With a strange expression, Jang Ijung threw something at me. It was my mask. I hurriedly snatched it up and put it back on.
After that, with his help, we cleared away the debris and pulled Yeom Hajae out.
Once outside, a corridor with restrooms came into view. The section connecting the hall to the corridor had collapsed, splitting the corridor in two.
The spot where Yeom Hajae and I had been trapped was roughly in the middle.
As I’d heard, there were over ten people in the corridor. Some were unharmed, others injured.
What was surprising was that most of them still hadn’t taken off their masks. It was a relief that I didn’t stand out even with mine on.
Seeing me and Yeom Hajae, people’s faces fell with open disappointment.
“They said rescue was coming…”
“Did you report the location properly? Try again.”
“Right now there’s, there’s no response…”
This must be the person who’d made contact earlier. He was getting chewed out by someone who looked like a superior.
While people were busy fussing with their radios, a man with a stubborn-looking face spoke up.
“If we just clear those rocks, can’t we get out?”
It was the man who’d tried to shove Yeom Hajae. He had a bandage on his arm—must have gotten hurt while dodging.
That bastard.
So he was still alive.
If you thought about it, this whole mess was because of that man.
While I cursed him out internally, someone else stepped in.
“You can’t just go touching it carelessly. It could collapse again suddenly.”
“That guy over there cleared it just fine! Let’s just have him do it.”
The man pointed at Jang Ijung. Everyone’s attention immediately turned to Jang Ijung, but he just rolled his eyes, looking uninterested.
Cleared it just fine?
Looking now, only the part where I’d been trapped had been precariously cleared of debris.
The commotion during the radio call suddenly came to mind. Had they recognized my voice over the radio and moved based on that? But how had they known the location?
For now, I sat Yeom Hajae down roughly in a corner.
“Hyung…”
He should’ve been out cold by now, but his eyes were still open. And since he’d seen me put my mask on, he kept recognizing me as Kim Cheolsu.
While I was wondering what to do with him, Jang Ijung came over.
“What’s wrong?”
“He seems to be a bit delirious.”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“?”
Jang Ijung whispered.
“There was something you were originally supposed to do.”
“Ah.”
He meant killing him. From Jang Ijung’s perspective, this probably seemed strange.
But what could I do.
I couldn’t kill Yeom Hajae.
Over the past week, I’d learned a few things about the System. My Karma decreased in proportion to the pain I felt. And when Karma decreased, an “Achievement” would be randomly triggered, granting a reward.
And…
When I tested it by hurting someone else, I genuinely thought I was going to die.
If I attacked someone using my ability, I’d lose the ability to use it. If I hurt someone with a weapon, my body itself would be penalized.
In short, that oddly meticulous System apparently only wanted to beat up me, specifically.
Bringing in an exorcist for an exorcism, or a shaman for a ritual—none of it had made the System budge. So for now, I had no choice but to clear the quest as instructed. While hurting as few people as possible…
Since I couldn’t explain all that, I gave a simple answer.
“Ah. I forgot. What do I do about this…”
As if the possibility of killing him right now hadn’t even occurred to me.
Jang Ijung made a complicated face. He plopped down beside me, and a moment of silence passed. Jang Ijung was the one to speak first.
“…Why are you here?”
“Who knows. Must’ve been some bastard who shoved my back.”
“…….”
Jang Ijung rephrased and asked again.
“I mean, why are you in that organization if you’re not even going to kill anyone?”
What are you saying, right in the middle of the Association? With Yeom Hajae right next to us, eyes wide open.
“Haha, you’re joking. We only kill monsters, right?”
I played dumb without answering Jang Ijung’s question.
“…You’re strange.”
“You’re the strange one, Ijung.”
I quickly pulled a lollipop out of my pocket. I unwrapped it and shoved it straight into Jang Ijung’s mouth.
Stop talking nonsense and eat this instead.
“…….”
Not getting a real answer, Jang Ijung sulkily bit down on the candy.
Through the wall, the faint cry of a griffin could be heard.
I let my unfocused eyes drift. Invisible to everyone else, a System window was currently floating in front of me.
Speaking of the System, this reminded me.
[Quest: Settle Your Karma.
!If a certain amount of time passes without completing the quest, a penalty will be applied.]
[Karma: 59400]
Come to think of it, it had been a while since my Karma had gone down. I’d beaten someone up, gotten horribly sick, and only came to my senses yesterday. That was about three days…
Three days. Hadn’t a similar amount of time passed before, and I got penalized then too? An ominous feeling crept up my spine.
That’s when it happened.
“What officer, my ass. I’ve never seen a guy like that.”
The loud voice made me turn my head reflexively.
Two men were arguing in front of the restroom. The Hunter I’d seen earlier, and the man with the bandaged arm. The man suddenly turned and glared this way.
Then, huffing, he marched over toward Jang Ijung and me.
A shadow fell over Jang Ijung’s face as he sat leaning against the wall.
