Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 86

“I am Vice Inspector Yeo Hongyo of Hwayeong. I have something to verify with Gamhwi Jang Daeho, so please open the door.”

Hongyo pulled out a pass she rarely used. The transit pass, held only by Director Hwayeong and his subordinates, the Inspector and Vice Inspector, was an essential item to prove one’s identity and rank when cooperation with other departments was needed. Usually, there was no occasion to use it, but right now, it was more useful than ever.

Hongyo looked at the soldier verifying the transit pass. She was pretending to be calm, but there had never been a moment as nerve-wracking as this. The soldier, after verifying the pass, asked,

“For what business are you visiting?”

Hongyo replied while looking at the still suspicious soldier,

“I came to verify some matters for interrogation regarding what happened at the Great Oracle Festival. The investigation of this matter has been transferred to me, so do not worry.”

When she went as far as saying that, the soldier nodded. Since she even had the transit pass proving her identity as Vice Inspector of Hwayeong, there seemed to be nothing more to verify. Besides, unless it was for an interrogation, no one would willingly visit a dungeon where just standing in front of it felt unpleasant.

“Please come out immediately once the interrogation is finished.”

Taking a key from the ring, the soldier opened the door. Soon, the heavy door blocking the front swung open. At the same time, an entrance like the pitch-black maw of a beast unfolded. With the torches hanging on the walls at intervals along the long hallway, it looked as though one wouldn’t even dare to enter without them.

As Hongyo swallowed hard and stepped inside, the sound of the door locking behind her echoed. As expected, there were no screams or the smell of burning flesh, but instead, a foul and damp odor assaulted her nose. And there, a smell of blood was strangely clinging to it.

Hongyo walked slowly inside along the stone hallway. Because it was a place housing those who had not yet been sentenced, the number was not large, but just looking at those confined in cells staring blankly at her made her knees lose strength. While passing through that long hallway, some people stared at her quietly, and others rushed forward, wailing for her to get them out of there. The wailing sound was so desperate that just listening to it for a moment was enough to give her goosebumps all over her body.

Hongyo, who had been walking slowly down the hallway with a fearful look, was now practically running before she knew it. However, because she didn’t know where among them Jang Daeho and Yeoryeong would be, she had no choice but to inspect all the cells.

Even in that short interval, Hongyo felt her mind becoming exhausted. It seemed she now understood why the soldier outside the door had opened it without verifying the procedures further. The dungeon, which didn’t even have windows, was naturally devoid of a single ray of light. If not for the scattered torches, it would be difficult to even identify a face. Leaving this place was entirely impossible without passing through the door she had entered earlier.

She had heard plenty about how terrible the dungeon of the Yukho Ttongsa was, but the reality was worse than the rumors. The interrogation she had received upstairs was difficult enough, but compared to this, it was nothing more than child’s play. If it were a place like this, she felt she really wouldn’t be able to last a single day. That was why it was said that only those who were certain to have committed a felony before sentencing entered this prison. Leading someone into the Forest of Vanishing Shadows was a great crime, but she hadn’t known it was a felony serious enough to be brought all the way here.

Hongyo now even felt a chill. Unlike the outside, which was in the middle of being warm, the inside here was strangely cold. She couldn’t tell whether this chill was due to the cold air or because she was overwhelmed by this place. As she went further inside, rather than people wailing for Hongyo to save them, the number of those staring blankly at the wall with unfocused eyes increased. From those who did not even welcome the sign of a person passing by, fear, and a emptiness that went even beyond that fear, could be felt.

The impulse to turn her steps and leave just like this, and yet the determination that she must find Jang Daeho and Yeoryeong, thudded against each other. Especially for Yeoryeong, she absolutely wanted to hear the reason why he did that. For what reason did he commit such an act? While knowing how much she treasured that ornament, why could he only do such a thing? Ever since coming out of that forest, she had continuously tried to guess Yeoryeong’s heart, but she could not find an answer at all.

Hongyo resolved that today, of all days, she would surely hear that reason. Even if she didn’t visit this dungeon right this moment, she would be able to hear the reason someday, but strangely, she had a premonition that she might never see Yeoryeong again in the future. Whether she was expelled from Hwayeong, or Yeoryeong and Jang Daeho were expelled, or if it were both.

And it was around the time she was gradually becoming accustomed to even this air. Finally arriving at a certain innermost sector, Hongyo stepped back without realizing it. Kim Insik, so emaciated that one wondered if a person could wither like this in just a fortnight, was dropping his head with both hands bound to iron chains hanging on the wall. The other people confined in the cells continuing in a row next to him were in the same plight. As Hongyo stepped back while looking at that sight, one of Jang Daeho’s gang members who lifted his head recognized Hongyo, and wondering where such strength came from, he began to shout wildly.

