at him. Kwak Soo-hwan was breathing heavily. Even though she was seeing him with her own eyes, it didn’t feel real. We had spent much more time together than apart, but it felt like we had met again after a hundred years.
It was really Kwak Soo-hwan, Kwak Soo-hwan. She wanted to call him, but her voice still wouldn’t come out. He was safe. As always, Kwak Soo-hwan had come to find me.
“Honey, I called you.”
But as if he had no choice, Dr. Seok laughed, scolding him as if he knew that he was originally dull.
“… … Su-hwan.”
A thin stream of blood began to flow from Seok-hwa’s nose as he sat up from the sofa. Kwak Su-hwan’s face distorted.
When he hurriedly ran over and tried to hug Seok-hwa, Seok-hwa dodged behind the sofa.
“Don’t come.”
Seok-hwa pulled up his shirt and pressed it firmly under his nose.
“It’s okay, it’s me.”
He shook his head as if he was having a fight.
“Don’t come near me. I’m bleeding… … . No.”
As if proving that his father’s words were nonsense, Seok-hwa was alive, but Kwak Su-hwan’s relief was only for a moment. Seeing Seok-hwa bleeding, his own blood was drying up.
Lee Yeon-tae barely managed to lean against the sofa, blood pouring out of both shoulders. If the bleeding is not stopped quickly, the patient will be in danger of death due to excessive bleeding, but the stone has no choice but to watch.
There was none. If my blood seeped into Lee Yeon-tae, his life as a human would truly be over.
“Sergeant, there’s a hemostatic sponge on the dressing cart over there. Please stop the bleeding of the lieutenant general with it.”
“Is that important right now? Dr. Seok is bleeding too.”
“I’m fine. I can’t do it.”
The doctor, who had always been so strict, seemed to be acting like a child to Kwak Soo-hwan. Lee Yeon-tae let out a dry cough and laughed. He didn’t even stop the bleeding, as if he had no regrets even if he died like this.
Kwak Soo-hwan looked back at the dressing cart and then walked briskly towards Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa screamed at him not to come. However, Kwak Soo-hwan hugged him faster. Seok-hwa held onto his shirt tightly with both hands and blocked his face. Kwak Soo-hwan pulled his hand away with force, even though he knew that Seok-hwa hated this behavior. As Seokhwa lowered his head, Kwak Su-hwan lowered his face further and came up, placing his lips on his chin.
“!”
Even though Seokhwa was terrified and struggled, he didn’t care and slid his tongue across his lips. Blood was also on Kwak Su-hwan’s lips. He forcibly dug his teeth into Seokhwa’s body and sucked it out. Kwak Su-hwan hugged Seokhwa’s body as if he was going to crush it and kissed him fiercely as if he was going to eat up everything inside his mouth and lips.
While Seokhwa bit and sucked his lower lip, Seokhwa still used all his strength to punch Kwak Su-hwan’s shoulder and push him away. Even though there was a difference in strength, Seokhwa kept trying to dodge, so Kwak Su-hwan gasped for breath.
“Fuck it, it’s a virus, it’s a slap. I’m going to kiss Dr. Seok.”
Kwak Su-hwan wrapped his hands around the back of Seokhwa’s head and lifted it up so that it was touching him. Kwak Su-hwan, who tilted his head, gradually covered her deeper. Seok-hwa had no choice but to hug Kwak Su-hwan’s back while gasping for breath. Hoping that nothing would go wrong. She could tell how much he had worried and felt anxious about her from the rough kiss. Now, there was nothing she could do. Seok-hwa stopped resisting and instead clung to Kwak Su-hwan even more.
Fortunately, there was no more bleeding, and he licked Seok-hwa’s face with his tongue like a mother caring for her wounded offspring.
“Ha… … . Either kill me humanely… … . Or save me, do one of the two.”
Blood was spreading widely around Lee Yeon-tae.
“What, you’re still alive?”
Kwak Su-hwan retorted coldly. He was the one who had tried to kill Seok-hwa. He wanted to break his skull instead of his shoulder, but he couldn’t do that in front of Seok-hwa. Kwak Su-hwan wanted to keep what he had promised. Seokhwa hoped that people wouldn’t get used to killing people.
“You little brat, huh… … . How dare you speak informally to your superiors.”
Kwak Soo-hwan started walking toward the dressing cart, and Seokhwa followed right behind him. He kept checking his face and eyes to see if he was okay, feeling anxious. When Kwak Soo-hwan tried to hold up the hemostatic sponge, Seokhwa grabbed his wrist. Seokhwa spoke quietly to him.
“Major, my blood is poison right now.”
Seokhwa was now saying what the old man had said to him.
“Why on earth did you kiss me?”
A resentful voice came out. Seokhwa had been half-conscious since the moment he kissed her. Kwak Soo-hwan hugged Seokhwa’s waist and kissed her deeply again.
“I did it because it was good. Do you know how much I missed you? I called out to you at the top of my lungs in the helicopter, but you didn’t even look at me.”
Maybe he wasn’t hallucinating when he called me. Seokhwa shook her head anyway.
“The Adam virus has mutated inside me. The ones infected with the Adam virus are also infecting my blood. My blood shouldn’t be exposed to others right now.”
And he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. Judging from the irregular nosebleeds, it was clear that there was something wrong with his body.
“Where does it hurt?”
“… … It doesn’t hurt.”
Kwak Soo-hwan wanted to give up on first aid, but he knew that Seok-hwa would be upset for a long time if he did. He wiped his hands clean with a sterilized cotton pad and put on latex gloves. He took the syringe containing the hemostatic sponge and inserted it into Lee Yeon-tae’s shoulder. Ah! He pressed the piston without caring about the loud scream. The sponge that entered the wound absorbed blood and swelled, stopping the bleeding. After treating the other side, he took off his gloves and threw them on the floor.
“It’s your fate to live or die now.”
Since the bullet didn’t penetrate, surgery was needed to remove the bullet. At this point, it was literally just emergency treatment to stop the bleeding. Kwak Soo-hwan hurriedly approached Seok-hwa, who was washing her face and hands again at the sink.
“Let’s go out.”
“Where?”
Seok-hwa asked where she was going in this state.
“To the rooftop.”
He lifted Seok-hwa’s shirt and took out the pistol stuck near her tailbone. He loaded it and handed it to Seok-hwa, and I picked up the gun that Lee Yeon-tae had dropped.
“Where did you get the pistol again?”
Kwak Soo-hwan kissed Seok-hwa’s crown as if he was proud. He opened the door to the hospital room and looked around. There were only dead Adams scattered in the hallway, and there was no threat. He sent Seok-hwa out first and turned around for a moment. He saw Lee Yeon-tae lying unconscious on the sofa.
‘Dr. Seok might forgive me, but I won’t. If I had been a little late, something unimaginable would have happened.’
He had barely found Seokhwa, but he had no intention of showing mercy to the guy who had instilled in him the fear that he might lose him right before his eyes. He deliberately lowered the doorstop under the door to keep the door open. It was a momentary action that lasted only a second, but Seokhwa, who had been sent out earlier, was crouching down in front of him. Seokhwa quickly lifted Kwak Suhwan and then lifted the doorstop with his hand.
Squeak, the door slowly began to close.
“Let’s go.”
It was Kwak Suhwan who had hoped that Lee Yeontae would die from being bitten by Adam and infected.
“Dr. Seok, if you live a good life in the city, you die first.”
Kwak Suhwan held Seokhwa’s hand and walked down the hallway. No, I’m not a good person. In fact, by closing the door, Lieutenant General Lee Yeontae might have been discovered later. However, Seokhwa didn’t like the fact that he was getting his hands dirty and trying to hide it. In Russia, too, I pretended not to notice because it happened several times, but my perception was faster than he thought.
“Let’s carry him.”
At the entrance of the stairs leading to the rooftop, Kwak Soo-hwan lowered his center of gravity. Seok-hwa obediently hugged his neck and carried him. As soon as he felt his cool body temperature, his hands tightened.
“Are you okay, really?”
“They say my body neutralizes all viruses, but if I sucked some of Dr. Seok’s blood, it wouldn’t hurt. Do you think it’s the blood of a new foot?”
“But the virus mutated… … .”
Seok-hwa’s voice was faint, almost faint. Still, he loved hugging him like this, and his eyes were burning because he didn’t have the confidence to ever leave him again.
“Dr. Seok, I’m going to die.”
Kwak Soo-hwan said, gasping for breath as he ran up the stairs. Seok-hwa was startled and tried to look at his face, but Kwak Soo-hwan pulled Seok-hwa’s body up again.
“Your gun is aimed at my Adam’s apple right now?”
Seokhwa forgot that she was hugging him while holding the gun. She quickly turned the gun to the other side.
“Dr. Seok, do you know that? They say the Adam’s apple is called the Adam’s apple.”
She nodded, unable to answer because she was afraid of biting her tongue.
“They told us not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but Adam ate it and the apple got stuck in his throat.”
Kwak Soo-hwan jumped up the stairs three at a time. I could feel that he was deliberately changing the subject because he was worried about me.
“Then why did you get kicked out of paradise for eating something you were told not to eat? But when I think about it, you probably couldn’t have sex in the Garden of Eden.”
Kwak Soo-hwan, who had controlled his breathing briefly, moved faster as he left the last floor.
“One of the doctrines of the children of the Garden of Eden is strict abstinence, and even after getting married, you have to have sex only once a month. “Choi Ho-eon must be different from me.”
He pushed open the rooftop door and saw a gloomy sky that looked like it was going to rain.
“I have an erection.”
Seok-hwa said as he got off his shoulder.
“What?!”
“Doctor!”
Lee Chae-yoon shouted almost at the same time as Kwak Soo-hwan. Lee Chae-yoon, who was waiting outside the helicopter with a machine gun, kept shouting “Doctor!” happily. Five or six soldiers from the city were kneeling in front of her, making a V sign. Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed Seok-hwa’s shoulder and gave her a shocked look.
“How did that bastard know that he had an erection? That bastard,”
“I just saw him have an erection this morning.”
“You didn’t ask for semen, did you?”
“The only person I’ve ever chased after for semen is Major. I wasn’t in love with him back then.”
‘I was a little moved by the fact that Dr. Seok had a crush on me and kept chasing me for semen.’
Were you awake at that time? Even for Kwak Su-hwan, this was a bit embarrassing. That’s why he shamelessly pretended not to know anything and cursed Choi Ho-eon. Seok-hwa continued to closely examine Kwak Su-hwan’s condition. Since the new Adam virus showed an explosive infection rate, he was sure that it could really work against Kwak Su-hwan.
He also read Seok-hwa’s worries completely, so he shook his hair like a bird’s nest.
“Dr. Seok, you really don’t have to worry. Even if the Adam virus mutates thousands of times, it won’t work on me.”
A body created by sacrificing thousands of lives.
Kwak Su-hwan, who laughed bitterly, lifted Seok-hwa into the helicopter. Kwak Su-hwan and Lee Chae-yoon also boarded the helicopter, aiming their guns at the soldiers. They sat on the helicopter door after fastening the rope around their waists. They didn’t stop aiming their guns at the soldiers until they landed in the air. As the soldiers began to appear as fingers, Lee Chae-yoon moved into the helicopter.
“Doctor, we’re all screwed because of that bastard Tol-soo-hwan?! Hahaha!”
Lee Chae-yoon laughed as if she had lost her mind. Although her eyes weren’t laughing.
“Huh?”
Seok-hwa asked, holding onto the X-shaped belt with both hands. Lee Chae-yoon added something, but it was drowned out by the sound of the propeller. While Kwak Su-hwan also came over and sat down next to her, Seok-hwa still had no idea what was going on.
made a face. Lee Chae-yoon raised her voice again.
“A coup!”
Seok-hwa opened her eyes wide and glanced at Kwak Soo-hwan.
“This is a wartime situation.”
That’s it. Kwak Soo-hwan put the headset on Seok-hwa’s ears.
The man, who had his head tilted crooked and his hands clasped in front of him, slowly lowered his eyelids behind his mask and opened them. His posture looked strangely bored and weary.
“Adam said, ‘Eve gave me the fruit, so I ate it.’ God asked Eve, ‘Why did you give the fruit to Adam?’ Eve answered, ‘The serpent deceived me, so I ate it.’ So God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, you are cursed among all beasts and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust until you die.’”
The expression on the young man’s face as he gave his speech in the center of the high-ceilinged chapel was full of conviction. He was a little more excited by the fact that the Serpent was watching him, and his voice was louder than usual.
“We who were driven out of the Garden of Eden by God’s wrath have always suffered. The Adam virus is also the original sin given by God! God has given the final judgment to the wicked and evil foolish humans. But! We have a savior! The free savior from Adam has revealed himself to us in flesh. The brothers and sisters of the Northern Branch who have been saved have changed their lives due to the jealousy of the wicked group, but they have all ended their lives as humans. Isn’t this also salvation?”
A faint smile soon appeared on Choi Ho-eon’s face behind the white mask.
The new religion, the Garden of Eden, created by the researchers was nothing more than a smokescreen. They needed validity for their research, and they covered it up as the will of God. They needed countless test subjects, so they used a soldering iron and committed atrocities against the believers of the Garden of Eden.
Original sin from God? How can you call the Adam virus the hammer of God?
The Adam virus was just a mistake by an arrogant and greedy pharmaceutical company that could have happened at any time. Just as no one could have predicted that the Sarajevo incident would lead to a world war, even pharmaceutical companies could not have predicted that the Adam virus would drastically reduce the world’s population.
Choi Ho-eon found it quite fascinating that the Garden of Eden, created by the four rivers, seemed to have self-awareness and constantly created doctrines and built a new world among themselves. In fact, I had done nothing else besides mentioning the Savior. It was just a single line of hope, but those who refused to let go of that string actually made the Garden of Eden even stronger.
Even if they knew the truth that the Garden of Eden was actually a breeding ground for supplying test subjects, their faith would never collapse.
Choi Ho-eon stepped into the basement of the chapel. He went down the spiral staircase and turned the key to open the locked iron door. As he went inside and locked the door again, the lights in the long hallway began to come on sequentially. Choi Ho-eon, who was walking out slowly, took off his white mask and hung the string on his hand. The narrow, damp space made me suddenly recall my father’s voice that I missed.
‘I had no choice but to avoid the eyes of the Second Master. You should understand, you’re the eldest.’
I only asked him once why I couldn’t see my mother anymore and why I had to live outside the city. There was no high or low in my father’s voice.
‘They wanted to create mutants to protect the city, but that was wrong. Mutants are not meant to be used as mere tools to protect the city. The more perfect a mutant is, the less it should belong to the city.’
‘Then am I a perfect mutant?’
‘The perfect one is the eldest son of Bisson and Gihon. We have to bring him back.’
‘Aren’t I perfect?’
My father didn’t answer. Instead, a needle was inserted into his gaunt arm.
‘It’s for you, eldest. Because pain is the beginning of evolution.’
The pain of thousands of ants gnawing at my blood vessels and entering me came. The place where the ants had passed seemed to have completely disappeared, with bones and flesh. As he gnawed at his shoulder with his teeth and suffered, his father gagged the boy.
“It’s all for you.”
Choi Ho-eon realized his father’s deep love and furrowed his eyebrows, but soon his expressionless face turned blank.
As he went deeper underground, the lights in the hallway began to come on again in sequence. A strange howl came through the transparent and solid glass windows. The two sides of the hallway were divided into areas like zoo cages, and inside each area were test subjects.
While Choi Ho-eon passed by, some Adams showed no reaction, but Adam in the area where his vision had not deteriorated screamed as he slipped his blood-soaked hands. Choi Ho-eon paid no attention to anything and walked to his destination.
He stopped moving and turned around only when he reached the last room. He pulled a long chair against the wall, sat down, and crossed his legs. The man in tattered clothes stood at the corner with his back turned.
A round hole in the ceiling opened and a Jeonra person fell out with a thud. The person who fell into the cage ran to the glass window as soon as he saw Choi Ho-eon in front of him. Whoa! Adam, who was standing at the corner, bit his neck faster than him. Blood spurted out and stained the glass window. However, he continued to reach out toward Choi Ho-eon as if he didn’t feel any pain. The entity that fell from above was not a human, but an infected Adam.
The owner of the room bit the intruder’s stomach with his teeth, quickly pulled out the long intestines, and crushed the skull to eat the brain. He looked like a greedy monster.
Choi Ho-eon stood up as if he was entranced by the sight and put his forehead against the glass window. The owner of the room was a test subject who had been injected with Seokhwa’s blood.
“Father, what you said was all right. Pain is the beginning of evolution.”
I felt bad thinking about Seokhwa in pain, but if pain is essential for evolution, then I have to endure it. As a family member, I just have to hold and hug Seokhwa. The hot body temperature and the breath groaning in pain were definitely pitiful. But why did I feel a joy that could not overlap with sadness?
The news that my father had been executed was so sad, but on the contrary, I felt a greater sense of duty to carry on my father's will. Now, I could share that heavy burden with my younger brother.
[Notice, alarm is raised]
An alarm sound that sounded exactly like Mother's voice began to ring through the hallway. Choi Ho-eon looked up at the speaker.
[Alarm is raised, Crisis 1 alarm is issued.]
Adam in the room, who had sensitive hearing, screamed and went wild at that sound.
[Terrorist attack in Yeouido 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, Green Zone. [Crisis Alert No. 1 is issued.]
Choi Ho-eon calmly got up from his seat and pulled out the walkie-talkie.
“What’s going on?”
[Master!]
The advisor called him as if he had been waiting. It was because of the rule that his schedule should not be interrupted until there was a radio message from the Master.
[You must evacuate Yeouido immediately.]
“Evacuate?”
He answered nonchalantly, not forgetting to return his chair to its original position.
[This is an emergency! It is presumed that the families of the First and Second Lines, led by the Lee Hee-chan family, have rebelled.]
Choi Ho-eon slowly walked back up the road he had come from.
“Block off Yeouido Shelter first. A Level 1 Shelter Crisis is being issued. All elite units in Seoul are to gather in Yeouido and block all bridges.”
[Orders have been given. I will take the Master straight to the bunker.]
The advisor was waiting at the entrance because he was accompanied by Choi Ho-eon.
“I am also going to the Yeouido Shelter.”
[Master!]
Choi Ho-eon cut off the radio.
The emergency shelter emergency level 1 order meant a kind of quarantine. It was an order to seal off the shelter and release Adam, who was trapped underground, to create a chaos regardless of whether he was an enemy or an ally. Choi Ho-eon looked down at his wristwatch. He thought that the infection would spread to the top floor in at least two hours, and that Choi Ho-eon could reach the top floor within an hour.
He pulled his mask over his head and exited the building to face the hazy sky. It wasn’t because of the gloomy weather before the rain. The Yeouido sky was filled with smoke rising from the building. Several helicopters passed over Choi Ho-eon’s head one after another, making noise.
The advisor jumped out of the jeep and opened the door, completely terrified. If the rebellion succeeded and they took power in the city, all those who stood in the Choi Ho-eon line would be dead. The advisor knew better than anyone that there would be no mercy for the existing leaders.
“Master, we have to go.”
The advisor urged Choi Ho-eon, who was just looking up at the sky.
“It seems like it’s too late, right?”
Choi Ho-eon muttered and lowered his head, then quickly got into the jeep. Could it be that he had given up? Without even fighting? The advisor anxiously waited for Choi Ho-eon’s instructions.
“From now on, shoot down all the helicopters in the sky.”
***
[A total of three helicopters, Pungsan, Jindo, and Sapsal, were shot down over Yeouido.]
“You’re back! Shoot down the helicopters?”
Lee Hee-chan laughed nervously. Well, since it was a rebellion, they must have shot down at least an airplane instead of a helicopter.
“What about Kwak Soo-hwan?”
[I guess they’re moving to Hangang Night Island. There, he decided to join our army.]
Lee Hee-chan also did not like the current master.
If he had been someone who was obsessed with power like First or Second, it would have been easier to deal with him, but since he was a master whose true intentions were unclear, he deliberately kept a firm distance.
In addition, he had heard from his daughter. Choi Ho-eon was a serpent and what he had done to become the master. If I had to choose between a greedy man and a psychopath, I would rather have the former. That was why she had been crouching, waiting for an opportunity.
‘I will let your family exclusively distribute the vaccine.’
At that moment, Kwak Soo-hwan made a sweet offer.
Kwak Soo-hwan, who smelled like a corpse that had just returned from the sea, gave him a sharp look in his eyes, telling him to make a choice right away. Even after Kwak Soo-hwan went to Russia, he had exchanged news through Lieutenant Cha, so the vaccine development was true. Lee Hee-chan’s mind was quick.
‘Just distribution? Shouldn’t I also tell you how to develop it?’
When he showed signs of worry, Kwak Soo-hwan urged him not to hesitate if there was anything else he needed. Instead, he was asked to set fire to buildings outside Yeouido, excluding the shelter.
‘The Master sent Dr. Seok-hwa to prevent the development of the vaccine.
He is in custody. We need to rescue the doctor so we can mass-produce the vaccine.’
It was a shame to step into such a dangerous situation, but it was a vaccine.
Migratory bird, hyena. These were the nicknames the honorary families gave themselves. Lee Hee-chan was a proud person. He had been treated with sorrow by the families, so he thought that this might be his chance.
“Did all our kids on the helicopter escape?”
She continued talking into the receiver, holding back a sigh.
[There are injured people, but no deaths. More importantly… …. Rumors are spreading that we are the ones responsible for this incident.]
“What?”
What kind of nonsense is this! Lee Hee-chan’s expression was even more distorted.
[Penguin.]
“Why don’t you speak properly?!”
[The emperor penguin soared into the sky. The penguin’s flapping wings spread across the country, distributing the vaccine. This propaganda slogan is spreading. In addition, the helicopter that Kwak Su-hwan was riding on didn’t cover the penguin mark.]
She pressed her temple hard.
Ha, somehow he said he would hand everything over easily. That bastard really used me.
He even took Chae-yoon with him, so he was really soaking wet. Still, thanks to his parents, I was able to have a healthy Chae-yoon, so let’s make up for it with this.
It was time to push back on the Garden of Eden that was bewitching people in a strange way. The integration of religion and government, if we don’t stop Choi Ho-eon now, we won’t be able to do anything anymore. She understood rationally, but her anger didn’t subside, so she hung up the receiver with a bang.
***
“Captain.”
“Huh?”
Seok-hwa said, holding a piece of paper that was flying around inside the helicopter. Since she was wearing a headset with a microphone, she could communicate with the people inside the helicopter without any problems.
