# Chapter 94
“…Slowly.”
Feeling the gentle touch on his head, Kane carefully repeated what Alex had told him. Alex was a good person. He had thought villains were all bad people… He felt so ashamed for judging them based on preconceptions.
“We still have plenty of time.”
“But you want me to return to normal as soon as possible, don’t you?”
After a few days, Kane naturally came to understand that Kay was an important figure in the organization. Both Alex and the others who occasionally visited spoke of Kay as if he were very precious.
So this body itself couldn’t be treated carelessly. That’s why they were taking such good care of him despite being their enemy. Because of this, Kane wanted to do his best.
Alex couldn’t deny Kane’s words. But he hadn’t wanted him to push himself this hard. If Kane had shown resistance or hostility, Alex would have trained him forcefully, but he was making sincere efforts. How could he tell someone like that that he wished he would return to normal as soon as possible?
If he heard such words, Kane would push himself even harder than he already was. And if that happened, his already weakened body would become even weaker.
Kay wasn’t naturally muscular, but through years of training, he had maintained a firm, healthy body. But now, no matter how generously one tried to describe it, it couldn’t be called healthy.
Kane couldn’t eat well due to stress. Moreover, whether it was because he had been lying down for a long time, or because he had been resurrected, or both, his physical strength was significantly weakened. He needed to build up his stamina with light walks, but he was in a situation where he couldn’t go outside.
So for now, it was important for Kane not to push himself too hard. If his health deteriorated further, both Kane and Kay could be in danger.
“I can’t keep being a burden to you, Alex-ssi.”
But Kane was forcing a smile, saying he would try harder. Looking at his face, Alex wondered how he could say such a thing. His eyes had dark circles from lack of sleep, and his dried-up body looked like that of a patient no matter how you looked at it.
“Burden? You’re doing well enough already.”
Alex tried his best to comfort Kane. Knowing how hard Kane had been trying, he didn’t want to see him looking so depressed.
“Hmm… Instead, try to make your mind as relaxed as possible.”
After contemplating, he spoke. It was a simple suggestion, but it was what Kane needed most right now. He was currently suffering from pressure. In this state, no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn’t be able to control his ability. Superpowers respond sensitively to one’s mental state and condition.
But if such brief advice could truly make him feel better, Kane wouldn’t be struggling this much. Rather than such vague words, something more concrete was needed. Alex racked his brain, deep in thought.
“How on earth…”
There’s a reason why counselor is a profession. He had no idea what to say. To Kane, he was just a member of ‘Alice,’ so there was a high chance he’d only add unnecessary pressure.
But after a moment, Alex’s blue eyes shone clear as a lake, as if he had finally found a good method.
“How about recalling your happiest memory? Wouldn’t that make you feel better, even momentarily?”
He had once heard from a hypnotist. To calm someone’s mind, they often bring up that person’s happy memories. Doing so naturally relieves tension and stress.
Of course, they had said that if done too often, it could lead to worse results as people compare their past to their present, so it should only be used occasionally.
Since he couldn’t use hypnosis, he couldn’t evoke vivid memories, but he thought he could at least help with imagination. Alex, filled with expectation, subtly observed Kane’s reaction.
“Happiest…”
He was carefully reciting Alex’s words. His brown eyelashes slowly lowered. A different emotion seeped into his eyes, which had been full of gloom. His memories swam back to happy moments.
Since coming here, he hadn’t recalled the past much. He had wanted to use his superpower as soon as possible. But now, because of Alex’s words, memories were flooding in like a torrent.
Kane faced numerous past memories. And among them, his happiest memory revealed itself to him.
The memory he cherished most.
Honestly, it didn’t come to mind immediately. Happiness should be a memory one would never want to forget.
But now he understood why he couldn’t recall it.
His happiest moment was when a child smiled at him for the first time. Eyes that had been lifeless like a doll’s curved slightly, showing emotion. Thin arms, nothing but bone, grasped his hand.
It was just a faint smile without words, but at that moment, he was happier than ever before. For the first time, he was glad to have become a researcher at Peace.
At this precious and nostalgic memory, Kane shed tears. The tears that fell contained guilt, but most of all, they contained resentment towards himself for having forgotten that memory.
How could he have forgotten? In truth, he had come to think that it didn’t matter anymore whether he was in Kay’s body or his own. He had become so weak that it didn’t matter. Even if he returned to his original body, there was no hope.
He had done his best to avoid causing harm to Kay, but there was no thought of doing it for himself.
That wasn’t right. He sobbed, burying his face in his hands. He was disgusted with his cowardly self who had tried to give up. Because he was too exhausted, he had even erased that memory.
If one gives up, nothing can be undone. Clearly, at that time, he had failed and ended up causing them more pain. But failure doesn’t lead to an end. It’s only the end when one gives up. Kane could now accept this.
He felt as if he had taken a step out of the sticky darkness. He had certainly been foolish to think he could change things from the beginning. That’s why he ended up causing the death of those test subjects.
But what about afterwards? Hadn’t he tried to make an even more foolish choice? It hadn’t been decades since he had tried to change things, so why had he tried to let go of everything so early?
Perhaps it was because of his insufficient resolve when he decided to live as a researcher at Peace. Colored by hope, he hadn’t looked at reality and hadn’t thought that he could lose the people he wanted to protect.
But now he wanted to change. He wanted to try once more. He knew he could no longer be a researcher at Peace. But he wanted to help them somehow. He couldn’t just stay like this.
So he needed his original body. His own body where he could act freely.
It was at that moment. Suddenly, an inexplicable change began to occur in his body. A strange heat filled his entire body, his vision blurred, and his head felt dazed.
“…Huh?”
Noticing that something was wrong with his body, he slowly raised his head.
When Kane started crying, Alex, who had been fidgeting anxiously, hurriedly extended his arms. And Kane’s body began to collapse into his arms.
Alex gently shook him as he went limp like an empty shell in his embrace. Seeing Kane’s tearful face, he wondered if he had said something wrong. But feeling as if he shouldn’t disturb him, he had no choice but to just watch. That wasn’t what he should have done.
“Kane-ssi…?”
He thought Kane had collapsed from exhaustion after crying so much. But no matter how many times he called his name, Kane showed no response. If it was just a faint, he would have understood.
But Alex couldn’t help but stiffen his face as he grasped the strange discomfort. Kane’s heart wasn’t beating. Not only that, but Kane, who wasn’t breathing, looked like a dead person.
“This can’t be…”
What on earth had happened? Alex hurriedly raised his head to assess the surroundings. Now that he thought about it, the energy permeating the room was also somewhat strange. It wasn’t dangerous, but his fingertips tingled, and heat rushed to his head. It felt as if his superpower was trying to crawl out from within.
It must be related to Kane’s condition. He took several deep breaths in succession to think without falling into panic.
He couldn’t understand why, but the energy in the room was making his superpower go wild. He was controlling and stopping it, but that was only in his case.
Kane was inexperienced in using superpowers. If he had tried to use his ability in this situation, the superpower would have exploded.
“Did the ability work properly?”
Usually, he couldn’t properly feel the vague energy of superpowers, but this time he felt it more than enough. So perhaps it might be possible for the body to return to normal.
Alex, who was slowly organizing the situation, placed his hand near Kane’s heart. And a moment later, his eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Could it be…”
Kane’s heart, which should have stopped, was beating again.
* * *
A vibration sound echoed throughout the living room. Boss, picking up the phone vibrating on the table, checked the caller. Seeing Alex’s name, he answered without delay.
As soon as he answered, Alex’s urgent voice was heard.
“Can you come here right now?”
“What happened?”
