Messiah [21]

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21 ( BGM: ISU – Requiem )

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” So…. what you’re saying is…. let’s start a revolt? ”

” Somewhat yeah. Crush the Government that cornered the S.E’s and persecuted the innocent citizens. ”

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Howon and Dongwoo exchanged a conversation in a quiet voice as they walked through the humid air covered in black ashes. When they escaped the military base, both bodies were– needless to say– in horrible condition.

Dongwoo had, of course, all kinds of bruises all over his body along with him limping due to the stab wound on his leg, and the back of Howon’s head was still numb after being hit. They had nothing they brought along except their bodies, so after they simply washed their wounds with water, the two were wandering around the streets for four straight days now.

Their wounds had not been properly cleaned out and they had not eaten proper food yet, and it made the sky look yellow and the world spin around, but they held onto each other– being dependent on each other– and was in the middle of going up to Seoul.

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” Just saying it is easy. You think that’s possible just because we made up our minds like that? ”

” Dongwoo-yah, imagine how many people like us are in this world. The people who got bullied by the Government and secretly sharpened knives of revenge but did not have a chance to swing that knife. We’re going to set fire in those people’s hearts right now. ”

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” ….. fine. Anyway, you, I didn’t know you’d accept my mindless words that seriously and even plan it out like this. ”

” The person I love thought of it. ”

” …….. ”

” It’s my thoughts as much, too. ”

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” But…. it’s dangerous. We don’t even know how it’s gonna end up. Death while fighting is a one-time thing. ”

” Even if it doesn’t work, we have to try our best. Plus, you and I, we have nothing more to lose now. ”

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Suddenly, Howon’s face had a tint of bitterness showing up and it made Dongwoo think of his family back in Busan.

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” My dad, probably, might like me fighting against the Government more than protecting my mom. ”

” ……. ”

” My dad was always that kind of a person. ”

” ……… ”

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” Dongwoo-yah, I heard a lot about your story, but I don’t think I fully told you mind. Care to listen? ”

” ……. sure. ”

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” My dad was a very courageous and strong person. He was a soldier before meeting my mom. Of course, it was way before the start of the war. I heard he was at a high ranking, but he retired after getting married and went down to Busan. ”

” ……… ”

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” The war broke out when we were 15, so thinking about it now, it was a good choice. ”

” You’re right. ”

” But if he had stayed as a soldier, he would’ve lived longer. ”

” What? ”

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” It should be when I was around 17. My dad passed away then. Eight years before the start of the war, it’s 12 years now. ”

” …….. ”

” It was in a flash. Dad when out at the break of dawn to the nursery and mom and hyung woke up late; we were eating breakfast. Suddenly someone knocked on the door as if to break it down. Geez, I was so scared back then that I still have a faint memory of it. ”

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Seeing Howon tell the hard story like it was nothing– although in his mind it was different– Dongwoo silently watched him from the side and slowed down.

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” Mom looked out and she told me some stranger was standing outside. Of course we didn’t open the door. Us three were quiet. That stranger sure had some guts though. Since the door didn’t open, he broke the window with a huge rock. ”

” ……… ”

” In order to protect us from that intruding person, mom hugged my hyung and I and screamed. But that person pulled out a knife and stabbed my mom’s leg. Deep. The treatment was a bit too late. That’s why my mom has an uncomfortable leg. ”

” ……… ”

“That murderer ran away leaving us siblings sobbing and my mom unconscious. And he said this as he was running away: Mark my words, I am a Social Evil. ”

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Dongwoo ended up stopping and lowering his head to the ground. Hearing the two words– Social Evil– was enough to make guilt flood over again. Everything seemed like it was his fault.

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” Um, Howon-ah…. I’m…… ”

” You have no sin, Dongwoo-yah. That’s never your fault. ”

” Uh…..? ”

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” No matter how bad of a memory I have against S.E’s– you’re an existence that I love. For me, you’re a picture-perfect existence. ”

” ……….. ”

” Honestly, I still can’t help getting mad at S.E’s but not all of them are bad. I mean, I bet only a few are like that.”

