Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Thank you for the coffee and your support John Buckingham!

[Seaweed Soup]

The days of hospitalization were filled with a sense of freedom.

When I woke up in the morning, I would undergo a health examination.

The attending physician would check if there were any complications from the surgery or if my mana was affecting my body.

After the health examination, it was time for breakfast.

Seaweed soup again?

Breakfast usually consisted of light foods that were easy on the stomach.

This morning, it was rice, kimchi, stir-fried fish cake, rolled omelet, and bean sprout side dish. And finally, there was seaweed soup, which had been served for three consecutive days.

How am I supposed to eat this?

I didnt dislike seaweed soup.

However, the seaweed soup served in the hospital lacked flavor. It felt more like something to soothe the throat rather than a meal to enjoy the taste.

Having grown accustomed to hospital life, I wrapped the rice in the seaweed soup. By avoiding the broth and eating it with kimchi, it became somewhat palatable.

Ah, Im hungry.

After breakfast, there was usually nothing special to do until the evening check-up.

During this time, I would usually play video games, watch TV, read comics, or simply take a nap if there was nothing else to do.

Although it had been over a week since I was admitted, I hadnt touched the homework in the drawer at all.

I wonder if theres anything to eat.

As the days of hospitalization grew longer, I found myself talking to myself more often.

Feeling the hunger intensify, I tossed and turned in bed. Since I had been living in the hospital bed for a long time, I couldnt sleep, so I decided to eat something.

I got up from the bed and rummaged through the refrigerator.

Inside the refrigerator were the cake that Julietta had brought, apples that my mother had cut yesterday, and gifts from friends.

From there, I took out a slice of cream cake and a PET bottle of coffee milk.

Ha, I knew it. How can you snack when it hasnt been that long since you had breakfast?

Then, what about seaweed soup for three days straight? You know the hospital seaweed soup is tasteless.

Thats not my job, thats the nutritionists job, so theres no point in telling me.

With pursed lips, I complained to the nurse who entered the ward.

She was one of the nurses responsible for taking care of me, who was admitted to a private room. She had worked at Alice Hospital for several years and knew just how tasteless the seaweed soup served there was, so she avoided eye contact for no reason.

Dedicated nurses like her would come into the room at intervals to check on him, or to offer companionship.

Noona, youve been running away from the head nurse again, havent you?

Its not even lunch yet, and shes been nagging me since morning. Its so annoying, really.

The nurse rambled on about how shed been yelled at by the head nurse again today.

Indeed, this is the taste. People should live by eating delicious food, not just tasteless meals all the time.

Regardless of her complaints, Eunha savored the cake and coffee milk.

Ha, I have to get back to work. Can you eat that and have lunch later? Ill be in trouble if you dont.

Just make sure its delicious.

Ah, I cant live like this.

With a stern expression, Eunha dismissed the nurse who had been cautioning him.

In addition to his doctor and charge nurse, there were hospital officials who often visited his room.

They were all kind to him. Sometimes their kindness was so excessive that it became burdensome.

At first, he couldnt understand why they treated him so extraordinarily.

But soon enough, he discovered the reason behind their behavior and couldnt help but chuckle.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

The reason was

He focused his mana to enhance his hearing.

Eavesdropping on a single conversation was nothing, and it didnt strain his body.

So, you were hanging out with Eunha again? Youre thrilled because youve been assigned as VVIP recently?

Come on. If youre jealous, you can also take care of VVIP or secretly talk to Eunha.

Too bad. If I werent so old, I wouldve made a move.

But is that true? The Chairman of the Alice Group personally instructed us to take special care of him.

He must be living in a rich family somewhere, so he should take this opportunity to show off a little, right?

Alice Hospital officials were thinking about whether he had a deep relationship with Alice Group or was descended from a famous chaebol family.

So people who had no connection to him would make up excuses to come and say hello.

In order to make a little headway, their behavior was too obvious in his eyes.

No need to have any intentions or feel burdened.

Was it necessary to correct them?

They were simply misunderstanding.

Wait a moment. Why is breakfast like this? Wasnt I a VVIP?

A sudden doubt crossed his mind.

There was no answer.

Anyway, he decided to enjoy this situation. There was nothing to lose, and he could at least observe those who were trying to make jokes to impress him.

It was one of the little pleasures of his free hospital stay.

Shall I go for a walk?

There wasnt much time left until lunch. It was an awkward time to sleep.

He decided to take a leisurely stroll to stretch his body.

The attending physician had allowed him to take walks, after all.

Today, he would go alone.

His dedicated nurses, as if sensing his departure, followed him closely.

It was understandable that they worried about something happening to him.

However, it was quite bothersome at times.

Sometimes he wanted to wander alone.

Its a bit tiring.

Eunha manifested his mana to suppress his presence.

Even though it was a technique to weaken his presence when dealing with ordinary people, his body momentarily twitched.

The bullet wound in his leg had been treated by Shin Seo-youngs first aid and surgery at the hospital, leaving no sequelae.

