Episode 191.
When I opened my closed eyes, what I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
No, it was a very familiar ceiling.
‘what?’
That’s why Siwoo had a question.
Because originally, the familiar ceiling scenery wasn’t supposed to be visible.
Shouldn’t the ceiling of the afterlife feel familiar?
Even if it was a Godtube, the familiar ceiling scenery should not be visible.
‘what…?’
A situation that is completely incomprehensible.
Siwoo calmly recalled his memories.
My memory was hazy, as if my head was covered in fog.
But little by little, the fog cleared and memories began to come back to me one by one.
Bait to draw out Oh Joo-won.
Entrance to the S-class dungeon.
Encounter with Cerberus.
The final battle with Oh Ju-won.
A promise with Han Chae-rin.
Lilith encountered.
A monster of great strength and chaos.
Red shadow.
And now.
“Alive… yes?”
It was only then that Siwoo was able to realize that he was alive and not dead.
And so the unfamiliar ceiling that we see now.
“It’s a special room.”
Siwoo could also tell that this was a special room at SH Hospital.
As expected, the scenery I slowly looked around was very familiar.
A space where you can’t tell if it’s a hospital or a hotel.
An interior that looks like it was finished with a lot of money.
And the mysterious figure lying in the bed next to me─.
“Are you awake?”
…huh?
The moment Siwoo saw it, he tilted his head.
That would be the case, because originally the voice heard had to be that of a young woman.
So, Han Chae-rin had to lie in the bed next to me.
But the person lying in the bed next to Siwoo right now was not Han Chae-rin.
A middle-aged man with a cool impression.
“…Director?”
Director of the Inspection Bureau, Baek Seon-je.
He was lying on the bed next to Siwoo.
After a while, Baek Seon-je slowly got up.
“Hey, why don’t you look so happy?”
Baek Seon-je continued speaking with a playful expression.
“Could it be that you are disappointed because I am not a beautiful woman next to you?”
Siwoo made a weak expression.
And then he checked Baek Seon-je’s condition.
Baek Seon-je was fatally wounded by Oh Ju-won’s dagger, piercing his heart.
Baek Seon-je was in critical condition even after receiving emergency treatment using the divine medicine (S+).
“Are you feeling okay?”
“As you can see, I’m fine. Thanks to whom?”
Baek Seon-je showed a cool smile.
“But shouldn’t you be worrying about yourself before me?”
“Me too, as you can see… .”
“As you can see, it doesn’t look okay at all.”
Siwoo was speechless at Baek Seon-je’s words.
That would be the case, given Siwoo’s appearance.
Because it didn’t look okay to anyone.
In reality, it wasn’t okay at all.
As soon as I regained consciousness, the pain I felt all over my body made me feel like I would faint at any moment.
It was the result of pushing my body to its limits.
No, it couldn’t even be fully expressed with the word limit.
I quickly ran to Seoul right after fighting Cerberus.
Since then, he has fought a decisive battle with Oh Ju-won and engaged in a bloody battle with Lilith.
Finally, the fight against the red shadow.
There were so many battles in that one day.
On top of that, the situation was further complicated by the use of the monster’s power and backlash.
To be honest, Siwoo was at a level where he shouldn’t be alive.
Maybe that’s why.
“What the hell is going on? And above all, how am I still alive?”
“You ask so quickly.”
Baek Seon-pyeong showed an expression that said he couldn’t stop it.
“I have a lot to tell you. But before that… .”
Baek Seon-je continued speaking with a refreshing smile.
“There is someone who is desperately waiting for you to wake up.”
“Are you talking about me?”
Siwoo tilted his head without realizing it.
Because there wasn’t really anyone I could wait for desperately.
Oh, is that Seo-ah?
That question only arises for a moment.
Baek Seon-je pressed the round button at the top of the bed.
“Please tell them that Hunter Maeng Si-woo has woken up.”
It looked like some kind of intercom.
Or a button to call a nurse in case of an emergency.
But contrary to expectations, there was no reply.
At that moment, I was wondering, “What is this?”
Knock knock knock!
An urgent running sound was heard outside the hospital room.
And then, suddenly!
The door to the sickroom was blown open.
And what was seen was a beauty with long black hair.
“…Chaerin?”
Han Chae-rin was standing in front of the door, swallowing her excited breath.
Han Chae-rin was wearing a pink hospital gown.
It seemed that Han Chae-rin was also hospitalized at SH Hospital.
Soon, Han Chae-rin’s gaze turned to Si-woo.
And as I checked on Siwoo who was awake, my two eyes started shaking greatly.
It was like the eyes of a baby deer that had lost its mother.
A myriad of emotions were swirling in Han Chae-rin’s shaking eyes.
I couldn’t figure out what that feeling was.
But there is emotion in the eyes.
‘Why is he like that?’
That alone was embarrassing for Siwoo.
Because it was completely different from Han Chae-rin’s usual appearance.
A chunk of ice.
A robot without any emotions.
Why is that kid suddenly acting like that?
“Chaerin…?”
Siwoo called Han Chae-rin out of a strange sense of alienation.
At the same time, tadatak!
