episode_0021

Up to now, I’ve encountered various strange individuals, but that kid called Eunyugi stood out as distinctly violent among them. Of course, it’s not my place to comment on their aggressiveness. Perhaps the reflection of myself in someone else’s appearance might be just like that. However, that’s that, and this is this.

“Get lost!!”

“Ouch, ahh… That really hurts. Hello? Is the support team still far away?”

“No matter how much you call these bastards… they’re all the same, right? Just scram and get ready to be hit, you damn woman!”

Yerim dodged the chair thrown by Eunyugi and tried calling for backup on the walkie-talkie, but there was no response. Even amidst the random punches thrown in excitement, she ended up tumbling to the ground. Perhaps she was too worked up. She didn’t even notice Jin approaching her with unsteady steps right in front of her.

“Hey, wait, Jina!”

“…Because of you.”

“Huh? What’s with this girl again? Stop bothering us and go aw… ugh!?”

“You can’t read books.”

Desperately calling out to Jin, but it was already too late.

Jin, grabbing Eunyugi by the throat, lifted her up. As her feet left the ground, her expression gradually contorted in pain. Regardless, Jin remained indifferent.

“Cough, cough… Ugh…!?”

“Be quiet.”

“Ugh, ka, kack… L-let g-go of me!!”

“Huh?”

But even that was short-lived.

In the end, as Eunyugi, her throat nearly choked with foam, thrashed wildly, Jin’s balance faltered. Although she hadn’t let go of her hands at all, she belatedly caught up and then ruthlessly threw her aside.

“Phew… Are you okay, Jina?”

“Yeah. Now that it’s quiet, let’s finish reading the picture book.”

“Uh… I also want to do that but…”

“Quickly. I’m curious. What happened to the mud wolf? Shall we read together? Yeah?”

Rather than the spirited voice from earlier, it was a playful plea that tickled the ears. Her bright red eyes were sparkling. Yerim, suffering and agonizing with her head against the blackboard, showed no sign of paying any attention.

“Cough, cough… What are these people doing, interfering and causing a ruckus!”

“…I, um…”

“Should I read this time? Let me try. I can do it well.”

“Don’t ignore me!! Hey, squinty eyes! Did you team up with that commie woman too!”

“Um…”

She knew she had to explain in place of Jin.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to speak. The words she thought of lingered near her throat, refusing to come out. Instead, her stomach churned even more.

Meanwhile, the security guards Yerim had called surrounded Eunyugi.

Each of them was clad in thick protective gear, and although there probably weren’t live rounds, they were armed with guns. It was clear they treated their opponent as if they were beasts.

“Oh, you’re here now. Please put her back in restraints and take her to the isolation ward.”

“Understood. Should we report to Professor Park separately?”

“That won’t be necessary. He probably doesn’t care anyway… It’s best to minimize any loose ends. By the way, did we need permission to use the Lazarus Neutralizer? Alright. Send one person who’s available. I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“By the way… it’s strange. To subdue someone who was rampaging like that all at once. Thank you. Thanks to you, I survived.”

Likewise, there was no response.

All I could do was pat Jin’s head, who was pretending to comply while nestled in my arms. I continued without sparing a glance for anyone else, as if besides us, there had been nothing from the beginning.

“Haah… Haah… Why do they all just keep ignoring us…! Get out of here! Don’t touch our bodies!!”

“Ugh… Hey, add more logs. I think we should start with the medicine first.”

“We haven’t given any other medicine, so this is the only option. We need Professor Park’s permission for this.”

“Anyway, the child is in such a mess that even the parents couldn’t bear it and had to give up.”

“What did you just mutter! Who said someone gave up on someone else!!”

“It’s so noisy… Did this kid turn all his classmates into idiots and pile up debts?”

“Don’t even mention it. There are many stubborn parents who refuse to agree, so all that’s left is a stack of criminal lawsuits.”

“These young nobles are still immature. Show some pity.”

“Mental illness is always like that. In the end, only the remaining family members die. Isn’t it like a separate lump of cancer?”

“Ugh, ugh… No… I, my relationship with Eunyu is not like that… No…!!”

“This kid keeps going on until the end. It’s really annoying.”

“Enough. How many officers have suffered head injuries because of this kid? Let’s quickly administer the medicine.”

“If they’re crazy, they’ll ruin themselves, not bother people…”

A choked voice surrounded by disgust, mockery, and contempt.

