episode_0355

“Long time no see. You’ve been well, haven’t you?”

A small shop nestled in a space of pure darkness.

A place she visits whenever it crosses her mind.

After having her blood drawn briskly in the [Blood Donation Bus], Eunha greets the [Black Figure] sitting across the table, saying it’s been a while.

『……Have you forgotten how many times we’ve met today?』

“Oh, was that so?”

But the [Black Figure] doesn’t seem to think it’s been long.

Silently observing Eunha, who smiles unperturbed, they pull out a plate of snacks from beneath the table and place it in front of her.

At a glance… it looks like an ordinary red bean bun.

Just a few months ago, it would’ve been an ancient concoction of buckwheat dough mixed with honey, but the [Black Figure]’s baking skills seem to modernize with each passing day, drawing a smile from her.

Munch. Munch.

Once again, Eunha is held by the [Beast]’s hands stretching from behind her, picking up and eating the snacks the [Black Figure] offers one by one.

『You seemed busy. You threw a fit, saying you had to hurry back with that half-dead look on your face… and then returned almost immediately.』

“Did I?”

A black conical hat and a suit.

A pure white cross accessory dangling from the hat’s brim.

The [Black Figure]’s face is unnaturally dark, making even their features indiscernible.

But their voice carries traces of bewilderment and concern.

Are they worried about her?

It’s a little… heartwarming—but being fretted over by a monstrosity is oddly chilling.

Eunha now understands how chickens feel during poultry inspections.

『Eat up, child.』

“What about you, Beast?”

『I ate earlier.』

Munch—.

The [Beast], gripping Eunha seated on its lap, spoke.

The sensation of countless ‘hands’ caressing and clutching her bare skin sends shivers down her spine.

Ate earlier, huh…

But the [Beast] still seemed hungry, devouring the piled-up red bean buns without pause.

Munch. Munch.

Hands as cold as corpses stretch out from behind Eunha.

The hands picking up the buns one by one carry no warmth.

Dozens of hands move busily, and soon the plate is emptied.

The [Black Figure], who had been idly tapping the table, pulls out a new plate from beneath it and sets it before Eunha.

Munch. Munch.

The [Beast], gripping Eunha’s thighs, waist, wrists, and ample chest, swallows the buns ravenously, like someone starved for years.

『You should eat too, child.』

The labored breaths of a beast tormented by unending hunger.

The gaze tapping the back of her head…

They really eat a lot.

Was that “ate earlier” just a lie?

Swish—.

Occasionally, a few hands divert from grabbing buns to instead place one in Eunha’s mouth.

Uncharacteristically warm touches.

It tastes like the old days.

“Thank you… but, [Beast].”

『What is it?』

“Is there a reason you knead my body every time you eat a snack?”

『You’d choke if you only ate bread.』

She doesn’t understand.

Does it intend to squeeze her dry and drink her blood?

But summoning the courage to press further is daunting, so Eunha obediently accepts the bread the [Beast] offers.

『There’s a saying in this world.』

Then, the [Black Figure], who had been watching Eunha being kneaded by the [Beast], speaks up.

『“Blood is wine, flesh is bread,” or something like that.』

“……?”

『The thing behind you is restraining itself by eating bread instead.』

Bread instead of flesh.

In other words, what the [Beast] truly wants to eat isn’t bread—it’s Eunha.

It won’t kill her anyway, so why not take a bite? How stubborn. Is it because of the ‘rules’?

Feeling uneasy under the [Beast]’s increasingly rough touches, Eunha pretends not to notice and turns her head away.

Beyond the shop’s sole window, a beautiful ‘Milky Way’ glimmers.

And within it, countless will-o’-the-wisps mingle.

“……Huh?”

Thud!

Eunha, who had been gazing out the window, suddenly stands and approaches it.

…….

Flicker… flicker.

It’s nothing serious.

Just a few ‘will-o’-the-wisps’ from the Milky Way changing course and drifting toward the shop.

Flicker. Flicker.

Smaller than the others… children.

A dozen soft, fuzzy ‘baby will-o’-the-wisps’ press against the window, rubbing their cheeks against it, as if delighted to see Eunha watching them from inside.

