Chương 127: S.05 Time to Fly 09(06)

Scene 08_02. Yeon-su, having loaded an armful of luggage into the passenger seat of a work car, was driving somewhere. It was a downtown street awash in fairly bright light. After parking the car in a spacious lot, she cut the engine and stepped out. A rather long coat fluttered, but it looked to be a length suited to Yeon-su's tall frame. After fastening the coat that fell around her knees, Yeon-su's steps headed for a café connected to the lot.

She scanned the café she'd entered for a moment, but the one bastard she couldn't stand the sight of was nowhere to be found. Seeing Yeon-su look around, a staff member approached. Staff_02: Doe Yeon-su? Yeon-su nodded lightly. With a practiced gesture, the staff member beckoned Yeon-su and ushered her steps inside. Following the staff member, Yeon-su entered a spacious hall. Inside sat not only Yu-seok but Yeon-jin as well.

In time with the gesture of the staff member who'd guided her to an empty seat, Yeon-su, making no effort to hide her displeasure, settled herself into a chair. It was a café set in a tall building. Gazing outside, Yeon-su didn't bother to meet the eyes of Yu-seok and Yeon-jin seated across from her. Yu-seok: Order something to drink. Youngest, I'll buy you — Yeon-su: Forget it, let's just talk, quickly. At Yeon-su's blunt voice cutting off his words, Yu-seok nodded. Yu-seok: What did the Guide say? Yeon-su: What.

Said she'll come find you on her own. Yu-seok: Well, this is going to be a long talk, so let's have some tea at least. Or do you want a drink? Are you past the drinking age? Yeon-su: Ha, you fucking bastard. You don't even know your own sibling's age, do you? Yu-seok: Ah, are you past it? You look so much like a brat I just — my mistake. Yeon-su: Right. As if you'd care about anything. You. Yeon-jin: Ha. Pretty savage for siblings.

At Yeon-jin's light jab, Yeon-su finally turned her head and stared straight at Yeon-jin. Yeon-su: You sniping at me like I don't know who you are? You motherless piece of shit? Yeon-jin: Oh. Got some bite to her too. I like it. Your sibling, babe. Yeon-su: Two repulsive things, well met. Yeon-jin: Don't be like that, little one. Do a job together with big sis — Yeon-su shaped 검은 모래(Geomeun-morae_Black Sand) and sent it flying past the side of Yeon-jin's face.

The Black Sand that grazed Yeon-jin's cheek lodged into the wall and shattered to pieces. Yeon-su: Keep running your mouth. You motherless piece of shit. Yeon-jin: Oh my, little one, why flare up over something like this? Is it that time of the month? Touchy? Are your hormones acting all fucked up? Yeon-su smiled brightly. Unlike before, she briefly reined in her furious anger and instead held a sneering smile. Yeon-su: Do you even still get it? You got any hormones left to act up at all?

As if Yeon-jin was the one starting to flare up now, her sneering smile shifted before long into a smirking one. Seeing Yeon-jin like that, Yeon-su tossed out an indifferent sneer and, with a gaze that never once properly looked at Yu-seok, gazed outside and threw a cold voice at him. Yeon-su: Anyway, what I've got to say isn't long, so get to the point, quick. I don't want to stay long. Yu-seok: Right. My terms are simple. Since the Guide has agreed to come quietly, I won't hesitate.

Just don't stab me in the back. Bring her where she can't use any power at all. Bring the Ritual Taboo Rope too. After that, I'll handle the rest myself. Yeon-su: That's not all of it, is it? You keep leaving out one condition? Yu-seok: Ah, right, here. Right in front of Yeon-su, Yu-seok drew a blade across his own hand and let red blood spill freely. Yu-seok's blood flowed down beneath his clenched fist into a somewhat large, clear gourd flask.

Collecting the blood, Yu-seok asked Yeon-su: Yu-seok: You do know the root of the word 'Secret Agent,' don't you? Yeon-su: I did better in school than you. Yu-seok: How about giving a proper answer? If you think yourself so clever. Yeon-su nodded slowly and half-heartedly. Yu-seok: Right. This time, you live up to that name. From the post of a secret informer, just do the informing. Play your part well and you'll get Doe Yeon-hui back.

