HIF 20

I Believe In Myself.

The Intermediate Future Sight skill was automatically used, and not many days had passed since then.

“Leader, I’m going to the West Forest for a bit today.”

Raen, who was eating lunch late with a tired face, spoke up. Park Yul, who was in front of him, immediately continued the conversation.

“Around when? Should I go with you, Raen?”

“I’m going to go slowly later. I’ll go alone.”

Raen, who poked a small piece of bread with a fork, continued.

“I’m just going to check the magic I left there. It’s okay, Leader.”

“Okay, the West Forest is relatively stable, so it should be fine. But be careful.”

Raen nodded. Raen, who got up from his seat, floated the dishes and moved. It seemed like he was cleaning up because he had finished eating.

The sunlight that came in through the window illuminated Raen’s red hair. I thought as I watched his slowly receding back.

‘Today is the day.’

I had a feeling. The future I saw, that thing is happening today. Suddenly, my blood seemed to cool down. My fingertips trembled.

No, it’s okay. I can change it. Raen will be here tomorrow too. I tried to calm myself and opened my mouth.

“Raen. I want to go with you too.”

I tried to speak calmly, but I couldn’t hide the faint tension.

No matter how much I thought about it for the past few days, the only way was for me to go with him. I couldn’t reveal the future, and it was strange to suddenly stop Raen from leaving.

Saying to go with someone else wasn’t a good idea either. I don’t know what will happen, so what difference does it make how many people go? Besides, everyone could be in danger.

So, the most certain way was this. In case the worst situation happened, I could react quickly.

“Yi-han-ah, why suddenly? I don’t want Yi-han to go.”

I looked at Park Yul, who added that it might be dangerous.

He just said it was a stable place. Of course, I understood what he meant. He’s worried because I can’t use magic.

And it was actually a dangerous place. To be exact, it wasn’t me who was in danger, but Raen.

I immediately said what I had prepared in advance.

“It’s not a dangerous place enough for Raen to go alone. I can’t just stay here forever, Yul.”

“Yi-han-ah. There’s plenty of time in the future. I don’t think you need to rush. It’s not too late to prepare properly and go out later.”

I was about to continue saying that I would go with him, but Park Yul’s attitude was more stubborn than I thought. And everything he said was valid.

I was naive. I hadn’t even properly talked to someone, let alone persuaded them, so I thought it would be enough to say this much.

I was short-sighted. I should have thought more carefully. But I couldn’t just let it go like this and send Raen alone.

‘What should I say?’

My head was all messed up. Even after experiencing this situation of having to think of something quickly several times, I couldn’t get used to it.

Raen seemed to have the same opinion as Park Yul, but I still had to try to persuade him. With shaking eyes, I turned my head towards Raen.

At that moment, Raen and I made eye contact. It seemed like he had been looking at me the whole time.

“Yi-han.”

Raen’s expression seemed stiff. He also felt nervous. Is there a reason for Raen to be nervous? While I was thinking that, Raen carefully continued.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

And he said silently with his mouth.

‘Last time.’

A thought flashed through my mind. The thing Raen was talking about was that. Last time, he saw me cutting my arm to use the Future Sight skill, and he told me to tell him anytime if I had something to say.

I never thought that Raen would interpret my actions that way. But now was not the time to explain that. I nodded urgently.

Seeing me like that, Raen opened his mouth.

“Leader. I’ll go with him.”

I was glad that Raen accepted my stubbornness.

Park Yul seemed to stop me at first, but after talking to Raen for a few words, he eventually agreed. He seemed to think it would be okay to some extent since he said the West Forest was relatively stable earlier.

Yellow sunlight was pouring brightly through the window. Around the time when that sunlight turns red, Raen will…. Raen will be back safe and sound.

‘It’s okay.’

The quest was still not successful. Raen must have still not completely dispelled his suspicion of me in one corner of his heart.

But I don’t doubt myself. I can do it. I repeated inwardly as if it were a spell.

◇

Raen soon took me into his room. Then, he waited for me to speak as if he had a story he wanted to hear. But of course, I had nothing to say.

“It’s okay, Yi-han. Tell me slowly.”

Raen, who added a small thank you, reached out to my head and patted it gently.

Raen waved his other hand in the air and opened the drawer of the table next to the bed. Several small chocolates wrapped in packaging floated up from inside.

The chocolates that flew up gently piled up on the desk right next to me. Raen took one of them and peeled off the wrapper with his long fingers. And he slowly brought it to my mouth.

“Say ah.”

The sweet scent of chocolate wafted over me. Raen smiled softly. When Raen has this expression, the slightly edgy atmosphere is relieved and he looks much more comfortable.

At that sight, I unknowingly opened my mouth slightly. Raen’s fingertips touched my lips slightly and fell off. The chocolate slowly melted in my mouth. Sweetness spread deeply.

