Chapter 234
My Villains Episode 234
48. artist(1)
My fingertips were shaking.
I lightly patted Jiwon’s back. Because his shoulders were shaking too, I was able to hide my trembling..
“phoenix.”
It was Utequai's voice..
“what is that kid.”
This might sound obvious, but Jiwon and I spoke in Korean. So the other party members did not understand the situation..
W...Ugh W
......
I swallowed dryly for a moment..
Normally, I would have tried to explain it away with plausible words. But I couldn't do that now. I didn't want to lie in front of Jiwon..
“my nephew.”
“nephew?”
The gaze of the group turned to Hayla, my cousin and fiancée..
She was observing Jiwon with an expressionless face. There would be no way to mistake Jiwon, a Korean girl, for being a member of the twin royal family, but Hayla just kept quiet..
At that time, Jiwon, who was in my arms, slightly put his head out and looked at the group..
“Uh, you're my uncle's friends, right? no, coworker?”
Well, that's roughly it.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Jiwon, who was very shy, held the hem of my clothes tightly and looked at the group carefully..
“……It's just like Halloween.”
I looked at the group's exotic appearance and clothing with curious eyes, but the giant Utequia and the grumpy-looking Cole seemed a little reluctant, so they quickly turned their gaze towards the bundle. And his eyes were shining brightly.
“oh my god. That girl looks like Gyuhwa.”
“Silicification?”
“Yes, Tukima Silicification. If you close your eyes, it looks exactly the same..”
Tukima? Oh, you're talking about girl groups..
I think I've seen it on TV a few times, but I can't remember the names of the members. Now that I think about it, it seems like there was a kid who looked like Mungchi..
“……Who is that sister??”
“Uh, um, my cousin. No, to be exact, it is a cousin of Phoenix.-”
“and. I guess you can’t fool genes after all. It's absolutely great.”
Jiwon, who was making a fuss, made eye contact with Hayla and quickly hid himself in my arms..
“Ugh, it's crazy. I just made eye contact and my heart almost stopped..”
“……Oba is.”
“Can I take a picture??”
“picture?”
“huh. Are you saying you're my uncle's friend? no?”
While I was being taken aback by Jiwon's unexpected request, I heard him lowering his weapon from behind. They don't communicate, but the petite girl is acting cute and it seems like their guard has relaxed a bit..
“uh? Wow?”
Jiwon, who was looking through the pockets of her denim skirt and the hip bag with the sports brand logo on it, soon slumped her shoulders..
“Oh, that's right. I lost my phone. forgot.”
“……Where did I lose it??”
“I don't know, I don't remember.”
He pouted his lips and looked up at me with a grumpy face..
“But, man.”
“ huh?”
“I was worried because you fell into an unfamiliar world, but you turned out to be very strong.?”
“……Good? who? I?”
“Yes, uncle. If you don't have an opportunity like this, when will you talk to those girls??”
“Hey, what are you saying like that? What's wrong with me?”
“Do I have to say that in words? If you're my uncle's age, you should at least objectify yourself..”
“what?”
When I burst out laughing, Jiwon clicked his tongue and added some advice with a serious face..
“So, don’t be arrogant and trust your face for no reason, but treat me well as if you were a foot scrubber. Don't be tricked. Anyway, Uncle Blood is stupid and not good at things like push and pull..”
“What kind of nonsense is this all of a sudden??”
“Engrave it. Because this is the advice my uncle needs..”
“Ha, indeed.”
I was stroking my hair in bewilderment, but a question suddenly occurred to me..
“……But how did I know I fell into another world??”
“uh? uh……
Jiwon looked a little embarrassed at my question..
“Yeah, I heard it.”
“To whom?”
“Oh, there is. It's a secret.”
As if trying to ignore my question, he grabbed my sleeve and started pulling me..
“Okay, let’s take a walk for the first time in a while. “Don’t just stand like this.” “Wait a minute, Jiwon..”
“Ah, quickly!” The guy used force and pulled me. However, how much strength can a small girl weighing less than 50 kg exert?.
“Ah, why is it so heavy? Soya?”
After bickering for a while, I grabbed Jiwon's shoulder and stopped him..
