97 – Dongmin Lee (32)
Dongmin Lee (32)
“It’s started.”
In the car heading to Seo In-woo and Nam Jae-chan’s funeral, Hae-rin said quietly.
She handed me the phone.
A news article floated on the screen.
[… “s*xual assault of a woman in her 30s in two weeks of release”, 4 Serial rapists, including a married woman, will be released soon.]
Haerin said with her gaze in front of her.
“……”
I nodded heavily.
“It’s Jeong Seong-min.”
Without considering my heavy heart at all, 『Journal』 Was revealing itself in reality.
I expected Jung Seong-min to appear appropriately, but I didn’t anticipate the exact timing.
In retrospect, I think “I guess so,” But strangely, I couldn’t guess at the time.
Obviously, based on the novel, I expected the timing when I thought it would appear, but when I was put in that situation, it turned out that it was all my misunderstanding.
“…The contents of the print are correct?”
Although I knew that Harin would be in a bad mood, I asked a question that I couldn’t stand.
“Sure.”
Nevertheless, she said lightly.
“It is as it is. The reason he didn’t show the novel was because he was afraid of getting hurt, but if he didn’t take the risk, there’s no reason not to show it.”
I looked at the stack of papers on my lap.
Over 1,000 novels were divided into two halves and edited in fine print.
The contents of the ‘original’ written by me.
It was definitely different from my ‘memories’.
It’s not just that the memories are gone.
As expected, memories are being ‘distorted’.
If I didn’t read the contents of the original text from time to time, it seemed that my thoughts would continue to fly on their own.
“Perhaps the content keeps changing because of people other than us who know the contents of the novel.”
Haerin said with her eyes fixed on the front.
An assumption she had mentioned before her.
That’s what I also felt deep inside.
If there are many people who know the future, they will be involved in the present, and the future will change.
In other words, changing the contents of the novel is the action of someone who knows that 『Journal』 Is materializing.
“… Who is it?”
Due to the existence of illegal sharing sites and text books, it was possible to speculate that not a few people have original texts other than novels distributed on the platform.
Of course, all of them are currently blocked.
… I really didn’t know if I would make it.
Haerin found out the identity of the illegal sharing site and shut it down with personal retaliation and threats.
When I asked what she did, she just laughed.
After intentionally planting and distributing the virus, rumors spread around the community.
[Do not accept the 『Journal』 Text. It contains a virus. Because of that, personal information was stolen and the computer was broken.]
Since then, as many testimonies of taking risks have been poured out, the distribution of texts has been virtually eradicated.
“………”
Of course, it’s not perfect.
For example, she had no way to use her hands on the text file that was distributed earlier.
Then, those who can guess the relationship between the novel and reality and know that it is changing are limited to those who already have the previously distributed files.
Their actions are creating this situation.
“Categorical Detective or Park Seong-gang?”
At my words, Harin shook her head.
“No. Not two people.”
“Why?”
“You two don’t have the original files. At best, it is ‘knowledge’ that fiction has a relationship with reality, but that cannot influence it.”
There was a point in what Haerin said.
“You can tell just by looking at Park Seong-gang. If I had known ‘exactly’ the contents of the novel, I would have stopped Park Sang-woo. The reason I couldn’t do that is because I acted on the premise of the novel’s content that was ‘wrong’ or ‘would go wrong’.”
She explained.
It was a bit difficult.
If the novel itself goes beyond changing like a creature and even manipulates people’s ‘memory’, no matter how detectives fly and crawl, it falls within the category of that novel.
All their actions are eventually reflected in the novel.
Because the actions to get out of the plot of the novel are themselves included in the plot of the novel.
The power to control even the human brain.
I couldn’t believe it at all, but when I didn’t have the original file, my memory was confused. It was as if the detectives were also trapped in a maze of novels.
“…Then?”
“For now, there is someone I can think of.”
“Who?”
Haerin smiled silently.
But there was a strange coolness in that smile, and seeing it sent chills down her spine.
“… Sister?”
“If it’s Mi Ida, it’s not strange that she has the original file. She is the kind of person who is so interested in her little brother’s business, so even if she only has one text.”
“………”
I hate to admit it, but I deserved it.
No, actually I knew.
Relatively recently, until a few months ago, whenever I wrote a novel, I used to send it to my sister in advance.
Looking for awkward sentences or settings is because it has been our pattern since the beginning of the series.
She was my number one reader.
Of course I should have had those files.
“Isn’t it shared with detectives…”
“You must have thought that in order to control things according to your taste, you should have the upper hand in information. Because she is a cunning woman.”
“………”
It was almost the first time I heard Haerin swear at her sister in the face, and she wasn’t in a good mood.
She used to say she wouldn’t pay attention to her sister, but she’s someone I’ve been with for a long time.
Still, I kept my mouth shut.
A promise is a promise.
It’s not that I don’t understand her feelings, it’s because she definitely couldn’t miss the third strike.
Harin glanced at me.
“Well, gradually, you will find out. Those who have the power and qualifications to influence reality-“
“…How?”
“You have nothing to worry about.”
Haerin dismissed my question like that.
Her attitude became more determined.
