As intended
As intended
My purpose is consistent.
The rescue of my younger sister, who must be somewhere in the Gangnam Blackout Zone.
If not that... no, there's no need to think beyond this yet.
Because my fatalistic intuition was convinced that the bitch was somehow still alive.
So, if only for the sake of my parents who would be worrying about that bitch, I have to enter the Blackout Zone.
"......."
...But would the military really just let me walk into a death trap?
Me, who possesses the unprecedented power to turn Mimic Beasts back into humans?
Rationally speaking, it's not desirable for me to enter the Blackout Zone.
I am the only one capable of turning back the propagated Mimic Beasts.
If such a talent says they're going into a death trap, they'd have to stop me by any means necessary.
They should, but.......
'...Damn it.'
It's a difficult matter. A hellishly difficult matter.
Even after experiencing that horrific event at the 4th Outpost, my resolve hasn't broken.
Rather, because I saw the misery of it all with my own two eyes... I was worried.
Parents or whatever, let's cut the excuses.
I'm family connected by blood to that bitch, and as family, I can't help but worry.
Even if her hobby is getting drunk and puking on my blankets.......
...Wait.
'...Should I just abandon her?'
I had that thought for a moment, but shook it off.
It's right that retribution should be done by my own hands. Not left to the hands of some monster filled with unknown malice.
Either way, there's only one thing I want to say in the end.
...To rescue that bitch and get out.
Beolkeok-.
The hospital room door opened, and a familiar face entered.
Captain Kim Hyung-chul.
He looked around the small single-patient room. To me, that action looked like he was trying to delay the moment of making eye contact with me as much as possible.
Well, our positions are clearly in opposition, after all.
But now that he's come in here, there's no way to avoid it.
In the end, it was me who spoke first.
"...So, how have you been? Heard it's been a whole day."
"...You could have just asked to see me after your body stabilized a bit more."
"Oh, is that so?"
"...My goodness."
No, I thought you meant let's see each other right away. Since you said let's see each other when I wake up.
Perhaps seeing my bitter expression, Captain Kim spoke in a despondent tone.
"...It seems there was a misunderstanding in the process of relaying the message."
"...Still, well. What does it matter if we see each other later or now? It's not like we're never going to see each other again anyway."
"...Heh, that's true. It's not like that."
Captain Kim flicked his fingers as if looking for a cigarette.
But he wasn't so arrogant as to bring cigarettes into a hospital room, so it just ended in an attempt.
"Han Yoo-jin-ssi. The... miracle you showed this time. Yes, 'miracle' is more appropriate than 'supernatural ability'. Your miracle possesses a strategic value that no one can deny."
"......."
"That means you can receive treatment worthy of your ability. Even if you only focus your efforts on purifying Mimic Beasts in the rear, the National Army will exert effort into rescuing your younger sister."
Yeah, getting straight to the point, huh.
Captain Kim's words seem reasonable at first glance.
That I, an important figure, should remain in the rear, and other soldiers will rescue my younger sister—that kind of talk.
"Please trust the National Army. The National Army is fully......."
Upon hearing that, I suddenly felt offended.
Because it was too sweet a thing to hear.
"...Is that even possible? I'm not brainless, you know."
"It is definitely possi......."
"Liar."
I recalled the briefing Captain Kim gave right before I went to the 4th Outpost.
"What did you say back then? Identify all approaching individuals as hostile. Shoot on sight."
"...It was a decision to minimize casualties as much as possible."
"Who says I don't know? I understand, too. That it was the best judgment. But you know what kind of thoughts I would naturally harbor after hearing that, don't you?"
I'm not insulting the National Army's judgment.
They coped as best they could in the given situation.
The fact that society is being maintained to some extent even while this kind of bullshit is happening is proof of that.
But.......
"...Does the National Army even have the ability to resolve this situation?"
"That is......."
The National Army's response was clearly fast and rational.
But at the same time, it also possessed excessive extremism.
It meant there was an aggression that a cornered rat might show.
I had to ask, regardless of how rational the National Army's judgment was or how well they had been doing their job.
Whether they actually have the ability to completely resolve the situation.
"Answer me. What is the situation inside the Blackout Zone, and what results is the National Army achieving there?"
