episode_0016

Ayoung Yoon (1) ― Incheon Central Library, 3rd floor

The candle in the middle of the table swayed uneasily.

The entire group gathered again on the third floor, relying on the light to barely recognize each other.

While checking on Kim Cheol-soo, who had yellow eyelids and a frown on his face, and Kim Eun-byeol, who was relatively calm, Kang San’s sigh flowed across the table.

“Ha… … .”

He was thinking while massaging his temples with both hands.

“Hyung, if it happens once it’s a coincidence, but if it happens twice it’s true. There is no reason for us to hold on to that woman.”

It was unfamiliar to see Lee Gyeong-min calmly persuading Kang San, as if the bright light earlier had been a mirage.

And Kang San also seemed to feel something similar and opened his mouth with an expression of confusion.

“… … There isn’t much difference from what I said before. Rather, I think Ayoung really sensed a crisis.”

“So you’re seeing a variant that wasn’t even visible when the chaos broke out twice in a row? We only heard what was said on the Internet!”

“… … .”

Hey, I’m convinced of this.

In the end, the weight will lean towards Lee Kyung-min’s claims.

I couldn’t help but be amazed by that sight.

As expected, there is nothing among the words of our ancestors that should be discarded.

Really, dog poop is useful!

As the story progressed, Yoon Ah-young clung to me like a cicada.

Now he was relying on me, holding my hand with both hands.

Perhaps because my body was shaking, it felt like jelly with a vibrating function was attached to my arm.

She has no choice but to know.

Now, it’s really just me.

“Okay, the bigger problem is that our entrance was breached by a variant. For the time being, it is prohibited for all ‘battle teams’ to go out.”

Before we knew it, opinions were unified and Seong Ga-eul was discussing what to do next.

But, it can’t end this way.

“Well, why don’t you listen to the opinions of the parties concerned and me?”

“Even if Han Gu-won is against it, he cannot go against the trend. … It’s unfortunate, but please follow the majority decision.”

“Why should I do that?”

“… What?”

I pointed to Kim Cheol-soo and Kim Eun-byeol with a sullen expression.

“Hmm, I’m sorry for suddenly pointing this out, but sleeping with me who killed the mutant, of course, that doesn’t mean it’s a sin. Anyway, why did Cheolsu, who was sleeping, and Eunbyeol get the same vote?”

Democracy in the apocalypse, she was more naive than I thought.

“Ayoung woke me up from my sleep and saved Kyungmin from the threat of mutants. Rather, they deserve to be thanked.”

“Oh, no! really… ”

“You be quiet, Kyungmin Lee.”

Seong Ga-eul stopped Lee Gyeong-min, who was about to start flashing again, and spoke again.

“How do you believe that?”

“It’s evidence… There is no such clear evidence.”

“Of course. Our camp was very safe until you two joined us. It was hard to see even a single zombie, let alone a mutant. But what would we think if something like this suddenly happened?”

It’s us… Yes, there is no Ayoung in your ‘us’.

Rather, good.

I answered her words with a deep smile.

“Those are all just guesses. The only certain fact is that ‘I am the one who dealt with the mutation according to Ayoung’s words.’ And I’m not looking for praise like a child, but to react like this… .”

He intentionally blurted out the words and added a subtle threat.

It was a retort asking why they would treat me so poorly even though I have the combat power to kill mutants.

And Seong Ga-eul understood exactly what he said.

“Of course, I am grateful to Guwon.”

“Then why aren’t you thankful to Ayoung? Thanks to Ayoung, I killed Byun Byeon.”

“… That is.”

This is why adults told us to make our work stand out.

Unlike me, who had clear evidence that he had killed the mutant, Yoon Ah-young had none.

“Phew… What is the reason you really protect Yoon Ah-young so much? Because it’s pretty?”

What can I say, Seong Ga-eul was truly textbook.

As soon as there was no room to attack the message, they immediately attacked me, the messenger.

Yeah, I looked like a buffalo, right?

“There is only one. Because we are the same.”

“… I didn’t see it that way, but you’re good at saying some pretty cringy things.”

Seong Ga-eul, who looks so shaken, won’t understand.

This is a password that only those who share the secret can know.

Before I knew it, it was getting brighter outside.

After a long night, dawn has finally come.

“Finally, let’s believe. Mr. Ayoung, from now on, if you really sense a crisis, please speak up in front of everyone. I trust Ayoung.”

“Hyung!”

“You must have been surprised today, so take care of yourself first. Let’s end the story here.”

“Ha… .”