Of course, the Oldest and the Guide both seem to have already braced themselves, but what comes after that — no one knows. She'll never know to the end what kind of state she'll end up in. Yeon-su: I have no idea what dog-shit you're on about. Yu-seok: With the chance that comes before long, I mean to take the Oldest without anyone knowing and seal her into the 시간수 (Si-gan-su_The Chronostump). You know well enough that the Chronostump can, in the end, be opened or closed with someone's blood.

Whether one person's blood or two. No matter which, once it takes in blood it opens its door and confines the designated target. Later, when blood matching the blood it took in touches it, the closed door opens. That's all there is to it. The Oldest, Kang Ji-young, who'll know nothing, sealed into the Chronostump with Kang Ji-young's own blood. Well, of course, since she knows every fact of it, she'll say she'll prepare — but once I take the Guide too, no one will be able to undo it.

As it happens, the Guide said she'd come to me herself, so, well, I've been spared the trouble. Yeon-su: You sure ramble on and fucking on. Why spill all of that? Are you a moron? Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Yu-seok: Because there are things you can't stop even if you know. Because even if I tell you, there'll be nothing you can do. Yeon-su: Oh, sure. So damn clever. What, is the Oldest going to let herself get dragged off by you with her eyes shut?

At Yeon-su's jab, Yu-seok didn't bother to speak. Bothered by Yu-seok's silence, Yeon-su held a sigh, looked at him, and laughed in a sneer. Yeon-su: You — you watch your own neck. The moment I get Yeon-hui sis out, I'm going to kill you for sure. Yu-seok: I don't know how many times I've heard that line by now, but you've done nothing. And you won't, going forward. Want to know how I know? Yeon-su didn't answer. Yu-seok smiled brightly and said to her: Yu-seok: Because the former Guide once told me.

That I would go on surviving. She said that even after you die, I survive. That even after everyone you serve is dead, I'll be the one living to the very end. Scene 08_03. FLASHBACK In those old days he couldn't even remember, he was holding his mother's warm, lovely hand. The year he turned ten. Yu-seok stood in the middle of the Great Hall, holding his mother's hand. The still air of the Great Hall felt rather heavy to young Yu-seok.

On July 6th, timed to young Doe Yu-seok's tenth birthday, the two were entering the Great Hall to light Yu-seok's path. Seon-ye, in a black 철릭(Cheollik_Traditional coat-dress), entered alongside I-sim, in a chestnut 저고리(Jeogori_Korean Traditional inner jacket), guided by the 사무장(Sa-mu-jang_Executive Secretary) Doe Jin-su, who was Yu-seok's biological father. Carrying calm steps, the two approached, gazing fondly at young Yu-seok.

With a bright smile as if asking after her, I-sim stroked the upper arm of Seong-yeon, Yu-seok's biological mother, who'd been holding Yu-seok's hand. I-sim: The trip over was a bit far, wasn't it? Seong-yeon: No. It wasn't far. I-sim: And the youngest? Doing well? Seong-yeon smiled and whispered softly to I-sim. I-sim: Huh?! Really?! Yeon-hui isn't the youngest?! Wow! SS —! Why are you only telling me this now!! At I-sim's raised voice, Seon-ye cleared her throat and settled I-sim's excitement.

Seon-ye: I told you all of it, and you went and acted like you didn't hear. I-sim: Oh, come on. Way to kill the mood. Hey, obviously. This kind of thing, you've got to hear it firsthand. At Seon-ye's scolding, I-sim shot her a displeased look and then lowered herself to the eye level of Yu-seok, who stood holding Seong-yeon's hand. I-sim: Yu-seok. Yu-seok: Yes! The Oldest. I-sim: It won't be scary. Just shut your eyes tight and count to ten. Yu-seok: Yes!

I-sim: It might be a little cold, but it'll warm up again soon. All right? Yu-seok: I won't be cold! Not me. I-sim smiled and smoothed Yu-seok's hair, then rose to her feet. After stepping back a pace or two, she gave her place over to Seon-ye. Without a word, Seon-ye warmly clasped Yu-seok's two hands in her own. Seon-ye: Yu-seok, close your eyes for me. At Seon-ye's warm urging, young Yu-seok squeezed his eyes shut. Seon-ye gently closed her eyes too.

