The Sky Opens (2)
The Wasuri Bus Terminal on a holiday was quiet.
Several old men sat on chairs, and only the sound of the news from the wall-mounted TV echoed silently.
- The Disease Control Agency estimates that the number of domestic awakened individuals who showed symptoms in the past week is about 7,000, and crimes in the capital region using awakened abilities have surged...
- Next, today's news. This morning, the awakened individual, famous singer Seo Mo, was killed by his manager Kim Mo...
What's with this? Same news all week.
News was pouring out with all kinds of sensational articles.
Most of them focused on awakened criminals, but I couldn't shake off a creepy feeling.
- Awakened individuals are mostly indistinguishable by appearance, so please be vigilant and report with conviction...
Look at that.
Can't distinguish by appearance, special attention and thorough reporting.
Is this like treating communists as enemies in the 1st Republic?
I'm the grandson of the current opposition party leader's friend, treated as a spy or something.
In politics, it's not like wrestling where they accuse each other of being red.
Anyway, these lucky rookies, one of the sensational words is this.
Meanwhile, the government seemed to have solidified the official name for awakened individuals as 'Supernatural Ability Manifestation'.
- The government is actively considering upgrading the existing dedicated center to a separate higher agency for systematic investigation and management of 'Supernatural Ability Manifestation'...
- Accordingly, the existing Supernatural Ability Dedicated Center will become the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau...
Anyway, in the internet, everyone uses "awakened" anyway.
It's more catchy, why make a new word.
Naming sense is really off.
By the way, do young people not use "tteotkkak" anymore?
I heard something about "nokkkuk".
At the same time, one old man sitting in the waiting room clicked his tongue and muttered.
"Tteot, is this 'super' ability or what, all that must be demons possessing them..."
Nokkkuk
Is this how it's written?
Anyway.
I left early in the morning, but the sun was already high in the sky.
I took out my phone and called Kim Juwon.
- Communication security. Corporal Kim Juwon of the 1st Platoon, 1st Company, Shin-gyo University.
"Uh, Juwon. I'm at Wasuri Bus Terminal now, just take a taxi to Shin-gyo University?"
- Huh? Who is this?
Oops. He doesn't know about my situation.
No matter how distracted, how could I not think of calling in advance for a week.
But without blaming anyone, I was just stupid.
Who would threaten with a knife and blackmail?
But, every time I meet someone I know, does this happen?
Call in advance to explain. Meet and persuade.
Even whether persuasion works is uncertain.
Suddenly, my breath hitched and my head spun.
I don't know.
"Hey, Kim Juwon. This is Yoo Siwol. The voice now is with a changed phone and using voice changer."
- Huh? What does that mean—
"You, are you doubting the current Math 1 Top of Nanum Mideok Orphanage, the orphan's HyunXjin, the clear-cut tax king, Yoo Siwol-nim who promised to buy meat today?"
- Believe it. Definitely Yoo Siwol.
"Bunshin. You deserve to disappear from the face of the earth."
- This kid... Does mom not have any?
I chuckled and answered.
"If I had, would I be friends with you? So, just take a taxi to Shin-gyo University?"
- Ung. I'll tell you. This time, you buy.
"Uh."
- I love you baby! Kiss kiss!
"Aw, shit, really."
Click.
I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at Kim Juwon's number.
I believe this.
...To me, this guy is the type that shouldn't accept investment advice or anything.
By the way, even if it passed, the next part was the problem.
Worried what the guard post would say, and how to handle when meeting.
Will it be okay?
I knew that the South Korean army was a group that rolls with yudo and garawa, even without going to the army.
Moon Sangjun said it's okay, so no identity issues.
When meeting Kim Juwon... later.
Somehow, it'll be fine.
"Here, please take me to Shin-gyo University Guard Post."
"Yes!"
I got into the taxi.
*
"Please state your purpose of visit and name."
"Uh, today, a friend of Corporal Kim Juwon who applied for a visit to the recruit training center..."
"Ah, yes. Corporal Juhyeon, Kim Juwon is here for a visit."
The soldier opened the door with sweat pouring.
