Rainbow City

“Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For when you eat from it, you will certainly die.”“But there will surely be times when one must know good and evil, even if it means risking one’s life.”Seokhwa scrutinized Dr. Oh’s handwriting carefully. One was a passage from Genesis, and the other seemed to be Dr. Oh’s personal opinion. Until now, Seokhwa had not paid much attention to Dr. Oh’s journals, apart from the research data. However, with Eden being involved, he revisited even the parts he had previously overlooked.The most plausible hypothesis so far was that Dr. Oh had questioned the structure of Rainbow City, allied with Eden, and was killed as a result.Times when one must know good and evil…The meeting date with the kidnapper, who called himself the Serpent, was just three days away. Though he could go alone to Zone 13 Red, where Adam had been eradicated, was it really the right thing to do?More urgently, creating the seventh vaccine was the top priority. Despite this, all sorts of unsettling thoughts persisted.As before, he cut out the protein causing infection from the Adam virus and inserted it into the cold virus, then used equipment to recombine the genes. However, the resulting vaccine failed to function properly.One reason for the delay in vaccine research was the lack of direct experimental subjects in the lab. Using animals for experiments was problematic because the Adam virus was too lethal, and it wasn’t safe for the doctors to handle the rampaging animals. There was also the possibility that the virus had mutated, making it transmissible through the respiratory system rather than just through mucous membranes.Long ago, the Ebola virus could only be handled in BL4 (Biosafety Level 4) labs, and some countries had only one such facility. So, extreme caution was required for the far more potent Adam virus. Rainbow City could collapse just as swiftly as when the Adam virus initially spread uncontrollably.Currently, there was only one place where animal experiments were conducted. It was a research lab designated as a Red Zone, like a zoo, where vaccines developed in the shelter were sent and injected into test subjects. The effectiveness of the vaccine was then tested, and results were sent back. The researchers there were mostly soldiers.However, not all animals were susceptible to the Adam virus. Birds, for instance, were currently not infected. Although birds had been infected when the first Adam virus appeared, they were no longer affected after the third iteration. Despite continuous research, no clear reason for this had been found.No matter how brilliant individuals were born or how much research support was provided, everything was under the control of Rainbow City. There were times when the research wings were paralyzed due to insufficient funding. Similarly, physically superior individuals emerged, but just as Adam had never completely disappeared from the Earth, such individuals did not ensure survival.“…Doctor?”Seokhwa snapped out of his thoughts, staring at the gene recombination equipment that was as large as himself.“Yes?”Turning around, he saw Dr. Kim holding a mug of coffee.“Today is the day of the upper-level meeting.”Recalling the news, Seokhwa muttered a small “Ah.”“What time is it now?”“2:50 PM. Shall we head out?”“Let’s do that.”Seokhwa took off his lab coat and grabbed his laptop. It was a laptop made before Adam appeared, but its performance was still comparable to recent models. Perhaps Eden was right. Humanity had declined. Seokhwa shook his head, dismissing the useless thought.The world was different from when populations were abundant, and countries ran smoothly. To the people of a peaceful era, this time might well be considered a dystopia. With no international interactions, Rainbow City’s domestic market was barely sustained.“By the way, Major Kwak Soohwan hasn’t been seen all day today, has he? He usually follows you around everywhere.”He had said he was going out into the field, but Seokhwa hadn’t paid much attention. Since their conversation about Dr. Oh, Seokhwa had deliberately avoided mentioning him further. With the word that Mother was watching and having been called by the military police, Seokhwa thought it best not to engage in any actions that might get him into trouble. For a while, Kwak Soohwan had been drowning himself in whiskey at night. Seokhwa had even refrained from opening the door when the man, reeking of alcohol, came to his room.