9. Break Time (1)
‘Fendell’, one of Randun’s satellite cities, was transformed into a fortress after Randun fell to the Evolutionize. All of the coalition forces, including Caden’s defense forces, gathered at Fendell to prepare for the reclamation of the city.
The coalition forces’ leaders were putting their heads together and trying to come up with plans to reclaim the city, and doctors were busy running around treating patients and wounded soldiers.
Hopkins was one of the doctors who was busy trying to save people. But suddenly, the Alliance Commander called Hopkins in a hurry, and Hopkins was dragged towards somewhere by the soldiers without even knowing where he was going.
“Did… Did I do something wrong?”
Professor Hopkins began to ponder what he has done wrong in his life.
‘Is it because I gave a pumpkin-flavored medicine to a kid who asked for strawberry-flavored medicine? Or that I put the coke I drank yesterday into the trash without recycling? Damn it… What the hell did I do wrong?’
Hopkins, who had lived for others all his life without harming anyone, could not think of what he had committed wrong no matter how much he racked his head.
In the end, Hopkins gave up thinking about it. Helpless, he let the soldiers drag him away.
“Hey?”
A familiar face came into Hopkins’ view. It was Professor Herbert who he worked with before.
Professor Herbert was one of the famous doctors in Caden.
“Huh? You, too?”
Herbert looked at Hopkins with wide eyes.
“What crime did you commit to get dragged away?”
“What do you mean ‘crime’? What crime?”
Herbert stared at him, his face looking like he’s asking ‘what are you saying?’.
“Did you not get any information about what’s going on?”
“Well, did you get any?”
“Of course, I’m on my way to Fendell to treat an injured Noble.”
“A Noble?”
“Yes, a Noble, and he’s even from Earth.”
After hearing what Herbert said, Hopkins finally knew why he and Herbert were called.
“Here it is, Professors.”
Herbert and Hopkins, who followed the soldiers, stopped in front of a room.
An armed soldier stood guard in front of the hospital room. Some soldiers were in groups patrolling around the area.
Hopkins and Herbert got nervous and opened the door to the hospital room. Entering the room, Herbert and Hopkins saw a young Noble who was yawning and scratching his head.
* * *
“I have a high-class status called Noble? Was this world divided into different classes?”
When Yoo-sung first arrived at Fendell, the soldiers were all fussing and took—no—carried Yoo-sung. Most soldiers watched over him, and even soldiers ranked higher than him came to greet him.
Even though Yoo-sung did not go to the army himself, he realized that something was wrong at this point. By listening to the other’s conversations, Yoo-sung knew that he was what is called a Noble.
The soldiers led Yoo-sung to a clean and spacious hospital room. While waiting for a doctor, Yoo-sung asked Eve about what a Noble is.
[The only place where the status exists is the Empire.]
“Then, what is a Noble? You said it was high-class before.”
Eve clearly said that status only exists in the Empire. However, Yoo-sung felt it was contradicting how the soldiers treated him.
[I said it like that so user Han Yoo-sung can understand it easily. If you look at it, a Noble is comparable to having a high status in society. A Noble has great power and can’t be treated carelessly by ordinary citizens.]
“So, am I high-class or not?”
[To put it bluntly, no. ‘Noble’ is some kind of an alias. That name is used for those who have power or from a powerful family.]
People with power existed anywhere. It might be the strongest man with impenetrable force. Or it might be the wisest, the noblest, or the richest who have power.
Unlike Yoo-sung, who was far from having wealth and power, this world’s Yoo-sung had outstanding support.
“You said I am a Noble. Based on that, Noble seems to be a very important position. But then, why was I put into this dangerous operation? Isn’t a Noble supposed to be careful?”
[In a normal case, a Noble will not be placed into this risky operation. But in the case of user Han Yoo-sung, it’s different.]
“Why? Did I get hated by someone?”
[It’s because user Han Yoo-sung’s father is a soldier who follows the spirit of noblesse oblige*.]
PR/N: Noblesse oblige: the obligation of people from a noble ancestry to act honorably and generously to others.
“My father?”
[The user’s father is the Commander-in-chief of Wolmyeon Base. The Wolmyeon Base is a fortress protecting the Earth as one of the most important bases in the Union. That means the influence Commander Han Se-chan has is enormous.]
“Han Se-chan…”
Han Se-chan.
It was the name of Yoo-sung’s father who died when the first monster breakout exploded.
‘He’s alive in this world…..’
Yoo-sung envied this world’s Yoo-sung. Unlike him who became an orphan, this world’s Yoo-sung must have been loved by his parents.
‘He had no one who would tease him for being an orphan.’
Yoo-sung remembered his father who remained faintly in his memories. His father was an honest and upright soldier. He was a man who was proud of being a soldier.
