episode_0353

At the frayed edge of memory, what Galaxy grasped was the hand of Guild Master Kim Hayang.

The warmth from their intertwined hands supported something precious within Galaxy.

“……This is the first time I’ve seen such a horrific sight.”

Drip. Drip…

A dark basement. Light streams through the ceiling fissures torn open by Kim Sarang.

Guild Master Kim Hayang of [Everheaven Sword Order] surveys the place where Galaxy had been trapped with the aberration, her frown deepening.

The blood pooling knee-high carries fragments of someone’s torn flesh, floating aimlessly, forcing the imagination to conjure what horrors had transpired in this wretched underground space reeking of iron.

Crunch…

Kim Hayang tightens her grip on Galaxy’s hand and pulls her into an embrace.

“I’ll call for help as soon as we get back. A counselor affiliated with our guild… What was it called? Doesn’t matter. I’ll drag them here even if I have to wake them from sleep.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll feel better after a night’s rest.”

“But—”

“For now, let’s just get out.”

“Right.”

Time to leave.

Having draped her own training jacket over Galaxy, Kim Hayang scoops her up like a princess and turns to leave.

The exit lies through the shattered ceiling.

The light from the [Facility] reaching down to the seventh subterranean level is impossibly distant, but for an A-rank hunter like Kim Hayang, scaling the height is no challenge.

『You… you… youuu…!』

But just then—

Ggrrk! Ggrrk!

—the ‘Director,’ forcing its ravaged limbs back into bloody stumps, blocks Kim Hayang’s path as she attempts to carry Galaxy through the breach.

Pulling itself up on grotesquely elongated legs like a blind spider, the creature wedges itself into the fissure, sealing the ceiling with its own mutilated body.

The ‘Director,’ sneering at Galaxy even as it crushes its own form shut, cackles.

『Can’t leave! Can’t leave! You must stay here!』

“How pathetic.”

The remnants of undying spite cling desperately, snatching at their ankles.

Kim Hayang’s faint scowl tightens slightly as she holds Galaxy closer, patting her back reassuringly.

“That’s true… But realistically speaking, since the ceiling’s blocked now, the rules prevent us from removing the ‘Director’ from this side.”

“It’s fine. Sarang is outside…… Ah. Though earlier, she was whimpering about having exhausted all her mana.”

“Seriously?”

Galaxy glances up at the ‘Director,’ still struggling in its dying throes.

Whatever that thing is, crammed into the crevice, its form has degraded beyond recognition as human.

Could it resent Galaxy so deeply to go this far?

Or perhaps it’s trying to prevent her from escaping—to stop her from reaching the [Black One].

‘Come to think of it, Kim Sarang seems to collapse after every single slash. Is she disposable or something?’

Wrapping her arms around Kim Hayang’s neck, Galaxy thinks of Kim Sarang—likely swaying unsteadily somewhere above.

Kim Sarang’s skill… [Severing the Threads of Thought], was it?

Though that’s just what she calls it, swallowed whole by her ‘Sword Demon’ persona. The Hunter Association has officially registered it under another name.

At the [Ancient Dragon’s Rift], she sliced through the Cocoon Princess’s sanctum—

And now, this basement crafted by the ‘Director’…

Though she crumples from mana depletion after a single skill use,

She cleanly severed the aberration’s domain in one stroke.

How does she even do that?

But it seems unlikely to expect further help from Kim Sarang now.

『Galaxy, you…! You alone…! The orphanage treasured you so dearly…!』

Either way, clearing the ‘Director’ barricading the ceiling comes first.

What should they do?

……Tick.

Tick. Tick.

“Hm?”

Drip!

Then, in that instant—

Hearing something, Kim Hayang swiftly retreats from the crevice where the ‘Director’ is lodged.

『You can’t leave! Galaxy, you…! Forever…! Stay here…!』

KABOOM!!

With a sudden eruption,

The bisected ceiling explodes outward along with the ‘Director.’

BOOM! KABOOM!

Explosions cascade.

The ceiling collapses.

The fissure Kim Sarang created widens further.

Shattered debris and the ‘Director’ plummet into a pool of blood.

“Huh…? What was that?”

“Not sure. But now we have an exit.”

Drip!

For unknown reasons, a path has opened.

Kim Hayang stamps the ground lightly, adjusts her hold on Galaxy, and begins ascending through the falling wreckage.

“…….”

The path of departure.

From the suffocating darkness, toward the flowing light.

Perhaps because the path ahead is blinding—

Galaxy looks down at the basement, now nothing but a bloodied pit.

( Welcome to Hanbit Orphanage. )

The orphanage’s dark basement.

A time of pain.

She had thought she’d die countless times.

Splash. Splash.

