Rainbow City

At that time, some doctors declared that the Adam virus did not only infect humans, so they would conduct experiments with mice, as before. Of course, there were those who argued that human experiments were essential. In his youth, Wonho, who was now a doctor, had said to the doctor who made that statement, “If you have the courage to experiment directly on your body, continue expressing your opinion.” Those who knew the story considered it a well-known episode.Back then, the shelters were not organized as they are now, causing not only civilians but also doctors and soldiers to feel a considerable sense of fatigue. They had experienced the sudden onset of division through continuous fighting of conflicting opinions.Eventually, Rainbow City accepted the opinion of the Second Master family and developed the vaccine through humanitarian means.All of this happened before Seokhwa was born, but the military officers, who were quite old, had personally experienced these events. Perhaps that was why General Yoon didn’t view the doctors who had grown up comfortably with a favorable eye.“So, did you get your hands on the vaccine?”Military officers and doctors were gathered around a ‘U’-shaped table. Seokhwa, called upon to handle the incident as soon as he returned to the shelter, was sitting some distance away from General Yoon, but the confined space made breathing difficult.“I didn’t ask if you got your hands on it!”The colonel of the Yeouido Shelter Transportation Division quickly bowed his head toward General Yoon.“The location where Eden’s Paradise distributes the vaccine is not fixed. I instructed them to bring it as soon as they get it, but currently, it seems that only the Gwacheon Shelter has it in hand. We have received a report that soldiers from the Gwacheon Shelter will join us soon.”“What about the radio?! How come the voices of those Eden bastards are coming out?!”The person in charge of the military broadcasting station also began to untangle the mess caused by General Yoon’s uproar.“We use the medium-wave band, and the broadcast is transmitted on the allocated military frequency. However, during the broadcast, radio interference occurred, and it seems to have been hacked. Moreover, the time of the broadcast being at night makes it difficult for tracking. We face difficulty in tracking because the medium-wave we use has a much longer transmission distance at night than during the day.”General Yoon looked at the broadcasting official with an expression that said, ‘What on earth are you talking about?’“So, are you saying you found it, or you didn’t?”“We will do our best to track the location as quickly as possible.”As the general’s response was not what General Yoon desired, his already uncomfortable mood worsened.“Doctor Seokhwa.”The arrows that had flown in order were now aimed at Seokhwa. General Yoon crumpled his expression in impatience when Seokhwa didn’t immediately respond.“Doctor Seokhwa?”Seokhwa, caressing the stone in his pocket, slowly opened his mouth.“Yes.”“A rebel, of all things! They claim to have developed the vaccine, but we have no results. Isn’t that right?”“That’s correct.”“That’s correct? Is that what the doctor has to say now?”With a tone urging for some kind of excuse, General Yoon pressured Seokhwa. How could someone like him be a chief researcher? General Yoon muttered to himself, but his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.“Dr. Seokhwa, you’ve only recently come up from Jeju Island. You only became aware of the 7th variant Adam after coming up, didn’t you?”“Major General Lee Yeontae, are you the spokesperson for Dr. Seokhwa?”“No, I’m not. I apologize.”Seokhwa, who hadn’t seen Lee Yeontae, nodded in gratitude towards him. Arrows had been aimed at him, and he had to fend for himself. Even if he were to faint right here, there was no one to take care of him. Seokhwa gathered himself.“How can I face the Masters and Advisors in the future, huh? But is the vaccine really effective? They didn’t lie, did they?”“That, too, can be known only when the soldiers from the Gwacheon Shelter, who have the vaccine in hand, arrive.”“Whether it’s true or not, Eden’s Paradise has become widely known to our Rainbow City citizens!”“Who will take responsibility for this situation? Military Broadcasting Station, won’t you take responsibility?”