Episode 346
Lee Jae-heon thought as he left the simple building.
‘Troublesome bastard.’
Even though I spoon-fed it up to this point, it didn’t make any progress, so I guess it was a chick.
Lee Jae-heon has put in a lot of effort to return the main character’s mental state to normal. They gave him plenty of rest time to help him relax, and he even dragged ‘Jaeheon Lee’ into the pharmacy by showing him injured by the plaster monster.
‘When you feel helpless, you have to use your strength to come to your senses.’
There wasn’t much treatment for burnout. All they had to do was give them a chance to work in a slightly different way, but even in the underworld that had a knack for driving people crazy, that trick worked. By using ‘Lee Jae-heon’ as bait, didn’t Jeong In-ho, who was in a state of lethargy, also get his heavy butt kicked? As a result, we ended up having a conversation that was more like a conversation, so it can’t be said that his efforts had no effect.
Yes, it wasn’t without effect, but…
“Is Jeong In-ho very angry?”
“Rather, it should be seen as a state that comes and goes.”
Lee Jae-heon recalled the expression Jeong In-ho showed before leaving the room.
“It looks like you’re still having a hard time, so please leave it alone.”
It’s an infuriating fact because of all the effort that went into this, but the protagonist still hasn’t come to his senses.
It was impossible not to know from the look on his face that he looked like he was struggling in some pit.
“You always seem to be saying something to me, sir. “I asked In-ho Jeong if he was very angry, but I couldn’t figure out why he got this answer.”
“Already, our Jeong In-ho has a bad personality and always clashes with Detective Hong Gyeong-jun. “What should In-ho Jeong do if even the doctor who is supposed to look after the patients behaves like this?”
“…Haha….”
“I have a lot to say, but I understand that you won’t say it because it’s too much trouble.”
To be honest, Lee Jae-heon wasn’t disappointed with the protagonist’s current state.
‘If this goes on, I really need to go to the end.’
Since Jung In-ho’s reaction was not as bad as expected, he tried to turn the mood around by even bringing up the appearance of the plaster monster Lee Jae-heon in the previous episode, but it could not be said that the conversation just had a very decisive help. If you took Jeong In-ho to Eonhak High School now, he would collapse right from the entrance.
In that sense, the rehabilitation project Jaeheon Lee had planned should proceed as planned.
‘If I thought the main character could come to his senses at this point, I would have tried to care for the remaining survivors separately, but it wouldn’t have worked. ‘I’ll just keep going.’
Lee Jae-heon wiped the corners of his mouth and continued speaking.
“Still, it seems like things are a little better than before… Let’s just leave it alone for now. “You will be able to take care of it.”
“At this level, I doubt that you are showing favoritism. They only talk about efficiency and other things, but in the end, they are the manager’s lovely chicks. “Hey, I’m jealous.”
“You’re speaking in a very disgusting way. “It’s not favoritism, it’s basic consideration.”
Lee Jae-heon sighed at Ha Seong-yoon’s sarcasm.
“If you’re having a hard time like that, isn’t it natural that you need to help?”
It’s a little frustrating that I can’t get up even if I hold his hand and pull him.
‘But that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any results so far.’
In any case, it was clear that Jeong In-ho needed to be motivated, and for that purpose, Lee Jae-heon stimulated Jeong In-ho by personally getting injured by the plaster monster. Thanks to the stimulation, Jeong In-ho, who could not move or speak, personally took ‘Jae-heon Lee’ to the pharmacy and even carried him on his back. In the meantime, Jung In-ho probably also felt a basic sense of accomplishment.
A sense of accomplishment, yes. For people without motivation, there is no better medicine than a sense of accomplishment. In particular, Jeong In-ho was skeptical about the efforts I had made, so Jae-heon Lee just came out to praise my achievements.
‘At this point, I think the foundation work has been completed. If I keep this up, I won’t give up right away even if something happens.’
Let’s just focus on the fact that Jung In-ho’s reaction was not as bad as expected.
Not long after I was convinced and moved on, In-ho Jeong began his activities in a small way.
“Are you going exploring?”
“Ah, Mr. Jeong In-ho. Yes, today I’m going to take a look around the back of the apartment complex.”
“Then can I come with you?”
“…! “And Mr. Jeong In-ho?”
“I felt like my body was stiff after just being in the garden.”
“Of course it’s fine with me! Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Inho.”
Moreover, the first person to speak was Kim Yeon-woo.
‘I was lucky.’
Kim Yeon-woo was a person without any prejudice, and although he was not at the level of Munsan-gun, he was a person with almost no tendency to blame or reprimand others. Even though Jung In-ho had been restless so far, if you were worried about him, you would have worried about him and not pitied him like Ha Seong-yoon. Since he was such a bright person, he wouldn’t have felt awkward about the sudden offer of cooperation.
Yoon Garam, who was sitting at the campfire, probably had the same thoughts as Lee Jae-heon, with a soft smile on his face.
“I’m glad you seem to have regained some energy.”
“I agree.”
“Kim Yeon-woo would be a good match with In-ho.”
