DP Episode 126
by BrieEpisode 126
“Don’t you get it, Yeon-woo? It’s pointless!”
Cheong-oh clutched his twisted wrist, pain radiating from Yeon-woo’s relentless grip, and his desperate shout echoed into the quiet corridor beyond the open lounge door.
“What do you think you can even do if you go there?”
Staggering to his feet, Cheong-oh ran after Yeon-woo, blocking his way with trembling determination. Despite the sudden commotion, the hallway remained empty, amplifying the resonance of Cheong-oh’s voice.
Yeon-woo grabbed Cheong-oh’s arm with an iron grip, immobilizing him. Trembling from the one-sided disparity in strength, Cheong-oh’s arm was locked in place by Yeon-woo’s unyielding hold.
“…Move.”
Yeon-woo said, his teeth clenched, his voice low and dangerous.
Yeong-gyo, standing to the side, covered her mouth in shock, watching the scene unfold. She had never imagined Cha Yeon-woo, usually so mild and obedient, acting like this—or speaking in such a way.
“What on earth is going on here, Yeon-woo?”
Hee-min’s voice rang out as he approached in a rush. Song-hee followed close behind, leaning toward Yeong-gyo to ask what had happened. Meanwhile, Hee-min reached for Yeon-woo’s arm, trying to calm him down.
“Get a grip, Yeon-woo! No one here wanted Lieutenant Ji to die! This is breaking everyone’s heart right now!”
“I’ll bring him back.”
Yeon-woo said, his voice trembling, barely escaping through his clenched teeth.
“I can bring him back.”
“How? What do you think you can do?” Hee-min shouted, desperation lacing his voice.
“Do you think I didn’t want to stop this? Seo-joon made this choice himself—”
The hallway was heavy with despair as Hee-min’s shout trailed off.
“The operation began at dawn. Seo-joon is nothing more than a gate now, spilling out anomalies! If you go there, the only thing you’ll achieve is dying with him!”
“You’re not a No-Name’s assigned guide.”
Yeon-woo’s sharp retort made Hee-min freeze, his eyes wide with shock.
“Don’t speak like you know him. I know him best. I ‘can’ bring him back. I will bring him back, and—”
“Even if you do bring Seo-joon back.”
Hee-min interrupted, his voice harsh and biting.
“Can you handle what comes next, Yeon-woo?”
Yeon-woo couldn’t be unaware of what Seo-joon’s existence meant for the world—or the disasters he had already brought.
Cheong-oh hung his head, a choked sob escaping him. Song-hee and Yeong-gyo, still reeling from the news of Seo-joon’s death, struggled to contain their own tears.
The only one not crying was Yeon-woo. His eyes, bloodshot and brimming with tears, looked as if they would spill over any second. But his unblinking gaze was filled with a desperation so intense it bordered on madness.
“I’ll… I’ll take Lieutenant Ji somewhere far away,” Yeon-woo said, his voice trembling but resolute.
“To an uninhabited island or somewhere isolated. We’ll stay there, out of sight, and live as if we’re already dead. So please, please…”
Let me see him. I feel like I’ll die if I can’t see him right now. Please, I’m begging you.
His plea was raw, his hands clutching Hee-min’s shoulders with a force that conveyed his unyielding determination. He seemed ready to charge through a hundred people if it meant reaching Seo-joon.
An uninhabited island? The radius of influence of a single No-Name would make an island laughably insufficient. What next, bury him in Antarctica?
To Hee-min, Yeon-woo’s words sounded utterly absurd—like the naïve ramblings of someone too young to grasp the gravity of the situation.
And yet.
…Sometimes, sheer desperation born of ignorance can lead to miracles.
“Yeon-woo.”
In Yeon-woo’s eyes, Hee-min saw an impossible sliver of hope.
“I’ll take you there.”
It was an outrageous gamble, one with less than a 0.1% chance of success.
Grabbing Yeon-woo’s arm firmly, Hee-min turned to Song-hee.
“Song-hee, grab the equipment from the pantry.”
“What…? What equipment?”
“The gear from NASA! Hurry!”
Yeong-gyo, snapping out of her shock, tugged on Song-hee’s arm and rushed her toward the lab.
Cheong-oh stared at Hee-min in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing without sound. He quickly followed after them, his voice trembling with confusion.
“Doctor Kang, what are you doing? Explain to me what you’re trying to do!”
