Chapter 1494. Extinction (4) [Illustration]

Of course, it was a complete lie. It was certainly something that could happen. No, perhaps it was already in progress without my knowledge. I could actually be in the process of forgetting Kim Hyun-Sung. Thinking about how no one really remembered Altanus in the second life made it even more likely. Of course, her will remained, and some remembered bits and pieces of information about her.

However, no one really remembered the true Altanus, her narrative, and her story. Becoming lost like that meant being forgotten by everything and everyone. Kim Hyun-Sung was in the same situation as Altanus, so he was highly likely to go through the same process. No, I believed Kim Hyun-Sung's situation was worse than Altanus'.

I was not talking about the previous life here.

‘At least, Altanus managed to leave behind her own will.’

It was a matter of what she had left behind. I could guarantee that the idiot Kim Hyun-Sung had left nothing behind except for the sunset. Unlike Altanus, who had some honor, there was a high chance that everyone would forget Kim Hyun-Sung.

The problem was when exactly that would happen.

This was my first time experiencing something like this, so everything felt questionable. Could I really forget him, too? In regard to this phenomenon, what was the reaction of those from the second life, including Lee Chang-Ryeol?

Just how far had the regression progressed? How was the second life right now? In the worst-case scenario, the second life could have already fallen into great chaos.

It could also be changing little by little in proportion to the changes in the first life, similar to the Mole Saint’s Cozy Sanctuary. Everything was hazy as if they were covered in fog, but one thing was certain.

‘There isn't much time left.’

The chances that I would suddenly forget everything about Kim Hyun-Sung the day after tomorrow were slim, but it was an undeniable fact that we were running out of time.

The situation could even be more urgent than I had anticipated. I had no accurate information, so I had to prepare for every possible development.

“I can’t remember...” I mumbled.

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young?” Mikael said.

“I can’t... remember anything... The things that happened that day and the things Hyun-Sung told me... I can’t remember anything...” I said.

‘I can’t be the only one in a hurry.’

“...”

‘You have to be in a hurry, too.’

“...”

“...”

It was only correct for me to feel confused. Tears had to stream down uncontrollably, so I got worried whether my tear ducts had dried up from crying too much lately, but these damned tears showed no sign of stopping.

Everything was just confusing.

“...”

I looked like I was desperately trying to recall my memories. For a moment, I got worried that the bastard would notice my lie, but his grave face told me that he understood the gravity of the situation.

He realized that losing memories was the natural course of events. Of course, he definitely concluded that there was still a bit of time left, but what could he do when Lee Ki-Young’s memories were disappearing right now?

I was sure he felt like things were progressing faster than he had expected.

I clutched my head and screamed, “

Ugh! Ah... aaaah!

”

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young... Mr. Lee Ki-Young!” he shouted.

He dared not reach out toward me. It served as proof of the severity of the situation. He reacted in a way that only those knowledgeable about me, Kim Hyun-Sung, and the continent would do.

‘He probably has an idea.’

“I can’t... remember... I can’t remember anything... damn it... damn it!” I shouted.

‘I heard we’re treated as a pair.’

“Please calm down. Perhaps this is...” he trailed off.

“...”

I couldn't be certain how those above were evaluating Kim Hyun-Sung and me, but according to what I had heard from Benigoa, we were like a married couple of gods. For all I knew, stories about the beautiful friendship between us could have already spread.

Since Mikael had to personally lead an expedition to this continent, he knew more than others. Besides...

‘He must’ve learned many things from Hyun-Sung as well.’

He probably heard things from Doctor Michele, too, and while traveling with Kim Hyun-Sung, there was a high chance he picked up bits and pieces of stories from him. If he knew even a little about the nature of my relationship with Kim Hyun-Sung, he would understand that my behavior was by no means exaggerated.

It wasn't like Kim Hyun-Sung was dying. I was starting to forget Kim Hyun-Sung, and it was a bigger problem than his death.

‘Our memories are disappearing.’

'He’ll never return. I will not be able to remember anything. In the end, I’ll forget his very existence. Honestly, even if I have to roll around in filth, this world is better without him, but I don't welcome this situation at all.'

When I subtly turned my gaze on Mikael, I saw him keeping a certain distance away from me. Though faint, I could see guilt on his face. Now, I certainly welcomed this development. After all, I was doing this to make him feel indebted.

“

Heuk...

” I cried.

In the end, Mikael muttered, “Damn it.”

It did not quite suit him, but he clearly knew that this wasn't something that could be resolved so easily. I thought he was the type who would never lose his composure, but now, it felt as if a crack had formed in that calmness of his.

He had finally realized that addressing this issue wasn't so easy. To begin with, I was already a collapsing hedgehog. It was to the point that I could barely support myself.

