episode_0025

Due to focusing on dealing with Leo, I had completely forgotten about Choi Woo-kyung.

He seemed to be under the influence of some kind of hallucination.

Especially the sight of him howling while searching for ‘hyung’ was a face I had never seen from him before.

Seeming like he belonged to someone he wanted to see, yet at the same time emanating feelings of anger and resentment.

…I need to go back for now.

After confirming Leo being vigorously torn apart over there, I quickly moved my steps back to our original location.

Making a rustling sound as I passed through the reeds, he started coming into view at the end.

Luckily, he didn’t seem to be thrashing around aimlessly in the air anymore.

It seems he has been released from the hallucination after being brought down. Seeing him sitting on the ground with his head bowed deeply indicated that only the aftereffects remained.

“Are you back to your senses?”

“…You showed an unpleasant sight. Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing.”

Choi Woo-kyung got up from his spot and spent the remaining time.

10 minutes.

Due to our struggle with him, there were only a few moments left until the end.

He sighed unnecessarily and continued with the information I hadn’t heard earlier.

The purpose they are pursuing by forming groups.

It was quite a despairing story.

“…The first human?”

“Yes, our goal is to find the first human who landed here. Judging by how desperately the leader is searching, they must know a lot more than us, at least.”

“You guys also seem to be in need of information. I wouldn’t mind seeing the face of this leader.”

“Ah, don’t get hurt for no reason.”

The first human. I thought that finding someone who has been here for a few years would surely provide a significant clue.

But now, it seems the goal has shifted to finding someone who knows the whole story.

If, by chance, we have to find another person after finding that individual.

If we keep searching and there’s no one left to meet.

If we reach the end of this repeating cycle without hearing the answer.

I felt a headache for a moment.

“I roughly understand what you’re thinking, but shouldn’t we leave for now?”

Choi Woo-kyung touched my shoulder with a serious expression.

However, a deep sense of unfamiliarity penetrated my mind.

This unknown feeling was like sinking into a swamp.

It’s as if…

“…Anyway, I get it. Just fulfill that request, right?”

“Yeah.”

A vague request.

The condition for helping once when truly needed.

When is it really necessary?

What help do they need?

I had no idea at all.

“…Hey.”

As I was about to leave after exchanging promises.

Choi Woo-kyung called out to me.

Stopping for a moment at his call, I could hear the final piece of information tinged with a slightly resentful tone.

According to what the leader had found out.

The first human has someone who always accompanied them.

Just by listening to the stories of those originally belonging to the Flame Chariot, it was easy to gather that waking up alone in an unfamiliar place was common.

So, 5 minutes passed.

After hearing that story, we could only meet after another 5 minutes.

“Hey, your blood….”

Luna, who joined late, seemed to have engaged in a fierce battle with someone.

She managed to sever the ill-fated connection with someone named ‘Raina,’ allowing her to move forward.

In the meantime, with Cha Seol-ah’s performance in handling 104 target robots alone, the second test came to an end.

The result was unexpected.

‘1%.’

Passing with a score that only the top 10% receive in the final test.

However, she passed with a 1% score.

Certainly, Cha Seol-ah’s advancement and interference with others seemed to have had an effect, resulting in a higher score than expected.

With the score announcement, we were relocated back to the room we had previously stayed in.

For some reason, my head feels heavier than usual.

I couldn’t shake off the feeling that the exam had ended somewhat abruptly.

And then, when Luna briefly left her seat.

“Hanul….”

The sound of the door locking signaled a familiar situation unfolding.

Approaching with a bright smile on her face, the woman in front of me.

Lightly pushing my body back, enveloping me in a fragrant scent.

Arms wrapped around me and a buried face in my chest.

Her breath, as if collecting samples, strangely evoked no emotions.

“…Hanul?”

I pushed Chaeseol slightly away.

As a result, Chaeseol looked up with a slightly puzzled expression.

A situation where she wouldn’t have refused under normal circumstances.