“We’ve reported several times that our broadcast is vulnerable to hacking. But there was no support at all, was there? This was a situation that had already been foreseen.”Chaos ensued like never before. A scene of mutual blame and evasion of responsibility unfolded. General Yoon, signaling for it to stop, slammed his desk.“Dr. Seokhwa, so what if the vaccine is genuine, what are you going to do?”Seokhwa thought General Yoon’s question was peculiar.“If that vaccine is real… we need to mass-produce it and put it into commercial use.”At Woohyun’s response, only Yeontae laughed inwardly.Bang! General Yoon slammed the table and menacingly glared at Seokhwa. However, Seokhwa wasn’t particularly startled, as he had been watching the commander since earlier. He just looked back at him with a big, weary gaze, devoid of strength.“Are you saying you’re incompetent now?”“…That might be the case. If those doctors over there are more capable, then I must be incompetent. Shouldn’t we then join hands with the side that developed the vaccine?”The murmuring grew louder once again.“Dr. Seokhwa, do you not understand the current situation? The rebels attacked the Yeouido Shelter, and how many of our soldiers have been infected and died. And you suggest joining hands with those people?”“I misspoke. If the vaccine arrives… If that vaccine proves effective, then I will consult and refine it further.”“…”With his words stuck in his throat, General Yoon resisted the urge to throw the paperweight in front of him at Seokhwa.“So, are you saying we should just copy what Eden’s Paradise made?”Seokhwa squeezed the stone in his palm until it hurt. His mouth was dry, and he slowly moistened his throat with water.“If this vaccine proves effective, then yes, we should. The most important thing is people’s safety.”“You idiot! Are you out of your mind!?”General Yoon forcefully stood up.“I see now, you’re not a chief researcher, you’re just a crazy person!”His face turned red with anger. There was no longer any respect left for the doctor. The surrounding soldiers couldn’t even restrain the commander, but they sent signals to Seokhwa with expressions, silently indicating that he should say no more. However, Seokhwa believed that regardless of who developed the vaccine, there was now only one thing left. A real core statement as important as the vaccine.“If the vaccine from Eden’s Paradise proves effective, please support us in developing a cure in the future.”“What? A cure? Kid, you couldn’t even develop a vaccine, and now you’re talking about a cure!”This time, the paperweight truly flew. Of course, it wasn’t aimed at Seokhwa but at the hapless Yeontae. Yeontae reflexively dodged the flying paperweight with his face, revealing an expression of surprise. He had to just take it, but the expression on his face betrayed his reluctance.“I have been researching Adam individuals showing abnormal behavior among the 7th variant Adam mutations.”After Kwak Soohwan left for Gwacheon, Seokhwa, left alone, had been immersed only in that matter. Otherwise, he found himself touching his body as if to reassure himself and getting lost in reminiscing about the unfamiliar sensations he had experienced that night. Come to think of it, Kwak Soohwan was like a snake to him. He made him eat the apple he shouldn’t have, awakening senses he could have lived without.Seokhwa wanted to bury his head on the desk under the burdening gazes, but instead, he took another sip of water before beginning a long speech.“The 7th variant Adam can be divided into two types, other than the commonality of attacking humans like before. One exhibits traits similar to the previous ones, appearing to lack intelligence. The other somewhat speaks or assesses situations and retreats. The analysis of the blood of these two types of Adams revealed…”Seokhwa took another breath before continuing.“The virus patterns showed different aspects. It seems we can find hints for a cure there. No, we have already found something.”Comparing and analyzing the blood of Oh Cheongwoon, who exhibited abnormal behavior, with that of a regular Adam, the latter was much more aggressive, and the movement of cells was irregular. It was no different from the Adam virus they were familiar with. So, they cultured the cells using Oh Cheongwoon’s blood, and there, surprisingly, they witnessed a different pattern than what they had seen so far.The Adam virus, which had infected healthy cells at a ferocious speed, now moved incredibly slowly, almost as if it had been neutralized. It was as if it showed an immune response. The Adam virus seemed to have mutated once again within Oh Cheongwoon’s body. However, they couldn’t determine exactly what antigen had emerged, or whether Dr. Oh had administered any medication. If they precisely researched that aspect, a cure might be possible.Seokhwa believed that he needed to present his research data more clearly to them. As he tried to stand up to go to the lab, everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions.