“Sigh.”
Kang Sihyun gazed at Haru with unfocused eyes.
Ah, it’s you this time.
It's because of you that I couldn't go back and had to live another life.
Having experienced this twice before, it was familiar territory. However, familiarity didn't mean complete adaptation. Kang Sihyun's eyes clouded over as he looked at Haru, and eventually, he shut them tightly, as if keeping them open would spur him to voice unwarranted resentments, like possibly blaming his brother for not being able to return.
It was indeed strange to encounter Haru here, but it brought him no joy. Probably because he was too worn out by it all.
Kang Sihyun longed to return, to rest in familiar surroundings. He didn’t want to think, act, or endure the anxiety of possibly having to live another life, losing treasured connections again.
Once or twice was bearable, but three times seemed too much.
By now, as Kang Sihyun, his own identity, and even the memories of his original self, were becoming blurred.
It was a complete reversal of roles. His past lives were consuming his present self.
His heart stirred as if a stone had been thrown into a lake. This was merely a supernatural phenomenon, his fate, so Haru was not to blame. That’s why he didn’t want to unload his troubled feelings on him, and instead bowed his head. The boy hesitated, then bent toward Kang Sihyun, his hand trembling slightly as it reached out cautiously to touch Kang Sihyun's shoulder. A quick glance revealed it to be quite an unremarkable hand.
Scarred and full of blemishes, as if the scars were no less significant than those of a knight, yet the bones were so frail it seemed they might break with a touch.
“No. 1, why, why are you like this?”
“…”
“Did I do something wrong?”
Seeing Kang Sihyun shut his eyes and even bow his head deeply, the boy asked gloomily. There was nothing wrong, but he seemed hesitant and cautious, which made Kang Sihyun deny it, though his voice lacked any conviction, so he remained silent. He had never realized a person's voice could sound so feeble and despondent, and it felt strange because it was his own voice.
“Ah, it doesn’t seem so…”
As the boy, No. 12, bowed down enough to see Kang Sihyun’s face at eye level, he muttered. It was a sharp observation, but Kang Sihyun didn’t respond. No. 12 looked increasingly disheartened as he glanced at Kang Sihyun’s feet.
“First, I applied some medicine, so it should be okay.”
“…Right.”
Kang Sihyun responded weakly and turned his head. The space was dark, dusty, cold, and the smell of blood pricked his nose.
Where was this place, and what kind of life had he lived? He didn’t have the nerve to ask. He didn’t think he could navigate another life well this time either.
Utterly drained, he leaned against the wall as No. 12 hesitated in front of him. It seemed he had something to say.
Sigh.
Kang Sihyun lifted his head.
“Why.”
“Ah…”
Seeing Kang Sihyun show some interest brightened the continually gloomy expression on No. 12’s face.
“Should I bring you some bread…?”
He fumbled inside his robe as he spoke. Kang Sihyun shook his head. Though not a canine, his ears seemed droopingly animal-like atop No. 12’s head.
“You need to eat to gain strength.”
“Enough.”
“Then, how about some water!”
In a hurry, the boy offered a water bottle, and Kang Sihyun wore a resigned expression. There seemed to be no point in his refusal as the other kept insisting on offering something. Knowing his character, he would keep nagging until accepted. If it had been Haemin, who was more forthright and annoying, Kang Sihyun might have ignored him, but Haru had a peculiar nature that made him hard to dismiss. Kang Sihyun helplessly nodded towards the water bottle.
“I can’t drink it myself, so you’ll have to help me.”
“Uh, okay!”
No. 12 brightly opened the water bottle to help Kang Sihyun drink. The adam’s apple moved several times, and the lukewarm water ran down his throat, wetting it. Surely, as the hydration kicked in, his flagging spirits began to clear slightly. His excessively lethargic thoughts gradually regained some lucidity.
That’s right, sitting still wouldn’t fix anything.
