Faceless One (2)
After that, a brief discussion ensued.
"No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like a skill. It resurrects people as monsters, right?"
Jeong Suhyun's opinion: it captures humans and turns them into monsters.
"No, no. It's not resurrection—it's more like mimicking people, don't you think? If it's imitating a human body, it could mimic clothes too."
Kim Jungshik's take: a monster imitating humans.
For us, deducing the true nature of this faceless thing was tough. Parasitic organisms or doppelgangers were other possibilities too.
In the end, Jeong Suhyun let out a sigh.
"It's complicated."
That's when Kim Jungshik spoke up.
"But according to Junyoung, it died so easily. No need to take it too seriously, right? It's just a zombie wearing clothes and mimicking people. Doesn't seem that scary, whether it's a skill or a monster."
He had a point. It really had gone down without much fight.
"Yeah, if you think simply, sure."
But we couldn't assume certainty. As I mulled that over, Jeong Suhyun cut in.
"...That Junyoung guy. But listen."
"Yeah?"
"These things... don't they seem connected to that black fog Lee Seoyul mentioned?"
Black fog. The stuff that engulfed the Mirae Apartments in the future, right?
Tap tap.
"Yeah, probably."
I drummed my fingers on the desk. Mirae Apartments, the complex south of Yuseong University. Lee Seoyul had described a black fog there, in a mid-sized complex from Building 101 to 210.
'The Liberation Army's tied to Yuseong University, and to the black fog.'
If so, the connections lined up. The Liberation Army influenced by the seventh remnant at Rocket Mart. And if there was another faction affected by the black fog...
'It's possible.'
Yeah, no reason the Liberation Army was limited to just the seventh. If it messed with minds, it could mess with bodies too. The faceless one's remnant affecting human flesh, the seventh hitting the psyche—it fit.
'Plus, this area's close to Yuseong.'
The rest I could scout myself for intel. No point dragging out the talk here.
"Alright, that's enough."
I roughly plopped Jo Jeongmin's head on the desk and stood.
Scraaaape.
"Everyone rest up today."
"...Already?"
"Yeah, nothing left to do, and it's getting dark."
It was past midnight.
"Hmm, feels like there should be more, though. Right, Jungshik?"
Jeong Suhyun sounded reluctant.
"Yeah, I'm so wired from the tension, no way I'll sleep."
Kim Jungshik's voice was hoarse too.
But rest was necessary. We'd pushed hard today, like when we brought Yoon Mina. Honestly, we'd been overdoing it since then.
I waved off the grumbling pair.
"Still, catch some shut-eye. Break it up. You're all beat—go rest. I'll take rooftop watch tonight, so head in. You too, Lee Yoon."
I called to Lee Yoon, perched on stacked desks. He'd worked hardest today. Pushing his ability to the limit at his age.
"I-I'm fine."
"No, you're not. Your face is a wreck."
It looked rough even from words alone. Then Jeong Suhyun interrupted.
"Nah, I'll take watch tonight. You and Lee Yoon sleep."
"Oh, Suhyun, great minds. Same thought."
Kim Jungshik jumped in.
"Then me and Suhyun got it. Haha, I'm good to go."
"Sounds good? You two sleep, we'll handle it."
Jeong Suhyun agreed.
I shook my head.
"No, but still."
They'd hustled plenty too.
"Hey, if we say we'll watch, we watch. Rest up, Junyoung. You'll be out again soon anyway."
"Exactly. Rest when you can. We're prepping the parasite now. Can't have the host dying on us. That's how we survive."
The pushback was fierce. Parasite and host? Nasty metaphor.
I sighed in defeat.
"...Fine. I'll be in 408 if anything comes up. And tomorrow lunch..."
"Drop it and go."
"Jungshik, just shove him out."
"No."
The burly Kim Jungshik dragged me off. I got booted without realizing.
"Sweet dreams."
Bam! Door slammed.
But it didn't feel bad. It was consideration, in a way.
===
A day passed like that.
"Junyoung."
