episode_0225

“… ”

When I opened my eyes, it was early evening and the sunset was setting.

I stared blankly at the ceiling for a while. It took a long time for me to recognize the familiar scenery of the cradle clinic because of the painkillers coursing through my body.

I reminisced about past memories like that.

Like pulling something up from the bottom of a pond.

The story of stirring up the cradle in search of the missing Professor Shin Jae-yu, encountering someone who had borrowed Yena’s body at the end, barely defeating it and heading to the core, and, and…

“… ”

Why is the ending so blurry? It’s like I’m wandering around in a dream, my memories are hazy.

Still, it is certain that the core’s runaway has been prevented.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t be lying around in the clinic with such good fortune.

“Ugh… ”

And what followed was excruciating pain that engulfed my entire body.

Even though I was soaked in alcohol, there was no part of me that didn’t feel pain.

It was not easy to even move a finger.

I forced myself to turn my head and check the condition of my body.

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like there were any fatal injuries…

-Your body is falling apart?

What suddenly flashed through my mind was the laughter of the evil being I had encountered on the roof of the main building.

Was my condition that bad? You could tell at a glance.

It’s hard to even guess how much life is left.

Maybe it has already become a burning ember…

-Is this the price you pay for daring to seek power that is beyond your capabilities? Of course it is.

“… Ha.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the booming voice.

What a price to pay for coveting power that is beyond your ability.

I’ve never really been greedy for anything like that.

I was just trying to protect what was mine.

Was even that too greedy for me?

-Kooong! Thump!!

Just when I was about to lose myself in the sentiment.

Suddenly, an intermittent noise coming from outside the window wakes me up.

It sounds like something is exploding. It sounds like magic colliding with magic.

Judging from the location, it’s not inside the cradle. It’s much further away. It’s probably coming from near the capital.

… I hope something else happened. And in the midst of all this, I’m lying in bed. It’s just so frustrating.

Well, at least that means the cradle is intact…

“… ”

Waves of doubt continued to swirl through my head.

There were so many things I was curious about.

How many days have passed since that incident?

What happened to those who were taken in by the witch?

What is the identity of that loud noise? What happened to Yena?

…I wonder if everyone I was trying to protect is safe.

Because the surroundings were so quiet and deserted, there was no one to ask.

However, judging by the presence of water bowls and towels for wiping one’s body, it is clear that at least someone is hanging around here.

As I was debating whether I should ring the call bell, I could hear the sound of people approaching from outside the hospital room.

It’s a gait that feels somewhat weak, yet also dignified. Is this the nurse who came to check on my condition?

-Drunk!

“I… ”

The door soon opened, and I was about to turn my head and open my mouth to ask about the situation.

-Tingle!!

The sound of the water bottle shattering echoed loudly in the quiet hospital room. I stared blankly for a moment, making eye contact with the person who had come in.

And then, looking at that familiar face standing tall, I cautiously greeted it.

“… Hello, senior.”

***

Even though there was one more person in the room, the room was still quiet.

He sat there with his hands folded in a pitiful manner, silently staring at me. He maintained the same posture for several dozen minutes.

“… ”

Kuk kuk. It was a gaze so stinging that it made my heart ache. I couldn’t open my mouth easily because of the unnecessary embarrassment.

It’s not that I feel bad, though. I actually feel relieved that I’ve managed to keep that venomousness.

When I first met her, I couldn’t even imagine this kind of thinking. At that time, I probably would have wanted to punch her in the face or stomach right away.

However, I am a little concerned that his face looks quite haggard.

No… not a little, but a lot.

-Ku-kung! Ku-gu-kung!

And taking advantage of the occasional unidentified loud noises, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“Me, senior.”

“… ”

“Are you okay? Your complexion doesn’t look good. Is there anything that hurts? ”

“… ”

The compassionate one still remained silent.

Instead, she stared at me with a bewildered expression, as if she was being rude.

Then he slowly lowered his head.

Soon, Yeonmin-ha’s hands and arms, which had been neatly gathered together, began to tremble.

My spine tingled slightly. It felt like I was looking at a kettle on the fire.

“… How dare you say something like that?”

