The Slip of the Tongue
The file Kang Yerin discovered contained a preface written as follows:
· Expected application timing for the post-Limit Break grade reorganization table: After the commencement of the third scenario, i.e., after the subjugation of the Galactic Empire.
Caution: Never apply this in advance.
“What is this? Things end up like this just because of something like this?” Kang Yerin couldn’t understand the contents written there. “What does it mean that I’ll become stronger just by changing the units…? Is it the system’s compulsion?”
The other files were also filled with words whose meanings she couldn’t fathom. Kang Yerin sensed that countless secrets were contained within them. Her chest began to ache again. Every single file had a similar final modification date: just before the subjugation of the Dark Kingdom. Jung Uiseok was an honest man who only ever thought about fighting for peace. These files proved that fact.
Tears welled up. She wanted to tear her hair out, feeling pathetic for having been too stupid to notice how lonely his fight had been.
“He wasn’t corrupted by the villains.”
The order was reversed. Even though he had despaired of the heroes, he had no choice but to choose the ultimate method because he wanted to protect peace. Because that was the only way to defeat the Galactic Empire.
“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Uiseok.”
How must he feel right now? Would it be rude even to imagine it? What on earth was the source of the strength that allowed him to keep running for the world even after losing everything, even after losing the person he loved? Kang Yerin felt a sense of reverence for his superhuman mental fortitude. And the more she felt that, the more she wanted to have him. No, it didn’t matter if she couldn’t have him. It would be enough if he just let her have him. For now, she just wanted to meet him and talk.
Then, what could she do?
“…I am a hero.”
Slap! Kang Yerin struck her own cheek to clear her head. There was only one way to prove it. She could no longer count on Shin Yukyung, Ji Sehwa, or Choi Minseo. She had to do it herself. Heroes—I—can fight the Galactic Empire. I can win. That was the only thing she had to show.
A new scenario formed in Kang Yerin’s mind as she compiled the files. Then, while checking the data, a memory flashed through her mind the moment she saw one title.
[Pestam Purity Required for Galactic Empire Strategy]
‘That’s not a drug! It’s a weapon! It’s a trump card to defeat the organization of evil!’
‘The organization of evil was just defeated. What on earth are you talking about?’
Jung Uiseok had definitely said that on the Dark Kingdom’s ship. At the time, everyone thought Jung Uiseok was spouting nonsense because they believed the Dark Kingdom was the only organization of evil, and Shin Yukyung had countered him as such. But Jung Uiseok already knew about the Galactic Empire. And the file name made it certain. Pestam. Jung Uiseok hadn’t bought it to use as a drug. She didn’t know how to use it, but it was clearly a weapon to counter the Galactic Empire.
“My god.”
Kang Yerin realized her own foolishness once again. Pestam. Where was it now? The Association President had definitely entrusted its management to Choi Minseo. Kang Yerin immediately went to find the Association President.
“Pestam? Why all of a sudden? I tucked it away in a warehouse that only Minseo and I can enter, even in the weapon base with the highest security level.”
“Lead the way, now!”
Kang Yerin moved with the Association President to a base a few blocks away. The two entered the warehouse deep underground. Once the Association President’s security authentication was complete, the thick iron door opened. And.
“Uh…?”
The Association President let out a dumbfounded sound. The inside of the warehouse was completely empty.
After receiving a call, I went to the abandoned warehouse in the guise of Jung Uiseok, and a 20-ton truck was already parked inside.
“Uiseok oppa!”
Choi Minseo ran toward me with a bright smile. I had already checked the situation at the abandoned factory via CCTV. They were just small-time punks, but to think she killed them all without hesitation. She was always ruthless toward enemies, after all.
“I, I brought your stuff, oppa! Did I do well?”
Her eyes were expectant of praise. It was quite disgusting, so I ignored her and checked the contents first. When I opened the container, it was packed full of Pestam, which looked like hard, unprocessed plastic. I went inside to check if Choi Minseo had swapped the contents. There were signs that some had been torn off and taken. It must be the amount she used herself. Fifty kilograms were already missing. She must have siphoned off what she wanted to use. She was greedy, too.
“How is it? I brought it all just like I promised! Are you surprised?”
Choi Minseo’s eyes were wide and sparkling. After putting on my mask, I stepped out of the truck and tapped the communicator in my ear twice. My subordinates began to emerge from the underground. They moved the Pestam with precision.
“Huh, uh… eh?”
Choi Minseo looked around in confusion. She hadn’t realized the change in the situation.
“Minseo.”
“Yes…?”
“Get lost now.”
I crossed my arms and declared it. Choi Minseo blinked, wondering if she had misheard, then tilted her head.
“Ui, Uiseok oppa? What do you mean…”
“I’m done with you, so get lost.”
“Huh? Ah, no? Why are you saying that all of a sudden? I did what you told me to do well, I should be praised…”
“You have no shame. Have you forgotten what you did to me?”
“Forgotten? What did I…”
“Lua.”
