Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Mandatory Holiday (2)
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"Then you shouldn't even think about escaping anymore, right?"
I'd thought there must be someone outside who would help her since she kept whining about wanting to run away from the academy. Turns out she was sold out and handed over to the police.
If that was the case, there was even less reason for her to leave. I couldn't understand why she kept trying to escape. Ha Yoon stared at her with such eyes, and Shin So-hyeon bowed her head deeply, mumbling.
"B-but if I don't get out of here, I can't ask those people why they did it..."
She'd been involved in the human rights movement for victims since her student days, a full five years up to now.
She thought she'd blended well with the group members—not at the center, but at least on the periphery. She never imagined the police would come barging in the moment she became a victim.
Even her family didn't know she was a victim; only her fellow activists did. So it was obvious who had called the police without even thinking about it.
"I worked so hard... I volunteered first when they needed people and thought I was the most dedicated to the cause. I never dreamed they'd sell me out before even a day passed. That's why I want to ask them. Why they did it..."
"You're naive. You were just used."
"Ha Yoon."
Kim Seon-ah glanced at Shin So-hyeon nervously as Ha Yoon bluntly drove the point home.
"That's too harsh."
"Did I say something wrong? And there's no need to go asking why or whatever. They never saw you as a comrade in the first place, so of course they reported you to the police."
Just look at Kim Seon-ah right now. If there was any real bond or closeness, no one would report her to the police. You'd only end up here after getting caught because you couldn't hide it anymore.
But to get nabbed in less than a day? That means there was no bond from the start. They didn't even think of you as a colleague—just a useful tool—so they cut you loose without hesitation.
Ha Yoon poked Shin So-hyeon's chest as she said this.
"Say you escape this place and go to those bastards. You think they'll apologize when you ask why? You're lucky if they don't send you right back on the spot."
"But they're a human rights group. Would they really do that?"
"Would guys who wouldn't do that sell you out to the police the second a victim showed up?"
Ha Yoon smirked cynically at Jin Si-won's words, curling her lip.
Of course, Ha Yoon wasn't saying this out of any particular grudge against human rights groups. Compared to the militant ones in the capital, this bunch just held quiet protests, no doubt living off citizen group subsidies and the like.
But it grated on her that they hadn't protected someone like Shin So-hyeon, who'd been active for years, and instead ratted her out immediately. There was no way such people were doing real human rights work, which only made the taxes wasted on them sting more.
Ha Yoon moved the finger from Shin So-hyeon's chest to her forehead and flicked it.
"So don't do something stupid that'll get you killed. Just stay put quietly. Don't give those bastards the satisfaction."
"..."
Shin So-hyeon just rubbed her forehead and said nothing.
She's definitely gonna cause trouble soon.
Her face didn't look convinced at all. No surprise there—Ha Yoon didn't expect someone who'd done human rights work to bend her stubbornness with words like that.
Ha Yoon looked at her with exasperated eyes and turned to Jin Si-won.
"Hey, keep an eye on your girlfriend. Don't just stand by if she does something dumb."
"Like how Seon-ah takes care of you?"
"...Tch!"
Ha Yoon whipped her head away, at a loss for a retort. As much as she hated to admit it, Kim Seon-ah was looking after her both materially and emotionally. Denying it right in front of her pricked her conscience too.
So Ha Yoon muttered instead.
"I give her advice and she bitches about it..."
"Try saying it a little nicer. Anyone could see it was just calling her an idiot..."
Ha Yoon clamped her mouth shut at Kim Seon-ah's words. It wasn't wrong. It was calling her an idiot.
But admitting it outright would just invite nagging, so she didn't say something so foolish...
-
After meeting Shin So-hyeon and Jin Si-won, the two wandered outside the building for quite a while before heading back to the dorms. Their feet ached from all the walking, and it was getting close to dinner time anyway.
But when dinner time rolled around, it wasn't a food cart that arrived—it was Hong Ryeon, her face twisted in a scowl.
"Everyone, assemble outside."
No one asked what was wrong. Most just sighed deeply or grumbled in annoyance.
"Damn it, we're screwed."
"Ha Yoon, this is..."
"Yeah. The thing I mentioned earlier."
