Chapter 933. Gen (12)
“Are you okay? Mr. Lee Ki-Young. Mr. Lee Ki-Young...” Gen asked.
‘Do I look okay?’
“Just... Just wait a moment,” Gen said.
‘Will you really be okay to let me wait? And what am I supposed to be waiting for? Are you going to cure me?’
“Damn it... why...” he mumbled.
‘What do you mean why? Like fate, this was already decided. The ending of this fairytale is a bad ending. You really thought this was going to be a fairytale-like story?’
My body was weak to begin with, so this was bound to happen. It only happened sooner rather than later due to the recent streak of bad luck.
We were doing a pretty good job so far, but did he really think that nothing was going to happen? After my revival, my weak body had gotten worse.
My condition became so bad that I was struggling with my daily life.
I was the Honorary Cardinal of the Sacred Democratic Country and the continent's Saint of Light, so I had to ensure that everyone would think that I was okay.
I was that kind of person, after all—the kind of person who disliked it when others were worried about me. I also disliked seeing others getting hurt because of me.
I didn’t want the continent and the people around me to be in pain because of me.
More importantly, I didn’t want to become the reason behind Gen's pain.
Despite knowing that my body couldn't handle it, I still wanted a taste of freedom.
I wanted to see the beauty of the continent with my own eyes.
It was probably the reason I decided to take Gen’s hand.
But he actually dared to...
‘You actually dared to serve pig porridge to the Saint of Light.’
“Damn it... Damn it!” Gen shouted.
‘And you've been keeping him locked up in such a tiny space?’
“I didn’t know anything...” Gen mumbled.
‘That’s right. You don't know anything.’
“What the hell... did I do...”
‘If you make me cry, you’ll cry tears of blood.’
My body was extremely weak; I was like a trembling leaf that might fall off the tree at any moment.
Sun Hee-Young and Elena of the Blue Guild and the high priests of the Sacred Democratic Country were looking after me.
Gen and pig porridge was basically poison to me. It took me a long time to skin that animal and I even walked a long time in the rain while carrying something heavy, so it’d be strange if I hadn't gotten sick.
I was so frail that the smallest burden could be fatal to me.
To make things worse, I stayed up all night.
I wanted to feed him warm food, so I stayed up to ensure that the food wouldn't get cold.
Normally, people would be forced to go to bed whenever they were sick, so I wonder what he thought about what I felt when I decided to wait for him to come back for an entire night
I tried to hold out, but I couldn't endure it any longer.
“Why is the holy power...” Gen muttered in disbelief.
'You know this issue can't be resolved with holy power, and you’re not even a priest. You can wield holy power, but it doesn’t mean that you have healing powers like Sun Hee-Young or Elena.'
“...”
“Haa... haa...”
Gen didn't have many choices—no, he had no choice.
He was probably thinking that returning to the Vatican was the best option.
As I expected, he bit his lips.
Then, he carried me on his back and ran out into the pouring rain. It was one of those extreme situations that one would normally see in a drama, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were sad music playing in the background. Actually, I could already hear it.
‘Where are you going?’
He wasn’t even aware of where he was going or where he was supposed to go.
He was lost.
“Mr. Gen...” I mumbled.
Gen was surprised, and he hurriedly answered, “A-Are you awake?”
“Yes... Mr. Gen...” I answered.
“Please hold on a bit longer. Just wait... Get a good night’s sleep, and everything will be over by the time you wake up,” Gen reassured.
“A-Are we heading to the Republic?” I asked.
“...”
“Are we... finally... going to the Republic... after waiting for so long?” I asked.
“...”
“Can we... start a new life? Can we... get new identities... and live a new life?” I questioned.
“...”
“Will we be able to see a different sky... every day?” I asked.
I was so focused that I almost cried. I was acting in a really desperate way.
“So I can finally go to the places... you mentioned. I can finally... live a new life...” I said.
Gen was quiet. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but he was probably thinking about turning himself in, as I looked like I was in critical condition. He probably thought that there was no other way to resolve the current situation unless he turned himself in.
“...”
“...”
“Yes... w-we're heading to... the Republic,” Gen replied.
“I-I see.”
It was a white lie that sent a shiver down my spine.
“We’ll be arriving soon. So... hold out just a little longer,” Gen informed me.
“...”
'You’re not even running in the Republic's direction. Why are you telling me that when you’re running in the opposite direction?'
“If you wait... just a little longer... you’ll... you’ll soon live the life you want,” Gen added.
He sounded like he was forcibly holding in his tears.
“You’ll be able to live a free life for as long as you want,” Gen said.
“...”
“You’ll see a new sky, go on adventures, and see new things. You’ll get to travel and meet strangers every day. You can enjoy such a life and do the things you've always wanted to do while helping people.
"You’ll no longer be sick or be in pain. You’ll smile every day...” Gen added.
“Lies...” I mumbled.
“...”
“Haa... haa... You’re... lying,” I said.
'How dare you try to fool the Saint of Light?'
“You’re... lying right now,” I repeated.