Raen, who was quietly examining my face, smiled faintly again. And he continued.

“Then, first, I’ll briefly explain where we’re going now.”

Raen tapped the crystal ball on the desk with his fingertip. Light burst out from inside and a small map floated up. Raen pointed to a forest in one corner of the map.

“It’s here. I’m going to supplement the Detection Magic I put up.”

“Detection Magic?”

“Yes. I can feel it when Monsters get out and move.”

It was amazing that there was such magic. Raen continued that Monsters only attack without exception, so they must be dealt with quickly.

“Oh, don’t worry, we’re not going because Monsters were detected this time. Just for a moment, I felt something different…. I need to check.”

Raen was silent as if he was lost in thought for a while. Raen, who was quietly biting his lip, suddenly opened his eyes wide as if he had remembered something he had forgotten.

Then, he took something out of his Robe and placed it on my palm. It was a blue jewel with an angular shape.

“It’s a Return Stone. Just hold it tightly in your hand and break it. Keep it just in case.”

I looked up at Raen with a dazed expression. The shape of the Return Stone was familiar. It was the very thing that Raen couldn’t hold in his hand when I saw it in Future Sight.

My heart became a little complicated. It must be a big injury that he can’t even use Teleport magic.

“Yi-han.”

I heard Raen’s voice. Raen folded my fingers one by one and made me hold the jewel tightly. Then, he gently wrapped my hand and bent his back slightly.

The Robe surrounding Raen’s shoulders slipped down. It seemed like there was a sweet scent.

“Shall we go now?”

The sun had already set low.

Red sunset was pouring in through the large window behind Raen. Hair redder than that sunset shone as if sparkling. My figure was completely reflected in his golden eyes.

The jewel in my hand was hard. And somehow, it felt so heavy.

I felt the strength of him holding my hand tightly. Only then did I realize that my hands were shaking. I nodded, making eye contact with Raen.

“Close your eyes for a moment.”

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew.

When I opened my eyes, it was an unfamiliar place. No, it was a familiar place. It was the future I had seen, the place where Raen had fallen alone.

My body stiffened with tension. The floor was a dirt road, and the air was filled with the unique scent of the forest. A vivid scene seemed to be drawn before my eyes.

“Yi-han.”

I heard a soft voice from the front. Raen patted my shoulder. Warmth was conveyed every time his hand touched and fell.

“It’s okay. Don’t be nervous.”

Raen put his palm on my cheek and lifted my head slightly.

Our eyes met. Raen’s gaze was directed straight at me. Red sunset was spread out behind him.

A soft breeze blew. Raen’s slightly tied red hair flowed down slightly. The Robe swayed shallowly.

Suddenly, I felt like the sweet scent around me was spreading more intensely. Enough to cover the smell of the trees in the forest.

“Yes, Raen. I’m okay now.”

I was really okay. Because we were still here, still perfectly together.

◇

Raen walked slowly along the forest path, matching my pace.

The conversation continued slowly. Raen was very worried about me. Even though he didn’t need to.

It seemed better to clear up the misunderstanding at this time. Misunderstandings that have not been resolved will accumulate and swell to the point where they cannot be reversed later. This moment with Raen alone was a good time to tell the truth.

“Raen.”

I called Raen in a trembling voice. When I actually spoke, it sounded like an excuse, and I felt a little sorry for Raen, who might be having a fancy misunderstanding. I was also a little embarrassed.

That situation was not something else, but a ritual to see the future, I spat out the gist of this story intermittently. Looking at me like that, Raen opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Yi-han. Can I ask why you wanted to see the future?”

I had already thought about the answer to this. I spoke without hesitation.

“You can prepare if you know the future.”

“So, how many times did you bleed like that and see the future you wanted to see?”

“…No, I didn’t see anything. I guess it’s because I didn’t receive proper training at the temple.”

I didn’t expect him to ask this. But there was no need to honestly tell him that I saw the future. I wouldn’t be able to say it anyway. I smiled faintly and continued.

“I’m just not going to do that anymore. So don’t worry now.”

Raen, who was staring at me silently, turned his gaze forward.

“Yi-han. I’m scared sometimes.”

It was a voice that was quietly uttered as if confessing. Raen continued calmly, still keeping his eyes on the front.

“I’m afraid that I won’t be able to do it properly, that I’ll end up ruining everything. I’m afraid of that.”

His expression seemed hesitant, but his voice was unwavering. Raen, who was slightly biting his lip, turned his head towards me. Lightly sparkling golden eyes were directed at me.

“So, I think I know a little bit about what kind of heart you wanted to see the future with.”

What… heart…? I clearly started talking to clear up the misunderstanding, but the situation was flowing in a different direction.