HMLU Ch 15
by soapaWhen I woke up in the morning, a message from my father had arrived.
[Make sure to thank the professor personally.]
It was a single sentence that clearly revealed the frustrating feeling of when you can’t say something directly, even though you find it unpleasant. I sent a reply saying I understood and checked my messages, but there was no contact from Chanhee.
Chanhee, who insisted on taking me all the way home, kept his mouth shut until we awkwardly said our goodbyes. He seemed lost in thought, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak to him. He left before I could even ask him to come up for a bit, which made me feel uneasy as well.
Trying to forget reality, I turned on the game, and the guild room was bustling as usual. In particular, Cityboy’s outfit, who was today’s leveling slave, was out of the ordinary. His hairstyle was changed to a ponytail, and he was wearing a tracksuit and sneakers. From head to toe, it was a look item released last year as a collaboration with a certain sports brand. I had heard that the collaborating brand gave out coupons that could be exchanged for items only if you bought the clothes directly, and because the price range was quite high, it would cost at least 1 million won to get the full set.
Many people would say it’s crazy to spend 1 million won on a game item, especially a cosmetic one, but that’s because they don’t understand gamers. As a rule, even if you don’t spend 10,000 won on clothes to wear in real life, you have to buy clothes for your avatar regardless of price to be called a look enthusiast.
[Guild] Popuri: City-nim, can I ask you something?
[Guild] Popuri: Are you by any chance a building owner?
Even so, there are bound to be items classified as “money-burning items”… and the tracksuit set that Cityboy was wearing today was one of Appo’s representative money-burning items. I was wondering if I should scold Popuri for poking at such a sensitive spot, but Cityboy suddenly struck a stylish pose.
[Guild] Cityboy: kkkkkkkkkk
[Guild] Cityboy: Many people have asked me if my dad is a building owner
[Guild] Cityboy: but you’re the first one to ask if I’m a building owner lol
[Guild] Popuri: Since the last digit of Puri’s resident registration number starts with 3
[Guild] Popuri: I don’t have such stereotypical thinking^^*
[Guild] Cityboy: Ugh, tmi
[Guild] Popuri: kkkkk This is hilarious when I tell it to old guys
[Guild] Popuri: One out of two tells me to stop talking nonsense and asks why my resident registration number starts with 3
[Guild] Ongpak: But the tracksuit is pretty lol
[Guild] Ongpak: It would look cool even on a paladin^^
[Guild] Cityboy: What’s that supposed to mean lol
…It seems like everyone has gotten a little closer. As long as socializing doesn’t take precedence over the game, there’s nothing wrong with getting comfortable with each other, so I decided to leave them be.
[Guild] Cityboy: Guild Master-nim, are you going leveling right away?
[Guild] Meritocracy: yy
[Guild] Cityboy: Okay, I’m waiting in my slave outfit
Just then, Black Bear appeared in the guild room. He was in his basic dark bear outfit, probably from being in the training grounds. I quickly opened Discord and initiated a voice chat.
―Yes, hyung.
Thankfully, the chat connected quickly. I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it and forced a bright voice.
“Uh… Did you get home alright yesterday?”
―Yes, did you sleep well, hyung?
“Yeah.”
Ridiculously, I had nothing more to say. As I was struggling to find a way to break the awkward atmosphere, my mailbox suddenly started blinking.
[Ondergo: When will you send me the time and place for the PvP?]
…Oh, right. There was this. I had forgotten about it for a moment, surprised by what happened last night.
[Meritocracy: Would Saturday night at 9 o’clock at Dragon’s Nest be alright?]
[Ondergo: Okay]
I thought he would give me some more flak through mail, but it ended simply. It must be the generosity that comes from confidence. He must be certain that he will win, so there’s no reason for him to be prickly.
―Hyung, shall we depart?
“Ah, yeah.”
Like I did with Popuri, I formed a three-person party and headed to a different leveling zone this time. We could level up by 2 levels quickly, so there was no need to rush. Popuri and Ongpak, who seemed to have nothing else to do, followed close behind.
[Guild] Meritocracy: If you’re just gonna watch, you guys should deal damage too.
[Guild] Ongpak: If there are two or more high levels in the party, the experience points are reduced.
[Guild] Ongpak: We’ll just dance lol
[Guild] Cityboy: Supply without demand
[Guild] Popuri: 20-year-old male college student, will do anything you ask
[Guild] Cityboy: Leave the guild
[Guild] Cityboy: If you weren’t here, the mental damage would be mine
[Guild] Popuri: kkkkkkkkkkkk
…Ah, right. There was that too. A sudden question popped into my head, and I typed it onto the keyboard without filtering.
[Guild] Meritocracy: By the way, when are you guys going to have your PvP?
[Guild] Popuri: After you fight Ondergo, hyung-nim
[Guild] Popuri: In case you get guild-deleted, no need to waste your energy beforehand~ ^^ haha
[Guild] Cityboy: h;
Look at these guys… In reality, guild deletion bets are rarely actually carried out. Since you can’t just delete someone else’s account, they can just brazen it out. It’s just a bit of a loss of face… and even that gets pushed aside by other issues as time goes by, so taking it seriously is only detrimental to oneself.
Moreover, in this guild deletion bet, <Mandu> is clearly the villain, so even if I lose, they won’t actually be able to make me delete the guild. If they did, public opinion would turn irrevocably against them. Popuri is just saying that to put my mind at ease.
Of course, regardless of what happens, I’m going to win.
[Guild] Ongpak: Come to think of it, Bear-nim is always quiet
[Guild] Ongpak: Are we talking too much?
[Guild] Popuri: I met Bear-nim and understood everything
[Guild] Popuri: Male gods are usually quiet
[Guild] Ongpak: Curious; Just how handsome is he?
