127 – Beyond the Dream (5)

Amar raised a small hand. He pointed to a children’s book.

“Rubia.”

One of the few books. One of the few gifts I received after entering the laboratory.

“What is love?”

Unlike other employees who leave work immediately after the research is over, the researcher who stayed with me until late lowered his gaze. She hugged her and whispered softly to her.

“What do you think of Amar?”

“I asked because I didn’t know.”

“…Think about it sometimes.”

“Ruvia says most things. I don’t have to think about anything anyway.”

When you get hungry, they bring you rice.

If you’re blank, you’ll ask questions.

If you feel like your body is in a weird state, lines will run all over your body.

You don’t have to do anything. A comfortable place to just live.

Didn’t others even tell me?

“They said that staying still helped me.”

“Who is it?”

“Bubble.”

“…That idiot.”

Researcher Rubia sighed. She took the children’s book in her hand.

“What is drawn here?”

“Articles.”

“This?”

“Princess.”

“Okay. Then why does the knight bother to save the princess?”

“…Wealth and power?”

“Who else taught you that?”

“Bubble.”

“This bastard.”

Rubia turned over her bookshelf.

“Look. Isn’t the dragon blocking the way between the two?”

“Yes. I’m blocking you.”

“But isn’t this dragon terrifying? Can the knight alone defeat the dragon?”

“…No?”

“That’s right. It’s a losing battle. Close to impossible But still, the knight attacks the dragon. What is the reason?”

“To rescue the princess?”

“Why?”

“That’s wealth and power…”

“Wouldn’t it be strange to risk your life for things that are useless if you die?”

Come to think of it, yes.

Amar was troubled. Thought after thought, it quickly spread.

“Wouldn’t everyone feel better if the knight died?”

“…Don’t just jump to conclusions because you don’t want to think about it.”

“But Rubia thinks for me instead.”

“As I said before, you have to think for yourself. That way, you can take the right action at the right moment.”

“Here?”

Amar asked.

There is nothing here. And there is no going out of here.

Bubble, as other researchers have said. He said he was a very dangerous being.

So you can’t go out there.

I don’t know what that word means. But Amar knew that life here was easier than life out there.

You don’t have to risk your life trying to survive here. If you just stay still, everything will happen.

And then…

Amar stretched out his hand. I rubbed her face into Rubia’s arms.

“This is the appropriate action.”

“What?”

Ruvia stretched out Amar’s cheeks.

“It’s cute, but it’s not enough. Ruler. Keep thinking. The reason why the knight risked his life to save the princess.”

“…Because it is precious?”

”That’s right. Almost close. Precious is very important. Look at me Amar. What do you think is the reason I’m here late?”

My chest tickles. Amar’s eyes sparkled.

“…Because I am precious?”

“That is correct. Shall I change it up a bit? What if you express your preciousness with emotions?”

The hand that embraces you is warm. Amar groaned.

“…Is it love?”

“That’s right. It’s love. Because love is a feeling that can understand anything.”

“Understanding… Is…”

“Amar is different from us. Yes? Besides, I am a priest of Ra, a member of the Metamorphic Research Institute.”

Slowly.

Very slowly she strokes her hair.

“Originally, they are two people who cannot be together. But are we together now? Amar, do you enjoy being with me?”

“Yes. I really enjoy it.”

“Me too. It’s a pleasure to be with Amar. That’s what being precious is like that, and that’s what love is like.”

Amar gently closed her eyes. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel her presence beyond her darkness.

A kind touch. The feeling of her hair gently moving.

“Love can understand everything. Even if we are different, we can fully understand each other.”

“…Yeah.”

Amar nodded her head slightly.

You understand what love is.

It’s a feeling that makes everything understandable.

. . .

“aaa!!!!!”

From noble mtl dot com

Amar gasped. Her body limp, her strength drained.

My vision went round and round. She was dizzy and looked like she was about to vomit.

“Stop it! I’m still getting used to it…!”

“The time to listen to the child’s play has already passed. Rubia.”

I heard footsteps. Amar lifted her head with difficulty.

Someone was standing in front. A person dressed differently from others.

“But Your Excellency…!”

“Amar is a valuable case. There are very few demons that can be captured. Heterogeneous species…And those born similar to humans are rare.”

Her hands forcefully lift her face. Unlike Rubia.

Not a kind hand at all.

“The more you study him, the more you learn about the devil. You can study magic and develop a proper voice.”

“A better way…!”

“The devil has no human rights. Rubia Priest. Realize your duty. You are a Lee Hyung researcher. It is your role to analyze and find out about our enemies.”