“Penguins can’t fly.”
“Really?”
Kwak Soo-hwan opened his eyes wide in surprise. He had seen all kinds of wild animals, but he had never seen a penguin.
“Then what’s the point of putting wings on? Serpents can get erections, but they’re eunuchs, right? But why is that little shit showing off his morning erection and making a fuss?”
Anyway, that kid, what Dr. Seok-hwa said really left a lasting impression on me. My ears are rotting, rotting.
Lee Chae-yoon took off her headset. It seems being too honest can be poisonous.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? What can I do if Choi Ho-eon is an exhibitionist? Right?”
I’m not taking Choi Ho-eon’s side, but it wasn’t because he showed it, it was just because it was morning. Seok-hwa thought it would be better to be a little more honest, so she slightly tilted her headset. Then she smiled once, as if what he said was right. However, she couldn’t help but keep lowering her head, worried that she might get another nosebleed. Kwak Su-hwan, who knew the anxiety or not, hugged Seok-hwa’s head and kissed her lips as if telling her not to worry.
A light was blinking on one of the Hangang Night Islands that resembled the shape of a night. As the helicopter tried to land by following the light, the bushes banged their bodies noisily under the propeller. Before it could completely settle down, Kwak Su-hwan and Lee Chae-yoon jumped out of the tilting helicopter.
Kwak Su-hwan, who had gone out first, spread his arms as if to greet her, and Seok-hwa slid out of the helicopter as if he was going down a slide.
“My brother is brave.”
He hugged Seok-hwa’s shoulder tightly and shouted, as if he was very proud of him.
“Fly straight to the Yeouido Shelter line along the Hangang River!”
“Are you talking about Yeouido Shelter?”
The pilot asked back, wondering if the order had been wrong. There was a small-caliber anti-aircraft gun on the roof of Yeouido Shelter that could hit aircraft. I also saw the flames rising from the downed helicopter in the distance, so I wished he would withdraw the order.
“I destroyed the shelter anti-aircraft guns, so just trust me and fly! Wait at the Gwacheon shelter until we send the reunion personnel.”
The pilot nodded once at Gwak Soo-hwan’s shout.
While the helicopter was leaving, the grass swirled in the air, so Seok-hwa covered his eyes with his hand. In the 11 o’clock direction of Bamseom, five boats were anchored and about thirty mercenaries were waiting. Unlike the helicopter, the penguin mark was carefully covered.
Originally, no family in Rainbow City could have private soldiers, but the Emperor Penguin Family used A-class or higher ability users outside the city as mercenaries. They were called mercenaries, but they were nothing compared to the ragtag B-class soldiers of the city.
Lee Chae-yoon jumped onto the boat and put her hand on the motor.
“Meet at Gwacheon?”
“No, go straight to Yeongjongdo.”
The Han River waterway stretched all the way to the West Sea, and if you followed the Arabat Road, it was almost like a straight course.
“Yeongjongdo? You know that Adam’s Field is there now?”
“Why, are you scared?”
“Damn.”
Lee Chae-yoon tapped my arm where I had been injected with the vaccine. The vaccine that the old man had brought was enough to be administered to the penguin mercenaries.
Since Kwak Soo-hwan’s Violet agents had also been vaccinated earlier, they were able to join Lieutenant Cha and take control of the Gwacheon Shelter.
“Should we go into the airport railroad and wait?”
“No.”
In order to buy time, they had to use a different method than City’s tactical training. Also, in order to avoid Mother’s eyes, they had to be people without tracking chips.
“Not all the soldiers here are City guys, right?”
“Yeah, no.”
“Is there anyone here with a City map?”
“Yes, we have them all.”
One of the soldiers on the boat raised his hand. Instead of telling him to bring it, Kwak Soo-hwan waded into the water and received the map. He spread it out on the boat where Lee Chae-yoon was and turned on the pen-shaped flashlight to illuminate the map. In his other hand, he held a magic wand issued as military supplies. He drew a circle around the central point of the airport on Yeongjong Island.
“Here, let’s make the 2nd light control center of the 2nd airport the gathering point. If everything goes smoothly, we should go to Jeju Island first.”
“Jeju Island? What are we going to do there?”
“That’s where the city technology is concentrated. I’ve already sent my old man.”
“Who’s the old man?”
Lee Chae-yoon pursed her lips as if she was full of questions.
“He’s the old man who helped develop the vaccine in Russia, but it’s a long story.”
“The old man is here?”
Seok-hwa suddenly interjected. The only old man Seok-hwa knew was an old Russian man.
“That old man was originally a city researcher.”
Lee Chae-yoon didn’t know him, so she just stared blankly, but Seok-hwa wasn’t surprised either. She sniffled again, as if she had a nosebleed, even though she thought it might be so.
“So you sent your old man who helped develop the vaccine to Jeju Island? You’re going to develop the vaccine in Jeju Island? Even Mom knows about this?”
Lee Chae-yoon’s words were so intense that my head hurt.
“Of course I know.”
As soon as we crossed over to the East Sea, we stole another boat for Lieutenant Cha and I to ride at Geumjin Port, and there we split into two teams.
In order to explain the journey to Jeju Island, I had to hand over the map I had to the two captains and my old man. I checked the map for places to fill up the boats’ fuel and abandoned motels where we had stocked up on guns, and instructed the captains to load all the guns and grenades they had hidden onto the boat.
The expensive boat was equipped with a detailed map of the sea area and even a fish finder. My old man and his party must have safely arrived at Udo Island. So that Russian guy must have asked to return the boat.
“And on the way to Yeongjongdo, do you see Shindo here?”
It was an island floating above Yeongjongdo before leaving the Han River and going into the West Sea.
“People live in hiding here too, but they’re not from the city. They’re very exclusive to the city, so if you’re going to do it, don’t wear a uniform and go in. There won’t be any problems if you tell them my name. The old men there will run wild if you give them food, so take some if you have something to eat.”
He pointed at the (old) passenger terminal on the island.
“If you look, there’s an abandoned school nearby. I blocked the entrance to the basement with iron plates, so you can clean it up easily. There’s money, grenades, dynamite, machine guns, rifles, and everything else inside. You’ll be short on weapons, so you can share them out and take whatever’s left to Udo. The main island of Jeju is guarded by city soldiers, so let’s avoid an all-out war until we safely arrive at Udo. Jeju Island is easily subdued if our kids go there. Do you understand?”
As Seokhwa listened to the explanation over Kwak Su-hwan’s shoulder, he felt like he understood why Second had designated him as the Controller. In a wartime situation, nothing is more important than a trustworthy commander.
“Ddol Su-hwan, were you preparing to start a rebellion if a vaccine is developed?”
Lee Chae-yoon was astonished as she folded the map and put it inside her uniform. She had hidden the fact that she was the Controller for a long time, so she honestly felt quite betrayed.
“Would I have thought that a vaccine would be developed? I was going to try it once when I was about forty.”
“To the Master election?”
“Go.”
Kwak Su-hwan pushed Lee Chae-yoon’s boat with both arms. Starting with that signal, the boats began to race toward their destination one after another. She seemed to have something more to say, but she couldn’t waste any more time, so she threw a few water bottles inside the boat onto the island. Then she quickly grabbed the steering wheel.
Looking at the fluttering cape here, it seemed like they were going on a trip, and it seemed like they were leisurely. However, as the sun set, rain began to fall, and soon there was no trace of the boat, not even a single wave.
Gwak Su-hwan, who came out of the water, quickly offered something to Seok-hwa, who was standing on the grass. It was a bar of nuts wrapped in syrup. Seok-hwa then realized that it had been a long time since he had eaten anything. He put the nut bar, which he had removed the plastic from, in his mouth and chewed, and the sweetness spread out.
“It’s delicious.”
“What’s so delicious about that? It just fills your stomach.”
Seok-hwa often said that anything given to him was delicious since his days in Russia. He now knows that it was a word of gratitude for the sincerity he had somehow managed to obtain.
The two of them were alone on the night island, and the sounds of frogs and toads croaked together. It was so loud that it was deafening.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re not going now.”
Seokhwa stood there blankly, staring at him. Even though he was buried in the darkness, he could clearly feel that he was weak and suffering, unlike when there were people.
“It’s all my fault that Dr. Seok became like this… … . It’s all my fault.”
Seokhwa seemed to know why he was blaming himself. Blood It must be because of the switch. Seokhwa quietly laughed inside. Although he was sure it wasn’t Kwak Su-hwan’s fault, he decided to just pretend not to know. He approached him first because he couldn’t approach him easily.
“If it weren’t for you, Major, I would have died dozens of times already.”
“Dr. Seok is dull and doesn’t know. I was an idiot. It’s all my fault.”
He shook his head once and pulled away his quivering lips. Seokhwa immediately brought them to Kwak Su-hwan’s lips. They touched so deeply that he could feel the sensation of a thud, and Seokhwa stuck out his tongue and sucked and licked his lower lip. Kwak Su-hwan, who had been frozen like a rock, hugged his body in one breath as soon as Seokhwa’s tongue dug inside him.
“Ugh.”
His mouth fell open on its own because the force was so strong that it felt like his entire body was being crushed by his bones. Kwak Su-hwan didn’t miss the gap and swallowed his mouth completely. His mouth was so dry that he bit his tongue and sucked it, pulling Seokhwa’s waist even closer.
“Dr. Seok, you’re not going anywhere, are you? You’re going to stay with me?”
Kwak Soo-hwan’s voice sounded anxious, as if it would disappear at any moment if he let go of his embrace.
“Haa, I’m still alive.”
Kwak Soo-hwan swallowed the curse, saying that he didn’t mean to hear that. He diluted the heavy pain with Seokhwa’s kiss.
“Are we really here?”
Seokhwa also whispered while hugging his waist. Even though it was an island, it was close to the mainland, and the Yeouido Shelter was visible.
“Because Choi Ho-eon wants the same thing as me.”
Choi Ho-eon wants to infect and kill healthy people, leaving only evolved humans behind, so there’s no way that it’s the same as Kwak Soo-hwan.
“Do you know what Choi Ho-eon’s purpose is? It’s different from Major Kwak’s.”
“I don’t know that psycho kid’s purpose. I just know that he wants Dr. Seok. Honey, this isn’t really a big deal, but he might be lying and saying he cares about me, so I’m asking again.”
He wondered what he was trying to ask that made him lay down such a long groundwork.
“That bastard really didn’t do anything sexually weird, right?”
“… … The only person who sees me sexually is you, Major.”
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed Seok-hwa’s forearms and stared at him intently. Seok-hwa wasn’t good at lying, and his eyes were as indifferent as usual.
“I’m not doubting Dr. Seok or anything. That bastard’s obsession is really weird. Do you understand what I mean?”
Putting my obsession aside.
However, that wasn’t what was important to Seok-hwa right now.
“Listen, Major.”
Seok-hwa’s expression hardened as if telling him not to talk about that anymore. It wasn’t much different from before, but Kwak Soo-hwan could tell. It was as if he was being scolded by his brother telling him to stop talking nonsense.
“Among the mutated Adams, there were only two times that Adam spoke Eve. At the zoo and today at the shelter. Judging from the language they uttered, it’s likely that they were individuals before they completely mutated.”
Seok-hwa fell out of his arms and quickly chewed the remaining nuts to keep his heavy brain moving. Kwak Soo-hwan also forced himself to eat a hard calorie bar. It was really annoying to have to eat something to fill his empty stomach. He also shook off the dirt from the water bottle that Lee Chae-yoon had thrown away and handed one to Seok-hwa.
Seok-hwa drank half of the water in one go.
“The Adam at the zoo was also an individual who had received the fake vaccine that Choi Ho-eon had spread. So… … Choi Ho-eon must be conducting experiments on people.”
“Then it’ll be over if Choi Ho-eon is killed.”
That’s exactly what I want.
“Probably not the end.”
Seokhwa picked up a fallen branch and turned to the wet mud of the water. Kwak Su-hwan suddenly grabbed Seokhwa’s arm.
He furrowed his brows and lowered his eyes, then met Seokhwa’s gaze as if he had made a big decision.
“Do you remember when we first met?”
“At Sehwa Beach?”
“That too.”
I had no idea that the doctor, whom I had thought was just a fool, would become my entire life.
“I never made a mistake while I was in the military, and I had nothing to apologize for. But I was just sorry to Dr. Seok from the beginning.”
‘And. Th, uh, what is that? Th, I feel sorry. I never thought you would be unconscious for so long.’
Seokhwa also remembers. He apologized for making him unconscious, but even then he didn’t seem familiar.
“My father said that. My blood itself is fine, but if someone who received my blood gets vaccinated, the virus will explode. That’s why that old man came to check if that was true. So it’s my fault.”
Kwak Soo-hwan ended up telling him indirectly that the Northern Branch had switched blood. It must have taken a lot of determination for him to say that. He might have been afraid that I might resent him. Seok-hwa hugged his large body and patted his back with his hand.
“I knew everything.”
“What?”
“It’s not your fault, Major Kwak. It wasn’t the first time you received a blood transfusion.”
He thought there was no problem, so he switched without worrying about it.
“I was thinking about the hypothesis that you mentioned. But if that was the case, I should have mutated within a few minutes. So I’ll be fine.”
Seok-hwa wasn’t sure either, but he gave him a definite answer.
“I’m fine, but my nose is bleeding.”
“Before I met you, Major, I used to fall down often, but now I’m healthier. I can run now, and it’s a huge improvement compared to when I was at the learning center.”
Now that I don’t have a nosebleed, I said I was okay and walked again, holding the branch. Seokhwa crouched down in front of the mud while chewing nuts.
Seokhwa, who had stuffed the bar into his mouth, drew a [∞] symbol on the floor.
“Is it a testicle?”
Kwak Su-hwan, who was crouching down with him, looked at Seokhwa and saw that he was smiling subtly. After hanging out with him for over a year, he wondered if he had gotten used to humor, but Kwak Su-hwan thought that he had done it for nothing. Still, his heart was quite relieved when he saw him smiling like that.
“Major, we found the vaccine in the new influenza virus that avian influenza has. If this shape is the main element of our vaccine.”
Next to it, he drew a ◇ (diamond) symbolizing the Adam virus.
∞+◇=Stop reaction
“When the vaccine and the Adam virus met, there was definitely an effect of stopping the virus activity, but.”
This time, I drew a proportional symbol (∝) that resembles a truncated Möbius strip.
∞+◇+∝(virus in Major Kwak’s body)=fever, explosive decrease in red blood cell count, excessive bleeding-> mutation
Seokhwa diligently organized the writing on the mud.
“My progress stopped in the process of transitioning from excessive bleeding to mutation.”
Seokhwa drew a long line with a stick in the middle of the arrow.
It seemed that he should now tell him the truth that he had not told him before because he was afraid that he would feel guilty.
“When I first received Major Kwak’s blood in Russia, I had a fever. I thought it was a side effect of the transfusion, but it might have something to do with my immune system. That’s why I’m still safe even though I’m carrying the mutated Adam virus.”
That was a fever… … . Kwak Su-hwan was once again angry at his own foolishness, but he accepted a stick from Seok-hwa’s hand. He patted away the dark dirt on his white palm.
“That’s why we have to go to Jeju Island.”
Udo Island, where the Second Master’s laboratory was located.
***
Seok-hwa fell asleep on the grass and opened his eyes. He touched his face here and there with his hands to see if he had any blood, but it was damp because of the rain.
“I’m going to wake him up, so why are you up so early?”
He had clearly thought he had slept on the floor, but his head was resting on his strong thigh.
“You should get some sleep, Major.”
Seok-hwa sat up and patted away the grass on his back. Kwak Su-hwan faced the Yeouido Shelter as if he was waiting for some kind of signal.
“I can hold on. I haven’t slept in 48 hours, and this is it.”
He didn’t seem to be bragging.
“How about Jeju Island?”
“Fly.”
He smiled and looked at Seokhwa, who was fighting off the sleepiness.
“By now, they must think we’ve left Yeouido, so the soldiers who gathered there must have dispersed.”
Seokhwa blinked his eyes a couple of times. Choi Ho-eon wouldn’t be sure where our final destination was. He just assumed that they quickly left Yeouido, where the soldiers were gathered.
“And unlike penguins, owls and owls are more likely to leave right away if the situation is not favorable. That’s why we have to save as much time as possible.”
I held the leash for the penguin family, so I couldn’t take it off, but the rest of the owls and owls were far from my reach. Lee Hee-chan had also dragged them in, so I just hoped she would hold the leashes for those two families. If I couldn’t take Choi Ho-eon down, the Emperor Penguin Mark wouldn’t be found in Rainbow City anymore.
“The remaining vaccines are being distributed indiscriminately under the name of Emperor Penguin. The citizens look favorably on Lee Hee-chan as well as Choi Ho-eon.”
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed Seok-hwa’s wrist, who nodded.
“Do you trust me, Dr. Seok?”
“I trust you.”
“I’m a person who keeps my promise to come back. I’ve always been there for you. Right?”
‘Dr. Seok, you’re not going anywhere, are you? You’ll stay with me, right?’
The person who said that seemed to be distancing himself from me. He wanted to say that we should go wherever we go together, but that would put both of us in danger. Seok-hwa asked calmly on purpose.
“I’m going to Udo alone?”
“We’re going to do what we have to do. I’ll meet Choi Ho-eon, and Dr. Seok will meet the inspiration and solve the problem.”
Kwak Soo-hwan was right. There was no need to submit to fate, but each of us had to be faithful to the roles given to us.
“How many cases are there for a 6-digit password?”
Kwak Soo-hwan took out the cell phone in his pocket.
“A million… …?”
“Then I should leave this to Dr. Seok.”
He handed the cell phone to Seok-hwa.
“I got it from the bunker where Second was. The rest seems to have been destroyed by Choi Ho-eon.”
Seok-hwa held the sturdy machine with both hands.
“I didn’t even try because I was afraid it wouldn’t open if I entered the wrong password more than a certain number of times.”
I didn’t know the password that Second had set.
“… … There might be a hint if you go to Udo.”
It was where Second’s mansion was.
Kwak Soo-hwan hugged Seok-hwa’s shoulder, who was a little exhausted.
“Look at this. You found something interesting while playing with it?”
When he turned on his phone, luckily there was still a lot of battery left. He swept the screen without unlocking it, and the camera turned on. He then switched the camera lens.
“The picture was taken. Smile.”
Seok-hwa felt very awkward and unfamiliar with himself on the screen. When Kwak Soo-hwan smiled, he followed suit and slightly lifted his lips. Click, the picture was taken, and a small window appeared at the bottom. Kwak Soo-hwan pressed that part and showed Seok-hwa the picture.
“Our Seok Doctor is good at taking pictures.”
In fact, it was dark, and there was a building still burning in the distance, so he couldn’t see the person properly. Kwak Soo-hwan turned the power off again and handed the phone back to Seok-hwa.
To be honest, since we didn’t have a single picture taken together, he wanted to leave it on this machine. It was so subtle that others wouldn’t notice, but he didn’t like Dr. Seok’s gloomy face either.
Clang, bang.
Seok-hwa clung to Kwak Soo-hwan at the sound of the water flowing unnaturally. Kwak Soo-hwan also stood in the direction of the sound, and he could see a black mass approaching through the darkness.
“Hey, dear car, hey, dear car.”
The black object gradually got closer, and he could see someone rowing diligently on a boat with the engine off.
“Let’s go boating~”
Kwak Soo-hwan’s neck muscles stood out because he was humming a song.
“You little brat! “Why don’t you come quickly?”
The black figure swung the oars louder as he urged. The man who had measured the depth of the water with the oar jumped out of the boat and started to pull the hull himself.
“… … Lieutenant Yang Sang-hoon?”
It was Lieutenant Yang, not in uniform, but in everyday clothes.
“Haha, Doctor, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I’m really sorry about the other day.”
Yang Sang-hoon nodded, saying that it couldn’t be helped. Seok-hwa nodded his head, saying that he understood everything, and his body suddenly rose.
“Let’s hurry and enter the West Sea before dawn.”
Kwak Su-hwan quickly lifted Seok-hwa’s body, which he had been holding onto as if it were wet, onto the boat.
“The helicopter is anchored at Gunsan Cruise Terminal, so we’ll stop by Haenam to check it out and then fly back.”
“Okay, so take a breath and talk.”
“Hurry, kid.”
Seok-hwa sat on the boat chair and fastened his belt. It was because he couldn’t show his regret and grab Kwak Su-hwan’s ankle.
Kwak Su-hwan, who was checking if the belt was tight, suddenly grabbed Yang Sang-hoon’s arm. Yang Sang-hoon’s short-sleeved arm was wrapped in a white bandage.
“This? To remove the chip. Mrs. Hee-chan had a hard time bringing in a quack doctor and dispersing the signal, hey. Do you think you’ll live long?”
“What?”
“The lady cursed you out.”
“It was worth it.”
Still, if things went well, Lee Hee-chan would achieve his long-cherished wish.
“As you said, I’ve dispersed ten units to Busan, but the order from above will soon be overturned. It will only take a day at most.”
“Thank you.”
“What, I’m a controller no matter how rotten it is.”
Yang Sang-hoon used his position as a controller to divide the units in each area and send them up the Tuman River and Amnok River lines. The Seoul Gwacheon area was excluded because it would have been directly contacted by Choi Ho-eon.
If the soldiers who reached the tip of the Korean Peninsula found out that there were no Allied Forces, it would be a great achievement in its own way. Didn’t they say that seeing is believing?
“If Dr. Seok gets a nosebleed, don’t wipe it. And make sure that the blood doesn’t touch your wound.”
Kwak Soo-hwan whispered quietly so that Seok-hwa couldn’t hear.
“Okay.”
Yang Sang-hoon readily answered, although he didn’t know the exact reason. Kwak Soo-hwan now walked through the water to where Seok-hwa was sitting.
“Three days. I’ll join you again in three days at the latest.”
“I’ll wait on Udo.”
Seok-hwa closed his lips tightly after saying that. If he didn’t, he felt like he would make a weak sound.
“Turn on the motor and run.”
“You were definitely the one who told me to come quietly?”
“Yes. “It wasn’t telling me to turn off the motor and row, it was telling me not to tell the others where I was.”
“Hey kid, then you should tell me that! I’ve rowed for about 7 kilometers from here.”
Yang Sang-hoon grumbled and expressed his grievances.
“Go ahead. Yang Sang-hoon, you know? I trust you.”
“Fuck. I’ve always trusted you, but you don’t.”
