THIFSGSTW CH 57

Chapter 57: You Knew

Park Yul’s calm voice continued.

“Why did you think it wouldn’t be me?”

Would Park Yul have any reason to go this far for me? Was there any need for him to take the time to find me? He didn’t even ask me anything.

I wasn’t sure. I had buried the thought, but there were times when it surfaced. The way Park Yul was in the beginning, how his expression would stiffen for just a brief moment when our eyes met, I still remembered it clearly.

Of course, that hadn’t happened at all recently. But that didn’t mean everything was resolved.

‘A seed of doubt.’

I thought it was just that it hadn’t sprouted yet. Hidden beneath the soil, it remained buried.

However, if I kept showing suspicious behavior, like suddenly appearing in strange places, that seed might be nourished enough to sprout someday.

And when that happened, he would turn away from me. And all of it would happen without me even realizing it.

Only after he had withdrawn his gaze from me would I finally start retracing my steps, trying to figure out where I went wrong—just like the countless days I spent in the temple. I didn’t want that.

“Because, Yul-hyung is….”

I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t think of what to say next. Park Yul stood before me, meeting my eyes, as if waiting for me to finish my sentence. His gaze was steady.

‘What kind of answer do I even want right now?’

Just because Park Yul asked me something didn’t mean I could satisfy his curiosity. There were more things I didn’t know than things I did.

My head cooled. I felt like I was regaining a bit of composure. This wasn’t the right time to bring up this topic. At the very least, I had to wait until I was ready to explain everything to Park Yul.

After thinking it over for a moment, I shook my head.

“No… I just thought you might be curious, hyung.”

The more I spoke, the lower my head dipped. I didn’t want to see Park Yul’s expression. I wanted to move on from this topic. How could I shift the conversation? I was still pondering that when—

“Of course, I’m curious.”

Park Yul’s quiet voice reached me. My heart dropped.

I swallowed hard. I couldn’t bring myself to look up. What would he say next? Would he demand that I tell him everything right now? Or would he say that he could no longer wait for me to speak?

I let out a deep breath, trying to steady my wildly shaking heart. If I couldn’t avoid it, I had to face it. I couldn’t give him an answer, but maybe if I said something, he would understand my sincerity. Just as I was about to lift my head—

“I’ve always been curious. Ever since the first time I saw you.”

Park Yul placed his hand on my head. Then he slowly ruffled my hair. His voice flowed gently, like a soft touch.

“I wanted to know if Yi-han was really okay, what had hurt you so much, what made you so sad.”

Warm hands cupped both of my cheeks. Park Yul lifted my head.

“And now, I want to know how you’re doing.”

His face broke into a bright smile. Without realizing it, I nodded.

Park Yul withdrew his hands and extended his arms upward slightly. Blue flower petals drifted down from the sky, landing in his neat, open palm one by one.

“And I think I know what you wanted to say just now, Yi-han.”

A soft glow shimmered around the pile of petals in his hand. The stems of the flowers intertwined on their own, binding them into a bouquet.

Park Yul gently brushed over the gathered flowers, as if tidying them, then suddenly held them out to me.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here first.”

The bouquet in my arms carried a rich fragrance. As I stared down at it—

Clap.

A sharp sound echoed beside me. At the same time, a gust of wind swept through.

In an instant, the scenery before me shifted. The green walls entwined with vines were gone.

Instead, a white building stood directly ahead. The sky remained the same violet dawn. I had returned to the place where, in the morning, I had found the flowers rooted in the ground. I hadn’t expected to get out this quickly.

Park Yul, standing beside me, reached out to fix my wind-tousled hair and spoke.

“When I was first chosen as a hero, I went to the temple.”

He took the bouquet from my hands and held it himself. His voice was slow and steady.

“And sometimes, when I looked at you, I would remember that moment.”

I looked up at the white building before us. When I had first seen it, I had also thought of the temple. The past had a way of resurfacing in unexpected moments. That was inevitable.

Had Park Yul heard the voice of the gods in the temple as well? If so, then he must have felt the same heavy pressure I had felt earlier.

‘So that’s why.’

Now I understood why his expression had sometimes hardened.

The bouquet was suddenly thrust toward me again. Amidst the blue flowers, small yellow blossoms peeked through.

“I shouldn’t have let my thoughts wander while you were in front of me. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, Yul-hyung. Besides, it only happened at first. I know it’s not like that anymore.”

“…You really did know everything.”

A thick blanket was draped over me. Park Yul gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder and continued speaking.

“Shall we go in now? Everyone must be waiting.”

We walked around the building toward the entrance.

The early spring breeze brushed past us.

A thought struck me. Even though I hadn’t asked, Park Yul had given me an answer. Even though I hadn’t told him anything first.

I glanced up at him as we walked side by side. Sensing my gaze, Park Yul looked down at me, his eyes curving into a gentle smile. As if to say, everything’s okay.

◇

Creak.

We entered the building. A glowing white map appeared in the darkened interior.

“…You’re back.”

