As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Leila.
She had a seriously conflicted expression. I don't know when it started, but she was groaning and reached out to the pile of fruit on the shelf.
"oh."
That's when our eyes met.
"No, that's not it. I was thinking you might be getting up soon, so I was going to peel an apple for you."
He coughs in vain and puts his hand back. His embarrassed attitude is evident.
"Then why don't you cut it for me?"
"Okay, just wait a minute!"
Leila smiled brightly, grabbed an apple and a knife, and began peeling it with her small hands. It was heartwarming to see her so absorbed.
As I was watching silently, Leila raised her head and tilted her head.
"what's the matter?"
"No, it's a little unexpected."
"what?"
"I thought Mr. Hyun would look around as soon as he woke up."
When I heard it, it sounded plausible.
Especially when I was on a mission, I spent almost every day like that. Even when I fell asleep in bed, I would lie in an uncomfortable position so that I couldn't sleep well.
"But you don't show any sign of that, you're just focusing on me."
Leila, who had been deep in thought, smiled.
"Does that mean I am trusted by Mr. Hyun?"
That's obvious.
Who is Leila? She is a character who saves the player from the beginning and always supports him. She is a person of character who continues to encourage him even when some of the agents with bad personalities criticize her.
'I guess that's where players can feel most secure.'
There are often opinions that question Leila's character. Saying, "Isn't that actually gaslighting? LOL." They say that the entire lab is acting to make the professor rely on Leila.
Of course, it's just a joke.
Even though Kim Lee-hyun was no longer a professor, Leila was still Leila.
"That's true."
Let's easily affirm it. Leila's eyes widened. Soon, she lowered her gaze as if embarrassed. A clumsy laugh, "Ehehe," was a bonus.
After a while she changed the subject.
"Oh, by the way, I haven't explained the situation yet."
He puts the plate containing the apples on the shelf. Even though his hands were clumsy, the peels were cleanly removed. He peeled the apples so that no peels remained, even if he had to cut off the flesh.
"This is Magnu's hotel where we were staying. It's been three days since then."
"three days."
"Yes. We were very worried because Mr. Hyun wouldn't open his eyes for a while, but fortunately, it's okay."
Kim Yi-hyeon looked down at his body. Although it wasn't a hospital gown, he was wearing light clothing. A ringer was inserted into his wrist. His left arm was wrapped tightly in a bandage.
'When did you lose consciousness?'
I don't even remember exactly. That must mean I was at my limit. Rather than feeling pathetic, I think I held on well. Because I was working my mind and body like never before.
"Ms. Ainoa was also very concerned. After hearing the news, she said several times that she would seek treatment at the palace, but I'm sorry to say that I declined."
I felt eyes on me.
Leila's two eyes were focused on Kim Yi-Hyeon's skin. The crystals growing on the back of his hands and neck. Although they were hidden, there was a strange feeling on his ankles.
I don't want to show it to others unless absolutely necessary.
It can be said that he was considerate and thoughtful.
"How was the battle? Any survivors?"
"We somehow managed to evacuate everyone. It was fortunate that the scale of the disaster was small. No, it was unfortunate that we encountered the disaster at that time."
At least no agents died in the disaster.
"Not many of the soldiers survived."
"okay."
It may seem harsh, but I wasn't as depressed as Leila. I was more relieved that the agents were safe. People can't all have the same value to others.
I also have some really bad thoughts.
'From the military's perspective, it would be like blowing one's nose without touching it.'
The troublesome private group was disbanded due to an 'unavoidable accident'. They had achieved brilliant achievements, so there was no need to treat them as regular soldiers.
'Okay, okay.'
It was not something that outsiders would be interested in. The battle was over in one form or another. The Great Mother would have no choice but to retreat. From now on, it was up to Kushan to take care of things on her own.
There are even bigger problems.
"Mr. Hyun."
Leila suddenly said while her head was pounding.
"Please answer just one thing. Mr. Hyun, what is your connection to the Legion?"
"뭐?"
"In the past, I tried to cover it up. I never really tried to ask questions. But after seeing Mr. Hyun's condition, I couldn't do that anymore."
There was no atmosphere of questioning. Her eyes were filled only with concern.
"I don't think you're a spy for the Legion anymore. Rather, isn't it the opposite? If you had something to do with the Legion in the past, please tell me. For Mr. Hyun's sake."
Warmth is transmitted to my hands.
A deeper feeling than ordinary camaraderie. It is not the love between a man and a woman. Leila considers all her lab colleagues, whether researchers or agents, as family.
I know. I also know that I have entered the fence. I feel grateful.
But the only thing he could say was obvious.
"There's no such thing."
"Are you sure?"
"I know this and that, and of course I have hostility towards the Legion. But it's not because I was treated badly by them. It's for more complicated... reasons that I don't know well."
The reason for the fall into Polaris is still unknown. We haven't even caught a clue. We don't have the time to think about such things. We could die overnight one day.
There is no choice but to survive.
