Chapter 238: The Eye of the Apocalypse
From outside the room, the sound of Jang Mi-sook shuffling around could be heard. Mackerel pressed himself against the door and yelled,
"It's fine, Jang-nim! …For now?" 2
"The kid's got a lot of scars, that's all. He's not that bad."
He was just calling him rude a minute ago. Mackerel swallowed his words. The first rule of being an informant is always listening well to others. When people start talking aimlessly, hidden gems of information often co out alongside their words. Mackerel waved his fingers in the air, summoning a small manta ray, which wriggled over to seal the door.
"Yes, yes, that's true. When soone's hurt, they tend to put up their spikes like a hedgehog."
"But he said he didn't need ." 4
J curled up into a ball, murmuring darkly in a strange voice. J, a hero recognized by most, even though so people tried to slander him. Soone everyone needed. This was probably the first ti he'd ever been told he was unnecessary. It might be why it hit him so hard. Mackerel crouched down in front of him.
"Listen, hyung-nim."
"…"
"I think that jerk… no, that hedgehog probably said sothing he didn't an in the heat of the mont." 2
"…"
The pillbug-man raised his head a little. Mackerel rubbed his hands together earnestly. 6
"Would he really have ant it when he said he didn't need you? You were poking at a sore spot, so he just threw up his defenses. People always blurt things they don't an when they're upset, don't they?" 4
"…You think?"
"Of course, of course. He's probably regretting it by now, saying sothing like that."
The pillbug fully lifted his head. Was he really? His distorted voice asked.
"Then… can you find out a little more?"
"Ah~ just say the word, hyung-nim."
Mackerel nodded so hard it looked like his neck would break. And he thought to himself;
'I'll charge him for the table, the counseling, and the information, too. Gonna make a killing here.' 10
His mind whirred like a calculator on overdrive. Just like a true rchant. 2
***
Despite the Guild Leader being a doctor, the Seowon Guild had the scent of old paper and books. Guild mbers dashed around, pushing book carts, and the sight of books stacked from floor to ceiling was overwhelming. However, since that incident, Seowon Guild has changed a little.
"…"
Honeybee frowned, holding coffee in both hands. The fragrant coffee aroma was already overpowered by a strong sll of disinfectant. Guild mbers who once carried books now rushed around with various dicines and charts. So might say the guild had returned to its original state, but still…
"I liked it better before…"
Muttering and pouting, Honeybee hurried towards the heart of Seowon Guild, where Nam Woo-jin and Matthew, who still hadn't opened his eyes, lay.
Honeybee paused while descending the long stairs, as a small boy in a white coat was waiting at the bottom. The boy looked up at her with clear eyes and bowed.
"The master asked if you would be comfortable with the visitor."
"Visitor?"
"Yes. He thought you might be uncomfortable."
"Well, as long as it's not Gyu-Gyu, it's fine."
"Then, please follow ."
The boy scurried ahead. The contract with Gyu-Gyu had ended, and he had vanished sowhere. Probably idling around in so foreign country, Honeybee thought, clicking her tongue for effect.
According to the original plan, she should have continued tracking Protheus with Gyu-Gyu. However, the Awakened Managent Bureau chose to collaborate with Protheus. Naturally, Honeybee couldn't stand it. To cooperate with those who had done this to Matthew? Unthinkable. She had barged into the director's office, demanding an explanation. 1
"You've finally lost it, huh? Holding hands with those creeps?"
Director Ham calmly explained. It wasn't perfect cooperation, but temporary; it was to prevent an apocalypse and gather information, and perhaps to awaken Matthew through their data.
'Nonsense.'
In the end, the director chose the easy way out, she thought. By now, they had reached the innermost part of the guild. The boy pushed open a firmly closed door, and Honeybee's eyes widened. 1
"What's this?"
"Ah, you're here."
Nam Woo-jin spun his chair around to face Honeybee. But she was looking at the tiny, dark figure standing like a black statue next to him, then shifted her curious gaze to another dark figure.
The other dark figure, Lee Sa-young, sat leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, eyes closed. Honeybee pointed at him, coffee in hand.
