Book 21 Chapter 6

The Girl Met in Paradise

―The Viscous Fluid of Darkness

'Dirty… I hate it… I hate it. Don't come, don't come. I'm going to sink… sink like this.'

The throbbing darkness of her stomach. Yerim was vaguely surrendering her body to the viscous fluid of darkness, made by dissolving countless monstrous insects in filth. The venomous insects in that sticky fluid clung to Yerim's consciousness, gnawing away at the shell of her awareness with a crunching sound. The humid, poisonous liquid slowly seeped into her consciousness.

Each time the edge of her consciousness touched the poison, Yerim's mind spasmed and burned black. The dark crimson groan of her uncle, the blood-soaked screams, the throbbing tentacles of madness, tearing apart… Someday, Uncle… I definitely will…

'N-no! Stoooooop!'

Yerim's soul writhed and struggled violently. Fear, disgust, hatred, and a ferocious murderous intent, having nowhere to go, clawed, tore, and ripped her own soul apart. Torn to shreds, the soul, driven mad to the point of being unrecognizable, raged with madness.

And finally, once again, came the comforting despair, the intoxicating solace.

But this state of comfortable despair would surely not last long. If something were to resurface again, her consciousness would inevitably repeat the horrific self-harm.

In that formless, enclosed space, she had already repeated the cycle of seizures and despair hundreds, thousands of times. The ever-deepening, endless spiral of nightmares created an eternity of hell in every fleeting moment.

In that mire, she was converging into a single point.

'Yes, yes, that didn't happen. Nothing happened. I'm just… falling asleep. Yes, yes, yes, like that…'

Yerim bound something in her heart that was still quivering with dread, tightly with darkness and despair. She had no intention of ever releasing it. She would not hear anything anymore. She would not see anything anymore. Now, she would cast away anything that might make her remember, deep into the abyss.

* * *

Na Baegcheon had to seriously contemplate the situation after experiencing the terrible acts of Seocheon. Where should he protect his critically ill daughter? It would surely take more than ten days to handle pursuit, intelligence gathering, and other matters. It was unthinkable to send his wounded daughter back alone now, or to hastily move their lodging from the detached wing of Cheonhyangru.

The reason Cheonhyangru was chosen as their lodging in the first place was not only its reputation as the best in Sichuan but also its advantageous position for defense and information exchange. Although there was a Sichuan branch in a comparable location, it was unsuitable as lodging, and currently, with the murder of Namgung Hyeon, it was in utter chaos. Despite experiencing internal turmoil, with Seocheon now gone, this was the most advantageous base.

Especially the room where Na Yerim was staying was the most comfortable and safe place, located in a quiet detached wing, at a rare height of three stories at the time, with a view of a garden unfolding beyond the window. But even so, they couldn't leave her in the room where the tragedy had occurred. After much deliberation, he decided to move her to a supplementary room (Bu-bang).

A supplementary room (Bu-bang) placed on top of the third-floor room. A small attic that regulated the temperature of the third-floor room, preventing it from overheating in the sun or getting cold in winter, and also served as a storage space. It was small, and there was no hallway, so opening the door led directly to the stairs, but it was optimal for defense.

As Na Baegcheon made his decision, the supplementary room was transformed into a cozy guest room within an hour. Na Baegcheon, grinding his teeth, personally moved his daughter, who had become like a paper doll, and her little bird. Vowing that no one would ever be able to hurt his daughter again.

How much time had passed?

Yerim lay on the small bed as if dead.

A narrow but cozy room. Through the gaps in the brown curtains draped around the window, fresh sunlight peeked in here and there, but she showed no reaction. Her pale skin, slender arms, and wounded lips did not move.

Chirp, chirp.

From the birdcage on the table, a small bird began to chirp faintly, barely audible. Its fluffy feathers, unstable movements, it was the first cry it had uttered in days.

Tilting its head, it preened its body with its beak and pecked at the food in the feeder a couple of times. Was it regaining a little strength?

Chirp, chirp!

The chirping became more distinct. Yerim's fingertips seemed to twitch slightly, but her eyes remained closed. The bird, having fully recovered its energy, finally let out a clear chirp.

Chirp, chirp! Peeyong!

