Episode 35
Lee Jae-heon was just trying to give proper counseling. Of course, there was some intentionality, but since he was dragged away anyway, he does not know the details of the main character’s circumstances. Even the idea that he would have returned was just a guess and, strictly speaking, was not a definite fact.
However, with years of memories from his past life, Lee Jae-heon was certain that he had returned, but even so, he had no idea how, when, or where the protagonist came to return.
Of course, if I woke up and found myself in a state of regression, it wouldn’t be a big problem, but…
‘Is that possible?’
Kwasik.
Lee Jae-heon thought as he smashed the vines attached to the tree trunk.
“Then there’s no way you know about the caterpillar.”
Crushed insect fluid came into his vision.
This caterpillar, which has body fluids very similar to blood, lives inside the trees in the park, like no other.
Unlike the novel, thanks to the owner of the flower shop who has already joined, he doesn’t even know where the fish are. Unless the snacks they brought from work were thrown away, there was no immediate shortage of food for the main character and his group to cut down trees.
‘Even if you tried to find firewood, it doesn’t make sense.’
At first glance, the trees in the forest were so intimidating that they could not be torn down by human power, and even if they were torn down, they were not dry materials and would not be easy to start a fire with. Even though Lee Jae-heon taught me how to make a fire before returning, it made no sense to dig up trees for firewood.
Then how did you find out?
‘That… doesn’t make sense either.’
Jaeheon Lee, who read the novel, knows that there is no ax among the tools that can be obtained in the park episode. Even when I think back to the author’s response, which was so frustrating that he shook his head when asked if there were any proper weapons here, unless that was a lie, it’s true that there aren’t any weapons right now.
However, there was no reason to dig up a tree with a bark so hard that an ax was needed, or even go to all that trouble until the larvae came out. No matter how I thought about it, it meant that it wasn’t information I found by chance.
And no matter how the information about the caterpillar was found, the important thing is that there was enough time to get to that point.
‘There’s no way a guy like that could have returned in his sleep overnight.’
If you think about it, he was a guy who skillfully found the caterpillar without even losing his mental balance as soon as he returned. If the bark of the tree was dug up with a monkey wrench, which was not originally intended for that purpose, I don’t know the details, but it was rolled around. Otherwise, there is no way to explain the suddenly increased survival skills or half-baked mentality.
That’s why I can’t tell you how Lee Jae-heon felt when he saw that his once healthy mentality as a chick came back with half of his health. I was trying to get this chick acclimated, not throw her into a fire pit.
“…Tsk.”
Jaeheon Lee clicked his tongue at the wetness he felt on his legs.
He had a feeling that a wound had burst somewhere on his calf, ankle, or sole. Although I felt a dull pain, the slippery texture gave me goosebumps.
“….”
The feeling of my clothes and shoes slowly getting wet was strangely terrible.
“Ha, write….”
After letting out an exclamation without even realizing it, what came to me was a heartbreaking hit. You disgusting chicks, do you think I have to raise children at this age?
‘But… it’s also a benefit to becoming self-employed.’
If I had to compare the fact that I was dragged by a vine last night, it would be like a doctor jumping out of a window during psychological counseling. The main character, who plays the role of a patient, is probably feeling a variety of emotions, including bewilderment, irritation, anger, and desperation. Perhaps it would have been better if Lee Jae-heon hadn’t shown his emotions, but it had already happened.
He doesn’t know where the main character returned from or what he did. However, what is certain is that if it was going to be that mental, it had to be assumed that he had already met Detective Hong Gyeong-jun at least once.
‘It’s lucky if I don’t get grabbed by the collar in that situation.’
But that doesn’t work. Then, I’ll call you assistant manager Jeong.
It’s not that Lee Jae-heon didn’t think about killing Detective Hong, but in any case, he was needed to control the bunch of survivors.
‘It’s not a problem to kill if necessary, but…’
I couldn’t throw away such a useful card right now.
Even considering various other factors, it would not be a good idea for the two to already be in conflict.
More than that, there is a serial killer among the survivors in the first place.
“Shouldn’t that bastard be punished first…”
Suddenly, resentment and sadness rose up in Lee Jae-heon, and he gritted his teeth.
Although I didn’t see the situation in person, I had a strong intuition that it was going to get really messy soon. For some reason, it didn’t seem like it would end with a simple intuition.
“…Whew.”
Let’s take a closer look from the beginning.
What was the reason for police officer Kim Yeon-woo and detective Hong Gyeong-jun to come here? It was none other than to catch the tail of a serial killer, and the killer was even a man whose crimes were so cruel that they were not even broadcast on the news on purpose.
