Episode 222
After the chaos was over, the survivors who had been intoxicated by the atmosphere began to come to their senses one by one and started preparing to go home. It was only natural that Lee Jae-heon, who was fed up with Han Do-yoon’s crazy behavior, readily sent them home.
After going to the counter and paying, Jaeheon Lee returned to his room and finished packing his bags when he heard the sound of slow footsteps.
“… … .”
“Are you okay?”
A rough voice was heard immediately afterwards.
“… I thought you went in with Mr. Munsan.”
Jindallae was the only old person among the survivors.
Since he lived nearby, Munsan-gun came with him when he came, and so I thought he would travel with him when he left.
It was quite an unexpected situation for Lee Jae-heon, who was slowly preparing to leave after the survivors each left for their homes. It was Jin Dal-rae, who had never spoken, who asked to talk to him.
At Lee Jae-heon’s gaze, the old man nodded, tapping the cane in his hand on the floor.
“Thank you. But, I asked you to wait a moment.”
“aha.”
“I want to talk to my thoughtful friend.”
A wrinkled face and sunken eyes. A body so thin that you can see the bones, but a stiff back. The cane he holds in both hands pales in comparison.
“So, are you okay?”
“What are you talking about…?”
“It seems better than when I was in that gloomy place, that’s only natural. But even when I come out to a place where people live, I open my dead eyes and feel like I’m going to die, right?”
“I apologize if I offended you.”
“Look, I can’t even say no… People are so strangely twisted.”
It is a unique way of speaking that mixes dialect and standard language.
‘I think he said it was because of his daughter-in-law.’
It was written that Jindallae and her son spoke in a dialect, but when they met their daughter-in-law who spoke standard Korean, they tried to change their speech, but ended up using a strange way of speaking that was neither here nor there. If Lee Jae-heon remembered the contents of the novel correctly, that is.
The eyes behind the glasses are cool.
“Wow, you live like that?”
“… … .”
“You should listen to the old man’s advice a little. It’s not like you don’t know how to hint. When you look someone in the eye like that, you have to answer him out of courtesy.”
“… I was thinking about what to say….”
It was a bit of a headache.
‘Was it really that impressive that you were used as bait in the other world?’
Basically, the attitude of the character Jindal-lae is ‘bystander’. It’s not that she’s not interested, but she’s watching everything but doesn’t take action. In the same context, she doesn’t tell him what she thinks. If Jindal-lae came to him separately and talked to him like this, it seems like she really liked ‘Lee Jae-heon’.
But it wasn’t pleasant. It’s true that he was just a bystander, but Jindallae was a great man with a wicked mind to the point of taking a walk in the other world, and he was also quick-witted. If he were to tell a lie by putting ‘Lee Jaeheon’ in the forefront, he would know right away. In that case, he had to tell the truth with all his heart… .
“There’s something I’ve always been curious about when I see Jae-heon Lee.”
“Please speak.”
“Do you have children?”
“… … .”
It’s rumbling.
“no.”
“What about your family?”
“there is.”
“Where is the one you made, other than the one you were born with?”
“doesn’t exist.”
“How pitiful.”
Seriously, this is why I hate old authors.
“The snow is muddy. My feet are sinking in… and I can’t get out.”
“… … .”
“Are you out of breath?”
“Just rest well.”
“The tomb, was it made?”
I blinked my eyes slowly.
‘… What are you talking about, you know?’
Even if he had created a lover who did not exist through conversations with the protagonist or the detective, the real-life Lee Jae-heon did not have a family that he could say he created himself. So, it was absurd to say that he had created a grave out of nowhere.
Still, Lee Jae-heon could not help but answer.
“…no.”
Neither in his past life nor in this life, he was unable to create a grave for his family.
“Why? If you care about it so much that you think it’s going to die, you should at least make a grave for it.”
“Because there is no body.”
In my previous life, I had no body. I had no time to spare, and I had no memories. To be exact, they had been taken away. When I finally got everything back, both I and them were rotten and decayed, so Lee Jae-heon did not dare to make a grave for his family. He only called the place where they died a grave.
“Even if it’s empty, a coffin is still a coffin.”
“Because I’ve never died….”
But that doesn’t mean that this life is any better. Compared to my previous life, where there were traces, my family in this world didn’t even exist. What could be more ridiculous than creating graves for people who were never born or died?
In the end, he was unable to build a tomb.
“Hi there.”
Tsk tsk, even with the blatant tongue-clicking sound, Lee Jae-heon couldn’t say anything.
Whether it was his past or present life, 80% of the elderly people Lee Jae-heon met were people who had wasted their time, but among the remaining 20%, there were people who were like this. They were the people who patted Lee Jae-heon on the back and told him stories about how he was trying to live well with the experience he had accumulated.
