Chapter 82 (2/2)
”What about Hugo?” (Dylan)
Dylan seemed to have completely recovered his faculties now.
”We rescued him. Cho Hong took him back.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”Very good.” (Dylan)
A languid smile crept up on Dylan's lips. His eyes darted around as if he wanted to understand the current situation before fixing his gaze on the Priest.
”Aren't you Mary Rhine? You also here to save us?” (Dylan)
”I have something to ask you.” (Mary Rhine)
She spoke in a calm voice.
”It might sound confusing, but still, listen to me. Both Miss Agnes and Sir Ian returned safely. We also rescued Hugo. And then, as for you and Ibrahim Ali, well…. uh, mm….” (Mary Rhine)
”If you want to know about the remaining three, I also don't know.” (Dylan)
As expected of Dylan, he immediately latched onto what she wanted to ask and replied to her.
”….I see. I understand. Well, then. We'll……” (Mary Rhine)
She couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence. Dylan nodded his head.
”Can you give me a minute?” (Dylan)
”Sorry, but we can't. We've got a 30-minute time limit and have already used up about half of that. We gotta find others too, and considering how long we might need to go back, there's just not enough time.” (Mary Rhine)
”Alright. I don't know the full story, but if you say so, it must be true.” (Dylan)
Seol Ji-Hu dazedly alternated his gaze between these two people. What were they even talking about here? Everything would be okay if he's brought back to the base, right?
”Dylan, I know you've been through h.e.l.l. Thank you for surviving until now. Okay, we'll….” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Just as he reached out, Mary Rhine s.n.a.t.c.hed his arm back. She then wordlessly shook her head.
”B-but, why? He's still alive!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”I know.” (Mary Rhine)
”Then, why?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”It's already too late.” (Mary Rhine)
She pointed to Dylan. There were dozens of worm-like larvae wiggling in and out from the wounds where his limbs should have been.
”Sh*t like this is….!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
He tried to yank those larvae out, but the Priest did her absolute everything to not let go of him.
”Don't touch those. Things might get complicated if you do.” (Mary Rhine)
”….30 seconds.” (Dylan)
Seol Ji-Hu was going to shout out loudly, but Dylan spoke first and stopped him.
”Just give us 30 seconds. I'll make him understand.” (Dylan)
”……”
”You gotta understand. This friend's bit soft about these kinds of things. But, he's got great abilities and has a good head on his shoulders. So, don't blame him.” (Dylan)
”…I know that.” (Mary Rhine)
Mary Rhine let out a helpless sigh.
”If it wasn't for this guy, we wouldn't even be able to come here in the first place.” (Mary Rhine)
”Oh, really?” (Dylan)
Dylan looked as if his interest was roused. But, that lasted only for an all-too-brief moment. He remained lying on his back as he looked up at the young man who didn't seem to know what to do and was sweating buckets in panic.
”Seol, if you got some water on you, can I have a sip? I'm a bit thirsty, you see.” (Dylan)
Seol Ji-Hu hurriedly pulled out the canteen filled with water. He placed it on Dylan's lips and cautiously tilted it. The latter gulped and gulped some more, clearly relis.h.i.+ng the refres.h.i.+ng liquid. Keuh~! Dylan exclaimed out softly.
”Thanks. When I was hanging on the hooks, every drop was precious, you see.” (Dylan)
”You don't have to worry about that. Once we return, you can drink as much as you want.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Dylan smiled without making a sound.
”Mm…. Seol?” (Dylan)
He then carried on.
”First of all… Thanks.” (Dylan)
”Dylan, I hear you, so let's hurry and….” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”To be honest, I did hope for the rescue to come. Did you know that, when you're stuck in a pit of despair, all sorts of weird stuff pop up in your head? I even dreamed that you'd come to rescue me.” (Dylan)
”I'm sorry for being late, but more importantly, we….” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”Actually, I wasn't scared of dying. But, when I thought about how I'll neither be alive or dead, I got scared.” (Dylan)
Seol Ji-Hu stopped talking, then. Neither alive or dead?
