Saving My Favorite in a Doomed World Chapter 59

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The school ghost story was a dungeon built from a rumor called ‘Lee Suho.’

 

Even in the original work, Mueum was the first to realize that he was a ghost—no, a ghost story. Someone of the same age, with a similar experience. The conversations of the statues, and the subtly old-looking uniform and notebook.

 

Most importantly, the name <School Ghost Story>.

 

With these few clues, Mueum realizes that the protagonist of this place is a ghost story. 

 

In <Your Hero Is Here>, this dungeon ends with ‘establishing the ghost story.’

 

In other words, by helping the ghost get revenge.

 

‘You are a ghost.’

 

‘If you wish, we will help you take your revenge. Turn back time. Not to the night, but to the day—to the time when no one can see you.’

 

But Elric—Yoo Hwashin—could not understand it.

 

Was that truly what this child wanted?

 

An ending—and a beginning—that the protagonist desired, longed for, and could be satisfied with. Surely, there would be many paths to reach it.

 

The path the SH1 Unit took was the correct answer. The Gate did, in fact, close. But this was not a magic exam or a formula with a set solution. Therefore, one could not say that path was the best. 

 

Besides,

 

‘That revenge won’t resolve Jeong Mueum’s trauma either.’ 

 

Even if the ghost story of the dungeon wanted revenge, Hwashin had no intention of ending it so easily this time. I’m going to find our kid’s happiness here and then go back.

 

***

 

“Are you okay? Come on, get up.”

 

A dark space. Hwashin lightly stood up atop the sharp debris. Cha Jaeha was already surveying the surroundings.

 

The enlarged hemisphere had enveloped them in an instant, and the ground had collapsed. After falling endlessly, they had landed somewhere.

 

Around Cha Jaeha, goblin flames flickered to life one by one. As the space brightened, they realized where they were.

 

Along with the light, time had returned in this new space as well. 

 

“This is quite the… strange experience.”

 

Jin looked around.

 

An inverted world. The place they stood was the ceiling. Beneath them—because they were standing as though hanging from the sky—was the school.

 

“What’s more, it’s daytime.”

 

“It’s nice and sunny, isn’t it? Wow, on a day like this, the four of us should go on a picnic or something.”

 

“Yoo Hwashin, do you not know how to read the room? And Mueum, you—explain this situation.”

 

“That.”

 

Mueum explained what had happened between the statues and them.

 

“To summarize, you basically noticed something was off about Lee Suho from what the statues said, and his identity was the ghost story itself.”

 

“Yes. It seems Hwashin Hyung had already noticed, though.” 

 

“…Yoo Hwashin did?”

 

“I’m a genius, that’s why. A genius.”

 

You…

 

Haah. Cha Jaeha turned his head away as if giving up. Whatever that guy was hiding, it didn’t matter. Hwashin had been helpful, and that was enough.

 

He knew well enough by now that Hwashin was the type who wouldn’t answer even if asked. 

 

“So what do we do now?”

 

At Mueum’s question, Hwashin looked down at the school building where the rooftop was visible. Since he was standing upside down as if suspended in the sky, his silver hair hung straight down. His forehead was completely exposed.

 

Cha Jaeha’s hairline was thick too. No need to worry about an M-shaped recession. As for Mr. Jin… hmm. That’s unfortunate at such a young age.

 

Suppressing his random inner thoughts, Hwashin smiled as he replied.

 

“What else? We have to find that kid.”

 

“And then what?”

 

This time Cha Jaeha answered as if it were obvious.

 

“You said he seemed to have been bullied. Then shouldn’t we help him get revenge? Since we’ve returned to the daytime, the b*stards who tormented him should be here too.” 

 

“…Is that so?”

 

Cha Jaeha didn’t see anyone inside the dungeon as ‘people.’ To be precise, not as people he was meant to protect.

 

To get to the school in this inverted world, they had to cross the sky. They stepped on clouds, traversed empty air, and used it as footholds to drop down.

 

Reaching the rooftop, they headed downstairs. The halls teemed with students in uniform. It truly looked like any ordinary school you could find anywhere.

