Sihyun flipped through the notebook at a rapid pace. Reading the hastily written notes with a curly handwriting, he lowered his body towards the fallen researcher, extending his hand. As he lifted the person up, the name tag hanging on their chest came into view.
'Dr. Han Seohu'
This person seemed to be the overall supervisor of the research. The notebook he held crumpled in his hand. Behind the page that said, "Create a Dual," there were details about the rough experiments conducted to create the Dual.
Extract the core from the hearts of the marked children. In the process, dozens of children died, but through their sacrifice, the lab discovered a way to extract the core without damaging it. The experiment continued until they succeeded in transplanting the extracted core into the hearts of other children.
Most of the children either died shortly after receiving the core or acquired various disabilities. In the midst of it all, the only successful case of core transplantation was Experiment Number 2, Han Seohu. The author gave him the name Ban Haru and imparted basic life knowledge to him. However, when Haru, who had devoted himself to testing as the strongest class tester at the age of 17, received the judgment of not being a Dual, he was sent back to the road of experiments to create a Dual.
To enhance physical abilities, he engaged in deadly battles with other experimental subjects, and there was even a mention of injecting the blood of marked children to Haru since there was no way to extract mana. It was also noted that shocks were applied to the hearts to stimulate the cores. At this point, survival became precarious, and there were moments when Sihyun, who had been involved in experiments since childhood, felt sympathy for Haru, who had lived through it. However...
'Haru has acquired the mark. I wasn't wrong.'
With a heavy heart, Sihyun recalled the clearly written passage and looked down at the unconscious researcher. Research for a greater cause? It seemed impure in intention, and too many people had died. Moreover, young children.
A murderer.
With a cold gaze that could only be described as such, Sihyun continued to stare at the researcher. Seeing this, Hamin approached, grabbing Sihyun's shoulder. Sihyun's body was turned halfway by Hamin's hand.
"Why are you like this?"
"Mr. Ihaehyuk."
Although Hamin was the one called, Sihyun mentioned the wrong person. Still not taking his eyes off the researcher, Sihyun calmly spoke to Hamin.
"Yes."
"I'll add two more conditions."
"What?"
Sihyun, who dropped the notebook next to the unconscious man, looked at it with a cold gaze. Water of the same color as his blue eyes appeared and covered the notebook. Sihyun, who witnessed the pressure of the condensed water making the notebook unreadable, turned his gaze towards Hamin.
Deep purple irises met with chillingly blue ones.
"Even if research personnel and important data within the lab go missing, you'll cover it up."
"...."
"And you'll investigate all information related to Haru hyung. These are the additional conditions."
Hamin remained silent. When Sihyun looked at him with an indifferent expression, Hamin answered gently.
"Yes."
"If you were going to erase all the data-"
"If it were Russ, he would have done me the favor."
"...."
"He's determined to bring you there. Redem is tough, you know."
"Hey, are you out of your mind?"
Hamin was shocked and asked, clearly comparing Russ and IRS. His expression indicated that he was quite shocked. Seowoo, too, with widened eyes, looked at Sihyun. Sihyun was the only one nonchalant.
"...This treatment is new."
Hamin, who regained his smile, spoke softly. His lips were upturned, but his eyes were icy. It seemed believable that he was a different person from the kind and affectionate one earlier. After glancing at the motionless man with sunken eyes whom he had kicked, he opened his mouth.
"Weren't you here to save people?"
"We have to save people."
Sihyun's words made Hamin look at him as if questioning. Sihyun casually spoke.
"He's not even a person."
"Can you do it?"
He said it with a smile. It was a question about whether he could kill a person. Despite the strange nuance that seemed to ignore and belittle Kang Sihyun, Sihyun blinked. If it were the Hamin in front of him, he had never killed a person. The farthest he went was threatening someone if they posed a threat. However, it didn't seem like he couldn't kill. Knowing that he had to kill the Irregular when he knew, just as he killed the Irregular that day, he was ready to kill if he became a condition. It wasn't as leisurely as leaving a threat for later, saying that all life was precious or that even criminals had to live. Sihyun recalled the fight with Haru in the past. Haru wanted to hide his past and the mark. Sihyun, who had made a slow judgment, opened his mouth.
"...I thought I was good at saving people because I'm a healer."
"You thought?"
"Today, I realized I might be good at killing too."
