Chapter 84 – A Day in a World Dying
As soon as I entered the city, the low cries of the hatchlings greeted me. It seems that the liver is getting cold from the vibration boiling with the flame. The more I sharpened my senses and paid attention to my surroundings, the clearer the sound became.
And the pain in my chest kept getting worse as time passed. As the adrenaline that had surged subsided, it seemed that the forgotten pain was coming. Now even exhaling is painful, so I feel like I want to cover my mouth completely.
In fact, is it a strange level to be standing at this point? I smiled faintly and lowered my head. I wondered if there were grains of me in the hourglass that signaled destruction.
But soon, the trivial curiosity was brushed off and the gaze was raised again. Then he began to make his way slowly toward the remaining buildings.
“Ha…”
“…”
“Ha…”
“Keeeee…”
“…”
Every time I touched the wall, breathing heavily, the guys from over there breathed with me. Not too long ago, I even held my breath for fear of being found out by them, but I couldn’t afford to do that anymore. It was best to just walk while hiding in the shadows as much as possible.
The only good thing was that they were all on the roof. It must be the feeling of wanting to burn that snow cloud as soon as possible. I don’t know when it will be, but maybe after the snow stops, all of them will come down to the ground.
More reasons to hurry. Tormented by my own thoughts, I continued walking. My breath was still dripping, and my legs were trembling. Whenever that happened, I forcibly moved ahead, remembering the face of Saya I had met earlier.
As I passed between the broken buildings, I finally saw a door that was intact. Looking up, a red cross was clearly drawn on the door. I raised my head and muttered to myself in a quiet voice.
“Pharmacy…”
I didn’t read the signboard written somewhere. It’s just a hopeful wish. With that thought in my heart, I carefully opened the door.
Then, as expected, a sloppy landscape greeted me.
The first thing that caught my eye was the brutally smashed walls and scattered fragments here and there. Looking at the various glass bottles on the stall, it was true that it was a pharmacy, but it was in a rather miserable condition.
Of course, I wasn’t too taken aback as it was somewhat expected. I just started searching the inside carefully to find things that were fine.
“Is this… Cold medicine? It will be useless now…”
…
“It’s a bandage. But it’s in such a bad condition. I can’t use it.”
…
“Looks like a pain reliever. You can take one with you…”
…
Perhaps because I was lonely, I kept muttering to myself. It looked like a crazy person, but it also had the effect of holding on to the spirit.
It would have been nice if it had the effect of adding luck to it. However, no matter how much I searched the shelves, I couldn’t find the right item. In the end, what came out of my mouth at the last moment was a sigh, not a single word.
“Ha…”
With a slight sense of disappointment, the empty vials that I had painstakingly collected collapsed. The place was too messy to pack the proper stuff, and the sanitation was not very good.
Besides, there were too many dead bodies. There were so many that it was really strange. In a city occupied by Hetzlings, having bodies lined up inside buildings rather than on the streets meant one thing.
It must have been killed by humans.
It was clear just by looking at the wounds. They were mostly killed by sword and sorcery, not teeth or fire. Among them, there were even corpses whose teeth had been pulled out as if they had been tortured.
Besides, looking at the state of corruption, it wasn’t that long ago. Maybe if I had come a week earlier, I wouldn’t have seen them fighting. If I was unlucky, I might have gotten involved. Without even knowing the reason for the fight.
What was the alternate purpose?
Little curiosity. And while searching the corpses for any medicines, I noticed a badge on the chest of one of the corpses. At first, I couldn’t figure out what it was because it was soaked in blood, but after lifting it up in front of my eyes, I saw a familiar shape.
It was the symbol of the Anbert family.
“…”
Apparently, the clan’s struggle for possession of the pattern didn’t just happen between the sisters.
“Like crazy people…”
At their ugliness, I gave a modest review. It was easy to guess what had happened without much imagination. He let out a sigh and put down the badge. As if he had anemia, his eyes widened far away.
It must have smelled too much blood. I got up and hurried out of the store. But even when I went outside, only the smell of rotting corpses lingered, and I was helplessly vomiting.
“Owww…”
There was nothing to eat, so only bitter gastric juices scraped up his throat. At the end of the day, the strength in my arms and legs gave out, and I almost collapsed. Fortunately, I was able to maintain my posture thanks to using the sword I wore as a staff to support my body.
I don’t know how much longer I can hold out like this. I held on to my ever-fading mind and barely took one step.
“Haha…”
“Eh eh …!”
“Haha…”
“Queueek…”
“Ha…”
“Keeeee!!!”
One breath at a time. And the hetzling cries that mingled in between. Now it feels like a lullaby, perhaps because I have listened to it so often that I get scabs in my ears.
Not figuratively, but actually. The more I listened, the more I fell asleep. Although he was clearly moving his feet, his head dropped involuntarily and his consciousness was suddenly cut off.
Could it be that the nights that I spent awake with my eyes open all at once? The fact that there are more karma to be cleared is so sad. A person’s need for sleep is stronger than you think, so the thought of wanting to go to sleep came to the surface.