“Han Ji-won, wait a minute..”
“Oh, why? Let's just take a walk?”
Facing my nephew's upset face, I hesitated for a moment before opening my mouth..
“I don't have time for this now.”
“I have to go find someone.”
“••••••who?”
“colleague. you'll be waiting for me.”
When I pretended to have a stern expression, Ji-won bit her lower lip with a disappointed look in her eyes..
“……I am?”
“what?”
“I am? It’s been 7 years, no, 8 years since we last met. I can't even talk for a moment?”
I took a deep breath to steady my weakening mind and moved my stiff jaw..
“……You're not the real Jiwon..”
“what?”
“This is the Ji-won of my memories and dreams, not the real Han Ji-won..”
I kept my cool and spoke, but when I saw Jiwon's hard face, the words came out without me even realizing it..
“I'm really sorry. But, I have work to do now..”
A certain memory creeps up on Ji-won’s sad expression..
Weekday amusement park, police line, women's restroom, broken smartphone, Han River high water area, on-site inspection photos.
Memories that have become the deepest darkness in my heart.
Normally, just thinking about those things would have been so painful that I couldn't even breathe. But now, only the memories were clear and the emotions were a little blurry. I don't know why, but it was fortunate..
“I'm sorry, it's because of me that you... … . Yeah, I have to go now.”
Obviously, my emotions are a bit blurry, but my heart keeps getting tighter when I see Jiwon. I tried to pick up a few more words, but I can't quite remember what I said..
It was then.
“Oh, stop it.!”
Jiwon screamed and blocked me from talking. Then he put both hands on his hips and frowned..
“How long are you going to be a jerk? It wasn't your uncle's fault.!”
“Jiwon-ah,”
“I don't really remember the last one anyway, so it wasn't really scary. There is no limit now. “So,” Jiwon, who had said something incomprehensible, huffed and raised his voice again..
“So, it's been a while since we last saw each other, so don't talk about such depressing things.!”
While he was shouting in frustration, a single sparkling tear rolled down his cheek..
“uh? Lady, this is not like that..”
Jiwon, who was startled as if sparks were flying, hurriedly wiped his eyes with his hands..
“This is just because I'm annoyed. My uncle was annoyed.”
“Let alone a girlfriend, I don't have any friends to meet. After work, I just sit in the corner of my room and play games. I can't sleep properly because of nightmares, so I always fall asleep at work, so I get scolded again. And then, I was so, so annoyed that it ended.-”
Jiwon, who had been crying and pouring out words, eventually burst into tears, saying 'Eeeing', and snuggled into my arms..
“……Jiwon-ah.”
“I, I wish my uncle, *sniff*, wouldn't have done that, but he, *sniff* just,”
As he himself ended his life at the young age of 16, he sympathizes with his uncle. As I remember, contrary to the nightmare, he was a really good kid..
I wanted to comfort him, but I couldn't open my mouth. I feel like the emotions filling my throat will pour out.
So, so I just patted Jiwon on the back without saying a word..
Jiwon, who cried for a long time in my arms, stopped crying and ran to the bathroom..
I waited quietly, wondering why he was doing that, and he soon reappeared with a clean look on his face..
“……I fixed my makeup?”
“uh. why?”
“No, what are middle school students like?,”
“What am I, a third year in middle school forever? In terms of age, I'm already twenty-four.!”
“Ugh
■司三
……Twenty-four-year-old Han Ji-won..
Then, you must have graduated from middle school as well as high school. I didn't like the school uniform, saying the color wasn't that good. What was the high school uniform like?.
“hey?”
After graduating from high school, you may have gone to college and enjoyed campus life, and you may have had a part-time job where you sang all the time..
And again…….
“Hey, Seungsu Kim.!”
“Uh, uh?”
“I had gloomy thoughts again?”
“……no, no.”
Jiwon, who was looking at me with narrowed eyebrows, suddenly looked at my group and bit his lower lip..
“Ah, I'm embarrassed. What is this like in front of people you see for the first time?.”
The guy grumbled and then sighed deeply. It's a sigh that somehow makes me feel relieved..
“Okay then let's go.”
“ huh?”
“Let's go. I'll guide you to the gateway.”
