ReLife Player

Unlocked chapter (6/6)

[The difference between man and monster (5)].

I hate children.

I didn’t like their selfish, shallow behavior, believing that all they had to do was cry and their parents would fix it.

The day I didn’t sleep for days on end and swung my sword as fast as I could to prevent the destruction of the Gangbuk region.

At Gwanghwamun, thousands of people cheered for the players.

At that moment, he felt no emotion.

Instead of feeling alive, he felt a sense of disbelief, wondering why he wasn’t dead.

Then there was the thought that he wanted to close his eyes and curl up in a ball.

«…Shut up.»

The sound of people shouting was loud.

It was frantic.

Nevertheless, the players moistened their eyes as they saw the people welcoming them.

Yoo jung finally couldn’t hold back her tears.

Eunha let her cry and looked out at the people gathered in Gwanghwamun Square.

The feeling of fighting to protect someone was nowhere to be found.

They were just fighting to kill a monster.

What were they projecting onto themselves?

Then my gaze stopped and I saw children waving at the front of the line.

The children in their parents’ arms were smiling happily, giving off a pure smile as if there was no such thing as hell in this world.

A smile that was like there was no such thing as hell.

He, who had lost his family at such a young age, could never smile like that.

He knew what hell was at too young an age.

That’s why he hated children.

They didn’t know what made them so happy.

The unquestioning certainty that he would be as happy as they were.

Those were all things he had lost.

And that didn’t change when he went back in time.

☆

«Angel…it’s you, isn’t it…?»

«…It’s you.»

It was a year ago.

Eunha hadn’t forgotten the child who had spoken to him.

A child who had just become a Wonder Runner, only five or six years old at most.

The child in his memory had grown so much in a year.

The child’s face had shed the innocence that was once there.

It would be more accurate to say it had been tainted by the world.

And the child had an intuition about his own death.

«Hehe….»

The child smiled.

The pale face had the smile that had been in his memory.

But he knew.

The child he had met a year ago was no longer there.

Eunha smiled bitterly at the child’s fake smile.

«…My hyungs…, they’re all dead.»

The child said softly.

Even during that time, the child’s body was undergoing a transformation into a monstrous form.

Starting from the wounded areas, the flesh began to swell and burst repeatedly, covered with fur.

The pupils were wavering between human and monster.

The child spoke with eyes that changed color every moment and pupils that faded and sharpened.

«All the hyungs… did really well… for me.»

Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

The child’s eyes widened at the sound that came out of his mouth.

Tears of blood streamed down his cheeks.

Finally, one eye lost its strength and turned a dull shade of red. The eye socket emerged from the face and expanded.

«Am I… going to die too?»

The child asked softly,

«Yes.»

Eunha answered calmly.

«Hehe.»

The child laughed. He didn’t know what was so good about it.

It was an overly fabricated smile.

Nevertheless, the child laughed hard. Even though his consciousness was being overtaken by his monster instincts, even though the pain in his flesh was unspeakable, he laughed.

«Angel brother…, don’t you smile?»

The child’s smile never faded. He forced his lips that tried to scream in pain.

Half of the child’s face turned into a mixture of flies and mosquitoes.

«…I forgot how to smile.»

Eunha forced the corners of his mouth up, mimicking the child.

I forgot how to laugh.

He was half right, half wrong.

Even if he had returned to the past and gained a second life, his emotions had worn out long ago.

He was a monster with worn-out emotions.

Back then, and now.

Sometimes I couldn’t empathize with the people around me.

Even when family and friends reached out to me, my emotions, once dried up, never returned to their original state.

Time was cruel. Going back in time didn’t erase everything that had happened to him before he went back.

He had lost his family, lived to die.

I knew what despair was because I was robbed of happiness, and I knew what happiness was because I experienced despair.

So I didn’t want to lose this happiness.

When you can’t smile, you force yourself to smile.

I didn’t want to be caught.

I didn’t want to cause worry.

I didn’t want to show only an expressionless face.

So you fake a smile. I forgot how to laugh genuinely.

Sometimes I laughed genuinely. Without even realizing it.

«But still…, you have to smile.»

«Why?»

«The hyungs… they, told me. If you smile…, um…»

Zenzn Zennmz Zennz…

«…There…will…be…things…that…will make you laugh.»

