episode_0034

When Hyunho was returning to the castle alone, Kuzunoha was biting her fingernails with a serious expression. When she actually entered the barrier, it was completely different from what she had expected.

‘The original plan was to sever the connection between the barrier and the West…’

It was possible to enter the barrier for a short time using the bodily fluids of the Westerner, who was the subject of the barrier, as a medium.

I also have a good excuse to connect with the rebels. Now, if I find the core that forms the barrier and make some minor adjustments, I can designate the place where the Westerner will return to as our home, not here. That’s what I thought…

“Please let me know if you need anything.”

“Oh, it’s okay.”

What had been spread out on the castle was more like a seal than a barrier. It seemed like it was meant to confine the people inside the castle rather than protect them.

Although the barrier and outline designed by Kuzunoha were the same, the intentions contained within were different, so they were used in completely different directions.

‘I thought there would be some kind of authority to release it…’

If the hero defeats the Demon King, other people should be able to go out, so they should be able to come and go freely. However, it was made without any thought of letting people out. In other words, Kuzunoha, who entered, was trapped inside the barrier.

In order to go out, he had no choice but to rely on Hyunho. The maid who was watching him was a hindrance to him in examining the barrier further.

“Excuse me, maid. Do you happen to know who created this barrier?”

“You can call me Mayhen. As for the barrier, I haven’t seen it myself, but…”

What Mayhen knew was exactly what she had told Hyunho before. It was the story of the former emperor sacrificing himself and his personal guards.

To Hyunho, who had never met her in person, it was something he could accept as “I see,” but to Kuzunoha, who had actually met her face to face, it was something that raised questions.

‘You didn’t seem like the kind of person who would do that.’

From a human perspective, it may have been a long time ago, but for Kuzunoha, it was something she had experienced relatively recently.

At that time, Kuzunoha judged him not to be an evil person, but he was never a person who would sacrifice his life for others.

So is Mayhen lying?

‘That can’t be true. They have no reason to agree to being locked up.’

I really don’t know – that’s what Kuzunoha concluded.

‘That means, how can I take the Westerner out and take care of him so he doesn’t die…’

There can be no pursuer.

Kuzunoha came to that conclusion and went into the room that Meihen had guided her to in order to make a plan.

***

“I, I’m here. Huh…”

Upon arriving at the castle, Hyunho discovered that he only had two syringes left in his pocket.

Even when I used the fourth syringe, I thought I could hold out until I reached the castle… but I guess I couldn’t make a proper judgment because of the drug.

“Come on… Oh my god, what happened on the way here?”

“That’s true…”

“No. Okay. First, resting is the priority. How much did you suffer there? I should reconsider the alliance.”

Lina looked at Hyunho’s face and got up from her seat in surprise. His face was much paler than when she had seen it through the crystal ball. She couldn’t help but feel worried.

That worry stabbed Hyunho like a sharp knife. The mouth that was about to say, “I’m drunk on drugs,” closed right away.

‘Yeah. I’ll feel better after a little sleep. And since there’s Kuzunoha in the castle, why don’t I ask her to make more syringes?’

It is true that he now feels anxious without medicine. Hyunho himself was also beginning to realize the seriousness of the situation.

So if I succeed in cloning the medicine, all my problems will be solved. I’m so tired I could collapse, but I have to meet Kuzunoha first.

‘One is handed over for analysis… and one is left?’

I’ll ask Kuzunoha quickly, go back to bed, and get some sleep – As Hyunho was thinking like that, a familiar woman appeared in front of him and blocked his way.

“Long time no see, Hyunho? Where are you going?”

“Ah. Who, sister?”

“Where are you going?”

Before I could even answer, Mayhen hugged me and started asking me persistent questions about the planet.

“I have a favor to ask of Kuzunoha, so I’m going to stop by for a bit and sleep. Could you please tell me where it is?”

“Ah… Kuzunoha-sama went into her room, saying she had something to think about. Hyunho seems sleepy too, so I’ll tell you instead. What do you want?”

Meihen walked around the vacant lot alone, laughing, then straightening up, then laughing again, and saw Kuzunoha. And the conclusion she came to was that it was not good for Hyunho’s education. She slightly regretted sending Hyunho away just because he was a craftsman who had lived for a long time.

And Hyunho, who saw Mayhen, was now in deep thought.

‘Can I say this?’

I know it too. It’s not nice to see you so slightly dependent on drugs.

But… wouldn’t Mayhen understand? Up until now, Mayhen has never stopped me from doing anything. Rather, it was her overly helpfulness that was the problem. Maybe she’ll just let this syringe thing go too.

With that thought in mind, I took a syringe out of my pocket and handed it to Mayhen.

“This is the injection I received there… It’s like a doping drug that gives you strength when you use it during a fight. It’s so effective that I wanted to ask Kuzunoha if she could mass-produce it more… Could you give it to me instead?”

“Um… Okay.”

It’s not a complete lie. The doping effect is real. It’s not the main purpose, and the side effects are much bigger than the doping effect, which is the problem.

Mayhen took the syringe and put it in the pocket on her apron.

