Chương 71: S.04 Memory of the Clock 12(06)_The LAST of S.04

Scene 08. EPILOGUE 01 So-hui, Si-yeon, and Ji-young were lying side by side on infirmary beds. Humidifiers placed at each of their pillow sides were softly running, all three turned amiably toward them, but the three lay there saying not a word. What broke the stillness of the three was the sound of snoring from Ji-young and Si-yeon, set in place at either end. And, simultaneous with that broken stillness, So-hui — lying in the middle of the three beds set side by side — sprang up irritably. So-hui: Ah!! SSibal!

Just!! Seriously!! Yoon-ji and I-seon, who had been quietly watching the three and noting their condition, looked at So-hui in startled stares. I-seon: Uh, uh-uh. Yoon-ji: Uh, this is — she has regained consciousness, but, uh. Uh-uh. I-seon hurriedly stepped outside, sought out the Physician and Hee-jin, and brought them in. Hee-jin approached So-hui — sitting in the middle huffing — and bowed her waist deeply first. So-hui, belatedly registering the people who had gathered around her, lightly cleared her throat.

Matching Hee-jin's greeting, So-hui, while still seated, also carefully bowed her waist. Physician: Guide, are you all right. So-hui, finding the Physician's honorific awkward, with a vacant expression could not readily convey an answer to the Physician's question. So-hui slowly nodded. She conveyed her belated answer a little awkwardly. So-hui: … Uh …. Y … yes, Physician. Physician: That is a relief. And, the other two, hm.

To the point that the Physician's voice was barely audible, Ji-young and Si-yeon were snoring severely, mumbling under the rustling of their bed covers. So-hui, glancing back and forth at the two of them, watched the Physician for a beat with a still vacant expression. So-hui: Um, ajeossi, no, that — Physician. Physician: Yes. Guide. So-hui: How long, have I — Physician: It has been three days since you lost consciousness. So-hui:?? What — then we, fell asleep on December 31st, and January ….

So-hui, having righted her vacant gaze, drew a startled look across her face. So-hui: So we slept for a year??? Hee-jin: Uh, ah. Um, Guide. But, the Lunar New Year is still ahead. Just thinking of it as a passed date would — So-hui: Ha. Didn't think we'd sleep for a year. Ha. I-seon: Um, Guide. So-hui drew her hand from her brow and, for the first time, registered I-seon's careful voice. So-hui set her hand down and adjusted her posture to face I-seon. So-hui: N-nice to meet you. I'm Jo So-hui.

During the last crisis, no one had time to spare, and there were circumstances on my end as well, so I wasn't able to greet you properly. I'm sorry. I-seon, at So-hui's apology, in fluster bowed his waist deeply. I-seon: Ah, no. That. That's, that. It's just. I-seon, who had been staring intently at So-hui's face, with an as-yet-unaccustomed look had her eyes redden. It was the apologetic feeling that rose the moment she saw So-hui.

I-seon — left with a debt toward Yeon-hui — turned her head briefly to hide the tears welling up. Reading I-seon's intent a little belatedly, So-hui shifted her body as if to compose herself and took I-seon's hand. So-hui: It's all right. Director. Yeon-hui sis won't be hurt by it. Truly. I-seon, without a word, let her tears fall. I-seon: If only I had been able to help. If I had only kept my wits about me, then Yeon-hui, the Former The Oldest — So-hui slowly shook her head. So-hui: Don't worry.

Yeon-hui sis, no, the Executive Secretary. Will be back soon. I-seon, dropping fat tears like chicken droppings, nodded with full force. I-seon: Thank you. And, I'm sorry. At the brief commotion that filled the ward, Ji-young opened her eyes and lifted her body. Scratching at her long hair — which had not been washed for quite a while — with vigor, she conveyed a thoroughly hoarse voice to everyone. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Ji-young: Aung. Why.

Again. Why are you making our Director cry. Jo So-hui. So-hui: Ah, seriously. I'm not the one who made her cry!? Hee-jin, rolling her eyes and reading the surrounding cues, carefully began to step back. To leave the squabble between So-hui and Ji-young to themselves, she carefully ushered everyone outside. Even Si-yeon, who had eventually been jolted awake by the loud voices, joined in. Si-yeon: Argh!! Let us sleep!! Sleep!! Seriously, what the hell, this early in the morning!! So-hui: YAH!!

