Chapter 343: Episode 64 – A Road That Isn’t a Road (4)
Sparks sprang around the broken soul and my mother’s vitality was slowly coming back. The busy wanderers attached my mother’s story fragments together as if they wouldn’t tolerate a single error.
“This is what happened at the time. Do you remember?”
A single portrait was painted by a large number of people. It looked like a banquet of artisans gathered to sculpt a single complete work of art. I was amazed that so many people remembered my mother.
Some gazes killed a presence. After some scenarios started, the incarnations died before the eyes of many constellations. They were exposed, peeped at and forced to follow the constellations’ desires. Now, these gazes were saving someone.
“..Ah, I missed this time.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if Sookyung-ssi wasn’t there. Right?”
The voices of the wanderers murmured. Perhaps the entire life we lived became memories for one or two people.
[The constellation ‘Scribe of Heaven’ is showing pure admiration towards the landscape of the accumulated story.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is greatly pleased!]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is pulling his hair with an unknown expression.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is grumbling while looking at his incarnation.]
Perhaps the channel inspection ended as the constellations gathered in Biyoo’s channel to watch the scene. My mother was finished in front of everyone’s eyes.
My mother, Lee Sookyung. The King of Wanderers, Lee Sookyung. Lee Sookyung, a former prisoner. Lee Sookyung the essay writer. These ‘Lee Sookyung’ gathered to make the whole ‘Lee Sookyung.’
I stood still and Han Sooyoung poked me in the side. “Get out of the way, you’re disturbing us.”
Certainly, Han Sooyoung had been with my mother for the past three years and probably had a stake in her story.
I nodded and slipped out of the room. The restoration of the story was almost finished and I didn’t seem to be any more help. I was a bit nervous but she was a writer... she probably wouldn’t ruin my mother.
I heard Han Sooyoung’s voice coming from behind me. “This... did you mention it at the time? I didn’t know. That’s right, well...”
...Please be fine. I left the room and the party members were waiting for me.
“Ahjussi!”
“Dokja hyung!”
I hugged the two children while looking around at my companions. Jung Heewon, Lee Jihye and Lee Hyunsung tied to a bed... Everyone was waiting for my answer. Everyone seemed to know the situation, even if I didn’t explain anything. Shin Yoosung asked me, “Grandmother? Is Grandmother Sookyung okay?”
“I think she should be fine. It is entering the final stages.”
Relief passed through the party member’s faces at my words. Only one face was different.
“Hey, why is Dokja hyung’s mother your grandmother?”
“Ahjussi’s mother is my grandmother.”
“Dokja hyung isn’t your father.”
I quickly patted them on the back. “Now now, don’t fight. You can both call her grandmother.”
“Really? Can I?”
“Yes.”
I watched the red-faced Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung and tried to say something else, but quickly closed my mouth.
To these children, what had happened in the past three years? What did these children hear, see and talk about as they passed through dozens of scenarios without me?
“...Hyung?”
I stroked Lee Gilyoung’s head for a long time and Lee Gilyoung looked up at me helplessly. Shin Yoosung, who was staring at the scene, grabbed my hand and placed it on her head.
I held the two children in my arms and told them, “I’m sorry.”
“...Yes? What for?”
“Just, for everything.”
I knew that I couldn’t ask for forgiveness, no matter what they told me right now. Still, I wanted to say something. Maybe my mother’s story had influenced me. I didn’t want to make any more tragedies that I couldn’t talk about in time. Nevertheless, the words didn’t fall easily from my lips.
‘You suffered, I’m sorry.’ I wanted to say these words.
“It’s fine.” Shin Yoosung spoke. “We’re fine, Ahjussi.”
Shin Yoosung raised her head and watched me. This was the person who should be comforted but she was the one asking if I was okay. “Ahjussi... are you okay?”
I wasn’t able to answer so I avoided Shin Yoosung’s gaze. I looked up and all my companions were staring at me. Lee Jihye looked pained while Jung Heewon was anxious.
I smiled while moving my lips. “Why are you looking like that? I’m fine. My mother has also recovered.”
“Are you really okay?”
“I’m really fine. And...”
I carefully examined every party member. I felt the time that passed from the wounds all over their body. The moment the giant story Gigantomachia was over, they ran to this place first. It was without feeling the aftermath of victory.
