episode_0029

Honestly, I feel guilty toward Lee Ji-hye. The reason she got hurt so badly was because I asked her to come here with me. And I felt guilty because I thought I would fight more and knock her down. On the other hand, if I didn’t feel that way after seeing Lee Ji-hye now, it would be even stranger.

I grit my teeth and walk. I still have Lee Ji-hye on my back and it’s quite heavy. But since it’s my job, I don’t complain and just move my legs.

“You can give it to me now.”

Lee Ji-hye muttered softly.

“It’s okay. It’s not that hard. We’ll get there soon anyway.”

As soon as you arrive, you’ll be out of luck. You won’t be able to hold out any longer.

Because you might end up dying while thinking about defeating the monster while thinking about something strange there.

“Then, let me ask you just one question.”

suddenly?

In the current situation, it seems that there is something that Lee Ji-hye does not understand properly. She thought about what it was and spoke briefly.

“Yes, you can.”

“You were clearly not an Awakened. But I saw that the bullets were filled with mana. What happened?”

I realized that I had never explained this part to her before. She was helping me right now, so I decided to answer right away.

“I told you there was a hidden piece here, right? It’s possible because it gives you mana.”

“What? There’s something like that?”

“Yes. It’s a drug that allows you to keep your mana permanently, and there are no side effects to speak of. That’s why I wanted to find it so badly.”

At my words, Lee Ji-hye remained silent for a moment, then slowly lifted the sword she was holding in her right hand. She looked at it and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Not only is this sword so good, but there’s also a potion that increases mana. That must be why there are such strong monsters.”

That’s right.

It may have been because I was too careless, but when I think about the things that were there, I can understand why the monster is so strong. Even for a great hunter like Lee Ji-hye, it was almost always the first time she had seen something like that, and when I think about it, I can actually understand.

But I took it lightly.

‘why?’

Because of the legacy.

He took down that crazy monster all by himself, without any help from Seo Jae-hyuk.

So I thought that Lee Ji-hye and I could do it together. In fact, it wasn’t that strange, considering that the monster had been down just a moment ago.

But I was surprised by something that Yoo Seo-ra hadn’t mentioned, and at the same time, I couldn’t even respond properly.

Especially, the feeling of injustice is even greater because she was completely collapsed to the point that even Lee Ji-hye couldn’t pay attention to her.

In an instant, I twisted and bit my lip.

“Can I ask you one more question?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Then this must be your first time handling mana, how are you so skilled at handling it?”

I smiled briefly at those words.

“It’s simple. It’s because it’s the effect of the drug I used.”

“What? Does it allow you to skillfully manipulate mana?”

“To be exact, it is only the mana added by that drug that allows you to handle it skillfully and naturally.”

“That’s amazing.”

As a side note, this mana obtained in this way has another strange aspect: it can last for about two minutes or more even if it is no longer in contact with the body.

That’s why, from the moment I first thought about getting this, I couldn’t help but regret choosing a gun as my weapon. On the contrary, I even thought it was luck.

After all, if the duration is long, then a long-range weapon is better than a close-range weapon. The reason people didn’t use guns until now was because you couldn’t store mana even if you shot a gun, and even if you did, it was hard. I didn’t care anymore because that shortcoming was meaningless to me.

On the contrary, I think the gun can be used strongly.

“How did you find out about this place?”

I couldn’t help but keep my mouth shut at Lee Ji-hye’s words. I don’t know about anything else, but in this case, I couldn’t tell anyone.

So I try to think of a way to refuse as politely as possible.

“Yeah. Looks like you don’t want to tell me.”

Lee Ji-hye stepped back herself, perhaps understanding the meaning of my silence. I was able to briefly feel grateful for her consideration.

“I did it because I was curious, so I hope you understand.”

“No, I’m sorry I can’t tell you the opposite.”

It can’t help but be surprising. Even in the original work, nothing similar to this appeared.

No, actually, maybe Yusera took them all in advance? That’s why they didn’t come out.

It was a very possible idea, since he was a guy who wanted to monopolize all the hidden pieces and coincidences.

Anyway, I kept walking down the hallway and finally arrived. Of course, there was a wall there, and I reached out and reached out.

As before, the space opened up as if it were a revolving door.

I continued walking without showing that I was having a hard time and barely made it inside. As soon as I got in, I slowly lowered Lee Ji-hye to the ground.

“Now all you have to do is go outside.”

“I see. But how do I get out?”

Lee Ji-hye tilted her head at me.

“It’s simple. First, there’s a wall with a strange pattern. Just pour mana into it. It doesn’t matter if it’s very weak, so feel free to use it.”

I spoke lightly and sat down on the seat. I guess I was so tired that my legs couldn’t hold up any longer.

At that sight, I felt like I was going to burst out laughing for a moment.

Lee Ji-hye slowly approached the strange wall. As she was about to reach out, she turned her head toward me as if she realized something.

what?

“Aren’t you going together?”

Lee Ji-hye spoke to me with a slightly suspicious look in her eyes, as if telling me to tell her straight away if there was something she was hiding.

It seems like I was sitting still for too long, and they were having doubts. It seemed like they were making some ridiculous guesses, like whether there might be someone left. It also seemed like they were adding some strange delusions, like only one person could go. I guess I should at least clear up any misunderstandings.

“Don’t worry. After all, if one person leaves, the next person will have to wait before leaving.”

“Then shouldn’t you go out first?”

