Chapter 53

Cold sweat streamed down in rivulets.

The hands, now pale, trembled like a flickering candle in the wind.

‘T, this must be…’

The Invaders’ tanks and armored vehicles.

Though he had never seen or tried to recognize them before, he instinctively knew that the monstrosities before him were genuine Invaders’ tanks and armored vehicles.

It was because of the thick, palpable malevolence emanating from the black tanks and armored vehicles, and something indescribable from their forms that subtly defied his understanding of reality.

At the same time, it dawned on him that possessing anything related to the Invaders without permission inside Fangju was a grave felony.

But the realization only plunged him into deeper confusion.

‘No, how in the—’

Tanks and armored vehicles: heavy, massive weapons that couldn’t possibly be moved quietly by anyone.

Yet they stood in his garage.

How could they, things that shouldn’t exist or be there, be present in his garage?

The situation was incomprehensible no matter how he tried to make sense of it. Pinching his cheeks to see if it were a dream, the sticky pain reminded him this was an undeniable reality.

“Guild Leader? Is something wrong?”

At the Fangju Guard Commander’s question, he flinched.

“Ah, no, it’s just that…”

“Hmm?”

The commander’s attitude shifted. He had noticed the change in his demeanor since earlier.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!!’

Cursing inwardly, he realized too late that something had gone terribly wrong but the spilt milk could not be put back in the bottle.

In front of him were the mysterious Invaders’ tanks and armored vehicles.

And behind him was the Fangju guard sent here on a report about them.

His lips were parched, and his heart was pounding so loudly he feared others could hear it.

‘I need a way out…!’

He must defuse this situation somehow.

The tanks and armored vehicles seemed dormant for now. Whoever pulled this prank, if he could talk his way around this, there might be hope.

They say even if the sky falls, there’s always a way out. He needed to remain calm and seize this opportunity to get out safely.

Frantically thinking, a sudden excuse flashed in his mind.

‘Yes, that will do…!’

A cunning smile appeared as he resumed his smooth act.

“No, now I understand why such rumors arose. Please, do check inside.”

“…? Yes.”

Following the guild leader’s words, the Fangju Guard soldiers and their commander moved toward the inside of the garage.

When they spotted the sinister Invaders’ tanks and armored vehicles tucked in the corner, their eyes widened, and they instinctively aimed their weapons.

“G, Guild Leader. What is…?!”

The commander asked with a panicky tone.

Stay calm, stay calm.

He must not let them see his panic.

Thus, with the thought in mind, he stepped forward with an unperturbed expression.

“Oh, you mean these.”

Gyejeok walked slowly toward the tank, raising his hand to gently tap the armored panel.

Despite his heart still pounding, and no desire to touch these strange objects, he knew now was the time to act composed.

“Isn’t it masterfully crafted?”

“What? Masterfully crafted?”

The commander’s puzzled voice returned.

“As a matter of fact, we are preparing a movie this time, and these are props for it.”

“Film props, you say?”

“Yes. It’s a story meant to give hope to people and inspire heroism.”

“…”

No answer came back.

The commander alternated his skeptical gaze between the Guild Leader and the vehicles in the garage corner.

“…Yet, wasn’t it a moment ago that you clearly stated there was nothing like this in the garage?”

Righteous point.

At these words, his heart skipped a beat again.

“That… I suppose I overlooked it due to being busy. My apologies.”

“…”

The commander’s narrowed eyes opened wider.

“And why is a movie prop like this stored in a personal garage?”

“It’s because of incidents like this.”

“What kind of incidents?”

“Even if it’s a prop for filming, Invader equipment looks dangerous at first glance, and it is also prohibited by Fangju law for private possession, is it not?”

“That’s correct.”

Both the commander and Gyejeok knew this common content well, but by explicitly mentioning it, they were appealing to share a mutual understanding.

And then they aimed to enhance the persuasion of their forthcoming words.

“So, out of difficulty in storage, I decided to keep it here, as no one in my personal garage would notice it.”

“Hmm…”

A lie through and through.

But still, life is like that. One cannot always live by the rules, which moved the commander’s heart and softened his previously stiffened expression.

“So, to summarize, you are saying that this tank and armored vehicle are props and it’s okay?”

“That’s right. I told them to be careful when moving it here, but perhaps someone saw and reported it.”

The conversation flowed smoothly.

Only then did Gyejeok feel the fear oppressing him lighten, and hope arose that he might just escape this situation.

“Alright, but since the matter is serious, may I look over the vehicles slightly?”

“Hmm…”

An unexpected proposal.

However inconvenient it was to accept it when the situation had seemed to go well, refusing would have been awkward.

Besides, what the commander had suggested was more formalistic, almost necessary for him as the Fangju Guard. Thus, Gyejeck had no choice but to nod.