“Should you have killed him?”
It’s such an awkward favor that it’s heartbreaking.
“I killed it.”
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He gently raised the corners of his lips.
I know. Lee Jae-heon never killed my family directly. But it was clear that they would have been happier if he hadn’t been there. At least they wouldn’t have died that way. If I had been a kinder, dumber, and more incompetent idiot, it would have been better.
“Then why don’t you put it next to me?”
But why do you ask me to satisfy my selfish desires?
Lee Jae-heon came up with the most plausible excuse.
“If there is something left, you have to keep it by your side.”
“Is there nothing on your mind?”
There was no corpse, and there was no death, so he told me to make a grave with only the memories in my head. Just like a child’s play, he told me to make a completely imaginary grave.
That’s ridiculous.
“That’s just….”
“At least keep that aside.”
“No need. You’ve been doing well so far.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“If my people’s empty spaces are seen and felt, it is a good thing. That way, I can remember and love them for a longer time.”
“If you don’t have even one empty coffin, your life is meaningless.”
By that point, Lee Jae-heon had lost the will to refute the claim. He nodded vaguely and answered.
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Do you think you are a bad person?”
“Mr. Munsan will be waiting for you….”
“Yeah, I guess it’s bad. I guess you think you can live well.”
“Please enter carefully.”
“Mr. Lee Jae-heon.”
A wrinkled hand grabbed Jaeheon Lee’s arm.
“Are you good with your hands?”
“…very….”
“Do you know how to cook?”
“…I know.”
“Then let’s put another bowl in front of you and eat.”
“… … .”
“Put down a pair of spoons, and bring me another cup of water. Turn on the TV instead of me… Look at the plants with roots and give them some water. If you like dogs, you can bring one in and raise it as your own.”
Pat.
A weak old hand quietly caresses the arm and hand.
“The grave and the coffin are nothing special. There’s no need for a funeral.”
“… … .”
“I need to create a reason for myself to stay on the ground and live.”
The hand that broke away from Lee Jae-heon is placed back on the cane.
“There is no need to sacrifice my own life to explain the reason.”
I nodded my head, feeling dizzy.
“I know.”
“I see. You are tearing at my flesh. You are so tattered and worn out that you are eating my bones.”
“Not to that extent.”
“The child has horns….”
The gaze is sharp.
Of course, Lee Jae-heon doesn’t feel fear or dread from just about anything, but it was a different story when the opponent was an old man who looked like he would collapse if you hit him lightly. He couldn’t even joke around with him like he did with the energetic protagonist or the doctor.
“You are so kind.”
“I am just grateful for your kind words.”
“Because he’s so kind, he doesn’t even know how to eat other people’s flesh and only eats his own flesh.”
“Don’t worry, I know how to eat other people’s flesh very well.”
I was starting to feel tired.
‘Why are you causing such a fuss here?’
Honestly, I didn’t understand. When he was in the other world, Lee Jae-heon didn’t remember having much conversation with Jin Dal-rae. He couldn’t understand why they were acting so nosy when they had only seen each other so much. And it was in the first place they met in reality.
Jindallae frowned as she looked at Lee Jaeheon’s face. It was as if she was slapping a tiger.
“What are you thinking?”
“nothing….”
“That’s why even if you tell the boy, he won’t eat.”
“Am I too old to hear the sound of a child…?”
“Yeah, you did well.”
widely.
Jindallae, who seemed to be feeling uneasy, tapped the floor with her cane and continued speaking.
“You shouldn’t live like that, you idiot.”
“… … .”
Lee Jae-heon made a bewildered expression.
‘I’ve never lived like a fool in my past life, or even in this life, have I?’
Oh my, our employees should have heard this. Oh my, our colleagues should have heard this. If those who were treated badly by Lee Jae-heon in this life and were dumped by Lee Jae-heon in their past lives heard this, they would have all perked up their ears. They would think, “What did I hear wrong?” Lee Jae-heon’s own feelings were not much different.
Jindallae sighed deeply at the sight of Lee Jaeheon like that.
“If it’s so frustrating, why did I ever love?”
“… Even though it looks like this, my love is deep…”
“Shut up, shut up. Judging from the nonsense you’re talking about, I don’t think you’ll go out and get chased right away.”
“I never plan on going out again.”
“There’s a lot of energy gathered in my mouth.”
She clicked her tongue, then returned to her characteristically expressionless face and opened her mouth.
“Live like a human being, live like a human being.”
“yet….”
“If something you love is dead, you can either hold on to it or bury it. If you can’t keep it by your side, send it off, or wrap it up and bury it, that’s what a person would do. That’s what a corpse would do.”
“I understand.”
“Are you happy?”
