114 – The Finishing Touch (2)

Wind seeps in from the open window.

It’s not cold. Almost warm, even. Slightly humid, it also announces that summer has arrived.

Time has passed.

Much more time than when I last closed my eyes.

“……. “

…Truthfully.

Wasn’t there also a part of me that didn’t want to wake up?

Lying in the hospital bed, Seol Ye-won wiggled her fingers. Her gaze swept across the numerous machines scattered around.

In truth, she knows that these things could be removed already.

Her body is already normal. There are no problems moving around, and ironically, through the torture she endured, her control over her ability has become even more perfect.

Uncle had said.

Abilities develop further through pain.

Is that why it turned out this way? After enduring that horrific time, she feels even stronger than before.

…But even so.

That doesn’t make her happy.

The situation. The current situation is the problem. Seol Ye-won stared intensely at the hospital room door.

Uncle came to save me. I’m happy about that. But those people said it back then, didn’t they.

That they knew I was a serial killer of online commenters.

Perhaps the man knew it now, too. And if so, what sort of face was she to wear?

Ah, if he, the man…

If he came to dislike her…for something she’d done without being asked…

“…Haa…haa…”

Her breath grew shallow. Seol Yewon pressed down hard against her own chest.

She wanted, more than anything, to leap right out. As if a secret she’d guarded her whole life had been exposed; she wanted to vanish somewhere, anywhere.

But… but still…

She couldn’t.

Not now that he’d come looking for her himself, now that she knew he cared.

“……”

Seol Yewon’s days were all the same. Aside from the comings and goings of doctors and nurses, she did nothing but stare, unblinking, at the door of her hospital room, waiting for someone to enter.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, she’d shrink back without even realizing it. Though she dreaded seeing Lee Seojun, her body leaned forward, drawn to the possibility, even against her will.

But that hope was always dashed.

Several days had passed since she woke up, and he still hadn’t come.

“……”

Ma… maybe…

Maybe he didn’t want to see her anymore.

Well, of course. Not after all the things she’d done behind his back.

If… if that were the case… then perhaps…

D, dying… would…

“Yewon-ah.”

-Click.

The unexpected arrival made Seol Yewon jump right out of the bed without realizing it. Her startled gaze flew to the side, and she saw a man closing the door.

Not a doctor. Not a nurse.

It was the black-haired man she’d been so desperately waiting for.

He pulled a chair towards her with a natural ease, settling in. The screech of the chair legs against the floor made Seol Yewon perk up her ears like a startled animal.

Ah, it’s him. It’s really him.

B, but…but what now…

I… I didn’t think about what came after this…

“How are you feeling?”

“……. “

I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Only my eyes blinked.

Then, finally, worried he’d be concerned, I forced a single word.

“I-I’m…f-fine…”

Ah.

I bit my tongue.

My voice rose unnaturally at the end, and Seol Yewon quickly bowed her head. But thankfully, he didn’t make fun of it.

“…Really?”

A quick glance revealed his face was relieved.

He let out a sigh, wearing a somewhat awkward expression.

“…That’s a relief. Really.”

“……. “

That’s a relief.

It’s not a hateful face.

The moment I realized that, tears began to fall from Seol Yewon’s face in large, heavy drops.

“I’m…so…”

I tried to hold it back, but the crying wouldn’t stop.

It just kept flowing, unstoppable.

“I’m sorry…”

. . .

Seol Yewon was crying.

The doctor said her mental state was unstable, so I put off visiting as long as possible…

And the first thing I hear upon arrival is an apology.

I soothed and comforted her. Wasn’t it I who should be sorry?

She suffered such terrible pain because of me. Even though I don’t know all the details, I wasn’t in a position to act superior in front of her.

I was closer to being the one who should apologize.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

I stroked her hair and gently dabbed away the streaming tears. I even brought her tissues so she could blow her congested nose.

After crying for a long time, Seol Yewon slumped her shoulders weakly, her eyes swollen and puffy. Only then was I able to learn the full story of what happened.

“…I…I hated the people…who were leaving…mean comments…for you…”

And the more I learned, the more…

I couldn’t help but frown.

“So… so…”

The whole story was simple enough.

The reason the trolls who’d trashed me back in my Black Market days had dwindled over time.

Seol Yewon was involved. Without me asking, on her own…

She’d been going around, killing them.

Those who’d left me hateful comments.

“…Why?”

“Ah, I… I didn’t want to see you… sad…”

Distorted affection.

Wouldn’t that be a fair way to put it?

Come to think of it, her family situation was utterly miserable. Never got to experience a proper adolescence, and abandoned by her parents from a young age.

And yet, she’d survived alone. Then I entered her life.

Perhaps…

She just wanted to do anything for me. It was just the direction she took was completely wrong.

“I… I’m sorry…”

Come to think of it, ever since the day we met, she’d been obsessed with…

Trying to take care of me in any way she could.

“…Ugh.”

This…

What am I supposed to say to this?

It’s unwelcome. It’s most certainly unwelcome.

Unnecessary meddling. Honestly, not every mistake justifies death, right?

But even so, it’s hard to say anything. Those comments… The ones I personally read through, one by one…

They were filled with unspeakable personal attacks, desperate attempts to tear down everything I had.

The genius ahead of their time is met with ridicule.

That’s exactly how it felt.

Lucky for me, my mental fortitude is stronger than most. If I had a weaker disposition, I might have been driven to suicide seeing all that. No matter how I look at it, that’s the truth.

Even so, it still feels like…

A sense of resistance, it’s true, did arise. From the point where she was voluntarily committing murder that I never even asked for, frankly, it was a bit…

A bit much.

There was a certain indescribable unease.

“… “

…But.

When you think about it.

The reason she was caught wasn’t because of that. It was because she got caught up in the executive agency’s pursuit, solely aimed at hunting *me* down.