In any case, a murderer with such cruelty and short tail is among the survivors, and Police Officer Kim is the only person who has witnessed him.
‘In the story, the killer is targeting Kim Yeon-woo as his next target.’
You never know when or where that bastard might cause trouble, so does it make sense that they’re already fighting among themselves?
‘Furthermore, it’s frustrating that they’ll use it if they mistake it for Jeong In-ho.’
Lee Jae-heon clicked his tongue even as he felt the sensation in one foot gradually getting colder.
I said there are so many problems, but this is also a problem. Jeong In-ho, a turned psychopath, was not particularly normal in Detective Hong’s eyes, and thanks to that, Jung In-ho ended up on his blacklist.
To be honest, this problem could have been naturally solved when Lee Jae-heon and Detective Hong Gyeong-jun met. That’s because Lee Jae-heon is by far a much crazier person than the younger Deputy Jung, so if Detective Hong were to point out as a suspect, it would of course be Lee Jae-heon. And unlike Jeong In-ho, Lee Jae-heon was a person who was able to overcome such doubts naturally and was able to take advantage of them.
But here, In-ho Jeong shows hostility towards Detective Hong?
‘Even Hong Gyeong-jun and Jeong In-ho are raw chomyeon?’
Then, from the detective’s perspective, it was possible to become wary of the protagonist while gaining a logical basis. And Detective Hong Gyeong-jun, who gained logic, could not communicate well.
At this point, it is a catastrophe. For Lee Jae-heon, who had no intention of seeing things unfold as written, this was a story that came as a surprise.
Jaeheon Lee paused for a moment as a dull pain penetrated his feet.
“….”
Tuk.
In the silence, the sound of cold sweat breaking was heard.
“…It seems like a useless body.”
I was out of breath.
No matter how much he learned various skills under the influence of his past life, and no matter how much he could endure beyond his limits with his mental strength, Jaeheon Lee’s body was closer to that of a civilian, unlike in his previous life. He had no ability to go from scar to scar in a matter of seconds like before.
‘I’m used to enduring pain, but my body doesn’t collapse.’
Even if it was a world that could be endured with mental strength, there were limits as it was only in the beginning, and the reason Jaeheon Lee was alive and breathing right now was entirely due to that mental strength. If he had been a little weak in spirit or had no will to survive, he could have collapsed and become cold at any time. You will lose your life in an instant.
That’s why Jaeheon Lee was very embarrassed by the current situation. I got annoyed. For Lee Jae-heon, at least, a body that could not move properly despite trying hard to endure the pain was a very pathetic existence.
It’s so annoying to be useless.
“….”
Lee Jae-heon took a deep breath and moved his feet, leaving a bright red mark underneath.
There was so much to do.
* * *
“….”
Jeong In-ho felt that he was going crazy.
He had no time to spare. Since I had been running only looking ahead, I couldn’t check my surroundings, and I couldn’t even tell what condition my running legs were in. I didn’t have that much free time, and even more than that, my mind was blank.
It felt like a thick hand was hitting my head from all directions.
I don’t know if it hurts, but I couldn’t open my eyes, I felt dirty, and I couldn’t breathe. Nevertheless, it was really funny that my body now felt disconnected from walking, talking, and moving calmly.
Suddenly, an unknown fear arises, but then it is repeatedly eaten by a dull mind. I’ve never experienced it before, but I thought I’d probably feel the same way if I were waterboarded. The fact that he was feeling this on the ground without a drop of water was a fragmentary indication of his condition.
But that didn’t mean I could stop.
“Excuse me, but could you please stop coming towards us?”
“…Why are you so wary?”
“I answered your question. We don’t know who you’re looking for.”
Jeong In-ho hoped that the smile he always had on his face would be drawn. I wanted to check by touching the corner of my mouth with the hand that wasn’t holding the monkey wrench, but unfortunately, that hand was being used to block the man in front of me.
The moment I saw the man who introduced himself as Detective Hong Gyeong-jun, I felt my heart pounding. Jeong In-ho himself did not know whether this was due to anger or fear.
What was certain, however, was that Jeong In-ho did not want to let him meet his group.
“So…”
Actually, I didn’t expect to run into that man right away like this.
I was stupid.
“Don’t you have company? “To be honest, meeting new survivors now seems like a lot of shortcomings.”
“It’s something that’s lacking.”
“I have no choice but to be wary of you, Mr. Hong Gyeong-jun.”
Jeong In-ho realized that the words he was saying were very awkward. It was awkward and unnatural, just like a child’s random words. Not just words, but even breathing.