” ……… ”

” I realized after seeing you. I like you so much that it makes me sorry for hating on S.E’s till now. ”

” ….. Howon-ah…. ”

” That may be one of the reasons I’m trying to fight for the S.E’s. Mm…. the Government, the Elite people in that bunch are all cruel. ”

” ……. ”

” and S.E’s are not like that. ”

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I was touched and felt thankful by Howon’s words carefully wrapping around me. At this moment, I don’t care what kind of dangerous situation we’re in. A person that loves me this much is beside me.

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After walking for quite a while, it seemed like they had arrived at the forefront of the war. The sound of urgent solider’s screams, raining bullets, and bombs came closer.

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” Let’s go back. ”

” Well….. as far as I know, the road going into Seoul is here. The main buildings of Seoul are so dense that they blocked off most of the roads to make it unapproachable. ”

” Is there no other way? ”

” The way to Seoul is always the forefront. The S.E’s trying to go through and the guards trying to block those S.E.’s are always on standby. But let’s see if we can go around the path a little….. ”

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Smelling the reek of blood spreading around even to the place about one kilometer away, Dongwoo hesitated going closer– but, to the left was the S.E’s position, and to the right was the soldiers’ position. And right ahead of them was the middle of a fiery war. He was too tired to find another way, and his body condition was indescribable. Moreover, with one S.E. and one soldier together, it was dangerous to go to the S.E side, or to the solider side. But it was even more dangerous to split apart because of that, so there was only one solution.

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” We have to secretly go through the least dangerous part of the battlefield. ”

” Does it have to be Seoul? The capital should be crawling with people working in the Government; will there be people who could help us? ”

” I have a place I had in mind. Do you know a place called the M-Center? ”

” I heard about it. What about that place? If you’re talking about M….. isn’t it the Governmental side? ”

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” When I was in training, I stood as a guard in place of the person working there once. A person who guarded the back door together told me something. ”

” Huh? ”

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Howon pulled up his faint memory. When Howon scanned the big and shiny building of the Center with awed eyes, a researcher wearing a long gown while offensively holding a gun told him a story.

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「 You’re an outsider so I’m guessing I’m allowed to say this. The M-Center looks cool and fancy like this on the outside, doesn’t it? Of course, the inside is filled with state-of-the-art facilities too. But people’s hearts cannot be happy. Actually, the M-Center is playing in the hands of the Government. The M’s receive endless experiments, they are trapped inside their rooms as they give birth to babies, and they get their babies taken away from them. The Government gives a memory loss injection to M’s too. Honestly speaking, us researchers pity those M’s so much and want to help, but the Government is cruel. They never allow those kinds of actions. Plus, I heard they’re tightening up the budget. Working here is too hard. If it wasn’t for the Government….. I only have apologetic feelings towards the M’s, always. 」

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I remember the guard shook his head hearing himself throw these words out without hesitation, then focused on standing by.

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” The researchers of the M-Center seemed to be holding a lot of antipathy towards the Government. If we go there, it’ll be a big help. The security wasn’t as harsh as other governmental facilities either. I think the people we’re looking for are there. ”

” I don’t know much so I’ll trust you. Do you know the way? ”

” I remember roughly. It’s in the outskirts of Seoul, so we’ll get there in no time after getting through that battlefield. ”

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Not too long after walking closer, the hectic fighting scene spread out in front of their eyes. A few bullets hit near Howon and Dongwoo’s feet. Howon was wearing a solider’s uniform but Dongwoo had an appearance of a villager, and in this place, he was an unfamiliar intruder. The soldiers should be busy fighting each other, but just in case, they decided to go carefully through the small alleyways.

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They walked in a fast pace, almost like running, as they stuck closely to the wall while moving. Dongwoo had roamed around alone but had avoided this kind of hectic battlefield every time, and Howon had never participated in this kind of fierce battle that he had no choice but to be careful. Bullet shots fired just a few meters ahead. The bombs exploding from all directions also added to the anxiousness. They went around the building and went in a dark black alley.

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” Sss…..hhhhp!!! ”

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A bomb exploded close by and black ashes rained from the sky. But what made Dongwoo and Howon surprised was not that. In an alley narrow enough to fit only a small car, it was filled with corpses of soldiers who lost their lives in the fight.

