Episode 261
Meanwhile, Garam Yoon lined up the tree branches he had picked up in front of Jaeheon Lee.
“I’m back, manager. I was worried because it rained a lot these days, but I guess that wasn’t the case in the other world. “There was some slightly wet ground, but there were also many dry tree branches.”
“It’s wet ground…”
Lee Jae-heon muttered softly and asked.
“Are you hurt anywhere? You didn’t encounter any monsters? “Even though it is smaller than the park, I can’t feel at ease because it is a secret world.”
“It’s really okay. Dayoung and Dahoon helped me a lot, and more than anything, I have a unique constitution.”
Garam Yoon said with a smile similar to Seongyoon Ha.
“Plant-shaped monsters are avoiding me?”
“…It’s like at a flower shop. “The guys inside didn’t attack Mr. Yoon Garam either.”
“It was a little disappointing, but thankfully the foraging team was safe.”
She laughed a little, remembering the leaf-shaped monsters that didn’t come near her. Things that looked just like fallen leaves had thin bodies like rat tails, and it reminded me of the monsters scurrying away like snakes or loitering around Yoon Garam.
“Isn’t it cute?”
“Your tastes… will be respected.”
“That’s enough.”
Garam Yoon placed the dryest tree branches among the branches near the bonfire. It was deliberately kept very dry so that it would not emit smoke when used as firewood later. If there is too much smoke, a monster flying in the sky might see it and come visit you.
Garam Yoon, who was sitting next to Jaeheon Lee, opened his mouth as he looked at the students chatting on the other side where other survivors were gathered.
“Kim Hee-chan… were you a student? “I was worried because he looked like he was hurt a lot, but he looked much better than when I first saw him.”
“Your leg may be very sore, but you are a well-mannered student. He cried the whole time, but recovered quickly. I guess I found stability in my own way because I had a lot of people around me to lean on and the environment was better than school.”
“It would have been nice if there was a cure that would allow you to recover in one go…”
Garam Yoon, who had been muttering softly, looked back at Jaeheon Lee with a stiff expression on his face.
“I didn’t mean that little fruit.”
“…I know.”
“Don’t think too much, Manager. You’re already not feeling well, but if you add the pain in your legs, it’ll really get worse…” “
I won’t do it, I won’t. I don’t know how you’re looking at me, but I’m not the kind of person who just fixes anyone. “I know how to take care of myself too.”
“yes?”
“Me too…”
“Yes?”
“…Not really, anyway.”
Garam Yoon felt a little sad as Jaeheon Lee’s voice gradually became quieter.
‘I’m not the kind of person who gets intimidated this quickly.’
Although it was difficult to say no, Lee Jae-heon’s condition, who had never even entered school, was getting worse by the minute. The evidence was the noticeable loss of speech and the cold sweat hanging from his pale face. I couldn’t put my hand on my forehead because I thought I would hate it, but the fever was definitely high.
That’s why I didn’t like Lee Jae-heon, whose face was much paler than usual.
“It would have been nice to have some marks on my face.”
“…What are you saying all of a sudden?”
“No, just.”
Garam Yoon slowly tilted his head.
“I was wondering if it would burn red one day…”
If the heat rises like that, won’t one day… a fire break out?
I knew it was a ridiculous delusion that only children would have, but I couldn’t shake that feeling. In fact, when there were no burns among the wounds on Lee Jae-heon’s body, he felt a sense of sadness and even a strange sense of regret. Unlike Ha Seong-yoon, what does the sharp and pointed burn mark left on Lee Jae-heon feel like?
It will definitely feel like a great piece of work.
“Is there anything else that hurts? “Something like being burned in a fire.”
“There is no place like that.”
“It’s a shame.”
Garam Yoon’s eyes widened at the words that came out without him knowing.
“…What did I say?”
“I understand very well that you want to burn me at the stake.”
“Uhm… you misunderstand.”
Garam Yoon smiled awkwardly and quietly covered his mouth.
Of course, Yoon Garam didn’t usually say things like this. How many years had it been since you realized that your nature was strange and tried to hide it? After meeting Ha Seong-yoon, I found stability and gradually led a daily life no different from others, but there was no way I would say such a dangerous thing just because I was a little excited.
“I… uh, I guess I’m a little out of it.”
It is said that this is what happens when you enter the secret world, but I thought that the severity of it was probably due to the classes I took at school. Until then, Garam Yoon’s condition was quite good. Jaeheon Lee was looking at her awkward face in silence.
He said as I averted my gaze, feeling guilty for no reason.
“Why are you so observant?”
“…It’s not that…”
When we made eye contact again at the calm voice, Lee Jae-heon’s lips and eyes slightly curved. Unlike Ha Seong-yoon’s calm and relaxed smile, it was a soft and vague smile.
“It’s okay, really.”
“…Still.”
“Isn’t that just Mr. Yoon Garam’s preference? You are not young enough to get angry or upset over such trivial things. “You’re always on edge because you watch your mouth, but there’s no need to do that in front of me.”
“….”
Yoon Garam pursed his lips at the slow tone.
“…thank you.”
Garam Yoon knew very well that his tastes were unethical and socially unacceptable. Because the longer something alive burned, the more joy she felt. So, even if Lee Jae-heon said this, it was right for Yoon Gar-ram to continue to worry about what words would come out of his mouth.
But it was also good to have someone who could accept me as I am.
“Would Garam Yoon be more comfortable in the secret world than in reality? “No matter what you burn, you won’t be caught as an arsonist, right?”
“Hey, where is that?”
“More than the last time I was in the other world, um. It’s because I look dispirited these days. “Like when we first met, he didn’t talk much unless it was absolutely necessary.”
