Chapter 92: About to Lose My Breath (1)
“……Do you know me?”
Hyeon-yul asked cautiously.
He tried not to waver, but the shock seemed greater than he thought.
It felt like something was tightening his chest.
He didn't know what this sensation was, but his throat suddenly felt scratchy.
It was both strange and peculiar.
“……You, you’re an experiment subject.”
The correct answer immediately came out of the man’s mouth.
He could only think that the man truly knew.
But Hyeon-yul’s head grew colder.
He had to be more cautious.
“…You were a monster back then, how did you become human?”
The man’s expression changed completely.
How should he describe this?
It was as if he had seen a real god.
There was no other way to express it.
“Where… Did you see me?”
“Where else, but at the experiment site. …Yes, I remember. Your name.”
How could he forget that name?
He thought he would never forget it until he died.
It was the most beautiful darkness in the world.
“…REX—3333.”
At those words, Hyeon-yul quietly removed his helmet.
The man’s eyes widened.
There was a face.
Two eyes and ears, one nose and mouth.
It wasn't just a human form; it was a real human.
Hyeon-yul even deactivated the magic on his smartwatch.
The man’s already wide eyes looked like they would pop out.
He was sweating coldly but no longer let out a groan.
“……Th-this can’t be. Is this your real… appearance?”
The man’s voice trembled.
He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he was on the verge of tears.
Beautiful.
There was no other way to describe that experiment subject.
Their experiment had succeeded.
It felt like he would burst into tears at any moment.
“Yes. Do you remember me?”
“…You’ve grown.”
The man couldn't believe it.
The child had become an adult.
“You’ve… grown up.”
He wanted to shout more, but he couldn’t.
His breathing grew faint.
A chill swept over his entire body.
“……Yes, if it’s like this, it’s not bad.”
To die at those hands.
It was rather an honor.
Wasn't he, in a way, joining those hands that would cover the empire?
“I’ll ask again. Where did you see me?”
“……Wait. That person will… come find you.”
The man smiled.
“No, they probably already know.”
That person.
Unfamiliar, yet not entirely unfamiliar words came out.
“Who is that?”
Hyeon-yul clenched his fists.
The fact that it wasn’t just a random occurrence, but that someone had orchestrated it, kept shaking him.
“You… must become… for the empire. You have to.”
Become what?
The man couldn't finish his sentence and went limp.
When there was no movement in his chest, Hyeon-yul’s fingertips trembled.
Should he not have killed him?
Should he have been more careful?
Various thoughts rushed in and then abruptly stopped.
That wasn't what was important right now.
‘…This bastard was one of them?’
Hyeon-yul looked down.
Reality set in.
The man had died with a smile on his face.
Even in death, he was mocking him.
To think that such an insignificant piece of trash had been watching him.
Every day.
Every day.
To think he would have looked at him with such a disgusting gaze, mocking him.
“……Ha.”
A sound escaped Hyeon-yul’s lips.
It felt like laughter was about to burst out.
Why was that?
His heart was beating fast.
He heard the sound of wind in his ears.
The sound seemed to be growing stronger.
‘……Ah, I’m in a terrible state right now.’
He had barely found one, only to lose him so meaninglessly.
He didn't even know his name.
He didn't know any more connections beyond this.
Where should he start chasing?
Where should he begin again?
Beyond the shattered wall, the night sky was visible.
It was darkness.
A very still darkness.
Hyeon-yul’s gaze moved towards the door.
Bang!
It was loud.
Kwaang!
As the sound echoed again, Hyeon-yul’s eyes deepened.
He was not in a good mood right now.
He wished they wouldn't provoke him any further.
His self-control was diminishing.
Recognizing this, Hyeon-yul thought of his medication.
‘…I should take my medicine.’
It wasn't good.
His damaged mind couldn't remember how he had escaped that place that day, or where that place was.
He only remembered the blood covering his entire body and the disgusting smell of blood.
He thought he had killed them all.
‘…It wasn’t them. The blood I was covered in wasn’t their blood. They’re… not dead yet.’
