CH 325

Elahah told us to rest as much as possible, but I couldn’t wait quietly as there were two injured on the team.

We returned to the Requiem Guild. Kwon Jeong-han immediately went into the operating room with a doctor and a healer team, and Min Ah-rin, who had consumed a lot of her energy, was also transferred to the ward. Both needed stability.

I didn’t know when Elahah would return and open the passage, so everyone except Kwon Jeong-han and Min Ah-rin gathered in my room on the 23rd floor. Unlike usual, the living room, where three people were missing, gave a strangely empty feeling.

It was the same at Cheon Sa-yeon’s house, but coming to the room on the 23rd floor where Kim Woo-jin, Min Ah-rin, Kwon Jeong-han, and Fox were staying, the sense of loss was too great. So I left my team members behind and ran into the bedroom.

It must be difficult for other people, but I didn’t want to show tiredness in front of them. I sat down on the bed and wiped my dry face with both hands.

My mind was a mess like a storm had passed. Min Ah-rin, who collapsed with blood, Kwon Jeong-han, who was seriously injured, Kim Woo-jin, who was taken instead of me… The faces of the three were intertwined and I felt like I was going crazy. I missed the peaceful times of the past when everyone gathered in the room on the 23rd floor and laughed and chatted.

I struggled to organize my thoughts while pressing my tired eyes with my hands.

‘First…’

Rescue Kim Woo-jin. After that, I looked at the conditions of Min Ah-rin and Kwon Jeong-han… And we needed to find out about the situation in the museum where the veil had disappeared…

A sharp pain, as if stabbed with an awl, spread from my head. The overloaded body strongly shouted for rest. I frowned while rubbing my forehead.

Should I take painkillers? If we went to rescue Kim Woo-jin and couldn’t fight properly because of a headache…

Knock, knock.

It was the knock on the bedroom door that broke the gloomy thoughts that stretched out like branches. Yes, after a short answer, the door carefully opened and Woo Seo-hyuk entered.

“The clothes have just arrived. Please change.”

He held out the clothes wrapped in transparent wrapping paper. Only then did I realize that I hadn’t changed, so I smiled awkwardly and took the new one.

“Thank you.”

“We still have time, so you can wash. If there are any injuries during the fight, I brought medicine and I will look into it.”

“It’s okay. There’s nothing inconvenient at all.”

It wasn’t just me, but the team members were also hurt a lot. Kim Woo-jin, who was taken away, also had his arm cut long the last time I saw him.

Everyone had worked hard, but I didn’t want to be the only one who washed up and received treatment. The clothes were torn and stained with dirt and blood, so it would be better to change.

Woo Seo-hyuk, who heard my answer, looked at me with his unique expressionless face. But somehow I got the feeling that Woo Seo-hyuk had something he wanted to say to me.

“Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi?”

“…after safely saving Talented Kim Woo-jin.”

After hesitating for a while, Woo Seo-hyuk continued the conversation with his eyes filled with complex emotions.

“I hope you get a good rest for just one day.”

Did that mean we should all set a day and rest? That was my opinion as well.

“Yes. We should. From the moment we entered the museum until now, everyone has worked very hard. Even after I rescue Kim Woo-jin, I can’t rest right away, but later…”

“Why can’t you rest?”

“Pardon?”

“Why can’t you rest right away, Han Yi-gyeol-ssi?”

I was a little confused because I didn’t know that Woo Seo-hyuk would ask that. I didn’t think he was ever wondered about it this much.

“That… we have to solve the museum problem. I heard that Edward is coming to Korea to help us, so we have to go see him. It looks like the situation needs to be sorted out.”

“The issue of the museum can be fully resolved through Requiem and Roheon Guild even without Han Yi-gyeol-ssi. Producer Edward will be formally invited, so you can meet him here.”

Woo Seo-hyuk, who was explaining, paused for a moment. Then he hurriedly opened his mouth again.

“I’m not saying that I don’t need Han Yi-gyeol-ssi. I just…”

“……”

“I want to help you. Of course, I don’t have much strength, so there’s nothing I can do but this…”

It was then that I realized what Woo Seo-hyuk wanted to say to me. I was very grateful for his concern for me.

“Woo Seo-hyuk-ssi is very helpful to me. Don’t think like that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’m having a hard time with this one too… I will adjust my schedule in the direction of rest as much as possible.”

Hearing the answer, Woo Seo-hyuk nodded his head slightly. Then he stroked my cheek with a large hand.

It was such a short moment that I couldn’t even react. It was similar to the time in Cinderella’s fairy tale when he touched me like a brush while pointing out what to wear.

“I think that would be better. I will also help you with scheduling.”

“Ah, um… yes.”

“Then please change your clothes.”

Woo Seo-hyuk left the bedroom without me. Left alone, I rubbed the nape of my neck with a strange sense of discomfort.

When I changed clothes and left the bedroom, the other people had also changed their tattered clothes into new ones.

Fifteen minutes before the five hours had passed since Kim Woo-jin was taken away, the passage opened in the living room where everyone was gathered and Elahah appeared.

