Surviving Among the Letters

“Blanco, did you remember to bring your access card? Without it, you won’t be able to get back in.”

“You know how sharp she is, yet you’re still saying that?”

“I’m just trying to set the mood… Geez.”

“Let’s get going already.”

“Ah, right. Let’s head outside first.”

While their banter was amusing, my priority right now was seeing Remy.

With my access card in hand, I could come back and visit whenever I wanted.

As I followed Luca outside, the view that greeted me was reminiscent of Seoul.

It was like standing next to a certain tech company’s headquarters near Gangnam Station.

It was hard to believe this was Pyongyang.

“This here is the main entrance of Avio Genesis’s headquarters. If you turn right from here, you’ll see Avio Genesis General Hospital. The building next to it is FutureIce, a subsidiary specializing in cryogenics.”

After walking for about five minutes, we arrived at the entrance to FutureIce.

The automatic glass doors slid open, and attendants greeted us as we stepped inside.

An elderly gentleman stepped forward to welcome us.

“Welcome, Miss Luca. And Dr. Messier. May I ask who the young lady is?”

“She’s the client of the person I asked you to take care of. Also, she’s my brother Messier’s daughter.”

“Haha… Who would’ve thought Dr. Messier had a hidden child? Judging by her age, it must’ve been a teen pregnancy…”

“It’s not like that! She’s adopted!”

“Ah, I see. My apologies for the misunderstanding.”

This was the third time now. How many more times would people make the same assumption?

Maybe I should just wear a sign on my forehead that says, “I’m adopted.”

“In that case, let me introduce myself to the young lady. My name is Calpis Restin, and I am, in a modest capacity, the president of FutureIce.”

“Hello. I’m Blanco Atreia. Nice to meet you.”

“Now that introductions are done, let’s head to the storage facility. Oh, and attendants, stay behind.”

The four of us took the elevator down.

It descended swiftly, stopping at the seventh basement floor.

“Miss Blanco?”

“Yes?”

“Do you know when cryogenic technology first became commercially available?”

“Um… I’m not sure.”

“Haha, it’s alright if you don’t know. The answer is ten years ago—when you were just a baby.”

Not a baby I can remember, considering I have no memories from before I reincarnated.

Ten years ago… That would mean it was 2005, since it’s currently 2015.

It’s hard to gauge whether that’s fast or slow for a world with such advanced technology.

“Let me ask you another question. How long do you think I’ve been researching cryogenics?”

“Around 30 years, maybe?”

“Close, but not quite, Miss Blanco. The answer is 50 years. I’m 80 now, so it was about half a century ago when I started.”

“That long ago?”

“Yes, and after all those years, I’ve finally achieved my goal.”

“…”

“I had a wife and two sons. I married in my early twenties—it was common back then to marry quickly if you were in love. Too many people died before they could solidify their bonds.”

“…”

“At the time, I was already a young scientist with several achievements. But while I was attending a conference, a gate opened near our home. My wife and sons were killed by the monsters that came through.”

“Are you alright talking about this?”

“It’s in the past now. Haha. After that, I dedicated my life to researching cryogenics, hoping this technology could have saved them.”

“And now you’ve succeeded.”

“Yes, and thanks to that, someone dear to you can now be preserved. That alone makes it worth it.”

“…”

Even as mere words, that wasn’t easy to say.

To fail to protect his own loved ones yet dedicate himself to saving others’…

If he were a real person, he would deserve immense respect.

What a tragic story.

◆◇◆◇◆

“This way, please.”

Following Calpis, we entered a room filled with numerous devices.

Still, the place felt sparse compared to what I had imagined.

I thought the area would be packed with people in cryogenic stasis.

“Are there usually so few people here?”

“Oh, no. There are many. Patients come in from the hospital next door every day.”

“Then why is this place so empty?”

“This is our top-tier facility. Your friend is here as well. Since she’s Miss Luca’s guest, she deserves this level of care.”

I turned to look at Luca, who ruffled my hair and smiled.

“You’ll have to thank this big sister forever, okay?”

“Thank you, Luca-unni.”

I could at least humor her with the “unni” honorific.

