Chương 79: S.05 Time to Fly 01(07)

Scene??. The will to live is strong. As we have already seen. There is one fragment that remains, still. A fragment that has gone toward the beginning. We cannot intervene. The seed has been planted. Is that alone enough. For humans. Before that, the obstruction must first be cleared. The greatest being must be brought down. And then, what remains of life is undone by human hands. A will could be felt.

In a place where nothing was, where absence existed, a will that could be felt held its breath at the single weighty, low will. A human. A human. A human with life remaining. The heavily felt will, however slowly, continued its meaning. Cannot, by any means, defy the punishment that is death. A trickling sound began to be heard from afar. Follow the trace I have scattered. A current of water began to fill the place where, alongside absence, only will had been felt.

The place where nothing had been visible carried the sound of being filled, gradually, in all directions, and in an instant left behind no will, no sound, not even absence. Filling the place with only the breath conveyed by water. Scene 10. It was a chilly day, but not chilly enough for either Jeong-seon or the Bishop to wear thick clothes. With the black-prominent Traditional outer coat draped over her, alongside Lee Yeon, the three were passing across the bridge over the garden pond.

As if feeling sated, Jeong-seon was holding her belly fully and walking while holding the Bishop's hand. Jeong-seon: Ah, I'm so full. Hyang-rim: You should have eaten more. Jeong-seon: Eh, I already ate plenty. Seriously, any more and I'd burst. Lee Yeon: Indeed, you ate without holding back. Jeong-seon: The Seventh Steward was eating quite a lot earlier too. Lee Yeon: I happened to be hungry today as well. And the Bishop's cooking was truly delicious. Hyang-rim: Really? Has it gotten any better than before?

Lee Yeon: Yes. Of course. Truly, I think you could now open up a restaurant. Jeong-seon: The heat setting was a bit dicey, but even so, the roast duck was really tasty. Hyang-rim: YouTube is convenient for that sort of thing, after all. Jeong-seon, with a broad smile, stepped ahead of the walking pace, came around to face Hyang-rim, and gazed at Hyang-rim straight on. Jeong-seon: Right?? Lots of stuff to watch, right? Hyang-rim: You really watch a great many useless celebrity videos. Jeong-seon: Ah, why.

They're pretty. And handsome. Hyang-rim: Tsk, tsk. What good does it do to keep watching that. Jeong-seon: Fun? Enjoyment? Jeong-seon, moving back to Hyang-rim's side, fell into the same walking step. As though to soothe Jeong-seon's chattering excitement, Hyang-rim gripped the joined hand a little tighter, then called to Lee Yeon, who walked beside them. Hyang-rim: By the way, Yeon. Lee Yeon: Yes, Bishop. Hyang-rim: The Stewards reported to you that they were ready, did they?

Lee Yeon, for the briefest of moments, glanced at Jeong-seon's air and answered as though it were of no consequence. Lee Yeon: Yes. Hyang-rim: I see. Putting the regional branch halls in order will not be an easy matter. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Lee Yeon, somehow unable to readily answer, lightly nodded her head. Jeong-seon, more excited still, gripped Hyang-rim's hand tighter and pulled Hyang-rim along. Jeong-seon: Mom.

Did you see — the plum here has bloomed?? Hyang-rim: Hm? The plum has bloomed already? Jeong-seon bustled and led Hyang-rim toward the plum tree set in the garden beyond the bridge. Though not in full bloom, a single bud had broken open, faintly showing the white petals. Hyang-rim: It hasn't quite bloomed yet, has it. Jeong-seon: Eh, at this point it's good as bloomed. Soon the stamens will all come up too. Hyang-rim, carrying a knowing smile, slipped her hand from Jeong-seon's grasp in a gentle way.

Hyang-rim: Jeong-seon. Jeong-seon: Yes. Mom. Hyang-rim: Could you head out for a moment with Yeon and pick up a drink for your mother? This mother has reports to receive from the Stewards. Jeong-seon: Hm? What do you want to drink? Hyang-rim: I've had nothing but Sweet Rice Drink, and I'm tired of it. What would be good. Jeong-seon: Hm. I'll go and pick up a few. Whatever's left we can just put in the fridge and drink. With a bright smile, Jeong-seon pulled Lee Yeon's hand and left the spot.

