HIF 34

Since He Said It Would Be Quick

I walked with Song Ha-gyun. As we moved away from the campfire, the cold air touched my skin directly.

Song Ha-gyun, who had glanced at me, gently draped a blanket over my shoulders. The cozy, enveloping blanket was warm.

It seemed he had cast the defensive magic over a fairly wide area. We seemed to have come quite a distance. When I turned my head to look back, the blazing flames appeared small and far away.

Even though we had moved away from the campfire, the surroundings weren’t completely dark. Light flowed from a box Song Ha-gyun was levitating in the air, softly illuminating the area.

My field of vision was filled with a dirt path dotted with sparse grass and large trees densely lining the sides.

It was a pitch-black forest. The soft light illuminating the surroundings couldn’t penetrate it, instead hovering hazily on the surface. As if darkness and light could not mix.

‘How did a forest grow here?’

How could plants grow in a place without a single speck of light? The trees and grass looked dry on the surface but weren’t completely withered.

No, there was something even stranger before that. How could a place that was perpetually night exist in the first place?

“Ha-gyeon hyung. Why doesn’t the sun rise here?”

“…You’re curious, aren’t you.”

Song Ha-gyun, who had been thinking for a moment, raised a hand and waved it. A map drawn in light appeared in the air. There were colored markings in several places. Keeping his gaze fixed on the map, Song Ha-gyun spoke.

“…There are places that seem distorted.”

A forest where the sun doesn’t rise, a plain where flowers pour from the sky, a desert where it rains constantly.

But he said no one questions these places. Song Ha-gyun himself only realized these places weren’t normal after making the Hero’s Oath.

Raen, Min Joo-hyuk, and Park Yul also reportedly only noticed after becoming Heroes.

“Nothing is certain yet.”

Muttering as if to himself that they were still researching, Song Ha-gyun slightly moved his hand. The map turned into particles of light and slowly scattered.

The particles of light gradually faded before my eyes. In contrast, unorganized thoughts chaotically surged in my mind.

The fact that I could question this place even though I’m not a Hero was probably because of the System. There was nothing else that could be the reason.

‘But why?’

I couldn’t figure out what connection there was between all these things. The fragmented information seemed oddly connected, yet also not.

The System had told me one thing. To save the world with the power I possess.

The power I possess must refer to my Healing skill. And saving the world would mean helping the Heroes who are closing the Rifts by healing them. Indirectly contributing, that is.

But was that all? What is the reason for the existence of these distorted places that only Heroes can recognize as abnormal?

What is the System not telling me right now?

The scattering light completely faded into the darkness. Yet, somehow, it felt like an afterimage remained before my eyes for a long time.

◇

“…This far.”

After walking a bit more, Song Ha-gyun placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke. It was a gentle motion, but a firmness could be felt in the touch. I stopped walking.

“Seon Yi-han. See it?”

I saw it. A faintly glowing line was drawn on the ground a few steps away, encircling this area.

“Don’t cross this.”

It seemed to be the boundary of the defensive magic. I also had no desire to leave the safe area. I simply nodded.

I felt a gaze silently looking down at me. When I raised my head, my eyes met Song Ha-gyun’s directly.

“It means don’t go out alone. So if you want to go out, tell me.”

I’ll go with you, Song Ha-gyun finished. I probably wouldn’t have any reason to go out in the future either, but I nodded vaguely.

The air was cool. Walking like this felt good. I thought maybe I like taking walks. I didn’t know before because I never had the chance to walk so peacefully when I was at the temple.

Since I had confirmed the defensive magic boundary, it was time to go back. Without delay, I turned around to take a step.

No, to be precise, it was the moment I tried to take a step.

Ding. A Quest Window appeared before my eyes.

A faintly glowing blue light appeared in the shape of dotted lines. The light drawn lengthily in the air extended beyond the defensive magic boundary.

The failure penalty was brutal. If I don’t take the courageous step, are they going to make me unable to walk at all? At this point, it was practically a shove from behind.

Still, seeing there was no specific deadline, it didn’t seem like a quest I had to do immediately. I decided to think about it later and was about to finish taking my step when—

Will you abandon the quest?

Time until automatic failure: 5

Time until automatic failure: 4

Wait, wait. I turned my step back. The decreasing numbers stopped. I was perplexed. Honestly, this was a bit much.

“Seon Yi-han?”

Song Ha-gyun’s voice came from beside me. Song Ha-gyun approached me, who had stopped. Song Ha-gyun, who had lowered his head, met my gaze. A faint worry was conveyed.

My heart felt heavy. But without avoiding that direct gaze, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Ha-gyeon hyung. I think I need to go beyond this.”

