Chapter 48: Those Who've Forsaken Their Humanity (2)

'What choice did I have? The age limit here was twelve!'

I knew full well it was ridiculous to pass off Han Seohyun as a child, but there was no other way to infiltrate the place.

If not for my talent, I never would've attempted something this absurd.

Fortunately, I possessed the ability to turn any lie into truth.

"You're really saying he's twelve?"

The man's eyes brimmed with suspicion.

"Yes, really. He must've grown fast because he's an awakener."

I met the man's gaze and opened my mouth. Slowly, I let my mana seep into his body.

Unlike Seol Rokjin's brainwashing, which ended things instantly without persuasion or talk, my lies required finesse. Especially for something this outrageous.

Luckily, this man's mental locks weren't complex. A bit of fog in his eyes and some doctored papers, and he bought my 'ridiculous lie' without question.

Han Seohyun, hunched over as far as he could, let out a strained grunt. Folding his shoulders like that must've been tough. I tapped his calf lightly—just a bit longer.

━That kid just gave you a real insolent look.

'Yeah, better wrap this up quick before he says ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠something that'll blow it.'

I told the man, "If it's really not possible, we'll look for another orphanage. I'm short on time."

Places like this were always short on kids. Suspicious or not, they wouldn't turn away a potential 'child.' The issue was me—the awkward guardian. So, just eliminate that awkwardness.

"I'm getting posted up north soon."

"Ah, you're in the military?"

A northern posting was a death sentence for soldiers. At least five years before they could return.

His expression brightened at my words. I'd cleared the last hurdle perfectly. Now he had only one thing left to say.

"Aigoo, serving the country like that. Of course we'll take the child."

There we go.

I swallowed the rising nausea and grabbed his hand.

"Thank you so much!"

After that, it was smooth sailing. I glanced at the papers he handed me and signed without hesitation. No need to read the fine print—neither he nor I would ever see them again.

"Mind if I see where he'll be staying?"

He nodded readily.

"Sure, take a look."

━Not even a hint of hesitation.

'Of course not. They wouldn't leave it that sloppy.'

No traces of human modification or trafficking down below. At least not in this Bomnal Orphanage where people came and went.

Still, I inspected personally to check for artifacts through Ray's eyes.

━Hmm, artifact monitoring entries over there. And there too.

Ray could see it all.

I memorized the locations he pointed out.

A few sickly kids sat listlessly in the orphanage room.

━This is odd. So many sick kids?

Too few children, all in terrible health.

'It's a front.'

A facade with decent facilities and pitiable kids to dodge scrutiny. Claiming they truly cared for children.

It left a bitter taste.

Raiding this place would leave those kids homeless. But better than staying here.

After checking the facilities, I told the man, "One last word with the kid?"

"Of course."

He stepped out, pretending to give us space.

"Is that guy's head okay? How could he buy me as twelve?"

Han Seohyun stared at me in disbelief, glaring at the overalls I'd made him wear.

"This is so annoying. And it actually worked, which makes it even more annoying."

"Just endure a few days."

"Damn, I didn't wear crap like this even at twelve."

"Watch the language."

He nodded grudgingly. He'd have to play twelve for a bit. I told him, "Call me if it's dangerous. No heroics."

His safety came first. If things went south, I'd scrap the plan and pull him out. He nodded seriously, getting the message.

As he followed the staffer, Ray remarked,

━They really bought him as twelve? Unbelievable.

Ahem. I cleared my throat.

Three days after infiltrating Han Seohyun. A letter was tied to the leg of the rat he sent. Not a carrier pigeon—a carrier rat. Awkward name. Anyway, thanks to the rat's stealthy deliveries past the watchers, we knew exactly what was happening inside.

Day one: The orphanage seemed normal, aside from the kids looking drained and gloomy. Hard to expect cheer in one. Han Seohyun tried talking to them, but they avoided the big awakener. Heard "You really twelve?" thirty times—wanted to kill me, he wrote. Good, he's spirited.

Day two: Still no takers for chit-chat. He gave up and started investigating properly. That night, he found the path underground.

Day three—today: No new info. No rat-sized vents into the basement. Not even standard ventilation. Investigation pointless, he reported.

Fine. Time to go in ourselves.

"Infiltration tonight. Tell him."

The rat squeaked acknowledgment.

That night, once the watchers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vanished, I scaled the wall under cover of darkness. Kim Jaeho followed effortlessly.

No training needed—his base physicals were cheat-level. Thinking what he endured to get them killed any envy.

Kim Jaeho's body was covered in ugly, mottled scars that made your eyes water. The most glaring: a massive surgical line across his chest, like a heart transplant.

I'd asked once before. He said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nothing—amnesia or reluctance. No plans to pry this life either.

From what I knew, Kim Jaeho was a 0.5th generation product born here.

0th gen: all failures, scrapped. 0.5th: few successes, but mostly unruly 'defects.' Kim Jaeho was slated for disposal until Seol Rokjin took him.

Learning from 0.5th failures, 1st gen added mental mods for obedience.

Market's full of 0.5th gens. So 1st gens inside.

New mods built on data from dying friends like Kim Jaeho.

Before entering, I handed him the ring.

"What's this?"

"Seemed like a good fit for you."

I considered using it, but I had my own recovery methods. Better for Kim Jaeho now.

He slipped it carefully onto his left middle finger. Of all fingers.

We crept inside, neutralizing artifacts—my job.

A B-grade creator like me made these child's play... or not. With Ray's help, barely managed. No presences around.

Picking the door, we met Han Seohyun. He looked exhausted.

"Why so late!"

"Ease up on the glare."

"Damn, pretending to know nothing all day—do you know how hard that was?"

"Sorry for dragging you into this."

I glanced past him at the kids on the floor.

Four total. Obvious at a glance: worthless chaff. No talents, no potential, frail, diseased.

Perfect cover for the orphanage.

"They ate dinner and passed out."

No effect on big awakener Han Seohyun, but the drugs worked on them. They wouldn't wake to shakes or calls.

"I'll handle these."

He sighed, eyeing them. Still soft-hearted.

"Yeah. We'll find places for them—wait it out."

"Wish I could go too."

"We had a deal."

He bit his lip.

"Push the bookshelf—stairs inside. Basement entrance."

"Thanks."

"No idea what's down there. No vents, couldn't scout..."

He looked up earnestly.

"Be careful, okay?"

"Worry about these kids. Get 'em safe in the car."

He nodded, hoisting two kids onto his back. Once he was out, I turned to Kim Jaeho.

"Ready to head in?"

"......"

Silent, he shoved the bookshelf aside and descended.

The moment his foot hit the ground, dangerous aura rippled from him.

On the way down, Kim Jaeho said, "I remember this place."

"You were here."

"Everything here—kill 'em all?"

"If that's what you want."

I had no desire to spare these humanity-forsakers either.

━For intel, spare a few?

I shook my head.

'I already know everything worth knowing from here.'

The trash who designed and ran it? Identified. No value in these small fry.

I stepped forward slowly.

To purge the trash who'd abandoned their humanity.