So every time I walked, I tried to think of a reason to go back. The face of Saya who cried while looking at me. The face of Haru who whispered that he wanted to live. As I kept thinking about it, their scent kept passing by my nose.
“Ah…”
It felt like walking in a dream. If I embrace my hazy mind and take a step forward, I realize that I have never taken off my clothes before, as soon as I put on the coat I took off again, feeling the cold, before I know it. I tried pinching her thighs several times, but it didn’t help much.
“Shit…!”
Eventually, I gritting my teeth and banged my head against the wall next to me. I could have fainted right away, but the result was the same even if I fell asleep anyway. Fortunately, it had a little effect, and my blurry vision began to brighten little by little.
Then the government building I had been looking for came into view. It seems that the instinct to find the way was still there even while walking in the fantasy.
“Ha…”
I struggled up the stairs without even having time to enjoy the joy of achievement. Already, the effect of awakening through pain was fading away. I had to go back to them as soon as possible.
Okay. I have to go back.
To Saya.
And to the day
And…
…
“Ugh…”
At last, she almost fell asleep again. I bit my lip and barely entered the building.
Then the bloody smell came again. The corpses lined up on the floor were staring at us with empty eyes. The smell of that damn smell made me feel helpless.
“…Damn it.”
If I vomited like this one more time, I would really collapse. I barely managed to go down the stairs, holding back the rising nausea. Then, the appearance of the emergency facility that Rebecca had been talking about gradually appeared.
An emergency facility that is essential to be installed in the basement of most government buildings. Since it also serves as a bunker, it is mandatory to have a number of preserved foods and medicines. Besides, the door was locked, so it was clear that if I could get in, I would find what I needed.
Yes, as long as you can get in. I removed a corpse from the door and grabbed the lock. Then, I started entering the passwords I had learned from Rebecca one by one.
First of all, area code 31 in the western part of the continent. Since it is not a military installation, general code 11A. In addition, the last four digits are 4019 in common. If you enter these in order, 31 11A 40…
“…”
Again. 31 11A…
“…”
…Again. 31 1…
…
My hand slipped Or else, my mind slipped and I kept entering the number incorrectly. I ended up banging my head against the wall once more and entered the number with all my might. Fortunately, I soon heard the sound of the lock opening.
Awesome…
“Ugh.”
But this time I hit my head too hard. Blood ran down his face and his head spun. In the end, I couldn’t stand the rush of nausea and vomited out.
“Uweeeeek…”
Shit.
I should have been patient
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his consciousness was interrupted. My body couldn’t stand it any longer. It seemed that willpower alone could not stop it from collapsing like this.
But then someone’s voice caught my spirit.
“Who are you?”
“Uh…?”
I don’t know if it was my instinctive alertness or the magical energy in that voice, but I came to my senses, albeit vaguely, and raised my head. Then, inside the bunker, I saw a young boy sitting with a corpse.
“What…”
“Who are you?”
“Uh…”
“Who is your brother?”
As the boy tilted his head, his jet-black hair fell softly over his shoulder. The shining eyes were so mysterious that I felt a sense of distance from this world, so I couldn’t bear to speak. But the boy walked towards me without hesitation.
“Because who’s your brother?”
“Who am I?”
“Yes. What’s your name?”
“I am…”
“Are you hurt?”
The boy brought out another question before I could answer. Then he pointed at my head with his little hand.
“It’s bleeding from your head.”
“Ah…Yes. I’m a little hurt.”
“Can I get you some water?”
“Huh? No. I don’t need that.”
“Okay then.”
At my words, the boy nodded his head sheepishly, and he went back to his seat and put the water bottle on his shelf. I hesitated a little, then got up slowly and approached the boy.
“But I need some medicine. Do you know where it is?”
“It’s behind me. Can’t you see it?”
“Ah…That’s right.”
Only then did I find the vials hanging behind me. I rubbed my eyes just in case, but they were all real and in good condition. Upon confirming this fact, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Ha…”
“Bandages and antibiotics are in the second compartment.”
“Yeah… Wait. What?”
“The disinfectant is in the first compartment. Hyung, you have to disinfect your wounds well. Otherwise, it hurts.”
It was such an amazing timing that it was a coincidence. I was hesitant, but I took all the medicine bottles the boy pointed out. And after putting them safely, he turned his head.
Maybe it’s a surprise attack? Despite his ridiculous fear, the boy still sat still. Then he raised his hand and pointed to a corpse in the corner to give me another helping hand.
“But I think you’ll need more of that. The one he’s holding in his hand.”
“That person…?”
“Yes. I don’t know what it is, but I tried to put it on my arm when I was in danger.”
I followed the boy’s fingers and turned my gaze toward the corpse. As the boy said, a man in luxurious clothes was holding a syringe. Looking closely, it was some kind of military painkiller.
No, should I say painkillers? Rather than that, the expression stimulant or drug was more appropriate. A narcotic drug that is forcibly injected into sick and tired soldiers to make them go mad for a moment. After the effect is over, it will helplessly incapacitate it, but as the boy said, it was what I needed right now.
