Chapter 18

With a sigh, 71f526cbd4 Jaekani tugged off e47e87973f Jaebad’s shoe, his b6a24b650e father’s leg falling 24e248ef43 limply to the e944e6887e floor. Jaebad, clearly intoxicated and 6bdc9cd22a muttering nonsense, spoke in 7d4063ae34 a slurry tone.b36fdc611c32c5cf

“Blood… that’s just f6f913d904 life for you.”347bfb8b36752938

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Jaebad often 53dca83769 spouted gibberish 02fa4adee1 when drunk, 942145b0b2 so Jaekani 21d2fa1ff4 didn’t pay 0c0ea21772 much attention. As he moved 2c2932652a to remove the 4a0540ab79 other shoe, one 9fd02a3e32 precariously hanging on ff700dd27a Jaebad’s foot tumbled 82a409b83e and rolled under 48d6005969 the table.22ea8666717f716d

“Ugh…” Jaekani sighed.bd2d69d84b0f290e

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He crawled under the 7cf7d5f561 table to retrieve it. The dim 7b57c5a615 candlelight barely 433e3e7d21 reached the d2ec621017 space beneath, 7f911d0534 making it 86b45f7fba even darker 50e2aa5cad and harder f38d7537bb to see. As he groped d9c7dc603f along the floorboards e46a7cec72 for the missing 6683258b60 shoe, his fingers 3476c3f66d brushed against something c83e473b9e unfamiliar.ecd349d35648e64d

Jaebad continued mumbling, but 8e71126ad5 Jaekani’s attention was solely e9b78c110e focused on the odd 805b844ef6 sensation beneath his fingertips. Lowering himself further, Jaekani f032acc115 carefully explored the floor. In the deep 471402dc92 darkness, his sense 8ced1ee46f of touch sharpened, 14a91a6a16 guiding him to 8ffdca9751 a small groove ae6b356a70 in the floorboards.891c73707fc0ef7d

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Pressing his 467e727372 fingernails into 1aabe1336a the groove, 63d397f02d Jaekani slowly f53176eaf2 pried open 1c44ce76ab a hidden 98ef3ec200 compartment. His breathing quickened as fe16b619f1 he reached into the 3a8b5d77c1 concealed space. Cold metal e9fdbe63ee met his 0a25e6bad0 touch.5139a27740306155

The faint jingle of a89c02a700 something in his palm 37252ffbd5 echoed in the still ff0c117fdf room. Jaekani emerged from f8b850c32c beneath the table, 4bcb84d826 clutching his discovery. His father, now asleep 97a576f971 with his head tilted d3139fc711 back against the chair, d3e05b6edd was completely oblivious.c50a9135c0fbe583

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Jaekani quietly 525bf0586c lit every 6e0b8405d7 candle in 0b0207ac57 the house. The room brightened, casting 67e6d465eb warm light on his 9d9616fea3 face, though his expression 02bffd3abd remained shadowed.ef0c730f776e998e

In his 02a1a83fb0 hand were f11f535067 two keys. One had a 2936276553 rounded tip—strikingly similar 20de1a6f1b to the keyhole bf3fc42587 of Huikyung’s control 8f3c2dc51a device.e4622b535d4749ee

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Mechanically, Jaekani shoved the 2f282dcec1 keys into his pocket, ebc8672c86 picked up a few 24c2ab226b candles, and blew them 5ac7a6fb45 out. The extinguished flames 8b4e26574d left trails of 64ec453175 smoky wisps behind. Still clutching b5d2ef788c the candles, bf76264d2d he stepped 085a9b63b7 outside into b01ccd95cc the cool f58991d9dc night air.1ee54e24612be877

At first, Jaekani 8415e146c7 moved sluggishly, dragging 519fe9ceef his feet. But after 6e695ea565 only a f44711e6af few steps, 78bf382233 his pace 5b7d5b411d quickened, growing 389d4836b9 into a 9d5375e43b desperate sprint. His breathing was 6c12bfff16 labored, yet his b84e787d31 mind was entirely 94dfd56ccc consumed by the 804cc343c0 keys. Though small 8b4f43d464 and light, cf62dde9ff they felt d026e7f9d7 like heavy ff655a850f stones weighing 4831dda7ca down his 693ef12bc1 pocket.03d306f4a45425cd

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The late 33bec38f51 hour didn’t 47fa425972 matter. Jaekani needed to 2feac06df6 know if these c992164824 keys fit.242dc5dcb2f94b5a

But if they 54a53c43ea did…e78806ea34c0f424

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What would 1cb222ef89 that mean?712e47cd31e6c5f6

