episode_0076

24. What’s Left at the End (1)

” Are you really going to… do it? ”

” Yeah. ”

” Are you saying that you will do it even if death comes at the end? ”

” You don’t have to ask because I’ve already thought about it all myself. ”

” You don’t have to do it, sir! ”

I shouted at the man sitting in front of me.

A little while ago, an old man came to the place where we were talking. His name was Kim Dae-hyun.

A man who lost his wife and daughter to the devil.

But now he is a man willing to throw away his life.

” Think again! You don’t have to do that, sir! ”

” Miss, I’ve already lost everything. My wife and my daughter. ”

” But… ”

” And it’s also my fault that Garam Settlement is in its current state. ”

” It’s not because of you, sir. As I just told you, demons had already entered Garam Settlement disguised as humans, and the problem was the items brought by that religious group! ”

” Charlotte, calm down. ”

I was able to come to my senses at the sight of Hyunseok pulling me back as I got closer to the old man.

” I’m… sorry. I just wanted to tell you that it wasn’t your fault. ”

” It’s okay. It may not be my fault, like you said. But I’ve already made up my mind. ”

” I see. Okay, I understand. Let’s talk again when Yeonwoo unnie recovers. ”

” Miss, can you grant me one last favor? ”

As I was about to leave after hearing his decision, I turned around to look at him at the words of the old man who stopped me.

There he was, looking at me with a resigned expression, not regretting his decision.

” Please…? ”

” Yeah, if I eat that and turn into a demon, I want the young lady to finish me off. And if my body still remains, I want you to burn it with my wife. ”

Although he was speaking calmly, emotions such as resignation, sadness, and regret were overflowing.

” Okay, I’ll do that. Until then, get some rest. ”

” Thank you. ”

I left the room and started walking aimlessly.

It was so hard to see the old man trying to sacrifice himself,

And because other than that, there didn’t seem to be any way to resolve the current situation.

Feeling helpless and unable to do anything, I just walked towards the place I saw.

*****

I was walking aimlessly, feeling helpless and angry at myself for the situation that made it so the old man had no choice but to act that way, and before I knew it, I was in the garden behind the museum.

It was a messy garden, not properly managed like before, as society collapsed because of the tower and people struggled to survive inside it.

My heart, which had been ablaze with the sound of green plants taking root to survive within it, slowly calmed down.

” Haa, okay. It’s not like things will go back to how they were… ”

” What? ”

I was surprised to hear a reply to the monologue I had uttered because I thought I was alone, so I turned around and saw Hyunseok.

” Wow! That’s surprising. You followed me? ”

” Yeah, I said that because I thought you’d think useless things if I left you alone. ”

” Phew, no matter what, it’s not that neat, right? ”

” Really? You didn’t look like that when you left the room? ”

I was left speechless by his words that pierced through me, so I just took a deep breath and approached him.

” Then what should we do? Of course, that old man is right. Showing it to people directly will have a bigger impact. ”

” I guess so. ”

” But! In the end, what’s the point of doing that? You’ll end up dying yourself! ”

” Charlotte, you may think so, but it seems to me that you are trying to prevent others from experiencing the same pain as you did. ”

” What…? ”

Hyunseok’s words reminded me of the moment when I talked to the old man.

At that time, the old man’s expression was one of acceptance of everything. I thought he had given up, but… Hyunseok seemed to see it differently.

” Of course, it’s just my opinion. I might have judged it that way after seeing the old man’s resigned appearance, just to make myself feel better. ”

” Hyunseok… ”

” Only he knows his true feelings. However, we think that the only way to repay him is to fulfill his last request. ”

” Right…? But… still… this is too… sad…! Sob… ”

In a situation where he lost both his wife and daughter, it may seem noble to sacrifice one’s life to save others.

It was so sad that a person who had lost everything ended up losing his life as well.

If I had been a little stronger, if I had grown a little more and become capable of handling divinity, would his fate have been different?

But as the saying goes, the dice is already rolling, so there was nothing I could do for him except to be with his wife.

It was so frustrating and I was so sad about his death that I cried in Hyunseok’s arms.

As I felt the warmth of Hyunseok embracing me, I felt so sorry for him who had lost the warmth he received from his loved ones that my tears continued to flow.

*****

I was with Hyunseok in the garden where the sun was setting and the sunset was visible.

I must have fallen asleep from crying too much, because my head was resting on his lap, in what is called a lap pillow position.

Realizing that it was that position, I tried to get up, but because of the warm and cozy feeling, I lay there enjoying the feeling of his thigh even more.

” Are you awake? ”

” Yeah… Sorry… ”

” No, it was nice to see you sleeping? ”

At those words, I covered my face with both hands and said.

