Chapter 32
Jang Jae-gyeong kept teasing me. I don’t know why this man, who’s older than me, was acting like this. When I frowned, Jang Jae-gyeong finally showed a face of understanding. I cleared my throat, then fidgeted with my hands clasped together.
“Anyway, so… seeing you injured makes me feel… bad. I want to treat you. But I can’t get medicine from the village…”
“Hmm, I see.”
Jang Jae-gyeong nodded his head repeatedly, then lightly patted my back.
“It’s okay.”
“But still…”
“The medicine is fine too.”
“What?”
“Did you forget?”
Jang Jae-gyeong sat cross-legged and tapped his waist. The intimidating thick knife and pistol were flaunting themselves conspicuously. The indignant village woman, angry Han Jong-wook, and Hwang Jang-ju who had tried to kill Jang Jae-gyeong flashed through my mind one after another.
“Ah.”
“So it’s fine.”
Come to think of it, he had said he knew many places where items were hidden. He seemed to know a lot about monsters too, and his skill in handling them… The feelings I had been trying to suppress began to creep up. Someone who could help with both monsters and food was right beside me. If this person was here, I wouldn’t need to rely on this bizarrely strange village. I stared intently at his profile.
“Is there something on my face?”
“Ah, no… it’s nothing.”
I lowered my head in surprise. And I kept breaking off innocent twigs from the bed. I wanted to grab his hand and shout “Help me!” but I felt like I’d be rejected immediately. It would be nice if I could persuade Jang Jae-gyeong to help me, but I’m not good with words… This is driving me crazy. After breaking twigs, I started pulling at my hair, when something black wavered beside me. I glanced over subtly to find Jang Jae-gyeong bent down like me, tilting his head and looking at me.
“…What?”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing.”
“……”
“You have something to say to me, don’t you?”
“……”
“Right?”
“…Yes.”
Thanks to Jang Jae-gyeong noticing and asking, I could answer promptly. I hadn’t prepared anything, but I thought it would be awkward to hesitate and then bring it up later, so I spoke first. Jang Jae-gyeong gestured with his eyes as if to say “go ahead.”
“Well… I need food.”
“Food?”
“I’d like other things too if possible, but that’s what I need most.”
“Hmm, are the people starving you?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
My gaze fell to the floor. I could see dense, dull dust packed into the cracked floor.
“I want to leave this place.”
Jang Jae-gyeong made a low sound and straightened up. He tapped his knee with his fingertips and spoke.
“That’s not a good idea.”
“After what I saw yesterday, it doesn’t seem that way.”
“Well, I suppose so.”
He must remember saving me when I was thrown out as bait. Jang Jae-gyeong rubbed his brow and asked for my reason. He questioned my decision, and I understood his doubt. Even though I was almost used as bait, if I just avoided it well from now on, the probability of surviving would be higher than being alone in the forest. I hesitated before answering.
“I want to find that person.”
My eyes went to his injured area. Jang Jae-gyeong stroked the wound where my gaze landed. Thanks to the wound, he seemed to realize who I was talking about. Jang Jae-gyeong tilted his head.
“Find him?”
“We got separated due to circumstances.”
“Didn’t you say he got hurt saving you? Did you separate after that?”
“Yes.”
“Should I be honest?”
“You don’t have to.”
I avoided Jang Jae-gyeong’s gaze as he rested his chin on his hand and stared at me. I knew what he wanted to say without hearing it. He probably wanted to say it was already too late, that I was being foolish. I thought so too. Even with Jang Jae-gyeong’s help, the possibility of not finding Kim Doyun was high. But my head kept telling me I needed to find Kim Doyun.
If I find him, and then… if I don’t meet him, I’ll look for a hospital or a place with more humane people, not a village like this. I didn’t think hospitals would be intact in this world. It was too late to tell him, I just wanted to see with my own eyes.
“This is quite something else.”
Jang Jae-gyeong made a seemingly random comment. No, maybe he was talking about what I was doing. I scratched my forehead and smiled awkwardly, then Jang Jae-gyeong threw a question at me.
“Do you trust me?”
“What?”
“I’m asking if you trust me.”
I don’t know why he’s suddenly asking this question. Since I couldn’t promptly give an answer, Jang Jae-gyeong pressed closer as if urging me. As a result, my body tilted backward as if about to fall over, but Jang Jae-gyeong didn’t seem to care.
