Chapter 234
t.w. ntions of self harm
“Ah. O-Originally…I wanted to wait…Hnghh…!” As Koo Hui-seo exhaled and spoke, the tentacles reflected in the shadow grew. Perhaps he could no longer endure the pain, as he doubled over and collapsed on the spot. “Hnnngh, Hah…”
In that state, the man breathed out long wheezes and began crawling to on his knees, whimpering. I couldn’t decide if he looked like a beggar or soone in the throes of pain.
Slither—
The bulging shadow reflected on the wall could no longer be contained by its dark borders and began to burst from Koo Hui-seo’s back, pouring forth as a mass of wriggling tentacles.
However, strangely, Koo Hui-seo’s physical body only shook violently; I couldn’t actually see any tentacles.
His clothes looked fine, and I couldn’t see blood pooling from his body. The most unusual symptom was rely the cold sweat that poured from his face–enough to drench his shirt collar.
“Are you alright?” Though I knew the man wasn’t, I still asked. Koo Hui-seo blinked a few tis before looking up at . He bit his lips hard enough to make a ss of the lower lip; blood flowing from between the cracks.
However, he shook his head weakly. I couldn’t tell if that was an ‘I’m alright, don’t worry about ’ motion, but…
“I was going to wait, but…Unnn…” The sight of Koo Hui-seo spouting excuses as he hurriedly wiped at his tears seared itself into my brain.
“I-I’m in so much pain…Hnngh…Hurk…” He continued
“Excuse … Could you explain what happened? Why is your shadow… No, just stay right there.” I said.
“……”
I wanted to get a little closer and observe the situation, but Kim Olim firmly shook her head no. Of course, I didn’t want to get too close to that strange tentacled shadow either, but I couldn’t leave him in the hallway to my living room like that.
I turned to look at Seo Dawon. The mage stood idly by and simply observed Koo Hui-seo. I hesitated briefly before asking him, “Why is Hui-seo-ssi… What’s happening? Do you have any idea?”
At that mont, Seo Dawon threw a frustrated glance at the Mage; though when he turned to , that expression vanished–as if it were washed away. He shrugged his shoulders, as if nothing exceptional was happening, and replied, “When his body becos extrely weak, his sanity becos touch and go.”
“Umm…S-So?”
“Plus, he’s always been a bit off in the head… He’s just worse now. Should I say he’s reaped what he sowed?” With that said, he closed his mouth, as if everything had been explained.
For though, I was even more confused after hearing the Mage. ‘So, now what? He’s saying that Koo Hui-seo’s state is due to so ntal issues… What does he an by ‘he’s reaped what he sowed?”
Besides, don’t most people around the afflicted person have little idea if one’s ntal health is getting worse..?
I had never heard of a ntal illness that manifested in crazily fluctuating shadows like that. I looked at Seo Dawon with an ambiguous smile. Though he didn’t seem to want to explain further, he reluctantly continued when we locked gazes, “…Koo Hui-seo wasn’t ntally sound when we first ca across him.”
“Mhm…”
“He probably had sothing more serious than schizophrenia as well.”
His expression made recall sothing the ex-chira had said… He had ntioned that the “original personality” had died, unable to endure imprisonnt.
‘He said that he suffered from dissociative identity disorder… And now Seo Dawon’s implying that there was sothing more serious at play?’
I wondered if the ex-chira had been attacked by soone; I stared at Koo Hui-seo and asked, “What on earth happened?”
However, it wasn’t Seo Dawon or Koo Hui-seo that answered, instead it was Kim Olim who stood in my way, steadfast. “Choi Lee-kyung, did you know that Koo Hui-seo often indulged in self-harm?”
“Huh?”
“As I thought, you had no idea.”
Startled, I looked at her; the Paladin kept her gaze on Koo Hui-seo as she quietly continued, “Koo Hui-seo’s ability… gets stronger as it feeds on him.”
“What?”
