Chapter 21

00021 For a moment, to part. =========================================================================

The sky, visible through the window, was filled with dark clouds. Although not thick enough to be called a fog, a faint mist hovered in the air, and drizzle fell intermittently. As the raindrops tapped against the window, Kim Hanbyeol felt her mood gradually calm down.

It wasn't exactly cozy, but she felt a sense of comfort. Even if it was an unseasonable sentimental mood given the current situation, it was still much better than the strange chases in the forest and after leaving the forest.

'Come to think of it... I used to really like rainy days when I was young.'

Kim Hanbyeol had always enjoyed rainy days since she was a child. Holding an umbrella and walking down the rain-soaked streets while listening to music was a small happiness that could be felt amidst the mundane routine. She suddenly longed for a cup of coffee. If she could have a hot, delicious cup of coffee to warm her insides, she felt she could momentarily forget everything around her.

With a melancholic expression, Kim Hanbyeol gazed at the world outside the window. The gray shadows that enveloped everything made it seem like evening had arrived. After experiencing so much in one day, both her body and mind were exhausted. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she turned her head. A large room of about 20 pyeong (approximately 660 square feet) came into view. It had everything one could need: food, water, bedding, a bathroom, and even shower facilities.

When they had fled into the city, Kim Hanbyeol had felt a strange sense of unease upon entering. The city was eerily quiet, as if no one lived there. At first, she had even mistaken it for a dead city. Amidst this, they found a moderately sized building. The building, with its roof painted black, stood out among the others. Whether by luck or some other force, they entered and found that it was well-equipped with almost everything they needed.

Both her body and mind were demanding sleep, but the situation was still too delicate to rest. An Sol was still in a dazed state, unable to regain her composure, and An Hyun was busy taking care of her. And Yoo Jeong...

Kim Hanbyeol easily found Yoo Jeong, who had already picked up the knife she had neatly placed by the front door. Knowing roughly why she was doing this, Hanbyeol sighed and spoke.

"Yoo Jeong."

"Yes."

"Put the knife down."

"No."

Without even acknowledging her, Yoo Jeong unlocked the front door. The loud click of the lock startled An Hyun, who burst out of his room. Seeing the knife in Yoo Jeong's hand, he immediately frowned.

"It's a waste of time. Put the knife down and wait patiently."

Hearing Kim Hanbyeol's voice, Yoo Jeong glared at her with a look of frustration.

"Why?"

"..."

"I'll bring back Hyun-oppa, so you just wait here."

'Oppa. Hyun-oppa.'

She silently repeated his name in her mind. The thought of him came to her. From the moment she first met him, Kim Hanbyeol had felt that she and Kim Hyun were of the same kind. From the first time she saw him in the open space, she had sensed something different about him. His calm face, confident voice, and composed eyes. For some reason, after talking with him on the hill and following his judgment, she felt a connection. After staring at Yoo Jeong for a moment, Kim Hanbyeol continued.

"It's not just you who's worried about him. And even if you go, there's nothing you can do. Just waiting is the best way to help."

"He might still be waiting there. If you're not going, then get out. If you don't go, I'll go and bring him back."

"Yoo Jeong, Hanbyeol is right. Put the knife down first."

Hearing An Hyun's stern voice, Yoo Jeong immediately turned her head. After a moment, she sneered at both An Hyun and Kim Hanbyeol.

"You guys are really something. He might be searching for us right now, you know?"

The words "You guys are really something" carried many meanings. Upon hearing them, everyone felt a pang in their hearts. However, while An Hyun remained silent, Kim Hanbyeol was not. She glanced at An Sol, who was still lying unconscious in the next room, and then spoke.

"We had no choice. Those things were attacking us, and we were in danger. If it weren't for that child, we might all be dead now."

"Who doesn't know? That's why we hid and brought Sol here. Is that it? Now that we're safe, it's over? Hyun-oppa will find us on his own?"

Seeing Yoo Jeong mockingly questioning her, Kim Hanbyeol felt uncomfortable. She had always disliked people who shouted and used informal language. Without realizing it, she curled her lips into a sneer and replied coldly.

"Then go. Go out and search all you want. I won't care if you die."

