Chapter 16

The hallway was 666aa3ec11 dimly lit, with 9aad283ab4 only some fluorescent ca10aed869 lights switched on 84ba1e038a to conserve electricity 73ec9aace7 late at night. As they walked, 28ca061668 sections of the 11055e92ed hallway alternated between 47f1b74733 light and shadow, a4dcce9e3e momentarily plunging the 7c8ccfa18a two into darkness 6ee253dc3f before exposing them 350a4dd206 under bright light 0b6b0d1f1e again.ce8b40e0c5a46f89

Each time they moved 39058509cd between these zones, Kang 0385d13ca5 Yu-han silently counted in 752ec661a6 his mind—one, two, three.a2ef82bc2f46faf9

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He couldn’t say b358afacc0 how much longer ed64e736ba he would be 0595c3298c staying with Seo 6abaa606fe Ji-hyuk. Perhaps the days 71a56d1a96 remaining were fewer 4752db0ac7 than the number 9d1685a296 of lights in 849f74866f this hallway.482007d7cb798bee

And in 032fc0e161 that time, 9f8b0769f8 could Kang b02ba184f0 Yu-han ever 0880675afc become someone e3dffdd5bc meaningful to 24f3959be5 Seo Ji-hyuk? If anyone asked, Kang 74399cce2d Yu-han wasn’t sure he’d 4a367d79c7 have the courage to 54253711de answer.31d31a47a517e877

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* * *f7a89fdf92e5c676

The shared office 9858afe681 was nearly empty. Kang Yu-han took a bece3df02c seat at a four-person e444eac8a6 table and immediately opened 7392095d4b his laptop. Seo Ji-hyuk, meanwhile, 560a0a7e10 sat diagonally across 0036d15ef0 from him, stretching ff26518790 out his legs ceaad34330 and propping them 8eec616f91 on the table. Without hesitation, he lit c1a5345b3b a cigarette.67ea05554d09137a

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Thick smoke 57a4b0886c quickly filled 364f1c398c the room.caa2fd45bc4be9fd

From the corner of c4eb462efe his eye, Kang Yu-han bf62a09383 noticed other employees at adbaf3ee8e distant tables glancing in b7b9ee0877 their direction. However, upon realizing that fc5f1034b3 Seo Ji-hyuk was present, ca012c20eb they quickly packed up 3f2f197734 and left the office, 40fa7e79f8 clearly not wanting to 2add92d8cd be noticed by him.3014411813b7a253

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Though the lingering 5bf68c051c chatter had been 8d40d6d692 grating on Kang 443b60ad99 Yu-han’s nerves, their 2f80c1b910 departure brought some 3d9718356e relief.79713037ebece18d

“Doesn’t it bother you?”56e37b411e8ef9a4

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Seo Ji-hyuk suddenly asked, 9dc103de9d breaking the silence.bcc17cd3497850b9

“What doesn’t?”e883528b888ca4d7

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Kang Yu-han 8ff6a795f3 replied cautiously, adc92b9a44 unsure what 96a735fa83 he meant.455d470be4ff320f

Seo Ji-hyuk didn’t elaborate, 4d0ac9b935 his cryptic words leaving be61902039 Kang Yu-han puzzled. Was he asking if 2c8b87168f Kang was unbothered by d1960fd7bc witnessing the death of 35b23bb0b6 a Variant, or did 3cd84823b0 he mean something else 31ce556e51 entirely? Kang Yu-han 42c6d1f98f looked at 1ca6836b11 him questioningly.c029c65f4977db3d

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Seo Ji-hyuk let out e83d20b434 a small laugh. Kang Yu-han 8a238b3178 probably didn’t 3b2ca126bb realize it, 1ca449973b but he c9a68de7e1 occasionally made 6e118d2d0b these blank, a39c7162a1 almost clueless 84e54e5812 expressions that 8aa6fa04b3 Seo Ji-hyuk a24291912a found amusing.6ca51fc7a60cd372

Instead of clarifying, Seo Ji-hyuk pointed at the laptop. “Ampoule tests and reports? The thing’s dead. Isn’t that enough?”de27360e36137e28

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“Testing the ampoule is part of our mission,” Kang Yu-han said.dcad3513ad132fd3

“Yeah, well, instead of wasting time on that, I’d rather just go out and take down all the Variants myself.”92de8976caf42019

