Sujin. Depending on how you think about it, hell can become heaven too.
Thank you, Doctor.
It’s nothing. Don’t overthink things or dig too deep. So what if I’m a Transcendent? Fuck, does the country collapse because I became a Transcendent? Just think of it as living a new life! Let’s live with this mindset.
Yes.
Yang Sujin smiled brightly with her swollen eyes. Yeojin also grinned.
But it wasn’t really nothing. Not just the Transcendent themselves, but even the Transcendent’s family would live being despised, and enduring that kind of social discrimination wouldn’t be easy. Even if they chose the path of becoming a Special Civil Servant, that path wouldn’t be easy either.
But what could you do? Just because you became a Transcendent didn’t mean you could all die. You had to survive somehow.
Living locked up for life at the Jeju Island Quarantine Center versus choosing the path of a government civil servant. There were two options, and Yeojin mainly recommended the latter.
It was dirty, but it was better to live bumping into people while working in society. At the Jeju Island Quarantine Center, news of detainees’ suicides came every single day. Being locked up in there all day, even the brightest person would inevitably become extremely depressed.
At least prison has some promise of when you’ll get out, but the problem with that place was that it didn’t.
He occasionally had to go on business trips to the Jeju Island Quarantine Center, and the detainees he met there all had hollow eyes without exception. People living like jellyfish, going with the flow without dreams, hope, or sense of purpose. Eyes with no vitality, completely unfocused.
After returning from business trips to Jeju Island like that, he couldn’t sleep for a while, thinking of their empty, unfocused eyes.
The Jeju Island Quarantine Center was a place where people slowly withered to death while still alive.
Even becoming a Special Civil Servant came with many restrictions and you couldn’t enjoy the same ordinary life as before, but it was still freer than the Jeju Island Center.
Special Civil Servants were required to live in company housing, and there was a lot of talk that this was another quarantine facility. But there, at least alcohol was allowed. They could gather among themselves, grill meat, have a beer, and throw small parties.
Even on weekends, going outside was impossible, but if you got a permit, you could meet with family. Even if you couldn’t go out for more than a day, you could take short day trips, or use the money you earned to eat out with family.
Ordinary people probably don’t know how significant the happiness felt there is. How precious the things they enjoy without a second thought are.
So Yeojin persuaded the detainees at the Seoul Center to choose the path of civil service, and most of the detainees who received counseling did as Yeojin said.
Of course, there were cases where people chose to go to the Jeju Island Quarantine Center, saying they’d rather choose freedom than be leashed at the neck and used as the state’s dog.
They made that choice because they didn’t know how much indefinite quarantine life devastates a person. It was unfortunate.
Yang Sujin, who became a Special Civil Servant as Yeojin suggested, was so diligent and quick-witted that he heard she had a very good reputation even within the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department. She was a kid who was considerate and had naturally good social skills. Even during her quarantine period at the Seoul Center, she always took on chores, and when problems arose in the quarantine building, she was the first to step up and help the detainees.
Perhaps because of that, he heard she was getting along fine with regular employees despite her special status as a Transcendent. Even just hearing the rumors was gratifying. He’d thought she’d live well wherever she went, and she really did. Because private contact with each other was prohibited, even when he was occasionally curious about her, he couldn’t make a single phone call to ask how she was doing.
“Sujin! I’m so happy to hear from you! How long has it been? Are you doing well?”
- Yes. I’m doing really well.
“Good. I knew you’d live well even after getting out. But what’s the occasion? Are you allowed to call me like this? Won’t you get disciplined?”
- Even in this situation, you’re worrying about others first, Doctor. Now’s not the time for that.
Yang Sujin’s low laughter flowed out. A premonition quickly flashed through Yeojin’s mind. A premonition that Yang Sujin hadn’t called just to exchange greetings.
- Doctor. Listen carefully from now on.
Sure enough. Yang Sujin’s voice dropped completely. Yeojin also became serious.
- A Rebel response team has been formed at the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department.
“Because of the Minister assault incident that happened recently?”
- There are various complex factors, but that’s the main cause. Because the Rebels attacked the NSP Minister, government policy suddenly changed.
“Yeah. I heard they’re transferring all detainees to the Iryeongdo Center now.”
- As you know, the NSP decided to classify all detainees as potential dangerous persons and move them there for surveillance. Because the Iryeongdo Center is like a prison that confines detainees who caused problems at the Jeju Island Center, the surveillance system is extremely thorough.
