Rainbow City

Seokhwa’s family had been native to Jeju Island for generations. His great-grandparents were all from Jeju Island, and his grandmother had also married a man from Jeju.“That day was truly horrific. Those sailors from the mainland brought their ships and swarmed into Jeju port, and the military fired warning shots to make them go back. But those people came to survive, so would they turn back? Just when it was about to turn into utter chaos, the military shot and killed them all. As many people who had become ‘Adams’ died as did ordinary people. The sea, which had been blue, turned blood-red.”The state of emergency was declared the year the Adams appeared, and all ships and maritime activities around islands like Jeju and Ulleungdo were temporarily halted under military control.This was a desperate effort to protect areas free from the virus, but many who headed to the islands in desperation to survive were sacrificed. Seokhwa’s grandmother often said that they were simply lucky to have survived.Seokhwa’s mother was a precious daughter born late to his grandparents. She had to be put in an incubator due to premature birth, but hospitals had long since lost their former capabilities. Though the grandparents’ devoted efforts saved the dying child, Seokhwa’s mother remained frail all her life. People said it was a miracle that she managed to give birth to Seokhwa.“…Upon observation, Seokhwa seems to lack emotions. We don’t know when it started, but special people have begun to be born, haven’t they? People who are a bit different from ordinary people… Seokhwa showed outstanding academic performance, so we sent him to the S-Class run by the research center, but many there had similar personal opinions to mine. I wonder if Seokhwa lacks emotions…”“That’s a rude thing to say. Seokhwa thinks and feels just like everyone else. He just avoids forming deep relationships with people because he knows he’s weak. If he gets too close, he’ll end up being a burden to others. Thank you for your concern, but please leave now.”“Mother, Seokhwa will move to the Rainbow City research center after completing the S-Class courses. Judging by the current situation, three months should be enough to master them. What we need now are talents, nothing else. You know this, Mother. Seokhwa must leave Jeju. It’s fine now because you’re here, but if he moves to the Rainbow City research center, Seokhwa will need to build relationships with people who can help him.”“Do you think Seokhwa is living without difficulty because I’m here? You’re mistaken, Doctor. It’s actually the opposite.”His head was buzzing. His grandmother’s voice mingled with the voices of the doctor and his mother, who were in charge of the Jeju education center, creating a chaotic mix. It was like being submerged in a black sea, with only the buzzing voices audible. Then he felt someone cutting his hair, the sensation was unmistakable.“Seoul will be dangerous. Don’t go outside the Green Zone, understood?”His mother patted his shoulder after neatly cutting his hair.“Don’t sacrifice yourself to save others. Your safety comes first.”“…I understand.”“When you go to Seoul, make sure to find someone at the research center who will help you. Remember how you suddenly collapsed and had a concussion recently? Though you’ve gotten better, still…”“I will.”His mother worried about him, but Seokhwa worried about his mother in turn.Suddenly, he felt nauseous. It felt like the floor was shaking just like the day he left Jeju by boat. As he tossed and turned, something cold was placed on his forehead and body, and he felt a bit better.Seokhwa slowly calmed his breathing and touched his forehead. It was a damp towel. He opened his eyes and looked around.The familiar blue ceiling and windowless room, with a bathroom near the entrance, indicated it was a familiar type of lodging. However, the positions of the desk and table were different from his room. Looking at the table with a few books piled on it, he turned his gaze to the bedside. There was Kwak Soohwan.Kwak Soohwan was sitting on a chair, looking down at a book. No, he was actually reading, judging by the way he turned the pages. The sound of him turning one, two pages was pleasant. After about ten pages, Kwak Soohwan looked up. The moment their eyes met, he widened his eyes a bit. He was just about to change the towel.“You’re awake? How are you feeling?”“…I’m okay.”Seokhwa answered while still lying down, unable to get up easily.“Are you reading a book?”Kwak Soohwan closed the book with a thud and held it in one hand.“Does it look strange for an uneducated guy to read print? How about dropping that prejudice?”Kwak Soohwan put the book on the table, grabbed the towel, and rinsed it with cold water again. Unlike earlier, he simply threw it over to Seokhwa. Seokhwa thanked him and placed the cold towel on his body.