What did it an for an ability user to lose their powers?
There was a story in Arica, akin to an urban legend:
The Bomber was no longer a Bomber.
The tale of an ability user who could cause explosions losing his power and becoming an ordinary person was treated as a joke by Wang Huan, a forr A-class ability user and a Chinese student at Sejong Academy.
However, after the ergence of Solar Platina and once he himself had beco a devil and then lost his abilities,
He felt he could understand why the Bomber had caused a suicide disturbance.
He wanted to die.
It feels like death without the overflowing power.
Although decorated like a luxurious single room, everything in this room only brings pain and suffering.
When he was an ability user, even stubbing his toe on the bed didnt hurt.
He didnt easily feel hungry, and eating didnt make him feel bloated.
Even if he hit his head hard with a plastic tray after eating, it didnt hurt.
Even greater pain didnt hurt, but now the pain was overwhelming.
The fear, tornt, and pain of becoming an ordinary human are unbearable.
Thats why others, unable to endure this state, hard themselves and ended up confined like in a psychiatric ward.
At least Wang Huan, being an ability user under the partys protection, had so solace.
His father, a high-ranking party mber, would surely co to rescue him.
Others did the sa.
Through a channel that allowed communication with other Zenros via a monitor panel, though they couldnt see each other face-to-face, he gained hope from what soone else had said:
The party would co to rescue them.
Because if they ended up on Sejong Island, theyd never be able to leave.
Having lived on Sejong Island, they knew how much it was like a prison, and they didnt want to enter it even based on hearsay.
-Brother Wang. Theres a rumor that theres a lab underground on Sejong Island where they experint on ability users.
Thats just a conspiracy theory. Could such a thing really exist?
-If not, why would they want to take us to Sejong Island?
Because Sejong Island was the safest fortress from Koreas perspective.
If human experintation is happening in that fortress, that would be sothing to see.
Anxiety crept in with these words.
What would happen if they really ended up eating Korean Stew on Sejong Island?
Old movies showed people being dunked in water or strapped to electric chairs for electrocution.
If that actually happened, what was once breath-holding competitions or electric massages when he had abilities, would now be nothing but torture with his current human body.
Damn it.
Wang Huan felt like going mad.
He wanted to escape this place, even if it ant becoming a devil again.
As a devil, he had even more power than when he was an ability user, capable of achieving anything he desired.
But now, as a re human without abilities, hes too weak to do anything.
Especially for soone like Wang Huan, who had killed people and was then imprisoned.
Ding-dong.
The bell rang.
Soon, along with the sound of a cart being pulled outside, a woman brought in food on a plastic cart and placed it on the table.
You have one hour to eat. If you dont, it will be collected as is.
Without even chopsticks?
Theres a spork.
The woman, an employee of the association, pointed to a pink plastic spoon placed next to the tray.
The rounded spoons tip was blunt, seemingly unable to pierce anything, just leaving a pressed mark.
Does it have to be like this?
In other rooms, there were cases of self-harm with a spork. Please dont let that happen.
Hmph, why would I harm myself.
Wang Huan looked at the food on the table.
Most of the food was soft or squishy, with no hard objects like clamshells.
Is this chicken?
Boneless chicken.
.
Even the bones were removed, leaving him speechless at the extre asures.
This is not how you treat prisoners.
.
Why? Do I look like a real prisoner?
Wang Huan picked up his boneless chicken with the spork.
Do you think Im a joke now? Just a week ago, soone like you, an E-class agent, would be
Click.
The agent pulled sothing out of their pocket.
It was a wireless earphone, and the agent simply stood there wearing it, saying nothing.
Damn it.
Wang Huan quietly chewed his chicken.
It was unpleasant, but he couldnt act out in frustration.
After all, he was now powerless, and this E-class agent could kill him with just a finger.
Crunch.
.
Juices burst in his mouth.
There was a feeling of chewing sothing that shouldnt be chewed, and Wang Huan carefully moved his tongue while chewing the chicken.
Chewing, chewing.
Wang Huan finished his al, and the agent left with the cart.
Once the agent closed the door and left, Wang Huan pretended to sleep, covered himself with a blanket, and reached into his mouth.
Ssh.
What ca out of his mouth was a red plastic.
He unfolded the plastic, and inside the transparent tape-like object, there were written words.
Right.
Fetching the Moon from the Bottom of the Sea.
It was an idiom, but the short word clearly conveyed its aning.
