Ch. 48 - Chapter 48

Even if a person is a bit messy, they are without pretense or dishonesty.

That was the reason Joo Sangah chose the man named Yuk Cheolwan.

Even after marriage, he remained dedicated to his work and family.

He worked in a field that paid quite well, yet he was far from ostentatious. Even when emergency calls came in the early hours of the morning, he would head out without a word of complaint.

Yes.

That day was no different.

Hearing that there was a shortage of manpower, her husband went to a somewhat distant area. While he was away, ‘those things’ appeared in the apartment complex where they lived.

"Kyaaaah!!"

She thought it would have been better if those monsters just tore her body apart like the others.

Those creatures were firing some kind of invisible projectiles, mentally tormenting people.

The women who attended the neighborhood meeting with her began strangling each other to death, and the father and son who were always inseparable devoured each other's entrails until they died.

She should have just died then.

Joo Sangah, who had fainted from the extreme psychological shock, was later diagnosed with mental contamination.

Though she couldn't move her body, her mind remained alive.

She endured psychological abuse every single moment she breathed.

Even the dreams she had when she fainted from overwhelming pain would always bring her back to the day of the attack.

Joo Sangah was in agony.

The mental contamination she endured was indescribably difficult, but watching Yuk Cheolwan's condition deteriorate with each passing year pained her even more.

No matter how good the protective equipment may be, even a small amount of toxins can accumulate over time and inevitably take their toll.

Dark circles had long settled under his eyes, and his once thick hair now showed patches of circular baldness.

When he turned away to cough, afraid it might spread to her, droplets of blood would sometimes dot the tissue.

So Joo Sangah began to practice.

She practiced moving her pupils repeatedly to form written words.

At first, it might not be understandable, but if she moved her eyes periodically, her husband would eventually notice.

From the moment they first met until now, Yuk Cheolwan had always been someone who paid close attention to her every move and gesture.

Joo Sangah soon became skilled at moving her pupils.

Then she wrote just five letters.

[Kill me.]

Every day felt like hell, but she endured it thanks to her husband's care.

However, watching Yuk Cheolwan gradually break down in an attempt to heal herself, Joo Sangah no longer wanted to live.

You've done enough, honey.

So please, please, let me find peace.

And I hope you find peace too.

Joo Sangah had now become so skilled that she could write the words even with her eyes closed.

Today, no matter what he would say, she planned to repeat the same motion.

At first, he might get angry, but in the end, he would understand her intention.

Because he is the thoughtful husband who would jolt awake from sleep just to listen to her words.

Click.

She thought he might not come today since it was getting so late, but the door opened in the middle of the night.

It was usually outside visiting hours.

Good thing she hadn't fallen asleep yet.

Because if she wakes from sleep, her pupils won’t move as she wants them to.

"Honey..."

Yuk Cheolwan’s condition didn’t look good.

Outwardly, he seemed fine, but Joo Sangah could tell.

He was utterly exhausted right now.

But aside from that, there was an indescribable expression on his face.

"It's been hard, hasn't it….? I'm sorry."

".....!!"

This was different from his usual self.

Unlike the times when he would confidently declare with a bright face that things would be fixed soon, his eyes were now filled with clear tears.

'Ah...'

So that's how it is.

They say that between husband and wife, hearts can communicate without words.

Perhaps her husband might be thinking the same thing.

In fact, being cared for by him during her illness was already more than she could have asked for.

There's this saying, ‘There is no filial son when his parents are ill’.

No matter how warm-hearted her husband is, it seemed he could no longer endure it.

But she didn't feel the slightest bit resentful.

Because no matter where you look in this world, there wouldn't be another person like her husband.

There was just one thing she regretted.

Not being able to say what she wanted to tell him until the very moment she left.

She really wanted to verbally express her gratitude and tell him she loved him.

The only words Joo Sangah had practiced writing was ‘Please kill me’.

She regretted not practicing other words.

Joo Sangah suddenly felt a wave of regret wash over her.

Creak.

Suddenly, the door opened and two more people entered together.

For years, she hadn't seen anyone's face besides her doctor, nurse, and husband.

Were they here to confirm her death?

One was wearing something like an odd martial arts uniform, while the other was dressed in a tracksuit.

The one who particularly caught her eye was the young man in tracksuit.

