PASSION Chapter 2 part 5

It was a Friday night of mixed fortunes.

On Friday evening, after finishing the regular workday, they held the lottery as scheduled. Who would stay at the Asian branch here, and who would go to another branch. Those coming to the Asian branch for this joint training were, as already known, people from the European branch, and those leaving from here were going to the South American branch.

I didn't care either way, but seeing my colleagues so vehemently dislike the European branch, I also thought I might want to stay here and see their faces once. However, for my own peace, it would be better to join the team leaving for the South American branch, which was considered relatively better.

Besides, if I closed my eyes—even without closing them—that vivid image would appear.

In it, a neat and well-groomed man with black gloves reached out and grabbed the other person's neck, pierced through it, and left behind a dark red mark.

What if I encountered that man?

Jeong Tae-ui, who had briefly imagined such a thing, felt a sudden chill and shrugged his shoulders.

I need to take care of my own life.

Thinking that, the number on the ball Jeong Tae-ui randomly picked from the box was 62. Then, the rest of the members all picked balls with numbers from 1 to 96, and after that, an instructor came out and took out a ball from another small box. The ball had the number 2 on it. An even number.

While Jeong Tae-ui was bitterly spinning the ball number 62 in his hand, those who would stay and those who would leave were decided. Even numbers would stay at the branch, and those who picked odd numbers would leave for the airport at dawn the next day, Saturday.

As they dispersed after the lottery, a restless atmosphere filled the members.

Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue as he left the large lecture hall with his colleagues, who had subtle expressions on their faces. Now that it had turned out this way, there was nothing I could do, but for the sake of my safety, I had wanted to go to South America.

It seemed that Tae-ui wasn't the only one who felt that way; among those who had complained about the European branch but ended up staying here, their expressions weren't very good either. However, the people who were going to South America didn't look particularly happy either.

Either way, hellish hardship would continue for fifteen days starting three days later.

Tae-ui walked slowly behind the murmuring colleagues. He didn't feel like going down to the lower floor with them in this strange atmosphere, so he changed direction at the stairs.

Even if I went into my room and closed the door, I would still hear his colleagues talking as they went back and forth outside in the hallway. Right now, I want to be in a quiet place.

For that, my uncle's room was the best. First, there were hardly any people on that floor, and second, my uncle had been busy for the past few days and hadn't been seen.

I'm grateful for this one thing, Uncle was the only thing Tae-ui thought as he fiddled with the key in his pocket. When he arrived at his uncle's room, the room was still empty.

Without even taking off his coat, Tae-ui collapsed onto the bed and buried his face in the blanket, staying like that for a while. Then, at some point, he heavily lifted his body. Lying face down like this, I felt like I would fall asleep. I must be tired, as I had been constantly bombarded with training and education throughout the regular hours for the past few days, and even during free time, I was bothered by my colleagues.

"What are they going to do if they exhaust people like this in the preliminary stage before even starting the real training…….? I'll probably die from exhaustion first."

Tae-ui muttered to himself with a sigh and took a book from the bookshelf. I had been coming here every day, reading dozens of pages before going back. It was a book I could easily finish if I put my mind to it, but my body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton, so it wasn't easy.

Tae-ui took the book and went back to bed, lying face down and glancing at his phone. The phone, silently still, showed no sign of ringing.

It was usually more comfortable when the phone didn't ring when I was alone in someone else's room, but very occasionally, a call from those white hands was quite pleasant. Though, it wasn't just pleasant.

Tae-ui turned the page he hadn't finished reading. Here and there in the book, he saw letters where his uncle had jotted down notes in the margins. It was my uncle's reading habit to write down anything that came to mind in the side margins while reading. Looking at the letters his uncle had written, Tae-ui could trace what his uncle had been thinking while reading the book, and that was also a kind of enjoyment.

Before coming here, meeting his uncle hadn't actually been very frequent. Both Tae-ui and his older brother, as well as his uncle, had personalities that meant they might only see each other once or twice a year, but they didn't feel awkward or distant. They would even treat each other as if they had seen each other yesterday, even if it had been years.

However, when his uncle occasionally visited home, he mainly spent time with Tae-ui's father, and after his father passed away, he would talk with Jae-ui. So, Tae-ui hadn't actually had many conversations with his uncle.

Thinking about it, my uncle was quite a remarkable person within the family. It couldn't have been easy for someone born and raised in an ordinary family to secure a position as a warden at UNHRDO.

'What I ultimately yearn for is no different from what people hundreds of years ago, and hundreds of years from now, will yearn for. But will that be the reason for humanity to remain human?'

Tae-ui traced the sentence written in his uncle's handwriting at the bottom of the book page with his fingertip.

