HIF 57

So you knew.

Park Yul’s calm voice continued.

“Why did you think I wouldn’t be?”

Did Park Yul have any reason to do this much for me? Was there a need for him to take the time to come find me? Especially without asking me anything.

I wasn’t sure. I had buried it, but sometimes it came to mind. The Park Yul from the beginning. The expression that would stiffen briefly when he made eye contact with me was still vividly etched in my memory.

Of course, there had been nothing like that recently. But that didn’t mean everything was resolved.

‘A seed of doubt.’

I thought it just hadn’t sprouted yet. That it was buried in the soil, hidden.

But if I kept showing suspicious behavior like moving to strange places like this, that might become nourishment and someday sprout.

Then he would turn his head away from me. And that entire process would happen without my knowledge.

When he withdrew his gaze from me, I would only then fumble to trace back what had gone wrong. Just like the countless days spent at the Temple. I didn’t want that.

“Because, Yul… I mean…”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t think of what to say next. In front of me, Park Yul met my gaze as if waiting for me to finish speaking. His eyes were calm.

‘What answer do I want to hear right now?’

Even if Park Yul asked me something, I couldn’t resolve all his curiosity. There were more things even I didn’t know.

My head cooled down. It seemed a bit of composure had finally returned. I needed to bring up this topic another time. At least after I could explain everything to Park Yul.

After thinking quietly, I eventually shook my head.

“No. I just… thought you’d be curious.”

As I continued speaking, my head gradually lowered. I didn’t want to see Park Yul’s expression. I wished we could move past this topic now. How do I change the subject? While I was worrying about that,

“There’s no way I wouldn’t be curious.”

Park Yul’s placid voice was heard. My heart instantly dropped with a thud.

I gulped. I couldn’t lift my head. What words would follow next? A demand to tell him everything right now? Or that he couldn’t wait any longer for me to speak?

I exhaled deeply. I steadied my violently shaking heart. If I couldn’t avoid it, I had to face it. I might not be able to answer, but if I said something, maybe my sincerity would get through. The moment I tried to jerk my head up,

“Because I’ve always been curious. Since the first time I saw you.”

Park Yul placed his hand on my head. And slowly tousled my hair. Like his slow touch, Park Yul’s voice continued quietly.

“Whether Yi-han was really okay, what had been so sad and difficult for you.”

I felt a gentle touch enveloping both my cheeks. Park Yul lifted my head.

“And how you are now.”

A bright smile bloomed on Park Yul’s face as he looked at me. Without realizing it, I nodded.

Park Yul removed his hand from me and slightly stretched his arm upward. A blue flower blossom falling from the sky was carefully placed onto Park Yul’s neat palm.

“So I think I also understand what words Yi-han wanted to say now.”

A halo of light shimmered around the flower blossom piled on Park Yul’s hand. Stems growing stealthily from the flower intertwined with each other.

Before I knew it, Park Yul swept over the flower blossoms tied into a bundle as if tidying them. Then he suddenly held it out to me.

“Here, let’s get out of here first.”

A strong fragrance came from the flower cradled in my arms. As I was quietly looking down at it,

Clap.

A clapping sound came from beside me. Simultaneously, a gust of wind blew.

The scenery before my eyes changed in an instant. The walls connected by green vines were nowhere to be seen.

Right in front was a white building. The sky was the same purple dawn. I had unknowingly returned to the place where I had discovered the flower rooted in the ground this morning. To think we could get out so quickly.

Park Yul standing beside me tidied my wind-tousled hair and opened his mouth.

“When I was chosen as the Hero, I went to the Temple for the first time.”

Park Yul took the flower bouquet from my hand and held it in his own. His voice continued slowly.

“So when I see Yi-han, I sometimes think of that time.”

He looked up at the white building before us. I also thought of the Temple when I first saw this building. Things from the past originally come to mind unexpectedly, brushing by. It was an unavoidable thing.

Did Park Yul also hear the voice of the god at the Temple? If so, then Park Yul must have also felt the heavy pressure I had felt earlier.

‘So that was it.’

Only now did I understand the reason Park Yul often stiffened his expression.

The flower bouquet was suddenly held out to me again. Small yellow flowers were nestled here and there among the blue flowers.

“I shouldn’t have had other thoughts when Yi-han was in front of me. I’m sorry.”

“No, Yul. And it was only briefly at the beginning. I know it’s not like that now.”

“…You really knew everything.”

A thick blanket was draped over me. Park Yul gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder and continued.

“Shall we go in now? Everyone must be waiting.”

We walked around the building toward the entrance. A spring dawn breeze blew.

Suddenly, that thought came to me. In the end, Park Yul gave me an answer even though I didn’t ask. Even though I hadn’t told Park Yul anything first.

I looked up at Park Yul quietly walking beside me. Park Yul, sensing my gaze, looked down at me. Park Yul’s eyes curved softly. As if saying everything was okay.

◇

Creak.

We entered the building. Inside the building where darkness had settled, a map glowing white was floating.

“…You’re here.”

Song Ha-gyun’s dazed voice was heard.

