CH 34

When I awoke after a deep sleep, I noticed a cold silence. Listening to the sound of the clock’s second hand moving, I exhaled in the space where warmth remained. Someone’s coat was covering my body. When I rubbed my nose on it and sniffed it, I recognized Baek Tae-beom’s body scent.

I slowly raised my head, blinking my eyes to adjust to the darkness. There was someone sitting at the table. The man was resting his chin on his folded arms and had his eyes closed. He was still and seemed like he wasn’t breathing, like a statue. I looked at his carelessly disheveled bangs, his suit with the tie half pulled out, and his clearly defined nose bridge even in the absence of light.

I slowly got up and approached him. Baek Tae-beom seemed to be sleeping, since he stayed still even in my presence. As I reached out and gently stroked his hair messily, the man flinched harshly and opened his eyes.

“Hyung?”

“Why are you sleeping like this?”

“I was just resting….”

Saying so, Baek Tae-beom seemed puzzled at the fact that he fell asleep, but then shook it off. He looked up at me and smiled.

“I’ve joined the Hansung guild starting today.”

I couldn’t help but burst out in laughter at that.

“What about the Ga-hyun guild? You asked me to join but then suddenly disbanded it?”

“No, I didn’t disband it.”

“Huh?”

“I negotiated with Lee Myung-won-ssi. I’ll be a member of Hansung while still maintaining the existing guild.”

I drew a blank smile. I just wondered what the guild was doing. Perhaps he read my mind, Baek Tae-beom said in a clear voice.

“I tried to keep thinking about you while you were away.”

“…….”

“Hyung’s face, voice, tone, intonation, touch… But as time went by, I slowly forgot them, so I wondered if at this rate I would forget Hyung’s name too.”

My breath stuttered subtly.

“To remember you like this…”

[The constellation, ‘One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall’ is synchronized with the body.]

“It’s a little stupid, isn’t it?”

[The constellation, ‘One Who Seeks To Avoid The Fall’ is synchronized with the body.]

Having been unable to say anything for a long time, I slowly reached out.

[Congratulations! Attendance has been completed. 100 coins will be given to you.]

“Ah, seriously!”

[Coins possessed : 4,600]

A sudden sound from my pocket made me jump in place. Baek Tae-beom was also looking at me with his eyes wide open. My heart was pounding from the shock. When I took my phone out of my pocket and checked it, it was already 12 o’clock.

“What was that just now? A skill?”

“Something like that. No, actually… you’re right….”

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun : That damn cell phone!]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun : And you’re not helping!]

It was normal for Apollo to run rampant in the chat window, so I unpretentiously ignored him and asked Baek Tae-beom about something I was currently curious about.

“Do you know about the Resonance Guild?”

“Resonance? Of course… It would be strange not to know about them.”

“How much do you know?”

“After Hansung, it is considered the second most influential guild. What is unusual is that they do a lot of donations and charitable activities, and the guild master’s identity is currently unknown….”

“You don’t know either?”

“I don’t. The old man—No, even the Hansung guild leader doesn’t know. The guild didn’t come from any company, but it suddenly appeared like a comet.”

It was too suspicious. Even more considering that it didn’t even appear in the original. When I frowned, Baek Tae-beom said soothingly.

“It’s not a bad place. You won’t have to worry about it.”

“That would be great, but….”

“Ah, right. Hyung.”

“Mm?”

“Would you like to see my Dongsaeng?”

Ake: His little brother!

At those words, my eyes widened, and I looked at Baek Tae-beom.

“He woke up?”

“Not yet.”

Baek Tae-beom touched his lips as he said that.

“But I thought it would be nice to go with Hyung.”

“Alright, then when are you going?”

“The next day… No, today. I’m going today. Hyung just woke up.”

“I think I’m going to sleep in.”

“It’s okay. I’m in the next room, so call me when you wake up. Okay?”

Baek Tae-beom said so and got up from his seat. My eyes naturally turned upward.

“Get some rest.”

“Okay.”

Baek Tae-beom smiled sweetly and walked out the door. As I stared at the closed door, I felt exhausted.

“Ah, my back…. Oh, I didn’t return his coat.”

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun : Don’t you have a mood?]

“Have you heard any news from Lee Myung-won?”

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun : Now you are just listening to my words with the back of your ears. Just Great.]

TL/N: meaning, he’s ignoring him.

I folded the coat that had been hanging loosely on the sofa and changed into the pajamas I had prepared. I then looked at my body in the mirror. I probed around the pit of my stomach. It felt like there had been many holes, but now there was nothing left to give me goosebumps.

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun: Is something else going to happen?]

“It’s not… confirmed? No, there are some people I need to find. I was wondering if Lee Myung-won was just paying close attention to anyone.”

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun : Because of the Resonance guild?]

“That’s suspicious too, but there’s someone I need to find first. His name is Kang Si-hoo. Of course, there are others as well.”

I spoke calmly, putting on my coat. Kang Si-hoo’s awakening period was approaching. Even if it doesn’t, I’m sure we’ll hear some news within a month. If the story continues according to the novel.

Apollo said sarcastically.

