By Zephyria Intersection
The black Walker trampled the white ashes. Sa-young stood on the beach where not even the smell of blood remained. He reached for the cabin door handle and paused. The door was slightly ajar.
I definitely locked it tight.
He cautiously opened the door. With a creaking sound, the interior of the cabin was revealed. Big Mouth was slumped down, bound in chains. Sa-young reached for the monster’s nape. The moment his hand touched it, the monster turned into white ashes and scattered on the floor.
“…….”
Sa-young frowned. He hadn’t heard that monsters would disappear if you turned back time. Even searching his memories, he had no recollection of such a thing.
Then, was it someone else’s doing?
But who?
Everyone in this world is dead.
Rustle, there was a sound of movement from near the door. Turning his head, he saw Hong Ye-seong waving his hand in greeting.
“Hello.”
“…You came at just the right time.”
Thump, thump, strength entered his fingertips. Sa-young twisted the corner of his mouth.
“As if you knew this would happen.”
“Well, it’s something that didn’t happen in this world. You going inside Big Mouth’s mouth.”
“Was it your doing?”
“I didn’t lay a hand on it. It disappeared on its own.”
He walked over with a swaggering gait and stood next to Sa-young. Then he stared at the white ashes.
“Give up. Even if you force your way in, there’ll be nothing there.”
“There might be.”
“I told you, right? This world is created based on memories. We don’t know what’s inside Big Mouth’s mouth. There’s no way it would be implemented.”
Sa-young bent down and touched the white ashes with his fingertips. A white mark remained on his black fingertip. Sa-young recalled Mackerel, who had been collapsed among the fallen people, tumbling down together. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, dusting off the ashes, and spoke.
“Cha Eui-jae… Hyung was able to change things that didn’t happen. Like saving Mackerel.”
“That’s right.”
“Why can Hyung do it but I can’t?”
“Why? Because you wished for it.”
Hong Ye-seong replied lightly. Before he knew it, The Artisan’s face had become blurry like an out-of-focus camera. The more he tried to look closely, the more their features shifted. Sharp, then dull, then docile, then distinct. Like trying desperately to recall a face he couldn’t remember.
“I want to grant whatever Cha Eui-jae wishes for.”
The low voice reverberated.
“It reflected your wish. Because this world is built on your memories.”
“Then, why….”
Sa-young trailed off. If this is a world reflecting Lee Sa-young’s wishes, then why did Cha Eui-jae die? He had never wished for his death, not even once. Hong Ye-seong, perhaps sensing what he was about to say, shrugged his shoulders.
“He chose to die. He was just a little more willing to die than to live. He chose death over becoming a grotesque monster. That was Cha Eui-jae’s wish and desire.”
“…….”
“…Thanks to that, I found the answer too. Finally.”
The blurry face jumbled chaotically, then gradually transformed into a familiar face. Black, disheveled hair, pale, faded violet eyes, a gloomy countenance. ‘Lee Sa-young’ swept his hair back. Sa-young frowned.
“You…. Weren’t you inside me?”
“That’s why I came out here. This place is a combination of your desires and my memories.”
“…Since when were you?”
“Don’t worry, the Hong Ye-seong you met last time was the real one.”
Sa-young turned his body completely to face the intruder. It felt strange, like looking in a mirror. The intruder let out a soft chuckle.
“No need to be wary. My wish has been fulfilled.”
“…Because you found out why Cha Eui-jae died?”
“Yeah.”
‘Lee Sa-young’ gestured for him to follow. He left the cabin and started walking along the shore. Sa-young followed silently behind him. The white sand beach, mixed with sand and white ashes, was both soft and rough.
The man walking ahead muttered quietly.
“He chose death. Because he was afraid of becoming a monster.”
“…….”
“…How foolish. It doesn’t matter whether he becomes a monster or not.”
Listening to the lonely yet somewhat relieved whisper, Sa-young swept back the hair obscuring his vision.
Even if Cha Eui-jae were to become a monster, Lee Sa-young would not kill him. Instead, he would leave with him for a very distant place. Anywhere, as long as it’s a place untouched by human footsteps. Because Hyung was afraid of attacking people. Maybe they could even buy an island….
Just the two of them,
He was confident he could take responsibility for a lifetime. If it was Hyung, if it was Cha Eui-jae.