“••••..gateway?”
“uh.”
“Are you talking about the passage? Looks like a black disk? call it the gateway?”
“......Uh oh?”
For a moment, Jiwon made a stupid noise in response to my question, but immediately frowned..
“What's important about the name, whether it's a gateway or a passageway? Quickly follow me. Who said they were waiting?.”
The guy who said that led me and my group to the second floor. And then I went through the complicated road and got on the escalator..
3As we passed through the floors and reached the fourth floor, Jiwon, who had been walking silently, slowly slowed down..
“Jiwon-ah?”
“……I was confused for a moment. This way.”
Perhaps the path was really confusing, but he only stopped walking slowly after covering most of the 4th floor..
“……Ferris wheel?”
The place where Jiwon stopped was in front of the Ferris wheel. In front of the Ferris wheel, the upper half of which protrudes onto the rooftop and offers a view of the city's night view..
Unlike other rides that operated alone, the Ferris wheel with the lights off did not move..
“wait a minute.”
Not long after Jiwon entered the control box, the power to the Ferris wheel came on..
“Hehe.”
As the colorful lights turned on, Hayla and Moongchi's eyes sparkled. Utequoi and Cole didn't seem very perturbed, perhaps because they had already seen enough other rides..
At that time, Wu Tequai, who was quietly crossing his arms, suddenly spoke up..
“That kid. Is that your nephew??”
“……Uh, right.”
“So, is this a place called ‘Earth’?.”
“what‘?”
When I turned around in surprise, he had the same expression on his face as usual..
“A powerful shaman can distinguish between truth and lies through conversation. Akanku Karamek, I believed you. It means what you say is true..”
A few months ago, there was a time when I told as many words as I could to deceive Akanku Karamek, a powerful soul shaman..
Karamek possessed a skill called ‘hyesun’, which allowed him to determine the truth of words. So I let my guard down by revealing that I am from Earth
As a result, they attacked Karamek and cut off his head..
At that time, I thought that Ellen and Atalanta were the only ones who remembered the story I told Karamek, but it seems that Utequoi was also paying attention..
“……I noticed it already.”
“It's a story that's hard to believe. I definitely found out today.”
The conversation between Utequai and I started out of nowhere, and Munchi froze, Kol's expression hardened, and Hayla blinked..
While I couldn't find anything to say, Ute Kwai asked a question..
“Since when??”
“••••••what?”
“that happened to you.”
I hesitated for a moment, then sighed and told the truth..
“5Early in the month, by the time we reached South Harbour,.”
“hmm. I see..”
Utequai shook his head as if it was as expected and then closed his mouth..
When I took a quick look, his face was still grave..
There was no anger at being deceived by someone he considered a friend, no wariness or hostility toward extraterrestrial spirits, or shock at something unbelievable..
“……That's it?”
“ O ugh?’’
“Is that the end?.”
“Is there anything else you need??”
“No, I have nothing more to ask.?”
In response to my question, Utequai slightly narrowed his eyebrows and instead asked a question..
“What are you asking??”
“uh? That's right……
“I didn't know you before that. So there is nothing to ask.”
……Is it okay to be this cool? I feel like I'm freezing to death.
When Ute Kwai ended the conversation with the attitude that it was no big deal, Mungchi sighed and said, “Whew.” Kol closed his mouth as if he was thinking about something, and Hayla blinked with an incomprehensible look on her face..
Kukkung.
As if to break the silence that had fallen on the group, the Ferris wheel with its flashing lights began to rotate..
“Just wait a little while.”
Jiwon came out of the control box and looked up at the Ferris wheel as if assessing something..
“It will take about 3 minutes..”
“……thank you.”
“Thank you.”
The guy smiled weakly and headed towards the empty passage. We arrived in front of the boarding gate when the Ferris wheels, each painted in a different color, were turning about 15 degrees..
Jiwon, who had a hard expression on his face as if wondering what he was thinking, opened his mouth..
“uncle.”
“ huh?”
“When was it? There was a time when my mom and dad had a fight in the early morning.?”
“……My brother-in-law is not that type of person.?”
When I was startled, Jiwon, who had stiffened, slumped his shoulders and narrowed his eyebrows as if he was pitiful..
