novelraw Chapter 221 : Chapter 221
Chapter 221 : Chapter 221
Chapter 221: Kidnapping
As Ho-cheol blocked the hand first, the man couldn't throw the flesh.
Confirming that fact, Charlotte plopped back down in her seat and let out a sigh of relief.
Wiping away the cold sweat running down her forehead, she muttered.
“Haa. What a relief.”
At that sight, Ho-cheol looked at her with a slightly surprised expression.
Charlotte, who had been so composed even at the moment of the attack, was this nervous.
In truth, Ho-cheol had no reason to help her during the initial assault.
She might look weak on the outside, but who knew what kind of sinister weapons she had hidden beneath those clothes.
Even though she must have the power to protect herself, she reacted sensitively to that piece of flesh.
It must not be an ordinary weapon.
Crunch—
Snapping the neck of the man who was struggling while holding the flesh, Ho-cheol asked.
“So what are these things. Why are they so murderous?”
“Remnants of Black Oskopf. To be precise, their test subjects.”
At those words, Ho-cheol pulled off the hoods the attackers were wearing.
Indeed, there were parts of the attackers' arms, legs, and even heads that were bizarrely transformed, like a monster's.
Several question marks floated above Ho-cheol's head and disappeared after he confirmed their identities.
“……Why?”
From their perspective, shouldn't [The Top], which freed them from their test subject status, be no different from a savior?
Charlotte added an explanation for Ho-cheol, who was blinking, genuinely unable to understand.
“The image of test subjects being kidnapped or forced into it only exists on the outside. Not here. To them, mixing their bodies with monsters to get stronger is no big deal.”
“Hmph.”
From their point of view, they paid money and lost the chance to get stronger, and now they couldn't even get after-service, so they must be furious.
Ho-cheol shook his head, genuinely unable to comprehend.
If it were to overcome a problem or disability in a part of their body, maybe.
But simply to get stronger?
They weren't sane.
To Ho-cheol, strength was merely a tool.
If asked to exchange the strength he possessed for all the misfortune and pain that had happened so far, he would give up that strength without a moment's hesitation.
He would never understand the minds of people like this, even if he lived his whole life.
Ho-cheol shifted his attention.
“So what's this piece of flesh those guys were trying to throw as their special move.”
It did have a stench similar to the flesh of the brainwashing monster he fought last time.
But Ho-cheol had definitely vaporized that thing without a trace.
“Then what is this?”
“You know Black Oskopf's brainwashing monster. This is a weapon recreated by someone who analyzed its remaining genes as much as possible.”
“Its power must be considerable.”
Ho-cheol's gaze fell on the flesh held in the man's hand.
The flesh, pulsating thump-thump— like a heart in the hand, looked quite grotesque.
Charlotte shook her head.
“It's not about being considerable or anything like that……. It's fortunate that it's currently covered by a thin membrane; if your skin directly touches the contents inside, you die. Unconditionally.”
A true weapon with a 100% fatality rate.
Ho-cheol narrowed his eyes.
To that extent?
“When its property of infinite regeneration touches human skin, it causes necrosis through over-regeneration, and then it regenerates the area around the necrotic part again, and regenerates again. And eventually…….”
While speaking, Charlotte, recalling the state of a victim hit by that flesh, covered her mouth.
She had seen countless corpses so far, but that was the most horrific and painful end among them.
Charlotte spoke in a perplexed tone.
“I didn't think the supply would be so widespread that even these nobodies would be carrying it around.”
Although it was likely a degraded version compared to the originally created weapon, the fact that it was lethal to humans was no different.
“Necrosis through over-regeneration.”
Ho-cheol muttered the word 'over-regeneration' repeatedly in a contemplative tone.
He checked one thing, running calculations in his brain.
“If we gather it all, the quantity should be significant.”
“That's right.”
“Can [The Top] gather all of it for me?”
Of course, he didn't think he could defeat it with just this.
But surely, it would be effective in some way.
At the very least, it was worth a try.
“Where do you plan to use it?”
This couldn't be handled vaguely.
At the point of use, it was clearly a weapon intended to kill something.
Didn't he declare so confidently last time that he wouldn't kill?
Either that conviction had changed.
Or the enemy this had to be used on was not human, and at the same time, was an opponent even Ho-cheol couldn't take lightly.
At least one of the two was certain.
Was it related to the Behemoth he suddenly asked about earlier?
“Something like that.”
Ho-cheol gave a vague nod.
The strategy to overcome that damned resurrection was faintly taking shape.
After that, they moved to a cafe and talked about various things.
Through her, he received promises for a few additional favors and cooperation.
It was all an outcome made possible because Charlotte held considerable curiosity and goodwill toward Ho-cheol.
Of course, it was a transaction where he would properly pay the price later, but considering the cost, it was practically free.
