"...Sorry. Because I cried... I wasted your time."
"What are you talking about? You must have been the one who had the hardest time in this situation."
"Hehe..."
Min Ha-yeon smiled brightly, wiping away the remaining tears from her eyes as she looked up at me.
The atmosphere had changed significantly.
It was different from just having a friendly and affectionate relationship.
It felt like a direct connection of trust between Min Ha-yeon and me.
And since we had overcome the frustrating situation, I also dropped the formalities and spoke comfortably.
'Good. It definitely feels like a lot of the frustration has disappeared now.'
[However, the most important problem has not been resolved.]
As Armonia said, outside the safe zone, three shock bees were still threatening us, circling around.
'What should I do? Should I just sweep them all away?'
Should I wipe them all out!?
Just kidding… No, let's stop here.
[I believe that if it's you, Suho, you can take down those three. However, I can't say for sure.]
If my mana runs out faster than expected and they don't die even with a strong hit, it'll be a headache.
The biggest problem is that if I run out of mana, even if I recover with Enel, I won't be able to control my body during that time.
[Suho, my recommendation is… why not increase your magical power?]
'My current level is 8…'
Armonia's recommendation would not only help break through the current situation but also be very beneficial for the future.
After all, my main strength right now is magic.
[Remaining Enel is 93,000. You can raise it to 11, but I don't recommend that. It would consume almost all of your Enel. I recommend safely raising it to 10 first.]
'If I raise it to 10, how much Enel will be left?'
[About 54,000 will remain.]
The rate of increase is no joke.
Starting at 100, consumption has already reached tens of thousands just by going past level 10.
'At this rate, reaching level 20 seems impossible.'
[After passing level 10, the rate of increase changes, but I'll explain that in detail later.]
'Okay~ Let's raise it to 10 first.'
Anyway, I've overcome regression, and there's no need to be stingy about increasing my abilities.
Moreover, magical power is a useful thing that increases both destructive power and mana.
It's currently my top lifetime asset.
'Let's try shooting once. I'll guide them with a weak shot near the safe zone.'
[I'll focus so that you can immediately recover from mana depletion. However, please use it carefully.]
'Okay, got it.'
As I was finishing my communication with Armonia, Min Ha-yeon spoke to me.
"How about… trying to use a blessing?"
"No, let's be more careful with that."
While the blessings I use are indispensable, Min Ha-yeon is different.
If we use up a necessary blessing here, and later find out it was useless and can't reset it?
Considering even the slightest possibility of a problem, we can't afford to waste Min Ha-yeon's blessings.
Even if we waste points and act recklessly, it's better to use blessings as carefully as possible.
"I have a good idea."
"...What is it?"
Min Ha-yeon was looking at me with a dissatisfied expression.
"First, I'll run away..."
"Are you kidding me? Hey! You did that last time too!"
Min Ha-yeon cut me off, flared up, grabbed my collar, and started shaking me.
From a distance, it might look like a lovers' quarrel, but the brain inside my skull was being shaken mercilessly like pudding.
I feel like throwing up...
"That, that was different from last time."
"Different my foot! Absolutely not!"
Min Ha-yeon shouted sharply, clutching my clothes, showing her determination not to let go.
What happened back then must have been something she never wanted to experience again.
But I explained the situation to her.
The magic that draws out my magical power to its maximum.
I wanted to test it.
But Min Ha-yeon kept insisting it was absolutely not okay.
The reason was...
"You lied last time too! Don't you remember?"
"..."
Min Ha-yeon, who remembered that time I bluffed, didn't trust my current actions either.
Even though I could have made a recovery potion, I sent the injured Min Ha-yeon away and lured them alone, something she couldn't forget.
Min Ha-yeon held onto me and spoke in a lowered tone.
"Don't do that… I really don't want to be separated from you like that."
"...Sorry. Then let's go together."
Actually, moving alone would have been much more convenient.
The reason is the maximum number of people who can enter a safe zone.