She sees her own limbs bobbing in the pool of blood.

Countless versions of ‘herself’ who perished in that dungeon flicker before her eyes.

A painful memory.

( Let me forget. So that Galaxy can be happy. )

Yet,

The desperate battle against the ‘Director,’ like gnawing poison—

The lonely memories of the past—

( Galaxy, my dao companion! Are you there? )

( The most ideal guild member is someone you can entrust your life to. That’s why I wish for you to join [Everheaven Sword Order]. )

If she can now return to the warmth surrounding her—

Perhaps they weren’t such bad memories after all.

Galaxy thinks to herself.

‘Well… As long as I didn’t die, it’s fine.’

Because there are people reaching out their hands—

Galaxy can smile and carry even the painful memories.

( Become a hunter who willingly extends a hand to those in need…… Live beloved by many, since this foolish mother couldn’t love you enough. )

She carries the memories.

They are good memories.

She chooses to think positively.

Fwip—

“Huh?”

And then, Galaxy sees it.

As she’s carried upward by Kim Hayang—

Fwip…

A single photograph flutters past her.

Tick.

A photo of a bomb placed on the ground.

Why here? Why is this falling now?

Tick. Tick.

The photograph drifts past Galaxy—

Tick. Tock. Tick.

The bomb’s timer in the photo ticks loudly, descending into the dark basement.

『You……! No…! If you flee…!』

KABOOM!!

And then—explosion.

Photos rain from above like scattered petals, showering Galaxy in mock benediction.

BOOM! KABOOM!

The ‘Director,’ attempting to claw its way up the fissure after Galaxy, is swallowed by the blast. The trembling ground, unable to withstand the continued explosions, begins to sink.

RUMBLE—!

The basement collapses.

The oil-drenched underground ignites, burying the ‘Director’ beneath falling debris in its infernal grave.

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

4. Release your lingering attachments to life.

– Do not leave.

– Carry the memories with you.

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

Do not leave.

Now, pinned helplessly beneath the wreckage, the ‘Director’ cannot depart from that place without someone’s aid.

“…….”

Galaxy gazes at the burning orphanage basement.

At the last day of the orphanage she once knew… She carries the memories and leaves this place behind.

“……Ah! The children?”

Suddenly recalling the ‘half-formed things’ from the basement, Galaxy frantically scans the surroundings.

If the basement collapses, what will happen to them?

They shouldn’t end up buried like the ‘Director.’

『Just go.』

But such worries are fleeting—

Her eyes meet the [Red Woman], ascending the stairs with the children huddled close.

Clutching a young ‘Galaxy’ like a cherished doll, she shepherds the children like an elementary school teacher.

Against the backdrop of the blazing orphanage, the woman raises a thumbs-up toward Galaxy.

“Don’t flash a thumbs-up in the middle of a fire!”

『Why not?』

“That’s just how it is!”

KABOOM!

Another explosion.

And so, Galaxy—

Turning her back on the roar collapsing the basement—

Is carried out in Kim Hayang’s arms.

…….

…….

“Galaxy, my dao companion! Are you unharmed?”

It’s blinding.

Galaxy’s first thought upon escaping the basement.

Held by Kim Hayang, she’s returned to the [Facility].

At Kim Sarang’s stumbling approach—her voice thick with concern—Galaxy lifts the corners of her lips.

Her entire body is blood-soaked, her clothes ruined, barely covered by Kim Hayang’s draped jacket.

But she’s alive.

Galaxy wriggles free and stands on her own feet.

Perhaps because the certainty of escaping the ‘basement’ has settled in—her body feels weak, threatening to buckle.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

Kim Sarang, depleted of mana, staggers closer.

Her anxious eyes scan Galaxy for injuries—whether she was hurt when the ground split earlier.

Any wounds?

Kim Sarang parts the white training jacket covering Galaxy’s body.

“……Oh.”

A short exclamation as she adjusts the jacket.

Seems there are no wounds.

…….

…Fwip.

She parts the jacket again.

“Oh.”

“Sarang?”

“No injuries.”

Kim Sarang closes the jacket, shielding Galaxy’s frame once more, and steps back with the expression of a salaried office worker.

The training jacket Kim Hayang draped over her… Of course, it’s too large for Galaxy, merely resting atop her like a cloak, but it’s better than nothing.

Galaxy, having endured the inspection without protest, glances around the bright [Facility].

Kim Sarang. Kim Hayang.

The distant exit of the [Facility].

“Ugh…! Ugh…!”

A cocoon rolls at Kim Sarang’s feet.

Who’s that?

Wrapped in layers of transparent tape, only its nostril—pierced as a breathing hole—is visible.

“Who’s that?”

“Someone unworthy of your attention. Ignore them.”

Is that so.