“Of course.”

As he said that, Gyejeck stepped back.

The commander gave a slight nod to one of the soldiers standing beside him, and one soldier advanced toward the tank with a stern expression.

Then,

Wwiing— Giiiing—

An ominous, low mechanical noise came from the tanks and armored vehicles without warning.

Commander and soldiers abruptly turned their heads toward Gyejeok. Caught under everyone’s gaze, Gyejeok panicked and alternately looked between the tank and the guard.

Tuung. Tungtungtung—

Buuuung, Uuuuung—

The noise grew louder and louder.

The soldier who had come forward quickly stepped back and, unable to wait any longer, the commander called out to Gyejeck in a hurried voice:

“Guild Leader?!”

“Please, wait a moment. It seems something has turned on—”

As he spoke and stepped forward, it was a mistake.

Buuung—

A red light began to flicker from the tank and armored vehicle that had been lying silently in the corner.

Sensors darting rapidly around, the motionless body of the tank began to wobble and the latch holding the gun in place clicked open.

“Ah….”

A sigh from the guards.

“Guild Leader! Are these truly the filming tools?!”

“That, they—”

Gyejeok was flustered and hesitated, but he didn’t need to answer as a chilling voice emerged from the black tank instead.

[Gyejeck Pes, based on the present moment, our contract is hereby terminated.]

“Huh?”

A contract? What contract?

[There is no need to deal with an incompetent human who exposed our hideout. Combat commencing.]

Kugung—

The tank’s gun began to move. Within the long barrel, the dark void was visible.

“A…?”

As Gyejeck stared blankly at it, a light erupted from the darkness.

KWAANG!!

An explosion, and the scenery changed in an instant.

Only then did Gyejeck realize his body was being flung backward.

KUUNG!

“Kghh!”

The sharp jolt in his back. Amidst the view slowly turning to the ground, he could see the flustered guards and the Invaders’ tanks and armored vehicles gradually moving.

“D, damn it! Those are Invaders! Retreat, Retreat!”

“AAAAH!!”

Tat-tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat!

“Rifle bullets won’t penetrate a tank! Retreat now!”

“All troops, prepare for combat! An Invaders’ armored weapon has been discovered! Prepare for battle, prepare for battle!!”

The fast-retreating footsteps.

Behind them followed the heavy, creaking tread of the track and the wheels of the car.

[Ha. Ha. Ha. The end of the age of humans has arrived.]

[Eliminate, eliminate, eliminate.]

The guards and the Invaders, who no longer mattered to him, faded away.

‘Damn….’

His eyes slowly closed, and Gyejeck’s consciousness was swallowed by darkness.

…..

Dark and cold space.

In it, Gyejeck regains consciousness.

“Where am…?”

No structure, not even a simple wall existed here. No matter how much he turned his head and looked around, he saw nothing.

“What in the—”

While contemplating this, a blurry figure appeared in the distance.

“!!!”

Luminous silver hair, a diminutive frame. One might mistake her for an ordinary girl at first glance but the long hair clearly belonged to her.

That cocky brat who had defamed him.

Edu, Edu Number Sunday.

He was certain of it, and simultaneously, his body began to dash towards Edu.

It didn’t matter where he was. Driven only by the burning anger and hatred in his heart, he moved forward.

“Hey! Brat!!”

He shouted loudly and forcefully grabbed the girl’s shoulder. The sensation of flesh piercing through under his fingertips. He’s got her, he finally got her!

A bitter smile arose involuntarily, but the girl showed no reaction.

‘???’

Despite gripping her shoulder with enough force to crush it, Edu didn’t react at all.

“Hey! Respond—”

As he raised his voice and forcefully yanked Edu’s body toward him,

“Hiiik?!”

Gyejeck let go with a short gasp.

His wide eyes and deathly pale complexion. His hands trembled and his confident expression froze rapidly.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because instead of human features, the face of what he thought was Edu had an oddly shaped mechanical device, with a red sensor glowing on it.

[Gyejeck Pes.]

A monstrous lifeform resembling him was approaching him. Gyejeck shook violently as he stepped back, and finally fell on his rear.

Thud, thud.

Footsteps approached.

“Ahh, aaaaa-”

Still trembling, Gyejeck crawled on the ground, attempting to distance himself from the monstrous lifeform, but his hair was suddenly snatched.

“Kgghhh?!?”

Though he was held by just his hair, his body was paralyzed. He was overpowered by an unimaginably powerful force, emanating from her small frame.

And, something that looked like Edu was slowly approaching.

Breath.

A cold breath like winter wind swept across Gyejeck’s cheek and spread across his face.

[A time for you to pay.]

A low voice spoke.

Its small hand swiftly shot toward Gyejeck’s face.

