episode_0174

Named Freedom (3) – Near the southwestern part of Seodaemun-gu

The forest of buildings that were a symbol of prosperity had become a maze.

It was unclear whether it was a misfortune or a blessing to leave with only a chilling wind lingering on the crowded road.

Everyone was startled by the sound of their own footsteps and nodded loudly.

That getting out of Korea wasn’t everything.

That the world was a chain of hell beyond what they imagined.

Trap – plod –

Despite the fear of the unknown that suffocated them as if waiting for them, the escapees could not stop their steps.

I walked forward, holding my shaking legs.

A straight escape route cut through the ominous yellow waves.

I took my next step, gazing at the pure whiteness unstained by the gray world.

Trap – plod –

Lee Dong-hyuk, who led the escape, was no different.

I sat a little ahead of the other defectors and stared at the white back with blurry eyes.

I took one step, two steps without even being able to say the thank you I should have said.

I just took the next urgent yet stumbling step, as if chasing a mirage.

“I guess I was a little late.”

At that moment, a voice rang out so clearly.

A small light flickered in Lee Dong-hyuk’s pupils as he took in the city filled with silence.

He turned his head following the voice and before he knew it, he saw them walking side by side.

“… … Ah.”

Lee Dong-hyuk let out a small exclamation and scanned his face.

A hazy yet mysterious castle enveloped in bright light.

The smile on his face was so benevolent that it seemed as if he could willingly accept any complaints or cries.

That was the reason Lee Dong-hyuk uttered a word that was not yet refined, and it was an excuse.

“… … Joe, it’s a bit late… … .”

I quickly covered my mouth in response to what I had said, but it was after I had already said everything I needed to say.

He looked up again with trembling eyes and responded with a small, bitter smile.

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no… ”

“But don’t worry anymore.”

widely-.

His steps, which seemed like they would never end, stopped.

Instead of silence and darkness, a small ray of sunlight was tickling the foreheads of the refugees.

“Your house has come to you.”

Before I knew it, the night that seemed to never end was over and dawn was approaching.

Not the gray city I always looked at with dead eyes, but a white city bathed in brilliant sunlight.

“… … One Mind Salvation Church.”

And Minguk.

A city full of life, as if to prove that the video is not a lie.

Maybe, no definitely.

The final destination of the ‘White Gate’ that allowed us to escape the hellish Korea.

“… … How dare we… .”

That’s why I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

They are defectors who did not receive permission to enter.

In the end, they were just gray seeds who arrived here on their own feet.

“Your prayer has been heard.”

A soft voice continued as if to soothe Lee Dong-hyuk’s anxiety.

“There is no shelter where you, who have devoted yourself to me with faith, cannot stay.”

It was a sure answer that was more reassuring than any other words, but Lee Dong-hyuk turned his head and stared behind him.

The defectors are listening to Lee Dong-hyuk and his conversation with anxious eyes.

He followed Lee Dong-hyuk’s gaze and only smiled softly.

“Didn’t you say that your prayers were heard?”

“… … Ah.”

Their survival is Lee Dong-hyuk’s happiness.

Lee Dong-hyuk had definitely prayed to him like that.

Only then did Lee Dong-hyuk hold his two trembling hands together as if relieved.

“Now go inside and rest.”

Lee Dong-hyuk bit his lip and lowered his head when he felt a hand patting his shoulder.

“It must have been a very difficult night.”

Trap – plod –

A warm touch and the sound of small footsteps that slither away.

Lee Dong-hyuk sensed that he was about to disappear from their side for a moment.

I am confident that it will disappear just as suddenly as it appeared in the dark night sky.

“… … Me!”

That’s why I was able to open my lips that wouldn’t fall apart easily.

Lee Dong-hyuk stared not at Minguk but at the trajectory he had walked.

As I looked at the hell I had barely escaped from, I held on to the courage to escape again.

“Well, this is really arrogant and presumptuous, but… … .”

Still, I couldn’t speak well and my uvula continued to tremble.

“Ah, there are still many poor people left in Korea who have not been saved!”

However, Lee Dong-hyuk cleared his throat and desperately raised his voice.

Unlike his wavering mind, his gaze was unwavering, quiet, and upright.

Despite his direct gaze, he only shook his head slightly.

“You are different from them.”

“No! They are just poor people who have been so brainwashed by Korea that they cannot even pray to their religious leader and commit sins without knowing anything!”

“But you prayed to me.”

That’s why you’re looking at me.

A calm answer followed to cool down Lee Dong-hyuk, who was very angry.

“What they have left there is their freedom. If I bring them by force, it would be plunder, not missionary work.”

No – what does that have to do with the war already in full swing –

“But, I also suddenly become curious.”

He asked Lee Dong-hyuk, blocking the dissatisfaction that was naturally about to come out.

“What would you do if you were me?”

“… … .”

It’s too heavy a question to be a sudden question.

Lee Dong-hyuk quietly closed his mouth and rolled his pupils slightly.

-Why did you suddenly ask me this question?

