Chapter 10: The Weight of Obsession - The likeability ability is broken.

···Huh?

The blade that should have been heading straight for my throat—why was it now buried in Hanseong?

"Hanseong...?"

"Shit... this is bad."

Hanseong collapses. With a dull thud, it felt like my entire body was being torn apart by a thousand blades.

"──Hanseong!!!"

No... because of me because of me because of me because of me because of me because of me because of me because of me because of me because of me...

The world began to drain of color, like a scene from a silent film turning to ash. A high-pitched ringing filled my ears.

Beeeeep───

"─────!"

Hanseong is screaming... but I can't hear it. Was the shock too great? I carefully called his name.

"H-Hanseong..."

"─────!!! ───···."

Hanseong is saying something... is he blaming me? That voice... but I deserve the blame. I've only ever brought him harm...

A sob rose in my throat without warning. Tears welled up.

"Ugh..."

I couldn't stand my own disgusting weakness anymore. Hanseong is hurt right now—what the hell am I doing? I need to call Sohee unnie and save him... this isn't the time to sit here crying like some pathetic fool...

Move! Move, damn it!

‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But my body wouldn't obey. Instead, it crawled toward Hanseong and cradled his head. Like a broken doll, I kept repeating the same words over and over.

"Hanseong... I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry..."

This can't go on... please.

Then, at some point, color began to bleed back into the monochrome world.

Whoosh─

The change was instantaneous. Everything became vividly sharp.

No, it's even clearer than before...

It felt like I'd been reborn. As that fresh sensation washed over me, I finally heard Hanseong's voice.

"────Run!!!"

💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥

A foreign sensation pierces my stomach.

──Throb.

Then another wave of throbbing pain... heat bloomed inside my gut like a wildfire spreading.

Finally, all strength drained from my body. I toppled backward with an undignified thud.

But honestly, it was a blessing. If I'd fallen forward, I'd have gone straight to the afterlife.

A scream I'd been holding in finally burst out.

"────Agh. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

Screaming at the top of my lungs eased the pain for a brief moment.

I couldn't see clearly when the knife went in, but it definitely wasn't that deep.

After all, the blade hadn't been aimed at me in the first place. By the end, the force behind it must have weakened considerably.

Blood poured out in streams.

But if I stay like this, I'll definitely bleed out and die.

I wanted to move, to at least stop the bleeding, but the shock from the wound had paralyzed me. My body refused to obey.

Shiver─

Only my useless limbs trembled.

I needed Euna's help first.

"Euna!!! Hey, Kim Euna!!!"

Muttering, muttering─

But Euna must have been too deep in mental shock. It was like she couldn't hear me at all. She was just whispering to herself.

"Haa... damn it."

I couldn't die this absurdly. The only way I had to break out of this situation right now was...

The Affection Window.

It was my only option.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

Name: Kim Euna

Race: Human

Affection: 80 (Lover)

I don't know if this will help or not... but I can't just sit here and die.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

Affection: 85 (Married Couple) ↑↓

I kept raising her affection level one notch at a time. Finally, there was a reaction. The hazy look in Euna's eyes gradually cleared.

Yes...!

She seemed to snap back to her senses and slowly approached me.

Huh...?

Then she cupped my face in both hands. Tight.

It was like she was cradling a newborn against her chest. Soft. The gentle warmth was followed by a wave of confusion.

"U-um, Euna...? This isn't the time for this. Hurry and..."

I'm losing my mind...

She's still not fully conscious. I need to raise her affection even more...!

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙

Affection: 90 (Soulmates) ↑↓

Once I pushed her affection all the way to 90, Euna finally seemed to regain her senses.

Good. Now I just need to call Sohee noona and...

Wait. What happens if I call Sohee noona right now?

She treats me incredibly well, but she's always been subtly jealous of Euna. It felt like she only stayed here because of me... and when it was just the two of us, she'd say the moment Euna's leg healed, we should kick her out immediately.

If she finds out I got stabbed because of Euna... noona might...

Gulp─

She might actually kill her.

That can't happen...

Then there's only one option. I have to send Euna away.

"Euna... Euna!!! Run, now!!!"

I shouted at Euna, who had finally come back to herself. She looked startled and asked,

"H-Hanseong, what are you saying...? We need to call Sohee unnie first. After that..."

"Hey, Kim Euna! Listen carefully... you asked about the wound on my body, right?"

"Y-yeah..."

"...Noona did that."

Crack─

The moment she heard that, rage flashed across Euna's face before it melted into sorrow as she looked at me.

"Hanseong..."

"There's no time for a long explanation... just help me stop the bleeding quickly, then run. Your leg should be good enough to move by now."

I'd gotten the general meaning across.

"Hanseong... I'm sorry. I really am beyond saving..."

It hurt to see Euna blaming herself like that. If she left like ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this, could she really survive out there in that harsh world?

...There was ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no absolute guarantee. But if it would raise her chances of survival, then what I had to do next was something that would weigh heavily on my conscience.

"Euna, I... I like you."

"Wha—huh? H-huhhh?!"

I continued speaking while she froze like a buffering video, completely flustered.

"From the first time I saw you, I fell for you. And I've only fallen for you more and more since then. So... let's meet again later, alive. Okay?"

I painted a heartbreaking atmosphere while planting a seed of hope in Euna's heart. Even if it was a lie, I didn't want her to die. Call me selfish. Call me trash. As long as she lived, that was enough.

"Yeah... me too. From the first time I saw you, I've always liked you..."

Whoosh─

Euna threw her arms around me. My false confession seemed to have given her enough hope.

Just a little more... to make it certain...

I leaned close to her ear and whispered carefully.

"───, ──────."

"····!!!"

The moment she heard my words, Euna convulsed and began thrashing.

"No... Hanseong is mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine."

I stopped Euna as she started slipping back into madness and said,

"So let's meet again later, alive. Come on, promise me."

Ugh...

Euna gripped my pinky so hard it felt like she might snap it as she answered.

"Y-yeah... Hanseong, you can't cheat on me, okay? Got it?"

"Of course. I only have you, Euna. Now go! And survive!"

She kept looking back, reluctant to leave me, but eventually she made up her mind. With determined steps, Euna ran out of the bunker.

‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Whew..."

I let out a sigh of relief and headed toward the central room.

Thanks to Euna's solid first aid, the bleeding had stopped. But the pain was still there, throbbing relentlessly. I needed treatment soon.

Now I just need to buy some time.

Thud─

I collapsed in front of the central iron door, clutching my stomach, and screamed with all my strength.

"Noona, I'm dying!!!"

Alright. From here on, it's a battle against time.

The Weight of Obsession

Comments 000

Comments