Chapter 124
If he had to pick the most bewildered moment of the last few years, it would be right now.
For a second, he wondered if he had heard a hallucination.
Won Tae-beom immediately shifted into a defensive stance.
He had expected the white blade to be pointed at either Kwak Han-mook or himself.
However, Representative Cha silently sheathed the Daeil Yeorae.
Kwak Han-mook arched an eyebrow.
"Representative Cha...are you feeling unwell? Or did you perhaps get beaten by the gauntlets before I arrived?"
Even as he openly provoked him, Representative Cha responded with a cold tone.
"Where is Han Goyo."
"Our Trainee Han is busy."
Kwak Han-mook and Representative Cha stared intently at one another.
Kwak Han-mook grinned, revealing his canines, though his eyes remained cold.
"It would be less busy for him if Representative Cha played the part of the prison warden well. Just pretend to be defeated if the Security Chief starts a coup. That’s it. Simple, right?"
He shrugged his shoulders, then decided to poke the fire one more time.
"I heard Representative Cha decided to support Trainee Han. If you find it too much to handle, tell me now. I’ll pass the word along to Trainee Han."
Representative Cha let out a hollow laugh.
"Me?"
He tilted his head slightly while keeping his gaze on Kwak Han-mook.
"Captain Kwak. I’m playing along as requested. Don’t be an eyesore."
The mechanical voice spat out a sarcastic warning.
"Act like the dog you are, leashed by the Era Administration Bureau."
As if he had been waiting for it, Kwak Han-mook let out a playful "woof woof."
Yet, Representative Cha didn’t even show a reaction of absurdity.
"Right. You bark well."
After tossing out those words, he walked straight out, as if his business was concluded.
Behind Representative Cha’s back, Kwak Han-mook hurled a silent string of curses.
Then, he turned to Won Tae-beom and spoke.
"Lieutenant Won. Go to the medic’s quarters."
He added some nonsense about having tasks assigned by Trainee Han to complete, and to ask if Trainee Han had eaten breakfast.
As Won Tae-beom tried to brush it off and move past, Kwak Han-mook waved his hand and urged him again.
"I’m not just talking. Check on Trainee Han carefully."
"What kind of check are you referring to, sir?"
"The kid looks docile, but he’s a complete lunatic. It feels like he’s about to cause trouble right now, so keep a close eye on his condition."
Did he hear something from Han Goyo?
The way he spoke sounded strange, as if he had been briefed on the situation without meeting him in person.
However, Won Tae-beom did not ask.
The grey eyes embedded in the expressionless face turned toward Won Tae-beom.
"Lieutenant Won, you don’t want to die a dog’s death here either: You need Trainee Han to get out of here, so don’t entertain any foolish thoughts for now. Move with Trainee Han as your top priority. Understood?"
"Confirmed."
Following his superior’s orders, Won Tae-beom headed toward the medic’s quarters.
The hem of his black suit fluttered with his wide strides.
As he walked alone through the dim corridor, complex thoughts scrambled through his mind.
The first question that arose was about Representative Cha.
He had thought it was strange since the terror attack at the Era Administration Bureau, but this incident made it certain Representative Cha showed an exceptionally lenient reaction toward Han Goyo.
No matter how useful Han Goyo was, it was odd for someone of Representative Cha’s temperament to act this way.
It was also difficult to gauge Han Goyo’s intention in calling him now.
Until now, Han Goyo had only requested information searches.
It was a set of instructions that read as a desire not to reveal too much to him.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had been isolated during this mission, so it was puzzling that Han Goyo was suddenly seeking him out first.
Just then, he heard a whistle.
A whistle, followed by the hissing sound of a snake and a mixture of snickering laughter.
Won Tae-beom ignored it with familiarity.
His own distorted voice echoed in his ears.
"Whose turn is it this time? Who will you sacrifice to become a holy slaughterer alone?"
Since being infected with the BT-DFH virus, he had occasionally heard auditory hallucinations.
He had mentioned this to no one.
If he did, he would simply be quarantined in the Bureau as an infected subject.
Won Tae-beom acted as if he heard nothing and reached the medic’s quarters.
***
He was momentarily speechless.
Han Goyo was covered in blood.
Thinking the visitor was an intruder, Han Goyo had a sharp look in his eyes.
He was even holding a steel pipe in his hand.
