Episode 374
After the incident at the apartment, Vivian seemed somewhat relieved.
I’ve been thinking a lot about where I felt relieved, but Vivian, who was a model student in both reality and the other world, was second in line at a prestigious university, and none of her worries were related to Song In-myeong. I thought that perhaps she was worried about whether she, who was close to Song In-myeong, could become close to the survivors. And Vivian, who went through hardships in the sinkhole, probably felt relieved in the process of deciding that she could become close to the survivors.
Jaeheon Lee, who had been looking around for a long time, was soon able to come to a conclusion.
‘This kid still hasn’t let go of Song Inmyeong.’
He couldn’t let go of Song In-myeong as a friend. Otherwise, given Vivian’s cold and indifferent personality, there’s no way she would have distanced herself from the survivors just because she was ‘only’ a friend to Song In-myeong.
Of course, it was a natural result. Vivian, Song In-myeong, and Seo Jang-hwa were so attached to each other that they wore matching hoodies and had identical ring piercings. To be honest, normal friends don’t go that far. At best, it’s a friendship ring between women. For men, it’s even worse.
Even in the extreme situation of the world, the three were united and proud of their friendship that they could not believe in other survivors.
‘Seo Jang-hwa was surprisingly mentally healthy, so he was able to cut ties quickly.’
However, Vivian’s reaction to Song In-myeong was ambiguous, unlike Seo Jang-hwa. Usually, when Seo Jang-hwa got angry at Song In-myeong, he would just keep his mouth shut. Vivian’s lingering feelings were clearly visible from that lukewarm attitude.
Plus, Vivian still had her ring piercing.
‘I wonder if he didn’t open his mouth much to hide that… .’
Vivian’s ring piercing was still intact on her tongue, as if she had been holding back her words to hide the tongue piercing. This is different from Seo Jang-hwa, who threw away his hoodie and piercing after Song In-myeong’s identity was revealed. Furthermore, he kept the fact that he had the piercing a secret.
No matter how you look at it, it seems like Song In-myeong hasn’t been completely abandoned.
‘Well, that crazy kid must have put so much effort into that piece of work, but even if his identity was revealed, would the aftereffects have disappeared so quickly? Seo Jang-hwa only seemed quick to cut ties with him on the outside, but in reality, he must have had some lingering regrets. The fact that the sense of betrayal is as great as the trust he had shows the extent of his influence… .’
So Vivian, even if Lee Jae-heon pushes her back just a little, will try to talk to Song In-myeong. Even if it means hiding the fact from everyone including Seo Jang-hwa, if it means resolving the relationship between Seo Jang-hwa, Vivian, and Song In-myeong as friends, then she would want to do so.
It’s a really ridiculous fantasy, but hey, anyone can have hope.
Lee Jae-heon was more than willing to take advantage of that hope.
“Mr. Lee Jae-heon?”
“… Oh, yes. What is it?”
“How about moving with me?”
Before moving to the back mountain, they were going to stop by a convenience store to secure food. When Jae-heon Lee showed signs of worrying about ‘who should I go with?’, Vivian approached him as if she had been waiting.
He smiled inwardly.
“With student Vivian?”
“That doesn’t seem weak.”
“Ugh.”
It was a comment criticizing the fact that Lee Jae-heon has recently been avoiding company with weak people.
“… So, has he stopped acting like an idiot now?”
“I think it’ll be okay.”
“Not bad.”
“That will happen.”
“Bian is a strong student….”
The ending is also a little bit vague.
“Then should I get some help?”
If possible, I hope you can help me a lot.
Enough to quickly snatch Song In-myeong, who was loitering around observing prey.
* * *
Beep.
“I guess this requires eyeballs.”
Beep.
“This is an ear.”
Beep.
“This is… a toe.”
Vivian’s expression gradually darkened as she checked the ‘price’ of the product with the help of a convenience store mannequin.
Vivian, who had never thought she was so afraid of gore, felt sick to her stomach when they asked for only a part of her body. This is what they ask for at a convenience store. What a world.
‘Ah, this is the other world.’
I’m going crazy.
The method of getting things at this convenience store was simple. You just had to pass around the items and ask for a reasonable price, not something that was too much like a body part. This was possible because the prices of the items that the part-timer checked changed every time.
Of course, for the person who kept checking the price at the counter, it was really disappointing. There’s nothing pleasant about being asked to cut the bag of chips when you want to buy one.
