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nEpisode 13: Epilogue

/ Chapter 207: Chu Youngjin

nTL: emptycube

/ ED: Obelisk

nA while after the coalition was founded.

nFlame-Rain was incredibly busy. There were many species she had to go around, comfort, and gain support from.

nHer office was almost always vacant.

nIn her spare time, Flame-Rain would come back to look at the overdue files waiting in her office while clutching her forehead.

nToday, the battle puppet, Shiro, was waiting for her.

nThe flushed face of a woman in love was no longer present as she watched Flame-Rain enter with an emotionless silver face. She couldn’t tell how many days she had been waiting here.

n“… It’s been a while? What’s the matter?”

nFlame-Rain didn’t know much about Dark-Sound and Shiro’s relationship. All she remembered were the past days where Shiro clung to her and asked her to heal Chu Youngjin. She thought she had given up because she didn’t see her for a while, but she already felt a headache coming.

n“Chu Youngjin.”

nShiro opened her stiff lips.

n“Please heal him.”

nAs expected, Flame-Rain clenched her forehead.

nChu Youngjin. He was someone that weighed on her mind. However, she couldn’t save him now.

n“I already told you. He’s already considered dead by the karma medical examination. All I said was that I, not as a karma medical practitioner, think that he could be saved… I have no idea if I really can save him or how long it’ll even take. Sorry… But I don’t have to the spare time to do that.”

nFlame-Rain said objectively.

nHer expression didn’t change as Shiro said once more,

n“Please heal him.”

nIt was as if she didn’t hear her refusal.

nHer request stabbed at Flame-Rain’s heart. Chu Youngjin, he was Choi Hyuk’s comrade. When she thought this, she also wanted to save him. However, she couldn’t, at least not right now.

nFlame-Rain closed her eyes then nodded.

n“… Okay, I’ll save him because he’s been weighing on my mind. I promise. But I can’t right now. I’ll do my best to heal him once the coalition stabilizes.”

nShiro shook her head.

n“Then it will be too late.”

nThough she didn’t know the specifics, she could tell that the chances of success would drop as time went by even if Flame-Rain took special care.

nFlame-Rain sighed. She really didn’t want to say this but…

n“You know, right? That he’s the worst rebel who assassinated Dark-Sound. The reason why we were able to bury the issue with the Berserkers was because he, and other key individuals, died. But you want me, the chairman of the coalition, to save him while abandoning my duties? Maybe later, but I can’t do it right now because of my political position. Really… I don’t have the energy to spare.”

nFlame-Rain said pitifully as if she was pleading her to stop.

nShiro closed her cold eyes and then opened them.

nShe asked herself why she wanted to heal Chu Youngjin. Was it for revenge? No, that wasn’t it. Then…

n“I don’t have anything to lose anymore. If he dies, then I…”

nShiro’s eyes became grim.

n“I’ll become a terrorist.”

nFlame-Rain’s jaw dropped.

nIt wasn’t that she couldn’t bear it if he died or that she would die as well, to say that she would become a terrorist… ‘As expected of a battle puppet.’ While thinking this, Flame-Rain had a headache.

n**

nWhen he opened his eyes for the first time in a long time, the first thing he saw was Flame-Rain’s inhospitable face.

n‘… Princ… ess?’

nAlthough he moved his lips, his voice wouldn’t come out of his parched throat.

n“You’re awake? You’re awake. I’m finally free from that damn woman. Congrats on surviving. Camilla will explain the situation. Now I got to go since I’m busy.”

nFlame-Rain hurriedly left as though she was done after seeing him wake up.

n‘Just… what…’

nHe had definitely died. Yet, he was alive.

nCamilla calmly started speaking,

n“Even though she acted like that, she suffered a long time without sleep trying to save you. She also has a lot of political burdens as well. Be grateful.”

n‘Be grateful?’

nHe felt a surge of anger. He couldn’t live. He thought he could finally rest, yet she wanted him to start his damned life again? Also, above all!

nIf he survived, how was he supposed to see Shiro’s face again…

nHe had thought he had smoothly gotten away, but he was captured. Yet, she wanted him to be grateful?

nEven though he wanted to express his rage, he couldn’t move his tongue, let alone his fingers.

n“Flame-Rain personally ignited a flame in your extinguished soul. She also replenished your spent karma with the Flame Wing Tribe’s Flames of Beginning… To be honest, rather than a treatment, it’s more accurate to call it a recreation. This is a miracle only possible through Flame-Rain. Currently, you are part Flame Wing Tribe member and part earthling. It’s like you were reborn. Your level has completely disappeared. You aren’t even a lowest-ranked warrior… Maybe at the 1-star level? Perhaps it’s due to the fragments of your already destroyed soul, but it won’t be easy for you to reach your peak level again. It’s still lucky that you kept your memories. Ah, you remember me, right?”

n‘Camilla…’

nWhile his voice didn’t come out, Camilla seemed to have read his lips and smiled.

n“You have to work hard on your recuperation.”

n**

nMeals arrived at constant intervals, but he couldn’t eat.