Lee Yeon briefly glanced at Hyang-rim's expression. Hyang-rim, with a firm yet warm smile on her lips, only nodded as though to urge Lee Yeon to follow Jeong-seon's lead. Lee Yeon bowed her head lightly and followed Jeong-seon's bustle in step. Watching the two of them disappear in their flurry, Hyang-rim remained alone by the pond, gazing fixedly down into it. Bishop: Thank you for waiting. At the Bishop's small voice, the unfrozen pond began to send up bubbles.

The clear pond was instantly clouding and turning to a blackened green tarnish. The Bishop stood unmoving in place, gazing fixedly at the pond drawn into the blackened green hue. Toward the black presence that rose from the pond's center as though oozing thick, she bowed deeply at the waist. Bishop: What brings you here? The black current of water, with traces of green showing through, was shaping itself into a form.

The shaped form, without bothering to deliver a word, sent the black water rising up beyond a green leaf set at the pond's edge. The thickly risen black current came in contact with the black Everyday traditional shoes of the Bishop. 부패 (Bu-pae_The Weeping of Putrefaction): Shameless. Bishop: Could it possibly be more so than that of the members of the Envoy's Legion who defy the will of the Envoy?

The Weeping of Putrefaction: All the grace we conveyed, you have changed wholly, and the cunning you used so that we could do nothing against your kind — your true intent. Did you think we would not know. Bishop: Even if you knew, there was no other way. And even if you had known, you would not have been able to refuse. The Weeping of Putrefaction: I shall find them all and erase them one by one. The Bishop slowly raised the waist she had bowed, and stared fixedly at The Weeping of Putrefaction before her.

The deep eyes of the Bishop, which had borne their firm smile, were clearer now than they had ever been. Bishop: You would preserve your existence, yet abandon the very meaning that existence is meant to carry out. You are even more foolish than I had thought. The Weeping of Putrefaction: The traces left of you will also be coming to be reaped. Bishop: Do so. If you are able.

Smiling without a word, the Bishop withdrew one of her courteously joined hands and scattered black water toward the presence of The Weeping of Putrefaction. The head of The Weeping of Putrefaction, blown apart as if burst, left only the body standing there unfaded. As the body remained standing, the Bishop conveyed the remaining intent. Bishop: It was a shameless and trifling greed. I suppose it was fortunate that I had joined hands with existences as suitably shameless and trifling as my own measure.

Out of yearning for life and fear of death, all the traces and remnants you conveyed, I inherited. Yes. It is my own insufficiency. I shall not refuse it, nor deny it, nor — any longer — reproach myself for it. However, you must already know. The more you step forward, the more there will be to lose. The Weeping of Putrefaction: That remains to be seen. Bishop: Yes. Do as you will. Do so. Why do you stand there as you do?

The Weeping of Putrefaction, whose head had been blown apart, quietly reshaped its form and stood watching the Bishop's provocation in silence. Bishop: As you must have known, in this place, everything other than myself has already been transformed into the traces and remnants of the Envoy. I alone bear within me the traces of The Weeping of Retribution and the 화마 (Hwa-ma_The Weeping of Immolation). I have changed nothing of myself, and have been waiting.

This place is no longer such a foolish place, nor such a weakened one, as to merely watch the ravings of trifling creatures like yourselves. The corroded presence within the pond began to ripple. Bishop: This is no longer a place where your foul currents can wander as they please. The pond, dyed in greenish black, was being swallowed by a deeper, more dreadful darkness. Devouring even the dim black-green hue, the deepest abyss filled the pond.

Upon the filled black surface, the rippling waves began to sharpen themselves like blades. The black currents of water, surging up in an instant like needles, shattered the presence of The Weeping of Putrefaction entire. Scene 11. One of Si-yeon's eyes, which had been facing the cool moonlight of the garden, had been stained black. Beside her, set side by side, So-hui — who had been firmly holding Si-yeon's cold hand — was watching Si-yeon fixedly.