Simultaneously, someone rushed over to us. A sweet breeze brushed past. I felt a hand gently embracing me.

“I was worried. I waited. …Please don’t disappear like that, without a word.”

Raen’s voice was trembling. Raen buried his face in my shoulder. I patted the back of Raen who was clinging to me as he hugged me. Beside us, Park Yul also smiled slightly and lightly tapped Raen’s shoulder.

“I told you I’d bring him back, Raen.”

“Leader… You had a hard time.”

“You’re back!”

Min Joo-hyuk, who had approached from the side, placed his hand on my head.

“I told you I couldn’t take my eyes off you, Seon Yi-han. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“…You had a hard time.”

Song Ha-gyun had approached us. Song Ha-gyun quietly met my eyes as if checking my condition.

After the situation calmed down a bit, I brought up the things I had learned. Everyone said we should talk after resting first, but this came first now.

Of course, it was only after sitting on a large, plush chair pulled from somewhere, with a blanket draped over my back, holding a warm pillow, and holding a cup of tea with a medicinal herb scent that I could properly open my mouth.

It really wasn’t easy to even say one word.

“I received divine power.”

I added that the space I had just entered was probably a space imbued with divine power, and that I had learned there that I had received divine power.

I didn’t bring up stories about sacrifices or offerings. That was pointless to talk about. Because it was something I had to find out myself.

I said that what I had used so far was probably divine power, not healing magic. Raen, with his eyes tinged red, cautiously opened his mouth.

“But isn’t it impossible for Divine Power to greatly intervene in the mortal world? Healing shouldn’t be possible either…”

Raen seemed to finish speaking but quickly added.

“Ah. It’s okay if you don’t know, Yi-han. We can find out together.”

I wanted to emulate this aspect of Raen. The appearance of hesitating yet persistently asking what he wants to know.

At first, Raen’s question had put me in a rather difficult situation… But that wasn’t important now. Anyway, I now knew that asking questions also required great courage.

“No, Raen. I’ve thought about it too. The Divine Power the Priests use is borrowed from the god. They offer a price.”

Min Joo-hyuk, who had been listening to my story from the front, stiffened his body briefly. For an unknown reason, Min Joo-hyuk’s gaze turned toward my wrist. Since Min Joo-hyuk didn’t particularly open his mouth, I continued speaking.

“But I directly received divine power within my body. So I think it’s a bit different.”

“Then you don’t need to pay a price?”

Min Joo-hyuk immediately asked me. Because I haven’t paid one. When I nodded, Min Joo-hyuk thought for a moment, then said he understood for now and told me to continue.

“Um… That’s all.”

Everyone seemed to roughly understand the situation. I looked at Raen who was nodding. I had hoped a bit, but no Quest Window appeared saying the quest was completed.

No, maybe it would appear later. The System seemed to be acting a bit erratic right now.

“…Then, the fact that only Park Yul could enter the space…”

“That seems to be it. Because Leader received power directly from the god when he was chosen as the Hero.”

“…Yeah.”

I now understood why Park Yul could enter that space too. Good. The situation was all sorted out. Now…

“…Now rest.”

Song Ha-gyun abruptly pulled my wrist. I got up from my seat and automatically took a step.

Wait, hold on. I think I had something left to say. What was it?

“Yeah, Yi-han. It’s already very late.”

A gentle voice overlapped with the sound of footsteps.

“Aren’t you tired? Call me if you need anything.”

I felt a hand carefully touching and then leaving my head as if stroking it.

“Hey, sleep well.”

I felt a strong pat on my back.

With the bright voice as the last, the door clicked shut. I was instantly inside the room.

‘Huh?’

It happened in the blink of an eye. I blankly stared at the closed door, then turned my back to it again. The inside of the room came into view. Of course, it was the same as before.

Darkness spread outside the large window. Blue flowers slowly falling from the sky were faintly illuminated by the moonlight. That sight seemed as if it was stripping off the shell of morning and revealing the flesh of dawn.

It was quiet. I quietly leaned back in the chair in front of the table. I felt like I had something to say, but I couldn’t remember. It seemed like too many things had happened all day.

I needed to sort out my thoughts a bit. Right, the last Quest Window I saw was a bit strange, and I should also call the System to see if it’s broken…

My eyes seemed to be getting gritty. As if my consciousness was floating, my thoughts flowed slowly. I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep sitting on a hard wooden chair, but it seemed that was a mistaken judgment.

Should I close my eyes for just a moment? Maybe my mind would clear up. Just for a really short while…

Knock knock.

I jolted awake from sleep at the sound of a small knock on the door.

Ah, when did I fall asleep? I was slumped over the table. Outside the window was still tinged with darkness. Thankfully. I hadn’t slept in this position for long.

“Who is it…?”

There was no small presence outside the door. Had they already left?

“…You’re awake. Can I come in?”

A slow voice was heard. It was Song Ha-gyun.

“Yes, come in…”

The moment I tried to straighten my sleepy voice and say that, something surged up from inside. A strange blue light flashed before my eyes.

What? No. Wait. Now? Suddenly?