He shrugged.
“If that were the case, would you live like this?”
“You speak well.”
Jindallae asked.
“Then why do you live there?”
Of course, it is to enjoy wealth and honor.
But I couldn’t say that. No matter how close to the truth I had to give an answer, I couldn’t suddenly say, “I live for money and fame.” It would go against the ‘Lee Jae-heon’ setting that I had built up until now.
After thinking for a moment, Jaeheon Lee answered with a bright smile.
“I have work to do.”
“Is there still any left?”
“There’s a lot left.”
‘Lee Jae-heon’ needs to deal with Song In-myeong, who is a threat to this generation, and lead the new protagonist as far as possible. Whether it’s Lee Jae-heon’s story or ‘Lee Jae-heon’s’ story, it was not an empty phrase but the truth that there was work left to do.
Jindallae, who was staring at his face, asked.
“When it’s over, will you die?”
“…I don’t know why everyone asks me that.”
“If you don’t like it, you should try something about Dongtae’s eyes.”
“My eyes are fine.”
“There is no need to cling so desperately to death.”
“sure.”
“When you die, die beautifully.”
Kook.
Jindallae said, clenching her fists in both hands over her cane.
“Don’t live in pain.”
“… … .”
Lee Jae-heon narrowed his eyes.
“… Grandma, aren’t you sick?”
I remember the story of the old woman in front of me. I know her story of how all her loved ones died so miserably. I think of the story of an old woman who lives alone in the world without any blood relatives or friends.
He asks if your life isn’t painful.
“Damn… you piece of shit.”
“Your mouth is too tight.”
“Alright, I’ve also been a useless harasser to Mr. Lee Jae-heon. I know. But do you know that?”
“well.”
“The nagging that old people do to younger people is full of regret. It’s called vicarious satisfaction. I did this and that, so you shouldn’t live like this. It’s like me talking to myself while pretending to talk to others.”
“aha….”
I was talking a lot about useless things, but it seems like he thought of me and started talking.
“Personal information… something like that. Then you will soon know my story. I will read it carefully and repeat to myself 100 times that I will not live like this.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“They all have old eyes….”
Indifferent eyes scanned Lee Jae-heon.
“Just live your life looking around you.”
“I am watching you closely.”
“Looking at it with those eyes, I wonder if there is anything that Jaeheon Lee can give his heart to.”
“haha.”
“Not even one in this world?”
“… … .”
“Keep your mouth shut.”
At the harsh tone, Lee Jae-heon finally let out a deep sigh. He had a lot of work to do these days, so he was out of his mind, but then a big old man came and poked him, making his head spin. The drink he had at the dinner probably had something to do with it.
He spoke in a softened tone.
“…Do you live alone?”
“I live alone.”
“There is someone next to you.”
“Do you see it?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
Jaeheon Lee, who wiped his heavy eyes with his hand, pressed the table bell. Not long after, an employee came up to him without making a sound and quietly bowed his head.
“Did you call?”
“Yes, I called.”
Then he looked at the azalea and asked.
“Did you eat anything delicious today?”
“It was all delicious. You did a great job.”
“Please pack the soup and side dishes.”
“The food was delicious.”
“I’ll buy you a box of mingna water. It’ll make you feel refreshed.”
“Meat is good too.”
“… I would appreciate it if you could also include Seol-ya-myeok.”
When he shamelessly took the order with his nose held high, the employee who had come to take the order pursed his lips as if he had seen a heartwarming scene, then quietly bowed his head and left the room. Lee Jae-heon gently rubbed his forehead as he heard the strangely excited sound of footsteps.
“We will prepare it for you at the counter.”
“Are you a fool? Does the place I stabbed you hurt?”
“I tried using the trick that my grandmother used.”
Lee Jae-heon took his hand off his forehead and said while looking at Jindallae.
“Are you happy?”
“no.”
“Is it worth living?”
“yes.”
“Me too.”
Lee Jae-heon continued speaking in a calm voice.
“There is no problem living like this.”
“Then don’t regret it.”
“All right.”
“Don’t regret it like me….”
The old man’s tired, eccentric voice echoed throughout the room.
“It hurts so much.”
“… … .”
“How nice it would be if I didn’t know how to regret it?”
A sense of homogeneity, yes.
‘… It’s the perfect area to appeal to emotions.’
This too, if piled up, would come to be of use.
There were so many reasons to die in the other world, but Lee Jae-heon couldn’t die. He came to his senses now, but there was a high possibility that he would mess up again later, so it would be better to prepare tools that could be used in advance like this.
“Are you thinking of something else again?”
“… How could that be?”
Lee Jae-heon, who was convinced, smiled faintly.
“I will remember.”
When necessary, express gratitude.
