Chapter 527: Doom Kiyoung (2) |
‘Are the others coming as well?’
They weren’t in the same carriage as me, but it was highly likely that they were behind me. The decision was made all of a sudden, and we wouldn’t have been able to leave right away if he had decided to wait for the party members who were still carrying out missions for the guild.
However, I was sure that they were going to do their best for us to meet up in the capital.
I was sure that they were thinking about the worst-case scenario that Lee Ji-Hye had probably mentioned because they seemed to be thinking about gathering every powerhouse of the guild.
Of course, the chances were close to zero, but Kim Hyun-Sung was being cautious at every step. However, the reason he decided not to ride in the same carriage as me was probably because…
‘It’s probably because he wants to let me know that this isn’t a big deal.’
It was kind of funny how he was acting calm despite kicking up a fuss earlier. He was acting like it was nothing and that this would be just a short excursion. However, his eyes were trembling.
It was difficult for me to pretend that I still hadn’t noticed his true feelings.
Elena’s heart was weak, and every time she felt like crying, she would go out and return only after she was done crying. Jung Ha-Yan looked extremely anxious, and she would either scratch her head or smack her lips.
Out of the four who got on the same carriage as me, Sun Hee-Young was the best at hiding her emotions. She was quietly doing her job, and I was once again reassured that she was the most mature out of everyone here.
I wasn’t sure if the heavens were helping me, but I suddenly got a fever as soon as the carriage left.
‘Wow. The human body sure is interesting.’
‘I’m in pain. I’m in pain. I’m in pain. I’m uncomfortable. I’m uncomfortable. I’m uncomfortable.’ I chanted to brainwash myself, and I actually felt in pain. The pain wasn’t enough for me to sweat a lot or pant, but my face was pale because of a minor headache.
The headache could be cured with holy power, but everyone thought my headache was due to the holy power that Elena had used, so no one wanted to use their magic on me.
The only thing that they could do was watch me.
Kim Hyun-Sung was in a serious conversation with Elena and Lee Ji-Hye, and he showed up once more when the carriage started moving. He was working hard, so I was thankful for him.
‘It’s understandable from his point of view…’
He was the only one who could handle Doom Ki-Young, and if he were to reappear, it was Kim Hyun-Sung’s responsibility to take care of Doom Ki-Young. I was sure that he placed that responsibility on his shoulders.
The only thing that I could do was pretend that I was struggling and weak.
Yeah, the best thing that I could do here was be a hero in a tragic situation.
“How are you feeling?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.
“I’m not sure. My head hurts a bit—If something goes wrong—”
“No, it’s not that serious. We’ll reach the Vatican soon, so please just endure it until then. No need to be worried or confused. It’s not a big deal. I’m sure it’s just a simple curse,” he interrupted me.
“But just now…”
“I was just slightly surprised. That’s all it is, so please sleep. You only slept for ten minutes…”
‘Stop looking at me so sadly. You’re making me sad, too, man.’
Crocodile tears filled my eyes, and he grabbed my hand tightly.
“I’m sure it’s nothing serious. What you’re worried about won’t happen, Mr. Ki-Young,” he said.
‘Is that so? Then, why are you smiling so bitterly as if you’re telling yourself that rather than me? You don’t have the basics down, man.’
I was sure that even Sun Hee-Young found it awkward as well because she was once again folding the blanket that she had already folded. Indeed, Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t a good liar. He was pretending like he was fine, but it seemed like he had the passive ability to look sad whenever he felt sad. He looked like a worried, abandoned puppy.
It was easy to deduce his thoughts because he couldn’t maintain a poker face.
Anyway, it was a bit ridiculous how they surrounded the carriage with a curtain. They were probably thinking that they had to hide the truth because things could become more dangerous if they were to confess.
‘They’re definitely having a headache…’
I was sure that Kim Hyun-Sung had already heard the source of my negative emotions from Lee Ji-Hye. There was a chance that he would blame himself for being part of the reason why Doom Ki-Young reappeared.
Still, he couldn’t really say anything.
Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t a psychopath who would tell the confused and frightened young sheep—Lee Ki-Young—that the city was in ruins because of him. After all, that was something that Demon Summoner Jin Cheong or Demon Worshiper Ito Sota would do.
In the end, Kim Hyun-Sung decided to hide the truth, and I got worried that he would have a mental breakdown once more, but this cunning mouth of mine started talking again.
