Ch.157Season 2 – Because I Still Want to Fight

Shinwoo was led by Rio to the upper floor of the prison tower.

That left the four of them behind.

“……”

“……”

“…What should we do?”

“……I’m not sure?”

This wasn’t part of the original plan.

Han Jaewon and Kang Mirae were being escorted to the underground prison with guards assigned by Rio.

The two were separated from Eve and Yurian, who were monsters, and were transported to the deep underground prison for criminals as originally planned.

And the prison they arrived at was…

Thud! Thud!

Clang! Clang!

“…?”

“Is this… really a prison?”

How should I put it?

It looked more like a mine than a prison.

“Now, go in and start mining minerals.”

“Huh? What about prisoner numbers? Or clothes and daily necessities?”

“Come on, you’re humans, not villains. Why would we provide such things?”

Is this what they call welfare?

…The guards roughly shoved the two into what seemed like a mine… or prison, making them wonder if this was proper treatment.

After they entered through countless stairs, the giant-like door closed behind them.

“Huh?”

“What’s this?”

“New inmates?”

“Wow, how many years has it been since we’ve had newcomers?”

The prisoners who were mining minerals in the cavern-sized prison began turning their attention to the two newcomers.

“Are they, are they looking at us?”

“Seems like it.”

“What should we do?!”

“Well… originally, your father was supposed to incite them to escape together, but that seems difficult now…”

These were people they needed to make allies with.

Which meant they couldn’t just fight the approaching prisoners.

“Ms. Kang Mirae.”

“Y-yes?!”

“Get behind me.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks.”

After moving Kang Mirae, who had healing abilities but zero combat power, behind him, Jaewon prepared to use just enough strength to knock people out if needed.

But what was this?

“Oh my! You two must have been through a lot!”

“”…?””

They expected some kind of initiation ritual, but the prisoners were unexpectedly welcoming?

“How did you two end up here?”

“What? Oh, yes… we were caught forming a human rebellion…”

“Oh my! You were doing such noble work!”

“Haha, we’re just thieves who got caught.”

“I never dreamed there would still be young people fighting for humanity!”

The prisoners, mostly middle-aged, warmly welcomed Jaewon and Mirae.

“For now, pick up pickaxes since the guards are watching.”

“Later, when the guards leave in the evening, we’ll have your ‘initiation ceremony.'”

“Ini-initiation ceremony…?”

But as expected.

When night fell and the guards were gone, the prisoners began preparing some kind of “ceremony,” which sounded ominous.

“Don’t let your guard down. Understand?”

“Y-yes!”

So the two of them held their pickaxes as instructed but remained tense.

***

But the initiation ceremony was just that—a simple welcome.

“I’m Kang Mirae! I used to be a saint! I have healing abilities, so come to me if you’re injured~!”

Clap clap clap.

“Haha, it’s good to see such an energetic young friend!”

In the underground prison after the guards had left for the day.

All the prisoners gathered, excited about having new inmates for the first time in years.

At first, Han Jaewon was extremely cautious, not knowing what they might do.

However, he was simply dumbfounded when their leader offered them real alcohol from who knows where.

“Alcohol? …But this is a prison?”

“Hahaha! I got it from the guards with great difficulty.”

“The guards give you alcohol?”

“Yes! Despite appearances, the guards and I have been together since this prison tower was first built!”

The current leader of the prison inmates.

A man named Chu Deukman, with scars across his face, was laughing heartily.

Meanwhile, even for welcoming newcomers, this seemed excessive.

Kang Mirae couldn’t understand how they could casually drink soju in the world’s only remaining prison, so she whispered to Jaewon.

“Isn’t this too suspicious…?”

“Hmm… I can’t deny that. But that doesn’t mean they’re enemies.”

“Why not?”

“Well… I’ve heard about this person before.”

Chu Deukman.

In the past, when Han Shinwoo’s eyes had just turned and he was devouring the world.

He was one of the Korean rebellion leaders who fought for humanity until the end.

Han Jaewon had heard about this man from Lee Jin-ah, who had been his benefactor.

“That person was one of the ‘heroes’ who fought against my father… the current Han Shinwoo.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. So I think we can trust him for now.”

