“How much longer are you planning on staying in your room?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked.

“...”

“Lee Ki-Young,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

“...”

‘Woo Hyo-Yeol, you bastard.’

“...”

‘You’ve grown stronger.’

The voice obviously belonged to Woo Hyo-Yeol. I had no idea what he had been doing over the past two days, but the fact that he came here made me feel certain that he had grown, or at least, he seemed to have matured.

‘He must be healthier than I thought.’

Obviously, there wasn’t anything that could bring him down.

Unlike Kim Hyun-Sung during the Doom Ki-Young incident, Raymond Bolt wasn’t an important figure in his eyes. Woo Hyo-Yeol considered Raymond a comrade, but they hadn't spent a lot of time together, so he obviously didn’t feel close to him.

He had seen many deaths in his first life, so it was possible that he considered Raymond's death as nothing but another death, but of course, Raymond's sacrifice wasn't in vain.

The incident was the perfect button for him to be attached to this party.

‘He’s got a sharper look now. When I first met him, his eyes were as dull as a dead fish.’

At one point, he had no faith in humanity, but he was recently in the “Leave this place and run” incident.

Actually, that wasn’t the only incident.

Lim Chae-Ryeong got hurt, and Nam Goong-Seon put on a dinner show by performing a self-sacrifice spell.

Everyone had done their best in their respective positions, and everyone went through the same danger.

I was sure everyone felt different emotions, but we all lost someone important, and the loss broke us. I was sure he had been watching the party members fall apart in real time.

Among them, I was probably the most pitiful, and the fact that he was here was proof of that. Despite barging in here, he was looking at me quietly.

I wanted to see how Woo Hyo-Yeol was looking at me right now, but I couldn’t look up at him. Guilt, remorse, and helplessness were raging inside me. The twenty-three-year-old Flower Ki-Young wanted to avoid him.

I was sure Woo Hyo-Yeol could feel that as well.

Moments later, I heard his voice. “Is this all you’ve got?”

“...”

“Was this all you were capable of?” Woo Hyo-Yeol questioned.

“...”

“Where did your arrogant attitude go? Do you know what you look like right now?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“...”

“I didn’t have any expectations, but you’re worse than I thought. You’re a complete mess,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

Based on the timing and his dialogue, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up leaving, but he frowned, got up quietly, and started acting cool. At this point, I had to say something, as there was only so much that could be done by staying silent.

I also had more than enough reason to be hostile toward him.

Abandoning Raymond Bolt was his idea, not mine.

Logically, I knew his decision was the best decision, but how could my heart make logical decisions? I just needed someone to blame. I spoke so coldly that I knew I was taking out my anger on Woo Hyo-Yeol instead of on myself.

“Why… are you here?” I asked.

“I came to get you. We can’t afford to waste any more time,” Woo Hyo-Yeol answered.

‘He’s right. Each day feels like it’s slipping away.’

“I-I…” I stuttered.

'Want to stop.'

You… You…” I said.

'I Killed grandfather.

“I…” I paused.

I hadn't done anything wrong. It was all your fault. It was such a cowardly and despicable feeling. Shameful and humiliating words hovered at my lips—they were too humiliating to even speak out.

Then, he spoke as if he wasn’t affected by it. “What’s your next plan? Do you plan on adding more people to the party?”

“Right now… That’s…” I mumbled.

‘Is that really something a human can say? It’s only been two days since Grandpa died.’

“We need to fill in the empty spot. Shouldn’t you be the one to recruit the right person for the party you created? That’s what you promised,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

‘How can I fill his spot when I’m still mourning for him?’

“Is that strange? You’re the one who said we didn’t have time, and you’re the one who convinced me that you're going to help me. I’m sure the old man won't be happy to see you falling apart like this,” Woo Hyo-Yeol continued.

“

Eek.

”

At this point, I decided to press the trigger button and imitate Ha-Yan.

“Don’t talk about him like that,” I warned.

“Am I wrong?” he questioned.

I was emotionally conflicted.

“I told you not to talk like that! Y-You know nothing!” I screamed.

'I have to be blunt. Take this!'

“You never had someone important to you, so you wouldn’t understand! How could you say…” I trailed off.

“...”

“...”

“You’re right. I don’t understand,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said in agreement.

“...”

“But I’m at least aware that you shouldn’t be here acting like this, and I know you shouldn’t be acting like this for the old man,” Woo Hyo-Yeol added.

“Someone like you… someone like you…” I mumbled.

“...”

“Leave,” I said.

“What?”

“I don’t want to talk to you right now, so leave,” I told him.

“Are you giving up?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked.

“I’m not giving up…” I answered.

“How pathetic. You think that old man saved you just so you could hide in here? An application form? Are you going to run just because you failed once? Don’t even think about spouting nonsense like providing support as a rearguard,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

“...”

“I asked if you’re going to abandon everything just for that reason,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

“It doesn’t concern you, so get out!” I yelled.

