166 – Colleague (1)
“… Are you okay?”
“…… Huh.”
It’s not okay.
If I were to tell you my true feelings, yes…… It’s not okay at all.
But Choi Si-woo never mentions it.
This is not a story about people hiding their true feelings because they are embarrassed to whine like a child.
… Because there was someone in front of her who was more heartbroken than herself.
“Are you really okay?”
“…… Yes.”
Precious relationship.
A colleague who went through hardships together.
Someone who will believe in you at any time.
…… And the woman I love.
This is because he was considerate of Yurika’s feelings.
Two people looking at each other in silence.
I looked at the sky without worrying about who was first.
If you don’t have a gas mask, you can see the purple hole that makes it impossible to breathe at all.
The world filled with demonic energy, with no sun, moon, or stars visible, seemed like a countdown to what the end would mean.
“…… I’m sorry, Yurika. “Actually, I kind of noticed it from the beginning.”
“… I’m truly sorry. “I also thought that might be the case to some extent from the beginning.”
She just didn’t want to admit it.
I didn’t want to look back.
Graves of dying colleagues.
A past full of scars.
A world that could not be protected.
Because it was a place full of such pain, I deceived myself and turned my eyes away from the truth.
‘…… After.’
Choi Si-woo took a short, deep breath.
20 Years.
I swallow up countless times of struggle, despair, and resentment and quietly let them pass by.
With just that one small action, you regain your composure and stand up.
I look back at Yurika.
“… If you need a little more time… “
“No.”
Yurika also stands up with her resolve strengthened.
The whispering voice of the witch inside Marie becomes stronger.
I thought you wouldn’t see it anymore.
I thought I wouldn’t hear it anymore.
It flutters before her eyes, as if laughing at herself.
“… “Let’s move forward together.”
But it doesn’t waver.
30 Years.
Evidence of Yurika’s time constantly training herself, moving forward, and not giving up.
She no longer had the weak appearance she had back then.
“However, if this is really the world of the first episode… I don’t know where to go. Since it’s not a dungeon, there’s probably no proper exit… “
Artificial relic held in hand.
Guide’s Luck (A-)＞ Also no longer performed its function.
Probably this is proof that this is it.
I am grateful for the help, but it really put me in a difficult position.
“… About that. “Actually, if I came back, there was a place I really wanted to go.”
“… “Where do you want to go?”
“Yes.”
What if? Perhaps. Perhaps.
She put that assumption in front of her and thought, ‘That place.’
‘That place’ she always regretted in her second life.
“… No. 19 Ludwig Shelter.”
This was the place where Choi Si-woo’s former colleagues died.
* * *
“… “I never dreamed there would be a shelter on the side of a mountain like this.”
As she took one step forward, Yurika looked around her and expressed quiet surprise.
Intensive hiking on a rough and steep path.
Fortunately, both of them had physical abilities far beyond those of ordinary people, so it only took a little time, but it wasn’t painful.
“…… Because the underground doesn’t intend to accept everyone. Yurika, you know it well, right?”
“… Yes, that’s right. “I have no choice but to know better.”
A world polluted by demons.
The air in the atmosphere was difficult to withstand without a gas mask, and the ocean was full of terrible underwater creatures.
Therefore, it was a natural way for humanity to survive by moving their base underground.
However, even though it was a spacious basement, there was no room to accommodate everyone.
Precisely because of the strife among those in power.
Even though it got to that point, the entire human race was unable to unite and separated into factions as if it was natural.
Factions fought to monopolize the remaining resources, with the victors left in the relative safety of the underground and the losers on the dangerous surface.
One of the choices made by the losers who were kicked out was to dig a cave in the middle of a rugged mountain. It was to build a hideout.
“One of them is this place.”
“… Yes, I vaguely remember it.”
Yurika, who was continuing her conversation, suddenly stopped.
She looks at Choi Si-woo and mutters as if crawling.
“… Erina had ordered her mission… “Because it’s a place.”
“…… “
“…… Choi Si-woo…… Actually, I’m also involved in this-“
“-It’s okay.”
Before Yurika could say anything, she cut it off again.
She shook her head as if there was no problem at all and gently held her hand.
“… “It’s all in the past.”
“… But… “
“No, it was in the past. So… are you okay.”
“…… “
Choi Si-woo put a bitter smile on his lips. She wiped Yurika’s eyes, which were streaming like rain.
He subtly teases her by asking, ‘Why do you keep crying?’
“I’m sorry… “
“I heard it’s okay.”
He quietly holds her in his arms and whispers to her.
“…… “I have a favor to ask you instead.”
“… “Please?”
“Yes. “After a while, you’ll see faces you miss.”
“… Yes?”
―Grrr!
As soon as the words are finished, a harsh cry breaks out.
A lump of concentrated energy that seems to be a mixture of the sounds of various animals reveals an ominous form.
“… “They are.”
“… A long time.”
Yurika noticed the approaching entities and her complexion turned pale.
On the other hand, Choi Si-woo had a bitter smile on his face, as if he missed him.
About 20 people.
There were also people with rotten, rotten flesh hanging around like zombies.
There were also those who were like skeletons, with only bones remaining, and moved solely by magical power.
But there is one thing they all have in common.
He is wearing a military uniform and an armband representing a brilliant holy sword.
These people take full investment stance while holding onto their weapons.
―Crrraralak!
―Crilliririk!!!
