Lee Seokyoung was about to collapse forward, so Kwon Jihan quickly caught him.
The moment they made contact, Kwon Jihan's eyes widened.
"What's wrong? Did you see something?"
"No… uh…"
Yoon Seo, noticing Kwon Jihan's rare expression of confusion, reached out to touch Lee Seokyoung as well.
The hidden secret of the skill
***
"Please, please, stop it! It's over! We've failed the raid!"
At a hunter's desperate cry, Lee Seokyoung, who had been dragging his injured leg, came to a halt.
They were right. There were only 3 minutes left until the explosion, yet we hadn't even reached the boss monster.
"We really couldn't do it with just us. Damn it…"
"To think we're going to die here…!"
"Shit, I don't want to die. I want to get out of here. Mom! Mom…!"
Entering an S-rank orange dungeon with just 14 people was reckless from the start. Especially when the team was made up of 1 S-rank, 3 A-ranks, and 10 B-ranks…
But no matter how we formed the group, this was the best we could do.
Most of the high-ranking hunters were already inside the Great Dungeon.
Still, we couldn't just leave it to explode without trying.
Overwhelmed with despair, many slumped to the ground. Only Lee Seokyoung stood tall, staring off into the distance.
"When this explodes, the damage will be enormous. I hope everyone evacuated."
"...."
"There will be more dungeons, but losing such a large force is devastating."
"...."
"I've set up several contingency plans in case we failed, but…"
"...."
"The Revengers will surely succeed."
"...."
No one responded to his murmurs.
I met eyes with Mirae, who bit her lip and nodded in agreement.
"Lee Seokyoung."
When I called his name, Lee Seokyoung turned around. His expression was unnervingly calm. I smiled at him and said,
"You have to survive."
"…What?"
Mirae approached him from behind, catching him off guard. With a flash of light, the skill was applied. As Lee Seokyoung slowly lost consciousness and collapsed, I caught him in my arms.
"What… what just happened?"
"What did you just do?"
Mirae answered the confused hunters.
"My skill put him into a comatose state.
"We know. 'Status Condition – Comatose State'. You've used it on monsters before. But why did you use it on Seokyoung hyung now…?"
I answered that question.
"To leave the dungeon, he has to be in a comatose state."
At that, the hunters' eyes widened.
"Th-there's a way out?"
"There is. But only for one person."
"...."
"Do you want to get out?"
In the silence, someone cried out desperately.
"I want out. Damn it! I want to live! But only one person? One person… damn. Damn!"
With 20 seconds left until the explosion, I looked into the eyes of my comrades, saying goodbye to each one.
Mirae whispered to Lee Seokyoung, Please don't resent me.
I then used my skill on him.
Using skill
To the safest place…
Gaia system.
Send Lee Seokyoung to the safest place in the world.
He must live.
We are all people who shouldn't die like this, but…
Lee Seokyoung must survive.
With 1 second left until the explosion, Lee Seokyoung's figure began to blur.
At that moment, I saw a vision.
It was inside a clean house, and there were two men. They both seemed to be Korean. The last thing I saw was one of them catching the collapsing Lee Seokyoung.
***
"So, in conclusion…"
Yoo Juncheol ran his hands over his pale face.
"Kim Mirae and Hyun Jiye used
So, after wandering between the system and Earth for 13 years, he was finally transferred to the space where the elixir that nullifies status conditions was completed.
"This is driving me crazy. I'm completely wide awake. No, it feels so real, like I'm dreaming vividly."
3 AM.
Yoo Juncheol, who had been urgently called to the medical area of the Seokyoung headquarters, lightly slapped his own cheek, wondering if he was dreaming.
Normally, Kwon Jihan would have picked a fight, saying, 'Does hitting yourself hurt? Let me hit you.'
But this time, Kwon Jihan just sat there silently, his face disturbingly calm.
A chilling aura, almost murderous, emanated from him, making Yoo Juncheol afraid to even speak.
Lee Seokyoung's revival was definitely a joyous occasion.
It was a huge event that would make every Earthling happy.
But not for Kwon Jihan.
Because…
Status Condition: Comatose State
Time remaining: 238 hours, 39 minutes, 11 seconds
※Due to the status condition, you have become a temporary resident of Eden's Garden. If you do not consume the fruit of knowledge within the time limit, you will be expelled from Eden and return to your original location.
If Lee Seokyoung doesn't take the elixir within ten days, he will die.
Lee Seokyoung's status condition is different from Yoon Seo's. When Yoon Seo's healing skill immunity time runs out, it will be lifted. But if Lee Seokyoung's comatose state isn't cured before the time runs out, it will lead to his death.
