Etranger

Chapter 94

[Please shake off all the bad memories. Lets go again. Like the first time] Biyeon commented.

[You do you know how much you mean to me? How much Biyeon Kim means to me?]

[]

[I feel bad. Very bad] 

[Im fine. You dont have to feel bad for me.]

San looked at Biyeon with a heavy, depressed expression.

He looked into her dark, black eyes. There was sorrow there that only he could read. He bit his lips. In his mind, the unpleasant conversation he had with the magic dragon, Siluone was constantly reoccurring, like a broken LP record.

***

[What have you done to our bodies?]

- You both are too dangerous. Furthermore, its worth observing you both longer. So, Ive put some safeguards and tracking devices on your bodies.

[Why did you do that]

- In exchange, Ill protect you from the threat of other dragons and their Sages. Everyone is very interested in you both. Also, I guarantee your freedom in this world. What do you think? Isnt it a very fair deal? Well, Im not really going to do anything different even if you dont agree

Siluone laughed loudly. No, they felt like she was laughing. The two felt goosebumps rise on their bodies.

[What do you mean? We dont make deals that we dont understand. Youll have to provide us with a better explanation and more information.]

- Oh? I never thought you both were so curious. Ive only spoken with Sages, who are always good at following orders.

[Can you omit the mischievous tone? Just tell us what we want to hear.]

- Simply put, I put a deadline on your bodies. You can think of it as a gene clock. Normally, there are no adverse effects on ones body. However, I can control your lifespans. The Sages have the same thing in their bodies, so I hope you both dont feel that its too unfair.

[Genetic clock?]

[I heard that some genes determine the number of times a cell can regenerate. I believe you know them as telomere and telomerase... If you touched the genetic clock, itll accelerate your aging or transform your entire body into cancer cells.]

- Such a bad daughter. Youre only focused on explaining the bad things. You can be resurrected, and if you want, you can live almost forever, right? Since I still have over 5,000 years to live, I might be able to guarantee at least that much time.

Siluone explained as if speaking to her children.

[So, were eternal slaves?]

- That expression is very sad, no? Youll be able to enjoy all the joys and pleasures that you could want, isnt that the dream for all humans? In addition to the great power of being an Awakener, youll possess the power of eternal life. As far as I can see, you humans usually paint Heaven in that way. Am I wrong?

[]

- Just think! Youll be able to enjoy your favorite adventures. What more do you want? Do you really think the way you both are living now is the best? Because of your modest pride? Or for what?

[]

- Anyway, what you have to choose is very simple. Once installed, theres no way to reverse the deadline. Because thats the way the damn Creator devised a way to control us dragons as well.

[Then we have a choice to not have the devices and deadline put into our bodies?]

- Yes, you have the chance to refuse. The Creator demands that the deadline must be a two-way, mutually agreed upon contract. Its easy to install, but it only takes effect through the process of mutual consent through signature, so I need you to agree. In other words, strictly speaking, it is a matter of choice. The same is true for me.

[What if we refuse?]

- I really want your data and insurance, so Ill probably have to fight you both. If my assessment of your abilities is correct, there will be very little likelihood that I will be destroyed. What do you think? Isnt it comparatively fair?

[What more do you want to see? We continued to agree with your experiment, right?]

- In the experimental lab, data is virtually meaningless. Theres not much to find out about life by opening a million dead bodies. I need live data on moving specimens. The outside world is the most intense laboratory and pushes the subjects to various extremes. In particular, data on humans who have Awakened are very important, but its very difficult to obtain a proper body. Its truly very hard.

[Are you curious enough to risk your life?]

- Yes. Its a personal mission I promised myself for the dragons who chose the path of transformation. We were the target creatures of the Creator. Now that weve mutated, were no longer targeted. We must now survive in a world created by the Creator. To do that, I have to know about humans. Especially the Awakened, as theyre scary existences 

[Dragons are scared of humans? Even with your dominating power?]

- Awakeners are scary. The power of the Creator only comes through humans. This is what the Creator explained. Furthermore, he has always descended in human form. He always pulled out a tremendous power hidden in humans and used it. At least the 9th Stage us dragons have been searching for the source of the humans phenomenal power over the years. Funny though the Creator never objected to our pursuits. Rather, he told me to look for it as much as possible

Siluone growled. She didnt realize that she was pouting. She was acting like a child doing homework who couldnt solve a few questions.

[Do you mean Acceleration? So, youve been experimenting on Awakeners all this time?]

- Acceleration is one of those abilities. The experimentation of one or two humans was not very useful. When I opened them up, it was just a person who acquired basic Acceleration skills and one lucky skill. After grasping the principle of the skills, I immediately discarded them. Sometimes they would become Sages. When I showed them the world of my dreams, most of them came over. Most of them have a loose mouth, so theyre quickly disposed of, but

[]

- However, its very dangerous and difficult for even Sages to hunt fourth-level Awakeners. In fact, even if I were to obtain a fourth-level Awakened Warrior, they would be of no use as specimens because the data would be corrupted from various parts being meshed together. Second or third-level Awakened Warriors are the most suitable for observation, but these warriors are very rare, and most of them belong to places called Absolute Clans, so its not easy to isolate and secure them. Absolute Clans are not weak enough for Sages to run rampant against.