The young man still had a boyish look about him, along with a strikingly handsome face that made your eyes widen.

He was as charming as Yuk Chulwan in his bachelor days.

"Honey. Brace yourself. Soon..."

Yuk Cheolwan's voice trembled.

He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he couldn't even bring himself to continue.

Don't worry, my dear.

No matter what happens, I won't blame you.

Live the rest of your life for your own happiness.

I will bless you from the heavens until the day your life ends.

"Let's begin.”

The middle-aged man in a martial arts uniform extended his hand toward the young man.

The young man approached slowly and then bowed his head.

“I’m a colleague of Clan Leader Yuk Cheolwan. You must have had a difficult time, haven’t you?”

Strange.

Such words are typically what one says to a patient, yet the young man's face was filled with genuine sincerity.

As if he understood her situation better than anyone else.

If Joo Sangah could, she wanted to ask:

'Have you ever been in pain like me?’

"You will soon fall into a deep sleep. Do not be afraid, and take a deep breath."

Was it time already?

Instead of answering, Joo Sangah turned her gaze to Yuk Cheolwan.

“…….”

My dear.

In the next life, let's meet again in perfect health.

I will love you as much as you have loved me, and even more.

Joo Sangah's vision began to blur.

She didn't want to show tears at the moment of departure.

With that thought, she quietly closed her eyes.

***

"Are you sure I just need to place it here like this?"

"Yes.”

I had heard that extracting the components from Cuprum Bloom or Silver Bloom required an incredibly complex processing procedure.

However, the method of using the Aurum Bloom was almost disappointingly simple.

All we had to do was place it on the body of the person who needed healing.

“It’s called the highest grade for a reason. That must mean its efficacy is equally outstanding.”

"It's not that I doubt you, especially since you came in person….."

The man who came with me was none other than 'Hwan Gyeok' or Oh Jiho.

Bisu, who had been poisoned by the Aurum Bloom, apologized to Yuk Cheolwan while bowing five times (.....) and immediately contacted the black market.

She pleaded for them to send an expert to assist in using the Aurum Bloom.

Originally, it was taboo for black market people to travel outside dungeons, but Oh Jiho voluntarily offered his services.

Of course, if it were this easy, you might wonder if there was even a need (?) to come all this way.

Shrrr.....

The Aurum Bloom on Joo Sangah's body began to tremble slightly.

The flower shimmered in a dazzling array of colors, dancing brilliantly.

And soon, it began to melt away little by little.

During that process, I was able to recall something peculiar.

'It's similar.’

It looked quite similar to the process I used to extract the Black Core into Aether.

Could there be some similarity between the composition of the Aurum Bloom and that of the Black Core?

Of course, from the perspective (?) of the Aurum Bloom, it might feel unfair to be equated with such a dark, murky object, but on the other hand, I couldn't help but have such doubts.

What would happen if I were to absorb the Aurum Bloom?

"Ugh..."

Though it was a small groan, it startled Yuk Cheolwan greatly.

Because in nearly ten years, this was the first time Joo Sangah had made a 'sound'.

"Hon... Honey...!!"

Though I couldn't see him from behind, Yuk Cheolwan's shoulders were already trembling.

No doubt, he must be shedding tears like a waterfall.

In his rush to look presentable while shaving, he ended up cutting his chin.

If tears were to flow, it would surely sting, but for Yuk Cheolwan, that wouldn't be a concern right now.

Though her body was thin and frail, Joo Sangah's face remained beautiful.

She wore the pleasant expression of someone who had just awakened from a long, deep sleep.

It wasn't the lifeless gaze I had seen when we first met.

Her open, flickering pupils were overflowing with vitality.

"Oh... Ha...?"

"Sangah…”

In a voice choked with emotion, Yuk Cheolwan called out his wife's name.

In that moment, I could truly feel how much he loved her.

He must have wanted to hold her in his arms right then and there, but just in case, he turned his head toward Oh Jiho's direction.

Nod.

Oh Jiho assured it was fine, and only then did Yuk Cheolwan, with his tear-streaked face, finally embrace his wife.

"Sangah!!!!!!!!!! Uhhuhuhuhuk!!”

"Honey..."

Though Yuk Cheolwan's face wasn't clearly visible, I could imagine what he must look like.

It must be similar to the expression my sister had when she confirmed I was completely healed.

