There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 382 - 374. Spring Breeze

Chapter 382: Chapter 374. Spring Breeze

"I told the military to proceed with cremation and to send the ash to his relatives," Han Shin pressed his lips, looking palpably uncomfortable. "They asked me if I wanted to be present during the cremation, but I still think it’s a solemn and respectful process, so it shouldn’t be attended by someone who is full of hatred toward him."

"Do you hate him?"

"He tried to kill Radia!" Han Shin struck the railing of the bridge they were currently crossing. They stopped walking then, as Han Shin took his time to control his anger while gripping the railing and staring at the calm running water below. "He hit and whipped hyung for so many years! He even struck out our older sister’s name from the family registry because...because she had taken her own life."

Han Shin gritted his teeth, remembering the letter that Han Joon had written to him inside the flash drive, all the reason why the fact was kept hidden from him.

"It was him that caused everything! The stress and pressure that my mother felt, and...and Noona’s desperation..."

Han Shin bit his lips for a few seconds, before taking a deep breath to calm himself, looking more at the running water that made a calming sound below their feet. He glanced at Zein and smiled wryly, feeling embarrassed now that he let go of the stuffy feeling in his heart.

"Sorry..."

"Don’t mind it," Zein leaned against the railing and looked up at the bright sky that was so unlike the things they had been discussing this morning. "Had your relatives ever said or done anything?"

"Pfft--no," Han Shin sneered. His eyes glint with displeasure at the small memory he had of them. "I don’t know if they’re just afraid of that person, or just didn’t care. But they only showed their face when they needed something," he scoffed. "They would come to hyung or me, even, after we were adults and had our own income."

"Do you think they’ll make a fuss now?" Zein asked. "I mean...with you sending his ash away."

"Maybe," Han Shin shrugged. He knew those people always had something to say, probably things like how unfilial he was. "But who cares? Hyung told me to let go of anything owned by that person and give it to his relatives. It’s not like we’re in need of capitals," he pursed his lips.

Not that he ever indulged in that person’s wealth. For all he knew, the money that Joon used came from their mother’s account, and once Joon was in the military, he used his own money. And now, as a five-star healer, Han Shin didn’t need to be worried about the future at all.

"Hyung gave me the power of attorney for our mother’s property, so that’s the only thing I’ll fight for."

"Sounds fun."

Han Shin laughed, feeling better now that he could rant about everything. In the case of ’relative’, Zein felt at least he had people who were truly the embodiment of loyalty. And it was easy to think that the person to whom that loyalty was directed should be an amazing figure.

A pity that he couldn’t meet that amazing figure when he was still alive. Well...at least he had a more concise imagery to use in his dream now. The firm hand and the gentle smile would be more vivid, and he would welcome those dreams with a newfound delight.

But thinking about his father reminded him that he needed to head to the hospital. He looked at the healer, recalling that Shin should have a business there too. "What about your...hmm, sister?"

"Ah, I’m going to move her urn to where my mother’s is," Han Shin smiled; it came easier now after all the rants. "They should at least stay side by side, don’t you think?"

"Sounds right," Zein nodded in agreement, signaling to the healer to continue their walk out of the garden.

"What...what about you?" Han Shin asked carefully, grabbing the end of Zein’s shirt as he looked at the guide with concern. "What are you going to do?"

Zein looked at the eyes that were filled with worry, and patted the healer’s cheek. The same," he said with a subtle smile.

"Huh?"

"I’m going to unite them," Zein looked at the bright sky. "My parents."

The morning breeze brought about the scent of flowers and a new beginning, a fitting mood for taking a stride. The flowers also started to bloom in the lakeside cabin right now, the place where they tied themselves together, where they spent their last days together.

And in that place, they shall rest together for eternity.

* * *

"I go this way," Han Shin waved his hand, heading to another alley before they reached the morgue. "I’ll leave with Reina, so we might not see each other again today. Call me later, yeah?"

"Mm,"

Zein and Bassena watched the healer disappear into the hallway leading to the hospital’s columbarium, feeling relieved by the healer’s light step. Although he didn’t show it, Bassena had been torn between consoling his best friend or being there for Zein. Han Shin said he was alright, however, and there was nothing to be consoled.

Bassena almost blurted out that the healer only showed his maturity at a time like this, but he thought the timing wasn’t good for jest.

Well, besides, Shin had his own fiancee to take care of him, so Bassena could just focus on his own boyfriend.