“I’m here to protect Dr. Seok, but doesn’t this feel like nursing?”Seokhwa managed to sit up, leaning against the bed headboard. He realized then that he was completely naked. Fortunately, the towel covered both his upper and lower body, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about.This time, Kwak Soohwan handed him lukewarm water. Seokhwa drank it very slowly from the glass, which was half full. Kwak Soohwan was wearing a plain black military-issued T-shirt and comfortable-looking pants, with dog tags hanging around his neck, which Seokhwa hadn’t noticed before.As he drank the water, Seokhwa stared at the dog tags, and Kwak Soohwan lifted them. The front had the mark of Rainbow City—a goshawk—and the back had his identification details.[Army code major – 3121 Kwak Soohwan]It was also used to identify deceased soldiers.“Earlier… What were you reading?”“Don’t you have any pride, Dr. Seok?”Seokhwa sighed and put the cup down beside him.“I do.”“You know I’m younger than you, right? But I’m speaking informally, and you keep addressing me respectfully.”“Would you speak respectfully if I told you to?”“No. Since I met you on Jeju, I thought you were a kid.”He was about to tell Kwak Soohwan to speak respectfully but lacked the energy and just sighed. Seokhwa moved to the wall and lay down again.“You probably didn’t sleep because of me, so sleep beside me.”Though it was a double bed, it was quite cramped for two people.“Don’t you want to go back to your room?”“…No.”“Do you want me to carry you?”Seokhwa didn’t answer and turned his back to the wall. Showing his bare back with no intention to cover himself, it seemed he was just too tired to care about anything. Kwak Soohwan, also tired, crossed his arms, took off his shirt, and lay down on the bed. There was just enough space to avoid touching, and Seokhwa was still covered with the towel.Seokhwa’s side of the bed was still warm and damp from his body heat.Kwak Soohwan crossed his arms and looked at Seokhwa’s back. Specifically, his gaze landed on Seokhwa’s round, firm buttocks, and he chuckled quietly.“It seems like there’s an issue with the suppressant Dr. Seok developed, doesn’t it?”Seokhwa, who had been reluctant to respond, showed interest and turned around, causing Kwak Soohwan’s erect penis to brush against Seokhwa’s bare thigh.“…When did you take the suppressant?”“Yesterday, by the calendar.”Seokhwa blinked slowly, then pressed his palm against the bed to raise his upper body. As he stared intently at the erection, Kwak Soohwan, feeling mischievous, rubbed it with his hand.“I’m telling you, there’s a side effect.”Seokhwa’s expression was unreadable, but his deep, black eyes were filled with thought. He seemed to ponder deeply, as if genuinely considering whether there was a problem with the suppressant. After a long moment, he spoke abruptly.“Let me see.”“What?”Kwak Soohwan was both teasing and startled.Seokhwa, with a serious expression, crawled out of bed and gestured for Kwak Soohwan to sit up. He then sat on the floor himself.“Dr. Seok.”Kwak Soohwan, taken aback, voiced his confusion, but Seokhwa was already unzipping his pants.“You’re not a urologist, so why are you looking at my dick…”With a swift tug, Seokhwa pulled down Kwak Soohwan’s briefs. His penis, which had been hardening more assertively with each touch, sprang free. Seokhwa slowly rubbed his chin.“Major Kwak Soohwan’s penis…just hit my chin.”“Tell me something I don’t know.”Kwak Soohwan ran his hand through his hair in frustration.“Can you ejaculate?”Seokhwa’s tone was completely serious. Kwak Soohwan, still somewhat intoxicated from earlier, thought the situation was absurd—a researcher pulling out his dick to investigate a suppressant.“I don’t know.”Nodding as if he understood, Seokhwa moved to pull the briefs back up. Just then, Kwak Soohwan grabbed his wrist firmly.“Why don’t you try sucking it?”The light flickered off, then on again, revealing and concealing Seokhwa’s face. His lips parted slowly.“…No, that’s disgusting.”The light went out completely.Disgusting? That one word deflated Kwak Soohwan’s erection. He almost grabbed Seokhwa’s head to force it down but decided against it. He lay back down with his fly open. His erection was gradually subsiding as Seokhwa crawled over his body to return to his original spot. Kwak Soohwan clicked his tongue in disbelief.He didn’t even treat Seokhwa as a person, using his body to climb over like that. Seokhwa must have been exhausted to the point where even walking around the bed was too much effort. Luckily, the electricity was completely out. Otherwise, Kwak Soohwan might have grabbed that exposed butt.