“Only Jeokcheon can do the crazy thing of conquering an S-rank gate alone. If it were an attribute, it might be worth a try……”

Still, there’s an S-rank Hunter somewhere nearby. I decided to think positively.

Before I knew it, the sun had set and the stars had risen.

I’m not sure if that sky inside the gate is the real sky, but the stars embedded in the night sky were beautiful.

-I don’t like this person.

-It’s ominous, carrying an ominous aura of fire.

The small lights chattered. I hoped they wouldn’t be noticed by Kali.

“What’s this? They were supposed to be here. There’s only traces left.”

“Oh, you’re right. Hmm, where did they go?”

At the spot we returned to meet An Un, there were only traces of people having been there. Kali snorted.

“Wasn’t that person an Awakened? A crafting type. Then they must have had an escape stone from the beginning.”

“Well, if they managed to escape, that’s good.”

“You’re quite gullible. Ah, I’m dead tired. Hey, you little ones over there. Just go to sleep.”

“Yes, yes.”

The girl who had been crying helplessly introduced herself as Kim Se Jin and maintained a polite attitude.

It was quite pitiful to see her wrapping herself in a blanket, looking dejected with a face full of questions about why a foreign ranker was here.

“Well, um. I’m sorry about earlier?”

“……Pardon?”

“Hah, I mean, I’m sorry for threatening you. It was a mistake.”

Kali, who volunteered to keep watch despite claiming to be tired, apologized with an awkward expression. It was a bewildering apology.

“You’re saying that almost killing someone was a mistake?”

“It can happen when you get excited.”

“Isn’t that why there’s a crime called attempted murder?”

“……You, weren’t you terrified of me earlier? Now you’re not backing down?”

“……”

I was at a loss for words. I threw some kindling into the campfire.

“No, I’m not saying… Look, you should get a mental evaluation. You seem to have an S-rank mental barrier. You’re definitely an Unawakened. The possibility of using skills while in an Unawakened state……”

“Ah, okay.”

“Ahem. I know an evaluator. There shouldn’t be anything physically wrong with you……”

“I’m not going to America. And I’ve already done all that.”

“What?”

“That’s your ploy to lure me in, right? Do you think I wouldn’t have done that already, being a unique Irregular?”

“Huh, seriously. What do you take me for?”

Kali grumbled with an incredulous face. Strangely, I wasn’t afraid of her. It’s quite odd. Just a few days ago, she was the one choking me.

“……Really, you won’t come?”

“No.”

“Even if we provide full support?”

“I heard there are many villains in America. What if I get kidnapped and my head gets cut open in some research facility?”

“You have quite an imagination.”

“……It won’t happen?”

“No, you might suffer even worse things.”

“……”

When I fell silent, Kali hastily added. Still, she said that only happens in a few states, and even if something happens, I’d be safe if she protects me, and so on.

I let her words go in one ear and out the other.

Kali persisted, spinning all sorts of sweet talk to take me with her. I ended up speaking with an irritated tone.

“Why are you so obsessed with me?”

“Because you’re the one from the prophecy! ……Hah, never mind. Forget it.”

For someone saying “never mind, forget it,” she doesn’t look like she’s going to give up.

I shifted my gaze to the campfire.

It was a quiet night. Kali, who had given up trying to persuade me, silently cleaned her spear, while Se Min and Se Jin were sound asleep.

“……”

“……”

It was silent.

But, had this forest ever been this quiet?

“Hey, Unawakened returnee.”

“What? Why do you call people like that……”

“Wake them up. Take shelter over there.”

“Huh?”

Amidst the chilly wind, a faint singing voice mixed in.

“Hah, looks like Lord Gunsin will break Jeokcheon’s record today?”

The cool air gradually approached our location.

……It seemed, almost angry.

I hurriedly woke Se Jin and carried Se Min on my back. Se Jin, still not fully awake, rubbed her eyes.

“Sister……?”

“Shh, this way.”

It was too cold even for night. I headed to a spot a little further away with the children.

Se Min, who hadn’t fully come to his senses, groaned with an “Ugh.” Se Jin rolled her eyes with an anxious expression.

“Wh-what’s happening?”

The child, who had become particularly dejected after nearly dying once, couldn’t fully shake off her anxiety. I smiled at her.

“It’s okay, it’ll be alright.”

This forest won’t touch us unless we provoke it first. No, it won’t touch me.

So it had to be okay.

-It’s angry.

-Humans set fire to the forest.

-Lady Nemue is angry.

The voices that had been quiet chattered very carefully. A chill that seeped into the veins was spreading from far away.

A bright light rose as if only one area of the forest was daytime.

The surrounding flowers began to glow. Ding, a bell sound was heard.

“Wait here. Understand?”

“Sister?”

I earnestly implored Se Jin and turned my steps. Towards where Kali was, to the place where our party had been resting originally.

“Hah, I didn’t expect the master of the gate to come all the way here in person.”