While they were exchanging information after that.
Ho-cheol's cell phone suddenly vibrated.
“What. It's a call from outside?”
The Battleground was inside a Gate.
Outside signals shouldn't be able to reach.
As Ho-cheol was wondering what this situation was, Charlotte resolved his question.
“I heard this phenomenon has been occurring frequently lately. In the case of some older Gates, interaction with the outside is possible.”
“Is that so.”
Ho-cheol nodded obediently and answered the phone.
“I've received the call.”
[Oh, ah! Professor! You answered!]
The urgent voice coming from over the phone, its owner was someone Ho-cheol definitely knew.
“Yes, what is it.”
It was Hye-jin, the director of the Hope Foster Care Facility, where he had entrusted one of his students, Ye-jin, and the recently rescued twins.
Her voice held not welcome, but bewilderment and distress.
[The children! The children!]
“……What happened.”
[They're always mature, and stronger than anyone. So they said they had to take responsibility. I told them it was okay so many times!]
An incoherent cry.
No, a wail.
Ho-cheol pressed the bridge of his nose with his free hand.
It was obvious something serious had happened.
Still, she had to make it somewhat understandable.
“You need to speak more calmly so I can understand and do something.”
Not that Hye-jin calmed down, but a crucial keyword finally came from her mouth.
[Hwayeon and Dowon!]
She took a deep breath and shouted, choking back tears.
[They've been kidnapped!]
Only then did Ho-cheol's eyes widen.
What is this again……. To be honest, he couldn't understand.
Kidnapped?
Those two?
Frankly, kidnapping those two by force was a difficult task that even Ho-cheol would have to brace for considerable losses to attempt.
An average S-rank hero or villain would just get beaten up, wouldn't they?
Perhaps Hye-jin had misunderstood?
But it wouldn't be too late to check that later.
The most important thing first.
“Who did it.”
With Hye-jin in such a panic, he didn't expect a clear description of the person.
But contrary to his expectation, she had perceived the situation quite clearly.
[I don't know. Th-they had blonde, shoulder-length short hair!]
The twins' capabilities.
There were few people in this country strong enough to take them by force.
And among those with that level of skill, only one face came to mind from Hye-jin's description.
Ho-cheol quietly ground his teeth.
Of course, there was a chance it was a trap set by the Hero Association or somewhere else to lure Ho-cheol.
But he could instinctively guess.
This wasn't that kind of situation.
He knew it wasn't true, but still, just in case.
Maybe one in a million.
He hadn't completely let go of that faint hope.
But this incident made it certain.
Their relationship could now never go back.
“I will go immediately.”
[Please save the children…….]
He quietly ground his teeth.
That foolish person finally crossed the line.
I'm truly disappointed.
***
Jeong Dowon, Jeong Hwayeon.
New World Trait Liberation Society.
The twins, who had been test subjects of its Trait Transcendence faction before Ho-cheol rescued them, were living quite a peaceful life.
The education for their age group was moderately boring, the new environment was awkward, and the facility's children who rushed at them, calling them new family, were endlessly bothersome.
And for the two of them, all of that was a series of joys.
A happy new life.
But the peace that had come to them came to a short end.
In an abandoned warehouse in the countryside, Hwayeon found a chair piled high with dust in a corner, roughly dusted it off, and plopped down.
Dowon frowned at the sight as if it were dirty.
Then, as if he'd rather just keep standing, he tapped the floor with his toes.
It was a free state, unfitting of the expressions 'hostage' or 'kidnapping'.
Furthermore, there wasn't even a common lock on the warehouse door.
An environment that even an ordinary person could easily escape.
Moreover, the twins, who possessed overwhelming power, could leave this place and return to the facility at any time, but they didn't.
Drrrk—
The warehouse door opened, and Smiley, with her hands clasped behind her back, walked in with short steps.
Seeing the twins still remaining here, she smiled brightly.
“Now, it seems like an hour has already passed. How about it, is it starting to sink in?”
The twins didn't answer her question.
Instead, they substituted an answer by glaring at her with sharp gazes.
“Well, your eyes are still alive.”
The more brazen their attitude, the more she looked forward to the moment that confident expression would change to despair.
“One hour? Two hours? When will you realize Ho-cheol won't come to save you, and that expression of yours distort?”
At Smiley's blatant ridicule, Hwayeon momentarily flared up and tried to stand, but Dowon reached out his hand first and blocked her.
“Tsk.”
Restrained by Dowon, Hwayeon clicked her tongue and relaxed her body again.
“There's nothing good to come from a kidnapper acting so friendly and talking to us, is there.”
Dowon answered coldly in her stead.
But Smiley's eyes widened as she feigned exaggerated emotion.
“Oh my, kidnapping? You followed me here on your own two feet.”
“Because you threatened us.”
