Under Creature Chapter 11.1

Today Yigeom visited the Vigilante Corps with Seo Dohyun. Kim Hyungkyu hurried to greet them.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello. We’re here to give you our answer regarding the proposal you gave us before.”

“Please, come in first.”

Seo Dohyun went to Kim Hyungkyu’s office and, saying there was no need to drag things out, got straight to the point.

“I’ll accept your proposal.”

“Right, it must be hard even for you to drag Latter into this…. What?”

“I said, I’ll accept.”

“…Oh, okay.”

Kim Hyungkyu, who seemed to have expected a refusal, had a sour look on his face before quickly collecting himself.

“That’s a relief. I thought you were going to refuse since your answer was getting late.”

“Ah, about that. …Um, it’s nothing.”

It was a bit embarrassing to say that while the conclusion had been reached long ago through a vote, the response was delayed because of a fight between Seo Dohyun and Seo Doa.

Things that happen internally should be handled internally; there was no need to go around blabbing about it.

Yigeom deliberately changed the subject.

“So, what should we do now?”

Kim Hyungkyu rummaged through his messy desk, then placed a sheet of paper in front of the two.

“It’s nothing much. First, just sign here.”

“You say it’s nothing much, but you’re being pretty hasty. I’ll sign after hearing a bit more.”

Seo Dohyun scanned the paper he was handed. His eyes were filled with deliberation, as if searching for any content that might be detrimental to Latter.

Meanwhile, Kim Hyungkyu explained what Latter would have to do from now on.

“It’s really nothing much. You and Mr. Yigeom just need to do what you’ve been doing, and have all of Latter do it with you. That’s all.”

Yigeom, also about to sign, asked a question cautiously.

“I have a question. Why did you make a different proposal to our guild?”

He understood that from the Vigilantes’ perspective, they probably felt the most familiar with Latter, since Yigeom and Dohyun had been in and out of the Vigilante Corps constantly and were the representative faces (master, vice-master) of Latter.

Though there was hostility at first, now everyone treated them in a friendly manner.

He had a few guesses as to why the Vigilante Corps chose Latter, but he wanted to hear it definitively from Kim Hyungkyu’s own mouth.

“First, we plan to increase the number one by one. We determined that Latter was the best guild to be deployed in the operation first.”

“Why is that?”

Are you telling us to take the lead and get stoned to death? To pave the way with our corpses? If that was the reason, he would absolutely decline.

“The Vigilante Corps has been working in sync for a long time. A concluded that if a large number of unfamiliar people were to be suddenly deployed in an operation, it would only add to the confusion.”

“……”

“Latter is also a small guild, and Seo Dohyun used to be a Vigilante, so we thought you would adapt well. Also, Latter is a guild with a decent standing among hunters. Is that reason enough?”

Seo Dohyun flicked the paper and muttered in a displeased tone.

“You’re not going to make us do anything dangerous, are you?”

Kim Hyungkyu stifled a smirk that was about to escape. When he was with the Vigilantes, he acted like he wouldn’t mind dying any minute.

“Why, is your life precious to you now?”

Yigeom clenched his jaw. What kind of taunt was this…. Seo Dohyun, as if Kim Hyungkyu’s provocation wasn’t even worth noticing, simply read the paper nonchalantly without any reaction.

“You’re going a bit too far.”

Yigeom had no choice but to step in and mediate.

“…I’m sorry.”

“To me?”

“I went a little too far. I’m sorry.”

Seo Dohyun glanced at Kim Hyungkyu, then put down the paper and smiled brightly.

“Gyeom-ah, that hyung has always had a bit of a rude way of talking. He didn’t mean any harm by it, so you should just understand.”

“That part’s similar to you. Seems like he’s your type?”

So that’s why he was paired with Seo Dohyun in the past. Yigeom muttered that he understood.

“Who did you hear that from? I never told you.”

“Jewoo told me.”

“Jewoo does have a bit of a big mouth.”

Yigeom glanced sideways at Seo Dohyun. It was funny how he was letting it slide because it was Jewoo, when he would’ve shown no mercy if others had gone around talking about his past.

Kim Hyungkyu cleared his throat in embarrassment.

“Ahem. There won’t be anything dangerous.”

“Are you sure?”

