RG 143

I should’ve tried this earlier. All that buff time I’ve wasted until now feels like such a loss. And since it can even be stacked with my Divine Power skill, it couldn’t get any better.

‘From now on, I’m definitely using my buff skills like this every time.’

Vowing never to take a loss again, I spoke to Ryu Seonghyeon, who was quickly backing away from me. “Let’s go. I’ll support you from the back.”

In the distance where Song Ji-un and the monster were, the snowstorm was still raging and bitter cold filled the air. Without my Divine Power skill, Ryu Seonghyeon wouldn’t be able to join the fight.

With a flushed face, Ryu Seonghyeon clenched and then released his fists before giving a nod. As he charged forward, I followed him toward Song Ji-un.

“Mountain Keeper!”

Startled by my shout, Song Ji-un flinched and turned around. At his feet was Eunbok, who had run ahead of us. What a relief!

“Wh-what are you guys doing here…?!” His eyes widened as he stared at us in disbelief, jaw dropping.

“Watch out!”

Just as I shouted, a massive ice spike shot through the snowstorm straight at us. Ryu Seonghyeon stomped the ground and threw up a golden shield, standing protectively in front of Song Ji-un.

Crack, crack! Crash!

The moment his skill clashed with the ice spike, a storm erupted with a powerful shockwave.

As I nearly stumbled, Song Ji-un caught me by the shoulder. With his help, I regained balance and yelled toward Ryu Seonghyeon, “I’ll purify it, so don’t worry and just fight!”

The monster’s presence felt far stronger up close than I had expected, but with Ryu Seonghyeon and Song Ji-un here, it would be fine.

To amplify the effect, I clasped my hands again. The snow around me began to melt, and green grass sprouted from beneath. Seeing it, Song Ji-un muttered in surprise, “This is… is it divine power?”

“Hehe, that’s right,” I replied playfully and looked up. The snowstorm that had obscured our view died down, revealing the monster’s appearance.

Long silver hair fluttering in the wind. Skin as pale as the hair, and a thin white dress unsuited for the weather. Bare feet standing on snow. The small monster had a female form and looked eerily identical to a real human.

As I met her pale blue eyes glowing through her hair, a chill ran down my spine. Her eyes were unnaturally clear yet unfocused, giving off a strange, otherworldly vibe. Her aura was enormous, but since she was humanoid, there was a high chance she could be killed by severing the neck. Even before my regression, several humanoid monsters had been subdued that way when they first appeared.

Recalling that, I spoke to Ryu Seonghyeon. “Vicemaster, let’s approach and aim for the neck first. I’ll purify her and try to find other weak spots as well—”

“N-no! Don’t!” Interrupting me in a panic, Song Ji-un, who had been listening, snapped to his senses and cut in desperately. “You can’t kill her. She’s not an enemy!”

“What?”

Not an enemy? Didn’t she just attack us? And besides, she’s a monster—how can she not be the enemy?

Then, a groan came from the other side. The monster clutched her face and stumbled. She frowned in pain and looked toward us. Her gaze, now visible between her fingers, had regained its focus, unlike before.

“Ah…”

The monster looked at Ryu Seonghyeon and me one after the other, then her eyes landed on Song Ji-un. Her face stiffened, and she took a step back.

Whooosh—the icy air that had been sharp enough to slice skin died down in an instant.

Even from a distance, her confusion was plain to see. In the end, she turned her back on us. We could see her fleeing into the snowstorm.

“Wait a second…”

“Stop!”

Just as I was about to step forward—having noticed something embedded in the monster’s forehead right before it turned—Song Ji-un stopped me. He hesitated with a desperate look, then spoke in a faint, flickering voice that sounded like it might vanish at any moment.

“Please… let her go. That one… she’s not a monster that should be killed. It’s just… just…”

“…”

It wasn’t so much a request as a plea. Seeing Song Ji-un beg like that, clearly unwillingly, left me feeling conflicted as well.

“…Alright.”

By then, the monster had already vanished from sight. Swallowing a sigh, I turned to Ryu Seonghyeon. He also seemed to realize that Song Ji-un had his reasons and gave a silent nod.