Kwak Soo-hwan raised the corners of his mouth and pushed Yang Sang-hoon’s back hard. Yang Sang-hoon placed his hand on the side line of the boat and jumped on. As he started the engine, the motor started spinning furiously. The strong waves wrapped around Kwak Soo-hwan’s legs.
It had only been a short while since they had met again, and it was horrible to have to let Seok-hwa go from my hands, but now was the time to endure it. As the boat swept through the darkness, Kwak Soo-hwan shouted.
“Honey! Do you know that I love you so much?”
Seok-hwa seemed to be looking back, but it was too dark to be sure.
If I had gone back ten years and told myself that this day would come, I would have been laughed at. I was not the type to say something embarrassing. But when I actually said it out loud, it was embarrassing. I felt like I could say it thousands of times a day.
Love blossoms no matter what the situation is.
I turned my body toward the shelter and walked into the water, taking off my shirt inside out. I let the shirt flow and took a deep breath when the water reached my chest.
Kwak Soo-hwan soon began to cut through the water and cross the Han River.
***
[The propaganda materials with the Emperor Penguin mark that had been distributed four days ago are all false propaganda materials. No vaccine has been developed. Emperor Penguins, Owls, and the Owl Family have all become rebels who threaten the city. Rainbow City puts the safety of its citizens first. Trust Rainbow City.]
The same broadcast was being repeated countless times through the radio and loudspeakers.
With the Emperor Penguin in the lead, the other two families also risked their lives. They fought a guerrilla war by administering the vaccine themselves, biting Adam, and even killing Adam.
‘This vaccine is real.’
‘It was developed by a researcher in Rainbow City, and the city tried to kill the researcher to stop the distribution of the vaccine. The three families had no choice but to step forward to protect the researcher, and the Emperor Penguin is truly the one who cares for the citizens!’
Unconfirmed rumors spread in an instant.
‘How do I get the vaccine? There aren’t enough vaccines?’
Someone asked if the vaccine was only distributed to those who had it.
‘In order to mass-produce the vaccine, we need to remove Choi Ho-eon from his position as Master. The Master is blocking mass production.’
Someone shouted the truth. For four days of chaos, people were swept away by rumors and gossip without knowing the answer. However, most of them hoped that the vaccine was real, and that this time they would finally be free from Adam.
Choi Ho-eon, standing on the roof of the Yeouido Shelter, scanned the buildings where the flames had been extinguished. The east had been lit long ago, but the clouds obscured the light, making the view dim. It had already been over a day since the three families’ mansions and the factories they operated were burned to the ground by the soldiers.
The Emperor Penguin factory that distributed food to the city center had stopped operating, but the citizens had always kept emergency food supplies on hand, so they could easily last a month. Even if it was difficult right now, it would be enough if the city itself could operate the factory over time.
However, the Emperor Penguin factory mainly produced fish, corn, peaches, beef, and canned pork, and their breeding grounds were unknown. Cows and pigs were susceptible to the Adam virus, so even their locations were kept strictly secret for security reasons. For a while, the path to mass-producing meat was blocked.
The reason the honorable families have the power they have now is because the two previous masters gave them authority to create their own side. The current Rainbow City was formed when the leaders who wanted to maintain the system firmly and those who wanted to prosper the family met.
After becoming the master, Choi Ho-eon gradually tried to reduce the honorable families. Even that could not be pushed forward because of the strong opposition from each family. If all the families turned their backs, it would be difficult for even the master to maintain his position.
[A reward will be given to citizens who bring fake vaccines to each regional center in Rainbow City. Everyone must unite and drive out the rebels.]
Choi Ho-eon calmly walked to the master room on the top floor, leaving the echoing announcement behind. All the corpses were incinerated to prevent the spread of the disease, but the smell of blood still lingered in the hallway. Choi Ho-eon stood in front of the room and placed his hand on the recognition pad.
[Open. Welcome, Master.]
The double doors opened one after another, and the advisors and generals were already sitting at the round table.
Since the population of the world had decreased significantly compared to before Adam appeared, the number of troops had to be reduced as well. The total number of generals in the city had decreased from about 300 to 150, then 50, and now there were about 40, including generals, lieutenant generals, major generals, and brigadier generals. Of these, there were three generals, two of whom were here.
They were just waiting for the master to come and sit down, and none of them spoke first. Choi Ho-eon sat on the chair the advisor had given him and placed his clasped hands on the table.
“Report.”
The general in charge of the entire Yeouido area stood up.
“Five 20-story apartments and seven food warehouses in Yeouido were completely burned down, and there were no confirmed casualties. It is presumed that the rebels set the fire.”
“What about the movements of Dr. Seokhwa and Major Kwak Su-hwan?”
“We only detected them leaving Yeouido and moving toward the West Sea. We estimate that they have left the city now.”
“Good.”
The commander of the Yeouido unit was completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation. He thought that the rebels could be pushed out and the citizens who rebelled could be executed.
If there was something he overlooked, it was that the rebels had The activities have been constant, but there has never been a family of this size gathered together. Furthermore, they currently have a powerful weapon called the vaccine.
“Do you know why I decided to make you my people?”
“Because we are loyal subordinates who are loyal to the Master.”
“No. It’s because we are stupid.”
The general’s face turned red with humiliation. He was the Master who ruled the city, but he was still dozens of years younger than me.
“Master! Aren’t you being too harsh?”
“General Choi, you are the one who is being too harsh to the Master!”
The advisor raised his voice. The others sitting at the round table were busy looking at the Master’s expression.
“Honestly, who is to blame for Yeouido being in this state? And wasn’t it the Master who gave Yang Sang-hoon the position of controller? Didn’t he just waste time because he disintegrated the military?”
“I admit it. I didn’t know that Major Yang Sang-hoon would be that brave. But I clearly ordered Major Yang Sang-hoon to be watched, and that role was General Choi’s.”
Even though he was a controller, he was not happy with the fact that he, as a commander, was following around the Major.
“I’ll take the kids and wipe out the areas that received the fake vaccines and all those related to the three families. Then it’ll be over.”
“General Choi, the people outside seem easygoing and foolish, right? Most citizens will soon be convinced that this vaccine is real. Because it is.”
The generals and advisors were all speechless at the Master’s bombshell statement.
“Just now… … you said it was a real vaccine?”
The advisor made a face that said something was wrong.
Rainbow City was a place maintained through control and coercion. The one who made that possible was Adam. If Adam were no longer a fearsome being, the citizens would inevitably reject control.
“Of course, the developed vaccine is the existing Adam virus vaccine.”
Choi Ho-eon picked up the remote control and lit up the screen on the wall.
“And the new mutant Adam virus also appeared.”
What appeared on the transmitted screen was Adam killing Adam.
***
Seok-hwa watched the leaders’ appearances transmitted through Mother without blinking. He felt like vomiting.
The leaders who despaired when they heard that the vaccine was real, and then rejoiced when they heard that a mutant virus had appeared… … .
“Tsk tsk, how has nothing changed? No, if it had changed, the city would have collapsed and a new system would have been established.”
The old man, who had been watching from the corner of his eyes, drank the entire bottle of vodka. One of the old man’s hands was extremely trembling, but it wasn’t due to alcoholism, but rather the aftereffects of being tortured with electricity.
“Dr. Smart, how are you feeling?”
The old man grabbed Seok-hwa’s forearm with his wrinkled hand. His body temperature was still higher than that of a normal person.
“Not good.”
“I like the refreshing answer. Yeah, how many times did you have a nosebleed today?”
“I’m still fine.”
Seokhwa wondered if the reason he was safe despite carrying the mutant Adam virus might be because his body temperature was different from others. Of course, the old man gave an ambiguous answer that it could be the same. As always, our job was to find the truth that would support the hypothesis.
“This fucking bastard piled up all this money to enjoy his life of luxury. We should burn it all down.”
The old man looked at the valuable minerals, drinking water, gold bars, and Rainbow City bills that Second had collected, as if he was fed up. They were not on Udo, but on Dangsado, a small island below Haenam.
Most of the abandoned houses on Dangsado, which had become an uninhabited island, were prefabricated container houses that were low and wide in the middle. It wasn’t a bunker built by the Second Master family, but a research center that Second himself had built for a long time, hiding from others. It was also a place where researchers had done dirty work, so there were bone fragments piled up in the sand behind the abandoned house that no one knew who they belonged to.
Seok-hwa turned on his phone, unlocked the security, and opened his photo album. He stared blankly at the pictures he had taken with him, then flipped them over. There were a few that were taken incorrectly and the screen was blurred, and one showed his full face. He seemed to be smiling confidently, as if telling him to look at him whenever he was bored. Looking at him like this made his anxious feeling much better.
“Even though that bastard Gwak-ga has a dirty mouth, he has a handsome face.”
“He’s even handsomer in person.”
Yeong-gam shook his head.
Seok-hwa and Yeong-gam left Captain Kim alone in this party office, and sent Jo-woon and Yang-sang-hoon back up to the city. He had to tell Kwak Su-hwan that the final location had changed.
Seok-hwa was able to get news of the rebels through the Mother system here. Kwak Su-hwan must have joined the rebels, so he was sure that he would be safe. He had never heard of any rebels being suppressed or captured.
He put the cell phone that had been turned off again on the Mother control system desk. Currently, the six monitors were transmitting the images of each shelter in real time.
Mother was an AI built by Second, but there was definitely a loophole. That was why Choi Ho-eon was able to hack the Mother system some time ago. There were two types of Mothers that Second had built throughout his life, and this Mother was the earliest model. It could not receive orders, but its functions of surveillance and sending messages were still intact.
Second took all the technology he could and did nothing for the citizens. It was already well known that the doctors who helped build the Mother system had disappeared without a sound. The Masters controlled communications for safety reasons and prevented the proliferation of intellectuals. Because of this, the illiteracy rate in the city was about 70 percent.
After checking the time, Seokhwa extracted blood from his forearm and divided it into five glass tubes. He also pressed his forearm with a disinfectant cotton ball to prevent this dangerous blood from leaking out anywhere.
Boom!
Seokhwa flinched at the sudden loud noise. When he turned around, he saw that his father was also staring at the screen above the Mother Control System. The source of this explosion was not our office, but a monitor showing Yeouido Shelter.
Seokhwa changed the remaining screens to Yeouido Shelter and showed the top floor corridor and rooftop. Since the rooftop was quiet, he changed the screen to 50 floors below. He saw an armed group quickly entering the top floor. They all had the Emperor Penguin mark engraved on their backs, and unfortunately, the corridor did not have audio support.
The back of the man walking at the end was too familiar. He was not armed and was dressed in black from top to bottom. The man with the submachine gun on his shoulder turned his head.
Seokhwa felt like he had actually made eye contact with Kwak Su-hwan.
“Major… … .”
The moment he stared at the surveillance camera lens, loaded the gun, and fired, the screen went black.
***
Same day, 9 hours ago. Weihai City.
Conspiracy, conspiracy.
He was plotting something, you know. Kwak Su-hwan let out his voice at the loud mooing of cows outside. The smell of cow dung was so bad that it penetrated even the inside of his mask.
The barracks that could accommodate fifty healthy adults were covered in the smell of mercenaries’ sweat and cow dung. Still, Kwak Su-hwan thought it was better than the smell of rotting flesh.
Lee Hee-chan listened to Kwak Su-hwan’s story with his arms crossed and a discontented look at him.
“Rainbow City has about ten thousand troops, and if you exclude the idiots, there should be about a thousand useful troops, but they can’t concentrate all their troops on Yeouido. Instead, since Choi Ho-eon is trying to focus on defending Yeouido, the S-class guys are stationed there.”
Kwak Soo-hwan, who crossed the Han River in the middle of the night, had to watch the shelter’s situation curiously. Choi Ho-eon was the one who released Adam and brought the shelter to the brink of destruction, but surprisingly, the soldiers were focusing on disinfecting the shelter that had become a field of corpses. They could have abandoned the shelter and moved to another place, but they didn’t.
“Why would Choi Ho-eon want to defend Yeouido instead of Jeju Island?”
Lee Hee-chan also wondered about that.
“Maybe the snake pit is there.”
Master Choi Ho-eon executed or moved the existing upper class in Jeju and Udo to the mainland. He placed a certain number of troops on Jeju Island and controlled it like the mainland, and he himself only operated in the city center. Despite the concerns of the leaders, he moved the Master’s residence from Udo to Yeouido Shelter, so the area that Choi Ho-eon focused on the most was Yeouido.
“Isn’t that bastard trying to do something as retarded as I’m thinking of right now?”
“Well, it’s definitely retarded. Just looking at the fact that he moved the central organization from the island to the mainland, it’s easier to spread a virus on the mainland than on an island.”
“Are you trying to spread the Adam virus?”
At that moment, the sound of a cow’s mooing continued for a long time.
He had made contact with the Violet Unit members at the Gwacheon Shelter, stopped by Incheon, and flew to a pig farm. It was a place that even Controller Kwak Su-hwan didn’t know about, but it was an old Chinese land that jutted out long and narrowly across the West Sea from Incheon.
It takes a whole day to get there by ship, but Lee Hee-chan didn’t bring the slaughtered meat straight in to hide the location of the farm, but instead had it detour to Pohang to be unloaded.
She knew from the beginning that the Allied Powers had collapsed. In exchange for occupying a part of the former Allied Powers’ land, she promised to guarantee the safety of the residents within a 3km radius, and no Adam had ever crossed the fortress that the Emperor Penguin family had painstakingly built. In a way, she was like the lord of a small castle, but it was possible because she had the City, the money.
When Kwak Soo-hwan furrowed his brow at the sound of a cow’s mooing, he slammed the table.
“Isn’t that an exaggerated guess? Even if that kid was crazy, he wouldn’t do that?”
“Is this Major a natural mutant?”
“What?”
“I’m asking if he was born through genetic editing.”
“Are there natural mutants in the City?”
Lee Hee-chan teased him, saying that you’re the same.
“You probably know that Choi Ho-eon’s mind is screwed up, and you also know that he is Dr. Won-ho’s son?”
She crossed her arms and stiffened her body.
“… … Dr. Won-ho?”
“Yes, he is Dr. Won-ho’s son. Dr. Won-ho is one of the people who built the Garden of Eden, and as you know, he is the one who created the mutants.
He was also the doctor who created it.”
Choi Ho-eon is that guy’s son… …? She knew that the Allied Forces had fallen, but she hadn’t actually looked inside the city.
“Why would he be a serpent? He inherited Dr. Won-ho’s will.”
“Wait a minute.”
Only then did she uncross her arms and touch her forehead.
“Then why is Choi Ho-eon obsessed with you and Dr. Seok-hwa?”
I know that he was desperate to find Kwak Soo-hwan and Seok-hwa, who had left the city. If it was simply to chase down the wanted person, he wouldn’t have let those two live when they showed up in the city.
“That bastard is obsessed with me, not Dr. Seok, and he definitely thought I would be with Seok-hwa, so he looked for me too.”
“So why? He’s gathering mutants and forming his own army?”
“That would be better. I guess he’s planning to kill all of them, leaving only the complete mutants.”
Lee Hee-chan let out a breathy sound.
“Do you know why Dr. Won-ho was executed?”
“Because he was a rebel?”
He answered as if it was an obvious question.
“That’s the reason it was known to the public.”
Lee Hee-chan pressed his head, which was throbbing, with both hands and continued.
“Dr. Won-ho was more obsessed with mutation research than anyone else. My parents were infected with the Adam virus. Major Kwak. Neither you nor I have ever experienced life before the Adam virus appeared in the world. But Dr. Won-ho experienced both. So he must have dreamed of a world without viruses more than anyone else, and perhaps hoped for a generation stronger than the virus to be born.”
If Won-ho were alive, he would have been around eighty. In that case, he must have lived a life without Adam.
“You killed your parents with your own hands, right? Imagine, we know a lot about Adam now, but did we have that kind of information back then? One day, my parents suddenly turned into monsters and attacked me, so I would have killed them to save myself.”
Imagine… … . It was a reality enough for Kwak Soo-hwan. Kwak Soo-hwan pretended to be indifferent and held his thighs tightly.
“I guess my mind went halfway back then.”
“Since you’re the warden, just tell me why you were executed.”
Lee Hee-chan clicked his tongue at the arrogant words.
“That human planted the Adam virus on mutants. Do you think that’s all? He was caught experimenting on newborn babies by injecting them with a virus with a high fatality rate like Ebola. The person who discovered that and resigned from his research position was none other than Dr. Lee Jin-yeon.”
In that case, Won-ho should have been executed at that time. However, even after Lee Jin-yeon resigned from his research position, he continued to work as a doctor for a long time.
“Why didn’t you kill that guy then and let him live?”
“It would have been a shame to kill Dr. Wonho in the city, and honestly, the city didn’t care how the mutants died or not. There were people who supported Wonho’s research. In the end, Wonho was executed because of Dr. Oh.”
“… … Dr. Oh? Oh Yang-seok?”
Because of that old man? Kwak Soo-hwan made a face that said he didn’t understand at all.
“Yes, Dr. Oh Yang-seok. Dr. Oh Yang-seok also found out about Wonho’s crazy behavior. Oh Yang-seok was the right person. He didn’t commit inhumane acts to develop a vaccine. But his son wasn’t like that. He was absorbed in Wonho’s ideology, and he found out that it was based on the religious belief of the Garden of Eden. Dr. Oh was convinced that Wonho was the one who had dragged his son in, so he turned him in as a rebel, feeling like he was losing his arm. City also saw the Garden of Eden as a thorn in his eye, and Wonho had grown old and was no longer useful. The perfect time to execute him was ripe.”
She sat down on the barracks chair with a tired look on her face.
‘You foolish friend. Why didn’t you say anything? Why are you making me regret it now?’
‘My sins are so great. My sins are so great that I deserve to die, okay?’
‘I feel sorry for you, Major Kwak.’
Oh Yang-seok would babble and whine every time he drank. I just thought it was an old man’s drunkenness and rambling… … .
What on earth didn’t Wonho say that Oh Yang-seok regretted? And what was he sorry about?
“Chae-yoon was safe because she was my child. I wouldn’t have dared experiment on my child. You don’t think you’re a natural mutant, do you?”
“Dr. Kwak Jae-won, Dr. Kang Son… … . Did you know about that?”
She opened her lips that had been lightly closed and let out a sigh. They were the doctors from City who gave me Chae Yoon when I had half given up on getting pregnant.
“I know. But Dr. Kang Son said that all my children died. But I had a feeling that wasn’t the case when Dr. Oh Yang-seok became your guardian.”
Oh my… … .
Lee Hee-chan, who had stopped talking, realized something he had overlooked until now and put his hands together to his nose. It was similar to praying, but now it was closer to a sigh.
“Major Kwak Soo-hwan. You clearly said you came from outside the city, right? The couple raised their children outside, who should have had a secure future. I thought it was because they were a couple who had an aversion to City ideology… … No, you were the key.”
She carefully examined the face of Kwak Soo-hwan, who was sitting across from her. Even when she tried to recall, she couldn’t quite remember the two doctors’ faces. All she could remember was that they were both tall and handsome. Why did they take the children out of the city? At the time, she thought the reason was because of the second child. She thought the city would take care of him since he was born with an incurable disease. So she thought they raised the children outside of the city, but that inference was wrong.
The first child they left behind was here now, and he truly became a threat to the city.
“If you think about it, the world is really strange. Everyone said that humanity would be destroyed by nuclear weapons. But look. The very existence of humanity is in danger because of an invisible virus. Yes, it’s better to prepare for a visible threat. Now that I think about it, the two doctors succeeded in blinding everyone.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your parents sent you out of the city to protect you. Because you were a perfect mutant. Don’t you think you’re perfect?”
The parents sent Kwak Soo-hwan out of the city to hide the truth. Because they knew that Kwak Soo-hwan was a complete mutant.
If Won-ho or the city leaders had known that fact, Kwak Soo-hwan would have become a living sacrifice for the city. He would have been torn apart alive as research material, and he would have shed countless gallons of blood.
He also found out. At one time, he resented his parents, but some days, his younger brother was a nuisance and he thought that he was not free.
“It wasn’t me who sacrificed myself, but my younger brother was sacrificed because of me.”
He muttered to himself and couldn’t even blink.
“Is it only my younger brother?”
His tone was extremely pitiful. However, it was too cold to be called comfort.
“Do you know that Oh Yang-seok cared for Dr. Seok-hwa so much? Do you think that guy cared for Seok-hwa just because he was a senior researcher? It must be because Dr. Oh Yang-seok had already glimpsed the truth. Maybe he had guessed everything but kept silent for a long time because it wasn’t his business. Didn’t that gentleman step forward only after my son became like that?”
“… … .”
“Why is Dr. Seokhwa so weak? Because he’s a defective mutant? Then why did Dr. Lee Jinyeon get stripped of his position and report him? And how could you be without defects?”
They conducted experiments on the newborn Seokhwa with the tacit consent of the city.
I was born from the sacrifice of Seokhwa’s body.
“… … Does Dr. Seok know?”
“Why are you asking me? You should know better than I do. But I don’t think Dr. Lee Jinyeon would have told my child the truth. If it were me, I would have.”
I couldn’t even keep my promise to go to Seokhwa within three days. He must have been waiting with bated breath, but since there was nothing I could do, I had to send him to the Russian master. The flesh in my clenched fist turned white.
It didn’t matter what the crazy researcher bastards did. The only remaining goal was to ensure Seokhwa’s safety and eliminate Choi Ho-eon, and any other thoughts were unnecessary. They would only get in the way on the way to Seokhwa.
When Kwak Su-hwan left the barracks tent, the Violet unit members and mercenaries were grilling beef and pork on a hot iron plate. It was good. The smell of cow dung was overwhelming, but they were stuffing uncooked meat into their mouths, saying it had been a long time since they had meat.
“Moon-gil, eat less. You’ll have parasites in your stomach.”
Moon-gil, who was eating meat with his bare hands in the middle of the iron plate, made a face of injustice.
“Captain, why are you doing this to me! Jong-moon ate more than me!”
Jong-moon, who had been using his chopsticks in a noble manner, could clearly see himself gritting his teeth, thinking that if he hadn’t been his senior, he would have been fine.
“I thought he was dead, but he’s alive, so that’s why I’m saying this. Stop eating and come inside.”
Jongmun and Moongil were part of the 1st unit attacked by Choi Hoeon, but fortunately, they managed to escape and join Lieutenant Cha. The rest of their comrades died that day, so they were unable to retrieve their military IDs. Kwak Soo-hwan stroked the short hair of Jongmun and Moongil as they entered the barracks with his rough hands.
