HIF 27

I’ll Tell You Again When The Time Comes

Park Yul’s hand touching my cheek felt cold. I placed my own hand over his. When I cast healing, Park Yul’s wound began to close, but fresh drops of blood rolled down again.

“I just woke up. I’m fine, Yul.”

I swallowed the words, “But you don’t look fine.” From beside me, Raen’s trembling voice reached my ears.

“Leader, you said we’d move together from now on.”

“Yeah, Raen. Let’s do that from now on.”

“…Park Yul.”

Song Ha-gyun stared intently at Park Yul. Park Yul continued with a gentle voice tinged with laughter.

“I was planning to come back quickly before anyone noticed I’d left. You were worried, huh? I just went out briefly to check something.”

“Still, you should’ve told us before leaving, Leader. What if something happened while you were alone… No, I could’ve gone with you…”

Raen trailed off. It seemed that ever since Raen got injured, everyone had promised not to act alone. And Raen seemed to have deeply realized just how dangerous moving alone could be.

Given that he nearly lost his life last time and barely survived, it was understandable. I was relieved he probably wouldn’t act recklessly alone anymore. Park Yul continued in a calm voice.

“Yeah, I was wrong to think that way. I’ll definitely do that from now on.”

Raen nodded quietly. Park Yul, who had lightly patted Raen’s shoulder, turned his gaze back to me.

“Yi-han-ah. Were you worried too?”

His face still wore a bright smile, eyes crinkled.

To be honest, I only now properly understood the situation. So it was ambiguous to say yes or no. Still, coming back injured like this every time…

“I was worried.”

I was always worried. About Park Yul, and about the others. Seeing them come back so battered each time, I wondered if their bodies could hold up.

Park Yul fell silent for a moment after hearing my answer. Then, his expression suddenly turned serious as he spoke.

“I’m worried too, Yi-han-ah.”

Park Yul slowly blinked. My reflection was clearly visible in his light green, spring-like eyes.

“I’m glad you woke up.”

Park Yul’s expression softened immediately. Wearing a clear smile again, he ruffled my hair.

Somehow, my heart grew heavy. Why did everyone care so much about me? The concern felt excessive for me to receive.

Of course, since they didn’t know I couldn’t die, they must have been shocked to see me unconscious. Still, it wasn’t something worth this much attention.

‘It feels like I’m deceiving them.’

Even if I told the truth—that I don’t feel pain or die—it wouldn’t be something easily believed. So, would things always be like this? A faint sense of guilt seemed to creep up.

“…Don’t worry, Yul.”

This was sincere. I looked up at Park Yul, smiling as brightly as possible to convey that I was okay. Park Yul paused briefly. Then, as if nothing had happened, he slowly continued.

“Later, when you’re ready to accept it.”

Park Yul smiled even more beautifully, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

“I’ll tell you again then.”

His brightly smiling face looked a little pained.

The sky was brightening into blue. Clear light poured in through the large window.

A new morning was beginning.

◇

I went up to the room to check on Min Joo-hyuk, who still hadn’t come down. Min Joo-hyuk was still fast asleep in my bed.

Park Yul had said to bring Min Joo-hyuk down if he was awake, but to let him sleep a little longer if he wasn’t.

Min Joo-hyuk seemed like the type to wake up early in the morning. Maybe he was really tired this time. His usually playful, smiling expression had softened, making him look calm.

I gently brushed his brown hair, shimmering in the blue sunlight. The hair touching my fingertips was soft. I whispered in a voice so quiet it wouldn’t be heard.

“Hey, Min Joo-hyuk.”

At the same time, Min Joo-hyuk’s eyes flew open. I was startled by the sight.

Min Joo-hyuk blinked a few times, frowning slightly as if trying to gather his senses. Then, he abruptly sat up. His clear eyes, free of any drowsiness, fixed directly on me.

“Seon Yi-han, you.”

He looked like he had a lot to say. Min Joo-hyuk seemed unsure where to start, his lips twitching before he let out a deep sigh. Then, he raised one hand and stretched my cheek.

Ah, seriously. If Min Joo-hyuk was going to do this as soon as he woke up, I couldn’t just stay still. I quickly removed his large hand.

Min Joo-hyuk chuckled lightly and continued.

“Hey, Seon Yi-han. Have you eaten?”

I nodded. Min Joo-hyuk took a lollipop from his coat pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in my mouth. It was sweet. This one was strawberry-flavored.

As I rolled the candy around in my mouth, I brought my hands together and held them out toward Min Joo-hyuk. He grinned, put his hand in his pocket, and asked me.

“Is it good?”

“Yeah. It’s tasty.”

Min Joo-hyuk poured candies into my hands. Wait, just how many candies were stuffed into that small pocket?

He didn’t need to give me this many. But I’d eat them well anyway.

I put the rest in my lap and took out just one. Unwrapping the candy, I brought it to Min Joo-hyuk’s lips. He blinked his eyes wide, looking flustered.

