150

Chapter 150 - Temporary Closure - 4

"Of course it's a man."

Hwarin, it's true that I've created an imaginary friend with my abundant imagination, but I couldn't create a female friend due to lack of data.

'I was sure she'd ask about pineapple on pizza first.'

I had prepared an excuse for that as well, but her question was completely unexpected, leaving me bewildered.

Did I not tell Hwarin that my imaginary friend was male? I thought about it for a moment, and it seems like I never did.

Of course, the imaginary friend in my mind is the son of Hyang-ah, who was killed by bandits. He was of the same Joseon descent, held a secret of his unfortunate birth, and met a pitiable death.

'Why is Hwarin suddenly asking such a weird question?'

Does she suspect me? I've shown her too many lies in front of Hwarin. From her perspective, there might be something suspicious about my story.

The hastily contrived bastard child setup in the meticulously built Kang Yoonho universe could be spreading like a mindless multiverse, causing Dang Hwarin's discomfort.

Should I immediately say that my imaginary friend is a man?

Kang Yoonho's sense of crisis isn't ringing any alarms, but something feels off. To state that the imaginary friend is a man is akin to stepping into a minefield with my bare body.

"Why would that be?"

Instead of answering immediately that my friend is male, I stepped back, probing her with a question.

"It's a girl, isn't it."

Hwarin declared it as if she knew everything.

"What are you talking about?"

"You hesitated just now. I saw it. If it were a boy, you would've answered right away, wouldn't you?"

Dang Hwarin spoke with the conviction of a detective possessed.

Hwarin, you are good at catching hesitation, but you've got it completely wrong.

"It's nonsense. It's a boy."

To dispel Hwarin's misunderstanding, I deny it lightly, leaving a gap in my words. If there's solid evidence, this leaves room for change.

"Are you going to lie to me too?"

Hwarin glared at me with feigned anger, widening her eyes.

"Why would you think that?"

Tell me why you're so certain.

"Actually, I've been suspicious for a while... But after hearing the story of Elder Yi-Gak-Ju today, I was certain."

"Elder Yi-Gak-Ju's words?"

"Pervert. Remember him saying there was a problem with his brain?"

Hwarin truly doesn't seem to think of the pervert as her father. Given I thought it would concern her, she nonchalantly uses the term 'pervert.

"Trouble with emotion regulation?"

"Right. I saw similar content once in a poison manual that Dang Geoho had well-hidden in the Seong family's estate."

Men possess the qualities of Yang and thus consume Yang-poison, while women, inversely, take Yin-poison. One prepares their body to withstand spirit poisons of the opposite nature and then consumes it.

Hwarin briefly explained to me the complicated poison manufacturing techniques.

"Since the pervert was a man, he must have taken Yang-full poison."

"Right. When you regularly take a Yang-full poison, it stimulates the brain. Creates impulse control disorders like the pervert."

"Aha."

"You said right before that child died, you had a close interaction until he pushed you away. If there was nothing wrong with his mind, then the poisoner had to be a female."

Hwarin slightly lowered her head and looked up at me with her eyes narrowed cautiously. Are you still not going to tell me the truth? Her expression seemed to ask.

"…"

Should I say that my imaginary friend was a man and had problems with impulse control? But that contradicts the memories of the friend I have mentioned to Hwarin so far.

As I remained silent, Hwarin opened her mouth again.

"Also, do you know what your face looks like when you think of that friend? No matter how close you are, you definitely. Can't make that face."

Hwarin cut off assertively, emphasizing at me.

'That's because I think of Sohee when I act emotionally.'

There are too many troublesome circumstances in my mind. Like thinking of unfortunate friend Sohee to capture sentiments. Or recalling Sohee because Hwarin is healing.

'Should I say that my imaginary friend is female?'

This feels almost like checkmate. I must change the plan.

Let's review the setup of the poisoner friend. The settings I've prepared. The settings I've mentioned. Does changing the gender alter anything? No. Is there a contradiction? None.

Apart from the name of the poisoner friend, changing the gender in the prepared setting doesn't really change much.

Then let's admit it willingly.

"Yes, that's right. It's a girl."

I nodded, smiling wryly like a culprit who concedes to the detective's deduction.

---------------------

After a moment of silence, Hwarin spoke.

"Why did you lie about your friend being a boy?"

Because that was how I had set it up.

"It's none of your business."

"Why? Why is it none of my business?"

"We are going into the tiger's lair now. I have to play the role of the illegitimate child of the Dang family head, and if you are aware that this illegitimate child is a girl, you might inadvertently show it or make a mistake. Compared to the relief of revealing the truth, it's too risky."

"But before today? You could have told me before anything happened today."

Hwarin bit her lower lip slightly and looked up at me. Is she feeling betrayed because I didn't share that the friend is female?

Now is not a good time to have a falling out with Hwarin. Let's think of a plausible excuse.

"I never once thought of that guy as a girl. So, when I talked about memories with him, there was no reason to mention that he was a girl or a young lady."

"But!"

I know. I looked too emotional whenever I recalled him. I had just come up with that excuse.

I avoided Hwarin's gaze and looked out the window with a sorrowful face as I began to speak.

"Just…"

"Just what?"

"My adolescence came only after that guy died. That's all."

Unrequited love that could never be a first love. A boy who suffered an excruciating adolescence. A man who belatedly harbored love in his heart.

I smiled at Hwarin, filled with regret and sorrow.

"...Huh?"

Upon hearing my words, Hwarin's jaw dropped as if she had been struck by a hammer.

The reason I showed affection when reminiscing, although when talking to Hwarin the subject was merely a friend. Hwarin, with this level of detail in the setup, should it not be enough for you to understand?