“U-aaaaaahh!!!”

His wide eyes opened with a shock.

“Aaaaahhhh!”

Screaming, Gyejeck bolted upright, shaking violently as he turned his head left and right.

At that moment – the curtain of the hospital bed slowly opened.

A cleanly-dressed man entered and sat on the chair beside the bed.

“Mr. Gyejeck Pes, have you awakened?”

A rigid expression accompanied by a cold voice, the atmosphere surrounding the thin-built man was sharp like a well-honed blade.

“W, w, where am I?”

Was it because of the oppressive ambiance or the grogginess from having just awakened, but unlike his normal arrogant self, Gyejeck asked respectfully with honorifics.

“A hospital. Have you forgotten yesterday’s events?”

“A…”

The man’s remark recalled the incidents of the day before.

Guard, garage, Invaders, commotion.

Fragmentary words surfaced first and then, in order, the memories of that day returned.

“…”

Gyejeck turned his head toward the window. The sky of Fangju, with a few clouds drifting in the blue.

It felt refreshingly different compared to the pitch-black sky he saw just before losing consciousness.

“How long have I been out?”

“From last evening until now, you were asleep for about half a day, slightly more.”

“…”

Gyejeck gradually became deflated, and he found himself gauging the words carefully toward the man sitting on the chair.

One reason was the returning memory of the previous day, but more than that, what made Gyejeck uneasy was the fact that this man had never used honorifics on him, even once.

Gyejeck Pes.

For at least in this Fangju, there would be no one who didn’t know his name or position.

“However, you suddenly screamed. You must have had a nightmare. It would be better to calm down and steady your breathing.”

“…was it a nightmare then?”

For a brief moment, he was reassured by the man’s words that what he just saw was a nightmare, but it was quickly replaced by the fear of yesterday’s incident.

“…th–”

“Speak.”

“…What happened after I fainted?”

“Curious, aren’t you?”

An abstract question.

Yet, though vague, its meaning was clear enough that the man didn’t make further inquiries.

“Yes.”

As Gyejeck answered, the man suddenly smiled, and his expression froze instantly.

“But, I cannot answer that question for you.”

“Eh…?”

“Currently, there are many suspicions against you, Gyejeck Pes. Information about the situation within Fangju cannot be disclosed to someone like that.”

This sank like a stone in Gyejeck’s heart.

Not being disclosed information regarding Fangju’s affairs.

What, on the surface, seemed a straightforward statement.

But the underlying meaning was far from simple. In short, it meant that you, Gyejeck, are not entitled to know the matters of the Fangju.

Such information is not disclosed even to those who have committed murder. Which implied—

“What are the charges against me?”

“Curious?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Understood. Listen carefully.”

Gyejeck swallowed dryly.

“At this moment, you are facing the following charges: insurrection inside Fangju, collusion with Invaders and espionage, betrayal, and treason against humanity.”

“Uh…?”

His face turned white as a sheet. Complete bloodlessness.

But anyone who understood the average sentencing for the crimes he faced would understand his reaction.

Fangju rebellion charge: Minimum life imprisonment or death penalty.

Invader collusion: Minimum life imprisonment or death penalty.

Espionage: Minimum 30 years in prison to as high as the death penalty.

Betrayal: Minimum 50 years in prison to as high as the death penalty.

Treason against humanity: Minimum life imprisonment or death penalty.

Rarely encountered crimes for an average person.

But imagining all five major charges threatening to choke his neck, Gyejeck felt his breathing grow labored.

“That… all of them… on me?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

No words could come out.

He was frozen in the most unimaginable worst-case scenario. His mind petrified, ceasing all thought.

“Furthermore, I’ll say this now….”

The man hesitated with his words.

“Since the crimes are significant, your body will not be treated until all the charges are confirmed.”

“What…?”

Treatment of the body? What was he talking about—

Thinking about it, Gyejeck dropped his gaze to his own body, and only then did he notice.

“Ah, ah, ahhh!!”

Frantically grabbing at his right arm and leg with trembling hands, he searched for what should have been there, but nothing was felt.

The coarse blanket thrown aside revealed an unwelcome truth.

As though the packaging of a sausage had been stripped off, the sight bore no resemblance to human arms or legs. His right arm and leg had completely lost their form.

“My… my arm… my… my leg…!!”

“The investigation starts this afternoon, then.”

The man abruptly stood up from his chair, and just as he turned and paused mid-step,

“…It will only get busier and harder from now on. Take this opportunity to rest while you can.”

Was it a final act of compassion between the man and Gyejeck, before stepping out of the room with those words spoken.

Left alone, Gyejeck desperately clung to the missing limbs, stifling cries before finally, in a burst of emotion, he screamed.

“U-aahhhhhhhh!!!”