Chapter 108: An Unfamiliar Ceiling

Omega is dead?

Hex could sense it.

The severance of Omega’s life signal.

He accepted the conclusion for now. However, the process was unacceptable.

It wasn’t that the prepared escape route had become useless just because he couldn’t finish the fight before the drug’s effects wore off.

He couldn’t even run away and his lifeline was severed.

This is indeed a puzzling situation.

Knowing Omega’s obsession with staying alive and the effort he put into this decisive battle, Hex’s expression, unusually, showed a tinge of surprise.

The possibility that he simply made a mistake and lost is too slim. Even if he made a mistake, his body could have compensated.

In any case, with Omega’s outcome, the central axis was shattered and Juyeon had found freedom.

The Monsters rampaging on the Uninhabited Island were rapidly undergoing the process of disappearing.

“Hmm…”

Hex cleaned his glasses and put them back on.

He continued his contemplation.

Where did the hole appear? What did I miss? With current technology, his resistance can’t be developed any further.

A desire to retrieve Omega’s corpse and perform an autopsy surged, but if he approached now, he would encounter an extremely sensitive Juyeon.

I’ll have to give up.

In the first place, Juyeon wasn’t the type of soft-hearted person to leave Omega’s corpse intact.

It was highly likely that it had already been burned.

─ Whoosh…

Hex gave an order to the marine monster he was riding, widening the distance further.

He quietly watched the Uninhabited Island.

Was Juyeon hiding her skills all this time? Or a special Artifact?

There might have been flaws in the data he had been investigating for so long.

“…”

If he were to form a hypothesis, there were too many possibilities for an answer to emerge.

He needed more information.

Then, ultimately, there was only one answer.

I’ll have to visit Black Hand.

Black Hand, the Organization that ruled the shadows along with Reverse Praise Society.

Hex decided to meet the heads who ruled the place.

The two Organizations were in a symbiotic relationship.

Despite being giant Organizations that divided the shadows, they were leading the underworld without any conflict.

This itself was certainly unusual, but the reason why the owners of the underworld, sensitive to profit and staking their lives on shares, were free from conflict and discord was simple.

The heads of Reverse Flow Adoration and Black Hand revered a single being like a deity.

Because they were followers who worshipped the same being and aimed for the same goal, they understood each other.

If it benefited that being, the followers wouldn’t even haggle over sharing information.

Perhaps the term religious group was more appropriate than Organization.

Rohan felt his Consciousness floating and swimming.

Somewhere, whether it was space or underwater, he wasn’t sure.

Within his dark Consciousness with his eyes closed.

Information was embedded as if urging him to see it quickly.

He’s dead. That idiot… Serves him right.

It was an achievement he’d never seen before. He liked that the meaning was clear.

The Main Story must have been greatly distorted, but for now, he was relieved.

And the moment he felt at ease.

As if warning him not to be relieved yet, the notification window went into a seizure.

Was it because the upcoming events had twisted due to Omega dying on the Uninhabited Island?

It was advertising its malfunction for all to see.

If Rohan were alright, he might have slammed his fist against the notification window. Bam! Bam!

…

The seizure that had been scrambling the letters finally stopped.

The characters recombined repeatedly, creating a proper notification window.

A burdensome and grandiose sentence.

A notification window with an unknown meaning he’d never seen before.

Video… Even if I watch it now, it won’t register.

With the last notification window, Rohan opened his eyelids.

“…”

An unfamiliar ceiling.

But right next to him was a familiar figure.

He could also see the IV drip connected to him, flowing into his body.

“Instructor…?”

“You’ve regained consciousness. Are you uncomfortable or in pain anywhere?”

“My friends…”

“All three are safe. You need to take care of yourself first.”

“I’m… fine.”

It wasn’t because she was Juyeon, but anyone could see Rohan wasn’t fine.

His gaze was unfocused and he lacked his usual vigor. His voice was so weak it could only be called a murmur.

His mental strength seems to have plummeted.

According to Ichinose and Noa’s testimonies, he had been subjected to what could be amounted to torture.

It wouldn’t be strange for him to lose his mind from exhaustion.

To make a cadet experience the horrors of torture…

Juyeon suppressed the rising self-loathing and sigh, and imprinted the facts on Rohan.

“This is the Transport Ship Medical Room. Do you understand?”

“Ah, I see… Transport Ship Medical Room…”

“…”

At Rohan’s blank stare, Juyeon couldn’t speak easily.

Should she apologize first for not fulfilling her role as an Instructor properly, or should she say she was relieved he was safe?

Seeing Juyeon unable to hide her complex emotions, Rohan spoke.

“Instructor.”

“Yes, speak.”

“You look tired.”

“…”

At Rohan’s words and weak smile, Juyeon felt her breath catch in her throat.

Rohan called out again.

“Instructor.”

“…Yes.”

“Please don’t blame yourself.”

