March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 84

-…So I’m thinking of calling a fence I know and asking him to get me some syringes. I think it’ll be more comfortable if I use ones I’m familiar with…

“Do that, then. What about food?”

– I can’t really eat right now… I’ll get something later. I just want to lie down…

Gi Taejeong gazed at Lee Sehwa, who lay alone on a crude waterbed in the hologram. He was receiving regular reports from the men he had assigned to him, but he was also taking time out of his busy schedule to check on him directly. Until now, Lee Sehwa had never lied. He hadn’t shown any suspicious movements either. Rather…

Upon returning to the house, Lee Sehwa stood at the doorway of the small room he used, hesitating for a long time. Then, he weakly dropped the clothes he was wearing, went to the bathroom, and came out wearing a gown.

Gi Taejeong unconsciously sighed. Lee Sehwa had been unsure. The permission to wear clothes had been given inside the official residence, so he didn’t know how he should behave here.

The young man then curled up into a small ball, as if dead, only occasionally dry heaving as if finding it difficult to endure the pudding-like vibrations of the waterbed, but stubbornly remaining in that spot.

An indescribable frustration constantly burned within him. He ought to praise him. He should be pleased and find him cute, seeing him behave obediently without knowing he was being watched… but Lee Sehwa’s fragile melancholy, acting as if all his will had been castrated, continued to sting Gi Taejeong.

“…Rest.”

• Yes.

As soon as the call disconnected, Lee Sehwa collapsed onto the bed. Like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

“Hoo… Lieutenant Park.”

Lieutenant Park, who had been waiting against the wall, swallowed hard and stepped forward. Everyone had been idly joking, asking if they’d be eating noodles after the trial, or who would have known they’d hear a baby crying in the Brigadier General’s residence.

Yesterday, the person referred to as ‘Madam’ among the adjutants cried, saying she couldn’t endure it anymore. She pleaded to be allowed to rest there for even a day, even if it meant going to Sector 4, even if it meant being unable to leave the house building.

This was what the person, who had fainted from stress and even bled, said as soon as he regained consciousness… It would be strange if the superior, who had for the first time developed feelings for someone, didn’t lose his mind.

“Continue the report.”

“Ah… Yes. The doctor who examined Mr. Lee Sehwa on that day is from Sector 4 and has been receiving tuition and living expenses from Kyunghan Pharmaceutical’s scholarship foundation since high school.”

“The fact that someone from Sector 4 could set foot in that hospital… does that mean Kyunghan Pharmaceutical vouched for him?”

“Yes. His hiring period was relatively recent, so it seems he was meant to be a disposable pawn from the beginning.”

Kyunghan Pharmaceutical was a company in which Lieutenant Kim’s father, Lieutenant Colonel Kim, held a significant stake, and it was a mid-sized enterprise run by his cousin.

“Given that he cried and confessed as soon as he was caught, and considering his poor family circumstances, he doesn’t seem to be professionally trained. It appears to be an act committed out of coercion or greed for reward. His attempt to escape also seems to have been a botched attempt at acting on his own out of fear, rather than following Lieutenant Colonel Kim’s instructions.”

“That’s unknown. Anyway, you told Lee Sehwa everything?”

“Yes. They said they definitely told him that his constitution changed because of the drug Lieutenant Kim made. They were mainly instructed to insult Mr. Lee Sehwa by picking on his background, so they just said that without detailed explanation.”

Lee Sehwa’s sudden question about his constitution, and why it had changed, kept bothering him. So, tracing back the events of that day, the doctor’s actions seemed far more suspicious than Oh Seonran’s, and once he was caught and interrogated, the whole truth was revealed quickly. Almost absurdly easily.

And Lee Sehwa, to the very end, didn’t reveal anything he had heard from the doctor or Oh Seonran. He just withered away like a dying plant and cried.

“Send that bastard to Oh Seonran.”

“You mean the doctor?”

“Yes. He said he’d treat Lee Sehwa like his own son… so this is a good chance to see how sincere those words were.”

The chemical test subject and Lee Sehwa’s constitution were quite similar. Even he, upon seeing the documents, thought, ‘Ah, this must be one of Lee Sehwa’s parents.’