And then, as always, he took me in his arms and led me to the bedroom.

“You look really tired today, so don’t do anything else and get some sleep. Okay? Promise.”

“Yeah… Okay. Promise.”

Mayhen took out her little finger and held it out to Hyunho.

When Hyunho responded by shaking his little finger, Mayhen left with a satisfied look on her face.

Chiik- squeak…

The lights went out and I heard the door close.

I lay down and tried to sleep, but sleep did not come easily.

He clearly said that he was so tired that he felt like he might collapse at any moment, but the ticking of the clock in his ears and the sound of water dripping little by little stimulated his nerves.

‘I can’t sleep.’

Luckily, there was one thing left that could help me fall asleep easily.

Hyunho reached out and found the syringe he had placed on the shelf in case he woke up.

‘I’m sorry, sis. But this is the last time.’

Knock knock-

Tap the syringe body with your fingernail to expel any air bubbles that may be inside.

It was a completely natural movement now. Even without being able to see clearly, I could tell just by feeling where to inject my arm.

Kook- “Whoa…”

A groan came out of my body on its own. My cold body melted away, and it was the perfect medicine to cure insomnia.

It’s very energizing. Especially when you first inject it, the feeling of the energy spreading through your blood vessels and skin throughout your body is very addictive.

“So, do you feel better now?”

“Right. Oh, oh? ”

When I turned my head towards where the sound came from, I saw beast-like eyes looking down at me.

Mayhen’s unique blue eyes were glowing blue in the dark. Even though she had used an injection, her body was shaking on its own.

“You’ll need treatment.”

***

dripping-

“Come in.”

It was Mayhen who knocked on Lina’s office. When she opened the door, she saw Hyunho following her with a face full of fear.

There was a huge crystal in the office that was supposed to be in the audience room. Lina was writing on a piece of paper with a pen, and she seemed to be researching something about the crystal.

“Your Majesty, may I use the bath now?”

“Hmm? It doesn’t matter, but…what’s going on?”

“For mental training… I don’t think it will take long.”

“There are no people in the castle, and I think I said before that you don’t have to be polite every time… You don’t have to ask permission. Use it however you want.”

Mayhen, who was in charge of permission, bowed and closed the door. Then, holding Hyunho’s hand, she started walking somewhere.

“Huh… Huh, is this what training is?”

“I’ll tell you when I get there, so just wait a moment. Okay?”

Mayhen gave detailed answers to Hyunho, who was shivering, whether from the cold or from fear.

Hyunho was showing that he didn’t want to follow her, but Mayhen didn’t care at all and grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the bathroom.

“Hyunho. It’s right to use everything that can be used in battle. Even things like doping agents and drugs.”

“That’s right? Haa…”

Thank goodness. Did he come to scold me? Just when I was thinking that, Mayhen continued.

“But you should be able to use all of those things properly. You should never let yourself be swayed by them.”

“….”

I had nothing to say, because it was all true.

It’s true that I injected myself with drugs, but I wasn’t so addicted that I would talk back to that person. That was a good thing.

“Even if you use a famous sword, you should not mistake it for your own pure power. It is even more so for doping drugs that give you momentary power. They are even addictive, right?”

“So, let’s train together here with my sister so that we can overcome addiction.”

Training… I’m starting to feel a little uneasy. Was there even one moment of training with Mayhen that was comfortable?

“Can you tell me what kind of training it is?”

“This is a practice that helps you suppress your own weak energy.”

Then, as if remembering something, Mayhen clapped her hands.

“Come to think of it, Hyunho has been affected by slime’s potency before. That’s good. After this training, that won’t happen again.”

“Would you like to come next to me for a moment?”

Mayhen sat at the corner of the bathroom and slapped her side with the palm of her hand.

I don’t know what to do, but my body seems to be sending me warning signals as if it senses danger.

If this were a real fight, I would have run away immediately… but since this is training, I can’t do that.

When I approached her like that, Mayhen went into the bathroom first, grabbed my shoulders with both hands as I sat on the edge, and began to explain.

“If you have been severely affected by the drug, it is obviously impossible to overcome it with willpower alone.”

“In the end, you have to suppress it with something stronger than the weak energy…”

Kook-

Mayhen began to put more strength into the hand that was holding my shoulder.

“As far as I know, there is nothing stronger than the survival instinct. So, shall we begin?”

“Huh? Eh- Coop!”

And Mayhen just pulled my shoulder and threw my upper body into the water.

Bogle- Borrr-

All that came out of my mouth was bubbles of air, and I couldn’t speak.

I struggled to escape Mayhen’s grasp, but the difference in strength was too great. Even if I tapped and struggled underwater, I couldn’t move Mayhen’s arm even 1mm.

As my vision began to darken from the outside in, and I became unable to think clearly, Mayhen pulled my body out of the water just before my vision completely went black.

“Keuk, kek. Ha, how, woof, woof-woof…!”

“Hyunho. Noona will ever take you out again. Don’t tap or ask to be released. Pull out all the strength you had.”

“Okay, wait a minute- koo-”

Save me…!