episode_0017

The unusual sign appeared immediately after waking up.

When I got off the bed, my head felt like it was going to explode. My diaphragm tightened and I even felt nauseous.

As soon as I resolved my urgent need, I went back to bed like a soldier retreating to a safe zone.

After that, the ceiling of the room filled the visible distance for more time than usual.

I spent some time in a daze, swallowing my snot.

I was hungry and thirsty, but I couldn’t even get out of bed.

My throat was swollen. It was now painful to swallow the lukewarm saliva that kept hovering in my mouth.

I used the thermometer I managed to bring with me.

39.4 degrees Celsius.

It’s been a long time since I faced the flu.

Recently, the prescription medicine has been depleted.

What was overlooked and not resupplied remains like regret.

Luckily it was the weekend.

Because the leader cannot show the members that he is not able to take care of himself.

Even if I had somehow gone to school like this, my image would have been damaged.

Going to school itself must have been difficult in the first place.

I don’t want the members to understand.

Because perception and understanding are separate things.

This means that my weak image should not be stuck in their minds.

I had to be an undisturbed iron man.

I had to reign as the perfect leading manager.

Only then will he not be overshadowed by the genius called Oh Baek-seo.

‘tomorrow… It should be okay.’

I had to get better somehow before the next day.

“Cough! Cough!”

You should at least put a cold wet towel on your head to feel safer.

In this physical condition, even the act of wetting a towel in water was a difficult task.

Weeeeing.

The smartphone on the desk vibrated.

One vibration.

It’s a text.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to reply.

Weee.

The vibration became longer.

This time it’s a phone call.

‘I can’t take it.’

I decided to call later when I feel better.

Because I don’t even have the strength to lift a finger right now.

Pop.

The vibration continued for quite a long time and then stopped.

Silence came again.

“… … .”

Is it because I have been so absorbed in work since becoming the leader of the leading department?

As I spent endless time in pain, all kinds of memories that I had previously forgotten came to mind.

I was reincarnated as a nameless extra in the game.

One of the common beings created through artificial insemination by AI randomly selecting many genes stored in a factory.

The amnion I was in was an incubator, and my mother was a childcare robot.

When I reached the age where I could recognize objects, I completed the education process that everyone goes through.

At that time, AI drilled into my head the mission, ‘You must revive humanity.’

That proposition is established as the values pursued by Academy City.

If I didn’t have any knowledge of the game, even I might have considered that proposition to be the best ideology.

In addition, I learned how to make a living, and when I reached the age of elementary school, I was given a house to live in.

It was the beginning of an independent life.

Children at that age are overprotected by security robots passing by on the streets.

This is because in Academy City, where the social system is still incomplete, young children often become targets of crime.

Security robots are tin cans that usually perform the function of cleaning robots, but they also have combat functions. It had a rather cozy appearance.

I also felt overprotected by them.

However, human warmth was not felt in the affectionate robot.

I thought it would be nice for everyone to have a friend, or at least a neighbor.

Then I met a girl.

One day, when pure white snow filled Academy City, light pink hair was blowing in the winter wind.

The girl introduced herself as Kim Eunha.

It was a pseudonym.

I later found out that the girl was Kim Dal-bi, one of the six criminals.

I didn’t know anything, so I was just happy that I had a human friend.

At that time, I don’t know if Dalby had the same feelings as me or if he was just bored, but he treated me kindly.

We quickly became friends.

It was like I had someone on my side for the first time since I was reincarnated in this world.

Dalby became special to me simply because he was the first person to be on my side.

Using the shield of being a child, he often expressed that he liked him, and often gave him flowers and handwritten letters as gifts.

Because I wanted Dalbi to continue to be by my side.

Dalby must have been grateful for my sincerity, so he often came to my house and cared about many things.

He said he learned it from the internet and cooked delicious food with his bandaged hands. He also gave me a new toy watch and a cool robot that he had picked up by chance on the way home.

Dalbi liked being held in people’s arms. Whenever I got the chance, I stretched out my arms to the sides. It was a signal for a hug.

When we were hugging each other like penguins while the winter wind was blowing, it was a natural progression to envision a future together with that child when we grow up.

It was only a three-year dream.