“You’re the villain, aren’t you? That Smile Clean thing or whatever.”
“?”
“I can tell just by looking. Look at that punk-yellow hair.”
Jang Ijung looked up at the man, still wearing his usual blank expression. Whatever was going on, I stepped in front of him first. I was worried he’d say something stupid again.
“Sir, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. This is my subordinate.”
“Subordinate?”
The man’s eyebrows twitched.
“Then name your affiliation.”
“…That’s…”
“Ha. You’re in on it with him too, aren’t you?”
“In on what?”
“Aren’t you? Then why can’t you answer?”
He was right that we were “in on it.” And right that I couldn’t answer because we had no affiliation. But I couldn’t let the people listening think that.
“…Well, that’s because…”
Most everyone else was wearing masks too, after all. They probably didn’t want to get dragged into any trouble. And—
“As you said, there might be a villain among us here—have you thought about what happens if you make yourself a target like that?”
“!”
Hearing the situation laid out plainly, people started murmuring.
“H-he’s right… they said earlier there was more to come, what if there really is a villain among us…”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, these guys ARE the villains! Something’s been off about that one not being an Awakener, with those red eyes.”
The man refused to back down, stubbornly pressing on.
We had masks—why was this happening? I glanced at Jang Ijung. With a carefree expression, Jang Ijung held up one finger. Then his mouth moved silently.
Mask. One.
Meaning there was only one mask with the special ability attached. I was speechless. You knew that and still acted up like that?
But it was fine.
If we were forced to remove our masks under pressure, everyone else would have to declare their identities too, to prove their innocence. That was a development nobody wanted.
In the end, as expected, someone else stepped in.
“That’s enough. These people clearly don’t want to either.”
The man flinched, feeling the disapproving stares.
“N-no, I just…”
He faltered, unable to push further. The situation died down.
All that was left to do was stay put until rescue arrived…
…My mouth itched. A little mischief couldn’t hurt, right?
Just as the man turned to head back to his spot, I couldn’t resist muttering, as if to myself—
“…Looking at the state of him, he seems like some kind of janitor who wandered in here.”
At that, the man whipped back around. I looked him up and down openly and smiled.
Polite-looking to everyone else, but to the one hearing it, it would sound mocking—I whispered, just loud enough for him alone to hear.
“If I told you my affiliation, would you even know it?”
The man’s eyes went wide.
“…!”
A vein bulged on his receding hairline.
“Do you—do you know who I am…?”
Just as expected, he snapped, indignant.
“You little punk, name your affiliation!”
“Oh dear, sir. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? I told you, you can’t.”
I clasped my hands together, acting troubled.
“That guy’s your lapdog, isn’t he? I saw him scheming with him earlier!”
“As I’ve said several times, he’s my subordinate.”
“That’s enough, sir.”
“Fuck, do you know what that bastard just said to me?!”
The man shook off the people trying to restrain him and caused a scene. He seemed unable to bear being singled out as the crazy one.
Spit flying as he yelled—it was funny. To get this worked up over just a few words…
Amusing.
I savored the small moment of happiness. The man reached for me, declaring he’d rip off my mask himself.
Just as I tried to dodge the incoming hand—
Ding!
[Penalty triggered: 〈Purifying Flame〉 in effect.]
A window suddenly appeared, and my body froze.
“You piece of trash!”
Smack!
The man’s swinging arm landed on me. Thankfully, the mask stayed on. His punch was weak as cotton, didn’t hurt at all. But…
Drip…
Blood dripped to the floor. I touched my nose, and bright red blood came away on my fingers. Then came a sensation I’d experienced once before.
“…!”
A horrific pain, like my entire body was on fire.
“Wh-what? I wasn’t trying to hit you that hard—”
My mood plummeted instantly. I staggered, barely catching myself against the wall.
Purifying Flame. Probably the penalty that triggers if Karma isn’t lowered for more than three days. I’d been too busy testing the conditions for Karma increasing and had forgotten. A clear oversight on my part.
“Seo Sinwoo?”
“I-I’m fine… just startled for a second.”
I could feel Jang Ijung’s confusion beside me. Swallowing back the blood rising in my throat, I spoke.
“Ijung. I need the, the restroom…”
Jang Ijung stood and put an arm around my shoulder.
Supported by Jang Ijung, I made it into the restroom.
I stood in front of the sink and turned on the tap. The water came out fine—the pipes hadn’t been damaged. Tossing my mask aside, I plunged my face into the cold running water.
It was cold. I felt a little more clarity return.
“Hey, you…”
“Ijung.”
I forced out the words between labored breaths.
“Hit me. Just once.”
“What?”
“Quickly.”
Karma needed to drop for the penalty to end. I needed intense pain.
Hearing this, Jang Ijung pushed his hair back.
“…What kind of bullshit is that?”
Just hit him once. He knew it was an absurd request.
Still, I grabbed Jang Ijung’s hand and pulled.
“Please, hit me.”
