Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: -9
Chapter Title: Toward the Eyes in the Sky
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Almost as if it poured out uncontrollably, the story came to an end, and Hyeok Tae-jun curled up into a ball.
His body trembled, and he seemed to be sobbing.
I did my best to ignore Hyeok Tae-jun like that and stared down at the core in my hand.
Whatever the case, I had no choice but to express my gratitude to Mun Woo-seok first.
This core seemed to be an item beyond imagination.
Of course, I'd known it was an incredible invention ever since it allowed escape from the heavens, but I never dreamed a single core without any devices could wield this much influence.
Considering that the Tale Management Bureau's method of handling employees ensnared by tales was to lock them away in mental hospitals, you can probably grasp just how formidable this thing is.
If it hadn't existed, Hyeok Tae-jun would have had no choice but to live out the rest of his days in a hypnotic trance.
Mun Woo-seok was already dead, but... if he knew his invention was being used like this, wouldn't he be happy?
I paused my praise for the core and turned to the next issue: Hyeok Tae-jun and this girl.
Hyeok Tae-jun was lost in his awakened mind, weeping endlessly, while the girl watched him with utterly blank eyes.
It was a complete reversal from the loving gaze she'd had just moments ago.
I suppose that's an unavoidable limit of tales.
The tale formed by merging one side of Han A-ram and the two nieces Hyeok Tae-jun longed for was artificial, capable only of distorted emotions.
Regardless, I couldn't help but feel sorry for both of them.
My carelessness had dragged the world's 8 billion people and 6,000 years of history into irreparable ruin.
And that ruin had reached even the protagonist who was meant to lead the world to its golden age.
So how could I heartlessly eliminate this girl?
Of course, Hyeok Tae-jun's hypnotic state was also due to the tale, but on reflection, it felt more like his self-preservation instinct projected onto the tale.
With my mind in turmoil, I barely held back the warping of my vision and approached the Headquarters Chief.
"What do you think?"
The Headquarters Chief wore a somber expression, clearly pitying their story as well.
But the title of "Headquarters Chief," which he'd earned even at the cost of his own name, compelled him to prioritize reason over sentiment.
"I'll speak from the Headquarters Chief's perspective. If a tale is beneficial to humans right now, it should be utilized."
The Headquarters Chief glanced at the girl.
"But it can't go on forever. Tales are ultimately entities that harm humans. Once their utility is exhausted, they must be eliminated."
The girl simply stood guard in front of Hyeok Tae-jun, whether she'd heard his words or not.
"Jin-seong, failure to do so leads to things like the angels. The Bureau failed to sever ties with them, and in the end, it killed Park Se-jin of the New Tale Investigation Squad—your squad leader."
The Headquarters Chief spat the words emphatically, flecks of saliva flying.
"From the founding of the Tale Management Bureau to now, across centuries of history and thousands of angel contractors. How many do you think died in agony?"
Given that angel contractors died within an average of three months, it's easy to imagine the outcome of contracting with tales.
"In the end, time spent with tales only breeds suffering."
"..."
"I can say this with certainty: that girl's relationship will torment this young man Hyeok Tae-jun for the rest of his life."
"But..."
I tried to argue for sparing the girl, but my mouth refused to open.
The conflicting emotions, too powerful even for me to control, devoured each other, leaving neither side dominant.
"This girl will protect Hyeok Tae-jun safely, but consider if that's true happiness for him."
As I struggled for words, Hyeok Tae-jun dragged his weary body over to us.
"Headquarters Chief...? Haha... I should call you Headquarters Chief, right? Jin-seong called you that..."
The Headquarters Chief nodded slowly in response.
"This person... no, that child... she's a tale, isn't she? One that I created."
"...Yes."
Hyeok Tae-jun's face embodied sorrow.
That abstract emotion of grief rippled like waves, taking on form.
In a world stalked by death, sorrow was a luxury, yet no one could blame Hyeok Tae-jun for it today.
"I understand. This child isn't A-ram, nor are they the nieces who followed me so well. But why... do I keep projecting the ones I loved onto her?"
