Omen (2)
"Yunjin."
"Yes, Heal."
We bound Bae Sungkwan's body and healed him. His wounds gradually mended.
Healing's pretty damn effective.
The surprising part was that even his shattered peach bone, teeth, and collarbone were fully restored. I mentally upgraded my assessment of Kim Yunjin's abilities.
Of course.
"Yunjin, you should probably step out."
She had to go.
"C-can I stay too? I-I mean, I might be needed if something happens."
Kim Yunjin asked with a curious look. I pondered it.
"Hmm."
There were several reasons, but what was about to happen wasn't going to be pleasant. Still, if she wanted to stay, there was no real need to refuse.
"It's fine. Really. I'll take her out."
At that moment, Kim Jungshik grabbed Kim Yunjin's arm. She recoiled in shock.
"No, Uncle Jungshik! Where are you grabbing? Hey?"
"C-come on. No nonsense."
"No. Tsk. I want to stay too! No!"
Screeech.
Kim Jungshik swiftly dragged out the protesting Kim Yunjin. He'd picked up on it too.
...The look on Jeong Suhyun's face wasn't good. His mouth was smiling wide, but his eyes weren't.
Why? They knew each other, so maybe something bad had happened between them.
I'll find out soon enough.
Plus, thanks to Kim Yunjin's strong healing, Kim Jungshik's absence wasn't a bad thing. We wouldn't even need painkillers.
"Hello."
"......"
In the now quiet room after Kim Yunjin and Kim Jungshik left, Jeong Suhyun greeted Bae Sungkwan. Bae's face twisted in misery as he clamped his mouth shut.
"Long time no see."
Jeong Suhyun continued regardless.
"Sixteen people. Horrific, right? If it had just been you guys, Northdong Office would've been fine."
I didn't know the details. Jeong Suhyun had only mentioned it briefly at Northdong Office.
All I knew was that something had gone down between Jeong Suhyun and Bae Sungkwan.
"...Jeong Suhyun, you crazy bastard."
Bae finally spoke at Jeong Suhyun's words. Jeong Suhyun grinned.
"What, wanna run again? Can't this time."
"Stealth."
Bae activated stealth. Of course, we all spotted where he was anyway.
My bat headed straight for his thigh.
Crack!
"Guh! You think I'll talk? To trash like you, Jeong Suhyun? Not worth it."
Trash calling trash. Novel.
Crack!
"Kek!"
His leg kept trembling. Lighter hits than at Northdong Station, but pain was pain.
Jeong Suhyun eyed him and asked,
"Anyway, enough old history. Where's your gang?"
"......"
"Junyoung."
I raised the bat again. Bae flinched and mumbled softly.
"......"
Stubborn pride, huh? But the restored pain proved too much, and a tiny word slipped out.
"...Tr.."
"Can't hear you."
Jeong Suhyun mocked him. Bae sighed and spoke.
"...We set up base at Benefit Mart."
"Got it."
Jeong Suhyun nodded. Benefit Mart. Yeah, only real spot in Southdong for a base.
Unlike Rocket Mart, no remnant there, I guess.
I asked Bae,
"Why kill the Northdong Station people?"
I was curious. Why wipe them out? They could've just raided Southdong.
No need to poke around there.
"......"
Bae shut his mouth, weighing pain against pride.
What the hell was that pride anyway?
"Hoo..."
I lowered the bat and changed questions. Why they killed wasn't crucial anyway.
"Fine. Start with your name, skills, Liberation Army leader down to grunts. Night watch rotations, operations, daily routines, food sources. Why Southdong? Your skill first."
"......"
Bae stayed silent. Didn't he get his situation? But as I raised the bat, he muttered softly.
"...You won't kill me easy or let me go, beat me half-dead, now want everything? Base is enough. Kill me."
"......"
I nodded. Expected as much. But I wasn't giving him what he wanted.
I called Jeong Suhyun.
"Jeong Suhyun."
"Can I? Junyoung. We need his info."
Jeong Suhyun, who'd been watching, frowned. I sighed.
"No need. Do what you want. If he spills everything, we'll kill him quick."
Dead or not, we'd gotten what we needed bringing him here.
Jeong Suhyun smiled faintly.
"......"
Bae froze. Didn't expect real death?
No, he was scared. Of what? His eyes locked on Jeong Suhyun.
Why so afraid? His reasons didn't matter. He was ours now, our base's enforcer.
