“What’s that? They found a survivor from Valpurgis?”
Detective Ma Beom-il of the Seoul Violent Crime Investigation Unit was taken aback by his junior’s sudden remark. It was obvious they were busy with the case, and yet here were the jokes… He was close to banging his head against the wall.
“We just intercepted a device name from the National Intelligence Service. What was it again? MeiMei2X?”
As soon as the name of the capsule device came out of his junior’s mouth, Detective Ma’s expression turned serious.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Absolutely. It’s confirmed from the data handed over officially by Riot. They’re about to send over the serial number and ICEI number, so we should be able to track its location.”
“Riot? Isn’t that a game company? Myung-seok… If you have a brain, at least think for a moment.”
Ultimately, Ma Beom-il rolled up a magazine and smacked it on his junior’s head.
“It’s just some bankrupt fool who got caught using a stolen capsule while gaming. Even if he’s lucky, he might be just a low-level member of Valpurgis.”
“So are you not going? We have a car waiting outside.”
“You guys go. I’m busy with this.”
“Hey, he could really be a victim. According to the informant, the person trapped inside the capsule hasn’t been able to speak and has been sending SOS signals for years…”
“What? Why are you only saying this now?”
The fact that they couldn’t speak was a critical point.
The capsule’s language module had been deliberately sabotaged.
Detective Ma Beom-il had always felt regret since none of the victims were rescued during the seven-year-long operation to dismantle the Korean branch of the terrorist organization Valpurgis led by the UN.
There were certainly many hostages.
But all the ones he had found were either dead or still trapped somewhere. Until they turned to bones.
He speculated that the increase in missing persons in Korea, notorious for its safety, was because of Valpurgis.
As soon as Valpurgis was wiped out in Korea, the next year, the annual number of missing children was reported as zero. That says it all.
It felt absurd to think that someone trapped in a capsule for seven years could still be alive.
“Let’s hurry up.”
“Press harder here will get you a fine. Just let the autopilot handle it; you’re always in such a hurry.”
An ambulance had arrived almost simultaneously at the scene.
“It really is a remote area.”
Unlike before, there was no need for special anti-terror units to be deployed. It was a reasonable assumption that there couldn’t be any organization members in such a desolate place.
It was just as well; it was easy to think that if they toss a capsule here, it’d be hard to find.
It was an area once confirmed for redevelopment but suddenly canceled, now devoid of even a trace of human presence.
An old, shabby country house, over a hundred years old, stood alone.
“Are we sure this is the right place?”
“Strange… it says this on the navigation.”
The paramedics were just waiting for his orders.
“What’s the use of talking? Let’s go. Everyone, let’s move. We can’t just stand here now that we’ve come this far. Myung-seok, turn on the flashlight.”
“Ugh, what’s the big deal about saving a bit on taxes? We’re still carrying flashlights instead of using light magic…”
“Just get going ahead!”
“Sure, sure.”
With two detectives leading the way, they followed six paramedics into the cramped house.
At 1 AM, as they entered the house, the sound of an owl echoed through the hallway.
“Why is this little house so complicated?”
“It feels like something might pop out at any moment.”
“Isn’t it a bit too late to be scared of things like that?”
“Lately, I’d say people are scarier than ghosts.”
They systematically searched the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom.
In such a cramped house, they discovered two enormous capsules filling the innermost small room.
“Whoa… they really exist… It looks like there’s someone inside! Ugh, I just had Jajangmyeon, and it’s all coming back up.”
“Stop mumbling and help me out. We can’t open this by hand; it’s well and truly wrecked.”
They brought a huge crowbar, aptly named ‘Baru’, powered by the strength of three adult males, prying between the capsules.
Crack crunch, and something broke inside as the air hissed through the gaps because of the pressure differential.
“That’s it. [1st Circle Emergency: Light].”
“If you do an emergency spell, it’ll cost a fortune.”
“It’s my money anyway.”
The room lit up brightly. The paramedics’ weary faces, along with Myung-seok’s slightly dazed expression, all became crystal clear.
Clank.