"Because she's a being created from your memories."
Hyeok Tae-jun wiped his tears and approached the girl.
"Why are you crying like that?"
The girl had, at some point, reverted to her innocent self from yesterday.
"Crying is bad! Want some chocolate?"
From some pocket, she produced a half-melted chocolate bar and held it to Hyeok Tae-jun's mouth.
"No... I'm fine. I don't particularly like chocolate anyway."
Then, in a tiny voice, he added, 'Chocolate was something A-ram... and the kids liked.'
"Then I'll eat it."
The girl ate it happily, smearing chocolate around her mouth without a second thought.
"...Yeah."
Hyeok Tae-jun murmured quietly and turned to look at me.
"After all, this child isn't A-ram, nor the kids. They were all so fiercely clingy."
Tears continued to flow, but amid them, a smile broke through from Hyeok Tae-jun.
Clearly reminiscing on some past memory.
"Even so, I can't help but love this child."
Yet in the end, the girl was nothing but an illusion Hyeok Tae-jun had created.
"Still... that's enough now. It's time to wake from the dream that buried reality."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With seasoned skill, the Headquarters Chief reverted the tale called "the girl" back into a story.
He said it was a first for him—no resistance whatsoever during the process.
It seemed to suggest just how good-hearted the three people Hyeok Tae-jun had loved truly were.
The sight of Hyeok Tae-jun, mouth covered in fear that the monster might hear his sobs, was enough to fill me with self-loathing.
"...If I could start over from the beginning."
But it was impossible.
Among the tales I knew, there were partial time regressions, but nothing like a time machine that could rewind the entire world to the past.
Even if one existed, it would demand an enormous price.
I caught my ragged breath and approached the Headquarters Chief.
"Where to now?"
"I want to check on the others first. Tae-jun, what do you think?"
Hyeok Tae-jun, who had been shuffling along in a daze, startled and replied.
"Pardon? Oh, I..."
Considering our bond—and that he'd probably die within hours if left alone—we decided to stick with Hyeok Tae-jun for a while.
The Headquarters Chief, who had initially disliked him, seemed to have changed his mind upon learning the truth.
"Yes, take your time to think it over."
He even seemed inclined to look after Hyeok Tae-jun.
Given the Headquarters Chief's true nature as a guardian determined to protect humanity as a species, now that so few remained, it made sense he'd cherish every single one.
He'd been traveling with me, a complete stranger, up to now, so his attitude wasn't out of character.
I shoveled down canned tuna while following behind them.
It still tasted like nothing—felt like choking down sludge—but it wasn't inedible.
After cleanly emptying one can and setting it down nearby, Hyeok Tae-jun spoke up.
"...So, Headquarters Chief, what are your goals?"
"Hm? Well... I don't have any specific goals. But if I had to pick one, it'd be ensuring a few can live happily."
"Before I met you, there was a place where that might've been possible, and a brilliant scientist who created it... but it had its limits. An impossible goal, I suppose."
The Headquarters Chief pointed at the sky.
"Especially with those damn eyes watching over the world."
Hyeok Tae-jun looked melancholic again, as if recalling old memories.
"...In the end, it's all my fault. As Headquarters Chief, I should have responded sooner."
The Headquarters Chief lamented in his own way, and I could only feel disappointment in myself once more for knowing yet failing to act.
That gloom lingered for a while as we pressed on aimlessly.
Screams that would have been commonplace in the old world no longer echoed, signaling the absence of survivors.
The occasional footsteps were so heavy they had to be a monster's, and the skeletal remains we passed left a bitter taste.
"Headquarters Chief."
Hyeok Tae-jun halted.
"Why do you call?"
"There's a place I want to go."
"Alright, where to? I'll follow if I can."
Hyeok Tae-jun slowly extended his left arm toward the sky.
"...?"
The Headquarters Chief eyed him with a "what are you doing?" look, and I did the same.
"To the sky. To where those eyes are."
I shot Hyeok Tae-jun a "what nonsense is this?" glare.
And apparently, so did the Headquarters Chief.
"I want to... rip that bastard apart."