episode_0089

There are times when people act unconsciously.

An example of this is when someone startles and waves their hands when they are deeply lost in thought and someone touches them.

For a superhuman like Atra, such ‘unconscious actions’ are something to be cautious of.

Atra is a top-tier hero in the field of combat and personal battles.

The strength of bones, density and elasticity of muscles, agility, and visual acuity.

In combat… especially for superhumans specialized in close combat, there exists a powerful physique and sharply honed senses.

When Atra unconsciously throws a punch lightly in another direction, the consequences are never light.

Of course, as superhumans level up, they learn to control their unconscious actions to some extent, but there are occasional cases where such control is not properly maintained.

Therefore, training to control the level of unconscious actions is essential.

“Just now?”

Atra absentmindedly looked down at his hand. There was a smooth hand that seemed to be there.

Many wounds had formed and the chest had sunken, but thanks to excellent regenerative abilities, only smooth skin remained now.

“Just now…”

Unconsciously, Atra had wrapped his arms around Yi Hayul.

The warmth that was nestled in his arms left. More accurately, it was trying to leave. The warmth that was swaying in his arms as if it were natural was trying to leave.

So his hand moved on its own. Atra realized the fact that his hand had moved belatedly. It was shocking.

“Lately?”

Atra recalled the recent events.

As if unconsciously, as a habit, she had been holding and comforting Yi Hayul.

The precise diagnostic results revealed that not only physical injuries but also mental burdens had accumulated to a dangerous level.

The physical recovery was progressing smoothly.

In fact, it was recovering faster than expected, strangely fast.

If it continued to recover like this, the healing period would be significantly reduced, and it would even reach the point of regenerating the lost arm before long.

But she didn’t let her guard down.

Because her mental state was weaker than when Rianna had belatedly diagnosed her mental health.

The results were shocking even then.

She remembered the results where all mental fatigue levels were skyrocketing.

Now it was more serious than back then. The reason her mind was swaying as if she were half asleep even though she was awake was because of that.

Therefore, she paid special attention to mental care as well.

Yi Hayul spent most of the day asleep, and when she was awake, she was awake with a groggy mind.

She took care of her constantly. When Yi Hayul was asleep and murmuring in her sleep, she hugged her deeply and comforted her.

She fed her because it was difficult for her to move, and she also gave her medicine.

If she stayed in the healing room too much, she would feel suffocated, so she took her for a walk in a wheelchair around the park.

When she felt gloomy hearing news of the victims of Sifnaha, she comforted her, saying there was no need to be despondent.

She did that almost every day. Except for the unavoidable time when she was apart, Yi Hayul always stayed in Atra’s arms.

Yi Hayul did not reject her. Instead, she seemed to prefer being nestled in her arms.

Atra did not feel uncomfortable either.

Yi Hayul’s physique was so petite that it was easy to hold her lightly, and there was no discomfort that could be felt from pressing against each other’s flesh.

The soft touch that snuggled up felt warm, and the scent that occasionally emerged when she sweated was warm and sweet, as if it were honey…

“Thinking like this makes me seem like a pervert…”

Atra shook her head. Being deeply immersed in thoughts, she even had strange thoughts.

Her mind came back. Atra took a deep breath, straightened her disheveled hair, and lifted her head.

“Phew, Hayul, are you not uncomfortable? Are you okay?”

– Doridori

Through Artla’s perspective, Ihayul was seen snuggling up to Hong Yeonhwa and shaking his head from side to side.

It was a familiar sight. A scene that had become common in recent days.

It was a sight that used to happen in Artla’s own arms.

But not anymore.

Suddenly, a sense of emptiness washed over Artla. The feeling of satisfaction that came from being snugly held was gone.

The warmth of sharing body heat and the comforting breath that seemed to heal the mind and soul were gone.

The sense of being naturally together was gone.

In that moment, Hong Yeonhwa, with a satisfied expression, patted Ihayul’s back and then moved her hand to the other side.

“…?”

This unexpected action was something Artla had never imagined.

As Hong Yeonhwa briefly changed her position, her hand reached under Ihayul’s hospital gown and touched his abdomen.

For most living beings, the abdomen is a vital area. Injuries to the organs in the abdomen can lead to fatal consequences.

And here was the important abdomen, being touched ruthlessly by someone else’s hand.

Artla was speechless. She couldn’t fathom this unexpected and inappropriate behavior.

“What, what are you doing?”

