The Past (2)

Unlike Yuria's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worries, Seowoo's learning ability was truly remarkable.

A newcomer who had only been there for a week was already catching up to half of what he knew.

"Senior, you've almost completely mastered the common language already..."

"Thanks to you teaching me well, Senior. From tomorrow, I think I can return the magic tools too."

"Ah, no. I took two months to learn it..."

Seowoo was always humble.

Statistically, he had learned twice as fast as others, but he never boasted about it.

That's why hearing that he was taught well made one feel proud.

"No, actually, doing well and teaching well are different. It's rare for a player who was excellent in multiple sports unions to become an excellent coach. If it weren't for me, someone else would have caught up quickly."

"Hehe... Thank you..."

Being with Seowoo made one feel good.

Maybe because he always lifted one's spirits like this?

Unlike the clumsy me, Seowoo seemed like he could live long.

"Next is memorizing the experimental cases..."

"Yes, I'll focus."

"As I said last time, if any new symptoms appear besides the existing side effects, you must immediately add a new case..."

"...You said there were a total of 97 symptoms, right?"

"Yeah, memorize all that, and whenever new experimental subjects with new symptoms appear, add one by one and memorize them..."

Memorization was essential to write the report within the time limit.

Because the amount was so vast that it would be impossible to find one by one like an open-book test and write it.

"Whew... I did it, but there's still a lot to do."

"Right? Even so, this is enough to be in the top 5%. I'm envious of my junior..."

"Haha... Thank you. I didn't show it, but I'm relying on you a lot."

Seowoo scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

After waking up, he was used to taking care of others, but being taken care of felt strangely good.

With a sincere confession, Yuria's face bloomed with smiles.

"Hehe... It's almost time for dinner, shall we eat something?"

"Okay. I was a bit hungry anyway."

"What a shame... If my junior could go out, we could have dinner together and see the pretty night sky..."

"That's fine, we can see it together later."

"Y-yes, that's right..."

A forward-looking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remark from a newcomer...

Meaning, the human hasn't been completely purged yet.

Like an unprocessed recruit in the military.

But Seowoo could fully understand it.

Yuria had been the same at the beginning.

"Isn't it better to eat in the dormitory than in the male cafeteria..."

"Ah, yes. The food is good there, but the atmosphere is so gloomy that I don't know if it goes in through the mouth or the nose."

"Hah! Junior! I know that feeling well..."

Empathy formed in a world without dystopia was very welcome.

Even though her body still ached, seeing her smiling face.

Yuria felt like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she was dreaming.

Was it really okay to be this happy?

That there was someone who believed in her and respected her.

"Wait, joking too much..."

"Yeah, I was too happy and said something careless..."

"Let's really eat and study again..."

"Yes."

By the time they had calmed their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hearts.

Ring! Ring!

Unfortunately, Lucia's call came.

"Junior, I think I have to go see the director for a moment..."

A call from the director at this late hour?

Seowoo had doubts, but since he couldn't do anything about it.

"...Ah, I understand. Please be careful."

"U-uh. It should be nothing, I'll be back soon..."

His worried gaze continued until Yuria's back disappeared from sight.

Seowoo hadn't been at the research institute for long.

But rumors always float around, and he knew that words that seemed lacking would not be liked by vampires.

Meanwhile, Yuria, who had said she was going quickly, arrived a bit late.

"You're finally here?"

"S-sorry... My ankle from last time wasn't good..."

"So what? Are you saying I should consider your pain a bit?"

"No, that's not it..."

Yuria sat on a bed of thorns the moment she met Lucia.

She had thought she came quickly, but apparently not.

"Haa... Okay. I'll stop there. Please report on how the newcomer is."

"Yes..."

Yuria explained enthusiastically about the ability Seowoo showed, since she had affection for it.

Starting from her quick wit and fast learning, adding unnecessary things like her cold appearance but warm heart.

"Hmm, so she was that good?"

"Yes..."

"That's good news. It was getting annoying to look at you."

"Huh? What do you mean..."

"I hate useless people, so once the newcomer gets her bearings, I'll swap with you."

That was a death sentence.

She couldn't do the work, but she tried hard.

Tried to follow anyway.

The result of effort was disposable.

"Now that's enough, go out."

"...Yes."

Her trembling lips quivered several times.

Thud.

The sound of the firmly closed door represented Yuria's heart.

"Eh, ara..."

Tears flowed.

She had expected it.

She knew it, but pretended not to.

Who would use an incompetent person while having a capable one?

It was extremely natural.

At the same time, vampire researchers from the opposite side stopped.

"Wow, this year didn't even learn basic etiquette. Make her bow her head."

"Hey, um, yesterday that... Ugh, do as you like."

Crack!

A sound so loud it seemed like skin was bursting.

Yuria fell with her glasses flying off.

