└Ha-yeon, that's not it…
└Even struggling to survive isn't enough in this situation…
└Sex is truly amazing.
└How amazing is it that she's so deeply infatuated after just one time… I want to try it too…
└LOLOLOLOLOL
Min Ha-yeon ignored the chats flooding the chat window and intently stared at the blessing note.
The required points were 140,000.
At first, she input absurdly high stats, demanding an astronomical number of points, but gradually reduced it to a usable amount.
"…."
When she wrote it, she was confident.
And it had merit.
But… once a blessing is written, that's it.
The chat continued to persuade Min Ha-yeon.
└Ha-yeon… the points aren't the problem. The moment that guy dies, your blessing will just vanish.
└Yeah, there's no function inside Yggdrasil to change or reset a blessing.
As the chat said, the blessing Min Ha-yeon wrote was tied to Seong Suho.
That meant if he died or disappeared, the blessing she wrote would be as good as nonexistent.
Even Min Ha-yeon, who had been intently watching the chat, couldn't help but hesitate.
However, the hesitation she felt wasn't about the blessing disappearing.
'…What if Suho leaves because he doesn't like me?'
Min Ha-yeon trusted Seong Suho, but she didn't trust men as a species.
Even Seong Suho, who had shown such unwavering loyalty, had touched her skin in a moment of danger.
In a place where even more dangerous situations might arise, no one could predict what might happen.
That meant Seong Suho could fall in love with another woman.
But after a moment of hesitation, Min Ha-yeon…
└Sex is amazing!!
She chuckled while looking at the chat.
And she thought.
'Really… it must be something special…'
The sense of impending danger shattered her beliefs, and a single act made her fall deeply in love with a man.
The process didn't matter.
Thanks to the man who shattered her beliefs, Min Ha-yeon could make a decision.
Min Ha-yeon smiled as she recalled what she had done earlier and applied the blessing written on the note.
A blessing was added to her stats window.
-Blessing: When the target (Seong Suho) is in a crisis, physical abilities increase by 3 times.-
***
My plan was simple.
If Han Yeo-reum was resting in the safe zone, I would predict the next safe zone to evacuate to and activate it in advance.
The method for predicting the next safe zone was simple.
'When running away, he'll probably go in the opposite direction from where he came.'
[Psychologically, people are more likely to run in the completely opposite direction rather than making a clumsy turn.]
'Right? Ah, there it is.'
I entered the safe zone on the predicted path and checked the time.
00:05 [1/2]
The duration was only 5 minutes at best, and only two people could enter.
It was one of the worst nearby safe zones.
Moreover, once a safe zone was activated, time would continue to pass even if no one was inside.
So by the time Han Yeo-reum arrived here, there would only be 1-2 minutes left.
'Wow… was the 1-hour one really a coincidence?'
[It seems like you were really lucky. If this continues, Han Yeo-reum will head to a place with no safe zones.]
If Han Yeo-reum successfully reaches this safe zone, the situation is practically over.
As Armonia said, after this, the path leads to the safe zone where Min Ha-yeon and I were staying, and it's likely that no safe zones will appear for a while.
Given Han Yeo-reum's stamina, he'll probably get exhausted on the way and be caught by the Shock Bees.
I sat on the floor of the safe zone, deep in thought.
'Sigh… this warp timing is tough.'
[Do you want to warp now?]
'…No. Let's wait until the situation is certain.'
It was a gamble, but it was that crucial of a moment.
I decided not to warp until I felt certain about Han Yeo-reum's death.
I first communicated with Armonia.
'Let's make the anti-magic potion first.'
Armonia heard my words and immediately created the core of a blue slime.
I quickly used alchemy to make a beginner's anti-magic potion and drank it.
Thud, thud.
While I was focused on alchemy, I noticed someone entering the safe zone.
I turned around in surprise…
"Huh? …What! Why are you here!?"
"…."
Min Ha-yeon stood there, pouting.
It was an incomprehensible situation.
Because her expression earlier made it seem like she would listen.
I shouted at her, who wasn't answering.
"What! Why are you here!?"
"I was worried…"
"Sigh…"
I suppressed my rising anger and bowed my head.
I was happy that she came because she was worried about me, but I was also angry.
Min Ha-yeon looked at me weakly and said.
"I'll get scolded…"
"…?"
