Chapter 17
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (272/1000)]
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (264/1000)]
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (248/1000)]
Blue windows continuously obscured my vision.
Despite the gradually decreasing durability, I stretched leisurely.
“How much time is left?”
I lifted my head while stretching my body, stiff from rolling around.
[SYSTEM] Current body recovery rate is [94%].
▸Time remaining 00:35:23
Even after so much time had passed, the quest still wasn’t over.
Nevertheless, I was in an incredibly carefree state, surprising even myself.
The reason for this…
[Skill ‘Boundary Line (C)’ is activated.]
After fighting for 14 hours out of the given 26, I finally found a way to breeze through this situation.
Simply by activating the boundary line and resting.
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (137/1000)]
It turns out I just needed to endure, not necessarily kill these things.
The quest said to survive, not to kill all the monsters.
‘To think all that hard work killing them was unnecessary.’
I had killed so many up until now that I couldn’t even count them.
But what’s even more ridiculous…
[SYSTEM] Until rank increase (27/100)
These things weren’t recognized as ‘monsters.’
Looking at the unchanged numbers, I clicked my tongue.
If these aren’t monsters, what are they? I guessed it might be because this is a sub-quest that they weren’t recognized.
Yawning from boredom, I suddenly lifted my head.
My eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, couldn’t see the sky, just endless blackness.
Thinking back with this newfound leisure, first of all, I wasn’t in pain here.
Even though my back had been torn open in agony, in this space I was perfectly fine.
‘Originally, it would have been impossible to kill monsters for 14 hours straight.’
Even in the best condition, just enduring without sleep for so long is impressive.
But what’s more amazing is that there were no skill limitations in this space.
What I mean is, there was no mana consumption, and even the 15-minute usage time of the ‘What’s Yours is Mine’ skill didn’t apply here.
I don’t know why, but this was also why I could fight for 14 hours straight.
‘Anyway, it’s clear that this space is special.’
Feeling the strange sense from the space, I clenched and unclenched my fist before standing up.
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (28/1000)]
It was time to leave now.
‘At least it was nice not being in pain.’
When else would I get to fight like this without getting tired? I patted my stiff shoulders and looked up.
The boundary line, slowly eaten away by the black tentacles, had now lost its color and become faint.
Just as I thought it would break soon, as if on cue, blue windows appeared in succession.
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (10/1000)]
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (6/1000)]
[The barrier’s durability decreases! (1/1000)]
Crash!
[SYSTEM] The barrier has broken due to reaching its durability limit!
As the boundary line reached its limit, blue fragments scattered into the air.
With the thing blocking them gone, the creatures’ heads all turned towards me at once.
In a very brief moment of silence, they seemed to recognize their target and lunged at me. However.
“What should I do?”
▸Time remaining 00:00:01
“You’re too late.”
▸Time remaining 00:00:00
I smiled brightly as I watched the countdown. The monster lunging at me was repelled, and a blue window obscured my vision.
[SYSTEM] Recovery rate [100%] achieved.
[SYSTEM] Body has successfully recovered.
[SYSTEM] Sub Quest-1 [Time for Recovery] completed.
It was the end of a long wait.
💎
“I’ll go get some food.”
“Okay.”
“Guard well.”
“Got it.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
“You said that a minute ago too.”
Though speaking to himself, Cha Si-hyeon’s gaze was fixed on the two S-ranks in the tent inside the cave as he sighed.
“I can guard well, so go ahead.”
By the way, this was the third time he said this.
Lim Yuchan and Baek Doha finally seemed to realize they were being a bit much and started to leave.
As the two walked away, Cha Si-hyeon immediately turned around.
His steps, without a moment’s hesitation, were, of course, heading toward Yoo Yi-joo, sleeping inside the cave.
Even though considerable time had passed since using the S-rank potion, she hadn’t woken up.
Still, looking at her face, which had regained some color compared to before, Cha Si-hyeon recalled how Yoo Yi-joo had stood protectively in front of him against the monster.
“Why?”
A puzzled voice spread through the tent.
To be honest, no matter how much Cha Si-hyeon thought about it, he couldn’t understand why Yoo Yi-joo had protected him that day.
As an S-rank, he was indeed supposed to protect the weak. He had been taught that since childhood and followed it, so he didn’t think it was wrong.
