I’m Sorry -2

The scenery outside the window flashes by.

“Wooooow!”

“You like it that much?”

“It’s amazing! This thing called a car!”

“Hey, you can’t make that much noise in the hospital, okay?”

“I can’t?”

“Of course not! Be careful before I cover your mouth with duct tape!”

“Hmph, just try it! Brother will beat you up right away!”

“Mister, absolutely don’t beat her up. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Really… as if I’m not troubled enough…”

Noah muttered like that.

I understood, but there wasn’t a good solution.

More precisely, I’m driving this car now to find that solution.

Our destination was a large hospital.

The biggest hospital in this city. That’s where he’s hospitalized.

‘He wouldn’t be awake, would he…?’

With an anxious heart, even bringing Kkomul-i along, we drove to the hospital.

Suddenly, Noah asked me a question.

“By the way, mister, why did you suddenly rent a car?”

“It’s convenient. It would be difficult to take public transportation with the Demon King.”

“I guess so…”

Of course, there are other reasons too.

But that’s for a bit later. First, we need to check on him.

Noah, with a determined expression, continued to guide us to the hospital.

A place that never feels familiar no matter how many times you visit, this time was especially so. The place we were going was particularly like that.

As we entered, a gloomy energy lightly pressed on our shoulders.

It seems manageable for a short while, but if we stayed for too long, it felt like we might develop illnesses we didn’t have before. The faint scent of disinfectant that brushes against the nose is uncomfortable.

Noah entered such a place as if it were her own home.

“Welcome, you’re Noah, right?”

“Yes. Ah… how is my father doing?”

“Yes, he’s healthy without any danger signs. Oh? Who are the people behind you?”

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello. Um…?”

The eyes of the nurse who greeted us widened.

Looking at me, and then at the Demon King.

What picture is that nurse drawing in her mind? A girl who got into trouble while her father was sick? Or perhaps a hidden child or something?

‘I’m not a mind reader.’

When you’re in a bad mood, your thoughts flow to negative places.

I took the Demon King’s hand and urged Noah.

“Noah.”

“I know. Then please continue… no, this might be the last time.”

“Pardon?”

“Thank you for everything until now.”

Bow.

The nurse was flustered seeing Noah bow her head, but what could she do?

Leaving her nodding blankly, we headed to the hospital room.

“Phew.”

Noah sighed in front of the hospital room.

In the name plate where the patient’s name is placed, the name “Na Hyun-beom” was inserted.

It seems to be Noah’s father…

‘Such a guy can’t even be called a father.’

No, it seems that White Fang is hospitalized here.

The deepest part of the intensive care unit. It was a place where only the most critical patients were kept.

Noah’s expression is not bright.

It’s natural since she’s going to see a comatose patient, but today it might be a different kind of feeling.

“Shall I open it if you can’t?”

“…No, I’ll do it. I think I need to confirm it myself.”

As Noah requested, the Demon King and I arrived at the hospital and stood in front of his room.

She said that the Demon King could be sure if she saw his face. Whether he was really that man from back then.

Perhaps because of that, Noah hesitated for a long time holding the doorknob. After a long while.

“…I’m going in.”

“Mm.”

“Phew… haah.”

Noah opened the light door as if she were pushing a heavy iron block. Soon, with her eyes wide open, she peered inside.

It’s a fairly nice private room. Since she had him here even before receiving support from the association, Noah must have struggled a lot.

In the center of the room, a man was lying weakly. The machine beside him continuously made a beeping sound.

A thin man with white hair.

I could tell who he was without even asking.

Once a hero… I don’t know. Was he someone who pretended to be a hero?

The Demon King, seeing his face, nodded.

“It’s him.”

“It’s him…?”

“He’s a bit thinner… but he’s the man I saw back then.”

At the Demon King’s words, Noah tightly closed her eyes.

“Phuuuuh…”

And clenched her fist.

Seeing her tightly clenched fist trembling, it seemed she was desperately holding back tears.

“Noah.”

“…Yes?”

“Shall I hit him for you?”

“Are you really trying to become a criminal…?”

She seems to have forgotten.

“I’m an S-class villain. Assaulting a patient is nothing.”

“Don’t do it.”

“I’m really about to get angry.”

“If the mister disappears too, I’ll really be alone. Please… please don’t do it.”

Whew.

I suppressed my anger.

“Alright.”

As Noah said, there’s no benefit in venting my anger here. If she says not to, what can I do?

“Then what now?”

“We’ll do this.”

Noah transforms into Iris and extends her hand. The room sparkles with starlight for a moment, then becomes quiet.

“What did you do?”

