Rainbow City

Choi Hoeon spoke without hesitation, “What about that kit?”

“I watched the video from the Gwacheon Shelter’s duty room stored in MOTHER.”

Kwak Soohwan turned the gun’s muzzle and holstered it.

“That kit, it’s Dr. Seok’s, right?”

“…”

Choi Hoeon sighed, not with relief but unease, then nodded his head.

“Go back.”

Even for someone like him, killing a person from a prestigious family would not be easily forgiven. The hesitation still lingered, but the first thing to do was to erase Seokhwa’s presence from Rainbow City.

“Why is Dr. Seokhwa going to Udo?”

“Well, I don’t know. But, Dr. Choi, no matter how you think about it, you seem closer to the field than a researcher.”

The clean suit, glasses, and unworn shoes all seemed like a mask that enveloped Choi Hoeon. Even if he had been hit, such a level of impact usually disrupts the sense of balance. It seemed as if he learned various self-defense techniques to protect his own body.

“I’ve learned self-defense to protect myself in this world where I have to preserve my own body.”

“Did you learn self-defense from a street thug?”

Like Lee Chae-yoon’s instinctive intuition, Kwak Soohwan also felt suspicious about the guy’s identity, but it was a waste of time.

“Dr. Choi Hoeon, I’ll inform Commander Cha that I’m heading back now.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“That’s a typical line from a villain.”

“Dr. Seokhwa is weak. That’s his flaw.”

Hearing the word “flaw” directly made Kwak Soohwan more uncomfortable.

“Get out.”

“However, he mentioned that gaining heat puts him once again free from the constraints of the flesh.”

He gestured for them to stop blabbering nonsense and leave. Choi Hoeon glanced at his wristwatch, then took a deep breath before exhaling loudly. He then raised both palms to the sky over his chest, closing his eyes as if receiving a divine revelation. If angels had descended behind him, it would have been a plausible sight, but this neighborhood was a world where monsters served as the backdrop anyway.

“The four rivers of Eden’s Hill have erected the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.”

Choi Hoeon slowly opened his eyes with a smile. It seemed like utter nonsense, but before he could even mock it, his vitality vanished. This guy had been stalling for time with unrealized performances.

“We are the Tree of Life, and we condemn you.”

Boom! Along with a thunderous noise resembling a sonic boom, the entire glass window shattered. Flames erupted fiercely from the explosion outside. It was a moment intensified by countless screams of the Adams.

“Fuck! Dr. Seok! Kwak Soohwan urgently opened the door to the conference room, drenched in sweat.

***

Dr. Seokhwa? Someone knocked on the door, calling for Seokhwa. Seokhwa quickly changed into Kwak Soohwan’s training suit, loosening the belt for a bit of comfort; it wasn’t bad at all.

“Who is it?”

“Commader Cha here. I’ll open the door. Please step back.”

Following the voice from outside the door, Seokhwa moved to the corner of the bed, as instructed. The discomfort inside his sore buttocks remained, but he could still move.

“Are you far away?”

Commader Cha’s voice sounded distant. Seokhwa raised his voice a little and replied, “Yes.” Then bang, several gunshots were heard, and the door opened. Since Kwak Soohwan had jammed the latch so that no one else could open the door, Commader Cha had no choice but to resort to this method.

Seeing Commader Cha revealed, Seokhwa was puzzled.

“What’s going on?”

Commader Cha, who made this decision, thought that Kwak Soohwan could at least endure it, or perhaps he would be hit hard enough to nearly die.

“Doctor, the situation with Major Kwak Soohwan has become quite difficult.”

“…Because of me.”

Commader Cha looked surprised. Seokhwa hadn’t expected him to reveal that he knew everything.

“Is protecting me causing a problem? In that case, I’ll go to Udo.”

“Udo?”

“Yes, I was summoned to Udo by the higher-ups.”

Commader Cha seemed puzzled by this unexpected development.

Dr. Choi explained that Seokhwa, being an immune survivor even after being infected by Adam, needed to be taken to Yeouido. He even showed the video of Kwak Soohwan taking Seokhwa out of the shelter in Gwacheon.

Commader Cha had initially planned to vent his anger, but the fact that Kwak Soohwan was the one protecting Seokhwa was already known to the higher-ups. They just didn’t know Seokhwa was an immune.