Eunha nodded.

He directed his worn-out antenna towards the child whose consciousness was fading.

«Sorry. Right now, this is all I have. It might hurt a little.»

If it had been a gun, he could have ended the pain without feeling it.

He infused mana into the antenna.

He intended to finish it in one shot.

He couldn’t allow a second shot. Himself.

«…Yeah.»

Half of the child’s body had been transformed into a monster.

Even the last remaining eye popped out and swelled into a reddish hue.

«Any last words?»

Eunha assumed a stance.

Mana gathered at the tip of the antenna, forming a conical shape as it rotated clockwise.

Horizon Prick.

The child looked at the sight with the eyes of a fly.

Somewhere between monster and human.

His lips twitched like a wave as he spoke his last words.

«…I want to see my mommy.»

This is why he hated it.

☆

The mosquito fly was successfully exterminated without causing secondary damage.

The children, still in a state of shock, revealed the story that humans had turned into mosquito flies.

The Mana Management Bureau examined records of the recent appearance of mosquito flies and summoned the Marronier Knights who had dealt with the creature at the time.

Based on the investigation by the Mana Management Bureau, there were no issues with the Marronier Knights’ handling. The player from the Marronier Knights who had defeated the monster took the unconscious man they found at the scene to the hospital. The hospital reported that they didn’t find any unusual symptoms in the man and released him. They asked him to come back in a week to monitor his condition, but he didn’t show up.

In this manner, the Marronier Knights and the hospital passed responsibility back and forth, ultimately claiming it was the man’s own responsibility.

The man who died after becoming a monster didn’t leave any words behind.

He had taken responsibility with him as he passed away.

[A little ain girl’s telepathy moves the world!]

[«I wasn’t scared because I had friends.» Hyehwa-dong Mosquito Fly Appearance]

[Marronier Knights Prevent Second Damage with Ain Girl’s Telepathy]

Meanwhile, prominent newspapers published articles about Seona, who first reported the appearance of the mosquito fly.

It’s said that the incident was downplayed by the Alice Group and concluded with a small article in an inconspicuous spot.

She, who became the protagonist of the article, received a brave young child award from the Seongbuk District Mayor.

Even though the news about the mosquito fly’s appearance was only a small article at the bottom, many people knew about Seona’s actions.

It seems that clans in the Seongbuk District, like the Marronier Knights, even offered her membership.

Of course, Seona declined due to her age.

People focused on the process of exterminating the mosquito fly rather than the damages it caused.

There was no mention of the dead children in the slums anywhere.

A world that had once perished didn’t pay attention to the deaths of wandering children along the streets.

Perhaps it was because the world had once perished.

People living in a world that had once perished dream foolishly only of hope.

Turning their gaze away from the truth that hope is fleeting and despair is always close by.

This world is such a world.

A world so dirty that it elicits curses.

Yet, people continue to live in this world without dying.

A world that cannot die, yet lives.

☆

These days, Oppa doesn’t smile.

Eunha might think that he’s acting like nothing’s wrong, but Eunae could tell.

The senses of a young child were sensitive. They could feel who was giving them love and who wasn’t, even if it was just a feeling.

She wasn’t the only one.

Dad, mom, Euna too.

Julietta and Bruno too.

Even their friends around them.

Everyone sensed Eunha’s change.

They just didn’t say anything.

Because he didn’t bring it up first.

Because it seemed like he didn’t want to talk about it.

So, they just watched.

Until the day he would speak up.

«Oppa!»

But that wasn’t Eunae.

She didn’t understand complicated thoughts.

Oppa was feeling down.

She didn’t like it when Oppa looked gloomy.

That was all she needed to know.

That reason was enough for her actions.

«What’s wrong?»

«Legs! Le! gs!»

Eunae ran up to Eunha, who was sitting on the sofa, and hopped up and down.

Perching on his lap, she lightly poked his legs with her small hand.

As Eunha spread his legs as she wanted, Eunae created a comfortable space for herself and leaned against him.

«Hehe!»

«Why are you like this?»

«Just because!»

‘Eunae, please take care of Eunha Oppa for me. Unnie has to go back to the dormitory, so if Oppa looks sad, Eunae has to comfort him, okay?’

‘How?’

