LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 68
“This is… problematic…”
Han Si-Hoo glanced at the leash he was holding.
Seo-Ah was in such a state that it made things worse.
“I like it.”
Seo-Ah smiled.
“Like it…?”
“We can be together like this. You’re not going to leave me behind now, right? Huh?”
“Of course, I won’t leave you. I’m just worried it might be uncomfortable if I hold onto the leash the whole time.”
“If you let go, I’ll die.”
It was a strangely chilling line.
But to some extent, it was true.
If I couldn’t contain her magical power, Seo-Ah would be swallowed by dragons.
I had no intention of letting go.
But couldn’t I hold onto the leash a little more comfortably?
…”Ah, I think it might be okay if I just put it around my wrist.”
Han Si-Hoo tied the leash to his left wrist.
At least he could use both hands now.
The leash was two meters long.
Seo-Ah stood right next to him.
There was a strange chemical smell in the air.
“You won’t leave me, right?”
Seo-Ah asked quietly.
“Where would I go?”
“To the Academy.”
“Ah.”
In any case, I had no intention of going there.
Maybe Seo-Ah was worried and that’s why she was wearing a leash…
“If you leave me alone here, I’ll really die?”
“I’m not going.”
“Hehe.”
There was no longer any chance of going to the Academy.
Probably never will be.
“There’s no need to go to the Academy.”
“Do you have any plans to go elsewhere?”
“We need to go to a safer place.”
“A safer place?”
“Let’s move to a totally different city.”
I had found a decent place.
For Seo-Ah.
“Are we traveling?”
“Yeah. But I’m not ready yet. There are still things to take care of.”
“You can prepare slowly.”
Seo-Ah said, trying to reassure him.
“I wish I could, but… we can’t stay in this place for long.”
This facility used to be a government agency, so it’s a problem.
We repaired what was half-buried and occasionally used it as a prison, but using it long-term is risky.
“So?”
“For now, it seems like I have to go alone.”
…”Where to?”
“To various places. There’s a lot I need to gather for the move.”
“Let’s go together.”
I wanted to, but avoiding detection was a priority.
The Academy might be looking for Han Si-Hoo.
And dragging Seo-Ah along would create too many problems.
“I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”
If I had known it would come to this, I would have tied the leash later.
“You thought that again, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
“That you want to abandon Seo-Ah. I can feel it.”
“No, that’s a misunderstanding.”
I never thought that.
It’s complicated.
I need to stay with Seo-Ah, but I can’t be with her all the time.
Because it’s dangerous.
This facility is located near the city.
“You said you’d protect me.”
Seo-Ah said in a voice that was about to break.
She was grabbing Si-Hoo’s collar.
Her emotions seemed to be out of control.
“Let’s go together, let’s go together, let’s go together, let’s go together? Okay?”
The extreme anxiety was becoming evident.
This isn’t abnormal.
“I want to, but if it goes on like this, both of us will be in danger.”
“It’s never been safe. You just want to put me in danger, don’t you? Right?”
“No.”
“If you leave me behind, I really will die.”
That’s a valid threat.
Han Si-Hoo didn’t want Yoo Seo-Ah to die.
The old Yoo Seo-Ah would never have made such threats.
Because she would have been scared that Han Si-Hoo would actually say something like, “Go die.”
But now she knew, for better or worse.
Han Si-Hoo didn’t want her to die.
“Don’t abandon me.”
“…I will never abandon you. But we can’t keep going like this. I’m looking for a better way.”
“Don’t abandon me…”
“It’s okay. I won’t go. Just tell me when things get better.”
This is the corridor of the facility where the isolation room is located.
I sat Seo-Ah down on a bench in the corridor.
And I sat next to her.
I have time to calm Seo-Ah down.
But I can’t keep being right next to her.
What would be a good method?
Keeping her locked in the modified isolation room.
I don’t want to treat her like some kind of monster.
Even if I lock her up, Seo-Ah might not remember.
If that’s okay, I wonder… well, sometimes a firm resolution is necessary.
If I want to hope for a future, I must endure the pain of the present.
…”Let’s just stay here.”
Should I?
That thought crossed Han Si-Hoo’s mind too.
“Should I?”
It’s nice being with Seo-Ah.
It always has been.
Seo-Ah rested her head on his shoulder.
With this, he could not get up.
“Heh.”
Seo-Ah smiled.
There was a hint of happiness.
Ah.
Let’s just stay like this.
Han Si-Hoo’s conclusion was that.
What should he do moving forward?
The plan was like this.
First, destroy everything that verifies his current identity.
From the Academy student ID to the school uniform.
And the residence card issued at that time.
Even things like mobile phones will be destroyed.
Money is kept in a way that doesn’t draw attention.
And now he would change his identity.
The goal is to escape quietly to a suitable place and live.
Escape.
Is it right to run away without fighting?
As long as there’s something to protect, one cannot criticize someone who runs away.
-Han Si-Hoo, without you, there’s a big gap in the power. If you were here, there are people who could be saved and those who won’t be.
