571

 [Chapter 154]

[One Day at a Time (2)]

The year changed to Seonryeok 14.

Eunha turned 19 years old.

After celebrating the new year with his family in the hospital, he was now preparing to be discharged in mid-January.

"When I was admitted, it didn't seem like I had that much luggage... Where did all this come from?"

The hospital room was filled with get-well gifts.

Starting with gifts from friends, to formal gifts from academy students, gifts from Shin Seoyoung, and of course,

I was really surprised when a get-well gift suddenly came from the Blue House.

Dad even scolded me, asking what I had done again...

It was understandable that business groups with no connection tried to build a relationship with Eunha by suddenly sending gifts.

But no one in the family knew that a gift would come from the Blue House in the name of Fairy Lady Im Gaeul.

Not even Eunha.

Thanks to that, Eunha had to be scolded by his family even though he hadn't done anything wrong yet.

Well, it makes sense for Im Gaeul to send something.

It was an incident that could have dealt a big blow to her political standing.

But sending it openly under her name was probably because she wanted to tease me, knowing I'd be in this situation. Hah...

The Yeongwon Pharmaceuticals Gate.

The world didn't know Noh Eunha was connected to the gate.

But she who was exposing and handling the gate knew it.

So he tried to secure the document with the Fairy Lady's seal first, and she knew he was trying to hand it over to the Fairy Lady.

Perhaps because of that, Im Gaeul even included a long handwritten letter in the gift.

The contents of the letter summarized to thanking Eunha.

Yeah, it was fine up to there. My parents took it all anyway. Noona even took some to Regulus Clan because there was so much.

Eunha sighed.

He had somehow dealt with most of the gifts brought by the people mentioned so far.

The problem was the two refrigerators in front of him, massage chair, drone, and items occupying one side of the hospital room.

The two refrigerators were even full of food to eat now.

They were all things Lee Yucheon had brought.

"It's not like I'm receiving tribute... Why does he keep bringing things every day even when I tell him not to?"

"Pipi pupu!"

"Yeah, you must be happy getting a new nest too. Does he have nothing to do? I don't know why Luminous Group is making nests..."

Saying he wanted to express gratitude to Eunha,

Lee Yucheon sent gifts every day, making Eunha uncomfortable.

Around the same time, Luminous Group suddenly entered the pet business and started making pet products.

Lee Yucheon gifted Fire Chicken a house that looked like a person could live in, saying it was a gift from his father.

At that time, Eunha couldn't shake the thought that it was too much, way too much.

"I guess there's no choice... Since I can't take everything, I'll have to donate to the hospital. I can share the food with the hospital staff... Grandmother seemed to like the massage chair a lot, so should I take that home? The drone, hmm... I'll take it for now. Euna or Avenir will probably use it."

"Pipi pipi!" "I know. I'll take your nest too. But how do I take that? Ah, should I ask Ohaein noona..."

The top 10 business groups announced new management plans as the year changed.

The professional CEO who newly took office as chairman of Yeongwon Group raised the banner of clearing the past and said he would prioritize resolving Yeongwon Group's irrationalities and practices.

And Samra Group, which had been reorganizing its business until last year, put forth the grand ambition of fully advancing onto land from this year.

The first step of that grand ambition was Samra Logistics.

When else would I use this if not now?

It's not like I'm going into debt.

Samra Group's direct descendant Oh Haein visited recently.

She said they were able to launch Samra Logistics thanks to help from Sirius Group and Alice Group.

Then she told him to contact her unconditionally if he ever uses Samra Logistics.

'─I'll serve you in the safest, most courteous, elegant and luxurious way!'

That was Oh Haein's line.

In other words, she promised Eunha VIP treatment.

"Is that about everything now..."

Eunha finished contacting Oh Haein.

As expected, she promised to transport the items at the time he wanted.

Eunha who finished his task could finally rest comfortably.

Or so he thought─

"─Ah... you were packing luggage."

"Yoon Ibyeol?"

"Um... have you been well...?"

After knocking on the door once from outside,

Yoon Ibyeol entered the hospital room almost leaning on the opening door.

She who poked her face through the door gap gingerly greeted Eunha after spotting him.

Eunha also received her greeting awkwardly.

