Free Web Novel“Even with contamination this severe, all they’re doing is chasing after a purifier, it’s just....”
Joo Hoyoung trailed off, but everyone already knew what he meant. It was the Bumram that had persistently pursued Yohan through the Abyss to erase him. As the atmosphere grew heavy, Lee Hyunmook spoke in a ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ calm voice.
“Now that things have come to this, we need to interrogate the ones who attacked the memorial. But there are too many eyes and ears here to deal with it in this place.”
At present, the contaminated with parasites removed were stored inside Yoon Seungryong’s “pocket.” According to him, it was fine since he periodically put in fresh air, but living people weren’t vegetables or fruit seeds—being trapped for long couldn’t be good.
Yet if they processed the matter within Taeyang Guild, taking those people out to purify them would cause a scene, and what happened afterward would be just as troublesome. These days, everywhere you looked people carried body cams or filmed with phones.
Security was so strict that CCTV even picked up sound, replayed every minute, every second. How could they explain sudden outsiders appearing in the guild? And putting someone back into the “pocket” after they’d been restored to normal was out of the question. If by chance Lee Chanha’s illusion ability was discovered, it would cause serious problems—especially now that government surveillance had grown so tight they even used thermal imaging cameras. Hyunmook continued.
“But luckily, we happen to have just the right place for handling this sort of thing.”
At that, the worry weighing on Yohan’s expression brightened.
“Ah! You mean the Contaminated Treatment Detention Center!”
“Yes, Yohan. There, you can purify as many as you like.”
Maybe it was purifier instinct, but ever since returning, Yohan had been itching to purify every contaminated person he saw. Hearing that he could do so as much as he wanted already had him excited.
“Let’s depart immediately. This isn’t something that will benefit from being drawn out.”
All the team members agreed with Hyunmook’s order. Since he was currently attached to Little Sheep Team, Yohan boldly filed for leave. The team had been organized from the start on the assumption that he wouldn’t be included, so his absence didn’t hinder rift expeditions. freewёbnoνel.com
Thus the entire Taeyang Team set out for the Contaminated Treatment Detention Center. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
* * *
Detention centers, or quarantine facilities for the contaminated, were usually built on islands. That way, even if a contaminated escaped, civilian casualties could be minimized.
The ones built by the government or by Taeyang Guild were no different. Which was why the morning schedule was filled entirely with traveling by boat. Disguised by Lee Chanha’s illusions, Yohan secretly boarded. No one noticed.
“It really feels like we’re stowing away.”
Clinging close, Yohan whispered, his eyes shining. In truth it was stowing away, since they were slipping past Special Suppression Division surveillance. Hyunmook, charmed by his young lover, gently ruffled his hair.
Since the rift crisis, with attacks occurring on sea and land alike, global trade had sharply declined. As a result, many ships were sold off at dirt-cheap prices. Taeyang Guild purchased one to use as transport for heavily contaminated individuals.
With Lee Chanha’s help concealing him, Yohan watched from the captain’s room. While Special Suppression troops maintained strict vigilance, large container boxes were steadily loaded onto the ship. From time to time came thumping, scratching, wailing, or sobbing sounds within. Hearing them alone filled Yohan with pity.
“In truth, the government must have been secretly relieved by our guild’s proposal. Confining the contaminated costs far more than people think. Conditions were surely miserable.... If they died in isolation, officials likely welcomed it and left them to rot. No need to see it to know.”
Explaining quietly, Lee Chanha made Yohan sigh. Especially these days, dangerous as it was, heavily contaminated locked away only consumed money—their treatment was miserably poor.
Since Taeyang Guild offered Eternal Stones in exchange for contaminated patients, the government had no strong reason to oppose. Still, worried that healed Awakeners would strengthen Taeyang, most of those handed over today were civilians.
At last, the hundreds of contaminated-filled containers were loaded. Special Suppression troops escorted the shipment to the island where Taeyang’s Contaminated Treatment Detention Center stood. Touring the facilities spacious enough to house hundreds, one of the troops said in a flat voice:
“Even this much won’t do any good. To people who’ve gone mad, such things are luxuries.”