“Gigantomachia... you all suffered.”
Perhaps my expression looked ridiculous. For some reason, Jung Heewon burst out laughing.
“Are those words the bonus? Dokja-ssi really... we are working here because it is good.”
Lee Jihye nodded by her side. Jung Heewon kept speaking. “In addition... why did you run away alone again? Do you really want to die? Or do you want to be confined again?”
“That’s because the Mass Production Maker told me―”
“You always have excuses.”
I bowed to them. “I’m sorry.”
This was the best for now. I could clarify things later. As I bent forward, I could see the old combat boots. My gaze went up and I saw the man in the dusty black coat. Suddenly, I felt refreshed. I knew that Yoo Jonghyuk belonged here.
“Yoo Jonghyuk, you too―”
“There is no time for pathetic stories. It isn’t over yet.”
Yoo Jonghyuk walked towards the room opposite the corridor with peculiar and terrifying eyes.
As expected, Yoo Jonghyuk was Yoo Jonghyuk.
“Everyone seems leisurely? Did you come for a picnic?”
The door to the hospital room opened and Han Sooyoung appeared. It seemed she had consumed quite a lot of magic power and her expression was tired.
“My mother?”
“It will take a while for her to wake up but her disease is healed. The rest will be in the hands of time.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Yoo Sangah?”
“The medical staff are watching her progress. Aileen will start the treatment as soon as she comes out. Isn’t there a bit of star fluid left?”
Aileen had told me that only one person could be saved this time.
“Let’s go straight away.”
Aileen took the medical team and moved rooms straight away. By the way, once we entered Yoo Sangah’s room, we faced a strange sight.
“Seolhwa-ssi?”
I saw Lee Seolhwa in a white gown and taking care of Yoo Sangah. Was it an illusion? I felt like the speed at which Yoo Sangah’s story fragments flowed out was reduced.
“What happened?”
“I used some medicine that Jonghyuk-ssi gave me.”
“Medicine Yoo Jonghyuk gave you?”
Lee Seolhwa looked down at the small bottle on the table silently. It was a disease that never occurred before. The moment I touched the glass bottle, the item information came to my attention.
“...The Empty and Clear Stone Milk?”
I was startled. If this was the Empty and Clear Stone Milk that I knew, it was a rare item that could compare to a star fluid. It was one of the greatest elixirs that came from the veiled Zero Murim.
I had so many thoughts at once that I didn’t know what to say.
“Where did you get this type of thing?”
“I heard he received it from the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint.”
The Breaking the Sky Sword Saint hadn’t yet returned to Earth. It might’ve been delayed because she was reuniting with her kin for a while. By the way, the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint had the Empty and Clear Stone Milk... did she go to ‘that island’?
Aileen examined Yoo Sangah and said, “A bit of time has been bought.”
“How much?”
“Around 30 minutes.”
“If we acquire more star fluid...”
“It has reached a stage where she can’t be healed with the star fluid. She has exceeded the threshold. Honestly, it’s amazing the thema hasn’t been damaged yet. Her mental strength is really...”
The party members cried out at Aileen’s words.
“Wait, what are you saying?”
“Sangah unni will die?”
The party members listened to the medical staff’s explanation and grasped the seriousness of the situation. Jung Heewon and the children were pale. Lee Jihye looked frightened.
“Ahjussi, are you lying? Right?”
“...”
“Sangah unni will die... there is really no way? Really? Not at all? Then what have we done so far...”
Lee Jihye staggered like a ghost and shook me. “Ahjussi has died many times! If we get that attribute now―”
There was no way to get that attribute right now. Jung Heewon hugged Lee Jihye from behind and asked me. “Perhaps... is it impossible to use that previous method?”
The previous method. Nobody explained it but everyone was looking at Biyoo in the air.
“It is hard.”
“You are the successor of the Underworld. Can’t you ask them for help?”
“I’ve already asked them.”
In the meantime, several indirect messages were heard in the air. They were the messages of constellations who wanted to take advantage of the situation.
[The constellation ‘Emperor Who Dreamt of Immortality’ is making a proposal.]
