Chapter 70: True Salvation

After that, it was truly a sweeping advance... or whatever you call it. Ah, speaking of bamboo shoots makes me crave chicken porridge. The one Han Yuseol made last time was so delicious.

Putting aside the weird talk. Ryu Sea-ah, having successfully rescued Kim Chaerin, didn't rest and immediately headed into another gate.

The item she'd given me played a huge role.

"Use Time Pendant."

"Yes."

Using the item I'd received then, she reset her skill cooldowns and immediately activated the army translocation skill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠again, sending Ryu Sea-ah back into the gate.

Every time she activated the skill, my heart trembled so much.

Fortunately, Kim Chaerin was safe... well, I couldn't say that exactly, but she'd survived by luck. There was no guarantee for the others.

"Haa... I'm back. Hayang, please send me to the next gate right away."

"Y-Yes!"

But every time the skill activated, the same message popped up as before. While I felt relief, sending the exhausted Ryu Sea-ah back in alone still made my heart race.

Was it because she was an S-grade hunter through and through? Even clearing gates solo and looking a bit worn out, she always successfully rescued her guildmates and returned to us.

And finally, the moment the item Ryu Sea-ah had given me shattered, I felt like we'd crossed a massive hurdle and could finally relax.

"Um, Sea-ah. This..."

"It broke?"

"Yes."

"It's fine. I gave it to you expecting that. This child fulfilled its role until the end and met its end."

When I handed her the broken fragments, Ryu Sea-ah replied like that, but the bitterness that flashed across her face was clear enough for me to notice.

"Are you really okay? It seemed like something you treasured deeply."

"It'd be a lie to say it wasn't precious. It was my first legendary item, and one of the most important ones to me."

"Eh?"

It was that precious? Sure, Ryu Sea-ah was an amazing hunter, so a legendary item was valuable, but not something to risk her life over. For her to call it one of her most important items, there had to be more to it than just being her first legendary item.

Curious, I sneakily checked Ryu Sea-ah's status window.

As expected of an S-grade hunter, her stats were insane. Especially her agility, which was even higher than Han Yuseol's, even if the others were a bit lower.

But the peculiar thing was that, unlike any hunters I'd seen so far, all her skills except one had cooldowns.

Ah, was that why she'd worn that item? Even without using it, it reduced skill cooldowns by 30% constantly.

"Um, Sea-ah. Was the reason you used that item..."

"Oh, you caught on? You're quick."

No, actually, I saw it in your status window. I couldn't say that honestly, so I just smiled awkwardly.

Ryu Sea-ah smiled bitterly and explained.

"Truth is, most of my skills are active ones with short cooldowns. I got a ton of mileage out of that item's effect."

"I see. Most of mine are passives, so I wondered how useful it could be at most..."

"Same here. Mine are mostly passives too."

Han Yuseol and Jeong Yujin, who'd been listening quietly, nodded in understanding.

"Most are like that. I'm the unusual one. Before I got this item, it was a hassle. No big deal for trash mobs, but in boss fights, DPS is key, right? But the cooldowns kept me from dealing damage..."

Ah, got ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it. I totally understood. I didn't know what DPS was, but anyway, I really got it.

"Then I got this item. Felt like I owned the world..."

"You okay? Your performance might drop sharply from now on."

"Of course. What's more precious than family? That was the reason I got strong in the first place."

Ryu Sea-ah answered Jeong Yujin's question without hesitation. She glanced wistfully at the shattered item, then at her guildmates lying nearby, and soon smiled as if it was all fine. It was so cool.

That's why her guildmates trusted her so much.

"Hayang, time to..."

"Ah, right."

Now it was my turn with Jeong Yujin to head into the gate, but I was worried about the three unconscious ones and couldn't move.

Would they be okay? They still hadn't woken up. As I kept glancing worriedly at them,

"Ugh..."

"Ahh..."

"...? Hye-won! Seung-ah!"

The two grimaced and regained consciousness. Ryu Sea-ah rushed over to check on them as they struggled to sit up.

"Master, this is...?"

"What? The guild infirmary...?"

"Yes. The guild infirmary. You okay?"

Still confused, they looked back and forth between the surroundings and Ryu Sea-ah.

"Am... am I alive?"

"Me too... I thought it was over for sure, but at the end, Master flashed through like a life review..."

Realizing they were alive, they burst into tears.

"Thank you. Thank you...!"

"Waaah, I really thought I was dead..."

Ryu Sea-ah wasn't much different. Maybe because we were there, she tried to stay composed, but I saw her stealthily wipe away tears.

It was such a heartwarming scene that even I had to hold back my emotions.

Then Ryu Sea-ah turned her head slightly toward us and said,

"It wasn't me who saved you all. It was thanks to Hayang here."

"Th-that kid?"

"Ah...! Come to think of it, Master, how did you even get inside the gate?"

"That was thanks to her. So if you're grateful, thank her."

"Wha...?!"

I tried to stop them in a panic, but the three of them lunged at me faster than I could speak.

"Thank you! We'll repay this debt somehow!"

"You're the Sword Empress's little sister from the article, right?! You and your sister are both amazing..."

"N-No, you don't have to...! And I'm not that great..."

I might be a grand master, but being worshipped like this felt weird. Especially by people who weren't even my guildmates.

"By the way, why isn't Chaerin..."

Meanwhile, worried about Kim Chaerin who still hadn't gotten up, Ryu Sea-ah urgently called someone to bring her to the infirmary. For some reason, Kim Chaerin's condition looked even worse than before. I'd thought it was just blood loss earlier, but her face was turning blue, color draining away.

"Suyeon, why can't Chaerin get up? Is it the wound...?"

"No, not the wound. Seems like the illegal awakening drug's effects."

"B-But we just administered the antidote. Why...?"

"As you know, Guild Master, it's like diabetes meds. It delays symptoms but doesn't fully cure. Without long-term use, the aftermath might be too much for just the antidote..."

Ah... Sighs escaped everyone.

So we rescued her just to lose her? That was too despairing.

"M-Master..."

"Chaerin! You okay? Do you recognize me?"

"Sorry... You came to save me, and... this is it for me..."

"Don't say that! We'll save you somehow! Suyeon, bring every potion we have left!"

"...Yes."

She surely knew potions wouldn't work. That's why she walked away with that look in her eyes.

Yeah, if potions could fix it, Ryu Sea-ah would've healed her ages ago.

Was there really no way? Filled with regret, I desperately checked Kim Chaerin's status window, hoping to do something.

"...Huh?"

Then, the text at the bottom caught my eye.

Abnormal status? Then maybe...

Status window!

Yes! Maybe my skill could cure this?

Back in the deep gate, it definitely cleared abnormal statuses up to level 80. And after running tons of gates with Han Yuseol last time, it rose to B-rank, so maybe up to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠82 now!

Plus, unlike my unique skills, Army Translocation worked outside gates too. So Lion’s Roar should be the same, right? No experience outside, but worth a shot!

"Sea-ah, could you step aside for a sec? I'll give it a try."

"...Pardon?"

Han Yuseol pulled the dazed Ryu Sea-ah back, and I stepped forward, took a deep breath—

And leaped up, roaring fiercely like a lion.

"Raaargh!"

The familiar message appeared.

"Eh?"

Kim Chaerin, who could barely move her lips, opened her eyes wide and suddenly sat up perfectly fine.

I checked her status window just in case—the abnormal status was gone.

She confirmed it too.

"...I'm cured?"

She blinked her wide eyes blankly and looked at me. All eyes in the room turned to me at once.

Th-that stare is embarrassing...