I should've done it earlier.
All the buff duration I'd wasted before... what a shame. On top of that, it stacked with Divine Power — it couldn't get any better.
'From now on, I'm definitely doing it this way when I use buff skills.'
Resolving not to miss out ever again, I spoke to Ryu Sunghyun, who had hastily put distance between us.
"Let's go. I'll support you from the rear."
Up ahead, where Song Jiwoon and the monster were still locked in confrontation, the snowstorm raged, and the frost-laced air surged. Without my Divine Power, even Ryu Sunghyun wouldn't be able to get involved.
With a flushed face, Ryu Sunghyun clenched and unclenched his hands, then nodded. I ran after him as he charged forward toward Song Jiwoon's location.
"Mountain Keeper-nim!"
"...!"
At the sound of my voice, Song Jiwoon flinched and turned around. Right beside him was Eunbok, who had rushed ahead of us. Thank god!
"H-How did you two get here...?!"
His eyes widened, mouth falling open in disbelief as he saw us.
"Watch out!"
Just as I shouted, a massive icicle burst through the snowstorm and flew straight at him. Ryu Sunghyun stomped the ground and leapt ahead of Jiwoon, deploying a golden barrier.
CRRACKK!
The icicle struck his shield, triggering a blast of wind and a powerful shockwave.
Song Jiwoon steadied me as I staggered, helping me regain my balance. I shouted toward Ryu Sunghyun.
"I'll purify the surroundings — don't worry and focus on fighting!"
The monster's presence up close was stronger than I'd anticipated, but with Ryu Sunghyun and Song Jiwoon here, we could handle it.
I clasped my hands again to amplify the effect, and from where I stood, the snow began to melt. Green shoots pushed through the ground. Jiwoon stared in surprise.
"This is... Divine Power?"
"Fufu, you guessed right."
I responded playfully and looked up. The snowstorm was thinning, and the monster's appearance came into view.
Long silver hair fluttered in the wind. Skin as pale as her hair, wearing a thin white dress completely unfit for the weather. Bare feet planted on the snow.
The small figure was female, and her resemblance to a human was terrifyingly accurate.
When our eyes met through her flowing hair — pale blue irises glowing faintly — a chill ran down my spine. They were unnervingly clear and devoid of focus, giving her an eerie, detached air.
Her energy was intense, but since she was humanoid, beheading her could very likely work. That had happened with several humanoid monsters during my pre-regression life — they'd been taken down with a cut to the neck.
Recalling that, I spoke to Ryu Sunghyun.
"Vice-Guildmaster, let's start by closing in and aiming for her neck. I'll continue purifying the area and look for other weaknesses—"
"N-No! Don't do that!"
Before I could finish, Jiwoon cut in frantically, snapping out of his daze.
"You can't kill her. She's not an enemy!"
"...What?"
Not an enemy? Didn't she just attack us? And more importantly — she's a monster. How can she not be an enemy?
"Urgh..."
Just then, a pained groan came from the monster. She clutched her face and staggered backward.
Frowning in visible pain, she looked at us. This time, through the gaps in her fingers, her eyes were focused — completely different from before.
"Ah..."
She looked at me and Ryu Sunghyun, then finally at Song Jiwoon. Her expression hardened, and she backed away, step by step.
The raging cold that had been slicing through the air faded instantly.
Even from afar, I could see how visibly shaken she was. Then, finally, she turned her back to us and ran. We saw her figure retreating into the snowstorm.
"Wait—"
"No!"
Just as I instinctively stepped forward — I'd caught a glimpse of something embedded in her forehead — Jiwoon blocked my path.
He hesitated, anguish plain on his face, and then spoke with a fading, fragile voice.
"Please... let her go. She's not... not a monster that needs to be killed. She's just... just..."
"......"
It was more of a plea than a request. Seeing Jiwoon beg like that, despite himself, left me feeling strangely heavy.
"...Understood."
The monster had already vanished.
