March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 104

“General!”

The door burst open without a knock. Lieutenant Park, who usually wouldn’t even speak to him unless it was a serious matter, given the place and the current situation, was unusually boisterous.

“Mr. Lee Sehwa just regained consciousness!”

Gi Taejeong, who had been staring vaguely at the floor, snapped his head up.

“I received a call from Lieutenant Na on my way to report.”

Ah…

“How is Lee Sehwa?”

Gi Taejeong jumped to his feet. His questioning voice was so urgent that its end was slightly distorted.

“He’s only undergone a simple physical function test, but it seems there are no major problems for now.”

Lieutenant Park was beaming. He hadn’t smiled so brightly even when he chose a name change instead of a special promotion, or when he was happy to finally get an ID card with an ordinary name.

Even though he tried not to show it, he knew Lieutenant Park had been plagued by guilt all along.

When he returned to the intensive care unit hallway after checking on the baby in the incubator protection room, Lieutenant Park bowed deeply and begged for forgiveness.

He said he should have kept his mouth shut when the General was climbing the stairs and being silent, but he had no idea that Mr. Lee Sehwa would wake up, or that he would even come out of the room, and because he had blabbered, things had gotten to this point, and he was truly sorry.

Gi Taejeong firmly drew a line with Lieutenant Park, telling him not to think about it, even if it was just an outlet for his anger, and to impose any punishment. In reality, he had done nothing wrong. It was he, and no one else, who had meticulously ruined everything for Lee Sehwa.

“Congratulations.”

It didn’t seem like the most appropriate greeting, but Lieutenant Park was genuinely happy. He must have been unable to shake off his guilt towards Sehwa until now.

As he followed Lieutenant Park out, Gi Taejeong was seized by a strange feeling.

Do people usually think this way? Do they feel this way?

Lee Sehwa’s collapse was entirely his responsibility. Lieutenant Park was just a bit unlucky. Yet, he wanted to apologize to him and Sehwa, and was genuinely distressed.

If ordinary people’s thoughts flowed this way, if this was normal and typical… then perhaps he should have apologized to Lee Sehwa first.

He thought that explaining it now wouldn’t be convincing. The past was just fragments. No matter how much he replayed it, nothing would change. So, he had believed that giving him a changed future would be a better path for both of them.

However, looking at Lieutenant Park, who was at a loss, he suddenly thought that perhaps Sehwa, too… had been waiting for an apology from him. Like other people. Normally.

“…Lieutenant Park.”

“Yes!”

“Contact General Oh Seonran. Tell her Sehwa has woken up.”

“Th-that… are you sure?”

Although he had tried his best to prevent the story from spreading, airtight defense was only possible for about the first three days.

No matter how weakened her domestic base was, Oh Seonran was a general and a member of a prominent family. It wouldn’t have been difficult for her to arrange a source of information at the 5-star hospital, which was a product of money and connections.

After realizing that there was a limit to hiding things, he instead maximized his forces and surrounded Lee Sehwa. The hangers-on who had been testing the waters even backed off, clicking their tongues, after seeing the state-of-the-art weapons deployed at the hospital and the fighter jets waiting on the rooftop.

But surprisingly… General Oh Seonran showed no movement even after hearing the general news. His wonder at the suspicious silence lasted only a brief moment. Gi Taejeong quickly realized that General Oh Seonran’s calmness was an unspeakable rage.

General Oh Seonran did not attack Gi Taejeong with words or violence. She only rained down official documents, as if he wasn’t even worth speaking to.

Notifications of the adoption process, confirmation and certification that the matter was successfully concluded, and even a certified letter stating her intention to incorporate Sehwa into the 5th Zone based on this.

Just because illegitimate children or adopted children were registered in the resident registration did not mean their residential area automatically followed that of their paper parents. The regulation of status was the most convenient means of control, and thus the rules were the most stringent. No exceptions were made, even for matters of natural kinship.

Incorporating someone from Zone 4 into Zone 1 was somehow possible by throwing money at it. The higher-ups were indifferent to the circumstances of the lower classes, and anyway, this wasn’t a frequent occurrence.

However, it was not easy for a resident from outside the zones to enter Zone 5. Oh Seonran knew that too, and she was aggressively challenging various places, as if she would pour her remaining life into this.

In addition, thick documents certifying the transfer of assets to Sehwa and explaining the ancillary rights poured in at intervals of a few hours. And at the end of the reviewed documents, a parental rights waiver was always enclosed.

