280 – HGL 280

280

Eui-jae wrestled with the book for a long time, but eventually gave up. Sometimes, there are problems that even great strength cannot overcome.

If I can’t read it, I need to find someone else who can. He pondered, listening to the rhythmic hammering.

‘Someone who can read it without suspicion…’

First, Lee Sa-young and Honeybee were out. As soon as he asked them to read a book, they would start grilling him. Instead, he recalled the faces of the people he had met here.

The first person who came to mind was Jung-bin, of course. But he quickly shook his head. He was busy, and if he found out about the problem with his eyes, he would tell Nam Woo-jin right away.

Next, Nam Woo-jin came to mind, but Eui-jae immediately dismissed the thought. No way! Nam Woo-jin’s lion’s roar had the power to make even Eui-jae and Sa-young docile. Eui-jae rolled his eyes.

‘Student Ga-eul… if I persuade her well, she might tell me.’

Student Ga-eul here was very interested in J’s health, so she was not on his side when it came to health issues. If he got caught, she would drag him to Nam Woo-jin right away.

‘I might get locked up in the ward again…’

He didn’t want to be locked in a hospital room alone with Lee Sa-young again. The penalty was too great to risk it.

‘Hong Ye-seong is the easiest to deal with… but he’s far away. I can’t go alone.’

Very Small Miracle Mingi Seo and Romantic Opener in this world did not belong to the Wave Guild. Because the Wave Guild itself did not exist. Well, there was no one he could ask for a favor. As Eui-jae looked back on his narrow social circle, a sarcastic voice was heard.

“What are you doing, loafing around here? Some people have all the luck~ Others are busy to death.”

Eui-jae raised his head. He smelled the salty sea. Mr. Mackerel was swaggering towards him.

“What a pile of books. Did you suddenly take up reading?”

Mr. Mackerel rummaged through the bookshelf near Eui-jae, being sarcastic as if it were second nature. He pulled out a few books. Eui-jae propped his chin and retorted.

“I’m under a curfew, so I have to do something. What are you doing?”

“What else? Building up my mind.”

“Don’t you have other work?”

“What other work? I’m dedicating myself to vaccine development~…. Test subjects have a hard life too.”

“Vaccine development?”

Eui-jae asked with a puzzled look, and Mr. Mackerel replied in a disapproving voice.

“We’re developing a Mutation vaccine. To revert mutated humans…. The doctor is constantly working on it. You didn’t know?”

“…….”

Mutation vaccine. A drug to revert mutated humans. This was a time when Mutation was well underway. If they completed the vaccine here….

‘It could be used in reality too.’

It felt like a light bulb had turned on in his head. Wasn’t this what he was supposed to learn from the memories of those who had failed? Eui-jae grabbed Mr. Mackerel’s ankle tightly. It was as cold as catching a fish.

“How far along is it?”

“The vaccine? Development isn’t that easy. It’s a long way from being completed.”

Mr. Mackerel answered nonchalantly, without showing any surprise. He heard the sound of flipping pages. He seemed to be skimming through the books. Eui-jae pulled the ankle he was holding slightly. He could feel Mr. Mackerel’s body swaying.

“Uh? What’s this? Why are you pulling me?”

“Come here for a second.”

“Are you a gangster or something?”

“I need your help.”

“I told you, I quit being an informant.”

“You owe me your life.”

“Owe you? You forcibly saved me. Shameless….”

“Anyway, I saved your life. I don’t have time, hurry.”

Mr. Mackerel grumbled but squatted in front of Eui-jae. A strong smell of cigarettes wafted through the salty sea scent. Eui-jae handed him the book he was holding and asked.

“First, what’s the content of this book?”

“That’s so sudden…. How did you find such an old book?”

Mr. Mackerel took the book and flipped through the pages. Flip, flip. The speed of flipping each page gradually increased. Towards the end, he seemed to skim through it all at once, as he felt a slight breeze. Mr. Mackerel replied indifferently.

“There’s nothing there.”

“…What?”

“It’s blank. Judging by the size, it looks like a notebook…. Did someone put it in the wrong place? It’s amazing you found it.”

Eui-jae took the book back. The book he had seen in the Seowon Guild, although it had incomprehensible letters, was densely filled….

‘Did I misunderstand?’

But the texture of the book was the same as the book in his memory. Where did it go wrong? He thought it would be helpful. Eui-jae rubbed the bumpy cover for no reason. A small disappointment welled up. Mr. Mackerel lightly got up.

“Well…. If you’re really curious, why don’t you ask the doctor? He said all the books here are books the doctor has read. Who knows? It might be the doctor’s diary.”

