The Thin Black Wall
It was a thin, thin black wall. Or perhaps it was closer to a wooden plank. Like a single sheet of A4 paper stuck to a transparent wall—an utterly mysterious magic whose true nature I couldn't fathom. It was definitely something I had done, yet the sensation I felt now was best described as "it doesn't feel real."
- Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!
"…"
The sight of that massive dragon screaming right in front of me, its once-solid tail now broken, didn't feel real at all. Did I… really do that?
As if in a dream, I began running toward the screaming dragon. One strike to the spot where its scales had fallen away, then two more as I punched away the tail flying toward me. With just those two blows, the tide of battle turned in an instant.
- Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"…"
The monster's ear-splitting scream was drowned out by the erupting roar of the crowd. An enormous sound that pounded against my eardrums until they felt ready to tear. It was the thunderous cry of a massive audience, louder than anything I'd ever heard in my life—so loud it made my head ache.
I lightly dodged the now-slowed creature's attacks and put my entire body weight behind my right fist.
"Hup…!!!"
A sharp inhale that filled my entire body with tension, starting from my core. The monster struggled weakly in resistance. It was proof that the momentum had already shifted heavily toward one human. Even an ordinary person's attack could now land properly.
I felt the strange sensation of its bones breaking beneath my fist. Watching the intense life force fade from its yellow pupils, I felt the reality of it with my entire body.
(I… won.)
Level has reached its limit. No further level-ups possible.
Quest complete. Combat mode terminated.
Adjustment complete. Good work.
The objective was accomplished. I survived. There were mountains of questions I wanted to ask, but after that single line about combat mode ending, it remained silent no matter what I said.
After the fierce battle, I lay on the hospital bed with a dazed expression, thinking.
(The quest is complete… I defeated the monster.)
(But why? Why couldn't I level up this time…?)
"…"
As if possessed, I retraced my fading memories. Come to think of it… hadn't it said the same thing the day I fought Silver Fang?
"Level has reached its limit."
I'm pretty sure that's what it said. Of course, I hadn't paid much attention back then because everything was so chaotic, but now that I'd confirmed it again today, it seemed certain I could no longer level up.
"…"
(A limit… huh.)
(If I've truly reached a limit and can't grow anymore…)
(In other words, if I surpass that limit, does that mean I can level up again?)
The questions—unanswered mysteries about this inexplicable phenomenon—kept tormenting me relentlessly. Forget all that… what did "reached its limit" even mean in the first place?
(Does it mean my vessel is too small…?)
(Or does it mean I've reached the pinnacle?)
In games, the state where you can't level up anymore is called max level… Of course, reality isn't a game, but if you truly can't get any stronger, that could also be considered a kind of limit, right? Even as I thought it, it sounded like sophistry… Still, it was better than thinking my vessel was too small…
I tried to rationalize it that way, but a corner of my heart remained unsettled.
(The quest… what even is a quest in the first place? What happens if I don't do it?)
(Didn't it say it was proof that God favored me?)
(Then why is it forcing me into such dangerous situations today?)
(What was that "adjustment" today? What exactly did it adjust…?)
Ah… damn it. My head hurt from all these thoughts, and my face unconsciously twisted in pain. Suddenly, a soft hand gently caressed me.
"Your head… #$#@…"
"Photo… #@#… I'll treat it a bit more…"
"…"
What was she saying? It was the otherworld language, so I couldn't understand a word. Still, it felt nice having a pretty person touching me all over. As if entranced, I looked at the doctor… and noticing her long ears, wondered if she was an elf. She seemed a bit too gentle for an elf… maybe a half-elf?
Just as I grew curious about her race, a sharp voice cut between us.
"Ahem…!!!"
"The photo showed a mild concussion. So she's treating you now."
"Huh? Oh… I see?"
"…"
Those eyes were fierce. It was the first time in a long while I'd seen eyes so full of jealousy. Thanks to that, I was forced to stare at the ceiling again. But more than that, this… the hand-stroking thing—could she maybe not do that? It felt good having a pretty otherworlder touch me, but with my cohabitant right there, I felt like I was lying on a bed of thorns instead of a hospital bed.
"Hey, Elphy. Does she really have to keep stroking like that?"
"You need treatment… Priest hands are healing hands, after all."
"…"
I… see. Then could you please stop glaring at me with those eyes? The red eyes watching the doctor and me from right beside us were far too sharp. Both the patient lying down and the doctor sitting beside seemed equally uncomfortable.