Yigeom asked again, his eyes full of suspicion. Seo Dohyun had probably asked the question thinking more about Latter’s safety than his own.

“Yes. No dangerous situations will ever befall Latter.”

“How can you guarantee that?”

“Because we are waiting for other guilds to join as well, not just Latter. If news got out that Latter, who stepped up as the forerunner, was in danger, how do you think everyone would react? They’d tuck their tails and run away.”

“……”

“We also have a reason to protect Latter.”

Being a Vigilante was an inherently life-threatening job. To join hands with them, one had to be prepared for danger.

For that reason, Latter, as the first guild to join hands with the Vigilante Corps, needed to serve as a guarantee, an example, that it was safe to work with them.

“So, Latter will be safe. You will be excluded from dangerous tasks as much as possible. Unless it’s a special situation. Of course, since Mr. Yigeom and Seo Dohyun have always been in contact with us, we might borrow your help a little.”

“Yes, that much is fine.”

It wasn’t as if they had joined under the conditions just presented, and they had also gained access privileges to the archives. If they tried to play it safe, their relationship, which had just improved over the last six months, could become distant again with talk of them being bats or what have you.

“Still, once this escort mission is completed successfully, you two will also be excluded from missions for a while.”

“For a while… you say.”

“Yes.”

Yigeom didn’t mind if the Vigilante Corps worked him a little harder. Instead, he asked them to be sure to contact him if he were to receive a mission related to the ‘Orca’ organization, to which Kwon Sanghyuk belonged.

‘Kwon Sanghyuk.’

He would get his revenge on him with his own two hands. Yigeom clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails left marks.

After finishing the longer-than-necessary conversation with Kim Hyungkyu and completing all the signatures, Yigeom spoke to Seo Dohyun as if talking to himself.

“CA Area wasn’t here today.”

Seo Dohyun, as if he had been waiting, crinkled his eyes into a smile.

“Why? You want to hang out with me?”

“What are you talking about. I was asking if I could stop by the archives for a moment.”

The identity of the person to be escorted in next month’s mission was kept secret, but the archives would have a list of inmates.

‘It must be one of them.’

If he didn’t know who it was, he could just memorize them all. It was a plan to study in advance.

No matter how simple an escort mission was, just moving a prisoner from one car to another; and even though it was a familiar task he had participated in several times before, Yigeom always made sure to read the list of inmates in the archives.

There was nothing to be gained from letting his guard down.

Yigeom rolled his eyes to look at Seo Dohyun.

When something bothered him, he tended to curl the corners of his mouth up and smile more. Just like now, without saying a word.

“Gyeom-ah, I don’t like you going there.”

“But it’s not like I can take the materials home.”

Besides, taking them outside was forbidden in the first place.

“You don’t want to go? Or you can go first. I’ll read the files for a bit and then go.”

Just as Yigeom was about to quickly turn toward the archives, Seo Dohyun grabbed his arm.

“Why?”

“I don’t like you going there, but I hate it even more if you go alone.”

“What are you talking about. So, are you going or not?”

“I have to go. If you’re going, how could I not go?”

Yigeom pretended not to hear, for no reason.

Sometimes, Seo Dohyun would follow him so blindly it was uncomfortable.

He couldn’t quite put it into words, but it was always difficult whenever this happened.

“Then follow me.”

In the end, he couldn’t say much this time either and grumbled as he led the way. Then, he glanced back.

“Why don’t you like me going to the archives?”

“Well. I wonder why.”

He answered elusively.

When he first started visiting the Vigilante Corps, Seo Dohyun’s attitude was to let him do as he pleased, but ever since hearing that A also frequented the archives, he had been constantly on guard.

‘Does Seo Dohyun not get along with A?’

He quickly came to an internal conclusion. Of course they wouldn’t. Who besides Latter gets along with Seo Dohyun?

Arriving at the archives, Yigeom glanced sideways at Seo Dohyun, who was sitting with his legs crossed in a chair. A fact he learned later was that the chairs and table in the archives were indeed provided by A.

‘The… floor is hard and cold air rises from it…. and my legs get numb from sitting for a long time.’

There was no doubt A had been mindful of those words.

Because of that, his image of A as a good person was solidified, but looking back, he still hadn’t thanked A for the table.

