episode_0268

“Good kid…good kid…”

A tiny little kid.

A child who was unusually afraid of needles.

… … .

You were born with a weak body,

He loved the smell of disinfectant coming from his mother’s arms.

“Is it stinging? Stinging?”

“Ouch! The injection is bad! ”

“Should I get a shot to get better quickly?”

It is clear, just as a duckling recognizes the first thing it sees as its mother.

The first thing I smelled when I was born was probably the smell of disinfectant.

The mother must have liked the smell of disinfectant too.

Stinging. Stinging.

A child with a delicate body as well as a delicate mind.

Because ‘I’,

I always held you in my arms, wearing a clean white doctor’s gown and dousing it with disinfectant.

“Mom! Let’s go jump!”

“Is that so?”

Born from pain.

You were always sick.

I also hated the stinging needles.

Was that why?

When I look back, all we shared was pain,

Because it feels like I haven’t done anything for you.

That was on my mind and I held you in my arms.

“Hehehe…! When I grow up, I want to be a bus driver like my mom!”

“Really?…… Then, when our daughter grows up and becomes bigger than Mom… Will Mom teach her to drive?”

“Yeah! Promise! Cross your fingers!”

Good kid.

A child who flew far away, light as a dandelion seed.

I held in my arms the memories of you.

Sitting on a dusty blood donation bus.

“… … .”

someday,

You left your poor mother’s arms too early,

Because even as time passes, you still look like a child…

I blankly raised my head and drew a picture of you as a child on the ceiling of the bus.

“… … Good kid…”

I wanted to do something.

It definitely was like that.

… … .

… … .

This is an empty world.

A town where your heart stops pounding and you feel relieved.

Even though my heart was torn apart, I somehow survived.

The poor mother’s heart has already stopped,

What you’re running right now might be yours.

I hoped so.

… … .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

※Guide to a peaceful life in Euncheon-gu※

6. Buy happiness at the convenience store.

– Happiness is a relative concept.

– And yet, somewhere in this world, there will exist a treasure that can make everyone feel happy.

# When entering a convenience store and the entrance is closed.

– No need to panic. Just pick the item you like the most and take it to the clerk.

– You must use the items you purchase.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I ran out of bullets so I came to refill them.”

“It’s been a while.”

September 6th. Early morning.

The day after the holiday.

Eunha, who received paid vacation from Eunbangul, came to the convenience store in front of the apartment.

[Happiness Convenience Store] where you can buy and sell happiness.

Sweet tobacco smoke drifts like a mist, and a sultry woman sitting at the counter looks up at the galaxy while smoking a long pipe.

A blue robe that looks like it came straight out of a fantasy world, and a gothic chair that doesn’t look like it belongs in a convenience store.

‘That thing’, with its left eye covered by long black hair, stares at the galaxy.

“You’re early, miss. Is it urgent?”

“I’m going to the hospital with a friend I know.”

“It doesn’t look like there’s any pain.”

“I’m going to get sick.”

A convenience store woman resting her chin listlessly on her hand.

Was it heavy? ‘That thing’, silently smoking a pipe, places its chest, as large as its head, on the counter.

Her blue robes are embroidered with constellations not of this world.

He looks like he’s not wearing anything under his robe, but he looks superficial no matter how you look at him.

I’m not bragging, I’m just trying to loosen up my clothes a bit.

While Eunha was thinking about that for a moment, ‘that thing’ tapped her chest, which was larger than her head, with the end of a Fight cigarette and took out a small box of bullets from under the counter and handed it to her.

“Three shots. Come again when you’ve used them all up.”

“Can you give me a lot at once?”

“There are no guests.”

“Aha.”

Eunha, who had finished preparing for an emergency escape by loading one bullet into her ‘Derringer pistol’, picked up the bullet box.

[Convenience store of happiness].

Living is one’s own happiness.

Selling is someone’s happiness.

So, this ‘escape button’ should also be used for one’s own happiness, as it has always been.

“… … What happens if I shoot this at someone else?”

“If that is the young lady’s happiness.”

A subtle story.

Eunha, who was fiddling with the gun in her hand, steps back.

Coughing from the thick smoke, I turn away from ‘that thing’ who is just smoking cigarettes for free.

“Um… Anyway, thank you. I’ll use it well and come back again.”

“be careful.”

“What?”

The woman asks.

An unknown constellation engraved on the blue robe glows softly.

“Mixing things up. It’s not for the young lady’s happiness.”

“I do it because I like it.”

I just want to do something.

That’s it.

The more you mix with monsters,

Because I couldn’t turn my eyes away from their depressing stories.

If you can do it, do it.

The galaxy laughed.