"Thank you~"
"Net, yes!"
As expected, despite my earlier worries, passing the guard post was smooth.
Corporal Juhyeon, who alternated between my ID and face, opened his mouth wide, then with a face saying 'Kim Juwon is a jerk-', let me pass.
However, there was a minor mishap where Kim Juwon, who met the cool white-haired purple-eyed smiling girl Yoo Siwol, had cognitive dissonance,
"This isn't my friend Yoo Siwol!!"
"Look closely. And don't tell anyone...!"
"Believe it. Definitely Yoo Siwol."
Since it's not the orphanage president, just showing teeth and eyes made it smooth.
"You really deserve to disappear from the face of the earth..."
No.
A human that looks edible, I don't feel like joking.
*
I took Kim Juwon and entered a nearby meat restaurant room.
Since we used the 4-person room, the boss looked a bit hesitant to guide us.
But that was only at first.
Kim Juwon ate 5 portions of meat, two bowls of kimchi jjigae, and when ordering air rice for doenjang jjigae, the boss's face was peaceful like a happy family.
"Why, don't they give food in the army?"
"Soldiers always get hungry even after eating. You, pure orphan, don't know since you didn't go to the army."
"Are they breeding one asshole in each soldier's stomach?"
"Didn't you know? And I'm also an asshole, so double asshole."
Kim Juwon chuckled and ordered another portion of raw beef.
Even so, it was nice that he ate only raw beef.
He's kind...
A bit simple-minded.
After finishing my meal, I was crunching on the three-color ice cream provided at the meat restaurant.
In the old days, it was shocking, but now it was just ice cream taste.
When I finished the ice cream, Kim Juwon who finished eating asked.
"Hey, what really happened to you?"
"I told you earlier. I'm human form now, but I'm a dragon."
"Then can you switch between dragon form and human form?"
"Maybe? No basis, but it feels like it should be possible."
"Oh."
The guy's eyes sparkled with interest.
"But why are your feet like that?"
"I got beaten by an older brother and became disabled. Don't ask more."
"Eh? Nanum Mideok guy?"
Kim Juwon's face hardened sternly.
I waved my hand hurriedly and answered.
"Why would I meet those bastards? And it's not that I became disabled. I just got kicked."
"Ah ha."
Kim Juwon, who had been floating a bit of unhappiness, became gentle again.
Well, I can't joke with this guy.
But, isn't saying 'I'm worried about you' just that?
A bit ogle, but the feeling was good.
"But why female?"
My mood dropped...
"Why ask that? How would I know?"
"No, I'm curious. It shouldn't be attached now. Did you check in dragon form? Is it pierced?"
"Are you crazy???"
I instinctively hugged both shoulders.
Honestly, I was curious too, but the way of thinking that immediately came to mind was too disgusting.
Kim Juwon chuckled and tapped the grill with chopsticks.
Then, after taking a breath, he asked me.
"Hey"
"Why."
"Even if you think, I'm a bit annoyed."
"A bit? I'm super annoyed."
"Shit. Even if it's a joke, try to say something."
Kim Juwon scratched his shiny back hair.
I wonder why he's still bald even after being corporal 3rd class.
"Anyway. I know I'm annoyed too, so there's something I want to ask you for advice."
"Spill it."
Kim Juwon secretly looked at the room exit door.
Since it seemed necessary, I lowered my head too.
The guy started telling the story.
"Uh, there's this incident with awakened abilities this time. People awakened. You seem like an awakened person too."
"Probably."
"That actually, I awakened too."
"What!?"
"Ah, shit. Lower your voice...!"
I closed my mouth and nodded.
Kim Juwon looked at the room door and continued.
"Anyway, I awakened. It's summer now, no sweat, not hot. I can run for a long time without getting out of breath, and when doing exercise, it should get harder but it's getting easier.
Even when doing CS tear training, one of the kids, a smoker soldier, was roasting those tiny pills and going crazy? But, at first it was a bit spicy, later I didn't need a gas mask at all."
"What is CS tear?"
"Shit. It's tear gas. That's why the weak ones."
What kind of ability is this.
