episode_0164

Although the quarantine measures had already been lifted, I could sense that I would have to spend some time in the ward.

“I hope you never do anything too hard. If you collapse during class, I don’t think I’ll be able to stay in my right mind… ”

The tearful words of the Black Lotus owner who came running, putting everything aside.

“What? Are you frustrated? Do you want to go out now? Are you really still not in your right mind… ”

Even Yeonminha’s cold, cold eyes.

My body was already starting to shiver, but I couldn’t ignore these sincere concerns.

Since the cradle side was even willing to extend the period of absence, there was no way for me to escape.

“Hoo… ”

A quiet garden behind the ward.

I continued to do low-intensity training combined with rehabilitation.

First of all, the recovery speed is not that bad. Even the medical staff was surprised. The hole in my stomach has now healed up quite well.

I guess it’s inevitable that a big scar will remain… well, where else but the face?

But the problem was on the other side.

“Ugh… ”

While gradually increasing the strength of the magic formula.

His face was distorted by the excruciating pain that came in an instant.

A burning sensation coursed through my body, along my blood vessels.

I tried to grit my teeth and endure it, but in the end, I just sweat profusely and failed.

“Ugh… Ugh… ”

I eventually had no choice but to sit down, exhausted.

It was a problem that had not been resolved since I came to my senses.

There were no particular problems with the predictions for the lower paths, but the predictions for the 7th path, the highest level of magic, were not being used.

To be exact, even though I wrote the magic formula, my body was not able to accept it.

Just like before.

“Sigh… ”

I let out a deep sigh.

Still, I don’t think there’s any need to be impatient. I think I’ve been pushing myself too hard lately.

So, it may be natural that it takes time to recover.

Anyway, there will be no need to raise the prediction to 7 routes for the time being.

Even though there is a ranking match schedule, there will be no opponents that will have to raise their power to that level.

Unless that nun suddenly comes back to life…

-Absolutely not, absolutely not.

-Listen to what your sisters say.

-If I hear that you’re injured? I’ll drop my mission and come rushing in. And I’ll just…

The voices of my sisters are ringing in my head. I haven’t told them anything yet. Not about what happened in Jinling, nor about what happened this time.

Fortunately, since we’ve gone to the easternmost part of the remote regions, news may be slow to arrive, but everyone will eventually find out.

I’m so angry. But these were all things that I couldn’t do anything about.

Of course, wouldn’t it be better to have your lifespan shortened a bit rather than dying right away?

“Come to think of it… ”

I stayed in the first city for quite some time, and even after arriving at the cradle, I passed out for three days.

But I find it a little strange that I haven’t received a single letter from my sisters in the meantime. I thought my mailbox would be full.

“… ”

But I soon shook off the feeling of unease that was creeping in. The leader and his sisters are busy. They probably don’t have time to reply because they are so busy with work. I can’t be like a child and whine just because the letter is a little late.

With that thought in mind, I got up and headed back to the ward.

And the moment you open the door.

A familiar sound of a body turning is felt inside the hospital room.

“Senior.”

“… Hello.”

Yeonminha greeted me with a sharp voice. She had her hands clasped behind her back as if hiding something.

“What about class?”

“… ”

Her silence was as good as an answer. I barely managed to swallow a sigh. The request week was already over. And unlike me, who had been given a formal break, I had to attend a pity class.

I appreciate your concern, but blowing your points like this…

“… Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No.”

“Huh.”

Yeonmin-ha stuck out her lips in pout.

“Who else will care about you if not me?”

“Well, the medical staff here… ”

I closed my mouth again at the stinging gaze that pierced my skin.

He then sniffed at me with pity and started questioning me.

“Even the smell of sweat… You must have been training secretly again. I clearly told you not to overdo it… ”

“It’s not training, it’s rehabilitation.”

“That’s it. Don’t joke around. Anyway… ”

“Don’t worry. I’m doing a good job of not straining my body. Senior. But what are you hiding behind… ”

“Hide, hide? What? There’s nothing… ?”

He never gave up on compassion. He turned his body around quickly, desperately trying to hide something.

But she was a head shorter than me. I could easily tell that what she was holding was a piece of newspaper.

And even the title of the special feature article is as big as a door.

-The Black Lotus that saved the Republic, the Black Lotus that saved Paechon…

“… ”

You can guess the content just by looking at the title.

“Ah… ”

And when Yeonmin-ha realizes that I saw it, her expression begins to droop.

“Me, I ran there as soon as I received the request for support… ”

And then, without even making eye contact, he started talking nonsense.

“Really. It went by so fast.”

His eyes are unfocused. His fingers are trembling, having lost their strength.

“But it just so happens to be south of the capital… ”

“Senior.”

“I really, really ran hard… ”

“… ”

He had no intention of listening to my words of pity. I sighed inwardly, feeling as if I had poked a hornet’s nest.

