Noah turned his head to look at his expression.
Over time, and with frequent meetings, he had come to read him to a certain extent.
Deep-set eyes and tightly closed lips.
Yes. That’s the look of someone deep in thought. There was no way he could be mistaken.
Shin Hyun had been silent ever since he came out of the small room.
“Why is Older Brother acting like this?”
“Shh. You shouldn’t bother Uncle when he’s like this.”
“Why not?”
“He’s a bit sensitive right now.”
He probably wouldn’t get angry, but interference is still interference.
Noah didn’t want to do that.
They got into the car with the Demon King.
Sitting in the passenger seat gave him a better view of Shin Hyun’s troubled profile.
‘Ugh…I shouldn’t be feeling like this…’
Rare scenes like this don’t come around often…!
Noah gripped his own hand.
It kept reaching for his phone.
‘Restrain yourself from taking pictures…Na Noah!’
This rare moment. I want to capture it.
Since he’s usually so carefree, moments like this are precious.
Noah swallowed dryly.
‘No, this isn’t right.’
If Shin Hyun was like this, it meant there was something serious to think about.
And yet, here he was showing such behavior. What would Shin Hyun think?
Noah took a deep breath.
“Uncle, are you alright?”
“…Hmm, ah. Sorry. I have something to think about.”
“It’s fine. We can wait here as long as needed.”
“That’s not possible.”
Vroom.
Shin Hyun started the car engine.
“Let’s hurry.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah…probably.”
Not probably.
‘This isn’t going well.’
Noah took out his phone.
After tapping around, he found what he was looking for.
“Uncle, let me treat today. Let’s go here.”
When Shin Hyun saw Noah’s phone, his eyes widened.
“Ho ho, Noah, you’re not thinking of going somewhere inappropriate already, are you?”
“What are you thinking!”
Gack!
Noah snapped.
“I just want to rest at a clean inn before we go-”
“…”
“…That’s…so…”
“See? Isn’t that strange?”
A smirking Shin Hyun appeared.
Under normal circumstances, he would have launched a continuous attack, but unfortunately, he wasn’t in the mood.
“Alright. Since I’m tired too, let’s rest a bit before going.”
It wasn’t originally scheduled to be an overnight stay.
However, due to Shin Hyun’s poor condition, they decided to take a short rest.
The car raced down the mountain road.
Once back on the asphalt road, the car continued its journey.
Even during this time, Shin Hyun remained silent.
That silence persisted even after arriving at the accommodation.
“Kids, I’ve ordered some chicken. Do you want to eat? I’ll be back after a short walk outside.”
“Huh? Won’t you eat with us, Uncle?”
“No, I feel like drinking a bit.”
Though slightly perplexed, Noah had more questions.
Shin Hyun didn’t particularly avoid drinking in front of them.
But going out alone to drink meant he wanted to get thoroughly drunk.
“Kid, is something wrong with Uncle?”
“…Shin Hyun said he’d tell you himself, so please remain quiet.”
What could possibly be going on?
Noah’s doubts only grew larger.
What could make him act like this?
His mind was filled with questions.
Being especially concerned about him, Noah felt it even more strongly.
‘I don’t know why he’s acting like this…I should ask him later when he’s tipsy.’
Of course,
‘Haha…I should secretly take a picture of him drunk. Precious things should be collected.’
There was a slightly lewd thought in his mind.
So what?
It’s Uncle’s fault for not saying anything and making people anxious.
“I’ll go see him off. I’ll stay with the Demon King.”
“There’s no need! I’m strong too!”
“…Feels like babysitting a younger brother, despite how unlikely it is.”
Pfft.
Shin Hyun weakly smiled and turned around.
The sound of opening and closing doors echoed as his figure disappeared from the room.
+++++
A casually arranged pub in the city.
Sitting in a random corner booth, I ordered alcohol and appetizers.
Peanuts and dried snacks.
Not a bad combination for casual drinking.
Glug.
“Khaa…”
Cheap-tasting beer slid down my throat.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t do such reckless drinking.
‘Kid, isn’t that right?’
‘What is?’
‘Beer goes best with soju.’
Are you crazy?
A Kkomkmu extending tentacles under my clothes, giving me a sudden slap on the back.
“You shouldn’t do this no matter how tough things get!”
“Right?”
Even though I said it myself, it made me laugh.
How pitiful. To be in this situation because I couldn’t say a single word.
But there was nothing I could do.
‘How am I supposed to say this while sober?’
While munching on dried squid, I opened a notebook.
It was the diary I had taken out from there.
‘I guessed he might do something like this, but he really is a bad guy.’
‘Exactly. Even if he tried to justify himself, it’s not the kind of crime that can be forgiven.’
I opened the first page of the diary.
There was a woman with white hair and purple eyes.
For a moment, I thought it was Noah, but it wasn’t.
Noah seemed far too mature.
Perhaps with more time, she could resemble this, but at least not now or in the past.
While reading the diary, I learned her identity.
‘Noah’s mother. Or rather, the matrix, perhaps?’
She was the basis for both Noah and the Demon King.