 

“….What’s this? Are they seniors?” 

 

The first-year classrooms were on the top floor, and the sudden appearance of four men caused the students to stir.

 

“So handsome. Who are they? Did our school have seniors like that?”

 

“….Aren’t they the F4? You know, they said there’s an F4 among our seniors.” 

 

“…..That cheesy thing actually exists? For real?”

 

“As long as their faces are handsome, isn’t that enough?”

 

“Should we take a picture?”

 

Kyah. As expected, it was good to hang around with good-looking kids. 

 

Heh heh. The smile wouldn’t leave Hwashin’s lips. So if I hang around handsome guys, I get treated like one too.

 

If Yong saw this, he’d be sooo jealous.

 

Spotting an opportunity to tease, Hwashin sidled right up next to Cha Jaeha. Cha Jaeha’s face was red as if it might burst. That color on a usually expressionless, impassive face.

 

“Jaeha, your face is red.”

 

Mueum leaned his head in as well.

 

“Oh. It really is. Hyung, your face is about to explode.”

 

“Be quiet, both of you.”

 

Cha Jaeha clearly wasn’t used to this kind of reaction. Even his ears were red. Maybe it was because he didn’t spend much time online. Reactions like this were everywhere on the internet. Hwa-shin resolved that once they got out of here, he would absolutely read Cha Jaeha posts from his fan café.

 

Walking down the hallway, Mueum stood on tiptoe and peeked through the classroom windows.

 

“By the way, do we know what class Lee Suho is in?”

 

“We’ll find him if we look. …But Mueum. Are you okay?”

 

“What? Why wouldn’t I be?”

 

Listening to his voice, he did sound fine. But it was hard to tell. He had that side of him—like an old soul in a child’s body.

 

‘He’s so good at hiding the most important things. Even though he couldn’t even hide being sulky with Cha Jaeha.’ 

 

“What’s there not to be okay about, coming to school?”

 

There is something, especially for you.

 

Because Jeong Mueum had been ostracized, or something close to it, at school. 

 

In <Your Hero Is Here>, Awakened appeared as Gates emerged, and those Awakened became heroes. Those heroes receive looks of admiration from people and enjoy popularity comparable to celebrities, but…

 

Was it really like that from the beginning?

 

Being different is a complicated thing. Especially within a closed group.

 

Jeong Mueum was not a case who received an Awakened diagnosis from the start. He had been judged a civilian in the first round of Awakened examinations that the entire nation undergoes, and thus proceeded to a regular school. During that time, he Awakened. The reason for his Awakening was unknown. 

 

Just before being transferred from the regular school to the Hero Training Center as an S-rank Awakened, Jeong Mueum spent a short time attending that regular school.

 

‘The daily life he thought wouldn’t change—everything changed.’

 

The looks directed at him.

 

Admiration. Expectation. Distrust. Curiosity. Fear.

 

Each person, possessing different emotions, looked at one child.

 

The mage knew how frightening that was.

 

That being the only one different could become something wrong in that place.

 

During that brief period in a regular school, Jeong Mueum wore headphones. He didn’t want to hear the whispers aimed at him. It didn’t matter whether they were praise or anything else. The content wasn’t what mattered.

 

He could no longer belong with them. The young boy couldn’t accept knowing that.

 

It was why Mueum sometimes wore headphones when he used his abilities.

 

He was completely blocking out the words he would hear while using his powers.

 

Hwashin ruffled the hair of Mueum, who looked up at him and asked so plainly.

 

“If you’re okay, then that’s enough.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Ah, over there. Isn’t that him?”

 

Where Jin pointed, Lee Suho was staggering somewhere.

 

Let’s go. At Cha Jaeha’s word, they followed behind Suho.

 

The place Lee Suho arrived at was a vacant lot behind the school where the trash incinerator was located. The stone statues were still in that spot.

 

The small-framed boy was surrounded by several students.

 

“…Is he being bullied?”

 

“No, I don’t think it’s like that?”

 

They were quite far away; the voices didn’t carry clearly.

 

“「Ears that hear better.」”

 

“Whoa.”

 

“…What is this?”

