Ch.45Troubled

# 45. Troubled

“…It tastes good.”

“There’s still plenty left. Seyeon and Yuri have even less appetite because of what happened during the purification quest today. Eat more.”

“I, guess I will.”

The cooking of Yebeobnojeong that I was told to look forward to.

To be honest, it wasn’t good.

The proof was that Saeeaks, who usually enjoyed my cooking and would have one extra bowl normally and two when he was really hungry, had used his appetite as an excuse to skip out.

I had only taken out ingredients for 4 people, or rather about 5 portions considering how much Saeeaks usually ate, but how could there be so much rice left?

Those guys definitely used me as a shield to escape!

“Here you go.”

“Th…anks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

How could I tell Yebeobnojeong, who looked pleased despite pretending otherwise, that it didn’t taste good?

She probably hadn’t cooked much before, so I should be grateful she served something edible.

“Can I cook tomorrow?”

“Why?”

“I just want to return the favor.”

“Hmm.”

Please please please please please

Her crimson hair reflected in the campfire looked unnecessarily frightening.

Why am I so nervous about this?

“Alright.”

“Yes!”

“Why are you so happy?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Kutjukyeora and Saeeaks, you guys.

Your raid leader will remember this.

I was barely able to avoid eating the remaining food by claiming I was full.

**

Saeeaks had the first watch tonight.

“Good luck with that~”

“Well, my shift is shorter so it’s a win for me… Subin, don’t you think you could skip guard duty just for today?”

“I’ve pulled all-nighters many times before, so I’ll be fine.”

“Okay! Sleep well, everyone!”

The inside of the tent was cozy. It was qualitatively different from the tents I’d stayed in during my military service. Strictly speaking, rather than the quality of the tent itself, the biggest difference was probably my situation and who I was sharing it with.

Kutjukyeora on my left, Yebeobnojeong on my right. The three of us were lying side by side. Inside, I could hear quiet breathing and slight rustling; outside, the peaceful sounds of the night forest and the faint crackling of the campfire. It felt just like we were on a camping trip.

‘What a stormy day it’s been.’

It had been an incredibly intense day. I think I felt something similar when we cleared 1-1, summoned Saeeaks, and then camped in 1-2, but today was even more demanding.

Especially with the multiple brushes with death. I was fortunate to have been able to use my so-called “experience” to think quickly, but I was keenly aware of our raid team’s limitations in many ways.

Then luckily, we received another S-rank, and Yuri chose Yebeobnojeong, exactly who I wanted most.

‘I guess things are going smoothly?’

Come to think of it, Veritas had maintained its title as the #1 raid team for over a year. But that was only possible because there were many other raid teams and users to compare with.

Now it was a solitary battle.

To be blunt, other raid leaders might not have even entered this place.

While various achievements and records like world-first clears are mostly for personal satisfaction, I think they also included the sense of superiority from winning competitions.

‘I’m getting emotional again for no reason.’

I squeezed my eyes shut. I was doing well now, so there was no need to overthink about unconfirmed others.

Wasn’t that what Yebeobnojeong had said? That people have limited energy to spend each day, and I needed to let go of some of my burden.

I was about to discuss this with her when morning came, gradually surrendering to sleep, when—

“Are you asleep?”

“No.”

“Not yet.”

Yebeobnojeong, whose breathing had been so quiet I thought she was asleep, spoke up, and Kutjukyeora immediately answered too. They must have been lost in thought like me.

“When I was dragged here in my bathrobe, I wondered if I was dreaming.”

“You’re lucky you were at least wearing a bathrobe when you were taken.”

“Leader, what does that mean?”

“He’s a pervert.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

I heard rustling and rolled my eyes to see both of them turning toward me.

‘Too close! This is why I wanted to avoid being in the middle!’

I’m still young, and it’s troublesome when pretty women get this close. Especially when one of them had already expressed interest in me.

Given the situation, isn’t this mixed sleeping arrangement really problematic?

“What were you thinking about?”

“Just that today was tough.”

“What about you, Seyeon?”

“Me too. I was reflecting on everything that’s happened so far.”

Yebeobnojeong whispered from my right. Immediately after, Kutjukyeora whispered from my left. This luxury ASMR from both sides was giving me an eargasm.

‘Save me.’

Their ASMR was just beginning.

“Really? How was it?”

“I felt powerless and reached my physical limits. There were times I thought I was going to die and lost consciousness. But with the leader there, I somehow overcame it all—that’s what I thought.”

“I heard the explanation earlier, but I’d like to hear it vividly from your perspective, Seyeon. Can you tell me?”

“Of course.”

They were treating me like a relay station. I carefully suggested that I could just sleep quietly in a corner if they wanted to talk, but that wasn’t an option.

“Um, could we switch places?”

“No. Since I’m second watch, it’s more convenient for me to be here when changing shifts.”

