I leaped over the defense line of Shelter Seoul Forest and headed straight toward the hospital.

As I entered the hospital, I saw Park Gi-Cheol talking with the doctor. The doctor’s eyes widened when he saw Kang Eun-Jeong on my back.

“Is she the patient you mentioned earlier?”

I nodded.

“This way please.”

He led me to a cot.

As I laid Kang Eun-Jeong down, he started to examine her condition. He placed his hand on her sides but then lifted her top a little bit while tilting his head.

Her wound didn’t seem too deep at first glance, but the area around it—about the size of an adult male’s hand—was swollen. She was also terribly pale.

The doctor looked serious as he took her pulse. He then looked me right in the eye.

“How could you not know how bad her condition was, when you can see that she’s this sick?”

“...”

“She probably wouldn’t have been able to walk on her own if she’s this sick. Wasn’t someone looking after her?”

I couldn’t say anything to him. It wasn’t because I couldn’t speak physically—rather, I had no excuses to bring up.

As I let my head sag silently, Kang Ji-Suk, who’d followed me in, spoke up.

“Ahjussi didn’t do anything wrong!”

The doctor gave him a sidelong look.

“And who is this…?”

Kang Ji-Suk’s reply was fierce, his eyes open wide.

“Her guard… guardian!”

“Is she your older sister?”

“Yes.”

“Your sister has to get into surgery right now.”

“Huh? Is her condition serious?”

“Well, she wouldn’t be...