I haven't seen it yet, but Gekkosu mentioned that there are rare safe zones that only allow one person.
What if we're unlucky and the place we arrive at is a one-person safe zone?
If I shoot the strong hit and temporarily retire, Min Ha-yeon would have to run away alone.
But I don't want that.
But since we've already decided, we need a proper plan.
The nearest safe zone was about 50 meters away.
"Ha-yeon, can you hit them with an arrow from your current line of sight?"
"Hmm… I can hit them, but it won't do any good."
Min Ha-yeon explained that even after drinking Artemis' potion and shooting an arrow with full concentration during the day, she couldn't deal any damage.
Moreover, the only light sources now are the safe zone and moonlight.
Not only would accuracy be an issue, but poorly shot arrows would deal less damage than usual.
"Then let's try my magic first."
"Okay."
***
Seong Suho explained the plan.
The plan was simple. Run to the next safe zone and test Seong Suho's magic there.
Min Ha-yeon was puzzled.
"Why not just go out for a moment, shoot, and come back in?"
Min Ha-yeon's words made sense.
Was there really a need to run away?
Seong Suho explained the reasons step by step.
"It's different from usual shooting. It takes some time to shoot, and after shooting, it takes about 5 seconds to regain consciousness."
"Ah..."
Seong Suho explained that while taking time to shoot and fumbling outside, the shock bees could shoot their stingers, sending us straight to the afterlife.
So, the core of the plan was to create distance by running away, have Seong Suho aim, and have Min Ha-yeon cover in case of unexpected situations.
Seong Suho was worried that the safe zone in sight might be a one-person safe zone.
"Still, it seems better to act alone."
"No! We must go together. If it's a one-person safe zone, I'll find a way to escape. And if the magic works, we really have a chance."
Min Ha-yeon hoped that if Seong Suho's magic could deliver a fatal blow to the shock bees, they could clear it later if not now.
"And even if my arrows can't deal damage, they can still be used to restrain them."
"Okay. Let's do that."
By the time the two finished their conversation, there were about 15 minutes left in the safe zone.
Min Ha-yeon, relieved by my words to go together, linked arms with me and made a bitter expression.
"Isn't it strange? We just met, but a girl like me clinging to you..."
"No, not at all. I'm actually grateful."
"..."
"I thought regression was all good, but it wasn't. If my memories disappear like this again, keep telling me. I'll try my best to trust you until the end."
"...Why do you believe my words so easily?"
Min Ha-yeon looked at Seong Suho with a doubtful expression.
From Min Ha-yeon's perspective, Seong Suho was someone she hadn't known for long.
For Seong Suho to accept and understand her confession so easily was bound to raise doubts.
Seong Suho spoke honestly to her.
"I believe in those who trust and rely on me. That's all."
"...Hehe."
Min Ha-yeon, feeling good, hugged Seong Suho's arm tighter.
She thought to herself.
'There was a reason I liked this guy.'
A man she approached for his abilities had somehow stolen her heart.
Until now, she couldn't quite pinpoint the reason.
But now, she vaguely understood the feelings she had.
'How could I not like someone who trusts me so much?'
Min Ha-yeon smiled brightly and said to Seong Suho.
"Did you decide on that one request I asked for last time?"
"Ah… I haven't decided on anything specific."
Min Ha-yeon chuckled at the sight.
'If I leave him like this, he'll probably never use it.'
Even though she offered to grant one request, Seong Suho didn't seem to have any desires.
If they were closer, she might have made a mischievous request as a joke, but they weren't at that stage yet.
'I need to be a bit more forceful.'
Min Ha-yeon resolved herself and said to Seong Suho.
"This won't do. After the boss fight, you must make one request. Otherwise..."
"...?"
Min Ha-yeon raised her eyebrows and said.
"I'll decide on my own. Whether you like it or not."
"Haha..."
Seong Suho laughed hollowly and didn't respond.
After all, between a man and a woman, there's only one kind of request that can be made.
Not that Seong Suho would ask Min Ha-yeon for 'points.'