As soon as she said it, she realized it was a mistake, but it was too late. An Hyun looked at her in shock, and Yoo Jeong's face showed a moment of shock before she let out a bitter laugh.

"You... Really, you're such a rude kid. Did he sacrifice himself to save a kid like you? I'm disappointed. Was your worried face just an act?"

"I clearly told you not to go. If he still insisted, it was his decision. Why are you blaming me for it?"

"You... Forget it. I don't want to talk to trash like you. Just shut up. You're a cold-hearted woman with no feelings."

Kim Hanbyeol had expected Yoo Jeong to shout and attack, but her unexpected response left her slightly surprised. The insult and dismissive attitude deeply hurt her pride. She hadn't noticed, but her breathing had become even more labored. Her voice, when she spoke again, carried a faint trace of anger.

"That's a harsh thing to say. Is there anything wrong with what I said?"

"I don't care. I'm not interested in that. But I don't want to live hypocritically like you."

"Are you done talking?"

"You're so young, yet you have the nerve to look me in the eye. What are you going to do? Are we going to pull each other's hair? Stop it. If you don't want scratches on your pale, fair face, just shut your pretty mouth."

"Stop it, both of you!"

Unable to bear the escalating argument, An Hyun shouted at them in anger. The force of his voice made both Yoo Jeong and Kim Hanbyeol stop speaking involuntarily. An Hyun glared at them with his deep-set eyes and then extended his hand toward Yoo Jeong.

"Give it to me."

"...No."

Seeing Yoo Jeong tightly hugging the knife, An Hyun sighed deeply and continued in a slightly weaker voice.

"I'll go look for him. I think you might be right."

"...Really? Then let's go together."

Seeing An Hyun suddenly change his attitude, Yoo Jeong looked somewhat reluctant but also somewhat welcoming. In response to her, An Hyun shook his head weakly.

"No. It's better if I go alone. Those things might still be around. You and Hanbyeol should take care of Sol."

"Her? No way. I can't trust her anymore."

Seeing Yoo Jeong continue to denounce her, Kim Hanbyeol felt something inside her boil over. She had been holding back, but it finally exploded. However, she was a person with a calm mind. When she was angry, unlike Yoo Jeong, her voice didn't rise and she didn't lose her temper. Instead, her voice became cold and sarcastic. She spoke to An Hyun in a voice colder than ever before.

"Don't go. If you go, you'll definitely be in danger."

"Are you going to shut up?"

"You shut up."

"What? You? Say that again."

As Yoo Jeong glared at her, ready to strike, An Hyun quickly snatched the knife from her. However, Kim Hanbyeol, who had already made up her mind, continued to speak, her words flowing out like a broken dam.

"Don't act like you know everything. If it weren't for her earlier, what do you think would have happened to us? Didn't you see that neither knives nor fists worked? If you go, you'll die. Why are you so determined to go?"

"You bitch..."

"You're just cursing because you have nothing to say. Do you even know where he is and think you can bring him back? Use your head."

"Nice excuse? Now you're showing your true colors? Don't you remember that we're here because of him? You're just pretending to be virtuous while thinking of ways to take advantage of others. I can see right through you. You're even more despicable than that kid."

Hearing Yoo Jeong compare her to a troublemaker and even belittle her further, Kim Hanbyeol's expression twisted for the first time. Anger surged within her, and her voice trembled as she raised her tone.

"Dead people are dead! What's wrong with living people wanting to live?!"

As if this were the trigger, Yoo Jeong pushed An Hyun away forcefully and lunged at her. Kim Hanbyeol, gritting her teeth, raised her hand to strike Yoo Jeong's cheek when the door suddenly burst open.

"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?"

The front door, which had been unlocked, opened, and a young man stepped inside. His calm face, confident voice, and composed eyes. Finally, the crossbow slung over his left arm. Seeing him, everyone in the room simultaneously held their breath. The tense atmosphere in the room, which had reached its peak, seemed to vanish in an instant.

"I'm glad everyone is safe."

He smiled calmly, unslung the crossbow from his left arm, and raised his right hand in greeting to everyone.

He was Kim Hyun.

============================ Author's Note ============================

1. Typos and context corrections.