It was embarrassing to do it now after half a year had passed. Well, he could just repay the favor later. He nonchalantly let it go like that.

And the correctional facility he would be going to this time… he heard it was in Cheonan.

‘Ch, Cheonan, Cheonan…. Here it is.’

Yigeom quickly pulled out the file and checked the list of inmates. Although he had already scanned all of it once before, there could have been transfers in the meantime, so the list might have changed.

“Gyeom-ah, if you’ve found the file, sit down and read it.”

Seo Dohyun gestured to the seat next to him.

Since Seo Dohyun was also participating in the mission, Yigeom sat next to him to look at it together and spread the file open. Then, suddenly curious, Yigeom asked.

“There must be people you put away in here, right?”

“I wonder. I don’t remember the details.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. And it’s confusing.”

Yigeom looked at him with questioning eyes.

“What is?”

“Whether I caught them, or another Vigilante did.”

“…That’s confusing?”

Seo Dohyun answered with a smirk.

“Yeah. I used my ability a lot, so things changed often.”

“……”

Yigeom couldn’t say anything.

The Seo Dohyun of that time would have likely used his ability more than ten times, just like with Bae Sangwoo, without setting any limits on its threshold.

He had used his ability so much that the future changed too frequently, causing confusion in his memories.

Things he did in one iteration, he would leave to others in another.

‘There’s nothing I can say.’

The one who must have been the most confused was none other than Seo Dohyun, so it was difficult to offer him any facile pity or comfort about that time.

“Gyeom-ah.”

Seo Dohyun, having nothing to say, poked the cheek of Yigeom, whose eyes were fixed on the document. Startled by the sudden contact, Yigeom turned his gaze to him.

He chuckled lowly and muttered.

“Maybe that’s why. I feel comfortable when I’m with you.”

Yigeom’s lips parted.

“…Shut up. And concentrate. One of these people might be the one we’re escorting next month.”

At Yigeom’s reaction, Seo Dohyun narrowed his eyes.

“You always change the subject when you get embarrassed.”

“I’ve never done that.”

“You just did.”

“I don’t remember.”

Yigeom replied nonchalantly and flipped to the next page.

“Really? Yoon Yigeom’s memory isn’t all that great, huh.”

“……”

Why is he picking a fight with me? Is he bored?

Ninety percent of what Seo Dohyun said had a provocative tone. It was a relief it wasn’t laced with malice… no, is pure evil worse?

Just then, Seo Dohyun pointed to a corner of the file.

“Gyeom-ah. Someone you caught is here too.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Here.”

…Yeah. It’s confirmed, pure evil is worse.

At the tip of Seo Dohyun’s finger was a familiar face.

Jooseungtae. A blood hunter and Yigeom’s friend, currently serving time in a correctional facility.

Yigeom closed the file right then and there.

“It’s my fault, my fault for coming to the archives with you.”

“You’re not going to look anymore?”

“Nope. Let’s go.”

It would be far better to not even go near the archives than to look at files with Seo Dohyun a second time.

‘So Jooseungtae was in Cheonan too.’

The last time he visited him, thanks to Bae Sangwoo, he was serving his sentence in a facility in a different region.

‘When did he get moved to Cheonan?’

Yigeom became lost in thought as he left the archives. It had already been several months since he had last seen Jooseungtae.

He was worried about whether he was enduring his addiction well, and for a moment, he harbored a wicked hope that he might be able to see him during next month’s mission, before quickly shaking his head, thinking it was impossible.

🦅࿐

“Cheers~!”

Today was the ‘Jin Geonwoo Welcome Party (Feat. Sibling Reconciliation Celebration)’ company dinner.

The host, of course, was Cha Jewoo.

After shouting “Cheers,” Cha Jewoo gulped down his cola.

‘Trying to look cool with just a soda.’

It was obvious that when he became an adult, he would follow Namgoong Sanha around, poking his head into various places to drink.

Cha Jewoo glanced at the Seo siblings and said with a silly grin.

“I originally planned to have the dinner on the day of, but it got a little delayed. Because I was being mindful of someone.”

Yigeom spoke to Jin Geonwoo, who was quietly sipping his water.