“I can’t do it right now because I’ve run out of mana. I have to wait for it to recover.”

It’s true.

I’m almost completely out of mana right now. If I try to use more mana when I have no stamina, something dangerous could happen. Especially since it’s the first time I’ve gotten mana today, I should have been even more careful.

It’s obvious that there are no side effects, but it still can’t hurt to be careful.

More than anything, honestly, I feel more comfortable seeing Lee Ji-hye leave first. If she does something weird here, something might happen.

So, for safety’s sake, it’s right for me to go late.

“Go quickly. Even at this very moment, a monster is chasing you from behind.”

Lee Ji-hye looked at me without saying anything. As if she was still wondering if I had something to hide. That was how much she was suspicious of me at the moment.

It was to the point where I couldn’t even properly get annoyed because I was worried and suspicious.

“Aren’t you going?”

“You go first.”

How many times do I have to say this?

I continued to stare at Lee Ji-hye, annoyed. After remaining silent like that, Lee Ji-hye opened her mouth slightly.

“The guardian said.”

“Yes?”

Out of the blue right now?

What are you talking about?

“They say that my personality resembles Kim Seo-jin’s.”

When I heard that, I couldn’t hold it back and burst out laughing.

What the hell is that?

Knowing the original, I can’t help but know Yoo Soo-ho’s personality. So when I compare his personality to mine, I can’t help but laugh.

Because they don’t resemble each other at all, not even a little bit.

He seems somewhat playful and curious, seeking fun, but he is ultimately one of the main characters in the original work.

He is the character who trained Seo Jae-hyeok, and just thinking about that makes you know that he is a kind and good person.

It wasn’t funny to say that I resembled that guy.

“That’s nonsense. And why is it being mentioned here?”

“That’s right. I thought it was ridiculous too. How could someone like you resemble Suho?”

Then why are you talking about this now?

“But today, I thought you looked like Suho.”

“So what does that have to do with what you’re doing now?”

I spoke in a tone that seemed a little annoyed. Then Lee Ji-hye looked around and said.

“Coming here made me think a lot.”

“What are you thinking?”

I asked with a lot of questions.

“Yeah, you just gained more mana, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then it looks like you can’t hear me.”

“What is that?”

What do you mean you can’t hear it?

Is there something hidden?

“The monster will soon catch up.”

“Yes?”

“Of course. I got hit once before and it was stronger than before.”

At those words, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

“How many minutes do I have to wait before the next person can use it?”

“Roughly, about ten minutes.”

It was certain because Yoo Seo-ra went out first and Seo Jae-hyeok used it next.

“Ten minutes is enough time for that guy to come. But he still won’t go?”

Now I understand.

It seems that Lee Ji-hye has been considerate in her own way.

Anyway, if what Lee Ji-hye said is true, then the current situation is dangerous. Maybe someone has to sacrifice themselves to survive. To that extent, it could be said to be quite artificial.

‘Shit.’

What the hell is this?

I gritted my teeth. I realized anew that I still have many areas in which I am immature.

“Yes, I can’t go.”

Said clearly.

I’m still out of mana. Above all, even if I had it, I couldn’t run away alone. That would mean losing the character Lee Ji-hye, who played a major role in the original work.

‘Oh, really.’

frustrated.

I was so frustrated that my thoughts kept going back and forth.

“They really do resemble each other. That stubbornness, you know.”

It’s not that I’m stubborn, I just really can’t go!

What the fuck.

I thought for a moment and looked at the sword I had given to Lee Ji-hye. It was definitely an item that did not exist in the original.

The only thing missing here was ‘Plus Mana’. But strangely enough, I was able to find that sword on my way back to Lee Ji-hye.

‘Let’s think about it.’

If it wasn’t in the original, it must have some meaning. What was different that it didn’t appear in the original? Could it be some kind of hidden event, or maybe Yoo Seo-ra actually took it secretly? My thoughts aren’t organized, but I keep thinking about it.

There’s no need to think too much. Just wonder why the sword appeared here, unlike in the original.

Could it be that the time and date of entry here are different? It is quite possible, but there are some parts that seem awkward and strange to say that.

I use my head as much as I can to figure out a way to survive.

‘Awakening of a monster that wasn’t in the original.’

A sword that wasn’t in the original.

I looked around for a moment. There was a huge table there, where the medicine I had taken had originally been.

As I continued to think about it, one place caught my eye. It was a wall with a strange pattern that would lead outside.

I approached him without even thinking.

‘It’s an unknown pattern.’

But that’s definitely a sword, right?

I could definitely see a sword in that pattern. At the same time, I could see a monster behind it. I don’t know if it’s a monster, but it’s definitely red.

‘Sword and Red Monster?’

No way, fuck.

Now I think I know. It was definitely a pattern related to this place. Of course, I had thought it was related from the beginning, but now that I look at it, it seems a little different.

‘Wait a minute, is that a drug?’

I saw something like a bottle. It was too blurry and not clear, but I could guess.

That was the ‘Plus Mana’ potion I used.

I looked at the pattern, guessing that it was a bottle, a sword, and a monster in that order, excluding the lines that seemed strangely drawn without meaning.

Then they started to appear.

“Yeah, fuck. I can see it now.”

It’s not that I ignored it because it passed by without any particular meaning in the original. I just didn’t pay attention to it because it was strange and vague.

Only then did I feel like my insides had been opened.