While we were strengthening our resolve, an arrow flew towards Black Bear, who was diligently grabbing aggro. Chanhee remained silent, not only in the guild chat but also on Discord. I contemplated giving Popuri a virtual smack on the back of the head but decided against it. In my experience, it’s better to satisfy their curiosity to some extent and move on.
[Guild] Meritocracy: Picture the most handsome man in the world in your head right now
[Guild] Meritocracy: Whoever it is, Bear-nim is more handsome than that person.
[Guild] Cityboy: ? For real?
[Guild] Ongpak: kkkkkkkk Wait, is he that level?
Just then, Chanhee, who had been quiet the whole time, let out a low chuckle through the headset. …He always enjoys it without reservation when I praise him. Anyway, I felt it was enough that the atmosphere had lightened up. Situations where I have to be mindful of others, regardless of who they are, are not good for my mental health.
[Guild] Popuri: I can guarantee it, it’s true.
[Guild] Ongpak: Let’s have an offline meetup
[Guild] Cityboy: Let’s! Let’s meet offline!
[Guild] Meritocracy: If I don’t get guild-deleted, I’ll consider it, so deal damage lol
Then Cityboy, who had popped a magic power potion, abruptly fired off a Fireball. Who uses a damage potion while leveling…? While I was frozen in disbelief, the gathered mobs were wiped out in an instant, and the experience points soared.
[Guild] Popuri: Merry-nim is handsome too
[Guild] Popuri: I’ve been nagging him to reveal his face and stream
[Guild] Popuri: But he absolutely refuses
[Guild] Popuri: It’s killing me because it’s not even my money
[Guild] Popuri: If he opens donations, he’d be an instant millionaire
He talks about being a millionaire so easily, probably because he’s young. If I could make a living just with my face, why would I be going through all this trouble to get a job?
Of course, Chanhee could, but I am not Chanhee.
―Hyung, what is a donation?
Just then, that deep, rich voice tickled my ears, filled with innocent curiosity.
“Ah, it’s called a donation… when people watching internet broadcasts send money, it’s usually called a donation.”
―Do you have to pay to watch internet broadcasts?
“Not necessarily, people sometimes put money in for buskers on the street, right? It’s similar to that.”
―Ah… You can earn 100 million with that?
“You could… Ah, no. He’s just talking nonsense.”
To be honest, it would be a lie to say I’ve never been tempted. But life isn’t that easy… and even if I became famous or made money like Popuri said, it would be a problem. A game broadcast with my face revealed… Just imagining the chaos that would ensue if my father found out made me shudder.
“…”
Not yet. I still can’t decide anything on my own.
[Guild] Meritocracy: Stop digging into other people’s private lives and go collect guild points.
[Guild] Popuri: ㅠㅠ Hyung-nim is only nice to Bear-nim
[Guild] Popuri: Puri wants to be born super handsome in the next life and receive Merry-hyung’s love
[Guild] Meritocracy: yy Fighting
Leveling went smoothly after that. In just a few hours, I reached level 40 and filled my holy power bar to the brim. I released slave number 2 from the party and spoke to Chanhee.
“Can you help me with the Nature 5th tier quest?”
―Of course. Do you not need help with Darkness?
“No, I’ve already reached 5th tier in Darkness.”
Since Druid’s main tier is Nature, all scenario routes open according to the Nature tier. In the first place, Appo’s tiers for each class have one designated tier that must be achieved, but there is no official answer as to how the sub-tiers should be chosen. Even in the case of Druid, it’s just become established as the standard because the scenario that opens with the Nature-Magic combination is a highly polished masterpiece.
So, my heart can’t help but pound. If Nature-Darkness is the answer, what kind of scenario could be waiting?
―It was one hundred Great Trees, right?
“Yeah.”
The 5th tier quest was to purify one hundred corrupted Great Trees in Kamt Mountain. The purification itself is a simple task of clicking on the tree and waiting, but the moment you touch a Great Tree, twenty mobs eager to kill the Druid pop out. Furthermore, no matter how well the assisting tanker draws aggro, the mobs instantly lose aggro and target the Druid, requiring a considerably high level of tanker control.
Naturally, the tankers who take on this assisting role are very expensive. Moreover, even after paying that exorbitant price, you have to grovel and endure all sorts of complaints and grumbles.
《Kkamamgom roars!》
…But look. At the dignified and competent form of a well-raised tanker. Watching him skillfully round up twenty mobs in an instant and flawlessly execute combo attacks brought tears to my eyes.
Chanhee had been spending most of his time in the training grounds when I wasn’t around. His improving skills were visible every time I logged in. At some point, he began to anticipate and take the positions I wanted without me having to give individual instructions.
“Wow… Chanhee. You really seem to have a talent.”
―Talent?
“You need talent to be good at games. Especially as a tanker, if it doesn’t suit your aptitude, you won’t adapt even if you do it for a hundred days.”
―I’m glad if I can be of help, but…
His words were so humble that it almost brought me to tears. Come to think of it, when have I ever had guild members who did their part without complaint like this…? Those other guys would just mess around until raid day, even after I spent ages creating strategy sheets and point-of-view videos, and then make the same mistakes five hundred times, wasting everyone’s time.
With a skilled tanker, clicking on a hundred Great Trees is a piece of cake, so I was able to achieve the Nature 5th tier very smoothly. As soon as I pressed the tier-up confirmation button, the screen turned black, and the list of obtainable skills shimmered.
《Do you wish to acquire ‘Germination’?》
Germination? The icon looked rather menacing, suggesting it was probably an offensive skill. I was glad, since Druid damage skills were all underwhelming, but I also thought it would probably be just as mediocre. I habitually lowered my expectations and called up the skill description.
