I Absolutely Can't Forgive
Mysterious towers appeared all over the world, plunging humanity into chaos. Common sense was upended. People had no choice but to adapt to this radically altered reality.
The towers periodically spewed out monsters. Gates popping up across the Earth did the same. Conventional weapons were useless against these beasts. Only those who had awakened to mana—climbers—could stand against the horrors from the Tower and the Gates.
These awakened ones, known as climbers or Hunters, were indispensable to human civilization. Society restructured itself around them.
Becoming an Awakened was a boon. That was simple common sense. When I awakened, I was thrilled. Hunters made bank. And I didn't get some generic class like Swordsman or Mage—I got a special class. The kind with potential for A-rank or higher.
I saw it as a stroke of massive luck. But it was all a delusion. My class was a horrific curse.
Special Class: Death Apostle. I stole the warmth of life just by existing. My class embodied undeniable death.
The silver lining? No family. I never had to kill my own kin.
The government was ecstatic at first. A powerful Hunter meant national strength. They thought I'd be Korea's guardian. But that hope faded fast.
I couldn't control my power. All I could do was indiscriminately unleash death around me.
Still, it was fine. I couldn't protect Korea, but my lethality was guaranteed. I had value as a weapon. The ability to cull monsters spilling from the Tower. The power to slaughter beasts from rampaging Gates. That was enough.
My rundown orphanage dorm became a luxury hotel suite. No more slop—proper chef-cooked meals. Sure, I couldn't leave except for missions, but it was okay. High-end PC, game consoles, the internet. I wasn't lonely. I was content with my life.
...No. That's a lie. I'm not content.
Chatting on online communities? Just text. I crave real human connection. This life is... so lonely....
Mina, we'll arrange a counselor for you. Please wait just a moment.
I even considered streaming. Becoming a clown, taking hate from faceless strangers... I just wanted to show myself. To prove I existed.
But the government forbade it. A special class like mine—insanely powerful—was a state secret. They hid my existence and controlled all contact. Anonymous forum shitposts or chats with government shrinks via video. That was it. No face-to-face.
"Lonely... it hurts... I want out..."
If God existed, I'd pray: Free me from this hell. And God answered.
The hotel door—always locked—opened. Someone entered. That was my first meeting with Baek Minwoo.
Sixteen-year-old A-rank Hunter Baek Minwoo. Korea's strongest despite his common Swordsman class. He looked at me—not like a death-cursed monster, but a normal peer—and said warmly,
"Hey. You're Mina, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Baek Minwoo."
Oppa grinned brightly, greeting me. He knew what I was, yet feared nothing. He saw me as human.
It touched me so deeply... I cried, embarrassingly.
"Wh-whoa...? H-hey, don't cry... Ngh... Uh... I'm bad at this... Um... Want a hug?"
Being held—how warm. That memory embarrasses me still... but it's irreplaceable.
Oppa solo-climbed the Tower. How? No idea. But he loved it—more enemies to kill.
The Korean government freaked. Oppa was their top asset. Hunter power equaled national security. With monsters rampaging north after that country's collapse, without Oppa, they'd breach the 38th parallel.
They had to keep him alive. Solution? Pair him with me.
I thought they were insane. I'm a walking disaster. But climbing with Oppa proved me wrong.
He was beyond imagination. I was weaker than I thought.
Once, I accidentally hit him with a death curse—toned down for party play, but still deadly. I hated myself. Then Oppa slashed it away like nothing.
To him, I was harmless. Frail. It comforted me... and shamed me. I didn't deserve him.
"Hmm... Interesting vibe. So this is the infamous death curse?"
He'd brush it off even if it hit. That was our gap.
I realized: I wasn't his destined partner. Just replaceable spare parts.
"Ah... S-sorry... Oppa... I messed up... I'll apologize... Please... don't abandon me..."
Terrified of being discarded, back to that lonely room—tears flowed. I made the worst choice: clung to him, begging through sobs. Pleading for mercy, doubting my worth.
As I bawled, he stroked my hair. His usual gentle voice soothed me.
"Why would I abandon you? I'd never. Relax, Mina."
He was immature—just a 16-year-old boy, a year older than me. Clumsy, sure. But to me, the strongest pillar in the world.
"Government folks told me. Your class kept you isolated? If I ditched you, you'd go back to that lonely hotel. How could I?"
"Ah... Ahh..."
"Even if you didn't climb with me, I'd never give up on you. Don't worry. I won't let you go back there."
"Th-thank you... so much, Oppa..."
Just kindness to him. Pity for my loneliness. Not affection. That's why I loved him more. The more I knew, the more reasons piled up.
Not loneliness-driven. Pure desire. Only Oppa would do. My one true love. My fated one.
Ah... Oppa... I love you this much... but you don't even notice me...
No special feelings from him. Just a friend, maybe partner. It fueled my obsession. Hoping someday it'd change, I nurtured my love.
I wish Oppa would look at me... pay me more attention... like I only see him, I want him to only see me.
I hated my class. It isolated me—unforgivable. But not anymore. Vowing to be worthy, I embraced every tool.
Oppa loves the strong. Equals he can fight. My class had massive potential. Master it, gain power.
If it'll earn his love, I'll use even this hated power.
Once committed, I confronted myself. Mastered my class fully.
Even maxed out, I couldn't match him... but I could climb without dragging him down. Follow in his wake, not beside—but close enough. I was happy. By his side.
...Not anymore.
"Ah... Aah..."
What if I'd followed to floor 91? Ignored the government—"Can't lose two S-ranks"—and stayed?
I wouldn't suffer like this. No endless tears, screams, regrets over missing Oppa.
"Ah... Oppa... Oppa..."
The more I cry, the more I crave him. Knowing I'll never see him again... still.
I sobbed at his name, light extinguished in the Tower's friend list. All I could do.
Beep-beep-beep-beep-click.
As I wailed, someone punched the door code. Government handler to console me, probably. Korea's sole S-rank moping all day? Headache for them. They'd do anything to snap me out.
Futile. Nothing replaces Oppa.
Footsteps approaching. Familiar—his gait, despite the tiny frame, different stride.
I turned. A cute little girl stared back.
Different builds, looks—more differences than similarities. Yet I knew. All my senses screamed: Oppa.
Body moved before mind. I tackled, pinned her slender wrists.
"Ahh... Oppa...! Oppa...! I won't let you go again...! Never...!! I won't let you go...!!!"
"Eh?"
Eh? Confirms it. He has no clue how I felt sending him off.
Aah... Sorry, Oppa... but I can't forgive this. I'm really mad. Brace yourself. I won't let you go. Ever. Even if you beg on your knees. You started this.