Ch.100I Won’t Leave You Alone

# 100. I Won’t Leave You Alone

Half a day had passed since witnessing Yehyun’s shocking condition.

“In the end, your worries were for nothing, Sunghyun. With Yehyun unnie in that state, what’s the point of talking about quick recovery or not?”

“You’re right.”

We changed the position of our tents. If before they were arranged in a line, now Tents 1 and 2 were positioned to surround Tent 3.

“If Yehyun unnie doesn’t make it—”

“She will make it.”

I always considered the worst-case scenario when planning something. That’s why, even though I anticipated that Yehyun, who genuinely cared for spirits, would oppose it, I had no choice but to suggest forced contracting. And as expected, she opposed it.

What I hadn’t anticipated was that Yehyun wouldn’t just oppose it but would feel so guilty toward me that she’d feel pressured enough to do something drastic.

*I’ll do my best.*

I thought she was just apologizing to me. Not wanting to burden her further, I simply lent her the tent without saying anything.

I just thought that’s all she meant.

“She will make it. She has to. Definitely.”

“Sunghyun.”

“We should prepare something too.”

“…Yeah.”

When it’s not the worst, I assume the worst.

When it is the worst, I hope for the best.

What a contradictory human I am.

Nevertheless, I hope.

I don’t care what happens with the spirit contract, as long as Yehyun returns safely to her normal self.

**

‘If only I could use a miracle, or at least Sacred Domain.’

When I didn’t even want or think about them, the game threw skills like Radiance of Salvation and Record Erasure at me like newbie gifts, but now when I actually need them, why can’t I learn any skills?

I’m useless.

And that’s more painful than I thought.

I started playing a healer because I enjoyed barely saving and protecting others, and though it was somewhat MSG-laced praise from the raid leader, he said that thanks to me, situations that would’ve wiped us twice only wiped us once.

But what good is that now?

This disaster happened because I couldn’t heal in time.

‘Please, if there’s a god. If there’s light.’

In the game lore, I’m an Arch Bishop, so of course I’m a cleric, and someone of that rank would naturally know scriptures and prayers.

But I have no faith, don’t know any scriptures, and have never prayed. I’m purely non-religious, even less than those who just claim to be.

Yet here I was, maintaining the most devout posture I’d ever had, praying desperately.

‘Lady Raela? Or Lady Justitia? Can’t you show some mercy? You’re real gods, aren’t you? Look, I’m using your skills. Just this once, give me one more. It’s not that hard, is it? I promise I’ll pray diligently from now on. I’ll try to believe. So please.’

From a god’s perspective, I might seem detestable, but I can’t help it.

This is the best I can do right now.

**

‘Ah.’

Ahh.

I see.

So that’s it.

That’s what happened.

I… wasn’t wrong. Yes. Because I wished so desperately, Sua came to me even though I hadn’t expected it? I’ll probably have to work really hard to summon her again, but still, this is something.

My body… hurts a lot, but haha.

‘Ugh, what’s that smell?’

Just as the pain was subsiding enough for me to grasp the situation, why is there such a strong rotting smell?

What kind of smell is this? Even if I hadn’t bathed for three days and relieved myself here, it wouldn’t smell this bad…

‘Ah! Raid leader! Time! How long has it been?’

Even though I said I’d be alone, they’ll worry if I don’t come out for too long, so I should hurry out.

When I tell them this news, they’ll be so surprised and happy, right?

Ahem! Though it’s prefixed with “provisional,” I’ve become the owner of the Water Spirit King even here!

I really did my best. I’m still enduring the pain. It was very difficult. I need to tell them everything and boast about it.

But.

‘Eh?’

My body… won’t move.

‘Ah. Ahh. Ahhh!’

I can’t even speak!

‘What do I do!’

Someone, is anyone there?

Please, someone help me!

**

About three days had passed.

During that time, I checked inside the tent every hour, but while there was a terrible smell, the form remained unchanged.

I gathered the raid members and Danya.

“If there’s no change this time, I’m thinking of using Danya’s magic and Soyu noona’s recovery skills all at once.”

“Couldn’t we wait a bit longer?”

“It’s been three days. If noona is still alive, she hasn’t eaten or drunk anything for three days. I thought it would be dangerous to wait any longer.”

“That’s true.”

The raid members had no objections. Danya was worried about me, but drawing some blood again wouldn’t be a big deal.