Han Chae-rin ran towards Si-woo.
Then he threw his body and fell down!
Han Chae-rin was held in Si-woo’s arms.
“Ugh!”
Siwoo fell onto the bed with Han Chae-rin running towards him.
The sight of it almost looked like it had been pounced on by Han Chae-rin.
Hey, why is he acting like this all of a sudden?
“Okay, just a moment. Chaerin!”
Siwoo flailed his body in embarrassment.
He pulled Han Chae-rin away from him, who was hugging him tightly.
But that couldn’t be done.
Han Chae-rin was hugging me so tightly.
“Ahh…!”
Because my body that hadn’t recovered couldn’t shake off Han Chae-rin.
Siwoo had no choice but to remain helpless as he was covered by Han Chae-rin.
Han Chae-rin didn’t say anything while being held by Si-woo.
He was burying his face in Siwoo’s chest.
“It’s a burning youth. It’s a burning youth.”
The mutter of a clever Baek Seon-je.
“They say young people these days are fast.”
Baek Seon-je just shook his head.
* * *
Han Chae-rin didn’t leave for a long time.
It was only after a long time that I was finally able to let go of his embrace.
There was something strange about Han Chae-rin, who had fallen from my arms like that.
I couldn’t look Siwoo straight in the eye.
He had a dazed expression, as if something had broken down.
How much time passed like that again?
“ah….”
Han Chae-rin just blurted out this one word.
And then whoosh!
I quickly walked out of the hospital room.
‘…What?’
Siwoo really seemed to be something.
No, I was wondering why he was doing that.
What kind of situation is it where you suddenly run to me, hug me, and then leave without saying a word?
That moment.
“It looks like Ms. Han Chae-rin is embarrassed.”
Baek Seon-je’s voice was heard.
Baek Seon-je, who turned his head to look at me, was smiling slyly.
But Han Chae-rin is embarrassed?
What kind of nonsense are you talking about?
Han Chae-rin and shame.
It was a completely incompatible match.
It was much more believable to still believe that the sundae gukbap I ate last time was wrong.
“By the way, were you dating Ms. Han Chae-rin?”
The following question is from Baek Seon-je.
Baek Seon-je still had a sly expression on his face.
“It’s a misunderstanding. Why does everyone think that Chae-rin and I are dating?”
“Doesn’t it look like that to anyone?”
Baekseonje has been talking as if it were a given.
Siwoo said with a small sigh.
“I’ll say it again, it was a ‘misunderstanding.’ I almost died after being trampled by Chae-rin just now. If we were dating, would she have tried to kill me?”
“You didn’t even resist when you were almost crushed to death?”
“It’s not that I didn’t resist, it’s that I couldn’t resist.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Baek Seon-je made a foolish expression as if to say, “Would you do that?”
It was a look that no one could believe.
“If you look at my current condition, you will know that I have no strength to resist.”
“surely….”
Baek Seon-je checked Si-woo’s physical condition.
And then he nodded slowly.
“Since you say so, let’s do it that way.”
He gave me that foolish look again.
Siwoo was about to say something in rebuttal, ugh.
I decided to just leave it alone.
No matter how many excuses you make, it will only get worse.
“How am I still alive? What happened after that?”
Siwoo changed the subject of conversation.
Baek Seon-je chuckled and then immediately opened his mouth.
“I didn’t see the situation myself. When I got there, the situation was already over.”
Baek Seon-je continued speaking with a serious expression.
“They say you fell and your father fought against the red shadow.”
Siwoo nodded calmly.
Because I remembered this.
To be exact, this was Siwoo’s last memory.
“Father finally got rid of the red shadow at the end of the classics….”
That moment.
Bam!
The closed door to the hospital room burst open again.
what?
Siwoo and Baek Seon-je’s gaze turned toward the door at the same time.
And then a woman of mysterious age appeared.
To be exact, she was a woman who looked like a young lady.
Wavy bob cut hair.
Elegant sophistication that oozes from every action.
“Aunt?”
Han Min-ah, Han Chae-rin’s aunt and director of SH Group.
She was standing at the door of the hospital room.
Han Min-ah was also wearing a pink patient gown, as if she was hospitalized at SH Hospital.
For a moment, Han Min-ah’s gaze turned to Si-woo.
But he quickly passed Siwoo and headed towards Baek Seonje next to him.
A moment of silence.
Knock!
In an instant, Han Min-ah ran towards Baek Seon-je.
Then he threw his body and fell down!
Han Min-ah hugged Baek Seon-je.
“Ugh!”
Baek Seon-je fell onto the bed, unable to withstand the force of Han Min-ah running towards him.
The sight of it almost looked like it had been pounced on by Han Min-ah.
“Hey, Mina?”
Baek Seon-je flailed his body in confusion.
However, he couldn’t tear himself away from Han Min-ah, who was hugging him tightly.
Siwoo quietly watched the two of them entangled together.
I stared blankly at the white silk that was covering me.
Eyes meeting.
“…They say that youth has no age.”
Siwoo showed a sly smile.
* * *
It took a long time for Han Min-ah to leave Baek Seon-je’s arms.
There was something strange about Han Min-ah, who had fallen from my arms like that.