“Here we are. Your friend is in this chamber.”

Calpis stopped in front of one of the devices, and I stepped up beside him.

He operated the controls, and the cover opened, revealing Remy encased in ice.

“There haven’t been any problems, have there?”

“None at all. Everything is perfect.”

I placed my hand on the glass chamber holding Remy.

The cold seeped out from the cryogenic capsule, but I didn’t pull away.

“Alright, Luca. Let’s give her some space. Calpis, you too…”

“I’m afraid I have to stay. It’s standard protocol for at least one staff member to accompany visitors here.”

It seemed Director Messier wanted to step out quietly to give me some privacy.

However, upon hearing Calpis’s response, he glanced at me, gauging my reaction.

“It’s fine. You two can leave.”

“Alright. Don’t stay too long.”

With that, Director Messier took Luca with him and left quietly.

I stood there for a long time, simply looking at Remy, before turning to Calpis.

“Since you asked me a question earlier, would it be alright if I asked one now?”

“Of course.”

“How long do you think it’s been since I first met Remy?”

“Hmm… I’d guess you’ve been friends since you were very young.”

“It’s been less than a month.”

“Really?”

“Yes. In other words, this past month has been more meaningful than all the years that came before it.”

Even taking into account my reincarnation into this novel, this past month has been precious.

Meeting Remy was the most valuable part of it all.

“Remy was so pure. She spoke to me without hesitation, even though I saw the world as completely meaningless.”

There was no way Remy hadn’t noticed.

We spent every moment together, so she must have realized I regarded others as mere words on a page.

“Remy was incredibly wise. She comforted me without showing any hint of my fears, knowing I was unsettled by this world.”

When I first found myself suddenly transported into this novel, I was deeply anxious.

Though I hid it outwardly, I showed signs: sleepless nights, loss of appetite, and general restlessness.

To ease my struggles, she stayed by my side every day.

When I looked troubled, she’d bring board games to distract me and cheer me up.

“I believe this world is nothing but a lie.”

It’s a fictional world, after all.

“I see no value in it.”

It’s just something born from an author’s imagination.

“And yet, I stubbornly insist there’s one thing here that’s real.”

I know Remy is just another part of this fictional world.

And yet, I cling to the belief that she’s genuine.

“It’s contradictory, isn’t it? My worldview shouldn’t allow for exceptions.”

“No… Miss Blanco, that’s perfectly human…”

“Yes, because I’m human.”

I’m not some programmed machine that always acts according to logic.

I’m not a character bound by the personality and motivations an author has written for me.

I’m the only real person in this fictional world.

This level of inconsistency is only natural.

Everyone carries contradictions within them, after all.

“Because I’m human…”

I turned back to Remy.

It was time to say goodbye.

“Remy? It’s me, Blanco. It’s been a week, huh?”

“By the time you wake up, I’ll probably be in my twenties. Hmm… That’s going to make our age gap awkward, isn’t it?”

“When you wake up, you might be disappointed in me. I’m planning to do a lot of bad things to bring you back.”

“But I’ll gladly listen to all the scolding you give me. So when you wake up, go ahead and lecture me as much as you want.”

“I probably won’t visit often. Seeing you too much might make me feel down.”

“Hmm… I’m not great with emotional stuff, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.”

─Goodbye.─

◆◇◆◇◆

Side: Calpis Restin

As we walked back, I noticed tears beginning to stream down Miss Blanco’s face.

She must have been holding them back, but they finally spilled over.

Eventually, she stopped and sank to the floor, burying her face in her knees.

“Just… Just let me sit here for a moment.”

I wanted to tell her she could take as long as she needed, but in moments like this, silence is often the best support.

Any clumsy attempt at comforting her might only make things worse.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry… but here I am…”

I decided to simply stand and wait for her.

“This isn’t how it’s supposed to be… Ah, seriously…”

Eventually, Miss Blanco broke down completely, sobbing for several minutes.

When her crying subsided, she suddenly stood up.

Using the sleeve of her white coat, she wiped away her tears and began walking forward.

“Let’s go. I’m sure the director is waiting.”

As I watched her determined steps, I silently wished her the best for the road ahead.