Kang Sihyun blinked as he was hugged by the children. Suddenly, when Haru started crying, followed by Haewoon, and then Hamin, the situation felt both familiar and astonishing. The atmosphere was similar to when he had confessed to being possessed, yet he realized that the emotions they harbored were heavier than before. He could feel it in the strength of their embrace.
"Why are you crying so much?"
Although he had fully immersed himself in the emotions of his past life and had cried profusely, it was not the same for the children of Class A. No matter how vividly he described his experiences, to them it was like hearing someone else's story, yet they cried as if they had lived through it themselves. Not just one or two, but all of them, even Seowoo and Geonu cried, and realizing something was off, Sihyun spoke up.
"Why are you apologizing, Sihyun? You came all this way to see us...."
Haewoon said through tears.
"It's because of that, you're struggling so much, why apologize...."
He was taken aback as Haewoon, crying and sniffling, scolded him. Sihyun, feeling as if he couldn't breathe, pulled away from Haewoon's tight embrace and met his gaze.
"Do you really believe everything I’ve said?"
Honestly, he did trust them, but he knew the unreal nature of his own experiences would make even the students of Class A doubt his story. He had thought they would consider him mentally disturbed for having laid in bed for so long, and he was ready to accept that. He would consider visiting a psychiatrist if they suggested it, but to some extent, he was prepared for their misunderstanding.
However, Sihyun’s expectations were completely overturned as the children accepted his story without hesitation or resistance. He had felt this when he talked about possession, but these children truly had no prejudices, and they were that pure.
Caught off guard by such an unexpected response, Sihyun was at a loss for words until Haewoon yelled out, wondering if he didn’t believe them. Hamin followed suit.
"After lying in bed for nearly 15 weeks and crying like that, how can you not believe us? If you came all this way to see us, at least trust us. Do you think we're that stupid and clueless?"
Hamin’s tone, full of complaint, made Sihyun hesitate in his response. When Hamin interpreted his hesitation as disbelief, he exploded in frustration. Geonu calmed him down, and then Haru, upset by Sihyun's heated cheeks, pressed a cool water bottle to his face.
"I believe whatever you say. And if it were me.... If it were me, I really would have done the same, so it’s harder not to believe."
"Brother...?"
"That’s a relief."
That you were there in my past life, and that I could die before you.
The boy smiled lightly, sincerely relieved, and Sihyun’s heart sank.
What’s so relieving about that.
"What's so relieving about that. I died from a power surge anyway. What’s the difference if we died together?"
"Ah..."
Haru seemed unsettled as Sihyun bluntly responded to his comforting words. It felt odd, as if he had become someone who enjoyed tormenting the innocent, but there were certain points that needed to be addressed clearly.
Sihyun, momentarily forgetting others were present, grabbed Haru’s wrist and looked him in the eyes. His green irises seemed to meld into the redness of his eyes.
"Brother. You said before, you would do anything for me."
"What?"
"Don’t."
That was something Haru had said a long time ago. He had said he would do anything for him, and he wouldn’t regret it. Back then, Sihyun had found such emotions burdensome, but now he understood it wasn’t a burden at all. If Haru truly was someone who would do anything for him, then Sihyun had to try his hardest to stop him.
Ending up like Number 12 was a horrible thought.
"Don’t think about dying for me, or dying before me. I hope you wouldn’t do that."
"......"
No response came. Haru just looked down at him silently, and Sihyun frowned.
"Promise me."
"......"
"Brother."
As he tugged on his arm, urging a response, Haru muttered hesitantly. Sihyun sighed.
See?
He really was someone who would die protecting him, laughing about it as if it was what he had wanted. Even though Sihyun repeatedly warned him not to, Haru wouldn't give a definite answer, only holding his hand and speaking with a worried look that made Sihyun smile despite himself. Sihyun, even if he had to threaten him, wanted to hear him say he wouldn’t die
protecting him first. But Haru made a move.
"I'll use a wish."
"What?"
Sihyun was puzzled by the sudden mention of a wish. Not only him, but the other children also looked at Haru with questioning eyes. With a slight smile, Haru stroked Sihyun’s hair.
"Remember? I said I’d grant a wish if you went through another awakening."
"...Ah."
A slow memory crept back to him. Indeed, he had made such a promise when he had collapsed coughing blood during his third awakening, and to console a worried Haru, he had made it as a temporary measure. Haru bringing it up now left Sihyun speechless.
And since then, he had never mentioned it, so naturally, Sihyun had thought he had forgotten. And he had completely forgotten himself, but to have it thrown back at him like this was unexpected.
As Sihyun stood flustered, Haru spoke.
"I’ll try to keep the promise you asked for as much as I can, but if the moment comes when I can protect you, I will."
"......"
"And I think you would do the same, Sihyun."
Haru quietly added, hitting the mark.
He was right.
Although Sihyun had told Haru countless times not to die protecting him, if Haru were ever in danger, Sihyun would risk his life to protect him. The same was true for the other children of Class A.
Unable to say anything, Hamin snorted.
"Typical Kang Sihyun, always a hypocrite."
The mood lightened as he spoke casually, and the other children burst into laughter. Haru did the same.
With a rational reason and even using a wish, Sihyun realized he couldn't persuade him any further and finally waved the white flag.
"Alright. But try to avoid such situations as much as possible. Take care of yourself, brother, me, and all of you too."
Sihyun turned his head and gazed at the children who had been bystanders for a moment. Thinking they were not involved, the children had watched Haru and Sihyun’s standoff with interest, but they all flinched at his words. Sihyun was momentarily at a loss for words as the children felt it was unfair to include them too. Birds of a feather flock together, and their ways of thinking were unexpectedly similar.
If it was all for each other, they would be willing to die beside each other.
Even though they were too young for that.
Indeed, it was time to set this world right as soon as possible. The burden and resolution were too great for them to bear, and Sihyun, while arguing with Haru, observed the now sober faces of the children. Now that he looked, their faces seemed rather gaunt. It wasn’t a good condition to see at a glance, and Sihyun recalled Hamin’s words.
He had been lying down for 15 weeks.
Sihyun calculated what 15 weeks meant in his head and then gasped, realizing it was about three months. As the children looked worried, Sihyun glanced around the room.
The man who would have run to him if he heard he was awake was not in the room. Neither was Hahyuk nor Ruth. And there was a glowing rod lying on the table.
Sihyun knew what that rod was.
It was extraordinary.
Not the usual kind of extraordinary, but the sixth kind.
That meant only one thing, so Sihyun clutched his throbbing head, then looked to the person who could most logically and quickly explain the situation.
"It seems like my story is done, now tell yours. Where did Iha Hyuk go, and what happened to Ruth? This artifact, you'd have to clear at least seven dungeons to get something like this, right? Don’t tell me the two of them got hurt clearing a dungeon? And I see you’ve been injured too."
Noticing the faint scars on the children’s bodies late, Sihyun narrowed his brows and quickly healed the scars on their arms. After staring them down as if interrogating them, the children who had been a sea of tears looked at Sihyun with their tears withdrawn.
So it is.
Despite waking up after so long and experiencing many pasts, Sihyun was still the Sihyun they knew.
That is, the Sihyun who gets scared when a person’s life is in danger.
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