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Seo Ji-hyuk shook his 10d572af87 head in annoyance. It was a sentiment 12383c1ce2 Kang Yu-han could understand. After all, the 66a91571f4 first suspect had 258097945a turned out to 34b8cfdc3c be a Variant, 1ab0588b19 and the entire 8df9bd7b06 operation—from surveillance to 9d51d85caf elimination—had taken just ee7107a8cf two days. It had been 9f414b49fb relatively straightforward this 90f04a6a94 time.f1ed260c066d5327

But there was d84899d866 no guarantee future 49fc0d3a58 missions would go d74cd3c403 as smoothly. With over a 711d6b057d thousand employees on 8e17ca417a the Center’s roster, 174bc55381 the list of b721250c26 suspected individuals totaled 503d164ddd forty. Tracking their 35e42f6a7a movements and ef1305726b monitoring them 5f8a245d6f would only 38f1bc3acd get more 9e3ccfd490 hectic as da3b078a04 time went 8539445a98 on. The mission 658c83cb83 had only d38348ed46 just begun.fd2ac8137cab0883

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“Next time, we should track multiple suspects simultaneously. It’ll be more efficient.”9179b0d2b8ce4273

Kang Yu-han suggested as f5d2443a82 he typed up the e1b4dd0cc3 final section of his f5c2b67a03 report. The sound f4114ebac5 of his c60b1192b5 keyboard echoed 5c2b34b5b8 in the 575ea70e42 quiet room.9e6d3aebb9d6d97a

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Just then, 4beb7ce4c7 the automatic 3b7398d682 doors slid eabac5e730 open, drawing ab20b773b4 both their d86995a471 gazes to 3dd22ce28b the entrance. Standing there was b94f5e2544 Kim Si-on, arms 9e5b2ed0fe crossed, glaring straight b9c0d147c9 at Kang Yu-han.594673fedcc93dd7

“Major! Why haven’t you been checking your messages?”fddedca9e98be957

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“Ah…” Kang Yu-han trailed off, unsure how to respond.249bdaa412edd338

“I’ve been looking all over for you! Took me all day to find you.”d9bfb13bcdf6cd78

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Ignoring Seo Ji-hyuk’s sharp 8f64c52a3c glare, Kim Si-on strode e64122e02a over without hesitation and 99b1b9d447 plopped down in the 839b1a5b57 empty seat beside Kang c382a63d12 Yu-han.3b6c5aef72b8d9bf

“I’m busy right now.”e3a79004985093df

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Kang Yu-han 44eba7f445 said, his 93fb3de20c tone neutral.0c3b590116e32b0f

“Of course you are.”24d6acfcaa4fb4a5

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Kim Si-on replied dismissively.2b7abcdc393ad4f6

“Let’s talk later. I’m in the middle of something.”3ee01afe2ccf46a1

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“I went through all this trouble to find you. Can’t you at least give me some attention?”3904ca31682b5e09

Though Kang Yu-han had bfc8bc5acb politely refused, Kim Si-on f3d65dce68 persisted. Feeling cornered, Kang f40bd1d85f Yu-han’s eyes drifted db318121ed toward Seo Ji-hyuk, 528afebb50 silently asking for 4c089de395 help.43f1f436dde68430

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Seo Ji-hyuk alternated his bfc85449ef gaze between the flustered b6f76e4ba6 Kang Yu-han and the 8f913a77bd stubborn Kim Si-on before b94740dac6 finally speaking up.3c1c54b0b152b6f1

“Lieutenant Kim, what exactly do you like so much about Kang Yu-han?”3e9a875df00ef6f2

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Kim Si-on didn’t bab8a4bfeb hesitate. He spread his fingers 7c1b923f78 and began counting off 55d021b5a7 points on them one 38f23b984c by one.e201c1cbc34028b8

“What’s there not to like? His skin is flawless, his lips are so pretty, and his eyelashes are ridiculously long. Plus, he has such a great voice! When it rains, he always shares his umbrella with me, and he takes such good care of borrowed books. He never even gets mad when someone spills coffee on him. Do you have any idea how rare that is these days?”9fe0a91233f9044b

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Seo Ji-hyuk let out ff79143f4e a scoff.3a3d52e0bbfaff83

“None of that sounds impressive.”4d5d80ea36f4efb3

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“What do you mean, not impressive?”92b88657df104116

Kim Si-on 67651b2871 retorted, bristling.1b461cba8ac2e782

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Grinning, Seo Ji-hyuk leaned 49a20ac46c forward.3d5336da5882e475