But now that he tried to manifest his mana, the area where the wound had been throbbed.

Walking as usual was a challenge. In the end, Eunha had to narrow his stride and leave the ward.

Oh, I shouldnt have come out. Its so hot.

June was coming to an end.

July was just around the corner.

So it wasnt even lunch yet, and it was still hot.

Sweat was dripping down my back even though I was only wearing a patients uniform.

Still, it was worth it.

Summer flowers were popping up along the walkway. It wasnt a bad walk, with flowers on the left and right.

Huh?

I exclaimed as I turned off the trail.

Eunha found a large tent near the back gate.

People were gathered in front of the pure white tent.

It seemed like some kind of flea market.

No matter what the numbers indicated, no matter how many people died, ultimately, they were people who died.

Above all, by changing the future, people who should have died might have lived, and people who should have lived might have died.

The passing conversation of the children was precisely the future he had changed.

If he didnt feel guilt, it would be a lie.

But thats it. He had no regrets.

He would have made the same choice many times over.

So he had no right to sympathize with those children.

He had no intention of sharing his happiness with them.

Just alone, selfishly.

Pursuing his own happiness.

Miss, weve run out of seaweed soup!

But wheres the cup ramen? Im fine with cup ramen.

I still want to eat warm rice.

Hey, didnt I tell you not to say that? Do you want to get hit again?

This time, the passing Wonder Runners were girls. They pretended not to see him and ran off, chatting among themselves.

Did that child receive seaweed soup?

He suddenly became contemplative.

He lowered his head.

It didnt suit him. It wasnt the right answer.

He didnt need to know what happened to the child.

For no reason, he got lost in deep thoughts and ended up sympathizing with others.

He berated himself and moved his heavy feet.

Huh? Captain, is it okay to go outside?

You didnt sneak out, did you?

He met his friends on the way back.

They were staring at him curiously as he walked in from the back door.

Hey, guys. Isnt it time to be at school?

Captain, today is the schools anniversary.

Thats nice.

That doesnt seem like something you, whos hospitalized, should say.

Minji retorted with a bewildered expression.

He nodded calmly. What she said made sense too.

Yeah? Why are you like that?

Whats wrong? Why arent you retorting today?

Minji smirked.

She was surprised to see that he didnt respond as she expected.

There was something like that.

It was a day when he got sentimental for no reason.

Without answering, he looked at the food the kids brought and chuckled.

You dont have to bring it. Theres plenty in the fridge.

Why are you like this? I brought this for myself. This hamburger is mine.

I thought you might be bored. We came to eat together.

Seona explained why she came to the hospital without resting even though it was the schools anniversary.

The nonchalant Eunha scratched her cheek.

Thats when it happened.

Huh? Whats that? There are a lot of people gathered there. Is there something happening?

Eunhyuk pointed to a white tent behind Eunha.

Yeah? Only kids are there?

Over there? Yeah. What are they doing?

Minji and Hayang also showed interest. They could only see the children lined up in front of the tent, but they couldnt see the appearance of the children far away.

Thats when the children who had eaten the free meals were coming down the stairs.

Lets come early next week. I thought I was going to starve standing in line.

Now that our stomachs are full, how about going to Cheongnyangni today?

Cheongnyangni? Whats there?

I heard there are a lot of odd jobs in the back alley there. Even though theyre older sisters, they say they make a lot of money.

How much can you make? Lets go! Lets go and see.

Their eyes met with the children coming down.

The dirty-faced children flinched and lowered their heads as they passed by.

The child who was running far ahead was rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

Captain? What is this?

Eunhyuk had an expression that showed he didnt know what to say as he watched the children moving away.

Those kids earlier.

I-I was scared.

Minji and Hayang quietly clung to Eunha.

They were surprised by the behavior of the Wonder Runners.

It was understandable.

Parents who would inform their children about the existence of Wonder Runners were nowhere to be found.

And Wonder Runners lived in the slums or on streets where peoples footsteps didnt reach.

The children who only knew school and playgrounds had never come across Wonder Runners.

So today is that day.

On the other hand, Seona remained composed.

Eunha seemed to know the reason why she wasnt scared.

She was an Ain.

She was abandoned by her parents as soon as she was born, but fortunately, she was able to grow up in a church. It wasnt strange for her, who had seen children in similar situations at the church, to know about Wonder Runners.

You dont have to know.

Not yet.

Eunha turned his gaze to the flower garden. He didnt feel the need to add more words between the sentences.

Someday, these children would also come to know the hidden side of the destroyed world.

It was inevitable.

Even if they wanted to avoid it, they couldnt, as the hidden side was melting right nearby.

Seona.

Yeah.

Dont bring the kids on Wednesday.

Yeah, got it.

For now, they didnt need to know.

About the cruel world that awaited them.

Eunha decided to take the speechless children to have lunch.

That days lunch also included seaweed soup.

As expected, it didnt taste good.