The blue water enveloped the face of the researcher who had fainted in an instant. As the water blocked his breath, the researcher twitched. Kang Sihyun looked down at him with indifferent eyes, then, confidently, he spoke as he nonchalantly scratched the researcher's delicate neck with his long fingernails.
"There's a difference between someone deserving to die and me killing them. It's like saying that when someone who received a life sentence comes out, they should be executed. But if you ask them to kill that person directly, you might hesitate. However, Sihyun didn't stop. Finally, the man's body slumped and relaxed. Many people in the lab had fainted after Sihyun entered, but this was the first time someone had died.
The first casualty came from Sihyun's hands. This time, Sihyun looked at Hahyeok and urged him for an answer.
"Mr. Hahyeok."
"Two years."
"Yes?"
"Since I was 19, I've been able to work under the guild. I've been with Redem for two years now. Don't follow me just because IRS calls. Even if a mercenary request comes in after the contract is over, prioritize Redem."
It had been extended from one year to two. Sihyun remembered that he owed something to Russ and nodded.
"Two years are too long. The compensation I receive is not enough."
"Until then, when you're active domestically, I'll lend you my name."
"...."
Upon Hahyeok's additional words, Sihyun fell into thought. Lending a name meant becoming a backup. Guild leader Hahyeok of Redem guarantees my identity. If I say that S-class Hahyeok is behind me, honestly, unless someone is crazy, they wouldn't dare touch me. In case something troublesome happens, I can use Hahyeok's name to get out of it. For example, if I go outside like the last time with the Four Heavenly Kings and get surrounded by students, I can say, 'Oh, Mr. Hahyeok called me.' and get away with it.
Now that he was an adult, it might not be very attractive, but Kang Sihyun's body was 17 years old. Hahyeok had offered to lend his name until the contract was over, so from today, he could act using his name.
Not bad.
However.
"Let's make it a year and six months."
He didn't just accept it as it was. To reduce two years to a year and six months, Hahyeok smirked and opened his mouth. Sensing his acceptance, Sihyun quickly added another condition.
"After the contract, Mr. Hahyeok, include a clause that you won't threaten me under any circumstances."
"What kind of threat?"
"Physical attacks, mental attacks, of course, indirect ones too. Don't threaten me. However, it's okay to annoy me a bit. It probably won't happen, but if I ever harm Mr. Hahyeok first, you don't have to keep this clause."
As Sihyun spat out each word, Hamin's expression behind Hahyeok became strange. Sihyun watched as he made an impression, looked puzzled, and then made a bizarre expression, before turning his gaze to Hahyeok. Hahyeok, who had been listening to Sihyun's demands without hesitation, let out a wry smile at Hamin's reaction.
"You're probably the first person to make such demands to the guild leader of Redem."
"Oh, and please let me visit Russ at least once. I owe him, so I think I should help him sometime."
"...Fine."
"Since life is unpredictable, how about being generous and allowing it three times?"
Hahyeok's expression stiffened at the additional conditions. When Sihyun spoke, Hamin burst into laughter, and Seowoo also silently shook his shoulders while looking away. Sihyun shrugged at Hamin's odd reaction. Life is a series of ups and downs. When dealing with someone like the man in front of him, showing low self-esteem would almost certainly lead to being taken advantage of.
"I don't mean to say that just because the class is good, I can guarantee exceptional talent."
He spoke calmly. Sihyun recalled a blog post he had read when he entered school. It was about people who couldn't afford class prices even though they were dual-classed because they lacked talent. Certainly, there might be such people. However, Sihyun didn't think that person was him.
"I don't think you're talking about me."
Cough.
At Sihyun's words, Hamin coughed awkwardly. Sihyun shrugged as he received strange glances. Life is full of uncertainties. When talking to someone like the man in front of him, showing low self-esteem is almost a guarantee of being taken advantage of.
"What I mean is, I hope Sihyun improves so that there won't be a day when he considers today's deal a loss. Let's modify the contract after it's signed. Shall we go again?"
The somewhat lengthy argument came to an end. Sihyun, who had received all his requests, sighed in relief as the lights went out, and he stared at the dim corridor. Now, all that remained was to rescue Haewon and turn this lab into a sea of blood. Thinking about the scale of the lab, Sihyun thought of saving mana and quietly grabbed Seowoo's clothes, who was walking ahead. He thought about telling Hamin, but he couldn't ask him for a favor since he was weak.
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