“That is to say… Though his power is a strength Koo Hui-seo needs, he’s locked in a battle for dominance with it. It’s as if he’s walking a monster on a dog leash…”
“……”
“He habitually hurt himself and caused unnecessary physical deterioration of his body in such a state. It’s inevitable that his prognosis isn’t optimistic. It’s not sothing we can intervene in, though.” With that said, Kim Olim adopted a complicated expression as she looked at the ex-chira, who could now hardly hold his body upright. Her gaze seed simultaneously scornful and sympathetic.
I followed her line of sight and stared at Koo Hui-seo, who now started to twitch, back shaking, as he laid prone with elbows propped on the floor.
Despite the bizarre and grueso movents, I wasn’t scared nor repulsed by Koo Hui-seo. Kim Olim was defending from the front, and Seo Dawon had not co forward in active vigilance either. It would be impossible for the ex-chira to rush at .
Plus, he must be aware of his own state…If that was the case, why would Koo Hui-seo appear before in this condition?
‘Honestly, if he had the ti to prepare that useless flower bouquet, he should have seen a doctor or sothing…’
I sighed deeply, looked at the flowers sprawled across my doorway, and asked again, “Excuse … Hui-seo-ssi. What do you need? You must have a reason for coming all this way.”
I could sense Kim Olim looking at , but I pretended not to feel her gaze and continued to stare at the ex-chira.
Koo Hui-seo blinked his eyes hearing my voice and raised his head. However, his left eyeball had rolled in its socket. I could only see the whites of his eyes. Startled, I was struck speechless for a brief mont. Koo Hui-seo simply closed his eyes and then opened them; at that mont, his eyeball had rolled back into its proper place.
Slightly twitching, he said, “I-If I die…”
“…..”
“Please make into your servant…”
“……”
“I w-wanted to ask you for that favor…Hngh…”
I’ve heard this wish from him before.
At that ti, I dismissed that as more strange mutterings, but it seed like Koo Hui-seo was being sincere back then and even now.
There was sothing strange about his persistence. There was an elent of horror and eeriness as well, but the man looked unbearably vulnerable.
‘No way, is he going to make a suicide attempt…?’
Of course not, right? Just as I thought that, Koo Hui-seo’s clothes slipped down as he wriggled around; Terrible scars near his neck were revealed before our eyes.
It looked like he used his nails to scratch right below his neck… The sight of those deep scars and torn, exposed flesh made speechless. I couldn’t understand how he could abuse himself so horribly…
Squeeze–!
Just then, the tentacles that erupted from Koo Hui-seo’s shadow burst through his back and suddenly began to attack him. They rode upwards, winding up his torso like a flexible snake, and began strangling his neck.
“Cough…! Co-ough.” Koo Hui-seo soundlessly opened and closed his mouth, as if he were about to say sothing to . However, he could only cough as the tentacle wrapped around his neck, strangling him. He struggled and tried to use his hands to relieve the pressure–that soon turned into Koo Hui-seo scratching at his own body.
“That’s not self-harm…” Shocked by that sight, I inadvertently stepped closer to Koo Hui-seo.
Of course, Kim Olim stopped imdiately. She held back and spoke firmly, “Don’t go near him. There’s nothing we can do except wait until he gets it under control.”
“But…” I protested; if we left him like that, Koo Hui-seo might really die. However, it didn’t seem like Kim Olim understood those feelings.
Left with no other choice, I turned to Seo Dawon. I knew he had no compassion for the man, but he might do a favor… I looked at him with anticipatory eyes.
Seo Dawon slightly furrowed his brows–he must have understood my desires. With a pleading smile, I requested, “Seo Dawon, I’m sorry… But, couldn’t you help him once? We just need to do sothing about that shadow…”
“Shadow?” Seo Dawon adopted a strange expression. He looked quizzical before his face soon frowned severely, “Choi Lee-kyung, what do you see?”
“Huh?” I blinked my eyes, unable to determine how I should respond. It wasn’t just the Mage; all the Servants’ moods quickly changed.
Beco a Patron!
TL: There’s definitely sothing shady going on with Koo Hui-seo–things that obviously Seo Dawon and Kim Olim can’t see or ignorant of. After all, to an unseeing eye, his scratches might look like self harm.
But D: There is so eldritch-horror thing going in on here.
Reviews
All reviews (0)