HIF 47

Slowly Approaching

I thought in the pitch-black darkness that felt like being sucked in.

So it was right that the Future Sight Skill activated. It had been quite a while. What’s going to happen this time? I felt a bit nervous.

Whoosh.

Wind blew toward me. It was a cold wind, like midwinter.

My vision was blurry. It wasn’t as clear as the last Future Sight. In the hazy view, a sparkling red light appeared far away.

I saw golden hair swaying in the wind. It was a back view. It seemed like much more time had passed than now, as the broad back looked even more solid.

That person raised a long sword. The red light I had just seen seemed to be shining from a gem embedded in the sword. The raised sword moved slowly. At that moment.

Whoosh.

I regained consciousness.

A blue window flashed before my eyes. I was leaning against Raen as if being held in his arms, with my head deeply bowed. Blood gushed up from my mouth and spilled out. That blood was staining Raen’s clothes a dark crimson.

“Huff, cough… Hyung, your clothes….”

I quickly tensed my body to pull away from Raen.

“Stay still.”

Raen’s voice was right by my ear. It was a quiet, whispering voice. Raen was holding my shoulders in an embrace.

“It’s okay, calm down.”

The hand calmly stroking my back felt slightly trembling.

“Relax your body, Yi-han.”

Unlike the trembling touch, Raen’s voice didn’t have even a hint of wavering. It was a soothing voice. For a moment, my body truly relaxed. I leaned gently against Raen.

“Where does it hurt right now?”

“…I’m fine, ugh… Hmm, I’m okay.”

“…Don’t talk.”

I really was fine. It was just that I couldn’t speak properly because I was coughing up blood. But I knew well that it was better not to say more here.

“I’m timing it now. How long does it usually take to stop?”

Since I had mentioned that I occasionally coughed up blood, he didn’t seem to question the situation itself. That was fortunate.

But I didn’t know when it would stop either. I shook my head.

“…The amount of blood you’re coughing up is significant. I’ll wait a few more minutes, and if there’s no sign of improvement, I’ll call Ha-gyeon.”

Ah, that won’t do. I quickly raised my head toward Raen. In that instant, my eyes met Raen’s. Raen’s face was closer than I thought.

Raen took a slight breath. A sweet fragrance seemed to emanate from nearby, enough to cover the metallic smell of blood.

Raen gritted his teeth and brought his hand to the back of my head. Then he pressed down firmly. My head was bowed again.

“What’s wrong, Yi-han. Don’t raise your head. The blood hasn’t stopped yet.”

“Raen hyung….”

I spoke in a desperate voice. Raen’s body seemed to flinch slightly.

“I’m sorry. Did I press too hard?”

The pressure from the hand holding the back of my head eased. Raen gently stroked my hair as if apologizing.

“No, that’s fine. It’s just… I’d rather you not mention this.”

The blood was almost stopping now. As I wiped the corner of my mouth with my sleeve, Raen’s voice was heard.

“Not mention that you coughed up blood? Why?”

“We’re leaving tomorrow, right?”

“…Is that important right now?”

Of course it was important. They might worry about my condition again and decide to leave me behind. I raised my head again to speak to Raen. My eyes met Raen’s directly.

“Wait a minute, Yi-han. Why are you crying?”

Raen hurriedly wiped the corners of my eyes. Tears stained Raen’s fingertips.

“I’m not crying.”

I answered immediately. It seemed tears had welled up briefly from coughing up blood. It wasn’t pleasant to feel sticky, hot liquid refluxing.

I spoke firmly, but Raen didn’t seem to believe it much. Raen pulled down the sleeve I had used to cover my mouth. Then, while casting Clean magic around us, he continued.

“If Yi-han doesn’t want it… I won’t say anything.”

…If Raen doesn’t mention it, it’s probably better not to explain this situation further.

“Thank you, hyung.”

“So don’t cry.”

It was always Raen who cried. Even now, Raen’s voice was more choked up.

Anyway, it seemed we could smoothly leave together, which was fortunate. I nodded and got up. Raen carefully held onto me from the side as if supporting me.

“Can you walk?”

“Coughing up blood doesn’t mean it hurts.”

The hand Raen placed on my shoulder tightened.

“How can your body be fine when you’re coughing up blood… No, let’s talk about this later. Where are you trying to go now?”

“Since we’re leaving tomorrow, wouldn’t everyone be discussing the schedule around now?”

“…Right.”

“Hyung, you need to go and discuss it too. I’ll come along.”

There was no audible answer. Then this was an affirmation. Raen definitely needed to go now too.

Raen tried to lay me back down on the bed, but when I firmly expressed my intention, he eventually decided to go down together. He said everyone would be in the first-floor hall.

‘What was that Future Sight I saw earlier?’

I thought as I went down the stairs. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like something happening soon. Seeing Park Yul’s appearance, it seemed like something happening much later.

They said the Future Sight Skill only activates when something important is going to happen. But since it was blurry overall, I couldn’t tell the place or time. Only Park Yul’s solid-looking back and the sharp, gleaming sword were vivid. Since what I saw in Future Sight couldn’t be spoken aloud, figuring this out was my role.