But Cha Eui-jae chose death. Even while fearing death, he judged it better for himself to die. It was a decision fitting of a person with a strong sense of responsibility. He probably never even imagined a future where the two of them would be together. Sa-young muttered.
“That person is a fool.”
“Right.”
‘Lee Sa-young’ nodded in agreement. He had probably had similar imaginings. Strangely, he felt a sense of connection. Their differing perspectives overlapped into one.
‘Lee Sa-young’ stopped walking in the middle of the white sand beach and turned around. Sa-young also stopped his steps about three paces away. Their gazes met in the empty air.
No long explanations were needed.
Because both were Lee Sa-young.
‘Lee Sa-young’ was the first to speak.
“You know, right.”
“Of course.”
Sa-young lifted the corner of his mouth and smiled.
“I don’t fail twice.”
A strong wind swept through the world where even the flow of air had been still. The ‘Lee Sa-young’ standing opposite melted away as if dissolved by the wind. Lee Sa-young closed his eyes. It was finally time to go and firmly tell that foolish person.
Whoever you are, whatever you are.
I will be by your side for life.
…That’s how it should have been.
“Yes, Team Leader Jung, Hunter Lee Sa-young has been secured, yes, yes, we’ve also contacted the Wave Guild side….”
“If it’s Jung-bin, give me the phone. I’ll talk to him directly.”
“Ah, you can’t! You need to rest….”
“I know my own condition best, so shut up and give me the phone.”
“S… Sorry!”
The Awakened Management Bureau Hunter, clutching the phone, scampered away in a fluster. Sa-young tsked, clicking his tongue.
He was currently sitting in the wide-open back of an ambulance, wrapped in a blanket.
When he opened his eyes after the wind subsided, he was in front of the entrance to the Jongno underground Dungeon. He was thinking it was fortunate he hadn’t landed in a strange place, when the white vines surrounding him began to squirm and crawl, trying to envelop his entire body. So?
‘Of course, I have to melt them.’
The moment he melted all the vines that had grown around him with his Poison, a siren blared noisily. He heard they had attached surveillance personnel. The reason being they didn’t know when Lee Sa-young would return, something J had strongly insisted on.
“…….”
Immediately, an ambulance came rushing, and the Awakened Management Bureau Hunters who had been monitoring showered him with all sorts of questions. Any health problems, need to check cognitive ability…. No matter how much he said he was fine, they didn’t listen at all. He was getting irritated and was thinking about melting the ambulance and everything else, when—
“Sa-young-ah!! Aigoo!!”
Bae Won-woo came running. He checked Sa-young over here and there, then practically prostrated himself on the ground, sobbing.
“Aigoo, you finally came back! Are you hurt anywhere? Are all your limbs attached?”
“So dramatic….”
Sa-young clicked his tongue softly and crossed his legs. It had been a long time since he’d experienced such a commotion, and he couldn’t quite get used to it. Kang Ji-soo, who had followed, shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, Vice Guild Leader has been through a lot mentally, so please understand. He’s in a state of mental and physical weakness right now.”
“Why is his spirit so weak.”
“There was a reason for it. Vice Guild Leader, you should report.”
“…C… Can’t you tell him for me?”
Bae Won-woo looked up at Kang Ji-soo with tear-filled eyes. She turned her head away with an ‘eugh’ as if disgusted. But that was only for a moment; Kang Ji-soo scratched her head and spoke.
“Um, you know J-nim.”
“Yeah. Where is he now?”
He found it odd that the person who had been so worried they even assigned surveillance personnel wasn’t present. Well, he’s probably off dealing with monsters somewhere again. Sa-young rested his chin on his hand, listening to the noisy sounds around him. It seemed he had returned to a rather complicated situation.
Kang Ji-soo rubbed the ground with the sole of her shoe, then shut her eyes tightly and shouted.
“J-nim dove into a monster’s mouth.”
“…….”
Silence.
Kang Ji-soo rolled just her eyes and looked at the Guild Leader she hadn’t seen in a long time. Had his hair grown longer since she last saw him? His wavy hair obscured his eyes, and he was covering his mouth with his hand, so she couldn’t tell his expression.
But soon, a dark, murderous aura began to undulate behind Lee Sa-young’s back.
A low voice muttered.
“…Say that again.”
“Um, uh, well.”
“I said say it again. I think I misheard.”
“…….”
Violet eyes flashed from between the strands of black hair. She discreetly checked her Inventory. To make sure her anti-poison items were still there.