“To be honest, I don’t really like Major Kwak Soohwan.”“Is that so?”“He’s always drinking, acting recklessly, and… he’s been harassing Dr. Seok as well.”Reflecting on it, Kwak Soohwan’s public image was exactly that.A strong, handsome troublemaker.“Be careful. No one has had a good experience after getting involved with Major Kwak Soohwan. Frankly, the same goes for Dr. Oh.”Half listening, Seokhwa couldn’t help but look at Dr. Kim when Dr. Oh was mentioned. Dr. Kim had already drunk more than half of his coffee while walking down the hallway.“What about Dr. Oh?”Seokhwa showed interest more quickly than Dr. Kim could continue.“Dr. Oh had quite a few drinking sessions with Major Kwak Soohwan.”Seokhwa had heard this in passing from Kwak Soohwan.“But even after Dr. Oh’s death, he didn’t show any sorrow, just came into the lab rummaging around… I really don’t like him. So, Dr. Seok, you should avoid him too. Who do you think started those strange rumors as soon as you arrived?”Dr. Kim, pleased that the usually indifferent Seokhwa was reacting, began to chatter nonstop. Despite this, Seokhwa found something odd. While Kwak Soohwan was strong, he didn’t seem like just a handsome troublemaker.At least he pretended to care for Seokhwa and even went to the military police to ensure he wouldn’t be mistaken for a rebel. Moreover, though he laughed casually, Seokhwa knew the contrast between his casual and serious sides. Just as Kwak Soohwan had assessed Seokhwa, Seokhwa had been quietly observing him as well.“What are you doing? Get in already.”Dr. Kim urged Seokhwa while holding the elevator’s open button. The researchers’ meeting was held on the 58th floor, where they, like the soldiers, presented research progress and received instructions from higher-ups. The meeting dates and times varied.[Researchers’ Meeting Room]Entering the room with the sign, they didn’t see any superiors yet, just a few doctors from other research wings. There were other research wings in shelters besides Yeouido, but direct encounters were rare except when exchanging research results. Even among the doctors within the same shelter, close relationships were uncommon. Seokhwa and Dr. Kim merely nodded to the other doctors.“You wouldn’t believe how arrogant they acted after Dr. Oh’s death.”Dr. Kim sat close next to him, but Seokhwa reacted indifferently this time. He had never been interested in factional fights.After about ten minutes, the inner door opened, and the upper-level personnel began to enter one by one.The upper echelon of Rainbow City consisted of generals, political advisors, and two ultimate overseers known as the Masters. They decided and executed all major policies. The two Masters were elected every ten years, with the possibility of re-election, though in practice, the process resembled a hereditary system. Voting rights for electing the Masters were exclusively held by the citizens within the shelter, leading to accusations of rigging behind the scenes.Today’s meeting was attended by one army general and two advisors. The upper echelon members determined the meeting times and dates because they traveled up from Jeju Island.“Alright, is everyone here? Our mission is the preservation and new prosperity of humanity.”One of the generals stepped forward, projecting a commanding voice.“We are the citizens of Rainbow City.”The Doctors mumbled the same phrase.“It’s been a week since we last met. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Dr. Seok back to the Yeouido shelter.”One of the advisors clapped, prompting the rest of the attendees to follow suit. Seokhwa merely nodded in acknowledgment.“We won’t keep our busy researchers from Rainbow City for too long, so let’s start with a message from the Master.”The senior members stepped aside to allow the researchers to view the screen. The face of the First Master appeared, looking solemn.[Greetings. I am the First Master of Rainbow City. Before we begin the meeting, let us mourn the death of Dr. Oh.]It was a pre-recorded video, the date of which was unclear. The First Master looked noticeably older than the last time Seokhwa had seen him, which made sense given the years that had passed.