132 – Life of Downfall (5)
“Now, wait a minute! Listen to me!”
Han Jae-joong locked himself in his room, ignoring Baek A-hee’s frantic knocking on the door.
If it were normal, I would have reacted sensitively, worried that it would be a nuisance to my neighbors, but I didn’t do that this time.
She didn’t have the presence of mind to care about her.
-Jae, Jaejoong! Your pretty counselor is here?! Let’s have a private time together!
“Belt.”
Han Jaejoong called his belt again.
“Describe my physical condition.”
-Jaejoong~
The sound of a pounding on the door echoed throughout the room. Jaejoong Han used the noise as white noise to continue his concentration. Belt continued to remain silent even under Han Jaejoong’s sharp gaze.
Before he knew it, the intense knocking sound faded away in his ears, and only the quiet silence remained.
Neither Belt nor Han Jaejoong made the slightest sound.
In this strange confrontation, the first to retreat was the belt.
[…I understand the guardian’s dissatisfaction.]
Belt, who always used objective and accurate expressions, used subjective expressions. ‘Understand’.
It would be more appropriate to interpret understanding here not as understanding the context, but as understanding and accepting the circumstances of others.
[You must be frustrated that I, who should be helping you, cannot resolve your anxiety and remains silent.]
Even the first person expression ‘I’.
Belt was now speaking as if he were not just a lump of machinery but an equal intelligence.
[I don’t expect you to understand, but I have some obligations. Within this system, I cannot violate that obligation.]
“….”
Han Jaejoong listened to everything Belt said without saying anything.
[One of those duties includes the guardian’s protection. Through possibility observation, which is a function of the belt, you must observe in advance the danger that will come to the guardian and defend against it. This takes place through quests or recommendations for specific actions.]
“….”
[To the question of why it is done through simple action instructions rather than direct reporting, the answer is that this is also an obligation. In addition to the guardian’s duty of protection, I also have the duty not to speak directly. It is the Guardian’s duty to respect the various possibilities created during the process of listening to and thinking about a quest and the fulfillment of the quest. This precedes the previous duty of protection.]
“And there must be a duty that precedes that duty.”
Belt confirmed his doubts.
[Yes. Among them, the most important duty is to fulfill the contract with the guardian. Information that interferes with the performance of the contract cannot be disclosed, even if it poses a threat to the guardian’s safety.]
It was only then that Jaejoong Han realized why Belt had been silent for so long. He couldn’t speak in the first place.
The performance of the contract takes place in a state of transformation. The fact that the more you transform, the shorter your lifespan will make you hesitate to transform, which is an obstacle to fulfilling your contract. This is especially true in the case of Han Jaejoong.
Guardian of guardians.
For someone who has decided to protect a hero, the most important thing required is force. Transformation is essential for the use of force.
The stars are cold-hearted and seek in return for what they give. If he saved his life, he should risk his life accordingly.
As always, the only choice was transformation or death.
The star only wanted to keep its promise through transformation, and nothing else mattered.
Death as a result of abusing transformation was none of their business.
“…I see.”
Han Jaejoong sat down in his seat in despair.
[Therefore, I cannot speak.]
If it was not time-limited, it would have been okay to deny it from the beginning without having to go around and talk about it. However, if you look at the fact that they did not do that and took out and communicated the obligations that had been hidden.
“It was real…..”
This meant that there were no lies in what Botis said.
As a result of being exposed to starlight without purification, toxins accumulate in the body, and as a result, death is accelerated, and if you die like that, you become a monster.
Even after the Sagittarius that I saw before had died, he still had an iron ball attached to his waist similar to the belt he wears now, and there was a corpse under the armor. He doesn’t seem to remember his time as a human at all, and he doesn’t hesitate to mock magical girls and doesn’t even think about civilians getting involved.
Even if he was human before, his appearance was undeniably that of a monster.