”I almost gave up, but then, you showed up like this…. And I'm really grateful that you did. It's like, I knew you'd come for us, somehow. Haha…” (Dylan)
Two men from the distance were walking closer. Dylan sent them a knowing glance and reverted his gaze above his head.
”So, what I'm saying is….” (Dylan)
”D-Dylan.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”Can you help me die?” (Dylan)
”W-What was that??” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Abruptly, a smell of something burning a.s.saulted his senses. Seol Ji-Hu turned to look and found Ibrahim Ali, his head separated from the torso, going up in flames.
”B-but, why, why die…….” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu stuttered. Dylan simply formed a refres.h.i.+ng grin.
”Hey, Kazuki.” (Dylan)
”It's been a while, senpai.” (Kazuki)
Kazuki bowed his waist smartly.
”You the header of the rescue team?” (Dylan)
”Yes, senpai.” (Kazuki)
”That's a relief. A Pathfinder of your quality will ensure that everything goes down smoothly.” (Dylan)
”You're overestimating me.” (Kazuki)
”Overestimating, my foot. In any case, hurry up and finish this, so you can get going. I heard that you guys have a time limit?” (Dylan)
Kazuki formed a complicated expression.
”Got it. Thank you for your understanding.” (Kazuki)
He then grasped the hilt of his sword tightly.
”Dylan!!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
In an instant, someone grabbed Seol Ji-Hu's shoulders and pushed him down. Both Ya.s.ser Rahdi and Mary Rhine clung onto his body and blocked him.
”Don't, don't kill him!!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
He freaked out. His arms flailed about, and he put up a frenzied struggle. Still, he was forced down on his b.u.t.t. Even then, he didn't stop shouting.
”Y-you can't kill him, no!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”No, we must kill him.” (Kazuki)
”H-hang on! I, I don't underst….” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”No time to explain. And you already know this. Or, at least, you have an inkling. You just don't want to accept it.” (Kazuki)
Kazuki spoke coldly. Seol Ji-Hu began babbling whatever came to his mind.
”P-please, just listen to me. All I'm saying is, let's not kill him right now. W-what if there's a higher rank Parasite somewhere that starts suspecting something??” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”Both of them have not been taken over completely.” (Kazuki)
Kazuki reb.u.t.ted him.
”This is the reality of the situation. Killing them now is for the good of both men.” (Kazuki)
”But!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”Stop…..” (Ya.s.ser Rahdi)
It was then when he heard someone else sobbing next to him. Seol Ji-Hu flinched and stopped after feeling the warm liquid fall on his cheek.
”I know how you feel, okay…. I know, but…. We, we gotta save others, too….” (Ya.s.ser Rahdi)
Ya.s.ser Rahdi was crying. His face was distorted like a crying ‘hahoe' mask, thick tears dropping from his eyes. (TL note at the end)
Dylan spoke in a dignified tone of voice.
”Kazuki. Hurry. Seol can't kill me. He's someone like that. So, you should act like a header.” (Dylan)
Kazuki raised his blade up high after hearing that.
”I'm still grateful for that matter of three years ago.” (Kazuki)
”Don't mention it. Let's call it even with you doing this for me.” (Dylan)
”If it's you, senpai, you should easily overcome the death penalty.” (Kazuki)
”Well, it should be better than becoming a puppet of Parasites, unable to go back home. At the least.” (Dylan)
Dylan cackled on.
”Hey, Seol? Thank you. For coming here to rescue me. I mean it.” (Dylan)
He spoke with a relieved face.
”And also, say goodbye to the other two for me, okay?” (Dylan)
He then grinned. At the same time, the blade struck down.
”Dyyylan!!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
In that next moment, everything slowed down to a crawl.
[”Don't mind it if the tea tastes a bit bland, okay? I've been practising making tea lately, but I can't seem to get any better at this thing.”]
He couldn't believe this was happening.
[”Mm. I understand where you're coming from, but I agree with Seol's deduction he came up with outside the tomb.”]
This had to be a lie.
[”Don't worry about it. When you're ready, go ahead. I'll match your timing.”]
This was too fast.
