Episode 390:
The art teacher pretending to be a human appeared behind the survivors and slaughtered them with ease.
It was different from regular plaster monsters that simply tried to kill all survivors in sight. The art teacher often paused to wonder what he was thinking so deeply about, and then suddenly ran quickly and sawed off the survivor’s neck, or held the survivor with his hand and observed it as if inspecting the quality of chicken to be slaughtered.
They also used it as bait to lure survivors.
“Mr. Kim Ki-jeong…!”
Kim Ki-jeong was quick on his feet, but when he got scared, he was so weak that he panicked and couldn’t do anything. The art teacher’s first victim was Kim Ki-jeong.
Kim Ki-jeong was caught before he could utter a word, and the art teacher, who broke his legs, lured Han Do-yoon away. As soon as he caught up with him, he turned Han Do-yoon into a plaster monster and immediately killed Kim Ki-jeong, but what the art teacher saw in that short period of time was clearly a hostage situation.
“Get in there quickly.”
“mister…!”
“Didn’t you just see it? “If you are here, it will be even worse, understand?”
Jeong In-ho hid the Park siblings in the bathroom before the monsters attacked. Because the situation was serious, Lee Jae-heon remained outside with Jeong In-ho. This was to slightly increase the time students could hide in the bathroom.
Until now, when the monster at Unhak High School entered the bathroom, it seemed to have forgotten about the survivors inside. That’s why they put the Park siblings in the bathroom, but unfortunately, the art teacher was different from those stupid mass-produced monsters. It left Jeong In-ho in the hands of Do-yoon Han, who had become a plaster monster, and immediately captured Jae-heon Lee.
There are still injuries to my abdomen and legs. Because there was no medicine, even one eye could not be treated. Lee Jae-heon, who was already mentally weak, was caught before he could properly resist the art teacher.
“…! Ugh!”
bang-!
The art teacher threw Jaeheon Lee against the wall right next to the bathroom door.
“What are you doing…!”
“….”
“!! Ah…! Ugh…!”
Suddenly, profit. Sigh….
A bloody noise echoed through the hallway and bathroom.
The art teacher tortured Lee Jae-heon so that the siblings hiding inside the bathroom could hear. Even though he held back his screams as best as he could, the sounds of strangulation and flesh being cut were vivid and did not stop even after 10 minutes. There was no news of where Jeong In-ho, who was being chased by the plaster monster, went.
“Huh, breath. Hmm….”
“….”
“Oh man… what should I do….”
“….”
“Mister….”
The monster’s intentions were clear. If you don’t want to kill Lee Jae-heon, it probably means get out of the bathroom.
Both Park Da-young and Park Da-hoon were blocking the door while holding the handle, keeping in mind the possibility of a monster pushing in, but in this situation, their hands were shaking so much that their determination not to let anyone in was meaningless. I saw bright red blood splashing on the translucent bathroom door and a new type of monster holding a saw.
It was Park Da-hoon who lost patience first.
“Hey, you’re here.”
“…Park Da-hoon.”
“sorry.”
Park Da-hoon looked at his older sister in a somewhat calm tone.
“I don’t want to remember this.”
With those words, Park Da-hoon left the bathroom, and only after hearing several shouts and screaming sounds did he become quiet. Dayoung Park was holding the door handle inside the bathroom tightly, not knowing what was going on.
“….”
My mind was blank.
How many more minutes have passed? Just as my hands were shaking, someone opened the bathroom door.
“…Ah…”
It wasn’t a monster.
“mister.”
“….”
“Mister….”
This is Lee Jae-heon.
Surprisingly, he looked fine. He would have looked fine if it weren’t for the torn clothes and blood stains along the texture.
He swept up his blood-soaked hair and slowly hugged Park Da-young, who was standing blankly. The terrible smell of blood disturbed her head.
“I’m sorry.”
“…why.”
“I couldn’t help Dahun.”
“Why are you apologizing…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t do that…”
Park Da-young was able to tell without saying a single word directly that Park Da-hoon was taken away by the art teacher monster. Lee Jae-heon, who apologized in a quiet voice, looked calm, but that made him look more dangerous.
“I mean, don’t apologize to me.”