“Now General Oh Seonran may come forward asserting legal rights as an adoptive parent.”

“…That’s not wrong. I’m no longer Lee Sehwa’s guardian.”

As soon as the incubator code was registered in the hospital’s system, Gi Taejeong’s qualification as a guardian for the pregnant woman was revoked. If any additional surgery was needed, the only person who could sign the consent form was now General Oh Seonran, the adoptive parent.

Gi Taejeong gazed indifferently at his reflection in the elevator door. The various decorations, epaulets, and rank insignia on his uniform glittered brilliantly under the light.

This… he had wanted this. He had endured all this time to wear this star on his chest, and he had thought it was almost over when he occupied the house.

He despised those who pitied the past. Whether he survived thanks to his stubborn nature or his excellent physical abilities… he had believed that he had saved himself from that hell by his own strength. But who was pitying whom, after all?

Once negotiations with the Kim family were successfully concluded, he would wear more stars on his chest, and after his discharge, he would gain the status of an elder, allowing him to ridicule the rotten old men to his heart’s content. It was even immensely satisfying that the origin of all this was the foolishness of Lieutenant Kim, who had lived a dissolute life, relying only on his family’s prestige.

Everything was going smoothly, literally.

…He thought so.

So, now that the trial he had longed for has begun, what exactly have I gained? The moment to punish those who raised me as a killing machine is just around the corner. Yet, why do I still feel trapped in a burning inferno?

I can’t believe that the warmth of Lee Sehwa, who was within reach, has disappeared, and I struggle every day. If this isn’t hell, then what is? I feel like I’m going to drown forever in an unfillable sense of loss. And salvation? Did I save myself?

“General, then what should we do with the marriage registration form?”

Lieutenant Park carefully asked, meeting his eyes through the mirror.

Marriage registration could be processed perfectly well without Lee Sehwa. In fact, all preparations were complete. He had only waited because he wanted to see Sehwa write his name with his own hands. Of course, it was called a voluntary signature, but as always, he would intimidate him without batting an eye, scare him, and eventually make him sign while crying…

“If we submit the documents right now, it can take effect immediately…”

However, Gi Taejeong remained silent, giving no answer. Lieutenant Park, finding his superior suddenly unfamiliar, simply replied that he would contact General Oh Seonran without pursuing the topic further.

“You said it was a special room… Ah, it must be over there.”

The transferred room was not far from the intensive care unit and operating room, and it was in a quiet place out of sight of people. He had wondered why they chose such an ambiguous location when they had moved him to a general room, but seeing it directly, the emergency route was very efficient.

“…So, this continues…”

As he walked towards the special room sign, Lieutenant Na’s voice began to be heard.

Gi Taejeong unnecessarily tapped below his collarbone with his palm. It felt as if he had swallowed hot water all at once, and the path from his esophagus to below his sternum was clearly felt in his body.

“Ah… I will request additional medical staff and security personnel at the station.”

Lieutenant Park slowly backed away, saying he would contact General Oh Seonran and report. It seemed to be his way of showing consideration, suggesting they have some time alone as there would be many things to resolve and say. Unlike Master Sergeant Choi, who had a somewhat cunning side, Lieutenant Park was terrible at acting like this, and his awkwardness made him chuckle.

Gi Taejeong touched his slightly upturned lips, feeling awkward. How long had it been since he last smiled?

“Mr. Lee Sehwa, I’ll explain first.”

Lieutenant Na’s voice became clearer. His steps, as if trying to make up for the time that had stopped, quickened. He tried not to be impatient, but his insides tingled, and he couldn’t bear it.

It had been over a week since he last saw Sehwa’s face. It felt like an eternity since he last heard his voice. He wanted to feel that he was alive, even if he cursed at him, even if he cried that he hated him.

Gi Taejeong took a deep breath and gripped the doorknob.

“Just in case, wear this first, ah… General.”

When he opened the door and entered, Lieutenant Na awkwardly saluted. In his other hand, he held a dangling oxygen mask.

And Lee Sehwa… had only one leg off the bed. He looked as if he was about to run out immediately. He had been on the verge of death, and he must still be unwell… but it seemed he wanted to escape from him as soon as he opened his eyes.

That clear rejection felt like a huge crack forming below his sternum. Yet, thanks to this pain, he finally felt alive. The living, moving Sehwa, who feared and was unfamiliar with his presence, that life, throbbing even with hatred for him, thrilled Gi Taejeong.

However,

“…Who are you?”