Galaxy obediently averts her gaze and peers into the ruined underground below.

The inexplicable explosions have reduced the depths to swirling dust.

The darkness of the ‘basement’ is no longer visible.

They’ve finally escaped.

As Galaxy attempts to muster her usual smile despite the turmoil, Kim Sarang—motherly—adjusts the training jacket, tying it around her lower half like a skirt.

“Haa… Haa…! Everyone’s here!”

“Groan…”

Right then, a friendly face emerges from the corridor.

A potion lab researcher, arms overflowing with belongings—’Flounder,’ as she’s nicknamed.

In her grasp: the [Black Book] Galaxy entrusted to her, the lost suitcase,

And a box crammed with [Facility] documents and USBs.

How is she lugging all that weight?

Is it because she’s a hunter?

Following ‘Flounder’ is the scruffy Jjong-i, who whimpers and flops at Kim Sarang’s feet.

“Gasp! Galaxy, you alright? You’re drenched in blood!”

“No wounds… What’s all that you’re carrying?”

“Research materials that seemed important. Found the suitcase while searching. It’s yours, right?”

Returning the [Black Book] and suitcase to Galaxy, ‘Flounder’ frowns at the ‘evidence’ she painstakingly gathered.

( Guild Master Kim Hayang… Galaxy… Kim Sarang… Where’d you all go??…… Gasp! Who’re you? )

( Hello. You’re on Galaxy’s side, right? Found this suitcase on the way—must be hers, so I’m returning it. )

A strange person.

Or perhaps an aberration.

While the mother-daughter duo rampaged through the [Facility] searching for Galaxy, ‘Flounder’—left trembling with Jjong-i—wandered about.

She met a ‘strange person’ and heard a ‘strange story.’

“While others fought, I was tasked with gathering everything salvageable from the [Facility]. They said this place would collapse anyway…”

“Who said that?”

“………Eh? Who was it?”

Kim Hayang frowns as she accepts the evidence from ‘Flounder.’

From the earlier explosion to ‘Flounder’ ransacking the [Facility] on someone’s orders—

Something bizarre is at play.

What did they miss?

Come to think of it, when the lab director opened the door earlier,

Wasn’t there one extra person?

No idea.

“Ahem. Now, all that’s left is to leave.”

Kim Sarang, who had been idly flipping the jacket covering Galaxy, speaks up.

They’ve thoroughly looted the [Facility], buried the aberration ‘Director’ deep underground—only departure remains.

“But how? Outside is dangerous. Those weird aberrations are roaming. And someone outside has to open the door.”

“……Kim Hayang.”

Then, after a moment of contemplation—

Galaxy quietly murmurs while reading through the [Black Book]’s notes.

“…Address.”

“Mommy Kim Hayang. I’ll call. Someone to open the door.”

She surveys her surroundings.

Kim Hayang, now in a comfortable short-sleeved outfit after removing her jacket. Kim Sarang.

‘Flounder,’ exhausted from scouring the [Facility].

Jjong-i, diligently patting Kim Sarang’s foot to comfort her mana-depleted state.

As initially resolved—

They’ll all leave alive.

Turning her back on the ruined ‘past’ of the basement—

Galaxy offers a weary smile to those now watching over her in the ‘present.’

“Alright, everyone, turn around and close your eyes.”

“What about me?”

“You too, Mommy Kim Hayang.”

Time to leave, carrying the memories.

…….

…….

KABOOM!

『No… No!!』

Something bursts forth from the crumbling dungeon.

Twisted spite heaves the wreckage aside.

Grotesquely elongated limbs claw their way out.

『Galaxy, you…! You alone…!!』

The ruined form of the ‘Director.’

Now just a mass of resentment—it drags itself toward Galaxy within the [Facility].

“……In the end, you broke your own rules.”

『You are worthless!』

It spews venom.

The aberration staggers forward on twisted limbs.

Snap. Snap.

But the ‘Director’ is not alone.

From within the wreckage of the ruined ‘basement’—

From behind the ‘Director’—

Countless corpse-cold hands reach out, seizing its limbs.

“……Madam Beast.”

『Hello, little one.』

An aberration that broke its own rules.

Could there be anything more worthless?

The lingering hatred, unable to dissolve into the galaxy,

Is devoured only by the beast starved for cold.

『Why you…! Why you alone!』

Dragged down by countless hands, the ‘Director’ writhes toward Galaxy.

Like a vengeful spirit resisting hell’s pull—Galaxy stares silently at its face.

She won’t see it again after this.

Might as well engrave it properly now.

『I was going to be your mother!』

“I have plenty of moms. You’re not one.”

『You—! Killing yet another mother!』

It screeches hatred.

Frantically clawing to scrape Galaxy.