"I saw in the group chat that you're being discharged today... I thought I should come at least once, so... I came to see you, though I'm late."

Adding a soulless laugh of "ehehe",

Yoon Ibyeol spoke hesitantly.

☆

Though many people came to visit while Eunha was hospitalized,

Only Yoon Ibyeol did not come to visit him.

Even though she regularly came to Alice Hospital for psychiatric counseling.

Of course, Eunha could understand.

It can't be helped...

We've become awkward to even call friends now.

Last year, since Yoon Ibyeol's confession,

Eunha and Yoon Ibyeol's relationship had been awkward until now.

No, after she developed PTSD about monsters in the academy dungeon, their relationship became difficult to call friendship.

Before they knew it, Yoon Ibyeol started avoiding friends and hanging out with other people, and especially didn't try to properly acknowledge Eunha.

""..."" 

In the end, since there had been no exchange between them,

Eunha and Yoon Ibyeol sitting across a table couldn't bring up any words.

They just drank their drinks silently.

At times like this, Fire Chicken would act cute to create some topic of conversation...

Again, she was suffering from PTSD showing extreme fear towards monsters.

So Eunha sent Fire Chicken to Lee Yoojung out of consideration for her.

That was why the hospital room was so quiet.

"─How are you these days? Have you gotten a lot better?"

Eunha who finally couldn't bear the awkwardness spoke first.

Only then did Yoon Ibyeol who had been staring at the floor suddenly raise her head.

"Oh, yes... The doctor says I'm getting much better... Though I still... don't know well myself..."

"Ah... I see."

Yoon Ibyeol speaking timidly.

The conversation cut off abruptly.

Eunha thought about what to say next after hearing her words.

But right at that moment, this time she opened her mouth first.

"Um, Eunha... are you okay?" "...I've recovered enough to be discharged tomorrow."

"I-I see..."

The two continued the conversation in that way, responding to questions with the same questions.

""..."" 

Naturally, topics of conversation ran out more and more.

It was truly a conversation only fools would have.

They thought that simultaneously.

The two who happened to see each other's faces pondering for conversation topics burst out laughing.

Because it seemed so foolish even to themselves.

"What are you asking if someone being discharged tomorrow is okay?"

"Why... I can still ask."

The two kept giggling.

Before they knew it, the awkward atmosphere disappeared.

Only then could the two recall how they used to treat each other before.

"What have you been doing during the break?"

"I just stayed home because it was cold. Occasionally coming to the hospital for counseling..."

"But you didn't come to see me?"

"I-I did think I should go see you... But what if I ran into other people. Especially Hayang... So I just went home..."

"Yeah, I guess that could happen. Ah, want to eat some roll cake? I'll bring it."

"Ah... Thank you, I'll enjoy it."

Sometimes exchanging jokes,

The two tried to avoid sensitive topics as much as possible.

Nevertheless, they were able to spend time laughing and chatting.

Then before they knew it, it was time for Yoon Ibyeol to leave.

"─I should get going now. Then... see you at the academy next time."

"Okay. Be careful on the way since it's snowing. It's cold outside so put on something..."

"...No. It's fine."

"Oh... I see."

It happened to be snowing outside.

Eunha was concerned about her going outside without even gloves or a hat.

So he tried to give her something but,

Eunha hesitated.

"─Then I'll be misunderstood."

"Sorry, I overreacted."

Yoon Ibyeol smiling wryly and shaking her head.

Eunha smiled bitterly.

The two recalled their memories of first meeting and looked at each other silently for a moment.

"─You know."

"Yeah."

She was the one who opened her mouth first.

Eunha nodded.

"Actually, I didn't come to see you today by chance after coming for counseling."

"..."

I know, he thought.

Eunha didn't answer.

He had expected it to some extent.

Because he and Yoon Ibyeol had become too awkward of a relationship to come for a hospital visit.

So he thought there must be some reason for her to visit.

And Eunha had some idea what that reason might be.

"─You remember what we promised last year, right."

As expected,

Eunha's prediction was correct.

A year ago, Eunha had postponed answering Yoon Ibyeol's confession without giving an answer.

The one year postponement period has now ended.

Yoon Ibyeol came to hear the answer to her confession from a year ago.

"I remember. Though I'm saying this now... Thank you for liking me."

