Ch.132Giving and Taking – 3

I almost died. Not just in a manner of speaking, but I literally almost died.

Minseong Kang’s wind attack certainly had one thing going for it—devastating power.

The problem was that I got caught up in it too and ended up buried under a pile of rubble.

I barely managed to crawl out from what could have been my live burial.

I struggled to my feet and immediately tried to stop the bleeding from my wounds.

I must have lost a lot of blood already because my mind feels hazy.

For a moment, I even thought I just wanted to sleep right here.

Ah, is this what they mean when they say falling asleep means death?

I don’t want to die. I still have too much to do to die now.

So I quickly poked at the wound on my leg.

“Nnngghh!”

Shit! That hurts like hell! But the pain means I’m still alive.

As the sharp pain hits me, my blurry vision clears again.

Before I experience similar symptoms again, I stand up and check my surroundings.

‘…This is insane. He wasn’t S-rank even with this kind of power?’

The entire area has been literally scorched earth.

Unlike before when there were at least some buildings visible.

Now even those buildings have been more than half blown away, leaving only their frames.

I hope the Association or government won’t make a fuss about this later.

If they do, I’ll just blame it on the Elder.

They can’t blame a good guy when I tell them bad guys did it!

Crash!—

Just then, I heard something collapsing in the distance.

I rushed over and found Sujin Hyun emerging from the debris, looking completely wrecked.

“Ugh…”

With the middle-aged man in a suit still clutched in her hand.

“Cough, cough!”

Sujin Hyun coughed roughly a few times before coughing up blood.

It seems my earlier attack had hit its mark. My prediction was correct.

She had deliberately acted as a shield to secure that man.

I approached her quietly, sword in hand.

Perhaps sensing my presence, she turned to look at me.

“…So you survived.”

“That’s what I was going to say, but it sounds strange coming from you.”

“Because you actually used it. The ‘Storm.’ Even Minseong Kang, that old man, had trouble controlling it. It affects not only enemies but also the user within its range. You probably knew that already.”

Damn it. That’s what it was? Seriously, Chairman Kang?

Shouldn’t you have warned me about something like that beforehand?

An area attack that even consumes its caster?

‘This is literally a suicide technique.’

Now I understand why his disciples and children failed when trying to use it.

I immediately understood why Minseong Kang himself wasn’t S-rank despite having this power.

Power that can’t be controlled can never be perfect strength.

“…What? Judging by your expression, you didn’t know.”

If I admit I didn’t know, she might mock me. Better to pretend I knew.

I’ll have quite a few things to discuss with our chairman later.

“Cough! Cough!”

Sujin Hyun coughs up blood again.

I’m in bad shape too, but she seems to be in even worse condition.

Blood flowing back up, whether it’s hemoptysis or hematemesis, is never a good sign.

“Seojin Baek.”

Just as I was considering whether to finish this,

Sujin Hyun spoke with a voice heavy with fatigue.

“You noticed, right? That I couldn’t defend myself because I was busy saving this bastard.”

“…Yes. I saw it. A desperation I’ve never seen from you before.”

“Really? I’m done for. To think that the great Sujin Hyun would be completely beaten by a rookie like this.”

Chuckling, Sujin Hyun suddenly grabbed the man’s collar.

He still seems unconscious, but her eyes burn with rage as she looks at him.

“You’re planning to subdue me here, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“To stop me from causing any more trouble.”

“That’s right.”

My injuries are severe, but Sujin Hyun’s are worse.

Plus, she has baggage she must protect.

She knows it won’t be easy to escape from me.

Most of the shadows that surrounded her have dissipated.

It means she doesn’t have even a fraction of strength left to deploy that massive veil.

I’m sorry for Sujin Hyun, but she needs to stop now.

The world has no more strength or time to waste on villains.

Once the Great Cataclysm begins in earnest, gates and monsters alone will be overwhelming.

Before then, we need to reduce our enemies as much as possible.

“You. Do you know who this bastard is?”

Suddenly, Sujin Hyun thrusts forward the unconscious man in her grip.

I answered her question without hesitation.

“No.”

“You don’t know.”

“No.”

How would I know? I’m seeing this man for the first time.

As I silently stared at Sujin Hyun, she smiled once more.

“He’s one of the fragments I’ve been looking for. One of the very few remaining higher-ups of that cursed experiment. Trash who buried all their evil deeds and continue living comfortably.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t dismiss it so easily. He’s one who conducted that accursed experiment. He gave all the orders from behind the scenes, then shifted all responsibility to his subordinates and erased everything.”

