episode_0128

42. The traitor’s name is (2)

” Tell me. How is the story that Yeongwol told different from the story I told? ”

Ji-seong Oppa took a deep breath slowly and asked me in a slightly trembling voice.

His voice trembled, and it seemed as if there were two emotions mixed in it: his trust in his friend and his doubts about his friend. His eyes, looking at me, were also trembling slightly.

‘I’m sorry, oppa, but… if you think about the culprit based on the clues I’ve gathered so far… ‘

I took a deep breath, looked at my brother, and opened my mouth.

” First of all, as I said earlier, my brother said that the person he was dealing with was a ‘returner’, but he said that person was a ‘hybrid between a human and a demon’.

After my brother defeated the opponent, he said that a ‘man in a robe’ appeared, but he said that the fallen opponent ‘squeezed my brother’s hand.’ After that, he said that he saved my brother. ”

” Why did you say that… Yeongwol… ”

” And the glass walls made of crystals that we saw when we started exploring were surrounding the building, and the traces of crystals that were seen in the buildings that were damaged by crystals and in the bodies we found.

If you think about all these points together, there is only one answer. I feel sorry for you, but… your friend Choi Young-wol. That person is the culprit. ”

As soon as the word criminal came out, my brother looked at me with an expression of disbelief, kept mumbling his friend’s name, Choi Young-wol, and then started hitting his forehead with his fist.

We, who were watching him, could only watch quietly until he opened his mouth.

Because we all understand, it would be hard for anyone to immediately believe that their best friend was a murderer who betrayed them and brutally killed people.

Brother Ji-seong stopped hitting his forehead with his fist, sighed deeply, and looked at me.

” So, you’re saying that Yeongwol is the ‘culprit’ in this situation? ”

” Yeah. I think so. First of all, the person who leads the important team called the reconnaissance team, the team leader, took important actions without even reporting to Sister Ji-ah.

Sister. You said you got a message from me saying you should move first because you got the information, right? ”

Sister Zia nodded slowly and showed us the message that had been transmitted on the device she was holding.

” That’s right. Just like you’re seeing now. ”

” But no one knows what that information is. And on the way there, the reconnaissance team was ambushed and lost contact. Secondly, his ability was clearly ‘the ability to manipulate crystals.’ ”

When I asked my brother Ji-seong to confirm, he nodded his head helplessly and answered that it was true.

” Okay, if his powers involve manipulating crystals… then the glass walls surrounding these buildings and the bodies left behind suggest that he used his powers.

Lastly… why did he send the signal now? If he wasn’t the culprit, he should have contacted them when the recon team was raided. But he didn’t, and he sent the signal now.

And that too, in a location close to ‘Namsan Tower’. ”

” Yeah, that’s right… phew… ”

Ji-sung took a deep breath and went outside, saying he needed some time to gather his thoughts, and I could only watch him.

I’d like to help him somehow, but what he needs right now is time to gather his thoughts, like he said.

A warm hand caresses my head as I watch him leave.

” Don’t worry. If it’s you, hyung… he’ll be back soon. But Charlotte, assuming what you said is true, what should we do now? What does Sister Jia think? ”

” Okay, I guess I should change my plans in that direction now. ”

My sister took out her device, unfolded a map of where the signal had appeared, and began to plan her strategy, telling us what she thought.

Everyone was talking seriously, but I couldn’t concentrate.

Because I was so worried about Ji-seong oppa who left.

*****

” Damn it! ”

Yuji Seong gets angry and uses his telekinesis to throw the debris from the collapsed building on the ground far away.

My brother’s story wouldn’t leave my mind.

Choi Young-wol, who had been his best friend, betrayed him and killed the people he loved so mercilessly.

I couldn’t believe it. That’s understandable, Choi Young-wol and I have known each other for 25 years. We have been together since elementary school, without hiding anything from each other.

I don’t know about anything else, but I thought I knew Choi Young-wol the best, but that belief has been shattered.

‘No, Yeongwol can’t do that… It’s definitely something else…’

Why did he betray me while being angry and at the same time without me knowing? Since when?

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

The only thing that is suspicious is… the day he lost consciousness due to the fragment of divinity that his younger brother spoke of.

Certainly, there was no other time like that, when we were headed in the exact opposite direction.

Because we had been drinking and talking to each other until then.

[ I think you’re amazing. You’re leading the wandering people in this crumbling world. ]

[ But it’ll be hard for you to carry everything on your own. So I’ll help you. We’re friends, right? ]

At that time, after the conversation, he had been unconscious until recently, so he had not seen Choi Young-wol since that day.