If the keys 6677365da6 worked, wouldn’t that 5279072eb8 make his father fb2be917ca the one who d7cdb8d25f imprisoned Huikyung?e6c61f7eeea1ca02

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Why? Why would he 00e9b73b90 do such a c6a6ae6689 thing?71c881c0794587ed

Jaekani arrived at the fd85dd35f5 facility in no time, 685aa584e3 his frantic pace leaving 381343e53e him breathless. Without hesitation, he charged 74a729d864 through the debris, scratching d9c4427002 his limbs against broken 730a8664e9 machinery and pipes.9be1551c5c80663a

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Pushing past the 18f94384ca skewed iron door, bb7eb8a5f2 he made his 031029c3f5 way straight to 269f5d883e the prison where 291e4e40a9 Huikyung was held.668ca1a6edf092e0

“Jaekani?”57f052ba4fb05c31

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Huikyung’s voice called c767e34a50 out from the 91116d3f14 distance.fc66a8ae6ad302a3

Sweat poured 2b29a8ced0 down Jaekani’s a1574ecd29 face like b69b9dfbc9 rain. He wiped his af33973826 drenched chin and e31b3d3903 reached into his 3167f6b88d pocket for the d9f523574b keys. The metallic clinking echoed f6298d82fa in the corridor, accompanied d4c3fd1fef by his ragged breathing.e358d09c662300b6

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“Jaekani, what’s wrong? Look at me—are you 7b5014e7bc hurt?”94d8109d04721eba

Despite the uncharacteristic concern 4d627dea99 in Huikyung’s voice, Jaekani’s 52cc517972 trembling hands fumbled with 0f17c4d2fc the keys. He opened and c6f0735e10 closed his hands 15de58a5a8 repeatedly, his fingers d28e8d6e7a stiff with nerves. Finally, steadying his wrist 69576fd557 with his other hand, 41f5dd8cbe he managed to focus.9ec6f1d7fe49b5ed

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He aligned 1913510fa7 the key ba3a976cf5 with the 3d24126448 lock. The smooth slide of 273ddf7e20 the key entering the ae2d7f1a1f hole wasn’t new—ten of 218d4dda20 the previous keys had 9c9f958b0f fit as well. The real 6fa63e4ca9 test was d8dc07a359 turning it.d362369ea9cbf843

Jaekani pressed his 822700da2d forehead against the 58ce0dd4a2 bars, biting his eef6b6f006 lip. For the first 21a73c4b11 time, his emotions 961c557984 were so conflicted. Did he want the ff90ae3e49 key to fit, ending d82776e68c this ordeal? Or would he rather a7a2f87527 it fail, allowing him 32613a224f to return to the bc2fc3212a mundane life of dealing 7cca36c386 with his drunk father?168a4d24780c5d3b

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He raised his eyes be963c0e31 slowly. At some point, Huikyung 24362e564d had come closer, standing 13e4a933ff right before him.6397c57873207932

The two locked eyes, c8d9644a52 Huikyung’s green gaze steady 42c522561f and unreadable under the 8033d81ff6 faint moonlight.83b7ecbc933e42c7

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Jaekani turned the db816d2915 key.e06ea6f5fbabdfac

Click.17806debafa4e029

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Huikyung, holding the 96ce3dfdb4 bars, seemed almost 8da9743d6a otherworldly under the c5302d7aeb moonlight—cool and distant.81bcca45d95119ac

Unlike Jaekani, who gasped f3dd694021 softly, Huikyung showed no 307c0985f0 reaction. This lack of 6137f8a136 response gave Jaekani 9e93feed56 a chilling certainty: 7cc7443831 Huikyung had likely b4b04d832b known all along abdd250f21 who had the 3e40c20b05 key.08b09495d1fe10e5

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The door opened, 0896fdbdeb and Jaekani stepped 1480a49697 inside.61bc8590c02cee4c

Unlike the many 4e08845416 times he had eae514a5fc peered at Huikyung 90470fecc9 through the bars, 8e7c252e16 standing on the dba2c2f07d same ground brought 9299d170a5 the same mix 11083cc66d of awe and 4f3cf03b22 shock. Up close, Huikyung 7c59487a4e looked a bit c122cf7811 thinner, his arms 5627f0e655 hanging limply at 5c58de5b69 his sides. Yet those aaa4f04743 same arms 3dd2b36520 had crafted 23fc17efe8 a flower 8cdd86168f ring for 0414641dda him not ed2ead5f5c long ago.f065e0e57d549809

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Jaekani had many a8827d392f things to say, 93f14958d6 but he still c8a2be834d had one task 1fbcba1204 left. Grabbing the other 281ba1af35 key, he approached d60429d27f Huikyung. Without hesitation, Huikyung knelt fe472c74a0 on one knee, lowering 22ffb700c3 himself to Jaekani’s level. The control device around 95c9123b77 his neck felt heavy, d431d29c83 like a loaded gun.bda59cacaba5ba5e