Hee-min’s lips trembled, his face pale as he finally answered.
“I’m going to guide Lieutenant Ji.”
Cheong-oh didn’t fully understand the implication, but he knew one thing for certain.
Just like in the aftermath of the MyPark Mall incident, Hee-min was preparing to gamble with someone’s life.
“Maybe… maybe it’s not too late. We’re going to bring Seo-joon back.”
✽✽✽
No one aspires to be a stellar person gracing the news, but at the very least, a man shouldn’t become a father his son is ashamed of.
Colonel Jin couldn’t shake the thought that he might have failed even that minimal standard. The contemptuous glare from Cheong-oh constantly gnawed at him, making him feel unbearably small.
‘Better to be a cowardly bystander than a murderer, damn it’
Perhaps Cheong-oh was right. Perhaps it would have been better to just stand back, to avoid carrying out actions that made wearing his uniform so shameful.
…But is being a cowardly bystander really a life worth living?
At least Hee-min, less cowardly than himself, might have found an answer to this question.
“Are you seriously about to gamble with the life of a twenty-year-old kid?”
Cheong-oh’s enraged voice echoed from down the corridor.
Colonel Jin turned to see five people, each laden with various pieces of equipment, hurrying forward. Leading the group, naturally, was Hee-min.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Colonel Jin quickened his pace as Hee-min abruptly turned to flee in the opposite direction.
“Hey, Director Kang! What do you think you’re doing?”
Practically sprinting, Colonel Jin caught up with him.
“Don’t stop me, Colonel. I’m about to do something insane.”
“What the hell—”
Colonel Jin glanced at Cheong-oh for an explanation.
“Doctor Kang’s insane plan is to use Baby as bait to bring back Lieutenant Ji!”
What in the hell? Colonel Jin’s eyes flicked to Yeon-woo, who stood quietly amidst the chaos.
“I’ll guide Lieutenant Ji and bring him back,” Yeon-woo said softly.
That was even more insane. And yet—
Colonel Jin found himself fixating on Yeon-woo. Amidst the shouting and turmoil, Yeon-woo’s unshakable calm made him seem the most unhinged of them all. Yet, something about his resolute, innocent expression, his intense blue eyes burning with blind purpose, struck a chord deep within Jin.
It was maddening.
“Director Kang, stop right there.”
Colonel Jin grabbed Hee-min by the arm just as he was about to rush down the stairs.
“Colonel, no matter what you say, I—”
Colonel Jin cut him off by pulling out his phone.
“The roads in District 2 are completely blocked. How were you planning to get there in time?”
I’m not officially retired yet. I still have some pull. Muttering excuses more to himself than anyone else, Colonel Jin quickly dialed a number.
“Yeah, this is Colonel Jin.”
As he issued instructions over the phone, he turned to nudge Yeong-gyo and Song-hee toward the stairs.
“Get a helicopter ready on the roof immediately.”
From the far end of the corridor, Major General Park’s enraged voice roared:
“JIN HYUN-JUNG! STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU BASTARD!”
Colonel Jin hung up and immediately began shoving the group toward the stairs.
“Go, go! Get up there, fast! If he catches us, it’s all over!”
He shoved Hee-min forward, urging him to move faster.
“Run, Director Kang! Can’t you see Baby running? Why are you dragging your feet? Take two or three steps at a time, come on, move it!”
Grabbing the equipment from Song-hee’s arms, Colonel Jin dashed up the stairs with surprising vigor.
At this moment, he wasn’t heading out to deal with a No-Name. He was going to save a comrade.
And for the first time in ages, the suffocating weight in his chest lifted.
✽✽✽
◈ SAU Unofficial Operation ◈
Hong Yeong-gyo has invited Kang Chae-won, Yoon Do-young, and six others.
[Announcement Registered.]
「Location: Seoul District 2, Yeonwol-dong TH Megatower [map.url]
Mission: Rescue SAU Comrade!
Objective: Protect Baby and ensure he meets Lieutenant Ji!
Participants? (3/10,000)」
[Kang Chae-won]
What is this, sis?
1:24 PM
[Yoon Do-young]
Stop joking around, Hong Yeong-gyo.
1:25 PM
[Unknown User]
Is Lieutenant Ji still alive?
What are you even talking about?
Damn it, don’t joke about this.
I already feel like crap.
There’s a time and place for this kind of thing.
1:26 PM
[Announcement Registered.]
「I’m serious right now.」