HIF 73

Do You Know

Waking up in the middle of the night, Seon Yi-han stared blankly at the Quest Window appearing against the backdrop of pitch-black darkness.

Since this was a two-hour quest, a little less than an hour and a half had passed since I fainted. I felt like letting out a hollow laugh, realizing I had reached a point where I could gauge how long I had been unconscious through a quest.

I felt the sensation of a soft bed against my back. I was currently lying down with the blanket covering me up to my chest, my hands placed neatly atop my stomach outside the covers.

‘Good. At least I made it back to the lodging.’

I trusted that Min Joo-hyuk would bring me back safely. Though, of course, he hadn’t woken me up. It seemed my desperate wishes hadn’t reached him.

Still, I was relieved that not much time had passed since I blacked out. Once Min Joo-hyuk realized I was awake, he would probably worry a bit less. As I tried to push myself up, I felt a cautious hand touch my forehead.

“You’re awake.”

Raen was sitting in a chair beside the bed. The dark energy of the night was spilling in through the window next to him. The hot air of a summer night blew through the open window.

A lamp was lit on the desk, but perhaps the light had been dimmed, as it wasn’t bright enough to clearly see his face. Raen’s hair, cast in shadow, fluttered slightly in the breeze.

Without a word, Raen gently patted my forehead. After a long silence, I was the first to speak.

“Hyung. I’m okay now.”

“What… is okay?”

Raen’s voice, tinged with tears, slowly pierced through my hazy thoughts.

“I heard. About what happened. Were you very frightened? How is your body? Is anything uncomfortable right now?”

“Everything is fine. Raen-hyung, but is Min Joo-hyuk okay?”

Upon hearing my words, Raen squeezed my hand and slowly lowered his head. Burying his face against my chest, he spoke.

“Why… does it hurt so much to hear that Yi-han is okay?”

Because his face was buried in my chest, his voice sounded muffled, and I couldn’t understand everything he said. However, before I could ask him to repeat it, Raen lifted his head. He continued in a much calmer voice.

“I think Ju-hyeok needs some time.”

“Time for what?”

Come to think of it, Min Joo-hyuk had injured his hand when he pulled the sword out of my shoulder. Worried, I was about to ask where he was, but in that moment, unexpected words followed.

“He said he can’t be by your side because he feels too sorry. He asked me to make sure to tell you he’s sorry once you woke up. And to get plenty of rest.”

“What? There’s no reason for that, so why…”

I needed to see Min Joo-hyuk’s face and talk to him. As I put strength into my body to get up immediately, Raen gently stroked my hair and continued.

“Yi-han. The village representative confessed everything.”

I had forgotten because I was disoriented from just waking up. Initially, we had gone there because we were worried everyone might be in a dangerous place.

“Are the hyungs okay?”

“It was true that the place was dangerous, but we weren’t there. And the village representative knew that too.”

“That’s a relief. Well, the target must have been me and Min Joo-hyuk from the start. What was the reason?”

“Before that, let me say one thing. Nothing can be a justifiable reason for Yi-han getting hurt. You know that, right?”

“Yes. I know.”

“Right. So you don’t need to let that person’s words weigh on your heart.”

It was only natural. Min Joo-hyuk had almost been hurt, so no matter the reason, I could not forgive the village representative’s actions.

Raen slowly helped me sit up and supported my back. Then, he brought a glass directly to my lips and tilted it. I listened to Raen’s words while slowly swallowing the lukewarm tea that smelled of medicinal herbs.

“He said his daughter was attacked by monsters and is hovering between life and death.”

“Ugh… cough.”

I suddenly swallowed the tea the wrong way and started choking. Raen quickly pulled the glass away and calmly rubbed my back.

“Was it too hot? Was I too rushed?”

“No… no.”

“I understand. Don’t shake your head. You’ll get dizzy.”

Raen turned my face toward him and slowly wiped away the tea that had trickled down my chin with his finger.

I think I knew which daughter Raen was talking about. It had to be the child named Yeon Seo-ah whom I had treated back then. Then, did he mean that when he said it was too late? Even though I had caught my breath, I felt as if my throat were being strangled, and I spoke in a trembling voice.

“So was it revenge? Because we were late?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Raen answered lightly and softly stroked my cheek.

“He said we should suffer the same way, that we should feel what it’s like to lose someone precious.”

Raen’s touch felt cautious and somehow affectionate, as if he were touching a precious object.

