Chapter 281: Emotion (2)
sXjMA2ARyozo stared blankly, as if her soul had drifted away. Her pupils were cloudy, like veiled in mist.Qi1iK
cg9“W-w-w-what… Agh.”Ivye
MqZShe let out an adorable squeal. Her jaw trembled so much she bit her tongue. Tears welled in her eyes.R2S
V3RgKStill, she didn’t look away from me, as if she were pinning me in place with her gaze.5e7S
6W8“…I said I came because I wanted to see you.”ZYV4Ni
OyX1GfI mumbled like I was trying to hide in a hole. Damn, this was complete humiliation.hubj
HG7“Are you really Kang Geom-Ma?!”52y8u
kgGFUtEven in pain, she kept pressing. She stared at me so hard it was intimidating.l05y
83XyG‘I shouldn’t laugh.’EmNdqI
SbXRlBut the body doesn’t lie. In the end, I let out a chuckle.SRfqmH
wun“……!”gQ3N
S8hIV8uShowing up out of nowhere was bad enough, but now laughing—Ryozo looked at me like I’d lost my mind.20mL
8cyFdbkShe stood up abruptly and came over to me from across the table.L5Zuk50
3PgShe spun the chair sharply so she was right in front of me. Her movements were pretty rough.xZ44
bDWShe pried open my eyes with her fingers, gave me a couple of slaps on the cheeks, even forced my mouth open to check my tongue.S2Vh
5xfxThen she stepped back and tilted her head.UFi
N7f“Doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong…”OwHNH
7IZh9Suddenly, she leaned in.xBLXRlF
UQiV8Tap!vTzQY
zNPOur foreheads touched gently. Our faces were so close her breath grazed my skin.NvL3xrv
NAfDveThe distance between us was no thicker than a sheet of paper.H0ysM
CYuWhile I blinked dumbly, Ryozo closed her eyes tightly and furrowed her brow, as if focusing on something.wJx
trvfShe slowly opened her eyes again, without pulling her forehead away.agQ
u01GG“You don’t have a fever… Or maybe stress finally drove you insane?”9XH
hhTcRyozo murmured. She spoke normally now, though her swollen tongue still peeked between her teeth.c7BA
l2hH2BOShe looked straight into my eyes. With our foreheads touching, looking away was nearly impossible.e7Wy
7k1Aw““……””jWP6A
Lm2sNA deathly silence fell over the kitchen. Even the kimchi jjigae seemed to have given up bubbling.qtqaE
4wcT69We stared at each other without a word. Our breaths met halfway across our cheeks.YZbX
BNb2dxZ“…You’re not joking?”Sus
Zn3ZRyozo examined me deeply. I gave a slight nod. With our foreheads touching, even our eyebrows brushed together.AdyZaNX
TCz“No.”Cp2AyC
mhb“Why… now? What got into you?”M1eUhM
aWgU“I’ve been thinking these past few days. Who’s the most important person to me? And only one name came to mind. Of course, the exploration club and everyone else matter, but…”8heya6
cc70I hesitated a bit. I was a little better than before, but still embarrassed.3GaBSAk
37ICyBut—Cu5nGZ7
TzWXx7e“…The one who’s thought of me the most has been you, Ryozo.”dqMvRk
KfmWeiz“Is that a confession?”0bA8
HSV“Something like that.”QZIMma
6eSVr7E“If it’s a confession, say it properly. What’s with the ‘something like that’?”x6eaJgq
qf0dl“I’ve never said anything like this to anyone before, I don’t even know if I’m doing it right.”4hAVg
zVzQI scratched my cheek.ovL8fL
wtSjn9“And to think I say this just a week before the war. How pathetic am I.”Bmtc0
vvZ7gY“Yeah, you’re pathetic.”Amo0LUq
FGNVyRyozo pulled her forehead away. She exhaled deeply, like something hurt.H37sN
5GGGf“I gave you so many hints… And you choose now to say this, right before heading to war. You know that’s super cowardly, right?”Sm91U
e9IARight on the mark. That’s why I stayed silent, listening to her scolding.bNLD
X6GSlnEven though her tone was harsh, I couldn’t help smiling for some reason.FulZ
hJ819D“What are you smiling at? Don’t smile, you idiot! If a great hero like you puts on that face before leaving, it makes me look like the bad guy!”0K45e
cpx“So should I take it back…?”SpfmR
kVqRyozo narrowed her eyes and glared at me. It was just a joke to lighten the mood, but I’d clearly thrown gasoline on the fire. Tough crowd.FD2w0c
sqN“You’re terrible.”9IqYkeo
RxBIIC4“I know.”tBhW1
mxA“Very, very terrible.”Chi
LkdZlS“I admit it.”kg8iZ
NR3Rpw“There can’t be a man more terrible than you.”7mdEJ5b
QHF8“Depends how you look at it.”tM7
52wVf77“In some ways, you’re worse than that Kojima guy.”BG3dBq
P5vw“Now, that’s—”tV6Ymt
