Chapter 238

“Ugh-!”

It felt like I lost consciousness for a brief moment. Maybe I even fell asleep.

‘Someone called me, I think.’

I looked around, but there were only people smoking in the distance. No one seemed to have called Jin-hyeok.

The headache and the tightness in my chest were gone. It seemed like my body and mind were just exhausted.

As my vision cleared, I saw my friend and grandmother lying there, their eyes closed.

“What is this, you punk…”

I wiped away the tears that had melted like frost on Jo Seol-chan’s cheek.

I had suggested switching to an oil boiler while renovating the house. What did Seol-chan say back then…?

I can’t remember, but it seems like he brushed it off because of the oil prices.

Even when the other guys acted mean, he always smiled. Even when it hurt, even when training was tough, he said he was happy just being with his friends.

‘If I had made you study with me back in middle school, would your fate have been different?’

Suddenly, random memories of Seol-chan’s room flashed through my mind.

There was a standard drafting set worth 35,000 won that Jin-hyeok had gifted him, telling him to study design, and Seol-chan’s sketchbook was open. Even to my untrained eye, the design looked impressive and detailed.

Books on machinery and architecture, which I had gifted him whenever I could, were neatly stacked.

‘You never took anything I said lightly.’

What good is being fast if you can’t use it?

If I had run just a little faster, would the outcome have changed?

If I had used my strength to run like the wind and shaved off even a second…

‘Strength!’

You idiot!

Jin-hyeok suddenly lifted his head.

His tear-streaked face didn’t matter.

Only then did he remember the moment he had fainted, as if a film had snapped.

‘Shadow!’

The word “help” must mean that strength.

‘Gather.’

There wasn’t a single tree around, but I could feel it.

After letting go of myself for a moment, I regained my composure and filled my heart with strength again. My heightened senses detected energy gathering—from the grass roots buried in the soil, from the air.

‘Please.’

I placed my hands on their chests and focused.

Even if I couldn’t guarantee the result, it was worth a try. Nothing is more precious than life.

‘How do I do this?!’

I only used it to breathe, run, and share with Yoo Jin.

Stupidly, I never learned how to use it properly. I was too happy, too full of strength.

If I had expected something like this to happen, would the outcome have been different?

“How do I do this?!”

I screamed, but only a cold wind slapped my face.

The thick snow quickly turned the empty field white, and the building across the road was obscured.

“Seol-chan must be cold. Let’s go inside. I’ll take you in, Grandma.”

As I wrapped the grandmother, who was growing paler and colder, in a blanket, someone’s words echoed in my mind.

【Someone once said that a person who can ask for help when they need it, and accept it, is more perfect than someone who tries to endure all hardships alone.】

I definitely heard that just now.

The only difference is that I’m not losing consciousness now. The pressure was still there, but it wasn’t enough to make me faint.

There was no time to marvel at the sudden voice in my head or to satisfy my curiosity about the situation.

【You seem to need help. ⬛dr ⬛laf⬛ ⬛z, nuje abel t⬛.】

It was an unexpected situation, but there was only one thing to ask.

‘What?’

【Is it difficult? ⬛shulid⬛spu ⬛rats⬛b.】

I’m not sure if this can even be called a language. It didn’t stick to my tongue or stay in my head. I furrowed my brow and concentrated, but I couldn’t repeat the words the shadow had spoken.

The sound, which pierced my mind like a dream without passing through my eardrums, had no form.

As I hesitated, the shadow, which I couldn’t see but could feel, raised its voice again.

【There’s no time to explain. Ob te⬛ tel.】

‘O, ob t-.’

Desperate, but even mimicking it was hard.

Jin-hyeok, who had never experienced failure, realized how pathetic he was in front of the natural law of life and death and the mythical existence of the shadow.

Holding onto his self-esteem, which was about to crumble in the face of sorrow and confusion, was the best he could do.

【You want to save them, don’t you?】

“Of course!”

【Hold onto that feeling. Hurry. Abyuel.】

This time, the words were easier.

“Abyuel!”

Is something happening?

I looked with hopeful eyes, but nothing changed.

【This won’t do. Empty yourself and accept more.】

It must mean to fill myself with that strange power.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I expanded my lungs and activated my heart. To speed up the gathering, I placed my palms on my knees and faced the sky.

Unlike when I emptied myself in the bamboo forest, energy rushed in through my pores and skin, even from the piled-up snow.

How many times did I breathe?

The shadow’s overwhelming presence grew even stronger.

The weight pressing on my heart and lungs felt like the pressure of the deep sea.

【Raise your hands.】

I placed my hands on their chests again.

【Gid relafeb gaz, nuje abel tiae.】

Whoosh-.

It was a sight I’d never seen before, an unfamiliar sensation, a strange emotion.

As if all the particles of light in the world had mixed together, an indescribable light burst from Jin-hyeok’s hands. As the energy flowed out, his heart filled with warmth, and his mind found clarity. Along with it, the calm of meditation soothed his sorrow-filled chest.

The light flowed into their hearts without delay.

From their hearts to their heads, then down their necks and spreading throughout their bodies.

It was so dazzling, a light that revealed the position of every organ and blood vessel.

I knew intuitively. It was a new life force filling their bodies.

【Now, try it yourself. Sadynah.】

“Sadynah.”

I mimicked the shadow’s words as closely as possible.

But nothing changed.

【It’s not about understanding with your head or repeating with your mouth. Let go of your consciousness, empty your thoughts, and just wish with your heart. What do you want to give them? Only that. Sadynah.】

There was only one thing I wanted to give.

Huuup-, after a deep breath, I recited it again.

With the hope that they would breathe again.

