By Zephyria 254
In the quiet silence, Eui-jae rubbed the soles of his shoes against the floor. Squeak, squeak…. He couldn’t calm down without even that sound. In the meantime, Eui-jae had placed his hand over Lee Sa-young’s heart through the cloth, and he had also laid the collapsed Hong Ye-seong down properly, putting his finger under his nose. Nam Woo-jin, who said he would bring tools, did not return. There wasn’t even a sign of anyone. Thus, Cha Eui-jae slowly sank. Into the fear he thought he had forgotten.
It was about 20 minutes later that Hong Ye-seong opened his eyes. Squeak, squeak, a sharp sound scratched the floor. Hong Ye-seong grabbed his throbbing head and raised his upper body. J, who was sitting on a chair and scratching the floor with a long sword, looked at him. Hong Ye-seong stared blankly and blurted out.
“…Murderer?”
He squeezed his eyes shut, expecting an immediate rebuttal. But instead of refuting, J threw down the sword and strode over, squatting in front of Hong Ye-seong. And he stared intently at him.
“Are you… okay?”
“Huh? Yeah. Why?”
“Your sternum…. No.”
Because this sword pierced your sternum. J, Eui-jae glanced at the sword thrown on the floor and swallowed the rest of his words. Roughly looking over, there were no particular marks on his white T-shirt or body. Hong Ye-seong blinked, then leaned back, placing both hands on the floor, and replied.
“Ah~ that? I’m okay, I’m okay. I agreed and lent my body.”
“Still, were you okay?”
“There’s no reason not to be! Well, it’s true that he has more knowledge than me. Once I lend my body, all sorts of knowledge come into my head. It wasn’t bad.”
“…….”
“And….”
Hong Ye-seong rubbed his mouth. Eyes with a faint pattern flickered.
“Lee Sa-young won’t have to do that anymore either. Now he’s become the bait.”
“…….”
“Since he’s been hiding longer than Lee Sa-young, he’ll be a more tempting prey.”
“Is that knowledge that came into your head too?”
“I think so. I think I’ve gotten a little smarter!”
No, I don’t think so. Eui-jae shook his head. His face still lacked intelligence to say he had become smarter. Hong Ye-seong rubbed his cheeks wildly and suddenly said.
“And you don’t need to make that face…. This might sound strange.”
He shrugged.
“I think I felt incredibly relieved. In the end. Did he think, ‘Finally’?”
He had reason to feel relieved. From the first Doomsday until now, he had hidden in the cracks of the world and watched for that long. All because of just one promise.
‘Friend.’
Cha Eui-jae has no memory of being with him. Nevertheless, he consistently called Cha Eui-jae his friend. The world he loved disappeared as time turned back. Nevertheless, he did his best to keep his promise. Whether he really thought they were the same person, or whether it was a kind of mental preparation. It is now impossible to know.
Perhaps because Cha Eui-jae knows the feelings of a stranger well, his nose felt strangely stuffy. Eui-jae blinked for no reason. It was fortunate he had a mask. Hong Ye-seong stretched.
“Ah~ I feel strangely lonely. It feels empty.”
“…….”
“Sniff, Cluck, comfort me!”
“Cluck isn’t here.”
“I guess not.”
Like using a chicken instead of a pheasant, Hong Ye-seong slyly reached out his arms towards Eui-jae. Instead of being completely embraced, Eui-jae only offered one arm. He clung to his forearm like a koala. Eui-jae was silent for a moment before asking.
“The other you told you to go to the Dungeon. What do you think that means?”
“Huh? Is there any meaning? It means go to the Dungeon!”
“…….”
Should I shake him off, or not? Eui-jae tensed his arm threateningly. Perhaps sensing that the arm he was hugging had become stiff. Hong Ye-seong quickly added.
“Well, maybe the other me had a deeper meaning….”
Hong Ye-seong rolled his eyes and smiled brightly.
“I don’t know! I’ll know when I go!”
“Haa….”
Eui-jae sighed deeply. At that moment, the sound of cloth rustling was heard. Sa-young, hidden under the black cloth, was slowly moving.