“Hoo…… But, convenience store owner. How did you become a monster? Do you have a family?”

“No. All the storks that were supposed to bring children are dead.”

“… … ? What are you talking about… I don’t believe you’re saying you don’t know how babies are born.”

Make small talk.

Before going to the hospital,

Eunha, who hates hospitals, wanted to calm her trembling heart for no reason.

“How do you make babies in the world of the young lady?”

“Well… you’re pregnant?”

“What are you doing?”

“There’s something like that, so just move on… I’ll come back later and learn then.”

“Are you coming because you’re pregnant?”

“Why are you getting me pregnant? I’ll bring you a book, so read it.”

A smile spread across the lips of the woman who had been feeling bored.

Maybe I was bored.

Beep beep beep. Beep beep.

Soon after, the convenience store door opens along with the galaxy’s muffled complaints.

My work is done. Now all that’s left is to go to the hospital.

“I’ll come visit you sometimes when I’m bored.”

“It’s annoying. Don’t come.”

Eunha, who acquired three emergency escape bullets, left the [Happy Convenience Store].

… … .

… … .

Happiness has left.

Only boredom remains.

『… …Have a nice trip, Miss.』

[Convenience Store of Happiness] with a dark atmosphere.

The woman manning the counter places her hand on her chest, which is wrapped in a blue robe.

“I really want to hug you, but if I hug you, you’ll be suffocated… I wonder if I can hug you.”

A moment of happiness.

That’s it.

Please, I hope that this foolish girl will also have a happy day, just like I am happy now.

The woman smoked her pipe, sending out puffs of white smoke.

… … .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Cheongryong General Hospital] is a general hospital.

Supported by [Cheongryong Family], one of the top conglomerates in the country, this hospital boasts of being the best in the country, with cutting-edge medical equipment and excellent medical staff.

Such pride is not empty, and many patients come to see us thanks to the value of the name ‘Cheongryong.’

“Ah! Galaxy! Here you are!”

8 o’clock in the morning.

Kang Na-ri, who was loitering around the parking lot in front of the hospital, waved at Eun-ha, who was approaching her while pulling a carrier.

Her blue hair, shining like a sapphire, flutters in the wind.

Why was Kang Na-ri, who had no presence at all in the cafe, so dazzling? While Eun-ha squinted her eyes and inwardly exclaimed admiration, Kang Na-ri, who had been watching the reactions of those around her, ran over and fiddled with the sleeves of her shabby sweater.

“I came early, but there are a lot of people.”

“Because it’s a hospital. If you’re even a little late, your appointments will get delayed and you’ll have to go to the afternoon clinic.”

Kang Na-ri, who was looking at Eun-ha in her baggy boxy T-shirt today as well, turns her gaze away, saying she has nowhere to look.

As I absentmindedly looked around, I noticed two people with unique appearances… mainly their gazes looking at Eunha as if possessed.

“What… did you come riding?”

“It’s a forklift.”

“The roads must have been really congested. Were you okay?”

“Not blocked at all.”

Did Eunha ever get a driver’s license? I don’t know.

Kang Na-ri, who clenched her empty hands out of habit, stood guard over Eun-ha as if protecting her.

Thump. Thump.

My heart is pounding.

If you could understand the feeling of a magnet being attracted to another magnet,

When we were apart, it was nice to just look at each other,

Because they are so close that their shoulders are touching… Kang Na-ri’s body is drawn to Eun-ha’s as if they are magnets.

‘It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other… Hot! Surely no one came here to disturb us?’

Kang Na-ri, who missed her time with Eun-ha, looked around excitedly.

Thanks to the training that Banharin kept giving me, I gained confidence in my skills.

Ss …

The scenery reflected in Kang Na-ri’s eyes.

People heading to the hospital.

A man sitting on a wooden chair, dressed in a hospital gown, smoking a cigarette.

A mouse woman enters the hospital with her tail wagging and a ‘reverse cross ring’ attached to it.

A woman in a pure white dress passing by Eunha with a dull expression.

……hmm.

There is no sign of Banharin or Eunbangul.

Completely alone with the galaxy.

Po-ok.

Kang Na-ri, who was quietly putting her shoulders against Eun-ha’s, wrapped her arms around Eun-ha’s soft arms.

The galaxy’s arms were cold, like someone whose blood had drained from them.

Kkeuggeuk…!

A tree standing in the hospital parking lot is engraved with saw marks.

“Ms. Kang Na-ri, if you touch it like that, it tickles.”

“Uh, that… Ehehe…… Anyway. Today, we came to [Cheongryong General Hospital] to see if the ‘Eun-gang Potion’ is being used properly.”