《Germination: You can attack an enemy by throwing rotten seeds collected from the contaminated Kamt Mountain.》
“…”
See? I knew it. A sigh escaped me in disbelief. Throwing seeds, not even fruits? I rubbed my throbbing forehead and tried to compose myself. I had already planned out how to handle PvP against a damage dealer at level 40. Nothing would change just because I knew this attack skill was useless.
―Did you get a good skill?
“Ah, well… such is the life of a Druid.”
―Is it not good? What is it?
I briefly summarized the useless skill for him, and Chanhee, who had been listening quietly, let out a puzzled hum, “Hmm.” It seems even to a tanker’s ears, it sounds incredibly ridiculous… As I chuckled wryly, his calm voice returned.
―Isn’t the skill description a bit strange?
“…Huh?”
―If it’s germination, a sprout should come out. But why does it just get thrown and that’s it?
Is that so…? I just assumed it was typical Druid stuff, as usual… After some thought, I decided to try using it somewhere. As if anticipating this, Chanhee pulled the aggro of a passing wild wolf and placed it before me.
When I activated the skill, a black, shimmering dark effect appeared around my avatar. Crouched down with my right hand tucked inside my robe, it looked like I was about to throw something. However, it remained motionless for quite a while.
“What? Why isn’t it throwing?”
Pressing the skill icon again had the same result. As I clicked the mouse here and there, a target shape like a dartboard appeared around the wild wolf as soon as the cursor touched it.
“…?”
Like I was playing a zombie game, I went for a headshot. As my avatar threw the seed with all his might, it hit the wolf between the eyes with a thud, and a dark sprout shot up. So… it’s called ‘Germination’ because it throws a rotten seed that takes root and sprouts in the enemy.
But what the hell…
The wolf just tilted its head as if it didn’t even tickle. Isn’t it a bit much to call a skill that decorates mobs with sprouts a damage skill? As I was about to let out an involuntary sigh, I noticed that the target window was still there.
“…”
I decided to keep throwing, just in case. It was pitiful to watch my avatar swinging its short arms with all its might, but there was no other way. The entire time the wolf was sprouting rotten seeds from between its eyes, its chest, its arms, and its legs, it merely flinched slightly. What is all this… Just as I was on the verge of an existential crisis, the target window surrounding the wolf began to blink faintly.
It felt like a time limit effect. As if possessed, I hammered at the keyboard and kept throwing seeds until the very last moment.
And when the target window completely disappeared, the wolf’s HP plummeted in an instant, and its death throes echoed.
―Oh.
“Oh?”
Chanhee seemed surprised, but I was the most surprised. Until now, in Appo, the only damage dealers who could take down a field mob higher level than themselves with a single skill were mages and dark mages. I immediately opened the meter and called up the logs.
―A huge amount of damage was dealt, right?
“Right, but… I don’t know why. I don’t think it’s a bug.”
Looking closely, the damage from each individual seed hit wasn’t very high, but the moment the casting time limit ended, an explosion of damage comparable to a mage’s Thunderbolt erupted. If this wasn’t a bug, it was a level of damage I had never experienced in my Druid gaming life.
If this much damage is possible, finally, the Druid renaissance…!
“No, wait… the cooldown time will probably be a week.”
A trained Druid is not easily fooled… The moment I looked at the skill icon with skeptical eyes, my heart dropped once again.
《Time until skill reuse: 112 seconds》
And the cooldown time is the same as Thunderbolt, 3 minutes? But my doubts still lingered. To get the details, I needed to progress through the scenario first. I quickly summoned my whale, mounted Black Bear, and flew to Kamt Mountain.
As soon as I arrived at the entrance to the contaminated Kamt Mountain, the ruined village of Kapiban, a notification for a new scenario quest blinked. My hands trembled as I looked at it.
《QUEST: The Truth of the Curse》
It really existed. It was a new scenario. A ragged breath escaped me, “Haa…,” and Chanhee asked worriedly, perhaps hearing it.
―Are you alright, hyung?
“Yeah, I’m, I’m okay. I’m okay.”
In the Nature-Magic tier linked scenario, Otan ultimately ends up missing. Because the Kapiban people, especially the Kapiban grandmother who raised the protagonist, wanted it that way. The protagonist also decides to focus on saving the Asyrus continent plagued by evil with the companions they met on their journey, rather than being consumed by revenge.
But I was, in fact, always curious. What happened to Otan? Otan, who sold Kamt Mountain’s peace to the demons and then disappeared. The human child Otan, who was raised by the Kapiban… The protagonist’s friend and only rival.
―Meritocracy, what you must choose is the future with the companions who journeyed with you. Even if the Ginkgo Branch returns, it cannot restore Kamt Mountain, once contaminated. So, let us forget. Bury it and move towards a new life.
It was as expected. The Nature-Darkness tier linked scenario was about finding Otan, ignoring the Kapiban grandmother’s kind plea. Otan’s whereabouts would likely be within this scenario as well.
―I see… Yes, sometimes the desire for truth blinds us. If you have resolved to bear even the anguish, the worries of an old woman would only be a nuisance.
The Kapiban grandmother finally handed a map to the protagonist, who refused to give up. I recognized it at a glance. It was a map of the Demon Forest, the home of the Dark Bears.
“Wow, so this is where it connects.”
―What is?
“It seems Otan is in the Demon Forest. I’m finally going to see that bastard’s face.”
―Otan?
“Yeah, that trashy, good-for-nothing bastard.”
There was no need for further explanation. I took a warp to the Demon Forest. Following the quest marker deeper into the forest, I felt a sense of déjà vu. I felt like I had walked this path before…
“…Ah.”
Looking at Black Bear’s thick front paws as he trotted behind me, I remembered. It was the place Chanhee had shown me. That hut, where even when I spoke inside, all I could hear were frightened whimpers.
The quest location marker, a question mark, hovered over the darkly shadowed hut. As I cautiously clicked on it, the screen transitioned, and a video began to play.