Breaths and bodies already shared countless times.

Yet, an awkwardness lingered.

It seemed that Chaeseol also sensed something amiss shortly after.

Amidst the surrounding sense of unfamiliarity, I asked her.

“…Chaeseol, should we just go back?”

“What’s all this sudden talk about?”

If asked whether I now desired more of life here, I could only respond with uncertainty.

However, a sudden unease had inexplicably grown uncontrollably.

Even if we were to encounter the very first human, they might not have found any different solutions.

Moreover, the person we might meet could be hard to find, let alone confirm their existence.

Obtaining information was undoubtedly challenging.

Collaborating to discover a solution might consume an immense amount of time.

Even in the Flame Chariot where so many people gathered, there was likely no valuable knowledge gained from staying here for long.

Eventually, overwhelmed by the despair of being unable to escape the confines of interrogation, my body felt heavily burdened.

It felt similar to the hallucinations experienced during the recent battle with Leo.

However, I could assert that this vivid sensation was not merely a mood swing.

Because.

Chaeseol’s expression, which had been lively until just now, quickly cooled for some reason.

Like the expression of an owner facing a toy that refused to move as desired.

“…Chaeseol?”

“The 104th.”

Chaeseol murmured while sitting up on the bed, leaning on one side.

Upon questioning the one speaking incomprehensible words again, I received the answer that this was the 104th occurrence.

Still, the words remained incomprehensible.

At that moment, something suddenly flashed through my mind.

The short but significant events since arriving here, and simultaneously, the events before coming to this world.

“…Do I have a past?”

Why did I consider Kim Taegang a murderer?

Why do I know about Chaeseol’s past?

Why did I avoid Chaeseol?

Why.

“…Why?”

Tears streamed down my eyes in an instant.

Chaeseol silently looked at me, wiping away the tears with her hand.

I couldn’t understand why tears were flowing.

Just as sounds emerge from a hungry stomach when it grumbles, the tears that emerged did so naturally.

…Denial.

The above words are denial. The reason for the tears was too simple.

“Why did you do this?”

“Because I love you.”

Psycho.

Yandere.

Crazy woman.

Stalker.

All terms referring to Chaeseol.

Simultaneously.

A person who always sticks around.

According to him, those who fell here all regained consciousness alone.

If there was a difference between the first human and others.

It was said that he was the only one who had someone fall with him.

When I fell near the strange forest, there was someone beside me.

Chaeseol.

And the first human.

Yohanul.

Thinking back, the reason for the tears was simple.

The first human still hadn’t found a way back.

Only discovering the starting point of the cycle.

“Is everything your doing?”

“……”

“From banging your head on the fountain to falling into this place!! Everything that led us to be manipulated by weirdos and brought us here!!”

I grabbed Chaeseol’s shoulders and pushed her against the wall.

Then, I demanded fiercely, “Just how much of this is manipulation? That guy outside, the fact that I dislike you, even this bed we’re on… I can’t believe in anything anymore.”

I muttered softly, “…How is something like this possible?”

In response to my question, Chaeseol replied, “I’m not a god-like being. This ability just happened by chance. Also, it’s not a lie that you dislike me.”

“….”

“The first thing I did after gaining this ability was to run to you. At least then, I could keep you by my side.”

And so it went, 1st time.

2nd time.

15th time.

…60th time.

“By now, I’ve achieved the most successful result.”

“…Result?”

“Yes, you’ve started to open up to me a little for the first time.”

“We even got physical.”

“…You must be out of your mind too.”

“Hanul…”

The familiar yet unfamiliar headache.

Once again, a strong pain resonated in my head.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

A feeling of falling from a cliff without gravity.

From above, Chaeseol’s final words echoed, “Where is someone who loves with a clear mind.”

-But how did you find out so quickly?

-It seems there was an accomplice.

-In the end, an error occurred.

-It’s okay.

-We can start over with anything until you like me.

For a lifetime.