"...That is information I cannot know."
"Don't you think that's a sufficient answer in itself?"
If things inside the Blackout Zone were going smoothly, there would be no need to hide information.
If even he, who is commanding us who will soon enter the Blackout Zone, doesn't know the detailed information, there is only one reason.
"That is why I cannot entrust everything to the National Army. I......."
"That is why!"
Captain Kim suddenly raised his voice.
I was startled by that shout and flinched.
Captain Kim was also just as surprised by that shout.
As if it wasn't his intention, his lips trembled and his eyes lost their way.
He flicked his hand once more, then soon let out a deep sigh and said in a crawling voice.
"...I'm telling you to stay in the rear. Because it's that dangerous of a place."
"......."
"...Do you really have to go in? Even if you don't, just by staying in the rear, you can protect the dignity of many people."
He's right.
But I am an extremely ordinary person, so.......
"......Yes."
At those words, Captain Kim spoke as if despondent.
"...It's tragic. Truly tragic....... To someone so young......."
It's the same thing he said when he first saw me.
That word, 'tragic'.
"...I understand."
"Then......."
"Yes. Do as you wish."
Captain Kim answered readily.
I was startled by that.
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no reason for him to act so resigned.
From the National Army's position, am I not an important human resource?
Furthermore, Captain Kim is the person who was trying so desperately to persuade me.
But to give up so easily?
"...Orders came down from the higher-ups. To respect the will of the Angel-type Variant as much as possible, but to maintain the Special Response Team status as much as possible."
"That means......."
"Yes. Everything I've been doing to persuade you until now was not the National Army's will, but purely my own. The person who gave me orders said this. You can try to persuade them if you want, but it won't be easy."
Captain Kim flicked his hand.
He confessed as if vomiting the words out.
"I don't know the true intentions of the higher-ups either. But... it is clear that they harbor a strange expectation of you. To be precise, ever since your existence became known to the world."
"......."
It's a fact I'm also curious about.
I ruminated on the words of the higher-ups that Captain Kim told me.
Respect the will of the Angel-type Variant as much as possible, but maintain the Special Response Team status as much as possible.
And the words Captain Kim said.
Do as you wish.
Also the words Kim Ji-hoo said to me.
If that is what you will do, then do so.
Only today am I certain.
At least the higher-ups in this country know a lot.
That is why the words that came out of his mention this time......
And I don't think this series of words is meaningless at all.
But what on earth.......
'...What could my "will" possibly be?'
"...Then, I will take my leave first."
Captain Kim slipped out of the hospital room as if running away.
And at the same time, Min Ah-ji entered the hospital room with quick, short steps.
"...How did it go, Unni?"
"It was resolved well. So... everything will be fine."
After saying that, I chuckled to myself.
Isn't this statement closer to wishful thinking?
But it will surely go well. Surely.......
"Ah, and this."
Suddenly, Min Ah-ji took out a delivery package.
"...What's this?"
"Well? They said it was your item, Unni?"
I frowned upon hearing that.
My item...... Ah.
'Come to think of it, I did order something before coming here.'
That item is none other than my clothes.
It seems they brought it here from what was delivered to my house.
I had completely forgotten about this while wearing hospital clothes all this time.
"...Heh."
I suddenly felt the greatness of the Republic of Korea's logistics system.
Even though this kind of shit is happening in Seoul, it's still fine just a bit further down.
"Why are you like that...?"
"...No, just because."
It would be nice if that peace, as if nothing is wrong, lasted a long time, but.......
Why is it, looking at the current state of affairs.
It seemed like even this fleeting peace wouldn't last long.
"...Hmm, shall we watch TV?"
I changed the subject to break the atmosphere.
There was a small wall-mounted TV in the single-patient room.
I turned on the power, feeling the texture of the remote control I was holding for the first time in a while.
Ppi-bik.
Immediately, along with a beep, the TV power light turned on.
Perhaps the person who watched it before set it, a channel from terrestrial broadcasting popped up.
[...This is the reporter. Currently in Gyeonggi-do... in.......]
Perhaps because reception was bad, the reporter's voice was cut off here and there.
But among this, someone's voice was clearly audible.
[Give me back my faaamily-!]
Ah, damn it.
Shouldn't have turned it on.