Soldiers and S.E’s aside, the corpses were stacked up, and the rotting smell pierced their nose. They lowered their heads to the ground and walked as they held each other’s hands tightly, but the corpses they occasionally ended stepping on made their legs tremble.

It wasn’t like they haven’t seen corpses all their lives. I mean, for Dongwoo who roamed around everywhere, and for Howon who was a soldier, they had seen these kinds of scenes many times. But they sure couldn’t get used to it.

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” ……uh? ”

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They had tiredly passed by the winding alley, but the end was just a dead end– a wall. They couldn’t possibly go over the wall because they had no idea what was on the other side, so they had to turn around and go back.

The two ended up coming out of the alley and into the big road in the middle of battle, then they realized that they had to cross this place in order to go into another alley– because a medic with his white gown dyeing in dark blood was treating a soldier fallen on the ground, blocking the entrance to the alleyway on this side. The medic had a gun hung around his waist too.

But crossing the road was too dangerous. The length of the road seemed about 70 meters long. Having seen one of the soldiers amongst the crowd fall on the barriers due to the raining bullets from the rooftop, Dongwoo became immensely frightened. The road was filled with dangerous things, but they had to cross it nonetheless. Thankfully, both sides were busy killing each other that they had no care for Dongwoo and Howon moving quietly.

The people were throwing bombs regardless who was a solider or who was a S.E., so one distraction, and it was immediate death. Howon and Dongwoo moved as close to the soldiers’ barricade as possible. They had concluded that since Howon’s clothes were a military uniform, it would be a bit less dangerous.

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The two had no weapons on them. Right then, as Howon hesitated seeing a crowd of soldiers pass by them up front, Dongwoo pulled Howon down like crazy and stuck to the ground.

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” What…..! ”

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Howon became flustered and tried to raise his body again, but Dongwoo pulled him back down to the ground. A second after, a mass of fiery arrows shot across the air, right above Howon and Dongwoo on the ground. A Social Evil who could transport things to the places he wanted must’ve moved the fiery arrows towards the crowd of soldiers. As the soldiers writhed in pain by the arrows that barely missed the two heads, Dongwoo hurriedly dragged Howon up.

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” How did you….. ”

” There’s no time to explain! ”

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When Dongwoo pulled Howon to one side once again, a crowd of armed people suddenly appeared from thin air, fired bullets, then hid themselves. It must’ve been S.E’s who could make their bodies invisible. Without having any time to wonder how he’d known about the attack, they quickly ran across the road. But as they did so, Dongwoo pulled on Howon’s arm one more time.

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” What now? ”

” Again! We have to cross the road again! We have to go back! ”

” We came across this far, so why! ”

” We have no time to hesitate! Hurry! Howon-ah hurry! ”

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In the end, Howon went back the way they had just come through thanks to Dongwoo’s urgency; he showed a puzzled look. Right when they were about half way across, running as fast as they could—

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BOOM—

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” AAHHCK! ”

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A building that had been long abandoned suddenly exploded without a reason, and people who were around the 10 meter mark all went flying off. The people who went flying either died immediately or had serious injuries as they groaned and writhed on the ground. The exploded building was the place that Howon and Dongwoo had hesitated in front of just a minute ago. Howon fell due to the power of the explosion, then looked at Dongwoo next to him.

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” You……. ”

” Howon-ah, just run! The S.E’s have started a revolt! ”

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How much their bodies were hurt was not the problem here. Howon grabbed Dongwoo’s hand, who was still limping along, and ran like crazy to get out of this battlefield. The two ran till their breaths were up to their necks, avoided the soldiers, ran to the nearest building, and breathed heavily in and out as they leaned against the wall. Then suddenly.

Howon was wiping off the sweat coming down his chin, then saw a red blinking light on the left side of a big concrete building, not many meters ahead. Howon knew too well of what that light meant, so he immediately pulled Dongwoo’s hand.

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” RUN! ”

” Uh? ”

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They couldn’t go very far, and an ear-ripping sound came from the back of them. The red light was a timed-bomb. As the building blew up, Howon fell to the floor while wrapping himself around Dongwoo. The broken pieces of concrete fell to the ground and broke again. The debris came flying and poured out on top of Howon and Dongwoo. Scratches and cuts were made all over them, but thankfully, big blocks of concrete did not fall on them– they were able to live.

