In the end, escaping reality doesn’t solve any of its problems. You may be able to momentarily forget reality and immerse yourself in a sweet dream, but dreams are destined to break eventually. No matter how sweet the dream, it will always reach its end.
Han Seori and Kim Cheon-soo inevitably had to wake up from their dream. Sitting on the couch with Lime, watching movies was indeed a joyous event, but when they returned from the hangar to their original spot, all they could see were the refugees (?) who hadn’t yet dispersed.
After all, in a position where even the attempt to transfer from another laboratory was blocked, accepting them was out of the question. So Han Seori decided to erase them from her mind.
It might be a form of escapism, but there was ultimately no other choice.
After all, unless you asked a colossal Alice to crush them all outright, there was really not much you could do. And yet, asking another place to capture them all seemed wrong too… Their claims lingered in her mind.
With no way to ascertain the truth, and it being awkward to contact them to find out, things were difficult. Lee Yoo-jin had also reported that there was nobody who knew either, complicating matters further.
So, the only option for now was to maintain the status quo.
Without engaging, the other side could really do very little, if anything at all.
“…Somehow, it’ll work out.”
Han Seori covered the screen where the gathered crowd was bunched up together. Although she didn’t want to turn it off entirely, she decided to just block the view for the time being.
A few days later.
The obscured screen began to bother Han Seori, and she found herself fidgeting with the fabric covering it, lost in thought.
Surely by now, they must have all left? Or have the agents that once monitored this area returned? Han Seori kept her happiness circuits running at full tilt. The option of not checking was there, but she just couldn’t stop herself from being concerned.
Was this how Pandora felt when opening the box? Deciding not to look only made her focus harder on the hidden reality. It was inevitable, given how every task brought her eyes back to the fabric scraps covering the screen.
Even the fabric fluttering every time the wind blew was becoming irritating rather than funny.
Lifting the fabric, Han Seori pinched the bridge of her nose tightly as her eyes scanned the scene in front of her.
Honestly, she had been too complacent. Assuming that given there was nothing important, they would eventually just tire out and leave, turned out to be a far too lenient assumption.
“…What is this?”
“Ugh, this is ridiculous.”
Kim Cheon-soo, nearby, let out an astonished sigh. It wasn’t so much affirmation or denial, as sheer incredulity.
In their eyes now stood a group of people who had set up tents and seemed to have settled down to live there.
It seemed they truly planned to make this place a long-term residence. The tents were neatly arranged, with clear zones, and the remnants of fires and eaten food were evident. Areas covered by screens behind the tents could only mean one thing—indeed.
Han Seori sighed deeply, muttering under her breath.
“…It looks like they’re serious.”
“To our inconvenience.”
“Exactly the problem.”
If left unchecked, they really looked ready to build an entire village. Han Seori had no intention of interfering unless someone else did so first, and perhaps, they really might succeed in building a town.
On the other hand, she wondered what had driven these people to such desperation.
While proving that the infamous ‘middle school syndrome group’ wasn’t necessarily a good place was a good thing, it was still somewhat unsettling.
This was a completely unprecedented situation for Han Seori, causing her much pondering.
Then suddenly,
A man emerged in her view who appeared to be the leader of the group. Seeing how everything revolved around him, Han Seori looked at the screen with a meaningful expression.
Kim Cheon-soo, watching alongside her, felt an unusual discomfort.
“Thank goodness we’re out.”
“Even so, it’s more peaceful here than there.”
“That’s true.”
What Han Seori had observed was only part of the picture. In areas not caught on camera, simple vegetable cultivation was taking place. It wasn’t an extensive farming operation, as agriculture isn’t something you can just start anywhere.
Rather, it was closer to a weekend plot. It seemed less about self-sufficiency and more about adding some contribution to their lives.
Despite this, the faces of those tending the small vegetables were full of smiles.
Living under the suffocating conditions of their previous situation far exceeded the inconvenience of living in tents and digging holes for toilets. While physically challenging, their minds found peace.
