Episode 489
On the way home after checking the lock of the souvenir shop as ordered by Lee Jae-heon. Jeong Eun-woo, who was heading towards Lee Jae-heon, stopped at the moment of threat he felt.
He looked at Lee Jae-heon, who was standing holding the door.
“….”
Why?
‘Why did you think it was dangerous?’
That question was only resolved when I saw Lee Jae-heon’s face.
“…Director Jaeheon Lee.”
Eun-Woo Jeong dared to call his partner by Jae-Heon Lee’s name.
There was no particular reason. Just like Jae-heon Lee did when Eun-woo Jeong first came to the secret world and lost his mind, Eun-woo Jeong just wanted to remind Jae-heon Lee of who he was.
So, the current Lee Jae-heon was very different from the existing human being that Jeong Eun-woo knew.
“Director Jaeheon Lee.”
Only after Jeong Eun-woo called once again did Lee Jae-heon respond.
“yes.”
It was a completely expressionless expression, as if it had been painted without any emotion.
Eunwoo Jeong asked again as if urging him to do so.
“Is there anything else you would like me to do?”
“….”
“….”
Lee Jae-heon, who was quietly looking inside the door, opened his mouth belatedly.
“yes.”
It was such a quiet answer that I couldn’t tell if it was thoughtless or too much.
“I suffered major injuries to my ankle and leg. Although he has recovered a bit now, he will have many limitations in activities that require the use of his feet, such as running or kicking something.”
“Yes, you were attacked by Seong Dae-young.”
“Park Da-young is clever and has excellent split-second judgment. This is a similar characteristic to writer Song In-myeong, so if possible, follow student Park Da-young’s judgment. However, if Park Da-young loses her cool when it comes to her younger brother Park Da-hoon, it would be better to leave the decision to Song In-myeong.”
The story that came out seamlessly was unfamiliar to hear from people’s mouths, but familiar to see in print.
“…Can I understand that Director Lee Jae-heon is telling you about things to keep in mind if you become incapable of combat?”
That was a tip for dealing with someone abandoning someone.
‘In this case, it would be Lee Jae-heon himself.’
The other person looked back at Jeong Eun-woo gently, still holding the door handle.
“no.”
“Then…”
“This is the story of when I became incapacitated.”
Inability to fight and inability to act were completely different words.
“ah.”
Lee Jae-heon was saying that if he couldn’t help, it would be better to kill him.
It was only then that Eunwoo Jeong realized that he was smiling. I’m not sure if it’s because Jeong Eun-woo’s judgment has become clouded or because Lee Jae-heon’s mood has suddenly changed.
The other person’s smile looked like an angry adult or a smiling snake.
The only thing that was clear was that they were preparing in case the other person became an ‘enemy’ of their loved ones. For the children who are coming to this concert hall right now….
“I think I know the order. It looks similar to the one I visited in that order: rooms 1, 3, and 2. “It looks like you can get something inside by supplying ingredients in room 4, luring or dragging the monster to be cleaned in room 6, and cleaning it in room 5.”
Jaeheon Lee calmly recited the information he had obtained.
“This is why I was able to take the kitchen knife out of room 2. If you’re going to cut a monster in this torture chamber… or rather, in the kitchen, you need a knife anyway. “I always think about it, but it’s a strangely detailed and strangely sloppy world.”
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I think you can watch me.”
“understand.”
It sounded like it was meant to be dealt with when you lose your mind.
“Then just a moment.”
“….”
“Please wait outside.”
Lee Jae-heon entered room number 4, holding a knife in one hand and limping on one foot.
Because it was so dark inside, Jung Eun-woo could not clearly see Lee Jae-heon’s form even though he was standing right outside the door. I wouldn’t have been able to see at this distance, but it seemed like the other side of the world was blocking my view.
‘It’s a world with a strong, unyielding side.’
Jung Eun-woo looked into the dark and noisy darkness and tried to keep Lee Jae-heon in his eyes as much as possible. Since I received the order, I wanted to do whatever Jaeheon Lee wanted.
However, I was still puzzled.
‘…Why all of a sudden? Why has the atmosphere suddenly changed to the point where I feel threatened?’
It was a change that occurred during the brief period when Jeong Eun-woo was separated from Lee Jae-heon.
‘If anything had happened during that time, it was only that Lee Jae-heon checked the other three rooms…’
But Jeong Eun-woo knew. The room that Jaeheon Lee kept watching, unable to take his eyes off, was room number 5. And the ‘torture room’ that Jaeheon Lee mentioned.
Room number 5, which Eunwoo Jeong saw from afar, was a bit dark and had a strange monster tied up in it, but it took the form of a kitchen.
‘In other words, Jaeheon Lee has trauma related to torture. I guess we can guess that the room flipped the switch. If you think about the cruel nature of the people of this party and the harsh environment of this world, it is convincing enough.’
You may have been tortured by family members or other survivors in this world.
‘Or both.’
And just there.
There were no further questions.
Lee Jae-heon has already informed Jeong Eun-woo of what to do in case of an emergency, and has resolved all questions that would serve as a basis for judgment if further variables arise. There was no need to know why Jaeheon Lee had trauma related to torture.
“….”
Above all, Jeong Eun-woo was confident that he would be faithful to orders.
‘Because I learned it.’
Like most people in the industry, Jeong Eun-woo was a man capable of fighting. Although he was not particularly interested in physical work, he went into the industry and learned. It was then that I learned how to abandon ‘colleagues’ and ‘friends’.
People in the industry viewed Jung Eun-woo as a convenient tool, and the same was true for Jung Eun-woo.
‘Tools that will determine my life….’
Jeong Eun-woo was a person without any doubts.
And there were just that many questions.
