Chapter 16: Instincts That Save

3: Irresistible Instincts

“Hng…”

My wings are dry, and there’s nothing to do. I’m drowsy, my eyes drifting shut.

A nap would be perfect right now, but if I sleep, I might not wake up until tomorrow morning. Sleeping too long gives me a headache, so I can’t.

It’s 2 p.m.

Hmm.

“Feels like I forgot something…”

Why does 2 p.m. feel so familiar? I frown, sensing I’ve overlooked something important.

What is it? What did I forget?

“Hmm…”

It’s on the tip of my tongue. Just a little more thought, and I’ll remember. Like reaching for a pot in the cabinet, just one centimeter short.

It’s so close…

Ding!

As I rack my brain, my phone’s notification snaps me out of it. I perk up and check it.

It’s from the group chat—not the transformed people’s one, but the one with me, Junseo, Kanghyuk, and Min-jae.

– Garam
– You coming to game?
– Or skipping again?

Oh.

Now I remember. 2 p.m. is when we meet to game if nothing’s going on. I’ve been so bad at games lately that I completely forgot.

“You going to game?”

“Huh? Yeah, I’ve been ditching too much. Gotta go this time.”

Junseo, who must’ve seen the chat, asks me. I’ve skipped too many sessions, so I’m set on going today.

– I’m coming
– Gotta go to the PC café, so hold on

There’s no computer at home, so we need to hit the PC café nearby. Good thing Junseo’s here.

“Mom, I’m heading to the PC café!”

“Okay? You sure you’ll be fine?”

“Junseo’s coming with me, it’s fine.”

“No need to worry so much.”

I can’t argue since I know I’m not exactly strong. Maybe I should start working out.

I grab my wallet and stand. I check myself in the mirror, fixing my outfit.

Wings, check. Halo, check.

Yup, no issues.

“Let’s go!”

I grab Junseo’s hand and head out.

It’s perfect spring weather—not too cold, not too hot. No dust in the air for some reason, and the sunlight’s radiant, lifting my mood.

The PC café’s close. Just cross a couple of crosswalks, and we’re there.

I stroll along, stopping at a crosswalk to wait for the signal. The street’s unusually crowded today.

It feels like I could get swept away in the sea of people. Many eyes are on me, but some are looking elsewhere.

Following their gazes, I spot another transformed person across the way. They look back at me.

Our eyes meet.

A strange sense of kinship washes over me. Heh. I rub my nose and cross the street with Junseo.

Today’s game was another crushing defeat.

4 kills, 13 deaths. Still, it’s way better than before. I’m getting used to this body—fewer misclicks on skills.

It’s kind of pathetic that I’m still messing up, but still.

The sky’s still bright.

There’s time before sunset, but since I pass out at night, we leave the PC café early.

Satisfied with my improved control, I step out of the building.

“Huh.”

Across the street, a crowd’s gathered. I lock eyes with someone in it.

Looking up, I see a banner with the name of the church near my parents’ place. Below it, someone’s preaching that the transformation phenomenon is God’s punishment for nonbelievers.

The person I locked eyes with points at me.

“There! There’s one pretending to be God’s messenger!!!”

What?

Suddenly, the group’s eyes turn to me, gleaming with a fanatic’s zeal.

Yup, definitely fanatics.

I glance at Junseo.

“Junseo, that’s a mob, right?”

“… Yeah. Too many.”

No matter how strong Junseo is, he’s just a college student. He can’t take on dozens of people.

There’s only one thing to do.

“Run.”

“Yup.”

I turn and bolt.

…

Thud thud thud—

Thud thud thud thud—

The sound of my feet hitting the pavement, doubled by Junseo’s. Behind us, dozens more footsteps follow.

“Catch them!!!!”

What did I do to get chased like this?

What’s my crime? Going to the PC café, gaming with friends, and spectacularly losing? Is that worth being hunted by a mob?

Whoosh— Whoosh—

The sound of someone swinging a fist-sized cross behind me. Is that allowed? Isn’t that blasphemy?

“Junseo, this way!”

Dash!

Thud thud—

I weave through the crowd, Junseo behind me. If I blend into the masses, they’ll lose me. That’s my plan as I race down the main street.

“They’ll have a hard time finding us, right?”

“Look for the glowing one!”

“….”

I desperately need a halo-off switch right now.

How far are they chasing me? Can’t they give up already? A mob of fanatics near my parents’ place—this world’s getting too wild.

“Huff, huff.”

“You okay?”

“Not okay!”

This tiny body gets winded so fast. My short strides mean I have to run twice as hard as others.

Flash!

“Waaah! What’re you doing!”

“It’s faster if I carry you!”

“True, but…!”

As I open my mouth, I hear “Catch them!” from behind. No time to argue—I’m embarrassingly hoisted onto Junseo’s shoulder as we flee.

Thud thud thud—

The scenery blurs by twice as fast. A crosswalk comes into view through the crowd. The light’s red. People stare as we sprint toward it.

“It’s red, what do we do…?”

I glance back—the church mob’s still chasing. The crowd’s acting as a barrier, and Junseo carrying me has widened the gap, but it’s not enough to wait for the light.

“Oh! We can take a detour…”

This isn’t the only way home. It’s longer, but a detour might shake them off.

Just then—

“Oh no…!”

At the crosswalk, I see a child pushed by the crowd, falling toward the road.

A truck’s barreling forward.

The child’s mother, trapped in the crowd, can’t reach them. No one else notices the kid’s fallen.

The child can’t get up. The truck isn’t stopping.

The kid’s in danger.

“Garam…?! You—”

Dash!

My body moves on its own. I leap off Junseo’s shoulder, dodging through the crowd toward the child.

It’s an irresistible instinct. My body acts before my mind, screaming to save the kid. I reach them before I even process it.

BEEEEEP—

The truck’s horn blares. I grab the child and toss them back. At the same time, I try to jump away. Dash! I push off with all my strength.

“Ugh…!”

But my strength fails. I collapse to the ground. Too late to get up. The truck charges toward me.

BEEE—EEP—

Time slows.

Is this my life flashing before me? The truck’s headlights blind me. White light floods my vision. I shield my face with my arms.

And then—

“Garam!!”

“Waaah!”

My body’s yanked back.

Whoosh!*

The truck roars past, inches from me. My silver hair flutters in the wind.

“W-Wow…”

That was close. My heart pounds. The reality of nearly dying hits me. My legs tremble.

“Garam, are you insane?!”

Junseo, holding me up, sounds both shocked and angry.

“The kid, are they okay?”

I turn to look. The child’s sitting on the ground, a bit behind Junseo. No injuries, just fallen.

A woman, likely the mother, pushes through the crowd to check on the kid. She sighs in relief and thanks us.

“Thank you, thank you so much. I lost sight of them…”

“N-No, it’s okay.”

I stammer, still rattled. My body moved on instinct, and I’m not fully processing it.

Junseo whispers to me.

“Garam, people.”

“Oh.”

Only then do I notice our surroundings.

A crowd surrounds me, Junseo, the kid, and the mother. They’re all filming us with phones or cameras.

People gape, covering their mouths, eyes wide.

None of the stares feel hostile. Just awe and amazement—something I’ve never experienced. It’s overwhelming.

As I fumble, I spot the church mob still chasing us in the distance.

“L-Let’s get out of here, Junseo!”

“Yeah.”

I can’t even ask them to stop filming. I just bolt.

The next day, a video of me saving the kid goes viral, heating up the internet.

It was a moment that greatly improved perceptions of transformed people.