Lost in thought, I went down the stairs, and soon reached the first floor.

“You came down together.”

Everyone was gathered on the first floor. Lines were drawn like spiderwebs on a glowing map floating in the air.

“Is everything sorted out?”

“…Yeah.”

“But Yi-han-ah, you look a bit pale. Are you okay?”

I flinched. I was about to say I was fine, but everyone’s gaze wasn’t directed at me. They seemed to be staring intently at Raen standing behind me.

“Raen hyung?”

I quickly turned around. Raen raised an eyebrow slightly as if nothing had happened. At the same time, a chair was swiftly pulled behind me. Min Joo-hyuk’s firm voice was heard.

“Sit there and listen, Seon Yi-han.”

“But everyone’s standing?”

“…Sit.”

Before I knew it, Song Ha-gyun had approached and placed a hand on my shoulder, then plopped down beside me. While I was still gathering my wits, a hot cup of fragrant tea was already placed in my hand.

“Right. Let’s drink this while we listen.”

Park Yul slowly brought the glass to my lips. Raen must have given some hint. So ‘not telling’ really just meant not voicing it out loud.

Raen opened his mouth with a calm voice, as if nothing had happened.

“Tomorrow, we’re going to the heart of the land. From there, we’ll contact each village.”

“About the Monsters seeping into other places?”

“Yes. If Monsters have seeped in, it’s difficult to detect them with my magic.”

“After checking the Forest of the Fallen Night, the possibility was high that Rifts had opened in other regions as well.”

“That’s right. So we need to quickly relay the message that the situation has changed.”

If that was the case, it was definitely serious. Was the ruined world the System spoke of slowly approaching? I gulped.

“The place we’re going to now isn’t a dangerous area. So you don’t need to be too tense, Yi-han-ah.”

That was a relief. Of course, after making contact, when we actually set out to close the Rifts, it would inevitably be dangerous.

“Raen, did you cast Detection Magic over the entire land?”

“No. There are separate outer regions with a high probability of Rifts opening, so only there. Though it’s meaningless now.”

Raen continued in a serious voice.

“In case the damage spreads to the surrounding villages, we must definitely make contact so they can prepare.”

“You said it’s difficult to contact the smaller villages from here, right, Raen?”

“Leader is right. It would be good to contact everyone from here, but I’m still lacking, so to that extent…”

Park Yul swiftly cut in with a firm voice.

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Right. Absolutely not, Raen. You’re the best at Detection Magic, aren’t you? If it weren’t for you, we’d have had to visit each village one by one.”

“…Yes. I’ll work hard and finish quickly.”

Raen smiled faintly, seeming embarrassed. It didn’t seem like humility; he genuinely seemed to think he was lacking. Why? I thought they said Raen was outstanding even back in the academy.

Beside me, Song Ha-gyun slowly continued.

“…Raen. You’re the core.”

“I wasn’t fishing for that kind of compliment, Ha-gyeon.”

“…I’m always serious.”

Raen calmly pointed to the center of the map again with his hand. A small flower bud was drawn there.

“This plain is always covered in flowers. But not a single flower grows there.”

“Huh? How?”

“Because flowers pour down like rain. Yi-han will understand what I mean when you see it.”

I didn’t quite grasp it yet, but I nodded for now.

“Right. Let’s see, was there anything else to tell?”

“…Ah. Seon Yi-han was curious too.”

“Huh? About what, Ha-gyeon?”

“…The Twisted Place.”

Having said that much, Song Ha-gyun met Park Yul’s eyes and nodded. Park Yul immediately continued.

“Yi-han-ah, you also recognized that the sun not rising in the forest isn’t a normal thing.”

He was exactly right. I nodded too. How did Park Yul understand immediately just from hearing a few short words? Come to think of it, they all seemed to converse without needing long explanations.

‘Wait. But isn’t it the same for me too?’

It seemed like they all figured out what I wanted to ask even before I brought it up. I had already grown accustomed to it without realizing.

For some reason, my heart seemed to thump. My face felt a little warm. Get a grip. I needed to stay alert so I wouldn’t take all these things for granted.

“Right. Yi-han also… noticed that the place is twisted.”

In front of Park Yul’s quietly muttered words, Min Joo-hyuk’s bright voice was heard.

“Hey, Seon Yi-han. You’ll probably find the place we’re going to this time amazing too.”

“Really? Well, you said flowers fall like rain, so.”

“Yeah. I think you’ll like it too.”

I could see Min Joo-hyuk’s brightly smiling face. And then, the sound of a clap was heard.

“Alright, then let’s wrap up and head upstairs. We’re leaving early tomorrow.”

“Yes, Park Yul!”

I slowly climbed the stairs. So tomorrow, we set off again.

I never thought I’d be able to travel to so many places like this. The time spent in the temple, looking down at only white scenery, felt like a distant memory.

My mind felt a little unsettled. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to sleep well tonight?

Of course, that was a ridiculous thought. Thoughts and reality didn’t match.

I fell asleep in an instant. I was always like this.

Tomorrow… I won’t oversleep, will I?