 

“That’s amazing~.”

 

At their varied reactions, Hwashin’s eyes curved. They’re fun. I should cast something directly on them again next time—this hyung will treat you.

 

“Shh. We’ll get caught.”

 

With his finger over his lips, Hwashin’s gaze returned to Suho. This time, their conversation struck his ears vividly.

 

“So what was so hard for him that he died? We didn’t really do anything wrong, did we?”

 

“It’s because his personality was weird.”

 

“Right? Sigh, seriously, making things annoying for no reason.”

 

Childish. Hwashin glared at them irritably. He shot a glance toward Cha Jaeha—

 

This one has the expression of a vengeful demon. I suppose he really is a righteous protagonist. So your intent for revenge wasn’t for clearing the dungeon, but was sincere, huh?

 

“Then at this point, Lee Suho is already—”

 

“Dead. That’s why they can’t see him.”

 

“Then how do we clear this?”

 

“Don’t we just beat them to death?”

 

Wow. They say when you gather enough people, magic turns back into numbers, right?

 

Ah, here the expression is that the boat goes to the mountains.

 

“Shall we go?”

 

As Cha Jaeha moved to round the corner, someone caught his wrist.

 

“Why?”

 

Yoo Hwashin stopped him, smiling brightly.

 

“That kid. He said he wanted to do his homework.”

 

“…So?”

 

“That means.”

 

Instead of Hwashin, Jeong Mueum answered.

 

“…That means, he…”

 

His eyes were full of sadness.

 

Jeong Mueum hated school. To be precise, he hated school after he had ‘Awakened.’ Because he, who could no longer belong here… because he hated himself. 

 

He didn’t blame anyone. He was the problem.

 

Even the situation that made him think that way was horrible. And yet, Jeong Mueum wore his school uniform on important days. It was the uniform of a school he no longer even attended. Why? Why did he do that? 

 

“He needed a tomorrow.”

 

In truth.

 

“In truth.”

 

I did too.

 

“He did too.”

 

Because he wanted to belong there.

 

“Because he wanted to keep staying.”

 

Jeong Mueum sprang to his feet and lowered his head. Cha Jae-ha silently looked at the small boy.

 

“Excuse me… may I act on my own just once here?”

 

The voice making the request trembled. He was still a child. Even if he acted as a hero, even if he threw his body on the line to save someone.

 

He was still a child.

 

A child needs an adult. An adult who will watch over him without conditions. An adult who will make a home for him to return to.

 

In the original work, Cha Jaeha had been that person for Jeong Mueum.

 

Jeong Mueum continued, as if having made a decision. 

 

“I’m sorry. Honestly, I don’t know what the outcome will be. But I… I really want to show that kid a certain kind of world. I’ll take full responsibility, so—.” 

 

“Okay.”

 

A heavy voice. Jeong Mueum lifted his face, biting his lip hard. Two men were looking at him.

 

The black-haired, expressionless man spoke without the slightest movement.

 

“And the one taking responsibility isn’t you. It’s me.”

 

Beside him stood the silver-haired man.

 

“Yeah~ our little one’s at the age where he can do what he wants.”

 

“….That.”

 

Jeong Mueum didn’t know why he felt like crying. He gripped the headset on his shoulder tightly. A large hand landed on Cha Jaeha’s head. Hwashin’s hand ruffled the tousled brown hair once.

 

While reading <Your Hero Is Here>, there was something Hwashin had desperately wanted to say to Mueum.

 

To the youngest who had struggled every time to take care of the SH1 Unit,

To that young child who had remained alone and cried until the very end.

 

Hwashin spoke lightly. But the meaning behind it carried a certain weight for him.

 

“When a kid messes something up, it’s the adults who finish it.”

 

“….I’m all grown up too.”

 

“Yeah, yeah. All grown up, our Mueum is.”

 

Sniffling once, Mueum turned his body. The kid, showing a brave back, turned the corner and headed toward the vacant lot. 

 

“Will he be okay?”

 

At Cha Jaeha’s question, Hwashin smiled.

 

“If it’s not okay, so what?”

 

Go on, our youngest.