The corners of Hyeon-yul’s lips curved upwards.
Kideuk, kideuk.
Laughter escaped him.
‘They’re not dead.’
A dagger appeared in Hyeon-yul’s hand as he was taking out his medicine.
Tak.
The medicine fell and rolled away.
‘I…’
His gaze turned towards the door.
How many were there?
‘…I can kill those bastards.’
Dark energy flowed towards the dagger.
It looked like a black beast ferociously baring its fangs.
Kill them.
Let’s kill them.
They made us like this.
Numerous voices were heard.
He felt the sensation of someone gripping his throat, the feeling of drugs seeping into his veins, and the pain of his skin being peeled off.
Hyeon-yul’s gaze dropped.
His hand was melting.
It meant he wasn't in control.
The voices in his ears grew louder, and the pain intensified.
‘……No.’
Hyeon-yul shivered and took a long breath, closing his eyes.
He had promised Jeong-min he wouldn't become a monster.
He had to keep that promise.
“Hyeon-yul!”
Hyeon-yul opened his eyes in surprise at the voice that came with a grip on his shoulder.
“…You, are you okay?”
‘……I didn't hear him. When did he get here?’
Hyeon-yul was surprised by that fact.
His gaze turned to the door.
It suddenly became quiet.
Had he misheard?
Or had Shin-woo used his power?
“Your hand… What’s wrong with your hand?”
Shin-woo’s gaze went to the disappearing hand.
Something was melting.
He didn't know what kind of power had affected it.
“Anyway, let’s go, quickly. Quickly!”
“It’s alright. …More importantly, didn’t you hear any sound from outside the door?”
Even as Hyeon-yul spoke, he felt his own voice being drowned out by the voices in his ears.
His breathing was quickening.
“You’re still thinking about the mission in a situation like this? I did it. I… caught the ones outside. So let’s go quickly.”
“…It’s alright.”
“How is this alright…? Your hand melted.”
“I just need to take my medicine.”
As Hyeon-yul clenched his good hand into a fist, it trembled.
Shin-woo, his face contorted, looked around.
The medicine was rolling on the floor.
He immediately ran and fetched the vial.
“You mean this, right?”
“Thank you.”
When had he dropped it?
That could have been a disaster.
Hyeon-yul familiarly took out the medicine and simply chewed and swallowed it.
“You’re taking it without water? It must be incredibly bitter.”
“It’s alright.”
Hyeon-yul said, then let out a long breath.
The whispering voices subsided.
The sensations that had been overwhelming him from all directions also faded.
Shin-woo observed Hyeon-yul’s condition.
‘What happened that he couldn't even see our messages?’
Only Na-yoon knew.
Even though she didn't know the details, witnessing Hyeon-yul's hand melt to such an extent made her feel hopeless.
Just as Shin-woo couldn’t take his eyes off Hyeon-yul’s hand, it returned to its original state, as if a scene of sand pouring out was played in reverse.
Shin-woo composed his expression.
But inside, he was greatly agitated.
‘……Damn it.’
He knew Hyeon-yul was an experiment subject, but because he looked fine on the outside, he kept forgetting.
‘Without medicine… he can’t even control his own body?’
“It’s true that I was discomposed, but I’m not usually like this.”
Hyeon-yul said to Shin-woo.
Hadn't he shown his uselessness?
This was troublesome.
He reactivated the magic on his smartwatch and brought the helmet out of the darkness.
“That bastard… said he knew me.”
“…What?”
Hyeon-yul looked at the surprised Shin-woo and pointed at the dead man.
He didn't even know his name.
He hadn't been able to ask him what he had done back then.
He hadn't been able to ask where he had been.
But he would find out soon.
Wasn't that why he had saved the White Sparrow?
Hyeon-yul glanced upwards.
A flood of messages had arrived.
<Hyeon-yul? Hyeon-yul?>
<What's wrong? What's wrong with Hyeon-yul?>
Following Na-yoon, even Shin-woo sent a message.
