Chapter 8
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 8
The Angel of the Community Center
The world is changing faster than ever.
Hundreds of thousands of people have mutated into monsters, and a phenomenon called a blackout is occurring in several regions.
And the most shocking thing is that all this happened in just a single morning.
Naturally, it would be correct for the world to fall into chaos, but...
The world was less chaotic than expected.
'Of course, extreme bullshit might be happening in places I don't know about.'
Fear of the mutants. The resulting discrimination, and even the blackout zones.
But I haven't seen those things, and I don't know about them.
Meaning I have no way of knowing how much or what is happening.
So the only basis for my judgment was that single outing I had earlier.
'How was my outing last time?'
Although it was chaotic, the everyday scenery of South Korea was maintained as always.
Even if people sent wary and suspicious glances at the mutated people, they didn't blindly ostracize them.
The reason society hasn't fallen into chaos yet despite these things happening is...
'It must be because the government is doing its job surprisingly well.'
Living in South Korea, there could be nothing more surprising than this.
A government that works well.
A groan of dismay naturally escaped at those two propositions that are like oil and water.
Honestly, my mind leans toward the conspiracy theory Shin Ah-yoon mentioned.
It was a response that would be impossible unless they knew about it in advance.
'...Well, a good thing is a good thing, I guess.'
Anyway, thanks to this quick response from the government, the people were also quickly adapting to the flow of change.
[Mutant Minor Gallery]
...This must also be a part of that adaptation. Probably.
I entered the gallery. As soon as I did, posts poured out.
[Title: Woke up from sleep, do I have to go to work?]
I became a goblin yesterday, if I go to work will my manager like it? Or will I get fired?
- Lol getting fired isn't the problem, they'll probably call the cops?
- I just used my annual leave. My body is doing this bullshit, how can I go out.
[Title: Got turned away at the door of the convenience store]
I was hungry so I went to the convenience store in front of my house, but the part-timer screamed as soon as he saw me and locked the door. Fuck...
- Lol guess he hates you because you shed fur.
- Hey, outside is just pure panic right now. The non-mutated guys think we're zombies.
[Title: Got kicked out by my parents]
Woke up to find I became an orc, and my mom threw salt at me saying I'm not her son and I'm possessed by a devil. I have nowhere to go, do I have to sleep on the streets?
- Hang in there... I also woke up with two extra arms so my whole family is avoiding me.
[Title: What's wrong with this body, it fucking hurts]
The parts where bones are sticking out and the skin got thick have a fever and hurt like crazy. Do I need to go to the ER?
- Even if you go to the ER, the wait is just fucking long. The doctors are scared of mutated guys so they don't even look at us properly.
- Just take Tylenol and endure it. I did that too and it got better after a while.
"......"
It's gloomier than I thought. No, is it to be expected? Because the existence of a mutant itself is something hard to be accepted in society.
No matter how much the government mobilizes its administrative power to control things, they can't control the instinctive disgust and fear deeply embedded in people's hearts.
I continued scrolling down with a bitter feeling.
Among the tragic titles, one post with exploding views caught my eye.
[Title: I want to go to Cho-gaenyeom.]
...A title with a different feel from the other gloomy posts.
This felt somewhat like a template. Understandably so, since 'Cho-gaenyeom' is a feature that disappeared from this community a long time ago.
But amidst that, unlike other posts, it had hundreds of recommendations stamped on it.
As if possessed by curiosity, I clicked on the post.
And.
"...Huh?"
A familiar scenery filled my vision.
The dull background of the civil service office at the community center. In the middle of it, a small and fragile back figure sitting with pure white wings draped down.
The face was carefully mosaiced out, but I could tell immediately.
'That's me.'
The me in the photo had a large long padding draped over my shoulders, with a subtly glowing halo floating above my head.
It was clearly a candid shot taken secretly by someone.
I'm flustered. Why on earth is a picture of me posted here?
At least the mosaic was done well, but... what could have possibly happened to warrant getting a picture taken?
'...Ah.'
Come to think of it, I guess there were quite a few things.
A memory flashed through my mind for a moment.
When I saved the old woman at the community center, the people around me taking out their phones.
'Of course they would have taken pictures.'
I let out a sigh and checked the comment section.
- What is this?
