“You’re more worried about their lives than the soldiers’ lives? Dr. Min?”
“They’re people from our center, so of course I’m worried.”
Director Im let out an empty laugh into the air and continued speaking.
“Even though there are injured people, most are minor injuries and there are no fatalities.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But six soldiers are hospitalized with serious injuries. Major Park Mingyu’s condition is critical—he was moved to the ICU after emergency surgery and still hasn’t regained consciousness.”
Though Yeojin thought it fortunate there were no deaths, he said nothing.
“All of that was done by that one Seo Haeju you were so hung up on.”
“Hung up on? He’s my patient, so I treated him kindly. Besides, that child may have a large build, but his mental age is that of a young child. And the reason he suddenly showed aggressive behavior was because the soldiers first used violence on Haeju and even pointed a gun at me. He did it to save me.”
“Even with your head split open, you’re still defending that bastard? Dr. Min, you’ve really lost it!”
Director Im beat her chest in frustration.
“It wasn’t Haeju who did that, it was those bird bastards!”
“I know you’re more concerned about Number 13 because he reminds you of your dead younger brother. But show some restraint.”
“Director!”
Yeojin flared up and shouted, glaring at her. His eyes shooting daggers at Director Im and his cheeks trembled. Director Im went “oops,” then raised both hands slightly in a gesture of surrender and apologized.
“Sorry. I crossed the line there. I admit it. Sorry.”
Whether from suddenly getting excited or because his bandaged head hurt, Yeojin groaned and contorted his face. Director Im handed Yeojin the painkillers and water placed on the table beside the hospital bed and said.
“Anyway, you’re being discharged in two days. The day after discharge, there’ll be an emergency meeting at the NSP, and if you just keep defending Number 13 like this there too, you’ll be considered a dangerous person yourself and dragged off to Iryeongdo. Dr. Min, you’re already a person of interest.”
After struggling to swallow the painkillers and water, Yeojin took a moment to catch his breath before opening his mouth.
“Now that you mention it, why exactly did the government policy suddenly change like that? Heavily armed soldiers suddenly barging in, ignoring all procedures and immediately transferring people to Iryeongdo.”
“You’ll hear the detailed situation at the meeting. Our center’s quarantined people will also be transferred to Iryeongdo. The quarantined people from the destroyed Building A will be transferred soon.”
“What? How can there be such a law!”
When Yeojin shouted in anger, Director Im also raised her voice.
“If that’s the country’s law, then what can we do! When the higher-ups say shit, you have to shit!”
“Has everyone collectively lost their minds? Not all Transcendents are criminals, so why suddenly exile them to such a harsh place! Don’t they think that the more they act like this, the more resentment Transcendents will have and the more aggressive their behavior will become? Don’t they know why Transcendents banded together among themselves in the first place? No, really, did only blockheads gather there!”
“Hey, Min Yeojin!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Director Im threw a tissue box at Yeojin. Normally a humidifier or juice bottle should have come flying, but she was still showing leniency since he was a patient.
“You, really! Ha! If you spout such bullshit at the meeting, I’ll kill you! I’m warning you, got it?”
“Don’t you think something’s wrong too, Director?”
“Shut up, just!”
At that moment, the door opened and a nurse came in to check blood pressure and temperature. Director Im turned around and fumed while looking out the window like before, cooling her anger.
Even in the awkward atmosphere, the nurse calmly checked Yeojin’s temperature and blood pressure. After finishing the measurements, the nurse checked the IV status and also examined the bandages wrapped around Yeojin’s head. Yeojin, who had been keeping his mouth shut obediently, opened it again.
“What’s going to happen to Haeju?”
“He’ll be shot on sight once discovered.”
Yeojin’s shoulders flinched.
“But Haeju…”
“If you’re going to spout bullshit about him being a patient, shut up. He’s someone who destroyed an entire quarantine building, injured six soldiers, and fled. He’s not just a calamity. He’s a time bomb that could explode at any moment. Nuclear bomb level, and a monster at that. Dr. Min, you were at the scene, so you know. Do you still think he’s a child you need to protect? A guy who’s 188cm tall with the mental age of a kid—don’t you think that’s even more dangerous?”
Yeojin clamped his mouth shut. It was clear he’d only get cursed at if he said more. Director Im let out a deep sigh and turned around.
“My head’s about to explode because of this incident, so at least you show some restraint. First, get plenty of rest. Oh, nurse. If this guy tries to do anything unnecessary, you can give him a sedative and tie him down.”
