By Zephyria Brrr, the engine roared like thunder. Eui-jae jumped up, but landed nimbly without much gain. It wasn’t worth jumping up.
‘How come there isn’t a single tall building?’
Eui-jae caught his breath. He instinctively left the spot where he was sitting and started running.
‘…Where should I go?’
In fact, there was no suitable place. If he had to pick one, it would be Hong Ye-seong, but Jirisan was too far away. He didn’t know the way either. And if he went into a Dungeon or Rift, it was obvious that Sa-young would be waiting at the entrance until he came out.
‘That’s something I can’t do to Lee Sa-young either….’
The image of Lee Sa-young standing and looking at the sea flickered in his eyes. He didn’t want to see that sight again. In the end, a running race with an unknown destination began. One person on two legs, and the other on a two-wheeled vehicle that he didn’t know if it was a motorcycle or not. Despite the unfair conditions, the distance between the two did not narrow easily.
While Eui-jae ran wherever his feet took him, a thunderous engine sound echoed behind him. He glanced back, pointed his finger, and shouted.
“Hey, aren’t you driving without a license? Are you allowed to drive like that?”
A leisurely voice cut through the engine noise.
“What does it matter, it’s a world in memory anyway.”
So he was a real unlicensed rider! Eui-jae, who had a strong sense of law-abidingness, glared.
“This guy doesn’t know how scary the law is. Do you want to go to jail? Should I tell Jung-bin to catch you?”
“Do you think I didn’t try to get one? The licensing test centers are all destroyed. I can’t get one even if I want to.”
“Ah.”
He hadn’t thought of that. Eui-jae quietly lowered the hand he was pointing. Sa-young grumbled as if to be heard.
“There’s no way they’d still be around. The roads are all ruined because of Whitening. Think about it.”
“Shut up. Who did you learn to ride a motorcycle from?”
“Honeybee.”
“Whose motorcycle is it?”
“Honeybee’s.”
“Did you steal it?”
“I borrowed it, just for a bit.”
Honeybee’s beloved motorcycle seemed to be alive and well even in the Destroyed world. Come to think of it, he had been quiet for a while, so he was learning how to ride a motorcycle. Just to chase after me. Eui-jae tightened his grip on the spear. If he slightly damaged the road, he wouldn’t be able to chase him anymore, right? If he made a huge hole.
However, he couldn’t move rashly because he thought Sa-young might get hurt. Eui-jae gave up and released the hand holding the spear. Sa-young, who was still chasing behind on the motorcycle, said.
“Why don’t you stop for a bit? If you’re done asking questions.”
Would you stop if you were me? Eui-jae didn’t answer and ran diligently. Sa-young kept talking without getting tired.
“Why are you running away?”
Wouldn’t you run away if you were me? Eui-jae glanced at the red numbers. J reduced the time he spent in contact with Lee Sa-young as death approached. In the last moments, he made various excuses to distance himself from him. The reason was clear.
Because he would develop lingering feelings. Despite the effort he put into organizing his feelings.
Brrr, the sound from behind grew louder. It seemed like he was trying to increase his speed. Not if I can help it. The moment Eui-jae put strength into his legs to jump up with the spear, a chilling energy struck his spine like lightning. In an instant, the surrounding air turned cold and solidified. Eui-jae also stopped in his ready stance.
‘…Killing intent?’
It was such intense killing intent that even most Awakened wouldn’t be able to withstand it and would collapse. Heh. Eui-jae, who let out a hollow laugh, couldn’t hide his bewilderment and looked back again.
“Hey, you…. Did you just unleash killing intent on me?”
Sa-young retorted in a brazen voice.
“Ah… I guess you felt it. I thought you’d ignore most things, so I made it a bit stronger.”
“No…. Killing intent towards Hyung…. Is that how I taught you?”
It was the moment Eui-jae turned his body completely and was about to point his finger. Sa-young didn’t miss the opportunity and increased his speed to stand side by side. Screech, the sound of tires rubbing was loud. He quickly wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him in.
“Sorry, I didn’t learn properly.”
“What?”
“That’s why I told you not to run away.”
Sa-young, who pulled him towards him, hugged his waist tightly with both arms. Something round and cold touched near his shoulder blades. It seemed to be a helmet. Still, he managed to put on a helmet.
Hoo, a deep breath was heard from behind.
