THIFSGSTW CH 52

Chapter 52: Until I Realize

I was leaning against Park Yul, almost as if I were in his embrace. He was slowly stroking the middle of my chest.

“Yul hyung, I’m okay now.”

“…You’re feeling a little better. That’s a relief. You drank a mana recovery potion.”

Park Yul lightly brushed the corner of my lips. I felt something sticky that had been on my lips sparkle and disappear. It left a bitter yet strange taste, like chewing on fragrant flower petals.

‘But it wasn’t the mana recovery potion that helped me.’

It was just that the system’s passive skill had taken effect belatedly. I had noticed my status window flickering a few times before. Was it going to break at this rate?

Anyway, since I was fine now, I tried to move away from Park Yul. But he held me tighter.

“You need to wait a bit longer. The potion is still taking effect.”

“Hyung, I didn’t run out of mana—”

“Yi-han. You said you wouldn’t do this again. I’m sorry. I…”

Raen’s voice trembled with emotion. I didn’t think I’d ever said something like that. Probably.

“Raen, calm down and just sit still. Even if you feel okay, you still need to rest.”

Park Yul raised his hand and brushed his hair back slightly, his voice carrying a sense of unease.

“Both of you… We’ll talk later, with me. For now, rest. Once everything’s settled, we’ll take our time.”

This was bad. I needed to come up with an excuse—fast.

But… for what exactly? I had only done what I could, and in the end, the situation had turned out for the better. Wasn’t that enough?

With me still in his arms, Park Yul stood up effortlessly and walked toward the window.

Clunk.

The heavy window opened. The sun was nearly set, and the sky had darkened. A gust of spring air rushed in. A thick blanket was draped over me.

Park Yul took a deep breath and reached out his hand toward the window. He then flicked it lightly. Soon, there was a loud bang outside, and white sparks of light flickered.

Soon after, Min Joo-hyuk and Song Ha-gyeon moved in from the back.

“What’s the matter, Hyung?”

“… Why?”

Their expressions were both rigid. Apparently, it was a signal that was only used in case of emergency.

“Hagyeon-ah, Joohyuk-ah. Can you take Raen to his room? His mana was depleted. He seems okay now, but keep an eye on him just in case.”

“…Raen.”

Song Ha-gyeon slid over to Raen, who was sitting in a chair. He then lifted Raen’s wrist. After checking his pulse briefly, Song Ha-gyeon spoke.

“…How did he get better so quickly?”

“Yi-han just…. I’ll explain later. But for now, Raen, don’t ever push yourself like that again.”

“I didn’t realize I had used that much mana… Leader hyung. But you need a mana recovery potion too—”

“Raen. We’ll talk about that too. Just rest in your room for now.”

Min Joo-hyuk looked at me still held in Park Yul’s arms and asked,

“Park Yul Hyung, what about Sun Yi-han…?”

“Yi-han’s condition isn’t great either. I’ll stay with him.”

As soon as Park Yul finished speaking, Song Ha-gyeon suddenly approached me and swept my bangs aside, carefully observing my complexion.

“…Hyung, this.”

Song Ha-gyeon floated a wooden case beside him.

“If you need more…”

“Alright. I’ll call if I do.”

Nodding, Song Ha-gyeon turned back to Raen and helped him to his feet. Min Joo-hyuk spoke next.

“We’ll be going now. …Sun Yi-han. Please take care of yourself and rest properly. I’ll check on you later. I’m counting on you, Hyung.”

“Sun Yi-han. Take the medicine and sleep immediately.”

Song Ha-gyeon and Min Joo-hyuk seemed ready to leave. Meanwhile, Raen had already apologized to me about ten times and reassured me only once that he was okay. 

Raen would probably be fine. After all, I had used ‘Import’. I’m glad I did. Moreover, it was more reassuring to think that Song Ha-gyeon and Min Joo Hyuk were going to keep an eye on him, he wouldn’t overexert himself anymore. That was a relief.

The three of them disappeared from view. The surroundings fell silent in an instant.

“Yihan-ah.”

Oh no, this wasn’t a situation where I could relax. My own condition wasn’t exactly great either. If things continued like this, I might have to stay still for a while.

Park Yul was looking down at me. His expression was a little stiff, making me tense up involuntarily. Then he blinked a few times and softened his expression. His voice was gentle.

“Do you know what I’m about to say?”

“Yul-hyung, but…”

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“I didn’t run out of mana. I never even used any. And…”

I glanced at Park Yul. He nodded as if encouraging me to continue speaking while holding me steadily.

“And?”

“I’m really okay now. It used to happen occasionally. It just passes after a moment.”

“…I see. Keep going.”

Should I have said this was the first time? No, it was better to make it sound familiar. That would make my claim of being fine more convincing.

Park Yul slowly descended the stairs. His steps swayed slightly. The first time we met, he carried me up the stairs like this. Back then, I had been too dazed to notice much, but now I was fully aware.

“So, can I walk on my own now?”

“Hm, no. I don’t think that’s possible yet.”

His voice was gentle, but the way he ended the sentence was firm. That meant I wouldn’t be able to set foot on the ground until we reached the room.

