Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World

“We must have a connection.”

 

“It’s probably a bad one.”

 

“Haha, even a bad connection is still a connection.”

 

“Birdie, come here.”

 

“Ha Yoojin, don’t touch unknown stuff And I’ve told you many times not to stay outside for long. Come here.”

 

That was so mean of him. How could he call Pii an unknown stuff? …Wait, he was right.

 

“Pii, you can’t lose either. Come here.”

 

At Hwashin’s call, Pii trotted over and lightly perched on Hwashin’s shoulder.

 

Ha Yoojin’s eyes sparkled with envy, but Hwashin casually ignored her.

 

He had no interest in a child who would soon die.

 

Since the formation of the SH unit, the story had been progressing faithfully according to the original plot.

 

High-risk gates requiring S-class deployment didn’t appear as often as expected, and even when they did, they were in remote mountain areas far from the city. Just when people started criticizing the purpose of the SH Unit’s existence.

 

That was when it happened.

 

In one of the hospitals designated by the Korean Hero Association, a gate opened on the top floor.

 

Being a designated hospital didn’t mean there were no regular patients. In fact, there were more regular patients. Heroes didn’t stay long or get admitted unless they needed emergency surgery or health checkups.

 

The 6th floor, mainly used by heroes, was empty, and a nurse doing regular rounds discovered the gate opening there.

 

The Association didn’t detect it first because the gate warning alarm malfunctioned.

 

Machines weren’t foolproof, and it wasn’t uncommon for gates to go undetected.

 

It hadn’t been a problem until now.

 

When monsters began to escape through the gate in the hospital and casualties started to occur, the SH1 Unit arrived.

 

Through this incident, Cha Jaeha fully awakened. For reference, it was a forced awakening in a life-or-death situation.

 

‘It was impossible to evacuate everyone since there were patients with limited mobility. Plus, the monster’s abilities were completely incompatible. Especially for Cha Jaeha who had such trauma.’

 

Hwashin chewed on the bubbles in his bubble tea. Chomp chomp.

 

‘That was an iconic scene, I’d like to read it again in the novel. You need to savor such things slowly, line by line, underlining with a pen. I wonder if they sell that book here? …Probably not. Ah, what a shame. Is there no way to read the book again?’

 

Chomp chomp.

 

Ha Cheongwon, observing Hwashin quietly, sat his younger sister on his lap. As he gently rocked her, he thought about this unfortunate encounter.

 

‘Why do we keep running into each other?’

 

One of the essential virtues of an office worker was not to create troublesome situations at work.

 

It was good to look competent, but one should avoid annoying tasks and not get involved with problematic people. Ha Cheongwon had lived that way and intended to continue doing so.

 

But since Yoo Hwasin appeared, things had been going awry.

 

Due to his supposed acquaintance with Unit 1, Ha Cheongwon had been burdened with all related tasks, and his new job assignment even included analyzing Yoo Hwasin’s case.

 

Moreover, he was leaving work an hour late every day. How could he not dislike such a person?

 

“Yoojin, why did you come out here? How long have you been here?”

 

“To drink orange juice! It hasn’t even been 10 minutes! You said up to an hour was okay!”

 

“You could have asked the nurse for juice.”

 

“But it’s boring to stay in bed all the time!”

 

“You shouldn’t leave your room without a word; it makes people worry,” Ha Cheongwon brushed back his sister’s messy bangs as he said that.

 

Watching them, Hwashin made a sound of admiration.

 

“Mr. Ha Cheongwon, you’re such a kind brother.”

 

“I know right?”

 

Ha Yoojin puffed out her small chest proudly. Did she really love her brother that much?

 

Before long, a nurse came looking for Yoojin and took her away.

 

Now, only the empty disposable cup, the sleeping Pii, and Ha Cheongwon and Yoo Hwasin remained.

 

Ha Cheongwon gave a short apology and got up. He wanted to quickly leave this uncomfortable meeting. Hwashin grabbed his wrist with a bright smile.

 

“Why is your sister hospitalized?”

 

“Why should I tell you that?”

 

Ha Cheongwon frowned, pulling his wrist away and brushing off the spot where Hwashin had touched him.

 

“It’s not polite to pry into personal matters—”

 

“Is it because of that thing’s mana adaptation?”

 

Ha Cheongwon’s frown deepened at Hwashin’s question.

 

“She is my sister, not a ‘thing’.”

 

“Looks like I guessed it right.”

 

There weren’t many options to consider.

 

This was a hospital designated by the Hero Association with many mana-related cases among regular patients. Also, the fact that the child had returned to the 5th floor, just below the top floor, on the day of her checkup was a critical clue.

 

The 5th floor was full of patients related to mana adaptation ability and damage measurement machines.

 

‘Well, the novel did mention Ha Cheongwon’s sister briefly.’

 

“Was her hospitalization supposed to be a secret?”

 

“…Not really.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be leaving. Let’s not meet again.”

 

Ha Cheongwon bowed slightly and left. Left alone, Hwashin rocked his chair back and forth, muttering to himself.

 

“…Should I heal her or not?”

 

He could easily cure Ha Yoojin’s illness.

 

But, should he?

 

“The kid has to die.”

 

So that Ha Cheongwon could awaken.

 

“Yeah, let’s leave it.”

 

Ha Yoojin’s death was necessary for the plot to progress.

 

***

 

“Huff, huff. Jaeha, slow down a bit.”

 

“It’s too late to rest.”

 

Sweat formed on Hwashin’s forehead. Even in his days as a grand mage, he never left his cave. This was a disaster. Ah, his old bones were aching.

 

‘Seriously, why did the author make this kid so stupidly strong? Well, the charm is in that indifference, I guess.’