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun : What is. His name.]

“It’s something like that. Where’s Anubis?

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun : He went to fight your contractor.]

“What?”

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun : Something like that. But don’t worry, it’s something the adults should worry about.]

“I’m sorry, but you’re not even an adult. You’re more like an ancestor.”

When I sat on my bed and spoke, Apollo snorted.

[The constellation, ‘One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun’ has sponsored you an item.]

Something appeared out of thin air and landed in the palm of my hand.

[Nutritious Jelly F]

[A Nutrition jelly that makes you grow when eaten! If you eat this before going to bed, brushing your teeth, and exercising, the effect is doubled! Let’s wake up your sleeping growth plate!]

I kept silent for a moment, and then threw the jelly on the floor.

“You want to try me now, huh?”

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling than The Sun : Don’t talk when you have no coins or power.]

[The constellation, ‘One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun’ has sponsored you an item.]

Something fell from the air again and settled in my hands.

[Cute Baby Rabbit Pillow F]

[A baby rabbit pillow that feels cozy and lovely. When you hug it tightly, it feels like you’re in a dream. Let’s go on a trip to dreamland with a hug.]

[CH.Personal/One Who Is More Dazzling Than The Sun : Are you sleeping or not?]

“Huu.”

I was astounded at his frankness and tried to throw the rabbit away, but when I saw its bright and lovely eyes, my arm stopped. Looking at it, it’s a bit cute….

As I slowly embraced it in the same pose I was about to throw, Apollo laughed at me, but I didn’t care and laid down on the bed.

“I’m going to sleep, so be quiet. If you’re going to make a noise, give me a coin first and then  chat.”

I buried myself in the bed and said impatiently. Ignoring Apollo’s stupid messages, I was literally caught in a slumber.

And dreamed.

The world was in a sea of fire. An acrid smoke stung my nose, and I stood on a collapsed rebar beneath my bare feet. Looking around, only bright red flames soared through the space. Baek Tae-beom stood in front of me, where there was no one left to scream.

In front of him lied the body of Kang Si-hoo.

Just like the last chapter of <The Fall Of Another World>.

Ash fell like snowflakes. Baek Tae-beom looked at me with cold eyes, and I thought of how he looked like a hollow stump. And I was a broken branch that was cut off with no pulse.

I tried to move my hand slowly. To my surprise, my body was moving the way I wanted it to. I was aware that it was a dream, but I didn’t want to wake up by force. But then, a roaring sound echoed. Baek Tae-beom, who appeared to be drenched in blood, slowly tilted his head.

‘Who?’

He asked. And I answered meekly.

‘Choi Ga-hyun.’

‘I thought I had killed everyone….’

‘I must have forgotten to kill you.’

Realizing that I was barefoot, I searched through the ruins around me. I found a pair of oversized shoes that didn’t fit, but I still put them on. There were traces of burns, but it didn’t matter. Baek Tae-beom was looking at me like I was a strange animal.

‘Why did you kill them?’

Knowing that this place was in a dream, I spoke to Baek Tae-beom without hesitation. Baek Tae-beom looked down at Kang Si-hoo’s body quietly. Baek Tae-beom’s sword was impaled through his stomach.

Kang Si-hoo’s corpse was surprisingly smiling.

‘Jealousy.’

‘Jealousy?’

‘He has everything I could never have. It’s so enviable, but lovely. I know it would never have been like this.’

‘Why did you destroy the world?’

‘Because even if I had it, it wouldn’t help me at all.’

I took an umbrella out of the wreckage and opened it to prevent the ash from falling above my head. The transparent umbrella had holes in it.

‘But you can’t do that.’

‘I can’t?’

‘Yes. You can’t.’

I said with a smile.

‘Then you wouldn’t be able to use it, Tae-beom-ah.’

‘…….’

Baek Tae-beom made a vague expression.

‘You know my name?’

‘I know. You told me to call you Tae-beom-ah.’

‘Me?’

‘Yes you.’

‘You’re insane.’

‘It feels a bit refreshing to hear that from you.’

I wasn’t expecting Baek Tae-beom to be the one to tell me I was crazy.

‘Do you want to use this?’

‘That?’

‘Umbrella.’

I put down my umbrella as if telling him to take it. Baek Tae-beom shifted his eyes and looked at me like he was seeing a strange species. I couldn’t give it to him directly.

‘Why….’

Because I had to go back now. The vibration that struck the ground grew stronger and stronger. I raised my head. The entire world was dyed red.

***

I was awakened by the harsh vibration of my cell phone. With my face buried in a pillow, I looked up and fumbled for the bedside, looking for my phone. I couldn’t remember what I dreamed of, but I didn’t feel bad because I felt a bit dazed.

“Hello?”

– I’m sorry, Hyung. Did I wake you up?

“Oh, no. I was up….”

– It’s already past noon, but I haven’t heard anything back from you. Let’s go eat lunch. 

“It’s already past 12 o’clock?”

I checked the time and laughed vainly. I must have been really tired.

“Then, I’ll go down to the restaurant.”

– Okay. I’ll wait for you.