Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Chain Rampage Incident (7)
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After resolving the incident, we returned to the motel.
P suggested we have a drink, but since I had no particular interest, I headed into the room first.
There was a computer in the motel room, but after just a glance, I lay down on the bed and spent an hour, then two, fiddling with my phone.
San Su-yu, who had been glued right next to me peeking at my phone, leaned on my shoulder and drifted off to sleep with a soft snore, and Shiba—who'd been crying to play—went quiet at some point too.
-Tick tock, tick tock.
The only sound in the room was the clock ticking away.
I occasionally replied to texts from Dalrae and Lee Se-young when suddenly a thought crossed my mind, and I got up and stepped out of the room.
I shuffled out carelessly and breathed in the outside air.
The cool dawn breeze felt surprisingly nice.
"You're here."
A sudden voice. I replied nonchalantly without even looking at her face.
"Isn't that Cheondo?"
"Now you recognize me without even looking."
"How could I forget the voice of the person who showed me everything and then ran off?"
"Hah. Ran off?"
Cheondo approached silently and stood beside me. She glanced up at me with an expressionless face.
In her hand was a pack of cigarettes.
"Want one?"
I kept staring at my phone. Cheondo continued looking up at me, then crossed her arms and spoke softly.
"Your emotions are all over the place. What happened today?"
Sharp as ever.
I took off my mask and held out my hand.
"...Give me one."
Cheondo's pale hand touched mine. A lighter and a cigarette. I put it in my mouth and exhaled smoke.
"Want to hear about it?"
-Nod.
"You ever have one of those days? Where you see someone else and it overlaps with your own past, making you feel needlessly lonely."
Nothing too dramatic.
"Just, seeing that kid who lost their parents brought back old memories."
"Hm... No parents?"
"Straight to the point, huh. It's not like that. If anything, I received more love than anyone. I'm not the type to deserve pity."
-Exhale.
The bitterness from the cigarette dried out my mouth.
That harsh, intensely bitter taste wasn't unpleasant.
"It was when I was a kid. My father killed someone."
Probably doesn't exist in this world.
Thinking of that man who might still be alive in some other timeline, I continued.
"The daughter—or son—of the man who died... they were my friend."
"I see."
"Yeah, well. I've always had good instincts, even as a kid, so I figured it out quick."
I could tell because I'd seen it dozens of times by my side.
"How fast a kid crumbles after losing their parents. I've seen it over a hundred times."
I'm not really the empathetic type.
In fact, if the situation doesn't align perfectly, I'm the kind who could commit a crime anytime.
Lee Se-young's case was like that.
"I've experienced more people I know crying themselves to death than getting beaten myself."
Mental illness accompanied by depression.
Strange symptoms from stress.
They strangle immature bodies and minds until they finally kill the young lamb.
I closed my eyes.
I recalled the white chrysanthemums placed on the desk of my first elementary school desk mate.
My father was the worst kind of person.
"That's why, weirdly, whenever I see kids, I want to look after them. If I had a son or daughter, I'd want to show them only the good things. Since my father couldn't."
A child who could do nothing learned guilt as they grew up.
This incident was the same.
If I hadn't known that the ent-ified monster could never return to being a Wood Person, I probably couldn't have killed that man in the end.
"But hey, I'm a bad guy too, so it's kinda ridiculous thinking like this, right? Hypocrite or whatever?"
Cheondo stood silently, listening to my whole story.
I felt an apologies I couldn't put into words.
Spilling your past and whining like this is incredibly rude.
Emotional trash bin.
Hearing someone else's bad stories is exhausting and painful in itself.
"Sorry for saying this stuff."
"No. If anything, I'm sorry for bringing it up first. Lend me your lighter?"
I handed the lighter to Cheondo. She put a cigarette in her mouth and flicked her finger to light it. No flame.
"Out of gas, huh."
"Yeah? Come here then."
I tilted my head. Our two cigarettes touched.
"...What are you doing?"
"Suck. Transfer the fire."
"......"
Cheondo stood in silence for a moment, then tilted her head back and slowly inhaled. I could feel the air moving through the cigarette.
-Exhale.
"What an absurd guy."
Cheondo's face remained emotionless even as she complained.
'Could've just used magic?'
Same result, so whatever. I smirked.
"So why'd you come? To encourage your disciple? No need for that."
"What are you talking about. I just came to relay that I granted your request."
I took another drag.
Cheondo continued.
"It won't get better easily, but from financial support to mental treatment, we'll use every means available."
"And the mother?"
"She's alive. From your reaction, seems like an unreliable father. Want to meet her? Name's Shin Chae-rin."
"Lucky in the midst of misfortune. No interest in meeting."
Gloomy smoke rose into the sky, scattering in the wind.
It wasn't an emotion I'd drag out forever. Feeling my heart start to calm, I looked at Cheondo beside me.
Her black-and-red hair, infused with light, sparkled.