“Geonwoo hyung. If you’re uncomfortable, please let me know.”

“Not at all! This is fun and great.”

“Aack! Gyeom hyung! You were trying to use Geonwoo hyung as an excuse to end the party early, weren’t you!”

Tsk. This kid is quick on the uptake.

Yigeom ignored the fuming Jewoo and called out to Sanha.

“Sanha hyung. Seo Dohyun and I are going to be away on the first weekend of next month. Please contact us if anything happens.”

“Huh? Why are you away?”

“We have to go to Cheonan for a bit for Vigilante work, so we’ll be gone.”

Doa, who was picking at some meat, asked while chewing.

“Aren’t we all supposed to be doing Vigilante work together from now on? You said you guys signed the papers last week.”

“Yeah, that’s later. It’s already been confirmed that only Seo Dohyun and I will be going next month.”

“Can’t we even observe? We’ll all have to do it someday anyway, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

Yigeom hesitated to answer. The escort wasn’t a dangerous job; it was a mission that simply ended by moving from here to there. Wouldn’t it be okay to let them observe such an easy task?

However, he soon thought, this is a mission led by the Vigilante Corps, who am I to use my connections to get them an observation spot? and refused.

“I don’t think so. You guys will get missions later, so let’s all go together then.”

“Okay. If it’s not possible, then of course it can’t be helped. I was just asking, so don’t worry about it too much.”

Doa didn’t seem to dwell on it much, as if it was just something she said on a whim.

“Hyung, hyung. Gyeom hyung.”

Yigeom turned his head at the voice calling him from across the table.

“What is it?”

“About going to Cheonan. How many hours will you be working there?”

“I’m not sure.”

They didn’t know where the prisoner would be escorted to from Cheonan, so the job could finish in a different region.

Jewoo’s eyes sparkled as he asked.

“Then can’t we just hang out in Cheonan while you guys are working? It’s the weekend anyway, so we could do a 2-day, 1-night trip.”

“Sure, whatever.”

Yigeom readily agreed. It didn’t really matter, since the students could just have fun for a bit and then head back in Namgoong Sanha’s or Jin Geonwoo’s car, while he and Seo Dohyun would return to Seoul separately.

“C-can I go too?”

Jin Geonwoo looked at Yigeom with an expectant gaze.

“What are you talking about. You’re a part of Latter too, hyung, so of course you have to go with us.”

“Oh, right.”

He looked somewhat awkward. Had he felt left out, even though they thought they were taking care of him? Yigeom’s eyes darted to his side.

The brazen-faced Seo Dohyun was looking back at him, smiling.

“Why? Something you want to say?”

The reason Jin Geonwoo was so timid was right here. Setting aside the fact that they ended their introductions with a mere glance instead of a proper greeting on the first day, they had been so busy dealing with various issues like creature hunts, the Vigilante proposal, and fights, that they probably hadn’t had the chance to pay him any mind.

Furthermore, although Seo Dohyun didn’t show it, he was the master of Latter. To Jin Geonwoo, it would be like the president of the company he just joined was ignoring him, so it was only natural for him to feel intimidated.

Yigeom finally grasped the situation and leaned back, pressing his back against the chair.

With Yigeom, who was in the middle, moving out of the way, Seo Dohyun and Jin Geonwoo, who were sitting beside him, made eye contact.

“I just remembered, Seo Dohyun, you never properly introduced yourself to Geonwoo hyung, did you?”

“Did I not.”

Seeing that sly smile, he knew he had been pretending not to know all this time.

“It’s late, but exchange greetings now. Geonwoo hyung. This is Seo Dohyun, he’s 22, the same age as me.”

On behalf of Seo Dohyun, who was unlikely to introduce himself, Yigeom kindly did it for him. Jin Geonwoo hurriedly offered a handshake to Seo Dohyun.

“Ah, yeah! It’s nice to meet… you!”

Seo Dohyun stared blankly at his hand. His expression was indifferent. Then, when Yigeom gave him a look that said, ‘What are you doing? Hurry up and greet him,’ he smiled brightly and took his hand.

“It’s a pleasure. I heard you’re the same age as Sanha hyung, so please speak comfortably.”

“Okay. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”

His face was inherently unreadable.

Yigeom, feeling apologetic for no reason, apologized to Geonwoo.