That’s why Cha Si-hyeon had brought Yoo Yi-joo along and protected her. Because it was his duty and responsibility. But Yoo Yi-joo wasn’t like that, was she?
That’s why he couldn’t understand even more.
What had moved Yoo Yi-joo, who had neither duty nor responsibility? Why had she stood in front of him with such a weak body?
‘For a C-rank.’
If Cha Si-hyeon had taken that hit, he might have suffered some damage, but that’s all. He wouldn’t have been hovering between life and death like this.
‘I’ll ask when she wakes up.’
Thinking several times that he’d ask why she was so reckless, Cha Si-hyeon stood up.
But then, Yoo Yi-joo’s brow twitched. Not missing this slight change, Cha Si-hyeon paused.
“Yoo Yi-joo…?”
There was no answer. However, as if in response, her eyes, which had been fluttering, slowly opened.
Those black eyes that had been so tightly shut finally revealed themselves.
Yoo Yi-joo slowly regained focus. Just as Cha Si-hyeon reached out his hand.
“Cough!”
Yoo Yi-joo suddenly sat up, lowered her head, and burst into coughing. Drip, drip, her blood fell between her fingers.
“Ah…”
Seemingly surprised herself, Yoo Yi-joo looked at what was flowing from her mouth and raised her head.
As their eyes met, Cha Si-hyeon felt his throat tighten.
He had so many questions he wanted to ask, he was planning to interrogate her as soon as she opened her eyes, but his mind went blank and he couldn’t remember.
Just as Cha Si-hyeon finally managed to part his lips, Yoo Yi-joo spoke a beat faster.
“Are, cough, are you okay?”
And what she said was nothing other than concern for Cha Si-hyeon.
For a moment, Cha Si-hyeon laughed in disbelief. With a cracked voice and even bleeding, who’s worrying about whom?
“I’m fine, but are you okay?”
But Yoo Yi-joo seemed to want an answer as she asked again sincerely. Really…
“I’m fine.”
At that answer, Yoo Yi-joo smiled.
“That’s a relief.”
It was a smile he hadn’t seen in a while.
💎
“It’s fortunate Baek Doha had an S-rank recovery potion, you really almost died.”
“S-rank…”
“Do you know how I brought you back?”
“Ah…”
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Of course. You just said S-rank, right?”
“What’s S-rank?”
“…The monster?”
“You weren’t listening at all.”
I awkwardly smiled, trying to ignore Cha Si-hyeon who was looking at me in disbelief.
‘But this is the fifth time he’s nagging.’
It’s been well over 30 minutes of being scolded with all sorts of words like ‘you almost died’, ‘barely saved you’, ‘are you crazy’, and so on.
Above all, what’s important to me now is the backed-up system messages.
[SYSTEM] Items from defeated monsters have been added to your inventory.
[SYSTEM] Main Quest-7 [Protect the Dawn (2)]
▸24:00:00 until start
▸Quest will be updated when the countdown ends.
From rewards I hadn’t seen yet, to the unexpected preview of the next quest that hadn’t been given until now.
Now that the storm of events is over, I just want to settle accounts…
“Okay, you can stop worrying now.”
“I understand, so you can stop worrying now.”
“How can you understand when you didn’t listen to a word I said?”
“…Can’t you let me change my clothes now?”
I asked, subtly changing the subject with the intention of getting rid of Cha Si-hyeon first.
To be honest, it was half wanting to be alone and half really wanting to change clothes.
After all, my current clothes are soaked in blood. Just looking at the blood on my clothes, you could tell how badly I was injured.
“Do you have clothes to change into?”
Cha Si-hyeon, also checking the state of my clothes, lightly furrowed his brow.
“I do.”
“Didn’t you not have any extras?”
“That’s true, but…”
[SYSTEM] Reward [Equipment Selection Ticket (1)] acquired.
“When I looked carefully in my inventory, I found some.”
As I said this with a bright smile, he let out a laugh of disbelief.
Even I thought it was nonsense, but what could I do?
I can’t just say that the reward for the 6th quest was an equipment selection ticket. That would sound even crazier.
Seeing Cha Si-hyeon’s expression like he was about to question me, I quickly intercepted him before he could open his mouth.
“You’re not going to watch me change clothes, are you?”
“What, are you cra—”
“Then please step out for a moment.”
Enough with the nagging.
I boldly issued an order to leave. While casually ignoring the exasperated voice coming from outside.
💎
Thank you for reading! ♡