[As you all know, Adam has mutated for the seventh time. We are once again waiting for a new vaccine. We understand that your research conditions are harsh. However, I believe you all have a strong sense of duty.]Yes!Seokhwa flinched. One of the Doctors diagonally across from him nodded fervently. All the Doctors present were born and raised in Rainbow City and had been incessantly taught from a young age about the city’s benefits and safety. They didn’t realize this was indoctrination. Seokhwa, having no particular thoughts about these aspects, lacked any strong sense of duty. Perhaps this was due to his mother, who often emphasized not to sacrifice for anything, a message he heard more frequently than the instructional videos.[Our enemies are not only Adam. We also face rebels who covet our safe haven. Protecting citizens from these rebels is our top priority. We deeply regret that we cannot provide more support to our researchers.]“He might cry, really cry.”Kim Doctor muttered softly enough for only Seokhwa to hear.[If you need any supplies or funding for your research, please inform our advisors. We will prioritize it.]The meeting proceeded as usual, with recorded encouragement from the Masters, followed by the researchers submitting their requests to the advisors.“The First Master’s message ends here. Please write down your requirements on the provided forms and submit them.”Suddenly, Seokhwa raised his hand. The unexpected move caught Kim Doctor and the senior members by surprise.“Yes, Dr. Seok?”“The data on the seventh Adam vaccine that Dr. Oh was researching is insufficient.”An advisor who had remained silent stepped forward.“If the data is insufficient, that’s all there is. Even the late Dr. Oh struggled with the latest mutation.”Acknowledging this with a quiet response, Seokhwa wrote on the form not just the required supplies and funding but also a request to develop a treatment alongside the vaccine.[Dr. Seok.]Seokhwa looked up, meeting the eyes of the First Master on the screen. Surprisingly, it was a live feed.[It must be tough. We’re also working hard to find out who killed Dr. Oh.]“Yes, Master.”Seokhwa’s reply was formal. The Master smiled kindly. He seemed more genial than Seokhwa remembered, likely due to the upcoming Master election in a year.After the screen turned off, the Doctors submitted their forms to the advisors, who patted each one’s shoulder. When it was Seokhwa’s turn, the advisor read his form and smiled warmly.“Dr. Seok, I heard about your kidnapping. That was quite an ordeal.”“It was nothing.”The advisor, after scanning Seokhwa’s request, smiled more broadly.“We also consider treatment development crucial. We’re willing to support it as much as possible. However, please understand it requires immense time and resources.”“Understood.”“The First Master himself requested your return from Jeju Island. He has high expectations.”Seokhwa swallowed back his questions about why he hadn’t been recalled before Dr. Oh’s death, questions that would inevitably lead to discussing Dr. Oh’s recorded voice as revealed by his kidnapper.“Thank you. I’ll take my leave now.”Kim Doctor, standing behind Seokhwa, was busy flattering the advisor and the general, even sharing unnecessary personal details like his parents wanting to move closer to the Green Zone near Yeouido Shelter.Rubbing a stone in his pocket, Seokhwa exited. Despite everything, his doubts persisted, and he needed to confront the source of these suspicions, even if it might be a trap.“Did you miss me?”He looked up to see Kwak Soohwan flicking a peanut into his mouth.“No.”Ignoring Kwak Soohwan, Seokhwa walked past him. Watching Seokhwa’s ghostly quiet departure, Kwak Soohwan quickly caught up with his longer strides.“Did the meeting go well?”Kwak Soohwan, who had approached from the side, held a completed cube in one hand. Despite being known for drinking straight from the bottle, he always seemed perfectly fine the next day. It was apparent he never really got drunk. So why was there a rumor that Kwak Soohwan turned into a beast when he drank? Maybe Seokhwa just hadn’t witnessed it yet, he thought lightly.In the elevator returning to the research building, Kwak Soohwan leaned in close. Seokhwa could see his perfectly shaped smile.“The bruise on your forehead is gone?”Without a mirror in the elevator, Seokhwa couldn’t confirm if it had indeed healed, so he rubbed his forehead with his hand.“Isn’t it too much to get a bruise from a little kiss?”Seokhwa, prone to bruising, found it odd that he would get a bruise from something as light as a kiss. Thinking back, he had been rubbing his forehead habitually since Kwak Soohwan’s lips touched it, which might have caused the bruise. Still, he said nothing.