episode_0077

24. What’s Left at the End (2)

After that, I continued to walk around, helping and treating people who had fallen.

Thinking that there might be something left that we don’t know about.

To find clues that might reveal where all those people went, or any hazards that the suspicious person might have left behind.

We explored as quickly as possible with Hyunseok, but we found no clues or dangers.

” This is the end now. ”

” Charlotte worked hard too. ”

” He just left… That’s even stranger. ”

” I think so too. If you were going to leave, you could have just left instead of staying. Why on earth did you say you were going to stay? ”

” That’s why I’m saying it’s strange. Isn’t it more suspicious to go like this? He didn’t just leave, he used his powers on the people he was managing. ”

” Sure, you could just go. ”

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out the reason.

Why on earth did that person pretend to listen to Yeonwoo unnie’s opinion?

And I didn’t understand why he suddenly left.

‘ The only thing I can guess is… what you said to me… ‘

What on earth did he mean when he said, “If we ever meet again, don’t stop me?”

No matter how hard I racked my brain, it felt like something was holding my thoughts back and I was just going around in circles.

As I kept thinking like that, my head started to hurt, but at that moment, I felt someone stroking my head and looked ahead.

Hyunseok hugs me and strokes my head.

” Tongue…Hyunseok? Why are you like that all of a sudden? ”

” I think you’re worrying too much. How are you? Are you okay now? ”

” Thank you. Haa, no matter how much I think about it, it seems like the strange things just keep increasing. ”

” Shall we go back first? I think it would be better to talk to other people rather than thinking among ourselves. ”

” Okay, let’s do that. There’s no point in being here anyway. ”

We greeted the people still around and entered the building.

And there, standing with her older sister Yeonwoo, was Yeonseo.

*****

” Sister, are you feeling better now? ”

” Yeah, I can hold out somehow. But more than that… ”

Yeonwoo unnie started to laugh slightly after seeing Hyunseok and I holding each other’s hands tightly.

” Uh… Sister? ”

” Oh, sorry. Sorry. I just thought, youth is youth. Hoo, shall we get to the point? In a little while, I’ll have everyone… gather at the theater in the library area. ”

” And you’re saying you’ll show it to me? ”

” Yeah. Haa, honestly, I still don’t know if this is right. Of course, I also know that it’s not something I should just let go of… ”

” Yeonwoo, I know how you feel, but he’s made a big decision, and we just think that the best way to help him through his final moments is to do so. ”

” Jinseok… But…! ”

” Sister. It’s already over. If that guy was going to quit because of this, he would have already quit. ”

” Yeah, I guess so. Haa, just rest until people come. I’ll do a separate broadcast or something. ”

After saying that, Yeonwoo said she had to make preparations with Jinseok Kim and left.

We also went to our room and started moving because we had a lot to talk about.

” So did you find anything? ”

On the way to the room, Yeonseo turned her head slightly and asked us,

” No, it was really clean and there was nothing. ”

” Really? Should I say that’s fortunate? I thought there would be a trap. ”

” Well, I guess I should be thankful that there was nothing dangerous. But it’s also suspicious that the traces of people leaving are so clean. ”

” Suspicious? ”

She stopped moving her legs, turned around, and approached me.

” Yeah, think about it. It’s like you left in a hurry, right? But you left so cleanly without leaving anything behind. Isn’t that strange? ”

” Sure… there are people who always take their stuff with them, but that doesn’t mean ‘everyone’ is like that. ”

” Right, that’s why it’s weird. It’s like, ‘someone gave the order’ to make sure there were no mistakes. ”

Yeonseo said as she looked at the large glass window that showed people moving outside.

” There were people walking around there like that right now, and I had to use my powers on them to get out… Wait…! ”

Suddenly, as if something had occurred to her, Yeonseo quickly moved her body, and Hyunseok and I followed behind her.

” Hurry up, we have to move! ”

When Hyunseok asked what he meant by that,

” Think about it! There were guys associated with that religious group, right? Those guys were saying that we killed a child, not a demon. ”

” Right. So to show that it’s not that, the old man… No way?! ”

” That’s right, those guys set a double trap. They pretended to agree with my sister’s words and bought us time to get away from them.

After that, I made you come out again in a quiet situation! And the reason is…! ”

As I listened to Yeonseo speak, one person came to mind and I opened my mouth.