"..."

He could no longer avoid it,

And shouldn't avoid it,

Above all, because her voice was infinitely serious,

Eunha decided not to ignore and trample on her feelings.

He resolved to be courteous to Yoon Ibyeol's heart.

"Isn't it too late to say that?"

"Back then I... I think I was only thinking about myself. I'm sorry."

"If you do this... I won't be able to hate you until the end."

Did his feelings get through?

Yoon Ibyeol's eyes opened wide.

She looked straight into Eunha's eyes as if searching for the truth.

Soon she smiled bitterly.

She responded in a playful tone.

Finally, she─

"─I see. You're no longer the Eunha I knew... I... I thought only I could change you, but that wasn't it."

As if lamenting somewhere, and also as if relieved,

She murmured softly with a face that seemed to have realized something.

Eventually she closes her eyes.

She takes a deep breath.

Then opens her eyes.

Her gaze looking at Eunha was infinitely clear.

"Over the past year... I think I caused trouble to those around me to an extent I'm ashamed to think about." "..."

"After the accident in the academy dungeon, I thought why am I such a pathetic person. But you know... As I kept thinking and receiving treatment, I realized one thing."

What's that?

Eunha didn't ask.

Because even without Eunha asking, she caught her breath and continued speaking.

"I think I haven't been trying to properly see what kind of person I am all this time. I always thought I was a pathetic person and just tried to rely on people around me."

"..."

"And I was attracted to you, Eunha, who had much more confidence in yourself than others. When I was with you, I thought I could become the same kind of person as you, Eunha. I believed I could be acknowledged."

A story about confidence and self-esteem.

Yoon Ibyeol spoke calmly.

Unlike usual, there was no trembling in her voice.

She was finding her own path like that.

So he silently listened to her words.

"But it's strange that I tried to have my existence acknowledged by others. I am me, so why did I think I was inferior compared to others? I'm... living well like this even without others around..."

"..."

"If I had started dating you Eunha, I probably would have kept obsessing over you trying to confirm my existence, and trying to have my worth acknowledged. It would have been a really... pathetic relationship, right?"

Yoon Ibyeol smiles as if seeking an answer.

Nevertheless, Eunha kept his mouth shut.

Because he knew she didn't want his answer.

She just wanted him to listen to her story.

"So... I want to get to know myself as a person a little more. I want to... start anew."

"..."

"So─"

─I see.

By the time it reached there,

Eunha could understand what she was trying to say.

Noh Eunha and Yoon Ibyeol.

Yoon Ibyeol's confession that was postponed for a year, during which the two became an awkward relationship.

Yoon Ibyeol came to hear the answer to her confession and try to settle her life that had been clinging to Eunha until now.

"─I already know your answer, Eunha. But... I'd like you to answer clearly."

Yoon Ibyeol came to be reborn.

In a situation where Eunha couldn't offer her any solution,

She found the answer herself.

The person before him was no longer the <Butterfly Lady> Yoon Ibyeol that Eunha remembered.

"..."

Yoon Ibyeol is waiting for an answer.

The confession frozen for a year.

How to handle that confession, the knife handle was in Eunha's hands.

Killing her, reviving her, and granting her life again all depended on his heart.

I...

Until now, Noh Eunha had hoped.

He who held a grand ideal tried to create a party that no one could dare approach.

So he gathered people who would become promising talents in the future.

By any means necessary.

So─

─What would <Undead > do?

If he was <Undead > Noh Eunha, he would surely make two choices.

Either promise Yoon Ibyeol false love.

Or ask her to postpone her confession again.

He would not hesitate to do anything to gain the power of the <Butterfly Lady>.

However─

─Who am I now?

Am I still <Undead > now, he thought. And am I <Berserker >, he thought.

Eunha doubted.

Actually, there was no need to doubt.

The answer was already there.

I'm... just Noh Eunha.

Now he is no longer <Undead >.

Not <Berserker >.

The Noh Eunha his family sees.

The Noh Eunha his friends see.

The Noh Eunha his lovers see.

The Noh Eunha Lee Yoojung sees.

His existence was made up of countless existing Noh Eunhas.

The time spent with them was creating Eunha's heart.

That did not point to <Undead > or <Berserker >.