‘Just hug Oppa tightly.’

‘Okay!’

Eunae remembered the words Euna had said a few days ago when she returned to the dormitory.

Although she wasn’t the one hugging him; she was the one being hugged, Eunae was satisfied with that.

Because Oppa had smiled softly.

«Oppa, Oppa, Oppa!»

«Yes, why?»

Eunae spread her arms wide.

As Eunha lowered his head, Eunae quickly pulled his head toward her.

First to the right side.

Then to the left side.

«Hehe! Oppa is the be~st!»

Eunae smiled brightly.

Caught off guard by the surprise peck on his cheek, Eunha’s eyes widened.

He even blinked for a moment.

Upon hearing those words from his younger sister, he burst into a clear, joyful laughter.

«I love Eunae the most.»

«More than Dad? More than Mom?»

«Of course.»

«Then more than Unnie?»

«…I love both Noona and Eunae equally.»

«How much?»

Eunae asked with her eyes sparkling.

Before Eunha could answer her question, he pulled her close tightly.

«Eunae, how much do you love Oppa?»

Eunae’s answer was predetermined.

She spread her hands in a circle in front of her chest and said,

«As much as the sky! As much as the ground~!»

Eunae giggled happily.

Eunha laughed along. He rested his chin on her head and closed his eyes.

«Me too. As much as the sky, as much as the ground.»

«Really? Really, really, really?»

«Yeah, really.»

«You swear on it! Hey!»

«I’m serious, really.»

«Promise!»

«Alright, promise.»

Eunha intertwined his finger with the finger Eunae extended to him.

Eunae shook his hand energetically.

Eunha let Eunae continue shaking his hand.

He held her close and cherished the passing time, hoping that these happy days would continue.

Before he knew it, drowsiness overwhelmed him.

He closed his eyes.

☆

«Oh my.»

Meanwhile, their mother, returning from her errands, looked at the two sleeping children on the sofa and smiled softly.

This needs to be captured!

Setting down the bags she was holding, she took out her smartphone.

Eunha and Eunae both sleeping, Eunae’s arm stretched out over Eunha’s stomach.

Just in case Eunae might fall, even in his sleep, Eunha was holding onto her hand, not letting go.

She took a photo with her smartphone.

The children were so adorable.

She sent a message to her husband and Euna.

[My Euna: Me too! I want to sleep with Eunha and Eunae!! ( ˶´⚰`˵)]

[Darling: I want to sleep too… The boss says there’s overtime again today ㅠㅠ]

[Me: Eunae, come here~! How about sleeping with Mom this week?]

[Me: You come back early. If you come back late, the door will be locked.]

«Aww, so cute.»

Lately, Eunha had been feeling down.

Even without saying a word, she could tell.

Mothers know everything in this world.

Eunha, Euna, and even Eunae came out from her belly.

So don’t cry my litle boy.

Mom and Dad and Euna and Eunae are here.

Eunha looks the prettiest when he smiles.

So smile. Don’t worry about anything.

As he held Eunae and drifted off to sleep, his face wore a peaceful expression.

It was a face that had shed its worries.

But she knew.

A mother doesn’t remain ignorant of her child.

Though he acted as if he weren’t the eldest son of the house, he still worried a lot and had a tender heart.

Mom knows everything.

Don’t worry, don’t cry, just smile.

«I’m getting sleepy too.»

Watching the children drift into a sweet sleep, drowsiness crept over her.

Her husband seemed to be coming back late today.

Perhaps it would be okay to indulge in some laziness for the day.

Squeezing herself into the space on the sofa, she embraced Eunha.

Being able to hold both Eunha and Eunae in her arms at once filled her with happiness.

«Good night, my babies.»

She closed her eyes.

People living in a world that had once faced destruction dream of hope.

Humans are not fools. Knowing despair, they dream of hope, and by dreaming of hope, they can anticipate a brighter future.

So, I hope these happy days will continue as they are.

Unbeknownst to us, summer was coming to an end.

The cicadas, which had cried out vigorously all summer, entrusted the future to the cicada nymphs that would be born next time.

Time doesn’t stop, it flows on, and the world moves towards a better future.

That is an unchanging truth, even in the face of destruction.

—As the leaves on the tree branches begin to turn red,

The children were welcoming the second semester.