Epilogue: The Approaching Darkness (1)
Crack! A purple rift tore open in the air, revealing a warp gate.
"…Guh, guuugh…"
"Ubuuugh…"
Jeon Eunbyeol and Seol Garam crawled out on all fours like zombies, their faces deathly pale. As they dry-heaved toward the ground, Choi Siwoo emerged as well, and the gate faded away naturally.
'…About fifteen hours, huh.'
The sun had already set, bathing the world in a crimson twilight glow. Choi Siwoo stretched his neck calmly against the encroaching fatigue. It hadn't taken that long, but battling all those bugs had worn him out more than expected.
'Dissecting that oomu-kamade corpse was a pain too…'
And most critically… looking after these two women beside him had been the real ordeal. Even after killing the cockroach, they wouldn't get up, clinging to his legs and bawling their eyes out.
"…So, you good now?"
At his question, Seol Garam managed to speak through her pallid face.
"I-I'm fi… ugh…"
"Urk… L-Lord, uh, n-no, A-Almighty Arakrat, protect me with your eternal light. With your sacred wisdom…"
Jeon Eunbyeol plopped down on the ground, her expression utterly vacant.
Five minutes later.
He clapped his palms together as the two finally regained their composure.
"Good work, everyone. We'll go over the full list of loot later. One thing's for sure— we got more byproducts than expected, so the profits should exceed projections."
Choi Siwoo smiled faintly at Seol Garam.
"Which means your bonus will be bigger too."
"N-No, that's not necessary…"
"What're you talking about? You gotta claim your share. Seol Garam, you've more than earned it."
"……"
Despite his explanation, Seol Garam's expression didn't brighten—instead, it darkened further.
Then Jeon Eunbyeol, sitting nearby, sidled up quietly.
"I-It because I couldn't help at the end?"
"…Yeah. In the end, Choi Siwoo had to handle it… I didn't do anything."
Seol Garam stared at the ground, her voice heavy with gloom. She felt pathetic. Despite being hired help—paid handsomely—she'd dumped most of the work on her client.
"……"
Choi Siwoo scratched his cheek at the sight, then gently placed a hand on her head.
"…Choi Siwoo?"
"You did great."
"…Huh?"
"You did great. You've been misunderstanding your role from the start. What I asked you to do was prepare for the oxide poison. And protect the woman next to you."
"…Huh? I wasn't protecting her?"
"Protect? What could you even protect with that puke beam blasting from your mouth… Anyway, Seol Garam. You did your best. That's more than enough to earn your pay."
It wasn't empty flattery. Having dealt with all sorts of people, he knew how valuable a party member was who quietly did their assigned job.
"So… let's work together again. Garam."
"…Did I really… help?"
"Stubborn, huh? I said yes."
Choi Siwoo chuckled and ruffled her hair roughly, a habit he often used with Ohana. Seol Garam said nothing about it. If anything, she liked the touch. She closed her eyes, savoring his warmth for that brief moment.
Some in the community hate it, saying it treats them like a dog…
'Warm.'
A bit rough, calloused touch. Happiness welled up in her from the sensation.
Meanwhile, Jeon Eunbyeol and Choi Siwoo naturally started bickering as if it were routine.
"S-Say that again. I-I was protecting her, right? D-Didn't you see? E-Eunbyeol beam! I protected our Garam!"
"You only got a few trash mobs. It didn't work on the boss at all. So, yeah, pretty useless."
"U-Ugh… Eeeek! T-Take it back! Take it back right now!"
"Sure~ What can you even do~? Mad? So what."
"Kieeeek!"
Unable to hold back, Jeon Eunbyeol lunged. Seol Garam watched the scuffle blankly, then let out a soft laugh.
* * *
The three walked side by side along the shop-lined street back to the city.
"Ah, so you're heading off on the way, Eunbyeol?"
"Y-Yes… I-I'm meeting my sister after so long… hehe. A-Anyway, Mr. Choi? Th-This meets the minimum conditions, right?"
Choi Siwoo nodded silently at Jeon Eunbyeol's words. His eyes gleamed—Finally, this crazy bitch is earning her keep.
'Took fucking forever.'
Good work, Master.
The thought of not seeing this woman for a while set off fireworks of dopamine in his brain. He beamed happier than anyone, only for Jeon Eunbyeol to glare at him, deeply annoyed.
"…Wh-What? You're looking at me all rude-like, aren't you?"
"I'll send the fifteen recipes to the agreed spot. I'll prepare copies just in case. We can negotiate the rest later."
"H-Hey? Ignoring me? E-Even if it's you, that hurts."
"So, how long for production?"
"Ugh… uuurgh…"
Jeon Eunbyeol trembled with her hands at being blatantly ignored. H-How dare this guy ignore a super-genius?!
Undeterred, Choi Siwoo dangled the GOD-P recipe in front of her with a slick grin.
"Want it? You know what to do."
"Kkh…!"
Jeon Eunbyeol caved in the end. Clearing her throat as if nothing happened—ahem!—she continued.
