Chương 39: S.04 Memory of the Clock 07(05) - Parousia

Scene 05. Every water-trail that had been carrying death contracted at once with a huge, cracking boom into a single point. People watched the black water river drawn into that one point. Shrunk down to the size of a fingernail, the quieted black water droplet trembled and then spasmed, and a huge detonation went off right after. Black water fountained in every direction as the whole thing shattered. Ji-yeong dropped helpless out of the burst black sphere.

Soaked through with black water, coughing, taking the full shock of the fall, she couldn't even pull her body into shape for a moment. She lay balled up where she had fallen, only coughing. As she coughed, the black water she had taken in sprayed out onto the dirt of the Inspectorate yard. The Inspectorate yard, which had been filled with black water, didn't hold a single drop of it anymore. The black water — the River of the Dead — was no longer flooding. The place where it had flooded was gone too.

At the sound of Ji-yeong's coughing, the tightly shut gate of the Inspectorate broke open. Hee-jin and Chae-rim rushed up to help Ji-yeong, who was barely beginning to push herself up. Everyone watching the Inspectorate yard stood without a word. The small side-door that connects to the world of the dead — no one had ever broken one before. At least, most of headquarters had always known this. And now they were watching that door broken for the very first time.

They were watching something — someone — who could actually break a gate. Per Hee-jin's prediction, or perhaps her plan, the last political ground anyone could have stood on to keep Ji-yeong out of the Oldest's seat had been ripped up root and all. Ji-yeong, supported on both sides, rose to her feet. Everyone who had been silently watching her — everyone except Yu-rim and Ga-yeon — lowered a knee slowly and bowed to Ji-yeong. Ji-yeong stood without speaking and looked at Yu-rim and Ga-yeon.

Yu-rim and Ga-yeon turned, silent, and walked away. They had decided. They couldn't accept it. Ji-yeong didn't stop them, didn't call after them. Watching the two leave, Ji-yeong let out a small breath and carefully waved off Chae-rim and Hee-jin's support. Hee-jin and Chae-rim dropped to the ground and offered Ji-yeong a final bow.

Hee-jin: To the fifty-sixth The Oldest, following the will of the fifty-fifth The Oldest, the Former The Oldest Jeon I-sim — becoming the fifty-sixth The Oldest, Hee-jin couldn't finish. She couldn't bring herself to say the word congratulations. Ji-yeong knew this better than anyone. Ji-yeong smiled, strengthless, and offered a bow back to everyone. Ji-yeong: Fifty-sixth The Oldest, Kang Ji-yeong. I will stand at the front of The Covenant. I will stay at the foremost place.

I will face death first, and I will console every death that could not finish its will, Ji-yeong's voice stopped, briefly. But she did not shake. She picked her voice back up, steady, and continued. Ji-yeong: Following the will of the fifty-fifth The Oldest, the Former The Oldest Jeon I-sim, I will turn back every order of things that is to come. Ji-yeong finished the bow first and slowly stood up. Everyone who had bowed to her stood up slowly too. Ji-yeong: First — we begin the restoration of headquarters.

Standing reserves, 조정소 (Jo-jeong-so_Maintenance Office) staff, and any remaining Officers — please move quickly to bring the interior back in order. I will help. Also — every person whose life closed in the first cataclysm of the fifty-sixth — please record their names for me. I will perform the 위령 (Wi-ryeong_Consolation Rite) myself. Strategist. Acting Executive Secretary. Please confirm directly. Hee-jin: Understood. Receiving Ji-yeong's instruction, Hee-jin and I-seon stepped outside.

Following Hee-jin, many set out with her. In the quiet Inspectorate yard, only Chae-rim and Ji-yeong were left. Chae-rim stood silent, head down, staring at the Un-hye on Ji-yeong's feet, dazed. Ji-yeong reached for the shape of what Chae-rim was holding inside. She brushed Chae-rim's upper arm, and to Chae-rim — who stayed in place, weeping quietly — she passed a low voice. Chae-rim already knew who I-sim had been to Ji-yeong. She could not bring herself to look Ji-yeong in the eye.

To that Chae-rim, Ji-yeong reached out her hand first. Ji-yeong: Thank you. Chae-rim: I am sorry, The Oldest. I am so sorry. I, to the end, I could not protect the Former The Oldest, I — Ji-yeong: Really, it's okay. So — please — take care of me. Help me. Help me sleep with my legs stretched out. Chae-rim couldn't get words out. She could only nod. Ji-yeong wiped Chae-rim's tears away with her own hand, then lifted her voice, around the weight of it, a little higher.

