Chapter 19
I realized it in an instant. Kang In‑ha’s struggle was that drug itself. Developing that drug was the realization of his ideals and the greatest purpose of his life. And while he desperately wanted to achieve it, he also knew very well the reality—that he could not accomplish it on his own.
But still…
I thought I could make it happen.
“Then let’s pay them back.”
“Pardon?”
“Come out and pay them back with me.”
I looked straight at him.
“Have you never wanted to do that?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Revenge. But this time, taking revenge while doing what you believe is right.”
“Excuse me?”
He asked back with a flustered expression. The face that had been trembling with rage moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
“First of all… I apologize for losing my composure.”
“It’s fine.”
Standing up straight again, he returned to his calm demeanor and apologized to us. I wasn’t sure what exactly he meant by “losing his composure,” but since he apologized, I accepted it. Beside me, I could feel Lee Seok‑hyung shooting him a sideways glance.
“However, I don’t quite understand what you meant just now. Could you explain in more detail?”
“I meant it literally. Do exactly what you want to do. Just by doing the work you want to do, those guys will suffer enormous damage. They’re the ones who degraded your ideals into nothing more than ‘a losing business.’ Wouldn’t it be nice to give it back to them as‑is? I want to see you complete your ideals—and I also want to see those bastards choke on it.”
Truthfully, I didn’t care that much about Kang In‑ha even now. I had a favorable impression, sure, but not enough to fully know his circumstances. Still, I shamelessly added a lie.
“Let’s definitely complete the drug you’ve been yearning for. Together. That’s the only proposal I have to offer.”
“…You’re saying we should make it? But how?”
“…Ah, right. I didn’t tell you this yet. The patent you filed under Dongbo Pharmaceuticals—I bought it.”
“What?”
“With this, I’ll provide the money and the research team. Let’s try making it. And then sell it dirt cheap. And let’s not sell it to them. How does that sound?”
“…But.”
At that moment, a strange light passed through Kang In‑ha’s eyes. He snapped his head up and looked at me again.
“But how am I supposed to trust you?”
“How will you trust me?”
“Yes.”
Instead of answering right away, I met his gaze. Not bad. He was suspicious—properly so. Of course he should be. It seemed he’d learned how to question things in the meantime. I answered readily.
“To make sure a question like that never comes up, I’ll give the patent back to you.”
“…What?”
“I don’t care. I wasn’t a businessperson to begin with, I’m not acting for personal gain, and I don’t represent this company. I have no intention of getting greedy and stabbing you in the back. I’m busy enough with my own revenge. Is that a sufficient answer?”
Kang In‑ha fell silent. Now he looked completely stunned.
From the look of it, he was almost entirely convinced. I raised one corner of my lips as I looked at him.
“Kang In‑ha. The truth is, you haven’t given up yet, have you? You ran away on your own, but you’re still wishing that you could jump back in at any moment.”
Talking with him made me realize something. When Kang In‑ha learned that he wouldn’t be able to achieve his ideals, he fled the world in a fit of despair. And yet, despite that, he hadn’t been able to give up. The chemical symbols densely carved into this table were proof enough. I could easily imagine him, eating alone, spooning soup, gripping the end of his utensil and unconsciously forming equations.
“You’re right. You are—but…”
Kang In‑ha blinked briefly. His face showed that he was deeply thinking about what he had just heard, weighing its truth.
After a moment of silence, he met my eyes and spoke.
“Before I answer, may I ask you one question?”
“Go ahead.”
“You said earlier that you joined this company to avenge your twin sibling. I’m wondering—what does me making this drug have to do with your revenge?”
That was simple enough.
Keeping my shameless expression intact, I answered.
“I told you already. Revenge while doing the right thing. I’m already doing exactly that. I want to destroy Olfail for my sibling’s sake.”
“…In a way that benefits everyone?”
“For example.”
I rattled on without much thought.
“A way that’s fatal to Olfail, but good for people. Releasing patents, supplying drugs for serious illnesses to the poor at ridiculously low prices—while never compromising with the rich and selling to them at exorbitant prices.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Never deceiving anyone. No animal testing. No environmental pollution. Avoiding everything we’re told not to do. If we choose only the best, cleanest methods, they’ll slowly wither and die.”
Kang In‑ha’s eyes widened. He blinked rapidly, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Then… wouldn’t that mean bankruptcy?”
“That’s exactly what I want. Why would I care? They killed my twin sibling. I’ll force them in the direction they least want to go. And for the record, the one who directly tried to kill my sibling—I’ll grind him into dust. Real dust. It was so obvious I didn’t bother mentioning it, but just in case.”
