By Zephyria 271
Déjà vu
Tak, Bae Won-woo put down his chopsticks. He had come to the pasta place to suit his subordinate’s taste, but it wasn’t really his thing. Of course, he had emptied two bowls. Kang Ji-soo, who was sitting across from him, had already finished her meal and was playing a game on her phone. She glanced at Bae Won-woo.
“Are you done, Vice Guild Leader?”
“Let’s go eat Sundae Soup next time.”
“Ugh, come on. Why are you such a patriot with your taste buds?”
“You need to eat hot Gukbap to get some work done. Huh? Do you know how sad I am that the Hanover Soup Restaurant is closed?”
At that moment, his phone vibrated. Bae Won-woo hurriedly took out his phone.
[365 days Choi#Gang#Horse Racing…]
It was an advertisement text. Geez. Bae Won-woo frowned and blocked the sender. Kang Ji-soo clicked her tongue.
“Are you still waiting for a call?”
“Yeah. It’s strange that it’s taking this long to capture one Monster. The atmosphere is also ominous these days.”
It had already been four days since Lee Sa-young and J headed to the Jongno 3-ga Invasion Dungeon to capture the Monster. Of course, Dungeon investigations or clearing difficult Dungeons often took a long time. But this time, all they had to do was capture one Monster. Bae Won-woo expected them to return that night.
Kang Ji-soo tapped her phone and said.
“That Mutation….”
“Shh.”
Bae Won-woo hurriedly gestured to cover her mouth. Kang Ji-soo quickly shut her mouth and rolled her eyes. He sighed and scratched the back of his neck.
“Be careful. You have to be careful about everything in this atmosphere these days.”
“Okay. But it looks like you got another call?”
“What, is it another opinion poll or advertisement call… Huh?”
“What is it?”
“It’s Team Leader Han?”
Bae Won-woo pressed the call button and put the phone to his ear. An uncharacteristically urgent voice asked.
―This is Team Leader Han from the HB Guild. Shield Guy Hunter, have the people who entered the Invasion Dungeon from Wave Guild returned?
“Yes? No, not yet. Just a moment… Is it the same for you?”
―Haa…
Team Leader Han’s deep sigh was heard.
―It’s the same here. I’ve contacted everyone, but the Hunters who entered the Invasion Dungeon… None of them have returned yet.
“…….”
A bad feeling flashed through his mind. Hunters who entered the Dungeon and didn’t return. They had a scar-like memory left behind.
West Sea Rift. Bae Won-woo hurriedly asked.
“Does the Captain, no, Team Leader Jung-bin know about this?”
―Team Leader Jung-bin also thought it was strange that it was taking too long, so he checked. First, come to the Awakened Management Bureau. I think we need to talk about this.
“I, I’ll go right away.”
Bae Won-woo grabbed his coat and jumped up. Kang Ji-soo’s eyes widened.
“What… Is this for real?”
“Yeah, yeah. This is my card, so pay with this and go to the Guild. I’m going to the Bureau of Rift Management!”
He hurriedly left the store. Kang Ji-soo, left alone, picked up the card thrown on the table and looked at the street beyond the glass window. White ash was falling. Quietly and quickly.
144 hours until Cha Eui-jae’s death.
“Ptooey!”
Exactly one day after Eui-jae became terminally ill. He was back in the hospital room. As soon as he sniffled, warm ginger tea popped out from the right. It was a hand wearing thick protective gloves that handed him the cup. Lee Sa-young was wearing a white full-body protective suit, which was originally Nam Woo-jin’s. It was the clothes he wore when examining Lee Sa-young.
‘Bur… Burdensome.’
Eui-jae subtly avoided his gaze. He was covered with a soft microfiber blanket and a thick duvet over his thin patient gown, and Ga-eul had even wrapped a scarf around his neck, and his butt was warm, so it seemed like they had even put on a heated mat. It was just a simple cold, but wasn’t this too much pampering? Ga-eul diligently filled the humidifier with water. Eui-jae said with a completely hoarse voice.
“Thank you… But this much isn’t necessary.”
“Don’t ignore a cold. You don’t know what kind of complications it might develop into!”
“It’s just, cough, a cold.”
“Besides, people who Mutate into Monsters all start with a cough! Be alert!”
That was a bit scary. Come to think of it… Eui-jae rolled his eyes. The people protesting in front of Ha-eun’s Taekwondo gym were also coughing. The people at the seafood market too.
‘If it’s not just a cold going around.’
If the Mutation stage was progressing in their world as well. But why wasn’t there a Monster Wave stage? It didn’t seem like that many Monsters came out to call it a Wave. His head was hot, so his thoughts kept breaking off. Sa-young’s gaze on his cheek felt stinging. Ga-eul sighed deeply.
“Fortunately, there are no such signs yet… But still, you should get a thorough examination just in case. Even if you refuse, I’ll make you! Really, someone who’s not feeling well jumping into the Whitening sea…”
“Ugh…”
Eui-jae quickly agreed and made a sullen expression. He had learned that the way to end Ga-eul’s endless nagging was to act pitiful. Sa-young, who was wearing a thick protective suit, asked, crossing his legs.
