By Zephyria The Waiting Game
Several hurried footsteps trampled over the white ash and vines. Flashlight beams darted erratically across the floor and ceiling. The vines lunged fiercely at the feet and legs, but with a snap of fingers, they all burst into flames. Jung-bin bowed to Matthew, who was following behind, and raised his voice.
“This is Jung-bin! Are you there!”
As if in response, a shout erupted from the end of the passage.
“No, breaking it isn’t going to solve the problem! Ugh…!”
Thump!
The passage echoed with a bursting sound. Jung-bin and Matthew exchanged glances. It was Gyu-Gyu’s voice. Unlike his usual glib and relaxed tone, he sounded flustered. Something was clearly wrong. Jung-bin hurriedly shone his flashlight towards the end of the passage.
And what was revealed under the light…
“Are you listening? It was treated for preservation from the start, so it doesn’t break easily… Ah, why are these things only attacking me? Hey, listen to what I’m saying, wow, you’re really strong…!”
Bang!
“Ah~ I get it. You want to collapse and be buried alive together~? Is that it? If you want to die, just say so…!”
It was the back of Gyu-Gyu, clinging to someone’s arms. His furry field jacket and disheveled light sky-blue hair fluttered. Jung-bin asked with a dubious voice.
“…Gyu-Gyu-nim?”
Gyu-Gyu whipped around and shouted.
“Stop this guy~! He won’t listen!”
“What’s the situation?”
“I’m telling you, the Dungeon entrance is closed, so he’s doing this! Do you think a closed Dungeon will open if you break the wall~? We’ll all be buried alive!”
Bang!
The entire passage shook as the user Gyu-Gyu was holding kicked the blocked wall. White ash and dust fell in a flurry. Jung-bin handed the flashlight to Matthew and took out the Black Chain, wrapping it around his hand.
“…J-nim, is that you?”
“……”
“It’s me, Jung-bin. I came to escort you back, since I heard you returned.”
The foot that had been extended to kick the wall again stopped in mid-air. The young man wearing the black mask turned his head. His ash-colored hair looked almost white under the flashlight’s beam. Jung-bin continued in the friendliest and gentlest voice he could muster.
“I have many stories I want to hear. And many stories to tell you.”
“……”
“J-nim.”
“…I’m listening.”
J pried off Gyu-Gyu’s arms that were holding him. Gyu-Gyu shrugged and readily stepped back. Jung-bin suddenly thought that the round flashlight beam looked like a spotlight illuminating a criminal.
“Hearing you say that.”
The spotlight was only on J.
“It seems I’m the only one who came out.”
Again.
The people trapped in this Shield. J, who escaped alone. It was the same as the West Sea Rift. Jung-bin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Immediately after escaping from the West Sea Rift, J disappeared. And only after a long time had passed did he finally reveal himself. Would it be the same this time? Jung-bin agonized. If he ran away, should he let him go?
However.
“That’s right. I think I have many stories I need to hear too.”
J did not run away. He looked resolute, making Jung-bin’s worries seem pointless. Jung-bin inwardly sighed in relief. And grinding the vines that were still wrapping around his ankles with the soles of his shoes, he pointed behind him.
“First… it’s dangerous here, so let’s go out and talk.”
J silently nodded, but did not readily move his feet. His back, as he stroked the empty wall, looked strangely lonely. Meanwhile, Gyu-Gyu approached Jung-bin, grabbed his arm, and groaned, “Aya, aya.” The bitter scent of tobacco lingered. Gyu-Gyu grimaced.
“Wow… he’s really strong. Like a bull or something.”
“You still held on well.”
“No~…. If I had been there a little longer, he would have really broken it, preservation treatment or not. He looked like he would have.”
Gyu-Gyu ruffled his disheveled hair.
“He’s not in his right mind right now. He’s seriously out of it.”
The three men stared at J, who was stroking the wall. And Jung-bin realized one strange thing. The white vines that surrounded the entire passage and constantly tormented their legs…
“……”
Did not approach J. He stood tall on the white ash and vines. As if…
They were a part of him.
An ominous premonition arose, but Jung-bin shook his head to shake it off. There was no need to be anxious with uncertain information. Anxiety hinders rational thinking.
Eventually, J took his hand off the wall and approached them.
Thud, thud…. A large shadow stretched long behind him. A strong pressure that crushed everything around him was felt. The vines that had been wrapped around the three men’s feet and legs drooped, losing their strength.
J tossed a crumpled cigarette pack into the air and caught it.
“Let’s go.”
Awakened Management Bureau, Director’s office.
There were four people sitting in the Director’s office. Matthew sat upright, Jung-bin sat hunched over with a laptop on his lap, Gyu-Gyu sat crookedly with his legs crossed, and J leaned back on the sofa.
