HIF 53

A Predetermined Answer

First, Park Yul tried to feed me small pieces of fruit after each meal.

“Yul, I’m full now.”

“You’re eating even less than usual. You already ate very little before. Then, would you like to try just one piece?”

“I always eat a lot… No, that’s not it. Then I’ll eat it.”

“Alright. Let Yi-han do the eating.”

The meaning of “eating” that Park Yul spoke of might have been just chewing and swallowing. Of course, the soft fruit that melted smoothly in my mouth was delicious.

Song Ha-gyun placed a warm cup of tea in my hand. It had a fragrant aroma.

“…Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, Ha-gyun.”

“…Not feeling dizzy?”

Song Ha-gyun calmly checked my pulse and asked various questions. To his many inquiries, I repeatedly answered that I was fine.

In the spot where Song Ha-gyun had been, a thick blanket, a potion, and a small pouch containing grass flowers remained.

Min Joo-hyuk arrived with a cool, breezy air and tirelessly recounted what had happened while I was asleep.

“You know what? Yesterday, Park Yul and Raen talked for about two hours. Ha-gyun also talked with Raen for quite a while.”

“That’s a long conversation. But Ha-gyun too…? What about you, Min Joo-hyuk?”

“I was waiting for you to wake up.”

“……”

“Just kidding. Since the others had already talked, I didn’t have much to say. And if I started talking too, Raen would have been too exhausted.”

Listening to Min Joo-hyuk’s words, I realized Park Yul might have been quite considerate of me. That was a relief.

Before leaving the room, Min Joo-hyuk placed a lollipop in my mouth. It tasted like chocolate. How is that possible?

Raen carefully opened the door, entered, and placed a small caramel in my hand. It tasted like milk. Raen, who had spoken calmly at first, eventually ended his words while shedding tears.

“I’m sorry, Yi-han. From now on, I won’t push myself like that again. Absolutely. So, Yi-han… please don’t do that either. Please…”

The tears flowed down without even a small sob, like a broken faucet. No matter how many times I said I was fine, it took a while for them to stop.

Still, seeing Raen firmly promise not to overexert himself put my mind at ease.

Was the brief moment I wavered so shocking to everyone? It wasn’t impossible. From now on, I needed to stay alert and maintain composure in any situation.

Fortunately, everyone took turns visiting, and they continued to communicate from the third floor. If they had focused only on me, it would have felt a bit burdensome.

Wait. Does that mean it’s not burdensome now?

‘…No, let’s think about that later.’

Anyway, after spending a day eating only sweet things that felt like they would melt away, I could finally return to the room I had been staying in only after night fell again.

◇

I opened my eyes wide at dawn. Everything was quiet.

I hadn’t been asleep for long, but I was already awake. Since I had returned to my room, there was no one around, and it felt empty.

The air had settled calmly. This silence already felt unfamiliar.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

The familiarity built over more than a decade had crumbled in just a few days—it was hard to believe. I now felt more accustomed to being with all of you than being alone.

No matter how much I tried to deny it, it was true. Admitting it made me feel a little embarrassed. My cheeks felt hot, and my heart beat a little faster.

I took a deep breath. Only then did my mind calm down a bit. I sat up in bed and swung my legs over the side.

Looking toward the window, I saw red flowers fluttering down against a strange purplish-black sky. It looked like a rain of blood.

In the vase on the table, four or five blue flowers were arranged. Their petals were pointed at the tips, resembling stars. It seemed someone had placed them there.

Right next to it was a small lamp. The light was off.

Click.

When I pressed the small switch beside the lamp, a soft light spread around. This seemed to work on a similar principle to the lamp I had used in the Temple. Who brought it here? It was a relief it didn’t require Mana.

I picked up the lamp by its wooden handle. The rough wood grain brushed against my fingertips.

‘Should I go outside?’

I thought about it but shook my head. The empty space outside seemed too vast. I didn’t want to stand there alone.

But I didn’t feel like going back to sleep either. My mind was clear.

‘Then, should I go to the third floor?’

The third floor felt a bit more open than here. Maybe it was because the windows were wider. Since I was awake anyway, I wanted to be there.

I draped the blanket that was hanging over the chair around myself. Even though the dawn air subtly permeated the room, my body felt warm. Holding the lamp in one hand, I left the room.

I passed through the desolate hallway and climbed the stairs. The sound of my slippers dragging on the floor echoed quietly.

‘Huh, why is the light on?’

When I reached the second floor, I saw a faint light seeping from far down the hallway. It was the room at the very end. Light escaping through the door crack thinly covered the dark hallway.

‘Still not asleep? Or did they wake up like me?’

Either way, it didn’t matter. Maybe I could be with them for a while.

Knock knock.

When I knocked softly on the door, it slowly opened. Behind the opened door, white papers floated densely throughout the room.

“Yi-han?”

A voice came from behind. The papers floating in the air stacked neatly and gathered in one place.

