Chapter 166: A Place to Return To

He had decided long ago to leave for a very, very distant place.

The reason he prepared a room overflowing with gifts just for me was the same.

Because we wouldn’t be able to meet for an unimaginably long time, he had stocked it all up so I could eat for a long, long while.

I don’t understand why he chose to die when all I wanted was for him to stop the slaughter.

I never told him to die, so why was he deciding that on his own?!

We could have all lived happily together—me, Sehyun, and him….

I really thought that’s how it would turn out.

If this was how it was going to end, he shouldn’t have been so kind to begin with.

I don’t even know who he chose death for.

“Get up!”

As I rushed toward the kind Seon Jaeyul, I saw the idiot walking toward him instead.

My heart started pounding faster.

Please still be alive, please, please let me reach him before the idiot does.

I’d never wanted anything this desperately since Sehyun’s braised beef.

The idiot approaching from the opposite side noticed me.

Startled by my unexpected appearance, he hesitated for a split second.

I used that moment to sprint even faster, swallowed the kind Seon Jaeyul whole, and bolted without looking back.

Because the look Idiot Seon Jaeyul gave me at the end clearly said this.

‘I’ll cut you into fifty-four pieces and scatter you as shark bait.’

Ugh… creepy.

Worried about the kind Seon Jaeyul inside my secret pocket, I ran with all my strength back to his house.

“Saving me was pointless.

Nothing will change just because I lived.”

The kind Seon Jaeyul—

No, he’s an idiot now too.

Idiot No. 2.

I scraped together every hidden elixir and Petra I had to barely keep him alive,

and instead of being grateful, he’s saying hateful things like this.

His heart had literally stopped.

He truly “came back from the dead.”

“You’re dying just so that idiot can be a hero?!

Why are you doing things you never used to do?

Just go back to how you were!

You should’ve just wiped out all humans and gone down in ruin!”

I still couldn’t accept his choice.

Completely unconvinced, I raised my voice in frustration.

What’s so great about being a hero anyway?

What good does that even do?

Wouldn’t it be enough for all of us to live together happily in a warm house?

Doing what we want, eating what we want whenever we want—

That’s what humans struggle their whole lives for in the end, isn’t it?

“…Anyone listening would think a monster achieved enlightenment.

But not every life has value.

To me, living and dying are no different.

So rather than clinging to life in a world without desire,

it’s a far better choice to give another foolish version of myself a chance to live a life that isn’t a villain.

And while I’m at it…

letting Jin Sehyun live a little longer doesn’t sound too bad either.

And above all….”

Even though his body wasn’t fully healed and he lacked strength,

he lifted a hand and gently patted my head.

“How could I erase a world that’s filled with things you love?”

I couldn’t tell whether he was joking or serious.

“Just take your medicine.”

Getting his body back in shape came first.

I’d think about the rest later.

“By the way, Poppy.”

“What?”

“That bizarre arm—don’t tell me it’s an actual human arm?”

“Sh-shh! Keep your voice down!

That’s top secret!”

“No, it just looks so real that—mph!”

“You’ve got a high fever.

You should keep a wet towel in your mouth.”

Idiot No. 1 talks too little.

This one talks way too much.

For two versions of the same guy, they really are polar opposites.

“Poppy, swallow him.”

I stared at Sehyun, unable to believe what he’d just said.

He answered my look with his eyes, telling me I’d heard him right.

He meant for me to put Idiot No. 2 into my secret pocket.

After confirming he was barely breathing, I immediately swallowed him.

Time doesn’t pass inside my pocket, so his death could be postponed.

After swallowing Idiot No. 2, I noticed Idiot No. 1, battered and bloody.

This bastard really does have a long lifespan.

After such a brutal fight, he was still breathing.

“Since we don’t know what might happen, should we put Jaeyul in there too?

What do you think?

It’s dangerous to leave him like this.

I’ll keep him safe!

Yeah?”

Honestly, permanently getting rid of that idiot wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“No! Absolutely not!”

Tch.

What a shame.

“Haa… still, everything ended well, and I found you again, so that’s a relief.

But you’re getting a spanking later, got it?

How could you not come back on purpose?!”

Sehyun’s words and actions never match.

While grumbling, he hugged me tightly.

My pet human has serious separation anxiety.

He’s cute, but honestly, it’s a bit annoying sometimes.

The reason I couldn’t return to Sehyun right away was, well…

Idiot No. 2.

How could I leave someone who might die today or tomorrow behind?

No matter what others think, Idiot No. 2 cherished me more than anyone except Sehyun.

Even if I’m just a monster, I had to repay that feeling.

And besides, I knew Sehyun would always wait for me.

I was certain he’d forgive me for being just a little late.

Not that a pet human would dare not wait for his owner.