“To prove my hypothesis… I need to visit the lab.”“Enough! That’s not important now!”Even though he had been promoted from being referred to as a kid to a person, Seokhwa didn’t care about how General Yoon addressed him. The statement that the cure wasn’t as important resonated much more with him.At that moment, the door to the military conference room opened, and General Yoon’s aide entered. When the aide whispered something behind the commander, he nodded. Seokhwa stared at the open door while standing. Soon, a man in military boots walked in with a box containing the vaccine strapped to his side. It was Kwak Soohwan.Seokhwa opened his eyes a little wider. When they mentioned finding the vaccine in the Gwacheon Shelter, he wondered if it might be Kwak Soohwan, and it turned out to be true.“Gwacheon Shelter White Tiger Unit Commander, Major Kwak Soohwan, has arrived.”Kwak Soohwan saluted the military officers, but his gaze turned as if looking for someone. As soon as he spotted Seokhwa standing there, he grinned.Has it been almost a week? Despite seeing photos several times, it was different in person. However, whether intentionally or not, Kwak Soohwan’s complexion resembled a sheet of paper.Slowly taking his hand out of his pocket, Seokhwa shook hands with Kwak Soohwan, seemingly expressing warmth but doing so with a firm grip. Although he maintained a poker face, Kwak Soohwan reciprocated the gesture with a slight handshake, lowering his saluting arm. It was to prevent other officers from seeing, and due to that, Seokhwa also couldn’t see.“Is that the vaccine?”“For now, that’s what we believe.”Kwak Soohwan placed the box of vaccines in front of General Yoon.“Dr. Seokhwa, come here and check it out.”Turning around, Seokhwa approached the table where General Yoon was sitting.While Kwak Soohwan stood behind the commander, he followed Seokhwa’s path with his eyes. As Seokhwa got closer, Kwak Soohwan’s face became clearer.He hadn’t lost weight or aged in the past week. Seeing him exactly the same as the day before he left, Seokhwa thought he must have been doing well during that time.Seokhwa glanced down at the vaccine box. When he opened it, there were ten kits in a set. Surprisingly, the vaccine wasn’t in vials. It was in the form of a pen-type syringe, which could be easily administered by ordinary people.The vaccines sold in Rainbow City so far were in glass vials, which required a syringe for subcutaneous injection. Children and the elderly found it difficult to administer the vaccine themselves, so they had to visit the hospital annually, and the cost of vaccination was reduced to one-third of the medical fee.The problem was not the high price of the vaccine, but rather how much it was cutting into medical expenses.To alleviate this burden, Seokhwa had suggested pre-filled syringes for personal use or the pen-type syringe in front of him, but all proposals were rejected by the higher-ups. Of course, that was before going down to Jeju Island.However, the fact that a rebel group can develop such a product…“Dr. Seokhwa?”Wondering if Seokhwa had opened his eyes and fainted, General Yoon called out to him. Kwak Soohwan also closely observed Seokhwa standing without blinking, but fortunately, there was no sign of fainting.“I don’t know just by looking.”That was all Seokhwa said.“Well, then, don’t just stand there. Check something out.”Nodding, Seokhwa picked up the vaccine box, and General Yoon swiftly took three vaccines from the kit.“Major Kwak, where did you get these vaccines?”General Yoon gave Kwak Soohwan a suspicious look.Although he had hoped not to see that unlucky fellow for a while after sending him down to Gwacheon, of all people, he had to be the one to discover the vaccine. The resentment was clearly visible. Kwak Soohwan had a premonition that he needed to respond well. He could play a trick to send him further away by getting involved in this matter.“To put it bluntly, it’s incredible. It’ll take at least 30 minutes. Should I go ahead?”