#113
Yeon Tae-soo’s recovery was slower than expected. They said it was because the black moonstone had been removed.
“He lived with it attached to his organs for nearly his entire life. Though he might not have been aware of it, he was probably relying on the black moonstone for most of his recovery ability.”
The engineer explained that he had received the implant when very young, and it could be considered a part of his organs now. She added that was why the surgery had taken longer.
“Removing it was a struggle for me too. If it weren’t for my level of skill, his heart would have burst. He nearly died. While trying to save you.”
If he still had emotions, Yoo Seong-woo would have felt pain and sorrow at his sacrifice. But now, he felt nothing.
The engineer stared at his face curiously before smiling.
“You, something seems off about you.”
Yoo Seong-woo started to answer but hesitated. He was going to say that awkwardness was also an emotion, so he couldn’t feel it now. But was that really true? He questioned himself.
“…Will my emotions truly return?”
He asked without any particular reason. He was an entertainment android designed to learn emotions, and they were essential to his primary functions. That’s why he asked.
“If you become convinced that your emotions won’t harm you, if that environment is created, they’ll return naturally.”
Yoo Seong-woo still didn’t understand. Was his body made that delicately? Enough for defense mechanisms to work automatically?
But he was a creation, and the engineer was the mentor of his creator, so her words carried more authority.
He didn’t ask further. The engineer had finished her work anyway. Yeon Tae-soo, who could decide his fate, was in a coma, and Kim Ji-heon, acting on his behalf, had instructed him to focus solely on recovery, so that was the right thing to do.
Having reached this conclusion, Yoo Seong-woo greeted the engineer and went to his room to lie down.
Night fell, but sleep wouldn’t come. Popo squeaked under the bed before entering power-saving mode and becoming quiet.
Though the window was closed, blocking any sound, the outside lights still flowed in, staining the dark room with patches of color. Yoo Seong-woo blinked as he watched the ceiling soaked in red and yellow lights.
Though he couldn’t hear any sound, the bustle of the streets was palpable through the flashy lights. It was half a commotion. His body felt like an object with half its senses turned off.
It was strange to feel nothing. No, even finding it strange was strange. It seemed like it should be classified as an error, but strictly speaking, it would be more accurate to describe it as confusion rather than an error.
But was that all?
When he closed his eyes, countless memories brushed through his memory. Though they were clearly his memories, they lacked emotion, like watching a silent film without color or sound.
In the memory, Yeon Tae-soo smiled. His past self smiled too. Yoo Seong-woo opened his eyes again amid that unfamiliar happiness. The lights were still patchy.
***
The days in India were ordinary. Even here, Kim Ji-heon was busy working and caring for his boss who remained unconscious.
Only the engineer would interact with Yoo Seong-woo. Actually, it would be more accurate to say she regarded him as a test subject and poked at him with various instruments.
“Fascinating, truly fascinating. To think that man created something like this.”
The engineer occasionally talked about his creator, her apprentice. Yoo Seong-woo learned that as a child, he had been an ordinary student.
“He was normal back then. But at some point, he became obsessed with things humans shouldn’t do.”
“What shouldn’t humans do?”
“Meddling with what shouldn’t be touched, tampering with parts that humans shouldn’t dare touch.”
“What is that?”
The engineer looked at him with her faded-colored eyes, then smiled bitterly.
“As you are now, you wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”
Though his emotions were gone, there was no particular problem with his reasoning function. But it seemed pointless to ask further as she likely wouldn’t answer.
“Do you think your master will wake up?”
It was a sudden question. Yoo Seong-woo considered before answering.
“Yes.”
“Why do you think so?”
But when asked for a reason, it was difficult to answer. He thought he had reasoned logically, but…
Hesitating with his lips, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Because he’s such a strong person.”
Because he’s strong. Because he was always strong. Even without the black moonstone, Yeon Tae-soo was the strongest person he had ever known. So he felt that this time too, he would shake it off and rise again.
Was that why? He didn’t particularly feel the need to prepare for his own future. Since Yeon Tae-soo would decide when he woke up anyway.
Yes, that was all. With his emotions malfunctioning, he couldn’t trust or worry about Yeon Tae-soo.
But he couldn’t be sure if that was really the reason. It felt as if some function he wasn’t aware of remained within him.
“Perhaps we don’t need to worry too much about your master.”
“Pardon?”
Breaking from his thoughts, he turned to the engineer, but she only smiled without answering.
***
Despite having finished her work, the engineer didn’t leave the hotel. Yoo Seong-woo’s body was now fully recovered. There were no more warnings or function blockages like before.
She seemed to have developed an interest in examining Yoo Seong-woo. According to her, the microchip she newly created and implanted was gradually changing inside his body.