<I don't know. Hyeon-yul, what's wrong with you? Are you okay? No, don't do that. Don't manipulate the magic! Ji-hwan! The door, block the door!>
<I already blocked it! What's wrong with Brother Hyeon-yul? What's going on?>
<I don't know. Something's… different. It's like he's lost his mind.>
The urgency of the situation was evident.
Hyeon-yul ran his hands over his face.
He had made a mistake.
He didn't know how they would see him.
‘……This isn't good. It'll be a big problem if I get kicked out.’
The hospital bills alone would be hard to manage.
And what about the debt?
He had died from overwork and come to another world, but reality was harsh everywhere.
Money.
That damned money was holding him back.
‘Teacher will be worried.’
She had been so happy just because they had moved from that small house to a larger one.
How sad would Jeong-min be if they lost it again?
Overwhelmed by his thoughts, Hyeon-yul took out another pill and ate it.
“Hyeon-yul?”
At Shin-woo’s voice, Hyeon-yul lowered his hands.
His expression was as indifferent as usual.
But Shin-woo wondered if the real Hyeon-yul was truly the same as usual.
“The White Sparrow I was trying to save is already dead. That person is a fake.”
Hyeon-yul resumed talking about the mission and pointed to the dead White Sparrow.
“Did Big Brother Baek Shin-woo rescue him?”
“I did.”
He didn't know why this was important right now, but Shin-woo answered first.
Hyeon-yul reached his hand towards the door.
“We can go now.”
“…Just a moment, Hyeon-yul.”
Shin-woo glanced at the door where the villain was and then spoke.
“It’s alright.”
Speaking almost coldly, Hyeon-yul moved beyond the door.
—That bastard said he knew me.
Shin-woo slowly realized that the casually spoken words were not light at all.
‘……No, how is that alright?’
Hyeon-yul had said he had no past memories.
Hadn't he just found that clue, only to lose it right before his eyes?
He must be on the verge of going mad, overwhelmed by despair.
Was he enduring it?
Shin-woo looked at the dead man, then searched his body.
He thought he had to salvage something.
He rummaged around until his hands were stained bright red.
“Why aren’t you coming?”
Hyeon-yul’s voice was heard.
He didn't hear footsteps, but Hyeon-yul’s voice, which followed, grew closer.
“What are you doing with the corpse?”
“Searching for it.”
“What are you searching for?”
“Evidence.”
“There’s nothing like that.”
“No, there must be more.”
“There isn’t.”
“Still, we have to look.”
“Those guys aren’t that clumsy. You’ll only get your hands dirty.”
Hyeon-yul’s eyes grew cold.
Why wouldn't he know that?
He knew it best.
It was those guys who set up so many useless business sites to prevent the real location from being identified.
“There must have been a reason you thought that way. But Hyeon-yul. There’s a way to find out. The clothes he’s wearing, the accessories, shoes, and various other things can be used to identify him.”
“You don’t have to do that. Didn’t the White Sparrow infiltrate to get that information? We can just hear it from the White Sparrow.”
“Normally, I would have thought so too and stopped. But right now, you… you’re desperate, aren’t you?”
Hyeon-yul’s hand, holding the helmet he hadn't yet worn, trembled for a moment.
Wrinkles formed around his eyes.
I don't understand.
Hyeon-yul was saying that.
“I said my younger sibling died, but actually, I’m still looking.”
“Are you looking?”
But he died?
Why?
Hyeon-yul didn’t finish his sentence.
He didn't know for sure, but he thought it was something he shouldn't say.
“I… couldn’t find the body. I can’t say it’s the same as you, but I’ve never forgotten, not even once. You probably haven’t forgotten either, right?”
“I can’t forget. How could I forget? Those are the only memories I have.”
“That’s how it is. If I had found even a clue, I would have done this.”
Shin-woo finished speaking and bit his lip hard.
He couldn't do it because he was dead, but if he were alive, he would have searched for all the clothes, shoes, accessories he wore, and looked for where he bought them.
He would have searched everywhere for even a single strand of hair.