“It’s a technique I learned from Unni Jin-ah. A technique that puts the affected person into a deep sleep.”

Flash!

Iris returned to Noah.

“He’ll be sleeping for quite a long time.”

“I see.”

“…Mister.”

“Yes?”

“What are you going to do now? Isn’t this quite different from the story you saw?”

It was a sharp observation from Noah.

“It is. Originally, the Demon King shouldn’t be here, and there was almost no mention of that person.”

It was a dilemma.

What should I do now?

“…Hmm… I guess we have no choice but to prepare one by one.”

“One by one?”

“Actually, the current situation isn’t bad. The Demon King is here, and it’s true that you all are incredibly strong. Let’s first collect the essences we can obtain.”

There’s nothing we can do right away. After bringing the Demon King out, the path to the Demon King’s castle is blocked, and there’s no movement from their side.

I don’t know what they’re planning, but if they attack, we’ll just strike back strongly.

There are only a few places left.

And there’s the first place we should go.

“Noah.”

“Yes?”

“Be honest, you’re worried about them, right?”

Noah makes a puzzled expression.

“Them?”

“Yes, the place where you were when you were young. The kids who were there.”

After being dazed for a while at my words, Noah nodded.

I just threw it out there, but I guess she really was worried.

I wasn’t certain, but there was a part that bothered me, and this worked out well.

“Then let’s go see.”

“Do you know where it is!?”

“I’m not sure, but I have a place in mind. As for whether it’s true… well, we’ll know when we get there.”

“We’ll know when we get there…”

“Yes. What do you think, want to go? If you don’t want to, just the Demon King and I will go.”

Noah considered for a moment, then nodded.

“I’ll go.”

“Good, then shall we go shopping first?”

“Yes, shopping fir-… What?”

“Let’s go shopping first.”

+++++

“Mister, is this really right?”

Noah spoke while chewing on a sample dumpling.

I also answered while chewing on a dumpling.

“It’s a bit expensive, but delicious.”

“Certainly, rib dumplings are more expensive than meat dumplings but tastier-… that’s not it! Who was talking about dumplings?”

“Should I have gone with kimchi dumplings? But they might be too spicy for kids.”

“…This mister, really.”

Noah slaps my back.

Hmm, I think she just infused that with starlight?

“You said there was something we had to do.”

“And that’s why I’m preparing for it.”

“I want to try that!”

“Noted.”

“Mister!?”

I carried the Demon King on my back and went to sample Vienna sausages.

The popping sensation in the mouth when you put it in is impressive.

“Is it delicious?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Is it tasty?”

“It is tasty!”

In the distance, Noah approaches, hissing.

“What are you doing! Don’t just eat, hurry and prepare-“

“Ma’am, don’t be like that and try some. You have such a handsome husband~ and a cute daughter.”

“…Husband…”

That’s what it takes to work in the service industry.

Her eloquence is no joke.

Noah, without saying anything, chewed the sausage a few times and then put it in the shopping cart.

“You look happy?”

“…It’s just your imagination.”

“Let’s say that’s true, whatever.”

After that, we bought a lot of groceries and went upstairs. And there, I encountered the heaven of children.

Contrary to my expectation that the Demon King would surely make a fuss, she was quite quiet.

“…You hate the sight of rabbit dolls, don’t you.”

That was the reason.

Well, if I were surrounded by dolls all my life and had a strange rabbit doll making a fuss beside me, I’d hate the sight of it too.

But it would surely be a lot of help.

“Mister, why the dolls?”

“So you can hug one when you’re lonely?”

“Why would I hug a doll? I can just hug the mister.”

Oh my.

“Hold back on those jokes… they give me goosebumps.”

“Hehe, understood. So what should I do?”

“Put a few dolls in the shopping cart. Ah, and be sure to calculate for my wallet’s condition. I trust you.”

“Yes, I’ll pick ones that will completely bankrupt you.”

“…This kid?”

I chose several dolls together with Noah. Noah still had a questioning expression, but thankfully she followed well.

So with a full load. After loading lots of food and dolls into the car, we prepared to depart again.

After submitting an extension request, I looked back at the children.

“Kids, did you fasten your seatbelts well?”

“Yes.”

“I did!”

“We’re going a bit far, so if you’re tired, just sleep.”

It seems it will be a somewhat long journey.

Of course, those things weren’t purchased in preparation for the journey.

Rather than for us, they’re prepared for those who are there.

If my prediction is correct.

Those things will be of tremendous help.

“Rest, kids. I’ll let you know when we arrive.”

I started the engine and began driving.

To the dungeon, the lair of the melted ones.