Chapter 131 |
It wasn’t that Lee Jaehun hadn’t anticipated this happening.
‘He must be getting desperate and trying anything he can.’
The reason for the protagonist’s hastiness was likely Lee Jaehun’s deteriorating condition. It was perfectly reasonable for Jung Inho to prioritize healing Lee Jaehun’s physical injuries, even if it meant ignoring his mental state for the time being.
The problem was that the only method available to the protagonist was the healing fruit.
“…….”
But still, what was with this lineup?
‘Jung Inho, Ha Sungyoon, and Kang Mina.’
It was the perfect party composition to get stuck and get nagged from all sides. Jung Inho would grab him by the collar, Ha Sungyoon would fan the flames, and Kang Mina would block his escape. Whether it was the protagonist or the doctor who was leading this charge, they were clearly determined.
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“So, who picked this?”
Jung Inho raised his hand like a kindergartener in response to his sullen question.
“I did, Manager.”
“I’m not eating it.”
“Seriously?”
“No, I won’t eat it. Go away.”
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Lee Jaehun smirked mockingly at the increasingly frustrated protagonist, the doctor with his resigned smile, and Kang Mina, caught between them, fidgeting awkwardly.
“Do you think I’ll just eat it without a fuss?”
Absolutely not.
‘These chicks don’t even know their places.’
To be honest, Lee Jaehun had plenty of reasons to be frustrated.
These punks. He’d worked so hard to keep them all alive and well, and he’d planned to nurture them with appropriate stimuli at the right time. And yet they continued to be uncooperative?
‘Do you have any idea how rare it is for me to be this nice to chicks?’
If this were his previous world, he would have killed them all fifty times over.
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And more importantly,
“You seem to have gotten confident because I look fine, but do you think a half-baked guy like you can handle my current condition?”
These chicks were practically trying to commit suicide by proxy.
“Assistant Manager Jung, when was the last time you were seriously injured? Losing a limb or two isn’t enough to compare to this.”
“I’ll handle it. Just shut up and get treated.”
“Who are you telling to shut up? The one who should shut up and stay put is you, Mr. Jung Inho.”
Maybe it was because he had reacted so casually all this time. Lee Jaehun didn’t know where that confidence came from, but that half-baked protagonist seemed to think he could handle Lee Jaehun’s current state.
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He hadn’t shown how much pain he was in, partly because the pain wasn’t that severe, but also because he thought they would never let him use the fruit if he showed any more weakness. They were already like this; imagine if he’d actually complained about the pain.
As he looked away indifferently, Dr. Ha Sungyoon spoke,
“Still, Mr. Jung Inho made the effort to prepare this.”
“It’ll just result in one more patient. I doubt eating that will magically fix everything going on in my head.”
“You’re talking about the murderous impulses, right? You did try to avoid the students a few times because of that.”
“As you know…”
“But recently, you’ve been staying close to them, haven’t you? That also means your mental state has been relatively stable lately.”
“…….”
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He hesitated for a moment.
‘So that’s how he’s playing it.’
What Lee Jaehun had been portraying recently wasn’t a stable mental state, but the resignation of someone who had half given up on life. The doctor knew this, but he spoke this way because he knew Lee Jaehun wouldn’t openly say, ‘Not at all? I’m about to dⁱㅌ, you know?’
Because, aside from the protagonist and the doctor, there was also Kang Mina, who was still just a chick. Unlike Jung Inho or Ha Sungyoon, who had a rough understanding of each other’s circumstances and knew that ‘Lee Jaehun’ had recently been in a state of resignation, this would likely be a rather shocking revelation for Kang Mina. That meant Lee Jaehun didn’t have many options when it came to answering.
“…Even so, that’s not a reason for me to eat that fruit. It’s better for me to stay in this state since I’m doing relatively well.”
“The only reason you’re alive right now is because your mind is holding your body together. If your condition worsens, you could dⁱㅌ.”
“I’ve recovered a lot. I’m just tired these days, not about to dⁱㅌ from losing my mind. I don’t understand why you’re all so insistent when I can handle this on my own.”
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Kang Mina hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke,
“But, there are… a lot of people who are worried about you, Manager.”
“…….”
“Ms. Yeonhee and Mr. Yeonseok are constantly worried… Dayoung and Dahoon too. And…”
Although her face wasn’t clearly visible because she was away from the bonfire, Lee Jaehun imagined Kang Mina’s face was pale.
“And, I think we’ve been too complacent.”
“What do you mean?”
“The teacher who takes care of Seoah asked me a question. She said that even though you’re so badly injured, Manager, we all seem calm. She asked if it was because we had another plan, or something, something we were relying on…”
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“…….”
“We just blindly, naturally, assumed you’d be fine. We got used to you acting like nothing was wrong.”
She bit her lip and finished in a trembling voice,
“…Us being like that is not right…”
D⋏mn it, what’s not right about it?