Hidden under Lee Chanha’s illusion, Yohan bristled. But when he saw even his teammates nodding as if to say, “Well, that’s true,” he wilted, crestfallen. Against his will, he remembered his brother—shut in the basement, nailed to the floor, refusing to eat, staring blankly.
“Then we’ll unload the containers now.”
“No, I’ll do it. With fuel prices these days, no need to run heavy equipment.”
With a casual answer, Seo Yakrin stepped forward. At once her hair lifted as if gravity had ceased. A golden ripple streamed from her body, seized the containers, and lowered them one by one. Watching, a Special Suppression troop showed awe. Standing nearby, Hyunmook asked lightly:
“How is Captain Jung Siyoung these days?”
The soldier hesitated, then flicked off the recorder pinned to his chest before answering quietly.
“...Not well. Even purifiers haven’t been much help. The captain overextended herself too much. Still, it’s fortunate Lee Hyunmook has returned. Even if the captain can no longer serve... even in the worst case, we’ll be able to cope.”
His voice was heavy with bitterness. It seemed Captain Jung Siyoung held deep trust within the division.
While the two spoke, the containers were set on the island. Seo Yakrin unlocked and flung open the doors with her telekinesis. A heavy stench wafted out, but everyone present was long accustomed to it.
The half-dead contaminated were lifted out. Their conditions were miserable, making confinement to cells easy. Occasionally, a vigorous one appeared, but Seo Yakrin suppressed them without trouble.
After confirming every inmate secured and filming proof, the Special Suppression Division boarded their helicopter and departed. Waving after it, Joo Hoyoung grinned.
“I noticed them planting bugs and mini-cameras here and there earlier.”
“Really? Then let’s wipe them out all at once.”
Hyunmook knelt and pressed his palm to the ground. Crack! A spark leapt, and a faint current spread.
Harmless to people, but lethal to electronics, the wave covered the building, frying every bug and camera instantly. No matter how many times they saw it, it was an enviable ability. Confirming there were no helicopters, drones, or other craft nearby, Lee Chanha went to fetch Yohan from the boat. He hopped down, bounding over, and asked at once:
“Then, can I open the Purification Field now?”
Hyunmook caught him as he barreled in, smiling firmly.
“Of course not.”
“Not...? But the Special Suppression Division already left....”
Disappointed, Yohan looked up at him—only to have his head affectionately ruffled by several teammates. Bemused, he blinked while his lover, doted on, turned his gaze to the sky.
“If you deploy the Purification Field, it’ll definitely be detected by satellite.”
“Satell... ite...?”
Yohan had never even thought of satellite surveillance. Blankly, he stared upward. All his high-tier Awakener eyes could see was the blue sky. Hyunmook smiled as he offered an alternative.
“But purifying them one by one would take far too long, with hundreds of contaminated. So how about this instead?”
“How...?”
* * *
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
■han■ clawed madly at his arms. It itched. Ever since he’d become like this, the itching never stopped. No matter how much he scratchedscratchedscratchedscratched and kept scratching, it never ended. Rubbing his whole body against wall and floor, he mumbled, mumblemumbled.
“Mo-om’s worried. Gotta go home. Head hurts. Itches. But. But. But. No. Hot. Cold. Hurts. Hurts.”
It was already far too late to leave work. But ■han■ knew he couldn’t go home. Last time he left, something terrifying and awful and unlucky happened, and he did something bad, and so he was locked up. Always hungry, always cold, always hot. Even when he cried out that he wanted his mom, no one listened. Half-rotted food was all he got. He gagged. Hungry. Sad. Itchy.
“Itches, itches, itches.”
Unable to endure, he scratched his cellmate’s skin bloody too. What happened then? Everything was hazy, blurry, a distant fog. He only knew it had been horrible... unbearably drowsy, and then.... Why was he here again?
“Gotta go home. Itches. Gotta go home. Mooo-om’s worried.”
Scraping his skin raw, tormented by unending itch, he writhed. Then, from outside, a hearty voice rang out.
