Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Juni
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Gamal ran breathlessly toward the village outskirts. At a glance, everything seemed fine, but it was too quiet. An ominous feeling made his heart pound as if it would burst.
The moment he arrived at the village, his eyes widened. It was completely devastated. Gamal rushed home in a daze.
“Marti! Tawa!”
The house was half-burned and collapsed. Scattered everywhere were Marti’s cherished dishes, the box where she kept her clothes, his own accessories and carpet, and even Tawa’s ceremonial mask—all strewn about in disarray.
There was no sign of Marti or Tawa anywhere.
“Tawa! Marti!”
Gamal roamed the entire village, finally understanding what it felt like to lose one’s mind. But there was no living soul in the village.
As he ran, he tripped over some debris. Normally, it would have shattered his knee, but it didn’t hurt.
Sobs burst out of him.
Gamal tore at the grass, wailing like a beast caught in a trap and dying.
He had killed Marti and Tawa. With his complacent judgment.
Rustle.
A sound came. Even amid his uncontrollable sobs, Gamal flinched. It could be Kunis tracking her, anticipating where she might go.
He pushed himself up from the ground. His whole body trembled, but he had to stand. He had to run. From the murderer who killed her, the hypocrite who claimed to love her...
From her twin.
***
“After wandering for so long, I found this island. There was no one here. I lived alone. Until I met Tora and Rato.”
The long story had ended, but Do-young couldn’t react at all. Gamal knelt before him, looking at him with quiet eyes, and said,
“So I can’t leave the island.”
Tora, standing beside her, looked at Gamal with pity and hugged her shoulders.
“Marti.”
Gamal lightly gripped Tora’s arm as if to say she was fine. Watching that, a storm of emotions raged in Do-young’s chest: pity for this woman whose life had sunk deeper into the quagmire the moment she stumbled into it; anger, sorrow, frustration—all swirling without escape, impossible to sort out.
Do-young pressed his forehead and bowed his head.
And for now, he had no idea where to begin being shocked.
Should he be shocked that the woman sitting before him was blood kin to the leader of an international terrorist network that once terrorized the world...?
Or by the Grand Duke’s feelings for his brother—his twin, no less—a narcissistic incestuous affection that modern sensibilities could scarcely comprehend?
Or perhaps by the rock-solid endurance of this fool who had hidden on this remote island for thousands of years, declaring she’d vanish?
“Do-young...?”
When Do-young said nothing, Gamal called out to him in an anxious tone. Do-young finally composed himself and lowered his hand.
“But the Grand Duke is in prison now. So what’s the reason you still can’t leave?”
Gamal gave him a puzzled look.
“Prison...?”
Do-young was equally puzzled by her reaction.
“He was captured three years ago and locked up.”
“What?”
Do-young was exasperated.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”
Gamal stared at him like she’d been struck dumb. Doubting she truly didn’t know, Do-young said,
“The Grand Duke was sentenced to 780 years without parole or commutation and is serving it.”
“That means...”
“At least for the next 780 years, he won’t be stepping outside that prison.”
Gamal struggled to accept the unexpected fact, her lips trembling before she finally asked,
“So Kunis won’t come after me...?”
Her tone revealed how deeply she had feared that very thing. Do-young was almost angry.
“You really stayed on this island all this time just because of that?”
Gamal nodded. Meanwhile, Tora frowned and said,
“Rato never mentioned anything like that.”
“You take turns going out, right?”
When Do-young asked, Tora shook her head.
“Lately, it’s been Rato going out all the time. I never liked going outside anyway, and at some point, Rato volunteered to do it.”
Tora said softly.
“Marti, we need to find Rato. I have a bad feeling.”
***
Do-young and Gamal stood on the beach. Far out, Tora was swimming back swiftly, as if equipped with a motor. Her freestyle form was textbook perfect.
Soon, Tora came ashore. Then, like a wet dog, she shook her head to fling off the water.
“Tawa’s right. The Grand Duke was captured by an MCTC special forces unit three years ago and sentenced to 780 years by the ICC.”
Gamal looked dazed.
“So really...”
Tora nodded.
“Your creepy twin is in prison, Marti. You can leave the island now.”
Gamal felt a slight dizzy spell and grabbed Tora’s arm. Tora supported her and looked at Do-young.
“Tawa too.”
Do-young uncrossed his arms.
“I’m not religious, but I really feel like thanking God.”
Then he looked at Gamal and asked,
“But you said twins? Why the age difference? If not for that, I’d have recognized you sooner.”
