Chapter 249
Sometimes, the truth is far more painful than a facade of lies. And for me, this moment was precisely such a situation.
Ironically, it was only now that I could somewhat understand Yeon's feelings from two years ago.
Therefore, it was all the more important not to lie.
To be left behind without knowing why... I, more than anyone, knew just how painful that was.
"...That's how it turned out."
I was facing two female students in an open space spread out along the garden back path. Forcing my tightly shut lips to open, I began to confess everything.
That because my non-sensitive body had accepted divine power and magic, I was suffering from excessive overload; and as a side effect of repeatedly pushing my limits in that state, my lifespan was gradually decreasing.
...And now, as a result, I had less than two months left to live.
"Ah, ah..."
At the trembling groan, I glanced up. Hollow golden eyes came into view. Yeon, who was standing, swayed precariously, as if she might collapse at any moment.
"It'll, it'll be okay..."
She barely opened her lips and stammered in a shaky voice.
"First, let's go to the medical center... There's a good one under Paechun... Let's go and get a detailed inspection..."
"...You know it won't make a difference."
But it was nothing more than a futile lament. From the very moment the commander had taken me in, my body had already been in ruins. It was only through continued care while staying with them that I barely managed to hold myself together.
-You're body is breaking down, isn't it?
-Soo-ah's given power... You absolutely must never use it again...
-The most horrific and miserable death, in the end, where even your existence is erased...
Mocking jeers filled with ridicule, tearful pleas, and warnings. All of those words clearly pointed to only one path.
My end.
"Ah, ahh..."
And then, unable to endure any longer, Yeon collapsed with a thud. Tears glistened as they welled up at the corners of her eyes.
Ironically, it was through such a reaction that I finally came to terms with my own death. Of course, watching it unfold before me was... excruciatingly painful as well.
"It's, it's my fault... all of it..."
The fallen Yeon grabbed and tore at her hair roughly. The glossy hair she once took pride in had long since become a tangled mess.
"I, I left you... I left you alone, and because of that... like this... ah, ah..."
"...Yeon."
She didn't need to feel guilt over what had already passed.
It was something I had already decided to let go of. Even if it hadn't been that incident, a problem would have arisen sooner or later. Right now, I held power too immense and vast for a fragile human body to contain.
"Don't blame yourself."
I approached and helped Yeon to her feet. Her sorrow-filled eyes brimmed only with grief, making comforting her seem utterly futile.
"This was bound to happen someday. It's just that... the timing came a little sooner than expected."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... It's all, it's all my fault... because of me, you..."
"It's not your fault. This was all my decision. I knew it was dangerous, but I still chose to use the power. That person was me."
"Heuk... Hyun..."
"Because of this power, I was able to keep my life, meet the commander and the older sisters. Even as a worthless country bumpkin, I was able to enroll in a prestigious academy, and I could protect my precious people in times of crisis. I was so satisfied with those days. So, really..."
"Heuk..."
"I have no regrets."
That, at least, was a sincere truth. I deliberately said it with a smile, but it didn't seem to have been conveyed well. Yeon, oblivious to her smudged makeup, kept letting thick teardrops fall.
"And..."
I then turned my gaze.
Yeon Minha had kept her head deeply bowed, silently standing still. She had been like that for quite a while.
I pondered the meaning of her static reaction. I had braced myself for an emotional outburst from Yeon Minha, but should I feel relieved?
"...Senior Minha."
"..."
Yeon Minha still said nothing. I hoped, as much as possible, that they wouldn't feel overwhelming sadness. Though I had no choice but to tell the truth, I didn't want them to suffer from the shadow of my death.
With that wish in mind, I looked at the two and carefully began to speak.
Watching Yeon Minha's reaction, I tried to make my tone as light and casual as possible, as if to lift the mood...
"It turned out this way. So... I don't think I can choose both of you. I'm sorry, but from now on, forget about me..."
-BANG!!
And before I could finish my prepared words, my body spun several times in midair. Beyond the dizzying view, the sound of metal ringing loudly resonated in my ears.
Lying sprawled on the ground and tasting the dust, I could clearly feel the sharp pain in my cheek. I raised my hand to check my mask. And I could feel the texture of the surface, dented in the shape of thin fingers.
"Say that again."
