Chapter 128
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 128: How to Set a Goal (2)
Kuuuuung-----!!
A fierce wind raged from the center. I could feel goosebumps rising despite the heat, due to the wind carrying an ominous warmth.
Geuoooo—!!!
The black mass finally took the form of a blazing flame. I looked at the hourglass in the room. 3 minutes left.
The black, burning flame slowly rose into the air and looked down. At the victim who had endured the curse, and at those struggling to remove it. At last, its hand rose violently and was about to strike down toward the center—
“You don't—!” The barrier of wind Choi Sujeong created blocked the attack.
Hwiiiing—!
The ominous flame was narrowly blocked by the rough wind. But the flame didn't go out and flared up again, as if to swallow the wind at any moment. But at that moment, Shin Baran's arrow shot toward the flame.
Kaang—!Geuooo—!!!
The arrow drew a line of light on the flame's body, wounding it. As if it was a solid hit, the flame wavered and turned toward Shin Baran.
“Pour it on! Nahyun, get ready!” Na Yuhan shouted, casting buffs on us. Choi Sujeong and Shin Baran attacked the curse without hesitation, pouring all their mana into their attacks. I slowly gathered mana into my Mana Bullet and converted it with the GAH Filter. Our plan was for the others to draw the curse's aggro and corner it into the smallest possible area, after which I would annihilate it in one blow with my LV10 Mana Bullet.
“Dodge! Shield of Protection!” Watching the three of them narrowly dodging the curse's attacks, I erased my presence and gathered mana.
Giiiiing—
I could feel the skill gradually strengthening as the mana gathered. The unique light of Holy attributemana slowly intensified, and I could feel the pressure on the gun barrel.
Giiiiiiing— 3,
“Damn it, we succeeded in cornering it…! For now, Shin Baran, focus on attacking so the aggro doesn't shift! Sunbae, help with defense and evasion!” “Got it!” 2,
“How much time is left?!” “1 minute 15 seconds! It’s still fine! More importantly, don't let it scatter!” 1.
“Kang Nahyun!” Taang—!
The shining bullet hit the curse, which was gathered in front of the Shield of Protection. The moment the bullet hit, the curse struggled, but it couldn't easily dodge in the confined space.
Geuoooo—!!!
The snipe was a clean success. A thrill ran through my fingertips as two-thirds of the curse's body was blown away. But...
“It's not enough…!” Unfortunately, the curse was still alive. Even an LV10 skill isn't enough?Damn it, if only I were a little stronger…!
It was somehow gathering its remaining one-third and moving. But, as if sensing the danger of maintaining its form, it soon split its body into countless, tiny flames and scattered. Na Yuhan shouted in an anxious voice. “Damn it, we don't have enough time for this…!”
“I'll try to gather them with wind!” Choi Sujeong tried to gather the scattering pieces with wind, but the embers, which had poor compatibility with her wind, only burned brighter as the wind touched them. If anything, they broke into even smaller embers and scattered further. There were too many for the snipers to shoot them one by one. Shin Baran was struggling, and so was I.
“How much time left?!” “30 seconds! Damn it…!” Choi Sujeong grit her teeth and whipped up the wind once more. But it was useless, just like before. Lee Hana was now limp, her complexion pale as a corpse. Choi Sujeong's expression crumpled wretchedly, and she cried out. “No, no, no…!”
“Sunbae.” At that moment. I watched the hourglass, its sand only falling, and gripped my gun again. It was to realize a certain resolve. “It’s okay.”
There was only a tiny bit of sand left in the hourglass. But I calmly looked at the window visible before me. Sunbae.I can cause miracles.So you don't have to cry like that.Because I'll make it so you all won't be in pain.
[Lee Hana’s curse is broken.] [50000 Points] [Purchase?]
But I don't have enough points to resolve the curse itself. In that case, what I have to do is—
[Lee Hana’s curse became one mass.] [500 Points] [Purchase?]
—A change to a small ‘step’ in the curse-cleansing process! Afraid something might go wrong, I carefully pressed the 'Purchase' button with my fingertip. And at that moment,
“What is this…!” The moment I used the ability given to me, Geuoooo—! The miracle occurred. The curse that had scattered in all directions, despite roaring and resisting, quickly gathered back into one.
“What?! What on earth…?! “This isn't the time for that! One more time!” Na Yuhan shouted. I bit my lip and gathered mana without a word. With a sharp gunshot, another bullet split the air.
Taang—!Geuoooo—!!!
And that was the last of it. The dark flame of the curse that had lingered in the magic circle slowly died out, as if it could no longer stay even within the magic circle. As the curse faded, the magic circle changed from pitch-black to red, and from red to blue.