It must be because he wants to protect me.
That’s why I’m trying not to approach the danger.
“Are you telling me not to ask?”
“There is no need to know. You don’t have to give him a toy he can’t handle.”
“………”
After a while, I said.
“… I will go to the funeral home alone. Seo In-woo and Nam Jae-chan, I think it’s all my fault.”
“No, I’m coming too.”
But Harin said.
“Come with me.”
She insisted.
#
As I entered the mortuary and exchanged greetings with Seo In-woo and Nam Jae-chan’s resident, I was soaked in many emotions.
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I hated him, and I thought I’d never forget him, but I never thought it would end like this.
“Inwoo’s friend? Thanks for coming.”
“Jaechan will be grateful too.”
“………”
I couldn’t bear to talk to the parents of the two people, or the bereaved family.
I just thought that they wouldn’t be happy with me, and that they would resent me if they knew the truth.
They and I are not even friends.
That’s what they think too.
I awkwardly paid the subsidy and turned around.
The atmosphere has subsided overall.
If it’s natural, it’s natural.
In terms of age, isn’t it the peak of blooming?
And it’s not just an accident, it’s a murder.
Park Sang-woo, who single-handedly sent three men in their 20s to the goal and even seriously injured them, was already causing a stir in the media with the worst crime ever.
It is strange that he is not depressed.
Leaving behind the weeping family members, I and Haerin got out of the mortuary.
“Lee Dong-min-“
At that time, someone called my name.
It was Baek Yu-ram.
She was wearing darker, tighter clothes than usual, and when she saw me, she put out her cigarette.
… Yu-ram, you were a smoker.
“…How do you…?”
“Hyejeong.”
Baek Yoo-ram said.
“The two of them were acquaintances with Hyejeong.”
Her gaze pointed to the inside of the ceremony hall.
“…Hyejeong?”
I was embarrassed for a moment, but I understood that since Kim Hye-jung and Kim Hye-eun are sisters, there is a possibility that they may have known each other with Seo In-woo and Nam Jae-chan.
The three of them were pretty close.
Seo In-woo was also Kim Hye-eun’s ex-boyfriend.
You may have seen her sister on the way.
“I don’t know what this is.”
Baek Yoo-ram sighed heavily.
“Hyejeong is completely out of her mind.”
“………”
You can understand without speaking.
Her older sister Kim Hye-eun fell into a coma and two acquaintances suffered a terrible accident.
Her daily life has been destroyed.
I felt guilty.
At that time, Sueuk, Haerin held my hand.
I looked at her.
She looked me in the eye without speaking.
“………”
The expressionless face and a slight shake of the head seemed to tell me that it wasn’t my fault.
That worked again.
I wonder if I have been assimilated into the inhuman expression of emotions, and watching it made me feel like my thoughts were disappearing.
Baek Yoo-ram also quietly looked at us.
Emotion disappeared from her face.
“Still doing well, you two.”
I couldn’t reply to that.
“Are you still looking for your sister?”
“…Yes.”
“Yes, it will be difficult.”
“……”
Is it because of my mood?
Baek Yu-ram looked at me and felt uncomfortable.
She may not even know if she is please.
I feel like she’s judging me.
“What about Hyejeong?”
As I remembered, I asked Yu-Ram Baek.
It wasn’t intentional, she was me who didn’t even know Hyejeong existed at the time she wrote the novel, but as a result, it is she who suffered the most in the aftermath of 『Ilji』 Materializing.
I wanted to give you a little word of comfort.
“I will be with Seyoung.”
Baek Yoo-ram guided us.
I could see Kim Hye-jeong crying in the arms of Park Se-young in the shade of a tree near the parking lot.
“………”
She was hesitating because she didn’t even have the courage to take her to her wealth, but Park Se-young found us first.
“Senior?”
Kim Hye-jeong raised her head.
I walked over there.
Kim Hye-jeong trembled as she put on her teary-eyed expression, and as soon as I approached, she hugged me.
“Senior-! Ugh…”
“………”
I was embarrassed by her sudden action, but I patted her on the back because I understood her pain.
“…Sorry.”
Unbeknownst to me, I mumbled like that.
Kim Hye-jung was held in my arms for a while.
I didn’t know that before, but although she’s a little chubby, her slightly sharp eyes seemed a bit like Kim Hye-eun.
“I’m going to ask you directly-!”
“Hey, no matter what…”
So, I am holding Kim Hye-jung, with Park Se-young, Baek Yu-ram, and Haerin silently watching-
There was a commotion that broke the quiet atmosphere.
Two people were walking this way.
“Senior-“
Hwang Ji-young and Kim Yun-a.
The two hesitantly looked at each other, but asked me with firm expressions as if they had made up their mind.
“…Senpai, can I ask you something?”
“………”
“You know the novel, right? What’s going on? You are a writer.”
Kim Hye-jeong raised her head.
When I try to answer something.
“Can I talk to you for a minute? Separately…”
The eyes of the two turned to Kim Hye-jung.
… It’s too late.
I separated her and walked over to her two.
Haerin followed me.
“… I wish we could see each other.”
Yoona Kim looked at Haerin and said cautiously.