261. The Last of the Shingaga (3)

“So, if you look at the list of researchers affiliated with Shinga, this person here is······. Daughter, are you listening? Remember correctly.”

“Yes, Mother. I memorized it all.”

I opened my mouth at the sight before my eyes.

Because Shin Se-hee and Shin Do-hwa were sitting separately and talking to each other in a businesslike tone.

‘What is this······?’

I looked at the other party members, wondering if I was the odd one out.

Judging from the fact that others also had expressions on their faces as if they didn’t understand the situation, it seemed like I wasn’t the weird one.

Especially, Sophia’s face had an indescribable, subtle expression.

A little while ago, Shin Do-hwa requested treatment, saying that her skin was tight due to the burns and she was having difficulty moving.

Sophia immediately refused her shameless request.

Instead, Shin Se-hee stepped forward and asked for a favor.

– Please, Sophia. Please cure my mother.

– Yes? What, what is it? You want me to treat it? Mr. Jin Yu-ha!

First of all, it was Shin Se-hee’s request.

But I nodded.

As I looked at the restored Shindohwa in perfect condition, I couldn’t help but feel complicated.

‘······Clearly, it wasn’t like this in the game. Even when Shindohwa died, you didn’t shed a single tear······!’

The hatred that Shin Se-hee originally harbored toward Shin Do-hwa was by no means light.

Long-term confinement, psychological abuse, and even physical torture.

Although it may have actually been her older sister, Shin Su-yeon, who did it.

At the top was her mother, Shin Do-hwa.

Given Shin Se-hee’s personality, there is no way she would forgive such a Shin Do-hwa.

The two of them talking now didn’t look like enemies at all.

“It is said that the Shin family’s assets are being managed by spreading them around the world through paper companies. There are major branches in China, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. The places that need special care are······.”

“Oh, our Utopia has also created a paper company there. It would be okay to connect it there. It would be good to use it as a place to hide money.”

“······Well, it seems like I wasn’t just wasting my time at the Academy. Okay, daughter. Let’s stop here for now. I’ll send you the rest of the materials within three days.”

“Yes. Please don’t be late.”

Finally, the conversation between the mother and daughter, who had been talking for quite some time, came to an end.

And. Shindohwa glanced at us,

He immediately turned his back and walked out of the laboratory without saying a word.

Again.

Again.

“······.”

The party members just looked at his back with expressions like, “Is this really okay?”

‘You’re sending it like that······? Is that right?’

Even though it was an attempt, Shindohwa was the seed and source of a disaster that would unleash thousands of chimeras into the world.

And what he has done so far has been far beyond the scope of forgiveness.

To be honest, I wanted to run out and grab Shindohwa right away.

Because Shin Se-hee, who had the biggest grudge, stayed still, I just endured it.

Shin Se-hee stares intently at Shin Do-hwa’s back.

I approached her and said.

“Shin Se-hee.”

Then Shin Se-hee slowly turned her head.

“Ms. Jin Yu-ha.”

“What the hell is going on?”

When I asked as if I needed an explanation.

She looked blank for a moment, then answered, “Ah.”

“Ah. Mr. Jin Yu-ha, do you find it so strange that I am talking to your mother?”

“······uh.”

I nodded.

“Honestly, yes. What on earth were you thinking, treating your body like that and sending it back?”

Then, Shin Se-hee burst out laughing.

I frowned at her reaction.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t laugh because Jin Yu-ha was funny. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“······.”

“Mr. Jin Yu-ha, did Shin Do-hwa really look indifferent to you?”

Shin Se-hee asked me.

“······no?”

“If that’s what it looked like, then your mother succeeded. Of course, she caught me in the act.”

Shin Se-hee put her finger to her lips and said, “Hmm.”

“If, by any chance, Mr. Jin Yu-ha were to face a situation where all the achievements he had devoted his whole life to, including his soul and time, were to disappear overnight, how would he feel?”

A sudden question.

But Shin Se-hee always had a set answer to the question, so I thought about it seriously.

‘It’s a lifetime achievement.’

I’m not sure, but it would probably be a sword for me right now.

Since I fell here, I have not neglected my sword training for even a single moment.

Honestly, if I were to go back in time and do it again, I wouldn’t be confident.

‘What if I do that for 10 more years and then lose it in an instant in the future······?’

I frowned.

“······I think I’m going to despair.”

Yeah, I guess I’ll probably lose my sense of sanity due to the sense of loss and despair.

I don’t know for sure, but I’m probably going to be consumed by anger and ruined.

Then, Shin Se-hee nodded as if to say that was exactly it.