She was the wife of Rabbit, but she was no longer of this world.
As expected, Noah and the Demon King were her clones.
Then why did he do such a thing?
He said it was to fill the world with laughter.
‘Completely insane.’
To fulfill the wish of his deceased wife and create a world full of laughter.
It seems he truly was a Hero once.
But problems arose after his wife’s death.
‘Magical Girl Happy Cloud.’
I recognized the name.
A Magical Girl who worked with the mission of spreading happiness to the world.
After her death, Rabbit must have gone mad.
-To accomplish her final request.
-To make the entire world happy, how should it be done? Yes, everyone must indulge in happiness.
‘Cover the world with narcotic clouds. And…’
‘Everyone becomes happy… Ha, he’s lost his mind.’
Whatever story or circumstances existed between them.
‘That’s none of my business.’
Even if there were such circumstances,
‘There’s no way I can forgive what that guy did to the kids, to Noah.’
Especially.
“…Haa…”
‘How am I supposed to tell Miss Noah this?’
‘I…can’t do it.’
I drank some more alcohol.
Maybe because I drank it all at once, my head was getting slightly dizzy.
No matter how many times I read the diary, I hadn’t imagined it wrong.
Driven by restless thoughts, I kept drinking.
I lost count of how much I drank.
When I finally gave up counting the bottles, something tapped me on the back.
“It’s time to go now. You’ve had too much.”
“…Yeah, I guess I’m definitely drunk.”
My head was spinning.
“Hmm…how am I supposed to tell her this?”
“I’m fine. Please tell me.”
“…I must be quite drunk…”
Judging by my blurred vision, I must have had too much.
It’s rare for me to get this drunk.
“Auntie?”
Look at that.
Now I’m seeing hallucinations of Noah.
There’s no way he could be here.
Am I worrying too much?
Now Noah is holding a notebook and slowly reading it.
Maybe I’m so drunk I can’t find my way home…
“No…that can’t be right.”
That’s definitely Noah.
I reached out with trembling hands and gently patted Noah’s head.
“…Noah, I’m sorry.”
“…”
“Because I lacked the courage…it’s…no, how did you get here?”
What a pathetic sight I’ve shown.
I didn’t want to show him this side.
Judging by how much I’ve drunk, it must be obvious.
‘…I contacted you. And, please clarify everything now. It’s hard to keep postponing forever.’
‘Kid…’
‘Don’t act so pretentiously and just speak clearly. I understand your distress, but…if you keep silent, nothing will change.’
Noah stared at me intently.
“…Is this why you’ve been acting like this?”
“…”
“…”
Noah also looked at me without saying anything.
Well, since it’s already revealed, what’s the point of pretending anymore?
I fiddled with the cap of the bottle and managed to open my mouth.
“…Nineteen years old.”
“…”
“According to my calculations, Noah, it will be difficult for you to surpass nineteen.”
Finally, I said it.
Once I started speaking, words poured out continuously.
“Limitations of a clone. The Demon King might seem fine thanks to whatever tricks he used, but…Noah…”
“…”
“That’s…sorry.”
Noah blinked.
Surely, he has a lot to think about.
Your life has suddenly been given a two-year…or perhaps even shorter, expiration date.
Noah was a special entity.
Unlike others who don’t grow, he grows and changes appearance.
In the process, he consumes life, and eventually, upon reaching adulthood…
“Damn…stop joking around.”
My tongue twisted as I spoke.
“Don’t worry, Noah. You won’t die. I’ll make sure of that. Got it?”
“…”
“So-”
“Noah, hold on. Let me talk.”
Interrupting my words, Noah sat next to me.
I expected him to be sad, but surprisingly, he looked perfectly fine.
There was no sign of him forcing himself to stay calm.
Instead, a gentle smile of joy graced his lips.
Strange.
“Do you understand, Noah…? You’re on borrowed time…”
“Yes.”
“You might die…?”
“I know.”
“And yet, why are you so calm-”
“It’s because I trust Uncle.”
Noah smirked and continued.
“We have a lot to do from now on. Finding a solution and, just in case, doing a bunch of things I want to do.”
“…Alright. I’ll help you with whatever you need. I’ll quit my part-time job too. Until we find a solution.”
Of course, finding a solution is the top priority.
If we fail…
No, don’t think about that.
‘I will definitely find a solution.’
If necessary, I’ll turn the whole world against me to find it.
If I have to attack someone, I’ll attack.
If I have to kill someone, I’ll kill.
And if, in the end, I have to live as a Villain…
I will gladly live as one.
Muttering those words, Noah drew closer to me.
“Uncle.”
“…Yeah.”
“Then, I might not be able to keep our promise, huh.”
“Promise…?”
“Yes, the one where we agreed to date once I became an adult.”
…Huh?
Was that the promise?
“No…it sounds a bit different…”
“Hehe, anyway! There’s something I want to say.”
Noah’s eyes became moist.
It seems he has something important to say.
“There’s a Demon King sleeping in the room right now.”
“…So?”
“Would you like to book another room?”
