“So, until that’s fixed, I can’t contact that friend. It’s in that abnormal state, you see.”

“What is that…?”

Perplexed, Rood asked, but Jung Soo-ho shook his head. It seemed like information difficult to share with an outsider like Rood.

While Jung Soo-ho seemed aware that he was different from others, Rood couldn’t know. Even after thoroughly searching through memories of living as Nari, he couldn’t find out.

“No, but why does that have anything to do with clearing the gate? It’s not a state abnormality caused by the gate.”

In response to Rood’s words, Jung Soo-ho touched the back of his neck. After a moment of hesitation, he entered text into the terminal again.

“I found out about it only after undergoing a detailed examination at the Guild. Now, I am receiving treatment within the Guild.”

When Jung Soo-ho explained that all abnormalities needed to be removed for quick treatment, Rood spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

“You’ll go back once everything is fine? Back to the side of that friend? Explain everything at that time? I wonder if that friend will be happy to see you again, considering what I said?”

Rood spoke, hiding his slightly trembling hand behind his back. It was because of what he said that Jung Soo-ho couldn’t return.
Though Rood knew the friend’s personality, who would stick to their words even if they were to die, was undoubtedly innocent and straightforward, and despite understanding that it was not just difficult for himself but also for Jung Soo-ho, who had lived with Nari’s family.

“What on earth have I said…?”

Rood lowered his head deeply, tightly closed the eyes behind the sunglasses. Feelings of regret, sorrow, and self-blame, among various other arrogant emotions, rushed into him. The anger towards Jung Soo-ho had long since faded away.

Back then, Nari was young, and he knew she wasn’t in a sound mental state. However, that didn’t change the fact that he had hurt others. Moreover, he completely forgot about it and considered himself an entirely blameless victim.

While the words could sound like, “Will she be happy to see you when you go down?” the meaning behind what Rood said was different. It conveyed the emotion Nari was currently feeling.

“Will she want to meet again after making such a mistake? She must be engulfed in guilt, right?” That was the essence of his words.

Afterward, he remained silent for a while, then turned his gaze beyond the iron bars into the empty air.

“I think it will be challenging to improve my relationship with that friend even if I go down again.”

“If that’s the case, why bother going back? You heard those words at the end. There’s no reason to return to someone who goes to such lengths. Isn’t it better for you to live your own life? Someone who treated you like that.”
He had always been like that.

Pretending to be completely innocent, pretending that the world was pretending to make him unable to live, always pretending to be entirely pure, but fundamentally, there was always an inexplicable sense of guilt.

Accepting that it was his fault that his friends left, just like he accepted that Kang Ih-hyun might leave. Preparing to accept it as if he had no choice.

Rood glanced up, looking ahead.

Jung Soo-ho was glancing at his terminal, smiling faintly. The words Rood used to say to Kang Ih-hyun echoed from his terminal.

[Because I know I’m a difficult person to handle. I now understand that my friend must have had a hard time taking care of me.]

“…….”

[So, for now, I’ll try to handle it myself. And after I’ve truly fixed all those flaws, I’ll come back. And if I apologize, perhaps, wouldn’t you understand? At that time, we were 17, and now we’re 25.]

“Why are people so kind? If it were me, I would never go back. I would let myself live without even knowing what I did wrong. And I would continue to show that I’m living well, mumbling about it. Continuously enduring pain. Even though I could choose an easier path, why…”

Just a few hours ago, Rood thought, ‘I will forget Jung Soo-ho, that jerk!’ Now, he was telling Jung Soo-ho to forget about him and live. No, it was almost like an appeal.
She didn’t want to revisit what she had done to such a kind and good person.

She didn’t want to see her mistakes again, and she didn’t want to admit that the culprit who ruined everything was, in fact, Shin Bitnari.

And even the selfish feelings that surfaced in herself until the end were too detestable. The sound continued from Jung Soo-ho’s terminal.

[Usually, the one who wants to see more is the one who loses. And I’m too familiar with losing now.]

“…….,”

Hiding his frustration, Rood sighed deeply and firmly pressed his forehead.

He was a straightforward person to the point of getting sick of it. It was bothersome that these fundamental aspects did not change.

Whether it was because he was a person filled with mistakes or just a kind person who was generous and understanding of others’ mistakes…

[It seems like you suddenly feel bad. Did my story burden you? I apologize.]