“…”
The first to appear were a man and a woman dressed in luxurious clothing. They looked like nobles of considerable power. They smiled kindly at ‘me’ and whispered in sweet voices.
―My child, stolen by the beasts, you have finally returned.
―We have prepared everything for you.
―Ah, but the beasts’ barrier prevents us from meeting…
―You must destroy the Ginkgo Branch. Only then can we be together again.
I realized it instantly. This is Otan’s memory.
―The Ginkgo Branch is the Kapiban village’s treasure. If it disappears, Kamt Mountain will be covered in demonic energy, they said.
The young Otan, who appeared on the transitioned screen, answered, trembling. His expression was a mixture of confusion, excitement at the sudden appearance of his wealthy parents, and worry for the Kapiban. The man and woman looked at each other for a moment, then spoke in unison.
―That’s all a lie.
―Yes, it’s all a lie.
―They’re deceiving you.
―The Ginkgo Branch is actually a barrier.
―It prevents the parents of the human children stolen by the Kapiban
―from finding the village.
―There’s another human child in that village besides you, right?
―Yes, there is, isn’t there?
At those words, Otan’s eyes wavered greatly. He must have been thinking of ‘me’, who grew up with him.
―That child is also a nobleman’s child.
―Not as wealthy as us, but still very rich.
―Bring us the Ginkgo Branch.
―Then both you and that child can meet your real parents
―and live happily ever after.
It was absurd. There is no barrier around the Kapiban village. The Kapiban do not reject or drive away other races who visit their village. Otan and ‘I’ grew up listening to the songs of human bards who came to the Kapiban village since we were young. So if we were truly kidnapped children, and if our parents were looking for us — they would have been able to take us back long ago.
―Really…?
However, for a young human, the extravagant future presented by the transformed demons must have been too sweet to resist rational judgment. Eventually, Otan, in the pre-dawn hours when the moon did not rise, dug up the Ginkgo Branch buried in the center of the village and ran to them.
―I brought it! The Kapiban’s Ginkgo Branch! Now I can live with Mom and Dad, right?
The demon, having obtained the Ginkgo Branch, burst into uproarious laughter, his voice cracking.
―AHAHAHAHA! Yes, you can, if you meet your parents in death!
The Ginkgo Branch was quietly buried in a place everyone knew. Yet no one dug it up. No one dared to even touch it.
―If you can die, that is!
Because those who touch the sacred tree are cursed with a terrifying curse. The cursed must walk endlessly for 100 days, and at the spot where they stop, they can neither move nor die for the rest of their lives. They must endure endless aging, plagued by eternal hunger and thirst.
―I didn’t need delicious food or fine clothes…
Otan, his emaciated body barely covered by gathered fallen leaves, muttered in anguish.
―I just… wished I had… parents…
As I tried to remove the hut’s covering, Otan desperately clung to the entrance, resisting. In the process, his stick-thin arms flashed before my eyes. I suddenly wondered, did the Kapiban know what had become of Otan? Did they see me off on my journey knowing all of this? While I was lost in confusion, a choice appeared in the dialogue box for the first time.
- What should I say?
―You stupid traitor!
―What happened to the sacred tree? ←
Naturally, the latter was what I needed to ask. Otan sobbed, his voice hoarse.
―The sacred tree… It’s broken. It can never be restored…
- What should I say?
―Didn’t you give it to the demons? ←
―Stop crying and tell me properly!
―The Ginkgo Branch itself was the embodiment of the curse… It was… waiting for someone who couldn’t resist their desires and would dig it up. So the moment it cursed me, it fulfilled its purpose and disappeared…
- What should I say?
―Don’t make me laugh! Saying the sacred tree is a curse!
―Did the Kapiban grandmother know this too? ←
Yes, this was the most important question. The Kapiban grandmother said she did not resent Otan. She said it was her fault for placing it within reach. But if it was originally forbidden to touch the sacred tree, if she knew he would end up like this the moment he touched it — shouldn’t she have explained it to him?
―I don’t know, I don’t know… But the demons said, Kamt Mountain originally belonged to the demons. They said the Kapiban were just short-lived, insignificant creatures. That they gained intelligence and longer lifespans only through the power of the Ginkgo Branch…
- What should I say?
―You still believe the demons after being tricked like that?
―What do you mean the Kapiban’s lifespans increased? ←
I clicked faster without realizing it. I already knew that the Ginkgo Branch had been suppressing the demonic energy that Kamt Mountain originally possessed. But to think that the Kapiban were originally a race with no intelligence and short lifespans.
Then now that the Ginkgo Branch is gone…
―The Kapiban originally only lived half as long as humans… But by living for a long time through the power of the sacred tree, they gained intelligence and wisdom comparable to humans. Now that the sacred tree is gone…
- What should I say?
―What happens now that the sacred tree is gone? ←
―You’re completely insane.
―…The Kapiban will perish. Because there are no individuals living in the village now who are younger than their original lifespan… Everyone will die soon. We will never be able to reclaim the beautiful Kamt Mountain, nor will we be able to return to the Kapiban grandmother’s warm embrace…
My heart sank. What is this traitorous bastard saying? Perhaps my breathing grew ragged unconsciously because I heard a worried voice from beyond the headset.
―Hyung, are you okay?
“I’m not okay! What is this!”
Yes, I had lost my composure…
I couldn’t believe it. How could this be? If losing Kamt Mountain wasn’t enough punishment for failing to protect the sacred tree, the Kapiban are already struggling to survive each day in that barren land.
Even in the Nature-Magic linked scenario, Kamt Mountain itself couldn’t be fully restored to its former state. ‘I’ suggest to the Kapiban that they leave Kamt Mountain and migrate elsewhere, but they refuse, saying they will wait for the day new buds sprout.
Was that also because they knew this?