I heard Lee Gyeong-min lower his head and utter a small curse.

Lee Kyung-min, who had been swearing for a long time, something that only I could hear, raised his head and glared at Yoon Ah-young.

It seemed like he didn’t understand it at all, but I actually liked it better.

Okay, let’s fan this guy some more.

“Everyone, please go in and get some rest. Now, let’s all wake up.”

Everyone stood up as Kang San ordered them to disperse.

When I told Yoon Ah-young, who was fidgeting even as she stood up, to wait ‘there’, she nodded slightly.

I caught up with Lee Kyung-min, who was leaving in a hurry.

Then, I lightly tapped his shoulder and he turned around to check on me and bit his lip.

“Why, why!”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Well, go to that witch! Why did you suddenly come to me?”

A witch. Yes, I want Yoon Ah-young to become a witch.

With a subtle smile, he whispered into Lee Kyung-min’s ear.

“Actually, I think your opinion makes sense.”

“… Yes?”

It would be embarrassing.

In fact, the person who contributed most to preventing deportation said this to himself.

“I opposed it out of pity because they were the same person, but even in my opinion, I am a little suspicious of Ayoung.”

As soon as the bait was thrown, Lee Gyeong-min swallowed it right past the mouth and into the esophagus, shaking his feet as if he needed to urinate.

“That’s right! My brother thought so too! Well, why on earth did you do that!”

“Shh! Quiet. ‘Witch’ will listen.”

“Ah, ah! I’m sorry.”

He grabbed Lee Kyung-min’s shoulders and looked at him with eyes full of trust.

“I plan to stay close and watch over Yoon Ah-young. If there’s a problem, I’ll have to deal with it. Strictly speaking, I’m the one who pooped, right?”

“Well, that’s what you were thinking! Of course, after all! Tongue, what you said is right. Well, I should have monitored it.”

Lee Kyung-min’s eyes moved quickly left and right. I quietly watched his stupid thinking circuit work.

“Now, we have to make him confess! Well, I will try my best in a different way than the way you try.”

“You must keep this in mind. Without anyone knowing.”

“Cheolsu can be trusted.”

Kim Cheol-soo… .

Yes, if there were one more loser, that would also be the icing on the cake.

“Hmm… I think that’s okay.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Thank you, brother!”

I don’t know what I’m thankful for, but first I patted Lee Kyung-min’s shoulder and said.

“Once again, this is our secret. Even if other people find out, it will only cause turmoil in the group and nothing will change. Do you know how good of a leader Kang San is?”

“Okay, sure! Just trust me. Well, that witch will get on my nerves so much that I can show my true colors with my mouth.”

Ah, it was so much fun.

This piqued my interest much more than simply pressing down with telekinesis.

After sending Lee Gyeong-min off with a firm resolve, I moved to the women’s restroom on the 4th floor.

Just like when I first saw her, Yoon Ah-young was burying her face in her knees.

Tap, tap, tap.

At the sound of footsteps echoing in the bathroom, Yoon Ah-young checked the place like a meerkat and sighed in relief when she found out that it was me.

He slowly sat down next to her and held out the snacks from his inventory to her.

“Do you want to eat this?”

“… That, that, that… .”

Although she hesitated, her eyes were focused precisely on the snack.

Her pupils moved as the cookie was gently shaken.

After smiling slightly, I handed her the snacks, which she quickly took and whined as she tried to open the bag.

After opening the snack that was handed to me again, I held her hand as if it was natural.

As if she wasn’t surprised by this anymore, she began to eat the snack with her free hand.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Umm, yes, yes.”

“It would have been okay if I said I was also an awakened person… Why didn’t you do that?”

“Oh, my brother… Rain, it’s a secret.”

You really are so innocent and kind.

When I gently stroked her head, she blushed and lowered her head.

I let go of the hand I was holding and hugged her shoulder.

Then he smoothed her face here and there with his free hand.

“Ugh, uh… .”

She just accepted my actions with a groan.

She was truly an obedient woman that is hard to find these days.

Is there any other toy as pretty as this?

I thought as I stroked the shell of her ear that was hidden by her black hair.

Lee Kyung-min and Kim Cheol-soo will now thoroughly harass Yoon Ah-young.

How will our innocent Ayoung cope?

And how much will it hurt?

And who will you seek to heal that pain from?

[Someone’s warm comfort and attention]

A deficiency that only I can fill.

She will do anything to solve the deficiency.

Only I become her standard, only I become her everything.

And that moment is just around the corner.

Really, there isn’t much left.