I brought the guy who killed three anyway.
Past was past. Present mattered. And Jeong Suhyun was doing great.
As I thought that, he grinned.
"Got your permission, Junyoung. I can go wild."
Jeong Suhyun moved slowly. Bae twitched with each step.
"......"
Jeong Suhyun chuckled, grabbed his rifle.
Gonna kill him quick? No—
Thud!
"Kek!!"
He smashed Bae's thumbnail. Then methodically hammered every nail.
Thud!
"!!!!"
Thud!
"Aaaagh!"
His hands turned blue-black, nails ripping out. Both hands done quick.
"Kek. Fuck! Think that'll make me talk?"
Bae screamed. Jeong Suhyun shrugged.
"Don't have to. You said you wouldn't."
Damn.
"Just stay put. Helps me vent."
"Jeong Suhyun, you psycho fuck. Knew it from your beggar act. Psycho! Lunatic! Fucking maniac!"
"Yeah."
Jeong Suhyun pulled a screwdriver. Where'd he get that?
"This... fuck."
"Changed your mind?"
"Shut up. Fuck. Just kill me! Kill me, you psycho!"
"No can do."
Stab.
He drove it into Bae's handback.
Splurt. Blood sprayed, red liquid flowed.
"Aaaagh!"
"No effect. Lower down might work better. Thoughts?"
"......"
"Yes?"
Jeong Suhyun smiled. Bae clammed up. No answer worth giving?
But Jeong Suhyun reached for his belt like he meant it. Bae's eyes darted, then he yelled.
"Fuuuuck! Fine! Fine! I'll talk! Everything!"
"Too bad."
Brutal, but effective.
Bae swallowed pained breaths. Jeong Suhyun watched, asked calmly,
"So. Abilities?"
"Hoo... hoo.."
"Refusing?"
Jeong Suhyun's vibe flipped 180, genuinely disappointed. Bae looked horrified.
"Fuck... wait. Yeah. Ability. Stealth skill, like you know."
Info flowed. I met Jeong Suhyun's eyes.
Nod.
Confirmed stealth.
Jeong Suhyun pressed.
"Age?"
"...Thirty-two."
"Job?"
"Night Raven."
Night Raven. Fits stealth vibe. But unlike simple "Stealth User" or "Stealth Master," unique naming.
Like Jeong Suhyun's...
So stealth wasn't common?
"Unique. Anyway, too much hassle—write your status window here."
"...Hands like this?"
"Oh, right."
Stab.
"!!!!"
Scream echoed.
......
"Hmm, you're a major, huh?"
"Yeah, we use military ranks."
Bae's tone darkened. Makes sense in a collapsed world—ranks organize the powered.
"Military play. World's only been down a month, not embarrassed? Speech too."
Normal view matched Jeong Suhyun's.
Bae snorted.
"Don't care. Leader's rules."
"So, leader's skills?"
"......"
Jeong Suhyun raised his rifle casually. Bae's resolve crumbled.
"Fuck... Leader's gas ability."
"Gas, huh. Junyoung, probably what Yunjin and them mentioned."
"Yeah."
Matched the ability that hit Kim Yunjin, Jeong Dojin, Choi Yuri early on. Initial stages then.
More info spilled. Including my question.
"Why Northdong Station?"
"...Human procurement."
"Humans?"
Park Donghyuk, Lee Euna—useful—killed. Young women spared, rest dead. But answer differed.
"Hoo, humans here mean dolls for us."
"Dolls?"
"Stress relief. Or display."
Why kill all? Could capture.
Jeong Suhyun sensed it, asked,
"But you usually captured?"
"Upper orders. F-Point... Northdong Station. Occupy, kill if needed."
"Orders... Why?"
"Why?"
Bae chuckled darkly.
"Food summoners become food slaves. Mostly young women. They're treated decent."
"......"
"Useless? Meat toilets, then dead. Men especially—warnings to others. Crucified."
"Crucified?"
"Yeah, burned alive, hung central for show."
"Got it. Young women rape slaves, men killed for display. Kids and elderly?"
"Dead."
"Even good ability users?"
Jeong Suhyun voiced my doubt. Kim Gapsu, Choi Youngchul—valuable. Men useful labor.
Bae shook head.
"Elderly stubborn. Kids don't obey."
"......"
"Men rebel regardless of age. Middle-aged women hard to handle, useless. Just eat food. So young women."
