# Chapter 107
Kay followed along with what Haylen was doing, appreciating his considerate attitude. It was an unexpected statement, but sufficient to change the subject.
“I don’t know.”
“Think about it slowly. We have plenty of time.”
When trying to think about what he wanted to do, a question naturally arose.
“…What’s going to happen to me from now on?”
It was a subject he had never deeply considered before. Even now, there were overflowing matters that required attention. But it was a problem that needed to be resolved someday. Logically speaking, it would be difficult for him to live as before, since he should have been dead by all common sense.
He couldn’t stay here forever. In this situation, moving to a quiet rural village would be the most conventional choice, but…
Kay observed Haylen’s reaction. He was the boss of “Alice.” A person who couldn’t leave this place. Haylen would certainly know that. What exactly was he thinking?
“…Can’t I continue to stay here?”
“Here…?”
“It’s safe here.”
At Haylen’s earnest tone, Kay closed his mouth, unable to find words to respond.
Kay was curious about what Haylen might be thinking, but he was afraid. Afraid that he might die again if he went outside.
“Haylen, I’ve found something I want to do.”
But if he remained still like this, he would once again become a bird in a cage. He didn’t want that. Even if it was dangerous, he wanted to go out.
“I want to save Alice.”
That’s why Kay couldn’t follow Haylen’s words, even while understanding his thoughts.
Haylen maintained a long silence, as if hoping he had misheard. But Kay just stared at him quietly without saying anything else.
Eventually, Haylen had no choice but to open his reluctant lips.
“It’s dangerous.”
“I know.”
Kay wasn’t unaware of the slight tremor in Haylen’s voice. However, he simply nodded calmly without showing any reaction.
“But she’s important to you too.”
At first, Kay had only thought about going somewhere where no one was around. But Haylen’s words changed his mind.
If Haylen feared him going outside, it would remain the same in the future. Every time he tried to leave, Haylen would try to keep him confined, unwilling to welcome it.
So he wanted to show him. He wanted to return safely and prove to Haylen that he wasn’t weak.
“Kay is more important to me now.”
“…Still, I need to save her.”
Unaware of Kay’s thoughts, Haylen just felt endlessly anxious. It felt like someone was tightening around his throat. It seemed as though Kay before his eyes would disappear at any moment.
Terrifying futures began to form in his mind. In this moment, it felt less like the future and more like reality.
The image of Kay on the verge of death was all too vivid.
Haylen barely swallowed his plea for Kay not to go and opened his mouth.
“Has Alice become important to you?”
His voice, drenched in moisture, would appear anxious to anyone. However, Kay knew that if he gave in now, this narrow room would become his entire world.
“She’s a good child.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand Haylen’s anxiety.
“And I want to save her for Boss’s sake too.”
It was just that he couldn’t back down on this matter.
Kay felt guilty toward Alice. That was another reason why he said he would save her.
Now that the situation had stabilized and his perspective had broadened, Alice was the first to come to mind. When he was Kane, he had no power and could only watch.
But his current self had the strength to save Alice. So this time, he truly wanted to rescue her.
He hoped that would ease Haylen’s mind, even if just a little.
“…We should talk about this another time.”
But in the end, Haylen couldn’t accept it. He chose to avoid the subject as he rose to his feet.
“Boss.”
“I’m sorry. Let’s talk again next time.”
Haylen left the room with a pale face. Kay bit his lip and stared at the door where he had disappeared for a long time.
* * *
It was mere coincidence that Alex found Haylen. He spotted him on the rooftop where he had come to get some fresh air, blankly staring at the sky.
Seeing him deep in thought, Alex chose to sit beside him rather than speak. He closed his eyes in the quiet stillness, feeling the refreshing breeze that cleared his mind.
Haylen also treated Alex’s sudden appearance with nonchalance. Though they were only about a hand span apart, in the space filled only with silence, Haylen calmly spoke up.
“Alex, Kay wants to save Alice.”
“Are you scared?”
Haylen’s expression crumbled momentarily at Alex’s natural response. As if struck at the core, he admitted it with a forced smile.
“Yes… I’m afraid. Because Kay will get hurt if he goes.”
