THIFSGSTW CH 22

Chapter 22: Take Your Time

Raen’s Perspective

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When Sun Yi-han said he wanted to go to the western forest with me, I immediately thought:

‘He has something he wants to say.’

As he turned his head to look at me, his expression seemed almost desperate.

I had already been worried about him because of what had happened last time. The vivid image of bright red blood streaming down his pale, slender arm still lingered in my mind.

When I stopped the bleeding, I saw multiple deep cuts—some already healed into scars. They looked painful enough that I couldn’t even bring myself to touch them carelessly.

‘…Hyung, please don’t tell them about this.’

That cautious voice replayed in my mind. His transparent eyes shimmered with a fragility that seemed on the verge of tears. Without realizing it, I nodded. His face had visibly relaxed with relief.

After that day, I found myself unable to take my eyes off him. He acted as if nothing had happened. He was the same as always. But every time I saw him like that, I felt uneasy, as though I were looking at cracked glass on the verge of shattering.

At least, it seemed like he wasn’t cutting himself anymore. If he had been, I wouldn’t have been able to just stand by and watch.

A body covered in wounds and scars. The time he had endured alone—there was no way he could easily open up about that. And yet, here he was, tense but willing to speak first. I felt proud of him. I wanted to reach out and ruffle his hair Just how much pain did someone have to endure before they could finally voice something that had been weighing on them for so long? I didn’t know the full answer.

So I couldn’t push him. I had to wait until he was ready to say everything himself. Leaving the dining hall, I headed for my room. As we walked, I glanced at Yi-han beside me, matching my steps.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. I wanted to see Yi-han smile someday.

Not the delicate, precarious smile that seemed to hide something inside.

A truly bright and carefree smile—like a clear sky after the rain.

◇

I grasped Yi-han’s hand and recited the teleportation magic.

The fresh scent of the forest filled the air, bringing a sense of calm.

Facing me, Yi-han’s expression was stiff. It was his first time coming out here, after all. Even though I had chosen a safe place, it was natural for him to be nervous. First times were always like that.

I told him it was okay and that he didn’t need to be tense. He cautiously met my gaze. My reflection was captured in his clear blue eyes. Bathed in the red glow of the setting sun, those eyes shone vividly. His trembling gradually subsided.

“…Yes, Raen hyung. I’m fine now.”

Yi-han blinked slowly before speaking in a steadier voice. A smile of reassurance accompanied his words. Somehow, that smile seemed to hold a quiet determination. I wasn’t sure why, but it did.

A cool breeze swept past, tousling Yi-han’s neatly arranged black hair.

We walked along the forest path, our conversation flowing at a relaxed pace. Yi-han, still wearing a faint smile, softly reassured me that he was truly okay. Yet, something in my heart felt heavy.

‘Did you ever want to give up on life?’ When I asked that, Yi-han shook his head. He gave the same answer when I asked if it was painful.

What I sensed in him wasn’t desperation, but resignation.

As if he believed that nothing would change even if he spoke about it. As if he were convinced that no matter what, he had to bear the weight alone. That kind of near-hopeless certainty.

But still, Yi-han…

‘If you’re not okay, then say so.’

I had been about to say the words aloud when Yi-han suddenly called my name. His voice trembled slightly. With a troubled smile, his usually pale cheeks had taken on a faint flush—perhaps due to the glow of the setting sun.

For a fleeting moment, I thought about cupping those warm-looking cheeks with my hands. Yi-han hesitated before speaking.

“I think you might be misunderstanding something, Raen hyung.”

His words were scattered like even he wasn’t sure how to explain. But his point was clear:

“I only did it because I needed to.”

“I just wanted to see the future. That was all.”

As Yi-han continued, his words felt like an excuse. I watched him closely.

This wasn’t good. The reason didn’t matter.

There was no justification for hurting yourself. My concern wasn’t about his reasoning—it was the fact that he had done it at all.

‘Where do I even start with him?’ I had no idea. I couldn’t just outright refute him. If I did, he might never bring it up again. With a heavy heart, I spoke. I told Yi-han that I thought I understood, at least a little. But even so, I hoped he wouldn’t hurt himself anymore.

Even as I spoke, I felt bitter inside. The fact that I even had to say something so obvious weighed on me. What kind of life had he endured up to now?

I gently ran my fingers through his hair. Silky strands slipped between them. I didn’t know what he was thinking behind that still, composed expression. Did he truly understand? Or was he just nodding along?

Changing a deeply ingrained mindset wasn’t easy. But I hoped Yi-han would start valuing himself more.

Because I would keep waiting by his side.