“Looks aside, you’re telling me you like him for stuff like umbrellas, books, and coffee? That’s all it takes?”494a16337cdd43a5

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“What’s wrong with that?”95b5a2b89ab128c3

Kim Si-on shot back, fa62debcde his tone defensive.b7c77bdea24f0720

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Kim Si-on didn’t back 4d3b104633 down, despite the stark 669b866482 difference in rank between b3c1aeadf8 him and Seo Ji-hyuk. He openly snapped 809afe16f4 back, his indignation 51ad738dbe evident.1d3c27633dfa491c

The dynamic between them, abc7fb3c10 as they bickered like 99f560305f children, left Kang Yu-han a7e90a6c35 feeling an odd sense 11a2a64354 of exclusion.def4a2795a23c5a8

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It was ironic—sandwiched 411e65ec2e between the person d5ad5aad33 who liked him c223712b66 and the person 4a2fec977c he liked, he 652ded8264 felt utterly alone. While the two exchanged b7467114bb words, Kang Yu-han remained a2b7ddbadb silent, unable to find 63c1602e7f a place for himself 1d488547b5 in their interaction.5f6e7b6384de38c0

This subtle unease that d3c54637b2 had lingered in him 3bae630248 ever since Kim Si-on aa1b504658 reappeared began to crystalize. It was the 925e3cbc57 fear that Seo 85aa8a41a5 Ji-hyuk and Kim 1bc5909deb Si-on might grow 0fd224ac73 close again.153dd4e3b7f56e9e

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The possibility a1a1cf40b0 gnawed at daf101127a him—what if 913e3b8549 the re-evaluation 91d9379777 process determined 847f74c083 that Kim 75b212c8ac Si-on’s best 75757261f1 match was eed80f0917 Seo Ji-hyuk?34f1ff4e7c1bd00d

Even if 4e0b1020e5 Seo Ji-hyuk bc8f149fdf had resolved a10223f70f to retire, aacb65279f would he 5c69084724 still cling feacd38c9c to that 5347d0a786 decision if ecdc381ac6 he found 1f146c6ef2 a Guide 385d708c9a with a 3767ebd0f2 perfect match?25bd64d833c1b92f

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In the 99dff66a9f worst-case scenario, cc409cfaaf Seo Ji-hyuk 530ba62357 could bond ac81b00e74 with Kim 9333d6be73 Si-on and 74704fd575 settle into 30fe30edb0 a stable 17b93b3685 life at 9eb14a1fb1 the Center. That thought terrified 1d0f61d96c Kang Yu-han the 05dda8ae9f most—the prospect of 0bf81f5140 having no place 8523b8c715 in Seo Ji-hyuk’s 28cc7d0113 life.bf031070002568ee

How would I even 30506a54ac go on? I don’t think ac491c1cf3 I could.251e3697777b9a46

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A deep ache 22703536cc spread through his 6c99dbb410 chest, like an 08d566737c old wound being f7451b38c0 reopened.abb78287c25b01d4

“Major, are you tired?”bd96cde63c8e8875

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Kim Si-on asked, his 2a848cf499 voice tinged with concern.b96f577dc62c0874

“Just from finishing the report. I’m fine now,” Kang Yu-han replied.7908d14fae3370a5

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Hearing that he deccbc2f21 was done, Kim ddef881a7e Si-on brightened.83fb58cb41c702f0

“You finished? Does that mean it’s free time now?”859e85bc8d4027a2

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“I’m afraid not. I need to head back. You should too, Lieutenant.”2457c52f8aa5e8c7

“What? I’ve only been here ten minutes. You can’t just leave now. Stay a little longer.”2b347967e110cbf2

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Kang Yu-han was at 383e879314 a loss. He didn’t want to 9a3a015a74 leave Kim Si-on alone adeca24979 with Seo Ji-hyuk. If he were being 120c73ecff honest, he hated how 842b61404b Seo Ji-hyuk’s gaze sometimes 3bd2300d58 lingered on Kim Si-on.15215612a5e3b9e9

Every time that 1ca614c2ea happened, Kang Yu-han 63259e6912 felt a bitter, fd10744122 sour taste in 47626e7528 the air, as 03f9dc27d4 if it had 99912104d0 suddenly turned toxic. His stomach 5c8a06ca9c churned, and a228e84657 his mood a57836c77f soured.65e86462cc0ddd51