Until it becomes clear one day, I have no intention of telling anyone. Even if the day comes when I die without knowing anything. This much has not changed.
Leila sensed the agony in Kim Yi-Hyeon's frowning face. She considered several possibilities. Perhaps, like the professor, he was suffering from some kind of amnesia.
"...Okay. But please understand this one thing. I don't doubt Mr. Hyun. He saved us, lent us strength, and took care of us."
"It's easy to get over something you said with such intensity."
"Because we just have secrets between each other."
A story we've shared in the past.
But the result wasn't quite the same.
"I think there's a difference between someone you can trust and someone you can confide in."
"Is that so?"
"If we had met once and talked, I would have spoken more lightly. I think the reason Mr. Hyun is so cautious is because he doesn't think of us as 'all good'."
"I believe so," Leila grinned.
"And there's one more thing. Mr. Hyun has been working too hard lately! We made a fool of ourselves this time, so we have nothing to say to you... but please cut us some slack. We'll try our best too."
"Uh, uh uh."
"Health is wealth. Rosetta always says that. Even if you work hard and save money to become rich and powerful in the future, how sad would it be to live in a hospital room?"
Suddenly, a torrent of nagging poured out. Kim I-hyeon, overwhelmed by the momentum, just nodded his head.
'It seems like a typical YOLO mindset.'
It was a video that showed what would happen if he kept nitpicking. He cared about his health as much as he cared about his agents. Besides, he was at a loss for words to refute.
'I've definitely been moving around a bit since I came to Bastet.'
It was time to take a break.
Didn't the Great Mother blow up the entire unit? Even Camellia died a violent death, so the Legion will have no choice but to remain passive for a while.
There are no episodes that require urgent action. Of course, if you are busy running around, you can get involved in the agents' side stories, but excessive greed can ruin your body.
'I guess it's a bit awkward to say that it's very leisurely.'
Now it was time to deal with internal issues. I was worried about something different from the main episode. I guess I'm awkward at coaxing and appeasing people.
I don't think saying yes or no will solve anything.
"What about Asterike?"
"Huh? Oh, that's right..."
The reaction is that it is difficult to talk. Difficulties are already expected.
* * *
I stayed in bed for two more days.
From the beginning, it seemed like it wouldn't interfere with my daily life, but Leila insisted on stopping me.
The professor and Ghost also told the patient that he was asleep. Pavel and Chelsea giggled at the thought of having to listen to all the nagging, but were eventually scolded by Leila.
Since we stayed in the same hotel, other agents also showed up half the time. There was no time to be bored. It was also my first time interacting privately with the agents of the lab.
'I was a bit out of it, but I'm glad I rested.'
My condition has recovered to some extent. It seems that there will be no aftereffects on my left arm. I still have a bandage on, but I was advised that I will get better if I rest well.
"Huh?"
As I entered the lounge, I ran into Rosetta. Her red hair was disheveled. Her sharp eyes were also dimly relaxed. Her face was flushed.
More than anything, the smell of alcohol is unpleasant.
"What the heck, you, Inma. Come out already, is that okay?"
"You're worse than me. Why are you drinking in broad daylight?"
"Oh no? So, uh, yesterday... 11 o'clock! Since I ate from then, it must have been at night. You don't even know that? Think you're so smart, you punk!"
Kim Yi-hyeon turned his head and checked the grandfather clock in the hallway. The current time was around 2 p.m. That meant he had been drinking for 15 hours.
He must be mentally ill.
"You, you say!"
Rosetta's two hands came up to Kim Ihyeon's shoulders. A sullen look shot out. The moans that came up made him dizzy.
"Ahhh! I like it. If you're a man, you have to have some spirit. That Westcreek guy acts friendly, but he's actually a mean guy. That Pathfinder kid is just a boring, serious person. Castle Rock, huh? He's just a man on the outside, but he's a coward who would get sick if he just watched a horror movie."
Knock, knock!
He was banging on my shoulder and talking nonsense.
It was fortunate that the place that the drunkard hit was his right arm, which was relatively intact. It was unclear whether he still had the wits to tell the difference, or whether it was just a 50 percent chance.
At that moment, a man as tall as a mountain appeared behind Rosetta.
"...I'm sorry for being a coward."
"Yeah, you punk! Life's a fucking mess, you gotta know how to have fun when you have fun!"
Rosetta turned around and glared at Castle Rock, seemingly unsurprised. It was like a painting. Castle Rock let out a sigh as he looked at her with tired eyes.
"I understand. It wasn't like this… hmm."
He thought for a moment and then corrected himself.
"That's just the way she is. I thought she stepped in shit."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"We are all equal. As long as the agreement continues, won't we continue to be on good terms?"
The bitter smile on his lips quickly turned into a soft one.
"It may sound strange coming from someone who doesn't even visit patients, but it's hard to find time to watch someone who's obviously causing trouble to the patients."
"What the heck? What kind of kid are you? Come out and see, I'll give you a real bowl of rice!"