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” Hhmph….. ”

” Are you okay? ”

” I’m okay. You? ”

” You wrapped around me, look who’s talking! ”

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They quickly ran away as far as they could from the place that became hectic in a blink of an eye, then Dongwoo ended up dropping to the ground.

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” An explosion after an explosion! What is this…… it’s horrifying. ”

” We’re doing this in order to put an end to this horrific war. ”

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Howon mumbled as he gazed on the tip of a building far ahead. It was the M-Center.

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They were barely able to escape out of the battlefield; the road to the Center that they walked along, was perfectly fine and clean. It was because the S.E.’s had yet to invade into the inner side of Seoul. Dongwoo felt bitter knowing that they were going to crush this kind of Seoul down in the future.

They had cuts and scars all over their bodies, and it was hard to put one step in front of the other. A few people passing by saw them covered in dust and blood, and ran away frightened; Howon saw that and sighed, then moved his lips.

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” But you…. earlier…. how’d you know? ”

” Uh? Know what? ”

” Explosions and things flying off…. every time that happened, you knew and dodged it. I didn’t know anything. ”

” Mm….. I don’t know well myself, but that kind of feeling comes to me. ”

” Feeling? ”

” I guess there’s a thing that flows between the S.E’s. When someone used a power, I could feel roughly where that attack was coming from. ”

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Howon became frustrated seeing Dongwoo trying his best to put on a smile, when he obviously looked very tired. ‘M-Center, one kilometer ahead’– as they walked until they saw that sign, Howon suddenly became curious of Dongwoo’s power.

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” You know, your power. Was it the first time showing back then? ”

” Yeah, I think so. In the 19 years that I lived, it’s not like I had a place to set a fire on. Haha. ”

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” How did your power suddenly appear? Do S.E’s show their power around this age? ”

” Well….. my sisters showed their powers when they were really young. My big sister was able to communicate with animals. My second sister was able to understand languages around the world. According to my mom’s words, both of their powers appeared when they were around five or six, I don’t know why mine finally decided to show up. ”

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” Your sisters’ powers are so soft. It’s very different from yours. ”

” I know. My mom could breathe under water. My dad…. what was my dad’s? My dad never used his power in front of me. He never even told me what it was. ”

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” Mm…. Do you know, by any chance, of how the powers get enacted? ”

” Rather than ‘ get enacted’, it’s better to say ‘get found out’. As far as I know, the powers of S.E’s are there since birth. It gets found out through a certain incident. Mm…. actually, it’s difficult to understand for me too. ”

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” Then once it gets found out, you can use it whenever you want? ”

” I guess so, but I heard your energy drops and has a limit as to how many times you can use it. ”

” Limit? ”

” I don’t know. I heard things like, it’s proportional to one’s energy, or something like that, but I don’t know what the heck it’s talking about. ”

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While they talked about all kinds of things, they had already gone close to the M-Center. They saw four people guarding the main entrance of the Center. And the Center people had guns slung on their shoulders.

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” …… what do we do? ”

” Let’s go around the back door. ”

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Howon pulled Dongwoo along to the alleyway leading to the back of the Center. The steps avoiding the eyes of the guards were ever-so-careful.

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” There aren’t any guarding the back door? ”

” The Center’s back door is connected with the dumpster. Even if there are people, it should be less than the main door. ”

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The anxiety did not disappear, but having an intuition that they might be able to meet a good tie, Dongwoo nodded.

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” Let’s try. ”

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Sunggyu was usually calm, but especially today, he whined saying he wanted to go outside. And Woohyun– who couldn’t say no to Sunggyu– said, you can’t, and shook his head… as he went out the room to get permission from Myungsoo. Myungsoo denied permission for a long time saying no, what if something happens… but he had no choice but to say yes, seeing Woohyun’s desperation.

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” But, there’s a catch. Only go out to where my eyes can see. So I’m saying only go play in the incinerator room by the back door. ”

” What kind of– ”

” Shut up and take good care of him. ”

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Tsk— Woohyun clicked his tongue, but he became happy thinking that he’ll be able to breathe outside air in a long time, so he grabbed a fan, grabbed Sunggyu’s hand, and came out through the back door. Myungsoo had said he’ll be watching from the window of the 3rd floor’s hallway. He felt like he was being watched, but he had stopped Myungsoo who said he’ll come out together, so he was satisfied.