And the kettle, now full of steam, finally opened its mouth.

“Are you okay…? Your complexion doesn’t look good…?”

Now, not just her arms, but her whole body was shaking. I could clearly feel her anger spreading like paint.

“Whose fault is it… Who am I doing this for… !!”

Is this just poking a hornet’s nest…?

“I was so worried… I haven’t been able to sleep for days now… !”

“Senior… ?”

“How much did I have to… chase away those bitches who come to visit me in the hospital and all that…!”

He was pouring out his sorrow without stopping. But I think something strange just now passed by. Is it my imagination?

“Senior. Calm down for a moment… ”

I tried to appease Yeonmin-ha, but ended up closing my mouth again.

Before I knew it, she had raised her head and was staring straight at me.

With bloodshot eyes and teardrops hanging from their eyes.

“… Who told you to do something like that? Who pushed you on your back to protect you… !”

“… ”

“And if you die… I, I… ”

Yeonmin-ha barely managed to swallow her tears.

Thud. The large tears that had formed in the corner of his eyes fell to the floor.

It’s a sight you don’t often see in her, who has a strong sense of pride and a strong personality.

Still, I could fully understand her position.

It was true that I felt strangely unfamiliar with the concern, and that I felt belatedly sorry.

But nothing changes.

If I went back in time, I would make the same decision.

It was the only, and also the best way.

“… I couldn’t help it.”

I opened my mouth calmly.

“No one but me could have prevented this situation.”

“But…!”

“And didn’t you actually do a great job?”

I shrugged my shoulders calmly, looking at Yeonmin-ha who was filled with sorrow.

Life expectancy and all. I tried my best not to have dark thoughts.

I just tried to pass this off as a light joke.

“We repelled the invading enemy, prevented the cradle from exploding… Isn’t this a great feat that will be remembered in the history of the Republic?”

“… ”

“And didn’t you protect your senior safely like this? Shouldn’t you receive a separate award for this?”

Then Yeonminha shrugged her shoulders for a moment.

The eyes that had been staring at me with all their might lost their strength and lowered their heads again.

His unexpectedly daunting attitude is really confusing. I’m not sure if this joke is working or not…

I was really struggling with that.

Yeonmin-ha, who had been silent for a long time, raised her head again.

And then he opened his hesitant mouth and let out a trembling voice.

“… I am not worth protecting.”

“… ?”

Pity still couldn’t meet my eyes.

“What is worth risking your life for… more… ”

As if I had committed some great sin.

“… Senior?”

I didn’t quite understand what she was saying.

If there was someone I had to protect with my life, it was none other than the person in front of me right now.

“… I’m sorry.”

I could feel Yeonmin-ha’s breathing getting rougher. It was as if she was overcome with emotion. I still couldn’t understand English, so I felt frustrated.

“I… was lying to you.”

“That’s…what…?”

“… ”

It seemed as if he was barely making eye contact, but he quickly shut his eyes tightly in pity.

And as if he had made a big decision, he slowly opened his lips.

“2 years ago… The tragedy you experienced… ”

In the midst of the waves of thoughts that were coming, I was just listening to Yeonminha’s words.

And at the end of it, I couldn’t help but let out a stupid sound.

“… What?”

***

“… That’s all I’m saying.”

After quite some time, she finished her sympathetic explanation. Her face was thick with an indescribable fatigue. It was a part where you could tell how much she had suffered because of this matter.

My head was dizzy. Of course, I never imagined that I would hear the truth about that from Yeonminha.

Even in the midst of all that, I tried to organize my thoughts.

What happened at that time was due to a power struggle within Paechun.

Their target was someone in our town.

And the Red Army, which had been pushed back by Paechon the whole time, intervened in the conflict to win over Paechon’s successor.

Raiding our village was the price they had to pay.

In order to leave no traces, the Reds used the Demons, with whom they had been in collusion, to attack.

Even though they knew full well that they would massacre innocent residents.

In other words, the people there, including my family, were simply caught up in it.

In a mere struggle for power.

“… It was our father who supported the demons. He even personally guided them all the way… ”

Yeonminha’s voice, which had gradually become less tearful, was filled with despair.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner… but I couldn’t… ”