episode_0039

“As a commander, I am truly proud that even the executives are setting an example like this.”

Before entering the laboratory, Colonel Choi came out to give us some words of encouragement.

It wasn’t that I wanted to lead by example, but since the highest ranking person in the unit shook hands with each and every one of us with eyes full of trust, I didn’t think it would be detrimental to my military life.

“Sergeant Kwon Do-hoon!”

“Yes, yes. Sergeant Kwon. You look physically fit and are exactly the kind of person our military needs. I can tell just by looking at you. Please continue to protect your position.”

“Yes, thank you!”

When Colonel Choi finished his encouragement and left, all we were left with were two officers with the ranks of major and lieutenant colonel, and researchers from the Defense Research Institute.

“Please come in here and change into gown.”

The change of uniform didn’t take long, since he was a soldier.

When I looked around, I saw officers dressed exactly like me. After hearing their stories, it seemed like they had been in the unit for less than three months.

It was a coincidence that only junior officers, such as lieutenants, second lieutenants, sergeants, and corporals, were gathered there. Thinking about it carefully, it was only natural.

When the battle actually begins, junior officers will be in command on the front lines. They may be called officers, but in reality, they are combat personnel like privates.

It would make sense for such people to be the targets of the Bio Corps, or super soldier plan, that Colonel Choi had mentioned.

However, the fact that there is not a single person of the rank of colonel or sergeant makes me question the initiative that Colonel Choi spoke of…

What can’t an Army sergeant go up to his superior or major and ask them to participate in a clinical trial with him?

“Sergeant Kwon doesn’t seem to have any anxiety?”

Lieutenant Lee from the next company approached me and spoke to me as if he knew me.

Come to think of it, we drank together the week I moved in. That guy, he could drink a bottle and a half, I think…? I forgot because I was absent-minded at some point.

“Hahaha, I think so. The things I did in my previous unit weren’t very pleasant… I welcome things like clinical trials because they’re something that will only end with my body suffering a little. That’s my motto. Even if my body is tired, my mind is at ease.”

The lieutenant nodded in agreement with my words, but asked me a question with a sly expression.

“Sergeant Kwon’s previous place of work was…?”

“XX Division Special Forces Battalion.”

“Ah, I’ve heard a lot about how brutal it is. I have a colleague in your division. Is he Lieutenant Jigonggeun?”

“Um… Are you in the special forces battalion?”

“Ah, it’s the command center side…”

“I guess I don’t have any business going back and forth there…”

I cut him off like that. To be honest, I didn’t feel like continuing the conversation. I didn’t have any good memories from the special forces battalion.

Soon after, a researcher was assigned to each executive and they began guiding them to their private rooms.

Well, even if I hadn’t interrupted the conversation, it wouldn’t have been long anyway.

“Is there anything I can get an explanation of before the experiment?”

“Ah… I was told that the director of the research center gave a brief explanation, but do you need any further explanation?”

The one who was attached to me was a female researcher. Her voice clearly showed that she was a little embarrassed by my question.

“Yes, Bio Corps? Well, I only heard that they’re making something like the super soldiers you see in movies, but I don’t know the specifics…”

“You know very well. If the experiment goes well as planned, your strength will improve significantly, and your agility, endurance, and regenerative power will be noticeably different from before. Sergeant Kwon, in terms of physique, and among the applicants, you are the most suitable, so we are paying special attention to you.”

“Oh, is that so…”

Even if you only listen to the sound, it doesn’t seem like it would be simply harmful to the body. That’s because there’s no talk of the muscles becoming so strong that daily life becomes impossible.

Well, it’s an experiment conducted on a living person, so if there were any fatal flaws or side effects, it wouldn’t have been conducted.

Even drugs developed in the private sector undergo several rounds of clinical trials on animals, so it is impossible for a government-run project to proceed without that level of stability.

“When you inject the medicine, you will experience muscle pain for a few days. Some people may have an allergic reaction. If you feel any discomfort or something unusual, press the buzzer inside the capsule. On the left side. Yes, that’s right.”

It was already spilled milk and the dice were thrown. I had no intention of avoiding it, so after listening to all the precautions, I laid down in the capsule without hesitation.

The soft texture that enveloped my body seemed to indicate that no expense had been spared on the device, which also increased my confidence in the experiment.

“It will take about three days. You don’t have to worry about meals or menstruation. The capsule will take care of it automatically.”

He nodded. As the researcher manipulated the tablet, the capsule’s lid slowly began to descend.

Crunch.

There was a sound like a latch being engaged, indicating that the lock was being lifted.

‘Please correct your posture according to the procedure. The culture medium injection will begin.’

“That’s amazing.”

While I was thinking to myself, is it really necessary to assign private rooms like this? If they are just lying down in the capsule, it would be better to just lay them out in one place so that less people would have to manage them.