I wondered who was holding this, and when I looked, I could see traces of Roselia on his rotting face. Could this be one of her brothers? While he was lost in thought, the corpse’s wounds opened and several maggots came out.
“Oooh…”
Vomiting flowed again. The boy looked at me and asked in a hint.
“Are you okay bro?”
“I am…”
“Can I help you?”
“No… I’m done…”
“Brother Lope.”
…
“I’ll help you.”
Again the boy’s voice brought his fading mind out of the water. I crawled towards the boy, drawn by the unknown mystery. And he posed a very stupid question.
“How can I get my name…”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“I guess… I guess.”
“I need to eat something. Would you like some candy or something?”
“Is there such a thing…?”
“It’s in your pocket.”
He looked up at the feeling of rummaging through his pockets, and before he knew it, a small piece of candy was placed in the boy’s palm. It was a timid reward that Saya had shyly handed over to her one day. On the surface, it was just candy, but to me it wasn’t that simple.
Perhaps the result of my last good deed, and now a memory I miss so much.
And, the warmth of others I had tasted for the first time.
The boy took off the wrapping paper from the heart and carefully placed it in my mouth.
Tears almost leaked out when I opened my mouth at the sweetness that had been burrowing into my tongue for the first time in a long time. However, because that was also physical strength, it became an indescribable emotion and settled deep in my heart. Then the words that I had no reason to say came out of my mouth without my knowledge.
“Who are you?”
“Who am I?”
“Yeah. What’s your name?”
“I’m Aiden.”
“Aiden… Said…”
The name made me laugh out loud. At this point, I couldn’t tell if what I was seeing was real or a dream.
However, in that ambiguous boundary, my mind collapsed like a sand castle. The boy’s innocence broke me only when I faced the most difficult moment. I grabbed the boy’s outstretched hand and brought up a story I hadn’t been able to tell in front of Aiden that day.
“Aiden… That’s it.”
“Yes that’s right.”
“What’s your mother’s name?”
“I don’t know. My mom left me a long time ago. Her dad passed away not too long ago.”
“I see…”
“But why do you ask?”
“That’s it…”
…
“Actually, I…”
“It’s okay bro.”
“…”
“I know it too.”
The boy said that and held my hand tightly.
A small hand that looks like it will crumble if you hold it tight. However, the pulsating warmth within him warmly spread throughout his body. Intoxicated by the warmth, I slowly closed my eyes.
“Aiden.”
“Yes.”
“I want to sleep.”
“…”
“I just…Want to sleep.”
“…”
“I am…”
I couldn’t speak anymore. My consciousness was already too clouded for that. Then the boy carefully stroked my hair and repeated in a quiet voice.
Brother.
You can’t sleep here.
With that word, cold water suddenly poured over my head.
“Huh…!!!”
I got up and banged my head on the ledge. Then, the water bottle that had hit my head fell to the floor, soaking the bottom of my feet. It was the same water bottle that Aiden had put on the shelf earlier.
“Aiden…?”
I looked around, calling the boy’s name in a confused voice. But there was no sign of the boy anywhere. I was alone in the cool bunker.
I wonder if you fell asleep When I turned my head anxiously, the half-melted candy rolled in my mouth. There was no way he had swallowed candy while he was asleep, so even if he had fallen asleep, less than five minutes would have passed.
It was only then that a sigh of relief leaked out, but her eyes still searched for traces of the boy. Of course, there was still nothing to see. Like a mirage, the boy had disappeared somewhere.
However, I could still feel the warmth under the shelf. It was a warmth that could not have been felt if no one was sitting there. As I was thinking about it, the boy’s voice shook my head again.
Lope bro.
It doesn’t matter now.
“…Okay.”
It doesn’t matter now.
Instead of repeating meaningless actions, I double checked the medications I had packed. It wasn’t until the firm touch of the medicine bottle pressed down on my palm that my heart belatedly started beating.
And at the same time, a roar came from outside the building.
“Keeeee!!!”
“…!”
The hatchlings are trying to get back into action. The moment I realized that fact, I started running like crazy.
“Keeeee!!!”
“Ha…Damn it…!”
I still feel the pain in my chest and my breath rises faster than usual. However, there was no time to delay, so I ran along the way I came. With each step taken, the roar of the hatchlings grew louder. It seemed as if they were declaring victory to the melted snow clouds.
The sound of my footsteps was drowned out by the sound of the roar, so they did not stimulate their hunting instinct. There is only now to run away. I was beating like crazy, holding on to my heart that was about to explode just thinking about it.
“Keeeee!!!”
“Eww…”
“Kwueeeee!!!”
“Ugh!!!”
When I got out of the city with all my might, Hetzling’s screams pierced my ears and my heart really exploded at the same time. It’s a metaphor, of course, but I couldn’t breathe unless I opened my mouth wide.
“Heo-euk…Heo-euk…”
…
“Ughh…Ahhh!!!”
I deliberately screamed so as not to pass out. Then I saw a small figure stand up from the other side.
I’m not sure how much time has passed. But it was clear that less than a day had passed. The more she ran with confidence, the more her figure grew. And finally, as her bright yellow hair swayed toward me, I shouted her name with all my might.
“Buy!”