"You can scold me all you want later… So let's survive together."
"…."
She hung her shoulders like a guilty puppy and watched my reaction.
Seeing Min Ha-yeon like that, my anger slowly subsided.
How could I get mad at that face…
As I approached Min Ha-yeon, she flinched, looking scared of what I might do.
I hugged her and said.
"I'll really scold you hard later…"
"Hehe…"
Min Ha-yeon laughed and hugged me back.
***
Min Ha-yeon immediately asked Seong Suho to make her a potion.
He made 20 green potions and gave them all to Min Ha-yeon.
"What, why are you giving me so many?"
"Use them first, then keep the rest. Use them in emergencies."
Seong Suho handed the potions to Min Ha-yeon and explained the situation.
"Han Yeo-reum and Park Jin-hee are over there. But they'll probably come this way soon. When that happens, let's run away together."
"Huh? Can't we just go by ourselves? It's selfish, but if we wait until they come, we might get chased too."
"No, let's run away together. More people means we can split up later and increase our survival rate."
"…Okay. Got it."
Min Ha-yeon wasn't fully convinced, but she decided to follow Seong Suho's lead.
She looked at the time in the center of the safe zone and thought.
00:02[2/2]
'I've met Suho. Plus, my legs are healed… Now, if things get dangerous, I have to save Suho no matter what.'
Min Ha-yeon thought to herself and checked the divine protection again.
-Blessing: When the target (Seong Suho) is in a crisis, physical abilities increase by 3 times.-
Looking at the blessing, Min Ha-yeon chuckled to herself.
'I've really fallen for him. Trying to protect a guy I've only known for a week.'
A sound broke Min Ha-yeon's relaxed mood.
Bzzzz…
"Damn it!!!"
"Yeo-reum! Don't leave me!!"
The two were running towards us.
Seong Suho sensed the two approaching and said to Min Ha-yeon.
"I'll stop them with magic. Ha-yeon, you run away with the two."
"No."
"…."
"…I'll run away with you. With you…"
Min Ha-yeon glanced at Seong Suho, worried about what his response would be.
Would he get angry? Would he really hit her this time? As she was filled with these thoughts, Seong Suho placed his hand on her shoulder and said.
"Okay… let's run away together."
"…."
Min Ha-yeon felt refreshed and smiled only after hearing the answer she wanted.
Han Yeo-reum and Park Jin-hee began to appear in their sight.
The two running towards them shouted when they saw the safe zone.
"A safe zone! Huh?! Min Ha-yeon!"
"P-Please save us!!"
Seong Suho stepped out of the safe zone and shouted at the two running towards them.
"Just keep running! There's less than a minute left here!"
"Don't talk nonsense!!"
Han Yeo-reum ignored Seong Suho's words and rushed into the safe zone.
Han Yeo-reum, who had rushed into the safe zone, shouted at Min Ha-yeon.
"Ha-yeon! You're alive! I was really worried!"
"…."
Min Ha-yeon looked at the delighted Han Yeo-reum with a cold expression.
She already didn't like him, but Han Yeo-reum cursing at Seong Suho made Min Ha-yeon even more uncomfortable.
Han Yeo-reum, who was usually oblivious, didn't notice Min Ha-yeon's mood and shouted after seeing the sign in the center of the safe zone.
"Damn it! Why is there only 1 minute left!"
"…."
Min Ha-yeon ignored Han Yeo-reum and stepped out of the safe zone to stand behind Seong Suho.
Park Jin-hee was running towards them, completely exhausted, her legs giving out.
"P-Please save me… ha…"
Seong Suho reached out towards Park Jin-hee and fired superconductor bullets.
Bang! Bang!
"Kyaaah!!"
The target was Park Jin-hee… and the Shock Bees chasing her.
The two bees were hit by the bullets, writhing in pain before crashing to the ground.
"T-Thank you…"
"Let's run away together."
"Ha… ha… okay…"
Min Ha-yeon looked at Seong Suho and thought.
'Sigh… what do I do… the blessing is too limited.'
She didn't regret it, but since the blessing only activated in Seong Suho's crisis, Min Ha-yeon couldn't do anything right now.
Seong Suho looked at Min Ha-yeon and said.
"Let's run away first!"
"Okay!"