At Sehwa’s subsequent question, Gi Taejeong was dumbfounded. Lieutenant Na also froze, as if his breath had been caught.

“Excuse me, were you my guest?”

“……”

“I don’t remember what happened very well, but, um…”

His eyes, larger from weight loss, swept over the hospital room and the pole with the IV bag.

“It seems you brought me to a good hospital… Thank you, but I can’t afford to stay in a place like this. And my body is perfectly fine.”

Sehwa tried to lift his arm, which had no strength, and waved his leg as if to say, “Look at this.”

“Mr. Lee Sehwa.”

At Lieutenant Na’s call, Sehwa made a subtle expression and tightly closed his lips. Then, he mouthed his own name, “Lee Sehwa,” as if trying it out. He seemed surprised, as if it was the first time he had been called that way.

“How old are you, Mr. Lee Sehwa?”

“Me? I’m twenty…”

“……”

“Why are you… like this?”

Both Gi Taejeong and Lieutenant Na stared blankly at Sehwa, unable to say anything. Perhaps feeling awkward from their intense gaze, Sehwa scratched his cheek and avoided their eyes.

Twenty years old.

That was one year ago, before he met him. How much did he hate it, how terrible was it, that Lee Sehwa erased all memories of his twenty-first year, when he met him?

“Can you tell me the last thing you remember… I mean, what comes to mind right now?”

Perhaps sensing that something was amiss, a wary look appeared on Sehwa’s face. Lieutenant Na opened his mouth as if to explain something, then shook his head.

“General, we need to prepare for a detailed examination first.”

Saying he would report in detail later, Lieutenant Na quickly left the room. A small question mark appeared on Sehwa’s face as he stared blankly at his retreating back.

Sehwa, who had been acting as if he would run out just a moment ago, was now sitting demurely on the edge of the bed. He seemed to guess that something big had happened to him. Well. As he had felt when they first met, he wasn’t bad at picking up on things like this.

Sehwa raised his arms and examined his hands, then bent over to look at his feet. Then, as if something was uncomfortable, he clutched his stomach and furrowed his brows.

Gi Taejeong bit his lip and hesitated for a long time. He wanted to tell him to sit properly because it was dangerous, or even to lie down. But he was afraid that his voice might trigger something, or that it might damage his already confused mind, so he couldn’t easily speak.

“Um… guest.”

Sehwa, who had been sitting precariously, carefully called him.

There was no emotion in his gaze. No affection, no hatred, no anger, no fear, no resignation… nothing. It was the dry gaze of a stranger, as if he had never cared for him even once.

“…Um, it seems I had some kind of accident…”

The twenty-year-old Lee Sehwa, the Lee Sehwa he had imagined very briefly, meeting him normally without any particular catalyst… was much calmer and more composed than the person Gi Taejeong knew. His gaze surveying the unfamiliar place was serene, and he didn’t tremble when he spoke to him. He was certainly aware of him, but he wasn’t afraid.

It was natural. He hadn’t forced him to kneel, treating him as Lieutenant Kim’s accomplice, hadn’t kicked him, hadn’t made him wear patches or take drugs. He was twenty years old, unaware of being treated as a tool and giving himself to him, or of collapsing under affection stained with lies.

“I overheard the doctor call you ‘General’ earlier. Is that right?”

“……”

“And the clothes you’re wearing… if you’re a soldier…”

Then Lee Sehwa lowered his eyes slightly. Seeing his fingertips twitch, it seemed he was gauging the rank of a general.

“…A general is an officer in the military.”

Gi Taejeong opened his mouth, hiding his wavering feelings. The face that looked up at him in surprise was the same as when he first heard this story.

“Four ranks above me, and then the head of state appears.”

The events he had experienced with Sehwa since then, his face crying and laughing as he looked at him… countless afterimages rushed forth as if played at several times the speed. Only Lee Sehwa fulfilled his vision.

“A second lieutenant is six ranks below me.”

However, the illusion eventually shattered, and all that remained was an innocent face that was unfamiliar with him.

The person sitting in front of him was Lee Sehwa, but not the Lee Sehwa he knew. It was someone who hadn’t allowed Gi Taejeong into his world, someone who had forgotten everything that happened a year later.

“My name is Gi Taejeong, and as I said earlier, my profession is a soldier, and my rank is General.”

This was the introduction they should have exchanged when they first met. Gi Taejeong offered a belated greeting, and carefully took a step towards Sehwa, who had erased him.

“…And I’m someone who has done you a great wrong.”