ESMLT 69🔐

Chapter 69

“First, we need to inform Yand about this.”

At his words, none of us could respond, and silence hung heavy in the air.

We knew it was the right decision, yet agreeing to it was difficult.

His somber voice continued.

“…It may sound cold, but Yand needs to know the reality as well. Whether he can handle it or not is up to him. Isn’t he part of Zenta’s family? He has the right—more than anyone—to decide Zenta’s fate.”

“It will be a cruel reality for him.”

“I will tell him myself.”

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, Danha stepped forward without hesitation.

Truthfully, none of us, except Danha, were adept at dealing with the child.

Danha was the only one capable of explaining things to Yand in a way that minimized the shock.

Just as everyone seemed to agree with Jaeger’s judgment, a voice came from outside the warehouse.

“What are you all doing here?”

It was Yand. A moment of sharp panic swept over us.

Step by step, the sound of feet pressing on the sand-covered ground drew closer.

“Si-en is here too. Does that mean you’re here, too, sister?”

With each step Yand took, I felt a despair that seemed to trample my heart.

At that moment, Jaeger signaled to Danha and stepped out of the warehouse.

He probably intended to calmly explain everything alongside Danha, so as not to startle the child.

But no matter how much explanation was given, Yand wouldn’t easily believe it; he would have to witness this tragic scene himself.

I knew it in my mind.

Jaeger’s actions were correct.

Even if Yand was young, he had the right to know and to make decisions.

‘…I just hope Yand doesn’t see me after I’ve become a monster. I don’t want to be a disgraceful older brother.’

But thinking of Zenta, who had tied his own wrists and bitten the gag, I couldn’t turn away.

I clenched my fists and closed my eyes tightly.

‘Of course, Yand must know Zenta’s situation.’

Yet I judged it was not the right moment to show Zenta.

“Sis?”

I quickly left the warehouse, overtook Danha and Jaeger, and scooped Yand into my arms.

Though only eight, the frail child was light enough for me, a girl, to carry on my shoulders.

“What are you doing right now?”

As expected, Jaeger’s sharp voice called out behind me in response to my rash actions.

I deliberately ignored it and headed for the back door of the cabin.

“…”

Yand hung limp over my shoulder like a broken wooden doll, finally managing to squeeze out a voice.

“…Sis, is something wrong with hyung?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong.”

“Liar… something is happening, isn’t it?”

Yand’s voice trembled thinly.

I bit my lip to stop a groan from escaping and forced out a reply.

“…Really, nothing. Zenta said he was bored, so we all came to chat.”

“Liar… I hear weird noises inside.”

Why couldn’t I lie more calmly?

‘Damn.’

I closed my eyes tightly, then reopened them. As I briefly set Yand down to open the back door, he seized the moment and shoved me away.

“No, Yand!”

I grabbed him from behind as he tried to turn and run.

“Let go! Let go!”

Yand struck my shoulders and face mercilessly, his long hair tangling and flying everywhere.

“Let go! I want to see hyung! I’m going to see hyung!”

I held him tightly, burying my face in his neck, enduring his struggling while swallowing a groan.

“I’m sorry, Yand.”

I whispered to him.

I was sorry.

I couldn’t ignore Zenta’s request.

“How’s Yand?”

“He couldn’t accept the fact that his brother had become a zombie, cried himself exhausted, and fell asleep.”

“Is that so…?”

“Still, at the end, he smiled and talked a little, and he drank plenty of water, so he shouldn’t collapse from exhaustion. Though the door was locked…”

“He probably just needs time alone. Zenta said he’s a mature child who can accept reality, so we’ll wait. But for today, it might be best to keep watch outside Yand’s room. You never know what the child might do in anger.”

“Yes, that seems wise. But…”

The emerald eyes looking at me wavered slightly.

“Miss, what exactly are you doing right now?”

Doing? Well…

“Preparing a meal.”

Danha seemed flustered and parted her lips before closing them again.

Jaeger, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, stared daggers at me. His expression said he couldn’t believe I was preparing food at a time like this. He had many words about my previous rash actions.

“I know, we have a lot to discuss. But everyone’s hungry, so let’s eat first, then hold the meeting.”

Ignoring him, I placed sliced ham on the grain bread.

‘Rushing won’t solve anything.’

Having been shaken by Zenta’s zombification, I was now calm.

I recalled the time when I had told despairing Zenta that he could survive.

Back when I thought that even if he turned into a zombie, he could live.

I had momentarily forgotten the shocking sight of Zenta’s zombie form.

‘Right, Zenta can survive.’

In a few days, according to the original story, the saint would descend.

Even if the corruption progressed somewhat, if it’s her… if it’s the saint, perhaps purification and even treatment might be possible.

‘And now I have holy power too.’

Even though I was a fake saint and my power seemed irregular and erratic.

Having returned, I could perhaps—if not purify—at least delay the corruption.

Reassuring myself like this, I ignored Jaeger’s stare and made sandwiches for everyone. Cooking also calmed my anxiety.

Then, I grabbed a plate alongside Si-en and headed to the table. (The broken table had been roughly repaired by Danha.)

I handed a plate with sandwiches to each person and sat down.

“Thank you for the meal, Ria.”

Si-en sat beside me and began eating.

“Thank you, young lady.”

“Thank you.”

The Crown Prince and Danha began eating their sandwiches, but Jaeger glared at me with his usual piercing look.

After everyone finished eating, they waited for me.

I drank the last of the milk as everyone else finished.

Brushing crumbs off my hands, I began awkwardly.

“Now that we’ve eaten, let’s start the strategy meeting.”

“Why did you do that earlier?”

As soon as he spoke, Jaeger lunged at me as if ready to devour me.

Having reached the limit of his patience, he leaned on the table with both hands, glaring down at me.

“Answer me. Why exactly did you do that?”

I wiped the milk from my mouth with the back of my hand and replied,

“It was Zenta’s request.”

“Zenta?”

The Crown Prince frowned slightly.

“He said he didn’t want Yand to see him as a zombie. It was like a final wish. I couldn’t ignore it.”

Silence fell over everyone.

They remembered Zenta, who had bound himself.

While Danha comforted Yand, we bound Zenta and closed the warehouse door.

Yet no matter how much I tried to erase it from my mind, I couldn’t forget the sight of Zenta tying his own hands and biting the gag.

How miserable and sorrowful he must have felt. How desperately he didn’t want his little brother to see him.

A boy of only fifteen.

My chest ached, and I bit my lip.

“Haah.”

At that moment, Jaeger let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face, as if brushing away fatigue. He glanced at me with tired eyes, then pulled a chair and sat at the table.

Now, all five of us sat at the roughly nailed-together table.

Jaeger sighed deeply and looked at me.

“Is there a way to turn Zenta back into a human?”

“I’m not sure. The information I have about this situation is the same as yours… we’ll need to put our heads together and figure it out.”

I couldn’t lie and say the saint would arrive soon, and Jaeger’s gaze sharpened instantly.

“You’ve known everything about this situation up until now.”

My eyes flinched briefly. Deep down, I felt suspicious of his words.