In an instant, black flame blazed up and wound around Seon-ye's body. At the end of the black flame, Seon-ye's closed eyes opened. Her two eyes had been dyed black. It was Seon-ye's guiding, no different from usual, but today, somehow, the flame burned all the more fiercely and stretched on long. Seon-ye (Do-seon): You. Another you remains. Far into the days to come.

From Seon-ye's hand, gripping Yu-seok's so fiercely it might crush it, blood that was not Yu-seok's but Seon-ye's began to flow down into Yu-seok's palm. Seon-ye (Do-seon): Though all should die, you remain. Appearing all of a sudden, remaining all of a sudden, dwelling all of a sudden. Lonely, yet you come to be not lonely. You — you remain. Though all should die. As if sensing something had gone wrong, I-sim cast a black bracelet and wound it around Seon-ye, who was engulfed in black flame.

When Seong-yeon hurriedly held Yu-seok and braced with all her strength, I-sim hauled Seon-ye hard and tore her away from Yu-seok. The flame leapt out into the Great Hall, but the fire didn't catch. As I-sim, who'd rushed to Seon-ye sprawled on the floor, checked on her, Yu-seok—who'd had his eyes closed—breathed perfectly fine and slowly opened his eyes. Looking around with an expression that knew nothing, Yu-seok asked everyone offhandedly: Yu-seok: Hm? Is it over already? Scene 08_04.

She'd heard Yu-seok's long story, but all Yeon-su could manage was a sneering laugh. With a light laugh and a deflated look, Yeon-su finally glared straight at Yu-seok and began raising 검은 모래(Geomeun-morae_Black Sand) with her hand. Yeon-su: Ah, SSibal, really. What, I don't get what you want from me. We'll know the result when we see it. You piece of shit. Yeon-su flung her seated body straight out and kicked Yu-seok's face hard with her foot. From Yu-seok's shattered head, Black Sand poured out.

Before she could even reset her stance, Yeon-su, feeling the sense that something had gone badly wrong, surrendered her ankle to Yu-seok's sand doll. The moment Yu-seok's sand doll, gripping Yeon-su's slim ankle, collapsed her stance, a dizzying shock struck Yeon-su's head. Yu-seok, now at Yeon-su's head, wrapped his fist in Black Sand and struck her head. Yeon-su, smashing through the café table and slamming to the floor, lay trampled under Yu-seok's foot with a look of bitter frustration.

Red blood ran from Yeon-su's head. Yu-seok: What a level. At Yu-seok's jab, Yeon-su laughed in a smirk and swung her hand wide to shatter her own head. The trace of Yeon-su, burst into Black Sand, blanketed the surroundings in Black Sand in an instant. Yeon-su, who'd been sitting unharmed in the table chair, twisted her neck this way and that. Yeon-su had never moved to begin with.

Yu-seok, who'd felt he'd risen, pinned Yeon-su, and trampled her, slowly turned his back around and glanced at Yeon-su sitting at ease, perfectly unharmed. Yeon-su crooked a finger at Yu-seok as if gesturing for him to sit back down. Yeon-su: What are you doing. Swatting mosquitoes? It's still cold out, even. Yu-seok turned his head a little further and checked even Yeon-jin, who'd been seated beside him. As if she'd already lost consciousness, Yeon-jin sat with her head drooped and eyes shut.

Yeon-su, having scattered Black Sand around her, let an easy smile slip again. Yeon-su: Thought you were the only special one? Sit your ass down, quick. There's still more our Seer had to say. Yu-seok: The Seer? Yeon-su: Ah! You got kicked out, didn't you, SSibal. Right. We don't have a position like Guide anymore. The kind of Guide only the higher-ups could ever meet — that's left only in the old records now, and these days there's only the Seer, who walks the road alongside us. So sit, you fucking bastard.

