Chapter 67

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Chapter 67

It’s obvious, but Jung Inho didn’t know exactly what Director Lee Jaehun’s past was like.

As he had previously guessed, it might have been an environment where being treated poorly was normal, or perhaps it was slightly better than that. He knew nothing about what kind of person LeeJaehun truly was or what experiences had shaped him into the adult he had become.

However, whether it was due to his nature or his experiences, Director Lee Jaehun didn’t trust them.

His willingness to sacrifice himself to save the group and his gentle consolations were because they were ‘people to protect’, not ‘trusted colleagues’.

Despite helping them so much and getting hurt in the process, it was almost laughable how, even after spending a considerable amount of time in this hidden world, there wasn’t a shred of trust built between them. Lee Jaehun thought he could be abandoned by them at any moment.

‘Is that why?’

Is that why he tried to earn their resentment and keep his distance? Perhaps he thought there was no need to build relationships that would inevitably end.

Since he had no intention of trusting people, he couldn’t fully accept the trust others offered him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t look at the group’s friendly actions with such incomprehension.

Every sacrifice he made seemed perfectly normal to Lee Jaehun.

Therefore, his perception of his relationship with the group was either as victims of misfortune caused by ‘Director Lee Jaehun’ or as complete strangers. He couldn’t understand the group’s kindness because he didn’t think their relationship would change simply because he did what he believed was right.

Even if someone who had bad-mouthed him suddenly started showing concern and kindness, Lee Jaehun, being naturally suspicious, couldn’t simply believe it. Perhaps his behavior mixed with discomfort in response to the group’s kindness stemmed from this reason.

Thinking this far, Jung Inho suddenly had a question.

‘…Who can I blame?’

He wanted to blame something or someone, but he didn’t know where to direct his resentment.

Lee Jaehun, who didn’t trust them at all? His past experiences that planted distrust in relationships? The group, who had become entangled with him due to being deceived by his act?

The conclusion he came to wasn’t anything grand.

“…There’s nothing to blame”.

It was a simple matter.

Director Lee Jaehun had never been a significant part of Jung Inho’s life to begin with. So it was fine if he didn’t consider this matter valuable enough to resent.

And it didn’t matter.

* * *

As time passed, Director Lee Jaehun became quieter.

He occasionally scratched his neck or pretended to choke, but he didn’t resist as fiercely as before, and the blood he used to vomit up frequently was no longer visible. He just lay there, as silent as he was in the beginning, sleeping as if he were dead.

Meanwhile, the group found a few more containers to store water. Even though it had been deemed safe to drink as it was, they still boiled it in glass bottles due to the weather not being very warm.

This was something they hadn’t done when Lee Jaehun was awake.

“There could be parasites… or unseen toxins.”

“That’s for sure. Some fool might drink it straight.”

“Haha….”

Anyway, along the way, Yoon Garam found two cans, allowing them to heat the water more quickly.

Team Leader Kang took intern Noh Yeonseok, Kwon Yeonhee, and the two students and started building a circular wall. They weren’t sure how much protection it would offer if a monster appeared, but Jung Inho didn’t mention that out loud. After all, the reason Director Lee Jaehun had suggested building the wall was likely to block the monster’s line of sight.

Dr. Ha Sungyoon re-bandaged Director Lee Jaehun’s wounds with bandages washed in the lake. He was amazed at Lee Jaehun’s healing ability, and Jung Inho agreed. The state of his severely wounded leg and the hole in his shoulder had improved astonishingly in just a few days.

“…….”

“…Should we consider this a good thing?”

“At least the bones are no longer visible.”

“Then… why aren’t the wounds on his arms or wrists healing? Isn’t it strange?”

“I’ve given up trying to understand. He said he wouldn’t die right away, so he’ll probably heal well enough on his own.”

Ha Sungyoon added a remark.

“The injuries sustained outside this world might not heal.”

“……”

“What a troublesome person.”

Then he fell silent and just smiled.

Two days after Director Lee Jaehun fell asleep, Team Leader Kang, who had been watching him anxiously, took a few people to pick glass berries near the lake.

She piled up the round glass beads and said,

“These won’t spoil, will they?”

“The weather isn’t that hot yet. Besides, these are different from the fruits we know, so as long as we keep them in the shade, they should be fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

“……”

Despite saying it was a relief, her expression didn’t look very reassured.

Kwon Yeonhee often glanced at the sleeping Director Lee Jaehun and then mingled with the group. She chatted with the increasingly talkative siblings or played small pranks on Yoon Garam, and in those moments, Jung Inho sensed a hint of desperation.

Perhaps it was guilt.

After all, just when they had barely managed to support her from collapsing, Director Lee Jaehun ended up in that state. She might have thought she had become more of a burden on someone who was already struggling.

Regardless of the exact reason, it was true that Kwon Yeonhee was trying to lift the group’s spirits.

However, Dr. Ha Sungyoon had become quieter.

“……”

“Would you like some water? We’ve cooled some…”

“Oh, thank you.”

“…No problem.”

Though it could be due to his side injury, it seemed unlikely since he had been talking just fine until now.

He was never particularly talkative, but now he spoke so little it was noticeable. Yoon Garam looked uneasy, but it was clear this wasn’t something an outsider should interfere with.

And then there was another noticeable change.

“…Um, ahjussi.”

“……”

The two students, who had been avoiding his gaze, were now approaching Jung Inho.

