[Chapter 201]
[Great Escape(2)]
The wind blows.
Tree branches and leaves sway.
Whoosh whoosh
The tree makes a sound.
That sound was like swaying in the wind, and also─.
─Hehehehehe
It sounded like sobbing.
As if it were alive.
No, in fact, the tree was alive.
'I wish you good luck.'
'Plants are stronger than you think.'
'...I won't send you.'
Time flows without stopping.
But the human trapped inside the tree was still stuck in the past.
She doesn't know the flow of time.
For her, that time is just eternally repeating until now.
I want to protect.
Who?
Who did I want to protect?
Like that, in the eternity of time.
She endlessly fights monsters.
And in the process, loses her sense of self.
She who once fought to protect someone now forgot who she fought to protect.
Just becoming a wisteria.
Only overlooking the Uijeongbu area.
She was destined to completely lose her sense of self, lose her memories, and become a tree.
Hehehehehe
But players appeared.
Among them were people who had memories of her.
Using the mana generated as they spread magic as nutrients.
She was very lucky to be able to grasp her consciousness that was about to fly away.
I am..., Bang....
Moreover, as players faced corps commanders in Uijeongbu.
The mana they emitted dissolved in the atmosphere and was transmitted to her.
The pain of many people.
Their emotions and memories.
She ate their mana and sympathized, communicated, and felt sad.
Whoosh whoosh
Eventually, the consciousness and emotions of many people became mixed.
She changed.
No, perhaps it's that the consciousness that had been suppressing to prevent mana overload exhausted its strength and the monster's true nature appeared.
─I am Bang Yeon-ji.
Twelve Seats
☆
Several days passed since then.
Now Eun-ha could move too, and many players were returning to work as the Uijeongbu Recapture War was about to resume.
We've subjugated all the corps commanders.
We can't say we've completely pacified northern Gyeonggi, but it's already somewhat completed.
All the corps commanders in northern Gyeonggi had been subjugated.
Though many monsters remained, there was nothing that couldn't be annihilated if time was invested.
So such opinions gradually emerged from the recapture team.
"─How about calling the Fairy?"
""""Hmm....""""
Now players couldn't find any monsters in Uijeongbu.
Not a trace could be seen.
Though it was a bold comparison, the streets of Uijeongbu were being thoroughly managed to that extent.
Even if monsters were hiding, they could be driven out by activating Cocoon.
So the recapture team talked about calling the Fairy to install and activate Cocoon in Uijeongbu, to preliminarily wrap up the 2nd Recapture War.
Most agreed.
The story was also conveyed to the Mana Management Organization's Surveillance Bureau Director, Special Bureau Director, and Intelligence Bureau Director.
They agreed too.
"─Understood. Then I'll convey it to the Fairy."
Special Bureau Director Min Ji-a.
Min Ji-a, said to be the most trusted by the Fairy among the seven bureau directors, decided to report as representative.
People decided to rest in Uijeongbu until the Fairy's answer came.
At this, Eun-ha went down to the basement of the Arts Center as soon as he could move his body.
"Ah, Pandora Clan Lord. Are you alright now?"
"Hello. I'm fine now. So I came to see the clan members' faces."
"Yes.... I heard there were deaths in Pandora Clan this time too. I express my condolences."
Twelve Seats Priscis Memory.
Eun-ha encountered her coming out of the basement.
She finished talking and turned to look at the space she came from.
Countless coffins were placed.
They were the coffins of people who died in the Uijeongbu Recapture War.
"No matter how long I've lived, I don't get used to someone's death. We certainly recaptured Uijeongbu, but we must remember that it was possible because of their strength."
"That's right. If it weren't for those people, more damage would have occurred. Maybe we wouldn't have recaptured Uijeongbu."
"Yes, that's right. And.... I feel very sorry to those people. Because in the end, I alone survived."
Eun-ha turned his gaze.
She showed a sad expression.
The reason for that was understandable.
This time, she lost all the players who moved with her to Maegu.
And she alone survived.
This person was free from death.
Some players had seen it.
And because he had memories of the previous life.
Eun-ha knew she was a being that revived no matter how many times she died.
To this, Priscis Memory had said in the previous regression:
'─This is a curse. It's just a mistake made by an immature child who acted on their emotions. It's definitely not a blessing from God.'
At that time, while being pressed by people.
She said that.
Eun-ha remembered her appearance saying that and not answering anymore amidst people's pressing.
That person suddenly disappeared.
