KEG 41
The steep stairs leading to the Ttangkkeut Tower.
In front of it, two people in hiking gear were staring at the passersby.
“You look like you’re carrying a heavy burden.”
“You look tired, how about a cup of coffee…?”
“Ugh, what is this? Leave me alone.”
The winter sea off Haenam was muted in color.
The wind was biting, and the faces of the people who greeted them were ashen.
“Just a moment, please~”
“……”
This time, they were treated like invisible people and walked right past.
96% of street proselytizing goes like this. No one is fooled; there are only those trying to fool others. Yet, the missionaries desperately search for that 4% of suckers who occasionally fall for it.
Beep-beep!
“Hey, ladies! What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you to get lost?”
A man in a security guard uniform appeared, blowing a whistle, and chased after them. The baton in his hand looked like it was about to come down on them. Or maybe he’d already whacked them a few times.
“We’re just trying to share some kind words…”
“Kind words my ass! Stop harassing people! Just go away!”
He looked like the owner of a mill chasing away sparrows. Faced with such a menacing threat, they backed off.
However, they didn’t go far and resumed their proselytizing about 300 meters away.
“Hello, we’re students studying psychology…”
This time, they brought up psychology.
“Would you mind taking a quick survey?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
At this rare positive response, a glimmer of vitality flickered in their previously lifeless eyes.
“Let’s not do this here. Since we’ve crossed paths, why don’t we head over to the car together?”
“Aren’t you hungry? How about grabbing a meal at our study group’s place? You can study psychology there too~”
“I suppose I am getting a bit hungry.”
Their footsteps quickened with excitement, as if they’d hit the jackpot.
Relief that they wouldn’t have to suffer through the biting wind.
The thrill of having pulled something off.
The ignorance of not even anticipating what might happen.
“You seem happy.”
I got into the car and closed the door, wondering if Go Philip had been lured away like this too.
***
The car drove along the coastal road for over 50 minutes. The destination felt so far away that I wondered if we’d even left Haenam yet, and the distracting chatter was getting on my nerves.
“What’s your MBTI type?”
“I don’t know.”
I gave a vague answer and looked out the window. I saw a sign that read “Monster Restricted Zone” flash by quickly.
“We have an online survey we created~ Why don’t you take this and find out your MBTI?”
Another survey.
The questions on the tablet I’d been handed for the third time since getting in the car.
This time, there were as many as 105 questions.
“Wow, you’re so decisive.”
Fed up, I checked “Strongly Disagree” for everything.
Imagination, interpersonal skills, empathy, planning ability. It was just a repetition of phrases I’d seen somewhere before. I didn’t really enjoy reading, so it just gave me a headache.
Then I came across some sentences that particularly grated on my nerves.
- I am interested in marginalized minority religions.
Strongly Disagree○○○○○○○Strongly Agree
- The emergence of Awakeners has changed my life.
Strongly Disagree ○○○○○○○ Strongly Agree
- I want to get my life back to how it was before the Dungeon Break.
Strongly Disagree ○○○○○○○ Strongly Agree
I glanced over and saw the cultists, who had fallen silent. They were staring only at my fingertips, which had paused on a specific question.
- I am interested in marginalized minority religions.
Strongly Disagree ○○○○○○● Strongly Agree
- The emergence of Awakeners has changed my life.
Strongly Disagree ○○○○○○● Strongly Agree
- I want to get my life back to how it was before the Dungeon Break
Strongly Disagree ○○○○○○ ● Strongly Agree
I tapped “Strongly Agree” for every item.
To avoid looking too suspicious, I randomly tapped the other questions, mixing in a few “Strongly Disagree” responses to keep things balanced.
“I’m all done.”
“Hmm, good. Shall I give you a quick summary of the results?”
“Can you tell already?”
“Yes, we’ve been talking the whole time. Since it’s online, the data gets analyzed instantly. I’ll give you a comprehensive summary based on that.”
I thought the conversation was just a diversion to hide our destination, but apparently they had actually been analyzing me.
A much more sophisticated approach compared to the sloppiness they showed at first.
“Ha Seongho-ssi… you’re an INTP. A lonely person.”
There was no sympathy or pity in the tone.
Just an objective attitude, leaving only judgment.
“You don’t trust others. But you don’t hate them either.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, you’re someone who avoids loneliness. You believe that being alone is complete and sufficient.”
I had never thought deeply about my emotions.
When I was sad, I was sad; when I was happy, I was happy, I’d just tucked those feelings away in a corner of my heart and lived my life doing what was expected of me.
“There’s no one around who truly understands you.”
“Is there supposed to be?”
