Chapter 12

Chapter 12

[Changing the Future]

The memories of his childhood are as foggy as a haze, but one day in particular stands out.

May of the year Eunha turned six.

He lost his family on this day.

It was no ones fault, no ones mistake. It was a terribly unfortunate accident.

The family was traveling to visit her grandmother in Incheon. After the <1999 Destruction>, travel between cities was extremely limited, and the roads connecting them were often haunted by monsters.

For their own safety, their parents have been avoiding taking them out of the city center.

Naturally, Eunha and Euna knew little about their grandmother except when she came to visit. That was also when the two children were born.

But Lim Gaeul, who was inaugurated as a fairy, first implemented a policy to improve the roads connecting cities. Road improvement was a necessary policy for her to install cocoons throughout the Korean Peninsula.

And in May of the first year of her reign.

The fairy government announced a surprise gift for distant relatives and citizens who found it difficult to travel after the <1999 Destruction>.

In May and September, they announced that they would be hiring players in large numbers to maintain the roads.

People have been reluctant to travel to visit family members outside of the city because of the monsters that roam the unmaintained roads.

No one opposed the governments plan to ensure that every household had a proper celebration for their family holidays, Chuseok and Lunar New Year.

May 4th.

People packed their bags and headed home.

Eunhas family did the same.

Eunha still remembered that day. He still remembered the day he burned a torch because no matter how much time passed, no vehicle would move forward.

It was a massive procession that represented a national unit. Any road would inevitably be congested.

And monsters were bound to appear.

Mana calls forth mana. The mana that people unconsciously spilled on their way home was bound to attract monsters.

In the midst of the mana gathering, monsters were born and monsters seeking mana couldnt help but turn their attention to the crowded people.

This was the reason why the fairy government hired players on a large scale.

The problem was that the fairy government was too complacent about the situation.

One of the incidents that rose and fell in the early days of the government.

Negligent policies.

Insecurity.

Lack of initial action.

This was an incident that corresponded to the first national apology of the fairy, Im Ga-eul. People had negative feelings towards her to the extent that day.

So much so that even Eunha had a negative opinion of her.

From that day forward, he had to suffer from helplessness.

He had to deal with loss.

He had to realize what death was.

The monster Kraken had appeared without warning.

A disaster monster of the third rank at the time.

It was a literal disaster.

The people there were just lanterns in the wind.

The same goes for Eunhas family.

A car plunging under a railroad bridge.

The surface of the water slowly approaching in slow motion.

Screams from inside the car.

Screams from outside the car.

And Euna clinging to him, trying to protect him.

Its okay, Ill protect you.

And so it was.

Eunha miraculously survived. Players rescued him from the surface.

People cheered for his miraculous survival. The hospital room was filled with flowers from strangers.

Someone even asked him how he felt about the people cheering for him, not because they wanted to share the miracle, but because he had miraculously survived.

A miracle.

Yes, a miracle.

A miracle for a man who was about to freeze to death.

In exchange for the miracle, he lost everything.

Six years old was too young to realize the reality.

He blamed his family. He blamed Euna.

Why did you leave me alone?

If only you had killed me with you then, it wouldnt have been so hard.

His resentment turned into a hatred of monsters, a yoke that would not let him die, the Undead.

And then the day came again.

May, the sixth year of my regression.

I will never miss it again in this life.

The May holidays start next week, so why dont we go visit Grandma then?

It was my father who spoke first.

Grandma?

Euna, who had her face half buried in her rice bowl, looked up. Unaware of the rice paste stuck to her lips, she was whimpering like a rabbit.

Shes your moms mom. You met her once when you were a baby, but you dont remember her, do you?

Really?

It was dangerous outside of Seoul, so we didnt go to see her, but this year the government is fixing the roads, so it should be safe.

Thats good, because I havent seen my mom since Eunha was born.

Me neither. Shes like a mother to me too.

My parents faces softened as they remembered their grandmother in Incheon.

