NOVEL WEB Chapter 86
As soon as we popped back into reality, the first thing we saw was Justitia running towards us.
She rushed over, shouting if we were okay and hugging us tightly, saying she was so glad we were back. I had no idea how to respond.
“Uh… it’s a bit early to be relieved, don’t you think? Are you okay? Where the heck did you go? Can you explain what on earth happened?”
Justitia immediately placed a hand on both Blanca and my shoulders, firing off questions like a waterfall, demanding to know all the details.
“First, could you let go of this for a second? I need to check something.”
Justitia reluctantly released Blanca. Blanca stepped back a bit and then started spewing out all sorts of red, blue, and black gases or liquids from her body.
“Alright… looks like your abilities are back to normal. No problems with your body.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief. Then can you answer the rest?”
Blanca immediately agreed and quickly relayed the essential points to Justitia, of course omitting her fear and past.
“A monster embodying fear… that must’ve been tough. I won’t ask what you saw, since it must be a painful story.”
Justitia looked at Blanca with a sympathetic expression, causing a moment of confusion.
Wait a minute. Am I the only one who knows that Blanca is a killer?
Justitia’s expression was definitely not that of someone looking at a child who had tortured and killed people in the lab, even if they were the ones who first tortured Blanca.
It looked more like she was viewing a truly pitiful child. I couldn’t read it properly since she was wearing sunglasses.
“Anyway, it seems you’re both safe mentally and physically. That’s great news.”
“Safe is a stretch. I kind of hypnotized Minho halfway… heh.”
“Wait a minute. That was hypnosis? You hypnotized me?”
As I asked her, putting a spanner in her works, Blanca sheepishly put her hands together in apology, trying to explain.
“I had no choice! We had to get rid of the fear to escape! Plus, there’s no need to worry too much.”
She clarified that the hypnosis was barely a temporary suggestion, likely fading within a few hours.
Blanca said it, and I got it. Since they couldn’t use tranquilizers, they had no choice but to resort to traditional methods.
But that wasn’t the issue. Why did she know how to do hypnosis? That’s the problem.
Moreover, even if I set that aside, there were mountains of issues. First, her affiliation. Is she with Heros Company or the Liberators?
If she was with Heros Company, it wouldn’t be strange for them to accept her even if she had killed all their researchers, as long as she had abilities. But looking at her past, she didn’t seem to fit with them.
If the Liberators were more likely, even then I was still unsure if she was really one of them.
Except for one exception, it was a material connection that I hadn’t opened my heart to.
The Liberators had this characteristic that all of them were somehow devoted to the ‘Boss.’
So if she was a Liberator, that one exception would be the ‘Boss.’ But based on how she acted in that pitch-black place, that assumption was also murky.
At that moment, she literally placed her life in my hands.
If I had messed up her control device by mistake or on purpose, she would have died right then and there.
She trusted me that much and took my side.
Since the beginning of the semester, she had always shown me kindness and interest.
That alone was enough to make me think that I might be that ‘exception.’
Even if she had a lot of secrets. Even if she had things she hid from even me, the only exception.
She was a heroine after all.
I wondered if her affiliation was really that important. As she said, she would definitely be on my side.
Rather than her affiliation, it might be better to ponder whether she’s possessed or something else.
I didn’t really care about her affiliation, but I did want to figure out why she would go so far as to risk her life to show me kindness.
“I’m not trying to say anything. I’m just curious. I know it was a situation you had no control over.”
“If that’s the case, I guess we can say it ended well. I’m relieved, everyone. I was so scared when you vanished…”
“Since we’re all in one piece, that’s what matters, right? By the way, Gazer. Can you tell us how much time has passed?”
“It’s been 12 hours since you guys went missing on the way back to the exit. The current time is 2 AM.”
“Really? That’s weird, it felt like less than 2 hours in that space…”
“It was described as some kind of rift… rifts can flow time differently. Anyway, it’s good that you got out quickly.”
Blanca agreed with that, saying that she was so hungry she could die and subtly hinting to Gazer that she wanted to eat something.
“Given the time, all decent restaurants must be closed… I guess it’s time to show off my skills after a long time.”
“Boss, you do it alone. With my skills, I won’t do any favors for you guys.”
“I know, Scanner. What are the results?”
“According to their self-diagnosis, they have no issues either mentally or physically. Rescuers are not necessary.”
“I see. Well then, let’s head out, Blanca. And Minho-kun.”
Gazer said with a warm smile, indicating that we should head out.
As I walked alongside Blanca, she subtly leaned against me.
“Minho.”
She called my name, causing me to swallow nervously without realizing it.
“U-uh, yeah?”
What is she trying to do, or say?
“Do I have to take today’s events to my grave?”
All my inflated expectations quickly deflated with her chilling request. So, that was it.
“…As long as you dream of being a hero, I won’t tell a soul.”
“Hmm.”
Blanca responded ambiguously to my words and distanced herself again.
Looking at it like this, it’s still mysterious. What exactly is Blanca hiding from me, and how much?
Even with my doubts, I also knew she would never betray me.
Unlike before, Blanca didn’t feel so uncomfortable or scary.
— — — —
Maybe it was because it was early morning, but there were significantly fewer reporters outside the isolation facility, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t bother us.
By the time I arrived at Justitia’s office, it was already 3 AM.
Katyann seemed to have waited without sleeping as we entered, rushing at us the moment we stepped inside without even giving us a chance to settle back into our accommodations.
She seemed so eager to say something, her lips twitching as she desperately wanted to speak.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m completely fine, so you don’t need to worry too much.”
I didn’t exaggerate but calmly reassured Katyann. Minho held her hand, subtly trying to increase his likability.
I wonder if Minho knows he just blew his chance to level up with Katyann.
Maybe it was the early hour; I couldn’t help but yawn, passing by the lovebirds and throwing myself on the office couch.
“If you’re going to sleep, go on ahead. And are you really going to sleep? I’m planning to whip up something at least a bit,” Justitia said.
“I’m just lying down because I’m tired. I’ll eat, so just let me rest a bit.”
I let Justitia’s nagging flow over me as I checked my phone. In that short time, word must have spread that we went missing, as my messages were piling up.
When I pressed the Thalaria app to see who had messaged, most of the familiar faces had already sent their wishes.
Changwon, Gameboard Duo, Lapiz, Ageha, Seolhwa, and others.
Not a single one was carelessly written; all of them were heartfelt messages wishing for my safe return or asking if I was okay.
“Wow, they really sent a lot.”
There were so many, I had no clue where to start replying, so I sent back a safe message to those I was close with.
Looking at this, I thought to myself that I had really managed to live out my academy life.
Quite a lot. And I’d made some deep connections, too.
…Honestly, I never thought I’d bond with this many people.
It wasn’t bad. In fact, it made me happy. But that made me feel even a bit down.
…Someday, this relationship will fall apart. Moreover, in the form of betrayal from my side.
I originally wanted to completely tear apart Jinhyeon’s heart.
If I keep going like this, it felt like my own heart would end up ripped apart, too.
I felt like I would tear my heart apart while also tearing apart theirs.
And that would be a bit troublesome.
However, I had no idea how to resolve this troublesome situation.
What should I do?
What can I do…