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Chapter 168

“……”

“……”

Silence enveloped the room.

It wasn’t a pleasant quiet; it was awkward and uncomfortable.

Just a moment ago, I had blinked as if my unseen eyes were functioning for once.

Lately, I had been opening and closing them quite a bit, but I still preferred keeping them shut.

That was how shocking Lee Ji-yeon’s appearance was right now.

Her brown hair was a complete mess, making her look like a new house.

Dark shadows under her eyes made her look like a panda, and her face was pale enough to resemble a corpse.

If I asked ten people, everyone would agree that her face looked like she’d collapse any moment…

Across from me, Lee Ji-yeon seemed bewildered, as if she had done something terribly wrong, constantly glancing my way.

I was utterly flabbergasted by her reaction.

After all, the last time we met was in China during that emergency situation, and it was a quick encounter—what could I have done wrong?

Even now, as I retraced my memories, there was nothing that would make us blush.

We had acted cool and rational given the circumstances.

“Your condition…”

Lee Ji-yeon’s tightly shut mouth finally opened.

She seemed to struggle to speak, her words stumbling but barely managing to continue.

“Your condition, is it… no, I’m sorry! That’s not what I meant…”

Her words trailed off.

She muttered to herself before panicking and waving her arms around.

[I’m fine]

[Ah]

[Come to think of it, your wounds seem to have healed, right?]

[I’m glad you’re safe… I mean]

I thought it was an okay topic, but Lee Ji-yeon’s expression darkened immediately.

Just a moment ago, it was a gray sky with clouds, but now it felt like a thunderstorm was about to erupt.

‘Oh dear.’

Did I say something wrong?

Was it a mistake? At the same time, Lee Ji-yeon’s lips trembled as she spoke.

“…I’m really sorry.”

[Huh?]

Suddenly?

As if confused by my reaction, she finally lifted her gaze from the floor, which she had been avoiding.

Her dark green eyes calmly reflected my figure but then started trembling as if an earthquake had hit.

…My appearance?

‘Oh.’

I suddenly shifted my legs. My stubby legs didn’t even touch the ground.

Thinking about it, my current appearance was quite different from what Lee Ji-yeon last saw.

Back then, my hair was bizarrely mixed with white and black like an animal shedding fur, but now it was completely white.

Not to mention, my body seemed to have somehow aged down.

I wasn’t in a normal state either.

“At that time, I abandoned you and ran away. Just to save myself, I turned my back, scared…”

Lee Ji-yeon continued to ramble, her words disorganized and trembling.

It seemed like she felt guilty for leaving me behind in China.

“I shouldn’t have run… I should’ve died alongside you… But because of me…”

Was her current haggard look due to the mental turmoil she was in? Lee Ji-yeon was desperately apologizing and blaming herself.

That made me recall the original story.

Lee Ji-yeon.

The eldest daughter of Lee Jia, the 11th head of the Taesan Clan.

The selected heir of the Taesan Clan and its manifestation user.

She was the next head of the Taesan Clan, which produces a large quantity of artificial elixir ingredients.

From a young age, she had been raised on elixirs and received high-quality early education through accumulated ancestral knowledge.

Her talent was outstanding, and she had excelled enough to enter Shio-ram as the top student.

Even now, she maintained a sharply increasing growth trajectory, a future divine being.

She had a background that was lackluster.

Even if you lined up all humans in this world, she would be at the very top like a jewel-encrusted spoon.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… because of me…”

Contrary to that background, Lee Ji-yeon’s mental state was unhealthy, marked by inferiority complex.

In the original, the emotional states displayed when building rapport with her were always “hard exterior, soft interior,” “feelings of inadequacy,” “inferiority complex,” and “jealousy.”

Considering that one of the characteristics of the Taesan’s manifestation user was the middle path of emotions, it was a very peculiar type.

It might seem ridiculous, but when considering Lee Ji-yeon’s surrounding environment, it wasn’t hard to understand.

Moreover, it wasn’t an impossible flaw to overcome.

If she could resolve that crushed self-esteem, Lee Ji-yeon would truly become a reliable and devoted ally.

That was also true in the first playthrough.

In the first playthrough, while chasing after all sorts of subplots, I had also built a strong bond with Lee Ji-yeon and recorded a very high favorability.

Thanks to that, she remained by my side until right before the end of the first playthrough, being one of the comrades who protected me.

[It’s alright]

[Really, it’s okay… don’t worry about it…]

But I had no skill to resolve Lee Ji-yeon’s inferiority complex…

Lee Ji-yeon was so absorbed in her guilt that the surroundings felt somber.

Thank goodness this was a private room on the upper floor of a café; if we were in the open space of the first floor, troublesome rumors would have floated around…

[Just try not to hurt yourself that much]

[Even now, I don’t regret the choice I made back then]

[Thanks to you, many people survived, right?]

[I’m also in a position that received help]

I spoke as coherently as possible to comfort her.

I didn’t mean to be rude, but Lee Ji-yeon’s state seemed very dangerous…

[In the end, I’m alive and so are you…]

[Don’t worry about this state]

[It won’t be long before things go back to normal]

I wondered if my efforts had actually worked. Gradually, a light began to return to Lee Ji-yeon’s once dead fish eyes.

‘…This is hard…’

I swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly.

For someone lacking eloquence like me, this was a tremendous ordeal…

.

.

.

A little while later.