In her eyes, no more vitality was found.

"Hey, go first. I'll teach this year some manners. Hehe."

"...Gunter, don't be too late. We're busy too."

"Of course."

The researcher called Gunter grabbed Yuria's hair.

Without a single scream or resistance, she was dragged like an empty shell.

By the time two hours had passed since Yuria left the dormitory.

A cheerful voice came from the entrance.

"Senior! You're here? I memorized everything and even prepared food..."

"Huh...? Ah, sorry... Hehe... I was a bit late..."

Cheek with a big bruise.

Disheveled hair.

Cracked glasses.

Finally, dust and skewed underwear on her clothes.

Yuria's condition was very serious.

Was this part of what one had to endure in Nectar?

She was clearly pretending to be fine, but was it right to let it pass for her sake?

The momentary thought wasn't long.

"Senior! Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?!"

"U-uh, I'm really fine..."

Seowoo pulled Yuria's body and examined it from all sides.

She had always worn long sleeves and long pants, so even though he knew it was rude, he rolled up the sleeves.

Everywhere without a single healthy spot, covered in scars and bruises.

Anger welled up at the inhuman act.

"...T-this crazy bastards!"

"Stop, stop..."

Tears flowed again from her red, swollen eyes.

Anger that crossed the line wasn't good.

Immature emotional control would only end life early.

He had to tell the junior who looked a few years younger.

After all, he was a life to be disposed of.

"Junior must never be swayed by personal emotions..."

"But! But...! This is too much!"

One should not give affection to a life that is only a mere other.

"W-were there any such words..."

A word that a human living in Nectar would never forget.

With tears falling, Yuria's atmosphere changed.

More solemn.

More dignified.

"...The more precious, the farther away."

If one lives closely with a precious person, one of them will definitely die.

"The closer, the harsher..."

Human intimacy is a sin.

Even if it's a close person or not, one must never show affection.

"...Senior."

"With your skill level, you can definitely survive. I'll guarantee it."

So.

Please live.

"Senior!"

As Yuria's body slumped, Seowoo quickly caught her.

Blood flowing from her mouth.

When he lifted her top, her abdomen was bruised blue.

The internal rupture was of a size that seemed amusing.

Instead, it was amazing that she had endured until now.

"...Junior, no, since I'm older, I'll use casual speech..."

"You can use casual speech as much as you want, don't lose consciousness! Senior! W-where should I take you? Hospital? But there's no hospital here..."

"Hehe... Seowoo... Lower your voice a bit... My head is spinning..."

"Ah, I got it! Pull yourself together! Senior!"

The benefactor who saved her in front of her eyes was dying.

What to do?

How to save her?

Seowoo, unlike his usual calm, fell into panic.

"...I'm fine. After all, I was destined to die."

"Where's that...! You'll teach me the same job like now...! Really! We were supposed to see the night sky together..."

"...Sorry I can't see it with you, I wanted to see the same sky as Seowoo..."

Two weeks.

336 hours.

Maybe short for someone.

But not for Seowoo.

In a world full of despair, Yuria was a mental pillar.

Even if others said she was stupid and clumsy, she was definitely a teacher and mother.

"Ah! I'll go to the room next door and ask for help..."

"No, don't go..."

She grabbed Seowoo's clothes with a hand that was raised in pain.

Looking at her helpless eyes, he shook his head.

"Cough..."

"Senior!"

Profuse blood.

The body was rotten from continuous violence.

...Death was inevitable.

It was better to be with him a little longer.

"...Yuria, my... name..."

"Yuria..."

Her slowly raised hand gently touched Seowoo's cheek.

As if wanting to remember this moment.

"The words I taught you... Never forget them... Don't skip meals while working..."

"Never, never! I won't forget... I'll eat well... So please!"

The flame of life was gradually going out.

"Pain... is momentary... but if you endure it... opportunity will come..."

She handed the key from her pocket to Seowoo.

"This is... the key to the desk drawer..."

Breathing became irregular.

The rattling sound was very precarious.

"You must survive at least for my share..."

"I will! Definitely!"

The focus was leaving Yuria's eyes.

"My brother-like Seowoo... Sorry I couldn't be with you until the end..."

"Senior! Pull yourself together! Senior! Yuria! Yuria..."

If...

If she had been as useful as others.

Wouldn't there have been a slightly different future?

Yuria's body, hugged with a scream, was already cold.

"Ah..."

Too desolate and powerless.

The past times when they laughed and chatted all seemed like lies.

She closed her eyes that were gazing at the sky without focus.

Because of the tears at the corners of her eyes, her vision blurred.

"...Drawer."

There was a memory Yuria had said sometime.

She said she couldn't show what was inside.

Click.

She put the small key in and turned it, the drawer opened.

A thick diary was placed there.

With a trembling hand, she took it out and opened the first page.