278 – HGL 278

278

He felt the body next to him stiffen. That bastard was bringing up a sensitive topic! Eui-jae hurriedly patted Sa-young’s broad back. But the stiff muscles showed no sign of loosening. This wouldn’t do. Eui-jae stood behind Sa-young and covered his ears with both hands. A large hand covered Eui-jae’s hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Just stay still. Hey, Hong Ye-seong. Don’t talk about dying so easily. Do you want to die?”

“No, I’m wronged? I was just stating an objective fact?”

“Soften your expression. Or your lifespan will be shortened.”

“Isn’t that similar…?”

“Sa-young, you be quiet.”

“But isn’t it useless to cover my ears? I think he can hear everything.”

“Hong Ye-seong, you be quiet too.”

Sa-young tried to remove Eui-jae’s hands a couple of times, but soon gave up. Instead, he started poking Eui-jae’s hands, being annoying. Hong Ye-seong grumbled.

“Seriously, even though I’m giving a warning. You’ll really shorten your lifespan.”

The quick feedback was commendable. Eui-jae answered shamelessly.

“What are you talking about? Who’s going to live longer than me.”

“That’s a really unconvincing story. You’ve already done something.”

“……”

Lee Sa-young tried to turn his head, but Eui-jae put strength into his hands to fix his head facing him. Sa-young grumbled about what he had done again, but he ignored it. Eui-jae pursed his lips.

‘…What does he mean by something?’

There were too many things that came to mind. Synchronizing with me here and collapsing while vomiting blood? Transforming Lee Sa-young into amnesia? Retrieving Mackerel from Haenam? Taking Mackerel to the Seowon Guild? Meeting Student Ga-eul in a dream and going blind from the penalty?

‘…I’ve done too much?’

At this point, he had to accept it even if Lee Sa-young glared at him. Eui-jae took his hands off Sa-young’s head and politely put his hands together. Sa-young asked in an absurd voice.

“What are you doing now?”

“I know what it is. I feel guilty about too many things.”

“Ah… Is that so?”

Eui-jae ignored the sharp gaze and asked politely.

“Hong Ye-seong, my friend. What have I done?”

“Do you have to ask? You saved Mackerel! He was supposed to die there.”

Ah, that’s something Lee Sa-young knows, so it doesn’t matter. Eui-jae, who had regained his confidence, released his politely gathered hands and suddenly pointed at Hong Ye-seong.

“Then should I have saved the guy who jumped in to die, or should I have left him to die? He was sinking in front of my eyes!”

“Aaaah, don’t say such heroic things! I have PTSD!”

“PTSD? Hey, are you the only one? I have it too!”

“Cluck!”

Cluck cried out from afar. Sa-young, who had been watching the chaotic scene of pointing and shouting, intervened.

“Let me ask you something. If we change the predetermined future here, does that apply to our world?”

“No way! It won’t change. This is a Shield reconstructed based on memories. The people here are not alive. They are remnants of memories. The original world of this world has already been destroyed.”

“……”

“What should I call you guys…? Yeah, you’ve entered a play where the ending is already set. Okay? Do you understand?”

“Then it doesn’t matter who we save? The ending will be destruction anyway.”

“No! There is a predetermined ending for each character. If you change that, it violates the laws of the System. I don’t know what kind of penalty you’ll receive.”

Ah, suddenly weakening was a penalty. He felt grateful when he thought that he might have been submerged if it wasn’t for Mackerel’s Hyung. I should buy him a meal when I get back.

Predetermined ending.

They knew the ending. Cha Eui-jae dies. Lee Sa-young is left alone. The world is destroyed. But Hong Ye-seong, who was facing Doomsday, was still cheerful. There was no fear of Doomsday to be found. Eui-jae asked abruptly.

“Why are you so fine?”

“Huh? Because I’m aware that I’m not real. It’s different from other people.”

“So, you know it’s going to be destroyed soon. But how…”

“Because you guys came.”

“……”

“You came to find clues about Doomsday, right? Then that means there’s still hope on your side.”

Strangely, his throat was choked. To be exact, it was right to say that he didn’t know what to say. Countless words came to mind and disappeared. Eui-jae couldn’t say a single word. Gratitude and comfort all seemed insufficient.

Hong Ye-seong smiled brightly. A brightly smiling face was like…

“It’s worth leaving you all like this!”

It was like the sun.

…Well, a little exaggerated.

Hong Ye-seong came out to the gate with Cluck to see off the four people. Romantic Opener was still wandering in a dream, so Honeybee carried her on her back.