- Oh, an angel?
- Lol isn't this photoshopped?
- The community center is real. I was there too
- Whoa for real? Angels actually exist?
Should I say it's to be expected?
The people's reactions were explosive.
From those who couldn't believe it was actually real, to those testifying that they saw it themselves.
Amidst this chaotic situation, the author's reply was single.
- (Author) If you don't know who this person is, go read the popular posts and come back
'...Right, it seems all my actions during this time have been completely uploaded here.'
With trembling fingers, I tapped the popular posts tab.
Sure enough, the things I had committed throughout the day were nicely preserved there.
[Title: Is the real angel descending at a community center in Gyeonggi-do today a true story?]
(A photo of the radiance pouring from the halo healing the old woman)
- It's real, I was at the scene too, the light wasn't blinding but warm.
- The old woman's heart had stopped but she revived as soon as they laid hands on her *shivers*
- Wow, did a healer spawn? Is this the appearance of a National Power Level mutant
- Thanks to that person, our grandmother is alive... Truly grateful TT
[Title: Update on the pastor who just got taught a true lesson by the Angel lol]
(A photo of the pastor sweating profusely)
- Lol getting told to shut his trap by someone with a holy appearance made the pastor's brain short-circuit lol
- Seeing the pastor's expression rot completely filled up my faith for the day
A hollow laugh escaped my lips on its own.
Fuck, man. I've become a total celebrity.
Suddenly feeling exhausted, I just tossed my phone into the blankets.
'...National Power Level my ass.'
Would they say things like that if they knew I was surviving on band-aids because I didn't even have clothes to wear right now?
But on the other hand, I felt a chilling sensation.
The government's rapid response means their information gathering on mutants is also that fast.
The moment I stamped my fingerprint and left my picture at the community center, my personal information would have already been sorted into their database.
'...Will I get dragged away?'
Seeing the commotion about me being a real angel or a healer, it doesn't seem like they'll leave me be.
I'll pass on being drafted to a research lab instead of the military, though.
I pulled the blanket up over my head.
In the cramped, dark space, the only thing shining was the halo above my head.
...And the phone screen I picked up again inside the blanket.
"Han Yoo-ri, this retarded bitch..."
The '1' indicator engraved on KakaoTalk still hadn't disappeared.
It ignited the fire of anger in my heart.
What on earth could be the reason this shut-in bitch still hasn't checked her text?
No matter how much I racked my brain, the number of possibilities I could think of was only one.
Just to piss me off.
'You bitch, when I see you, you're dead.'
Of course, if we meet while I'm in this angel form, I'll probably be the one who gets crushed... but I'll crush her anyway.
Another long while passed like that.
"...You're still not looking."
The '1' indicator still hadn't disappeared.
* * *
I don't worry about that bitch.
Because there is no one else in my entire life who is as hateful an existence, and no crazier bitch than her.
I found it's meaningless to worry about an abnormal breed. Of course, it's not like I've actually worried about her.
But even if I don't, my parents will worry about her.
If that bitch and a wild boar fought, I'd be happy thinking about eating pork belly, but my parents would worry about her.
No matter what a tomboyish brat she is, from a parent's standpoint, worrying about your child is unavoidable.
Besides, the current times are what they are, aren't they?
The reality is that military troops are constantly being deployed into parts of Seoul.
And yet, they say there are no announcements at all regarding those blackout zones.
Perhaps... something truly serious could be happening.
Naturally, my parents will worry about her.
And if my parents worry about her, the one who will get the most exhausted is me.
I don't know why on earth, but my parents are under the impression that our relationship is very good.
Anyway, that's why.
The reason I called her first. It definitely wasn't because I was worried.
[Ring, ring, ring...]
The empty dial tone rang out.
The number of times was two.
And click.
It was cut off.
It wasn't that the other side rejected the call.
She was in an environment where she couldn't receive it, so it disconnected automatically.
"...What the."
The phone in my palm felt like it had gone completely cold.
For it to disconnect from the network itself rather than being a rejected call, there are only two possibilities.
It's either a base station problem or her phone got smashed, or else she's in a place where radio waves don't reach at all.
'Fuck, you're making my head hurt. You are truly dead.'
Right then, a call came in.
[Mom.]
...Damn it, what do I do?
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