Adaptation? It seems the most likely.
Adapts to exercise. Adapts to CS tear.
"What kind of mahora are you?"
Kim Juwon said sternly.
"Sorry. It was a joke. Continue."
"Anyway, so instructions came down. If there are awakened soldiers or officers, report to the top.
But, what's strange is..."
"What's that."
I asked casually.
"Wait a minute."
Kim Juwon shook his head back and forth, checked if the room door was properly closed.
Then, after confirming outside the door, he whispered lowering his voice.
"The kids who reported as awakened at Shin-gyo University aren't showing up."
*
"What?"
Suddenly, a feeling like something passing through my mind.
Before catching it, Kim Juwon continued.
"It means they were transferred. But, one of the seniors had something to give to the one who was transferred. He told me to find out where they transferred using intranet.
So, when on duty, bored, I checked others too, but something's weird."
I can think later.
I listened to Kim Juwon's words for now.
"What's weird."
Kim Juwon swept his bangs.
Then, after a while, he clicked his tongue a few times.
He muttered confusedly.
"So, the one who was working as a corporal normally went to administrative soldier somewhere south, and the one who was stuck in the administrative team has a GP.
But, this doesn't make sense.
The ace corporal who was 3rd class 400, suddenly became administrative soldier, and the skinny anchovy who was stuck in the admin team went to GP. Not even self-assignment, but transfer.
Even no contact. I checked for two days, both phones off.
Something's weird. Am I overreacting? Obsessed with conspiracy? And-"
Kim Juwon asked.
"Do I have to report that I awakened?"
"Don't."
I answered firmly.
Kim Juwon tried to laugh and asked back.
"Why? Uh, when looking at National Intelligence Service people, they say they have jobs like shipping or trading companies. Maybe creating special units like that. Devgru or Delta Force. Not a big deal?"
"Are you confident?"
"What."
"Your thoughts. Are you confident?"
Of course, I had similar guesses after hearing Kim Juwon's words.
It's not the age of savagery now.
The Central Intelligence Agency became National Intelligence Service through the Agency for National Security Planning, and the military security became the Agency for National Security Planning.
Still powerful, but not the old ones.
It's not the time when they silently swallowed a few people and shut their mouths.
But, I had to think about if.
Kim Juwon was from Nanum Mideok Orphanage.
Not a pure orphan like me without parents, but seeing him run away with his sister from home, the family environment is screwed up.
Not having parents to find is disadvantageous at times like this.
"If not. If instead of making special units like you think, they're bringing awakened people for biological experiments like Unit 731."
"No way. What era is this."
"Yeah. Probably not going to happen. But can we say 0% possibility? Can we be sure it won't happen?"
Kim Juwon was about to say something, mouth twitching.
I didn't give time and shot back.
"And what if it's a special unit. What then. What do you think the military will do with super ability people. Put them in the rear as honey or something? For regular conscripts, they can do it, why would they assign awakened ones?"
"That's not the case..."
"Then what were you asking sitting there."
Hide it first.
If caught, how much punishment can the army give to conscripts?
At best, cut vacation, solitary, can't get corporal.
Rather, it's excessive.
Even if it happens, it's just that much.
It wasn't something to risk danger to avoid.
With that, Kim Juwon added regretfully.
"But if it's special unit, salary is high―"
"Hey you fucking idiot. Do you think your sister wants to go to university on your brother's blood price? What kind of words are you spewing?"
His sister, Juyeon, was quite close to me too.
I didn't think of seeing her eyes and contacting me saying 'Did you hear about my brother?' even a little.
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"Sorry to me, not to your sister."
"Yeah. That's right."
"Yeah. Even if annoyed, not a stupid person who can't judge."
I nodded and said.
"Hide it first. Nothing to gain by revealing. You didn't change like me in appearance. If you just keep quiet, no one will know."
"Yeah. That's right, but..."
No, but this guy still hasn't realized.
The moment I was about to slap his face with a spoon to snap him out of it, Kim Juwon swept his face and sighed.
"I already said... One of the roommates in the same living quarters knows I'm awakened..."