yhLgIl“No, you’re worse. At least he valued his own life. But you, you always throw yourself into danger without a second thought. And you’re so fast I don’t even get a chance to stop you. At that rate, will you even be able to fulfill your duties as a man later on?”wmDUQsC
E72jPh“W-what…?”Phj1Q
DsARyozo didn’t wait for an answer. She stepped forward again. Came closer. Took my cheeks in her hands like she was going to pinch them.x11N2
Xutsft“…This will be the last time.”TZL3
RTxShe spoke with effort.gvNXHww
d6Z0Qk4“Just this once, I’ll let you go. But there won’t be a next time. Next time, I’ll be the one grabbing a bow and charging into the battlefield. Got it?”exguNt
y57fNH6I stared at her, dumbfounded. She squeezed my cheeks, demanding an answer.U4HbQ
tRq“Did you hear me or not?”caDtRl
H5yNZXWI nodded while holding my squished cheeks. Ryozo frowned, annoyed by my blank reaction.ot9nYs
cf9sl6“You still don’t get it. Since you’re here, leave your seal.”ryF47c
VSXDti“Seal…?”74s
qpjViMy pupils shrank. Her sky-blue eyes filled my vision. Her lips gently touched mine.n0ebXW
Oh18Hy2Creaaak!GfOo9Sh
Yn7anThe chair wobbled like it was about to fall, but held. Ding ding ding, bells rang in my head. I felt my soul leave my body.Axk
u5W7“You’ve left your seal now, so don’t say anything else.”fXhaexx
TyTKURyozo gave me a gentle push on the cheek. With a palm’s distance between us, I could finally see her clearly.Oz7rRsl
LmTShe was about to explode like a volcano.M6WVBhS
PN8iEven so, she tried to act calm. There was one thing she wanted to tell Kang Geom-Ma before he left to save the world.Oel4
sZQVhMt“Don’t die.”KiFZk
VD3bjARyozo said it firmly.tC2
0ALHQL“Cut them all down, like you always have.”ALIUIM
vQaK***yQw9O5
32nitApartment HallwayTgQ1Fb
P6aCynthia leaned her elbow on the railing and rested her chin on the back of her folded hand. In that posture, she spent her time staring aimlessly at the high tide of the evening.jF3ve
p8YyAqpThe sky was covered with heavy gray clouds. In the distance, the sea off the coast of Busan crashed violently against the shore—a full-blown threat.j6I
h9V2S“Looks like it’s going to rain, even though it’s winter. Since it can’t snow…”i5G
2BztS7Cynthia muttered, exhaling a visible puff of breath. Her expression was indifferent when, behind her, the sound of a door creaking open caught her attention.6ORB
dQVShe turned.nxhpK
GPXKang Geom-Ma was stepping out carefully, scratching his neck awkwardly.jyZZi
a1Af“I kept you waiting outside… I’m really sorry.”hfs
RnUi5q“Apologizing? Not at all. With this war state, I’ve been wanting some fresh air anyway. Your visit gave me the perfect excuse. Don’t worry.”PhWFx
WyKOCynthia offered a slight smile and wiped Kang Geom-Ma’s lips with her thumb.GXY
QQ7It came away stained with red broth.5orz
kfIHe looked visibly flustered, and a playful expression crossed Cynthia’s face.E1yYCL
Vymh5k“How was the homemade kimchi jjigae? I heard Kang Seo-Bang is a good cook, right?”4W7
AhLJ“Ah, that… Well.”YMEy
PMCmeFKang Seo-Bang. He could no longer openly reject the nickname. Perhaps for that reason, Kang Geom-Ma clasped his hands politely. Time to show some service spirit.8GBuNpn
19pv“It had just the right sweetness, not too spicy, and it was delicious. Especially the kimchi—it had an excellent flavor.”UAX9
3sEzD“Looks like Kang Seo-Bang likes spicy food. I added a ton of chili and he didn’t even flinch. Oh, and the kimchi’s from the supermarket.”9Mki
94Jhg“Ah…”HYUUvl
jtLjeyCynthia gave a mysterious smile and patted his tense shoulders.JH39o9
yuRyBMs“Thank you for coming to see her, Kang Seo-Bang. Before you showed up, that girl looked like she’d been chewing rocks. But the moment she saw you, her face lit up like a spring flower. She never makes that face for me.”bSoMnj
2NRJ2She sighed in mock disappointment. Kang Geom-Ma didn’t know how to respond. Cynthia was finding it rather amusing to tease her son-in-law. She hoped that boy would grow quickly and become part of the family. Then she could joke around with him as much as she liked.3gxU
WQRlXmA clumsy son-in-law awakened the mother-in-law’s sadistic instincts.kS32f
1eW“You know something?”sRpb
1zUbOzlCynthia stepped slightly away.M6gfgm6
ScED1J“When I first met Kang Seo-Bang, I thought he was cold as stone. But now, you express your emotions much more. Look at those eyes, full of longing.”ygZP