I also resented Park Da-hoon, who went to die saying he didn’t want to remember this terrible time, and I also hated Lee Jae-heon, who apologized, stained with blood, for not being able to save him. The same was true for Park Da-young herself, who couldn’t do anything. I cried out of resentment and hatred.
Park Da-young instinctively looked for wounds as she groped Lee Jae-heon’s back, which was even sticky from the blood, but all she could touch was smooth skin.
“…Oh man.”
“huh.”
“The wound…”
“I treated it with the medicine I brought.”
“Sigh.”
“It’s a good thing you prepared in advance.”
Lee Jae-heon is a person who is insensitive to his own pain, so he probably didn’t use medicine because he couldn’t bear his own pain. Even if it had been used for myself, I would have treated it just enough to be able to move. Nevertheless, the fact that he used medicine to this extent meant that he was considerate of Park Da-young.
As soon as Park Da-hoon was dragged away by the monster and he was left alone, after treating himself with medicine, he came to apologize to Park Da-young. This foolish adult did that for his foolish self.
“Hmm. “Huh…”
Park Da-young cried loudly. My eyes were stinging.
“Mister, uncle….”
My vision turned purple, like being colored by a violet.
Dayoung Park suddenly felt pain that was not hers. I felt fear and confusion. I felt relieved and resigned. Feeling sad and wronged by her brother, who was in a situation where he felt like he was going to die, Dayoung Park stuttered and called Jaeheon Lee. I didn’t even know what I was talking about.
“Bar Park Da-hoon. Park Da-hoon, what should I do? Park Da-hoon.”
“aha.”
Lee Jae-heon understood something from that ugly idiot.
“As expected, Da-Hoon is alive.”
Park Da-young instinctively realized that her brother was alive, and Lee Jae-heon realized that Park Da-hoon was the art teacher’s bait.
“For some reason, they gave me something like this.”
This was because the monster gave Lee Jae-heon an elevator ticket. It could only go up to the fourth floor.
“…Where are you going?”
“I’m going to look for Mr. Jeong In-ho.”
“Come with me, don’t leave me behind…”
Park Da-young hurriedly followed Jae-heon Lee as he left the bathroom, but he didn’t respond. Thinking it was just because she was tired, Park Da-young tried hard to suppress her anxiety. She walked out into the first floor hallway, holding on to Lee Jae-heon’s arm.
In-ho Jeong was not difficult to find.
“Boss…!”
“I’m glad that the limb appears to be intact.”
I don’t know when Jeong In-ho arrived, but he was wandering around the lobby on the first floor. It seemed like he had left Han Do-yoon, who had become a plaster monster, in B-dong.
Jeong In-ho approached Lee Jae-heon and pursed his lips as if he was at a loss for words.
“…The manager’s condition doesn’t look happy at all right now. What on earth is this?…”
“Something happened. “I got into a fight with a monster.”
“….”
“Laugh, because it was a joke.”
Despite Lee Jae-heon’s words, Jeong In-ho was staring at him blankly for a long time. The hard face looked like he was blaming himself or like he was blaming someone.
Lee Jae-heon asked Jeong In-ho.
“What about Han Do-yoon? “You must have lost all your stamina, but you managed to escape.”
“…When he saw Kim Ki-jeong’s body, he stopped. “I felt like I was distracted, so I took advantage of the opportunity to get out.”
“aha.”
Lee Jae-heon, who did not add anything, suggested calmly as if he had not heard anything.
“Then would you like to go up together?”
“…Where are you talking about?”
“On the fourth floor.”
Jaeheon Lee took out an elevator ticket.
“I received an invitation.”
Before Jung In-ho could say anything, Park Da-young intervened.
“Oh no, where are we going…!”
“Dayoung, be quiet.”
“Is it because of what I said? I was wrong. It’s okay if Da-hoon doesn’t come looking for me. It’s really okay….”
“….” “
…Da-hoon Da-hoon….”
Even though she knew that she would come back when she died, Park Da-young couldn’t bring herself to say, ‘It’s okay to abandon Park Da-hoon.’ Aren’t I still connected to my brother who is enduring the monster alone? Even though I knew more clearly than anyone else how much he was struggling, I couldn’t tell him not to save him.
Seeing Park Da-young’s hesitation, Jeong In-ho opened his mouth.
“…Yes, let’s go together.”