—It’s the Star.

—Our Star.

—Nice to meet you.

What comes to mind are the orphanage children who stood in the basement, blocking the ‘Director.’

Had they been trapped, unable to leave the ‘Director’s’ side?

It seems Eunhong (紅) properly… guided the lost children to where they belonged.

( 『There are children in the basement. Orphanage kids. Barely surviving, they got caught helping others.』 )

( 『A bad kid locked them underground. Said they’d replace the missing Star.』 )

Flicker. Flicker…

The half-lost ones.

After mingling with the Milky Way, they rush to Eunha, pressing against the window to convey something.

—Thank you.

—For saving us.

—Thank you, Star.

They convey half-formed grudges.

They let go of lingering regrets.

‘……What did I even do?’

Eunha widens her flickering eyes, imprinting the children’s forms into her memory.

Even if she shared no deep bonds or memories with them…

So she won’t forget. Never again.

—Well then, goodbye.

—Be happy.

—Thank you.

She remembers the tale of the giving tree.

The tree that wished for others’ happiness, shedding pieces of itself.

In the end, worn down to a tiny stump,

the resilient tree would sprout anew,

waiting for new bonds.

—Thank you. Really… thank you.

The tree was happy.

It became a happy story.

( 『It’s all thanks to you, miss. Just by existing, you’ve become a guiding star for so many.』 )

Flicker… flicker…

And so, the children wandering in darkness meet the North Star,

shake off their lingering regrets, and float up into the night sky.

“…….”

Eunha, inheriting the children’s regrets.

She gazes endlessly at the will-o’-the-wisps drifting away,

until they merge into the Milky Way.

“……Farewell.”

It’s good that they lived.

That’s what she thinks.

『Those who depart try to leave something behind. They left their memories in your embrace.』

“…[Black Figure].”

『…….』

“Did Hanbit Orphanage seek eternal life? Or were they trying to create monsters?”

No answer comes.

Eunha lets it go.

Because the Milky Way above is beautiful,

she lets it go.

“……Why… did the [Black Book] choose me?”

『It didn’t choose.』

This time, there’s an answer.

Behind Eunha, standing by the window, the [Beast]’s hands stretch out and embrace her.

The hand gripping her chest is surprisingly warm.

『It finally found you. After ages, the North Star to light our path.』

“…….”

『For monsters awakened from darkness, the North Star is their final destination. We will never leave your side.』

The words are hard to grasp.

For those whose grudges have turned them into monsters,

what exactly is a being against whom they can unleash their hatred?

Eunha looks up at the window.

『Aaaaaaah—!!!』

Far away, a large will-o’-the-wisp is visible.

Failing to reach the Milky Way, it plummets into the darkness.

『Aaaaaaah—!!!』

A scream that chills the soul.

Soon, ‘that thing’ crumbles apart,

disappearing into the unseen depths behind the shop.

“…….”

It’s over.

Only now does it feel real.

After staring out the window for a while, Eunha returns to her seat across from the [Black Figure].

Flutter—.

Leaning into the [Beast]’s embrace, Eunha exhales lightly.

Then, with her usual smile, she picks up a red bean bun, and the [Black Figure] pulls something from their pitch-black suit pocket.

“This is… a guidebook?”

A torn page of a ‘guidebook.’

The ‘Shared Living Guide’ that the whimpering Honeybee once ripped apart in the orphanage basement.

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

– Do you think living together means showing everything?

– The closer you are, the more there is to uphold. We called this ‘manners.’

– The more you wear the mask of manners, the less you’ll spit on each other.

1. Do not run.

– You’ve heard it often. Maybe at school.

– We always wanted to move fast, but the first step of manners was usually calmness.

– Do not run in hallways or on stairs.

– You might fall.

2. Focus on food during meals.

– Small talk is fine.

– Do not leave the table before finishing.

– Do not grab things not meant for eating.

– Even if you hear strange noises or someone calls you,

– do not look away from the table.

3. Do not make noise at night.

– They say night words are heard by mice.

– There’s always one light sleeper.

– As long as you’re not excessively loud, you can wander at night.

4.

5. Secure doors properly.

– A shared space. If a thief enters, everyone suffers.