"This is..."
"But need constant supply. Our guys rough. Northdong was this time."
"Hah..."
Jeong Suhyun speechless. Made sense his way. Humans take decades to grow, seconds to kill. Post-apoc supply issues.
Three weeks for this. Impressive bastards.
Got their survivor treatment policy.
Dog death.
Victims of their greed. Other survivors, Northdong too.
"Defense setup, numbers, key ability users?"
Key question.
"...Setup? Nothing fancy. Bunch of dumb guys rounded up. About 50."
Spilled easily. Way over sixteen, as expected.
I cut Jeong Suhyun.
"Ability users?"
Bae sighed.
"Gas, comms, lightning, me—stealth. Four leaders. Command, recon, torture, assassination squads."
Surprisingly cooperative. No loyalty to his crew.
Lightning.
Bonus info. I pressed for max value.
"Assassination?"
"Yeah, roam killing threats."
"Criteria?"
"Leader decides. Contracts."
Jeong Suhyun replied,
"Junyoung was one."
"Yeah, didn't know monster. Heh, our turn now. Told 'em not to touch you. No exceptions?"
Surprise. Ordered no attack on me?
"Told them hands off?"
"Yeah. No sane guy roams old downtown free. Suspected, and here we are. Vermin. They'll die painful. Heh heh."
"......"
Torture ended anticlimactically. Bae sighed.
"All out. No lies. Kill me. Don't wanna suffer that fucker more."
Chin toward Jeong Suhyun.
But.
"How know no lies?"
Fair doubt. All verbal except skill.
But.
"Fuck it. Believe or not. Nothing left. No loyalty to them anyway."
Bae clammed up.
"Got it. As you wish."
Jeong Suhyun's hand rose. To rifle.
"Wait."
I stopped him. Last question.
"Hah fuck. What bullshit now. Can't die clean?"
"Last one. You come through Rocket Mart? What was there?"
Crucial. If they knew Jeong Suhyun, via Rocket Mart. Sixteen Northdong Liberation Army passed there.
Bae knew seventh remnant.
Low lie chance here.
Bonus remnant info.
"......"
No answer. Odd—
"Hey."
Tap.
I poked from behind. But.
"Junyoung."
Jeong Suhyun frowned, stopped me. I scowled.
Why? What now?
But Bae's state wasn't what I expected.
"Look."
"......"
I went to Jeong Suhyun. Saw.
Tsk...
Bae dead, blood pouring from every facial hole.
Died instant I mentioned Rocket Mart. Not normal.
No warning, just gone.
I checked his bleeding face.
Remnant power?
Mind interference? But...
That one's dead.
Seventh remnant burned long ago. No clues.
"Junyoung. This.."
"...Clean up first."
"Ah, yes."
I sighed, rolled sleeves.
===
Our Love Church front gate.
Jeong Suhyun and I dumped Bae's corpse.
Thud!
"Leave like this?"
"Yes, burning tonight."
Burn it. Cleaner than hauling.
Human smell tough, though.
I eyed the body.
Seventh remnant.
His death nagged.
Thinking: Not lawless zone. Korea. Month post-collapse.
Liberation Army too brutal. Loot, kill, rape... display corpses.
Thought skill first.
Psycho mind control, kill-power skill possible.
Or just trash gathered.
But Bae rational. Knew right/wrong, questioned orders.
My raider gang theory solidifying.
Then.
Remnant pops up.
No pity—self-inflicted. But weird death.
Didn't ask remnant direct. Just Rocket Mart contents. Dead.
Mind ability among them?
Unlikely. Then why not trigger on Liberation Army info?
Definitely remnant meddled.
Mind interference, contract. Or control?
No visual on seventh. Frustrating.
Rocket Mart. What was there? What hit sixteen? Why bleed out?
No. Later.
No answers now. Headache.
Hoo...
I turned to Jeong Suhyun.
"......"
"......"
Silence flowed. I broke it.
"...Good work, Jeong Suhyun."
"No, you more. Unexpected, though."
The unexpected: we knew. Bae's death. He pondered too.
"Head back?"
"Yes."
Jeong Suhyun. This op, sensed he hid something.
Not dumb—past words didn't match. Something with Liberation Army.
Plus.
Especially vicious.
His brutality on Bae extreme. Expected tolerance from first kill, but this?
Cold amid screams. Info and pain only.
