By Zephyria 190
Role, Absence.
The moment Jung-bin saw the blank space, anxiety surged within him.
What is the reason for someone’s existence if they have no assigned role? Is he even allowed to stay here? Unconsciously, Eui-jae tightened his grip on Sa-young’s arm, who he was supporting. A small groan escaped from Sa-young’s lips. Only then did he snap out of it and quickly let go. At the same time, the lightning sparks that had been flying around his body disappeared.
“Ah, sorry. Are you okay?”
Sa-young straightened his upper body and dusted off his shoulders. He asked irritably.
“Is this really a dream? This.”
“What do you mean?”
“The System has coercive power, right? I just broke a rule and got a penalty… and the sensations are so vivid.”
Come to think of it, he was right. Can the System interfere with human dreams? Of course, Yoon Ga-eul had seen Fragments of the Destroyed world in her dreams. But she could only watch; she couldn’t intervene in that world. To exert such coercion and physical force…
“It’s definitely closer to a Dungeon’s form. What just happened.”
Eui-jae rubbed the back of his neck.
“I saw memories of the past world like Student Ga-eul. So, I naturally assumed this was a dream too.”
“You’re saying there’s never been a case where physical force was exerted like this.”
“Yeah. I just watched. Like watching a movie.”
“…….”
He expected to be scolded, but Sa-young was surprisingly quiet. He seemed to be thinking about something. He stared blankly into the air for a moment, then tilted his head and gently rested his temple against Eui-jae’s head. Fortunately, he didn’t receive a penalty like before.
Is this something a younger brother would do to his Hyung, or what? Eui-jae frowned. Sa-young muttered.
“Let’s say I’m playing the role of the good younger brother… what’s Hyung’s role?”
Eui-jae answered, trying to sound calm.
“…Apparently, I don’t have one.”
“Huh?”
“There was nothing written there? I guess I don’t have a role.”
“…….”
Sa-young let out a low groan. Then, he straightened up.
“I’ve been thinking. About various things.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think the guy who created this is in his right mind…”
Self-criticism?
Eui-jae barely swallowed the words that rose to his throat. Fortunately, Sa-young seemed too preoccupied to notice Eui-jae’s reaction. He reached out and grabbed the doorknob.
“We should be careful…”
Sa-young whispered softly. His voice was hoarse.
“It wouldn’t be strange for anything to pop out from anywhere.”
Click. He turned the doorknob.
The door opened.
Honk— A car horn blared loudly. The sedan that honked disappeared across the road. Vroom, a motorcycle sped down the road. Outside the door was a road. Not an apartment lobby or hallway!
‘The guy who made this really isn’t in his right mind.’
Sa-young, who was holding the doorknob, also stared at the road with a dumbfounded expression.
People were walking on the sidewalk next to the road. People were walking down the street, wearing earphones, looking at their phones, and talking to someone.
Strangely, each of their faces was clear. Eyes, nose, mouth, moving lips, the movements of fingers and bodies, even the swaying of hair. Everything was distinct. Unlike the people in Cha Eui-jae’s memories, who were like blurry shadows.
Eui-jae mumbled blankly.
“It’s too clear.”
“…….”
“They look like living people.”
“Your dreams weren’t like this, Hyung?”
Eui-jae nodded slightly. The people in the memories that Eui-jae had seen through the watch were blurry. They barely had human shapes, and their faces were not clearly visible. Only people like Honeybee, Jung-bin, and the Director appeared with clear shapes and voices.
‘I thought only the people who left a deep impression on Cha Eui-jae at the time appeared.’
Was that not the case? Lost in thought, Eui-jae belatedly replied.
“Only the people related to those memories were clear… the others were blurry.”
Can a human perfectly remember everything? Nothing is as vague as memory. Isn’t memory something you can manipulate to your liking? Eui-jae turned to look at Sa-young.
“You don’t happen to have an incredibly good memory or anything, do you? Like hyperthymesia.”
“If you’re asking if I can remember things this clearly… no.”
Sa-young crossed his arms and scanned the movements of the people one by one. Before long, he made a casual remark. It was the same tone as saying, ‘The weather is nice today.’
“It feels bad…”
Is it something he would say to that extent? Eui-jae glanced at Sa-young. He was covering his mouth. From his furrowed brow to his covered mouth, he genuinely looked upset. Sa-young gestured towards the street with his chin.
