CHAPTER 21: 21: AN A-VIRUS CURE?

The A-Virus is a deadly pathogen in this world, and widely recognized as the Apocalypse Virus.

It came from an asteroid that struck the northern continent.

From that point, human civilization began to collapse, plunging the world into doomsday.

The origin of the A-Virus remains a mysterious, unsolved case.

Over the years of the apocalypse, the virus has continued to evolve in its infected creatures.

This has made it increasingly difficult for survivors to fight them.

Despite countless efforts, the surviving humans have been unable to find the cure they desperately need.

Day by day, the number of survivors, both male and female, continued to decline rapidly.

If this continues, human extinction in this world is inevitable.

Aria remembered that once a human is infected, they do not turn into a zombie or mutant monster immediately, but not everyone knows this.

Many believe that once someone is infected, they are beyond saving.

So, what happens is that people either end up killing their comrades on the spot, or they just let the virus spread throughout their bodies.

In the end, no one was saved.

But this was just a loophole she had scribbled on a small side paper in her draft.

Aria wondered whether this particular idea she had for the world’s story would actually work here.

However, if the male lead is right, she doesn’t know what to say.

This world has been paused and abandoned.

Who knows how quickly the A-Virus is spreading in humans now that it is evolving.

Even as the author and creator of this story, the A-Virus is something she created for the sake of the plot.

It’s even an alien virus, something she knows nothing about.

Is there really no way to save that person? Aria asked herself, feeling a pang of urgency as she strained to recall the story of this world from her memories years ago.

Her eyebrows knitted together and her red lips pursed as she thought so intensely.

She didn’t even realize her blank gaze had landed on the male lead’s face.

Caelan noticed the distant look in the woman’s eyes and assumed Aria might not be able to accept the truth.

"Don’t think about saving anyone. You can’t save an infected. Don’t try to be a saint in this world."

His expression remained stone-cold as he spoke the facts, then he turned and walked back to the car, making sure to take the things he had found.

Don’t be a saint... she’s not a saint.

Wait—did the male lead say ’Saint!’

That word pulled Aria out of her deep thoughts.

Just as she was about to retort to the male lead, she realized he was already no longer by her side.

Through the broken glass of the convenience store, Aria saw Caelan opening the passenger seat and placing something inside.

Probably the trinkets, souvenirs, and other materials he had gathered.

Aria followed him, running just fast enough to catch up before he moved to the other side of the car.

By the time she reached Caelan, she was out of breath, her heart racing as she gasped for air.

"Caelan... Caelan! I can... I can save him! I think I can save him!"

He ignored her.

Caelan didn’t even turn his head when she approached from behind, but Aria didn’t care.

It was fine.

She knew the male lead was not someone easy to be with.

The important thing was that Aria had finally remembered something, and her face lit up like the sun at the thought of it.

She felt like sharing it with Caelan, and of course, she needed the other party’s assistance.

"I know how to save him, so help me, okay?"

"Nonsense."

Caelan said as he turned away and walked toward the driver’s seat.

If there were someone who could cure an infected, the apocalypse would have ended a few years ago.

Aria was stunned for a moment by the male lead’s cold refusal, but then she understood.

It wasn’t easy for him to believe her.

Aria was a stranger to him, after all.

To make things harder, she still hadn’t been able to give him the supplies she had promised.

But!

Aria would not give up so easily. She needed the male lead’s help now.

It would not be possible if the male lead left, and Caelan seemed to be planning just that as he walked toward the driver’s seat.

Aria, with her strong intuition flaring, felt an invisible exclamation point pop up over her head like in a cartoon.

No, he cannot leave yet!

She quickly ran after him, even bumping into him slightly before standing in front of the car door, blocking his way.

Leaning against it, she stopped him before his hand could even touch the car’s surface.

"Wait—wait! Listen to me, just listen to me first! Please... pretty please?"

Aria’s words came out like a weak and soft plea.

Her golden eyes, kissed by the fading sun, glowed with unwavering sincerity and quiet determination.

They locked straight onto those two different-colored eyes.

One burned hot as lava, the other cold as ice.

The male lead stared back, exactly as she had tried to describe him in her scribbled notes.

So handsome... one would never grow tired of looking at him.

He would be even more handsome the moment he agreed with Aria, or so she thought.

"Speak." Caelan started.

"Yes! Good! Thanks!" Aria took a sharp breath, relief flooding her heart and mind.

When she looked up at the male lead again, her smile was so sweet that even ants might be tempted to bite her as she spoke.

Caelan’s line of sight fell on her red lips as they opened and closed, only for him to feel as if he were doing something improper.

He quickly looked away and fixed his focus on the view inside the convenience store.

"I can save him, but you must listen to me first, okay?"

"Mnn."

"See, that young boy is probably not yet infected, and if he isn’t, we still have hope for him to recover."

"Recover how?" Caelan narrowed his eyes, probing her words.