The Covenant

Unfortunately, we failed to meet Rui, his whereabouts have vanished without a trace. The only thing that remained at the hiding place known to Jaehwan was a thick book, which was a printed version of the novel "Ways of Heroes," complete with some illustrations drawn personally by Rui. The mystery behind why they saved me was forced to be revealed by Jaehwan.

This was my response after finding out. "So, you are looking for someone whose soul is most similar to 'him'?" I asked to confirm my understanding of the story. My heart felt like a shattered glass. I didn't expect this to be real.

He are currently at Rui's hiding place, which is a luxurious villa on the outskirts of the city. Sitting across from me, Jaehwan confirmed my guess. "You're probably the most 'him.' " The expression of 'Hyung' I knew was gone and replaced by a coldness that was hard to accept.

All the sweet and warm treatments... were all beautiful lies. They wanted to make me a substitute for 'him,' someone they love, who has passed away and whose soul is broken.

"Yoo Han, you even have the same name as 'him.' You have a choice to become his replacement or help us find him," he warned while handing me two thick books containing all the information about 'him' and the novel "Ways of Heroes."

In the end, I was just a test subject wherever and people made me a monster to fulfill their desires. Thanks to my unyielding caution, I understood the terms of the agreement.

"You know that I will die in this world. As a replacement, I can reincarnate in another world if I choose the last option. But if it's the first option, you will turn me into a replacement doll. Hyung, you treated me kindly because I'm very similar to 'him,' right?" I asked as I took the book on the right side. Reaching the highest point of sadness, surprisingly, I was not as devastated as I thought.

Actually, I'm grateful for the good treatment even though it was only for a short while. It was a miracle, although it felt very painful, as if falling from the gracious love that brought happiness to the depths of sorrow.

"You made the last choice, Yoo Han," Jaehwan said after seeing me grab the book as the choice mentioned.

From the start, there was no freedom for me. Jaehwan did not give me a choice of freedom. This is not surprising. Everyone certainly has motives and desires. I have to pay for their kindness in taking care of me for three years and saving me from that research hell.

I opened the first page of the book in my hand. The title and introduction words from the author are written. [Ways of Heroes. Records from a forgotten world. Written by Quill of Ember]

I looked up. "It's not Rui who wrote it..."

Jaehwan smiled and responded, "Correct."

That means...

"Where's Rui?" I asked while hiding the anxiety deep within my heart.

Jaehwan's black pupils appeared darker and deeper, he still smiled with his strange gaze.

"He returned to his original world," Jaehwan pointed to the book I held.

Hah!

"You killed him," I accused, which was answered by a chuckle.

"I can't possibly kill him. You are the chess piece that is interesting. You know too many things without being told. Behave well and be quiet, then do your role perfectly, and I will set you free. You can live according to your desires in the world you want, Yoo Han," he tempted like a devil.

"Where's Rui?" I asked the same question again with a different meaning.

As expected, there was no answer I was looking for. Jaehwan didn't want to tell me anything about Rui's whereabouts.

Where was he before he disappeared?

Someone who saved me in the beginning was Rui. He also took care of me through Jaehwan and continued to keep track of my news through email. However, since the novel ended, his whereabouts disappeared, and Jaehwan revealed his disguise.

"What confuses me is not that Rui wrote the novel, then why is he constantly asking for my opinion on the story every time a new chapter is released?" My head started to hurt. Too much searching through memories and connecting facts had a big impact on my shortened life.

"I can't answer that. You have already agreed to the last agreement, so I will send you there now. Before that, there are limitations you will have to accept, you will not be able to tell anyone in that world about yourself in any way," Jaehwan gave the curse as he opened the remaining book on the table.

I looked at him after burying my emotions. From the pain of being a test subject, I have developed a special ability to eliminate emotions so that any kind of pain cannot affect my rational thoughts.

I wanted to ask one last thing before agreeing to go to that world.

"Hyung, do you hate me?" For a moment, Jaehwan's expression changed strangely as if he heard something absurd.

"I won't answer that now. Your time is up, let's meet again in the next world, Han-ah." He touched my head, and then everything around me spun and my consciousness seemed to be sucked into a black hole.

---

It felt as if my consciousness was being pulled away through another dimension, into another branch. At first glance, this journey gave me a sense of déjà vu, as if I had experienced it many times before.

When my soul arrived at a mysterious place filled with darkness, where there was a mysterious gate at the end. At that moment I saw a figure in a dark red robe standing guard near the gate.

The figure raised its head, but its face was covered in black mist. I only knew that the color of its eyes was red like blood.

I walked toward him, preparing to embark on another journey. However, the figure suddenly asked, "Are you sure of your decision?"

His voice, rough like rust, frightened me. Only then did I notice that his robes were stained with hidden blood.

"I have no choice," I replied confidently.

The figure was silent for a moment before asking again, "Death is much better for you, so are you really sure you want to choose curse over freedom?"

I didn't understand what her words meant, as they seemed to imply something more complicated. It made me feel an indescribable sadness, and I didn't know why.

"I... I want to live." That was the answer and the meaning of my existence so far.

The figure finally stopped blocking and stepped away from the gate. He whispered as I took my steps back to the gate, "Then, once again and for the last time, Yoo Han."

These words continued to ring out until I woke up in another world, a world I knew.

***