 

But wasn’t this just torturous? Being strong and being indifferent were two different things.

 

His stamina was only B-rank. He wasn’t strong enough to reach the mountain summit in 20 minutes!

 

When the gate warning alarm and message arrived, and he was assigned to the same team as Cha Jaeha, Hwashin was ecstatic. Recently, he’d only paired with Mueum or Jian, and his album was already full of their photos.

 

‘All that’s left are Cha Jaeha’s photos.’

 

Hehe.

 

He came with the determination to capture Cha Jaeha’s heroic moments on camera, but who would have thought the gate would open at the mountain peak?

 

He should have come to a place like this with Jian. Then Jian would have carried him on her back to the summit.

 

“Huff, huff. Why is this back mountain so high?”

 

“It’s not high.”

 

In the end, Hwashin sighed and whispered a spell.

 

As if by magic, no, actually by magic, his body became as light as before climbing the mountain. He could cast the spell every time, but at this rate, he’d be casting it every 5 minutes.

 

“We’ve arrived. Huff, huff.”

 

Eventually, they reached the summit in 18 minutes. Facing the gate about to open, Hwashin barely caught his breath and slumped to the ground.

 

“I’m exhausted.”

 

The expected gate rank was A. It wasn’t a gate that required two S-ranks, but the government had been sending more troops to gates lately. That was probably why they were dispatched here.

 

“Get ready.”

 

“…Wow, it’s a pincer this time.”

 

From the opening gate, a massive pincer emerged. The monster, resembling a crayfish, rolled its yellow, moist eyes around. Every time its eyes moved, a creaking sound followed.

 

“Screech—”

 

Its long, antenna-like whiskers grew rapidly, striking the ground. The speed was formidable. It was hard to follow with the naked eye, but to Cha Jaeha, it seemed slow.

 

SS-rank stamina allowed him to temporarily lift his body’s limits.

 

His dynamic vision was naturally superhuman. Additionally, with Hwashin’s support, the monster’s speed seemed even slower than it initially was. It was hard not to let his guard down.

 

“Good job, Cha Jaeha!”

 

This was why Cha Jaeha did his part without complaint even when his supporter was lying down there so pathetically.

 

The situation was resolved in an instant. Hwashin stopped the crayfish’s movement and Cha Jaeha burned its shell. Dealing with the monster was actually easier than the grueling mountain climb.

 

It would be great if all future gates were like this. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be.

 

While descending the mountain after confirming the gate had closed, Hwashin suddenly spoke up.

 

“Can I ask you something?”

 

“As long as it’s not a useless question.”

 

“Ah—never mind, I won’t ask.”

 

After all, Cha Jaeha’s answer was predictable.

 

‘Would you prevent a necessary death?’

 

The protagonist’s answer to this question would undoubtedly be ‘There is no such thing as a necessary death.’

 

But Ha Yoojin’s death and the deaths of some patients in the ward were unavoidable. Unless someone foresaw the gate opening.

 

The issue arose because the gate alarm didn’t go off. If someone could see the future, they could prevent it. Then Ha Cheongwon’s sister wouldn’t need to die.

 

The person with the ability to predict crucial futures was—

 

‘Ha Cheongwon.’

 

…Then there was another way.

 

“Why are you suddenly smiling?”

 

Cha Jaeha’s question made Hwashin raise an eyebrow. Hwashin finally voiced the question he’d been pondering.

 

“Cha Jaeha, do you think there are necessary deaths in the world?”

 

“What kind of question is that?”

 

“Answer me. Do you think some deaths are necessary?”

 

Cha Jaeha’s monotone voice was hard and cold as he answered.

 

“There is no such death.”

 

It was a remarkably human response.

 

Hwashin shrugged and added a few more words.

 

“But what if there are? Like triggers necessary for a story to progress. In novels, doesn’t that happen often? A close friend, junior, or senior dies for the protagonist’s growth, something like that.”

 

“That’s just in novels. Reality doesn’t work that way.”

 

Cha Jaeha turned his head with an indifferent expression.

 

“If it did, your life and mine would be utterly meaningless.”

 

His calm response made Hwashin slow down his steps.

 

Midway down the mountain, Cha Jaeha looked at Yoo Hwashin, who was standing in a higher position.

 

“I’ll say it again. There are no necessary deaths.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

“I don’t care why you suddenly have such questions.”

 

“…..”

 

“If there’s someone, tell me. Whoever it is that needs to die, I’ll save them somehow.”

 

Except if that person is you.

In response, Hwashin lowered his head slightly and burst into laughter.

 

“I didn’t say anything yet you assume someone had to die?”

 

Cha Jaeha frowned and turned his head forward again.

 

“You’re a strange guy, but you’re not the type to ask useless questions.”

 

“I’m touched that you think that of me.”

 

Hwashin stood beside Cha Jaeha, who had started walking again. As they descended, he thought about the ending of the book he had read.

 

Cha Jaeha died. To prevent destruction.

 

That was the necessary death the author had in mind for the story, so perhaps even the world’s destruction after Cha Jaeha’s death was necessary for the author’s plot development.

 

If so, was Cha Jaeha’s death really a necessary death in a world that was going to be destroyed anyway?

 

Hwashin was someone who believed that necessary deaths did exist. All life was made up of cause and effect, and sometimes sacrifices needed to be endured for a hero to be born.

 

‘But does it have to be them? Suffering, grieving, and dying in hell.’

 

Hwashin, who had been standing beside Cha Jaeha, casually draped his arm over Jaeha’s shoulder and smiled good-naturedly.

 

“If I ever find someone I need to save, I’ll be sure to tell you. You’ll have to help me then, okay?”

 

Even if you’re the one facing that necessary death.