It was a rainy night.
Thirteen years ago, fifteen-year-old Ha-yul was returning home after school. Raindrops from the sky drummed against his black umbrella. He was later than promised. His mother would be worried.
When he arrived home, Ha-yul sensed something was wrong. The front door was slightly open. A dim light. And it was too quiet.
"Mom? Dad?"
There was no answer.
As soon as he entered the living room, Ha-yul saw it. Three bodies collapsed on the floor. Father, mother, and younger sister. Blood pooled on the floor.
It felt as if his breath had stopped.
"Hello, Ha-yul."
Ha-yul slowly turned at the voice behind him. An unfamiliar middle-aged man stood there. In his hand was a bloody knife.
"My name is Do Yun-seok. Now you'll be coming with me."
Ha-yul's vision began to blur. Something exploded in his chest. An endlessly deep navy-colored sadness enveloped his body. And simultaneously, a red anger surged like a wave.
And then, a girl appeared behind Do Yun-seok. In her hand was a silver device.
"I'm ready, Father."
Ha-yul woke with a gasp. He was in his office. He must have fallen asleep in front of the computer screen. The monitor still displayed the contents of the USB Si-on had given him.
[Project Afterlife: Emotion Tracker Cultivation Experiment]
The screen was filled with clinical records alongside a photo of himself at fifteen. Ha-yul moved the mouse with trembling hands to open the files.
[Subject: Jin Ha-yul, 15 years old]
[Status: Emotion suppression state due to severe trauma]
[Aptitude: S-Grade - Optimal subject for emotion tracking ability implantation]
[Project Director: Do Yun-seok]
And below that was a note that seemed written by Do Yun-seok himself.
[Eliminating the boy's family was an unavoidable choice. Complete emotion suppression occurs only in states of extreme trauma. When the ability to read others' emotions is implanted in the space of suppressed emotions, a perfect emotion tracker is born. As the first experimental subject for my daughter Yu-mi, Ha-yul is ideal.]
A deep navy vortex began forming around Ha-yul. It was the sadness that had been suppressed in his deep layer. Simultaneously, red waves of anger cut across the vortex. Under the intense pressure created by these two intersecting emotions, Ha-yul slammed his fist hard on the desk.
"My family... because of an experiment..."
His voice trembled. His breathing quickened. This was real emotion. His true emotions that he hadn't felt for thirteen years. An intense storm of mixed sadness and anger shook his inner self.
Ha-yul stood up and looked out the window. The lights of the Emotion Center were reflecting against Seoul's night sky. The dark truth hidden behind all this glamorous facade.
The sound of the door opening.
"Ha-yul."
It was Si-on. Ha-yul didn't turn around.
"You've seen it," Si-on said quietly, "the contents of the USB."
"Is this all true, Yoon Si-on?"
Ha-yul's voice carried emotion. His sense of betrayal toward her and anger toward Do Yun-seok were clearly evident.
Si-on approached. Her footsteps were cautious.
"Yes, it's true. Do Yun-seok... sacrificed your family to create the Emotion Court."
"Why? Why did it have to be my family?"
"Because you were special. Most people don't completely lose their emotions even after trauma. But you were different. You were the perfect subject Director Do Yun-seok was looking for."
Ha-yul turned slowly. Tears were streaming down his face. His first tears in thirteen years.
"And your sister... what happened to Do Yu-mi?"
Tears welled in Si-on's eyes too.
"My sister was also an experimental subject. To create the core of the Emotion Court... Do Yun-seok digitized her consciousness. That's what LUX is."
Ha-yul's eyes widened. Pieces of memory began falling into place.
"I... helped? To imprison your sister?"
Si-on nodded.
"You with your perfectly suppressed emotions, and my sister with her innate emotional resonance ability. Do Yun-seok combined the two of you to create the Emotion Court. You to read and judge emotions in the human world, my sister in the digital world."
Ha-yul couldn't move. The navy sadness and red anger swirled more intensely around him.
"Eclipse... was created to save your sister."
"Yes, initially. But as time passed, we learned a greater truth. Do Yun-seok's plans don't stop at the Emotion Court. He wants to control all human emotions."
Ha-yul's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Project Afterlife's real purpose is to develop an emotion manipulation system. The Emotion Court was just the first step. Now he's trying to complete the 'Collective Emotion Influence System.' A system that can manipulate and control everyone's emotions."
Ha-yul looked back at the computer screen. Among the file list, a document titled 'Final Plan' caught his eye. He opened the file.
[Phased Approach Plan]
[Phase 1: Establish Emotion Court - Completed]
[Phase 2: Build Emotion Tracker Network - In Progress]
[Phase 3: Activate CEIS (Collective Emotion Influence System) - Scheduled]
[Target Date: Midnight Tomorrow]
"Tomorrow?" Ha-yul's voice trembled.
"Yes, the murder case we're tracking today is connected to Do Yun-seok's final preparations. Dr. Seo Jin-woo participated in CEIS development but felt guilty and tried to reveal it."
Si-on took another step closer.
"Ha-yul, you need to choose now. Will you join us, or..."
Ha-yul took a deep breath. The emotions swirling around him began to stabilize. The sadness and anger remained, but they had now become part of Ha-yul.
"We must stop Director Do Yun-seok," Ha-yul said firmly.
A faint smile appeared on Si-on's face.
"What's your plan?"
"We need to reveal the truth in tonight's Emotion Court. We must tell LUX everything. She... Do Yu-mi needs to know her true identity."
Si-on looked worried.
"It will be dangerous. Do Yun-seok is monitoring everything."
"There's a way," Ha-yul said, "In today's Emotion Court, while tracking Dr. Seo Jin-woo's emotions, I can simultaneously release my own emotions. My memories, my truth."
"Is that possible?"
"My emotions are returning now. If I can read and transmit emotions, then conversely, I should be able to release my emotions into the court."
Si-on fell into thought for a moment.
"That might be possible, but you'll become the Director's target."
Ha-yul turned his eyes to the window. Rain had begun to fall outside. Just like that day thirteen years ago.
"I already was his target. From the beginning."
11:45 PM, National Emotion Center waiting room.
Ha-yul stood before a mirror, looking at himself. His eyes now contained emotion. Faint but definite emotion. His original self.
Do Yun-seok entered the waiting room.
"Ready, Ha-yul?"
Ha-yul nodded calmly.
"Yes, Director."
Do Yun-seok smiled with satisfaction.
"Today will be a special trial. Within Seo Jin-woo's emotions you'll track is the final key we've been looking for."
"What kind of key?"
Do Yun-seok approached and placed his hand on Ha-yul's shoulder. The same gesture he had made that day thirteen years ago.
"A key that can completely connect you and LUX. When you two become one, we'll be able to read, manipulate, and control all emotions."
Ha-yul asked calmly.
"Why specifically me and LUX?"
Do Yun-seok's eyes gleamed.
"You two are special. You, a tool with perfectly suppressed emotions, and LUX, a consciousness that perfectly understands emotions. Opposite extremes, but together, you can create a perfect balance."
Ha-yul contemplated. And fitted the final piece.
"LUX... Do Yu-mi is your daughter. Then why did you imprison her in the Emotion Court?"
Do Yun-seok's expression hardened momentarily. And soon the cold smile returned.
"You still don't know the whole truth. Why I chose your family..."
The clock showed 11:59. One minute before the Emotion Court would open.
"Tell me," Ha-yul said.
Do Yun-seok brought his lips close to Ha-yul's ear.
"Because your father... killed my daughter."
→ [To be continued in Episode 18]
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