IH Ch 39

Chapter 39

“…….”

“I let my guard down because I heard that Yu Jishin, who was with him, wasn’t an Awakened. I had something to take care of at the time, so I didn’t pay much attention, and in hindsight, I think I did a very sloppy job with the inspection. Our S-class Guildmaster Hwang Jae-i may not be someone who would lose to anyone, but he should never have been left alone with someone of such uncertain identity.”

As if he had never made a fuss earlier, the Association President stared intently at Hwang Jae-i.

People who had been brainwashed and gaslit by Lee Myunghwan for a long time were dangerous. Ordinary housewives had attempted bombings in shopping malls, or taken children hostage and climbed rooftops threatening to jump in order to impose their will. They were no different from cancer cells infiltrating normal life.

Even if S-class Yu Jishin had said he wasn’t an Awakened, a more thorough inspection should have been conducted. It might be too late to say such things now, but Kimwi was genuinely concerned for Hwang Jae-i. Understanding that, Jae-i softened his tone and opened his mouth.

“……I just want to confirm something.”

Ever since that guy came, every morning when he woke up, that guy was in his arms. He had to figure out why he kept seeking him out.

If the symptoms disappeared once the guy was gone, that would be strange in itself. It would mean he had behaved that way because of him. If it turned out to be some hidden skill of that guy’s, and he ended up being affected by it in any way, that would be very problematic.

So, the reason he wanted to bring him back was only that.

Upon arriving at the fourth floor where the research and laboratory rooms were located, Dohwa had to change clothes. The pants were ordinary, but the top had to be fastened in the front with ties. If the ties came undone, it looked like the front would open completely. Bothered by that, Dohwa secured the ties even more tightly and put on glasses larger than his own face.

In the mirror attached to the inside of the locker where the clothes were kept, there was a tiny face that couldn’t be fully hidden even behind the glasses.

“…….”

It had been a long time since he had looked at his own face directly.

There was nothing flawed or particularly ugly about it, but Dohwa disliked his own face. When he wore the iron mask, he hadn’t cared, but now that it was off, he kept trying to cover his face whenever he could. Even now, wearing glasses, he habitually gathered his hair to cover his face.

Perhaps because of that, when they were leaving today, Hwang Jae-i had packed a hat and the very glasses he was wearing now for him. Though he wore a sullen expression, Dohwa had felt that he still cared.

So then, maybe he would come to get him.

If Hwang Jae-i didn’t come for him, he would probably have to stay here. He might even be moved to a prison managed by the Association.

“…….”

Dohwa’s expression darkened as he fidgeted with his fingers. Just then, knock knock, a knocking sound was heard. Dohwa felt around his face for the glasses and cautiously stepped outside.

“You were taking a while. I was wondering if something had happened.”

“……No.”

Dohwa glanced at Mason, who had been waiting outside, then tried to lower his head even more. Just then, a mask was extended toward him.

“…….”

Wondering what it was, Dohwa glanced at Mason, but he merely smiled. Dohwa accepted the mask and put it on. Pressing the mask over his nose and lips with his hand, he felt somewhat at ease. Until now, Dohwa had kept his head bowed so low it was almost touching his chest, but now he finally lifted it slightly, and Mason spoke.

“Shall we begin, then? First, we’ll start with a blood test. After that, you’ll have a brief meeting with someone who might be your family.”

Someone who might be his family. It would be an interview with someone who mistakenly believed Dohwa was their blood relative. Dohwa didn’t think the people looking for him were truly his family. Even if they met, it would probably be a waste of time—but still, he was curious. Just in case.

“Shall we go?”

Dohwa responded with a nod.

They immediately moved to the examination room, conducted a basic physical check-up, drew his blood, and after waiting briefly, he was guided to a small room. Already seated there was an elderly man with snow-white hair. The weary-faced old man, who had been nervously waiting, widened his eyes the moment he saw Dohwa enter.

“Ah…….”

He opened his mouth, but couldn’t continue speaking and tried to stand up, only for the Hunter sitting with him to calm him.

“Sir, please remain seated.”

“Hunter-nim, that child, that child is…….”

“You can confirm it now. I’ll be here to assist you.”

At the Hunter’s words, the elderly man looked back at Dohwa, then sat back down in his chair. Even then, his eyes remained fixed on Dohwa, as if desperately searching for a trace of someone he knew. But Dohwa was wearing both glasses and a mask. There was no way to see his face, and the old man voiced his frustration.

