The body beside him stiffened noticeably. Uijae sighed internally. That idiot was bringing up sensitive topics again. He hurriedly patted Sa-young’s broad back, but the tense muscles showed no sign of relaxing. Desperate, Uijae stepped behind Sa-young and clamped his hands over his ears. Large hands ca up to cover Uijae’s.
“What are you doing?”
“Stay still. Hey, Hong Yesung. Don’t just throw around words about dying. You wanna die?”
“Hey, that’s not fair! I was just stating objective facts.”
“Try softening your words. Like saying their lifespan might get shorter.”
“Isn’t that basically the sa thing?”
“Sa-young, you stay quiet.”
“But isn’t covering his ears pointless? He can still hear everything.”
“Hong Yesung, you shut up too.”
Sa-young half-heartedly tried to remove Uijae’s hands a few tis before giving up, resorting to poking at Uijae’s hands instead to annoy him. Hong Yesung grumbled in the background.
“Seriously, even when I give warnings… You’re the one shortening your own lifespan.”
Uijae responded shalessly. “What are you talking about? Who could live as long as ?”
“You’re the least convincing person to say that. Especially after what you’ve already done.”
“…”
Sa-young tried to turn his head toward Uijae, but Uijae tightened his grip, keeping him in place. Sa-young muttered complaints about what nonsense Uijae had gotten into this ti, but Uijae ignored it, pursing his lips thoughtfully.
‘…What does he an by “what I’ve done”?’
Too many possibilities ca to mind. Was it when he synced with his counterpart here, coughed up blood, and collapsed? Or when he turned Sa-young into an amnesiac? Or maybe when he saved that mackerel in Haenam? Brought the mackerel to the Seowon Guild? Or when he talked to Yoon Gaeul in a dream and got a penalty that blinded him?
‘…I’ve done too much.’
At this point, Sa-young glaring at him seed justified. Uijae released his grip on Sa-young’s head and clasped his hands together in a mock show of humility. Sa-young’s tone was incredulous.
“What are you doing now?”
“I think I know. I’ve done too many questionable things.”
“Oh… Is that so?”
Ignoring Sa-young’s sharp glare, Uijae turned to Hong Yesung and politely asked, “Hey, Hong Yesung. Care to tell what exactly I’ve done?”
“You seriously don’t know? You saved that mackerel! He was supposed to die there.”
Ah, that was sothing even Sa-young knew about, so it didn’t matter. Feeling a surge of confidence, Uijae unclasped his hands and pointed accusingly at Hong Yesung.
“Should I have let soone trying to die drown? Just let him sink right in front of ?”
“Ahhhh, don’t say stuff like that! You’re gonna give PTSD!”
“PTSD? You’re not the only one! I have it too!”
“Squawk!”
Kkokko let out a shrill cry from a distance as the room erupted into chaos, with accusations flying and voices raising. Eventually, Sa-young interjected.
“I have a question. Let’s say we manage to change the future in this place. Does it affect our world?”
“Of course not! It doesn’t change. This place is a space reconstructed from mories. The people here aren’t real—they’re fragnts of mory. The original version of this world has already been destroyed.”
“…”
“You guys… How should I put this? Yeah, you’re like actors stepping into a play where the ending’s already been written. Got it?”
“Then it doesn’t matter if we save anyone here, right? If the ending is already destruction.”
“Wrong! Each character has a predefined ending. Changing that violates the system’s rules. Who knows what kind of penalty you’ll face.”
Ah, so that sudden wave of weakness earlier must have been a penalty. Uijae shuddered to think how he might have drowned if it weren’t for the mackerel’s older brother. He made a ntal note to buy the guy a al later.
Predetermined endings.
They already knew how it all ended. Cha Uijae dies. Lee Sa-young is left alone. The world perishes. Yet, Hong Yesung remained cheerful, completely unbothered by the impending doom. Uijae asked bluntly.
“How are you so calm about all this?”
“Hm? Because I know I’m not real. I’m different from everyone else here.”
“So, you’re aware that the world’s about to end. How can you…?”
“Because you guys showed up.”
“…”
“You ca here looking for clues to prevent the apocalypse, right? That ans there’s still hope in your world.”
For so reason, Uijae’s throat tightened. He didn’t know what to say. Countless words ca to mind but disappeared just as quickly. Nothing felt adequate—not gratitude, not consolation.
Hong Yesung’s bright smile was radiant. His face looked like…
“It was worth leaving all this behind for you guys!”
…the sun.
Well, with a bit of exaggeration.