As the papers blocking my view disappeared, I saw Raen in the open room. He was sitting leaning against the bed, wearing round glasses.

Raen took off the glasses he was wearing and made them vanish in an instant. Then he stood up and hurried over to me.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Raen carefully held my forearm and led me into the room. Then he sat me down on the bed where he had been sitting just moments ago.

Raen slowly slipped the slippers off my feet. Then he made fluffy-looking socks appear in the air and put them on my feet. The soft texture brushing against my feet tickled.

“Are you cold? Or can’t you sleep?”

Hearing the sudden barrage of questions, my mind sharpened.

“I’m fine. I just woke up. What about you, Raen? You said you wouldn’t overexert yourself anymore.”

“That’s right. I usually do this much anyway.”

If he usually does this much, is it not overexertion? Or is he overexerting himself regularly? It’s not an easy standard. As long as it’s not a state of mana depletion, his stamina is probably being chipped away bit by bit.

This wasn’t just Raen; everyone was like this. They couldn’t sleep properly and were always busy.

For what reason are they going to such lengths…? Right, to save the world. I know that. But I still don’t fully understand why all of you are sacrificing yourselves so blindly for the world.

“Why aren’t you resting?”

“Huh? I am resting.”

I placed the lamp I had brought on my lap. Then I took hold of Raen’s wrist. Raen quietly sat down beside me, following my lead.

Thinking about it, I had used acquire on Raen twice so far. While everyone had that tendency, Raen seemed particularly prone to pushing himself.

‘It was the same the first time I used acquire.’

Back then, if Raen hadn’t insisted on staying behind to handle things alone, he would have been safe. This time was no different.

I could have healed Raen and taken his injuries many times. But would that be a fundamental solution? Not at all.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that sudden situations wouldn’t occur. Situations where I couldn’t use the System’s abilities, or where the abilities disappeared entirely. Or where I couldn’t be by his side.

“I’ve never thought you needed to do better than you are now. Not once.”

The stack of papers Raen had neatly organized earlier was piled high on the table. Even from here, I could see the densely packed black letters.

“You’re already putting in more than enough effort. Everyone probably thinks so.”

“Thank you for saying that, Yi-han.”

“…It’s the truth.”

Raen turned his head to look at me. Then he gently stroked my hair.

“Nothing is ever perfect.”

“Do you have to be perfect?”

“No. You can’t be perfect. So, I’m trying to get as close as possible.”

Raen slowly wrapped his arm around my shoulder. Then he laid me back. The soft bed touched my back. I felt a blanket lightly covering me.

I could see the flickering light of the lamp on the ceiling. Gazing at it quietly, I continued speaking.

“Until when?”

“Forever.”

What does it feel like to walk toward an unattainable goal?

I looked up at Raen sitting beside me. Staring at my reflection clearly visible in his golden eyes turned toward me, I suddenly remembered something.

‘Right. I haven’t completed the quest yet.’

Now, I just needed to give the gift to Raen. I had been so distracted that I forgot. It was a relief I remembered now, even if late.

I handed the Havarium I had in my embrace to Raen. Raen took it and twirled it once.

“It’s pretty.”

“It’s a gift for you. Though it will disappear over time.”

“That’s why I’ll treasure it even more. Thank you.”

Raen picked up the lamp resting on my lap. At the same time, the window swung open. A cold wind blew in, and a few red flowers flew toward us. The scent of flowers spread.

The flowers that flew in settled calmly onto the lamp. Soon, green stems grew, wrapping around the wooden frame of the lamp.

“This is my gift to you.”

The lamp’s soft light swayed and spread around the petals. Sitting in place, I hugged the lamp. It felt warm.

“Thank you, Raen.”

Now, even if I went back to my room, I probably wouldn’t feel as if it were empty.

“There’s still a little while until morning. Go get some more sleep, Yi-han.”

“You too. Make sure to rest properly.”

I closed the door and left. I thought about returning to my room but decided to visit the third floor as originally planned.

As I climbed the stairs, I saw the open sky all around. The windows were wide open.

A bright moon shone from high above. It felt as if I were in the very center of darkness. But I wasn’t scared. Perhaps because of the flowers wrapped around the lamp, a faint floral scent lingered.

I approached the window and crouched down. The ground visible outside was entirely red. Crimson flowers were still steadily piling up on it. Seeing that, something suddenly came to mind.

‘Didn’t I just succeed in a quest?’

The moment I thought that, I finally heard a ding sound. System, you’re really being stubborn now. You should have activated before I even thought about it.

Immediately, a new Status Window appeared.

Huh? Is it a reward that can only be used on one person? Moreover, this time, it didn’t even ask if I wanted to use it; the choices appeared right away.

As if urging my answer, the Status Window remained clearly in place without wavering. It didn’t disappear.

Well, if that’s how it is, the answer was already decided. Without hesitation, I spoke.