"Teacher, you look extra pretty today?"
"...Are you crazy? And what do you mean teacher?"
"If Baekdo is my teacher, then you're one too."
I grinned slyly and crushed out the finished cigarette.
Cheondo took one from her pocket and placed it in my mouth.
"Another one? I'm not a chain smoker."
"Come here."
"Pardon?"
As I tried to take the cigarette from my mouth, Cheondo brought her cigarette to mine with pursed lips.
Guessing her intent, I inhaled deeply.
"This is payback."
Her face stayed blank even through it all—impressive.
"Payback my ass."
"Shut up."
Cheondo and I silently exhaled smoke.
Same cigarette, but this time a peach scent lingered in my mouth.
"......Hwangdo's throwing a fit."
"Pardon?"
"Says not to steal her ice sculpture. What happened between you two?"
"Nothing? Not really."
"Hwangdo's throwing an even bigger fit."
Cheondo rubbed out her cigarette, frowning slightly like her head hurt. She didn't seem interested in another.
I looked at Cheondo's outer coat. Over her black full-body latex combat suit was a thin but large yellow windbreaker wrapping her. It reminded me of the peach bags used when growing peaches.
As I stared at her emotionless face, Cheondo spoke in a serious tone.
"Their hideout has been located."
Her eyes stared straight at me.
"Tonight at dawn. Coming with?"
I glanced down at my fist and the back of my foot.
The regenerative power stolen from the World Tree of Healing had already reached beyond-spec levels.
With potions and authorities, I could regenerate skin right there on the spot.
The broken bones had long since returned to place.
Body in perfect condition.
I looked at Cheondo. She already wore an expression like she'd heard my answer.
"What the hell, let's go."
Cheondo smiled at my response.
"Follow me."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Do-won-hyung organization members, including me, sat in a circle in one motel room, listening to Cheondo in our various postures.
"Two hideouts have been identified in this area. One disguised as a pharmaceutical company— a cult. The other is an abandoned factory."
Cheondo began her explanation skillfully and emotionlessly.
"They've probably noticed our movements and are starting to pull out. Which means we need to move even faster."
Cheondo pointed to the pharmaceutical company on the map.
"Bob and I take this one."
"Then the three of us hit the factory?"
"Yes."
Cheondo nodded at P's question. But P and Rosie just tilted their heads, not understanding.
P raised her hand and spoke.
"Boss, pairing with the handsome junior is fine and all. But honestly, I'm support, and this one's a healer? Is it right to put all the combatants on one side?"
"Hate to admit it, but she's right."
Rare agreement between P and Rosie. Cheondo smirked like she knew what they were thinking.
"Why no combatants?"
"Huh? No, I'm not underestimating the junior, but hasn't he grown less?"
"Lack of power can be fixed with buffs. With stats adjusted, Lee Si-heon probably has strength on par with Bob."
Rosie looked at me with wide eyes.
Really? Her face was full of doubt.
"I didn't say anything. Teacher's just talking out of her ass."
I raised both hands in surrender, and Rosie and P scratched their cheeks before looking back at Cheondo.
Can we believe that? I shot Cheondo the same doubtful look.
Cheondo declared confidently.
"Believe in the me who believes in you."
"...Teacher, been reading weird comics again?"
"Shut it. P. Don't ruin the mood for once."
Cheondo's leaf sword smacked P's crown.
"Ow!"
P clutched her head and collapsed from the merciless blow.
We fell silent. Speak up and you'd get worse.
Cheondo sheathed her drawn sword back at her waist.
"If something happens, contact via magic. If magic's jammed, use radio. Lee Si-heon, you know how to contact via magic, right?"
"Yes. But what if radio's out too?"
"Then I'll trust your ability to handle it."
This feels like too much pressure on me.
Unable to read Cheondo's intentions, I shut my mouth and checked P and Rosie's faces.
They seemed mostly unfazed overall, but doubts lingered.
"Teacher. Testing the junior's good, but on a big case like this?"
"Rosie's got a point. We trust our junior, but judgment too?"
Obvious objections anyone would raise, and Cheondo nodded like it was natural.
They looked convinced. For a moment I thought she'd retract, but Cheondo hardened her face grimly and growled low.
"Jealous? Then you be leader."
"......"
We said nothing.
"I expected your complaints. If Lee Si-heon's actions go wrong, I'll hold him accountable—"
"I have no plans for that—"
"—Shut it."
"Yes."
Dismissed in an instant.
"His growth will be a huge help to us going forward. Might even be the final piece."
"Abstract."
"It is now. But you'll see."
Cheondo grinned at P's retort.
"That guy's like Baekdo."
"You mean Teacher?"
"Yeah. Grows more the heavier the task. You saw that miracle most, didn't you? My eyes don't lie."
Rosie looked skeptical but didn't say anything.
Is this really okay?
A massive sense of duty weighed on my shoulders, and I gave a bitter smile.