The main character, who admires goodness, had a basic fondness for Kim Yeon-woo. Like in the novel, ‘Is it a love line? “Is this a green light?” There was no particular atmosphere that would have made them question, but such a simple relationship where they viewed each other as colleagues would actually be of great help in their future plans.
Jaeheon Lee blinked his eyes slowly.
“…I hope you feel better soon.”
And even after that, In-ho Jeong continued to be active. It wasn’t anything particularly big, just minor chores like harvesting vegetables from the garden or cooking them. Occasionally, we do go on an expedition when space allows, but that’s really rare.
In any case, the fact that you are working on something and increasing your peace of mind is something to be praised.
“….”
“…Would you like some?”
“If you give it to me, I will eat it. thank you.”
“Ah yes.”
However, as already expected, ‘proactivity’ was not revealed.
‘As expected, exploring Eonhak High School is impossible.’
To be honest, I was looking forward to the end, but it probably won’t happen.
In order to explore a stage as intense as Unhak High School, the investigator’s own will is the most important, but In-ho Jeong did what he was told and rarely tried to take the initiative himself. It seemed like he finally had enough time to manage his facial expressions, but it was obvious that if he entered language school in that state, he would die within an hour.
“….”
So what can we do?
“Mr. Kim Yeon-woo.”
“Oh, it’s about exploration, right?”
“you’re right.”
“I thought that would be the case since I am collecting the exploration information. Do you have any questions for me? “I will inform you with all my sincerity.”
“Thank you. I feel reassured.”
‘Lee Jae-heon’ died once and had no choice but to come back to life.
“…That’s because I don’t go to the apartment area often…”
These chicks don’t listen.
Let’s see if I can chew it up even though it looks like I’m going to rummage.
* * *
Lee Jae-heon began exploring the apartment with Kim Yeon-woo.
Lee Jae-heon led Hong Gyeong-jun and Jeong In-ho to have a conversation.
Jaeheon Lee stimulated the key ring monster and dragged it to the front of the garden.
Jae-heon Lee pushed Da-hoon Park to become closer to kindergarten students.
Lee Jae-heon comforted and encouraged Kang Min-ah, who was anxious.
Lee Jae-heon taught Vivian and Han Do-yoon fighting techniques.
Jaeheon Lee gained the attention of the key ring monster.
Jaeheon Lee succeeded in persuading the Pompitz monster.
Lee Jae-heon….
“Kim Yeon-woo.”
“Ah, Mr. Lee Jae-heon, would you like to go with us?”
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to.”
“Of course it’s okay. “I feel reassured if Lee Jae-heon goes with me.”
Jaeheon Lee.
“Thank you for saying that.”
He had a talent for modifying works.
That was the reason Lee Jae-heon fell into the sinkhole.
* * *
The exploration that has been going on for the past few days has been stable.
For some reason, the monsters inside the apartment seemed to have a strange resistance to the police, so the number of police had to be reduced during the investigation team, so Hong Kyung-jun was not able to join, but led by Kim Yeon-woo, who has outstanding ability overall, Lee Jae-heon, who knows the secret world best, and others. It was an expedition with several people from . Moreover, there were no threatening monsters inside the apartment, so it was a situation that could not be dangerous.
“There’s an eyeball monster over here too.”
“It seems like there is one in every security office.”
The security office located at the entrance to the apartment complex was filled with eyeball monsters, but they just existed and showed no reaction. It was the same even after a few days. If it weren’t for the stray cat monster that occasionally made me lose my way, the apartment exploration would have gone much faster.
“There is nothing wrong with the playground.”
“Is it still too early to go inside the management office?”
The purpose of the exploration is to find new habitat candidates, just in case.
As of now, the best candidate was a police station where monsters rarely approach, but in this case, since securing food required going to a convenience store in a shopping mall, they were mainly looking for a place where they could solve their food problem on their own. It wasn’t much different from an apartment with a kitchen.
One day, while looking into houses that could be accessed or looking up the rules of the apartment complex, Jaeheon Lee, who was participating in the apartment exploration as usual, froze when he saw the security office.
“….”
“Mr. Lee Jae-heon?”
“Wait a minute…”
The exploration team members at the time were Kim Yeon-woo, Lee Jae-heon, and Kang Min-ah. Do-yoon Han. A total of 5 people including Vivian. Among them, Han Do-yoon and Vivian stayed away for a while to check if there were any other problems around them, and the only ones who were with Lee Jae-heon were Kang Min-ah and Kim Yeon-woo.
Jaeheon Lee said while looking at the eyeball monster.
“…It’s looking this way.”
At that moment,
the floor collapsed.
“! what…?!”
The red and white floor bricks that had been neatly laid together fell into the air, and Lee Jae-heon and Kim Yeon-woo, who were in the middle of them, fell into a deep hole. Kang Min-ah, who was nearby, urgently called out to Lee Jae-heon in a shaky voice.
“-Boss!”
He urgently reached out and miraculously grabbed Lee Jae-heon’s wrist.
“Manager, manager…!”
“….”
“Director Deputy….”
Lee Jae-heon was holding Kim Yeon-woo, and Kang Min-ah remembered something from that sight.