Her hands wrapped around her face tightened. Amar struggled in pain.

Something is pouring in. Something unpleasant.

“Uweee!!!!”

Amar vomited as hard as he could. He spilled everything he ate on the floor.

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts so much I can’t stand it.

Amarr turned his head with difficulty. I looked at Rubia.

Our eyes met. Rubia who gritted her teeth tried to shout something out of her.

But the moment the man in front of me spit out words, all action stopped.

“Think of your sister. Rubia. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“……”

Rubia opened her eyes wide. Her clenched fists trembled.

Amar stretched out her hand. But Rubia ignored it. She looked away and covered her face.

She just turned around. She went out

The sound of footsteps receding. Amar trembled.

Why…?

The words I couldn’t say echoed in my mouth. The calm voice rang out again.

“The second experiment. Let’s begin.”

. . .

I have no strength in my body. No appetite Amar curled up in her body.

It was stupid. Okay. I was stupid Why did I blindly follow you? She was a stranger, so why did I hold her hand?

Ruvia. Rubia.

It was all lies. That’s what brought me here from the beginning.

Amar trembled in her body. There was nothing in the cold darkness. Lying on her side, she stared blankly at the other side of her.

There was something. A random storybook.

The story of a knight.

I like it. I’ve read that story several times. But now I hate it. I don’t want to read at all.

Because I’m scared of being alone.

If I read that… I’m afraid I’ll be fooled like an idiot again.

So…

So…

“Amar.”

Amar flinched and shuddered. Along with the sound of the door opening, I heard the footsteps of someone walking in.

I didn’t look back. At some point, I swallowed the tears that flowed silently. Someone sat behind her.

I know.

Who?

But I don’t want to look back.

“…Amar. Ruler?”

“……”

There was an uncomfortable silence. Amar sniffed her nose. She gently wrapped her arms around her knees.

“…A liar.”

“……”

“You didn’t love me.”

“……”

“Idiot. Trash. Get out and die.”

“…Sorry.”

The voice behind his back laughed awkwardly. The squeezing sound caused Amar to lift her body slightly.

She turned around. Rubia. She was sitting there She stared blankly into her empty space, thinking of something.

The words jumped out. Rubia murmured.

“…Me.”

The words I couldn’t bear to say flew around my mouth once. Then the courage came out of me.

“I had a little sister…”

“……”

“I had a younger sister…You know…I don’t have one now. There are many people in the world. Amar. And among them, there are many who have no power to protect themselves.”

The voice was weak. Amar blinked her eyes at a figure she had never seen before.

“Sometimes I dream. Dreaming of having her little sister. The result is always the same. Her sister gets eaten and I wake up from the dream.”

“…Why?”

“…My sister is in a place where I can no longer see her.”

Rubia lowered her gaze. She stared blankly at Amar.

“Yes. Amar. There is only one thing i want A world where even the powerless can live safely. And the greatest danger among them is… The devil. Even though their numbers have dwindled, they are still dangerous. There are not enough ways to deal with it, and those who fight back die countless times.”

“……”

“Ha, but Amar. Hey. It’s true i love you Didn’t I say love is understanding? Amar. I love you Do you care about me too?”

Comes crawling on the floor. Go rubia. She looks down at herself with eyes she’s never seen before.

“Amar. Please answer me. Do you…do you love me?”

Amar opened her mouth. She tried to deny But for some reason, that look in his eyes was so desperate that she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

Behind her back was a fallen book. Fairy tale book. A story she often read.

…The knight defeated the dragon.

For the one you love. Even the hardships were overcome.

She gave her life to understand. Because I believed it was love.

“…I, I…”

Amar blinked her eyes. She forced her voice out.

It’s scary. Those experiments hurt. It brings indescribable pain.

But it is precious nonetheless. The Rubia in front of her was the only person she had expressed a crush on during her life.

The child leaned on the adult. Thought upon thought, she spat the necessary words out of her mouth.

To not be abandoned.

The words you have to say to be loved again.

“I love…Love Rubia…”

“Is it…isn’t it?”

Ruvia whispered.

“Then be patient with me. Amar. Please. It’s all…”

For some reason, Rubia could hear her voice from afar.

“Because it is an action for the powerless weak.”

Is that correct?

Inside it… I wonder if I’m not there.

Amar didn’t ask. I just hugged her without a word from her.

It was more uncomfortable than I thought. It wasn’t as warm as before. The warmth had diminished, and for some reason her embrace was stuffy enough to suffocate her.

But it was fine.

Because it was a little warm.