Chương 57: S.04 Memory of the Clock 10(04)

Scene 10. FLASHBACK I-sim, stained with blood, was hauling her wound-covered body along with great effort. She was an I-sim younger even than the present Ji-yeong. I-sim, who could only barely stand, moved her labored steps and stood squarely beside U-hyeon, who had collapsed to the floor and was now spilling only black current of water. I-sim: Why, sis. Why did you do it. U-hyeon, fallen, kept forcing up black water through her mouth, and spoke mournfully. U-hyeon: I'm greedy.

They told me, if I found The Key and got rid of it, I could hold The Weeping of Retribution within me. They promised it would dwell in me. Then I could take the seat in place of the Bishop. The Bishop was struggling. So I thought, I had to take it over. I-sim: Do you know how many children died? Do you know how many children Hyang-rim sis saved?? Sis!! The instant I-sim's cry of agony broke out, her wound split open, blood poured out, and her knees collapsed.

Watching the precarious state of I-sim, who had sunk down beside her, U-hyeon slowly shook her head. U-hyeon: Don't bother. I lost anyway. I-sim: The wounded children, the dead children — what are you going to do about them. U-hyeon: What's there to do. The dead just stay dead, the living live as the living, they'll get on however they're meant to. As their lots have it. At U-hyeon's mocking, I-sim collected her voice and passed on a steady tone. I-sim: Do you, know why Hyang-rim sis was struggling.

U-hyeon: Because I was trying to take The Weeping of Retribution and The Weeping of Negation in myself. Because she thought her own seat would grow precarious. I-sim: She did it because she cherished you, sis. Because it looked like you'd in the end go astray, she came to our Guide, heard everything for what it was, and was suffering. U-hyeon: Ah, SSibal, my fault again then. U-hyeon slowly raised her body. U-hyeon, whose wound had healed at some point, looked down at I-sim and let out a galling, sneering laugh.

U-hyeon: You. You're really hypocritical. You lot, you've always killed candidates. What, are you special? What is a candidate. Coming charging in saying you'd save them and getting yourselves into that state. Shouldn't you be thanking me for doing your work in your stead? Why you'd come throwing this Jiral my way, I really cannot understand. U-hyeon, who had been seated on the floor, gathered her body again and rose fully upright.

Looking down at I-sim, who could not even straighten her knees, with disdain, U-hyeon kicked out at her. I-sim, who could neither block nor avoid U-hyeon's kick, vomited blood and rolled to the side. U-hyeon calmly raised her foot and pressed down firmly on I-sim's neck. I-sim: They are my children. Because of me, they are my children who lost even their parents. U-hyeon: Then, that means it's your responsibility. Not mine. I-sim: Yes. That's right. It's my responsibility, that I didn't stop your greed, sis.

If I had only known earlier, I would have stopped you from ending up at odds with Hyang-rim sis. I would have stopped you from spending time with those dead-rotten things!!! Yes!! It's my responsibility!!! U-hyeon, standing over I-sim's neck, sneered and pressed down even harder on I-sim's neck. I-sim, with blood flowing from her mouth, eyes, and ears, began to grimace as if in agony.

As a sound began to come from beneath the mounted foot — as if I-sim's neck-bone were beginning to break — a black current of water poured out fiercely, and U-hyeon's body was hurled away with great force. Hyang-rim, having drawn in a great deal of someone else's black water, looked down at U-hyeon, sprawled on the floor, with eyes that drifted no emotion at all. I-sim, whose breath had only barely been kept hanging on just before her neck-bone broke, coughed out blood-laced spittle to the floor.

Hyang-rim, supporting I-sim, drew her behind her back and laid her down. Without a single word, Hyang-rim lifted her body, slowly turned around, and looked at U-hyeon. U-hyeon, without a word, was cackling and pulling herself together out of the black water, then slowly rose back upright to face her. U-hyeon: Honestly, the Bishop's seat — I didn't covet it. Hyang-rim: I am not curious. U-hyeon: Just. I thought it would be best if I were the one who shone brightest.

Whether the Covenant or the Black Doctrine, I thought it would be good if I were the one calling the shots. Hyang-rim: Was that, even possible. U-hyeon: You already moved The Key out, didn't you? The real Key. Only the empty husks got cut down. What a letdown. After they realized it had failed, they took back the powers too. The cheap pieces of shit. Hyang-rim: Why did you do it. U-hyeon: They told me they'd give me my life back. The Weeping of Retribution.

