episode_0046

… … … … …

The door to the hospital room where the boy was staying closed with a soft sound.

And the two women who had just come out of the hospital room, Lee Seo-yeon and Jin Wol-hee, glared at each other and slowly walked to the end of the hallway.

Their footsteps were as quiet as the calm before a storm, but the air around them was very heavy.

Now that they no longer had to worry about the gaze of the boy they loved, their eyes no longer had the false peace that seemed to be wearing a mask. They were filled only with raw, living hatred.

As they reached the end of the hallway, their bodies stopped. Their muscles tightened in anticipation of what was about to happen.

The first person to break the standoff was Lee Seo-yeon. She suddenly turned her body.

Of course, Lee Seo-yeon’s gesture was not simply turning her body to face Jin Wol-hee. Her action was to deliver a full-power backspin blow with rotational force.

Pfft!

The sincere fist of Lee Seo-yeon, a physical enhancement type power user who can easily break down even a thick brick wall. (The brain is also a part of the body.)

With a bloody sound that did not seem to strike the flesh of a living creature, Jin Wol-hee’s face turned sharply to the side. Her body swayed, and her tied-up hair fluttered as if dancing in the air.

If it had been an ordinary person, it would have killed them instantly and their faces would have sunk in, but Lee Seo-yeon could vividly feel the taste of a proper hit.

At this point, even Jin Wol-hee, who is not a human, would not be safe. A victorious smile spread across Lee Seo-yeon’s lips.

But her smile didn’t last long. Jin Wol-hee didn’t lose consciousness and collapse.

Instead, she spun around, lowered her posture, and then in an instant, threw a punch at Lee Seo-yeon’s stomach.

bang!!

“Huh!”

With a dull sound, Lee Seo-yeon’s body was pushed back. It was a river blow, as if it had been struck by a wild beast.

Lee Seo-yeon felt her breath catch in her throat at the impact of the fist that seemed inhuman, and her face twisted in pain.

Jin Wol-hee glared coldly at Lee Seo-yeon, who had taken a step back. A line of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.

She slowly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, then spat out something in her mouth.

What fell to the floor was a white tooth. But it wasn’t a normal tooth. It had sharp edges, like a shark’s.

The razor-sharp teeth gleamed eerily in the fluorescent light in the hallway.

The two women glared at each other, waiting for their next chance to strike. Their eyes were now filled with murderous intent. The hallway was silent, but that silence was like a powder keg about to explode.

… … … … …

Just as the two women were about to rush at each other again, an urgent voice was heard from across the hallway.

“Stop!”

It was the voice of the association president. The association president, who seemed to have come running almost at full speed, quickly inserted himself between the two women, his long hair fluttering. His expression was also filled with tension, different from his usual relaxed expression.

“Both of you, stop. This is the headquarters of the Awakening Association.”

Lee Seo-yeon and Jin Wol-hee were still glaring at each other, holding their breath.

Despite the intervention of the association president, their eyes still showed a sense of murder. Lee Seo-yeon’s fist was still clenched tightly, and blood was flowing out of Jin Wol-hee’s mouth again.

The association president sighed and continued speaking.

“Please calm down. Nothing will be solved this way. Let’s all think rationally.”

The chairman’s voice was soft, but there was a firmness hidden within it. The chairman slowly raised both hands.

“If you continue like this.”

The president of the association continued speaking slowly. His eyes were looking back and forth between Lee Seo-yeon and Jin Wol-hee.

“I guess I have no choice but to tell this fact to the boy in the hospital room. Have you thought about how disappointed and hurt he will be?”

At those words, the expressions of the two women grew cold. They were now looking at the president with murderous eyes, but Lee Seo-yeon’s hands were trembling slightly, and Jin Wol-hee’s eyes showed complicated emotions.

Eventually, the strength in both women’s postures gradually diminished. The association president’s persuasion was effective.

“Okay, now let’s all calm down and discuss how to resolve this situation. I don’t expect reconciliation, but shouldn’t we at least reach an agreement?”

The association president, who had been catching his breath for a moment, slowly opened his mouth.