“Isn’t it inorganic? Can it change?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think it’s just a simple object? What’s embedded in your head and heart is something very complex and delicate.”
Though it sounded like something a quack would say, somehow he found it persuasive.
“Is it similar to a human soul?”
Yoo Seong-woo asked this while not understanding why he would ask such a question. The engineer looked slightly surprised, then changed her expression.
Awe.
His emotion analysis function read her expression.
“Perhaps it could be.”
In a slightly muffled tone, the engineer offered a delayed response.
“Then perhaps…”
Just as he was about to ask something, he sensed someone approaching. Looking to the side, he saw Kim Ji-heon rushing toward them.
“Oh, come upstairs, I think both of you should see this.”
Yoo Seong-woo stood up. Tension was evident in Kim Ji-heon’s sweat-drenched appearance.
“The CEO, he’s awake.”
***
Though Yeon Tae-soo had awakened, he wasn’t fully conscious. He groaned and writhed in pain, muttering unintelligible words.
The doctor that Yeon Tae-soo had arranged beforehand checked his condition along with the engineer. Fortunately, they concluded he was recovering well.
“We’ll need to monitor him further, but the signs are good. For now, let him rest.”
Kim Ji-heon was the most relieved. The engineer tapped various parts of Yeon Tae-soo’s body with curious eyes before disappearing.
Kim Ji-heon left to contact Korea, leaving only Yoo Seong-woo behind.
Yeon Tae-soo lay there, moaning. Though knowing he wouldn’t recognize him, Yoo Seong-woo pulled up a chair, sat down close, and looked down at him.
“…Seong-woo…”
Amid the groans, he heard his name. Yoo Seong-woo looked down at those lips as if they were unfamiliar objects.
How many times had he called for him like this? How many times had he called his name with a voice that wouldn’t properly come out, in a state of unconsciousness?
Yeon Tae-soo’s hand on the bed feebly waved in the air. Yoo Seong-woo grabbed it without much thought. Or perhaps he had grabbed it worried that the IV might come out.
When their hands touched, he felt Yeon Tae-soo’s body heat. Until the repairs, his own body temperature had been higher due to his abnormal condition, but now Yeon Tae-soo’s was higher than his again. Unable to let go of that warm hand, Yoo Seong-woo sat quietly.
The sweat-drenched face and pale lips. A familiar face. One that humans would objectively describe as “handsome,” with symmetrical bones and muscles in pleasing proportions.
Memories of this face contorting and smiling before him flashed by. When he slightly moved his interlocked fingers, Yeon Tae-soo’s hand responded with a little strength. Just a very faint pressure.
Surprisingly, since taking his hand, Yeon Tae-soo had stopped groaning. He didn’t call for Yoo Seong-woo anymore either. Though still pale, he seemed better than just minutes ago.
Yoo Seong-woo simply looked down at him without saying anything. Even knowing this action would have no benefit for his health.
As if it were a mission assigned to him. And as if it were something he wanted to do.
How much time passed like that? Finally, Yeon Tae-soo opened his eyes. Unlike before, his gaze accurately focused on Yoo Seong-woo.
Blink, blink. Yoo Seong-woo met the two differently colored eyes.
“I’ll call Secretary Kim.”
As he tried to stand, Yeon Tae-soo pulled his hand. Yoo Seong-woo sat back down and quietly looked at him.
“…Are you alright?”
“Yes. There are no abnormal signs.”
He immediately answered the question asked in a cracked voice. Instantly, Yeon Tae-soo’s eyes, which had been filled with joy, changed.
Bewilderment.
Anxiety.
Even without analysis, Yeon Tae-soo’s agitation was obvious. But Yoo Seong-woo had nothing he could offer him.
He could only face him silently. With eyes that contained not a single grain of emotion.
He felt the hand holding his trembling. Yeon Tae-soo tried hard to smile. His cracked, pale lips formed a twisted curve.
“…Seong-woo?”
“Yes. As I said, I’m fine.”
Yeon Tae-soo’s half-open eyes observed him. After studying him for a while as if feeling his way through, he relaxed and nodded.
“That’s good then.”
Those four syllables carried weight. Though sound couldn’t physically have weight, that’s how Yoo Seong-woo perceived it.
“If you’re… alright, then that’s good.”
Yeon Tae-soo didn’t question or resent, but only said that much. That it was good. That since he was fine, that was enough.
As strength left Yeon Tae-soo’s hand, Yoo Seong-woo stood up. Now that communication was possible, it would be efficient to call Kim Ji-heon.
“I’ll call Secretary Kim.”
Leaving only his toneless voice behind, Yoo Seong-woo turned around. He could feel Yeon Tae-soo’s gaze following him until the door closed.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