Eui-jae quickly pushed away the clinging Hong Ye-seong and jumped up from his seat. Hong Ye-seong made a sound, “Ouch,” and spun around once. Eui-jae lifted the cloth a little around his face. A little color had returned to his delicate and pale face. His eyelids trembled, then slowly rolled up.
“…Hyung?”
“…Yeah.”
Eui-jae reached out and covered Sa-young’s eyes.
“I’m here.”
“…….”
His dry lips moved. It seemed he said, “Okay.” His rapidly beating heart slowly found its pace. Eui-jae closed his eyes and lowered his head, feeling the cold skin warming with his body temperature.
Jung-bin reached out into the air. White ash fell onto his widely spread palm. Snow melts over time, but ash does not. It only continues to accumulate. Someday it will cover the whole world. The Team Leader who was standing next to him muttered worriedly.
“I thought it had been quiet for a while, but now there’s more ash….”
It’s probably not a good sign. Jung-bin swallowed the heavy words. There’s no need to unnecessarily increase anxiety. Everyone will be feeling it in their skin without being told.
“Team Leader, would you like an umbrella?”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Instead of verbalizing his anxiety, Jung-bin wore a gentle smile. The Team Leader handed him a long umbrella. Jung-bin opened the black umbrella. Before he knew it, white ash had silently, but noticeably, accumulated shallowly on the floor. Cough, a small cough was heard. Jung-bin glanced at the Team Leader who had handed him the umbrella.
“Do you have a cold?”
The Team Leader scratched his neck and replied.
“Um, I don’t think it’s a cold…. My throat is itchy.”
“You need to take good care of your health. The Awakened Management Bureau has a lot to do.”
“Yes! I understand.”
“And….”
Jung-bin slightly rolled up his left sleeve and checked the watch on his wrist. And he smiled at the Team Leader, who was still coughing softly.
“Go home and rest early today. I can handle this alone.”
“But….”
“Didn’t I say? Taking care of your health is essential.”
Jung-bin patted the shoulder of the Team Leader, who kept hesitating, and sent him back to the Management Bureau building. Left alone, he stared blankly at the white ash falling from the sky, then took a step into the ash.
Seowon Guild, reception room.
Pour, as the cup filled halfway, a fragrant scent rose. The boy who poured the tea skillfully retreated and left the room. Marionette will continue Lee Sa-young’s emergency treatment. Nam Woo-jin lifted the teacup with an unpleasant expression.
“To suddenly come and take my time. Without even making an appointment in advance.”
“I had no choice. It was an urgent matter…. But I did tell the Awakened Management Bureau.”
“If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be sitting here. What’s going on?”
The calloused hands of the scholar grabbed the handle of the teacup. Round glasses shone brightly. Ga-young, who was sitting on the sofa, was wearing a brown coat instead of a white gown. She smiled.
“I heard that an old colleague is here, and I also have a proposal for you, Teacher….”
Ga-young took a sip of tea and elegantly put down the cup. She smiled brightly.
“I want to cooperate with you. To fight against Doomsday.”
“Ha, who was it that brought about Doomsday, yet you shamelessly…. I don’t even have time to close my eyes because I’m cleaning up the mess you guys made, what am I supposed to believe?”
“Of course, I didn’t come empty-handed~ I’ll give you an Antidote… no, a cure.”
“What?”
Nam Woo-jin frowned. Ga-young giggled and tucked the falling hair behind her ear.
“I know everything about those test subjects coming here~ I also know that you’re trying to restore those people to their original state. Honestly, I respect you.”
“…….”
“But our time is limited, right? You’re someone who has to do bigger things. I’m trying to save you time. You can do other beneficial things in that time. For example….”
Ga-young raised her index finger.
“Preventing Doomsday.”
Hmph, Nam Woo-jin scoffed and rested his chin on his hand.
“I wonder if you know what the next Doomsday is and are saying you’re going to prevent it.”
“Huh? That’s why I’m saying this, because I know. Yoon Ga-eul, as well as the Seer, are with us.”
“…….”
Nam Woo-jin’s eyes narrowed. His calloused fingers tapped on the armrest of the chair. Ga-young leaned forward. And she whispered in a small voice.
“The next Doomsday is a disease, an illness.”
“…….”
“You know? In the face of disease, everyone is equal, regardless of gender, age, Awakened, or civilian….”