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  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From another angle,while tensions tightened elsewhere—

  a different fracture opened quietly in the human world.

  Hyun-pil, who had been doubled over in pain, slowly straightened.His head remained bowed as he rose—careful, almost wary of his own body.

  “Hyun-pil! Are you okay?”

  Hyo-jung rushed to him, lifting his face in both hands.

  “I… I’m better now.If I rest a little more, I think I’ll be fine, Mom.”

  The pain hadn’t vanished entirely.It lingered faintly behind his expression as he steadied his breathing.

  A few steps away, Da-hye stood frozen.

  “Oppa… what do we do?Shouldn’t we go to the hospital?”

  Her voice trembled.Oddly, her concern leaned more toward Hyun-pil than toward her father, who had collapsed just moments before.

  “I’m okay…” Hyun-pil murmured, limping slightly as he turned.“But what about Teacher?”

  Yoon-jung was already shaking Kyung-soo.

  “Honey! Wake up!You’re breathing, right?!”

  Her hands struck his chest in frantic rhythm.

  Thud.Thud.Thud.

  “Ahh! Stop it! That hurts!Are you trying to cave in my ribs?!”

  Kyung-soo’s eyes flew open.

  Color flooded back into his face—almost too quickly.

  “If you’re worried about someone, you wake them up with a kiss!Who pounds a person’s chest like that?Are you trying to send me off properly?!What have you been eating to hit that hard?!”

  He clutched his chest dramatically.

  Yoon-jung glared at him, half furious, half relieved.

  “You’re unbelievable.Get up. Do you know how terrified I was?”

  Kyung-soo stared at her for a second.

  Then his nose twitched.

  “…Wait.”

  He sniffed once.

  Then again.

  “What’s that smell?”

  He leaned closer.

  “Did you eat gondre rice?No… that’s not from your mouth.

  It just… hit me. All at once.”

  Da-hye hurried to steady him.

  “Da-hye, wait.”

  He turned toward her.

  “There’s a smell coming from you too.Kimchi stew. With a fried egg, right?”

  Silence.

  Both Da-hye and Yoon-jung froze.

  “How do you know that?” Yoon-jung whispered.

  Kyung-soo frowned faintly.

  “I don’t know…It’s just too clear.

  The moment it exists, it’s already inside my nose.”

  Da-hye’s expression darkened.

  “Dad… after you grabbed your nose and collapsed…did something happen? To your head?”

  Now fully upright, Kyung-soo walked toward Hyun-pil.

  “My nose and throat felt like they were being torn open.Did you feel that too?”

  Hyun-pil nodded weakly.

  “Yes… it hurt badly. But it’s better now.”

  Then suddenly, he stiffened.

  His hand shot to his nose.

  His face twisted.

  “Teacher… you smell that too, right?That stench?”

  Kyung-soo blinked.

  “Stench? I only smell rice and stew.What are you talking about?”

  Hyun-pil’s voice dropped.

  “It’s like something rotting.

  No—worse.

  It pierces through my nose…and shoots straight into my head.”

  Yoon-jung gripped his arm, the rosary ring on her finger catching the light.

  “Hyun-pil, are you alright?I don’t smell anything.

  Let’s go inside.Maybe… it’s coming from him.”

  Kyung-soo stiffened.

  “From me?”

  He grabbed a chair and walked inside in exaggerated offense.

  Yoon-jung scoffed loudly.

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