Two weeks after returning from a long-term deployment.
Leila, who happened to be staying at the lab, welcomed an unexpected guest.
"With Mr. Hyun's introduction?"
Even though it was my first time meeting the two who appeared to be siblings, I didn't feel particularly wary. They weren't the type to be shy or reject others, and the trust that came with the name 'Hyeon' was strong.
Rather, I was also curious.
"That's unusual. Is this the first time you've sent someone like this?"
"Really? Every time you go out, don't you pick up a few from somewhere?"
"Because you brought most of them yourself. Mr. Hyun also has a strong desire for talent."
"Then that means these two aren't suitable for Hyun's eyes… Okay, I'll keep quiet."
Pablo, who was habitually rude, immediately zipped his mouth. Perhaps it was because the world had become so harsh. Leila was able to reprimand him with much harsher eyes than before.
Turkam stepped forward with a look that required explanation.
"Oh, that's right. It's a bit of a stretch to call it a dispatch of personnel."
Turkam turned his gaze to the Silvas siblings. Clara had not mutated during the journey, perhaps due to the effects of the medicine Kim Yi-hyeon had given her. Aside from the fact that she was sweating coldly, her condition was stable.
"I'm Bodick Silvas. This is my younger sister, Clara."
"Hello…."
"Yes, nice to meet you. Feel free to call me Leila."
It was a bit awkward to leave the two of them alone and make a separate room. Turkam took out the letter he had brought. In fact, it was more of a folded note than a letter, but it worked fine.
"If you read it, you will understand the situation."
"Thank you for passing it on, Mr. Turkam."
Leila, who had asked for understanding, began to read the note. For a moment, she wondered why she had even written a letter. The more her eyes rolled, the more her expression hardened.
At the end of the reading, Leila's face became even more serious.
"I see. I'm glad all three of you made it here safely. Clara in particular must have been very scared, but you held on well. I guess it was thanks to your brother's strength."
"Huh? No, I...."
It wasn't a completely wrong statement. In fact, Clara was terrified and confused every day, not knowing when she would turn into a monster. But there was a bigger emotion than that.
It was a feeling of guilt.
"…I'm not the one who needs to be comforted."
I was tricked by a broker and consumed the larvae. I couldn't overcome my inferiority complex and impulses, so I did something stupid, and my response was even worse. I knew I was infected, but I ignored it and ended up ruining everything.
I harmed civilians, and most importantly, I ruined my brother's life. I thought it would have been better to die, but I didn't have the courage to kill myself. I'm still shamelessly alive and here.
'It couldn't have been easy.'
It is assumed that there was some kind of backdoor operation leading up to the expulsion.
How many people have I caused trouble to?
Just as Clara blamed me, Kim Yi-hyun also had no human kindness toward her. Of course, the broker was the culprit behind the situation, but there is no room for defense in the part where he hid the fact that she was infected.
If you look at it from an individual perspective, it's understandable, but it's only an individual. Kim Lee-hyun was in a position where he had to make decisions based on the city's security rather than on a player from a second-division league he didn't even know.
And yet, Leila said this:
"There is no one in this world who should not be comforted."
The tone was faintly bitter.
To Leila, all living beings on the continent that had been swept by the catastrophe were victims. Everyone had the right to feel wronged and angry because they had been caught up in the absurdity. She truly believed that.
"You don't have to blame yourself too much. This world is hard for everyone, so we tend to become insensitive to other people's pain. That's why you have to be able to take care of yourself more than anyone else."
The Silvas siblings' faces turned blank. It seemed that they had not expected such a serious answer. Leila felt embarrassed for no reason and scratched her reddened cheek.
"Ahaha. I might have been off-topic."
"…No, I was impressed."
"Thank you for your kind words. By the way, um. I don't think I can take you straight to your lodgings because of your circumstances. I know you must be tired from coming such a long way, but could you cooperate with me for a moment?"
Aluminum, no, Bodik exchanged glances with Clara. Soon, the two nodded. The Cellbrotics Lab that they had only heard of through word of mouth. The malicious rumors that had spread throughout the world gradually faded from their minds.
"Thank you. First, please get a quick medical checkup, and then stop by the personnel department…."
Even when talking about business, there are people who seem particularly kind and warm. Leila was one of them. Her colorful smile had the power to break down psychological barriers between her and others.
I was on my way out after finishing a detailed examination.
"Oh, professor."
"Leila. You're here."
I met a professor walking down the hallway, holding a mug. The fragrant scent of coffee spread as steam rose. In stark contrast to her pure white skin, the freckles around her eyes were dark.
"You're up at this hour?"
"What time is it now…."
"It's 3:15. It's still afternoon."
"Isn't this a good time? Usually."
"These days, the professor's lifestyle is not ordinary."
"That's true."
Leila sighed helplessly at the sight of her exhausted face.
"Were you in the video room all night again today?"
"Yeah. I was looking back at the last operation log."
"It's good to work, but you should rest when it's time to rest."
"There are things you can only do when you're resting. In a way, I guess you could say I'm resting better than anyone else."
Leila's eyes lit up at the ridiculous sophistry. She was about to start swearing at him, but barely managed to hold herself back. The professor's gaze was glaring behind her.
"Who are you two? The new agents?"
"No, that's not true. I came here because Mr. Hyun introduced me…."
"Hyeon?"
When their eyes met, Bodik swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
'...what?'
It was a strange impression. He didn't care about his haggard appearance due to staying up all night. His eyes were deep and calm, which didn't match his young appearance. It was a different kind of calmness from the Kim Lee Hyun I had met before.
