TTOA Chapter 98

“In the end, it’s because of the creatures. Fighting monsters, surviving monsters, repeating that horrific act for a century has solidified this unjust system. It’s become a world chasing only control, isolation, and efficiency.”

Even as he spoke with spirited conviction, Kwon Jae-jin’s tightly clenched fist trembled with instability. The back of his neck was chillingly cold, and his mouth tasted bitter, as if he had been chewing on a blade.

“I don’t know if it’ll work, but let’s turn it all upside down together. This thing.”

“……”

“Let’s overturn the premise so that even mutants can live regardless.”

Seo Eui-woo stared at Kwon Jae-jin, who held a grand ambition like an iceberg, with eyes frozen like a painting.

Looking at those star-like, glittering black eyes, pale cheeks, and parched lips, his head seemed to echo loudly. And then he felt like he was sinking somewhere.

Seo Eui-woo was being buried alive within Kwon Jae-jin.

He was endlessly digging in, unable to escape. In a different sense than before.

Seo Eui-woo had always been drawn to Kwon Jae-jin, but this wasn’t just a matter of being attracted. He was firmly captured. His soul was being engraved with the other person, imprinted so that it could never be removed again.

“Seo Eui-woo-ssi also regretted it, didn’t you? If we were both formally registered Espers.”

“Or if we were both just ordinary people.”

“We would have lived normally. Enjoyed life.”

Each word Kwon Jae-jin uttered pressed down, and the fierce Esper power gradually subsided. The direction of the storm had reversed.

Engraving Kwon Jae-jin’s awakening onto his retinas, Seo Eui-woo replied chillingly.

“……Yes, that’s right.”

Deep inside his heart, something viscous was dripping, pooling beneath his fierce emotions. He didn’t know what that was, something with a higher density than affection or lust that was sinking, but it had a weight that he couldn’t easily put into words.

“I… that’s how I feel.”

Seo Eui-woo had wanted to nail it down and shout it out long ago.

Kwon Jae-jin is Seo Eui-woo’s, Kwon Jae-jin is Seo Eui-woo’s Guide, Kwon Jae-jin is Seo Eui-woo’s lover.

“I want to be firm with Jae-jin-ssi. I wish nothing could invade our relationship.”

The resolution had been prepared long ago.

Slaughtering all the Espers, abandoning everything and running away, such determination was laughable to Seo Eui-woo. Now, even more than that was fine.

“I know, why couldn’t I realize something so obvious…? Something so simple…”

Seo Eui-woo muttered to himself quietly. He sounded ruthless, as if he would eliminate anything that stood in their way.

Overturn the military, the rules, and common sense, and eliminate the creatures. If he could become firm with Kwon Jae-jin by doing so, he would certainly do it. He could even create a paradise just for Kwon Jae-jin alone. So that this world would become his playground.

“I, I… I want to overturn everything and live with Jae-jin-ssi. Properly.”

“Yes, so do I. Properly…”

“…Okay. Let’s try living like that.”

The now-calm Esper power became a gentle breeze, stroking Jae-jin’s hair. It revealed his white forehead, and his hair scattered. Seo Eui-woo spread his broad arms and hugged Kwon Jae-jin.

Leaving the Espers who were lying unconscious at the bottom, Seo Eui-woo and Kwon Jae-jin soared even higher. They floated close to the clouds, rising above the world that had become as small as a toy.

“I’ll rewrite fate. For Jae-jin-ssi.”

*

The cherished mansion was half-destroyed, and the armed Espers were crushed like gnats.

Seo Eui-woo didn’t have an Identification Tag around his neck, and Kwon Jae-jin didn’t have a ring on the ring finger of his left hand.

Sudden, chaotic, and unplanned.

Everything was twisted, tangled, and crumbled. It was as if they had been driven into the dark, unable to guess what lay ahead. Kwon Jae-jin, who had been confined within the blocked house, was now looking out over the entire world overnight. Honestly, he was bewildered and dumbfounded. The lack of a sense of reality was too great. This situation itself was unreal. However, the conviction that this path was right was clear.

“As Seo Eui-woo-ssi knows, I regressed.”

It was like that endless sea from before.

The two people standing on the sea, looking together at the horizon, shared a mirage-like conversation. Jae-jin murmured like a sigh.

“I went back exactly four years. That means I know the future of the next four years.”

