episode_0156

This man was waiting for my answer, but I was wondering if I should just kill them all to silence them.

What would happen if it became widely known that I possessed some power?

In that other place, I had memories of experiencing something similar.

It wasn’t a difficult or sad story.

It was just…

I would be ostracized or become an object of fear.

They would try to control and bind my every move.

Or they would try to analyze me like a mad wizard who discovered a rare animal.

When I encountered gays who, under the guise of health management, started from a single drop of my blood and then coveted my body parts, even I couldn’t help but feel dizzy.

Of course, after I deliberately went wild to protect my blood and butt, they quieted down.

Humans possess a cruel side.

In some cases, they don’t hesitate to commit acts that would make even Satan give a standing ovation.

With unwavering conviction and curiosity, they add a spoonful of madness, abandoning their humanity and ceasing to see their targets as human.

I had a past where I was such a target.

I was merely seen as research material, like a laboratory mouse.

But here lies the seed of possibility for the same thing to happen again.

I endured that hell in that other place where science was less developed, so I’m certain that in the modern era, they would do it even more, not less.

It was a fact I fully realized from that experience.

…As I recalled those fleeting, vague memories, my chest churned.

I looked at Captain Lee, who had forced me into this forced reminiscing.

Contrary to my inner thoughts, I pretended to be unaffected and asked naturally.

“…Who else knows about me?”

“I, Secretary Choi-nim, the two behind us, Representative Pyo-nim, and the Daesan Group CEO know.”

Fortunately.

If I have to silence them, it seems I can resolve it quickly.

It’s not too late yet.

“Regardless of this matter, I promise to keep quiet about Seonghan-ssi. The others have already promised the same.”

‘Did he notice?’

Seeing Captain Lee add that at such a timely moment, as if he sensed my intent to kill and silence them, I felt he had a long lifespan.

Naturally, I didn’t take his words at face value.

Unaware of my thoughts, Captain Lee continued calmly.

“We want to build a good relationship with Seonghan-ssi. We won’t be foolish enough to make an enemy of you. This isn’t just my personal opinion; Representative Pyo-nim and Daesan have also firmly stated this.”

At his words, I nodded slightly.

And I emptied my mind of the countless ‘means of silencing’ that had filled it.

Captain Lee’s tone itself wasn’t servile; it was respectful.

But the content of his words showed he was treading very carefully around me.

A bit excessively so.

‘The situation must be really bad.’

It’s right for the one in need to humble themselves, but this was excessive.

Isn’t it proof that the situation is that dire?

Even amidst this, he showed he knew how to maintain a certain boundary.

Though not intentional, he also saved his own life at the right time.

So, I hinted casually.

“If any talk or rumors about me spread in the future, it’d be safe to assume you’d handle it, right?”

When I asked directly without beating around the bush, Captain Lee reacted immediately.

“I promise… No. I swear.”

Seeing Captain Lee declare his firm resolve, I sighed.

Then I slung the gun I had been holding over my shoulder.

I decided that nothing seemed likely to happen for now.

After a moment of thought, I took out another cigarette and lit it.

“Captain Lee Kanghoon-nim.”

Captain Lee looked puzzled by the sudden honorific, but he didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, Seonghan-ssi.”

“You asked for help, but that doesn’t mean joining the military or anything like that, right?”

“No, it doesn’t. We are requesting assistance from Seonghan-ssi, a civilian.”

Hearing Captain Lee clarify his position, I felt relieved.

If he had demanded I enlist now, it would have been the beginning of a frantic rampage.

Fortunately, Captain Lee wasn’t demanding such a thing.

From observing his demeanor, it seems he has at least some common sense.

I gave my answer to Captain Lee, who had consistently shown respect.

“Regarding your request, I must refuse.”

“Seo—Seonghan-ssi.”

Captain Lee was visibly flustered and tried to say something, but I spoke a beat earlier.

“I’m already struggling just to take care of myself. I also have people I need to protect. I have my own circumstances.”

I stared directly into Captain Lee’s noticeably wavering eyes.

“Captain Lee-nim, you too must have things you want to protect, beyond your duty.”

“Of course, I do.”

“Then you must understand what I just said.”

At my words, Captain Lee fell silent.

Wearing a complicated expression, he didn’t open his mouth hastily.

Though I answered briefly, Captain Lee didn’t speak rashly, perhaps sensing the sincerity in my words.