‘Sadynah.’

Even if I wished with all my heart.

“Sadynah!”

Even if I shouted it out loud, nothing changed.

【Your ego is too strong. I’ll do it. Sadynah.】

Whoosh-.

Like a spell hidden in the underworld, a mysterious force vibrated through Jin-hyeok’s body. The vibration traveled down his arms, through his palms, and into Seol-chan and the grandmother’s bodies.

Jin-hyeok, with a prayerful heart, poured his desperate wish into the connected hands.

Hoping the bond wouldn’t break.

Huuu-. Kkkk.

Seol-chan and the grandmother’s chests swelled.

Their lips were pale from the cold, but their cheeks flushed.

It was a miracle within a miracle.

‘Did it work?’

【You’ve only passed the critical point. Place your hand on their foreheads.】

Jin-hyeok obediently followed.

There was no reason to be prideful or stubborn.

After all, this was the only being he could rely on at this moment.

And he was grateful it had appeared at such a crucial time.

It must be a massive silhouette, invisible, undulating in the air.

【Ankhnaby.】

It was easier and faster to think it than to say it out loud.

As his palms warmed, light flowed onto Seol-chan and the grandmother’s foreheads.

It was like hundreds of fireflies moving together in early summer.

‘Is this telling them to sleep deeply?’

【Not bad. The pain of rebirth is comparable to the death of a star. If they wake up now, they’ll feel pain worse than death.】

‘I’m not sure if that makes sense, but I think I felt it…’

【That’s it. It’s the language of the heart, not the mind. The language of will, not knowledge.】

‘Why can’t I do it?’

Even though I already knew the reason from the shadow’s words, I asked out of frustration.

【You must empty yourself, let go, and let go again.】

It was a difficult thing to say, and for a human being full of pride, it was nearly impossible to put into practice.

【If there’s another place that needs it, place your hand there.】

If I performed chest compressions, the ribs covering the chest cavity would fracture. Jin-hyeok placed his hand where he had applied force to save them.

【Lanchap nupien.】

Warm energy flowed again.

This would heal their broken bones.

“All wounds will heal…”

I muttered as I felt the shadow’s words.

It wasn’t some strange spell or foul magic, but a simple command.

One filled with undeniable power.

【It’s fortunate it’s not too late. Well then.】

“Don’t go!”

Jin-hyeok looked around at the empty air and shouted.

【If I stay like this, you’ll be in danger too. You must already feel it, right?】

It must be talking about the pressure crushing my chest and threatening to break my head.

When the shadow suddenly appeared without gathering strength, I fainted. Now, after exhausting all the strength I had gathered, the pressure was growing stronger, threatening to crush me.

【It’s enough time for a weak human to go mad. If you find a way, we can meet again anytime.】

‘You’re not leaving, are you?’

【I won’t leave because of your subordinates.】

‘Subordinates?’

【Focus on what you can do now. This isn’t the end. Neither our connection nor the matters concerning their lives.】

‘Hey.’

Without a word or a sound, the shadow disappeared.

As the presence, which felt like the immense pressure of the deep sea, vanished, the snow grew heavier.

‘You always just leave.’

I had a lot to say, but the shadow was right.

Seol-chan and the grandmother were breathing and their hearts were beating, but they were still unconscious. They must have been put into a deep sleep.

I had to make sure they were stable. They were one of the many connections that allowed me to exist as a human.

I smiled like a fool as I tucked the blanket around them so they wouldn’t be cold.

“Phew-, still, it’s a relief…”

They’re alive.

I had used all the energy I had gathered in a short time to save them.

My mental and physical strength were at their limits.

Tears welled up, and I wiped them away with my sleeve.

Like a child scolded by their mother, I sat down and just wiped my tears.

I despaired at the helplessness of being human, and I felt relief seeing the revived lives.

Weeeee-.

With a loud siren, two ambulances were speeding down the outer road.

***

When we arrived at the hospital, Seol-chan responded to external stimuli, and the grandmother groaned softly in pain. They hadn’t regained consciousness, but it was clear they were improving.

“Please take care of them.”

“We’ll do our best.”

As Seol-chan and the grandmother were moved to the intensive care unit, still unconscious, I went to find a payphone.

‘Ah, the phone card…’

Maybe Kim Eun-jung took it.

I went outside the hospital and took out my security phone.

I needed to let the school know so they wouldn’t worry.

– I don’t know what’s wrong, but a student can’t just skip the first day of school. Your voice sounds fine, are you faking it? What’s your name?

“This is Son Jin-hyeok from Class 4, Grade 3.”

– Huh…?

Luckily, the school seemed understanding.

Skipping the first day of the new semester…

Since classes hadn’t started yet, maybe it would just count as being late.

Except for competitions, I had never missed a day, but who cares about perfect attendance awards?

The Son Jin-hyeok who used to obsess over perfect attendance as a model of diligence is gone now.

If you’re sick, rest. If something comes up, it’s okay to miss a day. How many students push themselves because of society’s expectations of diligence?

“Is this the office of Eun-sang Technical High School? I’m Son Jin-hyeok, a track and field athlete. I’m a friend of Jo Seol-chan.”

– Uh, uh…

When I called the office of Seol-chan’s industrial high school, I boldly added unnecessary information. Chairman Yoo Myung-sun’s advice to not hold back on names wasn’t meant for situations like this, but using appropriate authority where needed couldn’t hurt. It wasn’t abuse, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable.

‘Who else do I need to call?’

My mind felt stiff, and nothing came to me immediately.

Grrr-.

‘I’m hungry.’

Maybe it’s the carbon monoxide…

I decided to look for the snack bar first.