Chapter 41

“Just what…” Eui-rim murmured.

Eui-rim’s resolution to choose each question with the utmost care scattered in less than a minute. He had not meant to pry so blatantly into difficult subjects. And yet, dwelling on the shadows hunting 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 stirred an indescribable surge of emotion within him, causing the questions to pour out before he could stop them.

“Just what is a Fragment of the Origin?” Eui-rim pressed, words tumbling in rapid succession. “Why do they chase after you calling you their brother? What good does returning to the Origin even do?”

In that instant, reason snapped back. The hourglass embedded in the ram’s throat opened its connecting apex, letting the dark sand trickle downward.

Clenching his fists, Eui-rim forced himself to regulate his breathing. Though he had merely fired off questions in rapid succession, his breath came as ragged as someone who had sprinted at full throttle.

After warily scanning the air for a moment, 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 wore a wry, troubled smile.

[I can’t say just yet,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 cautioned quietly. [If I mention specifics, those bastards might pinpoint our location.]

Eui-rim couldn’t offer any response. A prick of guilt flared within him, feeling as though the hourglass had started ticking because of his recklessness—because he had pressed with too many explicit questions. It felt as if 〈Seo Hae-gun〉’s time was racing toward its end as a result.

“…I’m sorry,” Eui-rim whispered.

The edge of his barely extracted voice cracked terribly. 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 shook his head, fixing his gaze on Eui-rim’s tightly clenched fist.

[It’s just because the time has come,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 reassured him. [I told you, didn’t I? It was only ever a brief intervention.]

“Still…” Eui-rim choked out.

[Come now. Aren’t you curious about other things? For instance, well…] Trailing off for a moment, 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 murmured playfully, [Like where a thoughtform might reside.]

Upon hearing those words, Eui-rim’s eyes widened unwittingly. Staring blankly at the beast’s face, he furrowed his brow, turning over an instinctive doubt.

Come to think of it, where has 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 been hiding all this time?

“…Was there a place to hide from your brothers?” Eui-rim asked. “Did you watch me coming to Utopia from there as well?”

Only after speaking aloud did Eui-rim realize this question, too, came far too late. He should have asked this first. To think he had been so distracted by other questions that he failed to check the most crucial detail.

Right then, the ram’s face scrunched up, and 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 burst into hearty laughter. He seemed amused beyond measure, finding the situation thoroughly delightful.

[Well, this is entertaining in its own way.] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 chuckled softly.

“…Pardon?” Eui-rim blinked in bewilderment.

[You have far more stray thoughts than you let on, don’t you?] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 teased.

“Did you read my mind?” Eui-rim asked, stiffening.

[Bear with me,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 said. [I’m not human anymore. I can’t help it either.]

The innocent retort took all the wind out of Eui-rim’s sails. Even when Seo Hae-gun had become host to the shadow in the past life, his unbothered composure had been remarkable—but seeing it persist even after becoming a thoughtform bordered on absurd.

Does the Seo Hae-gun three years from now turn out like this? Or was this his personality all along, only deepened with time?

〈Seo Hae-gun〉 continued, still wearing an amused smile.

[Still, Healer Kang Eui-rim… No, wait, are you a Hunter now?] the entity mused. [Should I call you Hunter?]

“…Call me whatever you prefer,” Eui-rim muttered.

[Great. Healer Kang Eui-rim it is,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 declared cheerfully.

The entity snapped his fingers together, producing a crisp, sharp sound.

[First, as for where I’ve been so far, let’s just say I’ve been hiding quite safely thanks to you, Healer Kang Eui-rim,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 said.

Thanks to me?

“I don’t quite understand,” Eui-rim said, frowning. “I haven’t done anything in particular.”

[A part of me flowed into you, Healer Kang Eui-rim,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 revealed. [Thanks to that, I haven’t been retrieved and remain straddling the timeline.]

“…” Eui-rim stared in stunned silence.

[And under that influence, I gained the power to intervene like this as well,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 continued.

When he heard those words, a sudden realization flashed through Eui-rim’s mind. He recalled the trait that had abruptly awakened upon entering Utopia: 〈Part of the Fragment〉.

Replaying the moment he had resonated with Seo Hae-gun, Eui-rim addressed the entity before him. “I was honestly bewildered when that trait suddenly appeared out of nowhere.”

[…] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 tilted his head, listening quietly.

“How did I become part of the fragment?” Eui-rim asked. “There was a warning in Hunter Seo Hae-gun’s status window stating that a skill had been inherited. Is it related to that as well?”

