DB Vol 2 Part 11

Then in just a few steps with his long legs, he reached the door. Sang-cheon only then wondered how the door had opened. How on earth did that open… Huh? Is it broken? As he bent down to look closer, the rude man who had gone out suddenly half-turned.

“Watch your mouth in front of Ji Won-woo, old man.”

With those words, his figure disappeared as if melting into the darkness. Sang-cheon was still frowning when he belatedly realized something. The voice that felt familiar even though he was hearing it for the first time. It was because of the way of speaking.

Someone who casually mentions ‘mouth’ to a stranger. The only person who would call him, whom he’s never met, ‘old man’ is… Gasp! Sang-cheon staggered and collapsed, grabbing the door. And with his hand covering his mouth, he silently screamed. How on earth did the Brute get out into the world?!!

Monster corpses not only pollute the ground, but occasionally the smell of monster remains could stimulate and awaken other monster eggs. That’s why the farm was busy with cleanup work even in the middle of the night, brightly lit. Since many civilians were among the staff dispatched from the Center, it wasn’t particularly strange for unfamiliar people to be walking around the farm now.

However, the man in black clothes with his face hidden by a mask couldn’t help but stand out due to his tall stature and build. Yet no one who passed him turned to look. That’s because no sound came from him. It was as if he was muted, with no sound audible. To the point where no one nearby could sense his presence.

Humans rely heavily on sight, but the absence of sound alone lowers their range of perception and eliminates caution. So he could walk around the farm at a leisurely pace, looking for someone. As he did so, he silently listened to the information that Chief Jung was rapidly pouring out over the communicator.

[According to what I hear, Ms. Han Seona’s performance was quite remarkable. The witnesses’ testimonies are unanimous. They say Ms. Han Seona held back the monster, prepared to go rampage. The strange part is what happened afterwards. No matter how outstanding her performance was, as an unusual wavelength without proper guiding, she should have been at risk of going rampage, but they say she stabilized her breathing on her own through meditation until the Guide arrived.]

“What nonsense.”

He knew better than anyone what state a body on the verge of going rampage was in. Chief Jung also agreed with his opinion.

[I don’t believe it either. There must be some reason. And of all people, it’s someone related to Ji Won-woo.]

Chief Jung’s voice was full of perplexity. But when there was no reply, he remained silent for a moment before cautiously asking.

[Vice Head, have you found Ji Won-woo?]

He was still looking around outside the building because he hadn’t found him yet. He wasn’t in his room, nor was he where people had gathered. He stopped walking and looked up at the dormitory. A low two-story building. There was also a rooftop there. The Brute remembered Won-woo, who particularly liked rooftops. The one who would always go up to the rooftop to do his Four Guardian Beasts meditation when resting at the East Center.

“Almost.”

As soon as the Brute muttered in response to Chief Jung’s question, his body instantly blurred. And soon he moved to the roof of the building opposite the dormitory. From there, the dormitory’s rooftop was in full view. Due to the farm’s accident, all the lighting towers were lit that night, and the dormitory rooftop was also somewhat within the realm of light. Under that dim light, there was one person.

Just then, the wind blew his front hair, revealing his eyes completely. Those eyes, calmly looking down as if observing a complex world, sparkled unusually, perhaps due to the light.

[Vice Head?]

Even at the sound calling him, the Brute didn’t take his eyes off that small face. Although he had seen photos before and knew the shape of his face from sound, seeing it in person was different. The Brute focused on the other person, holding his breath. So that’s what he looked like, Ji Won-woo.

The rooftop of the two-story dormitory wasn’t high, but there were few buildings obstructing the view around it. And thanks to the wide open space like a playground around the fence with no other obstacles, most situations could be observed from here. Numerous people were moving under the bright lights.

Amidst the noise of heavy machinery, the voices of workers shouting could be heard. Be careful, pull back more, the decontamination team needs to work first, and so on. It was noisy, but this wasn’t why Won-woo couldn’t sleep at dawn and was watching from the rooftop. Whether it was quiet or noisy, it was difficult for him to fall asleep anyway.

Most of those who fought in the long war suffered from insomnia like Won-woo. Ironically, when they were in the thick of fighting Espers, they could fall into deep sleep in bits and pieces even while being on high alert 24 hours a day, but once the war ended and peace came, it became harder to fall asleep. So having this scenery to watch now was welcome. He wasn’t even very tired. Why wasn’t he tired?

Won-woo leaned on the railing, pondering this question, when he realized he had slept very soundly the night before. Ah, I slept well thanks to Nani. He had chatted alone for a very long time. As if he had returned to the past. But this was also bitter evidence that he was still tied to the past and couldn’t break free.

But no one can easily let go of the past, can they? Won-woo tried to excuse himself. The fact that he had become more motivated after falling into this different world was all because he was holding onto the past. If she, who was like a mother from the past, knew, she would be very angry. But she is Won-woo’s savior. No matter how much it was the past, he could never let go of her.

That day was probably another day when young Won-woo was getting beaten up. He doesn’t remember if it was his eldest brother, second brother, or father who hit him. Ah, maybe all three of them hit him. Getting hit was a frequent occurrence, but this time it was particularly hard. It hurt, it was pitiful, he wanted to run away.