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” How long has it been since sunlight– ”

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Seeing Sunggyu smile beautifully, Woohyun completely forgot about Myungsoo watching him, and grabbed his hand.

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” Mom, you feel good, right? ”

” Yeah, I wish we can come out more often. ”

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Watching the two from above, Myungsoo’s mood became uplifted too. Those two looked exactly like a couple now, and the flowers blooming in spring were purely beautiful. Right then, something caught Myungsoo’s eyes.

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” Wait that’s a…… ”

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Myungsoo’s face hardened up and he immediately went to his room. Myungsoo urgently pulled out two things he had kept with him in case of emergencies and ran down the stairs; cold sweat ran down the back of Myungsoo’s neck. From a small widget with a shape of a walkie-talkie, a ripping screech was ringing out— Beeeeeeep–

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” Woah– Woohyun-ah, look at that. ”

” Flowers bloom in these kinds of places too, I guess. ”

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Seeping out from the piles of trash and the concrete floors of the incinerator, a bright yellow lily had bloomed open. The two became happy even with a small flower and smiled meeting eyes with each other– exactly like a loving couple. Then suddenly. A strange presence was felt from the back. Woohyun quickly turned around.

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” Who….. who are you? ”

” Ah, um….uh…. ”

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An unfamiliar, strained voice, and the smell of dirt. In front of Woohyun’s eyes stood two men covered in dust. One person was so dirty he almost looked dead, and one person had on a military uniform. Looking closely, their bodies were covered in cuts and crusted blood. They looked very uncomfortable and very tired.

When Woohyun instinctively hid Sunggyu behind him and stared at the strangers with suspicious eyes, the strangers flinched, looking like they had no intent of doing harm. Now he noticed that the one wearing the military uniform also had no gun on him. But having come out only to take a short break, Woohyun and Sunggyu also did not have any kind of weapon, so Woohyun prepared himself to sprint inside the Center any second now.

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” What brings you here? I don’t recognize your faces. ”

” We’re just…… ”

” STAY BACK!!! ”

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Just as the strangers were answering, Myungsoo came running out and stood in front of Woohyun and Sunggyu, putting them behind him. A small gun and machinery were in Myungsoo’s hands. That sharp warning noise of a machinery, that’s…. Woohyun became astonishingly scared.

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That machinery’s identity was the S.E. tracker. A machinery sending a sign that a Social Evil was near.

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They were entering into the incinerator room, then two people wearing white clothes came walking out through the back door. Howon and Dongwoo quickly hid behind a pile of trash and looked around, but the two people seemed to be out simply to get some fresh air, and smiled as they had no thought of going back in any time soon.

After compromising to secretly sneak past the two people, they were in the middle of cautiously crossing the incinerator room when– one of the two people suddenly turned around, having sensed a presence.

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” Who….. who are you? ”

” Ah, um….uh…. ”

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Howon became flustered and was stuttering, and while doing so, the man who spoke first quickly hid the other man behind himself. Seeing the white and clean presence, Howon realized that the man behind the other man was one of the M’s. And the man in front of him seemed like a researcher in this Center, by the looks of his gown. The researcher, glaring at them with skeptical eyes, asked sharply.

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” What brings you here? I don’t recognize your faces. ”

” We’re just…… ”

” STAY BACK!!! ”

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Howon and Dongwoo had not planned on these kinds of things happening and hesitated not knowing what to do, then another man came through the back door and yelled. The man seemed like he was another researcher, and had a small gun and machinery in his hands. Howon and Dongwoo immediately realized what that machinery was, and why it was giving out a sound. They had to run away, but the gun held in the man’s hand did not allow them to do so. This was the worst-case scenario.

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” That bastard, he’s one of the S.E’s! ”

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Myungsoo’s finger, as it pointed directly at Dongwoo, was shaking uncontrollably. He seemed as mad as he could ever be.

