Episode 374:
After the incident at the apartment was over, Vivian looked somewhat relieved.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what part she was relieved about, but when it comes to Vivian, who is a model student both in real life and in the underworld, enough to be a second chancellor at a prestigious university, there was no one except Song In-myeong. I thought maybe he, who was close to Song In-myeong, was worried about whether he could be close to the survivors. And Vivian must have felt relieved in the process of going through hardships in the sinkhole and deciding that it would be okay to become close to the survivors.
Lee Jae-heon, who had been looking at the situation from all directions, was soon able to come to a conclusion.
‘This bastard still hasn’t named Song In-myeong.’
He couldn’t let go of Song In-myeong as his friend. Otherwise, given Vivian’s cool-headed personality, there was no way she would have distanced herself from the survivors, saying she was only friends with Song In-myeong.
Well, it was a natural result. Vivian and Song In-myeong and Seo Jang-hwa were so attached to each other that they wore matching hoodies and had identical ring piercings. Honestly, ordinary friends don’t go that far. At best, it’s about friendship between women. If you go to men, there is no more.
Even in the extreme situation of the underworld, the three of them banded together and boasted a friendship so strong that they could not trust the other survivors. The shock couldn’t go away easily as I found out that my friend who died and couldn’t live was not just a bastard, but a serial killer who went around killing people.
‘Seo Jang-hwa was surprisingly mentally healthy, so he lost money quickly.’
However, unlike Seo Jang-hwa, Vivian’s reaction to Song In-myeong was ambiguous. When Seo Jang-hwa got angry at Song In-myeong, his reaction was to keep his mouth shut. Vivian’s regret was clearly visible from her lukewarm attitude.
Plus, Vivian still had her ring piercing.
‘I wonder if she didn’t open her mouth well to hide it…’
Vivian’s ring piercing was still intact on her tongue, making you wonder if she was refraining from speaking to hide the tongue piercing. After Song In-myeong’s identity was revealed, he looks different from Seo Jang-hwa, who threw away everything, including his hoodie and piercings. Moreover, the fact that the piercings were left as is was kept a secret.
No matter how you look at it, it seemed like they couldn’t completely abandon Song In-myeong.
‘Well, the crazy bastard must have put a lot of effort into that work, but even if his identity is revealed, will the aftereffects go away quickly? On the surface, Seo Jang-hwa seemed to have made a quick loss, but in reality, he must have had some regrets. The fact that she feels betrayed as much as she trusted him shows the size of her influence…’
Therefore, Vivian will try to talk to Song In-myeong even if Lee Jae-heon pushes her back just a little. Even if you have to hide that fact from everyone, including Seo Jang-hwa, if you can resolve the relationship between Seo Jang-hwa Vivian and Song In-myeong as friends, you will want to do so.
It’s a truly absurd delusion, but anyone can have hope, right?
Jaeheon Lee was fully willing to take advantage of that hope.
“Jaeheon Lee?”
“…Oh yeah. “What is it?”
“How about moving with me?”
I was planning to stop by a convenience store to secure some food before moving partially to the mountain behind. When Lee Jae-heon showed signs of worrying about who he should go with, Vivian approached him as if she had been waiting for him, and
he smiled inwardly.
“With student Vivian?”
“I’m not weak at that level.”
“Huh.”
It was a remark criticizing the fact that Lee Jae-heon has recently been avoiding the company of weak people.
“…Have you stopped acting like an idiot now?”
“I think it’ll be okay.”
“Not bad.”
“I guess so.”
“Bian is a strong student….”
The ending of the sentence is a little blurry.
“Then shall we get help?”
I hope you can help me as much as possible.
Enough to snatch Song In-myeong, who was loitering around observing prey.
* * *
Beep.
“I guess this needs some eyeballs.”
Beep.
“This is an ear.”
Beep.
“This is… a toe.”
Vivian’s expression gradually darkened as she checked the ‘price’ of a product with the help of a convenience store part-time mannequin.
Vivian, who had not thought she was very afraid of gore, felt sick to her stomach as they all only asked for a part of the body. It’s crazy that this is what is requested at convenience stores.
‘Ah, this is the other side of the world.’
Going crazy.
Getting things at this convenience store was simple. The idea was to set a price by rotating the item until a reasonable price was requested, rather than an exorbitant price like a body part. This was possible because the prices of the items checked by the part-timer changed every time.