Therefore─

"─Ibyeol, I'm grateful for your feelings but... I'm sorry."

"...Can I know the reason?"

"There are people I like. I'm not sure if I really like those people myself. But if..."

"..."

"If I accept your feelings, and think those kids would be sad, I can't do it."

Honestly,

Eunha confessed his heart.

Since she opened up her true feelings,

 Eunha also decided to open up his true feelings.

That was courteous and respectful towards people.

Yoon Ibyeol didn't say anything for a long time after hearing those words.

"─I see..."

Only after a long while,

That was all she said when she opened her mouth.

"Yeah... thank you for answering."

The emotion that appeared on her face was relief.

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

She wiped her tears and smiled brightly at Eunha.

Then she added:

"─I won't join your party after graduating, Eunha."

"...Okay, I understand."

One must let go of one thing to gain another.

You can't have everything.

To gain one thing, you must give up another.

Eunha weighed the <Butterfly Lady> against the people he liked while pondering her confession.

And he let go of Yoon Ibyeol.

He who had grand ideals finally realized he had ideals too great for his capacity to handle.

He realized that sometimes reality is more important than ideals.

So he gave up the <Butterfly Lady>.

Maybe if he used the Stygian Eye, he could turn Yoon Ibyeol's heart back.

But... he didn't want to use it.

He didn't want to create a party by going that far.

And also─

─He wanted to wish for Yoon Ibyeol's happiness.

Though she declared she wouldn't join his party,

Nevertheless, for Eunha, Yoon Ibyeol was within his fence.

So Eunha purely wished for Yoon Ibyeol's happiness.

"Then what will you do after graduating?"

"Actually, I thought about transferring to a regular high school and living a life unconnected to Players... But with only 1 year left until graduation, it seems ambiguous to do that now..."

"So?"

"I haven't decided yet but... I want to join the Mana Management Organization."

"...I see."

Yoon Ibyeol's vision.

Eunha naturally understood it suited her well after hearing her words.

"I hope it goes well."

"Yeah, thanks. Then... I'll be going."

"Take care."

And so Yoon Ibyeol was reborn anew.

She smiled as if refreshed and bid farewell to Eunha.

Eunha waved to her.

"─Ah, right. Eunha."

"Hm? What?"

Just before going out the door,

Yoon Ibyeol whirled around.

Eunha tilted his head.

Soon she─

"─I just wish you'd drop dead. I hate you so much."

Flashing a bright smile,

Yoon Ibyeol ran away quickly.

"Hah, really..."

Eunha was out of it for a while before bursting into laughter.

It can't be helped.

It's karma.

He had committed too many sins.

☆

Today is the last day of hospital life.

Eunha who loaded his luggage into his father's car went straight to meet Lee Yoojung.

"So... you're leaving..."

Lee Yoojung seemed disappointed.

It was understandable.

Eunha being discharged meant they could no longer have secret meetings every night.

It feels good that Yoojung is regretful.

Eunha saw through her emotions.

He held her hand and felt satisfied.

"I'll come visit sometimes. Look forward to it."

"But the semester is starting soon. You'll be busy then... You don't have to do that."

"Really? Then should I do that?"

"..."

Lee Yoojung furrowed her brow.

It was so lovely.

Eunha decided to stop teasing at this point.

"When the academy semester starts, you'll be discharged soon too, Yoojung." "Yeah... that's right."

"Then I'll have to infiltrate Luminous Group's main house through the strict security?"

"Huh? Eunha, what do you mean..."

"What floor do you live on? I might not be able to make time often, but I'll come play sometimes. Unless you don't like it..."

"I live on the 3rd floor. My room is on the east side where the sun rises. At the very end of the 3rd floor."

When Eunha subtly expressed his desire to meet again,

Lee Yoojung responded immediately.

Eunha chuckled at her rapid-fire speech giving detailed explanations about the house she lived in.

"I'll definitely come see you whenever I think of you. You won't lock the window or anything, right?"

"...I'll sleep with the window open every night."

And so Eunha spent time with Lee Yoojung until he was discharged from the hospital,

Until Euna came to scold him.

And─

"─She has passed away."

Not long after that day,

With just a few days left until the second Elixir was completed,

On Taeyang's mother passes away.