“He succeeded in that. I almost lost someone so precious… someone more precious than myself, and the world went dark. Thank you for waking up.”

Because of the shadows, I still couldn’t see his expression, but the transparent droplets flowing down his cheeks sparkled clearly, reflecting the light.

It felt as though a heavy guilt resided within the small smile in his voice, so I instinctively reached out and hugged Raen tightly. I could feel Raen’s body stiffen.

I felt a thumping, unsure whose heartbeat it was. The air I inhaled deeply enough to feel overwhelmed contained a sweet scent. I tightened my arms, hugging him even harder as if clinging to him.

“Raen-hyung. Don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying. Yi-han woke up safely, after all.”

“Why are you so heartbroken, Raen-hyung? It’s not your fault… it’s not our fault.”

“Yi-han.”

“You know, hyung. We aren’t the ones the village representative should take revenge on. It’s sad that the child suffered, but still…”

“Yi-han. Breathe. Everything is okay. Slowly, take a deep breath.”

Leaning on the voice that seemed to calmly soothe me, I steadied my ragged breathing. I buried my face deeper into Raen’s embrace.

“Your thoughts seem more complicated regarding other things than your own condition. What pains me most right now is that Yi-han was hurt.”

As I struggled to find words to answer, Raen continued in a soft voice.

“I saw the expression on your face when I told you the child was hovering between life and death.”

“…Yes.”

“It’s natural to feel heartache at the fact that someone is suffering. You don’t have to deny that. But please, don’t carry the guilt as well.”

“But I can’t help it.”

“Then shake it off. Guilt is not Yi-han’s burden. There are other people who must bear that. Like a Hero who couldn’t save anyone.”

Hearing such an absurd statement, I instinctively pushed away from Raen’s embrace and snapped my head up.

“That’s not true, hyung.”

Before I could say more, Raen cupped my cheeks with both hands, firmly fixing my face in place. Then, he lowered his head and pressed his forehead against mine. A hot teardrop seemed to plop onto my cheek and flow down.

“But, do you know? My greatest guilt is… that Yi-han threw himself away like that again. It was unbearable for me to see Yi-han unable to wake up.”

Having said that, Raen gave a bitter smile and pulled his body away from me. Then, he stroked my hair.

“Please, don’t try to sacrifice yourself so nonchalantly. Will you promise me?”

The System had told me that I didn’t feel things like pain, but this was a bit difficult. I hadn’t thrown my body away, nor had I done anything like a sacrifice. According to the future I had seen, the situation earlier was originally something that would have injured Min Joo-hyuk.

So, the ones sacrificing and throwing their bodies away were you all. I was just watching quietly from the side, occasionally reaching out my hand.

“This is what I’ve always wanted to say, hyung.”

What does it matter if I’m a Healer? You all are hurting this much, and there was nothing more I could do. You are saving the world, yet I couldn’t even save the four of you.

“Did you check the child’s condition?”

“No. It hasn’t been long since we made the village representative drink the Confession Agent. There are still things to find out, so I’ll go see the child immediately after that.”

“Then where is the village representative now?”

“In the underground prison. Everyone is there.”

I didn’t know such a small village had a prison. Then again, it’s a place where people live; no matter how small the village, there’s no way there aren’t people who commit crimes.

“I want to meet the village representative. I want to go too.”

First, I had to confirm if the child named Yeon Seo-ah was indeed the village representative’s daughter. It was certain based on the circumstances, but just in case. After hesitating for a moment, Raen spoke.

“Alright. Let’s go together. I’m sure Yi-han has things he wants to ask. But before that…”

Raen moved to sit beside me and reached out to slowly pull down the collar of my clothes. Oh, since it was summer, I wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

“Hyung, why?”

In the faint darkness, with my reflection clearly captured in his vivid golden eyes, Raen spoke with a serious expression.

“Just a moment.”

Raen pulled the clothes off my shoulder completely. Just as I was thinking it was a bit embarrassing since my collarbone was fully exposed, Raen flicked his fingers and created a small, flat container.

Raen took a small amount of translucent white ointment from inside with his finger and applied it directly to my shoulder. Then, he carefully moved his finger, rubbing the sticky ointment over my skin.

A thick, sweet scent, seemingly mixed with a hint of fruit, wafted up. The feeling of something cold and slippery touching my skin was ticklish, making my body tense.

“Hng… it’s ticklish, hyung.”

As I let out a sound unconsciously at the unfamiliar sensation, I heard Raen take a short, sharp breath.