Chapter 401: Azrakan |
Azrakan had been granted considerable authority as the leader in charge of the Seeds. He could monitor the frequency and names of the Seeds without needing to speak to them and knew exactly how many were still alive and where they were located.
However...
“Does this even make sense...?”
Azrakan was struggling to comprehend what was happening at that moment.
“Six Seeds that I sent out have died...?”
A few minutes earlier.
The Seeds had gathered to purge Rapolai. However, Azrakan did not show up at the meeting. Something was troubling him, so he decided not to attend.
Azrakan? Why didn’t you come?
Why aren’t you responding? Speak up!
We thought you were a leader, but it turns out you’re a coward!
We don’t need you! We can take care of Rapolai without you!
Despite the criticism, Azrakan remained silent.
“It’s fine. Even without me, the six of you can defeat him. Six or seven, there’s not much difference.”
With that thought, he simply provided Rapolai’s location and watched the situation unfold.
But the result was shocking.
“The signals from the six who faced Rapolai have been cut off...”
And that wasn’t all.
Even Rapolai’s signal had vanished.
Seven Seeds had been annihilated in an instant.
“A mutual sacrifice...?”
He thought that might be the case, but something didn’t add up.
Could a single Seed, after consuming a few hosts, eliminate six Seeds all at once?
“Impossible. There has to be something more going on.”
Although he only perceived the signal and wasn’t there to witness it, he had to assume as much.
“It wasn’t Rapolai. There was another intervention.”
There was no other explanation for Rapolai’s disappearance along with the others.
“Could it be that Rapolai was used by a third party?”
That would explain Rapolai’s sudden betrayal.
“If someone could exterminate the Seeds and also pose a threat to me...”
If such a being existed, he wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
Moreover, he was alone now, and how could he stop someone who had already wiped out 11 Seeds?
“I can’t win in strength, but I have an advantage. They don’t know where I am.”
That’s why Rapolai was used to lure the Seeds and eliminate them one by one.
If they knew his location, they wouldn’t need a bait strategy.
“Even so, I must hide. They’ll want to kill me, the last Seed.”
Azrakan, feeling increasingly insecure, blended into the crowd to hide.
He didn’t know who his enemy was, but it was clear that they wanted to extinguish both hosts and Seeds.
Click, click.
As he walked through the city in a human body, many thoughts crossed his mind.
“Who am I really fighting against?”
“What should I do next? Who should I hide from?”
“Who is this entity?”
As he pondered, he reached a conclusion.
“First, I need to identify my opponent.”
Azrakan disappeared into a building.
It was an internet café.
——————-
Seo Arin, are you really okay?
“Yes, I’m fine, manager.”
An Sang-cheol’s concerned face appeared on Seo Arin’s phone screen.
Don’t just say that. Do you really not need me to come find you?
“It’s not just words. I’m really okay. I eat well on my own. Don’t worry so much.”
Seo Arin was subtly implying that it wasn’t necessary for him to visit.
An Sang-cheol caught the hint.
Alright. Then, take this week to rest. Call me if you need anything.
“I will. Thanks.”
Seo Arin ended the video call with a bright smile but sighed as soon as she put down the phone.
“Ah... At times like these, it’s a relief to be an actress.”
Even though she said she was fine and had no problems, she was actually torn apart inside.
Her partner, with whom she had planned to spend her life, had been in a vegetative state since their wedding day. How could she be okay?
Life felt meaningless.
Thinking about Ryu Min in the hospital made tears well up again.
“This is not the time for this... I need to be strong, for Ryu Min.”
Thinking of Ryu Min also brought Black Scythe to mind.
Although they were the same person, Seo Arin saw them as separate.
She had no memories with Black Scythe after her wish was fulfilled, so to her, they were almost like two different people.
“By the way, Black Scythe told me to take care of myself.”
She had even blocked her manager’s visit and spent an entire day at home.
It didn’t feel uncomfortable.
“I wonder if his mission went well.”
She thought as she finished her meal. She had no appetite and only ate once a day, but she enjoyed her rest.
Or so she thought.
Until the critical moment arrived.
—————-
On the third day...
“He went to eliminate Seeds and hosts, and there’s been no news...”
Seo Arin discovered that staying home all day was harder than she had imagined.
She realized she was truly born to act.
“I used to be so busy that I barely slept... Now that I have time, I don’t know what to do.”
Her desire to act again was growing.