He tried to smile as he spoke to Lieutenant Cha, who was the last to enter.
“If you succeed in capturing Choi Hoeon, ask Penguin for a spot. You’ll be a founding father in your own right, so I’ll give you that much.”
“What about the captain?”
“Me? Well.”
Kwak Soo-hwan patted the shoulders of his men and stood in front of the map of the city hanging on one side. Lee Hee-chan was also giving words of encouragement to the mercenaries entering the barracks. Even though the tents in the barracks had been put up, it was so full of sturdy men that it was hard to breathe.
“We have stronger individual power, but we are short on numbers, so your mercenaries and our Violet agents will go into the operation together. We will leave the disgruntled ones aside for now.”
Their faces did not look particularly disgruntled. They were just panting in the heat.
“We will first take over the Yeouido Shelter, but since Mother has probably returned to normal, it will be difficult to go up from the first floor. So, let’s go to the 58th floor.
“We’re going straight in.”
“Are we going up the wall?”
A mercenary raised his hand and asked.
“That bastard! How dare you go when the captain is talking!”
“Then how are you going to get to the 58th floor!”
The mercenary also glared at Moon-gil.
“It’s all noisy. We’ll go to the Yeouido shelter by helicopter, and even after arriving at the destination, we won’t land right away. Instead, we’ll sacrifice one helicopter.”
In short, he was saying that he was going to bring one helicopter to the shelter.
“Chang-dae.”
Kwak Soo-hwan called his unit member who could pilot a helicopter.
“Yes, captain.”
“You’ll be in charge of the 1st helicopter, fix the helicopter’s altitude to the 58th floor line, and jump out first, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve jumped out of a helicopter once or twice before.”
“Chang-dae, after you land safely, go to Bamseom and wait. Meanwhile, the others got off their helicopters and joined us right away. Groups 1 to 3 will enter the 58th floor right away, while Groups 4 and 5 will block the rooftop and provide cover. Groups 6 and 7 will form up as snipers and provide full support from the helicopters.”
The mercenaries had never received proper aerial infiltration training, so it was doubtful whether they would be able to do it properly, but for now, this method was the fastest and most reliable.
“And if you find Choi Ho-eon, you can kill him immediately. The same goes for the other generals.”
“What Major Kwak said is right. If we want to successfully carry out the rebellion, we have no choice but to cut off Choi Ho-eon’s head. Once we’re done, I’ll promote you all to city citizens and promise you a position each. Do you remember that I always kept my verbal promises?”
That’s why the mercenaries agreed, saying that they were under the Emperor Penguin’s command.
“If we safely enter the 58th floor, Group 1 will be in charge of forward reconnaissance along with Lieutenant Colonel Cha, while Groups 2 and 3 will act as marksmen. “I’ll take care of the rear.”
Tung, outside the barracks entrance, Lee Chae-yoon kicked a large stainless steel box with her foot. When she opened the box lid, machine guns and pistols were lined up inside. While distributing the firearms, Kwak Su-hwan approached Lee Hee-chan.
“I’ll leave Major Lee behind.”
“I didn’t plan on sending him either.”
“It’s a waste of energy to leave him here. It seems like it’ll take me some time to get to Udo, so I’ll send Major Lee instead. I’ll also relay the situation.”
“Why don’t you tell me honestly that you’re worried about Dr. Seok-hwa and are on the loose?”
Kwak Su-hwan scratched his eyebrows, uncharacteristically shy.
“Don’t worry. I’ll send Chae-yoon to Udo right away. But you, aren’t you trying to fool me again? Don’t hit me in the back of the head this time?”
“Who do you think is a con artist?”
He picked up the remaining machine gun and put it on his shoulder. Kwak Su-hwan, who was walking to the field where the military helicopters were stationed, raised his voice.
“Kill Adam as soon as you find him. Don’t complain about getting vaccinated, and never let him get bitten or exposed to blood. Absolutely.”
Kwak Su-hwan gave them a firm warning because he didn’t know what Choi Ho-eon might have done with Seok-hwa’s blood.
The helicopters took off one after another, and the one that Kwak Su-hwan boarded last began to rise into the air. The sight of cows leisurely grazing was unfamiliar. However, surprisingly, Dr. Seok might like this quiet countryside. Seok-hwa often saw insects and bugs. When I finish everything and finish work, I’ll take Seok-hwa and live in the mountains.
Kwak Su-hwan unconsciously raised his lips in a pleasant imagination for a moment, then quickly turned his gaze to the sea. He wanted to completely erase the fact that he had become perfect based on Seok-hwa’s sacrifice. That doesn’t mean Seok-hwa would resent him, but he didn’t want to tell him the truth. It was because he knew that they always looked at me with envious eyes because I had good physical strength.
If the researchers hadn’t done such crazy things, Seokhwa might have been strong enough. Even I would explode with anger like this, and even if I found Wonho’s body and tore it to pieces, it wouldn’t be enough, but if Seokhwa found out about this, he would definitely despair.
Damn bastards.
Kwak Soo-hwan cursed the already dead guys.
***
The flames at Incheon Airport had not yet died down. Before joining Lee Chae-yoon and moving to the enclosure, he had burned down all the remaining airplanes at the airport, so the heat was still strong.
The fact that there were intact airplanes at Incheon Airport, which was a field of Adam, meant that Choi Ho-eon could use this as an escape route. It wasn’t 100% certain, but if there was an escape route, it was right to block it all.
Since aerial refueling was impossible, he filled up the gas on the airport road and flew to the Yeouido shelter. Currently, Choi Ho-eon’s location is unknown, but if he occupies the shelter in Yeouido that he cherishes, he will have no choice but to reveal his face from the cave. I would be grateful if he could stay inside the shelter.
Kwak Soo-hwan tightened his waist belt and attached a carabiner with a rope to his side. He loaded his sniper rifle as he reached an altitude high enough to deafen his ears. He examined the rooftop with an 8x scope and fired his gun as soon as the shelter defenders entered the lens. At that signal, gunfire erupted from the helicopter carrying the snipers. The soldiers guarding the shelter rooftop fell one by one, and when there was no danger, he threw his sniper gun back.
As the helicopter lowered its altitude to the rooftop, the members jumped straight from the helicopter to the shelter. Since the rope connected to the helicopter only supported up to a certain height, they had to remove the automatic hook hanging from their waists before they could settle on the rooftop.
As Kwak Soo-hwan gestured, the remaining helicopters dispersed and the 1st helicopter began to rush toward the shelter. At that moment, the front of the helicopter shattered the glass window, and there was an earthquake-like shaking underfoot. A huge noise that shook the shelter and a gunshot was felt. Lieutenant Cha gave the okay sign, saying that Chang-dae had landed safely.
Wiiing, wiiing, the emergency alarm was blaring from the shelter. Kwak Soo-hwan opened the rooftop door and covered the surrounding area while waiting for the rest of the team to get off.
Bang, taang! He avoided the soldiers firing their guns from below and placed his back next to the door. Bullets were fired here and there outside the open rooftop door. Kwak Soo-hwan only gestured down to Lieutenant Cha with his chin. When he put only the muzzle of the machine gun inside the door and fired, Lieutenant Cha started sniping the soldiers directly in front of the door. In the meantime, the mercenaries and team members were able to get off the helicopter, and as previously instructed, the 1st team entered the shelter first.
[Intruder, Intruder, Fire, Shelter 57th and 58th floors will be closed soon. Count 30, 29, 28.]
While maintaining a sniping stance and going down the stairs, Group 1 found a wounded major among the fallen soldiers. When he tried to pick up the gun, Lt. Col. Cha kicked him with his foot and knocked him down the stairs.
Traitor bastards.
Group 1 passed the major, who was coughing up blood while clutching his side, but a gunshot erupted behind them. When they turned around, the mercenary who had shot and killed the major raised his shoulder and then let it go.
“You can’t be lenient because we were the same family?”
“That’s right.”
Kwak Soo-hwan, who was supporting the rear, said to his men.
Kwak Soo-hwan followed the front team as they entered the 58th floor, and turned around while walking down the hallway. There’s nothing good to read to Mother. He stood facing the surveillance camera and pointed his gun at it. Then, without hesitation, he destroyed the surveillance camera.
The agents and mercenaries opened the doors of each conference room, supply room, and auditorium on the 58th floor and randomly shot the rebellious generals. Among them, those who raised the white flag, saying they had no intention of fighting, were half dead and half alive. If the mercenaries found them first, they were killed, and if Kwak Su-hwan’s unit found them first, they were captured. That’s why we put our unit in the forward unit, but there was no way around it.
Since the 57th and 58th floors were closed off according to Mother’s judgment, no other soldiers were visible besides the cleared soldiers. Finally, Group 1 surrounded the remaining master room, and Groups 2 and 3 covered the left and right.
“Prepare to aim.”
At Kwak Su-hwan’s order, Group 1’s machine gun aimed at the bulletproof glass window of the master room.
“Fire.”
Tututuk, tututuk! The sound of bullets being fired one after another echoed through the hallway. Bulletproof glass didn’t break, but rather split like car windows. When the cracks reached a certain level, the glass door would fall off if an impact was applied. After Group 2 replaced the bullets with new ones and at least two hundred rounds were fired, the glass finally began to crack.
[Level 1 emergency, the first entrance to the master room will collapse soon.]
This time, Mother was a beat late. The first door had already collapsed and the second bulletproof magic mirror was on the verge of breaking. When the glass cracked, the faces of Group 1 soldiers reflected in it also split as if they had been shattered. When Kwak Su-hwan stopped firing, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the bullets rolling around. He ordered everyone to step back and kicked the cracked glass two or three times. Crack, crack. A strange sound was leaking out through the gap.
Whoosh, a hand came out of the round hole. Blood dripped from his scratched forearm onto the floor. It was bizarre how he shook his fingers wildly as if trying to grab something. Suddenly, his arm came off and red eyes appeared through the hole. The men and mercenaries gulped.
“Fuck, what is that? Captain.”
It was definitely Adam. Kwak Su-hwan looked back at his men and gave them orders.
“Everyone, step back. Prepare to fire.”
The sound of guns being loaded was heard one after another. At that moment, the door burst open. Generals in uniforms started running out, screaming.
“Kill them all!”
The muzzle blew fire and bullets were fired fiercely. Adam’s momentum as he rushed forward, his entire body turning into a honeycomb, was tremendous. Everyone, from the captain to the brigadier general, had mutated into Adam.
Kwaaaaaah! Kwak Su-hwan blocked the general’s path, who was splattering blood, and instead covered himself in blood and crushed his skull.
“Fuck! Mercenary Needle, aren’t you aiming at the head properly?!”
He put the general’s body in front and shot Adam’s head pouring out with his pistol. How long was he in there?
“Don’t bite me!”
“Anyway, it’s a vaccine,”
“Just keep your mouth shut and kill me!”
Corpses piled up at the entrance and blood spread through their boots. Adam was at least twenty. Fortunately, since he was jumping out of the door, his path was clearly read. Kwak Soo-hwan stepped over the corpses and entered the Master’s room to confirm the kill. The floor was soaked with drinks and water spilled from broken cups, as if they had just been having a meeting.
. Of course, Choi Ho-eon was not seen among the corpses. He looked around and headed to the study where the books were. He pulled out all the books inside and found the recognition pad. When he put his hand on it, a red light flashed.
[Security cannot be deactivated, security level is low.]
Choi Ho-eon's bastard must have been in there too and escaped through the panic room.
"You little rat."
Lieutenant Cha gritted his teeth in place of Kwak Su-hwan.
"Captain!"
Kwak Su-hwan ran back to the entrance at the urgent shout of Moon-gil outside.
"Adams are coming! The emergency exit is open!"
Kwak Su-hwan and Lieutenant Cha also joined the hallway and thrust their guns. Adams began to rush in like evil spirits from the open emergency exit. Doo doo doo! It wasn't easy to accurately aim at the heads of the Adams who were running towards him. Some of them even ran up to his nose. The numbers on the elevator display boards, 34, 35, 36, also began to change in an instant.
[Level 1 emergency lifted, all floor emergency exits opened. Elevator operation normalized. Mother manages the opening and closing of the elevators on each floor unless they are manually operated.]
Mother’s broadcast was mixed with the gunshots.
“It’s going to turn.”
Kwak Soo-hwan wiped away the blood. He snatched the radio from the mercenary in charge of communications.
“Team 5, Team 6, go down to the first floor of the shelter right now and close all the doors! Block the Adams from getting out!”
[Roger, move.]
He gave orders to the rest of the teams.
“We’re also moving to the rooftop. I’ll support the rear, so go up starting from Team 1.”
The team members began to retreat toward the rooftop emergency exit, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, the Adams poured out once again. When the machine gun bullets ran out, he smashed Adam’s head with the buttstock as he rushed toward him.
“Captain! Come up!”
Kwak Soo-hwan shouted without looking back at Lieutenant Cha’s shout.
“Just go, you punk!”
Kwak Soo-hwan tried to close the emergency exit door, but it wouldn’t close because Mother had forced it open. Even if he could close it with force, it would be useless if it wasn’t locked.
“Why are you fighting this alone?”
The mercenary who had killed the major earlier smirked. The bastard fired his gun at Adam next to Kwak Soo-hwan.
“I told you to come up?”
When he turned around, he saw a long wound on his cheek. You, you punk. Before he could even say that, Adam, who had crawled in with his shoulder shattered, bit the bastard’s leg.
“Ugh, fuck!”
The bastard repeatedly kicked Adam’s head. Now, there were no more Adams running towards him besides those trying to crawl on the floor. Instead, the elevator was going down again. Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the mercenary who was trying to go up to the rooftop by the collar and dragged him. When he pulled up his pants, there was a clear blood stain from where Adam had bitten him.
“What!”
The guy resisted nervously and tried to go up again.
“Wait a minute.”
“What?”
“Because I got bitten.”
“I got vaccinated too?”
“When did you get the wound on your cheek?”
Kwak Soo-hwan asked while grabbing his collar, and blood began to drip down the back of his hand. The guy was bleeding from his nose.
Huh? The mercenary wiped the blood flowing from his nose as if he couldn’t believe it.
“… … What is this?”
“Vaccine.”
The mercenary looked at Kwak Soo-hwan with confused eyes. The whites of his eyes were turning red.
You guys were lying to me? Before he could even say that, he vomited blood like it was gushing out. Kwak Soo-hwan threw the guy to the floor and aimed his pistol. He now clearly understood why he had been feeling uneasy since the moment he found the Adams of the shelter. These Adams all seemed to be new mutant Adams.
Bang! Kwak Soo-hwan cut off the mercenary’s windpipe with one blow. He pressed his forehead with the hand holding the pistol.
Choi Ho-eon… … .
He tried to suppress the scream that was on the verge of bursting out from inside him.
[Elevator opening.]
The elevator that had gone down opened again, and several Adams in uniforms made a groaning sound. Since there was no stimulation, the elevator door carrying the guys closed again. Kwak Soo-hwan forcefully pulled the iron door of the emergency exit closed. If we can’t stop this shelter, Rainbow City might be destroyed this time. First, we have no choice but to destroy the Mother System inside the shelter. He quickly ran up the stairs and came out onto the rooftop.
He took out the walkie-talkie in his back pocket and radioed to Groups 5 and 6.
“Have you finished closing the entrance?”
[Yes, we’ve blocked all the entrances that can’t be closed with vehicles.]
“Move to Point P right now before the city reinforcements arrive.”
Point P meant Donggeomdo, an island above Yeongjongdo.
[Detect, move.]
“You all move to Point P. And if you find Adam anywhere, kill him immediately and never let him go.”
“Isn’t the captain going?”
“I’ll join you later.”
He wiped the blood off the approaching Lieutenant Colonel, telling him not to come any further.
The Mother Control Room was on the second basement floor, so he had to go down there. Sure enough, he could see a helicopter flying in from far away. Our enemy and Rainbow City's support force.
"Lieutenant Cha, if you take control of the shelter, we'll broadcast it, so don't miss it."
"Yes, Captain."
Lieutenant Cha handed over a newly loaded submachine gun and a pistol and boarded the helicopter without delay. The 2nd team noticed that one mercenary was missing, but they didn't bother to look for him. They couldn't risk their lives to save one person who might be alive or dead.
Kwak Soo-hwan also saw our helicopter leave Yeouido and went back down to the shelter. He saved his bullets by destroying Adam who was rushing towards him with his own strength. He stood in front of the elevator and pressed the button to go down. The transparent button was covered in blood. The numbers on the electronic board changed in an instant and headed towards the 58th floor.
[58th floor, open.]
Kwak Soo-hwan laughed in vain as soon as the door opened. The Adams that filled it reached out like demons as soon as they found a living human. The narrow box was filled with gunshots, and the sound of bones breaking continued. His heavy breathing also continued.
***
Seokhwa couldn't make a sound and just kept his eyes wide open. No matter how strong he was, he was still human. He was someone who would die if he was seriously injured. It was too hard to look at the screen, but he couldn't take his eyes off, so he checked his movement path one by one.
Since Mother here only had screen transmission and message transmission functions, he waited for him to reach an area where he could receive messages. After taking Adam's body out, he got on the elevator and went down somewhere. If Choi Ho-eon had remained in the shelter, his location could have been discovered, but Seokhwa couldn't stay silent.
He tapped on the keyboard to send him a message. His hands kept failing, so he had to press down on each letter.
He hoped that he would quickly look at the internal screen above the elevator button while he was checking the gun.
"Is it still a new adam in the shelter?" The pupils of the pupils were taken back. Choi Ho -eon is not able to see the shelter. Is this a trap?]
He felt him frown. He could easily have thought it was a trap. Seokhwa quickly wrote a message that only he and he could understand.
“The musk deer smelled good. I wonder if the other one is doing well?”
He turned around to look at the camera as he stood facing the screen.
[I almost got in trouble. I was on my way to see Mother George, and I almost missed Dr. Seok.]
Kwak Soo-hwan smiled at Seokhwa and drew a heart above his head. My heart pounded because I knew he was definitely trying to reassure me.
[Is it a bit much to confess your love while covered in blood? Are you okay? I’m not crazy because I miss you so much, am I?]
Seokhwa barely suppressed her throbbing heart. She started writing another message before it was too late.
“I’m not on Udo right now, Major.”
He pressed the emergency button to stop the elevator.
“If Adams come out of the shelter, there will be chaos. Right now, Owl and Owl are mass-producing the vaccine. I can’t tell you the location because my message could be hacked.”
[Is Dr. Seok in a safe place? Is he healthy?]
“He’s in a safe place. I’m fine, and I miss you too.”
Seokhwa wrote down what he wanted to say the most at the end. After reading the message, he lightly touched the screen with his forehead and then pulled it away. It felt as if his body temperature was touching him.
[Dr. Seok, you said you couldn’t see Choi Ho-eon? If that bastard brought the new Adam virus out, it wouldn’t be solved by just blocking this shelter. That’s why he has to be here too. There’s a panic room in the master room, so I think Choi Ho-eon is still in the shelter. He probably opened up the entire floor to escape.]
If you think about it, there’s no way Mother would have opened up the entire floor in a level 1 crisis situation. Someone must have accessed the security system and manipulated it.
[I’ll go down to the 2nd basement floor and shut down the Mother system. Then I won’t be able to receive messages?]
“That’s right.”
Since Mother and Mother are connected and can transmit, if one side is cut off, no more messages can be sent. Suddenly, blood dripped down onto the desk. The nosebleed had started again. Seokhwa quickly covered his nose with a cloth.
[We’re going to shut down the shelter first, but there must be an ally who knows the exact location of Dr. Seok, right?]
Seokhwa took his hand off his nose and quickly typed on the keyboard.
“Two people.
」
Seokhwa clenched and unclenched his fist as he felt like saying that he was in the party. It would be bad to reveal his location to the enemy. Seokhwa hoped that Yang Sanghoon and Jo Woon, who had gone up to the mainland, would definitely make contact with him. If he had written just three letters, he would have been able to easily find where he was, but he was frustrated by the reality that he couldn’t.
[I said I would come in three days, but I’m sorry I couldn’t keep that promise.]
He started the elevator again, wondering if he couldn’t delay any longer.
He had never had anything to be sorry about. The anger that had been suppressing him finally burst out, so he wrote another message, but the elevator door opened. He grabbed Adam’s head as he rushed inside, slammed it into the floor, and stomped on it with his combat boots.
I’ll be there soon. With those words, he left the box and started running down the underground hallway.
Seokhwa changed the screen and looked for the surveillance cameras on the second basement floor. Unfortunately, they were all blacked out. The elevator lights were blinking, and the last message I wrote just kept turning off and on on the screen.
It was okay if he didn’t see it. My feelings, which were the same as his, could be conveyed in words. Seokhwa turned around and quickly walked to the lab in the separated container. He measured the temperature of my body, which was bleeding from my nose, and checked the current time and body temperature on the board. According to statistics, my body temperature when I was bleeding from my nose was higher than usual. Seokhwa looked closely at the mice in the cage. Fortunately, there were mice in our facility, even though there were no people. Captain Kim had a hard time catching them, though.
All the mice exposed to my blood were infected with the Adam virus and suffered from bleeding as well. However, the difference from the original Adam was that their physical movements stopped sooner. The mice died in less than half a day. Normal viruses don’t want their hosts to die quickly. So does this mean that the new Adam virus doesn’t consider humans or animals as its hosts?
Then the hosts… … .
I came to the conclusion that it was only me. The virus had mutated in my body, so there was a good chance.
Suicide.
That scary word flashed through my mind. If I died, wouldn’t the virus no longer spread?
“Dr. Smart! Come out!”
The old man called Seokhwa from outside. This lab was a dangerous area, so even the old man couldn’t enter without permission.
“I’ll be out in 30 minutes.”
Seokhwa took off his gloves and went into the shower room that was changing seawater into freshwater. He lowered his head and opened his eyes, getting splashed with cold water on his head.
I don’t know how many samples Choi Ho-eon has, but there’s no guarantee that an infected person can last more than a day.
The higher the fatality rate, the shorter the infection route, so if he succeeds in removing the virus from his body, he could also prevent the infection of the new mutant Adam virus.
Seokhwa, whose nosebleed had stopped, came out naked and checked his body temperature again. As expected, the nosebleed stopped because the body temperature had dropped. Since the frequency of bleeding had decreased significantly compared to before, Seokhwa couldn’t control the virus inside me. In addition, my hemoglobin level was currently approaching normal. When I checked my blood every hour, the movement of the mutant virus also showed signs of slowing down.
