Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Actor and Audience (1)
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He looked like a lion with a black mane.
That was my first thought when I met Kyle. Sleek but thick black long hair. Sharp eyes with upturned corners. Piercing golden eyes.
His appearance evoked a lion and drew people's gazes. So I stood there staring at him for a while.
Until he turned to me, hand on the hilt of his sword, smiling.
Kyle quickly noticed my gaze.
'Ah.'
I remember his jet-black hair fluttering in the wind.
'You Hildebert?'
We first met in the training grounds.
It was a spirited time. A time when we sought opponents to sharpen our swords at our waists. For various reasons, I encountered the famed Kyle, and he did the same.
Thus began our tough bond.
A bond that lasted until the world ended.
It was never a light bond. Memories with him were heavy. I went through many things with him. Magical beast subjugations. Rebellion suppressions. Wars. Dragon hunts. Relic searches.
As we entrusted our backs to each other in those endeavors, the world expanded. We met people like Deltei, Yvon, and Lynn. We introduced each other to new connections or shared ones we met.
Kyle and I were too different. That's why our bond lasted so long. We complemented each other's weaknesses and moved forward.
A time when I only needed to take care of myself. Even on subjugations, we only resolved to risk our lives—me, him, and those who went with us.
That good time passed, and responsibilities grew.
But until the world ended, our friendship with Kyle remained solid.
We watched the world crumble together.
The portal spreading infinite darkness as well....
'Now that you've seen it all, it's time for your story, Hildebert.'
A cold voice pierced my ear.
'If there's giving, there must be receiving.'
Fair point, but...
I don't want to get on the operating table in perfect condition....
I hung my head and groaned.
After hunching over for a while, someone in a white coat approached me. I looked up to see him coming through the darkness. Fluttering white coat and tall stature.
Black turtleneck under the lab coat.
John Mullen stopped in front of me.
'You fasted this time, right.'
The gray-haired scientist asked in a low voice.
'Experimental Subject 0.'
Whirrr! Spinning electric saw.
The genius scientist of the century pressed the electric saw to my unresponsive neck.
The following words were terror.
'No, Hildebert Talib.'
Why my name....
Agh!
Wait a second.
People,
"Save me!"
"Gasp!"
Thud!
A dull pain hit my head.
I blinked my dry eyes several times.
I quickly accepted the rushing sensations.
Now accustomed to such situations, I grasped it fast. Seniors looking down at me with incredulous faces. Ricardo leaning against the wall snorting. Barbie sitting wide-eyed. Asil looking down with worry and exasperation.
Asil must have shaken my body.
I sat up and hit my head on the nearby wall.
Failed to stroke my aching head and lay on my side.
Then, taking in the scene filling my view, I gathered more info.
We were still imprisoned.
"You coming to~?"
Ricardo smirked at me blinking only my eyes.
Fortunately, the seniors including him looked fine.
I opened my dry eyes fully and nodded after staring.
"Yes."
"How's your condition."
Asil knelt close, narrowing his eyes.
At the question, I rolled my eyes to check myself.
First, I desperately needed artificial tears, my head hurt from hitting the floor. And... my body was numb. Like cramps all over.
Probably because those lunatics injected me with unknown drugs.
But lucky it's only this. No hallucinations or tinnitus. Once the numbness fades, I can get up and move fine.
I met the seniors' clear gazes.
"Do you have artificial tears?"
The three seniors stared silently.
Barbie answered.
"Got dry eyes?"
"No, but my eyes are really gritty...."
"Not from crying too much?"
Asil said bluntly.
With a stoic face, he wiped the dried tear tracks on my cheek with his thumb.
"You were crying nonstop."
Feels like getting caught without washing my face.
A bit embarrassing. I couldn't move (precisely, couldn't) and gave Asil an awkward smile.
"Thanks. My limbs are still numb.... I'll wash up properly later."
"Your limbs numb?"
Ricardo asked sharply.
I looked at the senior's green eyes without erasing my awkward smile.
"Yes. Other than that, I'm fine. The numbness will go away soon."
The three seniors didn't reply.
What's with those suspicious looks. Seeing their gazes, especially Ricardo's, I felt a bit wronged.
I really take good care of my body.
They don't trust me much.
Anyway, how do we get out of here now?
Rolling my eyes to assess, Asil said.
"Bad dream or something?"
Ah.
Recalling the dream exhausted me.
"Yes. John Mullen called my real name."
"Hm?"
Unexpected answer; Asil blinked his blue eyes.
"John Mullen? That genius scientist in the lab?"
"Yes."
"Why's that a bad dream?"
Ricardo started chuckling.
Ignoring the senior's laughter, I mumbled something happened. Even thinking back, it was creepy. Definitely a nightmare from the drug.
Terrifying, really.
The tears were probably from the Kyle dream.
Luckily, Asil didn't pry.
Instead, the silver-haired senior asked if I wanted help sitting up. I politely declined. Appreciated, but I wanted to lie down a bit. The cold floor wasn't bothersome.
Above all, no confidence in sitting properly.
When does the drug wear off. I'm the only one who can use strength properly now; need to recover fast.