“That disgusting thing is on you too, Dr. Seok.”“Everyone has excretory organs.”“If you think it’s dirty, you can’t have sex.”There was a long pause before Seokhwa’s voice drifted in again.“Jellyfish and sea anemones have the same opening for their mouth and anus. Now that I think about it, maybe it’s not that dirty.”It was impossible to understand how Seokhwa arrived at that conclusion. The lights finally came on, revealing Seokhwa’s bare back, glistening with sweat. His breathing was quiet, but Kwak Soohwan knew he had fallen asleep because there was no reaction when he ran his hand over Seokhwa’s butt. Kwak Soohwan turned off the mood light. He clasped his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling.When he was a child, he used to sleep with his parents in a bed even smaller than this. Maybe the lack of discomfort brought back those familiar feelings. Kwak Soohwan brushed off the unnecessary thoughts and closed his eyes. It had been a long time since he slept next to someone.***Yeouido Shelter had not always been safe. It had been overrun by the Adam several times.Rainbow City, divided into zones of seven colors, could have different danger levels even within the same area. Yeouido, currently a green zone, had once been designated red.“As of 9 o’clock today, Uijeongbu has been downgraded from red to violet.”Korea, once divided into cities and provinces, had become a city known as Rainbow City after national unification. Many areas were designated as uninhabitable. Though the exact population was unknown, many civilians lived hidden in rugged areas. However, they were not recognized as citizens of Rainbow City.“Suwon has entered the yellow stage. However, one abnormality has been observed in this Adam.”Majors deployed in the field and senior officers directing from the shelters gathered in the 53rd-floor military conference room. Major General Park was present as well.Yang Sanghoon, who had previously exposed himself while drunk, continued the briefing with a straight face. Today was the turn of the Invincible Unit, to which Kwak Soohwan belonged.“An abnormality?”Major General Park inhaled deeply from his cigar and exhaled the smoke. Although it was a non-smoking building, no one would challenge the lofty general.“When attacked and faced with a disadvantageous situation, they retreat.”“What?”Major General Park stabbed his cigar into the ashtray.“They’re not soldiers; why would they retreat?”“This sign has been observed three times in the 10 Red Zones and twice in the 3 Violet Zones.”“Are you sure about this?”“We will gather more accurate data and report back.”Yang Sanghoon saluted crisply and returned to his seat from the podium.“Hey, Major Kwak Soohwan.”Kwak Soohwan, who had been sitting with his legs crossed under the table, stood up at Major General Park’s call.“You brat, what kind of posture is that for a soldier? Try to learn from Major Yang, huh? Where has all the discipline gone?”He was as nagging as Commander Jang. Even though he was only in his late 40s.“The Adam Retrieval Team said the Adam you collected from Zone 13 Red talked. Is that true?”Even though his posture was poor, for once he was impeccably dressed in his military uniform. Kwak Soohwan stood in place instead of going to the podium and began to speak.“It did talk. It looked almost like a person right before mutating into an Adam. Maybe Oh Cheongwoon’s Adam mutation was much slower than others. Usually, once infected, one mutates into an Adam within 5 to 10 minutes, so it is a bit strange. There were no other Adams underground besides Oh Cheongwoon. It wasn’t spontaneous combustion, and there’s no such thing as a natural Adam transformation, right?”“Don’t make assumptions, brat. Just report the facts. Soldiers shouldn’t mix their personal opinions into reports.”Despite his words, Major General Park cared for Kwak Soohwan as much as Commander Jang did.“Where’s Dr. Seok? I told you to bring him to today’s briefing.”“He was passed out.”Butt completely exposed.“Major Kwak Soohwan! How dare you speak like that in front of the Director!”Commander Jang, who had been quietly listening, raised his voice.“It’s fine, it’s fine. That brat’s behavior isn’t new.”Major General Park waved his hand dismissively, stood up, and picked up an unlit cigar. All the soldiers in the room stood up in unison, facing the Director. The sound of their uniforms rubbing against each other was synchronized.“Let’s end the meeting here. Kwak Soohwan, you will head out to the field soon. The higher-ups also want this.”He hadn’t been in detention for more than a few days, acting as Seokhwa’s guard instead. The higher-ups never intended to send Kwak Soohwan to detention in the first place. As Major General Park left the room, Commander Jang approached Kwak Soohwan, but then he received a radio message.