“! “Are you crazy?”
“I can’t send the manager alone…”
Jeong In-ho continued calmly, as if he had resigned himself to something.
“Because this episode is a failure.”
“….”
“Is that right, Manager?”
In the end, Dayoung Park was unable to stop the adults going up to the 4th floor.
“Now what did you say?”
“….”
“Park Da-young.”
“…when it’s time to leave school. Just leave…”
“Yes, I remember it well.”
“….”
“Hide in the bathroom until it’s time. okay?”
“Oh man….”
“I have to answer.”
“…yes.”
Seeing Park Da-young answering incoherently, Lee Jae-heon hugged her tightly.
“…If you don’t like it, just keep hiding in the bathroom.”
“…Is that okay?”
“Just until the bell rings this time and the next time it rings.”
“No more than that… is it okay?”
“Nothing can’t be done.”
With those words, Jae-heon Lee and In-ho Jeong took the elevator and headed to the 4th floor.
Dayoung Park avoided the plaster monster on the first floor by repeatedly going out and hiding in the bathroom until the adults returned. In fact, since I didn’t go to Building B, I didn’t know if the plaster monster was moving or if it was still looking at Kim Ki-jeong’s body. However, Park Da-young was in the bathroom of Building A the whole time to keep her promise to Lee Jae-heon.
“….”
No one came until the bell rang.
“…Still….”
But I said there’s nothing that can’t be done.
While repeating that, Dayoung Park did not go to school. All I did was curl up in a corner of the bathroom and hold my breath, and every now and then, if I had an auditory hallucination of a sound, I would go out for a moment, look around, and return to the bathroom, swallowing my disappointment.
After that, the bell rang three more times…
“…huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…”
No one came.
When no one from the Eonhak High School exploration team showed up, Park Da-young was led home from school by police officer Kim Yeon-woo, who came to see the old woman. Kim Yeon-woo carefully said that all survivors except her were probably dead.
Dayoung Park already knew that. The secret world lets you know when someone you love dies. I even find out when someone I know dies.
Nevertheless, the reason I heard the bell ring several more times was because of Park Da-young’s stubbornness and not being able to do anything. This is because I was hoping that they would come back alive, as if by some miracle.
“….”
“….”
I thought I failed and shouldn’t stay like this.
“…I want to go back to school….”
“Student Dayoung.”
“You have to know what’s what. “You need to know.”
In the end, Park Da-young entered Unhak High School with Ha Seong-yoon despite the dissuasion of adults and friends. Other high school students also joined Park Da-young in mourning the death of her friend. Azalea just looked at those who were about to leave with an inexplicable look in their eyes, and the children waved and said to see them later. Yunbyeol Lee just cried.
Kim Yeon-woo, who tried to stop him for a long time, probably knew that everyone wanted to die, but eventually joined the new Unhak High School exploration team. She apologized dozens of times to those who remained at the police station. He said he was killing them. Azalea comforted those who were crying and saw them off as they left. Yunbyeol Lee held the children in her arms.
Yeonwoo Kim said this.
“I know that student Dayoung is smart. “I’ve never been unreasonable before, so there must be some reason why it’s happening like this.”
“…sister.”
“You don’t have to tell me.”
She stood at the front, adjusting her hat.
“It’s natural for me to protect people, so this case is no different.”
Dayoung Park was grateful to Yeonwoo Kim for following along without asking too much. It may be because she got used to Hong Gyeong-jun using his unexplainable intuition as evidence, but Kim Yeon-woo set out to help Park Da-young without knowing anything. Even as he bowed his head several times to those who remained at the police station.
Although it was a hastily assembled team, it lasted longer than expected. It was also because they moved very cautiously, keeping in mind the small number of combat personnel. Rather than going straight to killing the hated art teacher, Dayoung Park researched ways to kill him. I started a fire at school with a lighter, experimented with various things, and even wandered around the swimming pool.
And then eventually.
“…Park Da-hoon.”
“….”
“I’m sorry.”
He died at the hands of his brother who was dyed white.
“See you next.”
It was my last greeting.
It was preparation for the next time.
* * *
“Do you understand this far?”
“….”
“Over there? hey? “Are you sure you understand?”
At the words ‘Park Da-young’, Park Da-young blinked her eyes foolishly.