As I got to my feet, the heavy, sunken voice of Yeon Minha reached my ears. Her gaze, staring directly at me from up close, was chillingly sharp.
"Senior..."
-Puhk!
Then, a tingling pain rose up along my chest.
"I said, say that again."
-Puhk! Thud! Kaaang!
The dull sound of muscles being struck, followed by another slap to the cheek with a metallic sound. Somehow, I felt like the joint of my mask was loosening.
"What? It turned out this way? I'm sorry, but forget about me?"
-Bang! Slam! Bang!
"Say that again!! You bastard!!!"
Yeon Minha finally erupted like a volcano, exploding in anger.
"How, how dare you say something like that to me...! How could you...!"
-Slam! Bang!
"You said you'd stay by my side. You said you'd always be with me! And yet, and yet, how could you...!"
Her punches, filled with fury, grew increasingly intense.
"You said you'd make me yours! You said you'd take me!"
-Slam!
"And after making such grand promises, that's all you have to say?"
"Yeon Minha...! What are you doing to Hyun?! Get off!!"
"You said you'd f*** me like a dog!!!"
With each punch, my vision spun relentlessly. Even so, my consciousness remained clear. Yeon, her voice soaked with tears, tried to restrain Yeon Minha. But Yeon Minha, ignoring her entirely, screamed while straddling my body.
To be fair, I had said something with that kind of nuance once. Though it seems a bit distorted... there's not much of a difference.
Yeah. There was no way Yeon Minha would calmly accept my death. It was absurd from the beginning.
Not once did I even think of stopping her punches. Her fury was entirely her right. I couldn't stop her.
If it could ease the resentment filling her heart, even just a bit... then such outbursts were nothing.
"Heuk... and yet... how could you...!"
Contrary to my resolve, the punches grew weaker and weaker. In contrast, the moisture in her voice deepened. Her anger, with nowhere to go, was steadily turning into grief.
"How could you...!"
I had no choice but to admit it. What I just said was a monumental slip of the tongue.
The moment I uttered the words "forget me," even I couldn't describe how unpleasant it felt. Words that didn't reflect my true feelings were truly so difficult.
In truth, I didn't want them to forget me. No matter what happened, no matter how much time passed.
That was my exact true feeling and my one remaining desire. Even if it was selfish, there was nothing I could do about it.
And the moment I realized that, I could only quietly apologize.
"...Sorry."
"Huk..."
"Heuk..."
Along with that, Yeon Minha completely lost her strength and crumpled. I barely managed to raise my battered body.
The two girls, utterly ruined, were sobbing uncontrollably. I probably didn't look much different from them. If someone saw this scene, they might grab their belly and burst into laughter.
***
When their tears finally dried up, I continued the story.
About the dreams of the commander and the older sisters, the witch who had taken the commander's arm, and how I planned to find the witches myself before my lifespan ran out to confirm their life or death.
And ultimately, it was decided that I would have to delay my departure from the cradle by a day.
The two of them stood in my way in unison. Witnessing the rare sight of cooperation between Paechun and Jeokhwa, I had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Perhaps I needed time to mentally prepare myself. It made me wonder what the scuffle I had earlier with the principal was even about... but it didn't seem like she would try to stop me again at this point.
After all, I had already laid out everything there was to say.
Of course, I couldn't sleep soundly. As my heated head cooled, I could reflect on the current situation with a bit more rationality.
Even though my end was a foregone conclusion, I absolutely couldn't die before confirming the life or death of the commander and the older sisters. For that, meticulous preparation was necessary. Spare weapons, food supplies, means of transportation, travel routes, and so on.
I stayed up all night embedding such things in my mind. At the same time, I was also considering the possibility of Yeon or Yeon Minha barging in recklessly.
And contrary to my preparations, that night passed without any incidents.
The sky began to brighten faintly at dawn. After all, the time I promised to spend with them was just for one night. I packed my belongings before the sun rose and left the dormitory just as I was.
... That was the plan.
Until I saw two female students camping in front of the door.
"...You two?"
"..."
The two of them were already fully prepared. Just a glance was enough to tell they were heavily armed. Beneath their casual clothes, they wore Particle Suits and carried Particle Array Devices and various magical tools, along with supplies that didn't lag behind my own.
"What are you doing right now..."
"We decided to go together. With you."