For a moment, I’ll be attached to the galaxy with a warm face.

Kang Na-ri, who came to her senses with a start, explains the purpose of her coming here today while tossing her blue hair.

(A person died at [Cheongryong General Hospital]. They say someone stole the [Eun-gang Potion] that was supposed to go to the emergency room.)

An incident where someone stole [Silver Potion] that was supposed to go to an emergency patient, and a person died.

I was already worried about the galaxy.

The confirmed death toll so far stands at approximately seven.

It seems that the association became aware of the incident after the bereaved family reported it.

“The immediate goal in this hospital is to find out who is in charge of [Silver Potion], how the potion was stolen, who took it where, etc. ”

“I don’t know if I can figure it out in a day… Can anyone enter the hospital?”

“The Hunter Association will help. It’s true that this is a problem that the Association should solve, but since the other party is the [Blue Dragon Family]… It’s easier for me to do it even if I stir things up.”

The youngest daughter of the Cheongryong family. And the creator of [Silver Gang Potion].

Does that mean that no matter where you stir things up, there is a justification?

Indeed, I don’t know what the other world is like.

‘Oh. Then why did I come? Am I just a cheering totem?’

Euncheon-gu Malrangjumeok. And [Eun-gang Potion] raw material itself.

A person who is more accustomed to being poked than to being stirred.

Indeed, this world is also something I don’t know about.

‘Um…so what!’

The galaxy didn’t care.

It’s the same as when Do Jong-ha was born. If Kang Na-ri stirs up the living, she will only stir up the dead.

Thinking that way, I looked around.

A landscape reflected in the eyes of the galaxy.

People heading to the hospital.

A man wearing a hospital gown sitting on a wooden bench, smoking a cigarette.

A patient waving from the roof of a hospital.

Someone in a pure white suit standing blankly at the entrance to the funeral hall next to the main building.

(Is this the child?)

hospital.

Fucking hospital.

“… … .”

My head hurts.

Because I’m having a nightmare.

Eunha, who was touching the tips of her cold fingers, smiled secretly at Kang Na-ri.

I don’t know.

Since we’re already here, we have no choice but to try.

“… … .”

A woman in a pure white dress approached quietly and took my hand.

Shy and cold, but with warm hands.

It’s gotten a little better.

“… … Let’s go in slowly.”

“ㄴ, Yes! I’ll do my best!”

The worries were short.

Eunha, who had gathered up her groundless courage, entered [Cheongryong General Hospital] with Kang Na-ri.

… … .

… … .

In a word,

[Cheongryong General Hospital] was big.

To the extent that [Cheongryong Guild], one of the four major guilds, takes on the role of security guard.

“Hello! Miss Kang Nari! I’ve been waiting for you! I’m Choyojeol, a B-rank hunter from the [Cheongryong Guild]!”

“Hello. That’s a rare last name.”

After Kang Na-ri handed over the documents prepared by the association to the entrance security guard,

As soon as the two entered the first floor of the main building, they were blocked by a man who introduced himself as the ‘Team Leader of Security Team 1.’

– Next customer… Yes, please go to the 2nd floor of the neurosurgery department to register.

– Orthopedic surgery? Did you fast before coming here? You’ll have to stay in the hospital for about a day…

The sounds of a hospital can be heard from afar.

People sitting on chairs wait for their turn and write their personal information and the reason for their visit on notes handed to them in advance.

The first floor of the main building resembles the entrance to an exhibition hall.

The pure white marble and the blue dragon statues on either side of the entrance were beautiful, and the classical music in the air gently massaged my eardrums.

‘Oh… I have friends here too.’

Eunha, who was looking up at the blue dragon statue at the entrance with eyes mixed with admiration, stroked the ‘leather choker’ around her neck.

Meanwhile, Chief of Security Team Cho Yo-jeol, who took a step closer to Kang Na-ri, bowed at a 90-degree angle with his protruding belly fat and gave a polite greeting.

“The producer of [Silver Potion], which is better than [Galaxy Potion] of the association that once dominated the potion industry… I was really surprised when I first heard the news. Now, it won’t be long before our [Blue Dragon Guild] goes beyond the title of one of the top four guilds and becomes the best in the country.”

“… … .”

“The guild’s potion makers are already curious about the ingredients of [Silver Potion]…”

It’s a long story.

On purpose though.

A security team surrounds them as if they are escorting them… no, as if they are surrounding them.

The security team leader, who glanced down at Eunha’s large chest, swallowed hard, but there was no significant reaction, perhaps because the association had informed him in advance.

“Haha… I was flustered because the youngest lady’s ‘secretary’ was so beautiful… Anyway, I’m very sorry that the youngest lady had to come here in person because of the unpleasant incident that happened here recently.”