―Ratclatter clatter.
They were all members of the SS who believed in Erina and fought alongside her, and were Choi Si-woo’s former colleagues.
“Yurika. “What I want to ask is that you pray for their peace.”
“Yes, of course. Even though I am corrupt… “Because she is a saint.”
Choi Si-woo smiled bitterly and pulled out the sword from his waist.
Yurika, standing next to her, also stretches out her hand and summons a staff.
Soon, the two ran forward.
*
Boom!
Ilseom (一閃). The crushed flesh breaks into pieces and evaporates.
Wow!
One strike. A pile of bones were crushed and broken, scattering into the air.
They were all incredibly strong for
Undead.
It was even more amazing considering that they were just
Resurrected by a ‘demon god’s curse’ without a proper magician.
However, no one caused significant damage.
All of them are people who could not be Choi Si-woo’s opponent when he was alive.
Therefore, the subjugation itself was not difficult.
‘… ….’
However, the emotional pain felt each time one person was dealt with was significant.
However, the sword strike, which was completely contrary to that feeling, was extremely brutal.
Comrades who were bound to this land and failed to attain Buddhahood.
This was because the single thought of giving them rest eliminated hesitation.
“… !”
That moment.
A presence is recognized running backwards on the dark ceiling.
The opponent bent his body in a bizarre way and slashed the double axes he was holding towards Choi Si-woo.
“… “Is this Lee Ugok?”
“… “Rank!”
Instead of answering, a skeleton only made the sound of bones clashing.
I didn’t have much contact with Choi Si-woo, but he was a comrade in arms who had met face to face and fought back to back once or twice.
―Hey, Captain Choi Si-woo! Shall we have a drink afterward? This time, I made honey liquor.
“…… “
He was a trustworthy man who used his unique ability, , To move quickly and perform brutal downward strikes.
“Take a break.”
Choi Si-woo gave a surprise low kick and shattered the skeleton’s shin bone.
I grab the head of his tilting skeleton with one hand.
Boom! It hit the ground and completely shattered it.
“… Next.”
As if it had been waiting, a ghoul hiding in the dark comes out.
The ghoul, presumed to be a woman, pressed her torso with a smooth and flowing spear that was different from her bizarre appearance.
Ringling Ardamil.
An awakened person who was exiled overseas.
Likewise, he is a familiar person.
―Brother Siwoo. Let’s eat together. I secretly brought some rice balls.
“…… “
Choi Si-woo, who silently accepted the thoughts in his head, walked forward.
As if he had been waiting, he grabs the spear that is stabbing at the vital point with one hand and pulls it forward.
Squeak!
The ghoul’s body is split in half with a cutting sound effect.
“…… Phew.”
Choi Si-woo took a deep breath.
A group of Keeps coming in front of him.
The people who were his former colleagues have just finished their work, so the people coming in now are probably the residents who were buried alive before they could escape.
Bend your back.
From Noble mtl dot com
Apply strength to both legs and assume a unique posture.
“… “I’m sorry everyone.”
Because I couldn’t save you.
Because I couldn’t hold his hand.
…… Because I’m the only one who survived.
Boom!
Choi Si-woo stepped on the ground and unleashed a storm of swirling swords.
Bodies being ground up like a blender with the sword of .
“…… Are you okay?”
“…… Huh.”
Soon, they succeed in subduing everyone.
* * *
Choi Si-woo, who buried everyone, prayed for the peace of those who died like Yurika.
Where the soul of the lion goes is unknown to mortals in the middle of the day.
‘I hope you go to a good place… ‘
He only offered a short prayer.
“Here’s your key card.”
“Thank you.”
After killing the group of undead, the two people advanced into the shelter.
I succeeded in reaching the huge white door in the deepest part of the world.
It was a door made of a metal called “Litanium” That had such great strength that even steel was looked down upon.
Siwoo Choi dusted off the key card Yurika handed him and put it into the terminal next to her.
If it didn’t work, I was planning on breaking it with force, but fortunately it worked even after a long time! The streets were naturally open to noise.
Soon, what was revealed was a huge nuclear reactor.
It seems like it is probably responsible for supplying energy to the entire facility.
It seemed as if it had already stopped working a long time ago and was emitting only a cold feeling.
Actually, something like that is probably good.
The important thing is…… In front of the instrument panel full of complicated buttons.
It was the identity of a woman who had fallen dead on the table.
The decomposition had already progressed, so all that remained were her bleached hair, bones, and the white gown she wore on top.
“… No way… “
“…… “
―Woohuhu, this is an alloy door designed by this super genius and sickly beauty herself?-
―Oh, wasn’t she a pretty girl?
―I have no conscience to refer to this old, beautiful girl… Lol.-
Choi Si-woo takes one step forward.
He moved forward again and reached right next to her.
Beyond deep, deep consciousness.
The memories I had accumulated one by one turn into sharp pieces and begin to tear through various places.
The woman with white bones clenched her fists until her last moments.
Broken red button.
And above the button, an escape device called Was activated.
“… Long time no see. Mr. Chojeonjae.”
The woman didn’t say anything in response, as if it was obvious.
A woman who chose to isolate herself in order to save her colleagues.
She is a woman who does not run away even though she can live well alone, but rather secures a way out.
And like a fool… A woman who died alone in a place like this.
“… “Jegal is a star.”
Choi Si-woo looked at her silently, not even thinking about wiping away her flowing tears.