“What kind of hopeless…“
―What’s the story like?
“No, no… There’s no way. There must be a way.”
Yes, this is a bit much, even for a fantasy game story. No matter how dark the world setting or how far the characters fall, it’s only right to give a happy ending where everyone somehow survives and has a tearful reunion.
- What should I say?
―It’s all your fault! ←
―Is there no way to fix this?
This time, my fingers moved before my reason could catch up. I chose the first option without hesitation, and Otan suddenly burst into tears.
―I know! I know it’s my fault! That’s why I’m suffering like this! Don’t you do this too!
- What should I say?
―Do you think this is all the punishment you deserve? ←
―Alright, calm down.
―Just this much? Hearing you say that makes me truly want to kill you, Meritocracy! Do you know what it means to be unable to move or die? Even when I’m caught by beasts and all my flesh is eaten and all my bones are crushed, my mind remains clear! When winter comes, I have to live for months with my whole body frozen in pain! I’m eaten by bugs when I fall asleep, and when I wake up, I writhe in shame. My body has already rotted and decayed, but I haven’t gone mad, and I long for Kamt Mountain! And yet, you say I haven’t been punished enough? Just this much!
- What should I say?
―It’s not my problem.
―I’m sorry…
My grip on the mouse tightened. This time, I couldn’t bring myself to click the first option. Of course, I still wanted to beat the crap out of him, but… When he was tempted by the demons, Otan was just a teenager.
What if the Kapiban had taught him everything? That he would be cursed if he touched the sacred tree. That wicked temptations would come disguised as kindness. That he should never give in…
―I’m sorry… ←
I ended up clicking the second option. I sighed deeply and rubbed my face. Ah… really, how can they make me so immersed and then show me this kind of development…
―…Ah, ah, no. I’m sorry. Hey, Meritocracy. I’m sorry. I know it’s all my fault. So don’t leave, okay? Just stay here a little longer. I… I really wanted to see you. How is the Kapiban grandmother doing? I want to hear her voice… She doesn’t know I’ve become like this, does she?
- What should I say?
―It was the Kapiban grandmother who sent me here.
―I have to go now. ←
―Ah, don’t go! Don’t go! Please don’t leave me alone here…
- What should I do?
―Turn around without a word.
―Cast a magic spell on the hut. ←
Meritocracy in the video raised his staff. As he chanted and swung it, the hut surrounding Otan was reinforced, becoming sturdy and strong. It was a shelter that could at least block the rain and cold. I left the Demon Forest, leaving behind Otan, who was tearfully thanking me repeatedly.
The next quest destination was the peak of Kamt Mountain. As I rushed there, the Kapiban village’s apothecary was waiting.
―So, you’ve learned everything… What are you going to do now?
- What should I say?
―I will take revenge on Otan.
―I will take revenge on the demons. ←
This time, I didn’t hesitate. Otan is also at fault, but ultimately, the true culprit is someone else. It’s unacceptable to leave the truly guilty ones alone and waste my energy elsewhere.
―You cannot defeat the demons with your current strength. However, I will tell you how to escape this crisis.
Here in Kamt Mountain, there are still seeds buried from the time of the Ginkgo sacred tree. So, search the mountain, and whenever you find a rotten seed, keep it safe and throw it at the demons with your magic power. It contains a small amount of the sacred tree’s power, so the moment it touches a demon’s body, it will dig into their flesh and try to purify them. First, I will give you the seeds I’ve collected.
The Kapiban apothecary handed me a small bundle.
―Listen carefully. You can’t kill demons with this. It can only inflict tremendous pain.
It can’t kill, but it can inflict tremendous pain… As I repeated the words in my head, a hypothesis formed when I combined it with the target window that appeared when I activated the skill.
Is this… a torture skill?
So, if I throw as many seeds as possible within the allotted time to inflict the maximum amount of pain, does it deal damage equivalent to the total amount of pain?
“…”
Just how far down the abyss is this scenario going to take me to give me something like this from the start? I was both happy about the unprecedentedly powerful skill and dismayed by the bleak future… It was a strange feeling.
“I’m going to get some water…“
As I took off my headset and headed to the refrigerator, I could only think of one thing. Can I back out of this now? I think I was happier in the Nature-Magic scenario…
It was then, as I was about to open a bottle of water, that the doorbell rang. Startled, I turned my head and was dumbfounded. The person on the intercom screen was too familiar.
“…Father?”
I blurted it out and instinctively rushed to my desk. I hurriedly turned off the game, and then my phone started ringing. Even seeing the two words “Black Bear” didn’t make me smile.
“Father, I’ll go to the hospital on my own. Don’t worry and go.”
“What? How can you do that?”
“I have a friend I’m supposed to meet. I’ll go with him. If you come along, you’ll have to explain how I got hurt.”
“…”
It was something I blurted out, thinking it might be okay to be a little reckless. My only thought was to send my father away and answer Chanhee’s call.
“Please don’t tell Mother. I don’t want her to worry unnecessarily.”
“…H-Haemin…”
“I’ll call you, Father.”
Pressing my forehead with one hand, I headed towards the front door. I opened the door fully and looked back, and my hesitant father finally started to leave.
“You must call, okay?”
“I will. I promise.”
“Right after you get treated. Understand?”
“Yes.”
The vibration continued relentlessly. As soon as I saw my father out and closed the door, I ran to my desk. Droplets of blood that had seeped through my fingers fell in spots on my t-shirt, pants, the top of my foot, and the floor.
“Yes, Chanhee.”
I wanted to sound nonchalant, but my breath was unavoidably a bit short. I held my phone to my ear and headed to the bathroom.
―Hyung, are you home?
“Yeah, where else would I be?”
―What happened? Did someone come over?
When I looked in the mirror and took my hand away, I could clearly see the blood dripping from the fingernail-sized wound. I frowned involuntarily and washed my bloodied hand first.