A clear and pure bird sound. Yerim's complexion grew paler and paler with the sound. The bird sang incessantly, as if desperately searching for someone.

Chirp, chirp, chirp! Peeyorong!

Chirp, chirp!

Yerim finally slowly opened her eyes, as if entranced. Her eyes were hazy and dull, as if stained with black ink. Her wavering gaze wandered through the air and then fixed on the table. For a moment, her slender body began to tremble like an aspen.

The little bird.

The little bird that was there that day.

The little bird that had been watching her there that day.

That day, her uncle… her…

Peeyong!

With hollow eyes, Yerim sat up, then stumbled and fell to the floor. After a momentary pause, she forced her weak legs to move and crawled towards the table.

Grasping the table, she stood up and, with trembling hands, opened the birdcage. The bird blinked its round eyes and sat still on its perch. Yerim held her breath, her face filled with fear, and reached out her hand.

Warm feathers. Holding her breath, she gripped the bird's neck with her thumb and forefinger.

Her trembling fingers slowly tightened. Small wings fluttered slightly in her small hand.

Just a little more, just a little more.

Feeling the movement intensify, Yerim began to apply more force with her fingers, her eyes blank.

Flap, flap, chirp, peck!

"…Ah!"

Startled when the bird pecked her hand with its beak, Yerim quickly pulled her hand back. A bit of flesh had been torn, and blood was flowing from her hand.

Did she regain some of her senses because of that? Yerim, startled, let out a ragged breath.

"Haa, haa…"

Yerim could not believe what she had done.

'Me…'

Drip, drip. Tears fell onto her hand, which she stared at blankly.

Unbearable self-loathing. She stood frozen for a long time before reaching for the birdcage again. She gently enclosed the bird in both hands. She could no longer leave the bird there.

Holding the bird, she staggered towards the window. The sunlight rippling beyond the curtains made her hesitate for a moment. The light that nurtured all things was, to her, merely a symbol of openness, an object of fear.

After a moment, Yerim gritted her teeth and grabbed the doorknob.

Screeeeech!

She closed her eyes tightly against the pouring sunlight. Intense sunlight, seen for the first time in a long time. A searing pain overwhelmed her. The bird also tightened its grip with its claws, circling Yerim's fingers.

Was it not intending to fly away? When she could open her eyes a little, Yerim gently shook her fingers. However, fearing it might fall, the bird fluttered and clung to her fingers.

"…Go."

Though the words, spoken with difficulty through her cracked lips, were weak, the bird merely flapped its wings.

"Go! Hurry!"

Yerim shouted, squeezing out her last bit of strength, and swung her hand forcefully. The bird flapped its wings precariously as if about to fall from the windowsill, barely regaining its balance. The bird began to fly away from the window. Yerim unconsciously looked up at the sky.

A sky without a single cloud. It was miserably and transiently blue.

Chirrang.

Was the sky laughing? It was a transparent sound that pierced the heart, the sound of a spring of purity overflowing. Yerim's soul, melting into the abyss, trembled with aching pain.

Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling!

The clear, bell-like sound of a stream gently reached out. With tear-filled eyes, she looked towards the source of the sound. There, dark as night, yet lustrous and beautiful robes swayed like a dream.

Chara-ra-rang!

The shattering light, the dazzling light that burst forth. A silver wave beckoned to her.

Like the wind, like a bird.

Drawn by the light, Yerim swayed and, before she knew it, climbed onto the window. The bell sounds echoed in rhythm. Her mind grew increasingly hazy.

Sky, wind, sunlight, bird, bell sounds…

A smile formed on her lips like a spasm.

Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling! Chara-ra-rang!

Her last step, extended as if staggering.

The moment her slender body floated in the air like a feather, the chains of the earth pulled her small body with savage force.

Yerim began to fall rapidly.

Yeonbi discovered the girl standing precariously on the windowsill while she was catching her breath after finishing her dance. She had ignored the warning not to go into the garden and had been practicing as usual.

She had encountered the dignified elder and warriors on the path behind the detached wing, but when they asked her to dance in the garden, he seemed to think for a moment, then sighed and disappeared, saying, "Please take good care of her."

