ushernet Chapter 21
Chapter 21
In the past, Seongho had participated in various programs run by the orphanage and the church.
The classes, often led by volunteers, were some of the most prominent.
Seongho used to frequent the cultural school building, almost as if it were his second home, due to these classes.
Then, one day, Seongho made an astonishing discovery in the school building.
He saw that a steel door leading to a deep underground passage was open.
To make matters worse, a flashlight was left right beside the door.
*‘Someone must have briefly left the facility during an inspection.’*
The problem, however, was that Seongho, ever curious and brimming with energy as a child, discovered the opening in that brief moment of opportunity.
He boldly entered the dark passageway with only a flashlight in hand, despite the uncertainty.
Later, Seongho would learn that the underground passage had been built as a bomb shelter during the Japanese occupation and the Korean War.
It was no longer in use and had been sealed off for modern use.
But at the time, Seongho had no idea what it was and simply enjoyed exploring its depths.
Eventually, he reached a place where iron bars were chained up.
*‘How do I open this?’*
Seongho struggled with the chains for a while, but he never got the chance to undo them.
He was caught by the bishop, who had come searching for him, and he was promptly scolded.
What seemed like a harmless childhood misadventure, however, took on a new meaning today, connecting to something entirely unexpected.
*‘Could that iron bar be connected to the morgue?’*
Initially, Seongho had planned to burn the cultural school down and then use the underground tunnel to help the survivors escape.
He had intended to climb up the building’s exterior, access the rooftop, and infiltrate the building from within.
But what if there was a way to reach the school without needing to go above ground?
*‘This is unbelievable.’*
It seemed that, by following the black beast, Seongho had found an easier and quicker route.
It seemed the fortune cookie’s prophecy was really worth believing.
Seongho, steadying himself, cut through the lock on the iron bars.
When the chain was released, the iron door creaked open, the rusty hinges screeching loudly.
This was the same underground passage that he had once explored.
For a moment, Seongho stared into the darkened tunnel.
He then moved all the lanterns, including those in the basement and the church, to the underground passage.
This was to ensure that the church people wouldn’t be frightened if they woke up in the dark.
That wasn’t all.
Seongho also secured the problematic steel door that connected to the outside with cable ties.
He carefully completed the task, ensuring no one from the camp would enter the morgue and stumble upon the hidden passage.
While Seongho worked busily, the crow stayed by Jeong Han-su, observing everything.
*‘I’ve done all I can.’*
Finally, after hesitating for a moment, Seongho’s steps became lighter.
He let out a shallow sigh, stepping back slightly.
Just then, the crow flew up with a flap, returning to its place beside Jeong Han-su.
Seongho watched this, feeling a strange sense of discomfort.
*‘I don’t know what their relationship is, but...’*
One thing was certain—the crow seemed to care for Jeong Han-su.
Perhaps the reason it had interrupted Seongho earlier was because it wanted to help him?
*‘Well, this is interesting. A crow repaying a debt.’*
And they never returned.
That wasn’t the only thing that felt strange.
*‘No one stays here for long.’*
He was the longest stay.
Those who had been there before him had already been taken out for labor.
Just yesterday, a family that had arrived a day after his group was taken out.
Naturally, they never came back.
This situation made him uneasy.
Could he be next?
What would happen to him if he was sent out?
Was this really a safe place, a place they could trust?
The constant mix of anxiety and uncertainty made every waking moment a struggle.
He couldn’t sleep well, and eating had become difficult too.
But that was only his problem.
Not everyone felt the same way.
“What’s so strange about it? Don’t make a fuss.”
“Yu Min-sang, I know you’re suspicious of the priests, but is it really okay to doubt the people who’ve given us warm food and shelter without any conditions?”
“Is there no shame left in you...?”
These were people who had only recently joined the facility.
They hadn’t been there long—only two or three days.
They didn’t want to ruin the little peace they had found.
So, they didn’t pay much attention to Yu Min-sang’s concerns.
But Yu Min-sang, who had already formed his own suspicions, didn’t give up.
“How do you prove that those people are priests?”
“What did you say?”
Yu Min-sang raised his voice sharply in the face of those who were dismissing his concerns.
“They’ve locked us in here, boarded up all the windows from the outside, and worst of all, people keep disappearing! There’s way more that’s strange than normal!”
But his words didn’t seem to reach them.
“So what! They’ve fed us and given us a safe place to stay, so what’s wrong with that?!”
“Must be nice to eat, huh? You think there’s another place like this?”
“If we get kicked out, our kids will end up on the streets again!”
Everyone was united in not wanting to lose their newfound comfort.
They couldn’t face the possibility of going back to the miserable days of starvation.
But continuing to live like this, with constant anxiety, wasn’t possible either.
If everyone thought the same way, it would be great.
“Now, we need to take action!”
“No! Stay calm, don’t cause trouble!”
The many opinions seemed to be going nowhere, and tension grew.
The conflict between the two opposing sides intensified, but just then,
“Moving might be the best thing.”
A new voice suddenly interrupted from the
door.
It was Seongho, who had emerged from the underground passage just as the tension reached its peak.