He looked over with a pale face, and as soon as he confirmed it was Won Tae-beom, the furrow in his brow relaxed.
"Lieutenant Won?"
The sharp gaze of vigilance softened, revealing a slight friendliness toward an acquaintance.
Despite his disastrous state, he showed not a single trace of negative emotion regarding the irrational and frightening situation he was currently in.
At that moment, Won Tae-beom felt a suffocating pressure in his chest.
Emotions are not important for the greater good.
The sacrifice of the few for the many is inevitable.
If countless people can be saved at the cost of one person’s misfortune, there is all the more reason not to hesitate.
However, no matter how clear the rational judgment was, he couldn’t stop the momentary surge of emotion.
The phantom pain of a Roman collar tightening around his neck blocked his airway.
As if waiting, a cruel whisper drifted in.
"That child is your new sacrificial lamb!"
I had drunk Neo at the new guard training center, but my memories of that time were unclear.
I judged that my return to normal was likely a stroke of luck due to a system error.
Therefore, I believed there was a very high probability that if I consumed Neo again, I would become a guard.
But it wasn’t 100 percent.
I decided it was a bet worth taking.
In reality, that was my only option.
Kwak Han-mook had the neutralizer, but given the circumstances, it was difficult to meet him before the transformation into a guard was complete.
And Dominic’s suggestion to take Neo gave me the final conviction.
"Haven’t you already done it once? The second time will be even easier. Perhaps it won’t even affect you."
As soon as I heard Dominic’s words, I thought of the zombie virus in Deadzone.
The zombie virus had been neutralized inside me on its own.
What if the previous neutralization of Neo was also something I had done?
I judged it a gamble worth taking and drank the Neo.
Three whole bottles.
The Security Chief hadn’t been satisfied with one and forced me to drink three.
When I drank the last bottle, it was so disgusting that I couldn’t even swallow properly, but the Security Chief was very kind enough to pour it directly into my mouth by hand.
There was only one advantage to drinking Neo.
The wound on my torn head healed instantly.
Other than that, everything was the worst.
I barely managed to pretend to be fine in front of the Security Chief, but the moment I left the interrogation room, the pain became unbearable.
A burning heat surged from my chest and spread throughout my entire body.
Drenched in cold sweat, I barely made it to the medic’s quarters.
As soon as I opened the door, I collapsed onto the floor.
Curled up tightly, I trembled and gasped for air.
"Haa, haa.."
It was hot and agonizing, as if someone had set fire to my heart.
How did I endure it when I drank Neo at the new guard training center?
But whenever I tried to recall the memory, it was as blurry as if a fog had descended.
My mind couldn’t function properly because of the pain.
It wasn’t just my heart that was suffering.
The heat emanating from my heart burned through my veins to my entire body, and my eyes throbbed with a searing heat.
I panted, tormented by the heat that wouldn’t subside.
I couldn’t stand the unpleasant sensation.
I wanted to cast it out immediately.
"Roasted Chestnut."
While gagging from the heat, I looked at Dominic.
A blue light filled my blurred vision. A sparkle, like a nebula in space, captured my gaze.
"You want to cast out that unpleasant sensation quickly."
It feels disgusting.
"It is natural. Because that does not belong to you, Roasted Chestnut."
A pleasant voice spoke in a calm, low tone.
"You can do it. Go ahead and try. It will be easier than before."
Intoxicated by the heat, I thought.
I desperately searched for a way to eliminate the Neo, but suddenly, an instinct led me in a different direction.
Realization struck like a light turning on.
There was no reason for me to take a specific action.
For a moment, my eyes burned.
I commanded.
"Get out "
The pounding heartbeat in my chest subsided.
The heat that felt like it was burning my veins gradually disappeared.
I could perceive it intuitively.
The Neo that had been ravaging my insides had evaporated.
Unconsciously, the corners of my mouth curled up slightly.
At that moment, a soft touch brushed against my cheek.
Having suffered from heat until just a moment ago, the cool sensation felt slightly chilling, making me squint one eye.
"You did very well. You’re becoming more proficient. As expected, you are a fast learner."
At the infinitely gentle praise, I opened my mouth.
"Mr. Dominic."
And then I was horrified.
"Wh-what is happening? My voice..!"
I was so shocked that I felt the hairs on my head stand on end.
It was clearly my voice, but it sounded bizarre.
