ReLife Player

[Changing Futures (2)]

It was darkness.

There was a pungent smell of blood on the ground.

His shoes were unrecognizable in the stagnant puddle.

His hands were stained with black blood. Drops of blood dripped from his fingertips onto the puddle.

In that moment, Eunha realized.

This was purgatory. These were the countless lives that he would encounter on his way to his second life.

He hesitated to take a step forward.

He had a feeling of what lay at the end of the canal.

His intuition was not wrong.

One by one, corpses floated to the surface from the end of the canal.

As he walked forward, the pool became shallower, and the bodies became more numerous.

A gruesome scene unfolded where he had stopped to pause.

A tower of corpses piled high to be burned.

And himself, wielding his sword recklessly as he climbed the tower, not looking back.

It was himself. The one who forced those who followed him to sacrifice themselves, killing everything in sight until the day he died.

«Save me.»

«Help me.»

«Please help us.»

The desperation in the eyeless faces of the dead was palpable.

It’s too terrible.

«Stop it. Why don’t you try helping us?»

«Help us too!»

«Don’t just save yourself!»

One by one, the bodies floating in the pool rose to their feet. Melting until they were unrecognizable, they shuffled toward him.

Even if they were ruined, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize the people he crossed the line of fire with.

«Stay back. Leave me alone.»

He swatted away their outstretched hands and stumbled backward.

Anger flashed in their eyes.

Why.

Why you?

Why can’t we live?

Why are you the only one who gets to be happy?

What an asshole.

You think you can make it on your own?

An accusatory sound. Nervous tone.

Shut up. Shut up, be quiet.

Get the fuck out!

You are too much.

What a child.

Is this the kind of person you are?

How could you do this to us?

Can’t you do that for us?

We’re not asking for a lot.

We’re not asking for something difficult.

Just one thing.

Yes, just one thing.

Save me.

Help me.

Rescue me.

Shut up! Shut up!

He shouted as loud as he could, keeping his distance from the oncoming dead.

What do you want me to do?

I want to save you too, I want to help you, I want to save you!

But you know me! What do you want me to do? What more can I do with a child’s body, barely six years old!

I have enough on my plate just protecting my family! It’s hard enough!

I don’t have the strength to protect you!

It’s only for now.

You’ll be stronger.

We’re not asking for much.

Help us then.

Help us, please.

Save me, you’re the only one.

A pleading voice. A tone that reprimanded me for doing my duty.

My breathing was ragged and choked. A sensation worse than death choked him.

My body was heavy. So heavy, I couldn’t even look forward.

What’s heavy?

You’ve been carrying more than this.

Are you complaining now?

Why do you think you’re the only one suffering?

We’re suffering too!

And we gave our lives for you.

And you can’t do any of that?

You’re asking me to live as a player again.

Tsk, what is this kid saying?

So what? Do you think you can live comfortably like everyone else now?

That’s a laugh. Bullshit.

Wake up. Don’t even dream.

Others may be able to, but not you.

You’re an Undead

You think your true nature is not to kill monsters?

You’re not even human.

You’re a monster.

Yes, a monster.

A monster.

A MONSTER.

Going back in time doesn’t change that.

The fact that you’re a monster, a monster that’s crazy about killing monsters, at our expense, until the moment you die.

…I, I don’t want to be a player anymore. I want to be happy with my family….

No, you can’t. You can’t.

You can’t, you can’t, you can’t.

Because you’re THE UNDEAD

So please.

Help us we who have supported you.

Understand us.

Save us.

Save us, we, who sacrificed.

Stop! Please stop. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

It’s still hard. I want to stop too.

I want to… I want to live a happy life like everyone else.

Fuck you.

Don’t give me shit.

Unable to overcome the invisible pressure, I fell to my knees.

Thud.

Unable to resist the invisible pressure, I hit my head.

Selfish bastard.

Something invisible yanked his head back forcibly.

And then───.

BANG

Thud.

Thump.

Kung

kung

Ku─

─The pressure is gone.

Eunha.

…Huh?

A familiar voice.

I raised my head, slowly pulling myself out of the pool in which I had half fallen.