The woman who was speaking while looking at the results chart looked at me.
“Have you ever thought that maybe you’re the one who’s wrong?”
I had always felt that something was wrong.
After all, I was different from others and didn’t belong to the mainstream.
“I’ve never thought I was wrong.”
I just thought I was a failure.
“Have you ever felt anxious because you made the wrong choice?”
“Maybe I have.”
“That’s enough. Self-reflection and self-examination is a good attitude.”
The woman grabbed my hand tightly and looked me in the eye.
“The people who give me courage when I need to be sure of myself are the ones who understand me. They give me the strength to walk toward the direction I want to go.”
I looked at the woman’s lifeless face.
Her eyes, which I’d thought looked like fish eyes the whole time, were black and hazy. She didn’t look like a human being carrying on with life.
“You think we’re strange people, don’t you?”
I didn’t answer.
But in a way, that was my answer.
“We’re just tired people.”
Before I knew it, the car had left the coastal road and turned into the mountains, entering a rural village.
“Life is too long, choices are scary, and individuals are too weak. It’s hard to make the right decisions on your own.”
The car came to a complete stop. I heard the sound of the driver unbuckling the seatbelt.
“That’s why we’re here. All of us.”
As the car door opened, people were waiting there to welcome me.
“We got the message! Thanks for coming all this way!”
The man who spoke first handed me an envelope.
“Use this for a taxi fare on your way back, this place is pretty remote~”
I peeked inside and saw three 50,000-won bills.
“I heard a new face was coming, so I brought some sashimi. Have some after you eat. If you’re not hungry, just take it with you.”
The man who mentioned the sashimi looked like he was playing the part of a fisherman, wearing rubber boots and a fishing vest. They looked new.
“Oh, come on. Don’t pressure him! I’m sorry~ Hehe.”
“Glad you came! The fresh kimchi I made this morning is absolutely fantastic!”
This was Haenam, South Jeolla Province. Yet in this rural village, no one spoke with a Jeolla accent.
I was an outsider in a village made up entirely of outsiders.
They led me to a communal dormitory converted from a closed-down school.
“Go on, help yourself~”
As I stepped into the auditorium, I saw the food spread out before me. From kimchi soup to familiar side dishes, complete with a commercial food warmer, it reminded me of a Korean buffet. I served myself a moderate portion and took a seat.
“Oh my~ Why is your shoulder like that? Did you hurt it?”
“Yeah, a little.”
“I haven’t seen you before. Where are you from?”
“I’m from Seoul.”
People quickly gathered around me.
Not too many, just the right amount.
There were also a few people who were just eating their meals, seemingly indifferent.
“Did you come to see the winter sea?”
“No, I’m here to look for someone.”
I spoke while paying close attention to the reactions around me.
“Do you know Go Philip?”
Some listened carefully and pondered who I was talking about.
Others ate their meals as if they hadn’t heard a thing.
Some didn’t join the conversation but kept their eyes on me.
Then one person lowered his head and muttered as our eyes met.
“…Yeppi?”
That man.
A young man whose dyed hair had grown out, leaving dark roots showing.
The man flinched at my gaze while eating and muttered something more to himself. Then he scrambled to leave his seat. I also immediately stood up and moved.
Thud.
“Oh, at least finish your meal before you go. You’re in such a hurry~”
“…Ugh.”
Someone grabbed my left arm.
A tingling pain pierced my brain.
“Ah! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was just trying to grab…”
I stared at the other person. Then I looked around.
There were about 40 people in the restaurant. Starting a fight would be a bad move. I needed to secure an escape route and gain the upper hand.
“I’m not just saying this for nothing, but around sunset, usually–”
Weee-wooo!
-Attention, attention, residents of the village. Monster movements has been detected. Please evacuate inside your homes immediately.
At that moment, a warning announcement accompanied by a siren blared from the speakers outside the building.
“Oh, no, it’s already time…”
“Mr. Choi! Is my spear here?”
“They say even dogs don’t bother you when you’re eating…”
One person pulled out a bow roughly wrapped in blue tape. Others, one by one, pulled out weapons that were in poor condition. They looked like seasoned warriors accustomed to battle.
“Let’s head to the basement!”
“Give me some newspaper; we need to cover the side dishes before we go.”
Even those who hadn’t drawn their weapons remained calm.
They carried themselves with a composure that suggested they were fully committed to their assigned roles, and perhaps even confident they wouldn’t die.
“Newbie, are you an Awakener?”
The man playing the role of the fisherman asked as he strapped on a flamethrower modified from a large gas torch. I suddenly recalled Gil Sangwook’s words.
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