[Commander, Dr. Seok is not in his room. There are no records of him entering the lab today either.]“What?”He had ordered someone to bring Seokhwa since Kwak Soohwan didn’t bring him out. But now, he was nowhere to be found?Commander Jang furrowed his brows and looked at Kwak Soohwan, who just shrugged his shoulders.“Dr. Seok is in my room.”“Hey, why is the doctor in your room?”Lee Chaeyoon, who had been waiting for the right moment to interject, suddenly stuck his face in.“Did something happen with the doctor last night?”Commander Jang also looked confused.“He collapsed right in front of me, so I brought him to my room. I took care of him all night.”He left out the part about giving him alcohol. After all, it was Seokhwa who drank it.“If that’s the case, you should have woken him up and brought him here. Is he feeling okay?”“I don’t know, he wouldn’t wake up.”He did try tapping him and calling, “Dr. Seok.”“So, the doctor isn’t dead, right?”Lee Chaeyoon said worriedly, causing Kwak Soohwan to smile silently. Seokhwa must really seem weak to others. Meanwhile, Yang Sanghoon, who blacked out last night, was casually asking who Dr. Seok was.***[The Ways of Love Between Him and Me]Seokhwa sat on the bed, blinking. He suffered from low blood pressure every morning. As he regained his composure, the title of a book on the table came into view. It seemed to be the book Kwak Soohwan was reading last night.He sat still until he felt strength return to his legs, then he stood up and reached for ‘The Ways of Love Between Him and Me.’ The cover was adorned with a cosmos flower, and the paper was quite discolored, indicating its age.Seokhwa absentmindedly flipped through the first few pages, feeling like a touching love story was about to unfold. After reading the beginning, he put the book back and glanced at the spines of other books on the table.‘Your Scent,’ ‘If We Love Like Us,’ ‘The Shackles of Sexuality,’ ‘One Night with the Teacher.’ It seemed Kwak Soohwan had a fondness for love stories. These were books stored in the shelter, with rental codes written on them. ‘One Night with the Teacher’ was particularly worn out, indicating it had been borrowed many times.Seokhwa, not entirely disinterested, mentally noted the titles. These books were published when the world was peaceful, and he thought he might read them later.He figured it was about time to go out…Beep, beep- The sound from the door drew Seokhwa’s attention.[Opening.]The system’s voice announced, and the door opened. Naturally, it was Kwak Soohwan who entered, followed by Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon. Kwak Soohwan suddenly spread his arms wide, blocking the door.“What are you doing? Move your arms! I can’t see!”Despite Lee Chaeyoon’s complaints, he maintained his position and spoke.“Put some clothes on.”Only then did Seokhwa realize he was completely naked. Despite the embarrassment, he moved slowly like a slug to pick up the clothes from the floor, causing Kwak Soohwan to sigh in exasperation.There used to be guys in the military who would ask others to pick up the soap. In this situation, Seokhwa was practically inviting trouble. He had no sense of caution, possibly because he was too weak to take care of himself, let alone be aware of his surroundings.Once Kwak Soohwan confirmed Seokhwa was dressed, he removed his arm from blocking the door. Lee Chaeyoon, having noticed Seokhwa’s state, had been waiting quietly.As Seokhwa walked out, he greeted Lee Chaeyoon.“Hello.”“Hi, doctor. Are you okay? I heard you collapsed yesterday.”Seokhwa wondered if all of Kwak Soohwan’s friends were so informal, but it didn’t particularly bother him.“I’m fine.”“Hello, Dr. Seok. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Major Yang Sanghoon from the Invincible Platoon.”From behind Lee Chaeyoon, Yang Sanghoon politely greeted him. Not all of Kwak Soohwan’s friends spoke informally, it seemed. But this wasn’t their first meeting.“…Rock.”“Pardon?”When Seokhwa muttered, Yang Sanghoon widened his eyes.“Dr. Seok, that guy loses his memory when he drinks. He doesn’t remember anything from last night.”“What’s a rock?” Yang Sanghoon asked Kwak Soohwan.“Rock, my ass. You’re a grain of sand, you brat.”Yang Sanghoon acted as if his groin hurt and brought his hand down there but didn’t actually touch it.“But why is everyone here….”Out of nowhere, Lee Chaeyoon made a V sign in front of Kwak Soohwan’s face.“I heard Adams have been acting strange lately. According to Yang Sanghoon, Adams are moving like people, right? You saw it yourself.”