“Summarize it, kid.”If you want. Kwak Soohwan raised the corner of his mouth slightly.“After going down to Gwacheon, I joined the shelter maintenance and participated in the nightly area cleanup and Adam hunting with Major Yang Sanghoon.”Seokhwa looked at Kwak Soohwan with the vaccine box. It felt strange because it seemed like he got along much better with Yang Sanghoon than I had thought. I think someone mentioned this as a bad omen… Anyway, since it was indeed a bad sign, Seokhwa quickly expressed his thoughts.“I had some business today, so Major Yang went out first, and I joined him at the racetrack. It’s close to the building with the experimental center, and there was a tip that an Adam was appearing in the vicinity. But, who would’ve thought someone would be carrying that box around? After catching him, unfortunately, he wasn’t a rebel.”As he spoke, he took the box from Seokhwa’s hand. It wasn’t particularly heavy, so there was no need to do that, and he missed the timing to mention it.“If he’s not a rebel?”“He’s a registered Rainbow City citizen on the Mother Server, and he claimed to have come to deliver for money. It was not delivered directly from someone; rather, there was a letter and money left in front of the house. The letter stated that if he delivers it, he will receive more money. I handed him over to the Gwacheon Shelter Guard, so you can check it out.”General Yoon clenched his fist and pressed his temple with a pained expression. He kept his eyes closed for a long moment, seemingly lost in thought.“General.”“What is it, Dr. Seokhwa?”General Yoon opened his eyes with a blurry gaze.“May I go to the lab?”Letting out a sigh, Yoon gestured for him to go with an impatient wave of his hand. When Seokhwa extended his hand again, asking for the vaccine box, Kwak Soohwan leaned it against his side.“I’ll escort him. Is that okay?”“Go. The other officers can discuss this situation further.”Though Kwak Soohwan tried to support Seokhwa, he only nodded. He still had enough strength to walk on his own. Leaving the military conference room, Seokhwa took two crystallized nuts from his pocket. When he offered one to Kwak Soohwan, the latter pressed it against his side.“I’ll take care of him. Is that alright?”“Go and check. Let the other officers discuss this situation further.”As Kwak Soohwan attempted to help Seokhwa, the latter declined with a shake of his head. He still had enough strength to walk on his own. As they left the military conference room, Seokhwa took out two crystallized nuts from his pocket. Offering one to Kwak Soohwan, he spoke.“Do you want to see me that badly?”He directly fed the nut to Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa, who had been watching Kwak Soohwan’s thumb and forefinger where they touched his lips, also slowly chewed the nut.“Yes.”For a moment, Kwak Soohwan was left speechless. When he tried to approach Seokhwa, the latter mentioned Yang Sanghoon, who was standing in the corridor.“Major Yang Sanghoon as well.”Approaching, Kwak Soohwan chuckled darkly, appearing somewhat like a villain saying, “Let’s watch and see.”“Huh? Did you call me? Dr. Seokhwa, have you been well?”“Yes. I’ve been well.”Seokhwa took out another nut from his pocket and offered it to Yang Sanghoon. As Kwak Soohwan approached as if to feed it directly, Seokhwa casually spoke to him.“If you take it directly, will it be humiliating?”Yang Sanghoon raised an eyebrow in disbelief and then graciously accepted the nuts with both hands, saying he would appreciate them. Walking alongside the stumbling Seokhwa, the two men positioned themselves on either side of him.“Doctor, can we confirm if that’s the real vaccine?”Yang Sanghoon retorted with a tone suggesting, “Is it really?”“It might be difficult to confirm immediately. It may take about a day.”“What will happen to us if it’s indeed the real vaccine?”“Well, it’s a good thing.”Upon hearing this, Yang Sanghoon nodded as if to say, “Oh, I see.”“What’s good about it?”Only Kwak Soohwan, standing in front of the elevator, hinted that things had become complicated.“Why?”“If this is real, we’re in trouble too.”“Why is that?”“If you’re curious, it’ll cost you a bottle of whiskey.”If it were Lee Chaeyoon, she would have scolded him and not entertained him further, but Yang Sanghoon was different. Since Dr. Seokhwa said it was good and Kwak Soohwan said it wasn’t, Yang Sanghoon was genuinely curious. He slapped Kwak Soohwan’s extended hand, sealing the deal.