Chapter 95: If You See Me Like This (3)

Chapter 95: If You See Me Like This (3)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri

Illustrations: Here

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"Where's Tryno?"

After handcuffing Liquid with ability user cuffs borrowed from a nearby police station, I asked.

Completely broken, he was in despair.

Without his left leg, he had to support himself against the wall.

"......"

But whether he was still not in his right mind, shocked, or being defiant, his answer was delayed.

The die was already cast.

I didn't hesitate to use my power.

The room's temperature began to plummet rapidly.

Frost started forming on the windows, and white breaths began emerging from both Liquid and the organization boss.

"Where's Tryno?"

Only after feeling the change with his skin did Liquid slowly answer.

"...At our hideout."

"Stingshot?"

"...The same. Barely alive after Tryno's attack."

"Riem?"

"Riem would be with Tryno as well."

Finally, I asked the last question.

In truth, the previous questions were just a preparation for this one.

"...........Luna?"

Liquid's lips quivered.

My heart, which had been calm, also skipped a beat.

I don't know why I can no longer see Luna as Luna.

Thinking of Luna... Song Soo-yeon's awkward and fresh smile came to mind.

The times and memories shared with her come flooding back.

My heart ached.

Liquid finally stammered out his reply.

"......I don't know."

Unintentionally, a sigh of relief escaped me.

Liquid added an excuse.

"....It's true. I haven't seen Luna since you attacked us."

The day I attacked.

That was the day Soo-yeon and I parted ways.

Was our separation painful for her as well?

Was it not an act?

After being deceived once, it was too hard to trust again.

"Any contact?"

"Contact...nothing. She's disappeared."

The more I ask the villains she associated with, the more strangely at ease my heart becomes.

It was the same with Han Yoo-jung, and now, with Liquid.

The fact that Soo-yeon was involved in villainous activities remained unchanged, but the intensity of the betrayal felt diluted.

And as it did, the image of me coldly leaving her, and Soo-yeon pitifully shedding tears, becomes even more vivid.

During the silence that fell while I was lost in thought, Liquid moved.

He fell to the ground and started crawling slowly towards me.

"..."

I just watched Liquid quietly, curious about what he intended to do.

"Your name...was Dice, right?"

"..."

"Dice...I don't know where you live or who you are...but I'll help you."

"..."

"See the money behind me? I'll give it all to you. Ah, and I'll keep paying you. You said you were chasing the Villain Alliance? I'll lure out Tryno and Riem for you...!

"I will find Luna for you someday...!"

Liquid bowed his head under my shoes.

Watching him...I couldn't help but reflect, as usual.

Even before regression, he was no better than scum.

That such a man could gain such infamy was surprising.

Was this also Han Yoo-jung's doing?

As a regressor, she must have steered her alliance in a favorable direction based on her memories.

"...So, spare me... please, let me live...!"

I pressed down on Liquid's head with my foot.

His body began to panic.

With this small action of mine, he realized everything was going wrong.

I recalled something.

"..........You."

"Ugh...! Just, just wait...!"

"Do you remember the day you and Tryno caused the bombing?"

"Ugh..! Let's, let's talk this out...!"

No matter how much he groaned, I did not lift my foot.

I was being very patient as it was.

"That day, a child died in front of Solace."

It was also the day Min-Bom first showed me tears.

We became much closer rapidly after that.

It was the first day I truly saw Solace's other side.

Liquid's body shuddered at my words.

I continued.

"And a few months later in Busan, a child was swept into the sea by the torrent you caused. Solace saw that, too."

"So...Solace...? You...you're on the hero's side...? Heroes, heroes shouldn't do this...! My, my leg...Aaaaah!"

At his slight resistance, I pressed down harder with my foot.

Even the floor tiles seemed to groan with him.

Every part of Liquid, except his head, began to thrash in pain.

Soon, he could not utter anything but screams.

"Aaaah!! Aaaaaaaaah!!"

"If you try to negotiate with me one more time...I'll kill you in a way that's far more painful than this. Got it?"

I had no intention of killing him.

