GTLTGIDES chapter 64

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“It’s probably time to wrap things up and head out. It’s not good for us to have such a long conversation. But don’t worry, I’ve prepared plenty for you. It’s late, so return home for now. I’ll send someone to you soon.”

It was disappointing to have to end my conversation with Elizabeth, the only person in this world who knew I wasn’t really Yang Heewoon.

But, as she said, continuing this talk might have repercussions.

Besides, Eunsoo was probably waiting for me by now.

I nodded and rose from my seat.

“Uncle!”

Sure enough, as soon as I stepped out of the parlor, Eunsoo’s voice echoed through the hall.

Had he been waiting long?

I worried he might have been concerned about me, but his face was bright.

It seemed he hadn’t heard anything bad. His face was flushed with excitement, eager to share something with me and see my reaction.

“Child.”

Before Eunsoo could run over, Elizabeth Polwel spoke, her voice stopping him in his tracks.

“Protect the one dear to you. Even the smallest moment can lead to a long separation.”

Eunsoo frowned, as if annoyed by her cryptic remark.

I quickly approached him and covered his ears with my hands, though it was probably too late by then.

‘Why say something like that?’

I wanted to cry.

I’m going to die anyway.

She must know that, so why would she say something like that?

I don’t want Eunsoo to feel guilty after I’m gone, as if he didn’t protect me.

I’m just destined to die, no matter what.

When I shot a glare full of resentment at Elizabeth, she chuckled lightly.

“It was nice meeting you both, children. May your journey be peaceful. I’ll be cheering for you from afar.”

As we left the mansion, accompanied by Maria and Eunsoo, I suddenly remembered that I had one last thing to say to the prophet, someone I might never meet again.

“Oh, right. One more thing…”

Even though I was upset about what she said to Eunsoo, there was still something I needed to tell her before we parted ways.

I gently covered Eunsoo’s ears again, though I knew with his keen abilities, he’d hear anyway.

But it was better than doing nothing.

“Don’t give up, no matter what moment you find yourself in. Don’t choose to leave the world before you’ve seen it through. You need to see it to the end.”

“…”

“I understand why you might feel like making that choice. But whether or not you’re forgiven—that’s for those involved to decide. Don’t make that decision on your own.”

Elizabeth Polwel. She’s a character who dies in the later part of “The Genius Guide’s Melancholy”.

The problem was that her death wasn’t due to old age or some unavoidable catastrophe.

It was by her own choice.

Likely her way of atoning for the pain her death would cause Eunsoo, and at the same time, freeing herself from the many responsibilities she bore.

I couldn’t let her death pass without saying something.

She was a beloved character from my favorite story, and someone who had entered my world, Eunsoo’s world.

Elizabeth looked at me, her eyes wide in surprise.

Then, she smiled gently, covering her mouth.

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

Everything returned to its ‘original state.’

Polwel severed ties with Jake. He was tried and served a just punishment.

As in the original story, Polwel took responsibility for the kidnapping and promised generous support for Eunsoo along with a large compensation.

But there was a surprise not in the original.

While I was talking with Elizabeth, Maria took Eunsoo aside to discuss school.

Eunsoo was now able to enroll in school.

At her request, not at a guide academy, but at a regular high school.

In fact, based on her current studies and pending a separate test, she would transfer into the grade appropriate for her age this coming fall when she turned 19.

She would even be able to take the national college entrance exam.

Because of the looming fear of gates, the regulations were relaxed in various ways, but I hadn’t expected that a transfer in the final semester would be possible.

It felt like a great gift.

“Well, you know, the problem was with the person, not the family itself. They’re not so bad.”

It seemed Eunsoo felt the same, as her negative perception of ‘Polwel’ had softened significantly.

Although she was furious about being tested… In the end, it worked out, and that’s what mattered.

Polwel also bought a new house near the school so Eunsoo could attend easily.

While overseeing Jake’s punishment, the new house, Eunsoo’s school, and the compensation process, I met Maria Polwel several times.

Elizabeth Polwel had left the country the same day we met, but the fact that Maria, her right-hand woman, stayed behind to help me showed how much Elizabeth cared about Eunsoo.

And I learned something quite interesting.

“Ellie! I missed you!”

“Ugh, don’t cling to me.”

I had wondered how Maria Polwel knew Korean.

She turned out to be a friend of Elliot’s.

She had been influenced by him far more than by Jake.

When Elliot’s trip to Korea was confirmed, his pride demanded that he start learning Korean.

Maria had joined him in studying to keep him company, saying, “After all, our cousin is over there too.”

This was a detail I hadn’t known about.

In “The Genius Guide’s Melancholy”, Maria Polwel’s role was only ever as Elizabeth Polwel’s assistant, but once it was revealed that ‘Polwel’ was backing Eunsoo, and with Elizabeth’s death, Maria never had the chance to step into the spotlight of “The Genius Guide’s Melancholy”.

“Does that mean I unintentionally helped old friends reunite?”

It felt good to realize I had made a positive impact.

But Elliot seemed quite horrified by Maria clinging to him. He turned to me and, for some reason, spoke defensively.

“Heewoon, don’t get the wrong idea. She and I are just friends, nothing weird.”

“Yes, I know. You’re friends.”

They seemed close.

A friend who keeps you company in studying a language so you won’t feel lonely.

I felt a bit envious. I wish I had a friend like that.

I watched them with a warm smile, but Elliot’s expression soured for some reason.

“… Seeing it all laid out like this kind of pisses me off.”

“Huh? What’s going on? Are you two in that kind of relationship?”

“I don’t know. It’s annoying, so back off.”

Hearing Elliot talk so casually was refreshing. They really must be close friends.

Elliot pulled away from Maria in disgust and came closer to me instead.

“By the way, I heard you have a child, Heewoon. An adopted one… Wait, but recently, didn’t Ellie also… say something about sponsoring a child?”

‘How does he know about Huimang…?’

Doesn’t this world place too much emphasis on digging into people’s lives?

One Cha Junseong wasn’t enough; now there’s another group monitoring my every move.

Of course, it’s because Eunsoo is so important, and I’m closely related to her, but it still feels uncomfortable.

‘And I can’t even criticize them, considering how much worse I am…’

No matter how much they investigate me, I still know more than them about their futures.

What can I do? I’ll have to endure it.

“That’s how it is.”

“Oh…!”

While I was at a loss for words, Elliot reached out, gently pulling me into a hug, resting his head lightly on mine, as if to say, “Look, we’re the loving dads of Hope!”

Maria’s green eyes widened in shock, her gaze darting between me and Elliot.

“So… what you’re saying is, because of Heewoon…”

“W-Wait a second!”

I shouted, cutting off Maria’s words without thinking.

Maria Polwel was a healing esper and had treated my body twice before.

If she was as capable as I thought, she likely knew about my condition.

If she were to say something like, “Are you taking care of the child because Heewoon’s about to die?” it would be a disaster.

I wasn’t ready to reveal the truth about my condition.

“That’s right.”

But in that moment, Elliot’s voice cut in.

“We took in the child because of Heewoon.”

Now it was my turn to be surprised.