#26 #Regression #Inventory #The Next Day on the 7th Floor, Morning.
Jin So-yul filled her stomach and headed straight to the 7th floor.
The sight that greeted her was the outskirts of the village, different from before.
Sharp wooden stakes encircled the log palisade and fence, pointing outward. They reached about chest height for an adult.
Defensive structures absent on the 6th floor. Simple watchtowers had also been erected on the east and west sides—six-meter-tall structures offering a clear view in all directions.
Dangerous Night
📍 Objective: Defend Aritas Village on the Frontier for three days.
📍 Success: Repel night raids (0/3)
📍 Failure: Half or more village buildings destroyed (0/16)
Three days. Three night raids.
According to her memories, one on the second day, two in a row on the third. A protracted war in earnest.
Jin So-yul instinctively scanned the palisade. Woven from logs, it wouldn't fully withstand an orc charge.
But it could buy time. The watchtowers seemed sufficient for securing visibility.
The problem is the night.
Night raids meant reduced visibility.
She trusted her constellation, but she couldn't rely on it constantly. In fierce combat, a single lapse in attention could bring danger.
Especially since the raids intensified with each one.
"Come to think of it, no other constellations are showing interest. I figured there might be some interference."
"Did the Wandering Sand of Despair do something?"
Jin So-yul looked up at the air with a doubtful expression, and a message appeared.
[Wandering Sand of Despair nods.]
[It'll be fine for a while! Just trust me!]
Was this the power of the Wandering Sand of Despair she'd only heard about in the past? Jin So-yul felt a small sigh of relief as she moved forward.
"……Thank you, Constellation."
[Observer of the 0th Dimension expresses thanks.]
[Wandering Sand of Despair giggles hehe.]
Passing through the gate in the palisade, she entered the village. Villagers' gazes gathered then scattered. All wore uncertain expressions.
Reaching the Village Chief's house, the door opened. But what burst out was a small shadow.
Arms wide, it ran and hugged Jin So-yul's waist, burying its face. Her shoulders trembled. Finally, Jin So-yul whispered the girl's name.
"……Yerina?"
A muffled sensation seeped through her clothes. But Yerina didn't lift her head.
Probably tears. Moisture was gradually spreading across her skin.
[Observer of the 0th Dimension worries.]
Jin So-yul placed a hand on the child's head. So small.
Clearing a floor meant automatic exit—essentially vanishing without warning. On the last night of the 6th floor, Yerina had fallen asleep, and time ran out, so she disappeared from the village.
From the child's perspective, she woke to an empty spot beside her.
Jin So-yul bit her lip against the sudden ache, stroking Yerina's hair slowly.
The trembling shoulders gradually subsided. As she sighed softly in relief, the tap of a cane approached, and the Village Chief appeared.
"Traveler…… Thank goodness. We thought you'd vanished to some unknown place, something terrible had happened."
"……Sorry to worry you."
"No need. You've suffered more…… Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"After you left, that child……."
"……?"
"Yerina gathered the village kids and made them practice swordplay with sticks."
Jin So-yul's hand froze.
"She said she'd protect the village herself."
"……Protect it?"
"Karunda tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. Said if So-yul sister doesn't come, she has to do it…… We eventually let her be."
Her expression hardened.
A resolve not to flee from the encroaching threat, to protect, even if it meant wielding a stick.
In the past, Yerina rushing ahead was because she intended to fight from the start.
She hadn't noticed back then—how foolish, nine years ago.
Jin So-yul bit the inside of her lip. Blood seeped, but she added softly without showing it.
"……Thank you, Village Chief. For telling me."
"Nothing to thank. Without you, this village would have ended long ago."
"You protected it well."
"Heh…… This old man just huddled inside, trembling."
The Village Chief leaned on his cane and retreated.
A few villagers passing by whispered, finally noticing her and bowing their heads.
Yerina finally looked up. Her eyes were red and bloodshot.
"……Sister, don't disappear again."
"Sorry. I'll tell you next time."
"……Still."
A sniffle. Her small hand gripped Jin So-yul's hem tighter.
"This time, I'll be here for a full three days."
"……Really?"
"Really."
Yerina rubbed her eyes once more and tugged Jin So-yul's hand. Her tiny fingers barely clasped around it.
Without saying where, she led the way to the back of Karunda's smithy.
Near the fence in the empty lot, circular lines marked the ground.
Seven or eight sticks scattered about, more than half snapped or splintered in the center.
"I practiced here."
"……I see."
"But sticks don't work. Even swinging hard, they just break. They make noise, but useless."
"Because they're sticks."
"So next, I was gonna collect stones."
Jin So-yul knelt to Yerina's eye level, meeting her gaze.
"Yerina, this isn't your job."
"……I know."
She knew, yet picked up the stick.
Knew, yet gathered the children.
Knew, yet planned to collect stones.
No need to ask. The answer was right there.
"But no one's coming."
Jin So-yul fell silent.
Sister vanished overnight. Even after cleanup, orcs would return someday.
"Yerina."
"……Yeah."
"One more promise with sister?"
"What……?"
"When you're in danger, always shout sister's name loud. I'll come save you for sure."
"……."
Yerina stared long. Eyes probing—truthful? Really okay this time? Won't vanish again?
Jin So-yul didn't avert. It would be different now.
"……Promise?"
"Promise."
Jin So-yul stood. Yerina's hand clung to her sleeve, and they walked back to the village center together.
A closer look revealed changes. First, able-bodied men lined inside the palisade.
Twenty-one in total, armed basically with spears, wooden shields, sickles.
The militia.
Not this many before. Her actions on the 6th floor had butterfly effects.
The tower affirming her choices were right.
Yet it felt like it was saying to use them as hostages too.
As Jin So-yul shook off her thoughts, the young man at the front approached.
Solid build, but his grip on the spear shaft too tense—likely suppressing shakes.
"Traveler, long time no see. I'm Torn."
"Nice to meet you, Torn."
"We'll fight together. Protecting the village is our duty too."
She held back from asking if he wasn't scared.
Like Yerina with her stick and stones, they'd chosen to stand firm.
"……Thank you. But don't overdo it. Survival is priority."
"Yes, noted."
"Anyone with combat experience?"
Torn glanced over his group.
"……No. We've hunted, but proper combat is first for all of us."
"Then direct fighting is dangerous. I'll plan formations for night raids, so practice holding shields first."
"Understood, Traveler."
They repeatedly formed and broke clumsy lines.
Spear grips unstable, shield heights uneven.
How long since allies pledged to fight together? Maybe she just hadn't listened. Nine years solo, handling everything.
Jin So-yul called back the turning Torn.
"Torn."
"……Yes?"
"Thank you."
Torn shrugged, turning. "Thank me……?"
"Just……it's not easy. Might get hurt."
"Ah."
He paused, then added softly.
"……Truth is, I want to run right now."
Fleeting deep anxiety crossed his face. Natural—could die any moment. But brief; he laughed haha and continued.
"But you're helping. That's enough, isn't it? Worth risking our lives for."
"……."
"Take care of Yerina."
"Leave it to me."