He was looking toward where First Life Ki-Young was located.

I turned my gaze as well, casting it toward where First Kim Hyun-Sung was located.

‘That looks like someone having a full-on reality check.’

Hyun-Sung was still frantically searching for other survivors, and his actions caught my eye. Of course, his efforts didn’t last. After shouting endlessly, it seemed even his last shred of hope was finally crushed.

Before long, he was simply staring up at the sky, now dyed by the sunset. He looked lost, like he didn’t know what to think or what to do next. I could see him dragging his feet as he slowly made his way back to his shelter.

‘Not sure if going to him is the right call.’

I didn’t even know what I would say, or how I would say it, but I started walking anyway. For some reason, I felt like I had to meet him. It wasn’t logic or calculation. Instinctively, I knew that facing First Life Kim Hyun-Sung was the only way to bring all of this to an end.

There was a good chance he was feeling something similar. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason Kim Hyun-Sung was heading toward First Life Ki-Young.

As for whether he was going to apologize or to confront his own sins, I had no way of knowing, but it looked like he understood that in this world with so little time left, the one thing he had to do was face to him.

It didn’t seem like he thought this was some kind of key to reaching the second life. It also didn't seem like he just wanted to wrap everything up. I had a rough sense of that, too, which was why I didn’t try to stop him.

‘Should I have stopped him?’

Regret crept into my mind. After all, my meeting First Life Kim Hyun-Sung and his meeting First Life Ki-Young were two entirely different matters.

I didn’t know what Hyun-Sung’s goal was, but there was no way Lee Ki-Young would be friendly toward him.

‘The wound we barely stitched up is about to split open again.’

He could lash out with harsh words. He could refuse to meet him altogether. He could even think that the conversation itself was meaningless. No matter how it would turn out, it wouldn’t do Hyun-Sung any good mentally.

Even so, the reason I didn’t stop him was that I wanted to show that I respected his choice. However, respecting him didn’t mean that I wasn’t anxious.

‘Should I just call him back right now?’

I shook my head. This was something Kim Hyun-Sung had to endure.

‘Don’t try to control him. At least not here. I have to show these bastards I’ve grown.’

I had to show that system bastard that simply supporting and cheering him on was enough. Now that I had proven myself to be worthy, I needed to face this calmly and demand that it send us to the second life. Of course...

‘Peeking a little doesn’t count, right? You can let that slide.’

I was given this right. Our souls were connected now, so it was only natural to take advantage of it. Well, honestly, it didn’t matter what the system thought.

‘It’s not like I’m watching Kim Hyun-Sung right now.’

My gaze wasn’t fixed on First Life Ki-Young. I wasn't curious about Kim Hyun-Sung. I was curious about how First Life Ki-Young would react, so I was only watching them to see his reaction.

It just so happened that he became busy enough to catch my eye.

‘He really is quick to notice.’

Anyone could tell he immediately realized that his time was running out. He didn’t look surprised at the sudden change in the sky, nor did he panic. Instead, he calmly turned his gaze toward Park Deok-Gu.

“What is it? Why are you suddenly looking at me like that, all cheesy and gentle like that?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“Just because, you pig. Why? Am I not allowed to look at you?” First Life Ki-Young questioned.

“It’s not that you can’t. It’s just awkward since you suddenly started staring like that. Do you have something to say?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“Say what? I had a lot at first, but now I’m sick of it, you pig. I nagged you every single day, so I have nothing left to say,” First Life Ki-Young answered.

“...”

“Yeah, I’ve said everything I wanted to. Deok-Gu, all you have to do now is remember it. Though I’m worried since your memory is about the level of a chimpanzee,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“Even so, why a chimpanzee? A chimpanzee. If I had to be a primate, I would pick a gorilla,” Park Deok-Gu complained.

“Pfft.”

‘That was funny? What part of that was supposed to be funny?’

“Anyway, take care of the house. I’ll be back later,” First Life Ki-Young instructed him.

“Where are you going? If you’re going to get ingredients, I can come along...” Park Deok-Gu offered.

I could see him lightly patting Park Deok-Gu on the back. It seemed he didn’t think that a farewell was necessary. After all, when it came to a farewell, they had already been saying it every single day for the past few years, and he didn’t seem like someone who enjoyed making embarrassing scenes like that.

He probably didn’t want to break down in tears, and it seemed he thought this was enough. There was no way he felt relieved, but it looked like he was trying to convince himself that he could finally end this exhausting and stressful life, that he was finally free from playing the role of a child’s mother, and that he felt refreshed.

Perhaps he was simply afraid of seeing Park Deok-Gu’s reaction if he said he was leaving, which was why he avoided saying goodbye.

Park Deok-Gu said he thought of First Life Ki-Young as his older brother, but from Lee Ki-Young’s perspective, it would be hard to tell whether those words were genuine or just something Park Deok-Gu had said to comfort him.

He probably didn’t want to see the pig’s face light up at the thought of finally returning to his real older brother. The opposite would be just as troublesome. If this pig started crying and shouting that he could never let his hyung-nim go, what could First Life Ki-Young even do to stop him?

I was already feeling a headache at the mere thought of seeing him collapse to the ground, protesting that he wouldn't leave unless Lee Ki-Young came with him. Lee Ki-Young wouldn’t have the confidence to stop him, and even less confidence to leave him behind here.

After all, no one knew better than him that this wasn’t where Park Deok-Gu belonged.