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” You two there, why do you come in here? And you, you even have a uniform on and you’re a normal person, so why are you lugging around a S.E? Did you not know? ”

” Kim Myungsoo….. ”

” Get lost this instant, will you? Such filthy bastards. ”

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Myungsoo even ignored Sunggyu calling him and glared at Howon and Dongwoo as he gestured to the incinerator room’s door with his chin. He was still pointing his gun at them. Should we just get out of here–– Howon thought, but thinking that these people had an antipathy for the Government, he calmed his mind.

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” I think your words are a bit harsh. ”

” What? ”

” What sins do S.E’s have for you to be like this. ”

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Howon had been standing still and spoke up, and it made Myungsoo scoff.

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” Are you asking because you don’t know? ”

” Yeah, I’m asking ’cause I don’t know. ”

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” S.E’s ruined everything, everything! The ones who made the situation go this far that I can’t even forgive them now, are the Social Evils!! ”

” What do you mean, by that. ”

” This is all because of the S.E.’s! Lee Sungyeol dying! M’s being persecuted! No, if Social Evils never existed, the place where the M’s were made would’ve been fine, and the war wouldn’t have started in the first place! There would’ve been no need for Lee Sungyeol to suffer! ”

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Myungsoo screamed being heated with rage and pointed the gun at Dongwoo, covered in fear. Sungyeol’s face appeared in front of his eyes uncontrollably. Kid, my kid.

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” LEE SUNGYEOL! Bring back Lee Sungyeol!!!! Damn it, if you can’t, then get lost immediately! The moment you appear in front of my eyes I’m going to pierce your heart with a bullet. I don’t care how many times, I’m going to kill you countless times with Lee Sungyeol’s revenge, you hear me!!!! ”

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The finger on the trigger shook violently. Rage filled him whole. Then, Howon– looking as feverishly mad as Myungsoo was– walked out and blocked in front of Dongwoo.

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” Go ahead, shoot. ”

” What the fuck are you doing! ”

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Howon’s face was very hardened as he clenched his teeth and muttered. It was a low voice but it gave enough of a warning.

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” Go ahead and try to shoot Jang Dongwoo. I’ll take the bullet for him. ”

” What the fuck is this bastard saying! Move aside! You’re a human! ”

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” Human or a Social Evil, what’s that gotta do with anything? I’m telling you to try and shoot with that great gun at the S.E. you so despise! I’m going to come in front of him and I’ll take how many bullets you fire. Even if thousands of holes are made inside me, I’m going to be a shield and make sure not one drop of blood comes out of Jang Dongwoo! ”

” …… crazy. Don’t tell me a human and a S.E are in love. ”

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Myungsoo degraded Howon, who was firmly standing in front of Dongwoo and was yelling, gritting his teeth. At that moment, Howon didn’t give a damn about gathering fellow people or whatnot. Who do you think you are to say to the S.E’s, and to Jang Dongwoo, those kinds of words?

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” I told you to shoot if you don’t like it, you great researcher. ”

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Howon’s firm voice made Myungsoo scoff.

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” Fine, if that’s what you want. ”

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Right when Myungsoo’s finger on the trigger was about to move—

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Déjà vu– should it be called. That vivid scene replayed again in front of Howon’s eyes. The burning gun, the bullet firing in mid-air, and the very scared faces of people. The gun burning up this time– not the entire place– was the only difference. A flame starting from the nozzle made the people of the Center confused, but Howon knew who had done so. In the middle of the sudden silence, Howon felt a hand tugging on his shirt and turned around.

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” Lee Howon you, you seriously…. ”

” Dongwoo-yah…. ”

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” You really have no answers….. how dare you keep making up your mind to die instead of me…? I can fend for myself now, too. Deciding to die for me, it’s not something you do whenever you want…. ”

” …… sorry. ”

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” I don’t want to…. lose a person I treasure in front of my eyes anymore. ”

” Sorry, Dongwoo-yah. ”

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Stroking Dongwoo’s hair, who looked like he was going to cry any minute now, Howon smiled bitterly, then Myungsoo snatched Howon’s shoulder. The fire on the gun was long put out by Myungsoo throwing down his gown.

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” I’m sorry to interrupt the damn show, but, ”

” Get your hand off me. ”

” That fire….. did that S.E. set it? ”

” What if he did? ”

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As soon as Myungsoo heard Howon’s belittling words, one horrifying memory exploded in his head. Fire…… the fire that killed Lee Sungyeol…… the kid’s pale, smiling face in the middle of the fire elevated Myungsoo’s firing rage.