When Tae-ui first opened this book, a faint smell of dust had risen. It seemed my uncle had probably read this book a long time ago and then closed it. So, this passage was a fragment of thought from my uncle from many years ago, when he was younger, or even a child.

Tracing the buried thoughts of another person had its own flavor.

What I ultimately yearn for. Tae-ui felt like he knew it, yet he didn't. I had never remembered yearning for anything in particular. Always just as things were, as things flowed.

'In a way, Jae-ui suffered more from anxiety and stress than you. That's what I meant by being a human.'

Suddenly, Ilay's words flashed through his mind.

Perhaps Hyung did yearn for something. Hyung, who seemed to get whatever he wanted and had nothing standing in his way—how would I know if there was something like that in a place I couldn't even fathom?

"But if that's the case, then that word 'human' is awfully negative." 

Tae-ui said with a bitter smile.

As he traced the pages of the book, sentence by sentence, he must have dozed off.

His mind became a blank void, and countless random thoughts, independent of his will, crossed his mind, eventually mixing, separating, and mixing again.

There was someone who woke him from that unconscious chaos.

Tae-ui, who had fallen asleep with the light on and even covered his face with the open book as if the light was bothering him, woke up to the touch of someone taking the book away. Before his eyes was his uncle's face, looking down at him intently.

"I can't even sleep with glasses on. How can you sleep with something this heavy on your face?" 

His uncle said, shaking the book as if he found it strange. Tae-ui groggily got up from the bed, rubbed his head with a sleepy, dazed frown.

"No wonder I had a nightmare. It must have been because this was on my face……."

"Nightmare? Since when have you been asleep that you've already had a dream?"

His uncle took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, smiling at Tae-ui. Tae-ui, still looking half-asleep, turned his head to look at the clock. It was a little early to be midnight.

"I think I slept for an hour or two. Dream…… what was it. I was dragged away by Uncle and trapped on some island, living with vicious men and getting blood splattered all over……"

"Hmm……. in my opinion, that sounds like a lucky dream. Why don't you buy a lottery ticket?"

"You saying it's a lucky dream means it's a very lucky dream, right?"

"That's right."

"…….Uncle, have you perhaps changed your profession recently? Like a sales job at a lottery promotion and sales outlet……."

"Oh ho. While I was away, something like that sprang up in Korea? Sounds interesting."

"With the gambling industry flourishing day by day, it might happen soon……." 

Tae-ui mumbled, waking up from his drowsiness. He got off the bed, took out a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and drank it, which fully woke him up.

He smoothed back his messy hair and turned to see his uncle taking off his shirt.

"You seem busy these days. I've been coming here every day for the past few days to read, but it's been a while since I've seen you, Uncle."

"It's always incredibly busy right before joint training. I have a mountain of paperwork. Besides, we have to make arrangements here and there in advance in case a few guys die."

"I sincerely hope I won't be the beneficiary of those arrangements." 

Tae-ui muttered, sitting down on the stool next to the bed and looking intently at his uncle. His uncle, who had quickly taken off all his clothes and was heading to the bathroom, didn't outwardly show any signs of fatigue even though his voice was hoarse. Tae-ui had been reading in this room until after midnight every night before returning to his private quarters, so his uncle must have been finishing work after midnight every day as well. He had really good stamina.

"Come to think of it, you ended up staying here."

"Ah, yes. Are you going to the South American branch, Uncle? I heard one of the instructors would be leading them."

"No, Golding is going this time instead of me. I'll go to a different branch for the next joint training."

His uncle's voice came from the bathroom. There was the sound of running water for a moment, followed by the bustling sound of lather as he washed his hair.

"By the way, you're usually pretty good at lotteries, what was that all about? You ended up staying in a place that's going to be terribly dangerous. Even with a 50% chance, you should have been able to pick a lucky draw."

"It  seems all the lucky draws were drawn by lucky people like Jae-ui Hyung."

"Is there anyone else in the world like that bastard Jae-ui? His existence alone is unfair enough for the world."

Tae-ui couldn't help but laugh at his uncle's muttering.

"Looking at it, this training doesn't seem like it's going to end peacefully."

His uncle said in an annoyed tone. Tae-ui stopped tapping his heels on the stool. He looked towards the bathroom as if staring intently at his uncle, who he couldn't even see.

"That sounds ominous. ……Has the list of European branch members coming here been sent over?"

"Hmm――― The final confirmation will be tomorrow morning after their plane takes off, but it's mostly decided."

"If the training isn't going to end peacefully…… Does that mean there's some troublesome guy mixed in with the branch members coming here?"