“Ah— it’s nothing. My father came by unexpectedly, but he’s gone now.”
I took a towel from the rack, pressed it to my forehead, and fell into thought. I could just go to any surgical clinic and get it stitched up, right? I’m conscious and able to walk, so calling 119 would be overkill, wouldn’t it?
―Are you sure nothing happened?
“What could have happened? Nothing, nothing.”
―Then can I see you for a bit?
“Of course, we can see… Huh?”
―I’ll arrive in 5 minutes. Come down then.
The call ended abruptly. I looked down at myself without realizing it. My stretched-out t-shirt was stained with blood, and my sweatpants were baggy at the knees.
“This is crazy…”
To top it all off, I was covering my face with a blood-soaked towel, making me look, to put it mildly, pathetic. There was no time to wallow in self-pity. I grabbed my phone again and called, but Chanhee didn’t answer. He was definitely ignoring me on purpose.
“Ah…”
Time was ticking by relentlessly. In the end, I hurriedly put on a windbreaker and zipped it all the way up. I couldn’t wear a hat because the bleeding hadn’t stopped. I washed my blood-stained hands again, pressed a new towel to the wound, and grabbed my phone and wallet.
As I went down the stairs, I kept thinking of excuses. Should I say I bumped into something while getting ready in a hurry? No, that would make it Chanhee’s fault… Should I say a book fell from the bookshelf? Yes, that’s better.
As I made up my mind and reached the first floor, I saw a car stopping in front of the building. I quickly ran to it, afraid someone might see, and opened the passenger door. Chanhee, who was about to get out and had just unbuckled his seatbelt, paused. Then, looking at me, he blinked slowly, very slowly.
“…”
“…”
“Um…”
“Get in.”
Chanhee cut me off and pulled my arm. I involuntarily sat down, and he pulled the seatbelt and fastened it securely. I wanted to say I could do it myself, but my hands weren’t free, so I stayed put.
“Can I see it for a moment?”
A warm hand reached for my forehead. As Chanhee carefully opened the folded towel, his brow furrowed gradually. I averted my eyes, feeling guilty for no reason.
“I’ll take you to the nearest emergency room right away.”
His calm tone felt cold, but his actions as he pressed the towel and held my hand were gentle. As soon as Chanhee grabbed the steering wheel and started the car, a sharp warning sound rang out. The driver’s seatbelt warning was blaring loudly.
“You… You need to wear your seatbelt, too.”
“…Ah.”
Chanhee let out a low sigh as if he had just realized. He didn’t speak after that. Chanhee stared straight ahead with a hardened expression, and I barely breathed, afraid I might drip blood onto his car. I couldn’t find the right time to ask if it was really necessary to go to the emergency room for something like this.
Does his silence mean he has an idea of what happened? Could he have heard everything clearly through the headset microphone I had left on?
“…”
The thought made me so embarrassed I wanted to get out of the car and run away… and yet, I also felt a strange sense of relief.
It was a truly strange feeling.
🕹️
Strangely, as soon as we arrived at the hospital, the wound started throbbing intensely. After a few tests and an anti-infection injection, cold sweat was pouring down my back.
While waiting for the stitches, Chanhee held my hand tightly by the bedside. I was worried about what others might think, but I didn’t want to pull my hand away either. As I pretended to be asleep with my eyes closed, my phone vibrated in my pocket. When I didn’t react, Chanhee leaned over and asked,
“Should I turn it off?”
“…”
Instead of answering, I fumbled in my pocket with my other hand. It was a call from my mother. I barely swallowed a sigh rising from deep within my stomach and sat up groggily.
“Yes, Mom.”
―Haemin! What is this about you getting hurt?
My forehead throbbed even more.
“It’s okay. It’s just a small cut.”
―I heard your father did it? What on earth…
“I’m at the hospital right now, so I’ll call you later. Anyway, it’s nothing serious, so don’t worry.”
More than anything, I didn’t want Chanhee to hear the conversation. I quickly ended the call and gave an awkward smile, but Chanhee didn’t smile back.
“…”
I’ve been thinking since earlier…
“Hey… Chanhee…”
He seems really angry.
“I’m sorry. You must have been startled.”
“…”
“Anyway, you saved me. I didn’t think it warranted an ambulance, but I was worried about taking a taxi looking like this. Thank you.”
“Hyung.”
Chanhee cut me off and placed his hand on the bed. Naturally, his upper body came closer. I looked at his distorted, dark eyes and then slowly looked away. Chanhee also lowered his gaze and ran a hand over his face.
“…Just lie back down for now.”
“Uh…”
I cleared my throat with a cough and lay down. And then, another endless silence. It was suffocating and hard to bear. I wished he would just ask me what had happened, even if it was to scold me.
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the stitches were done. The doctor said there wouldn’t be a noticeable scar because the cut wasn’t too jagged. The treatment ended after a bandage about two finger-widths long was placed above my left eyebrow.
“You shouldn’t drink alcohol for a while, and I’ll give you three days’ worth of medication.”
By the time we stopped by the pharmacy, it was already past five in the afternoon. Chanhee accepted the medication bag and stood right beside me. He seemed to intend to take me home.
“Chanhee, I can go home by myself now…”
“Excuse me, are you perhaps―”
As I reached out my hand to speak, someone suddenly yanked on my windbreaker sleeve. Caught off guard, I stumbled, and I heard a surprised, “Oh,” from both sides. Chanhee was the first to grab my shoulder. He pulled me tightly into his arms and spoke in an unusually fierce voice.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
I wasn’t the only one surprised by his harsh rebuke. I managed to turn my head and saw a young woman frozen with a pale face.
“Ah, I’m… I’m sorry.”
She looks familiar… I tried to free myself from Chanhee’s grip, but he remained stiff and unmoving.