That was the message Chun Yu-Hwa gave to Han Si-Hoo.
But the more he thought about it, it felt arrogant to think he could save the world when he couldn’t even protect a single friend.
And is saving people a good thing?
Is rescuing someone the right thing to do?
Even if it’s not wrong, it led him to conclude that it wasn’t something to obsess over.
After all, everyone who was going to die would die.
If a person saved ends up being a human like a doctor, that would create troubles on its own.
It’s better to let things flow as they are.
…”I guess it doesn’t matter.”
Han Si-Hoo muttered.
Seo-Ah had fallen asleep before he knew it.
Leaning on him.
***
When he opened his eyes, he was alone.
Did they decide to lock me up again while I was asleep?
I don’t get it.
…”Please…? Why…?”
But that can’t be the case.
They wouldn’t just leave me behind.
I’d die if they did.
“Why did you leave me?”
We were supposed to stay together.
That was the plan.
The things around me look warped.
They seem to be moving while I stand still.
I’ve really lost my grip.
Just hearing those absurd words is proof enough.
No, actually, I don’t even know what I said.
-Si-Hoo, I’m okay.
Did I say something like that?
-I’ll stay in the room for now. So please come quickly.
Why didn’t I just say to keep being together?
The fact that being with Si-Hoo calms my nerves has led me to a wrong choice.
…”Hehe, he.”
When will I return to normal?
I need medication.
“Ah. Si-Hoo?”
You’re there, right?
That’s right.
…”No, you’re not.”
I’ve really lost it.
I hate myself.
[Inactive]
But Si-Hoo said he would be able to get out of here.
I don’t know how this is any different from being transported as a monster.
This is Si-Hoo being kind.
Taking care of a childhood friend who’s sort of been turned into a monster.
Try remembering the story.
Try to remember somehow.
How does this end?
But now there’s no answer.
The Han Si-Hoo in the novel wouldn’t have done this.
At this point, Han Si-Hoo was already a complete talent.
He was perfect.
He figured out the schemes of the hidden enemies that his teammates didn’t know about and destroyed them.
Even the heroines all liked Si-Hoo.
Everyone respected Si-Hoo.
“Because of me, Si-Hoo…”
Si-Hoo’s problems weren’t the only ones.
People who would have been friends with him originally were now because of me.
Because of me.
It’s all my fault.
Why did I even start reading this ridiculous novel?
Isn’t it too unfair for the protagonist’s childhood friend?
I think I felt that doubt back then too.
“I must have done something wrong.”
That’s why I must be suffering.
But I didn’t just suffer.
There were definitely moments of immense joy.
Experiences of pleasure that a normal person would hardly encounter in a lifetime.
I never asked for it.
I just feel sorry for Si-Hoo.
“I need to help Si-Hoo.”
But how can I help?
Look at what I’ve got left.
Nothing.
“How do I help?”
There needs to be something to give.
Something Si-Hoo would like.
What is there?
Let’s think about it.
What does Si-Hoo want from me?
“All I have is my body.”
I have nothing.
It’s just a bunch of borrowed things.
“……”
There must be something.
Something I can give Si-Hoo.
Apologizing for ruining his life.
“My body?”
It’s a mess.
Covered in scribbles, to make matters worse.
Oh, I remember now, Si-Hoo got angry.
He asked if I was selling my body.
So what Si-Hoo truly wanted was…
…”Really? Would he want my body? No way?”
There’s some serious leaps in logic happening.
But I’ll ask him if he comes.
To ask him to clarify what he wants.
Si-Hoo wasn’t someone who enjoyed luxuries, after all.
Sure, there were lots of heroines, but.
There wasn’t anything particularly pleasurable to provide.
“I hate that kind of thing…”
How could it be good?
I can’t just degrade myself.
But it’s better than going back to the lab.
“I don’t want to…”
If the pain I feel when the effects fade is too strong, I have no choice but to give up to some degree.
What should I say if Si-Hoo comes?
My head is spinning too much.
This feels like a nightmare.
I think there are researchers around.
If all of this is a dream and I’m actually lying on the experiment table, that’s terrifying.
My body is shaking.
I need medicine.
Medicine.
Something is approaching.
There’s something in the darkness.
I know it’s an illusion, but it feels so real.
The voice of a researcher can be heard right next to me.
If Si-Hoo were here, I’d feel somewhat reassured.
But no one is here.
What was I thinking, letting Si-Hoo go outside?
A disgusting voice echoes.
I hear a hateful laugh.
People are visible, mocking me.
“Ah, ahah, ha…”
I’m trying to laugh it off.
This has become a habit.
Following the saying that if you smile, happiness will come.
Calm down.
There’s nothing here.
Nothing can hurt me.
But moments later, the voices come back.
The sound of a surgical knife dropping onto a metal tray.
Ah.
I keep hearing a mumbling voice.
I can’t hear even with my ears covered.
Please.
Let me live.
Please.
Please.
Please.
Please, give me medicine.
I’ll do anything.