Chapter 63

<Episode 64> I Really Wanted to Kill You

There was a boy and a girl.

The girl had the boy stretched out sleeping on her lap.

She’d clearly told him to stop fighting already,

but here he was again, looking like he’d been brawling with the alley gang leaders as usual.

Slightly irritated, the girl poked his cheek with her index finger.

“Mmm…”

The boy let out a groan.

Though his brow furrowed slightly, there was no sign of him waking up.

The girl smirked to herself and muttered under her breath,

“How should I punish this idiot?”

Her voice carried a playful affection.

The girl gently ran her hand through the boy’s hair.

He shifted in response.

It seemed like he was just too bothered to get up.

Annoyed now, she started petting his head more firmly.

“Come on, wake up, dummy.”

At her words, the boy slowly opened his eyes.

After staring blankly upward for a moment, he mumbled,

“Young-hee…?”

Young-hee tilted her head slightly and smiled sweetly at him.

It was both a greeting and a way to show she was still upset.

But contrary to her expectations,

the boy simply looked at her smile for a moment before turning away.

“Nah, must be a dream.”

Dream…

Young-hee’s smile froze in place, but her expression hardened.

“What?! Who’s letting who use their lap as a pillow, huh? This is outrageous!”

She raised her small hand toward her ear.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

“Are you gonna wake up already?”

Finally, Chul-soo opened his eyes.

But he had no intention of getting up.

Instead, he buried his head deeper into her lap.

Young-hee was starting to lose her cool.

“Excuse me, Mr. Chul-soo, if you could please gather yourself and get up?”

“Mmm, five more minutes…”

“What’s this ‘five more minutes’ nonsense?! Do you wanna die or what?!”

Even though she said that, Young-hee didn’t push him away.

She just chuckled softly and tousled his hair.

“Mmm, why am I sleeping here again?”

“Probably because you went and fought with some kids again.”

“Ah, yeah, that’s right.”

Chul-soo admitted it so casually.

At his response, Young-hee sighed deeply.

“You, I clearly told you not to fight, right?”

“It wasn’t fighting—it was upholding justice.”

“Is beating up weaker kids really justice?”

“But those weaker kids were ten of them, and they were making fun of someone for not having parents! Isn’t that enough reason for justice?”

Suddenly, a breeze blew by.

It was refreshing yet somehow warm—a perfect spring wind.

In a good mood, Chul-soo muttered happily.

Then, seemingly remembering something, he asked,

“…Are you mad at me?”

“For ignoring your advice? Or for fighting with kids?”

“Mmm, both?”

His slightly sheepish demeanor made him look like a cute puppy.

It was hard to believe this was the same boy who had bravely fought older students.

Young-hee gave a soft smile, as if saying there was nothing she could do about it.

“To be honest, I am a little mad, but this time I’ll forgive you specially.”

“Mmm, lucky me. Guess I can enjoy this comfy pillow a bit longer.”

Saying that, he adjusted his position to lie down again.

His hair brushed against her skin, causing a ticklish sensation.

Young-hee’s face turned slightly red.

“Don’t think this means I’m letting you off the hook. There will be consequences for breaking your promise.”

“You occasionally use such complicated words. Are you being smart on purpose?”

With a sly grin, Chul-soo laughed brightly.

Seeing his face, Young-hee couldn’t help but chuckle too.

Then Chul-soo finally got up.

Their eyes met instantly.

“So, what’s my punishment?”

Actually, she hadn’t planned anything specific.

Contrary to Chul-soo’s expectations,

she was just making it up based on something she read in a book.

She was happy when Chul-soo complimented her for it.

Though flustered, Young-hee pretended to think hard.

After all, even as a young girl, her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit she hadn’t thought of anything.

“Hmm…how about you try petting my head once?”

Chul-soo looked at her with an expression of disbelief.

Young-hee grabbed his wrist and placed his hand on her head.

“Hurry up.”

“Is this my punishment?”

“It’s more like a reward.”

“…Is this supposed to be a reward?”

“If you’re not satisfied, I can always give you real punishment instead.”

Chul-soo chuckled.

“Nope, this is fine.”

“Hmph! All this training you’ve been doing—do you just want to beat up kids with it?”

Young-hee turned her head away, pretending to hide her embarrassment.

Of course, not far enough to escape his grasp.

“To be honest, not really. I couldn’t even use the new technique I learned from Master.”

“New technique?!”

Young-hee’s eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed slightly.

Her curiosity was obvious.

Honestly, it was pretty adorable.

“…If you’re curious, come watch me train next time.”

“Okay! I’m looking forward to it.”

Seeing Young-hee’s bright smile, Chul-soo’s face turned red this time.

