299 – HGL 299

299

Even without knowing who it was, I could tell who the writing belonged to. Lee Sa-young, probably. Who else would call Cha Eui-jae “you” instead of “Hyung”? Eui-jae rolled his eyes.

‘Come to think of it…’

Doesn’t that bastard call me “you” instead of “Hyung” these days? Eui-jae traced the letters in the notebook with his fingertip. Even though there was no way to feel warmth from the writing. He muttered awkwardly.

“…He writes pretty.”

I thought he’d be as bad as Nam Woo-jin. Jung-bin must have taught him. Thinking nonsense, he rummaged through the messy desk to find a pen. He hesitated, about to write an answer in the notebook.

‘…Will it even be delivered if I write here?’

If it doesn’t get delivered, I’ll just be the guy who wrote that he’s watching in Nam Woo-jin’s research notebook. But Lee Sa-young probably wasn’t sure that Cha Eui-jae would see it either. Judging by how he assumed the possibility. Then shouldn’t Eui-jae be able to assume the possibility too?

Eui-jae glared at Lee Sa-young’s neat handwriting. Then he unfolded one of the crumpled papers lying around and began practicing his handwriting out of nowhere.

I’m watching.

He compared his handwriting to the neat writing in the notebook. The roughly scribbled letters looked like earthworm brothers compared to Lee Sa-young’s writing.

“……”

This won’t do!

Eui-jae took a deep breath and tried to write as neatly as possible.

I—am—wat—…

Snap!

The pen broke. It broke just because I put a little force into it. And it broke on the double ssang-siot, which made me feel weird. Eui-jae stared at the broken pen with a dumbfounded expression before shoving it into his pocket. I feel sorry for Nam Woo-jin. He rummaged around for another pen and started writing one letter at a time again.

I—am—wat—.

Crack!

Crack, crack!

Only after breaking three pens in a row did Eui-jae realize. That neat handwriting and weak pens cannot coexist. It was a fact he hadn’t realized because he always scribbled roughly with magic markers at the Hangover Soup place.

“……”

And there was another fact that belatedly came to mind. That bastard has seen my handwriting while going back and forth to the Hangover Soup place anyway. There’s no need to try to write nicely. Eui-jae sighed, fiddling with the broken pen.

‘Still…’

It would be nice to write well if I’m going to write anyway. Eui-jae ruffled his hair. Fortunately, Nam Woo-jin’s lab had plenty of paper and pens. Enough that a few private pens could be broken without it being noticeable. Eui-jae repeatedly wrote the short sentence on the crumpled paper. Until satisfactory handwriting came out.

I’m watching.

I’m watching.

I’m watching….

Before he knew it, the crumpled paper was filled with the same sentence. Only then did Eui-jae stop. Anyone who saw it would think it was a letter written by a stalker.

‘…Did I overdo it?’

Eui-jae scratched his temple with the end of the pen and wrote a similar but different sentence on the corner of the still-empty paper.

I miss you.

Embarrassing words.

“…Ugh, damn it. What am I doing?”

Eui-jae crumpled the paper into a ball. His fingertips tingled. But he couldn’t throw away the crumpled paper. It would be a disaster if anyone saw it.

‘Nam Woo-jin will think he has a stalker.’

Eui-jae threw the wad of paper into his Inventory. What he had just done was one of the dumbest things he had ever done in his life.

At that moment, a bright light flowed out of the notebook. Eui-jae hurriedly checked the notebook. Underneath the neat handwriting, a short sentence was added in the same handwriting.

[It’s okay.]

It’s okay. Eui-jae repeated the sentence in his mind. It’s okay. Who the hell? Lee Sa-young? Cha Eui-jae? The subjectless sentence evoked many thoughts.

In fact, I know. Sa-young must have written it to comfort him. Desperately enough to write in a notebook that may or may not be delivered.

However.

Eui-jae traced the letters with his finger and spat out.

“It’s not okay.”

Cha Eui-jae….

“…It’s not okay at all.”

I was lonely. Because Lee Sa-young wasn’t there.

Eui-jae stared at the notebook with a pen in his hand. Lee Sa-young, who waited for eight years, trusting only in the promise made with a finger. I wanted to question him.

How the hell did you wait?

You weren’t even sure I’d come back alive.

I’m this anxious even though I know you’re alive.

I wanted to write all sorts of curses and innermost thoughts in the notebook. But Cha Eui-jae suppressed his anxious heart. In one sentence he had practiced last. The pen touched the paper.

Black lines connected to create letters, and letters gathered to create sentences.

I miss you.

A sentence I can’t say out loud.

As soon as he finished the sentence, Eui-jae slammed the notebook shut and rubbed his mask wildly. His whole body was itchy just from writing one sentence. At that moment, he felt someone approaching the lab. Eui-jae jumped up from his chair.

Bang! Before the lab door could even open all the way, a hoarse, cracked voice suddenly shouted.

“…So, the Director sent you? What is it this time, nagging? I think I’ve said a thousand times that it doesn’t get done by nagging? Why, should I write a statement of reasons? Should I get a medical certificate? Pay me 50 million won for the medical certificate!”

White light poured in from the wide-open door. Eui-jae gaped. A pale face, crooked glasses, white hair roughly tied up, hollow cheeks and loosely crumpled gown, hunched shoulders and back, and dangling old Crox. There was a zombie standing at the door.