Park Yul stopped in front of a door. It opened. Wait, this was the second floor.

“Are you cold or hot? What about your head?”

“I’m fine. Hyung, but… this isn’t the room I was staying in, is it?”

“This is my room.”

“Uh… why?”

“I need to keep an eye on you for at least a day.”

He must have been convinced that my condition was due to mana depletion.

Right, now that I thought about it, I had used ‘Import’ on Raen before. That meant they probably suspected I could not only heal but also transfer injuries and status conditions… at least, Raen would.

It couldn’t be helped. Simply denying it wouldn’t work anymore.

‘But if I use ‘Import’, does it replenish the mana?’

No, that didn’t seem likely. If it did, Raen would have said something. It probably only transferred the status effect itself.

That was a bit disappointing, but not too bad. Judging by what Park Yul had said, mana depletion seemed to last about a day. Fortunately, both Raen and I were completely fine now.

Park Yul carried me inside and slowly laid me down on the bed before speaking.

“Can I talk now?”

“…Yes.”

There was no way to escape anymore. I had to stay sharp. No matter what Park Yul said, I was innocent, so I could refute it right away. My choice had been the right one.

Park Yul pulled a blanket over me and dragged a chair next to the bed before sitting down.

“First of all, Yi-han, you did well. Thank you. Raen must have had a hard time.”

“…Oh, um, yeah.”

That wasn’t what I had expected to hear. In the end, all I could do was respond in a dazed voice. Park Yul continued speaking in an even tone.

“But does healing magic usually affect the body like that?”

“Like I said before, it wasn’t because of the healing magic.”

“Then you didn’t heal him. You transferred the strain from mana depletion directly onto yourself.”

“…Normally, it would be healing. This time was different. But I don’t feel the pain itself. It was only for a moment before… Now, I’m really fine. Oh, and…”

Was I explaining this properly? I tensed up, worried I might slip up. My body felt like it was stiffening along with my nerves.

Park Yul watched me quietly, then opened the wooden case on the desk.

It was the case Song Ha-gyeon had given me earlier. Inside were flasks filled with potions of various colors and several transparent, flat glass cases containing medicinal herbs.

After checking the contents, Park Yul turned his gaze back to me.

“Do you feel nauseous?”

“No? I’m fine. Really.”

Park Yul placed his palm over the center of my chest and slowly swept downward.

A warmth spread through me. Even though the touch was over my clothes, it felt as vivid as if it were directly against my skin.

“Actually, I was sure from the time you healed Raen’s injury last time. That it wasn’t healing magic. I’m sure the others thought the same.”

“I’ve only done something other than healing twice, then and now.”

That was the absolute truth. But Park Yul shook his head slightly and continued speaking.

“Yi-han. That’s not the important part. How could a person not feel pain? I saw how you looked when you were in a mana-depleted state.”

“That was just for a moment. I can transfer injuries without feeling the pain.”

I could understand his perspective. But I had been telling the truth from the start. Park Yul’s hand still gently stroked over me, as if to soothe me. His voice was just as careful.

“Yeah. But, you know, even if you drink a recovery potion, mana depletion doesn’t go away immediately. It takes time. So… I just don’t know.”

His hand stilled as he looked down at me.

“Hyung isn’t sure if you’re really okay.”

His expression was faintly smiling. Turning away, Park Yul shifted through the items in the wooden case, the glass clicking together softly. Then, he pressed a glass cup into my hand. Inside was a shimmering liquid.

“I won’t ask you anything else. I can wait until you’re ready to talk.”

I won’t ask you anything else. Those words sank into my ears. Park Yul brought the cup to my lips as he continued speaking.

“But if you’re feeling unwell, make sure to tell me. I worry about you.”

“There’s no need to wor—”

Before I could finish, the potion trickled into my mouth. I swallowed the sweet liquid little by little. Once I had finished, Park Yul took the glass away.

“The potion might make you sleepy right away. If you feel drowsy, don’t fight it.”

Park Yul stroked my back a few times before easing me down onto the bed.

“You were startled earlier, right? Raen sometimes overdoes it. This time was even worse.”

His gentle voice started to blur. My eyelids grew heavier. A hand brushed slowly over my cheek. It was soft, almost ticklish.

“No matter how much we try to stop him, he keeps pushing himself… Aren’t you worried, Yi-han?”

It took me a while to process the words before I managed a nod.

“Then until he realizes it himself, we’ll have to keep telling him we’re worried, right?”

Would we? A fluffy blanket was tucked over me. It was warm.

A voice seemed to murmur, ‘I’m worried about you.’

My eyes slowly closed. The potion spread through my body, and I fell asleep in an instant.

◇

By the time the effects wore off and I woke up, it was morning. I ended up staying in Park Yul’s room the entire day. Where had Park Yul slept while I was taking up the bed? I had asked, but he had just said he slept fine and not to worry about it.

My condition hadn’t worsened. Of course, it hadn’t. Yet, everyone treated me as if I were some seriously ill patient.

Why are they even taking care of me if I’m not sick? That was what I thought.

Until I saw how everyone acted around me.