Let's Blow Up Together
………… Zerk Makerberg's hand moved through the air again. The machines on the walls lit up in unison. A massive hologram unfurled in the air before us.
It was…… Yeouido.
Real-time footage of the Yeouido area, where a Dimensional Gate had opened, filled the screen. There was the Dimensional Gate—a massive, crimson rift. Reptilians were pouring out of it in droves. The allied forces of the military and the Awakener Association had formed a defensive line. Gunfire and explosions rang out nonstop, holding back the reptilians.
But…… they were being pushed back.
The reptilians emerging from what wasn't even an S-rank Dimensional Gate overwhelmed the allies in both numbers and quality. And without its two EX-rank Awakeners, the defensive line was far too fragile.
The line crumbled. Soldiers' bodies melted under laser fire. Even the Awakeners couldn't hold and began to retreat.
“Ugh……”
My teeth ground together in rage. People, soldiers, Awakeners, and civilians who hadn't evacuated in time—they were all dying.
Shouldn't we do something?
It wasn't too late yet. If I saved my own life by stopping Makerberg and rejoined the Yeouido defensive line, we could still salvage this. I couldn't think of a way myself, but surely the EX-rank Awakeners could figure something out.
I looked at Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee. But neither moved.
“Haneul, Sehee! We have to do something…… right? If we stay like this——”
“……No.”
“……We can't.”
Both cut me off at the same time. Short. Firm.
“Why?”
“Because you'd die.”
“Because you're in danger, Yujin.”
……Ah.
It felt like my head had been smashed with a blunt weapon. But that made it clear. Crystal clear.
To them, I was already more precious than the hundreds of thousands in Yeouido. My ability had eroded their minds. It had twisted fondness and affection into possessiveness and obsession.
So they chose me. They turned their backs on the sacrifices that could number in the tens, hundreds, or even tens of millions.
As I stared at them, Makerberg explained calmly.
“The Yeouido area is currently under occupation by our species. Bridgehead establishment is in progress. Approximately six hours remain until completion.”
Makerberg continued.
“Look. The tide has already turned.”
The hologram zoomed in. The collapse of the defensive line came into sharper focus.
“Once the bridgehead is complete, no resources will be needed to keep the Dimensional Gate open. Our homeworld's supplies and troops will then pour into Earth without limit.”
In the hologram, a building that looked like a securities firm crumbled. People fled.
“Soon, we will be able to use all eight billion sentient beings on Earth as fuel for the causality calculator.”
“……”
Makerberg spread his hands.
“So cooperate now, willingly. As honorary reptilians.”
“Honorary…… reptilians?”
“Yes. At the very least, you three and your descendants will be guaranteed safety until the end of your natural lifespans.”
…………
Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee said nothing. Only silence flowed.
At first, I thought their silence meant refusal. It had to. Kang Haneul was an EX-rank Awakener. So was Baek Sehee. They'd saved countless lives before. There was no way they'd side with the reptilians. No way they'd accept this offer.
The reason they weren't speaking now…… had to be a plan. Yeah, a plan. To buy time or lower Makerberg's guard.
That's what I tried to convince myself.
But—
“Just how exactly will you guarantee our safety?”
Baek Sehee spoke up out of nowhere.
What?
For a moment, I doubted my ears. But it wasn't a hallucination.
“Suppose you establish the bridgehead and conquer Earth. How will you guarantee safety for me, Yujin, and our descendants?”
“Sehee……?”
I called her name, but she wouldn't meet my eyes.
“Yeah. Be specific. What exactly does 'honorary reptilian' mean?”
This time, Kang Haneul directed her question at Makerberg.
“I will answer.”
Makerberg nodded.
“Honorary reptilians are beings who are not of our species but receive treatment equivalent to ours.”
“So, what does that treatment entail?”
“We classify the sentient beings of conquered planets into two tiers.”
As Makerberg's hand moved, the hologram changed. An alien landscape spread out. It looked like a city on some extraterrestrial planet. Buildings lined the streets, and beings similar to humans—but subtly different—walked between them.
“The first tier is honorary reptilians, or collaborators. The second tier provides labor. We offer collaborators necessary services like medical care and education.”
Makerberg continued his explanation.
“We have already applied this policy to the subjugated species of seven planets. It has proven highly effective. Collaborators receive rewards for aiding our species, and laborers are granted the right to survival.”