Until the day he realized he was precious. Until the day he no longer harmed himself.

“I’ll wait for you, Yi-han.”

As many times as it took, I would remind him. Yi-han just needed to take his time and accept it. Accept that he wasn’t okay. And once he did, he would start to feel better. Because knowing where you’re wounded is the first step to healing.

Holding onto the fluttering edge of his white sleeve, I watched as he stood in deep thought, gazing ahead.

His expression was difficult to read. He looked as if he didn’t quite understand. But at the same time, it was as if he was starting to understand.

That was fine. For now, he could take his time figuring it out.

A gentle breeze blew past. The blazing red sun had lowered closer to the horizon. The sky was painted in hues of dusk. The air was filled with the fresh scent of the forest—a scent that brought a quiet sense of peace.

I wondered if Yi-han, even just a little, felt the same way.

With that thought, I kept walking.

◇

I stopped walking. Something felt off.

This sensation—it was similar to when a rift was open.

But that couldn’t be. I had already cast detection magic but there were no monsters nearby.

I had to check. Telling Yi-han to wait, I started forward. But the next moment, I heard footsteps following behind me. Yi-han was trailing right after me, thinking he was being discreet.

“This could be dangerous. Just wait here.”

Whether he understood my concern or not, Yi-han refused to back down. He insisted on coming along.

Min Joo-hyuk had once offhandedly mentioned that Yi-han was impossible to argue with once he set his mind on something. Back then, I hadn’t understood what that meant. Yi-han had always seemed soft and gentle.

Now, I understood. All too well.

Even so, I couldn’t take him along. When I firmly said no, Yi-han pressed his lips together and lowered his head.

“Uh… Yi-han?”

Was he crying? I gently ran my hand over Sun Yi-han’s shoulder. A delicate tremor, like a faint sob, passed through him.

Yi-han fidgeted with the edge of his sleeve before slowly parting his lips, his head still lowered.

“Raen hyung… The truth is… being alone… scares me.”

His voice wavered as he pleaded, “I want to go with you.” There was a quiet desperation in his words. The tips of his ears were turning red.

This wasn’t fair. How could I possibly leave him behind after hearing that?

…No, wait. I never planned to leave him behind in the first place. I had only intended to check things quickly and return. But knowing that he was afraid to be alone made it difficult to say no.

“…Alright. We’ll go together, so just take a deep breath.”

At my words, Yi-han slowly lifted his head. His eyes were slightly red, but it didn’t seem like he had cried. That was a relief. I patted his shoulder before starting forward. And that was when I saw it—a rift, gaping open in the empty air. A cold sweat formed on my back.

I quickly cast a barrier magic around the rift. It was only a temporary measure. The real problem was whatever had come through. I had to find and contain it before I could seal the rift completely.

Once closed, a rift would leave behind only faint traces, like a haphazardly stitched tear in the fabric. But at least nothing else would be able to escape from it.

That meant I had to locate the escaped monster immediately and restrain it. Only our leader, the chosen hero, could actually eliminate it.

But I couldn’t sense any monsters nearby.

“…Yi-han. Go back first.”

I had to send him away. This situation was serious. Finding one rift here meant there were bound to be more nearby. I had to contain them all, even temporarily.

But Yi-han refused. His expression was firm as he insisted on staying with me.

His calm words echoed the same thoughts I’d always had. That situations constantly changed, that there was no certainty in anything. Because of that, I hesitated to argue back.

Before I could gather my thoughts, Yi-han spoke again.

“We’ll go together, hyung. That way, it’ll be okay.”

His voice was light, almost nonchalant. Then, without waiting for a response, he started walking. I watched his back as he stepped into the glow of the burning sunset.

For some reason, he looked as though he might dissolve into it at any moment. I hurriedly caught up to him, matching his pace. His white robes were tinged with red from the evening light, fluttering softly in the breeze. For a moment, I had the urge to reach out and grasp the end of his sleeve. Instead, I clenched my fists tightly.

◇

There wasn’t just one open rift. There were several.

I told Yi-han to go back—again and again—but each time, he shook his head.

Unlike me, he didn’t fully understand how return stones worked. Even if I explained that they operated separately from mana, it wouldn’t be easy for him to accept. So I had to stay alert. No matter what happened, I couldn’t let Yi-han get hurt.

My fingertips grew cold with tension. Every sensation around me felt disturbingly vivid.

Wait. What… was this?

A sudden, chilling shiver ran down my spine. Something felt wrong—behind me.

“Yi-han!”

A thick, blackened tree branch was lunging straight toward Yi-han’s back.