If he hadn’t lost consciousness… he would have definitely noticed something strange.

” Phew, nothing will change even if I say so here. In the end, we have no choice but to meet in person. ”

As he turned his body towards the tent, one question kept coming to his mind.

‘Choi Young-wol, what on earth are you hiding from me?’

*****

” So now, let’s just follow this road… ”

‘Is oppa okay? No, I don’t think anything will change even if I worry…’

Even though my sister was explaining the schedule for the future, I couldn’t focus and soon after, I felt a ‘poke’ on my cheek and when I looked up, Yeonseo was frowning at me.

” Haa, I know what you’re thinking. But, I’m planning a strategy based on your opinion right now, so focus. Don’t just ignore me, unnie. ”

” Haha, Yeonseo, you do it for me without me saying anything. ”

” Sorry, you’re right. I gave my opinion, so I need to focus. I’m sorry, too, unnie. ”

My sister said it was okay, and touched the device to tell me the story again.

First, he plans to finish exploring the building across the street today, take a break, and then head straight to where Choi Young-wol’s signal appeared tomorrow. He plans to use his abilities and Yeonseo’s summons to explore the area.

” Isn’t your sister’s ability something that is explored with you at the center? ”

” That’s how it’s usually used. But, when you go on a long-distance exploration like this, you can apply it a little differently. You can search around people who have my hair.

Well, after using it for a long time, it became possible to apply it in various ways. ”

” Aha, so you’re going to tie your sister’s hair to Yeonseo’s summons and send it to check? Yeonseo, are you okay? ”

In response to my words, Yeonseo confidently placed both hands on her hips and smiled.

” Ha! Of course. What do you think of me? In the past, my opponent was Archlich, who had more knowledge than me, but now it’s not me back then, it’s this. Got it? You don’t have to worry about this much. ”

” Then, that’s fortunate. ”

While we were talking like that, my brother came back.

” Sorry, I had to gather my thoughts a bit. Where are we now? ”

” I just adjusted my schedule. I’ll tell you later. ”

Sister Jia stood up, saying that she would tell us more later and that today’s goal was to explore the building across the street.

We also got up from our seats following our sister, and Ji-seong oppa saw us and smiled.

” Okay, let’s finish quickly and rest. What’s important is where we’re going tomorrow. ”

I went back up to the building that used to be a department store and crossed the wooden bridge to the building on the other side.

The moment you enter there, the unpleasant smell of dried blood and rotting corpses assaults your nostrils.

As everyone started to block their noses, Hyunseok oppa used his power to circulate the air before he could take his hands off his nose, and just as I was about to enter through the hole in the wall!

” Sister…? ”

” Wait. You can’t go in yet. ”

I noticed my sister’s words telling me not to go in while shaking my head from side to side and sent my divine power into the building.

‘ Yeah, that’s right… ‘

As I let out my divine power, I felt the energy of Thanatos. I could feel fragments of divinity.

Clearly, this feeling is… the feeling of the people who turned into demons that I saw in the Mokdong settlement.

” There are quite a few. First… Yeonseo and I will check… ”

” No, it seems like they already noticed us. Jia, you go back. Yeonseo, I’ll ask you. ”

” Yes, Sister, come this way. ”

Yeonseo quickly summoned her summons while simultaneously creating a small wall to protect herself and her sister. Her sister nodded and headed to Yeonseo’s side.

And we…

” Okay, I’m feeling a little queasy, but should I really go wild? Jisoo. Is there anything I should be careful about? ”

” Huh… Huh? Me? ”

” Then who else is here besides you, Jisoo? ”

I was a little taken aback by Ji-sung oppa’s sudden action of calling my name… but now I could tell that he was accepting of the changed me.

Not the ‘Yoo Ji-seok’ of the past, but the ‘Yoo Ji-su’ of the present.

” Oh, right. Yeah. There’s nothing you really need to be careful about… But be careful about touching it. Do you have a brooch? ”

” Of course. My little brother gave it to me~ Then, I’ll go first. I’ll go upstairs, so you guys do whatever you want. ”

With those words, my brother quickly ran forward and started to climb up, and Hyunseok and I made eye contact and headed down.

” Yeonseo, I’ll be back later. If anything happens, tell me! ”

It’s unclear whether the thing approaching us is a member of the reconnaissance team or someone who was sleeping here first.

I just hope that Mr. Dosik isn’t in that group.