563

 [Chapter 152]

[Lee Yoojung (2)]

'─I want you to be happy.'

That was something Lee Yoojung often said.

She was that kind of person.

Someone who lived a life considering others more than herself.

Someone who was devoted to him.

In the end─

─Like a fool...

For my sake...

The deepest part of <Abyss Dungeon>.

She awakened the power of <Miracle > and gave Noh Eunha the chance to start his life over again.

And as the price for <Miracle >, she was like this now.

"..."

Eunha recalled when he first met Lee Yoojung before the regression.

Pale skin as if it had never seen sunlight.

A clean face without a single blemish.

Though she was somewhat thinner than he remembered, she looked similar to when she was attending the academy.

However─

"─What kind of state is this..."

Her health condition could be guessed just by looking.

Her snow-white skin without any hint of color gave the impression she was sickly.

With her eyes closed like that, she looked lifeless as if facing a corpse.

No, perhaps that's not wrong.

"...She's cold."

She was dying.

Relying on unknown machines, she was merely prolonging her life.

To that extent, she looked so fleeting and fragile as if she could disappear from this world at any moment.

Eunha placed his hand on Lee Yoojung's cheek and stood there for a long time.

"Mmm..."

"...!"

That's when it happened.

She showed a reaction.

Though it was just a faint moan,

Eunha was startled and removed his hand.

"...Oppa?"

Did she sense a presence?

With her eyes still closed,

Lee Yoojung gently turned her head towards where Eunha was standing.

Her lips moved.

"..."

Hearing Lee Yoojung's voice,

Eunha froze in place without being able to say anything.

Meanwhile he replayed her voice in his head over and over.

It was a nostalgic voice.

A comforting voice that calmed his heart just by hearing it.

"...It's oppa... right?"

Perhaps because there was no answer,

Lee Yoojung opened her mouth again.

"..."

A question looking for Lee Yucheon.

Eunha felt his heart sink hearing her voice looking for Lee Yucheon who must have been her support.

He realized there was no space for him in her heart.

It was natural.

In this life, he─

─I'm just a stranger to Yoojung...

Though he had thoughts that maybe Lee Yoojung would remember him,

Eunha somewhat sensed from her innocent questioning voice.

That she didn't have memories from before the regression.

Then─

─Is it okay for me to get close to Yoojung?

Unlike in the previous life,

Lee Yoojung was walking a completely different path.

To the extent there was no place for someone like him.

She was born into a wealthy family and living happily receiving love from her family.

But what about himself?

I can't drag Yoojung into the path I'm trying to go.

It's a path of carnage.

A path where you have to get blood on your hands.

If he who walks such a path tries to get close to her, he might drag her life onto the same path as his.

So like this─

"─..."

We must walk different paths.

Eunha placed his hand on her forehead and forcibly chewed over his resolve.

"...Who... are you...?"

Did she notice just from his touch?

Lee Yoojung asked carefully.

"Someone you don't know."

How can she have no wariness at all, he thought.

Noh Eunha smiled bitterly.

Then suppressing various emotions, he answered her.

"I... see..."

It was Lee Yoojung's response.

She accepted it without expressing any particular doubt.

...Is it because her consciousness is still hazy? Well... According to what Yucheon hyung said, she's been repeatedly waking up and losing consciousness lately, so it's understandable she doesn't find it strange.

Lee Yoojung probably thinks this meeting is happening in a dream.

Coming to that conclusion,

Eunha's heart felt somewhat lighter.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

He strokes her head.

She smiles brightly.

"─I'm okay."

"..."

That was her answer.

She shook her head and reached out to tightly grasp Eunha's hand.

Then she brought that hand and placed it on her face.

"It's warm..."

She murmurs.

At first he was startled when she suddenly grabbed his hand, but then he burst out laughing in disbelief.

But what she said next was even more absurd.

"Are you... the Grim Reaper?"

An abrupt, ridiculous question.

Eunha asked her back.

"Why do you think that?"

"I thought... maybe you've come to take me now..."

"..."

"I think... I've held on for a long time... But now... I don't think I can hold on any longer..."

Grim Reaper.

The first thing Eunha recalled hearing that word from her was the nickname she had in the previous life.

<Grim Reaper>.

A name meaning the angel of death.

An angel in the form of a grim reaper could be said to be a symbol of misfortune that leads people to death.

Therefore─

─That's why Yoojung was called the <Grim Reaper>.

The Mist Flower party members who volunteered for death.

And Lee Yoojung who healed them from behind so they could fight until the moment they died.

To people, she must have looked like the angel of death.

So she hated being called the angel of death or grim reaper.

To the extent the nickname <Grim Reaper> was taboo in the Mist Flower party.

"You seem different... from the Grim Reaper I imagined."

"..." "Your hand is warm..."

"..."