J, Cha Eui-jae, stroked the cold teacup and was lost in thought. Summarizing what Jung-bin had said so far was as follows.
The fact that people were turning into Monsters was treated as confidential and hidden as much as possible, but the Mutation process was broadcast live on some YouTuber’s live stream, so it could no longer be hidden. The Doctor and researchers announced that they were researching a vaccine, but it was of no use. The number of those showing prodromal symptoms was increasing.
People were gripped by anxiety. It was somewhat okay when Awakeneds turned strange. It wasn’t their problem, and the Hunters would take care of it. But now the story was different. So far, all the people who had mutated into Monsters were civilians. No one knew when, who, or how someone would become a Monster. If someone even coughed, they were met with fierce glares.
People didn’t trust anyone. Not even Jung-bin, the icon of trust. Hunters could kill Monsters, but they couldn’t prevent Mutation. It was an era of anxiety and distrust.
And there was a group that sharply penetrated that anxiety and distrust.
“Prometheus.”
“Yes. There was a small community that appeared, claiming to be a volunteer and relief organization. They became, well… a kind of pseudo-religion. They gather to hear the words of the Seer-nim, I heard.”
“What, if you listen to the Seer’s words and pray, the Mutation stops or something?”
“I heard they inject a cure into those with sincere faith.”
“A cure?”
Matthew pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses.
“You know a person named Ga-young, right? J.”
He tried to hide it, but Eui-jae’s uncomfortable mood seemed to be fully revealed. Matthew gave a bitter smile.
“I also have a bad relationship with that person. That user is also developing vaccines and cures with the Doctor. However, I haven’t heard that it’s been completed. I expect they’re injecting a prototype and watching the progress.”
“Is it effective?”
“It seems to be sometimes, and sometimes not. When it’s not effective, they make excuses, saying the condition is serious, so multiple treatments are needed….”
“…Isn’t that like conducting clinical trials on civilians?”
“That’s right.”
“Is that okay?”
“It is originally a stage in vaccine development. However…. The problem is that they’re deceiving people by saying it’s a cure and injecting it. It seems they’re collecting various data that way.”
Eui-jae sighed softly.
“To summarize, I’ve returned to the worst possible situation.”
“If this is the worst, then yes. That’s right.”
It wasn’t that surprising. Cha Eui-jae’s life was mostly a form of the worst piled on top of the worst. Eui-jae just clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile, Jung-bin, who had been typing something on his laptop, finally stopped and took a breath. He loosened his tie and muttered.
“By the way…. The situation inside the Invasion Dungeon is also unusual. A Memorial Dungeon. Moreover, a Dungeon made up of the memories of people from the Destroyed world….”
“Yes.”
“J was there…. Um, I’m sorry for this expression. You died early, so you came back first.”
“Probably. The others were still alive.”
Even if Cha Eui-jae died, the world did not disappear. He never knew that fact would be such a comfort as it was now. But there was still something nagging at his mind. Lee Sa-young, wandering alone in the Destroyed world.
Could Lee Sa-young endure it again? The endless loneliness and solitude.
Then Matthew cautiously asked.
“Is Honeybee healthy?”
“Yes, she was when I last saw her.”
“…That’s a relief.”
Matthew pressed his temples and sighed in relief. Jung-bin sighed softly.
“We haven’t announced the absence of the Hunters who entered the Invasion Dungeon. Um, as you know, people might recall the West Sea Rift….”
Ah, here we go again. Eui-jae suppressed the rising nausea. It would be okay if he had simply eaten a Monster. But when he remembered that the Monster was originally human, no matter how much of a Cha Eui-jae he was….
“…J? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
“…No, I’m fine. It was a reasonable decision.”
“It was a choice born from experience. I’m sorry to you guys, though.”
A low female voice was heard. It was Ham Seok-jeong. Jung-bin and Matthew stood up from their seats. Eui-jae also awkwardly stood up. The only one who didn’t stand up was Gyu-Gyu, who was still sitting with his legs crossed. Ham Seok-jeong waved her hand as if telling them not to and sat in the seat of honor. She said nonchalantly.
“In this situation, there were many complaints about where the 1st and 2nd ranked Hunters were and what they were doing. You must have gotten quite a bit of flak.”
Matthew added seriously.
“Honeybee’s advertisements were also cut.”
Ah, damn it. The atmosphere was critical. Eui-jae lowered his head solemnly. Gyu-Gyu, who was tossing and catching dice, sneered.
“Lee Sa-young’s was also cut~ that weird public service announcement sequel.”
“Are you talking about the one that mentally attacked the viewers?”
“Yeah, that one.”
…Eui-jae forgot his moment of silence and suddenly raised his head. Lee Sa-young’s public service announcement was canceled? When were they making a sequel? No, more than that.
“…That’s really a relief.”
Eui-jae blurted out without realizing it. The heavy agreement of the people was a bonus.