Haylen didn’t hide his emotions. He somehow felt comfortable opening up in front of Alex, if no one else.
“Indeed, the more Kay gets hurt, the shorter his lifespan will become.”
“…I don’t want to lose anyone else.”
He had lost everything. That’s why the prospect of losing more now felt so frightening.
Alex could easily read Haylen’s inner thoughts. He didn’t know Haylen’s past, but he knew that he had lost something precious in it.
So after realizing his feelings for Kay, he became even more afraid of losing him.
“Then are you going to keep him locked up?”
Would that give him even a little peace of mind? Alex spoke while observing Haylen’s reaction.
“If I put shackles on him so he can’t leave, he’d be safe…”
But if he did that, Kay would suffer. He would wither like a plant without water. Even so, if it meant not losing him, Haylen would do it. The boss was someone who thought of himself before others.
At least, that’s how he used to be.
“I’ve kept Kay like a bird in a cage until now… And in the end, I came to regret it.”
I don’t want to make the same mistake again. Alex’s eyes widened in surprise. The last words were faint but filled with strong guilt.
Although Haylen had changed, Alex thought he would still make selfish choices in moments like this. But he didn’t.
It was as if that confirmed to Alex that Boss had definitely changed, making him unconsciously smile.
“But you’re anxious about letting him go?”
At these words tinged with amusement, Haylen looked at Alex with uncomprehending eyes before slowly nodding.
“I’ve thought about placing him somewhere secluded, but I can’t be by his side.”
“Well, it’s unthinkable for Boss to leave this place.”
“…That’s right.”
Haylen narrowed his eyes as if measuring something in response to Alex’s words. But soon he weakly shook his head and focused back on Alex’s words.
“Then why not just do what he wants?”
“That’s…”
“I thought you’d do anything for Kay. Was I mistaken?”
It wasn’t a mistake. It was true. In fact, he had promised Kay to give him everything. However, he couldn’t readily agree to anything that would put Kay in danger.
He is different from other people. Instead of wounds healing, his lifespan shortens. If his lifespan kept decreasing until he died…
Haylen’s complexion turned deathly pale. He didn’t want to imagine any further. He couldn’t use Revive anymore either. So to prevent such a future, he wanted to protect Kay as safely as possible.
“…I will do what he wants. But I’m anxious. Afraid that Kay might die at any moment.”
Looking at Haylen’s trembling eyes, Alex smiled as if saying something obvious.
At that moment, a fierce wind blew, causing a leaf hanging from a tree to fall onto Alex’s hand.
“People can die at any time, you know.”
All living beings were like that. Just like this green leaf that would gradually lose its vitality, they were destined to die at any time. So it wasn’t an issue exclusive to Kay.
“Let Kay do what he wants. Given that we don’t know when we’ll die, shouldn’t we live without regrets?”
If so, letting Kay do as he wished would be the best way for him. Being confined to a room and dying without any meaning would be no different from this leaf.
Appearing vibrant but actually dead, ultimately destined to wither.
Isn’t a life doing what you want, even if it shortens your lifespan, more meaningful than being alive yet dead? At least, that’s what Alex thought.
At these light yet profound words, Haylen stared at Alex intently. His contemplative state created a quiet silence.
“…Alright.”
Soon, Haylen broke from his thoughts and nodded.
“Do you feel a bit better now?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
He wasn’t good at understanding others. It was the same with Kay. He didn’t know exactly what Kay wanted.
But unlike him, Alex seemed to see right through Kay’s inner thoughts. To Haylen, Alex was both fascinating and reminiscent of someone.
“That’s good.”
He reminded him of Heyon, who had shown him a broader world.
Alex and Heyon were both dissimilar and remarkably alike. Perhaps that’s why he could become friends with Alex so easily. Looking at Alex’s bright smile, Haylen suddenly thought.
* * *
Even after finishing his conversation with Alex, Haylen continued to worry for days. Although he knew in his heart what the right answer was, he couldn’t help feeling reluctant.
But in the end, there was only one conclusion.
“Kay.”
Kay, who had been sitting quietly on the bed, turned his head. Still thinking that Haylen would oppose, Kay opened his mouth once more to persuade him.
“I won’t die. So, please let me go save her.”