When they turned around after hearing that, Han Yeo-reum was already running away, leaving the three behind.
"…."
"…."
"…."
The three stared blankly at the sight before snapping out of it and starting to run.
Min Ha-yeon clicked her tongue as she watched Han Yeo-reum running ahead.
'Why did I ever like someone like that…'
As Min Ha-yeon ran hard, she glanced at Seong Suho running beside her.
'…What if he likes another girl?'
Min Ha-yeon worried as she recalled bitter memories from the past, but she quickly regained her composure.
'What am I thinking about now… This isn't the time for that…'
As Min Ha-yeon regained her senses, Seong Suho shouted at Han Yeo-reum.
"Don't go that way!! You might run into another one!!"
Han Yeo-reum, running hard to the south, sneered at Seong Suho.
"What are you gonna do!? Why should I listen to you?"
"…Sigh."
Hearing Han Yeo-reum's words, Min Ha-yeon's head throbbed.
But the headache quickly subsided.
"Damn it!! What the hell!!"
Suddenly, Han Yeo-reum turned around and ran back towards the three.
Behind Han Yeo-reum, two Shock Bees were flying.
"…Suho, we can leave him."
"…."
Seong Suho stopped after seeing Han Yeo-reum running towards them and pointed northeast.
"Let's run that way first!"
The two women immediately started running in the direction Seong Suho pointed.
But Seong Suho didn't run. He stayed in place and reached out towards Han Yeo-reum.
He was trying to stop the Shock Bees behind him.
That was the moment.
"Damn it, move!"
"What!?"
Han Yeo-reum pushed Seong Suho aside, who was trying to save him, and ran away.
Min Ha-yeon, who was running, turned around and looked at Seong Suho.
Seong Suho staggered and fell, and at that moment, one of the Shock Bees lifted its abdomen, preparing to shoot venom at him.
"Suho!!"
At that moment, Min Ha-yeon felt the blood in her body begin to boil.
Time around her began to slow down, and the only thing moving normally was the act of nocking an arrow and aiming.
For Min Ha-yeon, who had always trained and competed in hitting stationary targets, hunting wasn't easy.
The target was always moving, and there were allies around the target.
Shooting an arrow in such a situation wasn't easy.
But now, this moment was similar to a competition.
A stationary Shock Bee, a stationary Seong Suho.
'…I have to hit it!'
With the sole thought of saving Seong Suho, Min Ha-yeon released the bowstring.
Twang!
With a fierce sound, the arrow Min Ha-yeon shot hit the Shock Bee's abdomen.
Thud!
The moment the arrow hit, it pierced the Shock Bee's abdomen, causing it to collapse to the ground.
Bzzz!! Bzzzz!
The Shock Bee with the arrow in its abdomen wasn't dead, but it was writhing, spilling brown blood.
'I did it!!'
The fact that she had inflicted the first fatal wound on a monster that hadn't even been scratched until now made Min Ha-yeon's energy surge.
The helplessness that had been building up since arriving here vanished in an instant, and her enthusiasm soared.
The other Shock Bee, perhaps intimidated by Min Ha-yeon's momentum, slowly landed and began to retreat.
Min Ha-yeon, seeing this, felt relieved and tried to grab Seong Suho's arm to lift him up.
"Suho! Get up!"
"W-Wait, that!!"
Seong Suho didn't get up but instead pointed towards Han Yeo-reum.
"Huh?"
"Kyaaah!"
When Min Ha-yeon turned her head, the scene she saw was…
"Uh…"
Han Yeoreum's head had a large stinger embedded in it.
..
..
"…Huh?! What! Where am I?"
Min Ha-yeon was startled by the sudden change in her surroundings and looked around.
The blue walls made it clear where she was.
A safe zone.
"W-What. Where is this… Huh! Suho! Seong Suho!!!"
And when she regained her senses, the first thing she looked for was Seong Suho.
The Seong Suho she had just tried to lift up was nowhere to be found.
"Seong Suho!!! Where are you!!!"
Wiping the tears welling up in her eyes, she looked around, but there was no one.
"Sniff… what… what's going on…"
Min Ha-yeon, exhausted in this incomprehensible situation, looked around.
Blue walls… hard stone floor… and…
"…Blessing… note?"
In the center of the safe zone, the blessing note she had first received was floating.
***
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