He ran out of the house without any plan, so he didn’t have a penny in his pocket. Because of the bruises all over his face, he kept his head down and hid in paths where there were no people. Not knowing where to go, he was crouched in a corner of a deserted alley. And then she appeared. Plop, she sat down next to Won-woo and suddenly asked like this.

“Do you like cold places?”

It was a blunt voice, but the strange question pushed back the fear of the stranger for a moment. It seemed that he could lower his guard more because she sat facing the same direction as him, not looking directly at him. So instead of running away, Won-woo carefully examined her.

“When it’s so cold that everything freezes, it feels like I’m the only one alive, but it’s not all bad. Do you know delicious ramen is eaten sitting in front of a heater?”

Who on earth would say such things? As Won-woo wondered, she turned her head towards him. The face that had been hidden by the deeply pulled hood was finally visible. Her face was full of distorted scars. It should have been a scary sight, but Won-woo wasn’t afraid. The eyes he met were warm. It was a warmth he had never felt in his life.

“Do you want to go north with me?”

He couldn’t say anything, surprised by the sudden words. She added, as if persuading,

“Ji Geun-oh might feed you properly, but you can’t eat comfortably anyway, right?”

At his father’s name, Won-woo belatedly became wary and moved away.

“Do you… know who I am?”

“I know you’re Ji Geun-oh’s son.”

“If you kidnap me, my father won’t leave you alone.”

Ha, she laughed shortly.

“I don’t care. I’m not afraid of Ji Geun-oh. And if it were a kidnapping, I wouldn’t have asked you to come along. How troublesome it is to take care of a child.”

Although she said it was troublesome, her tone was nonchalant, so curiosity arose instead of feeling hurt.

“Then why do you want to take me? Because you pity me?”

“Yeah. You look a bit pitiful.”

Her tone was still nonchalant. Won-woo frowned, but in a way, it felt good that someone recognized his pain, even if it was out of pity. Because no one in that huge house-like mansion ever gave Won-woo a sympathetic look no matter how much he was beaten.

But he didn’t like acknowledging this feeling. It hurt his pride. That’s when words that could protect Won-woo’s pride came from her.

“But the real reason is that I think you might be a bit useful.”

“What… use?”

“I need to find someone, so I’ll have to leave the house often. Can you watch the house for me? Can you do that?”

Well, watching the house… Won-woo nodded slightly.

“Then you need to eat well too.”

A strange condition was added. No, was it a condition? As Won-woo wondered and answered ‘Yes’ for now, she quickly added,

“Don’t get sick, and do everything you want to do.”

“…”

“Can’t you do it?”

“…I can. But your requests are strange, ma’am.”

“What’s strange about them? You need to be healthy in body and mind to watch the house well.”

Is that so? But it’s really strange. It’s all easy and for my sake. As Won-woo became suspicious, she thought for a moment and placed a restriction.

“Then don’t swear.”

Won-woo’s eyes widened for a moment.

“I, I don’t swear. I’ve never copied my brothers.”

“Good, don’t do it in the future either.”

As Won-woo nodded, she stood up from her seat.

“Then let’s go.”

She wasn’t particularly tall, but at that moment, the standing woman felt like a giant reaching the sky. Young Won-woo, who had been silent and easily startled due to violence, somehow found courage at that moment. Even though the other person might be a human trafficker, he grabbed her outstretched hand without hesitation.

It was only later that he learned she was looking for someone who had a grudge against Ji Geun-oh, and that’s why she had been monitoring around his house. And then she ended up following Won-woo as he came out of the house.

When he found out about this fact, he couldn’t be more grateful that his father had made so many enemies. Because thanks to that, he was able to meet her. For the first few months, Won-woo would tremble in fear that his father and brothers might find him and take him back. Whenever that happened, she would say this,

‘If your fear is so great that you’re shaking, let’s try breaking it down. You’re worried that your father might find you at some point in the future, right? Break down that future and think about just today. Do you think you’ll be caught today? No, right? The sun has already set, he won’t come.

Even if he does come, don’t you think you can avoid him well? You’re familiar with this place now, you know the alleys well, and you’ve memorized the underground passages, right? You can hide there. How about it, are you confident you can escape? Then that’s fine. Think only about today’s reduced fear. In your mind, cut off the worries of the future like slicing a cake and push them far away.

Do you know this? There’s no order in which people go? You might only live for today. Then what’s the use of being afraid of days, months, or years later? Worrying about too much of the future is a waste of the present.

You say it’s not easy to break down fear? Of course. If anyone could do it right away, why would we need psychiatry or religion? So practice, practice.’

Won-woo practiced as she said, but it seems he didn’t do it properly. Because he had to hear the same story once more over the phone much later.

‘You get very lonely. If that’s scary, break it down again. You can endure for a day, right? Just think about one day at a time like that. Don’t let a future that hasn’t even come yet eat you up. Ignore things without substance. Then you can live on even without me.’

This was the last phone call she made before she died.