Three days had passed since the child was rescued. Gyugyu had visited the Protheus chapel multiple tis alone, but fortunately, it seed they hadn't noticed the child's absence. There was no increase in security. Did the subject manage to cover it up? Or perhaps, does the disappearance of such a child not warrant any concern? It's hard to say.
The child they rescued was entrusted to Nam Woo-jin. Jeong Bin, Gyugyu, Nam Woo-jin, and J gathered in a small monitoring room. Nam Woo-jin observed the sleeping child through the one-way mirror and spoke.
“People whose mutations progress all at once are civilians. Those whose mutations progress partially… most of them are people under the system's influence.”
“But that child isn’t an Awakened, right?”
“Don’t Awakened people usually appear starting from high school age, even worldwide?”
“That’s correct.”
“Well, if they’re too young, they might not be able to endure the awakening ability and die. Looks like the system takes a lot into consideration. Let’s just say the system has picked out a potential Awakened…”
True. Cha Uijae also awakened when he was in high school. He nodded thoughtfully. Jeong Bin tapped his arm and then asked.
“Anyway... J, you infiltrated and rescued the child... How did your infiltration go, Gyugyu?”
“Hm? ?”
Gyugyu twirled his hair absentmindedly as he replied.
“It’s just a cult~ They pray, listen to so so-called prophet, cry and beg, ‘Please heal our child, our friend, our other half.’”
“...”
“Well, I didn’t expect them to use the child as an experint for human testing~”
Gyugyu grinned. Jeong Bin, unusually displeased, looked at Gyugyu, brushed his hair back, and sighed.
“Alright, I understand. Gyugyu, can you continue to infiltrate regularly?”
“Hm? Are you asking to take a commission? My pay is expensive, you know.”
Gyugyu made a circle with his thumb and index finger. Jeong Bin responded with a gentle smile.
“You’re going anyway, right? Since you’re such a filial person. We’ll pay for the information.”
“Ah… right. All the informants have gone crazy. Is that why you’re trying to use ?”
“Haha, not at all. I’m asking because you’re so skilled.”
“Lies. I’ll add a surcharge for the insult.”
Flas sparked between their smiles. Nam Woo-jin, who had been receiving a report from a boy who had appeared, suddenly shouted.
“Go fight outside if you’re going to! Get out!”
“Geez, so strict.”
Gyugyu grumbled as he walked out, swinging the door open. Uijae sighed and caught Jeong Bin, who was straightening his clothes.
“Jeong Bin.”
“Yes, J. Please, go ahead.”
Jeong Bin responded with a soft smile. Uijae hesitated, unsure how to start, then finally asked directly.
“Is there anyone on the team showing signs of mutation?”
“…Huh? Mutation signs?”
Jeong Bin's eyes widened. Uijae quickly blurted out, speaking rapidly.
“Like suddenly having their hair or skin turn white, or growing scales, fur, feathers, sothing like that...”
“Well, as far as I know, there isn’t... Do you know sothing?”
“…You should be careful.”
The words “You're going to die by their hand” didn’t easily leave his mouth. Uijae wanted to stay by Jeong Bin’s side, but opening the dungeon door was his top priority. He glanced toward the open door and added.
“Don’t stay alone, and make sure you're with soone, anyone except your teammates.”
“...”
“Please.”
The sound of dice clinking seed to answer his words.
***
Jongno 3-ga underground dungeon. The researchers were gathered together, dancing.
“My goodness! Look at this brilliance!”
“How beautiful... Ah, to think I’m seeing a real Tomoto Market Masuk!”
“This will fill with energy!”
It wasn’t exactly dancing, but rather gestures of excitent. They were gathered in a circle, flailing their arms like a group of monkeys who discovered fire. Among them, a rooster with a masuk in its beak proudly spread its wings.
Uijae sat a little farther away, resting his chin on his hand, watching the scene.
After rescuing the child and entrusting it to Nam Woo-jin, Uijae contacted Hong Ye-seong. He wanted to check the masuk he had given him.
“Hm? Did I use the masuk? No! It’s such a rare item. I’ve probably thought of about a hundred ways to use it. I’m in the process of deciding what to make, trying to perfect it. Why?”
“…Is there any way you could give it back?”
“What? Giving it and then taking it back? That’s not how it works.”
“Please.”
“…Huh?”
“Please, just once.”