“Won’t it break if I kiss it again?”Seokhwa finally looked at Kwak Soohwan.“It’s not that it breaks; it tears.”“Dr. Seok doesn’t know how to joke.”As they reached the 34th floor, the elevator doors opened. As they walked towards the research area, Kwak Soohwan followed him again.“I thought I told you we should act separately in the shelter.”Blocking Seokhwa’s path, Kwak Soohwan put his hands in his uniform pockets like a troublemaker.“I’ve got something amazing. Aren’t you curious?”“No.”Seokhwa tried to move past him, but Kwak Soohwan blocked him again, clearly enjoying the annoyance.“Look at this.”Kwak Soohwan pulled out a large, hard stone from his pocket. Seokhwa looked at the stone curiously for a moment.“Isn’t it amazing?”The stone he was shaking resembled an erect penis.“It’s a gift.”Kwak Soohwan lightly grabbed Seokhwa’s wrist and placed the stone in his palm. The sight of Seokhwa holding the stone with his white hand was grotesque yet strangely provocative.Seokhwa stared down at the phallic-shaped stone in his hand. Instead of throwing it away or looking at it with disdain, his dark eyelashes remained still.“Thank you.”Contrary to Kwak Soohwan’s expectations, Seokhwa put the stone into his coat pocket, causing its shape to form a silhouette.“Do you like it?”“Yes.”What on earth could be appealing about a phallic stone?Before Kwak Soohwan could ask, Seokhwa walked into the research building.“Dr. Seok, you better repay me soon.”Ignoring his words, Seokhwa reached into his pocket and felt the stone. Despite its odd shape, it was smooth and pleasant to touch. It had taken hundreds, maybe thousands, of years to weather into this shape, and he couldn’t blame anyone for that. In fact, the delicate contours were quite impressive.[Access granted.]Seokhwa approached the genetic recombination equipment and confirmed that the process still had a long way to go. With only three days left until the meeting, should he ask Kwak Soohwan for help? He was also tasked with investigating Dr. Oh’s death, and if he mentioned contact with the rebel Eden, Kwak Soohwan might gladly join for the sake of results. It didn’t really matter whether the Serpent was captured or not.Thinking it over, taking Kwak Soohwan along seemed the best strategy, and not because of the stone gift.Seokhwa muttered to himself. So far, people had only criticized his love for stones, but no one had ever given him one as a gift. Even his mother often scolded him for bringing heavy stones home, saying he was too weak. In the shelter, collecting stones wasn’t looked upon kindly, so this was the first time he had received one as a gift.Seokhwa walked around the lobby column and re-entered the lab.“Were you coming to meet me?”There was no sign of Kwak Soohwan, only a bewildered Kim Doctor.“Come in.”After checking both sides of the hallway, he still couldn’t see Kwak Soohwan.“Did you see Major Kwak Soohwan?”“Major Kwak Soohwan? I saw him near the elevator, but he seemed to be in a hurry.”“I see.”“Shit, the elevator’s gonna explode.”At the sudden curse, Seokhwa tilted his head slightly.“He seemed to be heading for the elevator, but it was so crowded he took the stairs instead. He cursed loudly for everyone to hear. Jeez.”“Elevators don’t explode from being full.”See? This is why I can’t talk to Dr. Seok, Kim Doctor thought to himself, smiling bitterly.“Tell that to Major Kwak Soohwan.”“I will.”Seokhwa headed to his desk, taking the stone from his pocket and placing it on the table, causing Kim Doctor to look on in shock.***Could it be because he suggested they move separately in the shelter? Over a day had passed without seeing Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa had tried ringing his room bell but got no response. Thinking he might return at dawn, he was now heading back empty-handed. Taking advantage of being out, Seokhwa decided to get some fresh air and headed to the building’s rooftop. There were anti-aircraft guns to shoot down enemy helicopters or guided missiles, but they were rarely used now. Seokhwa enjoyed standing there, feeling the wind.“Baby, baby sleeps so well in the shack by the railroad tracks.”Seokhwa’s eyes widened in surprise as he listened to the eerie voice.“Shhh, pop.”The song, normally innocent, sounded so creepy that it quickly cooled his temper.