I approached Yeonminha and gently held her hand.

“I’m sorry… Next time… Never… ”

“Senior.”

“… Ugh.”

Only then did he show some real compassion.

“I told you it was okay.”

I have to tell them not to bring newspapers starting tomorrow.

Although the reaction may seem a bit excessive, it may be a natural reaction considering that the spotlight was stolen by a rival.

Because the situation was already tense.

“Have you calmed down a bit?”

“… Yeah.”

Yeonminha, who had been standing there for a while, nodded. Her voice had quieted down, but she was still holding my hand tightly.

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

I quickly changed the subject. I was afraid that we would bring up the story from earlier again.

“Senior, by any chance… Have you seen Peanut?”

“Peanuts…?”

“Yes. I haven’t seen you for a few days… ”

“You were in front of the dorm this morning too… ?”

Yeonmin-ha tilted her head with a puzzled look.

“Did you look okay? Did you feel any pain anywhere… ”

“No… there was nothing like that… it just looked fine.”

Yeonminha shook her head.

After returning to the cradle, I couldn’t see a single hair on Peanut. The first day I woke up, all I could feel was his rough tongue and moist saliva on my lips.

This guy would be away for several days and when I came back, he would be right next to me as if he wanted compensation.

Still, I guess nothing happened. I feel a little relieved.

But I still can’t figure out why he does that.

But somehow, the way he avoids me makes me feel like he’s a really upset and sulking child.

***

Night. When Yeonmin-ha returned, I spent my time alone. Most of the time, I was lost in thought, looking at the moon.

This was a space directly managed by the medical department, and Yeonmin-ha’s attempt to lease the ward like last time ended in failure. In fact, there was also a lack of justification.

At least now, I’m glad that you can endure more time without me. Well, since we’re in the same cradle, I can just run to you if the need arises.

I wonder if she too will be able to live completely alone without me someday.

-dripping.

In the meantime.

Out of nowhere, a sound like something is knocking on the window is heard.

When I turned my head, Inyoung was really reflected on the other side of the curtain.

As I cautiously approach the window with a mask on, an unexpected person appears.

“Jin Ye-seo?”

The schoolgirl, who had become an exotic blonde with green eyes, looked at me with a dull expression.

“What are you doing here at this late hour?”

“Ha, what about late hour?”

Then Jin Ye-seo snorts as if it’s not even funny.

“Same night, no. We spent several days in the same room. Why are you suddenly… ”

She was now wearing her characteristically arrogant expression. However, I didn’t feel any particular discomfort.

On the contrary, I’m quite happy to see you again, even though it’s only been a few days since we last met.

Is it because we went through that swamp together?

“So what’s going on?”

Of course, blonde hair is much easier to deal with than black hair.

“Honey… No, man. This is driving me crazy. This is stuck in my mouth… ”

Jin Ye-seo licked her lips hastily. The face that was glaring at me for no reason instantly turned red with shame.

Jin Ye-seo, who had barely managed to pull herself together while coughing, finally brought up the matter.

“Ahem. Hey. How can someone be so heartless? How can someone in the same ward never come to visit?”

“Uh… ”

There was a hint of regret in her voice.

I looked at Jin Ye-seo for no reason as the shame surged in. Her face was still smooth and white, without a single scar. There were only a couple of white bandages stuck on the back of her hand.

Actually, I hadn’t even thought about it. Maybe I was so relieved after hearing about her condition from Mok Jin-woo that I completely forgot about it.

I had no choice but to offer an apple in the end.

“… I’m sorry.”

“You speak well… ”

Although his tone was still grumbling, the resentment definitely seemed to have gone away.

“… Okay. I just got here. I couldn’t talk to you during the day. Are you close with Yeonmin-ha? You were always right next to me. ”

“We’re close. He’s probably the closest person I’ve had since I was a kid.”

“… ”

It wasn’t exactly a wrong statement, so I just confirmed it. However, Jinye-seo opened her eyes even more sharply and glared at me. Did she come here at this hour to pick a fight?

But suddenly, when I see that face, something comes to mind.

“By the way, are you okay?”

“You asked early. As you can see, I’m fine. Unlike others, I’m not hurt.”

That’s fortunate, but what I was curious about was what happened on the other side.

“Not that. Yeon… No, Baek Seo-yeon, senior, would have caught you with me.”

My last memory before losing consciousness. At that time, Jinyeseo was almost hugging me.

There’s no way the kid didn’t see that sight.

Baek Gwang is a family that shares the same views as Pae Cheon. Furthermore, Jin Ye Seo is also a self-proclaimed ardent follower of that child.

That kid was caught secretly helping me. I don’t know for sure, but I think it’ll be quite damaging.

But that calm attitude is very strange.

“Oh, that?”

Jin Ye-seo continued speaking in a casual tone.

“I didn’t get caught.”

