Chapter 50

(A couple of days ago…)

” ‘Awakening’ has been partially understood at a conceptual level. Humans adapt to mana. And in that process, cellular transformation occurs.

The Pentagon researchers you connected me with last time had a similar theory. They mentioned mutants—yes, they brought up mutation first.

People who evolved to handle mana that came through the Gates—those are Awakeners.

In conclusion, this drug accelerates mutations. It doesn’t grant abilities.

Normally, people awaken gradually as they breathe, adapt, and remain exposed to mana for extended periods.

But this… this Awakening Accelerator? It floods the body with mana in an instant, rapidly accelerating cellular mutation.

It doesn’t directly alter cells—it just spreads mana to induce mutation.”

—Clap!

Chun Hwa-Ran clapped lightly, smiled, and gave a look that said, “Simple, right?”

“Do you understand?”

“No.”

—

Chun Hwa-Ran stroked her smooth chin, raised her index finger, and waved it in the air as she continued explaining in a soft, deliberate tone.

“Imagine people drowning in water suddenly growing gills.

But this drug doesn’t create gills.

It throws people into water so that gills appear.”

“Ah, I get it now.”

“Good analogy, right?”

“You should be a kindergarten teacher.”

“I do have four kids.”

Chun Hwa-Ran shrugged playfully and perched on the edge of a lab table. I absentmindedly fiddled with the grip of my hiking cane, playing along with her joke. Of course, her husband was included in that four kids count.

“Director Gam is way too big to be called a kid.”

“But he pokes around everywhere, curious about everything. That makes him a kid… Anyway, where was I?”

“Gills.”

Chun Hwa-Ran carefully lifted the Awakening Accelerator. The drug, created from the lives of hundreds, shimmered with an eerie blue glow.

“This drug… it throws people into water, so to speak.”

“Right.”

“But you don’t know whether the gills will appear on the arms or the back.”

“You’re saying abilities manifest at random?”

“That would be the least of our worries. You saw the test subjects. They lost their minds and became half-monsters, rampaging uncontrollably.”

“……So it’s not a drug that creates Awakeners—it creates monsters?”

“What’s the difference between an Awakener and a monster?”

“Rationality?”

“Then tell me—what’s the difference between a drug that creates a rational monster and a drug that creates an Awakener?”

“Let’s put that discussion aside for now.”

This wasn’t the time for philosophical debates. I frowned, staring at the softly glowing flask.

“……So if someone takes this, do they lose their mind?”

“No, that part is relatively stable. For now.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Chun Hwa-Ran let out a bitter laugh and started explaining.

“There’s a structure in DNA called telomeres—little protective caps at the end of chromosomes. When cells divide, these caps shorten—”

“Could you simplify that?”

“Cells have a fixed number of times they can divide. When that number runs out, we call it aging. Now, say someone suddenly awakens and grows a third arm. That arm still forms through cell division, so obviously—”

“Even simpler.”

“You age faster.”

Shit.

“Does this happen to naturally awakened people too?”

“No.”

“Then why does it only happen with the drug-induced awakening?”

“We don’t know.”

I felt like screaming.

“AAAARGH!”

I groaned, pressing my temples as I slumped into a chair.

“Is this really unusable?”

“Well… there’s the lifespan issue. And even though we’ve somewhat stabilized it, there’s no guarantee people won’t lose their minds. And then there’s the question of whether they’ll awaken in a useful way. Or if they’ll die during the process. Or if they won’t be able to control their powers—”

“This drug was made by sacrificing hundreds of lives.”

“……”

Chun Hwa-Ran muttered as if trying to console me.

“Without understanding the mechanism, there’s nothing we can—”

No. This couldn’t be where we stopped.

I lifted my head, my eyes bloodshot. There must have been a hint of madness in my gaze because Chun Hwa-Ran flinched.

“……Right. Even Cha Jae-Kyun couldn’t explain it. So he solved it through brute force.”

“He didn’t understand shit, so he just kept stabbing people with needles until something worked, right?”

“Ass… Assemblyman…?”

I stared at Chun Hwa-Ran in silence. She gulped, her eyes filled with unease.

“Dr. Chun, do you remember when you tested my abilities with Ji-Yoon?”

“……Back at Martial Law Command?”

“Ji-Yoon clearly said that when I was near my sister, I glowed blue. And when I moved away, I didn’t. That means I’m just an ordinary person when I’m not in contact with an Awakener. Because I don’t have mana in my body.”

“……No, that’s—”

“I tested something while escaping on the Sinbundang Line.”

“……No, no, I don’t think—”

“If I touch multiple Awakeners, the last one I make contact with determines my effect.”

