Chapter 110 |
The green algae monster somehow infected people. It stirred up murderous intent, and the moment the infected person injured someone else, that intent transferred.
Jung Inho, watching this, was reminded of a zombie movie he’d seen before. A monster infecting healthy people and driving them mad.
In his opinion, Lee Jaehun was infected by the algae monster.
‘Because he said so himself.’
Even if he couldn’t remember clearly, he was certain that something had happened to him with the algae monster.
Even if Manager Lee Jaehun’s judgment had been impaired, he wouldn’t have been mistaken about something like that. And the symptoms he was showing matched what Jung Inho had witnessed before returning to the past.
‘His cognitive abilities seem to be declining.’
During a short break in the conversation after listening to Ha Sungyoon, Lee Jaehun stared blankly into space. Unlike before, calling his name didn’t immediately bring him back to his senses.
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But he was saying that now.
“It doesn’t seem good.”
“…….”
“I’m sorry.”
…He didn’t need to add that last part.
It was, without a doubt, a roundabout admission that he had reached his limit. It was a far cry from the attitude Manager Lee Jaehun had maintained until now.
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That was why it was unsettling.
‘What if he goes insane?’
No, if Lee Jaehun went mad like the drunk people on that dark night before he returned to the past, and committed slaughter, what should Jung Inho do? What kind of reaction should he show?
What could he do?
“You’re bleeding so much, how can you be okay?”
“…Ms. Mina, I’m really okay.”
Jung Inho grabbed the pale Kang Mina’s shoulder and continued.
“The Manager fixed him.”
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Right, that, too, was something you did.
‘What if someone like that tries to kill us?’
The blood on Noh Yeonseok’s shirt was embarrassingly small compared to yours.
A madman who kept pushing things onto Jung Inho and trying to disappear by himself, but Manager Lee Jaehun had led them well so far. At least thanks to him, no one had dⁱㅌd yet.
But what if this person, who had been protecting them, went even more insane than he was now? What if he lost all reason and acted like that monster from before? What if he killed someone with that pipe that had been protecting them until now?
Killing, to kill.
“…….”
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“I don’t exactly know how, but…”
For the crime of murder. Do I have to kill Lee Jaehun?
Me?
“…Tsk.”
Lee Jaehun clicked his tongue. Jung Inho sensed a familiar annoyance in it, and because of that, he could breathe a sigh of relief, for now.
This person could hold on a little longer.
“What should I tell you?”
“…If possible, tell me everything.”
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Lee Jaehun wouldn’t dⁱㅌ right away.
“We need to prepare too.”
It was ridiculous how relieved Jung Inho felt by just that.
This person, after all, could dⁱㅌ at any moment.
* * *
I don’t want to be the only one left alive.
* * *
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Lee Jaehun’s story went on for quite a while.
It had to be; It was a fabricated setting from Lee Jaehun’s perspective, but it was the truth for them. He had to be careful with the information he revealed, as even the slightest lack of plausibility could result in someone saying, ‘That doesn’t make sense’.
He explained how he had come to this world several times before, and how they were his new companions. The few rules of this other world. How he was chased by the algae monster, who he met, what happened, and what problems had arisen now.
Essentially, he was telling them that he was a ‘survivor of the otherworld’.
“…….”
“…….”
A long silence hung in the air.
“…Any questions?”
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When Lee Jaehun asked, Park Dayoung was the first to speak.
“Why, why, why… Then, ahjussi, are you going to dⁱㅌ? You?”
“I don’t think I’ll dⁱㅌ. If anyone’s going to dⁱㅌ, it’ll be you guys, so avoid it yourselves.”
“Ahjussi…”
“I said I’m not going to dⁱㅌ. It’s not a disease that kills me, it’s a disease that’s going to kill you all.”
Unable to dodge the trembling hand of the approaching minor, Lee Jaehun found himself grabbed by the collar.
To be precise, it wasn’t his collar, but it felt that way to him. A headache bloomed as he thought about when he’d ever finish raising these chicks. He couldn’t ruin his image now. He wouldn’t mind ruining it, but the lack of plausibility was the problem.
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“Ahjussi, you’re already always getting hurt… and, and like… you shouldn’t do that…”
“Shouldn’t do what?”
“Don’t do that…”
Seeing the distressed reaction similar to Kwon Yeonhee’s, he understood why the two had become close so quickly. Although not as openly disrespectful as Kwon Yeonhee, Park Dayoung knew how to exploit the fact that she was a minor and Lee Jaehun’s weakness for them.
She wasn’t crying, but she was whimpering and clinging to him. She was even trembling.
‘If I shake her off, will they call me a jㅌrk?’
Sighing, he patted her shoulder with one hand. Thinking about it, he felt strangely reminded of the time he went into an ice cave with his children, but he quickly shook off that sentiment.
Ha Sungyoon, who had been watching the two, asked,
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“…Then, was that strange sound back then… because of the… disease?”
“…Strange sound?”
“Well, when you were dragged away by the algae monster and came back unconscious… right before you woke up.”
He touched his earlobe.
“I heard a sound I’ve never heard before.”