It was definitely more my fault than her circumstances. After all, they were clearly after *this* me.

In the end, the truth was we’d both made mistakes.

I didn’t want to chain her down with that, especially with her still apologizing like that, even now.

“…Whatever.”

Yeah.

Wouldn’t it be strange to act all clean now?

Besides, the ones who died were the malicious commenters.

The b*stards who were pouring all sorts of insults at me from beyond the screen.

“They deserved it.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s the same as spewing curses directly at my face, isn’t it? Honestly, I’d been thinking of cleaning house myself… and it’s like you did it for me. It’s not like I’ve only done good things either. Because of me… you got caught, too, didn’t you? I have things to apologize for too, Yewon. And I don’t intend to gloss over that.”

“……. “

“But Yewon. No matter what else, let’s get one thing straight. You don’t have to do things like that for me. It’s kind of heavy, actually. Unnecessarily so.”

“I-I’m so sorry…I, well…I mean…”

I took her hand as she stammered. As I quietly held that hand, my restless heart calmed down somewhat.

Seol Yewon.

She acted to kill those malicious commenters…

But in the end, the goal of that action was for my sake.

“In the future, if you’re going to do something for me, I’d like you to ask me about it first, okay? Can you do that?”

“…A-Are you…forgiving me…?”

“It’s not like there’s anything for me to forgive…It seems like we’re both in the same boat, our hands stained with blood…”

Ah. I don’t know.

Wasn’t it after leaving Busan that I had already crossed the point of no return?

I denied it to myself, claimed I wasn’t a villain…

But by joining Hundred Eyes, I might as well have crossed the point of no return.

What’s more absurd than a criminal lecturing another on what’s wrong?

“Just consider it you killing the b*stards I would have killed anyway. Got it?”

“…….”

Seol Yewon’s eyes wavered.

“…Don’t…don’t you…hate me…?”

“You endured that brutal torture without spilling a word about me, right? That’s why you were still being tortured, I figure. Why would I hate someone who threw themselves at the fire for my sake like that? Just…let’s refine the direction itself. Together. Got it? To me, you’re…”

A slight smile played on my lips.

“…Like a little sister.”

“…….”

Tears streamed down her face again, and I silently embraced her.

Well, whatever.

She might be pretty on the outside, but inside, she’s a ferocious beast who casually kills people…

Still, she’s someone I’ve become inextricably linked to.

Let’s see this through to the end.

…Honestly, thinking about those sons of b*tches who hurled abuse at me all being dead…

It’s a little satisfying.

“…Is my thought process becoming Seoul-ified…”

“Huh?”

“Just talking to myself.”

. . .

I went to see Joo Hwa-rin, who they said was fully recovered.

She was wolfing down Jajangmyeon like it was her last meal, slurping up the remaining noodles as she saw me.

“Heukgyeong!”

“You’ve got it all over your face.”

Was it because of her exceptional medical skills?

Or perhaps due to her unique ability factor?

Despite that horrific accident, there wasn’t anything noticeably wrong with her appearance itself. No scars left, it’s truly a blessing.

I took a tissue and wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth. She jutted out her face and grinned.

“If you were going to visit, you should have come sooner!”

“I came as soon as I could. Until recently, visits were prohibited due to possible complications. I came the moment they lifted the ban.”

“Hmph… is that so? It seems this body is rather important then. Well, you do owe me a debt!”

“What debt?”

“I didn’t say a single thing about you! To that… what was it? Shark Tooth Headquarters? I didn’t reveal anything to those who asked! Even though there wasn’t any money on the line! This, my friend! Isn’t that truly remarkable!”

Joo Hwa-rin puffed out her chest.

I chuckled.

“You’re right. Remarkable. So? What do you want?”

“I want something.”

“What is it?”

“Ohoho. Don’t be shocked when you hear this. This is a truly magnificent price…!”

Joo Hwa-rin abruptly stood up.

“Give me praise!”

“…….?”

“Praise! I want praise! When I think about it, all I ever get from you is nagging! If all I get is nagging, then I’m no better than a servant! Friends need praise!”

“…Hmmm.”

I slightly curved up the corner of my lips.

Joo Hwa-rin cautiously watched my expression.

“…Well, I’m not asking for extravagant praise. But, if there was praise, it would solidify that you and I share a bond beyond mere acquaintances or colleagues. A special fee… “

“Why is your tongue so long?”

“…Y-you were hesitating, okaaay…”

“You did well, Joo Hwa-rin. Thank you. You’re a true friend.”

Joo Hwa-rin, who had been slumping, abruptly lifted her head.

I stroked her hair.

“My eyes were wrong. I thought you were just a useless, loudmouth ability user… but I was mistaken.”

“…A loudmouth what?”

“Excellent, Joo Hwa-rin. I’m relieved. That you’re my friend. If it weren’t for you, I would have been ambushed directly by them. Unprepared.”

“……”

“You saved my life. I mean it.”

Joo Hwa-rin blinked her eyes.

She blinked, eyes fluttering, as if she hadn’t expected such praise. Then, belatedly, she lifted her chin high.

“Well, what…it’s basic! Haha!”

“Aww, good girl.”

Friend, huh.

Ironically so. Never once had I thought of her that way.

But now it’s different. Beyond just an acquaintance, I could definitely call her that now, couldn’t I?

I stroked her, her chin still held proudly aloft. She purred like a delighted cat, then burst into a wide smile.

A peaceful reunion.

And then a voice shattered it.

“I didn’t think you’d be using my family name as you please. Hwa-rin.”

“…Huh?”

Peek-a-boo.

Someone slid their head through the gap of the open hospital door.

Smiling sweetly, eyes crinkling.

“Long time no see, little sister.”

“…Sister?”