Still, the clear relationship had not yet been revealed. It was surprising that Oh Seonran had even obtained a certificate from the head of state regarding this matter… but it was still suspicious that he was acting so blindly, even though he couldn’t guarantee that the child was Lee Sehwa.

“It doesn’t make sense. To be so confident and protective of a child he’d been searching for so long, without even a DNA test.”

“Indeed… If his past shows were sincere, Oh Seonran will take care of it himself, that doctor bastard.”

“And however he screws that bastard over, it’ll be the end of things with Lieutenant Kim’s side for good.”

If he were to leave the doctor alone, it would mean it was a show orchestrated with Lieutenant Kim’s side, and if Lee Sehwa heard this, he would also try to distance himself from Oh Seonran afterwards.

If Oh Seonran genuinely stepped forward… well, even if it wasn’t ideal, it could be seen as a sign that he was cutting ties with the Kim family. Either way, it wouldn’t be a loss for Gi Taejeong.

“I’m keeping track of Oh Seonran’s movements, the direction his money is flowing, the amount of communication he’s using, the source of the lines, people coming and going from the official residence… everything.”

“Yes.”

Gi Taejeong briefly looked at Lee Sehwa’s thin back, motionless in the hologram, then pressed a button on his wristwatch. Although he was the only one who could access the CCTV, he didn’t want to expose Lee Sehwa’s image for too long in front of others. Not even in front of Lieutenant Park, who knew all the circumstances.

The reason he hadn’t pressed Lee Sehwa yesterday, asking what he had heard to make him act like this, was partly because he was crying so bitterly, but also because he had pleaded to ‘rest’ in Sector 4, of all places.

Lee Sehwa had endured stubbornly with the sole intention of escaping the house. He had become involved in Gi Taejeong’s affairs because Gi Taejeong had promised to raise his status in place of Lieutenant Kim. Of course, he might have been afraid of his threats, but his active participation wouldn’t have stemmed solely from fear.

Gi Taejeong fidgeted with his phone, which he rarely used. Should he… leave a message?

The image of Lee Sehwa smiling brightly while picking up an apple was overlaid with the bitter tears he had seen in the infirmary. Even when they reached the port to move to another sector, Lee Sehwa showed no surprise. Normally, he would have swallowed hard and rolled his eyes around.

So… even though he roughly guessed what the situation was, he waited patiently without rushing him. Seeing him silently internalize things instead of confronting him immediately… made him feel a little sorry. His empty gaze, as if everything had burned to ashes, kept flickering before his eyes.

Gi Taejeong stared at his empty hands for a long time, then tightly clenched his fist. He couldn’t think of a suitable way to mend the past days, which he had lightly dismissed, thinking he could just keep Lee Sehwa in the dark.

However, if Lee Sehwa were to ask him to tell him the truth when he came to pick him up tomorrow… then he wouldn’t deceive him anymore. He would confess that he had known from the beginning what drug Lieutenant Kim had made, and that he had also known that it might have twisted his constitution… He would reveal at least that much.

“If there’s any suspicious sign, I’ll handle it myself under the authority of the evidence management officer… Shoot anyone who approaches without permission. Even if it’s Oh Seonran.”

“Yes… Brigadier General… No. I will obey the order.”

He wasn’t sure how to measure the depth of his emotions. He had never dreamed that a day would come when he would worry about such things in his life. Just thinking of the short phrase, ‘I like Lee Sehwa,’ somehow made his stomach churn a little.

Still, he could now be certain of one thing. He wanted Lee Sehwa by his side. And if possible, he wanted him to smile. Even if he cried during sex, he wanted him to smile brightly without any worries at other times.

So, if Lee Sehwa were to ask for the full story… even if it meant being awkward for a longer time than when he found out about the pregnancy, he intended to be a little more honest this time. He wanted to straighten out this tangled mess, even now.

“Wow, so this is the great Director’s office? It’s sparkling.”

The fence entered the office, looking around curiously.

“But Samwol, why are you here? You were gone for so long, I actually thought you’d been taken care of, kid.”

The fence exaggeratedly thumped his chest, saying his heart had dropped when soldiers swarmed in and told him to come see him.

