episode_0019

In front of me, Mahana trembles and fidgets in confusion.

Her eyes speak.

How do you know that?

Her stature questions.

It’s suspicious and doubtful.

I understand well.

It’s either all or nothing… or rather, it’s closer to a handshake than anything else.

It’s unmistakably fishy to anyone who sees it.

“But time is running out.”

Mahana’s personal story seems to be taking the worst route faster than I thought.

I never dreamed I would meet her in today’s mandatory punishment, let alone that she would be on the verge of collapse at any moment.

“…No.”

I couldn’t bear to lose Mahana no matter what.

“I understand your suspicions. Your disbelief. I understand.”

Honestly, Mahana.

“At this moment, I have no means to make you understand. There’s no way to clarify the questionable parts.”

“Why.”

“…What?”

“…Why are you trying so hard to hold onto me like this?”

Everything about Mahana was questioning me.

Why go to such lengths?

Isn’t this just a fleeting encounter today?

“If it’s Yuseha, you could find a better tank. Not someone like me…”

I shook my head.

“It’s because it’s not envisioned.”

“…What?”

“In the future I envision, in life, there’s always only you standing in the forefront, no one else is envisioned.”

Yes.

Unimaginable.

No, unwanted.

A main tank other than Muneungyi?

“Back off.”

To me, she is the only reliable ally.

It was the same in the original world and remains so here.

Suddenly, I feel another gaze glaring at me fiercely.

Im Hyeja.

The image of her just a moment ago, asking if I had a boyfriend, has vanished without a trace.

I felt like I was seeing her from the familiar in-game perspective.

“The representative map-rejecting NPC.”

In “Gosla,” the map-rejecting NPCs show no gender or face.

Perhaps an implicit element considering users’ diverse age groups and genders.

Most characters are friendly towards the map-rejecting NPCs, who play a crucial role as the main observer. However, there are some individuals who dislike them.

One of them is Im Hyeja.

“The reason is simple.”

Because she’s the culprit who dragged Mahana, a daughter-like figure, into the perilous world of hunters.

Naturally, it makes sense.

This might also be my selfishness.

Maybe living together, helping out at the smithy, and leading a simple life might make Mahana happier.

Not hearing nagging, not being insulted, but getting paid honestly for the work done might suit Mahana better.

“You can think that way.”

However, I assert.

No.

It’s just…

“You’re nothing but a corpse that gave up on dreams.”

“!!!”

As I spoke, Mahana’s eyes flickered.

I looked at her and confirmed.

Mahana will regret this path for a long time.

Even though she may think it was unavoidable, deep down in her heart.

Ignoring the true voice within, that act of disregarding it will turn into despair, spreading like a plague and engulfing her.

“I can’t leave you like that. I don’t want to give you a life that’s merely about surviving.”

I stared at the stone-faced Mahana and briefly reminisced about the past.

An hour ago.

Watching her walk away, I couldn’t stop Mahana.

I pondered a lot.

I had to persuade her.

“…But how?”

What did I say?

We only met today.

Even if we faced the crisis of “Breakout” together and risked our lives, the depth of our connection is merely a day old.

I didn’t have the kind of bond with her that could turn her heart with just a word.

“…So I hesitated like an idiot.”

So I stood there silently like a fool.

There was simply no sharp move to make, no matter how much I thought about it.

I simply had no theory, doctrine, justification, logic, or validity to convince her.

“So I gave up.”

That’s what pondering means.

Sometimes I think,

I’m really not that smart.

Eloquent folks might persuade her with fancy words, but I didn’t have that skill.

“But…”

There is one thing that no one can shake.

Heart.

The heart of a strategist.

The heart that loves the favorite character.

The determination to enter the academy with her as a lobbyist and mark the pinnacle of a hunter.

“…No, this is just an excuse.”

In the end, I just want to see her smile.

I want to see Mahana, Mmyangi, smiling happily.

I want to see that powerful, bright smile after achieving a dream.

“…All I have to offer is…this heart.”

And I believe that’s enough.

―For a person, the most important thing is the heart. Understand? It’s not about cutting down branches like you do, it’s about the heart, you fool.

“…I thought it was nonsense, but well.”