I withdrew my skill and scanned the surroundings. Even with Divine Power, the remnants of battle remained clearly visible.

Standing on the cracked ground, Eunbok let out a plaintive meow.

Ryu Seonghyeon wore a complex expression, while Song Ji-un glanced around nervously, his face filled with unease and confusion. The three of us had a lot to talk about.

With a bitter heart, I said, “…Let’s head back for now.”

***

The three of them descended the mountain and returned to the temple where Song Ji-un lived. Cha Seohu gently set down Eunbok, who he had been holding in his arms, and thought to himself.

‘That was rough…’

They had climbed a snowy mountain, nearly froze to death halfway through, and even got dragged into a battle. They had followed Song Ji-un secretly out of curiosity about his secret, so in a way it was their own doing—but tough was tough, regardless.

“…Are you okay?” Ryu Seonghyeon asked quietly, as if feeling sorry for him. Despite going through the same ordeal, he showed no signs of exhaustion. More than that, his skin was practically glowing.

Cha Seohu let out a dry chuckle and said, “Must be the buff from earlier. You’re still full of energy.”

The buff lasted two hours, so there was probably more than an hour left. At Cha Seohu’s comment, Ryu Seonghyeon gave an awkward cough. 

“Next time, just hold on properly. It’s not a big deal. With a difference this huge, it’s a waste to settle for just a handshake.”

“Hmm.”

Cha Seohu was more than happy for Ryu Seonghyeon to get used to physical contact with him.

This is how you get closer, he thought, chuckling to himself with a bit of mischief.

Before the flustered Ryu Seonghyeon could protest, Cha Seohu turned the conversation to Song Ji-un. “Mountain Keeper.”

“Yes?”

“Could we talk for a bit? There’s something I’d like to tell you. And… something I’d like to ask.”

“…”

“Mountain Keeper, you’re curious about us too, aren’t you?”

Song Ji-un reluctantly replied, “…Alright. But… let’s talk after a short break. I still need time to sort things out in my head…”

“Of course. Just let us know when you’re ready.” Flashing a friendly smile to ease Song Ji-un’s burden, Cha Seohu turned and walked toward the door.

“W-wait, where are you going?”

When Cha Seohu headed out into the snowy outdoors, Song Ji-un grabbed his wrist in surprise. Standing nearby, Ryu Seonghyeon quietly looked down at the hand that had been caught.

“Tired or not, I’ve still got things to do.” Cha Seohu shrugged pointedly. “I’m going to purify this place.”

Now that he’d figured out how to get rid of the cold, it was time to put it into action. He had no intention of leaving it as it was. Leaving the blinking Song Ji-un behind, he stepped outside and activated his skill.

《Skill: Divine Power (Class S) activated!》

《A divine aura overflows!》

He went all in, even joining his hands in prayer, and the divine power spread even further.

‘I guess I’m getting used to this look.’

He’d really hated it at first, but people were creatures of habit after all. And this skill was too effective to keep sealed away.

A white glow radiated out from Cha Seohu, melting the snow and clearing away the heavy clouds overhead. As the dense clouds dispersed, the deep blue sky and warm sunlight broke through. On the once-frozen ground and bare branches, pale green buds began to bloom. The buds turned into grass, then into flowers, and by the time the blossoms started to open, Eunbok came bounding out, darting playfully through the new life.

Song Ji-un and Ryu Seonghyeon stood side by side, watching quietly.

“…”

Song Ji-un couldn’t believe the miracle unfolding before him. It felt like a dream. For over twenty years, he had seen the same unchanging scenery. He had never dared imagine that the snow would melt and new life would grow in its place.

An unnamed flower swayed in the gentle wind. Eunbok, curious, tapped at the blossoms with his paw. Beneath a tree now full of green leaves, Cha Seohu looked on with a soft smile. His hands joined in prayer, adorned with white wings of light, he looked like a noble being beyond reach.

After watching Cha Seohu in silence for a long moment, Song Ji-un turned to Ryu Seonghyeon with an unreadable expression and asked, “…May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“…That Support.” Song Ji-un hesitated briefly before finishing his sentence, “You said… you weren’t in any kind of relationship with him, right?”

Ryu Seonghyeon’s eyes turned cold and still.