“I found it.”

Elahah, who continued to use his ability to find the place where Kim Woo-jin was, looked in poorer condition than before. He staggered over and said to me.

“The location is Japan. I’m going to connect the passage in the basement of the building so you can get there right away.”

“I understand.”

“The passage I can hold on is… honestly, I can’t do it for long. I’m telling the truth because it’s dangerous if the passage is cut off in the middle.”

Elahah let out a deep sigh with a tired expression on his face.

“I can hold it about an hour. You have to rescue the guy who was dragged inside and return to the place where the passage is connected.”

“Yes.”

“If you fail this time, there’s nothing else we can do for you.”

“…I know.”

“Okay.”

Elahah, who smiled bitterly with many emotions, created a new passage. The silver oval passageway shone brightly.

“Go and be careful.”

My shoulders stiffened with tension at that greeting. I swallowed dry saliva and entered the passage.

* * *

The sound of something breaking and screams were faintly heard from far away. Azazel, who heard an unfamiliar sound from upstairs like Kim Woo-jin, looked up.

“Hm, I guess they’re here to save you. It’s faster than expected?”

The sound was approaching rapidly. Kuaak, the screams of the cult members, who were piled up in the basement of the building, echoed through the iron gate.

It looked like they came down from the upper floor in that short time. Effortlessly grasping the situation without any change of emotion, Azazel broke the electric rod she had just used in half and threw it on the floor.

“About five and a half hours have passed? It’s a pity I have to finish it early. Still, it was fun.”

No answer came back. Looking down at Kim Woo-jin, who was sitting in front of her, Azazel smiled.

Kim Woo-jin, whose body was wet with water and blood, couldn’t open his eyes. His head was still shaking and he couldn’t raise his head properly. Azazel took out the black marble she had prepared in advance, looked up and down at Kim Woo-jin then raised the corner of her mouth.

“You’re not dead, are you? If you’re an A-rank, you have to endure this much.”

“……”

“I didn’t get anything at all, so I let it slide. It would be more terrifying for you.”

At Azazel’s words, Kim Woo-jin raised his eyelids with difficulty. However, his body and mind were pushed to the limit and couldn’t do anything even that simple action properly. He couldn’t properly see Azazel, who was about to leave the place with his blurred vision and his head constantly tilting to one side.

“Actually, I wondered if it would be better to just kill you… I’ll let you go because it seems like the situation will only get complicated if I touch you. This is an important time for us.”

“……”

“See you next time. I have to go report the information I got from you.”

A strong energy was felt right in front of the basement iron door. Nevertheless, Azazel moved away from Kim Woo-jin and stood at the very edge of the basement with a relaxed attitude throughout.

Clack, bang! At the same time, the iron door was distorted and fell off violently. Cheon Sa-yeon, who appeared while kicking the iron door, flew straight toward Azazel with the wind wrapped around his body. Without hesitation, Azazel dropped the black marble and gently waved her hand toward Cheon Sa-yeon.

Just before Cheon Sa-yeon’s sword reached Azazel’s neck, she disappeared. Cheon Sa-yeon, who had missed Azazel right before his nose, clicked his tongue.

“Kim Woo-jin…!”

Han Yi-gyeol, who followed, found Kim Woo-jin tied to the chair and became contemplative. Even with the appearance of the opponent he had been longing for so much, Kim Woo-jin couldn’t open his eyes.

“Ki, Kim Woo-jin! Kim Woo-jin…!”

He could definitely feel Han Yi-gyeol’s energy nearby, but his voice was muffled as if submerged in water. It seemed like there was something wrong with the eardrum.

A soft and warm touch touched his cheek. The trembling hands went down from his cheeks to his lips, neck, and chest. He was checking to see if he was breathing properly and his heart was beating.

The hand that moved away from the chest tore off the choker, a shutter item that was blocking Kim Woo-jin’s energy. The thick iron on both his wrists and ankles was also roughly ripped off.

Han Yi-gyeol took Kim Woo-jin’s body, who couldn’t stand it any longer and leaned forward, in his arms. He was careful in everything he did because he was afraid that Kim Woo-jin would get hurt.

As he hugged Kim Woo-jin, who was wet all over, the smell of his blood was thick. Upon realizing this, Han Yi-gyeol couldn’t hold it any longer and burst into tears. Kim Woo-jin immediately recognized Han Yi-gyeol crying while holding him and holding his breath, even when he couldn’t even open his eyes.

He wanted to say he was okay, so he didn’t want him to cry, and he believed he would come… Even he wanted to soothe Han Yi-gyeol by saying that, his lips couldn’t move. Only the tips of his droopy fingers twitched slightly.

Kim Woo-jin still thought it was fortunate that he was taken instead of Han Yi-gyeol. If he imagined that Han Yi-gyeol went through what he was going through… It was so painful and terrible that it was incomparable to the pain he felt in his body right now.

So it was a relief. He was really happy…

Han Yi-gyeol said to Kim Woo-jin, who was constantly repeating it to himself.

“Let’s go back, Kim Woo-jin.”