Magic on the Dead Chapter 110

The group washed up simply, spread their rain-soaked windbreakers and boots on the floor, and then lay down in a corner of the office. Unable to sleep, Hajin tossed and turned for a long while before getting up the moment Jeffrey’s snoring began.

He went outside with a flashlight, opened the passenger door of the mid-sized car he had spotted earlier, and settled himself inside. When he rummaged through the glove box, a palm-sized rabbit doll, heavily stained with grime, and a flowerpot-shaped keychain came into his hand.

Ever since he had entered the path of a magician, this was the first time he had gone this long without limbering up his hands. Hajin sat up straight and began with simple juggling, freely hiding and retrieving the doll from his bosom to loosen his stiff fingers.

He then took out the coins from the console box. Pretending to pick up the coin placed on his left middle finger with his right hand, he dropped the coin into the lower joint of his fingers. It was a *fake take, the most basic of basics.

Despite having accumulated quite a few years of experience, Hajin was the type who did not neglect basic practice, with the conviction that fundamentals were the most important.

He was enthusiastic enough about researching new magic techniques to not spare investment in magic lectures worth tens of millions of won whenever he earned money, but what he considered even more important was this practice of basic techniques.

Toward such a Hajin, Miso had always been generous with the expression “model student.” Hajin was a magician who surprised people by showcasing unpredictable variations, but at times he was frustratingly rigid, and at important moments, he was a rational human being who prioritized reason over emotion.

But whenever it involved Eden….

He, who had been practicing various skills until his fingers were tingling, suddenly let out a deep sigh.

When he looked at Eden, Hajin felt as if he had become an audience member at a magic show. Like a naive spectator who, despite being hit over the head multiple times by unexpected developments, could not even grasp the principle of the magic, frustration and a strange excitement always coexisted chaotically in a corner of his heart.

There was no such thing as a lecture on Jung Taegeon, so nothing could be planned, and nothing could be prepared for. It was an obvious thing to say, but he was not even given a chance to envision a future with him.

Now, starting with the farewell to Miso, and with the separation from Eden only a few days away, Hajin felt as if he would suffocate from his own powerlessness.

Grrrrr— Gack- Crrrk—

As the thunderstorm that had been raging outside quieted down, a zombie, as if it had been waiting, cried out, its throat gurgling, from somewhere. Hajin, who was lying face down on the dashboard, staring blankly at the closed gray shutter, frowned at the flashlight beam shining brightly from beyond the window.

Eden, who had walked over to the front of the bonnet with a thud, thud, spotted Hajin inside the car and immediately opened the driver’s side door. Hajin, still half-lying on the dashboard, only turned his head to look in that direction.

Eden, who got into the driver’s seat, closed the door with a click and immediately placed his hands on the steering wheel. Like Hajin, he leaned his upper body halfway and rested his chin on the back of his hand.

The two, facing each other in a languid posture, smiled at the same time. The light from the flashlight stuck in the console box was glowing softly.

“Jeffrey’s snoring is a bit loud, isn’t it.”

He clicked his tongue as if he were fed up. Hajin, who smiled faintly, blinked his eyes as if in agreement.

“He must have been really tired today. Did you see Jeffrey crying secretly after Miso left earlier?”

“Did he?”

“Yes. I thought it was rainwater, but when I looked again, it was tears.”

“Hmm, he’s not the type to do that.”

“He must have grown very fond of her.”

Eden’s gaze, which had been staring at somewhere beyond the window as if he were suspicious, turned back to Hajin. He said.

“Shall we kiss?”

At the nonchalantly uttered words, Hajin’s outer eyebrow twitched. He had somewhat anticipated that Eden would follow him into the car, but now that the stage was set, his heart began to pound frighteningly. To relieve his tension, he diverted his gaze and replied with a dry cough.

“It seems that’s the only thing on Mr. Jung Taegeon’s mind.”

“Of course not. I imagine things far worse.”

He retorted without a hint of a smile and reached his hand between Hajin’s side and armpit. When he flinched in embarrassment, a thick hand squeezed and released his flesh. A pleasant pressure sent shivers up his arm. Hajin let out a small sigh and looked at Eden with a slightly shy gaze.

Eden, as if trying to hold back a surge of excitement, furrowed his brow like an angry child. He, who had been narrowing his eyes, finally withdrew his hand from Hajin’s body. Then he straightened his bent back and looked Hajin straight in the face.

“Do you remember the wish I made yesterday?”