Of course, for someone who constantly checks the price at the counter, it was really unappetizing. There’s nothing good about buying a bag of snacks and being asked to cut off your limbs.
“I feel like I’ve been caught in a strange market in a back alley somewhere. A world of darkness or something like that.”
“If you think about it, we weren’t captured, but we walked in with our own feet, right?”
“Then you were deceived? “I was scammed…?”
“Calm down.”
Jaeheon Lee placed several other items on the Ususoo counter and looked back at Vivian.
“I’ll check, so the student can pick something up.”
“There is no need to do that….”
“Get out of the way. “Something suits each person.”
Vivian, who was pushed off the counter by Lee Jae-heon’s hand, twitched her eyebrows.
‘…So you are now saying that this is true?’
Even though it was a simple confirmation task without actually giving the requested price, just looking at a price that smelled of blood, something I had never seen before, was enough to drain my mental strength. It was a difficult task even for Vivian, who prided herself on being strong, but there was no way that anyone would be able to do it.
So, I know that’s just what I’m saying. Right now, Jaeheon Lee just couldn’t see the young student named Vivian having a hard time.
“….”
It felt really strange.
“…thank you.”
“I keep picking up things and it’s a mess.”
“Since this is a world where mental strength has a big impact, Jaeheon Lee could have picked it up and done something like that…”
“Is the child of a young bastard making fun of an adult now?”
“Oh, I can’t even recognize the High One.”
Vivian, who was playfully groveling, naturally hid herself between the display cases. I heard Jaeheon Lee click his tongue once, but it wasn’t scary. Even if Vivian’s old-fashioned personality was real, she would have been pathetic, especially since she was Vivian.
‘He is a person who lives a really difficult life.’
What was even more horrifying was that it was kindness shown without any expectation of reward. Consideration that did not even expect an emotional reward, such as pride, seemed like the result of mechanical calculation and reason.
Vivian couldn’t understand whether that was a conclusion a human could come to.
“Oh, this will work.”
“yes? “What is it?”
“I bought it.”
“….”
What and how did I buy it?
Vivian, who was selecting items from among the display cases, headed straight to the counter.
“This is crazy.”
“what.”
“Why are your hands like that?”
“I want some blood.”
“You give it to me like that? “What on earth is the problem with Lee Jae-heon?”
“I don’t have a problem, student.”
“You’re funny.”
It was really funny. Is this the reaction of someone who drew a picture with a piece of glass on the palm of his hand to buy a bucket of water?
I’m not sure, but if Song In-myeong was there, I think he would have clapped and liked it because it was funny.
“….”
Oh shit.
‘…The flow of thoughts shouldn’t end with Song In-myeong.’
The problem might not be Jaeheon Lee but Vivian.
It was okay when I couldn’t see Song In-myeong and couldn’t guess where he was or what he was doing, but when I heard that the bastard had appeared, my heart started pounding. I’m sure I’m running with negative emotions, but I’m not sure what those emotions are exactly. anger? sadness? regret?
I really don’t know.
“Ha…”
“Isn’t this okay?”
“It looks really good.”
“Irony, isn’t it?”
“I’m glad you know. Now I am dead to Mr. Jeong In-ho. Ha Seong-yoon will also try to kill me. “To be honest, I’m a little scared of that doctor.”
“It’s okay, that guy scares me too.”
“Speak kindly to that teacher. “This isn’t my fault, really.”
“…? “Why is this your fault?”
“You leave me speechless. “It’s so fucking fun.”
“fun?”
“It’s not fun.”
“It seems so.”
“….”
“Since we already bleed, let’s see if there’s anything else we can buy with blood. “Put your things down.”
Vivian said, squeezing her eyes shut as she looked at the blood-stained bucket.
“Why do you really live like that?”
“This bastard?”
“Don’t live like that.”
Living like that doesn’t mean that crazy guy named Song In-myeong likes it more.
It was the same school, same department, and same class. Because the three of them always hung out together, Vivian was quick-witted and knew some of Seo Jang-hwa and Song In-myeong’s habits. Song In-myeong had a unique look in his eyes when he was checking out art materials he liked, and considering the few times he showed me that look in the park, I guess…
“Fuck.”
“Why is your personality like that from earlier?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“Are you a rebel? “How old is our Bian?”
“Nulrzmlrg….”
Not knowing how upset I was, I was joking around.
‘No, it’s even more annoying because I feel like I know this.’