My father, who was like an orphaned child, said that he was indebted to her and that she was like a mother and a benefactor.

They then talked about the first time they met.

They were a very good couple. It was impossible not to notice the heat in their eyes as they looked at each other.

They seem to be relieved that were young, but I can hear everything.

She hung up the phone, visibly depressed.

Mom, whats wrong?

What happened to your mom?

Euna was worried because her mother was usually so calm. Her mother ran to her, hugged her, and smiled softly.

Its nothing big.

What?

My mom fainted.

What?

Grandmother?

That cant be right. After hearing his mothers words, Eunha doubted his ears.

He remembered the stories he had heard from his relatives in the past. His grandmothers health had been failing since his grandfathers death, and when she was told that his parents had died, she couldnt even get out of bed.

But soon after she fell ill, his grandmother got up to pick up Eunha, and she had been fine until he entered the Player Academy.

So the story that her grandmother had fainted at this time was just a rumor.

The future changed?

I shook my head at the thought.

Id heard of the butterfly effect, but it couldnt have led to my grandmothers collapse. At most, all that happened was Mother informing Grandma over the phone that she couldnt visit her this year.

It was just a coincidence.

Really accidental.

It doesnt look like she was hurt much, but.

Even without her mothers words, Eunha believed that her grandmother would be okay.

However, Mother, who didnt know about Grandmas health, couldnt help but worry. Thinking about Grandma living alone since Grandpa passed away made her anxious.

I cant do this, I have to go visit my mom.

Eventually, what Eunha feared happened. Her mother looked up, ready to pack her bags.

How are you going to get there by yourself?

If I go alone, therell be a seat left on the train.

Im supposed to take care of Eunha and Euna, and youre supposed to go by yourself? No. Im worried about your mom too, so Im going with you.

But what if the kids.

We cant go to Dreamland at a time like this.

I was right. There was no way my parents were going to stay quiet when they heard that their grandmother had fallen.

Something was happening.

Eunha stared at his parents as they talked.

If he knew the future, he thought, everything would work out.

The moment he decided to change the future for the first time, it passed him by as if it were impossible.

As if fate could not be changed.

Dont be ridiculous.

Fate is a bullshit word.

There was no point in living a second life if you couldnt change the future. There was no point in his return.

Its Grandma, Eunha, she is very sick. I know you want to go to Dreamland, but cant you wait until next time?

Eunhas parents trying to convince him.

Against his parents, he couldnt say anything.

He was completely speechless.

Eunha.

How pathetic.

Someone chuckled.

It sounded like someone giggled and laughed.

When he looked up, he saw only his parents waiting for his answer.

There was no one.

No one who had laughed.

And yet, he could hear it clearly. Even now.

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Help!!!!

Mommy!!!!

This time, it was a scream.

The only scream he remembered from that day in his childhood, a scream of uncontrollable fear of death.

Ill protect you.

Eunas arms around him in the falling car.

Then he falls into the river and the world is covered in bubbles.

Dont remember. Wake up, No Eunha!

As the traumatic day replayed, I almost vomited unconsciously.

He suppressed the boiling anger and emotions inside.

If he couldnt control his emotions here, everything would be over.

So he had to be cold.

So he had to find the best way to make up for the situation.

But I couldnt think of anything. I couldnt think of anything that would convince my parents, who were worried about my grandmother.

There was no way I could convince them that she was going to be okay for no reason.

Shall we try using force? What kind of force can we use in this situation?

Um

Eunha was captured by a sense of helplessness, unable to do anything.

I guess we have no choice. Lets go see grandma.

The voice that came out of his mouth had a tone like chewing sand. In the end, he had no choice but to say what his parents expected to hear.

PLEASE HELP!!

HELP ME!!

Only the echoing screams from that day within the chaos of his mind made his dizzy.

Notes!

(1) Changgyeonggung Palace and Gyeongbokgung Palace