“…Wow….”
This is how Park Da-hoon has been feeling.
“I feel like I might throw up.”
“You can vomit. Honestly, at this level, it’s acceptable to throw up.”
“Are you better than I thought?”
“Then I’m glad.”
‘Park Da-young’, who spoke with a smile, spoke with venom in her eyes.
“I’m going to have to watch that monster run away.”
“…You’re already dead.”
“But you’re alive, so that’s enough. “I have already prepared my heart.”
For her, the art teacher was also a teacher she had seen face-to-face while attending school. It wasn’t enough that the person I was learning from, Miu or Gou, was actually a serial killer and killed my loved ones. ‘Park Da-young’, who had gathered all the betrayal that was and was not there, was gritting her teeth.
So she wanted Park Da-young to kill the art teacher. Dayoung Park also knew that.
“I should prepare my mind too, right?”
“It’s okay if you don’t. “I’m not asking you to do something right away.”
“then?”
“Please don’t give up either.”
“….”
“Don’t give up like that stupid bastard Park Da-hoon and don’t pass it on just because you don’t want to remember. Figure out a way to kill the art teacher, thinking there’s no one else to tell but you. And tell it.”
“…But the condition for regression is….”
“Becoming the last survivor. I know. And I didn’t mean for you to be the last survivor by killing other people.”
“I think I know what you mean.”
“….”
“Anyway, you’re telling me not to give up, right?”
“…he.”
‘Park Da-young’ smiled brightly.
“As expected, I can speak well.”
“huh.”
“I’ve done this much, so you can do better.”
“I guess so.”
“Good good. “It’s a great attitude.”
‘Park Da-young’, who had been sassy, blinked and asked.
“…If he sees me, will he tell me I did a good job?”
There has never been an easier question to answer.
“of course.”
“okay.”
‘Park Da-young’ smiled brightly with pride in having made it to the end without giving up.
“Then I’m satisfied.”
It was Park Da-young’s favorite smile.
* * *
But I was a little embarrassed.
“…what.”
“What’s wrong?”
“…No….”
I didn’t know that the point of regression would be immediately after entering Unhak High School.
‘what’s this.’
We shouldn’t be given time to prepare for something like this.
Park Da-young felt unfair.
* * *
And here was someone as unfair as Park Da-young.
“….”
“….”
with mouth open ‘???’ Jeong In-ho, who made eye contact with Park Da-young, who was in a state of shock, nodded slightly. I don’t know why I’m here right now, and I feel like I know, but I really don’t want to understand that expression on my face. Jeong In-ho was able to understand the desperate feelings of student Park Da-young.
He muttered inwardly.
‘It’s a pain in the ass.’
I never thought I would return right after, not even before entering Unhak High School. The last survivors were a little caught off guard because they mostly received their pre-return memories through dreams.
Just before returning, he and Lee Jae-heon had a scuffle with the art teacher on the 4th floor, and he felt indescribably helpless. Jeong In-ho, who turned his gaze away from Park Da-young, unconsciously looked at Lee Jae-heon. Unlike before his return, when I saw him looking clean and without the smell of blood, an indescribable feeling of frustration came over me.
“…? “Do you have anything to say?”
“…There are a lot, but…”
Lee Jae-heon, who had completely lost his mind before returning, was in a kind of runaway state.
‘I guess the damn sacrificial soldier was defeated.’
Lee Jae-heon, who had been doing his best to avoid the harsh gaze of his companions, thought there was no place for him to retreat anymore, or perhaps he just didn’t want to retreat. Just like when Jeong In-ho and the others first came to the other side of the world, I was so frightened that he sacrificed his body like crazy to protect Park Da-hoon and Jeong In-ho.
When? It felt like only 10 minutes ago.
“If you have a lot to say, shouldn’t you just say it?”
“I don’t know what to tell you first.”
“…Are you back?”
“It’s not just that I’m speechless.”
Lee Jae-heon, who had rolled his eyes, was someone he couldn’t communicate with.
“Then what is it?”
“….”
“Mr. Jeong In-ho?”
“Let’s first promise not to jump out suddenly.”
“Am I a dog?”
“The dog would listen better.”
Damn victim Lee Jae-heon.
I had no idea how to stop him.
(Continued in the next part)