"Why is this guy here?"
"He just fell asleep, so don't wake him." 2
Seo Min-gi adjusted his sunglasses as he answered.
"He hasn't been sleeping well lately, so he ca for a prescription."
"Why is he sleeping uncomfortably like that?"
"He said he's just taking a quick nap." 1
"What a ss. I only bought two coffees, one for the doctor and one for ."
"It's alright. I had a seasonal nu this morning. By the way, do you collect stickers? If not, could you pass them along?" 1
"Really? With the world about to end, you're still collecting those?"
"More reason to be diligent while we still can."
"Good grief…"
Clicking her tongue, Honeybee handed the coffee to Nam Woo-jin and took out her phone. Seo Min-gi quickly pulled out his phone too, and they began exchanging stickers. Nam Woo-jin took a sip, wrinkled his face, and pushed the cup away.
"Syrup?"
"Oh, my mistake. That's mine, and this is yours."
"Thanks."
"Too much sugar shortens your life."
"No need for lectures; I'm a doctor." 4
Nam Woo-jin sipped the coffee, thick with sweetness, and closed his eyes. A mont of silence passed. Honeybee tapped the floor with her shoe and asked.
"How's Matthew? Still the sa?"
"Still."
"No freeze events?"
The mont they witnessed the brink of the apocalypse, humanity had frozen in place, each person unconsciously touching sowhere on their body, as though the trauma of the apocalypse had imprinted on their souls. So speculated that the spots people touched were places they had been injured before. Though there was no certainty, people referred to this phenonon as the "Freeze Event."
Nam Woo-jin shook his head.
"No. Without consciousness or ego, he neither knows nor cares that the apocalypse is coming."
"…"
"Still, now that we're working with Protheus, we might get the antidote."
"I don't like cooperating with them. They don't even see Awakeners as human."
"I don't want it either, but we need to play every card we have." 1
"…"
Honeybee sighed and took a sip of her coffee, the bitter and savory taste lingering in her mouth.
Just then, the figure leaning against the wall twitched. There was the sound of a deep inhale and exhale. Beneath the disheveled hair, a glimpse of fierce violet light flashed in his eyes. His gaze, which had been fixed on the floor, landed on Honeybee.
"…Who are you?"
"Is 'who are you' all you can say every ti you see soone? Seriously…"
Lee Sa-young turned his head away, frowning in irritation. Nam Woo-jin set his coffee down and stood up. He dragged his Crocs and approached Lee Sa-young, examining his face.
"I gave you a mild one on purpose. Think you'll be okay with just that amount of sleep?"
"It's just right."
Lee Sa-young finished rubbing his face and crossed his legs.
"I vaguely heard your conversation. You still haven't found an antidote for Matthew?"
"Did you even sleep? Or were you just pretending to be asleep?"
"I have sothing from Protheus's headquarters."
"…"
He gestured to Seo Min-gi, who took a tablet out of his inventory and handed it over. Lee Sa-young held up the tablet and spoke lazily.
"It's a tablet that a researcher from Protheus's headquarters had… I've analyzed all the contents. Of course, the only person who could use it would be you, Nam Woo-jin."
"What? Why are you only telling us now?!"
Crunch. The iced coffee cup Honeybee was holding crumpled, spilling coffee and ice everywhere. Lee Sa-young shrugged, rubbing his eyes.
"Because my sleep is more important…" 6
"Oh, you little…!"
Honeybee took a step forward, fists clenched, but Nam Woo-jin stopped her. With his hands in his pockets, he looked down at Lee Sa-young.
"You're not planning to hand it over for free, are you?"
"Hmm, sharp as always…"
A slight smirk tugged at the corner of Lee Sa-young's mouth as he rested his chin on his hand and gave a sly smile.
"Soone curious about will co. Soon, I'd guess…" 2
"…"
"No one knows my condition better than you."
Lee Sa-young rose from his chair. His large body and shadow lood over Nam Woo-jin. He placed a blackened finger straight across his lips, a cold voice resonating. 10
"Keep quiet."
"…"
"Don't blab like last ti."
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