Growing Seeds of Suspicion
“.....”
“.....”
Without a single word, we kept walking. Right now, the Grand Canyon held nothing but that green mass of filth. The human waste had completely dissolved the tentacle monsters. Using the large leaves we’d been sleeping on as an improvised umbrella, I glanced at Silvia’s ankles every so often as we moved.
She noticed and spoke up. “I’m really fine, so worry about your own wounds instead.”
“I’m fine too.”
“Okay.”
That was the end of our conversation. For a long time after, neither of us spoke. I was putting on an act of awkwardness, while Silvia was wrestling with guilt over having been the one to suggest the experiment first. Honestly, I was surprised. I never expected her to ask me to touch her like that. It worked out perfectly for me. If word of this ever got out and caused a fight with Adele, Silvia wouldn’t be able to blame me.
They say good fortune is always followed by tragedy... but not this time. Everything was going smoothly.
“Hey.”
Silvia suddenly jabbed me in the side with her elbow. I frowned. “Don’t touch the wound. It hurts.”
“Ah... I’m really sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yes... Why did you call me?”
“It’s just... you know, what happened in the cave...?”
“The experiment?”
My calm reply made her flinch. She answered in a rush. “Yeah. The experiment... let’s keep it a secret.”
“You mean from Adele as well?”
“Exactly.”
Silvia knew exactly what she had done. She was probably terrified of the fallout if her soul partner found out. I grabbed her wrist and stopped her in her tracks.
“Are you confident you won’t say anything?”
“I am. You’re the problem.”
“I’m confident too.”
“So we’re keeping it a secret?”
“Understood. Looks like we’ve got our own little secret now.”
The words could’ve sounded suggestive. Silvia swallowed hard, clearly taking them the way I intended, and scolded me. “W-what do you mean, ‘our own secret’... Just keep your mouth shut. Take it to the grave. Got it?”
She was visibly flustered. I let go of her wrist and started walking again. She had been walking beside me, but now she followed from behind, probably mulling over what I’d said and trying to decipher the meaning. Think all you want. You won’t find the answer.
Before long, we reached the spot where the waste had been. When I saw the remnants still spread across the ground, my face twisted in despair.
“Disgusting... absolutely disgusting...”
Silvia approached and spoke calmly. “I told you. What if there was more? Let’s head back quickly. If we get attacked again, we’re in real trouble.”
“Understood...”
I glared up at the sky in irritation, then turned around at her urging. By the time we reached the midpoint between the cave and the waste site, I staggered like someone who had reached their mental limit and hurled the makeshift leaf umbrella over the cliff. Then I sat down at the edge of the canyon where the rapids roared and muttered, “This is exhausting...”
Silvia sat beside me and tried to comfort me. “You’re doing well.”
“Even after I got careless and wrecked the fighter jet?”
“Careless? That attack was something no ordinary person could’ve reacted to. I only managed to borrow Aether’s power by a hair’s breadth. So stop blaming yourself. And don’t break down either.”
“Haa...”
While I kept sighing in self-reproach, Silvia patted my shoulder and scooted closer. She placed leaves on both our heads. I gave a weak laugh at her gesture and thanked her.
“Thank you. That actually gave me some strength.”
“I’m grateful too.”
“Can we stay here a little longer?”
“Of course. There aren’t any monsters around, and we’re far enough from the waste. Stay as long as you want. Though I’m a bit worried your wounds might reopen.”
“It’s fine. I can get treatment from the medical device when we return.”
“So you’re thinking about going back? I’m glad you haven’t given up yet.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Silvia.”
I leaned back on my arms and passed the time watching the rapids and the opposite cliff. Silvia slowly turned her head, careful not to let the leaf fall, and took in the Grand Canyon’s scenery.
After a while, she spoke with admiration. “The atmosphere here is incredible... don’t you think?”
“I have to admit that much. If there weren’t any monsters, I’d actually want to come here on vacation. Right now, I feel like pitching a tent in a cave on a rainy day and grilling meat.”
“Your vacation plan is oddly specific... Now that you mention it, it does sound romantic.”
“Silvia.”
“Yeah?”
“Once this place is back to normal, would you like to come here on a trip with me?”
Her head snapped toward me so fast the leaf nearly fell. I caught it and faced her directly.
“With me...?”
“Yes. We really suffered here. It’s one of the last great natural wonders left on Earth. We should erase the bad memories.”
“I... don’t mind. I don’t have anything to do except train anyway, so I have plenty of time...”
“Is that a promise?”
“Yeah. I promise.”
If this had been before we went through all that hardship together, she would’ve been disgusted. The fact that she agreed so readily meant she’d developed a lot of interest in me. We’d built camaraderie by overcoming adversity, and after I protected her while she was suffering and touched her erogenous zones, she’d started seeing me as a man. I was very pleased with how things had turned out. My body was exhausted, but nothing weird had interfered and I’d achieved exactly what I wanted. It was also good that she hadn’t mentioned Adele during our talk about traveling together. It was about time to head back.