I decided to talk while looking anxious and ignorant because that was the right thing to do. This was the best time for me to deal the finishing blow. The result was basically decided when they covered the windows. I looked at the window covered with a black curtain with the saddest look possible, and I heard his nervous voice.
“If you’re uncomfortable about something, please tell me no matter how small it is, Mr. Ki-Young,” he said.
“Well…” I started.
“Yes?”
“Can you open the curtains? I’d like to get some light in here…” I requested.
“...”
“...”
What more could he say? Kim Hyun-Sung lowered his head. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He could neither show nor hide the reality outside, but I felt kind of bad because he looked like he was really agonizing over his decision.
‘This is why you shouldn’t lie, man.’
Small lies would lead to big lies, and big lies would lead to bigger lies. One couldn’t hide the obvious, and one couldn’t keep on ignoring the truth.
It hadn’t been that long since I asked him to open the curtains, but his ever-changing expression showed me his true feelings.
Kim Hyung-Sung chose to remain silent in the end, and that was when he heard my dejected voice.
“I knew it… you’re hiding something.”
“...” Kim Hyun-Sung remained silent.
“What are you—” I started.
Kim Hyun-Sung interrupted me. “It’s nothing like that. It’s just… it’s difficult to show it to you right now. As I told you before…”
I smiled bitterly and asked, “You don’t need to give excuses, Mr. Hyun-Sung. Is it related to my current appearance?”
He remained quiet and lowered his head.
“Is there… something wrong with me?” I asked.
“No, that’s… not it. You did nothing wrong, Mr. Ki-Young. That’s the one thing I’m sure of,” Kim Hyun-Sung replied.
“Then…”
“It’s just—you’ll have issues dealing with it on your own. That’s it…” he answered.
“I really don’t remember,” I commented.
“...”
“I don’t remember, but I can remember fragmented scenes. I can’t quite grasp them, and they look unreal. Broken buildings, demons climbing the wall, and the ruins of the city. I saw Dialugia as well, and there were demonic cries—”
“You had a nightmare. Don’t think about them right now. Please, I beg you…” He interrupted.
“You locked me in because… I’m dangerous,” I mumbled.
“No, that’s not true,” he said.
“You were afraid that I might start harming people…” I continued.
“No, it’s not like that. It’s actually the opposite,” he corrected me.
“You can be honest with me,” I told him.
“I’m telling you the truth. This isn’t my intention, Mr. Ki-Young. I understand that you’re confused—please don’t think about that…” he said.
“How can I not?” I questioned.
“...”
“How…”
“...”
“How can I… not think about it?” I questioned again.
My voice was trembling with so many emotions that I was even surprised when I heard my own voice.
Kim Hyun-Sung stared at me anxiously, and he looked as if everything was over.
‘I feel like things ended too easily.’
My plan to express my grief calmly ended up being better than acting like I had received a mental shock. It would be nice to see the world outside, and even though the start had been a bit rocky, things were working out smoother than I thought.
Obviously, I spoke once again but with a more determined voice.
“Please open the curtains.”
“But…”
“Open the curtains. Please,” I requested.
At this point, it would be difficult for Kim Hyun-Sung to hide the truth.
I could see many different emotions in his eyes as he bit his lips and pushed the curtain away.
“Ah…”
The city was ruined, and it was too devastated that I felt really bad.
I thought they were almost done restoring the city, but it seemed that it wasn’t that easy to restore an entire city. I thought that they would build the buildings quickly using magic spells, but it didn’t seem to be the case.
However, it seemed that Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t lying to me. I could see traces of demonic energy floating in the air within the city. I figured that it was probably the reason why they were having a difficult time restoring the city.
Everything was destroyed. The tall clock tower and the city square were gone.
I couldn’t see any adventurer or denizen, and the city truly looked abandoned.
It seemed that the natural environment was affected as well. The lush and beautiful forest was covered in a slimy, sticky substance that was also rotting, and the blue lake wasn’t blue anymore.
The hue of the skies seemed a bit different as well.
I finally realized that the damage Lindel had sustained from the crisis was greater than I had ever imagined.
Kim Hyun-Sung looked at me nervously, and the others weren’t so different. I looked out the window quietly as if I didn’t want to miss the scenery that was passing rapidly.
“It’s not… your fault,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
“...”
Obviously, he shed transparent, innocent, and guilty tears. I didn’t answer him because I had to maintain my current emotions. My shoulders shook from time to time, and it didn’t take long for a soundless echo to fill the carriage.
“...”
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