“Chul-soo, you really love swords, huh?”

“I need to become stronger if I want to be a hero someday.”

Page 99

For a while, neither of them spoke.

They just silently sensed each other’s presence.

Soon, another breeze swept through.

“Hey, Chul-soo, are you going to be a hero?”

It was a random question.

But it was something they both thought about often.

To become a hero, one needs to attend the Academy.

If either of them lacked the qualifications, they would have to part ways.

“…Yeah. I want to protect others.”

Even knowing this,

Chul-soo’s resolve hadn’t wavered.

Young-hee nodded silently.

“There’s nothing I can do about it. Then I guess I’ll have to become a hero too.”

“Really? But it’s dangerous. For my sake….”

“……”

“…”

“…”

“It’s not for you. I also want to save people!”

The boy and girl influenced each other.

But they were still too young to fully understand their feelings.

Chul-soo didn’t know why Young-hee worked so hard studying books.

When he saw her innocent smile, he couldn’t figure out why it made him so happy.

Why he couldn’t take his eyes off her clear gaze and slightly blushed cheeks.

Why her flowing black hair seemed so full of life—he didn’t understand any of it.

“Chul-soo, if you protect me, I’ll protect you, alright!”

“….Yeah. Let’s be heroes together then?”

“Yes, definitely! Promise!”

They hooked pinkies and made a promise.

A beautiful memory from their childhood,

now distant but impossible to forget.

****

-beep

-beep

The chilling sound of medical equipment filled the hospital room.

Young-hee sat there, blankly staring ahead.

In front of her lay Chul-soo, unconscious.

Each shallow breath felt like it might be his last.

“To be honest, it’s a miracle he’s still alive.”

The doctor standing beside her spoke solemnly.

“We’ve used every medical technology and magic available. Now it’s just up to the patient’s willpower and waiting.”

Young-hee barely heard the doctor’s words.

She just stared endlessly.

Afraid that if she looked away, Chul-soo would disappear forever.

“……Why?”

Her throat tightened.

Breathing became difficult.

Chul-soo might die.

Realizing this, her shoulders began to tremble.

“I wish you’d just die already.”

Thud!

Her heart plummeted into an abyss of darkness.

She covered her trembling lips with her hands.

“What am I saying?”

It wasn’t true.

It was just something she said in anger.

No, now she couldn’t even remember why she said it.

Still, she knew she had to apologize.

She promised herself she would tell Chul-soo how sorry she was.

Because she said it…because of me…

Of course, it had nothing to do with Young-hee’s words.

What happened to Chul-soo was unrelated.

But if she hadn’t said those things…

Would Chul-soo have ended up like this?

Could she honestly say none of this was her fault?

Worst of all, if the last thing Chul-soo remembered was her cold words…

“Ugh!”

“YOUNG-HEE!”

Young-hee collapsed onto the floor of the hospital room.

Her body went limp.

Her breathing grew rapid.

This couldn’t be happening.

She was losing her mind with anxiety and despair.

Chul-soo dying?

She’d never even imagined such a thing.

Young-hee’s priorities had always revolved around Chul-soo.

No matter the circumstances or reasons.

She wanted Chul-soo to stay safe and happy.

She wanted to protect him.

“Wahh, Chul-soo… Chul-soo… Ugh…”

“Idiot! If you collapse too, what are we gonna do?! You need to pull yourself together!”

The class president tried to support Young-hee,

but it was obvious that it wouldn’t make much difference.

Her expression was so distraught, it was hard to tell who was closer to death.

“Chul-soo… Is this my fault? Did I deserve this punishment because of what I said? Then why are you suffering instead of me?”

Her chest ached so much,

she couldn’t focus on anything else.

No, she wished she could just die.

If only she could die, maybe Chul-soo could live without her…

“Guh! Haaah! Wahhh!”

“Teacher! Someone help Young-hee! She’s…”

Realizing the situation was dangerous, the doctors rushed in.

Yet even amidst all this chaos, Young-hee’s eyes remained fixed on Chul-soo.

But it didn’t last long.

Her vision blurred.

Everything faded to black.

I’ve done wrong… So please… Please…

I just want to see Chul-soo.

I just want to see him smile one more time.

That’s all she wanted.

A memory surfaced in Young-hee’s mind.

-Chul-soo, I hate you.

-I hate you so much I can’t stand it.

-I wish you’d just die already.

“Aaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

I want to kill you.

I genuinely want to kill myself for ever saying those things.

Overwhelmed by regret and guilt, the girl collapsed to her knees and screamed.

Her apology, meant for someone she’d lost, echoed silently within her heart.

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