Chapter 381 – I’m Sorry

The dried, twisted blood scratched against the shoe’s insole.

For a moment, the scene was too terrible to take in, but ultimately, reality had to be accepted.

“Hey.”

A strained, cracked voice emerged from Lee Si-heon’s mouth. The king, who appeared with a body that was half-dead, was too wretched to be considered a hero who had saved someone.

Leaning against the wall, Si-heon released Aori and lowered his head, unable to find the words to say.

“Aori… you can live. My brother.”

Transparent teardrops flowed down Tae-yang’s cheeks. The jewel-like sparkling liquid mixed with the blood. The words that came from his throat were so distorted that they were difficult to hear.

“I’m sorry.”

Even if he apologized, there was no answer.

“You can live.”

He could only repeat the same words. Embracing Aori, whose head hung low and powerless, he did so again and again.

Si-heon’s gaze fell upon the gaping hole in the chest.

Can a life without a heart truly survive? The danjeon was shattered as well.

“Let’s go.”

Taeyang furrowed his brow in response to the feeble voice.

There was no need to ask what emotions Aori felt, or what had transpired in the corridor they had entered.

“Not yet…”

The cross-section cut by the sword belonged to Mugung—that human. Taeyang held Aori’s cold body close, filled with indignation.

“We can survive.”

The two who fought so fiercely, akin to siblings, seemed to care for each other more than Lee Si-heon had initially thought.

* * * * * * *

Enduring the death of someone is more agonizing than one might imagine.

*Squeeeak.*

The sound of air escaping from a cast iron box. Lee Si-heon had his eyes closed.

One could lose someone. Everyone knows. He had mulled over it countless times, thinking he’d find a way. Yet he still couldn’t get used to the jarring feeling.

‘What more could I have done here?’

Frustrated. Anxious. His heart ached as if it would burst.

Returning to the room, he saw Cornus lying on the bed. Her eyes were open, but she remained unresponsive. She wasn’t asleep, yet she had been using her powers for three days already. The unchanging state of her illness constricted his heart.

“Si-heon?”

Only a few months ago, she would playfully tilt her head, acting all cute.

“…I’m sorry I’m so foolish.”

Si-heon silently stroked Cornus’ forehead. The beads of sweat were swept away onto his palm.

“Brother.”

A voice came from directly behind him.

“Did you get some sleep?”
“…….”

Tae-yang, with his haggard face, was seated on a chair.

In the small living space, there were only two beds: a mat by the outer entrance where Cornus lay, and a single-axis manual bed closer to the kitchen.

Si-heon walked past Cornus to approach the inner bed and took a seat on the chair next to the small table. Tae-yang gazed at the woman on the bed with a somber expression.

“…….”

A solemn yet mournful atmosphere pervaded the room. The tension in the air seemed as if it might explode at any moment, but it wasn’t something just anyone could dispel.

Only one person had the power to grasp and sway this atmosphere.

Blink, blink.

Aori’s eyes were wide open, her mouth agape.

“Your Majesty.”

Pretending to be shy, she blushed and asked for porridge.

“Ahh~”

As if to demonstrate to the world the meaning of tenacious vitality, Aori was smiling brightly even on the brink of death.

-Disgusting.

Aori took a big bite of the porridge Si-heon offered her and smirked.

“It’s delicious. I’m being served by the king.”

Aori’s perpetual cheerfulness was her strong suit. Startled by her demeanor, Tae-yang placed a hand on his forehead.

“This crazy woman… somehow she managed to come back to life.”
“Would you prefer if I died?”
“No, I just wish you had gone out and died. How on earth did you survive without a heart?”
“Tae-yang. Ah~”

Although cursing, Tae-yang lifted a spoon to feed Aori more porridge. Aori, who had heartily consumed Tae-yang’s porridge, couldn’t control her twitching lips.

“I enjoy being in pain. I want to live my whole life being taken care of by the king and Tae-yang.”

She babbled nonsensically.

Even as Tae-yang’s face turned shades of red and blue, he couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from the events that had transpired only a few days prior. He remained inseparable from Aori.

Perhaps Aori knew Tae-yang’s feelings as well.

He managed to regenerate his heart by relying on potions and magical abilities.

