Chapter 61 (1/2)
Chapter 61: Chapter 6 Sudden Change-9
Mad Hatter's reddening face flushed back to normal at SoYoon's nonchalant expression. He sighed.
”Sure. I shouldn't have expected anything from you. Let's hear why you're here. And about that message you sent me also.”
”If you read my message, you would already know, but there's been a problem.”
The two of them discussed what had happened a couple of days ago. SoYoon asked Mad Hatter if he could make her resistant to spells that would make her faint or put her to sleep.
”I need to know exactly what you want.”
”The research facility restrained me with fainting spells or sedatives.”
”So this would be in case you get caught by the researchers.”
It had already been four years since she had escaped the research facility. It was highly unlikely that the researchers had continued to check the signals coming from her brand. This additional protection was merely insurance.
”It's not likely that they will go out of their way to come for me. But I have no way of knowing what they will do to recapture an escaped experiment. I would like to at least prepare for what I can predict.”
”You just want to protect yourself in the worst-case scenario.”
This overly precautionary measure was uncharacteristic of SoYoon. She believed in her strength and ability so much that she wasn't the type to prepare for the future and instead usually solved things as they happened. This cautiousness made Mad Hatter realize how much SoYoon despised the research facility that had held her captive. It was something he could understand, having suffered from headaches and nightmares for the past ten years. Mad Hatter was lost in thought for a moment then spoke.
”If you are unsure of the timing and type of spell that will be used, there are only two options. Either you carry around a trap that will activate when it occurs, or you can engrave another insignia on your body like your brand. They both have pros and cons, but to pinpoint the cons, the trap would require you to carry it at all times, and the insignia, as you already know, will be extremely painful.”
”Then let's go with the insignia.”
”I disagree. It might be better to create a tiny magical trap that you can hang on your ear or…”
The option that Mad Hatter presented was completely useless.
She explained. ”At the research facility, the experimental subject is not allowed clothes or accessories. And so wearing such a thing will not work.”
”...What?”
”Because an experiment is so sensitive, they don't allow anything that will cause even the slightest chance of error so…”
”No, stop. I understand, so shut your mouth.”
Mad Hatter covered his eyes.
That was the reason that it had been so difficult to find the most basic of human emotions in her. He remembered how he had torn at her clothes and cursed himself in shame.
He stayed that way for a moment then closed the gap between them. She still didn't seem to know quite what he had told her. He opened his arms and pulled her into a hug.
”You don't seem to sympathize with yourself, so I will sympathize for you. And you, in turn, can sympathize for me. It's a good deal for both sides, don't you think?”
”Mad Hatter?”
”In this situation, it would be nice to say my name. You're no good at reading the mood, are you?”
Contrary to the critical words, Mad Hatter hugged her serenely. SoYoon called him ”Yochanan” and he laughed silently and kissed her hair.
”It doesn't seem fair that only I get called by my name...Could I ask you your name?” he asked her with great care.
The people who had chosen Wonderland to be their home were those who committed crimes or had certain unfortunate happenings in their lives. And as a consequence, very few in Wonderland asked each other their name unless they were specifically told. He thought she would reject him asking, and so his arms tensed up. Hence, he did not see her eyes grow big and her bite her lip.
Ever since she dropped into this place, she had only ever once revealed her name. It had been when she had been interviewed to determine her identity at the research facility. However, there, she had been known only as number 137, ”Hey, you,” and so forth. Later, they disregarded calling her by a name hard to pronounce and instead called her the white-haired experiment. That had been more comfortable. If they had treated her the way they did while calling her by her name, it would have been even more devastating.
Asking a person their name is something done between one human and another. This was something that had been impossible for her to experience. And this had been the first time in this world that someone had asked her about her name.
She lifted her arm that was resting next to her waist and hugged Mad Hatter. She felt his surprise but continued to press her face against his shoulder. Through the scent of blood, she smelled his refreshing scent that embraced her.
”What's going on, White Rabbit? Is something wrong? Show me your face.”
”...Yoon.”
”What?”
SoYoon lifted her head. Mad Hatter's blue eyes looked at her in worry. She smiled as her eyes met his.
”Ye SoYoon. That's my name.”
He blinked as if this was a hallucination, then his face broke into a huge smile.
”Call me SoYoon.”