Iryeongdo was a natural fortress surrounded by ocean on all sides and the worst prison from which no one could escape.
“No matter how you think about it, it’s crazy nonsense. Fuck, those stubborn bastards really.”
- It’s nice hearing you curse after so long, Doctor.
Yang Sujin laughed briefly and then continued.
- Anyway, according to the changed policy, they were planning to transfer the Seoul Center detainees to Iryeongdo. But because Seo Haeju escaped and damaged the quarantine building, that plan was moved up. Up to that point, it was the originally planned schedule, so there’s no problem. But the Rebels caused another incident.
He remembered people quickly leaving the conference room at the NSP meeting after hearing urgent news. Yeojin had been curious about what had happened too.
“What on earth happened?”
- During the process of transferring detainees to Iryeongdo, they were attacked by the Rebels. It was during the bus transfer from Seoul to Busan.
“What? Are the detainees safe?”
- The Rebels’ purpose wasn’t to harm the detainees. It was to help the detainees escape.
Ah, he thought. Well, there was no reason for the Rebels to harm fellow Transcendents.
“Their goal must have been to extract the detainees and include them in their forces.”
- Yes, that’s right. The SP Special Forces were in charge of the transfer mission, but it seems they were helpless because it was such a sudden attack. The Rebels were armed with the latest firearms from who knows where. The detainees’ resistance was also fierce.
He could more than imagine that situation. The soldiers didn’t hesitate to use excessive force even on Yeojin, a civilian, so how much worse must they have been to the detainees? It was only natural that the detainees, resentful of the soldiers’ aggressive suppression, resisted fiercely.
- In this process, two-thirds of the detainees escaped.
“The Rebels took the escaped detainees?”
- I don’t know that much. But the detainees who succeeded in escaping scattered everywhere, though they’ll eventually gather under the Rebels. Because of that, the NSP went into emergency mode and as I mentioned, urgently formed a related special team.
“That must be chaos. You must be really busy too.”
- You shouldn’t be worrying about others, you should worry about your own safety first. The Rebel Response Special Team classified you as a Grade 1 dangerous person.
“Why am I a Grade 1 dangerous person? Do those NSP bastards really think I’m a Rebel?”
- Considering your track record so far, it’s not unreasonable for the higher-ups to think so. And you’re also the person who provided the biggest cause for Seo Haeju’s rampage incident.
“Ha, they’re really stubborn blockheads.”
- They’re stubborn blockheads, bastards, all of it’s true. But those people have been monitoring your phone line since the day Seo Haeju escaped.
It was outrageous. It was a situation where only curses would come out. Yeojin had advocated for Transcendent human rights, but he hadn’t neglected his duties as a government civil servant either. From soldier to Special Forces, to doctor at the Seoul Center. He’d worked for the state for years, and the result was being branded a Rebel.
He felt wronged and resentful. Anger surged up from his belly. But now wasn’t the time to be swept up in personal emotions. He had to set aside feelings of betrayal and assess the situation coldly and accurately.
“So you’re saying my line has all been wiretapped?”
- Yes. Until now, there haven’t been any notable contacts to your line. But the call with Seo Haeju 1 hour and 30 minutes ago is the problem.
“How did you know about that?”
- I was also recruited as personnel for this special team. I saw the call record with Seo Haeju, deleted it right away, and I’m calling you like this to inform you of the situation.
“Thank you. Sujin. I’m really, really grateful, but you shouldn’t do this. You’ll be in big trouble!”
- Doctor, you’re my lifesaver. If it weren’t for you, I couldn’t have endured it and would have committed suicide. And I know all about how you took care of my grandmother during the 3 months I was quarantined at the Center. My grandmother told me to never forget this kindness. I’ve lived thinking that someday I would definitely repay this debt.
“Still, Sujin.”
- So from this moment on, don’t use this line. As soon as you finish talking with me, dispose of your phone immediately. I listened to a bit of the earlier call content, and it seems you don’t know where Seo Haeju is either, but even if you find out, avoid contact. Surveillance personnel will tail you at all times. Don’t do anything suspicious at all.
“……”
Setting aside the shocking fact that the phone was being wiretapped, it was more embarrassing that Yang Sujin had heard that mortifying call content.