'I know you’re trying to turn yourself in. I know... you’re trying to devote yourself to the Vatican.'
“Do you know?” I started.
“...”
“Whenever you lie... Haa... your voice kind of shakes, and you look anxious... I can’t see your face, but I-I’m sure you look anxious right now. Your voice... is also higher than usual... your actions are also telling me... that you lied,” I told him.
“...”
“You’re nice,” I added.
'You criminal.'
“...”
“And warm,” I said.
'You disgusting bastard.'
“Did I... faint? Did I... faint again?” I asked.
I was so out of it that my current condition was unknown even to me.
I couldn’t tell whether I was awake or dreaming.
My head also felt like it was on fire. I was nauseous, and my eyes were hurting. It was like my entire body was dying. I spoke nonsense as if I was in the middle of a dream. I was out of it, but I knew what I wanted.
It was the only thing that I wanted. I didn't need anything else.
“Please... go to the Republic,” I requested.
“...”
“I want to go to the Republic. I want to go there... and go on new adventures... with you...” I said.
“I'm sorry, Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” Gen said.
“Don’t go back... to the Democratic Country,” I begged.
“I’m... sorry,” Gen repeated.
“Please... I beg you. I don’t want to go back. I no longer... want to...” I paused.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Lee Ki-Young. I...” Gen paused.
“I won’t be happy,” I told him.
“...”
“Even if I manage to get back on my feet again, I won’t be happy. I’m sure... I’ll be unhappy. If we return, I’ll resent you, Mr. Gen,” I threatened.
“...”
“Even if I recover from this sickness, I’m sure... I’ll regret it. I... I’d rather... just end it. I want to live more like a human being... live a life of freedom, even if it means certain death. I want to die doing the things I want to do,” I explained.
The script about how my life was going to end soon was like a bolt of lightning from out of the blue, but it didn’t seem out of place.
I had a good reason, and I wasn't lying to him as well.
“I’m sure you can do that, b-but... now is not a good time,” Gen said.
“No, I’m sure I won’t get this chance again,” I denied.
“...”
“Haa... haa...”
“...”
“Please don’t go back. It’s my final request,” I begged.
Gen closed his eyes tight and glanced at me. He looked like he couldn’t reject my request. The pouring rain obscured the tears that were falling down his cheeks. He picked up the pace as his cries were being silenced by the rain.
'Why was this man born with this kind of fate? Why can’t I, the Saint of Light, enjoy the things I deserve to enjoy? Why is the world treating us in such a harsh way? Why did Benigoa give such a harsh trial to me?'
“O Benigoa...” Gen said, but he sounded like he was resenting Her and cursing Her rather than praising Her.
“Don’t... resent her,” I said.
“...”
“It’s not... her fault,” I added.
I struggled to move my sick body to place a rosario in his hand, as I noticed that the rosario around his neck was nowhere to be seen. He trembled in surprise, but he tightened his grip around it.
“I want to live normally... during my final moments, and... I want to do what I've always wanted to do,” I said.
“...”
“I want to see... every single scenery that the continent... has to offer,” I added.
“...”
“I want to enjoy... adventures... with you,” I said.
And that was when Gen came to an abrupt halt.
“Heuk... at least...” I paused.
Gen stood frozen as if he had become a statue.
“I want to live... the life I want to live... even for a moment. Heuk... heuuuk...” I cried.
My acting was so amazing that I even managed to surprise myself.
I was so immersed that tears fell down like a waterfall from my eyes.
“Heuk... Kgh... In the end, I...” I trailed off.
Gen couldn't move forward.
How could he head toward the Vatican while listening to the words I had never told anyone or hadn't been able to express out loud?
I couldn’t see his face, but he was definitely suffering. He had no idea what to do, so he started thinking about many things and pondered over what would be the best choice for me.
“I don’t... want to... go back to the birdcage...” I mumbled.
Obviously, I wanted to go back.
I wanted to go back to the cozy and warm birdcage as soon as possible.
I wanted to drink coffee to start my day and end the day with a cup of wine.
I wanted to enjoy a half bath with a cold drink in hand, but I wanted to make Gen cry a bit more. I wanted to see him in pain and despair.
I was relieved to see him in a dilemma.
It didn't matter even if we were to go back right now... but I could definitely convince him to stay out with me for three more days.
“Please... Please, I beg you,” I begged.
- Commander.
- ...
- Come save me.
- ...
- We’re heading to the Republic right now. I heard the news about your new project. If you help me with this, I’ll give you a bigger budget.
- ...
- I want you to bring a lot of troops and make sure that those troops can give off an intimidating aura. I’ve been kidnapped. You heard it, right? I’m struggling right now.
- ...
- I trust that you’ll be on standby, okay? By the way, I’m not asking for a favor because your project is on the line here. I trust you know what to do.
'I really need to see him struggle to feel satisfied.'
- ...
- ...
- Shit. Lee Ki-Young, you bastard. Shit! Shit!!! Shit!!! You disgusting bastard!