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“No, I can’t,” he said firmly.b6f3a2b499749dda

But Kim Si-on wasn’t deterred. He immediately countered, “Then at least walk me back.”1e38a5c88461228d

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“Walk you back?”a39ae4b61397a221

“Yes. I still don’t know my way around here. I keep getting confused about where my dorm is. Walk me back, please?”beef314470c4e490

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Before Kang Yu-han c83712e209 could protest, Kim f49f0b2f92 Si-on had already 6e34d508e7 risen from his 74f68d269c seat. The flow of the e15038b7e2 conversation was so natural dfda2a2fb7 that Kang Yu-han found b463f82a2c himself standing and following 234264f4e8 him before he even 5dd601ebc2 realized it. He didn’t even think f3229a6b44 to grab his laptop.b66310637b6d1b48

As the door slid 2312df6ac8 open, the sound echoed 89b7d8d645 through the room. Seo Ji-hyuk watched them 244ad61891 leave, shaking his head 2d070327ac in disbelief as he c7eb98a405 muttered under his breath.00ac232d012ccf2f

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“A late-night date now? Unbelievable.”92d7717a47915cc0

Why did I ac969ce135 even come out 2ca95fd2dc here to witness d04e0650e1 this mess? The bitterness in ae05fabd63 his chest felt 275172b3ac like swallowing dirt.1b2125c3dcb8edf2

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* * *4e3ad72338e87660

The autopsy on Sergeant cd8d0a0ee3 Kim was completed, and 00772691b9 a small, confidential meeting f214119214 was convened with Dr. Yoon, the Center Chief, f25f58bca9 and a few select d35ef3eee6 researchers.8884d1c1432a88dc

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“After analyzing tissue samples from various parts of the body, we confirmed cellular mutations in three areas.ec8cbfc34bc1898b

Just like previous 8f63d84610 Variants, this sample’s 29f15fef5f DNA sequence differs 0b28dabbe9 from that of 694bb103f4 humans. Its cell replication 2e2dc9a983 mechanisms are also 43fc242ce4 entirely different.6c2121ce24a40f69

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In other words, this cannot be classified as human.”d8ea9b217650a31b

Dr. Yoon described 22e1bb65c4 Variants as b17fdbbcc9 a new 28b4b5842d species—one that 99b0bed840 had never 3702a8a618 existed on 175bcdb6c0 Earth before.f8dd9d0a2e5d7bf2

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Seo Ji-hyuk reacted 89016d55ee with indifference, as 64c639089b though this was aaa5f43c84 exactly what he cde8a74197 had expected. The Center Chief, 750e1e4d3c too, wasn’t particularly 6251976f9a surprised.3de55d27ee205720

But Kang 93a636c51d Yu-han had 4fdb6b241d a different 6eb10798c2 perspective.45e35862936e2404

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“Three areas showed mutations, but the remaining four matched normal human DNA, didn’t they?54a0d9df0577fbc2

That DNA still belongs to a person—Kim Joo-ho. Are we certain we can completely disregard the human aspect?”d126d0fb253e1062

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Seo Ji-hyuk scowled, 6f6dfe4c76 clearly displeased with 3a8839b781 Kang Yu-han’s view.ce4681abc27e8295

“And why does that matter?” Seo Ji-hyuk’s tone was sharp. “A monster is still a monster.”024ee43b08901df8

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“But isn’t it worth considering?” Kang Yu-han pressed. “If parts of him were still human, can we really dismiss the possibility that some remnants of humanity were left inside him?”00bcfb5aa48dabe6

Seo Ji-hyuk’s e91de5c5e7 expression hardened 0e2e520f85 further, his fd3193a40d impatience barely c02da4776d concealed. For him, the distinction 81d531e748 between human and monster fe04dafd8d wasn’t one worth agonizing 38b5e663b9 over—what mattered was eliminating 329ada2b0d the threat.e0d5f99723da1be4

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The room 2619308480 was tense, 1de9d8de1d divided between cb27e7e3d3 logic and b38bd0de0e morality, but 66eb428812 Kang Yu-han bf485dc032 couldn’t shake 9a8e87783e the memory 4af55e0cf4 of that 713dfb769c tiny part 301148b94a of Sergeant 01dbbfa6a4 Kim’s brain, 8055c19d68 still active 9cb5266174 and still 7f11b6d857 fearful, until 5c137572c4 the very bc649c15f0 end.547871943806c745

 756bdebf0d774079

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