THIFSGSTW CH 7

Chapter 07: Please Don’t Be Suspicious

I could feel a gentle hand brush softly through my hair. Right above me, I heard Park Yul’s calm voice.

“This won’t do, Yihan-ah. Let’s go upstairs and rest first. We’ll talk about the details later.”

I wanted to at least nod, but I didn’t even have the strength for that. It was embarrassing. I had always taken pride in my sturdy body, never imagining I’d say something like this—but right now, I didn’t even have the energy to lift a finger.

“Can you walk?”

“…….”

Can I walk? More importantly, could I even stand up?

I didn’t know. I was just too exhausted. I shut my eyes as if wincing from the helplessness. Then, suddenly I was lifted into the air.

Startled, I opened my eyes to find Park Yul holding me with ease. His firm arms supported me carefully.

He gently rested my head on his shoulder. As my forehead leaned against the broad expanse of his frame, I felt the warmth seeping through his clothes.

“It’s okay. Just relax, Yihan-ah.”

His quiet voice, soothing as if to reassure me, lulled my eyes shut again. My consciousness wavered. Despite carrying my weight, Park Yul’s steps remained light and steady.

Click.

I heard the door close behind us. He carried me out of the room and started climbing the stairs, each step causing a slight sway in my body.

I was exhausted—physically and mentally. I had dozed off earlier on the way here, but it clearly wasn’t enough. And now, something huge has just happened. What the hell is going on?

“…That’s strange.”

I thought I heard Park Yul mutter something. Drowsiness clouded my thoughts, making it hard to process anything.

My body grew heavier, sinking into weariness. But I needed to stay awake. I couldn’t fall asleep again—especially not in front of someone I had just met.

That would be ridiculous.

◇

Well, sometimes, ridiculous things happen in life.

For example, waking up to find yourself tucked into a bed. Or turning your head to see the sun setting outside the window. And just when you think, at least not much time has passed, you’re told that an entire day has gone by.

…Yeah, things like that.

“…Yul hyung? Did you just say a whole day passed?”

My voice trembled as I asked. Sitting beside the bed, Park Yul let out a wry smile. Supporting my back and shoulders, he helped me sit up. I felt something soft against my back. Turning my head, I saw Min Joo-hyuk adjusting a plush pillow behind me.

“Sun Yi-han. You…”

His voice carried a weight of concern. But instead of continuing, he hesitated for a long time. I waited patiently—

Creak.

The door opened. I instinctively turned toward the sound.

A figure stood at the doorway. Wearing a dark robe with a hood pulled low, concealing his face.

He took a step into the room. Then, with a slow movement, he raised a hand and pulled back his hood.

The room filled with the golden-red glow of the setting sun. A head of deep crimson hair was revealed, the color matching the glow of the twilight sky. His short, wavy hair was tied low at the back.

“Raen hyung! You’re here.”

Min Joo-hyuk’s voice rang beside me.

The red-haired figure stood there, bathed in the last rays of sunlight, as if the dusk itself had seeped into his hair. Once he fully removed his hood, he slowly lifted his head. And then our gazes met–precisely, directly..

Ding.

A clear, ringing sound echoed in my ears.

<Required! Quest>’Raen- Please Don’t be Suspicious!’ Ⅰ

Success : Gain Raen’s trust

Failure : Fainted for 3 minutes

Time Limit : 3 minutes

A blue and transparent quest window flickered before my eyes. Behind it, I heard a wary voice.

“… What. What is that mana? ”

Raen’s sharp gaze was fixed directly on me. Meanwhile, the countdown ticked down—

Time remaining: 2 minutes 59 seconds

Time remaining: 2 minutes 58 seconds

Sometimes, ridiculous things happen. No, actually, It happens a lot.

I clenched the blanket tightly and exhaled. At this rate, I might pass out from stress before the timer even runs out.

Even though my passive skill prevented me from feeling pain, I swore I could feel a headache pressing in. Giving me a time limit in minutes? What kind of twisted joke was this? And it was a required quest on top of that.

Seriously?

As I watched the numbers drop with unfocused eyes, Park Yul spoke beside me in a steady voice.

“Raen-ah.”

Park Yul’s calm voice cut through the tense air. He looked straight at the red-haired figure.

“That’s for Later. Yi-han just woke up.”

Raen hesitated, as if about to protest, but then clamped his mouth shut. Then slowly, he turned back to face me. His expression was sharp-edged with suspicion.

“Hello, Yi-han. I’m Raen. I knew you were coming.”

“…Hello, Raen hyung. I’m Sun Yi-han.”

My voice trembled helplessly. The timer ticked down with every breath I took.