“I’m sorry. He’s just a bit shy around new people.”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”

Yigeom sighed softly, thinking that he would have to give everyone a heads-up later when Jin Geonwoo wasn’t around to take good care of him and not to bring up topics he might not know about.

Managing a new member isn’t easy.

They had accepted him without question because he was a healer, but it belatedly occurred to him that for Jin Geonwoo, it might be awkward to fit into such a family-like guild.

‘For now, I should at least take good care of him myself.’

He thought having a new member would be all lively and good, but looking after them so they can adapt well was no small feat.

Of course, Jin Geonwoo was kind to everyone and worked hard at everything, to the point where you couldn’t say a word against him. He just needed time to adjust.

That was why Yigeom felt even more sorry toward him.

‘Maybe we shouldn’t accept new members from now on.’

For now, at least…

“Geonwoo hyung. Eat a lot of meat.”

Let’s take good care of him while he’s here. Yigeom picked up the tongs and placed all the cooked meat from the grill onto Jin Geonwoo’s plate.

“Huh? I’m still eating.”

“Eat more. It’s Seo Dohyun’s money anyway, so if we run out, just order more.”

“Uh… o-okay. Is that really okay?”

“Of course. It’s okay, right? If not, I’ll pay.”

Yigeom whipped his head around to look at Seo Dohyun and ask. Seo Dohyun had never nagged Latter about spending money. As expected, he smiled languidly. His expression was still elusive, but it was probably a sign of affirmation.

🦅࿐

Time flew by, and the day of the escort mission suddenly arrived.

Latter roamed around here and there in Cheonan until it was time for Yigeom and Dohyun to carry out their mission, at which point they parted ways.

Jewoo asked what kind of mission required them to come all the way to Cheonan, but he couldn’t get an answer as they still had to maintain secrecy. Furthermore, the fact that they said they would return to Seoul separately made him even more suspicious.

“Hyungs! Anyway, contact us when you’re done!”

Jewoo waved with both arms wide open, seeing the two off until they disappeared, then went around playing with the remaining members of Latter. Then, he suddenly put on a gloomy expression.

“But what kind of mission are the hyungs on that they have to hide it even from us?”

“Vigilante missions often have a lot of confidential information.”

“I know that.”

Namgoong Sanha’s comfort didn’t make him feel any better. For the past six months, the hyungs had gone on Vigilante missions while keeping it a secret from the rest of Latter, but now that they too would soon be participating in missions, he was torn between feeling like there was no need to hide the details now, and a mind that said, of course they should hide it!

Then he decided that digging himself into a hole was useless, and since he couldn’t find out anyway, he should just enjoy the trip to Cheonan.

Just then, Jin Geonwoo muttered.

“Isn’t there a correctional facility near here? Maybe they went there?”

At his words, Jewoo’s eyes widened.

“A correctional facility?”

“Maybe? It’s just a guess.”

“Hmm, that could be possible.”

Doa grabbed the back of the neck of Jewoo, who was nodding as if the words made sense.

“Don’t go bothering our oppas while they’re working.”

“What? I won’t bother them. I was just asking because I was curious. The hyungs can take care of themselves just fine without us, whatever.”

Jewoo pouted and grumbled.

BOOM-!

“Guys!”

In that moment, a loud explosion rang out, and Namgoong Sanha pulled Doa’s and Jewoo’s shoulders toward him.

The noise was deafening.

“What was that?”

Doa quickly turned her head in the direction of the sound. Smoke was faintly rising from the direction of the explosion. It seemed quite far away, but for the sound to echo so loudly all the way here… Doa’s eyes widened for a second as she confirmed the location.

BOOM-. KABOOM. KABOOOOM-!

Soon, as if the first explosion was merely a signal, a series of explosions occurred.

“That’s…”

It was where the Cheonan Correctional Facility was located.

🦅࿐

A few hours earlier.

After parting with Latter, Yigeom and Dohyun headed straight for the Cheonan Correctional Facility. Normally, they should have traveled with the Vigilante Corps, but since they planned to have fun together in Cheonan, they had used work as an excuse and arranged to join them at the destination.

The Vigilante Corps would probably turn a blind eye to this much.

