◈ Episode 112

Priya, who was currently touching Kim Yi-hyeon's face, asked.

"Excuse me, what do you do?"

"You idiot, where are you looking? You're my brother, you old man, old man."

"He looks younger than Manoj...."

"That's because Manoz has grown old. It's called presbyopia."

Kim Ihyeon laughed lightly at Assam's words.

It was a story that would have been disheartening if I had heard it, if only I had been away for a moment. To hear the sound of old age coming from a child I had cared for like my own son.

Yes, like my own son.

Manoj is the twins' adoptive father. Strictly speaking, he is not even that, since he did not formally adopt them. At least, the three of them consider each other to be family.

It is a common yet rare case. Orphans are common in Polaris, not just in Kavarati. On the other hand, it is very rare to find a person with character who raises an orphan like his own child.

By the way, you are an old man.

"If you're 28, are you considered an old man these days?"

"You're an old man. You're really old."

"He is 15 years older than me and Assam."

Then what, you're 13?

'Let's see, based on Polaris... Born in 2031?'

I remember my memories from Korea. Back then, when we met up with friends, we would joke around about how we were different. It was quite shocking to hear it directly from kids these days.

They say that even people in their 30s are young these days… but this is Polaris. And the other person is in their teens. Even if you add their ages together, there's still a number left over, so it's hard to call him "hyung" or "oppa."

"But who are you, really? I've never seen you around here before."

"I guess it's obvious."

It was good that you came.

In the sewers, corpses appear whenever there's a chance. Most of the deaths are due to starvation or illness. However, they aren't recorded in the documents. It doesn't matter if one or two useless rats die.

Manoj and the twins collect and sell the 'identities' of the dead.

Even though it is a city where entry by outsiders is restricted, there is a demand. To become someone other than yourself. Even if you are a person who has no complaints about life, you can probably think of at least one thing you want to do.

'I'm glad we met smoothly.'

It was early compared to the game. Since he had little experience, the process of receiving the commission was rough. If he had been unlucky, the twins might have already been taken away by Mithril by the time Kim Yi-Hyeon arrived.

I almost suffered to death.

"Phew, that's it. I'm done."

"It was faster than I thought. I want to check it out."

"Here, water."

Priya brought the bucket of wastewater in front of her nose. She didn't expect a normal mirror to work at first. The light bulb was blinking once every three seconds, so what was the mirror doing?

I looked at my face reflected on the surface of the water.

"…Oh, that's strange. The sense of alienation is no joke."

"Hehe. Everyone seems uncomfortable. I don't know though."

"okay?"

"I've never tried it myself. I'm a bit scared…."

That makes sense.

It was an experience that was more than mysterious, it was a creepy experience. The hair color and voice were the same, but the face was different. The skin color and the shape of the facial features. There was a small burn scar above the eyebrow.

'It's still noticeable, but to this extent, so what?'

I don't plan on approaching Mithril and becoming friendly with her. I don't plan on going around in circles like that. Priya's [Makeup] has clear limits to begin with.

"After about two days, it will gradually return to normal. After another day, it will be completely resolved. ...Probably!"

It's not just a matter of duration. There's no dye in the water, and voice modulation is impossible. The conditions are not ideal for completely impersonating someone else.

I don't even want to get to that level.

'I just need to blend in with the streets.'

As long as no one sees you as an outsider like before, it's okay.

Mithril is just a human being. No one can be on guard 24 hours a day. There is a moment in everyday life when you can walk down the street at night, enjoying the tranquility without any protection.

Aim for that moment.

'For that, we'll need this guy's cooperation as well.'

Kim Yi-hyeon glanced at Asam. At first glance, he looked like a mischievous child. However, his body was so pitiful that it was almost hunched over, rather than chubby.

"Why, why? Don't you like being called 'uncle'?"

"If you didn't like it, you should have told me a long time ago. That's not it."

I thought about it for a moment.

'It's a dangerous thing to do.'

It's not Kim I-hyeon, but for Asam. It's much more than touching someone's appearance with a spell in a tent without worrying about being caught by others. If Manoj heard about it, he would reject it without a doubt.

But what if you are firm in your decision?

The method of agitating children is simple.

"I'm going to go get some fresh air and get some acclimation."

"Oh, yes. Have a nice trip!"

Kim Yi-hyeon got up from his seat. Before leaving the tent, he passed Assam and spoke quietly.

"Asam, I have something serious to talk about with you guys."

"Huh? Just guys?"

"Yeah, that's a man's conversation."

He also put in a lot of effort. As expected, Assam's eyes widened. The line was clean up to this point. He lightly patted her shoulder and went outside.

And wait for about 10 seconds.

"...What are you talking about?"

Easy, 13 years old.

* * *

There is no rule that says being poor means you can't get out of the sewer. It's just that your home has been seized or never existed in the first place, and you're stuck on the streets because you're being persecuted.

You won't be arrested for walking down a remote alley with few pedestrians. There are also some poor people who sleep on the streets instead of going into the sewers.