“Chanhee, let go…”
“I’m sorry. I got carried away because I was so happy to see you… Do you remember me? I saw both of you at a restaurant once before.”
The woman continued speaking rapidly, as if firing off words. Then I remembered the woman who had approached me at the restaurant on the day I first met Chanhee.
“…Ah.”
I think she said she worked for some entertainment agency… As I understood the context, my surprise quickly subsided. Regardless, Chanhee still showed no intention of letting me go.
“You remember, right? Oh, I’m so sorry. This is just how I am. I’m just strong… But oh my, are you hurt?”
“Ah, it’s just…”
“Oh dear, such a handsome face… Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, yes.”
“Hyung, let’s go.”
Chanhee coldly interrupted and pulled my shoulder. The woman, though flustered, didn’t try to stop us further. She only called out timidly as we walked away,
“Please give me a call! You must!”
I wanted to gesture an apology, but I was being dragged away relentlessly and couldn’t. Chanhee was tense, as if worried someone else might pull me away, his arm firm around me.
“Chanhee.”
His pace was so fast that the toes of my sneakers scraped the ground several times as I tried to keep up. I was afraid I might trip again, so I patted his arm.
“Chanhee, wait a moment.”
He slowed down a little, but that was all. I couldn’t escape until we finally reached the car. Chanhee practically shoved me into the passenger seat, meticulously fastened my seatbelt, and then closed the door.
“…”
It doesn’t seem like the right atmosphere to ask him to take me home… As I awkwardly scratched my chin, Chanhee got into the driver’s seat and took out his phone.
“Are you okay with a long car ride?”
He asked, his eyes fixed on his phone, sending a chill down my spine. What is he planning now?
“Uh… Where are we going?”
“There’s a lawyer’s office near Gyodae Station that an acquaintance of mine runs.”
“…Why a lawyer?”
“You should file a lawsuit. And report it.”
Only then did Chanhee look at me and tap his forehead with his fingertip. I involuntarily squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.
Oh no, I knew this would get bigger…
“S… No. Chanhee, I think you’re misunderstanding something…”
“Misunderstanding? If someone does this to you, they should take responsibility.”
“I couldn’t explain earlier because I was flustered, but this was an accident. It’s not assault…”
“Ha.”
Chanhee let out a blatant, disbelieving sigh. Wow, he knows how to scoff at people, too. I forced a pacifistic smile and waved my hand.
“Look, even if I was hit, I can’t go all the way to Gyodae Station now. I can’t take such a long car ride with a head injury. It’ll be a disaster. I’ll get carsick.”
“…”
“Just take me home. Okay? I’ll take my medicine and sleep, and I’ll be fine.”
“Has this happened often?”
“…Well, it’s not at all what you think. Just trust me.”
That was true. There were times when he slapped me or threw things so that I wouldn’t get hit, but this kind of accident was a first. Chanhee quietly brushed his eyes. I could feel his frustration at my unwillingness to communicate.
“I understand it might seem like a situation to misunderstand…”
“I understand. Let’s go to my house for now.”
“Okay, your house… Huh?”
Without giving me a chance to say anything more, Chanhee abruptly started the car. I resigned myself and leaned back against the seat. …I don’t know. I can’t explain my situation in detail here and now.
“…”
The city, entering rush hour, was packed with all sorts of vehicles. There aren’t many options for someone injured and riding with an angry person. I closed my mouth and looked out the window. The painkillers were wearing off, and my forehead was throbbing again.
🕹️
“Please have a seat.”
Chanhee pointed to the living room sofa and disappeared down the hallway. If I remember correctly, he went into the dressing room. He returned shortly after, dressed in a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants. He was holding a familiar pair of pajamas.
“Why are you…?”
“Stay the night. I’ll drive you tomorrow.”
“No, I have to study tonight…”
“You can do it here. If you need anything, I’ll go get it for you.”
Seeing his firm stance, it seemed he wasn’t going to let me go easily. I had no choice but to accept the pajamas and stand up. I wanted to change my clothes since I had bled and sweated on them.
“Then I’ll take a shower first.”
“Shall I help you?”
“Uh, help… Help with what? What are you talking about?”
He asked so naturally that I was momentarily taken aback. Seeing me jump in surprise, Chanhee tilted his head, looking puzzled.
“I thought it might be difficult to wash your hair alone.”
“…”
Ah, my hair… As I hesitated, Chanhee moved first.
“I’ll just wash your hair and then I’ll leave. I need to prepare dinner.”
“…Uh…”
“Come in.”
Chanhee opened the storage room door in the middle of the hallway, took out a small folding chair, and headed to the bathroom. Unfolded, it looked like a portable garden chair. As instructed, I awkwardly sat down and leaned my head back into the bathtub. Chanhee carefully brushed my hair back, strand by strand, before turning on the warm water.
His hands, as he carefully wet my hair, avoiding the bandage, were gentle yet skilled. I felt a strange flutter in my stomach every time his thick arms and broad chest moved in front of me, so I just closed my eyes. Then, Chanhee, stopping his hands, asked curiously,
“Did it get in your eyes?”
“…No, just…”
I instinctively denied it, but then a chuckle escaped me.
“Really… I’m showing you all sorts of embarrassing sides of myself.”
“…”
“…”
“There was some blood in your hair, too.”
I could feel his fingers moving through my hair, rubbing away the dried blood, one spot at a time. He seemed quite experienced at this, for whatever reason.
“Have you washed a lot of people’s hair? You’re good at it.”
“I volunteered at a childcare facility for a while in high school.”
“…You did?”
“Yes, I didn’t have anything particular to do, and…”
Every time his firm, thick thumb brushed against my temple, a shiver ran down my neck. It was even more so because he was so close I could feel his breath.
“I think I wanted to do something meaningful.”