‘How long have I waited for you guys to adapt?’
Lee Jaehun was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak. The chicks had almost evolved into adolescent chicks, only to regress because of Teacher Lee Yoonbyeol. A teacher should know how to help students grow, what kind of situation was this.
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Perhaps misunderstanding his silence, the protagonist spoke again. Lee Jaehun couldn’t keep up with the barrage of words.
“If we leave it like this, there’ll be a problem. Besides, I’m in the best condition right now. I’m one of the few people who can take on all your injuries, Manager.”
“Is that ‘human disaster’ talking? Forget it, I won’t do it.”
“Manager.”
“I won’t do it. I’ve recovered quite a bit, but I’m not completely fine. I have a high pain tolerance, but you don’t, Assistant Manager Jung. What if you dⁱㅌ from the pain?”
From Lee Jaehun’s perspective, the unnamed fruit was a very cost-effective treatment. It was readily available, easy to carry, and a single fruit could restore both physical and mental states to near normal. Honestly, he thought it was game-breaking.
Yes, ‘from Lee Jaehun’s perspective’.
“You can’t handle it, do you understand?”
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Exasperated, he continued,
“You said you’re not used to pain. You hate scary things, and you can’t stand suffering. If any of you had been injured by the monster back at the company, do you think you all would have survived? Huh?”
“There’s no need for you to bear it all alone. We’re saying, let’s share the burden.”
“Share what burden? This was my choice. My decision. I chose the most efficient and safe route and brought us this far.”
He felt a little angry.
“There’s no need for anyone else to suffer.”
Why wouldn’t they listen when he said he would handle it himself?
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On a small scale, it was an act of insubordination, but on a larger scale, the protagonist was hindering his plan.
Just because he’d anticipated this didn’t mean he felt any less frustrated when it actually happened. Lee Jaehun was still sensitive to his plans being twisted and messed up. Realizing his exhaustion was affecting his emotional control, he closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath.
‘I can’t even control myself because I’m tired.’
Although they were keeping their distance from the sleeping survivors, their voices could still be heard in the quiet night.
Having calmed his irritation, Lee Jaehun forced a casual tone,
“It… It seems you’ve gained confidence because I’ve been acting so nonchalant, but let’s think about this rationally.”
“I’m perfectly rational, Manager.”
“Stop lying. Just think. Think about it. You’re good at that. Calculating what’s beneficial and what’s not, how to obtain and avoid things.”
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Remembering the two remaining fruits in his pocket, Lee Jaehun continued,
“Assistant Manager Jung, have you ever had your bones sticking out of your skin? Have you ever had your vocal cords ripped out? Have you ever had your fingers or ankles severed? Have you ever had a metal rod lodged between your shoulder blades or ribs? Have you ever had both your eyes gouged out? Have you ever been submerged in water almost to the point of drowning? So, have you?”
“…….”
“I have, and I’m fine. I’m used to it, so I’m fine.”
“…That’s why we’re doing this, so you don’t have to get used to it.”
“Why not?”
Saying that, Lee Jaehun lifted his head and looked down at the protagonist. He was still angry, and so was the other man.
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“You’d better think carefully before you answer.”
“…….”
“You’re denying everything I’ve risked my life to build.”
Who are you to diminish the value of the pain I chose to endure?
“……..”
Lee Jaehun pressed a hand against his throbbing head.
Losing composure when their desires clashed was foolish, but his brain wasn’t functioning optimally. He noticed his emotions becoming particularly sensitive whenever topics related to his past life arose; it seemed that area was a landmine for him.
He considered the situation again.
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‘He’s acting like this because he’s afraid I’ll dⁱㅌ.’
Unless ‘Lee Jaehun’ was completely consumed by the algae monster, there was no reason for him to commit suicide right now. But given his poor physical condition, Jung Inho was probably anxious and thus resorting to these measures.
It wasn’t a good approach, however.
‘There’s a reason why the original protagonist rarely used this…’
Though the fruit provided near-complete healing, the pain was transferred to another person, multiplied by a random factor. This meant the pain Lee Jaehun was currently experiencing could be tripled and passed onto the protagonist. That was what random meant.
With good luck, it would stop at double. But what if he got unlucky? What if it tripled, quadrupled, or even quintupled? What if Jung Inho actually dⁱㅌd from shock? There was no need to risk the protagonist’s life for Lee Jaehun’s comfort.
However, the chicks had a different perspective.
“…Well… fine, fine. Let’s assume all that’s true.”
“…….”
“But you need to remember one thing.”
Lee Jaehun continued in a tired voice,
“The transferred pain… it doesn’t just last for a moment. You feel the pain until the original injuries are completely healed.”
He’d intended to keep this information hidden, but the protagonist’s resolve was firm, so he had no choice. Being accused of withholding information was better than the protagonist dying from shock.
