JKA 70

Moreover, while he said the choice was Hanbyeol’s, his cooperation was, in fact, essential. The reason 17 brought up Hanbyeol’s sister was that he knew very well it was his weakness. He had to set the board in his favor. It might seem unpleasant right now, but in the grand scheme of things, it was for everyone’s benefit.

‘Why do I have to go to such trouble?’

Every person lives with their own fitting share of misfortune and good fortune. If you look closely, people’s lives are all quite similar. There was no one who was exceptionally happy, nor anyone who was exceptionally unhappy. For those who were followed by good fortune, there existed a misfortune they could not speak of to others.

It was just like the two sides of a coin. When you toss it, it might seem like only heads or only tails comes up a lot, but if you toss it countless times, the probability of either coming up is the same. A person’s life was like that.

Therefore, one could not say that someone’s misfortune or good fortune was special. As one lives, a misfortune equal to the good fortune one has gained is bound to befall them. The opposite is also true. That was why 17 could not understand why God was putting so much effort into Myeong Jiwoon, and also into Im Hanbyeol.

For now, everything that had befallen him would feel unfair, but Im Hanbyeol was not someone who possessed excessively little compared to the misfortune he faced. His external appearance was needless to say, and his mind was brilliant. Above all, one could tell just by looking at his character, walking his own path steadfastly even when the demon tempted him so.

It was the same for Jiwoon. It was a pity that his brother died at a young age, but it was not as if his family had completely collapsed. He still lived in an affluent home without worrying about making a living. He had some problems with interpersonal relationships, but wasn’t that a part that could be sufficiently improved?

By that logic, 17’s thought was that these two were not particularly lacking in anything. It was just a pity that their unhappiness stemmed from not knowing what they had. Furthermore, was it common to meet a being like him and receive help? It was a stroke of luck that most people would never encounter in their lifetime.

“It is not such a grand proposition. I just wanted to ask for a small bit of cooperation. If you do just that, I will at least make it so that the demon cannot approach Mr. Im Hanbyeol’s sister and mother.”

“You’ll do that much for a small bit of cooperation? That makes me trust you even less.”

Although 17 had called himself 1129’s, that is, Zeo’s guardian, he did not look that way at all in Hanbyeol’s eyes. It was because his actions and way of speaking were closer to a demon’s than an angel’s.

Wasn’t it a demon’s method to plunge a human into a pit with sweet propositions? Every single word he said reminded him of his conversations with Eggersy. He wondered what was different between the demon who would do anything if you just handed over your soul—which you could not see or feel right now, and which would have no meaning or use after death—and the proposition of this man right now.

“You must already be aware of the fact that Mr. Myeong Jiwoon’s brother died in an accident.”

Seeing that Hanbyeol was not likely to be easily won over, 17 had no choice but to bring up a story that was not in his plan.

“The demon attached to you bought the facial skin of Mr. Myeong Jiwoon’s brother, that is, Myeong Seonwoo, at an auction in hell. It is what low-level demons who are unskilled at shapeshifting commonly do.”

“…His brother who died in an accident is in hell?”

“He did not die in an accident.”

“…”

“Mr. Myeong Seonwoo sold his soul to a demon.”

The truth coming from 17’s mouth was so shocking it was hard to believe. It was understandable, as there was nothing in the story of his brother that he had heard from Jiwoon that would bring a demon to mind. It was a death that anyone would find pitiful, and an accident.

“Don’t lie. Why would he be in hell? There’s no reason at all for…”

“Is a demon attached to Mr. Im Hanbyeol because you have a good reason for it?”

17 cut in, interrupting Hanbyeol. It was because he felt no need to drag this out any longer. At 17’s words that hit the core of the issue, Hanbyeol shut his mouth, then quickly came to his senses and retorted fiercely.

“I can’t say I don’t. At least I have a reason for it.”

Hanbyeol thought of his father. That human, who was a living hell itself, and his own heart that he held for that human, had called the demon. He had wanted to deny it even if it killed him, but from a certain point on, he had come to admit it. It was because of the conversation he had with Zeo.

“By that logic, Myeong Seonwoo also had a reason. Because Myeong Seonwoo wanted to die.”

“…What?”

“Is that so surprising? Humans originally die for very trivial reasons.”

If one were to look into that life in great detail, it would by no means be a small reason, but on the surface, humans would easily die over matters as small as a speck of dust. It was frequent in the human world for an incredibly strong will to live to be broken in a single moment. Humans were that complex and delicate of a being.