No, calling ’it’ sounding might be inappropriate.
It wasn’t a voice.
It felt as if something with a form was pouring its will directly into my brain.
Moreover, for some reason, the voice felt infinitely young.
Seeing my shock, Dominic let out a low laugh.
’It will return to normal soon, so it won’t interfere with your daily life."
"Is that true..?"
"Of course. It will be easier to converse with me from now on."
He praised my rapid achievement once again.
Listening to his praise, I waited for my voice to return.
"...Ah."
Fortunately, after a short while, I regained my normal voice.
I let out a huge sigh of relief.
I was so startled that I could still feel my heart racing.
After calming down a bit, I first sent messages to Kwak Han-mook and Je Hyeon-oh.
After handling the urgent matters, I thought with a composed mind.
I had drunk Neo for the second time, following the new guard training center.
Yet, once again, I was not infected by Neo.
Just as I had recovered from the zombie virus in Deadzone.
The infection mechanism, and the residue and zombies.
I felt that Deadzone and The Cell-X were similar in some way.
I pondered it, but nothing came to mind immediately.
’It is a bit funny that the virus disappeared because I spoke in a strange voice.’
It seemed I had cast out the Neo with the power I possessed.
But the more I chewed on it, the stranger it felt.
My mind had been completely blurred by the heat, but the moment I said "Get out," my consciousness was vivid.
At that moment... it felt as if something was connecting.
However, I couldn’t tell what was connected.
I thought about it for a while but found no answer. In fact, it was a problem with no answer.
Hoping things wouldn’t get any weirder, I shifted my thoughts elsewhere.
The bait I presented to the Security Chief was simple.
That I would act as a double agent.
The main point was that I would help him get rid of the prison warden so the Security Chief could become the number one person here.
However, there was one part I couldn’t understand.
"Mr. Dominic. Why did the Octopus Leg place a subordinate in a position like the Security Chief?"
I couldn’t understand why he had left him in that position even though the Security Chief wanted the warden’s seat.
If I were the Octopus Leg, I would have put him in the highest position.
Because of that, I hadn’t realized sooner that the Security Chief was a subordinate of the Octopus Leg.
Come to think of it, I didn’t seem to hear the Voice of God very often.
I hadn’t known it at all while playing the game, and I hadn’t felt any sign of it even after entering The Cell-X in reality.
For me, who used messages several times a day almost like chatting, it was incomprehensible.
Dominic explained it simply.
"Because subordinates are merely beings to be used."
It meant there was no need or reason to meticulously care for them.
I felt a strong sense of rebellion.
’He entrusted his life and death to me, so shouldn’t he obviously treat me well?’
I believed it was right to do everything possible for someone.
But since telling Dominic this would be useless, I kept the thought to myself.
It was about time to get up and solve this disastrous situation one by one, but...
Just a little, I wanted to close my eyes for ten minutes.
Having been tormented since morning without even eating, I had no strength left in my body.
I was at a point where I couldn’t even knead a pudding slime.
I glanced at the bed and then just flopped down on the floor.
It was too dirty to even think about lying on the bed.
"Mr. Dominic.. please wake me up if I sleep too long."
As soon as I murmured, I fell asleep as if fainting.
Having fallen into a deep sleep, I snapped my eyes open.
At first, I thought I had woken up.
But I soon realized I was still in a dream.
I was atop a vast ocean.
Floating in the air, I surveyed my surroundings.
Under a dark sky, all directions were filled with deep blue water. It was a distant sea of unknown width and depth.
Just looking at it made me feel strange.
At some point, the surface of the water wavered. I looked down beneath my feet.
From the deepest part of the churning sea, something surged up rapidly.
A giant water-shadow approached and tore through the surface to reveal its true form.
It was like a mountain.
Between the shattered waves, hundreds of tentacles writhed and tangled, but that was only a part of it.
I could easily guess the form that continued endlessly beneath the surface.
And its eye.
The deep-sea eye revealed between the tentacles looked at me.
A pitch-black pupil opened to encompass my existence.
Primal fear, the living abyss, the darkness that absorbs all light in the world.
It recognized me.
Having fully realized my existence, it extended a tentacle.
The reach coming toward me was greedy, but I felt no threat.
Instead, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
A golden light flashed, cutting through the darkness.
I, too, recognized it.
That was it.
The one who had touched my subordinate.