“…Let’s move for now. Is there anywhere we can go?”
“Seowon Guild?”
Sa-young frowned reflexively. The lines between his eyebrows deepened slightly.
“…Seowon Guild? Nam Woo-jin? Why there?”
“Well, when I saw the Fragment, that place seemed like a base. It was like a shelter… Since you and I must have gone in and out a lot after the Doomsday, there might be something there.”
“…Then let’s go.”
Sa-young stepped aside slightly, as if telling him to lead the way. Eui-jae stepped onto the road.
A slightly cracked paving stone, small wildflowers and weeds sprouting between the stones. Even though there was no wind, the wildflowers fluttered. This place was so detailed that it seemed to have copied reality down to the smallest detail. As if trying to restore it like another world.
‘I think I know why he said it felt bad…’
Eui-jae deliberately walked with force. The people walking down the street didn’t pay attention to Eui-jae. Even though he was wearing a conspicuous black mask. If it were the original world, he wouldn’t have been able to walk properly because of the people rushing at him. He felt like a complete outsider.
Absence.
Outsider.
“…….”
But Cha Eui-jae was not lonely. The sound of footsteps following behind him proved that he was not alone.
How long had he walked? A familiar building came into view.
It was the Seowon Guild building. The entrance was wide open, with no one guarding it. As if telling them to come in.
Eui-jae turned around. Sa-young still had an unpleasant expression, but when he met Eui-jae’s eyes, he nodded.
“It seems like they want us to come in.”
As he entered the entrance, a straight path appeared. At the end of the path, a library filled with books was faintly visible. The closer he got, the crisp smell of old paper and books tickled the tip of his nose. Eui-jae entered first, and the moment Sa-young’s black Walker, who followed behind, stepped on the red carpet.
Nam Woo-jin’s voice echoed throughout the library.
“We have surprise guests.”
At the same time, a pure white System window appeared in his field of vision.
[Choose the correct answer to the following question within 5 seconds.
Q. Nam Woo-jin: We have surprise guests.
Get lost.
Shut up.
Die.
Thank you for welcoming us.
A penalty will be given if you choose the wrong answer.
Penalty: Your stay time will be reduced.]
Why are all the choices like this!
‘…Number 4 is the mildest, isn’t it? It’s a bit sarcastic, but we didn’t come here to fight.’
Eui-jae was briefly taken aback by the rude and impolite choices, but he quickly began to look for an answer. However, unlike Eui-jae, who was only thinking, Sa-young reached out to the window without hesitation. His black finger pressed number 2 firmly. Sa-young said.
“Shut up.”
“What?”
[You have chosen the correct answer. Congratulations!]
Shut up is the correct answer?
Eui-jae turned around with wide eyes. Their eyes met. Sa-young shrugged as if to say, ‘What’s the problem?’ Eui-jae was honestly impressed.
“You… are good at guessing?”
Is it because they are fundamentally the same person? But Sa-young was frowning like someone who had chewed something bitter. He gritted his teeth and whispered.
“You’re not saying that to make me feel good, are you?”
It was a compliment. Sa-young muttered coldly.
“I feel bad.”
How cold. At that moment, a clear laugh echoed through the library.
“Ah, yes, yes. What brings you here today? It’s not a scheduled check-up.”
“We need information.”
“If you need information, you should go to the fish market.”
“Not that kind of information, academic information. About the System.”
“Hmm… I didn’t think you were interested in that kind of thing. What brings you here to study?”
A white coat fluttered between the bookshelves. Woo-jin, holding an open book in one hand, walked over and stood next to Eui-jae. But he didn’t look at Eui-jae. It was as if he didn’t even know he existed.
‘Could it be…’
Can’t he see me? Eui-jae suddenly reached out and waved his hand in front of Nam Woo-jin’s eyes. Nam Woo-jin nonchalantly closed the book with a thud. He was only looking at Lee Sa-young. Eui-jae grabbed Nam Woo-jin’s shoulder.
No, he thought he grabbed it.
Eui-jae’s hand passed through Nam Woo-jin’s body in vain. Meanwhile, Nam Woo-jin, with the book tucked under his arm, smiled like a contented cat. His pure white, burnt eyes smiled.
“Good attitude. So, what are you curious about?”
“…….”
Eui-jae, who had withdrawn his hand, looked at Sa-young without realizing it.
His face was frozen coldly.