At the unexpected question, Hajin’s upper body, which had been leaning on the dashboard, slowly straightened up.

‘I wished that Mr. Do Hajin would not refuse my proposal.’

“Yes, I remember.”

Eden, lowering his gaze, picked up the rabbit doll from the console box. As if contemplating the right words, he fiddled with the innocent doll’s ear for a while with a thoughtful expression.

“I have no intention of forcing you, but I would like you to judge as rationally as possible.”

He raised his head again.

“There are three Stealths and a few transport helicopters at the Yongun Maintenance Depot. I can’t guarantee they are still intact, but I expect at least two of them will be operable.”

Eden, who released the doll’s ear that had been hanging between his middle and thumb, continued.

“If there is a usable transport aircraft left, I plan to go to Neverland with Mr. Do Hajin.”

“…Pardon?”

Even at the dumbfounded question, a calm follow-up explanation ensued.

“Of course, I plan to let Jeffrey and Byeol escape first. I will be the only one going there with Mr. Do Hajin.”

The person pouring out such a tremendous proposal was calm, but Hajin was at a loss for words for a while. A short silence fell. His pupils wavered helplessly as he looked at Eden at the unexpected proposal. Eden brushed Hajin’s bangs back behind his ear and asked.

“Do you need time to think?”

Hajin’s long bangs flowed back down again, tickling the tip of his nose. He flinched his shoulders for a moment, like a person who had been doused with cold water.

“No.”

Eden stared intently at Hajin, who was shifting his hips as if having a seizure.

“Why would Mr. Jung Taegeon follow me.”

As if he had expected this reaction, he nonchalantly cocked an eyebrow.

“Why would I follow you. Do I really have to explain the reason for you to know?”

“Still, this is not right.”

Hajin grabbed Eden’s forearm as if to stop him.

“It might be the last chance to get out, and you’re going to kick that away and follow me where? Stop talking crazy and get a grip.”

There was no room to deliberate on the proposal. Just because their hearts had connected did not make his sacrifice a given. Their affection for each other could not take precedence over survival. Hajin once again shook his head vigorously.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said today.”

Eden placed his other hand on top of Hajin’s, which was gripping his arm. The palm that had been placed gently for a moment was suddenly filled with strength.

“Mr. Do Hajin seems to have no intention of saving his younger brother at all.”

At his sudden words, Hajin’s face hardened quickly, as if he could not comprehend what he had just heard. Eden kneaded the back of the tightly held hand and continued.

“But it is not as if you have come to love me more terribly than your own brother.”

“…….”

“Mr. Do Hajin is not in a position to refuse my proposal right now. If we move by transport aircraft, we can save time, and it goes without saying, but two is better than one.”

He had said he had no intention of forcing him, but Eden was relentlessly pushing Hajin, holding his anxiety hostage. He looked like a person who was ready to mercilessly dig into Hajin’s weaknesses at any time to get what he wanted.

“Can you really handle it on your own?”

At the realistic and cruel advice, Hajin was at a loss for words and just stared blankly. Eden, who was looking at the frozen him with a sharper and more persistent gaze than ever before, soon opened his mouth in a much softer tone.

“You might be worried that something might happen to me if I follow Mr. Do Hajin… but in fact, if it weren’t for you, I would have been long dead. So you don’t need to feel guilty.”

Eden relaxed the strength in his sharply honed eyes and smiled gently. At the duality of him, who easily switched between a high-handed attitude and a humble one, Hajin’s mouth fell slightly open as if he had been caught off guard.

He, who had been staring blankly at Eden for a while, pulled his hand away and wiped his dry, parched face.

Gack— Grrrk— Crrk—

The zombie’s cries, piercing through the silent gap, fanned the flames of his troubled heart. Eden did not press him and quietly waited for Hajin’s decision. Hajin, who was continuing a difficult battle of his own, as if in a tug-of-war with an imaginary opponent, leaned his head against the passenger seat headrest and looked up at the low ceiling.

His head was spinning. The memory of himself begging for his life, asking to be taken along to Yongun City, came to mind, and a laugh momentarily escaped through his teeth. That Eden, who had coldly refused to accompany him, was now desperate to follow him.

If he had known he would receive such a proposal, he would have considered sharing his heart with him a little more carefully. It was a futile hypothetical, as he had already come too far to turn back, but he could not think of a suitable way to quell this confusion without blaming himself.

‘How did it come to this?’

Hajin let out a deflated sound and closed his eyes wearily.

*Fake Take: A sleight of hand in which one only pretends to pick up a coin.