“If Eden distributes the vaccine for free, their religious stature will rise, and citizens will hold resentment towards Rainbow City, which has profited from vaccines and medical expenses. They’ve been charging for something they could’ve given for free.”Yang Sanghoon blinked rapidly, indicating a need for further explanation.“So, in reality, what Eden distributed to the citizens is not a vaccine, but a psychological virus threatening Rainbow City.”It seemed that Lee Chaeyoon’s words were indeed correct. Whenever Kwak Soohwan made such comments, he wanted to shut him up. Yang Sanghoon clicked his tongue, lamenting the loss of a precious bottle of whiskey.Just then, the elevator arrived, and Seokhwa pressed the button instead.“Are we going straight to Gwacheon?”While facing forward, Seokhwa reached deep into his pocket. Kwak Soohwan suddenly leaned his face to the side, and a sweet scent wafted between them.“Can I go to sleep?”“Major Kwak, your room still seems unclean.”“How do you know?”“I’ve been there a few times.”Although he hadn’t entered, seeing that it was unused by others, he didn’t know if he could still use it.“In my room?”Seokhwa nodded. Recently, while touching the stone in his pocket, he had absentmindedly walked past Kwak Soohwan’s room. At those times, the memories of that day would come to mind, and his body temperature would rise.“Dr. Seok, we can’t even use the shelter elevator together. How can you open your room for us?”“Well, that’s true.”Normally, his expression was mostly indifferent, but unlike his honest response when he said he missed him, Seokhwa’s reaction seemed a bit awkward.Kwak Soohwan, wondering if he made him uncomfortable, looked at him with a smile. As usual, Seokhwa’s nose was round, and his lips looked soft. Suddenly, Seokhwa turned his head to face Kwak Soohwan.“Then, please sleep in my room.”This was another unexpected consideration. No, it was probably not consideration but a desire to receive his semen.“Don’t tell me you’ve prepared a cottage again?”“Are you able to manage it now?”Behind them, Yang Sanghoon cleared his throat, feeling an unnecessary warmth in his face.“Major Yang, please sleep as well.”“What? No, no. We need to go straight to Gwacheon now. It’s a complete emergency. But, Dr. Seok, Major Kwak Soohwan mentioned earlier in the lobby that he was on his way down from Gwacheon. Did something happen?”They couldn’t ask more details as their faces barely touched in the breeze. But Lee Chaeyoon had clearly said that they were summoned back while heading to Gwacheon with Dr. Seok.“Why Gwacheon?”Kwak Soohwan also asked as if he were genuinely curious.“I was on my way to see Major Kwak Soohwan.”[Open.]With eyes that showed a considerable surprise, Seokhwa looked at the elevator. The door opened. Why did you come to see me? Seokhwa entered quickly, leaving the question unanswered.“I’ll be back in ten minutes.”“Sure. Hurry back.”Yang Sanghoon said okay and was left alone in the elevator. Kwak Soohwan, now holding the vaccine box with one hand, followed Seokhwa. Without much effort, he could catch up with him just like before, and Seokhwa, with his hands firmly in his pockets, called for him without looking back, heading towards the research building. Even after calling him twice and getting no response, he grabbed his arm from behind. His lifeless hand slid out, and at the same time, something fell from his pocket.No.Muttering, Seokhwa, at an unprecedented speed, picked up the stone and carefully examined where it fell. Unbelievably, it was the stone I had given him.“While I understand that you like it, try not to carry it around where people can see.”Sweeping away the dust, he casually put the stone back into his pocket.“I want to.”There was nothing to say when he refused.Since it looked ugly, I told him not to carry it around where people could see it. It’s his way of treasuring what I gave him, so I should be happy about it. Anyway, I told Commander Cha to keep an eye on Seokhwa, so there shouldn’t be anything dangerous. Kwak Soohwan, who would soon be busy, planned to spend the remaining time observing his dull face. As Yang Sanghoon said, Rainbow City was currently in a state of emergency.“Okay, carry it around as much as you want. Just don’t do anything weird.”“Give me the vaccine.”Seokhwa, standing in front of the research building, extended his hand.“If you were coming to see me in brig, why?”