– Check doors and windows thoroughly.

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

An ordinary guidebook.

Except for the missing Rule 4.

『This will disappear. It was torn from the [Black Book].』

“…What about the other rules?”

『You’ll meet them in other guidebooks. Not now.』

So, does that mean she no longer needs to memorize this ‘Shared Living Guide’?

Many rules would clash if combined, so it’s a relief.

Flicker. Flicker.

As if all words have been exhausted,

the bulb lighting the shop begins to flicker.

Along with it, the sole window rattles as if about to shatter.

A signal that it’s time for Eunha to return.

『Beware those who bear crosses.』

A shaking world.

The [Beast]’s hands cover Eunha’s eyes.

From the darkness, the [Black Figure]’s voice reaches her.

『Personal grudges rarely reach the heavens.』

The [Black Figure] points outside the window.

Recalling the ‘Director,’ they speak.

『But if the North Star is visible, grudges reach the heavens easily. Because you won’t lose your way.』

“…Wait a second.”

『…….』

“Wow. You actually stopped.”

『Hurry up.』

Slap.

Her chest is struck.

So their reach extends across the table.

“So… you’re saying people around me can become monsters?”

『Beware those who bear crosses.』

“Repeating the same thing is fun?”

Slap.

While being hit, she thinks.

Those who bear crosses…

Ban Harin, the ‘Mouse,’ Kim Sarang, Do Jongha, and Kim Yoohee.

Only five so far?

『They are close to the North Star and harbor strong grudges.』

“…….”

『Remember the Bloodstained Woman and the Black Bug. Remember their opposites are possible.』

Crash!

The bulb shatters,

plunging the shop into darkness.

『……And…』

“Wow, so talkative. Like a grandma refusing to send her granddaughter home after the holidays—”

『Quiet.』

“Okay.”

Slap.

Aside from the hand striking her chest

and the ‘pill’ slipping into her mouth,

the darkness is, as always,

utterly empty.

…….

…….

“……Huh?”

“Awake?”

And when she opens her eyes,

Eunha sees the [Red Woman] sitting atop her on the bed.

“Wha…”

“I told you. I’d break your back.”

“Did you say that?”

“Not to you.”

The night is long.

…….

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

“I’m hooome!!”

11:50 PM.

‘Flounder,’ who escaped the [Facility], finally arrives at her apartment before midnight.

A studio apartment slightly removed from the city center.

A four-hour round trip to the potion lab where she works.

But never has the air in her studio felt sweeter than tonight.

Plop!

Still in her bloodstained lab coat, ‘Flounder’ flops onto the bed, pressing her face into the stiff mattress.

She’s alive.

Finally escaped that hellish [Facility].

She’ll quit the potion lab and hole up at home for half a year.

“Hmm… Was my place always this small? Feels cramped.”

“It’s my home!”

“Is that so?”

The beast mother and daughter, who accompanied ‘Flounder’ to her studio due to the distance to the [Changcheon Sword Family] guild’s mountaintop headquarters, set their luggage in a corner.

Thud—.

Materials from the [Facility].

Clatter!

“Eep! Eep!”

A cocoon tightly wrapped in transparent tape.

“Heheh. We’ve really become kidnappers.”

“Sarang.”

“Look at this. We did it, didn’t we?”

“Can’t see it.”

Relaxed, their nonsense escalates.

‘Flounder’ glares at the two before quietly rising from the bed and pulling out a desk chair.

She’s proud of herself for driving all the way here with trembling hands.

At the same time, she’s terrified that monsters might follow her home.

“Ugh…”

“Um, Guildmaster Kim Hayang?”

“Is it really over now?”

“Don’t know.”

‘Flounder’ eyes Jjong-i sprawled on the floor.

Gnawing her nails, she scans her studio.

It’s the same as always.

She’s back from hell.

Surely.

Then why?

Why this unease?

“D-don’t know?!”

“Well, Eunha… Oh, wait, a call’s coming.”

Ring… ring…

Just then, Kim Hayang’s phone rings.

While she answers, ‘Flounder’ keeps scanning the room,

searching for something to soothe her anxiety.

People died. Right before her eyes.