“Then I could move further inside—”

“No.”

“Why?”

“The raid leader should always be at the center.”

That’s the logic?

I had to lie still due to their strong opposition. Having successfully quelled my rebellion, they continued their conversation with me sandwiched between them.

“I see. Were you disappointed that I wasn’t the Physical Therapist?”

“Not at all! That was just because you asked me to share a wish that time.”

“I’m joking.”

“Ah, haha. A joke. Right.”

Kutjukyeora’s reaction was like that of a new employee hearing their boss’s (self-proclaimed) witty remark.

I was also glad to be the same age as her and the raid leader, at least for that moment.

“Instead—though it’s not quite the right way to put it—next time, we can definitely bring the Physical Therapist if we get the chance.”

“What?”

“Eek!”

I bolted upright at Yebeobnojeong’s casual declaration. This pushed back Kutjukyeora, who had been subtly leaning toward me, resulting in a brief moment of apology, but I broke out of spectator mode and asked directly.

“I did some personal investigation about your disappearances. Those alphabets floating in the room where I was kidnapped, you said they were our surnames. So I know who the remaining R, I, and T refer to.”

Yebeobnojeong answered straightforwardly.

“What exactly did you do in your previous life?”

“An illegitimate child of a wealthy family whose already tenuous connection has become even more frayed?”

“Aha?”

“That’s not the important part.”

Not important, I see. Well. Okay. Right.

No wonder her bathrobe looked so luxurious.

“I also think our raid needs a healer. Until now, we’ve managed with superior physical abilities and strategy, but as we saw today, our lives could truly be in danger. While I can try to handle ranged support with effort, healing abilities are irreplaceable.”

“Is that your opinion as vice raid leader?”

“Yes. We absolutely need to bring the Physical Therapist next time.”

Kutjukyeora was nodding timidly. Understandably so. This was great news. It was like cheating at a gacha game.

If Yebeobnojeong gets accustomed to magic soon.

And if the Physical Therapist, the raid’s last bastion, joins us with the next reward.

The incomplete but nearly perfect Veritas becoming complete wasn’t just a dream.

But as they say in Korean, you need to listen until the end, and Yebeobnojeong’s next words caused the mood to plummet like a roller coaster.

“But there’s one problem.”

“Problem? What problem?”

“According to your theory, raid leaders are brought here in order of clearing or achievement verification, and if they receive an S-rank, they can bring one of their raid members through the memory selection. Right?”

“Yeah.”

Yebeobnojeong reached out in the darkness and poked my shoulder.

“Except for Seyeon’s case where you chose directly, when Seyeon chose Yuri and when Yuri chose me, the invitations came in your name. What do you think this means?”

“Um… people summoned through S-rank rewards automatically become the raid leader’s party members? Or they’re summoned directly to where the raid leader is without going through the starting room?”

“Both are correct, but you’re overlooking something.”

I’m overlooking something?

With Kutjukyeora firmly gripping my arm and feeling Yebeobnojeong’s pressure on my shoulder, I racked my brain, but…

“Time flows differently between here and Earth. You’ve spent weeks here, but on Earth, it’s only been about 7-8 days.”

“I’ve obviously thought about that, but there’s nothing I can do about it—”

“I’m not blaming you. What I’m trying to say is that we can’t guarantee the time ratio will remain constant. And we don’t know if the Physical Therapist will still be in the Veritas raid team by the time we receive the next S-rank reward.”

Ah.

Aah.

That kind of problem.

I really did overlook it.

Deep down, I hadn’t even considered the possibility of my raid members leaving the team.

“Can we even bring someone who isn’t in the same raid team? Backdoor and WaterKnowsTheAnswer have almost zero chance of leaving, but the Physical Therapist was the most uncertain. She said she had no plans to leave for now, but well, I don’t know how long ‘for now’ means—whether it’s days or months.”

“…”

“Will you bring her? The Physical Therapist?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Of course I wanted to bring her if possible, and that’s why I brought Yebeobnojeong too.

My mind became troubled.

When I silently lay down, they both lay down too, whispering for a while before becoming quiet.

‘Damn, now I’m wide awake.’

In my head, a devil arguing to kidnap her at all costs regardless of consequences was fiercely battling an angel suggesting we somehow succeed brilliantly in our raid to bring her before she completely leaves the team.

‘Mom.’

It was a night when I missed my mother’s kimchi stew.

**

[VERITAS](2/6)

– UnyieldingBackdoor (Online)

– WaterKnowsTheAnswer (Online)

– JoanOfArcIsASaint (Offline) 9 days ago

– Yebeobnojeong (Offline) 1 day ago

– Saeeaks (Offline) 7 days ago

– Kutjukyeora (Offline) 8 days ago

“…I told them that if they’re offline for more than 24 hours, they might get caught up in an unexplainable disappearance too.”

Was that really true?