There was her partner on his back,

Why…

Yi… Jeong?

He stood, tears streaming from his sunken eyes.

You still don’t know why you’re back in the past?

That’s right, Oppa.

And there she stood, waiting for him to come back to life. Clad in an indescribably torn cloth.

… ah…baekryeon?

…H-back?

Only you can do that.

You guys….

Please,

Please,

The voices overlapped as one.

I wanted to turn my head away, to cover my ears.

But an invisible force kept me from turning my head one last time.

─Save us.

☆

«─Huck!»

It was a nightmare. As soon as he opened his eyes, Eunha scrambled out of bed. Unconsciously, he brought his hand to his chest and gasped for air.

It had been a dream.

A dream he didn’t want to have again. Frowning, he looked around the room.

«Are you okay? You look like you’ve been dreaming something bad»

«I’m fine, thanks for waking me up, Mom.»

«Such a child.»

His mother, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, reached over and wiped the sweat from him

Only then did he realize that his pajamas were soaked through.

«We’re family, of course it’s natural.»

«Eunha. You’ve sweated a lot. Are you really okay? Is anything hurting?»

«No. I’m fine. I’m not sick.»

«If you are sick, you have to tell your mom. Okay?»

«Yeah, okay.»

I wonder if my mom will give up going to visit my grandmother if I ask her.

No. She won’t. One of them would have to stay and take care of him.

Eunha shook his head at the sudden thought.

Unbuttoning his pajamas, he reached for the calendar on the wall.

May 4th.

It was that day. The day his family died. The day he was the only survivor.

Could I protect these people?

«You have to tell me if you’re sick»

Her mother asked her twice. Eunha nodded and answered for himself.

I want to protect these people no matter what.

Even if it means defying fate.

Even if it means sacrificing myself.

«I’ll go finish preparing your clothes. Go wash up and get ready.»

«Yeah, okay.»

Eunha’s family decided to leave around lunchtime.

Eunha had insisted on leaving early anyway, saying that traffic would be bad. The idea behind this was to delay the family’s encounter with the Kraken as much as possible.

I don’t exactly remember when the Kraken appeared. The only thing I remember clearly is that the setting sun was hanging on the iron bridge, creating a gradient.

Because the sight of the world being covered in bubbles just before the end was so beautiful that it was enough to make one feel disgusted.

So he aimed for the time when the sun completely disappeared and postponed the departure time.

«Oooh, I’m sleepy….»

«Sis, don’t eat with your eyes closed.»

«Ugh….»

«…Eunna.»

In the morning, a weak Euna was eating breakfast while dozing off. Because her eyes were closed, her fork could only touch the bottom of her plate.

Still, it was better than using chopsticks like his father.

After breakfast, Eunha searched his room for blades, including a cutter knife, and secretly stashed a pair of compasses and scissors in his bag.

In order to defeat the monster, he would either have to deal physical damage or use a weapon made of mana-containing metal.

Unable to bring either, he settled for the next best thing: a blade that could hurt someone. At the very least, he figured, if he coated it with mana, he could do some damage to the monster.

Part of him wanted to take a knife as well, but Eunha hadn’t even gone near the kitchen to avoid her mother’s suspicions.

It’s okay, he never intended to take down the Kraken.

The very idea of using a child’s body to take down a monster that could barely be defeated alone, even on the verge of death, was absurd.

There was only one purpose. To delay the Kraken’s encounter. Just like before the regression, the goal is to buy as much time as possible before the Twelve appear and take down the Kraken.

It didn’t matter how many others would die.

Save me

The nightmare rang in his ears.

Eunha shook his head to drown out the sound of his spine creeping.

The arrival of the Kraken has profound implications for the future. As humanity realizes once again that they will never be free of monsters, those who survive will choose to become players, fueling their hatred of monsters.

It was also at this time that the number of players began to increase qualitatively.

He, too, who was called the Undead.

And those who crossed the line of fire with him.

And yet he looked away, knowing how painful their path to becoming players would be.

So please, get out of my head.

I won’t ask for forgiveness. I’ll go to hell and die as many times as you want, just leave me alone.