“I… I’m afraid I’ll say something strange again. It’s been a while since I came to the secret world, and I feel a bit out of my wits…” “
Well, since Mr. Yoon Garam’s social reputation is at stake, I can’t help but be concerned. You must be tired. Are you okay? “He also went to school as a search team member.”
“It’s not something the manager has to worry about.”
The situation of calmly continuing the conversation seemed a little unfamiliar to Yoon Garam.
Even though she is careful about what she says now, there was a time when she wasn’t very good at it, and whenever they heard Yoon Garam say things like that, people around her secretly avoided her. Everyone said he was fine, but there was something strangely creepy about him, but there were also people who scolded him for having a bizarre concept. Ha Seong-yoon was the only one who fully accepted her as she tried to keep her mouth shut to appear like everyone else.
So, his slightly expanded world was still unfamiliar to him.
“Look, you’re still sweating. “Shouldn’t you lie down?”
“Me too… I’m not worried enough. “Everyone is making a lot of fuss.”
“You’re really stubborn.”
There were very few people who could casually talk about these topics with Yoon Garam, who only told scary stories.
“Who cares what to say… Mr. Garam Yoon is no easy feat either.”
“Boss.”
but.
Maybe it was because I had become sober after entering the other side of the world, but a subtle impulse arose.
“I have a favor to ask.”
Ha Seong-yoon called out to Yoon Gar-ram only when nothing special happened. President Yoon, Mr. Garam Yoon. I knew it was meant to respect her as an adult, but I also knew it was to make her mentally independent. Ha Seong-yoon was worried that Yoon Gar-ram was only staying in his shadow.
Garam Yoon loved Ha Seongyoon’s consideration. All of his consideration was as warm as the sunlight on a spring day and as sweet as whipped cream. Although Yoon Garam knew that Ha Seongyoon had no intention of abandoning her, it was also true that she did not want to leave the large and comfortable shadow. As long as I don’t burn that shadow someday, I wanted to live in hiding for the rest of my life.
“ask…? “What’s going on?”
“No, nothing happened, I just suddenly remembered it.”
“Tell me. “I will listen as much as possible.”
However, now she had two shades.
“…Can you call me by my name too?”
“…I was calling you by name…”
“No, like those students.”
Just because you become an adult doesn’t mean you become an adult.
“Just relax….”
“Garam?”
“….”
“Is this okay?”
Even if you become an adult, you can’t hate all the favor and praise directed towards you.
“…thank you.”
It’s a really immature thing to say, but Yoon Garam needed an adult. I needed a big tree that would support me as I was always swaying, and that wouldn’t run away even if I thought I would burn it someday. They say that in order to grow, you have to learn to stand alone, but wouldn’t one way be to become a flower in a greenhouse?
Garam Yoon let out a mirthless laugh.
“It feels good.”
It was a young, awkward smile that resembled a sprout, completely different from Ha Seong-yoon. Even if you didn’t notice it at all.
“Teacher Ha Seong-yoon always calls me boss or Mr. Garam Yoon.”
“Were you upset about that? “It didn’t look that way.”
“Because Teacher Ha Seong-yoon calls me that after considering my position. “I’m not really disappointed, but there are very few people who call me by my name so openly.”
“It makes me sad that Garam doesn’t have a friend who can call him by his name.”
“Wow really. “Since the manager says that, he really sounds like my dad.”
To Garam Yoon, his constitution was a sin. A madman who rejoices in watching living things burn is sometimes considered a sinner. Didn’t she even feel joy seeing her family dying in the fire? I don’t know how much joy that sense of immorality brought to her.
However, to Lee Jae-heon, Yoon Gar-ram was not a sinner.
“Why are you making me a married man when I’m not even married?”
“If you don’t say anything, everyone will see you as a father with a child. “You are so good to your children.”
Even if he picked him up, Lee Jae-heon would not be afraid of Yoon Gar-ram. Like Ha Seong-yoon.
“It’s the same for me too.”
“It’s just… there’s no reason. “I just do it.”
“Be kind as expected.”
After hesitating for a moment, Garam Yoon opened his mouth.
“…I am the manager.”
“Please speak.”
“I’ve never really told you, but I’ve developed a strange ability.”
“I heard about it. “You’re igniting something?”
“It can’t be done without a plant, and you have to touch it, but… yes.”
The end of the voice became a little blurry.
“It’s a little scary because I think one day we’ll be able to burn anything.”
“it’s okay.”
“What if I burn someone?”
“are you okay.”
“If I burn Teacher Ha Seong-yoon or the manager…”
“It’s okay.”
When Garam Yoon looked back at Jaeheon Lee with his mouth closed, he still spoke with a calm expression on his face.
“You can save people with that power.”
“…Even if you have the urge to pick up a good person?”
“Then let’s just pick me up.”
The gently extended hand stroked Yoon Garam’s head and moved down to cup her cheek. It was a pity that my hand had just come off, but the warmth left in the Volga suddenly made me feel dazed.
“You ride me whenever you want.”
“The manager is going to die.”
“That’s okay too. That kind of ending is okay….”
“Don’t die.”
“I won’t die. “Let’s just hang on and see.”
“I don’t know if I can do it well.”
Garam Yoon always tried to stay away from fire. Since he likes to burn things, he tried to keep his distance even more. Even if she was told, ‘You have the ability to ignite, try burning everything in this world!’, there was no way she could use her power without any hesitation. To her, this ability was no different from the visualization of her sins. didn’t
But Jaeheon Lee said that it can save people.
“…I will try my best.”
So I wanted to grow.
Garam Yoon’s eyes turned yellow.