I don’t want to hear it. Even though it’s clearly not directed at me, I feel like plugging my ears. Parents. Family. Friends. Neighbors. Deceased. Broken hearts. Because of me. Because of you. If only it wasn’t you. It feels like they’re talking so loudly.

“…Jina. Let’s go now. I’ll read you a picture book.”

“Really?”

“Really really.”

“Hehehe… I’m so happy.”

“Yeah. I’m really. Happy too.”

Because everyone gets along well in picture books.

I envied the world of stories in the forest where even a mud lump could mimic and chat happily. So. I believed sincerely that if I kept reading only those cold words of reality, thinking only about them, everything would be fine, just like Jin.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, you’re back sooner than I thought. What did the professor say?”

“There was a. Call. I think you should. Go see.”

“The professor wants to see me? Hmm… Got it. Please keep an eye on the kids so they don’t go outside.”

Yerim left without saying anything to the security guards.

Is she angry, perhaps? At the point when a bad-tempered aunt like her personally calls someone, there was nothing but anxiety. Anyway, even if I try, the most I can do is to walk back holding hands with Jin, but that’s about it.

“Hey, so what did the professor say? Can we use the medicine? It’s hard to restrain without it….”

“Yeah, I, came back, and, the, medicine, needs to be administered, right?”

“Hey, why is your face…?”

“Fac…?”

It’s probably just another rumor.

Let’s ignore it. It’s not something I can do anything about.

If I interfere, Jin will probably get mad, and then it will be much harder.

“I’m here. This time, I want to take turns reading together.”

“…Really? That sounds good too. It’s a good idea.”

“Right? Um… Then I’ll read about the rabbit, the fox, and also….”

“Uh, hey… Don’t move!”

“…What?”

The urgent voice was too desperate to ignore.

So, without realizing it, I turned around. Jin was talking, but I didn’t listen properly. I even looked a little surprised. And Jin saw all of that.

Normally, I would have quickly turned my head and earnestly scolded Jin.

I would have hugged him tightly, whispered words of love, and tried to soothe his anger. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. The situation in front of me was incomprehensible.

“Is that… what I saw that night…?”

“Darn, what is this monster!”

“Don’t come closer! I’ll really shoot!”

“We only have tranquilizer guns, will this work?”

“What do you know!”

“Why did that… th… mons… attack…?”

The returning security guard said something, but I couldn’t understand a word.

No, it wasn’t just that. It wasn’t just the voice. His face was slowly contorting. The surprised faces illuminated by the screen’s gray film were now flowing down to the ground and dragging along. It revealed countless tangled film pieces left on the back.

“Fire!!”

“W-What kind of crazy monster is this again!!”

“dkdi, dk, dkdk….”

“Stop, stop, I said stop!”

“Don’t come any closer!”

“dk, dkdmdkr, dkdkdkdkdkdkdkdkdkdkdk!!”

“Crack, ugh…!?”

“Aaahhh!!”

As the film pieces roared, the guards’ radios echoed dreadfully. Bodies pierced and torn by the film spilled crimson blood on the floor. Intestines leaked through the ruptured bodies. Fear spread like a contagion, rapidly growing into pandemonium.

No, that was probably fine.

Certainly, that was the guard who had gone to see Auntie. In other words… Auntie, that Auntie, suffering every day and unable to live a normal life because of me, died…

“…■■Ah.”

“Gasp──!?!!?”

Nausea surged, forcing me to slump in place.

My legs, which had been about to bolt, trembled weakly as if all strength had left them. My hand clasped Jin’s tightly, causing my fingers to tingle with what felt like sudden paralysis. Tears welled up. Breathing became difficult, dizziness setting in due to the lack of air.

“You don’t look well.”

“That’s… haa… Ahh… Ugh, Jina. I… Just a moment, urgent matter… need to go out….”

“Why?”

“That’s… So, um….”

If I mention Auntie’s name, they will surely say it’s not allowed.

I still don’t know the reason. That’s why I can’t tell the truth. The reason for Jin and Auntie’s strained relationship. If only I had known earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.

But I can’t let Jin kill someone who, though not human, looks similar.

Already looking fierce, I can only stay put due to my condition. Let’s momentarily overlook the fact that this situation arose from Jin’s abrupt words. It’s a scene where someone is being torn apart right before my eyes.

I need to think.

Like back then. Like when we were trapped underground during the World Cup. We can’t just keep repeating that we don’t know.

Without letting go of Jin’s hand, we must escape together from here. So, this time, I have to go to Auntie first. With that thought in mind, I rose from my seat once again.