At times like this, I realize even if our blood doesn’t connect, I must be his child if I recall the words of the author known as my father.

I clenched something burning fiercely in my chest.

“I swear.”

I will lift you up.

I will always be by your side.

“So please, take my hand.”

*

10 seconds.

A moment of silence where Mahana couldn’t respond to Yuseha’s words.

But it felt like years had passed.

Reason in my head speaks.

It’s absurd…why would she trust someone she just met today and jump back into a dangerous industry?

But the voice within me…the presence that once held onto my shoulders was slowly pushing me forward.

“Just once…”

It was screaming for one more chance.

“…It feels warm.”

A wave of warmth washes over.

Mahana felt a flame burning brightly within Yuseha.

Something shining brightly in white.

What is that? Why is it so beautiful?

Unconsciously, he wanted to move closer to him.

He reached out slowly.

Slap!

But there was someone opposing it.

Im Hyeja. Like a family sister, she grabbed his hand and shook her head.

Then, with a stern expression never seen before, she glared at Yuseha.

“…You keep insisting…”

She furrowed her brows. It was a look as if she was seeing an enemy.

“If you don’t know this industry well and keep pestering… She’s your senior by far. And she’s a child who has already received enough scars! Don’t make her suffer any more!”

“……”

Yuseha sighed deeply.

Manipulating something in the air, she unfolded a blue-tinted window.

“…Revealing status?”

“I’m sorry. But this is all the trust I can show right now.”

There’s nothing more to offer.

No collateral to wager.

But what does that matter?

The most important thing is the heart.

“…Since I merged here, I made a vow.”

To intervene less in the main story that will unfold in the future.

I won’t do that.

Since I appeared in “Gosla.”

This is my future, my story.

At least in my story, Mmyangi giving up on her dreams and slowly dying from a broken heart cannot happen.

“…I’ve done everything I can.”

Now, all that’s left is to wait for the outcome.

There was a quiet silence for a while.

Mahana, head bowed deeply, said nothing.

Soon, our eyes met.

As he opened his previously closed eyes, a faint light filled his lifeless pupils and irises.

The distinctive golden eyes of the Mysterious Tribe began to exude vitality and vigor.

Of course, there’s still dark shadow. There’s still fear of failure this time too.

But courage is felt once again.

Thanks to that, I could know her answer one step ahead.

“I believe.”

“Mmyang-ah!”

“Unni. Thank you for helping me… and for making such a suggestion. I’m really grateful. And… I’m sorry.”

Mahana clenched her fist tightly.

“…But even if it’s the last time, I’m okay with it. I want to try one more time… I don’t want to give up like this.”

“…Ha, what a foolish guy.”

Im Hye-ja tightly closed her eyes.

There’s a saying that parents never win against their children.

‘…That’s exactly it.’

Honestly… things never went her way.

*

10 minutes later.

Yuseha and Mahana conversing.

Having agreed to meet again tomorrow since it was too late today, he fled outside, overwhelmed by Im Hye-ja’s piercing gaze.

“Mnyang-a.”

“…Yes?”

“What exactly do you believe in from that man?”

“…”

“While the status window is certainly important information, it doesn’t seem to mean much to you, does it?”

That’s true.

From Yuseha’s perspective, revealing the status window was just as Moon Bora had said, but in reality, that act didn’t provide any guarantee to Mahana.

“Right. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“…Then…!”

“But it’s similar.”

“…Huh?”

“To my dad-”

“-Sorry. Rather than the senior, that parasite over there is a million times better looking…-”

“-No no! Not appearance, it’s about the gaze. The gaze!”

“…The gaze?”

“Yes…”

Mahana quietly nodded.

The gaze that looked at him.

It resembled the warm gaze of his father that always believed in him.

He felt that light within him.

“…So I’ll try believing once more.”

“…Even if I trust an axe, I won’t know if it hits my foot.”

“…Hehe.”

As it was late at night, Mahana also thought it was time to go home.

Jjirang jjirang―!

With the sound of bells ringing again, Yuseha reappeared.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly while looking at the two bewildered individuals.

“Um, excuse me but…”

Then he showed them a shattered knife.

“…Do you have a cheap knife? Oh, and even if it’s shoddy, do you have some low-quality poison for consumables?”

“…”

“…”