Tae-ui casually probed. He couldn't hear clearly over the sound of the shower his uncle had turned on to rinse his hair, but he thought he heard a vague affirmative response.

Riegrow. The madman Rick, whom no one in the European branch could handle. The man who left scarlet marks with his pitch-black gloves.

Tae-ui was staying at the Asian branch here, and that man was coming to find him.

I can't even count the number of times I've thought Hyung was lucky, but I had never once thought of myself as having bad luck. It seems I might need to revise that thought a little.

“They say he's notorious for being absolutely crazy…… The staff will be on high alert, and the prison guards must be having a tough time with such a person coming.”

As Jeong Tae-ui said this, his uncle's grumbling agreement could be heard.

“I saw a video of him a while ago, and I’m not very enthusiastic about facing him. I didn't even feel like trying to fight back……. Uncle, do you think I could survive if I had to fight that person?”

His uncle replied instantly without much thought.

“Probably not.”

“Hmm…”

“It's not just you. It would be the same for anyone. It's hard for anyone to face someone like that and come out unscathed. Well, I suppose you could if you’re willing to sacrifice your bones and flesh.”

“Sacrifice my bones and flesh……, then that would be my loss.”

“That's the kind of guy he is. You only saw that one video, right? Ask other guys who have actually experienced him. Even if there's a guy, who was guts to take him on, there won't be any boastful fool claiming they can do it alone.”

Jeong Tae-ui fell silent. Even when my uncle spoke in a light tone, he never lied. Also, as far as I had seen, my uncle never made a wrong judgment.

“…….I guess all I can do is run away well to preserve my meager life.”

“No, well, it's not like that guy is a serial killer who catches and kills everyone he encounters, so there's no need to be so solemn. The important thing is not to get involved with him.”

The uncle came out of the bathroom. With a towel on his wet head and completely naked, he walked out and took a bottle of water from the refrigerator, gulping it down straight from the bottle. As if all the moisture in his body had evaporated, the one-liter bottle was emptied beyond half in an instant.

"Have you finished showering already?"

"No, I've only washed my hair. I was thirsty. I've been swamped with work all afternoon today without eating or drinking properly. And then, after dinner, the list of European branch members who are coming the day after tomorrow arrived, and it was another huge mess. Anyway, if that guy is coming, we'll have at least one or two more places to contact. Like funeral homes."

"…….Uncle. I want to live."

"Of course. The desire to live is a human instinct. Everyone feels that way unless they're suffering from depression or something."

"If we don't get involved, does that mean we'll be safe if we don't provoke him first?"

Uncle didn't answer for a moment as he finished the water bottle. After emptying it completely down to the last drop, he wiped a few droplets that had run down his lips with his fingertips and stared intently at his nephew.

"What do you think?"

"…….Well……. I don't know that person well, so I have absolutely no idea how to deal with him."

"I don't think so."

"Hearing you say that, Uncle, I feel the same way."

Jeong Tae-ui said gloomily. The uncle, who tossed the empty water bottle carelessly and went back into the bathroom, replied. 

"It's not a matter of provoking him or not. The best thing is to simply not get involved with a crazy person. Once you get tangled up with him, running away won't do any good. You just have to stay out of his sight, no matter what."

"Hmm――― that's difficult. In this cramped place where there might not even be a hundred people in total, how can I possibly stay out of sight when I'm not invisible?"

"It's not like he grabs and slaughters everyone he sees. You just need to avoid getting on his radar. Then, if you're careful not to run into him during training, you should be fine. The other European guys are also unlucky in their own way, but none of them are as unpredictable as him."

The sound of water started again. Ouch, hot! Why is it suddenly like this? Is there a problem with the control? his uncle muttered to himself, but soon he seemed to be okay, as he started humming softly.

"Do you know him, this Riegrow guy?"

Jeong Tae-ui asked, sensing a somewhat familiar tone in his uncle's voice. No answer came back, perhaps because I couldn't hear his voice over the sound of the water. But thinking about it, it was unlikely that my uncle wouldn't know him at all. After all, that man from the European branch was apparently so famous that everyone in both the European and main branches knew him, and my uncle must have gone to the European branch several times for work.

Fifteen more days.

Sitting on the stool, leaning against the wall, and quietly looking at the ceiling, Jeong Tae-ui gradually started to feel like things would somehow work out. My goal was to live peacefully in seclusion in a quiet corner, and it didn't seem likely that I would do anything to attract attention. Besides, fifteen days wasn't that long of a period.

In a situation where it was difficult to even make one friend in such a short time, how easy could it be to make an enemy?

