Superstar From Age 0 - Chapter 347

Chapter 347

How long had the three adults and one child walked?

Vroom.

The unfamiliar vibration sound still echoed. The survivors flinched and reflexively looked up.

“Are there still bombs left to explode…?”

Raymond Wish, who had lost one person and was on edge, listened carefully. 

It felt like he had returned to the battlefield.

Front, back, left, right, above, below.

There was no place to let his guard down.

“It sounds like it’s from behind.”

“Let’s move forward.”

Jackson Miller, who was supporting the injured Hyunwoo Lee, moved his feet. 

Raymond Wish followed him, watching his surroundings.

That was when it happened.

Something had triggered a chain reaction, and the debris collapsed like dominoes.

It all happened in an instant.

Boom!

Between the dust that rose up and the stones that fell down, Raymond Wish saw two figures in his sight. 

He also saw a pile of stones that was about to fall on them. 

His body moved before he knew it.

It wasn’t so much for them as for the sensation that rose up because of Ian Weaver, who had died, and Hyunwoo Lee, who had lost his mind.

It was like an occupational disease that was ingrained in his body, a reflexive action that he didn’t even realize.

‘…What a bad luck.’

Jackson Miller, who had been pushed by something, fell to the ground with Hyunwoo Lee, trying to protect him as much as possible.

The vibration subsided and they slowly got up.

The dust that had risen settled down.

“…!”

“Raymond!”

The two adults and the boy collapsed in despair at the sight that was revealed.

Raymond Wish was lying on the floor, breathing roughly, and his lower body was buried under a pile of stones. 

And red liquid was flowing out of the gaps between the stones.

“…Go.”

“Just hang in there for a moment. We’ll, we’ll…”

Cynthia Lindberg was at a loss for what to do. Jackson Miller quickly cleared away the stones. He was also panicked as he tried to pull out Raymond Wish.

“…We can, we can clear it…”

Hyunwoo Lee, who was holding Ian Weaver’s bag tightly, looked pale.

It felt like he was having a nightmare that he couldn’t escape.

Ian Weaver, who was kind, and Raymond Wish, who was strong and scary, were both swallowed by the darkness.

Hyunwoo Lee didn’t think… he could get out of this hell.

Thud.

Sand fell as if the aftershock of the vibration hadn’t ended yet.

“It will… collapse here too.”

The two adults closed their eyes and opened them again at Raymond Wish’s cold words. 

They felt like crying at the situation where they had no choice but to make this decision.

Cynthia Lindberg, who had tears in her eyes, took out a water bottle and some food from Ian Weaver’s bag that Hyunwoo Lee was holding.

“Here, we’ll leave this water and food here.”

“…Take it with you. My lower body is completely crushed.”

“Here! We’ll leave this here! So… please hold on until we call for rescue.”

Raymond Wish, who was sweating from the unbearable pain, didn’t answer.

A groan of agony escaped from his mouth.

“Let’s go.”

The first time was hard, but the second time was easier.

The three of them clenched their mouths and moved their feet.

“Let’s get out and call for rescue. The faster we go, the higher the chance of saving Raymond.”

Cynthia Lindberg said in a trembling voice. But no one nodded at her words.

Somber music flowed out. 

It was a familiar OST, so they could clearly tell the difference.

The screen was slightly darker than [Survivors-Theatrical Version], and the colors were sharper. It was the ‘trace of death’ that they could hardly see in [Survivors-Theatrical Version].

There were bloodstains and shoes that someone had worn between the stones, and broken glasses and pieces of clothing caught Song Yujung and Im Ye-na’s eyes.

It seemed like the shadow of death had spread beyond the television screen.

Cynthia Lindberg, who had a compass, led the way. 

Hyunwoo Lee was in the middle, and Jackson Miller took the last place. 

When Hyunwoo Lee looked back, Jackson Miller, who still felt guilty, smiled awkwardly and said.

“I can dodge faster than you with your injured leg.”

“…”

Hyunwoo Lee, who hugged Ian Weaver’s bag silently, looked ahead again. 

