Chapter 313
"...I don't quite remember what happened next.
I regained consciousness only after black chains had tightly bound me. Uijae blinked his eyes as he knelt on the hot ground. It was so hot and dry that it was hard to breathe—eyes, nose, mouth, throat. He looked around. A circle of bright red flames surrounded him.
'It's so hot...'
Sweat dripped down his jaw. Ash and sparks flew around. Tick, tick, scarlet sparks landed right in front of his knees and fizzled out. Uijae lifted his head. Beyond the shimmering haze, three people were standing. It was Honeybee, Matthew, and Jeong Bin. The sharp tip of a rapier was pointed precisely at Uijae. Their conversation was a faint murmur.
"...It's okay, he's tied up properly..."
"If he acts up again..."
"As long as he's chained, he can't."
Jeong Bin approached. Part of the circle of fire surrounding them died down. Uncharacteristically, he was covered in wounds, his hair unkempt, and even his right cheek was swollen red. Jeong Bin knelt on one knee and met Uijae's gaze.
"Mr. J, do you recognize who I am?"
Uijae slowly nodded his head. Even nodding was difficult. Jeong Bin took a handkerchief from inside his suit jacket and wiped the sweat from Uijae's nape.
"Now that you're conscious, I'll explain. This is the underground dungeon at Jongno 3-ga, and you, Mr. J, started a riot right after you escaped from the dungeon. Honeybee tried to stop you, but it was too much for her alone, so Matthew and I were contacted, and we subdued you."
"...A riot?"
"Yes, a riot."
Honeybee burst in angrily.
"What riot, you're talking nonsense. Complete nonsense!"
"Honeybee, watch your language."
"Watch what? Look, J! I appreciate the rescue, but going berserk like a mad dog as soon as we got back isn't acceptable. There were researchers and Gaeul there, you know?"
"......"
"What the hell were you―"
Thump, a large hand covered Honeybee's mouth. Matthew, holding Honeybee's mouth shut, quietly stepped back. His mouth was parched. Every breath felt like his throat was burning. It was too hot and... dry here. As Uijae's breathing grew harsher, Jeong Bin carefully grasped his chin to keep his head steady. Soon, he let out a small sigh.
"...Is it too hot? I didn't think of that. I was only thinking of keeping you restrained... I'm sorry."
"Is it that hot?"
"Right now, Mr. J, you're in a pre-awakened state. It's hard for a normal person to endure these flames. I'm sorry, but Mr. J. We'll transfer you to the Awakened Management Bureau."
Jeong Bin effortlessly lifted Uijae up. Having control of his body taken away didn't feel good. It felt like being treated like luggage. Uijae barely held onto his fading vision and asked.
"...What about Sa-young?"
No answer came back. Silence was the response. Uijae clenched his teeth.
***
Uijae stared at the conical lamp hanging alone from the ceiling, the sole source of light in the dark, cramped room. It was the interrogation ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) room of the Awakened Management Bureau.
Jeong Bin had immediately shoved Uijae into the interrogation room upon their arrival at the bureau and then disappeared, leaving behind just a request to wait. Fortunately, the chains had been removed, but judging by the orderly footsteps beyond the door, it seemed guards had been stationed outside.
'Being treated like a complete dangerous element.'
Waiting quietly was the only option. He didn’t want to tire out the unfortunate civil servants. While waiting for Jeong Bin, the door opened several times; one of the officials entered, handed over a statement form and a pen, and left. One of the forms appeared to be already filled out by someone else, probably the junior member of the research team, while the other was blank.
“When will Team Leader Jeong be back?”
“He went to report to the director... I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”
Uijae quietly nodded and took the pen. The pre-filled statement... it seemed to have been written by a bandit from the research team. Uijae quickly scanned through it. It detailed precisely and densely the reasons for opening the Memorial Dungeon gate. But that wasn’t important. What happened right after they emerged was crucial.
After a moment, Uijae found the section he was looking for.
