/
Step–
Finally, at long last, my feet touched the ground. The weakened gripping force holding my shoulders also disappeared.
I hurriedly stepped back, escaping from the [Gargoyle’s] grasp. The headless Gargoyle flapped its large wings a few times as it lowered its outstretched hands–the very hands that must have carried me here. Flapping very slowly and very consistently…as if it were operated by a cog in a machine.
It didn’t stop there; the headless [Gargoyle] began to get down on one knee and folded its wings slowly…The pose was so utterly polite, that I could imagine its bowed head if it were still attached to its neck.
“Why all of a sudden…” With nothing else to say, I stared at the [Gargoyle], puzzled.
It was then.
“Lee-kyung-ah.”
“Ackkk!”
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice from behind. Terrified out of my wits, I looked back; I had no idea when he arrived, but Seo Dawon stood right before my eyes.
The sight of the mage brought peace of mind, but I couldn’t help but wonder how he arrived here faster than me.
So, I approached him, eager to speak. “You.. How did you…”
“Long time no see.”
A strange sense of discord washed through me. However, before I could escape, Seo Dawon drew closer to me and dragged me into his embrace. He treated me like drenched wool–squeezing as he hugged.
“Wait a minute…” I started.
“I thought you wouldn’t be here…”
“Seo Dawon, wait a moment…!”
In pain, I struggled before losing my strength, but… Seo Dawon kept muttering something incomprehensible as he looked down at me. Various indescribable emotions waged war in his expression; I felt flustered, unable to keep up with his changing emotions.
‘…Is he like this because I was dragged away by the [Gargoyle] right before his eyes?’
However, somehow I felt that answer didn’t fit. ‘This is strange…’
Therefore I scrutinized Seo Dawon’s face–I was surprised to see his shining eyes.
His eye color was different.
Since the sky was dark, I was mistaken for a moment…but, the man standing in front of me had red eyes–the color of blood–not a deep reddish-brown.
‘Now that I look closer, his clothes too…He’s not wearing a school uniform.’
Paired with a neat combat uniform and the sharper lines in his face, he was a little different from the Seo Dawon on ‘this side.’ Should I say he looked a bit more adult? Of course, the Seo Dawon I knew intimately looked closer to the Seo Dawon in front of me.
“S-Seo Dawon?”
“Yeah.”
“You…How did you get in here?” Finally, noting the differences, I naturally realized that the ‘real’ Seo Dawon must have entered Woo Ragi’s [Vengeful Ghost Memory]. Relieved, I relaxed my anxious body and stretched my shoulders.
Seo Dawon paused and soon smiled mysteriously. I couldn’t really understand the change in his expression, but I just smiled happily since I was so glad to see him. “I’m so glad you’re here…”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I was at a loss since the [Vengeful Ghost Memory] was so weird this time. I couldn’t see Woo Ragi at all, only you…”
“I was there?”
“Yeah. I was with you until just a little while ago. That’s to say…your highschool self? Anyhow…I was with him, but then I was kidnapped and brought here by that [Gargoyle].”With that said, I glanced at the still kneeling [Gargoyle]. Even if it were to suddenly move and attack, I felt fine since Seo Dawon was here.
‘…Wait, that’s not it. What if Seo Dawon can’t use his skills?’
Feeling uselessly anxious at that sudden thought, I grabbed and shook Seo Dawon’s arm. “Seo Dawon! Can you use your skills?”
“Which one?”
“I strangely couldn’t use my skills after coming here? Can you?”
In lieu of an answer, Seo Dawon gently unfurled his hand, palms up. At the sight of the familiar golden magic circle floating above his hand, I sighed in great relief. How reassuring…I had no idea what I should do otherwise…
“That’s a relief. You still have your abilities…”
“……”
“We can finally find Woo Ragi now.”
However, Seo Dawon silently clenched his fist, canceled his skill, and stared at me. I was flustered by his stare that seemed to pierce through me…While I stood there, terrified, he placed his hands on my cheeks.
“W-What is it…” I asked.
“Lee-kyung-ah.”
“Huh?”
“How much do you remember?”
I stared at him pointedly–what a strange thing to ask… As soon as I didn’t answer, Seo Dawon instantaneously grabbed my neck. It happened so fast, I could barely think.