As Kang Sihyun set his resolve, No. 12 looked at him proudly, as if he had achieved something monumental.
Was it really that great?
Unable to understand, Kang Sih
yun stared back, and interpreting that look somehow, No. 12 pulled out the bread again. It looked like rye bread, but it was obviously neither soft nor tender, more like dry and hardened bread. Yet, considering he had brought it so preciously, it seemed he lived a life akin to that of a slave.
Both the captive himself and the one offering the bread.
“Want to eat?”
Without knowing what Kang Sihyun was thinking, he offered it again. Kang Sihyun maintained a complex silence. He felt hurt, stifled, and irritated. He didn’t like Haru being here, doing this.
He had gone to great lengths to ensure good clothing and food, to allow people to live humanely.
Why again.
Why are you living this kind of life even in your past life?
It wasn’t clear if he was speaking to Adam or Haru.
When he had lived as Ban Haru, he had been confined in a lab-like place, and in a past life, he was born as Gren or Glyn and died to become Harnen and then again No. 1. The treatment seemed laughably inadequate.
With a feeling akin to commiseration, Kang Sihyun prioritized his thoughts.
“…Where is this place?”
Though he lacked the energy to learn more about this world, he still had to ask when he could. It seemed he was trapped here, and the other seemed free to roam.
Ask now, for who knew when he’d have the chance again?
So, overcoming his loathsome feelings, he asked, and No. 12 looked bewildered.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
“…It’s the basement.”
He answered dutifully, yet with a puzzled look. Why ask such an obvious question? As he thought of an excuse, No. 12 hesitated, then suddenly seemed to realize something significant, and his face fell. The change was so rapid that Kang Sihyun found it rather absurd. What could such a small brain be thinking? It was hard to guess.
“Maybe…”
He began cautiously.
“You’ve been hit too much. Did it, did it hurt your head?”
His voice faded, but Kang Sihyun could hear it through to the end. He chuckled hollowly, wondering if he had been rude. The boy’s overly worried and paranoid nature seemed unchanged here too.
Thankfully, it meant less time needed for persuasions and excuses.
“Seems similar. I can’t remember much.”
“Ah…”
Though he had brought it up first, No. 12 gaped, then hesitantly reached out and patted Kang Sihyun’s shoulder. It seemed like his way of offering comfort, but the touch felt so awkward it was strangely perceptible. Staring at his hand, No. 12 spoke softly.
“I’ll help you.”
Help had been on Kang Sihyun’s mind anyway. He nodded solemnly at the boy, who declared it as if he were heading into battle.
It was fortunate to have someone by his side to help, like during the time with Gren.
“First, I’d like to know why I’m here.”
“Ah…”
As he brought up the matter, the boy seemed to think for a moment, then rolled his eyes left and right before explaining Kang Sihyun’s situation. They were recent victims of a man named Bell, members of the Rat Guild. He had ended up here because he had escaped from guild surveillance and defected from a mission.
A guild.
The word brought to mind the modern era, but the appearance of Kang Sihyun and No. 12 suggested they were far from modern times. From No. 12’s continued explanation, Kang Sihyun learned that the Rat Guild was a den of thieves lurking in the back alleys of this world. In other words, a criminal and thief guild.
“Children without money. They are sold here. Sold in order, and since you are No. 1…”
That meant I was the first.
Kang Sihyun nodded in understanding.
No. 12 soon became disheartened, indicating that he knew nothing more, as if the higher the number, the less they knew.
“How long have you been here?”
“I’ve been here for a year. Normally, one child is sold every year. Now, there are up to No. 13.”
That meant he had been sold here 13 years ago.
This body seemed to be about 17 years old, so he was at least 4 years old then.
“So, there are thirteen of us?”
Kang Sihyun looked at No. 12 thoughtfully. He wondered if he could win a misery contest with Haru if they ever had one.
Should he drink more water?
It was absurd to think such a thing, but it was clear he was dehydrated.
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