HIF 51

Because There’s a Way

I could imagine what kind of object it was, but it was a name I was hearing for the first time.

“You call that Havarium?”

“Yeah. Usually, it’s made with dried flowers…”

“But the flowers here don’t dry?”

“Right. They disappear before long too. So it’s only temporary, but still, it’s good for storage.”

That made sense.

Min Joo-hyuk handed me a long pair of tweezers. With them, I placed a flower inside the glass bottle. Then, Min Joo-hyuk carefully filled it with a transparent solution. The flower cluster swayed and slowly submerged.

“What kind of solution is that?”

“Just oil.”

“That’s amazing. When did you ever make something like this? At the academy?”

For some reason, I felt a little envious. It seemed like everyone attended the same academy.

If I had had mana from the beginning, I probably wouldn’t have lived at the temple. Then, I could have attended the academy too and learned more things, right?

No, that was too big a dream. If only mana hadn’t manifested in me midway, I could have received ordinary teachings from the other priests. The Teacher was too busy, after all.

If that were the case, at least I wouldn’t be as clueless as I am now. I felt a bit regretful.

“Hey, Seon Yi-han.”

Min Joo-hyuk’s voice broke my reverie. A cold glass bottle lightly touched my cheek.

“Actually, this is my first time making it myself too. They don’t teach this kind of thing at the academy either.”

“Huh? Then how did you make it now?”

“I’ve seen it being made before.”

Can you really make it the same way just from seeing it briefly? As I was thinking that, Min Joo-hyuk continued.

“Things you haven’t done before seem impressive, but they’re actually not a big deal.”

Min Joo-hyuk firmly sealed the lid of the glass bottle and handed it back to me.

“See. You made this too now.”

I gently shook the glass bottle, and the red petals fluttered inside. They looked so natural, as if they had bloomed in water from the start, appearing lovely.

“Can I make one more?”

“Ah, right. It’d be good for you to have one too.”

Min Joo-hyuk summoned another glass bottle. With it, he quickly made another Havarium and placed it back in Min Joo-hyuk’s hand.

“Didn’t you already give one to me?”

Min Joo-hyuk fluttered the hand I had put the flower ring on.

Of course, Min Joo-hyuk’s quest was successful. But the purpose of the gift wasn’t solely for that. The quest success was just an added bonus.

“I wanted to give you both.”

“……”

Min Joo-hyuk paused for a moment. Then, he quickly made another Havarium and placed it on my hand.

“Here, you too.”

As I was quietly gazing at the shimmering solution inside, Min Joo-hyuk continued.

“I’ll keep the gift you gave me well. I’m going to switch with Ha-gyeon hyung now. I’m off.”

Watching Min Joo-hyuk’s retreating back, I picked up a flower cluster falling from the sky.

Even though it was a similar flower, the one inside the solution seemed to look clearer. Maybe it was just my mood.

As I was lost in thought for a while.

‘Huh…?’

The red color gradually faded from the flower I held in my hand. Starting from the area touched by my fingertips, it turned white as if being bleached.

What’s this? Is it supposed to be like this?

‘…No. It can’t lose color just from being held in my hand for a while.’

Then, from above, I heard the sound of a window sliding open with a drrrrrk.

The flower slipped from my hand and fluttered down, sinking into the ground.

“Yi-han-ah.”

I looked up. The second-floor window was open. The emerald-green eyes looking down at me sparkled. Because of the backlight, I couldn’t clearly see Park Yul’s expression.

‘Did he see just now?’

I didn’t want to show Park Yul anything suspicious. Besides, this wasn’t even a very important matter. I had no intention of telling him. I gulped.

Park Yul smoothly climbed over the window and descended to sit beside me. A faint breeze blew, tousling my hair.

“What were you doing?”

“…Just being here.”

“Really?”

What was the intent of his question? Just as I was about to clench my trembling hand, Park Yul’s voice, tinged with laughter, followed.

“Ju-hyeok said to go see him.”

Ah, that was it. I got nervous for nothing. I took out the Havarium from my pocket and handed it to Park Yul. Park Yul accepted it.

Simultaneously, a ding sound rang out.

Behind the Quest Window, I heard Park Yul’s voice saying thank you. I nodded.

Park Yul lightly lifted the flower crown on my head and then gently placed it back.

“This suits you well too.”

“Thank you.”

“Yeah. Ha-gyeon-i is probably resting in the room on the 2nd floor. Raen-i is still on the 3rd floor.”

Park Yul stopped speaking and stared intently at me. His face somehow looked like it was waiting for words to come from me.

But I had nothing to say. As I was pondering what reaction to show, Park Yul stood up.

“Hyung is going to go up now. Don’t stay out too long. Even though it’s spring, it’s still chilly.”

Park Yul lightly patted my shoulder and then vanished instantly from beside me. It seemed he moved via Teleport.

I also stood up. The flower crown plopped off my head. Small yellow flowers were densely blooming among the red flowers.

Park Yul must have done that earlier. The red and yellow went well together. Holding the flower crown, I moved my steps inside the building.

◇

After safely delivering the Havarium to Song Ha-gyeon, I returned to my room. Now, I just needed to deliver it to Raen to completely finish the quest.