“Choo-choo, choo-choo.”Seokhwa turned to head back down, but the iron door had already closed, causing him to bump his shoulder against it. The singing stopped abruptly.“Who’s there?”A figure in a uniform appeared from around a corner on the roof. As the moonlight revealed his face, Seokhwa recognized him.“…Major Yang Sanghoon?”“Oh? Dr. Seok? What brings you to the rooftop?”“It’s hot.”“Hot? It’s minus seven degrees today.”Even though he was in uniform, he exhaled a puff of breath and then laughed awkwardly.“How embarrassing. You caught me singing alone.”Though the song was eerie at night, his singing wasn’t bad.“Doctor, you like stones, right? I like trains. When I retire, I’ll live on a train.”“A train?”“My little brother’s wish was to ride a train. There are plenty of abandoned trains; I’ll just fix one up and live in it. I’ll build up my strength here and try towing a train with chains.”Seokhwa imagined Yang Sanghoon pulling a train like a cart.“Good luck.”“Haha, I’m joking. I’m heading down; want to join me?”“I’ll stay a bit longer.”“Don’t stay too long; it’s cold.”Yang Sanghoon hummed as he walked past Seokhwa.“By the way.”“Yes?”“Is Major Kwak Soohwan very busy?”“Kwak Soohwan?”Seokhwa answered with his eyes.“That guy’s not busy; he’s just pretending. He even sneaked some of my liquor, which really pissed me off.”So, he must be drinking somewhere now.“I heard he’s gone to deal with finding Eden’s headquarters.”Seokhwa blinked rapidly, surprised.“Headquarters?”“But it’s probably not their headquarters. He went to the 13 Red Zone. Do you think they’d set up headquarters in Rainbow City?”“Then when will he be back—”“Doctor, is that rumor true? That you and Kwak Soohwan are… involved?”What was he talking about? Seokhwa had only asked when Kwak Soohwan would return and was surprised about Eden’s headquarters being in the 13 Red Zone.Just as Seokhwa was about to say something, Yang Sanghoon held up a hand, taking out his radio from inside his uniform.“This is Major Yang Sanghoon of the Invincible Platoon.”Amidst the static, a voice came through the speaker.[Who doesn’t know it’s you, you bastard? Get down to the first floor.]“The first floor?”[Yes, the first floor.]“Got it.”Yang Sanghoon put the radio back into his uniform and spoke to Seokhwa.“Major Kwak Soohwan seems to be back. Do you want to come down with me if you have something to see him about?”“No. Just let him know I was looking for him.”“Sure.”Yang Sanghoon hurried to the elevator, muttering about how Kwak Soohwan would throw a fit if he was late.Seokhwa pulled out the paper he had in his pocket. The writing wasn’t clear in the dim moonlight, but he knew the contents well.[Top Secret: Dr. Oh showed signs of dementia. He used his son (Oh Cheongwoon) for human experiments and is suspected of embezzling funds for developing a cure, funding the rebels instead. The person who killed Dr. Oh remains unknown. However, a person not registered in the shelter, now considered a suspect, was seen in the shelter for a day before the incident. The funds taken for developing a cure amount to fifty times the cost of developing a vaccine. With no significant results, it’s hard to justify continued support from the masters.]Before the advisor left for Jeju Island, he had handed this report to Seokhwa.“Dr. Seok, please understand our position. We have citizens to protect, and they are against funding research with uncertain results. Look at smallpox. We don’t have the financial capability for that now.”Smallpox, which killed one-fifth of the world’s population in the 14th century, was a virus existing since ancient times. Though the cowpox vaccine was discovered in the 19th century, it took much longer for vaccines to be mass-produced. Smallpox was eradicated 200 years after the vaccine’s discovery, with enormous costs. The advisor wasn’t entirely wrong. Seokhwa folded the paper neatly and put it back in his pocket.His anger subsided, Seokhwa decided to leave the rooftop.***Kwak Soohwan pushed a bound man into a corner of the first-floor lobby. The man, who had tried to bite his tongue as soon as he was caught, was barely stopped by a punch from Kwak Soohwan. The gagged man was bleeding and still trying to bite his tongue.“Major Kwak Soohwan, who’s that bastard?”Yang Sanghoon approached, exuding cold air.“What do you mean, what is he? He claims to be a disciple of Eden.”“What?”Kwak Soohwan gave a nudge with his foot to the kneeling man, who had bloodshot eyes and looked like he wanted to go wild, but all he could do was squirm.