Ryu Seo-ha’s long eyelashes lowered. Honestly, it felt sweeter than any temptation. He wanted to jump into those broad arms right away.

 

For him now, mana was the more the better. He wanted to spend all day embraced, watching his mana stat skyrocket with his own eyes.

 

“Thank you for saying that.”

 

But there was something he learned painfully during 5 years of life in the sealed zone. Excessive greed always brings disaster.

 

How many had met their demise by readily accepting kindness with unknown motives? But he couldn’t just ignore it either, so a compromise seemed necessary.

 

“Then, if I may be so bold, could I make one request?”

 

As he carefully added, Choi Gang-hu nodded generously. As if to say, tell me anything.

 

“I’d like you to hold my hand once a day.”

 

Although he said they could have as much contact as desired, realistically they couldn’t be together all day. That was impossible both practically and physically.

 

So it was better to move with a fixed schedule, setting the time, body part, and frequency. Since bare skin needed to touch directly, hands that could easily meet would be good. No need to embrace.

 

“Ha.”

 

Choi Gang-hu let out a short sigh. His sharp gaze turned slightly upward, seeming somewhat displeased. Did it feel too blatantly like drawing a line? Why was he acting this way? Someone who had avoided contact with others so much.

 

Even if he was experiencing mana increase too, it didn’t seem like he’d show such an active attitude just for that reason. His level and stats were already at unfathomably high levels. Looking up with a slightly tense expression, he shook his head.

 

“This feels like I’m being tamed.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Let’s do it.”

 

An affirmative answer flowed out readily. It was unexpected. Just seconds ago he had seemed not in a good mood. But now he was wearing a cheerful smile as if facing a beloved pet.

 

“Let’s start with that for now.”

 

Choi Gang-hu roughly brushed up his hair and abruptly held out his other hand. As Ryu Seo-ha stared blankly, pondering the words he had just heard, the large hand grasped his.

 

Mana 129

 

“So. Where were you going?”

 

Mana 133

 

As soon as their hands joined, the mana value started rising as if it had been waiting. Though he was happy every time a message popped up, it also felt unsettling to gain it so easily.

 

“I was going to gather something nutritious.”

 

“Where?”

 

“The building across. I saw some limestone chestnut vines a few hours ago.”

 

“Hmm, a plant-type monster active at night?”

 

Choi Gang-hu immediately guessed its identity just from hearing the name derived from the monster’s characteristics. It was possible because he thoroughly knew the habits of all kinds of monsters. As expected of someone who had wandered the Abyss for 300 years. In terms of field experience, he probably had more information than Ryu Seo-ha. No matter how clearly Ryu Seo-ha remembered the contents of a 10,000-page monster encyclopedia book, he hadn’t experienced it all.

 

“Yes. If you split the stem, edible fruit comes out.”

 

The limestone chestnut vine, a D-rank monster commonly found in dungeon-type ruins, contains strawberry-like fruit inside its thick stems. In the original work, Choi Gang-hu had mentioned it was even better than seasonal fruit.

 

“That’s quite edible.”

 

Looking down at Ryu Seo-ha with eyes that seemed amazed he knew such things, Choi Gang-hu adjusted his grip and smiled. Thinking how they communicated well despite their completely different backgrounds and experiences.

 

“Let’s go out together.”

 

Choi Gang-hu strode out of the lobby. Pulled by the force of their interlocked fingers, Ryu Seo-ha had no choice but to step out as well. The reddish sunset dyed them in warm light.

 

“Tell me right away if you get tired.”

 

His whispering voice was meltingly affectionate. It sounded somewhat uncharacteristically excited. Like a boy anticipating a date with his first love.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

Mana 207

 

The mana value had surpassed 200 before he knew it. It was truly a dizzying speed. To understand how ridiculous this situation was, one could compare it to the current world’s highest-level hunters.

 

Ten years ago, right after the Great Cataclysm, heroes from countries around the world awakened. They were now known to be around level 300. If they had evenly invested points in all stats, the average mana stat would be about 60.

 

Skill ‘Light of Healing’ is activated.

 

Ryu Seo-ha tried using the skill with subtle expectation inside.

 

Remaining lifespan: 28 days 13 hours 41 minutes

 

It was of no use. Even though the mana quantity far exceeded the world’s highest level, and the mana quality was rated S-grade.

 

Trait ‘Sanctification’ is activated.

 

Applies buff ‘Remove Status Ailments’ to designated target (caster himself).

 

Applies buff ‘Cure Disease’ to designated target (caster himself).

 

Wondering if it was because the skill level was low, he tried the trait, but

 

Remaining lifespan: 28 days 13 hours 40 minutes

 

The lifespan continued to decrease moment by moment. He felt surprisingly refreshed, but that was all.

 

“……”

 

Basically, the more comprehensive the system message’s explanation for skills and traits, the higher their potential is evaluated. In that sense, Ryu Seo-ha’s trait was truly a cheat-like ability.

 

Sanctification: Creates a safe zone imbued with holy power. Can nullify or amplify damage to targets in the designated area by consuming mana.

 

Damage nullification. A very broad concept. It was a word with wide room for interpretation that could include status ailment removal, injury and disease healing, mana and health recovery, application of various buffs, and so on. The same goes for damage amplification.

 

In other words, the failure of self-healing was not due to a lack in the ability itself. After much thought, the remaining lifespan issue didn’t seem to be caused by an ordinary disease or status ailment. Nevertheless, the remaining options were the same as before.