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” WHAT’S YOUR INTENTION OF COMING HERE!!! What’s your point of coming here doing this! ”

” I’m sorry but I don’t feel the need to explain it to a person like you who abhor S.E’s. ”

” If you don’t say it fast I’m calling the people. ”

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Pointing at Woohyun and Sunggyu watching blankly from the side, Myungsoo grabbed Howon’s collar and pulled him up.

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” Say the reason for making such a fuss here. ”

” Let go of this first. ”

” SAY IT! ”

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A strong tension was built between the two. At the anxious atmosphere– making chills go up his spine– Dongwoo walked up with a worrisome face and tried to stop them, but Howon swayed his hand, stopping Dongwoo, while still glaring at Myungsoo.

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” I told you to let go of my collar. Is it the Center’s rule to turn to violence once words don’t work out? ”

” Before I do so, why don’t you state the reason first. ”

” ……… ”

” ……… ”

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In the end, Myungsoo finally let go of Howon’s collar first, and following him, Howon opened his mouth. His mind was full with the want of getting out of here, but Sunggyu’s eyes that he met for just a second, those eyes filled with a twinge of sadness, was hard to forget. Maybe– this clash is pretty serious right now, but maybe– these people are…..

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” Listen up. ”

” …….. ”

” We’re going to crush the Government. ”

” ….. what….? ”

.

” Why do you have a mindset thinking that the culprits behind the war are S.E’s? S.E’s never had the intention of harming humans in the first place. And that was the same for humans, too. The ones who started it all are the Elites, the Government. S.E’s are just one of the tribes who developed from humans, but the ones who made the order to kill off all the S.E’s as you see them and create rage in the world was the Government. ”

” What are you– ”

” Why do same living beings on Earth have to fight like crazy? Each other has no fault. Only the Government’s at fault. But still, the population was looking at the Social Evils, and the Social Evils were looking at the population. But you see, the real culprit they should’ve been looking at was the Government– the hands of which the whole population was playing in. ”

” …….. ”

” I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it. The one that created M is the Government too. I don’t know exactly, but the one that persecuted the M’s is, probably, also the Government. In the end, I’m saying that it wasn’t the Social Evils. ”

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I thought about Sungyeol, forcefully receiving pain in a laboratory surrounded in glass. The tearful memory I tried to forget but couldn’t. Myungsoo tried his best to ask unaffected.

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” So, what about it? ”

” We’re going to crush this rotten Government and create a new world. Even if that’s not easy, I’m going to try my best till death. ”

” …. but by the looks of it, one measly soldier– and a traitor at that– and one young S.E. who plays with fire, it’s only you two. Or, do you have some strong backup? ”

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Myungsoo scanned Howon and Dongwoo up and down with offensive eyes. Honestly, seeing two people raise their voices when they’ve got nothing at all, he was pretty skeptical.

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” No, you’re right, it’s only us two. ”

” Then how are you planning to change the world? Are you going to terrorize the Government by suicide? ”

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Hearing Myungsoo’s belittling words, Howon grinned.

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” That’s why we came here. To gather people. Do you have a heart in helping us out? Of course, you’re only one researcher too. ”

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Myungsoo was in a very clustered state. What are those people saying right now….. everything he said was right, but….. Myungsoo straightened his face.

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” …… what you said isn’t wrong. ”

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Dongwoo– standing still– seemed to brighten up a bit, but,

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” How can we trust you two? ”

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Myungsoo’s reply made that brightened face dim back down. Figures, in this kind of situation, there was no way that he was going to trust a villager, and with just them two. Moreover, Howon and Dongwoo’s suggestion seemed very impossible.

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” And about changing the world or something. You believe that’s possible? ”

” …….. ”

” You don’t think there haven’t been people in the past, trying their best to change the world? I’m asking if you two can make such a thing possible, when those hardworking people couldn’t even make it come true. ”

” We believe we can. ”

” It’s not a problem to be solved just by believing in it. How are you gonna handle that dangerous pressure? What about funds? When are you going to gather all the people? There’s no way it’s possible. ”

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The atmosphere became colder than before, and Myungsoo’s thorny words added to it. Maybe this place really won’t work– Howon was about to give up, but what stopped him was the one standing quietly beside him: Dongwoo.