However, the virus inside me was still infectious… … .
Suddenly, I raised my head. After removing all the moisture from my body and changing into new clothes, I checked the lab one last time. Seokhwa opened the door of the container where the old man was at a faster pace than usual.
“Old man.”
Old man wrinkled his nose as he watched the screen transmitted from the shelter’s camera.
“What, did you catch Gwak Gahan’s tone? Do you think I’m crazy inside?”
All the cameras covering the Yeouido Shelter had completely blacked out. It seemed like Gwak Su-hwan had successfully shut down the mother system. He was a step too late. Seokhwa spoke from a distance away from the old man.
“I need the Major’s blood.”
While kissing, his blood was exposed anywhere on his body, so he was likely infected. However, there was no reaction from Kwak Soo-hwan. Kwak Soo-hwan was an evolved human who could not be a host for the virus and could neutralize the existing virus. Maybe Kwak Soo-hwan could act as a vaccine for me now. If he were the only host for this new mutant virus.
When the dormant Adam virus woke up from the vaccine and started bleeding from his body, Choi Ho-eon transfused red blood cells.
Perhaps the first bleeding was a kind of resistance mechanism for my body to overcome the virus. As proof of this fact, I have not mutated into Adam until now. When I was infected with the Adam virus in Gwacheon, I was able to regain consciousness only after suffering from a high fever. Rather, the blood transfusion caused an even more severe rejection reaction. But whose red blood cells did I receive… … . Could it be Choi Ho-eon?
That wasn’t the important thing right now. Seokhwa tapped his temple and began to calmly tell his old man what he had been thinking a little while ago. The old man, who had been nodding his head several times while listening to the story, snickered. As soon as Seokhwa finished talking, he got up from his chair.
“That hypothesis makes sense. But the premise is wrong.”
“Huh?”
“Gwakga is the last mutant, but Dr. Seokhwa is also a mutant. If I were a criminal like him, I would have mutated the moment I was infected with the Adam Virus. But look at the doctor. He’s still human.”
The old man walked to the desk across from him and took out a note and put it on. He was also checking Seokhwa’s temperature. And that was from Russia. Seokhwa’s temperature had been dropping slightly since he received his first blood transfusion from Gwak Su-hwan.
“Why does Gwakga have a lower temperature than others? It’s because it’s advantageous for Gwakga to protect his own body.”
“If your body temperature is low, your immunity will actually decrease even more.”
“Huh, if your immune system is strong, you won’t get the Adam Virus? If you think about it that way, you can overcome MERS, Ebola, cholera, and all kinds of diseases. No matter how strong your immune system is, humans can still get sick from a cold. Why is the doctor, who has such a high body temperature, still groaning?”
Humans maintain the most basic body temperature of 36.5 degrees, but Kwak Su-hwan maintained around 34 degrees and Seok-hwa generally maintained around 38 degrees.
“I thought the doctor’s high body temperature wouldn’t help with mutant evolution, so that’s why Kwak-ga became like that.”
Somehow, the old man looked at Seok-hwa with pity.
“Dr. Tol-tol’s body temperature is changing right now. Since he’s been fine so far, I can only assume that he’s starting to develop resistance to the mutant virus. It also means that the doctor is not the host, but the vaccine itself that can eradicate the Adam Virus. In other words, this is the final evolution of the Adam Virus. Doesn’t the high mortality rate already tell you that?”
Seokhwa looked down at the inspiration note and muttered.
“Does Choi Ho-eon know about the high fatality rate?”
“He’s Won-ho’s son, and he’s a doctor too. Even though all my other guys are like that, Won-ho is the only one who can’t get along. I heard he even put my own child on the experimental set. Then you should take revenge on my father. Why are you trying to ruin the poor city?”
“Choi Ho-eon… … . doesn’t resent Dr. Won-ho.”
Thinking back on his memories from Busan, Choi Ho-eon actually felt affectionate toward Won-ho.
“Well, what does resentment mean? I’ve seen a few young guys who were used as test subjects, but those poor guys didn’t even have resentment. To be exact, they lacked emotions. It’s a shame, but since he became a Master, I can’t just leave him alone. He’ll definitely bet his life on what my father couldn’t accomplish. That must have been his reason and purpose for living.”
Tsk tsk, the real crazy doctor clicked his tongue, saying that they were mutant researchers.
I don’t know what kind of experiment Wonho conducted on Choi Ho-eon. But that didn’t make me feel any pity. Choi Ho-eon might want to compensate for his lack of family, but my family was only my mother and Kwak Su-hwan.
“Mister.”
“Stop talking like that! I don’t want to hear you.”
“Grandpa.”
The old man opened his mouth wide.
“Choi Ho-eon will try to find me. He’ll think I’m the host of this mutant virus, and he’ll try to block the development of a vaccine. But if what you said is true, my infectivity will disappear soon.”
“The bleeding is decreasing day by day, and the activity of the mutant virus is also decreasing. If this is the case, it’ll be resolved in a day or two.”
Seok-hwa stood facing the screen that had turned completely black. I was so pathetic, just hoping that Kwak Soo-hwan would be safe here.
[Ah… … . That was the coordinate.]
Seok-hwa and Yeong-gam looked back at the screen at the same time. The screen was still black, but it was a voice coming from the Yeouido Shelter.
[Dr. Seok-hwa, I think you solved the coordinates left by Second.]
That leisurely voice was definitely Choi Ho-eon’s.
Has Mother returned to normal? Could it be that Kwak Soo-hwan told Choi Ho-eon… … .
Seok-hwa quickly changed the screen with his hands, thinking about a situation he didn’t even want to think about. No matter how many other screens he searched, the shelter was still shrouded in darkness.
[Doctor, listen carefully. You have to run away quickly. Lee Hee-chan sent mercenaries to kill Dr. Seok-hwa. They got the news that Dr. Seok-hwa was the host of the mutant Adam virus.]
Crack, crack. Perfect silence fell along with the sound of the speaker exploding.
***
The second basement floor, the Mother System control room, was like a giant firefly graveyard. The servers lined up in the control center were blinking green and red lights.
Kwak Soo-hwan, shining his flashlight around, checked the cables the thickness of a human torso connecting to the ceiling. He set out to find a way to forcefully close all the doors in the shelter. As a wanted person, he did not have the authority to access the Mother System, but there must have been a part somewhere where he could manually manage the shelter. Even though it was an artificial intelligence, it was not perfect, so Mother always had to go through human hands.
The moment he turned his flashlight, something in the shape of a human disappeared into the darkness. Kwak Soo-hwan turned his flashlight in that direction again. Only a server as tall as him was spinning.
He was going. He pulled out all the cables hanging from the server and ran to where Inyoung had passed earlier.
Beep, beep, beep-
The alarm system rang for an outside intrusion. He clearly ran this way, but there was no outsider. Instead, he found a square box hanging on the wall. It looked like a normal circuit breaker, but it was bigger. He fired the pistol he was holding, smashed the lock, and ripped off the metal plate. All the switch buttons for each zone were turned ON. When Kwak Soo-hwan quickly lowered it to OFF mode, the alarm system rang again.
[Switching to manual mode. Switching to manual mode. We are now entering shelter closure.]
As soon as he confirmed the notification that the shelter was closing, he started pulling out or cutting the wires connected to the server with a knife. Sparks flew from the cut wires and electricity flowed sharply.
[Server abnormality detected. Urgent maintenance is required.]
Kwak Soo-hwan started to destroy the control room while going around the huge 2nd basement floor, and the fire started to spread along the wires that were struggling like a snake with its head cut off. Finally, he fired a submachine gun at the ceiling cable the size of a snake's body to disconnect it.
[Server control function lost. All systems in the shelter will now be switched to manual, crackle.]
Mother's voice echoing through the basement was no longer heard after that. The machine started to explode with a bang in the flames. He couldn't delay any longer. He took a deep breath, puffing out his lungs, and ran toward the entrance. The hot flames behind him lit the way, so his vision was unobstructed, but as soon as he turned the corner to the door, he aimed his pistol. A man with hunched shoulders was standing at the door, banging his head against it. The man was naked.
He looked like Adam because he couldn't open the door, but he couldn't shoot his gun right away because there was no reaction. Kwak Soo-hwan ran straight to grab the guy by the neck.
“What is this?”
The place where the pupil should have been was wide open. Rather than forcibly digging out the eyeball, only traces of the vitreous body flowing out remained as if it had melted.
“… … is the beginning of evolution, but I can’t find the way.”
The whispering voice had no strength at all, so I wondered if this would be what a corpse would say if it spoke. Kwak Soo-hwan left the server room holding the naked man. The hot heat soon heated up the iron door, and since the mother had switched to a manual system, the sprinkler didn’t even think about working. He grabbed the back of his neck and trudged up the stairs instead of the elevator.
Tsk, he clicked his tongue. Adam wouldn’t have been able to speak, so I wondered what this strange appearance was.
“Where did you come from, kid?”
“… … A very deep hole… … ?”
At a glance, Kwak Soo -hwan, who was not able to see the conversation, was annoyed by the man's body. Fortunately, I had no choice but to put it down. If you are going to go out, you will be able to deal with the ankle when Kwak Soo -hwan moved. He raised his head, but he didn’t know where he was looking because he had no eyes. Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the man’s nape.
“Where is that bastard?”
“Pain… … . He said it was the beginning of evolution. Eve said she would make everyone happy. Then when can I die?”
He could have pushed the rambling bastard away, but Kwak Soo-hwan made up his mind differently. He cut off the urge to tell him to stop talking nonsense and just talk about Choi Ho-eon. Having been in the military for a long time, he often saw crazy people like this, and they were usually those suffering from the aftereffects of torture. This guy looked close to that.
“We wait for Eve. Adam tests us. Are you Eve, the savior?”
The man lifted his head like a sheep obediently giving up its neck. It sounds like salvation. Eve was originally the name of a vaccine put out by a pharmaceutical company.
“You, Choi Ho-eon made this, right? “I’ll take revenge, so tell me where you are.”
It was more effective to coax someone like this than to threaten them.
“The savior who will end my suffering. I want to stop hurting now.”
The man put his finger in my empty eye and swung it. Even though it was Kwak Soo-hwan, I frowned. After hearing a sloshing sound, something came out from inside.
“I… … . I’m the last one. We’re all dead. I was just waiting for the moment when everyone could get out. Dr. Kim… … . Dr. Kim is bad. Dr. Kim! He tricked us! Ahhh!!! I shouldn’t have been fooled. I should have endured it even if I was hungry!”
The man who was having a seizure covered his eyes with his hand without even shedding a tear. The Dr. Kim he was talking about was probably a subordinate of Serpent and a researcher who committed suicide in front of me. He was the one who gave the Adam Virus to the boy who was a member of the Eden Church. It was unfortunate, but Kwak Soo-hwan thought that there was nothing left to save and got up. Then the man handed something he had pulled out of his eye to Kwak Soo-hwan. The thing in the man’s hand was a small ampoule container.
“This is the last thing that came out of the lab. There’s nothing else that can hurt us.”
“The lab was in this basement?”
Kwak Soo-hwan asked, looking down at the ampoule he received.
“It’s no use screaming for help. You stood on us, laughing, enjoying, enjoying everything. No, you’re not at fault. I’m sorry. No! You’re still at fault! I said that not knowing is also a sin!”
Kwak Soo-hwan tightly wrapped his hand around the glass container. Only then did he realize that the darkness under the lamp was real. This was the reason why Choi Ho-eon couldn’t let go of the Yeouido Shelter. The man was a survivor from the snake pit that the guy had dug.
The reason why Dr. Kim couldn’t easily notice that he was a member of the Garden of Eden was because the guy had never acted strangely outside the shelter. There was probably no need for him to go out in the first place. The experiment must have taken place right here in the basement of the Yeouido Shelter.
The day we were supposed to make contact with Serpent and the day the poor boy chose to become Adam himself, the reason why the Adam infection could have occurred in the Yeouido Shelter was because the infected people were sent up from here.
The start was most likely Wonho, who had been staying at this shelter for a long time.
“Major Kwak Soo-hwan is using you.”
The man suddenly jumped up from his seat and grabbed Kwak Soo-hwan’s shirt. He grabbed his bony wrist and twisted it, wondering how this punk knew my name.
“Ugh, the host of the new mutant Adam virus is none other than Dr. Seok-hwa. Major Kwak Soo-hwan will kill everyone in order to cover up the truth.”
He was imitating the polite but indifferent tone of someone.
“What did you just say, you punk?”
Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the back of his neck. The man whose face quickly turned pale barely managed to spit out his voice.
“Dr. Seokhwa… … . is in our office right now. Serpent said it all. He’s going to… … . kill the Savior.”
Ugh, the man spread his hands out again and covered his eyes.
Was Choi Ho-eon in the Mother System Control Room? No, if he was, there was no way we wouldn’t have met. Given the timeline, that bastard would have gone down first and opened up the shelter completely. He jumped up, knowing that he might have escaped the shelter by now.
Kwaaang! The shelter shook as if struck by lightning with a loud explosion. He could then hear the sound of an engine rapidly approaching the underground parking lot. The man crawled on the ground like a bug and covered his ears. Kwak Su-hwan aimed his gun at a jeep that was coming down, leaving skid marks. The jeep stepped on the brakes and stopped a few meters away. The guy who stuck his head out the window shouted.
“You idiot! What are you doing now!”
Taang, a bullet passed by Kwak Su-hwan and the familiar sound of a watermelon exploding was heard. The one who shouted was Yang Sang-hoon, but the one who fired the gun was Jo Woon in the passenger seat.
He slowly lowered his gaze and saw the man who had fallen back with empty eyes. He tightly shut his lips and leaned down to close the man’s eyelids. The skin had only sunk once, revealing his empty eyes again.
“That crazy bastard! Are you offering a sacrifice to Adam right now? Don’t you want to get in quickly?!”
Looking at the blood that had hardened under his eyes on his naked body, it was easy to mistake him for Adam. Yes, he would have died anyway even if he had just left him alone. Kwak Su-hwan tried to shake off his emotions and ran to the jeep. When Jo Woon moved to the back seat, Kwak Su-hwan sat in the passenger seat.
“Were there any Adams outside?”
“No?”
“City Army?”
“They must be moving. All the helicopters are flying down.”
Choi Ho-eon’s confidence that he had successfully escaped grew stronger.
“But aren’t you surprised that I’m here? Why are you reacting like this?”
“We have to get there before Choi Ho-eon. Let’s go, Dr. Seok.”
“That’s what I came here to tell you anyway. Hey! Dr. Seok,”
“We’re going to the party office, so let’s start first, kid.”
He put the glass container in his chest pocket. Yang Sang-hoon glanced at him while driving, wondering how the party office knew.
“Did you contact the doctor?”
“Lee Hee-chan might have sent someone to the party office.”
‘But you, are you trying to fool me again? Don’t hit me in the back of the head this time?’
Her worries soon became reality. Kwak Soo-hwan didn’t tell Seok-hwa the truth about what had happened to his body. There was nothing good to say, and if it was Lee Hee-chan that I knew, he would have been able to eliminate the stone that could have been a danger to the city.
“Then isn’t that fortunate?”
“He must have ordered the killing of Dr. Seok.”
Damn it, Yang Sang-hoon, who thought it was a big deal, increased the speed of the jeep.
The iron bars of the underground parking lot gate had been smashed with a grenade. In addition, the fire was slowly spreading upward from the underground, and the acrid smoke was beginning to eat away at the shelter.
“If we go by boat, it’ll be too late. Let’s go by helicopter.”
“Captain.”
Jo-woon, who was holding onto the back of the passenger seat from behind, interjected.
“This is what the doctor told me.”
Jo-woon held out a piece of paper that had been folded three times. When he quickly unfolded it, the cracked part was slightly torn.
[It’s me, Seok-hwa.]
The elevator message started similarly, and the beginning of the letter was also very Seok-hwa-like.
[Do you remember the promise we made in Russia? If we can’t meet, come to where the musk deer were. Live. We must.]
It was a word that aroused a stronger desire for life than the ‘live’ my mother had left behind. It was us, not me alone.
***
“Hey, Doctor Tol-tol.”
Choi Ho-eon’s voice clearly came from the Yeouido Shelter. However, he couldn’t confirm which floor he came from, and all communication with the shelter had been cut off. Since he said he escaped through the panic room, it’s possible that Kwak Soo-hwan couldn’t chase him. Then, is Kwak Soo-hwan safe?
‘Doctor, listen carefully. We have to run away quickly. Lee Hee-chan sent mercenaries to kill Dr. Seok-hwa.’
Should we just believe that?
“Seok-hwa!”
Seok-hwa suddenly came to his senses at the old man’s shout.
“You don’t believe that guy, do you? He only mentioned the coordinates, but he didn’t tell us exactly where the party is. Do you know what I mean? And why would the emperor penguin want to kill you?”
In short, it could be another trap.
“There’s a good chance he was trying to sow discord. Choi Ho-eon knows that I am the host of the new Adam virus.”
The coordinates of the party were clearly on the phone that Second left behind. Choi Ho-eon only asked if the coordinates had been released, but did not mention the exact location as the old man had said. Does that mean that Choi Ho-eon does not know my location? That was not the case. He could not rule out the possibility that he had found this place through the connected Mother.
“Old man, we need to move.”
“Where to?”
“The vaccine development method has already been transmitted to all shelters, so our work here is done. In a day or two, the owls and the owls will also distribute the vaccines they have made. For now, all that is left is for me, the host of the new Adam, to disappear.”
As soon as he arrived here, he was the first to spread the vaccine development method. The owls and researchers from the owl family who remained in the local shelters such as Gwacheon began development with the support of their families. They also became rebels as Rainbow City called them, but in other words, they were righteous people. Since he had received the randomly distributed vaccines in advance, he could be sure that the city was full of lies. And the rumor that the Allied Forces had collapsed was being spread throughout the city by the soldiers.
“The new Adam has already spread to the shelter! Then isn’t it already too late?”
Kwak Soo-hwan clearly said that he would close the shelter. That’s why Seok-hwa trusted Kwak Soo-hwan.
“Let’s leave the island together. We have to burn down the entire island.”
The old man was dissatisfied, saying that he was being fooled by a three-inch tongue, but Captain Kim’s thoughts were the same as Seok-hwa’s.
Captain Kim poured oil into five containers one by one. Seok-hwa also received an oil can and headed to his laboratory. All the infected mice in the cages were dead, but he thoroughly sprayed oil on them as well.
Seok-hwa took the notebook and cell phone that the old man had given him and put his backpack on. He went out of the container, lit a match, put it back inside, and quickly closed the door. The remaining containers were also engulfed in flames. Now, the entire small island would be put under quarantine, so we had to hurry and get out of here.
Captain Kim loaded up the military helicopter with fuel and started the engine.
“Doctor, where are we going?”
Although we would miss Kwak Soo-hwan again, he only hoped that Yang Sang-hoon and Jo Woon would make contact with him safely. He also wanted to believe the hypothesis that the virus in his body would subside in a day or two. Seok-hwa sat in the helicopter’s passenger seat and put on the headset. If Kwak Soo-hwan had been taking care of my safety from start to finish, now I had to survive on my own. That was my promise.
Seok-hwa unfolded the map of Rainbow City and pointed to a certain place. Our company was also located on the island, Haenam, the landmass.
“Haenam, you mean?”
“Haenam’s Dalmasan.”
He mentioned the place where Kwak Soo-hwan’s treasure vault was. The only safe place Seokhwa knew, living only in Jeju and the shelter, was the place he had been to with Kwak Su-hwan.
“Please drop me off at Mt. Dalma, and you, Captain, contact the Owl and the Owl Family with your old man to ensure their safety. The location of the place where they make the vaccine.”
Seokhwa marked an X on a certain area. An abandoned science research center near Seongnam. It was the place where he had previously planned to meet up with Kwak Su-hwan’s unit members there, but had returned in vain after being caught by Choi Ho-eon.
“According to the last contact sent from the Gwacheon Shelter, it is likely to be here. If there is no one at the science research center, Captain Kim.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
“You know the bunker where the Second Master was hiding?”
“Of course.”
Captain Kim remembered the location exactly because he owed Kwak Su-hwan his life there.
“Go to that bunker. Choi Ho-eon burned the inside, but it won’t be bad to hide for a while. And when the vaccines are all distributed, Choi Ho-eon will also be overthrown, so focus on the radio. If the regime change is successful, Emperor Penguin will likely be the first to take over the broadcasting.”
Captain Kim nodded, saying he understood, but then suddenly felt strange. He was a soldier in the city who followed the military’s orders. In the past, he would have ignored Dr. Heo Yeo-mul-geon’s orders, but now he felt like a reliable superior.
Seok-hwa checked to see if Yeong-gang had properly gotten into the back seat. Yeong-gang was carrying his backpack in front and fastening his belt. There were still a few vaccines left in that backpack.
“Let’s go now.”
“Hold on tight!”
Captain Kim began to rapidly increase the helicopter’s altitude. Flames swayed violently beneath the propellers that were blowing wildly in the wind. The island reached out its fiery fingertips as if to devour the departing helicopter. Seokhwa realized that the takeoff was complete when he felt the salty sea breeze fill his lungs.
If Yang Sanghoon and Jo Woon succeeded in making contact, Kwak Suhwan would come to Dangsado. Maybe a three-way battle between the Lee Heechan family, Kwak Suhwan, and Choi Ho-eon could break out on this small island. Kwak Suhwan might get seriously injured again trying to protect me. In that case, I, the biggest cause, should leave. I will be able to meet him safely once the vaccine is distributed and the Emperor Penguin takes power.
***
Same day, two hours later.
“What?”
Lee Heechan shouted into the speaker of the phone.
[Udo is a total ruin. Do you think it’s just Udo? Jeju Island is completely destroyed! The sky and sea routes are all blocked so the survivors can’t leave. What the hell is that bastard trying to do? Even Dangsado, which Mom mentioned, is completely burned down. How many times do I have to tell you!]
“Then what about Dr. Seokhwa? Did you find him?”
[There’s no trace of anyone there. Jeju Island, our headquarters, there’s no helicopter or ship!]
“Okay, okay, so calm down. You go back up to Seongnam and distribute the vaccines from the lab first.”
She hung up the phone and wandered around the military conference room. The Busan Shelter had already been taken over by the Emperor Penguin family, and the Mother System had also been completely shut down.
