episode_0074

23. Those who leave and those who stay (4)

In the end, we decided to go to where Yeonwoo unnie was.

Rather than going to the room we were in before, we needed to meet Yeonwoo as Yeonseo had said and talk to the child’s father.

But when we realized that we were being looked at by quite a few different people and contacted Yeonwoo, we decided to split the team into two.

So Yeonseo and Seojin went first, and I, Hyunseok, and Jinhee went together.

” Sister, are you okay? ”

” Yeah! Thanks to you guys coming so quickly, no one else got hurt too badly. Thank you so much. ”

” No. By the way, have you not heard from Seok-Hyeon yet? ”

Sister Jinhee touched the device, then looked at me and shrugged her shoulders.

” There’s nothing. Isn’t that strange? For those who have been left behind, we have been arranging the deceased at the designated incense burner, but there is no news about that person. ”

” Certainly… a little strange. Why is there no news about that woman? ”

I also had doubts about what Jinhee and Hyeonseok said.

If the bodies of those who were attacked by the devil were not found in a separate place… there is a high probability that they are alive.

But that doesn’t mean… I was concerned that I wasn’t with that man.

” First, let’s quickly go to where Yeonwoo unnie is. Then we’ll find out after we talk to each other. ”

The one who has the key is, of course, that man.

I headed to where Yeonwoo was to meet him.

*****

The place where Unnie Yeonwoo was was in the office building where office work was done.

” Are you here? ”

Yeonseo saw us coming and came closer, saying something and nodding in a direction.

There was a middle-aged man sitting there blankly.

” Is that guy that guy? ”

” Yeah, I just regained consciousness. Just in case, could you take a look? ”

” Yeah. ”

I approached him because I was afraid that if he had any wounds that might have hindered our conversation in the future, it would be difficult.

” Hello? My name is Charlotte. Can I see if you’re hurt or anything? ”

The old man, who opened his eyes wide in surprise at the sight of me suddenly appearing, slowly nodded his head.

” Okay, then, excuse me for a moment. ”

I spread my divine power over his body to check for any injuries and if there was any… evil spirit energy.

Fortunately, he only had minor wounds on his body, so they were treated immediately, and the evil spirit’s energy was no longer present in his body.

Yes, it didn’t exist in his ‘body’, but I felt the evil spirit’s energy in his arms.

” Sir, have you ever touched or received any strange pills or anything like that? ”

He nodded as if to ask how I knew, and then showed me something that looked like a ‘bright red candy’.

” I got this from a lady. Before I saw people become demons… ”

” I see. This is dangerous. Can I take it? ”

” Yeah, I guess that would be great. But… I think I’ve seen this before. ”

Everyone in the office building turned their heads toward him at the mention of having seen him.

Perhaps feeling a little burdened by that gaze, he lowered his head and sobbed.

” My… my kid… bragged a while ago… that some old man gave him some candy… and it was exactly the same candy he saw back then. ”

” Did the child receive candy? ”

” Yeah, it was the exact same shape and color as the candy I gave you. So when I received it earlier, I remembered it… ”

After that, he started calling his daughter’s name without stopping and shedding tears.

I just thought it would be better to leave him alone for now so he could vent his feelings, so I patted his shoulder and returned to where Hyunseok and everyone else were.

*****

” How was it? ”

When Hyunseok came to me and asked, I turned my head again and looked at him crying before answering.

” First of all… Yeonwoo unnie, let’s go somewhere where we can meet up separately. ”

” Then, I think it would be better to go to that room. While you were talking to that old man, Seok-Hyeon said he found out some news about his wife. ”

” Before that, how are people doing now? ”

” Huhㅡ Don’t be ridiculous. There are people who want to leave the settlement, and that’s causing a big problem right now. Some people are trying to stop them from leaving with that group. ”

” Really? Sister, then let’s put off talking among ourselves for now and meet up with them and talk. I think we can talk after we stabilize the settlement. ”

After hearing what I said, Yeonwoo thought for a moment, then closed her eyes for a moment as if she had made up her mind, and then opened her mouth.

” Yeah, you might be right. I think I’ll feel better if I talk to those people and come to a conclusion. ”

Sister Yeonwoo got up from her seat and led us to the place where the people who were leaving the group were.