[Were not people from this world, okay? Were aliens Did you find the wrong address?]

- Sorry, but its the opposite. You both are very important samples that can unravel the intentions of the Creator. At first, I thought you might be the body of the Original Human, the incarnation of all beings

[]

- Do you understand? When we know more about you, theres a greater possibility that Acceleration may be the key to overcoming this damn deadline that the Creator installed in our bodies. Since the Sages arent aware of these internal deadlines, I disconnected myself from my children during the experiment. Do you understand? These explanations are my show of kindness. I spoke for a while. Are you ready to choose?

[We cant die here. It cant be helped] San said in a somewhat defeated voice.

[You dont have to put the deadline on both of us, just one is needed, right?] Biyeon asked while cutting San off.

- The more samples, the better. But one is good enough. However, the conditions of our relationship must change.

[What are you talking about!] Sans non-verbal words rang out.

[Hey! Snake Lady! Im going to volunteer and take the pledge myself. What are your terms!] Biyeon quickly retorted.

- Thats fun. If one is missing, you will have to give me something equivalent. Are you okay, woman?

[Tell me!] Biyeon shouted.

[What are you doing!] San struggled as he tried to stop Biyeon from making a rash decision.

- I will take your eggs and your children as samples. To do this, girl, youll have to go through some extra experiments. Im as excited as you guys. Do you agree?

[Child?] The twos voices blurted out at the same time.

... Im fine. Biyeon replied.

Hearing Biyeons quiet voice, Sans thoughts came back to reality.

[Now Ive really reached the limit of my patience. Ill either destroy this fucking world or die trying.]

[In the end, this too will be solved once we meet the Creator.] Biyeon said softly, grasping her collar.

[None of these guys know where that guy is! No. Did you say hes in A-Pian? What the hell is happening! Gods, Sages, Angels mother-in-law, daughter-in-law... no fucking person knows where that guy lives and how to get there... During the time we spend trying to figure out his address, whether it is ten or a hundred years, Siluone and her gang of dragons will constantly conduct experiments on us as they wish And were expected to hug onto a poison in our bodies and be thankful? Is this the life we want? Is that so?]

***

Biyeon stopped walking. San moved about two more steps forward and then stopped. His gaze was staring at the entrance where the Han-Sung Clan warriors stood.

The blowing wind didnt pass through San, it went below and above him to get through. Before long, the air stopped flowing. The ground shook. The granite floor cracked and fluctuated as if an earthquake had occurred in their local area. Sans aura expanded out, like a blade... like a sonic boom...

[But havent we got what we wanted?] Biyeons calm voice rang out in their private channel. Only to him. Surprisingly, the little sound magically suppressed his runaway anger.

[?]

San looked back.

[Freedom and an irresistible hope!]

San thought Biyeons eyes were like wet jewels.

[No matter how small?] The man responded in a low voice.

[No matter how far away!] Biyeon answered softly.

[No matter how painful it is?]

[No matter how sad!]

[]

[I wont waste a second of my life.]

[I wont give you up.] 

[I wont give you up either.]

San stood tall and stared at Biyeon.

He spit something out of his mouth and chewed on the words that wanted to come out of his mouth Suddenly, tears piled up in her eyes, like jewels at Nonhyeon-Dong (a famous neighborhood in Seoul that has many jewelers and jewelry stores).

Thats it then San said as he laughed awkwardly.

Instead of answering, Biyeon held Sans hand tightly.

***

Long time no see. Im seeing you quite often, San said as he greeted the line of Han-Sung clansmen and Hanyoung in particular.

I waited. Its been quite a while.

Hanyoung stroked his beard and nodded his head.

Have you waited for us? But theres nothing left for us to sell to you, Biyeon replied.

We need them. The price will be paid amply so hand it over now.

San looked into Hanyoungs eyes. With a smile on his mouth, San tilted his head.

Let me ask you something. Do you believe in us? If we really stole the Counts goods, arent you dealing with a fraudster, old man?

To be honest, its too early for me to have any trust in you both.

Then what do you want from us? We dont have anything

Its even harder to imagine that people who are Awakened would resort to stealing. I think you are a Dong-Myung clansman who uses Don-Myung Clan skills, and the lady next to you is a Ki-Jang clanswoman who uses Ki-Jang Clan skills. For reference, you do know that the Han-Sung Clan doesnt have a good relationship with either of these two clans, right? Our Han-Sung Clan wont sit idly by as the goods get passed over to our competitors. Do you understand my position? Hanyoung explained.

I see, San calmly replied.