General Park, who was guarding the Busan area, had no choice but to take her hand because he expected the Emperor Penguin to take the high ground. He also had recently learned that the Allied Forces had collapsed, so he couldn’t easily recover from the shock. The city had also blindfolded the military leaders. More importantly, he had turned Jeju Island into a wasteland… … Choi Ho-eon had moved all the central organizations to the mainland and had done something outrageous.
His goal really seemed to be to destroy the city.
“Where the hell is that bastard Kwak Soo-hwan right now?”
The Yeouido Shelter was completely burned down and still burning, and contrary to concerns, no new Adams were found in the area. Those who had been moving to Point P under Kwak Soo-hwan’s instructions also joined here after hearing news that Busan Shelter had been taken over, but they were unable to meet the captain.
“Isn’t it true that Dr. Seok-hwa was taken by Choi Ho-eon?”
Lieutenant Colonel Cha approached Lee Hee-chan, who was feeling anxious. General Park and Lieutenant Colonel Cha were also in the military conference room.
“If Choi Ho-eon had kidnapped the doctor, Captain Kim and the Russian doctor’s bodies would have been somewhere, as well as our company. But there’s no trace of them.”
“It’s possible that those three people burned it themselves and fled.”
Lee Hee-chan nodded as he continued speaking.
It was true that Choi Ho-eon had sent a message. Before shutting down the Mother System, he had contacted Lee Hee-chan in Busan, saying that Seok-hwa was the host of the new mutant Adam virus. He also added that the location of the stone flower was also ours. Of course, Lee Hee-chan did not believe Serpent's words at face value.
If the stone flower was the host of the mutant virus, then Kwak Soo-hwan had lied about this fact, and she could easily have guessed that he was hiding something. Kwak Soo-hwan, who had been acting as a controller under the guise of debauchery, had never shown any obsession with anything. Even though mutants all have obsessive traits. Kwak Soo-hwan was obsessed only with stone flower. So even if Dr. Stone Flower was a threat, Lee Hee-chan had no intention of killing the doctor. He knew that turning Kwak Soo-hwan into an enemy would not bring any good results. Furthermore, he did not want to be fooled by Serpent's words.
"I have no choice but to risk my life right now."
If he made one mistake, all of my family members' heads would be cut off.
"I think they probably thought their location was discovered, so they quarantined the island and left. “If they knew that Busan Shelter had been taken over, wouldn’t the doctors join us?”
“If they had heard the broadcast. And who knows what kind of discord Choi Ho-eon might have tried to foment like he did to us?”
The radio broadcast in this area was currently being broadcast under the direction of Emperor Penguin. She was He turned up the volume of the radio that had been turned down.
[… … It is a wartime situation now. Citizens, please wait in your safe houses or hiding places. The vaccine with the Emperor Penguin mark is being distributed. As proud citizens of Rainbow City, we must face the truth. As of yesterday, the Allied Powers have collapsed and Rainbow City has entered the path of self-government. There is nothing to fear. With the distribution of the vaccine, freedom and peace can be restored. The current Master Choi Ho-eon hid the fact that the vaccine was developed in order to blind the citizens and seize wealth and power. We must no longer support those who are not worthy of being Masters. Proud citizens, do not leave your homes until the vaccine is safely distributed.]
The Allied Powers collapsed yesterday?
General Park looked at Lee Hee-chan with distrust. His eyes made it seem like this woman was the same as the previous leaders. She let out a sigh.
“General Park, sometimes it is more effective to tell a moderate lie than the perfect truth. If the truth that the Allied Forces disappeared a long time ago becomes known, there will be even greater chaos.”
At least I am different. I do not use Adam for personal gain. Lee Hee-chan tried to convey his intention firmly.
“I was tricked by that bastard Kwak Soo-hwan and used, but now that it has come to this, I have chosen to become the center of the center instead of becoming a lord of the border. I do not want Rainbow City to decline. If the city prospers, my family will prosper. Don’t you think so?”
“I joined you in order to save my life, but unless I eliminate the Master, chaos will continue.”
“No, General Park already knows. I am better than the existing Masters. And eliminating the Master is not my job.”
Lee Hee-chan smiled confidently, but inside he was hiding his anxiety. The person who would cut off Choi Ho-eon’s head was none other than Kwak Soo-hwan. I have no idea where that guy is or what he is doing.
“Even if all the generals except me were killed, there are still generals left. If an order is given from above, an all-out war will start among the soldiers, and that is what I am most worried about.”
The key figures in the military had lost their lives at the Yeouido Shelter.
General Park’s subordinates were moving up from Busan to take control of the shelters, but Seoul, where the S-Class was stationed, was the problem. The soldiers in each shelter were focused on defending the city, as if they had not yet received orders from Choi Ho-eon. If they took direct action, the city would become an uncontrollable mess.
“There is no way Kwak Soo-hwan wouldn’t know that. The fact that Choi Ho-eon’s orders haven’t been given until now means that Kwak Soo-hwan is squeezing him, right?”
“Listen! Aren’t you being too optimistic when things have been this way?”
“That is probably right, Hee-chan. As you know, it’s not someone else, it’s our captain.”
General Park glared at Lieutenant Colonel Cha with fierce eyes, but he did not back down.
“The foolish Second Master raised the tigers without even realizing that his lifeline was shrinking.”
“The General raised us. I owe him countless lives.”
“How dare you, Lieutenant Colonel!”
My head was already hurting, and this kind of war of nerves was just plain disgusting. Lee Hee-chan slammed the desk.
“General Park, if Choi Ho-eon falls from power, Lieutenant Colonel Cha, who helped me, could be promoted several ranks. He could even become a general. Honestly, General Park has quite a few selfish desires, right? Didn’t you sense something strange when Choi Ho-eon suddenly called you to Yeouido and stay here?”
General Park held his tongue because he had no way to refute. It was true that he knew that Emperor Penguin was distributing the vaccine, so he didn’t make a move rashly. Besides, wasn’t Lee Hee-chan the kind of person who would jump into a fight he would lose? I have experienced this for decades.
Just as Choi Ho-eon became the Master, the head of the city could change at any time, but Lee Hee-chan's family remained intact no matter who became the Master. That statement proved that the Emperor Penguin family had power and wealth beyond the Master.
Beep, beep, beep.
The landline phone in the military conference room began to ring. The three people's eyes turned to it, and Lee Hee-chan immediately snatched the receiver and picked it up.
When the Allied Powers were active, each city had to give up ownership of nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles in order to preserve humanity. Rainbow City also had no choice but to destroy a significant number of military weapons when it joined the Allied Powers.
If a nuclear war broke out between cities belonging to the Allied Powers, all that humanity had achieved would be in vain, and humanity's survival would be in jeopardy. Furthermore, the reason they had no choice but to crack down on weapons was human selfishness and impulsiveness.
In the early days of the Allied Powers, a Russian city general infected with Adam fired a large number of missiles at a city where the leader he considered a thorn in his side was located, just before committing suicide. Innocent people died, and Adam ran wild in the chaos. After that incident, the Allied Powers reorganized their military laws and ended up regressing. Since no military weapon could completely eliminate Adam, they prioritized the survival of humanity, and as a result, many weapons of mass destruction disappeared.
[… … Emperor Penguins Safely Protect Busan and Daegu Shelters We succeeded in developing a vaccine.]
They were driving a jeep to the helicopter. Kwak Soo-hwan, who received the steering wheel from Yang Sang-hoon, swore at the helicopter that was gradually gaining ground. Choi Ho-eon might be inside, and the helicopter was likely to be moving towards Dangsado. To shoot down a helicopter from the ground, missiles or anti-aircraft guns were needed, but they also had to be in a position where they could fire.
If they flew from here to Dangsado, they would have to fill up with gas along the way, so it would take at least half a day.
“Are you connected to Gwacheon Shelter now?”
“Yes, you can connect via the jeep radio and the radio tower relay.”
Captain Jo-woon handed the radio over to Kwak Soo-hwan.
“Can you hear Gwacheon Shelter? It’s Kwak Soo-hwan.”
[Detection complete. Speak, Captain.]
Gwacheon Shelter was still controlled by several of Kwak Soo-hwan’s S-class unit members and Emperor Penguin mercenaries.
“From now on, shoot down all helicopters in the sky. Launch all of them except the emergency helicopters and chase the city military helicopters.”
[Copy comment.]
After putting the radio back in place, we drove to Gwangju’s 11 Green District. It was a military depot that managed military weapons after remodeling a place used as a university campus.
We could have boarded a helicopter somewhere else in the middle, but we had to avoid a mess by colliding with the helicopters at the Gwacheon Shelter. While the air battle was going on above, we drove the jeep like crazy using the land route. Damn it, two hours had already passed since we left the shelter.
I was worried about Seokhwa’s safety, so my head was on the verge of bursting, but I knew very well that I had to stay calm at times like this. Excitement ruins things. Nevertheless, the tendons on the back of my hand that was holding the steering wheel were bulging as if they were going to burst.
“Please confirm your identity! Stop the car!”
The guard post warned the city military jeep. Since he didn’t slow down, a soldier holding a loudspeaker came out and stood there himself. Kwak Soo-hwan stepped on the jeep and ran. Intruder, stop! With a shout, a bullet hit the jeep. He didn’t care and drove straight to the watchtower where bullets were flying.
Yang Sang-hoon and Captain Jo Woon also swung their guns at the watchtower, and as soon as they parked their car underneath it, they started running up the five-story tower. They had to take control of the watchtower first before they could take the helicopter out. Kwak Soo-hwan kicked the door open with his foot and fired a machine gun inside. Screams erupted along with the sound of bullets bouncing here and there. Yang Sang-hoon, who was protecting Kwak Soo-hwan, shouted at the soldiers closing in from the bottom of the stairs.
“If you don’t want to get killed, stay where you are! Think about it! Damn it! A vaccine has probably been developed. Don’t you know what’s happening? Where are the undisciplined bastards pointing guns at the controllers! Who’s the bastard in charge here!”
Yang Sang-hoon shouted and threw his military number down. A brigadier general with a pistol aimed at him appeared from below. He kicked the military number with his foot and raised his voice.
“Is the vaccine real? The Emperor Penguin took over the city, and the Master ran away, abandoning us?”
“That’s right! Are your ears clogged?! Everything you hear on the radio is real!”
While Yang Sang-hoon and Jo Woon were dealing with the guys, Kwak Su-hwan went into the watchtower and threw all the bullets and guns from the anti-aircraft gun down there. Then he picked up the receiver. There were phone numbers for each shelter on the wall, so he called Busan.
[Yes, go ahead.]
“Lee Hee-chan, if you’re at the shelter, change.”
He blurted out, thinking that if you’re not in Busan, you’ll call Daegu.
[Who are you?]
“I’m Major Kwak Su-hwan, so change Lee Hee-chan.”
He spoke quickly but threateningly.
[Connecting the call.]
As if he had been notified in advance, the other party connected the signal to Lee Hee-chan at the word Kwak Soo-hwan.
[Hello.]
“I’m here, Kwak Soo-hwan.”
[… … Oh my! Where are you, you punk?! Where are you and what are you doing!]
“Did you believe Choi Ho-eon’s words and send people to Dangsangdo to kill Dr. Seok?”
Lee Hee-chan was shocked when Kwak Soo-hwan pressed him.
[Are you kidding me? Do you think I’d fall for such a trick? And what does it matter whether it’s true or not? You and I are in the same boat anyway! Chae-yoon sent him to save Dr. Seok-hwa, but Jeju Island is a mess and Dangsangdo is completely burned down. There are no Dr. Seok’s party in there and I can’t see any city troops, so didn’t the doctor escape himself?]
Seok-hwa escaped Dangsangdo… … ?
[Where are you now!]
“We’ve successfully taken over the Gwangju 11 Green District Armory, so Yang Sang-hoon and Jo Woon will be left here. Send a few soldiers this way.”
[You’re going to go find the doctor? General Park has persuaded us, so you should come this way first,]
“Fuck, I ordered all the helicopters to be destroyed, so they must have moved by helicopter!”
Bam! A flash of lightning struck as if thunder was crashing down right in front of our eyes.
[What the… … .]
Lee Hee-chan couldn’t continue speaking on the other end of the phone. It was as if he was seeing exactly what Kwak Soo-hwan was seeing. A huge flame shot up into the sky from afar and sizzled down. The explosion must have been so strong that the sound of the explosion could be heard clearly from this distance.
[Captain Kwak… … . Now.]
“An explosion of unknown origin occurred at 3 o’clock in the 11 District Armory Watchtower. Send a fire suppression team.”
Kwak Soo -hwan is not only in the city. Kwak Soo -hwan murmured. Listen to Rainbow City's General Park, who is currently in Busan Shelter. At this moment, explosions have occurred at Eden Garden branches in each region. Our Gwangju area is no exception. The fire suppression support team must immediately move to the explosion site and kill Adam if found. Remember, Adam must never be among the citizens moving to the shelter. Also, all Eden Garden believers are subject to arrest.”
He grabbed his gun and ran down the stairs. Yang Sang-hoon was talking to the person in charge of the armory.
“Major Yang, the party trip is canceled. Soldiers will be coming from Busan to support you, so protect the armory. Form a fire suppression team and send Lee Hee-chan out. I misunderstood, so continue to cooperate and keep in touch.”
“Hey, you?”
At that moment, the phone rang on the watchtower. Jo-woon ran up instead of the two, and Kwak Soo-hwan continued.
“I think Dr. Seok and Captain Kim escaped from the party.”
“What?”
“I guess they thought their location was discovered.”
“Then shouldn’t we go to Busan after listening to the broadcast?”
“No, our Seok Doctor is a bit cautious.”
He smiled bitterly, saying that he wouldn’t. It was good to be cautious, but he had the absurd thought that it would be nice if he were less cautious today. Of course, Seokhwa wouldn’t completely trust Lee Heechan, so it was a completely empty thought. However, it didn’t seem likely that Seokhwa would have gone straight to Russia in the current situation.
If I were Seokhwa… … .
If he thought he was the host of the new mutant Adam virus, he would have definitely gone to a place where there were no people. A place that Seokhwa knew, a hideout close to Dangsado, and uninhabited.
“Haenam.”
“What?”
Before Yang Sanghoon could ask again.
“Captain!”
Jo Woon shouted from the watchtower. Kwak Soo-hwan looked up and saw Jo Woon pick up the receiver. If that guy was calling, it must have been an urgent call. He ran up to the watchtower in one go and took the receiver.
“This is Kwak Soo-hwan.”
[Kwak Ga! It's me, me! Oh my, I can't believe I'm in contact like this! I didn't know Kwak and you would be this happy.]
"Young Master?"
Kwak Soo-hwan also doubted his ears for a moment.
[Yes, it's me. The old master you're talking about. You shouldn't go to Kwak's party road.]
"Young Master, are you in Busan right now? Where's Dr. Seok?"
[No, we're in Mokpo right now. General Park's side has taken over here too. When I contacted the shelter, the emperor penguin gave me this number. We heard that Dr. Seok had taken over the Busan shelter while we were on our way to contact the owl and the owl. Dr. Seok told us to go separately because it would be dangerous if he was there, so Lee Hee-chan could eliminate me.]
"So where did you leave Dr. Seok?"
I couldn't stay calm at all.
[On the way, we were attacked by another helicopter. Captain Kim and I almost died. Captain Kim jumped out with me before the helicopter crashed, and Dr. Seok got out alone. I saw the parachute open safely… … . We got mixed up.]
“If Captain Kim is here, switch, quickly.”
The receiver was on the verge of breaking in Kwak Su-hwan’s hands.
[Major Kwak, this is Captain Kim. I was going to drop the doctor off at Mt. Dalma, but the helicopter crashed before that.
[I was hit.]
“Did you check who attacked you? Was it a helicopter with the Gwacheon Shelter mark?”
[No. It seemed to be a helicopter from Seoul. And the crash site is approximately 10km from Dalmasan. I jumped out of there after a short time, so I got separated from the doctor. I’m really sorry.]
Bam, he hung up the receiver and ran straight to the jeep without looking back.
“Hey! Kwak Soo-hwan!”
“I’m going to Haenam. I’ll contact you when I rescue Dr. Seok, so work with Lee Hee-chan.”
Since Seok-hwa had opened his parachute and jumped out before, he should have landed safely. If he hadn’t thought about it, his body would have burned to ashes in an instant. If it was Dalmasan, Seok-hwa might have been going up to his treasure trove right now. He thought he could hold out for quite a while since there was a certain amount of food and weapons inside. If he was lucky enough to get a vehicle, he would drive there, so Kwak Soo-hwan trusted Seok-hwa. Knowing that it wouldn’t be easy to find Seokhwa in a limited area or a wide land.
***
“Haa, haa.”
Seokhwa walked and walked, panting.
Had I ever sweated like this on my body? My clothes didn’t dry because of the sweat that flowed down.
After being attacked by a city helicopter, I jumped first, and later I saw Yeong-gang and Captain Kim escape, but I expected that I wouldn’t be able to join them because the distance by land would be quite different.
Seokhwa landed just in time near Mt. Dalma, but the mountain was much farther away than it looked. Seokhwa dragged his parachute and put it in a nearby abandoned house to hide his landing spot. The vines were entangled around the unrepaired signpost, making it even harder to find his way. Still, he walked and walked upward. His throat was so dry that his lips and tongue felt like they were splitting.
Seokhwa went into an abandoned country house and looked around. There was nothing to eat, but fortunately, there was a well. I ran over and looked down, and the well seemed to have dried up a long time ago, and there was no smell of water. How could I be this desperate when I face a mirage in the desert? I felt so helpless that I wanted to put everything down, lie down, and fall asleep. My legs were too heavy, and I had just had another nosebleed.
Now that the vaccine has been developed, wouldn’t the emperor penguins be able to take care of Rainbow City safely? I thought that if I fell asleep, everything would be easy. I lay on the floor and looked up at the sky, but I couldn’t see a single star. Dark clouds were gathering, trying to block out even the moon.
Seokhwa.
I heard Gwak Su-hwan’s voice. Even though I knew that it couldn’t be true, Seokhwa barely managed to get up from his sprawled body. He went over to the pump that was drawing up the groundwater and pumped it with all his might. After pumping it dozens of times, making me wonder where this energy came from, water began to pour out. Seokhwa poured the cold groundwater over himself. He gulped down water, then coughed and curled up.
Major, it’s so hard.
He forced himself to stop the faint sound from leaking out. Seokhwa went inside the house and began to search the floor covered in dust and trash. Gulp, he drank a handful of dust and found two usable plastic containers. He wiped the inside with water and filled it with groundwater and closed the lid. He put water in his backpack and moistened his mouth with water again. He wanted to fill his stomach with water, but he knew that if he drank too much, it would be difficult to walk.
Dark clouds gathered and completely covered the moon, making the surroundings extremely dark. He took out a flashlight and a pistol from his backpack and pointed them ahead, checking the markers several times. He walked and walked, hoping that no wild animals would attack him and that Adam was not here.
As he walked alone in a city where no one lived, an indescribable sense of loneliness came over him. It felt like I was the only one left in the world, and I wanted to point the gun at my head. Every time that happened, Seokhwa would turn on his phone, look at his photo album, and turn it off repeatedly. Even if he found a vehicle that still looked usable around him, it was useless. The car had already drained all its gas.
Seokhwa, who was walking while drinking water little by little, finally arrived at the entrance of the mountain. The hooting of an owl flowed down from the mountain, as if warning him not to enter the mountain. It’s okay, it’s just a bird anyway. It’s not like there are wolves roaming around like in Russia.
Seokhwa steeled his resolve and turned down the brightness of his flashlight to the lowest possible level. He was careful not to fall or roll while climbing the mountain, so his ascent was noticeably slow. It would have been enough to walk to the helipad in an hour, but since he was Seokhwa, it took at least two hours. He had no choice but to be careful, in case he got hurt and infected someone.
Did Kwak Soo-hwan hear the news? Was Lee Hee-chan really trying to kill him? Where is Choi Ho-eon? Seok-hwa rode the mountain, looking straight ahead without being able to organize his thoughts. Haa, he exhaled deeply and looked up to see a faint light coming out of the container.
“!”
As he shone the flashlight ahead, he saw Kwak Su-hwan’s container, which he thought he would never find. He wanted to run in one go, open the door, and stretch out to sleep. However, his legs moved slowly. When he saw the light coming on, it seemed that Kwak Su-hwan had found out before he did. Seok-hwa suddenly felt relieved and his breathing became faster. His eyes kept getting hotter, so he sprinkled water from the water bottle on his head.
Major, I’m here. Su-hwan. I’m here.
He wanted to call him, but his voice didn’t come out. Seok-hwa barely reached out and grabbed the doorknob of the container. At the same time, the rough engine sound could be heard in his deaf ears. Seok-hwa covered his eyes with his hands from the intense light of the jeep trampling the grass and climbing up.
Is it the city army? How did you know? It was when Seokhwa hurriedly turned the doorknob to open it.
“Seokhwa!”
His voice was clearly heard. However, it wasn’t inside the container. Seokhwa turned around in surprise and was able to find Kwak Su-hwan kicking the jeep out.
This time, it wasn’t a mirage, right?
Major, right?
“Get away from there right now! Get away from Dr. Seok, damn it!”
I don’t know why he was running towards me and getting angry. But that distorted face felt like it was about to cry. Seokhwa also wanted to run to Kwak Su-hwan, but now his body wouldn’t move. No, it was because someone was holding him back from behind.
The man holding Seokhwa was still smiling softly. The person inside the container was none other than Choi Ho-eon.
His sight and hearing, which had been wrapped in a single layer of film, began to return sharply. His throat, which was complaining of thirst, also felt a tingle. All senses were awakened to the point where the sweat running down Kwak Su-hwan’s cheeks was clearly visible as he pointed the gun at him.
“Here, how?”
“At one point, I didn’t even know I had gone up to Russia, and I searched the entire country. I could have burned everything down, but I just left it. Home is always home sweet home, right?”
Seok-hwa turned the gun’s direction slightly back, letting Choi Ho-eon’s whispered words slip out one ear. Kwak Su-hwan, who couldn’t easily close the distance, also stared at Seok-hwa without taking his eyes off him.
“Will Major Kwak become a member of our family? He deserves it. He became complete through the sacrifice of me and my younger brother, so I hate Major Kwak, but I can embrace him. I’m the eldest son, right?”
“Ouch!”
Choi Ho-eon forcibly grabbed Seok-hwa’s wrists and lifted them to his chest. The gun that had been pointed at Choi Ho-eon’s thighs was now pointed at Kwak Su-hwan.
No… … !