“under. Does it matter, man?.”
“ O......”
“Of course, my father is not that kind of person. My mom said something really strange, so I held back and said a few words..”
“Well then. So why didn't you sleep until dawn? Did I always say this? Go to bed early and early. It's already just a snot,”
“Oh, it's because of my uncle.!”
“me? why do i‘?”
“After entering college, you said you were busy and didn't come visit me in the evening..”
“What does it matter??”
“When I was in elementary school, huh? Since I went out and had fun every evening, I slept well at night. But since my uncle went to college, I can't sleep because he stays home at night.
You didn't come?”
It may sound absurd, but it is quite persuasive..
Jiwon didn't want to fire any more, but instead looked at the Ferris wheel and stamped his feet..
“Ah, now is not the time to talk like this..”
«......2”
““Anyway, at that time, I heard what my mom said.” “What are you talking about?” The guy moved his lips with a complex expression of impatience and hesitation, and finally spoke..
“about my uncle.”
“••••••my story?”
“My mom said that I was a stranger without a drop of blood..”
what?
at all. I was speechless at the unexpected story and just blinked..
“They said I brought enemies into the family because of my weak-hearted grandfather..”
“How do you know that?”
“I told you. I heard a couple fighting,”
“Don't talk bullshit!”
Jiwon gasped and took a step back at my sudden shout, and the group also flinched..
“You, you are the support I created. Ji-won has never said anything like this to me..”
“no.”
“……No? what?”
“It's not Han Ji-won that you made, you stupid uncle. “Why, why are you yelling!” Jiwon, who was shaking, closed his eyes tightly as if to swallow the overwhelming sorrow and continued speaking..
“I'm not Han Ji-won that my uncle made, I'm just Han Ji-won.”
“What is that, you, you-”
While I was stuttering, a yellow Ferris wheel entered the boarding gate. The door of the Ferris wheel was opened wide by me alone.,
Wow.
Inside, a black disk emerged..
As soon as a way out of the dream appeared, the world began to collapse..
Googoo googung-
The cityscape visible through the glass window in the distance turned into dust and crumbled away. Next was the ceiling made of steel frames woven together like kites..
“I have to go now.”
“Wait a minute, Jiwon. Then you,”
“Hurry up, you idiot..”
Jiwon pushed my chest, shedding tears. Instead of being pushed away, I grabbed his arm and he started struggling..
“Poinix!”
Cole, carrying an arrow in his hand, looked around with wary eyes and shouted..
“something is strange!”
“……It's strange?”
“Nothing came out, right?!”
Before I could ask what that meant, Cole quickly continued explaining..
“Every dream in another world ended up encountering a blackened wall. The wall disappeared and a person appeared, and you had to kill that person for a passage to appear.!”
Indeed, it was like that..
Soha in the suburban mansion, Heewon's father and husband in the neighborhood where I lived, and the company commander and investigator at ASP..
In other words, there was a kind of 'gatekeeper' in each dream, and only when the gatekeeper was cut did the black disk appear..
“••••••no way.”
Hayla, who was standing silently, moaned and muttered. Utequwai, Munchi, and Kol turned their heads to follow her..
“Ta-da.” Jiwon, who received attention from the group, smiled mischievously with his face covered in tears..
“I am the guardian of this dream.”
“Jiwon, that’s it..”
“It's an order as a guardian. Get out of here right now.”
As soon as those words were finished, the wind that had destroyed the world gathered in the air and shot towards the group..
Utequai with his feet planted on the ground, Bundle flying wildly, Hela summoning a starlight shield, and Kol holding on to the railing with strong hands were swept away by the wind like a hollow ping-pong ball and were immediately eaten by a black disk. rolled up.
“There was something I wanted to say, but couldn't say..”
Jiwon wiped her face with trembling hands, then looked up at me when she realized that she couldn't stop the tears that had already burst out..
“But everything is okay now. right?”
“Ji-won. Jiwon Han.”
A small hand gently pushed my chest. I floated as if gravity had disappeared and was sucked into a black disk..
At that last moment, Jiwon’s whisper passed by my ear..
Sadly, that last whisper was swallowed up by the roar of the world collapsing..
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