Chapter 534 – The Curse Called Hope

Hope.

Wishing for something to be accomplished, the possibility of a better future.

It is the very foundation of human existence and the driving force behind humanity’s progress.

That’s why everyone lives while holding onto hope.

Students anticipating good results in important exams.

Office workers buying lottery tickets for a chance at a windfall.

Graduate students dreaming that the sun will rise tomorrow.

And now.

Four women standing in front of the operating room.

They had not a single feature in common, but each was grievously injured.

If a medical professional saw them, they would be shocked and immediately admit them, no questions asked.

Yet, that’s not what happened.

Tear stains that seemed forever etched, no matter how much they washed it away.

Bloodshot eyes with barely a hint of white.

Faces devoid of expression, making them all the more chilling.

Bandages clumsily wrapped, the darker red seeping through.

The atmosphere was so tense it felt like as if your breath could just stop.

Everyone instinctively stepped back as soon as they faced that reality.

You could say they were ignoring their oath as medical professionals, and they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

But anyone would react the same way.

Their condition was truly precarious in every sense.

Touch them wrong, and it would be like lighting a powder keg.

“Sister-in-laws, I’ll wait, so you all take a moment to rest.”

“”””……””””

The only one able to speak to them was Ryu Kang-hyuk.

“You haven’t eaten or slept at all until now…”

“”””……””””

Of course, silence didn’t yield any other answers.

With what to say weighing on him, he offers a little compromise.

“At least until you receive proper treatment.”

In truth, he was in a state himself to be embarrassed by saying such things.

He had come back home and arrived late at the emergency room compared to others.

But he was the first to get examined, cutting ahead of the queue.

Using his abilities at the last minute had been the culprit.

At that moment, he didn’t feel significant pain, so he thought it wouldn’t be a big problem.

But in a crisis, he couldn’t manage his body as meticulously as usual.

Tendons and ligaments were fraying, some dislocated severely.

Just sneaking out of the ICU was practically a miracle.

Logically, he should be lying on a hospital bed like the others and sleeping deeply.

But their state weighed too heavily on his mind to let him fall asleep.

As a result, he ended up here.

At that moment, Hyeji slowly moves her frozen lips.

For the first time, she speaks instead of remaining silent.

Her vacant gaze fixed on the operating room door, which seemed unwilling to open.

“Shinwoo’s… treatment… isn’t… finished yet…”

“……”

Now it was Ryu Kang-hyuk’s turn to respond in silence.

He too, without a word, sends a glance towards the operating room that’s still lit.

Unknowingly, words he didn’t plan to say escape his lips.

“Kim Shinwoo—”

At that instant, four pairs of eyes locked onto him.

As if instinctively reacting to the name ‘Kim Shinwoo’.

Meeting that gaze, Ryu Kang-hyuk cautiously continues speaking.

“That guy… will be okay.”

“…… I think so too…”

Forcing down the words ‘there’s no chance,’ he glanced beneath.

Eyes darker and murkier than an abyss.

In that moment, seeing a tiny flicker of hope, he found it hard to voice that sentiment.

“No matter how injured, he has always been fine, right?”

“Is that… true…?”

What he could utter was only vague and irresponsible hope.

“Thank you for looking after my husband…”

“It’s nothing… I’ll be going now…”

Ultimately, he couldn’t say anything more and bowed his head, leaving the room.

As Ryu Kang-hyuk departed, everyone shifted their focus towards the operating room.

Though none spoke, it seemed entirely natural to do so.

In truth, they all knew it very well.

No matter how skilled the doctor, there are clear limits.

No one could do anything about a heart that is not merely penetrated but missing entirely.

There have never existed cases of reviving someone completely dead.

It’s the cruel truth the living cannot return to the realm of the living.

No matter what procedures are performed, Shinwoo was undoubtedly beyond saving.

They all understood this.

They knew it very well.

Yet still.

They stubbornly clung to hope, desperately negating those thoughts.

Why make arbitrary judgments when results hadn’t even been disclosed?

Who dared to firmly claim that Shinwoo was dead?

If there are no cases like that, couldn’t this be the first?

With gods still existing, miracles could certainly happen.

Why are they deciding that Shinwoo, who is still alive, is dead?

With such thoughts, they all held back tears while waiting for the operating room door to open.

But that firmly closed door showed no signs of opening, either.

In that void of fragile hope, other emotions began to surface.

Elcia felt resentment.

Why had she been throwing money at such worthless coins?