"Senan said he had just shown the Elder inside," Zein said after checking on his commlink. He had told Senan to go ahead and lead the Elder to the morgue first rather than wait for him.

Bassena glanced at the closed door of the morgue, smiling wryly. "I could hear him."

"The Elder?"

"Yeah..."

And Zein could too, the moment they opened the door; the sound of regretful wailing throughout the hallway. The young doctors who were in charge of the morgue that day stood awkwardly, not yet equipped with the numbness of their seniors. Another awkward face belonged to Arlo, who was standing outside the room with fidgeting hands.

It must have been confusing for him, who was only born after the incident, and had no emotional attachment to Roan. And yet, as a family member, he couldn’t help but feel bad for not sharing the same sorrow as the Senior members of the household.

"Oh, Young Master..." he looked at Zein awkwardly, feeling guilty for the absence of sadness. But Zein had no need for fake sorrow or sympathy, so he patted the young esper’s shoulder, telling him to get some water for the Elder later.

The scene inside the room was just as Zein imagined; Senan and his sister were holding back from shedding tears, and the Elder was wailing uncontrollably, holding the cold, stiff hand of their former Master.

"Forgive me, Master Roan...oh, forgive me!" the Elder’s heartfelt sorrow filled the chamber with his cry. "Please punish this incompetent old man in the afterlife!"

Zein sighed and stepped inside. "Don’t say things like that," he looked at the old man with a frown. "Do you think my father will be happy hearing it? Is he the kind of person who would wish for something like that?"

Instead of calming the old man, Zein’s words only drove the Elder further into a crying fit. He held onto Zein’s legs, weeping so sorrowfully that the guide had no idea of what to do. "Young Master! Young Master!"

The Elder, who was supposed to be the Head of the household, was now looked like a child, who couldn’t utter anything but sorry. Zein crouched down and hugged the old man, swallowing the sigh he wanted to let out. With how hard the Elder was crying, no one would need to shed any tears. It seemed like even his sadness had been sucked by the old man.

In the end, Zein decided to bring the old man out of there, because they were not the only ones in mourning. Thankfully, there was a restaurant with a private room near the hospital, which was perfect for calming down and discussing the next step they would take.

"I’m going to cremate him," Zein said. While saying it with a soft tone, there was a firmness in that statement that said he wouldn’t do it any other way. He didn’t ask for an opinion, just informed them.

"I understand," Senan nodded. It was, after all, Zein’s right as Roan’s son. "No one will object to your decision, Young Master."

The Elder, who finally stopped crying because he needed to be put in a nebulizer, slowly nodded to support the claim.

"Good," Zein leaned back back against the wall of the private room. "I want to do it as fast as possible."

"But--"

"He’d been denied his rest for too long already," Zein cut the Elder before the old man could make any rebuttal. "I don’t wish for him to lay there all alone for much longer."

The Elder closed his eyes; there were so many regrets transpired on his wrinkled face, so many sins he wanted to confess to his previous Master. But he knew Zein was right; Roan needed to rest, even if his regret and agony couldn’t.

"Where would you like to have it, Young Master?" Senan asked after the Elder gave another nod.

Zein pondered silently for a while. Initially, he had thought of doing it in the hospital; they had a pretty respectful place there. But after talking with Ludya this morning after breakfast, he realized that he should start thinking as a patriarch; as a head of a House that had loyal vassals serving under him.

"There’s a mourning house not too far away from the hospital," Bassena told them after a while of silence. "If you use Ishtera’s name, they will open the main hall for you to use."

A mourning house, a main hall. It was easy what to do next. "You may call the members of the Iron Shield, Senan. We will be having the funeral tomorrow."

"Yes, Young Master," Senan bowed his head slightly.

"Afterward, we’ll bring the ash to the lakehouse."

When Senan lifted his head, there was a question in his eyes. "Young Master, about the ladies from Eiyuta..."

"Yes?"

"Are you...are you thinking of..." he stopped and changed his question with a slightly shaky voice. "Are they going to bring Lady Lucia with them?"

The Elder gasped and looked at Zein with widened eyes. "They are," Zein answered without hesitation. "And we will bring her to the lakehouse too."

Sweeping his gaze across the room, Zein told them what he had been keeping in his mind ever since he found his mother’s ash in Eiyuta last month.

"I’m going to put them in a companion urn."