“……And the rest?”
Baek Sehee asked.
“We breed as much of the population as can be farmed in facilities. They become a continuous fuel source for the causality calculator. Those who cannot be farmed are slaughtered immediately and used similarly as fuel.”
A calm answer.
The city in the hologram vanished, replaced by the carnage in Yeouido.
“Honorary reptilians and laborers are exceptions. They are safe until their natural deaths. This is a rule our species has always upheld.”
““…………””
Kang Haneul looked at me. Baek Sehee looked at me.
And in their eyes, I read it.
The decision. They'd already decided.
…………
No, this couldn't be happening. It made no sense.
“You all…… you're not seriously thinking of accepting this, right? Right?”
Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee said nothing.
No way.
My mouth went dry.
Yeah. Maybe I'd been short-sighted. I hadn't anticipated Makerberg pulling a hostage stunt. But I never imagined things would go this far.
If I'd known, I wouldn't have asked for their help. Now, I had almost no options left. Grasping at straws, pleading with Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee was my best bet.
“Haneul, Sehee! Snap out of it! Don't you get what that reptilian is saying!?”
““……””
Still no answer.
“He's saying he'll slaughter almost all of humanity! Billions dying! Being farmed and butchered!!”
I screamed until my throat burned.
Finally, Kang Haneul spoke.
“Yujin. I want to be with you.”
“What?”
“Life without you…… has no meaning. So……”
Baek Sehee spoke too.
“Yujin. You want to live too, don't you? With us.”
“What are you——”
“I can't lose you. Never.”
Baek Sehee's voice was as gentle as ever. But beneath it lay an ironclad resolve.
Kang Haneul added,
“Right. You think living is better than dying too. That's why you called us. Isn't it?”
“……Crazy.”
The curse slipped out unbidden.
What the hell are you two saying?
My head felt like it would explode.
“So…… it's okay if everyone dies?”
“……”
“Association staff, special response team members, everyone—it's fine if they all die?”
Kang Haneul answered.
“Sorry. But I don't want to lose you.”
Baek Sehee followed.
“I'm sorry. But I'm the same. Life without you is worse than death.”
“Ah……”
My chest caved in.
It was my fault. All of it.
My ability had eroded their minds. My ability had turned them into this.
And now, they were about to betray everyone.
My legs gave out. I was about to collapse.
Then Makerberg spoke.
“It's over. Your lovers have already joined our species. You have only one choice left.”
“……”
“For the future of our species—and yours and your lovers'——”
Makerberg spread his hands.
“——Cooperate.”
…………
There's no other way now.
I'd steeled myself. Or so I thought. If I hadn't, I'd have accepted Makerberg's offer and passed the trial.
But…… I was scared. Actually facing it terrified me. Even after four times.
My hands shook, my heart pounded wildly, tears welled up. These emotions were probably Moon Yujin's originals. The instinct not to die. The refusal to end it like this.
Sorry.
I felt bad for Moon Yujin. Dying in his body was his death too, after all.
But it couldn't be helped. Real ends come without warning.
I lifted my head. Looked straight at Kang Haneul.
“Haneul. I forgive you.”
Kang Haneul's pupils trembled.
Then I turned to Baek Sehee.
“Sehee. I'm sorry. But I have no choice.”
I clenched my fist.
“What are you doing?”
Makerberg asked, but I didn't answer.
And then—I slammed my fist into the metal collar around my neck, targeting what I guessed was the sensor.
“———!?”
Makerberg's vertical pupils dilated massively.
Beep—beep—beep— The bomb collar blared its warning.
“You……!”
Makerberg shouted.
“If that explodes, it won't just kill you—it'll take me too. Stop!”
I struck again. Thud, thud, thud.
My fist hurt like hell. Probably cracked or broken bones.
“Yujin!!”
“Yujin!!”
Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee's screams rang out.
But I didn't stop.
Thud!!
The warnings accelerated. Beepbeepbeepbeep—
“You're making an irrational choice! Why? Stop now!”
I met the yelling Makerberg's eyes. Smiled at him.
“——But I refuse.”
Thud!
Beeeeeeeeep——
The bomb collar's warning merged into one long tone. Then, with a blinding flash, a strange shock hit from my neck.