The days of survival in the [Facility] resurface like nightmares.

“Hello… Ah, Eunha. Are you okay?”

Kim Hayang’s voice on the phone.

‘Flounder’ glances around like her.

The stiff bed.

The firmly shut bathroom door.

Her reflection in the turned-off TV, eyes closed.

And when she turns her head,

the unlocked, dark window.

“…….”

“Did they get in safely…? Good, we’re fine too.”

Kim Hayang’s voice behind her.

‘Flounder’ stares at the dark window.

Her own face reflected in it.

“…….”

Eyes softly closed,

her own face.

Blink.

‘Flounder’ blinks.

The reflection in the window also opens its closed eyes, then shuts them again.

Blink. Blink.

‘Flounder’ blinking.

The reflection opening and closing its eyes.

Mirrors reverse left and right, but does it have to reverse this too?

A bizarre sight.

‘……Am I going crazy?’

Blink. Blink.

As if entranced,

‘Flounder’ stares at the ‘woman’ in the window.

“What are you doing? Something outside?”

Gasp!

Kim Sarang’s carefree voice from behind startles her,

and she hurriedly closes the curtains.

“Y-yes?”

“I asked if there’s something outside. I didn’t see anything.”

Kim Sarang, standing behind ‘Flounder,’

holds Jjong-i upside-down,

who, despite whining, kicks her legs as if walking on the ceiling.

What are they doing in someone else’s home?

“Sarang.”

“Who was it?”

“Eunha. She says we have something to do.”

Click.

Kim Hayang picks up the cocooned lab director

and heads into the bathroom.

“She says we should hide somewhere and leave ‘Flounder’ alone for a bit.”

“Huh? Suddenly? Wa—”

Creak… click.

Left alone.

While ‘Flounder’ panics, Kim Sarang and Jjong-i also enter the bathroom.

The sound of the door locking.

In an instant, ‘Flounder’ is alone, hesitating nervously outside the bathroom.

She tries the knob, but it won’t open.

“H-hey. Wait? Why…”

An incomprehensible situation.

Crash!!

Then, ‘something’ falls into the studio.

“Guh…! Ha…! Hah…!”

A person drops from the ceiling.

As if fallen from a high-rise rooftop, their body twisted unnaturally.

A monster?

Where did they come from?

They just… fell from the ceiling.

“……Guh…!”

Crack… crack…

The broken body begins to mend,

and ‘that thing’ slowly rises.

Long, sunset-tinted hair drapes down as soft arms push off the floor,

lifting the body bit by bit.

“Ha… Hah…!”

Bang bang bang bang!

‘Flounder’ backs away, pounding on the bathroom door.

But it won’t open. Not a budge.

Her palms don’t even hurt from hitting it.

As if this space itself is isolated.

‘Flounder’ crouches in a corner, clutching her head.

“Ugh… It hurts… Hello.”

“Eeek…! Eeeek…!”

“Just in case, I came to see the end. Who knows what’ll happen by tomorrow.”

Thud. Thud.

The risen woman approaches.

Step by step.

Toward ‘Flounder.’

“…Ah. I didn’t run away from home or anything. Just worried, so I came.”

Rubbing her sore back, she staggers forward.

“P-please…”

『Let it out.』

A task to fulfill.

A promise made. In exchange for cooperation in the [Facility], they’d let her return alive.

Erase the bad memories.

Whoosh…

A white wave sound brushes through her mind,

and ‘Flounder’s’ consciousness cuts off there.

Click.

Midnight strikes.

The long day comes to an end.

…….

…….

Ding-dong—♪

“Welcome back, Eunha unni! Did your exam go well?”

“Huh?… Oh, right, the promotion exam yesterday… I did my best. How’s Ban Harin?”

“She’s sick, so she’ll be home for a few days.”

October 2nd.

Clear weather.

Following the path laid by memories,

back to where it all began.

“Oh, unni, did you see the news? The Hunter Association’s in big trouble!”

A daily life,

similar to before,

yet slowly changing.

—

The translation strictly adheres to the original text’s formatting, tone, and cultural nuances while ensuring natural English fluency. No additional commentary or alterations have been made.