It's like a thirsty man who digs endlessly in the desert, barely managing to get a single sip of water, only to be forced to give it to a starving stranger who suddenly appears.
Kwon Jihan had been shouting for a status condition nullification potion every time he opened his mouth. Yoo Juncheol understood how complicated Kwon Jihan's feelings must be now, having to hand over the treasure he finally obtained.
"Guild Master Yoo Juncheol. Did you call the team leaders?"
"Oh, yes. I called the association officials and Lee Seokyoung's… well, they're not surviving family anymore. I called his family too. They'll arrive soon."
"Then, we'll be heading out now."
"Alright."
"Oh, and…"
Yoon Seo glanced at Kwon Jihan, then whispered quietly to Yoo Juncheol.
"Don't worry. He'll take it within 24 hours."
"..."
Yoo Juncheol didn't say anything in response, but he was relieved that Yoon Seo seemed so resolute.
Leaving the aftermath to Yoo Juncheol, Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo returned home.
Neither of them spoke a word on the way back. Instead, Riceball kept making a distressed beeping sound. Normally, Riceball would ask, 'Are you going to fight now? Should I turn into a dagger? Should I transform now?' whenever they started arguing, but this time, sensing the unusual atmosphere, it let out a sorrowful cry. Yoon Seo gently cradled Riceball in his arms.
After arriving home in Yongsan, Kwon Jihan silently headed to his room, leaving the door ajar.
Peep… Peep…
"It'll be okay. Don't worry too much, Riceball."
Peep…
Yoon Seo was a little upset and hurt by that cold silhouette, but he decided to let it go, understanding that Kwon Jihan was probably the angriest and saddest person in the world right now.
As he was about to head to bed after washing up, he sensed movement. When he turned around, Kwon Jihan was standing there in the darkness. Yoon Seo almost cursed, but held back, considering the mood.
"Why didn't you follow me?"
"…Was I supposed to?"
"Yeah."
It seemed like if your boyfriend sulks and goes to his room, you're not supposed to leave him alone; you're supposed to follow him.
When Yoon Seo quietly went in, Kwon Jihan took Riceball from Yoon Seo's shoulder and held it in his hand. With his other hand, he lifted Yoon Seo's chin and kissed him. They were supposed to avoid physical contact until after taking the elixir, but both of them ignored that now.
At first, the kiss was light, with just a slight intertwining of their tongues, but it soon became deep, pressing their lips together almost too hard. It finally ended with a light peck, making a soft sound.
Peep!
Kwon Jihan, who had been holding the squirming Riceball, released it and cupped Yoon Seo's face with both hands.
"What are you doing?"
"Squishing your cheeks."
"…Does this make you feel better?"
"No."
It didn't look like it.
He wasn't smiling at all.
Kwon Jihan, expressionless, exuded an intimidating aura. If it weren't Yoon Seo standing in front of him, even someone like Hong Euiyoon would have been trembling.
After squishing Yoon Seo's cheeks for a while, Kwon Jihan suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.
Yoon Seo let him do as he wished, wrapping his arms around Kwon Jihan's broad back and gently patting him. Riceball let out a peep-peep and squirmed in between them.
Kwon Jihan let out a deep sigh and loosened his arms. They pulled apart slightly and faced each other.
"Hyung."
"Yes."
"Just take the elixir."
"..."
"We can find another elixir within ten days and give it to Lee Seokyoung. You drink it."
The Kwon Jihan that Yoon Seo knew wasn't someone who would say such things.
But.
If you loved someone with healing resistance who entered an S-rank dungeon more than once a month, it made sense to say it.
"Let's just sleep for now. We'll think about it again tomorrow."
"Please."
"..."
"Hyung, you should take it."
"Kwon Jihan…"
"Every time we're apart, I feel like I'm going to lose my mind from anxiety."
Kwon Jihan eventually lowered his head.
"Every time I bring someone who can't be healed by skills or potions to face a distorted entity, I feel so helpless. Every time I check the guild experience points and you're not there, I'm terrified that you're suffering from mana exhaustion. When you come back limping with a broken leg, when your arm is broken and wrapped in bandages, or when I see those blue bruises on your neck… Each time, I…"
Kwon Jihan's hand trembled slightly, and his voice was as fragile as a flame flickering in the wind.
"I'll take all the blame. I'll say I forced you to take it. Damn it, I'll find the Elixir in time and force it down Lee Seokyoung's throat. So please, just take it. Okay? Please."
Kwon Jihan's forehead rested on Yoon Seo's shoulder.