Just a few minutes ago, Mr. Song had eavesdropped on Seung's conversation with the director. Anxiety gripped his heart, pounding erratically. He knew Seijin's request would push Seung back onto the dangerous path, one he had barely escaped from. Determined to prevent this, he hailed a taxi to the W.H.A headquarters.
"I will be allowed to meet him because I am not a random stranger," he reassured himself as the taxi sped through the bustling city.
[Inside the Building]
A firm knock echoed through the President's office.
"Come in," the man said without looking up from his newspaper. He found solace in either enlarging his muscles or reading the news during his leisure time. Despite his age, he remained vigorous.
A slender woman in a pink suit, her hair neatly styled in a bun, entered with measured grace. She clasped her hands together at her abdomen, her gaze respectfully lowered.
"Good afternoon, President Park," she greeted. "Mr. Song Minseok seeks an audience with you."
The President's jaw dropped, eyes widening. The newspaper slipped from his hand as he stood abruptly.
"He's at the headquarters right now?" he asked, surprise giving way to excitement. The recent months had brought little to stir his emotions like the news of his former colleague being alive.
"Don't be too surprised, Colonel Park," said a slow-paced, raspy voice approaching the door. "Or must I address you as the president now?"
The woman exited quietly at the President's command. The two men, reunited after many years, exchanged warm pleasantries.
A few moments later, they were seated on opposite couches, a table holding two steaming cups of coffee between them. The rising steam lent a cozy warmth to the room.
Mr. Song had served directly under President Park in the military. Park, a Colonel, and Song, a Lieutenant Colonel, had been renowned for their seamless cooperation and successful operations. But the military field had changed after most soldiers became Awakeneds. The once-bustling headquarters stood empty, with the world now at war with monsters. Mr. Song had chosen to protect his family and the Lee children, opting for a quieter life.
"The... the boy is a Hunter now?!" President Park exclaimed, spilling his coffee. His cheeks drained of color. "Of all things in the world, why would you allow him to choose that? Don't you know how dangerous it is for him?"
Mr. Song sighed deeply. "His family's breakdown affected him profoundly. He doesn't trust anyone and makes decisions on his own. He's trying to save his sister with something dangerous, and he's even in a sickbed right now. On top of everything, he has lost an arm!"
His voice grew louder and more tense. The concern in his eyes was palpable. It was natural for someone to want to save their loved ones, but Seung saw it as a way of repenting for a sin he thought he had committed.
During the human-against-monster war, his mother had been killed trying to save him, and his father had suffered a similar fate. Mr. Song witnessed it all. He had wanted to do more than just cover the Colonel and save the kids; he had wanted to crush the monster's heart.
Little Seung and his sister had been found at a dumping site a month after they ran away, their bodies dark with dirt. The sister was unconscious and diagnosed with food poisoning, while Seung was healthy, indicating he had been fed while his sister ate rotten food. Seung must have blamed himself for that too.
Mr. Song pleaded, "I have a favor to ask. Please. I am making this request as Seung's family, not just as his benefactor."
"Do you mean...?"
"Yes," he responded immediately. "I know there's a law that mandates you, as the President, to delist a Hunter if their family members ask for it. Now, I am making that request. Please, remove Lee Seung from the hunting field. I want him to live a typical and happy life like his peers. He has a lot to do with his teenage life."
[Later in Seung's Ward]
Seung stood by the window of his ward, a somber expression etched on his face. He gazed outside, silently. The pain in his stomach and the stress coursing through his joints had completely subsided, thanks to the AI system.
He thought about the death of his C-rank teammates, recalling their brief happy moments and their painful last moments. Tears streamed down his face as he remembered how hard they had tried to stay alive and protect everyone else, only to have their lives end in the blink of an eye. He wondered how responsible the tech inside him could have been if it had empowered him before the first person died.
"No," he nodded, sniffing. "None of them deserved that kind of ending. They were all nice. Even though Jiwoo needed her dagger most, she gave it to me to protect myself. Should that have been their fate, nature?!"
His composure was slipping. Anger surged as he wondered why nature was unfair to everyone now, not just him.
Seung sniffed again and wiped the tears away, then walked back to the bed and laid down.
[At Midnight]
The ward was dark, and Seung's loud snores filled the room. The gigantic silver moon danced in the dark clouds, its divine light faintly illuminating the sky. The city was quiet, except for the barking of stray dogs and other restless animals.
In the hospital ward, the screen turned on above Seung's body, its bluish light casting on him.
[The time is 5:00 AM.]
[Mutant is required to carry out mandatory daily missions. Once the countdown is met, you'll be transported to the Domain for intense training.]
[10,9,8,7,6...]
Seung woke up with a start. "I think I heard someone speak to me," he shouted.
He was surprised to see the display on the screen. It was similar to the mechanical male voice he had heard in his sleep, stern and devoid of emotions.
[5,4,3,2,1...]