Too practiced.
Wasn't always like this. What between them?
Not my business. Good guy despite. Key base role, trustworthy.
Note it, move on. Too far for personal digs.
Plus.
Click.
"Call everyone?"
Jeong Suhyun spoke beside me. I stopped thinking.
"No. Just Kim Jungshik... no, Kim Yunjin too."
"Got it."
Yeah. Seventh remnant, his past—not priority.
Liberation Army first.
Click.
I sighed, headed inside.
===
1F prayer room.
Me, Jeong Suhyun, Kim Jungshik, Kim Yunjin sat.
Kim Yunjin hesitantly raised hand.
"C-can I be here? Kicked me out earlier."
"Yes."
"Done. Right, Junyoung?"
"Yes. Gotta tell all anyway. Group needs info."
Short affirmatives.
I nodded, unrolled big map, pulled papers.
"Look here first."
Three pairs eyes on me. Blank, excited, worried.
Eyed each, held paper.
"Bae Sungkwan. Liberation Army intel extracted."
Showed one thing from our haul.
"His ability first. How he massacred Northdong Station."
"Stealth, confirmed by Jeong Suhyun. He tailed me, entered Northdong Station, massacred all."
Jeong Suhyun's skill at D showed full top fields. Name, age, job, aptitude, infection—all matched Bae's words.
Stats too, safe bet.
"...Stealth."
"Totally invisible?"
"Yes. Targets spot it, others no. Detection abilities only."
Faces soured. Stealth dangerous alone. Multiple? Base threat.
Lee Yoon, Jeong Suhyun—limited coverage.
"But."
I explained new find.
"Likely only Bae has stealth."
"...Why?"
"He said some, but this first."
Kim Yunjin asked. I nodded, raised bloody paper.
"See here, Jeong Suhyun's notes on your status windows."
"Jeong Suhyun."
Passed paper. He showed Kim Jungshik, Kim Yunjin.
"Yes, thanks, Junyoung. Look here."
My absence: he shared his skills, compiled all status in files.
Surprised me then. Him and Kim Jungshik handling well—proud.
Anyway.
Jeong Suhyun continued.
"Your status windows. Kim Yunjin first: Healer, Heal D-rank. Heals minor wounds."
Detailed: names, aptitude, skills, jobs.
"Kim Jungshik, me, vice-leader on—everyone in files. Made when Kim Jungshik arrived. All."
"Yes."
They nodded.
"But unknown fields beyond job, skills, age."
Showed his page.
Pointed Earth, aptitude, infection.
Stopped at aptitude.
"Aptitude."
"Aptitude."
"Hmm. Mine 71%."
Kim Jungshik, Kim Yunjin intrigued.
"Thought junk like Earth, infection. But Liberation Army revealed."
Raised Bae's bloody paper again.
"Pain-written. See? 91% aptitude, Night Raven job. Now, from Hwang Sawon."
Flipped files, pointed individuals.
Blunt summoners first.
"Rule: 30-40 aptitude: weapons/tools. Food summoners 60-70."
Pointed Choi Overchief, Joo Assistant, Choi Yuri.
"Jeong Dojin's aptitude?"
42%.
"Body enhancers 40-50. Kim Yunjin 71, vice-leader 77, me 84, Kim Jungshik 88."
"Ah..."
Got it now.
"Higher aptitude, rarer abilities. Kim Jungshik, any like yours at Northdong?"
"No. Park Donghyuk, kid cop good, but.."
Silence. Kim Jungshik realized slip, about to apologize—
"Wait..."
"Yes. Common lower aptitude, rare higher. My common line:"
Drew 30-70.
"Here. 80 maybe common."
Drew to 80.
"No 70s but Yunjin, vice. Above: special, named. Drug Merchant, Watcher, Healer, Animal Tamer."
Nods all around. Perfect, convincing.
"Tangent, anyway. Key: 91% stealth, Night Raven. More in Liberation Army?"
"...Probably not."
"Few if any."
Realistic.
I nodded, took Jeong Suhyun's cue.
"Yes. Our intel: none. Now, how handle. This first."
Hoo.
Sighed, handed final Bae paper.
Kim Jungshik, Kim Yunjin read curiously. Excitement soured quick.
Kim Jungshik, contemptuous:
"...Truth?"
Jeong Suhyun nodded.
"Yes."
"Really?"
Denial wish. But resigned Bae convincing.