“…….”
“Like muscles or internal organs moving on their own… slippery, fluid, and dull. Like water filling up….”
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“…What kind of sound is that?”
“If I knew, I’d be out there writing a paper on it.”
Then, he added, ‘Anyway, it was the first time in my life I’ve heard that from a patient.’ Lee Jaehun silently thought to himself,
‘Physically, water did fill up.’
He still hadn’t figured out the cause and nature of the lucid dreams, but the result was that water had filled his ⁱnsⁱdㅌs. The ‘sound of muscles and internal organs moving’ that Ha Sungyoon described was probably due to his exponentially increased healing ability.
Jung Inho looked at Ha Sungyoon incredulously.
“…Why didn’t you tell us that?”
“I didn’t know the cause… and wasn’t it a situation where explaining that wasn’t a priority? The patient was vomiting blood.”
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“That’s true, but, no. You suddenly lifted your head, and I thought you were…”
“…….”
“…No, never mind. Forget it.”
He looked a little frustrated.
“…Um… Then, even if we leave, will we eventually come back here someday?”
Lee Jaehun nodded at Kang Mina’s question.
“Based on experience, the probability is high.”
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“Everyone… together?”
“Yes.”
He thought Kang Mina would be very sad at his words. That she would fall into despair, or feel afraid. The Kang Mina that he remembered was a very timid person.
But contrary to his expectations, she was calm.
“I see….”
“……?”
She even seemed a little relieved.
‘…Is she out of her mind?’
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He knew Kang Mina’s adaptability was exceptionally high, but she was still a fairly simple person.
If Yoon Garam was calmly crazy, Kang Mina was just a calm civilian. She had clear limits, but she was also quick to compose herself, almost obsessively so.
She had a very strong sense of responsibility, but he judged that it would not develop any mental issues. Of course, considering Lee Jaehun’s own mental state, how reliable was his judgment?
“…….”
“…But, um…”
Noh Yeonseok asked with a bewildered expression.
“Am I the only one who finds this weird…?”
Lee Jaehun glared at him.
‘This chick is calling my setup weird?’
Honestly, even Lee Jaehun himself felt it was a messy and strange setup, but how dare this chick? Just because I’ve cut you some slack a few times because of the crisis, you’re spouting nonsense to my face…
“You’re saying you’ve been in and out of here since you were a kid…! Since elementary school! Am I really the only one who jumped up and yelled at this? I was freaking out when I first heard this!”
“Watch your language.”
“Sorry.”
Oh, well.
This chick wasn’t criticizing the setup, then.
‘It was the chick’s sense of ethics that was the problem.’
Lee Jaehun looked at Noh Yeonseok with a more relaxed mind. Even with his internal monologue swung between extremes, his expression remained consistent.
Dr. Ha Sungyoon responded to Noh Yeonseok’s heartfelt outburst.
“You’re right. Besides, sir, no matter how little external injury there is, taking on someone else’s pain to heal them isn’t right.”
“What then? You would know if you had seen it yourself, our youngest almost dⁱㅌd. If there’s a way to save someone, does it make sense to avoid it just because it hurts a little? We almost lost one of our people.”
“Even if you say that, since it’s you we’re talking about… all I can say is please stop doing that.”
Ha Sungyoon smiled ruefully and turned to Noh Yeonseok.
“Of course, I’m not blaming Mr. Noh Yeonseok. It’s fortunate that the Manager had the capacity to help you, and I’m so glad you’re alive.”
“Ah, um…”
“I was very worried when you suddenly disappeared.”
Noh Yeonseok hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded. His face was filled with guilt, clearly thinking, ‘Manager Lee Jaehun is suffering more because of me’. Lee Jaehun couldn’t help but sigh.
“Look, I told you it’s not your fault. Cheer up.”
“…….”
“…Although, I guess saying it won’t make it so…”
It seemed it would be better to address this issue properly another time.
‘It’s about time their soft common sense changes, really.’
Lee Jaehun thought he could correct the chicks’ naive worldview after some time had passed.
However, he was overlooking the fact that the world where his ‘common sense’ was formed was fundamentally different from this world.
In his previous life, it was common sense for everyone. A world that disregarded life and didn’t value pain. But in this world, where that wasn’t the case, Lee Jaehun was the only one with that kind of common sense. It meant that others didn’t feel the need to change their worldview.
Because for them, the person who needed to change was Lee Jaehun.
“As a doctor, I would never criticize saving a life. It’s your disregard for your own well-being that’s the problem.”
“I don’t disregard myself.”
“If you treated yourself with half the care you give us, you’d be much better off.”
Lee Jaehun was speechless.
“Are you and I the same?”
“…What do you mean?”
Dr. Ha Sungyoon’s voice suddenly lowered, but Lee Jaehun didn’t notice and continued.
Honestly, how could he be on the same level as these chicks?
Besides, Lee Jaehun himself…
“Because even if I dⁱㅌ…”
“…….”
“…….”
Ah.
“…Ah…”
Shⁱt, I messed up.
Once you dⁱㅌ, it’s over.