Dalbi left my side.

All I could say was that I like my innocence.

I still don’t know the true meaning behind those words.

On the cabinet next to the bed, a peony flower amulet is mounted in a frame.

Even if you turn your head just a little, you can see the amulet.

Why did Dalby suddenly leave my side, then visit me after several years and leave a letter at my house?

Why did they congratulate me on entering Aseong High School by leaving a peony flower?

Even this I couldn’t understand yet.

I thought I had put Dalbi down by now, but when I was alone and trying to capture my memories, that girl would still linger in my head.

Maybe it was because he was the first person to be on my side, maybe it was because he was the person I put my heart into, or maybe it was because my body was so young at the time and my mind was immature without even realizing it.

The memories with Dalby, which I thought were just burned-out embers, would quietly burn again at some point, leaving a lingering feeling in me.

I was drowsy amidst the pain.

I quietly closed my eyes.

“… … .”

He was probably in a deep sleep.

When I opened my eyes, I vaguely saw a woman with light pink hair.

I couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality.

Because it felt so hazy.

So I closed my eyes again.

Something wet was placed on my forehead. It was cold.

One after another, the faint smell of porridge filled my sense of smell.

I felt someone holding my hand and stroking my hair.

The thought that suddenly occurred to me was that I was not lonely.

Soon a calm voice settled into my ears.

“I’m sorry for coming.”

For some reason, she left behind an apology.

My eyes opened slightly again.

My hands, which had felt warmth, became empty.

Her eyes stayed on the cabinet next to the bed for a long time.

As I closed my eyes, the sound of footsteps became increasingly distant.

Immediately after, I fell into a deeper dream.

… …

When I regained consciousness, I heard the sound of something being doused in water next to me.

Soon a cool towel was placed on my forehead.

As I opened my eyes little by little, a familiar face appeared in my eyes.

“Are you awake?”

A kind smile.

It was five hundred books.

“?”

Why is the white paper here?

At that moment, like an instinct, the folder on my computer’s hard disk came to mind.

I was relieved when I remembered that I had put a password on my computer just in case.

“White paper… ? How are we here?”

Because my throat was locked, my voice did not come out properly.

White Paper was sitting on a chair next to the bed.

She was wearing a top that exposed her shoulders and a flowing skirt that reached down to her knees. Her coat was hanging on a hanger.

“I came here because I couldn’t contact you.”

I remembered my smartphone ringing a few times.

It was White Paper who called.

“How do you know my house password?”

“Don’t you remember that last year, I came to the manager’s house to take care of something, and the manager gave me the password over the phone?”

“Ah… , that’s right.”

I still remember that.

“… … .”

Right now, I didn’t have the energy to focus on my usual poker face.

I didn’t want to look weak like this.

Still, I felt at ease when Baek Seo came here.

It looks like the flu was painful.

“Manager, would you like some porridge?”

porridge?

Did you buy it?

Or did you make it?

Now that I think about it, I think I smelled porridge in my dream.

Did he smell the smell of White Paper making porridge in his sleep?

‘I’m hungry.’

When I heard about porridge, I felt extremely hungry.

I turned my head towards the window. The sky was already turning navy blue. It was evening.

Only then did I remember that I hadn’t eaten anything all day.

I looked at the white paper again.

“Uh… . It would be nice if you gave it to me.”

“Wait a moment.”

Baek Seo brought from the kitchen a sticky porridge with soaked rice grains and a metal spoon. Soy sauce and sesame oil were also served in small bowls.

“Ugh… .”

I carefully raised my upper body. I had a headache, but I felt that my physical condition was slightly better, perhaps thanks to the nursing care I received while I was asleep.

“Manager.”

Baek Seo scooped up a spoonful of white porridge and blew on it to cool the porridge.

“Ah~.”

“… … .”

A white paper holding out a spoon as if feeding a child.

For a moment, I almost opened my mouth without realizing it, but then the words I had recently heard from Baek Seo came to my mind like a flash.

─ ‘A new thought occurred to me that I should take care of the manager as well.’

no.

This isn’t it… !

“… I’ll eat it.”

“Do you want to?”

I received a spoon and a bowl of porridge from Baek Seo and ate the porridge myself.