Then she went missing.
People couldn't find her whereabouts.
The Twenty-Five's gift was the same.
But what remains in Eun-ha's memory is that Priscis Memory looked very tired just before disappearing.
"It must be hard, but please don't die from guilt or anything."
"..."
"Those who survive must remember those who left first."
Eun-ha didn't want to let her go missing in this life too.
So he said that.
She blinked with a puzzled face.
"...Did I look like I was going to die?"
"Just, somehow it felt like you might."
"I want to die, of course. But now the Pandora Clan Lord knows too, I don't die even if I die. This is my...."
"Curse, right? I know."
"..."
"But is dying just the body dying? The mind dies too. If the mind dies, I think it's meaningless even if the body revives many times. So cheer up."
Eun-ha pointed to his head.
He knew from dying once.
Nothing changed by reviving.
If nothing changes, you'll surely meet the same death.
The mindset had to change.
Like he is now.
Eun-ha chuckled.
"And are there only bad curses? Maybe
"..."
"Think positively."
"...I tried to comfort you, but ended up being comforted by the Pandora Clan Lord instead. Thank you. I'll remember those words whenever I feel depressed."
Priscis Memory smiles.
Her face relaxes.
Eventually, she conveyed her thanks and left.
☆
The hall was quiet.
People off duty were sitting near the coffins, silently honoring the dead.
""""...."""
People who participated in the Uijeongbu Recapture War must have tasted the crisis of death many times and experienced the death of comrades.
So their attitude in honoring death was quite solemn.
At the same time, while honoring death, they reflected on their failures.
That they wouldn't do so next time.
They seemed to be thinking while looking down at their comrades sleeping peacefully in the coffins.
"Eun-hyuk."
"Ah, Eun-ha. You came?"
Eun-ha walked quietly so as not to disturb people.
And found the place where Pandora Clan members were laid.
Choi Eun-hyuk was already there.
He, who was sitting in front of four coffins, felt a presence behind him and turned his head.
Eun-ha sat beside him.
"Your leg? Is it okay now?"
"There's a scar left, but it's well attached. But Eun-woo said I should get rehabilitation treatment when we return. Though it's healed on the outside, he said it would be good to get a detailed examination in Seoul."
"Do that then. Rest well in the hospital for a few weeks. I'll give you vacation time."
"It's unusual for you to say you'll give vacation time? But it's okay. I know my body well. I'm fully recovered."
"You're so stubborn."
Choi Eun-hyuk pats his leg.
Then he said his body feels stiff from not swinging a sword these days.
He didn't seem to have any intention of resting.
Eun-ha could understand Choi Eun-hyuk's feelings.
He must be feeling powerless.
He might be blaming himself.
Sure enough─.
"─If I had been a little stronger, the kids wouldn't have had to die."
"That's a thought everyone has. And will probably continue to have in the future."
"Yeah, it seems so. Just earlier, other seniors came and gave various advice."
Choi Eun-hyuk blamed himself.
He said in a gloomy tone while massaging his leg.
Eun-ha dismissed it outright.
Right now, Eun-ha was feeling similar emotions to Choi Eun-hyuk.
But just blaming oneself wouldn't move forward.
That's how a player's life was.
"I knew something like this would come someday. But, actually, I think I thought this wouldn't happen to us. Is it because it's the first time? Even being here like this, I can't get used to it at all."
"Probably won't get used to it even after several times. The moment you get used to it, think you've gone crazy then. It means you've become completely numb."
"...That's right. Maybe so. Then should I hope not to get used to it? It's really difficult."
Eun-ha was somewhat better off.
Like the people around him, he also knew how to wrap up a comrade's death.
But Choi Eun-hyuk, who experienced a comrade's death for the first time, didn't seem able to do so.
Eun-ha helped him release his emotions from beside him.
"I really still have a long way to go. I want to become like you, but it's not working out well."
"You know now too. You and I pursue different styles. The person you should resemble is
"Yeah..., that's true too. But I want to resemble your mindset too."
"You'll be like that in 10 years too. You've experienced a crisis close to death like this time, so you'll have some sense of what it means to die."
Choi Eun-hyuk nodded.
Soon Eun-ha approached the coffin and checked Oh Sung-hwan's body.
He died smiling after all.
With a face drained of vigor.
Oh Sung-hwan was smiling.
Eun-ha stroked the head of his ardent follower.
─Farewell.
See you later.
Humans will surely die someday.