There was a shadow on his face.

Well. Can we really get out of here?

…No. Cheer up. We can do it.

‘Right?’

Ian Weaver’s bag was heavy.

But as expected.

The misfortune didn’t end with one time.

Bang!

A bomb exploded nearby, and Jackson Miller, who had said he could dodge faster than Hyunwoo Lee, couldn’t avoid the falling debris. 

The passage that was blocked in front of him made him unable to know even Jackson Miller’s life or death. 

Hyunwoo Lee burst into tears.

From the beginning to now, the person who saved him disappeared.

He didn’t even say thank you, thank you for saving me…

‘…I should have said it sooner. Right?’

Cynthia Lindberg grabbed the boy who was crying with Ian Weaver’s bag.

Now she was the only one who could protect this child.

“Let’s go. We have to go. Let’s call for rescue quickly…”

Cynthia Lindberg swallowed her tears and fear.

***

Cynthia Lindberg took the bag from Hyunwoo Lee, thinking it might be a burden for him with his injured leg.

“You’re better off than me with my injured leg.”

“Huh? Yeah. Right?”

Hyunwoo Lee, who had a compass, limped ahead. 

Cynthia Lindberg followed him with Ian Weaver’s bag.

“There’s no more way…”

She didn’t know why, but Hyunwoo Lee seemed to have regained his energy and said that. 

Cynthia Lindberg felt relieved and quickly immersed herself in her thoughts.

That must be it.

They had walked a long way. 

They might have reached the north gate and finished the basement floor 1, or the path might have been completely blocked by the collapsed debris.

Cynthia Lindberg tried to think positively.

“Let’s go up!”

“Up?”

“The north basement floor 1 is not that big. We must have made it!”

Hyunwoo Lee’s face brightened at Cynthia Lindberg’s cheerful voice.

“Really?!”

Hyunwoo Lee’s bright appearance made Cynthia Lindberg flinch and then smile awkwardly.

“So let’s go up.”

“Yes!”

There was a hole above when they shone a light. 

Hyunwoo Lee climbed up the stones slowly. 

The stones were not fixed, so he slipped a few times, but he managed to get into the hole.

“Can you move?”

“Yes!”

Hyunwoo Lee smiled brightly. His face was full of hope. 

He felt a surge of energy from seeing him care about Hyunwoo Lee even though he was scared and sad. 

Cynthia Lindberg also smiled.

“Ian! Let’s go up first!”

“…!”

Cynthia Lindberg, who was about to climb up with the yellow bag on her shoulder, looked up with a blank face. 

She saw Hyunwoo Lee smiling brightly without any sign of strangeness. 

He tilted his head as if he found her strange for stopping.

“Sister. Hurry up and bring Ian…”

Hyunwoo Lee urged her and stretched out his hands as if he wanted to grab her arms like a child.

Cynthia Lindberg couldn’t reach out her hand.

The misfortune was sudden.

There was an explosion sound.

The pile of stones that Cynthia Lindberg was holding onto fell down. 

Cynthia Lindberg slid down with the yellow bag. 

Her eyes met with Hyunwoo Lee’s eyes as they drifted apart.

“Sister! Ian!”

In the collapsing debris.

Cynthia Lindberg disappeared without a scream.

Hyunwoo Lee couldn’t take his eyes off the darkness. 

He started to tremble from his fingertips. 

He felt dizzy and his heart pounded. 

He felt like vomiting from the silence that he couldn’t feel anything but his own breathing.

He couldn’t save them all. He couldn’t save them again.

He was left alone again.

Only me…

A warm warmth wrapped around Hyunwoo Lee, who was about to fall into panic. 

He opened his eyes. 

There was a child who looked worried and sad.

Ah.

Still.

He met eyes with Ian Weaver and bit his inner cheek. 

His heart ached at the sight of him caring about Hyunwoo Lee first even though he was scared and sad.

There was still one person left.

“Let’s go! Ian!”

Now he was the only one who could protect this child.