Lifting my chin slightly, I peered at the pale corridor beyond the bars.
Chilly air lingering place. No signs of life. Thought we'd be with illegal implant guys, but only us in this prison.
Oh.
Good timing?
"What you doing?"
Barbie asked blankly as I crawled toward the bars wriggling.
"Need help?"
"No, I'm there."
Prison small; reached bars quick.
Ignoring numb tingling like cramps, stretched hand. Didn't care if hand shook or seniors gave incredulous looks.
Who cares about face now.
Escape first!
Zap!
"Ugh!"
"Hey!"
Short groan, pulled hand back; Asil yelled sharply.
Shock from hit, couldn't reply. Senior grabbed my nape roughly, dragged me from bars.
"Idiot! Think it's ordinary bars?!"
"Driving me crazy, this kid...."
Heard Ricardo stand from wall.
He clicked tongue, walked over. I lay cheek on floor, hands that gripped bars splayed.
Hurts a lot.
Ricardo sighed, dragged me further from bars.
"Don't act tough when you can't even sit up properly...."
"But I'm the only one who can use strength properly now."
"See the cuffs on your wrists and ankles-?"
Ricardo pointed to my left wrist and ankle flopped on floor.
Feeling foreign, nodded; man added explanation.
"Bombs inside.... Ceiling has CCTV. Go out bars, boom~."
"Ah, damn. Thorough bastards."
Was gonna try more, but pointless.
Ricardo snorted as if reading my mind. But I ignored seniors' grumpy reactions. At least now, not time for them to worry about me.
I'm numb from drugs, can't even sit, but my recovery isn't normal.
Whereas three are complete civilians now.
From their grabbing hands, lacked strength. Need solution before worse.
"Just win, duh."
Barbie, sitting palms on cold floor after undoing bun, said casually.
"Illegal implant guys enjoy fame by winning matches; why can't we?"
Cleanest scenario, yeah.
But they won't pit civilians against winnable creatures. Didn't unfold my crumpled face. Seniors must've agreed to enter match and win while I was out.
Didn't like that agreement.
Ignored Asil questioning if I'm always this reckless, Ricardo saying never not reckless, scolds don't fix; pondered solutions. Heightened senses, reviewed situation carefully.
Weapons taken before locked here, but luckily Ricardo's ring and protective suits under civvies.
Silver lining.
If something happens to them, I'll shield with body.
Pulled still tingling arm.
If not for footsteps, would've told seniors 'Hildebert Meat Shield Plan'.
Click-clack
Footsteps.
Sharp sound echoed in stark space. Seniors froze.
I stopped wriggling, lifted head slightly.
Sound from end of blue-white corridor.
Thud-thud
Suddenly heels to boots.
Steps didn't stop, sound changed. Neat but lazy, heavy but not dull.
Owner sauntered out of darkness.
In crisp blue police uniform.
Tilted police cap, smiling man; my senses sharpened.
"Senior."
He smiled at Asil, not me.
"Long time. Doing well?"
Bang!
Zzzap, bang! Asil lunged at bars, electricity flowed bars. Ricardo and I jumped up, pulled him off.
Even pinned Asil trying to charge out.
Asil caught by me ground teeth.
Struggled under my arm, yelled.
"Jaeyeon!"
Ha....
Hoped not this guy.
Swallow lament. Pinned struggling senior glaring at Jaeyeon with forearm. Easy to restrain due to dream he cast.
Ricardo and Barbie watched unmoving.
Suppressed urge to sigh, looked beyond bars.
Jet-black shoes, blue uniform. Short hair. But fox-like eyes and handsome nose same.
Male form today.
Surprisingly, Jaeyeon acquainted with Asil laughed long, in form Asil knew.
"First time since then."
Added strength to arm pinning Asil.
"Heard you quit police, became Badger."
"You...."
Asil's scraped voice dripped anger, betrayal.
"You evacuate police?"
"Ding dong dang."
To low suppressed question, Jaeyeon replied brightly.
Tilted cap back to position.
"Me again."
"Someday I'll put you behind bars."
Asil spat impossible resolve.
Words only for those unaware of who's behind Jaeyeon.
"You and the guy behind you."
Jaeyeon burst laughing.
Laughter echoed cold corridor. Pure delight. Of course. How amusing Asil Fisker's words to him.
Even I surprised Asil survived facing 'Jaeyeon state' Jaeyeon. Seeing police uniform broke memory dam. Even before war, Jaeyeon unique.
Those who saw his face usually died by Colton's hand. Unless special status like elders.
But many met non-'Jaeyeon' state Jaeyeon.
Genius actor.
Flawless method acting. Ignores gender, height limits. Only Colton recognized Jaeyeon disguised. Even Jaeyeon forgot own disguise.
Kyle and Ray called him shapeshifter.
Excessive mimicry lost own identity.
Identifiable by preferred aesthetics: upturned eyes, fox-like beauty vibe.
After laughing long, Jaeyeon wiped tear with pinky.
"Ah, that's why I like senior."
Voice thick with joy.
"Buddy, please don't give up. Always looking forward."