Chapter 527: Doom Kiyoung (2)

‘Other people were joining me, right?’

They weren’t with me inside the carriage, but it was likely they were just following behind. It was because the trip was so abrupt.

It might take a bit longer for them to get to where we were since the Blue Guild Master was on a mission, but they all probably agreed to meet at the capital.

With the worst-case scenario in mind, they probably thought that all their forces had to come with them. Of course, it was unlikely that such a scenario would happen, but Kim Hyunsung would probably have prepared for it.

Considering that, the reason why he didn’t ride in the carriage with me was…

‘He probably didn’t want to make me think that this is such a big issue.’

It was ridiculous how he tried to act calm after fussing so much a moment before. Like nothing was wrong, and like he was only going out to fix a minor issue, he acted like there was nothing to worry about. However, he couldn’t hide his shaking eyes.

It was hard to act as if I didn’t know anything.

Whenever Elena teared up, she turned around to wipe her eye in secret, and Jung Hayan displayed her anxiety from head to toe. She kept scratching her head and pursing her lips.

And as if Kim Hyunsung had ordered them to do so, they sat by my side and chattered about bright topics that even they didn’t seem focused on.

Amongst the people who got into the carriage with me, Sun Hee-young was the one who had been hiding her emotions best. While maintaining her position, she fulfilled her role and appeared more mature than everybody else.

It was something that I already knew… Perhaps, the Heavens had helped me, but I started to get a fever as the carriage began to move.

‘Wow, the human body is really intriguing.’

‘It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.’

‘It’s tiring. It’s tiring. It’s tiring.’

I repeated those words inside my head and began to actually feel some pain.

It wasn’t like sweat had been pouring out of my mouth, or that I had begun to heave, but my face became pale like I had a faint headache.

It was a headache that could quickly be fixed with holy power, but Elena couldn’t do that since she thought the cause of the headache was her holy powers.

They could only stare at me pitifully.

After having a serious conversation with Elena and Lee Jihye, Kim Hyunsung appeared again. Besides the time I slept, Hyunsung stayed by my side all day.

‘Well, in his perspective, it is understandable…’

He probably thought he was the only one who could fix the situation if Doom Kiyoung would ever come out again.

In that awkward and silent atmosphere, I could only act as weak as I could. I had to act like a tragic heroine.

“How’s your condition?”

“I don’t know. I’m a bit dizzy… If something goes wrong…”

“No, it’s not a serious situation. We will arrive at the city after a bit, so just endure for a little while longer. There’s no need to be worried or concerned. It’s not such a big thing. It’s just a simple curse.”

“But, a moment ago…”

“I was just a bit surprised. That’s the only reason, so please sleep for a bit. In just ten minutes…”

‘This bastard, he shouldn’t look at me with a sad expression on his face. Hyung-nim is starting to feel a bit sad. Seriously.’

Unknowingly, crocodile tears had started to gather in my eyes, and the guy held on to my hand as if to tell me to endure for a bit more.

“It’s not going to be a big deal. Yes, it will definitely not be a big deal. Your worries won’t happen.”

‘You can’t make such a bitter smile as if you’re trying to reassure others. He doesn’t have the basics down. Seriously, even the basics…’

Sensing that the situation was too awkward, Sun Hee-young smoothed out the organized blankets again. The guy definitely didn’t have a talent for lying. No matter how much he pretended, sadness remained visible on his face.

Like an abandoned puppy unable to hide his worry and anxiety, it seemed that he was having a mixture of all kinds of negative emotions.

I could tell what he was thinking.

It was quite spectacular watching how he tried to cover the carriage so that I couldn’t see what’s outside.

‘This will be a serious headache…’

He must have heard the cause of what happened from Lee Jihye.

According to her, I had become Doom Kiyoung because of my negative emotions, and I might be blaming myself for it. However, he still could not reveal everything in that situation.