“I feel like I’ve been caught in some weird back alley market. Some kind of dark world.”
“If you think about it, weren’t we not caught but walked in on our own?”
“Then I was fooled? I was scammed…?”
“Calm down.”
Jaeheon Lee, who had placed a few other items on the counter, looked back at Vivian.
“I’ll check, so students can pick out the items.”
“There’s no need to do that… .”
“Get out of the way. Everyone has their own job.”
Vivian furrowed her eyebrows as she was pushed away from the counter by Lee Jae-heon’s hand.
‘… So are you saying that this is right, right now?’
Even though it was a simple verification task that didn’t actually pay the requested price, just seeing the price that smelled like blood that she didn’t normally see was enough to drain her mental strength. Even for Vivian, who prided herself on being strong-minded, it was a burdensome task, and there was no way that anyone would be able to do it.
So, I guess it’s just talk, you know. Right now, Jaeheon Lee just can’t stand seeing a young student named Vivian struggling.
“… … .”
It felt really weird.
“…thank you.”
“Go get something, it keeps coming up empty.”
“Since it is a world where mental power has a big influence, it is possible that Jaeheon Lee brought it and did something like that… .”
“The little bastard is teasing an adult now?”
“Oh my, I don’t recognize you, Your Majesty.”
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Vivian, who was playfully slouching, naturally hid between the display cases. I heard Lee Jae-heon click his tongue once, but it wasn’t scary. Even if his old-fashioned personality was real, Vivian would have been pitiful, so it was even more so.
‘He’s a person who has a really hard life.’
It was even more creepy because it was a kindness that was given without expecting anything in return. The consideration that did not even expect an emotional reward of satisfaction seemed like the result of a mechanical calculation and rationality.
Vivian couldn’t understand how that could be a humanly possible conclusion.
“Ah, this will work.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“I bought it.”
“… … .”
What did you buy and how did you buy it?
Vivian, who was selecting items between the shelves, headed straight to the counter.
“This is crazy.”
“what.”
“Why are your hands like that?”
“I need some blood.”
“You’re saying that? What’s wrong with Jaeheon Lee?”
“I have no problem, student.”
“That’s funny.”
This is really funny. Is this the reaction of someone who drew a picture on their palm with a piece of glass and said they would buy a bottle of water?
I’m not sure, but if Song In-myeong was there, I think he would have liked it and clapped for being funny.
“… … .”
Oh, shit.
‘… The flow of thoughts can’t end with Song In-myeong.’
The problem might have been with Vivian, not Lee Jae-heon.
It was okay when Song In-myeong was out of sight and I couldn’t even guess where he was or what he was doing, but when I heard the news that that bastard had appeared, my heart started pounding. I’m sure I was pounding with negative emotions, but I don’t know exactly what they were. Anger? Sadness? Regret?
Shit, I really don’t know.
“under….”
“Isn’t this okay?”
“It looks really good.”
“Is that sarcasm?”
“I’m glad you know. Now I’m dead to Mr. Jeong In-ho. Mr. Ha Seong-yoon will try to kill me too. Honestly, I’m a bit scared of that doctor.”
“It’s okay, I’m scared of that guy too.”
“Speak to that teacher carefully. It’s not my fault, really.”
“…? Why is this your fault?”
“You leave me speechless. This is f*cking hilarious.”
“Is it fun?”
“It’s not fun.”
“Yeah, I see.”
“… … .”
“Since I’ve already shed blood, let’s see if there’s anything else I can buy with blood. Put the stuff down.”
Vivian said, squeezing her eyes shut as she looked at the bloody jug.
“Why do you really live like that?”
“This kid?”
“Don’t live like that.”
That’s why that crazy guy named Song In-myeong likes it more.
They were in the same school, same department, and same year. Since the three of them always hung out together, Vivian, who was quick-witted, knew a few of Seo Jang-hwa and Song In-myeong’s habits. Song In-myeong had a special look in his eyes when he checked out art supplies he liked, and if I think about the few times he showed that look in the park, maybe… .
“f*ck.”
“Why has Inseong been like that since a while ago?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“Is it a rebellion? How old is our Vian?”
“Nulleurzmulleug… .”
He’s just playing around without knowing the speed of the anger.
‘No, it’s even more annoying because it seems like you knew.’
Lee Jae-heon is a very clever and clever person, but he uses his good head to make stupid decisions. He probably knows that Song In-myeong is the reason Vivian is upset right now, and he probably knows why he asked her to accompany him at this time, and he probably knows that Vivian has feelings for Song In-myeong.
