BCGWR Chapter 31 Part 2

‘Haha, it’s okay. Your older brother figure just has a bit of a headache. Don’t worry. Let’s just stay like this for a bit. Being with Ji-su like this makes the pain go away, it seems. It’s not a lie? Really, being with Ji-su like this… it hurts less.’

The image of him standing guard all night, holding hands, breathing heavily, his body burning like a ball of fire.

‘Put that gun away before you speak. And I won’t leave these people behind and go alone.’

The sight of him warning the soldiers, who claimed the government was intact and that they had come to prioritize rescuing survivors with special abilities by government order.

‘Ji-su. Do you want to go out with that rat… that little mouse and take a short walk? Just rest in a crowded place for a bit. Your older brother figure will come get you soon.’

The cool voice that subdued another ‘Awakened’ person in the shelter who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grabbed his hand, and tried to drag him away, then asked them to make some space.

‘Ji-su. Your older brother figure… your older brother figure will always be by your side from now on.’

The promise he made while hugging him so tightly it felt like his body would break, on the day he received the answer that the older brother and younger brother he had searched for so desperately after The Cataclysm no longer existed in this world.

‘Of course. Your older brother figure promises he will never die before Ji-su. I’ll make sure Ji-su leaves first, then I’ll follow the very next day. Is that okay? Huh? Haha, how about that. It doesn’t matter. What’s the point of protecting a world without Ji-su? It means nothing to me.’

With the memory of the first anniversary of his older brother and younger brother’s passing, his thoughts of Kang Jae-yoon began to blur again.

Han Ji-su woke up with a start, at the moment when the voice that had comforted him, embracing him as he sobbed, consumed by longing, blurred and he could no longer recall it.

“…”

Though his head was still fuzzy, the fact that he could vividly recall Kang Jae-yoon’s smiling face for a moment was pleasant, so a smile naturally spread across his face. Of course, amidst the happiness, a pure question arose.

‘Why can I think of him already?’

The period Professor Choi Seong-hun had mentioned for the brainwashing to fade was roughly starting from the tenth day.

He had said that, at the earliest, the brainwashing would gradually dilute and interference would decrease from ten days, or at the latest, from fifteen days.

Han Ji-su blinked, knowing that even generously including the four days he had been unconscious in the hospital, only about a week had passed.

‘It’s not working well again now, is it?’

It was strange. Just before, Kang Jae-yoon’s voice had been clear enough to echo in his ears, and his smiling face had been so vividly etched in his mind, but now he couldn’t remember it again.

All the memories that had rushed in like waves had been swept away, but Han Ji-su felt curiosity instead of loss.

His ears were muffled, and he felt dizzy. It was as if he had been submerged and floating in water while reminiscing about Kang Jae-yoon, then suddenly resurfaced. Unlike the clear voice he had heard, the buzzing noise of reality became distinct, his five senses awoke, and he felt his face was damp.

Had he cried enough to soak the sheets? It didn’t matter to Han Ji-su whether he had cried or not. Right now, he just wanted to savor the lingering feeling.

“Go, call Guide Han Ji-su.”

“Squeak!”

Jung Ha-jin’s voice, announcing that dinner preparations were finished, faintly drifted through the open door. Then, small footsteps followed.

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