Hong Yesung and Kkokko escorted the group to the gates. Romantic Opener was still unconscious, so Honeybee carried him on her back.
The descent from the mountain was eerily quiet. Thanks to Hong Yesung, Jirisan was untouched by the whitening phenonon. With every step, they slled fresh greenery, damp soil, and the crisp scent of the forest.
“…”
“It was worth leaving all this behind.”
What were they thinking, those who left behind these mories before destruction? What thoughts crossed Hong Yesung’s mind as he gathered these fragnts to build a dungeon? His seemingly relieved smile felt unbearably heavy.
“…Hey.”
“J!”
The call interrupted Uijae’s thoughts. He looked up quickly. The sparks of fire ahead had stopped, waiting for him. Uijae reacted a beat too late.
“Huh? Oh. Why?”
“…Are you sure you’re okay? You were about to walk straight into that tree.”
“Sorry. I was just thinking about what we heard earlier.”
“What Hong Yesung said?”
“Yeah.”
Honeybee chid in with her usual sass. “Well, the conclusion’s clear, right? We need to find as much information and as many solutions about the apocalypse as possible. That’s the whole point of this world.”
“Right.”
“Should we start with the Seowon Guild?”
“Nam Woo-jin probably knows the most.”
“We’ll have to pick a day to interrogate him. There should be useful stuff among their books too.”
Mumbling to herself, Honeybee started walking again. Uijae reached out, brushing his fingers against a nearby tree. If he had taken just one more step, he would’ve bumped into it. He needed to be more careful. He veered slightly to the side and added.
“And we should hurry to gather everything.”
“Why?”
Because the longer this takes, the sooner I’ll die. Uijae swallowed the words and gave a plausible excuse instead.
“We don’t know how differently ti flows between here and the outside world. The sooner we leave, the better.”
“True. No point collecting info if it’s too late to use it.”
“Then we should wake this guy up first. It’ll be a long way to the Seowon Guild.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Honeybee, who was still carrying Romantic Opener. He slept deeply, his breaths audible. Sa-young cracked his knuckles as he stepped forward.
“I’ve got just the thing. Put him down.”
“…You’re not going to kill him, are you?”
“Of course not. I’m his guild leader.”
As soon as Honeybee set Romantic Opener down, the sound of sothing heavy being dragged filled the air. Romantic Opener’s flas were being pulled by Sa-young’s violet flas. Honeybee asked suspiciously.
“Where are you taking him?”
“For a little chat.”
Sa-young’s voice grew distant as he disappeared into the woods. Honeybee clicked her tongue and kicked the dirt, scattering soil. The sudden silence was filled with the sounds of birds and insects. Uijae, listening to the faint chirping, heard Honeybee speak.
“Now that we’re here, I might as well say it. I told Sa-young, but I don’t think you know yet.”
“Go ahead.”
Thunk. The sound of a stone being kicked echoed.
“I’ve been seeing people die in visions. Even before we entered this place. Sotis, when I look at soone’s face, I see their neck dangling… or worse.”
“…”
“You probably think I’m crazy. But I feel like those visions are showing how these people in this world died.”
Uijae stayed silent. He heard the sound of her ruffling her hair, followed by her slightly uneven breaths. Her voice, small and uncertain, broke the silence.
“…If we figure out how they died, do you think we can stop it?”
Maybe it was a futile hope. But Uijae nodded anyway. He had thought the sa thing countless tis.
“…Maybe.”
A distant scream pierced the air. Honeybee sighed and patted Uijae on the shoulder.
“Thanks. That’s a bit comforting.”
Her hand fell away, and Uijae asked suddenly.
“Do you see too?”
“…”
Honeybee looked at him, and he wondered. What kind of vision did she see for him? Blood pouring from his head? But her answer was unexpected.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“I’ve never seen
your death. Even before we ca here.”
“…Why?”
“I’ve always found it odd.”
“…”
“Well, doesn’t that an you don’t die? Let’s think positive.”
Honeybee’s tone was lighthearted, but Uijae’s gaze shifted to the flashing red numbers in his peripheral vision. The countdown to his death was all too real. And hadn’t he vividly seen himself die in Sa-young’s mories?
The dragging sound returned, and Sa-young pushed sothing forward.
“Open the door.”
“Yes, sir!” ca a voice full of enthusiasm, followed by the creak of a door opening. The scent of fresh grass mixed with the sll of old books and disinfectant.
Pushing his thoughts aside, Uijae stepped toward the sll of books.
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