“…I apologize that I cannot give you the answer you hoped for, despite you risking danger to come all this way.”

From beginning to end, consistently.

I respectfully conveyed my refusal, as a minimum courtesy to the man who had treated me with consistent politeness and honesty, and who had come all this way just to see me, though he couldn’t have known if I’d even be there.

Just then, Incheol was coming out of the hospital, supported by Dong-woo.

The atmosphere around Captain Lee’s group stirred at my refusal, but I cut through them and approached my companions.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry… Hyung-nim.”

“Sorry for what? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

His military speech habit resurfacing probably meant he was surprised.

Incheol’s appearance, upon inspection, didn’t seem to have major issues.

Except for the paleness in his face and the bandage wrapped around his head.

Young-cheol-ssi had some scratches on his skin but was safe, and Dong-woo was surprisingly unharmed. However, he had traces of treatment, as if he’d injured his palm.

I breathed a sigh of relief at their not-as-bad-as-expected condition.

If they were ambushed by that many people and it ended like this, it could be considered virtually no damage.

Their mindset and attitude when venturing out into the streets were also good.

However, a lack of experience emerged as an issue.

Their vulnerability to people’s cunning and malice was also a problem.

But I’m not so mean as to nag a sick child in front of me.

I patted Incheol’s drooping shoulder.

“Let’s go back.”

“…Yes.”

Since there was only one car, we decided to make two trips, sending the kids ahead first.

A slight lull after the pickup truck departed.

Captain Lee seized that moment and approached again.

“Seonghan-ssi.”

“……”

A manly soldier acting clingy was not a good look.

But Captain Lee persistently clung on.

“Seonghan-ssi. Could you reconsider?”

“No.”

“Just once! Please, lend us your strength just once!”

“The conversation is over.”

Captain Lee, practically begging, couldn’t control his expression.

Unlike before, Captain Lee’s anxiety was clearly visible.

He didn’t care about appearances.

“Seonghan-ssi. We’ve hit our limit.”

“……”

I looked at Captain Lee, who showed no sign of backing off.

“Honestly, do you really need me? I’m just a civilian who knows how to fight a bit. I think Captain Lee-nim could overcome this crisis sufficiently. That’s what I think.”

“No. We might be able to hold on, but we won’t be able to overcome the current situation. Everyone is gritting their teeth and holding on together, but our limits are clear. More than anything…”

Captain Lee, who had been speaking ramblingly, paused for a moment.

“…We can’t hold out any longer. There’s no time.”

“Time?”

“The temporary camp set up at Konkuk University won’t survive this winter.”

Secretary Choi-nim, who had been quietly standing by Captain Lee, interjected into the conversation.

“With the current food reserves, we can’t last even a month.”

“…Not even a month?”

“Yes. When the agitators left… the situation severely worsened.”

I had sensed the situation wasn’t good, but I didn’t realize it was *this* bad.

The Konkuk University Shelter I’d checked last time seemed to have some semblance of order, but it appears the interior was not like that.

“Even now, food distribution is severely restricted. As Captain Lee-nim said, we are running out of time.”

“Isn’t there a way to procure supplies from nearby places?”

At my question, Captain Lee’s expression darkened, and Secretary Choi-nim shook her head vigorously.

“In the streets… there’s nothing left.”

“Ah…”

Indeed, it wasn’t easy to find anything in the streets.

Before going to D-Mart, it had been a continuous string of failures, and even when something was found, the quantity wasn’t sufficient.

Many people are gathered at the Konkuk University Shelter.

If you try to feed that many, ordinary supplies won’t even come close.

Since they lost supplies that probably weren’t abundant to begin with, it’s not unreasonable that they’re in such a situation.

But that’s none of my business.

When I showed a lukewarm response, Secretary Choi-nim calmly made a proposal.

“If you help us, we promise a corresponding reward.”

“Reward?”

“Yes. A reward. You can also think of it as compensation. We are willing to provide something that will satisfy Seonghan-ssi.”

At Secretary Choi-nim’s words, Captain Lee looked as if he’d just realized something, then agreed enthusiastically.

“In this situation, we are asking for help. I won’t speak of patriotism or the greater good. If you just help us! As Secretary Choi-nim said, we will give you a definite reward.”

Emboldened by Secretary Choi-nim’s support, Captain Lee spoke with conviction.

It was certainly worth listening to, knowing there was a price involved.

