Chapter 177: Victory (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177: Victory (1)
And so, more time passed.
I couldn't tell exactly how much.
Fortunately, my consciousness wasn't awake twenty-four hours a day.
If it had been, I might have gone mad in this senseless darkness.
At some point, it was as if my All-Encompassing Perception would automatically switch off, and my consciousness would black out for a moment.
And the next day, I would open my eyes again.
I say "open my eyes" for convenience's sake.
'Not yet.'
My body still wouldn't move.
Sound… still nothing.
Just then, the hospital room door opened without a sound, and someone came in.
This time, it was Kang A-rin.
Beside her was a doctor in a white coat.
Instead of her usual composure, Kang A-rin's face was etched with deep sorrow and fatigue.
From the movement of the doctor's lips, he seemed to be saying something about my condition.
The longer he spoke, the brighter Kang A-rin's expression became.
In the end, she nodded with a faint smile.
The doctor bowed politely and left the room.
Now, only the two of us were left in the room.
Kang A-rin approached me.
She stopped by the side of the bed and looked down at me for a very long time without a word.
Then, she slowly bent down and pressed her lips to my forehead.
'…'
It seemed I wasn't on a ventilator, at least.
After the brief kiss, Kang A-rin slowly turned and walked out.
Once again, I was alone in the room.
There was just one problem.
I don't think the girls know that my mind is wide awake right now.
Both Cheon Yeo-wool and Kang A-rin were simply grieving, comforting the man they believed to be in a vegetative state.
But I could see everything.
I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I saw all their other actions.
I saw it all.
“…”
That's all fine.
It's all fine, but.
I just really hope nothing more than this happens.
*
A little more time passed.
That day, too, I opened my eyes.
Of course, I had no idea how much time had gone by.
And I thought about the Apostles and the current situation.
Belial… was probably dead.
The act he showed at the end—detonating his own heart—was an act of burning his bridges, leaving no way back.
The heart of an Apostle, blessed by the Evil God, is a massive source of mana, but it is also the very core of their life.
To destroy it meant complete annihilation, something not even the Evil God could reverse.
I didn't release the barrier until that bastard fell.
And Belial had definitely fallen inside it.
So, I believe he's dead.
If, by some slim chance, he hadn't died…
I wouldn't be lying here like this.
The very fact that I was lying here was definitive proof of my victory.
'…Good.'
The situation is excellent.
I obtained Cheon Yeo-wool's Fragment of Desire in the Vatican.
And I recovered Yu Hana's Fragment of Order in China's Hunan Province.
In the process, the Apostles Barcus and Belial were killed.
Having the Fragments' existence exposed turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Besides, as I've said time and again, this is the most critical period for the Evil God, a time when he must pour all his efforts into his own resurrection.
And in such a situation, he lost two Apostles—the very pillars of his revival?
This goes beyond simply delaying his resurrection.
It's only a possibility, but…
…it's possible that a complete resurrection, with all his power intact, has become difficult.
I couldn't predict the exact outcome, but this was clearly a turn of good fortune for humanity.
I faintly conjured the word "victory."
It's still too early.
But couldn't we raise a toast for now?
Just then.
– Creeak.
Someone opened the door and entered the quiet room.
It was a nurse.
'?'
Wait a minute.
Creeak?
– Rustle.
The nurse came over to my bed and replaced the glucose pack on my IV drip.
Sound… I can hear.
Now, not only could I see, but I could also hear.
After finishing the replacement, the nurse went out.
I cheered inwardly.
I wanted to jump for joy, but of course, I couldn't.
This, too, was a sign that my body was getting better.
And so, I was in a pretty good mood for the rest of the day.
*
I opened my eyes again.
By now, waking up to this strange sensation felt quite all right.
At first, it was filled with nothing but frustration, but perhaps I'd grown used to it.
– …In short, the Hero Association has officially confirmed the annihilation of the Evil God's Apostles, Barcus and Belial, who appeared in Hamgyeong-do and China's Hunan Province, respectively. This marks humanity's first complete victory against the Apostles…
The familiar sound of a radio reached my ears.
Yu Hana had brought a small radio to my room a while ago.
I guess she thought I might be able to hear it.
From my perspective, it was an incredibly thoughtful and considerate gesture.
Thanks to her, I could alleviate some of the boredom in my silent world.
I suddenly recalled Yu Hana's worried face when she brought the radio.
If I wake up soon, I want to lay Yu Hana down on the bed and kiss her for a long, long time.
I swear it.
– However, the hero who played a key role, Bulgaram's Successor, Hero Jung Hae-in, is still unconscious, and citizens are wishing for his speedy recovery…
So they're talking about me on the radio.
I've really made it big, I thought to myself.
As I was listening to the radio.
– Click-clack.
I heard footsteps from the hallway.
I couldn't suppress the pounding of my heart.