They walked silently for a moment. As soon as Kim Yi-hyeon stopped walking, Asam suddenly came forward.

"So what? Tell me now! Priya shouldn't hear it?"

As I felt before, he is very friendly.

To Assam, Kim I-Hyeon must have been a suspicious stranger. How could he be so wary of him at first, but now he follows him so obediently?

'Well, Priya was originally more aggressive.'

So I accepted it and sat down on the shaded sand. I tapped the seat next to me with my palm, and Asam sat down awkwardly next to me.

"I asked you a little while ago. What do I do?"

"Uh, yeah."

"I was wondering if it was okay to say this, huh."

As he made a serious expression, Assam's expression also stiffened. Since the reaction was immediate, it was easy to set the mood.

He opened his mouth as if confessing the secret of his birth.

"I am actually an agent of the Shiran Empire."

"What, what!? Shiran…!"

"Shh. Be quiet."

Kim Yi-hyeon pretended to look around hurriedly. There was no one looking in his direction. It was natural since he had already thoroughly checked everything.

"…Hey. That's ridiculous."

"Do you really think so?"

He put his hands into his loose sleeves. The old clothes that Manoj had given him before he had his face fixed. They were stained and worn-out, more suited to the poor than the usual T-shirts.

Then, [Ivory] was caught in my hand.

"Huh, gasp!"

Not an old revolver, but a modern automatic pistol. And Assam was a boy of the age who would be crazy about BB guns. It was obvious what was going through his head.

"...Well, take it as a half-joke."

He pretended to hide the gun back in his bosom and then got rid of it. Needless to say, everyone's gaze was focused on the spot where the gun had disappeared.

"You may be wondering why I came all the way here from such a far away land, but that's my call."

"Wh, what are you talking about? No, what are you talking about…?"

"You can speak freely as you always have."

"Oh, I see."

It was obvious that he was nervous. It was worth writing the spell.

"The guys who are currently occupying Kabarati. Ramaz is an organization I've been chasing for a long time. They used to be active in Atlanta, but they showed up in Banjar a while ago. Because of that, they've been having a lot of trouble."

Even when talking nonsense, you need to mix in some truth. When the specific place name was actually mentioned, Assam looked very convinced.

"And I finally got my chance. The guys don't know I'm undercover yet."

"…Colleagues? Don't you have any colleagues?"

"Because the city's defenses are strong."

"Then you're alone, sir. Those guys…."

Assam dropped his head without saying a word. He thought back to a few months ago. The day Ramaz invaded the city. Even though he hadn't seen it, the screams and explosions still rang in his ears.

"I'm so scared. I can't do anything by myself."

"Maybe so."

width.

Kim Ihyeon's hand was placed on Assam's head.

"But there's nothing we can do. In Atlanta, they massacred civilians. They shot people in the back who were crying out for help. Even if they're hiding their true nature now, I wonder how long this will last."

"...."

"The ones who are most at risk then are you."

It wasn't just a completely unfounded prediction.

What if the workers become lax? All you have to do is execute one or two poor people to make an example of them. It's like lubricating the rusty gears with the blood of the poor.

"Children like you shouldn't die like that. And neither should your father."

"...Why are you telling me such a secret?"

"Even if it was because of work, I got you involved."

He smiled once and added one more word.

"If I fail… you will have to protect your family with your own hands, Assam."

That's all for the conversation.

Kim Lee-hyun got up and dusted himself off. After telling them to go back, he walked ahead and counted the numbers.

It took exactly 7 seconds.

"Tongue, bro!"

A soft call. And the lines from my memory flowed out.

"I can help you."

Seriously, he's a pure guy.

* * *

11:14 PM, Kavaratti city.

The door of the unmarked building swung open. A long shadow fell across the sandy floor, and a man stepped out onto the street. He wiped his neck with a rag, and drops of blood came out.

"Sorry, sorry, ugh..."

A creaking sound was heard outside. It was a painful groan that would have sounded quite pitiful or even eerie to passersby. But Mithril, no, Raphael, paid no attention at all.

Our business is done.

As he began to leave, the adjutant hurried after him. He glanced at the building from which groans were still being heard, keeping an eye on Raphael.

"I'll do my best, okay? Please, just have mercy this once…."

This is one of the 'accommodations' assigned to the citizens of Kabarati. The proper houses have long since been taken over by the Ramaz soldiers. The natives stay in the designated facilities and perform assigned tasks.

And sometimes they get punished.

The punishment that the natives fear as much as the death penalty is demotion. If they make repeated mistakes and are judged to be useless, they lose their status as a 'worker'.

If you don't work, you don't have to feed yourself.

Not only are they evicted from their accommodations, they are also deprived of their right to receive food. They are also subjected to ridicule and persecution by their former colleagues.

Just now, one worker was lost and the number of rats increased. That was all.

"There's trash everywhere. No, I'd rather have trash. When it comes to things, you can see that they're obviously unusable, but you have to use them to know a person."