Of course, should I answer his question according to my usual beliefs and wishes?

But that was after you answered no just a few seconds ago.

Of course, the leader is not a volunteer.

Although he has such a benevolent side, he also has the image of pouring zombie rain on Korea.

If you don’t like my answer-

If you have been arrogantly looking at my behavior so far-

Lee Dong-hyuk knew his situation very well.

He is just a being who wishes and wishes.

Not a subject of faith, but one of many, many believers who rely on faith.

Dawn, just a few hours later,

The yellow cloud that had been constricting him floated in his mind again.

A sentence that rises with a yellow cloud that makes one feel death.

‘God tests humans even at the moment of salvation.’

Lee Dong-hyuk tightly squeezed his trembling hand again.

“… … You are harsh.”

I looked at Minguk in the dawn, and looked at the believers inside as they started the morning.

The difference between them and us is just that.

Differences in eye opening position.

That minor difference became the standard for dividing believers and slaves.

It was too small a difference to be a condition of happiness and salvation.

Really very minor difference.

“They also remain here in their own freedom. It’s true that I hoped for your trust, but I didn’t tell you not to leave.”

“Really… … It’s really a very arrogant and sorry thing to say, but…”

This is sophistry.

“It could be so.”

“… … Yes?”

The words were uttered as if screaming, unable to overcome the passion of the moment, and the leader agreed.

Lee Dong-hyuk, unable to follow the direction of the conversation, looked at him with stupid eyes.

He tilted his head slightly, smiled, and asked again.

“You haven’t answered my question yet.”

“… … .”

If Lee Dong-hyuk is the religious leader—

“Well, I am—”

If he had the power—

Lee Dong-hyuk closed his eyes tightly and shouted.

“I want to save those people!”

“… … .”

────.

However, he did not answer.

Lee Dong-hyeok, who managed to open his eyes through the silence of the air, was able to find the leader looking at him with an expressionless expression.

He opened his lips, which he had not opened for a while, and answered.

“That would also be your freedom.”

A word thrown out without anger or approval.

“… … .”

“Then that would be propagation, not plunder.”

Surprise slowly formed on Lee Dong-hyuk’s face as he drew a question mark at the somewhat strange answer.

He looked at the faithful and upright young man and responded with a small smile.

“My faithful and upright son, keep in mind that we are not just a salvation church.”

We are One Mind Salvation Church.

From the moment you looked to me for salvation, we-

No, you and I.

-We are bound together with one mind.

***

Tap- tap- tap- tap- tap-

A rather fast rhythm of tapping.

The speed was too fast to appreciate the sound of high-quality wood.

Tap- tap- tap- tap- tap-

A dark office.

Yeon-cheol was reminiscing about the past day while looking at the numerous documents scattered on his desk.

An unpleasant first meeting with number 1.

The process of glorious victory and homeland restoration that followed.

A war with an unexpected, but longed-for enemy.

And the snowball gradually begins to roll strangely.

White Gate, breakout, provocation, declaration of war and devising diversionary operations.

Advance, defeat, retreat, rain.

And escape again.

Tap- tap- tap- tap- tap-

Double time, which was thought to be the wings of victory, gradually became a shackle-

The recovered territories, which were once a piece of glory, ended up causing a power leak, like a pit of sorrow.

What is he like now?

Even mustard gas couldn’t stop his terrible behavior-

Rather, I ended up becoming a supporting actor in his brilliant performance.

Thanks to this, the breakout was gradually accelerating uncontrollably-

From second-class citizens to less-necessary first-class citizens—

Now a vicious cycle has emerged in which the lower levels of the pyramid are replaced by somewhat less capable soldiers.

Nevertheless, the good news is that the pyramid did not collapse.

However, it was undeniable that it was gradually getting smaller.

The huge pyramid, which was actively operated using human resources, was gradually turning into a sand castle.

like-

Like a report announcing a crisis left indiscriminately on his desk.

Kwaang-!

A fist striking the desk as if breaking it, and a face clearly turning red even in the dark.

The next step is to scream as if the guy is right in front of you.

Now Yeon-cheol couldn’t do that.

The light that burned brightly in my heart lost its fuel.

Confidence in victory or anger.

In a heart that has withered away with nothing left.

Only the black ashes rustling, heightening the sense of defeat.

[Seoul Project: 75% (900/ 1100)]

[Details: Research on hydrogen bomb prototype… … ]

Even at a moment like this, I haven’t neglected arrangements for the future, but…

Whispers that could no longer be suppressed by the flames disturbed his ears.

‘Can we really put an end to him with this?’

The guy had become a monster beyond his imagination.

Really- with this-

Will it be possible to bring the war that has gone sour to its origins?

Kiiing—!

Yeon-cheol activated his mana without saying a word.

The colors in his hands.

A dull light encroaching into a more distinctly darker light in the darkness.

“… … .”

Now, he knew what he was thinking.

However, I didn’t necessarily say it out loud.

He quietly held the ink-colored pistol in his black pupil for a very long time.