“Huh, for me?”

I nodded. It was no use looking at me with that surprised expression. When you give something, you should be prepared to receive something in return.

…Wait. If I have to return everything I’ve received from everyone so far, what on earth am I supposed to do, and how?

I gulped. I quickly shook off the thought. Wouldn’t it be enough to just do my best? Effort matters more than scale.

Min Joo-hyuk was still staring intently at my face. Ah, maybe he doesn’t really like candies? I thought he liked them since he always had them.

“Don’t you like it? Then it’s fine.”

“No? I never said that.”

As I was about to rewrap the paper, Min Joo-hyuk quickly took the candy from my hand into his mouth. Then, meeting my gaze, he grinned mischievously and pulled it away in an instant.

“…It’s tasty.”

Min Joo-hyuk placed his hand on my head and lightly tousled my hair. Stretching, he spoke.

“Let’s go down. The others are downstairs, right?”

When we went downstairs, everyone was still on the first floor. They were discussing something with a large map floating in the air. As we approached, Raen spoke in a composed voice upon seeing me and Min Joo-hyuk.

“We might have to depart right away.”

Where to? So suddenly? Swallowing my panic, I rolled my eyes. Then, I locked eyes with Song Ha-gyun. Song Ha-gyun silently nodded slowly. …That was it.

I didn’t expect a detailed explanation from Song Ha-gyun, but… Hmm. Well, at least he nodded.

Park Yul summoned a tree branch in front of me and Min Joo-hyuk. Parts of it were tinged gray, like residual ash.

“Joo-hyuk-ah, look.”

Park Yul tapped it. The branch instantly turned to gray powder and melted away.

The scattering powder sparkled in the bright sunlight streaming through the window. In the blink of an eye, the branch had vanished without a trace.

From beside me, Min Joo-hyuk’s trembling voice was heard.

“Park Yul. This is…”

Park Yul continued his explanation calmly. He said the branch was brought from the forest where Raen and I had gone. It confirmed that Monsters could seep into other places.

“We need to depart as soon as possible.”

At Raen’s words, Song Ha-gyun nodded. Song Ha-gyun pointed to a corner of the map.

“…First, here.”

It was densely drawn with trees. Min Joo-hyuk responded with a serious expression.

“I agree with you. If we delay, it could become the most dangerous location.”

“Right. The further the Monsters spread, the harder they’ll be to find. And since it’s a forest where the sun doesn’t shine, it’s always dark.”

“It might be best to Teleport to the center. That would make it easier to move around.”

“That sounds good. We should hurry. The area is quite large.”

“…Yeah. And Park Yul, about scouting first upon arrival, we should…”

Before I could even understand, the conversation flowed rapidly. I once again realized I wasn’t accustomed to anything progressing at such speed.

I couldn’t catch up with what I’d missed, but I quietly listened to the voices going back and forth.

It wasn’t that I had no questions. But I didn’t know where to start or what to ask. Besides, now wasn’t the time to bring up such questions. I couldn’t just satisfy my curiosity while everyone was busy.

And I thought that even if I didn’t ask first, they’d slowly explain everything to me once the situation was sorted out. They were all kind people.

Suddenly, I wondered if only people like this became Heroes. People with kindness. What’s needed for selfless sacrifice for the world is the kindness to willingly leap into danger for others.

If that’s the case, it felt a little cruel. As the System had once said, it was neither just nor natural.

‘So, if there’s anything I can do for you.’

I would gladly do it. I wanted to.

Well, even so, all I could do was heal. And that wasn’t something to boast about. The Penalty was just a bit bothersome, not difficult.

Realizing that despite my bold aspirations, what I could actually do was humble, I let out an awkward laugh. Instantly, the voices I’d been hearing from ahead cut off.

“Huh… What’s wrong?”

Startled, I spoke without thinking. Everyone was staring intently at me. The sunlight streaming through the large window behind me brightly illuminated their faces.

For a moment, it felt like time had stopped.

“Yi-han-ah.”

I nodded. Park Yul continued in a gentle voice.

“It seems we’ll have to leave soon. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I’ll try to return quickly.”

Park Yul hesitated before uttering the next words.

“So… Will you wait here?”

Only after pondering it did I understand what he meant.

You’re not taking me? Why? You know I can heal you. And judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like a safe place where no one would get hurt.

‘Then, am I in the way?’

That seemed plausible. Since I can’t use magic, protecting me during combat would probably be a hassle.

But I didn’t really need protection. Even if I got hurt, I wouldn’t feel pain, and even if I sustained serious injuries, I wouldn’t die.

In fact, after taking on Raen’s injury, I was perfectly fine like this. Earlier, I saw a slight scar, but if that’s all it amounts to, it’s much better.

So, if I explained these things well, everyone would change their minds. I spoke calmly.

“I won’t be in the way.”