Commader Cha had no choice but to bring Dr. Choi here. If a report on the immune went up to the higher-ups, the entire Hyeonbyeong unit would have come to subdue Kwak Soohwan.

“Dr. Seokhwa, I’m not sure where you need to go, but Dr. Choi Hoeon came here personally to take you. From what I see, he seems rational and gentlemanly, so there shouldn’t be any major issues with your safety.”

In truth, Commader Cha wasn’t entirely sure. If Seokhwa was truly immune, it was evident that he would undergo some experiments. However, Commader Cha had to protect the Controller and his unit.

“Yes.”

Seokhwa nodded obediently.

Seeing that Commader Cha was waiting and standing in front, it seemed like a situation where they needed to leave immediately. Seokhwa wanted to take the stone that Kwak Soohwan had given him, but the urgent urging left him with nothing but reluctance.

Following Commader Cha at a slow pace, Seokhwa bit his lips a few times due to the dull pain. Fortunately, there was no blaming himself for his slow steps. He thought they were heading straight out to the lobby, but suddenly Commader Cha grabbed Seokhwa’s forearm.

Crack, crunch, kyak! Familiar but unpleasant sounds of a beast were heard. Startled, Seokhwa also widened his eyes. Three soldiers who had been in the lobby were turning their heads like Adam, searching for prey.

Why…?

Seokhwa didn’t speak out, fearing they might hear. Commader Cha, too, couldn’t fathom why his subordinates had turned into Adams. But with Adam right in front of them, there was no need for speculation.

Commader Cha immediately loaded his pistol and forcefully lifted Seokhwa. Seokhwa barely managed to stifle a gasp. Instead of heading to the lobby, he turned left into the corridor, sprinting away. Hearing the stomping sounds of the Adams, the creatures began growling and following behind.

“Doctor! I’ll take you to a safe place for now.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Seokhwa repeated the words, and Commader Cha, acknowledging there was nothing to apologize for, rushed out towards the conference room where Kwak Soohwan was. The difference between him and the Adams widened, and just as they tried to open the firmly shut door, a massive explosion shook the entire building.

Boom! Boom! The tremendous noise caused the building to tremble. The Adams following from behind roared in response to the recoil. Commader Cha reached for the doorknob just as someone forcefully swung it open.

“Major!”

Upon seeing Kwak Soohwan attempting to rush outside, Commader Cha shouted. Equally surprised, he moved before his mind could process the situation.

“Dr. Seok! Quick!”

Kwak Soohwan urgently reached out to receive Seokhwa. A hand with a watch quickly extended from behind and grabbed Seokhwa, pulling him inside the room. Seokhwa was dragged into the room, tumbling, and just as the door was about to be opened, Adam approached.

Bang! Commader Cha shot Adam in the face as he closed the door tightly.

“Close the door! Protect!”

Commader Cha shouted, sealing the door firmly.

“Let go of that hand, you bastard.”

While holding Seokhwa ruthlessly, Kwak Soohwan tried to intervene, but Commader Cha had already extended his arm, shooting Seokhwa’s approaching face.

“Closing the door! Guard!”

Commader Cha shouted, firmly closing the door when he saw Kwak Soohwan trying to rush out. The moment the door was forcibly opened, the entire building shook with an explosion. Adams, now turned into creatures, began to move, growling menacingly.

“Why…?”

Seokhwa refrained from speaking, fearing that they might hear. Commader Cha couldn’t understand why his subordinates had turned into Adams, but it didn’t matter with Adam right in front of them.

“There was a reason my jokes fell flat.”

Adjusting his posture, the now shirtless Choi Hoeon clenched his fist and shook his wrist.

“I’ve never said I’m a Serpent.”

Seokhwa, picking up the gun, turned around, suspicious of his own ears.

“It’s the first time I’ve greeted you without a mask, Dr. Seokhwa.”

Serpent, looking down at Seokhwa, smiled.

“Considering the danger, hand over the gun this way.”

“Nice trick.”

Kwak Soohwan shoved Choi Hoeon. The sound of a finger with a ring flicking down Kwak Soohwan’s back was audible. It seemed like Seokhwa was about to aim the gun at the two men because Kwak Soohwan’s spine might have been broken, but he couldn’t easily pull the trigger, fearing Kwak Soohwan might get hit.

Kak! The training suit was grabbed by someone. Adam in military uniform was pulling the clothes through the broken window.