Finally, the capsule’s door couldn’t withstand the force of the crowbar any longer and fell off.
Faster than that, Myung-seok’s feet moved.
“Ahhh! Ghost… a g-g-g-ghost!”
“Calm down! Can’t you just stay still for a moment?”
Detective Ma Beom-il grabbed him by the back of the neck and slammed him to the floor. Regardless, the paramedics professionally assessed the condition of the woman inside the capsule.
“She is completely deceased. Estimated time of death: seven years ago.”
“But sir, this corpse shows no signs of decay.”
“Well, we don’t know the details…”
“Ahhhhh!”
“What now, Myung-seok?!”
“Over here… there’s a sound from inside the capsule!”
Thump
Myung-seok finally calmed his startled heart, but was again surprised as he leaned against the opposite capsule. Perhaps it was the instincts of a long-time officer, but Beom-il immediately instructed the paramedics.
“Leave that woman for now; let’s get this one open quickly.”
Without any dissent, the paramedics grabbed the crowbar again.
The only difference this time was Detective Ma took the lead with the crowbar in hand.
With less force than before, the capsule pried open.
The light magic’s duration was nearing its end, but everyone’s attention was focused on the little girl inside the second capsule.
“Holy crap.”
Inside, there was a girl far too small for the original intended target shape of the capsule, pale-faced, barely clinging to life.
*
Her eyes opened.
Seven years.
A full seven years it took to see this damn world after I was reborn.
People keep rushing me, trying to press me for something.
But I don’t care.
I have to look.
Mom.
I tried to lift myself, but the world spun around. No, is my head spinning?
Two kind uncles lifted me up by my armpits. Thank you.
Mom, are you alive?
The sight of Seol-ah, hidden behind the capsule, filled my eyes.
She looked truly at peace.
Indeed, Seol-ah had died six years ago.
But due to that faint hope, I had been forcing half of the mana potions I could consume onto Seol-ah.
So, maybe that’s why she looked so vibrant, unlike someone who had passed six years ago. She might never wake again.
Seol-ah was this skinny.
So different from her virtual reality avatar.
I couldn’t imagine how hard it had been for her all this time.
I’m alive, just like this.
Thanks to my mom.
*
“What happened? Did you find them?”
“You don’t need to worry about it anymore. I don’t have anything else to say to you.”
“But!”
“And Se-min, I heard from your mom that you’ve been getting lost in games lately? I won’t interfere with you now that you’re an adult, but it’s always good to do things in moderation.”
“… Yes.”
“I hear the exams are coming up soon; unlike others, you’ve already been to the military, so you’ll need to put in extra effort to catch up.”
“Yes.”
That’s why I didn’t want to ask for help. Se-min stuck out his tongue at his father, Cheon Jeong-ho, the prosecutor.
“Do you think going to the military was an easy time? I went because the country said to go. You should know if you’re also a veteran.”
He thought it was stifling at home. Until he became independent, he could only endure quietly.
[Kim Ye-eun: Any news?]
[Cheon Se-min: None. She has no intention of notifying me at all.]
Se-min was convinced that something happened, based on his instincts. NoName switching to offline mode a few hours ago was clear evidence.
“Ugh, what am I even doing? I should just study.”
Even saying that in monologue, Se-min’s mind was completely occupied with NoName.
Eventually, Se-min pulled out the last resort.
[Detective Ma Beom-il – Connecting]
The person his father had been on the phone with outside earlier. Se-min remembered the number and called it.
[Hello?]
[Oh, hello! Is this Detective Ma Beom-il?]
[Yes, that’s me. Who’s this…?]
[Ah, um, I’m the son of Prosecutor Cheon Jeong-ho. I’m also the first informant of this case.]
[One moment, please.]
After an unnatural pause, the voice came back.
[So, why is Prosecutor Jeon’s son calling me?]
[I wanted to ask if the rescue was successfully completed…]
[That’s a complicated matter. Hmmm… it’s classified information that shouldn’t be discussed over the phone, so if you really want to know, please come to Asan OO Hospital.]
[Yes, I can go right away!]
[Go as you please.]