“It was a bit odd. Usually, they never retreat even when hit, but there were some that ran away.”Seokhwa tilted his head slightly. Adams running away? When he looked at Kwak Soohwan, he also seemed troubled. The strange phenomenon they experienced with Oh Cheongwoon was unprecedented.“Anyway, let’s go have breakfast first!”Doctor, if you’re still feeling unwell, should I give you a piggyback ride? Lee Chaeyoon pointed to her back with a thumbs-up. Seokhwa declined and started walking on his own.The three Majors adjusted their pace to match Seokhwa’s slower steps. If they were here to talk about the strange behavior of Adams, Kwak Soohwan could have come alone. Joining them for breakfast felt strange.Before heading down to Jeju Island, Seokhwa had spent a long time living in this shelter. Without Dr. Oh Yangseok, he always ate alone. He never had much chance to get close to the soldiers, and many of them were frustrated by his weak constitution. Seokhwa tried to walk faster but kept to his natural pace, not wanting to waste energy.Since it was a late breakfast, the dining hall was relatively quiet. However, the remaining food was cold, and the popular kimchi had already run out. Unlike the first day, the dining staff served Seokhwa reasonable portions of rice and side dishes. The rumors about him face-planting into his tray had spread, and someone might have ordered them to give him smaller portions to avoid waste.“They say the doctor eats like a mouse, but it’s more than that,” Lee Chaeyoon laughed, pointing at Seokhwa’s tray.Still, I eat more than a mouse… Seokhwa didn’t react and placed his tray on an empty spot. Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon sat across from him, while Kwak Soohwan sat beside him.“I eat quite slowly,” Seokhwa said before picking up his spoon.“Really? I eat really fast!”True to her word, she had already eaten half her food. Yang Sanghoon was no different. Kwak Soohwan, on the other hand, ate at a pace comparable to Seokhwa’s.“Take your time, Doctor.”Yang Sanghoon smiled kindly. Seokhwa wanted to smile back, but his lips wouldn’t cooperate. Even smiling took energy, and showing a range of expressions required strength he didn’t have. Though he had improved, he spent his childhood looking blank, his mouth slightly open. To conserve energy, Seokhwa’s facial expressions had regressed.“Doctor, after breakfast, we need to go to the zoo.”“The zoo?”As Seokhwa asked her, Kwak Soohwan slid his water cup towards him. He was indeed thirsty.“Dr. Seok probably doesn’t even know where the zoo is.”Did any zoos survive outside Jeju or Ulleungdo? Seokhwa wondered as he drank the water.“It’s in Zone 8 Red!”A zoo in the Red Zone? The Adam virus could infect animals too.“We just call it a zoo. It’s where we keep Adams for research.”This reminded him of horror and zombie movies, where capturing and experimenting on zombies often led to disaster. But Rainbow City had already experienced many such crises.About 30 years ago, a soldier suffering from PTSD released the Adams kept underground, causing chaos. Since then, any Adams for research were kept in the Red Zone, not the Green Zone, to prevent risk. They now called this area a zoo, and new terms had arisen in his absence. Seokhwa chewed his food thoroughly before washing it down with more water.Wiiiiiiing—Beeeeep— Beeeeep— Beeeep—A sudden, ear-piercing siren made Seokhwa cover one ear. His eyelids twitched rapidly. This siren shouldn’t sound here, as there shouldn’t be any Adams inside this shelter.[Emergency, Emergency. A critical situation is reported at the Yeouido Shelter in the Green Zone. Emergency, Emergency. All personnel, prepare for combat. An Adam has appeared in B-23. There is a 75% chance of spreading to the 5th floor within 3 minutes. Emergency, Emergency.]Mother’s shrill warning blared. This was a first-class emergency alert designated by the Unified Nation. Everyone in the dining hall, including Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon, jumped to their feet. Amidst the chaos, Lee Chaeyoon shoved the remaining food into her mouth. Yang Sanghoon quickly tossed a sausage into her mouth as well.Seokhwa remained frozen, holding his spoon amidst the bewildering alarm.“Dr. Seok,” Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm to lift him up, “Do you want to run or get a piggyback ride?”Despite the chaos, Seokhwa quickly made a decision. Being carried would be easier than running himself. Without a word, he moved behind Kwak Soohwan and wrapped his arms around his neck. He could feel Kwak Soohwan’s body tremble. Why? It turned out he was laughing in disbelief as he hoisted Seokhwa onto his back.