“Let’s call for rescue and come back!”

Hyunwoo Lee tried to sound cheerful.

He finally understood the adults’ feelings when he saw Ian Weaver’s brightening face.

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na couldn’t take their eyes off the screen.

It was a hot summer morning, but they didn’t feel the stuffy air. 

They felt a chill down their spine at the sight of Hyunwoo Lee’s smiling face on the screen. 

It seemed like the coldness filled their small room.

Hyunwoo Lee crawled along the passage. Ian Weaver, who was still young, followed him without crying, and Hyunwoo Lee smiled contentedly. 

He scratched his face on a protruding rebar and got wounds on his palms and knees. 

The tired child rested and moved again.

“It’s blocked…”

The passage that was getting narrower was completely blocked. 

He tried to clear the stones, but they didn’t budge. 

The last thing he had, the phone light, went out.

Darkness.

The darkness that devoured everything came.

Hyunwoo Lee shivered. 

Ian Weaver, who noticed that, looked at Hyunwoo Lee with worried eyes.

“…It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

Contrary to his words, Hyunwoo Lee’s breathing quickened. His vision turned pitch black. 

Ian Weaver snuggled into Hyunwoo Lee’s arms at the sight of him trembling. 

The narrow passage was filled with just that.

He felt a hard warmth as he reflexively hugged the warmth.

He had been through a lot and was exhausted mentally and physically. Hyunwoo Lee talked to comfort himself with the faint warmth that was stained with his body temperature.

“…Yeah?”

“…Maybe?”

Hyunwoo Lee smiled faintly.

A silent space. 

He could only hear one breathing.

—–!

Then, he heard a sound.

Hyunwoo Lee’s eyes opened wide.

He heard a sound.

He didn’t know if it was the vibration of the explosion or a hallucination that only he could hear. But Hyunwoo Lee wanted to restore the body temperature that was cooling down in his arms.

He wanted to save him. This child only.

“…Sa…!”

Hyunwoo Lee choked on his dry throat as he tried to scream loudly.

‘No…!’

He couldn’t make a sound.

His heart sank, but he couldn’t give up like this. 

Hyunwoo Lee thought for a moment and raised his right arm to grab a stone that was slightly bigger than his fist. 

And he groped around.

He found a place that seemed a bit wide and sturdy. 

Hyunwoo Lee, who hugged Ian Weaver tightly, hit the place with the stone in his hand.

Thud!

Once.

Thud!

Twice.

Thud!

Three times.

He couldn’t make any sound other than this with his dry lips and throat, but Hyunwoo Lee didn’t give up.

Thud!

Please.

Thud!

There are people here.

Thud!

We’re alive.

Thud!

…Please save us.

Thud!

…Please save us.

A short but long time passed.

Hyunwoo Lee’s strength also seemed to fade away, and the sound became weaker and weaker.

Then.

Thud,

Sand fell down.

Hyunwoo Lee looked disappointed. 

He had learned from what he had experienced, it was fear.

It would collapse.

Hyunwoo Lee threw away the stone in his right hand and hugged Ian Weaver tightly.

He was scared.

He was scared.

He was really… scared.

It was hard to breathe properly.

He didn’t even know he was holding his breath, and small stones fell on Hyunwoo Lee’s black hair. 

Hyunwoo Lee, who curled up his body as much as possible, shuddered.

That was when it happened.

[Survivor detected. Survivor detected.]

He heard a heavy voice.

Hyunwoo Lee flinched and slowly lifted his head. 

He saw something moving through his blurry vision.

He saw light.

‘Ah…’

Hyunwoo Lee shed tears. 

He felt like he would lose consciousness from the wave of relief that hit him.

He heard the sound of the rescuers moving. 

They cleared away the debris around them and secured the passage. 

The world was full of sound.

[Are you conscious? We’ll get you out now.]

Hyunwoo Lee held onto his fading consciousness and breathed heavily as he saw the widening passage. 

It was narrow, but enough to move around.

[You can’t move now…!]

