Kim moved forward…
Heading toward something he did not know.
In the middle of the city…
With humans all around him.
Their voices overlapped…
But inside him, the noise was even louder.
As he walked, he kept talking to his own mind:
"I don't care about them…"
"Who would be sad if I disappeared?"
"Amon?… Lloyd?… anyone?"
A faint, mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Everyone I met… hated me."
"Even though… I was kind."
"I only looked fierce… so I could stay alive."
"So I wouldn't die."
He sighed slowly.
"Maybe… Elena would be sad."
"But…"
"She didn't worry about me."
"She didn't search for me."
"So… it doesn't matter."
He lowered his head slightly.
"All I want…"
"…is for this life to end."
"For this story to end."
He paused.
Then raised his eyes to the sky.
"Enough…"
"I've had enough."
"Too much pain."
His voice became weaker…
And more honest.
"Whoever is writing my story…"
"Please… enough."
"I can't take it anymore."
"I'm going to go insane…"
"Please…"
"End this story."
"I'm in pain."
"Can't you feel the pain inside me?"
"Have mercy on me… just once."
"I… want the end."
"I don't care if it's good or bad…"
"Just… an ending."
He opened his eyes.
Returning to reality.
The sky was clear.
People around him…
Each living their lives.
A father with his children…
A wife with her husband…
A group of friends laughing.
Everyone…
Happy in their own way.
But…
The laughter…
And the smiling faces…
Did not comfort him.
Instead, they stirred something dark inside him.
Disgust.
"I used to be like them… once."
"But…"
"When you get used to loneliness…"
"It gets used to you."
"Loneliness… is a curse."
"And only those who have lost their minds…"
"…can endure it."
He began walking faster.
Then running.
Not caring where.
Not caring how far he had gone.
Just…
Running.
Alone.
Even though the world was full of people.
---
Three days passed.
Kim did not return home.
He was searching…
For something.
Or… someone.
Finally he stopped.
He looked at the sky.
It was cloudy.
"Looks like… you won't appear now."
"That's fine."
"I'll wait."
---
He returned home.
Slowly.
And when he approached…
He saw her.
Mary.
Standing near the garden.
He looked at her.
Then said loudly:
"Haven't you disappeared yet?"
She turned toward him.
Then ran to him.
"Where have you been?!"
"I was worried about you—"
He cut her off.
His voice cold.
Dry.
Empty of emotion.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
She froze.
Then he continued:
"Why didn't you leave?"
"Why are you still here?"
He was about to say something else—
But—
His mother rushed out of the house.
"Kim!"
"Where have you been all this time?!"
"Is something wrong?!"
"I can help you!"
"I feel like you've changed so much!"
He looked at her.
His eyes half-closed.
"You didn't leave either."
"I'm fine."
Then he said slowly:
"You want to say… that I've gone insane?"
"Because I told the truth?"
Suddenly—
She slapped him.
Hard.
"Yes!"
"You've gone crazy!"
"Mary is a demon?!"
"And I'm an angel?!"
"What kind of nonsense is that?!"
She grabbed him tightly.
"Come!"
"Let's go inside!"
"I'll examine you!"
"I can treat you—"
But—
He interrupted her.
His voice rising.
Loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
"Pain…"
"And sorrow…"
"You cannot cure them!"
She froze.
"And I don't want them cured."
He looked at her deeply.
"I… don't abandon those who stayed with me."
"You want to hide the pain?"
"I won't allow it."
He placed his hand on his chest.
"This…"
"…is the only thing that never left me."
"When everyone else did."
"And… I won't leave it."
He pulled his hand from hers.
Then said:
"I told my father everything."
"And I know his truth."
"And he didn't deny it."
"So…"
"I won't believe you."
Then he said in a deadly calm voice:
"I hate you… Mom."
Her eyes widened.
She fell to the ground.
Crying.
"Kim…"
Mary shouted:
"You—!"
But—
Chains appeared from nothing.
Wrapping around her.
"Be quiet."
Then he looked at his mother.
And said:
"I wished… I had never been born from you."
Then he left her there.
Her tears falling endlessly.
---
He walked up to his room.
Slowly.
Sat down.
Closed his eyes.
"Mom…"
"I'm not that idiot anymore…"
"…the one who believed you."
He sighed.
"It seems the system…"
"…wants me to be a king."
"That's why it gave me this skill."
"To build an army."
He looked at his hand.
"But… where is the crown?"
A mocking smile appeared.
"…Looks like I'll be a king…"
"…without a crown."
---
After he calmed down a little…
He opened his eyes.
"I should avoid using my power."
"The Time Guardians…"
"…might be here."
He stood slowly.
"But before that…"
His eyes narrowed.
"I want to know…"
"Who brought me back to life…"
"And who gave me this power from the beginning."