Chapter 4: Twenty-Three

The reporter's camera swung from the hero to the firefighter.

Kwak Do-han didn't raise his voice.

He'd never needed to.

"Ten years ago this man opened a door in that building," he told the camera. "Twenty-three people died."

The lanterns on the steps looked at their shoes.

Kwak turned to Ha-yeon with a sad, patient face.

"Inspector Shin. He trespassed in a sealed gate. Void his kill."

"The kill stands," Ha-yeon said. "File a complaint with the rank office."

"Of all people, I thought you'd understand."

Her jaw went tight, and she didn't answer him.

Kwak stepped close enough that the camera couldn't hear.

"Stay out of my bathhouse, firefighter."

Woo-seok looked at the black gloves.

"I brought twelve people out of it today," he said. "How many did you bring out?"

For one second something showed on the hero's face.

Then Kwak smiled for the camera and walked back to his car.

On Thursday morning Woo-seok rode the subway to the Association tower in Yeouido.

The rank stone sat in a glass room on the third floor, black.

He put his hand on it.

The clerk read the screen and stamped his license.

"Rank D. Witnessing inspector, Shin Ha-yeon."

Ha-yeon signed the form without looking at him.

The lobby downstairs was built around a glass case.

Inside it, on a velvet stand, sat a helmet lamp painted gold.

The plaque said, "The lamp that led the monsters away. Blue Crane Bathhouse, January 10, 2016."

Near the rim, where a corner had been knocked, a chip of yellow showed under the gold.

Every helmet lamp in the fire service was yellow.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Thrown In as Bait, the E-Rank Lantern Wakes Up Every Time He Dies from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.