Even though the porridge had no special taste, it felt very delicious.

I added soy sauce and sesame oil and ate another spoonful. The seasoning was just right and my appetite grew stronger.

The white paper looked at me happily as I ate the porridge. Are you my mom?

“It’s a white paper.”

Still, I must say this.

“Thank you.”

“What?”

“For coming.”

It wasn’t a polite thing to say.

I meant it.

I am not an iron man.

He is an ordinary person who seemingly has to reign as an iron man in the leader club.

It’s been a long time since I realized that I feel especially lonely when I’m sick.

I guess that’s why I liked the first friend I made named Dalbi so much, because I’m an ordinary person like that in the end.

Even though I was very proud of being shown to be weak to the white paper.

Anyway, it was very touching to see someone come to take care of me when I was suffering alone.

White Paper smiled and shook his head.

“No. If the manager is sick, of course he should come. On the contrary, it’s nice to come to the manager’s house after a long time.”

“Why my house?”

“Isn’t it fun to come over to a friend’s house?”

A burst of laughter flowed out.

Well, that’s true.

“If you want to come, come anytime.”

“Huh?”

“You are okay. Welcome.”

As he said this while eating porridge, White Paper suddenly became quiet.

‘… ‘Why aren’t you saying anything?’

Why are you quiet?

Did I say something wrong?

I glanced towards the white paper.

For some reason, she looked worried.

“Anytime?”

A white paper asking questions. Her eyes became serious.

I nodded.

“What’s strange?”

“So, we’re actually living together… ?”

“?”

Is it because my head isn’t working properly due to the flu?

I couldn’t understand why that conclusion was reached.

… …

White Paper went out, took some new medicine, and lay down again.

Even as the night deepened, Baek Seo did not rest and took good care of me.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve just imagined, ‘How happy I would be if I married someone like this.’

Putting his hand on my abdomen over the blanket and patting it.

I could easily figure out that it was a consideration to diffuse some of the pain I was feeling.

It was already past midnight.

White Paper brought a book from my room and was reading it.

“It’s a white paper.”

“Why, Manager?”

Instead of concentrating on his book, White Paper raised his head as soon as he heard my call and responded with a kind smile.

She silently tapped the book with her index finger.

“You can go back now. It’s late.”

“Director I’ll stay here until you get better. We should go to school together tomorrow.”

really.

People are really nice.

But this puts a burden on me.

You have to get home before the last train runs out.

I’m feeling sleepy again, so I guess I’ll send the white paper before I go to sleep.

“It’s okay. I think I’ll feel better now if I sleep… . I owe a lot to my husband and wife today. They gave me wet towels and made me porridge… .”

White Paper’s fingers that were tapping the book suddenly stopped.

It was only for a moment, but for some reason, her eyes opened a little wider.

It quickly returned to its original expression, but I did not miss the change in expression.

Because it was so dramatic.

“What’s wrong?”

“… Nothing.”

White Paper shook his head and closed the book.

Wasn’t the reaction from a moment ago particularly meaningful?

“Manager, are you sleepy?”

White Paper put his hand on the blanket again, patted my body, and asked.

“Uh, sorry, I have to sleep. You too, go in… .”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Get in before the last train runs out. That’s because I’m sorry.”

Enough of my disheveled appearance here.

I didn’t want to be seen sleeping in pain.

“… okay. I’ll stay here until the manager goes to bed.”

“Okay… .”

“Shall I sing you a lullaby?”

“Don’t do that.”

I felt like I would feel miserable even listening to a lullaby.

The white paper also smiled happily as if it was a joke.

I closed my eyes.

Perhaps thanks to White Paper’s patting, I soon fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

“… … .”

Oh Baek-seo quietly watched Ahn Woo-jin falling asleep.

A few minutes later, Woojin fell completely asleep.

Soon, Baek Seo’s face, which had been smiling sweetly, gradually hardened.

She headed straight to the kitchen.

When I opened the lid of the silver pot on the gas stove, I saw white porridge.

It was a porridge that had been carefully cooked and had no problems whatsoever.

“Woojin didn’t boil it… .”

A white paper muttering quietly.

Her eyes gradually sank.