I don't have a good relationship with Ryu Hwa.

It was like that from our first meeting, and now we've even fought, so it's only natural.

Of course, Ryu Hwa did come to apologize first at one point, so our relationship isn't that bad, but...

It's definitely not the kind of relationship where we can talk comfortably.

*Crunch, crunch.*

That's why having Ryu Hwa sitting right next to me, peeling apples, was a bit... no, very uncomfortable.

But I couldn't really complain either, as that would make me feel guilty.

Even though there were unavoidable circumstances, Ryu Hwa and I had fought with the resolve to die.

It was already awkward enough just talking to each other, let alone being nursed like this...

If I felt this way, I could only imagine how Ryu Hwa felt.

If anything, she probably felt even more uncomfortable than I did.

"Are you feeling better?"

I flinched at the sudden question while I was just awkwardly observing.

"Huh? Oh, yes... I'm fine except for some pain around my horn."

"Good. That's a relief."

After that, Ryu Hwa continued peeling apples without saying anything.

What's going on... Why is she being so kind? Or is it even kindness?

Why did Ryu Hwa come here in the first place? Noona Ha-Young... must be busy. Because of me.

And Choi Hyun is in intensive care, so of course he can't come.

...Is she watching me? Maybe not.

As I fidgeted with my hands while glancing at Ryu Hwa, she stabbed a piece of peeled apple with a fork and held it out to me.

No, that's not right. She didn't just hold it out. She brought it right up to my mouth.

*Rabbit shape...*

I was so surprised by the unexpected shape of the apple that I just stared at it for a while. Ryu Hwa pulled the apple away from my mouth and asked:

"Do you not like apples?"

"What? No, that's not it... It's just a bit awkward."

"That's understandable. We were fighting with flushed faces not too long ago. I get it. But eat anyway. You need to regain your strength."

With those words, Ryu Hwa held out the apple again, and after a moment's hesitation, I took it in my mouth.

The crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor told me this was quite an expensive apple.

As I chewed the apple for a long time because I had no molars, Ryu Hwa tried to offer me another piece, but I shook my head.

"Are you still chewing?"

"I don't have molars..."

"Ah..."

Ryu Hwa sighed in understanding and looked at me for a moment before starting to peel another apple.

...Is she planning to kill me with apples?

Just as I was thinking that, I noticed that as soon as she finished peeling the second apple, she started fidgeting with the next one. I realized that Ryu Hwa, who had been pretending to be calm, was actually feeling as awkward as I was.

Perhaps because of this strange sense of camaraderie, I felt a bit more at ease. After swallowing the apple I'd been chewing, I carefully spoke up.

"Um... What's going to happen to me now?"

"..."

Perhaps because it was a sensitive question, Ryu Hwa quietly put down the apple she was holding and offered me another piece.

This time she really did push it toward my mouth.

Of course, she didn't force it in, just gently pressed it against my lips, but that was enough to convey her meaning.

"Is the situation really bad?"

She probably doesn't want to answer that.

And if that's the case, it's probably not good news for me.

"It's kind of ridiculous for me to say this after everything I've done, but because of Harmageddon, I had no choice... No, that's not right. I just acted rashly because I didn't know when it would end otherwise. It wasn't just anywhere, but a place the Association President had hidden, so I was afraid if we took our time investigating, he might hide all the evidence and disappear... That's why I did what I did."

To be honest, I was a bit scared. What could be so bad that she was acting like this?

With my horn broken and a collar around my neck, things couldn't get much worse unless I died.

—"When dealing with a monster that has completely lost its reason, the basic principle is elimination, not suppression."

Right, that's what Choi Hyun said in court a few months ago.

Thinking about it, it wouldn't be strange if an execution order came down.

I went berserk in the Association's underground, where other Heroes were present.

I went crazy enough to mess up Choi Hyun badly and put him in intensive care.

"This time... when I went berserk... Choi Hyun stopped me."

So if I die... it wouldn't be strange.

