Chapter 27
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Value of Potions (4)
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That Yoo Hee had already reached that level meant her senses were developing far faster than in the original story.
'Why?'
But a quicker progression here wasn't a bad thing at all, so I just smiled quietly.
It was practically the same as reducing the chances of her getting hurt.
"You came here because you were worried about me? Even in a situation like this?"
"Yeah. Hari seemed like she'd be all alone..."
"Man, you guys are too kind. Normally, people would run away first in a case like this."
At those words, Yoo Hee let out a hollow laugh for some reason, brushed her hair back, and sat down demurely next to my seat before whispering.
"I just... thought I couldn't leave you alone at a time like this."
I took a moment to steady my breath and spoke softly.
"Thanks. But right now it's urgent, so take this first."
Hee blinked as she accepted the potion pouch I handed her.
"Let's go to Han-seong."
"Ha, you."
"Han-seong came back yesterday with a scratch on his cheek, and it really bugged me. So I prepared this. Isn't it better to carry it in a pouch like this that attaches right to your body? I packed as many useful potions as I could. What do you think?"
Hee's golden eyes deepened as she looked at me.
"...Hari."
She said quietly.
"This is actually my first time with something like this."
"Huh? With what?"
"Something that's mine. A friend that's mine."
"Hee, you're popular."
"I am. But it's my first."
Yoo Hee chuckled lightly, as if to say more, then shook her head.
And then she spoke.
"Aren't you curious why I came running? It wasn't just worry. I got this feeling that things were getting dangerous. Like someone was trying to take you away. So I came without thinking twice."
I was surprised by her unexpectedly frank words.
But they were also words I couldn't ignore.
That Yoo Hee seemed to see me as one of her own was surprising enough, but the phrasing...
Someone trying to take me away?
Coming from a future S-rank, it didn't sound like mere anxiety.
"Actually, I came as the representative too. The dungeon's just showing signs for now, so we're still in observation mode with a bit of leeway."
"Representative?"
"Everyone else felt it too. The same feeling I had."
Was the apocalypse dungeon stimulating everyone's senses? That's weird.
I answered slowly.
"Hmm. I'm not the type to go through something like that, you know?"
My rank, my position—it was a double meaning.
"I know."
Hee replied immediately.
"I know, but it felt weird anyway. Once it hit me, I couldn't hold back. So I shook everyone off and came."
Shook everyone off? For a split second, I pictured the other kids' annoyed faces. As I smiled awkwardly, Hee beamed at me like an angel.
The tips of Hee's fingers brushed my wrist.
Those tiny fingertips felt strangely hot.
"Hee, I'll head to where you guys are soon, so can you take the prepared stuff first and distribute it?"
I changed the subject since time was short, and her darkening eyes cleared up again.
She nodded, lips curving up.
"Got it. Come as fast as you can."
"Yeah!"
And after sending her off.
I turned at the sound of footsteps, and silver eyes were quietly seeking me out.
It was Yoo Han-seong.
And in his hand was the practice potion bottle I'd given him earlier.
"Hari."
He said in a low voice.
"This."
He held up the potion.
"What the hell is this?"
His gaze was the deepest and sharpest it'd been all day.
"Didn't Hee tell you?"
"She did."
He stared at me intently, sighed, and extended his hand.
"It's dangerous, so let's get out first."
I grinned and finished packing the potion pouch before heading out.
Students were gathered in groups in the hallway.
The buzz stretched on endlessly.
Static crackled from the broadcast speakers, followed by the student affairs teacher's voice.
"Announcement to all students. After 6 p.m. today, refrain from going outside the school grounds. Anomalous reactions detected in the nearby mana terrain. Access to areas outside the dorms and main building is temporarily restricted."
The hallway fell silent for a moment, then erupted in noise.
"Whoa, is a dungeon about to break?"
"What about classes?"
"What about day students?"
I stepped aside toward the wall.
I see.
The school noticed too.
It was a slightly earlier announcement than the original route.
'Though the actual dungeon opening is a day later.'
The speaker continued with the student affairs teacher's voice.
"Your homeroom teachers will provide further details. Refrain from unnecessary movement from now on and only travel within the grounds at designated times."
The announcement was straightforward.
Hiding specifics, a tone to calm the students.
But with this, news articles would pop up soon.
I returned to class.
The classroom was already abuzz with talk of the announcement.
Hee had come to my seat and pulled my chair toward her.
"Hari, seriously, don't go outside the dorms."
"I won't."
I smiled as I said it.
"I don't go out much anyway. And right now, it doesn't seem like the time to worry about me."
Hee glanced at my face, then nodded.
Still, her expression said she wasn't fully reassured.
Just then, the homeroom teacher entered and rapped on the desk.
"Quiet. You all heard. Starting tonight, no one leaves the dorm buildings. Day students can only go home with parent consent verification; everyone else waits in the dorms."
The class let out a collective sigh.
I quietly folded the corner of my notebook.
Inside the dorms... not a bad spot to move around.
Lee Hae-sol said he'd stay today too.
During break, I turned on my phone and opened the portal site.
As expected, an article was at the top.
Something like [Nar Rin Academy Nearby Mana Terrain Unstable... Small Rift Detected].
Clicking it showed a faintly captured photo of the haloed sky.
Midway through, there was an analyst interview.
[Due to the characteristics of the halo zone, mental attack patterns from hidden monsters could manifest strongly. Intermediate and higher awakeners need to be cautious.]
I read that line again.
This is it.
As evening self-study ended, I spotted Yoo Han-seong talking with a few class reps at the end of the hall.
Seemed like he was getting info on group formations from the homeroom teacher.
I deliberately packed my bag slowly, timing my exit to overlap with them.
"Han-seong."
Yoo Han-seong turned.
His expression looked a bit less stiff than before.
"Yeah."
"Did you see that article from last night by any chance?"
I lightly shook my phone screen.
"What article?"
"Mana terrain destabilizing in various places... something about 'mental' attacks."
I said the word a bit vaguely on purpose.
Too precise would be suspicious.
"They say mental dungeons have broken before too. Is that what's happening with us?"
Yoo Han-seong looked at me briefly.
The screen light faintly reflected in his silver eyes.
"...We'll have to see."
"An F-rank like me wouldn't know."
I shrugged slightly.
"Comments on the article said the fog keeps splitting, and people are collapsing from hallucinations and trauma or whatever. There were pics from old incidents too."
At that, Yoo Han-seong's face subtly hardened.
The kids who'd recently formed a temporary party with him—all future S-rank party members—were all ears to our conversation.
"Old incidents?"
"Yeah. I don't remember well, but... something kept whispering in the fog, like visions."
I forced a light laugh.
"Could be exaggerated, of course. That was during the S-rank halo dungeon too. Still feels off, though."
As I said it, I angled my phone screen a bit more toward him.
I confirmed he quickly skimmed a few lines of the article, then turned off the screen right away.
Holding it too long might raise suspicion.
Yoo Han-seong, knowing as a regressor that this halo dungeon would turn S-rank, fell silent for a moment.
Then he gave me a complicated look, nodded, and asked.
"Send me the link too."
"Sure."
I replied naturally.
"Just sharing 'cause it's scary..."
He nodded ever so slightly.
That was enough.
I gave a light greeting and headed down the stairs first.
'The school will use the students' resources again this time.'
Not all irregularly formed dungeons were dangerous, especially ones popping up in safe zones like this, which were often low-rank.
'That's why the damage was so bad in the original.'