“Assemblyman, I can’t do this.”

“If I awaken using the drug, then touch you, wouldn’t the drug’s effects be canceled?”

“Assemblyman!”

Which meant—

Infinite human experimentation was possible.

“……Let’s try it once.”

That day, we confirmed that this method worked.

And over the next six months, we conducted 231 trials.

Eventually, we perfected it.

(T/N: Oh, so it was a legit experimentation on him. I thought its one of his BS again, lol.)

—

– There are three conditions that make a hero.

“I stopped Cha Jae-Kyun’s conspiracy, securing the Monsterization Drug he created. Though I suffered at the hands of his remaining followers, I secretly modified the Monsterization Drug to develop a formula that creates Awakeners.”

– Achievemen

“I conducted 231 human experiments on my own body. As a result, my telomeres degraded, significantly shortening my lifespan, but I successfully created an improved version of the drug.”

– Sacrifice

“Of course, since I was the only test subject, I cannot guarantee the drug’s stability. Although it appears stable, the side effects have not been completely eliminated, and it is certain that it reduces lifespan. However— This is the best chance for the Republic of Korea.”

– Vision

“Everyone, please take this drug.”

– I lower my head, showing sincerity to the audience. This is a nationwide recruitment advertisement.

“5.26 million people have died. They are not just numbers.”

– Instill a sense of crisis.

“The politicians of this country, entangled in collusion and division, failed to protect the people.”

– Trigger anger.

“The entire world is standing at the brink of destruction.”

– Make them recognize the blood spilled.

“If not for the sacrifices of our soldiers, we too would have been devoured by monsters.”

– This isn’t just a speech designed to stir emotions in the moment.

“There is an inevitable doom approaching. The sea routes have been blocked, and our resources are not infinite.”

– Every scheme up to this point, every manipulation, has led to this moment—to incite as many people as possible.

“And we do not know how to close the Gates.”

– I relay Cha Jae-Kyun’s prophecy.

“The moment we run out of either ammunition or fuel, the Republic of Korea will fall.”

– Invoke fear to drive change.

“We need fundamental reform in our national defense system.”

– An unlimited enemy, limited resources.

“Only superhumans can stop the monsters.”

– We must invest in human resources, not material ones.

“We need more Awakeners, and there exists a drug that can awaken people at the cost of their lifespan.”

– Turn survival into a transaction.

“……And so, I ask for the blood, tears, and suffering of the people.”

– Only I have the authority to demand sacrifice from the people.

“I have nothing to give you in return. Only these words—please, for the sake of our nation, sacrifice yourselves.”

– Everything in this moment lends credibility to my claim.

“This is the truth that the politicians of this nation have been too afraid to say—afraid that their approval ratings might drop.”

– The foundation for justification is laid. Time to reveal the next move.

“……Everyone, please look at this.”

– I unveil the mana stone technology we’ve kept hidden until now.

“This is the result of secret research conducted at the Foundation’s laboratories.”

– Revive the economy.

“And here—this is the basic formula for developing mana-based medicine.”

– Throw bait to corporations.

“This is a potion that drastically accelerates the body’s natural healing abilities using mana.”

– Look at this.

“It can heal diseases and wounds, but it depletes the body’s natural recovery capacity, shortening lifespan in the process.”
(T/N: Makes sense for potion usage unlike other series that uses health potions.)

– Doesn’t this sound profitable?

“This is the current reality we face.”

– The demand for mana stones will skyrocket.

“We must trade our lifespan for survival.”

– Mana stones will become the new gold.

“I earnestly ask the people of this nation for their cooperation.”

– The homeless, the refugees in the capital, the countless orphans and abandoned—they will all be desperate to awaken.

“Please, sacrifice for your country.”

– There’s already a noble cause attached to this—why hesitate?

“I also call upon businesses and the government to unite and overcome this national crisis together.”

– Technological advancement has always thrived under free market competition.

“……I humbly ask for your support.”

– By now, Hong Seon-Ah has probably handed in her resignation to David Kim. With Chun Geum-Soon’s help, she’ll establish a private military company—a Hunter Association, or something similar.
(T/N: So it’s kinda official. A Hunter Association not related to the Government. Something we commonly see in this kind of story.)

“……For a free and just Republic of Korea,”

– Just before the Han Seung-Moon Foundation was placed under investigation, it had secured a mana stone contract with GS Group. She holds control over all mana stones. Over six months, a vast stockpile has been amassed, ready to be released into the market at a relatively stable price. Geum-Soon isn’t stupid—if she monopolizes too aggressively, someone will put a bullet in her head. She’ll skim just enough off the top.