They are mortal.
He is not free from death either.
He will die someday.
So he bids farewell to comrades who went first.
Eun-ha exchanged final greetings with Oh Sung-hwan and other clan members.
"As soon as we return to Seoul, I should ask Seo-hyun to prepare the kids' wills."
"Right. They all would have written new wills the night before leaving for Uijeongbu, so we can deliver those."
All players had to write wills regularly.
They had to write them mandatorily when receiving life-or-death missions.
For example, like the Uijeongbu Recapture War.
Eun-ha, Choi Eun-hyuk, and other clan members all wrote wills.
Sometimes they wrote formally, but for dangerous missions like this recapture war, they wrote seriously.
Eun-ha decided to send the wills of the deceased clan members to their families as soon as they returned to Seoul.
For kids without families....
We should receive the wills. If there's anything they ask for in the will, we can fulfill it at the clan level.
Taking responsibility for the aftermath of players without families.
It was a positive function of clans.
Eun-ha remembered the faces of the deceased clan members in his mind and stood up.
Choi Eun-hyuk stood up too.
"Let's go now."
"Okay, let's. What are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to swing my sword. I need to practice swinging with just one sword after a while."
"Ah, it broke this time, right? Then want to train together with me?"
"What about your leg?"
"What about your body?"
"It should be fine if I just swing for a bit."
"Yeah, I think so too."
"Papa...."
"Kuku...."
Whether the two phantasmal beasts said anything or not.
Eun-ha wanted to stretch his body.
Choi Eun-hyuk felt the same.
The two decided to go outside and train like this.
But unfortunately─.
"─You two are caught red-handed. Didn't you hear you both need to rest? You're really going to do this? Eun-woo! Wrap these guys up in bandages!"
"Why.... Why do you make me suffer when I'm trying to go nicely? Hm? Hmm?"
They were caught red-handed by Jin Seo-na and Cha Eun-woo.
☆
At that time, at the top of the wisteria.
Do Wan-jun was leading players up the wisteria.
"It really looks like Yeon-ji."
"..."
On the surface of the tree trunk.
A face reminiscent of former Twelve Seats
A face that looked peacefully asleep.
For her to say that, the emotions Do Wan-jun, who was Yeon-ji's lover, felt were indescribable.
"...Everyone go somewhere else. I want to be alone today."
"Yes, understood. Clan Lord."
""""...."""
Do Wan-jun put his hand on the tree trunk and spoke while restraining his emotions.
Ko Eun-sil noticed and quickly took the clan members away.
Eventually, only Do Wan-jun remained at the top of the wisteria.
"It really is you, Yeon-ji."
He contorted his face.
He caresses her face.
Intense regret rushed in.
It was an emotion he had been holding in all this time.
Back then, he shouldn't have let Yeon-ji face Goeshini alone to evacuate players.
He should have faced it together.
He should have died doing so.
But she fought alone and in the end caused mana overload and became a wisteria.
Even after we retreated....
You remained here alone overlooking Uijeongbu.
He couldn't help feeling sorry.
His emotions intensified.
Do Wan-jun wailed.
He felt very sorry for his lover who became a wisteria.
"Yeon-ji, Yeon-ji...."
He called her, overcome with sorrow.
If she had come alive as a tree.
Please accept his apology.
He hoped and hoped again.
He begged and begged again.
As if responding to his heart.
No, he must have fallen into an illusion.
─Clan..., Lord?
The wind blows.
Bang Yeon-ji's voice was heard.
Do Wan-jun suddenly raised his head.
─Wan-jun, oppa?
"Yes, Yeon-ji! It's me! Do Wan-jun!"
Whether this voice was an illusion or not.
Do Wan-jun didn't care.
Even if it was an illusion, it was fine.
He wanted to hear her voice.
Wan, jun, op, pa....
Somehow she seemed to smile.
Do Wan-jun put his hand on her cheek.
He hugged the tree and cried.
And─.
─Squelch!
"Ah...."
Do Wan-jun felt pain.
A hole was pierced in his stomach.
A tree branch had pierced his abdomen.
Blood gushed out profusely.
But it didn't stop there─.
─Squelch!
Branches sprouting from the tree trunk.
Pierced his entire body.
Do Wan-jun blinked.
Eventually, he smiled faintly.
"Yes, Yeon-ji. I'm sorry."
I'm a bad guy, a bad guy.
So I'll apologize like this.
Do Wan-jun breathed his last without any resistance.