211 – The Returner Endures (8)
“Awaken! “Awaken!”
-What is this? She looks like the girl I saw on the news this morning.
-I don’t know hahahaha. I’m currently in the middle of an arrest speed run.
-Oh… It’s a bit to my taste…
-Pedoim?
-No;; My brother’s side;;
-?
The number of viewers watching the live performance is already about 5,000. The initial number of viewers was only around 10, but thanks to someone attracting aggro from the community, the number of viewers quickly increased.
“The government! Apologize! “Pay compensation!”
“… “I didn’t teach you to pay compensation.”
Areum takes off her ribbon and passionately cries out for apology and compensation. Rather than really wanting someone to compensate, this situation just seems like fun.
Anyway, it’s been 30 minutes since the broadcast started. It is certain that a report was made to the police, and the ‘government’ I was dealing with must have been aware of my actions. Maybe they’re investigating what that guy is doing. Unfortunately, I am an illegal immigrant.
-No, so what do you mean by apologizing and compensating? Don’t just yell, talk.
Just then, a productive question came up in the chat window. This is also the question I was waiting for.
“Everyone. Wasn’t it strange to see the face of a missing child plastered all over our country’s media? Have you ever seen something like that in your life?”
-That’s right.
-I think it’s a bit too much of a fuss.
-Isn’t this something like the daughter of a government official? Are you a kidnapper?
“No. If that had been the case, specific details of the new information would have also been spread. Does anyone know who this girl is?”
-How do we know that?
-So what do you want to say?
“This girl… It’s the government’s fault. No, he is a child who holds a truth that should never be revealed. “Aren’t you curious?”
-??
-Is the drip real?
– For now, it is being recorded.
-So what is that shame?
“That’s… “
-What about that?
-What about that?
“I will tell you when more viewers gather.
-Are you crazy lol?
-Oh hahahaha
-I’m about to be arrested by the police, but I’m being pushed around lol.
To the people watching the broadcast, it was said as if it was a joke or as if it was being dragged out for the sake of aggro… This is my message to the government.
I know the truth. I am threatening you. Come quickly. Otherwise, I will expose everything.
Of course I don’t know anything. Whether it is the truth or not, this is the one who needs to find out the information. However, on the outside, he maintains a poker face and acts as if he wants something.
More than that, how long should this behavior continue? The police will be here soon. I hope I get some bites soon…
“Wait a minute!”
The moment I thought that, I saw a woman who had just gotten off a taxi and was quickly running in this direction. She holds a large briefcase in her arms, and thanks to the glasses on her face, she looks very smart.
“Reporter! I’m a reporter! I can help… “
“Wait a minute.”
But even faster than that, men in casual clothes surrounded me. These are the faces in my memory. Are they the people who arrested me at the amusement park?
“… “
“… “
Even though sturdy men surrounded me, I was not scared at all and calmly operated the pad to turn off the broadcast, then handed it to the man.
“The broadcast has been turned off.”
“… “
“I’d like to have a conversation…” Is it possible? Ah, the condition is that Areum and I must be together.”
“… Wait.”
A man receiving instructions through in-ears that are so small that you can’t even notice them unless you look closely. The man’s expression, which was expressionless at first, gradually became distorted. The man lets out a long sigh and briefly bows his head to me.
“… “Please come this way.”
“Wait! Wait for a sec! You! This is okay! “I’m a reporter, a reporter!”
The man guided us to a black van. I could faintly hear the voice of the reporter I had seen earlier through the human barrier, but this was more urgent right now.
“Oh, brother… “
Areum is squeezing my hand tightly as if she is anxious.
“Just trust me.”
From now on, you must come to your senses.
**
The running van stops. After inspecting the people inside, the armed soldier saluted and walked away.
“… “
It is a mountain in my memory. To be exact, it is the mountain I ran away to with Areum in the first episode. Did I jump into the jaws of a tiger in the first episode? The thing about using snipers is… It seems they misunderstood it as an intruder.
“You must wear an eye patch from here on.”
“Have you already seen the way here?”
“The facility will be relocated anyway. “It’s because of the members’ faces.”
“… “Is it allowed to go out with Areum?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
I held Areum’s hand tightly and got out of the car. Even if you are blindfolded, it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything due to magical power.
As I walked frantically along the dizzy passage (even going in circles on purpose), my blindfold soon came off and I saw a room where an old man was waiting.
“Let’s go in.”
“… Brother.”
“It’s okay. Let’s go.”
The room was decorated like a home. To be exact, it looked like a set prepared entirely out of the master bedroom of a home.
The old man, who was reading a large stack of papers in front of him, noticed that we had entered and immediately asked a question.
“Where do you belong?”
“… ?”