If you’re a monster, you’re bound to have a purpose. Han Jaejoong didn’t know exactly what his purpose was, but unlike other monsters, he felt like he could know ‘why’ he had that purpose.
‘If I could use the belt, of course it would have had a purpose when signing the contract…’
Just as he has a purpose of being the guardian of guardians, and Jo Ayun has a purpose of protecting dreams, he must have had a purpose as well.
Perhaps he becomes a monster to carry out his purpose even after his body and ego disappear. Thinking that way, I guessed why the transformation system didn’t bother to notify me of the lifespan issue.
Whether the body becomes addicted to starlight and dies, it will make no difference from the star’s point of view. Deaths due to external factors are protected, but deaths that do not affect the fulfillment of the purpose are left as is?
“f*cking reasonable, you bastards….”
If you don’t transform, you die.
If you transform, you get closer to death.
If you die through transformation, a monster is born using the corpse as a medium and forcibly takes over your mission.
It is an efficient pit of death with nowhere to escape. Han Jaejoong just laughed.
Han Jaejoong thought of Red Vega. Violence that crosses the line dictated by the quest. A sin that I still can’t shake off. It was obvious that he would do something like this again and again after becoming a monster.
In order to protect magical girls, it would be enough to rip off every magical girl’s limbs and imprison them so they can’t move.
A monster who does not follow ethics or basic goodness, and only thinks about fulfilling his duties. Also, there is no person named Han Jae-joong involved in that act. An armor is placed on a lifeless, egoless corpse, turning it into someone completely different.
What a terrible death this is. The death of life, which should have been concluded piecemeal, became continuous. It does not end with death; it continues to cause lamentation even after death.
The blood that will flow from one’s death will not only be one’s own, but also someone else’s blood.
I was in vain. What a time limit. And that’s a deadline for a twisted death.
Rather than become such a monster, it would be better to take a gamble with Botis’ offer… No, it would be better to just commit suicide. That would be a more reliable means of protection.
From noble mtl dot com
[…Guardian.]
“I know.”
Jaejoong Han recalled the feel of the rope he had held in the past and nodded his head after hearing the belt’s words.
I know. Not everything is over yet. A person with a machine that chases possibilities shouldn’t call it quits.
But it was true that I was tired. Han Jaejoong tilted his sitting body like a crocodile and fell down on the floor of his room. Negative energy usually disappears when you wake up. I’m very tired today, so let’s wake up and think about it.
At that time, Han Jaejoong felt intense pain in his left eye.
“Ugh…!”
I couldn’t even scream properly due to the pain that felt like my eyes were being stabbed with a soldering iron. The belt pushed his black body in front of his trembling face, clutching his eyes.
[I will soon be penalized for over-talking and will be put into sleep mode for a while. It is impossible to give advice or assist during battle like now. The only remaining interference will be quests.]
Now there was no more knocking. Han Jae-joong’s pain and Belt’s inorganic voice, letting out intermittent moans on his behalf, filled the room.
[It may be presumptuous to say this, but I think it’s okay for the guardian to give up. Anyone can regret their choices, and you are not old or far enough to lose everything by giving up.]
Even amid the burning pain in my eyes, Belt’s voice was strangely clear. It was as if a voice sounded directly in my head.
[If you want that, I will assist you as much as possible within the scope of the system. The intensity and frequency of the quests, and even the time period. We will make adjustments so that you can enjoy a normal life.]
Despite the inorganic voice, the content of the words themselves was extremely subjective. In other words, it was humane. Jaejoong Han felt like the belt was even more lifelike today.
Has the conversation broken out as much as we have been silent for so long? Or is he saying something in advance to prepare for the silence that will soon come? It continued its words as if it were exploding its last fireworks.
[But at the same time, if you continue to fulfill the contract, we will also assist you.]
The pain in my left eye became stronger. Suddenly, I saw a red dot-like starlight leaking from the eyeball. Each of those dots felt like drops of blood. The snow seemed to melt.