According to Sujin Hyun, both her fiancé and I were subjects of that experiment.

An experiment conducted solely for profit, completely disregarding bioethics.

Almost everyone died in the process, and the experiment ended in failure.

And even the few survivors didn’t live long, meeting miserable ends.

Except for one. Only me.

“So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“…Aren’t you angry? These demons threw you into this world with nothing. They used you and left you to die, giving you a hell with no dreams or hope!”

Despite her furious outburst, I couldn’t give a proper answer.

Am I angry? Of course I am. What they did was truly unforgivable.

But that’s as far as it goes. I have no reason to be consumed by revenge.

This might sound insensitive to Sujin Hyun.

But I can’t suddenly hate someone when I don’t remember anything.

They deserve punishment, but I don’t want to destroy myself like she has.

“Ah. I can tell by your eyes. You don’t really care, do you? Because they haven’t harmed you in your memory. You survived, and even gained power? Is that it? Seriously?”

I couldn’t answer. Perhaps that was true.

What more could I say when my desire for revenge was so faint?

“You don’t care because you’re living well?! Others who were with you died miserably! But because you survived, because you’re living well, you’ll just forget about it?!”

Sujin Hyun shouted, coughing up blood in her rage.

She looked incredibly pitiful and heartbreaking.

A person who couldn’t bear not taking revenge. Someone who became a monster because she couldn’t forget.

“…Sujin Hyun.”

But I decided to tell her the plain truth.

“Your revenge is the life you chose. And because of that, many innocent people died and got hurt. And what you’re talking about now is ‘my life.’ Whether I seek revenge or not is my decision, my life. You have no right whatsoever to lecture me about it.”

That’s right. She has no such right.

Even if she can rage and shout about my decisions and choices.

She can’t push me or judge me for them.

“This is the minimum respect for the life I’ve lived.”

At my answer, Sujin Hyun bit her lip.

Then, holding up the man in her hand, she said:

“I have some news for you. They might restart that research.”

“…What?”

“Until now, there was no reason to continue it. But the world has changed. Gates are breaking through suppressors, and monsters have suddenly become stronger, threatening ability users. In this situation, these bastards have started showing interest in that cursed research again.”

It was shocking news. They’re trying to do that insanity again.

It meant there could be more victims like me and Sujin Hyun’s fiancé.

“…Is that true?”

“You don’t have to believe me if you don’t want to. But know this: I have never, to anyone, I swear to heaven, lied about that cursed incident.”

She didn’t seem to be lying. I had that feeling.

“Let me go.”

I thought I misheard. Not just “move,” but “let me go.”

The Elder, once among the top S-rank ability users, was asking for a favor.

I unconsciously responded with “What?” and Sujin Hyun continued.

“Let me go. Starting with this bastard, I need to take my revenge as best I can. I’ll make sure they never conduct that research again. I’ll judge all those involved.”

“…”

I couldn’t move at her words. I couldn’t let her go.

But I also couldn’t bring myself to use force to stop her.

“Don’t even think about saying such things. That revenge isn’t right, or that they should face legal punishment. Don’t spout such bullshit. It’s disgusting.”

Hearing that, I silently tightened my grip on my sword.

Noticing this, Sujin Hyun smirked at me.

“You’re really going to do that? Say that I should stop seeking revenge, that they should face legal judgment…”

“No.”

I’ve worked in public service for a while, though not long.

And I know how corrupt that system has become.

Even the law, which should be most sacred, has been broken in many ways.

So I don’t hold such pure beliefs.

Legal judgment? They’d just get probation and that’s it.

“That revenge you keep talking about. You’re telling me to do it. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

“What are you saying…”

“For the people who died and were hurt because of you. The Academy students. Innocent people. Let’s call it revenge for them. Well, my blade of vengeance won’t be as sharp as yours.”

Having said that, I didn’t hesitate any longer and swung my sword down.

*

“…”

The clash of powers from across the way has completely subsided.

It seems Rina’s side is finished too. Oh, why didn’t I go help?

In this state, I’d just be a burden. Better to cheer from here.

“Oof.”

I got up from my spot. And roughly sheathed my sword back into my chest.

Then I slightly turned my head to look at where Sujin Hyun had been.

If someone asked me to report on what happened today, I’d probably say:

– Engaged in combat with Elder Sujin Hyun. Both severely injured. Pursued but Elder escaped. One person abducted. –