But that was as far as it went.

I took a step back, crossed my arms, and spoke to the two.

“A reward, you say… that’s good.”

At my brevity, the man and woman tried to show bright expressions.

“So, what are you planning to give?”

“Primarily, food and daily necessities—”

“Hmph~”

At my snort, Secretary Choi-nim, who had been speaking, tilted her head.

Secretary Choi-nim narrowed her eyes and continued, explaining.

“In the current situation, food is more precious than gold.”

“I know that well. And that it’s getting harder to acquire.”

“…But it doesn’t appeal to you?”

“Would you look at me? And please examine Hyung and Sohee-ssi here too.”

“……”

At the sudden mention, Hyung and Sohee-ssi blinked but quietly stood by my side. Captain Lee and Secretary Choi-nim carefully observed the two.

“Ah…!”

Judging by his reaction, Captain Lee seemed to have realized it immediately.

“Captain-nim. What’s wrong?”

“I think I understand what Seonghan-ssi meant.”

“?? What is it?”

Captain Lee averted his gaze from the two.

“It’s true that food is precious… but Seonghan-ssi doesn’t lack it. I can tell from the condition of these two.”

“…Ah!”

Only then did Secretary Choi-nim also grasp my meaning.

Compared to Captain Lee’s group, Hyung, Sohee-ssi, and I were visibly different in appearance.

Our clean skin was vibrant, and our bodies were full of vitality.

The condition of people who had enjoyed quality meals and rest.

Captain Lee immediately recognized that point.

Food is definitely a good deal.

But if I’m the opponent, it’s a different story.

Our shelter’s warehouse alone has a substantial amount stockpiled.

Twenty people can eat three full meals every day.

There’s no miserable gnawing on raw potatoes or drinking thin soup.

An amount so abundant that we can sometimes enjoy gourmet food and alcohol.

Even now, the quality of the meals we enjoy hasn’t significantly decreased compared to before.

Naturally, there are no food restrictions or hunger.

And in my inventory, there’s enough food to make me wonder if I could even eat it all in this lifetime. It’s not even affected by time.

If I didn’t have these advantages, I might have eagerly jumped at the word “reward.” The two of them chose the wrong person to bargain with.

Instead, what concerns me more is…

“Though I have food, it’s true that more is better.”

“Then?!”

“But didn’t you say you’re short on food yourselves? And that you’re rationing it?”

“Ah, well.”

“More importantly, I don’t trust you.”

“…What?”

Secretary Choi-nim, uttering a dumbfounded sound, was extremely flustered.

Captain Lee, standing nearby, firmly closed his mouth.

I looked at Captain Lee and calmly spoke.

“Captain Lee-nim treated me frankly and honestly, so I’m just responding in kind. But… it’s hard to trust even normally, let alone a soldier and a politician’s secretary. The looks from the two behind you also say they don’t need my help.”

At my words, Captain Lee and Secretary Choi-nim whipped their heads around, making a sharp sound. The two subordinates of Captain Lee, who had been sending annoyed glances earlier.

At the sudden mention and Captain Lee’s gaze, they pretended to be busy elsewhere.

Secretary Choi-nim, her eyes wide like lanterns, tried to retort, but Captain Lee stopped her.

“…I apologize. My team members made a mistake…”

“No, it’s fine. I would have reacted the same way.”

“…I don’t know the details, but it seems you’ve had a bad experience.”

At Captain Lee’s heavy words, I said nothing.

Captain Lee hesitated for a moment, then, assessing the atmosphere, spoke.

“Seonghan-ssi. Is there anything else you want? Anything you need… we will accommodate it to the best of our abilities.”

Captain Lee, using lines one might hear at a phone store, wasn’t giving up. His eyes showed no intention of backing down.

So, I decided to go all out.

“Captain Lee-nim’s request for help and the promise of reward for it. Can this be seen as a kind of transaction?”

“…Yes, it can.”

“Then you must know well that trust is important in a transaction.”

At the word “trust,” Captain Lee, who seemed to have grasped something and was thinking seriously, cautiously asked.

“…How can I earn your trust?”

“Bring the person with the authority to decide.”

“What??”

“The highest-ranking person. If you bring that person, I’ll talk to you again.”

Captain Lee and Secretary Choi-nim were dumbfounded, unable to speak.

“It’s not a demand.”

I drove the point home for the two of them and gave a small smile.