[...Hunter Honeybee had exited when the portal was stable, but it started to fluctuate and began to shrink when an unnamed female student exited. Following Hunter J's escape, the portal vanished. Hunter Sa-young was not seen. Total returnees: three. The mana stone used as the energy source was confirmed to be depleted. It seems all the energy was consumed.]
[...Upon confirming the portal's disappearance, Hunter J began to beat the walls. Hunter Honeybee tried to stop him, but a scuffle broke out, escalating to the point where weapons were drawn...]
[...Team Leader Jeong and Hunter Matthew intervened, and the three of them subdued Mr. J. However, it wasn't intentional on Mr. J's part. The professor mentioned that brief mental disorientation could occur immediately after portal travel. We can also show you the research results. Please consider this...]
The document continued with content defending J. It argued that Mr. J certainly didn't intend to cause destruction and that he had reacted violently due to not being able to adapt to the sudden change of situation.
Uijae wasn’t sure whether to feel grateful or sorry as he fiddled with his leather gloves. One black leather glove. A proof that he had met Sa-young but had failed to bring him back.
He had failed to bring Sa-young with him.
Uijae sighed softly. He vividly remembered Sa-young’s last words.
“I can't go.”
Was there a reason Sa-young had said he couldn’t go? Was something holding him back?
Just then, the door opened. It was Honeybee. She was dressed in a black tank top and leather pants, her exposed arms and face covered in plasters and bandages, some showing dark bruises underneath – likely all injuries from subduing Uijae. Uijae bowed his head meekly like a convict. Honeybee looked at him with cold eyes and crossed her arms.
“Are you sane now? Has your head cooled off?”
Uijae silently nodded. Honeybee slammed the door shut and slumped into the chair opposite, crossing her legs.
“I’ve heard the basics from the researchers. That weird, blurry person was you? The one who choked Sa-young and spoke strange Russian?”
There was no one else that could be. Uijae nodded.
“...Yes, probably.”
“Well, I’m thankful for being rescued. I was wondering how long I’d be locked up.”
“......”
“But that’s separate from this. Why did you go berserk earlier? Were you really trying to destroy the dungeon?”
“...I’m really sorry, but I don’t remember.”
“Seriously? Even rushing at me like you were going to kill me?”
“Yes.”
“And trying to break my rapier with your hands, punching Jeong Bin in the face when he tried to stop you, kicking Matthew in the solar plexus?”
Cold sweat ran down his back. Had he really done those things? No wonder Jeong Bin’s cheek had been swollen red. Apologizing a hundred times wouldn’t be enough. Uijae shrunk into himself like a turtle.
“...I don’t remember any of it. I’m sorry.”
“Jeez, I thought you were really crazy.”
“...I’m sorry.”
“Let’s call it even with the rescue.”
Honeybee then leaned back and asked,
“That kid, Sa-young, didn’t come out?”
“......”
“That glove is Sa-young’s, right? You only came out with the glove?”
“...I tried to bring him. But at the last minute... he said he couldn’t come.”
“What? Sa-young must be crazy. What do you mean he can’t go!”
Honeybee scowled. Exactly, Uijae thought. He fiddled with the leather glove, trying to soothe his sinking mood, though it wasn’t much help. Honeybee twirled her hair thoughtfully.
“Shouldn’t we get him out too? Can’t we reopen the closed door?”
“We need to ask the research team. It’s written here that the mana stone used as the energy source was depleted.”
“Tch, nothing’s ever easy.”
A shadow passed over Honeybee’s face.
“If he stays there too long, he’ll go crazy...”
“What do you mean?”
“Ah, well...”
It was at that moment.
Whiiiiing— A threateningly loud siren blared. Honeybee jumped up and flung the door open. The hallway was flashing with red lights. She grabbed a flustered hunter by the door and demanded,
“What’s going on? Is there a problem?”
“Uh, we don’t really...!”
“Stop dawdling. Give me the radio!”
Honeybee snatched the hunter’s radio and put it to her ear. Amid static, a frantic voice came through.
"...A mutant has emerged! All combat-ready personnel to the 14th floor..."
Uijae's head snapped up. Mutants at the Awakened Management Bureau. Jeong Bin, who had been mauled to death by a team member.