“Yes, you should do that.”

“We have organized all the information on our side, so please save the youngest daughter’s precious time…”

“I’ll find it myself. Just give me directions.”

Kang Na-ri’s attitude is completely different from usual.

His gestures, which reveal not a single flaw as if he is following Banharin, even give off the dignity of a nobleman.

Wearing a shabby sweater was no longer a problem.

The security team leader’s body freezes at the cold gaze of the person belonging to a conglomerate family.

“… … I will do as you instruct. However, the youngest lady can enter any part of the hospital, but please be careful when entering the intensive care unit and emergency room, as the patients need absolute stability….. ”

“There will be no harm to the patient.”

Intensive care unit and emergency room.

Why do they insist on restricting entry?

After a brief conversation, everyone retreated, leaving only a few security guards behind.

Kang Na-ri, with her cold face, moves closer to Eun-ha with trembling steps.

“Phew… Phew… That was so scary… Did I do a good job, right…?”

Kang Na-ri, who has always been a squirrel, whispered her true feelings to Eun-ha.

Perhaps, he asked me to go with him because he needed someone to lean on right next to him.

“… … .”

I saw Kang Nari.

A woman with beautiful blue hair like sapphire.

Her slightly wavy hair falls down to her collarbone, revealing a sleek neckline.

Thump. Thump.

A slender neck. A powerfully beating carotid artery.

Occasionally.

Eunha, who was carefully examining Kang Na-ri’s neck, gently caressed the area around her carotid artery.

“… … .”

But soon he shook his head and stepped back.

Because there is no chair to sit on and no needle.

I have no choice but to endure it.

Eunha’s hand, which had been sweeping the area near the carotid artery, rubbed Kang Na-ri’s collarbone before withdrawing.

“Good job. Let’s do our best today.”

“… … Yes. Sister Eunha.”

Eunha smirked and took a step further away.

Objective: Find out who took the [Eun-gang Potion] that was brought into Cheongryong General Hospital, where it was taken, and for what purpose.

I have confidence.

I’m just a little sick and busy.

“Then I’ll go straight to the data room. Eunha, would you like to come with me?”

“… … I’m going to go take a look around the hospital for a bit. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the hospital.”

“Ah… That, is that okay? If you don’t like the hospital, get ready to go back right away…”

“It’s okay.”

That’s because it’s been a while.

That’s really it.

Eun-ha, who was fiddling with the ‘Derringer pistol’ in her pocket, made a smiling face again today.

This is it for now.

… … .

… … .

‘Then… Kang Na-ri went to the data room, and the only thing left is the security guard behind her.’

After a while, Kang Na-ri leaves to find traces of the potion, leaving Eun-ha alone.

She walked away from the security guard who was watching her with a strange gaze.

Knock knock.

The sound of carrier wheels.

The sound of security guards following the galaxy from afar, and the footsteps of [Red Woman] clinging close to her.

“Ms. Red.”

“I hate that nickname.”

“Um… Then, what should I call it?”

“Eunhong(紅).”

As if I had been thinking about it for a long time.

A word carefully spoken by a woman whose face was red from shyness.

Eunha, who was clutching her left chest for no reason, chose her words.

“… Okay, Eunhong. Can you leave the person behind?”

Clap clap.

That’s fine.

As she turned the corner and was out of the security guard’s sight, [the red lady] clapped her hands lightly,

A cold wind blew and swallowed the galaxy.

“… … Oh. They say there are a lot of ghosts in the hospital.”

The hospital suddenly became quiet.

Eunha glances out into the dark hallway and takes out [Black Book] from her carrier.

[The Red Woman], who came up to me, asking if I did well, caresses the upright ‘cross decoration’ attached to her red dress.

“how is it.”

“Okay. Let’s go to the intensive care unit like this.”

Please be careful when coming and going because of the patients?

What about intensive care units with no patients?

The desire to do something.

So, we have no choice but to investigate this side instead of Kang Nari.

‘I have a potion made with my blood, but ICU patients need to remain in absolute sedation?’

You can find out by asking the person involved.

“are you okay?”

“I’m always okay.”

Step, step.

It’s still early morning.

The time patients wait for their turn to receive treatment.

Eun-ha walked down the eerie hospital hallway with Eun-hong, the [Red Woman] in a bright red dress.

… … .

… … .

“Ah… Hello! Sisters!”

and,

The galaxy,

(A person died at [Cheongryong General Hospital]. They say someone stole the [Eun-gang Potion] that was supposed to go to the emergency room.)

Light and delicate like a dandelion seed,

I met a little girl.

… … .