Ji-yeong: Ah, I'm going out to the North Gate for a bit — come with me, would you? Ji-yeong's question was an instruction. An instruction, and a request, and the will to lift the whole weight of this and carry it forward. Matching Ji-yeong's intent, Chae-rim steadied her voice and answered. Chae-rim: You do not have to say it. I will always be beside The Oldest. Ji-yeong: Thank you. Scene 06_01. Ji-yeong's step moved toward the North Gate parking lot.

As always, Chae-rim's presence was tucked into the shadow at The Oldest's heels. Ji-yeong smoothed the still-unfamiliar hem of her Hanbok as she approached the several vehicles parked there. She went first to the black one. Ji-yeong bowed deep at the waist, and The Bishop, who had been sitting in the back seat to greet her, stepped down from the car. Receiving Ji-yeong's bow, The Bishop returned the deep bow. There was no order to who straightened first. The Bishop held Ji-yeong in a long, silent embrace.

Ji-yeong, held there, let out a light breath. The Bishop released her gently. Ji-yeong, still smiling lightly at The Bishop, dropped her head first. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Ji-yeong: Thank you. The Bishop. The Bishop: The Oldest Kang Ji-yeong. At the title The Bishop offered her first, Ji-yeong looked at The Bishop with bright eyes. The Bishop: From now on — whenever anything happens, come find me, any time. Ji-yeong: Understood.

As my mother did before me, I too will come without hesitation, any time. The Bishop nodded without a word and wore a broad smile across her wrinkled face. Ji-yeong: The Sixth Steward — how is she …. The Bishop: No need to worry. She's a Steward who received the grace of Contrition, which is why I sent Hye-rim. A little rest and she'll be fine. Ji-yeong: Thank you. Truly, for coming to help. At Ji-yeong's thanks, The Bishop smiled and nodded. Ji-yeong opened the car door and saw The Bishop in.

Jeong-seon, leaning across The Bishop's lap, looked up at Ji-yeong through the open window with a face full of wonder and grinned at her. Jeong-seon: Wow, sis. You really look like The Oldest. At Jeong-seon's perfectly unguarded words, The Bishop tapped Jeong-seon lightly on the back and tried to correct her. The Bishop: What do you mean, look like. She is the real The Oldest. Jeong-seon: Aiyo. Mom. Really. The Bishop: Watch it now. First Steward.

At The Bishop's plain scolding, Jeong-seon grumbled and sat herself back up straight. Ji-yeong offered another deep bow, and the halted car began pulling away, one by one. Most of the cars in the North Gate parking lot moved out. What was left was one familiar SUV. Ji-yeong walked her blue Un-hye over and approached the last parked car. Inside, Si-yeon was snoring, voicelessly untroubled by the rural stillness, and So-hui sat with her. Ji-yeong: Ahem.

Ji-yeong gave a light throat-clear and spoke sideways to So-hui, who had rolled down the driver's-side window. Ji-yeong: You didn't get hurt? Either of you. At Ji-yeong's voice, Si-yeon — who had been snoring — pried her eyes half open. Si-yeon: What, it's over? Inside? We eat now? At Si-yeon's half-asleep voice and her out-of-nowhere question, So-hui and Ji-yeong let out small laughs. So-hui: We didn't get hurt. How are the people? Ji-yeong: Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. And even in all that, nobody died.

So-hui: Well, that's a relief. So-hui nodded and let out a small sigh. There was a lot to say, a lot to hear — but they couldn't keep holding each other here. Ji-yeong knew that as well as anyone. Ji-yeong: Stay at the place I told you about. For a while. Okay? So-hui: Don't worry. As if there was no shaking the sleep off, Si-yeon rubbed her eyes and looked hard at Ji-yeong over her heavy double-lidded eyes. Ji-yeong: Thank you. All of you. For keeping me safe.

So-hui: Let's clear the rest of what we want to say on the weekend. Mom came out on weekends, and no one gave her grief for it, so it's fine. Ji-yeong nodded at So-hui's suggestion. Si-yeon, voice still groggy from sleep, threw a teasing little comfort at Ji-yeong. Si-yeon: Sis, the second you wake up you're already working. Ji-yeong lowered her knee and met Si-yeon's eyes — Si-yeon sitting beside So-hui. Ji-yeong: Si-yeon. Si-yeon: Yeah. Ji-yeong: Thank you. Si-yeon: What'd I do.

You're the one who hustled your ass off. Ji-yeong: Ah, and — don't worry about Seong-hyeon. Si-yeon: Do what you want. You can rough her up a little, it's fine. Ji-yeong: Eh, she stuck with me to the end though, how can I beat her up. Si-yeon: Anyway, you handle her from here on. Now. You're the boss of this place now. Ji-yeong: Right. So-hui: Sis. Ji-yeong looked over at So-hui, who had called for her. So-hui: Now — you really look like a grown-up, sis. All of ours. She couldn't answer.

