Anything felt uncertain when trapped in this kind of darkness. It was terrifying, to be honest. A normal person would choose death over enduring so much pain and living in fear. With such limited senses, there was nothing to do except wait for death.
Even death sounded less frightening at this point.
Uk braced himself, tied to a pole in the pitch-black room. He had no idea how long he had been there, his mind consumed with only one thought.
Is everyone alright?
His concern for Myung Yu's safety gradually grew. Guilt seeped into his thoughts. If only he hadn't persuaded her to dig deeper into the town, they would probably be on their way to the North by now, with ease. He could have ended the journey early, in time to be with Min Jun for their trip to China.
Thinking about Min Jun made his chest tighten. Another fear surfaced.
Will I ever see Min Jun again?
"I know a harsh approach won't work on you. You can take as many blows as we give; torture means nothing to a man like you..."
Uk lifted his head slowly. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness after being here for so long. He could make out the silhouette of a man, judging by his clothing. The voice brought back memories, but the horrors of the past had made Uk bury those thoughts deep within.
"If we can't kill the body, we'll kill the mind. In my opinion, that's even more terrifying than being stabbed to death. Don't you agree?" The man stepped forward into the faint light. Uk could only stare. In his condition, fighting or even yelling seemed impossible.
"You look younger than when we served together in the army..."
"How do you know? You left before me," Uk replied. The man chuckled, leaning closer.
"Your face was the last thing I saw before falling asleep every night, at every station, every camp. How could I forget, my old roommate?" the man smiled.
"You've changed..."
"I changed long before I left, Uk. No one noticed, but I think you did. That's why you had me dismissed before I could finish my service."
"I did it for your own good, Jun Pyo..."
"You created a monster, Uk. Do you think your actions were noble? My dismissal was nothing but a nightmare!"
"So, you would've preferred that I let the officers hang you for treason? I still had humanity and respect for you as my friend. That's why I had you discharged early, before anyone could take action against you!" Uk's stern voice echoed through the darkness.
"You made a mistake letting me go. Do you regret it?" Jun Pyo asked, a sinister smile forming on his lips.
Uk stared at him, heart heavy with regret. Jun Pyo had once been a good man, but greed had blinded him, leading him to betray his comrades. He had abandoned a battle, leaving the platoon to be slaughtered. Uk himself had been captured and tortured for months before being rescued. When he found out about Jun Pyo's betrayal, he kept the information hidden, arranging for his release under the guise of mental health issues post-war.
But deep down, Uk knew it was just an excuse to get him out before his actions were exposed.
Now, here Jun Pyo stood, a traitor once again, working for a corrupt governor for his own gain.
"Jun Pyo, have you ever felt any remorse? Are you even human?" Uk asked weakly. Jun Pyo shrugged, then chuckled.
"I am human, Uk. A human who needs to survive. I hated being poor. No money, no power... No one cares about you when you have nothing!" Jun Pyo explained, his eyes gleaming. "I'm willing to do anything for that."
"Even crush your own dignity?"
Uk's question made Jun Pyo pause. His eyes darkened, glaring at the half-dead man who still had the strength to speak with such conviction. Slowly, Jun Pyo leaned in closer, tilting his head to stare directly into Uk's eyes.
"You're still clinging to your dignity? What has it gotten you? Has it given you power? Wealth?" Jun Pyo sneered. "Your dignity is what brought you here, tied up like an animal, waiting to die in the name of loyalty to the Kingdom. How noble of you."
Uk gave him a weak smile. Not because he felt hurt by Jun Pyo's words, but because he was devastated. He had once known Jun Pyo as a brave, honest man. Now, he had drifted so far, lost to greed and power, his humanity drowned.
Jun Pyo had become the very thing Uk had feared.
"Jun Pyo... Living with modesty can bring happiness. This path you've chosen isn't worth it. You're losing yourself. If you keep going, there'll be no turning back..." Uk's voice was filled with sorrow as he watched his former friend.
"I have nothing to lose, Uk. With what I have now, I can always escape. I can start over anywhere I want. I don't have a family, nothing to lose," Jun Pyo replied calmly.
Uk felt a pang of sadness. It was true—Jun Pyo had no one. Neither did he...
"I'll let you rest. Just hang on for a few more days, and then all the pain will be over. I'll make sure you're remembered for your bravery," Jun Pyo said, patting Uk's sunken cheek. "That's what you wanted, right? To be noble, with dignity..."
Jun Pyo smirked as he left Uk alone in the darkness. Uk sighed, his heart heavy. He didn't cry; there was no point. He wasn't sorry for Jun Pyo's choices, but deep down, he regretted not helping him more. Maybe if he had guided him better, Jun Pyo wouldn't have fallen so far.
If only I could've stopped him. He could've learned what was right. Now, he's chosen hell over heaven. There's no future for him now.
Uk bowed his head, silently asking for God's forgiveness. The weight of leadership pressed down on him. Being a leader wasn't just about giving orders—it was a lifetime of responsibility. And when things went wrong, there was no escape from the consequences.
As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, a sound suddenly caught his attention. It was faint, like a clicking noise, coming from above. Uk hesitated, unsure. Slowly, he raised his head, straining his eyes to see.
A figure stared down at him through the darkness, its gaze cold and menacing. With a slow motion, it flashed a dagger at Uk, waiting for his moment to grab the man from above. And in a flash move, the figure jumped down, landing right in front of Uk with a stealthy move.
Uk's heart jumped in his chest upon seeing that. His mind had mixed feeling by now.