The Grand Duke’s real name was top secret, but his face had been plastered everywhere in photos—no way to miss it. Yet Gamal and the Grand Duke looked and felt so different in expression and aura, and he’d never imagined the guy’s twin brother was alive.
But Tora said,
“Luas who live on flowers age.”
Do-young furrowed his brow.
“But no such side effect has ever been reported...”
Tora shook her head.
“Is there any other Luas who’s eaten flowers as long as Marti? I’ve lived on them too, but I’m the same as when I was first infected. Aging progresses very slowly.”
Do-young couldn’t figure out how to process the new information, his brow still creased.
“What kind of vampire ages without drinking blood and can walk in sunlight?”
Tora shrugged.
“Maybe we’re not anymore. Maybe we’re just becoming something like other humans. Species evolve. Who’s to say this isn’t the evolution of our kind—what you civilized world people call ‘Homo Vivens,’ the people-eaters?”
“But evolving from immortality to aging isn’t logical. That’s closer to devolution.”
“Maybe they realized eternal life isn’t the ultimate evolution. They gave us eternal life, but almost no individuals truly live forever.”
As she spoke, Tora looked at Gamal. Do-young did too.
Gamal seemed not to fully understand their rapid conversation, filled with difficult words. Having lived only on the island, she’d had no need to learn modern language.
Tora placed a hand on Gamal’s head reassuringly and said,
“Aren’t Marti and that creepy twin among the longest-lived Luas? Humans are lonely creatures—something the X from outer space didn’t factor into their calculations.”
Tora looked at Do-young. The wind blew, tousling her hair.
“The X didn’t know. That for beings who were once human, immortality is just pearls before swine.”
Do-young said nothing. Tora then asked Gamal,
“Marti, are you ready?”
Gamal hesitated but finally nodded. Tora pulled a mysterious radio from her waist—unclear where she’d stashed it in that tiny cloth. It was an old model, yet impeccably functional, almost suspiciously so. Do-young took the radio. Gamal watched.
“Do-young...”
***
The helicopter blades whipped up sand in all directions. Do-young squinted on the beach.
Finally, the chopper landed. With a metallic clang, the door opened, and armed soldiers disembarked. One shouted,
“Are you Captain Do-young de Fer?”
“Yes.”
As Do-young answered, the soldier lowered his weapon and approached.
“You’re alive after all. We all lost it when we got your signal.”
He could imagine their reactions, thinking he was surely dead.
Do-young asked,
“What about the other team members?”
“All rescued. You’re the last DUSTWUN, Captain.”
Do-young sighed in relief. He’d lost consciousness in the explosion and gotten separated, unsure of their fates, but thankfully no deaths.
Gamal watched from behind the bushes. Do-young conversing with armed men felt unfamiliar—like a true ‘civilized world’ person, distant.
Then Do-young turned toward her.
“Gamal.”
She flinched.
“It’s okay. Come out.”
Gamal looked at Tora beside her.
Tora nodded. Only then did Gamal stand and slowly emerge from the bushes. Tora followed. But the soldiers weren’t surprised.
They’d already been briefed on Gamal.
Do-young waited patiently without urging. Gamal approached hesitantly. Do-young extended his hand, took hers, and led her to the chopper.
The crew helped Gamal aboard, Do-young followed, then Tora last.
Their eyes met, and Tora nodded.
“We need to go find Rato.”
She said.
Do-young looked out the window. Satadi Island, where the gods departed, receded swiftly.
***
The massive military vessel resembled an offshore drilling rig in mid-ocean. It loomed closer quickly.
“Landing.”
The pilot announced.
As the transport touched down, the ramp door whirred open, light pouring through the widening gap.
Do-young descended via the ramp.
The sea looked the same from the uninhabited island or the deck, but the smell differed. Oil, steel, engine steam—it confirmed he’d returned to the civilized world.
“Captain!”
A shout echoed from afar. Led by a master sergeant, Team 1 members rushed over breathlessly.
Before Do-young could speak, they surrounded him, words tumbling out.
“Captain, you’re really alive?”
“We really thought you were gone this time!”
Then.
“Do-young de Fer!”
Pushing through the team, Nikola appeared. Do-young was shocked.
“How are you...”
Though same MCTC, Nikola from another unit shouldn’t be here.
Nikola hugged him tightly.
“You bastard!”
As the absurdity faded, Do-young realized he was truly back.
“We thought you were done for.”
Nikola muttered. Do-young grinned.
“I don’t die that easily.”
Nikola shoved him away.
“Captured by terrorists, dropped in the middle of the Pacific, gone missing? As if you were some Luas...!”
Suddenly, Nikola stopped, staring behind Do-young.