In fact, if they traveled separately, the Vigilantes would have fewer people to look after, so wouldn’t it be better for them too?

“Yoon Yigeom, over here.”

Lee Juyoung waved at the newly arrived Yoon Yigeom, then his expression hardened when he spotted Seo Dohyun next to him.

‘Right. He was here too.’

Yigeom dragged Seo Dohyun and strode toward Lee Juyoung.

“Hyung, why is the atmosphere so tense?”

“The prisoner to be escorted has been revealed.”

Even A and Kim Hyungkyu couldn’t keep it a secret until the day of, no matter how confidential it was for security reasons.

“Who is it?”

“Well…”

Lee Juyoung hesitated, not answering.

‘Could it be Jooseungtae?’

If so, maybe he could meet him during the transfer. The extinguished hope began to bubble up again.

“It’s Choi Baekgil.”

“Choi Baekgil?”

Yigeom became lost in a daze.

‘Choi Baekgil, Choi Baekgil…’

“Ah.”

He was a favored subordinate of one of the three leaders of Adam. His ability was fire.

‘The polar opposite of water.’

Yigeom immediately called out to Seo Dohyun.

“Hey, Seo Dohyun. Did you just hear….”

Come to think of it, the records stated that the person who captured Choi Baekgil was none other than Seo Dohyun.

“Gyeom-ah?”

“That guy, Choi Baekgil, you caught him, didn’t you.”

“I think I did.”

Seo Dohyun pondered for a moment, then muttered as if he remembered something.

“I remember now.”

“You remember? They said his ability is fire.”

“If it’s fire, then I’m sure. There was a rather tricky guy among those with that type of ability.”

The words shared during the strategy meeting suddenly flashed through Yigeom’s mind. When undertaking escort missions, Seo Dohyun was always quick to react and was always right next to the prisoner, monitoring him. Yigeom, who could see the overall situation, was usually in charge of the rear, where he could observe the current state of affairs and provide support if needed.

But this time, Seo Dohyun was assigned to the rear with Yigeom, not next to the prisoner.

It was obvious that Choi Baekgil would resent Seo Dohyun for capturing him, so it seemed they had been placed in the rear to avoid a confrontation as much as possible.

‘So A doesn’t just come to the archives for nothing.’

It seemed A had been reading the files whenever possible and assigning missions that matched the members’ compatibilities.

Seo Dohyun, despite the prisoner being someone he had once captured, showed no particular emotion and simply smiled sweetly at Yigeom.

“We’re on the same team this time.”

Yigeom’s position was at the very back of the rear. It was a safe location where he would hardly even encounter the prisoner. And this time, Seo Dohyun was with him. This mission will be even easier than usual.

“Looks that way. Let’s go to our positions for now. Juyoung hyung is also in the rear, right?”

“Yeah.”

Yigeom moved to the rear with Seo Dohyun and Lee Juyoung.

Escort missions, not involving the capture of blood hunters, were among the safest.

However, this time the prisoner was Choi Baekgil, a big shot from Adam. Because of who they were dealing with, an unusual tension filled the Vigilante Corps.

Yigeom stood at the back and checked the personnel in front.

“Gyeom-ah, who are you looking for?”

“Just. Checking the members.”

A was not there. Has A already left to carry out the mission? They usually exchanged a brief greeting before missions, but he couldn’t today, which felt somewhat disappointing.

As he and Seo Dohyun waited, hidden in the rear for a while, he saw A dragging someone out.

The man was shackled at both his hands and feet.

‘Is that Choi Baekgil?’

Many imprisoned blood hunters couldn’t stand the withdrawal symptoms and would self-harm, but Choi Baekgil’s skin was clean without a single scar. Even from a distance, you could feel an aura of power from him.

‘So Seo Dohyun fought people like that when he was a Vigilante.’

He felt a new sense of awe for him. Suddenly, Kim Hyungkyu’s words came to mind.

‘Why, is your life precious to you now?’

Was he really not afraid of death? He had a young Seo Doa, too. Wouldn’t it have been better to switch to being a regular hunter, which is safer than being a Vigilante? He suddenly grew curious about what Seo Dohyun’s childhood was like.

The Vigilantes positioned next to Choi Baekgil, he now noticed, were all people with water abilities. Was it a precaution against a possible incident, since Choi Baekgil used fire?