nHe couldn’t live like this. However, he couldn’t die now either.

nYet, there was nothing for him to do while alive.

nWhen one didn’t have a direction in life, time felt heavy and dark like the depths of the ocean. Unable to breathe and crushed by the pressure, he felt like he would die soon without trying. If he died like this, wouldn’t it… be a completely worthless death?

n‘Why did she save me?’

nHis resentment surged multiple times a day.

nUncertain of how many days had passed and how many meals he missed, Flame-Rain scolded him after seeing how he was curled up on his bed.

n“Are you crazy? If you die like this, I worked hard for nothing! And Shiro, that bitch, will probably shout up a storm saying that she’ll become a terrorist! What are you telling me to do?! No, Shiro, that bitch, why hasn’t she shown her face after begging me to save you?”

nHis mind jolted.

n‘Shiro did? Why? Did she not know I killed Dark-Sound? There’s no way…’

nEven though he tried not to listen to Camilla while he lay in bed, he heard her.

nThough it didn’t matter now, the 13 Exalted Wings were killed as well as the monster queen. Choi Hyuk had died in battle as a rebel and a hero. He succeeded.

nThe only one who didn’t die when he was supposed to and was crumpled up like this was him.

nThere was no doubt Shiro knew as well.

nWhat his final mission was.

nHe had killed Dark-Sound, who was no different from her father, with his own hands. Yet, why did she save him?

nThump.

nHe couldn’t stay lying down due to the stuffiness in his chest. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but Flame-Rain, who he thought was mumbling next to him, was no longer there. His room was dark.

nClothes Camilla had picked out for him were hanging on the hanger. He got up and then grabbed and wore some.

nStaggering, he went outside, grabbed someone and asked,

n“Shiro. Where is Shiro, the highest-ranked battle puppet?

n**

nShiro was living in the ‘Garden of Doors’ in Alliance City. It was the place the now disbanded ‘Event Horizon’ Troop lived in.

nShe didn’t know what she was thinking. She didn’t know what to say or what she would hear.

nHowever, like a crazy person, she floundered in front of the ‘Garden of Doors’.

nShe stood at the front gate. Her face was somewhat pale.

nShe came out with her things, seemingly ready to leave far away, when she froze after seeing Chu Youngjin.

nHer pale cheeks flushed, seemingly in anger.

n“… Shiro.”

n“Stop. Go back.”

nShe said while suppressing her anger.

n“Shiro, I-“

n“Go! Go back!”

nShe screamed with a red face.

n“How brazen are you to come find me? Why? Did you think I forgave you because I saved you? Are you crazy?!”

nIt wasn’t her usual, formal manner of speech. She couldn’t contain her emotions and shouted.

nBut, rather than these things, her ‘Did you think I forgave you?’ stabbed his heart.

nHe tried to speak, but his voice wouldn’t come out.

n‘No, of course not…’

nYet, he did. Although he didn’t know it until just moments before, now it was clear. Coming to find her while unsure why, he did… hope that she might have forgiven him.

nAs soon as he realized this, he felt even more pitiful.

nHow… pathetic was he?

nChu Youngjin lowered his head.

nShiro’s words stabbed into him like nails.

n“Don’t misunderstand. The reason why I saved you was because bastards like you shouldn’t have a peaceful death. Do you think I’ll allow you to have an honorable death?”

nHer eyes were filled with malice. It was a gaze she had never shown him before.

n“Go back. If you come looking for me again, I’ll really kill you.”

nShe turned around and entered the ‘Garden of Doors.’

nChu Youngjin stood frozen in place before quietly returning.

n**

n“Hey, Chu Youngjin. Pull yourself together! I heard you’re not eating and recuperating?!”

nLee Jinhee and Bae Jinman had come to visit him.

nThey broke through the door and came in even though they were informed he didn’t want visitors.

nAlthough Lee Jinhee was in a frenzy, Chu Youngjin stared at the ceiling and didn’t say a word.

n‘I’m exhausted…’

nHe thought.

nEven though things were like this, he didn’t want to die so worthlessly while being a burden. Yet, his hands wouldn’t move. Now that he thought about it, he had forced his body to move since long ago.

nWhen Lee Hyejin died, his heart had already been crushed but he continued to fight to repay Jung Minji, who had saved her.

nWhen Jung Minji died, he really didn’t have any attachment to the world, but he got up again and continued to fight to get revenge on those who played with Lee Hyejin’s death.

nIt was a long battle. It was so long that he lost his reason and a strange woman named Shiro ended up standing by his side. However, he threw that all away in the end. He had thrown everything away and ended it like he originally planned… Yet morning arrived for him.

nIt was tiresome and pathetic.

n‘Shiro… You might have really taken the best revenge…’

nPuk!

nLee Jinhee swung her fist at the blank-eyed Chu Youngjin.

n“This is why the young ones are so… Hey. High schooler. You first-love-crazed bastard. You did enough for your girlfriend, yet you’re still going to act so wimpy? Live a little. Your first love isn’t everything. Even though it feels like there’s nothing right now, things will come. Why there’s even that machine woman who saved you!”