"Ugh..."
"Junyoung."
I opened my eyes to Jeong Suhyun. Others wake to pretty girls; I got a hollow-eyed guy.
"...What is it."
My voice cracked from fatigue, throat raw—barely awake.
But his next words snapped me alert.
"Uh, the head melted."
"...What?"
Melted? Only one head: yesterday's faceless guy.
"That one?"
"Yeah. Fine till dawn, then sunlight hit and it melted."
Melted.
Crunch.
I hauled my creaking body up and headed to 409, the command post.
Creeeak.
Inside: hollow-eyed Kim Jungshik. He greeted me.
"Whoa, you're up."
"Kim Jungshik."
"Take a look."
He shoved the desk head my way.
"...This is..."
Kim Jungshik held the face to the sunlight.
Then—
Sizzle sizzle.
Like ice cream in the sun, the face melted.
Drip drip.
Soon, white face turned red liquid. I touched it.
Familiar fishy stench.
"...Blood?"
"Yeah. Guessed as much."
Kim Jungshik sighed.
"Not much threat now. Long as we watch at night."
True. Melts in daylight? They only strike nights.
Less threat than Liberation Army to our base.
"Like old vampire flicks—not sunlight melting? Wouldn't believe without seeing."
Jeong Suhyun grumbled.
Yeah. Why the fatal daylight weakness?
'Sunlight. Face...'
But something clicked watching it.
'Night. Darkness. Black fog.'
Too obvious a hint. Had to be linked.
Whatever the fog was, if it blocked the sun? And faceless got stronger in darkness?
'Feels like I get it.'
Then—
Scraaaape.
"Chief Kim. Reporting. Oh, Kim Junyoung too."
"Ah, Lee Yoon."
"Vice chief. Up?"
Lee Yoon, skinny 50s guy, entered. Slept well—looked better than yesterday.
"Good morning."
"Yeah, good morning."
I greeted him, then to the others:
"Meeting after lunch, so rest till then. I'll handle internal checks this morning."
"Meeting?"
"Yeah. Rotas, rules—afternoon's booked."
True. At Our Love Church, needed to revamp night watches, discipline. Plus Yoon Mina's disability meant new duties, precautions.
"You two, sleep now. No rest, no brains."
Unlike yesterday, I issued the dismissal.
Time: 06:02. They'd done their shift.
"Ah, yeah."
"Heading out."
No arguments from Jeong Suhyun or Kim Jungshik. Awake since 9 PM yesterday.
"Good work!"
They swapped with Lee Yoon. I told him, eyes on the outside:
"Lee Yoon, cover morning."
"Ah, Junyoung. Heading out?"
"Yeah. Not resting—gotta check something."
Planned to grill Lee Seoyul on the black fog.
Lee Yoon chuckled.
"Got it. Eyes wide open."
"Yeah. Post-meeting, someone else'll join."
"Yep."
Scraaaape.
I stepped into the hall. Quiet corridor, sunlight pouring in. Scanned doors.
Women's room this way. Knocked on 401.
Knock knock.
Would've left if sleeping.
"Yeees~"
Kim Yunjin's voice instant. Girls up early for breakfast duty.
I cleared my throat.
"Yunjin, it's me. Lee Seoyul in?"
'Seoyul? One sec. She's sleeping. Wait, no—up now!'
"Yeah."
Crash bang.
Chaos inside, loud. Waited; bright-faced Lee Seoyul emerged.
'Looking human now.'
I waited for her to speak. Better after days of rest. Met her dad Lee Yoon, group treated her well.
"U-um, Junyoung. What is it?"
"Can we talk? Or elsewhere?"
"Ah... outside then..."
She glanced back suddenly.
"Eek!"
Sharp squeak.
"...Something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing. Just..."
She stared back, pondering. Squeezed eyes shut, soft sigh.
"...Here’s fine."
"Ah, yeah."
I nodded, entered 401. Guessed the issue: Kim Yunjin up to something.
'Gotta handle that somehow too.'