“Huh? Oh… this? It’s to regulate body temperature.”

“…Body temperature regulation?”

Such an action? When Artla questioned with her eyes, Hong Yeonhwa looked at her as if asking why she was making a big deal out of it. Wasn’t it just putting her hand under the clothes?

“Guardians with the Fear ability often have fluctuating body temperatures when they’re unwell. Haven’t you experienced this when taking care of them?”

Artla understood. She had encountered many members of the Fear clan on the front lines and knew about the side effects of their unique abilities.

She also knew about Ihayul’s fluctuating body temperature. That’s why she made sure he was well-covered with a blanket and paid attention to his body temperature when he was held in her arms.

Even as the explanation continued, Hong Yeonhwa’s hand didn’t stop. Her hand inside the hospital gown continued to touch Ihayul’s abdomen.

Feeling ticklish, Ihayul squirmed, but the warm sensation from his abdomen made him stop struggling.

While comforting Ihayul, Hong Yeonhwa continued to explain.

“So, we also transfer the warmth of the Fear through physical contact. It’s actually a simple and effective first aid measure.”

The explanation ended, but Artla still couldn’t quite grasp it.

The sight of such an unusual behavior that seemed so grotesque on the surface was hard to believe as a first aid measure.

But she couldn’t argue against it.

Artla had seen Ihayul use the Fear. She didn’t know the reason why. She didn’t know how it manifested, but what she witnessed didn’t disappear.

Hong Yeonhwa possessed the Fear.

As a successor of the clan, she must have learned more about the Fear in detail than anyone else in the Fear clan. What could Artla possibly say to challenge her explanation?

But Artla didn’t like it.

Watching such a scene unfold before her eyes didn’t sit well with her.

It wasn’t pleasant.

A sense of rebellion bubbled up inside her.

At that moment, Hong Yeonhwa, who was looking down at Ihayul, raised her gaze.

Their eyes met.

“……”

“……”

Even as they tried to act nonchalant, their gazes clashed in the air.

Why was that?

Artla felt a similar emotion in those eyes that mirrored her own.

‘…Did I make the wrong decision coming here alone?’

Meanwhile, Baek Arin, who was sandwiched between them like the filling of a sandwich, trying to keep the conversation going and lighten the mood throughout, inwardly let out a deep sigh.

‘…Should have just come alone later.’

Ihayul, with his small and cute appearance, combined with his usually gentle and timid nature, was quite popular.

But anyone observant enough would notice that there was a barrier in the way he interacted with others.

Baek Arin realized that the wall that had unfolded in front of her was particularly thick.

Why? She didn’t know. It was a wall that had been unfolding since the first time Baek Arin met Lee Hayul.

For her own purposes, Baek Arin needed various strong forces.

Therefore, she was getting to know various students, building friendships.

Among them, Lee Hayul, a special admission student, was someone she had to get close to.

But he was afraid of her, so Baek Arin needed to break down that psychological barrier somehow.

The trick? The cheat code was Hong Yeonhwa.

The attention Hong Yeonhwa showed Lee Hayul was noticeable.

This rumor… anyone who didn’t know the truth would be living under a rock.

Hong Yeonhwa was particularly weak towards Lee Hayul.

The opposite was also true.

Even Lee Hayul, who acted like a wary puppy, knew to wag his tail around Hong Yeonhwa.

So, Baek Arin had planned to get on Hong Yeonhwa’s good side by inserting herself into her sickroom visits…

…but seeing the cold atmosphere in the healing room, it didn’t seem like a good choice.

‘Why is he afraid of me.’

She had been puzzled since their first meeting.

Baek Arin tilted her head.

Did Lee Hayul have a bad experience with the Changhae family?

It was strange.

The Changhae family’s territory did not overlap with the orphanage Lee Hayul was in.

There was no member of Changhae active in that area. In fact, there was no contact with Baek Arin.

Yet, there was a thick psychological barrier standing tall against Baek Arin.

Baek Arin had tried to see through Lee Hayul every time they interacted, but…

*Sigh…*

There was little progress.

She could vaguely tell that Lee Hayul was afraid of her and found her intimidating.

But at the same time, he seemed to have positive feelings towards her.

Even during the after-party, when she thought he might refuse to go outside under the pretext of Hong Yeonhwa’s request, he didn’t refuse. Although he was drunk, he obediently followed Baek Arin like a child.