Lee Jae-heon is a very smart and clever person, but he uses his smarts to make stupid choices. You will know that the reason Vivian is upset right now is Song In-myeong, you will know why she asked to accompany him at this time, and you will probably also know that Vivian has feelings for Song In-myeong.
‘Then you fucking know everything. Yeah fuck. ‘Fuck, really fuck.’
There were people who didn’t get along even with my cowardly disguise.
“….”
“….”
“Hey, this is a claw, but claws are not okay….”
“Get out of the way.”
“Speak as an adult…”
“Oh, get out of the way.”
Does it make sense to rip off your big toenail to get a bag of cookies?
“How are you supposed to walk around like this?”
“Why don’t you have fingernails? It’s just a toenail.”
“This person is really going crazy.”
In fact, he openly reveals his abnormal common sense.
“are you okay.”
“…That can’t be right.”
“It’s true.”
It felt like he kept telling me something….
“….”
“….”
Lee Jae-heon did not avoid Vivian’s gaze, and Vivian was convinced of him.
This person really knows everything.
“…are you okay?”
That I was trying to use Lee Jae-heon to meet Song In-myeong.
“You don’t know everything.”
“Tell me how many times.”
“….”
“I said it was okay. Continue.”
He caught Lee Jae-heon as bait to catch Song In-myeong.
“…Why is this okay?”
If it’s okay, it’s not okay.
Perhaps because he did something stupid in the park, Hong Gyeong-jun was not overtly wary of Vivian, but he showed signs of concern that she might be swayed by Song In-myeong. The same was true for Kim Yeon-woo, as were the high school students who heard about the situation. Even though Vivian never revealed her true feelings about not being able to let go of her friend Song In-myeong.
However, Lee Jae-heon realized Vivian’s sincerity, which she had kept hidden. At the same time, he did not reprimand, blame, or even try to stop Vivian from putting him in danger. Lee Jae-heon just doesn’t agree with it, but he has no intention of stopping Vivian’s plan.
“And if you die….”
“You die.”
“That’s not what you’re saying.”
“They said they were together, but their words were actually harsh.”
“No, really….”
“Get some more water, buy what you can, and get out quickly. “Alba is angry.”
“….”
The faceless part-time worker mannequin seemed in a bad mood, perhaps because he rarely bought anything just by looking at the price. If the most gentle part-time worker seemed to be in such a bad mood even though he came during working hours, it meant that it was time to leave.
“hurry.”
“…driving me crazy.”
I don’t know how many times I said ‘I’m going crazy’ just today.
Vivian picked up a few more items and put them down on the counter, and all the time was spent trying to stop Lee Jae-heon from pressing the wound, saying that no more blood would come out. Please, if your future dream is not beauty, please refrain from doing so. No, aren’t you at the age where you should have already achieved your future dreams in the first place?
In the end, Vivian came out of the convenience store, almost dragging Lee Jae-heon, carrying a bag filled with water and a few snacks that she had purchased.
“Our student Vivian is cruel. “You don’t even say hello to your part-time worker.”
“In reality, we do.”
“Isn’t that why you’re so gentle?”
“What does it look like?”
“A fox cub wearing the mask of a bear?”
“…Bird….”
Why is it a bird?
Vivian sighed deeply.
“…sorry.”
“Just be as kind to others as you are sorry to yourself.”
“Is that the purpose of you obediently following me?”
“It’s similar.”
“He seems really crazy.”
This is why a doctor named Ha Seong-yoon would have done the same if he dragged her to the pharmacy.
‘…It’s not like this, really…’
I sighed internally.
Unlike Song In-myeong, Vivian was an ordinary student with a conscience, although she was a bit clever. There was no way I wouldn’t feel guilty about making this poor person named Lee Jae-heon feel even more sorry. When he says, ‘Please help others instead of me,’ I can’t help but listen.
“Then is there no more serious purpose?”
“Well, isn’t it obvious? “Are you being considerate to me to make a deal at this point instead of being so distracted by Song In-myeong that you get swayed and end up dying?”
“Why did Jaeheon Lee give that consideration in the first place?”
“I’m older than Vivian.”
“That’s a very good reason.”
“What else do you need?”
“…Has it always been like that?”
It’s because I’m more mature and I’m better.
A life of sacrificing everything for just one simple reason.
“Because it’s not a bad thing.”
“It’s bad for me.”
“I am satisfied.”
“That’s nonsense.”
That can’t be a happy life.
Jaeheon Lee himself seemed to know that.
(Continued in the next part)
