Chapter 2 : Survivor
The infirmary was dimly lit—only emergency lights buzzed faintly overhead. Portable med beds lined the room, but few were occupied now. The aftermath had calmed... for most.
Do Yooha
*He stirred.
The warmth was gone. The pain wasn’t.*
Do Yooha
*His eyes fluttered open.*
Do Yooha
(...Where...)
(...What happened...?)
Nurse
(softly, from nearby)
“You're awake.”
A woman approached, her steps careful. Her hair was tied back hastily. Tired eyes met his.
Nurse
“You were brought in by Commander Jinsoo. He carried you here himself. Do you remember?”
Do Yooha
“...I...”
*His voice cracked. He winced. His throat felt dry, like he’d swallowed sand.*
Do Yooha
(The man with violet eyes...)
(Was that... real?)
The nurse offered him water, and he drank it shakily. His hands trembled.
Do Yooha
(They’re gone...)
(Mom... Dad...)
Do Yooha
*He clutched the blanket.*
Do Yooha
(Why does it feel like my chest is caving in...)
(I should’ve stayed... I ran...)
(I'm a coward...)
At the same time, just outside the infirmary—
Kang Jinsoo
*He stood quietly, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.*
Kang Jinsoo
*His coat was off now—folded neatly on a nearby chair. Dried blood still marked the edges of his gloves.*
Guild member (young male)
“Sir, we’ve confirmed full civilian extraction in the southern block. No casualties reported—besides... the collapsed apartment complex.”
Kang Jinsoo
“...Survivors?”
Guild member (young male)
“Only one. The boy you brought in.”
Kang Jinsoo
(Just one, huh...)
(He was the only one left in that building full of families.)
Guild member (young male)
“There was... a lot of residual mana in the area. Could’ve been a high-class rift. We’re waiting on analysis.”
Kang Jinsoo
“Mm.”
*He didn’t say more.*
Do Yooha
“Excuse me... the man who brought me here... Is he...”
*He hesitated.*
“...Is he okay?”
Nurse
*She smiled gently, almost surprised.*
Nurse
“You don’t have to worry about Commander Jinsoo. He’s stronger than he looks."
Nurse
“Well—he’s actually exactly as strong as he looks.”
The boy's eyes softened slightly.
He remembered the warmth of that back. The steady footsteps.
The first calm moment in a nightmare.
Do Yooha
(He didn’t even ask me questions...)
(He didn’t yell. Didn’t panic.)
(He just... picked me up like it was the easiest thing in the world.)
Outside the tent, Jinsoo's phone buzzed. He glanced at it.
Text Message — From: Dr. Han
The boy is conscious. Wants to see you.
Kang Jinsoo
(Already? That was fast.)
Kang Jinsoo
*He turned without a word and stepped inside.*
Do Yooha
*Yooha looked up just as the door opened.*
Their eyes met again—his small frame still bundled in the blanket, Jinsoo towering in the doorway like a shadow.
Do Yooha
“Y-Yes... I... Thank you... for saving me.”
Kang Jinsoo
“You don’t need to thank me.”
Do Yooha
“But... I was the only one. Everyone else... my family... They...”
The room fell into silence.
*Yooha lowered his gaze.*
Do Yooha
“Why... Why was I the only one left?”
Kang Jinsoo
*His voice stayed steady. Cold, but not unkind.*
“Because you lived.”
Kang Jinsoo
“And now... you decide what you’ll do with that.”
The words weren’t gentle. But they weren’t cruel either.
Kang Jinsoo
*turning to leave*
“Rest. When you're stable, someone from the recovery team will speak to you.”
Jinsoo paused in the doorway.
Do Yooha
“Can I... Can I see you again?”
Kang Jinsoo
*without turning*
“If you want.”
He left.
Yooha sat there, alone again. But something had changed.
It wasn’t safety.
But it wasn’t despair either.
Somewhere else — Justice Guild HQ, Tactical Room
— [Class Unknown Rift — Survivor Trigger Detected] —
A technician blinked, startled.
Technician
(muttering)
“...Wait. Survivor? From where...?”
Back in the infirmary, Yooha stared at his hands.
Unseen to him—on his left palm—mana flickered faintly beneath the skin.
Like something had been planted.
Or awakened.
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