 

First, maximize the mana stat, trait proficiency, and skill level to attempt self-healing again.

 

Second, stake everything on obtaining the elixir.

 

Third, request treatment from the first-generation hunter who was the world’s only S-rank healer until just yesterday.

 

Each required physical contact with Choi Gang-hu, the dungeon conquest rights his guild would obtain, and the enormous annual salary that could be gained through a guild membership contract.

 

Of course, meeting another S-rank healer might be difficult to arrange. With treatment costs beyond imagination and an endless waitlist. He would put down a deposit first, but didn’t have high expectations.

 

“Haah.”

 

At a time when everyone except those on night watch was asleep, Ryu Seo-ha stepped out onto the outdoor terrace attached to the floor right above the banquet hall. With his trait [Sanctification] activated to only envelop his own body. He wanted to clear his head for a moment while getting some fresh air. As he was staring at the city shrouded in darkness, leaning on the railing,

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

Choi Gang-hu approached, deliberately making his presence known. Resting his arms on the railing right next to him, he asked as moonlight gently settled on his head.

 

“You should get plenty of sleep if we’re going to move tomorrow too.”

 

Choi Gang-hu whispered as if soothing a child throwing a bedtime tantrum, with a smile as soft as that moonlight. As he said, tomorrow they would have to move much more busily than today.

 

Thanks to the search-type hunters finding the dungeon core’s location earlier than expected. If they could just destroy that, everyone would be able to safely escape this place.

 

“I felt a bit stuffy.”

 

Was it because of the finite atmosphere created by the full moon? Ryu Seo-ha gave an honest answer without much thought. Choi Gang-hu looked down at him silently for a while.

 

Then suddenly he leapt onto the railing. It was a very light movement, like a feline predator. The hem of his dark blue long coat fluttered in the cold wind, obscuring the view.

 

Reflexively taking a couple steps back, Ryu Seo-ha saw Choi Gang-hu looking truly protagonist-like. An admirably handsome face and figure, relaxed and leisurely posture, his uniquely overwhelming presence. The branded shoes precariously standing on the railing gave a strangely stable feeling.

 

As he was just blankly staring, suddenly he felt hands grabbing him.

 

“…!”

 

He barely swallowed a scream. But with the dizzying sensation of falling that followed, he couldn’t help but reach out and tightly hug Choi Gang-hu’s neck.

 

With his face buried in the broad, firm chest, he clung to Choi Gang-hu with all his might. He felt a low laugh vibrating through, but had no capacity to care about such things.

 

“Do you have acrophobia?”

 

At the somehow endearing voice, he just shook his head.

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll never let you go.”

 

Well, of course. There’s no way he would drop him by mistake. Unless he got fed up and decided to throw him away. As the image of failing to please him came to mind, his eyelashes couldn’t help but tremble.

 

“Shh. Good boy. Open your eyes.”

 

Choi Gang-hu whispered, gently soothing him like calming a startled newborn. Ryu Seo-ha, having barely picked up his fallen heart, slowly raised his face that had been buried in the other’s chest.

 

Thinking they had fallen downwards, but it was the opposite – they were now floating at quite a high altitude. The sea of clouds spread out below, dyed by the dazzling moonlight, created a mystical feeling.

 

Above their heads, stardust so vivid it seemed about to pour down was scattered countless times. The river of light, in stark contrast to the dark sea that had fallen to the ground, was dazzlingly brilliant and majestic.

 

“Ah…”

 

Enough to make one forget all worries for a moment.

 

“A world free of civilization blooms with its own beauty.”

 

It was just as he said. As the lights on the ground disappeared, the lights of the heavens stretched out. The wonders of nature that one couldn’t even dare to taste, crushed by reality. The lofty flow of the Milky Way cleared his stuffy heart.

 

Is this why people go on trips? Now he felt he could understand the psychology of those who travel far to see scenery like the sea, desert, or aurora. If it was this heart-poundingly beautiful, it was no wonder people got addicted.

 

“You look even better when you smile.”

 

Only after hearing Choi Gang-hu’s words did Ryu Seo-ha realize the smile that had spread across his face. His upper body, pressed tightly against the other’s, was pounding.

 

The two hearts that had been beating at different rhythms began to synchronize at some point. The intense, rapid heartbeat paradoxically provided a strange sense of stability.

 

“…It’s all good, but it would have been better if you had told me in advance.”

 

“Hm?”

 

Ryu Seo-ha mustered up the courage to pour out a complaint. It was evidence that the color of his emotions towards the other had brightened considerably.

 

“If you do this suddenly, I can’t help but be startled.”

 

Choi Gang-hu, who had been listening silently, smiled and nodded.

 

“I’ll tell you in advance next time.”

 

He ended up inadvertently booking the next flight. It felt wrong, but he quietly closed his mouth, fearing how the other might suddenly change if he voiced more complaints. This too was wisdom of life acquired in the sealed zone.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

This time, instead of complaints, he offered sincere thanks. Though it was an unexpected method, it had ultimately improved his heavily sunken mood. So it was right to be grateful. Whatever the other’s intentions were.

 

“When we get out of here…”

 

Boom!

 

Just as Ryu Seo-ha was hesitating slightly to continue his words, an explosion sound that shook the ground was heard. Startled, he turned his head, but all he could see below the softly glowing sea of clouds was pitch-black darkness.

 

However, looking closely, he could faintly see shadows of monsters rising one by one in between. They began to move quickly. Towards the direction of the thunderous sound, towards the hotel where people were gathered.