Chapter 91
“That I deceive people. Me.”
Yoon Soojin maintained her indifferent expression as she spoke.
“Don’t say that I’m not. Because I’m the one gathering people by creating a cult.”
“That’s right.”
She pressed her finger against my shoulder again. Ah, this is annoying.
“Am I the only one?”
“What?”
“Am I the only one doing this? Am I the only one deceiving people?”
Yoon Soojin’s eyes were unfocused, but having seen that look many times before, I could tell exactly what she was thinking and feeling.
She was consumed by her own thoughts. Trapped in a narrow-minded perspective.
Since I was curious what she would say, I remained silent. Seeming to think my silence meant I had nothing to say, Yoon Soojin’s eyes narrowed sharply. Her voice rose higher.
“Think about the past, before the world ended like this. Weren’t people being deceived back then? Huh? Did they all live, making objective judgments with smart minds and their own principles?”
“……”
“If there was a problem with the government, they’d drop entertainment gossip. If something problematic came up, they’d suddenly blow up old incidents out of proportion. Blinding eyes. Covering ears. Only allowing one voice to be heard. Making people only speak of dissatisfaction, jealousy, and envy towards others. Until the internet became a thing, that was possible, right? You remember too, don’t you? It’s what the military was fucking doing!”
With each word, Yoon Soo-jin’s voice rose, her eyes glaring at me with a bloodshot gaze.
“So. What are you trying to say?”
“If we’re both deceiving people, I’m better than the government. At least I don’t lure them by saying ‘We’re safe’ and then blow them up, you bastards!”
Well, in a way, she might have a point. Yeah, I can’t replicate the dirty deeds the military has done in various ways.
Yoon Soojin isn’t wrong. I understand her.
But that doesn’t mean I like it.
“Let me tell you something.”
I said, standing defiantly as I looked her straight in the eye.
“There’s one reason you’re not directly confronting the government.”
I let out a mocking laugh.
“You’re afraid to fight. No matter how many people you gather, your side is just a pebble while the government is a tractor.”
“Hey, Min Ahyeon.”
“I’m not done talking. With that difference in power, you changed your approach. What could that be a way to win without fighting? Ah, right. Public opinion. Gathering people. The government will be powerless if you can unite the citizens’ hearts and minds. And for that, you need religion, dammit.”
“Hey!”
“You gathered people because you’d likely lose in a direct confrontation with the military, right? And you say you’re better?”
Hah, a bitter laugh escaped me.
“Hey.”
I grabbed Yoon Soojin’s hand that was poking my shoulder and pushed her away forcefully.
“It’s really disgusting.”
I hate lies.
I hate self-righteous talk about sacrificing for a noble cause, blah blah.
Just admit it. You chose this path for your own well-being. Don’t make excuses about having no choice but to bring others along.
As I added those words, Yoon Soojin gritted her teeth, glaring at me. If looks could kill, she would have killed me tens of times over.
“Haah.”
After letting out a long sigh, Yoon Soojin suddenly raised her head again.
“Yeah. You’re right. I gathered people because I thought we’d lose against the government if we fought. So what? Is that not allowed?”
“If that was the case, you should have fought anyway.”
I thought of the revolutionary forces. The unnamed woman and Choi Yong-tae. Although my conversation with them was brief, I could understand their beliefs and speculate about their future actions.
They would fight. Unlike this cowardly Savior.
“Didn’t you hear people’s stories? Their mothers died right before their eyes. Their siblings died right in front of them. Bombs exploded and chemicals spilled right in front of me. They cried telling those stories. They hated the government. But they’re not fighting. They’re on the opposite side.”
“You…!”
“Just admit it honestly. You’re already running with your tail between your legs before even fighting.”
Yoon Soojin trembled all over, and seeing her like that, I felt disappointed. I, too, felt drained. I didn’t want to continue the conversation anymore.
“Hey, Min Ahyeon.”
Despite that, Yoon Soojin opened her mouth again.
“If we overthrow the government now, so what? Another government won’t be established, right?”
Then she shouted loudly.
“They’ll be the same bunch anyway! So there’s no need to choose! Just living amongst ourselves, just us, is enough as it is!”
“Puhahahahaha!”
I held my stomach and laughed for a long time at the extremely predictable statement. I had to laugh. It was funny. It was absurd. It hurt like my stomach was going to tear apart. So I laughed for a long time.
“What, what’s so funny? Why are you laughing like a crazy bitch?”
Yoon Soojin hesitated, and I tilted my head towards her.
“That statement, I used to hear it a lot before.”
“What?”
“It’s what the protest opposition bastards used to say.”
They’re all the same anyway. You get the same old stuff no matter who’s elected. Our lives won’t change. Why bother going all the way to Gwanghwamun? Nothing will change no matter what. Instead of that, study more. Instead of that, work more… What’s the difference between that and what Yoon Soojin just said?
The world may have ended, but nothing really changed. Some things seem deeply ingrained in human history, never to change.
“Ah, I’m sick of it.”
Ruffling my hair, I lightly made the sign of the cross towards Im Do-hyeon, who stood with a stiff expression beside Yoon Soojin.
“Brother. Looks like you’ll be screwed soon under a superior like this, so allow me to say a prayer for you in advance.”
“Hey! Min Ahyeon!”
“Let’s never see each other again. As humans or not.”
Im Do-hyeon frowned, but instead of replying, I gestured with my chin towards his hip, signaling him to take his hand off the gun he was about to draw.
After confirming he had lowered his gun, I turned my back on them. Yoon Soojin’s voice called out from behind.
“Where are you going?”
My destination was already decided.
“To protest.”
Well, at least that side doesn’t lie.
🕂
Shin Hae-jun strode down the headquarters’ corridor with measured steps—without a single flaw to pick at.
Everyone who spotted him saluted and greeted him. But Shin Hae-jun did not spare them a glance. He simply looked straight ahead. As if the path before him was his own way, as if walking like this was his only answer.
Before long, Shin Hae-jun’s steps slowed. He had arrived at the answer he sought.
Unlike the dilapidated headquarters building, this was the sole new thing. The thick wooden door, its grain still vibrant and varnish unpeeled, suggested it was made after the world’s demise.
After the world ended, once highly coveted professions—like Wall Street financiers and other white-collar jobs—instantly fell out of the caste system, while those formerly shunned in primary industries became the highest class.
It was the same for carpenters. Not only did carpenters build and repair houses, but they often made a comfortable living by catering to the desires of those in power, who promised them wealth in return. Yes, the powerful. No matter how the job hierarchy pyramid was flipped after the world’s end, one thing remained unchanging—the existence of the powerful. The powerful who controlled the military, Commander Shin Gi-tae.
Shin Gi-tae ruled over the skies of this ruined Korea, and was the one who extended his hand to Shin Hae-jun. That’s why Shin Hae-jun always followed Shin Gi-tae’s orders, including the command to kill his friend…without a word. Which is probably why he earned the derogatory nickname “military dog”—because he was Shin Gi-tae’s pet.
Shin Hae-jun looked at the wooden door once more. The door seemed to say that beyond this point was the life he had chosen, and thus he must take responsibility for it.
“Survive today as well.”
“I will survive too.”
As Je-ha’s voice lingered in his ears, Shin Hae-jun hesitated briefly with his hand on the door handle, deep in thought.
Power, the inverted pyramid, resources, convenience…Shin Hae-jun reviewed each one, then let out a chuckle as he turned the door handle, ignoring Aheon’s overlapping voice.
“Why the hell do you live like that?!”
🕂
Thank you for reading! ♡