When Yoo-sung was young, his father often told him, “When you grow up, you should become a soldier who protects the country”. He used to say that he wanted to take a picture with Yoo-sung in a military uniform, but he died without even seeing him wearing a school uniform.
‘Such a stupid person.’
If he couldn’t win, he should’ve retreated. Yoo-sung couldn’t understand. He couldn’t understand why his father would die in a foolish fight when he clearly knew that he couldn’t win by fighting with a gun.
[What’s wrong?]
“It’s nothing. I’m just envious of myself in this world. Unlike me, his family is a Noble with a lot of fortune. I feel envious thinking that he had been living comfortably.”
What Yoo-sung said was sincere. Yoo-sung really envied this world’s Yoo-sung.
“But Eve, do you think the doctor will believe me if I say I lost my memory?”
[Why wouldn’t they? There’s always a special case.]
“I guess so… Right?”
Yeah, well, what are they going to do if they don’t believe him? He himself said that he doesn’t remember.
If the doctor gets suspicious, Yoo-sung decided to just keep on insisting.
“Okay, let’s now settle the donated points and items.”
Clunk! Click!
The moment Yoo-sung tried to organize what he got, the door was opened and the doctor appeared. Well, two people. The two middle-aged doctors showed signs of expertise, but they seemed to be tense.
“Sergeant Han Yoo-sung?”
“Yes, I’m Han Yoo-sung.”
“My name is Samuel Hopkins. And this is Professor John Herbert.”
“John Herbert.”
“Oh, I look forward to it, Professors.”
When the greeting was over, Hopkins looked at the tablet in his hand.
“I heard that you’ve been suffering from memory loss since your plane crashed in Randun. Can you tell me what you remember now?”
“Uhhh….. I mean…..”
‘What am I supposed to say?’
That what he remembers is information from 300 years ago*?
PR/N: He was comparing his Earth’s technological advancement to Caden’s.
No, this is not right. He’s not even a historian or an archaeologist. If he says that what he remembers is knowledge from 300 years ago, of course, they’ll think it’s weird.
‘I’ll just say I don’t remember anything.’
“I don’t remember anything. It was only possible for me to come this far with the help of Artificial Intelligence. If it wasn’t for Eve, I wouldn’t know that this was Caden.”
“Well… I see. I thought it would be partial memory loss from the shock, but it seems to be quite serious. You don’t remember what you learned at the military school, do you?”
“Yes, I don’t remember a thing.”
After hearing Yoo-sung’s answer, Hopkins began to talk to Herbert about something. Complicated medical terms popped out from them, and a meteor was knocked out while trying to understand their conversation.
After talking to Hopkins for a while, Professor Herbert stared at Yoo-sung and opened his mouth.
“Sergeant, why don’t you go back to Earth and get a memory injection?”
“A memory injection…?”
“With a memory injection, you’ll be able to get basic knowledge and common sense. I apologize to the cadets who are working hard at the military academy for saying this, but the knowledge you learn at the military school can also be obtained through memory injection. You’ll be able to learn it all again at once.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you can inject memories?”
“Yes, that’s right. You can learn a lot of knowledge quickly through memory injection. I know that you’re confused because you don’t remember anything right now, but don’t worry. If you get a memory injection, you’ll be able to quickly adjust to your daily life again.”
‘The fuck… Injecting memories?’
Yoo-sung was shocked when he heard Herbert saying he could put human memories at will.
He knew that this world, unlike the original world where he came from, had tremendously developed technology. But to be able to manipulate a person’s memory freely was really shocking.
“Unfortunately, personal memories about family members and acquaintances may be a little awkward because they can’t be helped by memory injection. But if it was someone you’re close with, you’ll be able to get along quickly again. As you talk more to each other, you might get back your memories.”
Herbert finished speaking with a smile. Then, Hopkins spoke this time.
“We can do it here at Fendell, but we recommend doing it on Earth for your safety. As you know, the present situation on the planet Caden is not normal.”
‘Caden is definitely not normal right now.’
Yoo-sung nodded at Hopkins’ words. What if the Evolutionize attacked the city during the procedure? If that happens, he’ll go straight to the afterlife.
“I’d rather have the procedure on Earth.”
“Of course, but there is that ‘what if’.”
“Then, I’ll schedule the procedure. We’ll do it as soon as possible, so you can rest comfortably in the meantime. I’ll come back when I have a schedule.”
With that, Hopkins and Herbert left the hospital room.
“Herbert, we didn’t make any mistake, did we?”
“I don’t think so. But unlike what I’ve heard, he seems like a normal young man. Some soldiers said he is a scumbag Noble, but he seems to be polite and has a good personality.”
“Maybe it’s because of memory loss.”
“Then, let’s pray that Noble won’t get his memory back.”