nShe mentioned Shiro in the end.

nChu Youngjin mumbled,

n“Dying like this… is probably her revenge.”

nPuk!

nLee Jinhee kicked him this time. Her shin slammed into his chin and neck and shook his brain. As he was current weak, fallen to the 1-star level, even her playful kicks were fatal.

nChu Youngjin collapsed on the floor and looked up at Lee Jinhee with a swollen lip.

n“Yeah! I heard you guys caused quite the drama in front of the Garden of Doors or something! After being rejected there once, you’re going to crumple up and die? Hey, you crazy bastard. If you’re a crazy bastard, act like one. What crazy bastard gives up after being rejected once? If you’re sorry, repay her by living. You’re good at following people, aren’t you?! Like how you followed Jung Minji! Like how you followed Choi Hyuk! Go follow her! Repay her with your life!”

nLee Jinhee grabbed the meal tray left in the corner and scooped a spoonful.

n“Are you not going to eat? Do you want this nuna to open your mouth and feed it to you?”

nShe seemed like she would actually force-feed him, yet Chu Youngjin slapped her outstretched hand away. It seemed he even used his karma as there was a low rumble.

nExamining his gaze, which had become sharp as in the past, Lee Jinhee grinned.

n“Now you look a bit more like your normal self. I’ll visit again. I’ll kill you if you aren’t eating and recuperating.”

nShe briskly walked out of the shattered doorway.

nBae Jinman awkwardly looked at her disappearing figure before whispering in Chu Youngjin’s ear.

n“That miss. She’s still at the ‘Garden of Doors’. I asked around… It seemed she was originally going to leave Alliance City? But after you came, she’s still staying there… If I were to give you some advice as an adult… Don’t make her wait too long. She doesn’t know her own feelings right now either.”

nBae Jinman patted his shoulder and then left.

n“… Just what is everyone thinking?”

nChu Youngjin sat vacantly for a moment before suddenly wolfing down his meal. He put on some clothes and headed for the Garden of Doors.

n**

nHe opened the door and went in. The doors erected in rows stood like trees in the ‘Garden of Doors’ Inn. Today’s concept seemed to be the currently trendy ‘Earth style’ as snow fell from the sky.

nHe found Shiro on a bench.

n“… Didn’t I tell you I’d kill you if you came looking for me again?”

nShe said coldly.

n“Then kill me.”

nHe shrugged.

nShiro’s eyes sparked.

nPuk!

nChu Youngjin’s eyes sparked as well.

nShiro was a highest-ranked warrior. He couldn’t even see her move. His mouth was in tatters.

n“How can you kill me like that? You know I fell to the 1-star level, don’t you? How weak was your punch just now?”

nHe brushed himself off and stood up like it was nothing.

nHer gaze was malicious.

n“Do you… think I won’t kill you?”

n“Then kill me.”

nHer shoulders trembling, she turned around as if she was leaving. He said to the back of her head,

n“If you can’t kill me, take responsibility. Since you saved me. I’ll come every day.”

nShiro’s eyes wavered when she heard his shameless declaration.

n“Yoou!”

nPuuuk!

nAs though the next moment was edited, Shiro, who was standing far away, suddenly stood right where he was while Chu Youngjin was stretched out on the snow.

n“Get up.”

nHe couldn’t tell if she was growling or speaking coldly.

nHe innocently stood back up.

nThud!

nHe got hit again and rolled on the floor.

n“Get up!”

nPuk!

nHe was hit whenever he got up.

nChu Youngjin tried his best to endure without falling back, but he couldn’t help but fall and roll on the ground due to their sheer difference in strength.

nPuk! Puk! Bang!

nUnsure of how many times he was hit, Chu Youngjin attempted to get up but couldn’t put strength in his limbs. He fell back when he tried to get up again and again. In the end, he flailed around on the snow. The blows he had suffered had long since exceeded the limits a 1-star warrior could endure.

nThough Chu Youngjin couldn’t see it, Shiro’s face had become tearful at some point. Her emotionless face was now nowhere to be seen. Her face was flushed. It looked like tears would fall on her white and red cheeks at any moment.

nHer lips trembling, she said,

n“If you come again, I’ll definitely hit you to death.”

n‘Since I didn’t die, I’m going to come tomorrow.’

nChu Youngjin wanted to reply, but he could speak after being hit so many times.

nStep. Step.

nHe heard her footsteps as she walked away.

nStep. Ste-…

nShe suddenly stopped.

nWithout looking back and her shoulders trembling, she shouted loudly,

n“Really! Do I have to worry about you dying from being hit by me?! Go recuperate!!”

nAs if she was taken aback by her own words, she panted and then fled to her room.

nChu Youngjin lied there blankly before smiling.

n“Is life… worth living?”

nWhite snow landed on his swollen cheeks. The cool feeling on his cheeks felt good. Like her.

nHe had been a high schooler.

nWhen his heart died.

nAs expected… Broken hearts were healed through love.

n{Epilogue – Chu Youngjin End}

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