The zombie, who had poured out a torrent of words, took a deep breath and adjusted his crooked glasses. His pure white eyes widened.

“…What, it’s J? When did you get back?”

The boy standing next to him politely replied.

“He said he came back today, Master.”

“Why didn’t you tell me the guest was J?”

“I did tell you. You only heard that he was sent by the Director and dismissed it as someone who came to nag again this time.”

“I did?”

“Shall I repeat what you said earlier, Master?”

“Never mind. Give me an energy drink.”

The zombie drank the liquid in the tumbler handed by the boy in one gulp. Then he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and asked.

“It’s been a while. You must have been in an Invasion Dungeon?”

“Yes? Yes.”

“You must have seen something in there. Considering you’ve been gone this long?”

“Y-yeah…. That’s right.”

The zombie strode over and grabbed Eui-jae’s shoulder. The smell of disinfectant and strange chemicals wafted over. His pure white eyes shone brightly. They were the eyes of a human who had gone completely mad. The zombie roared.

“Tell me everything! From A to Z!”

“…Huh?”

“This is no time for that. Prepare the whiteboard! Prepare the recorder too! You write the shorthand next to him! Prepare chairs, desks, and water to drink, quickly!”

“Yes, Master.”

As the boy moved busily, something began to be prepared in the messy lab. Eui-jae was pushed by the boy towards the whiteboard. The boy handed Eui-jae a whiteboard marker and an eraser in both hands. Before the daze could wear off, the zombie sat down in a chair with a recorder in his hand. He looked like a model student listening to a lecture in the front row.

“We’ll start right now. From the moment you first entered the Invasion Dungeon to the moment you came out, I want you to tell me in as much detail as possible.”

“Huh?”

“Hurry! There’s no time. Start right away!”

Behind the zombie, Nam Woo-jin, a murderous aura rose, threatening to fillet him with a scalpel if he didn’t start the lecture right away. Eui-jae opened the marker cap and regretted it.

‘Damn it, I should have just run away instead of practicing my handwriting.’

But regret always comes one step too late. Eui-jae helplessly began the lecture in front of the video camera and the enthusiastic student.

Unaware that the notebook was shining brightly.

Drip, drip, drip…. The IV fluid dripped one drop at a time. Ga-young roughly pulled back the thin curtains surrounding the bed. She asked the man who was guarding the bed.

“I’m asking just in case~ Is she still not awake?”

“Yes, yes…. There’s no sign of her waking up.”

Ga-young examined the bed. Yoon Ga-eul was lying there. If it weren’t for her chest rising and falling slightly, she would look like a dead person, without even the slightest movement.

Hoo. Ga-young sighed loudly, as if to be heard. Then she grabbed the man’s hair and whispered through gritted teeth.

“That idiot…. How much of the drug did you inject? It makes sense that she’s been asleep for over a week? I told you to put her to sleep moderately, did I tell you to send her to dreamland permanently? Huh?”

“I-I’m sorry….”

“Ah~ I guess all problems are solved if you say you’re sorry? That’s great! The other side is way ahead! There’s a limit to clinical trials on believers!”

Ga-young pushed the man away with all her might.

Thud! The man who fell to the floor hurriedly knelt down and bowed his head. Ga-young stomped on the man’s knee. The man gritted his teeth.

“Wake her up somehow…. Got it? You can kidnap an Awakened. I need to hear what you’ve found out so far.”

“Y-yes, I understand!”

“If you can’t wake her up….”

Ga-young snapped coldly.

“Keep in mind that I’ll use you as a material too.”

The man’s face turned pale. The man wailed, banging his forehead on the floor. I’m sorry, I’m sorry…. Ga-young ignored the wailing and left the room. A researcher who had been waiting by the door carefully asked.

“Ga-young, shouldn’t we ask the Seer for help….”

“Seer? Hmph….”

Ga-young scoffed. She pretended to pick her ear and replied.

“Why are you asking a human who is useless except for flapping their lips? Forget it, it’s better to do one more experiment in that time.”

“No, Ga-young…! What if someone hears….”

“Everyone’s too busy singing hymns to be in their right mind~ Let’s go do some experiments.”

People’s voices echoed from afar. It was the sound of those called believers praying together.

Ga-young clicked her tongue in annoyance and turned her back on the praying people.

“…Eul.”

“……”

“Yoon Ga-eul!”

“Yes, yes?”

Ga-eul was startled and raised her head. A glamorous beauty was sticking her face very close. Eek! Ga-eul screamed softly and leaned back. Honeybee chuckled and put her hands on her hips.

“What were you thinking about so much? People are talking.”

“Ah, no… I thought I heard something.”

“What?”

“I don’t know, I’m sorry….”

“You don’t have to be sorry. How much of the story did you hear?”

“Uh… I’m sorry.”

“Look at this girl, she’s completely out of it. Here!”

Honeybee threw something. Ga-eul skillfully caught the object and checked it. It was a key.

“What is this?”

“What else, a house key.”

“A house?”

“Yeah. The key to the house where J is.”

“Ah…….”

Ga-eul trailed off. Honeybee’s eyes glanced behind her. There, Lee Sa-young was standing against the wall with his arms crossed. His gloomy face was so fierce that he looked like he would kill someone at any moment. She lowered her voice and whispered in her ear.

“We decided to make copies of the key and share them. To manage it together.”