Red Guardians
Chunja's House, 1st Floor Residential Zone of the Tower of Trials
The residential zones of the Tower of Trials were home to all kinds of people. Those who had possessed specialized skills since long ago survived by trading their crafts for food.
Kim Chunja's house, where Yeon Cheong and Jin Hong now stood, was no different. With her needlework, mending, and clothing-making skills, Chunja Halmae had carved out a living for herself.
"Clothes are getting a bit tight these days, aren't they?"
Jin Hong spoke as she gently handed over the water she had received from today's ration distribution. Chunja Halmae grinned in response.
"You haven't even had enough to eat, and you're putting on weight?"
"It's not that I'm gaining weight."
Jin Hong ran her hands over her body. It wasn't excess flesh, but the natural changes that came with a certain age.
"Anyway, they said they needed new clothes."
Yeon Cheong offered his own water as he spoke. He needed something as well—a mask or hood he had used during his days as a Janitor. Now that he had confirmed his return to the past, it was time to set his goals. Having been used and discarded by those above, he understood just how rotten the upper echelons of the Tower truly were. Born into this place, he could never escape their grasp entirely. To survive, he needed to prepare on multiple fronts.
"Cheong, why the mask? Do you need something like that these days?"
"I heard it keeps the dust out."
Yeon Cheong answered Jin Hong's question lightly, brushing it aside. Explaining everything to her would only lead to confusion, and with her bright personality she might end up telling everyone. For now, it was better not to mention his return to the past.
Even if she's someone I can speak openly with.
No one would believe tales of the future he had lived through, or how events would unfold. He still couldn't even use the time artifact. If he started blabbing about it, the Janitors would eliminate him without a trace.
Not yet.
Yeon Cheong gripped the time artifact in his pocket tightly and thought to himself. Chunja Halmae, noticing his serious expression, reached out and gently stroked his cheek.
"Something bothering you?"
"No."
"There is. What is it?"
Jin Hong added her own thoughts. "Cheong's been thinking a lot lately. He doesn't even answer when I call him."
"You call me too often."
"Still, you always answered before."
At her words, Yeon Cheong recalled a much older past. Back when they roamed the streets together, the only person they could rely on was each other. The relief that came when one called the other's name was immense. Now they lived among many people on the first floor, but back then the only adult they knew was Uncle Ben.
My life was saved by many people.
Uncle Ben had given them space in the residential zone when they had nowhere to go. Chunja Halmae had made them clothes for free and helped them live warmly. Countless others had saved Yeon Cheong from death again and again. Even in a ruined world, human warmth could still be felt. He remembered every face.
That's why I can't forget.
Even after becoming a Janitor, Yeon Cheong had sometimes descended to the first floor just to look at the scenery. Though much time had passed since he left, he would return to his memories and honor the souls of those who had helped him.
"Wait a moment. I had some clothes ready, but no one ever asks for masks, so I'll have to make one fresh."
Chunja Halmae spoke as she moved through the house with her stooped back. The interior was spotlessly clean—impossible to believe it belonged to a first-floor resident. The residential spaces here were all a sandy color, giving the impression of a shantytown. If the entrance wasn't fully sealed, dust constantly blew in, threatening lung health. It was an environment barely fit for survival. Maintaining cleanliness in such conditions proved Chunja Halmae was no ordinary long-term survivor of the first floor.
"Take your time. It's not urgent."
Yeon Cheong nodded and rose from his seat. Jin Hong hesitated for a moment before asking if she could stay here instead of following him.
"Cheong, why don't you just stay here?"
"Why?"
"If you wander around alone, that guy might come again."
Jin Hong seemed to be thinking of the judge, Gu Jeong-gi, whom they had encountered earlier. His face had been vicious, and he had hurled insults at Yeon Cheong. It clearly weighed on her mind.
"You're right. He might come."
"Huh? Really?"
Yeon Cheong's calm reply made Jin Hong's eyes widen. Her usually timid friend responding so matter-of-factly was surprising.
Minor incidents don't stick in my memory, but…
Yeon Cheong quickly ran calculations in his head. He needed to determine exactly when in the past he had returned. There was no concept of years or dates in the Tower, so he had to reconstruct the timeline through events.
Since Jin Hong is alive, it must be before our first outing. And since the Wanderer hasn't appeared yet…
At the very least, this was before he and Jin Hong had even received their Apprentice Deliveryman badges. If they had already been training as apprentices, they wouldn't have had time to leisurely collect rations and chat like this. They would have been training in the practice grounds, bleeding and sweating for their first external mission.
"That serious face again. Snap out of it!"
Jin Hong stood in front of Yeon Cheong and waved her hand. His focus didn't waver even with the obstruction right before his eyes.
