HIF 38

After Falling Asleep

I continued speaking toward Raen with a light smile.

“I’ll try harder too.”

I let go of the hand I was holding and draped the robe over Raen’s shoulders. The robe, which had fluttered once in the wind, settled softly over Raen. Only then did I feel a bit more at ease.

Raen had seemed somewhat stiff ever since I leaned my body toward him. Raen, who had slowly drawn in a breath, gently grasped my now-empty hand.

“You don’t have to try harder. You’re already enough as you are.”

I could feel strength entering Raen’s hand. In a voice so small it was almost inaudible, Raen’s words slowly continued.

“…It’s enough. Just being together like this.”

A faint smile, as if about to scatter, appeared on Raen’s face looking up at me. It seemed like an indescribably complex emotion was tangled within it.

‘What does he mean, just being together is enough?’

Perhaps Raen had subconsciously concluded that saving the world was greed. Just like I had earlier. So he must think it’s okay as it is.

Well, that could be the case. The fact that a hero had been chosen every time until now meant no one had saved the world, so in this generation, achieving that might feel like greed.

‘But that’s not greed. This time, I’m here too.’

Of course, I can only help from the side, but still. Unlike me, you are people who move forward directly. Everything was a possibility, and you could do anything.

So you shouldn’t have drawn a line from the start.

“Raen hyung. Do you really think it’s enough as it is?”

“…Yes, Yi-han.”

“I don’t think so.”

“……”

Raen bit his lip. As blood rushed to the pressed lip, tinting it red, Raen continued in a trembling voice.

“Do you know what I’m talking about?”

Raen’s expression looking at me was strange. It was a face smiling faintly, as if convinced I wouldn’t know. But his gaze alone was sunken.

Had I been thinking differently? Given the conversation we just had, it couldn’t mean anything else. I hesitated and answered.

“Saving the world… weren’t you talking about that?”

Raen deeply bowed his head. The strength in Raen’s hand, which had been tightly wrapping around mine, snapped like a rubber band and drained away.

“…I see.”

I thought I faintly heard such a voice. Before I could even react, Raen lightly raised his head.

A bright smile was drawn on his face looking at me. It was the clearest smile among all the expressions of Raen I had seen so far.

“You knew. Since you said that, Yi-han, I’ll definitely save it.”

From behind me, the sound of the campfire crackling echoed. The surroundings seemed to brighten. Raen’s hair shone red as if burning. His face also seemed faintly flushed.

It was a somewhat awkward conversation, but since I was satisfied and Raen was satisfied, I thought it didn’t matter.

The heat of the campfire gradually warmed my back. A hot winter night was passing.

◇

Time passed somehow.

Everyone had been busy going here and there, and often left their places for days at a time. But at least one person always remained here.

‘It must be because of me.’

Otherwise, they wouldn’t use such an inefficient method. I heard they each have assigned positions. So if even one person was missing, the loss in combat power would be significant.

Still, they said everyone could use magic to some extent. They said the positions were divided because each has a magic they specialize in.

-So, Yi-han-ah. Don’t worry about that. There have been many times when we went alone until now.

I pondered the words Park Yul had said to me. His gently folded, smiling light green eyes seemed to show not a trace of fatigue. Even though Park Yul must be the busiest.

Park Yul said he was in charge of frontal attacks and completely disposing of monsters after battle.

Raen said he widely uses attack magic in all directions, and Song Ha-gyun mainly analyzes and records monster movements. He also said he takes on the role of attacking monsters that slip through gaps and get close.

And Min Joo-hyuk said he was in charge of defense. He said he surrounds the area with defense magic while also using capture magic to hold monsters in place.

…Holding in place, capture magic.

“Hey, Min Joo-hyuk.”

I turned my head toward Min Joo-hyuk right next to me.

Min Joo-hyuk had rolled me up in a blanket and laid me on the bed, then sat on the chair beside it with his arms crossed. I continued speaking to Min Joo-hyuk.

“When are you going to unwrap this?”

Min Joo-hyuk pulled up the corner of his mouth and grinned.

“When you fall asleep.”

It was a light tone. But judging by his appearance showing no sign of getting up, it didn’t seem to be entirely a joke.

Of course, I wasn’t particularly uncomfortable right now. How could he wrap me in a blanket so cozily? Still, I felt a bit off about staying like this continuously.

I asked Min Joo-hyuk in a trembling voice.

“…Why?”

“What do you think the reason is?”

I had a guess. It wasn’t long ago. Min Joo-hyuk’s voice urgently waking me and the firm grip pulling my wrist were still vivid.

“If it’s because of that, you won’t unwrap it even after I fall asleep.”

“Ah, you got it right away. Let’s sleep like this for a few days, Seon Yi-han.”

“…There’s no need to go this far.”

“Why? Are you feeling a bit stuffy?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“That’s a relief. I was being considerate.”

What on earth was he being considerate about? Could this also be something like capture magic?

Seeing that I couldn’t free myself from the blanket no matter how hard I tried, it seemed quite credible. Thinking that, I shook my head. No matter what, he couldn’t have used magic.

“Hey, Min Joo-hyuk. Is this maybe magic…”

“Huh? What?”