After it had done what it wanted, they said it would give me my life back, so I said I'd do it. They said they'd give me power too. Every power that can be wielded while alive. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Hyang-rim: There is no such thing. U-hyeon: Maybe not. They've got such loose mouths, those things. Even I couldn't quite believe wielding the power of death while still alive. But, what's there to lose?

Anyway, The Key has always been done away with by those SSibal bitches. I don't know how this time is supposed to be any different, but if they bothered to borrow my hand, and if there was something I could gain out of it, it's not a deal at a loss. So I bit! U-hyeon's mockery cooled to a chill. U-hyeon: Bit, and what — the so-called powers or whatever Jiral, having taken all of that, she's weaker than a woman who's still alive. That bitch is far stronger than me.

Hyang-rim: She is my younger sister, who followed me. She was your younger sister, who followed you. U-hyeon: What a powdered-bean mess. You used to say I was like a daughter to you. That bitch used to call me elder sister too. This is an utter powdered-bean mess. No, wait. If I'm not like a daughter, then it isn't a powdered-bean mess either. Ah. So that was bullshit then. Wasn't it?? That, U-hyeon shaped a black current of water in her hand. U-hyeon's two pupils turned black.

U-hyeon: Saying I was like your daughter. Hyang-rim, wordlessly, closed her eyes firmly, and without even shaping black water, stood there in place. U-hyeon balled her fist and lunged ferociously. The black current of water that had charged up to before the Bishop came to a sudden halt. The fist, blocked by the black water shaped like a curtain, was trembling. Before U-hyeon could draw near, I-yeon, who had drifted the curtain forward, swept the black curtain that had blocked Hyang-rim aside as if shaking it off.

U-hyeon was hurled away by the black current of water, flung off into the distance. Skewers shaped from black water drove into U-hyeon's two eyes, where she lay sprawled on the floor. Her screams blocked off her two eyes along with the cries. As I-yeon was about to draw the sword at her waist and strike off U-hyeon's neck, Hyang-rim — who had remained standing upright, her eyes only firmly closed — passed a heavy voice to I-yeon. Hyang-rim: Seventh Steward. I-yeon's hand came to a sudden halt in place.

Hyang-rim: I-sim. Take her, to the headquarters. I-yeon, who had come to a halt, looked at Hyang-rim briefly, then returned the sword in her hand to its sheath. Supporting the collapsed and unconscious I-sim, I-yeon gestured to her subordinates waiting at the entrance, carefully gathered up I-sim, and stepped outside. Hyang-rim brought her body further inside. The black water had blinded U-hyeon's two eyes, but the wounds were straining to come back.

As if the pain were felt even more severely, U-hyeon could not even stop her screams. To the ears of U-hyeon, who was crying out, Hyang-rim's steady voice arrived as if trembling. Hyang-rim: All, will be forgotten. None will remember. But, I will not erase your existence. I cannot, with my own hand, take the breath of a child I myself raised. The Sixth Steward will watch over you, will keep watch on your breath. Do nothing. From now on, you are a child who has nothing whatsoever to do with me.

Hyang-rim wordlessly looked at the blue thread that briefly showed itself on U-hyeon's wrist. Hyang-rim: Sixth Steward. At Hyang-rim's steady voice, Hye-rim, who had been not far off, came in. Leaving U-hyeon, who was barely steadying her screams while clutching her eyes, Hyang-rim raised her body. Hyang-rim: Go to the far southern lands. I will leave your rank in place. Watch over her. Hye-rim: Understood. Hyang-rim, leaving behind those brief words, with steps grown heavy, left the place. Scene 11.

A sunlight that had at length tilted. Looking out at the wide sky cast in only a chill violet hue, Su-jeong looked back down through the cafe's full-length glass at the headquarters. It was a high-rise cafe set in a remote countryside. With the early-falling sunlight, the customers began emptying their seats one by one.

Su-jeong and Hee-jin, seated in silence, looked vacantly with unfocused eyes at the cafe interior, which had at some point been filled in by indoor lighting, with the vanished sunlight now between them. Su-jeong: One last time, I'll ask again. Holding the past she had silently called up even more deep within her, Su-jeong asked Hee-jin in a heavy voice. Su-jeong: Do you really, all the way to the end, think you can go through with it? Hee-jin turned her face and looked at Su-jeong.

Hee-jin: If I hadn't, I wouldn't have chosen, or started. Scene 12. Ji-yeong walked toward her own car, which had been parked. Beside the sleekly built vintage vehicle, a heavy-looking jeep was set. Ji-yeong let out a deep sigh and put a voice of languid annoyance. Ji-yeong: Whoever owns the car, please come out already. A night that had grown deep. Even the moonlight, which should have stood crisp and bright in the cold weather, was nowhere to be seen.