“How did you survive, really?”
“To see the king and Tae-yang.”
“Damn… you’re really insane… a crazy bitch…”

It was said that she barely managed to cling to life, revisiting all her old memories in the process. Although her arms and legs were still severed, Aori seemed unfazed by her current condition.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
“…….”
“Aori’s penis case!”

Thump.

She smirked at the cut surfaces of her severed arms and legs.

“Oh, is it a balls case?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Tae-yang grabbed Aori’s head and shook it.

– Smack!

“Ouch!”

Now, there was no way to block or evade, even if one were to beat their head in frustration. Aori, having allowed the attack, lay down on the bed and chuckled softly.

“Hehe.”

Thankfully, her chest was filled. Faint though it was, the sound of her heartbeat could be heard. Although her energy center had been shattered, leaving her unable to do anything in the future, there was still a chance for her to continue living in this world.

“Brother. Even if her legs are regenerated, she probably won’t be able to walk. I’ll still attempt it, but… Well, that’s how it turned out.”

Tae-yang observed Si-heon’s expression closely. There was no visible reaction to those words. Si-heon simply stared intently at Aori, seemingly lost deep in thought.

Tae-yang pondered.

It seemed that even Si-heon had been greatly shocked by this event.

“Your Majesty?”

As Si-heon remained silent, Aori responded.

“Please hold me.”

Aori embraced him. Delight apparent in her wriggling, she nestled her face into Lee Si-heon’s neck and whispered into his ear.

“Don’t worry too much, my king. Thanks to you, every day has been enjoyable. I’ve eaten plenty of delicious food.”

Aori’s face was much happier than when she embraced anyone else. Her eyes sparkled as if she had received some great fortune.

She appeared happier than anyone else Si-heon had ever seen. Realizing he held the life of such a child in his hands, Si-heon felt unnerved.

“Aori.”

“Yes, my king?”

He gently stroked Aori’s head and murmured,

“Would you like to take a break? Together with Tae-yang.”

“…Why?”

Upon hearing Lee Si-heon’s words, Tae-yang furrowed his brow.

“Brother, what do you mean?”

“I mean it literally.”

“Brother, this is the most critical time. A single misstep could mean death. After being judged for heresy, you must also care for your lovers. And… and–”

“Tae-yang.”

“……”

A bitter, weary expression spread across his trembling face. His cheeks were taut, and his hair was disheveled, with slumped shoulders.

Lee Si-heon was in a near-death state, much like Aori.

“Take Aori and look after yourselves from a distance.”
“Brother…!”
“I won’t repeat myself. I said you’re my servant. Don’t worry about the white ants; I won’t overuse them. I understand how the world works… and I can manage information manipulation well enough.”

Should things continue this way, everyone around him would die.
Either someone had to be sacrificed, or he would die.

“So,”

His eyes, even emptier than before, spoke to Tae-yang.

“Take some rest.”

For now, he wanted to sort things out on his own.

Lee Si-heon’s face, as it briefly met Tae-yang’s gaze, resembled the anxious expression he had when they first met in the cradle, filled with uncertainty about the future.

The difference now was a sense of relief visible in his features.

Tae-yang and Aori were left without words.

* * * * * * *

[You told Tae-yang you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him!? Yes?]
“I know.”

Upon hearing the voice from the corner of Lee Si-heon’s lips, Yuli on the phone fell silent.

The voice, now deeper than when they first met, carried an indescribable force.
A suffocating pressure weighed on her chest.

“Just do as I ask. It’s not difficult.”
[How would you know that?]
“…I’m just giving a rough estimate.”

Though gentle, Yuli, who would usually have defied him, couldn’t say a word.

[…It won’t be long before they declare heresy.]
“Right. I’ve already changed my phone. I’ve cut off contact with everyone around me. I’ve prepared enough cash, too.”
[Is it really alright to use our people for that?]
“Yes. Tae-yang and Aori are the priority… After that, do as much as you can. Please focus on the people who are connected to me.”
[And you?]

A spreading smirk.

“I’ll take care of myself.”

Si-heon closed his phone after uttering those words.
A surge of magical energy emanated from his hand, turning the phone to dust as smoke billowed around it before the remnants fell to the ground.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and briefly surveyed his surroundings.

