Chapter 21: 21

Chapter 21

 

Import

 

 

     Raen’s hypothesis was wrong; However, if I denied all that here, I had no other excuses to give. I felt a bit jumbled by the conversation that had suddenly gone astray.

     Raen returned his gaze to my face; his own was washed red in the sunset. Looking at the crimson tone, I recalled the tears that flowed silently from his eyes the last time we had conversed so privately.

     In the end, I had no choice but to nod quietly; Raen placed his hand on my head and stroked gently. He gave a bitter smile, “Even so, I would like it if you don’t… wound yourself.”

     His hand didn’t linger any longer and soon removed itself from my locks.

     As I suddenly missed the warmth his hand brought, Raen gently grasped the edge of my left sleeve. His touch was gentle and careful–as if he were touching dry leaves that could crumble at any moment. “Didn’t it hurt?”

     I immediately answered his hesitant question: thankfully, due to my passive effect, I definitely felt no pain.

     A few times now others have asked if I’m feeling hurt. However, everytime I mentioned that I’m fine, the others looked even more worried… Raen was the same.

     Shouldn’t they be less worried when I confirm that I’m alright and in no pain? I had no idea why they adopted such complicated expressions and couldn’t puzzle out what else I should say. From my perspective, I’ve done my best to soothe their worries.

     “Yihan, haven’t I told you? That’s not alright–it isn’t fine.”

     ‘No… I’m truly alright. Even I will start to feel wronged if they keep repeating themselves like this. If I, the one bleeding, proclaim that I’m not hurt, my words should be taken as truth.’

     …Ah, but I suppose Raen doesn’t really know about my situation.

     He was ignorant of my system and the passive effect as well; there was no way Raen could know. When my heart calmed down and logic returned to my brain, I could understand his position.

     It couldn’t be helped–I’ll have no choice but to keep anything that could worry the Warriors out of sight. As I inwardly made this resolution, Raen suddenly stopped walking.

     “Raen Hyung?” I asked.

     His eyes were focused on something to the far left; his gaze did not waver. For a moment, I felt as if my heart dropped down to the pit of my stomach; the future vision seemed to overlay itself on reality.

     Was it now? Was it finally starting? Everything seemed to be happening so fast–my heart was still ill-prepared.

     “Yihan, wait a moment. Stay here.” Raen tapped me lightly on the shoulder. Turning his back on me, he slowly walked away.

     I couldn’t obediently stay still. When I followed, Raen stopped in his tracks and faced me, “There may be something dangerous. Wait here for one moment.” His expression looked stern.

     However, when I shyly stated I was more frightened at the prospect of being alone, he allowed me to follow as if he couldn’t help but acquiesce to my request.

     Of course, I wasn’t actually scared of being alone–that was simply an excuse that would allow me to accompany the Warrior.

     When he stopped walking, I could see that we were in the same situation as the beginning of the ‘foreseen future’ vision. The sight of this appalling black crack hanging midair was frightening. Standing before it, Raen adopted a serious expression, “How strange. This crack is open, but I can’t feel any monsters with my detection magic.”

     Then, did that mean the demonic beasts disguised themselves as the trees? The ‘Foreseen Future’ vision only showed me the upcoming events; the skill did not explain the context. I had to make assumptions, but I could hardly formulate a hypothesis at that time.

    Still, Raen could sense something was wrong… Perhaps I should suggest we head back? Is that something I could say? As I tried to organize my chaotic thoughts…

    “Yihan. Go back first.” Raen’s voice broke through my contemplation. While I stood distracted, he had begun to layer a soft light over the crack. He held my shoulders and maintained eye contact with me, “Do you still have the ‘Return stone?”

     “What about Raen Hyung? Aren’t you coming with me?”

     “I still have a job to do. Yihan-ie should go back and inform everyone else.”

     “…What should I say?”