Startled by that momentum, Hongyo rushed past them and ran into the innermost part among them. There, Yeoryeong, who was the only one not bound, discovered Hongyo and ran over. Grasping the wooden bars, he shouted,

“Yeo Hongyo! Not there!”

At Yeoryeong’s voice, just as Hongyo turned back to look at him and then looked forward again, in the last room, there was Jang Daeho with both hands bound to iron chains.

“Gasp.”

Seeing Jang Daeho bound with his upper body bare, Hongyo covered her mouth. Looking at his upper body stamped with hardened bloodstains, it seemed as though he had been whipped. As the shocked Hongyo drew a sharp breath, at that sound, Jang Daeho, who had been hanging his head, slowly lifted his head. At the same time, Jang Daeho, whose eyes met Hongyo’s, twisted his lips and smirked.

“Oh, it’s Yeo Hongyo. Is a softly raised young master allowed to see such a harsh sight?”

Between his chuckling laughter, a wheezing sound leaked out. Soon, as the laughter stopped as if he lacked the strength, a cough burst out immediately. Jang Daeho, who spat out bloody phlegm, looked straight at Hongyo and laughed even with eyes so severely swollen that they could only open halfway. The sound of his wheezing, deflating laughter clung to her ears spookily. His unpleasantly glistening eyeballs were now looking past Hongyo and behind her.

“Hongyo.”

“……”

“This is not a place for you to be.”

A familiar voice was heard from behind her back. It was a voice always welcoming to hear, but it could not be so right now. Hongyo slowly turned her head. There, Gamyoung, wearing a displeased expression uncharacteristic of him, quietly approached Hongyo. Then, carefully grasping her, he turned her around, making her face away from Jang Daeho.

“How did you know about this place and come here?”

“Is that what’s important right now? What is this place, and why is Jang Daeho in such a state?”

“Hongyo.”

“Tell me… Ugh!”

It was a name she had heard countless times from Gamyoung, but today it felt unfamiliar. However, what was even more unfamiliar was the gaze in Gamyoung’s eyes looking at her. Strength entered Gamyoung’s hand, which firmly gripped her bruised shoulder. As Hongyo grimaced in pain, Gamyoung, gently wrapping his hand around her shoulder again, led Hongyo away.

“Let’s talk outside.”

At the strangely coercive attitude, Hongyo, unable to continue her words any further, just walked as Gamyoung led her. When leaving, just as when entering, there were those begging him to save them as they neared the entrance, but Gamyoung walked straight ahead without giving them even a glance. Within that embrace, Hongyo lifted her head to look up at Gamyoung, but Gamyoung did not give his gaze even to Hongyo. As if leaving this place were his sole purpose, he stepped onto the stairs leading above ground with a stride that was neither fast nor slow.

Soon, the door that was both the entrance and exit opened. It was only for a short while, but coming out after being in a dark space, the pouring light felt intense. Hongyo looked at Gamyoung standing with his back to that light. His face shaded by the backlight, she couldn’t tell at all what he was thinking, unlike the usual Gamyoung.

“What was that just now?”

When Hongyo asked, Gamyoung, instead of an answer, turned back to the soldier standing in front of the door.

“I believe I told you not to let anyone in.”

His inorganic voice was chilling. Hongyo, holding onto such a Gamyoung, said that she had requested it and entered. However, as if Hongyo’s words were not heard, Gamyoung merely ordered the soldier to leave. After the soldier guarding the door turned pale and left the spot, only then did Gamyoung turn back to Hongyo.

“The one who wants to ask is me, Hongyo.”

His fair and finely lined face was beautiful, but his gaze was none other than frosty.

“Why are you here?”

At those words, Hongyo could not bring herself to answer. Right now, a strong feeling arose that she must absolutely not speak exactly as it was. When Hongyo shut her mouth, Gamyoung, instead of pressing for an answer, slowly extended his hand. When his fingertips touched the spot where the scratch had been, Hongyo flinched without realizing it. Seeing that, Gamyoung lowered his hand.

“It’s alright. If you do not want to answer, you do not have to.”

“Gamyoung…”

“It has healed cleanly. What a relief.”

Only then did Gamyoung smile for the first time. However, even at a smile just like usual, Hongyo could by no means set her mind at ease. Had there ever been a time she was this anxious looking at Gamyoung? Gamyoung, looking at such a Hongyo, took away his smile.

“Since you did not answer my question, I shall not do so either.”

Gamyoung’s face, cast in shadow, was obstinate, as if he would no longer tolerate Hongyo being here.

“Return and wait. Until there is my order.”