P77She quickly turned her back. Her silhouette radiated solitude.cFAVnd
t4M3“Maybe being swayed by emotion isn’t ideal for a hero, but as a person, maybe it means you’ve matured.”17b
ymLIt was a reflection meant for herself. She recalled the man she had once loved deeply, now a stranger. After so many years, memories of Kojima were as blurred and murky as those clouds in the sky.Gdq0T3B
ZA9m5GO“…Geom-Ma, not just you—even that Kojima has changed.”iZL
pnyBvA bitter taste filled her mouth. What had gotten into Kojima that he decided to join the war? The world had clearly gone mad. And yet, a burning curiosity stirred inside her. Why had he changed? He, who hadn’t even looked back at her when he left. Her chest felt tight, as if something weighed it down.5FJ
MQrlH‘After Alice died… he hated war. Why now?’jxeCkC
Yq0515‘Why didn’t he just stay a retired old man, like always?’KpDz7
kdIEc‘Don’t tell me… in this war…’dusI
lfxDark thoughts swirled. She wanted to ask Kang Geom-Ma directly, but couldn’t bring herself to. She considered hinting at it subtly, but even that felt wrong. How could she act like that in front of a hero carrying the fate of humanity?V8RATpI
m7LTap, tap.b2gQ5
5Om64PAs if mirroring her mood, the clouds began to squeeze out droplets of rain. Winter drizzle. The fine rain soon turned into a heavy curtain beating down on the ground, the sea, and Cynthia’s head without mercy.YnU
a5j2vk2Shhhhhh.uuSv
4CdaThe old trees, preparing to hibernate, trembled gently. Dry leaves rustled with a grim sound. Only nature could tell if that trembling was from rain or an ominous foreboding.OI0Xy3
vxlu1gStep.GOg
gWsDgUMKang Geom-Ma stepped beside Cynthia. Like her, he leaned his elbows on the hallway railing. The indifferent sky pelted them with its cold winter rain.8Venv
8jwt“There was an emergency meeting recently. Kojima showed up, which was very unexpected. So after the meeting, I asked him directly. I was curious why he chose to join the war.”leE
691jOHe ran a hand through his hair. His rain-soaked face had a strangely unburdened look.qrv0
BLw“He said he didn’t want to be someone his loved ones would be ashamed of. I don’t know exactly what he meant by that. Maybe it was just an evasive answer, considering our relationship isn’t great. But this is what matters.”gOi
6NkxKang Geom-Ma turned his head toward her.qYiWEfX
FzSM7w“He said ‘loved ones,’ plural. Not just one person. I’m sure you’re one of them.”ZBbp
uUw8Soaked like a drenched rat, he smiled warmly. Cynthia blinked. Raindrops clung to her lashes like dew. Her previously somber face brightened as if blossoming.373R
D71XvSQ“My daughter really chose well.”HF8
428Kang Geom-Ma gave a sheepish half-smile.TEA
5E3“It’s about time, isn’t it? You should leave before you miss the last bus to the terminal…”GyPe
aOaCynthia trailed off mid-sentence. Something didn’t add up.SfY7WJ
RjU“Kang Seo-Bang, how did you even get to Busan? We’re under a wartime state—buses and portals are suspended. And how do you plan to return?”nZ99cO
hCXzvWvKang Geom-Ma hesitated to answer. He debated whether to tell the truth. In the end, he sighed decisively. His breath misted in the air.ZUYpJue
FDBvbHC“I’ll explain what you saw today when we meet again.”KPoTR3p
sNwIBefore Cynthia could say anything, Kang Geom-Ma snapped his fingers. A flash of light exploded in her vision. Instinctively, she crossed her arms to shield her eyes.ZaW
vJ2kugThe last thing she saw was Kang Geom-Ma’s silhouette dissolving in an instant. A thunderous roar followed.yeGT
NyhShe opened her eyes slowly. The brightness had left her vision sore. Even so, it gradually returned.6c3oty
xkPeZwOnce she could see clearly, Cynthia let down her guard. A moment later, her pupils shrank, then relaxed in awe.oUkr2
60GbIkEThe hallway was scorched, with melted spots here and there, and tiny sparks flickered on the floor before vanishing.uqsZMO
YN4The light was gone, but there was no trace of Kang Geom-Ma.rBbxb
r3z9JRumble.DYmWK
RVBgACynthia steadied her wobbling body. She looked up at the sky. As if nothing had happened, the rain had stopped.33UxLDv
NSBRThe remnants of the winter rain left a dark blue sky beyond the black clouds.2TMGi8
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Kevin khaslana
MortalOur boy is thor now
Sergey Kononov
Mortal“Tough crowd.”
LMAOOO