     “You should inform them to come here as soon as they’re ready. In the meantime, I’ll try to handle the situation.” Raen wasn’t going to leave unless the crisis was resolved.

     That didn’t surprise me; I had inwardly guessed that the Warrior would act like this. I shooked my head as I firmly stared into his eyes, “If Hyung isn’t going, then neither am I.”

     “No, you mustn’t. We don’t have a proper understanding of what’s happening here, so Yihan will be placed in danger if I’m not prepared for whatever lies ahead.”

     “It’ll be equally dangerous for you too.”

     ‘For Raen Hyung. It’ll be especially dangerous.’ I really wanted to say those words, but Raen wouldn’t return even if I did manage to warn him.

     Therefore, I needed a good reason to stay by his side. “About using the ‘Return Stone’….I’m not like most mana-born people. My body is different; I may land in some strange location.”

     “The ‘Return Stone’ works separately from mana. Don’t worry Yihan, that won’t happen.”

     “You may not need the use of healing magic, but at least I have some.”

     “……”

     “Raen Hyung, the situation can change at any time. We can never be certain.” I knew how far-fetched I sounded. However, I wasn’t entirely wrong.

     After all, certainty is a faulty concept–life is a series of unexpected events. There was no way the world would constantly work as intended.

     That’s right. Since that’s the case, I could change the possible future. “If there’s a possibility for danger, I should just stay here with Hyung.”

     Raen bit his lips; he appeared lost in thought. He opened his mouth to quickly poke another hole into my argument.

     “Let’s go together, Hyung. It’ll be alright.” I’ll make it alright–therefore, my words won’t become a lie. If you can’t give up on this world, then I won’t give up on you.

     I walked slowly into the rays of the sunset. Soon afterwards, the sounds of another pair of feet joined mine.

 

◇~◇~◇~◇~◇~◇

 

     I felt restless; time flew by. The densely populated trees…the cracks manifesting midair…They all began to look alike. I couldn’t tell when and where Raen would be attacked.

     Raen asked me about my condition time and time again, worried about my apparent anxiety. However, this wasn’t the time for him to look after me. After we found the fourth crack which was sealed by Raen’s magic, he said, “I would like it if Yihan-ie would return now.”

     “Raen Hyung, earlier I…”

     “I’m not just saying that for the sake of spouting words. I’ve thought hard about the ‘Return Stone’s’ mechanism; nothing will happen to you.”

     Was he really thinking about that all this while? Still, as much as I loathed to argue, I could hardly acquiesce. “I’m not being stubborn for no reason either. Raen Hyung will be here after all.”

     “Yihan-ah. I’m a Warrior. This is expected of me.”

     “Then what about me? I didn’t take the Warrior’s oath either, but…”

     It was unfair for Raen to be the only one to shoulder the burden. Though I wondered what change could occur if I were to share in his dilemmas and dangers, at least acting would be better than doing nothing. “But… We can at least stick together, right?’

     “When I mentioned the world I want to save, Yihan is part of that equation.”

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     When Raen declared that so firmly, I… I wanted to say the same. That the world I wanted to save contained him and the other Warriors.

     I believed they didn’t account for themselves in the idyllic future; the world they wanted to save didn’t contain themselves. Therefore, I wanted to be their savior. ‘And…I have the ability to make my desires come true.’

     As soon as I opened my mouth, goosebumps ran up my spine.

     “Yihan!”

     Behind me, I could hear an ominous crunching sound.

     Raen, who stood next to me, suddenly moved behind me in the blink of an eye. When I turned my head, the long, thick branches were already in position. Red droplets dripped along their undersides.

 

Drip… Drop… 1

 

     Raen raised his trembling hand and casted magic; Vines rose from the ground.

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     This was the same. Damn it–it was all the same. My body felt like it was plunged into ice water.

     Raen slumped to his feet. I tried to move, but my legs remained frozen from fear, and I barely managed to lift one leg. This really wasn’t the time to panic.