The way down the mountain was quiet. Thanks to Hong Ye-seong, there was no trace of Whitening on Jirisan Mountain. With each step down, there was a fresh smell of trees and grass, and a smell of wet soil.

“……”

‘It’s worth leaving you all like this!’

What were the people who left their memories before Doomsday thinking? What was Hong Ye-seong thinking as he collected memories and created a Dungeon? The smile that seemed relieved was heavy.

“…Hyung.”

“J!”

A voice calling him broke through the deep thoughts. Eui-jae hurriedly raised his head. The flames that had been going down ahead had stopped. Eui-jae reacted a beat late.

“Huh? Ah. Why are you calling me?”

“…Are you really okay? There’s a tree right in front of you.”

“Sorry, I was thinking about what I heard earlier.”

“The story Hong Ye-seong told?”

“Yeah.”

Honeybee said primly.

“Well, the conclusion is that, right? We need to find information about Doomsday and clues to solve it here as much as possible. That’s the purpose of creating this world.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm, should we look for it at the Seowon Guild?”

“Nam Woo-jin would know the most.”I should take a day and clear my mind.” There must be something to salvage among the books there….”

Honeybee muttered and started walking again. Eui-jae reached out and stroked the tree right in front of him. He would have bumped into it if he had gone a little further. I have to be more careful. Eui-jae naturally avoided the tree and added.

“And it would be good to collect it as soon as possible.”

“Why?”

Because if I drag it out any longer, I’ll die. Eui-jae swallowed the words that were about to come out and gave a plausible reason.

“Because I don’t know how different the time flow is between the outside and here. Let’s get out as soon as possible.”

“Ah, that’s true. Even if we collect information, it’s useless if it’s too late.”

“Then we need to wake this guy up first. It’ll take a long time to get to the Seowon Guild.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Honeybee. Romantic Opener was fast asleep, making colorful breathing sounds. Sa-young approached, cracking his hands so that they made a sound.

“I have a special medicine…. Put him down on the floor.”

“…You’re not going to kill him, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m this guy’s Guild Leader.”

Thud, the sound of Honeybee putting Romantic Opener down was heard, followed by the sound of dragging something heavy. Romantic Opener’s flame was being dragged by the purple flame. Honeybee asked in a suspicious voice.

“Where are you going?”

“To have a conversation.”

Sa-young’s voice gradually faded away. Honeybee clicked her tongue and kicked the floor. The sound of dirt splashing was heard. The sound of birds chirping and insects filled the silence that had come. It seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve heard birds chirping. As Eui-jae was listening, Honeybee opened her mouth.

“I’m saying this because we came all the way here. I told Lee Sa-young, but I don’t think J knows.”

“Yes.”

Thud, the sound of kicking a stone was heard.

“I saw a vision of people dying? Before I came here. When I see people’s faces, I see their heads dangling…. Stuff like that.”

“……”

“It might sound like I’m crazy. But that…. I think it’s the dead appearance of the people in this world.”

Eui-jae didn’t answer. The sound of roughly ruffling hair was heard. Along with a slightly faster breathing sound. Honeybee asked in a small voice.

“…If I know how people died. Can I prevent death?”

It may be a futile hope. But Eui-jae had no choice but to nod. Eui-jae had also thought about the same thing dozens, hundreds of times.

“…Maybe.”

A scream rang out from afar. Honeybee sighed and patted Eui-jae’s shoulder.

“Thank you. It’s a little comforting.”

Her hand moved away. Eui-jae suddenly asked.

“Can you see me too?”

“……”

Honeybee looked at him. What will I look like? A figure bleeding from the head? But what came back was.

“I don’t know.”

It was a question.

“Yes?”I can’t see a dying appearance from you.” It’s been like that since before.”

“……”

“So I’ve been thinking it’s strange.”

“……”

“Well, doesn’t that mean you didn’t die? Let’s think positively.”

Honeybee said lightly on purpose. But.

Eui-jae stared at the red numbers flashing in the corner of his vision. The time left until his death was so clear. Besides, hadn’t Eui-jae clearly faced his dead appearance in ‘Lee Sa-young’s’ memory?

Then the sound of dragging came closer. Sa-young pushed something.

“Open the door.”

“Yes, sir!”

A voice full of spirit was heard, followed by the sound of the door opening. The smell of old books and disinfectant wafted through the fresh smell of grass.

Eui-jae stopped thinking and took a step towards the smell of books.