“With hope for the eternal glory of its people,”

– By restoring the separation of powers, the stagnating nation will begin to move again.

“I conclude my shameful plea.”

– And the resulting chaos and fear will be the driving force for national reform.

“This is all I have to say.”

– The Era of Hunters has finally arrived.

“……I will now take questions.”

– Rest in peace, Vice Minister.

Han Seung-Moon was instantly surrounded by journalists. He elaborated on his speech and his vision for Korea while dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief, subtly misty-eyed.

“……”

But—

Pi Chae-Won, watching from the far corner, heard something different in his speech.

Fear. Death. Chaos.

And yet, stability and reform.

She looked down. Bowed her head.

He had succeeded.

And she had not.

She, too, had once dreamed of creating a better world.

But she failed.

A memory flashed through her mind—the black eyes of a fellow test subject, the wistful smile of someone trying to endure pain, their golden-yellow tears, and the splattered remains of their shattered skull.

The world was cruel.

And so, she wept.

She mourned for the test subject who had been shot dead.

She pitied the agent who committed suicide after pulling the trigger.

She despised a world built upon the sacrifices of others.

And she hated herself for being unable to do anything but watch.

Because she lacked the power to present an alternative.

Because she wasn’t strong enough to say, “This isn’t right.”

Because she couldn’t even voice her own hatred.

And so, she sat alone among the empty chairs, crying bitterly.

—

The prosecution charged me with treason.

The nation was in turmoil, but they controlled the law.

I stood trial before the entire Supreme Court—the Chief Justice and fourteen Supreme Court Justices.

And then—

“Verdict! We give up!”

The Chief Justice hurled his gavel.

It wasn’t even used in actual court proceedings, yet he had brought it just to throw it in front of the cameras.

He’d make a fantastic politician.

The justices stood up simultaneously, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

A judicial rebellion.

A judicial coup.

In the entire history of South Korea, this had happened fewer than ten times.

And now, I was witnessing one firsthand.

Honestly, I had fully expected to go to prison for this.

After all, they’d only revoke my eligibility for election, and I’d be out by March 1st on a presidential pardon anyway.

Even if I was expelled from politics, the National Party wouldn’t collapse.

I was already a symbol, a political weapon that would continue to be invoked to divide the political landscape.

The country would function just fine without me.

But then—

“The judiciary is not a rubber stamp.”

“How can lawmakers summon the Chief Justice to decide a sentence?”

“The courts cannot be used as a tool for political oppression.”

Yang Pan-Seok threw me a lifeline.

I was acquitted.

The raccoon smirked.

—

In front of Uijeongbu Prison.

Chun Hwa-Ran, who had been arrested for human experimentation, smacked her husband on the head for bringing her tofu, then embraced her beloved daughter.

“Mommy!”

“Ji-Yoon…!”

“How was prison food?”

“……” Chun Hwa-Ran shot a sweet smile and whispered into Director Gam’s ear.

“I told you not to say weird things in front of the kid.”

“Ack, I didn’t mean it like that…!”

“And seriously, tofu? Who even eats that anymore…”

Watching the scene unfold, I quietly placed a black plastic bag on the ground.

Shouldn’t have brought this.

“Dr. Chun!”

“Oh, Assemblyman!”

“You really went through so much because of me… You shouldn’t have had to suffer, especially in your condition…”

“Suffer? It was just an interrogation, not a prison sentence…”

Chun Hwa-Ran accepted my words with a warm smile. Then, both she and her husband immediately bombarded me with questions.

“So, what’s next for you, Assemblyman? You’re a total star now.”

“We were watching the Supreme Court ruling live last night. It was insane!”

I let out a bitter chuckle.

“First, I need to go home and see my family.”

“Ah……”

“Do-Yeon was down in Tongyeong. She’s on her way back to see me now.”

“Oh dear……”

I could already see the future.

She was going to cry and then beat the hell out of me.

I sighed and waved my hand lazily.

“It’s cold out. Let’s head inside.”

“Oh, sure.”

“Ji-Yoon, what do you want to eat?”

No response.

“Ji-Yoon?”

Come to think of it, she was like this the first time I met her too.

Staring blankly, mesmerized by the blue aura floating in the air, completely ignoring everything else around her.

“Ji-Yoon—”

“Blue…”

“Huh?”

Gam Ji-Yoon raised her tiny finger and pointed toward the overcast sky.

“The sky is blue.”

—

The Tale of Zhuge Liang

“Do everything you can, and leave the rest to fate.”

“No matter how hard you work, if luck isn’t on your side, everything can fall apart.”