HIF 21

Acquire

It wasn’t what Raen was thinking. But if I denied it here, I had nothing else to say. My heart was heavy with the conversation having gone awry somehow.

Raen met my gaze. His face was flushed red in the sunset. Seeing his heated face reminded me of the silent tears that had flowed from Raen’s eyes last time.

In the end, I could only nod silently. Raen placed his hand on my head and gently stroked it. He wore a bitter smile.

“Even so, I hope you don’t hurt yourself to that extent…”

Raen’s touch fell away without lingering. His large, neat hand moved away.

Just as I thought I might miss the warmth that had touched me, Raen lightly grasped the end of my left sleeve. It was a cautious movement, as if holding crumbling fallen leaves.

“Did it hurt?”

I answered his hesitant question immediately. Of course, I didn’t feel any pain thanks to the Passive Effect.

It felt like everyone had asked me if it hurt several times now. But every time I said I was okay, they all looked even more worried. …Raen looked like that now too.

Shouldn’t they worry less if I’m not in pain and I’m okay? I don’t know why they look like that. I didn’t know what else to say here. I did my best.

“Yi-han, I told you. That’s not okay.”

No. It’s okay. I felt wronged if he kept saying that. If I’m okay, then I’m okay.

…Ah, Raen doesn’t know my situation.

Raen couldn’t possibly know about the System or the Passive Effect. Calming down, I realized that Raen had reason to think that way.

There was no choice. Then I would just have to avoid showing him situations that would worry him as much as possible.

As I was resolving this in my mind, Raen suddenly stopped walking beside me.

“…Raen?”

Raen’s gaze was directed far away to the left. Without a flicker.

My heart seemed to drop in that instant. The situation I saw with Future Sight was being superimposed.

Is it now? Is it starting now? It was too fast. I wasn’t ready yet.

“Yi-han, wait a moment. Stay here.”

Raen lightly tapped my shoulder. Then he turned and slowly moved away.

I couldn’t just stand still. Following behind him, I saw Raen stop and face me.

“It might be dangerous. Wait just a moment.”

Raen’s expression was firm. But when I overcame my embarrassment and said that I was more afraid of being alone, he reluctantly matched my pace.

Of course, I’m not afraid of being alone. It’s just an excuse to go with Raen.

At the place where we stopped, the same situation as I had seen in Future Sight was unfolding. The black, torn mark in the air was eerie. Raen spoke with a serious expression in front of it.

“It’s strange. A Rift is open, but Detection Magic doesn’t sense any Monsters.”

Then is that tree-shaped thing not a Monster? Future Sight only shows the situation and doesn’t explain it. The speculation was up to me, but I couldn’t even guess.

Still, since Raen sensed that the situation was strange, should I suggest that we go back for now? Would it be okay to say this much? As I was sorting out my chaotic thoughts,

“Yi-han. Go back first.”

Raen’s voice broke through my reverie. Already, a faint light was covering the Rift. Raen faced me and firmly grabbed my shoulders.

“You still have the Return Stone, right?”

“What about you, Raen? Aren’t you coming with me?”

“I have something I need to do. Yi-han, go back and tell everyone.”

“…Tell them what?”

“Tell them to come here as soon as they’re ready. I’ll handle things in the meantime.”

So he’s not going to leave here until the situation is resolved.

It wasn’t surprising. Maybe I had vaguely guessed that Raen would do this.

I shook my head, meeting Raen’s gaze.

“If you’re not going, I’m not going either.”

“That won’t do. The situation isn’t fully understood yet, and if I’m not prepared, Yi-han might be in danger.”

“It’s just as dangerous for you.”

For you too, Raen. I wanted to say that, but even if I did, Raen wouldn’t turn back.

So what I needed now was a valid reason for me to stay by Raen’s side. I continued calmly.

“Using the Return Stone too. You said my Mana form isn’t normal. I might end up somewhere strange if I use the Return Stone.”

“The Return Stone works independently of Mana. Don’t worry, Yi-han. That won’t happen.”

“There shouldn’t be any healing magic either, but I use it.”

“……”

“Raen, situations always change. Nothing is certain.”

I knew that it was half forced. But it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Because nothing is certain. Living is originally a series of unexpected events. There’s no such thing as things going according to plan in this world.

Yes. There’s no way there could be. Only then can I change this future.

“If there’s a possibility of danger no matter what, I’d rather just stay here with you.”

Raen bit his lip. He seemed lost in thought. Before Raen could find a loophole in my words, I quickly opened my mouth.

“Let’s go together, Raen. Then it’ll be okay.”

I’ll make it okay, so it’s fine. If you can’t give up on the world, I won’t give up on you either.

I slowly moved into the sunset. The sound of two pairs of footsteps followed.

