Chapter 167
Seo Jihyuk stood guarding the escape pod boarding area like a sentry. Would he issue the same cold dismissal to Tumanako as he did to Carlos? I was curious if I’d be rejected like Carlos or Tumanako if I asked Seo Jihyuk the same question about the escape pods, or if I’d be treated differently for being Korean.
But what good would it do to confirm that I’m treated differently in this disaster situation? If Seo Jihyuk were to chase Tumanako away and tell me to take the escape pod, it would be perfect for negatively impacting my mental state when I look back on this incident later. Even now, guilt is rising like a cumulus cloud.
And who am I to observe someone in difficulty with malicious curiosity and judge their actions? I intervened before Seo Jihyuk could answer Tumanako.
“The escape pods here are all damaged, so we shouldn’t board them.”
Tumanako was startled and asked me back.
“Really? Doesn’t having 4 pods left mean that others have left and these 4 remain?”
“Yes. Everyone who’s left in these escape pods will die.”
I felt all the gazes around me turn towards me. Especially Carlos’s eyes seemed ready to shoot lasers. The stares piercing my back and the back of my head made my skin tingle. I wonder why gazes feel heavy. Is it because of the instincts left from when we used to hunt and run across fields?
The hair designer, who didn’t seem to grasp the significance of not being able to escape immediately from West District, asked in a carefree voice.