In truth, when they had just arrived here, they hadn’t slept well due to anxieties.
After all, they had feared being pursued by the middle school syndrome group, and even if they complained, the Foundation wouldn’t look on them kindly.
Even so, they had come, bearing with them the slimmest of hopes.
It was impossible for them to remain part of the middle school syndrome group any longer. Rather, it was better to say that they didn’t wish to remain.
In the end,
The gamble of becoming fugitives seemed successful at first.
The middle school syndrome group, seemingly aware of the existence of 7496-KR, hadn’t followed. And the Foundation also hadn’t shown any immediate reactions, almost as if they had lost interest completely.
…Of course, there was the issue of the people, perhaps somewhere in the underground, showing no interest in them either, but excluding this, they had managed to find some peace of mind.
“Did someone say we should form a collective if we want to retire to the countryside? Guess it’s true.”
There was an amusing yet tranquil atmosphere among them.
One regrettable thing, however, was unavoidable. Though they had come looking for those who had remained in the underground laboratory upon receiving some intel about reckless actions, the only response was a cold silence.
While they were disappointed, they didn’t begrudge the underground lab’s actions. If the situation had been reversed, they probably would have done the same.
Yet, being human, they couldn’t help but feel the tinge of regret.
Now, while they could laugh as if they were on a camping trip, living as homeless wasn’t exactly easy. The number of tents they had gathered was insufficient for the number of people, and maintaining hygiene was also a challenge.
Nonetheless, their continued smiles were proof of how dreadful their previous situation had been.
“Do you think there’s any chance they’ll take us in?”
“Probably not… Honestly, considering an incident not long ago, accepting us would be a bit daunting.”
“…So why them and not us?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Numbers…?”
“Hmph…”
Sighs echoed among the gathered group. Despite knowing the reasons, it was inevitable to feel a bit disheartened.
Behind this group’s heavy sighs, the deep voice of a man could be heard.
“Anything unusual?”
“Oh, you’re here. It was quiet.”
“That’s a relief but also a bit disappointing.”
“There’s nothing we can do.”
“Let’s eat something. I’ve brought a share for us.”
With a wry smile, the man handed over the beast he’d hunted to the group.
The sudden return to a hunting society amidst modern civilization gave them all a strange feeling.
Thinking about it over and over, it might lead to resentment. So, they moved away, preparing to clean the animal received from the man.
Watching the group leave, the man wiped the sweat from his brow, settled on the ground, then began to clean the weapon he’d used to k*ll the beast.
He figured it wouldn’t hurt to keep the blade sharp considering the uncertainty of how soon they might be allowed inside.
Maybe they’d never be allowed in. If someone had intended to bring us in, there’d have been some indication earlier, after all.
But even without a response, returning was not an option. Now that they’d come this far, going back was no longer on the table.
The middle school syndrome group wouldn’t accept runaway members back, making them like the Foundation in that respect. No other viable options remained.
It was a classic last stand.
Truthfully, holding those people in the underground somewhere hostage made him feel rather unpleasant.
But one must survive, right?
Given that they had flowed into the middle school syndrome group just to survive, it was a natural conclusion.
Especially after discovering they had been tricked into joining, staying was no longer an option.
What with the state of the world becoming more alarming, he couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling that an entirely new world might soon arrive.
That’s why they had come here.
The place that had accepted those who made bizarre actions.
A place where the very powerful and remarkably friendly anomaly resided.
‘…Even if the lab doesn’t take us in…’
It’d still be nice if they could help us survive outside at least.
He was conscious of how brazen this request sounded, but what else could he do? They truly had nowhere else to go, erased from society.
Thus, quietly cleaning the weapon,
“…Hm?”
He noticed the ground quivering.
He gripped the blade, thinking a mole might come out—he’d always welcome fresh meat.
However, contrary to his expectations, something emerged from the ground that he hadn’t anticipated.