Bodik had come into contact with many people from various classes. That was why he could clearly understand the identity of the feeling he was feeling now. It was a sense of caution that was far from being favorable.
This is the type you shouldn't let your guard down.
It was right after I had come to a conclusion in my head.
"It's nice to meet you. If this is Hyun's introduction, there must be some complicated circumstances, so let's talk about the details next time in a calmer setting. After you've become a little more accustomed to this place."
And I completely lost interest in both of them.
"By the way, Leila. Did you tell Turkam what I said?"
"Huh? What?"
"That's what Hyun requested. The prototype was completed a while ago."
"Oh! That's right. He went to rest, so I'll have to let you know later."
It was as if he wasn't even in her sights. Leila smiled bitterly at the attitude that seemed cold, but didn't directly point it out. The past two years had been a period when anyone could have changed.
However, the professor's change was essentially different from that of others.
Like wiping a dusty mirror, she was just going back to how she was before. Intelligent, cool-headed, and yet still caring for those within the fence.
It was an effect that brought back some of the memories.
The professor took a sip of coffee and opened his mouth.
"It's been quite a while since I last saw Hyun."
"Because it's so hard to make time for each other."
"I wish I could stop by Cilicia sometime."
"I really need to contact him. Mr. Hyun might not be home at the moment."
The professor smiled faintly. Even as he regained his former appearance, his admiration for Kim Yi-hyeon remained. Among the fragments of memories he had vaguely held onto, there was no one similar to him.
Hyun was a special breed in many ways.
"yes."
They didn't know it.
The day we meet again is not as far away as I thought.
* * *
Saaaaaaaa―
The corpses of the parasites, charred black as charcoal, began to disintegrate. Fine particles dissolved into the air. Only after confirming that they had been killed without exception did Kim Yi-Hyun put down the axe handle.
"It seems like it's over. You've worked hard."
"Hyun-do, you've worked hard. Chelsea and Edwin too."
"I always think that Mr. Edwin really does have a hard time, really."
"Is that so? I don't feel like it's particularly difficult."
The attention of the operation team was focused on Edwin, who answered nonchalantly. Not only Chelsea, who was always fussing about everything, but even Kim I-hyeon had a sour look on his face. This was because the guy was acting like a piece of shit.
As I take on the role of the vanguard, I end up getting covered in bodily fluids every time. The stuck pieces of internal organs disappear when the parasite dies, but the blood that has already soaked my clothes doesn't come off.
In addition, Edwin himself was bleeding just like the parasite. He was covered in a thick blue and red liquid, and it reeked. I felt sorry for having overworked him.
"I don't have the same abilities as you, so I just use my body."
"I think a person who gets stabbed, kicked, and stepped on without his voice shaking is more amazing."
"I say this over and over again, but I'm also in pain."
"Edwin is also a pillar of our company, yes."
As a character who changed the game, Edwin makes fighting much easier. Tanks that don't die more than a complete parasite are rare, if not unique.
"Anyway, it turned out to be simpler than I thought."
"That's right. It's much more comfortable than going alone."
Today, I was out of the city. It was because of a request from the council. They urgently contacted me with news that many eggs had appeared near the city, and Dustborn stepped in to deal with them.
The police also sent personnel after assessing the risk of the operation.
They followed along, but unfortunately, they never stepped forward.
"Let's go back right away. It's uncomfortable to rest like this."
"Huh? Oh. Oh, I see."
"Or is there anything else I need to check separately?"
"No! Not at all. Let's go back like this."
"Okay, I understand. You've worked hard too."
Did you have a hard time? I don't remember doing anything.
The commander of the police force followed Kim Yi-hyeon's back as he walked toward the vehicle, his eyes blank. What he had just seen felt like a hallucination. It was such an unrealistic battle.
"They said you were an expert in parasite warfare…."
The commander let out a hollow laugh at the mutterings of one of his subordinates. They didn't really use any novel methods to exploit the Parasite's weaknesses. They just suppressed it with overwhelming force.
'Is it a parasite or a swindler? Does it matter?'
I will show an outrageous performance no matter what opponent I fight.
To exaggerate a little, wouldn't it be possible to stand up to the state?
'It's fortunate that we're allies.'
If the day comes when we have to face them.
At that time, it seemed like I should seriously think about retirement.
* * *
July 2, 2047.
It's been three days since I returned from dealing with the egg. Now that I've taken care of the big case, I can enjoy my vacation without worrying about Bryce or Echidna.
'Even so, all I did was train.'
Why would he do something so carefree? It was a city overflowing with all sorts of entertainment, but that had nothing to do with Kim I-hyeon. It was hard to take up strange hobbies because he had such a great teacher.
It just allows you to train with a more relaxed mind.
The trainees' recent status is not bad either. Yudahee has become somewhat more serious, and Leone's excessive venom has somewhat diminished. Judging by their rapid growth, it seems that the day they will be deployed for operations is not far off.
I also wander around the streets with Asterike.
Sometimes Chelsea plays with Sarah when she brings her home.
It was a time when I was living a relatively leisurely life.
"Huh? A signal has arrived from the safe house of the Cellbrox Lab?"
"What signal?"
"They said they were coming this way?"
The evening of the day I received the report from Echidna.
Three vehicles belonging to the rap group passed through a checkpoint in Cilicia.
"...Mr. Hyun."
Leila, who had been reunited with me for the first time in a long time, told me the news with a dark expression on her face.
"The director has been taken away."
This is the beginning of the main episode.