Although he could understand the physiological process of eating and breathing, words such as career path and future hopes were very difficult for Jeong Eun-woo.
The industry was a great advisor who helped Jeong Eun-woo do his part, and Lee Dang became a good partner who showed him the direction of his life.
Jung Eun-woo, who has no doubts about killing people, also learned combat with ease. In particular, the people of this party were the ones who bore a lot of resentment, so his value was even greater. Jung Eun-woo also willingly joined them because they were the ones who treated him better.
‘Thanks to you, I broke up with Inho.’
My dearest blood relative.
Jeong Eun-woo, who was smiling while remembering those black eyes that strangely resembled mine, looked at Lee Jae-heon when he heard his footsteps walking toward the door.
Meanwhile, Lee Jae-heon was even more covered in blood.
“….”
“…I brought it.”
The sight of blood dripping onto the wet floor was strangely unrealistic and dreamlike. The floor, which would not be strange even if it was covered in blood, was still clean, just a little cloudy.
Jeong Eun-woo looked at Lee Jae-heon again.
“…don’t you need treatment?”
In fact, it was an unusual question even for him.
Eunwoo Jeong does not recommend or give advice unless the other person asks first. It was because I didn’t feel the need.
However, Jung Eun-woo, who had now seen Lee Jae-heon’s bright red body, felt the need.
He was a man who knew that human life was precious and therefore recommended treatment based on common sense.
“You don’t seem to be in very good condition.”
Eunwoo Jeong knew how to worry about others if he felt the need.
Although it was only for a moment, he immediately grasped Lee Jae-heon’s condition.
‘…It’s clear that he didn’t even make the slightest effort to protect himself. Otherwise, there is no way you could have been hurt that much in such a short period of time. It may seem like he is desperate, but for a person like that, the fact that he seems to have a clear sense of purpose must be something that is clearly unique.’
Until he saw room 5, Lee Jae-heon seemed to be trying to protect himself, even though he may be a bit harsh with his body. This could be seen from the fact that he took out a kitchen knife in room 2 and attempted to possess a weapon.
However, Lee Jae-heon, who came with two strange-looking fish or monsters in his hands… was too tattered. It seemed to be the result of prioritizing mission performance and confirming its performance rather than self-protection.
And sure enough, Jaeheon Lee’s answer was the same.
“No need.”
“yes.”
“There is no need for Jeong Eun-woo to come forward. Be whole. So please help the children who come to visit us. “That’s why we leave Eunwoo Jeong intact.”
“….”
“Ah, he looks curious again….”
Lee Jae-heon’s voice was clear. That was even weirder.
‘In fact, doesn’t your pronunciation get better than before?’
The face was like that too.
He was very pale, but his solid smile, which felt neat even though it was polished, was not dark but dull. But it was clean and tidy. It looked like an iron mask modeled after a scaly reptile.
That’s why Jeong Eun-woo was confident. Although Lee Jae-heon was not in his right mind right now, he was trying to achieve his goal with his fierce mental power. That may be why they were able to leave even their self-preservation instincts far behind and bring two more monsters into the dark market.
‘I might really die.’
Jaeheon Lee seemed to have given up on life.
However, his attitude of being confident that his goal would be achieved was strange and foreign.
‘…Is this possible because he has such a cruel nature that he can even use his own death as a piece of chess?’
Jeong Eun-woo became a little curious.
Lee Jae-heon, who had lost his mind, seemed like a much more perfect person than before.
The ability to go straight ahead to achieve what one wants without worrying about unnecessary things or delusions that make no sense. If that’s not perfection, what is?
I asked Jaeheon Lee, who was holding the monster in his hand and heading to room 6.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Please.”
“I heard from Detective Hong Gyeong-jun’s phone call that the group at the aquarium includes not only a high school brother and sister and writer Song In-myeong, but also two kindergarten students.”
“there is. Their names are Minhong and Seoah. “We are both six years old.”
Although he didn’t say it out loud, Jaeheon Lee seemed like a person who valued efficiency.
Still, he showed affection for what he had. The evidence is the soothing tone when calling the names of the two kindergarten students and the concern they have for me. It is an attitude that is efficient in some senses and inefficient in others.
Jeong Eun-woo became a little confused.
‘…How should I define it?’
Short-thinking idiots like me do their job well when they have clear information input, but Lee Jae-heon, who just became the temporary owner today, was a very complex person in that respect.
He seems like a would-be murderer who is insensitive to death, or like an actor who changes his face at will, and now that he is strangely out of his mind, he even looks like a perfect human being.
I couldn’t figure out where it started and how much it was truth, lies, nature, and respect.
Jeong Eun-woo, who broke off his thoughts, immediately continued with a question.
“Then what should I do about my attitude toward them?”
“When Eunwoo Jeong follows Dayoung Park’s instructions, protect the kindergarten students from all threats.”
When following student Dayoung Park’s instructions.
Eunwoo Jeong asked one after another.
“What if I have to follow author Song In-myeong’s instructions?”
“You can kill me.”
“….”
“It’s true that it is aimed at two kindergarten students.”
When Jeong Eun-woo silently expressed his doubts, Lee Jae-heon continued speaking in a soft voice.
“Please kill me so I don’t get sick.”
It is an ambiguous command as to whether it is asking to be killed in a painless way or to be freed from the pain that will be felt by living. The contradictory smile that Lee Jae-heon made was stuck in Jeong Eun-woo’s mind.
Compassion and coldness.
Compassion and efficiency.
Love and indifference.
“…understand.”
It was a lie.
He thought about it for quite some time, but Jung Eun-woo was unable to interpret the other person’s smile.
Is it because he is insensitive to emotions?
(Continued in the next part)