Chul-chul, Choi Ho-eon cocked the pistol instead. He tried to take his index finger off the trigger, but it felt like if he moved it wrong, the gun would fire at Kwak Su-hwan.
As if only Seok-hwa existed in Kwak Su-hwan’s world, he continued to stare at Seok-hwa without blinking.
“There was an explosion downtown. There were explosions and large fires at all the Eden branches. If this continues, the entire city will be engulfed in flames.”
Where on earth is Choi Ho-eon going? Does he want to ruin the entire city? Seok-hwa’s face distorted.
“That kid doesn’t want to play with his family. He’s using that as an excuse to act like a psychopath.”
Thud, thud. Something fell on Seok-hwa’s shoulder. It seemed like the heavens were helping him with the rain, but the area where the drops were falling was limited to his shoulder.
“Oh.”
Choi Ho-eon’s nose started bleeding.
“Infected… … Are you infected?”
Seokhwa asked Choi Hoyeon while looking at Kwak Suhwan.
When he had cooled down his fever and hugged him while he was bleeding, there was clearly a wound on Choi Hoyeon’s arm. It was only natural that my blood had seeped into the bandage.
“However, it is progressing very slowly, right? It is all thanks to those who sacrificed themselves for the evolution.”
Choi Hoyeon straightened the gun’s muzzle a little more toward Kwak Suhwan, who had taken a step forward. It felt like he would shoot Kwak Suhwan with his own hands if he kept going like this.
Why did things end up like this? If he had come up a little later, would he have been able to meet Kwak Suhwan earlier? If he hadn’t gone to the container, wouldn’t he have been caught by Choi Hoyeon?
There had never been a day when his own helplessness was so damning.
Why don’t I have the strength to shake off Choi Hoyeon?
The inferiority complex that had been dormant for a very long time was rising inside Seokhwa. The soldiers were annoying because they envied their bodies, and the reason they didn’t have anyone by their side and lived alone was because they didn’t want to be pointed at as a burden. Did I want to be born like this? The reality that I couldn’t even rebel when I shot the person I loved with my own hands was so absurd.
“How should I overcome this situation? You’ll have a lot to think about. Our Major Kwak lived without any difficulties. But Dr. Seok-hwa, my poor brother, wants to escape from the pain of his body, but he doesn’t have the strength to do so.”
Choi Ho-eon gave him more strength and made sure to aim at Kwak Soo-hwan.
“Listen, Doctor. In order to create Major Kwak, City did all sorts of evil things to our doctor’s body. It was me first, and then my brother. If things had been the same, my brother wouldn’t have been so sick and weak.”
“Dr. Seok, do you know that bastard is crazy?”
Kwak Soo-hwan opened his eyes sharply, saying not to listen to such words and to only look at him.
“My father said so. Dr. Seok-hwa was the first He was free from the Adam virus. But only the Adam virus was immune. The parents of Major Kwak used Dr. Seokhwa’s body as a test subject without our mother’s knowledge. They experimented on Dr. Seokhwa in order to give birth to a perfect child. If it weren’t for Major Kwak Soo-hwan and his parents, the doctor would have walked, run, and been healthier than others.”
The snake whispered.
“Are you jealous of the author’s perfect body? It wouldn’t have been possible without our sacrifices?”
Seokhwa looked back at Choi Ho-eon once more and then turned to Kwak Soo-hwan. It wasn’t an illusion that Seokhwa’s eyes were shaking with anxiety. Like those who fell for the snake’s whisper to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Seokhwa also opened his ears.
“Is it true?”
Seokhwa asked indifferently, but the blade was sharper than the barrel of a gun aimed at him.
“You knew, Major? Since when?”
The voice, which had lost its moisture, was cracked.
“From the beginning… … . Got it?”
Kwak Soo-hwan wanted to deny it. He wanted to shout that that bastard’s words were all lies, that Dr. Seok wasn’t some kind of test subject, but he couldn’t make his voice heard.
“It’s only natural that Major Kwak Soo-hwan treated Dr. Seok-hwa well. He feels indebted to him.”
“Dr. Seok, do you feel indebted to me? You know better than anyone that I’m a selfish bastard.”
He was scared. It seemed as if Seok-hwa’s eyes were filled with distrust toward him.
“I haven’t known him for long. But it’s not my fault.”
He was being mean, telling me not to hate him. Why isn’t it your fault? Seok-hwa’s eyes seemed to be questioning him.
“You collapse at every opportunity, and you’re a burden to others… … . Wasn’t I supposed to be like that?”
“Of course, I was born healthier than anyone else.”
‘Seok-hwa. No matter what anyone says, you’re not a failure. ‘A perfect child born of Euphrates.’
What his mother said was all true.
The hand holding the gun trembled.
“I can help you. I can take revenge.”
Thump, thump, the blood still flowing from Choi Ho-eon soaked his shoulder.
“The city that made our brother like this will be completely burned and destroyed, and he will live with us in our house until the day his body dies. He is the greatest beneficiary of the city and our blood and pus. We must destroy him.”
‘He is the true guardian of the rotten Rainbow City.’
Serpent said. He tempted the snake to kill him for making things difficult for him and live in a cozy place.
The strength in Seok-hwa’s hand, which had been tightly holding the gun to rebel, disappeared. He let his body hang down and aim at Gwak Soo-hwan, and Choi Ho-eon’s finger caught the trigger instead. Seok-hwa, who had lost all strength in his body, leaned against Choi Ho-eon’s back. My Eve, my savior. The end is near. Choi Ho-eon carefully placed Seok-hwa in his product.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out and the sound of birds flapping their wings mixed in. However, the bullet was not in Gwak Su-hwan, but somewhere in the tree hidden in the darkness.
Seok-hwa!
Seok-hwa did not look back even though Gwak Su-hwan called him. The moment Choi Ho-eon, who had let his guard down, fired a gun, he pushed him away and started climbing up the mountain. Seok-hwa muttered to himself.
Run, run! Hurry!
Even though he slipped on the dirt and his leg muscles screamed, he never stopped. It was okay if he never ran again. He had to run. While he climbed and climbed the mountain where he could not see an inch ahead, several more gunshots erupted from behind. Seok-hwa still did not look back.
He must have misunderstood. He might have thought that I resented him. Even though he was being held by Choi Ho-eon, he was just pretending to be bewitched by the snake’s words because he would only be a burden again. Kwak Su-hwan had nothing wrong with his body being like this. But he was afraid that he would misunderstand or get hurt, so his heart hurt more than his lungs that were about to burst.
Haa, haa. Seok-hwa grabbed whatever he could get his hands on and climbed up. He grabbed onto a rock that was right next to the ground and climbed up again, barely keeping his body upright. A red pillar swayed in the distance. He had clearly said that it was the city center that was burning, but flames were also rising in the uninhabited ruins far away. Did the fire in the city center spread here? Or maybe someone set the fire. Seok-hwa wiped his face with his hand. He thought it was sweat, but blood was coming out of his nose and his coughing mouth.
I guess the old man was wrong. My body keeps leaking poison.
Seok-hwa went behind the large rock, took off his backpack, and shrank down.
***
Kwak Soo-hwan fired his gun at Choi Ho-eon, who was trying to chase Seok-hwa. He also shot at Kwak Soo-hwan, who was running towards him, but he threw his gun on the ground because the distance was too narrow.
“I won’t kill you easily.”
I’ll pull out the tongue of the snake who told the truth he had tried not to tell until he died, and I’ll gouge out his eyes and make them crawl on the dirt. Choi Ho-eon, who was hit hard in the face with a punch, chuckled.
“You really knew, Major Kwak? Oh, it was something you shouldn’t have told. Did you see it earlier? Dr. Seok-hwa was really shocked.”
The moment Kwak Soo-hwan tried to punch the guy in the mouth again, there was a crack and the tree split. Choi Ho-eon, who lowered his center of gravity to avoid the punch, hit Kwak Soo-hwan in the side. When he stepped back from the shock that made his ribs crack, he pushed his body and made him fall backward.
“I guess he ran away because he hated everything. “I can’t forgive you either.”
Choi Ho-eon, who had climbed up, interrupted his words and threw a punch. Kwak Soo-hwan had been guarding himself, but even so, the bone in his forearm tingled. There must have been a crack somewhere. The moment Choi Ho-eon poured his strength down again, Kwak Soo-hwan struck his chin. Whoosh, Choi Ho-eon lost his sense of balance and put his hand on the ground. Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed his hair and smashed Choi Ho-eon’s head against the sharp rock. Thud, thud, crack, the sound of the bone breaking came out, along with flesh and blood.
“I’ll crush you so much in hell that even your father won’t recognize you. If you’re infected, you’ll be fine. Why are you playing with your snout? How many of you have you sacrificed to slow down the infection? Is it enough to fill up a shelter?”
Every tendon in his body was bulging and on the verge of bursting. He wanted to believe that there was no way that such a cunning tongue could petrify him. He would chop his bones into small pieces and finally pull out his tongue. He pushed his hair back and lifted his foot to break Choi Ho-eon’s arm. It was then that a gunshot was heard, cutting through his boiling anger.
With a thud, something spinning grazed his side. Another gunshot erupted, and the bullet that had missed landed on the floor.
“Protect the Master!”
A strong light aimed in their direction. At least six soldiers began firing their guns.
Blood gushed out from his side where the bullet had grazed. Kwak Soo-hwan tightly wrapped his forearm around Choi Ho-eon’s neck and pulled him in front of him, using him as a shield. Choi Ho-eon couldn’t help but laugh out loud, wondering what was so funny.
“Haa… … . Do you know that? How much does Dr. Seokhwa feel his own helplessness? But it was all because of Major Kwak Soo-hwan?”
Kwak Soo-hwan couldn’t help but know. Seokhwa always hated being treated carelessly.
“Kwak Soo-hwan! Surrender! If you release the Master and surrender, I’ll spare your life!”
The Master’s elite soldiers shouted, unable to come any closer because they couldn’t shoot Choi Ho-eon. The red dot moved and reached Kwak Soo-hwan’s forearm. When he tightened his other arm around Choi Ho-eon again, the crosshair disappeared. If he wasn’t careful, Choi Ho-eon’s collarbone could have been pierced.
The blood flowing from his side was now soaking his pants. It would be my loss to waste any more time here.
“Don’t you know that?”
Choi Ho-eon’s white, neat teeth were soaked with blood.
“I transfused my red blood cells into Dr. Seokhwa’s body… … . “Corporal Kwak and I are polar opposites.”
Tch, Choi Ho-eon spat out blood.
“That’s why Dr. Seok-hwa’s bleeding won’t stop. He might die, you idiot. Just like your father.”
A chill spread across Kwak Su-hwan’s face, which had been caught up in the fire.
Ugh, the elite soldiers who had been focusing their attention and aiming at the crosshairs succeeded in putting a bullet in Kwak Su-hwan’s forearm. Kwak Su-hwan clenched his teeth and didn’t let go of his arm that was strangling him. He watched the men closing in and checked the container behind him. As he grabbed Choi Ho-eon and moved back, the men also began to approach him in the same way.
“Whew, I think I’ll be able to live now.”
Choi Ho-eon sighed as his mind came back to him and dug his fingers into Kwak Su-hwan’s forearm. He was going to snap Choi Ho-eon’s neck as he was picking at the gunshot wound with his fingers, but the guy grabbed both his arms and blocked it with his strength. As much as he exerted his strength, blood gushed out from his side. Damn it, Kwak Soo-hwan grabbed the guy’s neck and threw him into the container.
Bang, taang! The moment he turned his back, a gunshot rang out, and as soon as Kwak Soo-hwan closed the container door, Choi Ho-eon lunged at him. He could feel the blood draining from his body even more clearly, as if at least one bullet had hit his back. Kwak Soo-hwan found the pistol hanging on the wall, but he was in a hurry to stop Choi Ho-eon from climbing on him and strangling him.
There was a cracking sound of something breaking in his chest. The liquid inside soaked his chest and the cap of the ampoule rolled off. Choi Ho-eon seemed to notice and widened his eyes. His broken forehead was grotesque, with even the white bones showing. He was truly Adam.
“Oh, there were any surviving test subjects inside the shelter?”
“Ugh, damn you.”
“Those poor test subjects all thought that Dr. Seokhwa would save them. Even for those suffering, there should be some hope of salvation, right? Just as my father taught me how precious my younger brother was, and as Adam’s vaccine was Eve, Dr. Seokhwa was their only hope. Do you know what they think salvation means?”
He leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“Rapture. In other words, death. The one who will destroy this city and end the suffering is the Savior. He could have done it… … .”
Choi Ho-eon strangled her even harder.
Kwak Soo-hwan had never been weak since birth. If he had no one to protect him, he was stronger than anyone else. He, who had nothing to fear, faced his physical limits for the first time.
Thump, Tutuk, the blood flowing from Choi Ho-eon’s nose seeped into his forearm. He didn’t miss the moment when his eyes, which had been bright, began to blur and jumped on him, striking him with a punch. Outside, gunfire rang out. He could also hear the sound of a helicopter tearing through the wind and a siren. At that moment, when a bullet hit the container and the metal plate crumpled, Choi Ho-eon kicked Kwak Su-hwan’s side and leaped forward.
A tremendous pain struck the area where he had been shot, but he immediately snatched his pistol and followed the guy. The light pouring out from the helicopter lit up the forest. It was a helicopter with the Emperor Penguin mark. The elite soldiers who had fled to the blind spot of the light fired to bring down the helicopter.
“Major Kwak Su-hwan! Join us! This is Colonel Woo Tae-an who joined at the order of the owl and the owl!”
The soldiers coming up from below were those who had been vaccinated and joined the three families. The S-class Master's elite troops split up and blocked the rebels who were trying to join Kwak Su-hwan. Choi Ho-eon was running up the direction where Seok-hwa had disappeared. Kwak Su-hwan also continued to chase after him without stopping and fired his gun. The sound of gunfire and propellers filled the mountain, as if even the birds were no longer staying nearby. Blood pooled in his boots, and his soles were damp as if they were soaked in rainwater. However, he didn't even feel any pain anymore.
Kwak Su-hwan shouted as he jumped up the mountain covered in rocks.
"Dr. Seok! If you're hiding, don't come out!"
I was anxious that Seok-hwa would show his face in this commotion. If it was the Seok-hwa I knew, he would definitely be hiding somewhere. As the snake said, he didn't run away because he hated me, but rather because he thought I would be a burden. Seok-hwa was always like that. He was weaker than me, but he was someone who took care of me.
A helicopter that had joined late was flying to the top. It was the city's helicopter. The emperor penguin helicopter following behind fired shots, but the fuselage continued to face upward without stopping. Damn it, damn it! Kwak Su-hwan wanted to cry like a child. He felt like he was going to lose Seok-hwa. He felt his strength draining from his body, but he moved faster than ever.
Even before reaching the top, Choi Ho-eon appeared. It wasn’t that hard to find Seok-hwa on the only mountain path. Choi Ho-eon was standing in front of the rock, holding onto Seok-hwa. Seok-hwa, who was bleeding from his nose, didn’t seem to mind if he collapsed at any moment. Seok-hwa couldn’t even focus his pupils, as if he couldn’t see.
“Major… … Are you okay?”
Seeing Seok-hwa worrying about himself without even thinking about his own appearance, he felt like he was going crazy from helplessness. Seok-hwa was crying. No matter how hard it was or how much he was suffering, he was crying as he looked at me.
“Why are you doing this? Why on earth are you doing this?”
Seokhwa was held by Choi Ho-eon, and his blood mixed with water fell on the floor.
“Why? Dr. Seokhwa felt the same way as I did. If the city disappeared and all these traces disappeared, our suffering would disappear.”
Choi Ho-eon remembered his younger brother, who had been holding his finger with a ringer hanging from his small body. He remembered the baby who couldn’t even cry properly, saying that he had been in the same pain as his brother, asking to be taken out of the lab and to get rid of everything that had hurt him.
“Don’t say we… … .”
Seokhwa denied it forcefully, saying that he had never been in pain. The elite soldiers who had descended from the helicopter on a rope and the rebels behind Kwak Su-hwan aimed their guns at each other. In a situation where it was imminent, no one fired their guns first. They knew that if they did, they would all die. They just looked at each other like animals with their fur standing on end.
“Kwak Su-hwan!”
The voices of Yang Sang-hoon and Lee Chae-yoon, who had gotten off the helicopter, were heard right behind him, but he didn’t turn around. Damn it! You die, you crazy bastard! They were worried about Kwak Soo-hwan even as they aimed their guns at the enemy. Damn it, he had lost so much blood that his ears were ringing. It wasn’t blood, but all of his senses were leaking out. Maybe it was his soul that he had forcibly held onto that was leaking out.
“The vaccine is real, and the rebellion happened because I lied to him?”
Choi Ho-eon shouted at the rebels.
“Are you sure the vaccine is real?”
“Shut up! Do something to Dr. Seok-hwa!”
Lee Chae-yoon took a step forward. Choi Ho-eon supported Seok-hwa’s crumbling body and raised his arm. Then he grabbed one of his elite soldiers and dragged him out. His blood ran cold. Kwak Soo-hwan had a gut feeling about what that bastard was trying to do.
I realized that I would like to see my colleague. I said that I would like to die. Along with the screams, Choi Ho -eon put the blade in the forearm of the forearm. I wanted to run out and tear him to pieces right away, but if I did, I would never be able to save Seokhwa. It was too hard to stay calm. My brain was going blank, and my rational judgment was becoming increasingly clouded.
“Ma, Master?!”
Choi Ho-eon stabbed the elite soldier who was guarding me with a knife stained with Seokhwa’s blood into his arm.
“Huh!”
“What are you worried about? Did you think I wouldn’t know? You got the vaccine too? And why do you all look like that? Didn’t everyone believe in the vaccine? What are you afraid of?”
Choi Ho-eon didn’t hide his excitement, like a child taking out a hidden gift. Choi Ho-eon was right. The rebels had united under the belief that the vaccine was real. That’s how the three families were able to join hands, and there was also the legitimacy of the rebellion. However, if the vaccine was fake… … .
“Crack, crack, gulp.”
The elite soldiers exposed to Seokhwa's blood suddenly vomited blood like a fountain. No one spoke, but even the air was filled with shock. But not yet, not yet. Not now.
Suddenly, Kwak Su-hwan realized the blood pouring out of his body again and only looked at Seokhwa. He felt that he was still barely holding on to his senses, unable to focus on his pupils properly.
Seokhwa, are you in pain? Just hold on for a little longer. Just a little longer.
"Oh, it seems the vaccine isn't working."
Choi Ho-eon, who spoke with a regretful tone, quickly raised Seokhwa's hand.
"The doctor developed a vaccine, but I think it's because the new Adam virus is planted in the doctor's body. Everyone was fooled. There is no vaccine for the newly mutated Adam virus. If you don't believe me, is there anyone who wants to try it?"
His teeth, stained red with blood, were revealed. The rebels' agitation was clear. The colonel who had joined Owl and Owl picked up the radio. To convey the news that the vaccine was ineffective. As the colonel raised his hand in preparation for firing, the dilated pupils turned to the stone.
Crack.
That's a virus. It's the host of the new mutated Adam virus that the vaccine doesn't work on.
The soldiers and citizens of the city had suffered from the virus for too long. The mutated Adam virus was enough to make them feel fear beyond disgust. After spitting out blood, the elite soldier who had fallen up strangely got up. It's Adam! Kill him! The gun barrel was pointed in that direction again. Doo doo doo doo doo doo! The elite soldier's body that had become Adam grew a hive and Kwak Soo-hwan shouted with all his might.
"Yang Sang-hoon, now!"
The moment he ran toward Choi Ho-eon, Yang Sang-hoon began to protect Kwak Soo-hwan. Several of the elite soldiers also began to mutate due to Adam, who bit his own side even though he was shot in the body.
"Kill the doctor! Starting with Adam! No, starting with the doctor!"
As Choi Ho-eon ran toward the helicopter carrying Seok-hwa, Kwak Su-hwan shot his pistol at his back, and the bullet hit him hard. But the guy didn’t stop.
Yang Sang-hoon fired his machine gun continuously at the propeller of the helicopter that was halfway up in the air. One side of the propeller broke, causing the helicopter to lose its direction and crash into the ground. The propeller, spinning furiously, scraped the rocks on the ground and tore my body apart. Pieces of the propeller flew here and there, hitting allies and enemies alike.
Seok-hwa, who was being held by Choi Ho-eon, gritted his teeth in a scream. His body was shaking with his body half-folded and resting on his shoulder, making him nauseous. Come to your senses. Even if you die now, you have to come to your senses. You can’t get swept away like this. That way, Soo-hwan will live. Seok-hwa raised his head and found a pistol that had fallen into his field of vision. The scene of Kwak Su-hwan and Yang Sang-hoon running towards him felt very slow. He wanted to reach out and grab the gun, but he couldn’t reach there. Choi Ho-eon’s back was soaked in blood in an instant, and his suit clung to his body. As the helicopter exploded and flashed, he saw the gun stuck to his waist belt.
Seok-hwa reached out and quickly pulled out the gun. Then he struck the ball. He took a deep breath as if he was using the last of his strength in life. He struck down the gun grip that was holding Choi Ho-eon’s gunshot wound. Seok-hwa pushed him away and rolled on the floor, taking advantage of the moment when Choi Ho-eon’s arm lost strength. It was the moment when his eyes met Choi Ho-eon’s, who was looking down at him with dilated pupils. Don’t hesitate. He also whispered inside.
Bang! He pulled the trigger toward his chest. Choi Ho-eon blinked twice, and red blood burst from the corner of his mouth. Choi Ho-eon, who had collapsed, reached out to Seok-hwa, who had collapsed on the floor. Bang, a piece of the propeller that had flown in, sank into Choi Ho-eon’s shoulder. The half-severed arm stretched out, tattered and creepy.
Eve, my savior, my peace.
The red eyes were filled with obsession and still reached out to me. Seokhwa was unable to step back and was held captive by that gaze. Why was it not refreshing to see the monster that City had created dying? At that moment, someone’s large hand suddenly appeared and covered his eyes. The warmth that embraced his body was familiar. It was Kwak Soo-hwan. But his body was wrapped in something.
He convulsed several times as if he had been hit.
“I’m sorry. Dr. Seok got sick because of me.”
Kwak Soo-hwan’s voice was fainter than ever. His palms were soaking wet. He wanted to say that it wasn’t his fault, but his voice wouldn’t come out, so he just shook his head.
“But you have to live. Do you trust me, honey?”