He didn’t want to show an innocent lamb like me the city that had become a ruin only to tell me, ‘Actually, the truth is… this is your doing.’ Only psychopathic demon summoner Jin Qing or demon worshipper Ito Souta could do such a thing.

Even at that moment, he chose to hide the past.

I was worried that his mental state would crash like last time, but I still spoke anyway. With an expression telling him that I had no idea what was going on, I opened my mouth. To conclude this matter, this was the right timing.

With the saddest appearance I could muster, I looked toward the windows covered in black curtains. He then asked me in a shaky voice.

“You must tell me if there is anything that is discomforting you.”

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“Could you remove the curtains? I want some light…”

“…”

“…”

At a loss for words, Kim Hyunsung hung his head low.

He couldn’t show me the view beyond the carriage’s windows. That was the worst-case scenario, and he looked so pitiful being put in such a difficult situation.

‘This is why you can’t lie, you little sh*t.’

Small lies would eventually become big lies, and big lies became bigger lies. One couldn’t cover the sky with their hands nor turn their head away from the truth.

It was only for a moment, but I could see how conflicted he looked.

“As I expected… you are hiding something.”

“…”

“Are you hiding…”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just that, right now… it’s a little difficult to show you, as I told you…”

I made a bitter smile.

“There’s no need to give more excuses, Hyunsung-ssi. Is this situation, perhaps, related to my current appearance?”

His lips clamped shut. Unable to say anything, he hung his head.

“Did I… did I do something wrong?”

“No, definitely… definitely not. You didn’t do anything wrong. I could say that for sure.”

“Then…”

“It’s just a bit… hard for one person to swallow. That is all…”

“I can’t remember what’s happened.”

“…”

“I can’t, but there’s something that I can remember faintly. It’s something I saw from a dream. I thought I wouldn’t get captured… Demons were crawling over ruined buildings and castles, debris and ruins. There were Dialugia and roaring devils…”

“You had a nightmare. Don’t try to think of it right now. I beg you, please.”

“You must have confined me… because I was dangerous.”

“No, that is definitely not it.”

“So that I wouldn’t hurt other people…”

“No, that’s not it. It’s actually the opposite.”

“You can tell me the truth.”

“I already told you the truth. I didn’t mean it in that way. I can understand why you’re confused, Kiyoung-ssi. For now… please, don’t think about it…”

“How could I not think about it?”

Even I became surprised about how tearful my voice sounded. He already had a face as if he thought that everything was over.

‘I think things are going to end really easily at this point.’

Rather than giving him some mental turmoil, I thought it was better to express my sadness.

I liked that I could soon see what was happening outside. It was hard to start things because it seemed that everything had to settle down first.

It was only right for me to voice my thoughts again.

“Please open the window…”

At that point, Kim Hyunsung could no longer continue hiding the truth.

Many emotions passed over his face as he bit down on his lower lip.

“Ah…”

The city was in complete ruins. It almost made me feel sorry, witnessing how devastated it all looked.

I thought restoration would’ve been finished by that time, but it seemed that it wouldn’t be that easy.

The impact caused by the clash between Belial’s magic and Kim Hyunsung’s magic made the restoration time-consuming.

Everything had crumbled. The tall clock tower and the capital’s square where people used to gather weren’t any different.

Even Lindel’s adventurers couldn’t be seen. It was almost as if it was an abandoned city…

Nature wasn’t exempted, either. A dark and sticky material enveloped the once bright and beautiful forest, and the fountain which had once shone with blue light had become dull…

Even the blue sky looked different. Lindel had undoubtedly gone through unimaginable damage.

Kim Hyunsung stared at me with a shaky gaze, and others did the same. I continued to stare at the window silently.

I stared at the window blankly as if I didn’t want to miss a single moment of the scenery.

“It is not Kiyoung-ssi’s… fault.”

“…”

Tears streamed down my cheeks in an innocent and transparent display of guilt. I didn’t answer.

I wanted to maintain my emotional act.

My shoulders shook.

Not much time passed before my silent cries filled the carriage.

“…”

“…”

“…”