-That’s rich coming from an intruder. Are you the one who set fire to my forest?

There stood Kali, her body wrapped in flames, and the cold lake fairy emitting a pure white light.

“Of all things, the worst possible elemental matchup.”

The white lake fairy, the master of the gate, sang.

It was a sound that resonated in the head rather than being heard by the ears.

Simultaneously, a small explosion occurred. Bang. Are they already fighting? The scene I witnessed from behind a tree was beyond imagination.

-You’ve lost your mind, human of fire.

“Haha, what can I do without earplugs?”

Kali, who had deafened herself with the explosion, gripped her spear and took a stance. Wait, is she doing that to avoid hearing? It’s an incredibly tough method, to the point of being ridiculous.

-Don’t even think about leaving peacefully.

The boss monster kindly informed, despite there being no way Kali could hear. With a beautiful smile.

The wind rose, swirling between the two. Pure white frost whirled riding the wind.

“Hah, let’s see whose stronger, my fire or your ice!”

Kali’s figure soared into the sky. Her form engulfed in flames was reminiscent of mythology.

-A futile effort.

“……You dodge so simply?”

The boss monster, who was there just a moment ago, suddenly stood behind Kali. Then, a hand stretched out as if to grab her neck. Kali quickly rolled forward.

-You’re being quite troublesome.

The white fairy’s form crumbled and collapsed. The ground was covered with snow, and on top of it, several snowman shapes appeared.

No, it would be more accurate to call them snow giants rather than snowmen.

The six or seven snow giants tried to catch Kali with slow movements. Kali dodged between them like an eel, melting the snow giants’ hands.

The raging snowstorm created a fog that obscured the view along with the fire.

A strong wind whirls around.

That was all I could understand.

I just watched.

“Haha, your minions seem to be weak?”

After a brief confrontation, it was Kali standing in the mist. With her left arm turned pale blue and hanging limply, Kali held her spear with only her right hand and spoke in an arrogant voice.

The snow and wind gathered in one place, and soon a human figure appeared. The boss monster maintained an expressionless face despite Kali’s mockery.

♪−.

And then it sang. The sorrowful voice seemed to be pleading for help.

“Hey, I can’t hear a-ny sound, you know? It’s useless to try, huh?”

As the song continued, a strange feeling came over me. And then a realization struck.

At some point, Se Jin and Se Min, whom I had left a short distance away, were approaching them with dazed expressions and stumbling steps.

I have to stop them.

“Hah, so this is how you want to play it.”

How can I?

-Intruder of the forest, if you want these children back, quietly offer your neck.

“So the S-rank gate’s boss monster takes hostages too, huh?”

Kali grinned. She leapt up again.

As she jumped, she grabbed me who was hiding and fled.

“Hey!”

“We need to escape now, while that monster is distracted with the kids.”

“You’re running away like this?!”

“I can’t hear, but I can guess what you’re saying. Yeah, we have to run.”

“Leaving them like that?”

“Damn, worst elemental matchup, lost an arm, lost my hearing….. Can this be healed?”

I felt a slight tremor in the hand carrying me. I shook off her arm. Though the impact jolted my entire body as I was thrown, I had to stand up.

“Hey!”

“I’m going to rescue them.”

“Are you crazy? That’s an S-rank boss monster. Someone like you will die instantly.”

“I don’t want to survive by sacrificing others’ lives.”

“Something’s wrong with your head. So, are you really going to try and save those kids?”

“If you hadn’t angered the forest in the first place, this wouldn’t have…!”

Even as I shouted, a cold sensation flowed down my back.

I know, this is nothing more than throwing a tantrum.

Kali’s use of fire was to save those kids, not to anger the forest.

Kali could have survived on her own, yet she chose to take me along as she fled.

And here I am, throwing a fit at her.

I know this is just unreasonable behavior.

“……”

A helplessness that made it hard to breathe consumed me. This is the worst. It was the worst. It couldn’t get any worse than this.

Why am I so powerless?

“……Don’t think nonsense and come this way.”

Though she couldn’t hear, Kali spoke as if she knew what I was thinking. I let out a bitter laugh.

“……I’m still going. If you won’t go, I will.”

I will save them.

‘What can a little kid like you do? Do you think you’re capable of anything?’

‘It’s unavoidable. Just accept it, Ha Young.’

Watching someone you know die is more painful than you’d think.

Even if we hadn’t known each other for long, I didn’t want to feel that way again.

Kali clicked her tongue as she looked at me.

“……You’ve completely lost your mind.”

“Rest here. I’ll be back soon.”

Even though she couldn’t hear, I deliberately spoke aloud.

With each step I took, an indescribable sensation enveloped my feet.

A peaceful method would be best. This gate has been particularly kind to me, so maybe we can talk it out.

I’m not sure if it will understand, but I’ll try. I’ll apologize for setting fire to the forest, express regret, and ask it not to kill the children…..

“Ha.”

I heard a sound that stopped my footsteps abruptly.