Chapter 99
The next morning, as soon as the visit ban was lifted, Kim Woo-jin and Min Ah-rin came to the hospital room. While I was having breakfast with the high-quality lunch box brought to me by Cheon Sa-yeon’s attendant, I greeted them with a sausage in my mouth.
“Welcome.”
“Yi-gyeol-ssi… haa.”
“Ha…”
Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin, who faced me when I leisurely waved my hand to them, sighed one after another. Why were you like this in the morning? Min Ah-rin said with a sad expression when I looked at her blankly. (한가롭게 손을 설렁설렁 흔드는 날 마주한 민아린과 김우진이 연달아 한숨을푹 내쉬었다, not sure how to translate it)
“Yi-gyeol-ssi. Are you eating now?”
“Ah… I’m sorry. I will clean it up.”
Indeed. It was a little rude to invite guests while eating. As I was about to put it away, Min Ah-rin, startled, grabbed my arm.
“No, it’s a joke. Please eat.”
“However…”
“I and Woo-jin-ssi ate together. So eat.”
“Really?”
Did you mean you two were that close? Looking back at Kim Woo-jin with a bewildered feeling, the guy averted his gaze and nodded his head.
If so then… I put down my lunch box again and picked up a spoon.
“Eat slowly. I have something to talk about anyway.”
Kim Woo-jin, who approached me, took chopsticks and placed a side dish of herbs on a spoon with only bare rice. What, you didn’t need to because my arm wasn’t hurt.
“I’m fine. Sit down, Kim Woo-jin.”
“You eat it all.”
Even though I pushed it a little because it was burdensome, he was firm. In the meantime, Kim Woo-jin’s body felt in my hand was much harder than expected.
I looked at Kim Woo-jin again with pride. Not only did he practice his skills, but he also trained his body. Come to think of it, he was able to show his proficiency in many ways when he was dealing with Kang Seung-geon.
“Wh, what? Why do you look at me like that?”
“Nope.”
Kim Woo-jin, who noticed my gaze, frowned and dyed his ears red. It was all good, but he was still covering his face like that.
Min Ah-rin took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and poured water into the cup, opening her mouth first.
“What should I tell you first… in line with the duty of a healer, can I talk about Yi-gyeol-ssi’s physical condition first?”
“Yes?”
For some reason, I felt a chill in her voice and my body trembled. Min Ah-rin smiled as she looked at me with her shoulders shrugged and sat down on the empty chair and continued her words.
“Yi-gyeol-ssi. You already know that using energy carelessly is not good for your body, right?”
“Um…”
I hesitated and avoided answering.
The explanation from Do Ha-seok, an S-rank healer I met in the Roheon Guild hospital room, flashed through my mind. He said it was similar with drawing blood until your life was in danger.
“Even if doctor and healer treat you for internal injuries or trauma after making concessions a hundred times, it’s very dangerous because the shocks from using your energy recklessly accumulate. You have to be really careful from now on.”
Min Ah-rin, who spoke up there, bowed her head with her gloomy expression.
“Of course, many people have saved their lives thanks to Yi-gyeol-ssi. Everyone is thankful to Yi-gyeol-ssi…”
“Min Ah-rin-ssi.”
“But I’m Yi-gyeol-ssi’s friend. As much as me and Woo-jin-ssi, I think we should be worried about Yi-gyeol-ssi.”
Along with Min Ah-rin’s sincerity, there was also the concern that she might be perceived as excessive interference. I couldn’t hold back the soft laughter that flowed out and answered.
“Thank you, Min Ah-rin-ssi. Really.”
“Yi-gyeol-ssi.”
Min Ah-rin, who raised her face at my thanks, smiled with relief. I was sincerely grateful to Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin for being by my side whenever I had a hard time. If I had a chance someday, I wanted to respond to the kindness they showed me.
“Good. So, let’s stop talking about energy here… do you want me to tell you a little bit about Master Kang Seung-geon?”
“Yes. Even if I didn’t want to, I was curious. I watched the news yesterday, but there’s a limit to the information.”
There was food left in the lunch box, but my appetite was gone. When I closed the lid of the lunch box and asked, Min Ah-rin nodded her head and answered.
“There is a Psychiatric Research Centre in the basement of the management headquarters. I heard that Master Kang Seung-geon is currently receiving treatment there.”
“Then… it’s sure that he had been possessed by mind controller.”
“Yes. The treatment is said to be in progress while wearing a shutter item… Even if he doesn’t have a shutter item, he probably won’t be able to use his ability properly. His body must have been damaged a lot by using too much energy. In the future, he won’t be able to use his ability like he used to.”
I remembered Kang Seung-geon, who vomited blood and forcibly used his ability.
“It is said that the whereabouts of the puppeteer who manipulated the doll or the person with the ability to control the mind of Master Kang Seung-geon haven’t been identified yet. Yi-gyeol-ssi, please be careful for the time being. I’m anxious.”
“I will. Please be careful as Min Ah-rin-ssi doesn’t know either. Kim Woo-jin you too.”
I agreed with Min Ah-rin’s words. The puppeteer was also dangerous, but the more fearful opponent was a person with the ability to control Kang Seung-geon’s mind. It was impossible to even predict under what conditions the ability would be activated, so it was right to save myself.
Kim Woo-jin, who was quietly standing at my request and listening to Min Ah-rin’s conversation, pouted his mouth and grumbled dissatisfied.
“It’s okay, so be careful. Make sure to keep in touch…”
“Am I a kid?”
The word ‘keep in touch’ reminded me of my cell phone. Where is it, my phone?
“Yi-gyeol-ssi, what’s wrong?”
“What are you looking for?”
“My cell phone…”
No matter how much I looked around, I couldn’t find my phone. I asked Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin who were puzzled.
