Chapter 859: The Last (92)
“How have you been?”
-I should be asking you that as well. Have you been doing well? No, I don’t even need to ask. You’re probably fine and having fun. Lots of fun.
‘There’s a certain bite to her words.’
Our conversation was unlikely to start in a good mood.
“Jihye, what’s wrong with you…?”
-I guess I have to explain why I’m doing this.
I had tried to begin the conversation as a warm and touching reunion since we hadn’t seen each other in a long time, but I grew a little cautious at her reaction.
She’d handled the situation according to what she’d told Cho Hyejin, but she might change her mind again.
The best possible choice was to humor her for now.
I spoke quietly with a sweet voice, as I had always done.
It didn’t work on everyone, but I wouldn’t lose anything by moving vigilantly in this situation.
“How could I do well without you? I missed you every single day, so much so that I couldn’t even eat or sleep properly. Every day was like hell. My life without you is meaningless… I just realized that, you know?”
-…
“I didn’t know it was going to be like this. I only realized how precious you were when no one was by my side. I wanted to see everyone else too, but really…”
-…
“You don’t know how much I’ve missed you, Lee Jihye.”
-Stop with the bullshit. Just don’t.
“I’m being honest. I missed your voice so much… and your smile. Your laughter. I missed the conversations I had with you. I’m sure you know that. You’re my soulmate, after all.”
-I don’t know. For me, we are connected by the soul only in words. Aren’t you and that bastard who stabbed you also soulmates? Being able to share your vision must be nice too, huh? Don’t come here spouting lies. I’m not buying it.
“What’s wrong, Jihye? Why did you have to mention him? You know you shouldn’t do that. I understand that you are heartbroken and angry. I know I was wrong. However, the situation is different now. I can’t explain everything right now, but… you know how much I think of you…”
-Gosh. Don’t you dare say it like that.
“Jihyeeeee…”
-Stop. I find that really disgusting.
“Come on, Jihyeeeee…”
-What’s wrong with you?
“My soulmate. My love. Won’t you look at me and forgive me? Nothing will change between us, right?”
-…
I honestly thought it wouldn’t work. Yet, on the contrary, it seemed to be having an effect.
I figured it would do. Her reaction wasn’t as passionate as when I’d done it with Heera, but it was enough…
‘To call it a success.’
I couldn’t really be sure. I spoke with cuteness and playfulness, but getting her in a good mood was another story.
Working with me and being on great terms were two different things.
Of course, she would most likely cooperate since it had already been agreed on, but there was a huge discrepancy between moving voluntarily and reluctantly.
At first, she laughed at me, seemingly finding it absurd, but this kind of work required repetition, sincerity, and consistency.
It was questionable if that would be enough, but history suggested that it would.
Flattery never lost.
-That’s annoying.
“Why?”
-I already know that technique, that’s why. I’m supposed to cooperate anyway. Stop stalling and start talking about what you’ve got to offer. No, let me tell you what I want instead. You’re not trying to get me for free, are you?
“Of course not.”
Of course, exceptions did exist.
-Lee Jihoo. Lee Kiyeon.
“Huh?”
-Let’s just go with that. It’s cool and sexy.
“What does that mean…?”
-Explaining it isn’t sexy.
“Ah…”
-It’s insufficient, but it’ll be a satisfactory transaction, Kiyeon.
“…”
-…
“…”
-Anyway, as you said, we don’t have time. Let’s end the useless chatter here. I have a lot of questions and a lot of things I want to ask. If you want to keep whispering in my ears with that sweet voice of yours, do it later when we go out on a date. Don’t waste your energy here. It hurts my pride, but I don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate if you keep doing that.
“…”
-Oh! Actually, I’m not sure if I’ve pictured the situation up to this point properly. I checked through Yuno Kasugano, but you know that nothing is ever absolute.
“What are you talking about?”
-It’s as I said. Did you think everything I told Hyejin was a lie, that it was a coincidence I came up with a plan the moment I visited Yuno Kasugano after your death? The reason you came to me was because of your bet with Lucifer, right? I thought you would know all of that. You weren’t sure, but you must have felt that I was helping you. I was making it obvious, too.
‘She’s really cooperating.’
It was nice to hear her talking like a rapid-fire gun. It seemed that I wasn’t the only one who needed this conversation and that she’d waited as long as I had.
What she was saying was hard to understand, though, because she kept talking recklessly, which wasn’t like her.
I tried to tell her to speak slowly for a moment, but she took a deep breath and continued before I could intervene.