"I'm not afraid... of dying... I've been prepared... for this day to come... since long ago..."

She who was like that put the word grim reaper in her own mouth.

Even saying she was prepared for death.

She wasn't the person he knew.

She wasn't this weak.

Of course, Eunha wasn't unaware of why she was showing such a weak side.

"I'm ready... But... before that, there's something I'd like to ask."

"What is it."

But even knowing the reason,

Eunha couldn't shake off the feeling of his chest tightening.

He couldn't help but grimace seeing Lee Yoojung speaking in a voice that seemed like it would break at any moment.

"Before I go... let me say goodbye... to my family."

"..."

"I want to tell them... thank you, I'm sorry, and I'm grateful... I really want to say those words." "..." "And... tell them not to worry about me anymore... and to live happily... I want my family... to be happy."

'I want you to be happy.'

Two voices overlap.

One was a fleeting voice.

One was a voice with will.

Both were Lee Yoojung's voice.

Lee Yoojung is Lee Yoojung.

Even after regressing.

Even if she doesn't have memories.

She was considering and worrying about others more than her own well-being right now.

Eunha couldn't help but smile and feel sorry at the same time.

"─I'm not the Grim Reaper." "...What?"

"Would the Grim Reaper's hand be this warm?"

Eunha decided to correct Lee Yoojung's misunderstanding.

Then she made a sound as if flustered.

Because it was so lovable,

And because she looked so innocent and pure,

Eunha giggled.

"Then... who are you...?"

The question returned to square one.

"Someone you don't know."

The answer also returned to square one.

"Tsk... What is this..."

She who noticed he was teasing frowned.

Soon she relaxes her face.

"Thank goodness..."

"..." "I don't have to... die yet."

Lee Yoojung feels relieved.

And Eunha answered her.

No, he asserted.

"─Don't worry. You're not going to die."

She looked frail and sickly.

But she was still just as lovable as ever.

Eunha whispered in her ear.

Then she─

"─Really... can that be possible?"

Lee Yoojung answers with a faint smile.

As if saying that's impossible.

So Eunha emphasized again.

"I'll make it so you can live happily for a long, long time."

"..."

"So stop waiting for the day you'll die. You're going to live for a long, long time from now on."

His voice was full of conviction.

She said nothing.

As if trying to feel his warmth more,

Lee Yoojung tightly grasped Eunha's hand and buried her face in his touch as if not wanting to let go.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me."

Lee Yoojung murmurs as if about to cry.

Eunha shrugged.

Then he reached out his other hand and stroked her head.

No need to thank me.

Just─

─There's no need to thank me because I'm just returning what I received.

If he only received in the previous life,

Now he resolved to give to her generously.

Nevertheless, he received far too much from her to ever be able to repay.

It doesn't even amount to a drop in the bucket.

No matter how much he repays, it's not enough.

You probably don't know.

But that's okay.

Eunha silently smiled as he looked down at Lee Yoojung who seemed to be falling asleep again.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sleepy... it's hard to talk anymore."

"It's okay. Rest well."

According to Lee Yucheon's story, she had only recently woken up from an unconscious state.

She must need rest that much.

Eunha nodded and withdrew his hand that was stroking her head.

"I want to... meet again..."

"..."

"If this isn't... a dream... that would be... really nice..."

"..."

"What if... when I wake up next time... I don't remember anything?"

"─It's okay even if you don't remember." "But that's... not okay..."

Lee Yoojung worries.

That appearance was so lovable too.

Eunha bent his knees and moved closer to Lee Yoojung.

Then he answered her in an affectionate voice, as if singing a lullaby.

"─Even if you don't remember, I'll remember." "Ah..."

"So don't worry about that, just rest well." "Can we... meet again next time?"

"...If you want, I'll do that."

"Please... come..."

"...Okay."

When no more words could be heard,

And only her breathing could be heard,

Eunha brushed her bangs aside and brought his lips to her forehead.

─It's okay now. You won't be sick anymore from now on.

☆

Hoshimiya Kaede said.

If you really intend to become the party leader, make unwavering judgments as a leader.

Have confidence in that choice.

─Using the Elixir can cure mana depletion.

So Eunha, as someone who would become the leader of a party to change the future, seriously pondered.

There was only one Elixir,

And two people who needed to be saved.

Lee Yoojung and On Taeyang's mother.

─I'm sorry to On Taeyang but...

If he could draw On Taeyang who has the Gift <Brave > into the party, he could change the future more easily than now.

However, in that future,

If Lee Yoojung doesn't exist─

─A future like that is better off not existing.

There was no need to weigh the options.

Even if it means not being able to draw On Taeyang into the party,

Eunha intended to save Lee Yoojung.

I want Yoojung to live happily in this life.

He won't regret this choice.

Even if he can't recruit On Taeyang.

Noh Eunha's choice was firm.