Do you have any idea what time it is!? What "early in the morning" nonsense!! Ji-young: Aung, don't know. I'm gonna sleep more. You two can fight on your own. Ji-young pulled the blanket she had been covered with up like a hood and toppled her body back onto the bed. At the same moment Ji-young toppled, Si-yeon lifted her body that had been lying down, scratched at her matted hair vigorously, and looked at So-hui with half-opened eyes. Si-yeon: Your body, all right?

So-hui, who had been thoroughly steeped in irritation, softened her expression at Si-yeon's question and nodded. So-hui: Yeah. You. Si-yeon: Me, well. After hearing of So-hui's intactness, Si-yeon, too, mumbled as if to herself and lay her body back down on the bed. Si-yeon: That's a relief. Then, wake me when it's time to eat. So-hui: Ha. So-hui, glancing back and forth at the two, drew a "I give up" look across her face and flopped onto the bed in a sprawl. Scene 09.

EPILOGUE 02 It was not yet at the point where flowers could bloom. The cool weather still held on, but the sun lingered fairly long, to the point where one could think the bitter cold had all passed by. Ji-young, without setting Ghost Light within her quarters, briefly looked beyond the evening sun pouring in. As a cold wind blew in through the opened window, So-hui — seated across from Ji-young — burst into a sneeze. So-hui: Ah!! Just!! Close it!! I'm gonna freeze to fucking death!!

Ji-young hurriedly lifted her body and, at So-hui's chiding, closed the window she had left open. So-hui: Now that I'm not living with Kang Ji-young, Lee Si-yeon's the one going around opening windows!! Ah!!! Seriously!! A wad of tissue was stuffed into So-hui's nose. To So-hui's chiding glare in irritation, Si-yeon — seated next to So-hui — opened her eyes wide and chided back. Si-yeon: Yah, why are you throwing a fit at me when I'm just sitting here??

While the rough words went back and forth between So-hui and Si-yeon, Hee-jin — who had taken her seat between Ji-young and the two and was sitting courteously — cleared her throat softly. To preempt the vulgarities of the three, who seemed to have forgotten her existence, she reminded them of her presence again. Only then did So-hui and Si-yeon, taking the cue, gently ask Ji-young, who was seated across from them. So-hui: Now, Headquarters has been settled, right?

Ji-young pursed her lips and turned her head as if deferring the answer to Hee-jin. Hee-jin, taking Ji-young's cue, calmly conveyed an answer in her composed voice. Hee-jin: Provincial inspections do remain, but as you know, the Northwest Province will, to the very end, remain an obstacle. Apart from that, the cleanup is fully done. Major forces — at least among the living — there are no major forces. So-hui: Ah, sorry. Strategist. Because I haven't been using honorifics with Ji-young, no, with The Oldest.

To So-hui's apology, conveyed alongside her cue-reading, Hee-jin smiled and shook her head. Hee-jin: There is, however, still something that remains. Right now, they are holding their breath, but as you know, The Weeping of Putrefaction has moved. Far more quickly than I had thought. Si-yeon: The thing my parasite made — and it's not even listening to a damn word. Hee-jin: The greed to perdure — to keep oneself in being — is the same whether for the living or the dead.

Not that it can't be understood, but I do think it's foolish. To Hee-jin's voice, which kept replying in honorifics even to Si-yeon's mutter, Si-yeon — who had been sitting comfortably with her two legs stretched out — shifted her seated posture slightly and read Hee-jin's cue. Watching such Si-yeon and So-hui, Ji-young kept twitching her lips. Ji-young, after a brief small clearing of her throat, asked Hee-jin. Ji-young: Then, how do you intend to carry it on.

Hee-jin: Truthfully, on that very matter, the Bishop personally contacted me today. To Hee-jin's careful voice, no one was able to carry on a word for a beat. Scene 10. EPILOGUE 03 The Bishop carefully lifted her teacup and brought it to her lips. Jeong-seon, seated across from the Bishop, was listening to the Bishop's solitary words. Bishop: Lamentable as it may be, you all know it. Contrition is a battle between oneself and oneself.