Gi Taejeong had indeed granted him a few days of rest. Of course, he had deployed personnel densely everywhere… but perhaps not entirely forgetting Lieutenant Na’s recommendation not to stress him, the disgustingly numerous soldiers in the hallway hadn’t stormed inside. Even now, they had only escorted the fence to the living room, not monitoring what they were saying.

“But why syringes all of a sudden?”

The fence took out the items he had rummaged from his bag. Sehwa ran his finger along the seam of the outer envelope and the case. As expected, there were signs of it having been opened, and they didn’t seem to be trying to hide that it had gone through inspection.

“Auntie, just a moment with your phone. I’ll write down everything I need.”

“Huh? Even a memo? You already got rid of all your other clients besides Lieutenant Kim, didn’t you…?”

The fence, who had been craning his neck to see what he was trying to get, slowly trailed off.

Just look and memorize I’ll delete it right away

“…Got rid of, hmm, didn’t you?”

“Yes. This isn’t for clients, it’s for me.”

If you ask human trafficking brokers Someone will know Commander Oh Seonran’s contact information Yes, the military commander, a very high-ranking person

“You’re going to use it? But… you don’t do drugs, do you?”

It’s an errand for the Commander If you tell him it’s Lee Sehwa’s name He’ll want to talk to me on your phone Probably tomorrow

“I need to test something.”

It’s something I have to do behind the Director’s back I need to sneak out of here to Sector 2

“I’ll be away again tomorrow… I might not be able to come back for a while, so I need to secure enough supplies.”

“Ha, indeed… If it’s anything, it’s the stuff for injecting drugs, hmm, and if you’re getting it in large quantities, I’m the fastest.”

“Exactly.”

Sehwa decided to hide all the detailed circumstances, including his pregnancy. The more he seemed to be at a disadvantage, the easier it was to be exploited. Of course, his fence auntie had been very good to him. She didn’t skim much off the top, so she had a good reputation not just with him but generally.

Still, you never knew. If he gave the impression that things had gone wrong, especially if he seemed to be trying to escape, she might try to use him at a critical moment. But if he said he was quietly moving on an errand for a high-ranking official, not just a lieutenant… that would be a different story. She wouldn’t dare to do anything reckless, either hoping for crumbs or out of fear.

“…Samwol, how did you get involved with a commander, not just a lieutenant…?”

Unable to contain her curiosity, the fence mumbled, moving only her lips.

“He’s someone Lieutenant Kim serves. You can ask a broker later. You don’t have to worry.”

Sehwa also replied softly, as if ventriloquizing, then raised his voice again.

“How about it? Can you do it by tomorrow morning?”

“Hmph, hmm… as long as it’s not the crack of dawn.”

I’ll go to the house’s general store Please hide me in a logistics box going to Sector 2 They say it’s completely blocked there now and they’re desperate for goods Whether it’s medicine, hanafuda cards, or a pile of trash, anywhere is fine I’ll take care of it from there

The plan he had devised on the fly was utterly crude. He could only hope that the fence wasn’t so malicious, and that Oh Seonran would subtly read between the lines. That he was keeping his distance from Gi Taejeong, and that he needed his support. For now, there was no other way.

“Oh, right. Auntie, this…”

Sehwa rummaged through his old bag and pulled out the new drug the fence had asked for earlier.

“I came too late, didn’t I? But I don’t think I can test new drugs for a while. Because of the oral medicine I mentioned earlier…”

“Ah… well, can’t be helped. It’s just a prototype anyway, not even a confirmed deal yet.”

The fence fiddled with a particularly large pill. It felt unnaturally moist and viscous, as if it had just been handled, and more than anything, the sensation at his fingertips was distinctly metallic.

It seemed like something was hidden inside… The fence, who had rolled the pill in his hand for a moment, recalled the badge Sehwa had shown him from his bag earlier. A free pass that allowed him to move freely between ports, sold at a high price to smugglers.

“And this is nothing special… Auntie, I want to eat something from outside, but those people don’t understand even if I tell them. If the store is open when you come tomorrow, could I ask you for this too?”

Hestia Allion Tyran Tablet or Hades Over 30 milligrams

“…No, you’re supposed to be living a better life, why are you looking for such cheap food?”