“When will the examination take place?”
“Soon. The Doctor is preparing.”
“I hope it’s as soon as possible.”
“Yes, don’t worry!”
They really get along well. Eui-jae tried to squirm, but eventually gave up on getting out of this warm bed. His body was too heavy, and the bed was too cozy. Was this the penalty for overwriting the record or something? His body was recovering very slowly. His head was fuzzy again, as the effects of the fever reducer were wearing off. Still, Eui-jae coughed and asked.
“What about Mackerel?”
“Mr. Mackerel is in quarantine. He needs to be examined too.”
Ga-eul said, moving her hands busily.
“There are traces of Mutation due to Whitening all over his body, but he’s still maintaining his ego and the Mutation hasn’t progressed severely… That’s a relief. Otherwise…”
“We would have killed him.”
Sa-young blurted out. Kill. Before he becomes a Monster. To prevent greater damage. Ga-eul nodded with a nervous face.
“Unfortunately, that’s the best we can do for now. Um, the Doctor is looking for a way to treat or prevent it… But there’s no suitable method yet.”
“…….”
“Ah! But after the thorough examination, Seowon Guild will protect him. The Doctor wants to get some information. He said he’s willing to cooperate.”
“…I see.”
Eui-jae nodded. The time in the corner of his vision was still decreasing rapidly. When would his body recover? Eui-jae buried his head in the soft pillow and closed his eyes. The moment he pulled Mackerel out kept swirling in his head.
They had to stay in the quiet village a little longer with Mackerel because they received word that Romantic Opener, who had fainted after opening the door, was not yet in his right mind. While Sa-young brought various dry branches and made a small bonfire near Eui-jae, Mackerel remained silent. He had been spaced out ever since Eui-jae pulled him out. Eui-jae and Sa-young didn’t bother to talk to Mackerel, who was crouching on the white beach. Sometimes silence is necessary.
It was several hours later that Mackerel opened his mouth. Eui-jae was buried in Sa-young’s coat, warming himself by the fire, and Sa-young was leaning against the wall a little away from Eui-jae. Even the sound of the waves was silent on the Whitening sea. Only the sound of the water lapping occasionally could be heard.
A hoarse voice broke through the silence.
“Why… Did you save me?”
“…….”
“Did you want to see me Mutate? Or to live painfully and die?”
Mackerel was frozen like a person embalmed in the sea. Eui-jae staggered to his feet. As the warmth of the bonfire faded, the wind was chilly. He tightened Sa-young’s coat a little more and took a step. And he stepped on the soft white beach mixed with ash and sand and approached Mackerel.
The sea was calm as if nothing had happened. Eui-jae looked for the white shadow, but it was not visible. He wiggled his toes that had stepped on the soft white beach.
“It’s true that I pulled you out. But…”
“…….”
“It’s your Hyung. He’s the one who saved you and me.”
“…….”
“If it wasn’t for your Hyung… We would both be dead.”
Smooth and cold sensation. The white thing firmly supported and pushed them up. So that they could continue to breathe and live. Mackerel, who was staring blankly at the white sea, muttered.
“The seafood market collapsed, people died, and Hyung… After he changed.”
“…….”
“Hyung… Didn’t attack anyone or do anything. He was just slumped on the dry floor. Like he was going to die like that.”
A white ash-mixed wind blew. It didn’t smell like the sea. The ends of Mackerel’s hair were still wet. On his forearms with rolled-up sleeves, shiny scales could be seen.
“I stuffed my Hyung, who had become a Monster, into a box filled with seawater and just got in the car. There were seawater and boxes everywhere in the seafood market.”
He imagined Mackerel holding his Hyung, who had become a Monster, and wandering around the collapsed seafood market. It wasn’t hard to imagine. Eui-jae had done that too. On the Day of the Rift, and at the West Sea Rift. He searched for living people.
That’s why the only survivor was so precious.
Mackerel mumbled to himself.
“At that time, I could only think of going to the sea…”
“So that’s why you came here.”
Eui-jae stared at the white horizon. He said he overwrote the record. If he hadn’t saved him, Mackerel would have died like that.
Cha Eui-jae changed the recorded past. Would something change with this? He didn’t know. But there were no regrets. He was just satisfied with saving a person. Eui-jae patted Mackerel on the back.
“Let’s go.”
“…Where to?”
Mackerel smiled wryly.
“I have nowhere to return to.”
“Why don’t you have anywhere to return to.”
Eui-jae turned his gaze from the sea and looked back. Sa-young was still leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Eui-jae stared at him blankly and muttered.
“You can make a place to return to.”
“…….”
“It’s not that… Difficult.”
There was a rustling sound from the side. Mackerel was getting up. He lowered his rolled-up sleeves to hide the scales on his arms. And he stared at Eui-jae blankly and then…
Nodded.