Even if he heard he was dead, because he hadn't seen it, he couldn't accept the truth.
“Don’t throw away the chance you barely found so easily.”
“I’m not throwing it away. Do you think you can find him by the clothes he wore? He doesn't even buy them himself in the first place. Even if there’s an errand boy, they change them periodically. The errand boy constantly changes companies, going from this corporation to that corporation. Even the cards they use change. They make it impossible to distinguish what’s real and what’s fake. …You know it’s all… a waste of time, don’t you?”
Hyeon-yul approached Shin-woo.
He had already tried everything.
He had searched countless times.
He had even learned hacking for that purpose.
“There’s no top villain who uses their own account. They’re all fakes. I’ve tried everything, and the fastest way is to hear it directly and chase them. No matter how much of a top villain they are, people are not something they can completely control.”
People were not systems.
So, there were bound to be the most loopholes.
“You don’t have to do that.”
At the calmly spoken words, Shin-woo’s face crumpled.
Because he was calm, his heart ached.
“…I’m sorry, Hyeon-yul.”
Shin-woo apologized.
He had crossed the line.
Hyeon-yul would know better, yet he had let his unnecessary emotions get the better of him.
“I can’t understand why you’re saying that, or why you’re doing this.”
There was no established connection between Shin-woo’s affairs and his own.
Was it fake, or real?
After weighing it like that, he extended his hand to Shin-woo.
Even if it was fake, this was the first time he had seen someone go this far.
So, he extended it.
“I can’t understand, but you don’t have to apologize.”
“My hand right now… it’s a bit dirty.”
Shin-woo hesitated.
It was stained with blood.
It wasn't right to take Hyeon-yul’s hand.
Suddenly, the darkness at his feet stirred and enveloped his hand.
It was much colder than he expected.
While Shin-woo was surprised, his hand became clean.
“It’s done now.”
“……This is convenient, huh?”
“I also thought Big Brother Baek Shin-woo’s ability was convenient.”
“It is convenient.”
Only then did Shin-woo smile and take Hyeon-yul’s hand to stand up.
“Anyway, you did well.”
“Yes…?”
“Thanks to you, we completed the mission.”
“But that guy… is the Boss.”
“Huh?”
“He’s the leader of this faction.”
“…Wha-what?”
Shin-woo was horrified.
He wondered what that meant.
“I killed the leader. Is that really okay?”
“Wait a minute!”
Shin-woo knew it was disgusting, but he immediately picked up the corpse.
He couldn't help it.
He ran straight for the door.
Hyeon-yul watched blankly, then, holding the arm he hadn't managed to grab, moved beyond the door.
“I forgot one arm……”
As a scream was heard immediately, Hyeon-yul stepped back.
“Are you… crazy?”
Na-yoon screamed, horrified.
Then, seeing Hyeon-yul’s hand, she raised her voice even louder.
He was holding an arm.
“You’re copying him! What are you going to do about this!”
To think Hyeon-yul would follow that idiot Shin-woo.
It was unacceptable.
“I know I’m crazy! But this guy… he’s the leader!”
“……What?”
Na-yoon blinked at Shin-woo’s shout.
What was all this about?
“Hyeon-yul told me. Right, Hyeon…….”
Shin-woo’s eyes widened.
Hyeon-yul’s face was tilting to the side.
Someone pushed past Shin-woo and quickly ran to catch Hyeon-yul.
“I-I caught him!”
Ji-hwan was under Hyeon-yul.
“Brother! Get a hold of yourself……”
Ji-hwan stopped, seeing the arm fall with a thud.
The arm.
The arm fell off.
“Th-th-the arm fell off!”
“It’s not Hyeon-yul’s arm.”
Shin-woo put the corpse down on the ground and carried Hyeon-yul on his back.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
“…Th-the corpse?”
Na-yoon looked at the corpse with confused eyes.
“We have to take it.”
“You’re crazy, Baek Shin-woo……”
Na-yoon looked at Shin-woo as if she wanted to shoot him in the head right away.
But right now, calling the Eagle was more important.