” Are you thinking of getting rid of that old man!? ”

” Right… If, say, you show the old man eating that… candy and turning into a demon, then eventually people will realize they were wrong. ”

” And… if the old man disappears, then they can’t tell you the truth, so they might have changed the candy somewhere else, or maybe something else at that time, but anyway! So you’re saying that you can’t stop them from doing their work? ”

” Yeah! ”

” But weren’t Mr. Lee Seok-hyun or other people guarding the old man’s side? ”

While running, Yeonseo shook her head from side to side.

” That’s… Everyone left the room because the old man wanted to be alone… ”

” What?! What are you talking about! ”

” I can’t help it! It’s the last time, so I can’t not grant those requests…! ”

As I was running, I heard a scream from a little distance away.

” Is it too late!? ”

Hyunseok let out a sigh, but soon he saw Lee Seok-hyeon swinging a hammer made of rock.

” Seokhyun hyung?! ”

” What? Is it Hyunseok? Why are you so late? ”

” No, but why are you here, hyung? ”

” Oh, that’s… My wife had a ring that she was wearing, but I forgot to give it to her. So I came here and this is what happened. ”

He scratched his head and then quickly swung his hammer at the approaching demon, while Hyunseok moved quickly.

” Hey, are you okay? ”

” Oh. I’ve already put up a wall, so it’ll be okay. ”

” Okay. Charlotte and Yeonseo, go to the old man quickly! My brother and I will block this place. ”

So the two of them started to push the demons out of the room one by one, and Yeonseo and I entered the room where the old man was.

” Mister! ”

” Ah… is that a young lady?! ”

His voice coming from inside the cylindrical walls made of rock.

” Are you okay? ”

” It’s just a little scratch. What about those people…? ”

” Yes? People? Who are you talking about? ”

” Ah, that’s the devil. ”

” If it’s that demon, don’t worry and come out, since two men have already gone to take it out. ”

Yeonseo knocked on the wall, and it collapsed with a ‘crunch’ sound, and inside was an old man holding his bleeding arm.

I approached him and asked him while treating him.

” The people the old man mentioned… Did you know them by any chance? ”

” Yes, that’s right. They were people I was quite close with. They suddenly knocked on the door and asked to have one last conversation before leaving.

But the moment I opened the door, I felt something strange. How did they know I was here?

The girl over there said earlier, ‘We’re the only ones who know what’s going on here, so don’t worry and just get some rest.’ That’s what she said. ”

” That’s right. To prove it… I need you, sir. ”

” Haha, don’t make that face. It’s something I’ve already decided. Anyway, those words came to mind and I immediately locked the door, but soon I heard the sound of something being eaten and then, well, I see, I get it. ”

” Haa, you tried to use someone you know to make people let their guard down… But how did you find out? ”

Since we left that group, the old man has been with us.

And yet knowing the location…

” Sir, do you have any candy? ”

” Yeah, I said I’d keep it since I’m going to eat it anyway. ”

” Maybe… maybe it’s because of that. It’s in there… ”

” Indeed, if that’s the case, then I understand. ”

When the sound from outside disappeared, Yeonseo slowly opened the door, stuck her face out slightly, and began to check the hallway, then nodded.

Not long after, Hyunseok and Seokhyun Lee came in.

” Sir, are you okay? ”

” It’s okay. I didn’t even say thank you for saving me. ”

” Haha! That’s okay. But those guys… this came out of their arms. ”

As he said this, he took a small wooden box out of his bosom and threw it at me.

” This is…! ”

When I opened the box, there was nothing inside.

But within it, I could feel the very subtle presence of the evil god, Thanatos.

” I see, it looks like it’s the thing that was used to store candy. What do you think? ”

” Yes, that’s right. I can feel the energy. ”

” Really? Then do you want to see this too? ”

This time, Hyunseok handed me the box he was holding.

This time it was a fairly large box, and it still contained a few candies.

Of course, the box and the candy gave me energy.

” Sigh, how many of them do you carry around? Seriously…! ”

As I was closing the box again and handing it to Hyunseok, Yeonwoo’s voice flowed out from the speaker installed in the room along with a knocking sound.

[Please gather at the theater in the library as we have an important conversation to attend.]

[ Let me say this again. It is now the time I announced earlier, so everyone, please come to the theater in the library. I have something important to tell you. ]

And when the broadcast ended, the old man who was sitting on the chair receiving treatment opened his mouth.

” Finally… what was to come… has come… ”

He was looking at us with such a determined expression.

He had lost everything he loved, but his time had come to give his life.