“Have you not seen my cell phone?”
“Here. I got it.”
Kim Woo-jin pulled out the cell phone from the hooded zip-up pocket he was wearing and held it out. Oh, thank you.
“I thought I lost it.”
“Take your cell phone with you. I also check that you have been contacted from time to time. Please.”
The word ‘please’ at the end was pretty serious. I understood the frustration, but it was because there were so many crazy things. It wasn’t going well.
“By the way, Yi-gyeol-ssi.”
As I touched my cell phone that was turned off, Min Ah-rin said in a bright voice.
“A lot of people came and went while you passed out. Shouldn’t you say hello to them?”
“Did a lot of people come?”
Was there anyone who would come to see me? Cheon Sa-yeon… I met him yesterday.
“Who?”
No matter how much I thought about it, no one came to mind. When I tilted my head to ask, Min Ah-rin with her subtle eyes gave me the answer.
“First of all, the Master and Deputy Master of Roheon Guild came and went first, and Cha Soo-yeon-ssi also stopped by with the Master of Jayna Guild. Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk also took time to come while he was busy…”
“Wait, wait a minute.”
Roheon Guild Master and Deputy Master… Lee Joo-ha and Ha Tae-heon were here? Besides, what about Hong Si-ah and Cha Soo-yeon? Why was Woo Seo-hyuk too?
“Did they really come and go? Here, to the Requiem hospital room?”
“Yes. I was surprised too.”
“Uum.”
Come to think of it, Ha Tae-heon was also at the scene. I didn’t know how he got there, but she said he stopped by while I passed out, so maybe he had something important to say.
“Besides them, media reporters and officials from the management headquarters constantly came to see Yi-gyeol-ssi. Officials from the management headquarters had been kicked out, but the reporters really tried to push in.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Because the video showed Yi-gyeol-ssi saving people. It’s a mess online, too. At worst, Master must have increased the number of security guards and placed a ban on visits. At least, that’s how it calmed me down.”
Min Ah-rin sighed with a tired look on her face. I blinked at the unexpected words. Cheon Sa-yeon…
‘I thought it was banned to keep Min Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin from seeing me, but was that the reason?’
To be honest, I thought that the purpose of confinement was to have security personnel deployed.
Cheon Sa-yeon’s incomprehensible attitude became complicated in his attitude who was cold-hearted while helping the important part. Frowning, I remembered Cheon Sa-yeon, who looked down at me with cold eyes yesterday.
“It’s really, disappointing.”
Perhaps… this might be the last time to help out in this way. If you said you were disappointed with me, your interest or interest must have gone away. What would happen with the partner relationship? (협력 관계, actually I’m not sure how to name this)
“Han Yi-gyeol?”
As I kept my mouth shut without saying anything, Kim Woo-jin, who thought it was strange, grabbed my shoulder lightly.
“What’s the matter? Are you sick?”
“No, nothing.”
I grinned bitterly, pushing the thoughts of Cheon Sa-yeon into the corner of my head.
“I think it would be better for you to rest here today and go back to your room tomorrow.”
“Don’t go out for a while. Wherever you go, you go with me.”
Kim Woo-jin also added a word to Min Ah-rin’s worried words. I awkwardly wiped the back of my neck and avoided the gaze.
“You don’t have to do that…”
“You need to do it.”
“I need it!”
Surprised. My body trembled at the sight of the two of them answering firmly as if they matched each other. Min Ah-rin said with a rare hard expression.
“I’ve felt this for a long time, but Yi-gyeol-ssi doesn’t have a sense of crisis. That’s why you keep getting hurt and kidnapped!”
“Yes? No, that.”
“So from now on, wherever you go, take Woo-jin-ssi with you. Understand?”
“……”
“Yi-gyeol-ssi.”
“Um, yes. I understand.”
When I rolled my eyes and answered slowly, Min Ah-rin, who was looking at me suspiciously for a moment, sighed.
“I see. I don’t really believe it.”
“It’s too much.”
“I’ll wait and see!”
Min Ah-rin was serious, but in my eyes, she just looked cute. Min Ah-rin, who looked at the watch, got up and said.
“I have a schedule, I will go. Yi-gyeol-ssi, Woo-jin-ssi. See you later.”
“Bye.”
After seeing Min Ah-rin leaving the hospital room, I turned my attention to Kim Woo-jin, who was putting away the lunch box.
“Kim Woojin. What about your body?”
“Me?”
“Yes. At that time, your body… you were seriously injured.”
Even if it was a clone, I didn’t want to say that he was dead. Kim Woo-jin, who blinked at my question, slightly blushed.
“Uung, it’s okay.”
“Next time, don’t do that. It’s dangerous.”
“I don’t want to.”
Kim Woo-jin frowned slightly and opened his mouth.
“I’ve been trying so hard to be of some help to you. It would have been cleaner if I had more time to practice, but I have no regrets.”
“Kim Woo-jin.”
“I told you. I’ll be by your side no matter what you do. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to become an A-rank.”
Kim Woo-jin, who looked at me with a hesitant expression, cautiously grabbed my hand. His stiff hands trembled slightly as if he was nervous.
“I want to stay by your side and help you. Can’t I?”
Can’t you? I breathed out of frustration and hold Kim Woo-jin’s stiff hand.
“There’s nothing you can’t do. I’m doing it because I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”
Kim Woo-jin, who wasn’t immune to these words, quickly turned red. Kim Woo-jin, who was restless, pulled out his grasped hand and bowed his head.
“Of, of course, I will do that. I’m going to.”
“I mean, don’t overdo it. I will be more careful, too.”
“Uung.”
Great. Let’s stop talking about this. Even if I didn’t, I had something to ask from Kim Woo-jin.