As Ji-yeong moved her steady steps and tread on the rustling fallen leaves, beyond the dim mist, a presence with a tall, towering build emerged faintly. Even at the presence drawing closer and closer, Ji-yeong, without tensing, faced the approaching presence head-on. The presence that had drawn near bent his great height and offered Ji-yeong a deep greeting first. Yu-seok: The Oldest.

Yu-seok, having called out Ji-yeong's title in measured tones, only after receiving Ji-yeong's light return of the courtesy, carefully raised the back he had bent. Yu-seok: I thought this would be the only place you would come. Forgive me my discourtesy. Ji-yeong: It's fine. Well, it's not as if discourtesy will only be this once. At Ji-yeong's bold voice, Yu-seok, with a light smile drifting on his face, spoke to Ji-yeong. Yu-seok: I heard the news that you had stepped out this morning.

As it happens, today is a day when the time around the 시간수 (Si-gan-su_The Chronostump) passes more slowly than the original 이승 (I-seung_the world of the living) time, so I was looking for an appropriate moment. Since you had not yet left, I was waiting briefly. If I have been discourteous, please forgive me. Ji-yeong looked at Yu-seok with indifference. Yu-seok: Yeon-hui, is she safely —— At Yu-seok's light question, Ji-yeong, with a sigh, cut Yu-seok's question off, and asked as if pressing him.

Ji-yeong: Is there something you have to say. At Ji-yeong's chill question, Yu-seok, in a courteous bearing, passed on the rest of his words to Ji-yeong. Yu-seok: Monday, I heard that you have summoned the eight Masters of the Province. Ji-yeong: They're staying there anyway, aren't they? Yu-seok: Not all of them. Ji-yeong, folding her arms, drew a smile at Yu-seok with a slightly more relaxed expression. Ji-yeong: Well, that's a small mercy at least. Yu-seok: I would also like to pay a visit. Ji-yeong: Hm.

I don't know if there'll be a seat. The Great Hall's guest chamber is quite spacious, though. Yu-seok: That day, I came to call on you so that you might decide on my fate. Ji-yeong: I'll handle that on my own, so don't you worry. Did you come just to talk about that sort of thing? Yu-seok: Of course not. Ji-yeong: Then? Yu-seok: The 안내자 (Annae-ja_Guide), I would like to meet briefly, sepa —— Ji-yeong did not hide her sneer.

Folding her arms, at the sneer she passed across as she cut off Yu-seok's words, Yu-seok could not, in the end, pass on the rest of what he had to say. Ji-yeong: Listen up, soon-to-be-deposed Executive Secretary. Yu-seok: Yes. Ji-yeong: Are you going to meet So-hui to, what, get her contact and ask her on a date? Yu-seok: Even if I were to, would you grant the permission? Ji-yeong: Bullshit needs to know its limits before I'd hear it out. Ji-yeong's relaxed inner self was, in truth, beyond complicated.

Though she carried a chill sneer, the answer was as good as decided. The decision had also already been made of the situation. Yu-seok: I believe you have, first, been guided. Ji-yeong did not speak. Yu-seok: After Monday, I will be waiting. If you set the day, simply pass the word. As Yu-seok bowed deeply and was about to turn and head toward his own car, Ji-yeong, with a darkened look, answered.

Ji-yeong: On the day, just after the 자시 (Ja-si_Hour of the Rat), When Ji-yeong's words came out with difficulty, Yu-seok, who had turned to leave, halted his steps abruptly. Ji-yeong: I was told they would come. To save me. Hearing Ji-yeong's brief confirmation, Yu-seok turned his body around, and in the very direction he was facing Ji-yeong, lowered himself in a 큰절(Keun-jeol_The Great Bow). Ji-yeong, wordless, watched all of Yu-seok's courtesies through, then passed her remaining words to Yu-seok, who had risen.

Ji-yeong: I, am not like mother. Yu-seok wordlessly, with his back bent, was listening to Ji-yeong's words. Ji-yeong: I, can kill anyone who turns a blade against my people. And I will. At Ji-yeong's firm resolve, Yu-seok, with a light smile drifting on his face, spoke to Ji-yeong. Yu-seok: Yet, you did not. With me right before you. Ji-yeong: Because it was a request, that I'm letting you live. Yu-seok: Then, Yu-seok, having straightened the back he had bent, was drifting an unwavering smile.

Yu-seok: The Oldest, you also, will not be greatly different from the former The Oldest.