Chapter 82

Chapter 82

In Lee Jaehun’s past life, it was natural to be discarded when one’s value diminished.

Of course, he wasn’t in a situation where the word ‘discard’ would be used for a person, but everyone in the world knew it without needing to say it. If you became useless, you had no right to complain if you were cast out.

The only ones who accepted individuals without considering their utility were blood relatives, but even that varied depending on the family. It wasn’t uncommon for children, siblings, or parents to be abandoned. However, in families where utility wasn’t a criterion, parents would often treat their children well in case they themselves became useless one day.

Lee Jaehun realized this at a very young age in his past life, and living a long life of luxury, his values were intense compared to the narrow-minded department head’s in his current life.

Not long after recalling his past life and being dragged into this otherworldly realm, his mental fortitude weakened, and it was already clear what kind of values he would use to interact with people.

“...Let’s go back.”

Kwon Yeonhee, pale-faced, muttered.

“Let’s go back, please...”

In this world, people cherished their bonds and valued even brief relationships. There was a basic respect for even people they met for the first time.

But such concepts didn’t exist in his past world.

“What if the director is dead...!”

The irrational certainty tormented Kwon Yeonhee.

Lee Jaehun believed that if someone felt fear towards him, the previous relationship would become meaningless.

Because that was how it was before. In both his past and present lives, people were always tools to him. The narrow-minded director in his current life was selfish to a ridiculous degree, so he still believed his past life’s values were correct. He thought people could always discard others.

But that wasn’t true.

“He’s only with Jung Inho-ssi now, and he doesn’t even have a lighter...!”

“Yeonhee-ssi.”

“...What should we do?”

Contrary to Lee Jaehun’s belief, relationships weren’t that shallow.

“We... we left him like that. This is abandonment.”

People weren’t that simple.

Even if a relationship experienced brief discomfort or fear, it didn’t mean it was entirely severed. Just because there was nothing to gain or someone became a burden didn’t mean you abandoned them like a stranger. Relationships could momentarily distance due to incidents, but they couldn’t be completely erased.

Ultimately, Lee Jaehun overlooked the difference between people living in the past and present worlds. He forgot that there was a fundamental difference in the kind of humanity they possessed.

Thus, things could never go exactly as he thought.

“...He must be disappointed, right?”

“Yeonhee-ssi, we need to find a place to hide first.”

“He must be disappointed. What should we do...”

Kwon Yeonhee mumbled, walking with her head down, tears falling as she followed those leading her.

A cracked and hoarse voice slipped out.

“Really, what should we do...?”

Our poor director, how pitiful he is, what should we do for him?

Of course, Lee Jaehun probably didn’t help them expecting anything in return. Even if they escaped this world, they had nothing to offer him. Lee Jaehun was already well-known for his affluent background at the company.

Kwon Yeonhee, being well-informed about rumors, knew several stories about him. Like how he had three houses and chose the one near the company for convenience, or how he often ordered expensive luxury items to show off to the employees. She knew such kinds of rumors.

How much of those rumors were true or false, she didn’t know. But one thing was certain, without some meaningless inferiority complex, Lee Jaehun was a person who had nothing to envy from anyone. Such a person was here, limping and with his limbs pierced.

So, he wasn’t doing this expecting something from them. It was probably simple kindness and a sense of responsibility, yet they had run away from him, calling him scary. They didn’t even hide their fear.

With trembling lips, Kwon Yeonhee softly muttered,

“...But even this.”

“......”

“What if he didn’t even expect this... What do we do then?”

Lee Jaehun’s firm and casual tone, saying that no one would stop by the pharmacy for him, echoed in Kwon Yeonhee’s ears once more.

“If he didn’t expect anything, he wouldn’t be hurt... What do we do then...”

Actually, she had felt this for a very long time.

“...Really....”

“......”

“......”

Lee Jaehun seemed already insane.

Maybe that’s what scared me.

I had never seen a crazy person before. It was the first time I saw someone driven to madness by such pain and hardship. Maybe that’s why I gradually became afraid of him.

He didn’t go crazy because he wanted to.

And he wasn’t a sinner or a monster...

“......”

“......”

Among them, Ha Sungyoon was the first to speak while walking with tightly pressed lips.

“...There’s a small dome.”

Quite a few, actually.

