Chapter 442 - Side Story. Lily Of The Valley (16)

"...Ugh."

After being kidnapped for the first time, Han Seo-eun had been collapsed for a long time.

Then she finally opened her eyes.

"...?"

What she saw upon opening her eyes was a pure white room.

At first, Seo-eun couldn't grasp the situation.

'Right. I was kidnapped then...'

On her way home after school, in an alley.

There, a stranger who suddenly covered her mouth with a white cloth.

And then she heard a voice saying, "Han Group..."

"...Ah!"

When that thought crossed her mind, she remembered. The situation she was in. The fact that she had been kidnapped.

And only then could Seo-eun see the scene unfolding before her eyes.

A pure white room like a laboratory. One wall made of glass. And beyond it, a research lab where people wearing helmets moved around looking at papers and computers.

Subject I - 27... You will live here from now on.

-In that place that somehow reminded her of memories from the past.

She was imprisoned again.

"Ugh..."

For a moment, Seo-eun held her head due to a dizzy spell.

...But soon, she regained her composure and looked up.

That's right. She was no longer the puppet Han Seo-eun from before. She shouldn't be consumed by something that happened 7 years ago.

After regaining her composure, Han Seo-eun immediately shouted toward the glass window.

"Who are you people! Let me go right now!!!"

And in response to her cry.

What came back was a cold, mechanical voice.

[Be quiet. The rat who betrayed Han Group and ran away sure has a lot to say.]

The voice of a researcher coming through the speaker beyond the glass window, not even looking in her direction.

Han Seo-eun gritted her teeth at those words.

Yes, these were the kind of people they had always been.

Cold, ruthless, seeing people as just numbers and data... human trash.

She wanted to break the glass window right now and take revenge, but there was no way to do it at the moment.

...The only clothing she had on was her school uniform. She didn't carry weapons under her uniform at school, so she had no weapons. Of course, even if she had, they would have confiscated them.

She had packed some in her bag just in case... but her bag was nowhere to be seen.

As she was grinding her teeth.

The researcher clicked his tongue and once again addressed Seo-eun.

[And, get ready. Dr. Kim Sun-woo will be coming soon to have a conversation with you.]

"...What?"

And shortly after those words.

...Something like a laser was fired inside the room.

A blue hologram rose up and began to project someone's image.

Long black hair, round glasses, a sharp-looking impression.

Though his appearance had changed quite a bit, the hologram still reminded her of his former self.

It was.

"You..."

"It's been a while, runaway child."

The chief of the Han Group research team.

The leader of the supernatural ability creation project that Han Seo-eun had been part of.

And now, the planner behind all of this.

The enemy of Han Seo-eun's life.

Dr. Kim Sun-woo.

***

"Kim Sun-woo..."

"Yes. Han Seo-eun. It's been a while."

Dr. Kim Sun-woo.

As always, he spoke to Seo-eun through the hologram in a flat, cold voice.

"Even wearing a school uniform, it seems you've been enjoying school life."

"Ha. Yes, thanks to someone who destroyed your lab, I've been living quite well."

In response to Han Seo-eun's venomous reply.

Beyond the glass window, an angry voice erupted from the speaker.

[You! How dare you speak to the doctor like that!!]

And at those words.

...Before Han Seo-eun could respond, Kim Sun-woo's hologram turned to the researcher and spoke.

"It's fine. Rather, I'd prefer no other noise during my conversation with this child."

[...Y-yes! Doctor...]

What a show-off.

As Han Seo-eun was thinking this.

The doctor turned his head back to look at Han Seo-eun.

And in a cold voice, he spoke.

"...So, Han Seo-eun. Did you enjoy your daily play of forgetting your true nature? The game of a monster pretending to be a normal human, abandoning everyone."

"...What?"

At those absurd words not worth answering, Han Seo-eun glared at him with murderous eyes.

Monster... Yes. There was a time when I thought of myself as a monster.

But. You're not the one to say that. You're the real monster.

Yes. This person hasn't changed at all.

"Ha. That's rich coming from someone who doesn't even have the guts to appear in front of me in person and shows up as a hologram instead."

"I couldn't come in person because I'm busy, child."

"Ha. As if. Soon this place will be destroyed by people coming to find me, and you're too scared to come, aren't you?"

At those words, the doctor raised the corner of his mouth as if incredulous, and said.

"Someone coming to find you... Ha. We removed all the tracking devices you had long ago. Who do you think taught you the technology you know?"

"......"

This was not good news.

"But yes... I want to give you an opportunity, child."

