Chapter 10-2
by Han Yong-un · 2026-08-25
Dae-cheol murmured to himself and sighed as he turned over.
“What do you mean? Calm down.”
As Soon-young picked up the rice cake maker, Dae-cheol's attitude seemed even more strange to her.
No matter how unpleasant a person is, they say that when death approaches, their heart softens, and she wondered if Dae-cheol's heart was changing because he was about to die.
It was not that Soon-young could not guess that Dae-cheol would soon die.
Even if he were to die, there was nothing to be sad about.
However, when she thought about the great fact that a living person would die, her heart sank and her mind could not help but feel dizzy.
When he was in great pain or truly could not bear it, she had thought that if he could not be cured, it would be better to die early.
Yet, when she actually thought of death creeping closer, it was both frightening and sad.
Heavy dark clouds gathering beyond Namsan quickly covered Bukak Mountain, following the gusty wind.
As thick raindrops began to fall sporadically, it seemed like everyone on the street started to run.
When Soon-young entered Sajik Park with a bowl of seolleongtang, the raindrops had become quite frequent.
The wind grew stronger, and unusual weather was beginning.
All the people who had been there were nowhere to be seen.
The sounds of laughter, singing, and chatter that had been so lively seemed to be fading away, as if they were being swept away by the rain and wind.
Chaotic footprints and scattered belongings rolled around haphazardly.
As if the bustling city had experienced war and become a vacant lot, it was particularly disordered and excessively silent to the point of being pitiful.
In the midst of it all, there was Dae-cheol, who could neither move nor rise, merely groaning and shuffling about.
He was a person who had lost in the survival competition of the world and had been severely injured, rendering him unable to move freely.
However, there was still no Red Cross hospital in this world to take care of such injured people.
Even if it rained and he was swept away while clinging to life, there was not even a single person to save him, let alone feel pity.
“Oh dear, how pitiful. You can’t even get up.”
Worried and warm words could be heard.
“Come on, get up and eat this. I brought you seolleongtang.”
There was an angel who, despite the filthy body that others would only grimace at and turn away from, gently embraced him and helped him to rise.
Dae-cheol, who barely opened his unseen eyes and tried to look at Sun-young weakly,
“Oh, I’m dying.”
Then he collapsed again.
“Get a hold of yourself and get up. You need to eat and go to the entrance.”
“It’s raining. It’s going to rain heavily.”
Sun-young once again helped Dae-cheol up and supported him, holding the bowl of seolleongtang in one hand and bringing it to his mouth.
Dae-cheol, trembling, lifted the bowl with both hands, took a sip, and grimaced.
“It’s too salty to eat.”
Shaking his head, he pushed the bowl away and tried to lie down again.
“Oh dear, why are you suddenly like this? Eat more.”
“You need to eat something to regain your strength. Please eat a little.”
“And hurry over there. It’s starting to rain more.”
Sun-young held Dae-cheol, who was about to collapse, and brought the bowl of seolleongtang to his mouth.
Dae-cheol, forcing down a couple of sips, leaned back against Sun-young.
“No matter what, I can’t eat. It tastes like brine and it won’t go down my throat, how can I eat it?”
The raindrops kept falling, and soon droplets began to gather under the tree.
“Oh dear, wake up. We need to go to the entrance. It's raining heavily.”
Sun-young, unable to do anything with the seolleongtang, placed it under the mat where she had stored her belongings and helped Dae-cheol up.
However, Dae-cheol tried to get up but collapsed again.
When she forcibly helped him up, he would take a few steps before sitting down, unable to walk on his own at all.
“Oh my, what should I do? It keeps raining.”
“Then ride on my back. I'll try to carry you.”
Dae-cheol resisted being carried but eventually had no choice but to get on her back.
The frail Sun-young could not easily walk while carrying a tall man like him.
Moreover, it was even more difficult to carry someone who was limp and dragging like a corpse.
The rain kept falling, and the wind blew as if shaking the ground.
Sun-young repeated this several times, taking care of Dae-cheol, who was neither alive nor dead.
Dae-cheol grew weaker and could no longer get up or lie down without relying on Sun-young's strength.
He even lost the ability to control his bodily functions.
So, to avoid the eyes of others, Sun-young moved to a relatively cool and supportive spot under a willow tree.
She ended up by the stream at the bottom of the southern hill.
As she spent the days in such a dull and desolate manner, the lush summer had passed before she knew it.
The coolness began to return in the mornings and evenings, and it started to get quite chilly.
People's visits gradually became less frequent.
There were many cool nights suitable for a short nap, especially for those who were not well.
Since the coolness began to set in, Dae-cheol, who had no resistance left in his body or mind, gasped in the midday heat and shivered in the cold night air.
There were times when Dae-cheol couldn't stand the heat and would scream.
“Oh my, I'm dying from the heat.”
When he was sweating profusely and panting heavily,
Sun-young would bring cold well water and change the towels, placing them on his forehead and washing his body as well.