Ch.187187. Eun Serin’s Atonement

In truth, tracking Eun Serin’s location was easy. The incident connected to Cho Sunghee of the Magician Guild. And the gate appearance at the Magician Guild. All of these pointed to only one thing.

[Brother, we detected the Catastrophe Cult near Aerial. I don’t know if they made contact, but they disappeared quickly.]

“Junho. Can you go there? Check the situation!”

[Yes!]

After Junho quickly disappeared, I arrived at the Magician Guild.

The surroundings were already in the midst of a battle between monsters and Jaegers. I cut through enemies and rapidly approached the gate.

But why?

I know Eun Serin holds a grudge against the Magician Guild because of her sibling.

Family revenge is something that appears throughout history.

But the question is, why now? Because Serin was abandoned by the Catastrophe Cult?

Just because of that?

At the same time, I couldn’t help but think about her cousin who shared the same name as her sibling.

There’s a connection. That child she called her cousin, the child she called mother.

Something must have happened to that child. That’s why she suddenly acted this way.

Inside the gate, I desperately tried to understand the structure. I needed to comprehend before proceeding.

There, I could hear two people talking.

Even about the incident marred by misunderstandings.

So that’s what it was. Her sibling had done something wrong and tried to hide it, and what was kept secret to protect Serin had led to catastrophe.

“…”

It’s truly a sad story of misunderstandings piling up.

But this can’t be the end of the story.

Since Eun Serin cooperated with the Catastrophe Cult, she must take responsibility.

I also want that.

But then another problem arose. After Cho Sunghee briefly left, Eun Serin engaged in suspicious behavior during her time alone.

“!”

I rushed out at once. It was strange to intervene in this state, but in the current situation, I absolutely couldn’t leave her alone.

I knocked away the medicine Eun Serin was about to take and grabbed both her hands. I needed to knock her out if necessary…

“Do Jonghyun. Let go.”

But at that moment, I heard a voice that shouldn’t have reached my ears.

I’m currently in monster form. How does she know my identity?

“!”

Now of all times? Or did she know all along and just pretended not to?

“I’m a woman who deserves to die. Let go. Just stop…”

“No, I can’t allow that.”

Suddenly, Cho Sunghee appeared behind me. Then she cleanly knocked Eun Serin unconscious.

“…”

I managed to stop her, but wait, isn’t this situation rather peculiar?

Eun Serin happened to call my name, and then Sunghee appeared right after.

Did she hear?

In the awkward silence, Cho Sunghee looked at me.

“Thanks for stopping her.”

“……”

“So I’ll keep this child under my supervision for now. What are you going to do?”

“…”

I’m confused right now. I had planned to do something after stopping her, but…

“Can’t you speak in that form? Why not return to human form? Do Jonghyun. I heard everything.”

Sigh. I knew this would happen.

I had no choice but to release my transformation. At least it’s better than in front of Dokgo Jun himself, right?

As I released my transformation, Cho Sunghee smiled with satisfaction.

“Fascinating. That eagle was you too, right? Or do you have other colleagues?”

“How can I trust you?”

“Isn’t the fact that I haven’t killed you on the spot enough?”

“I just came looking for Eun Serin because she disappeared.”

“How touching. What kind of feelings? Teacher-student affection? Or something between a man and a woman?”

I can see Cho Sunghee’s eyebrows rising. Is she finding this amusing?

I’d rather talk about that than my identity.

“Both.”

“My, how wonderful. Young people these days…”

“More importantly, you should prevent her from committing suicide when she wakes up. She must be connected to the Catastrophe Cult.”

Cho Sunghee hoisted Eun Serin over her shoulder.

“So does Serin like you? Or is it just you having those typical student feelings for her?”

“…I think it’s at least above average? For both of us. But why does this matter?”

“Of course it matters. It’s important for persuading Eun Serin.”

She answered calmly and turned away.

“When Serin wakes up, you’re responsible for persuading her not to ‘run away.’ Understand?”

“If you want her to take responsibility, that’s the only way. Affection is a separate issue.”

“No, they’re all connected. If you’re going to do it, do it properly.”

And so that day, I ended up staying at the Magician Guild without returning anywhere else.

*

The next day, surprisingly, Aerial recovered quickly and returned.

In truth, it was more due to the power of wealth that could summon excellent healing specialist Jaegers.

The doctor told her to rest one more day, but Aerial chose to leave.

However, the school was in chaos. Due to the aftermath of the attack, an investigation was underway, and there were only self-study sessions.

On top of that, Do Jonghyun had left a message saying he would return soon and then disappeared.

Worried, Aerial deliberately waited in the simulator room.

With quiet footsteps, Seol Yuhwa entered with a hardened face.

“Welcome.”

“…What do you want?”

Seol Yuhwa responded coldly. But Aerial was overflowing with emotions that day.

“No, you’re different from before. Back then, you seemed rushed, like you were being chased. But now you’re looking up at me?”

“What, did you realize how weak you are?”

When Seol Yuhwa retorted, Aerial smiled even more wickedly.

“Well, having things to protect makes you stronger. Seol Yuhwa, I’m envious~ I don’t have that.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you think I mean? Figure it out yourself. Well, goodbye~”

As Aerial waved and tried to pass by, Seol Yuhwa immediately grabbed her.

“What do you mean? Don’t talk like that, speak clearly.”

“Liar.”

“What?”

“I saw everything. Why would someone as dignified as you from our school live in a place like that? Oh, I’m not trying to discriminate. But I know you’ve been lying. You pretend to be present when you’re not.”