If this was the case, it would have been difficult for the person on duty. Even if there was a buzzer, it would only be for emergencies, and it would obviously be quite inconvenient to go around each room to check for any abnormalities during normal times.

Well… since it’s something that was pushed forward from the top, decisions made without the working line are always like this.

‘The culture medium injection is complete. Please maintain the posture. The injection of Sample No.14 Titan will begin in 10 seconds. 10…9…3…2…1’

My neck, wrists, and ankles were tingling. When the culture solution was injected, I didn’t even feel the injection…

For a moment, I felt something that wasn’t mine flowing through my veins. A foreign body sensation and nausea rose up for a moment, but after a few minutes, it disappeared as if it were a lie.

It felt similar to getting antibiotics, but better than that: the injection wasn’t administered by a nurse, so it was done cleanly and without mistakes.

I felt like a fairy when I thought about the time I went to the military hospital to get some medicine and got caught by a rookie and the veins in my left arm turned into a rag.

‘Sample No. 14 Titan is activated. Reaction with culture medium is good, vital records are starting to be saved. Blood pressure is normal, brain waves are normal, receptor activation is good, and there is no abnormality in hormone secretion.’

Disgust welled up in me as I heard the words “activation”.

It feels like spiders are crawling on my blood vessels…

But the direction in which it was moving was strange. From the ends to the center, from the bottom to the top. In short, it seemed to be heading towards the heart and brain.

‘Genetic synchronization begins. Dopamine secretion is stimulated, painkiller administration is complete.’

“What the…ugh!!!”

Thump, thump, thump.

My heart started beating faster. The spiders that had gathered in my heart started spreading out to all parts of my body through the bundle of blood vessels connected to my heart.

‘Your blood pressure is rising. We’re giving you a relaxant to prevent blood vessel rupture.’

I was overcome by excruciating pain, as if countless blades were slicing through my body.

“Ugh…ugh…ugh…”

‘Sample No.14 Titan enters the central nervous system, starting synchronization.’

Even though the pain was already overwhelming, the mad machine continued to inflict new pain as if it was still far away. An indescribable pain spread through my spine and throughout my body, as if someone was sawing inside my head.

“Ugh…”

My body was completely out of my control. My thoughts were not working properly and I couldn’t tell if I was screaming or not.

A foul smell wafted through the pain, clouding my senses.

‘Removes impurities discharged for hygiene purposes.’

You mean you shit and peed yourself?

“씨…바아가가가각…!!!”

As I tried to force myself to speak, my brain felt like it was being fried by lightning. My head was hot. It felt like it would boil over if I opened the lid.

‘Removes impurities discharged for hygiene purposes.’

I felt a sense of shame and guilt as I heard the announcement again. For the first time, I felt grateful that I had been assigned a private room. Yes, dignity should be maintained over efficiency.

The scene of fully grown men crammed into a capsule, frowning and shitting and urinating is something I wouldn’t want to watch even if I were paid to do so.

This is no different from a kid…

‘Subject’s EEG does not comply with Test Data Guideline 53-2. Forced blackout. Temporarily enters mask state.’

*

“Gasp, huh! Ugh!!”

When I woke up, the capsule lid was already open. I hurriedly got up, but my arms started wriggling on their own, causing me extreme pain.

“You’re awake. Sergeant Kwon, it’s dangerous to move suddenly. Please lie down slowly and rest for a moment.”

I listened to her words without realizing it. As I lay down in the soft capsule, the pain gradually began to ease.

As my body became more comfortable, a sense of betrayal and anger began to well up in me without me realizing it.

“이 개새끼들…”

“You’re really angry.”

“I’ve never heard of someone being this sick.”

“That’s possible. I told you well that you might experience muscle pain.”

‘If you inject the drug, you will have muscle pain for a few days.’

The researcher’s voice flowed from a thumb-sized device, recording at some point.

“I’m not talking about the level of muscle pain!”

I slammed my hand into the capsule I was lying on with a bang. With a loud thud, it bounced back several times faster than the speed at which I had slammed my hand.

‘The subject’s blood pressure is rising. To ensure the safety of the researchers, high-dose tranquilizers are administered.’

My head is spinning quickly. What was I thinking?

“How are you feeling?”

I heard a voice. It was a familiar voice. Are you feeling okay? I don’t feel any pain and I feel comfortable, so I think you’re okay.

“Ah… It’s okay…”

“Thank goodness. The first clinical trial went well. As expected, Sergeant Kwon was the most successful applicant. There will be a physical examination starting tomorrow. Please make sure to eat the meals that will arrive later.”

“Okay…”

The researcher smiled softly and left. Oh, yes. I participated in the experiment.

“It’s a meal.”

It was a familiar-looking plate. There was also a fork, spoon, and chopsticks.

Only then did I feel extremely hungry. I instinctively stuffed food into my mouth. It tasted like the familiar jjambbap.