“Um… I do trust you.”
Since I asked for help first, I couldn’t say anything else. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous to ask for help and then say I don’t trust him? Besides, it’s true that I trust him since he saved me. Perhaps amused by my wide-eyed response, Jang Jae-gyeong smiled slightly and moved away.
“Really?”
“Yeees…”
His repeated questioning makes me uncomfortable. Jang Jae-gyeong said he understood and rose from the bed. Due to his tall height, he shot up toward the sky, and I had to look up at him until my neck hurt. I’m not short myself—actually, I’m taller or similar in height compared to the village men—but standing next to Jang Jae-gyeong or Kim Doyun makes me feel shrunken. While I was pondering the unfairness of the heavens, Jang Jae-gyeong tapped my shoulder and met my gaze.
“Since you trust me, I’ll help you. Food, and all the things you need. And I’ll safely take you to where the person you’re looking for is.”
“…Really?”
“Do I look like someone who jokes?”
“Thank you so much!”
“But.”
Jang Jae-gyeong’s eyes narrowed. His clean white sclera, so clear it seemed to emit a bluish light, and pitch-black pupils were set strikingly. His voice dropped precisely toward me as I stiffened and stared.
“Later, you’ll have to do me a favor.”
“Um… that’s fine, but… I don’t think I can help you with much.”
“It’s okay. There’s something you can do. Not now, but later… when you can help. Got it?”
“Yes, yes.”
I have no idea what he wants to ask, but I nodded repeatedly. Who would refuse when he’s offering to help with everything I’m worried about? Jang Jae-gyeong patted my head saying I was good, and I slightly pushed his hand away. No matter how much he helps, I don’t like being treated like a child. Watching me grumble, Jang Jae-gyeong stood up and positioned himself at the door.
“The sooner the better, right?”
“What?”
“Getting the items. It’ll take some time even if we leave now. Can you wait?”
“Huh? Already? I’m fine with it, of course… But is it okay to leave like this?”
Seeing that he remained in this village despite fighting with the men, I thought there must be a reason. Is it really okay to leave like this? But Jang Jae-gyeong rubbed his cheek and replied indifferently.
“It doesn’t matter. I had business here, but I don’t think I need it anymore.”
“Business?”
“You don’t need to know.”
Then he waved his hand dismissively. Something felt off, but I couldn’t pry into someone else’s affairs, so I just nodded in agreement.
“It’ll probably take about a day. If we’re lucky, we might arrive by dawn. Until then, stay quiet and out of people’s sight.”
“Well, I…”
I was going to do that, but I don’t think they’ll leave me alone even if I stay hidden quietly… Especially Han Jong-wook or Hwang Jang-ju. Jang Jae-gyeong frowned in concern, and I tasted bitterness.
“Just hang in there until I come back. I’d like to take you with me, but… it’s a bit dangerous around there.”
“Yes.”
I didn’t want to insist on following him when he said it was dangerous. It was obvious that if I clung to him, I would endanger Jang Jae-gyeong too. As soon as he heard my answer, Jang Jae-gyeong gave me a proud look as if I were a child. I frowned, and he smiled as he left the house. I wanted to follow Jang Jae-gyeong and see him off, but… I hastily closed the door when I saw a man staring at me from a distance.
Like before, he saw me with Jang Jae-gyeong, so I don’t know what he might whisper about. Should I say I’m not feeling well and lock myself in the building? Going hungry for a day isn’t a problem. If they’re determined, this kind of plan would be useless, but I should be able to endure for a day.
That’s what I thought, but…
I frowned sharply at the face that was smiling but clearly revealed its ulterior motives. No sooner had I resolved to endure alone than they barged in like this. It seems both Jang Jae-gyeong and I had underestimated these people.
Han Jong-wook, who barged into the building without warning, assigned me the night watch again today. He spoke as if he was asking a favor, but it wasn’t a request—it was a demand and a threat. And he didn’t forget to shake the shotgun in one of his arms a couple of times, as if to remind me. As I sighed deeply and lowered my gaze, something heavy fell onto my hands. It was a shotgun.
“…A gun?”
“It seemed too harsh to send you out empty-handed again today. A gift.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