“Yes, that’s right. Shin Do-hwa is in exactly that state right now. He’s soaked in shame, humiliation, and unbearable despair. He’s trying to act calm, though. Hehe!”

“······Shintohwa is in despair?”

“Yes, I’ve survived until now because I’ve lived with only pride and self-esteem. I’m sure he’s screaming and banging his head against the wall right now.”

at that time.

A woman’s voice was caught by my sensitive senses.

─ aaah …

A terrible scream that seemed to be drawn from the soul.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

And then there was the sound of something striking down fiercely.

‘It’s true······.’

Shin Se-hee may not have heard it, but she smiled brightly as if she did.

“Hoo hoo hoo, isn’t this so much fun?”

“Still, even so. If you let it go like that and leave a trace behind······. You can regain your strength later and take revenge.”

“Mother? Oh, no way.”

Shin Se-hee shook her head as if it was absurd.

I opened my mouth as I listened to the explanation that followed.

To Shindohwa, Shinga is not just a family, but a unique profession to which he has devoted his entire life.

That’s why she said that the god was more precious than her own life.

In order to preserve the dignity of the gods, he would not hesitate to sell his soul to Mine.

If it disappears by itself, it cannot be endured.

“······So, Mother made a quick decision. The only way to leave the name of the family behind was to hand it over to me as completely as possible.”

“······What next?”

“Probably, I’ll die?”

“To whom.”

“By herself. She was already in danger when she was pushed out by Director Lina. That’s why she endured the humiliation and hid in China to establish a foothold. Now that even that has been taken away, what will happen? Of course she’ll take her own life. But even if that’s not the case, I’ll make sure to take care of it, so don’t worry, Jin Yu-ha.”

“······.”

Even though she was talking about her mother’s death, Shin Se-hee’s face was incredibly calm.

Rather, she added, she thought I was worried.

“Ah, is it because I feel like I’m letting you go too easily? Well, even so, the despair of losing the shrine itself feels like a punishment to Shindohwa······.”

At that moment, a voice mixed with tears was heard from the side.

“Shasha······. No matter what! What if you come to this dangerous place! I told you! Run away to a place where no one knows you and survive until the end! But how─!”

“Where am I going to leave my dad behind! How can I abandon my dad!!!”

The two women hugged each other tightly and shed sad tears.

Shasha Pong and Yuwon were expressing their overwhelming emotions at their reunion without any filter.

It was a paradoxical sight.

Shashapon and his father.

Shin Se-hee and her mother.

Both were reunions between the same family members.

Because the situation was just the opposite.

Suddenly, a lonely shadow appeared in Shin Se-hee’s eyes.

‘That would be a normal family······.’

I don’t fully understand that feeling, since I’ve never had a family myself.

But I could tell that it was a normal family relationship.

Even when talking about his mother’s death, he doesn’t have such an indifferent expression.

A relationship where we care about each other and are willing to give up our lives for each other.

Somehow I felt sorry for Shin Se-hee.

I grabbed Shin Se-hee’s shoulder and hugged her.

She swept her head in that state.

“Ji, Jin, Ji, Jin, Jin Yuha, Jin Yuha-ssi!?”

Shin Se-hee’s voice is flustered by the sudden hug.

“are you okay.”

“······Yes, yes, yes, yes!?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be your family. A real family.”

I could feel Shin Se-hee’s body temperature rising in my arms.

“Go, go, go, family, family!?”

“Yeah, the family that tormented you, made you lonely, and until the end… Not the family that doesn’t seem like a family. No matter what you do, no matter what you say, even when the whole world turns their back on you, the family that will be on your side until the end.”

Gulp.

Dry saliva flowed down Shin Se-hee’s throat.

“Ji, Jin Yu-ha, that, that, that, is, ho, by any chance─”

It was at that moment that Shin Se-hee was about to open her mouth.

“······Hmm, I don’t have any family at all, but is it because the flower garden has a family that it gets treated like that?”

On the other side, Kang Do-hee narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, and spoke in an uncomfortable voice.

“Whew······. It’s already been a year since I last saw my parents. How can that not work?”

“That’s right. Junior, I spent the whole time here recharging my magic stones and even redistributing my mana. Treating me like a tool just because I’m a supporter is a bit too much······.”

“I don’t have a mom or dad either.”

“I, I live with my parents, and I saw them before I came here······. Is it a sin to be harmonious!?”

Starting with Kang Do-hee, each party member said something.

She bit her lip tightly while being held in Jin Yu-ha’s arms.

The atmosphere was really good just now!!!

It was Shin Se-hee who received the same karma as the one who had teased Kang Do-hee the other day.