Woo Hyo-Yeol wasn’t a talkative person. He could have said something, but all he could do was make comments here and there. It was clear that he was having trouble figuring out how to persuade me.

He frowned and made a move. He grabbed me by the neck and tried to drag me out of my room.

“Let go of me!” I shouted.

Woo Hyo-Yeol basically dragged me outside without saying a word.

Then, I saw Lim Chae-Ryeong swing her dagger slowly.

‘Is this what you were trying to show me, Hyo-Yeol?’

“...”

“...”

Lim Chae-Ryeong was covered in sweat, and she could barely move, but she was still swinging her dagger. Despite the fact that she had just recovered, she had already dedicated herself to training.

She looked so desperate that I couldn’t find the words to describe her.

Perhaps she felt like not moving was unbearable…

‘It’s done, damn it.’

This was bound to work.

“You shouldn’t overdo it, Miss Lim Chae-Ryeong. For now, you should—”

“It’s rehabilitation training! All my injuries healed anyway.

Haa… haa…

And when will I get the chance to learn dagger techniques from the Flower and Fertility Familia? On top of that, it’s a one-on-one battle. Let’s train a little, please?” Lim Chae-Ryeong begged.

“No one does rehabilitation training two days after overcoming death, Miss Lim Chae-Ryeong,” said her trainer.

“

Ah

, whatever. This is the only time I can train. I still haven’t even mastered those dagger techniques… If I want to join the battle right away… I need to start working hard,” Lim Chae-Ryeong said.

“That's true, but you have your limits. What I’m trying to say is that you need to rest first,” they suggested.

I heard her talking to a ranger of the Flower and Fertility Familia. Although she always appeared cheerful and happy, a hint of distress clouded her face.

She was wearing the mask of a bright smile to hide her feelings, including what she felt about Raymond Bolt’s death. She was also regretful and helpless at the fact that she hadn't been able to do anything.

At this point, I had no choice but to change my attitude as well.

Woo Hyo-Yeol had to have realized that as well because he put me down.

“...”

“...”

Woo Hyo-Yeol walked away, and I had no choice but to follow him.

When we arrived, I saw Nam Goong-Seon, and surprisingly, I saw her holding a shield.

I was sure that was because Woo Hyo-Yeol had told her to learn shield techniques, but I was still surprised to see her doing stamina training. I was sure she had similar thoughts as Lim Chae-Ryeong's.

If I had been just a little bit stronger…

If I hadn't gotten exhausted…

If I had been more prepared, no one would have died…

Nam Goong-Seong was in a better condition than Lim Chae-Ryeong, and I could see that she was taking her training seriously.

She was clearly aware that there was no way she could learn everything in a short period of time, and it was proven by how she focused on stamina and shield technique training.

A Level 4 individual advancing into a Holy Knight seemed like a reasonable choice. Of course, she wasn’t a well-rounded adventurer like Ahn Ki-Mo. She had flaws as well, but she could probably fill some of the void that Raymond had left behind.

“...”

“...”

Even No Dam-Hye was practicing simple magic and working on her stamina.

As I expected, everyone was trying to move one step forward.

Woo Hyo-Yeol took a step forward as well.

I looked at him while moving cautiously so I wouldn't get caught by the other party members.

‘You called me to show me this, right?’

He wanted to show me this sight.

“I…”

Before I could say something, he started walking again.

I wondered whether there were more things he needed to show me, but I followed him anyway, and unlike the training hall Lim Chae-Ryeong and Nam Goong-Seon were using, I couldn’t see our destination despite walking for a long time.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“...”

“Where in the world… are we going right now?”I asked again.

Woo Hyo-Yeol stopped walking, and I saw children.

For a moment, I was confused, but they were definitely from the orphanage.

They were the children whom Raymond Bolt had been looking after for quite a while now.

“

Ah!

It’s hyung!”

“Hyung!”

“Oppa is here!”

The children ran toward me as if they were trying to stage a touching scene.

Obviously, I had no choice but to wait for the children to say

that line

.

“Where’s Grandpa? Where is he?” one of them asked.

'Guys… if you ask that, I’ll start getting emotional.'

‘Can I cry? That’s why you brought me here, right?’

I cried quietly and hugged the children tightly. I was sure this was supposed to be a touching scene. This scene would allow the wounded soul of the heartbroken to find the courage and motivation to move on.

I recalled Raymond Bolt’s story.

Just as he was going to retire as an adventurer, he met the children. When he felt like giving up, the children became his hope.

The same children were now standing in front of twenty-three-year-old Flower Ki-Young.

“

Heuk… heuuuk…

” I cried.

“Oppa… why are you crying? Don’t cry…” a little girl said.

“

Heuk… heuuuk… heuuuuuuuk…

” I continued crying.

“Don’t cryyy…

heung…

” the little girl cried.

“

Heuuuk…

” I sniffled.

“We’ll always be connected,” Woo Hyo-Yeol mumbled.

“

Heuuuk… heuuuuuk…

” I cried.

“Our connection will never break,” he added.

Those words were unlike him.