[The constellation ‘Emperor Who Dreamt of Immortality’ says he will provide you with the ‘Divine Grass of Immortality’ right now if you sign a contract with him.]
The Emperor Who Dreamt of Immortality... it was that ‘king’ of China. The Divine Grass of Immortality’ was definitely an item that could be compared to the star fluids and star fruit. However, the current Yoo Sangah couldn’t recover even if I used it.
「 Don’t do it. 」
Everyone stared at one place.
「 If you borrow their hands, they will surely ask for a ridiculous price. 」
Yoo Sangah was talking. Her incarnation body had closed eyes but everyone could hear her. The soul had more than half of herself scattered and only her thema remained, yet she watched everyone here.
「 Everyone. 」
Yoo Sangah spoke to the party members.
「 I’m fine. So... 」
I didn’t know who many times they heard the words ‘I’m fine’ today. Everyone in this place knew what she meant by saying ‘I’m fine.’ To us, it meant the time of hell had emerged.
「 Gilyoung, noona is fine. Don’t cry. Yoosung too. 」
Yoo Sangah kept talking to the group. I held my throbbing chest and leaned against the wall. Jung Heewon sat down on a chair.
「 Heewon-ssi. I really like Heewon-ssi. Do you know? 」
「 In addition, Jihye... 」
Tears were falling. Lee Jihye was weeping bitterly as she grasped the bedspread. Her red eyes were gazing eagerly at me. From the side, I could hear the sound of teeth grinding together.
“Kim Dokja, I will sign an Outer World Contract.” Han Sooyoung grabbed my arm and declared. “Then there might be a way. No, I will definitely make the contract. I―”
「 Han Sooyoung-ssi. 」
Han Sooyoung’s chin trembled.
「 You don’t have to do that. 」
Han Sooyoung dropped my arm. She left through the door like she didn’t want to keep listening. Yoo Sangah continued speaking. She was a person pouring out all her remaining words.
「 Hyunsung-ssi and Jonghyuk-ssi... I have something to tell you... but I don’t have much strength left. 」
「 Yes, I want to say, I will leave the others... 」
Then Yoo Sangah glanced at me. I leaned against the wall while my wounds throbbed.
The world shook. Nevertheless, I had to hold on.
“Everybody.”
The moment I spoke, pain filled my head.
[The Fourth Wall is warning you.]
「 N o. 」
I ignored it and carried on. “Everyone, please go out for a while.”
They all seemed to have lost their souls despite Yoo Sangah being the one who was dying. The first one to regain their senses was Jung Heewon. She exchanged glances with me for a moment before raising Lee Jihye. With her encouragement, the members left the room one by one. Finally, Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung left and I was the only one in the room with Yoo Sangah.
I took a deep breath before opening my mouth. “Yoo Sangah-ssi. Do you remember the words that you said on the subway?”
There was no answer from Yoo Sangah.
“You said you liked reading books.” I kept speaking to Yoo Sangah. “Murakami Haruki, Raymond Carver, Han Kang...”
I recited the names of the authors Yoo Sangah said she liked. I sensed Yoo Sangah’s expression changing slightly. Maybe it was a distant memory that was disappearing.
“If you can survive... are you willing to read books that aren’t from those writers?”
A fleeting light returned to Yoo Sangah’s soul.
「 ...What book? 」
“For example, Lord of the Rings.”
Yoo Sangah’s soul body laughed. She recalled the old memory and smile faintly.
「 ...Okay. As long as I can read it. If it is possible... 」
These precious words, I remembered every syllable.
「 If I can live again, I will read the entire story. 」
I nodded. I didn’t know if this method would work. In the original novel, this had never been attempted. Still, this was the only method I could do. There were huge sparks as the ‘wall’ appeared in the air.
I looked beyond the dead-end and stared at the Fourth Wall. Anyone facing this wall at the end of the road would become desperate.
“Fourth Wall.”
A thick and hard wall that couldn’t be broken by anything. There was no such artificial thing as the ‘wall’ in this world. It was a wall that someone had made with an obvious purpose. I didn’t know the exact purpose behind the creation of this wall. Still, it was obvious that the ‘wall’ was built to protect someone.
The moment I opened my mouth, the Fourth Wall also opened it. “Swallow her. Don’t leave behind even a single sentence.”