With his mouth torn to his ears and blood spreading under the pierced arm, the force trying to come inside was unobstructed. “Dr. Seok!” Kwak Soohwan’s shout was heard. Seokhwa didn’t hesitate, quickly turning the gun barrel towards Choi Hoeon.

Tang! The fired bullet pierced the soldier’s eye. Even if it could have been removed from the grip, he pulled the trigger again. However, the bullet didn’t come out, just stuttered.

“Remove the casing and reload!”

Casing, casing. Seokhwa repeated the words to himself. When the gun was fired, the slide needed to go back and forth, but now the casing was stuck in the ejection port.

Seokhwa quickly pulled the casing stuck in the ejection port while glancing at Adam rushing towards the broken window. With a metallic click, he reloaded the slide and stepped back from the window. In an instant, his hands became sweaty. When he looked back, he saw the two men, evidence of a fierce fight, exerting strong force.

Choi Hoeon, looking down at his wristwatch, spat out bloody saliva with a “thoo” sound.

Seokhwa aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon.

Dr. Choi is a Serpent? Is he the mastermind of Eden Paradise, who kidnapped himself and conducted human experiments against the soldiers underground? Still, Seokhwa couldn’t muster the strength to pull the trigger on the finger resting on the trigger. Instead of handing the gun over to Kwak Soohwan, he had waited for the right timing, but it was difficult to follow their intense fight.

Kyaah! Seokhwa fired another shot towards Adam crawling up through the window. He consciously released the tension in his finger as the pistol, capable of automatic fire if the trigger was continuously held down, was in his hand.

Inside, the Controller unit confronting Adam seemed to be in a dilemma, as screams and shouts from the confrontation echoed outside the door. How many of them managed to deal with Adam? Seokhwa checked the remaining ammunition and looked at the window. One, two, three, and then he gave up counting.

With a pistol lacking aiming accuracy and no experience in field operations, there was no guarantee that I, without proper marksmanship skills, could hit everyone. Moreover, Kwak Soohwan had to create opportunities for Choi Hoeon several times while being concerned about me. Seokhwa pressed against the wall opposite the window and raised his voice.

“I’ll shoot if you don’t stop!”

Choi Hoeon, who was pounding his fist on Kwak Soohwan, paused just for a moment. He must have sensed that it would be difficult to aim properly at this distance. Kwak Soohwan, seizing the opportunity, kicked Choi Hoeon with military precision. As Kwak Soohwan rushed towards me, intending to throw the gun at him, he shouted.

“Hold onto it!”

In an instant, Kwak Soohwan aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon.

Choi Hoeon grabbed Adam, crawling up through the window, and threw him towards me. Kwak Soohwan aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon. Choi Hoeon, however, grabbed Adam’s nape, who had climbed through the broken window, and threw him in my direction. Kwak Soohwan, about to pull the trigger aimed at the guy with his mouth wide open, shouted.

“Hold it!”

Kwak Soohwan, who had approached in an instant, aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon.

Choi Hoeon grabbed Adam’s neck, who had climbed through the window, and threw him towards me. Kwak Soohwan aimed the gun at Choi Hoeon, ready to shoot, but it was just after passing through the broken window. There were more people left inside than those who followed Adam. It was dangerous. Protecting Seokhwa inside was not easy. Kwak Soohwan handed the gun back to Seokhwa.

“Hold it tight. If anyone dares to attack, shoot.”

“Yes.”

Seokhwa contemplated, but his response was prompt. Kwak Soohwan chuckled as if to say not to worry and lifted Seokhwa, charging towards the door. He kicked the door down without stopping. The corridor was a battlefield. In a narrow space, soldiers in military uniforms and intact soldiers were entangled, unable to easily use their guns. They confronted Adam with knives or fists.

“Lure them outside!”

Kwak Soohwan shouted as he ran, guarded by Cha Jungryung, who urgently held him back.

“Major! There are more enemies outside!”

“How many?”

“At least thirty.”

“What about the air raid shelter?”

“We can only use the adjacent building now.”

The squad was in a dire situation, but Kwak Soohwan couldn’t entrust Seokhwa to Cha Jungryung. Kwak Soohwan ran to the lobby and turned back to look at Cha Jungryung, who was calling him. It was burdensome to carry Seokhwa on his back, not knowing what attack might come from behind. It was best to carry him like a baggage.