The small domes, just big enough for two people to barely fit inside, were made of interwoven thin branches or root-like plants. They looked like igloos stood on end.

The unusual part was that these domes were attached to tree trunks. Like ant nests, they hung in a hemispherical shape, but unlike ant nests made of soil, these were composed of plants.

Examining them, Dr. Ha Sungyoon spoke again.

“I’m not sure what they are, whether they’re monsters or not... but they seem suitable for hiding.”

“...So they could be plant-like monsters?”

“We don’t know what forms the monsters take, so it’s possible, but... The best choice would be to climb the trees, but they’re too tall here... and... these might provide some protection...”

Speaking rapidly and quietly, he suddenly stopped.

“......”

“...Doctor?”

“I don’t know.”

Then he said,

“So, I’ll check first.”

Without waiting for anyone to stop him, Dr. Ha Sungyoon moved.

“...Uh, uh, uh...”

...Yet, to be honest, she was somewhat scared of the person sitting next to her.

All of a sudden.

‘So...’

She couldn’t pinpoint the reason for her fear, but she had some guesses.

Maybe it was because they had been around the campfire for so long and were now plunged into complete darkness, or because Yoon Garam’s voice, usually reticent about personal stories, sounded the same as always. Or perhaps, it was due to some other irrational theories.

In the end, Kwon Yeonhee couldn’t come up with a plausible answer, and soon, Yoon Garam fell silent as well. Kwon Yeonhee felt her spine grow cold in the immediate silence.

Time seemed to flow without her knowing.

“......”

“......”

After a brief silence, a gentle voice emerged.

“...Do you know, Yeonhee-ssi?”

“...Know what?”

“I’m really afraid of fire.”

“......”

“I’m scared, and also...”

For a very brief moment,

“...I’m terrified.”

She thought she heard a laugh through the pitch-black darkness.

“...That...”

Of course, she must have misheard, it must be just her imagination.

“......”

Kwon Yeonhee rubbed her fingertips and realized they were growing cold.

Her heartbeat pounded in her head.

It felt like a large, winged insect was rampaging inside her ear, and a moving vine from before seemed to brush around her neck. She couldn’t explain why she felt this way.

Just when she felt she couldn’t leave things as they were and carefully opened her mouth,

“......”

“...Huh?”

Immediately after,

She saw flames burning brightly in the distance.

“...Uh, uh...”

“......”

“Over there, it’s...”

Kwon Yeonhee instinctively felt that the location was where Director Lee Jaehun and Deputy Jung were.

She broke free from the tension that had frozen her body and began to stir. No matter how well Jung Inho had protected the group with his monkey wrench, it was uncertain if he could have survived amidst so many monsters. The bloodstains covering Lee Jaehun’s body swirled in her mind.

Exhaling deeply, she said,

“...We can’t...”

They can’t be dead.

She thought of the bloodied man they had left behind, the one they had cast aside without a word. The one she had momentarily forgotten.

As she reflexively moved to dash out, Yoon Garam, who had been quietly watching her, stopped her. His strong grip, wrapping around her shoulders and seizing her wrist, held her firmly. It was a solid grip that seemed almost impossible from his slender frame.

A monotonous voice, completely at odds with his strength, resounded.

“Where are you going?”

“Right now, there’s a fire, the fire is burning over there.”

“Don’t go.”

“But the director and Inho-ssi are over there...!”

“Don’t go.”

“......”

“Don’t go.”

“...Uh...”

A calm, steady voice with no inflection.

Her heart sank, and her face froze as she stopped moving.

“...If you go into that blazing fire.”

“......”

“Yeonhee-ssi, the doctor, and that crazed Director Lee Jaehun will all...”

Turning to her in unbearable doubt,

“...Die.”

She saw a smile on the face illuminated by the flames.

“......”

And she saw the green eyes.

Something clean yet murky, not dirty like a sewer, but still opaque and obscuring the view behind it. Like something from a forest, enshrouded in smoke, losing its form—trees, flowers, something round like that.

It called out to her.

“...Yeonhee-ssi.”

“......”

“I want to live.”

Why she read ecstasy there,

Why it was Yoon Garam, Kwon Yeonhee couldn’t understand.

“...Uh...”

A rustling sound.

The sound of vines passing by.

* * *

At least that part was exactly as Lee Jaehun wanted.