“But I can’t accept any more help from Kyung Taerim. If people find out HS is connected to gangsters, who knows what they’ll say. Taerim’s position could be threatened too. Even helping this time must have been risky for him. For you, hyung.”
“……It’s probably not just that. Maybe he’s grown attached to you too.”
At that, Siyeon crumpled his still-pretty face despite his injuries.
“That makes me want to puke.”
“Hey.”
“He’s not that kind of person. You say you like him, but you really don’t know him. Or are you just blinded by love?”
Wonyoung was about to smack Siyeon but remembered he was hurt, so he patted his shoulder instead.
“Let’s talk nicely, Siyeon-ah. At least half as nicely as your face.”
“My face is so pretty that my mouth needs to be dirty to balance it out.”
Wonyoung was about to ask if he really wanted to say that with his own mouth, but faced with that actually-too-pretty face, he shut his mouth. To think he let this pretty face get hurt like this. Wonyoung himself wanted to bury that boss bastard.
But right now, revenge was out of the question, let alone escape.
Finally, Wonyoung sighed and said.
“Anyway, then there’s no other way.”
“……I’m sorry, hyung.”
At Siyeon’s apology, Wonyoung smiled brightly and asked.
“Then should we just run away together for the rest of our lives?”
“What?”
“We promised to go on a trip, right? We’ll go on a trip while running away. We’ll go to Busan, and Jeju Island too……”
For a moment, Siyeon almost said that sounded good, but quickly stopped himself. What’s good about it, you idiot.
Siyeon pretended to be indifferent and asked bluntly.
“What about Kyung Taerim?”
“That guy will live well without me.”
“What about Baek Heegang?”
At that question, even Wonyoung hesitated, then after thinking, casually asked.
“That guy…… he’s a bit of a problem. Should we take him with us?”
“Just imagining it makes me want to throw up.”
“Ah, come on.”
When Siyeon chuckled at Wonyoung’s scolding, Wonyoung laughed along. Soon, Wonyoung took Siyeon’s hand and said.
“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll never let you go.”
“……Hyung.”
It was at that moment when the two were looking at each other tenderly. A notification window appeared before Wonyoung’s eyes.
[The ending conditions with conquest character Ki Siyeon have been met.]
[Ending #14 ‘Eternal Escape (Hidden Ending)’ route is now open.]
[Would you like to enter this route? Y/N]
“What is this……”
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“You can’t see it?”
At Wonyoung’s question, Siyeon shook his head. Then this must be visible only to him.
‘An ending here?’
If he runs away with Siyeon…… does it end?
What if Siyeon is left alone after the ending?
‘What if I don’t run away? I can’t let Siyeon go alone.’
Wonyoung couldn’t choose either option. But once again, the game was forcing a cruel choice on him. As if it wanted him to suffer.
‘Why? Why is it different from last time?’
It wasn’t like this during the Emperor Confinement Ending before. Why is it different? Because it’s a hidden ending? Or…….
‘What happens if I don’t choose? But even so, I can’t not run away with Siyeon.’
There was too little information. Should he call the system? But if Siyeon finds out…….
It was when Wonyoung was caught in a dilemma.
Knock knock.
With one ominous knock, Wonyoung’s thoughts collapsed in an instant.
“Hyung.”
“Siyeon-ah.”
The two called out to each other and stood up.
“You hide.”
“You’re the one who should hide, hyung.”
Siyeon smoothly pulled out a knife. Wonyoung saw it and stopped breathing for a moment, but soon said calmly.
“If you go out, you’ll start fighting right away. Do you think I’ll just watch that happen? I’ll buy time, so you escape using that emergency descender over there.”
At those words, Siyeon snapped back angrily.
“Say something that makes sense. Those bastards won’t leave you alone.”
“You think they’ll leave you alone?”
“Then you want me to abandon you and go?”
At that moment, the sound of the doorknob being turned came. Wonyoung rushed to open the door first in urgency, but Siyeon stopped him.
“Let’s run away together, then.”
“What?”
“In the time we’re arguing, we could have already escaped. Hurry up!”
Right, if we die, we die together.
Wonyoung nodded and grabbed Siyeon’s hand and ran. But suddenly, Wonyoung stopped dead in front of the window.
“Hyung, what are you doing?! Hurry up!”
“Wait a minute, Siyeon-ah.”
Saying that, he turned around and approached the door instead. Siyeon, who had already set up the emergency descender and was halfway out the window, turned pale, wondering if hyung had planned this all along.
“Wonyoung hyung!”
Hearing Siyeon’s desperate call, Wonyoung flung the door open. It was when Siyeon tried to come back in through the window.
“Ah, the door won’t open for shit. Almost broke it down. Oh. Hey, Wonyoung-ah.”
At the familiar voice complaining and the immediately changing affectionate tone upon seeing him, Siyeon hesitated. No way…….
“……Baek Heegang?!”
Heegang, who had entered holding a hammer, glanced at Siyeon with an indifferent face.
“What are you doing? Filming some disaster movie?”
“You, how……”
“He’s a wiretapping master, isn’t he.”
Instead of the surprised Siyeon, Wonyoung answered and sighed as if dumbfounded.
“But to chase us all the way here?”
“Had a bit of trouble finding you. You’re smart, Heo Wonyoung.”