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” …… there are two girls. Their face, their height, their body shape, is pretty much the same. ”

” What now? ”

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Unfamiliar to people living oblivious to the outside world, the calm voice filled with tears– mixed with the real world’s blood and sweat– made Myungsoo frown once more. Dongwoo unaffectedly continued his words.

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” But one of them has an expressionless, unchanging face, along with ragged clothes, no accessories of any kind. She even looks to have a bad temper. But, the remaining one is wearing clean and neat clothes, along with pretty makeup, smiling very bubbly as she stands. Her personality seems nice and smart. If you had to choose between the two, who would you choose? ”

” Why do you ask suddenly such– ”

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” Ask one hundred men in this world. They would unanimously choose the girl dressed up, right? ”

” ….. so. What about it? ”

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” The dressed up girl, whom the men chose, her name is Lie. The ragged girl’s name is Truth. The thing called truth, looks so bad, doesn’t it? But honestly, there’s only one flaw that Truth has. The only flaw that Truth has, is that she is very lazy. Truth doesn’t try to appear nice because of the proudness she has of being the truth. Because of her unsmiling face, she looks very uncomfortable and weird. While the Lies are seducing others, making themselves look pretty and beautiful, Truth does not move and just waits for someone to come forth. There’s a reason why the truth gets ignored in this world, too. ”

” ……… ”

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” But you see, do you know who’s even prouder than Truth who doesn’t step out? It’s those who don’t recognize Truth and trail behind the seduction of Lies– people like you. ”

” …… what? ”

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” Chasing down the truth may look difficult and painful, but finding the truth is the right thing to do. Fine, us saying that we’re going to change the world and stuff may look like all lies to you. But that’s the truth! Us having to shut down this rotten Government is the truth! ”

” …….. ”

” Does it look uncomfortable and illogical? Does it look difficult and painful? Then forget about fighting to change the world! Instead, fight to change yourselves being like this!– people who can’t recognize the true beauty of truth, cruel cowards like you! ”

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Dongwoo spat out all the words he’d been burying deep inside his heart without stopping, and it made Myungsoo panic.

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” You…. you….what did you….. right now…… ”

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What Dongwoo said was a long list of things, but only one word roamed inside Myungsoo’s head. Coward. Coward. The coward who killed the professor. The coward who couldn’t protect Lee Sungyeol.

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” ….. shit, shut up. Shut up! What’s it to you if I’m a coward or not! Stop blabbing your fucking mouth and get lost! ”

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Strength went into Myungsoo’s hands, holding the burnt gun and gown. They’re insane. These people are insane. He turned around with his teeth clenched and headed back inside, but what stopped him was Sunggyu’s sudden words.

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” I trust them. ”

” …… Mom? ”

” They’re strangers, but what that friend said earlier seemed to have started a fire in my heart, ”

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Sunggyu spoke slowly as he smiled prettily towards Dongwoo.

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” And from what I can see, those two, are sharing a very pretty love right now. People sharing love do not lie. And they don’t make absurd promises either. ”

” …….. ”

” Myungsoo-yah, I’m telling you. ”

” …….. ”

” You can trust the words of those two. ”

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As soon as Sunggyu finished, Myungsoo’s face looked extremely conflicted. Oppositely, Howon and Dongwoo’s faces dyed over with relief, and at the same time, Woohyun mumbled, If Mom says so— and showed a sign of consent.

Honestly, Woohyun couldn’t completely trust those two, like Myungsoo, and them saying they’ll change the world was downright appalling, but it was true that Woohyun had been assimilated by Sunggyu’s ever-cozy, yet bitter expression. Anyhow, Howon and Dongwoo looked more than enough of a pretty couple in Woohyun’s eyes too.

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In the end, Myungsoo had a very frowning face as he fumed, then went stomping into the Center. Sunggyu followed him with his eyes, then turned his head to Howon and Dongwoo– who looked half-relieved, half-confused– and gave a quick grin.

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” Don’t worry, even if he goes in like that, he’s not the type of person to snitch to someone.”

” …….. ”

” Then, shall we introduce ourselves? ”

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