The nurse laughed at Director Im’s words. Director Im, who had been striding toward the door, suddenly stopped as if remembering something and looked at Yeojin.
“By the way, since when was the CCTV in Number 13’s room broken? Thanks to that, not a single video from the incident was recorded. We need incident footage to determine Number 13’s ability grade.”
Suddenly, one thought flashed through Yeojin’s mind.
“No one’s coming. I took care of that thing beforehand.”
Seo Haeju had definitely whispered that. While pointing at the CCTV on the ceiling. But Yeojin feigned ignorance.
“Isn’t it too much that you’re only finding out now that the CCTV was broken? What are the security personnel doing? And do you know that the heating equipment in the quarantine building has been broken for three months? Is there anything in the quarantine building that’s even working properly? Since we’re on the topic, please repair the quarantine building’s heating system.”
“Cough cough. Why is there so much dust in here? I’m leaving!”
Director Im quickly escaped out of the hospital room.
After Director Im and the nurse left, Yeojin tried to go outside too, but soldiers in military uniforms were guarding the front of the hospital room. Director Im’s words that he could be dragged to Iryeongdo too if he wasn’t careful didn’t seem to be a threat.
Having no choice, Yeojin flopped down on the bed and lost himself in thought.
Is Haeju okay? Is that kid eating his meals properly? He’s got a big build, so he needs to eat properly.
A walking calamity. A time bomb. A monster.
Director Im had spouted such nonsense before leaving.
The last image of Haeju came to mind—surrounded by a flock of crows, shedding tears profusely while looking at Yeojin. To Yeojin’s eyes, the boy didn’t look like a monster. He only looked like a child who had suddenly gained power he couldn’t control by his own will and was trembling in fear, not knowing what to do.
It would be a calamity for Haeju himself too. Not just Haeju, but most of the Transcendents Yeojin had met hadn’t gained their abilities because they wanted them.
“Why me of all people? I want to live a normal life too. I hate living like this. I want to go back to how things were before.”
The Transcendents he counseled would say such things to Yeojin in tones filled with anguish.
They too were people just like us. But the moment their abilities manifested one day, they were branded as monsters, cut off from the world, and had to receive looks of hatred and contempt. Yet those who cursed them as monsters could themselves suddenly become Transcendents when curse-like powers appeared—who knew?
When he closed his eyes because his head hurt, Haeju’s sobbing cries echoed in his ears.
“Where are you, Haeju? Are you okay?”
He muttered into the air, but no answer came back.
***
The morning of the NSP emergency meeting.
Director Im and Yeojin took a car, completed a brief inspection at the checkpoint in front of the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department, and safely entered inside.
“Anyway, what a ridiculously long name.”
When Yeojin grumbled, Director Im, who was driving, chuckled.
“The higher-ups like names that look impressive.”
“Doesn’t it seem like they just slapped on every cool word they could find?”
Instead of answering, Director Im just laughed. After parking the car in the parking lot designated for outside guests, the two entered the designated conference room.
The conference room was already full of people. NSP advisors and spokespersons, vice ministers, and general-level figures were seated in rows, so a suffocating tension flowed through the audience. Just looking at it felt breathtaking.
Stars that Yeojin couldn’t even make eye contact with when he was in the military were sitting side by side, creating a serious atmosphere. Director Im and Yeojin quietly took seats in the very back row.
The meeting started precisely at 9 o’clock.
An officer came out, gave a brief greeting, and immediately displayed video material on the TV monitor screen while explaining. On the monitor was the image of the NSP Minister at a press conference in front of reporters. While answering reporters’ questions, the Minister’s head suddenly jerked back as if shot and he collapsed. Bodyguards urgently threw themselves to surround the Minister. Soon after, the bodyguards also suddenly had their knees snap and they collapsed.
Screams erupted around them and the sounds of bodyguards and soldiers shouting desperately could be heard. Soon, men in black military uniforms rushed out and blocked the bodyguards. They must have been members of the SP Special Task Suppression Unit composed of Transcendents.
“As you can see, the NSP Minister was attacked one week ago. The culprit who attacked the Minister was killed at the scene and appears to be a member of ‘Earth (US)’, a civilian rebel unit composed of Transcendents.”
Vice Minister Cha asked the officer a question.
“Since last year, we’ve heard information that Transcendents with resentment toward government policy have formed an organization. But they’ve been quiet until now, so what was the trigger for suddenly committing such a violent crime?”