“If we hand him over to the military police, he’ll be a half-wit in no time. Why don’t you take care of him, Major Yang?”“Why me?”Yang Sanghoon showed his irritation.“Because you also came from outside Rainbow City? Maybe you can feel some camaraderie and help rehabilitate him. He seems useful but brainwashed in the wrong direction. Think of it as gaining a little brother.”Kwak Soohwan patted Yang Sanghoon on the shoulder.“He’s rated A-class or higher. If you think you can’t handle it, hand him over to the military police.”Despite his bruised face and large build, the boy gave off an aura of youth, appearing no older than sixteen.“A disciple of Eden? Shouldn’t he be handed over to the military police right away?”“He seems to truly believe he’s a disciple of Eden but was likely used by impostors.”He had been sent on a mission by his cult leader to infiltrate and steal food and medicine from the 13 Red Zone. When Kwak Soohwan received the message that an Eden disciple was caught in the 13 Red Zone, he rushed there but immediately realized the boy was a rebel impostor. True Eden disciples wouldn’t be sent on such sloppy missions.“Why are there people pretending to be rebels anyway?”“You should know; you were also used by rebel impostors, weren’t you?”Yang Sanghoon frowned, indicating that he didn’t want to talk about it.People who weren’t citizens of Rainbow City formed their own communities, but self-sufficiency was tough. Many joined new religious groups for safety, preferring the security of a community over solitude. Some cult leaders exploited this, and young people were often victimized. There were also those who pretended to be part of larger rebel groups like Eden to scam others.“Feed him well and try to win him over. The learning center will decide if he’ll be accepted.”“Look at the state you’ve left him in.”“I only dislocated his jaw.”“His jaw looks like it’s the least of his problems, you idiot.”Grumbling, Yang Sanghoon lifted the boy, who was thrashing like a wounded animal, and slung him over his shoulder to subdue him.“Oh, by the way, Dr. Seok was looking for you.”“That explains it.”Kwak Soohwan chuckled.“What?”“Just go.”Watching Yang Sanghoon and the boy head towards the Invincible Platoon office, Kwak Soohwan took off his gloves. He had felt someone watching them from behind a column. It was Seokhwa, clutching something tightly in both hands. When Kwak Soohwan raised a hand to him, Seokhwa turned to leave.Kwak Soohwan considered calling out but decided to follow Seokhwa instead. He stuffed his gloves into his pocket and quickly caught up.“What are you doing here?”Seokhwa slowed down, holding the phallic stone Kwak Soohwan had given him. Seeing Seokhwa openly carrying it, Kwak Soohwan couldn’t help but think he was a dangerous person. Despite the libido suppressants, many soldiers might still be drawn to such a display.“Don’t carry that around so openly.”Kwak Soohwan pointed to the inside of Seokhwa’s coat, suggesting he put it in his pocket.“It’s too heavy to carry that way.”“Then keep it as a decoration in your room.”“I like how it feels.”A laugh escaped Kwak Soohwan’s throat.“Why were you looking for me?”“Did you capture someone from Eden?”“I told you before, Doctor, you should focus on your research.”Kwak Soohwan draped an arm over Seokhwa’s shoulder. He didn’t want anyone eavesdropping on their conversation in the lobby. He guided Seokhwa towards the elevator, sticking close to him like a conspirator.“The person you caught looked very young.”“He isn’t from Eden, just a poor kid used by impostors.”“A person, then. And elevators don’t break down even when crowded.”Kwak Soohwan understood the first part but was puzzled by the latter.“Why were you looking for me? I’m about to go for a drink.”While they waited for the elevator, Seokhwa raised up on his toes and brought his lips close to Kwak Soohwan’s ear. Kwak Soohwan, used to making the first move, was caught off guard by Seokhwa’s advance. He instinctively pulled away, but Seokhwa followed.“What are you doing?”“Whispering.”Despite the discomfort, Seokhwa’s calmness was disarming. Did he like the phallic stone that much? It was intricately carved, more so than anything handmade. But surely, it wasn’t just the gift that made Seokhwa affectionate.Giving up, Kwak Soohwan stayed still as Seokhwa’s lips brushed his ear, whispering.“Is there anywhere without mother?”