“…Wait, wait, are you okay?”
Uijae couldn’t answer. He searched for words for a while, but nothing ca out. He wasn’t okay. Not at all. Every ti he closed his eyes, the image of the child struggling inside the glass jar resurfaced.
He wanted to see Lee Sa-young right now.
Hong Ye-seong seed to sense sothing was wrong and readily declared he would return the masuk without asking for further explanation.
“We’re friends, after all!”
And now, the rooster had appeared, proudly holding the masuk in its beak.
After showing off, the rooster handed the masuk to the researcher. Then, it hurried over to Uijae and claid his knee. Uijae rubbed the rooster’s smooth head with his fingers.
“Tell your master I said thank you.”
“Coo.”
The rooster nodded. After a mont, soone shouted.
“J! Please prepare!”
Uijae placed the rooster down and stood before a dead-end wall. He took a deep breath, pressing his hand against the wall. A cold chill spread through his palm. The corridor began to tremble. It was a distinctly stronger vibration than before.
Whoosh!
The corridor flashed with white light. A powerful force struck Uijae’s back. He concentrated the wave of energy into a single point through his palm, directing it toward the closed door. His body shook. Uijae clenched his teeth. He felt sothing round forming in his palm.
“Just a little... more!”
Uijae focused all his attention on his palm. He made the gathered energy grow larger and larger.
Finally,
Pop, the energy expanded massively.
Cheers erupted from behind. Strangely, the sound felt distant. Was it because he was pouring all his strength into it? His body felt drained. Slowly, Uijae opened his eyes. The familiar blue entrance shimred right before him.
“…I did it.”
His heart raced. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“I can et him.”
Just as he was about to turn around, his legs wobbled.
“Ah, damn it.”
He staggered toward the portal. The screams of the people faded. Well, it didn’t matter, right? He was going anyway. Uijae let his body be drawn into the portal without resistance.
With a dazed head, he reflected.
“Wait for , Lee Sa-young...”
Then, just as Uijae was about to close his eyes, a bright white window appeared in his vision. It was filled with sothing written, but in his foggy state, he couldn’t read it.
What? Caution? Entity Cha Uijae? Changes? Uijae waved his arm dismissively. His body and mind began to sink into complete darkness.
“When I open my eyes again, it will show up...”
With a strange trust in the system.
***
Thunk.
Thunk.
Sothing was poking at Uijae’s side. Hmm, what is it... Uijae shifted in his sleep. Thunk, sothing poked him again. It felt like... the tip of a shoe.
Who kicks soone’s side? Uijae frowned and raised his head. A large, dark figure stood tall. It slled sweet.
Uijae widened his eyes.
“...Lee Sa-young!”
Lee Sa-young turned his head. A pale face, much more gaunt and sharp than the last ti he saw him, and deep violet eyes that had sunken further. Uijae couldn’t hide his joy and staggered to rise. Then, he spread his arms wide toward Lee Sa-young.
“Sa-young!”
But,
“...Hmph.”
A short sigh filled with irritation ca back. Lee Sa-young stared at Uijae with a blank expression, then,
Without a word,
He passed by Uijae.
Whoosh, the air turned cold. The hand that had reached out toward him retracted. Uijae stared at Lee Sa-young’s retreating figure, dumbfounded.
What was that? Did he just ignore ?
Well, he had honestly expected a reunion that would be tear-jerking... but maybe he was a little hopeful. Uijae pouted. Was I the only one who missed him?
“…Did he get mad?”
Did he get angry because he left like that last ti? That would make sense. Lee Sa-young’s mood would twist at the slightest provocation. Damn it, I have to calm him down right away, now that he’s co.
“Hey, Lee Sa-young…”
Uijae rose to his feet. Just as he was about to grab Sa-young’s arm, suddenly.
“Tsk.”
Crack!
A large hand grabbed Uijae’s neck without hesitation. Lee Sa-young lifted the hand around Uijae’s neck. Uijae’s eyes went wide. His feet lifted off the ground. Uijae quickly grabbed the hand squeezing his neck and his wrist.
A cold voice muttered.
“I don’t know where you’ve been rolling around...”
The cold fingertips rcilessly pressed on his neck. Uijae gritted his teeth. His breath was being squeezed out. The violet eyes were glowing eerily. What was reflected in those eyes...
“You should observe your opponent before you fight... huh?”
It was killing intent.
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