Kwak Soo-hwan’s whole body was soaked. It was as if blood was pouring out of every pore of his body, as if he had just come out of the blood, and his whole body was covered in blood. However, he had covered Seok-hwa’s eyes so that she couldn’t see anything. Seok-hwa held his hands with both of her hands until they turned white. It felt like if she were to leave him, she would never be able to return to this embrace.
“Live.”
He pushed me toward someone.
Major, Soo-hwan, I wanted to call him, but my throat was choked up, so I could only let out a raspy breath. I had never been sick because of Kwak Soo-hwan. If he could be perfect through his sacrifice, if my beloved could be perfect, then that was not a sacrifice but a blessing. I wanted to hold him in my eyes, but I couldn’t see his face properly because of the man running while holding me. When the man grabbed the rope of the helicopter floating in the air, my body floated into the air. I know that Kwak Soo-hwan is stronger than anyone else. I know that, but it felt like this mountain was trying to eat up all the blood flowing through his body, and this time it really felt like the last time… … .
Soo-hwan!
He shouted, but Seok-hwa’s voice was drowned out by the loud sound of the propeller.
Kwak Soo-hwan turned around after seeing that the helicopter had safely risen. The corpses of Adam and the soldiers were strewn all over the ground, and the only survivors were Lee Chae-yoon, who seemed to have had his soul sucked out, the colonel, and a few rebels. Can they be called rebels now? Haa, my long breaths scattered. Can I return to Seok-hwa? That unanswered despair was also with me.
The colonel shouted.
“Save the Master! “Sergeant Kwak Su-hwan is summarily executed for protecting and allowing the Adam Virus host to escape.”
Now all the guns were pointed at me. This was the end. The heretic and rebel who had brought a threat to the city was now alone.
“Kwak Su-hwan… … . There’s nothing we can do. We have to end it here.”
Lee Chae-yoon said. The colonel tacitly gave her permission to execute him, as if he was giving her the last courtesy he could show his comrade.
Bang!
She simply stretched out her hand to the side and fired her pistol at the colonel’s temple. Taking that as a signal, Kwak Su-hwan picked up Adam, who was lying on the floor, and began to kill the living soldiers. Lee Chae-yoon from the rear and Kwak Su-hwan from the front cut off the air of about ten soldiers. The rebellion had to succeed. Only then would Lee Chae-yoon’s family survive. Choi Ho-eon could not be put in the position of Master again. If he doesn’t kill him, he will die. The wounds of several fallen soldiers were infected with Adam’s blood, and they turned into Abigyuhwan, regardless of whether they were allies or enemies. Kwak Soo-hwan and Lee Chae-yoon cut off the airway of everyone present, except for each other.
Haa, haa… … . Kwak Soo-hwan stood on the mountain of corpses and gasped for breath. Lee Chae-yoon dragged the bodies of the dead soldiers together and killed them.
Kwak Soo-hwan knelt in front of Choi Ho-eon, using his long rifle as a support. Choi Ho-eon was still breathing.
“… … You are so tenacious. You and me.”
Choi Ho-eon’s eyes did not have a gun. He could see that he was slowly dying. Kwak Soo-hwan himself also felt his life slipping away. He couldn’t even hear the voice I had just spoken.
Kwak Soo-hwan loaded his gun while kneeling, feeling powerless. Then he aimed it at Choi Ho-eon.
There is no place for you to rest.
Choi Ho-eon raised his pupils and cursed.
Since Seok-hwa is the host of the mutant Adam virus, he will not be able to return to the city. He will not be able to be with people. That is why I had to live. I will live and be by Seok-hwa's side.
Tang-,
He fired a gun at Choi Ho-eon, and Kwak Soo-hwan's breath also stopped.
Kwak Soo-hwan regained consciousness a week after Choi Ho-eon died.
However, the Kwak Soo-hwan who woke up was no longer the Kwak Soo-hwan they knew. His hands trembled even when he was still, and he had difficulty swallowing food that someone handed him. He didn’t even react when someone brought up the topic of Seok-hwa. Everyone thought that Kwak Soo-hwan had become an idiot from the excessive gunshot wound.
Yang Sang-hoon apologized to Kwak Soo-hwan, saying that he had not helped Seok-hwa properly, but no matter what anyone said, he always seemed to have lost his mind.
He still couldn’t swallow porridge, so it dripped down his chin, and his body, unable to move, withered away with atrophied muscles. The Russian old man stayed in Rainbow City and worked hard to rebuild the vaccine and the burned-down research labs, but he clicked his tongue whenever he saw Kwak Soo-hwan. He had lost enough blood that a normal person would have already died. Kwak Su-hwan was brought in with his heart stopped, and after an hour of struggle by the medical team, his heart began to beat, albeit faintly.
When his heart started beating again, Kwak Su-hwan had less than the blood left in his body than a five-year-old child. His father said that his brain must have malfunctioned because the blood was not circulating. That’s why he became an idiot.
Emperor Penguin Lee Hee-chan took control of the city, but he did not abandon Kwak Su-hwan, who had become an idiot. He gave Kwak Su-hwan the rank of lieutenant general, and announced to the other families that Dr. Seok-hwa had died. It was ironic. The doctor who developed the vaccine and freed people from Adam received no reward.
After a month, and then two months, Kwak Su-hwan’s hands stopped shaking. From then on, he slowly began to move his body. He ate alone, walked outside the shelter, and then ran again.
Another day, he went into the training room at dawn to exercise and awaken his degenerated muscles. But no one spoke to him, and he still didn’t respond. He was just like a robot that was focused on building his body and getting healthy again, not even responding to any external stimuli.
It was the fifth month.
Even after breakfast time, Kwak Su-hwan was nowhere to be seen. Yang Sang-hoon, who was taking care of him, went to the training room just in case, but it was quiet inside, and Kwak Su-hwan wasn’t there in the cafeteria. When he went to Kwak Su-hwan’s room, the closet was half open. To make matters worse, the City uniform that had been neatly ironed and hung up was gone. There were only empty marks here and there on the backpack and desk, as if something had been taken away.
Yang Sang-hoon was surprised and ran to the control room. He checked all the surveillance cameras around him, worried that the idiot who had become an idiot might be doing something.
Looking at the silence outside, it seemed like he had already left this place quite a while ago. Yang Sang-hoon had to turn back the time on the recorded camera before he could find Kwak Su-hwan.
Early in the morning, someone was walking briskly out of the shelter. His posture was straight, and his gait was steady, as if he was certain of where he was going. He was headed to the parking lot where the military jeep was. Yang Sang-hoon met Kwak Su-hwan’s eyes, who was looking up at the camera, after a while. He smiled brightly as before and stared blankly down at the paper he had taken out of his pocket. Then, he folded it neatly again and put it inside his uniform, as if it were a precious treasure.
He quickly jumped over the shelter’s barbed wire. Soon, only the back of the man leaving with a backpack on one shoulder remained as an afterimage.
I had been wrong all along. Kwak Su-hwan had not been concentrating on getting his body back to normal. From the moment he opened his eyes until now, all of Kwak Su-hwan’s mind had been on Seok-hwa. That’s why only the shell of a body trying to prepare for departure remained here.
Yang Sang-hoon soon heard that a jeep had disappeared, but he did not order a chase.
Here, they were just waiting for the two to return to their hometown, Rainbow City.
[Rainbow City Complete / Volume 6 (Continued in the side story)]
***
150 days after Master Choi Ho-eon’s death, 151 days after the announcement of the Rainbow City autonomous government.
Today, 60 days after the distribution of the vaccine ‘Eve’ to all citizens.
Current partner country, Russia, Hasan (Xacah)
The white breath was smothered by the mouth of the person carrying the firewood.
The amount of firewood that was carried in two or three pieces at a time was not enough to get through the winter because he couldn’t carry much at once. Still, since he had been diligently collecting dry firewood since fall, he thought that if he saved it, he would be able to get through this winter safely. Seok-hwa, who returned to the cabin, placed two pieces of firewood in the fireplace. He poked the ashes with a poker, and the still living embers began to bloom.
Seokhwa opened the cupboard and took out a can. He turned the gear of the can opener to open the can, and the sweet and fragrant smell of corn rose. He put it on a plate and ate the hard, dried-up instant rice. Then he stared blankly at the open window of the mountain lodge.
It couldn’t be true, but Seokhwa thought that a cold wind was blowing into his eyes. His eyes were stinging. He closed his eyelids tightly and opened them, and the moisture that had clouded his retinas disappeared.
Seokhwa continued eating calmly and indifferently. The chipped fruit on the table caught his eye as usual.
‘Alive.’
Every time that happened, Gwak Su-hwan said.
Seokhwa finished his meal after a long time and walked to the old sofa. The table in front of the sofa was filled with medicinal herbs from the mountains. He shook off the dirt and cut the herbs with scissors, and then looked out the window again.
There was at least half a year’s worth of food in the mountain lodge. There was a valley nearby, so it wasn’t hard to get water. Instead, the butane gas that had been stacked high inside the kitchen was slowly running out. It was supposed to be half a year’s worth of food, but since he didn’t eat much, it seemed like he could last another two months.
After coming to Russia alone, Seokhwa learned how to live alone.
The most difficult thing was cutting his hair by himself. Even now, his roughly cut bangs were annoying, but it was too early to clean them up. Seokhwa got up from his seat and turned the cube that Kwak Su-hwan had left in the mountain lodge with his hand. Did he anticipate something like this? No, maybe he had prepared for every place we lived just in case. He was always prepared.
His eyes, which had been blankly staring out the window, briefly became lively. A musk deer was wandering around the mountain lodge. When I opened the door and went out, it would quickly run away, so I could only watch from here.
As darkness approached the mountain lodge, he blew out the flickering candle. If the wolves followed the light, he would have to stay locked in the house all day. Seokhwa put his pistol next to the bed and crouched down.
Seokhwa, who had moved by helicopter that day, had to get into the jeep with Yang Sanghoon right away. The jeep’s radio constantly sent out orders to kill Dr. Seokhwa. This was because the owls and the Owl Family had learned through the radio message left by the colonel that Seokhwa was the host of the mutant Adam virus.
The city was burning everywhere, but Yang Sanghoon just drove the jeep up without saying a word. Half a day passed and the radio rang again.
‘Dr. Seokhwa, the only host of the mutant Adam virus, is to be killed immediately upon discovery. Master Choi Hoyeon has died, and the vaccine will be developed and distributed as scheduled.’
Fortunately, it rained, so the fire in the city center did not grow any bigger, and unfortunately, the radio continued to urge them to kill Seokhwa. It was a night when they had reached the point where they were in close contact with Russia. Seokhwa took two pistols and food from the jeep and left the city alone. Yang Sanghoon, who helped him escape, could also be in danger, so he ended up accompanying him here.
The Duman River is narrow, but he couldn’t swim across it, so Seokhwa crawled across the rickety bridge on his own. Even if the center of the bridge collapsed and the railroad sank toward the river, Seokhwa’s weight alone wouldn’t budge. Instead, he went with Kwak Suhwan, but he returned alone.
He didn’t say anything to Yang Sanghoon until the day they parted ways. Still, Seokhwa could feel it.
He probably thought that Kwak Suhwan was dead. On the contrary, Seokhwa stopped thinking about death. He didn’t want to think deeply about it. If Kwak Suhwan was alive, he wouldn’t have stayed still after hearing the radio message telling him to kill him.
He was always like that. He put me above himself, and he was a person who saved me even if it meant risking his life. He was so lonely and alone, but it was a life he saved. So I couldn’t just throw it away as I pleased, so I had to live.
***
Seokhwa spent the night half asleep and half awake. As soon as the sun rose, he grabbed his pistol and changed into thick clothes. He also loaded the herbs he had cut over the past few days and the ointment he had made himself into the jeep.
I habitually looked at my face in the jeep mirror, but the nosebleed had stopped a long time ago. Also, my body temperature was closer to that of a normal person, unlike before. My body, which had occasionally bled, stabilized after more than a week since arriving at the mountain lodge. I wish I had died instead. Seokhwa shook his head and started to drive the jeep down.
The jeep was available from Hasan’s building where he lived. I heard that the leader of the nearby marauders, called Razvonik, had starved to death while tied to a car. He said that it was because no one came to save him even after seeing him tied to a car, but the marauders stopped harassing people after that. Seokhwa gave medicine and ointment to the people living in the area below, and was able to obtain some oil and clothing.
Everyone thought Seokhwa was a mute pharmacist. It was because he was not sure about his physical condition yet, so he kept his interactions with people to a minimum. Seokhwa bowed and drove back to the mountain lodge. There were certainly people who showed favor to Seokhwa, but he could not easily approach them because of the pistol he had. Just a few months ago, a Russian man, regardless of gender, who swung his lower body, rushed at Seokhwa and almost got shot. Since then, no one had approached the mountain lodge. Even if they tried to invade at night, there were many wolves, so no one dared approach the mountain lodge. To Seokhwa, wolves were a fearful presence, but on the contrary, they were also allies who protected him.
Seokhwa returned home and checked to see if the broken bottles were properly inserted in the entrance and windows. Then he lay down on the bed.
Da.
Another day was passing by. The only difference was that it was the 151st day without Kwak Su-hwan.
Tomorrow would be the 152nd day without him.
***
There was no way it could be, but it was noisy outside. The darkness had long since receded, so light was flickering through the curtains.
Seok-hwa got up and cautiously opened the curtains. Perhaps the people below had come to the valley to get water. Seok-hwa walked to the sink with relief. He washed his face clean with the soap he had bartered. He brushed his teeth with a toothbrush with a worn-out core, and packed up the radio before breakfast.
Seok-hwa walked to the place closest to the city and where the signal was good. The pistol was always at his side. He pulled out the antenna of the radio and searched for a signal.
Rainbow City was slowly entering a period of stability, so sometimes if he got the right spot, he could hear the city's broadcast.
[Chi-jik, jik, jik, the vote was conducted fairly. In Rainbow City… … . Chijik, a citizen of the city, and each region, Chijik, please come and register as a citizen. Chijik.]
The propaganda that brainwashed people on TV had long since disappeared. Seokhwa took out the cell phone in one pocket. It was dead, so now he couldn’t even see Kwak Soo-hwan’s picture.
If I hadn’t unlocked the password, if I hadn’t gone to the party… … . Seokhwa thought that every time he looked at this cell phone. The password that the Second Master had set was the same until the end. There was no affection for his mother or regret for his child. The password he had set was Agate. The agate mineral that he loved so much. If you convert the word into binary and take only the last number, it was 11101. The fact that he had to fill in all six digits of the password was also a trap.
The only thing Second was obsessed with was minerals, so he thought that maybe his genes had left him and he was obsessed with rocks, but now he didn’t even collect rocks.
Now that I think about it, I think Kwak Su-hwan's obsession might have been breeding. Since Kwak Su-hwan had perfect genes, he might have been born with the mission to evolve through breeding. Looking back, he only laughed it off when I asked for semen, and never actually gave it to me.
A perfect mutation created by City.
That's why he might have realized his obsession and controlled himself with a kind of rebellious spirit.
[… … Chik, I do. The base station… … and fair education, Chijik, I do. Emperor penguin, I support. Our vaccine is perfect.]
Seok-hwa turned off the radio and got up from his seat. He was thinking of going back to the mountain lodge to make ointment and organize the medicine. Seok-hwa, who was walking with a limp, was alive but dead.
For the first few months, I dreamed of Kwak Su-hwan. When I woke up from the dream of meeting him again and touching his body, I wanted to stop living, and after that, he didn't appear in my dreams.
Alive.
The words stuck to me like a curse, and they held me like a curse.
Seokhwa stopped walking again on his way down to the mountain lodge because of the noisy voices of the people. He planned to go to the mountain lodge after they had all left. Anyway, there was nothing left to steal except food. As expected, when he came down to the mountain lodge a long time later, the inside of the house was a mess. Someone had stolen the food, and the medicine was lying on the floor. There was nothing to take apart. Such simple feelings were no longer there.
Seokhwa cleaned and swept the floor, and looked out the window again. A cold wind blew into his eyes. A musk deer was standing in the hazy field of vision. For some reason, Seokhwa wanted to go outside and see the musk deer. It was a creature that would run away at the sight of him, but it was still standing even after he opened the door.
Seokhwa put a blanket over his shoulders and sat on the wooden terrace next to the front door. As expected, the musk deer ran into the mountain. The deer was still, but he heard the sound of dry leaves being stepped on.
Seokhwa turned his gaze to the other side of the deer. Then the deer jumped deeper into the mountain. Where Seokhwa’s gaze landed, a man in uniform was walking. He had a backpack on one shoulder, and the dry branches on the ground seemed to be no obstacle to him, so he walked without any trouble.
From the moment their eyes met, he walked toward Seokhwa without taking his eyes off him for a second. A blanket fell behind Seokhwa’s back as he got up from his chair. He looked at him without even thinking about picking it up. Was he seeing hallucinations now? Or was he here to give him permission to die without living anymore?
Gwak Su-hwan stood in front of Seokhwa.
Seokhwa didn’t dare to reach out. If he did, he felt like he would turn into a mirage and wake up from his dream.
“I’m here, hyung.”
He took a deep breath.
Was that what his voice sounded like? In my memory, his voice was always refreshing, but now it was completely calm. His face was covered with longing in his clouded eyes, so I couldn’t see him properly. I blinked the tears that were blocking my vision, but they still piled up.
“I was really sick. Do you believe me?”
He smiled a little awkwardly.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“… … .”
“I’m sorry I left you alone.”
“… … .”
Kwak Soo-hwan, who spoke indifferently, laughed, but then his face hardened into a blank expression. He, who had taken a deep breath like me, distorted his face like a child, as if he couldn’t hold back his tears any longer.
“Dr. Seok, Seok-hwa, Seok-hwa hyung.”
He called Seok-hwa by all his names. As if all the calls in the world to Seok-hwa were his own.
Only then did Seok-hwa hug him as he cried. I caressed his cheek, which was filled with the cold air of Russia, with my cheek, and wrapped his body as hard as my memory. Kwak Su-hwan also couldn’t stand it and locked Seok-hwa’s body in my arms.
They were wrong. Pain is not the beginning of evolution.
Even if he was free from all viruses, he wasn’t a true new human being. The virus would mutate again, and he, who was called a perfect mutant, almost lost his life. There is no perfect evolution in the world.
The beginning of evolution came from survival.
People who wanted to survive had various reasons. Family, friends, or lovers, they clung to life for them, and the people of the city also survived by defeating death in order to live with them. I was able to meet him because I was alive, and he was able to return to himself because he lived.
Kwak Su-hwan was the reason for Seok-hwa’s survival, and Seok-hwa was the reason for Kwak Su-hwan’s survival.
That’s why they were able to evolve once again.
“… … Su-hwan.”
Like a newborn baby making its first sound, Seokhwa called his name for the first time in 152 days.
“Welcome back.”
"I can't save the world!"30-year-old Tsukina was summoned to another world by a spher...
- Author: Izumi kyouka (和泉杏花),Oumiya (近江谷),Sakurada reiko
- Genres: Fantasy / Romance / Slice of life
"I can't save the world!"30-year-old Tsukina was summoned to another world by a spher...
- Author: Izumi kyouka (和泉杏花),Oumiya (近江谷),Sakurada reiko
- Genres: Fantasy / Romance / Slice of life
The stage is Edo. The second son of a draper store, Tenji is a beautiful boy that is earnest and kin...
- Author: shimeji
- Genres: Historical / Yaoi
As a rookie game designer, Wang Zixin never imagined that his life would depend entirely on a video ...
- Author: Mu huoran,Tumin
- Genres: Fantasy / Romance / Sci-Fi / Shounen Ai / Webtoons
I loved this so much!!! Abyss was such a cutie and still is omgg and the time paradox stuff!!! I love it!!!!!
As a rookie game designer, Wang Zixin never imagined that his life would depend entirely on a video ...
- Author: Mu huoran,Tumin
- Genres: Fantasy / Romance / Sci-Fi / Shounen Ai / Webtoons
After a car accident, Taemin finds himself in the body of Siwon, a victim of bullying at school. No ...
- Author: Haribo
- Genres: School Life / Shounen Ai / Supernatural / Webtoons
Sooo good!!! Just reread it (again?) and decided it was a 5!!!! Their chemistry was muwah! Wished some things were more fleshed out like what happened to his bro? Etc etc
I need more between Kiego and Papa!!! Is that seriously all there is!?!? Also you click on a story called "Papa I Love You," gets surprised he LOVES his Papa, and then go and complain in the comments?? Are you guys 5? If you don't like it then don't read it and move on!!! You're all annoying!
Cousins, age gap, and teacher x student!? The only way this could be any more perfect is if it was nephew x uncle and had more smut!!!!! ლ(´ڡ`ლ)
delinquent yaoi.... toxic yaoi ... Stockholm syndrome... stalkers.... more plz...!
I will kill everyone for your sake."Hey, I think I like you!" Shirayuki says with a smile....
- Author: ENATSU Haruka,ISHIHARA Tsuushin
- Genres: Drama / Horror / Mature / Psychological / School Life / Shounen Ai
♂ he/him | queer | fapdanshi on twt
When homicide detective Dexter J. Daley’s testimony helps send his partner away for murder, th...
- Author: Son Gae Pi, Charlie Chochet
- Genres: Fantasy / Yaoi / Webtoons
After making a wish... a fairy appears?! The guy who became Cinderella and the Grand Duke who approa...
- Author: 망스
- Genres: Webtoons / Yaoi / Comedy / Fantasy
I was staying awake with work all night same as usual, I fell asleep and woke up and I am possessin...
- Author: So yu-hyun,Alg
- Genres: Action / Adventure / Fantasy / Full color / Isekai / Long strip / Official colored / Webtoons
‘This is a development that I know of.’ The moment he thought that, the world had been d...
- Author: Sing-shong,Sleepy-c (redice studio)
- Genres: Action / Adventure / Fantasy / Webtoons
Self-made young chaebol Alpha Seo Seunghyun receives a secret request from a high-ranking executive ...
- Author: HARUSARI,ASHK ,TANSEOM
- Genres: Webtoons / Yaoi / Mature / Smut
rom tteokki-doki:He graduated early from the science department, acquired his PhD at a record speed,...
- Author: Oh Doyeon,Moscareto
- Genres: Yaoi / Smut / Romance / Webtoons
Korea's top actor, Han Nokyoung, lived arrogantly, relying solely on his attractive appearance ...
- Author: Lime tree , Seojin, Gongtae
- Genres: Yaoi / Drama / Romance / Webtoons