Lee Ji-yeon seemed to have calmed her emotions, sipping on her coffee.

Her face had slightly reddened, perhaps realizing her earlier behavior was embarrassing.

She hesitantly opened a necklace that had been tightly closed.

[…That]

[Are you okay, Senior?]

‘Uh…’

The confession necklace clicked shut.

I only realized the question sounded weird after that stiff voice came out.

She asked if I was okay, but even a cursory glance deemed Lee Ji-yeon absolutely not okay…

“Ah… Thank you for worrying about me. But I’m okay. The wounds have long healed… I just didn’t sleep well, that’s all…”

Ahaha… Lee Ji-yeon awkwardly smiled, lifting her lips.

“The perception ability is quite amazing. Usually, it’s not that precise…”

Her smile that seemed to reassure me paired with her not-okay-at-all complexion created a notably haggard impression.

Not realizing this, Lee Ji-yeon continued to suck on her straw, sipping the coffee.

‘If you can’t sleep, why are you drinking coffee…?’

I instinctively made a face as I observed the scene.

In front of her table lay numerous plastic cups, all emptied.

Superhuman physique. Considering she was a manifestation user of the Taesan Clan, the effects might vary, but even so, downing coffee like this was an apt description.

The amount someone unable to sleep would consume was definitely not this much…

But given the atmosphere, I swallowed the question back and sipped my own drink through a straw.

A cold liquid filled my mouth.

It wasn’t coffee; it was orange juice. I wanted to ask why it wasn’t coffee, but I swallowed that question too.

Instead, I got straight to the point.

[Did you see the application email?]

[I sent it earlier…]

“Ah! Yes, I checked it. That’s also why I wanted to meet…”

Lee Ji-yeon’s words trailed off.

Her strange reaction made me tilt my head.

[Do you already have someone in mind?]

“Oh no, I was thinking of you, Lee Ha-yul, as well.”

At that moment, my expression brightened. I had been worried she might refuse, yet it seemed she was considering me as well.

“However, I’m a bit worried…”

[Huh? What do you mean worried?]

“Well… honestly, I feel like there’s not much I can teach you…”

Lee Ji-yeon rolled her eyes and slowly sipped her coffee.

“Judging from what I saw in China, I think you’re far superior to me…”

‘Hmm…’

I made a strange face at her words.

She thinks I’m superior…

There are various aspects, but in terms of combat, I definitely wouldn’t lose.

Not arrogance, but a somewhat calm judgment led me to believe that.

When my basic skills were lacking, it didn’t show, but now that they’ve improved, the diversity of my means began to shine.

With the unique ability of being a Jack of All Trades and magic affinity…

I was learning and mastering magic manipulation, strengthening techniques, combat techniques, magic, and spirit techniques…

And the expansions of these abilities allowed me to replicate various skills and unique abilities with different attributes…

The powers of observation and spatial powers…

Along with durability stat corrections from the proof of protection attached to my left arm and power of protection…

Not to mention, the wings of the sky had vastly improved applications…

I had so many tools at hand. Hitting weaknesses was easy, and I had numerous ways to nullify my opponent’s attacks.

If I hadn’t urgently pulled up my unique poison resistance against the dual-headed dragon, I would have been dead for sure.

While there are many means to teach beyond mere strength, it’s mostly about battling in Shio-ram, where everyone aims to be heroes.

It wouldn’t be odd if Lee Ji-yeon had such thoughts after catching a glimpse of my battle with the dual-headed dragon.

[Thanks for the compliments, but please don’t say that]

[You have so much for me to learn from you]

“…Is that so? Can you give me an example?”

[There’s so much that it’s really hard to list them all]

[But if I had to pick one, I could experience your unique ability]

“Taesan, I see…”

I managed to squeeze out a response somehow.

Lee Ji-yeon nodded, seemingly convinced but suddenly flinched at the mention of wanting to experience Taesan.

‘?’

She seemed to think for a moment before cautiously glancing my way and asking.

“Taesan… you’ve experienced it before, right? How was it?”

[Yes]

[It was an incredible unique ability]

[Thanks to you helping me back then, I could retain my stamina safely]

It wasn’t flattery.

At that time, I was preparing to become spiritual while fleeing the dual-headed dragon, and Lee Ji-yeon held up time for me.

If she hadn’t been there… the preparation process would have been far more complicated.

[Thank you]

“Oh no, thank you… rather, I owe you ten thousand times…”

[I’ve also received plenty of help]

[Did you see it?]

[The pit where the dual-headed dragon had died]

“Yes… I went to see it directly…”

[Thanks to your quick judgment, we succeeded]

[If there had been people nearby, I might have had to self-destruct—]

“What, what did you say? Self-destruct… self-destruct!?”

Lee Ji-yeon’s eyes widened in astonishment.

‘Oh.’

For a moment, my head stopped in shock at her reaction.

Thinking back, my word choice was a bit hasty.

Self-destruction. I didn’t mean it in that way, but… I mean, it was that kind of mindset, but I certainly didn’t want to die…

My cluttered brain hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.

[…No? What do you mean self-destruct? What are you talking about…]

“Self-self-destruct…”

I couldn’t salvage it.

Lee Ji-yeon’s mouth hung agape. From her expression escaped a sound suffused with despair and guilt.

The light that had been returning to her eyes was once again darkened.

‘Damn it.’

[Shit.]

The confession necklace clicked shut.


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