The thought made me dizzy.

If things had gone wrong in this dungeon, I wouldn't have had the face to see my sister even in death.

I must become stronger.

Far more than I am now.

I needed to possess the power to slaughter my enemies without relying on Exa's strength.

"Uhhuhuhuhuhuh!!"

Yuk Cheolwan was alternating between crying and laughing, almost as if he had lost his mind.

Considering the emotional turmoil he must have endured all this time, it wouldn't be strange if this went on all night.

But he composed himself faster than expected and introduced us.

"Here... This is Hunter Chun Haesun, the one I told you about. He's the one who saved you in the end."

"Thank you... Hunter..."

Perhaps because it had been so long since she last spoke, her pronunciation was a bit off.

She seemed embarrassed by it and blushed, but it actually made her look healthier, which was nice to see.

"It wasn't something I did alone. I did it together with the Clan Leader."

She barely managed to raise her hand and grasp mine.

Perhaps due to poor blood circulation, her hand felt cold.

I wanted to channel healing energy into her right away, but I couldn't recklessly use my abilities due to the composition of the Aurum Bloom.

"Since we've confirmed you've recovered, we'll be on our way now."

"Please stay a little longer... Hunter Chun Haesun."

"You two have been through so much together, and we would only be in the way.”

Just as I was about to leave Joo Sangah, who kept lowering her head in gratitude, something shiny caught my eye.

"Huh...?”

Something remained.

A portion of the Aurum Bloom that had been used to heal Joo Sangah was still lingering on her body.

Though it was a negligible amount, about the size of a single petal, considering the value of the Aurum Bloom as a rare herb, this was absolutely not something to overlook.

"Please take this, Hunter. It's not something we can use anyway."

It's an item only useful for patients; for ordinary people, it's almost like a curse.

Having witnessed the process of Bisu becoming addicted to the Aurum Bloom, Yuk Cheolwan handed over the leaf to me without a moment's hesitation.

"It should be fine if it's Hunter Chun Haesun.”

Oh Jiho seemed to see right through what we were worried about.

If he said it's fine, then it must be fine.

Wait, did he know what I was about to say?

"You speak as if you know me well?"

"I'm saying that an S-sank Healer should be able to withstand the energy of the Aurum Bloom."

"Ah, so that's what you meant."

"Then what did you think I was being cautious about?"

"...Nothing. Just a thief getting nervous about their own footsteps."

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Oh Jiho's lips.

Is he mocking me right now?

"We'll be back soon."

Yuk Cheolwan bowed deeply toward us, and Oh Jiho and I left the hospital.

Though it was late at night and dark, the stars stood out more clearly because of it.

"That man, Yuk Cheolwan, is quite fortunate."

"Huh?"

"Being able to finally save the person you must protect is something only the chosen ones can do.”

Oh Jiho, who usually pursued only practical conversations, was saying quite unexpected things.

"Have you had a similar experience, Teacher?”

"......"

What’s the point of bringing it up only to clam up now? Ignoring the fact that my eyes had narrowed, Oh Jiho changed the subject.

"As it turned out, everything Do Isu said turned out to be correct. They really did develop equipment capable of predicting Poison Dungeons in advance.”

"You're right. They're really impressive."

"Father said he will meet Do Isu again soon. And he hopes that Hunter Chun Haesun will also be present at that meeting.”

"Me? Why?"

"Since you’re the one who personally verified the dungeon. He mentioned that he’s willing to pay a significant price for this meeting."

Oho.

A price guaranteed by none other than Yaksha.

That part definitely caught my interest.

"Of course my secret will be kept, right?”

"Of course. You can use any tools you want, like artificial skin or masks, whatever you prefer."

"Please let him know that I'll attend.”

Oh Jiho nodded and then vanished in an instant.

What would Yaksha offer me in return for attending the meeting?

And every time I heard the name Do Isu, something kept bothering me.

From somewhere beyond my memory, a certain Do Isu was shouting.

Please, remember me.

Ah, seriously.

Where on earth have I heard that before?

Pitter, patter.

Suddenly, raindrops begin to pour down.

I didn't have an umbrella, so I thought of using ‘Poison Step’ to quickly get home.

Wait.

What did I just say?

"Umbrella..."

Ah.

Ahh.

Only then could I realize.

That Do Isu and I were truly destined to be together.

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