Beacon of Light in the Dark Sea

Chapter 96

Kim Ga-young stopped midway up the stairs to the 2nd floor and asked,

Why why?

The water is rising faster than I thought. Who knows how much theyre arguing, but if the water rises just 5-6cm more, everyone will have to get off due to the water weight. And while fresh water is 1kg, seawater is 1.025kg. Whatever the calculation, we need to multiply by 1.025.

This is the first Ive heard of this. I tutored kids a lot to make money after entering university, but was this covered in the general curriculum? I cant remember. So if plain water is 1, seawater has a specific gravity of 1.025? Seawater is heavier than regular water. Is it because seawater contains a lot of microorganisms? Spoken like someone who manages jellyfish and jellyfish tanks.

Kim Ga-young slapped Yoo Geum-yi s shoulder as she came up the stairs and asked with a laugh,

So you got off because you would have to anyway?

Yoo Geum-yi  sighed and said as she walked up the stairs with Kim Ga-young,

You dont know how brutal the atmosphere got after you two left. No one else got off next. Theyre all blaming each other. Whew. They asked me if I had a reason to stay on the elevator so I just hurried off.

Hearing Yoo Geum-yi s trembling tone, Kim Ga-young and I weakly climbed the stairs. Patting her back or looking at Yoo Geum-yi s hand gripping the railing, I asked,

Geum, dont you have plenty of reasons to stay on? Like weighing less than 75kg. Or your injury status and such.

Kanu next to me said hes getting off. Let them keep fighting like that. He wants to watch the fight so keep the elevator doors open. When he said that I felt so stupid and empty insisting on taking the elevator here.

Around the time we arrived slowly on the 3rd floor, chatting in low voices and worrying about Geums back, the elevator suddenly shot past us and rose. Startled, I saw it stop on the 4th floor right above. Footsteps sounded like people were busily climbing the stairs between the 1st and 2nd floors.

When the three of us reached the 4th floor, the elevator that had been on the 1st floor had its doors wide open, the water inside steadily draining out.

As a result, the 4th floor corridor was flooded. Checking inside the elevator, only Kevin and Jihyun were on board. Kevin was sweeping the floor with the axe like a broom, pushing out water. Spotting me from a distance, he raised a hand and waved.

Jihyun, who had been right next to the elevator doors, also waved at us. Her hand motions seemed to urge us to quickly board the elevator.

As I carefully walked through the 4th floor corridor to avoid slipping in the water and approached the elevator, Jihyun hastily grabbed me, Yoo Geum-yi , and Kim Ga-young and shoved us into the elevator one by one.

Get on quick! Hurry!

Why?

Even while asking, people quickly boarded the elevator as Jihyun ushered.

Im closing the doors! Lets go with just us!

Huh?

Only us?

Not just me, but Yoo Geum-yi , Kim Ga-young, and Kevin also looked at Jihyun in surprise. Especially seeing Kevins face, it seemed this wasnt pre-arranged at all. Jihyun spoke through gritted teeth.

My patience has run out. No, my patience was already completely gone when I arrived at this undersea pollution center. The reason I endured this far with none left is because of you three here, not for anyone elses sake. You got lucky. You stayed here because your calf is a mess like that. No one volunteered to carry a 190cm tall guy like you up to the 4th floor.

Jihyun pointed at Kevins leg wrapped in towel and bandages as she spoke. Frozen, Kevin slowly blinked his long-lashed eyes, then managed to say to Jihyun,

We agreed to wait on the 4th floor for them if they climbed the stairs.

To reach that decision, I had a great view of how low many people stooped to reveal their true character.

Kevin, hearing Jihyuns sarcasm for the first time, looked completely taken aback. Kevin had probably only seen Jihyun giving information or instructions robotically without emotion until now, and was witnessing her reveal her own feelings for the first time. Jihyun showed no concern whatsoever about Kevin holding an axe.

I thought with Jihyun acting this way, Kevin would happily tell her to depart right away. But that wasnt the case, which surprised me greatly. Hiding my inner thoughts, I also asked Jihyun,

You want only us to board and leave?

Yes.

Didnt you say before Ga-young and I go rescue, we need to hook as many people as possible?

Theres no point catching radioactive contaminated fish if you cant eat them. Same goes for people. Let them all shrivel up like squid grilled in hellfire. Lets at least take the good people here and go!