Of course, I had to find Song Soo-yeon at some point.

Since it was because of me that she became a villain with both legs intact... it's also up to me to resolve this.

Just as I was capturing members of the Villain Alliance, it was only natural to bring in Luna myself.

But as painful as it was, I unconsciously prioritized her last.

Maybe I don't want to catch her, a contradictory thought on my part.

"..........."

No, in fact, I know.

Why I'm here.

From the moment I saw her calendar.

Or from when Liquid told me he hadn't been in contact with Luna.

No, from when I started to suspect Soo-yeon might not be a regressor.

Since then, I've been curious about how she's been living.

Maybe she's right.

I might just be a fool.

I can't let go of the happy memories.

Even as I suffered from her betrayal.

Perhaps it would be easier to see her completely drop the mask and mock me.

Maybe it would be better if it were all an act, a complete betrayal.

Then, it would be easier to bring her in.

I could let her go without any regrets.

I don't know.

The pain of being betrayed and the struggle of not being able to let go of her were wrestling each other.

If either side was going to be painful, it might be better for one side to win decisively.

I looked at Song Soo-yeon's apartment building from a distance.

Perhaps if I wait, I might catch a glimpse of her from afar.

But she might have already left this place for a better home.

Then, a bright flash fell from the dark sky like a meteor.

It was a sight too familiar not to recognize.

Solace.

She was heading in the direction of my apartment.

"........."

I looked around... not finding Song Soo-yeon, I stood up from my spot.

If she was heading to my apartment, I should head there too.

We haven't even said hello yet.

I didn't feel like saying goodbye to her.

But I had to.

I slowly moved towards my one-room apartment.

---

---

Song Soo-yeon was sitting in Jung-gyeom's one-room apartment again today.

She had lost track of time long ago.

She hadn't seen Jung-gyeom's face for what felt like an eternity.

Without proper hydration, she couldn't even cry anymore.

Her lips were parched, and her eyes could not have been more listless.

From those dry lips, the words she had called out thousands, tens of thousands of times, spilled out.

"....I'm sorry......I was wrong..."

She felt abandoned by the world.

Truly, there was no one.

She became more acutely aware of that fact with each passing day.

Though she had expected it, the pain increased by the day.

It felt like her heart was rotting away.

But Jung-gyeom showed no signs of appearing, leaving her unable to heal.

What was she supposed to do?

Solace was slowly taking Jung-gyeom away.

And it was clear Jung-gyeom was going along with it.

What was she supposed to do?

Working part-time at a logistics center wasn't going to outmatch Solace financially.

There was no time to change their current relationship.

She had no charm, nothing appealing to make a case for herself.

Should she have confessed?

With all the things she had said so far, wouldn't a confession have driven him further away?

Song Soo-yeon couldn't bear the thought of drifting further apart.

Jung-gyeom was all she had; she didn't want to be rejected by him.

".........."

But now she regretted it.

It was hindsight, but nothing would have changed.

No, rather, now feels even more like hell.

The thought that he might loathe her made her heart ache again.

How repulsed must he have been to not even return to his own home?

Was she so repulsive that he had to abandon his apartment and even throw away his phone?

Was she so repulsive that he would move to a completely different area to start a new life?

The thought of being hated to such an extent made it hard for Song Soo-yeon to breathe.

The idea that the man who used to show her his pure smile now had his expression twisted in hatred towards her tore her apart.

It seemed impossible that he could hate anyone.

But the fact that she was the object of such feelings was so painful.

The first person who understood her, her first protector, her first older brother figure, her first friend, her first love had left like this.

She had kicked away the luck that had come rolling to her feet.

There would never be such fortune again.

".....What's this?"

At that moment, startled by a sudden voice, Song Soo-yeon trembled.

Turning her stiff neck, she saw Solace entering through the broken window.

The bright light she emitted blurred her vision.

Her dry eyes couldn't see anything.

But the voice kept echoing.

A voice filled with confusion, perhaps anger.

Solace, looking around the messy room, asked again.

"....What happened here...?"

In the darkness, her eyes glinted coldly.