Jung Inho’s brow furrowed slightly.
“…You never mentioned that.”
“You never asked, did you? You should have been more perceptive and asked.”
“Ha.”
Jung Inho’s usually earnest smile twisted into a sneer. Kang Mina’s eyes flickered at the change but quickly calmed down.
“You know what? You’re a real ⋏sshӨlㅌ.”
“…That’s a rather affectionate nickname, considering.”
Lee Jaehun continued with a smile,
“My regenerative abilities are good, and I’ve recovered quite a bit, but I’m still not in good shape. You’ll be taking on not just the physical burden, but also the burden of my mental state.”
“That’s a pain.”
“And how long will it take for all this to heal?”
His smile faded.
“How long will Mr. Jung Inho be able to endure…?”
It wasn’t just the existing pain; it would be amplified several times over. Jung Inho needed to be cautious, as this wouldn’t be a fleeting pain.
That was why the protagonist in the original novel rarely used this fruit. He hadn’t even given it a name, using it only in dire emergencies or when the situation was completely under control. Because using it once would leave him incapacitated for days.
Lee Jaehun had used the fruit recklessly because he was different. To him, it was just a cost-effective treatment, but for others, it came with a hefty price for saving a life.
“…Well.”
The protagonist sighed and continued,
“But if you insist on me eating it.”
“…Are you suicidal?”
“Are you talking about yourself?”
The protagonist’s face regained its earnest smile. Creepy.
“Even if you say so, I… have to save you, Manager.”
“…….”
“It’s the injury we would have had to share if it weren’t for you. I haven’t been mindlessly whining about saving you, so I’ll do what I can. I’ll feel better that way.”
“…Crazy b⋏st⋏rd.”
“Look who’s talking.”
At Lee Jaehun’s stunned expression, Jung Inho chuckled. It was a strangely discordant sound, coming from someone who always wore a good-natured smile. Kang Mina’s face paled.
‘Is this guy giving up on managing his image now?’
The thought crossed his mind, but it wasn’t a pressing issue, so Lee Jaehun shifted his focus.
Could this half-baked chick really handle his pain? The protagonist seemed fully prepared to feed him the fruit no matter what. Would his refusal deal a devastating blow to Jung Inho’s fragile mental state?
“…….”
“…Well…”
Well, it seemed those chicks needed to at least do something—maybe that way, they’d feel less guilty when he dⁱㅌd.
“Fine.”
No matter what they did, Lee Jaehun intended to dⁱㅌ anyway.
‘I have more things to wrap up, and I’m confident I can progress the story more smoothly if I start over.’
Of course, he couldn’t just dⁱㅌ after eating the fruit and regaining his sanity, so he’d have to create a scenario like ‘being completely consumed by the algae monster and forced to dⁱㅌ’, but these guys wouldn’t know the details, whether it was by chance or manipulation.
No matter what the chicks did, Lee Jaehun would simply find a way to dⁱㅌ.
‘The pain stops if the person treated dⁱㅌs, so I just need to dⁱㅌ quickly.’
And, though he still didn’t understand it, these guys didn’t seem like they would be in their right minds after his death. There was a significant psychological difference between failing after taking measures and failing after doing nothing. Lee Jaehun decided to accept their offer.
“…Really? You’re okay with it?”
“Well… for now.”
And besides, did it even make sense for the protagonist to dⁱㅌ from mere shock?
Reconsidering the situation, Lee Jaehun realized there were no problems with his plan and nodded again. Jung Inho’s expression twisted strangely at the gesture.
“Do you really accept this?”
“Why are you making a fuss when I’m saying I’ll eat it?”
“I was taught to be thorough with my suspicions.”
“Well learned. Though I’m not sure who taught you that.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
They always accused him of changing the subject whenever he did anything.
‘I’m not always joking around, you know?’
Why didn’t they understand his sincerity? This was why raising kids was pointless. After all the effort he put in, this was what they said to him. These were the trials and tribulations of parenting.
As he was reminiscing about his past life, the protagonist spoke calmly,
“So, you understand what I’m saying, right?”
“I said I understand, why are you still picking a fight? I’m so annoyed I can’t even swallow.”
“Oh dear, I’ll help you.”
“…What?”
As he shrugged his shoulders, feeling a sense of foreboding, Jung Inho, with his earnest smile, said,
“Catch him.”
“Are you crazy?!”
In the end, Lee Jaehun had to swallow the fruit almost by force, with Ha Sungyoon holding his shoulders, Kang Mina holding his waist, and Jung Inho holding his face as if afraid he might escape. Perhaps still resentful about having his Adam’s apple struck earlier, Ha Sungyoon even tilted Lee Jae-heon’s head back and covered his mouth to make sure he swallowed.
Lee Jaehun couldn’t shake the feeling that their actions were driven by a desire for revenge. Scary people.