After the two sisters left, Brian turned his gaze back toward the lake, feeling the cool breeze on his face. No killing, no blood, no infected—just sitting here in quiet peace… maybe it wasn't so bad.
The reason he wanted Andrea and her group to stay wasn't just to keep them out of the quarantine zone and away from its complex, dangerous politics. He also had a selfish motive.
The situation inside the quarantine zone was growing increasingly unstable. The Resistance Army had been unusually quiet for far too long. In the past, they launched attacks—big or small—every week or two, just to remind everyone they were still alive. But now, months had passed, and while they remained active outside, they had completely vanished inside the zone.
Could it be that they had given up? Not even the government officials or ordinary civilians would believe that. After everything that had happened, this was now a fight to the death. One side would be wiped out.
Brian had a strong feeling: the Resistance was planning an unprecedented attack. The years-long standoff might soon reach its climax.
When that moment came, either the quarantine zone would survive and crush the Resistance once and for all… or the Resistance would seize control and overthrow the government. The first outcome was acceptable. But if the second happened… soldiers like Brian would be the first to be hanged.
That's why he needed an escape route outside. And this place… was a perfect start.
—Captain!
As Brian was lost in thought, a voice called from behind. He turned. It was Kim Seong-min, walking toward him.
—What is it?
—There's a kid who needs to see you— Kim said, pointing behind him—. He just woke up from unconsciousness. He's babbling in a language I don't understand—something like Chinese. You're Chinese too, right? Go check it out.
—Chinese?
Brian was surprised. In nearly five years in this world, he'd seen very few ethnic Chinese. And those he had met all spoke English. This was the first time anyone had spoken Chinese.
He slowly stood up.
—Take me.
The two walked back the way they came, entering the largest building in the golf course compound.
Chen Shi slowly opened his eyes, emerging from a dreamlike haze. The first thing he saw wasn't the familiar white ceiling of his hospital room.
Something was wrong. He sat up abruptly, scanning the decaying walls around him. He wasn't in the hospital—he was in some strange, unfamiliar place.
He rubbed his eyes, stunned. How had he gotten here?
Then, as if remembering something, he looked down at his hands—small, dirty. He began to tremble. Feeling control over his body again, his eyes filled with emotion and disbelief.
—I… wasn't I dead?
Chen Shi was a patient with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Normally, this disease strikes between ages 30 and 60. But he was unlucky. At just 12 years old, he began showing symptoms—his legs were already failing.
His parents were practical people. When they learned of his diagnosis, they abandoned him. They sent him to a care home and hired a nurse to look after him.
Though it hurt, Chen Shi had consulted doctors. He knew there was no cure. He accepted his parents' decision. He didn't bother them anymore. He only occasionally learned they'd had another child—now living happily as a family of three.
Forgotten, Chen Shi spent his days being wheeled outside for sunlight, and the rest in bed. Fortunately, though they refused to visit, his parents fulfilled his requests.
While he could still move, he did everything he wanted: watched anime, played games—until his body gave out completely.
For a year, motionless, he lived like that. One night, as he slept, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. But he couldn't open his eyes or scream.
The last thing he remembered was seeing his parents—tears in their eyes, weeping as they looked at him… and then… everything went black.
—Did I… transmigrate?
Chen Shi sat frozen, dazed. A thought flashed in his mind: What if I've been reborn into a novel world? Though young, he'd read many stories. In nearly all of them, the protagonist died… and was reborn elsewhere.
In the corner, he saw a table with a mirror. Without thinking, he threw off the blanket and got out of bed.
But after so long without walking, his legs buckled the moment he stepped down. He nearly fell, barely catching himself on the bed's edge.
He gave a bitter laugh. He'd been too impatient. His body responded, but his brain hadn't fully adapted. And this body—thin arms, weak legs, shrunken height—was clearly that of a small child.
He stood again, slowly moving his limbs, relearning how to control and adapt to his new form.
—Hss!
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his body. He gasped.
He lifted his torn clothes. His body was covered in scars and bruises—clearly from human abuse.
—Was this body abused?
As he touched the old and new wounds, a chill ran through him. Had he been kidnapped by a madman? Tortured day and night?
He shook his head. He couldn't think about such horrors. He walked toward the table in the corner.
Being able to walk again filled him with joy. He wanted to run outside and sprint wildly.
But despite his age, he was more mature than most kids. He held back his excitement. First, he needed answers: Where was he? Why was this body injured?
He reached the table, cleared the clutter, and picked up a small mirror. He wiped the dust off and looked.
What he saw froze him in place.
In the mirror: a yellow-skinned child, face dirty, hair matted, about four or five years old. But what horrified him was the face—it was his own from his past life.
—Where am I?
—Why is this my face?
—Why am I a child?
The mirror slipped from his hand, hitting the floor with a clonk. Chen Shi, still a child, stood motionless, stunned.
—You're awake!
Maybe because of the noise, the broken door swung open. A pale-faced woman entered, seeing the boy awake. She smiled, excited, and stepped forward to check on him.
—Don't come near me!
The sudden appearance startled Chen Shi. Remembering his wounds, he grabbed the mirror from the floor and pointed it at her, shouting.
The woman didn't expect such a reaction. She didn't understand his words, but raised her hands, stopping.
—Calm down. I mean no harm.
Seeing the blonde, blue-eyed woman, and hearing her English, Chen Shi froze. He didn't understand a word.
Behind her, more people appeared—whites, blacks. They peered curiously, wanting to know what was happening.
Staring at the growing number of foreign faces, he muttered:
—What the hell? Am I in a foreign country?
—What are you doing?
A strong voice echoed from the corridor. The crowd scattered like birds.
A young Asian man appeared. At the sight of him, Chen Shi felt a spark of hope.
—Are you Chinese?
The young man was startled. He looked at him, confused, then spoke to the woman.
—Annyeonghaseyo.
Then, as if understanding, he turned to Chen Shi and spoke… but not in English.
—Korean? —Chen Shi recognized it instantly. He cursed silently. How had he ended up in this place?
The young man, seeing he didn't understand, frowned. He spoke to the woman, then left the room, as if going to find someone.
Watching him go, Chen Shi suddenly felt a surge of fear.
What would happen now?
What awaited him?