"...Hey. It's getting annoying, who are you calling a child?"

Kim Sun-woo easily ignored Han Seo-eun's words.

...And looking at Kim Sun-woo.

Seeing that arrogant expression without a hint of guilt about their reunion, as expected.

'.....'

Han Seo-eun felt her endless murderous intent growing stronger.

This man was the one who ruined her life.

The murderer who killed all her friends.

The enemy of Han Seo-eun's life that she would never forget until she died.

And Kim Sun-woo.

Made an absurd proposal to Han Seo-eun.

"Come back."

"...What?"

"Han Seo-eun. Return to where you belong. Rejoin our Han Group's plan. You are still very much needed."

And at those words.

Han Seo-eun found herself laughing involuntarily.

"Ha.. haha.. hahaha!"

A dull laugh that even she hadn't expected.

After that hollow laugh.

Han Seo-eun glared at Kim Sun-woo with murderous eyes.

"You've lost your mind? Me, join you? Why would I join you, who's only aiming to invade Korea with your damn ability production? I only want to kill you."

Those words filled with hatred in every syllable.

...At those words, Kim Sun-woo.

Just smirked.

"You seem to have some misunderstandings... Well, it doesn't matter. You'll know everything soon anyway. After all, you are destined to join us."

"Bullshit..."

"And, Han Seo-eun, do you think you have a choice?"

At those words, Han Seo-eun closed her mouth.

...Frustrating as it was, Kim Sun-woo was right. She was currently imprisoned. There was no visible way to escape.

What is my brother doing now? He must be worried and looking for me. ...Can he find me? Even I don't know where I am right now.

As Han Seo-eun remained silent.

Kim Sun-woo was saying something to a staff member beside him.

"Yes. Send Han Seo-eun to headquarters. This will be my final instruction. Tomorrow morning..."

A complete isolation where all her actions were meaningless.

Just as Han Seo-eun was gritting her teeth in helplessness.

BOOM

"...!"

Suddenly the entire building.

Like an earthquake had struck, it began to shake with a massive impact.

And the continuous roaring sounds that followed.

BOOM

BOOM

"Wh... What's happening."

[I'm sorry, Doctor! We're still assessing the situation...]

BOOM

Before the employee could finish speaking, the roaring sound was heard again.

The sound was gradually getting louder.

[...! S-Section 1 has collapsed! Section 2 is also collapsing!]

BOOM

[Section 4 has also collapsed...!! Everyone evacuate... Ugh...]

And then as the building shook even more, finally.

CRACK

The ceiling above them was torn away as if swept by a storm.

The night sky that finally appeared was rapidly darkening the once bright white research lab.

Amid the dust everywhere and the researchers ducking down.

Step. Step.

Only one man was walking toward them through the darkness.

[Aaaah...!]

And immediately after, a researcher was lifted helplessly into the air.

In that situation where everyone was holding their breath.

A deep, chilling voice filled the space.

"Where have you put Han Seo-eun."

[H-hiiik... T-there...]

Whoosh.

CRASH

The employee was thrown as soon as he finished speaking.

And at that unfamiliar yet somehow familiar voice.

Han Seo-eun could finally identify who it was.

"Brother....!"

It's Da-in.

Brother, how did you know to come rescue me.

That's right.

Da-in had arrived.

Smashing everything in his path with a power never shown before, to rescue Seo-eun.

And watching that scene.

[Ha... Haha! To think he had that much power. I underestimated him. So that man had such strength. Indeed... is it the power of...]

Kim Sun-woo's hologram, still flickering but not yet turned off, said with an expression of having taken a hit.

...Nevertheless, despite one of his branches being completely destroyed by a single individual.

Despite all his subordinates being taken down.

Kim Sun-woo didn't even blink.

"You really are..."

At that disgusting sight, Han Seo-eun unconsciously frowned.

Kim Sun-woo turned his head back to her, with what seemed like a smirk, and said.

[Well. Nothing has changed. The preparations for the final chapter remain unchanged.]

[Han Seo-eun. Do you want to kill me? Do you want to stop me? Then come to my headquarters. I'll tell you all the truth there.]

[There, let's unfold the final chap-]

BOOM

Before she could interpret what he meant, before he could finish speaking.

Kim Sun-woo's hologram device exploded.

And at the end of it.

"Seo-eun...! Are you okay?"

"Brother..!!"

There was Da-in, flying toward her after discovering her.

And Seo-eun also immediately ran toward her brother.

Regardless of the situation.

Han Seo-eun. Rescued 7 hours after being kidnapped by Han Group.