“We searched through all government databases. We even had AI inspect all possible CCTV footage. As a result, the teacher… It has never been recorded. As if it rose out of the ground. This is impossible without professional skills. So again, where do you belong?”
“… “
As I remained silent, the old man shook his head and stood up. Areum, startled by the sound of a chair being dragged, leans closer to me.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Well, I honestly don’t care where you belong. When a weakness has been discovered, it is meaningless to question the identity of the person who caught the weakness. However, I would like to say that Korea is willing to join forces. No, more accurately, it should be said that it is a willingness to share the results.”
An old man holding out the paper he was reading.
“Seeing as you accurately identified Areum’s escape route… You must have been paying attention to this base for quite some time. I don’t know how much information you know, but we will tell you everything first. “I hope you know that we are sincere.”
The title of the paper I received said, ‘Measures to utilize ‘Zeta’, a force naturally occurring inside the human body.’
I skimmed through the paper and read the contents… This report dealt with a force that was very familiar to me.
“… mana.”
“I guess they call it magic power.”
People who studied magical power. A girl who was detained. Carefully, very carefully, I breathed magic into my eyes and looked closely at Areum… A trace of magical energy could be seen floating around her heart. No, it is not a small amount. Because they don’t know how to contain their magic power, the magic power they generate keeps escaping to the surroundings.
“Isn’t it amazing? Depending on how this power is utilized, it can become a burning flame, flowing water, or a flashing electric current. Just like stem cells, which are the source of all cells, the source of all substances is an unknown force. This power… “It will become humanity’s future food.”
“… “What did you do to Areum?”
“Nothing was done. Didn’t really do anything. I’m just harvesting little by little this unknown power escaping from her. For that… Your identity is being held for a bit. However, as you can see here, we have prepared our own facilities. Similar to the outside.”
There were no wounds on Areum’s body. Although she was thin and pale, it was true that there were no signs of her abuse.
“Why is he afraid of this place when he was locked up like that? And how proud is it to lock up her child?”
“Because of her high zeta production during sleep, she was regularly given sleeping pills… Because of that, her stress got worse. And I know she’s not proud.”
An old man looking down at Areum with his warm eyes.
“Me too… My heart aches. It’s painful to see a girl like that living in a lab like an animal in a cage. I also have a granddaughter about that age. “When Areum shed her tears, she looked like my granddaughter.”
“Are you still doing this?”
“Because it is necessary.”
A professor who speaks calmly.
“The Earth, no. Let me correct you. Humanity is now doomed. Due to dependence on fossil fuels, nature is increasingly being destroyed, and the development of eco-friendly energy is slowing down. “All scientists have seen the future of ‘human extinction,’ but they are reluctant to make it known.”
“… “
“Even if someone doesn’t press the nuclear missile button, all humans will soon die. Our generation will be safe. Maybe the next generation, and even the generation after that. But then… I’m not sure. “If we don’t find a new energy source, we will all die.”
“In the meantime, did you find Areum?”
“Yes. “We discovered a newborn child with unknown energy sleeping inside his body.”
The professor clenches his fists resolutely.
“I know that this is an outrageous act. I will never be forgiven, and I may be cursed for generations to come. But someone has to do it. “For the future of humanity, this is something that must be done.”
“… “
“But… It’s still overwhelming. I don’t know what organization or country you belong to… I need help. The amount of Zeta produced by Arum is ridiculously small, and our research capabilities are insufficient to utilize it to its full potential. Please share our offer to join forces for the future of humanity. “That is the condition.”
The reason Areum was able to come to me. Because I felt magical power within me. That’s why she had knowledge outside of her. Similar facilities exist within the research institute.
“… “Who is the reporter you saw on the way?”
“… You don’t need to worry. “We will deal with it soon.”
The picture is roughly drawn. A normal player would be kidnapped back to her lab while staying with Areum. A mysterious reporter comes to the enraged player. She has gathered quite a bit of information and asks the player for help.
One day when the player was worried over and over again. A reporter dies mysteriously… The truth in this world is held only in the hands of the player. The moment she reveals it, she will have to fear the same ‘mysterious death’.
Or… For the greater good, we could cooperate with the research institute. You could even throw yourself as a Mormot instead. In any case, as long as you don’t die, the 21st floor is cleared. If you endure for just a week, the tower will reward you with a reward commensurate with your courage.
But what after that? What happens after the player clears it? Speaking of exposing it, what will Areum’s life be like after that?
I don’t know what part T.O.P tells us to have ‘courage’. In my opinion, neither is an appropriate answer. It’s all just fake courage and bordering on hypocrisy.
“My answer is…” “
I know what to do.
If you don’t like either the right or the left.
“I’ll tell you after I return.”
I will pave a new path head on.