“…….”

“Mr. Mackerel! The Guild Master is looking for you!”

The librarian’s voice was heard from afar. Mr. Mackerel shook his knees and grumbled.

“What, is it already inspection time….”

Eui-jae leaned his head against the wooden bookshelf and closed and opened his eyes. What he saw was the same whether he closed or opened his eyes. Red numbers in the darkness.

The numbers were decreasing every second. He was anxious. His stomach churned. His heart raced. He was sweating. The anxiety and helplessness that he wouldn’t be able to do anything were crawling up from his toes.

‘So suddenly?’

The sudden anxiety shook his whole body. A heavy wave of emotion overwhelmed and crushed him. It was unfamiliar yet familiar. Eui-jae clutched his heart. Strangely, it was hard to breathe. His throat tickled, and then a fit of coughing erupted. He put his hand under his mask and covered his mouth with his palm. The coughing came out uncontrollably.

“Wait…. Are you okay?”

Mr. Mackerel asked in a flustered voice. He didn’t have time to answer, so he barely shook his head. Cough, cough…. A wet liquid soaked his palm along with the rough cough. Eui-jae caught his breath and took his hand out from under the mask. It was wet.

“…….”

He heard Mr. Mackerel inhaling. What was the liquid that soaked his palm? It didn’t smell like blood. That’s why he was anxious. Eui-jae raised his head and stared in the direction where Mr. Mackerel should be.

“…Mr. Mackerel.”

“…….”

“Keep it a secret that I asked this…. Just one question.”

“…….”

The liquid pooled in his palm slowly flowed down his wrist and through his fingers. The amount of liquid was abnormally large for a secretion, and it didn’t smell like blood for it to be blood. Eui-jae held out his palm.

“What color is this?”

He heard the sound of lips being chewed. That was the answer. Eui-jae listened to the rhythmic hammering. The agitated mind did not calm down easily. Eventually, Cha Eui-jae realized.

This was ‘my’ emotion.

The emotion that ‘Cha Eui-jae’ felt with 117 hours, 43 minutes, and 12 seconds left until death.

Cha Eui-jae was afraid of death.

“…I’ll tell the doctor. There might be a way.”

Just as Mr. Mackerel was about to turn around, Eui-jae quickly stretched out his leg and tripped him. Mr. Mackerel, who had been staggering forward, turned his head sharply.

“What are you doing….”

“It’s okay.”

“What do you mean it’s okay? It’s not too late yet!”

“This… can’t be avoided.”

Eui-jae got up from his seat. His legs were shaking. His heart was beating so loudly that he couldn’t even hear his own breathing properly. But he had to maintain his composure. It was then.

A pure white System Window appeared in the darkness.

[The ‘Poker Face (B)’ trait has been activated.]

It was a notification he hadn’t seen in a long time.

His heart, which had been beating as if it would burst, calmed down and gradually found its speed. The trembling of his lips and eyelids, and the panting, also stopped. The face behind the mask, which had been stained with fear, slowly regained its cool, expressionless look. Calm came. It was peaceful.

No, it had to be peaceful.

Eui-jae asked in an indifferent voice.

“Do you have a handkerchief?”

“…….”

He heard a rustling sound, and then Mr. Mackerel handed him something. Judging by the slightly stiff material, it wasn’t a handkerchief, but he seemed to have taken off the shirt he was wearing. Eui-jae raised the corners of his lips and smiled.

“You didn’t have to take off your shirt.”

“…….”

Eui-jae wiped the liquid on his hand. It was easier to wipe off than he thought. He handed the shirt over.

“Sorry, but if possible, burn it.”

“…Are you really okay?”

“Of course, I’m okay.”

“…….”

“Don’t worry…. I know my body the best.”

He turned around. It must have been the back of a steadfast hero. It had to be. He glanced back at Mr. Mackerel, who was frozen in place. And he raised his index finger to the lips of his mask.

“Keep it a secret.”

“…….”

“…That’s the price of your life and your Hyung’s life.”

J’s back disappeared beyond the bookshelf. Clunk, Mr. Mackerel grabbed the bookshelf.

“Wait, you…!”

“Mr. Mackerel! The Guild Master is looking for you.”

An indifferent voice interrupted.

“Mr. Mackerel is here. Take him.”

“Ah, thank you for telling me, J!”

J ignored the words on the white System Window that appeared in his vision and moved on.

[Checking the current Synchronization Rate….]

[100%.]

[You have acquired a new trait! Check it out!]

[(NEW!) Poker Face (B)

Suitable for when you want to hide something.

Even when deceiving yourself.]