Chapter 38: Beyond the Cage

Chirp— Chirp—

“…It’s already morning.”

Last night, after meeting Kim Kyungwoon to remove the chip, I returned straight to my quarters and packed my belongings.

I was truly happy to finally be leaving the center, but strangely enough, sleep never came.

I ended up staying awake the entire night.

At first, just thinking about carrying all my belongings alone gave me a headache, but once I actually started packing, there wasn’t much to take after all.

Most of my clothes and household items were old and worn out anyway, so I decided to throw almost everything away during this chance.

‘I know exactly what you’re worried about, but when it comes to pressuring the center’s management staff, I’m actually a step above Kwon Yiyul. The center may look independent, but it still operates directly under the state military.’

“…Haa.”

On the morning I promised to give Kwon Yiyul my answer, I stood quietly in front of my room with only a small travel bag slung over my shoulder, slowly steadying my breathing.

I’d taken my painkillers on time.

Kim Seokhwan had already spoken to the staff as well, so there shouldn’t be any incidents involving management personnel blocking my path or trying to stop me.

The real issue was whether Kwon Yiyul had sensed something or not.

But considering I hadn’t received any contact from him, it was obvious he hadn’t suspected my movements in the slightest.

Then again, in his eyes, I’d always been nothing more than a passive doll that moved only according to what they told me.

So perhaps it wasn’t surprising at all.

Ding—

‘Tomorrow morning, the center will be conducting a building safety inspection. The electricity in the first-floor audit room will be cut for around twenty to thirty minutes. Watch the timing and escape then.’

“…It’s really quiet.”

Only after confirming that all the CCTV cameras and monitoring systems around the area had shut down — along with the delayed arrival of the front desk employees due to the power outage in the audit room — did I finally step out of the elevator.

Perhaps because of temporary orders issued for site control, the center lobby was completely deserted.

Not a single person.

Not even an ant.

The silence was so overwhelming that even though I walked carefully on the tips of my feet, the sound of my sneakers against the floor echoed loudly.

Clunk—

‘There’s no alarm. I can really leave. I’m actually getting out.’

The massive gate at the center entrance resembled an old countryside waterwheel.

Normally, entering or exiting required strict surveillance, inspections, and a transit pass personally issued by the Center General Management Department.

But today was different.

Usually, if someone with an implanted chip tried to pass through without a temporary access permit, a deafening alarm would immediately ring out and management staff would rush over.

But now, I passed through the exit far too easily.

Bang—

“……!!”

There was a saying about guilty consciences making cowards of people.

I was so afraid Kwon Yiyul might come after me that even the sound of nearby construction almost made my legs give out.

With every nerve in my body on edge, I repeatedly looked around, but aside from the chirping sparrows, there was no sign of anyone nearby.

Tap— Tap—

“Hah… hah….”

The crisp morning air tore through my lungs.

Like a bird finally escaping a cramped cage and spreading its wings for the first time, I ran without once looking back until my breath reached its limit.

Past the neat yet lonely park in front of the center.

Past the riverside thick with the smell of damp water.

Past the food alley filled with the scent of simple cooking.

I kept running endlessly.

And then, in the distance, a broker dressed in a black jumper and black cap spotted me.

He waved the notebook in his hand and called out.

“You came early, brother. You brought the money properly, right?”

Splashhh—

The bow of the small fishing boat cut through the current.

Perhaps because it had been neglected for so long without proper maintenance, the waterway reeked with a rotten stench, while dark algae clung thickly to the walls in every direction.

Almost nobody in this district used these ancient waterways anymore except transport ships carrying supplies or brokers sneaking through to avoid surveillance from district authorities.

The old engine rattled loudly as though it might die at any moment, but after pouring in fuel before departure, it quieted down almost immediately.

Hwang Yunggu — a broker known in this line of work as Director Hwang — confidently assured me to trust him and stop looking so suspicious.

“But honestly, brother, this is surprising. I’ve seen plenty of people trying to crawl from the lower districts into the upper districts, but never someone sneaking from the upper districts down below while paying this much money.”