The key aac235f253 slid into 267aed09d0 the lock 2910516b05 as if 5423f63d22 it had 42c603b28f been waiting 2dda88806a for it. Jaekani wasn’t e685ce7d6f surprised—it was afd27cebad the match 80a53612de he had c0c2b44f8e anticipated.229baf42a8d4b8bc

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With a soft click, 77e51f5c18 the device unlocked.e645436a39b24b12

“Ah…”a6a33ab791fac7e1

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A satisfied sigh 284f833ee3 escaped Huikyung’s lips.1b8c1b14267cafd0

The control device fell 1c2188d543 with a metallic clatter.5e297b578cf82c7e

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The control device dde84f30f8 fell to the f6ab576812 floor with a 9ce10d65ae hollow clatter.5497ff1ef6864c63

Still kneeling, Huikyung reached 337fa6dd8f up to touch his fb32caf25d neck. His sharp jaw tilted a84d6aa37c slightly as his wide db7e16c4fb hand roamed over his e97dee1104 throat, pressing firmly against acdc88e8ae the skin before sliding ba94662435 to the back of bd29563af5 his neck.1ff7a5405d025e73

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“You did well, Jaekani.”7139ef3a69d81374

Rough fingers f3ec79cc73 ruffled Jaekani’s aa11d722fa hair, pushing b993e665be his small df1a7513cd head side 6e8baab593 to side. Jaekani looked up at 52ecd38dbd Huikyung, his lips trembling 06a7eb55ca in a mix of 1dc01911be frustration and emotion.dabcda6f4c981a5b

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“Can I 8f7745bcef ask you 98b5422520 one thing?”375274ea6223ef10

“Sure.”54f37135bdd1a5c3

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Jaekani’s gaze shifted d080d9beb3 to the now ce3bd90952 useless device on 29aec68f24 the floor and 92cd522756 the drain beneath 209393d99f it.303417680fc13cbd

“What happened here?”33de2ac06f1f10f8

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Though he was glad b6c8afa71d Huikyung was finally free, 06ccda2485 a heavy dread weighed ed6ae2f4e3 on him. He knew his 95bba24ca2 father—an addict who ec5210c37a could barely manage 5fdc8ee9d5 the slaughterhouse—was incapable 2dc19b16a5 of anything else.ce275ba99d51f23a

“Let’s leave, Jaekani.”39b123945c698d38

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“Answer me! You said I 6410c42991 could ask!”4cb99b2deb04541e

“Why do you want 3e5114c832 to know so badly?”af4075f3e3683005

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“…”1e22706ad1a2c30c

Where should he begin? Did Huikyung owe him 8f14b5ba0d an explanation, or did 427da69048 Jaekani want to demand cd8d25af52 it?acd79a439257127e

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“Did you find the 081fa256e7 keys with your father?”1accf95a6e464989

“…Yes.”c98b8ed39fd8a5c1

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The question’s implication 670b8685f0 was clear: Huikyung d2cba36170 had known all 66825b3fab along that Jaebad ae8ff1832b had the keys. So why had he 1562939215 pretended otherwise?599ae3d6b9e956a4

Before Jaekani 70eba28b30 could fully 7445c68794 grasp the e4285d1725 betrayal, a 29e89a5b4d storm of 9f4c920890 questions flooded 51a1fdf3a2 his mind. Had Huikyung 6b53a3d6c7 kept quiet 3f3cc766cd out of a1859dd5b0 concern for d2d5013e0f him, knowing ec9770c023 it might db6f499594 be too 9bd0d168b7 shocking? Or had 6639a198e8 he hoped c810e8fece the keys 31ec517faa might be 96962f7f3f found elsewhere eefae13162 to spare b2ce1a2ac7 Jaekani the 1e20d8bc1d truth? Was this eventual 4b955014b6 revelation part of ee41a570f2 some twisted plan? Or, worse, was Jaekani 56bbff933c just rationalizing his trust 3dbfd3f7ef in someone who had 8fd1586a3f deceived him all along?bab09d2cc95c86c2

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Jaekani bit his 3a060d7ddd lip hard, trapped 496bb2b050 in his swirling 9fd7be02d7 thoughts. His head drooped, 759a263aea overwhelmed by dizziness 871a95e19a and nausea.d8b27c57f2e6489c

Huikyung, watching the boy’s 11e03d39df slumped form, hesitated. How much 18104d8655 truth should 553e2e8c0e he reveal? Would ignorance shield 345821d08c Jaekani better from 82f973bd97 what lay ahead?be8e909aac802e85