-In conclusion, I don’t know the details of the bet.
“What?”
-I’m not even sure about this. I have some predictions, but I’m not sure if it’s right for me to tell you this or not. So I can’t say any more.
“You still…”
-No. Of course, I was angry. It’s true that I acted because I wanted them to pay the price for daring to touch what’s mine, but my interest in you coming back here is even more important than that. I know there was a contract between you and Lucifer, and I also know that you had to erase your memories because of that. Considering those two facts, I expected it would be necessary to earn divinity because there was a need for expedients.
“…”
-That’s why I made this dungeon. The Continent Where the Son of Light Was Sacrificed wasn’t made out of impulse. It has been designed to give you the highest profit possible relative to the amount you invested. It may seem like I’m simply following your story, but the process of creating a structure that can provide high returns wasn’t easy.
“I am thankful for that, but… is that really all?”
-Why are you asking the obvious? I was going to blow it up if it had proved to be a mistake.
‘I’m glad it didn’t. Really.’
The timing didn’t seem right, but the result wasn’t bad.
I was reassured enough that she was earning a lot above everything else. The plan hadn’t gone wrong, after all.
Perhaps the reason Lee Jihye had reached out her hand was that she knew I was already on the move.
“What do you mean you can’t tell me?”
-Doing so would risk changing the future. That’s what I’m wary of. Won’t that be a variable?
‘I see.’
-We brought Raphael to our side for a reason.
“He was with you?”
-Yeah. In my personal opinion, he’s also a variable. He’s full of energy, but he’s too emotional and easily swept away. I didn’t want to leave him alone. I thought he would ruin things ahead of time…
I pondered about it for a while, but I thought that my choice was right.
‘He’s a little… yes, she’s right…’
I couldn’t find a more appropriate word than that. If she had left him alone, he would have caused some big accident somewhere.
I quietly looked at Lee Jihye, who was sitting on the desk and talking.
Cho Hyejin was with Sun Hee-young and Kasugano, who were both glancing at the spear. Perhaps they were expressing their desire to have a conversation with me.
I would have loved to talk with them if I got the chance, but I wasn’t sure that would be possible. I didn’t know when the connection would end.
‘I don’t think she’s lying.’
She was probably trying to be as close to the truth as she could with her words. There was no reason for her to do the opposite.
Perhaps all of her actions were focused on avoiding and preventing as many variables as possible.
It had to be due to the fact that she was convinced that if it were left as she’d designed, or more precisely, as we had designed, she would get good results.
‘Okay. I can understand that too.’
But how long did I have to go without knowing?
We were already running toward the end. I could have endured it in the middle of the process but at this point…
‘I have to know.’
“I think I should know, Jihye.”
-I thought you would say that. That’s who you are.
“If you’re worried, you don’t have to tell me everything, but I think I should know what kind of picture you’ve been painting and exactly what Yuno Kasugano has been witnessing.”
-Is there anything else you’d like to know? Like the scene where you’re resurrected, perhaps.
“So you’re telling me that I’ll return.”
-If I hadn’t seen that, I wouldn’t be suffering like this.
“But it’s not just that. There’s more you can tell me.”
How I returned was more important.
I was worried about creating a variable, but beyond that, the fear of not knowing anything was greater.
As she said, it wasn’t because I was a control freak, but because I was worried about how this story might end.
Lee Jihye quietly wrapped her scarf around her neck.
-Don’t get agitated.
“Huh?”
-To be honest, even I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing. But if it were you, if you’d come this far, you’d probably want to know at any cost. Even if I weren’t here, you would have known anyway.
“…”
-So. Don’t do anything reckless after hearing this.
“And that’s…?”
-Kim Hyunsung will die.
“What?”
-Kim Hyunsung will die in your place.
“…”
-That’s all I can tell you so far. You’ll be able to learn the rest on your own. Again, there is no other future. Kim Hyunsung will die.
‘Why say it three times?’
When I unconsciously turned my gaze, I saw Kim Hyunsung. He was crying, his wings spread out while holding my ruined corpse.
The others’ heads had been blown around, perhaps by the attack from their sole invader.
An explosion echoed with a loud bang as attacks poured in from all directions.
Kim Hyunsung covered the corpse with his body and held back his tears.
In the rain of arrows and magic, he quietly spread his wings and swung his sword. Their surroundings exploded once more. At that moment, Kim Hyunsung raised his sword towards humanity.
He had probably decided on it already.
“Why would he die?”
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