My neck hurts from looking up at you. He sensed this wouldn't be easy. That Yeon-su had grown to this extent was not something in Yu-seok's calculations. But he didn't bother to let it show. Slowly and at ease, Yu-seok pulled out a chair and seated himself again. Crossing his legs, Yu-seok gave a jerk of his chin and asked Yeon-su: Yu-seok: All right, what is it. This thing she said. Scene 08_05. So-hui was settled in Ji-young's residence.

Ji-young, her wet hair wrapped in a towel, sat on a 보료(Bo-ryo_cushioned mat) and gazed absently at the vanity mirror. So-hui and Si-yeon looked around the place. So-hui: Where's the Strategist? Ji-young: Sent her to the physician just in case. She kept whining she wouldn't go, so I kicked her backside and sent her off. So-hui and Si-yeon pursed their lips and nodded. Ji-young: So then, you saw how they'll come for me, through Chae-rim's eyes — is that right? So-hui: Yes. Without a doubt.

There's no side path either. The side path lies with me instead. I saw it through Yeon-su's eyes. Ji-young: That's how I came to understand why you couldn't see this one coming. So-hui: That's my limit, too. For now I can only see through the living, and even then, when someone slyly hides their identity from others so they can't be perceived — like the Strategist — I can't see properly at all. Ji-young: Hm. So then, who will I live as? Until I meet Yeon-hui again?

So-hui: Before that, Doe Yu-seok will come after sis to the very end. To sink you into the Chronostump. Ji-young: Ha! Hey, SSibal, anyone listening would think I'm about to get knifed. I took plenty of that this morning already, so never mind that — anyway, so, what then. So-hui: I had her leak it to Yeon-su on purpose. That way we can warn them in advance that we already know. Ji-young: And what if they twist that? So-hui: They won't be able to twist it.

That's why I'm the one stepping onto the fork where the side path lies. Ji-young: Hmm.... So-hui: Yeon-su's braced herself too. Of course, they can't know as far as the side path. Ji-young: If it changes from the root, then even taking the side path, it merges back into the trunk — right? So-hui: Because that's what a road is. It was a somewhat difficult conversation, but it seemed to have become one Si-yeon could roughly follow too, so she didn't press. She understood.

Ji-young nodded and asked Si-yeon: Ji-young: You — are you all right? Si-yeon: Me, well, I feel sorry. To sis. Because along the road I chose, sis is the one who ends up going through the hard part. Since Si-yeon didn't yet know the thing she'd truly have cause to be sorry for, Ji-young, as if that much resolve was enough, silently nodded. Ji-young: Yeah, I'm sorry too. I didn't want to take such a hard road if I could help it, but it seems there's no other way.

So-hui: Because the chances to step out as an enemy aren't many. No — it's certain. This is the only road. Ji-young nodded. Ji-young: So you two, be good to her too. I will be. Si-yeon: It's a shame it's so short, is all. That sis — scary as she is, she seemed like a damn good one to me. Hee-jin: That you regard me so, I am simply grateful. Hee-jin's clear, ringing voice came from beyond the door of Ji-young's residence.

Hee-jin opened the door, stepped in carefully, set down a cushion, and carefully seated herself upon it. So-hui and Si-yeon straightened their sprawled-out bodies and received Hee-jin. With a composed smile, Hee-jin gazed silently at the three of them. Ji-young: How are you feeling? Hee-jin: Truly, there was nothing wrong with me. I only got an earful from the physician. The backside the Oldest kicked hurt more. Ji-young: That's a relief, at least.

Hee-jin: That the three of you — no, even the Executive Secretary who isn't here right now — regard me so, I thank you. I, too, will see that you are not disappointed. At Hee-jin's small resolve, Ji-young nodded with a small sigh. Hee-jin: I only follow the path I've resolved upon. It is so. Just as the Seer said, it is the only road. The only one by which I can turn my back on everyone. The only way to choose a lonely road. I will not regret it. So, by all means.

Seated on the cushion, Hee-jin bent slightly at the waist. Bowing her head low, Hee-jin, in a clear, ringing voice, made her plea to them all. Hee-jin: I ask that the four butterflies, too, remain without regret, to the very end.