I couldn’t look Baek Seon-je straight in the eye.
He had a dazed expression, as if something had broken down.
How much time passed again?
“ah….”
Han Min-ah just blurted out this one word.
And then whoosh!
Han Min-ah quickly walked out of the hospital room.
Who would say that they are not from the same Han family?
It really looked exactly like Han Chae-rin.
“I think Aunt Han Min-ah is embarrassed.”
Siwoo spoke to Baek Seon-je with a faint smile.
“By the way, Director, were you dating Han Min-ah’s aunt?”
“Oh, I misunderstood. Um, where did it look like Mina and I were dating?”
Baek Seon-je’s words as he answered were trembling greatly.
His face was also red and flushed for some reason.
“Doesn’t it look like that to anyone?”
At Siwoo’s words, Baek Seonjae ahem!
I cleared my throat and tried to calm myself down.
“I’ll say it again, it’s a ‘misunderstanding.’ Didn’t you see that Min-ah almost killed you just now? If we were dating, would you have tried to kill me?”
“You didn’t put up any resistance at all, despite almost being crushed to death.”
“It’s not that I didn’t resist, it’s that I couldn’t resist.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Siwoo made a foolish expression as if to say, “Would you do that?”
Then Baek Seon-je said urgently that it was really a misunderstanding.
“You know very well what my condition is like. Even though I look like this, I have absolutely no strength in my body.”
“surely….”
Siwoo checked Baek Seon-je’s physical condition.
A wound in the chest where Oh Ju-won’s twin daggers pierced it.
There was a bandage wrapped tightly around his chest, indicating that he was not yet fully recovered.
Although the heart was not completely pierced, it was a serious wound that could be considered fatal.
If it weren’t for the divine medicine (S+), I would have died without being able to move.
As the saying goes, the condition couldn’t have been better.
But whatever.
“Since the director says so, let’s do it that way.”
It wasn’t to the extent that he couldn’t resist the power of an ordinary woman who wasn’t even an Awakened One.
“……”
As expected, Baek Seon-je had no answer.
He just kept his mouth shut like a mute who had eaten honey.
A moment of silence.
“The red shadow is….”
Baek Seon-je opened his mouth and changed the subject.
But he was so flustered that he just kept repeating nonsense.
“…How far did we talk?”
Siwoo answered with a sly smile.
“I even heard that the Sword Master made the Red Shadow retreat.”
“Oh yeah.”
Baekseonje is big, ahem.
He cleared his throat and coughed excessively.
“Since then, my father… .”
Baek Seon-je slowly unraveled the related story.
And only then did Siwoo realize why he was still alive.
“Your Majesty… .”
The sacrifice of the Sword Immortal, Baek Seon-pyeong.
Baek Seon-pyeong sacrificed everything he had to save the people who had been sacrificed.
Siwoo was silent for a moment.
Then, a question suddenly occurred to me and I asked Baek Seon-je again.
“Director, what happened to Oh Ju-won?”
Oh Joo-won, a scar-level executive who was in charge of the pandemonium in Korea.
Oh Ju-won, who was hit directly by the power of fusion, honestly didn’t think he would survive.
But did Oh Joo-won see the possibility of a lesser evil in the worst future?
“I am currently receiving treatment at SH Hospital.”
Oh Ju-won was alive and not dead.
But, in the end, he was just surviving.
“But he lost all his magical powers and became a vegetable. The doctors all shook their heads, saying that there was almost no chance of him waking up.”
Baek Seon-je shook his head with a regretful expression.
That would be the case, since Oh Ju-won, as a scar-level executive, knew a lot about Pandemonium.
Siwoo also felt regretful, but he did not give up on the possibility.
If he was still alive, I might be able to wake him up with the divine medicine (S+).
“But with Oh Joo-won like this, the pandemonium in Korea has completely collapsed. All of this… It’s all thanks to you. I really don’t know how to express my gratitude…”
Baek Seon-je looked at Si-woo with a very proud expression.
I feel awkward for no reason.
That would be the case, as the pandemonium in Korea had only just collapsed.
Pandemonium itself did not collapse.
As long as the red shadow was alive, it could not be said that everything was over.
Siwoo asked Baek Seonje.
“But who on earth is the red shadow?”
The ruler of Pandemonium, the Red Shadow.
According to Siwoo’s guess, the red shadow was most likely a character from Gottube.
So, his presence is Godtube and Pandemonium.
It added to the suspicion that the two might be related.
But I couldn’t figure out what kind of being it really was.
So Siwoo asked.
“that….”
Baek Seon-je did not give an easy answer.
It seemed like he didn’t know much about the Baekseon system.
In fact, the identity of the red shadow was unclear to begin with.
It was a being whose existence I didn’t even know existed.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know much about red shadows either.”
Baek Seon-je seemed to have answered like that.
And right then.
“Let me tell that story.”
A voice like a single ray of wind was heard.
A being that is both unfamiliar and not unfamiliar.
“The Red Shadow was my colleague a long time ago.”
Sword Immortal, Baek Seon-pyeong.
He was standing in front of the sickroom door.
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fantasy,