“What? Does that make sense?”

“At first, I thought I got caught too. But… My sister didn’t seem to be interested in me.”

In Jin Ye-seo’s voice, there was a strange coexistence of relief and regret.

“Well, from my perspective, that’s better… ”

But soon he shrugged his shoulders as if to brush it off.

“Maybe it was because the situation was so urgent. Or maybe they just thought I was a local. I had dyed my hair, a gas mask on my face, and rags on my body… ”

“Thank goodness… ”

“Right? I was caught by Magician Mok Jin-woo who came to listen later, but he readily agreed to keep it a secret. That smile made me feel a little bad, though… ”

-You managed to set up a three-family home without getting caught by the principal. You’re quite brave, aren’t you? That bastard Jaehyuk didn’t bring you into the cradle for nothing…

“… ”

Somehow, I felt like I knew what that smile meant. The words Mok Jin-woo left behind were spinning around in my head. This old man was talking nonsense…

“It’ll be okay. I definitely silenced that security bureau pig. More importantly… congratulations.”

Then, Jin Ye-seo suddenly says something unexpected.

“Congratulations…? What?”

“This is the merit you have established this time. I heard that the Supreme Council is seriously discussing the award. I think it is almost certain… ”

“What? Then you?”

“Me? Of course I can’t receive it.”

Jin Ye-seo’s tone was rather indifferent, as if asking why such a thing was being asked.

“I just told you. The fact that I went there was a secret.”

“But… ”

I clearly remember the hardships we went through there. Didn’t Jin Ye-seo also go through a series of difficult times?

At first, I honestly thought she was just a useless burden, but even I, who was like that, was saved by her twice.

When I was trapped in my mind by a monster calling itself Betelgeuse, and when I was in a state of exhaustion and surrounded by monsters that extended tentacles and hooks.

I don’t want to be too obsessed with awards… but that doesn’t mean I feel good about not receiving the awards properly.

“Okay.”

But Jin Ye-seo shook her head indifferently.

“I didn’t follow it in the first place, hoping for something like that.”

“But still… ”

“Ah, I said so. If you’re really sorry, then at least keep your promise.”

“Promise?”

Jin Ye-seo’s gaze, hearing my question, became much sharper than before.

“You said you’d train me after the request was over. Surely… you didn’t forget, did you?”

“… Ah.”

Of course, it’s not that I forgot about him. Rather, it’s because I said something so obvious.

“Of course you should do that. You promised.”

“Okay, then. That’s enough for me.”

Only then did Jin Ye-seo nod slightly, as if satisfied. Then she looked around briefly and said.

“I have to go now. I have a servant from the family attached to me. If I leave my post too long, they might find out that I left the ward. It’s between you and me. If they find out… it won’t work.”

Once again, a strange loneliness permeates her voice. After hearing him, I was able to realize our relationship anew.

No one can even see us having a light conversation.

“… You’ve had a hard time too.”

“Okay. Why bother with something like this?”

Jin Ye-seo shakes her head from side to side.

“It’s nothing compared to the hardships I had in the first city. Well, I’m going. I’ll come back later.”

As if to show her friendliness, Jin Ye-seo taps my shoulder as I lean against the window and turns around.

“… ?”

But I was momentarily overcome by a strange sensation. Without realizing it, I lowered my gaze and examined the area my hand had touched.

Then, without realizing it, I called Jin Ye-seo again.

“Hey, wait a minute.”

“Why, honey… Ah! Really!”

Jin Ye-seo, who was very nervous, turned around and approached me again.

“… Try again.”

“What?”

“What I just did. On the shoulder… ”

“There’s nothing I can’t do… Why?”

Jin Ye-seo tilted her head as if she didn’t understand English. But eventually, she raised her long, white hand again and tapped my shoulder.

Somehow, with a more gentle touch than before.

“… Do you like it?”

“… Uh.”

The satisfaction that came out of my voice was clear. Jin Ye-seo flinched slightly for no reason and let out a small sigh.

“… Ugh. My taste is really weird. Okay? Am I really going now? ”

Jin Ye-seo, who had been walking away with her body turned around, turned her face slightly. It seemed like she had forgotten something.

“Oh, and… ”

Jin Ye-seo adds in a slightly creepy voice.

“Take off your mask and go out. Isn’t it too much to wear it at night? You look normal. So you won’t be called a traveler… ”

Then she started walking so fast that she almost ran. Soon she completely disappeared into the path between the bushes.

I stood there blankly, looking at the empty space left by Jin Ye-seo.

When did you see my face again? Did you take it off while I was sleeping?

But that’s not really important in the current situation. I’m more concerned about what’s going on on the other side.

I looked again at the shoulder that Jinyeseo had touched.

A peculiar, crawling, tingling discomfort that should have been felt clearly.

Because I couldn’t feel that sensation at all.