People were now gathered at the main entrance of the museum, ready to leave.

They saw Yeonwoo and us approaching, and soon several people came over.

” As I said before, we are leaving. So please don’t stop us. ”

” Where are you going? Considering the current situation, please think about it more slowly… ”

” Ah! Well! We don’t want to be here anymore?! I thought the devil wouldn’t come, but he came anyway and I got this sickening feeling, how can we! ”

Yeonwoo seemed slightly startled by the middle-aged man’s sudden shout and shrank back, her shoulders shaking.

But soon, he turned his back and opened his mouth again as if nothing had happened.

” I’m not asking you to stay in our settlement. I’m just asking you to stay here a little longer and at least hold the funerals of those who passed away before you leave. ”

” Ahem… ”

The man who shouted at those words coughed slightly, looking slightly embarrassed, and disappeared into the crowd of people.

But at the same time, a person wearing a ‘suspicious robe’ appeared.

Because the hood was pulled down low, I couldn’t tell much about his appearance, but judging by the wrinkles on his hands and lower body, he looked like he was quite old.

” Are you the one who manages this settlement? I’ve heard your story. ”

When he pointed to himself, Yeonwoo looked at him and asked.

” Are you…? ”

” I am just an old man passing by. I just wanted to say something… I came forward like this. ”

” So… what are you trying to say? ”

” First, I will stay until the funeral as you said. But after that, I will leave this place, so please do not stop me. ”

” I don’t know what you do to say something like that, but I don’t think other people will listen to you… ”

At that moment, I heard people’s voices around me.

” If it’s what the elders say, there’s nothing I can do. ”

” Well, I guess we have to hold a funeral, right? ”

Unlike what Yeonwoo unnie said, people started saying that they wouldn’t leave until the funeral was held one by one.

” What the… What the heck is this… ”

” Then, I will take it that you agree. And your lady. ”

When I was wary of his sudden call to me, he smiled heartily and spoke to me.

” You don’t have to be so cautious. I just want to tell you this. ”

” What are you talking about… ”

” If we ever meet again, don’t stop me. ”

I felt something pouring out of me as he spoke.

At that feeling, I checked my body, but no symptoms or energy appeared, so I looked at him, but he had already disappeared from before me.

” What the…? What the heck? ”

As I was looking around like that, Yeonwoo, who was next to me, grabbed my shoulder and asked.

” Charlotte? What’s wrong? What’s wrong? ”

” Hey, where did that weird robed guy in front of me go? ”

But Yeonwoo tilted her head as if she didn’t know what he was saying.

” What are you talking about? There was no such person, was there? ”

” Yes…? But just now…! ”

” Anyway, since the story is over, let’s go back. Okay? ”

After that, everyone else, including Yeonwoo, turned around and headed towards the office building.

I stood there and looked around again because the sight was so strange.

But when I looked around again, I couldn’t see that person anymore, and I was left with only an uneasy feeling.

” What the heck… is going on? ”

Eventually, I decided that the problem wouldn’t be solved by just standing there, so I had no choice but to go back to where everyone else was.

*****

When I came back, Lee Seok-Hyeon was back and talking to the old man.

He noticed that we were back and turned around, motioning for us to come over.

” Seokhyun, did you find out anything? ”

When Jinseok asked, Lee Seok-hyeon nodded and said.

” Oh. That’s why I was talking to you a little bit. So, sir, what I saw was correct? ”

” Oh, oh yeah. My wife’s… appearance is right… ”

” Seok-Hyeon, what did you see? ”

When Hyunseok asked him, he took a deep breath, leaned against the window, crossed his arms, and said.

” I searched the bodies inside the settlement with other team members, but the lady wasn’t there. So I went outside! To make sure it was safe.

Then, I found that there were also corpses of people near the forest to the east, so I took a few people to check it out. ”

He stopped talking, took something out of his bosom, unfolded it, and began to show it to us.

It was a piece of clothing soaked in blood.

But if there’s something peculiar…

” The demon that appeared this time. There were traces of having been attacked by a lycanthrope. And upon further investigation, there were no traces of resistance.

That means you got hit by someone you know. Yes, by those impersonators…! ”

With those words, the mood in the office suddenly became tense.

When on earth did they start coming here? And are they really… all gone?