◇

I was anxious. A lot of time had passed.

The dense trees everywhere, the Rifts torn in the air. They all looked similar. I couldn’t tell when Raen would be attacked.

Perhaps because I looked so nervous, Raen asked me how I was doing several times. This wasn’t the time to be worrying about me.

After applying magic to the fourth Rift we found, Raen opened his mouth.

“I still want Yi-han to go back now.”

“Raen, I said earlier…”

“I’m not just saying it. I’ve been thinking about how the Return Stone works, and really, nothing will happen.”

He was even thinking about that. But what couldn’t be done, couldn’t be done.

“I’m not being stubborn for no reason either. You’re going to be here, Raen.”

“Yi-han, I’m a Hero. It’s only natural.”

“What about me? I couldn’t make a Hero’s Oath, but still…”

It was unfair to put the burden only on them. I didn’t know if anything would change if I shared the burden, but it would be better than nothing.

“Still, we can be together, right?”

“Because Yi-han is also in the world I want to save.”

I wanted to tell Raen, who said that so calmly, that I… what I wanted to save was them.

Since it seemed like they didn’t include themselves in the world they were saving, I wanted to be someone who saved them.

‘And I have the ability to do that.’

The moment I was about to open my mouth, a chill ran down my spine.

“Yi-han!”

I thought I heard a faint cracking sound.

Raen, who had been next to me, was already behind me.

When I turned my head, the thick branch that had stretched out was already back in place. Below it, red droplets drew a line, drip, drip.

Rustle.

Raen raised his trembling hand and used magic. Vines rose from the ground.

It was the same. Damn it, it was the same. I felt like my body was turning cold.

Raen was collapsing to the ground. I forced my feet, which wouldn’t move from fear, to move. This wasn’t the time to be like this.

I went to Raen’s side, who was kneeling and trembling. Blood was flowing from the corner of Raen’s mouth. A frighteningly red pool of blood was gradually widening around him.

“Yi-han… danger… go back.”

Raen spoke like a breath, brokenly.

Hearing those words, I snapped to my senses. My head was spinning.

Should I use the Return Stone and go back with Raen? But that wouldn’t heal Raen’s injuries. Should I use Healing? The cooldown was still active.

Then, after all, there was only one answer.

The sunset was setting redly. It looked like it was pressing down on Raen.

I reached out to Raen. I brought both hands to Raen’s face. The cheeks that touched my hands were cold. I carefully wiped the blood flowing from the corner of Raen’s mouth.

Raen slowly raised his head and looked at me. His eyes were filled with pain and shaking. Nevertheless, what he was conveying to me was one thing.

‘Go back.’

I could hear Raen’s desperate voice.

At the same time, a ding sounded.

I laughed. I was so glad that there were still options left.

‘Acquire.’

As soon as I thought that, a blue light burst out.

It was a light that was incomparably brighter than when I used Healing. The light enveloped Raen’s entire body.

“…Yi-han?”

I thought I heard a voice that sounded flustered. Immediately, the light that had been enveloping Raen’s body poured into me.

“Ah.”

My knees buckled. There was no pain, but I could feel the strength leaving my body. Looking down, I saw that the waist of the clothes I was wearing was turning red.

A blue Quest Window flickered before my eyes.

As a reward for success, you have acquired ‘Acquire Hero and Others (1 time)’.

I didn’t want to see this right now. Annoying, as soon as I thought that, the Quest Window became transparent.

At the same time, I felt a hand urgently grabbing me from the front.

I struggled to lift my head. Raen’s figure was blurry in my hazy vision. It looked like he was shouting something, but I couldn’t hear it well.

‘I’m not going to die like this, am I?’

Of course, I won’t die. Because I have a Passive Skill. Thinking about it, it was really convenient. I don’t feel pain, and I don’t die. Why did the System give me this ability?

The thoughts that continued sporadically flowed incoherently. Suddenly, a slight smile escaped my lips in relief. In the end, both Raen and I were safe. The future was safely changed.

“…Hee, cough.”

I opened my mouth, but it was hard to continue speaking because blood was pouring out. Still, I squeezed out the strength I didn’t have and spat out the words. Now was the perfect time to say these words.

“Raen, I… believe you.”

I believe that he will take me back safely, even though I can’t support myself. I could trust Raen.

Because he said that I was included in the world he wanted to save. So he’ll take me back, right? At least he won’t leave me behind because I’m heavy.

‘So, please trust me now too.’

With this much, I’m a trustworthy person now, right? It seemed like the success of Raen’s suspicion quest was approaching. My expression relaxed with a little relief.

Oh, but did I convey my last words well? I was so out of it that I couldn’t be sure.

Before more thoughts could continue, my mind was cut off like a knife.

Well, I was pretty used to it now.

It was dark.