'...But it would be funny if I really asked for points.'
Even he found the thought ridiculous and laughed hollowly, wrapping his arm around Min Ha-yeon.
As time passed...
"Alright, let's get ready to go."
"Okay."
The two checked the remaining time in the safe zone and prepared themselves.
00:01 [2/2]
Min Ha-yeon took Artemis' potion just in case.
Seong Suho took out bullets from his pocket and prepared to shoot.
"First, I'll shoot a weak shot at those two over there. Ha-yeon, you keep the other one in check."
"Okay, got it."
"Let's go!"
With Seong Suho's shout, Min Ha-yeon stepped out of the safe zone and shot an arrow at one of the shock bees.
Fwish!
The arrow that hit the shock bee shattered easily, and the momentarily stunned shock bee flew towards Min Ha-yeon.
Bang!
With a tremendous gunshot, the shock bee flying towards Min Ha-yeon crashed to the ground and started flailing.
It was Seong Suho's magic.
But apart from being in pain, there were no visible external wounds.
Seong Suho shot bullets at the two approaching shock bees.
Bang! Bang!
"Let's go!"
"Okay."
Seong Suho grabbed Min Ha-yeon's arm and started running.
The dark forest made it hard to distinguish even the trees right in front of them, making escape difficult.
But the safe zone visible in the distance guided their path.
Whoooosh...
With the sound of propellers behind them, Seong Suho shouted.
"There!"
"Huh?"
But at Seong Suho's shout, Min Ha-yeon responded with a panicked expression.
There was someone in the safe zone.
"What the!? Don't come here!"
"Of all times..."
Seong Suho looked troubled as he saw Han Yeo-reum shouting at them from inside the safe zone.
Han Yeo-reum shouted at the two.
"This safe zone is for one person only! Go somewhere else quickly!"
"..."
Han Yeo-reum tried to drive Min Ha-yeon away, prioritizing his own survival even in a crisis.
As soon as Min Ha-yeon and Seong Suho arrived at the safe zone, they could see.
Min Ha-yeon urgently knocked on the safe zone's barrier and sighed deeply.
"Right. It really seems like only one person can enter..."
"..."
Seong Suho quietly pondered, then looked back.
The shock bees were almost upon them.
But apart from the approaching shock bees, Han Yeo-reum's condition wasn't good.
"Get lost!!"
"...?"
Min Ha-yeon could see why Han Yeo-reum was so agitated by looking at the time left in the safe zone.
00:01[1/1]
Only about a minute left.
"Let's go quickly! We'll get caught at this rate."
"Right."
Seong Suho agreed with Min Ha-yeon and immediately left the spot.
But as they left, a scream came from behind.
"Damn it!!"
Han Yeo-reum's safe zone disappeared, and he started chasing after us.
Min Ha-yeon glanced at Han Yeo-reum and thought.
'If Han Yeo-reum dies now, it'll be troublesome... We need to confirm if Suho's magic works at least once.'
Min Ha-yeon stopped running, turned around, and aimed her bow at the shock bee flying towards Han Yeo-reum.
But at that moment...
Whoosh!
Thud!
"Ahhh!!"
Something pierced through Min Ha-yeon's arm as she aimed her bow.
'Ouch! This, at a time like this!'
She immediately knew the source of the pain.
The shock bee's stinger.
Dazed by the pain, Min Ha-yeon watched Han Yeo-reum run past her and laughed hollowly.
'Why did I ever like someone like that?'
Whoooosh!!!
With a tremendous sandstorm.
The shock bee was thrusting its jaw towards her.
Even in the darkness, the bee's appearance was vividly clear, something she would never forget.
'Anyway, I'm going to die...'
Feeling death approaching, Min Ha-yeon tightly closed her eyes.
As soon as she closed her eyes, a sound of something cutting through the air.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
It was an incomprehensible sound.
'...?'
Min Ha-yeon slowly opened her eyes, and what she saw was...
"Are you okay?"
Seong Suho standing next to her, holding a bow.
***
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