Why do people sometimes lose their breath? My erratic breathing caused saliva to pool under my tongue. I felt like Chanhee would notice immediately if I swallowed.
“Something meaningful?”
“All I could do was wait for the court’s decision, and I didn’t want to just waste time… So, I thought I should use my time for something worthwhile.”
The shampoo lather Chanhee had worked up had a faint, pleasant scent. It was similar to the scent that sometimes emanated from Chanhee.
“Don’t you go there anymore?”
“I was a student back then. The procedure is a bit more complicated now.”
“…Ah.”
“I’m still interested. I’ll do it again someday.”
The warm water washed away all the grime accumulated from a tiring day. Chanhee meticulously dried my hair with a towel and then stood up.
“Finish washing up. I’m thinking of grilling steak for dinner. Is that alright?”
“Yeah… I like other creatures’ flesh.”
I joked, trying to lighten the mood. Chanhee didn’t laugh at all, just replied, “Okay,” and left the bathroom.
“…”
Left alone, I finally swallowed the saliva that had pooled in my mouth.
After finishing a meal I barely tasted, darkness began to fall outside the window. Chanhee, while maintaining his stiff demeanor, brought out warm tea. I felt grateful and comfortable being treated so well, but his consistently serious expression was making me feel increasingly uneasy.
“Hey… Aren’t your parents home today either?”
The milk tea in the pretty cup had a fragrant aroma. I only knew how to make tea with tea bags, so this carefully brewed black tea was a first.
“They aren’t. They’re going on a trip for a few days while they’re on a business trip.”
“A business trip? Together?”
“Yes. They have some work to do together.”
Wasn’t his father the president of a publishing company? I took a sip of the warm tea and racked my brain. I also remembered Chanhee mentioning that he had learned some language theories from his mother.
“Does your mother also work in publishing?”
Chanhee’s hand, which had been clearing the table, paused. He glanced at me for a moment, then turned around, holding the stacked dishes.
“Yes.”
Why did he hesitate like that before answering? I wondered, then realized my mistake. I shouldn’t have pryed so much into what his family does. I closed my mouth again and focused on the aroma of the black tea, and when Chanhee finished cleaning up, he asked,
“Did you take your medicine?”
“Yes.”
“If you need a laptop, you can use mine. It’s in the bedroom.”
That’s right. I was actually planning to study tonight… Even if studying just meant reading similar research papers.
“Do you have a printer?”
“There’s one downstairs. Give me the file and I’ll print it for you.”
“Ah, then I’ll ask you to do that.”
As soon as I opened the bedroom door with the teacup in hand, I paused. The first thing that caught my eye was the light purple hydrangea placed on the small console next to the bed. The flowers, placed in a clean vase with water, were still fresh.
It’s amazing that it’s lasting so long even after being cut. I stared at it in wonder, then came back to the living room with the laptop. I placed the laptop on the table and opened the research paper site, and Chanhee approached with his own cup of milk tea.
“Do you really have to do it today?”
“Huh?”
“I thought it would be better to rest early since you’re hurt.”
“I have to do what I planned. That way, I can rest comfortably.”
I downloaded the papers I had saved and pushed the laptop towards Chanhee. Chanhee glanced at the laptop and then at my face before asking again,
“Are you getting enough sleep?”
“Yeah, well… I sleep enough to survive.”
“…”
“Really. You’re worrying about the strangest things.”
Chanhee was silent again for a moment. It seemed he had something else he wanted to say. I turned to face him and leaned forward slightly.
“What is it?”
He parted his lips slightly, then closed them again. Sensing that he was struggling to find the right words, I said confidently,
“If it’s hard to beat around the bush, just be blunt. I’ll filter it myself.”
“It makes me sad that hyung doesn’t tell me anything.”
“…”
I didn’t mean for him to be this direct… Unable to find an appropriate response, I quietly averted my gaze. Chanhee rested his arms on the table and spoke in a dejected voice.
“Did you filter it yourself?”
“…No, it was a direct hit.”
“Hyung.”
He took my hand across the table. It was a warm, firm, large hand. I helplessly watched as he carefully enclosed my hand between both of his and then gently lowered his lips onto it.
“Can’t I be anything to you, hyung?”
For a moment, I almost blurted out that that was impossible. I stopped because our eyes met. Because I saw his tragically contorted eyes, flushed red.
“Hyung…”
Tears didn’t flow, and his voice was calm and clear as always, but it was a plea.
“Don’t you need me?”
I unconsciously cupped his cheek with my free hand. His cheek was soft, as if he had never been hurt before. I flinched my fingertips, then spread them wide again. Chanhee blinked slowly.
“I…”
Ah, I don’t really know. Is this really okay?
“Chanhee, look… I…”
This trivial pain is eating away at you, and while your anger and sadness on my behalf feel strange and unsettling…
“I’m not as… as you think…”
A sudden, base sense of satisfaction wells up, making me flustered…
“Hyung.”
Leaving me speechless, Chanhee stepped closer, bracing himself against the table. His face, so close our breaths mingled, carried the faint scent of milk tea.
“Don’t you need me?”
Chanhee lowered his gaze and repeated the same question. An irresistible thought crossed my mind. If I say I don’t need you, will you leave? Will you leave me and… find somewhere else, someone else to attach your heart to?
I thought that might be the right answer. I don’t think I’m a suitable person for this innocent young man, just starting out in the world, to trust and follow. As I opened my mouth to make the right choice, the purple hydrangea blooming in the bedroom suddenly came to mind.
“…”
And as I lowered my gaze… I saw his slightly trembling, red lips.
“I…”
Will I regret this moment? The doubt lingered in my chest like a bit of foam left behind by the receding tide ― but I was already tilting my head, seeking the source of that unfamiliar breath.
Our lips met, melting together softly.