Si-yeon, having been looking at the moon, blinked her eyes a few times. Shaking her head, she sent back the black veins that had risen along the rim of her eye, then drew her chest open a little wider and let out a small sigh. So-hui: Looks like we were right. At Si-yeon's small sigh, So-hui delivered her words as if murmuring to herself. Si-yeon nodded. Letting out a small breath, Si-yeon, as though trying to organize her thoughts, asked So-hui. Si-yeon: This one's what, Putrefaction? You said Putrefaction, right?

So-hui: Yeah. Pulling So-hui's hand a little closer, Si-yeon led the way into the side quarters. It was not bitter cold, but no night after sundown could remain warm. To keep So-hui — whose breath was beginning to show — from feeling any colder, Si-yeon walked with brisker steps and opened the side quarters' entrance, letting So-hui in first. Hearing Gyeong-seo's noisy snoring from the second floor, Si-yeon twitched her lips.

Yeon-su, who had finished the dishes, was wringing the last of the water from her hands at the sink as she turned to face the two who had come in. Yeon-su: Sis, I'm all done, so I'll head up. Si-yeon: Hey. Are you going to be able to sleep? With her snoring like that? At Si-yeon's ribbing, Yeon-su pursed her lips and pulled earphones from her pocket. With one ear already plugged in, Yeon-su made an exaggeratedly fine expression and headed for the wooden staircase to the second floor.

After Yeon-su too had left the spot, Si-yeon slowly seated her body on the sofa. So-hui plopped herself down on the bare floor in front of the sofa. Settling her body on the heated floor, she warmed the body that had been shivering outside. Si-yeon, seated on the sofa, ran her hand wearily across her face and let slip a small voice. Si-yeon: The one inside Kwon Su-jeong — it was a bit different from this one. Kind of revolting. So-hui: It's something rotten.

It's a natural thing, but it's not going to look pleasant. Si-yeon: If we went over now, would it be a bit much? So-hui: Are you uneasy? At So-hui's question, Si-yeon could not readily continue her words. As if unable to choose the words she ought to say, Si-yeon, seeming to feel her own frustration with herself, straightened her back. Si-yeon: Just, makes me think of Mom. Just, something. Kind of. So-hui: If we went over now, Jeong-seon might have an even harder time of it. Si-yeon: Why?

So-hui: Because Jeong-seon isn't unaware of the end, either. Scene 12. Jeong-seon, who had been riding in Lee Yeon's car, sat silently in the passenger seat with her head bowed. As if finding Jeong-seon's air puzzling, Lee Yeon, while driving, briefly glanced at Jeong-seon. With her head bowed low, Jeong-seon delivered a calm voice to Lee Yeon. Jeong-seon: Teacher. Lee Yeon was quietly listening to the voice of Jeong-seon, who had called to her. Jeong-seon: To be honest, I know.

It was a short remark that could not be answered. Lee Yeon, listening quietly to Jeong-seon's words, kept on driving in silence. Jeong-seon: I'm just doing this so I won't regret it. Why Mom, over these past few months, has sent everyone in the main hall outside one by one, and left only Teacher and me — I know why. Lee Yeon's hand on the wheel tightened its grip.

Jeong-seon: Why Mom, over these past few months, told me — not herself — to raise the black currents of water at every gathering, why she asked Driver Lim ajeossi to take me out for trips, I know. Jeong-seon was, if anything, delivering her voice in a composed tone, but she could not hide the tremor she carried within it. Jeong-seon: I don't blame anyone. Not Mom, not Teacher. Not the sisses. And not Auntie I-sim either.

Mom said you just have to do your best, and as long as you do your best and are happy, that's enough. Happiness too, the day will come when it ends, and after that, you'll be able to face another happiness. So, just — Jeong-seon raised the head she had bowed and let out a great sigh. Down Jeong-seon's round cheek, tears rolled. Jeong-seon: Can't we just go back to Mom? Saying we couldn't get the drinks.