Whoa. I never imagined Jihyun would say something like that. Yoo Geum-yi  was staring blankly at Jihyun with her mouth slightly open, while Kim Ga-young kicked at the water pooled on the elevator floor and said,

Im against it.

Kim Ga-young splashed a few droplets out of the elevator with her kicks.

There are no good people these days. Consider them nearly extinct. Even if you think only good people will survive, theyre really just folks good at hiding their bad sides. Think about it. You saw me take down someone at the bio center, right? Im grateful you seem to view me as a good person, but honestly Im no angel. Thats more for people like Geum here or Moo-hyun. There are probably decent ones among them too, and also lunatics who hide it well on the outside. Besides, if we leave them and go, those meant to live will live, and those fated to die will die even if we take them. I dont think you need to agonize over choosing who to leave behind. Thats my piece!

Then Kim Ga-young sharply poked Yoo Geum-yi s side with a finger as Yoo Geum-yi  stood there in a daze. Yoo Geum-yi  jumped on the spot and shook her head vigorously at Jihyun.

I get that you dont like them. Im not exactly fond of them either! But the reason they got off the elevator is because we promised in advance to have them board the elevator if they climbed the stairs to the 3rd-4th floor, right? Lets keep our word. Take everyone who makes it to the 4th floor!

I hastily added to Yoo Geum-yi s words.

I share a similar opinion with Geum. Now that we drained the water, this elevator that can fit up to 50 people can easily take 12. Escaping with just the 5 of us here would be extremely inefficient. The elevator might stop while taking us up to the surface, or a power outage could render it inoperable. Then those people who stayed here trusting in an elevator escape would be completely trapped in this undersea pollution center.

I mentioned efficiency since engineers like it, and somehow noticed Jihyun unconsciously nodding at that point.

And among them are people who dove into that seawater with us to turn the valve and swim back, trying to drain this flooded undersea pollution center. Just because you witnessed inhumane and unethical behavior doesnt mean we need to make an inhumane choice ourselves.

At that, Jihyun frowned as if recalling certain individuals. I tried my best to console Jihyun and spoke slowly.

I know youre very tired and struggling right now. But later, when you reflect on this in a comfortable and stable state of mind, I dont want you to regret or feel guilty about the people we left behind. I shouldve endured a bit more. I shouldve just taken them I dont want you to have those regrets. Rather than regretting not taking them, lets wait a little and bring them along.

Rushing off by ourselves on the elevator might seem better. But I thought it wiser to take them than regret leaving them.

I hope you have fewer sleepless nights someday, tormented by past choices. Jihyun hesitated briefly, then said to us,

Taking those people with us could be even more inefficient. More dangerous. More difficult. This might be the last chance to ditch them.

Saving lives is always inefficient.

At Yoo Geum-yi s words, Jihyun sighed and said,

If we consider which lives are more valuable Didnt I discuss this with you before?

We talked about something similar on the way to my lab.

As Yoo Geum-yi  smiled faintly at Jihyun, Jihyun looked at her, let out a deep sigh, then leaned against the elevator wall with folded arms. Kevin eyed Jihyun and spoke with difficulty.

We made a promise, so take them with us. Ill try to stop anyone who gives you trouble.

He slightly waved the ax he had been using like a cane. Leaning in the elevator, Jihyun said with a grimace,

I dont want to love my neighbor.

People began arriving on the 4th floor corridor after climbing the stairs. Surprisingly, Emma arrived first. She must have gotten off early.

Behind her came Carter and Sam, followed by James and Kanu. Logan and Benjamin climbed up the stairs a little apart. It was hard to see from a distance, but judging by the shadows, Benjamins face seemed all busted up.

As Emma walked down the 4th floor corridor, she stepped in the water spewed by the elevator and lost balance, falling forward. Carter then leaped over Emma lying on the floor and came to the elevator. Entering the elevator, Carter let out a Yeah! which Jihyun watched with a look of pathetic disdain, arms still crossed.

Sam and James each grabbed Emma, who had risen from the water, and pulled her along. They boarded the elevator together with Emma. Kanu strolled in leisurely and got on the elevator. Only after Logan walking from a distance and the late-arriving Benjamin had all boarded did Jihyun close the elevator doors. Jihyun pressed the button marked BA. It was the button heading to Daehan Island (0th floor).