“…There are circumstances. If what I requested earlier is too difficult to accept, I’ll still pay you regardless—”

“Ah, come on. Do you know how much money I’ve earned talking with this mouth of mine? This much is nothing. Consider it customer service. But listen carefully, brother.”

The sound of heavy machinery echoed in the distance.

The boat passed through a large opening in the center of the canal before slowly entering a narrow waterway and cutting its engine.

A man standing atop an old stone bridge — something rarely seen in District 1 — flashed his flashlight several times toward Hwang Yunggu.

In response, the giant gate beneath the dark bridge, wrapped tightly in chains, slowly creaked open.

“Since you’ve already decided to head downstream, you probably know better than anyone else already, but whatever you see down there, just ignore it. You look way too clean and easy to scam, so stay close to me at all times. Got it?”

“…Yes. I understand.”

“…This whole year’s been a complete warzone in the lower districts. Absolute chaos. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s even a food shortage now. I’ve heard rumors people are actually eating each other.”

After rambling incomprehensibly for a while, Hwang Yunggu finally fell silent and slowly turned the boat’s steering wheel.

A freezing darkness swallowed the view ahead.

Noticing how frightened I’d become in the unfamiliar environment, Hwang Yunggu handed me his flashlight while carefully steering the boat toward shore.

The steady sound of water droplets falling somewhere nearby created the eerie illusion that we were deep underwater.

Click—

Thunk—

“Come on. From here, we walk through the lower passage.”

“…Excuse me. This is my first time in a place like this, so I really can’t tell… roughly where are we on the map right now?”

“Hm… somewhere around the bridge between District 2 and District 3.”

“…Oh. We got out much faster than I expected. I heard the surveillance was extremely strict, so I was worried.”

“That’s because the people in District 1 don’t really care whether someone crawls in or out through these old waterways. As long as you pass the formal inspection, leaving isn’t hard. Honestly, the lower districts monitor these canals way more heavily.”

“Why?”

As we descended the steep staircase, small lightbulbs clung to the stone walls like barnacles, spaced every eight to ten meters apart.

The narrow stone passage was so cramped it barely seemed suitable for human travel at all.

Still, judging from the discarded snack wrappers and cigarette butts scattered in the corners, people apparently used it often enough.

“Why else? Smuggled goods, illegal medicine, small amounts of military supplies — there’s no better route for transporting that kind of stuff. Anytime the waterways become an issue, every faction swarms in like rats. Guess this place really is full of people after all.”

“……”

“Oh right. Give me the map your friend drew and the contact information for that friend of his.”

“Yes, one second.”

Even taking care of my own body was exhausting enough already, and now I was dragging around the heavy burden of myself on top of it all.

Naturally, our pace slowed considerably.

Hwang Yunggu pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a cloud of thick smoke before letting out a deep sigh.

“…Mugi Market?”

“Yes?”

“Brother… don’t tell me that’s where you’re heading?”

“Is there a problem?”

Hwang Yunggu stared between the map Kim Kyungwoon had written and the business card with the tiny number printed on it before hurriedly crushing out his half-finished cigarette.

Then he slowly looked up at me.

“…Well. I don’t know if I should call it a problem or not.”

“……”

“You know Mugi Market is run by drug dealers, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then do you know its nickname is the Ant Hell?”

I shook my head.

I’d heard rumors about places where drug dealers traded large amounts of medicine, but there was no way I’d know their nicknames too.

“It means getting in is easy, but getting out is a complete nightmare. The entire district basically belongs to the dealers, and addicts wander around the streets even during broad daylight. Crime rates there are absolutely insane.”

“…Th-That….”

“But don’t worry. Looks like your friend has some pretty strong ties with the bosses there. That’ll make getting in and out easier, so you don’t need to panic too much.”

After terrifying me for no reason, now he was telling me not to worry.

I forced myself to calm my pounding heart and steady my breathing.

The painkillers still hadn’t fully worn off yet.

Once we entered the market, I decided I’d take another pill.

With Hwang Yunggu’s help, I dragged my heavy body up the stone staircase.

And at the top, another massive chain-wrapped gate greeted us.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

I’m Not the Saintess! I’m a Good-for-Nothing Young Master!

Female ProtagonistGender BenderReverse Pursuit

Read Now →
Not interested