Idiot No. 1 and Idiot No. 2’s battle ended three months ago.

In just two months, we were living as if the past had never happened.

We moved into a new house, gathered for dinner every evening.

On weekends, we went out together, explored new restaurants one by one.

Me, Sehyun, and Idiot No. 1.

Idiot No. 2 stayed trapped in my pocket for nearly a month,

then went straight into emergency surgery with me.

I wondered why Sehyun didn’t take him out sooner,

but it turned out he was preparing to save him properly.

Fearing he’d die the moment he came out,

Sehyun made something incredible.

A bathtub filled with concentrated Petra.

To gather enough Petra to fill a bathtub, Sehyun ran himself ragged for a whole month.

Idiot No. 1 reluctantly helped,

and I gathered Petra too.

More than anyone, I wanted Idiot No. 2 to live.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious.

I knew Petra had tremendous healing power,

but Idiot No. 2’s condition was closer to resurrection than treatment.

“Guek!”

With everyone watching, I spat Idiot No. 2 into the Petra-filled tub,

careful not to waste a single drop.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes…

Ten minutes… thirty minutes… one hour.

“…Hyung, let’s give up.

If his wounds haven’t healed after an hour, he’s dead.”

Idiot No. 1 voiced the harsh reality.

I had been thinking the same thing deep down.

No movement for an entire hour meant…

the outcome we didn’t want.

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say he might be dead.

“No! Not yet!

Let’s wait a little longer, okay?!”

I stood in front of Sehyun and Idiot No. 1, blocking them.

I couldn’t give up like this.

I’d wait until the chance of him surviving became zero.

Unless every possible method failed, I wouldn’t give up.

So that no matter how much time passed,

I wouldn’t regret not doing my best.

“…I think the same.

Jaeyul, let’s wait a bit longer.

Someone once survived from the brink of death using this method.”

“Did it take over an hour like this?”

“……”

“I’ll do whatever you want, hyung.

I just don’t want you getting hurt again by false hope.”

Idiot No. 2 lay in the tub with only his face above the surface.

It was painful just to look at his bloodless face.

“I’m still waiting.”

I was relieved Sehyun felt the same way.

We waited endlessly.

A day, two days, three days…

One week, two weeks, three weeks.

“Poppy… I’ll keep watch, so go rest.”

Around the two-week mark, we made a promise.

One month.

We’d wait up to one month.

Because even after two weeks, Idiot No. 2’s condition hadn’t worsened.

He remained in a state between life and death,

making it impossible to let go of hope.

As the one-month deadline approached, hesitation crept in again.

What if we waited just one more week…?

No, even three more days would be fine.

I was resting with my face buried in Sehyun’s arms when—

Splash-.

I heard the sound of water.

I assumed it was my imagination,

but I lifted my head anyway.

The surface of the tub was rippling violently.

Thud!

A hand burst out from beneath the Petra and gripped the edge of the tub.

Seeing the trembling hand, Sehyun and I rushed closer.

What we saw was unbelievable.

The wounds that hadn’t improved at all were healing at an incredible speed.

The idiot, who’d been completely submerged, snapped his eyes open and rose above the surface.

“You idiot!”

I leapt up and viciously licked his face all over.

After making me worry for nearly a month, he deserved it.

No mercy.

Take my rough, scratchy tongue attack.

“To think you’d be the first thing I see when I wake up.”

A wet hand stroked my head.

Even though it was cold, it felt strangely warm.

So warm that the tension coiled inside me melted away instantly.

Nearly a month had passed since Idiot No. 2 woke up.

Enough time had gone by that we could laugh about it now.

I guess it all worked out in the end.

Sehyun no longer had to run away and would stay by my side,

and I was back to eating and playing in a warm, comfortable home.

So much happened…

Ah—

I forgot about Idiot No. 1.

Well, since I forgot, let’s just skip him.

That monstrously stubborn bastard is still alive and kicking.

Idiot No. 2 said he didn’t want to live among humans yet and returned to the gate,

but honestly, I think he just ran away because he hates Idiot No. 1.

The way his face twisted every time he saw him—

we really do think alike.

Even though he left, I don’t miss him much.

I know he’s fine,

and I know he’ll be back before long.

Once he finds the courage to face people again,

he’ll definitely come back to Sehyun and me.

To eat delicious food,

to stay up all night playing games.

“Poppy, you little punk!

How many times did I tell you not to eat the braised beef?!

Where are you—come out here right now!”

Uh-oh!

Looks like I got caught stealing a few pieces of braised beef.

Sheesh, what a nagging pet human.

I suddenly remembered I had an urgent appointment,

so I’d better get going.

Am I running away because I’m scared?

No way!

Right?!

〈The End〉

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