"Yes. You knew they'd be scum, Kim Jungshik."
"True... Knew dogs, not this bad."
"Understand."
Kim Jungshik's reaction right. My summary lacked horror.
No details then. Seeing beats hearing. They needed gravity.
Take to Northdong later.
They'd adapt. Smart, streetwise.
But my direct hell differed. Flesh walls, fetus, brutal corpses, remnants. They needed exposure.
Not yet.
Retrieved read paper, said,
"We kill them. Right."
Liberation Army: reserves, soldiers, conscripts. 50 at Benefit Mart by force.
Gas one. Comms one. Stealth one. Lightning one. Rest summons/body boost. Guns.
Control Southdong, raid. Reject/closed groups like Northdong—attack.
Obey: kill. Surrender: capture.
Useless captives: killed, displayed. Women/production: limbs off, human farms.
Feed pigs, endless skill grind.
Useful method, kinda.
Best for group hold, post-apoc morale: human entertainment.
Their way efficient. Stress, hierarchy rewards: kill, rape, pleasure supreme.
But.
Makes enemies.
Neighbors, friends, family avengers natural. Guns, comms, powers suppress dissent.
But.
Now I'm their enemy.
Truth: eaten by stronger, meaner.
They touched my family-seekers, survivors. Repay in kind.
Even if remnant-hit.
No remnant blame. Psycho violence victim's fault? No.
...They die. Reasons irrelevant.
I spoke.
"But safe, sure wipe needs prep. I'll scout their info."
"Go now better?"
Jeong Suhyun blinked. I shook head.
"No. Full prep. Northdong start, church blacks. Bae might lie."
"...Yeah. Clear near threats first. Verify info."
Jeong Suhyun hand-to-chin.
"...Agree. Haste makes waste. Safety first. One guy's intel."
"Yes."
Kim Jungshik agreed. Base safety priority.
I nodded.
"Yes. Today watch church, next days clear around. Then. Kim Jungshik."
"Yes."
"Summon fentanyl, drugs from today."
"Drugs?"
"Yes. Vice-leader's taming—insects too?"
"...Probably... No way?"
I nodded.
"Yes. Mull it. Might not work. Other one-sided attack options possible."
"Ahem... Got it."
Kim Jungshik serious nod. Called Jeong Suhyun.
"Jeong Suhyun."
"Yes."
"Same as always. Tonight watch with me."
"Got it. Night watch reinforce. Kim Jungshik, tell Lee Yoon?"
"Yes. Tell vice-leader all. Rest... dinner announce."
"Yes. Slow. Go now."
Jeong Suhyun stood.
"Uh..."
As I rose, hesitant Kim Yunjin.
"W-what do I do? Other skills? Or that guy, Northdong, Liberation Army talk?"
Can share Bae, Northdong, them?
Makes sense, called for heal, sidelined.
I nodded.
"Normal duties. Share anything. All need know. We gather info, not hide."
"Ah, yes!"
Kim Yunjin beamed. To Jeong Suhyun:
"You and me 2F, surveillance today. Plan Southdong route."
"Yes, watch first like before? Nearby detection possible."
"Yes."
"Ahem. Then..."
All agreed. Fighting them. Protecting all.
Click.
Click.
"Good work."
Meeting end. Jeong Suhyun and me up, Kim Jungshik out, Kim Yunjin duties.
Days: watch/clear church area, test Kim Jungshik/Lee Yoon skills, attack.
Then verify Bae, crush Liberation Army.
Thorough, safe, perfect.
......
......
No perfect.
"Going?"
Jeong Suhyun from 2F chair, me opening window.
I nodded.
"Yes. Radio?"
"That room. Won't hear here."
"Good."
I smiled. Quick wit.
Liberation Army walkie. Off but connected.
By ability.
Thought: reverse use?
"Explain others tomorrow. Tonight you solo watch."
Leak our info on purpose?
They expect no attack? Or lax?
"Got it. Trust me. Careful, Junyoung. Rocket Mart link. But you fine solo."
"Yes. Going."
"Yep."
Silly try. They'd spot if smart. My shadow box maybe.
Comms ability guess.
No matter. Caught or not, fine.
Got needs: no more stealth. Base Benefit Mart. Verified, low lie chance.
Wrong? Fine. Probing ends.
Screeech.
"Frost Blink."
Today, Liberation Army dies by my hand.