By Zephyria “Then you should’ve said so from the start, why were you hesitating?”
“Well, I have a conscience too. You looked so tattered, I felt bad asking you to fight~”
“Stop talking nonsense and move!”
Honeybee was about to let go of him but hesitated. She asked worriedly.
“J, are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
That’s a lie.
It hurts.
The Monster’s thoughts kept flooding in, driving him crazy.
It hurts.
Eui-jae shook his head irritably and shouted.
“…Shut up!”
Huh, Eui-jae suddenly raised his head.
It hurts.
The two of them were looking at him with bewildered faces.
It hurts.
Damn it. Eui-jae bit his lip and lowered his head.
“…I’m sorry.”
Gyu-Gyu rubbed his chin.
“Okay, so you’re not okay at all?”
“See? You take responsibility for him.”
“Can I lock him in a Barrier~?”
“That’s up to you! It’s about to break. One, two….”
Clang―!!
The transparent wall shattered into pieces. As Gyu-Gyu grabbed Eui-jae and stepped back,
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing against metal struck his ears. Honeybee was blocking the sharp blade with her thin Rapier. Kagak, the swords scratched against each other as if arm-wrestling, creating small sparks before separating. The thin sword moved like a dance, blocking the pouring attacks. Honeybee shouted.
“Quick, take those two and run!”
“Honeybee, can you handle him alone?”
Honeybee skillfully dodged the attacks while constantly moving her body, and somehow managed to turn her head. The expression on her face was clearly mocking.
“Ha…. What do you take me for?”
Gyu-Gyu chuckled.
“That’s true.”
“And….”
As the Monster roared loudly, the fluorescent lights flickered again. Under the flickering lights, Honeybee’s straight back swayed darkly. Pat, under the brightly lit light, the tip of her Rapier shone. Kaduk, the sound of grinding teeth could be heard.
“I have… something to repay that bastard for!”
Clang, clang, clang! Metallic sounds rang out. Gyu-Gyu supported Eui-jae and ran towards where Jung-bin was. As he flicked his fingers, the transparent wall disappeared. Jung-bin asked with a flustered face.
“J, how did you get up here? Weren’t you in the interrogation room?”
Eui-jae clutched his throbbing head and answered with difficulty.
“I came up because I heard a Mutant appeared. Let’s get out of here first! That guy is after Jung-bin.”
“But…!”
Jung-bin seemed hesitant. His wavering gaze was directed at the Monster confronting Honeybee. Gyu-Gyu shrugged.
“I know he’s a team member, but once he’s like that, you have to kill him~ Is there any other way? Isn’t he a former team member now?”
“…….”
“If you leave him like that, who knows how many people will die, Mr. Civil Servant.”
Gyu-Gyu grabbed Jung-bin’s arm. At that moment, pook, the sound of something sharp piercing flesh was heard. Eui-jae turned his head. The roaring grew louder.
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!
Honeybee’s arm drew an elegant curve, pulling the Rapier out of the Monster’s body. It was a clean, flawless movement. White blood splattered along the sword’s trajectory, splattering on the wall. She didn’t stop. She took aim again to completely cut off its breath.
It was then.
Thwack, a rough hand pushed Eui-jae and Gyu-Gyu away. Jung-bin pushed the two away and ran forward.
“Wait, Honeybee!”
In a fleeting moment. Everything seemed to stop. Jung-bin running forward, Gyu-Gyu reaching out with his hand still in the pushed-back position, but his hand grabbed nothing but air. Jung-bin cried out desperately.
“Please don’t take his life…!”
Honeybee, who was about to stab the Rapier into its neck, stopped moving. The tip of the sword hesitated for a moment.
In that fleeting moment, the Monster blinked its pure white eyes.
Team Leader.
Team Leader is coming.
Team Leader, I’m here.
I have something to tell you!
Please come here!
The Monster stretched out its arms, which had turned into sharp blades. It raised its body and charged. It opened its mouth wide, filled with sharp teeth. An ominous premonition moved his legs. Eui-jae kicked off the floor and ran. The marble floor was dented in the shape of his feet. He passed Gyu-Gyu and snatched Jung-bin by the scruff of his neck. Jung-bin turned around with a bewildered face, but instead of answering, Eui-jae―
I want to eat you!
I want to eat Team Leader!
He yanked the grabbed neck back.