Song Ha-gyeon’s dazed voice reached my ears.

At the same time, someone rushed toward us. A sweet-scented breeze passed by. Arms wrapped around me, holding me gently.

“I was worried. I waited for you.… Please, don’t disappear like that again.”

Raen’s voice trembled. He buried his face into my shoulder. I patted his back, feeling his hold tighten around me. Beside me, Park Yul let out a small chuckle and lightly tapped Raen’s shoulder.

“Didn’t I tell you I’d bring him back, Raen?”

“Leader-hyung… You did well.”

“Welcome back!”

Min Joo-hyuk, who had quietly approached, placed a firm hand on my head.

“I really can’t take my eyes off you, Sun Yihan. You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“…You did well.”

Before I knew it, Song Ha-gyeon had approached. He met my gaze as if he were checking my condition.

The situation calmed down a bit, so I brought up what I had learned. Everyone told me to rest first and talk later, but this had to come first.

Of course, it was only after I sat in a large, plush chair that had been brought from somewhere, with a blanket over my back, a warm pillow in my arms, and a cup of herb-scented tea in my hands, that I could finally speak properly.

Even saying a single word wasn’t easy.

“I have received the power of God.”

I added that the space I had just entered was likely imbued with divine power, and I  found that I had received the power of God in there.

I didn’t mention anything about offerings or sacrifices. There was no point in saying that. That was something I had to figure out on my own.

I also said that everything I had used so far wasn’t healing magic but divine power. Raen, his eyes tinged red, cautiously spoke up.

“But isn’t divine power incapable of significantly interfering with the mortal realm? It shouldn’t even be able to heal….”

He seemed about to finish his sentence but quickly added,

“Oh. If you don’t know, that’s okay, Yihan. We can figure it out together.”

I wanted to learn from Raen, how he hesitated but still firmly asked what he wanted to know.

At first, Raen’s questions had put me in a tough spot, but… that wasn’t what mattered right now. I had come to realize that asking questions required a lot of courage.

“No, Raen-hyung. I’ve thought about it too. The divine power that priests use is something they borrow from the gods. They pay a price in return.”

Min Joo-hyuk, who had been listening to me, stiffened for a moment. I didn’t know why, but his gaze flickered toward my wrist. Since he didn’t say anything, I continued.

“But I received the god’s power directly into my body. So, I think it’s a little different.”

“Then… does that mean you don’t need to pay a price?”

Min Joo-hyuk asked me right away. Since I hadn’t paid anything, I nodded. He thought for a moment before saying he understood and told me to keep going.

“Um… that’s all.”

Everyone seemed to grasp the situation. I looked at Raen, who nodded. I had hoped for it a little, but no quest completion window appeared.

Well, maybe it would pop up later. The system seemed to be acting a little erratically.

“…Then, the fact that only Park Yul-hyung could enter that space…”

“Seems to be related. Since Leader-hyung received his power directly from the god when he was chosen as a hero.”

“…Yeah.”

Now I understood why Park Yul had been able to enter that space. Good. The situation was all sorted out. Now…

“…Now, get some rest.”

Song Ha-gyeon suddenly pulled my wrist. I found myself standing up and automatically taking a step.

Wait, no. I had something left to say. What was it?

“Yeah, Yihan. It’s already really late.”

A gentle voice overlapped with the sound of footsteps.

“Aren’t you tired? If you need anything, just call me.”

A careful touch brushed over my head as if stroking it before pulling away.

“Hey, sleep well.”

A firm pat landed on my back.

With that final bright voice, the door clicked shut. In an instant, I was in my room.

‘Huh?’

It happened in the blink of an eye. I stared blankly at the closed door before turning my back to it. The familiar sight of my room came into view. Everything was just as it was.

Outside the large window, darkness stretched out. Blue flowers drifted down from the sky, faintly illuminated by the moonlight. It was like the night was shedding its morning shell, revealing the flesh of dawn.

It was quiet. I leaned back against the chair in front of the table. I felt like I had something I needed to say, but I couldn’t remember. Too much had happened today.

I needed to sort out my thoughts. Right, the last quest window I saw looked strange, maybe the system was malfunctioning. I needed to check that too….

My eyes were growing dry. My thoughts felt slow, as if they were floating. I had thought sitting in a stiff wooden chair would keep me awake, but clearly, that was a mistake.

Maybe I should just close my eyes for a moment. That might clear my head. Just for a moment….

Knock, knock.

A small knock at the door startled me awake.

Ah, when did I fall asleep? I was slumped over the table. The sky outside was still dark. Good. That meant I hadn’t been asleep for too long.

“Who is it…?”

There wasn’t even the slightest movement outside the door. Had they already left?

“…You were awake. Can I come in?”

A slow voice called out. It was Song Ha-gyeon.

“Yeah, come in….”

Just as I adjusted my groggy voice and spoke, something suddenly surged up from deep inside me. A foreign blue light flickered before my eyes.

‘Random Hemoptysis’ penalty is in effect.

What? No. Wait.

Right now? Suddenly?