Grinning after hearing her answer, I suddenly turned serious when I noticed a faint green light flickering near the canyon’s fork. I tapped Silvia’s shoulder and pointed at it.
“Silvia. Do you see that?”
It was embedded in the canyon wall, half-submerged, as if it had been washed there by the rapids. Silvia nodded without taking her eyes off the light.
“I see it... Don’t tell me that’s...”
“It looks like machinery. If it’s machinery out here, there’s only one possibility. Fighter jet debris.”
“I-I’ll go get it right now.”
Silvia jumped up and pulled out her Aether storage. She was probably thinking our luck was incredibly good. Keep thinking that. Don’t start suspecting Marcela’s arrangements.
**
Back in the cave, we examined the device with flushed faces. It was a communication device, its exterior crushed from impact, but it was still working. Silvia, who had been fidgeting restlessly, approached me as I studied it closely.
“How is it? Can you fix it?”
“It wasn’t broken to begin with. It’s working perfectly. If I just modify it a bit, I should be able to transmit to the lab...”
“But there’s no electricity. How?”
“The built-in battery isn’t just for show.”
“Is there anything I can help with? Just say the word.”
“I need to disassemble it first... but it’s too sturdy. Let’s find something like a lever.”
“No need. Give it here.”
She meant she would use Aether. Yeah, this wasn’t the time to conserve it. But were you really that desperate to leave? I wanted to have sex with you here... How disappointing.
“Just break apart the outer shell. Don’t touch the inside at all.”
“Got it.”
When I handed her the device, Silvia borrowed Aether’s power again. She shattered the tough alloy like it was taffy and gave it back. I removed the contents and began modifying the communicator in earnest.
“Are you sure? You’re injured. What if you start bleeding and get electrocuted while working on it?”
“It’s waterproof, so it’s fine.”
The modification finished quickly. Ignoring Silvia’s expectant gaze, I set up the makeshift antenna near the cave entrance and transmitted a unique electromagnetic wave that could connect to the lab. After a short static noise, a voice came through.
—Identify yourself.
It was Sehwa.
“Sehwa? It’s Jihyeok.”
—What? Jihyeok? Why are you sending weird signals and causing a scene... You scared me.
“Something came up. By the way, where’s the Doctor? Why are you the one receiving?”
—The Doctor went to France. Apparently something happened with the World Coalition director over there. She won’t be back for a few days.
“What kind of problem would make her fly there herself?”
—I don’t know either. Ask her when she gets back.
Reciting the lines I’d prepared, I got to the point.
“Can you contact Adele?”
—Yeah. But it’s dawn right now... She’s probably asleep?
“I’ll send the coordinates. Wake her up and tell her to come here. She can use the portal in Wyoming. Also, send an unmanned transport.”
—Okay.
After ending the call with Sehwa, I turned to Silvia with a serious expression.
“She doesn’t seem to know the situation here, does she?”
Silvia, who had stayed quiet until the transmission ended, nodded.
“Yeah... Why didn’t you explain to Sehwa?”
“It would’ve taken too long. Escaping is the priority right now... We can explain after we get back.”
“Right... But why did you ask only Adele to come? Because of her holy power?”
“Yes. I firmly believe Adele will sense the demonic energy and purify the moths with her holy power. I told her to come alone to help her build independence.”
Silvia nodded, then made a troubled face. She was probably thinking about what had happened earlier. With “I have a secret!” practically written on her face, how was she supposed to hide it?
I smiled at her. “The phrase ‘bittersweet’ fits perfectly, doesn’t it?”
“What do you mean? Bittersweet?”
“What happened here was painful, but it was also fun. You might not understand, but... that’s how I felt.”
Silvia’s expression brightened considerably.
“I feel the same way.”
“Then I’m glad.”
“It feels like several days have passed... but it hasn’t even been a full day. Isn’t that strange?”
“It is. They say time flies when you’re having fun... I can relate to that now. How about it? Want to share a hug to celebrate our escape?”
Silvia hesitated for a moment, then approached me. She could’ve pushed me away, but she has no resolve. Well, Adele will be here soon, so we need to hurry. Smiling brightly, I stepped forward and embraced her the moment she got close enough.
“Hey... aren’t you hugging too tight? It hurts...”
She had her hands on my waist yet claimed it hurt. How ridiculous. She was enjoying it but lying about it... I held her tightly in silence. She continued speaking.
“Don’t forget our travel promise. And you know, right?”
“I know. Keep it a secret from Adele. Don’t worry.”
“I don’t feel very reassured.”
“What can I do... You’ll just have to trust me.”
“That’s true... Ah, make the Device as soon as possible too.”
Why do you have so many requests? “Understood.”
Even though it was time to let go, I stayed pressed against Silvia. She didn’t tell me to move away either. We shared each other’s warmth for quite a long time.
Screeeech—!
A monster’s roar echoed from afar. Then a brilliant golden light began to push back the darkness and illuminate the Grand Canyon. Proof that Adele had arrived. If they’d sent the transport through the portal, it would be here soon too.
I’d gained far too much from this place. It was almost absurd. Time to go back.