“……What would you know?”

Galaxy smiles.

The happiest she can muster.

So that whatever remains of the ‘Director’ suffers—

Dragged away somewhere by [Beast]’s countless hands.

“Thank you. Because of you, I met good people.”

『You’ll never be happy! You’ll live forever in agony—never dying!』

“Hate me all you want.”

Rrrip!

A leg is torn off by [Beast]’s grip.

The ‘Director’ crawls with its arms, desperately clawing onto the [Facility] floor.

Rrrrip!

Its midsection is shredded apart—yet it forces itself up to face Galaxy.

No…

It can no longer be called anything but a manifestation of ‘resentment.’

『You… Mine alone…! My child, mine alone!!』

And then—its bloodied hand stretches toward Galaxy—

“……Your daughter awaits.”

KWA-BOOM!!

With Galaxy’s whisper—

The sealed gates of the [Facility] burst open as a familiar [Blood Donation Bus] smashes through.

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

1. Donate blood safely.

– Blood donation is a noble act. A sublime deed that saves precious lives.

– However, we do not recommend using the [Evergreen Emergency Center]’s donation bus.

1-1. If you encounter the [Evergreen Emergency Center]’s donation bus parked on the roadside during your commute:

– Pretend you didn’t see it. Show even the slightest recognition, and it will approach you.

– If delayed and a woman in a doctor’s coat exits the bus—close your eyes immediately and turn your back to her.

– Then, whisper softly: “Your daughter awaits.”

– If you hear ‘it’ leaving, you’ve succeeded.

– Open your eyes only after the bus’s engine fades.

1-2. The child I sent away in pain has now grown.

– Yet, to this foolish mother’s eyes, you remain a child in need.

– Even if you pretend not to see the blood bus, this inadequate mother will still adore you.

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

4. Awareness is the connection of existence.

– You’ve heard the saying “Knowledge is power,” yes?

– Every act of mutual recognition and understanding draws ‘them’ ever closer to you.

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

『…Huh?』

GRIND!

Without slowing, the bus plows down the corridor.

Finally, ’Blood Bus’ crushes the ‘Director’—still crawling toward the [Facility]—before halting before Galaxy.

GRGROAN!

Under the immense weight, the aberration is hoisted aloft—

Then, seized by [Beast]’s countless hands—

Plummets back into the dark depths.

『What… is this…!』

Falling.

The rancid hatred sinks into darkness.

Where does the hatred, fallen from the touched sky, go?

“Told you. I have plenty of moms.”

And so—

The glittering North Star—

Watches coldly as the hatred descends—

Unchanging in its radiance.

『N-no… d-don’t…』

Falling.

Dragged into the abyss by countless hands.

And so—

The falling hatred—

Gazes up at the distant star—

Stretching its bloodied arm—

『NOOOOOOO!!』

Toward the light it can never reach again.

『No. My child, don’t look.』

But soon—

Hands from behind cover its eyes—

GROGRIND!

And darkness consumes all.

…….

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

…….

“……Huu…”

Her legs give out as she collapses.

Trembling, Galaxy hugs herself and turns away from the darkness below.

The others, having hidden and closed their eyes as instructed.

The shattered entrance where the [Blood Bus] tore through.

『Will you donate blood?』

Clutch…

Then—stepping down from the bus—

A woman in a doctor’s coat embraces the bloodied Galaxy.

“…Okay. I’ll donate.”

『Good child.』

Her task is done.

With the exit open, it’s time to go home.

To the ‘Morning Star Apartments,’ where aberrations live.

To the place she belongs.

Whoosh…

‘Blood Mom’ removes her coat and drapes it over Galaxy.

Boarding the bus, Galaxy sinks into the plush donation chair.

“Hi there! Are you Dad’s friend?”

“Wait, who’s this?”

『Picked it up?』

A random child greets her from the adjacent seat, but Galaxy ignores it.

The others can exit through the breached entrance once the bus leaves.

‘I’m exhausted… The rest can wait…’

Perhaps it’s the comfort of the seat—

Or the relief of completing her task—

Her tension dissolves into overwhelming drowsiness.

『Stings? Does it sting?』

Listening to ‘Blood Mom’’s soothing voice—

Galaxy closes her heavy eyelids.

…….

…….

“Hmm… It’s gone.”

“Let’s go now! I wanna leave fast!”

VROOM!!

And shortly after—

Once the [Blood Bus] carrying Galaxy departs—

“……By the way, Mother. A problem.”

“Hm?”

“Who’s driving?”

Kim Sarang and Kim Hayang—left behind in the [Facility]—

Exchange deeply troubled looks before glancing down at—

“Uuunh…”

—Jjong-i, sprawled on the floor.

A tale of the late night.