[Who knows,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 murmured softly.

For a fleeting second, the smile he had worn shifted. 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 lightly rubbed his lips with his fingertips before speaking.

[To be honest, I was a bit surprised too,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 admitted. [I never expected things to turn out like this. The Gatekeepers seemed rather amused by it as well.]

In an instant, Eui-rim’s gaze turned involuntarily toward the dais. Looking at the plaster scales brought back vivid memories of crossing the timeline.

[That’s probably why your status window isn’t complete yet, Healer Kang Eui-rim,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 pointed out. [They said the Scales haven’t determined your weight value yet.]

Having followed Eui-rim’s gaze toward the Scales atop the dais, 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 had brought up an unexpected topic. Eui-rim immediately turned back to him.

“Was it the Scales that determined status windows?” Eui-rim asked.

The question made 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 scan the empty air. After quietly checking his surroundings once more, he finally gave a faint nod of acknowledgment.

“…Ha.” Eui-rim let out a dry breath.

The unanticipated revelation left Eui-rim feeling drained. To think the Scales were the entity that decided status windows.

Just what is it that distinguishes New Humanity from non-New Humanity and assigns a value to their weight?

Hoping for more, Eui-rim stared intently at 〈Seo Hae-gun〉, but the entity merely shook his head as if he could speak no further. A faint trace of regret tinged his smiling expression.

[Keep it to yourself,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 advised with a wry smirk. [Not that anyone in the public would believe you even if you announced it right now.]

“…I had no intention of telling anyone,” Eui-rim replied flatly.

[Haha.] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 laughed softly.

A noticeably lighter chuckle followed the blunt retort. 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 casually shrugged and went on.

[In any case, until the Scales determine your weight value, the Gatekeepers will be watching over you, Healer Kang Eui-rim,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 said. [Until then, both of us will be relatively safe. Of course, that fellow over there as well.]

His index finger pointed directly toward the present Seo Hae-gun.

The twenty-nine-year-old Seo Hae-gun, who possessed deep navy-blue eyes reminiscent of a night sea—unlike the thoughtform standing before him.

Looking back and forth between the two different shades of blue eyes, Eui-rim asked, “Is the Seo Hae-gun of this world in danger too?”

[We’re the same human being after all,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 answered frankly. [Just because the fragment split into two doesn’t make him a different entity.]

“…” Eui-rim clenched his jaw.

[In the end, our conclusion can only be the same,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 added quietly.

It was a declaration cruel in its certainty—a life with a predetermined end. Did that mean the present Seo Hae-gun could not die as a human either, denied even rest when he reached the very end?

A heavy helplessness clouded Eui-rim’s chest like mist. His own precarious situation was one thing, but the thought that both the deceased 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 and the twenty-nine-year-old Seo Hae-gun might meet an identical fate left him utterly powerless.

[Look at you,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 chided gently. [Pointlessly soft-hearted again.]

Between the crescent curve of the ram’s eyelids, blue-gray irises gleamed. Stepping close before Eui-rim realized, the entity placed a cold hand, completely devoid of warmth, onto his shoulder.

[When you don’t even have enough time to worry about yourself, who’s worrying about whom?] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 asked with a faint, sorrowful smile. [Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I told you you’re not in a safe position either, Healer Kang Eui-rim.]

“Still, at least I can die as a human,” Eui-rim whispered back.

At the quiet counterargument, 〈Seo Hae-gun〉’s mouth closed. Swallowing down the bitter knot rising like bile in his throat, Eui-rim added, “Instead of being retrieved like you, Hunter Seo Hae-gun.”

Even if the fragments found Eui-rim and tore his soul apart, the most terrible end awaiting him would simply be death. For what those monstrous entities desired was the fragment itself, not the insignificant creature into whom a mere fraction of it had flowed.

But Seo Hae-gun was different. Even if given another chance to turn back time, his soul would only fracture as it had now, unable to break free from the endless cycle. He was doomed to be swept up in the fate of being hunted by his brothers again and again, only to be retrieved.

The settled silence weighed heavily on Eui-rim’s heart. Though he knew there was no time to waste like this, bringing out the next words felt arduous.

When Eui-rim glanced down at the hand resting on his shoulder, 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 withdrew it, taking it as a silent cue. Watching the entity step back, Eui-rim asked, “Can’t you stay hidden in the timeline forever?”

[That would be difficult,] 〈Seo Hae-gun〉 replied. [Once the Gatekeepers return to their positions, getting discovered is only a matter of time.]