” But… I cried and my face was swollen… It must have been weird…! ”

” But I liked that face too. ”

” Oh my… Really… You speak so well now… ”

He caresses my forehead. At the feeling of his hand, I slowly lowered the hand covering my face and slowly looked at him.

” Of course. Because I like Charlotte. I can say it over and over again. I like her. ”

His smile, visible through the gap between his hands, and the words he spoke made my heart beat faster.

With a pressing sensation in the lower abdomen.

” I… Really! I’m so embarrassed…! ”

Startled by the strange sensation, I quickly got up from my seat and moved to turn around, and he also started to hold my hand in response to my movements.

” Is it okay if I hold your hand? ”

” Ugh… Ma… Do whatever you want…! ”

As I entered the building holding hands with him, Yeonseo was in front of me.

” You look good. ”

” Oh, so this is…! ”

At Yeonseo’s words, I quickly pulled Hyunseok’s hand away.

” It’s okay. I know everything, so why are you asking now? ”

” But… I’m sorry… ”

Yeonseo let go of his hand because she felt bad for spending her happy time alone when the settlement her older sister had built was collapsing and her older sister had collapsed, making it difficult for her.

However, Yeonseo said it was okay and put her hands back together with Hyunseok’s.

” You don’t have to be sorry. You should cherish it more because it’s a situation like this. I was with oppa until a little while ago anyway. ”

When I saw Yeonseo say that, her face was slightly red and she kept acting as if she was covering her neck with her hair.

But on her neck, which was not visible through her hair, there was a red, swollen mark that looked like something had bitten her.

I could roughly tell what it was like a little while ago, but now that I had someone I loved, I thought it would be rude to say what it meant, so I just looked at Yeonseo with a sly expression.

” Oh~ I see~ ”

” Ahem! I’ve heard the story before. ”

” Story? ”

” I’m talking about that candy. ”

” Oh, really? What did Yeonwoo unnie say? ”

” My sister… said no, but she agreed to Jinseok oppa’s persuasion. Of course, she still doesn’t like it… but what can I do? ”

” What about you? ”

” Me? I don’t care. It’s my choice anyway, and if it helps the settlement my sister built… Well, okay. ”

” I see… ”

When I lowered my head at Yeonseo’s words, she sighed, grabbed my cheek, and came closer.

” Hey, you bastard. I’m not that good either. But what can I do? It’s the best I can do right now. ”

” Yeah. I know. ”

Yeonseo let go of my cheek and looked around before asking us.

” Rather than that… I went outside after putting my sister to bed, and I think the noise from outside has died down a bit. ”

” What? What does that mean? ”

” So it seems like the number of people outside has decreased. ”

At those words, I ran to where the lake was.

And the people who were supposed to be there weren’t there.

” What the heck? What the heck…! ”

Apparently, they had asked those who were leaving to stay while the funeral was held, but they had disappeared.

I looked around and approached the guard who was standing there blankly.

” Hey! Where did all the people who were here earlier go? ”

” Oh my…. ”

” Damn it! I got it! ”

He quickly spread his divine power and created a sanctuary that surrounded the entire Garam settlement.

Then, black smoke was seen rising into the sky and disappearing here and there.

Perhaps… it was the work of the person who erased Hyunseok’s and everyone else’s memories.

” Hey! Are you awake? ”

” Huh? What was I… doing…? ”

” Where did all the people who were here go? ”

” Huh?! Oh, so… where did it go…?! ”

Looking at that scene, it seemed like asking the other people standing around blankly wouldn’t be able to tell them where the missing people were.

” Hey! What if you go alone? And why did you suddenly use your powers? ”

Hyunseok and Yeonseo, who had chased after me as I ran out first, asked me what on earth was going on.

” Haa, I got hit. ”

” What are you talking about, Charlotte? ”

” All the people who were trying to leave have disappeared. It seems like the people who were managing them don’t know when they left. ”

” What do you mean? Did you lose your memory? ”

When Yeonseo asked if he had lost his memory, Hyunseok continued, as if something had come to mind.

” Like the guy with the hood down earlier? ”

” Yeah, I guess he wrote first. ”

” Wait, what are you guys talking about? ”

Hyunseok said to Yeonseo that he didn’t know the answer.

” Yeonseo, didn’t you also lose your memory of the person who pressed down the hood and then come back? ”

” What? That… Now that I think about it… No way…?! ”

” Yeah, that guy must have used the numbers first to make us forget about ourselves while we were back in the building. And he left in the meantime. ”

” I have to tell my sister quickly. What are you guys going to do? ”

Hyunseok and I told Yeonseo, who was heading to the building, that we would stay behind and look around a bit more.

Also, I thought that the crowd might have left something behind with that person.

People who suddenly left, and those who stayed behind.

In a reality where everyone has disappeared, leaving only great scars that cannot be restored to their original state.

A man is waiting for his end.