I looked up at Min Joo-hyuk’s face smiling lightly as usual. It couldn’t be magic… right? Thinking I might be caught in capture magic felt a bit strange.

Sometimes it was better not to know. Without asking further, I shook my head. Changing the subject, I continued.

“I won’t do that anymore, Min Joo-hyuk.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because it’s never happened before until now.”

“You couldn’t even remember, Seon Yi-han.”

“That’s why it’s okay, isn’t it? It’s something I don’t even know about anyway.”

Min Joo-hyuk quietly looked down at me. Then he poked my forehead once with his fingertip.

“If you hadn’t said that, half my worries would have been less.”

Min Joo-hyuk, who had been quietly looking at my neck area, opened his mouth.

“Then I’ll unwrap it, so can I stay by your side while you sleep?”

“You, this was your main point from the start, wasn’t it?”

“…You’ve grown a lot, Seon Yi-han. So, your answer?”

Min Joo-hyuk, who met my eyes and chuckled, shifted his gaze downward again. I couldn’t understand why he made such a serious face every time he saw the bandage wrapped around my neck.

Right. The reason Min Joo-hyuk is acting like this now is all because of what happened a few days ago.

I didn’t even fully know what the situation was. By the time I fully woke from sleep and regained my senses, the situation had already been resolved.

When Min Joo-hyuk heard I didn’t remember anything, he didn’t give a detailed explanation. But listening to what he roughly told me, it didn’t seem like something to worry about so much.

Well, sometimes I have bad dreams while sleeping. How can I always have only good dreams?

Of course, Min Joo-hyuk didn’t seem to think that way.

◇

It wasn’t long ago. That day was when Min Joo-hyuk was supposed to stay in the tent.

Min Joo-hyuk pushed the tired-looking Seon Yi-han into bed and went outside. Then he plopped down on the log beside the campfire.

Min Joo-hyuk stretched fully and lay down as if sliding backward. The night sky without a single star entered his vision.

‘Seon Yi-han, you always seem to tire quickly.’

The white face of Seon Yi-han, who had fallen asleep as if fainting several times until now, came to mind. At first, I thought his stamina might be poor, but upon closer look, his body didn’t seem entirely healthy either.

But since he absolutely wouldn’t admit it himself, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I was surprised just now by how he looked at me with a pale complexion as if nothing was wrong.

Seon Yi-han couldn’t objectively grasp himself. Not only about his physical condition, but also about what he said casually.

Before, he said he didn’t like being alone at night, but when I asked, ‘Shall I stay by your side while you sleep?’ he shook his head at that too. He even tried to gloss over the situation.

-Wait, Min Joo-hyuk. Where are you going? You sleep too.

The moment I tried to go outside, Seon Yi-han quietly grabbed my collar. A stubborn determination was embedded in his calm voice.

I left a goodnight greeting and quickly slipped out. Seon Yi-han had a history of putting me to sleep last time and then slipping away himself. I couldn’t let that happen this time either.

‘He must have fallen asleep by now.’

I abruptly sat up. Chilly air brushed against my face. My momentarily drowsy mind suddenly became alert.

Song Ha-gyun hyungnim once said something. That Seon Yi-han sometimes gets a fever while sleeping. So when Song Ha-gyun hyungnim shared a room, he often went up to check on him in the early morning.

But here, it wasn’t just that. Park Yul hyungnim said he saw Seon Yi-han coughing up blood alone in the tent. Anyway, Seon Yi-han couldn’t be left alone.

I thought I should check on his condition soon. I moved my steps toward the tent.

Rustle.

I lifted the tent entrance cloth and went inside. Warm air instantly warmed my body.

Seon Yi-han was quietly lying on the bed, asleep. With a sweaty face, frowning.

“Hey, Seon Yi-han! Wake up.”

I quickly shook Seon Yi-han awake. Seon Yi-han’s light body swayed weakly following my hand movements. But seeing him still slumped, it seemed he had fallen into a deep sleep.

I carefully supported Seon Yi-han’s neck and sat him up. His back was damp with cold sweat. Was something hurting badly? I touched his forehead, but it didn’t seem that hot.

Then maybe he was having a bad dream. Is that why he’s always tired?

“Cough.”

Then Seon Yi-han let out a small cough as if forcing out blocked breath.

I thought he had woken from sleep, but soon his head bowed deeply. Slightly damp black hair swayed downward.

A whisper that seemed about to break slowly flowed out.

“…Why? Why, me…”

“Seon Yi-han, come to your senses.”

Seon Yi-han slowly raised his hand and brought it to his neck. His breathing gradually became rough as if sobbing. A choked sob seemed to leak out. Before I could even grasp the situation.

“…Hah, huu. …Just, a moment more.”

Seon Yi-han, who drew in a labored breath, suddenly scratched down his neck as if tearing at it. It happened in the blink of an eye. He looked desperate, as if someone was choking him.

I grabbed Seon Yi-han’s hand as if snatching it away. A slender wrist wrapped into my hand. My heart sank. Blood had already seeped onto the weakly fallen fingertips, staining them red.

Seon Yi-han slowly raised his head toward me. It was a dazed face. His eyes, which had shone blue like containing morning, were blurred without focus.