– Creeak.
The door to my room opened, and someone came in.
This time, it wasn't just someone. It was them.
Kang A-rin and Ha Sion.
"So, he's gotten a lot better, right?"
"Yeah. Though he's still not conscious."
Sion asked Kang A-rin about my condition, her voice full of worry.
Kang A-rin answered in a calm voice.
'I see.'
I'm just glad to hear I've gotten much better.
"Then… when will he wake up?"
"I'm not sure… but both Cheon Yeo-wool and the doctor estimate it'll be within a week."
"That's a relief…"
Sion let out a genuine sigh of relief, stroking her chest.
Within a week?
There really isn't much time left.
"…Stop thinking about useless things and just take care of him properly."
"What did I do?"
Kang A-rin shot the pouting Sion a glare, then left as if her business was done.
Once again, Sion and I were alone in the room.
She perched on the edge of my bed.
"Hae-in…"
Ha Sion looked at my motionless form with a very sad expression.
"I… I should have just gone with you…"
It seemed she felt guilty about going to the USA alone.
There's no need for that…
I wanted to wake up right away and comfort her.
"Still… it's a relief… that you'll be waking up soon…"
Very carefully, Sion slipped into the empty space on the wide bed next to me and lay down.
Then she gently took my hand, cradling it in both of hers.
The small, warm heat from her hands faintly reached my empty sense of touch.
It seemed my sense of touch was also starting to recover.
I felt a sense of comfort from her warmth.
However.
I was mistaken.
– …Shhh, shhh…
In the quiet hospital room, I heard a soft, rhythmic rubbing sound.
The mattress began to shake, ever so slightly, at a regular interval.
And the grip of her hands holding mine grew tighter and tighter.
"Hah… Hae-in… Hhng… I'm sorry… Hah…"
Hot, wet moans escaped her lips along with ragged breaths.
Ah.
What do I do.
Sion had begun an act I couldn't possibly describe.
As I've said time and again, I can see and I can hear.
And now, even my sense of touch has returned.
Let's take this secret to the grave.
Even when I wake up, I'll have to pretend I didn't see or hear a thing.
That's the only way Sion will be able to live in peace.
Just then, most fortunately.
My consciousness slowly began to sink.
With a glad heart, I accepted its descent.
*
More time passed.
Now, I could really feel that my body itself had gotten much better.
I had a feeling it wouldn't be long now until I truly woke up.
Today, too, began with the nurse changing my IV.
I was getting tired of the radio, but I figured it was better than nothing.
Just when I was thinking no one would visit today.
– Creeak.
The hospital room door opened carefully, without a sound.
It was Yoon Chae-ha.
It had been a while, and I was so happy to see her.
For some reason, Yoon Chae-ha hadn't come for quite a long time.
I'd been worried she might have been injured during that day's mission, but thankfully, that didn't seem to be the case.
She slowly approached me. And she sat not on the chair beside the bed, but on the bed itself.
'Don't tell me…'
Chae-ha too?
But her actions were completely different from what I expected.
"Waaaaah…"
She was crying.
She buried her face beside me and began to cry sorrowfully, like a child.
"I knew this would happen, that's why I didn't come… I was afraid I'd just keep crying…"
It seemed Yoon Chae-ha hadn't been able to come until now because she was afraid she'd cry at the sight of me.
Such a cute reason, just like her.
After a long session of "waaaah"-ing.
Yoon Chae-ha carefully lay down beside me.
And then, she suddenly began a confession.
"When you wake up… I'm going to tell you for sure… that I like you…"
"I get it now. We're heroes, so we never know what might happen. That's why we have to express ourselves beforehand…"
It was a confession.
Fine. I already knew, to some extent.
So it's all fine, but.
Does she have any idea I can hear her?
"We'll kiss, and then… the next step… too…"
As she spoke, I could sense her voice trailing off and her face turning red.
– Twitch.
'Huh?'
What was that?
Was that… my finger?
My body… feels strange.
I think… I can move.
I focused on the strange sensation spreading through my entire body.
I squeezed out every last bit of strength I had, trying to sit up.
Just then.
My eyes opened.
My blurry vision slowly came into focus.
The stark white ceiling of the hospital room, and… the sight of her, lying next to me, murmuring with her eyes squeezed shut.
"So… the next step… you have to teach… Chae-ha…"
Now I could see the whining Yoon Chae-ha with my own two eyes.
Her eyes were closed and her face was resting on my shoulder, so she hadn't noticed yet.
I smiled.
And for the first time in a long while, I answered with my own voice.
"I'll teach you."
"?"
At the sound of my voice, Yoon Chae-ha's shoulders flinched and went rigid.
She lifted her head.
And her eyes met mine.
"I'll be sure to teach you."
Yoon Chae-ha's orange eyes grew wider and wider.
"Look forward to it."
I meant it.