He quickly put on a sincere smile and asked,

“What’s up?”

“We made dandelion tea and thought… you might want some.”

“Dandelion tea?”

“There were a few, so we picked them, dried them… and brewed them.”

“Aha.”

Come to think of it, the ecosystem of this hidden world wasn’t that different from the one they knew. Just as they occasionally saw familiar pigeons and insects, it made sense that some flowers they knew would also exist here.

Jung Inho’s eyes softened as he looked at the light-colored water in the paper cup they brought.

“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”

“…Yes, thank you for everything.”

“Why say that? It’s us who should be thankful that you’re following us so well.”

“……”

The students nodded in response but didn’t say anything more before leaving. Jung Inho could sense their discomfort, awkwardly masked by their politeness toward an adult. He stayed still, holding the paper cup.

The aroma wasn’t bad.

“…Hmm.”

Jung Inho didn’t particularly want to drink it.

Nevertheless, he drank the dandelion tea while it was still steaming. It wasn’t until later that he realized the roof of his mouth felt scraped raw, but at the moment, he just wanted to finish what he was holding. He left the still-intact paper cup on the wall Team Leader Kang Mina had built without crumpling or throwing it away.

The wall, made of roughly stacked thick wood and stones, reached his chest and looked so unstable that it seemed like it would crumble with a light touch.

‘Of course.’

When would they have ever built a wall before? Jung Inho felt satisfied that Team Leader Kang, who was feeling anxious, had found something to do. She wasn’t a foolish person, so she could manage her share well enough.

Half-consciously trying to forget about the two students, Jung Inho turned his gaze to Director Lee Jaehun.

“……”

He was still unconscious.

Words slipped out of his mouth before he realized it.

“…I never imagined you’d sleep this much.”

There was still so much information he wanted to get from him, which was truly regrettable.

Jung Inho never thought of Director Lee Jaehun as the type who slept a lot. Even when he worked at the company, he was never late, so it was surprising to see him sleep this long. Smiling wryly, Jung Inho found an unexpected side of him.

Though calling it ‘sleeping’ seemed a bit forced….

“……”

It was quiet.

A faint, tiny crack spread like a line of ants, but he decided to ignore it.

That evening.

“…Jung Inho-ssi.”

“Yes.”

“I saw that detective we met before.”

“……”

Jung Inho received unfortunate news.

“…I see.”

But it was something he had anticipated.

Though not certain, it seemed there were two groups of survivors in this park now. One was their group, and the other was led by Detective Hong Kyungjun.

On a personal level, he hoped they’d never meet again….

‘But that’s unrealistic.’

Looking at Yoon Garam in front of him, he continued his thoughts.

No matter how wide the park had become, it still had its limits. It wasn’t as large as a famous amusement park. Resources were limited, so it was inevitable that they’d encounter each other eventually.

He spoke naturally.

“If you saw him, did you talk?”

“No, given the situation, it was too risky to approach… I just watched from a distance. There were a few new faces, too.”

Jung Inho understood what she meant by ‘too risky to approach.’

He believed in human goodness, but he also harbored distrust. In extreme situations like this, it was only natural to think that humans could do anything.

“You must have been near the small lake. You went there to wash the bandages with Dr. Ha Sungyoon.”

“Yes, they were drinking water.”

“Then they knew the water was safe.”

“Yes, it seemed so.”

“……”

Around then, Jung Inho knew what she was going to tell him next.

He smiled broadly and spoke up.

“Feel free to ask.”

“…Shall I?”

Yoon Garam, who had paused at Jung Inho’s words, nodded with an awkward smile. Though she clearly seemed uncomfortable with him, it didn’t affect him much.

As expected, she finally asked.

“Do you have some… history with that detective?”

“……”

“I remember you seemed a bit uneasy last time. I thought it would be fine to join forces since we’re all survivors, but I couldn’t bring it up because you seemed against it.”

Her roundabout way of speaking basically meant, ‘Spill it and cooperate.’

“……”

To him, Yoon Garam was quite an unusual person.

She seemed ordinarily timid, yet sometimes her gaze at trees or grass was strangely obsessive.

‘Or when she looked at the campfire.’

Seeing her quietly watch those things made him think it wasn’t a coincidence she got along with Dr. Ha Sungyoon.

Now, she was sitting in front of him, pretending to be afraid and restless, which was quite amusing. Knowing her behavior before this moment, Jung Inho couldn’t help but smile.

However, it didn’t take long for him to change that smile into his usual composed one. Jung Inho answered with an apologetic look.

“Ah… I’m sorry, I was a bit sensitive back then.”

“No, we were all in the same situation.”

“I must’ve been out of my mind. I felt this baseless anxiety that he might harm us. I’m sorry if my worries caused any trouble.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. That detective had indeed been a threat.

“We could still join up now, but the director’s condition is too severe.”

It wasn’t an excuse either. Since they were all humans competing for limited resources, having an unconscious patient among their group could make them seem weak.

With a regretful, apologetic smile, Jung Inho continued.

“How about we wait until the director wakes up and then meet and talk? It might be a bit shocking for him to wake up and find new people here.”

“…You’re right, I understand. I’ll tell the others.”

“Thank you, Ms. Yoon.”

Watching her long figure walk away, he adjusted his grip on the monkey wrench.

“……”

Suddenly, the turmoil within him settled down.

Functioning while broken must feel something like this.

* * *

Director Lee Jaehun woke up the next morning.

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