Mental Care Service (3)
Superpower users who stayed in Korea were constantly bombarded by emigrants and defectors with messages like these.
Everyone thought that way. Even Imae Mangnyang believed it, which was why so many had defected from Korea. Mostly people who wanted out but hadn't gone abroad, or those who wanted to keep living in Korea but refused to be treated like tools. The organization had aggressively recruited them. After all, their "rage against the nation" was the group's most potent weapon. The same went for other factions inside Korea.
"Hearing all those people nagging Seolhui about having kids and getting pregnant... it makes me want to say something myself."
Imae Mangnyang had a standard pitch for oppressed superpower users.
"Doesn't it piss you off hearing that crap over and over? Doesn't it make you furious, like you're about to snap?"
"Jihwan-ssi?"
Of course, she wouldn't bite right away.
"What I'm saying is, isn't the country pushing Baek Seolhui to the brink, making her lose control?"
"That wouldn't... probably not happen."
Baek Seolhui was confident she wouldn't snap.
"How should I put it? For someone like me, that kind of stress isn't as bad as it is for others."
"But you're venting to me, aren't you?"
"There's always one person you can unload on. You spill it all out in a day, and by the next, you're fine. That's me."
"Have you never heard anyone else complain about feeling frustrated?"
"Not yet. Because..."
Baek Seolhui gazed blankly up at the sky again.
"Everyone I could have those talks with is either dead or gone."
"......."
"Jihwan-ssi. So many people have died or gotten hurt up till now. What percentage of them do you think went berserk as superpower users?"
"Let me guess what Seolhui wants to say."
Listening time was over. Now it was time for me to plant seeds of doubt in Baek Seolhui.
"All the so-called true nation-haters among superpower users are dead, right?"
"......."
"Emigrants have their Korean identity erased, socially killed off. And if anyone snaps inside Korea, they get executed without mercy."
"......."
"They talk a big game about being a land of propriety and a peaceful morning calm on the surface, but behind the scenes, they do worse than other countries."
Baek Seolhui's expression gradually hardened.
"...That's what the villains say, anyway. Especially groups like Imae Mangnyang."
Of course, I'd left myself an out, a logical escape route.
"I can point out this country's contradictions just like that. An ordinary guy like Do Jihwan can get by as a wage slave no matter what the country does, but as a superpower user, Seolhui knows even more than I do. Naturally, it builds up frustration and disillusionment... but at the same time, you can't let it go."
"What is it?"
"The thread of hope."
At my words, Baek Seolhui slowly closed her eyes.
"The belief that this land can still change. The conviction that the people here can move toward the righteousness you envision. Even if the world crumbles, the hope for a 'bright future' like in stories and media. That's what's holding you up, isn't it?"
"......."
"Seolhui seems to have more of those lifelines than most. While others let go, go mad, and rampage, you debate whether to hold on—your mental fortitude is that strong. But for those whose lines are too short or whose grip is weak..."
"They all became villains and died."
Baek Seolhui's voice sank low.
"Yura-unnie, who lost her childhood friend; Changhyeon-ssi, who served as a hero to fulfill his military duty because 'all men must enlist'; Jeonghwan-ssi, the eldest superpower user who entered politics to give voice to our kind, only to be discarded like trash. They all turned villain and died."
There were those with grievances. From the rulers' perspective, "traitors" who committed "disloyal acts."
"Every time I see them force even people we wouldn't call villains into that role and eliminate them, my view of this country keeps shifting."
They branded anyone who didn't obey national orders, bow to threats, or fall for bribes as villains—anyone resisting even a little.
"The mindset from reading great men's biographies as a kid, thinking 'I want to be like them'; the ethics learned from firefighters or social workers serving society... that 'ideological education' from childhood is crumbling now. In the face of reality's filth."
"So what will you do, Seolhui? Emigrate?"
"You know what happens to emigrants—they all become 'Steven Cho,' right?"
"Yes. They'll never set foot on Korean soil again."
It was post-cataclysm, so some historical events hadn't happened, but that incident had still gone down in this world too. Different name, vastly different circumstances, but the 90s scandal where a top singer emigrated to dodge the draft.
He regretted it, but everyone left in Korea turned against Steven with a "not welcome" vibe.
Superpower users were the same. No matter the reason they left, the government turned emigrants and defectors into "Steves." They shaped public opinion, fed the media, spread materials—suddenly everyone hated and condemned them. Blind to how their actions created more Steves.
"If Seolhui emigrated or defected, she wouldn't become just any Steven—she'd be 'Baek Seolhui.'"
"Yeah. If I left this country, it wouldn't just be an entry ban. My entire life would be denied. They'd call me something like 'Shiroseki Yukihara' or whatever."
"Defect to Japan?"
"Not at all. That's just how they'd name me—like someone whose real name can't be uttered."
"And the country would make you that person. If Seolhui tried to leave Korea in any way."
"...Yes."
Baek Seolhui grew depressed again.
"Can this country change?"
Finally. She was starting to voice the "true reason" she couldn't leave.
"I can't do it alone, but if we gather people and unite our will, couldn't we steer it toward something better?"
"One person like you could change it all, Seolhui. But the path is brutal, exhausting, and the government will insult you every way they can."
It was already happening, plain reality.
"Maybe the government even reaches out to villains to eliminate superpower users who oppose them."
"......Not to that extent."
"Who knows. Like in movies, they might hire hitmen. Say, they stage a situation where a hero kills someone, brand them an utterly vile villain deserving death, and have someone execute them."
"Dokkaebi... you mean?"
"Yes. Ah, not defending him. Dokkaebi's a murderer."
I didn't deny being a murderer.
"Among those Dokkaebi executes, plenty are probably like that. When the country can't control them anymore and can't eliminate them themselves, they set it up for Dokkaebi to do the deed."
"......The more I hear, the more numb I feel toward this country, Jihwan-ssi."
Baek Seolhui stared straight at me and asked.
"If you were an S-grade like me, in my position, what would you do?"
"Me?"
"Yes. Not teasing. I genuinely want to know."
"I..."
The path was already chosen.
"I don't know much about politics. Even if the country acts like trash, changing it myself would be beyond me. Everyone has their talents."
I lacked that one.
"I'd find that person. Someone who can shake this country from 'inside,' 'outside,' or both—and control it fiercely."
But I knew someone with that talent.
"Someone who works for everyone without oppressing, who can truly make this nation great. I'd serve that person my whole life."
Just one.
"People's views on changing the country differ. Unlike a kind soul like you, Seolhui... I think differently."
Someone who wanted to "great purge" all the rulers, install Baek Seolhui-types in key posts, and make people truly serve nation and citizens.
"That we need to smash the heads of those 'corrupt officials' who aren't superpower users themselves but treat us like tools to fill their pockets."
"...Hwalbindang?"
"No. Hwalbindang just destroys. The key is after—recreation post-destruction."
Imae Mangnyang looked even further ahead.
"I'd work for the person who can build a nation where my child isn't oppressed, manipulated, force-fed ideology, but lives freely and peacefully with others."
For that...
"In the new Korea that person builds..."
I became Dokkaebi, smashing those "villains'" heads.
"...At least they won't see one woman as a tool for breeding superpower users."
"......As expected."
Baek Seolhui turned her head aside with a faint smile.
"Glad I talked with you, Jihwan-ssi."
"Good to hear."
"In that spirit..."
Baek Seolhui fidgeted with her fingers and asked me.
"...Can I crash here?"
"......?"