“Hyung….”
“…….”
Eui-jae tried to remove the arm hugging his waist but gave up. It felt like it had been too long since he felt warmth. It hadn’t been that long. When Eui-jae was quietly embraced, Sa-young rustled and turned off the motorcycle. The vibration that had been felt with a shudder disappeared. Eui-jae rolled his unseen eyes. He didn’t know what to say. It was as if someone had poured white paint into his head.
In the end, he blurted out the only thing that came to mind.
“…Why did you come?”
“…Why did I come?”
The arm hugging his waist tightened even more. He could hear the sound of teeth grinding. Ah, that wasn’t an appropriate question. Eui-jae bit his tongue. Sa-young was now clutching even the hem of Eui-jae’s clothes. Snap, the sound of fingers cracking was heard.
“After acting like that… you ask why I came?”
“No, what do you mean acting like that….”
“I called you so many times, but you didn’t even look back and just left, and now you ask why I came?”
“…….”
“Right…. You must have wanted to see someone chasing after you like a dog. So I tried following you once, how is it? Did you like it?”
He had nothing to say. It was true that he had deliberately ignored his calls.
Of course, it wasn’t easy for Eui-jae either. He didn’t know how many times he had to restrain his head from turning back and his legs from slowing down. If he didn’t have the poker face trait, he would have turned back a long time ago. Eui-jae sensed that the grave he had dug with his own hands had deepened by about 1 meter. Sa-young didn’t seem to have any intention of letting him go easily.
Sa-young tapped his shoulder blade with his round helmet.
“Why don’t you say something? What’s your real intention?”
“No, what intention…. I’m just being faithful to my role.”
“Ah…. Is that so?”
Sa-young’s voice turned coldly. The arm that had been tightly holding his waist loosened in an instant. Eui-jae grabbed his empty waist and looked back. The shape wasn’t clearly visible, but purple flames were crooked. He seemed to be standing on the motorcycle with one foot on the ground. Sa-young sneered.
“Ah…. You didn’t think I wouldn’t know anything, did you?”
“…….”
“I’m sorry, but…. I probably know more than Hyung.”
“Know what?”
Tap, Sa-young tapped something with his finger.
“Before Hyung died in this world, where he went, what he did, what he ate, and where he slept for how many hours, it’s all in this head…. That’s what it means.”
“…That’s a bit….”
Isn’t that stalking? Eui-jae barely swallowed the words that were about to come out. Sa-young quickly added as if he was displeased.
“For the record, it’s someone else’s memory.”
“Ah, yeah. Okay.”
“Anyway….”
Rustle, the sound of leather rubbing was heard. He seemed to have his arms crossed.
“Even if I don’t want to remember, I keep remembering and comparing. From the moment Hyung ignored me and left until now…. The actions are quite similar to the actions right before death. The Rifts that are being created in various places are also the same.”
“…….”
“That means…. Hyung is going to die soon, right?”
Eui-jae glanced at the red letters. Like sand flowing in an hourglass, time was relentlessly decreasing even at this moment. Had he accepted the silence as affirmation? Sa-young sighed deeply.
“I see why Hong Ye-seong just told me to wait….”
Eui-jae gained another realization. He knew why ‘I’ desperately avoided Lee Sa-young. Because the moment he faced him and talked to him was too pleasant.
‘I don’t want to die.’
Because he ended up thinking that without even realizing it.
His mouth was bitter. Eui-jae licked his lips with his tongue. His chapped lips were sore. He tasted blood. Eui-jae tried hard to imagine Sa-young’s face right now, but gave up. It might be fortunate that he lost his sight. Sa-young’s expression in the moment of experiencing loss….
He didn’t want to see it again.
At that moment, a hand wearing a cold leather glove carefully grabbed Eui-jae’s hand. Lukewarm warmth touched him. His thumb gently stroked the back of his hand.
“I don’t know. Things like a hero’s sense of responsibility. I’ve seen Cha Eui-jae more than the hero J.”
“…….”
“This is just a remnant of memory…. Even if I save Hyung, nothing will change, right?”
“…….”
“Still, if you’re going to die. If you can’t avoid death….”
The hand gripping his hand tightened. It was a strong force that felt painful. Sa-young pulled his hand. Eui-jae willingly followed. A quiet voice whispered.
“Die in front of me.”