[”Listen. I am supposedly the leader of Carpe Diem. But even I find it pretty rough trying to control these two idiots. That's why, would you like to lend me an aid doing that?”]
If nothing else, they should talk for a bit longer.
[”Heheh. In that case, I think this mission will be a perfect chance for you to pop your cherry. It may sound like a simple job, but once you take it on, you're going to learn about lots of things. It was the same story for me, too.”]
All the tears he was holding back flooded out.
”Uwaaaah!!” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu shot back up to his feet and raised his ice spear. He was about to take a wild swing at one of the mutated Orcs, but Kazuki restrained him in time. Tumble! He fell ungainly on the floor.
A short bout of silence later….
”….Don't think of it that way.” (Kazuki)
Kazuki sheathed his sword back, his complexion extremely gloomy.
”I said this before, didn't I…. If the infection was in the early stages, fine, but…. Dylan was in the middle stages. Ali was towards the end. Over half of his body had been taken over already. Even if Luxuria's daughter were here, she'd still not be able to save them.” (Kazuki)
Seol Ji-Hu didn't reply. He couldn't, as all he could do was to shed his tears as choked-up, gagging noises gasped out of his mouth.
He knew that. He thought he was prepared for the worst possibility.
But, in all honesty, his hopes were raised when he found Hugo. He simply wished for Dylan to be alive, that was all. He simply didn't expect things to play out this way. This was like having the worst of all the worst nightmares imaginable.
”Isn't it better to let him die in peace rather than leaving him be? At least, he'd be able to return to Earth and….” (Kazuki)
Kazuki spoke up to here and lit the remains on fire. Watching Dylan slowly turn to ashes, Seol Ji-Hu slammed his head down to the floor.
A sorrowful cry, akin to a wild beast howling, echoed in this chamber.
Kazuki watched on, his eyes dejected and energyless, before his shoulders drooped even further.
”Ya.s.ser Rahdi, take Seol back to the circle, please.” (Kazuki)
This team was formed in order to save the captives. However, the sense of loss born out from the realisation that the captives were no longer alive would be indescribable. He made this choice because he understood this point well. Forcibly taking along someone this heartbroken would only prove to be a hindrance later on.
”….I got it. I'm sorry about this.” (Ya.s.ser Rahdi)
Ya.s.ser Rahdi tried to help the young man to get up. But, Seol Ji-Hu didn't want to budge.
”Seol, we don't have the time for this. Hurry, and give me the rudium….” (Kazuki)
”…..I'm going.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”What was that?” (Kazuki)
”….We'll, go, together.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu spat out his words in short bursts before pus.h.i.+ng himself off from the ground unsteadily.
Dylan was dead. His emotions hadn't settled down yet. His tears hadn't stopped flowing out, too. Nor had he accepted this d*mn reality, yet.
However, there were people still waiting to be rescued. That purpose was forcing his body to move again.
”No can do. Your current condition will only prove to be a hindrance. I know the Princess's face myself, so you don't have to worry and go back first.” (Kazuki)
”I know this, so do you.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”Look, man.” (Kazuki)
”There are three captives left. Meaning, we need at least three people.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Those words weren't wrong. Kazuki quietly stared at the young man, before ma.s.saging his forehead.
”Ya.s.ser Rahdi, what about you?” (Kazuki)
”I'm sorry. I…. I can't. I'm not…..” (Ya.s.ser Rahdi)
”Fine. You should go back. Us three will go downstairs.” (Kazuki)
Ya.s.ser Rahdi nodded without much energy and turned around to leave.
”….Let's go.” (Kazuki)
A short while later….
One person disappeared down the doorway they came in, while the other three slipped into the stairway leading down to the second underground floor.
‘….Princess.' (Seol Ji-Hu)
As his steps led him down to the lower floor, pale-cold flames burned fiercely in Seol Ji-Hu's eyes.
< 82.=”” difference=”” in=”” the=”” temperature=”” of=”” hope=”” and=”” reality=”” (2)=””> Fin.
(TL: ”Hahoe” mask is a traditional Korean wooden mask. You can google either ”hahoe mask” or the romanised ”hahoetal” to get a better understanding of what it looks like.)