“A trigger is originally like that. Do you think something like that wouldn’t have happened to Myeong Seonwoo? The fact that he was a genius, that his family was harmonious, isn’t that just the testimony of people around him? Isn’t it that no one truly knows if he lived his life satisfied with all of that?”

“…”

“What I can tell you clearly is that there was a problem with that death. Originally, we cannot meddle in the affairs of demons. We are simply faithful to our respective jobs. But, that incident…”

17 trailed off. It was because he could not tell Hanbyeol any more than this. The important thing was that there had been a problem with that incident, and because of it, 1129 and he had come this far.

“Mr. Im Hanbyeol.”

“…”

“Mr. Im Hanbyeol?”

17 repeatedly called out to Hanbyeol, who seemed to be in a daze. Then he asked the dazed man pressingly. There was no time to be killing time like this. It was because everything had to be wrapped up before Myeong Jiwoon woke up.

“Only you can help. I will tell Mr. Myeong Jiwoon all of these facts. I can no longer let him live on without knowing anything.”

“…What, what how. If you tell him that, Jiwoon will.”

“He cannot live his whole life not knowing. In the first place, if he does not know about this, he cannot continue to live. The one who wants to know the truth more than anyone right now is Mr. Myeong Jiwoon. That is not a problem that someone can dare to decide for him.”

‘Because, because he might die?’

Hanbyeol recalled Jiwoon’s expression as he asked, his face pale as if he would collapse. Hanbyeol had not been able to properly answer Jiwoon’s question of whether he had hidden everything because he was afraid he would die. How could he say such a thing to a human who had met an angel while trying to die?

He truly wanted Jiwoon to live well. That was also why he had wanted Zeo to leave. It seemed that only if he stood up entirely on his own strength would he be able to get up again even if he were to collapse later. Each of those experiences is what allows a person to live.

As if he had never wanted to die himself. Looking at his mad father who descended upon them like a disaster, his mother suffering from illness, and his still very young sister, there was not a single day his heart was at ease. He knew he should not feel this way, but the desire to shake everything off and start anew was overwhelming.

But how could he dare to do such a thing? How could he dare to do so, abandoning his sick mother who had sacrificed her whole life to protect him and his sister, and his still young sister? To start anew, the only way was to die.

Hanbyeol just could not find the courage to do that. When he thought that if he ran away, the two of them would have to bear what was left, his mind went blank. In that case, it was better to live somehow. He got up tenaciously even if he fell down like that. Hanbyeol wanted Jiwoon to be like that too.

Even if you feel like you are about to die right now, if something good, however trivial, happens, you feel the desire to live for another day. Because you want to eat delicious food once more, because you enjoy the time laughing and chatting with friends. Because no matter how shitty a life you live, things you want to do are bound to keep appearing. Even if they seem like absurd things.

“Once that matter is settled, I will never appear again. Haven’t you always said it, that a life where beings like us are constantly by your side is strange?”

Hanbyeol’s gaze wavered greatly. That was right. He had certainly said so. But was that still the case now? He could not be sure. The moment he saw Zeo clutching Jiwoon and begging him not to die, Hanbyeol thought that perhaps he might have been wrong.

“I agree with that thought as well. It is not ordinary. It shouldn’t be that way.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I will fill 1129’s empty spot. In a different way from him. I will help Mr. Myeong Jiwoon become independent.”

“What changes if the angel changes?”

“Something will change if not the angel, but his memory, changes.”

“…”

“However, that thing called memory is very delicate, so if someone touches it wrongly, it will explode. That is why I need someone to cooperate.”

Hanbyeol did not immediately understand 17’s words.

“I am going to slightly manipulate Mr. Myeong Jiwoon’s memory. There is only one thing Mr. Im Hanbyeol has to do: never bring up the story of 1129.”

“…You’re going to act as if he never existed at all?”

“It would be nice if that were possible, but that would mean going back too far, so I will leave a moderate amount. However, there will be distortions.”

“You… you’re telling me to help with that? Just make what happened into something that didn’t happen, and then he can become a person who can be independent?”

“I’m not saying I’ll erase everything from the past. I’m saying I will manipulate the memories concerning 1129, but I won’t touch any of the past events.”

“That’s insane.”

Hanbyeol let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. To rummage through the mind of Jiwoon, who had firmly believed in the angel, calling him a person, and make it as if it never happened—the word insane was not enough.

“They can’t be together forever, you know.”

17 persuaded Hanbyeol.

“The two of them cannot be together now. But you are different. Because you are the same, a human, you can help.”

“…”

“So please help. So that Mr. Myeong Jiwoon will not resent 1129.”