Kwak Soohwan gently placed Seokhwa on the floor and took out leather gloves, fitting them snugly on both hands.

“It’s expected that Adam, who was brought in on the truck while the ammunition depot was exploding, has been released. I think I was followed by enemies when I brought Dr. Choi Hoeon. I’ve already sent armed men over there.”

“First, deal with Adam, and if it’s impossible to capture Dr. Choi Hoeon alive, eliminate him.”

“Understood?”

“Dr. Choi Hoeon is a serpent.”

For a brief moment of surprise, Cha Jungryung fired his gun consecutively towards Adam, rushing towards the entrance.

“Alright, Major. I’ll take command of the squad.”

Kwak Soohwan, who was about to crawl towards Cha Jungryung to bite him, fired a gunshot towards the guy trying to bite him. The bullet penetrated the back of his head, and blood slowly spread down his face.

“Heh, living gives you a chance to owe your life to Dr. Seok.”

Kwak Soohwan laughed, his face a mess. Seokhwa wanted to wipe away the blood on his mouth, but there was no time for that now.

“We’ll jump to the air raid shelter like this, and I’ll carry you. Got it?”

Considering the likely poor health due to recent events, Seokhwa thought it would be impossible for him to run directly. Moreover, there was the possibility that he had better running skills than the newly mutated Adam. Tighten your grip. Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa onto his shoulders and firmly held him. There was no place to hold onto, Major Kwak. Before he could say anything, Kwak Soohwan began to run.

Seokhwa held the gun tightly, half-folded in his body, to prevent it from falling. If Kwak Soohwan or A-rank soldiers decided to sprint with determination, there was no chance for Adam, who couldn’t catch up. He mashed Adam’s face blocking the way, grabbed his hair, and slammed it against the wall. The number of Adams following closely during the sprint to the adjacent building was immense.

Seokhwa tried to aim the gun at least once, but the shaking was too severe to make accurate shots. He endured the feeling of nausea, biting his lips. When Kwak Soohwan, who entered the research building, leaped down the stairs in one go, the recoil was tremendous. If his mouth had been open, he might have bitten his tongue.

Adam was now at a distance, but they were still following. As soon as Kwak Soohwan discovered the underground air raid shelter, he swiftly turned the round locking mechanism with one hand. The door of the air raid shelter, which had been locked for a long time, made a creaking and eerie sound as it opened.

As the heavy door swung open, emergency power flowed in, brightening the interior. After placing Seokhwa down, Kwak Soohwan received the gun and fired two shots inside. It was a waste of precious bullets, but it was to confirm the safety inside. Just in case Adam, if alive, would react to the sound. However, there was no sign of life inside the air raid shelter.

“Dr. Seok, you probably have three shots left. Keep it. I’ll tidy things up and be back within an hour.”

“Can’t I stay with you?” Seokhwa scolded himself for impulsively expressing his true feelings. What possible help could he be? Perhaps Serpent found them because of him. If he hadn’t been there, Kwak Soohwan wouldn’t have been in danger.

Kwak Soohwan firmly grasped Seokhwa’s shoulders. “Stop useless thoughts for now. Think about flower gardens. There have been more dangerous things even when Dr. Seok was not around.”

As if reading Seokhwa’s thoughts, Kwak Soohwan quickly spoke. “More importantly, Dr. Seok, my workout suit looks good on you.” He chuckled, pushed Seokhwa inside, and locked the door from the outside. Seokhwa approached the door again and touched the cold iron with his fingertips. It was a soundproof space; the hellish noises from outside couldn’t penetrate.

In the silent air raid shelter, Seokhwa, left alone, tightly gripped the gun. Turning around, he slowly surveyed the surroundings. Emergency rations and stacked bottled water were visible. Dust-covered beds, three in total, and a bathroom with moldy water stains showed signs of disuse.

Choi Hoeon is Serpent? Seokhwa pondered while exploring the air raid shelter. Did he alter his voice when he wore the mask and met me? Come to think of it, when I first met Choi Hoeon, I definitely felt a sense of discomfort.

What could be the motive of the person who claims to be the head of Eden Valley, distributing vaccines containing parasites? Seokhwa unintentionally lifted a framed picture placed between the beds. It was pictures of people who seemed to be researchers, but there was no date. However, the strength in the hand that held the gun involuntarily weakened. It was because of the very familiar face inside the frame.