     I approached Raen’s side; the Warrior was on his knees, shaking. Blood poured from Raen’s mouth, and an eerie pool of viscous red liquid gradually widened around us.

     “Yihan… Danger… Return.” Raen uttered with every exhale, as if he were trying his hardest to spit these words out.

     Those words brought me back to my senses; my brain felt like it was spinning.

      Should I use the ‘Return Stone’ and teleport with Raen? But, that didn’t mean Raen’s injury would be healed. Should I choose to treat him? But, there was still cooldown time left on the timer.

     Then, in the end, there really was only one answer.

     The crimson sunset sank into the sky; the setting sun seemed to weigh on Raen’s body.

     I reached out to my companion and placed my hands on his face. His cheeks were already cold to the touch. I carefully wiped away the blood that flowed down his mouth.

     Raen looked up at me slowly; his gaze was incredibly wobbly and distorted by pain. Nevertheless, I could clearly read his conveyed message.

     ‘Go back.’

     I could almost hear his earnest and desperate voice ringing in my head.

     Simultaneously, a bell sound rang out.

 

「<This Healer will help!> Warrior ‘Raen’

Heal (Locked) / Import 」

 

     A chuckle tumbled from my lips–how ‘fortunate.’ One option was remained.

     ‘Import.’

     As soon as I inwardly spoke, a cluster of blue lights burst out. The brightness of these lights couldn’t be compared with the effects of the ‘Heal’ skill. The lights enveloped Raen’s whole body.

     “…Yihan?”

     I could hear a startled voice from within that shining mass. Immediately afterwards, the light surrounding the Warrior poured back into me.

     “Ah.” My knees crumpled. There was no pain, but I could viscerally feel my body losing strength. When I looked down, I saw the clothes covering my waist were becoming damp with red liquid.

     The system’s blue window flickered before my eyes.

 

 

 「<This Healer will help!>  Import, Success! 」

The <Hidden Quest!> ‘First Import!’ has been successfully completed!

As a reward, you have been given the ability to use the ‘Import’ skill on someone other than a Warrior (1 time).

 

     I had no desire to see that window right now–the sight bothered me. As soon as I thought that, the quest window slowly became transparent.

     At the same time, I felt someone grasp me urgently. I raised my head with great difficulty; Raen’s appearance was blurry in my cloudy view. I believed he was shouting something, but I couldn’t hear him well.

     ‘I’m not going to die like this, right?’

     Of course, I wouldn’t die–I had this passive skill, after all. The more I thought about it, the more convenient this skill was. I never felt pain; I won’t ever die… Why did the system bestow on me this ability?

     My various thoughts blurred into each other. Feeling an ironic sense of relief, a smile grew on my face. In the end, both Raen and I were safe–the future had been changed without a major incident.

     “…Hnngh, Cough.” I opened my mouth but more blood poured out, making it difficult to continue talking. Still, I squeezed out the dregs of my strength I really didn’t have and spat out what I had to say. This was the perfect time: “Raen Hyung… I believe in you.”

     I believed he would safely take me home while I was indisposed. Raen could definitely be trusted.

     He said I was included in the world he wanted to save. So, he’ll take care of me well, right? At the very least, my body won’t be incredibly heavy.

     ‘So, Hyung should also trust me in turn.’

     Wouldn’t he think I’m a trustworthy person now? In my mind, the quest to relieve Raen’s suspicions was on the verge of success. My expression slackened at the vague relief I felt.

     ‘…Ah, but did I convey my last words well? I was a bit distracted, so I can’t be too certain.’

     Before I could contemplate any further, the thread of consciousness keeping me awake was cut.

     ‘Well. I’m pretty familiar with fainting by now.’

     Curtains closed–Darkness fell upon the theater of my mind.

 

 

Footnotes

차락 is the sound of gentle raindrops. Man, English needs more onomatopoeia. Korean has sound effects w/ adjectives applied. 

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