“….”
“….”
That’s right, the park.
Wasn’t there a similar situation in the park?
“ah.”
…I lost strength in my hands.
As if I was being tickled by a feather, I gradually lost strength.
Because Song In-myeong remembered that damn murderer. Even though Lee Jae-heon was being tortured by that crazy guy, Kang Min-ah, who was unconscious due to the trauma of falling, grabbed him and did not let him go, and in the end, Lee Jae-heon suffered and died without Kang Min-ah knowing.
-You killed him.
‘Kang Min-ah’s’ voice was heard.
“… Manager….”
“Kang Min.”
“….”
“It’s okay.”
Once again, it whispered into Kang Min-ah’s ear.
-Lee Jae-heon suffered because you were holding him. yes?
Once again.
-Quickly let him go, you idiot.
Kang Min-ah relaxed her hands.
“See you later.”
See you later.
“Chief…”
The silence came before I knew it.
If it weren’t for Lee Jae-heon’s last words, Kang Min-ah would probably have gone crazy.
“….”
She sat down blankly and looked at the pitch-black pit.
“…Uh….”
It’s a hole so black that it takes my breath away.
“iced coffee.”
My hands were shaking.
“no.”
A belated scream escaped my mouth.
“No, no, manager. Boss…!”
Also, I killed Jaeheon Lee.
Last time I killed him because I couldn’t let him go, and this time I let him go and killed him. Obviously, it was Kim Yeon-woo with short hair who fell into the pit holding Lee Jae-heon’s hand, but for some reason, Kang Min-ah felt like she had fallen. The distant feeling and fear that came from that illusion rushed into me and frantically searched the depths of my brain.
“Chief, Manager. why. “Why again… why…”
I was out of my mind.
Still, the fact that he tried to kill people in the last episode and even killed them makes me feel dizzy. This time, he really killed Jaeheon Lee. Kang Min-ah killed it.
‘What do we do?’
So maybe I should be okay now. Since I committed murder last time, should I commit suicide this time? Maybe that would have been a better choice. With Lee Jae-heon dead, Jeong In-ho would soon collapse, and Ha Seong-yoon was also in bad shape, so it was clear that the survivors would be ruined one after another. However, he cannot become a murderer like last time, so he just dies.
You stupid bastard. A fool who can’t do anything. Maggots that only cause nuisance. All kinds of self-deprecating words prickled my brain, but as time passed, even those words became vague.
“….”
Could I really protect someone with the hammer in my hand?
“Ah uh…”
I can protect someone…
“Kang Min-ah?”
“….”
“…Mina, this. why.”
Han Do-yoon, who had already approached her, looked at the sinkhole without speaking, and Vivian looked alternately between the pitch-black hole and Kang Min-ah. Kang Min-ah didn’t notice, but it was clearly an observational gaze.
Han Do-yoon, who had not noticed Vivian’s gaze as he was behind her, helped Kang Min-ah, who was sitting at the edge of the sinkhole, to her feet.
“Could it be that Mr. Lee Jae-heon and Mr. Kim Yeon-woo…?”
“….”
Kang Min-ah opened her mouth.
“I fell…”
“…yes.”
“I didn’t catch it.”
“I…”
“I caught it, but I let it go…”
After those words, there was silence for a while, and then Vivian quietly opened her mouth.
“I don’t think he’s dead.”
“….”
“I think I can hear a voice.”
“…ah?”
Kang Min-ah blinked several times.
Now that I think about it, even though Lee Jae-heon was dead, or even though they thought he was dead, Do-yoon Han and Vivian didn’t seem to feel anything. When someone dies, it feels like the whole world is shaking.
Kang Min-ah urgently turned her head and looked inside the sinkhole.
“….”
Blurry no.
A mumbling voice was heard as if something were blocked by the wall.
“Ah, Manager…!”
That was when the manager and Kang Min-ah were about to call him.
“…! Kang Min-ah!”
“Come back!”
Wow!
With a loud noise, the sinkhole was covered with bricks again.
Kang Min-ah, who was trying to look inside the sinkhole, stepped back when Vivian’s hand pulled her back, and the three of them looked at the common street side of the apartment, which had been filled in neatly as if the hole had never been dug.
“….”
“….”
Kang Min-ah, who had been dazed, suddenly came to her senses and muttered.
“…Four Pompitz.”
“yes?”
“Pompitz will be able to find Manager. We also found Han Do-yoon… We need to quickly go to the mountain behind him and call him. Let Jeong In-ho know as well and quickly. Find it…!”
Kang Min-ah, who was muttering repeatedly, picked up the fallen hammer and ran towards the garden. Do-yoon Han and Vivian, who were staring blankly at it, soon followed behind her. Although we do not know the exact circumstances, it was clearly a dangerous situation for Lee Jae-heon and Kim Yeon-woo to fall into the sinkhole.
And Hong Gyeong-jun, who was in the garden.
“….”
“Your expression is strange.”
“…I feel bad.”
I had a gut feeling that something had happened.
It’s very ominous, uncomfortable… and a pain in the ass.
(Continued in the next part)