This so-called civil service was just VIP reception in disguise." Ha Yoon ruffled her hair irritably and muttered.
"No way they're sending us out on the first week, right?"
The dawdling trainees finally shuffled out into the hallway, and Hong Ryeon checked their numbers with practiced ease.
Only after confirming everyone was there did she head off somewhere again. Probably to fetch the trainers from the admin office.
Sure enough, she returned with the trainers in tow.
The trainers, gathered together for the first time in a while, had Teacher Gan step forward as representative.
"You probably have an idea already, but we've received a civil service request."
Sighs erupted here and there. Everyone except Ha Yoon and Kim Seon-ah had been out on civil service multiple times, so it was a natural reaction.
Teacher Gan would normally chew them out for that, but he shared their annoyance with these duties, so he just continued without rebuking them.
"The trainees selected are... all nine of you. Finish all preparations within the hour and assemble back here... Hm?"
Teacher Gan addressed Ha Yoon, who had shot her hand up from the back row.
"What is it, Trainee Ha Yoon?"
"This is our first week."
"And?"
"Well..."
You asshole. Ha Yoon grumbled and lowered her hand.
She knew protesting wouldn't work the moment he said "all personnel," but she'd poked anyway just in case. Teacher Gan continued.
"Unless you've got broken bones or some injury, no exceptions. Time's short, so hurry up. Hong Ryeon?"
"Yes."
Hong Ryeon approached the trainees with her tray, handing out the pills on it one by one.
"What's this?"
Kim Seon-ah asked curiously, but Hong Ryeon ignored her and moved on.
Ha Yoon had expected as much and shifted her gaze. Catching it as she received her pill, Ha Yoon explained.
"It's to empty your guts. Effects kick in 30, 40 minutes after taking it."
"You don't mean..."
"Simple terms? Laxative."
Ha Yoon muttered as she popped the pill into her mouth.
Preparation was straightforward: clean your body and empty your insides completely. They had to shower before the pill took effect, so the trainees moved with disciplined efficiency.
Less than an hour later, they were all back in the hallway, preparations complete. A few with long hair scowled at their still-damp locks, but there was no more time.
"Alright, let's move out."
Flanked front and back by Teacher Gan and Teacher Choi, the trainees lined up single file and headed out of the academy.
Teacher Park was already waiting with a van, flicking away his cigarette and waving at them.
No one waved back, of course. They boarded one by one, the trainers piled in last, and the vehicle finally pulled out.
Lucky enough to snag a window seat, Ha Yoon got to see the outside world for the first time in ages.
Some sights matched what she'd seen on the bus ride in, but the distant forest of skyscrapers stirred her heart uneasily.
And sitting just as close to a window was someone else—Shin So-hyeon, staring blankly out at the scenery. Ha Yoon didn't know how they'd ended up seated like that, but after their earlier talk, she didn't feel like chatting. Still, it felt awkward.
She thought Kim Seon-ah had boarded around the same time, so why'd they get split to opposite ends? As Ha Yoon grumbled inwardly, the once-distant cityscape drew near.
Even the trainees who'd feigned disinterest started glancing out the windows.
They'd seen these views on past civil services, but you couldn't see them otherwise unless you graduated. A natural reaction.
Longing, envy, emptiness, jealousy... those emotions flickered in their eyes. Ha Yoon felt the same.
Months had passed since they became victims, dulling the feelings somewhat. But just a week ago, she herself had been one of those people strolling the streets. If not for her rotten luck, she wouldn't be trapped in this van being hauled off—she'd be walking freely like them.
Ha Yoon glared at them fiercely before squeezing her eyes shut and exhaling.
As the trainees nursed their private sentiments, the van sped on. Eventually, it entered an underground parking garage of some building.
Ha Yoon couldn't tell how deep they went. But when a man in a black suit appeared to block the way, the silent Teacher Gan spoke up.
"Get ready to disembark."
The man exchanged words with Teacher Park, then waved them forward. The van crept to a stop in front of an elevator.
Teacher Gan exited first, and the nearby trainees followed one by one.
Once even Ha Yoon at the end got off, the van drove off somewhere—probably to park. She'd done it herself before, so she knew.
"This way, please."
The group followed the man.