“Blame myself…?”

“This incident… isn’t your fault, Instructor.”

“!”

Rohan’s weakly muttered words pierced her heart more strongly than anything else.

Was he talking about her late arrival, or the unresolved relationship from the past?

From Rohan’s perspective, it was probably the former, but somehow, it felt like it encompassed all time.

Juyeon was ashamed to admit that those simple words lightened her heart.

“Thank you for saying that. And… I’m sorry I was late.”

“You weren’t late, Instructor. I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

“…”

Looking at Rohan, Juyeon had a fleeting thought.

He was quite articulate for someone half-conscious.

“Rohan.”

“Yes…”

“I heard the testimony. Why did you rush at the enemy like that? Didn’t you think of stalling for time by talking?”

It was not that she wanted to blame him.

Juyeon simply wanted to know what Rohan was thinking.

“Hmm…”

Rohan groaned at Juyeon’s question.

Then, as if recalling a certain time, he shifted his gaze to the ceiling and murmured.

“That monstrous person… enjoyed tormenting and breaking others.”

“…”

“It was a familiar, primal expression that I’d seen several times before. He probably wanted to see me break down the more I struggled. He would have considered giving up and killing me then and there a defeat.”

There was no need to ask where he had seen such a person.

Even if she didn’t know Rohan’s past, she already knew where he came from.

“So, knowing what you would be subjected to… you rushed in willingly?”

“It was a gamble, in a way.”

Rohan didn’t deny it. Instead, he grinned as if satisfied with the outcome.

Juyeon couldn’t bring herself to praise him for that.

Rohan’s actions seemed as precarious as tightrope walking.

She was even afraid that it would lead to an unfavorable outcome overnight.

“Rohan. It’s ridiculous for me to say this, considering I failed to prevent the situation, but… cherish your life.”

Perhaps because they were talking, his consciousness was becoming clearer.

Rohan began to speak with a confident voice.

“Instructor. I don’t want to die either.”

“Your actions don’t give me much confidence in that statement. If you had misstepped even once, you might have actually died.”

Juyeon’s stern tone clearly conveyed her genuine concern.

This feeling was precious to Rohan. He thought he was right to step forward. He had no regrets.

“Instructor, isn’t there at least one thing you hate more than dying?”

“…”

“I can’t bear to see my friends get hurt. Besides, this is all I can do… Ow!!!”

Juyeon’s hand pinched Rohan’s cheek.

He was admirable. But she couldn’t encourage his self-sacrifice with praise.

“Do you think an instructor would be impressed by a cadet saying that?”

Rohan’s attitude was one of accepting a short life if he lacked strength.

She worried he would jump into trouble even after returning to Academy City.

“I-Instructor! I’m a patient! A patient!”

“Ha…”

Sighing, Juyeon released her hand.

Knowing she couldn’t stop him made her feel even more helpless. People with this mindset always acted before thinking.

Telling him not to do dangerous things wouldn’t work.

…

Just like her dearly missed younger brother.

“Go back to sleep. Once the other cadets’ treatments and examinations are finished, we’ll return to Academy City immediately.”

“Is everyone alright?”

“No fatalities, no serious injuries. Everyone has minor injuries. We came equipped with medical facilities superior to most hospitals, so treatment will be finished quickly.”

“Oh! That’s a relief.”

“I’ll hear the rest of the details once we get back.”

As Juyeon stood up, about to leave, Rohan remembered something and stopped her.

“Instructor.”

“Hmm?”

“Um… I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention to my friends that I knew I’d be hurt when I stepped forward.”

“Why?”

Juyeon’s lips curved upwards.

Her beautiful smile somehow made him uneasy, but Rohan spoke his mind.

“I think this kind of thing becomes a matter of pride the moment the true intentions are known.”

Take Ichinose, for example.

She hated being protected during their time on the uninhabited island. She wanted to be seen as a capable individual.

Moreover, Noa undoubtedly possessed an even stronger pride than Ichinose.

When they faced Omega, even if Rohan had explained the situation and offered to step forward, they definitely wouldn’t have accepted it.

They would have considered it shameful to survive at the expense of someone else.

After listening to Rohan’s detailed explanation, Juyeon nodded in admiration.

“You seem to understand Ichinose Yui and Noa Frozenheart well. It’s a wonderful friendship.”

“Thank you.”

A brief silence.

Juyeon let out a soft chuckle and gave Rohan a regretful answer.

“It’s a kind thought, and I would like to keep my mouth shut, but I can’t keep that promise.”

“…?”

“Your mind must still be hazy. You didn’t even notice this.”

Maintaining her smile, Juyeon extended a finger.

She pressed it against Rohan’s cheek, turning his head to the other side.

Between the gently swaying curtain, he could see Corin sleeping soundly in bed.

And next to her, sitting and watching, were Ichinose and Noa.

Their heads were clearly turned towards them.