The man who just got demoted was a cargo inspector.

The commotion in the loading dock had already reached Raphael's ears. Suddenly, smoke was billowing out of nowhere, and there was news that a monster transporter and a soldier were locked up in the cargo hold.

It was ridiculously lax. The citizens had become accustomed to Ramaz. It must have been because they had been breathing too hard. It seemed like they would have to set a proper example soon.

Also, apart from the anger, there was something that bothered me.

"Where do you think the intruder came from?"

"A foreign spy somewhere… I guess the odds are low."

If you don't know Timorta, this is Kabarati. It's a place far from the border, before Naraka. It's a lawless area with no government or army, and it's rare for a country to send agents to it.

"Yes. If your goal is Naraka's resources, there's no reason to infiltrate here."

It may not be completely out of the blue, but it lends credence to another hypothesis.

"...Do you see me as a pursuer of the Legion?"

"I'm not sure, but it's something to keep in mind."

Banjar was an isolated land, for better or worse. Even though there was no need to worry about a large Legion force suddenly rushing in, it was difficult to monitor the situation from this side.

I just got one big piece of information from Timorta.

'How did I end up dying in Bastetira?'

When he heard about it, he was half-astonished. He didn't understand the details. However, the fact that his godmother had personally stepped in and failed shocked him.

At the same time, I felt relieved.

'It was a good thing I left early.'

It's not an expression I like very much, but I couldn't help but think about it. The Legion is beset by bad luck. Every effort they make ends meet is a failure, so it's easy to laugh in vain.

"Maybe this is an overreaction too."

"Is that so?"

"Just think about it, they've suffered more damage than you can imagine. The organization itself must be creaking. How can we afford to send precious personnel to deal with traitors?"

Ordinary soldiers alone are not very useful. Banjar is famous for its poor public security. It would be burdensome to send troops. That is why they fled here.

"But I can't just leave that woman alone because of her personality…."

Raphael thought as he spoke. He had a rough idea of ​​who would come.

"I guess it's Edwin."

"It's been a long time since I've heard from you. I had a personal fondness for you."

"I see. I think he's a stuffy guy."

"How should we respond?"

"Do it with the intention of killing, but don't kill him if you can."

The adjutant understood the contradictory instructions perfectly. Do not touch him. However, if you kill him, be prepared to be punished.

Even if it's absurd, there's nothing we can do about it.

"We should talk about it. I'm sure he has some complaints too."

"Yes, it would be a great help if he joins."

We walked down the street chatting.

Passersby are hardly seen. The morning in the desert is fast, and soldiers patrol at night. If you don't want to be criticized, it's better to sleep in the dorms.

That's why it's easy to get caught.

"There is someone following you."

"Shall I have him brought in?"

"No, look at the situation."

"We need to catch at least one rat," Raphael said in a whisper as he continued walking, maintaining his pace. He didn't even glance behind him.

It's getting closer and closer, and it's chasing me blatantly.

Unlike the sewer, the road we are passing through now has a simple structure. It starts as a wide road, then curves in the middle, and then curves again.

By the time we reached the third alley.

"...."

A man followed Raphael and his adjutant into the alley. But the two were nowhere to be seen. They had disappeared like a mirage on a summer night.

Then a shadow jumped down from the stair railing of the second floor building.

thud!

The heavy body that had fallen pinned the man down. He pressed his elbows against his spine as if he was going to break it at any moment. Raphael's skin was covered in jagged minerals.

The adjutant wasn't playing around either. He was hiding behind the stall when he suddenly aimed his gun.

"The tailing is sloppy. Let's go and take a look at your face."

Raphael grabbed the man by the hair and lifted him up forcibly. He looked at his face for a moment, then frowned.

"Drunk, drunk! Ugh! Ugh..."

"What the hell is this kid doing?"

Thud, thud!

He repeatedly struck the cheek of the sleeping man. Even though he didn't use much force, the man's skin was torn. The sharp mineral embedded itself in his cheek and fell out, sending drops of blood flying out.

"Ugh, ugh! What, what? What, ahh!"

"Are you coming to your senses now?"

"Why, ugh! Why are you doing this? Why should I…!"

"That seems like a very unfair reaction. Are you going to make an excuse that you were sleepwalking? Huh?"

Only when half of my face was covered in blood did my hands stop. The man whose name I didn't know cover his cheek with his whole body shaking. He didn't even show any sign of getting up, just gasping for breath.

The adjutant then approached and lowered his gun, directly in the direction of the man's head.

"Shall we handle it?"

"No, take him to the concentration camp. Find out who instigated this."

"All right."

"There are all kinds of people with all kinds of shortcomings."

Raphael exhaled deeply. The mineral covering his body began to disappear without a trace. It took less than five seconds for his entire body's skin to return to its original state.

The moment he turned his back, Raphael witnessed.

Right nearby. About 10 meters away.

A scene where a gun barrel suddenly pops out from under an abandoned tent.