Outside the window, the sunset was glowing red. I hadn’t seen Raen at all today. Park Yul, Song Ha-gyeon, and Min Joo-hyuk seemed to be taking turns intermittently. It seemed the saying that Raen was the core was correct.

‘Is it okay to keep using mana like that?’

I think I heard that mana can be depleted too. They said Raen had a high mana level, but I didn’t know it was to this extent. He deserved to be called a genius.

Tap.

I climbed the stairs. Upon entering the 3rd floor, I saw Raen and Park Yul standing before the crystal ball.

A faint red light was spreading from the crystal ball. That light was distinct even amidst the sunset streaming through the window. Right above the crystal ball, something like a square map was floating.

I carefully took a step forward. Simultaneously, both of them swiftly turned their heads toward me.

Ah. I really didn’t make a single sound. How does everyone sense my presence so quickly?

Raen-i looked at me and opened his mouth.

“What’s wrong, Yi-han?”

“It’s nothing. I just came up to see. I’ll stay quiet.”

“It’s not that you’re bothering me…. We’re almost done. Just wait a moment.”

I nodded and sat leaning against the wall.

I could see Raen closing his eyes and concentrating. He was biting his lip hard. Both hands were raised above the crystal ball.

Park Yul was stretching one hand toward the crystal ball beside him. His other hand was busily moving back and forth on the map. His face was serious, without a trace of a smile.

The surroundings were quiet. The sunset glow dyed the floor a long stretch. How much time had passed like that when Park Yul slipped his hand between the crystal ball and Raen’s hands. His expression was beyond serious—so stiff it seemed like I was seeing it for the first time.

“Stop. Raen-ssi, since when.”

“…Huh?”

“Since when have you been pushing yourself? Take your hands off.”

“…Just a little more, please.”

“I said stop. Time isn’t only for today.”

“Just until here……”

“Raen-ssi.”

Raen let out a deep breath. At the same time, the faint light spreading from the crystal ball abruptly cut off.

“…You worked hard, Leader. Go down first.”

Raen still had his other hand pressed against the crystal ball. It looked as if he was leaning against it for support. The robe Raen was wearing seemed strangely heavy.

“Look over here.”

Park Yul grabbed Raen’s shoulder, examined his face, then gestured lightly into the air. Soon, a chair with a backrest appeared behind Raen.

“Don’t push yourself any further, sit down. How are you feeling now?”

“…It’s bearable.”

Raen collapsed into the seat and spoke in a trembling voice. Then he immediately raised a hand to cover his mouth. Even though the red sunset was pouring over Raen’s face, his complexion was pale.

Park Yul took out a small medicine bottle from his pocket. It contained a dark blue liquid.

“I was thinking of using a Mana Recovery Potion if things really got bad. Once should be fine. Can you endure it now?”

“Leader, why do you have that… Why are you carrying…”

Raen’s head tilted slightly to the side as he spoke up to that point.

I sprang to my feet. The situation was completely clear. Now wasn’t the time to just sit quietly and listen. I rushed over to Raen as if running.

I brought my hand to the nape of Raen’s neck. His cold skin was drenched in cold sweat as if pouring rain.

A Status Window appeared before my eyes. Just as I was selecting healing, Park Yul’s voice was heard.

“Yi-han-ah. Mana depletion probably isn’t something you can heal. Raen-ssi, let’s try drinking just a little of the medicine first.”

The blue light that had enveloped Raen entered me. The Healing Bar blinked beside me. The red light didn’t fill up at all, remaining as it was. It seemed healing was impossible, just as Park Yul said.

Why? Is it that you can’t heal Abnormal Status conditions that have separate causes, like mana depletion?

Raen still had his head deeply bowed, as if struggling to regain his senses.

From the front, I heard the sound of Park Yul opening the medicine cap. From what I heard earlier, the Mana Recovery Potion didn’t seem like a very good thing. Even if once or twice was okay, there was no need for Raen to use it.

Because there was still something I could do.

Perhaps acquire was a higher-level skill than healing. Rather than simply filling a gauge, directly taking it into your body would likely come at a greater cost.

I carefully selected the one remaining method available to me.

Thank goodness. At that very thought, Park Yul’s voice overlapped.

“…Yi-han-ah? Seon Yi-han!”

My body suddenly sank downward. The strength left my legs.

A Quest Window appeared before my eyes….

But I didn’t have the mental capacity to read it now. It felt like my solar plexus was tightly constricted, and my entire body felt as if it was being torn apart from all sides. It was like being burned by fire or having ice pressed against me. Breathing was difficult. No, why now?

“…Ah, ugh.”

My thoughts wouldn’t connect. My head rang. I felt dizzy. It felt like my insides were turning over. I felt like vomiting.

“Urk…”

I covered my mouth. So this is what Raen felt like.

It felt like my body was suddenly lifted. Or not? It seemed like the hand covering my mouth was removed. I think I swallowed something. I’m not sure about this either. My senses weren’t intact.

It hurts…. No, wait. I had to calm down.

There was no way it could hurt. This was that kind of thing. A fleeting moment. I… because I have Pain Immunity.

My thoughts weren’t wrong. In an instant, all the pain subsided. Now I felt nothing.

Damn System. It seemed a bit erratic since the Forest of the Fallen Night last time, and now it finally did its job. If it’s going to be like this, it’s a bit troublesome.

Park Yul’s face appeared before my eyes.