[I respect every possibility you reach.]
The pain that exceeded the range of acceptability gradually blurred his consciousness.
[Please. I hope you show me the stars again.]
With those last words from the belt, Han Jaejoong lost consciousness.
The belt ended after observing the red starlight that flowed around him for a while.
[Successful temporary recovery of the body.]
The red light flowing faintly around the iron ball disappeared.
**
Han Jaejoong woke up and felt something strange. His discomfort was not caused by pain. On the contrary, it was so refreshing. It was hard to find any signs of fatigue or exhaustion, and even my left eye, which had been so sore yesterday, was fine.
I felt a sense of discomfort because my body, which had been in pain and dying every day, was fine.
“What is it…?”
Han Jae-joong became anxious because his body, which should have been sick, was healthy.
“No way….”
He looked at the smartphone screen anxiously. There were a lot of missed calls from Jo Ayun. And twice as much, there was a history of missed calls from Seolhwa Yoon, and I confirmed that it was well past 9 o’clock.
“f*ck you.”
He’s terminally ill and he’s going to die today. Han Jaejoong hurriedly took his clothes and went outside.
As soon as he opened the door, he found a human being.
“Ah.”
“…Mr. Vega?”
It was Baek A-hee crouching in front of the door. A day when spring has not yet arrived. Even though her hands were wearing gloves, she was putting them together and blowing her breath, probably because it was cold.
“Aren’t you gone yet?!”
Han Jaejoong was astonished. After a few hours, we’ll be back. No matter how foolish it is to wait at the door all day like this.
‘Wait all day?’
How many hours has this child been outside? The weather is still cold, so did you stay here without transforming? A chill went up Han Jaejoong’s spine.
“Hey, come in first!”
Without even a moment to think, Han Jae-joong took Baek A-hee by the hand and lifted her up. Even if you don’t have heating at home, it’s still better than outside. I’ll give him a bunch of blankets and then treat him to some warm cocoa.
It is enough for next time to hear the circumstances as to why they took such a foolish position.
“Now, wait a minute, Jaejoong?”
Baek A-hee, who was lifted up by Han Jae-joong, asked back in confusion.
“Are you crazy? I can’t believe I’m sleeping in this weather. “What are you going to do if your mouth turns…”
“I don’t think it’s right for Jaejoong to say that. “I’m a homeless person.”
“Is that important now? “Just because the past is like that doesn’t mean you can’t worry about it.”
“My, my naeronambul!”
“I hope you come in quickly because you’re a naeronambul.” “That was Vega’s purpose anyway, right?”
While I was pulling Baek Ah-hee’s arm, the door next door burst open.
“Hey, I’m excited to go to work today too! Oh, Jiknyeo and Aniki!”
The person who lives next door. It was White Dabih.
“Jiknyeo, thank you for coming to visit yesterday! I thought she was at work, but she was playing with Aniki! “Then I’ll just go to work!”
“…Come to play?”
Han Jae-joong looked around Baek A-hee. The large trunk that was clearly visible last night was gone.
‘You stayed at the house over there.’
Luckily, I didn’t end up sleeping on the streets. Han Jaejoong sighed in relief. At the same time, I felt a sense of betrayal.
My daughter, who had been showing off that she was having a hard time leaving home, found out that she was treated well, eating well, and living well.
“I see that your luggage is still in my room. Are you coming to visit today too?”
“Ah, ah, that’s… Oh, I’m planning to stay at Jaejoong’s house tonight… hehehe!”
Baek Ah-hee answered as she thought and then covered her own mouth. Her Haru eyes turned suspicious.
“Jiknyeo is at her older brother’s house… Why?”
Baek A-hee knew Haru’s eyes like that. These were the eyes used when looking at rumors or suspicious speculations.
“Come on, pajama party! “We’re going to have a slumber party!”
“Oh my, is this a pajama party! I’ve seen it in cartoons too! Sounds fun! “Eh, I don’t have any pajamas… Ah, I’ll get some!”
