Chapter 141. Where I Belong (1)
[And that is how we wandered across the world until we eventually came to Korea.]
After hearing Robert’s story, Seryun let out a soft sigh.
“I had no idea the Doctor had such a past.”
Yukgap felt the same.
“Me neither.”
“I thought she was just cheerfully living every day without a care in the world.”
Perhaps that hopelessly carefree, flower-filled mind of hers had been a kind of defense mechanism born from everything she had endured.
Only now did Yukgap realize just how little he truly knew about Victoria.
[In any case, the Doctor has not experienced what you fleshbags would call biological death.]
[Her true core is the Philosopher’s Stone.]
[If the Philosopher’s Stone is activated again, the Doctor should awaken.]
Seryun weakly shook his head.
“The problem is that the Philosopher’s Stone is a substance far beyond human understanding.”
“Controlling it is essentially impossible.”
Forget activating it.
Humanity did not even know how one was made.
Doctor Mary, the one person who had successfully created a Philosopher’s Stone, was dead.
At this point, it was questionable whether anyone on Earth even knew how to operate one.
“It’s possible.”
Yukgap suddenly spoke quietly.
Seryun tilted his head.
“What is?”
“I know someone who might be able to activate the Philosopher’s Stone.”
There was certainty in Yukgap’s voice.
Seryun looked startled.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“If it’s her, she should be able to do it.”
Did Yukgap know another alchemist?
Robert beeped.
[Who are you referring to?]
“Alpha.”
Yukgap gave the short answer.
“The origin of all the Archons.”
Without a trace of doubt, he continued,
“No. 1 should be able to do it.”
“She should be capable of activating the Philosopher’s Stone.”
“After all, she’s the one who created my body and my overtechnology weapon.”
Wearing his chef’s uniform, Yukgap carefully scrubbed the kitchen sink.
The shelves were already filled with spotless plates polished until they gleamed.
Every cooking utensil looked brand new.
There was not even a single water stain left anywhere in the kitchen.
He had been cleaning nonstop since dawn.
[Yukgap, what are you doing?]
Robert sensed something strange and asked.
Yukgap looked at the sink, polished enough to reflect his face, and caught his breath.
“I’m cleaning the kitchen one last time.”
“So the next chef can use it comfortably.”
[Did you not find your family?]
“I did.”
Yukgap answered casually.
Robert spoke flatly.
[You may leave the Doctor here and return to your family.]
[The Doctor would want that as well.]
Yukgap’s eyes trembled for a moment.
Then he composed himself.
“No.”
[Why?]
“You really need to ask?”
Yukgap looked back at him.
Robert answered as though he genuinely did not understand.
[I do not.]
[Was finding them not your greatest wish?]
“I fulfilled that wish.”
“I found out who I am.”
“And I found my family.”
He had gone mad with longing for a family he could not even remember and fled Abraxas to find them.
After countless hardships, he had regained his real name and his past.
Most importantly, he had met the family he loved.
He had even tasted the kimchi he had dreamed about.
In a sense, he had accomplished everything he set out to do after deserting Abraxas.
[...]
[The Doctor will be saddened by your choice.]
Robert spoke weakly, apparently understanding Yukgap’s intentions.
Yukgap paused, then answered with a sigh.
“Even so, I can’t leave Victoria like that.”
“That’s... not something a person should do.”
She had taken him in as her chef without questioning why he had deserted.
She had given him an identity and a home.
They had spent countless days together.
And above all, Victoria had ended up like this because of him.
The guilt never stopped gnawing at him.
In a way, this was simply the duty he owed as a human being.
“All right.”
“Finished.”
Yukgap looked at the spotless sink and spoke lightly.
Just then, Seryun arrived at Restaurant Shelley.
He glanced around and cautiously asked,
“You’re leaving?”
Yukgap looked around the place that had become so familiar to him.
Then he nodded.
“Yeah.”
Seeing no hesitation in him, Seryun handed over a receipt.
“This month’s kimchi bill.”
“Put it on the tab.”
“Victoria will pay you when she wakes up.”
Seryun asked skeptically,
“Are you really sure you can wake the Doctor?”
He still seemed doubtful that someone capable of handling the Philosopher’s Stone even existed.
But Yukgap was firm.
“Yeah.”
“She knows everything.”
Seryun gave a faint laugh.
Then he muttered something that might have been a joke.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Your cooking was actually quite decent.”
“You tried to sell me at the Crescent Moon Auction when we first met.”
Yukgap snorted.
In a way, his relationship with Seryun had been strange too.
An immortal undead lich alchemist.