Dr. Wonho…

Though his face was younger than the last time he saw it, he could easily recognize it due to the stern expression. No, what caught his eye even more was…

…Mom.

She was a short-haired woman with her hands in the pocket of the lab coat. There was no mistaking it. He had touched that beautiful face with his hands since he was a child. She was always the mother who gently embraced her child. But why is Mom with the researchers? Next to Mom was Dr. Wonho, and next to him, a seemingly affectionate couple stood together. A shiver ran down his spine. Trembling, he even crumpled the frame in his trembling hands. Unbelievably, the tall man, much taller than everyone else, looked remarkably similar to Kwak Soohwan.

Seokhwa shook his head and turned the frame to reveal the photo behind. He tore off the white paper wrapped around the back of the photo and held the worn picture in his hands.

Neat handwriting appeared on the back of the photo. Seokhwa held the photo tightly with both hands to avoid dropping it. He unzipped the zipper of the training top, put the photo inside, and closed it again. His heart thumped loudly. Was it the belated tension that was flooding in, or was it because of this photo? The words of his mother, who called herself Uprates, came to mind again. Then who is Serpent, after all?

Click, click, thump! In response to the sounds coming from the other side, Seokhwa quickly adjusted the gun. He said there were three shots left. Click, click, thud. Like when he turned the iron door a while ago, the rusty iron was rubbing against something. Seokhwa straightened his body in the direction of the sound.

One side of the wall began to shine in the shape of a long rectangle. It was painted to look like a wall, but it was a hidden door, the panic room.

Seokhwa checked if the slide was pulled smoothly once again.

“Oh no. Don’t shoot. I have no intention of causing harm.”

A voice that could sound gentle spoke up. The one revealed in the darkness was Choi Hoeon. He, who had torn off his upper garment earlier, was now wearing a thin sweater.

“If you come closer, I will shoot.”

Seokhwa aimed the gun in that direction and spoke as calmly as possible.

“Unfortunately, you have to go to Udo. If you go with the mask, you will die. So come with me. Misunderstandings may have occurred, but I came to save you, Doctor.”

“I refuse.”

If Choi Hoeon was surprised by the decisive refusal, he smiled awkwardly.

“Otherwise, Major Kwak Soohwan will be in greater danger.”

“Still… I refuse.”

Rather, I had a premonition that if I obediently followed Serpent, Kwak Soohwan would be in even greater danger. I pushed the gun back towards Choi Hoeon, who was trying to get closer. I was really going to shoot. I was determined to shoot when he crossed the bed line.

Seokhwa supported his opposite wrist with one hand, assuming the aiming position as he had learned at the Jeju Learning Center.

“If you come any closer…”

Bang! A gunshot echoed, making Seokhwa’s body flinch. It wasn’t the sound of his gunfire. Choi Hoeon, who had rushed forward like a snake, turned Seokhwa’s body and hugged him. Ouch! His wrist was roughly twisted, causing him to drop the gun, which Choi Hoeon picked up. Something damp was sensed, and blood was flowing from Choi Hoeon’s forearm.

“Annoying!”

The cheerful voice was quite angry. The person who followed Choi Hoeon out of the door where he appeared was none other than Lee Chaeyoon.

“Major..?”

“Doctor, sorry. I was going to shoot that bastard, but he noticed first.”

Choi Hoeon, who held Seokhwa from behind, squeezed his body tighter to prevent him from struggling.

“Amazing. Did you step on his back?”

“Well, shut up and send the doctor over here.”

“Thought you were just strong, but you’re good at trailing too.”

Choi Hoeon praised Lee Chaeyoon as if he were truly remarkable.

“Unfortunately, I’m not interested in Major Lee Chaeyoon, so stop following me now.”

“Nonsense. I’m not interested in you either.”

“You seem to be mistaken because you were so eager to see my bare skin.”

Lee Chaeyoon, who had been trying to look at his shoulder at the request of Kwak Soohwan, but had been thwarted by strong defenses, responded playfully. However, she ended up not being able to examine it thoroughly. She had probably followed me all along, but Dr. Choi, who was faster than her, had caught up, leading to the current situation.

As they were checking outside, a few trucks entered, and shortly afterward, the ammunition depot exploded. When the cargo compartment of the truck opened, and soldiers came out, the truck left again.