"… What? Is it already over?"
"Why? Did you want the pretty elf to touch you more?"
"No… it's not that… Didn't they say it would take about an hour?"
"I gave a generous estimate of one hour. And they said no drinking or smoking for a while. Got it?"
"…"
Oh… okay. I see… In that case, tell the doctor thank you. With an awkward smile, I alternated glances between the doctor and Elphy… What the hell had this guy said? The doctor looked at me like I was trash and left without even saying goodbye.
"… Hey. You actually told her thank you, right?"
"Yeah."
"…"
Elphy's single word was strangely stiff. A heavy atmosphere, quite different from before, began to fill the narrow curtain space. I instinctively sensed that my gratitude hadn't been properly conveyed.
"Hey."
"… Huh?"
"Was it nice? Having another woman touch you?"
"No… this was just treatment… right?"
"Liar… I saw you grinning the whole time in real time."
"…?"
Me? I grinned? That couldn't be right. I told her I'd never thought about any woman other than her. I lied while trying to maintain the most poker face possible… when this guy suddenly shoved her hand into my pants and grabbed my dick tightly.
"A… Aaaagh!!! Wh… what… what are you doing?"
"Checking whether it got bigger or not."
"…"
Crazy bitch… No… I'm not that kind of guy, right? I tried to make excuses while keeping a blank expression… When the hell had she taken that photo? She must've used a silent app, because I hadn't noticed… In the screen, I looked pretty damn happy.
"At this rate, if you end up going to urology, you'll probably have sex while you're there too, huh?"
"No… sex? You don't believe me?"
"I don't…!! You said you wouldn't take a single hit today and win…"
What am I supposed to do if you come back looking like a rag? Seeing her eyes grow moist as she looked at me suddenly made me feel like a criminal… Ha… Yeah, I'm sorry. Sorry. I won't do it again next time, okay? It couldn't be helped. I didn't do it because I wanted to. I patted my slave to comfort her.
"You won't push yourself anymore, right?"
"Yeah… I won't."
"How's your body? How do you feel?"
"Uh… I really thought I was gonna die when I first got here… but now I'm feeling better."
"That's a relief… I was worried because they said you had cracked ribs and a mild concussion…"
"The doctor said not to move too much for a while… Since it's held together with magic, rough movement might make it come undone."
"…"
Held together with magic… In modern medicine terms, was it similar to stitches? I didn't know the details, but it was really impressive that just forty minutes of massaging could heal me this much… If I said that, Elphy would probably feel hurt, so I should just pat her without saying anything. As I stroked Elphy like that… By the way, what about the medical bills? Did they have insurance here?
"Money? The arena side is covering everything."
"Really? That's a relief, then…"
"What about our promise? Are we calling it off because you're hurt?"
"No… If I can go, I should go. What… do I need to be hospitalized for treatment?"
"It'd be good if you did… but they said as long as you don't move too roughly, resting at home would be fine…"
"Really? Then I should get discharged. What time is it now?"
As soon as we left the hospital, I heard there were countless interview requests, but I ignored them all and slipped out the back door without anyone noticing, taking only the twenty million won I'd won from betting. I didn't particularly want to become famous… and more than anything, since my cohabitant was a demon, I figured it wouldn't do any good to get caught up in rumors.
"By the way, how do I return these knuckles…?"
"Huh? Oh, don't worry about that. The old man said if you won, he'd just give them to you for free."
"The old man bet on you too. He said he'd cover the weapon cost with the ten million you won from betting on yourself."
"…"
I see. It felt like I'd been ripped off a bit… but well, it wasn't a bad deal for either side… Elphy and I packed the knuckles into the bag and strolled out onto the streets of Ferid. Watching the setting sunlight filter down in neat rows and columns, I made a phone call.
- Hello?-
"Oh, yeah. Minhyuk… It's nothing, I might be a bit late."
- Take your time.
"Yeah, but I can't really drink today."
- Huh? Why's that?
"Just… I got hurt somehow… So I'll buy the drinks."
- What? B… but…
"Don't worry. Elphy will drink all my share."
"I'll probably be about thirty minutes late, so order whatever and eat first."
- W… wait a second, hyung?-
Hyung…
"…"
"What'd he say?"
"He said okay, he'll save us seats and eat first, so take your time."
"You shouldn't drink too much today either. Take it easy, got it?"
"Yeah…!!"