“Let’s go.”Seokhwa urged him, knowing this was no time to dawdle. In response to the emergency, the elevators had shut down, and the system was closing off sections from the basement upwards. Soldiers trapped below wouldn’t be able to join them and would face the Adams alone, with predictable results. This was why the researchers’ labs were located on the upper floors: they were less capable of evacuating quickly than soldiers.Kwak Soohwan and his colleagues swiftly ascended to the 48th floor, the final defense line of the Yeouido Shelter. Despite the grueling climb, they maintained their pace without a break. Seokhwa, on the verge of fainting from nausea, struggled to keep up.[Yeouido Shelter 20th floor annihilated, 48th floor closure countdown: 1 minute. 59, 58, 57…]Mother’s calm voice contrasted with the blaring sirens.“Ah, shit! What’s with the fucking countdown!”A sergeant ahead of Kwak Soohwan cursed at Mother while sprinting up the stairs at an incredible speed.“Freak, keep dawdling like that, and you’re dead,” Lee Chaeyoon taunted as she raced ahead with Yang Sanghoon. Seokhwa realized he couldn’t go on like this.“Haa, Major Kwak Soohwan.”“I’m the one running, so why are you out of breath, Dr. Seok?”“Holding on takes strength too.”Seokhwa loosened his grip on Kwak Soohwan’s neck.“…Just leave me here.”“What am I supposed to tell Commander Jang? There’s no time to argue, so hold on tight.”They couldn’t both die. Seokhwa tried to push off and stand on his own, but Kwak Soohwan wrapped him in his cape like a bundle.“I never even carried my little brother like this.”Kwak Soohwan began running even faster. Seokhwa, giving up on struggling, held on quietly. If he could run like this, he wouldn’t have to rely on others and be a burden, despite his special treatment for being a researcher.[20, 19, 18]They were now on the 43rd floor. Reaching the 48th floor in 18 seconds seemed impossible.“It’s okay, go on without me. There are others who can continue the research.”“If there were many replacements, would the higher-ups have assigned me to you? Hold on tight.”Kwak Soohwan gripped the handrail on the 46th floor and used the momentum to leap up the stairs. Seokhwa’s head spun.[5, 4, 3]As Mother’s countdown neared zero, Seokhwa felt guilty for putting Kwak Soohwan’s life at risk. Just then, Kwak Soohwan shouted towards the 48th floor.“Dr. Seok is flying, catch!”Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa by the scruff of his neck and threw him forward. Wrapped in the cape, Seokhwa was thrown under the closing iron gate, where Yang Sanghoon caught him.“Nice catch,” Yang Sanghoon said, giving a thumbs-up for the good pass.“Freak, go suffer,” Lee Chaeyoon waved leisurely. Even though the Adams were coming, their relaxed demeanor baffled Seokhwa.“Major… Major Kwak Soohwan is still out there,” Seokhwa, expressionless but pale, stared at Kwak Soohwan outside the gate.“Listen to me, Dr. Seok. I saved your brilliant mind for humanity’s sake. Don’t forget me, regret not… well, let’s skip that part. Live well,” Kwak Soohwan said earnestly, gripping the gate.What’s happening? In the few days since arriving in Seoul, a doctor was assassinated, Senior Oh Cheongwoon died, and now the supposedly secure Yeouido Shelter was breached by Adams. Worst of all, Kwak Soohwan was at risk because of him.His mother always told him not to sacrifice himself for others, but now someone was sacrificing themselves for him.“Major Kwak Soohwan,” Seokhwa’s lips trembled.“If only you’d listened, there’d be no regrets. Farewell, Dr. Seok. You’re quite an intriguing person,” Kwak Soohwan teased.“Is he filming a movie?” Lee Chaeyoon laughed, mocking Kwak Soohwan. The soldiers behind him, who hadn’t made it inside, also looked defeated, cursing instead of preparing for combat.Yang Sanghoon supported the staggering Seokhwa from behind.“Are you okay, Dr. Seok?”“I’m fine, but…” Seokhwa, his shoulders shaking intermittently, answered.“It’s your first time experiencing this, huh?”“What?” Seokhwa looked up at Yang Sanghoon with confusion.“This isn’t real; it’s an emergency drill,” Yang Sanghoon explained.A drill? Seokhwa’s eyes filled with doubt as he looked at Yang Sanghoon. Feeling a bit guilty, Yang Sanghoon tried to smile.“It’s just a drill. After the Gangnam Shelter breach, they started these. Soldiers who don’t make it in time get extra training.”“Freak’s first time, poor guy. Dr. Seok, you know? Once, Freak threw me right at the 48th floor entrance. I had to go through this too. He’s a bad guy,” Lee Chaeyoon chimed in.Seokhwa still stared at Kwak Soohwan, pale-faced.“So… this isn’t real?”Kwak Soohwan, with a handsome smirk, grinned from beyond the gate.“Did you get scared, Dr. Seok?”Seokhwa clenched his trembling fist weakly.“…Son of a bitch.”