***

"Haaah."

As the piercing cold brought him back to consciousness, Ga-on reflexively stretched out his arms. His fingers immediately caught on something like a thin membrane. That wasn't all. He could barely move his body.

Only after finding and unzipping the zipper near the crown of his head could Ga-on regain his freedom and let out a sigh.

"A body bag?"

After confirming the shell that had confined him, Ga-on looked around. Frost covered the ceiling, and his breath came out in visible vapor.

As he'd suspected since waking up, it seemed he'd been dumped in a freezer room.

He thought he'd grown used to dying, but each time opened up new horizons. While death was always the result, the paths leading there were endlessly varied.

It was only natural that this would become an opportunity to reflect on the depths of human malice.

The boy he'd just encountered could be counted among them.

He clearly remembered seeing something fired from the tip of an index finger, but everything after that was hazy.

Of course, if he'd wanted to, he could have revived and counterattacked right there.

However, Ga-on deliberately lowered his regeneration speed to delay his awakening.

There had been far too many witnesses to reveal what he possessed.

While it was an era of bizarre technologies being mass-produced, and he could have deceived them if he'd wanted to, he couldn't completely hide the sense of unnaturalness. He couldn't start things off that way when he hadn't even had his new identity for a week.

That's when he noticed another body bag at his feet.

After unzipping it to check inside, Ga-on clicked his tongue. Not because he recognized the face, but because there was yet another body bag beneath it.

'Just how many people did they kill?'

He could see about five or six just at a glance.

One thing was now clear. For them, hijacking the space liner wasn't about profit. It was more likely a tool for self-actualization.

The last body bag showed that these weren't people who could be negotiated with.

'Andrew.'

The space marshal who had died in vain. His absence was nothing but bad news for the passengers.

Still, it wasn't entirely disadvantageous.

Right now, they must be caught up in a major misunderstanding.

That they'd killed all the space marshals.

Since marshals typically worked in pairs, their assumption wasn't entirely wrong.

That is, if they'd handled things properly.

Fortunately, Ga-on wasn't the only one on the space liner who knew this truth.

'The other space marshal must be waiting for an opening.'

It was the natural conclusion. The attackers would be letting their guard down.

After neatly burning his own body bag in the kitchen next to the freezer room, Ga-on took action.

First, he needed to find a weapon.

Only then could he strike back.

*

The structure of the space liner wasn't much different from an aircraft. Areas accessible to passengers were internal, while inaccessible areas were located externally. Moreover, these boundaries were clearly demarcated so they couldn't be crossed through normal means.

Ga-on's target was the cargo hold.

With all sorts of equipment piled up there, it wouldn't be strange to find one or two useful items.

To be honest, it was half a gamble.

After all, there was no way dangerous items could be brought inside.

That's why he had to leave behind even his beloved folding knife. Regrettable as it was, he'd have to face them with whatever he could find.

The one encouraging thing was that the bridge didn't seem to have been captured yet, as there was no additional activity.

'I wonder if internet access is blocked.'

Well, those trying to hijack a space liner wouldn't overlook such details.

The clicking of his tongue and sensing movement from across the corridor happened almost simultaneously.

Since they would meet at the corner at this rate, Ga-on stopped and lowered his stance.

It was an undeniable reality that an unidentified group had occupied the cabin.

Anyone appearing at this point couldn't possibly be friendly.

Once a decision was made, all that followed was appropriate action.

Without hesitation, Ga-on tackled the figure that had approached within arm's reach.

"Eek!"

With that delicate cry, a hood fell away, revealing jet-black hair swaying in twin tails.

What emerged from the blind spot wasn't an assailant, but a strikingly beautiful girl that would make anyone pause in admiration.

A half-coat and black stockings.

Though the face was unfamiliar, the suspicious attire was familiar.

"You are?"

It was the girl he'd seen in front of the booth and in the adjacent seat. Come to think of it, she had already left her seat when the incident occurred.

Faced with this unexpected encounter, Ga-on couldn't help but freeze.

As his tension eased, an intense scent suddenly hit his nostrils.

It was like a refreshing fragrance of walking through a forest.

That comforting scent was so concentrated it rivaled the cabin's atmosphere.

It was hard to believe it came from just one person.

It seemed that was why she had been avoiding others.

"How long are you planning to stay on top of me? Please get up."

"Ah, sorry."

Taking Ga-on's hand, the girl stood up and brushed the dust off her half-coat. Then she quickly pulled her hood back up before anyone could touch it. As a bonus, the scent emanating from her disappeared. Anyone could tell her clothing was made from some special material.

"What's the big idea? I'll report you if you don't have a legitimate reason."

"Don't tell me you don't know what's happening?"