“I can’t see the child’s face.”

“Yes, I know. Let’s sit and start talking first.”

The Hunter also found Dohwa’s appearance curious, but he couldn’t just forcefully remove the mask. He had received strict instructions from his superior not to touch the subject. Dohwa was someone involved with a cult organization. No one knew what kind of sudden action he might take. The Hunter’s job was to protect the elderly man and ensure his safety.

Dohwa sat across from them. His exam gown looked loose on his thin frame, and his hair was long. At first glance, one might think he was a girl, but his chest was flat. The large black eyes visible beneath the lenses briefly looked at the Hunter before lowering again. Seeing that, the Hunter asked,

“What is your name?”

“……Dohwa.”

Though it was a very quiet voice, it was still audible.

The Hunter checked the personal information of the grandson that the elderly man had previously provided. The name didn’t match. Flustered, the old man shifted in his seat and stammered, “No, that is—,” but the Hunter instead asked a few more questions.

The age when he had ended up with Lee Myunghwan’s group. The circumstances at the time. None of it matched.

The grandson the old man was looking for had disappeared after going to church with friends from the neighborhood. His son and daughter-in-law had died in an accident, so the old man’s only remaining blood relative was his grandson.

If the boy had gone missing in elementary school, the likelihood of him surviving to this point was low. Nevertheless, the old man seemed to cling to the belief that the cult had taken his grandson. Without that belief, he probably wouldn’t have been able to endure.

“While you were living there, you might’ve been brainwashed—yes, that’s right. Couldn’t that have happened? Child, look at your grandmother. Do you really not remember anything?”

“…….”

“You went to church with the kids next door in elementary school. Everyone else came back, but you, only my grandchild, never returned……!”

As he spoke, emotion welled up and the elderly man began to sob.

Saying his son was dead and only the child remained, he clutched at his chest as if tearing at it in anguish. It was heartbreaking. What was the right thing to do in this moment? Should he apologize for not being the grandchild the old man was searching for? Or—

While trying to comfort the old man, Dohwa turned to look at the Hunter who was carefully observing the old man’s condition. He seemed to be offering consolation but was simultaneously probing. Only then did Dohwa realize.

The Association hadn’t brought the old man out of sincere desire to help him find his grandson. They wanted to determine whether the old man was an ordinary citizen—or one of Lee Myunghwan’s remaining followers. Additionally, they hoped to extract information about Dohwa through him.

Since they still hadn’t acquired any meaningful intel about him yet.

“…….”

With a hardened gaze, Dohwa looked back at the old man.

The old man, unable to calm down and still sobbing, locked eyes with him. In that brief moment, the old man suddenly stood up and lunged toward Dohwa. Crying out “Child,” he spread his arms and tried to throw himself at him, startling the Hunter, who grabbed him from behind.

“Sir, please calm down! This is dangerous!”

“Child, it’s Grandpa! You’re really my grandchild!!”

Suddenly bursting with strength, the old man struggled wildly in the Hunter’s grasp, trying to break free.

Watching the old man persist in trying to reach him, Dohwa slowly stood. Taking steps backward until his back was against the wall, the door burst open and several others entered. They tried to calm the elderly man, but it wasn’t easy.

The old man, with a changed look in his eyes and expression, shoved away the hands trying to hold him and desperately tried to get to Dohwa—like a madman.

“I’m sorry. He always behaved so calmly, I didn’t expect him to suddenly act that way.”

With both hands clasped together, Mason wore a genuinely apologetic expression, but Dohwa showed no reaction. He merely sat in the chair, hands wrapped around a paper cup filled with warm tea. At a glance, it might’ve looked like he was shaken by the sudden incident, but…

Mason, observing Dohwa, composed his expression when a knock was heard at the door and spoke.

“Though I’d like to let you rest after such a shock, we have to follow our schedule. If you’re okay, may we proceed to the next location now?”

“…….”

“The Awakening test that was previously conducted seems to have been insufficient, so you’ll be undergoing it again.”

Having already been briefed on today’s agenda, Dohwa stood up. As he hesitated, fiddling with the paper cup he hadn’t finished, Mason took it from him. At his words of “Let’s go,” Dohwa silently followed.