"Hehe… N-Now it's time for this super-genius beautiful pharmacist to shine. D-Don't worry. It'll take less than a week."
"Going smoothly. Good. Looks like this job's wrapped up. So…"
He glanced briefly at Seol Garam. She tilted her head, wondering what was up as their eyes met.
"How's it looking? Any hope?"
"Hehe… It's tricky, sure… but I think it can be fixed. J-Just needs ongoing management. That part—"
"—I'll cover with my constitution."
"Y-Yes, periodically… f-feed flesh…"
"Blood'll do. Why flesh?"
"B-But that's more efficient…"
The conversation continued. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity, Seol Garam cut in.
"…What are you two talking about?"
"I told you. Someone I wanted to introduce you to."
"Yeah, I know… but Eunbyeol was for work too…"
"That's part of it, but the real goal was analyzing your Absolute Meridian Disorder."
Seol Garam froze in place. Stunned, she stood blankly for ten seconds before blurting out.
"…Wh-What?"
"You heard right… Let me cut to the chase."
He smiled gently at her.
"It can be cured."
"…Huh?"
"Absolute Meridian Disorder. It can be cured."
Seol Garam couldn't process his words. She pondered if she'd heard correctly, thinking it over and over. But their expressions confirmed it—she hadn't misheard.
Her hands began to shake.
Really… for real? The Absolute Meridian Disorder I've had since birth, declared incurable…?
"…For real…?"
"O-Of course. Th-That's why I tried skinship with Garam to check."
"…What?"
"Hehe… D-Didn't it seem like too much touching? H-Hugging from behind… fiddling with hands."
Seol Garam stared at her in shock.
"Y-You don't mean… for that purpose?"
"Hehe… I-It all had meaning."
Ahem. Jeon Eunbyeol lifted her chin and explained in detail.
In summary, completely eradicating the Absolute Meridian Disorder was impossible.
"I-I don't know its nature. It doesn't look like any normal condition… maybe a curse."
Instead, they'd suppress symptoms with ongoing elixirs related to heat and yang energy.
"Wh-When the chill drops too low… M-Mr. Choi here seals it with his ability."
"Th-That's possible?"
"Y-Yes. Mr. Choi's power… h-honestly, it's bullshit-cheat level."
Seol Garam's face lit up. If her words held true, it was nearly a full cure.
'But…'
Heat-related elixirs. Seol Garam knew a few.
'Heat Nourishing Pill, Solar Harmony Pill, or Sunrise…'
The problem was the cost. Once or twice was one thing, but procuring them periodically was beyond her means.
"I get what you're worrying about… Don't sweat it."
Choi Siwoo pulled a small pellet elixir from his pocket. A subtle, warm heat emanated—definitely yang-related.
"What's that…?"
"Custom-made for you, Seol Garam. Not top-tier, but enough to suppress the cold."
"Th-That's… so expensive…"
"It's fine."
Cutting her off, Choi Siwoo handed her a box brimming with pellets—enough for over a year. Her eyes widened.
"H-Hard work? H-He supplied materials, sure… but I pulled five all-nighters making them!"
Seol Garam was speechless. Her chest tightened, an indescribable emotion surging deep within.
Why…? Why go this far for me?
Because he needs my power? Or to use me?
'No, no.'
Seol Garam shook her head. In their short time together, she knew these two weren't like that.
So she couldn't hold it back. The swelling emotion took shape.
Drip.
Drip.
Tears streamed down Seol Garam's cheeks. A few drops became a flood, like a faucet burst open, and she sobbed uncontrollably.
"H-Hueeeng…"
Jeon Eunbyeol panicked, offering a handkerchief.
"Wh-Why are you crying…?"
"H-Hic… huaaaang."
Seol Garam couldn't speak. She was grateful. So incredibly grateful. These two had given her impossible help after just one day.
That made her sorry too. She had nothing to give back. Her possessions were so meager.
"H-Hueeng…"
Perhaps sensing her feelings, the two simply watched quietly.
* * *
After parting with Jeon Eunbyeol, Choi Siwoo and Seol Garam headed back to Prunel Academy.
"You have a little sister, huh."
"Yeah… big age gap with me, but…"
"How old?"
"T-Ten years younger… Just turned seven."
"A late blessing."
"Yeah."
As they chatted amiably, a crowd of citizens clustered ahead. They were on phones or gasping, "Wh-What the hell is that?!" unable to hide their shock.
"What is it…?"
"S-Siwoo. L-Look at the billboard news!"
At Seol Garam's words, he looked up—and stiffened.
Seol Garam covered her mouth with both hands, letting out a low groan.
"Wh-What the hell…"
"No way. Why… now, of all times?"
"…Choi Siwoo?"
He felt her puzzled gaze but couldn't respond. He knew its nature—and its danger—better than anyone.
Master. No doubt about it.
'…Yeah…'
The harbinger of calamity that activated when the Six Demons Defied Heaven descended.
The so-called Black World was unfolding right before their eyes.