The drugs Sehwa had written down were all dangerous sleeping pills. Among severe drug addicts, those suffering from insomnia would sometimes order them mixed in, but even then, it was in extremely small quantities. 30 milligrams was a dose only sought by people intending suicide.

“I just… really want to eat it. I can’t come here for a while, so please.”

Sehwa deleted all the words he had written and listed the names of ordinary tools. He also wrote down a few street snacks he didn’t even crave.

“The Director will arrive around tomorrow evening. Please come before lunch.”

“Alright, I’ll try to get it.”

“Yes, the payment will be handled by the higher-ups. Very, very well.”

The fence nodded faintly. He seemed to have realized that ‘the higher-ups’ referred to Commander Oh Seonran, not the newly arrived ‘Director.’

Then, without hesitation, he swallowed one of the pills Sehwa had returned. It was the pill with a badge hidden inside. Sehwa finally realized the value of this item. Even if he got dizzy from the drug for a while, even if he expelled the item in a rather messy way, the fence judged that getting this badge safely was far more profitable. It meant it was that valuable, which was fortunate for Sehwa, who had little cash.

He quickly counted the remaining badges in his bag. This much seemed enough to resolve the child-related matters. As for where to live… well, he’d manage somehow. He hadn’t died yet and had lived well so far. Since everyone was wearing gas masks, he thought he could just cover his face and do manual labor if things got desperate.

A month would be enough. Lieutenant Na had said so. A month if he was going to get rid of it, or a month to observe even if not. So…

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Auntie.”

Sehwa clutched his lower abdomen and slowly rose from his seat. The fence, holding his empty bag, waved his hand towards him. He seemed to have decided to leave quickly before the drug took effect.

Sensing his intention to leave, the soldiers guarding the entrance walked steadily towards them.

Chief Warrant Officer Choi couldn’t move with him this time. He had been disciplined for not reporting Commander Oh Seonran’s appearance on time. Lieutenant Na had clicked his tongue, saying he would be working hard under Gi Taejeong’s supervision for a while.

For Sehwa, it was bad news. Chief Warrant Officer Choi could at least be swayed by using Gi Taejeong as an excuse, but no tricks worked on the unfamiliar people guarding outside. And if Gi Taejeong himself were to arrive tomorrow… even if he fought with all his might, he wouldn’t leave a single tooth mark.

So, Sehwa, who had been agonizing all night… came up with a somewhat reckless plan. A complete escape was impossible anyway. So, wouldn’t it be okay for the start to be a bit clumsy? He would try to test Gi Taejeong one more time. How powerful his tears were to him, and how necessary this life… specifically, this child in his belly… was to him.

Sehwa took out a patch from the shopping bag he had brought from Sector 5, wrapped it around his wrist, and administered a sedative. He wiped his forearm with an alcohol swab, organized the used needles and instruments, then… bowed his head deeply.

Something like a stone was lodged in his chest, making him gasp for breath as if he had been attacked. Sehwa put his palm on his forehead, then slowly swept it across his entire face. He pressed hard around his eyes several times to control the moisture that kept welling up, but eventually, his strength gave out, and his hand dropped. At the same time, Sehwa let go of all expressions.

If it had been completely off, it might have been different, but Gi Taejeong’s recent behavior, which seemed to be slightly sincere towards him, kept making Sehwa hesitate. Should he just pretend not to know? Maybe he was going to tell him honestly once everything was over…

Of course… he knew. That it was nothing more than a desire to avoid. And that even if Gi Taejeong’s attitude had changed from the beginning, the kindness he was now bestowing like charity did not absolve his deception.

So Sehwa swallowed his pus-like tears and whispered to himself, practicing the words he would utter to Gi Taejeong tomorrow.

He would smile foolishly as usual, kiss him briefly as ordered… then pull him into the room and display the items he had prepared.

He would wrap patches all over his body and threaten to inject these dangerous drugs into himself if the soldiers outside weren’t removed and he wasn’t allowed to leave.

To say that if he didn’t want to see both him and the child ruined here and now, he should just let him go… It was ridiculous and pathetic, but in the current situation, it was the best Sehwa could do, everything he could put on the line, and his most powerful card.

Of course, Gi Taejeong might not bat an eye. He might even scoff, telling him to really die. Then, at that point…

“……, Well, that’s just how it ends, I guess.”