“Cough!”
“Is he a fake this time as well…?” Seo Dawon said.
“Wha…at…” Surprised by his sudden attitude shift, I grabbed at the mage’s forearm.
As soon as I gripped his arm, Seo Dawon loosened his hold, as if he were giving me another chance. Of course, even though his grasp relaxed slightly, he was still holding onto my neck. The mage didn’t hide his bloodthirst; if I didn’t answer properly here, he wouldn’t hesitate to crush my neck straight away.
‘Crazy…Is this Seo Dawon also a part of this Vengeful Ghost memory?’
I was bewildered. My mind went blank as I looked at him; Seo Dawon stared down at me before lowering his eyes. “…As expected, I still can’t kill while looking at your face.”
“Gasp….Cough…!”
“You look too similar. It makes me feel terrible…”
Surprised by the force of this gradual strangulation, I said whatever came to mind. “Back at the dorm, Vengeful Ghost summon…Cough…”
“……”
“During that…I…I came…here!”
“……”
“Hngh. W-Wait a moment…Dawon-ah…Wait…!”
Once I spat out those words, I realized that he was no longer throttling me, though that didn’t necessarily mean I was released.
One thing was certain: Seo Dawon couldn’t cause me more pain after seeing tears springing from my eyes. Noting that, I blinked for the sole purpose of squeezing out more tears.
In the end, Seo Dawon slowly let the strength fall from his fingers. Even after I was completely released, I was so surprised I sat down where I stood, trembling. Seo Dawon directly knelt in front of me and slowly wiped the tears away from my cheeks with his hands.
Even though his actions were friendly, I was still so anxious about his unpredictable behavior. Afraid of being strangled again, I flinched my upper body away, but Seo Dawon’s gentle voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Lee-kyung-ah, I’m looking for the real one.”
“Hnngh…”
What kind of bullcrap is he saying now…Those words rose up and filled my throat, but I narrowly managed to clamp my mouth shut.
However, Seo Dawon didn’t seem to care how I writhed away from him. He just simply seemed to be trying to find something on my face. His persistent gaze made my breath catch.
After scrutinizing me carefully, he slowly opened his mouth. “After you disappeared…”
“……”
“I turned over the entire world searching for you.” Observation finished, Seo Dawon stood up. As he did so, he began to mumble something incomprehensible once again. “But I’ve been looking for you for such a long time now…”
“Everything’s begun to fade.”
“……”
“Anyway…Sorry. You must have been startled. I started choking you all of a sudden.” His apology was somehow both bright and hollow. There was no trace of mischief within his words. It was just…he looked a little bored…and exceedingly unstable.
I didn’t want to hold the mage’s outstretched hand, but Seo Dawon appeared as if he’d stay in the same position until I grabbed it. As soon as I reached out my trembling hand, he patted the back of my hand–as if he was praising me for a job well done. Then, with tremendous power, he dragged me to a standing position.
“Can’t walk?” Seo Dawon asked.
“……” Even as he moved to support me, fear filled my body. Thus, my legs shook. Seo Dawon, seeing that, lifted me up and hugged me close even before hearing my response. I truly didn’t enjoy it, but, as soon as I saw his red eyes, my mouth wouldn’t open.
Seeing my terror-stricken expression, Seo Dawon smiled. “Place your hands around my neck.”
“……”
“Don’t be too scared.”
I somehow felt that he liked my shivers even though he told me not to be afraid of him.
Inwardly, I cursed like crazy, but the ‘Seo Dawon’ before me was currently a ticking time bomb. I couldn’t dare provoke him. I had no idea what would trigger another tantrum. Furthermore, since he was a [User] in full control over his skills, the gap between our abilities was just too far for me to successfully run away or counterattack.
‘What on earth is this Vengeful Ghost Memory trying to show me…’
By now, I was sick and tired of Woo Ragi, wanted to escape this place immediately, and see the ‘real’ Seo Dawon. Then, I recalled something this Seo Dawon had said:
‘You look too similar. It makes me feel terrible…’
TL:
Lee-kyung: I’m sick and tired and I want to leave
Me: No, no, stay there. I wanna find out what’s happening.