The twins could faintly sense Smiley's strength.
The opponent before them, like Ho-cheol, was a monster whose limits of strength couldn't be fathomed.
If the two of them combined their power, they could resist to some extent, but that was all.
Furthermore, if such a situation occurred, it was obvious what would happen to the facility and the people where they were staying.
Smiley covered her mouth and chuckled, as if that answer was absurd.
“And even now, in a situation where you can return anytime, you're staying here. No one would get hurt even if you used your strength now, yet you're here by your own will. Doesn't that mean you inwardly agree with me?”
Smiley didn't bother to restrain the twins, nor did she lock the door to prevent them from leaving.
Their being in this warehouse for a whole hour was entirely of their own volition.
“I never force anyone. You're waiting and anticipating like this by your own will. That way, the despair of betrayal will be even greater.”
She turned around, teasing them one last time.
“Will Ho-cheol even come to save you today? I don't think so.”
Smiley had learned about the twins while recently investigating Ho-cheol's activities.
And the first emotion she felt was curiosity, and after that, envy and jealousy rushed in like a tidal wave.
In the end, unable to overcome those feelings, she sought out the twins.
Of course, she had no intention of hurting them.
If she did something like that, she would only be hated, and the bond between those two and Ho-cheol would only deepen.
Then should she kill them so they couldn't get close?
It wasn't that she couldn't kill them.
But she also hated the idea of leaving the two of them in Ho-cheol's heart forever.
I can't.
I can't.
She alone had to be in his heart.
The twisted affection had already become enough to be called possessiveness, and furthermore, obsession.
That's why the very existence of the twins, saved by Ho-cheol, was grating to her.
Therefore, Smiley went to the facility, threatened the twins, kidnapped them, and brought them to this abandoned warehouse.
After that, she immediately threw questions at them.
‘Are you two really in a close relationship with Ho-cheol?’
‘Does he truly cherish you?’
‘If so, will Ho-cheol recognize your dangerous situation and come to save you?’
The twins naturally answered yes, but their conviction was clearly mixed with a very faint doubt and anxiety.
Ho-cheol had continued to ask about their well-being through Hye-jin, but he had never visited them himself.
Ho-cheol thought it was fine not to pay much attention to them since they had each other to rely on, but that was just his misunderstanding.
The two children were no different from other children.
No, they were even more delicate and sensitive than others.
That's why Smiley suggested to them.
That she would give them a chance to confirm if Ho-cheol truly cherished them.
Of course, Dowon tried to refuse the offer at once, but.
“How about we wait just a little bit?”
Hwayeon grabbed Dowon's arm with a trembling voice.
Her pitifully trembling voice and pupils hinted at how much anxiety she was feeling.
“We're just checking if he really comes? Huh? If he comes, we can just go right back.”
Ho-cheol may not have felt it strongly, but the twins relied on him so much that they took his surname without any hesitation.
The first adult they had ever met whom they could trust and rely on.
To them, Ho-cheol's existence far transcended the level of just a grateful person.
And at Hwayeon's request, Dowon also ended up waiting here for Ho-cheol.
In truth, he too was inwardly hoping, no.
Sincerely praying, that Ho-cheol would come for them.
For that reason, the twins had been waiting for Ho-cheol for nearly an hour.
Looking at the two, Smiley clapped her hands and added.
“For your reference, Ho-cheol is handling a very busy matter right now. A very important matter.”
“Then!”
Dowon was about to say that he obviously couldn't come, but Smiley raised her index finger and wagged it sideways.
“That's the point. If he had the time, he would obviously come. He's not that bad of a person. But will he come looking for you while giving up an important task at a truly important moment. That's what you're doubtful about, isn't it.”
It was such sound logic that the twins couldn't say anything.
Another hour passed.
The twins' expressions became much darker than before.
If he really didn't come……. Of course, they had no intention of blaming or criticizing him.
Just the worries of what to do with this feeling, and whether they could see him in the future.
Only such thoughts remained.
However.
Step— Step— Step—
Footsteps were heard clearly from far away.
Those footsteps stopped right in front of the warehouse they were staying in, as if they knew.
The twins' expressions brightened, and in contrast, Smiley openly showed her displeasure.
Clunk— Kkiiiririk— Thud— Kwang—! Kwaaaang—!
The locked warehouse door twisted and was forced open.
A small gap, barely wide enough to fit a finger, and an eye briefly peeked through it.
The eye quickly scanned the inside of the warehouse and disappeared again.
Instead, fingers came in through that hole.
The door twisted, and light poured in through the gap.
At the same time, Ho-cheol also entered the warehouse.
Ho-cheol stood at the entrance, his back to the sun.
“You kidnap my kids?”
His expression couldn't be seen due to the backlight, but his voice was rougher than ever.
“Are you really crazy?”