‘Then you f*cking know everything. Yeah, f*ck. f*ck, really f*ck.’
There were some people who couldn’t even accept my pretense of wearing a teddy bear mask.
“… … .”
“… … .”
“Hey, this is a toenail, but toenails aren’t okay… .”
“Get out of the way.”
“Adults speak….”
“Oh, it’s Vicky.”
It makes no sense to tear off your toenails just to get a bag of chips.
“How are you going to walk like this?”
“Why, there are no fingernails, just toenails.”
“This guy is really driving me crazy.”
In fact, it is a sight that openly reveals one’s abnormal common sense.
“are you okay.”
“… How could that be?”
“It’s true.”
It feels like you keep telling me something… .
“… … .”
“… … .”
Lee Jae-heon did not avoid Vivian’s gaze, and Vivian was certain of it.
This guy really knows everything.
“…are you okay?”
That I was trying to meet Song In-myeong using Lee Jae-heon.
“You probably know everything.”
“How many times do I have to say this?”
“… … .”
“I said it was okay, keep going.”
He caught Lee Jae-heon as bait to catch Song In-myeong.
“…Why is this okay?”
If it’s okay, then it shouldn’t be okay.
Hong Kyung-joon didn’t openly warn Vivian because she did something stupid in the park, but he showed that he was worried that she would be manipulated by Song In-myeong. Kim Yeon-woo was the same, and so were the high school students who heard the story. Even though Vivian never revealed her true feelings about not being able to let go of her friend named Song In-myeong.
However, Lee Jae-heon realized Vivian’s true feelings that she had kept hidden. However, he did not scold Vivian, resent her, or even try to stop her from putting herself in danger. Lee Jae-heon simply did not agree with her, but had no intention of stopping Vivian’s plan.
“And then when you die… .”
“You’re dying.”
“f*ck, that’s not what I meant.”
“They say they stick together, but they actually have harsh words.”
“No, really….”
“Go get some more water. Buy what you can and leave quickly. The part-timer is angry.”
“… … .”
Perhaps because there are few people who just keep checking the price and buying, the faceless part-time mannequin looked upset. If the most docile part-timer came during work hours and still looked this upset, it meant that it was time to leave.
“Quickly.”
“… This is driving me crazy.”
I don’t know how many times I said ‘I’m going crazy’ today.
Vivian picked up a few more items and placed them on the counter, and all the time passed while she tried to stop Jae-heon Lee from pressing the wound, saying that no more blood was coming out. Please, if your future dream is not to be a miracle, please restrain yourself. No, shouldn’t you have already achieved your future dream in the first place?
Vivian, carrying a bag with some water and snacks that she ended up buying, came out of the convenience store, dragging Jaeheon Lee along.
“Our student Vivian, you’re so rude. You don’t even say hello to the part-timer.”
“In reality, it happens.”
“Are you a gentleman because you don’t look like that?”
“What does it look like?”
“A fox cub wearing a bear mask?”
“…bird….”
Why the puppy of all people?
Vivian sighed deeply.
“…sorry.”
“You should be kind to others as much as you are sorry to me.”
“Is that why you followed me so obediently?”
“Not similar.”
“He really seems crazy.”
That’s why I thought it would be okay for a doctor named Ha Seong-yoon to drag me to a pharmacy.
‘… This isn’t it, really… .’
I swallowed a sigh inside.
Unlike Song In-myeong, Vivian was an ordinary student with a conscience, if a little bit clever. There was no way she wouldn’t feel guilty about making the poor man named Lee Jae-heon even more pitiful. If he said, “Help other guys instead of me,” she couldn’t refuse.
“Then is there no more serious purpose?”
“Well, isn’t it obvious? Rather than being distracted by Song In-myeong and getting swayed by him and dying, let’s have a discussion now?”
“In the first place, why is it Lee Jae-heon who is showing such consideration?”
“I’m older than Vivian, my student.”
“That’s a very plausible reason.”
“What else do you need?”
“… Has it always been like that?”
Because I am more mature, because I am more outstanding.
A life where I sacrifice everything for a single, seemingly ridiculous reason.
“It’s not a bad thing.”
“It’s bad, for me.”
“I am satisfied.”
“That’s nonsense.”
That can’t possibly be a happy life.
Lee Jae-heon himself seemed to know that.
(Continued in the next episode)