That's right. Even if my colleagues push me from behind, even if I have to hear that I'm a traitor, I must never step forward. Unlike them, who willingly came here for the benefits and future security within the organization, I was dragged here with a limited time of six months in mind, so I'm allowed to do this.

Jeong Tae-ui easily justified himself and nodded his head in satisfaction.

At that moment, his uncle's humming seemed to stop for a second, and then he said as if something had suddenly occurred to him.

"Oh yeah, starting tomorrow, don't come to my room until the joint training is over."

Jeong Tae-ui tilted his head. Through the open door, he could see his uncle's soapy arm. He then turned his gaze to the book lying on the bed.

"I haven't finished reading that book yet."

"Just take it. Personal contact between instructor and team members is prohibited during the joint training period."

"Actually, it's prohibited in principle even normally." 

His uncle added, speaking with feigned sternness.

My guts aren't quite up to borrowing something worth 3500 dollars……, Jeong Tae-ui muttered inwardly, but he picked up the book that was within reach. Then he stood up and strolled over to the bathroom door.

"Uncle. If I die during training, please make sure to bury this book with me, since I haven't finished reading it yet."

"People who die without children are cremated, not buried…… I'll cremate it with you."

"In this situation, you’re supposed to tell me that I’m not going to die."

"Everyone has their own fate...... Well, no, I personally think you won't die."

The uncle paused briefly, then nodded and said casually. The casualness of his words made them sound all the more genuine, and Jeong Tae-ui chuckled.

Soon, the sound of a strong stream of water flowed from the bathroom. It seemed my uncle was just planning to take a shower and come out, as he wasn't filling the bathtub.

Should I just go back? Today and tomorrow might be the last days I can sleep comfortably for a while, and I should at least try to replenish my depleted energy.

However, for some reason, my feet wouldn't move. Jeong Tae-ui wondered why for a moment, then recalled a story that had been lingering in his heart like a stain for some time.

"......"

It wasn't a particularly pleasant topic, but I had to say it. I felt I should at least let my uncle know that I knew.

Jeong Tae-ui leaned against the bathroom door, looked up at the ceiling for a moment, and then suddenly blurted out.

"By the way, Uncle. Since when has Hyung been involved in weapons development?"

He hadn't spoken loudly or made a big deal of it, but a moment later, the sound of water in the bathroom abruptly stopped. Along with the stopped water, his uncle also fell silent for a moment.

"Where did you hear that from?"

His uncle's voice was just as casual as Jeong Tae-ui's.

"That guy that got you the Laurent Gastille book. I thought he was an antique dealer, but it turns out he wasn't."

"You guys really talked a lot. Did that guy call you again today?"

"No, I didn't hear it today. It was a while ago, and I had forgotten about it, and I haven't had a chance to see you lately anyway. And well, it's not like it would have done much good to ask about it…… Hmm, it doesn't seem like he did it while living with me, so was it since he was at UNHRDO?"

"He received many requests even before that, but you could say he started participating in earnest around that time. What else did that guy tell you?"

The uncle clicked his tongue, answering without particularly hiding anything and still in a casual tone. It seemed like it was news he didn't really want to share with him. Well, it wasn't something he would want to share with him since I’m Jae-ui’s brother.

"He didn't say much. But does my brother still do that?"

"No, he already quitted. He initially made it clear that he would only develop weapons while he was at UNHRDO. It seems he received countless requests even after leaving UNHRDO, but he turned them all down."

"I see." 

Jeong Tae-ui nodded.

Come to think of it, during the few months after Jeong Tae-ui was discharged from the military and returned home, he sometimes received strange phone calls. The international calls, with a tone that clearly indicated the caller wasn't an ordinary person, weren't that surprising since he had often received such calls before because of Jeong Jae-ui. But I had briefly wondered who these people were, so persistently looking for Jeong Jae-ui, who mostly stayed within the house and didn't go out much.

Jeong Tae-ui straightened up from leaning against the wall.

That was good. I wouldn't have said anything even if Hyung was still continuing the development, but since he had stopped, I didn't want to delve into it further or even think about it. I'd just pinch his cheek once when we met later. For using that good brain for something like that.

"Then I'll be going now. I can come back after the joint training ends, right?"

"Unn."

His uncle replied without even sticking his head out of the shower. Jeong Tae-ui reached out and shook the book in front of the bathroom door.

"I'm borrowing this, Uncle."

"Okay. Don't handle it too roughly. It's a pain to get another copy."

"Sure, sure."

As if I'd carelessly toss around something worth 3500 dollars, Jeong Tae-ui added to himself as he moved towards the door.

------

Credits:

Translator: Hoshi Miya

Editor/Proofreader: Tâmago

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