"I'd like to see it sometime. It would be an interesting sight."
When I saw the tail, it seemed to have prevented the truth from rushing into the hospital room. I wasn't particularly interested in him because he was a male character with no special abilities, but my favorability rating has gone up.
'Right, now that you mention it.'
Suddenly, a part I had been curious about came to mind. The timing was perfect.
"Is that the kind of relationship you two have?"
Kim Yi-hyun pointed to the two alternately. Not a malicious swindler, but a frequent topic of discussion in the community. Castle Rock's appearance of complaining but taking good care of Rosetta was often highlighted.
However, as far as he knew, there was no official setting. Even though they were civil servants in the main episode, their relationship didn't progress much, so many users were curious about their intentions.
Kim Yi-hyeon was one of them and wanted to hear the story from the person involved. So when I actually asked, Castle Rock's expression suddenly turned sour.
"What on earth are you looking at…."
"Huh? What are you talking about, ugh…!"
Rosetta grabbed Castlerock's arm. Her face became increasingly distorted. Castlerock's complexion also turned pale. Meanwhile, Kim Lee-hyun, who had anticipated a disaster, immediately distanced himself.
It was a wise decision.
"Guweeeeek!"
"This damn dog…!"
Clothes are stained with filth. Castle Rock's eyes become fierce as if he is going to kill someone. His clenched fists tremble.
But soon all the strength left my body.
"Ha, I guess I'll have to beat him up when he's in his right mind."
He muttered and then looked at Kim Yi-hyeon in despair.
"Did that answer your question?"
"Uh, um. Sorry."
That was all I could say.
"Excuse me, I made you look bad. I'll clean up here."
"...You've worked hard, really."
"Thank you for understanding."
Kim Yi-hyeon ran into the lounge as if he was running away. Castle Rock's bitter expression bothered him, but he didn't want to get involved any further. He didn't want to be bothered by the annoying squabbles.
The interior of the lounge we took refuge in was also quite a mess.
There were bottles of alcohol rolling around here and there. It was natural. This was the place where Rosetta had been drinking for a full 15 hours. Given her personality, she probably wouldn't drink alone.
In the corner, Chelsea was half-spreading on the table, fiddling with her snacks. As I sat down across from her, she slowly raised her head.
"Hey, boss. Are you feeling better now?"
"You can move. Why are you sitting here alone?"
"It's not that I'm depressed. I just don't have anyone I'm close with personally."
"아."
If you think about Chelsea's life outside of operations, it's inevitable that her circle of friends will be narrow. Even Kim Lee-hyun himself believes that it would be more constructive to train when he has time to chat.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not asking you to worry. I'm comfortable with this."
"Then why go to a crowded place?"
"I don't want to talk, but I might want to hear voices. Like a radio."
"Yeah. I know what you mean."
It's like turning on an internet broadcast when you're spending a quiet day on holiday. Chelsea didn't mean to be a nuisance, so she brought water and a kettle for me to use.
I asked out loud while chewing on dried fruit.
"How about Asterike?"
"You're really sincere. Do you really care that much?"
"Of course. I brought it."
"Responsibility, something like that."
Then he nods and blows out his breath.
"It's the same. He just stays in his room. He asks the boss all the time about his well-being, but he's afraid to actually meet him. I can understand what he's thinking…."
Chelsea scratched her scalp nervously.
"Originally, I was rooting for Mr. Asterike. But I'm starting to wonder if this is right. He's too young, or something, he's a bit twisted."
"hmm."
"Everything is fine as long as the boss is here, so everything else is fine. In some ways, you could say I'm the complete opposite of the boss."
I was living a life where I only had to take care of myself, but I was picked up by Kim Yi-hyeon. I was given clothes to wear, food to eat, a comfortable place to rest, and even a job.
Just thinking about how messed up the criteria for judging the value of things must have been inside Asterike makes me sigh. It would be okay to say that it was the price for conveniently using her power.
"What are you going to do? If you don't mind staying like this, then this can be resolved with just a word."
"I don't really want to do that."
It's rare for a situation like the one in Cilicia to arise where you have to borrow Asterike's power. Wasn't it the same this time? Even if she had been there, the outcome wouldn't have been much different.
If you continue to use him as a tool, then that would be convenient. But if you treat him as a love character and a colleague with whom you have deep affection, then I'm not sure. Considering our relationship so far, I want to bring him back to his senses.
"I can think of a way."
Since ancient times, there have been established methods for fostering self-reliance.
'I have to bring that guy over soon.'
When you have someone to take care of, you naturally feel a sense of responsibility. The chemistry between the two has already been proven in the game. Maybe it will work out easier than expected.
If there are any other problems… … .
'When on earth will this end?'
From the moment I woke up, there was a phrase that revealed its presence in the corner of my vision.
[Calculate the damage rate of the scenario.]
[Now Loading… … .]
Kim Lee-hyun was confident.
Only on the day the tally ends will you reach 4 stars.