Apart from the husk that is the Envoy's Legion, the essence is even more terrifying. Right now it seems to have wrapped up well, but for that very reason, I was told it would be a difficult first battle. Jeong-seon: Even so, the sisters won. They were beautiful, in a way that was true to themselves. It was sorrowful, it was distressing, but the sisters did not lose. Bishop: The last piece must be shaped, just as the path the Guide saw. It will be hard.

When four butterflies are set in place, four shadows are made as well. The clearer the day, the deeper the shadow, and if the shadow is deep, the fierce heat the butterfly takes on is just as severe. Jeong-seon: That is why you yourself, Bishop, intend to help Ji-young sis, in person. Bishop: How great can my help be. I just hope I am not a burden. The Bishop set her teacup down and rose from her seat.

With the chat that had been wandering on the dais set within the wide chapel as her last word, the Bishop moved her step. Hyang-rim, who had taken one step, halted again and took the hand of Jeong-seon, who had been following behind her. Hyang-rim: Today, is there anything you'd like to eat. Jeong-seon: Hmm. Hyang-rim: What about that gyeran-mari you tried before, the one that didn't quite work out. Jeong-seon was glad to be able to encounter the Bishop's wrinkled, kindly smile so often. It was a firm, warm smile.

Jeong-seon drew a little closer along the Bishop's arm and pondered something she'd want to eat. Jeong-seon: Then, alongside the gyeran-mari, please grill some Spam too. Hyang-rim: All right. Let's go. Let's eat breakfast and then move on. Driver Lim should be here soon — shall we have a meal together? Jeong-seon, holding the Bishop's hand tightly, nodded and followed in time with the Bishop's stride, with steps so cheerful that her walk turned bright. Scene 11. EPILOGUE 04 It was after the day had dimmed faintly.

Ji-young, having changed into comfortable clothes, came out from behind the folding screen and flopped down onto the cushioned mat. To Hee-jin, who had not yet left, Ji-young asked. Ji-young: Working hours are over, so Strategist, why don't you head in too. If there's nothing more to do. Hee-jin: The Oldest. Ji-young: Yes. Hee-jin: The Weeping of Putrefaction and the Weeping of Reflux will not, unlike Contrition, hesitate.

Ji-young, with her comfortable clothes still on and her legs crossed, nodded as she gathered her long hair and bound it back. After tying her hair neatly, she let out a small sigh and asked Hee-jin. Ji-young: Are the preparations, coming along. Hee-jin: Yes. I am only watching for the timing. To Hee-jin's calm reply, Ji-young, with the corners of her mouth twitching, answered. Ji-young: You know, this is really quite funny. To Ji-young's question — without ill intent — Hee-jin watched Ji-young without a word.

Ji-young: Asking the person who is going to crush me, how far along the preparations have come. Hee-jin could not answer. To the smile-laden, harmless chiding from Ji-young, Hee-jin only listened in stillness, without a single reply. Ji-young, smiling a little more brightly, called Hee-jin. Ji-young: Sis. To Ji-young's unguarded form of address, only then did Hee-jin meet Ji-young's eyes with a briefly wavering gaze. Ji-young: Hee-jin sis.

When Ji-young called again in a tone that was measured yet not heavy, Hee-jin — belatedly — nodded without a word. Ji-young: I, probably wouldn't have done it. Like you, sis. Never. Hee-jin: Because only I, — To Ji-young's consolation, Hee-jin let out a voice with effort. Hee-jin: Because only I, can do it. To Hee-jin's certainty and firm answer, Ji-young smiled a little more brightly. Ji-young: Yeon-hui said it to me too. That she would have been the same.

I, too, even if I went back to the old days when sis is said to have rescued me, I, like Yeon-hui, would have made the same choice. So that — Ji-young rose from her seat with an exclamation close to a sigh. Ji-young, having risen from her seat with effort, held out her hand first to Hee-jin, who could not bring herself to rise. Hee-jin took Ji-young's cold hand and rose from her seat. The rest of Ji-young's words did not carry on.

The people who had endured too many things to carry on those words weighed too much upon her. Hee-jin — who could not fail to know the intent behind Ji-young's not carrying on — slowly let go of Ji-young's hand and drew her courteous posture back into place. Hee-jin: Do not worry. The Oldest. The grace I received from that small child, no, the price of a life. I will, without fail, repay it. S. 04_END