Surely a hero who fought for humanity wouldn’t do anything bad to two young adults who had just come of age?

With that thought, Kang Mirae, who was the most frightened, took a gulp first.

“…Oh!”

And just like that, her “limiter” was released.

***

“Hehehe! Hahaha! Bring more alcohol!”

“…That saint seems to handle her liquor quite well, doesn’t she?”

“Yes… I had no idea she could drink this much.”

Despite her earlier warnings about being careful, Kang Mirae was now completely drunk and passed out.

While she slept soundly among the prisoners who had also collapsed after drinking for the first time in ages…

“…So why did you come here?”

“!!”

He thought the man was somewhat drunk, but surprisingly.

Chu Deukman, who was actually quite sober, asked Han Jaewon with a serious attitude, as if demanding his true intentions.

“Your name was… Han Jaewon, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hmph. It’s like seeing my younger self. I can feel a very strong spirit from you.”

“……”

“So, someone of your caliber wouldn’t have turned himself in, right? You deliberately came here. Tell me, why did you enter a place like this?”

Chu Deukman had already sensed Jaewon’s strength to some extent.

So he couldn’t understand.

How could such a capable young man enter the prison tower voluntarily without any injuries?

If he did, the reason must certainly be inside this place.

“Tell me honestly. Why did you come here?”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t you trust me?! …Well, I suppose it’s natural not to trust someone who drinks with the guards.”

A relationship formed over shared drinks.

He had somehow developed such a relationship with the monster guards, so he couldn’t really argue against that suspicion.

Meanwhile.

“No, there’s no point in hiding it anyway.”

“Huh?”

This man was also one of the people they would need to take with them for the rebellion.

Having made that judgment, Jaewon finally decided to speak up.

“Mr. Chu Deukman.”

“What?”

“We plan to take all the prisoners trapped here, including you, outside.”

“And what will you do once outside?”

“Of course, to fight against the empire led by Han Shinwoo!”

With those words, Han Jaewon extended his hand toward Chu Deukman.

“Mr. Chu Deukman. Please lend us your strength.”

“No.”

But.

“…What?”

The answer from the man once called a hero was completely different from what he expected.

“You want me to step into that hell again? And fight against Han Shinwoo again? I can’t do that anymore.”

“Mr. Chu Deukman…”

“Young friend, I think your plan is admirable. Entering the prison tower to lead us humans and reclaim the Earth. It’s cool, right? Just like a manga protagonist!”

Yes, a manga protagonist.

A mindset that could only exist in fiction, not in reality.

“But unfortunately, we’ve already grown old.”

“…!”

“Maybe it’s because we’ve lost so much, but we no longer have the motivation or ability to do anything.”

Chu Deukman mocked their ended generation, and instead decided to just encourage Jaewon who had boldly come this far.

“But I admire your courage, so I’ll help you escape from here.”

“You’ll help me… escape?”

“Yes. Haha. How many years do you think I’ve been in this prison? If I ask the guards, they’ll let at least one prisoner out.”

“…!!”

This person is definitely a hero.

No, perhaps “was a hero” is more fitting now?

Anyway, he was someone who fought for humanity.

But now he’s in this sorry state.

However, Jaewon didn’t particularly blame him.

The strength of future Han Shinwoo.

Having witnessed that power firsthand, he might have given up on revenge too if it weren’t for his current father.

“But… I can’t give up just because of that.”

“Huh?”

The reason he was here now.

It was because his father from the past had walked with him.

Because his mother was waiting for him.

With that fact in mind, Jaewon couldn’t just give up…

“Then, at least tell me how to get to the lowest level of this prison.”

“Why… there?”

“Because I want to make the prisoner at the very bottom my ‘comrade.'”

“!!”

The woman that future Han Shinwoo could never obtain.

The cause behind the creation of this prison tower where they now stood.

And… the person who was like a half-monster sister to him, always by Lee Jin-ah’s side, who was his half-mother.

“I came to get Eve.”

“…! Eve? How do you even know about her existence…”

“Why wouldn’t I? She’s my sister.”

“Sister, you say?”

Sister Eve.

Although I’ve only come now, I’m here to keep that promise we made to go together.