Have to co. They will. Hehehe.
Just wait.
They will surely co to rescue.
Yes.
Trying to contain Zenros in Sejong Island was like trying to fetch the moon from the sea, a re futile effort.
Even if he killed Koreans and caused harm,
The trial should not be in Korea, but in his ho country.
Hehe.
Back in his ho country, he would receive support from the party.
And after repeated research, he would eventually regain his abilities.
How was not the question.
The abilities must be regained, and with that power, he must once again taste that pleasure.
Hehehe.
Wang Huan lightly clutched the pillow.
Right now, he was just holding cotton in his hand.
But later.
If he regains his abilities, if he recovers the power he once wielded as a devil.
Want to crush it.
Once tasted, the allure was too potent to resist.
anwhile, in Ulleungdo, as they were establishing the concept.
Yes, this is Do Ji-hwan speaking.
[Can you talk briefly right now?]
Baek Seol-hees voice ca through, tinged with caution, as if mindful of those around her.
Yes, yes. Im available. What concerns do you have this ti?
[Ah, good. I need to consult sothing with you.]
If its sothing within my capacity to assist.
[It shouldnt be a big issue.]
Not a big issue.
[Youre aware of the Zenros being transported to Sejong Island, right? Do you think the Goblin will make an appearance?]
The Goblin?
[Yes. The Goblin. The one known for eliminating all villains.]
Do you suspect he will intervene?
Was that her underlying question?
Whether the Goblin would get involved.
I cant make any guarantees about the Goblins intentions, but if I were in the Goblins shoes
[If you were the Goblin?]
If my target had been transford into a normal person by Solar Platina and then turned into a Zenros, I wouldnt see any reason to further sully my hands by pursuing and eliminating Zenros.
[Why not?]
Well, perhaps because its a hassle? Or maybe the Goblin has its own reasons. Possibly preoccupied with patriotism or a loved one.
[Ah.]
Baek Seol-hee expressed her understanding.
[If thats the case]
Did that answer satisfy you?
[Yes. But its a bit You know, the Goblin has a knack for appearing unexpectedly, like ddling in others affairs.]
She was probing.
As if to inquire whether the Goblin might reappear despite her earlier statent.
If the Goblin does intervene, it might be to thwart those who, through Zenros, aim for so malevolent purpose rather than targeting a typical villain.
[Malevolent purpose?]
There are such rumors. What would the genetics of soone who transford into a devil and then reverted to human look like? If they could have children, would those offspring be human or devils?
[Such experintation is unethical and inhumane.]
Why, you see that in movies, right? Using criminals for human experints. In history, not just criminals but even ordinary people were forcibly involved.
A silence of empathy ensued.
Since Baek Seol-hee and I had actually seen such movies before, she didnt deny my words.
Seol-hee, humans can beco worse than devils for their evil and desires. Not only those who beco devils through abilities are devils. Just
[Just?]
That doubt of whether the Goblin will act as the Goblin. Hahaha.
[I think I get it.]
Baek Seol-hee responded with a sowhat relieved voice.
[Um, one last question.]
Yes, go ahead.
[Are the villains defined by the state always bad guys?]
Ill answer it this way.
My response to the doubt I had when I was classified as a villain.
During the Japanese occupation, from Japans perspective, wouldnt the independence activists also have been seen as villains?
[Thats a bit complicated.]
Well, the Goblin might think that way.
Believing oneself to be right and considering those who label oneself a villain as evil.
Just rember, the Goblin is like the embodint of hypocrisy. Self-centered when it suits him, judging everything based on his standards, not the laws, a selfish trash.
Whether society defined the Goblin as a villain or not, I knew best that my actions were villainous.
But sotis, you know, even villains can act for justice, for a greater cause, doing things that heroes cant. Daring to take actions that heroes hesitate to.
[Hmm Really?]
Yes. Do you rember that movie, Hero Tyranno and cha Tyranno?
[Ah.]
The first movie Baek Seol-hee and I watched together in the cinema.
Even if heroes and villains fight each other, when an alien enemy appears, they unite to fight, because thats what Earthlings do.
Though not an Earthling myself.
[So, the Goblin might appear, not as himself but maybe wearing a gaksital?]
Hehe, Seol-hee.
I glanced at the concept Yumir and Doul were busily preparing, trying my best to suppress my laughter, and answered her question.
He might appear in a form beyond our imagination.
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