(Truth pt.6)

Only then did Raseti raise their body to meet In-woo’s gaze. The eyes that met his showed no particular emotion. It was an expression that didn’t suit the usually vivacious Raseti. Of course, they couldn’t be normal since Radel had been stabbed… But it didn’t feel like the reaction of someone shocked by a close one’s injury. Their strangely lifeless face resembled an emotionless android, or the man when he first deceived Kim In-woo after entering the cage.

“I have no excuses. After all, I also agreed to deceive you.”

“I’m asking if that’s really all.”

“I’m truly sorry. I don’t know how I should apologize but…”

“No, not that.”

In-woo bit his lip. He couldn’t understand their composed attitude despite their supposedly close relationship.

“I stabbed him.”

“I know. Radel-nim wouldn’t get stabbed by anyone but you.”

“I stabbed him to kill him. Aren’t you angry?”

“We’ve always said he’d get stabbed if found out. It can’t be helped.”

“So easily…”

“The treatment was successful. Our medical technology is more advanced than Earth’s. There won’t be any aftereffects.”

In-woo, who was about to snap back fiercely, stopped breathing for a moment. He didn’t know whether the overwhelming emotion that swept over him at hearing the man wouldn’t die immediately was relief or disappointment. In-woo examined the still-peaceful face of the man.

Those passionate eyes that had stared only at In-woo even while being stabbed were now hidden beneath his eyelids. But that image lingered in In-woo’s vision like an afterimage. In-woo squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again.

“…He wasn’t breathing.”

“That level won’t kill him. Though it was dangerously close.”

“…”

“However, there’s a chance he won’t wake up.”

“Why…”

In-woo was about to ask why he wouldn’t wake up if they’d saved him, but swallowed the question. He deliberately turned his head away.

“No, it’s none of my business.”

“You came aboard with us, didn’t you?”

In-woo didn’t answer anymore. He turned his head away, blatantly showing his unwillingness to talk. After observing his uncooperative attitude, Raseti straightened up.

“Alright. Let’s talk later when you’ve calmed down. I need to go for now.”

“Let me off here.”

“That’s difficult right now once you’ve boarded. We need to take care of your house too, please wait a moment.”

After saying that, Raseti immediately left the room. In-woo glared at the empty space where Raseti had so casually disappeared.

He wished Raseti had gotten angry at him for stabbing the man. Because Raseti was strong. Because they were an overwhelming existence incomparable to In-woo. They could have passed some kind of judgment on In-woo…

“…”

But Raseti hadn’t gotten angry, and Kim In-woo survived again. Despite always falling down, never completely collapsing – what filthy luck.

After standing in place for a while, In-woo approached the man. The androids that had been busy moving around had finished their work and left, leaving only one behind. The android was diligently cleaning up the surroundings without paying much attention to In-woo.

Without any interference, In-woo looked down at the man submerged in the transparent liquid. Facing this completely unfamiliar face, his anger and hatred seemed to dissolve.

A stranger.

Yes, this was just an unknown man.

The being who had watched him from beyond the cage. Someone who could never be close no matter how physically near they were.

In-woo nudged the android.

“Where do you throw away trash here?”

“You can dispose of it here.”

The android pointed to a small metal container. It was quite large for a trash can.

In-woo took off the necklace with the ring. The ring he’d received during the proposal had been In-woo’s most precious treasure until just a few hours ago, but not anymore.

He threw the removed ring into the trash can without hesitation. The trash can that swallowed the ring and necklace made quite a loud whirring sound. In-woo was startled by this dramatic reaction so different from the trash cans he knew.

“…What’s this?”

“Waste is immediately decomposed.”

“…”

Waste. Decomposed.

In-woo peered inside the trash can’s opening. The remnants that had been instantly decomposed were visible as fine powder. Though he’d thrown it away without regret, still… he’d been completely deprived of even the chance to take it back.

After glaring at the trash can with confused eyes for a moment, In-woo soon turned away.

It didn’t matter anyway.

Because Lee Sun-ho was dead. No, because he never existed in the first place. Because he didn’t know this kind of man. The ring too was ultimately just a meaningless object.

Just like the past 5 years.

As he glared at the trash can, suddenly dizziness swept over him. It was the moment he belatedly experienced what Raseti had meant by “having toxins.” In-woo kept glaring at the trash can until the end, before passing out, unable to endure any longer.