…And at that moment, Kang In‑ha’s mouth fell wide open. Then, all at once, he burst out laughing.
“That’s ridiculous!”
“Hahahaha!” Laughing loudly, Kang In‑ha spoke to me.
“Are you insane, Yoon Eun‑han? That would actually be incredible. Releasing all patents?”
<system: Penalty −1 year for disclosure of confidential user information.>
Ow. That hurts.
Still, I smiled calmly as I answered him. I couldn’t let anything slip about the quest.
“Why not? We’d be setting an example. Giving people everything they want, protecting the environment and nature, saving the weak. Becoming a beacon for the planet—so other pharmaceutical companies can’t play dirty anymore. Wouldn’t that be true revenge?”
“That really is… no, it really is… absurd.”
Kang In‑ha twisted his lips. He looked as if he might burst into laughter again, then suddenly realized something.
“Ah. I think I just experienced ‘yeokji‑saji.’”
“Yeokji‑saji?”
“It’s a four‑character idiom—it means putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Back when I worked at a company in Korea, people used to laugh whenever I said things like this. I wondered what was so funny back then, but now I think I understand how they felt.”
“……”
“Kang In‑ha, you’re quite the idealist.”
“No. I’m not an idealist.”
I cut him off sharply. Kang In‑ha’s eyes widened.
“The dictionary definition of an idealist is someone who places the meaning of life solely in ideals—especially moral or social ideals—or someone with a fanciful or fanatical attitude that ignores practical feasibility. Or such a tendency. I’m neither. Especially not the latter.”
“……”
“This isn’t an ideal. It’s something I plan to realize. You’re free to think it’s nonsense, but I’ll say this clearly right here—I will make it happen.”
I emphasized the words, eyes blazing. I may have been spouting nonsense, but my resolve to destroy Olfail was firm. I wouldn’t just ruin them. I’d destroy them in the way they least wanted. That was my only goal.
“This is really strange.”
Kang In‑ha wore a subtle expression. His laughter had long since faded.
“When you put it together, it sounds like you want to create a very good, admirable company—but you say it with a face overflowing with murderous intent.”
He fell silent and turned to look out the window. At some point, night had fallen.
Moonlight poured through the open window. A bright moon meant the night sea was visible too—dim waves seemed to sway in the distance.
For a while, we simply watched the scenery outside. Lee Seok‑hyung, looking bored, fiddled with his fingers on his own.
“…All right.”
After gazing at the night sea for a long time, Kang In‑ha finally answered.
“Very well. I’ll join that company and make the drug. Utiff—ah, that’s the name of the compound.”
“It already has a name?”
“Yes. I’m confident it can be commercialized.”
“……”
It was an uncommon level of confidence. The moment he said it, I could tell it wasn’t bravado.
“I’ll release this drug at a price close to free, for the countless people dying of dementia. I’ll do exactly as you say. But I have one condition.”
“A condition?”
“…When I say I want to quit, help me leave again. This time, to somewhere even you don’t know.”
“……”
I hesitated briefly, wondering whether I could nod at that—but there was no time to deliberate. I nodded silently.
“Agreed.”
“Good. Then I’ll gladly join you. Becoming an Olfail researcher—that’s fine. I think I even had a colleague back in Korea whose dream was to work here.”
Kang In‑ha smiled faintly.
“I’m achieving that dream. Strange, isn’t it?”
Yet he didn’t look happy at all. If anything, he looked like someone who had made a firm resolution.
“I look forward to working with you.”
He bowed slowly toward me. At the same time, the system screen shone brilliantly.
<system: Main Quest 1‑2 ‘Find Kang In‑ha!’ Completed!>
“Still, you actually managed to persuade In‑ha hyung. That’s impressive.”
The next morning. As we returned by boat with Kang In‑ha, who had packed his light belongings, Lee Seok‑hyung whistled.
“Yoon Eun—oh right. I’m supposed to call you Kyle now, right?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded. I had already firmly told Kang In‑ha and Lee Seok‑hyung that from now on my name was Yoon Young‑seo, and Kyle Olfail. Even without explaining the penalty, they accepted my situation surprisingly easily—especially after learning that I was being chased by the Red Mafia and drug gangs.
“Then I’ll stay here for now. If even I disappear, it’d look way too suspicious. Right?”
“Yeah. And Seok‑hyung—I have something to ask you too.”
“Sure. What is it?”
I hesitated. What I was about to ask was nearly impossible. But I felt I had to say it anyway.
“I want to recover the CCTV footage from December 31 to January 1—San Francisco, OO Hotel, 24th floor, Grand Floor. Do you think it’s possible?”