He was afraid of Baek Arin. But he also seemed to have a tendency to view her positively… or wanted to view her positively.

‘Hmm.’

At that point, Baek Arin organized her thoughts.

Lee Hayul had no contact with her before Siyoram.

Their first meeting was within Siyoram.

And yet, Lee Hayul was afraid of her. Meaning, there was something that caused him to feel a sense of rejection from their first meeting.

From an objective perspective, Baek Arin thought she had no reason to be disliked.

It wasn’t self-praise, it was a fact.

She belonged to a very beautiful category.

Her body was plump where it should be, and slim where it should be.

She didn’t have a malicious personality that would harm others.

She was overflowing with wealth.

The power of her family was painful to speak of.

Her military power was also growing, and her growth limit was very high.

But Lee Hayul was afraid of Baek Arin…

There were elements that could make him afraid.

Baek Arin hardened her face under the ‘mask’. The chilling sensation of her heart that she still vividly felt.

The curse that clung to her since birth emitted an ominous and eerie energy that even she found unsettling.

If Lee Hayul had seen through this curse? Could his perception sense the curse as well? If so, then his sense of rejection would be understandable.

‘Isn’t that a shitty thing.’

From the beginning, she was marked as a woman with a cursed heart carrying a curse.

‘No, it’s not just that.’

Lee Hayul clearly showed a sense of rejection, but at the same time, he also showed affection.

Hope exists. By successfully capturing her favor, it should be possible to overcome the curse’s aversion and establish a friendship.

Isn’t that why she has been dividing her study time for that purpose?

She had no intention of living with such a burden. She would find a way to remove it.

“Until then, I don’t know if I’ll still be alive…”

Baek Arin chuckled bitterly as she got up.

She approached the bed soon after.

Lee Hayul, who had been receiving warmth from Hong Yeonhwa’s embrace, was sound asleep on the bed.

“Healing, huh… Just sprinkle some Changhae generously, and it should work.”

Baek Arin had come to pay a visit, bring a gift, and provide healing, using Changhae to help.

Changhae’s water flow is a magical attribute imbued with healing properties.

The difference from other healing abilities is that it is not just simple healing and regeneration; it also has functions such as enhancing the natural recovery power of the target’s vitality.

It’s like a potion that will heal on its own even if you just sprinkle it carelessly.

In addition, Baek Arin has medical knowledge and has acquired specialized healing magic and healing methods using Changhae passed down from her family.

Of course, the effect may not be significant for Lee Hayul, who is already receiving extreme healing… But it’s not completely ineffective, and it’s better to take a step for appearances’ sake.

– Oooh…

Changhae’s energy surged in Baek Arin’s palm.

And.

Baek Arin felt Changhae’s energy.

“…Huh?”

Inside the mask, Baek Arin’s face stiffened. Her fingertips froze stiff.

She could feel Changhae’s energy emanating from her palm. Of course, that’s natural since she was the one directly using it.

…There’s more.

Inside the healing room, there was Changhae’s energy other than her own.

It wasn’t being used. It was more like the remnants after being used.

That energy… unnaturally where the arm had disappeared.

It remained in Lee Hayul’s prosthetic arm.

Baek Arin calmly pondered. She recalled the list of Changhae clan members dispatched around the world.

There were no clan members dispatched to the headquarters’ intensive healing room.

There were no clan members active in Sifnaha.

“Why are you like that? Is something wrong?”

Hong Yeonhwa asked Baek Arin, who had stopped abruptly.

“No, it’s nothing. Just concentrating for a moment.”

Baek Arin shook her head. Then, as if nothing had happened, she smiled and continued to use Changhae.

Throughout the process of pouring out Changhae.

Baek Arin’s gaze lingered on Lee Hayul’s shoulders.

– Hm?

As if responding to her gaze, Lee Hayul’s body twitched.

– Ring! Ring! Ring!

A strange alarm sound rang in the depths of Lee Hayul’s consciousness, who was asleep.

Lee Hayul’s smartwatch had been collected and stored separately.

*

*

*

– Ring! Ring! Ring!

[Savior Correction System: Extermination]

[Detecting “Curse of Extreme Cold!”]

[The system expresses intense aversion to the curse of extreme cold!]

[If the savior confronts the curse of extreme cold, the system will assist the savior with full power!]

…

[Savior Correction System: Pioneering]

[Main Quest “Tower of Extreme Cold” created!]

[Savior, drive out the approaching extreme cold!]