We have a house, and this isn't the time we were wandering the streets.
They hadn't yet undergone the Deliveryman screening. Yeon Cheong reached his conclusion quickly, took Jin Hong's hand, and spoke.
"Your hands still aren't too rough."
"…"
Jin Hong stared at him in silence, unable to speak as he suddenly held her hand. Yeon Cheong had done it only to observe. Seeing that her hands were still soft confirmed they were indeed before she became a Deliveryman.
"Oh my, look at these two. They're openly showing affection now?"
Chunja Halmae had just come down the stairs and immediately commented on their physical contact. Yeon Cheong quickly released Jin Hong's hand and glanced around.
"…It's nothing."
Jin Hong's ears flushed slightly as she turned away, clearly flustered. Chunja Halmae simply replied "Is that so?" and handed over a piece of clothing she had been holding.
"This is some gear the Deliverymen returned when they retired. I fixed it up a bit."
The clothing she offered was made of tough leather—high quality. Its brown tone and various utility bands would be quite useful in daily life.
"There were exactly two sets, so I brought one for you too, Yeon Cheong."
Chunja Halmae pulled out the second set and offered it to him. Yeon Cheong replied that he had no food to pay with.
"Halmae, I don't have any rations to—"
"It's free! Free! My decision!"
At her words, old memories surfaced. It had been after his first outing, when he came here weeping over Jin Hong's death. Chunja Halmae had found him and said, "It's free. Take it."
Yeon Cheong looked down at the clothing she had given him. It was the same outfit as back then.
She said it was a gift prepared just for me. Even now, she's the same.
A smile formed on his lips without him realizing it as he accepted the clothes. Jin Hong smiled along with him.
"The only ones I ever get rations from are those damn bastards anyway."
"Now that you mention it, they haven't been bothering you lately?"
"Those guys?"
At Jin Hong's question, Yeon Cheong paused to think.
"You know, that group of street thugs who got together and—"
Chunja Halmae clicked her tongue and plopped down on a chair. Then she continued with a sigh.
"Don't even mention them. They're driving me crazy. Last time they came demanding custom outfits and caused such a scene! They even threatened to kill me. I was terrified…"
Yeon Cheong immediately recalled one particular organization. The first floor had countless groups. The most prominent were the Guard Corps, responsible for security, and the Deliverymen, who handled external missions. Both were official organizations formed by the upper floors and recognized by the residents. In contrast, there were also many unofficial groups formed by ordinary people, including criminal syndicates made up of the worst elements.
"They appeared recently. Their name was something like Red Whatever."
"They probably said it in English. Red Guardian? Something like that."
"Red Guardian."
When Yeon Cheong supplied the name, everyone nodded.
"That's it! Red Guardian. Quite a grand name, wasn't it?"
Chunja Halmae slapped her knee. The Red Guardians—though the name sounded impressive, their actions were despicable. Formed under the guise of a vigilante group to maintain order on the first floor, they extorted food and water from residents in the name of security. They had even harassed Chunja Halmae while trying to get custom uniforms made. A truly strange bunch.
So they existed too.
Yeon Cheong smirked. Of course such a group had existed. It was only natural he reacted this way—they had collapsed within a year. They weren't a legitimate organization to begin with, just a criminal syndicate pretending to be vigilantes. They hadn't lasted long. And behind them stood a very familiar figure.
Gu Jeong-gi, the judge.
The reason a member of the judge clan had been able to exert influence on the first floor was because he used this insane group to bend the floor to his will. Of course, such actions made him prime for elimination. Eventually the truth came out, and Yeon Cheong killed him.
Not now, though.
Yeon Cheong glanced around. Hearing about them made him realize Gu Jeong-gi could easily order a "private sanction" against him. Using the Red Guardians to kill or cripple someone would be trivial. In short, the Red Guardians were a violent, brutish organization that preyed on first-floor residents.
They weren't exactly high-quality.
Yeon Cheong closed his eyes and activated Yeongdeung. Heartbeats and pulses gradually reached his ears. Many presences moved about, but several were clearly approaching this location—and not with ordinary intent. They carried killing intent.
"…"
Yeon Cheong spoke briefly to Jin Hong and Chunja Halmae.
"I'll be right back."
"Cheong? Where are you going?"
Ignoring Jin Hong's question, Yeon Cheong stepped outside. He placed the clothes on the table and walked out with determined eyes. Dust-laden wind blew in, gradually limiting visibility. Yeon Cheong steadied his breathing and thought to himself.
This is a new life.
He renewed his resolve. He would never forgive anyone who tried to kill him or the people he cared about—especially if that anger was directed at the upper floors of the Tower. He didn't particularly care who he had to kill. After all, he had been a Janitor who defined and cleanly eliminated the Tower's trash.