The large mouth snapped shut right in front of Jung-bin’s nose. Not only that, but it repeatedly opened and closed its mouth a few more times as if biting. Eui-jae kicked the Monster’s constantly approaching jaw with all his might. Crack! The sound of bones breaking was heard. The Monster clutched its mouth and screamed.
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!
Eui-jae gritted his teeth and pulled Jung-bin back.
“Gyu-Gyu!”
“Got it! Look at this…, you almost had your head bitten off. It would be a shame to have such a handsome head eaten, wouldn’t it?”
Gyu-Gyu grabbed Jung-bin and pulled him back. Eui-jae ignored the headache and took a stance. The white eyeballs, which had been rolling around in all directions, were fixed on Eui-jae. It was shedding tears. White liquid fell to the floor in drops.
Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why are you interfering?
Moreover, you are….
The Monster stared at Eui-jae and tilted its head. As if observing a strange animal. The violence that had been about to bite off a person’s head just moments before was nowhere to be found, replaced by a docile attitude. From behind, he heard Gyu-Gyu muttering.
“…His attitude suddenly changed.”
A sense of unease soared. He didn’t want to be found out. What? The state of his body. Eui-jae clenched his fist. It was damp with cold sweat. The moment he raised his fist.
Pook.
Hot white blood poured over his head.
Eui-jae raised his head. A sharp Rapier had pierced through the Monster’s neck. As the Rapier was pulled out, the Monster, which had been standing tall, collapsed as if crumbling. The sound of air escaping flowed from its open mouth. Honeybee flicked the Rapier to shake off the white blood. Her face remained cold and aloof.
“A gap.”
“…….”
“Sorry, Jung Team Leader. I couldn’t grant your request.”
Jung-bin was catching his breath while being held by Gyu-Gyu. His pale face and the side of his cheek, which had been slapped and was now red, made him look pitiful. Honeybee lightly stepped over the twitching body of the Monster and walked over. She took out a towel from her Inventory and handed it to him.
“Oh my, look at you, covered in blood. Use this.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“How’s your body? You seemed okay when you were moving earlier.”
“Yes, I’m a bit better now.”
“That’s a relief then. You were good earlier.”
Honeybee gave Eui-jae a thumbs up, passed him, and headed back. She put her hands on her hips and glared at Jung-bin.
“You know? You were almost eaten just now. I don’t know why you acted so unlike yourself, Team Leader, but you should make more rational decisions, shouldn’t you?”
“…I’m sorry. This incident was my mistake.”
Jung-bin lowered his head deeply. Honeybee crossed her arms and replied primly.
“It’s okay. I know what you were thinking.”
“Well, no one died, so it’s not a big problem~”
Gyu-Gyu patted Jung-bin’s shoulder, but Honeybee slapped his hand away and he quickly removed it. That’s right. Honeybee had to take the life of her mutated colleague with her own hands. Eui-jae shook the white blood-soaked hair with the towel and sighed. Jung-bin rubbed his face with his palms and then raised his head. He didn’t look as calm as usual, but his expression was somewhat stable.
“…I need to clean up now. Thank you for your help.”
“Was the person who mutated this time…. Did they show any signs beforehand?”
“No, not at all. There was no phenomenon of their skin or hair turning white, and no part of their body changed. It really happened suddenly….”
Honeybee approached the Monster. She lowered her voice and whispered in Eui-jae’s ear.
“This guy is the same as the one I saw?”
“…….”
“He’s the one who killed Team Leader Jung-bin in the last world.”
“…Can we say we prevented his death?”
“Hmph, I hope so.”
Eui-jae lowered his body and squatted in front of the Monster. It was still breathing heavily, panting. Judging by the decreasing frequency of its breaths, death seemed to be right around the corner. Eui-jae swept back the fur covering its head. The hazy white eyes swirled and stared at Eui-jae.
Why?
Why are you interfering?
Eui-jae didn’t answer. He took his hand away from the Monster and stood up. The Monster thrashed its limbs for the last time.
Team Leader….
“…….”
And, gray eyes were capturing all of that in their gaze. Hmmm. Gyu-Gyu made a small humming sound, patted Jung-bin’s shoulder, and chuckled.
“Hey, you said that the body parts of people undergoing Mutation turn white, right.”
“…That’s right, but why are you asking?”
“No…. It’s not a big deal.”
The gray eyes narrowed.
“I was just wondering if J’s hair hasn’t gotten whiter than before….”