“No, I can go by myself, you pig. You just go clean the bathroom again,” First Life Ki-Young instructed.

“Don’t worry about that. Today, either the bathroom dies or I, Park Deok-Gu, will die,” Park Deok-Gu said, reassuring him.

“Yeah, see you in a bit,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“Don’t go too far,” Park Deok-Gu said. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

‘Looks like he really prepared for this for a long time.’

It seemed that Park Deok-Gu wasn’t particularly bothered by First Life Ki-Young going out alone and coming back. The pig simply assumed, as usual, that Lee Ki-Young would return soon enough, so he didn’t pay it much attention. He nodded and walked outside, carrying a small bag. For some reason, the bag looked familiar.

‘Isn’t that the bag Kim Hyun-Sung carried with him during the tutorial?’

If my memory was serving me correctly, it was definitely the same bag Kim Hyun-Sung had during the tutorial. There was no need to check what was inside.

A few beginner-level items and Ramus Tucker’s Introduction to Alchemy. It looked like he believed his role was to fill in the narrative so that I could establish myself like this in the second life.

‘Looks like I should be thankful.’

Just as he got ready to leave the house, he suddenly stopped. This time, he stopped in the kitchen. He lingered there for quite a while before eventually stuffing a few pieces of bread into his bag. I couldn’t be certain, but I figured that was probably a gift for Kim Hyun-Sung. I had no idea what he was thinking when he stuffed that bread into the bag.

I felt like his old memories suddenly resurfaced and made him feel emotional, or perhaps he just wanted to give some kind of closure to a relationship that had gone astray. With an unreadable expression, he stepped outside and headed toward Hyun-Sung’s shelter. I thought there was a chance he'd meet First Life Hyun-Sung himself, but it was my mistake. It looked like I would be the one delivering it.

‘It wouldn’t be so bad to meet him, though.’

If it were me, I'd think it wasn’t a bad idea to at least see each other once now that everything was over, but it seemed he didn’t feel the same way.

Naturally, for Kim Hyun-Sung, who had gone to find him, this wasn’t exactly welcome news. Not wanting to see First Life Hyun-Sung also meant he didn’t want to see Second Life Hyun-Sung, either.

“...”

‘Looks like he’ll be an unwelcome guest.’

Then I saw Kim Hyun-Sung quietly appear in front of First Life Ki-Young through the telescope.

“...”

“...”

‘Yeah, I wasn’t sure whether this was the right thing to do.’

Even though he clearly noticed Kim Hyun-Sung, seeing First Life Ki-Young simply walk past him made me let out a sigh without realizing it. Kim Hyun-Sung seemed to realize that Lee Ki-Young was trying to ignore him.

He cautiously said, “Um...”

“Don’t talk to me. Just get lost,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“...”

“I have nothing to say to you. Don’t bother with apologies, and don’t try to justify yourself either,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“...”

“Do not try to pity me,” First Life Ki-Young added.

“...”

“I don’t know what you came here to say, but I have no intention of clearing your guilt, no intention of apologizing for what I did to you, no intention of receiving an apology from you, and no intention of having a conversation with you,” First Life Ki-Young said.

“...”

“...”

‘That’s harsh.’

“So move. Don’t get in my way,” First Life Ki-Young said.

'Is he being serious about being only warm to that pig? Be a little nicer to Kim Hyun-Sung, too. Just be a little warmer to him.'

“...”

“...”

It wasn’t unreasonable to worry about Kim Hyun-Sung’s mental state. He had to have gathered his courage to come here, yet he couldn’t even properly begin to talk.

‘For someone who said he didn’t hate him, that’s way too hostile.’

The fact that he was radiating hostility was honestly a bit puzzling. Hadn't he said with his own mouth that he didn’t particularly hate First Life Hyun-Sung? Hadn't he said that his desire for revenge had long since disappeared?

He even said he could understand some of Kim Hyun-Sung’s actions. On top of that, I had seen him put bread into the bag, yet he was acting like that, so I couldn’t help but think there had to be some other goal behind it.

Perhaps, as he had said, he didn’t want to clear that emotional debt. I felt like he wanted Kim Hyun-Sung to carry all of this on his own shoulders. It was like he wanted to bind him with that sense of guilt, or perhaps he was simply tired of trying to untangle all of this through a conversation.

I couldn’t read him at all, but the important thing was that outwardly, he had taken a stance of completely cutting off all communications with Kim Hyun-Sung. He was also refusing to forgive him.

I felt a little sorry for Kim Hyun-Sung, but for me, this wasn’t a bad situation. The guilt and debt Kim Hyun-Sung carried toward First Life Ki-Young would naturally be passed on to me in the end. The problem was whether Kim Hyun-Sung would accept that as it was.

I was worried he'd struggle to apologize somehow by forcing a conversation. It wasn’t that I was worried about failing to inherit Lee Ki-Young’s legacy. I was just concerned that Kim Hyun-Sung could make another reckless move and complicate things even further.

He needed to acknowledge that his recklessness could become another form of violence.

The best option was to respect his wishes. There was no need to explain or apologize to someone who had already declared that he wouldn’t accept an apology. There was no need to speak to someone like that and no need to try to untangle anything.

‘Please just do nothing.’

Doing nothing was the right answer here.

“...”

“...”

It was hard to call it fortunate, but I saw Kim Hyun-Sung lower his head slightly before turning away. His final glance lingered on the bag First Life Ki-Young was holding.