Seo Eui-woo’s mansion had a TV, and of course, there was news.

Kwon Jae-jin hadn’t taken a single step outside the house, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know anything about the outside world. Rather, he knew the major events to a T. The more he was confined, the more interested he became in the outside world, as if it were a side effect.

Of course, he also knew the high-ranking government officials who appeared on the news. Including military officials, all of them.

“Among them, there was a major incident in which about half of the military generals were replaced. An incident where they were all dishonorably discharged and personnel changes were made.”

As a result of ignoring the disaster warnings that a small number of researchers in the research and development department had repeatedly made for several years, a terrible tragedy occurred. The damage that year was enormous, resulting in the closure of three Frontier Districts and one general Residential District.

“Creature Wave.”

Also known as Monster Wave.

“It is a phenomenon in which rampant monsters run wild at regular intervals. Not only the commonly known Beta Creatures, but also the original Alpha Creatures that live only inside the Gate pour out and attack humans.”

According to research, it occurs exactly every 34 years and 2 months. The first Gate Impact occurred a century ago, so the Creature Wave has only occurred twice so far. This is the third wave.

“Hmm… I don’t think I’ve heard of it.”

Seo Eui-woo nodded slowly. Even after sweeping away all the Espers who were tracking Kwon Jae-jin and neutralizing them, he was not at all relieved and was firmly holding Jae-jin in his arms to protect him.

He strongly constricted his chest with both arms, covering his entire body like a shield. Not only that, but a transparent barrier surrounded Kwon Jae-jin as firmly and perfectly as a wall that nothing could penetrate.

Yet, perhaps because he was still uneasy, Seo Eui-woo’s pulse was beating violently. The veins in his neck were also standing on end. Jae-jin hesitated and patted his angry back.

“It’s natural since the top military officials are concealing it now. Even at the time, no one seriously believed the predictions. Not at all that such a great tragedy would occur…”

In fact, the world only began to stir after the Creature Wave broke out. A few researchers from ordinary backgrounds exposed the truth to the media, and as the voices of criticism grew louder, the current government, concerned about its approval ratings, held the top military officials responsible. In the end, the generals were all replaced, but…

‘Even so, they must have all retired with a hefty sum and are living luxurious lives.’

Anyway, the important fact is that the Wave will occur soon, and Kwon Jae-jin knows about it.

“In my memory, the current top military officials will be divided in half. Those who overlook the Wave and those who try to prepare for it anyway. These are the two forces. If we cleverly exploit this discord, there will be a chance of success.”

To counter the Wave, even the power of uncontrollable Espers will be needed. Since it’s not a situation to be picky, they will try to use mutants rather than kill them. Kwon Jae-jin is, in any case, an S-rank Guide, and Seo Eui-woo is also an S-rank Esper. Their cooperation will be needed.

“……Well.”

Seo Eui-woo, who had been listening quietly, smiled faintly. It was a smile as if he had shed a layer of skin. He seemed more serious and grave than yesterday. He seemed mature, but on the other hand, he also felt dangerous.

“I don’t think so.”

Seo Eui-woo met Kwon Jae-jin’s gaze with sparkling eyes. His long, single-eyelid eyes were curved beautifully as usual, but an alien light flickered, making it easy to notice the change at a glance.

It was intelligent, persistent, and cruel.

It was like the eyes of a beast that had sunk its fangs into the neck of its enemy.

“Who would believe it? The fact that Jae-jin-ssi regressed and knows the future. How are you going to gain trust? Are you going to give up your head and memories like you did to me?”

“Ah, that…”

“No. Even if Jae-jin-ssi says he will, I can’t allow it. Entrust Jae-jin-ssi’s head to someone? I can’t stand to see that.”

“……”

“And even if the higher-ups believe in the Creature Wave, it’s unclear whether they’ll accept mutants as well.”

Seo Eui-woo rejected the negotiation at once. The thought of giving Kwon Jae-jin’s head to someone else was something he couldn’t dare to allow.

“That’s true, but…”

When the Creature Wave occurs, Seo Eui-woo’s innate power will be a great asset. He had splendidly crushed the Espers just now, so the Center wouldn’t be able to overlook it either. The same goes for Kwon Jae-jin, who is the only one who can Guide him.

“Haha, how about we do the opposite instead?”