“……”
“The gangster bastards will probably take a bit more time to find you too.”
Meanwhile, Siyeon, who had returned, slightly blocked Wonyoung’s front and glared at Heegang.
“If you’re not here to help, get lost. Or else……”
“If you’re going to say to take only me, I’ll kick your shin, Ki Siyeon.”
At Wonyoung’s growling threat from behind, Siyeon hesitated and immediately made a tearful face.
“But hyung……”
“The gangsters still need some time to find us. And this is good, actually. Let’s ask Heegang for help.”
“Still……”
Siyeon, who understood Wonyoung’s heart, hesitated, but Wonyoung stepped forward first.
“You know the situation, right? Please help Siyeon.”
“Mm.”
But for some reason, Heegang made a slightly annoyed expression. Could it be he won’t help? Is it impossible even with Baek Heegang’s power? It was when Wonyoung was flustered.
“That’s right. That’s why I came.”
From behind Heegang, a completely unexpected person appeared.
It was Taerim.
* * *
“……Taerim-ssi?”
Wonyoung forgot about the situation before him and stared blankly at Taerim for a moment. Taerim also stared right back at him. The emotion in his eyes was something Wonyoung couldn’t read.
“Why, how……”
There was so much he wanted to ask. Why hadn’t he appeared all this time, why had he been watching, why had he lied about going on a business trip…… and really, if he hadn’t wanted to see him.
But Wonyoung bit his lip and held it back. Now was the time to prioritize reason over emotion, specifically Siyeon. After staring at the hidden ending notification window still floating before his eyes, Wonyoung asked.
“There’s no time, so let’s talk about the details later. Is there a way to help Siyeon?”
Taerim spoke with eyes whose depths were still unreadable.
“I’ve temporarily joined hands with Baek Heegang. An organization related to Baekil Group will attack the Hwajeong Union that Ki Siyeon belongs to. Our HS will handle the problems that arise from it.”
Taerim was saying it easily, but a conglomerate group getting involved with gangsters couldn’t possibly be easy. Both Heegang and Taerim would bear tremendous burdens.
But it was about saving Siyeon. Wonyoung couldn’t refuse their goodwill.
However, as if thinking the same as Wonyoung, unexpectedly, Siyeon spoke up.
“Why would you guys go that far for me? If it’s simply because of hyung, it’s not necessary.”
“Siyeon-ah!”
When he should be desperately thanking them, what is he saying? Wonyoung was shocked and stopped Siyeon. But Siyeon pushed away Wonyoung.
“If hyung has to bear a burden because of me again, I won’t do it. Anyway, if it’s not for hyung, whether I live or die doesn’t matter to you guys.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
A sharp affirmation returned to the sharp words. Wonyoung looked at Heegang with resentful eyes. Heegang received that look and grinned.
“But if I lose you, I’ll lose Heo Wonyoung too. I can’t watch that happen.”
“If you’re trying to make hyung indebted again to use him as you please……”
Siyeon bristled, but Taerim shot back coldly.
“How naive.”
“……What?”
“Accept goodwill as goodwill. Isn’t that the position you’re in?”
“Ha.”
As the atmosphere turned hostile in an instant, Wonyoung worriedly assessed the mood. But Taerim pointed at Wonyoung with his chin.
“Even looking at that, you still want to maintain your pride?”
“……”
Faced with Wonyoung’s troubled expression, Siyeon frowned for a moment. Then he continued.
“I’m not trying to make things difficult for hyung. I just want to prevent hyung from getting into more trouble because of me. I can just run away alone.”
“And eventually die.”
At the mention of death, Wonyoung’s shoulders trembled. Then all the more, he absolutely couldn’t let Siyeon go alone. Even if it means entering the ending.
As if knowing Wonyoung’s resolve, Taerim continued.
“Don’t you like Heo Wonyoung?”
“……What? Of course I do……”
“Then you know. That no matter what happens, Heo Wonyoung will try to protect you. If Heo Wonyoung gets hurt in the process, or worse, dies, how will you take responsibility for that? The player can just go back home, is that it?”
At those words, Siyeon’s face turned deathly pale.
“Don’t talk like that! I’ve never once thought it was okay to lose hyung! I’ll absolutely never let hyung get hurt!”
Unlike the agitated Siyeon, Taerim’s tone remained cold.
“Then think about what would be better for Heo Wonyoung. You’re a gangster. You know better than anyone that debts can be repaid, but once you lose your life, it’s over.”
“……”
“Even if you live as a debtor for life, save Heo Wonyoung with that debt. That’s what I would do.”
At Taerim’s persuasion, Siyeon looked back at Wonyoung. Wonyoung said nothing and held Siyeon’s hand. It was a silent indication that he would absolutely not let him go alone.
“Hyung, I……”
“I know how you feel. I know you care a lot about me too.”
Wonyoung looked at the hidden ending notification window, then turned his gaze toward Siyeon as if he’d made up his mind.
“Whatever you choose, I’ll respect your decision. But I won’t let you go alone. That’s my choice.”
If Siyeon ultimately refused Heegang and Taerim’s help, Wonyoung intended to go with the hidden ending. Whatever the result. This was Wonyoung’s choice.
After such a short but eon-like passage of time, Siyeon, who had been looking down with a thoughtful expression, slowly opened his mouth.