“First of all, if it weren’t for Dr. Jin Wol-hee, the Autumn Army wouldn’t have survived. I can’t help but acknowledge her contributions.

I believe that Dr. Jin Wol-hee, who saved the boy, is fully qualified to examine him as his attending physician. ”

Lee Seo-yeon was furious at those words and tried to say something, but the association president raised his hand to stop her.

“Seoyeon, calm down. I understand your position. So, I have a suggestion.”

The association president took a breath and continued speaking.

“Seo-yeon, how about you return to the sickroom after your work hours at the Awakening Association and take care of Ga-eul? Just make sure to take turns with a 30-minute gap so that you don’t run into each other.

In this way, both of them will spend only half a day with the boy in the hospital room each day.

Miss Seoyeon, if you accept, I will assign you as few business trips beyond the dimensional gate as possible. ”

“A visit that lasts half a day. If that happens, the patient’s treatment―”

Jin Wol-hee immediately refuted, but the association president cut her off.

“Dr. Jinwolhee, as you know, the condition of the Autumn Army has now entered a stable phase.

If we look at it one by one as you said, there is no need for a half-day meeting time, so there is no need for a half-day consultation time. Isn’t that right? ”

“… … .”

The two women still looked dissatisfied, but they were listening to the words of the association president, who was the mediator. Little by little, a hint of compromise began to appear in their eyes.

After the association president finally shut his mouth, Lee Seo-yeon and Jin Wol-hee continued their standoff for a while, glaring at each other before slowly turning their heads to look at the association president.

Their expressions were still filled with various negative emotions, including anger, but at the same time, they also showed a look of resignation that there was nothing they could do.

The reason is that they realized that they could not easily get rid of each other due to the association president’s persuasion and threats.

Even if they kill each other here or somewhere else, the fact of the murder cannot be completely hidden as long as there is social status between them.

However, they cannot reveal each other’s weaknesses, such as cannibalism or memory manipulation that is currently in progress. The moment one of them tells the boy the truth, the other one will also use all means at their disposal to reveal the other’s taboo.

The president of the association added his final words to the two silent women.

“This is the best. If we don’t reach an agreement, it will just be a fight to the death, and in that case, the only ending that awaits us is death or destruction.

Can’t both of them make this much of a concession for the child and themselves? ”

… … … … …

The association president let out a sigh of relief as he saw Jin Wol-hee and Lee Seo-yeon nodding.

“That’s a wise choice. Now we just have to decide on the final rules we have to follow.”

As soon as the president of the association spoke, Jin Wol-hee spoke first. Her voice was cold and sharp.

“Of course, boy… … Manipulating the patient’s memories should be absolutely prohibited. For the sake of the patient’s mental health.”

After saying that, Jin Wol-hee looked straight at Lee Seo-yeon and opened her mouth again.

“Adding a little more, it would also be nice to be able to prevent anyone with the ability to harm the mind of a helpless patient from approaching him.”

At her words, Lee Seo-yeon’s eyes narrowed. A smile that concealed her anger appeared on her lips, and she continued to accept Jin Wol-hee’s words without giving up.

“Then, of course, we should not tolerate the act of preying on patients. Shouldn’t we maintain ethics as humans before doctors?

… … Oh, so it’s not like some people don’t need to follow ethics because they’re not human, right? ”

The two glared at each other, exchanging sharp glances. The hostility they held toward each other was almost tangible in their eyes.

The association president quickly stepped between the two again to control the tension that was rising to the point of explosion.

“That’s right. Both of you are right. Any action that harms that child will not be tolerated.”

Lee Seo-yeon spoke again.

“And harming each other should also be prohibited. Of course, it’s okay if someone’s teeth accidentally fall out, right?”

Jin Wol-hee clenched her teeth for a moment, but soon nodded.

“I agree. And we should never reveal each other’s secrets to the patient.

For example, there may be an instance in the past where someone has used their powers to cause psychological harm to a patient. ”

The association president nodded. His expression clearly showed the fatigue he had not been able to hide.

“All good suggestions. I hope you all follow these rules. If you break them… … there will be fatal consequences.”