But that was all. There was no time to fix it or think about it again.
“So what if you were a monster that took human form?”
“…Did you encounter a monster?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. “We answered your questions and I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
I didn’t want to talk.
I thought I would go back to the past and see that face again someday. I had expected it to some extent since I led the whole group across the park, but still, not now. Not right now.
The man with his eyebrows slightly furrowed opened his mouth as if he felt that way.
“…All right. “It is true that we are both sensitive to the situation, so let’s talk after we have a little more time.”
“great.”
“We’ll talk again later, when I find my group. “I was so excited to meet a new survivor that I wasn’t very considerate.”
“I also apologized.”
“But it would be good for you to know this.”
He continued speaking in a blunt voice.
“I am a detective and I came to this area to work. Normally, considering safety and rules, I would not tell you anything, but since the situation is the situation…” “
….”
“I hope you all keep in mind the possibility that there are dangerous people among the survivors.”
It’s cold and soft.
Jeong In-ho smiled at the naked wariness hidden behind only a single layer.
“thank you for telling me.”
“…I’ll see you later.”
With those words, the detective turned around.
“….”
What did you think of when you saw the familiar back?
Jeong In-ho clenched his fist. The touch of cold, hard metal only feels pale.
‘…Have we not found Yeonwoo yet?’
In-ho Jeong recalled the situation before returning to the past.
He knew who the man was looking for. One is police officer Kim Yeon-woo, who came to this area with him, and the other is a serial killer who may be among us. The former saw his face, but the latter died without knowing his identity.
There were people who had doubts, but…
“….”
“… Mr. In-ho.”
“ah.”
Inho Jeong looked at President Garam Yoon who approached me and asked.
“What’s going on?”
“I guess… I should ask.”
She touched her short hair that barely reached the nape of her neck and licked her lips.
He took a quick look around and then spoke in his characteristic, neat voice.
“What’s wrong, Jeong In-ho?”
“….”
“…Are you acquainted with the former detective?”
In-ho Jeong realized his mistake.
They were so distracted and impatient that they foolishly forgot, but they have no hostility towards Detective Hong Gyeong-jun. Even if it is President Garam Yoon or Doctor Seongyoon Ha, who have been with us for a short period of time.
So, it was clear that the current party thought that Jeong In-ho’s wariness towards the detective was excessive. It was his mistake to not consider other people’s perspectives.
Jeong In-ho stiffened as he smiled and blinked his eyes slowly.
‘…What should I say?’
What excuse can I make to avoid revealing my weakness?
Suddenly he thought about the root of the anxiety he was feeling right now, but it only lasted for a moment. However, what was certain was that Jeong In-ho was absorbed in his own feelings and did not consider the perspectives of others.
It must have looked really stupid. Why would you want to do that?
While Manager Lee Jae-heon disappeared, the reason Jeong In-ho stood at the front of the group was only due to Lee Jae-heon’s absence. Unlike that bastard, Jeong In-ho doesn’t have the confidence to understand each and every colorful point of view of this numerous group, and in fact, he ended up like that.
The bodies of Chief Kang and Noh Yeon-seok still linger before my open eyes. The sound of glass breaking still rang in my ears. The nauseating smell of blood still permeates his entire body, but this was only Jeong In-ho’s own impression.
He was the only one who remembered that damn time.
“….”
I couldn’t breathe.
“I…”
I.
I do that.
“….”
“…Why are you doing that?”
I didn’t want to die.
I didn’t want to die…
I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to kill you. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to die.
If I could live, I would.
“….”
I also wanted to live.
“…ah.”
feel like vomiting.
And I was tired.
* * *
“―You crazy bastard!”
“….”
Suddenly, when I blinked, I realized that someone had grabbed me by the collar.
“No, if you’re tired, you can sleep…! “Isn’t this a complete idiot?”
“…Uh….”
“Huh? Huh? Who are you saying ‘uh’ to in front of now? Are you ignoring what the manager says now?”
The first thing that caught my eye was bright red blood.
A red color stained from the inside of a white shirt, speckled as if dark red paint had been smeared here and there, took over the field of view. Only then was I able to see the face of the person holding me by the collar.
A brow furrowed in dissatisfaction. A thin cut from where it was scratched. Twisted eyebrows and frowning bridge of the nose. A mouth full of sensitive nature. And…
And.
“….”
“What are you looking at, you disgusting bastard?”
Those eyes are so calm that they look like a dog.
“…Boss?”
…It wasn’t a corpse.
was alive