Perhaps because I was refusing to lose my memories, but I looked like I was in immense pain, and it also looked like heat was rising to my head.

“Excuse me.”

I felt him lifting me into his arms. Since my physical body had yet to grow, he had no difficulties carrying me. At the same time, I saw him mutter, “It will be all right. Everything can be turned back. Once we resolve everything, all of it will surely return to you, God of Sacrifice and Revival.”

“...”

“So hang on just a little longer... If you collapse, everything will end,” he begged.

‘Yeah, no thanks. I’m going to collapse. Ki-Young is going to collapse.’

“Can you hear my voice?” he asked.

“...”

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” he said.

“...”

“F-for now, we’ll move to Heren,” he said.

Of course, just because my memories of Kim Hyun-Sung had disappeared did not mean that all my memories from the first life had vanished. There were also memories I saw through Kasugano Yuno, and there was also the rough timeline I had organized myself.

I had no idea whether he was aware of Kasugano Yuno's existence, but I was sure he had no idea that I had Mind's Eye.

“You must endure,” he said.

‘That isn’t something you get to say. Endure what exactly, damn it?’

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” he said.

With my eyes closed, I couldn't tell what exactly was happening, but I felt a sense of incongruity washing over me. I believed it was the sensation of moving through dimensions. Before long, I felt him placing me on a bed.

We had to have arrived in Heren. Fortunately, he hadn't randomly appeared on a battlefield, so we did not end up getting entangled in any unnecessary fighting.

About ten minutes later, I could no longer sense his presence. After seeing that I fainted and judging that I was stable for the moment, he probably left to search for Kim Hyun-Sung. He would also need to check on the current situation while he was at it.

‘So he’s not just an empty shell after all...’

“...”

“...”

As I slowly sat up, I looked around.

‘Where the hell am I?’

A very shabby-looking inn came into view.

‘That bastard really has no sense of reality at all.’

'Where did he get the idea of leaving a kid alone in a place like this and walking away?'

‘So he’s not someone who clawed his way up from the bottom. Was he some kind of highborn noble or something?’

With that useless thought crossing my mind, I stepped outside. For a moment, I believed that we weren't in Heren, but the scenery outside was unmistakably the scenery of old Heren. After hearing that I couldn’t remember what happened in Heren, he had to have hurriedly brought me here.

Perhaps he thought that if I stayed here, something would come back to me. Of course, even a Lee Ki-Young who had lost his memories would think the same way as him.

I ran toward the cabin I once shared with Kim Hyun-Sung.

“Hey, watch it! Damn it! You ran into me!”

“Damn it! Hey, you there!”

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“What the hell... that little punk...”

I wasn't going there to find Kim Hyun-Sung. The civilians casually walking around me did not line up with the timeline when Kim Hyun-Sung stayed in Heren. Even though I couldn't meet First Hyun-Sung or Second Hyun-Sung, the small, cute hedgehog that had lost its spikes had no choice but to keep running.

As for why I was running toward the cabin of memories? It was painfully obvious.

“

Haa... haa... haa... haa...

”

Of course, it wasn't a rational decision.

“

Haa... haa... haaa... haa... ugh... haa...

”

At this point in time, rather than obsessing over the lost memories, the top priority ought to be finding Kim Hyun-Sung somewhere on the continent inside this hexagram.

However, the current Lee Ki-Young could not make a rational decision. The fear and terror that he could lose everything about Kim Hyun-Sung had paralyzed his rational mind.

It was getting harder to breathe, but I could not stop running.

'Who knows? That idiot might be watching me from somewhere.'

“

Haa... haa... ugh...

”

I ran and stumbled on something, which sent me crashing hard to the ground.

“

Ah...

”

“...”

I rolled pathetically across the dirt and eventually reached the cabin where I once stayed with Kim Hyun-Sung.

“

Haa... haa... haa... haa...

”

It was an abandoned cabin. It was embarrassing to call it a cabin, but it was filled with the precious memories I shared with Kim Hyun-Sung. Naturally, I stared blankly at the cabin. Honestly, I didn't want to stay here for long.

The cabin wasn't being maintained, so there was a stench of rot in the air. It felt like all sorts of harmful substances were entering my lungs, but it was better to hypnotize myself into thinking that this was a nostalgic smell.

After all, Mikael would come looking for this place soon.

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young.”

Sure enough, I heard his voice behind me. I did not look at him. Instead, I stared at the cabin and said, “Here...”

“...”

“Here, Kim Hyun-Sung confessed to me that he was a regressor,” I said to him.

“...”

“He was trembling...” I trailed off before continuing, “And he was afraid that he might be abandoned... afraid that I might reject him... he was scared and couldn't look me in the eyes as if he had committed some unforgivable sin... He looked pathetic and almost begging as he... confessed to me that he... was a regressor...”