To pass the time, she read scripts or practiced acting in front of the mirror.
That’s how she managed to spend her time meaningfully.
“Normally, when I had time, I spent it with Ryu Min...”
Now, she couldn’t even talk to Ryu Min or visit him in the hospital.
There was a strict order not to leave until the job was finished.
“Although, I should visit him in the hospital anyway...”
Worried about Ryu Min’s condition, Seo Arin spent the day restless.
And to calm that restlessness, she finally...
Click-
Left the house.
With a cap and a mask to avoid being recognized.
—————–
“Ryu Min, how have you been?”
“...”
Seo Arin looked sadly at Ryu Min, who lay silently in the hospital bed.
“Of course, you haven’t been well... in your current state...”
“...”
“I’m sorry I haven’t come recently. They told me it was dangerous to go out. Who told me? You’d be surprised.”
Seo Arin continued speaking to Ryu Min, who had his eyes closed, without expecting a response.
“It was Black Scythe. Although I know you are Black Scythe... I mean the real player, Black Scythe. It may sound confusing, but that’s how it is. To me, they seem like different people. I prefer to see it that way. The Ryu Min with whom I created happy memories isn’t Black Scythe but you, here.”
Even though she knew Black Scythe was actually Ryu Min, Seo Arin felt more affection for the Ryu Min in the hospital bed.
The person with whom she had shared dates and whom she had promised to spend the rest of her life was clearly there.
“You have to wake up. Really. I can’t live without you...”
Clutching Ryu Min’s hands tightly, Seo Arin stood up.
It was time to leave.
“I stayed a bit later today. I’ll come back to see you. I’d love to come every day, but I’m afraid Black Scythe would get angry.”
With a smile, Seo Arin let go of Ryu Min’s hand and left the room.
When she returned home in a taxi, something unexpected happened.
Plop!
“Ah!”
Someone grabbed her by the shoulder, spinning her around sharply.
“Manager? You almost made me scream!”
An Sang-cheol stood there with a tense expression.
“Sorry if I scared you.”
“What are you doing here?”
“That’s not important right now.”
“What?”
“Seo Arin, you’re in danger. Please go inside.”
His grave expression indicated that something really serious was happening.
Without asking questions, Seo Arin entered the house.
Beep beep beep- Click!
The door opened, and An Sang-cheol followed her in, constantly glancing around in fear.
He seemed terrified.
“This must be something very serious for him to be so cautious...”
She decided to sit down and listen.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you want something to drink?”
“No, thank you.”
“What’s going on that you were waiting outside my house without telling me?”
“Well, uh...”
An Sang-cheol hesitated to respond.
For some reason, Seo Arin found him different than usual.
His expression and behavior were off.
“Is he scared? Why? Of what?”
She couldn’t understand why the former head of security was so frightened.
And then he said something even more unsettling.
“Seo Arin, can I stay here tonight?”
“What?”
“There’s a monster outside looking for you. To protect you, I need to stay with you...”
“A... a monster? Are you talking about what attacked me that time...?”
“Yes, exactly.”
A host was looking for her?
Why? For what reason?
Though she was confused, she understood his fear.
Who wouldn’t be scared if a monster was hunting them?
“But this is the house where Ryu Min and I planned to live together after getting married...”
It was the home they had prepared as newlyweds.
The truth was, she didn’t want another man staying there, even if it was her manager.
“I appreciate that you want to protect me, but if it’s a monster, being together or apart won’t change the danger. So, I think you should leave...”
“If I leave, that monster will kill me. I can’t go out.”
“But staying here...”
“We stayed together in the attic before, didn’t we?”
“But we didn’t sleep together.”
“I have no ill intentions. Can’t you let me stay?”
“...”
Could the monster be scaring him that much?
She couldn’t find the words to send him back.
“Fine. You can stay tonight. But, manager...”
An Sang-cheol had a terrified look, staring behind her.
When she turned, a figure emerged from the darkness.
It was Black Scythe.
He approached without a mask, his face fully visible.
An Sang-cheol looked as if he had seen a ghost.
To him, it seemed like Ryu Min, who was in a vegetative state, was walking.
Feeling the need to explain, Seo Arin hurriedly spoke.
“Manager, what’s happening is...”
“He’s not your manager.”
“What?”
With Black Scythe’s words, Seo Arin saw An Sang-cheol trembling.
“That man is a Seed.”