I was satisfied with this much explanation and moved on to our next topic.

There were too many things to prepare before entering the tiger's den.

*************

She had feelings for him.

A numb pain stealthily crept into her chest. She shouldn't have asked. The curiosity that stung like a thorn in a shoe now dug into her flesh.

From his sorrow-soaked smile, Dang Hwarin could understand everything that had happened so far.

Why he couldn't pass her by at their arrogant first meeting, why he came to rescue her when she was in danger, and why he showed up again with the antidote even after being turned away.

She could now fully realize why he was helping her with all his might because she and his close friend were in similar situations.

He must have seen her in himself.

It wasn't the grandiose act of atonement he mentioned; it was a different emotion with which he had helped her.

A numbing pain tightened around her chest.

"What was the name?"

Dang Hwarin asked once more about the girl, as if checking a wound by peeling off a scab.

"Huh?"

"What's your friend's name?"

"Uh..."

Kang Yoonho seemed deep in thought. It wasn't that he couldn't remember the name. Then why was he reluctant to speak?

Was it that he didn't want to share the name of her, the only one he remembered, with others? A cold wind blew in Dang Hwarin's heart.

"Tell me."

Dang Hwarin was surprised at her own harsh voice that sprung forth.

"Dang Gaki. She liked to play jokes."

"You said she was earnest."

"Ha-ha. She played jokes on me, though."

Earnest but playful with him. It must mean they were that close. Dang Hwarin felt a sting as if she'd touched a healed wound in her heart.

"What about pineapple pizza? That's a food one can only eat if they have the blood of the Sacheon Dang family."

"My friend forced me to eat it. When we first wanted to become friends, she said, 'How can you be friends if you can't even eat this?' Feeding me as a jest, while playing together. Eventually, I got to where I could eat it."

"And that became edible?"

"Ha-ha. Even when she was seriously ill, she would laugh when I ate pineapple pizza near her and struggled. I ate it just to see that face, even if I had to force myself. Then later, I ate pineapple pizza on the anniversary of her death. Now I can eat it fine, but I don't have that friend to eat it with anymore..."

Kang Yoonho gazed out the window with a look of regret.

Dang Hwarin secretly bit her lip.

She'd heard about it too.

Pineapple pizza indeed is not poison but food. While those with the blood of the Sacheon Dang family can enjoy it, those without can find a way too.

The chef who makes the pineapple pizza can eventually eat it if they endure the nausea over a long period of time.

However, because it was a painful and long process, there were virtually no cooks who actually followed through with that method.

A relationship so close that they could eat pineapple pizza together, even if it nauseated him, because it wasn't the blood of the Dang household – Kang Yoonho had walked that difficult, long path for his friend.

'It was never an empty space to begin with.'

The emptiness in Kang Yoonho's heart. The void left after his friend's disappearance. Dang Hwarin had thought she could sneak into it.

That was a misconception.

There was never room in that man's heart for her. A man looking for someone resembling her as he walked, thinking of her as he wrote, a man soaked in regret at the thoughts of her at any given moment.

His heart was full of her.

Is there a way to win over a dead person?

The swamp of deep defeat began to seep in, starting from Dang Hwarin's ankles.

"Hwarin!"

However, the same man who let Dang Hwarin drown in defeat also pulled her out of it.

As a shadow fell upon Dang Hwarin's face, Kang Yoonho called out to her.

"Huh?"

"Don't be saddened by my words too. That friend is just a friend, and we must think of the future."

"...."

The swamp of defeat rose gradually. Kang Yoonho extended a smiling hand to Dang Hwarin.

"Going to keep this up? Hwarin? I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Help me out, will you? Right, Hwarin? I'd be in big trouble without you. Save a friend, yeah?"

Kang Yoonho asked her with a restless and exaggerated tone. She was the only one for Dang Hwarin. The tension obviously forced, yet such action proved effective for her, caught in the swamp of low esteem and defeat.

'This is not the time. Yoonho needs me.'

The man who helped her was in trouble. It wasn't a time to sit idly by. Dang Hwarin grabbed the hand Yoonho reached out and pulled herself out of the swamp of defeat.

"Yeah. I'll help."

Dang Hwarin smiled faintly as she spoke.

"Really?"

"Well, the child's mother crossed to Joseon during her pregnancy, so the Dang family wouldn't know if she bore a son or a daughter, right? It's fine if I just keep my mouth shut. Trust me. I'll help you."

"I'm really lucky to have you on my side, Hwarin."

Kang Yoonho breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Dang Hwarin regain her spirits.

"What are you talking about? I've always been on your side."

"You're all I have!"

Kang Yoonho attempted to playfully embrace Dang Hwarin, but she dodged with a laugh.

"Chuckle, what are you saying? Seriously. Now, tell me what you're planning to do."

Dang Hwarin watched Yoonho as he desperately explained his plans to her.

Right. This was no time to wallow in feelings of defeat.

Of course, she might not be his only friend to him.

But no matter what, she would save him.

Because Kang Yoonho is my only person.

*********

It was a close call with the story of the friend, but fortunately, I managed to get through it.

Hwarin engaged with me enthusiastically about our future plans. Occasionally, she threw me unfathomably bittersweet glances, but I decided to understand, as I had become someone who had been forced to swallow pineapple pizzas.

"What shall we do tomorrow? Don't we need time?"

Hwarin asked me with a tone of concern.

"I hav

e a plan in mind."

We would need time if we were to opt for a temporary closure. On top of that, we require a fail-safe to guarantee our lives if the situation goes awry.

"How will we proceed?"

"You'll see tomorrow."

[This is Hopil....]

"It exploded again, dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"