My mind spun. What could I say to clear his suspicion before time ran out? More importantly, what exactly was he suspicious of?

I clenched the blanket tighter. I had too little information and even less time.

“Yi-han.”

Raen called my name again. His tone was gentle, yet the atmosphere remained rigid. He bit his lip, hesitating. Then, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer, he spoke.

“You said you were from the temple, right?”

I gave a small nod. He immediately pressed on.

“Then what’s with that mana? And it’s not in a normal form, either. It’s almost like—”

“That’s enough, Raen.”

Park Yul cut him off. His tone was firm.

Raen turned his head and looked at Park Yu. The setting sun poured directly onto Raen’s face. A loose strand of red hair slipped from his tied-back style, falling over his sharp expression.

“Leader hyung, wait a minute.”

“We’ll talk later. Let Yi-han rest first. Then, we’ll take our time discussing this.”

No. We couldn’t talk later. I was about to pass out. I… had to say something.

Time remaining: 1 minute 14 seconds

Time remaining: 1 minute 13 seconds

The countdown kept dropping.

My heartbeat pounded in my ears. How many words could I even say before the time ran out?

“…I…”

I started talking, but my mind went blank. Three sets of eyes bore into me.

I stared down at the quest window, hoping—praying—that the system would give me a hint. Would the system please tell me what to say?

Nothing.

Of course not. That was wishful thinking. I could feel the weight of their gaze pressing down on me, sharp and unrelenting.

Park Yul’s hand gently rubbed my back. I could hear his voice murmuring something indistinct, but I couldn’t focus.

Time remaining: 59 seconds

Time remaining: 58 seconds

When I saw the number decrease at every moment, panic crushed my lungs.

‘Why do I have mana?’

I also didn’t know. How could I explain something I didn’t understand myself? Screw it. I’d just be honest.

“I also… don’t really… know.”

The words tumbled out, clumsy and rushed. I didn’t even need to see their faces to know how foolish I must have looked.

Embarrassment and shame tightened my grip, and I felt heat rush to my face. Steadying my trembling voice, I forced myself to continue speaking.

“I-It just… appeared… one day… suddenly….”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn’t understand why I had to explain myself so desperately like this.

Ever since the system appeared, nothing seemed to go according to my thoughts. It felt as if I were blindly being dragged back and forth, with a blindfold over my eyes, unable to understand where I was going.

Frustration and sorrow clogged my throat, and I gasped for air, trying to steady myself.

“… Please believe me. ”

My hands trembled, and my voice shook as well. I cautiously lifted my gaze, and that’s when I realized there was almost no time left.

Time remaining: 37 seconds

Could I clear up their suspicions in this short amount of time? It seemed impossible.

I could no longer see a way out. I shut my eyes tightly, feeling engulfed by darkness. Perhaps due to the sense of desperation, the bed felt as though it had sunk slightly, tilting my body just enough to make me feel off balance.

This urgent situation was unfamiliar to me. I never wanted to realize the swift passage of time in this way.

But well, given how things had turned out, I felt rather relieved. It was inevitable at this point. And even if I fainted, it would only be for three minutes and I would wake up in the blink of an eye. When I was trying to rationalize it….

Bang

Suddenly, the door slammed shut. I looked up quickly, but Raen, who had been standing by the door, was no longer there. Did he leave?

But soon the door opened again swiftly. Raen’s eyes widened, and in her hand was a small, thin paper envelope. An envelope?

As I wondered about it, Raen stepped closer. Kneeling next to the bed, Raen unfolded the paper bag quickly and held it to my mouth. A rustling sound rang out.

Suddenly, Min Joo-hyuk had seated himself on the bed, his hand firmly resting on my shoulder. Park Yul was still gently rubbing my back.

The warmth from all around me was almost burning with intensity.

“I believe you. I believe you, so just breathe slowly. ”

I heard a calm voice that I didn’t know who it was.

Without being able to respond or think further, the time I had been given ended abruptly.

Time Remaining: 0 seconds

It was time to close my eyes again. The quest window appeared right in front of me.

<Required! Quest>’Raen- Please Don’t be Suspicious!’Ⅰ Failed!

The penalty ‘Fainted’ will last for 3 minutes.

It was expected. I wasn’t surprised anymore. I could accept it calmly.

Ding

At that time, a clear sound rang again in my ears.

<Required! Quest>’Raen Please Don’t be Suspicious!’ Ⅱ

Success : Gain Raen’s trust.

Failure : High fever for 3 hours.

Time Limit : 3 hours

The quest window announces a new quest. I wasn’t expecting this….

The countdown began again.

Time Remaining: 2 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

With the sound of the numbers ticking down, my vision went dark.