Chapter 105: Aftermath and Crossroads

The Association was more deeply involved in the secret laboratory’s project than I had anticipated.

The researchers and Association executives shifted all the blame to the fugitive, Dr. Yoon.

While it was true that Dr. Yoon, as the project’s head, bore the greatest responsibility, it didn’t absolve the researchers and others who participated in the study of their guilt, and they were all taken into custody.

There was no news of Dr. Yoon’s capture, as if he had vanished.

The news was filled with speculation that he had committed suicide in a remote location or fled overseas.

While Dr. Yoon’s name was all over the news, the reversal of Siyun’s mental suggestions led to a flood of testimonies from the researchers who had participated in the project.

Through their statements, the inhuman and unethical experiments lurking at the foundation of the laboratory were rapidly brought to light and exposed to the world.

The stories uncovered from the secret lab were one after another like ghost tales, each more chilling than the last.

All the research conducted at the lab was abnormal and illegal.

The test subjects used in the research were mostly Awakened from the Association and inmates brought from the Awakened prison.

Furthermore, shocking evidence was found of experiments where ordinary people were kidnapped to be turned into Awakened.

My suspicions had been correct.

Thanks to the files collected by Dr. Yoon’s closest aide and Jinseok, a list of the victims was also revealed.

If I hadn’t returned to the past, my name would have been on that list as well.

Jihwon’s name was also on the list.

Today, Jinseok told me that Jihwon’s death had been officially ruled as a result of the project conducted at the lab.

Hearing those words, memories of my time with Jihwon began to surface one by one.

Perhaps because we had spent over three years together, the memories were endless.

The tears that wouldn’t come at his funeral finally began to fall slowly.

Jihwon’s death was tragic and heartbreaking.

I could only hope that wherever he was now, he could rest in peace.

The Awakened and civilians who had participated in the project were currently undergoing examinations at the Center and government hospitals.

Wonjae was among them, so I couldn’t meet him at the moment.

However, we were able to talk on the phone, so we checked in on each other.

Wonjae initially resented me for leaving for the lab without a word, but his anger soon turned to worry.

I felt a great sense of guilt, as if I had only been a burden to those around me.

While worrying about me, Wonjae also praised me, saying I was amazing and thanking me for revealing the truth.

After exchanging apologies and thanks, we talked for a while about our physical conditions before ending the call.

Since I was forbidden from leaving the hospital, there was a limit to what I could do.

It was mostly watching TV or sleeping.

I was aimlessly flipping through the TV channels when there was a knock and Jinseok came in.

“Guide-nim, Esper Hyun Taewoon has come again.”

Hyun Taewoon had been visiting me continuously.

I was still scared to meet him, but I couldn’t avoid him forever, and I wanted to know how I would feel after facing him, so this time, I gave a small nod.

Jinseok left, and a moment later, a heavy knock, different from before, sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

At my words, the door opened, revealing a haggard-looking Hyun Taewoon.

He looked like he hadn’t slept; the shadows under his eyes were darker than usual, and his skin appeared rough.

“Why are you here?”

“I was worried. They said there’s nothing wrong with you, which is a relief.”

Looking at Hyun Taewoon’s weary face, I got out from under the covers and sat on the edge of the bed.

Hyun Taewoon stood there, looking at me.

His face was filled with worry, but there was also anger mixed in.

“What were you thinking, going to such a dangerous place alone? Didn’t you even think of telling me?”

I was surprised by his sudden rebuke, but it was a situation where he had every right to be angry, so I listened in silence.

Honestly, at the time, Hyun Taewoon hadn’t even crossed my mind.

I was solely focused on finding the location of the secret lab and uncovering Dr. Yoon’s corruption.

“Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“It was an unavoidable situation. If I hadn’t gone to the lab, people would have continued to be sacrificed.”

“Even if you hadn’t gone, it would have been revealed eventually. If you had died there…”

Hyun Taewoon couldn’t continue and pressed his lips together tightly.

His clenched fists were trembling, a clear sign that he was suppressing his anger.

I knew that my actions were foolish.

But at the time, it was something only I could do, and I had acted because Jinseok and Sehyun had offered to help.

I wanted to explain to Taewoon that I hadn’t proceeded without a plan, but I knew he would still condemn my actions, so I couldn’t say anything.

“I know I was wrong. I know it was a stupid thing to do.”

“If you know, then don’t ever act alone again.”

I gave a small nod at his words.

Seeing my dejected state, Hyun Taewoon came closer and carefully looked me over.

I finally understood why, after returning to the past, he always looked like he was about to cry whenever he saw me.

I no longer had feelings for Hyun Taewoon, but facing him now, the memories of the past that Sung Yohan had shown me kept resurfacing, making my heart churn and tears well up.

“I’m just glad you came back safely, without getting hurt.”

After Hyun Taewoon’s words, a heavy silence fell between us.

He seemed to hate the silence and kept trying to talk to me, but each attempt ended in a short exchange.

The situation seemed to speak to the distance between us.

After looking at me with a somber expression for a while, Taewoon said he would come again tomorrow and left a paper bag he had brought with him.

Inside the bag, as always, was a box of chocolates.

I thought about how stubbornly consistent Hyun Taewoon was, always remembering that I liked chocolate and buying this same gift every time.

Even after meeting him, I still couldn’t figure out my own heart.

But I couldn’t treat him as coldly as I had before.

It was the afternoon, not long after Taewoon’s visit, when Sehyun came to my hospital room.

In his hands were a get-well gift and a white paper envelope.

“Shinui, how are you feeling today?”

“I’m fine. You still have a long way to go before you get off work. Is it okay for you to be here now?”

“I came early today to bring you some good news, Shinui.”

Sehyun smiled, shaking the paper envelope.

Then he placed a portable side table in front of me and opened it.

“Just as you wished, I think you’ll be able to leave the Association now.”

It was something I had longed for, yet I didn’t feel happy.

After regressing, I had desperately tried to leave the Association to get away from Hyun Taewoon, but now that I knew it was all a struggle born from my own misunderstanding, I was just confused.

Still, considering the Association’s actions up to this point, resigning was the right thing to do, so I looked at Sehyun and asked.

“How?”

“There are constant reports of internal corruption within the Association, and if we file an additional complaint about what you’ve endured, you should be able to resign without much difficulty.”

With the reversal of Siyun’s suggestion, the true nature of the Association, which had been hidden at the bottom, was being exposed.

There would never be a better time than this.

“…I see. It’s a really advantageous situation.”

“That’s right. Shinui, would you let me handle the resignation process this time? I have a friend who is an Awakened human rights lawyer. He’ll take care of it quickly.”

“If you could do that, I’d be very grateful. But please keep me updated on the situation.”

“Of course. I’ve also thought about what to do after you resign. There’s a protected zone for the Awakened designated by the International Awakened Alliance. How about staying there for a while before returning to Korea?”

I was grateful to Sehyun for looking for a way out for me while I was in the lab.

If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave the Association so easily.

And I wouldn’t have been able to come up with a proper plan for what to do after.

After regressing, I wanted to live without regrets this time, but my foolish head was of no help at all.

“When you return to Korea, I’ll have a new identity prepared for you. You said you wanted to live a normal life, right?”

“Yes, like when I wasn’t a Guide…”

“Everything will work out as you wish. Don’t worry, just focus on your health.”

After regressing, there were countless times I felt resentful for being pushed around just because I was a Guide.

But now, I wasn’t sure if I still hated being a Guide as much as I did before.

However, the desire to leave the Association, shed my identity as an Awakened, and return to an ordinary life still remained.

The resignation I had longed for was right before my eyes.