At So-hui's voice, wrapped around encouragement and old grief, Ji-yeong only smiled. Straightening her bent knee, Ji-yeong rested her hand on the open window frame, twitched her fingertips, tapped the door lightly — and her head was more tangled than she'd like to admit. As if she couldn't yet bear to send them all away, she stayed there, staring vacantly, holding only a smile. Ji-yeong: Do you think I can do this well? A careful question.

A question carried on a drifting gaze, unable to settle — and the uneasy heart underneath it was impossible to hide. So-hui gently cradled Ji-yeong's hand. So-hui: Of course, sis. You'll do so well. You're the grown-up to all of us. You're mom's eldest daughter. Ji-yeong nodded and bit her lip. She blew a long breath out, and lifted her hand off the car door. Ji-yeong: If anything comes up, call me right away. Any of you. Okay? So-hui: Yeah. Sis, you too, be careful.

And don't forget — you've still got a long way to go before headquarters is put back together. Ji-yeong: Right. Thank you. As if to say go ahead, Ji-yeong tapped the top of the car lightly. Wearing a smile of some relief, Ji-yeong let them leave. The car that had been parked in the North Gate lot began moving. So-hui and Si-yeon lingered in view, bickering at each other. Left alone in the parking lot, Ji-yeong stood there, quiet, a little lonely.

At a small sigh, she turned around — and caught sight, belatedly, of Hee-jin and I-seon, standing at a considerate distance and silently picking at each other to give her space. The two of them criticizing each other without ever raising their voices was clearly not a new habit, because Chae-rim, still quiet in Ji-yeong's shadow, didn't even move to step in. Ji-yeong cleared her throat lightly and walked over toward the two of them, still bickering.

Catching the sense that Ji-yeong was approaching, they both bowed slightly at the waist. Hee-jin: The Oldest. The full count has been completed. Ji-yeong: How is everyone. I-seon: Fortunately, on our side there were no deaths. There were a number of close calls, I'm told, but the Grey Ash was distributed generously, and no one was lost. Ji-yeong: Thankfully. At least that.

I-seon: That said, the headquarters office wing, the Inspectorate, the Maintenance Office, and so on — the facility damage is the single largest problem, Hee-jin: For that matter, I believe the only course is to ask The Oldest directly. Catching Hee-jin's meaning, Ji-yeong nodded. I-seon: Um …. The Oldest. Ji-yeong: Yes? I-seon: The turncoats — what are you intending to do with them? Ji-yeong: Send them back. To the other side where they originally came from. Ji-yeong answered without a breath of hesitation.

Hearing the answer, I-seon glanced over briefly at Hee-jin. It seemed the thing I-seon had wanted to bring up, and the thing the two of them had been bickering about, was exactly this issue, because Hee-jin cut her eyes sideways at I-seon, glaring. Ji-yeong, catching the subtle tension between them, peeked between the two of them and asked. Ji-yeong: What? What are you two about to bite each other's heads off about? I-seon: The Oldest. No. Ji-yeong: Aiyo, starting the day like this. Really.

I-seon: If we thin their numbers by even one, Ji-yeong: If that were the right move, we wouldn't have let them walk off with a 파생품 (Pa-saeng-pum_Derived Relic) in the first place. I-seon, repeating what was essentially the same thing Hee-jin had been pushing, clearly still had more to say to Ji-yeong — a lot more. She just wasn't sure how to push it. Ji-yeong's read was not as dull as I-seon's. She smiled lightly, and picked up for I-seon what I-seon had been trying to say.

Ji-yeong: Mom — she couldn't bring herself to cast them out. Every single person here was a child of hers. Even when some of those children were the ones who closed her eyes, Mom, to the end, never resented them. No — she wouldn't have. Ji-yeong hadn't seen I-sim's final moment. With a long breath, she picked up her free-of-burden step and walked forward, right past the two of them. I-seon and Hee-jin walked after her. Ji-yeong's voice, briefly cut off, picked up again in time with her step.

Ji-yeong: But — I'm not Mom. Ji-yeong's stride and her voice stayed exactly as they had been: calm, even, warm. Ji-yeong: What Mom could not do — I will do. That's why I am here. She let her words trail back to the two of them following behind her. Ji-yeong: Give them an opening. I will step forward myself.

I will be the bait that delivers them that opening, I will let them mistake the opening for an opportunity, I will drive them all into a single corner, and — The intent in her voice carried sharp cold murder — but her voice itself stayed calm, exactly as before. Ji-yeong: Not a single one. Not one thing. I will not leave behind.