Not even thinking of making more memories.

No matter how much she poured in, it should feel wasted.

Even though it helped her endure the nightmares of her youth.

Compared to Shinwoo, all of it was nothing.

Ayeon cursed.

What was the use of holding so much yet having nothing of real value?

The one truly precious thing in this world, Shinwoo, was absent.

What was the point of that damned stuff?

If only Shinwoo were here, none of this would matter.

Caressy prayed.

It wouldn’t matter if she lost everything and became broke.

Even if living like an orphan, eating bugs and trash would be fine.

As long as she could meet Shinwoo.

If it came down to it, she would gladly give her life.

Anyone, please, bestow a miracle and save Shinwoo.

And Hyeji felt just as the others did.

No, she felt it a bit more complexly.

She held overwhelming power but was too weak compared to everyone else.

So, the negative feelings she harbored were far too many.

So much that she could hardly bear it within her small frame.

She wanted to kill.

That damn idiot unworthy of the word ‘god’.

Why must he trample on our happiness until the very end?

She wanted to kill him directly with her own hands, once more.

It felt unfair.

Everyone had gathered for Shinwoo, giving their all, fighting tirelessly.

But in the end, they couldn’t save him.

Was it not too much that all their efforts turned to mere vapor?

She felt anger.

There could have been better ways.

That Shinwoo resorted to such extreme measures.

And yet, Shinwoo smiled at the end.

But I couldn’t smile at all.

Why is that?

Why leave those words behind?

“Live happily for a long time.”

Does that even make sense?

What happiness is there in a world without you?

Was all our effort just to end up like this?

If you die here alone, what will happen to those of us left behind?

You promised.

To come back home.

All of us together, without anyone missing.

Why go alone without us?

If you wanted to, I’d go anywhere with you.

Was that all your promise amounted to?

“Liar…”

Tears that Hyeji thought had run dry began to flow again.

But the most hated thing for her crying self was, of course, herself.

I promised too.

No matter the cost.

That I would protect everyone.

But what is this?

What’s so mighty about this?

I’ve accomplished nothing.

Just a damn idiot who can’t keep a single promise.

I’m a liar as well.

In that moment, Hyeji pressed her hands tightly against her eyes.

Trying to keep the feelings she confined inside from leaking out as tears.

Yet the tears filled with emotion slipped through the cracks.

I’m sorry.

For resenting despite being weak.

In the end, for not keeping a promise.

For making it hard on you.

I’m sorry, Shinwoo.

How much pain did you endure?

How hard was it for you?

How much did you struggle?

I’m sorry for not being any help.

At that moment, the others quietly embraced Hyeji.

They too, painting over their tear-stained faces with fresh tears.

And that faint warmth quietly whispered to Hyeji.

That they too are just like her.

Sending intentions to kill that bastard who took happiness away.

Expressing regret towards the companions who gave their all.

Gently resenting Shinwoo, who left on a whim.

And blaming themselves for not keeping their promises.

Shinwoo is seeking forgiveness for words he cannot hear.

Eventually, they rise, wiping their tears while healing each other’s wounds.

It felt like the flickering flicker of hope would extinguish at any moment.

Yet together they fueled that spark, igniting a full flame of hope.

They could no longer darken the path of reunion.

But it would be fine.

He would appear again with a smile.

He’d say they worried for nothing and tease them a little.

Just like Shinwoo.

At that moment, the operating room door, which had seemed like it would never open, cracked slightly ajar.

And through that gap, an elderly man dressed in medical scrubs trembled out.

Shinwoo’s operation must have been rather grueling.

“Doctor! What about Shinwoo!”

“Is my husband alive?”

“Where’s my lord!”

“Please, tell us!”

They weren’t calm enough to consider something like that.

There was barely a handful of patience left to wait for his voice to open.

Of course, that patience, too, was burning fast due to the simmering hope.

“I’m sorry… I did my best…”

“……Yes…?”

But the words coming from his mouth were far too cold.

“I’m sorry… I did my best…”

“……No…don’t…”

It extinguished their burning hope in an instant.

Completely snuffing it out, leaving not even ash behind.

In that moment, Hyeji began to collapse.

“……Shinwoo…ya…”

“Sister!”

“Boss!”

“Hyeji-nyang!”

No longer was any hope left to support her.

As others’ cries passed through one ear and out the other.

Hyeji quietly uttered in the darkening field of vision.

“I want to… see you…”

Now, it is.

A small wish that can never be fulfilled.

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