«Kids, let’s go now~!»

My father seemed to have finished packing.

Before I knew it, it was 1pm. If we leave now, we’ll be in the middle of Seongsan Bridge around 5:00.

Just a little more, just a little more.

I felt strangely anxious. I had only negative thoughts.

I should run away. My parents won’t even get a chance to leave because they’ll be looking for me.

Away from his family’s eyes, Eunha jumped off the veranda. Even though it was the second floor, his mana-reinforced body didn’t feel the slightest impact.

I must stall for time.

If he ran too far, it could be worse than he thought, so he hid himself in a suitable corner.

Please. Just a little longer.

«Eunha!!»

«No Eunha~!!»

He could hear his parents calling out for him.

Eunha closed his eyes and plugged his ears.

It was painful. To have to close his eyes from reality.

He was used to the darkness more than anyone else, but now he didn’t even like the darkness he could see when he closed his eyes.

«No~eun~ha~!!!»

«Eunha!!!»

«Eunha, where are you!!!»

It’s scary. The reality his young body had to deal with.

As the voices calling him became more distant, the voices of those who had died before him echoed in his ears.

This monster.

Voices of resentment mixed with voices of reprimand.

Everything crushed him.

Maybe he was a monster, just as they said.

A selfish monster who only thought of himself.

A monster who had chosen to kill them again.

He couldn’t hesitate. The number of people he could save with his small hands was limited, and his power to grip with his small hands was too inadequate.

He was not a hero. He was just a selfish sinner.

So please forgive me…

«Why are you here? We’ve been looking for you for a while!»

A voice yelled, then stopped.

A voice, a forceful tug in the darkness, made him open his eyes.

The wind was blowing. A pleasant breeze.

A smile, like a ray of sunshine in the darkness, was staring back at him.

«…Sis.»

«What are you doing here, Mommy and Daddy were looking for you»

Euna put her hands on his shoulders and tried to scold him.

To him, it looked like a 10-year-old child acting like an adult.

For some reason, he wanted to lean against her.

«What? Are you sick?»

I’d heard it again and again since morning.

Eunha smiled bitterly and shook his head.

«No.»

«Then why are you crying?»

«I’m not crying.»

«You don’t know, but I do!»

How does my sister know when I don’t even know myself?

Despite this, he couldn’t refute her strangely. He could only nod his head, his lips quivering.

«Don’t you want to go see Grandma?»

«No, I do. I do want to, but….»

«But…?»

Everyone who goes there today will die, everyone but me!

He barely held back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

What did she think of his reaction?

«It’s okay.»

«What.»

«Everything’s fine.»

None of them sounded comforting.

Euna doesn’t know. The tragedy that would happen today.

Still, she pulled him into her arms.

His memories of her were still fuzzy, but he remembered her desperately clinging to him in the crashing vehicle, trying to protect him.

That was all he remembered of her.

And yet, it was strangely reassuring.

«Mommy and Daddy are looking for you. Let’s go!»

«Mom and Dad will scold me, right?»

Then Euna giggled,

«Then we’ll be scolded together.»

It was a typical Euna line.

After laughing uncontrollably, Eunha took her hand and apologized to his parents.

His mother hugged him wordlessly.

And his father, without saying anything, gave him a stern lecture.

It was the first time he had been hit by his father, both before and after his regression.

«…I’m sorry.»

«Anyway…,you have to tell me where you’re going, dad and mom were worried about you.»

«Yeah….»

«Then let’s get going. If we stay here much longer, we won’t get there until later today.»

He scratched the back of his head.

Euna watched him carefully to make sure he hadn’t hurt his head. After blowing on the bump on his head, she helped him getting into the car.

The seating arrangement was unchanged from before the regression.

Though it made him more anxious-.

«Ehehe.»

Euna took his hand.

…It’s okay.

I did everything I could.

Even if the Kraken appeared─.

«Alright, let’s go! Go, go, go to Incheon!»

«Go, go, go!»

─Even if I have to die, I will save my family.

And fate is─.

☆

─Fate was so cruel that it was no different than before the regression.