Infinite System Inheritor Return From The Abyss-Chapter 363 - 361: To help her live

Namsu finally took a breath and leaned back on the bench, staring up at the sky. "After that, Seungho changed. He blamed us... blamed me. Said it was our fault their parents died."

Namsu took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the ground as he continued, "After that wave... my real dad found us. He showed up out of nowhere, said he wanted to take us in."

Namsu showed bitter smile crossing his lips. He already had his own family... a wife and two kids. But he took us in anyway. I thought... I thought it would be good, you know? A fresh start. But..."

He trailed off, eyes growing distant. "They never really accepted us. Especially Nayoung. She... she couldn't get over what happened that day. Losing her dad like that... almost dying. Since that day, she never spoke a word, never smiled... she wouldn't even leave the house. It was like... like she just shut herself away."

Seojun's gaze softened. "And Seungho?"

Namsu's fists clenched. "He tried. At first, he tried to help her, but... the rest of Dad's family? They hated her. Said she was impossible... that she'd never awaken. In their eyes, she was just a burden. And Seungho... he changed. He started believing them. He started blaming her... for everything."

A silence hung heavy between them before Namsu spoke again, his voice lower. "Nayoung got worse. She stopped talking to anyone... stopped eating sometimes. That's when... Dad made a decision."

Namsu turned his gaze to the direction of their house, his expression unreadable. "Our mom... the one you met... she's just an illusion."

"Our real mom... she didn't make it after that day. Dad didn't want Nayoung to break any more than she already had. So he hired an illusionist... someone strong. Someone who could make her believe... that our mom was still there. To help her move on. To help her live."

Namsu's hands trembled slightly, but he took a steadying breath. "It was the only thing that kept her going... and we just... we just played along."

Seojun's gaze softened, understanding clear in his eyes. "So she doesn't know."

Namsu shook his head slowly. "No... she doesn't."

Namsu suddenly laughed awkwardly, shaking his head as he stood up. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this," he said, scratching the back of his head with a confused smile. "There's something about you that makes it all come out."

Seojun remained silent, but his eyes didn't leave Namsu's face.

[Do something, Host! Don't just stand there—hug him! You made him tell everything, so comfort him!]

Seojun frowned, his eyes narrowing. "Shut up," he muttered under his breath.

The System didn't back down. [Come on, Host! Don't you pity him? Look, he's about to cry!]

Seojun scoffed. "He doesn't want pity, okay? So keep quiet."

He watched as Namsu took a deep breath, straightened his back, and turned to leave. "Professor, whatever you heard... just forget it."

Seojun's gaze sharpened, and before Namsu could take another step, he spoke up. "Are you just going to let this keep happening?"

Namsu stopped in his tracks, his shoulders tensing. "I have no choice," he replied, his voice heavy with resignation. "This is for Nayoung's sake."

Seojun took a step forward, his voice steady. "Then, let me help."

Namsu turned his head, frowning deeply. "What are you talking about?"

Seojun didn't flinch. His eyes were locked on Namsu's, unwavering. "I'll break the illusion."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, Namsu laughed—a short, disbelieving sound. "Don't make me laugh, Professor. Only the one who cast the illusion can undo it. And besides, you're just a Beast Tamer," he said with a mocking grin.

But Seojun's expression didn't change. His gaze remained steady, piercing through Namsu's facade. Gradually, the grin faded from Namsu's face as he realized Seojun wasn't joking. His eyes darkened, and his fists clenched. "You're...serious?"

Seojun nodded slowly. "Nayoung will keep living in a lie. She deserves to face reality, even if it's painful. If she stays like this..."

"...she'll never move on," Namsu continued, his voice cracking slightly. "She'll just be stuck... forever."

Seojun's gaze softened just a bit. "Exactly."

Namsu looked down at the ground, his fists shaking. He muttered in a low, trembling voice, almost as if speaking to himself. "To destroy the only thing keeping her sane..."

Seojun said nothing, giving him the time he needed to process. freēwēbnovel.com

After a long pause, Namsu lifted his gaze. "Can you...can you really do it?"

"Yes," he answered simply. "But it won't be clean or easy. Illusions like this...they break painfully."

Namsu took a deep breath, "Give me more time," he said quietly, his eyes looking away. "I also need to talk to Seungho."

Seojun watched him for a moment, "If you make up your mind," he said simply, "you know where to find me."

Namsu closed his eyes, taking another deep breath as if trying to steady himself. He opened his mouth to say something, but when he looked back, Seojun was gone.

Namsu blinked, his eyes scanning the empty playground. "What?" he muttered, turning in a slow circle. There was no trace of him—no footsteps, no sound, nothing.

He rubbed his eyes, still processing everything that had happened. His mind was spinning, thoughts colliding with each other. With a shaky sigh, he sat back down on the bench, staring blankly ahead.

For the first time in years, there was a glimmer of hope—a chance to change things for Nayoung. But that same hope brought fear with it. Breaking the illusion meant breaking her comfort, ripping away the only safety she had left.

Namsu clenched his fists, "I don't know what to do Mom"

He looked up at the sky, "I need to talk to Seungho."

Hidden behind a wall, Min Yoora narrowed her eyes, watching the conversation unfold from a distance. She couldn't hear their words, but she recognized the tense expressions and the serious looks exchanged between Seojun and Namsu.

Her fists clenched tightly. "Han Jihoon... what are you trying to do?" she muttered under her breath, her eyes locked on Seojun. "Visiting and befriending Nayoung's brother... just what are you up to?!"

Her eyes burned with suspicion, and she took a step forward, almost ready to march over and confront them. But just then, a sharp feeling crawled up her spine—a strange sensation, like someone was staring right at her.

Yoora froze, instinctively ducking back behind the wall. Her heart pounded in her chest as she pressed her back against the cold stone, barely breathing. Seconds passed in silence. She dared to peek out from the corner, but to her surprise, Seojun was nowhere to be found. Only Namsu remained, sitting alone on the bench, staring blankly into the distance.

Yoora's eyes widened, confusion settling in. "What? Where did he go?" she whispered, glancing around.

Her fists clenched tighter, "I have to do something."