A small hand and arm appeared from below the boy, different from the boy’s hand. 

The rescuers were speechless for a moment.

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na looked at the screen with a gloomy expression without any energy to speak.

[A doll?]

A rescue worker with a puzzled expression pulled out Ian Weaver, or rather, a baby doll, from the hole. 

The half-crushed and bloodied doll seemed to show the tragedy of the terror.

Only then did Lee Hyun-woo come out.

[Ambulance!]

The rescue worker who was next to Lee Hyun-woo on the stretcher felt something tug at him and turned his head. 

Lee Hyun-woo, who seemed to have lost consciousness, had opened his eyes faintly.

The rescue worker opened his mouth.

[We’ll take you to the hospital right away…]

Lee Hyun-woo’s face was pale, but his eyes were more intense than anyone else’s. 

He licked his lips.

 The rescue worker bent his knees and leaned in to hear him.

“…Down there…”

A faint voice was heard.

“…There’s someone.”

…!

The rescue worker gasped and looked at Lee Hyun-woo with trembling eyes.

Lee Hyun-woo spoke with difficulty.

“I-I think it took me about 30 minutes to crawl there. Her name is Cynthia, Cynthia Lindberg…”

A dry voice was heard.

“And from there, 10 minutes south… 5 minutes west… His name is Jackson Miller.”

The rescue worker took a deep breath and gestured. Someone quickly turned on a recorder. The rescue team became busy.

“And,”

Lee Hyun-woo closed his eyes and breathed heavily.

“From there, 5 minutes east, 15 minutes south… 15 minutes east again… 5 minutes south… His name is Raymond Wish.”

Lee Hyun-woo really wanted to save everyone.

He shed tears and breathed roughly. 

The rescue worker said to him.

[Don’t worry. We’ll go save them right away.]

Only then did Lee Hyun-woo let go of the rescue worker’s clothes. 

The television screen showed his relieved face as he was carried on the stretcher.

****

Thud thud thud-

The sound of a machine drilling through the rocks was heard. 

Pebbles fell with a thud. When an empty space appeared, a rescue worker who was shining a flashlight around picked up a radio.

[…Missing person found. Missing person found.]

It was a solemn voice.

[…A corpse that appears to be Raymond Wish found.]

***

The blood-red sunset shone on the ground.

The camera from above showed the collapsed Galleria Mall and dozens of ambulances and fire trucks, busy people and rescue dogs.

The camera gradually moved down.

A report came through a rescue worker’s radio.

[Cynthia Lindberg’s corpse found.]

[Jackson Miller’s corpse found.]

A while ago.

The last report came in.

[Raymond Wish’s corpse found.]

The camera passed by the face of a rescue worker who had a complicated expression.

Outside the wide-open ambulance.

Someone who looked like a paramedic was contacting someone.

There were many tourists in the Galleria Mall whose identities could not be confirmed right away, so the rescue team used video calls actively to check on the survivors.

But that was only possible if someone was alive.

“Are there any Asian tourists among the survivors?”

-No. There are no Asian tourists among the survivors we’ve found so far.

“Damn…”

The paramedic looked towards the collapsed Galleria Mall. He knew very well how many Asian tourists came here, having visited the mall before.

“Is there still no room in the hospital?”

-Yes. There are too many patients coming in…

The camera left behind the bitter conversation of the two people and moved into the ambulance.

Inside the ambulance, there was a boy who had received emergency treatment lying down.

Lee Hyun-woo’s breathing sounded faintly through the respirator. 

His breathing was slow but steady, and Song Yu-jung and Im Ye-na breathed along with him with anxious feelings.

That was when it happened.

Beep beep beep–

Without any warning, his heart stopped beating.

The cruel sound echoed through the speaker, followed by hurried footsteps. But the sound of his heart stopping was louder. 

The sounds were tangled up.

Among those noisy sounds, Lee Hyun-woo’s face filled the screen.

The boy who wanted to save everyone and tried his best to do so,

He had a happier smile than ever before.