I swallowed a sigh and looked to Ryu Sunghyun. He'd also picked up on Jiwoon's strange attitude and gave me a small nod.
I deactivated my skill and glanced around. Despite my Divine Power, traces of the battle remained everywhere.
Eunbok stood atop {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} a cracked slab of ground, letting out a pitiful myaooook.
Ryu Sunghyun wore a complicated expression, and Jiwoon's face was riddled with confusion and unease. There was much left unsaid between the three of us.
With a bitter heart, I said,
"...Let's go back for now."
The three of us returned to the mountain hermitage where Song Jiwoon had been staying. At the entrance, I gently set Eunbok down from my arms.
'God, I'm exhausted...'
Climbing a snow-covered mountain, nearly freezing to death midway, getting dragged into a monster encounter...
Sure, it was my own fault for secretly following Jiwoon to uncover his secret. But still — it had been hell.
"...Are you okay?"
Ryu Sunghyun asked quietly, clearly concerned.
Despite going through the same ordeal, he looked completely fine. More than fine, actually — his skin was practically glowing.
I scoffed and muttered,
"That buff earlier must've done wonders. You look incredibly fresh."
"Ahem."
We still had over an hour left on the two-hour buff. Ryu Sunghyun cleared his throat, embarrassed.
"Next time, just hold me properly. It's not a big deal. With how huge the effect difference is, it's a waste to just shake hands."
"Mm."
Honestly, I was totally open to Ryu Sunghyun getting more used to physical contact with me. That's how people grow closer, right? I smirked internally, full of evil little thoughts.
Before he could object again, I turned to Jiwoon.
"Mountain Keeper-nim."
"Yes."
"Could we speak for a bit? There are some things I want to tell you. And a few questions too."
"......"
"You're curious about us too, aren't you?"
Reluctantly, Jiwoon replied.
"Alright. But... can we rest for a little first? My head's still a mess..."
"Of course. Let me know when you're ready."
I gave him a bright smile to ease his tension and stepped back outside.
"Huh? Where are you going?"
As I tried to leave through the snowy door, Jiwoon reached out and grabbed my wrist in alarm. Ryu Sunghyun, standing nearby, quietly glanced down at my wrist being held.
"Even if I'm tired, I still have work to do."
I exaggerated a shrug.
"I'm going to purify the area."
Now that I knew how to dispel the cold, I wasn't going to waste the opportunity. No way was I leaving the place like this.
Leaving Jiwoon blinking behind me, I stepped outside and activated my Divine Power.
《Skill: Divine Power (S-rank) activated!》
《Holy energy surges through your body!》
I clasped my hands and offered a prayer, expanding the Divine Power even more broadly.
'I'm actually getting used to this.'
I hated doing it at first, but people really are creatures of adaptation. And this skill was far too useful to keep sealed away.
From where I stood, the white glow spread in a circle, melting snow and pushing away the dark clouds above.
As the thick clouds dispersed, bright blue sky and warm sunlight poured in. Moist soil glistened, and pale green sprouts emerged from bare branches and frozen ground.
Sprouts became grass, then flowers began to bloom.
Eunbok dashed out with excitement, gleefully weaving through the new greenery.
Song Jiwoon and Ryu Sunghyun stood side by side, quietly watching it all.
"......"
To Jiwoon, this felt like a miracle. Like a dream.
He had seen the same frozen landscape for over twenty years. He had never once imagined that the snow here could melt... that new life could grow in its place.
An unfamiliar flower swayed gently in the warm breeze.
Eunbok, curious, batted at the blossom with her paw. Beneath the lush green canopy, I watched her with a gentle smile.
Wings of white light unfurled from my back, and I stood with hands clasped in prayer — looking, to Jiwoon's eyes, like a being far too noble to approach.
After silently watching me for a while, Jiwoon asked Ryu Sunghyun with a difficult expression,
"...Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"...That supporter..."
He paused.
"You said you weren't... involved with him, right?"
"......"
Ryu Sunghyun's eyes darkened, his gaze growing cold.

Comments

Loading...