“…Why?”

Song Ha-gyun asked blankly, then shook his head. Then he lightly placed a hand on my head and patted it a couple of times.

“No. …Tell me later.”

Let’s go, he added, gently stroking my head.

“Thank you, hyung.”

I meant it sincerely. Song Ha-gyun said it lightly, but I knew it wasn’t an easy decision. Because I can’t use any magic, and beyond here could be dangerous.

Of course, I would be fine thanks to the System, but Song Ha-gyun doesn’t know that, so he would be worried. Everyone is busy and tired as it is. I at least didn’t want to be a burden.

A faint sense of guilt weighed on my heart. But I couldn’t say I was sorry. Because even an apology requires qualification.

If I was going to be sorry yet not change my mind, I wasn’t qualified to apologize. It would ultimately just be words to ease my own conscience.

While I was having such thoughts, Song Ha-gyun spoke in a soft voice.

“…It’s okay.”

What? For a moment, I flinched, wondering if I had voiced my thoughts. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

I didn’t know what Song Ha-gyun meant by ‘okay.’ Whether it was okay because he would go with me, or it was okay that I said I wanted to go out without any explanation. Or something else.

Still, somehow I felt a little bit better. Whatever it was.

Humans are this selfish. Even knowing the words were probably meaningless, seeing my heart settle even slightly.

Song Ha-gyun’s neat face came into view. Walking beside Song Ha-gyun, who had his usual calm expression, I matched my steps.

Outside the boundary, trees were also dense. The path of light stretching before my eyes was clear.

‘Here.’

The light stretched vertically upward from one spot.

It was where a large, thick tree stood. The light seemed to cut off at its top. I took a deep breath. My heart calmed a little.

I took out a piece of paper containing Levitation magic from my pocket. And calmly explained to Song Ha-gyun that I needed to climb the tree.

Song Ha-gyun initially seemed to show a bit of opposition, saying it was dangerous, but when I didn’t change my mind, he eventually agreed.

I shook my head at Song Ha-gyun, who offered to go with me. Looking at the quest, it was something I had to do alone anyway.

“I’ll be right back.”

Averting my gaze from Song Ha-gyun, who seemed about to say something more, I tore the paper with a rip. My body floated up lightly.

The feeling of having no place to step on was strange. It was like walking on the wind. The light following the tree went up much higher.

And then, in an instant, it cut off abruptly.

It was the destination. There was a thick branch jutting out alone at the very top of the tree. I carefully stepped onto it. All around was still, without even a breeze.

I stood with both feet planted, but no Status Window appeared saying the quest was successful. Do I need to reach the end of that light? It was a distance I could barely reach if I stood on tiptoe.

I firmly grabbed the tree trunk beside me. And slowly reached my hand up toward it when—

Pong.

A clear sound rang out distinctly. The sound echoing in the silence was eerily alien. A sensation as if passing through a thin membrane touched my fingertips. The sky seemed to ripple for a moment.

What, is this?

I hastily pulled my hand back. Another pong sound reached my ears. A strange sensation where I couldn’t even feel temperature brushed past my hand again. Simultaneously,

Whoosh.

The path connected by light vanished in an instant. There was nothing. Darkness. Above, below, beside. I was left in an empty space where nothing could be seen.

The strength in my legs loosened slightly. It was momentary. But perhaps because I was on tiptoe.

‘Ah, wait a moment.’

I felt the chilling sensation of my body falling. Cold wind fiercely struck my ears. There was no time to gather my senses. While falling, a Quest Window appeared before my eyes.

This? You show me this now? In despair, I tightly closed my eyes. What would it feel like for my body to hit the ground? It certainly wouldn’t be pleasant. I was worried about Song Ha-gyun. He shouldn’t be too shocked.

…So now. How much further to the ground?

As I braced my body, anticipating an unfamiliar impact,

“Seon Yi-han!”

I heard an urgent voice.

The speed of my fall was slowing gradually. I peeked open my eyes. Only now did I realize the surroundings were faintly bright.

The scent of grass. A familiar scent. Before I knew it, I was being held in Song Ha-gyun’s embrace.

It was warm. No, hot. An excessively hot warmth. My heart pounded as if it would leap out. Song Ha-gyun’s face, still holding me, came into view hazily.

I took a breath. I shouldn’t be dazed like this now. Song Ha-gyun must be more shocked, so I had to say something to reassure him.

With great effort, I calmed my mind. Forcing a smile and finding my voice for Song Ha-gyun, who must have been flustered by the sudden situation.

“…I’m back, right?”

Ah, that’s not what I meant to say.