I want to believe otherwise, but seeing Ryu Hwa still not answering, I couldn't help but think the worst.

"Breaking into the Association was all because I insisted, and Choi Hyun did nothing wrong... So..."

What would happen to Choi Hyun if I died?

Would he die like me? No, Choi Hyun isn't a monster like me; he's a human and a Hero, so he probably wouldn't die.

As I was lost in these thoughts, a surge of emotion suddenly welled up inside me.

Afraid that I might really die like this, tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.

Don't cry. What have you done right to cry?

This was my choice. So stop it.

I tried to hold back my emotions by clenching my mouth shut, but once the tears started flowing, they wouldn't stop.

Drip, drip. As tears fell onto the back of my hand and I felt the weight of the metal chain around my neck, I bit my lip hard, feeling even more miserable.

"Ugh... hic, uuu..."

As I cried with the apple still in my mouth, unable to chew it properly, Ryu Hwa wiped my tears with a handkerchief.

"Don't cry. Nothing has been decided yet."

"Wha...?"

I looked at Ryu Hwa with my mouth still open, and she let out a deep sigh.

"The Association is in a state of emergency right now. Because of the incident you and Choi Hyun exposed, everything's been turned upside down. With all the talk and things to do, there probably won't be any word for a while."

"For a while... hic... what happens after it's over?"

"At least what you're imagining won't happen, so don't worry about it."

"But, I... hic... my horn is broken... and I'm wearing this collar... Isn't this to prevent me from escaping...?"

"That's not it. I don't know the details either since I wasn't fully briefed, but both the broken horn and the collar were ordered by Choi Hyun. The Association doesn't have time to worry about you right now. So don't worry too much."

"Uuu..."

I nodded at her explanation, trying to compose myself.

After a while, as I was rubbing my eyes with my sleeve, Ryu Hwa lowered my hand and wiped my eyes with her handkerchief.

"If you rub like that with your sleeve, you'll damage your skin."

"...Thank you."

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

After some time, when I had somewhat composed myself, I felt incredibly embarrassed.

No matter how confusing the situation was, crying like a child...

This time it wasn't because of mental interference but purely my own emotions, which made it even more embarrassing.

As I cleared my throat with a "hmm, hmm," Ryu Hwa handed me another piece of apple.

"Thank you."

I chewed the rabbit-shaped apple. After that, there wasn't much conversation.

Until I finished eating all the peeled apples, not a word was exchanged except for my expressions of gratitude.

After I finished the apples, Ryu Hwa finally spoke.

"Do you want another one?"

"Um... No, I'm a bit full now..."

"Alright."

Ryu Hwa tidied up around the table and sat back down.

...So she wasn't leaving.

"You seem to have calmed down a bit. It might be strange to ask this now, but do you hear any strange voices in your head or anything like that?"

I was about to nod and say that I didn't hear such things anymore when I remembered Han Yeong-Seok, the man who had invaded my deep consciousness.

Is this really the end? Just because I can't hear it in my ears, does that mean it's over?

What if he's still in my head, just waiting for me to let my guard down?

I looked down at my hands.

For a moment, I saw them covered in Choi Hyun's blood.

Whether it was a simple hallucination or a trick by that guy in my head to fuel my guilt, when I closed and opened my eyes, my hands were clean again.

"..."

Yes, I definitely attacked Choi Hyun with these hands.

Of course, I wasn't in my right mind at the time, but I'm still the main cause of Choi Hyun's serious injuries.

In this situation, is it right to hide the truth because I'm scared to speak honestly?

Especially when it concerns the leader of Harmageddon.

Is it right for me to keep quiet based on my own assumptions when I don't know what he might do in my head?

No. Absolutely not.

What if Choi Hyun gets hurt again?

This time, thankfully, it ended with serious injuries, but what if next time it doesn't end with just injuries but with death?

—"I'm... sorry..."

...I would never be able to forgive myself.

"...Actually, there's something I need to tell you honestly."

I should just be completely honest.

This issue is too big for me to handle alone.