At this moment, Seol Yuhwa’s expression changed like setting fire to a blank canvas.

Her exterior flushed with embarrassment while her interior burned black.

Leaving the shocked Seol Yuhwa behind, Aerial whispered beside her.

“I’d appreciate it if you were more careful from now on.”

Aerial felt immense excitement seeing Seol Yuhwa trembling with fear.

But soon her expression became strange.

“…”

While glaring at Seol Yuhwa, Aerial’s own face turned bright red. She hurriedly fled as if escaping.

*

In the end, Eun Serin woke up a day later. She had a blank face, her mental state already shattered.

My role was to strengthen her resolve not to commit suicide.

As I was going to talk with Eun Serin, adult Junho appeared beside me.

“Did you find anything?”

[Yes. They appeared near Aerial and quickly disappeared. I tried to track them, but they vanished like smoke.]

Adult Junho gave me new information.

“Again? Just watching?”

[They appeared in the hospital room but just left?]

“They might be manipulating her mind.”

Yes, at this point I should realize. Not just watching but approaching and then leaving? They must be up to something.

[From what I observed, they didn’t install anything. But considering what happened today…]

From adult Junho’s trailing words, I sensed something had happened.

“What’s wrong? Just tell me.”

[It seems Aerial knows about our sister. Something she was keeping secret.]

“….”

I already have a headache with Eun Serin’s situation, and now this?

I heard about their conversation. It seems the emotional rift between them is deepening.

The shocking part is that Aerial used that knowledge.

[The relationship between them is at its worst. How should we handle this… They didn’t even have any connection before we returned. Is it because the future has changed?]

That’s correct. It’s because things have changed. This shouldn’t be possible in the original timeline.

The two confronted each other, and Aerial exposed Seol Yuhwa’s lies.

And now Seol Yuhwa can’t stand up strongly against her.

“Sigh… We’ll have to solve one thing at a time.”

[Could Aerial be controlled by the Catastrophe Cult? To disrupt from within?]

“They had a bad relationship even without that. It would be better if it were the Cult’s doing.”

But I keep feeling like I’m missing something. I keep questioning why Aerial would intimidate Seol Yuhwa.

It doesn’t make sense.

What was it?

With my head throbbing, there was no time to ponder this.

Because Eun Serin was looking at me with a gaunt face from the bed.

*

Eun Serin couldn’t think of anything anymore.

She had already collapsed internally. Her revenge became meaningless, and she had become a serious criminal.

The revenge itself stemmed from a misunderstanding. The disappointment and emptiness this brought were indescribable.

“Living because I couldn’t die” perfectly described her situation.

In the midst of this, Do Jonghyun entered.

A man who sparked a small flame in Eun Serin’s burnt-out heart.

Eun Serin smiled emptily.

“Sorry. Are you shocked to see me like this? I was a fool. Misunderstanding everything on my own.”

“Noona.”

Once again, that voice calling her “noona.” Eun Serin thought of Jiho.

The younger brother she cherished and loved. A boy of similar age now showing her sympathy.

“Why did you come? What do you want to dig up? I don’t have the strength to say more. I’ll just atone. Kill me.”

“…”

“Are you disappointed? The noona you know is just this kind of woman. It’s better if I just die now.”

“Is that easier for you?”

The boy in front of her asks. Of course it was the worst.

“No, but this is the only way to atone. I was just a fool…”

It was a moment of tears of emptiness. Do Jonghyun asked with unprecedented coldness.

“You are a fool. Because you were blinded by revenge and tried to make humanity your enemy.”

Though it was a natural response, it was too painful for Eun Serin. It felt like all the good times they had shared were crumbling.

“You’re right… I have nothing to say.”

“And crying now is just trying to make yourself feel better. Is that the end?”

“….”

It hurt. Considering the crime she committed, it was natural, but the fact that it was coming from Do Jonghyun was the problem.

It was the worst. Eun Serin felt an unbearable burden in her heart.

“Yes… I’m sorry. You must be disappointed.”

“Of course I am.”

Do Jonghyun answered firmly. As everything Eun Serin had chosen led to ruin, she truly felt there was no value in living.

But at this moment, Do Jonghyun sat beside her.

Even after seemingly finishing all his criticism.

Do Jonghyun took her hand.

“I’m disappointed in a noona who tries to run away and hide. But if you’re willing to atone and bear the responsibility, I’ll help you. Didn’t I tell you before? That I would help you?”

“!”

Eun Serin recalled what Do Jonghyun had said before. The words that had surprised her and drawn her to him.

They were coming back to her now.

“But atonement is…”

“Suicide is not atonement!”

Eun Serin was dumbfounded at Do Jonghyun’s cry.

“It’s just a means to escape easily. You’re really sorry and regretful? Then take responsibility for your actions. By living until the end! By reflecting and atoning. Suicide is a means to avoid that. That’s what disappointed me.”

That’s right. Committing suicide after committing a crime is just running away. Those left behind in reality bear the burden.

One must take responsibility for their own crimes and endure it to the end.

“You have to live. Endure that. I’ll help you. I want you to live, noona.”

“Jonghyun…”

Eun Serin was overcome with emotion. She thought even Do Jonghyun had abandoned her, but he hadn’t given up on her.

“Come on. Let’s move together. Let’s deal with the monsters and the Catastrophe Cult! Wash away your past sins, and then later…”

There was no need to finish the sentence. Because Eun Serin had fallen into his arms.

Choosing the path of living and enduring everything rather than the will to die.