Terrestrial Savior Archetype - T.S.A Chapter 4 (part 1): Choice and Focus (2)

Outside the office of the company “Watcher”, in the building corridor.

Jeong-woo, following Team Leader Jo, came to a halt.

It was the usual route home, no different from any other day. But today was not like “any other day.”

“It’s better not to take the elevator.”

Despite the Earth’s impending doom, the building had a stable power supply.

However, they were on the 8th floor.

It felt uneasy to take the elevator down as they usually did.

“I underestimated the situation.”

Team Leader Jo blinked and turned around slightly, as if to say he had forgotten something.

At that moment, Jeong-woo sensed it.

That even he was secretly in a tense state.

Well, it’s not like it wasn’t the day when Earth openly declared, “I want to live.” What in the world was going on still remained unclear.

But if it was an event significant enough for Earth to feel threatened, then humans should naturally be cautious.

Strictly speaking, every being in this world is a part of Earth.

If we were to categorize humans within Earth, would we be comparable to bacteria?

We have destroyed ecosystems and damaged nature while being arrogant.

That’s why there are many stories in novels and games about nature taking revenge on humans.

“Society no longer has any value.” That’s what they say.

Despite that, Jeong-woo felt a sense of relief and awe at the fact that Earth, in a crisis, was trying to make use of humans.

‘If there’s something troubling, it must be because they’ve come to apologize to us.’

Jeong-woo vividly remembered only the last sentence of the “declaration” that Earth had shown to humans.

“Whether you like it or not, I want to live. Please follow the upcoming guidance. Up until now, it was Earth. I’m sorry.”

It was too shocking.

The fact that Earth had approached them in this way… and the fact that they had come to apologize.

“Director…?”

Jeong-woo opened his eyes at the sound of someone calling him.

When he regained his senses, he saw Jae-hyung looking at him with a worried expression from a distance near the emergency exit.

Jae-hyung, the new employee in his late twenties in the planning department.

He was Jeong-woo’s subordinate and a special guest of the “early departure party” formed urgently with Team Leader Jo.

When Jeong-woo accepted Team Leader Jo’s suggestion and decided to accompany him, Jae-hyung, who had been listening to their conversation, begged to be taken along. The reason being that he had no place to go except for his solo apartment since he couldn’t contact his parents in Ulsan.

Seeing Jae-hyung’s trembling face, Jeong-woo had a gut feeling.

This guy is just an extra…

But he couldn’t bring himself to reject him harshly.

After all, he had been sitting right next to him all this time.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m a bit distracted.”

Jeong-woo approached his colleagues with a wry smile, and Team Leader Jo reassured him as he opened the emergency exit door.

At the same time, a dull sound erupted from below the emergency staircase.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

It was the sound of people’s footsteps.

They were probably employees from other offices.

“We should hurry.”

Team Leader Jo looked up and down the stairs nervously, and Jeong-woo asked him.

“Where is the car parked?”

Jae-hyung, who had been alternating glances between the two, stiffened.

Team Leader Jo replied.

“…It’s on the third basement floor.”

From the 8th floor above ground to the 3rd floor below ground.

It was like descending through an 11-story building.

Jeong-woo, Sun-woong, Jae-hyung.

If they hadn’t joined ‘Watcher,’ the three of them would have never met in their lives. Now, each of them wore a determined expression as they rushed down the stairs.

“Heeh, heeh!”

Although they had only descended about four floors, Jae-hyung began to pant heavily.

He was the youngest among the three, both in age and social experience.

Team Leader Jo was 35.

Jeong-woo was 31.

Jae-hyung was 29.

No matter how nervous he was… Wasn’t his stamina a bit below par for the youngest one?

Seeing Jeong-woo’s bitter expression as he followed behind, Jae-hyung somehow sensed it and turned to apologize.

“I-I’m sorry… I…”

Since he had gradually distanced himself from Team Leader Jo, who was leading the group, he had been constantly mindful of his surroundings.

Jeong-woo became more anxious when he saw Jae-hyung’s dejected face.

But if he showed anger in this situation, things would only worsen.

“It’s okay. Just keep an eye on the path ahead and go. We can’t afford for you to trip and injure your leg.”

However, how long could this consideration last?

Jeong-woo asked himself.

Once someone starts falling behind, they tend to keep doing so in the future.

Just like a soldier who fails in the first march is more likely to fail in the next one.

It had been nearly ten years since he completed his military service, but some scenes were as vivid as if they happened yesterday. A faint yet nauseating feeling.

Jeong-woo silently observed Jae-hyung running down the stairs, who was still catching his breath.

Like finding water in a drought. Even a “disqualified” recruit can evolve into an A-class.

So, for now, he decided to keep watching.

“We’re on the second floor now! There might be a lot of people near the first floor, so be careful!”

Soon, Team Leader Jo’s voice echoed from below.

A familiar sight of someone leading others, befitting a team leader.

Jeong-woo felt a sense of relief upon hearing his voice and narrowed the distance between him and Jae-hyung.

Panting!

Thud, thud!