At first, guards watched from beyond the bushes, but they soon withdrew when she began her dance practice. Judging by their forms, it seemed likely that the 'VIP' was on the third floor or above. The building was originally built for VIPs, so even the third floor was quite high. The supplementary room was even more so.

In that case, it would be more reasonable for the dignified person to monitor the passage into the garden than to be wary of an eleven-year-old dancer who had nodded in agreement. At least, the guards seemed to have judged so.

Thanks to that, Yeonbi was able to fully dedicate herself to her dance in the secluded and cozy garden. She felt a desire to go up and see what was so commotion-causing above, but first, she had to finish today's practice.

As she was intensely practicing, she caught a glimpse of a bird flying from the direction of the supplementary room, and soon someone began to look down at her from the window.

And a moment later.

"Danger!"

Yeonbi cursed inwardly as she threw herself forward to catch the girl, who was leaping onto the stage with an almost excessive passion.

If she hadn't just jumped down, she would have remained a decent audience member.

A searing stimulus, as if burned.

Her scattered consciousness began to gather around the stimulus. As a little bit of sense returned, the girl had a question.

'…Is this, paradise?'

It felt like hell, considering how much her whole body ached.

"Are you conscious?"

A soft voice was heard. A warm hand touched her forehead.

She opened her eyes. Transparent, deep chestnut eyes looked into hers. It was an elegant girl in black robes, smiling brightly.

"…H-here is…"

"You seem to have regained some sense. Well, as you probably guessed, this is paradise."

"……!"

Her words, spoken with a rather serious tone, made her eyes widen.

"Pfft! Just kidding, just kidding. Here, it'll hurt everywhere, but you should drink this."

Yeonbi, the subject of the joke, held a small gourd to the girl's lips and poured in some water. It was a water bottle borrowed from a guard who had rushed over when the incident occurred.

The guard who had rushed over was astonished to see Yeonbi throw herself forward to catch the girl, then carry her to the shade and set her dislocated left leg.

Even if the guard himself had caught the falling girl, at that height, both would have likely sustained some injuries. Especially the person catching from below would have to prepare for severe fatal injuries. However, apart from her slightly misaligned left ankle, the young dancer was unharmed.

What's more, she carried a girl of similar age in her arms without even faltering and quickly took her to the shade for treatment. With her leg set in the blink of an eye, the dancer said to him in a crisp voice,

"Sir, you're going to call someone from here, right? When you come back, could you come quietly when I call you? It's not good to suddenly startle someone right after setting their bone. Oh, and give me some water."

The guard was speechless at Yeonbi's words. He was quite uneasy about whether he could entrust the protected person to such an unusual girl, but in this situation, she was truly the most reliable benefactor. If she had intended harm, she would have already done so. Moreover, it was the most reasonable course of action to do as she said, no matter how he looked at it.

Fortunately, the guard was not a hopeless fool, and eventually, after silently handing over the gourd, he quietly left.

A moment later, Yeonbi, after making a joke to the awakened girl and letting her quench her thirst, abruptly said,

"Yeonbi."

"……?"

"Yeonbi, that's my name. And you, miss?"

"……."

The girl could not readily answer.

"Hmm. Perhaps you are in a situation where you cannot reveal your name?"

Yeonbi asked sincerely. It was understandable, as the girl exuded stories from every corner. She looked like a precious jewel from the VIP room, but her appearance was too worn for that.

Her emaciated body, her corpse-like complexion, her chapped lips, and her hollow eyes were undeniably those of a malnourished girl with a sad story. However, with her pale, high-quality attire, her subtle grace, and the guard's demeanor, it wasn't quite that simple. Then why did she suddenly jump from such a place?

At this point, it wouldn't be strange even if there were circumstances preventing her from revealing her name. But the girl gently shook her head. Was it simply that the words wouldn't come out easily? Her lips hesitated and quivered.

"…Li,…n."

The girl uttered that one word with difficulty and her complexion turned pale. It was as if she had been suffering from sleep paralysis and could only move her fingertips.

Yeonbi did not know that this was the first time in a year that the girl had spoken her name to another person.

"Nice to meet you, Rin!"

Yeonbi tilted her head slightly to the side and greeted her. A cool breeze blew, and the leaves rustled against each other.

"Well, shall we listen to the reason why Rin suddenly jumped down, with the feeling of being a grim reaper?"