Forced to quicken his pace with his feet bound in shackles by the Vigilantes’ rough handling, Choi Baekgil suddenly turned his head and stared beyond the building.

‘What is he looking at?’

“What are you doing. Get in the car now.”

“Ha…! Hahat. Hahaha!”

Choi Baekgil, who had been standing firm even when a Vigilante pushed him forcefully, suddenly burst into laughter.

At the bizarre sight, Yigeom instinctively frowned. What was he doing? Because Choi Baekgil had stopped walking, the rear section he belonged to was still inside the correctional facility building.

What is it? Is there something? Is he up to something? He grew more and more anxious.

No matter how much he looked around using the water, there was nothing suspicious. There were also places without water, so he couldn’t see everything.

“Gyeom-ah.”

Seo Dohyun suddenly wrapped his arms around him from behind, as if in an embrace.

The moment Yigeom turned around.

BOOM-!

A cloud of dust rose, blurring his vision. At the same time, he could feel all the water in the building rapidly evaporating from the intense heat. His entire vision was red.

“What the…”

“Looks like a surprise attack.”

As Yigeom’s vision, which had drifted into the water at Seo Dohyun’s calm words, returned to its place, he saw Seo Dohyun in front of him, holding him tightly as if to protect him, and smiling. He then suddenly burst into a hearty laugh, just like Choi Baekgil. In this chaos, it was a truly unfitting laugh.

BOOM-. KABOOM. KABOOOOM-!

Through the explosions, Seo Dohyun’s low voice could be heard, and Yigeom’s body trembled slightly with fear.

“Why? Are you scared?”

“…You.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll be safe.”

Then, the building exploded as if a bomb had gone off, and a huge, rock-like piece of debris flew and slammed into Yoon Yigeom, or more precisely, into Seo Dohyun who was embracing him.

His vision went black.

🦅࿐

Haa…. Haa.

The situation was chaotic. Wearing a mask already made his field of vision feel even narrower.

Explosions? Bombs? The building? The rear? He…? They…? …Choi Baekgil?

Gone. Everyone was swept up in the storm created by the collapsing building, too busy trying to save themselves.

Did someone help Choi Baekgil escape?

‘Damn it…!’

This should never have happened! That was why he was sent to the rear, but of all the things….

In the current situation, the right decision would be to first eliminate the enemy who caused the explosion and then find Choi Baekgil, but there was no time for that.

A bit his lip so hard it bled. He had been so reluctant to reveal his identity, but now was the time. In the end, for the first time in his life, he decided to use his voice, something he never did while wearing the mask. Not for the mission, but purely out of personal desire.

“Take care of the injured in the rear first!! The injured come first! Healers who are conscious, hurry and start treating them!!”

The building he had just escaped from, which the rear had not yet managed to exit, had completely collapsed. It was just a pile of rubble. Even if they were lucky enough to survive, injuries would be unavoidable. Still… please be alive, they have to be alive….

“No!! Choi Baekgil is gone, and we still don’t know where the enemy is! First, we must regroup and be on guard against the enemy!”

Kim Hyungkyu, dragging his injured arm, shouted at A. Shards from the building debris were embedded in his forearm like thorns.

“……”

Seeing A, who usually commanded operations with merciless composure, show hesitation, Kim Hyungkyu ignored the blood dripping from his arm to the floor and yelled.

“A-nim! The rear! We have to give up on them for now!”

“……”

Kim Hyungkyu’s voice faded as his mind grew dizzy. He had hoped to live a selfless life, but looking back now, his judgments and decisions were always full of regret.

Always, the people around him got hurt, suffered, and in the end, met their deaths. It was the price for sharing the same goal as him.

‘Why am I….’

So incompetent. Even at a time like this, he had to leave what was precious behind and move forward. Because he was A, because he was the leader of the Vigilante Corps, he held many lives in his hands and had to act wisely.

‘And what have I achieved by doing so?’

Even now, he was in a situation where he couldn’t even confirm if a precious person was dead or alive. And yet, he had to set it aside as a personal matter and fight the enemy before him.

‘What do I gain by doing that?’

He gains nothing.

The sacrifice of the few for the sake of the many.