“It’s done…!” The moment the magic circle turned completely blue, Nika muttered. At the same time, the magic circle, now blue, began to shine with an even fiercer light. The magic circle soon shone dazzlingly, enough to fill the room with light.
“What, what’s happening…!” “Is it a success?!” I heard Shin Baran and Na Yuhan shouting. They seemed flustered by the sudden event, but I faced the situation calmly. Because I already knew the result. The light slowly subsided. After all the radiance had faded. At last, Nika quietly took her hands off Lee Hana's stomach. An atmosphere, as if something was over. Choi Sujeong, holding her body that was trembling in fear, carefully opened her mouth. “What... happened?”
“It's done.” “What is?!” “I'm saying the curse-cleansing was successful. Look.” It was just as she said. Lee Hana looked as if she were sleeping, breathing softly with an infinitely peaceful complexion. The moment she heard the curse-cleansing was successful, the strength left Choi Sujeong’s legs, and she collapsed. Seeing this, Nika crossed her arms and said. “Now, she just needs to wake up and show she's fine. Regaining consciousness is the important part.”
“When do you think she'll wake up?” “I expect within about 3 minutes.” We carefully moved Lee Hana to the bed in Nika's room together. Nika grumbled quietly that she was lending it as a special favor, but Choi Sujeong, for now, had no energy to say anything to Nika and just nodded her head silently.
“What happened?!” “Is Sunbae okay…?” “Is everyone safe?” The three who had been camped outside also came in, and the room quickly became noisy. We gathered around the bed where Lee Hana lay, watching her with her eyes closed. Choi Sujeong flipped the hourglass over and stared at it anxiously. Tension and silence continued. As if the atmosphere in the room didn't matter, the hourglass calmly poured down, bringing anxiety to Choi Sujeong once again.
“Why is it taking so long?” “Hmm….” 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute... Time slowly passed, and just as Choi Sujeong's face crumpled,
“……” “Hana!” Lee Hana's eyes finally opened.
“...Sujeong?” “Yeah. It's me. Sujeong. Does it hurt anywhere? Anything strange? Is it okay now?” “Calm down.” Lee Hana hugged Choi Sujeong, who was clinging to her and streaming tears, and patted her.
“Thank goodness… I thought something terrible had happened…” “You worked hard. Thank you.” “I'm the one who's thankful….” Thank goodness. I didn't bother to hide the smile that spread across my face. Today was a day to be as happy as I wanted.
“What a relief!” “I know... it really is….” “Ah, but when it seemed like it was failing, something strange happened. What was that?” “Something strange?” “Yeah. Suddenly, the embers…” Na Yuri tilted her head, listening to Shin Baran. Na Yuhan, watching her, said quietly. “It's not that I can't guess. Right, Nahyun?”
“Ah… Come to think of it, there was your ability, Nahyun…!” I avoided the burdensome gazes falling on me and just smiled shyly. Choi Sujeong's intense gaze was particularly burdensome.
“...I'm going to buy a drink.” “I'll go with you.” “Ah, okay!” Na Yuhan followed me as I tried to escape the room.
...Come to think of it, this guy said he can see something when I use Story Twisting if he focuses with his Insight.Was he using Insight earlier? Was there anything suspicious? I didn't have time to read the Appearance Part right now, so I hid my wariness and smiled as naturally as possible. As we walked slowly to the vending machine at the end of the hall, we made small talk as if nothing was wrong. Am I worrying for nothing?
“Yuhan, you're getting a cola, right?” “And you're getting that drink with the coconut jelly?” “Hehe, yeah! You remembered? I'm happy!” I smiled brightly, my mind racing over what topic might come up and how to respond, but Na Yuhan didn't seem to want to bring anything up in particular. We soon reached the vending machine.
Whirr— Clank, Thud.
Come to think of it, being alone with this guy again reminds me of that 'non-virgin controversy'. In the silence, the drinks fell one by one into the dispenser. Thud, Thud.Ah, but thanks to him, my family is living well now, so I'm grateful for that....Should I repay him somehow?
Every time a drink fell, Na Yuhan wordlessly retrieved it. And the last drink. The moment my drink fell, a good idea popped into my head. “Yuhan.” “Yeah. What?” The various words I’d been worrying about recently flashed through my mind. ...'Lie'.'Non-virgin controversy'.'Orphanage', 'family', 'environment'.'Sunshine character'.... There were so many problems piled up in front of me. But— “You know. I’m just so glad that Sunbae is safe.” I just thought of a way to take care of all these worries at once!