"What situation? Has the in-flight meal been served already?"

Seeing how calm she was, she really seemed unaware of the chaos.

Ga-on briefly explained the situation in the cabin, but the girl just backed away, clutching her hands together.

"So you want me to believe someone who suddenly attacked me?"

"If you don't believe me, check your device."

With a "Huh?" and a question mark practically visible above her head, the girl quickly assessed the situation.

"The communication really isn't working?"

"That's what I said."

"Wait, then it doesn't make sense for you to be here. According to you, all passengers should be trapped in the cabin."

Despite the unexpectedly sharp question, Ga-on answered calmly.

"I managed to avoid it because I was in the bathroom."

"Are you seriously calling that an explanation?"

"You also just came out from gaming in the booth."

"I told you I don't play things like Lost Saga."

Realizing her voice had unconsciously risen, the girl cleared her throat and changed the subject.

"Anyway, I'll believe you. I could suspect you deliberately approached me wanting to see me in despair, but only a criminal capable of truly perverted thoughts would do something like that."

"Well, thanks for that."

"...So what are you going to do? If you're planning to hide, I know a good spot."

"You mean the booth?"

"Please drop that subject."

The girl raised her eyebrows in displeasure, but Ga-on pretended not to notice.

"Sorry, but I have a debt to repay to those guys."

"You're not saying you're going to confront them?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

The girl reflexively grabbed Ga-on's collar and shook her head.

"Wait for the Mars Defense Force to arrive. You could lose your life if you needlessly get involved."

"Unfortunately, that doesn't apply to me."

After all, he had just lost his life moments ago.

*

Ga-on glanced at the girl following behind him. After several more exchanges, the result was as you can see.

Things seemed to have happened in reverse order, but there was nothing to be done about it.

While escorting her to safety would have been ideal, there could be no peace on a hijacked spaceship.

It wasn't possible to return to the cabin now either. One wrong move and something terrible could happen.

These were the type of people who killed first and asked questions later.

Figuring that he could always stuff her into a ventilation duct if things went wrong, Ga-on accepted the girl's company.

"Miss Phytoncide."

"What's with that smelly nickname that stinks just hearing it?"

"Can't help that it's memorable."

Understanding Ga-on's words a beat late, the girl jumped up in surprise.

"Do you realize what you're saying? That's harassment, harassment!"

Though she protested while stamping her feet, unable to raise her voice, Ga-on ignored her and said what he needed to say.

"I should ask now - are you sure you want to come along?"

"Well, seeing how you make threats, you must have at least some skill. It's better to stick together. They must have noticed I'm missing from my seat by now."

"That's very logical."

"Being afraid won't change anything."

Hearing the brazen girl's words, Ga-on declared:

"Stay within five steps of me."

"What?"

"If you stay within that range, you absolutely won't die."

"Y-yes, understood. That's reassuring just to hear."

She had felt it since they met, but it was an absurd level of confidence. Still, understanding the goodwill behind those words, the girl reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Shortly after, the two reached the cargo hold.

Originally meant to be opened only after docking, access during flight was limited.

There was only the crew-only emergency entrance.

As the structure prohibited access to anyone but authorized personnel, no amount of manipulation would work. But Ga-on hadn't planned on using orthodox methods from the start.

After checking the seams, he nodded.

Fortunately, there was enough space to slip his fingers in.

It would be enough to force it open.

"What are you doing?"

"Planning to rip off the hinges."

"Are you a caveman? And do you really think human hands can just rip things apart?"

Of course, such people did exist.

But to the girl's eyes, Ga-on seemed like an ordinary human. He didn't give off the characteristic scent of enhanced humans, nor did he have any notable slots. He wasn't even equipped with a 'Unit'.

Is he a bit slow?

Pushing aside the thought that suddenly occurred to her, the girl stepped forward.

"Oh geez, wait a moment."

The girl placed her palm on the control pad. Naturally, the spaceship's security was as solid as a fortress. Not only was it randomized, but it wasn't even an environment that could be artificially interfered with.

However—

"Done."

There are always exceptions.

Ga-on gasped in amazement as the door opened in mere seconds. This wasn't a level one could reach just by having related knowledge.

"A Tuner?"

While Divers were the type to use their brains as processors to swim through seas of information, 'Tuners' were the type who could influence all kinds of electronic devices.

Though they shared the common denominator of being hackers, their tendencies were clearly different. It was like comparing office workers to field operatives.

Only then did Ga-on understand the source of the girl's distinct scent and talent.

"You know it's polite to pretend you didn't see that, right?"

Though curious about the girl's background, as she said, questioning her about it here would be discourteous after she had revealed her ability.

"Don't worry, I'm a gentleman who doesn't pry into a lady's secrets."