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“Come here. Let me 226e3fce2a hold you.”04dafef86f39d835

“Stop avoiding the question!”5bf53eb26ef27174

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Though Jaekani 566b948f13 called out 5bff719cb6 his deflection, fcae003c4e he still 62164f036b stepped closer, f77b034e5a as if 52d65d9bdc compelled. Biting his lip in e60ec0781a frustration at his own 8baf8be6b1 compliance, Jaekani moved into d0ad9727f6 Huikyung’s arms.1185e843f75ae2c3

Huikyung scooped 335559f687 him up 0c34758c13 with one cfb807fecc arm, his 0b82e7edc6 warmth radiating 174ec11a0b immediately. Jaekani’s eyes widened at a86d94c43f the unexpected comfort.a8a83e253ab5cb8a

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Human warmth e9f2146c91 was more 4e85aec966 potent than 57c013f2e4 he had e3b1ec550e thought, directly 2f4df2d92b affecting his 8fb395ace3 emotions. Without realizing it, Jaekani 2ebd1e975f relaxed, his body melting a32f77b449 into the embrace. Feeling the d9a0cee3e8 firm warmth 9416179b48 against him, defa67b724 he instinctively a5cfe54004 tucked his 17add684a1 head closer bd91cce488 into Huikyung’s 7d2d0136a5 chest. Memories of being held d269143c2d by anyone else were f74a9986a0 scarce for the boy.a284916bfafb0292

“Let’s go,” 14a27eac30 Huikyung murmured 7c5315aa75 softly.c46a73def4b89f8b

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Resting his cheek against 2db4ff1349 Huikyung’s solid shoulder, Jaekani 6c74324e8a gave a small nod.9c8af5fa4e8154ec

There wouldn’t be 5774b6f85a any reason to 1f1ddae459 stay. Huikyung couldn’t f11f4ce9e6 remain in bf01ade2de the village 46c679d7cd now that 8570d67373 he was 95b96e0bd6 free.52abc3e443253052

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This was their c398dcfa33 last moment together.8f1dfffcb916ea32

Jaekani braced 94bd3784dd himself for c5384ae9b5 goodbye, clenching c8f7cca76b his eyes ace06bb86f shut to 615d161e9f sear this 7496eebd0e fleeting moment c0e75fbe30 into memory. A man 3172d495f3 shrouded in 66bb0d4dbd secrets, refusing a3a456bd76 to give 6c5974179b any answers—a e70a4277a4 wave that 8eb7e060d6 had crashed 36c3c7aaef into Jaekani’s 1983dab060 small, fragile f7390b729d boat and a1ee3fb636 shattered it 46d4a1eed8 completely.581ca6872baa0b7d

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‘Goodbye,’ Jaekani whispered 4b2b32842a silently in his e11aaa1f1a heart.e9d4ee7c21fed2a1

But just then—ca3ab3da716ae2c1

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“Huikyung!”2e6a28c9dd24cb5d

A deafening noise shattered 5f192c1b70 the stillness, followed by 4bddc552be a cold blast of 4ab258e334 air. Jaekani tightened his eef1356f51 grip on Huikyung, cee8b4eab3 his arms trembling.f2f208885988b51c

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Something had exploded. The night 20b72d7696 was thick f171a00e63 with dust, ed413ec96e making it 47197ae5b7 impossible to 69d539771e see beyond e44310c7f5 a few c5ffcdf5d3 steps. Though Huikyung stood firm, beb45d904f Jaekani couldn’t shake the 20150d72bc fear that debris might 31559032c7 have hit him.36e740a57d54307d

Before he could even bfdb9eb340 ask, Huikyung’s hand reached 61a1ae943d behind Jaekani’s head, holding bbd524be22 it securely in place. His grip pressed 08ceba10a6 Jaekani’s forehead against dc2f162fe9 his neck, as 64a15352dd if shielding him 11505154f0 from any further 3fbb82a9be harm.ebb73fb843d48907

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“Are you okay? What exploded? Was it f0278456f1 because of 3113cc5d07 the control 56d6425e9d device?”91d3c45c1adf412c

Jaekani tried to ef1f9971c0 lift his head, 84596dcf18 but Huikyung’s unyielding 8e11278ee2 strength prevented him. Resigned, Jaekani rested his e9c58d29d0 forehead against Huikyung’s collarbone, 5329331a64 raising his voice urgently.658313aeedd7cb12

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“We have to 6084a6ad59 run, Huikyung. That noise 444ea48597 will wake 94babf319b up the 2566713c9e whole village!”b461c054e6564b34

 a594d844e0ad958c

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