At my command, Lua, who was among the subordinates, lightly fired dark matter into Choi Minseo’s brainstem. The effect was short, but intense. The dark matter forced Choi Minseo’s emotions back to reality.
“Uh, ugh? Ah, ah—?!”
She re-recognized the memories her subconscious had believed in as mere memories. She confirmed the memories of the Dark Kingdom battle as reality. She also recalled what happened at the party. The first time she encountered the cherry-blossom clouds. Seeing the illusions.
“No, no, nooooooo!!”
Choi Minseo burst into tears and slumped to the floor. She tore at her hair, then covered her mouth, and unable to hold it back, she vomited what was in her stomach.
“You, you. It was you. That day, you.”
Choi Minseo slowly turned her head toward Lua. Lua took off her mask and smiled at Choi Minseo.
“Hello, Green Nature. I’m Agent Shin Mina of the Secret Service.”
“You, youuuuu—!”
Choi Minseo began to have a seizure looking at Lua. I walked toward Lua and said,
“Don’t hate Lua too much. She’s my most cherished disciple right now.”
Shadows fell over Choi Minseo’s face at those words.
“Uh…? What do you mean…? Oppa?”
I pressed my body against Lua. I put my hand on her shoulder, pulled her thigh up, and held her in my arms.
“Still don’t know who she is? Lua is the greatest talent I’ve unearthed. She’s a genius among geniuses, and it’s an insult to even compare her to you lot.”
“Lie. You always said I was the best.”
“That was the biggest lie of my life. Do you know how hard it was to encourage pathetic kids like you?”
Lua took another mask from her bosom and half-covered her face with it. Lua wore a smile that mocked Choi Minseo. Only then did Choi Minseo recognize what that mask was.
“Dark… Matter?”
“Now you know my words are true, right? Lua surpassed you, who I’d been raising for three years, in just two weeks of training.”
“No way. Oppa, you, Vengeance…?”
“One. You’re slow to catch on, too. That’s why you always heard things like that.”
I grinned at her.
“Failure.”
“No, no! I’m not a failure!!”
Choi Minseo’s scream grew louder. She began to scratch the concrete floor, and her fingernails started to turn red.
“No, that’s not it, right? Oppa. Uiseok oppa. You praised me. You acknowledged me. You said you needed me.”
Choi Minseo crawled toward me. She put her arms on my legs and clung to me.
“I, I made a mistake, but I know now. I could exist because Uiseok oppa was there, and I… I need you. You shouldn’t be like this, oppa. I can’t live like this. Huh? Don’t do this.”
Choi Minseo looked up at me. No matter how brilliantly she was adorned with luxury goods, it couldn’t hide her ugly, tear-streaked face.
“I, I’ll do anything. Huh? Don’t do this. Teach me again. Tell me. Praise me. Tell me I’m the best.”
“You’ll do anything?”
Choi Minseo shook her head back and forth violently. Tears sprayed from the motion.
“Anything.”
Assuming absolute obedience, there were uses for her. I could plant her as a Trojan horse in the Association, or use her as an operative for the organization. Of course, her mental state was unstable, so the risk was high. Above all, it wasn’t a very attractive option considering I’d have to keep worrying about her. Anyway, it was now public knowledge that the Red Dragon was with Georgius, so letting her go wouldn’t be much of a problem.
“I, I’m sorry. Oppa. I really shouldn’t have done that.”
Choi Minseo apologized. I felt nothing even hearing it.
“I was jealous of you, oppa. I must have had such a hard time. I was always in the back, but you didn’t look at me like you used to, nobody called my name, but the cameras only filmed you. People only called for you. But you had a girlfriend. So I was so envious.”
Thinking about it, the three people who definitely intended to kill me that day were Shin Yukyung, Ji Sehwa, and the Association President. Although Choi Minseo and Kang Yerin had agreed to the operation, they didn’t seem to know that far. In the end, Choi Minseo had agreed to it happily right away, though. It was also true that the fight with the Dark Kingdom had been difficult. They must have been mentally cornered. I didn’t intend to forgive them, though. As a minimum courtesy, shall I end the scolding here?
“I’m sorry, oppa, for everything. I was wrong. For doing that to you there. For not trusting you.”
I bowed my head. I reached out to grab Choi Minseo’s shoulder.
“I’m also sorry for doing that to Somi unni.”
…Wait. What did she just say?
“What?”
“Huh?”
Bewilderment filled Choi Minseo’s expression.
“Hey.”
I grabbed Choi Minseo by the collar and lifted her up.
“Say it again.”
“Ah, no. Huh? This, oppa doesn’t know… Ah. No, I. Another slip—”
Pow! I punched Choi Minseo’s face with all my might. Her small body flew far away and slammed into the wall.
“Hwaaaaa, hwe, no!! I, I said let’s not do it! I said let’s not do it because we might die, I didn’t say it would be fun—”
“Hey.”
I approached Choi Minseo and grabbed her by the hair.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
And I made one decision.
“Because that might be your last words.”
I would kill the Dragon Squad without leaving a single one behind.