El Academy – the place where his home was located. Cornus’s treatment was still ongoing, but he had some business to attend to here.

Lee Si-heon’s gaze shifted to the room on the second floor.

‘…Should I tell her?’

He bowed his head for a moment, then raised it again. Leaning against the wall, he slumped down without any consideration for his surroundings, scratching his forehead without even allowing himself a sigh.

He tapped the floor with his hand, staring vacantly at the moon above.

He examined the gold engravings on the floor and counted the stars, eventually wrapping one arm around his knee and lowering his head once more.

He couldn’t stop thinking. Driven by the determination not to die if his thoughts ceased, he sought a way out.

‘How can I escape this?’

What must he do to avoid death?

‘How should I persuade?’

Not doing it at all is also an option.
Conflict due to the entangled situation. I decided to stop reflecting on myself.

A solution.

My legs trembled. The sensation in my toes vanished, and numbness began to set in.
The crumpled body leaned pitifully against the night air.

When my head was overheated, and I couldn’t think of anything.

– Slide!

The window opened.

“…Beep.”

It was definitely time to sleep.
Perhaps because they were connected, Dad sensed his proximity.
As soon as Shiba, precariously perched on the second-floor railing, saw her father, she crossed the railing and soared into the sky, oblivious to the danger.

“Shiba, danger-“

Shiba, descending like a star, nestled into Si-heon’s embrace.

“Beep!”

– Whoosh!

The hugged Shiba burrowed into Si-heon’s arms and nuzzled her face.
Lee Si-heon’s eyes trembled as he tried to rise but fell again due to the collapsed Shiba.

“What were you doing instead of sleeping, my daughter?”
“Beep! Dad… I felt like I came….”
“…Really?”

Her lips trembled.
Her mouth was dry.

“It seems there’s a connection between you and Shiba.”
“Shiba. I wanted to see you, Dad.”

She wanted to see him.
That’s what his daughter said to her father.
His daughter, who had not been born long ago, still at an age to be loved, thought of her father.

“Alright.”

Strength filled his arm as he held Shiba. Si-heon buried his face in his daughter’s hair.
A familiar scent. The fresh child who greeted him every time he returned from the academy.
The branches from Shiba’s head kept quivering.

“Dad missed Shiba a lot too.”
“…Beep?”

Shiba, sensing the emotion in his voice, raised her head.

Father and daughter locked eyes.
Faces reflected in each other’s pupils. A seed, then a sprout, surrounded by tree bark, an infant at 5 years old. And now.

Though he could be proud of his unnoticed growth, words failed him.

“…When is Dad coming?”
“Well, about that…”

Lee Si-heon’s mouth slowly opened.

“Our daughter, Dad’s just a bit busy with work, so it might take a little longer, okay?”

Breathing stopped.

“…Yes.”
“Dad’s really sorry. Can you wait just a bit longer?”

Upon hearing her father’s words, Shiba’s face instantly darkened. She clenched her fists and bowed her head. Harsh breaths touched the top of Shiba’s head. Someone tightly gripped her young collar as if about to tear it.

“Shiba will wait patiently. No more tantrums.”
“Right. Shiba’s so mature. You’re learning to speak so quickly, and you’re smart.”
“Shiba is smart.”
“Yes. But, Dad isn’t as smart as Shiba, so it’ll take longer to see you next time.”

*Splash.*

It was a peculiar occurrence.
Rain fell from a clear sky.

“So… um, it’s… unlike Shiba, Dad isn’t dignified, he’s foolish… and it’s just a lot of work. Sorting things out takes some time. It’s not a big deal… It’s not about what happens to Dad. Shiba is with Mom…”
“Dad?”

Dad.

“That… ah, it’s raining. Give me a moment.”

The warmth melding together where they touch. The large wrist trembling. Shiba, flustered, alternated her gaze between her hands and Dad’s, until she finally couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Dad, why are you crying?”

Twenty-four. Trapped in a room, a failure who couldn’t even graduate from college.

An untimely child was overwhelming for him.
In the end, he couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.

“Dad, I… I’m sorry. Really, truly…”
“Dad… does it hurt?”

“It hurts a lot, so much…”

The emotional barriers crumbled.

“I want to… do well too.”

I couldn’t continue speaking for a long time.