By now, Yuri and Subin had recovered enough to move around on their own, albeit slowly. We all headed to Tent 3. Holding my breath, I opened the tent entrance just slightly to peek inside, careful not to affect Yehyun.

And I was shocked in a good way.

‘Yehyun noona!’

Yehyun, who just an hour ago had existed in an indescribable form, had returned to human shape!

“Noona! Soyu noona!”

“Yes! What is it!”

“Healing! Quick healing! As fast as possible!”

My expression must have shown a mix of joy, relief, and urgency.

Soyu, who would vomit violently from just a slight whiff of the smell, entered the tent without hesitation, knelt beside Yehyun, and began pouring all her magical power into healing. The dark tent was instantly filled with warm, white light.

“Yuri and Subin, go prepare warm water, clothes, and towels.”

“Okie!”

“Understood.”

“Seyeon, stand by and move Yehyun noona to Tent 1 when the healing is done.”

“Yes, leader!”

And I heated up the patient soup I had prepared in case noona woke up. Then I watched the situation beside Soyu noona, who was sweating profusely.

“Ungh.”

“Noona. If it’s hard, you can rest a bit.”

“No. I feel like I shouldn’t stop.”

Soyu noona even drank a mana potion midway and practically showered Yehyun with light, and her effort and desperation were not betrayed.

“Ah….”

“Yehyun noona! Can you hear me? Are you conscious?”

“Unnie! Yehyun unnie!”

“Oh, thank goodness… really thank goodness….”

Soyu noona, who had collapsed in my arms due to mana depletion, Seyeon who was waiting to move her to a clean place, and I who was watching the situation.

Yuri and Subin who were waiting outside the tent after carrying out my instructions.

As soon as we heard Yehyun noona’s voice, we all let out sighs of relief and tears, but…

“I’m… hungry….”

Yehyun noona’s first words snapped me back to attention.

After that, everything moved quickly.

After roughly cleaning off the dirt in Tent 3, we moved Yehyun to Tent 1, which we had emptied and cleaned beforehand, properly bathed her, and fed her the soup I had prepared.

Just to be safe, Soyu noona, who had recovered some mana, poured Radiance of Salvation on her again, and only then could we properly reunite with Yehyun noona.

‘Hmm… she seems different?’

I couldn’t see clearly before, but Yehyun noona’s appearance had definitely changed, though not drastically.

Her hair, which had been close to sky blue, had become even bluer, and her already clear skin seemed to have gained a luster.

‘What is this? Did she undergo some kind of transformation?’

That was a silly thought. I shook off the idle speculation and said what I had most wanted to say.

“I’m just glad you’re alive, noona.”

“Hehe.”

It was a laugh of pure happiness.

I felt a surge of emotion for a moment, but seeing noona looking so happy and innocent…

‘But how can you laugh, noona? Do you know how worried we were when you suddenly changed like that?’

Unable to say these words, I unconsciously softened my tone.

“What exactly happened?”

“Oh! Well, what happened was—”

After that, Yehyun noona’s storytelling continued for a while. Apart from almost spitting when she mentioned getting naked to make full-body contact with the spirit stone, her story was very serious and captivating.

“So! I’ll be able to summon a Spirit King someday too! I think I can easily summon regular spirits once my body recovers!”

“Are you completely fine now?”

“Yes! I had this feeling like my body wasn’t my own, but I’m okay now!”

The raid members rejoiced in Yehyun noona’s achievement. So did I.

But at the same time, I felt pathetic about myself.

‘I vowed never to leave Yuri alone again after what happened, but how soon did I forget and leave Yehyun noona alone? Even if it was what she wanted and not part of a plan.’

If I make a mistake a third time, I’m no longer human.

I vowed that I would absolutely.

Never leave anyone alone again.

**

“Hah.”

Now I’m truly alone.

At this point, it’s certain that even Muldabalma has disappeared. It’s the same pattern as when the raid leader and members disappeared one by one.

I don’t even feel like playing the game anymore. It’s scary how the game continues to operate as if nothing happened when people have disappeared, and society is scary too.

I can’t play games in the hospital anyway, but even if I’m discharged, would I really log in?

[Raid Veritas 7]

A group chat with no new messages.

I think about leaving it several times a day because it reminds me every time I look at it, but I feel like I’d be erasing memories too, so I can’t bring myself to leave. I’m such a fool.

“Idiot.”

Idiot raid leader.

You said you’d be my gaming friend so I wouldn’t be bored, but when you bring a whole raid team along, you should take responsibility.

Being alone.

It’s familiar, but I hate it.