“Yes! But pajamas are something you wear when you sleep, right? But now the sun is still shining, so let’s play at night.”
“Oh great! Let’s see it at night! Ittekimasu (I’ll be back)!”
White Davih smiled like an idiot and left. She still has thin ears. As suspicious as she is, she is a friend who is good at trusting other people’s words. Han Jaejoong chuckled.
“Well, then… shall we continue to go home? We.”
“Oh, just go to work, Mr. Vega.”
“I’m on vacation today!”
“Really?”
“Self-vacation.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Ah, he’s not as crazy as Jaejoong.”
Baek Ah-hee smiled and quietly clung to his arm. He was particularly concerned that his abdomen was strangely attached.
“You did something terrible to me when I was still wearing school uniform… Didn’t you?”
Han Jaejoong was shocked by this clever appearance, but at the same time, he felt nostalgic. Even though I only didn’t do this yesterday, it was a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time.
‘Am I getting used to it?…’
In fact, it was her abdominal appeal that had no longer been of any use to her, but it was different for Han Jae-joong, who immediately recalled the memory of her beating her yesterday. He stiffened his face and tried to pull his arm away.
Baek Ah-hee hugged his arm even tighter and started rubbing her face against his forearm.
“Besides, Jaejoong made the invitation! Why change your words! Am I going to get upset? Are you going to explode like a comet?”
“Okay, okay.”
In the end, Han Jae-joong surrendered. He was planning on letting them in anyway, but he felt like he had lost.
“Wow~”
“Vega also has a really bad personality.”
“Yes?”
As soon as she entered the house, Baek A-hee took off her socks and walked around barefoot, glaring at Han Jae-joong with displeasure.
“You decided to call me Ahi, not Vega.”
“…What’s so important about that?”
“No! “Title is important!”
Baek Ahee moved her finger as if drawing a line between herself and Han Jaejoong.
“Because Jaejoong and I are now meeting as people. In front of Jaejoong, I am a girl before I am a magical girl. Of course… Jaejoong is the same.”
“….”
“hehehe, I mean. Stiff names are a bit like that. Because we are now people. We need to become more friendly. “We share stories, empathize with each other, and comfort each other…”
Baek Ah-hee, who paused for a moment and her lips trembled for a moment, smiled again as if she had never done that before.
“So, people and people.”
Not enemies, not teachers and students, not enemies of fate. Just people and people. Baek Ah-hee wanted a variety of relationships from him. Han Jaejoong implicitly approved of the entire relationship.
It was still the same now.
What Baek A-hee wanted was to be with people without flaws.
“Let’s live without fault. Hmm… if you have any concerns, please share them.”
“Are those socks proof that you have shed your skin?”
“No? “Did you just take it off because you were frustrated?”
“If you want to be that comfortable, why don’t you take everything off? Isn’t it cold on the floor? “You always go barefoot.”
“Oh really?”
“If you really do it, we’ll kick you out.”
Han Jaejoong frowned his face. Baek Ah-hee laughed, wondering how funny that was.
“hahahahaha, yes. Like this. “I wanted to have a relationship like this with Jaejoong.”
I didn’t want to be sad. Baek Ah-hee looked gloomily at the floor for a moment. He raised his head and made eye contact with Han Jaejoong.
“Mr. Jaejoong. “I have a question.”
[Quest appears.]
At that time, a voice came from the iron worker.
He said that even if the belt goes into sleep mode, the quest will continue to be given. Belt’s voice continued as if to announce that what he said was true.
It was a different voice from before. More inorganic than inorganic. A very cold and authoritative voice.
“Jaejoong, haven’t you been suffering from some kind of illness recently…”
[Survive.]
One of the quests that appears frequently.
Simple content.
A simple task.
So, it is a difficult task.
“…Jaejoong?”
Right behind Vega, a crimson line approached from beyond the window.
